1000 Bulletin 47, United States National Museum. 



in one or two other species of Lepomis. It disappears by degrees, bat 

 seems to exist in all the species, though sometimes so small as to be 

 inappreciable. I have even found it present in large specimens of 

 L. pallidus. Its presence in the species is only a character of degree, 

 therefore not generic. Till the group has been more fully studied 

 Xenotis was supposed to contain a large number of species, and was 

 separated from Lepomis principally for convenience sake, and on the 

 slight character of the feeble gill rakers. By a comparison of a very 

 large series of the alleged species from Professor Jordan's collection I 

 have come to the conclusion that they are all forms of a single species. 

 The gill rakers are usually rather more feeble than in the rest of the 

 species of Lepomis, but this again is a question of degree. Bryttus has 

 been distinguished from Lepomis by the presence of palatine teeth. This 

 is also a character of degree, and is subject to the most perfect gradation. 

 I have found it impossible to retain Xystroplites and Eupomotis also, as 

 there is complete gradation in the character of the pharyngeals between 

 Lepomis proper and Xystroplites and again between Xystroplites and Eupo- 

 motis, both as to the width and form of the bones themselves and the form 

 of the teeth." (McKay, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, p. 88.) (leiric, scale; 

 7T<iv/a, operculum, a character supposed to distinguish the genus from 

 Sparus.) 



a. Pectoral fins short, obtuse, not reaching beyond front of anal, considerably shorter than 



head; dorsal spines low. 

 LEPOMIS: 

 b. Gill rakers shortish, but rather firm, x + 8 or 9; palatine teeth present. 



c. Opercular flap in adult very long, but narrow; scales 43 to 48; longest dorsal spines 

 about 3 in head; some bluish stripes on head; belly red in adult. 



AURITUS, 1396. 



cc. Opercular flap short and broad; scales 36 to 40; longest dorsal spines about half 

 head; sides with rows of red spots. MINIATUS, 1397. 



XENOTIS (^evb?, strange; ovs, ear): 



bb. Gill rakers very soft and weak, x + 8 or 9; palatine teeth obsolete, so far as known. 

 (I. Dorsal spines rather long, about half head; sides with rows of bronze spots; scales 

 34 to 41. GARMANI, 1398. 



dd. Dorsal spines short, about 3 in head in adult; opercular spot in adult very long 

 and broad, variously shorter in young; colors brilliant, excessively variable; 

 scales 36 to 45. MEGALOTIS, 1399. 



HELIOPERCA (^Aios, sun; 7repx), perch): 

 aa. Pectoral fins more or less pointed, not much, if any, shorter than head, and reaching to 



or beyond front of anal; gill rakers rather long, slender, and firm, x + 11 to 13. 

 e. Scales very large, about 35 (33 to 39) in lateral line. 



/. Opercular spot short, wholly surrounded by a red margin; mucous pores on head 

 large; sides with conspicuous red spots; dorsal spines moderate, the longest not 

 quite half head. HUMILIS, 1400. 



/. Opercular spot plain black; body without red spots, but with some bluish bands. 



HAPLOGNATHUS, 1401. 



ee. Scales moderate or small; mucous pores small; dorsal spines high, the longest half 



head. 



g. Dorsal fin without black at base of its last rays; opercular flap shortish ; sides with 

 chain-like cross bands. MACROCHIRUS, 1402. 



gg. Dorsal and anal fine each with a large black blotch at base of posterior rays; oper- 

 cular flap large, but not long; no red spots, the colors often brilliant but not 

 varied. PALLIDUS, 1403. 



