THE PERCH FAMILY. H5 



SUNFISH. 



Pomotis vulgaris : CUVIER. 



There are several species of Pomotis, and even fish of 

 other genera known as "Sunfish" A diminutive species 

 of the genus Centrachus is constantly called by that name. 

 I have taken a synopsis of a description of the true Sunfish 

 (Pomotis vulgaris), from Holbrook, one of the most exact 

 ichthyologists of our day. 



Body ovoidal in form, convex above and below, but straight 

 on the belly ; color of body brown, with a greenish tint 

 above, with pale blue, waving, horizontal lines on the preo- 

 percle and opercle. Opercular appendix dark, with a bright 

 red blotch on its posterior margin. The dorsal fin has ten spines 

 and eleven rays; pectorals, thirteen rays; ventrals, one spine, 

 and five rays ; anal, three spines and ten rays ; caudal, seven- 

 teen rays. Mouth small, rather protractile, and armed with 

 small thickly-set teeth. Extreme length eight inches. 



This beautiful little fish, associated in the minds of all 

 anglers with the first rudiments of a piscatorial education, is 

 known in the Middle and Southern States as the Sunfish or 



