FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. 109 


snoutis very short and oblique, its length two-thirds that of the eye, which is nearly 
one-third as long as the head; the mouth is moderate in size, oblique, the broadly- 
expanded maxilla nearly reaching to below front of pupil; the lower jaw projects 
slightly; the operculum ends in two flat points, between which there is a dark spot 
two-thirds as long as the eye, and bordered below by anarrow pearly stripe; the gill- 
rakers are short and stout, eleven developed on the first arch, the longest one-third 
as long as the eye; four rows of scales on the cheeks; the spinous dorsal begins over 
the fourth scale of the lateral line; its base is two-thirds as long as the head; the 
first spine is nearly one-half as long as the eye; the spines gradually increase in 
length to the fourth, which is equal to those that follow it and to the length of the 
postorbital part of the head; the fifth and longest soft ray equals in length the head 
without the snout; the last soft ray equals the postorbital part of the head in length; 
the anal origin is under the fourteenth scale of the lateral line; the base of the fin is 
as long as the head without the snout; the first spine is one-fourth as long as the 
head; the third and longest equals length of postorbital part of head; the third and 
fourth soft rays are longest, equal to the head without the snout; the ventral reaches 
to the second anal ray, its spine equal in length to postorbital part of head; the pec- 
toral is placed below the median line of the body; it reaches to below the fourteenth 
seale of the lateral line; the caudal is rounded, its middle rays three-fourths as long 
as the head; the lateral line is usually complete, sometimes imperfect on one side. 
D. IX. 11; A. III, 10; V. 1,5; P. 11. Scales 4-31-10. In spirits the color is brown- 
ish; about seven or eight rows of scales below the lateral line with pearly blotches 
forming interrupted stripes; a dark band under the eye; the dorsal, anal and caudal 
profusely spotted with roundish, pearly spots; young individuals are obscurely 
banded; in life the spots of the male are blue, and the fins are higher than in the fe- 
male. The specimens described No. 20,356, United States National Museum, are 
from Trenton, N. J. The largest is three inches long. 
The blue-spotted sunfish is found from New Jersey to South Caro- 
lina, and is very common in southeastern Pennsylvania according to 
Cope. It is a small species, not much exceeding the banded sunfish in 
length. In the male the head, body, dorsal, caudal and anal fins are 
profusely covered with bright, round, sky-blue spots; the opercle bears 
a pearly-blue spot. The female is not so brightly colored as the male, 
and the fins are not so high; the spots, also, are fainter. The young 
are faintly barred; the general color of adults is dark olive. It is a 
handsome species but not used for food. 
Genus MESOGONISTIUS Git. 
122. Mesogonistius cheetodon (Bairp). 
The Black-banded Sunfish. (Figure 60.) 
The black-banded sunfish has an oblong body, its greatest depth one-half of the 
total length without caudal and its thickness one-third of the depth. The caudal 
peduncle is short and slender, its least depth equal tothe thickness of the body. The 
head is moderate in size, its length one-third of the total without caudal. The snout 
is short and oblique, two-thirds as long as the eye, which is one-third as long as the 
head. The mouth is small, obliquely placed, the jaws about equal in front. The 
maxilla is not broadly expanded behind; it reaches to below the front of the eye. 
The operculum ends in two flat points and has a dark flap at its angle, which is one- 
half as long as the eye. Scales on the cheeks in three rows. The gill-rakers are 
comparatively long and slender ; thirteen developed on the first arch, the longest 
one-third as long as the eye. The spinous dorsal begins overthe third scale of the 
lateral line; the length of its base equals five-sixths that of the head. The first 
spine is minute, scarcely one-half as long as the eye, the second is nearly as long as 
