FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. aia 


and stiff, eleven developed on the first arch; the longest one-third as long as the eye. 
A short, broad opercular flap, its width and length about equal and two-thirds 
length of eye. The spinous dorsal begins over the sixth scale of the lateral line; 
its base nearly equal in length to the head ; the first spine is two-thirds as long as 
the eye; the spines increase gradually in length to the seventh, which is two-fifths 
as long as the spinous dorsal base and one-half length of head without the snout. 
The tenth spine is nearly as long as the seventh. The seventh and longest soft ray 
is one-half as long as the head; the last ray is one-third as long as the head. The 
base of the soft dorsal is about two-thirds as long as the spinous dorsal base. The 
anal begins under the twenty-fourth scale of the lateral line; the first spine is three- 
fourths as long as the eye ; the second is nearly twice and the third twoand one-half 
times as long as the first. The length of the anal base equals one-fifth of the total 
without the caudal. The fourth and longest anal ray is as long as the postorbital 
part of the head ; the last ray is a little more than one-half as long as the fourth. 
The caudal fin is emarginate, the middle rays three-fourths as long as the external. 
The ventral reaches to the vent; its spine one-half as long as the head without the 
snout; its length one-fifth of the total withoutthecaudal. The pectoral reaches to below 
theseventeenth scale of the lateral line. The lateral line follows the outline of the 
back. D. X, 11; A. III, 10; V.1,5; P. 13. Seales 7-47-14. In spirits the color is 
pale brown, the fins paler. The opercular flap has a dark spot as described above. 
Tn life there is generally a black blotch on the hinder part of the dorsal ard anal ; 
the ground color is greenish with a brassy tinge on the sides; the lower parts yel- 
lowish; blue spots and gilt borders usually ornament the scales and faint dark 
bands are often present. The dorsal, anal and caudal have blue or green markings, 
andthe anal is margined in front with orange. The iris is red and the cheeks are 
striped with blue. The specimen described, No. 36,3138, United States National Mu- 
seum, from the Sac River, Mo., is seven inches long. 
The blue-spotted sunfish, also known as the green sunfish and redeye, 
occurs from the Great Lake region throughout the Ohio and Mississippi 
valleys south to Mexico. It does not occur in the Middle Atlantic 
states east of the Alleghenies. The species reaches a length of seven 
inches and is an extremely variable one. Professor Cope refers to it as 
a good pan fish and states that it is abundant in the Ohio basin. In 
the Ohio valley it is one of the characteristic fishes, inhabiting ponds 
and ascending small streams. It frequents deep holes and the shelter 
of overhanging roots. 
124. Lepomis macrochirus Rarryesque. 
The body is oblong, its greatest depth contained two and two-fifths times in the 
total length without caudal. The head is one-third of total without caudal. The 
mouth is large and the snout is pointed. Mucous pores on the head well developed. 
Five to seven rows of scales on the cheeks. Opercular flap small. Eleven slender 
gill rakers. The dorsal spines are high. Pectorals long, reaching to the anal. D. 
X, 10; A. III, 10; scales, 6-42-15. The colors are described below. 
The chain-sided sunfish, called by Prof. Cope the chain side, is one 
of the small and very handsome species of the sunfish family. It does 
not exceed five inches in length, and is known only in the Ohio valley, 
where it is rare. 
This species is easily distingished by its mottled coloration, the chain 
like bars making it conspicuous. It is not a food fish but is very hardy 
and active and consequently desirable for the aquarium. Its voracity is 
said to be remarkable. 
