FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. 113 


The blue sunfish grows to a length of nearly one foot and individuals 
weighing nearly two pounds are on record. Adults, however, average 
eight inches in length with a weight of Jess than one pound. The size 
of the individuals depends on the habitat. In large lakes and streams 
it grows to a greater size than in small bodies of water. In southern 
waters it attains toa larger size than in northern waters. It lives in 
ponds as well as in streams and thrives in warm waters. It is consid- 
ered equal to the rock bass as a pan fish and can very readily be taken 
by hook fishing. 
126. Lepomis auritus [inne 
The Long-eared Sunfish. (Figure 63.) 
The long-eared sunfish has an oblong, moderately clongate body, its depth nearly 
one-half of the length without the caudal and its thickness a little more than one- 
third of its depth. The caudal peduncle is moderately short, its least depth three- 
fourths of its length and one-third of greatest depth of body. The head is rather 
large, its length without the flap one-third of the total without caudal; its width one- 
half of its length. The space between the eyes is convex, its width a little more 
than the length of the snout, which is two-ninths as long as the head including the 
flap. The upper edge of the snout is oblique. The eye is one-fourth as long as the 
head without the flap. The mouth is moderate in size, the maxilla not very broadly 
expanded behind and extending to below the front of the pupil. The scales on the 
cheeks are very small, in about eight rows. The opercular flap is long, narrow and 
pointed, its length equal to that of the snout and about twice its width. The gill- 
rakers are short and stout, about eleven developed on the first arch, the longest one- 
third as long as theeye. The spinous dorsal begins over the sixth scale of the lateral 
line ; its base is two-sevenths of total length without caudal. The first spine is two- 
thirds as long as the second, which is as long as the eye; the fourth (longest) is one 
and one-half times as long as the eye; after the fourth the spines slightly decrease 
in length, the last being little longer than the eye. The fifth (longest) soft ray is as 
long as the base of the soft dorsal and equal to the snout and eye combined. ‘The 
last soft ray is a little more than one-half as long as the longest. The anal begins 
under the twenty-first scale of the lateral line; the length of its base equals that of 
the soft dorsal; the spines are short and stout. The first two-thirds as long as the 
second and one-half as long as the third, which is one and one-half times as long as 
the eye; the fourth (longest) soft ray is as long as the base of the fin; the last ray is 
two-thirds of this length. The caudal is emarginate, the middle rays two-thirds as 
long as the outer. The ventral reaches beyond the vent, sometimes to the origin of 
the anal. The ventral spine is one-half as long as the fin. The pectoral has a broad 
base and extends to below the nineteenth scale of the lateral line. 
D. X, 10; A. III, 9; V.J,5; P. 14. Scales 7-43-13. The lateral line follows the 
curve of the back. 
In spirits the color is pale brown; the fins somewhat paler; the ear flap black; a 
brownish streak in front of the eye and another horizontal one beneath it. 
In life the color is olivaceous; the belly, especialy in breeding males, orange. 
The scales on the sides have reddish spots on a bluish ground. Dorsal, anal and 
caudal usually yellowish. The stripes on the head are bluish. 
The specimen described, No. 33,152, United States National Museum, from Bain- 
bridge, Pa., is five and one-half inches long. 
The long-eared sunfish has a very extensive range and is known under 
many common names, among which are the following: Bream, red-tailed 
bream, red-head bream, red-bellied bream, perch, sun perch, red-bellied 
perch and red breast. 
8 Fisu. 
