58 PRELIMINARY REPORT 



anal fins with a faint black spot at the base of their posterior por- 

 tions; much blue on the lower jaw and lower parts. Bodj- rather 

 heavj; back elevated; mouth large, the maxillaries well developed 

 and reaching beyond the middle of the eye, supplemental maxillary 

 bone present. Head rather large, flattened above, contained 2f 

 times in the length. Depth 2 1-6. E^-e 4^ in the head, smaller than 

 the black spot on the opercle. Dorsal fins with low, strong spines, 

 its rays IX or X, 12. Anal III, 9 or 10. Scales 5-46-14, the cheek 

 with 6 rows. Length 7 inches. 



But little known in the state. Specimens have been taken in 

 Bald Eagle and Vadnais Lakes, Ramsej^ Count}' (Xat. Hist. Surv., 

 1892). 



Genus LEPOMIS Eafinesque. 

 KEY TO THE SPECIES OF LEPOMIS. 



A. Pectoral fins short, shorter than the head, not reaching farther 

 back than the front of the anal fin; gill-rakers very soft and 

 weak; dorsal spines short; opercular flap long. . niegalotis, 58 



AA. Pectoral fins long and pointed, not generally shorter than the head, 

 reaching to or beyond the front of the anal; gill-rakers long 

 and slender but strong. 



B. 33 to 39 scales in the lateral line hiliiiilis, 59 



BB. 43 to 52 scales in the lateral line; the longer dorsal spine 

 5 the length of the head; a black blotch at the base of 

 the posterior portions of the dorsal and anal fins. pallidlis, 59 



Leponiis megalotis (Rafinesque). Long-eared Sunfish. 



An abundance of bright colors, back a dark blue, lower parts 

 brilliant orange; spotted with orange on the sides; many wavy 

 blue vertical lines; lips blue; cheeks orange, crossed with blue 

 lines; blue lines in front of the eye; soft rays of the dorsal, caudal 

 and anal blue, the connecting membrane orange. Body much com- 

 pressed, deep, short, the back much elevated; mouth small, oblique; 

 maxillary well developed, extending to the middle of the eye; gill 

 rakers very short and soft, X+8 or 9. Head without the flap con- 

 tained 3 times in the length. Depth If to 2^. Eye 3^ to 4 in the 

 head. Dorsal spines short, the longest about equal to the snout, 

 contained 3 times in the head; dorsal rays X, 10 to 12. Anal III, 

 8 to 10. Scales 5-36 to 45-14. Opercular flap very long and broad 

 in the adult, edged with blue or red. Length 8 inches. 



Xot common in the state. The only specimens known are listed 

 from the Pomme de Terre River at Appleton and Big Stone Lake 

 at Ortonville (Woolman, 1892, Report U. S. Fish Comm., 1893, p. 

 352). 



