Aquatic Zile 3 
All the species seem to be nest build- 
ers. Most of our knowledge of them 
has resulted from field observations, as 
apparently but two, the Black-banded 
Sunfish and the Blue-gill, have been bred 
in aquaria. The preferred bottom seems 
to be of sand or gravel. The water-depth 
at the location selected varies with the 
species. Calico Bass construct nests at 
a depth of six feet, making observation 
difficult, while the familiar Pumpkin- 
seed chooses the shallows where all may 
see, the water at times barely covering 
the nest. Probably no fish is more am- 
bitious than the Pumpkin-seed in the 
construction of its nursery. With energy 
worthy of a larger fish, an oval or round 
spot, perhaps three feet in diameter, is 
carefully cleared of all movable debris to 
a depth of three inches or until the right 
sort of bottom is reached. The greatest 
depth is at the center or crater, sloping 
upward to a bank of sand about the cir. 
cumference. The eggs, one-twenty-fifth 
of an inch in diameter and so nearly re- 
sembling translucent grains of sand as 
to make detection difficult, are deposited 
in the crater midst the coarse sand and 
pebbles. During the spawning operation 
the male is ever alert to thwart trespass- 
ers. During incubation he assiduously 
guards the nest, and then the fry during 
the first few days. The female has been 
reported as assisting in rare cases. The 
male at this time, burdened with the re- 
sponsibilities of a large family, is a fear- 
less creature. Woe to a stranger ventur- 
ing near. It will not hesitate to attack 
even the largest fishes, and, as the sun- 
fishes nest in communities, an intruder 
will often be driven off by the combined 
efforts of the entire colony. After being 
deserted by the parent, the youngsters 
remain in companies, often for a consid- 
erable time. 
The following list is believed to include 
all the species. It has not been thought 
necessary to give the synonomy, which 
may be found in nearly all systematic 
works. In all cases the maximum re- 
corded size has been given, and, especial- 
ly among the larger species, it will be 
found considerably greater than the 
A number of the species are 
classed as food and game fishes, and are 
therefore protected by law. Permission 
should be obtained from the local fish 
and game commission to collect smail 
average. 
specimens for the aquarium in cases 
where capture would otherwise be illegai. 
Many can be purchased from private 
commercial fish hatcheries. Wild fishes 
in general are more successfully accli- 
mated in the aquarium during the fall 
months. 
Cis CK Sa: 
ELASSOMA EVERGLADEI. Southern Pig- 
my Sunfish. Brown, with darker spots; 
dorsal and anal spotted with red; two 
red spots at base of caudal. 1.3 inches. 
Swamp streams. North Carolina to Flor- 
ida. (Elassoma, diminution, a little thing ; 
evergladei, of the everglades. ) 
ELASSOMA ZONATUM. Pigmy Sunfish. 
Olive Green, 10 to 12 vertical bands on 
sides; fins faintly barred. 1.5 inches. 
Sluggish waters. Southern Illinois to 
Alabama and Texas (zonatum, banded). 
ed: ) 
POMOXIS ANNULARIS. White Crappie. 
Silver olive marked with green; fins 
mottled with green. 12 inches. Lakes, 
ponds and small rivers. Eastern U. S,, 
Great Lakes to Texas. (Pomo.-ris, sharp 
opercle; annularis, ringed. ) 
POMOXIS SPAROIDES. Green, Calico or 
Strawberry Bass. Silvery green, pink or 
purple diffusion; sides mottled with dark 
green; fins spotted in irregular rows. 12 
inches. Clear lakes and rivers. Eastern 
and Southern U. S. to Texas (sparoides, 
like Sparus, the sea bream). 
CENTRARCHUS MACROPTERUS. Found 
