84 THE FISHES OF OHIO. 



This rare sunfish has been recorded from but two localities in 

 Ohio, both of these to the credit of Mr. McCormick, who says of 

 them: " I took several specimens near Huron, July 6, 1891, and 

 two near Lorain, in September. ' ' Only two other specimens were 

 known at the time Mr. McCormick took these. 



Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnaeus). Common Sunfish ; 

 Pumpkin Seed ; Sunny. 



Head 3 to 3% ! depth \% to 2; eye 4 to ^%; snout 4^. D. X, 10 to 12; 

 A. Ill, 10 or 11; scales about 6-44-13, 4 rows on cheek. Body short and 

 deep, compressed, the profile steep, convex. Head rather small; mouth 

 small, maxillary scarcely reaching front of eye. Dorsal spines high, the 

 longest 2 to i x / z in head, equal to distance from snout to posterior edge of 

 pupil; pectorals long, as long as head. Gill rakers short and soft, weaker 

 than in any other species except Lepomis megalotis. Pharyngeal teeth all 

 bluntly rounded, paved, the bones vtry broad and somewhat concave. 

 Opercular flap small, the lower posterior part always 1 'right scarlet, a char- 

 acter which distinguishes this species at once in the adult. Color greenish 

 olive, brilliantly marked with blue and orange on the sides; belly orange; 

 lower fins orange, upper blue and orange-spotted; cheeks orange, with wavy 

 blue streaks. One of the most gaudy of our Sunfishes, and quite variable. 

 Length 8 inches. 



An abundant species in the ponds and lakes of central and 

 northern Ohio, common in the large streams and in the quiet 

 waters of bayous. Not common in the smaller streams, and said 

 to be rather rare in the southern part of the state. In Sandusky 

 Bay and in Licking reservoir it is the most abundant sunfish. 

 Ross lake, Hamilton County, and Lake Erie, Henshall, 1889; 

 Lorain County, "very abundant below the ripples in the larger 

 streams, and in the bayous near the lake. A few taken in the 

 pounds," Camden lake, McCormick, 1892; Maumee river system, 

 " abundant in all the lakes, common in all the larger streams, 

 except the Auglaize river, less common in the smaller streams," 

 Kirsch, 1893; Franklin County, Scioto and Olentangy rivers, 

 Big Walnut and Big Darby creeks, not common, Williamson and 

 Osburn, 1897; Huron river at Milan, Sandusky Bay, St. Mary's 

 reservoir, Wabash river at Celina, North Fork of Licking river 

 at Newark, R. C. Osburn, 1899; Pippin lake, Chippewa lake, 

 Summit lake, Licking reservoir, abundant in all these localities, 

 R. C. Osburn, 1900. 



