218 ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRESH- WATER FISHES 



Char. — With a strong black band within the spines of the ventrals, and the dusky 

 of the sides predominating behind, and reducing the olive to pale spots. There is a 

 distinct supraoccipital mucous cavity in this species not seen in the E. guttatus, and 

 the orbit is smaller, measui-ing 3'25 times in the length of the head, exceeding the 

 muzzle and measuring I'lo times in interorbital width. Operculum with purple re- 

 flections. Head 2-75 in the length. 



Descr. — Scales 4 — 30 — 11, three rows on cheek. Fifth dorsal spine longest, equal 



from end muzzle to near posterior margin orbit; third anal equal from same point to 



posterior margin pupil. End maxillary reaching half-way between edge of orbit and 



pupil. Soft anal terminating at commencement caudal radii or fulcra. Ventrals and 



pectorals extending to the third anal spine. Eye large, 2'75 times to edge bony 



operculum, greater than muzzle, 1*6 times interorbital width; no supraoccipital 



mucous cavity ; supraorbitals more than their diameter apart. End of raaxillare not 



quite to pupil. Greatest depth 2-3 in length. Caudal elongate, rounded. Total 



length 2 in. 4 lin., of which the caudal fin measures 6*5. From end muzzle to basis 



first dorsal spine 9"2 lines (obliquely.) Radii D. viii, 11 ; A. iv, 10; V. i, 5 ; P. 11. 



Color : bright olivaceous, with dusky longitudinal stripes crossing sutures of scales. 



A small black spot on posterior margin operculum. Anal, caudal and second dorsal 



fins dusk}', the first and last with large, oval transparent spots on the membrane. 



Anal strongly reddish ; two dark bars below orbit. Sides and opercula with purple 



reflections. 



Hahltat. — Abundant in the slow waters of Tuckahoe Creek, which enter? +1"' ^ 



_ ... , - -ii.. -J biue iiames 



River above Richmond, Virginia. ^-'-' 



ENNE ACANTHUS ''Gill. 

 Sill. Am. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1864. 



Besides the nine spines assigned as the character of this genus by Prof Gill "t " 

 characterized by having two acute angles to the operculum, as in Micropterus, etc.* 



* In order to complete the comparison with the siecies of Lepomis group BnjtU,, the followiuo- descrintion 

 of the species of Mesogonistius is introduced : * ^ 



MESOG(NISTruS Gill. 

 Goup I. 

 Palatine teeth ; dorsal spines quite elongate, decrasing in height towards the elevated soft dorsal ■ 

 cavities small. ' 



Lateral line gradually descending; scales in three row on the cheek ; on the body 4 I 28 I 10 ■ e 

 large, -33 of head, maxillary to margin orbit. Longst spine equal from end muzzle to near 

 preoperculum. Compressed, much elevated; dirt straw color, with four vertical blackish 

 bars ; front rays of dorsal and ventral fins black, maTjaed with pink before 

 Mesogonistius chajtodon Gill (Bv-j/Wus c/ire^odo^i Bird) is common in sluggish waters in the^ l^wLnTs 

 along the Delaware, and in the pine woods of New Jersej It is the most beautiful species of the famiirfoTud 

 near Philadelphia, and is much caught for aquaria. 



