8. -A REVIEW OF THE CENTRARCHIM, OR FRESH-WATER 
SUNFISHES, OF NORTH AMERICA. 
By Charles Harvey Bollman, A. B. 
Note. — The present paper was prepared at my suggestion by Mr. Bollman, and at 
his death it was found to be very nearly ready for the press. It is based on the col- 
lections made by the U. S. Fish Commission and on the material in the museum of 
the Indiana University. All the species of the family, with the exception of Lepomis 
albulus and the doubtful Enneacanthus eriarchus, have been examined by Mr. Bollman 
and most of his conclusions have been abundantly verified. It was Mr. Bollman’s 
intention to add critical notes on the synonymy and observations of the habits of each 
species. The paper, even without these, will be useful to students of these fishes. 
David S. Jordan. 
In this paper are given analytical descriptions with an outline of the 
synonymy of the different species of the Centrarchidce , popularly known 
as sunfishes, pond fishes, crappies, pumpkin-seeds, and black bass. 
This group is recognized, as currently defined, as a family of percoid 
fishes closely allied to the Serranidcs , being distinguished chiefly by the 
rudimentary condition of the pseudobrancliisB and certain peculiarities 
in the form of the body. The definition given by Jordan and Gilbert 
(Synopsis of the Fishes of North America, 1883, p. 462) may be accepted 
for the purposes of this paper. All the species are confined to the 
fresh waters of North America. They are especially abundant in the 
lowland rivers, lakes, and ponds of the eastern United States, where 
they form one of the most conspicuous elements in the fish fauna. All 
are carnivorous fishes, and all that are large enough to be worth con- 
sidering are excellent as food. 
The group has been divided by Dr. Gill into three subfamilies very 
closely related to each other, Centrar china ? , Lepomina\ and Micropterincv. 
Most of the species belong to the Lepomince. The Micropterincv ap- 
proach most nearly to the Serranidcv , and are perhaps most nearly 
related to the primitive stock from which the group has sprung. 
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