The Sunfish Family 59 



other species of the family. It has a large head 

 and deep body, almost as deep as long, and is 

 nearly symmetrical in oudine. Its teeth are in 

 brushlike bands on the jaws, with patches on the 

 tongue. The Southern form has one or two less 

 soft rays in the dorsal and anal fins. 



It is dark olive on the back, lighter on the 

 sides, with blotches of blue and coppery red, and 

 the belly brassy or yellowish. Iris red, ear-flap 

 black, bordered with pale red, with three dusky 

 red bars radiating from the eye across the cheeks. 

 Fins mottled with a darker color, and a black 

 blotch on the last rays of the soft portion of the 

 dorsal fin. 



It is not so gregarious as the rock-bass, but 

 otherwise is similar in its habits, though not so 

 partial to rocky situations, rather loving deep 

 pools and quiet water. It feeds on minnows, 

 tadpoles, frogs, insects, and their larvje. It 

 spawns in the spring. It is a good pan-fish, and 

 grows to eight or ten inches in length and a 

 weight of nearly a pound. For its size, it is the 

 gamest member of the family except the black- 

 bass, and is more like that fish than the others. 

 It is a favorite game-fish in the South, rising well 

 to the fly, and is a free biter at natural bait. 



