The Sunfisb Family 67 



his eagerness to secure it tumbled into the pool, 

 which was quite deep, much over his head. 

 After some little delay we got him out, almost 

 drowned, and in a very limp and exhausted con- 

 dition. When finally he was restored and capable 

 of speech he exclaimed, " I saved my tobacco- 

 box, anyhow ! " During all the struggle he held 

 on to his rod, and still clutched it when " landed." 

 Whether he did so from the desperation with 

 which drowning men are said to cling to straws, 

 or from an inherent sporting instinct, deponent 

 sayeth not. A clergyman, who knew nothing 

 of fish, but who was attracted to the scene, said 

 to the dripping boy, " My lad, let this be a 

 solemn warning to you : throw away the tobacco- 

 box you have saved and give up chewing; it 

 may drown you yet." 



THE RED-BREAST SUNFISH 



{JLepomis auritus) 



This handsome sunfish was the first of its 

 family to receive the recognition of a naturalist, 

 being described by Linnaeus in 1758. He named 

 it auritus, or " eared," from its conspicuous ear- 

 flap. His specimen was credited to Philadelphia, 

 and was, presumably, from some neighboring 



