COMMON SUN-FISH. 929 



the maxilliary scarcely reachiog to orbit ; profile nsnally forming an angle above eye, 

 the autedorsal region being very convex ; fins well developed, the apines of the dorsal 

 rather high — higher than in any other of our species with bine cheek stripes ; the spines 

 as long as from snont to past pnpil ; pectoral tins long, reaching to anal ; opercular flap 

 moderate, broad and short, blnntly rounded, black except a broad edge on the lower 

 poaterior part, which in life is always bright scarlet ; in spirits this scarlet tip becomes 

 whitish, but it is always present and is always a striking feature ; fin rays ; dorsal X, 10 ; 

 anal III, 10 ; lateral line with 36 to 45 scales; coloration very variable according to 

 the surrounding of the fish; back greenish-olive, usually dark ; sides profusely spotted 

 with orange ; belly orange-yellow ; lower fins orange, the upper olivaceous, with the 

 membranes closely spotted with orange and olive, with clear blue wavy btreaka ; colors 

 varying from blackish olive to a pale yellowish olive ; adult specimens nsn^vlly most 

 brilliantly colored. Length 6 to 8 or 10 inches. 



Habitat, this species is most abundant and best known of all the CenirarcHdce, and it 

 ia the one to which the name of Sun-fish is most commonly given. It is found in great 

 abundance, throughout New England, Canada, the entire Great Lake Kegioa, all the 

 tributaries of the Upper Mississippi from Illinois northward; throughout the Middle 

 States, and southward in all the streams flowing irto the Atlantic, at least as far as 

 Georgia. It seems, ho we ver, to be entirely absent in the Lower Mississippi rBgi uu and in 

 the souihwest generally. Its place being taken by the allied Eupomotis noiatus. 



Diagnosis. — This species may always be known by the peculiar form 

 and coloration of the opercular flap, in connection with the small mouth 

 and high spines. No other species in Ohio, has a broadly rounded oper- 

 cle, black, tipped with bright scarlet. Very young specimens resemble 

 the young of some of the species of Lepomis, but an attentive examination 

 will show the differences. 



Habits. — In Ohio Eupomotis gihhosus is the most abundant of the Cen- 

 trarchidm in Lake Erie and its tributary streams. It also occurs in large 

 numbers in the head waters of the Wabash, Scioto and other streams 

 tributary to the Ohio, which have their rise in the northern portion of 

 the State. I have, however, never seen a specimen from the Ohio River 

 nor from the lower course of any of its larger tributaries, and I doubt if 

 it ever occurs in these, unless introduced through the canals. The same 

 peculiarities of local distribution may be noticed in two other species 

 whose range is nearly coextensive with that of the present species Perca 

 americana and Siizostedium vitreum. 



The Common Sun- fish is taken in Lake Erie in large numbers for the 

 market. Although small it is deservedly valued as a pan- fish. 



Any kind of bait large enough for it to swallow it takes with vigor 

 and persistence. 



The following account of the nest building habits of this species — 

 which are shared to a greater or less extent by all the Cenirarchidas, so 

 far as known — is given by Dr. Holbrook (Ichthyol. S. Car., p. 10) : 



69 



