S34 FISHES — CENTRARCHID^. 



Xmotis peltaates, Jordan, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mas, No. 10, 1877, 36; Ann. N. Y. Acad, Sol., 



i, 1877, 98 ; Man. Vert., 1878, 243 ; Bull. Hayden'a Geol. Surv., iv, 1878, 436.— Bban, 



U. S. Nat Mu8., 1880, 98. 

 Ichthelis macrochira, Jordan, Man. Vert., 1876, 236 (not of Rafineeque). — Nelson, Cat. 



Fishes 111., 1876, 38. 

 Ichthelis anagallinus, Nelson, Cat. Fishes III., 1876, 38 (neo Copej. 

 XmotU eolis, Jordan, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 10, 1877, 22, 36 (nee Cuv. and Val.) ; 



Bull. Hayden's Geol. Surv^., iv, 1678, 436. 

 Xenotis lythroohloria, Jordan, Ball. U. S. Nac. Mus., ix, 1877; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mns., 10, 



1877, 40; Ann Acad. Sol N. Y., i, 1877, 98. 

 Xenotis aureolus, Jordan, Bull. Hayden's Geol. Surv., iv, 1878; Bull. U. S.Nat. Mus., No. 



10, 1877, 36, 41 ; Man. Vert., 1878, 243. 

 DeaoriptUm. — Body deep and rather short, the occiput depressed, and the profile high 

 and strongly curved ; dorsal outline convex; deptu more than half the length; head 

 with flap a little less ; eye IJ in flap ; dorsal spines low, lower than in the other species 

 except L. cyanellus, in adults shorter than from snout to middle of eye ; pectorals not 

 reaching vent ; opercular flap very long in adult, always with a broad pale edge which 

 is pinkish behind and blnish in front ; in young specimens the flap exhibits every stage 

 of development, no two individuals being alike in this respect ; colors very brilliant, 

 more so than in any other of our Sun-fishes, but fading rapidly after death. The gen- 

 eral color of an adult specimen is brilliant blue and orange, the black chiefly blue, the 

 belly entirely orange, the orange forming irregular longitudinal rows of spots, the blue 

 in wavy vertical lines along the series of scales ; vertical fins with the soft rays blue and 

 the membranes orange, sometimes fiery red ; ventral and anal dusky blue, appearing 

 blackish when folded ; lips blue ; cheeks with blue and orange stripes ; top of head 

 and neck black ; iris bright red ; fins unspotted ; young specimens with the ear- flap 

 small, and the coloration variously dull ; D. X, 10 ; A. Ill, 10 ; lat. 1. 40. 



Habitat: This species occurs in great abundance throughout the Ohio Valley, and, 

 rather more sparingly in tributaries of Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and the Upper Mis- 

 s^ippi. 



Diagnosis. — Among Ohio species, when fully grown, it may usually be 

 known by the large ear-flap which always has a pale margin. The 

 young fishes may best be known by the small and feeble gill-rakers. No 

 other of our fresh- water fishes appears in a greater variety of forms and 

 it is not surprising that such a long array of nominal species should 

 have been based on it. 



Habits. — This species seems to prefer deep still places in rivers and 

 clear ponds, avoiding muddy water and small brooks. It reaches a 

 length of six to eight inches, takes the hook readily, and is of some value 

 as a pan-fish. 



119. Lepomis humilis (Girard) Cope. 



Orangre-spotted Sun-fish. 



Bryttus humilis, Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sol. Phila., Nov., 1857 ; U. S. Pac. R. R. Surv., 



1858, 21. 

 Lepomis humilis, Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1868, 223. 



