BLUE SUN-FISH. 937 



Pomoiia macrochira, Kirtland, Bost. Jonrn, Nat. Hist., iii, iv, 1841, 469 (nee Raf.) 

 Pomotia specioaus, Bairu and Qirard, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vii, 1S54, 24.— Girard, 



U. S. P. R. R. Snrv., 1858, 23; lohth. Mex, Bound. 1859, 5.— Gunther, Cat. Fishes 



Brit. Mns., i, 1859, 263. 

 Lepomie apedoaus, Cope, Proo. Amer. Philos. Soc, 1870, 453. 

 Ichihelis incisor, var.T apeeioaua, Jordan, Man. Vert., 1876, 236. 

 lohthelia apeoioam, Nelson, Cat. Fishes 111., 1876, 3?, 

 Pomotia ohaourua, Agassiz, Amer. Journ. Sci. and Arts , 1854, 302. 

 lohthelia incisor, var.? obacurua, Jokdan, Man. Vert , lb76, 236. 

 Lepiopomua obacurua, Jordan, Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist, 1876, 317; Ann. N. Y. Acad. 



Sci., i, 1377, 99; Ball. U. S. Nat. Mas., No. 10, 1877, 35; Bull. U. S, Nat. Mns., No. 



12, 1578. 56, 60, 76; Man. Vert., 1878, 242; Bull. Hayden's Geol. Sarv., iv, 1878, 436, 

 Lepomia megalotia, a, Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila , vi, 1869, 220 {nee Kaf.) ; Proc. 



Amer. Philos. Soc, 1870, 452. 

 Lepomia longiapinia, Copa, Jonrn. Acad. Nit. Soi Phila., vi, 1869, 220. 

 Lepomia ardeaiacua, Copa, Jonrn. Acad. Nat. Soi. Pnila., vi, 1869, 222. 

 Lepomia purpureacena, Cope, Proo. Amer. Philos. Soo., 1870, 454. 



Deaoription. — This species is Ihe most widely diflfased of all our San-fishes and it is 

 everywhere one of the most abundant. Like Lepomia megalotia it is subject to very great 

 variations in form, coloration, and general appearance, yet it is nsually, of all Sun-fishes, 

 the species most readily recognized. The body is deep and compressed, rather elongate, 

 with slender caudal peduncle when young ; short, deep and almost orbicular in very old 

 specimens ; the head is moderate, about one-third the length, with short snoat, large 

 eye, and steep, though usually concave profile ; the depth of the body is about half the 

 length, in old specimens somewhat more ; the mouth is quite small, the maxillary not 

 reaohiog eye; the opercular flip is large, entirely black, with a narrow margin at base, 

 nearly as broad as long in adults ; in young specimens the flap is usually quite small and 

 broader than long ; fin large; dorsal spines very high, often higher than soft rays in 

 young, their length about equal to the distance from snout to posterior margin of eye ; 

 pectoral fias very long and falcate, reaching beyond beginning of anal; scales moder- 

 ate ; those on cheeks in about 6 rows ; lateraMine with 45 to 48 ; coloration, adults dark 

 olive or bluish-green ; belly and lower parts more or less coppery ; no blue stripes on 

 the cheek ; a large dusky or " inky " spot on the last rays of dorsal and anal ; specimens 

 in spirits are usually nearly uniform pale olive or even silvery; young specimens show 

 several undulating or chain-like transverse olive bars and a bright purplish lustre in 

 life. Length 6 to 10 inches, rarely longer. 



Habitat, entire Great Lake Region. Mississippi Valley and all streams of the Gulf 

 States. Also in all Atlantic streams from Delaware River to Florida, everywhere abun- 

 dant. Throughout Ohio, it occurs in abundance in small ponds, large specimens are, 

 however, rarely found except in the Lake and larger rivers. 



Diagnosis. — This species may be known under all circumstances by the 

 dusky blotch on the last rays of the dorsal in connection with high 

 spines and the absence of blue stripes on the cheek. 



Habits. — In the Lakes where it attains a large size it is valued as a pan 

 fish, ranking with Ambloplites rupes'ris and Eupomotis gibbosus. It abounds 

 in every stream in Ohio. 



