66 AMERICAN FISHES. 
So far as known, the breeding habits of the other species of Sun-fishes 
agree with those of Lepomis gibbosus. 
It reaches, in the lakes, a weight of about one-and-a-half pounds, and 
as usually taken is of not over a pound weight. Its flesh is of good 
quality, similar to that of other Sun-fish of the same size, and is graded as 
superior to that of the perch, but inferior to the black bass and white 
bass. It takes the hook freely, and to the small boy is the perfection of 
a game fish, while even the experienced angler does not despise it. 
W. C. Harris, in his ‘‘Game Fishes of Pennsylvania,’’ remarks: ‘I 
confess to a fondness for catching the ‘ pumpkin-seed’ upon the lightest 
of light fly rods with leader and line of a spider-web consistency. I have 
caught them, averaging a half pound in weight, by the dozen, with black 
and brown hackles, and when they reach that size they are so sprightly in 
their play, when hooked on trout tackle, that we cannot deny them a niche 
in the gallery of game fishes.’’ 
\ THE RED BREAST. LEPOMIS AURITUS. 
The long-eared Sun-fish, Lepomis auritus, like its relatives, receives the 
general name of ‘‘ Sun-fish,’’ ‘‘ Brim’’ (Bream), and ‘‘ Pearch’’ (Perch). 
In Pennsylvania it is called ‘‘Sun Perch’’ and ‘‘Red Headed Bream,’’ 
elsewhere it is the ‘« Red Breast,’’ ‘‘ Red Bellied Bream’’ and the ‘‘ Red 
Bellied Perch.’’ 
It is found in all coastwise streams from Maine to Louisiana, but does 
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