74 ICHTHYOLOGIA OH TENS IS 



cover double, scaly, without serrature or spines. 

 One dorsal fin, broader behind, with anterior spiny- 

 rays, as well as the anal and thoracic fins, these with- 

 out appendages. Vent hardly posterior. Lateral 

 line following the curve of the back. 



Synonymy Lepomis. Prod, ^o New Genera, 13 

 Genus. 



An extensive genus, which contains perhaps 20 

 species, most of which were blended with the Labrus 

 auritus and Labrus virginicus of Linneus. They differ 

 from the genus Labrus or rather Sparus, by the scaly 

 opercule and the thoracic fins without appendage. I 

 have already detected six species in the western 

 waters ; but there are more. I divide them into two 

 subgenera. Meaning Sun-fish. All good to eat, and 

 easily taken with the hook ; they feed on worms and 

 young fishes. They are permanent. 



I St Subgenus. Telipomis. 



Opercule without appendage ; but spotted — Mean- 

 ing spotted gills. 



6th Species. Gilded Sunfish. Icthelis macrochira. 

 Icthele macrochire. 



Body oval, oblong, gilt, crowded with small brown 

 dotts; head small, scaly, opercule flexuose, spot nar- 

 row marginal and black, jaws equal: tail forked: 

 pectoral fins long and narrow, reaching the anal fin, 

 which has 13 rays, whereof three are spiny. 



A pretty species from three to four inches long. 

 In the Ohio, Green river, Wabash, &c. Names, Sun- 

 fish, Gold-fish, &c. Head rather acute, not scaly 

 before the eyes. Iris gilt brown. [I. 376] \28\ Dor- 

 sal fin with 22 long rays, whereof 1 1 are spiny, a 

 depression between the two sorts bf rays. Anal fin 



