286 Fisuinc in AMERICAN WATERS. 
Rock Bass oF THE Lakes. 
nently a lake fish, where it is found in greatest numbers over 
the shallows near the shores, and contiguous to the entrance 
of spring streams. It ranges in weight from a quarter to a 
pound, 
SECTION FOURTH. 
THE SUNFISH. 
This little fish inhabits nearly all the lakes, rivers, and 
ponds in the United States. Its habits are very domestic, 
seldom leaving its spawning-ground out ofits sight, but secks 
some rock or large stone where it plays about; and the re- 
mainders of shoals ofa single pair may be seen disporting to- 
gether, gay and lively, while watching the bottom for such 
ground-bait as angle-worms, and the surface for flies and 
grasshoppers. This tiny gormandizer is a great annoyance 
to fishers with the fly or worm when it becomes numerous in 
a trout-pond, for it will take both the worm and the fly; and, 
besides, it will steal the trout-eggs from the spawning-beds. 
But it affords ladies and children much sport, and is, withal, 
an excellent pan-fish ; and as it affords good sport for school- 
boys, it should be tolerated. It never attains to more than 
half a pound weight ; but the buffalo, a Western fish, which 
is similar to the spotted bass, is sometimes mistaken for this 
fish, and in some waters ranges from half a pound to nearly 
five pounds. The sunfish is dark greenish- brown on the 
back, greenish-yellow on the sides, lower end of gill tipped 
