242 FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



is in the National Museum. The fish described by Cope as Lepomis purpures- 

 cens, from the Yadkin, is referred to this species; and the fish he called Lepomis 

 notatus from the French Broad is probably also referable to it. 



This is the largest and finest of the sun-fishes. It attains a length of 12 to 14 

 inches and a weight of a pound and a half, and when full grown is a magnificent 

 species. As a game and food fish it stands high. In the Albemarle region it is 

 often sought by anglers, and is also sold in the local markets; the names "blue 

 joe " and " blue perch " are applied to it in that section. In Lake Mattamuskeet, 

 where the blue bream is common, it ranks next to the white perch in popular 

 estimation as a food fish. 



This fish has for many years been called Lepomis pallidus in the belief that 

 Mitchill's name of Labrus pallidus applied to it; but a close examination of 

 Mitchill's description shows that it could not have been intended for this species, 

 and furthermore the blue-gill is unknown in the locality from which the type of 

 pallidus came. The earliest available name is incisor of Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



209. liEPOMIS HOLBROOKI (Ouvier & Valenciennes). 

 Holbrook's Sun-fish. 



Pamotig holhrooki Cuvier & Valenciennes, Histoire Naturelle des Poissoos, vii, 466,-1831; Charleston, S. C. 

 Lepomis holbrooki,^JoTda,n, 1889&, 130; Little River at Goldsboro. 

 EupoTnotia holbroohi, Jord^ & Evermann, 1896, 1008. 



Diagnosis. — ^Body stout, the depth about . 5 total length; head contained 3 to 3.5 times 

 in length; snout rather long, .25 length of head; maxillary extending to front of eye; eye equal 

 to snout; opercular flap short and broad; gill-rakers rather short, distinctly dentate, about 10 

 on long arm of first arch; scales in lateral series about 45, in transverse series 6 + 15, 5 rows on 

 cheek; dorsal rays x,10 to x,12 the spiues and soft rays equally high, the longest .5 length of 

 head; anal rays iii,9 to iii,ll; pectorals as long as head. Color: darkgreen above, silvery below; 

 breast yellow; opercular flap dark, with a broad orange-red margin; fins dark, with yellow 

 rays. (Named for Dr. Holbrook, author of Ichthyology of South Carolina.) 



This sun-fish is peculiar -to the lowland streams between Virginia and Florida, 

 and is especially numerous in South Carolina and Florida. The only North 

 Carolina record is that of Jordan (18896), who reported the fish as scarce in 

 Little River near Goldsboro. One large specimen was collected by the writer 

 a number of years ago at the western end of Albemarle Sound. The fish attains 

 a length of 10 or 11 inches, and is of some importance in the southern part of its 

 ^ habitat. In size, habits, food value, and gameness it closely resembles the 

 blue-gill. 



210. LEPOMIS GIBBOSUS (Linnaeus). 



"Sand Perch"; "Robin"; "Robin Perch"; "Red-beUy"; "Yellow-belly"; Pumpkin- 

 seed; Tobacco-box. 



Perca gibhosus Linnaeus, Systema Naturte, ed. x, 292, 1758; Carolina. 



Pomotis maculatus, Cope, 18706, 455; all North Carolina rivers east of Alleghenies. 



Lepomis (7i6bo»us, Jordan, 18896, 130; Neuse River near Raleigh. Smith, 1893o, 192, 196, 200; Pasquotank 



River, Edenton Bay. Roanoke River at Plymouth and Welden. Evermann & Cox, 1896, 305; Neuse 



River near Raleigh. 

 Eupamotis gibboaus, Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 1009, pi. clxi, fig. 429. Smith, 1901, 134; Lake Mattamuskeet 



