OF THE UNITED STATES 



455 



entire year in the Gulf of Mexico, 1 never observed a Sunfish in 

 those seas, and do not believe they occur there; indeed, it is said 

 that it is not until we come to the coasts of New England — and 

 that, too, in the summer-time — before we begin to meet with 

 them. According to Dr. Goode two large specimens were cap- 

 tured at the mouth of the Saint John's river, Florida, during the 

 winter of 1874-75. With certain exceptions then, the Mola is 

 pretty generally distributed throughout the tropical and temper- 



Fig. 122. Left Lateral View of a Mounted Specimen of a 

 Sunfish Ready for Museum Exhibition. 



Prepared and photographed by Mr. H. H. ter Meer, Jr., of the Leyden Museum. 



ate seas of the world. Dr. Jordan assures us that a smaller spe- 

 cies, the Ransania truncata of science, has been captured in vari- 

 ous parts of the Atlantic and Pacific, but never nearer to our 

 coasts than the Bermudas. It is distinguished by possessing a 

 much more elongated form. The Bermudan specimen measured 

 only eight inches in length, and was taken as long ago as 1878 

 When in a sportive mood, old Sunfishes have the habit of leaping 



