THE HABITS OP THE EOCK BASS. 405 



Eock Bass spawn about the same time as Black Bass. They keep much about sunken logs, 

 roots, etc. 



The Mxjb Bass — Acanthaechtjs pomotis. 



This species is found only in the coastwise streams of the lowlands from New Jersey to North 

 Carolina. Its habits are similar to those of the Warmouth, but it is smaller in size, and has little 

 value as a food-fish. 



The Saobamento Peeoh — ^Aechoplites intberuptus. 



.This species is known only by the name of "Perch," a name applied in the San Francisco 

 markets to many very different fishes. It has been thus far found only in the Sacramento and 

 San Joaquin Elvers and tributaries. It is abundant in the lower parts of these rivers, large 

 numbers being shipped to the market in San Francisco. It is there bought and consumed mainly 

 by the Chinese, who value it highly, paying for it more than for any other fish which they consume. 

 Although it is an excellent pan-fish, very similar to the Black Bass, we have never seen any of 

 them bought by Americans. It reaches a weight of little more than one pound. Nothing distinct- 

 ive is known of its habits. 



The Waemotjth — Cn^siNOBETTTtrs gxtlosus. 



This species is known throughout the South by the name of "Warmouth." The names 

 "Perch," "Sun-fish," "Goggle-eye," and "Eed-eye" it shares with others of its relatives. It is 

 found in all the lowland streams from Virginia to Texas, in all the Southern States, and is gener- 

 ally abundant. In habits, food, size, and value it agrees closely with the Eock Bass. 



The Bt.aok Warmouth — Oh^nobryttits antistitjs. 



This species, known as "Warmouth," "Big-mouth," "Sun-fish," "Goggle-eye," etc., abounds 

 in the tributaries of the Upper Mississippi, and is often taken in Lake Michigan. In Illinois it is 

 an important food-fish. In size, habits, and value it is suflciently similar to the Eock Bass. 



Common Sun-fish — Lepomis gibbosus. 



This is the common "Sun-fish," "Pumpkin-seed," or "Sunny" of the brooks of Few York and 

 New England. It is everywhere abundant in the Great Lake region and in the coastwise streams 

 from Maine to Georgia. It is never found in the Mississippi Valley except in its northernmost part, 

 its distribution being precisely like that of the Perch. 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. Its breeding habits are thus described by Dr. Kirtland: 



"This fish prefers still and clear waters. In the spring of the year the female prepares herself 

 a circular nest by removing all reeds or other dead aquatic plants from a chosen spot of a foot or 

 more in diameter, so as to leave bare the clean gravel or sand; this she excavates to the depth of 

 three or four inches and then deposits her spawn, which she watches with the greatest vigilance; 

 -and it is curious to see how carefully she guards this nest against all intruders ; in every fish, even 

 those of her own species, she sees only an enemy, and is restless and uneasy until she has driven 

 it away from her nursery. We often find groups of these nests placed near each other along the 

 margin of the pond or river that the fish inhabits, but always in very shallow water; hence they 

 are liable to be left dry in times of great drought. These curious nests are most frequently encir- 



