106 FRESH-WATER FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 
Many more instances might be given showing the wide 
range of territory and difference in habit in different local- 
ities, which these fish have; and how unsafe it is to judge 
from a casual circumstance or two, what may be the peculi- 
arities of any species. 
Under the headings of certain species we propose now to 
call attention to peculiarities that are specific in their nature, 
especially breeding habits of some of the less numerous 
residents. 
Banded Sunfish (Lryttus chetodon). In the "Geology 
of New Jersey,” page 807, the author under the above head- 
ing, says “this interesting species is a lover of weedy, slug- 
gish streams and ponds, and is never met with in tide- 
water." We now, at this writing, are confident, that there 
is no fish in New Jersey found in other water not some- 
times met with in tide water. Since the above quotation 
was put in print we have taken this sunfish from the “bel- 
lies” of shad-nets, which were drawn in decided tide waters, 
the Delaware and Crosswick’s Creek. The breeding habits 
of this species have, during the past two summers, puzzled us 
considerably. That they occasionally scoop out a little basin 
in the sand, and there deposit the ova, is undoubtedly true ; 
but not always is this the case we judge, as during April of 
1868—69, we found them in all sorts of out-of-the-way 
places, the females heavy with eggs, and in some instances, 
a female with a male at her side, were hidden at the foot of 
a tussock, -with scarcely enough water to cover them. Two 
months later the ground over which they swam was perfectly 
dry. Was a severe battle going on between this species and 
the Pomotis aureus, that they were forced to hide themselves 
to preserve their ova from destruction? We did see some 
“nests” like those of P. aureus, but they were not abundant, 
as we had seen them previously. "The other Bryttus is simi- 
— lar in his habits to the Pomotis, and is not so peaceable as 
the B. chetodon; but preferring localities not favorites of 
other "sunfish," it does not interfere much with them. The 
