1883.] -On the Habits of Certain Sunfish. 1255 
who rarely acknowledge that they have ever before seen them; 
and this fact is corroborative of what I had long supposed, that 
they are only to be found in out-of-the-way nooks and corners 
where game fish seldom if ever come, and that hence their haunts 
are not often invaded. In fact, one would scarcely expect to find 
any fish in some of the weed-grown holes in the meadows, where 
in truth scores of banded sunfish are quietly taking their ease. 
Occasionally, however, I have seen this fish wander into quite 
open waters, and here it is that it shows to such advantage when, 
with its brilliant black dorsal and ventral fins spread, it moves 
majestically along. 
Although so small, it is a plucky fish, and promptly resents any 
interference. Being a feeble swimmer, it depends, for defense, 
upon the sharp spines of its dorsal fin, and it seems to know that 
Banded Sunfish (Mesogonistius chetodon). 
when these are erected it is quite free from molestation. Espe- 
cially angry does it become when a great lubberly catfish chances 
to wander near by and pokes his slimy nose into its haunts. At 
ence the “bandy” is up in arms, and darts at the intruder with 
reat violence. It is a veritable case of the king-bird and the 
‘row over again, only beneath the water instead of in the air. 
: I am still in the dark about the breeding habits of this fish. At 
times I have thought that it scooped out a nest in the sand, as 
the common sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) does, but I am not so sure 
about it. During the spring of 1881 I found females of this spe- 
“es heavy with immature ova, and I am now of the opinion that 
x any nest is made it is in comparatively deep water, among the 
7Y Stems, or at the base of some projecting root. Certainly if 
