fe 
as 
1883.] On the Habits of Certain Sunfish. 1257 
but so generally that I concluded that the growths of Nuphar lu- 
tum and similar plants were the favorite haunts of the banded 
sunfish, and the muddy masses of Myriophyllum harbored the 
spotted species. 
On submitting the specimens to Dr. A. C. Stokes, of Trenton, 
N. J., he kindly examined the contents of the stomachs of these 
species by the aid of the microscope, with the following results : 
In the stomachs of a dozen or more adult banded sunfish he 
found Chironomus larve very numerous; Cyclops quadricornis 
numerous; Daphnia sp. numerous; chitinous parts of small in- 
sects present but not abundant; diatoms, desmids and fragments 
of alge, probably accidental; and a single rhizopod (Centropyxis 
aculeata). In very young fish he found Chironomus larve few, 
and Cyclops quadricornis and Daphnia sp. numerous. 
He adds, “ In the stomach of a full-grown fish there was from 
seventy-five to one hundred Chironomus larve, which seem to 
be the favorite food.” This. shows at a glance that the banded 
Sunfish js essentially a surface feeder, and as we seldom see them 
Moving about in the open water or near the surface, they are 
Probably nocturnal in their habits. In an aquarium, however, 
they seem to be as active during the day, as.at night, although 
averse to exposure to direct sunlight. ; 
The examination of twelve adult specimens of spotted sunfish, 
resulted as follows: 
In every case the stomach was empty, but the intestine con- 
tained trachez, eyes, elytra, heads and chitinous parts of small 
aquatic beetles. These were very numerous; also Pisidium sp. 
occasional; several small univalve mollusks; a few Chironomus 
; Occasionally a Daphnia and Cyclops; and Gammarus sp. 
erous. In the very young spotted sunfish examined, there 
Were found Pisidium sp. occasionally; many Daphnia and Chi- 
Fonomus larvæ; a few fragments of insects; many Cyclops; a 
W very small univalve mollusks, and a single water mite. 
‘ere we have evidence that this species of sunfish is a bottom 
num 
4 feeder, and resorts to the mud rather than elsewhere for its main 
_ food supply, 
Thave already mentioned the great difference in the coloration 
ese two sunfish, which are, as we have seen, quite intimately 
sociated, Whether this difference has any direct relation to 
t “it widely different feeding habits, I will not now essay to de- 
