292 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus). 



Plate 41. 



River Sun Fish. Black Eared Sun Fish. Long- Eared Sun Fish. 

 Hound Eared Sun Fish. Red Belhed Sun Fish. 



Head to end of flap 2^ ; depth 2)/^ ; D. X, 12; A. HI, 9, i ; 

 scales 46 in lateral line to base of caudal, and about 4 large ones 

 on latter; 7 scales obliquely back from origin of spinous dorsal 

 to lateral line; 14 scales in an oblique series forward from origin 

 of spinous anal to lateral line; mandible 2^ in head; eleventh 

 dorsal spine 3 ; seventh dorsal ray 2^ ; third anal spine 3 ; fifth 

 anal ray 2yi ; least depth of caudal peduncle 2j^ ; caudal about 

 i^; pectoral 1-3/5; pectoral i^; ventral iVio^ snout 4 >^ in 

 head measured from tip of upper jaw ; eye 4% ; maxillary 3 ; 

 interorbital space 4^. Body rather elongate, well compressed, 

 and greatest depth at origin of ventral. Back hardly elevated so 

 that both profiles of body are similarly convex. Head a little 

 large, upper profile more inclined than lower." Snout about equal 

 to eye. Orbit circular, about first third in length of head. Mouth 

 a little inclined and gape extending about opposite posterior nos- 

 tril. Maxillary extending a little beyond front rim of orbit, but 

 not to pupil, without supplemental bone, and its distal expansion 

 equals pupil. Width of preorbital % of orbit. Jaws rather large 

 and lower protruding a little. Teeth in jaws in villiform bands, 

 each with an outer enlarged series of conic teeth. A patch of 

 vomerine teeth, and a few obsolete ones on palatines. Tongue 

 rather broad and free. Lips fleshy. Nostrils near together in 

 front of eye. Interorbital space rather broad and convex. A few 

 blunt serr9S at lower edge of preopercle. Opercle ending in a long 

 cutaneous flap directed posteriorly and upwards, much narrower 

 than orbit. Suprascapula entire. Gill-rakers iii i + 5 iv, short, 

 thick, robust and asperous. Scales on body large, finely ctenoid, 

 becoming reduced and crowded on cheek, breast, predorsal region 

 and bases of vertical fins. Scales on cheek in 8 series. Lateral 

 line of simple tubes and more or less concurrent with dorsal 

 profile. Spinous dorsal begins a little behind origin of ventral, 



