COMMON SUN-FISH. G29 
the maxilliary scarcely reaching to orbit; profile usually forming an angle above eye, 
the antedorsal region being very convex; fins well developed, the spines of the dorsal 
rather high—higher than in any other of our species with blue cheek stripes ; the spines 
as long as from snout to past pupil; pectoral fins long, reaching to anal; opercular flap 
moderate, broad and short, bluntly rounded, black except a broad edge on the lower 
posterior part, which in life is always bright scarlet; in spirits this scarlet tip becomes 
whitish, but it is always present and is always a striking feature ; fin rays; dorsal X, 10; 
anal ILI, 10; lateral line with 36 to 45 scales; coloration very variable according to 
the surrounding of the fish; back greenish-olive, usually dark ; sides profusely spotted 
with orange; belly orange-yellow ; lower fins orange, the upper olivaceous, with the 
membranes closely spotted with orange and olive, with clear blue wavy streaks; colors 
varying from blackish olive to a pale yellowish olive; adult specimens usu:lly most 
brilliantly colored. Length 6 to 8or 10 inches. 
Habitat, this species is most abundant and best known of all the Centrarchide, and it 
is the one to which the name of Sun-fish is most commonly given. It is found in great 
abundance, throughout New England, Canada, the entire Great Lake Region, all the 
tributaries of the Upper Mississippi from Illinois northward; throughout the Middle 
States, and southward in all the streams flowing into the Atlantic, at least as far as 
Georgia. It seems, however, to be entirely absent in the Lower Mississippi reyivu and in 
the southwest generally. Its place being taken by the allied Hupomotis notatus. 
Diagnosts.—This species may always be known by the peculiar form 
and coloration of the opercular flap, in connection with the smal! mouth 
and high spines. No other species in Ohio, has a broadly rounded oper- 
cle, black, tipped with bright scarlet. Very young specimens resemble — 
the young of some of the species of Lepomis, but an attentive examination 
will show the differences. 
Habits.—In Ohio Eupomoitis gibbosus is the most abundant of the Cen- 
trarchide in Lake Erie and its tributary streams. It also occurs in large 
“numbers in the head waters of the Wabash, Scioto and other streams 
tributary to the Ohio, which have their rise in the northern portion of 
the State. I have, however, never seen a specimen from the Ohio River 
nor from the lower course of any of its larger tributaries, and I doubt if 
it ever occurs in these, unless introduced through the canals. The same 
peculiarities of local distribution may be noticed in two other species 
whose range is nearly co-extensive with that of the present species Perca 
americana and Stizostedium vitrewm. 
The Common Sun-fish is taken in Lake Erie in large numbers for the 
market. Although small it is deservedly valued as a pan-fish. | 
Any kind of bait large enough for it to swallow it takes with vigor 
and persistence. 
The following account of the nest building habits of this species— 
which are shared to a greater or less extent by all the Centrarchidz, 80 
far as known—is given by Dr. Holbrook (Ichthyol. S. Car., p, 10): 
59 
