934 FISHES—CENTRARCHIDA. 
Xenotis peltastes, JORDAN, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus, No. 10, 1877, 36; Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 
i, 1877, 98; Man. Vert., 1878, 243; Bull. Hayden’s Geol. Surv., iv, 1878, 436.— BEAN, 
U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 98. 
Ichthelis macrochira, JORDAN, Man. Vert., 1876, 236 (not of Rafinesque) —NELSON, Cat. 
Fishes Ill., 1876, 38. 
Ichthelis anagallinus, NELSON, Cat. Fishes Ill., 1876, 38 (mec Cope). 
Xenotis solis, JORDAN, Ball. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 10, 1877, 22, 36 (mec Cuv. and Val.) ; 
Bull. Hayden’s Geol. Surv., iv, 1578, 436. 
Xenotis lythrochloris, JORDAN, Ball. U. S. Nat. Mus., ix, 1877; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 10, 
1877, 40; Ann Acad. Sci. N. Y., i, 1877, 98. 
Xenotis aureolus, JORDAN, Ball. Hayden’s Geol. Surv., iv, 1878; Ball. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 
10, 1877, 36, 41; Man. Vert., 1878, 243. 
Description —Boay deep and rather short, the occiput depressed, and the profile high 
and strongly curved; dorsal outline convex; depth more than half the length; head 
with flap a little less; eye 14 in flap; dorsal spines low, lower than in the other species 
except L. cyanellus, in adults shorter than from snout to middle of eye; pectorals not 
reaching vent; opercular flap very long in adult, always with a broad pale edge which 
is pinkish behind and bluish in front; in young specimens the flap exhibits every stage 
of development, no two individuals being alike in this respect; colors very brilliant, 
more so than in any other of our San-fishes, but fading rapidly after death. The gen- 
eral color of an adult specimen is brilliant blue and orange, the black chiefly blue, the 
belly entirely orange, the orange forming irregular longitudinal rows of spots, the blue 
in wavy vertical lines along the series of scales; vertical fins with the soft rays blue and 
the membranes orange, sometimes fiery red; ventral and anal dusky blue, appearing 
blackish when folded; lips blue; cheeks with blue and orange stripes; top of head 
and neck black; iris bright red; fins unspotted; young specimens with the ear-flap 
small, and the coloration variously dull; D. X, 10; A. III, 10; lat. 1. 40. 
Habitat: This species occurs in great abundance throughout the Ohio Valley, and, 
rather more i aoe in tributaries of Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and the es Mis- 
sissippi. 
Diagnosis——Among Ohio species, when fully grown, it may usually be 
known by the large ear-flap which always has a pale margin. The 
young fishes may best be known by the small and feeble gill-rakers. No 
other of our fresh-water fishes appears in a greater variety of forms and 
it is not surprising that such a long array of nominal species should 
have been based on it. 
Habits.—This species seems to prefer deep still places in rivers and 
clear ponds, avoiding muddy water and small brooks. It reaches a 
length of six to eight inches, takes the hook readily, and is of some value 
as a pan-fish. 
119. Lepomis HuMILIs (Girard) Cope. 
Orange-spotted Sun-fish. 
Bryttus humilis, GrRaRD, Proc, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., Nov., 1857; U.S. Pac. R. R. Surv., 
1858, 21. | 
Lepomis humilis, Cops, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1&68, 223. 
