BLUE SUN-FISH. 937 
Pomotis macrochira, KIRTLAND, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iii, iv, 1841, 469 (mec Raf.) 
Pomotis speciosus, BAIRD and GIRARD, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vii, 1854, 24.—GirarRD, 
U.S. P. R. R. Surv., 1858, 23; Ichth. Mex. Bound. 1859, 5. Epes arean Cat. Fishes 
Brit. Mus., i, 1859, 263. 
Lepomis speciosus, CoPpE, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc , 1870, 453. 
Ichthelis incisor, var.? speciosus, JORDAN, Man. Vert., 1876, 236. 
Ichthelis speciosus, NELSON, Cat. Fishes Ili., 1876, 37, | 
Pomotis obscurus, AGASSIZ, Amer. Journ. Sci. and Arts, 1854, 302. 
Ichthelis incisor, var.? obscurus, JORDAN, Man. Vert, 1°76, 236. | 
Lepiopomus obscurus, JORDAN, Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist, 1876, 317; Ann. N. Y. Acad. 
Sci., i, 1877, 99; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 10, 1877, 35; Bull. U. S, Nat. Mas., No. 
12, 1878. 56, 60, 76; Man. Vert., 1878, 242; Bull. Hayden’s Geol. Surv., iv, 1878, 436, 
Lepomis megalotis, a, Copr, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila, vi, 1869, 220 (nec Raf.); Proce. 
Amer. Philos. Soc., 1870, 452. 
Lepomis longispinis, Corn, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci Phila., vi, 1869, 220. 
Lepomis ardesiacus, Cops, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vi, 1869, 222. 
Lepomis purpurescens, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., 1870, 454. 
Description.—This species is the most widely diffused of all our Sun-fishes and it is 
everywhere one of the most abundant. Like Lepomis megalotis it is subject to very great 
variations in form, coloration, and general appearance, yet it is usually, of all Sun-fishes, 
the species most readily recognized. The body is deep and compressed, rather elongate, 
with slender caudal peduncle when young; short, deep and almost orbicular in very old 
specimens; the head is moderate, about one-third the length, with short snout, large 
eye, and steep, though usually concave profile; the depth of the body is about half the 
length, in old specimens somewhat more; the mouth is quite small, the maxillary not 
reachiiag eye; the opercular flap is large, entirely black, with a narrow margin at base. 
nearly as broad as long in adults; in young specimens the flap is usually quite small and 
broader than long; fin large; dorsal spines very high, often higher than soft rays in 
young, their lengih about equal to the distance from snout to posterior margin of eye; 
pectoral fins very long and falcate, reaching bé}ond beginning of anal; scales moder- 
ate ; those on cheeks in about 6 rows; lateral line with 45 to 48; coloration, adults dark 
olive or bluish-green ; belly and lower parts more or less coppery; no blue stripes on 
the cheek ; a large dusky or ‘“‘ inky” spot on the last rays of dorsal and anal; specimens 
in spirits are usually nearly uniform pale olive or even silvery; young specimens show 
several undulating or chain-like transverse olive bars and a bright purplish lustre in 
life. Length 6 to 10 inches, rarely longer. 
Habitat, entire Great Lake Region. Mississippi Valley and all streams of the Gulf 
States. Also in all Atlantic streams from Delaware River to Florida, everywhere abun- 
dant. Throughout Ohio, it occurs in abundance in small ponds, large specimens are, 
however, rarely found except in the Lake and larger rivers. 
Diagnosis.—This species may be known under all circumstances by the 
dusky blotch on the last rays of the dorsal in connection with high 
spines and the absence of blue stripes on the cheek. 
_ Habits —In the Lakes where it attains a large size it is valued as a pan 
fish, ranking with Ambloplites rwpes'ris and Eupomotis gibbosus. It abounds 
in every stream in Ohio. 
