except in the manner following. The similarity of these two Enneacanthi is so marked, that unless living, they can scarcely be distinguished; and considering the abundance of one and presence of the other, but not associated, we suggest that the E. obesus is with us, not of its own choice, but forcibly brought by freshets from the localities where it is the only Enneacanth (New York State) to this, the proper territory of the E. guttatus. Once here it occupies certain streams from which it has driven the former occupant, E. guttatus. It is always found in the streams having unobstructed access to the river. If this be a true explanation of its presence does it not confirm its claim to a distinct specific title? In the "Geology of New Jersey" we confounded the two species, considering Pomotis guttatus Morris, a synonym of Bryttus obesus Girard.

On the 16th of March we found females of the Mud Minnow (Melanura limi), in clear, cold, running water. They were much distended with large masses of orange-colored eggs, that we should judge were nearly "ripe." We have watched them frequently since but failed to find them depositing these ova. At this time, April 19, a large proportion of the females are no longer gravid. It would appear that in March they were passing up stream, or brook, to spawn, but appeared to be unaccompanied by males.

We have lately found that this fish, when grown, feeds largely upon small shells (Physa and Lymnæa). We have seen them seize the animal, crush and then drop the shell, and then, by nibbling at the extruded soft parts, finally succeed in devouring all but the shell. Young crawfish are also worried to death by this cyprinodont, which at first bites off the larger claws, and ultimately succeeds in crushing the whole shell. On the other hand they are themselves exposed to attacks from a voracious animal, which takes advantage of their lying buried in the mud. We refer to the odoriferous Cinosternoid (Ozotheca odorata). This turtle appears to be able to discover the whereabouts of the mud

head of the fish that is This they generally comaside, and then draw from We doubt the ability of

minnows without alarming them; and cautiously approaching from behind, they seize the scarcely extruded from the mud. pletely sever from the body, cast the mud the decapitated body. this turtle to catch a mud-minnow not concealed in the mud. When lying on the mud, like an Etheostomoid, their movements are very rapid when disturbed.

In speaking of the habits of certain species of fishes as 'mud-loving," or dwellers in and upon mud, we really indicate merely those species that are most truly nocturnal. We judge that, to a certain extent, all fish are nocturnal. We have often noticed that fish will leap from an aquarium, if uncovered during the night; but this occurs but seldom during the day. Fishing with a line has always been more fruitful with us at night than fishing during the day; even when fishing for yellow or white perch, and other active day fish. Nets set over night entrap a greater number, and larger specimens, than when set for the same number of hours between sunrise and sunset.

These remarks are peculiarly applicable to the two Catostomoids we have mentioned above, Moxostoma oblongum and Hylomyzon nigricans. Unless quite small, less than six inches in length, these "suckers" remain quiet throughout the day; but as night approaches they leave the shallow, muddier portions of the creeks, and swim towards and into the deeper waters. About sunset we have often noticed them coming to the surface, and with their nostrils above the water, they make a low, sibilant sound, and leave in their wake a long line of minute bubbles. When attacked, as they frequently are at this time, by turtles, they give a very audible grunt, similar to that of our chub when drawn from the water. Both of these "suckers" are occasionally found, even during the day, in running water, hunting among the stones upon the bottom; but still water and soft mud are never far distant. The "suckers" of our rivers are very

different in their likes and dislikes. Coming up the stream in February and March, the large-scaled species, Teretulus macrolepidotus, and the common Catostomus Bostoniensis, seek out rapid waters, rocky bottoms, and are so active and fearless during the day, that many are seen and killed in the shallow waters they have entered. This is very noticeably the case at Trenton, New Jersey, where the Assunpink creek enters the Delaware. The "suckers" come up to the foot of the dam and congregate there in large numbers. Both of these species bite readily at a hook; but the "mullet" and "black-sucker" never do with us.

We can imagine nothing more devoid of interest than a mud-catfish (Amiurus DeKayi), at least as we have them here in New Jersey. Occasionally one of unusual size is met with to give it some characteristic worthy of attention. The largest specimen we have ever seen weighed five pounds, thirteen ounces. The greatest width of the head was five and one half inches. This species wallows in the mud in the beds of streams of all sizes; it is abundant in many of our largest creeks, in every mill-pond, and in average sized ditches with overhanging banks, this "mud-lover" frequently congregates in large numbers. It is a little curious to notice how soon matters right themselves, as to the distribution of fishes, after a freshet has subsided which had obliterated the previous boundaries. We have in mind now an extensive tract of meadow, through which meanders two rapid current creeks, and also through it are cut innumerable ditches. In these ditches dwell several mud-loving fish. Of course the freshet produces considerable of a "scatter" among them; but on the subsidence of the water we very seldom find mud cat-fish in the clear-water creeks, and the running water species caught napping in the ditches very promptly leave, as a few days suffice to restore to each locality its characteristic species.

In our report in the "Geology of New Jersey," we gave but three fresh-water siluroids. Since then we have had our

attention called to the stone cat-fish (Noturus gyrinus), from the Delaware Water Gap, Warren County, New Jersey. Besides the specimens from this locality in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy we have seen one living specimen in an aquarium, taken in the Assunpink Creek at its mouth. This is the only living specimen taken in New Jersey that we have ever seen, but learn that it is common in some of the rocky creeks in the northern part of the State.

The Eel (Anguilla tenuirostris), as elsewhere we suppose, is abundant in all our water courses. A careful examination of specimens from various localities, and comparison of reports of local fishermen, tend to the fact (?) that the largest eels are to be found in the rivers and streams directly tributary to them; and that in isolated mill-ponds far distant from the main water courses, they are not so large or numerous. We do not admit that such is really the case, but it does appear to be true. The experience of other observers would be interesting to know; and how large do our various species of Anguilla grow, as found in fresh-water? In the Delaware and its many small tributaries we find the Lamprey (Petromyzon nigricans) very abundant. Although occasionally found sticking to the sides of large fish, shad, rock-fish, white-perch and chub, they do not appear to feed upon fish thus exclusively. We have frequently found a large quantity of them adhering to the carcasses of dogs and other drowned animals, and judge that they subsist upon dead, rather than living animal matter. In an aquarium they adhere to the glass sides and remove the green scum very effectually, but whether they devour it or not we could not ascertain. We have known the Lampreys to suck their way up the facing of mill dams and so wander far up from the river. In such cases they bury themselves in the mud, in the winter, as do eels instead of following the river out into the sea.

VARIATIONS IN NATURE.

BY THOMAS MEEHAN.

THE idea that art has made most of the variations we find in gardens is far removed from the truth. It has done much to prevent a true knowledge of the origin of species. Art has done little towards making variations; it has only helped to preserve the natural evolutions of form from being crowded out. There is scarcely any species of wild plants but will furnish numberless variations, if we only look for them. To-day I examined a large patch of ox-eye daisies (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum). The first impression is that they are remarkably uniform, yet there were some with petals as long only as the width of the disk; others with petals double the length. In some the petals taper to a narrow point; in others they are tridentate on the apex. Again, some flowers have petals uniformly linear. Others have them tapering at both ends. Some have recurved and others flat petals. In one plant the scales of the involucre were very much reflexed, a very striking difference from the usually closely appressed condition.

I have frequently found that these very common things which nobody looks at, furnish as many new facts to an enquiring mind, as the rare species which every one loves to

see.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FAUNA OF THE SOUTHERN ALLEGHANIES.

BY PROFESSOR E. D. COPE.

I. On the so-called Alleghanian Fauna in General. The terms Canadian and Alleghanian, have been applied by Pro