74 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. Vll, No. 4, 



times the size of specimens sent in, which were about the average 

 of those collected (22 mm. from tip of rostrum to tip of telson). 



Besides being apparently rare in Sandusky Bay during past 

 summers, another possible reason w^hy shrimps have not been 

 observed is the transparency of these individuals. They are 

 almost as clear as the water in which they live, and if attention 

 were not called to them, would probably pass notice. Specimens 

 cannot be preserved, it seems, so that this natural transparency 

 may be retained. Placing in alcohol (70 % to 80%) or formalin 

 (4%) caused the specimens to become milky. Those dying 

 naturally in the water also become milky. They can be cleared, 

 however, fairly well in xylol. 



The well developed springing power of the shrimp is a fre- 

 quent cause for losing individuals. These characteristics, viz.: 

 apparent scarcity, transparency, small size and springing power, 

 make the collection of large numbers of shrimps difficult. With a 

 small tow-net, never more than three or four were taken at a 

 time, and frequently none. 



This shrimp was first describctl by Stimpson in 1S71 from 

 specimens taken at Somerville, S. C. In 1872 ('73) Smith (S. I.) 

 of the United States Fish Commission described the same species 

 "from half a dozen specimens collected by Mr. J. W. Milner, at 

 Ecorse, Mich., in a grassy arm of Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, 

 known as Black Channel." As Stimpson's specimens were from 

 Somerville, S. C, and his description differed considerably from 

 the I^ake Erie specimens, Smith supposed, at the time his des- 

 cription was written, that the northern specimens represented a 

 distinct species. This error was corrected when the latter re- 

 ceived a series collected in the fresh water streams of Florida. 

 Hay, in 1882, reports collecting this species in tril)utaries of the 

 Tombigbee and Moxubee rivers in eastern Mississippi, in the 

 Mississippi river at Memphis, in Pearl River at Jackson, and in 

 the Chicasawha River at Enterprise, Miss. It is also reported 

 l)y Forbes for Illinois: "Very common in Illinois River, where it 

 is the only shrimp. Taken in large numl)ers at Pekin." 



The extreme interest of this shrimp and the fact thai liltlc 

 or no observations have been made on the bt'havior of tlie sixH'ies, 

 led the writer to observe it more closely. 



Their usual habitat is clear, shallow water ranging in dei)th 

 from one to perhaps four or five feet, with vegetation and sandy 

 bottom. As soon as muddy or mucky conditions were encoun- 

 tered in towing, the shrimps were not to be found. The Sandv 

 coves of Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, abounding with \'egetation, 

 apparently afford ideal conditions and shrim])s should be ])len- 

 tiful there. However, the carp and other fish are also ])lentiful 

 and these undoubtedly feed on the delicnte little shrimps. The 



