180 ANIMAL LIFE OF CARLSBAD CAVERN 



(Aphiochaeta rufipes Mg.) was taken on a dead mouse 

 in the bottom of the east shaft, about one hundred and 

 seventy feet below the surface. This was on the deep 

 beds of guano, where they probably breed. Three 

 specimens of little false fungus-gnats of the genus 

 Sciara, were taken near the Pulpit, west of the west 

 entrance to the cave, where water dripping from the 

 roof made a wet and muddy spot on the cave floor. 

 They may have been breeding here, as species of this 

 genus are known to breed in moist places, in rotten 

 potatoes, and in old bark. 



One specimen in poor condition of an Anthomiad fly 

 (Phaoma, species not determined) was collected but not 

 saved. These belong to the same family as the little 

 house fly. 



Two small crane-flies of the genus Tipula were cap- 

 tured on the guano at the base of the east hoisting shaft 

 where guano was taken out years ago. As these in- 

 sects are supposed generally to breed in mud and 

 stream banks it may be that they had merely taken 

 refuge in the cave. 



Beetles of four species were found in the first large 

 rooms of the cave where the bat guano, during thou- 

 sands of years, had accumulated to great depths. All 

 of the specimens collected were on the floor of the great 

 rooms one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy 

 feet below the surface, but not beyond the faint traces 

 of light that come indirectly through the two natural 

 openings overhead. From many parts of these rooms 

 some faint, far-away trace of light can be seen, but the 

 places where these beetles were procured were to our 

 eyes in apparently utter darkness. 



