546 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxv. 



derstood as falling within this period unless otherwise stated. While 

 collecting was not limited strictly to the university's property, practi- 

 cally all of the data here presented were obtained within a radius 

 of 1 mile of that place. A few mammals were trapped along White 

 River, 3 miles away. 



The site of the University Farm is 3 miles east of Mitchell, Law- 

 rence County, Indiana, and about an equal distance south of the 

 east fork of White River. The elevation varies but little over a 

 hundred feet in the region considered, nevertheless the fauna is in- 

 fluenced in some degree by the physiographic features. 



The soil is a thin, gravelly clay, underlaid by subcarboniferous 

 (Mitchell) limestone, through which water percolates readily, mak- 

 ing the drainage almost wholly subterranean. a For several miles to 

 the south and southwest there are no surface streams at all, and this 

 area consists of a series of larger or smaller sink holes. Many of the 

 sink holes are filled with water, either permanently or during periods 

 of heavy rainfall. While the absence of surface streams reduces the 

 available habitat of the brook-dwelling fishes and amphibians, the 

 numerous ponds, varying in size from a few square yards to an acre, 

 afford homes to many aquatic animals and the individuals of some 

 species are extremely abundant. 



The rocky, brush-covered hillsides are inhabited by large numbers 

 of reptiles and small mammals. The caves are entered by a number 

 of species. Altogether, twenty-seven species of verterbrates were rep- 

 resented in these caves, either by living examples or identifiable re- 

 mains. The large number is of interest in any discussion of the origin 

 of a cave fauna because it shows that while many animals get into 

 caves by accident or intent, only those especially adapted for cave- 

 life survive.- The list follows: 



1. Blind fish, Amblyopsis spelceus. 



2. Sun fish, Apomotis cyanellus. 

 '■',. ('at fish, Ameiurus melas. 



4. Miller's thumb, Cottus richardsonn. 



5. Minnow ( not identified). 



6. Cave salamander, Spelerpes maculicaudus. 



7. Ashy salamander, Plethodon cinereus. 



8. Green frog, Rana clamitans. 

 U. Leopard frog, Rana pipiens. 



a The principal caves arc pari of <>nc underground water-course. At two 

 places the roof lias fallen and exposed the caves and the stream. The stream 

 in the upper one of these breaks is known as Dalton's Spring, and the caves 

 as the upper and lower Spring Caves. Water does not flow through the second 

 break except after a heavy rain. Here the upper and lower openings are close 

 together and are known as the Twin Caves. The exit of the stream is through 

 a lofty opening into a short gorge. It is known as Donaldson's Cave or, more 

 Correctly, as Shawnee Cave. 



