548 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxv. 



The first group, comprising the true cave fauna, contains but two 

 species of vertebrates, the blind fish, Amhlyopsis spelcmis, and the 

 cave salamander, Spelerpes maculieaudus. The latter is not perfectly 

 adapted to cave life and lives outside of caves in some localities. 



The fauna of any restricted area can be divided into the same 

 groups as those given above. Within the limits of distribution of a 

 species, its local occurrence will be governed, in part, by the food 

 supply. But a species is not found in every locality within its range 

 where a sufficient amount of food can be obtained. Here the physical 

 environment is the controlling factor, and the possibility of finding 

 or constructing suitable dens, nests, runways, or other hiding places 

 limits the local distribution of the species. 



As far as the author is aware, the ecology of the land vertebrates 

 has never been worked out in detail for such an area. The notes 

 here given on the breeding habits, homes, and food of the various 

 species were gathered for such a contribution, which, however, it has 

 not been possible to complete. 



A series from the specimens collected has been presented to the 

 U. S. National Museum. 



For providing the opportunity and necessary equipment for carry- 

 ing on the work my thanks are due to Indiana University, and 

 especially to Dr. C. II. Eigenmann, professor, and Dr. Charles Zeleny, 

 associate professor, of zoology. 



THE COLD-BLOODED VERTEBRATES. 

 FISHES. 



The relation of the cave fauna to food-supply and to the local 

 terranean fauna is best illustrated by the fishes. The subterranean 

 streams contain a considerable number of small Crustacea, plankton, 

 and insect larva? which constitute the food of the eyeless fish, Atnhhj- 

 opsis spelceus. The surface streams contain a much larger quantity 

 of the same kind of food, yet these cave fishes never take up their 

 abode in the lighted portions of the stream. On the other hand, the 

 common brook fishes seldom enter the subterranean portions of the 

 streams and have never become established there. 



The Larger environment of White River and Mill Creek were not 

 investigated, and, with the exception of one or two hauls of the seine 

 in t he Latter st ream, all of the lishes collected were taken from the small 

 creek which flows from the Shawnee Cave. This part of the stream 

 i- less than 300 yards in length and contains no large pools and none 

 more than 2\ feet deep. Thirteen species of fishes were taken in this 

 stream in the course of a few hours. 



The explored portion of the subterranean stream is at least 2 miles 

 in length, and there are pools as large as any of those of the surface 

 run that were seined. But in the 2 miles of underground stream only 



