AQUATIC INSECTS IN NEW YORK STATE 201 



use was had of the equipment of both. In addition to the 

 studies made for us by Mr MacGillivraj', Professor Comstock 

 assigned two of his graduate students, Mr O. A. Johannsen and 

 Mr K. C. Davis, to work on special groups which the station 

 •was desirous of having investigated; and their work, published 

 herewith, speaks for itself. This arrangement has made it pos- 

 sible to present now a larger body of work than the station 

 independently, on its own limited resources, could have secured. 



The station sacrificed nothing in natural advantages by re- 

 moval to Ithaca. While so little is known of aquatic insects, 

 the fauna of one place is about as new as that of another. For 

 biologic field work of any sort, Ithaca possesses very great 

 advantages. It would be hard to find a place with more variety 

 of situation easily accessible. This is nature's contribution; 

 and it is, of course, the first requisite of a field station. It 

 rarely happens that so rich and varied a fauna and flora lie at 

 the very doors of the laboratories in which their study may be 

 most advantageously carried forward. 



East hill, with the university campus spread out on one of 

 its terraces, has cool swamps at its head and the Renwick 

 flats and Cayuga lake at its foot, and is seamed all down its 

 front by narrow gorges cut by turbulent streams. Across the 

 narrow valley West hill rises with like abruptness; but it is 

 of more regular contour, and its upper, gentler slopes are check- 

 ered by farms. Between the two hills at the head of the lake 

 is a marshy flood plain, partl}^ timbered, and traversed by sinu- 

 ous creeks and bayous. Sheltered behind the present natural 

 embankment of the lake is the Renwick lagoon, characteristic 

 views of which are shown in plates 1, 2 and 20. This is a great 

 natural aquarium, teeming with plant and animal life. It is 

 also a natural foraging ground for many of the lake fishes. 



The open lake is but a stone's throw to the northward, and 

 the lagoon opens directly into one of the several nearby creeks. 

 Plates 3 and 32 show situations along two of the creeks of East 

 hill near the university campus and GOO feet above the lake 

 level. These are pictures of collecting grounds utilized in gath- 



