86 



ranges sou t invest to the (iiilf of Mexico, and the smaller, Lepu)< patus- 

 tris, Bachman, wliicli ranges to the south and southeast. Careful in- 

 vestigation of the rabbits of southern Indiana is requested. 

 Cor!/norhiini.'< macrotis (LeCoute). Big-eared hat. 

 December 20, 1894, Dr. L. ^I. Underwood brought to me at the 1 'enison 

 House, Indianapolis, a specimen of this species taken from a cave live 

 miles soutliwest of (ireencastle, Ind., a few days before by Pi'uf. .J. P. 

 Naylor. There was another with it, which was not taken. Keturning 

 to the cave another time no more could be found. Tiie specimen is 

 now in mv c(dlection. 



Some Cases uf Mimicry in Fishes. By W. .J. Moexkhais. 



Tliere are four ditierent species of fish that show a most interesting similarity 

 in their color pattern. They are Etheostoma blenniii-'^, ElheoMoma nranidea. Cottu.? 

 richardsoni and Catoi^toinns iii(/r)fan.<. Tliey belong to three diflf'eriut fainilics, the 

 first two, darters, to the PercUJa- ; the third, the inillcrgllunnb, to tlie Co(li(]"\ and the 

 last, the black sucker, to the Catostomidw. 



The color-pattern consists of four liroad transverse bars extending dc^wnward 

 and forward. The similarity of this pattern in tlie darters and the miller's thumb 

 is almost peifect. The black sucker has this pattern only when young. The re- 

 semblance here is less perfect. 



This remarkable coincidence of color-pattern can be ex{)lained on tlie prin- 

 cijjle of protective mimicry. The miller's thumb is a very horny, spiny and un- 

 inviting fish for food to any enemy that may live on small fish. It may. tliere- 

 fore, have found it advantageous to develop these four prominent l)ars as a mark 

 to enable its enemy to recognize it and thus make fewer mistakes in capturing 

 undesirable food. The diirter ami the young sucker on the other hand would be 

 most excellent food for these same enemies. Thus they iiave found it to their ad- 

 vantage to mimic this miller',; thumb and live off its reputation as an undesirable 

 food fish. 



This seems all tiie more probable from the fact that these fish inli;ibit tiie 

 same streams. 



