160 



MOSQl'lTOES 



abundant in slu.cr.yisli waters, fresh or brackisli, almost 

 everywhere south of the Ohio liiver. It feeds hiryely on 

 vegetable matter, but also on insects. Larval mosquitoes 

 have been found in its stomach. The species is vivipar- 

 ous, as indeed are most of the minnows of this genus, as 

 well as of the geuus Fuiidulus, the young wheu born being 

 about three-eighths of an inch long. It is specially abun- 

 dant in the Gulf States. Dr. H. A. Veazie, of New Or- 

 leans, writes me that this little tisli is common about New 

 Orleans, and that where it is present he has not been able 

 to find mosquito larvie of any kind. He has looked in 







Fid. 40. — Tdp ininnow {Fundidns notatus) ; sliirlitly oiilurgcd. (After 

 Jonlaii and Evcniiiuin.) 



gutters and ])onds Avherc to all ajipearances there should 

 bo plenty of larva% and has found none, and very shortly 

 he saw the little minnows patrolling the pools. He says 

 they are great breeders, and ravenous eaters. They are 

 so small that they will go into the shallowest places, and 

 even wriggle on the side of the body to catch their prey. 

 They seem to live under the most adverse circumstances, 

 and do not die until all water is gone. He has seen them 

 so thick in a partly dried-up pond that they had no room 



