﻿BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT. 203 



Epilobocera cubensis Stimpson. 



This crab, which reaches a width of several inches, was observed in many of the 

 caves. It is probably found in all of them though not in great abundance. If the 

 adult affects the blind fishes at all, it is to feed on them. I have found the young 

 of this species in the stomach of Stygicola. 



Gammarus caecus Weckel. 



The following technical description will be found in Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 XXXII, page 47. 



Eyes absent. First antennae more than half as long as the body ; second segment of the pe- 

 duncle slightly longer than the first and about three times as long as the third; flagellum composed 

 of twenty to thirty elongated segments, each bearing a few short hairs at the distal end; secondary 

 flagellum reaching slightly beyond the third segment of the primary flagellum, composed of four 

 segments, the distal one short and furnished with long hairs. Second antennae are about two-thirds 

 as long as the first pair with the peduncle extending far beyond that of the first pair; ultimate seg- 

 ment of the peduncle only slightly longer than penultimate which is greatly elongated and about equal 

 in length to the antepenultimate; flagellum composed of about twelve segments, which are shorter 

 than those of the first antenna? and furnished with more hairs. 



The carpus of the first gnathopods of the male is triangular and elongated, with the anterior 

 margin furnished with a few long hairs and numerous short ones ; propodus narrower than the car- 

 pus, twice as long as broad, with the anterior margin concave, armed sometimes with a fascicle 

 of hairs, the posterior margin conve.x, and the palm almost straight, slightly convex, and armed with 

 four or five spines and a few short hairs; dactyl as long as the palm and fitting it closely. Second 

 gnathopods with a carpus broader than in the first pair but similarly armed ; propodus not so broad 

 as the carpus, about twice as long as broad and larger than in the first gnathopods; posterior mar- 

 gin almost straight; anterior margin slightly convex and usually furnished with one or two fascicles 

 of hairs; palm very oblique, slightly concave at the center, armed with five or six spines at the tip 

 of the closed dactyl, and one or two spines and a few short hairs on the margin; dactyl strongly 

 curved, as long as the palm. 



Both margins of the coxal plates of the third, fourth, and fifth perseopods are serrate and fur- 

 nished with spines, those on the anterior margin being smaller than those on the posterior. Postero- 

 lateral angles of the third and fourth abdominal segments are produced backward and end in a blunt 

 tooth. The last two or three abdominal segments are furnished dorsally with a few short spines. 

 The first uropods project slightly beyond the second pair. In both pairs the rami are about equal 

 in length and slightly longer than the peduncle. The third uropods were broken off in the few 

 specimens which I had for examination. Telson cleft to the base, armed distally with a few short 

 spines. 



I found this blind amphipod in INIodesta in the roots of trees. It was not 

 abundant and was not observed in any of the other caves in which no special 

 search was made for it. It was hidden among the rootlets of Ficus in a way in 

 which it would not be noticed unless special care was taken to look for it. It is 

 quite probable that it may be found in many of the caves. 



In addition to the above mentioned species dragon-fly larvae were found in the 

 stomachs of some of the fishes. 



PL.ANTS. 



In parts of Ashton a green alga forms a dense mass over many square feet of 

 bottom. Young lucifugas are abundant in the alga, but this is the only instance 

 of its occurrence in association with blind fishes and it scarcely deserves considera- 

 tion as part of their normal environment. 



The only plant worth considering as forming part of the biolo.gical environ- 

 ment of the blind fishes is the tree sending roots to the water. The roots break 



