10 



RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



The greatest number of genera and species 

 belong to this zone. Here they are found 

 living upon the various seaweeds, or upon 

 the bottom, adhering to stones and other 

 objects. Off Rumstick, at the mouth of 

 Warren River, is a deposit of fine, soft mud, 

 spread out over the bottom of the bay for 

 more than a mile, being the sediment 

 brought down by the fresh water of the 

 river ; in this mud are found several species 

 of highly polished bivalve shells, which form 

 the prey of various carniverous gasteropods. 

 In tropical countries, the reef-building cor- 

 als take the place of seaweeds, and many 

 species of mollusks live there, feeding upon 

 the zoophytes which build up the coral. 

 Here are obtained the bright-colored shells 

 of the tropics, and in this zone are found 

 the pearl oysters, as well as the edible 

 oysters of our bay. 



The Coralline Zone extends from fifteen to 

 fifty fathoms. Beyond the belt of seaweed, 

 which fringes our northern shores, the onl}' 

 vegetable growth consists of NuUipores, 

 which cover the rocks and shells with their 

 stony looking incrustations. Man}' vege- 

 table feeders, with their carnivorous enemies, 

 inhabit this zone. Many species of fish 

 feed upon these mollusks, and man}' rare 

 species of shells can be obtained only from 

 the maws of these fishes. 



Dr. Gould, in The Invertebrata of Massa- 

 chusetts, 1841, describes 270 species found 

 north of Cape Cod, more than half of which 

 were obtained from the maws of fishes 

 from the markets in Boston. Codfish and 

 haddock consume immense quantities of 

 deep-water MoUusca, and many new species 

 may yet be obtained by this means. 



The Deep Sea Zone reaches from fift}' 

 fathoms to unknown depths. In these sol- 

 itary regions certain species are found, 

 small in size and dull of color. The Tere- 

 bratulie and other Brachiopods are found 

 here, and, as this region is but Httle known, 

 we may expect to reap rich harvest in the 

 future. 



Although the marine Mollusca may be 

 found at all times and seasons of the year, 

 it is not so with the fluviatile or fresh 

 water, or the terrestrial or land shells in this 

 northern climate. The best time for collect- 

 ing our fresh water shells is in early spring, 

 say the first of April, or even sooner, while 

 May or June is earl}' enough to look for the 

 terrestrial species. To an amateur asking 



for directions to find land and fresh water 

 shells, I would say, look everywhere, in all 

 sorts of possible and impossible places ; you 

 will find them where you least expect, and 

 will be almost sure not to find them where 

 their existence would seem most probable. 

 The best time to collect them is when you 

 and they are both in the same place at once, 

 for there is nothing so uncertain as a 

 "locality" ; you may find a species abund- 

 ant to-day, and next week there are none 

 to be seen. 



In the next chapter I will give descrip- 

 tions of some of the species of Gasteropoda 

 inhabiting our state. 



(To be continued.) 



Cheap Setting Boards. 



To our insect collectors we would say 

 that for mounting and drying beetles the 

 cheapest setting board possible, and at the 

 same time as good as any, is a pasteboard 

 box of two inches deep or more, turned up- 

 side down. Take care that the bottom is 

 firm enough not to spring much when a pin 

 is stuck into it, or withdrawn, and if it 

 turns the points of the delicate insect pins, 

 start the holes with a fine needle. Com- 

 mon brass pins will do nicely to stretch and 

 pin the legs in position, but the best are 

 the blue steel ones with round heads. They 

 have sharper points. 



SOUTHWICK & JENCKS' 



gatalogued. 



BIRDS. — Contains the entire nomencla- 

 ture North American Birds, and 

 Price-List of skins, e^^s, insects, 

 and supplies, with instructions for 

 prepanng skins and eojgs. Price, 20 cts 



MINERALS. — Gives Dana's species 



number, localities, and valuations, 6 " 



SHELLS. — Contains a very full list of 

 prominent species, with authorities 

 and synonyms. Also habitat and 

 valuation, - - - - - 10 '' 

 The three Catalogues for - -25" 



SAMPLE PAGES ON APPLICATION. 



