The Relation of Mollusks to Fish in Oneida Lake 237 
mussel shells, chiefly Lampsilis and other Unionide, on the 
margins of ponds and streams. ‘The thin-shelled species fre- 
quently have the valves broken, but the heavier kinds are 
often without injury or tooth marks. The inference is that 
the unbroken mussels have been left to die and open of them- 
selves, after which the muskrat secures the meat.” This 
last sentence may be nearer the truth than is generally sup- 
posed. Rhoads (1903, p. 105) refers to the the same method 
when he states that “ They have a habit of gathering mussels 
from the mud and piling them upon logs and rocks to die. 
The shell thus opens and the contents are devoured by some 
animal, presumably the rats, though I have never seen them 
do it. No doubt, minks, coons, foxes, ete., participate in this 
feast.” There is need for more direct observation on this 
matter. 
In a muskrat pile on Frenchman Island the following 
“species were observed and counted. 
Anodonta cataracta, 35. Lampsilis radiata, 21. 
Anodonta implicata, 5. Lampsilis borealis, 11. 
Anodonta marginata, 3. Elliiptio complanatus, 8. 
Lampsilis luteola, 1. 
Putorius vison (Schreber). Mink. 
The Mink is an infrequent feeder upon mussels although 
normally feeting upon vertebrates. Seton (1909, IT, p. 884) 
states it will eat snakes and clams when nothing better turns 
up, and also preys upon crawfish and carrion. Merriam 
(1886, p. 64) states the food to consist of muskrats, rats, 
mice, birds and their eggs, fish, frogs, turtles’ eggs, crawfish, 
and fresh-water mussels. Coues (1877, p. 177) states that 
“Tt is probably our only species which feed habitually upon 
reptiles, fish, mollusks, and crustaceans — more particularly 
upon frogs, fresh-water bivalves, crawfish, and the like.” No 
direct evidence of the use of mollusks as food has been seen 
by the writer. 
Lutra canadensis (Schreber). Otter. 
The Otter, a typical fish-eater, is said to rarely eat craw- 
fish, frogs and shellfish (Seton, 1909, II, p. 835). Rhoads 
