372 Natural History Bulletin. 



common, and their awkward bodies may frequently be seen 

 on the mud-flats along the shores of both lake and river, or 

 floating like so many logs among the waves of the lake. 



Batrachia. — A number of species belonging to the Order 

 Anura were collected; they seemed to be most common in 

 the low forests along the San Juan River, and some very 

 brightly colored species were taken. 



Pisces. — The waters of eastern Nicaragua abound in fishes, 

 but onl}^ a few small species were taken. The occurrence of 

 Sharks in these fresh waters is interesting. They are found 

 in abundance both in the lake and in the San Juan River, and 

 are said to be man-eaters. A shark was reported to have 

 been caught at San Carlos, a short time before the second 

 visit of the party, with the remains of a human body in its 

 stomach; also, when during the stay at Castillo, a little child 

 fell into the Rapids the natives fished for sharks with long 

 lines in the hope of securing at least the fragments of the un- 

 fortunate little one. 



A?'th)'opoda. — A few Crustacea, all belonging to the Order 

 Thoracostraca were collected. Crabs are found in both the 

 lake and river, and one or two terrestrial species were found 

 above Camp Menocal. 



Of the Arachnida Scorpions and Ticks are common; the 

 former are particularly so, and often find their way into houses 

 where they have a habit of hiding in one's shoes and clothing. 

 A number were collected. Ticks are common in the woods 

 during the dry season, and are said to be very troublesome at 

 times. Spiders were not rare but none vv^ere collected. An 

 interesting species of this group, which probably belongs to 

 Phalangiimi^ occurs in the woods on Ometepe in great num- 

 bers, and often collects in clusters a foot or more in diameter. 



Insects were scarcely as common as they were expected to 

 be, yet a number were collected. About 30 species of Or- 

 thoptera, principally from Ometdpe, Castillo and Greytown, 

 were taken and at once forwarded to Prof. Lawrence Bruner, 

 of Lincoln, Nebraska, who will report on them. Of Coleopte- 



