MUSSEL. FAUNA OF MAUMEE EIVER. 45 



«nd three in the Maiimee below the Independence Dam. The hist 

 example was found below the dam at Grand Rapids, Ohio. In all, 

 15 specimens were taken. 



This shell is handsome and odd, brightly splashed with blue or 

 green and greatly inflated. It is of no commercial importance on 

 account of its thinness. The nacre is usually whitish, though fre- 

 quently with a bluish tinge and occasionally a beautiful pink or 

 rosy. 



11. Symfliynota comflanata (Barnes). Heel-splitter; hackle- 

 back. This species is common about Fort Wayne, being especially 

 abundant in the feeder canal, where it was one of the most con- 

 spicuous members of the mussel fauna. Of the great number seen 

 in the feeder canal 18 fine examples were taken; 2 were secured in 

 the reservoir of the feeder canal and 5 in the St. Joseph River near 

 its mouth. 



This species is evidently an overflow from the upper Wabash 

 drainage. Only one specimen was obtained in the Maumee River 

 and that was at the very head near Fort Wayne ; one which had been 

 found at New Haven, about 7 miles below Fort Wayne, had been 

 kept and was shown as a curiosity. 



This shell was formerly not much used in button making, as it is 

 usually rather thin for that purpose. Its broad flat surface and fair 

 luster, however, are greatly in its favor, and more buttons can be cut 

 out of one of its valves than from any other species except the large 

 Quadrula heros. It appears to breed abundantly and bring forth 

 large numbers of young. Gills of examples obtained in the Little 

 Wabash River near Fort Wayne, September 26, 1906, were full to 

 bursting with giochidia, which are brownish and give the whole mass 

 a distinct brown color. 



The species appears to have bred successfully in the feeder canal, 

 as there were a great many you.ng shells there. It would probably 

 not thrive well in ponds, though a healthy example was seen in the 

 reservoir of the feeder canal. It is not found in lakes, but is fre- 

 quent in small streams with rather muddy bottoms, and is somewhat 

 similar to Anodonta in habits. It is frequently the host of Atax^ 

 and is one of the species especially susceptible to infection by the 

 parasite Aspklogaster conchicola, which inhabits the pericardial 

 cavity, without, however, doing much apparent harm. 



As this species lives where there is rather little current and thrives 

 on a muddy bottom, it would probably be a valuable subject for culti- 

 vation. Its abundance in the canal suggests that it would respond 

 well to artificial conditions. 



12. Symphynota costata (Rafinesque). Fluted-shell ; squaw-foot. 

 This mussel was fairly common in the Maumee River throughout 

 most of its length. One example was found in the St. Marys River 



9275°— 13 9 



