6 MUSSELS OF BIG BUPPALO FOEK OF WHITE EIVER. 



here state that several years ago shells were quite numerous and 

 that one man could then perhaps have gathered 400 pounds in one 

 day. This bed had been worked for pearls and so devastated by hogs 

 that mussels are now very scarce. The river in places was not more 

 than 30 feet wide, and, especially on and near shoals, the bed was 

 gravel and sand; between these shallow places the river widens to 

 from 50 to 100 feet, and flows with a sluggish current 4 to 6 feet deep 

 over a rocky and muddy bottom. 



A short distance below camp A is a small bed from which about 

 20 shells belonging to three species were taken during an hour's 

 search. Many of these were dead, and only five were retained for 

 the collection. 



Shells taken at station 1 : Rock mussel, washboard, Quadrula un- 

 dulata, very abundant; Unio gihhosus, scarce; sand mussel, Sym- 

 phynota costata, only one seen ; Strophltus edentulus. 



Station ^. — July 22, camp C. The character of the river was about 

 the same as above. A few dead shells were observed, but no live ones 

 were found. 



Shells taken at station 2: AVhite niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea, a 

 few dead ; rock mussel, washboard, Quadrula iiiidulata^ scarce ; Stro- 

 phitus edentulus^ scarce ; Lampsilis planicostatus, 1 specimen ; butter- 

 fly, L. ventncosus, 1 live specimen, dead common. 



Station 3. — July 23. From about 1 mile above to 1 mile below 

 camp D. 



Shells taken at station 3: Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuherculata^ 

 scarce; white niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea^ scarce; TJnio gibhosus^ 

 common; Alasmidonta calceola^ 1 specimen; sand mussel, Symphy- 

 nota costata, Strophitus edenttdu^, common; Lampsilis venustus^ 

 common; butterfly, L. ventrlcosus^ abundant; L. hrevwulus hrittsi. 



After purchase of a wooden boat a trip was made down the Little 

 Bufi^alo to the forks and back to camp. Inquiries were made along 

 the river concerning shells in the Little Buffalo, all answers being to 

 the effect that they were scarce and were always scarcer than in the 

 Big Buffalo above the junction of these two streams. A local rain 

 had swollen the stream and more water was flowing than in the Big 

 Buffalo above the forks. It appeared to be the swifter of the two 

 streams and its bed more rocky. From this camp to the mouth of 

 the Little Buffalo the river flows mostly over gravel. A few dead 

 shells were seen and fewer live ones were found. Just below the 

 junction of the streams they were more numerous, but far from abun- 

 dant. From about a mile below the forks to the next camp no beds 

 were observed and but few shells or fragments of shell were seen on 

 the shoals. Up to this time no shells were found which had been 

 recently opened by pearl hunters. 



Station 4.— July 2G, camp E. Here there was a small mussel bed, 

 where a few shells were taken. 



