MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 19 



It was found at the following stations: 6, scarce; 10, scarce; 14, 

 common; 17, scarce; 18, scarce; 20, scarce; 21, scarce; 24, scarce; 

 25, common ; 26, scarce. 



Lampsilis venusfus (Lea). — Not common, but well distributed, 

 the first 11 being taken at station 3 and the last one at station 24. 

 In all, 19 specimens were secured. Mr. Bryant Walker, to whom the 

 specimens were referred and who identified them, in remarks con- 

 cerning some of the specimens says, " On the whole they seem to be 

 between veimsta and 'pleami. More material from different localities 

 would be very desirable." 



This is a small species attaining the length of about 50 milli- 

 meters. Most of the females have a peculiar sulcus extending from 

 the jDost ventral margin dorsad, and the epidermis with exceedingly 

 fine capillary rays posteriorl5^ Mr. AValker calls attention to their 

 close relationship and similarity to L. ellipsifoi^rrvis (Conrad). Call 

 is of the opinion that venustus and pleasii are the same. 



It Avas found at the following stations: 3, common; 8, scarce; 

 9, scarce; 11, scarce; 16, scarce; 24, scarce. 



Green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket^ Lampsilis ligamentinus 

 {Lamarck). — This is much the most abundant species found in the 

 river, and is represented by 216 shells obtained at numerous stations 

 from station 5 down to station 26. There are four without data. 

 Only a few of the shells have rosy nacre. There is great variation 

 in size, form, and general appearance. Most of the various forms 

 found in widely different localities are found in this one river, not 

 in widely separated parts of the river, however, but in the same 

 mussel bed. Two examples from station 5 are very thick and heavy. 

 One other from the same place is flatfish, with broad rays, and an- 

 other one is small, flattened, and rayless. This latter depauperate 

 form, resembling a style common in Green River, K3\, is a common 

 type in the river. One specimen, collected at station 9, and one 

 from station 23, are remarkably inflated and elongate. One shell 

 collected at station 19 is inflated and arcuate, having the general 

 shape of SyTnphynota costata. At station 15 a specimen with broad 

 green bands and a greenish epidermis, the kind known by clammers 

 along the Mississippi as the " grass mucket " was called " green 

 mugget " and one with a rusty epidermis and no rays was called " red 

 mugget." 



Although the mucket, Lampsilis ligamentinus^ is one of the staple 

 shells used in button manufacture, those of the Big Buffalo River 

 are of little commercial value on account of their general small size 

 and lack of uniformity. 



It was found at the following stations: 5, common; 6, scarce; 7, 

 scarce; 8, very abundant; 9, very abundant; 10, very abundant; 11, 



