Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 237 



gill, yellow perch, and large-mouth black bass. And the eggs laid 

 by those which succeed in escaping all their enemies furnish enor- 

 mous quantities of food to the multitude of little fishes hatched 

 during the previous summer, while the eggs that escape, hatch 

 sooner or later, and in their new form as Chironomus larvae, sup- 

 ply even greater quantities of delicious food to the fishes of a some- 

 what larger growth, and also to the turtles and young water-dogs 

 in the water and to various species of birds which feed along the 

 beach. But even this is not all the story. The millions of 

 Chironomi, after having accomplished their only purpose in life by 

 laying billions upon billions of eggs, die, and their dead bodies, 

 falling upon the surface of the lake or upon the land, are eaten by 

 the fishes, birds, and small insectivores. 



One more illustration must suffice. When we came to study 

 the shore vegetation we were struck by the number of trees, shrubs 

 and other plants growing on the immediate lake shore, so close to 

 the lake that their branches overhang the water more or less. The 

 total number of species was not fewer than 50. Insects and in- 

 sect eggs and larvae were observed on a great many of these trees, 

 shrubs and herbaceous plants; doubtless every species is fed upon 

 or is the home of one or more species of insects. These insects 

 fall upon or are blown out upon the water now and then. Many 

 of them lay their eggs upon the leaves and these may fall off and 

 into the water, carrying the eggs with them. 



The eggs that hatch produce caterpillars and other larvae 

 which feed upon the leaves of the plant, and many, while feeding, 

 drop into the water where, along with the adults and eggs that had 

 fallen in, they become a prey of the fishes. This is one reason 

 why many fishes come in near shore in the evening and at night; 

 they are attracted there by the abundant and varied fish-food con- 

 tributed to the lake by the plants along the shore. 



With interesting and important inter-relations such as these 

 constantly forcing themselves upon our attention, the evidently 

 proper thing to do was to make our study of the lake sufficiently 

 comprehensive to include all such problems as fully as possible; 

 and this we have done. We therefore endeavored to make such 

 observations as time would permit, not only of the physical features 

 of the lake and immediately surrounding country, but also of most 

 of the groups of animals and plants in and about the lake of which 

 any of us possessed any knowledge. Unfortunately, and very 

 naturally, our acquaintance with some groups was very limited 

 indeed, and concerning those we are able to contribute little or 

 nothing. 



