210 WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



tunity to observe the many small fishes that were con- 

 stantly passing and repassing there, and which also 

 were congregated upon the smooth sandy bottom of the 

 stream. The smaller minnows were generally too rest- 

 less to be studied satisfactorily, and indeed they do not 

 offer much attraction to the student; but fortunately 

 there was a goodly company of little darters or etheosto- 

 moids, and these were pitching about over the rippled 

 sands in so sprightly a manner that I gave most of the 

 remaining hours of daylight to them. They were all of 

 one species the common tessellated darter chestnut- 

 brown, and covered with inky-black lines, dots, and little 

 squares ; and when resting upon the mottled sandy mud 

 were very difficult to detect. These fish are not pretty, 

 but what they lack in attractive coloring is compensated 

 for by the methods, all their own, of their lives. As the 

 water was but a foot in depth, and steadily decreasing, 

 I found many individuals were lying on the sand direct- 

 ly beneath me, as I leaned over the gunwales. I found 

 very few by looking for them, but many by waiting un- 

 til they gave a start and then watching where they set- 

 tled. Often several would be almost in contact, but there 

 was no concert of action as when small shiners or cypri- 

 noids are associated. Occasionally two, and sometimes 

 three or four, would see the same object move, and 

 within the fraction of a second all would pounce upon 

 it. This seemed to lead to no ill-tempered demonstra- 

 tions on the part of those which were unsuccessful in 

 capturing the coveted morsel. 



As is well known, darters are poor swimmers. With 

 a great effort they can move ahead for a foot or two. 



