1817.J GENUS HYDRARGIRA. 127 



water, where they assemble in small shoals, and flee to their 

 covered retreats, or secrete themselves in the mud. The 

 mode of life of these fishes, daily causes multitudes of 

 them to be abandoned by the tide, when they are exposed, 

 m small hollows, or shallow pools, to the attacks of their 

 enemies, or the inconveniences of a limited excursion. Mr. 

 Bosc observed in South Carolina the species, named by 

 him Atherina swampina, from which the tjenus Hydrar- 

 gira^ of La Cepede, was instituted, and which species the 

 Chevaher Cuvier recently included in his genus Psecilia, 

 adopted from .Schneider Regne AnimaL tome ii. p. 198. 

 •^ The individuals of this species," says the count de La 

 Cepede, after the manuscript observations of Mr. Bosc, 

 *^ appear by thousands in all the fresh waters of Carolina. 

 They swarm particularly in the marshes, and in the la- 

 goons among the woods. The places in which they are 

 found being often dried up, or at least so far drained as 

 not to afford sufficient water to cover them, they are there- 

 fore obliged to change their abode. This is effected with- 

 out much trouble, in consequence of their ability to spring 

 to considerable distances. Mr. Bosc was a witness to 

 the speed with which the fishes advanced over a consider- 

 able space in search of more abundant water. They sup- 

 ply nourishment to a great number of water-birds, and of* 

 reptiles, which dwell in the lagoons and marshes." Hist. 

 Nat. Poiss. tome v, p. 379. 



The fishes of this genus are extremelv tenacious of 

 life, I once carried, in very warm weather, and to a con- 

 siderable distance, several individuals in my handkerchief, 

 which was wet; none of them suffered, to appearance, 

 but retained their vigour on their removal to a vase of wa- 

 ter, into which I placed them for the purpose of observa- 



