368 Miscellaneous. 



Life in the Wyandotte Cave. By Professor Cope. 



An examination into the life of the cave shows it to have much 

 resemblance to that of the Mammoth Cave. The following is a list of 

 the species obtained, which, when compared with that published in 

 the ' Journal ' for August 28, will be found to embrace many of the 

 same. 



Vektebkata. — Amhlyopsis, sp. (Blind fish), 



Artictjlata. — Insects : Anophthalmus TeUlcampJli (beetle) ; Anopih- 

 thalmus No. 2 (beetle) ; Staphylinidce, sp. 1 (beetle) ; Staphyli- 

 nidce, sp. 2 (beetle) ; Phalangopsis, sp. (crickets) ; Flies, 2 species. 

 Spiders : Aranea-iik.e ; Opilio-W&.e. Centipedes : Pseudotremia, sp. 

 Crustacea : Astacus pellucidus (blind crawfish) ; ? aquatic species 

 with egg-pouches external ; Lernaeidse, species parasitic on blind 

 fish, 14 species. 



The blind fish is very much like that of the Mammoth Cave ; and 

 direct comparison will be necessary to determine any diflference, if 

 it exist. It must have considerable subterranean distribution, as 

 it has undoubtedly been drawn up from four wells in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the cave. Indeed it was from one of these, which 

 derives its water from the cave, that we procured our specimens ; 

 and I am much indebted to my friend N. Bart. Walker, of Boston, 

 for his aid in enabling me to obtain them. "We descended a well to 

 the water, some twenty feet below the surface, and found it to 

 communicate by a side opening with a long, low channel, through 

 which flowed a lively stream of very cool water. "Wading up the 

 current in a stooping posture, we soon reached a shallow expansion 

 or pool. Here a blind crawfish was detected crawling round the 

 margin, and promptly consigned to the alcohol-bottle. A little 

 further beyond, deeper water was reached, and an erect position be- 

 came possible. We drew the seine in a narrow channel, and after 

 an exploration under the bordering rocks secured two fishes. A 

 second haul secured another. Another was seen, but we failed to 

 catch it ; and on emerging from the cave I had a fifth securely in 

 my hand as I thought, but found my fingers too numb to prevent 

 its freeing itself by its active struggles. 



If these Amhlyopses be not alarmed, they come to the surface to 

 feed, and swim in full sight like white aquatic ghosts. They are 

 then easily taken by the hand or net, if perfect silence is preserved ; 

 for they are unconscious of the presence of an enemy except through 

 the medium of healing. This sense, however, is evidently very 

 acute ; for at any noise they turn suddenly downward and hide be- 

 neath stones &c. on the bottom. They must take much of their 

 food near the surface, as the life of the depths is apparently very 

 sparse. This habit is rendered easy by the structure of the fish ; 

 for the mouth is directed upwards, and the head is very flat above, 

 thus allowing the mouth to be at the surface. This structure also 

 probably explains the fact of its being the sole representative of the 

 fishes in subterranean waters. No doubt many other forms were 

 carried into the caverns since the waters first found their way there ; 



