Insects, etc., of Caledonia Creek. 79 



Their nests are not very elaborate structures, as they are composed of such 

 material as is accessible to the pair within the narrow limits near the bank of 

 the stream, which they have selected as their special domain, and from which 

 every venturesome intruder is at once driven away. Pieces of straw or of dried 

 grasses blown into the water are appropriated for the purpose and interwoven 

 among the vegetation of the stream in such a manner as to harmonize with the 

 surrounding objects, and with difficulty to be detected by one walking upon the 

 bank. When removed from the water, their delicate structure causes them to 

 fall together into a shapeless mass. When the female has deposited her eggs 

 in the nest, they are guarded with ceaseless vigilance. The boldness of the 

 niale, in their defense, is remarkable : " He will dash at a fish of ten times his 

 size, and by dint of his fierce onset and his bristling spears, drive, the enemy 

 away. Even if a stick be placed within the sacred circle, he will dart at it, 

 repeating the assault as often as the stick may trespass upon his domains." 



REPTILES. 



At the time of my December visit, lizards were quite abundant in the mosses 

 at the water's edge. A number of examples were brought with me on my return, 

 but unfortunately they died, and decomposition ensued to the extent of destroy- 

 ing their characteristic features, before they were determined. They were, 

 apparently, of three species. 



In the month of February following, diligent search, at my request, was made 

 for additional examples, but only one individual could be found. This proved 

 to be the gray-spotted Triton — Triton porphyriticus (Green) of Dekay, — the 

 Gyrinophila porphyriticus of Cope's Check List of North America Batrachia 

 and Reptilia* Its range is from New York to Alabama (Cope). 



CRUSTACEANS. 



Two examples of the craw-fish, Cavnbarus Bartonii (Fabr.), were among the 

 collections.! This species is probably the most common of our Northern forms, 

 in ponds, creeks and rivers, beneath stones, or burrowing into banks It extends 

 southward into Maryland and Kentucky. 



The shrimp, Gammarus fasciatus Say, previously noticed, was very abundant 

 among the mosses and the water plants. 



In the aquarium to which the water of the can containing the collections, was 



transferred, numerous examples of the minute crustacean, Cyclops } were 



observed, resting against the glass sides, or darting swiftly through the water, 

 very many of the females bearing on each side of them, the ovoid sac of eggs, 

 which forms so conspicuous a feature in their appearance during this period of 

 their existence.^ 



These small crustaceans are often spoken of as water-fleas. They occur in 

 both fresh water and salt — in the latter so abundantly that, notwithstanding 

 their insignificant size, they constitute, it is said, a material portion of the food 

 of whales. 



INSECTS. 



COLEOPTER A. 



The following species of water beetles were obtained from the plants at the 

 time of their collection, or subsequently from the aquarium in which they were 

 placed on my return to Albany : 



* Bulletin of the United States National Museum. No. 1. 1875. 



f Prof. Uhler finds these examples representative of the Northern type, but to differ, in details 

 Of mouth-organs and proportions of body, from the Montana forms. 

 X For an outline figure of Cyclops quadricornis, see American Naturalist, vol. ix, p. 586. 



