72 TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES. 



each developing fisli, encased in a 

 delicate egg membrane, shows the 

 large black pigmented eyes even 

 in the remotest develop t^d eggs, 

 with but few or no outlines of the 

 fish embryo. 



These minnows are always, and 

 exclusively, seen in large droves 

 close to the bank of flowing wa- 

 ter, as well as tanks, stagnating 

 creeks, etc., where the mosquito 

 is liable to deposit its eggs. How- 



ever, ^s the mosquitoes {prefer 

 small, demarcated water pools 

 along the waters to deposit their 

 eggs, the minnow has no chance 

 to feed on them; but where they 

 have access they are sure to ex- 

 terminate the entire brood; and 

 where, for instance, shallow creeks 

 are met with in summer contain- 

 ing plenty of minnows, it will be 

 noticed that no wrigglers are to be 

 seen and the surroundings to be 

 free of mosquitoes. 



The Bullbat. Goatsucker Bird, Whip-poor-will and 

 Guacharo or Fat Bird 



One of our most conspicuous 

 and most useful bird of the prairie 

 and plains is the so called Bullbat, 



Around San Antonio, and ;n 

 fact all over Texas land, this 

 insectivorous nightswallow abounds 



Bullbat Resting on a Broad Mesquite Tree Limb 



Goatsucker or Nightswallow, to 

 which genera also belong the Whip- 

 poor-will and the Guacharo-bird 

 to be described later herein. 



in great numbers. It 's nocturnal 

 in its habits, though in its haunt$, 

 especially along r>ulets, it is 

 also seen toward evening and 



