384 



REED-WRIGHT— THE VERTEBRATES OF [October i, 



of the southern tributaries at certain periods of the year. It is pos- 

 sible, therefore, that these lakes may receive species from all three 

 sources. Of the 65 species found in the basin 19 are common to the 

 Ontario and Susquehanna basins although frequently varying in 

 abundance. A table follows: 



Several of the basses are common to all three basins but the in- 

 troduction of these species from one place to another renders them 

 of no comparative value. 



Twenty-one species are common to the Cayuga and Ontario 

 basins. Two species, Cottus gracilis and No fro pis procne, are com- 

 mon to the Cayuga and Susquehanna basins. There are in the Cay- 

 uga basin four species which do not occur in either the Ontario or 

 Susquehanna. One of these is the smelt, Argyrosomus osmeri- 

 formis, confined to the interior lakes of New York. The others, 

 Notropis umbratilis, Notropis anogenus and Lepomis cyanellus, are 

 most common in the northern portion of the basin and doubtless 

 found their way hither through the Erie Canal from Lake Erie. 



It appears that the fish fauna of the Cayuga basin bears the 

 stamp of Lake Ontario with just a trace of the Susquehanna and 

 Erie basins. There is a possibility that species which seem to have 

 found their way here from the Eri^e and Susquehanna basins were 

 introduced along with game fishes or from bait pails. Observations 

 made in Monroe Co., New York, by A. H. Wright^^ indicate that 

 fishes find their way eastward through the Erie Canal. 



Amphibia. — One of the characteristic features of our vertebrate 

 fauna is the relative abundance of amphibian species and individuals, 

 particularly in the southern portion of the basin. In this respect the 



" Wright, A. H., MS., " The Fishes of Monroe Co., New York." 



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