ZOOLOGICAL 
dark night; but the fact that fish like trout could 
live in a stream under these conditions shows 
what could be easily done by a little stocking 
and protection in many American streams and 
rivers. First of all the streams themselves would 
have to be protected from pollution, not merely 
from sewage in the cities, but from chemical 
waste and sawdust in the country districts. 
SOCIETY 
BULLETIN. 709 
Whether or not we can ultimately afford to set 
aside large tracts of land for the protection of 
game animals outside of forest reserves, may 
possibly be questioned, but there can be no dis- 
cussion whatever of the wisdom of protecting 
our streams so that the planting of fish fry will 
not be rendered futile by filth and carelessness. 
M. G. 
“PERSPECTIVE - SKETCH: OF EXTERIOR ~TREATMENT: 
PRELIMINARY SKETCH ——— — }] 
i 
i 
iat batttteg 
s Mier Lge 
iC 
FRONT ELEVATION OF THE PROPOSED ENLARGED AQUARIUM. 
Preliminary sketch by the architect, J. Stewart Barney. 
AN 
AMBIDEXTROUS FIDDLER CRAB. 
HE males of the fiddler crabs of the genus 
Uca (Gelasimus) have one chela or pincher 
very greatly enlarged and elongated. The 
other claw is small, and in the female both are 
small. The large claw, which may be either the 
right or left one, is used by the male in fighting 
and is carried always well advanced before the 
body. The species are only semi-aquatic and 
burrow in sand or mud near the water, often in 
very numerous colonies. In spite of their war- 
like appearance they consider “discretion the 
better part of valor” in the presence of larger 
enemies, and the vibration caused by a persons 
footsteps is sufficient to send them scampering 
for their burrows. When they are numerous 
they make a very noticeable rustling sound as 
they race toward their places of concealment. 
As they retreat sidewise into their burrows the 
last thing visible is the large claw held threaten- 
ingly up to warn the supposed pursuer of what 
he may expect if he approaches too closely. 
When the crab emerges again—all the danger 
presumably past—the big claw is the first part 
to become visible, in readiness for any lurking 
foe. There are three species of the fiddlers in 
our region. One of these, Uca pugnax, is 
abundant in its proper habitat, and numerous 
specimens are on exhibition at the Aquarium, 
apparently quite at home in a glass box of damp 
sand. 
The purpose of this article is, however, not 
so much to call attention to the habits of the 
species as to record a very unusual specimen of 
Uca pugillator (Latreille) taken by Mr. John J. 
Ridgway at Rockaway Point, Long Island. 
Instead of the usual one large and one small 
claw, this specimen is abnormal in possessing 
two large claws of equal size and normal shape. 
As far as can be observed no other abnormalities 
are presented. 
The behavior of this specimen was in all re- 
spects similar to that of the normal unsymmet- 
rical ones, among which it was found living. 
It sidled into a hole with the usual celerity, 
but not rapidly enough to escape the quick eye 
of Mr. Ridgway, who noticed the unusual sym- 
