94 Bulletin 1, Biological Society of Washington, 1918. 



kingfishers, swallows and burrowing bees. Among the latter 

 once flourished a colony of Anthophora from whose nests 

 were obtained specimens of the rare Meloid. Hornia 

 minutipennis. 



In illustration of the marshy portions of the Eastern 

 Branch, the section in the bend opposite Benning will be 

 discussed. The abundance of wild rice here, the bird hosts 

 that feed upon it, and the sport dependent upon their pres- 

 ence, need not be commented upon, for they have been fully 

 described by Coues. Among the characteristic or peculiar 

 plants of this part of the marsh are Scirpus fluviatilis and 

 8. sylvaticus, EleocMris quadrangulata, Carex riparia, Lop- 

 hotocarpos calycinus. Ranunculus ambiguus, Cabomba caro- 

 liniana, Lathyrus palustris, I tea virginica, and Eryngium 

 mrginianum. 



Upon this vegetation may be found such insects as the 

 aquatic leaf beetles (Donacia), soldier flies (Stratiomyidae), 

 and the hymenoptera that visit the flowers of pickerel weed 

 (Pontederia cordata) and of Eryngium. Rare beetles that 

 have been collected in this locality include the Carabidae, 

 Ardistomis obliquata, Cymindis elegans and Casnonia ludo- 

 viciana, the Staphylinid, Thinobius fimbriatus and the 

 Anthicid, Mecynotarsus candidus. The Casnonia, along with 

 Leptotrachelus dorsalis. another uncommon Carabid, are 

 most easily obtained by sifting debris at the edge of the 

 marsh in winter. A few spots along M Street extended have 

 proved best for the search. With these beetles are brought 

 to light numerous Stenus, Pselaphidae and Donacia. 

 Aquatic bugs as Limnobates, Hebrus, and Velia stagnate 

 also are disclosed. This locality and this method are by far 

 the best for collecting the last-named species, which is among 

 the desiderata of most bug collections. 



Fishes that are most abundant in the Eastern Branch and 

 similar well vegetated waters include the gar (Lepisosteus 

 osseus), mud minnow (Umbra pygmaca), pickerels (Lucius 

 americanus and L. reticulatus) , killifishes (Fundulus dia- 

 phanus and F. hetei-oclitus) , the silverside (Menidia beryl- 

 Una) and the sunfishes (Enneacanthus gloriosus and E. 

 obesus). 



