Some Notes on the Craw -Fish. — Indian Mills. 23 



der part of its tail numerous eggs fastened to small filaments; 

 these eggs are of about the size and color of hemp seed. 



These it carries about until sometime in May or June, when 

 they hatch; but they still continue to cling to the filaments until 

 they have gained sufficient strength to start out alone, they are 

 then about % inch long. 



While young they grow more rapidly than when they are more 

 advanced in age, they grow a little more than an inch in the first 

 year. 



Speaking from' personal observations they grow to be about 

 four inches in length whenthey have obtained their full growth. 



The mouth is situated directly in front of where the large 

 claws join the body, and is marked by a pair of jaws running 

 parallel to each other and pointing forwards. 



It sheds its shell every few weeks even to the covering of its 

 eyes, after which it is soft for two or three days, it grows only 

 during this state. 



While in this condition it conceals itself beneath weeds and 

 stones, because it is now defenceless. 



The shell begins to form and is hardened at the end of about 

 four days, when it regains its old confidence. 



The cray-fish has the power of reproducing its limbs, when it 

 has lost one through some accident. 



Take it all in all they are very interesting, and there is always 

 something new to be found out about them if they are closely 

 watched and studied. E. Slarks. 



INDIAN MILLS. 



It is a well known fact that the Indians raised corn. They 

 certainly had a way to grind or mash it. It is supposed by some 

 that the mortars sometimes found, were used for this purpose; 

 they may have been used in this way, but it is more probable 

 that they were used for pulverizing roots, etc., by pounding with 

 a pestle, for medicine. I have found several pieces of stone, 

 with rounded edges, about two inches thick, and worn very 

 smooth. The whole piece had been about thirty-two inches in 

 circumference. The other part was made of stone shaped like a 

 very shallow mortar, and made to fit the buhr loosely, the corn 

 being placed between them, and ground by hand, something 

 after the style of ancient Egyptian grinding. The stone of 

 which the buhr was made was hard and granular, and when 

 two pieces were struck together, like flint, they would "strike 

 fire." This kind of a mill was used by the Catfish, and perhaps 

 also by the Mohawk, Indians in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 



