92 



Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



dollars,* it is not surprising that the natives of this section, who are 

 mostly of French descent, should appreciate their dietetic importance. 



Again, the innumerable burrows of these crustaceans, honeycomb- 

 ing the soil everywhere, and all leading toward the nearest ditch or 

 bayou, greatl} T facilitate the rapid carrying away of the surface drain- 

 age — an exceedingly important matter in this almost perfectly level 

 country. On the whole, therefore, their extermination would doubtless 

 prove a serious loss, even though they do sometimes occasion trouble 

 by perforating the levees. 



Turning our attention to the swamp again, our reflections on Cray- 

 fish and Correlation are brought to a sudden termination by the ap- 

 pearance, through an opening in the foliage, of a Great Blue Heron, 

 winging his way heavily toward a blasted C}^press top, whence, after 

 glancing warily about, he sets his broad pinions, and with dangling 

 legs sails languidly down to the margin of the bayou below. 



So the time passes, almost like a dream, until at last the thickening 

 gloom and hootings of numerous Barred Owls admonish us of the ap- 

 proaching sunset. The swallows are skimming homeward o'er the 

 newly plowed ground; the frogs begin their evening pipe along the 

 bayous, while from, his resting place in some hollow trunk the Red 

 Bat flickers forth and with' vacillating flight marks out his zig-zag 

 course against the sky. 



We look in vain for our accustomed Northern twilight — the crimson 

 sun drops behind the Cypress wall that borders the horizon, and night 

 reigns supreme. — (Ed.) 



MAMMALOGY. 



Sciuropterus volucella, Goeffroy. — Common Flying Squirrel. 

 Felis domesticus, L. — Common House Cat. 



Coming home one Saturday evening, after a week's absence in town, 

 I found the juveniles of the family in great tribulation. The}* had 

 planted a pea patch by the side of the wood on some idle ground, and 

 the paths were all littered with pea shells. I went up next morning 

 with dog and gun, but saw nothing. Dog did not seem to know the 

 scent. Sent for the cat. She scented the shells and trotted home. 

 Looked bad for the peas; next Saturday evening came home; all was 

 lovel}'; peas safe; tails of three flying squirrels were produced — found 



*Vide Huxley, "The Crayfish," p. 10. 



