MUSSEL FAUNA OF MAUMEE RIVER. 



21 



constant and ample, the supply of water uniform the year round, and 

 the bottom seems to have been well suited to a great variety of species. 

 This gives the mussels a uniformly large size, while the shells at the 

 same time are of extra quality and luster. 



4. These facts would indicate that a canal would furnish one of the 

 best locations that could be obtained for artificial propagation of 

 mussels. Furthermore, the water in a canal can be drawn down from 

 time to time without much trouble, thus allowing examination of the 

 mussels. Examples suitable for breeding or for commercial purposes 

 could then be selected easily and rapidly without in any way disturb- 

 ing the others. Such possibilities are at least worthy of a careful 

 consideration in future attempts at the artificial propagation of 

 mussels. 



The last visit to the canal was made on July 27, after a series of 

 heavy rains. The canal bed was at this time under water for nearly 

 its entire length, and was covered with grass and weeds that had 

 sprung up in a short time and effectually concealed the shells. This 

 visit threw light on a phenomenon which had proved quite puzzling 

 during previous visits. Occasionally, shells of Quadrula undiilata^ 

 only recently dead and with bits of flesh still clinging to them, had 

 been found in dry places in the canal bed some distance from any 

 pool. At the time it was hard to understand how they came to be 

 there, as it seemed impossible that they could have " mudded up " and 

 survived the long period following the breaking of the dam. This 

 visit showed that during the high water of winter or spring the 

 whole canal bed had probably been submerged, and that the mussels 

 had migrated from the deeper portions at that time. 



During our previous visits, also, a number of pools, comprising the 

 deeper portions of the canal bed, were observed, and a few live mus- 

 sels, chiefly Anodonta grandis and Quadrula' undidata^ had been 

 noted near the edges, but the pools were not fully investigated. 



On this last visit the pools were thoroughly investigated and were 

 found to contain an abundance of molluscan life. Fine examples of 

 the following species of mussels were secured : Quadrula coccinea, 1 ; 

 Q. ruhiginosa^ many, deeply buried; Q. cylindrical 1; Q. undulata-t 

 many; AlaswAdonta truncata^ 1; Symphynota costata^ several; Ano- 

 donta grandis^ a few; Strophitus edentulus^ a few; Ptychohranclms 

 pha^eolus^ 1; Ohovaria circtdus, 1; Lampsilis iris, 1; L. rectus, 2; 

 L. ligamentinus, many, large and fine; L. luteolus, several; and Z. 

 ventricosus, 1, large. Among other mollusks, Ancylus was abundant 

 and large, usually attached to the shells of living mussels. Algse of 

 various species were common, covering the water surface. In one 

 place Hydrodictyon was exceedingly abundant. 



This investigation was interesting and important, as it showed that 

 mussels will live for long periods in shallow pools where they once 



