40 



MtiSSEL, FAUNA OF MAUMEE EIVER. 



shells of any species were found) . It was very abundant in the feeder 

 canal and in its reservoir. A number of shells of this species were 

 also found on the shore of Put-in Bay Island, Lake Erie. 



Although during the summer's collection we obtained material 

 exhibiting considerable variation, all examples found within the 

 Maumee Basin were fairly constant in form, though some were short 

 and humped. This species very closely resembles Quadrula coccinea, 

 the only apparent difference being in the prominence of the ridge on 

 the posterior umbonal slope; hence some specimens are difficult to 

 classify. 



Young shells of this species exhibit faint rays which disappear 

 with age. The specimens obtained in the reservoir differed from 

 most of the others in having a very satiny epidermis. The greater 

 number of the shells have a white nacre, although in some cases it is 

 yellowish or rosy. None of our examples are as rosy, however, as 

 Q. coceinea frequently becomes. The flesh of this species varies from 

 salmon or orange to deep red, the richness of its color probably vary- 

 ing with the nearness to the breeding season and the abundance of 

 ova present ; these latter are of a bright carmine color. Some speci- 

 mens were found becoming gravid and one nearly ripe in the feeder 

 canal July 27. On account of its commonness not all of the shells 

 seen were collected; however, we obtained 112 examples from the 

 Maumee Basin. 



Wliat seemed a peculiarity in the action of this mussel was the 

 habit of burying itself in the early summer. On a visit to the 

 reservoir of the feeder canal on June 30, the mussels were all pro- 

 jecting far out of the mud and actively moving about, while on 

 July 23, at the same place, they were buried quite deep, and hard to 

 find. They were also deeply buried in the feeder canal pools about 

 the same date. 



A probable explanation of this peculiar action is that the reservoir 

 was quite shallow and the water became warm. The water becomes 

 low during drouths, and the mussels may have gone down into the 

 mud in anticipation of the pool going dry. 



This species is sometimes more or less affected with Atax^ though 

 not badly. Those found in the reservoir were more affected than 

 others. 



Although its small size is something of a disadvantage, this species 

 would make a fair button shell. It has good luster, and its compara- 

 tive flatness would permit its being worked up economically. 



Though there are a number of river shells superior to it, it is one 

 of the best if not the best button species that would thrive well in 

 ponds. A considerable number were weighed and measured, and 

 the largest, obtained at the Defiance Dam, was 88 millimeters high 

 by 306 millimeters long, and the dry shell weighed 101 grams. 



