54 



MUSSEL FAUNA OF MAUMEE EIVER. 



appeared, like many of the others, to become smaller as we proceeded 

 downstream. 



Z. luteolus is subject to infection by the same parasites as those 

 which attack L. Ugamentinus, viz, Atax and occasionally Cotylaspis. 

 One example obtained in the mouth of the St. Joseph River con- 

 tained a number of Bucephalus polymorphus. 



This shell has nacre of about the same quality as that of L. lig- 

 amentinus, but the shell is usually smaller, and has more lateral 

 curvature, so that it can not be worked up so advantageously in 

 making buttons. It is well adapted to the manufacture of fancy 

 buckles, however. 



31. Lampsilis muUiradiatus (Lea). This very attractive little 

 mussel was not common in the Maumee Basin, and nearly all those 

 found were dead shells, so nothing was learned concerning its habits. 

 Only 9 examples were found, and these were in the upper two-thirds 

 of the river basin, in the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers, 

 and in the feeder canal. In 1907 a fair number were found in the 

 feeder canal, and it had apparently thriven there to some extent. 

 It is of no commercial importance. The species is a resident of lakes 

 fis well as rivers. 



32. Lampsilis ventricosus (Barnes). Pocketbook. This shell, 

 though not especially common, occurs rather frequently in the Mau- 

 mee Basin. At the riffles of the St. Marys 7 large examples were 

 found. Very fine examples were also obtained in the feeder canal. 

 In the reservoir of the feeder canal a fine but small specimen was 

 found, pretty closely resembling Z. cap ax. In the mouth of the St. 

 Joseph River 18 were secured. Occasional examples were obtained 

 all the way down the Maumee; in the Auglaize 14 fine specimens 

 were taken. The largest ones found were in the Maumee below the 

 dam at Defiance, and it was also common below the dam at Grand 

 Rapids, and 2 more were secured in the Maumee above Waterville, 

 Ohio. Altogether 83 examples were obtained. 



This shell also lives in lakes and 12 were obtained in Lake Erie 

 at Put-in Bay, all dwarfed. 



Although well-marked specimens of this species are easily recog- 

 nized, it has many deviations from the typical form. Some closely 

 approach Z. capax^ and we have seen shells from Lake Maxinkuckee 

 which seem to lie between this species and Z. luteolus. In other 

 localities it appears to run into a species which in its typical form is 

 known as Z. ovatus. However, in the Maumee Basin it is well 

 marked and fairly uniform. 



Z. ventricosus is used to some extent in the button business, but it 

 is quite frequently too thin for this purpose. 



In spawning season this is a very striking shell, the breeding 

 mussel projecting long vividly colored flaps from the mantle and mov- 



