EXPLORATIONS OF THE ALLEGHANY REGION AND WESTERN INDIANA. 131 
H.— THE CAPE FEAR RIVER. 
The Cape Fear River rises in the uplands of northern North Carolina, its two 
chief tributaries being the Haw and the Deep Rivers. It flows southward, entering 
the sea near the cape from which it takes its name. Its tributary streams for more 
than half its course flow over a soil of red clay, produced by decomposition of granite. 
Most of these streams are full of yellow clayey sediment all the year around, and 
hence are not favorable for fish life. No collections of any extent had been made in 
the Cape Fear Basin previous to our visit. The fauna is evidently substantially iden- 
tical with that of the Santee and Great Pedee, streams which enter the sea not far 
from the mouth of the Cape Fear. In several respects its fauna differs from that of 
the Neuse River, which is more nearly like that of the Roanoke. Our collections in 
the Cape Fear Basin are all from tributaries of Haw River, in Guilford County, N. C. 
1. Reedy Fork of Haw River at Folk’s Mill, 11 miles north- northeast of Greens- 
borough. August 25; temperature 74°. This is a rather sluggish stream, stained 
gray by sediment, its bottom covered with gravel and mud, with many snags. The 
stream is not a good one for collecting, but this locality is probably as favorable as 
any, for below the mill the stream shows some current. Species taken here are 
marked R. 
2. A small very clear brook or spring-run, without name, one mile south of Folk’s 
Mill. August 25; temperature 70°. This stream is full of small fishes; those taken 
here are marked S. 
3. South Buffalo Creek, about 5 miles southeast of Greensborough. August 25 ; 
temperature 70°. This is a small creek, with rather clear water, and well stocked 
with small fishes. It contains some long deep pools, on a bottom of gravel. Fishes 
from this stream are marked B. 
4. Little Allemance Creek, at a point about 9 miles southeast of Greensborough. 
August 25; temperature 69°. This is a small stream, very clear, and fed by springs. 
It has a bottom of gravel. Fishes from this stream are marked A. 
1. Noturus insignis (Richardson). B., R. 
Some very large specimens. 
2. Ameiurus platycephalus (Girard). B., R. 
Very abundant in the river. This species swarms in all the river bottoms from 
the Cape Fear to the Ocmulgee, reaching a length of something more than a foot. 
Unlike the other catfishes, it feeds almost exclusively on vegetation, its long intestines 
being always found crowded with the remains of river weeds. This fact may render 
it desirable for introduction into streams^not adapted for any better fish. It is largely 
used for food in the regions where it occurs. 
I am unable to distinguish Ameiurus brunneus Jordan, from A. platycephalus. The 
species varies considerably, and in old examples the head becomes very flat and broad. 
Excessively abundant as is this species in the Cape Fear, and in the streams further 
down the coast, it has not yet been noticed in the Neuse or the Roanoke. 
3. Moxostoma papillosum (Cope). R. 
Common. These specimens are quite elongate, and vary somewhat among them- 
selves ; fins all red in some, in others the caudal only ; edge of dorsal concave. Head 
4 to 4J in length ; depth 4J. D. 12 to 14. 
