S H 
 
 THE MUSSELS OF THE BIG 
 BUFFALO PORK OF THE WHITE 
 RIVEB, ABKAHSAS 
 
 By Seth Eugene Meek, 
 
Class JL#2^_ 
 fotkd/ S/f/S 
 
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 
 BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
 
 GEORGE M. BOWERS, Commiiafonat 
 
 THE MUSSELS OF THE BIG BUFFALO 
 
 FORK OF WHITE RIVER, 
 
 ARKANSAS 
 
 Bureau of Fisheries Document No, 759 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 1912 
 
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 
 
 BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
 
 GEORGE M. BOWERS, Commissioner 
 
 THE MUSSELS OF THE BIG BUFFALO 
 FORK OF WHITE RIVER, 
 
 IM-^^-K, PeX^ »-"«~ 
 
 Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 759 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 1912 
 
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 THE MUSSELS OF THE BIG BUFFALO FORK OF 
 WHITE RIVER, ARKANSAS 
 
 By SI E. Meek and H. Walton Clark 
 
 Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 759 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 The Library of Congress 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/musselsofbigbuffOOmeek 
 
THE MUSSELS OF THE BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE 
 RIVER, ARKANSAS. 
 
 By S. E. Meek and H. Walton Clark. 
 
 PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. 
 
 The Big Buffalo River drains a considerable portion of the north- 
 ern slope of the Boston Mountains. It is a winding stream bordered 
 on its outer curves by bluffs, most of which rise perpendicularly from 
 the water to a height of 20 to 400 feet or more. In many places back 
 from these bluffs the highest mountains rise quite abruptly to a height 
 of about 1,500 feet above the river. The immediate banks were esti- 
 mated to be from 10 to 30 feet high. In manj^ places where a root 
 hold can be had on the face of these bluffs stunted cedars are grow- 
 ing, and these become more numerous and taller along its upper 
 margin. The slopes and tops of the mountains support a considerable 
 forest of oak and pine. The river valley is narrow, which is also 
 true of all its tributaries. In dry weather the river is little more 
 than a creek, and such it is usually called by the residents; but in 
 wet weather it often becomes a raging mountain torrent. In its 
 lower course it has been known to rise 30 feet or more in one day. 
 
 Prof. W. N. Gladson, of the University of Arkansas, to whom the 
 party was indebted for many courtesies, examined the river for 
 mussels between Boxley and a point about 10 miles above the ford 
 on the road from Harrison to Jasper. No shells were found in this 
 portion of the river except a few in the last mile or two. 
 
 The bed of the portion of the stream visited varied in width from 
 about 30 feet to 200 feet. Over many shoals the water was not deep 
 enough to float the boats, which drew only about 5 inches of water, 
 and in the long, deep holes it seldom exceeded a depth of 6 feet. 
 Along the course of the river are many sand and gravel bars, which 
 seem to shift more or less with each freshet, leaving, perhaps, less 
 than half the river in anything like a permanent bed. 
 
 Mussel beds, as compared with those on the White Eiver, were 
 neither large nor plentiful^ and these occupied only the favorable 
 
 3 
 
4 MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FOBK OF WHITE BXVEE. 
 
 places in the bed of the stream which appeared to be permanent. 
 No beds were found on sand bars, and when found on gravel bars 
 the sand and gravel were mixed with larger fragments of rocks. 
 It would be quite impossible to collect shells in this stream with 
 tongs or drags such as are successfully used on the Illinois River in 
 Illinois. Nowhere were shells found in abundance, and if all shells 
 taken out by the pearl hunters could be used in the manufacture of 
 buttons there could certainly not be much profit in collecting and 
 transporting them. 
 
 Notwithstanding the statements of some pearl hunters that a bed 
 can be worked thoroughly one season and as many shells found there 
 the following one, the general impression is that the mussels are not 
 so abundant as formerly. During the low water the hogs eat all that 
 they are able to obtain, and are, no doubt, partially responsible for 
 the depletion of many beds in the upper course of the stream. In- 
 quiries were made as to shells in the smaller tributaries, and the 
 answer was either " none " or " very few." Along the portion of the 
 river examined the beds have all been very thoroughly worked an- 
 nually for the past few years by pearl hunters, and work of this 
 nature was being carried on energetically in 1910. 
 
 It seems that a stream which varies so greatly in volume as this 
 one does, so much of its bed changed by freshets, with scarcely any 
 permanent sand bars, would not furnish conditions for an abundant 
 growth of mussels. Between Boxley and a point about 10 miles 
 above the ford on the Harrison-Jasper road only one small bed was 
 observed. 
 
 The distance between our first and last camps was 95.8 miles, and 
 the difference in elevation was 402 feet, or about 4.2 feet per mile. 
 The fall for the first 15 miles was about 4.3 feet per mile, and in the 
 last 15 miles 3.2 feet per mile. Between our camps of July 28 and 
 July 30 the fall was 4.9 feet per mile for a distance of about 15 miles. 
 
 During the trip the river was gauged at three places with the fol- 
 lowing results: The flow of Buffalo River above the forks of Little 
 Buffalo, sec. 8, T. 16 N., R, 20 W., on July 22 was 43.6 cubic feet 
 per second, the gauge height at Gilbert on this day being 3.6 feet; 
 the width of water was 54 feet. On July 26, in sec. 35, T. 16 N., 
 R. 20 W., below the forks the flow was 85.19 cubic feet per second, 
 with a gauge height at Gilbert of 3.8; Avidth 64 feet. On August 1 
 at Gilbert the flow was 137.4 cubic feet per second, gauge 3.2, width 68. 
 
 The following is a list of camps, giving the elevation of each and 
 the distance from each to the next as furnished by Prof. Gladson. 
 The measurements are stadia distances in feet between each station 
 and the following one. The elevations are above mean sea level, Gulf 
 of Mexico, from United States Geological Survey bench marks, Fay- 
 etteville, Ark. 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FOEK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 Camps on Buffalo Fork of White River, Ark. 
 
 Camp 
 desig- 
 nation. 
 
 Location. 
 
 Elevation. 
 
 Stadia 
 distance 
 from pre- 
 ceding 
 station. 
 
 NEWTON COUNTY, ARK. 
 
 South line of sec. 34, T. 16 N., R. 21 W. of fifth principal meridian 
 
 In N. W. J sec. 12, T. 16, R. 20 W 
 
 Near center of N. | of sec. 8, T. 16 N., R. 20 W 
 
 S. E. J of same section as above 
 
 S. W. J sec. 35, T. 16 N., R. 20 W 
 
 E.§sec.33,T. 16N.,R. 19 W 
 
 SEARCY COUNTY, ARK. 
 
 Center of sec. 31, T. 16 N. , R. 18 W 
 
 S. i sec. 11, T. 15 N., R. 18 W 
 
 Near center of sec. 5, T. 15 N., R. 17 W 
 
 South of center of sec. 31, T. 16 N. , R. 16 W 
 
 Center of S. 4 sec. 22, T. 10 N. , R. 16 W 
 
 E. 4 sec. 13, T. 16 N., R. 16 W 
 
 E. § sec. 4, T. 16 N., R. 15 W 
 
 MARION COUNTY, ARK. 
 
 Near center of sec. 26, T. 17 N., R. 15 W 
 
 N.E.J sec. 23, T. 17 N. , R. 15 W 
 
 N. E. Jsec. 23, T. 17N.,R. 14W 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Feet. 
 
 793 
 
 765 
 758 
 724 
 
 664 
 631 
 595 
 556 
 540 
 517 
 490 
 
 471 
 452 
 421 
 
 22, 756 
 22,380 
 5,374 
 32, 556 
 35, 956 
 
 36, 992 
 41,052 
 29, 720 
 50,316 
 23, 150 
 36, 978 
 42, 089 
 
 35,488 
 44, 156 
 36,844 
 
 No special effort was made to collect fishes, and the few taken in 
 Rush Creek and in a small stream near Mount Hersey were damaged 
 by the swamping of a boat and were not brought out. A number of 
 game fishes, including rock bass, green sunfish, long-eared sunfish, 
 and small-mouth black bass were caught by casting. A yellow cat 
 (Leptops olivaris) was taken on a set line, and some residents had 
 taken with a spear some other catfishes, which were identified as 
 Ameiurus aujuiUa. Suckers (the common white sucker and the red 
 horse) were apparently common. Small fishes were nowhere abun- 
 dant, the more common species being Notropis zonatus. No large- 
 mouth black bass were seen until near Red Cloud mine, where one 
 specimen was taken, and a second one jumped into our boat at the last- 
 station, but below Red Cloud mine fly fishing was very poor as com- 
 pared with that in the river farther up. 
 
 MUSSEL BEDS LOCATED. 
 
 The exact location of the various mussel beds was rather difficult 
 of determination. So few people were living along the stream that 
 it was impossible to learn the local names of the fords, bluffs, and 
 many of the shoals. It was possible, however, to locate the camps 
 quite accurately and to approximate the distance between them, which 
 enabled us to locate the beds fairly well, since they are usually found 
 on the outer or bluff side of the river. Following is a list of the 
 approximate localities where the collections of shells were made : 
 
 Station 1. — July 21, camp A. Immediately above the second ford 
 above Welche's, where the Harrison-Jasper stage crosses the river, 
 a few shells were found on gravelly bottom. Farmers living near 
 
6 MUSSELS OP BIG BUFFALO FOBK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 here state that several years ago shells were quite numerous and 
 that one man could then perhaps have gathered 400 pounds in one 
 day. This bed had been worked for pearls and so devastated by hogs 
 that mussels are now very scarce. The river in places was not more 
 than 30 feet wide, and, especially on and near shoals, the bed was 
 gravel and sand; between these shallow places the river widens to 
 from 50 to 100 feet, and flows with a sluggish current 4 to 6 feet deep 
 over a rocky and muddy bottom. 
 
 A short distance below camp A is a small bed from which about 
 20 shells belonging to three species were taken during an hour's 
 search. Many of these were dead, and only five were retained for 
 the collection. 
 
 Shells taken at station 1 : Rock mussel, washboard. Quadrula un- 
 dulata, very abundant; TJnio gibhosus, scarce; sand mussel, Sym- 
 phynota costata, only one seen ; Strophitus edentulus. 
 
 Station 2. — July 22, camp C. The character of the river was about 
 the same as above. A few dead shells were observed, but no live ones 
 were found. 
 
 Shells taken at station, 2 : White niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea, a 
 few dead ; rock mussel, washboard, Quadrula undulata, scarce ; Stro- 
 phitus edentulus, scarce ; Lampsilis planicostatus, 1 specimen ; butter- 
 fly, L. ventricosus, 1 live specimen, dead common. 
 
 Station 3. — July 23. From about 1 mile above to 1 mile below 
 camp D. 
 
 Shells taken at station 3 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tubercidata, 
 scarce; white niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea, scarce; TJnio gibhosus, 
 common; Alasmidonta cdlceola, 1 specimen; sand mussel, Symphy- 
 nota costata, Strophitus edentulus, common; Lampsilis venustus, 
 common; butterfly, L. ventricosus, abundant; L. breviculus brittsi. 
 
 After purchase of a wooden boat a trip was made down the Little 
 Buffalo to the forks and back to camp. Inquiries were made along 
 the river concerning shells in the Little Buffalo, all answers being to 
 the effect that they were scarce and were always scarcer than in the 
 Big Buffalo above the junction of these two streams. A local rain 
 had swollen the stream and more water was flowing than in the Big 
 Buffalo above the forks. It appeared to be the swifter of the two 
 streams and its bed more rocky. From this camp to the mouth of 
 the Little Buffalo the river flows mostly over gravel. A few dead 
 shells were seen and fewer live ones were found. Just below the 
 junction of the streams they were more numerous, but far from abun- 
 dant. From about a mile below the forks to the next camp no beds 
 were observed and but few shells or fragments of shell were seen on 
 the shoals. Up to this time no shells were found which had been 
 recently opened by pearl hunters. 
 
 Station If.. — July 26, camp E. Here there was a small mussel bed, 
 where a few shells were taken. 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 7 
 
 Shells taken at station 4: White niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea, 
 scarce; Unio gibbosus, abundant; niggertoe, Alasmidonta truncata, 
 scarce; sand mussel, Symphynota costata, common; Strophitus eden- 
 tidus, scarce; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, Lampsilis 
 ligamentinus, L. breviculus brittsi, scarce. 
 
 Station 5. — July 26. About 2 miles below camp E a much larger 
 bed was found. The pearl hunters had recently been here and about 
 100 freshly-opened shells were observed and a few live ones were 
 found. 
 
 Shells found at station 5 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata^ 
 common; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, scarce; cob shell, rabbit's 
 foot, Q. cylindrica, 1 dead; sand mussel, Symphynota costata, abun- 
 dant; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, Lampsilis ligamen- 
 tinus, common; butterfly, L. ventricosus, scarce. 
 
 Station 6. — July 26. About 1 mile above camp F a small bed was 
 observed, from which about 50 shells were taken during a search of 
 and hour or more. 
 
 Shells found at station 6: Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberctdata, 
 scarce; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, common; Unio gibbosics, scarce; 
 sand mussel, Symphynota costata, common; young fantail, Cypro- 
 genia aberti, scarce ; spectacle case, Lampsilis rectus, scarce ; green 
 mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, scarce ; butterfly, 
 L. ventricosus, scarce; L. breviculus brittsi, scarce. 
 
 Station 7. — July 27. There were no beds of mussels observed for 
 3 or 4 miles below camp F, and very few dead or fragments of shells 
 were found. About 1 mile above Mount Hersey a few shells were 
 taken on a bed which extended through a longer course of the river. 
 The shells, which were scarce, were found mostly among the larger 
 rocks. 
 
 Shells found at station 7: Sand mussel, Symphynota costata, 
 scarce; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, Lampsilis liga- 
 mentinus, scarce; L. breviculus brittsi, scarce. 
 
 None was found on an extensive sand and gravel bar at this point. 
 The bed of the river is very rocky with quite extensh^e shoals both 
 above and below Mount Hersey. A small bed was observed near the 
 mouth of Cave Creek, its presence being made known by old shells 
 and fragments on the gravel bars. No live mussels were seen, but a 
 few were observed by one of the rodmen. 
 
 Station 8. — July 28. Above Wolem. A small mussel bed was ob- 
 served about 1 mile below camp G. A much larger bed is located 
 just above Wolem. Many mussels were seen here in the deeper 
 water, and many had been recently opened by pearl hunters. This 
 bed was at least three-quarters of a mile long, being much larger 
 than any previously observed. 
 
 Shells found at station 8: White niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea, 
 scarce; Unio gibbosus, scarce; sand mussel, Symphynota costata, 
 20869°— 12 2 
 
8 MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 scarce; Strophltus eclentulus, scarce; fantail, Trltogonia tubercidata, 
 scarce; spectacle case, black sand-shell, Lampsilis lienosus, 7 taken; 
 L. venustus, scarce; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. 
 ligamentinus, most abundant species; butterfly, L. ventricosus. 
 
 The river widens just below this bed and runs over a gravel bar, 
 much of the water evidently flowing through the gravel. It was so 
 shallow that the boats, which drew about 5 inches of water, passed 
 with difficulty. 
 
 Station 9. — July 29. About 2 miles from camp H lay a mussel 
 bed about one-half mile long on a shoal. Many shells had been 
 opened, but none recently. Live mussels were plentiful, many of 
 them lying in sand between rocks. On this, as well as other beds 
 observed, the shells were in such rocky places that tongs or other 
 appliances could not be used, and all shells taken by pearl hunters 
 were taken by hand. In an hour's collecting about 150 live shells 
 were secured. 
 
 Shells found at station 9: Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculoid, 
 very abundant; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, scarce; Unio giboo- 
 sus, common; niggertoe, Alasmidonta truncata; A. calceola, 1 found; 
 sand shell, Symphynota costata, abundant; Lampsilis ozarkensis, 
 abundant; L. venustus, scarce; green mugget, red mugget, grass 
 mucket, L. ligamentinus, most abundant species; butterfly, L. ven- 
 tricosus, scarce; L. breviculus brittsi, scarce. 
 
 Station 10. — July 29. About 5| miles below camp H a small bed 
 was found, and two other small beds were observed, one about 3|, 
 the other about 5 miles from camp. 
 
 Shells found at station 10 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 scarce; Unio gibbosus, scarce; sand mussel, Symphynota costata, 
 scarce; fantail, Tritogonia tuberculata, scarce; spectacle case, Lamp- 
 silis rectus, scarce; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. liga- 
 mentinus, most abundant species. 
 
 Station 11. — July 30. About 2 miles below camp I there was a 
 mussel bed less than one-half mile in length. Pearl hunters had 
 opened many shells, but not recently. 
 
 Shells found at station 11: Unio gibbosus, scarce; sand mussel, 
 Symphynota costata, scarce; spectacle case, Lampsilis rectus; L. ve- 
 nustus, scarce ; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamen- 
 tinus, abundant; butterfly, L. ventricosus ; L. breviculus brittsi, scarce. 
 
 Station 12. — July 30. About 3^ miles below camp I a small bed 
 was found. 
 
 Shells taken at station 12: White niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea, 
 scarce; Unio gibbosus; sand mussel, Symphynota costata; Strophltus 
 eclentulus, scarce ; spectacle case, Lampsilis rectus; green mugget, red 
 mugget, grass mugget, L. ligamentinus, abundant;. L. breviculus 
 brittsi, scarce. 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FOEK OF WHITE BIVER. 9 
 
 Station 13. — July 30. About one-half mile below this last bed was 
 a much larger one. A boy and a man were here hunting pearls, but 
 they would give no information on the subject. There were on the 
 shore at this place about 4 or 5 bushels of recently opened shells, by 
 far the greatest number so far observed in one place. 
 
 Shells taken at station 13: Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 abundant; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, scarce; Unio gibbosus; sand 
 mussel, Symphynota costata; Lampsilis ozarkensis, scarce; red mug- 
 get, green mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus. 
 
 Station H. — August 1. A short distance above camp J, which was 
 near the railroad station at Gilbert, was a small mussel bed ; no speci- 
 mens taken. About one-half mile below Gilbert is a fairly large bed 
 tying on coarse gravel with larger fragments of rock and some sand. 
 The depth of the water was about 2 feet. Three men, hunting pearls, 
 were sitting on the bottom and digging the shells up with their hands. 
 Each shell was opened at once, and if no pearl was found it was 
 dropped and another one taken, every portion of the bed being ex- 
 amined. These men insisted they could take all they could find, and 
 the next year as many more could as easily be found. The nature 
 of the bottom was such that tongs or other devices could not be used 
 profitably, for there were too many fragments of rock much larger 
 than the shells and many about the size of the shells. ' Many of the 
 shells were embedded beside the larger fragments and in some cases 
 partly under them. Where the water was deeper the shells were 
 collected in a bag and taken to the shore and opened. At this bed 
 there was less than a bushel of shells on shore, while three or four 
 times that amount were strewn over the bottom where the men were 
 working. 
 
 Shells found at station 14: Red niggerhead, Quadrula tubercidata, 
 abundant; cob shell, rabbit's foot, Q. cylindrica, common; Unio gib- 
 bosus, scarce; sand mussel, Symphynota costata, abundant; Stro- 
 phitus edentidus; fantail, Tritogonia- tuberculata, common ; red shell, 
 Lampsilis purpuratus, scarce; spectacle case, L. rectus, common; 
 green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, abundant. 
 
 Station 15. — August 1. Below Gilbert, for about 2 miles, the cur- 
 rent was quite rapid and the bottom very rocky. About 3-J miles 
 below Gilbert was a considerable stretch of deeper water, bordered 
 near the shallow water with sand and gravel bars. Mr. Cookson, a 
 professional pearl hunter, had been working here for nearly a week. 
 He had worked over the shallow places, and when we met him he 
 was collecting in water about 5 feet deep. So many shells, he said, 
 were between and under the edges of the larger rocks that tongs could 
 not be used. His method was to have his sack for shells weighted 
 down; by holding it with one hand he could draw himself under 
 water and search for shells as lornr as he could hold his breath, after 
 
10 MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 which he would come to the surface, take a breath, and disappear 
 again under water. During the week he had taken out of this bed 
 about 10 bushels of shells, but did not believe many were left. From 
 this bed a series was selected by Mr. Cookson and common names 
 known to him were given them. Pearls, he says, are found mostly in 
 the red and green muggets (muckets) and the washboards, and these 
 shells are usually the most abundant. All shells taken, however, are 
 opened for pearls. Mr. Cookson had hunted pearls for several years. 
 He reported finding on an average pearls to the value of about $300 
 each year. The most valuable one found by him sold for $90. 
 
 Shells found at station 15 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 common; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, scarce;, cob shell, rabbit's 
 foot, Q. cylindrical common; rock mussel, washboard, Q. undulata, 
 common; Unio gibbosus; niggertoe, Alasmidonta truncata; sand mus- 
 sel, Symphynota costata /young fantail, Cyprogenia aberti; fantail, 
 Tritogonia tuberculoid; red shell, Lampsilis purpuratus ; L. ozarken- 
 sis; spectacle case, L. rectus; red mugget, green mugget, grass mucket, 
 L. ligamentinus; L. breviculus brittsi. 
 
 Station 16. — August 2. About 3 miles below camp K (Cookson's 
 camp) a collection was made from a bed about the size of the one 
 mentioned above. 
 
 Shells found at station 16: White niggerhead, Quadrida coccinea, 
 scarce; cob shell, rabbit's foot, Q. cylindrica, common; rock mussel, 
 washboard, Q. undulata, more abundant than all other species; Unio 
 gibbosus, scarce; sand mussel, Symphynota costata, common; fan- 
 tail, Tritogonia tubercidata, scarce ; young fantail, Cyprogenia aberti, 
 scarce; red shell, Lampsilis purpuratus, scarce; L. glans, 1 specimen; 
 L. osarkensis, common ; spectacle case, L. rectus; L. venustus, scarce ; 
 green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, abundant ; 
 butterfly, L. ventricosus. 
 
 Station 17. — August 2. About 5 or 6 miles below Cookson's camp 
 a small bed was found and from it a collection was made. In the 
 next mile two other very small beds were observed at the head of 
 shoals in very rocky places. No collections were made from these 
 beds. 
 
 Shells found at station 17: Red niggerhead, Quadrula tubercidata, 
 abundant; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, scarce; cob shell, rabbit's 
 foot, Q. cylindrica, abundant; rock mussel, washboard, Q. undulata, 
 abundant as all other species combined; Unio gibbosus, scarce; nig- 
 gertoe, Alasmidonta truncata, sand mussel, Symphynota costata, 
 scarce; Strophitus edentulus, common; fantail, Tritogonia tubercu- 
 lata, scarce; Lampsilis ozarhensis, common; spectacle case, L. rectus, 
 scarce; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, 
 abundant. 
 
 Station IS. — August 3. About 1 mile from camp L a mussel bed 
 was being worked for pearls by two farmers, the shells being col- 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF' WHITE RIVER. 11 
 
 lected in sacks and opened on the bank. About 5 bushels of shells 
 had been taken. 
 
 Shells found at station 18 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 abundant; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, scarce; cob shell, rabbit's 
 foot, Q. cylindrical common; rock mussel, washboard, Q. undulata, 
 very abundant; Unio gibbosus, scarce; sand mussel, Sympkynota cos- 
 lata, abundant; fantail, Tritogonia tubercidata, scarce; red shell, 
 Lampsilis purpuratus, scarce ; spectacle case, L. rectus, scarce ; green 
 mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, abundant. 
 
 /Station 19. — August 3. Below station 18 for a mile or two were a 
 few small beds which had recently been worked by pearl hunters. 
 In all of these there was probably not more than a bushel of open 
 shells. 
 
 Shells found at station 19 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tubercidata, 
 very abundant; cob shell, rabbit's foot, Q. cylindrica, common; rock 
 mussel, washboard, Q. undulata, abundant; Unio gibbosus, scarce; 
 sand mussel, Sympkynota costata, scarce ; young f antail, Cyprogenia 
 aberti, scarce; fantail, Tritogonia tuberculata, scarce; Lampsilis 
 ozarhensis ; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus. 
 
 Station 20. — August 3. About 6 miles below camp L and near the 
 Jack Pot mine a small bed of shells was observed. About 1 bushel 
 had been recently opened by pearl hunters. From these and a few 
 live ones found a collection was made. 
 
 Shells found at station 20 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 scarce ; rock mussel, washboard, Q. undulata, common ; fantail, Trito- 
 gonia tuberculata, scarce; red shell, Lampsilis purpuratus, scarce; 
 L. ozarhensis, scarce ; spectacle case, L. rectus, scarce ; green mugget, 
 red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, common. 
 
 Station 21. — August 4. About 1 mile below camp M were two beds 
 of mussels. These had within a day or two been worked by pearl 
 hunters, the shells being opened on the bank. Not more than 2 or 3 
 bushels had been taken from both of these beds, which were on the 
 outer curve of the river and among more rocks than usual. 
 
 Shells found at station 21 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 abundant; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, scarce; cob shell, rabbit's 
 foot, Q. cylindrica, common; rock mussel, washboard, Q. undulata, 
 abundant; Unio gibbosus, scarce; sand mussel, Sympkynota costata, 
 scarce ; Strophitus edentulus; fantail, Tritogonia tuberculata, scarce ; 
 spectacle case, Lampsilis rectus, scarce; green mugget, red mugget, 
 grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, common; butterfly, L. ventricosus, 
 
 scarce. 
 
 Station 22. — August 4. About 5 miles below camp M a bed similar 
 to the above was found and from it a collection was made. 
 
 Shells found at station 22 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 common; cob shell, rabbit's foot, Q. cylindrica; Unio gibbosus, scarce; 
 sand mussel, Sympkynota costata, scarce; fantail, Tritogonia tuber- 
 
12 MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RrVER. 
 
 culata, scarce; red shell, Lampsilis ptcrpuratus, common; green mug- 
 get, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, abundant. 
 
 Along the river on its outer bends a few very small beds were ob- 
 served. Owing to the small number of shells, deeper water, and the 
 large rocks, these beds were not worked by pearlers. 
 
 Station 23. — August 5. About 2 miles below camp N was found 
 the largest bed observed. It was being worked by two men and two 
 women who live near by and hunt pearls a portion of the time in 
 July and August when their crops do not need their attention. They 
 reported that pearls collected by them during the summer months 
 brought them about $300. Mr. Samuel W. Jones, Rush, Ark., one of 
 the men, stated that if all the shells found in one. season were taken 
 from the bed just as many would be found the next year. From this 
 bed they estimated they would take about 25 bushels of shells. They 
 had just begun work for the season. The most abundant species 
 found here is Lampsilis ligamentinus, which, according to Mr. Jones, 
 contains the most pearls. At this place this species was more abun- 
 dant than all others combined. 
 
 Shells found at station 23 : Rock mussel, washboard, Quadmda 
 unchdata, scarce; Unio gibbosus, scarce; fantail, Tritogonia tuber- 
 culata, common ; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, Lampsilis 
 ligamentinus, abundant. 
 
 Station 24- — August 5. About 1 mile above the Reel Cloud mine 
 we passed a bed of shells where pearl hunters had been, but it was 
 very small compared to the above. 
 
 On all outward bends of the river were small beds, but these were 
 passed by by pearl hunters, no doubt because shells were scarce, and 
 on account of the rocks and deeper water they were difficult to get 
 in any numbers. A short distance above and below the mouth of 
 Rush Creek were small beds, the latter being worked by pearl 
 hunters. No collection was made from these beds. 
 
 Shells found at station 24: Red niggerhead, Quadrula tubercidata, 
 scarce; cobshell, rabbit's foot, Q. cylindrical common; rock mussel, 
 washboard, Q. undidata, common; Unio gibbosus, common; sand 
 mussel, Symphynota costata, scarce; fantail, Tritogonia tuberculata, 
 scarce; red shell, Lampsilis purpuratus; L. ozarlcensis, abundant; 
 L. planico status, 1 specimen; spectacle case, L. rectus, scarce; Z. 
 oenustus, scarce; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. liga- 
 mentinus, abundant; butterfly, L. ventricosus, scarce; L. brevicidus 
 brittsi, scarce. 
 
 Station 25. — August 6. About 2| miles below Red Cloud mine a 
 large bed was found which had been recently visited by pearl 
 hunters. On the shore were about 10 bushels of recently opened 
 shells, from which a collection was made. On recently worked beds 
 live shells were not easily found, for the pearlers aim to get every- 
 thing:. 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 13 
 
 Shells found at station 25 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 common; white niggerhead, Q. coccinea, common; cob shell, rabbit's 
 foot, Q. cylindrical common; rock mussel, washboard, Q. undulata, 
 abundant; Unio gibbosus, scarce; sand mussel, Symphynota costata, 
 common ; Strophitus edentulus, scarce ; young f antail, Cy progenia 
 aberti, scarce; f antail, Tritogonia tuberctdata, common; red shell, 
 Lampsilis purpniratus ; L. ozarkensis, scarce ; spectacle case, L. rectus, 
 common; green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus, 
 most abundant species; L. luteolus, two examples taken; butterfly, 
 L. ventricosus. 
 
 Station 26. — August 6. In the next 2 or 3 miles a few small beds 
 were found and then a second large one, where about 5 bushels of 
 recently opened shells were seen. 
 
 Shells found at station 26 : Red niggerhead, Quadrula tuberculata, 
 common; cob shell, rabbit's foot, Q. cylindrica, scarce; sand mussel, 
 Symphynota costata, scarce; spectacle case, Lampsilus rectus, scarce; 
 green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, L. ligamentinus. 
 
 From this place to our next camp (camp P) very few shells were 
 noticed. 
 
 Soon after camp P was established a succession of heavy thunder 
 storms raised the river about 5 feet and the usually clear water be- 
 came muddy. Under the most favorable circumstances it would be 
 a week or more before any further observations regarding shells 
 could be made, and so the work was discontinued here. Residents 
 near here state that mussel beds occur from this point to the mouth 
 of the river much the same as to number and abundance of shells 
 as in a corresponding distance up stream from this place. 
 
 List of Mussel Species Collected. 
 
 Local name. 1 
 
 Common or trade name. 
 
 Scientific name. 
 
 Red niggerhead 
 
 White niggerhead 
 
 Cob shell, rabbit's foot. . . 
 Rock mussel, washboard. 
 
 Niggertoe. 
 
 Sand mussel . 
 
 Young fan tail. 
 
 Fan tail 
 
 Red shell 
 
 Spectacle case. 
 Spectacle ease. 
 
 Green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket . 
 
 Butterfly. 
 
 Pink warty-back. 
 
 Blue-point. 
 
 Spike 
 
 Elk-toe 
 
 Fluted shell. 
 Squaw-foot . . 
 
 Buckhorn. 
 
 Black sand shell . 
 
 Fat mucket . 
 Pocketbook . 
 
 Quadrula tuberculata. 
 
 coccinea. 
 
 cylindrica. 
 
 undulata. 
 Unio gibbosus. 
 Alasmidonta truncata. 
 calceola. 
 Symphynota costata. 
 Strophitus edentulus. 
 Cyprogenia aberti. 
 Tritogonia tuberculata. 
 Lampsilis purpuratus. 
 
 glans. 
 
 ozarkensis. 
 
 planicostatus. 
 
 lienosus. 
 
 rectus. 
 
 venustus. 
 
 ligamentinus. 
 
 luteolus. 
 
 ventricosus. 
 
 breviculus 
 brittsi. 
 
 1 The local names given here are those furnished by pearlers along the river and differ considerably from 
 the trade names among the shell buyers and manufacturers, so far is the Little Buffalo River from the 
 influence of the active shell trade. In the button trade Quadrula tuberculata, Q. coccinea, Alasmidonta 
 caceolla, Strophitus edentulus, Cyprogenia aberti, Lampsilis purpuratus, glans, ozarkensis planicostatus, 
 lienosus, venustus, and breviculus brittsi have no common names. Q. undulata is "blue-point," Unio 
 gibbosus is "spike," S. costata is "fluted shell," Tritogonia tuberculata is "buckhorn," L. ligamentinus is 
 simply "mucket," L. luteolus, "fat mucket," and L. ventricosus "pocketbook." On the other hand, the 
 washboard of the trade is Quadrula hens and the butterfly is Plagiola securis. 
 
14 MUSSELS OP BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION OF MUSSEL SPECIES. 
 
 Red niggerhead, Quadrula tubercidata (Rafnesque) . — Rather com- 
 mon throughout the whole extent of the river traversed. The 
 species is represented by 78 examples of various sizes, none very large 
 and none very small. The shells do not exhibit much variation; 
 they belong to a small, somewhat inflated type, much like those 
 found in the streams of Kentucky and Tennessee. The specimens 
 taken at station 6 were rather inflated compared with the others, 
 and those obtained at station 26 were relatively small and thin. 
 None were sufficiently inflated, however, to be regarded as Q. grani- 
 fera, which differs from this species chiefly in degree of inflation,, 
 and none was so flat as the fine specimens of Q. tubercidata found in 
 the Maumee, Tippecanoe, and Wabash Rivers, where the species 
 appears to reach its finest development. All lacked the fine wavy 
 sculpture of the umbones which is characteristic of the young of Q. 
 tubercidata in its most perfect condition. The name " red nigger- 
 head " was applied to this shell at the pearler's camp below Gilbert. 
 On account of its colored and lusterless nacre this shell has little com- 
 mercial value. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 3, scarce; 5, common; 6, 
 scarce; 9, very abundant; 10, scarce; 13, abundant; 14, abundant; 15, 
 common; 17, abundant; 18, abundant; 19, very abundant; 20, scarce; 
 21, abundant ; 22, common ; 24, scarce ; 25, common ; 26, common. 
 
 White niggerhead, Quadrula coccinea (Conrad). — Although fairly 
 well distributed, having been collected through nearly all the stretch 
 of river traversed, and at 14 different stations, Quadrula coccinea 
 does not appear to be common in the river. In all, 42 shells were 
 obtained. The greatest number taken at one place was 9, collected 
 at station 6. The shells are all rather small and moderately inflated. 
 The greater number have white nacre, though a few are pink. At 
 the pearler's camp it was called " white niggerhead." This species 
 probably really belongs to Pleurobema, as Ortmann has found the 
 outer gills only functioning as marsupia. It is, however, quite 
 variable and may include several species. I have never found the 
 common flat form gravid. An inflated form, identified as this, but 
 approaching somewhat the shape of Q. solida, was found gravid in 
 the Iroquois River and contained giochidia in only the outer gills. 
 Where the species attains a good development the white-nacre shells 
 furnish very fair button material, but the rather dwarf shells of the 
 Big Buffalo River are of no commercial value. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 2, a few dead shells; 
 3, scarce; 4, scarce; 5, scarce; 6, common; 8, scarce; 9, scarce; 12, 
 scarce; 13, scarce; 15, scarce; 16, scarce; 17, scarce; 18, scarce; 21, 
 scarce ; 25, common. 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FOEK OF WHITE RIVER. 15 
 
 Cob shell, rabbitfs foot, Quadrula cylindrica (Say). — The first 
 one, a dead shell, was taken at station 5„ From here on it was, on 
 the whole, rather common. The greatest number taken at any one 
 place was 13, at station 25. In all, 59 examples were secured. At 
 the pearler's camp it was called " cob shell." Along the Wabash it 
 is known as " rabbit's foot." The nacre of all found is white, though 
 many are more or less stained. Several were beautifully marked by 
 green triangular marks and some were semitranslucent. None was 
 young and most were of medium size. The species has no commercial 
 value. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 5 ; one dead; 14, com- 
 mon; 15, common; 16, common; 17, abundant; 18, common; 19, 
 common; 21, common; 24, common; 25, common; 26, scarce. 
 
 Bock 'mussel, washboard, Quadrula undulata (Barnes). — Common 
 to abundant throughout the part of the river examined and repre- 
 sented in the collection by 61 shells. The shells are of the same 
 general type, medium in size and rather inflated. None is so com- 
 pressed as the fine examples to be found in northern Indiana and 
 Ohio and none so markedly inflated as to suggest plicata. Within 
 the limits suggested there is some variation in the degree of inflation. 
 Those obtained at station 16 are somewhat flat, and one is almost 
 smooth. One obtained at the Jack Pot mine is markedly elongate 
 as compared with the others, but not conspicuously so when com- 
 pared with large series from elsewhere. The shells collected at 
 station 26 are considerably eroded. The greater number of these 
 shells exhibit well-marked costse on the posterio-dorsal slope, with 
 deep furrows between them. High ribs extending ventrad from the 
 posterior slope and separated by deep furrows are also common. In 
 these features the shells resemble a common type of the west and 
 south and approach the style represented by Say's figure of Undo- 
 costatus. At the pearler's camp they were called " rock mussel," or 
 ; ' washboard." 
 
 Where this species attains good development it is a good commer- 
 cial species, but the Big Buffalo shells are small and of poor quality. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 1, most abundant; 2, 
 scarce; 16, abundant; 17, abundant; 18, most abundant; 19, abun- 
 dant; 20, common; 21, abundant; 23, scarce; 24, common; 25, abun- 
 dant; 26, abundant. 
 
 Unio gibbosus (Barnes). — Common; represented in the collection 
 by 77 specimens. As a usual thing only a few shells were obtained 
 at a station. The greatest number obtained at one place was 10, col- 
 lected at station 24. The most common form is the familiar medium- 
 sized shell with violet nacre. Those obtained at station 3 and those 
 collected at station 12 are large shells with white porcelaneous nacre. 
 The five examples taken at station 6 are dwarfed specimens with 
 
16 MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 orange nacre, closely resembling a form common in Green River, Ky. 
 This species is of no commercial importance. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 1, scarce; 3, common; 4, 
 abundant; 6, scarce; 8, scarce; 9, common; 10, scarce; 11, scarce; 14, 
 scarce; 16, scarce; 17, scarce; 18, scarce; 19, scarce; 21, scarce; 22, 
 scarce; 23, scarce; 24, common; 25, scarce. 
 
 Niggertoe, AIas?nidonta truncata (B. H. Wright). — Rare; only 
 seven shells obtained, one at station 4, one at station 9, another at 
 station 12, and three at station 15, where it was called " niggertoe." 
 Where it reaches its best development this is a beautiful shell. It is 
 however, of no commercial importance. 
 
 Alasmidonta calceola (Lea). — Only two shells were collected, one 
 at station 3 and one at station 9. This does not necessarily mean that 
 it is rare, as on account of its small size and habit of burying itself 
 in the bottom it is easily overlooked. 
 
 Sand mussel, Symphynota costata (Rafinesque) . — A fairly common 
 shell, found throughout the entire length of the river examined, and 
 represented in the collection by 90 specimens. Most of the shells are 
 of medium size, a few are smaller, but none very small, the smallest 
 being about 3 inches long. There is no very marked variation among 
 them; one specimen obtained at station 6 is compressed and some- 
 what deformed, and one from station 19, probably a female, is in- 
 flated, with deep costae. At station 15 they were called " sand 
 mussels." On account of the yellowish, lusterless nacre and usual 
 thinness of shell, mussels of this species have no commercial value. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 4, common; 5, abundant; 
 6, common; 7, scarce; 8, scarce; 9, abundant; 10, scarce; 11, scarce; 
 14, abundant; 16, common; 17, scarce; 18, abundant; 19, scarce; 21, 
 scarce; 22, scarce; 24, scarce; 25, common; 26, scarce. 
 • Strophitus edentulus (Say). — Although this shell is found through- 
 out all the portion of the river examined, it is rather scarce nearly 
 everywhere and nowhere abundant. One shell found at station 2 was 
 short and truncate. The others were much alike and quite thin. 
 Strophitus edentulus is an exceedingly variable shell, especially as 
 regards thickness, and the nacre varies from bluish to yellowish. 
 Even the best shells are of no commercial value. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 2, scarce; 3, common; 4, 
 scarce ; 12, scarce ; 17, common ; 25, scarce. 
 
 Young fantail, Cy progenia dberti (Conrad). — Not common; only 
 10 examples secured, the first one at station 6, and the last three at 
 station 25. Most of the specimens are rather old and somewhat worn, 
 a few are of medium size with the epidermis entire. Call suggests a 
 resemblance between a young G. dberti and Plagiola elegans. The 
 half-grown shells of this collection have rather the contour of Quad- 
 rula lachrymosa, but are without tubercles, only very low elongated 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 17 
 
 raised places, hardly pronounced enough to be called pustules, ex- 
 tending ventrad. The species is not nearly so pustulose as C. irrorata. 
 (Lea). The fine tesselated markings, green on a yellowish ground, 
 sometimes disposed in broad rays, are similar to the color markings 
 of the last-named species, and assist in identifying the species. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 6, scarce; 16, scarce; 19, 
 scarce; 25, scarce. 
 
 Fantail, Tritogonia tub erculata (Barnes). — From the place where 
 first encountered, station 8, to station 25 this is a fairly common shell, 
 though rather scarce at some stations. In all, 48 shells were taken. 
 At station 15 it was known as " fantail." The shells are all relatively 
 small and thin, and most of them exhibit the peculiarity of having 
 a purplish nacre, only very few being white, but none so 'deep a purple 
 as frequently occurs in specimens from Texas. In the Iowa and 
 upper Mississippi Rivers, where this species attains large size and 
 always or most always has a white iridescent nacre, it is valuable for 
 buttons, knife handles, etc., but the thin purplish Arkansas shells are 
 of no commercial value. 
 
 It is significant that though the greater number of these shells have 
 colored nacre, Lampsilis ligamentinus, which is frequently rose 
 tinted in the upper Mississippi, and Quadrula coccinea, which often 
 has rose-tinted nacre everywhere, show little disposition here to 
 develop colored nacre, this in the greater number of cases being white. 
 This shows clearly that the causes producing tinted nacre are not the 
 same for all species, and may be an individual peculiarity. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 8, scarce; 10, scarce; 14, 
 common; 16, scarce; 17, scarce; 18, scarce; 19, scarce; 20, scarce; 21, 
 scarce ; 22, scarce ; 23, common ; 24, scarce ; 25, common. 
 
 Bed shell, Lampsilis purpuratus (Lamarck) . — Fairly common from 
 station 14 to station 25, 25 shells having been secured in this portion 
 of the river. They exhibit no variation except in size. Some of the 
 examples are rather small, but the greater number are of good size. 
 
 The young shells are thin and fragile, but later become thick and 
 heavy. The species closely resembles L. alatus in the color of nacre, 
 which is rich purple, and that of the epidermis, which is black. It 
 differs from that species in being considerably more inflated and 
 with very little wing. The species is rather closely related to L. 
 alatus and is said to have a wedge-shaped glochidium, which would 
 agree with that of alatus. At station 15 it is known as the " red 
 shell." 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 14, scarce; 16, scarce; 18, 
 scarce ; 20, scarce ; 22, common. 
 
 Lam,psilis glans (Lea). — Only one specimen of this small species 
 was found. It was obtained at station 16. It is inconspicuous both 
 in color and size and is liable to be overlooked even where fairly 
 common. 
 
18 MUSSELS OP BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 Lampsilis ozarkensis (Call) var. — These specimens, unlike anything 
 we could find a figure or description of, more closely resemble a very 
 elongated Quadrula coccinea than anything else, agreeing with that 
 species both in texture of epidermis and color of nacre, which is 
 usually a rich rosy, though occasionally white. Examples were sub- 
 mitted to Mr. Bryant Walker, of Detroit, Mich., who has made a 
 special study of fresh-water mussels and identified them as above. 
 Mr. Walker remarks : 
 
 Not typical. I have author's examples. But these agree with a shell I 
 liave, so named, from Hardy. Taken by themselves, I should say that these 
 shells were Pleurobemas rather than a species of Lampsilis. They are not, 
 however, Simpson's eUiptica. Alcoholic specimens, which would enable the 
 generic place to be established, would be desirable. 
 
 These shells also agree fairly well with specimens labeled ozark- 
 ensis in the Davenport Academy of Sciences, with which they have 
 been compared. 
 
 This form was fairly common between stations 9 and 25, 20 exam- 
 ples having been secured. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 9, abundant; 13, scarce; 
 16, common; 17, common; 20, scarce; 24, abundant; 25, scarce. 
 
 Lampsilis planicostatus (Lea). — Only two examples, both females, 
 one from station 2 and one from station 24. These were submitted 
 to Mr. Bryant Walker, who remarks, " A very interesting find. The 
 first record west of the Mississippi, I believe. Male examples would 
 be very desirable." The shells are elongate, somewhat resembling 
 a long flattened ins, but without the brilliant radiation of that species. 
 
 Spectacle case, Lampsilis lienosus (Conrad). — Seven examples of 
 this small species were found, all at station 8, and above Wolem. 
 All had the nacre deep purple, and one of the small females bore a 
 considerable resemblance to a large Lampsilis glans. A specimen was 
 submitted to Mr. Bryant Walker, who identified it as above. It is 
 a fairly common shell in southern streams. 
 
 Spectacle case, black sand shell, Lampsilis rectus (Lamarck). — 
 Bather scarce. The first shells of this species were taken at station 6. 
 In all, 46 shells were secured. One dead shell had a colony of Pluma- 
 tella polymorphs growing on the inside of one valve. Most of the 
 shells of this species were of medium size and rather poor qualitv. 
 White-nacred shells are the rule rather than the exception, which is 
 the reverse of the situation in parts of the upper Mississippi, where 
 most of the shells are purplish. Where this shell attains large size 
 and has white nacre it is an excellent commercial species. At the 
 pearler's camp, station 15, it was called " spectacle case." In the 
 button trade it is known as the " black sand shell," while the former 
 name is applied to Margaritana monodonta. 
 
MUSSELS OF BIG BUFFALO FOKK OF WHITE ELVER. 19 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 6, scarce; 10, scarce; 14, 
 common; 17, scarce; 18, scarce; 20, scarce; 21, scarce; 24, scarce; 
 25, common ; 26, scarce. 
 
 Lampsilis venushis (Lea). — Not common, but well distributed, 
 the first 11 being taken at station 3 and the last one at station 24. 
 In all, 19 specimens were secured. Mr. Bryant Walker, to whom the 
 specimens were referred and who identified them, in remarks con- 
 cerning some of the specimens says, " On the whole they seem to be 
 between venusta and pleasii. More material from different localities 
 would be very desirable." 
 
 This is a small species attaining the length of about 50 milli- 
 meters. Most of the females have a peculiar sulcus extending from 
 the post ventral margin dorsad, and the epidermis with exceedingly 
 fine capillary rays posteriorly. Mr. Walker calls attention to their 
 close relationship and similarity to L. ellipsiformis (Conrad). Call 
 is of the opinion that venustus and pleasii are the same. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 3, common; 8, scarce; 
 9, scarce; 11, scarce; 16, scarce; 24, scarce. 
 
 Green mugget, red mugget, grass mucket, Lampsilis ligamentinus 
 (Lamarck). — This is much the most abundant species found in the 
 river, and is represented by 216 shells obtained at numerous stations 
 from station 5 down to station 26. There are four Without data. 
 Only a few of the shells have rosy .nacre. There is great variation 
 in size, form, and general appearance. Most of the various forms 
 found in widely different localities are found in this one river, not 
 in widely separated parts of the river, however, but in the same 
 mussel bed. Two examples from station 5 ore very thick and heavy. 
 One other from the same place is flattish, with broad rays, and an- 
 other one is small, flattened, and rayless. This latter depauperate 
 form, resembling a style common in Green River, Ky., is a common 
 type in the river. One specimen, collected at station 9, and one 
 from .station 23, are remarkably inflated and elongate. One shell 
 collected at station 19 is inflated and arcuate, having the general 
 shape of Symphynota costata. At station 15 a specimen with broad 
 green bands and a greenish epidermis, the kind known by clammers 
 along the Mississippi as the " grass mucket " was called " green 
 mugget " and one with a rusty epidermis and no rays was called " red 
 mugget." 
 
 Although the mucket, Lampsilis ligamentinus, is one of the staple 
 shells used in button manufacture, those of the Big Buffalo River 
 are of little commercial value on account of their general small size 
 and lack of uniformity. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 5, common; 6, scarce; 7, 
 scarce; 8, very abundant; 9, very abundant; 10, very abundant; 11, 
 
20 MUSSELS OP BIG BUFFALO FORK OF WHITE RIVER. 
 
 abundant; 12, abundant; 14, abundant; 16, abundant; 17, abundant; 
 18, abundant; 20, common; 21, common; 22, abundant; 23, abundant; 
 24, abundant; 25, abundant. 
 
 Lampsilis luteolus (Lamarck). — Rare; only two examples obtained, 
 both at station 25. They were rather small for river shells, but 
 heavier than the form usually found in lakes. 
 
 Butterfly, Lampsilis ventricosus (Barnes). — Not very abundant, 
 but found distributed throughout most of the length of the stream 
 examined. In all, 22 specimens were found. Most of the shells were 
 well rayed. They exhibited the usual variation in form. One shell 
 collected at station 6 is a short inflated female, bearing a general 
 resemblance to L. capax, but thick. One shell, obtained at station 8, 
 was small, well rayed, and more closely approaching the shape of 
 L. ovatus, and had a yellowish epidermis well rayed, with green. 
 
 It is only at its best that L. ventricosus is a good button shell, and 
 those of Big Buffalo River are only moderately good shells. 
 
 It was found at the following stations : 2, one live shell ; 3, abund- 
 ant; 5, scarce; 6, scarce; 9, scarce; 21, scarce; 24, scarce. 
 
 Lampsilis breviculus hrittsi (Simpson). — This shell is new to the 
 collection of the bureau, and was identified by Mr. Bryant Walker. 
 It agrees fairly well with examples of oreviculus Call, in the Daven- 
 port Academy of Sciences, with which specimens were compared, but 
 is broader and flatter posteriorly. It is a flattened shell bearing some 
 resemblance to a small, thin, considerably produced Lampsilis 
 luteolus, but not markedly inflated postero-ventrally. The numerous 
 green rays are much interrupted and broken up by the lines of 
 growth. Two examples from station 4 have rather rosy nacre. There 
 are 28 shells in the collection. The first five were obtained at station 
 3 and the last one at station 24. 
 
 It was found at the following stations: 4, scarce; 6, scarce; 7, 
 scarce; 9, scarce; 11, scarce; 12, scarce; 24, scarce. 
 
 o 
 
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