Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1877 — The Sand-Darter. [ARTICLE]

The Sand-Darter.

In the sandy bottoms of clear streams in Ohio and Indiana, there is common a little fish (Pleurolepis pellucidus, Agassiz), with a slim, cylindrical body .measuring two or three inches in length. The diminutive creature *s of a pinkish hue, with a line of steel-blue spots along the sides and back, but it has no more consistency or opacity than a mold of jelly. Not much of it is known, among naturalists, but Jordan and Copeland have lately contributed some observations upon its habits to the American Naturalist. A specimen was placed in an aquarium, to which it easily accommodated itself ; but, in the course of a few days, it was miss-

ing. After a careful search in the shingle at the bottom, the upper edgeof its caudal fin and Its little black eyes were discovered peeping out of the sand. “ Pleurolepis was buried! Was he dead? Slowly one eye was closed in a darter’s inimitable way, for they can outwink all animals-in creation except owls; and the touch of a finger on its tail showed that it*had lost none of its activity.” Many days elapsed before the little burrower was observed in the act of entering the sand, but finally the process was watched by a vigilant spectator. The tiny darter pressed its horny nose against the bottom, standing meanwhile almost on its head, and, with a rapid motion of its tail from side to side, completely buried itsejf within five seconds. The sand was stirred violently by the action; but, as it had nearly settled in the course of half a minute, the darter thrust its nose out, and, quietly drawing it back, “ left the twinkling eyes ana narrow forehead alone visible.” The study of scores of different individuals has demonstrated that the Pleurolepis remain buried while the water in the aquarium is pure and cool; but, when it needs changing, they leave their burrow and lie on the bottom, panting violently. The motive which the darter has for burrowing is not yet explained. “It seems to be wholly unpremeditated,” testify the observers. “A number of them in confinement lie helplessly on the bottom, motionless and slowly breathing, when one suddenly starts and buries its head and neck in the now whirling sand, by a motion as quick as thought; a headless tai! beats frantically about; and, when the quicksand lies smoothly on the bottom again, the little eyes are looking at you like two glistening beads, as if to witness your applause at so clever a trick.” A Boleosoma (B. brevipinne, Cope), in the same aquarium with the sand-darters, has been noticed burrowing in the sand quite as persistently and in the same manner as its companions. The habit is possibly catching, as it has not before been observed in an indivivual of this species. The food of the Pleurolepis is minute, if not microscopic.— Chicago Tribune.