Texas Nature Observations and Reminiscenses Page: 70
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70 TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES.
As seen on the photos, the ears
are very broad and rounded-
thereby affording lots of space for
the soundwaves to gather in the
center of the main hollow andgradually funnelshaped ear cav-
it y, from whence the sounds are
transmitted to the eardrums and
the thearin centers 'f the brain.The Texas Minnow as Mosquito Destroyer
It is not generally known that
the minutest of our fish species-
the ''minnow"-feeds on the eggs
and larvae (wrigglers) of the mos-
quito insect, and thereby becomes
a factor in the prevention of ma-
laria.
In England, observations have
been made by some naturalists
and attention called to the fact,
that in the Island of Iaribados,
West India, a very small fish spe-
cie exists, which on account of
their immense numbers, areIb'L s ra \aN TEX S 1 INNOWS ,'1.S a N ;
SNatural Size
termed Millions." "'This fish,"
the report reads, "ought to be
well protected as it is destined to
become one of the greatest hles-
sin's to humanity provided its
gtood ,,ualities are based on sound
facts.'' At any rate. on the Island
of Barbados. the inhalints are
fully eviiinced that it is due en-
tirely to this fish that so few eases
of malaria exist there, while the
malaria pest exists at other places
of that island to an alarming ex-tent. "And it can easily be im-
agined, on account of the immense
numbers of the 'Million' fish
found in the sweet water rivulets
there, that the larval mos liitoes
(from whence the malarial infec-
tion afterwards takes place, by in-
oculation) are destroyed bhv illose
fish. They show a ravenous appe-
tite, and this is considered espec-
iallv characteristic in their favor
as a destroyer of the larval i,o:;-
quit."
To the writer, and many
American scientists well acquaint-
ed with the habits of our native
"minnow" the above is nothing
particularly new, as fir as on '
own smallest fish is concerned, but
it is a matter well worth while to
be looked into closer, and a few
original data regarding our Texas
minnow fish will undoubtedly in-
terest the readers.
The above 'miillion fish" is de
scribed as a very small creature
i bluish color. witli black dots
around its tailbodl. This would
about tally with a larger species
of our n in nilol llOtllltered occa-
sionally in tlbe Texas rivulets. Biut
the million fish of he" waters of
Texas is decidedly less numerous
than the smaller species-the comn-
mn minnow of our111 rivers, creeks
and tanks.
In tlese pa''ges (ti lhe seen de-
pict< d the exact nia iral size and
appearance of t\'wo full grown Tex-
as minnows, with a nunber of
or , fish from several days to a
week or maore old. Also, a photo-
micro-ranh is reprolduned (from
oirinal collection of minicroscopic
specimens) of a InuIII)her of embry-
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Menger, R. Texas Nature Observations and Reminiscenses, book, 1913; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth143558/m1/74/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas Health Science Center Libraries.