VF Iowa 5faf-e_ Unix Bu ile+in Labora-hor/ea of J\)arh'onal History B 1,070,996 3 9015 i Q H BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. ^ NEW SERIES. Vol. i. No. 6. PRICE 59 CENTS* BULLETIN FROM THE LABORATORIES OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. Vol V. No. I. REPORT ON THE OPHIUROIDEA COLLECTED BY THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION IN 1893. By Professor A. E. Verrill, PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE REGENTS. IOWA CITY, IOWA: September, 1899. Vol V. No. I. BULLETIN FROM THE LABORATORIES OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. REPORT ON THE OPHIUROIDEA COLLECTED BY THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION IN 1893. By Professor A. E. Verrill. PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE REGENTS. IOWA CITY, IOWA: September, 1899. Secretary Wm. J. Haddock: I have the honor to submit herewith Bulletin No. i, of Vol- ume V, from the Laboratories of Natural History, of the State University of Iowa. C. C. Nutting, Editor. Editorial Staff. Geology, S. Calvin. Botany, - - T. H. Macbride. Zoology, - ( - - C. C. Nutting. Animal Morphology, - G. L. Houser. Report on the Ophiuroidea COI,I,BCTED BY THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF Iowa in 1893. By Professor A. E. Verrill, of Yale University. The Bahama Expedition obtained about 66 species of Ophiuroidea, among which there are many species of great interest and several that were previously unknown. In former years the same region had been very extensively explored by the various dredging expeditions made by Mr. Alexander Agassiz, in the Coast Survey Steamer "Blake," and by other earlier government expeditions. The various collections thus obtained were very fully worked up and the numerous new species were described by Mr. Theodore Ly- man in the publications of the Museum of Comparative Zool- ogy.* The Challenger Expedition added a few species from the same region, which are included in Mr. Lyman's final report on the Challenger Ophiuroidea (Vol. V. 1882). Therefore, it was not to have been expected that many new discoveries would be made, in that region, by a compar- atively small number of dredgings, and with a far less elabor- ate equipment. Hence the number of new forms obtained by the Bahama Expedition is rather surprising. *Bulletin of the Mus. Comp. Zoology, Vol. I, No. 10, p. 309, 1869;/ Vol. V, No. 9, p. 217, 1878; Vol. X, No. 6, 1883; also Vol. V, No. 7, p. 67, 1878, and Vol. VI, No. 2, 1879, (Challeng-er Coll.) Illust. Catal. Mus. Cojmp. 2ool., Vol. I, No. I. 1865; Vol. VI, 1871; Vol. VIII, No. II, 1875. V— 1 A 2 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. This collection is peculiar in lacking many common species which were taken at numerous stations and in large numbers by the "Blake Expedition". Such species belong largely to such genera as Ophioglypha, Ofihiomiisium, Amfihiura, etc. These live, for the most part, on muddy or sandy bottoms, or buried just below the surface, and are only to be obtained by the use of the dredge or trawl. But as the Bahama Expedi- tion worked largely upon the hard bottoms and used the tangles relatively much more than the dredge, the absence of many of the common species is easily understood. On the other hand, and for the same reasons, the collection is relatively rich in those species and genera that live on hard bottoms and cling to the branches of gorgonian corals, hy- droids, etc., by means of their long, coiled arms. Such species are best obtained by the tangles. Some of these belong to the Ophiurce; such as Sigsbt'eaixnd Hemieuryale ; but most of them belong to the Euryala. Many of these are simple armed species of the genera Ophiocreas, Astrosckcema, Astroforfa, Astronyx, Astrogomfhus; others are of the general Astrofhyton and Gorgonocefhalus, in which the arms are many times forked. Some of the long-spined genera, like Ofhiacantha, Ophio- mttrd, Ojyhiothrix, etc., also live among the branches of gor- gonian corals, or clinging to other organisms, so that they are easily captured by the tangles. Such genera are well repre- sented in this collection. Most of those species with long, coied arms, adapted for clinging to the branches of gorgonian corals, are remarkable for imitating closely, in various ways, the forms and colors of the corals on which they live. This must afford them a con- siderable degree of protection against predacious fishes, in addition to the direct protection due to the stinging powers of the corals themselves, which is sufficient to cause most fishes to avoid them. I have observed that some of the northern plectognath fishes (file fishes) will feed upon hydroids. It is also well OPHIUROIDBA OF THE} BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 3 known that our northern butter-fish, when young, lives with impunity beneath the disk and among the tentacles of the great red jelly-fish (Cyanea arctica), which is deadly to other fishes. It is probable, therefore, that in tropical waters many fishes have acquired comparative immunity against the poisonous stinging organs (cnidce) of coral animals. If so, the utility of the additional protection afforded by the imitative forms and colors of so many of the coral-inhabiting ophuiroids would be obvious. Professor Nutting has already described the colors of some of these curious forms in his Narrative of the Expedition. In this report I have followed, in general, the order of se- quence adopted by Lyman, but in the case of the Euryala and in the families Amfhiuridce, Ophiacanthidce, and some others, I have thought it desirable to alter his classification considerably. I have also introduced the names and in some cases the characters of the family groups, and have changed the limits of several of them. Many of these were proposed by Ltitken 1 and by Ljungman 2 many years ago. Several new families are also now characterized. In describing the genera and species, I have generally used, as a matter of convenience, the same terms, for the organs and parts, that were used by Mr. Lyman in his various works on this group, but have made a few obvious changes. I have preferred to use oral shield instead of "mouth-shield", and adoral shield instead of "side-mouth-shield". In the genera allied to Am-phiura, I have usually called the "outer mouth- papillae" or papillae of the second oral tentacle, the distal oral tentacle-scales to indicate their homology with the ordinary 1 Addit. ad Hist. Ophiur., Part III; Synop. gen. Ophiur. ver., p. 87, 1869. *Ophiuroidea viv. hucusque cognita enumerat, Of vers. Kgl. Veten- skaps-Akad. Forhandlingar, for 1866, 1867. 4 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. tentacle-scales. The same idea has been carried out in Ophiacanthidce. In the latter group I have designated the apical "mouth-papillae" as tooth-papillae. In the identification of the species, I have been very much aided by a pretty large series of typical specimens of the species obtained in the West Indies by the several "Blake" Ex- peditions and described by Mr. Lyman. They were sent to the Yale Museum, several years ago, by Mr. A. Agassiz. I have also used, for comparison, a collection sent to me by Dr. Liitken, from the University Museum of Copenhagen. Order I. OVUIV RJE Muller & Troschel, 1842. Ophiurce Ljungman, Oph. Viv., p. 303, 1867. Ophiuridce Lyman, and many other authors. Zygophiurce and Streptophiurce Bell, 1892. Family, PECTINURID^E, nom. nov. Ophiodermatidce Ljung., Oph. Viv., p. 87, 1867. Lutk., Addit. Hist. Oph., in, p. 87, 1869. Since the generic name, Ophioderma, is now recognized only as a synonym of Ophiura, I have changed the name of this family, as is customary in such cases. The name Ophiur- idce cannot properly be used for the small group here includ- ed, because Mr. Lyman and many others have always used it to designate the order Ophiurce, or all the Ophiuroidea ex- clusive of the Euryalce. Ophiura brevispina Say, Ophiura brevispina Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, p. 149, 1825. Ophiura brevispina Lyman, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vn, p. 258, Jan., 1860; 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., 1, p. 18. Verrill, NotesonRad- iata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ophioderma olivaceum Ayers, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., IV, p. 134, 1852. Ophioderma serpens Lutken, Vid. Meddel., Jan., 1856, p. 7; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 96. Ophiura olivacea Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, p. 23, 1865; Lyman, Report Voy, Challenger, £ool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882; OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 5 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 230. Verrill, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., X, p. 339, 1866; Report on Invert. Vineyard Sound, etc., p. 719, [363], 1873. A variety, taken at the Tortugas, has the oral plates wider than usual. Its disk is green and the arms are banded. A variety from Bahia Honda has narrower oral plates. Its disk is w T hite, the arms greenish. Several other marked varieties of this species occur. The northern form (O. olivacea), formerly considered a distinct species, has been treated as a synonym by Lyman in his later works. It seems to be, at least, a well marked variety. The variety olivacea ranges from the south side of Cape Cod and Vineyard Sound to Charleston, S. C. It is com- mon at Fort Macon, N. C. It is usually found in sheltered localities among eel-grass (Zostera). Tortugas and Bahia Honda. If all the forms united under this species by Mr. Lyman belong together, it ranges from Cape Cod to Bahia, Brazil. The typical variety is common at Key West and through- out the West Indies, and also occurs at the, Bermudas. Ophiura brevicauda (Lutk.) Lyman. Ophioderma variegata Duch. & Mich., Rad. Antill., 1850 \t. Lyman non Iytk). Ophioderma brevicauda Lutken, Vid. Meddel., Jan., 1856, p. 8; Add. ad. Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 94, pi. 1, fig. 3. Ophiura brevicauda Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Com. Z00L, I, p. 16, 1865. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ly- man, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882. The only specimen in the collection, referred to this species, has the arms longer and more slender than usual, with more slender arm-spines and finer granules. Egg Key. One example. Common at the Florida Keys and throughout the West Indies in shallow water. Colon (Bradley). 6 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Ophiura cinerea (Mull. & Trosckel). Lyman. Ophiura cinerea Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, p. 27, 1865; Ly- man, Report Voy. Challenger, £ool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882; Bulletin. Mus. Comp. 2ool., X, p. 230. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 368, 1868. Nutting-, Narrative Bahama Exp., p. 131. Ophioderma cinereum Mull. & Trosch., Syst., Ast., p. 87, 1842. Ophioderma saxatalis Duch & Mich., Rad. Antill., 1850, {t. Lyman). Ophioderma antillarum Lutk., Vid. Meddel., p. 9, 1856; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 88, 1859. Tortugas, twelve examples. Common in shallow water throughout the West Indies. It ranges to Colon and to the Abrolhos Reefs, Bahia, and Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Ophiura rubicunda (Lutk.) Lyman. Ophiura rubicunda Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Com. £ool., I, p. 30, 1865. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ly- man, Report Voy. Challenger, 2ool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 10, 1882. Nutting-, Narrative Bahama Exp., p. 131. Ophioderma rubicunda Lutken, Vid. Meddel., Jan. 1856, p. 8; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 90, pi. I, fig-. 2. This species is conspicuously colored, even in alcohol. One example has the disk red, mottled with pale yellow; arms similar, but also with lighter and darker bands; others have the disk yellow with red mottlings on the interbrachial areas and oral shields; under arm-plates mottled; spines yellow. In life, according to Prof. Nutting, the disk was lake-red, mottled with gray. Tortugas, two examples. It occurs at low water and in small depths at the Florida Keys and throughout the West Indies, and at Colon. Ophiura appressa Say. Ophiura appressa Say, Journ. Phil. Acad., V, p. 151, 1825. Ophiura appressa layman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, p. 34, 1865. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. lay- man, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882. Nutting, Narrative Bahama Exp., p. 131. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. y Oyhioderma virescens Iytitken, Vid. Meddel., Jan. 1856, p. 9; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 92, pi. I, fig. 4. One of the specimens belongs to a variety with unusually broad oral shields. The disk of this one is dark green, mot- tled with lighter, in alcohol. Tortugas, fourteen examples. Common at the Florida Keys and throughout the West In- dies, in shallow water. It extends southward to Bahia and Pernambuco, Brazil; also to Colon, Bermuda, and Cumana. Ophiura pallida Verrill, sp. nov. Plate II; Figure 4. Arms five, long and slender, Remarkable for the large, broad, subcordate oral shields, crowded close to the bases of the oral papillae; very small granulated lateral oral shields. Two very small tentacle-scales, the inner not elongated. Mouth-papillae rather large, mostly flat or truncated, the three outer ones broadest. Arm-spines nine, rather slender, round and pointed, the longest only little longer than the rest, equal to about one-half the length of a side arm-plate. Under arm-plates longer and narrower than in O. rubicunda. Upper ones short and broad, not broken, outer end slightly emarginate. Radial shields with a small, naked, distal portion, widely separated, regular- ly ovate. Notch at the bases of the arms angular, including three dorsal arm-plates. On the sides of the arms, at their bases and along the genital slits, are many small, naked scales. The disk is elsewhere covered with very minute granules. The color of the arms, in alcohol, is pale brownish yellow or yellowish white, banded with a darker shade of yellowish brown; the disk is yellowish white; radial shields like the arms; beneath, the disk and arm-plates are white. The diameter of the disk of one of the larger specimens is 17 mm.; length of arms, from mouth, 90 mm. 8 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Sta. 2 and sta. 15, off Havana, in no and 200 fathoms, four examples. This species is allied to O. rubicunda. The latter has longer and larger oral plates, and smaller lateral oral plates; much larger ar.d relatively stouter and more unequal arm-spines; larger and longer tentacle-scales; its color is also very differ- ent, being red or reddish brown. It also somewhat resembles some forms of O. cinerea, but differs in its larger radial and oral shields, and in other characters. Pectinura angulata Lyman. Pectinura angulata Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 232, pi. Ill, fig-s. 7-9, 1883. Bahama Banks, two examples. Taken by the Blake Ex- ped., in the West Indies, in 88 to 248 fathoms. Ophiopeza petersi Lyman. Ophiopeza petersi Lyman, Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 217, pi. II, figs. 22-24, 1878; Lyman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 13, 1882. Sta. 19, in 1^ to 8 fathoms, off Fort Jefferson, one example. Taken by the Blake Exped. in 177 fath., in the West Indies. Ophiop^epale goesiana Ljungman. Ophiopcspale goesiana Ivjung-., Dr. Goes, Oph., Of v. Kong-. Akad., 1871, p. 615. layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 228; op. cit. X, p. 233, 1883; Lyman, Report Voy. Challeng-er, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 18, pi. XXXVII, fig-s. 4-6, 1882, anatomy; Three Cruises of the Blake, II, p. 3, fig-. 393, 1888. Nutting-, Narrative, p. 81, (color). According to Professor Nutting, the color of the disk in life, is brown, conspicuously spotted with white. Sta. 2, off Havana, no fathoms, ten examples. Taken by the Blake Exped., in 38 to 250 fathoms, in the West Indies. Family, OPHIOLEPIDJE Ljung., 1866. Ophiozona impress a Lyman, OPHIUROIDBA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 9 Ophiozona impressa Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool.,I v p. 64,%. 4, 1865, Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ivymin, Report Voy. Challenger, 2k>ol. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 21, pi. XXXVII, figs. 13-15, 18^2, anatomy; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 235, 1883. Off Havana, no to 160 fathoms, 3 examples. It occurs from Florida to St. Thomas, in shallow water. Ophiozona nivea Lyman, Ophiozona nivea layman, Illust. Catal. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. VIII, p. 9, fig-s. 85-86, 1875; Bull Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. V, p, 128,221; Three Cruises of the Blake, II, p. 110, fig:. 390, 1888. Variety, compta VerrilL Plate III; Figure 2, 3, 4. The original description of this species does not apply well to a large number of specimens subsequently obtained, nor are the outline figures correct. Therefore, I have given new figures, part of them from specimens sent to me by Mr. Ly- man, and have prepared the following more detailed descrip- tion. The figures represent a variety with separated radial shields, which I have named var. comfta. Arms five, disk rather flat, rounded, covered with rather large, unequal, irregular flat plates; five larger ones, in line with the radial areas, surround a large central one, or sometimes a group of two or three or more smaller central ones; five large interradials, and five similar marginal inter- radials are also conspicuous, forming five interradial rows. Radial shields irregularly sub-triangular, with the broader outer ends -nearly or quite in contact or separated by a row of two or three small plates; the inner ends divergent, separated by one large wedge-shaped plate and usually one or two small ones; a triangular plate which lies between their outer ends, is bordered on each side by a somewhat thickened, rather crescent-shaped plate, around which there are several small supplementary plates, and in the notch between them lie the first three small and short, dorsal arm-plates. IO NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. The oral side of the disk has, on each interradial area, four large, submarginal plates, of which the two median are larger, and usually oblong; between these and the oral shields there are usually five or six irregular and unequal plates. The oral shields are large, oblong-oval or shield-shaped, longer than broad, the sides nearly parallel, indented, and the outer ends rounded, while the inner margins form a sharp angle. Lateral oral plates, large, elongated, curved, thick- ened and in contact proximally at their narrow ends. Oral papillae rather numerous, five to seven on each bor- der; the next to the outer one is largest, flat, with the edge rounded; the others are mostly small, conical, and acute. Be- yond the middle of the arm they become more triangular, with a slight median prominence on the outer end. The under arm-plates are large, shield-shaped, widest distally, with the lateral edges incurved; proximal end round- ed or truncate, and the outer end broadly rounded. On the basal joints they become wider and shorter, with the prox- imal end much narrower than the distal. Tentacle-scales on the proximal joints, two, rather large, flat, broad ovate; farth- er out there are often three, of which one is very small. Arm-spines three (rarely four), small, conical, near to- gether, well down on the sides of the arm; the upper one is usually a little smaller than the others. Upper arm-plates, except a few close to the base of the proximal half of the arm, broad-trapezoidal or triangular, with the outer lateral corn- ers prominent and acute; the outer edge is broadly round- ed; the sides nearly straight, or a little incurved, and strongly divergent; the inner end, on the proximal ones, is narrow and truncated; those beyond the middle of the arm are triangular. The three basal plates are small and very short; the fourth is crescent-shaped; the fifth is much wider than long; farther out the ratio of the length to the breadth increases. The diameter of the disk of the largest specimen is 16 mm.; length of longest arm, which is broken at the tip, 34 mm. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. IX Off Havana, no to 263 fathoms; also from 200 fathoms, off Barbados, (Blake Exped.) Taken by the Blake Exped. in 56 to 424 fathoms. A study of a series of specimens sent to me by Mr. Lyman (from sta. 291, 200 fath-, Blake Exp.) shows considerable variation in the form of the oral shields. These are some- times oblong, twice as long as broad, with the outer and inner portions of the same width; in other cases the outer part, be- yond the lateral indentations caused by the end of the genital slit, is broader than the inner part; in other specimens the outer partis narrower than the inner. The number and ar- rangement of the large angular plates outside the oral shields are variable even on the same specimen. Usually there are three or four of the larger plates, of which two stand side by side, near the margin of the disk. The radial shields are often separated distally by a row of two or three small angular plates and a large proximal plate as in our figure (pi. Ill, fig. 4), but in other specimens the radial shields are in contact distally, but separated proximally by a single large triangular plate, as in Mr. Lyman's type- specimen. The central disk-plate is usually closely surround- ed by five large angular plates, but in many cases there are small plates intervening more or less irregularly. The varia- tions in the scaling of the disk and in the radial shields are not coincident witn the variations of the oral shields. The varietel name is given to the variety with distinctly separated radial shields, regardless of the variations in the oral shields, which happen to be, in both the specimens fig- ured, (pi. Ill, figs. 3 and 4) of the shorter and more ovate form. This species is allied to O. tessellata. It is easily dis- tinguished by the large, irregular disk-plates, wide, oblong, orai shields; three subequal arm-spines, low down on the sides. There are no marginal spinules outside the radial shields. The upper arm-plates also differ in form. 12 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Ophiothyreus goesi Ljungman. Ophiothyreus goesi Ljung., Dr. Goes, Ophi. Of. Kong-. Akad., p. 619, 1871. Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9. p. 22; op cit. X, p. 235; Lyman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 28, 1882. Nutting, Narrative, p. 81. Sta. 2, off Havana, no fathoms, six examples. Taken in the West Indies by the Blake Exp. in 30 to 300 rath. Ophioglypha acervata Lyman, Ophioglypha acervata Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, 10, p. 316, 1869; 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. £ool., VI, pi. I, fig. 6; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 7, p. 99; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 218; op. cit. X, p. 242. Lyman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 39, 1882. Sta. 26, off Key West, 60 fathoms, thirty-two examples; Sta. 41, off Sand Key, 15 fathoms, fifty examples; Sta. 54, off American Shoal, 130 fathoms, twenty examples. Taken by the Blake Exp. in 84 to 808 fathoms. Ophiomusium eburneum Lyman, Ophiomusium eburneum Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, 10, p. 322, 1869; 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VI, pi. II, figs. 1, 2, 3; Bull. Mus. Comp, Zool., V, 7, p. 220; op. cit., X, p. 244; Lyman, Report Voy. Challenger, 2ool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 99, 1882. Variety, elegans Verrill. Pjlate III; Figures 1, la. This species was the type of the genus. According to Mr. Lyman's original description and figures his type differs considerably from our specimens. I have, therefore, thought it desirable to give new figures of our examples, and to de- scribe the differences, which do not, however, appear to be of specific value. But as our specimens are only a trifle larger than his type, which was 9 mm. across the disk, the differ- ences are probably not due to age. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE) BAHAMA EXPEDITION. I J Our specimens have the radial shields, broad, ovate and not widely separated, only three rows of small plates inter- vening, of which the lateral are minute; their inner ends are not so divergent as in the type. According to Mr. Lyman all the side arm-plates meet. above and below "from the very innermost joint." In ours they do not meet above on the two basal joints and barely touch on the third. The upper arm-plates at the base of the arms are quite unlike Mr. Ly- man's figure and description. The first (preceded by a smaller transverse, supplementary radial) is transversely el- liptical, large, much wider than long; the next is six-sided, large, longer than broad, truncated proximally, angulated distally and laterally; the third is also rather large, longer than broad, rhombic, with the inner half longer and more acute than the outer; be} T ond the third the plates are of similar shape, but rapidly decrease in size, as described by Lyman. The arm-spines are three, instead of two, and are not all "nearly equal." They are small, short, blunt, the lowest are longest; distally the lowest one becomes more decidedly longer and stouter than the others. The under arm-plates are not all "three-sided and very small," for the two basalt are father large for the genus, somewhat five-sided, or trapezoidal, with the corners rounded and the outer end eith- er obtusely angulated or convex. The oral shields are longer than figured by Mr. Lyman, much longer than wide, the distal half with nearly parallel or slightly curved sides, the outer end convex, the proximal sides convergent to an acute angle, so that the form is very acute- ovate. The adoral shields are long, triangular, with their very acute proximal ends touching. The mouth-papillae are mostly flattened and thick; the next to the outer is broadest, the others decreasing in size successively. Diameter of disk of largest specimen figured, 12 mm., length of arms about 42 mm. Diameter of disk of the smaller one figured, 10 mm. ' Off Havana, no to 260 fath., four examples. Taken by the Blake Exp. in 92 to 500 fath. 1 4 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Ophiomusium testudo Lyman. Ophiomusium testudo Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VIII, 2, p. 8, pi. I, fig-. 6-8, 1875; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 219; Lyman. Report Voy. Challenger, £ool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 99, 1882. Sta. 2 and 13, off Havana, in no fathoms, thirteen ex- amples; sta. 56, Pourtales Plateau, in 200 fathoms, four ex- amples. Taken by the Blake Exp. in 73 to 400 fathoms. Ophiomusium stellatum Verrill, sp. nov. Plate I; Figures 3, 3a. Disk nearly round, rather thin and flat, with a ten-rayed grouping of small crowded plates. Arms five, of moderate length, slender, regularly tapered, with the joints rather prominent, owing to the projecting side arm-plates. Radial shields rather large, ovate, divergent, separated by about three crowded, irregular rows of unequal overlapping plates, those of the middle row larger. A large, thickened, super- marginal, interradial plate, nearly as large as the radial shields, occupies most of each interradial margin, between the radial shields with which it is in contact on each side, within the outer margin, but they are separated distally from it by a small, rounded marginal plate on each side. This large inter- radial plate is somewhat semicircular in form, with the convex edge turned toward the center of the disk, while its gently curved or nearly straight outer edge forms the interradial border of the disk." From each of the large interradial plates three or four crowded rows of small unequal plates extend in- ward to the central area, forming five rays, somewhat broader than the radial rays, but giving a distinctly ten rayed character to the disk-scaling. On the central area of the disk is a larg- er, round, central plate and ten similar primary plates can be distinguished among the small, unequal, crowded scales. Just outside the distal end of each radial shield there is a small, thick, transversely elliptical plate, which rises promi- nently above the level of the radial shields and arm-plates. Distal to this there are two or three small supplementary basal arm-plates. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 15 The under side of the disk is pretty uniformly covered by small rounded scales. Oral shields rather small, about as long as broad, somewhat heart-shaped or triangular, with curved edges; the outer end is usually slightly indented or incurved, the lateral edges a little convex, the inner end acute. Lateral oral shields oblong, a little wider distally. Mouth- papil- lae squarish, about seven or eight on each side in a close row. Tentacle-pores occur on only two basal joints, each has a small rounded tentacle-scale. Under arm-plates, on the two' joints having tentacle-pores, are shield-shaped or pentagonal, wider than long, broadest distally, with an obtuse inner angle; farther out they are very small, triangular or short wedge- shaped, but they are found well out'on the arm. Arm-spines three, very small, short, and nearly equal near the base of the arms, but beyond about the tenth joint the lower one is a little the longest. The upper ones becoming shorter and thicker, with a bent tip, which becomes claw-like farther out. The spines are scarcely one-third as long as a joint. Upper arm-plates very small, those beyond the basal are top-shaped or wedge-shaped, with the distal end rounded and the proximal end acute; they extend well out on the arms, or as far as the arms are preserved in our specimens. Diameter of disk 7.5 mm.; length of longest arm (much broken at the end) 22 mm. Off Havana, no to 260 fathoms, two examples. This species is closely related to O. cancellatum Lyman. The latter differs in having three pairs of tentacle-pores and two tentacle-scales to each pore, smaller and shorter radial shields, more widely separated, less unequal and more numer- ous disk-scales; a much smaller super-marginal, interradial plate; upper arm-plates larger and less triangular. The prominent basal arm-plate, at the ends of the radial shields, is lacking. The type of O. cancellatum Lym. was taken by the Challen- ger Exp., off the coast of Japan, in 420 to 470 fathoms (Voy. 1 6 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. Chall., p. 88, pi. II, figs. 16-18). Mr. Lyman also recorded it, with a mark of doubt, from off Bermudas, in 435 fathoms. Possibly the example from the latter place may have been identical with our species. Ophiomusium sculptum Verrill, sp. nov. Plate II; Figure 2. Plate VIII; Figure 2. Five arms. Disk flattened, ten-lobed, owing to two pro- jecting tubercles on each interradial margin. Upper surface covered with large plates bearing clusters of coarse granules. Five interradial plates surround a larger central one; these are surrounded by a regular circle of ten angular plates, five of which are radial and five interradial; their acute ends are directed outward so that they form a ten-rayed star; the points of the five radial plates separate the inner ends of the radial shields. The latter are larger, irregularly polygonal, nearly or quite in contact at one point, but separ- ated distally by a large sub-triangular plate, which, like the radial shields, is unevenly verrucose and rough and bears a cluster of granules. A very large, thick, rough, and swollen bilobed plate occupies the whole of each interradial margin and extends beneath to the oral shield. The upper arm- plates are small and become obsolete at about the twelfth joint; the first one is swollen, triangular, with rounded corn- ers, and bears a central granule. The next is smaller and more sharply triangular; the following ones decrease regularly in size to the last. The radial shields are very large, longer than broad, with the inner part sub-triangular and the outer portion transversely oblong. The outer end is truncated; the outer lateral lobes are obliquely truncated, the sides strongly incurved, the inner end acute. The lateral oral shields are . elongated, narrow, and irregular. The genital slits are very narrow and sinuous. The mouth slits are very narrow. The oral papillae are all consolidated. Tentacle-pores exist on the first two joints, each with one or two minute tentacle-scales. Under arm-plates, on the first two joints, are small shield- shaped; on three or four following joints they are minute, Report on the Ophiuroidea Coi,i,kcted by the Bahama Expedition from the University of Iowa in 1893. By Professor A. E. Verrill, of Yale University. The Bahama Expedition obtained about 66 species of Ophiuroidea? among which there are many species of great interest and several that were previously unknown. In former years the same region had been very extensively explored by the various dredging expeditions made by Mr. Alexander Agassiz, in the Coast Survey Steamer "Blake," and by other earlier government expeditions. The various collections thus obtained were very fully worked up and the numerous new species were described by Mr. Theodore Ly- man in the publications of the Museum of Comparative Zool- ogy.* The Challenger Expedition added a few species from the same region, which are included in Mr. Lyman's final report on the Challenger Ophiuroidea (Vol. V. 1882). Therefore, it was not to have been expected that many new discoveries would be made, in that region, by a compar- atively small number of dredgings, and with a far less elabor- ate equipment. Hence the number of new forms obtained by the Bahama Expedition is rather surprising. *Bulletin of the Mus. Comp. Zoology, Vol. I, No. 10, p. 309, 1869; Vol. V, No. 9, p. 217, 1878; Vol. X, No. 6, 1883; also Vol. V, No. 7, p. 67, 1878, and Vol. VI, No.* 2, 1879, (Challenger Coll.) Illust. Catal. Mus. Comp. £ool., Vol. I, No. I. 1865; Vol. VI, 1871; Vol. VIII, No. II, 1875. V— 1 A 2 NATURAL HISTORY . BUIylyETlN. This collection is peculiar in lacking many common species which were taken at numerous stations and in large numbers by the "Blake Expedition". Such species belong largely to such genera as Ophioglypha, Ophiomusium, Amphiura, etc. These live, for the most part, on muddy or sandy bottoms, or buried just below the surface, and are only to be obtained by the use of the dredge or trawl. But as the Bahama Expedi- tion worked largely upon the hard bottoms and used the tangles relatively much more than the dredge, the absence of many of the common species is easily understood. On the other hand, and for the same reasons, the collection is relatively rich in those species and genera that live on hard bottoms and cling to the branches of gorgonian corals, hy- droids, etc., by means of their long, coiled arms. Such species are best obtained by the tangles. Some of these belong to the Opkiurce; such as Sigsbiea and Hemiearyale ; but most of them belong to the Eur y alee. Many of these are simple armed species of the genera Ophiocreas, Astroschcema, Astroporpa, As tr onyx, Astrogomphus ; others are of the general Astrophyton and Gorgonocephalus, in which the arms are many times forked. Some of the long-spined genera, like Ophiacantha, Ophio- mitra, Ophiothrix, etc., also live among the branches of gor- gonian corals, or clinging to other organisms, so that they are easily captured by the tangles. Such genera are well repre- sented in this collection. Most of those species with long, coied arms, adapted for clinging to the branches of gorgonian corals, are remarkable for imitating closely, in various ways, the forms and colors of the corals on which they live. This must afford them a con- siderable degree of protection against predacious fishes, in addition to the direct protection due to the stinging powers of the corals themselves, which is sufficient to cause most fishes to avoid them. I have observed that some of the northern plectognath fishes (file fishes) will feed upon hydroids. It is also well OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 3 known that our northern butter-fish, when young, lives with impunity beneath the disk and among the tentacles of the great red jelly-fish {Cyanea arctica), which is deadly to other fishes. It is probable, therefpre, that in tropical waters many fishes have acquired comparative immunity against the poisonous stinging organs (cnidce) of coral animals. If so, the utility of the additional protection afforded by the imitative forms and colors of so many of the coral-inhabiting ophuiroids would be obvious. Professor Nutting has already described the colors of some of these curious forms in his Narrative of the Expedition. In this report I have followed, in general, the order of se- quence adopted by Lyman, but in the case of the Euryalce and in the families Amfhiuridce, Ophiacantkidce, and some others, I have thought it desirable to alter his classification considerably. I have also introduced the names and in some cases the characters of the family groups, and have changed the limits of several of them. Many of these were proposed by Liitken 1 and by Ljungman 2 many years ago. Several new families are also now characterized. In describing the genera and species, I have generally used, as a matter of convenience, the same terms, for the organs and parts, that were used by Mr. Lyman in his various works on this group, but have made a few obvious changes. I have preferred to use oral shield instead of "mouth-shield", and adoral shield instead of "side-mouth-shield". In the genera allied to Amphiura, I have usually called the "outer mouth- papillse" or papillae of the second oral tentacle, the distal oral tentacle-scales to indicate their homology with the ordinary 1 Addit. ad Hist. Ophiur., Fart III; Synop. gen. Ophiur. ver., p. 87, 1869. 2 Ophiuroidea viv. hucusque cognita enumerat, Ofvers. Kgl. Veten- skaps-Akad. Forhandlingar, for 1866, 1867. 4 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. tentacle-scales. The same idea has been carried out in Ophiacantkidce. In the latter group I have designated the apical " mouth-papillae" as tooth-papillae. In the identification of the species, I have been very much aided by a pretty large series of typical specimens of the species obtained in the West Indies by the several "Blake" Ex- peditions and described by Mr. Lyman. They were sent to the Yale Museum, several years ago, by Mr. A. Agassiz. I have also used, for comparison, a collection sent to me by Dr. Liitken, from the University Museum of Copenhagen. Order I. OVYiWJ KM Muller & Troschel, 1842. Ophiurce Ljung-man, Oph. Viv., p. 303, 1867. Ophiuridce Lyman, and many other authors. Zygophiurce and Streptophiurce Bell, 1892. Family, PECTINURID^, nom. nov. Ophiodermatidce L,jung\, Oph. Viv., p. 87, 1867. L,utk., Addit. Hist. Oph., in, p. 87, 1869. Since the generic name, Ophioderma, is now recognized only as a synonym of Ophiura, I have changed the name of this family, as is customary in such cases. The name Ophiur- idcz cannot properly be used for the small group here includ- ed, because Mr. Lyman and many others have always used it to designate the order Ophiurce, or all the Ophiuroidea ex- clusive of the JSuryalce. Ophiura brevispina Say. Ophiura brevispina Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, p. 149, 182S. Ophiura brevispina Ivy man, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vn, p. 258, Jan., 1860; 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. £ool., 1, p. 18. Verrill, Notes on Rad- iata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ophioderma olivaceum Ayers, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., IV, p. 134, 1852. Ophioderma serpens Lutken, Vid. Meddel., Jan., 1856, p. 7; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 96. Ophiura olivacea Layman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, p. 23, 1865; layman, Report Voy, Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882; OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 5 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 230. Verrill, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., X, p. 339, 1866; Report on Invert. Vineyard Sound, etc., .p. 719, [363], 1873. A variety, taken at the Tortugas, has the oral plates wider than usual. Its disk is green and the arms are banded. A variety from Bahia Honda has narrower oral plates. Its disk is white, the arms greenish. Several other marked varieties of this species occur. The northern form (<9. olivacea), formerly considered a distinct species, has been treated as a synonym by Lyman in his later works. It seems to be, at least, a well marked variety. The variety olivacea ranges from the south side of Cape Cod and Vineyard Sound to Charleston, S. C. It is com- mon at Fort Macon, N. C. It is usually found in sheltered localities among eel-grass (Zostera). Tortugas and Bahia Honda. If all the forms united under this species by Mr. Lyman belong together, it ranges from Cape Cod to Bahia, Brazil. The typical variety is common at Key West and through- out the West Indies, and also occurs at the Bermudas. Ophiura brevicauda (jfciitk.) Lyman. Ophioderma variegata Duch. & Mich., Rad. Antill., 1850 (/. Lyman non Ivtk). Ophioderma brevicauda Lutken, Vid. Meddel., Jan., 1856, p. 8; Add. ad. Hist. Ophiur., Ft. II, p. 94, pi. 1, fig. 3. Ophiura brevicauda Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Com. £ool.-, I, p. 16, 1865. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ly- man, Report Voy. Challenger, 2ool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882. * The only specimen in the collection, referred to this species, has the arms longer and more slender than usual, with more slender arm-spines and finer granules. Egg Key. One example. Common at the Florida Keys and throughout the West Indies in shallow water. Colon (Bradley). 6 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Ophiura cinerea [Mull. & Troschel). Lyman, Ophiura cinerea layman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, p. 27, 1865; Ly- man, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882; Bulletin. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 230. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 368, 1868. Nutting-, Narrative Bahama Exp., p. 131. Ophioderma cinereum Mull. & Trosch., Syst., Ast., p. 87, 1842. Ophioderma saxatalis Duch & Mich., Rad. An till., 1850, {t. Lyman). Ophioderma antillarum IyUtk., Vid. Meddel., p. 9, 1856; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 88, 1859. Tortugas, twelve examples. Common in shallow water throughout the West Indies. It ranges to Colon and to the Abrolhos Reefs, Bahia, and Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Ophiura rubicunda (Lutk.) Lyman. Ophiura rubicunda layman, 111. Cat. Mus. Com. Zool., I, p. 30, 1865. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ivy- man, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 10, 1882. Nutting-, Narrative Bahama Exp., p. 131. Ophioderma rubicunda IyUtken, Vid. Meddel., Jan. 1856, p. 8; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 90, pi. I, fig-. 2. This species is conspicuously colored, even in alcohol. One example has the disk red, mottled with pale yellow; arms similar, but also with lighter and darker bands; others have the disk yellow with red mottlings on the interbrachial areas and oral shields; under arm-plates mottled; spines yellow. In life, according to Prof. Nutting, the disk was lake-red, mottled with gray. Tortugas, two examples. It occurs at low water and in small depths at the Florida Keys and throughout the West Indies, and at Colon. Ophiura appressa Say. Ophiura appressa Say, Journ. Phil. Acad., V, p. 151, 1825. Ophiura appressa Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, p. 34> 1865. Verrill, Notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 342, 1868. Ly- man, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 9, 1882. Nutting-, Narrative Bahama Bxp., p. 131. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 7 Oyhioderma virescens IvUtken, Vid. Meddel., Jan. 1856, p. 9; Add. ad Hist. Ophiur., Pt. II, p. 92, pi. I, fig-. 4. One of the specimens belongs to a variety with unusually broad oral shields. The disk of this one is dark green, mot- tled with lighter, in alcohol. Tortugas, fourteen examples. • Common at the Florida Keys and throughout the West In- dies, in shallow water. It extends southward to Bahia and Pernambuco, Brazil; also to Colon, Bermuda, and Cumana. Ophiura pallida Verrill, sfi. nov. Plate II; Figure 4. Arms five, long and slender, Remarkable for the large, broad, subcordate oral shields, crowded close to the bases of the oral papillae; very small granulated lateral oral shields. Two very small tentacle-scales, the inner not elongated. Mouth-papillae rather large, mostly flat or truncated, the three outer ones broadest. Arm-spines nine, rather slender, round and pointed, the longest only little longer than the rest, equal to about one-half the length of a side arm-plate. Under arm-plates longer and narrower than in O. rubicunda. Upper ones short and broad, not broken, outer end slightly emarginate. . Radial* shields with a small, naked, distal portion, widely separated, regular- ly ovate. Notch at the bases, of the arms angular, including three dorsal arm-plates. On the sides of the arms, at their bases and along the genital slits, are many small, naked scales. The disk is elsewhere covered with very minute granules. The color pi the arms, in alcohol, is pale brownish yellow or yellowish white, banded with a darker shade of yellowish brown; the disk is yellowish white; radial shields like the arms; beneath, the disk and arm-plates are white. The diameter of the disk of one of the larger specimens is 17 mm.; length of arms, from mouth, 90 mm. 8 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Sta. 2 and sta. 15, off Havana, in no and 200 fathoms, four examples. This species is allied to O. rubicunda. The latter has longer and larger oral plates, and smaller lateral oral plates; much larger and relatively stouter and more unequal arm-spines; larger and longer tentacle-scales; its color is also very differ- ent, being red or reddish brown. It also somewhat resembles some forms of O. cinerea, but differs in its larger radial and oral shields, and in other characters. Pectinura angulata Lyman. Pectinura angulata Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 232, pi. Ill, fig-s. 7-9, 1883. Bahama Banks, two examples. Taken by the Blake Ex- ped., in the West Indies, in 88 to 248 fathoms. Ophiopeza petersi Lyman. Ophiopeza petersi layman, Mus. Comp. £ool., V, 9, p. 217, pi. II, fig-s. 22-24, 1878; layman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 13, 1882. Sta. 19, in 1 y 2 to 8 fathoms, off Fort Jefferson, one example. Taken by the Blake Exped. in 177 fath., in the West Indies. Ophiop^epale goesiana Ljungman. Ophiopcepale goesiana Ln the proximal ones, is narrow and truncated; those beyond the middle of the arm are triangular. The three basal plates are small and very short; the fourth is crescent-shaped; the fifth is much w r ider than long; farther out the ratio of the length to the breadth increases. The diameter of the disk of the largest specimen is 16 mm.; length of longest arm, which is broken at the tip, 34 mm. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. n Off Havana, no to 263 fathoms; also from 200 fathoms, off Barbados, (Blake Exped.) Taken by the Blake Exped. in 56 to 424 fathoms. A study of a series of specimens sent to me by Mr. Lyman (from sta. 291, 200 fath., Blake Exp.) shows considerable variation in the form of the oral shields. These are some- times oblong, twice as long as broad, with the outer and inner portions of the same width; in other cases the outer part, be- yond the lateral indentations caused by the end of the genital slit, is broader than the inner part; in other specimens the outer part is narrower than the inner. The number and ar- rangement of the large angular plates outside the oral shields are variable even on the same specimen. Usually there are three or four of the larger plates, of which two stand side by side, near the margin of the disk. The radial shields are often separated distally by a row of two or three small angular plates and a large proximal plate as in our figure (pi. Ill, fig. 4), but in other specimens the radial shields are in contact distally, but separated proximally by a single large triangular plate, as in Mr. Lyman's type- specimen. The central disk-plate is usually closely surround- ed by five large angular plates, but in many cases there are small plates intervening more or less irregularly. The varia- tions in the scaling of the disk and in the radial shields are not coincident with the variations of the oral shields. The varietel name is given to the variety with distinctly separated radial shields, regardless of the variations in the oral shields, which happen to be, in both the specimens fig- ured, (pi. Ill, figs. 3 and 4) of the shorter and more ovate form. This species is allied to O. tessellata. It is easily dis- tinguished by the large, irregular disk-plates, wide, oblong, oral shields; three subequal arm-spines, low down on the sides. There are no marginal spinules outside the radial shields. The upper arm-plates also differ in form. 12 NATURAL HISTORY BUIylyETlN. Ophiothyreus goesi Ljungman. Ophiothyreus goesi Iyjung., Dr. Goes, Ophi. Of. Kong-. Akad., p. 619, 1871. Ivyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. 2ool., V, 9. p. 22; op cit. X, p. 235; Lyman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 28, 1882. Nutting-, Narrative, p. 81. Sta. 2, off Havana, no fathoms, six examples. Taken in the West Indies by the Blake Exp. in 30 to 300 fath. Ophioglypha acervata Lyman. Ophioglypha acervata I/yman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, 10, p. 316, 1869; 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. 2ool., VI, pi. I, fig-. 6; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 7, p. 99; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 218; op. cit. X, p. 242. Lyman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 39, 1882. Sta. 26, off Key West, 60 fathoms, thirty-two examples; Sta. 41, off Sand Key, 15 fathoms, fifty examples; Sta. 54, off American Shoal, 130 fathoms, twenty examples. Taken by the Blake Exp. in 84 to 808 fathoms. Ophiomusium eburneum Lyman. Ophiomusium eburneum layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, 10, p. 322, 1869; 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VI, pi. II, figs. 1, 2, 3; Bull. Mus. Comp, Zool., V, 7, p. 220; op. cit., X, p. 244; layman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 99, 1882. Variety, elegans Verrill. Plate III; Figures 1, 10. This species was the type of the genus. According to Mr. Lyman's original description and figures his type differs considerably from our specimens. I have, therefore, thought it desirable to give new figures of our examples, and to de- scribe the differences, which do not, however, appear to be of specific value. But as our specimens are only a trifle larger than his type, which was 9 mm. across the disk, the differ- ences are probably not due to age. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 13 Our specimens have the radial shields, broad, ovate and not widely separated, only three rows of small plates inter- vening, of which the lateral are minute; their inner ends are not so divergent as in the type. According to Mr. Lyman all the side arm-plates meet above and below "from the very innermost joint." In ours they do not meet above on the two basal joints and barely touch on the third. The upper arm-plates at the base of the arms are quite unlike Mr. Ly- man's figure and description. The first (preceded by a smaller transverse, supplementary radial) is transversely el- liptical, large, much wider than long; the next is six-sided, large, longer than broad, truncated proximally, angulated distally and laterally; the third is also rather large, longer than broad, rhombic, with the inner half longer and more acute than the outer; beyond the third the plates are of similar shape, but rapidly decrease in size, as described by Lyman. The arm-spines are three, instead of two, and are not all "nearly equal." They are small, short, blunt, the lowest are longest; distally the lowest one becomes more decidedly longer and stouter than the others. The under arm-plates are not all "three-sided and very small," for the two basals are rather large for the genus, somewhat five-sided, or trapezoidal, with the corners rounded and the outer end eith- er obtusely angulated or convex. The oral shields are longer than figured by Mr. Lyman, much longer than wide, the distal half with nearly parallel or slightly curved sides, the outer end convex, the proximal sides convergent to an acute angle, so that the form is very acute- ovate. The adoral shields are long, triangular, with their very acute proximal ends touching. The mouth-papillae are mostly flattened and thick; the next to the outer is broadest, the others decreasing in size successively. Diameter of disk of largest specimen figured, 12 mm., length of arms about 42 mm. Diameter of disk of the smaller one figured, 10 mm. Off Havana, no to 260 fath., four examples. Taken by the Blake Exp. in 92 to 500 fath. 1 4 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Ophiomusium testudo Lyman. Ophiomusium testudo layman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VIII, 2, p. 8, pi. I, fig. 6-8, 1875; Bull. Mus. Comp. 2ool., V, 9, p. 219; layman. Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 99, 1882. Sta. 2 and 13, off Havana, in no fathoms, thirteen ex- amples; sta. 56, Pourtales Plateau, in 200 fathoms, four ex- amples. Taken by the Blake Exp. in 73 to 400 fathoms. Ophiomusium stellatum Verrill, sp. nov. Plate I; Figures 3, 3a. Disk nearly round, rather thin and flat, with a ten-rayed grouping of small crowded plates. Arms five, of moderate length, slender, regularly tapered, with the joints rather prominent, owing to the projecting side arm-plates. Radial shields rather large, ovate, divergent, separated by about three crowded, irregular rows of unequal overlapping plates, those of the middle row larger. A large, thickened, super- marginal, interradial plate, nearly as large as the radial shields, occupies most of each interradial margin, between the radial shields with which it is in contact on each side, within the outer margin, but they are separated distally from it by a small, rounded marginal plate on each side. This large inter- radial plate is somewhat semicircular in form, with the convex edge turned toward the center of the disk, while its gently curved or nearly straight outer edge forms the interradial border of the disk. From each of the large interradial plates three or four crowded rows of small unequal plates extend in- ward to the central area, forming five rays, somewhat broader than the radial rays, but giving a distinctly ten rayed character to the disk-scaling. On the central area of the disk is a larg- er, round, central plate and ten similar primary plates can be distinguished among the small, unequal, crowded scales. Just outside the distal end of each radial shield there is a small, thick, transversely elliptical plate, which rises promi- nently above the level of the radial shields and arm-plates. Distal to this there are two or three small supplementary basal arm-plates. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 15 The under side of the disk is pretty uniformly covered by small rounded scales. Oral shields rather small, about as long as broad, somewhat heart-shaped or triangular, with curved edges; the outer end is usually slightly indented or incurved, the lateral edges a little convex, the inner end acute. Lateral oral shields oblong, a little wider distally. Mouth- papil- lae squarish, about seven or eight on each side in a close row. Tentacle-pores occur on only two basal joints, each has a small rounded tentacle-scale. Under arm-plates, on the two joints having tentacle-pores, are shield-shaped or pentagonal, wider than long, broadest distally, with an obtuse inner angle; farther out they are very small, triangular or short wedge- shaped, but they are found well out on the arm. Arm-spines, three, very small, short, and nearly equal near the base of the arms, but beyond about the tenth joint the lower one is a little the longest. The upper ones becoming shorter and thicker, with a bent tip, which becomes claw-like farther out. The spines are scarcely one-third as long as a joint. Upper arm-plates very small, those beyond the basal are top-shaped or wedge-shaped, with the distal end rounded and . the proximal end acute; they extend well out on the arms, or as far as the arms are preserved in our specimens. Diameter of disk 7.5 mm.; length of longest arm (much broken at the end) 22 mm. Off Havana, no to 260 fathoms, two examples. This species is closely related to O. cancellation Lyman. The latter differs in having three pairs of tentacle-pores and two tentacle-scales to each pore, smaller and shorter radial shields, more widely separated, less unequal and more numer- ous disk-scales; a much smaller super-marginal, interradial plate ; upper arm-plates larger and less triangular. The prominent basal arm-plate, at the ends of the radial shields, is lacking. The type of O. cancellatum Lym. was taken by the Challen- ger Exp., off the coast of Japan, in 420 to 470 fathoms ( Voy. 1 6 NATURAL; HISTORY BULLETIN. Chall., p. 88, pi. II, figs. 16-18). Mr. Lyman also recorded it, with a mark of doubt, from off Bermudas, in 435 fathoms. Possibly the example from the latter place may have been identical with our species. Ophiomusium sculptum Verrill, sp. nov. Plate II; Figure 2. Plate VIII; Figure 2. Five arms. Disk flattened, ten-lobed, owing to two pro- jecting tubercles on each interradial margin. Upper surface covered with large plates bearing clusters of coarse granules. Five interradial plates surround a larger central one; these are surrounded by a regular circle of ten angular plates, five of which are radial and five interradial; their acute ends are directed outward so that they form a ten-rayed star; the points of the five radial plates separate the inner ends of the radial shields. The latter are larger, irregularly polygonal, nearly or quite in contact at one point, but separ- ated distally by a large sub-triangular plate, which, like the radial shields, is unevenly verrucose and rough and bears a cluster of granules. A very large, thick, rough, and swollen bilobed plate occupies the whole of each interradial margin and extends beneath to the oral shield. The upper arm- plates are small and become obsolete at about the twelfth joint; the first one is swollen, triangular, with rounded corn- ers, and bears a central granule. The next is smaller and more sharply triangular; the following ones decrease regularly in size to the last. The radial shields are very large, longer than broad, with the inner part sub-triangular and the outer portion transversely oblong. The outer end is truncated; the outer lateral lobes are obliquely truncated, the sides strongly incurved, the inner end acute. The lateral oral shields are elongated, narrow, and irregular. The genital slits are very narrow and sinuous. The mouth slits are very narrow. The oral papillae are all consolidated. Tentacle-pores exist on the first two joints, each with one or two minute tentacle-scales. Under arm-plates, on. the first two joints, are small shield- shaped; on three or four following joints they are minute, OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 33 five-rayed variety of O. mti/leri, but it was of small size and agreed in all other essential characters with the ordinary, small, six-rayed variety O. mutter L At that time he gave it no varietal name. The large specimens sent by Mr. Lyman differ from the types of O. dispar only in characters of small importance due, probably, to greater size. The arm-spines are longer and the lower ones rather less differentiated from the upper ones; they are rather more slender and not so much flattened and increase a little more gradually in length from the lowest upward. The large radial shields are semielliptical, much as in our type. The, upper arm-spines are regularly elliptical, and thickened. The under arm-plates are, as in our types, thickened and turned up at the distal and lateral margins, but many of them are slightly emarginate at the outer end, becoming truncate more distally. The oral shields are more rhombic, about as long as broad, with a small peak or acute angle on the outer end where it joins the genital scales; obtusely angled prox- imally. Adoral shields not touching proximally. Mouth papillae three on most of the oral margins, small, flattened, the outer one (sometimes two) arises from the edge of the adoral shield above the outer oral tentacle and might be called an oral scale. The first oral scale is well developed, higher up in the mouth-slit. Large clusters of minute eggs were attached around the mouth and between the groups of spines near the bases of the arms of our specimen. Diameter of disk, 11.5 mm; length of arms, 70 mm. It is not probable that the specimens above described are the adults of O. millleri. They are much more like O. krebsit, and may, possibly, be the adults of the latter. It seems to me most probable that the specimens to which Mr. Lyman first applied his varietal name in 1878 were unlike those that he afterwards sent to me from another locality. V— l C 34 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. The former were very likely the real adults of O. mulleri, as he supposed. Therefore I think it best to apply a new name to the form above described. Whether it be a variety or the adult of O. krebsii, or a distinct species, can only be deter- mined by a larger series of intermediate sizes. Ophiactis krebsii Liitken. Ophiactis krebsii I^utken, Vid. Meddel., p. 12, 1856; Addit. ad Hist. Oph., Pt. II, p. 126. Ivyman, 111. Cat. I, p. Ill, figs. 10, 11. Verrill, notes on Radiata, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 341, 366, 1868. Ophiactis savignyi {pars) Lyman, Report Voy. Challenger, 2k>ol. Ophiuroidea, V, p. 115, 1882. Bahama Bank, 12 young. Common from Charleston, S. C. and Florida Reefs to the Abrolhos Reefs and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bermuda (Coll. Goode). It lives in the in- terstices of sponges and corals, often gregariously while young. Mr. Lyman considered it identical with O. savignyi and O. virescens, from the Indian and Pacific oceans respectively. With this opinion I am not prepared to agree. O. dispar appears to me to be more nearly related to O. krebsii than to O. mulleri. The former has, even when of very small size, with six rays, two mouth papillae, instead of one. Its ventral plates have also a thickened or raised mar- gin as in O. disfar and the arm-spines are more unequal and more numerous than in O. mulleri. It is possible, therefore, that the ordinary specimens of O. krebsii are all very young and that when they grow to full size they may become regularly five-rayed, as do some other echinoderms that undergo spon- taneous fission and have a variable number of arms while young. In that case it might, perhaps, develop into a species like O. disfar. Family, OPHIACANTHIDiE Ver. Ophiacantkince (sub-family of Amphiuridce) Ljungman, 1 866; Liitken, 1869. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 35 This family, as here understood, includes the following de- scribed genera: Ophtacantha, Ophiomitra, Ophiotrema, Ophiocamax, Ophiolebes, Ophiothamnus, Ophiocopa^ Ophio- chiton, Ophiotoma, and probably Ophioblennd. To these I have now added several others, separated from Opkiacantha> Ophiomitra^ and Ophiopsila. The first six of those named above have the disk covered with scales bearing spinules or thorny processes, or some- times granules. Ophiochiton and Ophiocopa have naked or nearly naked scales. Ophioblenna and Ophiotoma are cov- ered with naked skin. The radial shields may be large or small, naked or concealed. The family is characterized by the prominent and highly developed side arm-plates, usually meeting above and below, and by the numerous, usually long, and more or less rough spines, which stand out at nearly right angles to the arm. The spines may be solid or hollow, glassy or opaque, terete or flat. The mouth-papillae are usually rather numerous, and form a continuous row along the side of the jaw, but the outer ones may be of larger size or different in form from the others, or clustered, and in such cases they are really the distal oral tentacle-scales. There may be only a single apical tooth- papilla, or there may be two or three, and sometimes there is a large cluster. In some cases the outer oral tentacle-pore is exposed to view on the outer margin of the jaw and then it has one, or sometimes several, special oral scales or papillae by its outer side, or partly surrounding it. Some of its scales may be attached to the adoral plate, or even to the first un- der arm-plate. This plate is usually concave or somewhat bilobed, and has two inner, lateral, scale-like processes, which are sometimes movable and papilliform. There is generally a single acute tooth-papilla at the tip of the jaw, but there may be two or three, and in some cases (OpAiocamax, Ophio- mitra, Ophiotrema), there may be a cluster of several spini- form tooth-papillae. These were counted as mouth-papillae 36 NATURAL HISTORY BUI^ETIN. by Mr. Lyman, but when they stand on the dental plate they should be considered as true tooth-papillae. The teeth are stout, flattened, obtuse; they vary from three to eight in num- ber. Dichotomous analytical table of the East Coast and West In- dian species that have been referred to Ofihiacantha, [sens, ext.) [The species are grouped in this table as nearly in accordance with their structural relations as possible. Those marked with an as- terisk are from the eastern coast of the United States north of Cape Hatteras. The others are from the West Indian region.] A.— Oral shields join the first side arm-plates. Adoral shields entirely proximal to the oral shields. B. — True Ofhiacantha. Disk wholly, and radial shields mostly covered with small crotchets, thorny stumps, or short spinules or granules, or with a mixture of these forms. C. — Disk covered with small crotchets, or short thorny stumps, or short spinules, with no elongated spines nor granules. d. — Arm-spines finely serrulated, or nearly smooth under a simple lens, usually long and tapered, not glassy. e. — Basal opposite rows of arm-spines, in the adults, approxi- mate dorsally. f — Mouth-papillae form a simple row. * O. bidentata (Retz.) * O. aculeata Ver. * O. f rater na Ver. * O. abyssicola Sars. * O. anomala Sars. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 37 f.f. — The distal oral papillae, or oral tentacle-scales, are clustered or form a double row; all spiniform. Tentacle- scales spiniform. * O. enofila Ver. e. e. — Basal rows of spines not very closely approximate dorsally. Mouth-papillae in a simple row. * O. fraterna Ver. O. cosmtca Lym. d. d. — Arm-spines decidedly thorny or prickly, and usually glassy, mostly long and slender. g. — Basal rows of spines approximate dorsally. Side arm- plates very prominent. Disk with small slender crotch- ets or branched spinules. O. as f era Lym. *. O. millespina Ver. O. -pentacrinus Ltk. O. scut at a Lym. g. g.— Basal rows of spines not closely approximate dors- ally. Disk with short thorny stumps. O. stellata Lym. C. C. — Disk entirely covered with tapered spinules or true spines, or having more or less of them mixed with gran- ules or other structures, or else covered with granules only. A, — Disk covered with spinules, only, or else having spin- ules mixed with other structures, not granulated. /. — Disk with spinules only or mainly. j. — Basal rows of spines approximate dorsally. 38 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. * O. spectabitis Sars. j.J. — Basal rows of spines not approximate dorsally. k. — Arm-spines finely serrulate, not glassy. Tooth-papillae single. Mouth-papillae in a simple row. O. segesta Lym. * O. crassidens Ver. k. k. — Arm-spines thorny and glassy. Disk-spines slender, thorny, acute. Several tooth-papillae. O. -pectinula Ver. L z\ — Disk bearing few tapered spines mixed with other structures. Rows of spines approximate dorsally. /. — Disk covered with granules, mixed with a few tapered spines. Arm-spines finely serrulate or nearly smooth. O. vepratica Lym. /. /. — Disk-spines elongated, mixed with crotchets or thorny stumps. Arm-spines more or less finely serrulate. O. varis-pina Ver. * h. h. — Disk covered with small close granules alone. Basal rows of spines not closely approximate dorsally. Arm- spines serrulate. Under arm-plates short and broad, well separated. * O. granulifera Ver. B. B, — Radial shields largely uncovered. Disk-scales either partially naked and easily visible, but bearing more or less granules or spines, or else entirely concealed. m. — Disk-scales largely exposed. n, — Ofhialccea V. Dorsal arm-plates largely in contact. Arm-spines nearly smooth, the opposite rows widely separated dorsally. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 39 O. nuttingii Ver. sp. nov. O. rubescens (Koehl.) off Azores, 845 meters. n , n.—Ophiomitrella Ver. Dorsal arm-plates separated by the side plates. Arm-spines slender, thorny, the basal rows approximate dorsally. O. Icevifiellis (Lym.) m. m. — Disk-scales mostly concealed, but radial shields naked. o. — O-phiacanthella Ver. Basal rows of spines not approxi- mate dorsally. Dorsal arm-plates largely in contact. Radial shields long, mostly naked, in contact by their edges. Arm- spines nearly smooth. Three tooth-papillse; mouth-papillae four, conical, all similar. O. troscheli (Lym.) o. o. — Ophioscalus (p. 42) Dorsal arm-plates separated. Basal rows of spines closely approximate dorsally. Radial shields large, broad, naked, in contact for nearly their whole length. Two or three tooth-papillae. Arm-spines thorny and glassy. O. echinulata (Lym.) A. A. — The oral shield is separated from the side arm- plates by the distal lobe of the elongated adoral shields. D. — Ofhiojyristis Ver. Adoral shields narrow, trilobed, the narrow distal lobe separating the oral shield from the side arm - plate, Disk-scales usually concealed by cuticle and spinules. E. — Ofhiofora^ gen. nov. (See p. 43). No tentacle-scales, the pores are very large, spines small, usually smooth. O. bartletti (Lym.) One spiniform distal oral papilla by the side of the oral tentacle-pore. Disk covered with acute spinules. 4Q NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. E. E. — One or two tentacle-scales. -p. — Ophiolimna, gen. nov. (See p. 44). Arm-spines sev- en or eight, nearly smooth, placed obliquely on the distal part of the plates, not strongly divaricate. Jaws more or less granulated. Disk-scales and radial shields concealed, bear- ing granules and spines. * O. Bairdii (Lym.) Upper arm-plates separated. Rows of spines approximate dorsally. Tentacle-scale single. O. mitra Lym. Upper arm-plates joined. Rows of spines wide apart dorsally. Two flat tentacle-scales. -p. p. — Ofihiofristis, gen. nov. (see p. 44). Arm-spines serrulate, not obliquely placed. Strongly divaricate. Dorsal arm-plates separated. Tooth 7 papillae usually three. q, — Spines partly flattened, serrulate on the edges. A row or cluster of several distal oral papillae at the large, oral tentacle-pore. Two tentacle-scales on the basal joints. O. hirsnta (Lym.) O. ensifera Ver. sp. nov. O. cervicorfiis (Lym.) q t g t — Ophiotreta Ver., subgen. nov. Only one or two, rarely three, oral tentacle papillae, which are flat. Two to four or more tooth-papillae. Arm-spines terete, or only a lit- tle flattened, slender, serrulate or nearly smooth. O. lineolata (Lym.) O. sertata (Lym.) D. D. — Ofhiothamnus Lym. Adoral shields large, wedge- shaped, with the broad distal end separating the narrow ovate oral shield from the side arm-plate. Disk-scales exposed. Radial shields more or less naked, close together. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 4I O. gracilis (Ver.) O. vicar ins (Lym.) O. exigua (Lym.) From the old genus Ophiacantha several genera and sub- genera may now be separated with characters that appear to be of as great morphological value as those that character- ize, for instance, Ophiomitra or Ophiochiton. The most important of these are here indicated. • Series I. Ophiacantha (restricted). Types, O. setosa and O. bidentata. Section A. — Typical Ophiacantha. To. this section a large majority of all the described species belong. Section B.—Ophienlodia, subgenus no v. Two, three, or four tooth-papillae clustered at the tip of the jaws. Otherwise nearly as in section A. Distal oral pa- pillae not clustered. The figures of several species show two paired papil- lae, directed centrally, at the tip ot the jaws. They may not always stand on the dental plate and in such cases should be counted as mouth-papillae, but in some cases they have been determined as true tooth-papilla. Prob- ably in this section there may be a central tooth-papillae that has been over-looked in some species, by reason of its posi- tion, higher up on the jaw, or the smaller size. In some cases the central papilla i^ present on some jaws, but absent on others of the same specimen. It may have been accidentally lost in some examples. Therefore, I consider the presence of 42 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. three tooth-papillae as the usual character of this division. The species need revision as to the tooth-papillae. a. — Radial shields rather small, narrow, mostly concealed. O. scutata Lym. O. cuspidata Ver. O. -pectinula Ver. a. a.—Opkwscalus, nov. Radial shields large, wide, closely joined, naked. Disk-scales covered with rough spinules. Arm-spines approximate dorsally. O. echinulatus (Lym.) Section C. — Ofhiectodia, subgenus nov. Outer mouth-papillae (oral tentacle-scales) several, forming a cluster or a double row, some often standing on the lower face of the jaw or adoral shield. Tooth-papillae one to three, or more. The mouth-papillae are clustered nearly as in typ- ical Ofhiomitra. O. enofila Ver. O. rosea (Lym. ) O. sjiectabilis (Sars.) Series II. Group D. Ofhialccea, (subgen. nov.) Types, O. nuttingn (Ver.) and O. tuberculosa (Lym.) (Seep. 38). The dorsal arm-plates are broadly in contact, at least on many of the proximal joints. Disk-scales bear spinules or granules. Radial shields separate, sometimes more or less exposed distally, sometimes covered. Arm-spines rather short, few, nearly smooth, the rows not approximate dorsally. Mouth-papillae nearly as in typical Ofhiacantha (group A). OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 43 O. nutting"iiVer., sp. nov. Arm-spines four, short. Oral shield very large, ovate. Disk-scales more or less exposed, bearing spinules. Group F. — Ofhiomitrella Ver., gen. nov. (See p. 39). Type O. Icevifellis (Lym.) Disk- scales visible, bearing granules or spinules. Radial shields partly naked, not large, wide apart. Arm-spines slender, thorny or serrulate; the rows approximate dorsally in the type. One tooth-papilla. In the type-species a pair of special, distal, oral tentacle-papillae, on the first under arm- plate, * directed into the mouth-slit. Adoral shields wide. Otherwise the mouth-parts are nearly as in typical Ofhiacantha. O. lavifellis (Lym. '83). Arm-spines eight, slender, thorny. Disk-scales naked or partly granulated. Upper arm- plates separated. Group G. — Ophiacanthella y gen. nov. Type, O. troscheli (Lym.) Radial shields naked, long, parallel, united by their edges. Dorsal arm-plates largely joined. Three tooth-papillae. Arm- spines nearly smooth. (See p. 39.) Series III. In the following groups the oral shield is separated from the side arm-plates by the adoral shields: Group H. — Ophiofiora, gen. nov. Type. O. bartletti (Lym.) Tentacle-pores all large and open. No tentacle-scales. (See p. 39.) *The two papilliform appendages of the first under arm-plate are here supposed to be movable, but with the published figures and de- scriptions it is not always possible to distinguish them from the solid, immovable crest-like lobes, which are present on these plates in the same position in many species, including (9. bidentata. Among extra- limital species, these papillae are found in some species, such as O. ser- rata Iyym., that have the disk-scales and radial shields concealed. 44 NATURAL HISTORY BUIvIvETlN. Group I. — Ophiolimna, gen. nov. Type, O. bairdii (Lym.) Spine-crest of the side arm-plates oblique and situated distally. Spines nearly smooth. Disk granulose and spinulose. Jaws more or less granulose. (See p. 40.) Group J. — Ophiofrist is, gen. nov. Type, O. hirsuta (Lym). A row of distal oral papillae alongside of the large, outer, oral tentacle-pore. Arm-spines partly flattened, with serru- late edges. (Seep. 40.) Group K. — Ophiotreta, subgen nov. Type, O. lineolata (Lym.) One or two flat, distal oral papillae by the side of the large oral tentacle-pore. Two or three tooth-papillae. Spines mostly terete, sometimes flattened and serrulate on the edge^. (See p. 40). Description of Species, Ophiacantha aspera Lyman. Ophiacantha aspera layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 228, pi. I., figs. 10-12, 1878; op. cit., Vol. X, p. 263, 1883. layman, Report, Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 199, 1882. The specimens collected show some minor variations among themselves and differ considerably in details from Mr. Ly- man's figures. The disk is densely covered with minute thorny spinules, terminating in* two to five or more short divergent points; toward the margin they are longer, mostly with two or three points. The mouth papillae are rather large and project downward; there are sometimes 4, but oftener 3; they are crowded and the innermost one is vertically compressed; the two outer ones are often longer and larger, somewhat en- larged and cuspidate at the end, and often rough with little prominences like incipient thorns, showing a tendency to the structure of the peculiar tentacle-scales; the two stand close OPHIUROIDEA OP THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 45 together and all arise from the buccal plate; one stout termin- al tooth-papilla. The* oral shield is nearly as figured, but. the outer end is a little more prominent and the sides are a little incurved at the genital slit; the inner sides are also a lit- tle more incurved. The adoral plates are thickened and lunate, nearly as large at the oral shields. All these shields form together a rhombic figure and with the small concave first arm-plate they form a raised pantagon around the mouth. The tentacle-scale is more acute than figured, and has longer thorns, which are divergent like branches; distally it becomes slender and delicate, with few very acute branches. The arm-spines are very slender and very thorny, about ten in a row; they are so numerous and crowded as to conceal the arms above. The rows are closely approximate above, on six or more joints, and tubercles at the bases of the upper ones in opposite rows touch on the median line on the first two joints. The spine-ridges are so thick and prominent that they give a beaded appearance to the arm. Upper arm-plates are very small, quadrant-shaped, and widely separated. Un- der arm-plates are not just as figured; they are narrow, rather oblong, scarcely "shield-shaped" for the inner end is nearly truncate or slightly convex, without a distinct angle, and the outer end has a central lobe or prominence, which is a little roughened at the margin. The second plate differs from the rest; it is transversely lozenge-shaped, broader than long, but has the outer median lobe.* Diameter of disk, 5 to 6 mm. Station 13, off Havana, 200 fathoms, five examples. Tak- en in various localities in the West Indies by the Blake Exp., in 73 to 262 fathoms. Ophiacantha stellata Lyman. Ophiacantha stellata layman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VIII, Pt. II, p. 11, pi. II, figs. 16-18, 1875; Ophiuroidea, V, p. 199, 1882; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 262, 1883. Sta. 13, off Havana, 200 fathoms, one example. 46 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Taken by the "Blake" at many localities, in 56 to 262 fathoms. OphialcvEA Verrill, subgen. no v. (See p. 42.) Ophiacantha (Ophialc^ea) nuttingii Verrill, sp, nov. Plate I; Figure 2. Plate VIII; Figures i — la. Five arms. Disk five-lobed, with strong interradial notch- es, covered, except on a portion of the radial shields, with small, exposed, imbricated scales, which usually bear a single short, conical, acute, nearly smooth spinule. The radial shields are rather small, separate, partly naked; the exposed part is narrow and elongated, somewhat crescent-shaped. The proximal sides are incurved and somewhat divergent, separated by several rows of small scales bearing conical, acute spinules. Scales bearing acute conical spinules, similar to those of the upper surface of the disk, but longer, cover the bases of the arms and the margin of the disk, toward the oral shields, the scales become much smaller and are usually without spinules. The oral shields are large, broad, obovate, rather longer than broad, with rounded ends. The madreporic shield is larger and has a more prominent distal end. The buccal plates project but little beyond the oral shields. The adoral shields are very narrow, wedge-shaped, inconspicuous, and do not meet proximally. The oral papillae are about five on each edge of the jaw, besides a terminal tooth-papilla, the outer one is broad, ovate, obtuse, flat, and wider than the others, which are conical, pointed, and decrease proximally; tooth-papillae small, spini- form, arising from the dental plate. Under arm-plates are mostly broad, widest proximally, trapezoidal, with the distal end evenly curved and the inner end truncated, and broadly in contact. They are broader than long; those near to the base of the arms are narrower; OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. ^ the first is very small, quadrant-shaped. One large, flat, elliptical or broad-ovate tentacle-scale, nearly as long as the under arm-plate, and usually a minute one in front of it. In a few cases the first tentacle-scale is bifid. The arm-spines are about six, and are unusually short and smooth for this genus. Their length is about equal to the breadth of the under arm-plates. They are not very unequal; the lower ones are usually the largest ; most of them are trun- cate or blunt, distinctly flattened, tapered, and curved back- ward; the lower ones are usually more tapered, nearly straight, subacute. They are; dull and opaque, not thorny nor ser- rate, but microscopically roughened. The proximal upper arm-plates are broadly in contact, broader than long, six-sided or subtrapezoidal, with the inner end truncate; the outer end, which is broadly convex or sub- truncate with a median sinuosity, is much the widest. • Dist- ally they become relatively narrower and more nearly tri- angular, with rounded angles. Color, in alcohol, light buff. The larger specimens have a disk n mm. across; the arms are all broken. Station 13, off Havana, in 200 fathoms, three examples. Ophiopristis VerrilL (See p. 39.) Ophiopristis ensifera Ver., sp. nov. Plate IV; Figures i — id. Arms five, long and slender, with flat serrate spines. Disk flat, slightly ten-lobed, covered thickly, except on a part of the radial shields, with small obtuse and conical granules, mixed in some parts with minute, sharply conical spinules; all gradations in form, from the rounded granules to the conical spinules occur. Where the granules are partly rubbed off, in dry specimens, the surface is covered with small, distinct, imbricated scales. The radial shields are small; the naked 48 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. portions are ovate or elliptical, nearly parallel, and separated by several rows of scales and granules. They appear to ex- tend but little beyond the exposed parts. Upper arm-plates, except the basal ones, are rhombic or nearly lozenge-shaped, with a slightly angulated prominence in the middle of the outer margin, corresponding to a low median ridge; lateral margins slightly convex; proximal end angulated, slightly separated by the lateral plates. They are broader than long. Under side of disk covered with minute, exposed scales, with few granules. Oral shields about as long as wide, rather rhombic, with rounded side angles, and a more promi- nent inner angle; the outer end projects slightly into the in- terradial area; the sides do not touch the side arm-plates. Adoral shields are long, narrow, irregularly triiobed, the dis- tal end, embracing the lateral corners of the oral shield and touching the first under arm-plate, separates the latter from the oral shield. Outer oral tentacle-pore large and exposed on the edge of the jaw, bordered by some small papillae. Oral papillae small, conical, acute, numerous, about seven to twelve on each side of a mouth-slit, of which four to seven form a proximal marg- inal row; others, in the largest specimens, lie within the slit, above and around the large tentacle-pore; those next the tip of the jaw are the largest. Several others (about 4 to 6 in the larger specimens) form an irregular row below the oral tentacle-pore, on the surface of the jaw. In the younger specimens there are about three in a regular row. Tooth- papillae two, spiniform, situated at the edge of the dental plate. Teeth stout, flat, five or six. Under arm-plates, except a few basal, irregularly traper- zoidal or broad shield-shape, about as wide as long; the distal end broadly rounded; lateral edges strongly incurved; inner end very obtusely angled ; scarcely separated by the lateral plates, except the two or three basals. Beyond the middle of the arm they become oblong, shield-shaped, and a little more OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 49 separated. The first one is small and deeply concave, or sheath-like, with two inner, vertical, flat crests. Tentacle- scales flat, ovate, of moderate size; on the first three or four joints there are, in large specimens, usually two; on the rest only one. The proximal tentacle-pores are not very distinct- ly larger than the rest. Arm-spines unequal, rather long, scarcely translucent; the dorsal ones are not approximate in the basal rows; the upper spines on the basal joints are mostly long, rather slender, flat, tapered, subacute, roughened by minute, close denticles along each edge. Those lower down become a little shorter, stouter, and flatter, and are mostly somewhat bent, obtuse at tips, and with sharply serrulate edges. (See figs. 4-5)- There are usually five spines in each row proximaily. Color in alcohol, yellowish white. Diameter of disk 12 mm; length of longest arm, broken at tip, 65 mm. Off Havana, no to 260 fathoms. Ophiopristis hirsuta (Lym) . Ophiacantha hirsuta Lyman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VIII, Pt. II, p. 12, pi. II, figs. 21-23, 1875; Bull. Mus. Comp. 3ool., V, 9, p. 230; op. cit. X, p. 261; Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 198, 1882. The specimens in the collection differ considerably from Mr. Lyman's figures. In all, the spinules of the disk are much more numerous than figured. In some they are most- ly very long and slender, as figured; in others they are much shorter, but slender and sharp. The radial shields are cov- ered by the small scales and spines, except near their ends, which are sometimes in contact and sometimes separated by a few rows of minute scales. The under side of the disk is covered by naked, smooth, thin, rounded scales, with few spinules. Oral shields large, round-rhombic^, about as long as wide, with a distinct, but small, distal lobe, (riot evenly round- ed, as figured); the inner angle is obtusely rounded; the in- v— 1 D 50 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. ner sides nearly straight, (as in the figure). The adoral shields are very incorrectly figured, the distal lobes being omitted. They are three-lobed; inner lobe is narrowed and tapered to the end; the distal end curves around the oral shield, one lobe touching the first under arm-plate and the other separating the oral shield from the side arm-plate (as in O. enstfera). The first under arm-plate is small, concave, with a thin, flat, vertical crest, near each inner angle, running inward and upward and forming part of the rim around the large, exposed, oral tentacle-pore, which is situated in a de- pression of the jaw-margin and gives exit to a large and long tentacle. Teeth four or five, stout; the uppermost longer and conical; the others flat and stout, obtuse. Tooth-papillae two, conical, at the tip of the jaw on the small apex of the dental plate. Mouth-papillae about seven,* in a close row, small, spiniform, acute, the outer largest (all nearly as figured) . Nearly all are attached to the buccal plate, but the two outer ones stand below the tentacle-pore like tentacle-scales. In some specimens there are two or three similar papillae above the tentacle-pore, within the mouth-slit, (as in O. ensifera). The under arm-plates are quite unlike Lyman's figure. The proximal ones are broad and short shield-shaped, slightly sep- arated by the side plates; the distal edge is evenly curved; the outer angles prominent and acute, the sides much in- curved at the tentacle-pores; the inner end very obtusely angulated. They have two faint diagonal lines crossing them; the outer edge is a little raised and thickened. Tentacle-scales two on several joints, flat, ovate-lanceolate, acute. Arm-spines about five; the upper ones on the basal joints long, slender, tapered, acute; the middle ones, on the joints further out, are mostly flattened, with finely serrulate edges (as figured); the lower ones are usually the most slender. The spines are hollow, and glassy when wet. The upper arm-plates are rather small and considerably separated, shaped nearly as in Lyman's figure; they are slightly carinated and the middle field is whitish, so that a pale median line OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 51 runs the whole length of the arm; a narrow whitish transverse band marks the inner edge of the side arm-plates, and some- times both edges are bordered with white. One example, from the Blake Expedition, in alcohol, has a very distinct white dorsal line on the arms, and they are also crossed by a few broad white bands. The ground-color of the arms and disk, above, is light chocolate-brown; beneath, nearly white. Diameter of the disk of the largest specimen described above, 11 mm. Stations 13 and 1.5, off Havana, in 200 fathoms, two ex- amples. Taken at many stations by the Blake, in 82 to 955 fathoms. Ophiotreta Verrill, subgenus (See p. 44). Gphiopristis (Ofkiotreta) lineolata (Lym.) Ophiacantha lineolata Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. X, p. 258, pi. VI, figs. 79-81, 1883. Ophiacantha, sp., Nutting", Narrative, p. 81, (color). An excellent specimen of this rare and beautiful species is in the collection. Only a single specimen was taken by the Blake Expedition and described by Mr. Lyman. Although there can be no doubt as to the identity of our specimen with this species it differs in several particulars from Mr. Lyman's figures. These differences are, no doubt, partly individual variations, but others are probably due to errors in the figures, for the latter do not agree well with the descrip- tion, especially as to the spines. Our specimen has, on some of the arms, two tentacle-scales to a pore, on at least ten joints, instead of only on one joint. The mouth-papillae and tooth-papillae are somewhat differently arranged. The under arm -plates and especially the adoral shields do not agree with the figures. The upper arm-plates are wider but of the same character. The six or seven arm-spines are nearly smooth and terete and evenly tapered, without any serrulations vis- ible with a lens. They have a fine silky appearance quite unusual in this group, but they are figured as distinctly ser- rulate or thorny. 52 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. The disk is nearly round and evenly swollen, without any abrupt rise over the arms; the granulations, in fact, extend out a little on the arms. The whole surface, above and be- low, is uniformly covered with small, smooth, rounded gran- ules. On some portions there are, also, a few scattered, slender, acute smooth spines, as figured. Radial shields are not , even indicated by ridges. Under the granules are very small scales. The arms are narrow and high, with a slight dorsal carina. They are not beaded, for the side arm-plates project but little. The rows of spines do not approximate dorsally. The upper arm-plates are thick, elevated, about as wide as long, five-sided, or on some joints six-sided; the outer end is widest and is prominent, in the middle, where it is ob- tusely angulated, or often slightly truncated. The proximal sides are nearly straight and convergent; the inner end is narrow and truncated, and in contact with the preceding plate. The oral shields are nearly broad "heart-shaped," but without any notch in the outer end, which is broadly round- ed with a slight median angle, and has a row of twelve or more small granules along its margin; the inner sides are slightly incurved; the acute inner end extends far inward on the jaws. The adoral plates are narrow and long, and do not meet proximally; they are three-lobed; one of the distal lobes joins the first arm-plate ; the other is very narrow and extends out between the oral shield and the first side arm-plate, slightly separating them. In Mr. Lyman's figure these parts are left indefinite. The whole surface of the jaw, proximal to the oral shields, is covered with a close group of granules, some of which are conical and similar to the mouth-papillae and tooth-papillae alongside of them, so that they are liable to be confounded. Of true mouth-papillae there are either five or six on different jaws, besides a more distal short oral scale. The two outer mouth-papillae are larger and broader than the rest; they may be ovate or obovate, flat, obtuse, or sub- '•<&•;. t»4' OPHIIJROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 53 truncate ; sometimes the more distal is the larger, and some- times the one next the distal. The three or four inner ones form a close row; they are rather slender conical, or com- pressed, acute. The tooth-papillae (exclusive of the granules near them) seem to be ordinarily but three or four; in one case, perhaps, five; of these, two are usually above the rest, inside the mouth, and not visible from below. They are all small, conical, and variable in form. In Mr. Lyman's de- scription, the jaw-granulations are probably confounded with the true tooth-papillae, for he gives a large number; — "a cluster of a dozen." At the distal angles of the rnouth-slits there is, on each side, a vertical, flat process, looking like a small mouth-papilla from below, but it extends far up into the slit and bears a spiniform papilla at the side of the inner oral tentacle. Its outer end is rounded and forms the distal boundary of the outer oral tentacle-pore; it does not seem to be movable, and arises at the suture of the adoral shield and first arm-plate, but seems to be attached more to the adoral plate.* The first under arm-plate is small and concave. Four or five basal ones are scarcely separated by the side plates; they are about as long as broad, with an obtuse proximal angle; the distal end is prominent and strongly convex; farther out they become more nearly rhombic, with a distinct, obtuse, distal angle, and are then more separated. The outer oral tentacles are very large and reach to the center of the mouth; they are not retracted, but have dried fully extended, as if they were more or less stiffened, in our specimen. Their pores are large, close to the edge of the jaw and partially exposed to view, when the outer papilla is removed. The tentacles of the two or three basal joints are rather large, those beyond decreasing rapidly. The basal *It corresponds in position and use with a similar process, found in O. ensifera, O. hirsuta and other species, which in most cases seems to be developed on the angles of the first arm-plate. It is sometimes mov- able, but more frequently «olid. (See also group F., p. 43). 54 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. tentacle-scales are two to a pore. The outer one is flat and ovate; the inner one is slender, spiniform, acute; both de- crease rapidly in size and the inner one disappears at different joints on the several arms, from the fifth to the twelfth, while the other becomes lanceolate and acute. Diameter of disk, 10 mm. The arms are all broken. When living, according to Professor Nutting, the disk was light brown with five broad radial bands of white. This color still remains in alcohol. There are also traces of a median white line on the arms. Off Havana, no to 200 fathoms. Off St. Kitts, 208 fath- oms, Blake Exp. Ophiopristis (Oflfo'otreta) sertata [JLym.) Ophiacantha sertata Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, 10, p. 326, 1869; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 231; op. cit. X, p. 261; Re- port Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 198, 1882. Our example differs in some respects from Mr. Lyman's description, but it agrees with specimens received from him. The species has not been figured. The mouth-papillae are usually six, not counting the pair of tooth- papillae at the tip of the jaw; they form a close row; the two outer ones are broader and larger than the others, rather flat, ovate, obtuse, (not truncated as described by Ly- man) ; they stand just below the outer oral tentacle. About four, placed more proximally, are more slender, elongated, compressed or spiniform. Tooth-papillae usually three; close together on the edge of the jaw-tip, two are stouter than the mouth-papillae, conical, acute; they appear to arise from the apex of the dental plate; just above these and below the first tooth, there is usually and odd median one, of similar form, but shorter, so that it is not visible from beneath. Oral shield is usually wider and more lozenge-shaped than described, but in some of the smaller specimens it agrees fairly with the description, though by "heart-shaped" Lyman evidently did not mean "cordate" in the usual sense, for there OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 55 is no distal emargination, but rather an obtuse angle. The outer edge bears a row of five to seven small, conical grains. The adoral plates are nearly as described; one of the nar- row outer lobes separates the oral shield from the first side arm-plate; the other joins the first under arm-plate. The latter is small and emarginate on its inner end. The other under arm-plates differ a little from the description; they are nearly truncate on the inner end, or else very obtusely angu- lated, without any obvious "peak." Upper arm-plates are small and nearly as described; they might be called narrow fan-shaped or quadrant-shaped, the outer end being well rounded. The arm-spines are as de- scribed, they are serrulated, but not rough for this genus; the flattened ones are finely serrulate on the edges; the basal rows are not closely approximate dorsally. The tentacle- scales are rather broad and flat, lanceolate or ovate, and do not rapidly change distally. One example has two pairs on several basal joints. Diameter of disk, 6-9 mm. Off Havana, Sta. 2, no fathoms, one example. Taken by the Blake Exp., in 123 to 411 fathoms. Amphipsila, gen. nov. Type A.fulva {Lym.) Disk rounded, covered with thin, naked scales, above and below. Radial shields narrow, separated, naked. Arm- plates distinct, above and below. Arm-spines of moderate length, numerous (five to twelve) serrulate. Oral shields clearly visible, at least when dry. A simple row of mouth- papillae. Only two or three conical, .apical papillae in a marginal row; these may be considered as. tooth-papillae, but there is no distinct cluster of inner papillae, below the teeth, as in Ofhiofsila. Tentacle-scale spiniform. Amphipsila maculata, sp. nov. 56 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Plate III; Figures 4, 40. Disk swollen, covered with rather small, thin, flat, rounded, nearly smooth, naked, imbricated scales. Naked part of radial shields long and narrow, wide apart; the inner ends somewhat divergent; the outer ends a little wider or clavate. Arm-spines seven or eight, slender, of moderate length, the upper ones about as long as a joint, decidedly flattened and tapered distally, nearly opaque, hollow and slightly rough; the two lower ones are longer and larger than the rest, more terete, blunt or truncate, rough or thorny at the tip. The basal rows do not approximate dorsally. Upper arm-plates obovate, longer than wide, rather large, outer ends thin, obtusely rounded, sides convex; inner ends obtuse, overlapped by the preceding plate; distally they be- come more nearly square, w 7 ith rounded angles, and about as long as wide. Under arm-plates shield-shaped, longer than wide, the outer end widest and slightly emarginate in the middle, the lateral edges concave; the inner end angulated and slightly overlapped by the preceding plate. Tentacle- scales on several basal joints two, unequal, elongated, flat, rough, ribbed, and palmate at the end, as if composed of two or more divergent spinules united together; more distally the smaller or outer one becomes short, thorny, and acute, and then disappears, while the larger one becomes spiniform and thorny. Oral shields very distinct, four-lobed, "spade-shaped," with the distal lobe narrow and extending into the interradial area; lateral lobes rounded; sides a little incurved; proximal end obtuse. Adoral shield long and narrow, extending back along the sides of the oral shield and slightly separating it from the side arm-plates. Mouth-papillae three or four in a regular row, besides three stouter conical ones that stand a little apart from the rest, in a row at the tip of the jaw, but of these only the middle one seems to be on the dental plate; the distal ones seem to be mostly attached to the adoral plates; they are rather large, OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 57 flat, lanceolate, the outer one largest. The first under arm- plate is small and bears a small process at each inner corner. Color, in alcohol, yellowish white, with yellowish brown bars across the arms; disk with small dark brown spots. Diameter of disk, 6 mm; arms badly broken. Sta. 13, off Havana, 200 fathoms, one example. Amphtpsila fulva [Lyman). Ophiopsila fulva layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. V, p. 227, pi. II, figs. 25-27, I878; op. cit. Vol. X, p. 254, 1883. This species was described and figured by Mr. Lyman from a single specimen. The figure lacks many details and does not agree well with the description, but both differ so decidedly from our speci- men of O. maculata that it seems useless to unite them. A direct comparison of specimens, however, might possibly show that they are varieties of one species. West Indies, 13 to 175 fathoms, Blake Exped. Ophiomitra Lyman. Bull. Mus. Comp. £ool., Vol. I, p. 325, 1869; Voyage Challenger, V, pp. 202, 209, 1882, pi. XL,V, figs. 4-6, (anatomy). This genus is very closely allied to Ofhiacantha. The only special distinctions given by Lyman are the larger size and nakedness of the radial shields, and the naked or nearly naked scales of the disk. Mr. Lyman also described the disk of the type-species as rounded and cap-like — a character due, perhaps, to imma- turity, for in large specimens of that species the interracial margins are incurved or emarginate. When adult, the type-species (O. valida Lym.)* has num- erous spiniform, clustered mouth-papillae and tooth-papillae. *The specimens originally described and figured by Lyman were all immature, and had not developed the true characters of the mouth- parts. 58 NATURAL HISTORY BUI to which it is allied, in having distinct and well formed dorsal arm-plates. It is also closely allied to Sigsbeia. In fact, it stands between these two genera in several characters. Ohpioplus tuberculosus (Lym.) Ver. Hemieuryale tuberculosa Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. X, p. 276, pi. VIII, figs. 120-127, 1883. Ophiomusium (?) Nutting-, Narrative, p. 78. Plate 1; Figures 1, la, 16. Disk small, thick, pentagonal or five-lobed, convex, swol- len over the bases of the arms, covered with rather large, mostly rounded, swollen and verruciform plates, among which a central plate and ten radiating rows of radial and interradial plates of larger size and greater elevation can be distinguished ; the smaller plates are more irregular in form and less swollen. The radial shields are rough, rudely elliptical or ovate, rather long, widest in the middle, far apart, separated by a median row of about three high, verruciform plates and a row of small- er ones on each side. Upper arm-plates, except the basal, are broader than long, very thick and prominent, transversely el- liptical or oblong, with all the corners rounded; outer end often a little emarginate, and inner end often truncated. They are usually separated by a single row of three, high, verruci- form plates, of which the middle one is round and the laterals ovate; sometimes there is an additional row of two or three plates; at the base of the arms the median one may be lack- ing, and toward the tips, the laterals usually disappear, leav- ing only a small median one. A row of rounded prominent plates extends along each upper edge, alongside of the arm- plates, and alternating with the side-plates . Arm-spines generally two, sometimes three, small, short, stout, the lower one thickest, clavate or obtuse. Tentacle-scale rather large, ovate. 72 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Under arm-plates, near the base of the arms, trapezoidal with convex outer edge and rounded corners, usually rather longer than broad; farther out they are nearly square, a little separated by the side plates. Oral shields five-sided, broader than long, outer edge a little convex, angles rounded; inner edges concave, meeting in a broad angle. Adoral shields large, rudely ovate, the nar- rower inner ends broadly in contact. Mouth-papillae about five, angular, acute, more or less flattened. * Genital pores very small, round, under the outer end of . the oral shield. Color deep brown, variously spotted with whitish, imitating the colors of Gorgonella to which it clings. Usually many of the more prominent verruciform plates of the upper side of the arms and disk are white; under arm- plates dark brown. Station i^ and 16, off Havana, 200 fathoms, two examples. Taken by the Blake Expedition in 96 and 115 fathoms. Sigsbeia murrhina Lyman, Sigsbeia murrhina layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 234, 1878, pi. Ill, figs. 55, 58; op. cit. X, p. 277; Lyman, Report Voy. Chal- lenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 250, pi. XLIII, figs. 4-6, 1882, anatomy; Three Cruises of the Blake, II, p. 114, fig. 399, 1888. Nut- ting, Narrative, p. 79. Plate II; Figures i, la. Station 13, off Havana, 200 fathoms, one adult and one young; station 73, Little Cat I., 3 to 15 fathoms, three young. This species clings to gorgonians, which it imitates in form, and probably in color when living. A young specimen, having a disk 3.5 mm. in diameter, ap- pears to belong to this species. It is from station 73. This specimen differs so much from Mr. Lyman's figures that it might almost be taken for a new species, but the differ- ences may be due to age. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 73 In our specimen the oral shields are broader and less ovate, the outer ends being more rounded than in Lyman's figure. The under arm-plates are longer, narrower, and more shield- shaped, the sides being strongly emarginate, and the prox- imal end narrower; they are all, even at the base of the arms, separated by the lateral plates. The tentacle-scale is very small. . The arm-spines are minute, near together, short, ob- tuse, the lower one slightly larger. The basal upper, arm-plate is very small, short, transversely elliptical, partly concealed by three supplementary, thickened disk-scales outside the ends of the radial shields; the second plate is larger, thick, transversely elliptical; the succeeding ones are top-shaped with rounded outer, and very acute inner ends; sides incurved, usually not separated by the lateral plates. The two basal plates are, therefore quite unlike Mr. Lyman's figure. The disk-plates are ven^ different from Mr. Lyman's fig- ure; the radial shields are narrower and at their inner ends there are five large, swollen, pear-shaped radial plates, their points inward, and separated by about three small scales, and with a small central scale. None of the disk plates bear tubercles or granules. The disk is high and swollen and the plates are not closely soldered together, as they are said to be by Mr. Lyman. Color of the dry specimen yellowish brown above, yellowish white below. Order II. EURYALiE Mutter & Troschel, 1842. Euryalidce Gray, 1840. Astrophytonidce Norman, 1866. Phytastra Haeckel, 1866. Astrophytidce layman, lyjung-man and others. Euryalce I/jung-., Oph. Viv., p. 334, 1867. Carus Fauna Medit., p. 97, 1884. f Cladophiurce Bell, 1892. Euryalida of several authors. ■ * . , 74 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Family, ASTRONYCIDyE, nov. Astronycina, {pars) L-jung"., Oph., Viv., 1867. Arms undivided, long, slender, coiled, not annulated nor granulated. Disk with ten narrow radial ridges formed by long narrow radial shields, covered with thin, smooth scales or naked skin. Teeth stout, well formed, in a single row. Tooth-papillae one or two, conical, sometimes absent. Mouth- papillse small, like conical granules, placed above the margins of the jaw. Oral and adoral plates regularly formed. Upper and under arm-plates rudimentary or absent. Side- arm-plates cover most of the lower side of the arm and pro- ject laterally, bearing two, three, or more spines or tentacle- scales, which may be either simple or hook-like. The gen- ital slits are short, near together, in a depression near the oral shields. Astronyx was the only described genus of this family, till recently, when I was able to add to it a new genus, Astrodia, (type A. tennuisfina Ver.) from deep water off the U. S. coast. This family includes only two genera, Astronyx M. & Tr., and Astrodia. Astronyx lymani Verrill, sp. nov. Astronyx loveni L,ym., Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. X, p. 282, pL VIII, figs. 136-138, young, {non Mull. &Troschel). Plate VIII; Figures 4 — 42. Arms five, long, slender, coiled. Disk pentagonal with in- curved margins, and ten high, long radial shields, which are widely separated, curved outward in the middle and some- what sinuous distally, the outer end a little clavate or knobbed; the edge is serrulate with small scales. The radial shields and disk are covered with a thin, smooth skin which extends out on the arms above and below. Interbrachial region below, in the dry specimen, concave or sunken, with the two short but wide genital openings close together, near the inner angle. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 75 Tooth-papillae about six, in a biserial group at the end of the jaw, small and conical; two or three similar mouth-pa- pillae on each jaw-margin, rather irregularly arranged, and others higher up in the slits. On the first joint the tentacle- pores are without scales or spines; on the second they some- times have a single, very small one; on the third there are either two or three small spiniformones;onthe fourth usually three in each group, of which the inner is longest; on the fifth joint, opposite the edge of the disk, there are three, the inner or lower one being much longer and more spiniform than the others, which have claw-like hooks on the lower side. Farther out the number increases to four, and finally to six, beyond the middle of the arm. The large, lower one is about as long as a joint, blunt, and rough on the inside, on the basal joints, but farther out it becomes obtuse and its dis- tal part bears ten, twelve or more small glassy hooks, in two or more rows (figs. 4, 40, 42) ; those of the upper series are all changed to claw-like hooks, the lower often with two or three glassy points; they are attached to a transverse row of prominent tubercle's on the side arm-plates (figs. 4a, 4^, ^c). Still farther out the lower spine is reduced to a claw, with two or three points (fig. 4*/). Near the tip of the arm there are only two or three hooks in each row. Diameter of disk of type, 15 mm; of arm at base, 4 mm; length of arms, broken, 100-f-mm. Station 16, off Havana, 200 fathoms. This species resembles A. loveni in appearance. The lat- ter has the smaller arm-spines more nearly equal, shorter and less strongly clawed; the lower one is more conical and the roughnesses are not so claw-like on the basal joints. To- ward the base of the arm there may be four or five slender, tapered, nearly equal, divergent spines, but they all change to claws distally. The mouth and tooth-papillae are fewer, smaller, and less acute. A. locardi Koehler,* from the eastern Atlantic, in 17 10 m. *Rev. Biol, du Nord de la France, vol. VII, p. 34, 1895. 76 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. is another similar species. It differs in having the proximal arm-spines, short, stout, obtuse, slightly bent, six or seven at the tenth joint, the length increasing gradually from the low- est to the upper ones, but showing no marked difference in length, even between the first and second. Family, ASTROSCHEMID.*, nov. Arms simple, long, slender, coiled. Disk five-lobed, with ten radial ribs; naked or granulated. Radial shields narrow, usually elongated. Teeth large, stout, several in a vertical row. Mouth-pa- pillae small or wanting. Under arm-plates small. Upper arm-plates poorly devel- oped, often wanting, sometimes represented by two or more pieces, covered by naked skin or granulated. Side arm-plates relatively large, covering a large part of the lower side of the arm, and usually bearing two elongated spines or tentacle-scales. Oral and adoral plates regularly formed, but covered by cuticle. Genital slits short, situated near the outer margin of the disk. Mouth-frames strong, well developed, but without wing- like processes. This family includes Astroschema, Astrocreas, and Ophio- creas. Astroschema oligactes Liitken. Asterias oligactes Pallas, Acad. Caes. Iyeop. Nova. Acta., II, p. 239, pi. VI, fig-. 23. Astroschema oligactes L,utken, Vid. Meddel., p. 16, 1856; Add. ad. Hist. Oph., Pt. II, p. 155, pi. V, fig. 3. Duj. & Hupe^ Hist. Nat. Zooph. Echin., p. 297, 1862. layman, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VIII, Pt. II, p. 62. Verrill, Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 341. L,yman, Report Voy. Challenger, *2ool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 278, pi. XLJV, figs. 1-5, 1882, anatomy; Bull. Mus. Coinp. Zool., X, p. 280. Opkiocreas, sp., Nutting, Narrative, p. 80. OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 77 Stations 4 and 13, of Havana, no to 200 fathoms, three examples; station 29, off Sand Key, 116 fathoms, one example; station 15, 200 fathoms, three examples. Taken by the Blake Exped., in many localities,* in 69 to 288 fathoms. Like the allied species, this clings to certain gorgonians that it closely imitates in form and colors. One six-rayed specimen was taken off Havana. Astroschema arenosum Lyman. Astroschema arenosum layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. £ool., V, 9, p. 23, pi. Ill, figs. 62, 64, 1878; op. cit. X, p. 280; layman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, 278. Ophicreas sp., Nutting, Narrative, p. 80. Station 29, off Sand Key, 116 fathoms, one example; sta- tion 37, off Key West, 125 fathoms, one example. Taken by the Blake Exped., in 124 to 805 fathoms. Astroschema intectum Lyman. Astroschema intectum layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. £ool., V, 9, p. 235, pi. Ill, figs. 59-61, 1878; layman, Report Voy. Challenger, 2ool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 378. Ophiocreas, sp., Nutting, Narrative, p. 80. Station 13, off Havana, 200 fathoms, three examples. Tak- en by the Blake Exped., in 175 fathoms. Astroschema nuttingii, sp. nov. Plate VII; Figures 3, 3a. Five long, slender, curled arms. Disk five-lobed, with ten prominent radial ridges (when dry), extending nearly to the center; its whole surface is covered with minute, rough, rounded granules, those on the ribs distinctly coarser and more crowded than the rest; those in the depressions between the ribs very minute and scattered, showing the naked skin between them; the skiu is divided into small areas, which ap- pear to cover small imbedded scales. 78 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. Upper surface of the arms without visible dorsal plates, covered with thin naked skin containing very minute gran- ules, becoming more distinct distally. The outlines of the in- ternal arm-plates can be seen. Near the tips of the arms small scattered granules occur. Under side of disk and arms everywhere apparently naked, except for a few granules around the genital slits and mouth- angles, but the skin, when dry, is filled with minute rough grains, visible only when much magnified. Mouth-papillae five or six in a regular row, small, conical and granule-like; larger conical papillae occur at the tip of the jaw. A pair of minute, conical, oral tentacle-scales at the outer corner of the mouth slits. Spines or tentacle-scales on the first joint one, minute and sometimes lacking; on the second joint generally one or two, long and slender; on succeeding joints two rather long, about equal to breadth of arms, slender, tapered; the lower one is longest and largest, cylindrical, blunt, or even a little en- larged toward the end, and covered near the tip with rough spinules; on those close to the end of the arms the terminal spinules become almost claw-like. The upper spine is also roughened in the same way, but less distinctly so. Color, in alcohol, light buff. Diameter of disk, 7 mm; length of arms, about 50 mm. Station 33, off Sand Key, 105 fathoms, one example; sta- tion 37, off Key West, 125 fathoms, one example. Probably attached to gorgonians or hydroids. Ophiocreas lumbricus Lyman. Ophiocreas lumbricus layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. £ool., I, 10, p. 347, 1869; 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VI, pi. I, figs. 19-21; Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., V, 9, p. 236; op. cit., X, p. 281; layman, Report Voy. Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 284, 1882. Nutting-, Narrative, Bahama Exp., p. 171, pi., fig. 1. Station 4, off Havana, no fathoms, one example; stations 26, 28 and 48, off Key West, 60, 1 16 and 80 fathoms, four- OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 79 teen large (examples; station 33, off Sand Key, 105 fathoms, four examples; station 62, off American shoal, 7° *° 80 fath- oms, four examples. This and the allied species cling to gorgonian corals, which their long, slender arms imitate in form and color. Ophiocreas spinulosus Lyman. Ophiocreas spinulosus layman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, p. 281, pi. VIII, figs. 132-135, 1883; Three Cruises of the Blake, p. 109, fig. 389, 1888. Station 28, off Sand Key, 116 fathoms, two large examples. Taken by the Blake Exped., in 116 to 288 fathoms. Family, ASTROCHELIDiE, nov. Arms simple or with a few distal forks, granulated, and also annulated with raised ridges. Disk with five or ten radial ridges, its surface granulated or spinulose. Teeth and tooth-papillaee numerous, spiniform; the latter form an apical cluster. Mouth-papillae similar in form, some- times lacking. The teeth may form double vertical rows. Under arm-plates rudimentary or lacking. Side arm-plates cover most of the under surface, but are hidden by cuticle and granules. They bear a short row of small rough spines or tentacle-scales; above them are double vertical rows of small plates,* forming raised ridges and bearing granules and also rows of minute glassy hooks, on the sides and top of the arms. These sometimes extend on to the radial ridges of the disk. The genital openings are short, situated toward the margin of the disk or not close to the inner angle. This family includes AstrocAele, Astrogomfhus, Astroporpa *Mr. layman considered these the equivalent of the upper arm-plates, but to me they appear to be a continuation of the side-plates. In this case the upper plates would be represented, if present, by the rows of small plates between the ridges. 80 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. and Astroloma, with simple arms, and Astrocnida with the arms forked near the ends. Astrogomphus vallatus Lyman. Astrogomphus vallatus layman, Bull. Mus. Cotnp. Zool., I, 10, p. 350, 1869; | 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., VI, pi. I, figs. 16-18; Bull. Mus. Comp Zool., V, 9, p. 236; op. cit. X, p. 229, 279; Lyman, Report Voy, Challenger, Zool., Ophiuroidea, V, p. 271, pi. XUV, figs. 10-12, 1882, anatomy. Nutting, Narrative, p. 171, pL, figs. 2, 2a. The larger specimens usually have five arm-spines on the proximal part of the arm, but sometimes only four, or five and four irregularly alternating. A very large one has six spines on some of the basal joints, the extra one being external to the others and smaller. The spiniform single tentacle-scale of the first joint is often wanting on some of the arms. The second joint usually has four spines (or tentacle-scales), in form like those of the following joints. The disk has a defi- nite marginal row of rough spinules; the interbrachial spaces and most of the oral region appear smooth in alcohol, but when partly dried have a fine tesselated appearance; when quite dry these parts are covered with a close mosaic of larger and smaller mostly flat granules, the larger ones being somewhat conical. The cluster of spinules in the interradial angles is pretty clearly circumscribed, but one spinule often stands a little apart and more towards the mouth-angle. The madreporic shield is small, roundish, and just outside one of the groups of interradial spinules. Stations 28 and 29, off Sand Key, 116 fathoms, 40 ex- amples; station 56, Pourtales Plateau, 200 fathoms, four ex- amples; station 64, off American Shoal, no fathoms, four ex- amples; station 62, 70 to 80 fathoms, two examples. It was taken by the "Blake" in many localities throughout the West Indian region, in 88 to 337 fathoms. It is found clinging to branches of Gorgonella and other gorgonian corals, which it imitates closely in colors. One large specimen from Station 56 has repaired extensive OPHIUROIDEA OF THE BAHAMA EXPEDITION. 8 1 mutilations, having lost about one-third of the disk and two entire arms. The new arms are about one-half grown and are perfectly formed. The new section of the disk is not full grown and has a thinner skin, fewer and smaller spin- ules and granules, and smaller and somewhat more irregular radial ribs than the others. A young specimen from Station 62, with the disk 7.5 mm. in diameter, agrees pretty closely with the larger ones in the armature of the disk and arms, but on the disk the larger granules are mostly short, conical, or obtuse; only a few of them are acutely conical; the smaller ones are rounded grains; on the arms the bands of granules are a little less numerous than on the adult. There are four or five sharp, conical mouth-papillae, the outer one small. The granules of the low- er and lateral surfaces are angular and flat, forming a smooth mosaic; a single row of small conical spinules runs from the base of one arm to another on the lower side, and at the up- per margin of the interbrachial region there is a less regular row of conical grains, so that the sides of the body, between the arms, has a rigid, angular appearance. The smooth granulation of the lower side of the disk extends directly out on the lower side of the arms, concealing the plates. The spines or tentacle-scales are mostly in threes, short, nearly equal, oblong, thorny at the tips. Still younger specimens, from 2 to 3 mm. in diameter of disk, from stations 13, 35 and 62, are quite different in ap- pearance. In these the radial shields are naked, elevated, and oblong-ovate, parallel, separated by one to three rows of small, round granules; a radial row of three to five similar granules extends out from the center in each interradial area; the central area shows a central and five larger, obtuse-con- ical, primary, radial granules and five primary interradials, with many crowded smaller granules; two small round gran- ules are situated on the outer end of each radial shield. The granules of the upper side of the arm are small, round, and prominent; about three rows alternate with the more ele- V— 1 F 82 NATURAL HISTORY BUIJ^TIN. vated rows corresponding to the lateral spines; part of the granules of the latter bear relatively large, claw-shaped hooks with a terminal, strongly incurved claw and two or three swollen secondary denticles on its inner edge. The lateral spines are mostly three, small, short, rough or thorny at the tip. Mouth-papillae four or five, small, rough, mostly acute, the outer one larger and obtuse. Astrogomphus rudis Verrill, sp. nov. Plate VII; Fifures i, la. This species differs from A. vallatus in having the radial ribs wider and less raised, and the disk-spinules more numer- ous, shorter, and much more thorny, and not forming a defi- nite marginal row; in having smaller, though similar spin- ules on the whole under surface of the disk, up to the mouth- slits, not forming definite interradial groups, but having small granules between them; in having more numerous and small- er mouth-papillae, and tooth-papillae; in having wider, closer, and more even, raised, granulated bands on the arms, with much narrower sunken intervals; and in having shorter, stouter, and much more thorny tentacle-scales or spines, usu- ally five in a group. The minute hooks on the bands of the arms are very numerous. Station 56, Pourtales' Plateau, 200 fathoms, one example; station 28, off Sand Key, in 116 fathoms, one example. ASTROPORPA ANNULATA (Erst. & Liitketl. Astroporpa annulata CE}rst. & Ld P o P* PI m P t» 3. Ct » w S3 5 * E^To vj rc J+ c 3 i # S "p s r 1 ,*y — P «"*" ( P 03 D 03 ^ p I • p ^o ----- • ^ Eg. S3 80 id S3 fl> P rt- •n p P p eu^s P » M {2. «» S3 oi P 3 r 3 » 3 rt". B 03* J- td td b P O S3 P 8-B « OtDO P £H P £• St CW M ** S3 n> 3- 3. 8-8 n> 3 B.g.8 g p p p n & p ££ p g 00 Si 1 g p >^g£^ »3 3 v< *d P Gj t"" 1 M *^ ^ P»d»d P Parq B>d p T3 vj ir; > Cfq P H3 Q\ o ►o P s n3 wmhm O Cn Cn g v* 8 p . •d v< S3 • P • gKoo >^g> •XJ PH^ O) »-» M> ^ S •^ p P . *t3 p »T3 P»C S ^ . > S3 : p . p P l<4 « • P «-^ S3 v> .T S3 o« VI p • i_i P 3 '< £ ^ Vi! S ^ Sg M p ' g g ir 1 g > *h oo ►d • »o g^: > vj p . hi g> 9S g v- g: 00*. h* S 1 : g . ore p £g v£> p H» . P g: ►C . »-t v^ P P. P £p 00 00 $ 96 NATURAL HISTORY BUIvIvETIN. The following key has been improvised for the genera represented in Iowa: * Carpels 1-2-ovuled or several-ovuled; fruit follicles or berries. f Flowers regular; leaves palmately nerved; petals wanting. Hydrastis. Carpels ripening- into a head of red berries. Cai,Tha. Carpels ripening" into a head of dry follicles. ff Flowers regular; leaves ternately or pinnately compound or decompound. % Petals not spurred. Isopyrum. Flowers medium, white, solitary or panicled; fruit form- ing* follicles. Coptis. Stemless herbs with trifoliolate leaves and umbellate follicles. Actaea. Flowers small, white, fruit forming- berries. X% Petals produced backward into hollow spurs. Aquii/bgia. The only genus. ftf Flowers irregular, posterior sepal spurred. Delphinium. With us the only g-enus. ** Carpels i-ovuled; fruit an achene. t Flowers involucrate. X Styles none or short and glabrous or pubescent. Anemone. Involucre foliaceous, remote from the flower. Hepatica. Involucre of 3 simple sessile leaves, calyx-like, close to the flower. Syndesmon. Involucre of 3 compound sessile leaves, leaflets petiolu- late. XX Styles elongated, densely plumose. Pulsatilla. Involucre forming a cup. ff Flowers not involucrate. X Leaves opposite. Clematis. Sepals petaloid; petals wanting. Atragene. Sepals petaloid; petals small, spatulate. XX Leaves alternate or basal. § Sepals spurred. Myosurus. Leaves basal, linear. §§ Sepals not spurred. A. Petals present. Ranunculus. Flowers yellow; achenes compressed, smooth. Batrachium. Flowers white; achenes transversely wrinkled. Oxygraphis. Flowers yellow; achenes compressed, longitudinally striate. B. Petals none. Thalictrum. leaves ternately decompound. Hydrastis canadensis L. Syst. Ed. 10, p. 1088. 1759. This is a hairy vernal plant, about one foot high, springing RANUNCUL,ACEAE OF IOWA. 97 from a thick yellow rootstock which contains a yellow dye. Leaves 3, reniform, palmately lobed, doubly serrate, the basal long-petioled, the 2 cauline terminal, alternate, pet- ioled. Flower solitary, pedicelled, subtended by the upper leaf, greenish- white, sepals 3, caducous; petals wanting; stamens many; pistils 12 or more. Fruit 1-2-seeded crimson berries. This species is commonly known as Orange-root or Golden Seal. It is rather rare within our limits. It oc- curs in rich woods, flowering during the months of April and May, and fruiting in July. Specimens before us are: One flowering specimen from Muscatine county, May, 1890, collected by Mr. F. Reppert who records, "rich woods, scarce," two fruiting specimens from Muscatine county transferred to our garden in July, 1895, and pressed July, 1897, and one fruiting specimen from Fayette county col- lected July 10, 1894 by Prof. B. Fink. We have seen a specimen in the collection of Herbert Goddard collected by him in Winneshiek county. Prof. J. C. Arthur reports the occurrence of the species in L,ee county. It will be noticed that the range in Iowa is limited to a narrow strip along the eastern border. The species occurs in Minnesota (Up- ham, MacMillan), Wisconsin, Michigan, Western Ontario (Macoun) , eastward to New York, New Jersey, and Dela- ware (Tatnall), in Ohio (Newberry), Kentucky, Tennes- see, Georgia, Missouri, and Arkansas (Coville) . Iowa forms a portion of the middle western boundary of the range of this species. The only other species of this genus occurs in Japan. Pursh claims that the flowers are pale rose-colored which does not agree with our observations. He further says: "The roots are yellow and afford a fine dye." The use of this dye was known to the aborigines. The species has suffered little at the hands of systema- tists. Iyinnaeus named it Hydrophyllum verum canadensium in the first edition of his Species Plantarum, vol. 1, p. 146, in note, with the idea that the species was some form of a 98 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. waterleaf. In 1759 he called it Hydrastis canadensis in his Systema Naturae. This name is retained by Linnaeus in the second (1763) and third (1764) editions of his Species Plantarum. Willdenow, Michaux, Pursh, Elliott, Nuttall, and most subsequent writers have without comment fol- lowed the path of Linnaeus. Linnaeus however credits the genus to Ellis. Miller (Diet. n. 1.) called the species Warneria canadensis, the generic name ,'Warneria, is cred- ited to Miller, ic. 2. p. 190., t. 285. Linnaeus, Species Plantarum, ed. 2, 1763, vol. 1, p. 784, who says: "Habitat in Canadae aquis, 4. Similis Hydrophyllo. Folia bina, petiolata, basi emarginata, palmata, sertata; lobis utrinque lobulo later- ali:" Willdenow, Species Plantarum, vol. 2, p. 1339, who quotes Lin- naeus as above; Pursh, Flora Americae Sept., 1814, vol. 2, p. 389, who says, "In shady woods on fertile soil, and among rocks: Canada to Caro- lina, principally in Allegany mountains;" Michaux, Flora Bor. Amer. 1803, vol. 1, p. 317, who says it occurs in the mountains of the Alleghan- ies from Canada to Carolina, "Hab. in tract u montium Alleghanis, a. Canada ad Carolinam;" Nuttall, Genera N. A. Plants, 1818, vol. 2, p. 21; Elliott, Sketch Bot. S. C. & Ga., vol. 2, p. 55; Torrey Compendium Fl. Northern and Middle States, 1826, p. 224; Torrey, Flora of New York, 1843, vol. 1, p. 26; DeCandolle, Prodromus, vol. 1, p. 53; Darlington, Flora Cest., p. 336; Botanical Magazine, t. 3019, and t. 3232 (the fruit) Torrey & Gray, Flora of N. A., vol. 1, p. 40; Newberry, Cat. Fl. Plants and Ferns of Ohio, p. 248 in Ohio Agr. Rep. 1859, ed. 1860; Tatnall, Cat. Phaen. and Filicoid Plants of Newcastle county, Del., 1860, p. 11; Gray's Manual, 5th ed., p. 46; 6th ed., p. 48; Britton and Brown's Ills. Flora, vol. 2, p. 50; Wood's Botanist and Florist, 1889, p. 23; MacMillan, Metaspermae of the Minnesota Valley, p. 230; Britton, Flora of New Jersey, p. 40; Chapman, Flora of the Southern States, p. 11; Upham, Flora of Minnesota, p. 20; Macoun, Flora of Canada, vol. 1, p. 27; Co- ville, Flora of Arkansas, p. 163; Beal and Wheeler, Michigan Flora, p. 69; Stanley Coulter Cat. Flowering Plants and of the Ferns and their Allies indigenous to Indiana, p. 745, in 24th Rep. State Geol. 1899; Kell- erman and Werner, Cat. Ohio Plants, p. 174, in vol. 7, part 2 of Geology of Ohio; Arthur, Contr. Flora of Iowa, p. 6, 1876; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, 1896, p. 83, who says: "Rich woods rare;" Fitzpatrick, Manual of the Flowering Plants of Iowa, 1899, p. 6; Barnes, Reppert and Miller, Proc. Davenport Acad. Nat. Sciences, vol. 8, p. 202. Caltha paiajstris L. Sp. PL, p. 558. 1753. Marsh Marigold. A glabrous perennial succulent herb; stem 1-2 feet RANUNCULACEAE OF IOWA. 99 high, hollow, grooved, stout. Leaves entire or cre- nate, basal leaves long-petioled, cordate or reniform, with a narrow sinus, the upper with shorter petioles and more or less truncate bases. Flowers conspicuous; sepals 5-9, oval, obtuse, yellow, deciduous; petals wanting; stamens many; pistils 5-10 ; styles obscure; pods compressed, spread- ing, bearing the many seeds in two rows along the ventral suture. This species occurs frequently in swamps, wet soil, along banks of streams, flowering in April and May, fruit- ing in May and June. Our specimens are from Winne- shiek, Fayette, Muscatine, Johnson, and Emmet counties; the State University herbarium has specimens from Story and Dickinson counties. Messrs. Nagel and Haupt report the species from Scott county; Prof. Bessey from Floyd and Poweshiek counties; and Prof. Pammel from Wood- bury county. Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 91, in Fourth Report Iowa Agr. Col. ed. 1872; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 6, 1876; Flora of Floyd county in History of Floyd county, p. 310; Nag-el and Haupt, Proc. Davenport Acad. Nat. Sciences, vol. 1. p. 154. Hitchcock, Trans. St. Iyouis Acad, of Science, vol. 5, p. 483; Pammel, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 3, p. Ill; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83; Fitzpatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 108 and p. 135; Manual of the Flowering" plants of Iowa p, 5; Barnes, Reppert, and Mil- ler, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 8, p. 201; Britton and Brown, Ills. Flora, vol. 2, p. 51; MacMillan, Met. Minn. Valley, p. 230. Isopyrum biternatum (Raf.) T. & G. False Rue Anemone. A slender smooth perennial herb, 4-10 inches high; roots many, fibrous, occasionally thickened into small tubers. Leaves ternately decompound. Flowers long-peduncled, axillary or terminal; sepals 5, petaloid, deciduous; petals none; stamens many; pistils usually 4; pods ovate or ob- long, sessile, 2-several-seeded. Enemion biternatum Raf. Journ. Phys. vol. 91, p. 70, 1820; Isopyrum biternatum T. & G. Fl. N. A., vol. 1, p. 660. 1840. This species is very common in moist rich woods, bloom- 100 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. ing in May. Our specimens are from Winneshiek, Mus- catine, Johnson, and Decatur counties. We have observed it in Scott county. In the State University herbarium are specimens from Henry, Calhoun, and Emmet counties. Prof. Bessey and Prof. Hitchcock report the species from Story county; and Prof. Fink reports it from Fayette county. No doubt the species is more general in its dis- tribution than our present knowledge indicates. Britton and Brown gives its range as: "Ontario to Minnesota south to Florida and Texas." Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa in Fourth Rep. Iowa Agr. Col., p. 90, ed. 1872; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 5, 1876; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83; Fitzpatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 108 and p. 135; Manual of the Flower- ing Plants of Iowa, p. 5; Rigg, Notes on the Flora of Calhoun county, p. 10; Hitchcock, Trans. St. Louis Acad, of Science, vol. 5, p. 483; Halsted, Bui. Iowa Agr. Col., Nov. 1886, p. 48; Barnes, Reppert and Miller, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 8, p. 201; MacMil- lan, Met. Minn. Valley, p. 231. Coptis TRiFOiviA (L.) Salisb. Gold-thread. A low perennial scapose herb, 3-6 inches high, with ever- green, trifoliolate, long-petioled leaves , and small, white, soli- tary flowers. Rootstocks slender ; leaves reniform, 3-divided, petioles long, slender; divisions obovate, cuneate, mucron- ate-crenate; sepals 5-7, oblong, obtuse, petaloid, decidu- ous; petals 5-7, small, club-shaped; stamens 15-25; pis- tils 3-7 , slender pedicelled; follicles 3-7 , stipitate, mem- branous, 4-8-seeded. Helleborus trifolius L. Sp. PL, p. 784, 1762; Coptis trifolia Salisb. Trans. Linn. Soc, vol. 8, p. 305, 1803; Isopyrum trifolium Britton, Bui. Torr. Club, vol. 18, p. 265, 1891. We have not seen an Iowa specimen of this species. We include it on the authority of Gray's Manual which directly refers the species to Iowa. Gray's Manual, 6th ed., p. 45; MacMillan, Met. Minn. Valley, p. 231. Actaka rubra (Ait.) Willd. Red Baneberry. Stem 1-2 feet high, bushy, leaves 2-3 -ternately compound ; RANUNCULACEAE OF IOWA. 101 leaflets sharply cleft and toothed; flowers in an ovate raceme; sepals 5, white, deciduous ; petals 4-10, spatulate, shorter than the numerous stamens ; pistil 1 ; berry red, globular, many-seeded, pedicels slender. Actaea spicata var. rubra Ait. Hort. Kew., vol. 2, p. 221, 1788. Actaea rubra Willd. Enum., p. 561, 1809. We have two fruiting specimens from Winneshiek county and have referred here flowering specimens from Fayette, Johnson, and Shelby counties. The State University herb- arium has specimens referred here from Emmet, Story, Winnebago, and Pottawattamie counties. Prof. Pammel reports the species from Woodbury county and Dr. Parry reports it from Scott county. Parry, in Owen's Rep. Geol. Sur. Wis., Iowa, and Minn., p. 609, 1852; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 6, 1876, where it is written Actaea spicata Iy. var. rubra Mx., as it is given in the Sth edition of Gray's Manual; Hitchcock, Trans. St. L,ouis Acad, of Science, vol. 5, p. 483; Pammel, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 3, j). Ill; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83; Fitzpatrick, Proc* Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 108 and p. 135; Manual of the Flowering Plants of Iowa, p. 6; MacMillan, Met. Minn. Valley, p. 233. Actaea alba (L.) Mill. White Baneberry. This species which is of frequent occurrence in our woods is distinguished from the preceding by its oblong raceme, slender petals, thickened fruiting pedicels, and white ber- ries. Actaea spicata var. alba L,. Sp. PL, p. 504, 1753. Actaea alba Mill. Gard. Diet., ed. 8, no. 2, 1768. Actaea alba Bigelow, as it is given in the 5th and 6th editions of Gray's Manual. Our collection comprises good specimens from Winne- shiek, Muscatine, Johnson, Jefferson, and Decatur coun- ties. The State University herbarium has specimens from Winnebago and Emmet counties. Prof. Fink reports the species from Fayette county; Dr. Parry and Messrs. Nagel and Haupt report it from Scott county; Prof. Bessey from Story and Floyd counties; Mr. Mills by letter from Henry 102 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. county. In general we have found this species rather fre- quent. It blooms in May and the fruit ripens in June. Parry, in Owen's Rep. Geol. Sur Wis., Iowa, and Minn., p. 609, 1852; Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 91, in Fourth Rep. Iowa Agr. Col.; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 6, 1876; Hitchcock, Trans. St. Louis Acad, of Science, vol. 5, p. 483; Nag-el and Haupt, Proc. Dav- enport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 1, p. 154; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83; Fitzpatrick, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 108 and 135; Manual of the Flowering Plants of Iowa, p. 6; Messrs. Barnes, Reppert, and Miller, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 8, p. 201. Aquilegia canadensis L. Sp. PL p. 533. 1753. A perennial herb, 1-3 feet high, branched; leaves ternately compound, long-petioled, leaflets lobed; flowers solitary, showy, scarlet, nodding; sepals 5, petaloid; petals 5, pro- longed backward into long hollow spurs ; stamens numer- ous, exserted; pistils 5; follicles 5, erect, slightly spread- ing, tipped with a filiform beak, many-seeded. A rather showy plant, common in our woodlands, pre- ferring calcareous soil. It is not infrequently cultivated and should be preferred to the European species. The flowers appear during April, linger through May and June, and pass out the latter part of June or in the early part of July. The range of this species as given by Britton and Brown is: "Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territory, south to Florida and Texas." It has a vertical range of more than four thousand feet. Specimens before us are from Winneshiek, Fayette, Mus- catine, Johnson, Decatur, and Shelby counties. The State University herbarium has specimens from the additional counties of Henry, Mahaska, Winnebago, L,yon, Story, Jones, Calhoun, Polk, and Cerro Gordo counties. We have observed the species in Allamakee, Clayton, Du- buque, Scott, Des Moines, Van Buren, Ringgold, Page, and Pottawattamie counties. Prof. Pammel reports the species from Hamilton county and Prof. Bessey from Floyd and Powe- shiek counties. In all probability there is not a county in RANUNCUIvACEAE OF IOWA. 103 the state that does not include this species in its flora. The species has developed none of the tendencies of a weed. Because of close pasturing the number of individ- uals is becoming much less than formerly, yet all in all it persists with remarkable tenacity, however, reaching its greatest development along bluffs and in wooded ravines. Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 91, in Fourth Rep. Iowa Agr. Col., 1872; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 6, 1876; Flora of Floyd county in History of Floyd county, p. 310; Nagel and Haupt, Proc. Davenport Acad. Nat. Sciences, vol. l,p. 154; Pammel, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 3, p. Ill; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83; Fitzpatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 108 and p. 135; vol. 6, p. 177; Manual of the Flowering Plants of Iowa, p. 5; Barnes, Reppert and Miller, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 8, p. 201. DELPHINIUM L. Sp. PI. 530. 1753. Annual or perennial erect branching herbs, with pal- mately cut or divided leaves, and racemose flowers. Sepals 5, the posterior one and occasionally the anterior one pro- longed into a spur, petaloid. Petals irregular, 4 or 2, rarely more, the upper pair prolonged backward into the spur of the calyx. Pistils becoming many-seeded follicles in fruit. * Perennials ; leaves long-petioled; pistils 3 . Delphinium tricornk Mx. Fl. Bor. Am., vol. 1, p. 314. 1803. Dwarf Larkspur. Stem simple or but very little branched, hollow, 1-3 feet high, glabrous or pubescent; roots a cluster of small tubers; leaves about 5 -parted, divisions 2-3-cleft; raceme open; flowers blue or whitish; spur ascending, nearly straight; follicles 3, diverging, tipped with a short beak. This species is to be found in prairies and rich woods, flowering in May. Its occurrence may be rated as frequent, though in many localities it is quite common, and again in some districts it is rare or not to be met with at all. Pres- ent information confines this species within our limits to V— 2 2 104 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. the southwestern quarter of the state. Our specimens are from Shelby and Decatur counties. We have observed the species in Union and Clark counties. The State Univer- sity herbarium has specimens from Mahaska and Pottawat- tamie counties. Prof. Bessey reports the species from Warren county. Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa in Fourth Rep. Iowa Agr. Col., p. 90, 1872; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 5; Shimek, Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist., S. U. I., vol. 3, p. 200; Fitzpatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 135; vol. 6, p. 177; Manual of the Flowering Plants of Iowa, p. 6. Delphinium tricorne grandiflorum new var. Petals mostly 8, the two upper as usual and six others, some- times 6 or 7 ; anterior sepal spurred similarly to the pos- terior one but with a smaller spur. Type locality, L,amoni, Iowa. For three consecutive seasons we studied individuals col- lected in one locality. The deviation of the specimens from the normal type was very pronounced and we think constant enough to warrant distinction as a variety. Fitzpatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 6, p. 177, where this form is spoken of in general terms only but not named. Delphinium carolinianum Walt. Fl. Car., p. 155. 1788. Stem slender, 1-3 feet high, nearly solid, more or less pubescent; leaves 3-5-parted, the divisions cleft into linear segments; raceme strict; flowers blue to whitish, spur curved upward; follicles 3, erect or slightly spreading. Delphinium azureum Mx. Fl. Bor. Am., vol. 1, p. 314, 1803. This species is common in the western portion of the state, occurring on the prairies, and blooming in June. In the eastern portion of the state it is infrequent or rare. Our specimens are from Muscatine, Jefferson, Decatur, Union, Adams, Clark, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Shelby, RANUNCULACEAE OF IOWA. 105 Lyon, and Emmet counties. The State University herbar- ium has specimens from the additional coutities of Page, Fremont, Calhoun, Cerro Gordo, Polk, Hancock, and Webster counties. Dr. Parry and Messrs. NagelandHaupt report the species from Scott county; Prof. Bessey from Floyd and Story counties; Prof. Pammel from Woodbury county; and Mr. Mills by letter from Henry county. Parry, in Owen's Rep. Geol. Sur. Wis., Iowa, and Minn., p. 609, 1852; Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa in Fourth Report Iowa Agr. Col., p. 91, 1872; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 6, 1876; Hitchcock, Trans. St. I^ouis Acad, of Science, vol. 5, p. 483; Halsted, Bull. Bot. Dept. Iowa Agr. Col., Nov., 1886, p. 50 and 1888, p. 37; Pammel, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 3, p. Ill; Fitspatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 135; vol. 6, p. 177; Manual of the Flowering Plants of Iowa, p. 6; Shimek, Bull. L,ab. Nat. Hist., S. U. I., vol. 3. p. 200, and Flora of I^yon county, p. 170, in tenth volume, Iowa Geological Survey; Nagel and Haupt, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 1, p. 154; Barnes, Reppert and Miller, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 8, p. 201. Delphinium urceolatum Jacq. Coll., vol. 1, p. 153. 1786. Stem slender, 2-6 feet high; many-flowered, spur straight, follicles erect ; otherwise similar to the preceding. Delphin- ium ex alt atum Ait. Hort. Kew., vol. 2. p. 244, 1789. The species ranges from Pennsylvania west to Minnesota and Nebraska south to Alabama and North Carolina. We have rather doubted its occurrence in Iowa although it has been reported a number of times. Prof. Bessey reports it from Poweshiek county on the authority of Prof. Parker; Prof. Arthur from Scott county on the authority of Messrs. Nagel and Haupt which report is not confirmed by Messrs. Barnes, Reppert and Miller in their Flora of Scott and Muscatine counties; and Prof. Fink from Fayette county. Mr. J. B. Rigg in his notes on the Flora of Calhoun county lists this species but his specimens sent to the State Uni- versity herbarium so labeled are Delphinium carolinianum Walt. (D. azureum Mx.) 106 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 91; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 6; Nagel and Haupt, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sci- ences, vol. 1, p. 154; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83; Rig-g", Notes on the Flora of Calhoun county, p. 10; Fitzpatrick, Manual of the Flowering- Plants of Iowa, p. 6. ** Annuals; petals 2, pistils 1. Delphinium ajacis L. Sp. PL, p. 531. 1753. Leaves nearly sessile ; the divisions narrow, numerous ; flowers numerous ; spur long and narrow; follicle erect, pubescent. This species has not infrequently escaped from gardens in Johnson county where our specimens were obtained. Prof. Fink reports it as occurring under similar conditions in Fayette county. Fitzpatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, p. 135; Manual of the Flowering Plants of Iowa, p. 6; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83. Delphinium consouda Z. Sp. PL p. 530. 1753. Field Larkspur. This species differs from the preceding only by its glabrous follicles, longer and slightly bent spurs, and shorter and more open racemes. Prof. Pammel reports it as occurring at Corning, Adams county in Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 111. ANEMONE L. Sp. PL p. 538. 1753. Perennial herbs, with the leaves mostly radical, long- petioled, the fewcauline whorled so as to form a foliaceous involucre remote from the flower, all compound or dis- sected. Peduncle 1-flowered. Sepals 5-20, petaloid. Petals none. Fruit compressed, 1-seeded achenes. * Achenes densely woolly . f Leaves of the involucre sessile, 3 -cleft. Anemone carouniana Walt. Fl. Car., p. 157. 1788. Stem 3-8 inches high, pubescent, from a small tuber ; root- RANUNCULACEAE OF IOWA. 1Q7 leaves slender-petioled or 3-cleft; involucre far below the flower; sepals 6-20, linear, purplish varying to whitish, head of fruit oblong. This species blooms in April and May and within our limits it is of infrequent occurrence though often abundant over small areas. Our specimens are from Muscatine county contributed by Mr. Reppert who sends the following note: 1 * Sandy soil, Muscatine Island, and along Cedar river. Flowers vary from white to bluish-purple." The State University herbarium has specimens from Hancock and Hardin counties. Dr. C. C. Parry reported the species from Scott county which report is confirmed by Messrs. Barnes, Reppert and Miller; and Prof. Bessey from Story county which -report is confirmed by Prof. Hitchcock. This seems to confine the species within our limits to the north- ern half of the state. The species ranges from Illinois to Wisconsin and Nebraska, south to Georgia and Texas. Dr. Parry in his catalogue has the following interesting note: "Anemone caroliniana Walt., May 3d. Mississippi river bank, Davenport and Rock Island. The geographical range of this interesting species is deserving of notice. First known as a native of the Carolinas, it is again met with in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, thence finding its way to the Missouri and Platte rivers; the locality just specified, probably determining its northeastern limits. It here grows always associated with Draba caroliniana and Androsace occidentalism a significant relationship, connecting as it were the two extremes, Carolina and Nebraska.' ' Parry, in Owen's Geol. Rep. Wis., Iowa, and Minn., p. 608, 1852; Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa in Fourth Report Iowa Agr. Col.> p. 90, 1872; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 5, 1876; Nag-el and Haupt, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 1, p. 153; Hitchcock, Trans. St. L Musca- tine, Johnson, Appanoose, Decatur, Ringgold, Union, Fremont, Pottawattamie, Shelby, and Sioux counties. The State University herbarium has specimens from the addi- tional counties of Henry, Des Moines, Lee, Linn, Calhoun, v— 2 4 136 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Winnebago, Dickinson, Cerro Gordo, Lyon, Webster, Dal- las, Story, and Emmet counties. Messrs. Nagel and Haupt, report the species from Scott county ; Prof. Hitchcock from Story county; Prof. Pammel from Sioux and Hamilton counties; Prof. Fink from Fayette county; and J. P. Ander- son by note from Lucas county. Bessey, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa in Fourth Report of the Iowa Agr. Coll., p. 90, 1872; Arthur, Contr. to the Flora of Iowa, p. 5, 1876; Halsted, Bull. Iowa Agr. Coll., 1888, p. 36; Hitchcock, Trans. St. L,ouis Acad, of Science, vol. 5, p. 483; Nag-el and Haupt, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 1, p. 154; Pammel, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 3, p. Ill; Fink, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 4, p. 83; Fitzpatrick, Proc. Iowa Acad, of Sciences, vol. 5, pp. 108 and 134; vol. 6, p. 177; Manual of the Flowering- Plants of Iowa, p. 3; Barnes, Reppert and Miller, Proc. Davenport Acad, of Nat. Sciences, vol. 8, p. 200. Thalictrum polygamum Muhl. Cat. p. 54. 1813. Very similar to the preceding bnt differing in having no glandular or waxy pubescence, while the filaments are broadened. Torrey and Gray in Flora of North Amer- ica, vol. 1, p. 38, 1838, referred this species to Thalictrum cornuti L,., a species entirely distinct, hence this name becomes a synonym. In most cases where this species is reported from Iowa it is under the Torrey and Gray name. Britton and Brown give the range as Labrador and Que- bec to Florida, west to Ohio, a range far east of our limits. It has been nevertheless frequently reported from various localities in Iowa. From the material which has fallen into our hands we have concluded that Thalictrum purpur- ascens L. was the species examined and incorrectly labeled T. polygamum Muhl. (T. cornuti L,. of Gray's Manual.) in most if not all cases. Prof. Bessey reports the species from Story, Poweshiek, Fayette, and Floyd counties in his Contributions to the Flora of Iowa in Fourth Report Iowa Agr. Col., p. 90. Prof. Arthur lists the species in his cat- alogue, p. 5, 1876, along with the other species mentioned in this article. Prof. Hitchcock does not confirm Prof. Bessey in his catalogue of the Ames flora. Messrs. Nagel RANUNCULACEAE OF IOWA. 137 and Haupt report the species from Scott county in Proc. Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, vol. 1, p. 154 which report is not confirmed by Messrs. Barnes, Reppert and Miller in their flora of Scott and Muscatine counties. Prof. Halsted lists the species as an Iowa weed in Bull. Iowa Agr. Col., 1888, p. 36. Fitzpatrick, Manual of the Flowering- Plants of Iowa, p. 3. X Explanation of Plate I. 1. Fruit of Hydrastis canadensis p. 96. 2. Pods of Isopyrum biternatum p. 99. 3. Pods of Caltha palustris p. 98. 4. Fruiting- raceme of Actaea alba p. 101. 5. Fruiting raceme of Actaea rubra p. 100. 6. Flower of Aquilegia canadensis p. 102. 7. Follicles of Aquilegia canadensis p. 102. 8. Follicles of Delphinium ajacis p. 106. 9. Follicles of Delphinium carolinianum . . , p. 104. 10. Follicles of Delphinium tricome p. 103. 11. Flower of Delphinium tricome gratidijlorum p. 104. 12. Head of fruit of Anemo?ie cylindrica p. 108. 13. Head of fruit of Anemone virginiana p. 109. 14. Head of fruit of Anemone canadensis p. 110. 15. An achene of Anemone canadensis p. 110. 16. Head of fruit of Anemone quinquefolia p. 101. 17. Achenes and involucre of Hepatica acuta p. 112. 18. Achenes of Syndesmon thalictroides p. 114. PLATE I. Explanation of Plate II. 1. Ranunculus fascicularis p. 130. 2. Achenes of Ranunculus repens p. 129. 3. Achenes of Ranunculus septentrionalis p. 130. 4. Achenes of Ranunculus recurvatus p. 126. 5. Ranunculus delphinifolius p. 121. 6. Achenes of Ranunculus delphinifolius p. 121. 6a. A single achene of Ranunculus delphinifolius p. 121. 7 and la. Achenes and a single achene of Ranunculus purshii . p. 122. 8and8#. Achenes and a single achene of -Ranunculus abortivus . p. 124. 9. Achenes of Ranunculus pennsylv aniens p. 127. 10. Flowers and leaves of Batracliium tricophy Hum p. 131. 11. Achenes of Batracliium trichophyllum ... p. 131. 12. Achenes of Batrachium divaricatum p. 132. 13. Oxygraphis cymbalaria p. 133. 14. Head of fruit of Oxygraphis cymbalaria p. 133. 15. Myosurus minimus p. 120. PLATE II Explanation of Plate III. 1. Pulsatilla hirsutissima p. 115. 2. Head of fruit of Pulsatilla hirsutissima p. 115. 3. Head of fruit of Astragene americana ... p. 119. 4. Achenes of Thalictrum dioicum p. 134. 5. Head of fruit of Clematis virginiana p. 117. 6. Head of fruit of Clematis simsii p. 118. 7. Anemone caroliniana . p. 106. 8. Achenes of Thalictrum purpurascens p. 135. PLATE PYRAMIDULA SHIMEKII {Pilsbry) Shimek. BY B. SHIMEK. In nearly all of the fossiliferous loess deposits of Iowa and Nebraska there occurs a fossil mollusc which has had a curious histtfry. More that twenty years ago it was the subject of earnest boyish dispute between Mr. H. A. Pils- bry and the present writer, who together collected it at Iowa City. For some years both Mr. Pilsbry and the writer distributed it as Zonites limatulus Ward, under which name it was also published*, and no correspondent questioned the identification, although the fossil is very distinct from that species. Having reached the conclusion that the species is distinct, the author prepared a descrip- tion and figure of the fossil in 1890, and was about to publish it under the name Zonites pilsbryi, when he re- received Pilsbry 's paperf in which the same species is described under the name Zonites shimekii! In that paper Pilsbry calls attention to the fact that " except in sculpture, the Z. shimekii is far more like Z. nitidus than to Z. limatulus." So great is this resemblance to Z. nitidus that the author once referred the fossil to that speciesj. However, the coarser sculpturing on the upper surface * B. Shimek: Am. Geologist, vol. i, p. 149, Mar., 1888; Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. State Univ. of Iowa, vol. i, p. 61, Nov., 1888; vol. i, p. 202, 1890. C. L,. Webster: Am. Naturalist, vol. 22, p. 419, May, 1888, (list of shells by Shimek). W J McGee: 11th Ann. Rep. U. S. Geol. Sur., p. 461, 1891. C. R. Keyes: la. Geol. Sur., vol. vii, p. 344; 1897. f Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil, for 1890, p. 297. % Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., vol. v, p. 33. 140 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. usually readily marks the fossil. The fossil form is widely distributed in the loess, being one of the characteristic species of that deposit, and has usually heretofore been regarded as extinct. In the paper cited, Pilsbry says that 44 this form is interesting as being the only well-defined species of loess fossil which seems to have become extinct," and that has been the universally accepted opinion. However, in 1898* Pilsbry described a living species of Pyramidula from New Mexico and Colorado under the name P. cockerellii. While at Washington two years ago the author had an opportunity, through the kindness of Mr. C. T. Simpson of the Smithsonian Institute, to exam- ine shells of that species, and was at once struck by their resemblance to Zonites shimekii. Indeed, Mr. Simpson himself had named a set of the fossil shells P. cockerellii! Through the kindness of Rev. E. H. Ashmun, the author subsequently received three sets of P. cockerellii number- ing thirty specimens. They are from LaBelle (one of the type-localities) , Estes Park and Red River, in New Mexico. A careful comparison of these shells with our fossil leaves no doubt of their identity. The recent shells are some- what more depressed than many of the fossils, but among the latter are specimens which are even more depressed than the most extreme recent forms. Moreover the dimen- sions of the types, recorded by Pilsbry, indicate some variation in this character in the recent shells. In every detail of form, size, apex, sculpture on upper and lower surfaces, thickness of shell, tendency toward formation of peripheral angle except on the last third of the fully- formed body- whorl, size of umbilicus, etc., the fossils are like the recent shells, and Pilsbry 's description of P. cock- erelli exactly fits them in every detail which is still dis- cernible in fossil shells. A comparison of the original descriptions of Z. shimekii and P. cockerellii is facilitated by bringing them together * Nautilus, vol. xii, p. 85, December, 1898. PYRAMIDULA SHIMEKII. 141 in parallel columns. The wording of the original descrip- tions is preserved, but they are so re-arranged as to bring like characters opposite each to each. Zonites shimekii Pils. A shell of about the size and shape of Z. nitidus. Surface sculptured with strong-, curved riblets above, rather finely striated beneath. The outer three (whorls) ribbed- striate. Spire low-conical. First (or nuclear) whorl planor- boid but noticeably projecting-, a trifle mammillated, snowy- white, smooth and polished. Whorls A l / Z . Aperture oblique, nearly circu- lar, the ends of the peristome approaching-. Alt. 4, greater diam. S%, lesser S% mm. Width of umbilicus 1% mm. Pyramidula cockerellii Pils. Shell having- the general shape of P. striatella*. Very irreg-ularly wrinkle-striate, some specimens unequally ribbed in places above and at the margin of the umbilicus. Spire convex. The first whorl a little protrud- ing, whitish-corneous and glabrous when unworn. Whorls 4£. Aperture oblique, rounded, the penultimate whorl cutting out a segment of about one-fourth the whole circle of the thin and simple peristome. Alt. 2.8, diam. 5.5 mm. (from New Mexico) Alt. 3.2, diam. 6.5 mm. (from Colorado). Width of umbilicus "contained about 3.7 times in that of the shell." — hence about l^mm. The surface-markings are variable in both forms. Some- times the upper surface is quite regularly ribbed, and again merely "irregularly wrinkle-striate," while the lower sur- face may or may not show plications or coarser striae around the margin of the umbilicus. The large series of fossils in the author's collection especially shows much variation in these characters. The dimensions in the original descriptions would indi- * All of the shells in the author's collection resemble Z. nitidus much more closely. 142 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. cate that the fossil is much more elevated. The fossils however exhibit so much variation in this respect that the flattest recent shell in the author's sets easily falls within its range. The dimensions of two fossil specimens from the collections made at Iowa City illustrate this: Flat form : Great, diam. 7.4 mm.; alt. 3.5 mm., umbilicus 3 mm. Elevated form: Great, diam. 6.5 mm. ; alt. 4.2 mm. ; umbilicus 1.7 mm. This may be compared with the dimensions given in the original description, and with those of the two largest shells iu two of the author's recent sets. La Belle, N. Mex.: Gr. diam. 6.2 mm.; alt. 3 mm.; umbilicus 1.9 mm. Red River, N. Mex.: Gr. diam. 7.0mm., alt. 3.7 mm.; umbilicus 1.9 mm. The original description of P. cockerellii also contain the following additional description which applies equally well to the fossils: 4 'The rest (of whorls other than apical) convex, regularly widening, separated by a deep suture ; last whorl obtusely angular at the periphery in front, becoming rounded on its later portion; base well rounded, the umbilicus showing all the whorls. . . The greatest diameter of aperture contained about 2.4 times in that of shell.' ' The comparison of both the descriptions and the shells of Z. shimekii and P. cockerellii therefore establishes their identity. As Zonites shimekii was described in 1890, and Pyramidula cockerellii in 1898, the former specific name will stand, but the species must be transferred to the genus Pyramidula {—Patula) , and the name becomes Pyramid- ula shimekii (Pils.) Shimek, of which P. cockerellii Pils. is a synonym. PYRAMIDULA SHIMEKII. 143 The following references show the previous history of the name: Zonites shimekii Pilsbry, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. for 1890, p. 297. Zonitoides shimekii Pilsbry, Nautilus, vol. xi, p. 131, March., 1898. Pyramidula cockerellii Pilsbry, Nautilus, vol. xii, p. 85, Dec, 1898. The fossils in the author's collection are from the following localities : Near Rome , Henry county, Iowa. (coll. Prof. T. E. Savage). Very common. Columbus Junction, L,ouisa county, Iowa (coll. Prof. J. A. Udden). Not rare. Iowa City, Iowa, several exposures. Quite common. Marshall county, Iowa, (coll. Prof. S. W. Beyer) . Rare. Story county, Kelley and Ames, Iowa (coll. of S. W. Beyer). Rare. Carroll county, Iowa. Quite common. Woodbury county, Iowa. Rare. Monona county, Iowa. Rare. Pottawattamie county, Iowa, several localites. (coll. Prof. J. A. Udden and the author). Widely distributed in the county, but not common. Fremont county, Iowa. Quite common. Otoe county, Nebraska. Rare. Lancaster county, Nebraska. Not common. Saunders county, Nebraska. Quite common. Cuming county, Nebraska. Not rare. The last four localities bring the western range of the fossils comparatively close to Colorado, the present eastern limit of distribution of P. cockerellii. That this species should now be represented by living colonies in regions quite remote from the deposits in which the fossils occur is not remarkable, for other species 144 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. quite as characteristic of the loess show similiar peculiar- ities of distribution. Thus Pupa muscorum (X.)> widely distributed in the loess of Iowa and Nebraska, is now found living in this country only in the north, from Maine to Montana, and thence through the dry western regions to Utah and Nevada, and its near relative, Pupa blandi (Morse) Binn., also frequent in the loess, is likewise found only in the dry west, from the Dakotas to New Mexico; Sphyradium edentulum alticola (Inger.) Pils., a common loess fossil, while scarcely distinct from the type, is the form commonly living in the Rocky Mountain region, and occurs only sparingly with the type eastward; Pyramidula strigosa iowensis Pils., the fossil form, while now considered extinct, belongs to a species which now spreads over all the western dry regions from Montana and Washington to Mexico, and its extremely great variation in form, size and sculpturing warrants the belief that the now fossil form was a mere geographical race in no wise outranking the dozen or more living varieties of Pyramid- ula strigosa now recognized; while less marked examples are found in such species as Vallonia gracilicosta Reinh., Succinea grosvenorii L,ea and Helicina occulta Say, which, though now living, are yet entirely extinct in many localities in which the fossils are found. There is, therefore, nothing unique in the relative distribution of the recent and fossil shells herein discussed. That the first-described, and for many years only known, specimens of this species were fossils is an interesting fact which has its counterpart in the history of another common loess fossil, Helicina occulta Say, which was described by Say from fossil specimens, and which for many years was regarded as extinct. Yet it has been discovered living in widely-separated isolated colonies from Virginia and Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and Iowa. It is interesting to note in this connection that the few species of loess fossils which form marked exceptions to IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 145 the rule that the loess-fauna of any region is essentially the same as its recent terrestrial molluscan fauna, are species of land-shells now living in the western, comparatively dry highlands. They are Pupa muscorum (Iy.), Pupa blandi (Morse) Binn., Sphyradium edentulum alticola (Inger.) Pils, Pyramidula strigosa iowensis Pils. (represented only by other varieties of the species) , and now Pyramidula shimekii (Pils.) Sh. IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA in the Herbarium of the State University of Iowa. BY B. SHIMEK. It is the purpose of this paper to record the Pteridophyta from Iowa now found in the herbarium of the State University of Iowa. Such lists are of two-fold interest: they assist the student of geographical distribution of plants, and they locate material for study and reference. In a modest paper such as this it seems presumptuous to discuss the question of nomenclature. Yet this question is met in the very effort to make such a record as that here presented. Few groups of equal size with the Pteridophyta present as much variation in characters. Representing the most ancient vascular vegetation which formerly formed the forests of the earth, and still constituting an important feature of the tropics, this subkingdom has been sufficiently plastic to adjust itself to the varied conditions of several geological ages, and this probably accounts for that intergradation of characters which is the delight of the evolutionist, but which has furnished many pitfalls to the systematist. This is equally true of both the more important structural and developmental characters which mark larger groups, and 146 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. the minor morphological characters which determine species or even genera, and accounts for the wide difference between the extravagant genus-making of Fee, Presl and John Smith, and the extreme conservatism of many more recent English and American students of the group. It is not purposed here to enter upon a general discussion of the subject of nomenclature, nor indeed to take up the discussion in detail with reference to this group. The purpose of this paper is fully accomplished in the recording of certain forms under names which will leave no doubt of their identity, but as there are a few deviations from the names now ordinarily recognized, some explana- tion is desirable. So far as the larger subdivisions are concerned the writer sees no reason for the abandonment of the names applied by earlier writers to well-defined groups. For that reason Willdenow's Gonopterides and Hydropterides, elevated to the rank of classes, are here used. Willdenow* defined these groups in 1810, though he had already made use of the names in the preceding yearf. The group Gonopterides was made to include the genus Equisetum , and was well defined. The group Hydropterides included the class as used here and the genus Isoetes, As the position of the latter is still problematic , and as no specimens from Iowa are found in the University herbarium, % no attempt is here made to assign to it a definite place. It may be necessary to still further subdivide the Hydropterides. The name St achy op- *Sp. Plantarum, vol. v, pp. xxxxi and xxxxii. fin Enumeratio Plantarum, pp. 1064-1076 (1809). % Isoetes melanopoda J. Gay was collected in Iowa by G. Vasey in 1862 (Botanical Works of Eng-lc;mann, p. 452, foot-note), and was reported from Clinton county by Prof. Arthur ( Proc. Dav. Acad. Sci., vol. iv, p. 67, 1886). All subsequent reports are based on these records. IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 147 terides was not adopted for any group because it is made to include such divers forms as Lycopodium and Botrychium , and hence does not represent a natural group. For the remaining classes Swartz's names Filices (used by Iyinne in a broader sense) and Lycopodinecz are adopted. The group Filices as recognized by him* was assigned the same limits as are here recognized. Later Willdenow (1. c.) used the name in a more restricted sense, omitting the eusporangiate groups now called Ophioglossacece and Marattiacece^ , and also the Schizeacecz and Osmundacecz . The name Lycopodinece% was the first name applied to the correctly defined group, and it is retained in its original form for the same reason, and because in that form it has become a familiar name. The use of these names can scarcely cause confusion, and it is warranted by the law of priority. Generic names, because entering directly into all binomial combinations, present a much more serious problem. Genera, at least among ferns, are not distinct entities, for well-defined characters which would absolutely mark them do not exist in most cases. That this is true has been amply demonstrated by the wide divergence in the definitions of genera offered by the many eminent pteridologists who have sought to introduce order into the classification of this fascinating group. Thus the genus Polypodium as defined by Hooker was subdivided by John Smith into nearly thirty genera, and the more restricted Polypodium of American authors is now subdivided into five genera. Swartz's Aspidium (with occasional combinations with *F1. Ind. Oca, vol. iii, pp. 1578-1758 (1806) and in Synopsis Filicum. (1806). flf a separate class is created out of this family as has recently been done by Bitter (Eng\ and Prantl Nat. Pflanzenf., 195 Xief., p. 422, — 1900) it should bear the name Poropterides (Willdenow, /. c.) JSyn. Fil., p. 87(1806), 148 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. parts of other genera) has been divided and re-divided into overlapping genera until the application of the strict laws of priority to the nomenclature of the group has been made extremely difficult, if not in many cases impossible. The confusion in nomenclature has been due only in part to improper citations, — it results more frequently in its most serious phases from the fact that the grouping of the varied and more or less blending characters of these plants has been left largely to the judgment of individuals, and of course each new grouping has resulted in the displacement of old names, or in their application in a sense different from that in which they were first used. In consequence comparatively few generic names are now used strictly in the original sense, and most of our ferns have been shifted from one genus to another until a cumbersome and con- fusing synonymy has resulted. It is absolutely impossible to establish a stable nomen- clature until pteridologists reach some substantial agree- ment concerning the limits of genera. Until this is done in the more confusing (and hence confused) groups all the binomials which are employed for members of such groups must be considered provisional. The more recent classifications, which are by no means in harmony, indicate that a thorough systematic discussion of the best grouping of class, ordinal and generic characters is desired above any mere juggling with names. This discussion should be sufficiently comprehensive to include the morphology, histology, habit and fruit of the sporophyte, and the development and correlation of both oophyte and sporo- phyte, and all these should be collectively employed in settling so far as this is possible the vexed questions of rank and relationship. So long as only a portion of these characters is employed confusion is inevitable. Another source of confusion is to be found in the attempt to apply rigidly various " codes of nomenclature" which in every case are recognized by only a part of the IOWA PT3RIDOPHYTA. 149 working systematists of the world. Anything approaching stability of nomenclature is out of question until these codes are reduced to one. The difficulties which result from the condition of affairs above set forth are well illustrated in a number of cases. Thus Phegopteris dryopteris (X.) Fee was described as Poly podium dryopteris by lyinne. In 1803 Michaux* referred it to the genus Nephrodium, and recently Diels restored the namef. In 1850-1852 Fee established the genus Phegopteris to which our species was referred. Up to this point, then, the synonymy would stand as follows: Poly podium dryopteris L,. Nephr odium dryopteris Michaux. Phegopteris dryopteris (Iy.) Fee. Nephrodium dryopteris (X.) Mx. (restored). But O. Kuntze refers Nephrodium to Dryopteris, and if Diels' view of genera and Kuntze' s nomenclature be adopted the name would stand as Dryopteris dryopteris (Iy.). But there are those who insist that homonyms are not permissible, hence they would drop the specific name dryopteris. The next specific name which could be used is calcarea, — Polypodium calcareum PurshJ (non Smith), and accordingly the name would stand Dryopteris calcarea (Pursh). But calcarea had previously been used by Smith§ for the form now known as Phegopteris dryopteris robertiana (Hoffm.) Dav. If those, who hold that "once a synonym always a synonym," reached this point therefore they would wholly discard the specific name calcarea, and if they further believed P. robertiana to be distinct from P. dryopteris the latter would be left without a name ! Or if *Flora Boreali- Americana, vol. ii, p. 270. fNat. Pflanzenfamilien, 188-189 I^ief., p. 175 (1899). JF1. Am. Sept., vol. ii, p. 659, (1814). §F1. Brit. p. 117 (1804). 150 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. robertiana and dryopteris were to be regarded as varieties of the same species, the former would be the type and the latter the variety ! Another striking case is that of our common ostrich-fern the synomymy of which has been recently discussed by Underwood.* This case, as he shows, presents possibilites of complica- tions without number. Admitting the identity of the European and American forms, of which there is little question, we may still have the following names for a species concerning the identity and distinctness of which there is no question: 1. If the species is retained in the genus Onoclea the name would be Onoclea struthiopteris (L.) Hoffm. If placed in a separate genus several possibilities arise : 2. In 1810 Willdenow established for the species the genus Struthiopteris . The name had been previously used by Scopoli for the genus now called Lomaria and by Bernhardi for the present Osmunda. But Lomaria has been united, with some reason, with the genus Blechnum by several authors. t If this is done, and Osmunda is used in the sense in which it has been so long understood, then the generic name Struthiopteris might be used for our species and the name would be Struthiopteris struthiopteris 3. Or if objection is made to the homonym, then the next name would be Struthiopteris nodulosa (Mx.). 4. Or if the generic name Struthiopteris is given up (so far as this species is concerned) for the reasons given in (2), the name would be Matteucia struthiopteris (L,.) Todaro. *Our Native Ferns, 6th ed., pp. 49-50 (190Q). fMost recently by Diels in Engler and PrantPs Nat. Pflanzenf., 190- 191 Lief., p. 245 (1899). IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 151 And this suggests other complications. If Lomaria is not recognized as a distinct genus the name Struthiopteris might be applied to the present genus Osmunda, and the latter name might again be retained for the genus Botrychium on the ground that the first species of the genus is the type, and the first species of the L,innean Osmunda are now referred to Botrychium! The foregoing transfers are based on the practices of various botanists, or on views concerning generic relationship and nomenclature actually expressed, and clearly illustrate the causes of the great confusion in nomenclature which actually exists. Considering this state of affairs it seems hardly worth while to offer more than a bare list of names, such as will be readily traced or recognized, in a paper of this charac- ter, for it is impossible to make a final disposition of many specific and generic names until the limits of genera are more definitely fixed. For that reason some of the names here inserted are used without hesitation because they clearly designate well-defined and well-known species, rather than because the disposition of their nomenclature is considered a finality. Thus on account of the doubt, to which reference has already been made, the generic name Struthiopteris is retained because its use will not add to the confusion already existing, and because the species is thus sufficient- ly marked. That the genus is distinct from Onoclea, however, seems clear. Not only does it differ from that genus in habit of growth and venation, but the indusium approaches that of Cystopteris, while Onoclea resembles Woodsia more nearly in that character. Cystopteris is retained because of its long usage, and because it is a question whether Filix Adanson should not be relegated with Lichen and other similar generic names. No group of ferns offers greater difficulties to the v— 2 5 152 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. systematist than the Family Aspidiece, and the writer does not presume to be able to remove them. Unless the indusium is practically disregarded as a generic character, as has been suggested by Gilbert* and the group is subdivided on new lines, generic limitations will remain more or less indefinite and unsatisfactory. But so long as this character is employed there can be no warrant for the union of Aspidium (restricted) and Nephrodium under one generic name {Dryopteris Adan- son, accordingtoKuntzef,) while Phegopteris is recognized as a valid genus, for whatever may be the difficulty in distinguishing between Aspidium (restricted) and Ne- phrodium, it is even greater between Nephrodium and Phegopteris. Yet much of this difficulty is due to imperfect material, and a change in classification ought scarcely to be demanded merely for the purpose of facilita- ting the disposition of imperfect material. On the same ground objection may be made to Diels' union of a part of Phegopteris with Nephrodium% while Polystichum, Aspidium, Nephrodium, etc. are recognized as genera. Whatever may be the difference of opinion as to the name, the conviction that the group known as Polystichum should constitute a distinct genus seems to be growing. The habit of growth, texture, venation and distinctly peltate indusium separate all of the species distinctly from other members of the family, and Roth's name Polystichum is probably the correct one for the genus. The generic name Dryopteris has been used in such a variety of senses in recent years § that it is impossible to determine its correct application from recent references, *Report of Boston Meeting, Linnaean Fern Chapter, pp. 19-25 (1899). fBritton and Brown, 111. Flora, vol. i, (1896). Prof. Underwood has since restricted Dryopteris to the species formerly included under Nephrodium ^-vide "Our Native Ferns," 6th ed., 1900. JNat. Pflanzenfamilien, 188-189 Lief., pp. 166, etseq. §See Britton and Brown, 1. c, Engler, 1. c, Underwood, 1. c, etc. IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. I53 and until generic limits are better defined ; and the writer prefers to retain the well-known Nephrodium for the present because its use cannot in the least increase the exist- ing confusion, and may be a final necessity. Phegopteris is retained in its original sense for the clearly non-indusiate forms. It is easy to subscribe to Diels' and Underwood's restoration of the genus Pteridium for our Pteris aquilina L,., the double involucre separating it at once from Pteris. Equally satisfactory is the transfer of Pellcz a gracilis Hk. to the genus Cryptogramma under the earliest specific name stelleri, provided the genus Cryptogramma is to be maintained, which seems desirable. The genus Adiantum is removed from the Pteridiece and placed in a separate family, — John Smith's Adiantece \ The position of the sori on the refl,exed involucre, and the habit and texture of these ferns certainly entitle them to take rank as a family with such groups as Davalliece and Lindsay ecz. Still other changes may be necessary. Thus, as already stated, the eusporangiate ferns, — the Ophioglossacecz and Marattiacece ', the latter of course not represented in Iowa, may have to be removed from the class Filices (and from each other) , and the Selaginellacece and Lycopodiacece may also take rank as related classes. However, further com- prehensive comparative study is necessary before these points can be satisfactorily decided. The following is a complete list of the Iowa Pteridophytes in the State University Herbarium in April, 1901. Unless the collector's name is given the specimens were collected by the writer. 154 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Subkingdom PTERIDOPHYTA Cohn. Class I GONOPTERIDES Willd., Sp. PL, vol. V, p. xxxxi. Order EQUISETACE/E DC, Fl. Fr., vol. II, p. 580, (1805). Genus EQUISETUM Z., Sp. PL, vol. II, p. 1061 (1753). Equisbtum arvense L. Very common in sandy or clayey soil. The fertile stems appear late in April or early in May, and are soon followed by the sterile shoots. The herbarium contains a large series of specimens, — mostly sterile. The following counties are represented: Lee (July, 1895 and June, 1897) ; Henry {J. H. Mills, no date); Muscatine (Oct., 1900); Johnson (T. H. Macbride, May, 1880, fertile; Shimek, 1882, fertile; fertile in April and sterile in May, 1891); Linn (June, 1894); Winneshiek (T. E. Savage, May, 1899) ; Cerro Gordo (July, 1896, June, 1899) ; Hancock (July, 1896); Winnebago (Sep., 1895); Emmet {R. I. Cratty, no date, fertile; Shimek, Aug., 1899); Lyon (Aug., 1896) ; Webster (July, 1897) ; Dallas (July, 1897) ; Adair (J. E. Gow, Aug., 1900); Pottawattamie (J. E. Cameron, May, 1898). Equisetum fluviatile L. Not common, in swamps in the north-central part of the state. This is E. Itmosumlt. Four counties are repre- IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 155 sented: Emmet {R.I. Cratty, June, 1884, fruiting); Winnebago (July, 1899, old fruit, branching) ; Hancock (July, 1896, sterile, somewhat branched) ; Hamilton (May, 1882, fertile). Equisetum robustum A. Braun, Engelm., Am. Jour. Sci., vol. XVI,p. 88 (1844). This species is not rare in the state, but is often con- fused with E. hyemale and sometimes with E. Iczvigatum. It is readily distinguished from these species, even when sterile, by the short sheaths whose ridges are /rz-carinate, at least toward their tips. The ridges are four-carinate in the former and two-carinate in the latter. The species grows commonly on wet banks. The following counties are represented: Henry (J. H. Mills, no date) ; Johnson (Mch., and Apr., 1901) ; Linn (May, 1892, fertile; Jackson (T. H.Macbride, Aug., 1883) ; Winnebago (Sep., 1895) ; Shelby (T. J. Fitzpatrick, May, 1884). The last speci- men is well-fruited. It was labelled E. Iczvigatum, but, though the sheaths are rather elongated, it seems clearly to be the present species. Equisetum hyemale L. This species does not seem to be common in the state. Two counties only are represented: Lee (July, 1895) ; and Des Moines {P. Bartsch, Aug., 1895). It is readily recognized by the slender stems (usually tufted) and by the four-carinate ridges on the elongated sheaths. Equisetum i^vigatum A. Braun; Engelm. Am. Jour. Sci. vol. 46, p. 87. (1844). This is the most common species of the genus in the State. It is found most commonly on sandy banks or ridges, often in rather dry places, and does not often produce sterile branches. Some specimens are quite strongly tuberculate, as for example the Lee county specimens (1895) and those from Winnebago and Webster counties. The latter have rather strong transverse tubercles as in E. 156 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. robustum, and there is also an occasional faint trace of a central carina on the ridges of the sheaths, which brings these specimens still nearer to that species. It fruits in May and June. The following counties are represented: Lee (July, 1895; June, 1897); Linn (June, 1894, and May, 1896; fruiting); Black Hawk (July, 1898); Cerro Gordo (Mason City, July, 1896; Clear Lake, June, 1899, the latter well-fruited) ; Winnebago (July, 1899) ; Emmet {R. I. Cratty, July, 1886, fruiting; Shimek, Sept., 1895) Dickinson (July, 1897, fruiting) ; Webster (July, 1897) Dallas (July, 1896); Adair (J. E. Gow, Aug., 1900) Pottawattamie (J. E. Cameron, May, 1896); Woodbury (Aug., 1900); and Lyon (Rock Rapids, Aug., 1897; northwest corner, June, 1897, fruiting; Granite, June, 1897, fruiting). Class II. FILICES (L.) Swartz, (1. a). Sub-class I. EUSPORANGIATiE Goebel. Order I. OPHIOGLOSSACEy€ Lindl.* Genus BOTRYCHIUM Swartz, Schrad. Jour. Bot. vol. II, p. 8 (1800). 1. BOTRYCHIUM VIRGINIANUM (Z.) Swz. This species, while nowhere gregarious, is widely distributed through the wooded portions of the State. It prefers deeper shade, but may sometimes be found in more open woods. Specimens from the following counties are in the herbarium: Johnson (June, 1891; May, 1894; May, 1896) ; Black Hawk {Miss Minnie Howe) ; Henry (J. H. Mills); Shelby (T. J. Fitzpatrick, June, 1894); Jones (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1895; J. E. Cameron, *On authority of Underwood (1. c.) IOWA PT3RIDOPHYTA. 157 June, 1895); Winnebago (July, 1896) ; Cerro Gordo (July, 1896); Pottawattamie (J. E. Cameron, June, 1897); Webster (July, 1897); Bremer (July, 1898); Emmet (Aug., 1899); Delaware (J. E. Cameron, Sept., 1899).* Sub-class II. LEPTOSPORANGIAT^ Goebel. Order FILICACE^E. Sub-order OSMUNDACEiSE, R. Br., Prod. Fl. N. Holl., vol. I, p. 161 (1810). Genus OSMUND A L. Sp. PL, vol. II, p. 1063 (1753). Osmund a regalis L. Rare in the state. Two specimens, one well-fruited, collected in 1891, the other sterile, collected in 1893, both secured by Mr. Fred. Reppert in u swampy depressions on sandy hills near Cedar river, Lake twp., Muscatine county' ' are in the herbarium. Mr. Reppert notes that they are being tramped out by cattle. OSMUNDA CINNAMOMEA Z. The collection contains one fine fruiting specimen from L,ake twp., Muscatine county. Mr. Reppert collected it in June, 1891, "in one of the frequent hillside swamps of the sandy hills along the Cedar river." About twenty years ago the writer collected fruiting specimens of this species near Old Man's creek in Johnson county. Some of the specimens were in the University herbarium for a time, but they have disappeared. *"2?. ternatum Swz." {B. obliquum Muhl.) has been reported from Fayette county (Fink), and from Floyd county (Arthur), but the University herbarium contains no specimen from Iowa. 158 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Osmund a claytoniana L, Very common in shady places, especially at the heads of heavily wooded ravines. The following counties are repre- sented in the herbarium: Johnson (June, 1880 and 1892) ; Jones {J. E. Cameron, July, 1895); Delaware (J. E. Cameron, Oct., 1897); Allamakee (T. E. Savage, June, 1899); Adair (J. E. Gow. August, 1900.) The specimens vary from the unfolding fertile fronds of spring through the fully expanded state still retaining the withered fertile pinnae, to the sterile forms of late summer and autumn. The species is much more common in the State than it would seem to be from the comparatively small number of locality sets in the collection. However, with the clearing and pasturing of timber it is very rapidly diminishing in numbers. Sub-order POLYPODIACE^ R. Br,, Prod. Fl. Holl., vol. I, p. 145 (1810). Family POLYPODIEU J. Sm., Hk. Jour. Bot., (1841). Genus POLYPODIUM L., Sp. PI. vol. II, p. 1082, (1753). POLYPODIUM VULGARE L. This species has thus far been received only from the extreme eastern part of the State, where it is locally common on moss-covered banks, etc. The specimens are all in full fruit, those from Clayton county alone being somewhat immature. Three counties only are represented: Muscatine {T. H. Macbride, Sept., 1882; F. Reppert, Aug., 1894, "on sandstone ledges"; Shimek, Nov., 1897, IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 159 and Oct., 1900); Allamakee (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1893) ; and Clayton (T. J. Fitzpatrick, July 7, 1895). Family W00DSIEH Eaton, Ferns N. Am. , vol. ii, p. xi. (1880) . Genus W O O D S I A R. Br., Tr. Linn. Soc, vol. II, p. 170, (1812). Woodsia SCOPULINA D. C. Eaton. A species which was first found by the writer in the extreme north-western corner of the State, in Lyon county, in August, 1896. In June, 1897, much finer sets were secured on two exposures, about two miles apart. These have an abundance of younger fruit with well-developed involucres, and their excellent condition makes the indenti- fication certain. Three representative sets are in the herbarium. Woodsia obtusa {Spreng.) Torr. This species seems to be rather rare in the State. It is found sparingly in a number of localities in Johnson county, usually on the moss-covered tops of limestone ledges. The fruiting begins in June. Some of the fronds from Johnson county in the herbarium measure nearly seventeen inches in total length. The following counties only are repre- sented: Johnson (Sep., 1893; June, 1894); Boone (L. H. Pammel, Aug., 1896). Genus ON OCLEA Z., Sp. PI. vol II, p. 1062 (1753). Onoclka sknsibilis L. This species is locally common in rather wet meadows, in the bottoms of wooded ravines, etc. The fruiting fronds begin to appear in June and mature in August. The herbarium specimens are from Johnson county (Sep., 1880; Aug., 1893); Muscatine county {E. Reppert, June, 160 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. 1891, "from wooded island opposite Fairport") ; Ringgold county (July, 1890, sterile) ; Delaware county {J. E. Cameron, Sep., 1897, sterile); and Linn county, -(July, 1898). Genus STR UT HIOPT ER I S »%/tf.,Mag.Ges. Nat. Fr. Berl., p. 160 (1809). Struthioptbris struthiopteris (£.). Quite widely distributed in the State. It prefers moist banks and alluvial (more or less sandy) flats. Specimens have been received from the following counties: Johnson (June, 1891; Sept., 1894; F. S. Aby, no date); Jackson (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883); Muscatine {F. Reppert, no date; Shimek, Oct., 1900); Shelby (7". J. Fitzpatrick, May, 1894); Webster (July, 1897, sterile). Genus CYSTOPTERIS Bernhardi, Schrad. Neu. Jour. Bot. vol. I, pt. .2, p. 26 (1806). CYSTOPTERIS fragius (L.) Bernk. One of the most common ferns in the State. It appears early in clumps of hazel-bushes, etc., most commonly in rather low, rich woods, and begins to fruit in June or even in May. Occasional fruiting specimens may be found in favorable localities all summer long, but most of the fronds wither and die by the end of July. If a wet autumn follows a long dry summer a second growth of fertile fronds may be developed. The following counties are represented. Emmet (R. Z. Cratty, June, 1882); Pottawattamie (J. E. Cameron, June, 1897); Webster (July, 1897); Dallas (July, 1897) ; Ringgold (July, 1890) ; Delaware (J. E. Cameron, Sept. 24, 1897, the largest fronds in the collec- tion, in fine fruit); Johnson (July, 1880; June, 1900); Louisa {P. C. Myers, August, 1897, sterile) ; Lee (June, 1897). IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 161 Cystopteris bulbifkra (L.) Bernh. A common species, and one of the prettiest, in eastern Iowa, growing on shaded limestone banks. It begins to fruit in June, and endures longer than the preceding species. Nearly all of the specimens in the herbarium have the characteristic bulblets . The following counties are represented: Allamakee (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1893; T. E. Savage , June, 1899, young frond); Winne- shiek (T. J. Fitzpatrick, July, 1896; T. E. Savage, May, 1899, sterile); Cerro Gordo (July, 1896, sterile) ; Clinton (L. H. Pammel, Sep., 1896); Jones (J. E. Cameron, July, 1895; T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1895) ; Delaware (J. E. Cameron, Sep., 1897); Johnson (June, 1881 and 1896); Webster (July, 1897). Family ASPIDIEJE J. Smith, Hk. Jour. Bot. (1841.) Genus P H E G O P T E R I S Fee, Gen. Fil., p. 242. (1850-2). PHEGOPTERIS phkgopteris (Z.) Underwood. Rare, in low woods, etc. The herbarium contains but one specimen from Iowa, collected by Prof. T. H. Macbride in Delaware county in July, 1878. It is in full fruit, and is a typical specimen. PHEGOPTERIS HEXAGONOPTERA (Mx.) Fee. Locally common in the eastern part of the State on wooded slopes in leaf mould, etc. The following counties are represented in the herbarium: Johnson (July, 1881, in fine fruit) ; Delaware {J. E. Cameron, Oct., 1897, with mature fruit); Muscatine (Pine creek and Sweetland creek, Oct., 1900; the former scantily fruited, the latter in full, 162 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. mature fruit). Fruiting specimens may be found from June until October. Phkgopteris dryopteris (Z.) Fee. Rare in Iowa. Two specimens from Johnson county, probably collected by Prof. Macbride, are in the collection. They are well-fruited. The species was formerly occasion- ally found in deep woods north of Iowa City. Phegopteris robertiana {Hoffm.) Fee. Probably a mere variety of the preceding. Not common in Iowa. One county only is represented: Allamakee {T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1893, in full fruit.) Genus NEPHRODIUM Richard (?)* inMichaux, Flor. Bor. Am., vol. II, p. 266. (1803). NEPHRODIUM THELYPTERIS (Z,.) Desv . Quite common in wet meadows and ravines. Usually fruiting in July and August. The following counties are represented: Johnson (July, 1881, and August, 1893, both fruiting); Delaware (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883, in full fruit) ; Cerro Gordo (July, 1896, sterile) ; Hancock (July, 1896, sterile). NEPHRODIUM CRISTATUM (L.) Mx . Two specimens, one in fine fruit, were furnished by Mr. Fred. Reppert, who collected them in July, 1894, inBloom- ington township, Muscatine county, in "damp ravines, etc." No other Iowa specimens are in the herbarium. NEPHRODIUM GOLDIEANUM (Hk.) H. & G. This handsome species has been received only from the eastern part of the State, where it grows in a number of localities on well-shaded banks, etc. It begins to fruit in August, and fertile fronds may be found until late in October. The herbarium contains specimens from the * Richard's name does not appear in Michaux. IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 153 following counties: Muscatine (T. H. Macbride, Sep., 1882; Shimek, Oct., 1900; both in full fruit); Jackson (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883, with mature fruit). Nkphrodium spinulosum {Rets.) Desv. Quite rare in the State, two counties only being repre- sented: Johnson (Aug., 1881, sterile); and Muscatine {Fred. Reppert, no date, in fine fruit; Shimek, Oct., 1900, in full fruit; T. H. Macbride, Sept., 1882, fruiting; De- Jong, Oct., 1894, fruit immature). The last two specimens are clearly the variety intermedium, having the glandular indusium, etc. The other specimens probably also belong to the variety. Genus POLYSTICHUM Roth, Tent. Fl. Germ., vol. Ill, (1800). POLYSTICHUM ACROSTICHOIDES (Mx .) Schott. Found only in the eastern part of the State, growing on well-shaded banks and slopes. It begins to fruit in August. The following counties are represented in the collection: Jackson (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883. with mature fruit); Muscatine (T.H. Macbride, Sep., 1882, in full fruit; Shimek, Oct., 1900, in fruit); Johnson (fall, 1894, sterile; Aug., 1895, cultivated from a native rootstock) . Family ASPLENIEJE J. Smith, Hk. Jour. Bot. (1841). Genus ATHYRIUM Roth, Tent. Fl. Germ., vol. I (1788). ATHYRIUM filix-fcEmina (Z.) Roth. This is probably the most common and most widely distributed fern in Iowa. It is found in more or less shaded places, and varies in size and cutting with the 164 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. habitat. Fruit begins to appear in June and continues until September, or even later. The athyrioid character (like so many similar characters of ferns) becomes obscured as the fern grows older, and the sori then sometimes almost cover the back of the frond, especially in fronds with narrow divisions. The specimens from Jackson county collected by Prof. Macbride in 1883 show this very well. The following counties are represented: Louisa (P. C. Myers, Aug., 1897, sterile); Muscatine (July, 1895, sterile) ; Johnson (July, 1880, well-fruited) ; Jones (J. E. Cameron, July, 1895, fruit nearly mature); Jackson (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883; well-fruited and with un- usually narrow segments); Delaware (7". H. Macbride, Aug., 1883, fruit advanced) ; J. E. Ca?neron, Oct., 1897, with old fruit); Allamakee (7". E. Savage, June, 1899, with young fruit) ; Cerro Gordo (July, 1899, shows some mature fruit); Winnebago (July, 1896, fruit scant); Emmet (Sept., 1895, fruit well advanced) ; Webster (July, 1897, sterile); Polk {pupils of E. Des Moines High School, no date; well-fruited); Ringgold (July, 1890, sterile); Calhoun {G. B. Rigg, no date, sterile); Pottawattamie (J. E. Cameron, June, 1897, sterile) ; Lyon (July, 1899, sterile). Athyrium thelypteroides (Mx.)Desv. Locally rather common in the eastern part of the State. It grows in shady places, in the lower parts of wooded ravines, etc., preferring rather moist places, and begins to fruit in August. Mature fruits show apparent diplazioid characters, and the species has been referred to Diplazium* An examination of young fruits however shows very clearly that the seemingly two sori are one reverted in athyrioid fashion. It will probably be neces- sary to similarly remove other species of Diplazium to *Underwood, /. c, refers it to the sub-genus Athyrium. IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 165 Athyrium.\ Specimens from the following counties are in the herbarium: Muscatine (T. H. Macbride, Sep., 1882, in fine fruit) ; Johnson (1882, well-fruited) ; Jones (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1898, in fine fruit); Jackson (7". H. Macbride, Aug., 1883, well-fruited); Delaware (T. H, Macbride, Aug., 1883, well-fruited; J. E. Cameron, Sep., 1897, in fine fruit); Cerro Gordo (Sept., 1900; sterile, rather more hairy than is usual, and the veins are more frequently forked.) Genus ASPLENIUM Z., Sp. PL, vol. II, p. 1078 (1753). ASPIvBNIUM ANGUSTIFOUUM Mx . Not common in the State. Growing in deep woods, on rocky slopes, etc. northeastward. All the specimens in the herbarium show well-fruited fronds. Mature fruits appear in the latter part of August. Two counties only are represented: Jackson (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883; Shimek, Aug., 1894); Delaware (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883; J. E. Cameron, Sep., 1897). AspIvEnium PLATYNKURON (Z.) Oakes. The only specimens in the herbarium were received (as A. ebeneum) from Mr. Fred. Reppert. The first set was collected "in open woods along Leutzinger's creek, 4 mi. below Muscatine, Iowa, by Kenneth McKenzie." The second was cultivated in Muscatine by Mr. Reppert from native rootstocks in 1894, and is reported by him "from sandy hill-side woods, rare." Genus CAMPTOSO RUS Link, Hort. Berol., vol. II, p. 69, (1833). Camptosorus rhizophyl,i,us (L.) Link. Iyocally common in the eastern part of the State, grow- f Milde (in Soc. Siles. Cult. Nat., Nov., 1869) includes Diplazium in Athyrium, 166 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. ing in shaded places on moss-covered rock, etc., usually on or near limestone ledges. Fruiting specimens may be found at all seasons of the year. All of the specimens in the herbarium are well fruited, and most of them show the proliferous habit. The following counties are represented: Muscatine {T. H. Macbride, Sept., 1882; Shimek, Oct., 1900); Johnson (Aug., 1881; Aug., 1893; Sept., 1897; March, 1898. These are from different stations) ; Jones (T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1895) ; Delaware {J. E. Cameron, Sept., 1897); Winneshiek (T. E. Savage, June, 1899); Dubuque (J. A. Anderson, July, 1900). Family PTEBIDIEiE J. Smith, Hk. Jour. Bot. (1841). Genus PTERIDIUM Scopoli* Pteridium aquilinum (Z,.) Kuhn. This species, so common in the eastern part of the State, is represented by a comparatively small series. It grows in deep woods where its long creeping rootstocks frequently send up fronds at intervals of two to four feet. It begins to fruit in July, or even in June. The following counties are represented: Muscatine (Oct., 1900, sterile) ; Johnson (Sept., 1880; another without date); Delaware (J. E. Cameron, Sep., 1897, sterile); Allamakee (T. E. Savage, June, 1899, sterile); Winneshiek (T. J. Fitz- patrick, June 24, 1896, well-fruited) ; Winnebago (July, 1899, well-fruited). Genus PELL^A Link, Fil. Hort. Berol., p. 59,(1841) . Peli^Ea atropurpurea (L.) Link. Locally rather common in crevices of rock on exposed limestone ledges. New fruits are formed in June or July and may continue all winter. The following counties are represented: Johnson (July, 1880, well-fruited); Jones *On authority of Diels (1. c). IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 167 {T. H. Macbride. Aug., 1895, mature fruit); Delaware {J. E. Cameron, Nov., 1897, with mature fruit); Winneshiek {T. E. Savage, May, 1899, with old fruit) . Genus CRYPTOGRAMMA R. Br., Ex. App. Frankl. Narr., p. 767 (1823). CrypTOGRAMMA STEU,ERi (Gmel.) Prantl. On sandstone or limestone rocks, in less exposed situa- tions than the preceding species. It begins to fruit in May and June. All the specimens show more or less fruit, those collected in May and some of those in June, being immature. The following counties are represented: Johnson {Dr. C. M. Hobby, June, 1880); Cedar {T. H. Macbride, July, 1893) ; Delaware {T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1883); Jackson (Aug., 1894); Dubuque (E. M.Irish, May, 1891; J. A. Anderson, July, 1900); Winneshiek {T. E. Savage, May, 1899); Cerro Gordo (July, 1896) . Genus CHEI^ANTHES Smarts, Syn. Fil., p. 129, (1806). CheiIvANThes FEEi Moore. Cheilanthes lanuginosa Nutt. Quite rare, on rocky ledges. The specimens in the herbarium are all well-fruited. They are from the follow- ing counties: Jones {T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1895); Dubuque {Paul Bartsch, July, 1895); Allamakee {T. E. Savage, May, 1899). Family ADIANTEJE J. Smith, Hist. Fil., p. 273, (1875). Genus ADIANTUM L., Sp. PL, vol. II, p. 1094 (1753). Adiantum pedatum L. This species rivals Athyrium filix-fcemina in abundance 168 NATURAL. HISTORY BULLETIN. and extent of distribution, and is found in similar habitats. It begins to fruit in June. Specimens from the following counties are in the herbarium: Lee (June, 1897, sterile) ; Louisa (P. C. Myers, Aug., 1897) ; Muscatine {F. Reppert, July, 1894) ; Johnson (T. H. Macbride, 1883; Shimek, Sept., 1895); Jones {T. H. Macbride, Aug., 1895; J. E. Cameron, June, 1895, young fruit); Delaware (J. E. Cameron, Sept., 1897, young fruit); Black Hawk (July, 1898, young fruit) ; Allamakee (T. H. Macbride, August, 1893; T. E. Savage, June, 1899, young fruit); Cerro Gordo (July, 1896, sterile) ; Emmet {R. L Cratty, no date); Webster (July, 1897, sterile); Calhoun, (G\ B. Rigg, July, 1895, sterile); Polk {pupils of E. Des Moines High School, no date); Adair (J. E. Gow, Aug., 1900); Pottawattamie (J. E. Cameron, June, 1897, young fruit) ; Shelby (7*. J. Fitzpatrick, June, 1894, young fruit). Class III. HYDROPTERIDES Will- denow, Sp. PL, vol. v, p. xxxxn. Order I. MARSILEACEAE R. Br., Prod. Fl. N. Holl., p. 166 (1810). Genus MAR SI LEA L., Sp. PI., vol. II, p. 1099, (1753). Marsilea VESTITA H. & G. This species was reported from Iowa by Arthur (/. c), but no known specimens were extant in Iowa herbaria. In July, 1899, the writer re-discovered the species in the northwestern corner of Lyon county.* The specimens •Reported in Rep. Iowa Geol. Sun, vol. x, p. 180, (1900). IOWA PTERIDOPHYTA. 169 were growing in a shallow pool on an exposure of Sioux Quartzite, and were all sterile. Several specimens are in the herbarium. Order II. SALVINIACEy€ Bartling, Ord. Nat., PL, p. 15 (1830). Genus A Z O L, L, A Lam., Encyc. Bot. vol. I, p. 343 (1783). AzOU,A CAROUNIANA Wtlld. This interesting species was discovered by Mr. F. Reppert in Muscatine slough, Muscatine county, and has since been found in the lower portion of the slough in Ivouisa county. It begins to fruit in August. The sterile (young) fronds are green, the fertile red. The following sets are in the herbarium: Muscatine county (F. Reppert, Oct., 1895, many fertile); Louisa county (Aug., 1897, mostly sterile ; P. C. Myers., later in Aug., 1897, some fertile). Class IV. LYCOPODINE^ Swartz, 1. c. Order I. LYCOPODIACE/E Mx., Fl. Bor. Am., vol. II, p. 281 (1803).* Genus L Y C O P O D I U M L., Sp. PL, vol. II, p. 1100, (1753). L,YCOPODIUM LUCIDULUM Mx . One Iowa specimen only is in the herbarium. It was *Michaux wrote Lycopodacea, evidently a mistake. 170 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. collected by the writer on a wooded slope with sandstone outcroppings, along Pine creek, Muscatine county, in November, 1897, and is in fruit. IyYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM L. Quite rare. The specimens in the herbarium are all from Johnson county (7". H. Macbride, no date, sterile; Mary F. Linder, no date, sterile; Shimek and P. C. Myers, March, 1897, sterile). They have been found in but two localities in the county, — both in rather low woods . IyYCOPODIUM COMPLANATUM L. Found with the preceding species in Johnson county, and in a similar locality in Muscatine county. Rare in Iowa. The herbarium contains specimens from two counties: Johnson (7". H. Macbride, no date, sterile; Shimek, March, 1897, sterile); Muscatine (F. Reppert, Aug., 1894, in fruit.) Order II. SELAGINELLACEy€ Underwood, Our Nat. Ferns, P. 103, (1881). Genus SELAGINELLA Beauv., Prod. Ac, p. 101, (1805). SELAGiNKivLA rupestris (Z,.) Spring. This species is found in several widely separated locali- ties in the State, always in barren, sandy or rocky, soil. All the sets in the herbarium contain more or less fruit. They are from the following counties : Muscatine ( T. H. Macbride, July, 1895; Shimek, Oct., 1896; both from sand along the Cedar river) ; Dubuque {P. Bartsch, 1895) ; Lyon (Aug., 1896; July, 1899; both from Sioux Quartzite exposures). DESCRIPTIONS OF AMERICAN UREDINE^E, III. BY J. C. ARTHUR AND K. W. D. HOLWAY. The species of Uredinecz to which this article is devoted embrace those forms whose teleutospores occur on grasses belonging to the tribes Maydece, Androftogonecz , Panicecz, Oryzece, and Phalaridece \ In studying the plant rusts it has been found very helpful to bring together all available material on closely related hosts. In this way we have been able to get a more comprehensive and accurate view of the limitations and variations of species, and, moreover, to detect a number of errors that have crept into the litera- ture and led to misconceptions. To carry out this plan we have taken the material for this article from the hosts belonging to a circumscribed portion of the great family of the Graminecz , rather than indiscriminately from the hosts of any part of the family, as in the previous article of the series. The present article like the two preceding ones, is based upon the material in the authors' Uredinecz Exsiccates et I cones, each article corresponding to a fascicle. The first article was published in this journal (3:44-57) March, 1895, and the second (4:377-402) December, 1898. The first fascicle of the distribution was issued September, 1894, and the second, December, 1898. The illustrations, which are the same for the Descriptions and the Exsiccatcz ', are from camera-lucida drawings made directly from the material of the distribution. The figures and the packets have the same numbering, Arabic numbers being used to designate species, and letters to indicate the collections under each species. The intimate association of host and parasite in case of V— 2 7 172 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. the Uredinecz makes the accurate determination of the host of the utmost importance: sometimes it is only necessary to know the genus, but more often the species must be unquestionably established in order to give full value to a specimen. But it is not enough that the name of the host should be written on the packet to make the specimen of greatest worth: there should be within the packet such fragments of the host, bits of inflorescence, fruits, leaves, stipules, or other parts not too bulky, and that may or may not be affected by the rust, as may furnish characters for independent verification, or strong presumptive evidence. Moreover, the limits of species and genera among flowering plants are not unchangeably fixed, and it sometimes becomes necessary to revise the nomen- clature of the host as well as of the rust, when such characteristic fragments become very important. The more difficult the host the more imperative the need of such helps. Among grasses and sedges, especially, we have often had occasion to deplore their absence. The ligules of grasses should in particular be included, and* bits of their inflorescence whenever possible. We have experienced much difficulty in securing good material of the uredo stages for our distribution, and in some cases even for purposes of study. The idea that diagnostic characters are lacking in the uredo seems to be so widely and firmly established, that collectors do not search for this stage of a rust, and rarely collect it even when conspicuous. The idea is erroneous, however, although it seems to have support from the customary omission, or subordination, of such characters in technical descriptions. Sometimes the uredosori are much more distinctive of the species than the teleutosori, and rarely less so than are the secidia. Specimens showing the best development of the spermogonia, secidia, uredosori, and teleutosori should in most cases be independently collected for each species. The finest specimens are those which show one of these stages in optimum development, and AMERICAN UREDINE^. 173 one or more of the others in much less abundance, either just beginning to appear, or nearly vanished. Still another sort of spore sometimes occurs among grass-forms that has had special attention called to it lately by the researches of M. A. Carleton, until now only partially published (Science 13:250). It has long been recognized in Puccinia vexans Farl., and considered to be a peculiar teleutospore-like uredospore: but Carleton finds that it has, moreover, a peculiar manner of germina- tion. He has given the name amphispore to it. We have ventured to apply the name to what has heretofore been called the uredospore of Puccinia tripsaci, both on account of the structure and texture, and of the association with the other spore-forms. But this assignment of its role must be accepted as somewhat tentative until opportunity is given for studying the mode of germination, which is at present unknown. In this article we have extended and varied the use of signs for designating spore stages of the Uredinece. For some time the Roman numerals, I, II, III, have been generally employed to indicate secidial, uredo, and teleutosporic stages, respectively, and occasionally of late the spermogonial stage has been represented by O. To these we now add X for the amphisporal stage. When these signs are used in connection with specimens of Exsiccatcz, we have found it convenient to indicate the relative abundance of each stage by using capital forms for the dominant stages and lower case forms for deficient stages: thus ii, iii, X applied to a specimen of Exsiccatce, means that it exhibits chiefly amphisporic sori, but that some more or less perfect sori of uredospores and teleuto- spores are present, or at least that some spores of these may be found by moderate search among the amphisori. The first article of this series contained descriptions of species numbered from one to seventeen, the second article contained numbers eighteen to thirty-four, and the present article contains numbers thirty-five to forty-four. 174 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. 35. Puccinia tripsaci Diet. & Holw. (1897. Bot. Gaz. 24:27). 35a. On Tripsacum dactyloides L. X, iii. Near City of Mexico, Mex., Holway. Orig. Desc. "Sori on both sides of the leaves, at first covered by the epidermis, at length erumpent, somewhat linear: uredosori cin- namon-brown, spores globose or elliptical, 30-37 by 28-33//, epispore up to Aji thick, chestnut-brown, echinulate, with four germ-pores: teleutospores elliptic or obovate, rounded at both ends, with a hooded thickening at apex, slightly constricted, smooth, brown, 33-41 by 20-25^: pedicel longer than spore, firm, brownish." SYN: 1897. Uredo pallida D. & H. Bot. Gaz. 24:37. Sori amphigenous, but especially beneath, prominent, somewhat linear, 1-3 mm. long, tardily naked, encircling epidermis conspicuous. II. Uredosori pale, uredospores nearly round to obovate, small, 13-18 by 20-26/"-, colorless when dry, wall thin, echinulate, pores four, equatorial. X. Amphisori cinnamon-brown, amphispores round or elliptical, wall thick up to 4m, dark yellowish-brown, coarsely echinulate, 28-33 by 30-37/^, pores four, rather noticeable, equatorial; pedicel thick, fugacious. III. Teleutosori dark brown, teleutospores elliptic or obovate, slightly or not at all constricted, smooth, dark golden-brown, 20-25 by 33-41/^, apex rounded, occasion- ally obtuse, considerably thickened, base rounded, pedicel as long or longer than the spore, colored, firm. The apportionment between this species and the follow- ing one of the four or five forms of uredineous spores now known on Tripsacum is based upon their association in the material that has come to hand. The absolute proof of relationship must await careful field observation or AMERICAN UREDINE^. 175 cultures. It is assumed in the first place that what were described originally as uredospores of this species are true amphispores. We use the name recently proposed by Carleton (Science 13:250) to designate a form of spore having definite physiological and morphological characters, intermediate in most respects between uredo and teleuto- Fig. 1. r uredo pallida spore, to which the uncertain term, meso- fouled ItZX spore, has heretofore been applied. In the of Mexico, oct. i, specimens (35a) published with the present fascicle of exsiccatcz, the amphispores and teleutospores are well shown. In a specimen collected by Mr. Holway at Tizapan, near City of Mexico, Sept. 27, 1899 (No. 3504), the true uredospores {Uredo pallida D. & H.) and the amphispores are in similar manner associa- ted. Other specimens in our possession show only one form of spore in each case. The specimens in this distribution are part of the type collection, and show amphispores and in some cases teleutospores. 36. Puccinia POLYSORA Und. (1897. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 24:86). 36a. On Tripsacum dactyloides L<. II. Cuernavaca, Mex., Holway. Orig. DBSC. "II, III. Amphigenous: sori very small, short, very numerous but irregularly scattered, remaining long enclosed by the tough epidermis of the host, at length rupturing by a narrow slit: uredospores large, broadly oval, 35X30//, scarcely echinulate, the epispore of medium thickness, pale rusty-brown: teleutospores variable, usually short, irregularly oblong, often somewhat con- stricted at the septum, averaging 25X40//, the cells often irregu- larly angled, the upper usually broader than long, blunt or rounded above; apex not thickened; pedicel short.' ' t The gross appearance of this species is similar to that of the preceding, except that the sori are smaller, longer 176 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. time covered, and usually more abundant. The uredo- spores are thin- walled, closely and finely echinulate, and have four equatorial germ - pores . The specimens in this fascicle (36a) show only uredospores, as also does a specimen in the Fig. 2. # r puccinia polysora Und. From type herbarium of Mr. S. M. Tracy, collected at Auburn, Ala., cct. x8 9 x. coUected by him ^ Mobile, Ala., Oct. 17, 1886, but the type collection, made by B. M. Duggar at Auburn, Ala., Oct., 1891, shows both uredo- and teleutosori. The irregular, thin-walled teleuto- spores (fig. 2) are very different from the teleutospores of the preceding species. 37. Puccinia virgata E. & E. (1893. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phila. :154). Zla. On Chrysopogon avenaceus (Michx.) Benth. ii, III. Rooks Co. Kans., Bartholomew. Orig. Desc. "III. Sori amphigenous, but more fully developed on the lower side of the leaf, linear, often 1cm. or more long", erumpent and margined laterally by the ruptured epidermis, dark chestnut- brown, almost black. Teleutospores mostly wedge-shaped or clavate, but also some of them oblong-, 40-70 X 18-22/*, the upper cell shorter and elliptical or subglobose and dark, the lower cell longer, narrower, and lighter colored, apex rounded and obtuse or subtruncate, and sometimes a little roughened. Epispore thickened at apex but without any distinct papilla. Has a general resemblance to P. graminis, but the spores are different. " SYN: 1834. Caeoma (Uredo) andropogi Schw . Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 4:290. 1896. Pticcinia clavispora Ell. & Barth. Erythea 4:79. 1897. Uredo alabamensis Diet. Bull. Cornell Univ. 3:22. Sori amphigenous, but more abundant beneath, linear, elongated, early naked, ruptured epidermis prominent. AMERICAN UREDINE^E. 177 II. Uredospores obovate, rarely subglobose, 18-30 by 28-45/*, wa U reddish-brown, deeper colored at the apex, also somewhat thicker at the apex (up to 4/*) , strongly and closely tuberculate, pores distinct, four, equatorial; para- physes numerous, light brown, somewhat capitate, usually curved, wall thickened above. III. Teleutospores clavate, cuneate or oblong, 18-22 by 40-70/*, septum above the middle, lower cell pale, thin- walled, upper cell oblong or often subglobose, dark brown, apex much thickened, rounded, obtuse or nearly truncate, pedicel thick and short. EXSIC : Ellis & Everhart, N. A. F., 2888, 3476. Sydow, Uredineen, 1066. Seymour & Earle, Econ. Fungi, 535. This rust has proved to be a puzzling species, and no one heretofore has wholly compassed its form and habit; even now the secidial stage is not known. Still it possesses strongly marked characters in both its uredo- andteleuto- sporic stages. The structure and color of the uredospores, together with the clavate paraphyses, are strongly diagnostic, while the unequal and dis- similar-celled teleutospores are fairly distinctive. The uredo stage is often prolonged without intermixture of teleu- tospores, especially in the eastern states. Only uredospores were known to Schweinitz, and only uredospores occur in the collection made by B. M. Duggar in Alabama, which Dietel, sixty-five years later, made the basis caeoma (uredo) andro- of a new name . We have examined lteL S A™d. s F cnone P cted type material of these descriptions, and at Bethlehem, p a ., i82 9 . present herewith drawings of spores and paraphyses from each (figs. 3 and 4) . Puccinia virgata Ellis & Everhart was founded on material collected in Rooks Co., Kans., on Jan. 23, 1892 178 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Fig. 4. Uredo alabamensis Diet. From type collected at Au- burn, Ala., Oct. 14, 1891. (see fig. 5), and the host determined as Panicum virgatum. A collection made from the type locality on May 21, of the same year, was distributed in Ellis & Everhart's N. Am. Fungi, as No. 2888. This is teleutosporic material, as would be natural in a winter collection, but a little search reveals the presence of uredospores and paraphyses, and these, together with the teleutospores, agree exactly with those of the type collec- tion of Pticcinia clavispora Ellis and Everhart, and of the two types already mentioned. The leaves of Panicum virgatum and of Chrysopogon avenaceus can not be certainly told apart by any characters derived from the color, texture or surface markings of the blades, but on the other hand the ligules are wholly distinct, those of the Panicum being prominent and fringed with long, white, silky hairs, and those of the Chrysopogon being still larger and entire. Diagnoses drawn from both rust and host show that these two Kansas collections sup- posed to be on Panicum are identical with Puccinia clavi- spora known to be on Chrysofiogon, and that the host of the type of the earlier name was not a Panicum but was Chrysopogon avenaceus. It appears that with the possible exception of material found in the herbarium of the Kansas Agricultural College no collection of the supposed P. virgata on Panicum has been made since 1892, and it was then only found "on one solitary tuft of grass about two feet across" (see Bartholomew's "Kansas Uredineae" in Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. 16:183). Fig 5- Puccinia virgata £. & E. From type collected in Rooks Co., Kans., Jan. 23, I892. AMERICAN UREDINE^. 179 The published descriptions of P. clavispora and P. virgata also agree, except that in the latter the teleuto- spores are said to be "sometimes a little roughened. " This can only be explained by supposing the statement to apply to the uredospores, which occur sparingly in the original material, and being colored like the teleutospores and of the same apical form, might easily be mistaken for them. So far as we know Puccinia virgata occurs only on Chrysopogon avenaceus (Michx.) Benth. {Sorghum nutans Gray, Andropogon avenaceus Michx.). 38. Puccinia ellisiana Thuem. (1878. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 6:215). 38fl. On Andropogon scoparius Michx. III. Rooks Co., Kans., Bar- tholomew, 38£. On Andropogon scoparius ii, III. Decorah, Iowa, Holway. Orig. Desc. "P. acervulis hypophyllis, gregariis, plus minusve lineariformibus, seriatis, elevatis, atro-fuscis, liberis; sporis ellip- soideis vel subclavato-ellipticis, septa tis, medio vix constrictis, vertice rotundatis, incrassatis,apice rotundatis,ab pedicello separa- tis, episporio disseptimentoque crasso, obscuriore, 30-40 mm. long., 18-23 mm. crass., fuscis; pedicello subrecto, sequali, 18-22 mm. long-o, pallidissime fusco; paraphysibus nullis — Certe a P. andropogonis^ Fckl., diversa." New Jersey: Newfield, in Andropogonis virginiani Lin., foliis aridis, Jan.. 1877. L,eg\ J. B. Ellis." SYN: 1895. Puccinia andropogi L,agerheim (non Schw.) Ured. Herb. Fries :45. 1898. Dic&oma ellisianumKxmtze, Rev. Gen. PI. 3:468. Sori as in P. andropogonis Schw. Uredospores yellowish- brown, thick- walled, (about 4/*) , closely and finely tuber- culate, subglobose, 16-24/*, mostly 20/* in diameter, pores four, equatorial, distinct: teleutospores elliptical to oblong or clavate, averaging larger than those of P. andropogonis, the elliptical ones 20-24 by 32-40/*, and others 16-20 by 180 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. 44-52m; apex thickened, rounded or often pointed in the oblong-clavate ones; pedicel nearly hyaline, frequently up to 80/^ long. KXSIC : Thuemen; Myc. Univ. 1336. That two species of rusts have been confounded under the name of Puccinia andropogi was first pointed out by Lagerheim in his account of the Uredinece in the herbarium of Elias Fries, now in the Botanical Museum of the University of Upsala, Sweden. He was unfortunate, how- ever, in assuming that the species having thick- walled uredospores was the true Schweinitzian P. andropogi. The writers have not examined the type specimens of Puccinia ellisiana, but the examination of specimens in three sets of Thuemen's "Mycotheca universalis," viz., those in possession of the New York Botanical Gardens, of De Pauw University, and of Mr. Holway, which apparently contain part of the type collection, uniformly shows the presence of the characteristic uredospores. It is possible, however, that some of the following species may be inter- mixed, as is likely to be the case in almost any collection of this rust. It is doubtful if the host of the type collec- tion, which was taken in mid-winter, is really Andropogon virginicus, as published, for the ligules of the leaves in specimens available are broad, entire, or slightly jagged, and correspond with those of Andropogon glomeratus, a species which grows in the type locality, instead of being narrow and ciliate, as in A. virginicus. But this is not a matter of moment as the species occurs upon A.scoparius y A. furcatus, and probably upon other native species of Andropogon, and might well occur on A. virginicus. The specimen in Ellis & Everhart's " Fungi Columbiana, " No. 1376, on Andropogon hallii, is Puccinia andropogonis, and not P. ellisiana as labelled. The species doubtless ranges throughout the central and eastern United States, for specimens have been examined from different localities AMERICAN UREDINE^E}. 181 in Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Mississippi and New Jersey. It is far less abundant than the true Pttccinia andropogonis Schw. A rust which closely resembles P. ellisiana is the European Puccinia cesatii Schroeter {P. andropogonis FckL). This species was collected on Andropogon furcatus by A. B. Seymour on Aug. 22, 1884, atBrainerd, Minn., on his journey to Washington Territory, and also on A. hallii, by H. J. Webber, in Sept., 1889, in Howard Co., Nebraska. Both the teleutospores and uredospores resemble those of P. ellisiana, but the uredospores are much larger, having nearly twice the diameter, and the germ-pores, instead of being four and equatorial, are more than four and scattered. Both of the above collections have passed until now for P. andropogi. The secidia of both P. ellisiana and P. cesatii yet remain undetected. 39. Puccinia andropogonis Schw. (1834. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 4:295). 39a. On Pentstemon hirsutus (L,.) Willd. o, I. Iyafayette, Ind., Stuart, 39b. On Pentstemon albidus Nutt. I. Rooks Co., Kans., Bartholomew. 39c. On Pentstemon grandiflorus Nutt. o, I. Long- Pine, Neb., Bates. 39d. On Andropogon scoparius Michx. II, iii. Spirit I^ake, la., Arthur. 2>9e. On Andropogon scoparius III. I^afayette, Ind., Stuart. 39f. On Andropogon scoparius ii, III. Iyafayette, Ind., Miss Snyder. 39g. On Andropogon furcatus Muhl. II, iii. Spirit Iyake, In., Arthur. 39h. On Andropogon furcatus ii, III. Lafayette, Ind., Miss Snyder. 39i. On Andropogon furcatus III. Decorah, la., Holway. 39/. On Andropogon furcatus ii, III. Rockport, Ka.ns., Bartholomew. 2>9k. On Andropogon hallii Hack, ii, III. Cody, Neb., Bates. Orig. Dj$sc. "449. 20. Pentastemonis Sz. A. orbiculare minus eras- sum purpureum subtus luteum, peridiis candidis congestis. Non infrequens in foliis et caulibus Pentastemonis hirsuti. Distincta species. Iyineas duas latum. Peridia pro ratione plantae magna. Sporidia luteo-fusca, simplicia, vesiculosa.' ' Second DESC. "*2911. 7. P. andropogi, I*, v. S., frequentissima autumno in foliis culmisque etiam vaginis variarum specierum Andropogi, Bethl. P. maculis obliteratis, acervis dense aggregatis, elevatis, fuscis, 182 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. obtusis, linearibus, abbreviatis. Sporidiis fuscis. Quamquam non confluit, tamen fere tota folia occupat." SYN: 1822. Aecidium pentastemonis Schw. Schrift. d. Nat. Ges. zu Leipzig 1:68. 1895. Puccinia americana L,agh. Ured. Herb. Fries :45. 1898. Dicceoma andropogonis Kuntze. Rev. Gen. PI. 3:467. 0. Spermogonia few, amphigenous, bright orange when fresh: spots none or colorless: spermatia elliptical or oblong, 3-4 by 5-7/*. 1. Spots circular, yellow and splashed with purple, or with a distant purple border: secidia mostly hypophyllous, the border low, recurved and split into few segments: spores angular, 16-18 by 18-24/*, slightly tuberculate: peridial cells quadrangular, 16-20 by 24-32/*. II and III. Hypophyllous: sori small, elliptical, or confluent and linear, numerous, surrounded by the ruptured epidermis: uredospores yellowish-brown, echinulate, glob- ose, mostly 20-24/*, membrane rather thin (about 2/*) : teleutospores smooth, thickened above, obovate to ellipti- cal, 20-24 by 28-32/*, dark brown, with apex rounded, or oblong to clavate, 16-20 by 36-44/*, color paler and with apex sometimes pointed: pedicel tinted, about the length of the spore. Exsic : Ellis, N. A. F., 1470 11J . Carleton, Ured. Amer., 12 * 1 1 . Ellis & Everhart, Fungi Columb., 1376 l11 , 1457 111 . Sydow, Uredineen, 57 x l 1 . Kellerman & Swingle, Kans. Fungi, 28 l . The cultures on which the association of aecidia and teleutospores is based were made by Messrs. Arthur and Stuart in 1899 (Bot. Gaz. 29:272). The species is very abundant east of the Rocky mountains in both the aecidial AMERICAN UREDINM;. 183 and teleutosporic stages, but the uredo stage is of brief duration and rarely collected. Specimens gathered as early as the middle of June in central Indiana show teleutosori. In the teleutosporic condition it is difficult to distinguish this species from the preceding. Some search, however, will usually reveal at least a few of the characteristic uredospores, even in collections made in the winter season, and the chief reliance should be placed upon these. The thin-walled echinulate uredospores of P. andropogonis are wholly unlike the thick- walled, small, and finely tubercu- late uredospores of P. ellisiana. The type specimen of P. andropogonis Schw. is in the Schweinitz collection of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. It is an ample one, in the original packet, unmounted, and labeled in Schweinitz' s handwriting. The sori are very numerous. The host is not named on the packet, but appears to be Andropogon scoparius. The type locality is not given, but it is probably Bethlehem, Pa., as stated in the author's list of N. Am. Fungi (Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4:295). We have examined the type and find the characteristic, thin- walled, echinulate uredospores, and no other sort. There can be no question regarding the error of L,agerheim in supposing the Schweinitzian rust to be a thick-walled uredoform rather than a thin-walled one. No other specimen of rust on Andropogon occurs in the Schweinitz collection, unless one include his Cczoma ( Uredo) andropogi, a very dissimilar form on Chrysopogon avenaceus {Andropogon of earlier authors) . (See page 177.) The specific name Pentastemonis, which Schweinitz gave to the secidial form a dozen years before he employed the one we have adopted, can not be used, as there is already a Puccinia pentstemonis given by Peck in 1885 , to a rust on Pentstemon found in western North America. The form of the name as Schweinitz wrote it, was Ci Puccinia andropogi," but we have followed Schroeter, Saccardo, Kuntze, and many others in writing it P. 184 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. andropogonis. The Greek noun nuyow being in the third declension, a Latin derivative like Andropogon should be also in the third declension, and not in the second as assumed by Schweinitz and others. The rust is very common, especially upon Andropogon scoparius Michx. We have examined specimens on this host collected in New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Louisiana, Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Nevada. We have examined specimens on A. furcatus Muhl. (A. provincialis Lam.) from Mississippi, Indiana, Iowa and Nevada: on A. virginicns L. from Alabama: on A. argyraceus Schultes from Alabama: on A. hallii Hack, from Nebraska: on Pentstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd. {P. pubescens Sol.) from Alabama, Indiana and Kansas: on P. albidus Nutt. from Kansas: on P. grandiflorus Nutt. from Nebraska, and Iowa, and on P. gracilis Nutt. from Iowa. 40. Puccini a versicolor Diet. & Holw. (1897. Bot. Gaz. 24:28). 40#. On Andropogon melanocarpus Ell. III. Guadalajara, Mex., Holway. 40£. On Andropogon melanocarpus Ell. ii, III. Cuernavaca, Mex., Holway. 40c. On Andropogon melanocarpus EH. II, iii- Cuernavaca, Mex., Holway. 40^. On Andropogon contortus L,. II, III. Chapala, Mex., Holway. Orig. Dksc. "Spots epiphyllous, purple-red, or brown and yellow; sori hypophyllous, oblong- or linear; uredosori yellow, surrounded by the ruptured epidermis; spores ovate, 30-40 by 25-31^, epispore very thick, colorless, with short spines, contents irregularly branched, or often star shaped; teleutosori firm, pulvinate, black, surrounded by the ruptured epidermis; spores elliptical, scarcely constricted, rounded at both ends, smooth, chestnut brown, apex variously thickened, (generally not over Sfi) 35-45 by 27-33/u; pedicel hyaline, firm, up to 130// long-." This species has a uredospore of remarkable appearance. The walls are colorless and appear to be thickened like the sclerenchymatous cells of seed coats, thus forcing the AMERICAN UREDINE^S. 185 contents into star shaped forms. The scar made by the separation of the pedicel can rarely be detected. The germ-pores are also obscure. The collection on Andropo- gon contortus appears to differ from that on A. melano- carpus, by having more truly elliptical and thicker- walled teleutospores, but there appears to be no specific distinc- tion. ,The specimens of this distribution collected at Guadalajara, Mex., are part of the type collection. 41. Puccinia cenchri Diet. & Holw . (1897. Bot. Gaz. 24:28). 4\a. On Cenchrus multiflorus Presl. ii, III. Guadalajara, Mex., Hol- way. Orig. Dbsc; "Sori very small, hypophyllous, scattered; uredosori surrounded by the ruptured epidermis; spores obovate or elliptical, 36-45 by 30-35/*, brown, echinulate, with equatorial germ-pores; teleutosori covered by the epidermis, black; spores oblong, mostly clavate, apex truncate, or irregularly angled, sometimes constrict- ed, narrowed or rounded at base, 40-53 by 18-25/*, epispore smooth, brown, strongly thickened at apex; pedicel very short, brown. ,, The specimens in this distribution are part of the type collection. This species has also been found on Cenchrus echtnatus L,., E. Ule, Herbarium Brasiliense, No. 2549. 42. Puccinia substriata Ell. & Earth. (1897. Erythea 5:47). 42a. On Paspalum setaceum Michx. II, III. Rooks Co., Kans., Bar- tholomew. 42b. On Paspalum paniculatum Iy. II, iii. Cuernavaca,Mex., Holway. 42c. On Pennisetum mexicanum Hemsl. ii, III. Patzcuaro, Mex., Holway. 42d. On Pennisetum mexicanum Hemsl. ii, III. Near Morelia, Mex., Holway. Orig. Desc. "II & m. Amphig-enous. Uredospores globose or obo- vate, 19-23 by 22-30//, ferruginous, very faintly echinulate, in minute (}(-lTn.m. ) punctiform or elliptical sori, covered by the irregularly ruptured epidermis. Teleutospores obovate or clavate, rusty brown, distinctly constricted, upper cell mostly broader and very 186 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. slightly roughened, only moderately thickened at apex, which is regularly rounded or sometimes flattened, without any distinct papilla, very faintly striate, 27-52 by 19-23//, on stout, short, ( 15-20^ ) slightly colored pedicels. Sori mostly oblong and about 1mm. long, covered by the epidermis, which finally splits either along the top of the sorus, or oftener along one side, leaving it covered as if by a cap or lid. Differs from Puccinia paspali Tracy & E}arle in the shape of the sori, the slightly echinulate uredospores and the thick, short pedicels of the teleutospores." Sori amphigenous, oblong, small, at first bulliform then tardily naked; ruptured epidermis prominent, sometimes stretched over the sorus in bands. II. Sorus pale yellow; uredospores obovate or globose, 19-24 by 20-30^; wall rather thin, yellowish-brown, finely and abundantly echinulate; pores four, equatorial. III. Sorus brown; teleutospores oblong or obovate, dark brown, 19-24 by 28-50^; apex more or less thickened, rounded, obtuse or slightly truncate; pedicel somewhat colored, firm, from short to the length of the spore or longer. Exsic : Sydow, Uredineen 1080. This appears to be a polymorphous species. The Kansas collections upon Paspalum setaceum have teleuto- spores with mostly broad and short pedicels, while the Mexican collections on Pennisetttm mexicanum have most- ly broad and long pedicels ; otherwise the two forms appear essentially alike. But the form on Paspalum paniculatum , on the contrary, has smaller and more delicate spores of both uredo stage and teleuto stage, and the teleutospores are quite irregularly shaped, with short and more slender pedicels, which are sometimes attached obliquely. Comparing this material with the type collection of Puccinia paspali Tracy & Earle, which was secured at New Orleans, La., upon Paspalum virgatum L,., one is struck with the lack of distinctive characters. The uredospores of Puccinia paspali are like those on Paspalum AMERICAN UREDINE^E}. 187 setaceum, only somewhat irregular in form, while the teleutospores are intermediate between those of Paspalum setaceum and P. paniculatum. The oblique irregular teleutospores of Puccinia paspali, and the linear sori, are the only marked characters with which to separate this species from Puccinia substriata, and these may be a local result of the influence of the host. We are inclined to think either that there is but one polymorphous species, or that the forms here included in Puccinia substriata on Pennisetum mexicanum and on Paspalum paniculatum are to be separated, making four species in all. The material at our disposal is inadequate for a definite conclusion, and it may be that cultures will be required for the final decision. The markings on the teleutospores mentioned in the original description have not been detected by us. The upper cell is said to be "very slightly roughened" and the apex "very faintly striate." These characters do not appear in our material, either when viewed dry or wet. 43. Uromyces HAI.STEDII De Toni. (1888. Saccardo, Syll. Fung. 7:557). 43#. On Homalocenchrus virginicus II, III, ( Willd.) Brit ton. Dalles of the Wisconsin river, Wis., Arthur, Orig. Desc. "Sori mostly hypogenous, small, elongated, forming- irregular rows; uredospores 22-25 by 26-30//, elliptical, light yellow, indistinctly echinulate, tips dark; teleutosori shining black, spores wedge-shaped and quite irregular, 17-30 by 25-33/*, pedicel about one half the length of the spore. The broad free end of the spore is divided into 5-20 sharp or blunt projections, the longer with hyaline tips. ,, Halsted, 1. c. SYN: 1887. Uromyces digitatus Halst. Jour. Myc. 3:138. 1889. Uromyces halst edii L,udw. Bot. Centrbl. 37:120. 1898. Cczomurus halstedii Kuntze. Rev. Gen. PI. 3.450. Exsic : Ellis & Everhart, N. Am. Fungi, No. 2227. V— 2 8 188 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. A very distinctive species, especially in the fprm of the teleutospores, and it is unfortunate that the descriptive name first given to it had to be abandoned, because already used. The sori are tardily naked: uredosori pale brown, the teleutosori blackish-brown. The uredospores have thin walls with four to six scattered pores. The fine, abundant echinulation, al- though indistinct when wet, is very prominent when examined dry. Most of the spores come within 20-24 by 24-26 a*. The teleutospores are amber-colored, with the upper part darker and brownish; lateral walls thin. The pedicels are slender and colored. 44. Puccinia majanth^ (Schum.) nom. nov. 44a. On Polygonatum commutatnm (R. & S.) Dietr. o, I. Decorah, la., Ho I way. 44b. On Phalaris arundinacea L. II, III. Sailor's Encampment, Mich., Harper. Orig. Desc. "1518. 2$. Majanthae, macula orbicularis pallide-vir- idis centro flava; peridiisdistantibus depressis primo flavis, demum subferrugineis, ore laciniato: laciniis subrotundis obtusis; pulvere primo aurantiaco demum cinereo ferrugineo. In foliis Convalarias bifolia^. ^Estate." Second Desc. "41. Puc. sessilis n. sp. Schneider. Puce, sitzend, keilfdrmig- mit abgesttitzten Scheitel. In lang-lichen von der Oberhaut bedeckten Haufchen. An Phalaris arundinacea L. Neuhaus b. Pirscham. Sch. Schwarzwasserbruch b. Liegnitz." 1803. Aicidiiini majanthcz Schum. Enum. PI. Saell. 2:224. 1824. Cceoma clegans Schlecht. in part. Fl. Berol. 2:115. 1825. Cceoma convallariatum Lk. in part. Sp. Plant. 2:42. 1827. Uredo convallariarum Spreng. Linnaei Syst. Veg. ed. sexta 4:573. 1869. Puccinia sessilis Schneider (as emended by Magnus). Schroeter's Brand- und Rostpilze Schlesiens :19. AMERICAN UREDINE^. 189 1896. Puccinia sniilacearum-digraphidis Kleb. Zeits. f. Pflkr. 6:261. 0. Spermogonia epiphyllous in small clusters, puncti- form, rather prominent, orange-colored; spermatia ellipti- cal, about 3 by 5 A*-. 1. iEjcidia small,, hypophyllous on yellow spots, in circular clusters, often irregularly confluent; margin nearly entire, slightly recurved; spores subglobose, 20-26/^ in diameter, peridial cells subglobose, somewhat angular, 28-32 by 24-28 /i. II and III. Sori numerous, very small, elliptical to shortly linear, on both sides of the leaf; uredospores yellowish-brown, echinulate, obovate to globose, 24-32 by 16-20 /*, pores scattered: teleutosori black, covered by the epidermis: teleutospores oblong or wedge-shaped, more rarely shorter and elliptical, apex sightly thickened, generally darker, rounded, truncate, oblique, or rarely pointed, smooth, brown, mostly 44-52 by 16-24/*; pedicel short or wanting; paraphyses none. KXSIC : Ellis, N. A. F., 229 \ 1421 \ 1475 ">. Sydow, Uredineen, 95 l , 96 1 . Rabenhorst- Winter, Fungi Europaei, 3024, 3026a, b & c. Thuemen, Myc. Univ., 27 K Kunze, Fungi seel, exsicc., 554 1 , The Puccinias on Phalaris arundinacea have been divided into several so-called physiological or biological species. Dr. Dietel defines the former as species morpho- logically similar, but whose teleutospores are only able to produce the secidium from which they themselves were derived. Klebahn describes biological species as fungi that are indistinguishable morphologically, but are clearly separated from each other by the choice of host plant upon which they develop. The question has been raised whether they are entitled to this designation, or whether they are to be regarded as " biological races." 390 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. Magnus has used the term " adaptive-races, " meaning parasitic fungi which for several generations have become habituated to a particular host plant, and therefore more easily infect that species than another upon which the same parasitic fungus also occurs. Klebahn says: (translated) "I would speak of biological races, when among fungi that are morphologically similar, yet infect a series of host plants, there are those that infect one host easily and abundantly, and another host with diffi- culty and sparingly, and also others that, conversely, infect the latter readily and the former with difficulty, and still others that infect all equally. The totality of these fungi would form the species, the last being the typical form of it and the first two biological races. From this it will be seen that Puccinia smilacearum-digraphidis and Puccinia convallaricz- digraphidis as they have shown themselves in my experiments, are to be regarded as biological species.' ' The following forms on Phalaris having teleutospores nearly or quite identical, but having secidia on different species of hosts, have been described: 1. Puccinia phalaridis Plow. 1888. Jour. Linn. Soc. — :88. Infects only Arum maculatum. 2. Puccinia winteriana Magn. 1894. Hedw. 33:83. {P. sessilis Schneider, as used by Winter, Plowright, and Klebahn). Infects only Allium ursimim. 3. Puccinia smilacearum-digraphidis Klebahn. 1896. Zeits. f. Pflkr. 6:261. (P. sessilis Schneider as used by Magnus and Dietel) . Infects Polygonatum, Majanthemum Convallaria and Paris. 4. Puccinia convallaricz- digraphidis Klebahn. 1896. 1. c. {P. digraphidis Sopp.) Infects only Convallaria. 5. Puccinia paridis- digraphidis Klebahn. 1896. 1. c. (P. paridis Plow.). Infects only Paris. 6. Puccinia schmidtiana Dietel. 1896. Ber. d. Naturf. AMERICAN UREDINE^E}. 191 Ges. zu Leipzig, Jahrg. 1895-6 :198. Infects Leucojurn vernum. 7. Puccinia orchidearum-phalaridis Klebahn. 1898. Zeits. f. Pflkr. 8:23, 9:155. Infects Orchis maculata, Platanthera chlorantha, and List era s>vata. Puccinia sessilis was the first of these species published, and the description, based upon teleutospores collected in Silesia, would apply to all. Dr. Winter in Saxony made the first cultures (Ber. d. Nat. Ges. zu Leipzig, 1874 :41), and showed that the teleutospores of a Puccinia not dis- tinguishable from Puccinia sessilis, produced its secidium on Allium, and the experiments were repeated by Plow- right in England with the same result (1887. Jour. Linn. Soc. 24:89). Magnus claimed (1894. Hedw. 33:83) that as the secidium on Allium and Arum did not occur in Silesia where the teleutosporic type material was collected, while an secidium was common there on all the four hosts named above under ' '3' ' , therefore the name Puccinia sessilis must apply to the Puccinia producing these latter secidia. This would require a new name for the Puccinia infecting Allium, which he accordingly called Puccinia winteriana. The culture experiments in Europe have been numerous and carried on for several years, and the results seem, in general, well established. Klebahn tried growing Puccinia smilacearum-digraphidis for a number of seasons on Poly- gonatum, to see whether it would develop a tendency to less easily infect the other hosts. He found that it did in- fect Polygonatum more strongly than other hosts, and in his last article he says that although it is wise to guard against too hasty conclusions, he thinks that his experi- ments appear to indicate the possibility of a change in the character of a fungus through cultures. This species has been called Puccinia striatula Peck (Puc. linearis Pk.), a name of uncertain application, but which is probably not to be cited as a synonym. 192 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. No cultures of this species have been made in the United States, but the collections presented herewith are so clearly indistinguishable from what Klebahn has called Puccinia smilaceartim-digraphidis that we do not hesitate to associate the American secidia and teleutospores. What will be the ultimate systematic standing of bio- logical species among the Uredinece is yet uncertain. There is no gainsaying the statement that "the races of one generation of botanists often become the species of the next generation, who as they study them more minutely and carefully, discover constant marks not previously recognized. " In our opinion there appears to be consider- able utility and no material harm in treating the biologi- cally distinguishable forms of Phalaris rjist as normal species. In an address on "The conception of species as affected by recent investigations on fungi" delivered by Dr. Farlow three years ago before the American Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science, the conclusion is reached, after reviewing many specific cases including the one in hand, that "as systematic botany develops in the future it may very well become the study of races rather than species as we now consider them. In some cases, as in the Uredinacecz , the time may be not far distant when this condition of things will be reached." To meet the requirement of utility and the growing tendency in syste- matic work we have undertaken to select the name for the forms of rust presented in this fascicle in the same manner as we would for thoroughly distinct and unquestioned species. We therefore feel it incumbent upon us to recognize the law of priority, which at once compels us to ignore such a recent, but attractively descriptive name as Puccinia smilacearum-digraphidis . The earliest name that we have found is by Schumann, who cites for his name but the single host, Convallaria bifolia, since transferred to the genus Smilacina, and now resting under the genus Unifolium. Immediately following ALcidium majanthce AMERICAN UREDINE^}. 193 on the page in Schumann's work is sEcidium convallarice occuring on Convallaria majalis, which should clearly provide the specific name for Klebahn's Puccinia coitval- laricz-digraphidis . So far as we know the latter species does not occur in this country. Explanation of Plates. The drawings have been made from a Zeiss microscope fitted with a D objective and No. 8 compensating ocular, and by the use of an Abbe camera lucida. They are uniformly drawn to a magnification of 625 diameters, and reduced in engraving to 470 diameters. The essentially correct dimensions of the spores may be obtained from the plates by multiplying the measurements taken in millimeters by two, the results being in mucros (//). The pores shown for the uredospores do not always represent the full number, but only those that were evident. When the scar on the uredospores left by the separation of the pedicel is shown, it is placed lowermost. Explanation of Plate I. 35a. Puccinia tripsaci Diet. & Holw. On Tripsacum dactyloides L-, from Mexico. Five amphispores and four teleutospores. 36a. Puccinia poi^ysora Und. On Tripsacum dactyloides L., from Mexico. Four uredospores. 37a. Puccinia virgata Ell. & Everh. On Chrysopogon avenaceus (Michx. ) Benth., from Kansas. Four uredospores, three paraphyses and four teleutospores. 38a. Puccinia eujsiana Thuem. On Andropogon scoparius Michx., from Kansas. Three uredospores, one drawn as if opaque, and seven teleutospores. 38£. Puccinia exusiana Thuem. On Andropogon scoparius Michx., from Iowa. Two uredospores and eight teleutospores. PLATE 1. 35a 36a 37a U U V n o G ; 38b Explanation of Plate II. 39a. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Pentstemon hirsutus (L. ) Willd., from Indiana. Five spermatia and four aecidiospores. 39b. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Pentstemon albidus Nutt., from Kansas. Four aecidiospores. 39C. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Pentstemon grandiflorus Nutt., from Nebraska. Five spermatia and five aecidiospores. 39d. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogon scoparius Michx., from Iowa. Four uredospores and one teleutospore. Z9e. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogon scoparius Michx., from Indiana. One uredospore and three teleutospores. 39/. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogon scoparius Michx., from Indiana. Two uredospores and five teleutospores. 39g. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogon furcatus Muhl., from Iowa. Four uredospores and one teleutospore. 39^. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogon furcatus Muhl., from Indiana. Two uredospores, one drawn as if opaque, and five teleuto- spores. 39/. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogon furcatus Muhl., from Iowa. One uredospore, drawn as if opaque, and four teleutospores. 39/. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogon furcatus Muhl., from Kansas. Two uredospores and five teleutospores. Z9k. PUCCINIA ANDROPOGONIS Schw. On Andropogonis hallii. Hack., from. Nebraska. Two uredospores and two teleutospores. PLATE II. Explanation of Plate III. 40a. Puccinia versicolor Diet. & Holw. On Andropogon melanocarpus Ell., from Mexico. Two uredospores and four teleutospores. AOb. Puccinia versicolor Diet. & Holw. On Andropogon melanocarpus Ell., from Mexico. Three uredospores and four teleutospores. 40<:. Puccinia versicolor Diet. & Holw. On Andropogon melanocarpus Ell., from Mexico. Six uredospores, one drawn as if opaque, and three teleuto- spores. 40o\ Puccinia versicolor Diet. & Holw. On Andropogon contortus L., from Mexico. Two uredospores and three teleutospores. 41a. Puccinia cenchri Diet. & Holw. On Cenchrus multiflorus Presl., from Mexico. Two uredospores and six teleutospores. PLATE 111. 40c 40b 40d Explanation of Plate IV. 42a. Puccini a substriata Ell. & Barth. On Paspalum setaceum Michx., from Kansas. Four uredospores and four teleutospores. Mb. Puccinia SUBSTRIATA Ell. & Barth. On Paspalum paniculatum I*., from Mexico. Four uredospores and six teleutospores. 42c. Puccinia substriata Ell. & Barth. On Pennisetum mexicanum Hemsl., from Mexico. Four uredospores and five teleutospores. 42a\ Puccinia substriata Ell. & Barth. On Pennisetum mexicanum Hemsl., from Mexico. Two uredospores and six teleutospores. 43a. Uromycks hai,STEdii De Toni. On Homalocenchrus virginicus (Willd.) Britt., from Wisconsin. Seven uredospores and five teleutospores. 44a. Puccinia majanth^ {Schum.) Arth. & Holw. On Polygonatum commutatum (R. & S.) Dietr., from Iowa. Nine spermatia and five aecidiospores. 44£. Puccinia majanth^ {Schum.) Arth. & Holw. On Phalaris arundinacea Iy., from Michigan. Five uredospores and three teleutospores. PLATE IV. V— 2 9 THE LOESS OF IOWA CITY AND VICINITY.* BY B. SHIMEK. The loess of Iowa City presents no unique features. It is of the type which prevails in the eastern part of the state, being fine and homogeneous; found chiefly on high- lands, especially in its undisturbed condition, and follow- ing their vertical contours, thus varying but little in thick- ness which seldom exceeds twelve or fifteen feet; contain- ing both tubules and loess-kindchen in the usual varying proportions; and more or less fossiliferous. It has been quite fully discussed by McGeef. Lists of the fossils which are found about Iowa City have already been published, J and it is not the purpose of this paper to offer much that is new in this direction, but rather to present a detailed account of the habits of the local modern molluscs, and their bearing on the loess. In probably no other locality in the country have these modern and loess faunas been studied side by side more fully than at Iowa City. Besides the early work of Witter, and that of Keyes (chiefly upon State University Museum specimens collected and identified by the writer), the efforts of Pilsbry and Bayard Elliott were especially note- worthy, though the former published 'but little, while the latter made no permanent record of his observations, but submitted a part of his collection to the present author, who has been engaged in loess and mollusc studies with * This paper was presented in abstract to the Iowa Academy of Sci., December, 1900. f U. S. Geol. Sur.,. vol. xi, pt. i, 1891. t W J McGee, /. c; C. L,. Webster, Am. Nat., May, 1887, p. 419; B. Shimek, Am. Geol., vol. i, pp. 149-152, 1888; Bull. L,ab. Nat. Hist., State Univ. la., yol. i, pp. 200-209, 1890; etc. 196 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. more or less interruption for many years, and has gathered together great numbers of both fossil and modern forms which bear on this question. The lists representing these faunas are therefore more complete than is possible where resident observers are not engaged in the investigation of both branches of the subject, and this fact, coupled with the comparative rich- ness of both faunas, makes a comparison of them especi- ally interesting and suggestive. Since all of the fossils which have been found at Iowa City are molluscs, and belong with few exceptions to the local modern molluscan fauna, a study of the habits of the living species is of the highest importance because of the light which is thus thrown upon the conditions which existed during the deposition of the loess. The species included in this list are therefore grouped according to habit in order that comparisons and conclusions may be facilitated. All notes on distribution, etc. of both modern and fossil shells in the following list have reference to the vicinity of Iowa City only, unless otherwise specifically stated. "Western loess" means that of western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. The material was abundantly collected and studied in the field by the author, and is now in his private collection. The names of the local fossil (loess) species are pre- ceded by two asterisks. Those which have been found fossil in the loess in other localities, but not at Iowa City though now found living here, are marked by one asterisk. The latter series does not however include all the species of the modern fauna of Iowa City which were reported in the earlier Missouri and Nebraska lists of loess fossils, as no specimens are extant and the species are not now known to occur in undoubted loess. The species living near Iowa City but not represented in the loess are un- marked. The territory covered by this report is included within a radius of six miles from Iowa City. IOWA CITY LOESS. 197 RECENT AND FOSSIL MOLLUSCS AT IOWA CITY. 1. Species here found only as fossils. **Pyramidula shimekii (Pi/s.) Shim. Quite common in the loess of Iowa City, which furnished the type specimens. A more complete discussion of this species is given on pp. 139-145 of this Bulletin. **Pyramidula strigosa iowensis Pils. This variety is now extinct. All other forms of this extremely variable species however belong to the dry western plateaus and mountains. It is locally quite com- mon in the loess, and the type specimens were from this locality. **PUPA MUSCORUM (L.) . Now living in the U.S. from Maine to Montana, thence to Nevada. Also in Europe. Not rare in the loess. **Pupa blandi (Morse) Binn. Two specimens were recently found in the loess near Iowa City. It is not rare in the western loess, and is found living from New Mexico to Montana. The shells usually formerly reported under this name are Bifidaria pentodon(f) . The easternmost localities from which fossils have been received are. Muscatine and Stockton in Musca- tine county, Iowa. They were erroneously reported as P. muscorum * **Vallonia gracilicosta Reinh. Quite common in the loess. It is common in western v Through the writer's error they were so reported in Prof. Udden's note on Hershey Ave. fossils in Leverett's Report in U. S; Geol. Sur. vol. xxxviii, p. 174, 1899. In that list P. blandi should be substituted for P. muscorum. Also in Udden's Report, la. Geol. Sur., vol. ix, p. 359, 1899, where the same substitution should be made in the Fulton township (Stockton) list. P. muscorum does however occur at Muscatine. 198 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. and northwestern Iowa, and thence westward, where it lives in high, dry situations. Its easternmost known station in Iowa is in Winnebago county. **SUCCINEA GROSVKNORII Lea. (?) A form referable to this species is quite common in the local loess. The species now lives abundantly in the South, and in Nebraska and western Iowa, and is uniformly found (so far as the writer's experience shows) in situations which are exposed to severe drouth during at least a portion of each year. The Succineas of this group, both recent and fossil, require further elaboration. It is interesting to note that the foregoing species, now extinct at Iowa City, all belong to the modern terrestrial fauna of the dry west, from Montana to New Mexico, and that only two species extend. eastward as far as Iowa. 2. Terrestrial species, now living at Iowa City. a. Species of higher, more or less exposed, and often rocky slopes. *Vallonia parvula Sterki. Common on exposed rocky slopes, hence occuring in scattered colonies. Rare in the loess of western Iowa. *Leucocheila FALLAX (Say) Try. Locally common on higher exposed slopes, chiefly under fragments of limestone. Rare in the loess of western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. **Bifidaria armifera (Say) Sterki. Very common. Most frequent on more or less exposed slopes under limestone, among roots of grasses, etc. Sometimes also in deeper shade, and occasionally on lower IOWA CITY LOESS. 199 grounds, under logs, etc. Rare in the loess at Iowa City, but very common in the western loess at Council Bluffs, Iowa. *BlFlDARIA HOLZINGERI {Sterkt) . Quite common under stones, etc. on exposed hillsides. Rather rare in western loess. **Bifidaria PENTODON {Say) Sterkt. Quite common on rather open rocky slopes, sometimes on lower grounds, under stones, etc. As a fossil this species is widely distributed, and in this locality is very common. *Bifidaria curvidens {Gld.) Sterkt. Not uncommon. It is rare in the loess of the west and south, but has not been found fossil at Iowa City. *Bifidaria corTicaria {Say) Sterkt. Common in a few restricted localities among the roots of tufted grasses, etc. growing on exposed rocky slopes. Not found in the local loess, but reported from Des Moines by Keyes, from Muscatine by Witter and from Illinois by Leverett. It is not rare in the loess of Natchez, Miss. *POLYGYRA LEAI {Ward) Pits. Found here under sticks, etc. on slopes near a prairie swamp. Also more rarely on scantily wooded slopes. Rare in the loess of the west, etc. *Succinea avara Say. Not rare on more or less exposed rocky slopes. This is the small, typical form which is now found on low grounds. The same form occurs abundantly as a fossil, being one of the most characteristic species of the loess. It occurs in all the fossiliferous exposures near Iowa City, being the only fossil found in some of them. **VlTREA INDENTATA {Say) Pits. Not rare on rocky slopes. This, and the following 200 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. species, also occurs on lower grounds, but both are more common on drier slopes. Rare in the loess. **ZONlTOIDES MINUSCULUS (Binn .) Pils . Common under stones, etc. on higher slopes, and under sticks, leaves, etc. on lower grounds. Rare in the loess. b. Species of higher, more deeply shaded (often mossy and rocky) banks and slopes, some- times in deep woods. **Helicina occulta Say. This species, though a prosobranch, is strictly terrestrial in its habits. It is found living in but one locality, a steep, rocky northern slope near Turkey creek, six miles north of Iowa City, the locality in which it was first dis- covered by the writer about twenty-two years ago. It is quite abundant in this very restricted locality, being found under stones and fallen leaves. It is very common in the loess, and is found in nearly all the exposures. The body-whorl of the fossil shell sometimes still contains the operculum. The writer recently found this species (living) common on the rocky slopes along Pine Hollow creek in Dubuque county, and Little Turkey river and its small tributaries in Clayton county, Iowa localities not hitherto reported. **POLYGYRA PROFUNDA (Say) Pils . Common under sticks, stones, leaves, etc. on higher shaded slopes. It is found in but one loess-exposure in this vicinity, but is very common in the loess of Natchez, Miss. *POLYGYRA CLAUSA (Say) Pils . Widely distributed in deeper woods near Iowa City, but nowhere common. As a fossil it is rare, occurring occa- sionally in more southerly loess. None have been found at Iowa City. IOWA CITY LOESS. 201 *POLYGYRA HIRSUTA (Say) Ptls . Locally quite widely distributed in deeper woods, though never gregarious. Fossil shells are found sparingly in the western loess at Council Bluffs, la. *POLYGYRA MONODON (Rack.) Plls . This species is very similar to the preceding in its habits, and in the distribution of both the recent and fossil forms, both, however, being rather more abundant. Neither has been found fossil at Iowa City, though their discovery would not be surprising. Common in the loess at Natchez, Miss., and also fossil in Indiana. *STROBILOPS VIRGO (Pils .) . Locally common on rocky, shaded slopes. It is occa- sionally found fossil in the western loess. This has ordinarily been reported as Strobila labyrtnthtca Say. Vertigo milium (Gld.) Binn. . Not common, on mossy banks and slopes. Not found fossil. Its minute size might easily cause it to be over- looked. **Vertigo ovata Say. Rare, on mossy, shaded banks, sometimes on lower grounds. Somewhat more common as a fossil, occurring sparingly in several of the exposures. * Vertigo bollesiana (Morse.) Rare, on mossy banks, usually in shady places. It is rare in the western loess. *Vertigo tridentata Wolf. Locally common, usually on rather exposed rocky, moss- covered banks. Found sparingly in the western loess. **C0CHLIC0PA LUBRICA (Mull '.) . Rare on rather open slopes, etc. It is more common as 202 NATURAL, HISTORY BULLETIN. a fossil, but is one of the rarer species of the local loess. *Circinaria concava (Say) Pils . Widely distributed on shaded, especially rocky, slopes, but not gregarious. It is not found in the local loess, but is quite common southward. It is one of the common fossils at Natchez, Miss. **Conulus FULVUS (Drap .) Mull. Not uncommon on shaded slopes in moss, and under sticks, leaves, etc. Fossil shells are not rare, and as a rule are better developed than the modern specimens. *ZoniTOIDES ARBORKUS (Say) Sterki. Very common, usually under logs in high or low places, and not uncommonly in comparatively open woods. It cannot yet be reported from the local loess, but has been found by Prof. Savage in the loess of Henry county, Iowa, and it is not rare in the western loess. **Pyramidula alternata (Say) Pils. Locally common, usually on higher, deeply-shaded slopes under logs, stones, leaves, etc. Not common in the loess at Iowa City. **Pyramidula perspective (Say) Pils. Common on shaded banks, etc. under decaying logs. This species is not generally distributed in the loess, though it is very common at Natchez, Miss. At Iowa City it occurs rather abundantly in but one exposure. **Helicodiscus lineatus (Say) Morse. Scattered specimens are not infrequent. They are usually found in deeper shade under sticks and logs. Fossil shells are quite rare. *Punctum pygm^um (Drap.) Binn. This minute shell is easily overlooked, but is quite common under sticks and fallen bark on northerly shaded IOWA CITY LOESS. 203 slopes, and among clumps of hazel, etc. on lower grounds. The author collected fossil shells in the loess of Natchez, Miss., but none have yet been found in the northern loess. **Sphyradium edentulum ai/ticola (Inger.) Pils. While this form scarcely deserves rank as a variety, the name is here retained to designate the common loess fossil which is identical with recent shells (commonly known under the varietal name) which are now found in Wyom- ing, Colorado, etc. This form is much elevated, and has a distorted body-whorl, which destroys the symmetry of the otherwise almost perfectly cylindrical shell. Typical edentulum is exactly like the upper part of the shell of the variety and is a less fully developed form. An occasional shell of the varietal form is found eastward with the type. Speaking of the recent shells Dr. Sterki says:* ' 'There are, among the common form, high specimens with narrower penultimate and wider last whorl, found every- where occasionally in this country as well as in Europe ; and thus P. alticola Inger. f is not even a true var. here." However in the Rocky Mountain region the variety is the common form, and it is likewise generally distributed through the northern loess, belonging to the category of the most common and most characteristic loess fossils. Only two recent specimens have thus far been taken at Iowa City. As both are rather young shells it is impossible to determine whether they are the type or the variety. As the distinction between them, however, is not worthy of maintainance, they are here grouped together. c. Terrestial species of lower, shaded, alluvial grounds, under sticks, leaves, etc. **Polygyra MUl/nxNEATA ...(Say) Pils. (Large form). Two forms of this species occur here. The larger, the * Nautilus, vol. vi, pp. 6 and 7, May, 1882. f First described as Pupilla alticola Ingersoll, in Bull. U. S. Geol. Sur. of the Terr., 2, p. 128,— 1875. 204 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. more common form, lives on wooded alluvial bottom-lands which are not too dry, and may be found abundantly creep- ing or hiding among the smaller plants, under fallen leaves, etc. Four fossil specimens only were found in one of the exposures at Iowa City, and it is rare in the loess of the Missouri river in eastern Nebraska. The smaller form, discussed under (| Not rare in marshy, shaded places. ttl Sicyos angulatus L. Star Cucumber. j Not rare on wooded alluvial bottoms along the Big Sioux river in the large grove. * Eupatorium ageratoides L. White Snake-root. | Not rare on the shaded slopes. | Bidens CONNATA Muhl. Swamp Beggar- ticks. The typical form was rather common on shaded lower s # slopes. Chenopodium hybridum L. Maple-leaved Goosefoot. | Quite common on lower wooded slopes. | Chenopodium boscianum Moq. Goosefoot. | More common than the preceding species, and growing I with it, though usually selecting rather more open tracts in ^ the woods. j Aris^Ema triphyllum Torr. Indian Turnip. 1 A few large fruiting specimens were found in rich soil , on the shaded lower slopes. 1 Panicum crus-gaixi muticum. Awnless Barnyard Grass. This awnless form of a species already reported, was found in some numbers in a little swamp surrounding a , spring, and both the locality and the surroundings indi- cated that it is native. The plants were very vigorous, the culms reaching a half-inch in thickness at the base, and six to seven feet in height. ** See ibid., p. 175 et seq.