en CO :co -CD -CD CO biasiiLiaaiUliiaBkMibakfettii w So 33 ^'^ :_. ■^, i Uj' .■- X- oJ ,: '1 ) \n ^-^ a.i^ 7-i GOULO, KENPALL &L.?F^COLW. Toiyi STATE, 105 NnN3 V.3 ZOOLOGY OF NEW-YORK, OR THE NEW-YORK FAUIA; COMPRISING DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL THE ANIMALS HITHERTO OBSERVED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW-VORK, WITH BRIEF NOTICES OF THOSE OCCASIONALLY FOUND NEAR ITS BORDERS, AND ACCOMPANIED BY APPROPRIATE ILLUSTRATIONS. BY JAMES E. DE MV. PART III. REPTILES AND AMPHIBIA, 6). ita- at ALBANY : PRINTED BY VV. & A. WHITE & J. VISSCHER, 1842. Tho copy right of this work is secured for the benefit of the People of the State of New- York. SAMUEL YOUNG, Secretary of State. Albany, 1842. PREFACE. So general is the repugnance of mankind to the animals composing these classes, that their study has been overlooked, and they have usually been con- sidered as beings which it was not only necessary but meritorious to destroy. A part of this vulgar prejudice is derived from education, and perhaps some of it may originate from the fact that several of them are furnished with venomous fangs, capable of causing intolerable sufferings and death. To the naturalist and physiologist, however ; to those who study nature tlirough her various modifica- tions of form and structure, they present some of the most interesting objects of contemplation. Their utility, either in diminishing various noxious animals, or in furnishing food themselves to others, has been lost sight of; and because they were cold to the touch, with a naked slimy skin without hair or feathers, they have been considered as loathsome and hideous, although their structure displays as much of the omnipotence and care of the Creator as can be seen in those which are considered to be the most gorgeous and beautiful of his animated beings. The number of known Reptiles and Amphibia throughout the world has been variously estimated. It seems to be considered by some writers to reach to 1,300 species, whilst others suppose that 1,500 would scarcely comprise them all. As the greater number inhabit the torrid zone, we are not to expect to find many in the United States. In this work we have enumerated one hundred and sixty-one species, and have described and figured sixty-three species as found in the State of New- York ; but we suppose the list to be far from being exhausted, more particularly among the Amphibians. Descriptions of a few species may be found in the writings of Kalm, Schoepff, Bosc, Palisot de Beauvois and Daudin ; but these are often confused and contra- dictory, and drawn up from altered cabinet specimens. In many cases, animals IV PREFACE. not even belonging to this continent have been attributed to New- York, simply because they vi^ere sent by a collector from that place. Thus the Ho7nolopsis carinicauda of Brazil, and the Platydactylus milherti, a species probably existing vv^est of the Cape of Good Hope, have been described as belonging to this State. Often writers, in describing the Cijdura harlani, an animal probably from tropi- cal America, state they have reason to believe that it is common in New- York. But it is chiefly to the labors of American naturalists that we are indebted for our knowledge of the Reptiles and Amphibians of the United States. Mr. Say has given us descriptions of several new Serpents and Tortoises ; Dr. Green first investigated the numerous family of Salamanders ; and Major Le Conte has described several new Tortoises and Frogs, and elucidated the pre- vious doubtful or obscure species of the older writers. To Dr. Harlan we are indebted for almost all the knowledge which we possess in relation to those remarkable families among the Amphibians, which were for a long period known under the name of doubtful reptiles. Dr. Holbrook, in his excellent and beautifully illustrated work, entitled North American Herpetology, has enlarged our acquaintance with every department among these classes, and his volumes will long remain a monument of his genius and his zeal. Dr. Holbrook has recently remodelled this work ; and at the moment that these pages are passing through the press, is engaged in publishing a second edition, in five quarto volumes, with many important additions. To his kindness I am indebted for the privilege of being permitted to examine most of what has already been printed, and it has suggested many valuable improve- ments in the present volume. To Major Le Conte, I have to express my thanks for his assistance in the course of this work, which owes several of its illustrations to his pencil. Dr. Emmons, of the Geological Survey, has also afforded me valuable aid in obtaining some species which might otherwise have escaped my observation. J. E. DE KAY. The Locusts, Queens County. January 1, 1842. LIST WORKS REFERRED TO IN THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. Ac. Sc. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences. 8 vols. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1817 et seq. Am. Jmtr. American Journal of Science and Arts, conducted by Benjamin Silliman. 43 vols. 8vo. New-Haven, 1818 et seq. Am. TV. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 4to. Pliilad. 1771 et seq. New Series, 1816 et seq. Ann. Mus, Annates du Museum. 20 vols. 4to. Paris, 1802 et seq. Ann. Lye. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History. 4 vols. 8vo. New- York, 1824 et seq. Barton, B. S. Memou- concerning an animal of the Class of ReptiUa or Amphibia, known in the United States under the name of Alligator and Hell-bender, pp. 12. 8vo. Pliilad. 1812. " Some account of the Siren laccrtina, and other species of the same genus of amphibious animals, pp. 33. Philad. 1821. (With a plate.) Bell, Rep. History of British Reptiles, by T. Bell. 8vo. Lend. 1839. BoNAP. Oss. Sulla seconda edizione del Regno Animale del Barone Cuvier, Osservazione. Bologna, 1830. " Prospetto del Sistema generale d'Erpctologia. pp. 26. Bologna, 1830. " Cheloniorum Tabula Analytica. 8vo. pp. 10. Roms, 1836. Bonn. Oph. Tableau cncyclopedique et methodique des trois Regnes de la Nature : Ophiologie, par Bonnaterre. 4to Paris, 1790. CLoanET, J. IMemoire sur I'existence et la disposition des voies lachrymales dans les serpens. 4to. Paris, 1821. CnviER, R. A. The Anunal Kingdom, translated by Grifiith. Vol. 9. Daudin. Histoire Naturelle des Reptiles. 8 vols. 8vo. Paris, An. X. De Blaintille. Prodrome d'une nouvelle distribution systematique du Regne Animal. 4to. Paris, 1816. De Kay, J. E. On the remains of extinct Reptiles of the Genera Mosasaurus and Geosaurus. (Ann, Lye. Vol. 3, p. 1 34.) " Observations on tlio jaw of a fossil species of Gavial. (Ann. Lye. Vol. 1, p. 156.) DuMERiL andBibron. Erpetologie generale ; ou Histoire naturelle complete des Reptiles, 8 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1834 et seq. Eights, J. Various Observations on Reptiles and Amphibians, published in the Zodiac. Albany, 1835-C. FiTziNGEH. Neue Classification der ReptiUen n.ach ihren Naturlichen Verwandtschaften, i&c. Von L. I, Fitzinger. 4to. pp.66. Wien, 1826. Gray. Synopsis of the Genera of Reptiles and Amphibia, with a descri|)tion of some new species, by J, E, Gray. pp. 13. (From the Annals of Pliilosophy, 1825.) " Synopsis of the Class Reptilia, by J. E, Gray, (From Griffith's Translation of Cuvier, Vol. 9, 1831.) Green, J. Description of several species of North American Amphibia, accompanied with observations, (Jour, Ac, Sc. Vol. 1, p. 348.) Harlan, Genera of North American ReptUia, and a Synopsis of the Species. (Acad, Nat. Sc. Vol. 4.) " Medical and Physical Researches. 8vo. Philad. 1835. I cite also from the same author many papers and descriptions of reptiles in the Ac. Sc, Ann. Lye, and Am. Journal, Faun.\. 1* vi LIST OF BOOKS. Hitch. Cat. List of Reptiles, by D. Smith, from Hitchcock's Catalogue of the Animals and Plants of Massachusetts. Amherst, 1835. HoLBROOK. North American Herpetology, or a Description of the Reptiles inhabiting the United States. 4 vols. 4to. Philadelphia, 1834 et seq. KiRTLAND. Report on the Zoology of Oliio. pp. 42. Cincinnati, 1838. Le Conte. Description of the Species of North American Tortoises. (From Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 91.) " Rcmarkson the American Species of the Genera Hyla and Rana. (From the same. Vol. 1, p. 278.) Lin. Soc. Report of a Committee of the Linnean Society of New-England, relative to a large marine animal supposed to be a Serpent, pp. 59. London, 1818. (With a plate.) Merrem. Tentamcn Systcmatis Amphibiorum. Auctore Blasio Merrem. 8vo. Marbirrgi, 1820. MiTCHiLL, S. L. Description of a Batracliian animal from Georgia, different from the reptiles of that order hitherto known. (Medical Recorder, July, 1822.) Oppel. Sur la Classification des Reptiles : Ordre 2, Ophidiens. (Ann. Mus. Vol. 16, p. 254-376.) " Sur la Classification des Batraciens. (Id. Vol. 16, p. 394.) Say. Notes on Prof. Green's paper on the Amphibia. (Ac. Sc. Vol. 1, p. 405.) " Notes on Herpetology. (Am. Journal, Vol.1, p. 256.) " Descriptions of three new species of Coluber inhabiting the United States. (Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 237.) " On the Fresh-water and Land Tortoises of the United States. (Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 203.) ScHCEPFF. Reise durch einige der Mittlern und Sudlichen Vereinigten Nord-Americanischen Staaten. 2 vols. 8vo. Erlangen, 1788. " Historia Testudinum. Icon, illus. 4to. Erlangen, 1792. Schneider. Historia) Amphibiorum. Auctor J. G. Schneider. 8vo. Jense, 1800 ct seq. ScHLEGEL. Essai sur la physiognomic des Serpens. Par H. Schlegel. 2 vols. 8vo. La Haye, 1837. Spix, Scrp. Serpcntum Brasiliensium species novie, etc. Par Jean de Spix. Folio. Monachii, 1824. Spix, Test. Animalia nova sive Species novae Testudinum etRanarum, &c. Descripsit J. B. de Spii. Foho. Monachii, 1824. Smith, J. A. Account of the Dissection of the Menobranchus, with remarks on the Siren intermedia. (Ann. Lye, Vol. 2, p. 259.) Storer. Report on the Reptiles of Massachusetts, pp. 49. Boston, 1839. SwAiNsoN. Natural History of Fish, Amphibia and Reptiles, or Monocardian Animals. Vol. 2. Lond. 1839. Troost. On a new genus of Serpents, and two new species of the genus Hetcrodon. (Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 174.) Wagler. Naturahches System dcr Amphibien, &c. Von Dr. Joh. Wagler. 8vo. Miinchen, Stuttgart und Tubingen, 1830. WiEQMANN. Herpetologia Mexicana, seu Descriptio Amphibiorum Novas Hispaniffi, &c. Par A. F. A. Weigmann. Parspruna: Saurorum species. Folio, pp.54. Tabulis X. Berolini, 1834. SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA OF THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OBSERVED IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. Orders. Chelonia, Sauria, Ophidia, REPTILIA. Families. Chelonidae, . Scincidas, . AgamidjB, . Coluberidae, Crotalidffi, AMPHIBIA. Ranids, Salamandridae, . Sirenidae, Amphiumidae, , 1 Genera. Chelonia. Sphargis. Trionyx. Chelonura; Emys. Kinostemon. Sternothaerus. Cistuda. Scincus. Tropidolepis. Coluber. Tropidonotus. Leptophis. Calamaria. Heterodon. Trig-onocephalus. Crotalus. Rana. Scaphiopus. Bufo. Hvlodes. Hyla. Salamandra. Triton. Menobranchus Menopoma. THE NEW-YORK FAUNA. CLASS III. REPTILES. VERTEBRATED ANIMALS, RESPIRING BY LUNGS, WITH RED AND COLD BLOOD. HEART TRILOCULAR, OR COMPOSED OF TWO AURICLES AND A SINGLE VENTRICLE. EXTREMITIES VARYING IN NUMBER, OR ENTIRELY WANTING. BODY COVERED WITH HORNY OR CARTILAGINOUS PLATES, OR WITH HARD SCALES. REPRODUCTION BY A PREVIOUSLY FECUNDATED EGG, WHICH IS HATCHED AFTER LEAVING THE BODY, OR IN ITS PASSAGE FROM THE PARENT. UNDERGO NO STRUCTURAL METAMORPHOSIS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR GROWTH. TERRESTRIAL OR AQUATIC. HIBERNATE IN TEMPERATE REGIONS. CARNIVOROUS FOR THE MOST PART. NUMEROUS IN THE TORRID ZONE. SOME ARE POISONOUS. Obs. We Iiave deviated from the arrangement of Cuvier, who united together in one class animals which he had himself demonstrated to be very different in their organization. In separating his order Batrachia from the Reptiles, we follow the path which he has indicated, and shall point out briefly the most important characteristics whicli distinguish these two allied classes. In adopting this course, we are supported by the authority of eminent herpetologists. ORDER I. TESTUDINATA. This IS at once recognized by the bony or cartilaginous covering above and beneath ; leaving the head, neck, limbs and tail free. Feet four. Jaws toothless. The vertebrce of the neck and tail only, visible. Obs. This order, which may be described as having its skeleton external, is very natural and precise, ft has, however, obscure affinities through Chelonura with the following order. Fauna — Part 3. l 2 NEW-YORK FAUNA. It contains about one liundred and thirty species distributed throughout the globe, and has been divided into several families by various systematists. It is susceptible of division into two principal groups, which may be thus designated : 1. Apalodermata. Outer shell coriaceous or cartilaginous ; 2. Scleroderniata. Shell hard and bony. We recognize but one family. FAMILY CHELONIDJE. Body covered by two bony or cartilaginous plates, the one above formed by an expiansion of the vertebra and ribs ; the other, by a similar expansion of the sternum, which, in some ge7iera, is divided into several movable pieces. Jaws with cutting edges, but no true teeth. Feet with 2-5 claws, sometimes wanting, occasionally fn-shaped. Obs. The animals of this family are carnivorous or herbivorous. They are strictly ovipa- rous ; hiding their eggs in sand, and leaving them to be hatched by the heat of the sun. Some are exclusively aquatic ; others exclusively terrestrial ; whilst others appear to live equally on land or in the water. Thirty-five species, arranged under nine genera, have been described by authentic writers as inhabiting the United States and its territories. In this State, we describe eighteen species. GENUS CHELONIA. Feet fiyi-shaped, elongate, depressed, not retractile, beneath the shell. Shell covered with horny plates. Aquatic ; living in the ocean. Some of the species useful as food to man ; others employed in the arts. THE GREEN TURTLE.* CHELONU MVDAS. Testudomydas. L. Syst. Nat. T. viridis. ScHNEiDi Schild. pi. 17, fig. 2. Green Turtle. Catesby, Car. Vol. 2, p. 38. Add. Orn. Biog. Vol. 2, p. 370. Toriuefranche. Daud. Hist. Rept. Vol. 2, p. 10, pi. 16, fig. 1. Griffith's Cuv. Vol. 9, p. 15 and 88. Chelonia mydas. Holbbook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 2, p. 25, pi. 3. Characteristics. Shell sub-cordate, pointed behind. Scales either carinate or imbricate. Two claws on each foot. Length 2-6 feet. * The word turtle, originally corrupted from tortoise, has now grown into such general use, as its equivalent, that it would seem pedantic to avoid employing it. By Turtle, we would more especially designate the Marine Tortoises, although by usage it is applied to a few others. FAMILY CHELONIDiE. 3 Description. Shell smooth, slightly keeled in the centre ; composed of thirteen plates, viz. five vertical plates vyhich are hexagonal, and four lateral plates on each side. Marginal plates twenty-seven ; the anterior broader than long ; the posterior pointed behind, and the last two emarginate. Sternum convex, composed of six pair, with three supplementary ones on each side. Head elongated, compressed at the sides. Fore feet in the shape of fins, longer than those behind. Two nails, tlat, 0-75 long, on the anterior edge of each fore foot ; two similar but shorter nails on the posterior feet. Tail very short, conical. Color. A dull gi-eenish, inclining to olive brown. Length, 23-0. Transverse diameter, 20-0. Foreleg, 13-0. Hind leg, 10-0. The above notes were made from an individual which came on shore near my residence, September, 1840, on the northern coast of Long Island. It is certain that this species is a native of the tropical seas, and of course such an occurrence must be considered as purely acciden- tal. In reference to the geographical distribution of animals, the enumeration of this species as an inhabitant of the waters of the coast of New-York would lead us into error, by enlarging unnecessarily its ordinary geographical limits. In preparing, however, a work designed to illustrate the Fauna of this State, and for the instruction of the student who may accidentally meet with other specimens, we have deemed it useful to insert this brief notice. My friend Mr. I. Cozzens, a well known practical naturalist and excellent observer, informs me that he has, on several occasions, seen them in the New-York Market, which had been captured off Sandy Hook, and near Coney Island. The Green Turtle is well known to the epicure for its delicious steaks, and the savory soup which it affords. Along the coast of Florida, it approaches the shores in the early part of summer, and deposits its eggs in a hole scraped in the sand, where they are hatched by the heat of the sun in the course of two or three weeks. {EXTRALIMITAL) C. carctia. Hawkshill Turtle. (Holbrook, Vol. 2, pi. 4.) Orbicular ; carinated above. Head very large; when young, the nose elongated. Gulf of Mexico. C.imbricata. Tortoise-shell Turtle. (Holbrook, Vol.2, pi. 5.) Subcordatc ; scales imbricate, yel- low rayed and spotted with brown. Gulf of Mexico. 4 NEW-YORK FAUNA. GENUS SPHARGIS. Merre?n. Body covered above by a leathery skin instead of scales. The ribs not soldered together, and not united to the almost membranous sternum by the marginal plates. This covering is tubercular in the young, but elevated into distinct ridges in the adult. Feet fin-shaped, ivithout nails. Obs. Tliis genus was first indicated by Merrem. The names of Corindo, Dermochelis and Dermatochelys have been succesavely proposed by Fleming, De Blainville and Wagler. THE LEATHER TURTLE, Sphahgis coriacea. (PLATE V. FIG. 90 Testudo coriacea. LiN. 12 ed. p. 350. Tortue hith. Dadd. Hist. Kept. Vol. 2, p. 62, pi. 18, fig. 1. T. coriacea. MiTCHiLL, Med. Rep. New Series, 1812, p. 191, and 1813, figure. Sphargis id. Griffith, Cuv. Vol. 9, p. 17, and 88 plate. Gray, Synops. p. 20. S. id. BoNAP. Faun. Ital. figure. (Young.) S. id. Storer. Mass. Rep. p. 217, plate 4. Holbrook, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 2, p. 45, pi. 6. Characteristics. Shell with seven longitudinal ridges, truncated in front, pointed behind. Length 6-8 feet. Description. Upper surface smooth and polished, of a leathery appearance, truncate, emar- ginate in front, with a rather elongated process on the sides of the neck, obtusely pointed behind. Surface of the shield divided into separate oblong compartments by seven equidis- tant longitudinal ridges, which are obsoletely nodulous, becoming more indistinct behind : The first runs along the dorsal ridge ; the next on each side commencing in advance of the dorsal ridge, and approaches it behind ; the third pair on eacli side begins posterior to the first ; the last ridge is formed by the margin of the shell. These ridges are acute, slightly interrupted on the edge. Beneath, smooth, of a somewhat softer consistence. Head smooth, compressed nearly to an edge anterior to the eyes. Jaws sharp, the upper emarginate in front to receive the acute hooked point of the lower jaw ; on each side of the central notch is another, not quite as deep, and more rounded. Strong spinous processes in the roof of the mouth, and in the oesophagus, Nostrils small, circular, and placed behind the tip of the snout. Eyes large, opening obliquely. Anterior feet smooth, elongated, ending in a blunt point, and twice the length of the posterior pair. Posterior feet rounded, or rather obliquely truncated behind, with a softer margin. Tail pyramidal, compressed laterally, pointed, and extending beyond the shell. Color, of the head and buckler, dull blackish brown, and in the fresh state with a bluish tinge. Extremities obsoletely spotted with greyish. The under parts marbled with blackish, on a yellowish or soiled whitish ground. FAMILY CHELONID.^. 5 Total length, 70-0. Ditto of the shield, f)8 • 0. The young of this species presents strong and numerous variations from the adult. The skin, instead of being smooth, is roughened with tubercles. Tlic ridges are composed of a series of rounded tubercles. The head is larger in proportion ; the pupil vertical, and the sternum with five longitudinal ridges. This gigantic species, which breeds on the Tortugas or Turtle islands, and on the Bahama islands and keys, visits our coast sufficiently often to entitle it to a place in our Fauna. It was first noticed on our coast in 1811, and described and figured by Dr. Mitchill. In 1816, another individual of a large size was captured off Sandy Hook, and is now in the American Museum of New- York, set up in a very false and gi-otesque manner. A third species was taken in 1824, in Massachusetts Bay, and is described in the Report cited above by Dr. Storer. A fourth specimen was taken September 7, 1826, in Long Island Sound ; and another in 1840, in Chesapeake Bay. The Leather Turtle, although a native of tropical American seas, is a great wanderer : it has been seen on the coast of England, and in the Mediterranean. We are not in possession of sufficient evidence to determine whether the large leatlier turtle seen in the Pacific and Indian oceans belong to this species. The food of our turtle is said to consist of fish, shells and marine plants. Lesueur is said to have described another species ? under the name of Dermochelis atlantica ; but I have been unable to find the description. GENUS TRIONYX. Geoffroy. Shell loithout scales, cmd, together with the sternum, cartilaginous, and extending over the edges into a fiexible margin. Feet palmated, ivith three sharp claivs. A corneous beak, covered with fleshy lips. Nose produced. Vent near the extremity of the tail. Obs. The coverings of the animals of this genus are even softer and more pliable than the preceding. The expanded ribs which form the upper shell do not extend to the margin, and the under portion is equally undeveloped. They all live in fresh-water streams, and have the reputation of being exceedingly voracious. 6 NEW-YORK FAUNA. THE SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. Triontx ferox. PLATE VI. FIG. 11. Young. -, (CABINET OF TILE LYCEUM.) Testudo ferox et caHilaginea. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. The Soft-shelted Tortoise. Garden, Phil. Transac. 1771, p. 226. River Tortoise. Penn. Arct. Zoology, Supplement, p. 78. La Tortue de Pennant. Daudin, Hist. Rept. Vol. 2, p. 68, pi. 18, fig. 2. Trionyx spiniferus. Lesueur, Mem. Mus. Vol. 15, p. 258, pi. 6, a, b, c. T. ferox. Say, Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 218. Le Conts, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 93. Harlan, Med. and Phys. p. 158. T platypeltis. Fitzing. T. amyda. Schweigg. Trionyx ferox. HoLBROOK, Am. Herpetology, Vol. 2, p. 11, pi. 1. T. ferox. KiRTLAND, Report on the Zoology of Ohio. Characteristics. Dusky brown. Orbicular ; little elevated ; the anterior margin with cuticu- lar processes. Fore feet with tliree squamous folds in front, and two oblong tubercles behind. Young, with ocellate spots. Length 9-12 inches. Description. Shell entire, orbicular, bony in the central parts, and cartilaginous on the mar- gins. The anterior margin in the adult with numerous pointed tubercles, which may be faintly and distantly traced in the young. A series of raised and tuberculated lines on the disk in the adult. Under a lens, the surface of the shell appears divided into minute compartments, in which there are two concentric rings, including a small rounded central elevation ; these are barely sensible to the touch. Sternum cruciform, osseous in the middle. Head large, tapering acutely to the nose, which is long and flexible, with the nostrils nearly terminal. Eyes prominent, contiguous, and almost vertical. Mouth cleft behind the eyes ; jaws narrow, partly covered by the lips, which are thickened on the sides. Neck long, smooth, with a gular fold. Legs long and slender, palmate, five-toed ; the web extending over the two clawless toes on bodi feet, and high up along the posterior margin of the hind foot. Tail short, thick, suddenly contracting to a point, and extending beyond the shell. Vent within 0 • 5 of the extremity of the tail. Claws robust, subtrigonal, nearly straight, the intermediate one on the hind foot longest. Color. Shell dark slate, with numerous large ocellate spots, and with black dots cliiefly along the margin. Beneath, soiled white. Head slate, punctate with black on the summit and sides. Nose light, or flesh-colored ; a white stripe, margined on each side with black, proceeds from the posterior margin of the eyes, and is lost in the marblings on each side of the neck. Chin and sides of the lower jaw, together with the feet and tail, varied with black and white. Irides yellow, with a black medial stripe. Totallength, 9-0. Length of shell, 5-3. Ditto of head and neck, 3-0. Diameter of shell, 5-0. Ditto of tail, 1-7. Height of same, r4. FAMILY CHELONIDjE. 7 The Soft-shclleJ Tortoise was not generally known as an inhabitant of New- York, until after the completion of the Erie canal, connecting the Great Lakes with the Ocean. Pre- vious to that jjcriod, it was supposed to belong exclusively to the southern and western waters. The description given above was taken several years since, from a specimen obtained in the Mohawk river. Subsequently, several individuals, as I understand, have been taken from tiie Hudson river near Albany. The specimen, as I then thought, varied so much from any description of the ferox within my reach, that I considered it to be new, and named it occl- latus. An examination of many specimens, both oi ferox and muticus, (which I suspect 1o be identical,) since that period, together with a recent reexamination of the specimens in the Cabinet of the Lyceum, satisfies me that my ocellatus was nothing but the young of Xhefcrox, the premiere variete of Lesueur (Op. sup. cit. p. 261). It is, however, so peculiar, that I deemed it worthy of being drawn. The color of the adult is of a uniform dusky brown, occasionally with a few obsolete darker spots. I am not acquainted with any other locality in this State, though I have heard of their being taken in Chautauque and Cayuga lakes. I have been assured by persons in Cattaraugus county, that they have been taken in the Allegany river, a tributary of the Ohio. Major Le Conte informs me that they are abundant both in Lake Ontario and Eric. Dr. Kirtland mentions this species as very abundant in all the streams both of the Ohio and Lake Erie. In calm weather, during summer, he observes, great numbers may be seen floating near the surface of the water. At such times, they were closely followed by several of the black bass (C. ohioensis); but he could not ascertain what attracted this usually coy fish about them. It is much esteemed as a wholesome and nutritious article of food. They are said to feed on fish, and the smaller aquatic reptiles. The statements regarding their ferocity, which has given them their specific name, appear to vary. According to Mr. Speakman cited by Say, it is only the young who attempt to bite ; and Major Le Conte observes, that they are not more inclined to bite than any other species. Dr. Eights, on the other hand, asserts that he saw " a large one from Cayuga lake dart out its head ferociously at a dog which had been " purposely brought near, and take from its side a mouthful of hair in the attempt." They are chiefly taken with a hook baited with flesh, and sometimes speared. When they show themselves above water, they are killed by the rifle. {EXTRALIMITAL) T. muticus. (Les. Mem. Mus. Vol. 15, pi. 7. Holb. Vol. 2, pi. 3.) Shell elliptical, confounded with the neck, not tubcrculated or spinous in front. Sternal callosities four ; the two hinder large, united. Leng-th 7 to 8 inches. Ohio River. T. harlrami. (Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 96.) Head and neck furnished with retractile tiiber- culatcd appendages. East Florida. T. harlani. (Bell, Monog.) Body more ventricose, and the soft portions of the shell less extensive than in the other species. East Florida, 8 ' NEW-YORK FAUNA. GENUS CHELONURA. Fleming. Head large, loith small plates. Both jarvs strongly hooked. Sternum small, cruciform, immovable. Tail long, and furnished loith a scaly or tuberculated crest. Anterior feet with five claivs ; posterior with four. Obs. Tliis genus is identical with the Emysaurus of Dumeril & Bibron, Rapara of Gray, and Saurochelys of Latreille. The Chelydra of Schweigger appears to have been founded on the young of the C. serpentina. I am acquainted with but one species in the United States. Dr. Harlan, in his Medical and Physical Researches, has indicated the existence of another from Tennessee, but has given no detailed description. THE SNAPPING TURTLE. CuELONURA SERPENTINA. PLATE in. FIG. 6. YocNO. Testudo serpentina. L. Sysb. p. 354. T. id. Daodin, Vol. 2, p. 98, pi. 20, fig, 2. Chelonura serpentina. Say, Acad. Nat. So. Vol. 4, p. 217. Chelydra lacertina. ScHWEIGo. Monog. (Young.) Testudo serpentina. Le C. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. Vol. 3, p. 127. Emys (Chelydra) serpentina. GB.iY, Synopsis Rept. apud GrifF. Cuv. Vol. 9, p. 14. Chelydra serpentina. Hakl. Med. & Phys. p. 157. Emysaurus id. DuMERiL & BiB. Vol. 2, p. 350. Emysaurus id. Storee, Mass. Rep. p. 212. Cheltmura id. Holbrook, Am. Herp. Vol. 4, p. 21, pi. 3; and Vol. 1, p. 139, pi. 23, of the 2d Ed. Characteristics. Shell oval, more or less carinate, three-toothed on its posterior margin. Upper jaw hooked, acute. Head long and wide. Snout attenuated. Length 2-4 feet. Description. Shell oval, little elevated, with a dorsal ridge produced by the elevation of the posterior margin of the vertebral plates. Five vertebral, eight lateral and twenty-five marginal plates. The first lateral plate triangular, with its outer base rounded ; the remainder sub- quadrate, the posterior smallest. Tlie marginal plates small, oblong, and gradually enlarging on the sides ; the posterior largest, and of these, three and occasionally four with strong spi- nous angles. The vertebral plates are quadrate, except the last, which is pentagonal. Sternum composed of ten plates ; the anterior pair small, the two following pair gradually larger. The wing or supplementary plates long and narrow, united to the marginal plates by two small plates ; these wing plates are attached beneath to the pectoral and femoral pair. Caudal plates long, narrow and triangular. Head exceedingly large, scaly above. Skin of the neck loose, and thickly covered above with fleshy warts, somewhat smoother beneath. Jaws stout, the upper jaw largest. Legs robust. Fore feet covered above by series of scales, of which those on the posterior edge are largest. Hind legs with similar large scales beneath. Toes FAMILY CHELONID^. 9 partially webbed ; those of the fore feet almost entirely so. The claws are robust, channelled beneath, moderately curved. Tail very long, cylindrical at the base, slightly compressed on the sides, and tapering to an acute tip ; its dorsal surface crested by numerous compressed elevated scales, becoming smaller behind ; a series of large flat scales on the sides. You7ig. The lateral plates form a prominent ridge on each side, becoming more elevated behind, and separated from the dorsal ridge by a broad and deep furrow. All the plates of the shell strongly marked with elevated lines radiating forwards, with slight concentric fur- rows. In the adult, these are obsolete. The supplementary or wing plates are united to the margin by three small plates. Color. Dusky brown or olivaceous gi-een above. The sternum, under side of the marginal plates, and of the neck, feet and tail, bright yellow, which becomes dull with age. Eyes brown. In a specimen from Lake Janet, Hamilton county, the under sides of the marginal plates were of a beautiful light green. Total length, 12-0 - 48-0. Ditto of tail, 4-0- 16-0. This is one of our largest turtles. It is common in every part of the State, and inhabits equally the clearest and muddiest streams. It is occasionally met with at a distance from the water, probably in search of food, or of a suitable place of deposit for its eggs. On the Raquet river, Franklin county, I found them laying their eggs in June, and we were frequently indebted to these deposits for a precarious meal. They scoop out a hole in the sand a short distance from the water, a few inches deep ; and by probing with a short stick in places indi- cated by the tracks of the animal, we frequently obtained as many as sixty or seventy eggs from one spot. The eggs, as well as the animal, afford a very nutritious and savory food. The larger and older animals have a strong musky flavor, which renders them unpalatable. They feed upon frogs and fishes, and snap greedily at ducks in ponds, dragging them under water to be devoured at leisure. It is this propensity to snap at every thing within its reach, which has obtained for it its popular name. In other sections, it is known under the names of Loggerhead, Alligator Turtle and Coiilti. I have frequently observed a small leech (Clepsina scabra) adhering to it. This species appears to extend over the whole Union, but its precise geographical limits are not yet ascertained. (EXTRA LIMITAL) C. temmincki, (Hole. Vol. 1, pi. 24.) Head enormously large, covered above and on ihc sides with plates. Upper jaw hooked in front ; lower jaw with a strong tooth-like process received in a cavity in the upper jaw. Shell tricarinate, concave in front, deeply cmarginate and dentate beliind ; tiiar- ginal plates 31, placed in two rows at the flanks. Tail not crested. Length of head and neck 12 inches; of shell, 22 inches; tail, 14*0. Mississippi. Faun.v — Part 3. 2 10 NEW-YORK FAUNA. GENUS EMYS. Brongniart. Shell not much elevated, solid, covered with horny plates. Sternum solid, broad, immovable ; of six pair and four supplemental plates. Feet palmate ; anterior with five claws, posterior with four. This genus comprises nearly all the fresh water tortoises discovered in America. In this State, we enumerate nine species. THE SALT-WATER TERRAPIN. EmyS PALnSTRIS. PLATE III. FIG. 5. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Testudo palustns. LiN. Gmel. Tortus a Ugnfs concerUriqius. Daud. Hist. Nat. Rep. Vol. 2, p. 153. JEmys centrata. Say, Acad. Sc. Nat. Philad. Vol. 4, p. 211. Harl. Med. and Phys. p. 153. T. palustns. Le Conte, Annals of the Lye. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3, p. 113. Characteristics. Shell oval, obtusely carinate ; the plates with numerous deeply impressed concentric striae ; the last vertebral plate rounded in front. Beneath, red- dish or orange, dusky, irregular stripes or rings. Length 5-7 inches. Description. Shell emarginate behind, depressed, but the extent of this depression varies in different individuals ; occasionally quite elevated, and as if distinctly carinated along the vertebral plates. Each plate is very distinctly marked, particularly in the males, by five to seven or eight regularly concentric lines, parallel with the direction of the sides of the plate : varieties occur, in which the plates are nearly smooth. The first vertebral plate quadrate, the remainder six sided ; the last jjolygonal, the anterior margins forming nearly a curved line. Lateral plates, the three first pentagonal ; the last small, subquadrate. Marginal plates twenty-five, unequal in size ; the intermediate small, oblong, linear, the outer edge occasionally emarginate, sometimes triangular, truncate ; the posterior plates small, somewhat upturned. Sternum of six pair ; the gular plates small, triangular, with impressed concentric angular Unes ; the next pair larger, subquadrate, enlarged on the outer margin ; the three following subequal, the caudal pair rounded behind, where they form a broad emargination. Extre- mities with separate scales. Color. Usually of a dull ash brown above, varying in intensity in different individuals, sometimes approaching to black. Beneath, reddish or orange, occasionally pale and dull yel- lowish, with dusky dashes and rings on the sternal plates and lower side of the marginal plates. Head, neck and extremities dull bluish ash, with numerous spots of black. Length, 5-0- 7-0. Height, 1-0- 2-5. FAMILY CHELONID^. 11 This species is the well known and justly prized Terrapin of epicures. It is well distin- guished as the Salt-water Terrapin, for it is found exclusively in salt or brackish streams near the seashore. They bury themselves in the mud during the winter, from which they are taken in great numbers, and are then very fat. The geographical limits of this species extend from the Gulf of Mexico, along the Atlantic, to New- York. They are found along the northern shores of Long Island to its extremity, but I am not informed whether it occurs on the opposite main shore. Dr. Storer does not mention it in his valuable Report on the Reptiles of Massachusetts. The Prince of Canino has intro- duced this species into Italy, but I have not learned with what success. THE SMOOTH TERRAPIN. Emts terrapin. PLATE XXin. FIG. 63. — FIG. 65. Posterior vebtebbal plate. -(STATE COLLECTION.) Testudo terrapin. ScHCEPFF, Hist. Testud. p. 64, pi. 15. ha ToTtue a Itgnf^ concentriqins, variete 3me. Daud. Hist. Rept. Vol. 2, p. 157. Emys concentnca. Gray, Synopsis apud Griff, p. 11. Emys lerrapm. HoLBROoK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 2, p. 13, pi. 2, (eicl. syn.) Ed. Ima ; Vol. 1, p. 87, pi. 12, Ed. 2da. Characteristics. Shell smooth, not sculptured with concentric marks ; posterior vertebral plate regularly pentagonal. Length 5" 0 - 7' 0. Description. In the skull, the occipital process is more slender and longer than in the pre- ceding. No striking differences are observable in the shell, except that it is never so much carinated as in the preceding species, and it has only a few concentric striae on the lateral plates ; the last vertebral plate distinctly pentagonal. Color. Shell grey, with black concentric marks on each plate. Skin grey, speckled, and spotted with black. I am indebted to Major Le Conte for a figure and note, pointing out the distinctive marks between this and the preceding species, which had been confounded by Daudin, and not con- tradistinguished by subsecjuent observers. They are both brought to our markets at the same time, and sold under the common name of terrapin. The specimens of the two species of the same size, examined by Major Le Conte, were both females. I had noticed the two, and supposed them to be sexual varieties. The market people say that they are caught in the same localities ; but as Schoepff derived his specimens (the present species) from Muhlenberg, I am inclined to believe that the T. terrapin inhabits indifferently fresh and salt water. Schcepff himself found one on Long Island, in water which was almost fresh. The figure and description of the Emys terrapin of my friend Dr. Holbrook, clearly point out this species. His specimens are obscurely carinate on the vertebral line, and he is entirely silent respecting the deep concentric marks which distinguish the other species. According to Holbrook, this species occurs as far east as Rhode-Island.. 12 NEW-YORK FAUNA. THE PAINTED TORTOISE EmYS PICT4. PLATE V. FIG. 10. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Testudo picla. Gji. ScHNEiD. SchiUkrof. p. 348. T. id. ScHCEPFF, Hist. Test. p. 23, pi. -1. (Adult.) T. cmerea. Id. pi. 3. fig! 3. (Young.) TorCue pmtte. Dacd. Hist. Rept. Vol.2, p. 164. E.picta. Say, Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 211. Le Conte, Ann. I.yc. Vol. 3, p. 115. E. id. Harlan, Med. & Phys. p. 151. B. bellii. Geay, Synops. p. 12. _E. picla et hellii. DnMER. & BiB. Hist. Rep. Vol. 2, p. 297 and 302. E.picta. HoLBEOOK, N. Am. Herp. Vol.2, p. 19, pi. 3. Stoker, Mass. Rep. p. 208. E. id. Id. N. Am. Herp. Ed. 2da, Vol. 1, p. 75, pi. 10. Characteristics. Shell oblong, oval, smooth ; olive, with a yellow stripe along the sutures. Head with yellow lines along the sides. Neck and feet with red stripes. Length 5-9 inches. Description. Shell oblong, oval, not carinated, smooth, minutely notched behind. First vertebral plate with projecting acute lateral angles in front, rounded or sinuous behind ; the two following irregularly quadrate ; the third having a small projection forward on its anterior margin ; the fourth hexagonal, with sinuous sides ; the last obscurely hexagonal. Of the lateral plates, the first is irregularly four-sided, the margin contiguous to the second vertebral plate shortest ; the second is by far the largest, and the posterior smallest. The intermediate marginal plate linear, often doubly notched or bidentate in front ; the first and second pair, together with the eighth and ninth on each side, largest. Sternum solid, elliptical, oval, finely serrate in front, the medial line often irregular ; scapular plates triangular, with a sHght knob- like process at the exterior angles, which project beyond the margin ; pectoral plates narrow. Head moderate ; upper jaw notched, with a sliglit process on each side of the emargination. Feet palmate, with five slender, acute and nearly straight claws in front, and four behind. Tail short, scaly, cylindrical. Independent of the sutures indicated externally on the shell by the markings, there are others concealed by the scaly epidermis. Color. This varies exceedingly in different individuals, but the following is the most usual distribution : Shell olive brown or blackish, with irregularly dilated yellow lines, bordered with black along the suture. A very narrow yellow dorsal line from the margin of the inter- mediate plate, to the space between the two posterior marginal plates. The upper surfaces of the marginal plates with parallel vertical yellow lines, or else with concentric lines of the same color ; occasionally these lines become abbreviated, disconnected, and sometimes small orbicular yellow or reddish spots margined with black ; the under side of these plates yellow or reddish, with rounded or sub-quadrate dark spots. Sternum yellow or deep orange ; all the plates towards the medial line with irregular concentric approximated dusky fines ; these lines becoming occasionally confluent, and extending irregularly along the sutures toward the FAMILY CHELONID.E. IIJ outer margins, form a dark hlotcli, with a few lighter spots witliin. Neck, feet and tail black, more or less distinctly striped with red intermixed with yellowish. Sides of the head striped with yellow, and with four yellow blotches above. Eyes small ; pupil black, with golden irides, and a black stripe running horizontally through their centres. Total length, .5-0 -6-5. Height, 2 • 0. For the variety and beauty of its markings, this is unquestionably the iiandsomest of our fresh-water species. It is a timid, inoffensive animal, and dies in a few days when kept out of the water. It feeds on insects and the smaller aquatic reptiles, and also eats the leaves of the Alisma plantago, or water plantain. It is found in every part of the State, and next to the guttata or Spotted Tortoise, is the most common, preferring tranquil ponds of water to clear running streams. Although occasionally eaten, it is not much esteemed. It ranges from Canada to Georgia along the coast, and has been observed near Lake Superior. It is enu- merated by Kirtland among the Reptiles of Ohio. THE SPOTTED TORTOISE. Emv.s guttata. PLATE VI. FIG. 12.— (STATE COLLECTION.) Testudo guttata. ScHNEID. Natmforsch. VoL 4, p. 2G4. T. punctata. ScHCEPFF, p. 25, pL 5. T. punctata. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3. p. 117. Say, .\Ci Sc. Vol. 1, p. 212. Harlan, .Mod. and Phy.s. p. 101. Clemys punctata. Waglkr, Nat. Syst. dpr Ampli. p. 137. Einys guttata. Holbkook, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 2, p. 25, pi. 4 ; Vol. 1, p. 81, pi. 11, Ed. 2da. E. guttata. DuM. & Bib. Hist. Rep. Vol. 2, p. 295. Storek, Mass. Rep. Vol. 1, p. 295. Characteristics. Black, with rounded distant dots above ; varied with black and yellow beneath. Length 3-4 inches. Description. Shell ovate, (in the j'oung, narrowed before, and widely emarginate in front ;) shghtly emarginate behind ; higher behind than in front. First vertebral plate pentagonal, the following hexagonal, the last seven-sided, all subequal. Of the four lateral plates on each side, the anterior is irregularly quadrate, the others pentagonal. Marginal plates twenty-five ; the anterior impair, small, linear ; (in the young, broader ;) the others sub-quadrate ; the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh on each side smallest, and more vertical. The sutures are accompa- nied with deep concenti'ic furrows, which in the adult become nearly or completely etfaced. Sternum emarginate behind ; the anterior ])air triangular, with the external angle projecting beyond the margin ; the next pair irregularly triangular, and larger ; the two following pair oblong; the femoral pair enlarged on their outer margins; caudal pair trapezoidal. The junction ot the sternum with the shell occurs with the fourth to the seventh marginal pair in- clusive. All the sternal plates have angular concentric lines near the sutures. Head mode- 14 NEW-YORK FAUNA. rate, depressed above ; upper jaw emarginate. Legs scaly. Fore feet with five slightly incurved, brownish or black claws, channelled beneath. Of the four hind claws, the one next to the interior is longest. Tail pyramidal, pointed, with a slight prominence along the dorsal line. Young. The plates of the sternum and shell with deeply impressed concentric angular lines, covering each plate. Upper surface, when moistened, deep shining black ; the yellow dots confined to the marginal plates, of which there is one on each. Sternum and under sides of the marginal plates rosaceous, or flesh-colored. Color. Black or deep brownish black, with distant rounded yellow dots, occasionally with a few orange spots. Head with two or more reddish spots above. Chin and neck dark brown, with irregular reddish spots. Feet dark-colored, reddish within. Sternum yellow horn-color, with dusky brown nearly covering each plate. Marginal plates yellowish beneath. Tail black above, reddish about the region of the vent. Length of the shell, 4-0 -S'O. Ditto of the tail, 1 • 0 - 1 '3. This is one of our most common tortoises, and offers great varieties in the distribution of its spots. Most generally the. lateral plates have but a single spot on each. ' They vary also exceedingly in the convexity of the shell. Under the name of Speckled Turtle, this httle animal is found throughout the Union. It inhabits streams and ponds, giving a preference to such as have a deep muddy bottom. On a warm day, they may be seen on a log or rock, closely huddled together, and basking in the sun ; from this they slip suddenly into the water, on the approach of man. They feed on insects, frogs and worms ; and bury themselves, on the approach of winter, in the mud at the bottom of ponds. It is rare in the Western States. THE WOOD TERRAPIN. Emys insculpta. PLATE IV. FIG. 6. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) Emys scabra. Say, Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. Vol. 4, p. 210. Terrapma scabra. Bonap. Oss. p. 157. Tesludo insatlpla. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 3, p. 112. H.irlan, Med. and Phys. p. 152. Emys pulchelht. DuM. and Bibe. Hist. Nat. des Rept. Vol. 2, p. 251. Wood Tortoise. Stoker, Mass. Report, p. 209. E. lasculpta. HoLBEOoK, N. .4m. Herpetology, Vol. 3, p. 17, pi. 2 ; and Vol. 1, p. 87, pi. 13 of 2nd Ed. Characteristics. Shell carinate, deeply furrowed by concentric and radiating lines. Plates of the sternum black at the angle formed by their exterior and posterior angles ; emarginate behind. Length 8-10 inches. Description. Shell oval, emarginate behind, depressed on the back, with a distinct carina, more prominent on the anterior and posterior vertebral plate. The surface of all the plates FAMILY CHELONID-S. 15 deeply sculptured by radiating and concentric lines, the latter somewhat waved, which gives to the whole surface a minutely reticulated aspect. The first vertebral plate pentagonal, smooth on the centre of its posterior margin ; the others sub-pentagonal. The first lateral plate four-sided, the internal margin short ; the centre of the posterior margin of the last occasionally elevated. Marginal plates twenty-five ; the intermediate one linear, prominent, often projecting ; the next obscurely pentagonal, projecting at the external angle, the second dilated along the outer margin. The outer edges of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh plates slightly upturned ; the largest are the ninth, tenth and eleventh, with their posterior angles slightly projecting. Sternum of twelve plates widely and deeply notched behind, depressed in the centre, and with obsolete angular concentric strias on the sides towards the medial line. Scapular plates with a slight acute tip at the outer angles, projecting a httle beyond the mar- gin, as does likewise the femoral beyond the caudal ; the humeral and abdominal plates united to the marginal, without any intermediate plates. Head moderate, flattened above ; upper jaw emarginate, robust, the lower hooked. Neck rather long. Legs robust, scaly ; feet pal- mate, the anterior with five and the posterior with four very stout claws. Tail short, large at the base, cylindrical, scaly, tapering, sub-compressed to an acute tip. Color, of the whole shell, brown, tinged with reddish, and with radiating, abbreviated yellow hnes ; edges of the marginal plates horn-color. Sternum and under side, the marginal plates yellow, with black blotches near their posterior and lateral margins. Under portions of the neck, feet and tail, red, speckled with black ; often a yellow line on each side of the neck. Eyes with a black pupil and brown irides, surrounded by a yellow ring. Total length, 11 "0. Length of the tail,. .. r6. Length of the shell, . 6-5. Height of the shell, . . 2 • 7 . This is not one of the largest dimensions. Mr. Say speaks of one of which the shell was nine inches long, and I have heard of another which measured twelve inches. We are indebted to Major Le Conte for the first elimination of this species. It is not so exclusively aquatic as most of its congeners, for it is frequently met with in woods at some distance from the water : hence one of its popular names. It is also called the Fresh-ivatcr Terrapin, to distinguish it from the E. palustris before described, and which it is thought to resemble in flavor. It is a northern species, extending from near Canada to Pennsylvania. I observed it along the banks of the Raquet and Saranac rivers, in the northern part of the State. In one- specimen 8'0 long, the caudal plates were serrated on their posterior margin by the extension of the deep angular impressed lines ; the lateral plates were hollowed in their centres ; neck furnished with warts ; color dark greenish, with interrupted radiating yellow lines ; throat and lower side of the legs bright orange. In another, found on a sand beach of Cedar river, one of the sources of the Hudson, with a shell 8-5 long, it was more convex, although the vertebral plates were more depressed, and the keel nearly effaced ; the sutures were wide, and the plates elevated at the sutures. It is a harmless species ; but when irritated, it will snap repeatedly at the oft'ender. Little is known of its habits. 16 NEW-YORK FAUNA. THE RED-BELLIED TERRAPIN. Emys rhbriventris. PLATE VII. FIG. 14. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Emys serrata. Say, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 4, p. 208 (excl. syn.) Haelan, Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 204. Testudo nbriventris. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3, p. 101. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 154. E. irrigata. Bell, Gray's Synops. Kept. p. 29. E. id. DuMERiL et Bib. Hist. Nat. Rep. Vol. 2, p. 27C. B. rubrmentris. HoLBRooK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 2, p. 37, pi. 6; and Vol. 1, p. 55, pi. 6, of Ed. 2da. Characteristics. Very large. Shell oblong, gibbous, ecarinate. Intermediate plate linear, often serrate. Shell wrinkled along the side. Jaws serrated. Beneath red. Length 10-17 inches. Description. Shell oblong, elliptical, restricted, opposite to the abdominal plates, emarginate behind ; the sides with longitudinal vreinkles, which extend over the posterior marginal plates. The first vertebral plate obscurely six-sided, shorter than the others ; the three following, oblong, the anterior margin of the first of these concave, the next nearly straight, the suc- ceeding one convex, the lateral angles of all acutely pointed ; the posterior plate narrow in front, its lateral margins wide, its posterior margins subdivided into four concave surfaces. The lateral plates very large ; the posterior plate smallest, quadrate. Marginal plates twenty- five ; the intermediate often serrate, the ne.xt slightly projecting ; the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh also projecting at their external posterior angles. Sternum smooth, of twelve plates, emarginate behind. Scapular plates projecting; occasionally a small supplementary plate between the external angle of this and the following pair. Pectorals narrow, and united to the third, fourth and fifth marginal plate by an accessory plate. Abdominal pair large, and united by a triangular accessory plate at its posterior margin, to the seventh and eighth marginal pairs. Femoral plates project beyond the succeeding pair. Posterior angles of the caudal pair rounded. Upper jaw emarginate, and receiving the middle tooth of the under jaw. Legs and tail scaly, the former with robust claws. Color. Dusky, with reddish confluent spots, and broad reddish lines. Sternum often of a uniform lake red ; the under side of the marginal plates of the same color, with large dusky splashes or spots. Head dark brown or black, and with the throat striped with reddish or yellow. Eyes yellow, with a horizontal broad and black stripe through the middle. Legs and tail dusky, spotted, and occasionally striped with red. This is one of the largest of the genus, and the neighborhood of the city of New- York appears to be its extreme northern limit. I have never seen it in the western parts of the State, and it appears to be unknovra in Ohio. They are brought to our markets from New- Jersey, where they are very numerous in running streams. As an article of food, they are equally prized with the preceding. It is not found farther south than Virginia, and with its western limits I am unacquainted. It may be well to note, that in cabinet specimens, its rich coloring almost entirely disappears, and the brilliant red sternum is changed to a wax yellow. Its history is yet incomplete. FAMILY CHELONID.E. 17 MUHLENBERG'S TORTOISE. Emys MUHLEN'BERGII. PLATE VIII. FIG. 15. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Tcstiido pwictata, var. SCHCEPFF, Hist. Testud. p. 132, ]il. 31. Chersiiic muhknbergii. Meurem, Syst. p. 30. Clcmmys? Waglee, p. 13fi. Emys biguttata. Sav, Arad. Nat. Sc. Vol. •!, p. 205. Tcrrapcne. Bonai'. T. muhlcnhergii. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3, p. 1 11), E. ill. Harlan, Medical and Physical Researches, p. 152. E. id. HoLEEOOK, N. Am. Herpelology, Vol. 1, pi. 5 ; and Vol. 1, p. -15, pi. 4, of Ed. Cda. Characteristics. Shell elevated, carinatc. Neck with one or more orange spots on the side. Length 4 inches. Description. Head moderate, depressed above ; upper jaw deeply notched, the lower with an acute tip. Membrane of the neck rugose, with unequal papillae and a large fold. Fore feet scaly ; the five toes divided from the claws nearly to their bases. Claws subequal, the external and internal being somewhat shorter. Hind legs longer than those before, with four toes, and one obsolete on the inner side. Tail sub-triangular, with about fourteen pair of sub- caudal plates. Shell elevated, carinate, dilated behind, narrowed in the middle ; anterior margin scolloped, the posterior emarginate. The intermediate marginal plate sub-linear and very small, projecting slightly beyond its neighbors ; the four next on each side nearly hori- zontal ; the three following more vertical, and the remainder horizontal, the most posterior declivous. Fir.^t vertebral plate pentagonal, the three next hexagonal, the fifth irregularly four-sided, the remainder pentagonal. All the scales with concentric angular stri^ and corres- ponding ridges, except on the middle marginal plates, where they become almost obsolete ; in old individuals, they become partially or entirely obliterated. Sternum emarginate behind. Scapular plates triangular, with their external angles projecting and rounded within, as shown on the plate above referred to. The remaining plates sub-quadrate ; abdominal largest ; femoral with its posterior angle projecting beyond tlie caudal, which is rhomboidal ; all have concentric stria;. Color. Head dark-colored above, with darker dashes and crimson dots on the cheeks. Irides brown. Chin and sides of the jaw with bright red streaks and spots. Two large irregular orange or yellow spots, often confluent, on each side of the back part of the head. Inside of the feet and under side of the tail, red ; this is also the predominant color of the exterior parts, but it is of a darker hue. Shell dark brown, with irregular sub-radiating lines of a dingv yellow. Sternum blackish, with yellow or flesh-color along the medial line. Claws of a dark horn-color. Length of shcU, 3-5. Height, 1'8. Length of the head and neck from the intermediate plate,. I "4. Fauna — Part 3. 3 18 NEW-YORK FAUNA. It is with hesitation that I refer this rare species to tlie present genus. It is decidedly terrestrial in its habits ; preferring, however, moist places, and the neighborhood of running streams. The foregoing description was made from a living specimen presented to me by Mr. J. W. Hill, who obtained two of them from a meadow near Clarkstown, Rockland county, in the early part of May. Their movements, unlike most of the genus, are very sluggish ; and in captivity, they attempt to burrow. Its hitherto known geographic range is very re- stricted, being limited to New-Jersey and the eastern part of Pemisylvania : it may now be extended to the State of New-York. ' THE GEOGRAPHIC TORTOISE. Emys geographica. plate iv. fig. 7. — (state collection.) Testitdo geographica et geometrica. Les. Mem. Mus. Vol. 15, p. 2G7. Tcsludo geographica. Id. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. Vol. 1, p. 87, fig. 5. Tesludo id. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 108. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 152. Testiido id. HoLBRoOK, N. Am. Herp. Vol. i; and Vol. 1, p. 99, pi. 14 of Ed. 2da. Characteristics. Head very large. Shell not elevated, smooth, ecarinate, serrated behind, with irregular meandering yellow lines. Feet and tail striped with yellow. Head with yellow stripes, but no spots. Length si.x inches. Description. Shell oval, smooth, widely emarginate in front, more narrowly notched behind. The vertebral plates scarcely approach a carinate form : The first, hexagonal, rounded in front, with a slight central elevation continued along the intermediate marginal plate ; the three following larger, subequal, hexagonal. The two intermediate lateral plates largest, pentagonal ; the posterior rhomboidal. Marginal plates twenty-five ; the three first on each side continuous with the direction of the vertebral and lateral plates ; the three following re- stricted, with their outer margins turned upwards ; the seventh and eighth largest ; the four remaining ones on each side two-toothed on the outer margins, the bidentation becoming gra- dually more distinct to the last. Sternum deeply notched behind ; the scapular plates small, triangular, with a small projection at the outer angle, directed forward ; brachial plates, triangular ; femoral and caudal pair subquadi-ate. Head large, more than twice the size of the succeeding species ; jaws acute. Legs rather long, scaly ; feet palmate, well adapted for swimmmg. A series of rather large flat scales on the upper margin of the fore legs, which are furnished with five long, sharp, incurved claws. A broad palmation on the hind feet, posterior to the outer claw, margined with flat scales. Tail short, pointed, cylindrical at the base, compressed towards the tip. Color. Shell olive brown, with paler narrow meandering lines intersecting each other. Marginal plates beneath, and the processes of the pectoral and abdominal plates, yellowish, with broad, brownish, concentric striae. Sternum yellowish, with brownish variegations. Upper part of the head, feet and tail, brownish black. Head and neck striped with yellow, FAMILY CHELOMD^. 19 occasionally with orange or red ; tlicsc stripes are irregular, waved, confluent. Chin and throat dusky, with irregular yellowish longitudinal lines in a double series. The under sides of the legs yellowish, with similar duplicated lines above, dusky with narrow yellow stripes. Tail with narrow yellow longitudinal stripes. Eyes yellow, with a horizontal ItUirk stripe. Totallcngth, lO'S. Height of shell, .3-0. Ditto of shell, 6-5. Breadth, 5-0. Ditto of tail, r.S. This species, which is not uncommon in the counties of Chautautiuc and Eric, in the streams falling into the great lake, is more abundant in the western waters. I have never tasted their flesh, but am assured that it is very palatable. They are exceedingly active and vigorous. Until recently separated by Dr. Holbrook, two species have been confounded under one name. THE PSEUDO-GEOGRAPHIC TORTOISE. EmYS P,SEnDOGEOGRAPIIICA. PLATE n. FIG. 3.-(CA.BINET OF THE LYCEUM ) Testudo gcogrnphka, Var. b, Les. Mem. Mus. Vol. 15, p. 2G8. Emys geographka. Say, Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. Vol. 4, p. 210. Emys id. Var. a. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. Vol. 3, p. 110. E. lemeuri? Gray, Synop. Rept. p. 12, apud Griffith. Emys pseudugeographka. Holbrook, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 1, p. 103, pi. 15. Characteristics. Shell elevated, carinate. Head moderate, with yellow stripes and large confluent blotches. Size of the preceding. Description. Shell much more elevated than in the preceding species. First vertebral plate smallest, elevated in the middle, somewhat pentagonal ; the following three six-sided, and the last three-sided. A prominent dark-colored tubercle on the central line of the posterior verte- bral plate, projecting backwards, and almost imbricated over the next succeeding plate ; these tubercles are largest on the second and thii'd plates, becoming effaced on the last. The otiicr plates of the shell present nothing distinctive. Sternum oblong, elliptic, of six pair, and widely cmarginate behind : The anterior or scapular pair small, triangular, with a small tubercular process at the outer angle ; brachial plates truncate, triangular ; abdominal plates largest, and united by lateral processes and an intermediate plate to the fifth, sixth and seventh marginal plates ; femoral plates four-sided, the posterior angle projecting bevond the lateral margins of the caudal pair. Color. Very much like the preceding, both in its general color and the distribution of its markings. Edge of the marginal plates yellow. Sternum of a uniform yellowish color. Head with numerous yellow lines, frequently forming one or more large rounded spots on the sides of the head. Length, 5-0- 7-0. 20 NEW-YORK FAUNA. I have never met with this species in this State, but am assured by Major Lc Conte that he has seen it in Lake Erie, from which it is reasonable to suppose that it occurs in this State. The specimen affording the above description, was one sent to the Lyceum by Mr. Schoolcraft, from the Sault St. Marie, several years ago. (EXTRA-LmiTAL.) E.fioridana. (Holbrook, Vol. 2, p. 47, pi. 8; and Vol. 1, pi. 8 of 2d Ed.) Shell gibbous, entire, ecarinate, very large, roughened longitudinally. Brown, with numerous dashes of du.?ky. Length of shell 15 inches. Florida. E. reticulata. (Holbrook, Vol. 2, pi. 7; and Vol. 1, pi. 7 of 2d Ed) Gibbous, ecarinate, entire, rugose longitudinally. Dark brown yellow lines, and a dorsal yellow line ; neck very long ; feet striped with yellow. Length of shell 9 inches. Carolina, Georgia. E. scrrata. (Id. Vol. 2, pi. 5; and Vol. 1, pi. 7 of 2d Ed.) Gibbous, carinate, almost round, longi- tudinally rugose. Dusky, with irregular yellowish lines ; a large yellow spot on the cheek. The five posterior marginal plates deeply serrate behind. Length 12 inches. Virginia, Georgia. E. concinna. (Id. Vol. 1, pi. 19.) Smooth, ecarmate, emarginate behind. Dusky bro\vn, with con- fluent yellow spots and lines, more or less reticulated ; legs and neck striped with yellow ; a bi- furcate stripe on the sides of the head. Length 8 inches. Georgia, Carolina. E. mohilensis. (Id. Vol. 2, pi. 9; and Vol. 1, pi. 9 of 2d Ed.) Large, oval, convex and entire in front, emarginate and sub-serrate behind. Jaws serrate ; inferior with a hook. Brown, with largely reticulated yellow lines. Shell 15 inches. Alabama. E. oregonensis. (Harlan, Am. Jour. Vol. 31, pi. 31. Holbrook, Vol. 1, pi. 16.) Shell ecarinate, olive, with irregular bright yellow lines margined witli black ; anterior marginal plates serrated in front. Length 8 inches. Columbia River. E. hieroglyphica. (Holbrook, Vol. 1, pi. 2; pi. 17 of Ed. 2.) Shell ecarinate, smooth, elongate and imperfectly serrate behind. Sternum emarginate behind. Upper jaw slightly notched ; lower with a tooth. Shell dusky, with broad sub-concentric yellow lines. Claws very long. Length 12 inches. Tennessee. E. megacephala. (Id. Vol. 1, pi. 3.) Shell carmate, serrate and acute behind. Sternum oblong, emarginate. Head very large ; jaws entire. Shell dark olive green ; sternum dingy yellow ; head and neck with greenish yellow stripes. Length 8 inches. Tennessee, Ohio. E iroosti. (Id. Vol. 1, pi. 4; Vol. 1, pi. 20 of Ed 2.) Shell depressed, ecarinate, shghtly serrate behind. Head long and narrow. Upper jaw notched ; lower jaw with a toothhke process. Shell dark green ; sternum yellow, with a large black blotch near the centre of each plate. Length 8 inches. Tennessee. E. cumberlandensis. (Id. Vol. 1, pi. 18.) Head moderate; upper jaw shghtly emarginate ; lower with a small hook in front. Shell rather rounded, mdistinctly carinate, slightly notched in front, and serrated behind. Shell brown, with radiating yellow lines. Length of shell 8 mches. Tennessee. FAMILY CHELONID/E. 21 GENUS KINOSTERNON. Spix. Head sub-quadrangJilar, ■pijramidal, covered tvith a sinixle plate. Jaws dightlij hooked.. Warts at the chin. Marginal plates twenty-three. Sternum subdivided, into three sec- tions; the anterior and posterior movable, the central fixed. Plates of the sternum eleven. Supplemental plates very large. Tail moderate or long. THE MUD TORTOISE. KiNOSTERNON PENSYLVANICf M. PLATE n. FIG. 4. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) TesUulo pensij/rmica. Edwmkds, Gleanings, pi. 287. Penn. Aict. Zool. Suppl. p. 80. £a Tailue rovgtdlre. Daud. Vol. 2, p. 182, pi. 24, fig. 1, 2. Cistwla pensylvanka. Say, Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 20G. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 120. Kinostirmn id. Bell, Zoological Journal, Vol. 2, p. 304. Emys id. Haiilan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 155. Kinostermn pnsylvamcuvi. Holbrook, N. Am. Herpet. Vol. 2, p. 23, pi. 3; and Vol. 1, p. 127, pi. 21 of 2d Ed. Cmosiemon. Wagl. lionap. Cliel. Tab. analytica, p. 7. Characteristics. Dusky brown. Shell vaiilleJ. Upper and lower jaw hooked. The penul- timate marginal plate on each side, dilated. Tail with a horny point. Length four inches. Descrip)tion. Shell oval, smooth, elevated behind, flattened above, descending rapidly behind, where it is nrinutely emarginatc ; the surface is covered with numerous obsolete angularly concentric furrows. First vertebral plate triangular, with a truncate apex behind ; the second, third and fourlh, he.xagonal ; the third smallest: all sub-imbricate behind. Lateral plates large, imbricate. Marginal plates elevated above the plane of the lateral plates, and sepa- rated from them by a deep furrow as far as the tenth pair, which, together with the eleventh, is continuous with the plane of the lateral and vertebral plates, and much higher than the others ; the intermediate plate small, linear, dilated beneath. The sternum of eleven plates, somewhat concave, notched behind, with a joint at the pectoral plates, and another joint more or less obvious at the posterior margin of tlic abdominal plates. Gular plates united into one, triangular. Brachial plates obliquely four-sided ; the thoracic triangular, smaller : both pair united to each other, and attached by a ligamentous hinge to the fixed abdominal pair, which is largest. This last pair connects to the marginal plates by two accessory plates, of which the posterior is largest, subtriangular. The posterior angle of the femoral plates forms a notch with the border of the caudal plates, which are emarginatc. All the plates of llic sternum with deeply sculptured angular and parallel lines. Head large. Upper and lower jaw with a hooked tooth. Skin of the neck with four series of cutaneous papilku ; two others larger, approximated beneath the chin. Fore feet naked, with two large scaly folds on llie upper side, and small scales beneath, with iive robust but short claws. A few scattering 22 NEW-YORK FAUNA. tubercles on the under side of the leg. Hind legs with four claws ; the fifth toe distinct, but clawless. Tail short, very robust at base, and terminating in a stout blunt horny point ; the sides of the tail with from four to six series of short tubercular processes, which are likewise numerous around the vent. Color. Shell olive brown. Sternum yellow or orange and darker, occasionally black in the vicinity of the sutures. Head brownish, with irregular lines, streaks and spots of a lighter color, which also extend to the sides of the neck. Irides dark brown. Feet and tail dusky brown ; beneath lighter. Total length, 6-0. Length of the tail, 0 • 6. Ditto of the shell, 4-0. Height, 1-8. New-Jersey has hitherto been considered as the highest eastern limit of this species ; but it is (although sparingly) found in the southern counties of this State, west of the Hudson. I find no mention of it in Storer's Report on the Reptiles of Massachusetts, although it is cited in Hitchcock's Catalogue. It extends to Florida, and I presume through the Western States. It inhabits ditches and muddy ponds, and often takes the hook. It preys on fish and the smaller aquatic reptiles. Like the odoratus, it has a strong musky smell, and it cannot readily be confounded with any known species. GENUS STERNOTH^RUS. Bell. Head sub-quadrangular, pyramidal in front, covered in front ivith a single plate. Warts on the chin. Twenty-three marginal plates. Sternum cntciform, bivalve, anterior valve only 7novable. Supplemental plates contiguous, placed on the sterno-coslal suture. THE MUSK TORTOISE. Steknothj:ru.s odoratus. plate vii. fig. 13.— (state collection.) Teshido pensylvanka. ScHCEPFF, Hist. Test. p. 110. T. odorante. Lat. Hist. Rep. Vol. 1, p. 122. T. odarata. Daudin, Hist. Reptiles, Vol. 2, p. 189, pi. 24, fig. 3. (Sternum.) Cistuda odorata. Say, Ac. Sc. Nat. Vol. 4, p. 206 and 216. Stemothemis. Bell, Zool. Jour. p. 209. Kinostemon odorata. Gray, Synops. apud Griffith, Vol. 9, p. 13. Merrem, Syst. Amphib. p. 27. Le Conte, .\nn. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 122. Harlan, Med. and Phys. p. 156. Bon. Oss. p. 169. Chelon. Tab. analyt. Dd.m. et Bib. Vol. 2, p. 358. Stoker, Mass. Report, p. 210. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herpetnlogy, Vo!. 3, p. 29, pi. 4 ; and Vol. 1, p. 133, pi. 22 of 2d Ed. Characteristics. Very small. Shell gibbous, subcarinate ; first vertebral plate pointed behind. Small, brownish, with darker radiating streaks on a dark olive green ground. A disagreeable odor. Length 3^ inches. Terrapene id. Testudo id. SterTiothcErus id. Kinostemnm id. Staurotypiis id. Sternothents id. Stcrnolh', Vul. 2, p. 115, pi. 20. Say, Am. Jour. Vol. 1, p. 2f)l. C.punctaltts. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 117, Stoker, Mass. Report, p, 225, Characteristics. Small. Bluish brown ; beneath, red ; often with a triple row of black dots ; a white collar around the neck. Length 12-18 inches. Description. Body slender, elongated, with smootli rliomboidal scales. Head small, flattened above, with ten plates on the surface. Nose rounded. Labial plates above, seventeen ; be- neath, fifteen. Nostrils and eyes large. Tail nearly one-fourth of the total length, acute, ending in a horny tip. Anal plate often divided. Color. Above bluish brown, approaching to black. Head lustrous, black. Across the occiput a yellowish white collar round the neck, margined with black ; occasionally the collar IS not perfect, but in its place two or more whitish blotches. Beneath yellowish wliitc, and more frequently deep reddish orange. At the junction of the dark color above with the lighter 40 NEW-YORK FAUNA. color beneath on the flanks, the colors unite in such a way as to leave a series of dark trian- gular marks, giving it a serrated appearance ; these serratures are continued to the tip of the tail, and become eff'aced towards the head. In adults, the abdomen for the most part imma- culate ; in the young, a minute dark point on the middle of the edge of every abdominal plate, as far as the vent. Abdommal plates, 145-155. Length 12-0-18-0. Caudal plates, 45- 55. Ditto of tail, 3-0- 4-0. This pretty little snake is found in every part of the State. It occurs under rocks and stones, and is frequently seen under the bark of decayed trees. It is very common under the bark coverings of the huts of the frontier settlers. Feeds upon worms, insects, grubs, etc., and is perfectly inoffensive. Emits a strong and disagi'eeable odor. Occurs from Maine to Louisiana. THE GRASS SNAKE. Coluber vernalis. plate xi. fig. 22. Coluhtr verrudisy Dekay. H.\rlan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 124. C id. Storee, Mass. Report, p. 224. Holbeook, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 3, p. 79, pi. 17. Green Snake. KiRTLAND, Zoology of Ohio, p. 188. Characteristics. Small. Green, with smooth scales. Length one to two feet. Description. Body slender, tapering regularly to the tip of the tail, and covered with smooth rhomboidal scales. The tail is so much attenuated as to render it difficult to count the cau- dal scales. Anal plate frequently bifid. Head small, flattened above, slightly larger than the neck. Labial plates above, fifteen , the rostral plate cmarginate in front. Plates of the head, 2.2.3.2. Color. Grass green above ; beneath white, tinged with yellow ; head dark olive-brown ; upper labial plates and throat dull white. Abdominal plates, . . 125-135. Total length, . .. 12-0 -26-0. Caudal plates, 80- 90. Tail, 4-0- 6-5. This innocent and beautiful species, known in this State as the Green or Grass Snake, has long been confounded with the estivus of the Southern States, from which it is readily distinguished by its inferior length and carinate scales. It feeds on insects, and is exceed- ingly lively and quick in its movements. It is very numerous in the marshes about Salina and Cayuga ; and, as I have been informed by credible eye-witnesses, fights furiously with the Striped Snake previously described. Its color changes upon immersion in alcohol, from a brilliant green to a dull blue. I am inclined to suspect, that in this State, it has been FAMILY COLUBERIDiE. 41 described as ccndcus by J/inneus ; always supposing an error to r\ist in bis r-nnmeration of the subcaudal plates. The Grass Snake is found from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. It is also seen, but not abundantly, in Ohio. {EXTRA-LIMITAL) C. guttatus. (HoLBROOK, Vol.2, pi. 24.) Smooth. Reddish broA\-n above, with a series of deeper red large blotches, margined with dusky ; brneath wdiite, with quadrate black spots. Abdominal plates, 126; caudal, 64. Length four to si.\ feet. Southern States. C. coupe ri. (Id. Vol.3, pi. 16.) Head triangular, thick. Scales very large, bluish black. Beneath bluish black, and reddish about the throat. Length ten to twelve feet. Carolina, Georgia. C. sayi. (Id. Vol. 4.) Large. Body robust, elongated, black, covered with numerous small rounded yellowish white spots over the head, body and tail. Alabama. C. tcstacetis. (Id. Vol.3, pi. 13.) Body above pale, sanguineous or testaceous ; beneath sanguineous, immaculate. Abdominal plates, 198 ; caudal, 80. Length five feet. Rorhj Mountains. C. quadrimttatus. (Id. Vol.1, pi. 21.) C'arinate. Greenish clay-color above, with four longitudinal bands ; yellowish beneath. Abdominal plates, 233 ; caudal, 90. Length 4-6 feet. Carolina, Florida. C. occipitomaculatus. (Stoker, Mass. Rep. p. 230.) Small. Greyish, with an uidistinct lighter band along the back ; three large white spots behind the occipital plates. Scales smooth. Abdominal plates, 124; caudal, 38. Length 10 '5. Massachusetts. C. ohsolctus. X C. rhombomaculatus. > (Holbrook, ined.) C doliatus. ' GENUS TROPIDONOTUS. Kuhl. Head oblong ovate, depressed, distinct. Tioo nasal plates. Eyes moderate ; pupil round. Loral plate single ; anterior orbital plate the same. Scales sub-hexagonal, notched poste- riorly, elongated and strongly carinated. Obs. The animals of this genus possess the power of elevating the ribs, and are thus ena- bled to flatten the body. This enables them to swim well, and hence they are all more or less aquatic. In this State four species have been observed. Fauna — Part 3. 42 iteW-YORK FAUNA. THE WATER SNAKE. Tbopidonotus sipedon. PLATE XIV. FIG. 31. — (STATE COLLECTION) Coluber sipedon. LiN. Syst. p. 379. C.porcaliis? Daub. Hist. Reptiles, Vol. 7, p. 204. Brovm. Water Snake, Haklan, Med. it Pliys. Researches, p. 114. The Water Adder. Stoker, Mass. Report, p. 228. TropidoTwtus sipedon. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 4, p. 29, pi. 6. Characteristics. Dark brown, or obscurely banded with darker ; beneath white, varied with brown or rufous. Abdominal plates, 130- 35 ; caudal, 70 - 75. Scales strongly carinate. Length two to five feet. Description. Body robust. Tail rather abruptly tapering. Scales sub-imbricate, carinate ; those on the three or four series adjacent to the middle of the back, so conspicuously carinated as to exhibit the appearance of deep grooves between them. The tail ends in a consolidated corneous tip, popularly termed a horn. Plate on the head large, the vertical or central pair largest ; labial plates above sixteen, beneath eighteen. Color. This is exceedingly variable, and does not appear to depend on age ; for in very small ones of the same size, the markings are often dissimilar. Usually of uniform dull brown color above, dark mahogany colored sides, and white varied with reddish beneath. In the spe- cimen figured on the plate, which was two feet and a half long, the following was the arrange- ment of the colors : Back dark ash ; on the sides a series of dark chocolate-colored vertical bands, fifty-seven in number, dilated over the back, narrowed on the flanks, and margined with blackish, the intervening spaces ash-colored. Beneath, marbled with cinereous and coppery. Chin white ; sides of the jaws whitish ; numerous short, dark, vertical stripes. A black spot in front on the chin. Upper surface of the head uniform, polished, dark brown. Abdominal plates, 140. Total length, 30-0. . Caudal ditto, 75. Length of tail, 8"0. All the colubrine snakes take to the water more or less, and move about in it with great ease ; but this species may be said to live in it habitually. It is called indifferently the Water Snake or Water Adder, and is erroneously said to be poisonous. It is frequently found in fields whicli arc occasionally overflowed, feeding upon frogs and fishes. One was found to have swallowed a small pike. A correspondent of the Monthly American Journal of Geology asserts that he once saw a water snake lying on a bush over a stream, under which some chubs were swimming ; he watched the snake, and saw it fall or plunge into the water from the bush, and seize a chub. Although of a sullen vicious temper, and with a threaten- ing aspect, it is completely harmless. The Water Snake is found in this and the States adjacent to us on the east. It also occurs in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but I am unacquainted with its southern geographical limits. FAMILY COLUBERID^. 43 THE STRIPED SNAKE. Tropidonotl's T-ENIA. PLATE XIII. FIR. 27. Variety. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Cohiher shtalis''. LlN. C. triple rang'! LiCErEDE, Vol. 2, p. 131, pi. 4, fig. 2. C tirnia. Die Band Schlangc. Schcepff, Rcise, Vol. 1, p. 496. C. terurdinatusl Latkeille, Hist. Reptiles, Vol. 4, p. 70. C. triple rang. Daudin, Vol. 7, p. 151. La Couleuvre sirtale. Daud. Hist. Reptiles, Vol.7, p. 146. C. sirtalis. Haklan, Mcil. and Phys. Researches, p. 116. Stober, Mass. Report, p. 221. Tropidonotus sirtaUs. HoLBROuK, N. Am. Ilerpetology, Vol. 4, p. 41, pi. 11. KiktlAnd, Ohio, p. 188. Characteristics. Body robust ; tail sliort, suddenly tapering, one-sixth of the total length. Greenish brown, with three light-colored stripes along the body. Length 2-4 feet. Description. Body stout, covered with oblong strongly carinate scales, with the exception of a series of what may be termed accessory abdominal plates along the flanks ; these, how- ever, under the lens, show a slight carination. Head pyramidal, flattened above, with four series of plates behind the rostral plate, the posterior or occipital largest. Rostral plate rather more upturned than in the following species. Fifteen labial, including the rostral plate, above, and twenty-one beneath. The intermediate plates between the second pair of gular plates, narrow, subequal. Numerous minute recurved teeth, in the jaws and palate. Tail short, rapidly attenuated to the tip ; often calcarate, or with a horny tip. Color. Above darkish brown, and in some lights an olive green.* Three greenish yellow stripes along the whole length of the body ; one on the centre of the body, and one along each side. The dorsal stripe commences a short distance behind the occipital plates. The lateral stripes, after passing the vent, become confounded with the general color of the tail. A row of obsolete black spots (in spirits usually very manifest) on each side of the dorsal stripes, and a similar series on the upper margin of the lateral stripes. These spots are fre- quently alternate, occasionally confluent. Beneath, neck yellowish white ; abdomen and tail greenish yellow, with occasionally irregular black spots on the upper edges of the abdominal plates ; these are sometimes effaced, and their places supplied by a cloud of brownish : this is, however, rare. In the young the stripes are greenish (blue in spirits), the dark dorsal * It is rare to find, among the ophidian reptiles, any two of exactly tlie same shade of color, even when alive ; this appearing to depend upon the latitude, season, and plentiful or scanty supply of food. In cabinet specimens, these discrepancies arc still greater; and colors, which in the living subject are scarcely apparent, become very conspicuous after having been immersed m liquors of different strength and qualities. A good guide is much wanted to exhibit the changes which certain colors undergo after immersion in spirits. It has been ascertained that the brilliant green of reptiles changes to dull blue ; yellow changes to white ; the black, brown and metallic colors remain unaltered ; red becomes brownish, or is finally obliterated. It may not be unimportant to add, that by exposing a reptile which has been for some time in spirits, for a short time to the rays of the sun, we may, by the reflected light, form some judgment of the origin.al markings. 44 NEW- YORK FAUNA. spots more obvious, and the two large black ovate spots behind the occipital plates ; the tail more slender than in the adult, but its relative proportions are the same. We reduce all the various appearances presented by different individuals obsen'ed in this State, to the following varieties, but doubtless many others may be observed : Var. a. Reddish above ; spotted between the scales with dusky ; the dorsal stripe bright red, the lateral ones yellowish. Var. b. Light-colored above, with a row of dark spots in place of dorsal and lateral stripes. We suppose this may have been possibly intended for the triple rang of Lacepede, cited above. Var. c. The dorsal stripe alone visible, with two series of alternate black spots on each side. It is this variety which we have selected, as it has often been confounded with another species not found in these latitudes. Var. d. The whole under surface of a deep mahogany color. Abdominal plates,.. 145-155. Length, 42'0. Caudal plates, 55- 65. Ditto of tail, I'O. The short linnean description of C. sirtalis, from a specimen furnished by Kalm, may pos- sibly have been intended for this species ; but the characters are too insufficient and too in- accurate to authorize the adoption of that name. On the authority of my lamented friend, the late Mr. Say, (in letters to me,) I had been disposed to refer the species under consideration to the ordinatus. Linneus, however, had evidently some small southern species in view ; and this is evident from his reference to the 52d plate of Catesby, which is entirely inapplicable to our species. The accompanying text of Catesby, throws no light on the subject : " Green spotted plate ; these gi'ow to four times " the bigness of the figure. I would willingly avoid mistakes by describing the same serpent " twice, and multiplying this kind to more than there are ; and I am diffident in determinating " whether this be a different species from the spotted ribbon snake (pi. 51), which somewhat " resembles it, though of a different color." It is remarkable that Linneus no where cites this plate 51, which Catesby accompanies with the following text : "A slender snake ; the " upper part brown, spotted with black ; belly white ; on the ridge of the back, extends a list " (band) of white the whole length of it." In the Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles (Edition de Levrault), the sirtalis is arranged among the species which are too little known to merit transcribing, or which have been con- founded with others, and the ordinatus is passed over in silence. We leave it to our southern naturalists to determine what species was intended by ordinatus, or whether that and sirtalis should not be expunged from the systems.* * Since writing the above, I perceive that the true ordinatus has been re-discovered by Dr. Holbrook. FAMILY COLUBERID^. 45 The first positive notice wliicii I iiave been enabled to find of this species, is contained in the Travels of Schoepff.* The foUowing extract indicates plainly enough this species : " Die " Band Schlange, Garter Snake, Coluber taenia. (Scut, abdom. 145 - 148 ; squam. sub- " caud. 60 - 65.) About three to tliree and a half feet long ; the blackish brown back has " three handsome pale yellow (blatzgelbe) narrow stripes running straight from the head to the " tail, by which these serpents are readily recognized." The Striped Snake is of a robust clumsy make, and is comparatively sluggish in its move- ments. It is known under various popular names, such as Green Garter-snake, Slow Garter, Swamp Garter, Water Garter, Striped Adder, <|-c. It feeds on frogs, toads, and the smaller quadrupeds. It takes the water readily in pursuit of its prey, and chiefly affects low marshy places. When irritated without the means of escape, it elevates its scales in such a manner as to give the whole body a peculiarly roughened appearance ; and under such circumstances, will bite, and leave a troublesome though not dangerous wound. In Ohio, according to Kirt- land, its numbers are rapidly decreasing ; as it is eaten by hawks, owls, hogs, and in some instances by fowls, ducks and turkeys. It is our most common species, and I have even noticed it in the northern parts of the State at an elevation of two thousand feet above the tide water. It extends to Canada. It is fre- quently found in great numbers, and sometimes in company with rattlesnakes, under peat moss, at a sufficient depth to protect them from frost. In the neighljorhood of New- York, they retire about the beginning of October, and reappear about the last of May, although their times of appearance and retreat vary very much with the nature of the season. THE YELLOW-BELLIED SNAKE. Tbopidonotus leeeris. PLATE XI. FIG. 23. Coluber leberis. Kalii, Travels in the U. S. Linneus, Syst. Nat. Vipera id.? Daddin, Hist. Reptiles, Vol. C, p. 2t8. C. septemviltatus. Say, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 240. Harlan, Med. & Pliys. Res. p. 113. Tropidomtus leberis. Holbkook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 4, p. 49, pi. 13. Characteristics. Olive brown, with three black lines ; beneath yellow, with four distant lon- gitudinal series of quadrate spots. Length two to three feet. Description. Head small, rounded in front. Vertical plate pentagonal, broadest in front ; frontal plates hexagonal, descending on the sides of the head so as to join the loral plate. Rostral plate si.x-sided ; occipital pentagonal, smaller, notched behind. Nasal plates two. quadrilateral, subequal. Nostrils lateral, near the snout. Neck contracted, covered witli » Schoepff came out to this country- as surgeon to a band of German mercenaries employed by England during the Revolution- ary war. He is favorably known by his various papers in the Transactions of the Berlin Natural History Society, on the Fishes of New-York ; and by his Historia Testudinum, and a work on the Mineralogy of North America. 46 NEW- YORK FAUNA. small carinate scales. Body above with hexagonal strongly carinate scales, slightly notched behind. Tail long and slender. Color. Head above olive-brown ; lips yellowish. Body above olive-brown, with three lon- gitudinal dusky lines ; beneath with four parallel dusky longitudinal lines. Abdominal plates, 143. Subcaudal, 70. Length, 25-0 -36-0. I have never seen this serpent in the State of New-York ; but Dr. Holbrook, whose descrip- tion I have availed myself of, has observed it not only in this State, but in New-Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Ohio and Michigan. Little is knovm of its habits. It is said to aifect water and moist places. THE SMALL BROWN SNAKE. Tropidonotcs dekayi. plate xiv. fig. 30.— (state collection.) Coluber dekayi. HoLBEOOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 4, p. 53, pi. 14. Characteristics. Reddish l^rown ; a lighter colored dorsal stripe, with a double row of small blackish spots. Length 12-15 inches. Description. Head somewhat elongated, slightly larger than the neck. Body slender, covered with small hexagonal scales, and an accessory row near the abdominal plates much larger. Supra-orbital plates elongated, projecting. Nasal plates two, quadrate, subequal. Frontal plates broad and pentagonal, shortest on their lower margins. Anterior orbital plate single and large ; posterior two, subequal. Upper labial plates fifteen ; lower, thirteen. Anal plate frequently divided. Color. Reddish brown, with a darker spot beneath the eye, and another at the angle of the mouth ; with two oblong blackish spots on the sides of the occiput. A pale yellowish grey longitudinal stripe extends from the head nearly to the extremity of the tail ; on each side of this stripe is a double row of small blackish spots, alternating with each other. Beneath dull yellowish tinged with green, with numerous minute black dots approaching a regular series. Abdominal plates, 125-135. Subcaudal, 35- 45. Total length, 10-5- 15-5. I observed this species many years since, and was for some time disposed to consider it as the young of T. tania. Recently my friend Dr. Holbrook has examined it, and determined it to be a new species. All the specimens which I have seen, were either in or near the water. For the specimen figured in the plate, I am indebted to John Crumby, Esq., a zealous sports- FAMILY COLUBEKIDj*:. 47 man aiul acute observer, who captured it as it was swimming across a large l)ay on the northern coast of Long Island. It has been noticed in Massachusetts, Michigan and Louisiana. {EXTRA-LIMITAL.) T. ordinatus. (Holbrook, Vol. 4, pi. 12.) Five series of small, alternate, subquadrate, dark spots on the sides. Scales carinato. Abdominal plates, 143; caudal, 66. Length 2 - 3 feet. Mary- land and South. T. erythrogastcr. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 7.) Brick-dust color, tinged with green at the sides; beneath copper- colored. Abdominal plates, 147; caudal, 60. Length 3 - 4 feet. Carolina. T. nigcr. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 9.) Elongated. Dusky brown, almost black; throat and neck milky white; beneath, slate. Abdominal plates, 143; caudal, 64. Length 2 - 3 feet. Found in Massa- chusetts and Maine, and probably in New- York. T. rigid us. (Id. Vol.4, pi. 10.) Brown; beneath bro^vnish yellow. Two contiguous series of oblong dark spots on the centre of the abdomen. Abdominal plates, 133 ; caudal, 51. Pennsylvania. T. fasciatus. (Id. Vol.4, pi. 5.) Carinate. Body robust; brownish above, with about thirty oblong red marks on the flanks. Abdominal plates, 140; caudal, 42. Length 2i feet. Carolina, Loui- siana. T. taxispilotus. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 8.] Carinate. Body robust ; above light chocolate, with a triple series of subquadrate and oblong black spots. Abdominal plates, 144; Caudal, 79. Length three feet. South Carolina, Georgia. GENUS LEPTOPHIS. Bell. Head much elongated, suhoval, narrow, covered with plates as in Coluber. Loral plate sin- gle ; one anterior and two posterior orbital plates. Body long and very slender, covered with sub-hexagonal carinate scales. Tail very long. Obs. Hitherto, but two species have been observed in the United States. Tiiey are remarkable for their extreme activity. THE RIBBON SNAKE. Leptofhis saurita. pl.\te xi. fig.24. — (state collection,) Coluber saurita. LiN. Gmel. Catesby, Vol.2, p. 50. pi. 50. Le Saurite. Lacepede, Hist. Nat. dcs Serpens, Vol. 2, p. 101. Daudin, Vol. 7, p. 104, pi. 81, fig. 2. Anguis eryx. Williams, Nat. Hist. Vermont. A. saurita. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 115. The Riband Snake. Storer, Mass. Rep. p. 229. Holbrook, N. A. Herpctology, Vol. ■!, p. 21, pi. 1 ; and Vol. 4, p. 21, pi. 4, of 2d Ed. Characteristics. Body slender. Tail filiform, nearly half tlie length of tlic body. Chocolate- brown, with three yellowish stripes. Length one to two foot. 48 NEW-yORK FAUNA. Description. Body exceedingly slender, rarely exceeding half an inch in diameter ; covered with small oblong hexagonal carinate scales. Head small, slightly larger than the neck. Plates on the head, 2.2.3.2, smooth. Labial plates above, fifteen; twenty-one beneath. The intermediate plates between the second gular pair, unequal ; the posterior broad, and largest. Vertical plate narrower than in the preceding species. Eyes prominent, conspicuous. Color. Above chesnut brown or bay, with three narrow bright-yellowish or white longitu- dinal stripes ; the central or dorsal stripe extending to the posterior plates of the head, and the lateral ones passing under the orbits, and dilated into the white of the lower jaw. Beneath dull white, immaculate, verging to greenish under the tail. Lateral portions of the abdominal plates dull chesnut ; lower half, as far as the fifth orbital, "and the inferior post-orbital plates, white. There are two varieties which seem to merit description : Var. a. Small black and distinct dots on each side of the dorsal stripe, and along the upper margin of the lateral stripes. Var. h. The black dots on each side of the dorsal stripe confluent, and forming a black border. Abdominal plates,.. 155-165. Length, 12-0 -24-0. Caudal plates, 110-120. Ditto of tail, 4-0- 6-0. This delicate and graceful little snake is far less common than the preceding. It is more exclusively a southern species, although found sparingly in Massachusetts, and possibly as far east as Vermont. We arc indebted to Linneus for the first authentic account of this snake, under the name of saurita. This name indicates its resemblance to a striped lizard ; for as the observer views it gliding rapidly among the herbage, he is in doubt whether it is a serpent or a lizard. The characters assigned by Linneus are, however, inaccurate ; partly owing to his having trusted to the execrable figure of Catesby, or to altered specimens. " Scutellis 21 " is obviously a misprint, which is corrected in the twelfth edition. " Virescens lineis tribus virescentibus," could only have been derived from cabinet specimens, or from a badly colored plate of Catesby. Catesby's notice itself is very meagre, and scarcely accurate : " Short Ribbon Snake. Slender, " not much bigger than the figure. Upper part of the body dark brown, with three parallel " white lines extending the whole length of the body ; belly white." The Ribbon Snake, or as it is frequently called in this State, the Little Garter Snake, is an exceedingly nimble animal. It climbs trees, and feeds on toads, frogs, and even the larger insects. It is a gentle animal. It has been confounded with the C. richardii, Bory (An. Sc. Nat. Vol. 1, p. 408, pi. 24), but is very distinct. In Ohio, according to Kirtland, it seeks the most retired woods for its residence. (EXTRA LIMITAL) L. astimis. (Holbrook, Vol. 4, pi. 3.) Carinate. Green above, yellowish wliite beneath. Abdo- minal plates 160; caudal 140. Length two feet. Delaware, Maryland, Louisiana. FAMILY COLUBERID^. 49 GENUS CALAMARIA. Boie, Waglei . Head small. Tvjo frontal plates descending to form part of the orbit One anterior and one jwsterior orbital plate ; no loral plate. THE RED SNAKE Calamaru amcen*. Coluber amamus. Say, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 4, p. 237 C. id. Haklan, Med.and Phys. Res. p. 118 Zacholus id. Wa g L E R . The Red Snake. Storer, Mass. Rep. p. 226 Calamana amanm, HoLERooK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol.4, pi. 27 Characteristics. Small. Reddish brown ; beneath red. Scales smooth. Tail short, abrupt. Length 6-12 inches. Description. Body small, cylindrical, with smooth polished elongated obscurely pentagonal scales. Tail about one-seventh of the total length, abruptly attenuated to a solid corneous tip. Head small, obtusely rounded ; terminal plate curving slightly on the top of the head, so as to be nearly horizontal above. The first pair of plates short, broader than long; second pair rather large, oblique, the posterior outer angle reaching the eyes. Vertical plate convex, rounded, sub-triangular, wide before, and angulated on the anterior middle ; the posterior angle acute. Posterior plates a little convex, with a single scale between their tips. Eyes with one scale behind ; one before, twice as long as the posterior one ; small plate above the eye, less than half the length of the central plate. Teeth very minute. Color. Reddish brown or dark slate above ; beneath bright red, or rosaceous. Abdominal plates, 125-135. Length, 5-0 -10-0. Caudal plates, 25- 35. Tail, TO- 2'0. This is a beautiful little serpent, found under stones and logs. I have not met with it, but have taken Say's description. Its present geographical limits extend from New-Hampshire to Pennsylvania. {EXTRA-LIMITAL.) C. dapsoidea. (Holbrook, Vol. 4, pi. 28.) Small. Body scarlet, with 18 - 20 white rings, broadly bordered on each side with black. Abdominal plates, 170 ; caudal, 38. Length 12*0 Carolina, Georgia. C. striatula. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 29.) Fauna — Part 3. 7 50 NEW-YORK FAUNA. Genus Psammophis, Holbrook. Platps of tlie head as in Coluber. Body excessively long and slender. Scales over the tail, not imbricated. Obs. Under this name, Dr. Holbrook proposes to arrange a group of serpents characterized by various peculiarities. P.Jlagelliformis. (Holbrook, Vol.1, pi. 19, Ed. prima; Vol. 4, pi. 2, Ed. secunda.) Supra-orbital plate projecting over the eye. Body long and slender ; the anterior part deep black, both above and below ; the middle varied with brown and white. Tail one-fourth of the length. Abdominal plates, 203 ; caudal, 109. South Carolina, Florida. Genus'HELicops, Wagler. Head depressed, smaller than the neck. Loral plate wanting ; two poste- rior, and one anterior orbital plate. Mouth inferior, ascending at the angle ; posterior tooth on each side longest. Body elongated, robust, with smooth scales. H. crythrograninms. (Holbrook, Vol. 4, pi. 2.5.) Smooth. Bluish black, with three longitudinal red lines and a series of bluish black spots on each side of the abdomen. Abdominal plates, 178: caudal, 39. Length three and a half feet. Carolina. H. abacurus. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 26.) Smooth. Bluish black above; flanks with transverse bright red bands. Beneath red, with somewhat regularly arranged black spots. Abdominal plates, 19.5 ; caudal, 34. Length four feet. Carolina, Louisiana. Genus Rhinostoma, Wagler, partim. Posterior maxillary tooth long, cylindrical, pointed, fixed. Head not as large as the body. Rostral plate not carinate, but sub-acuminate. R. coccinea. (Holbrook, Vol. 4, pi. 30.) Scarlet, with jet black rings in pairs, not surrounding the body ; the black rings separated by yellowish white spaces. Length 2-3 feet. Carolina. Georgia. Genus Pituophis, Holbrook. Head elongated, oval, four-sided ; the snout prolonged. Frontal plates four, in a transverse row. Rostral plate an isosceles triangle ; basis roimded and prolonged ; apex pointed, and received between the anterior frontal plates. Two anterior and three posterior orbital plates. Teeth rather larger in front. Scales strongly carinated. P. melanoleticus. (Holbrook, Vol.4, pi. 1.) White, with sub-rotund black or dusky blotches. Abdo- men pale cream, with a series of subquadrate black blotches. Abdominal scales, 216; subcaudal, 60, bifid. Length 6-7 feet. Jersey to Florida. Will probably be found in this State. FAMILY COLUBERID.'E. 51 GENUS HETERODON. Pal. dc Bcauvois. Teeth unequal ; the posterior maxillary teeth largest. Head triangular, pointed. Rostral plate pyramidal, triangular, ridged above, and pointed at the tip. THE HOG-NOSED SNAKE Heterodon platvrhinos. PLATE XIII. FIG.S8, *. Plates OF the HEiD. —(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) Heterodtm a Im-ge ;w;. Latreille, Hist. Kept. Vol. 4, p. 32. Heterodon. Daud. Vol.7, p. 153. Coluber heterodvn. Say, Am. Jour. Vol. 1, p. ^Gl. Harlan, Med. and Pliys. Res. p. 120. Heterodon platyrhiii'is. HoLBKOOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol.2, p. 97, pi. 21. H. id. Storer, Mass. Rep. p. 231. Troost, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 183. Characteristics . Greyish tinged with yellowish, iind a triple series of blackish blotches. Dorsal series largest, bordered with black ; lateral series smaller, and irregularly rounded. A dark band through the eyes. Length two feet. Description. Body robust, and covered with oval-oblong carinatc scales ; the two or three series next to the abdominal plates, smooth. The body tapers rather suddenly from the vent. Tail short, one-sixth of the total length, ending in an acute tip. Ventral scale divided. Head large, triangular, flattened above, witli a pointed snout. Teeth in the jiosterior part of the jaw long, liollow, not perforated, and four in number. The plates cover but a small portion of the head. Central plate irregularly six-sided, the lateral margins being longest, and the anterior meeting at an obtuse angle ; supra-orbital oblong, broadest behind, and projecting over the eye. Around the eye are arranged ten small orbital plates ; besides these, there are two pair of anterior nasal plates, of which the superior are largest, the lower plate being behind the posterior nasal plate, and furrowed in its centre. Nasal plates two on each side ; the anterior lunated behind, the posterior excavated in front to complete the nostril. Occipital plates triangular, with the apices truncated at their junction with the vertical plate. Frontal plate uniting laterally with the anterior and posterior nasal plates ; between the frontal plates is a long narrow azygous plate, ridged above, and uniting in a sub-imbricate manner on nearly the centre of this plate with tlie rostral plate. Rostral plate triangular, upturned in front, with a strong carina on its upper surface, and excavated beneath. Labial plates above eight on each side of the lower jaw ; nineteen in all. Nostrils large, lateral, and near the rostrum. Eyes large, prominent. Head in repose not much larger tlian the neck ; but when irritated, it distends to twice its usual breadth, the summit becoming llattened. Color. Brassy yellow above, with tliree series of irregular subquadrato or rounded deep chesnut, blackish or ash grey blotches, occasionally united on the posterior part oi the body and tail, forming rings ; the series on the sides much smaller, and alternating with the larger ones. Summit of the head dark rufous, with irregular blotches and dots of dark brown. A 52 NEW-YORK FAUNA. black dash extends obliquely backwards from the eye to the angle of the jaws. A rounded black spot behind the occiput. Beneath dusky yellowish, or dull whitish. Young, of a uniform light ashen grey, with the lateral series of spots black, subquadrate, and united with each other across the back by dark-colored bands, with intervening lighter ones. Beneath greenish grey, varied with dusky. A siiort rufous transverse band in front of the eyes. Over the eyes, a rufous band ; becomes dilated on the sides of the neck. Abdominal plates, . 130-142. Length, 12-0-25-0. Caudal plates, 42- 48. Tail, 2-5- 4-0. This well known species has a venomous aspect, particularly when irritated, but is entirely harmless. In this State, it has various popular names : Blauser, by the early Dutch settlers, from its habit of distending or blowing up the skin of its head and neck ; this property I have noticed in very young individuals which I have kept for some time. It is also called Deaf Adder, Spreading Adder, Hog-nose and Buckwheat-nose ; the latter from some fancied resemblance between that grain and its rostral plate. It is found frequently in dry sandy soils ; but I have observed them also in low and wet meadows, apparently in pursuit of frogs, etc. It is rather common in the southern parts of this State. It has been noticed in New- Hampshire and Massachusetts. It occurs in Michigan, Tennessee, and throughout the Western States. Southward it extends to Florida. (EXTRALIMITAL) H. simus. (HoLBRooK, Vol. 4, pi. 15.) Azygous plate between the frontal, surrounded by 6 - 8 smaller plates. Grey, with a vertebral series of subquadrate or rounded black spots on transverse bars; tail fawn-colored. Abdominal plates, 132; caudal, 39. Length 12-13 inches. Caro- linas, Georgia. H. niger. (Id. Vol.4, pi. 16.) Entirely black; beneath greyish, Body thick and cliunsy. Abdo- minal plates, 135 - 145; caudal, 50 - 55. Length three feet. Tennessee, Georgia. H. annulatus. (Troost, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 188.) Slender. Body surrounded with black and yellow rings. Beneath yellowish white. Length 29 inches. Tennessee. H. tigrinus. (Id. lb. p. 189.) Smaller than preceding. Varied with black and ashen grey. A black horseshoe band runs through the eyes to the angle of each jaw. Length 16 inches. An jur? Tennessee, Obs. Dr. Holbrook considers the two last as varieties of H. platyrhinos. FAMILY CROTALIDiE. 53 FAMILY CROTALID^. With poisonous movable fangs in the upper jaw ; no other teeth in the upper jaw . A pit or fossa hetioeen the eye and nostril. Terrestrial. Obs. In tliis State we have but two venomous serpents belonging to this family; and neither of them, except in the unsettled districts, are numerous. GENUS TRIGONOCEPHALUS. Oppel. Head large, triangular ; covered luith plates in front and on the vertex to behind, the orbits, and beyond, this with scales. A deep fosset between the eyes and nostrils. Body robust. Tail with plates, simple, unarmed.; its plates occasionally divided. THE COPPER-HEAD. Trigonocephalus contortrix. PLATE IX. FIG. 18, a. Summit of the heae. - (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.- Boa contortrix. LiN. Syst. Nat. 12 Eri. p. 373. Anghstrodon mokeson. Pal. de Beauv. Am. Transact. Vol. 4, p. 381. Ceiickns coKturtnx. Daud. Hist. Reptiles, Vol. 5, p. 358, pi. 50, fig. 25, (Head.) Scyiale cuprtiis. Harl. Med. and Phys. Res. p. 120. Tngomcephahis contortrix. Holbrook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 2, p. 69, pi. 14, Ed. prima ; Vol. 3, p. 39, pi. 8, Ed. secunda. Characteristics. Copper-colored. Reddish brown blotches over the back, dilated on the sides. Senes of irregular rounded black blotches on each side of the abdominal plates. Length two to three feet. Description. Body robust and thick, and covered with oblong hexagonal carinate scales ; those on the flanks larger and smooth. The posterior part of the head covered with smooth oval scales, which become carinate on the neck. Head large and very distinct from the neck, (in the plate, the head is represented disproportionately small,) and flattened above. Rostral plate emarginate beneath ; the two pair of frontal plates four-sided, the posterior pair largest ; supra-orbital plate oblong, obscurely triangular, prominent over the eyes ; vertical plate sub- pentagonal, with an acute process directed backwards, and separating the occipital pair. Rostral plate large, triangular. The fosset or pit lies between the second labial and one of the anterior orbitals. Mouth very large, with long yellowish white venomous fangs in the upper jaw. Abdomen wide and flat. Tail short, one-eighth of the total length, tapering rather suddenly, and ending in a solid horny tip : the caudal plates irregularly bifid ; and this division occurs either at the commencement, middle, or more rarely near the end- of the tail. Ventral plate wide, subquadrate. 54 NEW-YORK FAUNA. Color. Above copper-brown, wliicli is much brighter on the sides. Across tlie bick are about sixteen reddish brown bands, bordered with dusky, and becoming irregularly dilated on the flanks. These bands or blotches may be traced also over the tail, which is dusky towards the tip ; between these bands, are irregularly interspersed rounded spots of the same color. Beneath, the abdominal plates pale cupreous, with a series of about thirty-five large, rounded or subquadrate dusky blotches on each side, and alternating with each other. Tliey become irregular, and more numerous towards the tail ; occasionally a few dusky spots are interposed between these series, on the centre of the abdominal plates. Head somewhat brigliter colored than the upper part of the body. Abdominal plates, . . 145 - 155. Total length, 25-0 - 36-0. Caudal ditto, 35- 45. Ditto of tail, .. .. 3' 5- 4' 5. The Copper-head is a vicious reptile, and its bite is justly dreaded. Its poison is considered as deadly as that of a rattlesnake ; and an instance is recorded, where a horse, struck by one of tliese reptiles, died in a few hours. It has various popular names in different districts ; the most common of these are, in this State, Copper-head, Red Adder and Dumb Rattle- snake. In other districts, it is called Copper-belly, Red Viper, Deaf Adder and Chunk- head. Its motions are sluggish ; and when approached, it assumes a threatening aspect, raising its head and throwing out its tongue. It chiefly occurs in pastures and low meadow grounds, feeding on field mice, frogs, and the smaller disabled birds. Many vegetable antidotes have been proposed against the venomous bite of this and the rattle.snake, but they all seem to depend mainly upon their being infused in large quantities of fluid. Nothing is more effectual than scarifying extensively, and cupping the wound. When the parts cannot be reached, after the application of a ligature, sucking the wound, if long continued, is commonly suffi- cient, together with copious draughts of oil, milk, or even warm water. Arsenic is said to have been used with great success. In a paper in the Medico-chirurgical Transactions, this remedy, combined with cathartic clysters, and frictions of oil of turpentine and spirits of ammonia on the wound, is said to have cured four very bad cases arising from the bite of a serpent. The arsenic was given in this form : Two drachms of Fowler's solution, with ten drops of laudanum and half an ounce of lime juice, in peppermint, formed a dose taken eveiy half hour. From six to eight doses of the solution was found to be sufficient. The debility whicli ensued was counteracted b}' continuing the remedies in gradually diminished doses. The Prenanthes scrpentaria or lion's-foot, the Alisma plantago or water plantain, and the Hieraceum venenosum or hawk-weed, have each had their vogue as remedies against this poison, but they can scarcely be depended on without the aid of the other remedies sug- gested above. An interesting series of experiments on the poison of the rattlesnake will be found in the Medical and Physical Researches of Dr. Harlan, to which we refer our reader. Although the Copper-head is found in the western district of the State, yet I noticed them most numerous in the meadows of Columbia and Dutchess counties. Its geographical range extends from 45° north latitude to Florida. It does not seem to occur abundantly east of this FAMILY CROTALID.^. 55 State ; for I do not see it mentioned either in Hitehcork's Catalogue, or in the Report of Dr. Slorer on the Reptiles of Massachusetts. Dr. Holbrook, however, has seen it in the neigh- borhood of Northampton, iVhu^^sachusetts, and has received specimens from Vermont. It occurs in Ohio. {EXTRA-LIMITAL) T. pisciroriis. (Holbrook, HiTprt. Vol. 3, pi. 7, of 2d Ed.) Dusky greenish brown tinged vi-ith yellow, with irregular black bands. Abdominal plates, 130; caudal, 40. Length one to two feet. Tojicnphis Icucosto'miis of Troost. North-Carolina, Louisiana. T. atrofuscus. (Id. Vol.3, pi. 'J.) Scales smooth on the neck. Caudal plates : 25 subcaudal plates at the base, and 18 pairs of scales at the apex; black, varied with brown. Head black, bordered with grey; upper lip white. Abdominal plates, 133. Length two feet. Tennessee. GENUS CROTALUS. Lumcus. Head large, triangular, rounded in front, and covered toith plates only on its anterior part ; vertex and- occiput with scales. A deep pit or fosset between the eye and nostril. Upper jaw with poison fangs. Tail short and, thick, ending in a rattle, which is a horny produc- tion of the epidermis. Caudal plates undivided. Obs. This genus is peculiar to America. THE NORTHERN RATTLESNAKE. Crotalus durissus. PL.A.TE IX. FIG. 19. —(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) Crotalus dttnssits. LiN. Syst. Nat. p. 372. Harlan, Med. and Phys. p. 132. C. confluentis? Say, Long's Expedition, Vol.1, p. 48. Crotahis durisstis. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Hcrpetology, Vol. 2, p. 81, pi. 17 ; and Vol. 3, p. 9. pi. I, Ed. 2da. The Banded Rattlesnake. Storer, Mass. Report, p. 233. Kirtland, Zoology of Oliio, p. 188. Characteristics. Reddish browner chesnut to black, with irregular rhomboidal black blotches. Abdominal plates, 173; caudal, 25. Length three feet. Description. Body robust, and covered with elongate rhomboidal scales, distinctly carinate above, but less obviously so on the sides, although these latter are larger. Head large, trian- gular, obtusely pointed, flattened above. Rostral plate large, truncate above, triangular, with a quadrangular plate on each side ; posterior to these a smaller plate, and in the suture between them are placed the nostrils. The superior orbital plates project strongly over the eye. A deep fosset or pit midway between the eye and nostrils, but on a lower plane. Throat with two very large plates. Neck small. Tail short, less than one-eighth of the total length. 56 NEW-YORK FAUNA. Rattles varying in number, in general varying from five to twelve.* The rattle, as it is called, is composed of several horny enlargements loosely attached to each other, and resounding against each other when shaken. Color. Usually yellowish brown, and occasionally bright chesnut red. I have seen some individuals in this State, of nearly a uniform brownish black. On the upper part of the head and neck, it is frequently of a lighter color, margined on each side with dusky. A series of black rhomboidal blotches, disposed in an angular form, extends along the back and over the sides ; often a distinct reddish vertebral line. Caudal portion uniform dusky, and occasionally deep black. Beneath dull yellowish, with glossy reflections, and minutely and irregularly dotted and blotched with brownish black. Abdominal plates, 170-177. Total length, 36-0-48-0. Caudal plates, 20- 25. Length of tail, 2-5- 3-5. As this species is found farther north than any other of the genus, I have ventured to desig- nate it by tlie name of the Northern Rattlesnake, although it is found as far south as the Gulf of Mexico, and throughout the Western States, and to the base of the Rocky Moun- tains. Although furnished with such deadly weapons, the rattlesnake can scarcely be termed a vicious animal ; for he rarely strikes, unless almost trodden upon. When suddenly dis- turbed, he throws himself into a coil, and warns the aggressor by rapidly vibrating his rattles; these can scarcely be heard beyond the distance of a few yards.t This is most usually the case, but they occasionally strike without the slightest warning. Some years since, I was at an Indian settlement in the western part of the State, when, as we passed through a thick under- growtii of bushes, one of the Indians was struck in this sudden manner ; but as his legs were enveloped in thick leggings, the stroke was harmless. The other Indians immediately hunted down and killed the reptile. They assured me, that whenever a rattlesnake sprung his rattle, it was a sign that he himself was alarmed, and that in such cases they invariably spared his life. It is a popular but erroneous belief, that a rattle is added each year. This is contro- verted by Dr. Holbrook, who has known two rattles added in one year, and Dr. Bachman has observed four produced in the same period. The upper jaw is furnished with long curved acute and hollowed fangs, which are replaced by others in the rear when broken off. A poison bag, which occupies the whole length of the jaw beneath the skin, communicates with these fangs at their bases. At the moment the snake strikes, he ejects the venom forcibly into the ♦ In the Columbian Magazine or Monthly Miscellany for November, 1786, is figured and described the tail of a rattlesnake, with an almost incredible number of rattles. "The common number of fibute seldom exceeds fourteen or fifteen in a rattle ; but the one given (fig. 4) is certainly a very great curiosity, even to a person who has seen a great number of this genus of snakes. The fibulse are forty-four in number. The snake from which this rattle was taken, was not, as might be expected, of a size pro- portionate to the prodigious length of its rattle, but rather a middling sized snake. It was killed some time in the summer of this year, at Fort Allen." The greatest number ever seen by Dr. Holbrook, as he has assured me in convei-sation, was twenty-one. ^ t At the commencement of the War of Independence, the naval flag of Massachusetts displayed a Pine Tree, at the root of which wasacoiled Rattlesnake, with the words "Don't tread on me !" or sometimes "Caveant moniti!" Let those who are warned beware ! This was rather more appropriate than the ornithological monster who brandishes arrows and olive branches on our present armorial bearings. FAMILY CROTALID^. 57 wound. In an instance of a very large rattlesnake from Florida (the C. adamanteus), which was irritated, he struck violently against the iron wire on the side of the cage, and ejected the venom to the distance of three feet. The absunl notion of fascination is entertained by few at the present day : it is alluded to under the article Copper-head. The Rattlesnake is common in various parts of the Slate, and in the northern States gene- rally appears to prefer rocky situations. They abound in Clinton, Essex and Warren coun- ties, along the shores of Lakes Champlain and George. Some idea may be formed of their numbers in certain districts in this State, by the following extract from the Clarion news- paper published in Warren county : " Two men, in three days, killed eleven hundred and four " rattlesnakes on the east side of Tongue mountain in the town of Bolton. Some of the rep- " tiles were very large, carrying from fifteen to twenty rattles. They were killed for their " oil, or grease, which is said to be very valuable." Although numerous in the rocky mountainous districts of this State, they are rare or entirely wanting in those elevated regions which give rise to the Moose, the Raquet and the Hudson rivers. They are found in the counties of Sullivan, Ulster, Orange and Greene. A few still linger in the swamps of Suffolk county. It is a popular belief that hogs are particularly destructive to these reptiles. This may be true to a certain extent ; but neither their bristly hide, nor their thick teguments, afford them perfect immunity from the stroke of this serpent. I was informed by a respectable farmer in Dutchess county, that he lost three hogs in one season by the poison either of the copper- head or rattlesnake. The more probable explanation is, that the rattlesnake gradually dis- appears, and is finally extirpated, before the progress of cultivation. The C. hoiridus, which frequently appears in the list of our reptiles, is not found in North America. (EXTRA-LIMITAL) C. adamanteus. (Holbrook, Herpet. Vol. 2, pi. 16; and Vol. 3, pi. 2, Ed. 2da.) Very large. Dusky bro\«i, with rhomboidal dark spots margined with grey. Length sue to eight feet. Caro- lina, Florida. C. oregonus. (Id. Vol. 3, pi. 3.) A broad white bar between the orbits, and two others on each side of the head. Back with two white zigzag lines. Abdominal plates, 177 ; subcaudal, 22. Oregon. Genus Crotalophorijs, Gray. Head covered with plates above. Rattles few in number, and not much developed. Subcaudal plates mostly entire. C. niiliarius. (Holbrook, Vol. 2, pi. 15; and Vol. 3, pi. 4, Ed. 2da.) Small. Grey, with a dorsal yellowish stripe, on which is a series of large black spots margined with yellowish white. Length 12 - 14 inches. Carolina, Michigan. Louisiana. C. tergcminus. (Id. Vol. 3, pi. -5, Ed. 2da.) Ash brown, with a triple row of brown spots bordered with lighter. Sides spotted with alternate fuscous series. Length two feet. Allied to miliarius. Western Territories. C. kirtlandi. (Id. Vol. 3, pi. 6.) Massasagua. Black, varied slightly witli bro\ni. A scries of light brown rings on the back, and vcrrical lines on the Hanks, Abdominal plates, 152; caudal, 27, bifid 2. Length 27 inches. Michigan. Fauna — Part 3. 8 58 NEW-VORK FAUNA. FAMILY ELAPSIDiE. With venomous fangs, and permanently fixed ; other teeth in the upper maxillary, and on the palate. Head not distinct from the body. Jaws not dilatable. No fosset between the eye and nostril. Genus Elaps. Schneider. Head scarcely larger than the body ; no fosset between the eye and nostril ; upper jaw with a fixed and permanently erect poison fang-. Resembles Coluberida. E. fulvius. (HoLBROOK, Herpet. Vol. 2, pi. 18.) Red, encircled with broad black bands bordered with yellow. Abdominal plates, 212; caudal, 32. Length twenty inches. Carolina, Louisiana, Upper Missouri. CLASS IV. AMPHIBIA. MORE OR LESS DISTINCTLY VERTEBRATED. WITH COLD RED BLOOD. HEART UNILOCULAR, OR WITH ONE AURICLE AND ONE VENTRICLE. EXTREMITIES FOUR, TWO OR NONE ; OCCA- SIONALLY DISAPPEARING WITH AGE. SKIN NAKED, DESTITUTE OF SCALES. RIBS SHORT OR WANTING. RESPIRATION BY GILLS OR LUNGS, OR BOTH CO-EXISTENT. FORM IN SOME FAMI- LIES UNDERGOES A COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS. AQUATIC OR TERRESTRIAL. CARNIVOROUS. EGGS IMPREGNATED AFTER EXCLUSION. The Amphibia or Amphibians have, until recently, been treated as an order of Reptiles; but they present so many and such important variations from the character assigned to that class, that modern naturalists have almost unanimously agreed to consider them a distinct class, forming a group allied on the one hand to the Reptiles by the Ccccilida., and on the other to the Fishes by the Sirenidcp. As early as 1816, De Blainville published a system of classification, which he had publicly taught in his lectures for several years previous. In this he indicated the propriety of sepa- rating the animals under consideration from the Reptiles. Of these he made a class, which he designated as NudipelUfires or Ichthijoidcs iiiids. This he divided into four orders : 1 . Batraciens, Frogs ; 2. Pseudosauricns, or Salamanders ; 3. Amphibiens, as Proteus, Siren, &c. ; 4. Pscudophydiens, as Csecilia. This was afterwards modified and enlarged in his " Principes d' Anatomic Comparee," published in 1822, when lie designated his third class under the name of Sid)ichthijens. The characters assigned to this class must be taken with some limitations. Some of the genera undergo no metamorphosis whatsoever, either in form or respiration ; at least none has hitherto been observed. Nor is the plirase " unilocular heart" literally exact ; for although the auricle is externally single, yet dissections have proved that internally it is in some genera separated into two distinct auricles. The Amphibians present such a variety of changes, and such modifications of structure, as to have given rise to many systematic arrangements. From the various systems proposed, we select that of Mr. Bell, as detailed in his admirable work on the British Reptiles, witii such modifications as arc necessary to produce uniformity with the general plan ol this Report. 60 NEW-YORK FAUNA. FAMILY RANID^. Body short and broad. Feet {in the young) wanting ; afterwards four, the hind ones long, formed for leaping and swimming. Tail {in the young) long, compressed; afterwards wanting. No ribs ; vertebra few. Tympianum open. Respiration at first aquatic by gills, afterwards atmospheric by lungs. Gills at first external, but ivithdrawn loithin the chest before the metamorphosis. Impregnation after the exclusion of the eggs. This family corresponds with a part of the order Caducibranchia of Bonaparte, and entirely with the order Anoura of Bell, It also agrees with the family Ecaudata of Oppel, the order Salientia of Merrem, and a part of the order Mutabilia of Gray, GENUS RANA, Linneus. Upper jaw with a row of minute teeth ; a transverse interrupted row in the middle of the palate. Tongue large, fleshy, notched behind, ivhere it is alone movable. No post-tym- panal glands. Hind legs long, palmated ; four toes before, five behind. Young, with elongated bodies, and gills ; luithout feet, and ivith a long compressed tail. THE BULLFROG. Rana pipiens, plate xix. fig. 48. — (state collection.) Rana pipiens. LlN. Syst. Nat. Latreille, Hist. Nat. Rept. Vol. 2, p. 153. R. id. Habl. Med. & Phys. Res. p. 101. R. scapularit, (young.) Id. lb. p. 103. R. mupms. DoMEE. & BiBRON, Vol. 8, p. 370. R. pipiens. HoLBKOoK, N. Am. Herpelolog)', Vol.3, p. 81, pi. 15; and Vol. 4, p. 77, pi. 18, 2d Ed. Stoker, Mass. Rep. p. 235. Characteristics. Large. Head green ; body greenish olive, with dusky blotches ; legs spotted or barred. Length 6 to 12 inches. Description. Body robust, smooth. Head very large. Nostrils lateral, very small, mid- way between the snout and orbits. Eyes large and prominent. Tympanum large and rounded, resembling a scale attached to the side of the head. Mouth large, with numerous minute acute teeth in the upper jaw. Tongue large and fleshy. Fore feet short, robust, with four short toes; the one next to the exterior longest ; all with small tubercles at the joints. Hind legs long, more then twice the length of the fore legs. Under surface of the thighs partly granulated. Toes largely webbed, with tubercles at the joints ; the one ne.xt to the exterior, longest. Color. Body dusky with a greenish hue, and varied with irregular darker blotches. Head green above ; throat yellow or yellowish white ; lower jaw white ; upper jaw green. Pupil FAMILY RANIDJE. 61 of the eye black ; irides green. Tympanum green, willi an outer circle of brown. Abdomen yellowish white. Fore legs greenish brown above, with dusky spots occasionally assuming the form of transverse bars. Hind legs brownish or dusky green above, yellowish white beneath, with obscure irregular dusky bars, or spotted with the same. Length of the body, 4-0 - 12-0. Ditto of hind legs, 2-5- 7-0. The Bullfrog is one of the largest of the family in this State, and appears to be generally distributed throughout the Union. It is well knovra by its hoarse voice, compared by many to the roaring of a bull, and which is so loud as to be heard at a great distance. It is entirely aquatic, although it occasionally comes to land. In the adult state, it feeds on insects, craw- fish, helices, and small fish. The Tadpole, on the other hand, appears to be exclusively her bivorous. I have noticed this species some distance below Montreal, and I think in the vicinity of Trois Rivieres. With its southern limits I am unacquainted. It occurs in Ohio. THE LARGE NORTHERN BULLFROG. Rana horiconensis. PLATE XXn. FIG. 62. Rana horiconensis. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herpotolog)', Vol. 3, p. 9\, pi. 18 ; Vol. 4, p. 83, pi. 19, 2d Ed. Characteristics. Dark olive, with irregular black blotches. A longitudinal cuticular fold on each side. Length three to four inches. Description. Body very stout, with an elevated cuticular fold running from the orbits on the sides of the posterior extremities. Nostrils small, lateral, and placed nearer the snout than to the orbits. Eyes large and prominent. Tympanum large, circular. Fore legs robust, four-toed. Hind legs much longer, the posterior part of the thigh granulated ; five-toed, and fully palmated. Color. Body dark olive brown, varied with irregular black spots above ; silvery white beneath. An indistinct bluish band extends from near the snout, under the tympanum, to the shoulders. Chin and throat white. Fore legs dusky above. Hind legs dark olive, with narrow dusky bars. Pupil black ; iris golden, reticulated with black. Length 3*5. For a knowledge of this species wc arc indebted to Dr. Holbrook, who obtained his speci mens from Lake George in this State. The Indian name of that lake (Horicon), suggested the trivial name. I saw them in great numbers in the lakes emptying into the Raquet river, but until I met with Holbrook's description, had supposed them to be varieties of the preced- ing. To this it is closely allied in size, voice and habits ; but its cuticular fold is a strong distinctive mark. Its note is more sonorous, and in a lower key. It is believed to be strictly a northern species. The mehnwta of Harlan, appears closely allied. Dr. Harlan, it would seem, never saw the species, and the author he cites is utterly unworthy of credit. 62 NKW-YOKK FAUNA. THE SPRING FROG. Rana fontinalis. PLATE XXI. FIG. 54, a. Rana fontinalis. Common Spring Frog. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Vol. I, p. 282. R. flavi-viridis, var. Harlan, Am. Jour. Vol. 10 ; Acad. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 338. R. id. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 103 and 220. Smith, Hitchcock's Catologue, p. 14. R. fontinalis. HoLBRooK, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 3, p. 85, pi. 16; and Vol. 4, p. 87, pi. 21 of 2d Ed. Storer, Mass. Rep. p. _ 237. Characteristics. Bright green, with obsolete dark-colored .spots on the flanks ; throat yellow. Beneath white. Length 3-4 inches. Description. Body robust. Snout somewhat obtusely pointed. Orbits very prominent. Tympanum large, suboval, with a central elevation. Skin smooth on the dorsal and abdomi- nal surfaces, obsoletely granulated on the sides. On each side of the back is a strong cuti- cular fold, extending from the posterior part of the orbit, touching the upper margin of the tympanum, and reaching to the posterior part of the body. Color. Brilliant green above, which also extends with a somewhat darker shade over the posterior parts of the body, and the outer parts of the extremities. Belly pearly white. Throat yellow, somewhat passing into orange. Tympanum chesnut or chocolate-brown, the central elevation gi-een. Thighs obscurely barred with black, or in their place interrupted series of dusky spots. Buttocks and posterior part of the thighs mottled with black. Irides golden, with a bright yellow ring. Length 3-0 -4-0. The Spring Frog is one of our commonest species, and is that usually eaten as a delicacy. It lives in the vicinity of clear pools and running streams, and leaps into them when disturbed. It feeds upon water insects, and such others as may approach its neighborhood. It is one of the earliest that appears in spring. In its geographical range it must be considered as a northern species, being found in all the northern and middle States. Dr. Holbrook informs me that it is not found south of Virginia. THE MARSH FROG. Rana palusthis. plate xxil fig. 60. — (state collection.) Rana palustris. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 1, p. 282. R.pardaUs. Harlan, Am. Jour. Vol.10, p. 50. R. palustris. Id. Ac. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 339 ; Med. and Phys. Res. p. t04 and 222. R. id. Holbrook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 1, p. 93, pi. 14; and Vol. 4, p. 95, pi. 23 of 2d EJ. Pickerel Frog. Stoker, Mass. Report, p. 238. Characteristics. Four rows of dark quadrate spots on the back and sides. Under sides of the thighs yellow. Length three inches. FAMILY RANIDi^E. 03 Description. Head short ; snout obtusely rounded. Nostrils equidistant between the eyes and snout. Eyes large and prominent. Tympanum small, rounded and polished. Buttocks granulated. Joints of the toes with fleshy tubercles. Color. This appears to vary considerably with age : In the young, the general color of the upper part of the body is frequently of a brilliant golden green ; the adult is usually pale brown. The spots along the back vary with age from rufous brown to deep black ; these are more or less of a quadrate form, and larger than the row on the sides, which are often rounded. The spots of the dorsal series become occasionally confluent, producing a dark longitudinal band on each side. A dusky line, more or less obvious, proceeds from the ej^e to the snout ; other lines parallel with this on the sides of the head. A greenish or yellow longitudinal line proceeds from the orbit to the posterior part of the body on each side, separating the dorsal from the lateral scries. Tympanum of the general color of the liody. Beneath soiled white, or tinged with yellow, which increases in intensity towards the tail. Fore legs short, brownish, with dark subocellate spots. Posterior extremities yellow beneath, brown or rufous above, with twelve to thirteen black annular bands margined with lighter ; these bands are more usually uniform dusky gixenish or brown. Similar, liut oblique bands or spots on the fore legs. Eyes black, with a golden lustrous ring. Length 2-0- 3-0. This is one of our most beautiful frogs, and is remarkably active. It has a strong and dis- agreeable odor; and from being used as bait, it is called, in various districts, Pickerel Frog, and also Tiger and Leopard Frog. It occurs along salt marshes, and in wet meadows near ponds and streams. I observed it in the most elevated regions in the northern part of the State. Its geographical range, along the coast, extends from Maine to Virginia. Westward, it has been noticed in Ohio. THE SHAD FROG. RaNA HALECINA. PLATE XX. FIG. 49. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEU.M.J Rana halecma. Kalm. Daudin, Hist. Rept. Vol. 8, p. 122. Shad Frog. Baetram, Travels, p. 274. R. halmna. Harlan, Ac. Sciences, Vol. 5, p. 337 ; Med. and I'hys. Res. p. 102, .iml p. 221. R. id. HOLEEOOK, Herpetology, Vol. 1, p. 89, pi. 13 ; and Vol. 4, p. Ql, pi. 13, 2d Ed. Storer, M.-is.s. Rep. p. 237. Characteristics. Green, with dark brown ovale spots bordered with yellow; beneath yellowish white. Length three to four inches. Description. Head small, obtusely rounded in front. Eyes prominent. Upper part of the body roughened by several cuticular folds ; posterior part of tlic thighs granulated. Tym- panum large, plane, circular. Toes palmated. Fingers distinct ; the thumb of the male willi a distinct tubercle. Posterior extremities scarcely twice the length of the head and body ; the fourth toe exceedingly long. 64 NEW-YORK FAUNA. Color. Brassy or bronze green above. Orbits above, with an oval black spot. On the dorsal surface, two series of large irregular roundish dark olive spots, margined with yellow ; these spots are occasionally confluent. A bronzed or yellow stripe on each side, proceeds from the eye to the posterior extremity ; another yellow stripe extends from the eye to the angle of the mouth. The thighs and legs with dark olive oblong transverse patches, resem- bling bands. A few oblique dark oblong bars on the fore legs. Tympanum bronzed ; yel- lowish in the centre. Beneath silvery, becoming tinged with yellow on the abdomen. Eyes black, with a golden ring. Length, 3-0- 4-0. This beautiful species is extensively distributed over the whole Union. It abounds in moist places, and feeds chiefly on insects. From its simultaneous appearance in the spring with our common Shad (A. sapidissima), it is frequently called Shad Frog. In Massachusetts, they are better known under the name of Leopard Frogs. The Swedish colonists named them Sill-hoppetosser, or Herring-hoppers, from their appearance at the commencement of the herring season ; and this, wo presume, suggested the latin trivial name. THE WOOD FROG. Rana sylvatica. PLATE XXI. FIG. 54. Adoit. — PLATE XX. FIG. 50. Young. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Rana syhatica. Le Conte, Ann. Lyceum, N. Y. Vol. 1, p. 282. R. pmsyhanica. Harlan, Am. Jour. Vol. 10, p. 60. R. sylvatka. Id. Med. and Phys. Res. p. 221. R. id. HoLBRoOK, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 1, p. 95, pi. 15; and Vol. 4, p. 99, pi. 24, 2d Ed. Storee, Mass. Rep. p. 239. Wood Frog, R. Sylvatka. Kirtland, Zoology of Ohio, p. 190. Characteristics. Reddish brown ; a dark dilated stripe from the snout through the eye, and including the tympanum. Young, olive brown or gi-een. Length two and a half inches. Description. Body slender. Head small ; nose obtusely rounded. Eyes large and promi- nent; tympanum small, circular. Thighs granulated behind. Posterior extremities twice the length of the head and body, palmated. Color. Reddish brown above, resembling in color a withered leaf; this color is bounded on each side by a yellow and often interrupted narrow line from the orbits to the posterior extre- mity of the body. Flanks mottled with greenish and yellow. A dark brown band proceeds from the snout, and dilating backwards, includes half the eye and all the tympanum ; this band is bordered below with a light yellowish line. Fore legs reddish brown, with obscure darker blotches. Hind legs of a similar color above, with two or more distinct transverse dark bands ; beneath soiled white. Under side of the extremities light brown. FAMILY RANlDiE. ($5 Young. Olive brown, verging on green above ; the lateral stripe yellow, margined with interrupted black lines ; the ocular stripe black, bordered beneath with white. Thighs, legs and tarsus barred with black ; palms reddish. Beneath pure white. Length 2-5. This small .species can at once be recognized in the woods by its amazing and (juirkly repeated leaps, which render its capture difficult. It occurs irom Massachusetts to Virginia, and is smaller than the Marsh Frog. It is said by some authors to be confined to the Atlantic States in its range ; but we learn from Dr. Kirtland, that they are so abundant in the woods in Ohio, that it is almost impossible to move without stepping on them. It is allied to the R. tcmporaria of Europe, but is smaller, with the liead less pointed and tympanum smaller. {EXTRA LIMITAL) R. clnmitnnf. (Holbrook, Vol. 3, pi. 17; and Vol. 4, pi. 20, 2d Ed.) Slender. Reddish bro^^Ti above, darker behind, silvery white beneath ; upper jaw green. Lateral cuticiiiar folds. Length three inches. Carolina, Georgia. Genus Cysticn.^thcs, W(i_s;hr. A siib-gidar vocal vesicle, communicating with the mouth on each side of the tongue. Fingers and toes all distinct. Tympanum very small. C. or/iatiis. (HoLBROoK, Vol. 1, pi. 16; and Vol. 4, pi. 25, 2d Ed.) Small. Dove-colored above, with oblong spots of dark brown, margined with yellow. Toes not palmate; the two outer united at the base. South CaroHnu. C. nigritus. (Id. Vol. 3, pi. 19; and Vol. 4, pi. 26, 2d Ed.) Small. Olive brown; an interrupted black vertebral line, with blackish blotches along the sides ; legs barred ; upper lip white. Length H inches. Carolina, Georgia. Genus Engvstom.\. Fitzinger. Body oval, and covered with a smooth skin. Head small, pointed; mouth minute. Tongue long, only movable behind. Jaws and palate without teeth. No parotids; tympanum concealed. Fore legs with four, hind legs with five toes not palmated. Obs. The animals of this genus bear a general resemblance to the Frog. Only one species has been as yet observed in the United States. Dr. Holbrook thinks it possible that a species may be found in this State, for he has heard its pecuUar noise in the neighorhood of New- York ; and Major Le Conte informs me that he has seen a species of Engystoma, said to have been found in a sandy district of this State. E. carolinc7isc. Holbrook, Vol. 1. pi. 1 1.) Chesnut above, and thickly mottled with blackish specks beneath. South Carolina. Fauna — Fart 3. 66 NEW- YORK FAUNA. GENUS SCAPHIOPUS. Holbrook. Body short, thick swollen. Head short. Minute teeth in the upper javj and on the palate. A small parotid gland behind the ear, from lohich a watery fluid can he pressed. Poste- rior extremities short, stout and muscular. Legs shorter than the thigh. A spade-like horny process occupies the position of a sixth toe, and is used by the animal in excavating. HERMIT SPADE-FOOT. SCAPHIOPnS 30LITARIUS. PLATE XIX. FIG. 47. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Scaphiopus solUarius. HoLBBOOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 1, p. 85, pi. 12. Rana holbrookii. H.\RLAN, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 105. Characteristics. Ash grey, with two yellow curved lines from the eyes, dilated, and subse- quently united at the vent. Length two inches. Description. Head short, obtuse. Nostrils subterminal. Eyes very large, and placed in very prominent orbits. Tympanum small, and behind it a small parotid gland, which upon pressure exudes an acrid fluid. Fore feet long, four-toed ; posterior with five toes, and a long black horny process on the metatarsus. Color. Back ashen grey, passing into dark brovra, with dark brownish and reddish tubercles on the flanks. Irides golden ; and in a modified light, the iris is seen divided into four parts by a vertical and horizontal line, giving a lozenge shape to the black pupil. Tympanum dull yellow. From the eye on each side there runs a yellowish line, punctate with black, approaching each other, then diverging in a curved direction, and finally uniting on the rump ; the position of these two lines resembles the outline of the antique lyre. A bar of a similar color, but interrupted on the flanks. Coccyx with a broad longitudinal yellow stripe. Upper surfaces of the extremities brown, with yellowish blotches. Body beneath greyish white. Length, 2-0. Breadth of the head, 0-7. This singular animal, whose structure is so remarkable as to have required a separate genus, was first detected by our eminent Herpetologist, Dr. Holbrook. With the teeth of a Frog, and parotid glands of a Toad, its natural place is between these two genera. It was first detected in South-Carolina, and subsequently found in Tennessee, and its geographical range was considered to be quite restricted. We have now the pleasure to include it in the Fauna of New-York. Specimens of this animal were found by Mr. Hill, in a garden near Clarkstovm, Rockland county. It lives in small holes, in damp earth, a few inches below the surface, which it excavates with great ease by means of its spade-like processes. In these holes it lies in wait for such insects as may approach, and I suspect can spring forth to seize whatever may be passing incautiously near its hiding place. I remarked, at least in those which I had alive, that it leaped with great apparent ease to a considerable distance. To FAMILY RANID^. 67 judge from those m my possession, although completely identical with the soUtarius, I should be disposed to believe that our northern variety is less brilliant in its markings, and its general color is of a more grave and sombre hue. Dr. Pickering, I learn, has recently seen it in the neighborhood of Salem, where they appear in great numbers, at distant periods, after rains of long continuance. "o GENUS BUFO. Laurenti. Body thick stvoUen, covered with warts or papilla. JaxDs without teeth. Behind the ear a large glandular tumor, having visible pores. Head short. Posterior extremities but slightly elongated. THE COMMON AMERICAN TOAD. BCFO AMERICANUS. PLATE XIX. FIG, 46. YoDNa. — PLATE XX. FIG. 52. AUULT. Bufa amencanus. Le Conte, Cat. in McMurtrie's Trans, of Cuvier's Regnc .Vnimal. B. musicus. Harlan, Ac. Nat. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 344 (excl. syn.) ; Med. and Phys. Res. p. 109. B. americamis. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 1. p. 75, pi. 9 ; and Vol. 5, pi. 4, 2d Ed. The Common Toad. Storer, Massachusetts Report, p. 244. Kirtland, Zoology of Ohio, p. 168. Characteristics. Body moderately verrucose. Post-tympanal gland long and narrow. Pos- terior toes semipalmate. Greyish mottled with dusky, and dark bars across the feet. Length three inches. Description. Body corpulent, covered with numerous reddish warts irregularly distributed ; granular beneath. Head short, but wide ; channelled above by the prominence of the su- perciliary ridges. Eyes large and prominent ; the eyelids tuberculated. Nostrils small, rounded, and nearer to the nose than the eyes. Parotids prominent, tuberculated, reniform. Fore feet with four short free toes. Hind feet with its five toes connected at their bases. Inner toe shortest ; thence gradually increasing in length to the penultimate, or second trom the outer toe : a large tubercle beneath. Color. This is subject to many variations, dependent upon age, season, scanty or abundant supply of food, and even varies at the will of the animal. It may be described generally as grey brown or ash, with irregular but well defined dark blotches, and a pale ash dorsal stripe extending from between the eyes to the posterior part of the body. Eyes black ; irides varied with yellow and black. On the extremities are dark brown bars, extending over the iocs Beneath soiled white. Young, at first dull reddish brown, but by the end of the season become mottled and barred as in the figure. There is a variety occasionally found of a bright red or brick-dust color, but which in other respects resembles this species. Length 2-3 inches. 68 NEW-YORK FAUNA. The habits of this animal are somewhat nocturnal ; coming out of its hole in the dusk of tJie evening, and hopping about in search of food. I have also noticed it during the day time, crouched in a shallow cavity, with its body so much depressed as to appear nearly orbicular, and apparently on the look-out for its prey. Although according to our notions of beauty he is considered to be a disgusting looking animal, yet we are not to overlook his value in di- minishing the number of noxious insects ; and I have been assured that his flesh is as delicate an article of food, as the frog itself. It is a timid, inoffensive, and entirely harmless animal, and has even been domesticated. The popular belief in its poisonous properties, is unfounded. There is, it is true, an acrid secretion from the follicles of the skin, which may serve as a protection against some of its enemies. Dr. Davy supposes that it may be excrementitious, carrying off a portion of carbon from the blood, and tims be auxiliary to the functions of tiie lungs. Thev live upon insects, earthworms, etc., which they always seize when in motion, refusing to touch any dead food. In their turn, they are preyed upon by the larger reptiles, especially by the two striped snakes and the other species. Like the frog, its young are developed in water, and pass tlurough the tadpole state ; and it is also furnished with a sac for holding the water obtained through the cutaneous absorbents. It sheds its skin at certain intervals, and according to the observations of Mr. Bell, swallows it as soon as it is detached. Dr. Holbrook informs me that he lias seen this species as far north as the River Saco, 'New- Hampshire, and probably it will be found still farther. Its southern and western limits appear to be defined by the liilly regions, as contradistinguished from the alluvial lands bordering on the Atlantic. Kirfland notices it in Ohio. (EXTRA-LIMITAL) B. Icntiginosus. (Holbrook, Vol. 1, pi. 9; and Vol. 4, pi. 1, 2d Ed.) Upper jaw emarginate; lower with a process in front. Head large ; superciliary ridge much elevated. Rufous brown. Length three inches. Southern States. B. enjthronotus. (Id. Vol. 3, pi. 21 : and Vol. 5, pi. 2, 2d Ed.) Brickdust color above; yellowish white beneath. Head short, rather pointed. Length one and a half inches. South Carolhia. B. guercicus. (Id. Vol. 5, pi. 3, 2d Ed.) Very small. Head short, pointed; supercihary orbits slightly elevated. Body very flat, rounded at the flanks. A yello-\vish vertebral Une. Length 0 • 75. Carolinas. B. cognatus. (Id. Vol.5, pi. 5.) Chamielled posteriorly between the orbits, but effaced in front A vertebral line, and oblique lateral yellowish hnes. Foot with a spade-like process. Length three inches. Upper Missouri. FAMILY RANID^. 69 GENUS HYLODES. Fitzinger. Teeth in the upper viaxillary, and palatines . A tympanum. Extremities slender. Tips of the fingers and toes terminating in slightly developed tubercles. Mouth with a large suh- cordiform tongue. No bony sternum. Obs. This genus comprises several small species, and is intermediate between Rana and Hyla, partaking of the habits of both. PICKERING'S HYLODES. HyLODES PICKERINGI. PLATE XX. FIG. 51. Hylodcs pickeriiigi. HoLBROoK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol.4, p. 135, pi. 34. H. III. Essex Nat. Hist. Society, Vol. 1. Pickeruig^s Hylodes. Stoker, Keport on the Reptiles of Massachusetts, p. 240. Characteristics. Reddish brown or blackish brown ; two angular dusky lines above ; hind legs barred with dusky. Length one inch. Description. Body somewhat ventricose, with its surface slightly granulate. Head trian- gular, obtusely pointed. Granulated beneath on the belly and thighs. Fore legs half the length of the head and body. Thigh and tibia slightly exceeding the tarsus and toes, and equalling in length the head and body. Tongue fleshy, retractile. A row of exceedingly minute teeth in the upper jaw, and similar ones in two rounded patches in the middle of the palate. Color. This varies apparently at the will of the animal. One which I kept for several days, presented constantly the following appearances : Color of the head, body and legs above a light reddish brown, tinged with yellowish on the side ; upper lip yellowish white ; a dark tri- angular spot on the back part of the head. Irides golden ; pupil black. On the anterior part ot the back, two angular dusky lines en chevron, touching at their apices, and forming the figure of a cross ; posterior to this, another angular mark across the back ; a dusky blotch on the posterior part of the body ; a dark lateral stripe on the side. Thighs and legs with broad dusky bands ; a dusky longitudinal line on the fore and hintl legs, separating tlie tw^o colors above and beneath. Beneath dull whitish, with numerous black dots sprinkled on the yellowish throat. At other times the general color is a uniform dark brown, with the mark- ings on the upper part of the body as described above, deep black. Length of head and body, I'O. To the ends of the toes, :}'0. This species is common in the neighborhood of New-York, and is frequently lounti on Indian corn, grape vines, and also in green houses, under the leaves of plant.s during the heats of 70 NEW-YORK FAUNA. summer : feeds on small flies. Its present known geographical range is from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. THE CRICKET HYLODES. HyLODES GRyLLUS. PLATE XXII, FIG. 61. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) Rana gryllus. Le Cohte, Ann. Lye. Nat. History, Vol. 1, p. 282. R. id. Harlan, Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 340. R. doTsalis. Id. Med. and Phys. Res. p. 105. Acrys gryllus. DuM. et Bibron, Hist. Nat. Rept. Vol. 8, p. 507. Hyla gryllus. HoLBRoOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 3, p. 75, pi. 13. Hylodes grylhts. Id. lb. Vol. 4, p. 131, pi. 33, 2d Ed. Characteristics. Cinereous, with a green or red vertebral line, and two or three black blotches bordered with white. Head green above. Length one and a half inches. Description. Body slender. Head somewhat elongated. Eyes large and prominent, the supra-orbital ridge being much elevated. Nostrils lateral, midway between the orbits and snout. Fore feet small, with slender fingers, which are slightly enlarged at their tips. Hind legs nearly twice the length of the body, with five long slender palmated toes. Color. Head greenish above, with a black triangular spot between the orbits. Irides golden above, blackish beneath ; pupil black. Body dusky above, with a greenish or reddish line extending backward to the vent ; this becomes bifurcated in front, a branch being directed to each orbit. The blotches on the sides are dusky or blackish, obsoletely bordered with white. Thighs yellowish behind, with a few semi-bars of brown. Beneath silvery white. Length 1 • 0 - 1-2. This species is known under the names of Peeper and Cricket Frog, in New- York. At the South, it is called Savannah Cricket. It is very lively and noisy, frequenting moist wooded places and the borders of ponds, and is often seen on aquatic plants. It was first dis- tinctly indicated by Major Le Conte, who regarded it as a true Frog. I have followed Dr. Holbrook, in arranging it under Hylodes. It is never found on trees, and cannot adhere to the under side of smooth surfaces. . ■ (EXTRA LIMITAL) H. ocularis. (Holbrook, Vol. 3, pi. 14 ; and Vol. 4, pi. 35, 2d Ed.) Very small. Reddish brown; a black band from near the end of the snout, runs through the eyes and along the flanks. Length three quarters of an inch. South Carolina. Georgia. FAMILY RANIDiE. 71 GENUS HYLA. Laurenti. Body so7newhat tapering. Teeth in the upper jaw and palate. A tympanum. No parotids. Fingers long, and with the toes terminating in roxmded viscous pellets. Males vjith a vocal vesicle. Obs. The skin above, in most of the American species, is smooth. THE NORTHERN TREE-TOAD. HVLA VERSICOLOR. PLATE .XXI. FIG. 53, .».— (STATE COLLECTION.) Hyla versicolor. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. VoL 1, p. 281. H. id. Harlan, Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 343. Id. Med. and Phys. Res. p. 108. H. id. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 1, pi. 17; and Vol. 4, p. 115, pi. 28, 2d Ed. Storer, Mass. Rep. p. 241. Characteristics. Broad. Leg shorter than the thigh. Grey. Small warts above ; granulate beneath. Posterior parts of the thighs bright yellow. Length two inches. Description. Body robust and broad, covered with numerous small warts. Head broad, and terminating in a blunt snout. Fore feet with four toes terminating in rounded pellets ; the internal toe shortest. Hind feet with five toes terminating in the same manner, but semi- palmate. Under side of the body and thighs granulate. Eyes large and prominent. Color. This varies, as is well known, at the will of the animal, from grey to green. The more usual color is ash above, with a dusky acute-angled cross made up of irregular blotches, which also extend over the sides of the body and across the extremities. Eyes with black pupils and golden irides. Beneath whitish ; the chin speckled with cinereous. Legs beneath yellowish ; posterior part of the thighs yellow, barred with black. Length 2'0. This is universally distributed through the State, and is a northern species. The surface is covered with a viscid acrid secretion, which, as in the case of the common toad, has led to the popular belief in its being poisonous. It lives almost exclusively on trees ; and during damp weather, it is particularly clamorous. It feeds on insects. I have been assured by many credible persons that it possesses ventriloquial powers in no inconsiderable degree, and often deceives the most attentive observers. This, together with its faculty of assimilating its color with that of the tree on which it rests, renders its capture very difficult. Extends from Maine to Virginia, and is also found in Tennessee and Ohio. 72 NEW- YORK FAUNA. THE SQUIRREL TREE-TOAD. HyLA SaUIRELLA. PLATE XXI. FIG 63. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) Hyla scfuireUa. Bosc, NouT. Diet. Sc. Naturelles, Vol. 29, p. 543. RainHle sqtiirelle. Daddin, Hist. Nat. Rept. Vol. 8, p. 34, pi. 93, (ig. 2. H. squireUa. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 1, p. 279. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 109. H. id. HoLBEOOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. J, p. 105, pi. 18. Characteristics. Brown or as]i. A dusky band from the nostrils to the eyes. The white of the upper hp reaches ahnost to the insertion of tlie fore legs. Length one inch and a quarter. Description. Body symmetrical, somewliat elongated. Skin smooth, or at the most with slightly elevated papillEe. Head conic. Snout acute ; its sides vertical, and giving it a pyra- midal form. Orbits somewhat elevated. Anterior feet short, four-toed. Hind legs long, five-toed, semi-palmate ; all with rounded pellets at their extremities. Color. Brownish or light ash above, changing to light green ; blotched, and lined with dusky stripes on the surface of the body in a very in-egular manner. On the anterior part, more usually abbreviated longitudinal lines, and unequal sized blotches on its posterior portions. A dusky stripe extends from the nostrils to the eyes ; occasionally a large triangular duskj' blotch between and behind the e^-es. Thighs and legs barred with dusky. Beneath whitish. I have met with this species in the neighborhood of New-York, and supposed it at first to be distinct from the southern squireUa. From a careful comparison of our specimens with those in the Cabinet of the Lyceum deposited bv Major Le Conte, the only observable dis- tinction was in the smaller size of the northern animal. After a rigorous comparison, Major Le Conte decided it to be identical with the southern species. I am under obligations to him lor the drawing which illustrates this pretty little tree-toad. According to Major Le Conte, it inhabits under logs and bark of decaying trees. While these pages are passing through the press. Dr. Holbrook is engaged in publisliing a second edition of his Herpetology. He is still of the opinion that the squireUa is exclusively a southern species. {EXTRA-LIMITAL.) H. femoralis. (Holbrook, Vol.4, pi. 31.) Dark ash, with a few dusky blotches between the eyes ; a black line from the eyes to the hind legs, and another to those in front. Lensfth li inches. Carolina and Georgia. H. deliiescens. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 32.) Ash, irregularly speckled with darker: hps whitish, speckled with brown; vent varied with cinereous. Length If inches. Georgia and South-Carolina. H- viridis. (Id. Vol. 3, pi. 20; and Vol. 4, pi. 29 of 2d Ed.) Bright green, with a yellow line on each side from the snout to the posterior extremities. Length 1^ inches. From Lat. 30* N. to Mississippi. FAMILY SALAJIANDRID.-E. FAMILY SALAMANDRID.E. Body long and slender. Feet always four. Tail long, rounded or compressed, persistent. Ribs very short. Vertebra: numerous and movable. Respiration, at first aquatic by exter- nal gills, which are never concealed in the chest ; afterwards atmospheric by lungs. Tympanum concealed. Obs. This family corresponds with the order Urodela of Bell. It is a very natural family, and is in this country prolific in species. We separate it into two genera. GENUS SALAMANDRA. Brongniart, Holbrook. Jaws tuith numerous small teeth, and two roius of similar teeth in the palate. Tongue short thick, enlarged above, free, attached by a very slender root in the centre. Without a third eyelid. Ribs rudimentary ; no sternum. Pelvis suspended by ligaments. Tail either cylindrical or compressed towards the tip. These are the Land Salamanders, although found occasionally in water. THE YELLOW-BELLIED SALAMANDER. Salamandra symmetrica. PLATE XV. FIG. 33. Salainandrn sitllw. Am. Jour. Sc. Vol. 1, p. 264. .S". symmetTtca. IIarlan, .\c. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 158. Med. and Phys. Res. p. 98. S. id. KoLBROOK, N. Am. Herp. VoU 2, p. 59, pi. 11. Storer, Mass. Rep. p, 240. Characteristics. Reddish brown above, with a series of crimson spots on the sides ; beneath reddish orange. Tail longer than the body, small compressed. Length three inches. Description. Body cylindrical, and covered with a rough cuticle. Head short, obtusely pointed. Fore feet slender, with four toes ; hind legs more robust, with five toes. Tail slen- der, sub-cylindrical at base, then compressed, and terminating in a point. Color. Upper part of the head, body and tail, reddish brown ; this color e.\tends over the upper part of the extremities, and surrounds the lower part of the tail. On each side of the body a series of brilliant vermillion spots, each bordered witli black ; these spots vary in number from tlrree to five, and even seven have been observed on each side. Throat and abdomen orange, with minute black dots extending to the end of tlie tail. Total length, 2 ■ 9. Length of the head and body, 2 ' 0. Tail measured from the vent, O'i). F.vuNA — Part 3. 10 74 NEW- YORK FAUNA. The Yellow-bellied Salamander is extensively distributed throughout the Union, from Maine to Florida, and in Ohio westwardly. It is closely allied by its markings with the following species, from which it was first accurately distinguished by Dr. Harlan. It is frequently found under stones and decayed wood. THE VIOLET-COLORED SALAMANDER. Salamandra sdbviolacea. plate xvi. fig. 36. — (cabinet of the lyceum.) Salamandra venciiosa. Barton, apud Daud. Hist. Rept. Vol. S, p. 229. S. subviolacm. Id. Trans. Am. Phil. Socisty, Vol. 6, p. 112, pi. 4, fig. 6. S. id. Harlan, Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 5, p, 327; Med. and Phys. Res p. 93. S. id. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 3, p. 10.1, pi. 24. Stoker, Mass. Rep. p. 247. Characteristics. Bluish black, with round yellow spots ; beneath immaculate. Tail cylin- drical, compressed towards the tip. Length 6-7 inches. Description. Body robust, tapering regularly to the end of the tail. Head large ; snout rounded. Eyes small, but prominent. A strong cervical fold. Fore feet slender, four-toed ; hind feet more robust, five-toed. Tail confounded with the body, cylindrical at base, then becomes compressed, and tapers to a point. Color. Bluish-black or purplish, with large round subequal bright-yellow spots irregularly distributed over the upper part of the head, body and tail, and occasionally on the upper parts of the legs ; these spots sometimes assume somewhat the appearance of two regular series on each side of the vertebral line. A small round spot usually over each eye. Beneath lighter, sprinkled with numerous white points extending beneath the tail. Length 5-0 -T'O. This species extends along the Atlantic from Maine to Maryland, and has likewise been noticed in the western States. Of the two names proposed by the same author, we are at liberty to reject the name which conveys a false idea, and to adopt that which the author applied to his more complete and detailed description. It appears to be nocturnal, and is found under rocks, stones and decaying trees ; and in spite of one of its names, is entirely harmless. FAMILY SALAMANDRIDiE. iO THE RED-BACKED SALAMANDER. Salamandra erythronota. plate xvi. fig. 38. — (state collection.) Salamandra (Tythronota ct cinerea. Green, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 1, p. 356. S. erythronota. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 95. S. cijierea? Id. lb. S. erythronota. HoLBRooK, N. Am. Hcrpetology, Vol. 3, p. 113, pi. 27. The Red-backed Salamander. Storer, Mass. Report, p. 245. Characteristics. Small. A distinct vertebral strijie, varying with age from scarlet to reddish brown. Length 2-3 inches. Description. Body slender, cylindrical. Tail cylindrical, tapering towards the extremity, where it becomes compressed, more particularly in the younger individuals, and pointed. Snout obtusely rounded Eyes small, moderately prominent. Nostrils lateral, near the snout. Cervical fold indistinct. Legs feeble ; the fourth toe on the fore foot rudimentary. Color. Head above brownish ; chin and throat whitish, (according to Green, with a few dots of crimson.) Sides dull while, thickly punctate with brown, and lustrous. Eyes black. A broad vertebral stripe extending from the snout (occasionally from the occiput) towards the end of the tail ; this stripe is of a deep or lighter red color, varying with age. In very young individuals 0-8 long, this stripe is of a brilliant scarlet or crimson. Total length, 3- 0 - 3-5. Prof. Green, after a careful revision and comparison of his cinerea and erythronota, came to the conclusion that the former was an aged individual of the latter, in which the dorsal stripe had become obsolete. The Red-backed Salamander is a very numerous and widely distributed species. It is among the first which appears in the spring, and I have seen it as early as the middle ot April. It runs with great rapidity among the leaves, in moist wooded districts, and conceals itself under stones and decayed trees. It has been noticed by Dr. Blanding at Camden, South Carolina, and by Mr. Say at Louisville, Kentucky. The most northerly limit of this species observed by me, was on the islands of the Saranac lake. THE PAINTED SALAMANDER Salamandra picta. Salmandra picta. Harlan, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 136. J^ S. iiuennata. Geee.n, Macl. Lyceum, Vol.1, (fide Harlan.) ■S'. picla. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Rescaicligs, p. 03 and 177. Storek, Mass. Rep. p. 251. Characteristics. Dark slate or blackish ; yellowish or orange beneath. Tail abruptly com- pressed towards the tip, shghtly shorter tiian the body. Length four inches. 76 NEW-YORK FAUNA. Description. Head large, rather flat; occiput broad, slightly protuberant; snout obtuse, rounded posteriorly ; rictus of the mouth wide, extending to the eyes. A cervical fold. Legs short, strong, thick. Tail sub-quadrangular for the first two-thirds ; the remaining portion abruptly compressed, pointed, with the edges carinate. Color. Blackish, or dark slate above ; inferior portion of the body obsoletely punctured with dark spots, more evident on the sides. Legs externally of the color of the back. Length, 4 '5. Inhabits shallow streams. I am indebted to Dr. Harlan for the above description. It is introduced here, as it has been seen both in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and of course may be presumed to inhabit this State. THE SALMON-COLORED SALAMANDER. Salamandra salmonea. PLATE XVI. FIG. 39. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Salamandra sahitonea. HoLBOOOK, N. Am. Herpetoloey, Vol.3, p. 101, pi. 22. The Salmon-colored Salamander. Storer, Mass. Report, p. 248. Characteristics. Reddish bro^vn ; sides salmon-colored. A bright salmon-colored line from the eye to the snout. Length six to seven inches. DescrijHio?^, from a specimen preserved in spirits. Head flattened above, with the eyes prominent and far apart. Teeth exceedingly numerous, acute and recurved in both jaws. Tongue doubled back in the mouth, with a fold. Gular fold large, distinct. A vertebral furrow, extending from behind the eyes to a point opposite the vent. Tail compressed, distinctly carinate above, moderately so beneath. Color, from the description given by Dr. Storer, the original describer of this species. Whole upper part of the body, head, legs and tail, yellowish brown ; sides of a salmon-color. The entire surface of all the upper portion, as well as the sides, spotted with irregular greyish markings, which are more obvious on the lighter colored sides. Beneath, head and body white ; light salmon-color beneath the tail. From the edge of the upper lip, just exterior to the nostrils, arises a salmon-colored line, about a fourth of a line in width, which runs back to the inner angle of the eye, and passing up over the eye, loses itself upon the middle of the back part. Total length, 5 • 7. Length of fore feet, 0-5. Length of head and body,. 3-4. Ditto of the hind feet, 0-7. Ditto of the tail, 2-3. This beautifully colored Salamander was obligingly communicated to me by Prof. Emmons, to whom I am under many similar obligations. All its beautiful tints disappear in spirits, when it presents the following colors : Above mottled grey and brown, the former predomi- FAMILY SALAMANDRID.E. 7/ Mating. On the flanks beneath, dull yellowish, punctate with In-own. Sides of the tail similar to the dorsal surface. Chin whitish ; the lower lip dotted with brown ; a light colored stripe from the nostrils to each eye. I have been particular in noting these appearances, as it may serve as a guide to closet naturalists, and exhibits the futility of creating species from cabhiet specimens. I had fallen into this error myself in relation to the species under consideration ; and previous to the publi- cation of Dr. Storer's description, had entered it in my hst of species as new, with an appro- priate name. I am indebted to my friend Dr. Holbrook for correcting my description. Dr. Emmons found it rmder a stone at Newcomb, Essex county, in this State. It has been seen in Massachusetts and Vermont. THE BLOTCHED SALAMANDER. Salamandra fasciata. PLATE XVII. FIG. 40.— (COLLECTION OF M.AJOR LE CONTE.) Sahnutndia fasciata. Green, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 350. 5. id. Harlan, Medical and Phys. Researches, p. 94. S. id. Holbrook, N. Am. Hcrpet, Vol. 4, p. 103, pi. 23. Storee, Mass. Rep. p. 247. Characteristics. Grey, with large bluish black blotches on the upper part of the body and tail ; beneath deep blue. Length five inches. Description. Bod}^ robust. Head moderately broad, short, thick and rounded. Mouth large. Eyes large and prominent. Nostrils lateral, and near the snout. Legs robust ; anterior four-toed, the posterior five-toed and longer ; all with separate toes. Tail shorter than the head and body, subcompressed, ending in rather an obtuse point. Color. Grey above, with irregular transverse bluish black patches on the head and body. A large triangular spot on the head. On the tail, the patches are so arranged as to cause the tail to appear annulate with grey and black. Summit of the head ash, punctate with dusky. Irides varied with gi-eyish. Abdomen uniform blue-black. Toes annulate with blue and grey. Length, 5-2. Of tail, 2-3. I am indebted to Major Le Conte for the drawing of this remarkable species, which he had observed in the western part of this State. It has been observ'ed from Massachusetts to Carolina. It has also been noticed in Ohio. 78 NEW-YORK FAUNA. THE LONG-TAILED SALAMANDER. Salamandra longicauda. PLATE XVII. FIG. 41. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) Salanumdra longicauda. Green, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 351. »S. longtcaudata, Harlan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 96. S. longicauda. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 3, p. Ill, pi. 26. Characteristics. Yellow ; with numerous small black spots, becoming transverse bars on the tail. Tail more than twice the length of the body. Length 6 inches. Description. Body slender, cylindrical. Head short ; snout obtuse. Nostrils lateral, and near the end of the snout. Eyes small, but prominent. Palatine teeth in a diverging series. Tongue pediculated. Chin and neck smooth, with a slight gular fold. Tail compressed at the sides, slender, ending in a delicate point. Fore legs long and slender, with four slender subequal toes. Color. The general color throughout is yellow. Head, body, chin and throat lemon-color ; breast and abdomen yellowish white ; under side of the fore and hind legs straw-colored. Head and body above, and on the sides, sprinkled with numerous small irregular black spots, points and dashes ; these become confluent on the posterior part of the body and sides of the tail, forming vertical bars : all beneath immaculate. Pupil black ; iris golden. Length, .5-0- 6*0. Of the tail, 3-2 - 3-5. The only specimen I have seen of this animal, is that in the Cabinet of the Lyceum, obtained near this city. Professor Green, its original describer, observed it near Albany. It is essentially aquatic, and is among the most beautiful of the genus. It usually affects deep caverns containing running water, and in this respect is associated in its habits with the Proteus of Carniola. It has been found at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in Ohio ; but its southern limits have not been ascertained. THE GRANULATED SALAMANDER. Salamandra granulata. PLATE XXIIL FIG. 66. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Saiamamlrn granulnta. HOLBKOGK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 5. Characteristics. Greenish slate above, varied with grey and brown beneath. Tail slightly longer than the head and body. Length 6-7 inches. Description. Upper surface of the body and head as far as the eyes smooth, but under the lens, e.\hibiting an appearance like shagreen. Head above flattened, sub-truncate in front. FAMILY SALAMANDRID.E. 79 Tongue pediculate. Eyes prominent, with tlie upper margins of tlie orbits very projecting. Gular fold very distinct. Fore feet 0-5 in length, four-toed, very feeble in comparison with the hind feet, which are 0'8 in length, and furnished with five toes. Tail long and slender, very slightly compressed, and ending in a slender acute point. Color. Above, a lustrous dark-greenish slate of a uniform hue. Chin and abdomen mottled with brown and grey. Lower surface of the tail uniform ashen grey. Gular fold soiled white. Soles of the fore and hind feet white. Length of the head to the fold, .. 0'7. Length of the tail from the vent,. 3 "6. From the cervical fold to the vent, 2 • 5. Total length, 6' 9. The colors of this species must be received with some reserve, as it was derived from a .specimen in spirits, sent to me by Dr. Emmons from the northern district of this State. That gentleman, however, saw it alive, and the colors were little changed. In the same vessel were specimens with a total length of 3'.3, which I suppose to be younger individuals of the same species. It had the same markings, and the same granulated appearance, although not quite so obvious. The greatest observed difference was in the length and shape of the tail, which was 1-5 in length, compressed, carinate above, and pointed. It need scarcely be added, that a more extended series of observations, and a more thorough knowledge of the changes effected by age, season and se.x, are necessary before we shall be enabled to pronounce with certainty upon the specific identity of many of the animals of this genus. This species is allied to the subfusca of Green ; from which, however, it may be distin- guished by the length of its tail, and the absence of spots on the upper part of the body. We believe, however, that subfusca was dropped as a species by its author. Dr. Holbrook informs me that he has observed the granulata in Pennsylvania. THE STRIPED-BACK SALAMANDER. (SaLAM.INDRA EILINEAT4.) PLATE XXni. FIG. 67. SalcTnandra bisUneala, Green, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 352, 1818. S.flavissima. Harlan, Am. Jour. 1825; Med. and Phys. Res. p. 98, 177. jS. bilineata. Holbrook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 5. (Characteristics. Cinereous or brownish yellow ; back with two or three black lines ; beneath yellow. Tail longer than the head and body. Length three inches. Description. Body slender, elongate. Head broader than the body, rather depressed ; snout oval. Eyes prominent. A cervical fold. Tail tapering, compressed, pointed, longer than the head and body. 80 NEW-YORK FAUNA. Color. Back cinereous (Green), brownish yellow (Harlan). Clear bright yellow or whitish beneath. A broad black line on each side, extending from behind the eyes to the end of the tail ; a narrow vertebral black line from the occiput to the base of the tail : this third line is occasionally absent or nearly effaced. Iris j^ellow. Length, S'O. Although this species is said to be very common, both by Green and Harlan, I have never had the good fortune to meet with it, and have consequently been compelled to use their description. It is said to be very active ; found in shallow water, beneath stones in moist places, or on the borders of brooks in .shady situations. Dr. Eights obtained several speci- mens from the Dripping Well near Albany, while engaged in digging up a soft bed of earth, marl and decomposed vegetable matter, which had accumulated beneath. He states that some of them were beyond the usual size, and in these the longitudinal lines could scarcely be detected. The geographic limits of this species, thus far ascertained, extend from New-York and Pennsylvania to Ohio. THE RED SALAMANDER. Salamandra rubra. PLATE XVll. FIG. 43. — (STATE COLLECTION.) Salamandra rubra. Daudin, Hist. Rept. Vol. 8, p. 227, pi. 97, fig. 2. S. maculata et rubriverUris. Gheen, Jourii. .4.cad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 1, p. 350 and 353. 5. maculata et rubriventris, var ? Harlan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 96 and 97. e, 73 Scaphiopus solitarius, 66 Siren intermedia, 88 — lacertina, 88 — striata, 88 SirenidjE, 86 Triton ingens, 86 — jeffersoni, 86 — millepunctatus, 84 — niger. 85 — porphyriticus, 85 — tigrinus, 83 LIST OF PLATES OF THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. Plate I. Fig. 1. The American Box Tortoise (Cistuda Carolina). 2. Blanding's Box Tortoise (Cistuda blandingii). Plate II. Fig. 3. The Pseudo-geographic Tortoise (Emys pseudogeogi-aphica). 4. The Mud Tortoise (Kinosternon pensylvanicum). Plate III. Fig. 5. The Salt-water Terrapin (Emys pahistris). 6. The Snapping Turtle, young, (Chelonura serpentina). Plate IV. Fig. 7. The Geographic Tortoise (Emys geograpliica). 8. The Wood Terrapin (Emys insculpta). Plate V. Fig. 9. The Leather Turtle (Sphargis coriacea). 10. The Painted Tortoise (Emys picta). Plate VI. Fig. 11. The Soft-shelled Turtle (Trionyx ferox). 12. The Spotted Tortoise (Emys guttata). 96 LIST OF PLATES. Plate VII. Fig. 13. The Musk Tortoise (Sternothasrus odoratus). 14. The Red-bellied Terrapin (Emys rubriventris). Plate VIII. Fig. 15. Muhlenberg's Tortoise (Emys muhlenbergi). 16. The Brown Swift (Tropidolepis undulatus). 17. The Blue-tailed Skink (Scincus fasciatus). ^ Plate IX. The Copper-head (Trigonocephalus contortrix). The Northern Rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus). Plate X. The Black Snake (Coluber constrictor). The Chain Snake (Coluber getulus). Plate XL The Grass Snake (Coluber vernalis). The Yellow-bellied Snake (Tropidonotus leberis). The Ribbon Snake (Leptophis saurita). Plate XII. The Milk Snake (Coluber eximius). The Pilot Black-snake (Coluber alleghaniensis). Plate XIII. The Striped Snake, variety, (Tropidonotus taenia). The Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos). Plate XIV. Fig. 29. The Ring Snake (Coluber punctatus). 30. The Small Brown Snake (Tropidonotus dekayi). 31. The Water Snake (Tropidonotus sipedon). Plate XV. Fig. 32. The Tiger Triton (Triton tigrinus). 33. The Yellow-bellied Salamander (Salamandra symmetrica). 34. The Crimson-spotted Triton (Triton millepunctatus). 35. The Dusky Triton (Triton niger). Fig. 18. 19. Fig. 20. 21. Fig. 22. 23. 24. Fig. 25. 26. Fig. 27. 28. LIST OF PLATES. Plate XVI. Fig. 36. The Violet-colored Salamander (Salamandra subviolacea). 37. The Grey-spotted Triton (Triton jjorphyriticiis). 38. The Red-backed Salamander (Salamandra erythronota). 39. The Salmon-colored Salamander (Salamandra salamnea). Plate XVII. Fig. 40. The Blotched Salamander (Salamandra fasciata). 41. The Long-tailed Salamander (Salamandra longicauda). 42. The Blue-spotted Salamander (Salamandra ghitinosa). 43. The Red Salamander (Salamandra rubra). Plate XVIII. Fig. 44. The Hell-bender (Menopoma alleghaniensis). 45. The Banded Proteus (Mcnobranchus lateralis). Plate XIX. Fig. 46. The Common Toad, young, (Bufo americaiuis). 47. The Hermit Spade-foot (Scaphiopus sohtanus). 48. The Bullfrog (Rana pipiens). Plate XX. Fig. 49. The Shad Frog (Rana halecina). 50. The Wood Frog, young, (Rana sylvatica). 51. Pickering's Hylodes (Hylodes pickeringi). 52. The American Toad, adidt, (Bufo americanus). Plate XXI. Fig. 53. The Squirrel Tree-toad (Hyla squirella). 53. a. The Northern Tree-toad (Hyla versicolor). 54. The W^ood Frog, adult, (Rana sylvatica). 54. (/. The Spring Frog (Rana fontinalis). 54. h. The Scarlet Salamander (Salamandra coccinea). Plate XXH. Fig. 55. Tooth of the fossil Gcosaurus (Geosaurus mitchilli). 56. Section of a tooth. 57. Tooth of the fossil Monitor (Mosasaurus major). .58. Section of a tooth. 59. Portion of the lower jaw of the Jersey Gavial (Gavialis neocesancnsis). 60. The Marsh Tree-toad (Rana palustris). 61. The Cricket Tree-toad (Hylodes gryllus). 62. The Northern Bullfrog (Rana horiconensis). Fauna — Part 3. 13 97 98 LIST OF PLATBS. Plate XXIII. Fig. 63. The Smooth Terrapin (Emys terrapin). 64. Outline of the last vertebral plate. 65. Do. of do of E. palustris. 66. The Granulated Salamander (Salamandra granulata). 67. The Striped-back Salamander (Salamandra bilineata) ZOOLOGY OF NEW-YORK, OR THE BfEW-YORK FAUNA; COMPRISING DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OP ALL THE ANIMALS HITHERTO OBSERVED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW-VORK, WITH BRIEF NOTICES OF THOSE OCCASIONALLY FOUND NEAR ITS BORDERS, AND ACCOMPANIED BY APPROPRIATE ILLUSTRATIONS. BY JAMES E. DE MY. PART IV. FISHES ALBANY : PRINTED BY W. it. A. WHITE & J. VISSCHER. 1842. PREFACE. In the Genei'al Introduction to this work, a few facts were noted, to ilUistrate the pecuhar position of this State in reference to the number and variety of its animal species. In continuation of this subject we may remark, that by means of the great lakes Ontario and Erie on our northern and western borders, we have numerous northern lacustrine fishes. Through Lake Champlain we have many northern fluviatile species ; by the Alleghany river ascend numerous wes- tern species ; and while our numerous rivers teem with those of fresh water, our extensive sea-board furnishes us with marine species ranging from the coast of Labrador to the shores of Brazil. It cannot therefore fail to be perceived that the Ichthyology of New- York will embrace a very large proportion of the Fishes of the United States ; and that the following pages can only be considered in the light of an outline, to be filled up, and enlarged and modified by the labors of future naturalists. The study of Fishes, or that liranch of natural science which is termed Ich- thyolog}', has, until recently, attracted in this country less attention than any other. Almost the first positive knowledge of our fishes is derived from Linneus, who received many through Dr. Garden of Charleston, South Carolina. From the letters of Garden, we gather that he was an indefatigable collector in ;dl departments of Natural History, and a man of eminent attainments. Cotempo- raneously with Garden, appeared die work of Catesby on the Natural ilislory of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. This work is imposing in its form, Fauna, Part IV. b IV PREFACE. but is of little real practical value. The plates are grossly colored, and some of them ai-e apparently drawn from memory. The text is meagre and insignificant.* In an unexpected quarter, appeared in 1787 an original work on the Fishes of America. We allude to the Natural History of Cuba, by Antonio Parra, the title of which will be found in our list of cited works. It is not exclusively con- fined to fishes, but embraces Crustacea, marine plants, etc. There are forty plates, illustrating seventy-one species of fishes, coarsely but vigorously executed by his son ; and as far as we have had occasion to comjoare them with the origi- nals, they are very correct. This work is exceedingly rare, and the copy in my possession is believed to be the only one in the United States. The text is brief, and of a popular character, without any attempt at classification or scientific arrangement. Notwithstanding these defects, it will always remain, from its original figures and its descriptions drawn from the recent specimens, a work of great value to naturalists, and more especially to those of the Southern Atlantic States. Pennant, an English writer on natural history, published in 1787 a supplement to his Arctic Zoology, which contains an enumeration of one hundred and thirty species of fishes, compiled chiefly from Linneus and Catesby. They are prin- cipally from the waters of South-Carolina and the Gulf of Mexico. A very few, scarcely exceeding six new species, are noticed more in detail, and these are chiefly from the collection of Mrs. Anne Blackburne, whose brother appears to have been a zealous collector for several years at Hempstead, Long island. In 1788, Schoepff; an army surgeon, who was in this country during the war of the revolution, jiublished in the Transactions of the Friends of Natural History at Berlin, a memoir entitled " Descriptions of North American Fishes, chiefly from the waters of New-York." His paper is for the most part a meagre cata- logue of species from New- York and the gulf of Mexico, mostly identical with those previously described by Linneus. In common with many of the observers of that period, he had such a slavish deference to the great reformer of natural science, that he scarcely dared to pronounce upon the validity of a species unless * In taking a review ofwiiat lias been done in American ichthyology upto the period at which he wrote, Pennant breaks out into the following apostrophe: " How small a part is this of the zoology of our lost dominions I May what I have " done be an inducement for some learned native to resume the subject I and I shall without envy see my trivial labors lost " in the immensity of new discoveries. Vain thought ! for ages must pass, crc the necessary perfection can be given, " ere the animated nature which fdls the space between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans can be investigated. Ages must " pass, before new colonization can push its progress westwardly ; and even then, civilization, case and luxury must take " place ere those studies in which use and amusement are so intimately blended can be carried into effect." PREFACE. it had received the Linnean stamp of authority. One hundred and twenty spe- cies are enumerated, of which thirty only are accompanied with detailed descrip- tions. The celebrated ichthyologist Bloch added a few notes to this memoir.* Bosc, and a few other naturalists, had communicated to Lacepede some isolated species after this period ; and Dr. Peck had described, in the Transactions of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at Boston, a few more ; but, with these exceptions, our knowledge on this subject remained nearly stationar}' until 1814, when Dr. Mitchill j)ublished a small tract, which may be said to have given a new impulse to the study of American ichthyology. It contains original and detailed descriptions of forty-nine species, with a simple catalogue of twenty-one more. On the titlepage of this little tract, he states that " a very considerable number of these beginnings of an attempt are not even named in the present list, because they have not come to hand during the few weeks that have elapsed since its commencement." It does not, however, ajipear to have attracted much attention abroad, and is only cited in the latter volumes of the great work on Fishes of Cuvier and Valenciennes. About the same period he published in the American Medical and Philosophical Register, conducted by Drs. Hosack and Francis, a paper on the Cod-fishes of New- York, in which he enumerates eleven species and six varieties of that family. In December of the same year, he read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New- York, a paper entitled " The Fishes of New- York, described and arranged ;" which was shortly after published in the Transactions of that Society. In this paper, which at that period was the most important and valuable essay on the fishes of the United States, he describes (deducting the foreign and doubtful fishes) one hundred and thirty-four species, illustrated by six copperplates, containing seventy small but quite recognizable figures.f In February, 1818, he published a supplement to » SchcppfT appears to liave liccn a man of vari.^il attainments, and lias left several works relating to the natviral history of this country, the most important of which is his Historia Tcstudinum. lie is the autlior of two volumes of travels in the United States, and of a work on its geology, under the following titles ; 1. Reise durch einigc dermittlern und sudlichcn vereinigten Nord Americanischer Slaaten. 2 vols. 8vo. Erlangen, 17SS. 2. Beylrage snr mineralogischen kentniss dcr ostlichen theil von Nord America und seiner gebtirge. pp. 194. Eilaiigeii, ITS". Neither of these, we believe, have been translated into our language. t This memoir is spoken of by Cuvier in tlie following terms: " Thus there had scarcely hecn in the ci^'hteenth century any thing on the lishes of North America, except the work of C'atesby, and what had been inserted by Pennant in his Arctic Zoology. But in 1815, Dr. Mitchill, a learned physician of New-York, gave a history of the lishes in the vicinity of that city, in which he described one hundred ond forty-nine species, distributed after the system of Liinicus, with well VI PREFACE. this paper in the American Monthly Magazine, in which he describes forty-two species, some of which had been figured in the previous essay, but without any description. If we subtract from these, four as doubtful or mere varieties, and eight from the Bahama islands, we have thirty additional species, making with those previously published a total of one hundred and sixty-four fishes from the coast of New-York. The work in which this supplement appeared was a lite- rary magazine of considerable reputation, but its circulation was limited, and it appears to have been little known or consulted either by our own or by foreign naturalists. Subsequent to this period, the communications of Dr. Mitchill on ichthyology were distributed through periodicals of every description, not even excepting weekly magazines and daily newspapers. As a matter of interest to the Ame- rican naturalist, we have, in Appendix A, given a list of Mitchill's species, col- lated from all these sources, and accompanied them with the names which they bear in the present work. It is no reflection upon the reputation of this natu- ralist, that these changes have been rendered necessary ; for at that day, ichthy- ology was little studied, and it was far from having attained its present accuracy. He appears to have trusted too much to the vague descriptions of foreign writers, and referred too hastily, descriptions of European to American species. In his case, however, it did not amount to a servile deference to authority; for even in his preliminary essay, he indicates new generic forms, some of which have been adopted in the great standard work of the present day. Nearly simultaneous with the first essays of Dr. Mitchill, appeared a new and important laborer in the field of American ichthyology. We allude to Mr. Charles A. Lesueur, an eminent French naturalist, who had accomjianied Daudin as a draftsman in his exploring expedition. He lived several years in Philadel- phia, subsequently removed to the settlement of Mr. Owen at New-Harmony, and finally returned to France. His contributions are chiefly to be found in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Science, and the Transactions of the Ame- rican Philosophical Society. He also contributed a few articles to the Annales executed though small figures of the most interesting. As ho adopted but two of the genera subsequent to Linneus his species are sometimes placed a little at random; in the genus Esox, for example, he includes many heterogeneous species. Nor has he always unravelled the true nomenclature in the often confused works of European naturalists • but he has himself furnished in his descriptions the means of rectifying the errors which had escaped him, and his memoir is certainly the best which has appeared in this century on the fishes of the new world." HisUrire d'Ichlkyologu, p. 202. PREFACE. VII du Museum (rilistoire Naturelle of Paris. M. I^esueur at one time contemplated publishing a history of North American fishes, but I believe never advanced far- ther than to prepare a few plates and a few pages of letter press. Through the kindness of Mrs. Say, the estimable widow of our great American naturalist, I am indebted for a copy of this work as far as published. The part in my possession contains descriptions of Tetromyzon amcricamis and nigricans, Ammocetes hicolor, and Acipenser ruhicundus ; the plates illustrate these species, and also Pctro^mjzon lamoflcnii, Acipenser maculosus, measius, and two other sturgeons not named on the plate. Most of these are reproduced in the following pages ; and as the work of Lesueur is probably in few hands, I should have copied them all, had they been accompanied with the requisite descriptions. Pursuing a chronological order, we have next to mention a work which may be said to have created a new epoch in this department of science. We allude to the Natural History of Fishes, by Cuvier and Valenciennes, of which the first volume appeared in 1828, and which has now reached the sixteenth volume. To judge by the field already explored, it will probably require ten more volumes to complete the work. In this History, which may well serve as a model to future observers for its philosophical spirit and unrivalled accuracy of detail, are to be found many excellent descriptions of North American species. The many obligations I owe to this standard work, will be apparent in the following pages. In 1836, Dr. Richardson published a work, which, although limited to the fishes of the northern regions of America, is of great value to the ichthyologist of the United States. It contains original and elaborate descriptions of about .sixty species, illustrated by twenty-four beautiful plates, and is one of the most important contributions to this department. This work is published at the ex- pense of the English government, and we may be allowed to hope that a similar enlightened liberality will be displayed by the government of the United States, in the publication of the results of the late Antarctic exploring expedition. The attention of the various Commonwealths of the Union having been di- rected to the examination and description of their various natural products, almost one of its first fruits appeared in 1835, in the form of a copious catalogue of the animals and plants of Massachusetts. In 1838, appeared under the aus- pices of the State of Ohio, a report by Dr. J. P. Kirdand on the Zoology of that State. It contains a catalogue of seventy-two species of fish ; all, of course, fluviatile or lacustrine. It is accompanied by numerous and valuable notes, illus- VUl PREFACE. tratino- the habits and characters of fishes. To the same author, we are indebted for several important papers in the Boston Journal of Natural History. In 1839, Dr. D. H. Storer, who had previously furnished several valuable papers on ichthy- ology in the Journal just alluded to, published a masterly report on the Fishes of Massachusetts. In this report, the author has enumerated one hundred and nine species, of which one hundred and four are accompanied by original and care- fully drawn up descriptions. This report is an invaluable document to the Ame- rican ichthyologist, and is every way worthy of its eminent author. Among the > casual contributors to this department of science, we have to enumerate the name of a former Governor of this State, De Witt Clinton ; of Mr. Wood of Phi- ladelphia ; of Messrs. Redfield, father and son ; and quite recently, of Mr. Hal- deman, of Pennsylvania. Having thus briefly alluded to the various sources from whence is derived our knowledge of the fishes of this country, the pleasing duty remains, of expressing my obligations to those who have assisted me in my solitary and arduous under- taking. Several years since, my friend Dr. Holbrook, so favorably known for his work on the Reptiles of the United States, contemplated publishing a work on the Fishes of Carolina. He collected many species, and caused them to be carefully drawn under his own eye, by the same artist who had so successfully figured the reptiles. These drawings, illustrative of fifty-two species, he placed in the kindest manner at my disposal, and they have enabled me to extend our acquaintance with the geographical distribution of manj^ species. I feel much indebted to Dr. Storer for the instruction I have derived from his correspondence, and for the prompt and liberal aid he has afforded by furnishing me with several specimens for illustration and comparison. To Mr. I. Cozzens, Librarian of the Lyceum of Natural History, I am under many obligations for his assistance in collecting, and his accurate and practical discrimination of species. My thanks are also due, for several specimens from Lake Champlain, to Mr. Z. Thompson of Burlington (Vermont), who is occupied in publishing a work on the Natural History of Vermont, at the moment these sheets are passing through the press. In no department of the natural sciences is the want of good illustrations more strikingly felt than in the class now before us. Those which relate to American fishes are distributed through so many rare and expensive volumes as to render them difl&cult of access, and indeed entirely beyond the reach of a large majority of students. We hope, therefore, that the figures of two hundred and fifty spe- cies, which appear in this work, will not be unacceptable to the American ich- PREFACE. IX thyologist. They are taken for the most part from Hving specimens, and care- fully colored on the si)ot. For those which are copied, due credit is given in the text, and the twelve last plates are almost entirely of this character. Where we have been unable to draw from a living specimen, and have been compelled to make use of a cabinet specimen, we have given merely an outline. Exclusive of the fossil fishes, we enumerate in the work four hundred and forty species, comprised under one hundred and fifty-six genera and thirty-two fami- lies. Of these, two hundred and ninety-four species belonging to this State, or the adjacent waters, are accompanied by detailed descriptions. In preparing the following pages, we have endeavored to compress our descriptions within the shortest possible compass consistent with clearness. Had this been the only department entrusted to us, we should have dwelt more on the anatomical details, and perhaps have been more diffuse on the habits and peculiarities of species. Too little, however, is positively known of their habits, and that little is mixed up with too much of the marvellous, to render it desirable or profitable to intro- duce them here. When it is, moreover, recollected that we are to ti-averse through the whole animal kingdom, we would fain indulge the hope that this imperfect attempt to enlarge our acquaintance with a single class may be received with a favor proportionate to the difficulties and extent of the task. J. E. DE KAY. The Locusts, Queens County. Jnhj 1, 1842. LIST OF WORKS REFERRED TO IN THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FISHES. Ac. Sc. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1817 et seq. Ali. Inst. Transactions of the Albany Institule. Svo. Albany, 1808-9. Ann. I.yc. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New- York. Svo. New- York, 1821 ct scq. Am. Aratl. Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 4to. Boston, 1785 et scq. Am. P/iil. Transactions of the American Pliilosophical Society for promotinj; useful knowlcilgc. 4to. Phikulelpliia, 1785 et sc