Skip to main content

Full text of "Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College"

See other formats 


HARVARD  UNIVERSITY 


LIBRARY 


OF  THE 


Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology 


BULLETIN 


MUSEUM  OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY 


HARVARD  COLLEGE,  IN  CAMBRIDGE. 


VOL.  II. 
Nos.    1-5. 


CAMBRIDGE,   MAS?.,  U.  S.  A. 
1870-1871. 

Reprinted  with  the  permission  of  the  original  publisher 

KRAUS  REPRINT  CORPORATION 

New  York 

1967 


Printed  in  U.S.A. 


CONTENTS. 


Pace 
No.  1.  —  On  the  Eared  Seals  (Otariadae),  with  detailed  Descriptions  of  the 
North  Pacific  Species.     By  J.  A.  Allen.     Together  with  an  Account  of 
the  Habits  of  the  Northern  Fur  Seal  (Callorhinus  ursinus).     By  Charles 
Bryant.     (3  Plates) I 

I.    Introduction  ...........  1 

1.  Re'sume  of  recent  Contributions  to  the  Natural  History  of  the 

Otariadae .4 

2.  On  the  Affinities,  distinctive  Characters,  and  Synonymy  of  the 

Family  Otariadffi,  with  Remarks  on  sexual,  age,  and  individual 

Variation,  and  a  Conspectus  of  the  Genera  and  Species,  etc.  19 

Habits 36 

On  the  Genera  and  Species    .......  37 

Geographical  Distribution          ......  42 

3.  On  the  North  Pacific  Species  of  Otariadse          ....  45 

II.  On  the  Habits  of  the  Northern  Fur  Seal  (Callorhinus  ursinus  Gray), 
with  a  Description  of  the  Pribyloff  Group  of  Islands.  By  Captain 
Charles  Bryant.     "With  Notes  by  J.  A.  Allen  ...       89 

No.  2.  —  Preliminary  Report  on  the  Crustacea,  dredged  in  the  Gulf  Stream 
in  the  Straits  of  Florida.  By  L.  F.  de  Pourtai.es,  Assist.  U.  S.  Coast 
Survey.     Part  I.     Brachyura,  prepared  by  Dr.  William  Stimpson        .     109 

No.  3.  —  On  the  Mammals  and  Winter  Birds  of  Fast  Florida,  with  an  Ex- 
amination of  certain  assumed  specific  Characters  in  Birds,  and  a  Sketch  of 
the  Bird  Faunce  of  Eastern  North  America.    By  J.  A.  Allen.     (5  Plates)     161 
Introduction    .         .         .         .         , 161 

I.    The  topographical,  climatic,  and  faunal  Characteristics  of  East  Florida     163 

II.    List  of  the  Mammals  of  East  Florida,  with  Annotations    .         .         .     16S 

III.  On  Individual  and  Geographical  Variation  among  Birds,  considered 
in  Respect  to  its  bearing  upon  the  Value  of  certain  assumed  specific 
Characters 186 


IV  CONTENTS. 

1.    [ndividnal  Variation     ........  187 

Individual  Variation  in  general  Size  and  in  the  relative  Size 

of  different  Parts 197 

Variations  in  the  Size  and  Form  of  the  Bill,  Wing,  etc.  re- 
sulting from  Age 226 

General  Remarks  on  Individual  Variation         .        .        .  228 

Climatic  Variation 229 

Species,  Varieties,  and  Geographical  Races       .        .        .  243 

IV.    List  of  the  Winter  Birds  of  East  Florida,  with  Annotations       .        .    250 

The  Origin  of  the  Domestic  Turkey  ......  343 

V.  On  the  Geographical  Distribution  of  the  Birds  of  Eastern  North 
America,  with  special  Reference  to  the  Numbcrand  Circumscription 
of  the  Ornithological  Faunae  .        .......     375 

1.  Introductory  Remarks  ........         375 

2.  The    Natural    Provinces  of  the    North    American    Temperate 

Ecu  ion .     384 

3.  The    Ornithological    Faunre  of   the    Eastern    Province  of  the 

North  American  Temperate  Region      .....     3S7 

The  Faunas  of  the  Eastern  province  considered  in  Reference 

to  the  Distribution  of  Mammals  and  Reptiles         .         .         .     404 

4.  The  Ornithological  Districts  of  the  North  American  Temperate 

Region 406 

5.  On  the  Ornithological  Range  of  the  Species         .        .        .         407 

General   Remarks  on  the  Distribution  and   Migration  of  the 
Birds  of  the  Eastern  Province    ......     418 

Appendix  to  Part  V.     List  of  Authorities  .  .  .  426 

No.  4.  —  Directions  for  Dredging.     Drawn   up  by  L.  F.  de  Pourtales, 
Assist.  ET.  S.  Coast  Survey  ........     451 

No    5.  —  Appendix  to  the  Preliminary  Report    (Bulletin   No.  9,  Vol.  I)  on 
the  Echini  collected  by  L.  F.  de  Pourtales.     By  Alexander  Agassiz     455 


No.  1. —  On  the  Eared  Seals  (Otariad.e),  with  detailed  Descrip- 
tions of  the  North  Pacific  Species,  by  J.  A.  Allen.  Together 
with  an  Account  of  the  Habits  of  the  Northern  Fur  Seal  (Cal- 
lorhinus  ursinus),  by  Charles  Bryant. 

I. 

Introduction. 

The  specimens  on  which  the  present  essay  is  mainly  based  were 
collected  by  Captain  Charles  Bryant,  at  St.  Paul's  Island,  one  of  the 
Pribyloff  Group,  situated  near  the  coast  of  Alaska,  and  by  him  kindly 
presented  to  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology.  They  consist  of  two 
perfect  skins  and  two  complete  ligamentary  skeletons  of  the  Eumetopias 
Stelleri  Peters,  and  six  perfect  skins,  four  complete  ligamentary  ski  de- 
tons  and  two  partial  skeletons  of  Callorhinus  ursinus  Gray.  The  skins 
were  sent  preserved  in  salt,  and  arrived  in  excellent  condition.  The 
specimens  of  Callorhinus  ursinus  represent  both  sexes  of  this  species 
and  the  young,  both  in  skins  and  skeletons  ;  while  the  notes  kindly  fur- 
nished by  Captain  Bryant  give  a  minute  account  of  its  habits.  A 
summer's  residence  at  the  Pribyloff  Islands,  as  government  supervisor 
of  the  seal  fisheries,  has  given  Captain  Bryant  an  opportunity  of  be- 
coming thoroughly  familiar  with  the  habits  of  these  interesting  animals, 
and  the  description  lie  has  given  of  them  shows  that  he  made  a  good 
use  of  his  opportunites.  His  notes,  given  in  full,  form  part  second  of 
the  present  paper.  In  addition  to  the  specimens  collected  by  Captain 
Bryant,  I  am  indebted  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution  and  the  Chicago 
Academy  of  Sciences  for  the  opportunity  of  examining  skulls  of  Zalo- 
phus  Gillespii  and  Otaria  jubata.  I  have  also  in  this  connection  to 
make  acknowledgments  to  Dr.  Theodore  Gill  of  Washington  for  various 
suggestions  and  other  acts  of  kindness. 

The  only  previous  account  of  tiie  Northern  fur  seal  which  lias  any 
great  importance  is  that  given  by  Steller,  nearly  a  century  and  a  quar- 
ter ago,  and  the  observations  of  Krasheninikoff,  published  a  few  years 
later  in  his  History  of  Kamtcliatka.  Krasheninikoff's  account,  how- 
ever, was  doubtless  wholly  or  mainly  derived  from  Steller's  note-.  The 
remarkable  accuracy  of  Steller's  account,  considering  the  time  when  it 

VOL.   II.  1 


Z  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

was  written,  is  fully  confirmed  by  Captain  Bryant,  who  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  naturalist  who  lias  bad  an  opportunity  of  verifying  Steller's 
observations.  Tbe  history  of  this  species  is  now  far  more  fully  known 
than  that  of  any  of  its  congeners,  and  better  in  fact  than  the  majority 
of  our  hest  known  mammals.  A  remarkable  similarity  of  habits,  how- 
ever, so  far  as  known,  seems  to  pervade  the  whole  group  of  eared 
seals.  —  a  similarity  which  in  many  respects  extends  also  to  the  wal- 
rus and  tbe  sea  elephant  (Mixcrorhinus  elephantinus).  As  matter  of 
collateral  interest,  for  comparison  with  the  account  given  by  Captain 
Bryant  of  the  species  so  fully  described  by  him,  the  principal  notices  of 
the  habits  of  the  other  species  of  the  family  have  been  cited  as  foot- 
notes to  Captain  Bryant's  article,  and  occasional  abstracts  are  given 
of  those  most  pertinent  to  the  subject. 

Through  the  important  labors  of  Messrs.  Gray,  Gill,  and  Peters 
our  knowledge  of  the  Otariadce  has  recently  been  greatly  increased ; 
yet  not  a  single  species  of  the  family  has  been  hitherto  very  satisfac- 
torily known.  Regarding  the  able  essays  of  these  gentlemen  published 
in  1866  as  representing  the  state  of  our  knowledge  of  these  animals 
five  years  since,  their  somewhat  discrepant  opinions  respecting  the 
number  of  known  species,  their  distinctive  characters,  and  their  mutual 
affinities  sufficiently  indicate  how  imperfectly  they  were  then  known. 
A  comparatively  large  number  of  specimens  of  the  Olaria  jubata  has 
since  been  received  at  different  scientific  museums,  which,  with  the 
facts  obtained  from  persons  who  have  recently  been  able  to  observe 
this  species  in  its  natural  haunts,  have  served  to  render  it,  up  to 
the  present  writing,  the  best  known  of  any  of  the  family.  The 
number  of  specimens  formerly  possessed  by  naturalists  having  been 
very  small,  and  the  sex,  age,  and  habitat  of  the  individuals  they  repre- 
sented being  generally  but  vaguely  known,  the  unusually  great  differ- 
ences resulting  from  individual  variation,  as  well  as  from  sex  and  age, 
which  recent  developments  prove  to  exist  in  these  animals,  remained 
for  a  long  time  unsuspected,  and  are  even  now,  it  would  seem,  not  fully 
appreciated  by  the  few  naturalists  who  alone  have  given  them  special 
attention.  Hence  there  has  arisen  in  many  cases  an  almost  unparalleled 
complication  of  synonomy  and  an  unusually  large  number  of  nominal 
species.* 

*  The  synonomy  of  Olaria  jubata,  for  example,  embraces  no  less  than  fifteen  distinct 
speeiii  •  hi: 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  3 

The  collection  of  skins  and  skeletons  above  mentioned  of  two 
of  the  North  Pacific  species  which  has  recently  been  received  at  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  throws  much  light  not  only  upon 
these  species  but  also  upon  several  of  the  others.  The  investigation 
of  this  material  has  led  the  writer  to  an  examination  of  the  whole 
group,  the  results  of  which  are  herewith  presented. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Gray  and  others  have  recently  made  known  the  fact  that 
great  differences  in  the  form  of  the  skull  in  Otaria  jitbata  result  from 
differences  in  age.  Also  the  existence  of  remarkably  great  sexual 
difference  in  size  has  been  long  established  ;  whilst  Professor  Peters, 
of  Berlin,  has  recently  pointed  out  extraordinary  variations  in  the  den- 
tition of  Zalophus  Gillespil.  The  specimens  of  Callorhinus  ursinm 
and  Eumctopias  SteUeri  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  show 
that  greater  and  more  radical  differences  even  in  the  osteological  char- 
acters than  those  previously  known  are  to  be  expected  in  all  the  species. 
The  two  adult  male  skulls  of  the  Eumctopias  SteUeri,  for  instance,  dif- 
fer from  each  other  so  much  in  form  that,  if  their  habitat  was  not  pre- 
cisely known  and  the  evidence  of  their  co-specific  relationship  unques- 
tionable, one  might  well  be  excused  for  regarding  them  as  belonging  to 
distinct  species  ;  and  the  same  is  true  of  the  two  adult  male  skulls  of  Cal- 
lorhinus ursinus.  These  specimens  also  show  that  some  of  the  characters 
that  have  been  relied  on  most  frequently  as  affording  generic  distinc- 
tion?,—  as  the  form  of  the  palatal  surface  of  the  intermaxillaries  and  of 
the  hinder  edge  of  the  palatal  bones,  —  vary  so  much,  not  only  with  age, 
but  in  specimens  of  the  same  age,  that  no  given  form  of  these  parts 
can  be  regarded  as  affording  even  reliable  specific  characters.  The  great 
degree  of  asymmetry,  especially  in  the  skull,  seen  in  these  animals  is 
sufficient  to  indicate  clearly  that  an  unusually  great  tendency  to  indi- 
vidual variation  in  these  animals  is  to  be  naturally  expected.  Professor 
Peters  has  already  referred  to  the  presence  of  a  supernumerary  molar  in 
one  side  of  the  upper  jaw  in  two  skulls  of  cared  seals  in  the  Leyden 
Museum,  and  another  instance  of  the  same  abnormality  is  exhibited  by 
one  of  the  skulls  of  CaUorhinus  ursinus  previously  referred  to.  Taken 
in  connection  with  this  tendency  to  variation,  the  interesting  fact  that 
the  number  of  synonymes  pertaining  to  the  several  species  is  in  almost 
exact  ratio  to  the  number  of  specimens  that  naturalists  have  had  for 
examination  is  readily  explained.  The  incidental  revision  of  the  genera 
and  species  embraced  in  the  present  paper  is  based  on  these  recent 
developments. 


4  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

The  greatest  number  of  species  recognized  by  any  writer  during  the 
last  live  years  is  fifteen  ;  but  they  have  now  been  reduced,  by  general 
consent,  to  ten  or  eleven.  These  have  been  placed  by  Dr.  Gray,  in  his 
later  papers,  in  ten  genera.  In  the  present  enumeration  six  species  * 
are  regarded  as  fully  established,  and  two  or  three  other  species  f  are 
given  as  doubtful.     All  are  referred  to  five  genera.  \ 

One  of  the  most  singular  facts  connected  with  the  history  of  these 
animals  is  that  they  should  have  so  long  remained  among  the  species 
least  known  to  naturalists,  when  their  commercial  importance  is  such 
that  their  capture  has  given  employment  to  thousauds  of  men  and  mil- 
lions of  capital  for  more  than  a  century. 

For  many  years,  as  is  well  known,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  the 
skins  of  the  Falkland  Island  fur  seal,  and  hundreds  of  tons  of  the  oil 
of  other  species,  annually  reached  England ;  yet  specimens  of  either 
the  fur  seals,  or  of  any  of  the  other  species  that  naturalists  were  able 
to  obtain,  were  exceedingly  few  and  imperfect.  Add  to  this  the  fact 
that,  in  many  cases,  the  localities  whence  these  fragmentary  and  iso- 
lated specimens  were  received  were  frequently  wholly  unknown  or  but 
vaguely  surmised,  and  we  can  well  understand  how  it  happened  that 
only  till  within  the  last  decade  have  naturalists  been  able  to  decide  with 
certainty  as  to  which  of  the  species  on  their  catalogues  were  to  be  refer- 
red the  various  fur  seals  of  commerce. 

I.    Resume   of  Recent    Contribute 'ons    to    the    Natural   History   of  the 

Otariad^e. 

A  brief  statement  of  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge  of  the  Ota- 
riadce  seems  to  be  demanded  in  the  present  connection,  inasmuch  as 
since  the  publication  of  the  last  general  synopsis  of  the  subject  our 
knowledge  of  the  group  has  greatly  increased,  without  the  new  facts 
having  been  given  in  a  single  summary.  As  a  resume  of  the  contri- 
butions to  the  literature  concerning  this  group  of  animals  which  have 
appeared  during  the  last  two  decades  would  necessarily  give  such  a 
statement,  and  also  at  the  same  time  a  connected  history  of  the  recent 
changes   in    their    nomenclature   and    classification,   a   synopsis    of  the 

*  Eumeiopias  Stelleri,  Zahphus  GiUespii,  Z.  cinereus  (=  lobaluo,  Auct.),   Otctria  jubata, 
CM  »  himis  ursii}us,  Anii-<  ephalus  falklandicus. 
t   Phvcarctos  Hookeri,  Arctocephalm  au&tralis,  A,  antarcticus. 
I  Eumetopias,  Zahphus,  Otaria,  Cnllorhinvs,  Arctocejihalus. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  5 

principal  recent  papers  relating  to  the  subject  is  accordingly  here  in- 
troduced. For  references  to  earlier  papers  the  reader  is  referred  to 
the  works  cited  in  Dr.  J.  E.  Gray's  British  Museum  Catalogues  of  the 
Seals  and  Professor  W.  Peters's  elaborate  essay  on  these  animals  pub- 
lished in  the  Monatsberichte  of  the  Berlin  Academy  for  18GG. 

The  present  notice  of  the  literature  of  the  Otariadce  begins  with 
Dr.  Gray's  "  Catalogue  of  the  Seals  in  the  British  Museum,"  pub- 
lished in '1850,  in  which  valuable  work  two  genera  (Arctocephalus  and 
Otaria)  and  eight  species*  are  recognized.  The  next  paper  requiring 
mention  is  that  of  Dr.  McBain.f  describing,  in  1858,  a  new  species 
{Otaria  Gillespii)  from  a  skull  from  the  Gulf  of  California.  A  fe^ 
months  later  Dr.  Gray  published  some  important  notes  relative  to 
the  Northern  sea  bear  (Arctocephalus  ursinus  Auct.).:j:  based  on  a  skin 
and  skull  of  an  adult  male  from  Behring's  Straits,  received  at  the 
British  Museum  by  way  of  Amsterdam  and  St.  Petersburg,  under  the 
name  of  Otaria  leonina.  This  paper  is  accompanied  by  an  excellent 
profile  figure  of  the  skull,  which  seems  to  be  the  only  figure  of  the  skull 
of  this  species  that  has  been  hitherto  published. 

Two  weeks  later  Dr.  Gray  communicated  to  the  Zoological  Society 
another  paper  on  the  Eared  Seals, §  in  which  the  fur  seal  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  was  described  anew  from  a  specimen  received  by  him 
from  Paris,  and  of  which  he  published  a  view  in  profile  of  the  skull. 
He  appends  to  this  paper  a  synopsis  of  the  genus  Arctocephalus,  in 
which  he  divides  it  into  three  unnamed  sections,  based  on  characters 
drawn  from  the  skull.  Short  diagnoses  are  also  given  of  the  species, 
which  he  groups  as  follows  :  — 

"I.  Arctocephalus  ursinus;  TT.  A.  Hookcri ;  HI.  A.  Delalandii, 
A.  nigrescens,  A.  lobatus,  A.  Gillespii."  He  also  gives  a  profile  fig- 
ure ||  of  a  ca^t  of  the  skull  described  by  Dr.  McBain  as  Otaria  Gil- 
lespii. 

Some  months  later  the  same  indefatigable  author  published  a  paper 

*  The<e  are  Arctocephalus  ursinus,  A.  falklandicus,  A  cinereus,.  A.  lobatus,  A.  austra- 
lis,  A.  Hookeri,  Otaria  S'elleri,  and  0.  leonina. 

f  Proe.  Edinburgh  Royal  Phys.  Soc.,  Vol.  I,  p.  422. 

|  "  On  the  Sea  Bear  of  Forster,  the  Uisus  marinu*  of  Steller,  Arctocephalus  ursinus  of 
authors,"  Proe.  London  Zoid.  Soc.,  1859,  pp   101,  100,  PI.  Ixviii. 

§  '•  <  >n  the  Eared  Seal  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ( Otaria  Delalandii),"  Ibid  ,  pp. 
107-110,  PI.  lxix. 

II  Ibid.,  PI.  lxx. 


6  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

on  the  Sea  Lion?  of  the  Coast  of  California,*  with  a  profile  figure  of  an 
adult  male  skull  of  what  he  supposed  to  he  a  new  species  {Arctocepha- 
lus monteriensis),  hut  which  proved  to  he  identical  with  the  Otaria 
Stefan  of  authors,  as  first  suggested  hy  Dr.  Gill.  Another  young  skull 
was  described  and  doubtfully  referred  to  the  same  species,  as  was  also 
the  skin  of  a  fur  seal.  The  latter,  however,  is  undoubtedly  identical  with 
the  Northern  fur  seal  (CaUorhinus  ursiuus).  In  this  paper  he  gives  a 
new  classification  of  the  eared  seals,  in  which  he  properly  raised  the  first 
of  the  sections  of  his  genus  Arctocephalus,  which  he  had  previously  in- 
stituted, to  the  rank  of  a  genus  {Callorhinus) .  The  second  and  third 
sections  he  seems  to  have  reunited,  for  which  he  retained  the  name  of 
Arctocephalus.  His  genus  Arctocephalus,  as  now  restricted,  he  again 
divided  into  four  unnamed  .sections.  A  valuable  table  of  comparative 
measurements  of  the  skulls  of  eight  species  is  appended. 

Seven  years  from  the  date  last  given  (1859)  carries  us  to  the  ap- 
pearance of  Dr.  Gray's  "  Catalogue  of  the  Seals  and  Whales,"  f  pub- 
lished in  18GG,  during  which  interval  little  or  nothing  of  importance 
was  published  relating  to  the  group  in  question.  In  this  Catalogue  all 
the  species  of  his  "Catalogue  of  Seals"  of  1850  are  retained;  the 
synonymy  is  brought  up  to  date,  and  the  species  he  and  others  had 
described  since  the  appearance  of  that  Catalogue  are  added.  These  are 
the  Otaria  GlUespii  McBain  (=  Zalophus  Gillespii  Gill,  the  Arcfo- 
cepkalus  monteriensis  Gray  (=  Eumetopias  Stelleri  Peters),  and  the 
Arctocephalus  Californianus  Gray  (=  CaUorkinus  ursiuus,  in  part  or 
wholly),  making  the  whole  number  of  species  thirteen.  Only  one  of 
the  three  species  supposed  to  he  new,  however,  proved  to  be  so. 

The  specific  nomenclature  is  not  changed  from  that  adopted  in  his 
previous  paper,  so  far  as  the  species  mentioned  in  that  paper  are  con- 
cerned, and  the  introduction  of  one  generic  name  is  the  only  change 
from  the  generic  nomenclature  employed  by  him  in  1850.  Another 
new  classification  of  the  species  of  the  genus  Arctocephalus  is  given,  in 
which  the  species  are  grouped  in  two  primary  sections  and  seven  sub- 
sections, upon  the*  arbitrary  basis  of  the  differences  in  the  form  of  the 
bony  palate.  No  new  material  is  described,  and  lint  little  new  matter 
added,  the  Catalogue  being  essentially  a  compilation  from  his  previously 

*  "  On  the  Sea  Lions,  or  Lobos  Marinos  of  the  Spaniards,  <>n  the  Coast  of  California," 
Ibid.,  p.  557. 
f  "  Catalogue  of  the  Seals  and  Whales  in  the  British  Museum,"  1866,  pp.  44  -CO. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  7 

published  papers,  generally  without  any  change  in  the  language,  and 
often  embracing  important  typographical  errors.  In  the  Appendix, 
however,  some  interesting  notes  are  added  in  respect  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  eared  seals  walk,  and  their  attitudes  when  in  a  state  of  re- 
pose, he  having  had  the  opportunity  of  observing  a  living  sea  lion  in 
the  Cremorne  Garden. 

Nearly  coincident  with  the  appearance  of  Gray's  Catalogue  of  Seals 
and  Whales  was  the  publication  of  a  "  Prodrome  of  a  Monograph  of 
the  Pinnipeds,"  by  Dr.  Theodore  Gill,*  of  Washington.  Tins  im- 
portant paper  presents  to  a  great  extent  a  new  classification  of  the  Pin- 
nipeds, and  introduces  numerous  changes  of  nomenclature.  The  wal- 
rus, the  eared  seals,  and  the  earless  seals,  for  the  first  time  for  many 
years,!  are  again  regarded  as  forming  distinct  families,  as  by  Brookes, 
to  which  are  applied  respectively  the  names  Rosmaridce,  Otariadce, 
and  Phocidce.%  The  name  Otaria,  of  Peron,  is  restricted  to  the  South- 
ern sea  lion  (Phoca  jubata  Schreber)  ;  Eumetopais  is  proposed  as  a 
generic  name  for  the  Northern  sea  lion  (Leo  marinus  Steller,  =  Otaria 
califurniana  Lesson,  —  Arctocephalus  monteriensis  Gray);  Zalophus  is 
proposed  as  a  generic  name  for  the  Otaria  Gillespii  McBain,  and 
Halarclus  for  a  group  for  which  the  Arctocephalus  Delalandii  is  named 
as  the  type  ;  Arctocephalus  F.  Cuvier  is  substituted  for  the  generic 
name  of  Callorhinus,  proposed  by  Gray  for  the  Phoca  ursina  Linne. 
Brief  diagnoses  of  these  genera  are  given,  and  a  species  is  indicated  as 
the  type  of  each.     A  list  of  the  North  American  species  is  also  added. 

While  most  of  the  changes  introduced  by  Dr.  Gill  in  his  Prodrome 
are  judicious  ones,  errors  occur  in  respect  to  the  names  of  the  genera 
of  the  Otariadce.  These  were  speedily  pointed  out  by  Dr.Gray§  in  a 
short  critique  upon  Dr.  Gill's  paper,  in  which  Dr.  Gray  calls  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  type  of  Arctocephalus  F.  Cuvier  was  not.  as  Gill 
assumed,  Steller's  sea  bear,  as  is  clearly  shown  by  Cuvier's  figure  of 
the  ?kull  of  his  type  of  Arctocephalus.  Hence  Gray  properly  reinstated 
his  name  Callorhinus  for  the  generic  name  of  Steller's  Ursus  marinus. 
He  does  not  state,  however,  to  what  F.    Cuvier's  figure  refers,   this, 

*  Proc.  Essex  Institute.  Vol.  V,  pp.  1-13.  March,  1866. 
t  See  my  remarks  on  the  synonomy  of  Otariadce  below. 
\  Catalogue  of  Brookes's  Anat.  and  Zool.  Museum,  p.  36,  1828. 

§  "  Observations  on  the  '  Prodrome  of  a  Monograph  of  the  Pinnipedes,'  by  Theodore 
Gill,"  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist,  3d  Series,  Vol.  XVII,  pp.  444-447,  June,  1866. 


8  BULLETIN   OF   TUE 

as  suggested  to  me  by  Dr.  Gill,  being  first  pointed  out  by  Professor 
Peters.*  The  type  of  Cuvier's  genus  Arctoceplmlus  being  in  all  prob- 
ability the  Arctocephalus  Delalaudii  Gray,  Halarctus  of  Gill,  based 
on  the  same  type,  became,  as  Gray  points  out,  a  synonyme  of  Arcto- 
cephalus. 

jSYarly  contemporaneously  with  Gray's  above-mentioned  critique 
appeared  an  able  paper  on  the  Otariadce  by  Professor  W.  Peters  of 
Berlin.f  In  this  essay  Professor  Peters  reviews  the  whole  family,  and 
describes  two  species  erroneously  supposed  by  him  to  be  new,$  and  gave 
figures  of  their  skulls.  The  species  are  all  described  as  Olarice,  but  are 
arranged  under  seven  named  subgenera  or  sections.||  which  appear  in  the 
main  to  be  natural  groups.  The  characters  on  which  these  divisions  are 
based  are  drawn,  not  from  the  skull  alone,  but  from  all  the  available 
sources,  the  length  of  the  ears,  and  the  presence  or  absence  of  under- 
fur  ("  Unterwolle  ")  being  for  the  first  time  made  use  of  as  distinctive 
characters  in  determining  the  lesser  groups ;  Gray  and  Gill  in  their 
classifications  having,  with  slight  exceptions,  made  use  of  only  the 
characters  furnished  by  the  skull.  The  specimens  of  eared  seals  con- 
tained in  the  Berlin  Museum  are  described  with  considerable  minute- 
ness, and  the  synonymy  of  all  the  species  quite  fully  and  carefully 
presented.  Professor  Peters  agrees  with  Gray  (though  at  the  time  of 
writing  he  could  not  have  seen  his  [Gray's]  paper)  in  referring  Hul- 
arctos  to  ArclocepJ«dns  and  in  reinstating  CaUorhinus.  The  names  of 
all  the  other  genera  recognized  by  both  Gill  and  Gray  were  adopted  by 
him  for  the  names  of  his  sections,  and  to  which  he  added  two  others 
(A)-cfo/j/toca  and  Pliocarctos).  The  arrangement  of  Professor  Peters  for 
the  first  time  separated  the  hair  seals  from  the  fur  seals,  and  to  this 
extent  at  least  an  advancement  was  made  towards  a  natural  classi- 
fication.    The  fur  and  hair  seals  differ  markedly  from  each  other  in 

*  Monatb.  d.  k.  P.  Akad.  z.  Berlin,  1866,  p.  271. 

t  "  [Jber  die  Ohrenrobben  (Seelowen  und  Seebaren),  Otarice,  insbesondcre  iibcr  die 
in  den  Sammlungen  zu  Berlin  befindlichen  Arten,"  Monatsberichte  der  k.  P.  Akadamic 
y.n  Berlin,  1866,  pp.  2(51  -281,  with  three  plates. 

J    Olaria  Godeffroyi  and  0.  Pkilippii. 

||  (1.)  Otaria,  containing  0.  jubata.  0.  leoninct,  0.  Godeffroyi,  and  O.  Byronia;  (2.) 
Phocarcios,  containing  0.  Hbokeri  and  0  Ulloce ;  (3.)  Arctocephalus,  containing  O  pusilla, 
0.  cinerea,  and  0.  fnUdaitdica ;  (A.)  CaUorhinus,  containing  0  ursina;  (5  )  Eumetopins, 
containing  0.  SlelU  ri ;  >  6.)  Zalophus,  containing  0.  Gillespii,  and  0.  lobala  ;  {'.)  Avcto- 
phoat,  containing  0.  Philippii. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  9 

numerous  other  general  features,  as  well  as  in  the  pelage,  as  will  be 
more  fully  noticed  hereafter.  Fourteen  species  have  been  recognized, 
but  three  of  them  (0.  leoriina,  0.  Byronia,  0.  falklandicd)  he  seems  to 
have  regarded  as  doubtfully  distinct  from  others.  He  refers  Gray's 
Arctocephalus  Delalandii  to  the  Phoca pusilla  of  Schreber,  and  (with  a 
query,  however)  Gray's  Arctocephalus  nigrescens  to  the  Otaria  falk- 
landica  of  Shaw. 

In  consequence  of  the  publication  of  these  papers  of  Dr.  Gill  and 
Professor  Peters,  Dr.  Gray  was  led  to  a  re-examination  of  the  speci- 
mens of  the  Otariadce  in  the  British  Museum,  and  in  September  of  the 
same  year  he  published  the  results  of  his  investigations.*  In  this 
paper  he  for  the  first  time  regards  the  Otarice  as  a  family  (though 
several  other  writers  had  done  so  previously),  and  speaks  of  certain 
features  that  indicate  their  superiority  to  the  Phocidce.  He  adopts  an 
entirely  different  generic  class'ieatiou  from  that  given  by  him  a  few 
months  before, f  both  as  to  the  number  of  genera  and  their  mutual 
relations.  The  seven  named  sections  of  Otaria  of  Peters  he  admits  to 
the  rank  of  genera,  with  the  limits  ascribed  to  them  by  Peters.  He 
adds  also  one  "  new  genus "  (DFeophoca),  based  on  his  Arctocephalus 
lobatus,  which  species  Peters  had  referred  to  Gill's  genus  Zalophus. 
Gray  had  now  eight  genera  and  three  subgenera.!  Only  ten  species 
being  recognized  by  him  as  valid,  he  has  now  but  a  single  species  to 
each  of  his  generic  and  subgeneric  subdivisions.  Although  the  paper 
is  a  somewhat  important  one,  containing  as  it  does  many  valuable  sug- 
gestions, no  really  new  matter  is  described  in  it. 

Another  paper  on  the  Eared  Seals  by  Peters  §  immediately  followed 
this  one  of  Gray.  In  the  few  months  intervening  since  the  publication 
of  his  previous  e-say  on  this  subject,  Professor  Peters  had  visited  Eng- 
land and  Holland,  and  examined  the  specimens  contained  in  the  prin- 
cipal museums  of  these  countries,  including  among  them  the  specimens 
in  the  Leyden  Museum  described  and  figured  in  the  Fauna  Japonica, 

*  "  Notes  on  the  Skulls  of  the  Sea  Bears  and  Sea  Lions  (Otnrindce)  in  the  British 
Museum,"  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Series,  Vol.  XVIII.  pp.  228  -237,  September 
1866. 

f  In  his  Catalogue  of  Seals  and  Whales. 

\  Arctocephalus  is  divided  into  Arctocephalus,  containing  A.  Delalandii;  Euotaria,  con. 
taining  A.  nigrescens  ;  and  Gypsopkoca,  containing  A.  cinereus. 

§  A  supplement  to  his  previous  "  Abhandlungen   iiber  die   Ohrenrobben,  Olariiv.^ 
Monatsb.  d.  k.  I'.  Akad.  z.  Berlin,  1866,  pp.  665-672,  November,  1866. 
VOL.   II.  2 


10  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

and  those  in  the  British  Museum  described  and  figured  by  Dr.  Gray.  A 
skull  of  Tschudi's  Otaria  Ullvce  is  figured,  and  many  interesting  facts 
are  given  respecting  several  of  the  species  described  by  him  in  his  pre- 
vious paper.  A  list  of  the  species  is  added,  and  while  all  of  those 
given  by  him  a  few  months  before  are  included  in  the  enumeration,  they 
are  numbered  in  such  a  way  as  to  indicate  that  his  estimate  of  them 
had  somewhat  changed.  The  whole  number  is  ten,  but  under  No.  1 
he  has  "  Nos.  1  a,"  "  1  b,"  and  "  1  c,"  and  under  Xo.  9,  "  No.  9  a."* 
One  is  left  somewhat  in  doubt,  however,  as  to  whether  he  regarded 
these  species  as  synonymous  respectively  with  Nos.  1  and  9,  or  as  sub- 
species. Gray's  Arctocephalus  uigrcscens  is  now  positively  (previously 
with  a  query)  referred  to  0.  falklandica  Shaw,  to  which  species  also  his 
own  0.  Philippii  is  seemingly  referred.  Instead  of  dropping  altogether 
his  subgenus  Arctophoca,  based  at  first  solely  on  his  0.  Philippii, 
which  he  now  appears  to  regard  as  a  nominal  species,  he  transfers 
his  0.  falklandica  from  Arctocephalus  to  Arctophoca.  The  Otaria 
Stellcri  of  Schlegel  is  in  this  paper  referred  to  0.  Gillcspii  of  McBain, 
instead  of  in  part  to  the  0.  cinerea  of  Peron,  and  in  part  to  the 
Arctocephalus  hiatus  of  Gray,  as  both  he  and  Gray  had  previously  re- 
ferred it.  In  addition  to  the  determination  of  the  character  of  Schlegel's 
0.  Stelleri,  the  most  important  thing  decided  by  this  paper  is  the  exact 
character  of  Tschudi's  0.  Ulloce,  of  which  Peters  was  able  to  figure 
and   describe  original  specimens. 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  five  papers  published  in  1866, — 
an  important  year  in  the  history  of  the  literature  of  the  Otariadee, — 
Dr.  Sclater  states,  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  the 
same  year,f  that  a  "young  living  male  sea  bear  (Otaria  Hookeri), 
captured  mar  Cape  Horn,  in  June,  1862,  by  a  French  sailor  named 
Lecomte,  had  been  added  to  the  society's  menagerie.  This  animal 
had  been  exhibited  by  its  captor  in  Buenos  Ayres,  and  in  various 
parts  of  France  and  England,  and  is  the  one  doubtless  referred  to  by 
Cray  in  the  Appendix  to  his  Catalogue  of  Seals  and  Whales. 

At  about  the  same  time  Dr.  Burmeister  t    also  gives  a  description 

*  0.  jubata  ox  Forster  and  Blainville  is  given  as  "  Xo.  1 "  ;  0.  Byronia  Blainv.,  as 
•■  No.  la";  0.  leonina  F.  Cuv.  as  "  No  1  b,"  and  0.  Godeffroyi  Peters,  as  "  No.  1  c"j 
"  No.  9  "  is  0.  falklandica  Shaw,  while  his  0.  Philipjni  forms  his  "  No.  9  a." 

t  Proceedings  London  Zool.  Society,  1866,  p.  80,  January,  1S66. 

t  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Series,  Vol.  XVIII,  p.  99,  PI.  ix,  February,  1866. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  11 

and  figure  of  a  young  skull  of  Arctocephalus  falklandicus,  and  some 
interesting  facts  in  respect  to  the  distribution  of  the  eared  seals  on 
the  east  coast  of  South  America,  where  he  says  but  two  species 
exist.  Under  the  improper  name  of  A.  falklandicus,  he  also  refers 
to  the  specimen  captured  and  exhibited  by  Lecomte.  One  is  led  by 
Burmeister's  remarks  to  infer  that  he  believed  this  specimen  (and  an- 
other which  did  not  live  to  reach  Europe)  was  captured  in  the  Rio  de 
la  Plata.  Later  the  death  of  this  "  sea  bear  "  is  announced  in  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Zoological  Society,  and  Dr.  James  Murie  *  reports  the 
results  of  his  investigations  as  to  the  cause  of  its  decease. 

The  next  paper  of  moment  on  the  Eared  Seals  appeared  in  February, 
1868,  and  is  entitled  '"Observations  on  Sea  Bears  (Otariadce),  and 
especially  on  the  Fur  Seals  and  Hair  Seals  of  the  Falkland  Islands 
and  South  America."!  In  this  paper  Dr.  Gray  refers  briefly  to  the  two 
papers  of  Professor  Peters,  and  very  properly  remarks,  as  it  seems  to 
me,  that  Peters  in  his  first  essay  "formed  no  less  than  five  species 
from  the  skulls  of  the  Southern  sea  lion  (Otaria  jubata), —  0.  jubata, 
0.  Byronia,  0.  leonina,  0.  Godeffroyi,  and  0.  Ulloa"  lie  reviews  at 
some  length  the  complicated  synonomy  of  the  Falkland  Island  eared 
seals,  and  raises  his  subgenera  of  Euotaria  and  Arctocephalus  (pre- 
viously mentioned)  to  the  rank  of  genera,  and  redescribes  the  Falkland 
Island  and  South  American  species.  These  are,  (1)  the  Arctocephalus 
falklandicus  Gray  ex  Shaw,  (2)  the  Euotaria  nigresceus  Gray,  and 
(3)  P/tocarctos  Hookeri  Gray.  Dr.  Gray  contends  that  Peters's  O.falk- 
landica  is  not  the  O.falklandica  of  Shaw,  but  that  it  is  the  same  as 
his  Arctocephalus  (or  Euotaria)  nigrescens.  The  Arctocephalus  falk- 
landicus of  BurmeisterJ  he,  as  it  seems  to  me,  erroneously  referred 
to  his  Phocarcfos  Hookeri,  doubtless  from  Dr.  Burmei>ter  having  re- 
ferred Lecomte's  specimen  of  the  ;'  sea  bear "  already  mentioned, 
which  was  really  the  0.  jubata,  to  the  "  0.  faUclandica."  The  de- 
scription of  the  ^kin  by  Dr.  Burmeister,  in  Profes-or  Peters's  second 
essay,§  shows  the  animal  to  have  been  a.  fur  seal,  the  P.  Hookeri  being 
a  hair  seal. 

The  young  male  sea  lion  (or  sea  bear,  as  it  was  also  called),  which 

*  Proceedings  London  Zool.  Society,  1S67,  p.  213. 

t  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nut   Hi-t.,  4th  Series,  Vol.  I   pp.  99-110,  February,  1 56  , 

J  Ibid.,  3d  Series.  Vol.  XVIII,  p.  99,  February,  |  - 

§  Monatsb.  d.  k.  P.  Akad.  d.  Wi;senseh,  z.  Berlin,  1866,  p.  670. 


12  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

lived  for  a  time  in  the  Zoological  Garden,  and  which  was  figured  by 
Dr.  Sclater  as  O.  Hoolceri*  he  says  is  identical  with  the  O.jubuta, — 
an  opinion  subsequently  shared  by  Dr.  Sclater  himself,  t 

A  few  weeks  later  Dr.  Gray  published  another  p«per,  on  the  Ota- 
riadce,  entitled  "Observations  on  the  Fur  Seals  of  the  Antarctic  Seas 
and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  with  Description  of  a  ne\f  Species";  J 
he  having  in  the  mean  time  received  additional  material.  In  this 
paper  he  remarks  still  further  concerning  the  complicated  synonomy 
of  the  Falkland  Island  fur  seals,  and  respecting  the  habitat  of  the 
specimens  of  Weddell,  described  by  Mr.  R.  Hamilton, §  and  the  dif- 
ferences between  these  species  and  his  A.  cinereus  of  Australia  and 
the  fur  seals  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  He  also  describes  what  he 
regards  as  a  new  species,  from  two  skins  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
which  species  he  calls  Arctocephalus  nivosus.  These  skins  differ  from 
those  of  his  A.  Delalandii,  he  says,  in  being  so  nearly  destitute  of 
under-fur,  except  just  on  the  crown  of  the  head,  that  he  was  convinced 
they  could  not  be  dressed  as  fur  seals.  || 

In  "The  [Cambridge,  Eng.]  Journal  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology  " 
for  November,  1868,1"  Dr.  McBain  describes  an  imperfect  skull  of  a 
female  Otaria  jubata  from  the  Chincha  Islands,  which  he  calls  "(9.  Ul- 
loce?"  suggesting  for  it,  however,  the  name  0.  Graii,  in  case  it  should 
prove  to  be  new.  In  the  same  number  of  this  journal  Professor 
Turner**  describes,  as  that  of  a  new  species  (Arctocephalus  schisthy- 
joeroes  ft )<  a  skull  with  a  peculiar  conformation  of  the  palatine  bones, 
from  Desolation  Island,  which  Dr.  Gray  examined  later  and  referred 
to  his  Euotaria  nigrescens. 

In  the  Monatsbericht  of  the  Berlin  Academy  for  March  of  the  same 

*  Proc.  Loud.  Zobl  Soc,  1866,  p.  80. 

t  Ibid.,  1868,  p.  190,  loot-note,  March,  1868. 

J  Ann  and  Mag.  Nat,  Hist,  4th  Series,  Vol.  I,  pp.  215-210,  March,  1868. 

4  Ibid.,  Vol   II,  p.  81,  PI.  iv.  1838. 

||  In  this  paper  Gray  repeat-  a  misstatement  made  by  him  in  his  last  paper  preceding 
this,  viz.  that  the  Eumetopias  Stelleri,  a  true  hair  seal,  is  one  of  the  few  eared  seals  that 
"have  a  close,  soft,  elastic  fur."  See  further  remarks  on  this  point  beyond  under  E. 
Stelleri. 

\    Vol.  Ill,  p.  109-112. 

i  ■•  [bid.,  p.  113-117. 

ft  In  the  ••  Zoological  Record"  for  1863  Dr.  Gunfher changes  this  name  to scMsluperus. 
McBain's  "0.  Ulloce'i"  he  regards  us  a  new  species,  for  which  he  proposes  the  name 
of  Arctocephalus  Graii. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  13 

year  a  letter  from  Dr.  Burmeister  to  Professor  Peters  *  is  published 
concerning  the  eared  seals  of  the  coast  of  the  La  Plata  States.  In  this 
letter  Dr.  Burmeister  restates  his  opinion  |  that  only  two  species  of 
these  animals  exist  on  the  east  coast  of  South  America,  one  of  which  he 
regards  as  the  Olaria  leonina,  and  the  other  as  the  Otaria  falklandica  of 
Peters's  first  essay.  Of  the  first  of  these  he  had  examined  a  number  of 
specimens,  which  he  describes  somewhat  in  detail,  and  remarks  espe- 
cially upon  the  great  variations  presented  by  different  specimens  in  con- 
sequence of  differences  in  age,  and  also  upon  the  great  amount  of  purely 
individual  variation  they  present..  He  is  consequently  led  to  believe 
that  the  species  described  by  Professor  Peters  in  his  first  essay  as  0. 
jubata,  0.  Byronia,  0.  leonina,  and  0.  Godeffroyi,  form  but  a  single  spe- 
cies. These  several  nominal  species  he  regards  as  based  merely  upon 
individual  differences,  and  liot  constituting  even  "  permanent  races  or 
varieties."  In  the  statement  of  this  opinion  he  was  anticipated  by  Dr. 
Gray,  who,  as  previously  stated,  one  month  earlier  referred  not  only 
these,  but  also  the  0.  Ulloce  of  Peters,  to  the  0.  jubata.  To  the 
Otaria  falklandica  of  Shaw  Dr.  Burmeister  also  refers  the  0.  nigre- 
scens  Gray  and  the  0.  Philippii  Peters,  as  it  seems  to  me  with  evident 
propriety.  This  short  article  contains  highly  important  information 
respecting  the  South  American  eared  seals.  $ 

In  the  following  month  Captain  C.  C.  Abbott  §  communicated  to  the 
London  Zoological  Society  some  interesting  notes  on  the  haunts,  habits, 
and  external  features  of  Otaria  jubata  and  Arctocephalus  falklandicus, 
Among  other  things,  he  remarks  that,  in  the  hundreds  of  skins  of  the 
former  (0.  jubata)  lie  had  seen,  he  "  never  saw  on  any  of  them  any- 
thing approaching  fur."  Captain  Abbott's  notes  are  the  more  valuable 
from  the  fact  that  he  has  deposited  skulls  of  both  these  species  in  the 

*  Monatsb.  d.  k.  P.  Akad.  Wissensch.  z  Berlin,  1S68,  pp.  180-1S2.  The  same  ac- 
count is  substantially  given  in  the  Anal.  Mus.  Buen.  Ayr.  1S68,  p.  303;  Act.  Soc. 
Paleont.,  p.  xxxix,  and  Zeitschr.  ges.  Naturw.,  XXXI,  pp.  294-301. 

t  See  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nut.  Ili-t.,  3d  Series,  Vol.  XVIH,  p.  99,  1866. 

I  It  is  perhaps  but  proper  to  state  in  this  connection  that  the  specimens  referred  to  by 
Dr.  Burmeister  in  the  above-mentioned  paper  were  collected  by  Dr.  G.  A.  Maack  at  Cabo 
Corricntes,  near  the  southern  extremity  of  Buenos  Ayres  (lat.  38°  S.)  They  are  the 
specimens  referred  to  by  Dr.  Maack  in  his  paper  in  "  Der  Zoologische  Garten"  (Jan. 
1870),  and  in  his  notes  to  the  present  paper. 

§  "  On  the  Seals  of  the  Falkland  Islands,"  by  Captain  C.  C.  Abbott.  Communicated, 
with  notes  by  P.  L.  Sclater,  M.  D.,  etc.,  Proc.  Lond.  Zobl.  Soc.  1868,  pp.  189-182,  March, 
1868. 


14  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

British  Museum,  so  that  it  is  well  known  to  which  species  his  re- 
marks refer.  In  a  note  to  this  paper  Dr.  Sclater  observes :  "  I  agree 
with  Dr.  Peters  *  in  thinking  it  best  to  retain  the  name  jubata  for 
the  Southern  species,  and  to  call  the  Northern  one  Stelleri.  I  con- 
sider O.  leonina  Cuv.  to  be  probably  the  same  as  0.  jubata,  as  appears 
to  be  admitted  by  Dr.  Peters  in  his  last  paper."  f  Dr.  Sclater  states 
that  he  was  mistaken  in  referring  the  living  specimen  brought  by  Le- 
comte to  the  0.  Hookeri,  and  agrees  with  Peters  \  and  Gray  in  re- 
garding it  as  0.  jubata. 

At  the  first  session  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,  held  in  No- 
vember, 18G<S,  Dr.  Sclater  §  announced  that  a  young  female  sea  lion 
{Otaria  jubata),  from  the  Falkland  Islands,  had  been  received  during 
the  preceding  August  at  the  society's  menagerie.  ''This  individual,"  he 
says,  "  was  the  only  survivor  of  eight  examples  of  this  animal  captured 
in  various  spots  on  the  coast  of  the  Falklands  by  Adolphe  Alexandre 
Lecomte,  ||  the  society's  keeper,  who  had  been  sent  out  there  by  the 
council  of  the  society  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  living  specimens  of 
it."  The  different  localities  at  which  M.  Lecomte  met  with  this  species 
are  mentioned  in  this  communication,  from  which  it  appears  that  both 
this  animal  and  "the  fur  seal  of  the  Falklands  (Otaria  falUandica)" 
are  far  less  numerous  than  formerly.  The  latter  species  was  observed 
in  considerable  numbers  at  the  Volunteer  Rocks. 

M.  Lecomte  also  brought  home  a  considerable  number  of  skins  and 
skeletons  of  the  sea  lion,  concerning  which  Dr.  James  Muriel!  soon 
published  an  exceedingly  interesting  communication.  Lecomte's  collec- 
tion consisted  of  parts  of  fifteen  individuals  of  the  Otaria  jubata,  and  of 
one  of  the  Arctocephalus  nigrescens  Gray.  The  latter  species,  however, 
was  represented  by  merely  the  "pectoral  extremities"  of  an  adult  fe- 
male ;  the.- former  by  the  skull  and  skin  of  an  "adult  male,"**  the  skins 
and  skeletons  —  the  latter  nearly  complete  —  of  four  adult  females,  the 

*  Monatsb.  Berl.  Ak.  1866,  p.  670. 

t  Ibid.,  p.  670.  \  Ibid.,  666. 

§  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1868,  p.  627. 

||  Francois  Lecomte,  according  to  Dr.  Murie.     (Sec  next  foot-note.) 

H  "  Report  on  the  Eared  Seals,  collected  by  the  Society's  Keeper,  Francois  Lecomte, 
in  the  Falkland  Islands,"  by  James  Murie,  M.  I).,  etc.,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  Jan. 
1869,  pp.  100-  109,  PI.  vii,  and  two  woodcuts. 

**  This  specimen,  according  to  Dr.  Marie's  measurements,  was  but  little  larger 
than  the  so-called  adult  female",  and  hence  cannot  have  been  adult.     Respecting  the 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  15 

skin  and  partial  skeleton  of  a  young  male,  skins  of  two  very  young 
males,*  skins  of  two  young  females,  together  with  a  partial  skeleton 
of  one  of  them,  and  five  aged  male  skulls.  The  skins  were  pre- 
served in  salt,  but  the  pelage  of  none  of  them  was  in  perfect  condition. 
The  color  of  these  skins  is  described  in  detail,  and  a  few  measure- 
ments are  given  of  both  the  skins  and  skulls.  The  skulls  are  described 
only  in  general  terms.  The  skull  of  a  half-grown  male  is  figured,  as 
is  also  another  skull  of  an  adult  female.  Three  figures  of  the  animal 
(young  male,  adult  female  and  young),  showing  its  peculiar  attitudes, 
also  accompany  the  report.  While  the  paper  conveys  highly  important 
information  in  respect  to  these  specimens,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  far 
more  detailed  account  of  them  will  yet  be  given.  Dr.  Marie's  paper 
also  embraces  valuable  observations  concerning  the  habits  of  these 
species,  derived  from  M.  Lecomte,  who  resided  several  months  on  the 
islands  among  them. 

Dr.  Murie  remarks  that  he  cannot  agree  with  Dr.  Gray,  "  that  Dr. 
Peters's  figured  skull  of  Otaria  Philippii  is  most  nearly  allied  to  0. 
Stelleri  from  California,  inasmuch,"  he  continues,  "as  I  consider  it  noth- 
ing less  than  0.  Hookeri  "  ;  both  of  these  gentlemen  evidently  overlooked 
the  fact  that  Dr.  Peters  states  expressly  that  the  0.  Philippii  has  a 
thick  under-fur  ("die  dichte  Unterwolle  ist  rostroth  "),  whereas  both 
the  0.  Stelleri  and  the  0.  Hookeri  are  true  hair  seals.  On  the  other 
hand,  Dr.  Murie  says  he  unhesitatingly  supports  Dr.  Gray  in  his  criti- 
cism of  Dr.  Peters  as  regards  the  species  of  sea  lions  termed  respec- 
tively 0.  Byronia, '  0.  leonina,  0.  Godeffroyi,  and  0.  Ulloce,  as,"  he 
adds,  "  I  am  perfectly  convinced  they  are  but  differently  aged  specimens 
of  Forster's  jubata."  Dr.  Murie  further  observes,  and  it  seems  to  me 
justly,  that  the  Arctocephalus  nivosus  Gray  is  "  only  a  variety,  seasonal, 
sexual,  or  of  a  different  age"  of  a  previously  known  species. 

In  October,  18G9,  Dr.  Gray  published  some  "  Additional  Notes  on 
Sea  Bears  (Otariadce)"  f  based  mainly  on  an  examination  of  three 
skulls  from  Desolation  Island,  and  one  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
which  had  recently  been  sent  him  by  Professor  Turner  of  Edinburgh. 

comparative  size  of  the  sexes,  see  Captain  C.  C.  Abbott's  notes  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1868, 
p.  190)  and  Dr.  Maack's  remarks  beyond.  Also  Burmeister's  in  the  Monatsb.  Akad.  z. 
Berlin,  1868,  p.  181;  and  D'Orbigny's  in  his  Voyage  dans  l'Amdrique  Meridionale, 
Tome  II,  p.  140,  1839. 

*  About  three  months  old,  according  to  Sclater  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1868,  p.  628). 

t  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  4th  Series,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  264-270. 


16  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

The  skull  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  is  (he  one  on  which  Professor 
Turner*  had  founded  his  Arctocephalus  schisthyperoes.  This  skull  Dr. 
Gray  is  induced  to  helieve  is  that  of  a  half-grown  Arctocephalus  Dela- 
landii,  presenting  an  individual  abnormality  in  the  form  of  the  palatine 
bones.  The  three  skulls  from  Desolation  Island  he  refers  to  his  Euotaria 
nigrcscens.  In  his  remarks  respecting  them  he  speaks  of  certain  differ- 
ences he  had  observed  in  the  relative  position  of  the  hinder  grinders  in 
the  Desolation  Island  skulls,  and  also  in  the  form  of  the  posterior  nares. 
In  this  connection  he  also  compares  Euotaria  nigrcscens  with  Arcto- 
cephalus Dclalandii,  and  says  that  the  last  upper  molar  teeth  being 
"  placed  in  front  of  the  hinder  edge  of  the  front  part  of  the  zygomatic 
arch"  in  the  former  is,  so  far  as  the  skull  is  concerned  (on  which  his 
distinction  of  his  groups  is  mainly  based),  all  that  distinguishes  them. 
This  difference,  he  says,  is  slight  in  the  adult,  but  more  marked  in  the 
young  ;  but  '•  even  then,"  he  adds,  "  the  difference  is  more  imaginary  than 
real."  We  should  hardly  expect,  after  this  admission,  and  his  apparently 
appreciative  remarks  in  the  same  paper  on  the  notable  differences  he 
had  observed  in  skulls  he  regards  as  specifically  identical,  that  in  his 
subjoined  new  synopsis  of  the  "tribes  and  genera"  of  the  Otariadfe  he 
should  place,  as  he  has  done,  these  two  species  in  different  genera! 
He  remarks  that  he  does  not  now  regard  the  "  form  of  the  hinder 
opening  of  the  nostrils,  and  the  form  of  its  front  edge,"  a<  constituting 
"a  good  character."  The  position  of  the  grinders  he  regards  as  afford- 
ing reliable  specific  characters  during  youth,  but  that  in  maturity  their 
form  is  so  much  altered  by  age,  "and  their  position  in  different  spe- 
cies so  similar,  that  the  distinction  of  the  species  becomes  more  diffi- 
cult." He  finally  briefly  recapitulates  the  principal  distinctive  family 
characters  of  the  Otariadce,  and  concludes  the  paper  with  a  synopsis 
of  its  "  genera  and  tribes."  He  having  previously  established  as 
many  genera  as  there  are  commonly  recognized  specie-,f  no  new  genera 
could  well  be  added.  It  is,  nevertheless,  a  radically  new  classification, 
and  one  as  arbitrary  a  could  well  be  devised.  The  family  is  first 
divided  into  two  primary  groups,  termed  ''sections."  The  first  section 
embraces  a  single  "tribe,"  called  Otariina,  containing  the  single  species 
Otaria  jubata  of  the  east  and  west  coast  of  Southern  South  America. 

*  See  anten,  p.  12. 

t  See  his  papers  on  the  Eared  Seals  in  the  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat  Hist,  for  18G0  and 
1868. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  17 

The  other  section  is  divided  into  four  "  tribes,"  which  are  named  respec- 
tively, (1)  Callorhinina,  (2)  Arclocephalina,  (3)  Zalopliina,  and  (4) 
Eumetopiina.  The  first  embraces  the  single  genus  Gallorhinus ;  the 
second,  Phocarctos,  Arctocephalus,  Euotaria,  and  Gypsophoca  ;  the  third, 
Zalophus  and  Neophoca  ;  the  fourth,  Eumetopias  and  Arctophoca,  —  ten 
genera  in  all.  The  short  generic  diagnoses  given  are  drawn  almost 
entirely  from  two  exceedingly  variable  features  of  the  skull,  namely,  the 
form  and  relative  length  of  the  palatal  bones  and  the  form  and  position 
of  the  teeth.  The  geographical  distribution  of  the  supposed  genera  is  also 
indicated,  in  which  the  habitat  of  Zalophus  is  given  as  "  South  America," 
whereas  it  was  founded  solely  on  the  Olaria  Glllespii  McBain  of  the 
North  Pacific.  Three  alleged  species  are  mentioned  whose  skulls,  he 
says,  are  not  known.  These  are,  (1)  Arctocephalus  falklandicus,  habitat, 
"New  Georgia";  (2)  A.  nivosus,  habitat,  "  Cape  of  Good  Hope";  (3) 
"  A.  Forsteri  Fischer  "  habitat,  "  New  Zealand."  The  character  of  the 
latter  I  cannot  satisfactorily  determine.  I  have  never  seen  an  "  Arcto- 
cephalus Forsteri  Fischer "  elsewhere  mentioned ;  the  Otaria  Fischeri 
Lesson  and  the  Phoca  Forsteri  Fischer*  have  usually  been  referred  to 
the  A.  falklandicus.  Gray's  A.  Forsteri  seems  to  be  based,  judging 
from  his  references,  exclusively  on  the  "sea  bear"  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Fors- 
ter.f  whose  habitat  was  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  as  Gray  in  another 
place  specially  states.  But  this  species  Gray  in  this  paper  regards 
as  the  same  as  the  Phoca  antarctica  Thunberg  %  and  Fischer,  §  which, 
he  says,  is  the  same  as  what  he  had  called  Arctocephalus  Delalandii, 
the  name  of  which  species  he  now  consequently  changes  to  A.  antarc- 
ticus.  Although  Forster  regarded  the  New  Zealand  fur  seal  as  the 
same  as  the  one  he  saw  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Gray's  A. 
Forsteri  seems  to  refer,  from  the  habitat  given,  only  to  the  New 
Zealand  animal.  I  can  see  no  evidence,  however,  of  the  New  Zealand 
fur  seal  being  specifically  different  from  the  fur  seal  of  South  Australia 
{A.  cinereus  auct.). 

In  this  paper  the  dental  formula  of  the  eared  seals  is,  for  the  first 
time  correctly  given  by  the  author.  || 

*  Synop.  Mam.,  p.  232. 

t  Cook's  Voyages,  Vol.  I,  p.  174 ;  Vol.  II,  p.  528. 

|  Mem.  de  l'Acad.  de  St.  Petersbourg,  3d  Series,  Tome  III,  p.  322,  1811. 
§  Synop.  Mam.,  p.  242. 

||  For  more   than   fifteen   years,    through    some    strange    inadvertence,   the   dental 
formula  of  the  molars  of  the  eared  seals  was  given  in  Dr.  Gray's  papers  as  "  |  —  4." 
VOL.   II.  2 


18  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

In  "  Der  Zoologische  Garten  "  for  January,  1870,+  Dr.  G.  A.  Maack 
describes  bis  excursion  to  the  Cabo  Corrientes  on  the  southern  coast 
of  Buenos  Ayres  (lat.  38°  S.)  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  specimens 
of  the  eared  seals,  and  his  difficulties  in  capturing  them.  He  states 
that  he  met  with  both  species  {Arctocephalus  falklandicus  and  Otaria 
jubata  =  0.  leonina  Maack)  there,  of  both  of  which  he  secured  exam- 
ples. As  these  specimens  had  been  previously  described  by  Dr.  Bur- 
meister  (1.  c),  Dr.  Maack's  observations  are  mainly  concerning  the 
habits  of  the  animals  and  the  character  of  the  locality.  A  figure  of 
the  O.jubata  is  also  given,  but  through  some  mistake  of  the  artist  the 
limbs  are  improperly  represented.  The  remarkable  form  of  the  nose, 
Dr.  Maack  informs  me,  correctly  represents  the  specimen  from  which 
the  figure  was  made.  It  differs  greatly,  however,  in  this  respect  from 
any  other  eared  seal  that  has  been  figured  or  described,  and  may  repre- 
sent but  an  individual  or  abnormal  variation. 

In  Mr.  W.  H.  Dall's  important  work  on  Alaska  f  may  be  found 
valuable  notes  on  the  fur  and  other  eared  seals  of  the  North  Pacific, 
with  a  figure  of  the  Callorhinus  ursinus  drawn  from  nature  by  Mr.  Dall. 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  scientific  papers,  other  interest- 
ing articles  of  a  popular  character  have  recently  appeared,  but  some  of 
the  statements  given  in  them  are  evidently  not  wholly  reliable.}. 

In  addition  to  the  preceding  summary  of  the  more  important  of  the 
recent  contributions  to  our  knowledge  of  the  eared  seals,  the  reader  is 

This  mistake  occurs  in  three  consecutive  synopses  of  the  group  (Cat.  of  Seals  in  Brit. 
Mus .,  1850;  Cat.  Seals  and  Whales  in  Brit.  Mus.,  1866;  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d 
Series,  XVIII,  1866,  — in  the  last  case  corrected,  however,  in  the  general  list  of  errata 
appended  to  the  volume),  and  twice  in  each  synopsis  (in  the  diagnosis  of  this  group, 
called  by  him  Arclocephalina,  and  in  that  of  the  genus  Arctocepknlus).  The  correct 
formula  of  the  molars  is,  of  course,  |  —  «  for  a  part  of  the  species,  and  $  =  ■£  for 
the  others.  In  the  diagnosis  of  Arctocephalus  given  in  the  "  Catalogue  of  Seals  and 
Whales  "  (p.  47),  the  molars  are  stated  to  be  <;  |  —  8  "  ;  the  nlolars  of  thefrst,  third, 
and  seventh  species  described  under  this  genus  are  really,  however,  |  —  |,  and  in  the 
others  fi  —  « 

t   Vol.  XI,  pp.  1  -  8. 

t  Alaska  and  its  Resources,  Boston,  June,  1870. 

X  One  of  the  more  important  ones  relative  to  the  North  Pacific  species  is  a  recent 
article  in  the  "Old  and  New"  Magazine  (Vol.  I,  pp.  487-493,  April,  1870),  by  Mr. 
0.  Howes,  Jr.  In  •Hutchin's  "Scenes  of  Wonder  and  Curiosity  in  California"  (p. 
187,  figs.  1  and  2)  are  also  a  few  interesting  notes  on  the  sea  lions  of  the  Farallone 
Islands.  They  contain,  however,  exaggerated  statements,  especially  in  respect  to  their 
size. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  19 

referred  to  three  recent  systematic  synopses  of  the  family  for  an  expres- 
sion of  the  later  opinions  relative  to  the  genera  and  higher  groups  of 
the  three  eminent  zoologists  who,  within  the  last  four  years,  have  pub- 
lished special  classifications  of  these  animals,  as  no  tabulated  summary 
will  properly  represent  them.  These  are  Dr.  Gill's  "  Prodrome,"  * 
Professor  Peters's  revision  f  of  the  genera  and  species,  published  in 
186G,  and  Dr.  Gray's  synopsis  \  of  the  "  tribes  and  genera,"  published 
in  1869. 

2.  On  the  Affinities,  Distinctive  Characters,  and  Synonymy  of  the 
Family  OtariaDjE,  with  Remarks  on  Sexual,  Aye,  and  Individual 
Variation,  and  a  Conspectus  of  the  Genera  and  Sjjecies,  etc. 

Family  OTARIAD^l  Brookes. 

Phocacea  auriculata  Peron,  Voy.  Terr,  austr.,  II,  37,  1816. 

Otariada  Brookes,  Cat.  Anat.  and  Zool.  Mus.,  36,  1828. 

"  Otaride's  Gervais,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Marnmiferes,  II,  305." 

Otariidce  Gill,  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  V,  7,  1866. 

Otariada  Gray,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Ser.,  XVIII,  228,  1866. 

Otariina  Gray,  Ann.  of  Phil.,  1825. 

Arctocephalina  Gray,  Charlesworth's  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  583,  1837. 

"  Turner,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.   Soc.,   1848,   88;    Ann.   and 

Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  1st  Ser.,  Ill,  422,  1848. 
Otaria  Peron,  Voy.  Terr,  austr.,  II,  37,  1816. 

"     Peters,  Monatsb.  Akad.  Berlin,  1866,  261,  665. 

Distinctive  Characters.  —  Body  less  attenuated  than  in  the  majority  of 
the  Phocidm ;  more  attenuated  than  in  the  Rosmarida>.  Fore  limbs  fin- 
like, situated  very  far  back.  Hind  limbs  comparatively  free  ;  hind  feet 
directed  forward  when  the  animal  is  at  rest,  and  serviceable  for  terres- 
trial locomotion.  The  digits  terminate  in  long  cartilaginous  flaps,  con- 
nected at  the  base  by  membranes.  Bones  of  the  upper  and  fore-arm 
and  corresponding  bones  of  the  leg  very  short,  exceedingly  stout  and 
heavy.  The  digits  of  the  hand  successively  decrease  in  length  from  the 
first ;  without  nails,  or  with  extremely  rudimentary  ones,  situated  at  a 
distance  from  the  edge  of  the  hand.  Outer  digits  of  the  hind  limbs 
longer  than  the  middle  ones  ;  the  latter  sub-equal,  and  provided  with  well- 
developed  nails ;  the  outer  digits  without  nails  or  with  very  rudimentary 
ones,   and  much  shorter  and  thicker  than  the  inner  digits.     Pubic  bones 

*  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  V,  pp.  7,  10,  11. 

t  Monatsb.  d.  k.  P.  Akad.  z.  Berlin,  1866,  p.  670. 

t  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  4th  Series,  Vol.  IV,  p.  269. 


20  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

not  anchylosed,  and  in  the  female  considerably  separated.  Acetabula 
opposite  the  posterior  end  of  the  second  sacral  vertebra.  Ears  provided 
with  a  sub-cylindrical  external  conch.  The  skull  has  a  well-developed 
orbital  process  and  an  alisphcnoid  canal ;  the  mastoid  process  is  strong 
and  salient,  distinct  from  the  auditory  bulla,  -which  is  much  smaller  than 
in  the  Phocidce.  Molars  either  | ~  §  or  f  ~ f  ;  canines,  ^  ^;  incisors, 
f  =  |  5  whole  number  of  teeth,  fzzf  =  i|=:34,  or  J^  — J^=fg==36. 
Testes  scrotal,  situated  as  in  the  Suidce. 

Rank  and  Affinities.  ■*-  The  seals  were  all  referred  by  the  earlier 
writers  to  the  Linnasan  genus  Phoca.  Buffon  was  the  first  naturalist 
who  recognized  the  division  of  the  seals  made  by  seamen  into  eared 
seals  and  earless  seals,  accordingly  as  they  possessed  or  were  devoid  of 
external  ears.  Later  Peron,*  in  1816,  regarded  these  two  groups  as 
genera,  and  gave  to  the  eared  seals  the  name  of  Otaria,  leaving  the 
earless  seals  in  Phoca.  Finally  these  two  groups  were  regarded  by 
Brookes,f  in  1828,  as  constituting  two  families,  the  walrus,  in  his 
system,  forming  a  third. 

These  groups  have  been  generally  recognized  as  natural,  but  their 
rank  has  been  variously  estimated  by  different  authors.  Turner  { 
regarded  the  eared  seals,  the  earless  seals,  and  the  walrus  as  to- 
gether constituting  a  single  family,  which  he  divided  into  three  sub- 
families, —  Arctocephalina,  embracing  Otaria  and  Arctocephalus  ; 
Trichecina,  embracing  only  the  walrus;  and  Phocina,  embracing  all 
the  earless  seals.  Pie  observes,  however,  in  referring  to  the  classifica- 
tion of  the  Pinnipedia  made  by  Gray  in  1837,  §  that  if  the  sub-families 
of  the  Phocina,  proposed  by  that  author,  be  entitled  to  that  rank, 
"  the  walrus  and  the  Arctocephaline  group,  which  differ  so  decidedly 
from  the  other  seals,  would  almost  seem  entitled  to  the  rank  of  families." 

All  writers,  except  Brookes  and  Gervais,  previous  to  18GG,  seem  to 
have  regarded  these  three  groups  as  constituting  a  single  family.  Gill, 
however,  in  his  Prodrome,  ||  considered  them  as  distinct  families,  which 
view  has  since  been  adopted  by  Gray.H 

*  Voy.  Terr,  aust.,  Vol.  II,  p.  37,  1816 
t  Cat.  of  his  Anatom.  and  Zoiil.  Mas.,  p  36,  1828. 
J  Proc.  London  Zool.  Soc,  p.  88,  1848. 
§  Charlesworth's  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  p.  583. 

||  "  Prodrome  of  a  Monograph  of  the  Pinnipedes,"  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  V, 
p.  7,  .Inly,  1866. 

T  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Ser.,  Vol.  XVIII,  p.  229,  1866. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  21 

Believing  that  they  have  a  higher  than  a  sub-family  value,  I  adopt 
for  the  present  the  classification  elaborated  by  Dr.  Gill  in  his  Pro- 
drome, which  is,  it  seems  to  me,  the  most  natural  arrangement  of  the 
Pinnipedes  that  has  been  proposed.  Gill's  arrangement  places  the 
Otariadce  between  the  Phocidce  and  the  Rosmaridce.  No  serial  ar- 
rangement of  these  groups  can,  I  think,  fully  express  their  relative 
rank  and  mutual  affinities.  The  Otariadce  are  evidently  the  highest, 
though  they  seem  intermediate  in  general  features  between  the  earless 
seals  and  the  walruses.  Their  affinities,  as  they  appear  to  me,  may 
be  indicated  as  follows  :  — 

Otariadce. 
Rosmaridce. 

Phocidce. 

While  the  Rosmaridce  are  lower  than  the  Otariadce,  and  the  Phocidce 
are  still  lower  than  the  Rosmaridce,  the  latter  evidently  do  not  con- 
nect the  other  two  groups. 

The  evidence  of  the  superiority  of  the  Otariadce  over  the  Phocidce 
consists  mainly  in  that  modification  of  their  general  structure,  and  es- 
pecially of  the  pelvis  and  posterior  extremities,  by  means  of  which  they 
have  freer  use  of  their  limbs,  and  are  able  to  move  on  land  witli 
considerable  rapidity;  the  Phocidce,  on  the  other  hand,  move  with 
great  difficulty  when  out  of  the  water.  But  the  higher  rank  of  the 
former  is  also  indicated  by  their  semi-terrestrial  habits,  the  scrotal  po- 
sition of  the  testes,  and  in  the  nearer  approach  in  general  features 
to  the  terrestrial  Carnivores,  especially  in  the  more  posterior  position 
of  the  acetabula.  Most  of  these  modifications  are,  however,  nearly 
equally  shared  by  the  Rosmaridce,  indicating  likewise  that  their  true 
station  is  above  that  of  the  majority  of  the  Phocidce. 

Primary  Subdivisions.  —  The  members  of  the  Otariadce  form  among 
themselves  a  closely  connected  group,  as  well  as  a  well-defined  one. 
But  in  general  form,  in  size,  in  color  and  in  the  character  of  the  pelage, 
two  tolerably  distinct  divisions  of  the  Otariadce  may  be  recognized, 
which  in  a  general  way  correspond  with  the  sea  bears*  and  sea  lions 
of  seamen,  and  the  fur  seals  and  hair  seals  of  commerce.  F.  Cu- 
vierj  was  the  first  naturalist  who  recognized  these  divisions,  he  regard- 

*  The  term  sea  bear,  however,  has  been  sometimes  applied    indiscriminately  to 

fur  and  hair  seals,  and  even  to  the  same  animal  by  the  same  person,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  first  living  specimen  of  Otarla  jabata,  exhibited  in  England. 
t  Mem.  du  Mus.,  Tome  XI,  p.  205  tt  seq.,  1824. 


22  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

ing  them  as  constituting  two  genera.  To  the  first  of  these  genera,  em- 
bracing the  sea  bears,  founded  in  fact  on  one  of  the  Southern  ?ea  bears, 
(?  Ar otocephalus  Delalandi  Gray),  he  gave  the  name  of  Arctocephulus, 
and  to  the  other,  founded  on  the  Southern  sea  lion  (Otaria  jubata 
Blainville),  that  of  Platyrhynchus.  These  names  indicate  to  some  ex- 
tent the  differences  seen  in  the  general  form  of  the  head,  in  the 
two  groups.  In  the  first,  or  sea  bears,  the  muzzle  is  narrow  and 
pointed ;  in  the  other  it  is  broad,  and  the  aspect  is  more  leonine.  The 
name  Platyrhynchus,  however,  is  antedated  by  that  of  Otaria  of  Peron. 
Besides  these  differences  in  the  shape  of  the  head,  the  form  of  the 
body  in  the  Arctocephaline  species  is  more  slender  than  in  those  of  the 
other  group.  The  hind  feet,  especially,  are  longer  and  slenderer, 
with  relatively  longer  swimming-flaps  at  the  end  of  the  toes.  Their 
size  is  smaller,  and  they  differ  in  general  color.  The  Arctocephaline 
species  are  also  all  provided  with  a  dense,  soft,  thick  under-fur,  while 
the  others  are  either  entirely  without  under-fur,  or  possess  it  in  too 
small  a  quantity  to  render  the  skins  of  any  commercial  value  as  furs.* 
These  two  groups  are  as  well  defined  as  the  several  sub-families  of  the 
Phocidce,  and  are  co-ordinate  with  them.  If  the  Otariadce  constitute  a 
group  entitled  to  family  rank,  —  and  the  so-called  sub-families  of  the 
Phocidce  have  truly  a  sub-family  value,  —  the  Otariadce  must  be  con- 
sidered as  divisible  into  two  sub-family  groups,  of  which  the  hair  seals 
constitute  one  and  the  fur  seals  the  other. 

In  respect  to  what  names  should  be  used  for  their  designation,  none 
seem  in  themselves  more  appropriate  than  those  derived  from  the 
names  of  the  leading  genera  of  these  groups,  Otariince  for  the  hair 
seals  and  Arctocephalince  for  the  fur  seals.  These  names,  however, 
in  a  slightly  altered  form  (Otariina  and  Arctocephalina),  have  been 
used  on  different  occasions  in  widely  different  senses,  especially  by 
Gray ;  the  first  for  the  whole  group  of  eared  seals,  and  afterwards  the 
other  in  precisely  the  same  sense.     Later,  both  were  again  used  simul- 

*  I  am  aware  of  the  alleged  exceptions  in  the  Otarys  of  Australia  :  the  Zalqphtu 
lobatus  Peters,  a  true  hair  seal,  having,  it  is  said,  considerable  under-fur  when  young. 
This  is  probably  the  case,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  with  the  young  of  all  the  hair 
seals  prior  to  the  first  moult.  I  feel  sure,  however,  that  it  is  quite  different  in  char- 
acter from  the  soft,  long,  dense  fur  of  the  true  fur  seals.  It  may  be  added  that  the 
genus  Zalrphus  is  in  other  respects,  as  in  size  and  the  general  shape  of  the  head, 
somewhat  intermediate  between  the  fur  and  hair  seals,  though  its  affinities  are  decid- 
edly with  the  latter. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  23 

taneously,  as  the  names  of  different  sub-divisions  of  the  group,  but  Arc- 
tocephalina  still  embraced  both  hair  and  fur  seals.  Later  still,  the 
same  author  restricted  Otariina,  so  that  it  embraced  but  a  single  species, 
while  the  other,  also  greatly  restricted  in  its  scope,  embraced  still  both 
hair  and  fur  seals.  In  view  of  this  confusion,  the  name  Trichophocince* 
is  proposed  for  the  hair  seals,  and  Oulophocince  |  for  the  fur  seals,  in 
allusion  to  the  different  character  of  the  pelage  in  the  two  groups. 

Hitherto,  owing  to  the  fact  that  our  beat  classifications  of  them  have 
been  based  mainly  on  the  number  and  position  of  the  molar  teeth,  the 
hair  and  fur  seals  have  been  associated  pell-mell  and  in  almost  every 
possible  mode  of  combination.  Formerly  Arctocephulus  was  a  hetero- 
geneous association  of  members  of  two  widely  different  natural  groups. 
Although  of  late  the  hair  and  fur  seals  have  been  usually  placed  in 
different  genera,  the  genera  of  the  one  set  have  variously  alternated 
in  the  systems  of  different  authors,  and  in  the  different  systems  of  the 
same  author,  with  those  of  the  other  set. 

Comparison  of  the  Skeleton   of  the   Otariad^e  with  those 
of  the  Principal   Types  of  the  Phocid.e. 

The  chief  osteological  differences  which  serve  to  distinguish  the 
eared  seals  from  the  other  types  of  the  Pinnipedes,  as  the  common 
Phoca,  \  Cystophora,  Monachus,  Mucrorkinus,  and  Posmarus,  §  may  be 
indicated  as  follows  :  — 

Comparison  of  the  Otariad.e  (Eumetopias)  with  Rosmarus. — 
The  eared  seals  (of  which  Eumetopias  is  here  taken  as  the  type)  differ 

*  0p<f  =  hair,  and  4>u>xv  =  Phoca. 

•f  ouAos  =  soft,  <t>"\v  =  rhoca. 

t  The  materials  mainly  used  in  the  following  comparisons  consist  as  follows:  (1.)  Of 
the  eared  seals,  two  complete  ligamentary  adult  male  skeletons  cf  Eumelopias  Stelleri, 
and  two  adult  male  and  two  adult  female  complete  ligamentary  skeletons  of  Grflorkinus 
ursinta.  (2.)  Of  the  earless  seals,  a  complete  adult  male  ligamentary  skeleton  of  Phoca 
vitvlina,  and  other  partial  skeletons  of  the  same  species;  three  complete  ligamentary 
skeletons  of  Cystophora  cristata,  and  two  nearly  complete  disarticulated  male  skeletons 
of  Macrorhinus  elephantinus,  besides  partial  skeletons  of  other  species.  (3.)  Of  the 
walrus,  two  complete  ligamentary  skeletons.  Cuvier's  figures  of  the  skeleton  of  the 
"Phoque  a  ventre  Wane  "  (Moimchus  albiventer),  Pander  and  D' Alton's  of  that  of  the 
Otaria  jubata,  and  Schelgel's  of  that  of  Zahphus  Gilleepii,  have  also  been  examined. 

§  Trichechtts,  as  has  been  pointed  out  by  Petersl4md  Gill,  was  originally  based  by 
Linne"  (Syst.  Nat.,  10th  Ed.,  1758,  I,  34)  solely  on  the  Manati  ( T.  Manatus),  and  must 
hence  be  retained  for  that  animal. 


24  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

from  liosmarus  in  the  form  of  the  skull,  in  the  relative  length  of  the 
cervical  vertebrae,  in  the  form  of  the  scapula?,  and  in  general  propor- 
tions. In  respect  to  the  limbs,  the  principal  difference  consists  in  the 
relatively  greater  shortness  of  the  foot  in  the  walrus  as  compared  with 
the  other  extremital  segments  (the  femur  and  tibia  posteriorly  and  the 
humerus  and  radius  anteriorly),  and  the  great  divergence  of  the  digits 
of  the  hind  feet. 

A  skeleton  of  an  aged  male  Alaska  walrus  I  find  varies  in  length  but 
a  few  centimetres  from  that  of  an  aged  male  of  E.  Stdleri.  The  dorsal 
and  lumbar  vertebrae  have  the  same  length  in  both,  but  the  cervical 
vertebne  in  the  walrus  are  considerably  shorter,  and  the  caudal  some- 
what longer,  than  they  are  in  the  other.  A  vast  difference,  however, 
is  seen  in  the  general  form,  the  E.  Stdleri  being  slender  and  the  walrus 
exceedingly  robust,  the  bulk  of  the  body  in  the  latter  being  nearly 
twice  that  of  the  former.  This  gives  a  greater  length  to  the  ribs  of  the 
walrus,  and  much  larger  centrums  to  its  vertebrae ;  but  the  develop- 
ment of  most  of  the  vertebral  apophyses  is  nearly  the  same  in  both. 
The  great  thickness  of  the  body  also  serves  to  increase  the  dispropor- 
tionate shortness  of  the  neck,  as  well  as  to  increase  the  relative  size  of 
the  pelvis  and  the  divergence  of  the  ilia.  The  limbs  also  are  hence 
necessarily  longer  in  proportion  to  the  length  of  "the  body.  The  feet, 
however,  are  proportionally  less  developed  than  in  the  eared  seals,  and 
the  whole  form  of  the  body  indicates  an  animal  of  slow  movements, 
especially  in  the  water,  and  of  rather  sluggish  habits. 

The  scapula  in  the  walrus  is  long  and  narrow,  with  its  greatest 
breadth  near  the  middle,  and  its  spine  or  crest  situated  but  little  behind 
the  median  line.  In  Eumetopias  the  scapula  is  short  and  broad,  with 
its  greatest  breadth  at  the  upper  border,  and  its  spine  quite  near  the 
posterior  edge.  These  considerable  differences  seem  to  result  neces- 
sarily from  the  correlation  of  the  form  of  the  scapula  with  the  great 
depth  of  the  body. 

The  great  differences  which  obtain  in  the  skulls  of  these  types, 
through  the  enormous  development  of  the  canines  in  the  walrus,  are  too 
well  known  to  require  a  detailed  description.  In  the  latter  the  skull  is 
exceedingly  massive  throughout,  but  is  especially  developed  anteriorly, 
to  afford  support  to  the  immense  tusks,  while  in  Eumetopias  it  has  the 
normal  carnivore  form. 

The  bones  of  the  walrus,  it  may  be  added,  are  lighter  and  softer  than 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


25 


those  of  the  eared  seals,  hut  the}-  are  far  less  so  than  those  of  some  of 
the  earless  seals,  especially  Macrorhinus,  in  which  they  are  more  porous 
than  in  some  of  the  cetaceans.  All  the  sternal  segments  in  the  walrus 
are  much  less  ossified  than  in  the  Otariadce  ;  in  the  former  the  first 
and  ninth  are  almost  wholly  cartilaginous,  leaving  but  eight  ossified.  In 
Eumelopias  all  are  ossified,  the  first  being  also  developed  anteriorly 
into  a  long  bony  point,  and  the  ninth  similarly  developed  posteriorly.* 

Hence  the  Olariadce  differ  from  the  walrus  type  not  only  in  many  de- 
tails of  structure,  but  radically  in  the  general  form  and  proportions  of 
the  whole  skeleton. 

Comparison  with  the  Phoca  vitulina.  —  The  eared  seals  differ 
vastly  from  the  earless  seals,  as  represented  by  Phoca  vitulina,  in  almost 
every  feature.  In  addition  to  the  well-marked  differences  of  form  ex- 
isting between  nearly  all  the  principal  bones,  there  are  remarkable 
regional  variations  which  indicate  a  wide  difference  in  the  zoological 
rank  of  the  two  types.  In  the  eared  seals  the  length  of  the  cervical 
and  thoracic  regions  of  the  body,  as  compared  with  its  whole  length,  is 
much  greater  than  in  Phoca,  but  in  respect  to  the  lumbar  and  pelvic 
regions  the  reverse  of  this  obtains,  these  regions  being  most  developed 
in  the  Phocidoe.\  In  the  eared  seals  (Eumetopias  and  Callurhinus,  which 
represent  the  two  leading  types  of  the  eared  seals)  the  ratio  of  the  length 
of  the  cervical  vertebra?  to  the  whole  length  of  the  spinal  column  is  as  19 
to  100  ;  in  Phoca  vitulina  as  18  to  100.  In  the  former,  the  ratio  of  the 
length  of  the  dorsal  vertebra  to  the  whole  length  of  the  spinal  column 
is  as  44  to  100  ;  in  Phoca  vitulina  as  37  to  100.    That  of  the  lumbar  to 


*  See  the  detailed  measurements  of  the  skeletons  of  E.  Slelleri  and  Cdlurhinus  ursinus 
given  beyond. 

f  The  following  table  gives  the  dimensions  (in  mm.)  and  the  proportions  of  the  differ- 
ent regions  in  E.  Sttlleri,  C.  ursinus,  P.  vitulina,  and  the  Alaska  walrus. 


E    Stel- 

C.  ur- 

Ph. vitu- 

Rosma- 

leri.  $ 

sinus.  $ 

lina.  $ 

rus.  $ 

Length  of  the  cervical  vertebrae      .... 

480 

400 

235 

330 

"       dorsal           "           .... 

1.130 

V80 

4^0 

1,130 

"          "       lumbar        "              .... 

370 

270 

220 

370 

"          "       cau  lal          "          .... 

520 

310 

370 

580 

"         "      spinal  column           .... 

2,500 

1,700 

1.305 

2,410 

"       sternum                   .... 

840 

6.30 

270 

590 

Ratio  of  length  of  cervical  vert,  to  spinal  column, 

15-100 

23-H'O 

lS-100 

14-100 

"          "     dorsal        "          "                " 

4-3-100 

44-100 

37-100 

47-lnO 

"         "          "     lumbar      ''          "                " 

15-100 

15.1-100 

17-100 

15.4-100 

"         "          "     caudal        "           " 

21-100 

20-100 

2S-1O0 

24-100 

"         "          "     sternum               "                " 

34-100 

36-100 

20.7-100 

24.5-100 

26 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


the  whole  length  is  in  the  former  as  15  to  100;  in  P.  vitulina  as  17  to 
100.  The  same  proportion  in  respect  to  the  caudal  vertebrae  is  in  the 
former  as  20  to  100 ;  in  the  latter  as  28  to  100.*  The  relative  length 
of  the  sternum  to  the  spinal  column  is  as  35  to  100  in  the  eared  seals, 
and  as  28  to  100  iu  Phoca  vitulina,  indicating  in  the  latter  the  relative 
shortness  of  the  thorax  as  compared  with  the  whole  length  of  the  animal, 
and  hence  its  eminently  cetacean  form. 

In  regard  to  the  skull,  Turner  t  showed  many  years  since  that  the  eared 
seals  are  distinguished  from  the  others  by  important  cranial  differences. 
He  compares  them  as  follows  :  In  the  earless  seals  "  there  is  no  trace  of  a 
postorbital  process,  nor  of  an  ali-sphenoid  canal;  the  mastoid  can  scarcely 
be  said  to  constitute  a  process ;  it  is  swollen,  and  appears  to  form  a  por- 
tion of  the  auditory  bulla,  more  or  less  connected  with  the  tympanic  por- 
tion, from  which  it  is  separated  by  a  depressed  groove  running  from  the 
stylo-mastoid  foramen  backwards  and  a  little  inwards.  The  paroceipital 
process  is  never  large  in  any  of  the  family,  but  it  is  always  distinctly  de- 
veloped and  salient  backwards.  The  Arctocephaline  group  are  distin- 
guished at  once  by  their  having  a  distinct  postorbital  process  and  an  ali- 
sphenoid  canal ;  the  mastoid  projects  as  a  strong  process,  and  seems,  as  it 
were,  to  stand  aloof  from  the  auditory  bulla."  In  Phoca  and  in  other 
types  of  the  Phocidce,  the  bulla  is  many  times  greater  than  in  the  Otari- 
adce,  its  increa.^ed  size  being  doubtless  compensatory  for  the  absence  of 
an  external  conch.  In  the  latter  the  occipital  and  sagittal  crests  in  old 
age  attain  an  enormous  development,  which  only  a  few  of  the  higher 
forms  of  the  Phocidce  at  all  approach. 

Considerable  differences  are  also  found  in  the  form  of  the  different 
bones  of  the  extremities  of  the  two  types.  In  the  anterior  extremities, 
these  consist  in  the  reduced  size  and  structurally  low  form  of  the  scapula 
in  Phoca,  *as  compared  with  Eumetopias  and  CaUorhinus  t  (Figs.  12,  13, 

*  In  E.  Slelleri  as  15  to  100;  in  C.  ursinus  as  23  to  100;  in  the  latter  there  being  a 
greater  development  of  the  post  sacral  vertebra;. 

t  Proc.  Lond.  Zoul.  Soc.,  1848,  p.  84. 

J  The  general  form  of  the  scapula  in  these  groups  (including  Rogmnrus  and  Macro- 
rhinus)  is  indicated  by  the  following  table:  — 


Rosmarus. 

Eumetopias. 

CaUorhinus 

Phoca. 

Macrorhinus. 

Breadth 

Katio  of  breadth  to  length     . 

420 
260 
6-10 

370 

405 

11-10 

215 

2SO 

13-10 

125 
110 
9-10 

S25 

215 

6.6-10 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


27 


and  16,  Plate  III).  In  the  latter  the  acromion  is  developed  almost  as 
much  as  in  the  terrestrial  carnivores,  the  crests  are  high,  and  the  expan- 
sion of  the  blade  very  great.  In  Phoca  the  blade  is  small,  expanded 
about  equally  anteriorly  and  posteriorly,  the  crest  moderate,  and  the 
acromion  process  slightly  developed.  The  greater  tuberosity  of  the 
humerus,  though  large,  does  not  rise  above  the  base  of  the  head  of  the 
humerus,  whilst  the  lesser  tuberosity  rises  as  a  sharp  point  to  a  greater 
height  than  the  head  of  the  humerus.  In  Eumetopias  and  Callorhinus 
these  conditions  are  reversed,  the  lesser  tuberosity  being  but  slightly 
developed,  whilst  the  greater  is  excessively  so,  rising  to  a  greater  height 
than  the  head  of  the  humerus,  aud  extending  downwards  more  than 
half  the  length  of  this  bone,  —  much  farther  than  in  Phoca.  Differences 
are  also  traceable  in  the  form  of  the  bones  of  the  forearm,  carpus,  and 
metacarpus.  In  respect  to  the  digits  of  the  hand,  they  differ  less  in  size 
and  length  in  Phoca  than  they  do  in  the  Otariadce  and  in  Posmarus. 

By  far  the  most  important  differences,  however,  are  found  in  the 
posterior  organs  of  locomotion,  —  the  pelvis  and  the  hind  limbs.  The 
latter  are  relatively  smaller  in  the  Phocidce  than  in  the  Otariadce,  and 
are  very  differently  constructed  and  adapted  to  widely  different  uses,  as 
indicated  in  the  following  comparison. 

In  the  Phocidce  the  hind  limbs  are         In  the  Olariadoe  the  hind  limbs  are 
extended  backwards  in  a  line  parallel     somewhat  free,  and  when  in  a  natural 
with  the  body ;  the  legs  are  so  en-     position  (on  land)  the  feet  are  turned 
closed  within  the  integuments  of  the     forward,  and  serve  to  raise  the  body 
body  that  they  have  little  or  no  mo-     from  the  ground.* 
tion,  and  the  feet  are  movable  only 
in   a  relatively  small  degree,   in  an 
obliquely  lateral  direction. 

*  It  may  be  added  that  the  foot  is  also  relatively  longer,  as  compared  with  the  length 
of  the  leg,  than  in  Phoca,  as  shown  by  the  following  table,  whilst  the  differences  in  the 
size  of  the  outer  toes  as  compared  with  the  middle  ones  is  also  greater. 


Eumetopias. 

Callorhinus. 

Romarus. 

Phoca. 

"       "    humerus        .... 

"        "    hand      

Ratio  of  length  of  hand  to  that  of  radius 
Length  of  hind  limb      .... 

Ratio  of  length  of  foot  to  tibia 

1,045 
320 
275 
450 

16-10 

1,000 
200 
350 
450 

13-10 

705 
200 
205 
300 

15-10 
705 
135 
220 
&50 

16-10 

1,010 
3S0 
270 
3i0 

13-10 

1,040 
250 
370 
420 

11-10 

360 
120 
110 
130 

12-10 
600 
100 
210 
290 

14-10 

28 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


In   consequence    of   this    peculiar  They  also  (imperfectly)  serve  the 

structure    the    only   purpose    which  purpose   of   walking;    these  animals 

these  organs  can  subserve  is  that  of  being  able  to  progress  when  out  of 

swimming.     On   land  progression   is  the  water  several  miles  an  hour,  and 

mainly  accomplished  by  a  wriggling  to  run  for  a  short  distance  with  nearly 

serpentine  motion  of  the  body,  slight-  the  rapidity  of  a  man.* 
ly  assisted  by  the  extremities. 

In  the  Phocidce  the  tarsal  articula-  In    the    Otariadce    the   foot   when 

tion  allows  but   a   small   amount    of  similarly  at  rest  forms  with  the  leg 

movement   of  the  foot,  which   when  an  angle  of  at  least  90°. 
naturally  at  rest  forms  but  a  slight 
angle  with  the  leg. 

In  the  Phocidce  no  unusual  sexual  In  the  Otariadce  (in  Callorliinus  and 

difference  in  the  form  of  the  pelvis  is  Eumetopias^   at   least)    there   is    an 

known  to  exist ;  the  principal  differ-  exceedingly  great  sexual  variation  in 

ence  being  that  the  pubic  bones  are  the  form  of  the  pelvis.     In  the  males 

united  for  a  shorter  distance  in  the  it  is  narrow  throughout,  and  seen  from 

females  than  in  the  males.      In   the  the  front  the  sides  are  nearly  paral- 

Phoca  vitulina  the  pelvis,  seen  from  lei  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length, 

the  front,  presents  a  pyramidal  out-  the  pubic  bones  abruptly  converging 

line,  with    the    apex  pointing  back-  posteriorly,   and    the    ilia   diverging 

ward.      Laterally  and    ventrally  its  moderately   at   their   anterior    ends, 

outlines  are  straight.  The  front  outline  is  gently  hollowed. 

The    ilia     are    short    and    broad  The  ilia  are  elongated   (twice   as 

(length  and  breadth  about  equal),  ex-  long  as  broad),  flattened  posteriorly, 

panding   anteriorly  in    a    transverse  with  their  dorsal  and  ventral  borders 

line.    Their  crests  are  turned  abrupt-  parallel,  and  no  lateral  expansion  or 

ly  outward  and  recurved,  their  pos-  recurvation  of  the  crest, 
terior  surfaces  being  concave. 

The  pubic  bones  are  straight,  slen-  The  pubic  bones  are  stout  and  sub- 
der,  and  subcylindrical ;  posteriorly  cylindrical,  a  little  broader  and  thin- 
they  become  flattened  and  somewhat  ner  behind,  approximating  both  an- 
expanded  dorso-ventrally.  In  the  teriorly  and  posteriorly.  Barelymeefc- 
male  they  are  appressed  posteriorly  ing  (in  the  males)  at  the  latter  point, 
for  one  third  their  length,  their  point  they  form  with  each  other  a  more  or 
of  widest  divergence  being  at  their  less  broad  ellipse,  which  is  only  slight- 
anterior  ends.  In  the  females,  how-  ly  open  anteriorly  in  Callorkinus,  but 
ever,  they  merely  meet  at  the  end,  more  widely   in   Eumetopias.     They 

*  See  Captain  Rryant's  account,  given  below,  of  the  habits  of  Callorkinus  ursinus. 

t  The  pelvis  of  Callorliinus  differs  from  that  of  Eumetopias  somewhat  in  certain  de- 
tails of  its  structure,  as  will  be  shown  later  in  the  comparison  of  these  two  species  under 
C.  ursinus. 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


29 


much  as  in   the  males  of  the   eared     are  not  partially  united  as  in  Phoca, 
seals.  but  merely  touch  each  other  at  their 

extremities,  and  arc  most  widely  sep- 
arated at  the  middle. 
The  ischia  are  dorsally  arched,  es-         The  ischia  are  considerably  arched 
pecially  their  dorsal  margins,  which     above,  but  otherwise  have  nearly  the 
rise  in  a  high  angular  point  opposite     same   form    and   size    as   the    pubic 
the   posterior    third    of  the  thyroid     bones.      Their  dorsal  margins  have 
foramen.      Anteriorly  they  are  sub-     not    the    high    angular    prominence 
cylindrical,  but   posteriorly  are  flat-     seen  in  Phoca. 
tened   into   broad   thin   blades,    and 
unite  with  the  corresponding  parts  of 
the  pubic  bones. 

The  thyroid  foramen  is  an  irregular         The  form  of  the  thyroid  foramen  is 
elongated  ellipse,  its  pubic  outline  be-     nearly  the  same  as  in  Phoca. 
ing  nearly  straight. 

The  ilio-pubic  spine  is  prominent,  The  ilio-pubic  spine  is  very  large, 
but  the  iliac  tuberosity  is  wholly  ab-  and  the  iliac  tuberosity  is  not  only 
sent.  present,  but  is  enormously  developed. 

The  middle  of  the  acetabulum  is  The  middle  of  the  acetabulum  is 
situated  a  little  in  front  of  the  pos-  situated  but  a  little  in  front  of  the 
terior  end  of  thejirst  sacral  vertebra,  posterior  end  of  the  second  sacral 
which  is  considerably  anterior  to  its  vertebra,  —  the  length  of  the  second 
position  in  the  eared  seals.  sacral  vertebra  posterior  to  its  posi- 

tion in  Phoca. 
Four  fifths  of  the  length  of  the  Only  slightly  more  than  one  half 
innominate  bone  is  posterior  to  the  of  the  length  of  the  innominate  bone 
acetabulum,  —  in  other  words,  the  is  behind  the  acetabulum.  Hence 
proportion  of  the  length  of  the  ischio-  the  proportional  length  of  the  ischio- 
pubic  part  to  the  length  of  the  ilia  pubic  portion  to  the  ilium  is  nearly  as 
is  as  three  to  one.  one  to  one. 

The  bones  of  the  pelvis  are  all  thin  The  bones  of  the  pelvis  are  all 
and  slender.  thick  and   stout,  especially  the  walls 

of  the  acetabula.  The  acetabula  are 
themselves  very  much  larger  than  in 
Phoca. 

In  recapitulation  it  may  be  stated  that  the  essential  or  most  striking 
pelvic  differences  in  the  males  between  Phoca  and  Eumetopias  and  Cal- 
lorhinus  consist  in  the  abbreviated  ilia,  with  their  outwardly  produced 
crests,  the  greater  elongation  of  the  pubic  and  ischiac  bones,  and  the  more 
anterior  situation  of  the  acetabula  in  Phoca  as  compared  with  the  others. 


30 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


In  Phoca  and  the  earless  seals  generally  no  great  sexual  differences 
in  the  structure  of  the  pelvis  appears  to  be  known.  From  the  great 
breadth  of  the  pelvis  between  the  pubic  bones  in  the  male,  no  modifica- 
tion of  the  male  form  of  the  pelvis  would  seem  requisite  in  the  female. 
In  the  eared  sen  Is,  however,  especially  in  Callorhinus,  the  pelvis  is 
exceedingly  narrow,  especially  anteriorly,  in  the  males,  and  of  small 
capacity.  In  the  females  it  is  hence  necessarily  entirely  open  in  front, 
and  the  pubic  bones  and  the  ischia  are  reduced  to  a  mere  bony  rim 
enclosing  the  very  large  thyroid  foramen.  The  ventral  borders  of  the 
innominate  hones  are  also  less  produced.  The  more  posterior  position 
of  the  acetabula  in  the  eared  seals  places  the  hind  limbs  in  a  position 
better  fitting  them  to  support  the  body,  and  hence  for  terrestrial  locomo- 
tion. They  are,  in  fact,  placed  but  little  anterior  to  their  position  in 
many  of  the  true  walking  mammalia. 

The  following  table  of  comparative  measurements  indicates  the  differ- 
ence in  proportions  and  form  of  the  pelvic  bones  in  Phoca,  Macrorhinus, 
JSumetopias,  Callorhinus,  and  Rosmarus :  — 


Rosma- 

Eume- 

Callo- 

Callo- 

Phoca. 

Macro- 

rus. 

topias. 

rhinus. 

rhinus. 

rhinus. 

330 

350 

235 

? 

140 

$ 
190 

380 

Length  of  the  os  innominatum     .     . 

Breadth  (externally)  at  iliac  crests 

330 

160 

110 

975 

135 



"                 "            at  acetabula    . 

195 

120 

55 

40 

67 



Length  of  ilium    .... 

180 

150 

100, 

60 

50 

130 

Breadth  (antero-posterior)  of  do.     . 

90 

80 

45 

23 

57 



Length  of  ischium  and  os  pubis     . 

250 

200 

135 

70 

140 

260 

<  Ircatest  breadih  of  ischio-pubic  bones 

160 

110 

70 

35 

73 

180 

Length  of  thyroid  foramen 

150 

125 

65 

45 

87 

1  50 

Breadth        "            " 

65 

50 

28 

20 

25 

73 

Transverse  diameter  of  the  brim 

40 

15 

25 

40 



"                 "  of  the  inferior  outlet 

To 

28 

35 

25 



Ratio  of  length  of  ilium  to  ischium 

72-100 

75-100 

71.5-100 

86-100 

28-100 

50-100 

Owing  mainly  to  the  great  elongation  of  the  very  thick  neck  in  the 
Otariada,  the  fore  limbs,  as  long  since  mentioned  by  Cuvier,*  are  ap- 
parently placed  much  farther  back  than  in  the  Phocid<z.\ 

The  neural  spines  in  Phoca  are  but  slightly  developed,  especially  an- 
teriorly, whilst  in  Eumctopias  and  Callorhi)ins,  as  well  as  in  Eos?narus, 
they  are  largely  developed,  especially  those  of  the  anterior  dorsal  verte- 

*  Oss.  foss.,  Vol.  V,  j).  216. 

t  By  actual  measurement  they  are  found  to  be  but  little  anterior  to  the  middle  of  the 
entire  length  of  the  animal. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  31 

brae,  which  in  Phoca  are  the  smallest.  These  features,  with  others  of  a 
similar  character,  especially  the  high  crests  of  the  skull  in  all  the  eared 
seals,  show  these  animals  to  be  possessed  of  relatively  much  greater 
muscular  power  than  the  common  Phoca,  and  that  they  are  not  only 
fitted  for  greater  activity  on  land,  but  that  they  must  also  possess  su- 
perior powers  of  motion  in  the  water.  The  most  strongly  developed 
features  in  the  skeleton  of  the  Phoca  type  are  those  that  best  serve  its 
strictly  aquatic  mode  of  life,  and  the  character  of  its  whole  structure, 
as  previously  mentioned,  gives  it  a  rank  far  below  the  Otariadce. 

Comparison  with  Macroriiinus,  Cystophora,  and  MONACHUS. — 
In  respect  to  size  the  Phoca  vitulina  and  the  Macrorhinus  elephantinus 
represent  the  two  extremes,  not  only  of  the  Phocidce,  but  of  the  Pinni- 
pedes,  the  sea  elephant  in  size  far  exceeding  the  walrus.  Yet  in  general 
osteological  features  Macrorhinus  is  strikingly  like  Phoca.  In  the  form 
of  the  pelvis  and  scapulae,  however,  it  slightly  approaches  the  Otariadce, 
and  what  is  known  of  its  habits  indicates  that  it  has  greater  powers  of 
locomotion  on  land  than  the  common  Phoca. 

Cystophora  differs  in  no  important  particular  in  the  general  skeleton 
from  Phoca  and  Macrorhinus.  Monachus,  from  Cuvier's*  figure  of  its 
skeleton,  much  more  nearly  approaches  the  Otariadce,  and  is  hence  a 
higher  form  than  either  Macrorhinus,  Phoca,  or  Cystophora.  The  greater 
development  of  the  neural  spines  and  the  other  apophyses,  the  strongly 
developed  crests  of  the  skull,  the  very  broad  strongly  keeled  scapula;, 
together  with  numerous  other  osteological  features,  indicate  it  to  be  an 
animal  of  great  muscular  power,  whilst  at  the  same  time  its  compar- 
atively slender  form,  and  especially  the  elongated  form  of  the  thorax, 
indicate  that  it  has  a  much  nearer  affinity  to  the  Otariadce  than  either 
Macrorhinus,  Cystophora,  or  Phoca  have. 

These   four,  forms  —  Monachus,  Macrorhinus,  Cystophora,  and  Phoca 
—  represent  four  of  the  leading  types  of  the  Phocidce.     Their  relative 
rank   is   doubtless   in  the  order  given,  Monachus  being    unmistakably 
the  highest  and  most  like  the  Otariadce.    Stenorhynchus,  it  seems  to  me, 
is  still  lower  than  either  of  the  above-mentioned  genera.    I  should  hence 
arrange  the  sub-families  of  the  Phocidce  in  the  following  order,  with  Mona- 
chus as  the  highest  genus  of  Phocince,  which  is  the  highest  sub-family:  — 
Phocinje. 
Cystophorix.k. 
Stenoriiyni.'iii.we. 
*  Oss.  foss..  Tome  V,  Plate  XVII. 


32  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Of  the  Sexual,  Age,  and  Individual  Variations. 

Sexual  Differences.  —  "Whilst  in  the  carnivores  generally  the  sexual 
variations  are  considerable,  especially  in  respect  to  size,  they  seem 
to  never  exist  in  greater  degree  than  in  the  Otariadce.  In  all  the 
species  of  this  family  in  which  the  sexes  are  well  known,  —  especially 
in  Otaria  jubata,  Eumetopias  Stelleri,  Callorhinus  ursinus,  and  Arcto- 
cephalus  falklandicus, —  it  has  been  found  that  the  weight  of  the  adult 
females  is  rarely  above  one  sixth'  to  one  fourth  that  of  the  old  males ; 
—  a  sexual  disproportion  in  size  rarely  if  at  all  elsewhere  met  with 
in  mammals.  Iu  the  Pinnipedes  the  nearest  approach  to  it  is  in  the 
sea  elephant  (Macrorhinus  elephantinus),  which  in  some  of  its  habits,  as 
previously  mentioned,  also  approaches  nearer  to  the  eared  seals  than 
any  other  well-known  species  of  the  Phocidcc. 

The  sexes  differ  also  in  color,  the  females  being  generally  much 
lighter  colored  than  the  males. 

They  also  differ  in  the  size  of  the  teeth,  especially  of  the  canines,  the 
females  having  relatively,  as  well  as  absolutely,  much  smaller  teeth 
than  the  males.  The  form  of  the  palatal  surface  of  the  maxillaries 
also  varies  in  the  two  sexes  in  the  females  it  being  usually  flatter  or 
less  depressed  than  in  the  males,  and  its  lateral  outlines  straighten 
The  females  also  lack  the  high  crests  of  the  skull  possessed  by  the 
males,  and  have  the  processes  of  the  bones  less  developed. 

One  of  the  greatest  sexual  differences,  however,  is  seen  in  the  pelvis. 
In  the  female  it  is  much  smaller  than  it  is  in  the  male,  and  the  pubic 
bones  instead  of  meeting  behind,  as  in  the  males  (and  also  in  the  females 
in  the  P/iocidce),  are  widely  separated,  and  with  the  i-chia  are  re- 
duced to  a  slender  rim  enclosing  the  large  thyroid  foramen;  at  least  this 
is  the  ease  in  Callorhinus  ursinus,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  for 
believing  that  similar  differences  in  the  structure  of  the  pelvis  do  not 
exist  in  the  other  species  of  the  Otariadce.* 

*  Respecting  the  sexual  differences  in  the  Otariajubata,  Dr.  G.  A.  Maack  lias  fur- 
nished  me  with  the  following  note:  — 

"The  most  striking  feature  in  Olaria  jvbata  i<  tin-  great  dissimilarity  between  the 

males  and  females,  not  only  in  res] t  to  size  and  general  external  features,  but  also  in 

their  osteological  structure.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  that,  whilst  the  male  changes  greatly 
with  age  in  respect  to  its  osteological  characters,  the  female  prssents  in  this  respect  a 
greater  or  less  constancy  of  character.  In  color,  however,  tin'  reverse  obtains, —  the 
males  preserving  a  greater  constancy  in  this  respect,  whilst  the  females  vary  exceed- 
ingly at  different  ages." 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  33 

Differences  resulting  from  Age.  — In  color  the  young  differ  from  the 
adult,  us  in  most  mammals,  in  being  very  much  darker,  especially  pre- 
vious to  the  first  moulting  of  the  pelage.  During  the  first  few  months 
the  young  of  both  sexes  of  the  fur  seals  are  black,  whilst  the  old  males 
are  more  or  less  brownish-  or  grayish-black,  and  the  females  cinereous. 
In  the  hair  seals  the  young  are  dark  reddish-brown,  whilst  the  adult  are 
pale  yellowish-  or  grayish-brown.  The  first  coat  of  hair  in  the  young  is 
somewhat  different  in  character  from  that  they  have  later,  in  both  the 
fur  and  hair  species.  The  latter,  whilst  quite  devoid  of  fur  in  adult  life, 
or  possessing  only  an  exceedingly  sparse  undercoat  of  crisp  curled  hair 
rather  than  fur, are  said  to  have  more  or  less  "fur"  when  young.  This 
is  affirmed  more  especially  of  the  Zalophus  hiatus,  but  doubtless  the 
young  of  all  the  hair  seals  have  a  softer  coat  than  the  adult. 

In  respect  to  the  form  of  the  skull,  the  young  greatly  differ  from  the 
adult,  as  is  sufficiently  indicated  by  the  figures  of  the  young  and  adult 
skulls  of  Callorhinus  ursinus  given  in  Plates  II  and  III,  and  described 
in  detail  in  the  account  of  that  species,  and  as  is  also  shown  in  the  figures 
of  young  and  adult  skulls  of  Zalophus  Gillespii  given  in  the  Fauna  Japon- 
ica  (Mamm.,  Plate  XXII).  It  appears  that  the  brain-case  early  reaches 
its  full  size,  and  changes  later  mainly  through  the  thickening  of  its  walls. 
The  facial  portion  is  more  slowly  developed,  so  that  the  proportions  of 
the  very  young  and  the  mature  skull  are  widely  different.  As  regards 
the  general  skeleton,  my  material  does  not  allow  me  to  speak. 

Individual  Variation.  —  In  order  to  determine  what  characters  may 
be  most  useful  in  distinguishing  genera  and  species,  it  is  necessary  to 
take  into  account  the  individual  variation  to  which  the  different  parts 
are  subject,  as  well  as  the  differences  resulting  from  sex  and  age.  For- 
merly, when  but  few  specimens  of  any  species  of  the  Otariadce  were 
known,  it  was  natural  to  suppose  that  any  characters  based  on  the  adult 
form  of  the  skull  or  of  its  different  bones  might  be  regarded  as  afford- 
ing reliable  specific  and  generic  characters.  As  more  material  was 
acquired,  it  became  evident  that  these  parts  in  the  present  group  were 
unusual! v  variable,  and  hence  to  a  great  degree  unreliable  as  the  foun- 
dation for  specific  or  even  generic  diagnoses.  The  general  form  of  the 
skull,  the  depression  of  the  bony  palate,  the  posterior  extension  of  the 
palatines  and  their  posterior  outline,  and  also  the  situation  of  the  last" 
molar  relative  to  the  anterior  edge  of  the  zygomatic  foramen,  and  the 
number  and  form  of  the  molars,  have  been  generally  taken  as  the  basis 
vol.  II.  3 


34  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

of  generic  divisions.  All  these  parts,  however,  have  recently  heen  found 
to  vary  greatly,  not  only  with  age  and  sex,  but  in  specimens  of  the  same 
age  and  sex.  The  form  of  the  hinder  edge  of  the  palatines,  as  to 
whether  it  be  convex,  truncate,  or  emarginate,  has  been  especially 
relied  on  for  the  distinction  of  both  species  and  genera,  yet  the  spe- 
cimens before  me  show  that  in  the  same  species,  in  skulls  of  equal  age 
and  of  the  same  sex,  the  posterior  border  of  the  palatines  may  be  either 
truncate  or  deeply  emarginate. 

The  situation  and  form  of  the  molars  also  vary  in  a  similar  way,  as 
does  also  the  depression  of  the  palate.  The  general  form  of  the  skull 
varies  greatly  in  adults  of  the  same  sex,  as  shown  by  specimens  of  adult 
males  of  each  of  the  three  North  Pacific  species  now  before  me;  so 
much  so,  indeed,  as  to  materially  alter  the  relative  proportions  of  the 
different  regions.  The  form  of  the  frontal  region,  or  third  segment  of 
the  skull,  is  especially  liable  to  great  variation,  as  indicated  by  the  two 
male  skulls  of  Callorhinus  ursinus  figured  in  Plate  II  (Figs.  1  and  2). 
Two  skulls  of  the  Zalophus  Gillespii,  received  too  late  for  illustration, 
show  much  greater  differences  in  this  respect  than  these  do.  They  close- 
ly resemble  in  relative  size  and  form  the  two  adult  male  skulls  of  the 
same  species  figured  in  the  Fauna  Japonica  (Mamm.,  PI.  XXII,  Figs. 
1  -4).  In  the  figures  of  these  skulls,  as  seen  from  above  (Fig.  2  and 
3,  1.  c,  Fauna  Japon.),  these  differences  are  very  strikingly  shown. 
Through  the  deep  and  abrupt  postorbital  constriction  of  the  .skull,  the 
latero-anterior  angles  of  the  brain-case  are  sometimes  well  developed, 
whilst  in  other  specimens  of  the  same  species,  age,  and  sex,  through 
the  less  abruptness  of  this  constriction,  they  are  either  but  slightly 
prominent  or  obsolete.  These  differences  give  in  one  instance  a  quad- 
rate form  to  the  brain-case,  and  in  the  other  a  triangular  form.  The 
length  of  the  postorbital  cylinder  of  the  skull  is  also  an  exceedingly 
variable  (dement,  the  difference  amounting  in  some  cases  to  nearly 
thirty  per  cent,  and  hence  greatly  changes  the  general  form  of  the 
skull. 

The  great  degree  of  asymmetry  exhibited  by  these  animals  may  be 
also  cited  as  evidence  of  an  unusually  great  tendency  to  variation* 
Further  evidence  of  the  same  tendency  is  seen  in  the  somewhat  frequent 
occurrence  of  supernumerary  molars  in  the  upper  jaw,  —  instances  of 
which  will  be  presently  cited. 

*  See  remarks  on  this  point  beyond,  under  Ettmetopias  Stdleri. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  35 

The  form  and  position  of  the  molars  in  the  same  species  is  also  far 
too  variable  to  be  of  much  taxonomic  value,  even  in  respect  to  genera,* 
although  they  form  one  of  the  principal  elements  on  which  has  been 
based  one  of  the  latest  generic  revisions  of  the  group.f 

The  roots  of  the  molars  often  vary  considerably  in  the  two  sides  of 
the  jaw  in  the  same  specimen,  and  most  markedly  in  different  co- 
specific  specimens  of  the  same  sex  and  age.     In  one  of  the  males  of  C. 

*  The  details  of  the  individual  variation  shown  in  numerous  points  by  my  specimens 
of  the  North  Pacific  species  will  be  more  fully  given  later. 

t  In  October,  1869,  Dr.  J.  E.  Gray  published  the  following  classification  of  the  Ola- 
riadce,  based,  as  will  be  seen,  on  a  few  eminently  variable  characters  of  the  skull  and 
teeth.  That  it  should  have  been  otherwise  than  palpably  unnatural  and  arbitrary  could 
hardly  be  expected.  The  alleged  differences  between  the  genera  are  very  slight,  and 
in  some  cases  almost  inappreciable,  as  for  instance  between  Zalophus  and  Neophoca; 
the  really  important  differences  which  sometimes  exist  between  the  different  groups 
being  unmentioned. 

"  Section  I.    Palate  produced  behind  to  a  line  even  with  the  condyles  of  the  jaws.     Grind- 
ers A  —  6      Sea  Lions. 
Tribe  1.    Otariixa. 

1.  Otaria.     East  and  west  coast  of  .South  America. 

Section  II.    Palate  only  extended  behiivl  to  a  line  even  with  the  middle  part  of  the  zygomatic 
arch.    Sea  Beaks. 
Tribe  2.   Callokiiinixa.     Grinders  4~4  ;  skull  oblong;  face  broad,  shorter  than 
the  orbit ;  forehead  arched. 

2.  Callorhinus.     Northwest  coast  of  America. 

Tribe  3.   Arctocephali.na.     Grinders  £  —  |  ;  face  of  the  skull  shelving  in  front; 
the  fifth  and  sixth  grinders  behind  the  front  of  the  zygomatic  arch. 

3.  Phocaixtos.     Grinders  large,  lobed,  the  six  upper  with  two  notches  ou  their 

hinder  edge.     South  America. 

4.  Arctocephalus.     Grinders  thick;  crown  conical.     Africa. 

5.  Euolaria.     Grinders  large, subcylindrical;  crown  conical;  fiice  broad.  South 

America. 

6.  Gypsophoca.     Grinders  moderate-sized,  compressed,  with  a  small,  more  or 

less  distinct  lobe  on  the  front  edge  of  the  cingulum;  face  narrow,  com- 
pressed.   Australia. 
Tribe  4.   Zalophina.     Grinders  4 —1  large,  thick,  in  a  close,  continuous  series; 
the  fifth  upper  in  front  of  the  back  edge  of  the  zygomatic  arch. 

7.  ZaUphus.     Grinders  large   and   thick,   in   a  close   uniform  series.      South 

America.  [ !  ] 

8.  Neophoca.     Grinders  krge,  thick,  all  equal,  in  a  continuous  uniform  series. 

Australia. 
Tribe  5.   Eumetopiina.     Grinders  s  —  4,  more  or  less  far  apart;  the  hinder  upper 
behind  the  hinder  edge  of  the  zygomatic  arch,  and  separated  from  the 
other  grinders  by  a  concave  space. 

9.  Eumetopias.     West  coast  of  America. 

10.  Arctophoca.    West  coast  of  South  America." 


36  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

ursinus  already  mentioned,  the  fangs  of  several  of  the  molars  have  a 
deep  longitudinal  groove  on  the  outside,  the  fangs  appearing  to  be 
formed  of  two  connate  roots,  but  in  the  corresponding  molars  of  the 
other  specimen  there  are  no  grooves,  the  fangs  being  wholly  simple. 

Great  variations  in  the  form  of  the  teeth  and  the  bones  of  the  skull 
have  also  been  pointed  out  as  existing  in  several  species  of  the  P/tocidce.* 
Naturalists  are  fast  becoming  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  bones  of  ani- 
mals generally  are  not  so  invariable  in  form  and  proportions  as  formerly 
supposed,  and  hence  afford  less  reliable  characters  for  the  discrimination 
of  species  than  has  been  generally  believed.f  Such  facts  evidently 
show  that  too  high  a  value  has  been  placed  upon  certain  relatively 
slight  differences  in  the  form  of  the  teeth  and  certain  parts  of  the  skull. 

Color  is  one  of  the  features  commonly  much  relied  on  for  the  dis- 
tinction of  species  among  the  higher  vertebrates.  In  the  case  of  the 
Otariadce,  as  also  happens  in  other  groups,  this  feature  proves  to  be  in 
no  small  degree  unreliable.  In  respect  to  the  hair  seals,  the  three  or 
four  best  known  species  (Eumetopias  Stelleri,  Zalophus  Gillespii,  Z. 
hiatus,  and  Otariajubata)  eo  closely  resemble  each  other  in  color,  and 
different  individuals  of  the  same  species  at  the  same  time  vary  so  much 
in  this  regard,  that  a  description  of  the  color  of  either  of  the  species 
is  almost  equally  applicable  to  all.  This  is  equally  the  case  in  the 
fur  seals,  where  sometimes  specimens  of  such  really  widely  distinct  spe- 
cies as  the  Callorhinus  ursinus  and  the  Arctocephalus  falklandicus  seem 
hardly  distinguishable  in  color.t 

Habits. 

In  respect  to  general  habits  the  eared  seals  seem  to  have  much  in 
common  that  distinguishes  them  from  the  Pliocidce,  at  least  so  far  as  the 
habits  of  the  latter  are  known.     All  the  species  appear  to  assemble  in 

especially  an  important  paper  by  Dr.  J.  E.  Gray,  entitled  "  On  the  Variations 
in  the  Teeth  of  the  Crested  Seal,  C!tstopliora  cristata,"  etc.,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc.,  1849, 
pp.  00-03.  Also, by  the  same  author,  another  entitled  "  Notes  on  Seals  {Pliocidce)  and 
tin-  Changes  in  the  Form  of  their  Lower  Jaw  during  Growth,"  Ann.  and  -Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.,  4th  Series,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  342  -346,  November,  1869. 

i  See  "  Mammalia  of  Massachusetts,"  Bulletin  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  143- 
252,  October,  1869. 

J  In  respect  to  a  skin  of  C  wsinvs  from  California,  Dr.  Gray  has  remarked:  "The 
skin  is  so  like  that  of  Arctocephalm  nigrescens  [=  falklandicus]  that  we  were  induced  to 
regard  it  as  a  second  specimen  of  that  species  before  we  received  the  skull."  (Catalogue 
Of  Seals  and  Whales,  p.  52.) 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  37 

vast  numbers  at  certain  favorite  places  of  resort,  —  usually  isolated  rocky 
islands,  —  for  the  purpose  of  reproduction,  where  they  spend  several 
weeks  or  months,  when  undisturbed,  almost  entirely  on  land.  They  being 
eminently  polygamous,  the  old  males  select  their  stations  and  assemble 
around  them  a  numerous  harem,  which  they  guard  with  the  utmost 
jealousy.  Numerous  bloody  combats  ensue  between  the  rival  males  for 
the  possession  of  the  females,  or  for  favorite  stations,  and  the  roaring 
of  the  males  it  is  said  can  be  heard  for  many  miles.  One  young, 
or  at  most  two,  are  annually  brought  forth  by  each  mature  female,  the 
period  of  gestation  being  about  twelve  months.  Captain  Bryant's 
account*  of  the  habits  of  the  northern  fur  seal  renders  unnecessary 
a  detailed  account  of  the  habits  of  any  of  the  species  here,  especially 
since  the  notes  added  to  Captain  Bryant's  paper  sufficiently  indicate 
the  similarity  of  habits  which  all  the  species  seem  to  share  during  the 
important  season  of  reproduction. 

One  of  the  most  striking  features  in  their  history  is  that  at  this  period 
both  sexes  pass  weeks,  and  even  months,  without  food  or  without  often 
visiting  the  water.  Arriving  at  the  breeding-grounds  exceedingly  fat 
and  unwieldy,  they  seem  to  be  sustained  by  the  fat  of  their  bodies,  they 
finally  leaving  at  the  end  of  the  breeding-season  greatly  emaciated. 

A  similar  fact  has  been  long  known  in  respect  to  the  walrus,  whose 
period  of  fasting,  however,  seems  to  be  shorter  than  that  of  the  eared  seals. 

In  respect  to  breeding  habits,  the  sea  elephant  (Macrorhinus  elephan- 
tinus)  is  the  sole  species  of  the  earless  seals  which  seems  to  quite 
closely  resemble  the  Otariadce.  They  as.-emble  in  a  similar  manner  at 
their  breeding-grounds,  and  pass  much  of  their  time  during  the  repro- 
ductive period  on  the  land,  and  probably  without  taking  food;  but  the 
accounts  of  travellers  are  on  this  point  somewhat,  contradictory.  It 
does  not  appear,  however,  that  they  are  to  so  great  a  degree  polyga- 
mous. And  they  move  on  the  land  with  great  difficulty,  and  go  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  water. 

Of  the  Genera  and  Species. 
Of  (lie  Genera.  —  The  genus  Otaria  was,  as  previously  stated,  pro- 
posed to  embrace  all  the  eared  seal>  as  a  group  distinct  from  the  earless 
seals,  for  which  the  name  P/i oca  was  retained.     But  naturalists   have 
found  it  necessary,  as  our  knowledge  of  these  animals  has  incre  ised,  to 
•    S<  -  Part  IF,  beyond. 


38  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

greatly  subdivide  each  of  these  groups.  Olaria  is  now  restricted  to  a 
single  species;  while  the  original  Otaria  (=Otariadce),  as  defined  by 
IYron,  has  been  separated  into  ten  groups  to  which  generic  rank  has 
been  accorded  ;  none  of  them  containing  more  than  a  single  species. 

The  first  division  of  the  Otarice  was  made  by  F.  Cuvier*  in  1825, 
who  separated  them  into  two  genera,  Platyrhynchus  and  At 'otocephalus, 
with  the  0.  jubata  of  recent  systcmatists  as  the  type  of  the  former,  and 
Arctocephulus  Delalandii ' (antarctic us)  as  the  type  of  the  latter.  Dr. 
Gray,t  in  185 9,  separated  generically  the  Northern  fur  seal  from  Arc- 
tocephalus,  under  the  name  of  Callorkinus. 

The  next  subdivision  of  the  group  was  made  by  Dr.  Gill,  +  in  18GG, 
who  in  his  "  Prodrome  of  a  Monograph  of  the  Pinnipedes,"  separated 
them  into  five  genera. §  These  appear  to  be  natural  groups,  of  true 
generic  rank,  and  properly  restricted ;  and,  after  a  careful  examination 
of  the  subject,  and  specimens  of  four  of  these  five  types,  they  appear 
to  me  to  include  all  the  natural  genera  of  the  family.  As  has  been 
previously  pointed  out  by  Gray  and  Peters,  ||  Dr.  Gill,  as  he  himself 
now  freely  admits,  wrongly  retained  the  name  Arctocephulus  for  Gray's 
genus  Callorkinus,  and  consequently  substituted  Ilalarctus  for  what  had 
previously  been  regarded  as  Arctocephalus.  Two  of  these  genera 
(Eumetopias  and  Callorkinus)  iuclude  but  a  single  known  species  each  ; 
Otaria  has  possibly  two,  Zalophus  two,  and  Arctocephalus,  according  to 
the  views  of  different  writers,  three  or  four. 

Professor  Peters,  ^[  in  18GG,  divided  Olaria  into  seven  sections  or 
subgenera,  he  adding  two  (Phocarctos,  type  Otaria  Hooheri,  and  Arcto- 
pkoca,  type  Otaria  Philippii,  a  nominal  species-,  =  Arctocephalus  falh- 
landicus)  to  the  number  of  divisions  recognized  by  Gill.  The  principal 
character  on  which  the  latter  (Arctophoca)  was  first  founded  proved  to 
be  an  invalid  one,**  yet  it  was  subsequently  transferred  by  Peters,  with 
a  slight  modification  of  its  diagnosis,  to  the  Arctocephalus  falhlandicus. 

*  Mem.  dii  Mus.,  Vol.  XI,  p.  205.  f  Proc.  Lond.  ZooL  Soc,  1859,  p.  359. 

|  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  V,  p.  7. 

§  Otaria,  type  Phoca  jubata  Schreber;  Arctocephalus,  type  Phnca  ursina  Linne;  Eume- 
topias, type  Otaria  calijorniana  Lesson,  ■■  Arctocephalus  monteriensis  Gray;  Zalophus, 
type  Otaria  GiUespii  McBain;  Halarctus,  type  Arctocephalus  Delalandi  Gray. 

||  See  above,  p.  7  of  the  "  Resume."         \\  Monatsb.  Akad.  Berlin,  1866,  pp.  261,  665. 

**  The  number  of  molars  of  A.  Philippii  was  supposed  to  be  |  ~|  instead  of  f  —  £> 
u-  in  the  other  fur  seals,  but  the  skull  figured  and  described  by  Peters  as  that  of  this 
species  bad  evidently  lost  the  fifth  (last  but  one)  pair  of  molars,  as  shown  by  his  figure 
of  the  skull.    1'eters  himself  afterwards  referred  his  A.  Philippii  to  the  A.  falhlandicus. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  39 

Dr.  Gray,  in  his  various  papers  published  since  the  appearance  of  Pro- 
fessor Peters 's  papers,  has  not  only  recognized  as  genera  all  the  genera 
and  subgenera  previously  proposed  by  Gill  and  Peters,  including  Arcto- 
phoca,  with  essentially  Professor  Peters's  first  diagnosis  of  it  (including 
the  dental  formula  !),  but  has  added  three  others  {Euolaria,  Gypsopkoca, 
and  Neophoca).  Taking  into  account  the  nature  of  the  diagnostic 
characters  of  his  pseudo-genera  given  in  his  last  synopsis  of  the  family  * 
his  classification  is  too  palpably  arbitrary  to  require  a  detailed  review. 

Of  the  Species.  —  For  a  long  period  the  northern  sea  lions  were  by 
most  writers  regarded  as  specifically  identical  with  the  southern  sea 
lions,  and  the  northern  sea  bears  with  the  southern  sea  bears.  Peron 
in  1816  first  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  northern  and  southern 
sea  lions  and  sea  bears  were  distinct  species.  During  the  following 
twenty-five  years  many  naturalists  of  high  authority  still  regarded 
them  as  identical,  whilst  others  considered  them  as  distinct.  In  1840 
they  were  for  the  last  time  seriously  confounded ;  but  until  within  the 
last  four  years  the  two  species  of  Zalophus,  the  one  northern  and  the 
other  southern,  have  been  regarded  as  one.  It  is  now  generally  be- 
lieved, however,  that  in  no  case  is  the  same  species  found  on  both  sides 
of  the  equator.!  In  Peron's  time  there  were  commonly  believed  to  be 
but  a  single  species  of  sea  lion  and  a  single  species  of  sea  bear.  He 
however -affirmed  that  as  many  as  twenty  species  of  sea  bears  alone 
were  confounded  under  that  name.  Since  that  time  many  nominal 
species  have  been  described,  —  doubtless  partly  in  consequence  of 
Peron's  remark,  —  until  the  number  of  distinct  names  applied  to  the 
different  sea  lions  and  sea  bears  exceeds  fifty,  while  probably  the  num- 
ber of  veritable  species  is  not  more  than  ten.  This,  in  fact,  is  the  num- 
ber now  most  commonly  recognized.  In  consequence  of  the  early  con- 
founding of  the  northern  with  the  southern  species,  an  extraordinary 
complication  of  synonymy  has  resulted,  several  of  the  earlier  names 
having  been  applied  by  different  writers  to  several  different  species. 
The  synonomy  of  some  of  these  species  hence  embraces  a  list  of  ten 
to  fifteen  different  and  variously  applied  names. 

Of  the  hair  seals,  four  apparently  unquestionable  species  are  now  well 

*  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  4U)  Series,  Vol.  IV,  p.  269.  This  synopsis  has  already 
been  quoted  in  full  on  p.  35. 

t  See  further  remarks  on  this  point  below,  under  the  head  of  "  Geographical  Distri- 
bution." 


40  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

known,  two  of  which  (Enmetopias  Stelleri  and  Zalophus  Gillespii)  are 
northern,  and  two  {Otaria  jubata  and  Zalophus  lubatus*)  are  southern. 
A  fifth  species  {Otaria  Hbokeri),  also  southern,  is  likewise  commonly 
recognized.  But  it  appears  to  be  known  only  from  specimens  in  the 
British  Museuimf  collected  many  years  since  at  the  Falkland  Islands, 
and  does  not  seem  to  have  been  met  with  by  recent  collectors,  either  at 
the  Falklands  or  elsewhere.  It  differs  from  the  O.jubata,  judging  from 
the  figures  and  the  not  wholly  satisfactory  descriptions  we  have  of  it, 
mainly  in  having  the  palatal  bones  less  produced  posteriorly;  at  least 
this  is  the  difference  that  has  been  chiefly  dwelt  on  as  distinguishing  the 
two,  although  certain  differences  in  the  color  of  the  under-side  of  the 
body  have  also  been  mentioned.  The  skull  figured  by  Gray  is  evidently 
that  of  a  middle-aged  or  rather  young  animal.  The  form  of  the  bony 
palate  corresponds  also  with  what  is  seen  in  middle-aged  and  young  spe- 
cimens of  other  hair  seals.  Having  seen  apparently  as  great  differ- 
ences in  specimens  of  the  northern  species,  unquestionably  specifically 
identical,  as  exists  between  O.jubata  and  0.  Huoleri,  I  am  led  to  ques- 
tion whether  the  specimens  described  as  Otaria  \_Phocarctos~]  Ilooheri 
may  not  be  an  unusual  state  of  Otaria  jubata,  the  only  hair  seal  now 
known  to  exist  in  the  Falkland  Islands;  the  difference  resulting  partly 
from  age  and  partly  from  abnormal  development.  Not  having  seen  spe- 
cimens of  the  0.  Hbokeri,  I  do  not  presume  to  assume  it  to  be-referable 
to  O.jubata  ;  my  design  by  this  reference  is  mainly  to  call  attention  to 
its  somewhat  doubtful  character. 

Two  genera  of  fur  seals  are  also  commonly  recognized.  One  of  these 
genera  consists  of  the  Callor//inus  ursinus,  or  the  fur  seal  of  the  North. 
The  other  genus  embraces  numerous  nominal  species,  all  but  one  of 
which  have  been  referred  by  Peters,  and  also  by  Gray  in  his  later 
papers,   to   three   species,    all   of  which   have   a  southern  distribution. 

*  Peron,  under  the  name  Otaria  cinerea  (Voy.  mix  Terr,  austr.,  Tome  II,  pp.  54,  77), 
undoubtedly  referred  to  the  so-called  Zalophus  lubatus  of  recent  writers.  Although  his 
description  is  rather  meagre,  the  size  given,  as  well  as  the  character  of  the  hair,  ami 
••  pei  i'u'.  the  context  (at  p.  77),  render  it  clear  that  he  must  have  intended  to  indicate 
by  this  name  the  species  mure  fully  described  later  by  other  writers.  Pe'ron's  name 
was  at  first  used  by  Gray  to  designate  what  he  has  since  called  lob  tins.  Although 
there  i>  little  reason  to  doubt  that  PeYon's  earlier  name  of  cinerea  refers  to  this  species, 
it  is  perhaps  not  advisable  to  substitute  for  a  well-established  name  one  of  possibly 
doubtful  application. 

t  See  Catalogues  of  the  British  Museum  (Seals,  1850,  p.  45;  Seals  and  Whales,  1S66, 

p.  54;    B !S  of   Mammalia,  p.   110,  etc.)- 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOULOGY.  41 

These  are,  Arctocephalus  falldandicus,  —  one  of  the  earliest  described 
species  of  the  family,  —  A.  cinereus  and  A.  antarcticus  {=  A.  Dela- 
landi).  A.  falldandicus  inhabits  the  shores  and  islands  of  Southern 
South  America  ;  A.  cinereus,  the  Australasian  Seas  ;  and  A.  antarcticus, 
the  southern  coasts  of  Africa.  These  species  hence  have  quite  widely 
separated  habitats,  yet  the  alleged  differences  between  them  are  slight, 
while  in  size,  color,  character  of  the  pelage,  and  general  conforma- 
tion, they  possess  many  features  in  common.  Their  distinctness  has  at 
times  been  doubted,  and  it  seems  still  to  remain  an  open  question  wheth- 
er they  form  a  single  species  or  three.  That  the  A.  falldandicus  and 
A.  antarcticus  hold  a  close  relationship  is  generally  admitted.  The  A. 
cinereus,  or  the  Australian  species,  was  believed,  through  certain  dif- 
ferences in  the  fangs  of  the  hinder  molars,  and  the  supposed  less  abund- 
ance of  the  under-fur,  to  be  quite  distinct  from  the  others.  Professor 
Peters,  in  his  second  paper,  placed  the  A.  cinereus  and  A.  antarcticus  in 
different  subsections  of  his  section  Arctocephalus,  characterizing  them 
as  follows:  "a.  mit  sehr  sparsamer  Unterwolle "  (referring  to  A. 
antarcticus  =  Olaria  pusilla  Peters),  and  "/3.  mit  reichlicherer  Unter- 
wolle" (referring  to  A.  cinereus).  It  is  found,  however,  that  the  fur 
of  the  latter  is  equally  rich  with  that  of  the  other  species.* 

The  distribution  of  these  alleged  species  presents  nothing  incompati- 
ble with  the  supposition  of  their  identity.  They  inhabit  islands  one 
third  as  distant  from  the  shores  of  the  South  American,  African,  and 
Australian  continents  as  these  islands  are  from  each  other.  Other 
Pinuipedes,  as  the  sea  elephant,  range  over  nearly  the  same  area. 
Moreover,  the  distance  is  one  of  longitude  merely,  and  the  physical 
conditions  of  this  wide  area  are  hence  nearly  uniform.  Until  favored 
with  the  opportunity  of  comparing  specimens  from  these  several  distant 
points,  my  opinion  as  to  the  identity  or  diversity  of  these  species  must 
remain  unsettled. 

In  respect  to  the  synonomy  of  the  eared  seals,  that  of  the  northern 
species  will  be  presently  given  in  full,  in  connection  with  the  descriptions 
of  these  species.  To  that  of  Otaria  j ubata,  given  so  fully  by  Dr.  Gray 
in  his  first  memoir  on  these  animals,  may  be  added,  as  clearly  shown 
already  by  other  writers,  f  the  following  recently  recognized   names: 

*  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Scries,  Vol.  XVIII,  p.  257,  1SGG. 

t  For  references  to  the  papers  wherein  the  following-named  synonymes  occur,  see  the 
"Resume  of  the  recent  Contributions  to  the  Natural  History  of  the  OUtl^tad<B,,'  anlea, 
pp.  4-19. 


42  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Otarla  Byronia,  0.  leonina,  0.  Godeffroyi  and  0.  Ulloce  of  Peters,  to 
which  should  be  added  the  "0.  Ulloce  V  McBain  (=  0.  Graii  Giin- 
ther),  the  0.  leonina  Maack,  and  probably  also  the  0.  Hooker i  of  Gray. 

To  the  synonomy  of  Arctocephalus  falklandicus,  given  by  Professor 
Peters,  the  0.  \_Arctophoca~]  Philippii  Peters  and  Gray. 

To  that  of  the  A.  antarcticus  —  (=Otaria  pusiUa  Peters,  =  Arcto- 
cephalus  Delalandi  Gray) — given  by  Professor  Peters  and  in  Dr. 
Gray's  above-cited  catalogues,  A.  nivosus  and  A.  schisthypero'es  Turner 
(=  A.  schistuperus  Giinther). 

To  the  synonymes  of  A.  australis  may  doubtless  be  added  the  A. 
Forsteri  Gray. 

Geographical  Distribution.  —  As  long  since  announced  by  Peron, 
the  Pinnipedes  have  their  habitats  as  definitely  circumscribed  as  do 
the  land  mammalia.  Previously,  as  already  stated,  the  northern  sea 
lions  and  sea  bears  were  popularly  regarded  as  specifically  identical 
with  the  southern  sea  lions  and  sea  bears;  and  even  as  late  as  1840 
Nilsson  entertained  the  error  regarding  their  identity  so  universally 
made  by  the  early  writers.  It  has  been  found,  however,  that  in  only 
one  instance  can  the  species  living  north  and  south  of  the  equator  be 
regarded  as  referable  to  even  the  same  genus.  In  this  case  the  species 
living  north  of  the  equator  (Zalophus  Gillcspii)  ranges  the  furthest  to 
the  southward  of  the  northern  species,  while  its  congener  living  south 
of  the  equator  ranges  furthest  to  the  north  of  any  of  the  southern 
species.  The  habitat  of  no  species,  so  far  as  certainly  known,  quite 
reaches  the  tropics.* 

The  eared  seals  hence  occupy  two  distinct  areas,  separated  by  the 
broad  expanse  of  the  tropical  waters.  Furthermore,  and  what  is  most 
singular  in  their  distribution,  none,  as  is  well  known,  exi>t  on  the  shores 
of  the  North  Atlantic.  South  of  the  equator  they  occupy  a  broad  cir- 
cumpolar  belt,  extending  from  near  the  tropics  to  the  region  of  antarctic 
ice.  Here  also  they  reach  their  greatest  numerical  development  in 
respect  to  the  number  of  species;  for  while  three  species  only  are 
known  from  the  northern  waters,  at  least  seven  are  commonly  reckoned 
as  inhabiting  the  southern  waters.  As  previously  remarked,  however, 
this  number  is  probably  much  too  large. 

*  There  is  a  skull  of  Olariujvbata  in  the  Anatomical  Museum  of  Harvard  University, 
labelled  as  having  come  from  "  Arica,  Peru,"  but  1  thiuk  it  doubtful  if  it  was  collected 

at  that  point. 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  43 

In  respect  to  genera,  the  number  existing  in  the  northern  and  south- 
ern waters  is  equal ;  there  being  two  of  hair  seals  and  one  of  fur  seals 
at  the  north,  and  the  same  number  at  the  south.  One  genus,  Zcdophus, 
is  found  both  at  the  North  and  South.  Eumetopias  of  the  North  may  be 
regarded  as  represented  at  the  South  by  Otaria;  and  Callorhinus  of  the 
North  by  Arctocephalus  at  the  South.  Callorhinus  and  Arctocephalus 
are  undoubtedly  representative  groups ;  but  if  we  regard  the  latter  as 
composed  of  three  intimately  related  species  instead  of  one,  we  shall  have 
three  species  of  fur  seals  at  the  South  against  one  at  the  North.  Za- 
lopkus  is  the  most  southern  genus,  its  single  species  on  each  side  of  the 
equator  nearly  reaching  the  tropics,  if  not  actually  existing  within  them 
at  Moluccas,  as  represented  by  Mr.  Murray*  in  his  map  of  the  distri- 
bution of  these  animals.  Another  interesting  fact  is  that  on  the  coast  of 
Asia  the  northern  species  of  Zcdophus  (Z.  Gillespii)  is  well  known  to 
inhabit  Japan,  whilst  the  home  of  the  southern  species  (Z.  lobatus)  in- 
cludes the  shores  of  Australia  and  the  neighboring  islands  ;  so  that  the 
only  two  congeneric  species  of  the  eared  seals  distributed  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  equator  are  those  whose  habitats  most  nearly  approach  each 
other.  The  distribution  of  the  species  is  further  indicated  in  the  follow- 
ing conspectus,  which  is  designed  to  give  a  concise  view  of  the  different 
groups  of  the  eared  seals,  with  their  principal  distinctive  characters, 
affinities,  and  the  geographical  distribution  of  the  species.f 

*  Geographical  Distribution  of  Mammals,  Map  XXVIII,  1S66. 

t  The  following  observations  respecting  the  distribution  of  the  eared  seals  of  the 
eastern  coast  of  South  America  have  been  kindly  communicated  to  me  bv  Dr.  G.  A. 
Maack,  who  in  November  and  December,  1867,  visited  the  coast  of  Buenos  Ayres  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  specimens  of  these  animals: 

"  The  eared  seals,  of  the  eastern  coast  of  South  America,  exist  especially  between  the 
34th  and  40th  degrees  of  south  latitude.  North  of  the  Rio  de  la  Plata  they  occur  at  the 
Islas  de  los  Lobos,  near  Maldonado.  South  of  this  river  they  occur  in  great  numbers  at 
the  Cabo  Corrientes,  where  they  frequent  the  rocks  at  the  base  of  the  vertical  and  even 
overhanging  cliffs  (160  to  170  feet  high)  of  these  shores.  I  visited  the  latter  locality 
during  the  months  of  November  and  December,  1867,  where  I  had  the  opportunity  of 
observing  these  animals  alive.  But  as  Professor  Burmeister  and  myself  have  already 
published  the  scientific  results  of  this  excursions  [see  above  pp.  13  and  18],  but  little 
requires  to  be  added  here. 

"As  stated  in  my  paper  in  '  Der  Zoologische  Garten  '  (Jan.,  lS70),only  two  species  of 
these  animals  exist  on  the  eastern  coast  of  South  America:  one,  the  Otaria  jubata, 
from  its  having  but  a  single  kind  of  hair,  is  known  to  the  natives  as  the  Lobo  marino  con 
unopelo;  and  the  other,  Arctocephalus  faMmdicus,  from  having  both  external  hair  and 
under-fur,  is  called  the  Lobo  marino  con  dos pelos.     Of  both  I  obtained  specimens.     The 


44  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Conspectus  op  the  Genera  and  Species. 

Subfamily  I.  —  TRICII0PII0CIN7E. 

Without  under-fur.  Size  large  and  form  robust.  Ears  short  and  broad. 
Molars  either  f  =  f  =  If  or  f  =  \  —  \%. 

I.     Genus  Otabia  Gill  ex  Per  on. 
Palatines  usually  extending  nearly  to  the  pterygoid  processes  (sometimes 
reaching  them  and  sometimes  terminating  considerably  anterior  to  them)  ; 
their  posterior  margin  generally  nearly  straight.     Molars  £  ~  |  =  *§• 

1.  Olaria  jubata  Blainv.*  Habitat:  Coasts  and  islands  of  South  Amer- 
ica, from  Chili,  (Arica,  Peru  ?)  on  the  west,  and  the  Rio  de  la  Plata 
southward  to  the  Antarctic  Islands. 

II.  Genus  Eumetopias  Gill. 

Palatines   much   less   produced    posteriorly   than    in    Otaria.      Molars 

6  —  5  —  1  '1 
5  5  10" 

2.  Eumetopias  Slelleri  Peters.  Habitat :  Coasts  and  islands  of  the 
North  Pacific,  from  California  and  Southern  Kamtchatka  northward. 

III.  Genus  Zalopiius  Gill. 

3.<  Zalophus  Gillespii  Gill.  Habitat :  Coasts  and  islands  of  the  North 
Pacific,  from  Lower  California  and  Southern  Japan  northward. 

4.  Zulophus  lobalus  Peters.  Habitat:  Australasian  Seas,  especially 
the  shores  of  Australia  and  New  Holland. 

Subfamily  II.  —  OULOPIIOCIN.E. 

With  thick  under-fur.  Size  smaller;  form  more  slender,  and  the  ears, 
and  the  toe-flaps  of  the  hinder  limbs,  much  longer  than  in  Trichophocince. 
Molars  f-f=i|. 

IV.     Genus  Callorhinus  Gray. 

5.  CaUorhinus  ursinus  Gray.  Habitat :  The  continental  coasts  and 
islands  of  the  North  Pacific,  from  California  and  Southern  (V)  Kamtchatka 
northward. 

male*  anil  females  of  Otaria  jubata  arc  both  abundant  at  the  Cabo  Corrientes,  where  in 
the  month  of  I ember  they  bring  forth  their  young;  but  of  tin-  Arctocepkalus  I  ob- 
served only  in  ili'--  The  females  of  the  latter  are  entirely  unknown  at  this  point,  this 
species  probably  repairing  to  other  localities  to  breed.  One  of  the  native  gauchos  in- 
formed me  that,  during  the  fifteen  years  he  had  been  accustomed  to  kill  them  here,  he 
had  never  met  with  a  female." 
*  Including  Olaria  Hvohcri  Gray  et  auct. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  45 

V.     Genus  Arctocephalus  F.  Cuvier. 

6.  Arctocephalus  falklandicus  Gray.  Habitat:  Coasts  and  islands  of 
South  America,  from  Chili  on  the  west  and  the  Rio  de  la  Plata  southward 
to  the  Antarctic  Islands. 

?  7.  Arctocephalus  cinereus*  Gray.  Habitat:  Southern  shores  of  Aus- 
tralia and  New  Zealand  and  the  islands  to  the  southward. 

?  8.  Arctocephalus  antarcticus*  Gray.  Habitat:  Southern  coast  of  Africa 
and  the  adjoining  islands. 


3.   On  the  North  Pacific  Species  of  Otartad^e. 

Subfamily  I.  —  TRICHOPHOCIX.E. 

Without  under-fur.  Size  large  and  form  robust.  Ears  short.  Molars 
either  |  =  |  =  if,  or -|-|=i°- 

Genus  Eumetopias  Gill. 

Eumetopias  Gill,  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  V,  7,  11.  July,  1866.     Type  "Otaria 
californiana  Lesson,  =  Arctocephalus  monteriensis  Gray." 

Molars  |-  ~  f  =  \% ;  the  upper  hinder  pair  separated  from  the  others 
by  a  considerable  interval ;  the  last  only  double  rooted.  Postorbital 
processes  quadrate.  Palatine  surface  of  the  intermaxillaries  flat,  only 
slightly  depressed,  and  greatly  contracted  posteriorly ;  the  palatals  mod- 
erately produced,  extending  about  three  fourths  of  the  distance  from  the 
anterior  end  of  the  zygomatic  arch  to  the  pterygoid  process ;  their  pos- 
terior margin  straight,  or  slightly  or  deeply  emarginate  ;  rarely  deeply  so 
in  old  age. 

Eumetopias  hence  differs  from  Otaria,  ns  restricted  by  Gill,  in  hav- 
ing one  pair  less  of  upper  molars,f  a  much  less  posterior  extension  of 
the  palatine  bones,  and  in  having  the  posterior  portion  of  the  surface 
of  the  intermaxillaries  less  than  one  third,  instead  of  more  than  one 
half,  the  width  of  the  anterior  portion,  and  but  slightly  instead  of  deeply 
depressed  ;  also  in  the  form  of  the  postorbital  processes,  which  in 
Eumetopias  are  quadrate,  while  in  Otaria  they  form  an  obtuse,  nearly 
equilateral  triangle,  the  apex  of  which  points  outward.  In  Otaria  they 
are  also  more  produced.  In  the  general  character  of  the  pelage,  in 
color,  in  proportions  and  size,  there  seems  to  be  a  close  resemblance 

*  Perhaps  the  A.  cine7-etis  and  the  A.  antarcticus  are  to  be  referred  to  the  A.  falkland- 
icus, in  which  case  the  habitat  of  this  species  is  the  southern  seas  generally, 
t  See  the  characters  of  Otaria  given  in  the  preceding  "  Conspectus,"  p.  43. 


46  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

between  the  single  known  species  of  Eumetopias  (E.  Stelleri)  and  the 
single  known  species  of  Otaria  (0.  jubata). 

Eumetopias  differs  from  Zalophus  through  the  presence  of  a  wide 
space  between  the  fourth  and  fifth  pairs  of  upper  molars,  the  less 
emargination  of  the  posterior  border  of  the  palatine  bones,  the  quad- 
rate instead  of  the  triangular  and  posteriorly  pointed  form  of  the  post- 
orbital  processes,  the  less  relative  breadth  of  the  posterior  nares,  and 
the  larger  size  of  the  facial  angle  ;  also  through  its  much  broader  muz- 
zle, the  less  degree  of  the  postorbital  constriction  of  the  skull,  and  its 
much  less  developed  sagittal  crest.  It  differs  from  Neophoca  Gray,  as 
nearly  as  can  be  determined  from  the  published  figures  and  defective 
descriptions,  in  nearly  the  same  manner. 

Eumetopias  Stelleri  Peters.     Steller's  Sea  Lion. 

Leo  marinus  Steller,  Nov.  Coram.  Petrop.,  XI,  360,  1751. 

" Phoca  jubata  Schreber,  Saugeth.,  300,  lxxxiii,  1775  (in  part  only;  not  P. 

jubata  Forster)." 
Phoca  jubata  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  63,  1788  (in  part). 

"         "      Pander  and  D'Alton,  Skelete  der  Robben  und  Lamant.,  PI. 
Ill,  Figs,  d,  e,  f,  1826. 
Otaria  jubata  P£ron,  Voyage  Terr,  austr.,  II,  40,  1816. 

"         "      Nilsson,  Arch.  f.  Naturgesch.,  1841,  329  (in  part  only}. 
Otaria  Stelleri  Lesson,  Diet.  Class.  Hist.  Nat.,  XIII,  420,  1828. 
Phoca  Stelleri  Fischer,  Synop.  Mam.,  231,  1829. 
Otaria  Stelleri  J.  Muller,  Arch.  f.  Naturgesch.,  1841,  330,  333. 

"  "      Gray,  Cat  Seals  in  Brit.  Mus.,  47,  1850. 

"  "       Sclater,  Proc.  ZooL.Soc,  1868,  190. 

"  "       Gray,  Cat.  Seals  and  Whales  in  Brit.  Mus.,  60,  1866. 

Otaria  (Eumetopias)  Stelleri  Peters,  Monatasb.  Akad.  Berlin,  1866,  274,  671. 
Eumetopias  Stelleri  Gray,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Ser.,  XVIII,  233. 
Otaria cali forniana  Lesson,  Diet.  Class.  Hist.  Nat.,  XIII,  420,  1828. 
Phoca  califurniana  Fischer,  Synop.  Mam.,  231,  1829. 
Eumetopias  californianus  Gill,  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  V,  13,  July,  1866. 
Arctocephalus  monteriensis  Gray,  Proc.  Zoiil.  Soc.,  1859, 360,  PI.  lxxii  (in  part).* 
Le  Lion  marin  Buffon,  Hist.  Nat,  Suppl.,  VI,  337,  1782  (in  part). 
Leonine  Seal  Pennant,  Arctic  Zoology,  I,  200  (in  part). 

Color.  —  General  color  of  the  upper  side  of  the  body  varying  from  pale 
yellowish  brown  to  reddish  brown ;  much  darker  towards  the  tail,  and  not 

*  Excluding  the  skin  (and  young  skull?),  here  doubtfully  referred  to  A.  monteriensis, 
and  afterwards  described  by  the  same  author  as  A.  californianus,  in  Cat.  Seals  and 
Whales,  p.  51  (1866). 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  47 

unfrequently  marked  on  the  back  and  sides  with  irregular-shaped  dark 
brown  patches.  The  sides  below  the  median  line  are  reddish,  shading 
above  into  the  lighter  color  of  the  back,  and  below  into  the  darker  color 
of  the  lower  surface.  Lower  side  of  the  body  dusky  reddish-brown,  darkest 
on  the  hinder  portion  of  the  abdomen.  Limbs  dark  reddish-brown,  ap- 
proaching black,  especially  externally. 

"While  the  general  aspect  of  the  color  is  as  above  indicated,  the  hairs 
individually  greatly  vary  in  color.  While  some  are  entirely  pale  yellow- 
ish, others  are  yellowish  only  at  the  tip,  and  dark  below,  and  others  are 
dark  reddish-brown  or  nearly  black  throughout.  The  mixture  of  these 
two  colors  gives  a  brindled  appearance  on  some  parts  of  the  body,  and  to 
a  much  greater  extent  in  some  specimens  than  in  others.  The  relative 
proportion  of  the  light  and  dark  hairs  determine  the  general  color  of  the 
different  regions  of  the  body. 

The  color  appears  to  vary  much  in  different  individuals,  not  only  with 
age  and  sex,  but  irrespective  of  sex  and  age. 

Hair.  —  The  hair  is  of  two  kinds,  the  outer  of  which  is  straight,  coarse, 
stiff,  and  flattened.  Beneath  this  is  an  exceedingly  sparse,  very  short, 
finer  under-coat,  so  short  and  in  such  small  quantity  as  to  be  detected  only 
with  difficulty.  The  hair  is  longest  on  the  anterior  half  of  the  body, 
where  it  has  an  average  length  of  40  mm. ;  it  decreases  in  length  pos- 
teriorly, and  towards  the  tail  has  an  average  length  of  only  15  mm.  It  is 
still  shorter  on  the  abdomen,  whilst  on  the  limbs  it  is  much  more  reduced, 
and  disappears  entirely  towards  the  ends  of  the  digits.  The  end  of  the 
nose,  the  soles  and  palms,  the  anal  region,  and  the  extra-digital  cartilagi- 
nous flaps  are  naked  and  black.  The  whiskers  are  long,  slender,  and  cylin- 
drical, white  or  brownish-white,  and  set  in  four  or  five  rather  indistinct 
rows.  Some  of  the  longest  sometimes  reach  a  length  of  50  cent.,  or  about 
twenty  inches,  with  a  maximum  thickness  of  2  mm. 

Size.  —  The  length  of  full-grown  males  is  about  twelve  or  thirteen  feet. 
According  to  Captain  Bryant  they  frequently  reach  the  latter  size,  and  a 
weight  of  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  hundred  pounds.  The  females,  he  ob- 
serves, are  much  more  slender  than  the  males,  and  do  not  attain  to  more 
than  one  fourth  the  weight  of  the  latter. 

Ears.  —  The  ears  (Fig.  8,  PI.  I)  are  short  and  pointed,  but  much  broader 
than  those  of  the  Northern  fur  seal  (Fig.  13,  PI.  II),  though  of  only  half 
their  length. 

Hind  Limbs.  —  The  hind  feet  (Fig.  7,  PI.  I,  -^  nat.  size)  are  broad 
and,  gradually  widening  from  the  tarsus,  reach  their  greatest  breadth  at 
the  end  of  the  toes.  Their  length  is  short  as  compared  to  their  breadth, 
the  distance  between  the  ends  of  the  outer  toes  when  spread  nearly  equal- 
ling the  whole  length  of  the  foot.     The  toes  are  terminated  with  strong 


48 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


cartilaginous  flaps,  covered  with  a  thick  leathery  naked  membrane,  which 
is  deeply  indented  opposite  the  intervals  between  the  toes,  and  serves  to 
connect  the  rather  diverging  digits.  The  three  middle  toes  are  provided 
with  long,  well-developed  nails ;  the  outer  toes  are  without  true  nails,  but 
in  place  of  them  are  thickened,  horny  disks,  which  may  be  regarded  as 
rudimentary  nails,  which  an  examination  of  the  skeleton  shows  them  to 
be.  The  outer  toes  are  slightly  shorter  than  the  three  middle  ones,  which 
are  sub-equal. 

Fore  Limbs.  —  The  fore  feet  (Fig.  6,  PI.  I,  fa  nat.  size)  are  large,  tri- 
angular, and  situated  but  a  little  in  front  of  the  middle  of  the  body. 
They  terminate  in  a  thick,  hard,  membranous  flap,  which  is  slightly  and 
somewhat  irregularly  indented  on  the  inner  side.  The  terminations  of  the 
digits  are  indicated  by  small  circular  horny  disks  or  rudimentary  nails. 

Measurements.  —  The  following  table  of  external  measurements  of  two 
males,  one  very  aged  and  the  other  mature,  indicates  the  general  propor- 
tions of  the  body.  A  part  were  taken  from  the  moist  skins  before  stuffing, 
and  the  others  from  the  same  skins  mounted. 


Measurements  of  Two  Skins  of  Eumetopias  Stelleri. 


No.  2920. 

No.  23 

21. 

£  10  years  old. 

J  1 5  years  old. 

Unmounted. 

Mounted. 

Unmounted. 

Mounted. 

Length  of  body 

2,750 

2,790 

2,896 

3,010 

"       "  tail      .                 ... 

100 

100 



110 

Extent  of  outstretched  fore  limbs  .         .   " 

2,362 







Length  of  hand  ..... 

57.'. 

560 

C35 

620 

Breadth"    " 

3.37 

335 



360 

Length  "    foot  ..... 

559 

540 



610 

Breadth  "     "    at  tarsus 

2  Hi 

210 



230 

"       "      "     "  ends  of  the  toe-flaps 

4^3 

4  15 



440 

Length  of  flaps  of  outer  toe    . 

200 

200 



220 

"        "     "      "    'id  toe    . 

171) 

156 



210 

"        "     "      "    .'id  toe 

152 

147 



190 

"        "     "      "    4th  toe   . 

164 

150 



190 

"        "     "      "    inner  toe    . 

164 

150 



165 

Distance  from  end  of  nose  to  eye 

215 

190 



170 

"           '"            "           "      ear    . 

368 

365 



380 

"        between  the  eyes   . 

190 

195 



210 

"         "    ears 

372 

370 



420 

Length  of  the  ear         .... 

37 

35 



35 

"        "  longest  harhulc 

342 

342 





I)i-t  between  points  of  longest  barbulcs 

SOU 

800 





Circumference  of  the  body  at  fore  limbs 



2, -.'5(1 



2,600 

"                  "           "       near  the  tail 



1,000 



1,020 

"                "        head  at  the  cars 



1  000 



(ISO 

Length  of  body  to  end  of  hind  limbs  .     . 



3,450 

3,790 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  49 

Skull  —  The  skull  (Figs.  3  and  4,  woodcuts,  pp.  57-58,  and  Figs.  1  -4,  PL 
I)  varies  greatly  in  different  individuals,  not  only  in  its  general  form,  but 
in  the  shape  of  its  different  bones.  The  occipital  and  median  crests  are 
doubtless  not  much  developed  before  the  fifth  or  sixth  year.  The  bones 
thicken  greatly  after  the  animal  attains  maturity,  and  the  palate  becomes 
more  flattened.  In  the  adult  male  the  brain-box  may  be  described  as 
subquadrate,  narrower  anteriorly,  where  the  skull  is  abruptly  contracted. 
The  greatest  diameter  of  the  skull  is  at  the  posterior  end  of  the  zygoma, 
and  is  equal  to  three  fifths  of  its  length.  The  post-orbital  processes  are 
strongly  developed  and  quadrate ;  the  forehead  is  flat,  and  the  facial  pro- 
file is  either  abruptly  or  gradually  declined  ;  the  muzzle  is  broad,  equal 
in  breadth  in  front  to  the  distance  between  the  orbits.  The  palatal  sur- 
face of  the  intermaxillaries  is  flat,  or  slightly  depressed  anteriorly,  and  very 
slightly  contracted  posteriorly.  Laterally  the  intermaxillaries  reach  nearly 
to  the  end  of  the  palatals.  The  latter  are  much  contracted  posteriorly, 
and  terminate  quite  far  in  front  of  the  hamuli  pterygoidii.  Both  the 
anterior  and  posterior  nares  are  a  little  narrower  than  high.  The  nasals 
are  widest  anteriorly.  The  last  (fifth)  pair  of  upper  molars  is  placed 
far  behind  the  fourth  pair,  the  space  between  them  being  about  equal 
to  that  occupied  by  two  molars.  The  males  in  old  age  have  exceed- 
ingly high  occipital  and  sagittal  crests,  most  developed  posteriorly ;  an 
teriorly  they  diverge  and  terminate  in  the  hinder  edge  of  the  postorbital 
processes. 

The  lower  jaw  is  massive  and  strong.  Its  coronoid  processes  are  greatly 
developed,  as  are  the  tuberosities  at  the  angles  of  the  rami,  and  a  second 
tuberosity  on  the  lower  inner  edge  of  each  ramus  (see  Figs.  9-11, 
PI.  III). 

It  should  be  added  that  the  above  description  of  the  skull  refers  ex- 
clusively to  the  male.  Having  no  skulls  of  the  female,  I  am  unable  to 
state  definitely  how  the  sexes  differ  in  respect  to  the  form  of  the  skull. 
Judging,  however,  from  the  sexual  variations  seen  in  Callorhinus  ur sinus, 
Otaria  jubata,  and  other  species  of  the  Olariadce,  the  skull  of  the  female 
would  be  not  only  very  much  smaller,  but  it  would  lack  almost  totally  the 
high  occipital  and  sagittal  crests  exhibited  by  the  male,  and  have  all  the 
processes  for  the  attachment  of  muscles  less  developed.  The  teeth,  es- 
pecially the  canines,  are  relatively  much  smaller,  as  is  also  the  lower  jaw. 
In  other  words,  the  female  skull  would  doubtless  closely  resemble  the  skull 
of  a  yearling  male.  The  annexed  table  of  measurements  indicates  still 
further  the  general  form  of  the  male  skull  and  the  relative  proportions  of 
its  different  regions. 


50 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


Measurements  of  the  Skull. 


Length  

Breadth 

Dist.  from  ant  edge  of  intermaxillary  to  hamuli  pterygoids 
"  "  "  "         to  last  molar  (left  side) 

"  "  "  "  "    (right  side) 

"  "  "  "      to  ant.  edge  of  zygm.  arch 

"  "-  "  "  post.        "  " 

"  "  "  "  to  auditory  orifice 

Length  of  left  palatine  bone  (inner  edge) 
"         "    "         "  "      (outer  edge) 

"         "  right    "  "      (inner  edge) 

"         "      "       "  "      (outer  edge) 

Breadth  of  right  palatine  anteriorly  .... 

left         "  "  .... 

"  right     "         posteriorly         .... 

left        "  "  .... 

Distance  from  edge  of  palatals  to  ptyg.  process 

"  "  "       last  molar  to  post,  edge  of  palatals 

(left  side) 

Depression  of  palate  below  alveoli  of  canines 

"  "  "  "  2d  and  3d  molars    . 

"  "  "  "  4th  molar  . 

Length  of  the  nasals  (outer  edge) 

"  "  "       (inner  edge)         .... 

Breadth  of  nasals  (anteriorly) 

"        "       "       (posteriorly) 

"       of  the  skull  at  the  canines 

"  "        "     postorbital  processes     . 

"  "         "      paroccipital      " 

"  "      anterior  nares  (vertical) 

"  "  "     (transverse)  .       •?. 

"  "      posterior  nares  (vertical) 

"      (transverse) 

Length  of  zygomatic  foramen 

Breadth  "  ...... 

Diameter  of  foramen  magnum  (transverse) 

"  "         "  "  (anteroposterior) 

Greatest  height  of  skull  (paroc.  proc.  to  top  of  occip.  crest) 
Distance  from  lower  edge  of  condyles      " 
Height  of  skull  from  hamuli  pteryg.  to  top  of  sagittal  crest 

Length  of  sagittal  crest 

Greatest  height  of  skull 

Length  of  lower  jaw  ....... 

Breadth  of  the  lower  jaw  at  the  condyles 
"  "  "       last  molar 

"  "  "         in  front         .... 

"        •  "      condyle 

Height  of  lower  jaw  at  the  coronoid  process 

"     at  symphysis 


No.  2920. 

No.  2921. 

Middle  aged. 

Very  old. 

$ 

8 

374 

385 

220 

246 

243 

247 

160 

160 

160 

150 

140 

140 

246 

250 

290 

300 

50 

64 

55 

68 

45 

63 

49 

63 

16 

19 

19 

21 

12 

16 

13 

18 

48 

46 

32 

42 

19 

17 

41 

38 

18 

20 

60 

64 

47 

48 

32 

38 

45 

44 

95 

110 

120 

130 

200 

235 

54 

54 

48 

55 

32 

42 

30 

36 

116 

120 

80 

80 

30 

33 

33 

36 

145 

165 

132 

140 

150 

160 

80 

180 

38 

35 

270 

280 

185 

210 

100 

110 

65 

65 

60 

60 

85 

95 

65 

75 

MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY, 


51 


Teeth.  —  Last  upper  molar  is  double-rooted,  and  its  crown  directed  back- 
wards. All  the  other  molars  are  single-rooted,  with  a  slight  median  longi- 
tudinal groove  on  the  outside.  Their  crowns  are  irregularly  conical, 
pointed,  and  jut  out  over  their  contracted  necks ;  inner  side  of  the  crowns 
hollowed.  Surface  of  the  crowns  roughened  with  minute,  longitudinal 
grooves  and  ridges.  The  upper  molars  have  no  trace  of  the  supplemental 
points  to  the  crowns  seen  in  many  species  of  this  family.  The  lower 
molars,  particularly  the  third  and  fourth,  have  very  slight  accessory  cusps. 
Necks  of  the  molars  uniform  in  size  with  the  upper  part  of  the  fangs. 
Fangs  of  the  molars  gradually  tapering,  those  of  the  first  and  second 
upper  much  curved  inwards  ;  that  of  the  third  less  so ;  that  of  the  fourth 
straight ;  the  two  fangs  of  the  fifth  are  directed  abruptly  forward,  the 
posterior  one  much  the  smaller.  Canines  of  both  jaws  very  large,  the 
upper,  however,  much  the  larger;  the  lower  more  curved.  Of  the  six 
incisors- of  the  upper  jaw,  those  of  the  outer  pair  are  much  larger  than 
the  middle  ones,  two  thirds  as  long  as  the  canines,  and  much  like  them  in 
form.  The  middle  ones  have  their  antero-posterior  diameter  nearly  twiee 
their  lateral  diameter,  and  their  crowns  are  divided  transversely.  The 
fangs  of  the  inner  pair  are  slightly  bifid.  Of  the  four  lower  incisors  the 
outer  are  much  the  longer.  Figures  5-5  e  (one  half  natural  size),  Plate  I, 
shows  the  form  of  the  teeth,  and  the  subjoined  table  their  size.* 

Measurements  of  the   Teeth. 
A.  —  Teeth  of  the  Upper  Jaw. 


a 

Molars. 

1) 

a 

i 
o 

Incisors. 

5th. 

4th. 

3d. 

2d. 

1st. 

Outer. 

Middle. 

Inner. 

Total  length     . 
Length  of  the  crown 

"         "        neck  f 

"         "        root  X 
Antero  posterior  diameter  $ 
Lateral  diameter  § 

27 
9 

6 
12 

11.5 

6.5 

33 
13 

6 
14 
13 

9 

36 
13 
6 
15 
13 
10 

37 
13 
6 
18 
13 
10 

40 
11 
6 
23 
11.5 
8.5 

84 

34 

6 

24 
20 

63 
23 

7 

15 
12 

29 
5 

7 

7 
5 

25 
4 

7 

6 
4 

*  These  figures  and  dimensions  (the  latter  given  in  millimetres)  are  taken  from  the 
younger  or  middle-aged  specimen,  in  which  the  dentition  was  perfect  and  normal.  In 
old  age  many  of  the  teeth  are  usually  broken,  and  a  portion  of  them  often  entirely 
wanting,  through  loss  from  accident.  As  the  lower  canines  could  not  be  removed  with- 
out removing  a  portion  of  the  jaw,  they  have  not  been  figured  nor  fully  measured. 

t  The  distance  from  the  crown  to  the  alveolus^  _ 

\  The  portion  of  the  tooth  inserted  in  the  jaw.- 

§  At  the  base  of  the  crown. 


52 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 
B  — Teeth  of  the  Lower  Jaw, 


Molars. 

o 
c 

'3 

Incisors. 

6th. 

4th. 

42 
12 

5 
25 
13 

9 

3d. 

42 
14 
5 
23 
15 
10 

2d. 

1st. 

30 
10 
5 
15 
10.5 
8.5 

Outer. 

Iuner. 

Total  length         .... 
Length  of  the  crown 

"          "      neck*     . 

"          "       roott  . 
Anteroposterior  diameter t  • 
Lateral  diameter  \ 

28 

10 

5 

13 

9 
G 

39 
12 

5 

22 

12.5 

9 

35 

7 

26 
17 

31 

8 

4 

9 

25 
5 
4 

16 
6 
5 

Skeleton.  —  Vertebral  formula:  Cervical  vertebra?,  7;  dorsal,  15;  lum- 
bar, 5;  caudal  (including  the  four  sacral),  variable;  probable  average,  16. 

Ten  of  the  fifteen  ribs  articulate  with  the  sternum ;  their  sternal  por- 
tions are  entirely  cartilaginous.  Their  osseous  portions  evidently  increase 
much  in  length  after  middle  age.  The  apophyses  of  the  vertebra}  are 
well  developed.  Of  the  neural  spines  of  the  dorsal  vertebras,  the  first, 
secondhand  third  are  sub-equal,  130  mm.  long;  they  gradually  shorten 
posteriorly,  the  last  having  a  length  of  only  75  mm. 

The  sternum  is  normally  composed  of  nine  osseous  thick  and  broad 
segments,  the  first  and  last  very  long,  the  eighth  shortest.  Between  the 
eighth  and  ninth  a  shorter  cartilaginous  one  is  sometimes  intercalated  (as 
in  specimen  No.  2920). 

The  pelvis  (already  fully  described  on  pages  27-  29)  is  well  developed. 
The  ilia  are  very  long  and  narrow  antero-posteriorly.  The  pubic  bones 
are  unanchylosed,  they  being  merely  approximate  at  their  posterior  ex- 
tremities. Probably  in  the  females  (as  in  Callorhinus  ursinus),  they  are 
widely  separated,  and  the  whole  pelvis  much  smaller  than  in  the  males 
and  differently  shaped. 

The  humeri,  as  in  the  other  Pinnipedes,  are  short  and  thick,  with  the 
greater  tuberosity  enormously  developed.  The  bones  of  the  fore-arm  are 
also  very -large  and  strong,  with  all  their  processes  greatly  developed;  in 
length  they  but  slightly  exceed  the  humerus.  The  length  of  neither  of  the 
segments  of  the  arm  quite  equals  the  length  of  the  bones  of  the  first  digit 
(including  its  metacarpal  bone)  of  the  hand.  The  first  digit  of  the  hand 
is  the  longest,  twice  as  long  as  the  fifth,  and  very  thick  anil  strong. 

The  bones  of  the  hinder  limbs  are  also  short  and  thick,  especially  the 
femur,  which  is  scarcely  more  than  one  third  as  long  as  the  tibia.  The 
latter  in  length  about  equals  the  foot.     The  relative  length  of  the  digits 

*  The  distance  from  the  crown  to  the  alveolus, 
t  The  portion  inserted  in  the  jaw. 
J  At  the  base  of  the  crown. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


53 


is  as  follows,  the  longest  being  mentioned  first:  5th,  1st,  2d,  3d,  and 
4th.  The  third  and  fourth  are  of  equal  length,  and  but  little  shorter  than 
the  second.  In  fespect  to  size,  the  tarsal  and  phalangeal  bones  of  the  fifth 
digit  are  nearly  twice  as  large  as  those  of  the  first,  whilst  those  of  the  first 
are  about  twice  the  size  of  those  of  either  of  the  other  three.  As  pre- 
viously noticed,  the  three  middle  digits  of  the  foot  are  supplied  with  long 
narrow  nails ;  the  first  and  fifth  with  rudimentary  ones,  scarcely  visible  in 
the  skin  but  quite  distinct  in  the  skeleton. 


Measurements  of  the  Bones  of  the  Hand  (metacarpal  and  phalangeal). 


Middle-aged  Specimen. 

Very  old  Specimen. 

1st      2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

1st 

2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

digit,   digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

Length  of  metacarpal  and 

phalanges   . 

352     310 

240 

200 

177 

357 

320 

250 

205 

185 

Length  of  metacarpal  bone 

152     110 

85 

80 

80 

160 

110 

90 

80 

85 

"       "  1st  phalanx   . 

140       95 

70 

55 

65 

140 

95 

70 

60 

65 

"       "  2d         "     . 

60  '    80 

60 

45 

20 

57 

80 

65 

45 

18 

"       "  3d 

25 

25 

20 

12 



35 

25 

20 

17 

Measurements  of  the  Bones  of  the  Foot  {metatarsal  and  phalangeal). 


Middle-aged  Specimen. 

Very  old  Specimen. 

1st 

2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

1st 

2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 



digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

digit 

digit. 

digit. 

digit. 

Length  of  metatarsal  and 

phalanges    . 

310 

290 

290 

305 

328 

320 

317 

327 

350 

350 

Length  of  metatnrsal  bone 

120 

95 

95 

110 

130 

145 

110 

110 

120 

130 

"      "  1st  phalanx     . 

140 

90 

90 

90 

93 

130 

100 

105 

105 

110 

"      "  2d          "      . 

50 

75 

75 

80 

70 

45 

80 

85 

95 

75 

"      "3d 



30 

30 

25 

35 



27 

27 

30 

35 

"      "  nail 



40 

40 

37 





50 

55 

50 



The  hyoid  bone  is  greatly  developed.  Each  ramus  consists  of  five 
segments,  its  two  rami  being  connected  together  by  a  transverse  segment 
articulating  with  the  juncture  of  the  fourth  and  fifth  segments.  All  the 
parts  of  the  hyoid  bone  are  very  thick,  especially  the  transverse  and  an- 
terior .  segments ;  relatively  much  more  so  than  in  Callnrhinm.  In  the 
common  Phoca  the  hyoid  bone  is  reduced  almost  to  a  bony  filament. 
The  length  of  the  hyoid  bone  in  the  present  species  is  270  mm.;  of  the 
transverse  segment,  G5  mm. ;  circumference  of  the  transverse  segment,  45 
mm. ;  of  the  segment  at  the  thickest  part,  95. 


54 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 
Measurements  of  the  Skeleton. 


-6 

2 

©  o 

—  o 

<N    M 

&>     M 

<J>    U 

o    >-. 

CM  ". 

CM  ". 

J?  <=> 

6  o 

^~ 

^  - 

2,750 

2,935 

Whole  length  of  skeleton  (including  skull)  . 

Length  of  skull 

374 

385 

"       "  cervical  vertebrae 

500 

540 

"       "  dorsal          "             

1,051) 

1,090 

"       "  lumbar        "                 ...... 

340 

400 

"      "  caudal        "            ...... 

440 

520 

"       "  first  rib        ........ 

260 

224 

"       "         "      osseous  portion     ..... 

130 

140 

"       "         "      cartilaginous  portion       .... 

130 

100 

"       "  second  rib 

345 

295 

"         osseous  portion    ..... 

175 

185 

"        "           "         cartilaginous  portion 

170 

120 

"       "  third  rib      .......         . 

410 

410 

"       "          "       osseous  portion  ..... 

231) 

270 

"      cartilaginous  portion      .... 

180 

140 

"       "  fourth  rib 

470 

470 

"       "          "        osseous  portion    ..... 

280 

330 

"        cartilaginous  portion 

190 

140 

"  fifth  rib 

535 

5  50 

"       "         "      osseous  portion    ..... 

320 

370 

"       "         "      cartilaginous  portion       .... 

215 

160 

"        "  sixth  rib  .                           

580 

590 

"       "         "       osseous  portion       ..... 

360 

420 

"       "         "       cartilaginous  portion 

220 

170 

"       "  seventh  rib          ....... 

640 

620 

"          osseous  portion        .... 

400 

440 

"        "           "          cartilaginous  portion 

240 

ISO 

"       "  eighth  rib         ......         . 

670 

670 

"       "          "         osseous  portion 

420 

480 

"        "          "         cartilaginous  portion 

250 

190 

"       "  ninth  rib 

710 

685 

"          "       osseous  portion          .... 

420 

485 

"        "          "        cartilaginous  portion     .... 

290 

200 

"       "  tenth  rib 

750 

745 

"       "          "       osseous  portion      ..... 

420 

4^5 

"        "          "       cartilaginous  portion 

330 

260 

"       "  eleventh  rib,  osseous  portion  only 

430 

510 

"        "  twelfth  rib          "            "         "          .         .         . 

490 

500 

"        "  thirteenth  rib     "            "         "              ... 

450 

470 

"        "  fourteenth  rib     "             "          " 

410 

460 

"        "  fifteenth  rib        "            "         "              ... 

340 

350 

"       "  sternum  (ossified  portion)        .... 

7(10 

840 

"       "         "         1st   segment          ..... 

130 

1st) 

2d                         

70 

90 

"       "                 3d                         

70 

85 

"         4th                       

65 

so 

"       "         "         5th        "                 

63 

85 

"                   6th                      

60 

75 

7th                           

60 

73 

8th                       

55 

65 

9th        " 

70 

77 

"        "         "         supernum.  cartilag.  seg.(bet.  8th  and  9th) 

30 

— 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


55 


Length  of  scapula        . 

Breadth  of     "         .... 

Greatest  height  of  its  spine  . 

Length  of  humerus  .... 
Circumference  of  its  head     . 
Least  circumference  of  the  humerus 
Length  of  radius  . 

"        "  ulna         .... 
Longest  diameter  of  upper  end  of  ulna 
Length  of  carpus      .... 
"       "  metacarpus  and  1st  digit 

"     2d     " 

"        "  "  "     3d     " 

«  «  «     4th    '• 

"     5[h    « 

"        "  femur 
Circumference  of  neck 
Length  of  tibia 
"        "  fibula 
"        "  tarsus 
"       "  metatarsus  and  1st  iiigit 

"     2d     " 

"        "  "  "     3d     " 

<<     4th   " 

"     5th    " 

"        "  innominate  bone 
Greatest  width  of  the  pelvis  anteriorly 
Length  of  ilium         .... 

"       "  ischio-pubic  bones 

"       "  thyroid  foramen 

"        "  os  penis       . 
Width  of  hand  at  base  of  digits 

"   "  foot    "    "     . 


£2 


830 
350 

45 
300 
300 
170 
260 
510 
100 

80 
350 
310 
240 
200 
170 
170 
125 
320 
310 
140 
310 
290 
290 
305 
227 
320 
140 
140 
140 

170 
160 
130 


©  m 


370 
380 
52 
285 
290 
180 
SCO 
310 
130 
80 
360 
320 
250 
2,050 
1 ,850 
220 
ISO 
340 
330 
160 
270 
290 
270 
285 
310 
360 
160 
160 
200 
200 
170 

140 


The  os  penis  (Fig.  13,  Plate  III)  is  170  mm.  long,  slightly  arched, 
somewhat  flattened  above,  especially  posteriorly,  sharply  convex  below, 
and  abruptly  expanded  and  squarely  truncate  at  the  end.  Its  circumfer- 
ence at  the  base  is  72  mm.;  just  behind  the  terminal  expansion,  32  mm.; 
and  the  terminal  expansion  itself,  G5  mm. 

The  above  table  gives  the  principal  measurements  of  the  bones  of 
the  skeleton.  Measurements  of  both  specimens  are  given,  as  in  previous 
tables,  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating  the  variations  that  occur  in  the  rela- 
tive size  of  different  parts  after  maturity  is  attained,  and  also  for  the  pur- 
pose of  illustrating  individual  variation,  which  in  some  particulars  these 
specimens  exhibit  in  a  marked  degree.  The  ribs,  it  will  be  observed,  dif- 
fer but  slightly  in  total  length  in  the  two;  not  nearly  so  much  as  would  be 
expected  from  the  much  greater  bulk  of  the  body  of  the  older  specimen. 
It  will  be  noticed  that  the  principal  differences  in  the  ribs  consist  in  the 


56  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

relative  length  of  the  bony  to  the.  cartilaginous  portions,  in  the  older  the 
ossified  portion  being  much  longei  and  the  cartilaginous  much  shorter  than 
in  the  other.  An  irregularity  will  be  also  observed  in  respect  to  the  ster- 
nal segments,  the  younger  specimen  having  a  supernumerary  cartilagi- 
nous one  between  the  8th  and  9th  normal  ones. 

Age  and  Sexual  Variations.  —  In  regard  to  the  present  species  my  ma- 
terial does  not  furnish  many  facts  in  respect  to  these  points,  since  the  two 
males  contained  in  Captain  Bryant's  collection  constitute  at  present  my 
only  resources.  These  examples,  he  writes  me,  were  selected  "  as  average 
specimens  of  full-grown  males,  but  in  the  selection,"  he  says,  "  we  were 
governed  somewhat  by  the  desire  to  have  skins  perfectly  haired,  many  of 
the  animals  being  chafed  by  the  rocks,  even  to  having  sores."  "  I  should 
estimate,"  he  further  adds,  "the  age  of  one  of  them  to  be  nine  or  ten 
years,  that  of  the  other  fifteen."  These  specimens,  however,  differ  consid- 
erably from  each  other  in  color,  size,  and  proportions.  Some  of  these  dif- 
ferences are  clearly  due  to  age,  but  others  equally  great  cannot  be  thus 
explained.  These  specimens  show  that  the  body  increases  greatly  in  bulk, 
and  the  bones  in  size  and  density,  after  the  animal  has  reached  its  adult 
length.  The  crests  of  the  skull  are  almost  wholly  developed  after  this 
period,  and  in  great  measure  also  the  spines  or  ridges  of  the  scapulae. 
The  processes  for  the  attachment  of  the  muscles  also  increase,  as  do  the 
vertebral  or  osseous  portions  of  the  ribs.  The  teeth  also  change  greatly 
in  size  and  form  after  maturity  is  attained.  They  not  only  increase  in  size, 
especially  the  canines,  but  become  much  worn  and  misshapen  by  long  use. 
In  old  specimens  a  greater  or  less  proportion  of  the  teeth  are  said  to  be  either 
entirely  wanting  or  broken,  as  is  the  case  in  the  older  of  the  two  specimens 
before  me.*  Respecting  the  younger  stages  I  am  without  data,  as  well  as 
in  respect  to  sexual  variation.  In  these  points  the  present  species  dot's 
not  probably  differ  much  from  Callorhinus  ursinus,  adult  females  and  the 
young  of  which  are  described  further  on.  It  is  well  known,  however,  that 
the  females  are  much  smaller  than  the  males  ;  as  already  suggested,  they 
doubtless"  also  lack  the  greatly  developed  sagittal  and  occipital  crests  of 
the  males,  as  do  the  females  of  C.  ursinus  and  Otaria  jubata. 

Individual  Variation.  —  The  present  specimens,  though  only  two  in 
number  and  of  different  ages,  indicate  that  the  species  under  consideration 
is  subject  to  a  great  amount  of  individual  variation.  This  variation  is  strik- 
ingly shown  in  the  skull,  as  seen  in  tin'  following  woodcuts  (pp.  57-58). 
After  allowing  for  the  differences  age  would  make,  as  in  the  smaller  size  of 
the  sagittal  crest,  the  rounded  outline  of  the  front  edges  of  the  inter- 
maxillaries,  the  smaller  size  of  the  postorbital  processes,  the  greater  dis- 
tinctness of  the  sutures,  and  perhaps  the  more  sloping  outline  of  the  fore- 

*  See  Eig.  3,  Plate  I. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 
Fig.  1.*  Fig.  2.t 


57 


head  in  the  younger  (Figs.  1  and  4),  there  is  left  a  radical  difference  in 
the  general  form  of  the  two  skulls,  which  must  have  increased  as  the 
younger  animal  advanced  in  years.  In  length  the  two  skulls  vary  only  about 
a  tenth  of  an  inch;  the  younger,  however,  is  considerably  the  narrower  and 
much  deeper,  especially  posteriorly,  while  its  facial  angle  is  much  less. 
The  direction  of  the  latero-occipital  crests,  the  form  and  projection  of 
the  occipital  condyles,  and  especially  their  situation  relative  to  the  par- 
occipital  processes,  are  exceedingly  different  in  the  two  skulls,  as  clearly 
shown  in  Figs.  3  and  4,  —  as  different  as  might  be  expected  to  occur  in 

Fig.  3.J 


*  Fig.  1,  anterior  portion  of  trie  skull  of  No.  2920  (left  side),  showing  the  form  of  tho 
nasals  the  zygomatic  and  postorbital  processes,  and  the  posterior  outline  of  the  inter- 
maxillaries,  soon  from  above. 

t  Fig.  2,  same  of  No.  2921.  t  Fig.  3,  skull  of  No.  2921,  seen  in  profile. 


58 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


quite  distinct  species.  In  the  anterior  portion  of  the  skull  the  differences 
are  nearly  as  great  as  in  the  posterior  portion.  In  the  older  skull  the 
ratio  of  the  height  of  the  skull  at  the  base  of  the  second  molar  to  its 
height  at  the  base  of  the  fourth  is  as  81  to  100;  the  corresponding  ratio 

Fig.  4.* 


in  the  younger  skull  is  as  74  to  100.  It  may  be  added  that  the  same  ratio 
in  Dr.  Gray's  figure  of  the  skull  of  Zalophus  Gillespii\  is  as  70  to  100, 
showing  that  the  younger  skull  in  this  character  more  resembles  the  Z.  Gil- 
lespii,  —  which  different  writers  have  spoken  of  as  remarkable  for  the  great 
declination  of  the  face,  —  than  it  does  the  older  skull  of  the  same  species. 
There  are  also  great  differences  in  the  relative  length  and  shape  of  the 
nasal  bones,  and  in  the  form  of  the  posterior  outline  of  the  intermaxillaries 
(Figs.  1  and  2).  In  the  younger  specimen  they  extend  further  back  than 
in  the  older,  further  even  than  the  end  of  the  nasals,  while  in  the  older  the 
nasals  extend  beyond  the  intermaxillaries. 

In  respect,  to  the  posterior  aspect  of  the  skull  (Figs.  2  and  4,  Plate  I), 
the  differences  are  no  less  great.  The  height  of  the  occipital  bone  is  about 
fifteen  per  cent  greater  in  the  young  skull  (Fig.  2,  PL  I),  which  would  be 
much  increased  by  age  through  the  further  development  of  the  supraoc- 
cipital  crest.  The  breadth  of  the  occiput  above  is  equal  in  the  two;  below 
it  is  fifteen  per  cent  greater  in  the  older  (Fig.  4,  PI.  I). 

In  the  lower  surface  of  the  skull  (Figs.  1  and  3,  Plate  I)  other  consider- 
able differences  are  observable,  and  of  such  a  nature  that  they  cannot  be 
dec!  as  resulting  from  age.  In  the  older  skull,  as  previously  remarked, 
the  bones  are   in  general  much  thicker  than  in  the  younger;  but  in  re- 

*  Fig.  4,  skull  of  No.  2920,  same  view. 

t  l'i'oc.  London  Zoi  1.  Society,  lbu'J,  PI.  LXX. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  59 

spect  to  the  hamuli  pterygoidei,  the  younger  skull  has  these  processes 
longer  and  stouter  than  they  are  in  the  older.  The  posterior  nares  are 
narrower  and  higher  in  the  younger,  —  a  difference  correlating  with  the 
general  differences  in  form  of  the  skull  in  the  two  specimens,  the  nares  in 
the  younger  being  relatively  narrow  and  high  as  compared  with  those  of 
the  other.  The  comparative  measurements  of  these  skulls  already  given 
(p.  49)  show  definitely  the  amount  of  these  differences.  The  palatine 
surface  of  the  intermaxillaries  is  less  depressed  in  the  older  skull. 

In  respect  to  other  portions  of  the  skeleton,  considerable  differences 
other  than  those  obviously  resulting  from  age  are  met  with.  The  smaller 
and  younger  specimen,  which  has  a  girth  in  the  mounted  skin  (as  it 
doubtless  had  in  life)  one  fourth  greater  than  the  other,  has  ribs  as  long 
as  the  other.  The  number  of  segments  in  the  sternum  varies  in  the  two, 
through  the  intercalation  in  the  younger  specimen  of  a  short  cartilaginous 
one  between  the  eighth  and  ninth,  to  which  the  ninth  pair  of  ribs  is  at- 
tached, instead  of  both  the  eighth  and  ninth  pairs  being  attached  to  the 
eighth  segment,  as  is  usually  the  case. 

In  color,  contrary  to  what  would  result  from  age,  the  younger  specimen 
is  much  the  lighter. 

Asymmetry.  —  A  small  amount  of  asymmetry  has  now  come  to  be  recog- 
nized as  normally  occurring  in  many  groups  of  mammals,  from  which  even 
the  highest  are  not  free.  It  is  most  marked,  however,  in  the  lower  types, 
and  especially  in  the  cetaceans,  where  it  is  usually  too  great  to  escape  the 
notice  of  the  mo;t  cursory  observer.  The  eared  seals  also  exhibit  an  un- 
usually great  degree  of  asymmetry.  This  absence  of  symmetry  doubtless 
indicates  a  tendency  to  a  greater  than  the  ordinary  degree  of  individual  vari- 
ation. In  the  skull  of  the  older  specimen  of  Eumetopias  now  before  me, 
the  asymmetry  is  very  striking,  the  preponderance  of  size  being  on  the  left 
side  of  the  skull,  which  is  not  only  broader,  but  appreciably  longer.  Be- 
sides the  asymmetry  of  size,  there  is  an  asymmetry  in  the  position  of  the 
different  parts,  those  on  one  side  being  in  advance  of  their  homologues  on 
the  other  side.*  The  following  measurements  indicate  the  extent  of  the 
asymmetry  in  size,  the  measurements  being  taken  from  the  (homologically) 
median  line  outwards  at  four  different  points  :  — 


Right  side,       .... 
Lett  side 

48 
53 

57 
63 

34 
39 

111 
113 

*  This  one-sidedness  is  still  more  strikingly  seen  in  the  above-mentioned  female  skull 
of  Otariajubnta,  especially  in  regard  to  the  size  and  position  of  the  postorbital  processes. 

Dr.  G.  A.  Maack  informs  me  that  in  the  specimens  of  the  0.  jubeda  collected  by  him 
on  the  coast  of  Buenos  Ayres  the  asymmetry  was  astonishingly  great.  On  the  contrary, 
he  found  no  asymmetry  in  the  skull  of  the  ArctocejAalus  falklandicus. 


60  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

The  palatine  bones  seem  to  be  particularly  liable  to  vary  in  length  and 
form  on  the  two  sides  of  the  same  skull,  as  does  also  the  position  of  the 
last  molar  tooth.  On  the  left  side  the  distance  between  the  fourth  and 
fifth  molars  in  the  older  skull  is  3.">  mm.,  on  the  right  side  26  mm. 

In  the  younger  skull  the  left  side  is  also  just  appreciably  more  devel- 
oped than  the  right.  In  the  older  individual  the  asymmetry  is  readily 
traceable  throughout  the  skeleton,  in  the  hind  feet  especially,  the  one 
being  much  larger  than  the  other. 

General  Remarks.  —  The  northern  sea  lion  was  first  described  by 
Steller  in  1751,  who,  under  the  name  of  Leo  marinas,  gave  a  somewhat 
detailed  account  of  its  habits  and  its  geographical  range,  so  far  as  known 
to  him.  His  description  of  the  animal,  however,  is  quite  unsatisfactory. 
Steller's  Leo  marinus,  in  size,  general  form  and  color,  closely  resembles 
the  southern  sea  lion  (Otariajubata),  with  which  Steller's  animal  was 
confounded  by  Pennant,  Buffon  and  nearly  all  subsequent  writers  for 
nearly  a  century.  Peron,  in  1816,  first  distinctly  affirmed  the  northern 
and  southern  sea  lions  to  be  specifically  distinct.  Lesson,  in  1828,  gave 
it  the  specific  name  it  now  bears,  in  hpnor  of  Steller,  its  first  describer. 
The  following  year  Fischer,  on  the  authority  of  Lesson,  also  recognized 
its  distinctness  from  the  southern  species.  Nilsson,  in  1840,  in  his  cel- 
ebrated monograph  of  the  seals,  reunited  them.  Midler,  however,  in  an 
appendix  to  Dr.  W.  Peters's  transition  of  Nilsson's  essay,  published  in 
the  Archiv  fur  Naturgeschichte  for  1841,  separated  it  again,  and  pointed 
out  some  of  the  differences  in  the  skulls  that  serve  to  distinguish  the 
two  species.  Gray,  in  his  Catalogue  of  the  Seals  published  in  1850, 
also  regarded  it  as  distinct.  But  one  is  led  to  infer  that  he  had  not  yet 
seen  specimens  of  it,  and  that  he  rested  his  belief  in  the  existence  of 
such  a  species  mainly  on  Steller's  account  of  it,  as  he  himself  expressly 
states  in  his  later  papers.  The  ^kull  received  subsequently  at  the  Brit- 
ish Museum  from  Monterey,  California,  and  figured  and  described  by 
Gray  as  a  new  species,  under  the  name  of  Arctocephalus  monteriensis, 
proved,  however,  to  be  of  this  species,  as  first  affirmed  by  Dr.  Gill,  and 
later  by  Professor  Peters  and  Gray  himself.  With  the  exception  of  the 
figures  of  an  imperfect  skull  of  Steller's  sea  lion  from  Kamtchatka,  given 
by  Pander  and  D' Alton  in  1826,  Dr.  Gray's  excellent  figure  (a  view 
in  profile)  is  the  only  one  of  its  skull  hitherto  published.  The  only 
specimens  of  the  animal  extant,  up  to  a  recent  date,  in  the  European 
museums,  seem  to  have  consisted  of  the  two  skulls  and  a  stuffed  skin  in 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  61 

the  Berlin  Museum  mentioned  by  Peters,  and  the  skull  in  the  British 
Museum  figured  and  described  by  Gray. 

With  the  Monterey  skull  above  mentioned,  Dr.  Gray  received  another 
very  young  skull,  and  the  skin  of  a  fur  seal,  both  of  which  were  said 
to  have  belonged  to  one  animal,  and  which  he  hesitatingly  referred 
to  his  Arctocephalus  monteriensis.*  Later,  however,  he  regarded  them 
as  representing  a  new  species,!  which  he  called  Arctocephalus  califor- 
nianus.  Still  later  he  again  seems  to  refer  them  to  his  Eumetopias 
Stelleri  \  (=.  Arctocephalus  monteriensis  Gray,  of  earlier  date).  Con- 
cerning this  skin  he  remarked  at  one  time  as  follows:  "If  the  skin 
sent  last  year  by  Mr.  Taylor  to  Mr.  Gurney,  and  by  that  gentleman 
presented  to  the  Museum,  is  the  young  of  this  species  \_A.  monteriensis'], 
the  young  animal  is  blackish,  silvered  by  the  short  white  tips  to  the 
short  black  hairs ;  those  on  the  nape  and  hinder  parts  of  the  body  with 
longer  white  tips,  making  those  parts  whiter  and  more  silvery.  The 
under-fur  is  very  abundant,  reaching  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  hair. 
The  end  of  the  nose  and  sides  of  the  face  are  whitish.  The  whiskers 
are  elongated,  rigid,  smooth,  and  white.  The  hind  feet  are  elongate, 
with  rather  long  flaps  to  the  toes.  The  skull  is  small  for  the  size  of 
the  skin,  and  I  should  have  doubted  its  belonging  to  the  skin  if  it  were 
not  accompanied  by  the  following  label  :  '  Skull  of  the  fur  seal  I  sent 
last  year.  It  is  very  imperfect,  from  my  forgetting  where  I  had  put  it; 
but  it  must  do  until  accident  throws  another  in  the  way;  the  other 
bones  were  lo~t.  —  A.  S.  T.'  "  § 

As  Dr.  Gray  seems  to  have  finally  become  settled  in  his  opinion 
that  this  skin  is  identical  with  his  A.  monteriensis,  afterwards  called  by 
him  Eumetopias  Stelleri,  this  may  account  for  the  statement  (already 
referred  to  in  my  "  Resume,")  recently  made  by  him  ||  and  subse- 
quently reiterated,^"  that  the  Eumetopias  Stelleri  is  a  species  in  which 
"  the  fur  is  very  dense,  standing  nearly  erect  from  the  skin,  forming  a 
very  soft,  elastic  coat,  as  in  0.  falklandica  and  0.  Stelleri,  which,"  he 
erroneously  says,  "are  the  only  seals  that  have  a  close,  soft,  elastic 
fur."     From  his  description  of  this  young  skull  it  is  apparently  reler- 

*  Proc.  Loud.  Zool.  Soc,  1S59,  p.  358. 

t   Cat.  Seals  and  Whales,  1866.  p.  49. 

J   Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Series,  1866,  Vol.  XVilI,  p.  233. 

§   Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1859,  p.  358. 

I!  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  4th  Series,  1866,  Vol.  I,  p.  101. 

1  Ibid.,  p.  215. 


G2  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

able  to  E.  Stelleri ;  but  the  skin  is  unquestionably  that  of  the  Callor- 
hinus  ursinus.  Nothing  can  be  more  sure  than  that  it  cannot  belong 
to  the  E.  Stelleri,  which  is  completely  destitute  of  soft  fur,  as  proved 
by  the  specimens  before  me,  and  the  description  given  by  Professor 
Peters  of  the  one  in  the  Berlin  Museum. 

Lesson  gave  the  name  Otaria  californiana  to  a  supposed  species  of 
eared  seal  based  solely  on  the  "  Jeune  lion  marin  de  la  Californie  "  of 
Choris.*  The  figure  given  by  Choris  is  too  poorly  drawn  to  be  recog- 
nizable as  that  of  one  species  of  eared  seal  rather  than  of  another. 
The  following  is  the  only  allusion  Choris  makes  to  this  animal  in  his 
text :  "  Les  rochers,  dans  le  voisinage  de  la  baie  San-Francisco  sont 
ordinairement  couverts  de  lions  marins.  PI.  XI."  From  the  locality, 
which  is  the  only  possible  guide,  it  was  doubtless  the  E.  Stelleri,  but  it 
may  have  been  the  Zalophus  Gillespii.  Dr.  Gill  in  his  "  Prodrome," 
adopted  provisionally  Lesson's  name  {californiana)  for  the  present  spe- 
cies, but  at  the  same  time  suggested  its  probable  identity  with  the  so- 
called  Otaria  Stelleri  of  Miiller.  Peters,  a  few  months  later,  confirmed 
Gill's  suggestion,  since  which  time  the  name  Stelleri  has  been  univer- 
sally adopted  for  the  larger  northern  hair  seal.  The  Otaria  Stelleri  of 
Schlegel,  f  formerly  supposed  by  Gray  %  and  also  by  Peters  §  to  in- 
clude both  the  Australian  eared  seals  (viz.  Arctocephalus  cinereus  and 
Zalophus  lobatus),  has  finally  been  referred  by  the  latter,  after  an  ex- 
amination of  the  original  specimens  in  the  Leyden  Museum,  to  the 
Zalophus  Gillespii.\\  I  am  now  convinced  of  the  correctness  of  this 
determination,  though  for  a  time  I  suspected  the  skull  of  the  young 
female  figured  in  Fauna  Japonica  (PI.  XXII,  Figs.  5  and  6)  to  belong 
to  some  species  of  fur  seal.  It  certainly  differs  greatly  in  proportions, 
as  well  as  in  dentition,  from  the  other  skulls  figured  in  this  work  (same 
plate),  and  called  0.  Stelleri. 

The  northern  sea  lion  having  become  generally  recognized  as  specifi- 
cally distinct  from  the  sea  lion  of  the  southern  seas,  Dr.  Gill,  in  1866, 
separated  the  two  generically.  This  had  indeed  already  been  done  prac- 
tically by  Dr.  Gray,  inasmuch  as  he  placed  his  A.  monteriensis  (=0. 

*  Voyage  Pittoresque,  PI.  XI,  of  the  chapter  entitled  "  Port  San-Francisco  et  se9 
habitants."     (The  date  of  this  work  is  1822.) 
t  Fauna  Japonica,  Mam.  marine,  p.  10. 

\  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Series,  1866,  Vol.  XVni,  p.  229. 
§  Monatsberichte  Akad.  Berlin,  1866,  pp.  272,  276. 
||  Ibid.,  p.  669. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  63 

Stelleri  auct.)  in  the  genus  Arctocephalus,  and  the  southern  sea  lion  in 
Otaria,  with  which  he  nominally  associated  the  0.  Stelleri.  He  failed, 
however,  to  recognize  the  identity  of  his  A.  monteriensis  with  the  0. 
Stelleri,  and  hence  the  entire  generic  diversity  of  the  northern  and 
southern  sea  lions  seems  to  have  escaped  his  observation.  The  latter 
fact  was  first  pointed  out  by  Dr.  Gill  in  his  "  Prodrome,"  as  above 
stated. 

Comparison  with  Otaria  jubata.  —  Having  only  male  specimens  of 
the  Eumetopias  Stelleri,  and  only  skulls  of  the  female  of  Otaria  jubata, 
I  am  unable  to  make  a  detailed  comparison  of  these  two  strictly  geo- 
graphically representative  species.  The  following  measurements  of  a 
female  0.  jubata,  taken  from  the  animal  itself  (at  Cabo  Corrientes, 
Buenos  Ayres),  by  Dr.  G.  A.  Maack,  are  here  introduced  for  future 
reference,  since  they  are  more  detailed  than  any  hitherto  published :  — 

"  Measurements  of  Otaria  jubata  (adult). 

"  Total  length  to  end  of  tail 1,750  mm. 

"         "         «     "     "  outstretched  hind  limbs  .         .  2,070    " 

Greatest  circumference  of  the  body       ....  1,050    " 

Circumference  of  the  body  in  front  of  fore  limbs        .  970    " 

"                     "                 "             hind  limbs  .         .  860    " 

"             of  the  neck 620    " 

Length  of  left  fore  fin 700    " 

"            «     palm 500    " 

"             "     hind  fin  (sole) 430    " 

"  The  general  color  is  brown ;  iris,  coffee-brown ;  barbules,  dark  yellow." 

Of  the  large  collection  of  skins  and  skeletons  of  the  Otaria  jubata 
received  by  the  London  Zoological  Society  in  1868,  we  as  yet  have  no 
very  detailed  account.  The  measurements  of  one  of  the  adult  females 
given  by  Dr.  Murie  *  are  as  follows :  "  Greatest  length  of  skin,  includ- 
ing hind  extremities,  80 1  inches  [2,045  mm.]  ;  from  muzzle  to  end  of 
tail,  66|  inches  [1,702  mm.];  tip  to  tip  of  fore  limbs  outspread,  58 
inches  [1,473  mm.]"  It  hence  agrees  very  nearly  in  size  with  that 
measured  by  Dr.  Maack. 

The  measurements  of  a  male  specimen  of  O.  jubata  —  belonging  to 
the  same  collection  as  the  female  —  given  by  Dr.  Murie,  indicate 
that  it  was  not  nearly  full  grown.    The  few  reliable  facts  we  have  in 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1869,  p.  102. 


G4  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

respect  to  the  size  of  the  male  are  sufficient  to  show  that  in  this  respect, 
as  well  as  in  general  external  features,  the  O.jubata  differs  markedly  in 
no  way  from  the  Eumetopias  Stelleri,  although  they  differ  widely  in  the 
form  of  the  skull  and  in  dentition. 

Geographical  Distribution.  —  According  to  Steller,  this  species  ex- 
isted in  his  time  along  nearly  the  whole  eastern  coast  of  Kamtchatka 
and  southwards  to  the  Kurile  Islands.  He  also  met  with  it  on  Behring's 
Island  and  on  the  American  coast.  Both  Captain  Bryant  and  Mr.  Dall 
report  it  as  abundant  at  the  Pribyloff  Islands,  and  it  has  been  received 
by  Dr.  Gray,  and  also,  as  Dr.  Gill  informs  me,  at  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitution, from  California.  The  sea  lions  of  the  Farallone  Islands  and 
other  parts  of  the  California  coast,  especially  those  that  have  of  late 
attracted  so  much  attention  in  the  harbor  of  San  Francisco,  are  proba- 
bly the  present  species.  The  E.  Stel/eri  hence  doubtless  ranges  along 
the  American  coast,  in  greater  or  less  abundance,  from  California  to 
Behring's  Strait,  and  down  the  Asiatic  coast  to  the  Kurile  Islands. 

Habits.  —  The  habits  of  this  species  have  not  yet  been  minutely 
described.  Steller  gave  a  very  full  account  of  those  of  the  sea  bear 
(Cattorkinus  ursinus),  and  remarked  that,  with  some  few  exceptions 
(which  lie  specifies),  those  of  the  sea  lion  closely  resemble  those  of  that 
animal.  Captain  Bryant  has  also  been  far  more  minute  in  his  account 
of  the  sea  bear;  but  in  the  subjoined  notes  respecting  the  sea  lion  he 
presents  interesting  information  regarding  the  latter  species.  The 
Plates  of  Choris  (Nos.  XI Vr  and  XV  of  the  chapter  on  the  Aleutian 
Islands)  doubtless  give  a  very  good  idea  of  the  appearance  of  these 
animals  and  the  sea  bears  when  assembled  on  the  land.  lb'  has  also 
contributed  a  few  interesting  facts  concerning  their  habits.  The  follow- 
ing are  tin'  remarks  of  Captain   Bryant:  — 

"The  sea  lion  visits  St.  Paul's  Island  in  considerable  numbers  to 
rear  its  young.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  seal  family,  the  male 
frequently  measuring  thirteen  feet  in  length,  ami  weighing  from  fifteen 
to  eighteen  hundred  pounds.  It-  habits  are  the  same  as  those  of  the 
fur  seal.  When  roused  to  anger  it  has  a  very- marked  resemblance, 
through  the  form  of  its  bead  and  neck,  to  the  animal  from  which  it  is 
named,  and  its  voice,  when  roaring,  can  be  heard  to  a  great  distance. 
Its  body  is  thickly  covered  with  fine,  short,  dark  [?]  In-own  hair,  without 
any  fur.  It-  skin  is  of  considerable  value  as  an  article  of  commerce  in 
the  territory,  it  being  used  in  making  all  kinds  of  boats,  from  a  one-man 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  65 

canoe  to  a  lighter  of  twenty  tons'  burden.  The  natives  of  all  the  Aleu- 
tian Islands  and  of  the  coast  as  far  east  as  Sitka,  beside  those  of  many 
ports  on  the  mainland  to  the  north,  rely  on  this  island  for  a  supply  of 
the  skins  of  this  animal.  The  rookery  is  on  the  northeast  end  of  the 
island,  and  the  animals  have  to  be  driven  ten  or  eleven  miles  to  the  vil- 
lage to  bring  their  skins  to  the  drying-frames.  It  sometimes  requires 
five  days  to  make  the  journey,  as  at  frequent  intervals  they  have  to  be 
allowed  to  rest.  It  is  a  somewhat  dangerous  animal,  and  the  men  fre- 
quently get  seriously  hurt  by  it  in  driving  and  killing  it.  They  are 
driven  together  in  the  same  manner  as  the  fur  seals  are  ;  and  while 
impeding  each  other  by  treading  upon  each  other's  flippers  the  small 
ones  are  killed  with  lances,  but  the  larger  ones  have  to  be  shot. 

"  This  animal  is  the  most  completely  consumed  of  any  on  the  island. 
Their  flesh  is  preferred  to  that  of  the  seal  for  drying  for  winter  use. 
After  the  skins  are  taken  off  (two  thousand  of  which  are  required 
annually  to  supply  the  trading-po.«ts  of  the  territory),  they  are  spread 
in  piles  of  twenty-five  each,  with  the  flesh  side  down,  and  left  to  heat 
until  the  hair  is  loo-ened  ;  it  is  then  scraped  off,  and  the  skins  are 
stretched  on  frames  to  dry.  The  blubber  is  removed  from  the  carcass 
for  fuel  or  oil,  and  the  flesh  is  cut  in  strips  and  dried  for  winter 
use.  The  linings  of  their  throats  are  saved  and  tanned  for  making 
the  legs  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  the  skin  of  the  flippers  is  u>ed  for 
the  soles.  Their  stomachs  are  turned,  cleaned,  and  dried,  and  are  used 
to  put  the  oil  in  when  boiled  out.  The  intestines  are  dressed  and 
sewed  together  into  water-proof  frocks,  which  are  worn  while  hunting 
and  fishing  in  the  boats.  The  sinews  of  the  back  are  dried  and 
stripped  to  make  the  thread  with  which  to  sew  together  the  intes- 
tines, and  to  fasten  the  skins  to  the  canoe-frames.  The  natives  receive 
thirty-five  cents  apiece  for  the  .-kins  when  ready  for  shipment.  But 
these  skins  are  not  so  much  valued  by  the  trader  for  the  profit  he 
makes  on  their  sale,  as  for  the  advantage  it  gives  him  in  bargaining 
with  the  hunters,  since  by  buying  these  they  are  able  to  secure  a 
right  to  the  purchase  of  the  hunter's  furs  on  his  return,  the  natives 
always  considering  such  contracts  binding." 

Choris,  in  his  description  of  the  '"lies  S. -Georges  et  S.-PauFs,"  thus 
speaks  of  the  sea  lions  that  he  met  with  on  these  islands  fifty  years 
ago:  — 

"  Le  rivage  etait  couvert  de  troupes  innombrables  de  lions  marins. 

VOL.    II.  5 


G6  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

L'odeur  qu'ils  repandent  est  insupportable.  Ces  animaux  etaient  alors 
dans  lc  temps  du  rut.  L'on  voyait  de  tous  cotes  les  males  se  battre 
entre  eux  pour  s'enlever  les  uns  aux  autres  les  femelles.  Chaque 
male  en  rassemble  de  dix  a  vingt,  se  montre  jaloux,  ne  soutfre  aucun 
autre  male,  et  attaque  ceux  qui  tentent  de  s'approcher ;  il  les  tue  par 
ses  morsurea  ou  s'en  fait  tuer.  Dans  le  premier  cas,  il  s'empare  des 
femelles  da  vaincu.  Nous  avons  trouve  plusieurs  males  etendus  morts 
sur  la  plage,  des  seules  blessures  qu'ils  avaient  reeues  dans  les  combats. 
Quelques  femelles  avaient  deja  des  petits.  Les  Aleoutes  en  prirent  plu- 
sieurs douzaines  pour  nous.  L'animal  n'est  pas  dangereux  ;  il  fuit 
a  l'approcbe  de  l'homme,  excepte  depuis  la  mi-mai  jusqu'a  la  mi-juin, 
qui  est  le  plus  fort  temps  du  rut,  et  oil  les  femelles  mettent  bas  leur 
petits  ;  alors  il  ne  se  laisse  pas  approcber  et  il  attaque  meme." 

"  Ces  animaux  sont  aussi  tres-conmums  au  port  de  San-Francisco, 
sur  la  tote  de  Californie,  oil  on  les  voit  en  nombre  prodigieux  sur  les 
rochers  de  la  baie.  Cette  espece  m'a  paru  sedistinguer  de  ceux  qui  fre- 
quentent  les  iles  Aleoutiennes;  elle  a  le  corps  plus  fluet  et  plus  allonge, 
et  la  tete  plus  fine:  quant  a  la  couleur,  elle  passe  fortement  au  brun, 
tandis  que  ceux  des  iles  Aleoutiennes  sont  d'une  couleur  plus  grise, 
ont  le  corps  plus  rond,  les  mouvements  plus  diffieiles,  la  tete  plus 
grosse  et  plus  epaisse  ;  la  couleur  du  poil  des  moustaches  plus  noiratre 
que  celui  des  iles  Aleoutiennes. 

"  On  trouve  les  lions  marins  depuis  L  3(V'mc  jusqu'au  GO0"16  parallele 
nord,  dans  les  iles  et  sur  le  continent  d'Amerique." 

"On  v  [l'ile  Saint-Georges]  tue  une  grande  quantite  de  lions  marins; 
mais  seulement  des  males,  a  cause  de  leur  grandeur;  on  se  sert  de 
leur  peau  pour  recouvrir  les  canots,  et  des  intestins  pour  faire  le 
kamleyki,  especes  de  blouses  que  Ton  endosse  par  dessus  les  autrs 
veteinents  lorsqu'il  pleut  pour  ne  pas  se  mouiller.     La  chair,  que  Ton 

fait  secher,  est  dure ;  c'est  une  bonne  nourriture  pour  l'hiver Les 

jeunes  sont  tres-tendres  et  ont  le  gout  de  poisson."  * 

The  following  careful  description  of  their  movements  on  land  has 
been  communicated  to  me  by  Mr.  Theodore  Lyman,  who  has  recently 
observed  the  sea  lions  on  the  "  Seal  Rocks"  near  San  Francisco:  — 

"  These  rocks,"  he  says,  "  are  beset  with  hundreds  of  these  animals, — 
some  still,  some  moving,  some  on  the  land,  and  some  in  the  water.     As 

*  Voyage  Pittorcsque  autour  du  Monde,  Chapter  "  lies  Aleoutiennes,"  p.  12  - 14. 


BULLETIN    OF    THE  67 

they  approach  to  effect  a  landing,  the  head  only  appears  decid<  <\\y 
above  water.  This  is  their  familiar  element,  and  they  swim  with 
great  speed  and  ease,  quite  unmindful  of  the  heavy  surf  and  of  the 
breakers  on  the  ledges.  In  landing,  they  are  apt  to  take  advantage  of 
a  heavy  wave,  which  helps  them  to  get  the  forward  flippers  on  terra 
jirma.  As  the  wave  retreats,  they  begin  to  struggle  up  the  steep 
rocks,  twisting  the  body  from  side  to  side,  with  a  clumsy  worm-like 
motion,  and  thus  alternately  work  their  flippers  into  positions  where 
they  may  force  the  body  a  little  onward.  At  such  times  they  have  a 
general  appearance  of  sprawling  over  the  ground.  It  is  quite  astonish- 
ing to  see  how  they  will  go  up  surfaces  having  even  a  greater  inclina- 
tion than  45°,  and  where  a  man  would  have  to  creep  with  much  exer- 
tion. When  the  surface  is  nearly  horizontal,  they  go  faster,  and  often 
proceed  by  gathering  their  hind-quarters  under  them,  raising  themselves 
on  the  edges  of  their  fore-limbs  and  then  giving  a  push,  whereby  they 
make  a  sort  of  tumble  forwards.  In  their  onward  path  they  are  ac- 
companied by  the  loud  barking  of  all  the  seals  they  pass;  and  these 
cries  may  be  heard  a  great  distance.  Having  arrived  at  a  good  bask- 
ng-place,  they  stretch  themselves  out  in  various  attitudes,  —  often  on 
the  side,  sometimes  nearly  on  the  back,  but  commonly  on  the  belly, 
with  the  flippers  somewhat  extended.  They  seem  much  oppressed 
with  their  own  weight  (which  is  usually  supported  by  the  water),  and 
it  seemed  an.  exertion  for  them  even  to  raise  the  head,  though  it  is 
often  kept  up  for  a  long  time.  They  play  among  themselves  contin- 
ually by  rolling  on  each  other  and  feigning  to  bite.  Often,  too,  they 
will  amuse  themselves  by  pushing  off  those  that  are  trying  to  land. 
All  this  is  done  in  a  very  cumbrous  manner,  and  is  accompanied  by 
incessant  barking.  As  they  issue  from  the  water,  their  fur  is  dark 
and  shining ;  but,  as  it  dries,  it  becomes  of  a  yellowish  brown.  Then 
they  appear  to  feel  either  too  dry  or  too  hot,  for  they  move  to  the 
nearest  point  from  which  they  may  tumble  into  the  sea.  I  saw  many 
roll  off  a  ledge  at  lea-t  twenty  feet  high,  and  fall,  like  so  many  huge 
brown  sacks,  into  the  water,  dashing  up  showers  of  spray." 

From  the  accounts  given  by  various  observers,  the  sea  lions  evi- 
dently move  with  much  less  facility  on  land  than  do  the  fur  seals. 
Captain  Bryant  states  that  the  fur  seals  may  be  driven  at  the  rate  of  a 
mile  and  a  half  per  hour,  whde  he  asserts  that  the  sea  lions  can  be 
driven  with  safety  only  about  two  miles  a  day. 


68  MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE    ZOOLOGY. 

Genus  Zalopiius  Gill. 

Zulophus  Gill,  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  18GG,  V,  7,  11.     Type  Otaria  GiL 

lespii  McBain. 
Zulophus  Peters,  Monatsb.  Akad.  Berlin,  18G6,  275,  671. 
Neophoca  Gray,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Series,  18GG,  XVIII,  231. 

Type  Arctocephalus  lobutus  Gray. 

Size  medium.  Molars  approximated,  last  under  the  hinder  edge  of  the 
zygomatic  process.  Muzzle  narrow.  Superior  profile,  from  the  postor- 
bital process  anteriorly,  gently  declined.  Bony  palate  moderately  con- 
tracted posteriorly,  and  but  slightly  depressed.  Hinder  edge  of  the 
palatals  deeply  concave.  Pterygoid  hooks  slender.  Posterior  nares 
broader  than  high ;  anterior  higher  than  broad.  Postorbital  cylinder 
narrow  and  elongate.  The  postorbital  constriction  of  the  skull  is  deep 
and  abrupt,  giving  a  quadrate  or  subquadrate  form  to  the  brain-box,  which 
varies  to  triangular  through  the  varying  degree  of  prominence  of  its  latero- 
anterior  angles.  The  postorbital  processes  arc  triangular,  developed 
latero-posteriorly  into  a  rather  slender  point.  The  sagittal  crest  forms  a 
remarkably  high,  thin  bony  plate,  unparalleled  in  its  great  development 
in  any  other  genus  of  the  family.  The  general  form  of  the  skull  is  rather 
narrow,  much  more  so  than  in  Eumetopias,  and  nearly  as  much  so  as  in 
Arctocephalus ;  the  breadth  to  length  being  as  GO  to  100. 

Zulophus,  so  far  as  the  skull  is  concerned,  is  the  most  distinct  generic 
form  of  the  family  Otariadce,  it  being  thoroughly  distinct  from  all  the 
others.  It  differs  from  Otaria  in  having  one  less  pair  of  upper 
molars,  in  the  less  depression  of  the  bony  palate,  the  less  extension 
posteriorly  of  the  palatines,  the  much  narrower  muzzle,  the  much  less 
abrupt  declination  of  the  facial  profile,  its  much  higher  sagittal  crest, 
and  in  its  narrower  and  more  elongated  form. 

Zalophus  differs  from  Eumetopias,  as  already  pointed  out,  in  hav- 
ing all  the  upper  molars  closely  approximated,  in  the  concave  out- 
line of  the  posterior  border  of  the  palatines,  and  otherwise  much  as  it 
differs  from  Otaria. 

Zulophus  differs  from  Callorhinus  in  its  less  number  of  upper 
molars,  its  high  sagittal  crest,  and  in  the  more  declined  profile  of  the 
face.  It  differs  in  a  nearly  similar  manner  from  Arctocephalus,  but 
more  resembles  this  genus  in  the  general  form  and  proportions  of  the 
skull  than  any  other.  But  in  the  nature  of  its  pelage,  and  in  other  ex- 
ternal features,  it  is  radically  distinct  from  the  whole  group  of  fur  seals, 
as  it  is  also  in  its  high  sagittal  crest. 


BULLETIN    OF   THE  69 

Zalophus  Gillespii  Gill.     Gillkspik's  IIaik  Seal. 

Otarta   Gillespii   McBain,  Proc.  Edinb.  Roy.  Phys.  Soc,  I,  422,  1858. 

Arctocep/utlus  Gillespii  Gray,  Proc.  Loud.  ZooT.  Soc,  1859,  110,360,  PI. 
lxx  ;  Cat.  Seals  and  Whales,  1866,  p.  55. 

Zalophus  Gillespii  Gill,  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  V,  13,  1866. 

Otarin  (Zdloplius)  Gillespu  Peters,  Monatsb.  Akad.  Berlin,  1866,275,  671. 

Zalophus  Gillespii  Gray,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d  Series,  1866, 
XVI II,  231. 

Otana  Stelleri  Schlegel,  Fauna  Japonica,  Mam.  marin,  10,  PI.  xxi, 
(animal),  PI.  xxil,Figs.  1-4,  and  5-6  (skulls), 
PI.  xxin,  Figs.  1  -9  (skeleton  and  teeth),  1842. 

"  Olaria  japonica  Schlegel,  MS."  Peters. 

Color.  —  In  color,  as  well  as  in  general  form,  this  species  is  similar  to 
E.  Stelleri,  but  in  size  it  is  much  smaller.  Being  without  skins  of  this 
species,  I  borrow  the  following  from  Schlegel's  description  in  the  Fauna 
Japonica.  In  describing  Japan  specimens  (under  the  name  Otarin  Stelleri) 
he  says  the  tints  of  the  upper  parts  are  "d'un  gris  jaunatre,  un  pen  nuance 
de  noir  sur  le  dos  et  sur  la  tete.  Sur  les  parties  inferieures  et  sur  les  ex- 
tremites,  la  teinte  generale  dont  nous  parlons,  passe  insensiblement  au 
brun-roux  ;  mais  cette  couleur  est  tres-peu  marquee  sur  le  dessous  du  cou, 
tandis  qu'elle  devient  tres-foneee  vers  l'extremite  des  pieds,  qui  sont  d'un 
brun-roux  noir  assez  profond."  "  Les  poils,"  he  adds,  "  sont  en  general 
courts,  puisqu'ils  nc  portent  guere  que  trois  a  quatre  lignes  en  longueur 
sur  le  cou  ou  sur  le  dos,  un  peu  raides  et  assez  touffus.  lis  sont,  sur  les 
parties  superieures,  bruns  a  la  base  et  noirs  au  milieu,  mais  leur  pointe 
offre  toujours  des  couleurs  plus  claires,  qui  fbrment  les  teintes  generates  de 
1'animal."  The  specimen  above  described  he  states  is  a  female,  and  re- 
marks that  another  female  he  possessed  differs  from  it  in  color  only  in 
being  generally  darker  or  more  deeply  colored. 

Size.  —  The  mounted  skin  of  an  adult  male  preserved  in  the  Museum 
of  the  Pays-Bas,  he  says,  is  "six  pieds  et  deux  ponces  en  longueur  totale, 
mesure  depuis  le  nez  jusqu'a  1'extremite  de  la  queue."  It  differs  from  a 
female  specimen,  he  says,  only  in  being  larger  and  darker  colored  and  in 
having  the  hairs  longer. 

The  only  specimens  of  this  species  I  have  been  ab'e  to  examine  are  two 
skulls,  one  of  which  was  kindly  loaned  me  by  (he  Chicago  Academy  of 
Sciences,  and  the  other  by  the  Smithsonian  Institution.  The  former  belongs 
to  a  mounted  skeleton,  collected,  as  Dr.  Stimpson  informs  me,  In  Professor 
W.  P.  Trowbridge,  formerly  Lieutenant  of  United  States  Engineers  some- 
where between  Puget  Sound  and  San  Francisco.  The  skeleton,  without  the 
atlas  and  skull,  Dr.  Stimpson  writes  me,  measures  six  fee.1  ;  adding  the 
length  of  the  latter  gives  a  little  less  than  seven  feet  as  the  whole  length  of 


70 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


tin-  skeleton.  Tin-  sex  of  neither  of*  these  specimens  was  recorded,  but  there 
seems  to  be  little  doubt  of  their  being  both  males.  Both  axe  very  old  indi- 
viduals. They  differ  considerably  in  size,  however,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
accompanying  table  of  measurements,  the  Chicago  Academy  specimen 
being  the  larger. 

Measurements  of  the  Skull. 


330 

(Jt 

290 

180 

170 

Dist.  from  ant.  edge  of  intermaxillaries  to  hamuli  pterygoidei 

1!)0 

180 

"             "              "                   "              '•    last  molar 

100 

97 

«•            ■«             "                 "             "  front  edge  of  orbit 

95 

90 

"             <<               "                    "               "    post.       "         " 

160 

150 

"             "               "                    "               "    auditory  orifice   . 

245 

220 

Length  of  left  palatine  bone  (inner  edge) 

35 

34 

"        "  right    "         "              "               .... 



36 

Breadth  of  left      "          "      (anteriorly) 

21 

19 

"  right   "         "             "                . 



18 

Dist.  from  post,  edge  of  palatals  to  end  of  hamuli  pteryg. 

55 

48 

"       "      last  molar  to  end  of  hamuli  pteryg. 

90 

80 

Depression  of  palate  below  alveoli  of  canines    . 

10 

07 

"                 "             "           "       3d  molar 

09 

08 

"                "            "           "       last  molar    . 



10 

Length  of  the  nasals  (outer  edge) 

61 

56 

"       (inner  edge)      ..... 

49 

38 

Breadth  of  both  nasals  together  (anteriorly) 

30 

27 

"           "           "            "        (posteriorly)   . 

2S 

20 

"         of  the  skull  at  the  canines       ..... 

70 

60 

"            "         "          "      postoibital  process 

83 

66 

"         "          "      middle  of  the  orbits    . 

145 

130 

"         "          "      maxillary  condyles 

190 

170 

"         "          "      paroccipital  process    . 

165 

163 

Diameter    "      anterior  narcs  (vertical)     .... 

32 

30 

"            "             "          "       (transverse)     .... 

34 

29 

"      posterior  nares  (vertical)    .... 

30 

23 

"           "       (transverse)   .... 

2H 

26 

Length  of  the  zygomatic  foramen      ..... 

117 

82 

Breadth     "             "               " 

65 

55 

Diameter  of  foramen  magnum  (antcro-postcrior) 

24 

25 

(laterally)      .          .      .  .          . 

25 

23 

Height  of  the  skull  (end  of  parae.  proc.  to  top  of  occip.  crest) 

150 

120 

"          "      (occip.  condyle  to  top  of  occip.  crest)     . 

130 

97 

"      (end  of  ham.  pteryg.  to  top  of  sag.  crest) 

140 

125 

Length  of  sagittal  crest         . 

157 

145 

Greatest  height  of  crest    ....... 

38 

29 

Length  of  the  lower  jaw       ....... 

240 

200 

Breadth  posteriorly 

170 

155 

"        at  last  moiar 

75 

75 

"        posterior  ('dire  of  symphysis          .... 

53 

64 

"       of  each  condyle 

55 

47 

Height  of  lower  jaw  at  coronoid  process    .... 

90 

75 

"            "              "       symphysis 

45 

37 

*  Received  from  the  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences. 

t  Received  from  the  Smithsonian  Institution  (S.  I.  No.  261). 


BULLETIN    OF   THE  71 

According  to  Peters,  the  length  of  the  skull  of  0.  Gillespii  is  295  mm. ; 
of  one  of  the  skulls  of  0.  japonica  (Schlegel  MS.  =  0.  Stelleri  of  the  Fauna 
Japonica)  is  270  mm.  and  of  the  other  310  mm.,  which  would  indicate 
an  animal    f  about  three  fourths  the  size  of  E.  Stelleri. 

If  we  can  assume  that  the  California  "  lion  marin  "  of  Choris  *  is  this 
species,  which  we  can  hardly  do  with  certainty,  it  differs  from  the  E. 
Slelleri  in  being  browner  and  smaller,  with  a  more  delicately  shaped  head 
and  uarker  mustaches.  The  latter,  however,  are  variable  in  color,  in  other 
species,  in  specimens  specifically  the  same. 

Individual  Variation.  —  The  two  male  skulls  of  Zalo/ihus  Gillespii  before 
me  differ  from  each  other  very  remarkably  in  various  points.  Besides 
the  general  difference  in  size  indicated  in  the  above  table  of  measure- 
ments, there  are  other  and  more  radical  differences  in  proportions  and  form. 
In  the  specimen  received  from  the  Chicago  Academy,  the  general  form  is 
much  more  elongated  than  in  the  other,  especially  the  facial  portion  of  the 
skull  and  the  postorbital  cylinder.  The  nasals  are  especially  longer,  and 
the  expanded  interorbital  space  shorter,  with  the  postorbital  processes 
much  more  heavily  developed.  The  brain-box,  seen  from  above,  through 
the  gradually  sloping  postorbital  constriction,  is  triangular,  whilst  in  the 
other,  through  the  abruptness  of  the  postorbital  constriction,  it  is  quadrate. 
Hence  in  the  latter  the  brain-box  has  distinct  latero- anterior  angles,  whilst 
in  the  other  the  lateral  walls  of  the  brain-box  gradually  and  regularly  con- 
verge anteriorly.  The  differences  in  these  respects  are  far  greater  than 
exist  between  the  two  male  skulls  of  Callorhinus  ursinus  represented  in 
Plate  II.  The  following  proportions  indicate  the  extent  of  the  difl'eiences 
seen  in  the  form  of  the  postorbital  cylinder. 

The  diameter  of  this  part,  at  its  point  of  greatest  constriction,  in  the 
specimen  received  from  the  Smithsonian  Institution  is  23  mm. ;  do.  of 
the  specimen  received  from  the  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences,  35  mm. 
The  length  of  the  postorbital  cylinder  in  the  first  is  43  mm. ;  in  the  lat- 
ter, 69  mm.,  or  nearh/ one  and  a  half  times  longer  than  in  the  other; 
whilst  the  difference  in  the  whole  length  of  the  skull  in  the  two  speci- 
mens is  less  than  one  seventh  of  the  length  of  the  smaller  specimen. 
Species,  and  even  genera,  have  been  based  on  differences  of  less  impor- 
tance than  these. 

General  Remarks.  —  Schlegel,  in  the  work  above  cited,  gave  the  first 
and  thus  far  the  fullest  account  we  possess  of  this  species.  lie  also 
gave  figures  of  several  skulls,  of  a  skeleton,  and  of  a  middle-aged  female. 
He  failed,  however,  to  distinguish  this  species  from  the  Z.  hbatus  and 
the  Eumetopias  Stelleri,  but  confounded  the  three  under  the  name  Otana 

*  Voyage  Pittoresque  (lies  Ale"ontiennes,  p.  13). 


72  MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 

Stelleri.  He  also  omitted  to  state  distinctly  the  localities  at  which  the 
specimens  figured  were  obtained,  though  they  were  doubtless  from  Japan. 

As  already  remarked  under  Eumelopias  Stelleri,  naturalists  for  a  long 
time  referred  the  specimens  figured  by  Schlegel  under  the  name  Otaria 
Stelleri  to  two  widely  distinct  species,  namely,  0.  lobata  {Zalophus 
lobatus)  and  0.  cinerea  (Arctocephalus  cinereus).  It  was  only  four 
years  since  that  Professor  Peters,  after  examining  the  specimens  fig- 
ured in  the  Fauna  Japonica,  was  able  to  determine  the  real  character 
of  Schlegel's  0.  Stelleri,  which  he  found  referable  to  the  0.  Gillespii 
McBain.  As  previously  stated,  I  see  no  reason  to  question  the  correct- 
ness of  this  identification.  The  skull  represented  in  Figures  5  and  G, 
Plate  XXII,  is  said  to  be  that  of  a  young  female  ;  the  great  propor- 
tional differences  apparent  between  this  and  the  other  specimens  figured 
are  only  such  as  might  result  from  age. 

The  references  to  this  species  are  very  few.  The  first,  aside  from 
Schlegel's  above-cited  work,  is  the  description  of  a  skull  from  Cal- 
ifornia by  McBain,  in  which  the  animal  in  question  was  first  indi- 
dicated  as  a  distinct  species.  This  skull  was  described  in  1858,  and 
was  the  basis  of  McBain's  species  0.  Gillespii.  In  the  following  year 
Dr.  Gray  published  a  figure  of  a  cast  of  this  skull,  and  re-described  the 
species  from  the  cast,  under  the  generic  name  of  Arctocephalus.  Dr. 
Gill  having  seen  other  skulls,  and  noticing  the  striking  differences  ex- 
isting between  this  and  the  other  forms,  in  his  "  Prodrome"  he  proposed 
for  this  species  the  generic  name  of  Zalophus. 

The  only  species  with  which  Zalophus  Gillespii  seems  to  be  at  all 
closely  related  is  its  congener  the  Z.  lobatus,  with  which,  as  stated 
above,  it  was  supposed  by  Schlegel  to  be  identical,  and  to  which  it  was 
in  part  or  wholly  referred  by  later  writers.  The  two  are  of  nearly  the 
same  size,  and  seem  to  have,  in  general,  similar  external  features.  Ac- 
cording to  Peters  and  Gray  they  differ,  however,  in  the  form  of  the 
teeth  and  in  respect  to  some  of  the  features  of  the  skull. 

Distribution  and  Habits.  —  The  only  localities  from  which  this 
species  is  at  present  certainly  known,  are  California  and  Japan,  but 
it  doubtless  inhabits  the  intermediate  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Mr.  W.  II. 
Dall  informs  me,  however,  that  lie  is  confident  that  there  is  only  one 
species  of  "  eared  sea  lion  in  Behring's  Sea."  He  affirms  most  posi- 
tively that  "  there  is  no  Zalophus  there,  or  at  San  Francisco,"  the  spe- 
cies frequenting  the  rocks  in  the  harbor  of  that  name  being  the  Eu- 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  T3 

metopias  Stelleri.  Captain  Bryant  writes  me  that  he  feels  quite  sure 
two  species  of  sea  lions  inhabit  the  coast  of  California  and  the  other 
Pacific  States,  but  he  has  not  yet  had  an  opportunity  of  carefully  ex- 
amining them.  The  three  specimens  from  the  west  coast  of  the  United 
States  alreaily  in  collections,  —  that  described  by  Dr.  McBain,  the  one 
in  the  Museum  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  and  that  in  the  Museum 
of  the  Chicago  Academy,  —  sufficiently  establish  its  occurrence  on  the 
California  coast.  There  seems  to  be  nothing  known,  or  at  least  on 
record,  concerning  its  habits. 

Subfamily  II.  —  OULOPHOCTN^E. 

AVith  thick  under-fur ;  size  smaller,  form  slenderer,  and  the  ears  rela- 
tively much  longer  than  in  Trichophocinat.  Digital  swimming  flaps  of  the 
hind  feet  very  long.     Molars  §  ~  §  =  \%.* 

Genus  Callorhinus  Gray. 

Callorhinus  Gray,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1859,  359.     Type  "  Arctocephalus 

ursinus  Gray,"  =  Phoca  ursina  Linne. 
Arctocephalus  Gill,  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  V,  7,  1866.    Same  type;  not  Arctoceph- 
alus F.  Cuvier. 

Facial  portion  of  the  skull  broad  and  greatly  produced.  Otherwise  essen- 
tially the  same  as  in  Arctocephalus. 

Callorhinus  and  Arctocephalus  are  sufficiently  distinguished  from  the 
hair  seals  by  the  character  of  the  pelage,  as  well  as  by  the  other  char- 
acters given  above  in  the  diagnoses  of  the  two  groups  of  hair  and 
fur  seals.  Callorhinus  differs  apparently  from  Arctocephalus  mainly, 
if  not  almost  solely,  in  the  greater  prominence  of  the  facial  portion  of 
the  skull.  Between  these  two  groups  there  are  not  such  radical  differ- 
ences in  the  form  of  the  skull  as  are  met  with  in  the  several  genera  of 
the  hair  seals,  by  means  of  which  Otaria,  Eumetopias,  and  Zalophus  are 
so  trenchantly  separated  from  each  other.  Callorhinus  and  Arctoceph- 
alus, though  closely  allied  forms,  are  probably  generically  separable. 

Callorhinus  ursinus  Gray.    Northern  Sea  Bear. 
Ursus  mannus  Steller,  Nov.  Comm.  Academ.  Petrop.,  11,331,  PI.  XV,  1751. 
Phoca  ursina  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  37,  1758.     (From  Steller.) 
"Phoca  ursina  Schreher,  Saugeth.,  Ill,  289,  1758.     (From  Steller.)" 
Phoca  ursina  Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.,  I,  265,  PI.  LXII,   1800. 
Fischer,  Synop.  Mam.,  231,  1829. 
"         "        Pallas,  Zoog.  Posso-Asiat,  I,  102,  1831. 

*  For  a  more  extended  comparison  of  Oulophociiue  with  TrichophocincB,  see  above, 
pp.  21-23. 


■i  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Phoca  nigra  Pallas,  Zoog.  Rosso-Asiat.,  I,  107.     (Young.) 
Otaria  ursina  Peuox,  Voy.  Terr.  Austr.,  II,  41,  1816. 
"  "      Desmarest,  Nouv.  Diet.  Hist.  Nat.,  XXV,  595,  1817. 

"  "      Desmarest,  Mam.,  I,  249,  1820. 

"  "      Gray,  Griffith's  An.  Kingd.,  V,  182,  1827. 

"      Nilsson,  Archiv  f.  Naturgesch.  1841  (in  part). 
"  "      J.  Muller,  Ibid.,  333. 

"  "      A.  Wagner,  Ibid,  1849,  39. 

Otaria  Kraschenninikowii  Lesson,  Diet.  Class.  Hist.  Nat.,  XIII,  419,  1826. 
Otaria  Fubricii  Lesson,  Ibid  ,  420. 

Otaria  (Callorhinus)  ursinus  Peters,  Monatsb.  Akad.  Berlin,  I860,  373,  G72. 
Arctocephalus  ursinus  Gray,  Cat.  Phoeidrc,  41,   1850;  not  A.  ursinus  F.  Cuv., 
or  only  in  part. 
"  "       Gray,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc.,  1859, 103,  107,  PL  lxxiii, 

skull. 
"       Gill,  Proe.  Essex  Inst.,  V,  13,  1866. 
Callorhinus  ursinus  Gray,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc.,  1859,  359. 
"      Gray,  Cat.  Seals  and  Whales,  44,  1866. 
"  "      Gray,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  3d   Ser.,  XVIII,  234, 

1866. 
Arctocephalus  monteriensis  Gray',  Proe.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1857,  360  (in  part). 
Arctocephalus  californianus  Gray,  Cat.  Seals  and  Whales,  51,  18C6  (in  part). 
Sea  Cat,  Kraschenninikow,  Hist.  Karnt,  306,  1704. 

Ours  Marin,  Buffon,  Hist.  Nat.,  Suppl.,  VI,  336,  PI.  xlvii,  1782  (in  part). 
Ursine  Seal,  Pennant,  Hist.  Quad.,  I,  526,  531,  1792  (in  part). 

Color  —  (Male.)  General  color  above,  except  over  the  shoulder 
nearly  black,  varying  in  different  individuals  of  equal  age  from  nearly 
pure  black  to  rufo-grayish  black.  Over  the  shoulders  the  color  is  quite 
gray.  The  sides  of  the  nose  and  the  lips  are  brownish,  as  is  a  consid- 
erable space  behind  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  and  a  small  spot  behind  the 
ear.  The  neck  in  front  is  more  or  less  gray.  The  breast  and  the  axilla; 
are  brownish-orange.  The  limbs  are  reddish-brown,  especially  near  their 
junction  with  the  body,  as  is  also  the  abdomen.  The  hairs  individually 
vary  considerably  in  color,  some  being  entirely  black  nearly  to  their  base, 
and  others  entirely  light  yellowish-brown;  others  are  dark  in  the  middle 
and  lighter  at  each  end.  The  naked  skin  of  the  hind  limbs,  the  nose,  ami 
the  anal  region  is  black. 

(Female.)  The  general  color  of  the  female  is  much  lighter  than  that 
of  the  male.  Above  it  is  nearly  uniformly  gray,  varying  to  darker  or 
lighter  in  different  individuals  and  with  age.  The  color  about  the 
mouth  is  brownish,  varying  to  rufous,  of  which  color  are  the  axilhe,  the 
breast,  and  the  abdomen.  The  sides  an'  brownish-gray.  At  the  base  all 
the  hairs  are   usually   brownish,  like   the   under-fur,  with  a  broad  subter- 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  75 

minal  bar  of  black,  and  tipped  for  a  greater  or  less  distance  with  gray. 
The  variation  in  different  individuals  in  the  general  color  results  from  the 
varying  extent  of  the  gray  at  the  ends  of  the  hairs. 

{Young.)  The  general  color  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  body  in  the 
young,  previous  to  the  first  moult,  is  uniformly  glossy  black.  The  region 
around  the  mouth  is  yellowish-brown.  The  neck  in  front  is  grayish-black. 
The  axilla?  are  pale  yellowish-brown;  a  somewhat  darker  .-hade  of  the 
same  color  extends  posteriorly  and  inward  towards  the  median  line  of  the 
belly,  uniting  on  the  anterior  portion  of  the  abdomen.  The  greater  part 
of  the  lower  surface,  however,  is  dusky  brownish-gray,  the  rest  being 
black,  but  less  intensely  so  than  the  back.  Specimens  of  equal  age  vary 
much  in  color,  one  of  the  young  specimens  corresponding  nearly  with  the 
above  description,  while  the  other  is  much  darker. 

On  the  head  and  sides  of  the  neck  a  portion  of  the  hairs  are  found,  on 
close  inspection,  to  be  obscurely  tipped  with  gray.  After  the  first  moult 
the  pelage  becomes  gradually  lighter,  through  the  extension  of  the  gray 
at  the  tips  of  the  hairs,  especially  in  the  females,  the  two  sexes  1  cing  at  first 
alike.  Contrary  to  what  has  been  asserted,  the  young  are  provided  from 
birth  with  a  long  thick  coat  of  silky  under-fur,  of  a  lighter  color  than  the 
under  fur  of  the  adults 

The  Hair.  —  The  double  pelage  consists  of  an  outer  covering  of  long, 
flattened,  moderately  coarse  hair,  beneath  which  is  a  dense  coat  of  long 
fine  silky  fur,  which  reaches  on  most  parts  of  the  body  nearly  to  the  ends 
of  the  hairs.  The  hairs  are  thicker  towards  the  ends  than  at  the  base, 
but  their  clavate  form  is  most  distinctly  seen  in  the  first  pelage  of  the 
young.  In  length  the  hair  varies  greatly  on  the  different  parts  of  the 
body.  It  is  longest  on  the  top  of  the  head,  especially  in  the  males,  which 
have  a  well-marked  crest.  The  hair  is  much  longer  on  the  anterior  half 
of  the  body  than  on  the  posterior  half,  it  being  longest  on  the  hinder  part 
of  the  neck,  where  in  the  males  it  is  very  coarse.  On  the  crown  the  hair 
has  a  length  of  42  mm.;  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  neck  it  reaches  a 
length  of  50  to  CO  mm.  From  this  point  posteriorly  it  gradually  shortens, 
and  near  the  tail  has  a  length  of  only  20  mm.  It  is  still  shorter  on  the 
limbs,  the  upper  side  of  the  digits  of  the  hind  limbs  being  but  slightly 
covered,  while  the  anterior  limbs  are  quite  naked  as  far  as  the  carpus. 
The  males  have,  much  longer  hair  than  the  females,  in  which  it  is  much 
longer  than  in  Eumetojiias  StellerL* 

*  From  the  descriptions  of  most  writers  it  would  seem  that  the  Utaria  jubala  is  pro- 
vided with  a  conspicuous  mane,  but  in  the  few  accurate  descriptions  in  which  the 
length  of  the  longest  hairs  is  given,  the  so-called  "flowing  mane,"  —  which  refers  only 
to  the  greater  length  of  the  hairs  on  the  neck  and  shoulders  as  compared  with  the  other 
regions  of  the  body, —  does  not  appear  to  be  any  more  truly  a  mane  than  in  Lumetu- 


7G  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

The  whiskers  arc  cylindrical,  long,  slender,  and  tapering,  and  vary  with 
age  in  length  and  color.  In  the  young  they  arc  black;  later  they  are 
li<dit  colored  at  the  base,  and  dusky  at  the  ends.     In  mature  specimens 

they  arc  cither  entirely  white,  or  white  at  the  base  and  brownish-white 
towards  the  tips. 

Size.  —  The  length  of  a  full-grown  male,  according  to  the  present  speci- 
mens (see  the  table  of  measurements  on  page  77),  is  between  seven  and 
eight  feet;  and  of  a  full-grown  female,  about  four  feet.  Captain  Bryant 
states*  that  the  males  attain  mature  size  at  about  the  sixth  year,  when 
their  total  length  is  from  seven  to  eight  feet,  their  girth  six  to  seven 
feet,  and  their  weight,  when  in  full  flesh,  from  five  to  .-even  hundred 
pounds.  The  females,  he  says,  are  full  grown  at.  four  years  old,  when  they 
measure  four  feet  in  length,  two  and  a  half  in  girth,  and  weigh  eighty  to  one 
hundred  pounds.     The  yearlings,  he  says,  weigh  from  thirty  to  forty  pounds. 

Ears.  —  The  ears  (Fig.  12,  PI.  II,  one  half  nat.  size)  are  long,  narrow, 
and  pointcd.f  being  absolutely  longer  than  those  of  the  E.  Slelleri,  though 
the  latter  animal  is  two  or  three  times  the  larger. 

Fore  Limbs.  —  The  hands  (Fig.  11,  PI.  II,  -^th  nat.  size)  are  long  and 
narrow,  with  a  broad  cartilaginous  (lap  extending  beyond  the  digits, 
which  has  a  nearly  even  border.  Both  surfaces  are  naked  the  whole 
length  ;  not  covered  above  with  short  hair,  as  in  Eumelopias  and  Otaria. 
The  nails  are  rudimentary,  their  position  being  indicated  by  small  circular 
hornv  disks,  as  in  all  the  other  eared  seals. 

Hind  Limbs.  —  The  feet  (Fig.  12,  PI.  II,  ^th  nat.  size)  are  very  long, 
nearly  half  their  length  being  formed  by  the  cartilaginous  (laps  that  pro- 
ject beyond  the  ends  of  the  toes.  They  widen  much  less  from  the  tarsus 
to  the  cud-  of  the  toes  than  these  parts  do  in  E.  Stelleri,  and  the  length 
of  the  toe-flaps  is  relatively  many  times  greater  than  in  the  fitter  species. 
The  toes  of  the  posterior  extremities  are  of  nearly  equal  length.  The 
outer  are  slightly  shorter  than  the  three  middle  ones.  The  nails  of  the 
outer  toes  are  rudimentary  and  scarcely  visible; — those  of  the  middle 
toes  are  strong  and  well-developed. 

pias  Slelltri,  Qdlurhinm  ursinus,  Arctocephalus  (imrctta.  or  A.  falklattdicus.  All  the  sea 
bears  and  sea  lions,  according  to  authors,  have  the  hair  much  longer  on  the  anterior 
than  on  the  posterior  half  of  the  body:  and  in  the  hair  seals  if  is  not  longer  than  in 

the  fur  seal-.  The  resemblance  t<>  the  mane  of  the  lion,  with  which  in  several  species 
this  longer  hair  has  been  compared,  is  doubtless  partly  imaginary  and  partly  due  to  the 
loose  skin  on  the  neck  and  shoulders  being  thrown  into  thick  folds  when  these  animals 
erect  the  head.  I  have  not,  however,  seen  the  distinct  crest  formed  by  the  long  hairs 
on  the  crown  of  the  male  of  C  ursinm  mentioned  as  occurring  in  the  other  species, 
unless  it  is  alluded  to  in  the  specific  name  coromtta,  given  by  Blainville  to  a  South 
American  specimen  of  fur  seal.     It  is  certainly  not  posse 1  by  the  E.  SttUeri. 

*  See  beyond,  p.  95. 

t  They  are  accidentally  represented  too  broad  in  the  figure. 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


77 


g 

g 

re 

Or1    tsra              f 

»-•  re         *-:   re   ~*                         re 

re    O1 

5  re 

:  3 

»  a        re  3  re     ;         r;3 

J 

3 
re 

3" 

Q 

c 

n   O          _0_0         ft    ;5 

re  — 

re 

re   . 
o 

"  cr 
o   . 
Q. 
<< 

< 

re 
re 
0 

0 

re 
O   2 

3     -I 

fbody   . 
1  tail 

rom  nose  to 
hind  limbs 
f  fore  limb     . 
t)f  hand 
f  hind  limb    . 
of  foot  at  tars 
"         end 
f  toe-flaps  of 
from  end  of  i 

between  the 

P 

3'  _ 

re 
3 

p 

re  re        s  rr  j.  —                       _ 
zz  ^     -  o   3.       -*                       re 
5  re     ~S   3   P   "         .          .     3   . 

3- 

-  3 

& 

d  of 

f  toes 
d  feet 

e  to  e 
e 

s  . 

re 
re 

3 

o 

» 

P 

c 

— s 

o 

•     -s  re  "T-  •          •          •          " 

US 

5"!  C" 

p                               c 

<                              St 

f^n' 

re 

re        •          •          •     „  • 

•     •  i  ■     ■     ■     3     • 

0Q                                            sj- 

5"  2 

re 

re        .          _          .    &. 

re 

re 

P< 

JO 

J*            J° 

r 

1 

1     I    o 

^ 

IO  —  to         |      I      I      I     IC  4-V         |   "co 

2 

| 

1        1       X 

(X  in 

*■  k  w  »  1     1     1     1    icni        1    — 

>^ 

O   © 

©  -J  *-  cs                      w:  to  to            i-1 

p. 

—  o 
c  • 

"  to 

CS_io 

_ 

to            to 

o 

-4 

Cs"-l    1 

M 

CO  —  tO        tO  to  •—  en  to  *»  "»i            "co 

z 

~l 

00   tO     I 

00   ** 

OS  CO  in  to  IO  in  *-   —  IO   -J  4-          in   to 

o 

o  o 

©  IP- 

O^wyyc^wT^OC       u  c 

?• 

>  Z 

to            JO 

c.  o 

00 

cs"cs   1 

_ 

co  —  to       to  to  —  y  to  *-"oo           "-U 

= 

£  w 

to 

S3  ' 

00   U» 

—   C    ~   00  ©   —  CO   C   IO  C.  CS          4 1 

c»    co 

c 

u<  © 

cninoy©©ino©©©        -j  © 

p- 

CX,  oo 

i 

>  5Z 

o 

p.  o 

■u 

*.  to   1 

— 

to       —       —  — ■       *.n-co"-i           "co 

e 

£w 

o 

—  CO    1 

-1  CO 

to  *o  oo  ~i  to  en  ~s  ©  •*-  to  to       u»  eti 

"  to 

C 

©  o 

Cjt   in 

inoo©in©©oo©0©0        rf-  © 

C 

+cK 

■— ' 

2 

| 

1  1 1 

I      | 

1    1    1    1    II    1  t  1  2  I       |  = 

o 

B 

>2 

to       -j                 oo 

P" 

c-  o 
c 

?;  to 
"  to 

Kg 

- 

O* 

in 

■U   O    I 

CS   O     1 

•U    CO 

©~ito-icsooootoco  —  in        in  o> 

d 

c  o 

O  « 

in  in  ©  ©  ©  ©  ©  ©  ©  in  ©         O© 

c. 

5" 

—  -1  Z 

CO 

tO     -T      1 

—         ►-                —         —         ►-©                00 

O 

o  En2  ? 

cs  in   1 

OS  CO 

u»yito--'0e  —  w-^i-i-i"— ■        ""  *■ 

—  ^  it,  to 

•  J  J'  to 

i  -    pa 

«1 

yi  *- 

©  Co  C   ©  ©  ©  tn  in  in  ©  in         in  C 

r- 

CO 

tO  ut    I 

^         ^               —         to         —  "©               00 

o 

„&oo 

o   -■-   ■ 
c  —  s  to 

OS  o    1 

OS    CO 

in  u<  Co  us  -I  to  in  O  oo  to  IO        —  os 

©  ^  ]^   to 

C 

c  © 

in  Co 

Osin©iOinO~i©in©0        0CC 

c. 

03  *C~' 

__ 

> 

►< 

1 

Co  to   | 

1 

—    1     ~           1     "          4.   —  CO    I                   K) 

r 

o^g 

i 

a,  —  | 

1     CO 

in    1     -I  -I    1     tO   ->  ©   00  in    |            tO   -l 

= 

3 

-j  *- 

oo 

to          (X  CS         vj  yi  oi  y  v)                CS© 

•- 

(T? 

_ 

> 

o    -  p. 

1 

10   -  I    1 

| 

—     1      — .             |      —           CO    —   CO     1                     "© 

3 

£o  =_ 

1 

1      CO 

in     |      in   OS    |      ©   -1   in   ©   it    |             in   -_o. 

.>-<    JT 

~   " 

oo 

IO         to  to         —  OS  ~l  —  ^J               c  to 

- 

■^3  40 

_ 

> 

Arcto-         ^ 

1 

1      || 

1     1 

1  1  1  1  1  1  1  £  1  S 1      IS 

= 

cephnht.i  -^  o 
fnlklan-        5 

tftCKS.            W 

©     ©          © 

?L 

^ 

H 


78  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Measurements.  —  The  preceding  table  of  external  measurements  indi- 
cates the  general  size  of  the  adult  males  and  females,  and  the  young  at 
thirty-five  days  old.  In  some  respects  the  dimensions  are  only  approxi- 
mately correct,  being  taken  from  mounted  specimens ;  in  the  main,  how- 
ever, they  are  sufficiently  accurate.  A  few  measurements  taken  from  the 
soft  skin  are  also  given ;  the  making  of  a  complete  series  of  measurements 
of  the  skins  before  t£3fey  were  mounted  was  accidentally  omitted.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  six  specimens  of  Captain  Bryant's  collection,  I  am  indebted 
to  Mr.  W.  II.  Dall  for  measurements  of  a  male  and  a  female,  taken  by  him  * 
from  the  animals  immediately  after  they  were  killed.  The  female  (said  by 
Mr.  Dall  to  be  six  years  old)  is  evidently  adult,  but  the  male,  from  its 
but  little  larger  size,  seems  not  to  have  been  fully  grown.  In  the  last 
column  of  the  table  a  few  measurements  are  given  of  a  male  specimen  of 
the  A  rctocephalus  falklandicus,  taken  by  Dr.  G.  A.  Maack,  from  a  fresh 
specimen  collected  by  him  at  Cabo  Corrientes,  Buenos  Ayres.  This  speci- 
men appears  also  to  have  not  been  fully  grown. 

Skull.]  —  In  adult  specimens  the  breadth  of  the  skull  is  a  little  more 
than  half  its  length,  the  point  of  greatest  breadth  being  at  the  posterior 
end  of  the  zygomatic  arch.  The  muzzle  or  facial  portion  is  broad  and 
high,  or  greatly  produced,  much  more  so  even  than  in  Eumelopias.  The 
postorbital  processes  vary  from  sub-quadrate  to  sub-triangular,  sometimes 
produced  posteriorly  into  a  latero-posteriorly  diverging  point,  as  in  Zalo- 
phtis.  The  postorbital  cylinder  is  broad  and  moderately  elongated.  The 
postorbital  constriction  is  well  marked,  giving  a  prominently  quadrate 
form  to  the  brain-case,  the  latero-anterior  angles  of  which  vary  somewhat 
in  their  sharpness  in  different  specimens.  The  sagittal  and  occipital 
crests  are  well  developed  in  the  old  males,  nearly  as  much  as  in  Eumeto- 
pias,  as  are  also  the  mastoid  processes.  The  palatine  bones  terminate 
midway  between  the  last  molar  teeth  and  the  pterygoid  hamuli ;  their 
posterior  outline  is  either  slightly  concave,  or  deeply  and  abruptly  so. 
The  palatal  surface  is  flat,  but  slightly  depressed  posteriorly,  and  but 
moderately  so  anteriorly.  The  zygomatic  foramens  are  broad,  nearly 
triangular,  and  truncate  posteriorly.  The  posterior  and  anterior  nares 
are  of  nearly  equal  size  in  the  males,  with  their  transverse  and  vertical 
diameters  equal  ;  in  the  females  the  posterior  nares  are  depressed,  their 
transverse  diameter  being  greater  than  the  vertical.  The  nasal  bones  are 
much  broader  in  front  than  behind. 

The  lower  jaw  is  strongly  developed,  but  relatively  less  massive  than 


*  At  St.  George's  Island,  Alaska,  August,  1868. 

t  See  Figs.  1-4,  PI.  II  (males);  Figs.  1-4,  PL  HI  (females);  and  Figs.  5,  6,  7,  PI.  II, 
and  Fig.  9,  PL  111  (young). 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


79 


in  Eume/opias.  The  coronoid  processes  are  high  and  pointed,  but  much 
more  developed  in  the  males  than  in  the  females.  The  rainial  tuberosities 
are  greatly  produced,  especially  the  hinder  one  (see  Figs.  8-10,  PI.  II). 

Measurements  of  the  Skull. 


Length 

Breadth 

Dist.  from  ant.  edge  of  intermax.  to  end  of  ham.  pteryg 

"  "  "  last  molar 

"  "  auditory  opening 

"  "  edge  of  max.  condyle 

"  palato-max  suture  to  end  of  ham.  pteryg. 

Length  of  left  palatine  bone 
Breadth  of  left  palatine  bone  opposite  last  molar 
Length  of  left  nasal  bone       .... 
Breadth  of  lefc  nasal  bone  (anteriorly) 

"  "  "  (posteriorly) 

Breadth  of  skull  at  canines        .... 

"  "  "   postorbital  processes 

"  "  "    paroccipital      " 

"  posterior  nares  (vertical) 

"  "  "      (transverse) 

"  anterior  nares  (vertical) 

"  "  "      (transverse) 

Length  of  zygomatic  foramen 
Breadth  of        "  " 

Greatest  height  of  skull  ( mast.  proc.  to  top  of  occip.  crest) 
Height  of  skull  at  hamulus  ptcrygoideus  . 
Length  of  postorbital  cylinder 

"  brain-case  ..... 

"  the  lower  jaw         .... 

Breadth  of  lower  jaw  at  its  condvles 

"  "         "   last  molar 

"  "         "   symphysis 

Height  "         "   coronoid  process 

"         "    "  symphysis 


*c 


245  275 
145  155 
140  165 
88  97 
180,205 
153  165 


o 

a 

&J 

e-4 

Gi 

o 

O 

85 

55 

f> 

Ot 

s 

3 

•a 

r) 

< 

< 





185  200 
115  117 
120  124 

63  75 
135  145 
120  135 

58|  58 
25  25 
10  10 
33 
11 
6 

34  33 
42  40 
91  95 
15  13 
20!  21 1 

—  23 

—  23| 

64  68 

40  41 

75  76 

—  75! 
29  30 
80  76| 

120  1261 
90|  93 
33 1  35 
24  24| 

35  37 
23|  21 


O* 


137 


20 


Teeth.  —  The  molars  are  closely  set  in  a  continuous  row.  The  ca- 
nines (Fig.  7  c  and  7  c',  PI.  II,  upper  canines)  are  large  and  sharply 
pointed,  the  lower  slightly  curved.  The  outer  upper  incisors  (Figs.  6  a  and 
7  a,  PI.  II)  are  much  larger  than  the  others,  but  relatively  smaller  than  in 
Eumetopias.  The  middle  incisors  are  flattened  antero-posteriorly,  and  in 
youth  and  middle  age  have  their  crowns  transversely  divided  (Figs.  6  a  and 
7  a,  PI  II,  upper  incisors  seen  from  the  side).  The  lower  incisors  (Fig.  6  d, 
PL  II)  are  similarly  divided  and  are  quite  small.     The  crowns  of  the  mo- 


80  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

lars  are  sharply  conical,  with  no  accessory  cusp,  or  occasional)-  exceedingly 
slight  ones.  All  the  molars  are  simple  rooted  in  the  specimens  I  have  heen 
able  to  examine.  Some  of  them  have  deep  median  grooves  either  on  the 
inside  or  outside  of  the  fangs,  or  on  both  sides,  which  seem  to  indicate  that 
the  fangs  are  made  up  of  two  connate  roots.  The  distinctness  of  these 
grooves  varies  in  different  specimens  (compare  Figs.  6  b  with  7  c,  PI.  II) 
and  in  the  corresponding  teeth  of  the  two  sides  of  the  mouth  in  the  same 
specimen.  Hence  it  is  not  improbable  that  specimens  may  be  found  in 
which  the  grooves  of  the  fangs  may  be  entirely  obsolete,  or  so  deep  as  to 
nearly  or  quite  divide  the  fang  into  two  distinct  roots.  The  roots  of  the 
molars  are  very  short,  and  but  partially  fill  their  alveoli ;  hence  when  the 
periosteum  is  removed  they  fit  so  loosely  that  they  require  to  be  cemented 
in  with  wax  or  other  substance  to  prevent  their  constantly  falling  out 
whenever  the  skull  is  handled.  The  canines  and  the  incisors  have  much 
longer  roots,  which  more  nearly  fill  their  sockets.  The  roots  of  the  molars' 
are  comparatively  much  shorter  and  thicker  than  in  Eumetopias,  and 
club-shaped,  whereas  in  the  latter  they  are  slender  and  tapering.  They 
are  a  little  shorter  than  in  Zalophus  Gillespii,  which  has  also  short-rooted, 
loosely  fitting  teeth.* 

Skeleton.  —  Vertebral  formula  :  Cervical  vertebrae,  7;  dorsal,  15;  lumbar, 
5;  caudal  (including  the  4  sacral),  13  to  14  in  the  males,  and  14  to  15  in 
the  females. 

The  skeleton  in  its  general  features  resembles  that  of  Eumetopias  Stel- 
leri,  already  described.  The  bones  of  C  ursinus  are,  however,  all  slen- 
derer, or  smaller  in  proportion  to  their  length,  than  in  that  species,  the 
general  form  of  the  body  being  more  elongated.  The  scapulas  are  shorter 
and  broader  than  in  E.  Slelleri,  the  proportion  of  breadth  to  length  being 
in  the  one  as  11  to  10  and  in  the  other  as  13  tu  10.  The  pelvis  is  more 
contracted  opposite  the  acetabula  in  C.  ursinus  tha  i  in  E.  Stelleri,  and 
the  last  segment  of  the  sternum  is  also  longer  and  narrower.  The  differ- 
ences in  the  «kull  of  the  two  forms  have  already  K'en  pointed  out  in  the 
generic  comparisons.  In  proportions,  the  principal  difference,  aside  from 
that  already  mentioned  as  existing  in  the  form  of  the  scapula,  consists  in 
the  longer  neck  and  longer  hind  feet  in  the  C.  ursinus ;  the  ratio  of  the 
length  of  the  cervical  vertebras  to  the  whole  length  of  the  skeleton  being 
as  15  to  100  in  E.  Stelleri,  and  as  23  to  100  in  C.  ursinus;  and  the  ratio  of 
the  length  of  the  foot  to  the  tibia  being  in  the  former  as  13  to  10,  and  in 
the  other  as  10  to  10.  The  following  measurements  indicate  the  length 
of  the  principal  bones,  and  of  the  different  vertebral  regions. 

*  Figures  of  the  teeth  of  this  species  are  given  in  the  Fauna  Japonica,  Mammals, 
PI.  XXIII,  Figs.  4-9. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 
Measurements  of  the  Skeleton. 


81 


Adult  $ 

Adult  cT 

Adult   9 

Adult   9 

No.  2922. 

No.  2923. 

No.  2925 

No.  2924. 

Whole  length  of  skeleton  (including  skull)   . 

2,040 

1,840 

1,370 

1,215 

Length  of  skull 

275 

245 

200 

185 

"       "  cervical  vertebrae  .... 

430 

360 

200 

172 

"       "  dorsal          "              ... 

770 

680 

520 

470 

"       "  lumbar        "                  ... 

270 

245 

185 

173 

'•        "  sacral          "               ... 

160 

145 

105 

95 

"        "  caudal         "          .... 

140 

145 

160 

120 

"       "  first  rib 

212 

178 

120 

110 

"       "         "      osseous  portion 

112 

105 

55 

55 

"        "         "      cartilaginous  portion    . 

100 

73 

65 

55 

"       "  third  rib       ..... 

395 

370 

205 

175 

"       "          "      osseous  portion  . 

265 

210 

140 

115 

"       "          "      cartilaginous  portion 

130 

90 

65 

60 

"        "  sixth  rib 

465 

400 

323 

265 

"       "         "       osseous  portion 

350 

295 

230 

190 

"       "         "       cartilaginous  portion  . 

115 

105 

93 

75 

"       "  tenth  rib 

590 

— 

405 

335 

"       "          "      osseous  portion   . 

360 

340 

265 

215 

"       "          "      cartilaginous  portion 

230 

— 

140 

120 

"       "  twelfth  rib,  osseous  portion  only 

345 

320 

210 

200 

"       "  fifteenth  rib        "           "         " 

210 

205 

150 

130 

"       "  sternum 

640 

590 

385 

370 

"       "        "        1st  segment 

135 

127 

76 

73 

"       "         "         2d          " 

68 

54 

37 

34 

"                           3d                            .     '    . 

65 

57 

39 

36 

"       "         "        4th        " 

65 

55 

40 

36 

"       "         "         5th        " 

60 

57 

40 

37 

6th 

58 

55 

40 

36 

"       "         "         7th 

63 

57 

43 

40 

8th        " 

115 

110 

70 

70 

"       "  scapula 

250 

217 

140 

120 

Breadth  of      " 

295 

285 

170 

160 

Greatest  height  of  its  spine  . 

35 

27 

14 

12 

Length  of  humerus  ..... 

220 

220 

130 

130 

"        "    radius 

205 

195 

128 

128 

"        "    ulna         ..... 

243 

223 

160 

157 

"       "   carpus          

55 

55 

35 

35 

Breadth"       " 

100 

80 

60 

55 

Length  of  1st  digit*  and  its  metacarpal  bone 

250 

250 

180 

177 

"  2d     " 

245 

235 

178 

— 

«3d     " 

215 

195 

155 

— 

"  4th   " 

170 

150 

125 

— 

"  5th    " 

127 

115 

100 

— 

"       "  femur 

150 

135 

82 

85 

"       "  tibia 

250 

225 

167 

157 

"       "  fibula    

230 

210 

145 

150 

"        "  tarsus 

87 

84 

57 

60 

Breadth"     "       .         .         .         . 

67 

65 

40 

37 

Length  of  1st  digit!  and  its  metatarsal  bone 

270 

260 

200 

— 

"   2d       " 

265 

260 

— 

— 

"  3d       " 

265 

260 

— 

— 

"  4tn     "              "                «               « 

264 

255 

— 

— 

"  5th     "              "               "              " 

290 

280 

— 

— 

Fore  limb. 


t  Hind  limb. 


82 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


Adult  $ 

Adult  $ 
No.  2923 

Adult   9 

Adult   9 

No.  2922. 

No.  2925. 

No.  2924. 

Length  of  innominate  bone 

234 

210 

145 

140 

Greatest  (external)  width  of  pelvis  anteriorly 

115 

110 

70 

75 

Width  of  posterior  end  of  pubie  bones 

17 

14 

30 

25 

Length  of  ilium        ..... 

100 

95 

60 

60 

"       "  ischio  pubic  bones 

134 

110 

75 

73 

"       "  thyroid  foramen 

67 

63 

45 

45 

Breadth"        "                                  ... 

34 

25 

20 

20 

Sexual  Differences.  —  The  sexes  differ  in  color,  as  already  stated,  in 
the  females  being  much  lighter  than  the  males,  or  grayer.  In  respect 
to  the  skeleton  they  differ  extraordinarily  in  the  form  of  the  pelvis,  as 
already  described,*  all  the  parts  of  which  in  the  female  are  greatly  reduced 
in  size,  and  instead  of  the  pubic  bones  meeting  each  other  posteriorly, 
as  they  do  in  the  males,  they  are  widely  separated.  The  innominate 
bones  are  also  much  further  apart  in  the  females,  and  the  bones  forming 
the  front  edge  of  the  pelvis  are  less  developed,  so  that  the  pelvis  in  the 
female  is  entirely  open  in  front.  In  consequence  of  the  remarkable  nar- 
rowness of  the  pelvis  in  the  male,  the  form  of  this  portion  of  the  skeleton 
is  necessarily  varied  in  the  female,  to  permit  of  the  passage  of  the  fetus 
in  parturition.  As  already  remarked,  no  such  sexual  differences  are  seen 
in  the  Phocidce. 

In  respect  to  other  parts  of  the  skeleton,  the  absence  of  the  great  de- 
velopment of  the  sagittal  and  occipital  crests  seen  in  the  males  has  already 
been  noticed.  The  bones  of  all  parts  of  the  skull  are  much  smaller  and 
weaker,  especially  the  lower  jaw  and  the  teeth.  The  attachments  for  the 
muscles  are  correspondingly  less  developed  throughout  the  skeleton.  The 
most  striking  sexual  difference,  however,  is  that  of  size;  the  weight  of 
the  full-grown  females,  according  to  Captain  Bryant,  being  less  than  ONK 
sixth  that  of  the  full-grown  males. 

Differences  resulting  from  Age. —  The  differences  in  color  between  the 
young  and  the  adult  consist,  as  already  stated,  in  the  young  of  both  sexes 
during  the  first  three  or  four  months  of  their  lives  being  glossy  black,  and 
gradually  afterwards  acquiring  the  color  characteristic  respectively  of  the 
adult  males  and  females.  In  respect  to  the  differences  in  the  skeleton 
that  distinguish  the  young,  I  can  only  speak  of  the  skull.  In  regard  to 
this  a  most  striking  difference  is  seen  in  the  relative'  development  of 
its  different  regions,  as  compared  with  the  adult  of  either  sex.  The 
two  young  skulls  before  me,  said  to  be  from  specimens  thirty-five  days 

*  In  the  comparison  of  the  skeleton  of  the  eared  seals  with  that  of  Phoca  ritulma 
(above,  p.  25  et  seq.). 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  83 

old,  arc  both  females,  but  at  this  age  the  sexes  probably  differ  but 
little  in  osteological  features,  especially  in  those  of  the  skull.  In  thcso 
specimens  the  anterior  or  facial  portion  of  the  skull  is  but  little  developed 
in  comparison  with  the  size  of  the  brain-case.  The  muzzle  is  not  only 
excessively  short  (see  Figs.  5-7,  PI.  II),  but  the  orbital  space  is  small, 
and  the  postorbital  cylinder  is  reduced  almost  to  zero,  the  postorbital 
processes  being  close  to  the  brain-case.  The  zygomatic  arch  is  hence  very 
short ;  the  zygomatic  foramen  is  as  broad  as  long,  instead  of  being  nearly 
twice  as  long  as  broad,  as  in  the  adult.  On  the  other  hand,  the  brain-case 
is  exceedingly  large,  the  greatest  breadth  of  the  skull  being  at  the  middle 
of  the  brain-case  instead  of  at  the  posterior  end  of  the  zygomatic  arch. 
As  will  be  seen  by  the  table  of  measurements  of  the  skull  already  given, 
the  brain-case  is  nearly  as  large  as  in  the  adults,  and  the  bones  being 
thinner,  it  must  have  a  capacity  about  as  great  as  that  of  the  skulls  of 
the  adult  males  and  females,  there  being,  in  respect  to  this  point,  but 
slight  difference  in  the  sexes.  As  the  young  advance  in  age,  the  anterior 
portion  of  the  skull,  or  that  part  in  advance  of  the  brain-case,  greatly 
elongates,  especially  the  postorbital  cylinder,  and  increases  also  in 
breadth,  the  skull  in  a  great  measure  losing  the  triangular  form  and  the 
narrow  peaked  muzzle  characteristic  of  the  young.  The  postorbital  pro- 
cesses also  greatly  change  their  form  as  they  further  develop,  as  shown 
in  the  figures  of  Plate  II. 

The  limbs  are  also  relatively  much  larger  than  in  the  adult,  as  men- 
tioned by  Quoy  and  Gaimard  in  respect  to  the  Arctocephalus  cinereus  of 
Australia,*  which  enables  them  to  move  on  land  with  greater  facility 
than  the  adult,  as  the  above-mentioned  authors  have  stated  to  be  the 
case  in  the  Australian  species. 

It  is  not  true,  however,  that  the  young  of  C.  ursinus  are  devoid  of  under- 
fill", as  has  been  by  some  writers  incorrectly  stated.f 

Individual  Variation.  —  The  two  males  were  both  not  only  full-grown, 
but  quite  advanced  in  age,  though  in  all  probability  the  crests  of  even  the 
older  skull  (Xo.  2922)  would  have  been  still  further  developed.  The  other 
male  (No.  2923)  was  somewhat  younger,  but  already  had  the  sagittal  crest 

*  Voyage  de  1' Astrolabe,  Zoologie,  Tom.  I,  p.  89. 

f  It  may  be  added  that  .the  young  specimens  above  described  had  not  fully  shed  their 
milk  teeth.  The  incisors  appear  to  have  been  renewed,  but  both  the  first  and  second 
sets  of  canines  were  still  present  (as  shown  in  Fig.  5,  PI.  Ill,  natural  size),  the  permanent 
ones  being  in  front  of  the  others.  The  three  pre-molars  of  the  first  set  have  been  re- 
placed by  the  permanent  ones,  the  first  and  second  of  which  are  already  quite  large. 
The  hinder  or  true  molars  are  in  one  of  the  specimens  but  just  in  sight,  and  doubtless- 
had  not  cut  through  the  gum.  In  the  other  specimen  they  are  a  little  more  advanced. 
The  middle  one  is  quite  prominent;  the  first  is  much  smaller,  while  the  last  or  third  true 
molar  is  far  behind  either  of  the  others  in  development. 


84  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

considerably  produced  ;  tlie  teeth,  however, -were  but  moderately  worn,  the 
incisors  still  retaining  the  groove  dividing  the  surface  of  the  crowns.  In 
the  younger  male  skull  the  posterior  outline  of  the  palatines  is  but  slightly 
concave,  whereas  in  the  other  it  is  deeply  and  abruptly  emarginate  in  the 
middle,  —  as  deeply  so  as  in  the  young  (one  month  old)  skulls  ;  —  showing 
that  differences  in  this  respect  do  not  necessarily  depend  upon  differences 
in  age.  They  also  differ  in  the  form  of  the  postorbital  processes,  in  the 
younger  they  having  nearly  the  same  form  as  in  Eumeiopias,  whereas  in 
the  older  nearly  that  seen  in  Zulophus.  The  postorbital  cylinder  is  also 
much  shorter  in  the  younger,  though  these  two  skulls  do  not  present 
nearly  the  great  difference  in  this  respect  exhibited  by  the  two  very  old 
male  skulls  of  Zalophus  already  described.  Another  difference  is  seen  in 
the  parieto-maxillary  suture.  In  the  younger  specimen  it  is  nearly 
straight  and  directed  forwards,  the  nasals  extending  considerably  beyond 
it.  In  the  other  it  curves  at  first  moderately  backwards,  and  then  ab- 
ruptly in  the  same  direction  ;  the  mamillaries  extending  in  this  case 
slightly  beyond  the  nasals,  instead  of  ending  considerably  in  front  of  the 
end  of  the  latter.  The  nasals  themselves  are  much  narrower  in  the 
younger  specimen,  especially  anteriorly,  and  hence  have  very  different 
forms  in  the  two  specimens. 

In  respect  to  the  teeth,  it  may  be  added  that  the  older  skull  has  seven 
upper  molars  on  one  side  and  six  on  the  other,  the  normal  number  being 
six  on  each  side.  The  form  of  the  molar  teeth,  especially  of  the  fangs, 
differ  markedly  in  the  two  skulls;  those  of  the  younger  having  the  longi- 
tudinal grooves  of  the  fangs  of  nearly  all  the  teeth  almost  wholly  obsolete, 
while  in  the  other  specimen  the  roots  of  nearly  all  the  molars  are  more  or 
less  strongly  grooved. 

Of  the  two  female  skulls  one  is  very  aged,*  as  shown  by  the  closed  su- 
tures and  the  greatly  worn  and  defective  teeth.  The  younger,  however, 
is  also  quite  advanced  in  years.  Differences  of  a  similar  character  to  those 
seen  in  the  males  also  occur  between  these,  but  they  are  less  marked. 

There  are  also  considerable  variations  in  color.  Not  only  is  one  of  the 
young  females  much  darker  below  and  about  the  face  than  the  other,  but  one 

*  Respecting  the  ag;e  of  these  specimens  of  fur  seals,  Captain  Bryant  has  responded 
to  my  inquiries  as  follows:  "The  grown  females  (the  mothers  of  the  pups)  were  aver- 
age specimens.  The  only  means  I  had  of  determining  their  age  was  by  the  evidences 
afforded  by  dissection.  These  were  that  the  oiler  female  had  given  birth  to  -even 
young,  and  the  other  to  five,  which  would  make  their  ages  respectively  ten  and  eight 
years.  The  two  grown  males  were  also  selected  as  average  specimens  in  size  and  color. 
Judging  from  their  general  appearance  and  color,  1  estimated  them  to  be  ten  years  old. 
The  two  pups  were  thirty-five  days  old,  and  in  that  time  had  doubled  their  size  from 
birth.     They  were  both  females." 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  85 

of  the  old  females  is  much  darker  than  the  other,  while  similar  variations 
are  seen  in  the  males. 

General  Remarks.  —  The  northern  sea  bear  ( Callorhinus  ursinus) 
was  first  made  known  by  Steller  in  1751,  under  the  name  of  Ursus 
marinus.  On  his  visit  to  Kamtchatka  and  its  neighboring  islands,  in 
1742,  he  met  with  these  animals  in  great  numbers  at  Behring's  Island, 
where  he  spent  several  weeks  among  them,  and  carefully  studied  their 
habits  and  anatomy.  On  his  return  to  St.  Petersburg  he  published  a 
detailed  and  accurate  description  of  them  in  his  valuable  essay  entitled 
De  Bestiis  Marinis,  in  the  Transactions  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Academy 
for  the  year  1749.*  This  valuable  memoir  has  furnished  nearly  all  the 
information  concerning  the  northern  sea  bears  we  have  hitherto  had. 
Steller's  account,  occupying  twenty-eight  quarto  pages,  gave  not  only 
a  detailed  description  of  its  anatomy,  with  an  extensive  table  of  meas- 
urements, but  also  of  its  remarkable  habits,  and  figures  of  the  animals. 
His  description  of  its  habits  has  been  largely  quoted  by  Buffon  and 
Pennant,  and  by  Hamilton,  in  his  history  of  the  "Marine  Amphibia." f 
Kraschenninikow,  in  his  History  of  Kamtchatka,  \  under  the  name  of 
the  "sea  cat,"  also  gave  a  lengthy  account  of  its  habits,  apparently 
mainly  from  Steller's  notes  ;  but  it  embraces  a  few  particulars  not  given 
in  the  De  Bestiis  3farinis.  Buffon,  followed  by  Pennant,  and  most 
general  writers  for  half  a  century,  confounded  the  northern  sea  bear 
with  the  southern  sea  bear,  they  combining  the  history  of  the  two  as 
that  of  one  species.  When  specimens  of  both  the  northern  and  south- 
ern fur  seals  had  been  compared  in  Europe,  their  specific  distinctness 
became  fully  recognized,  and  in  1859  they  were  even  genetically  sepa- 
rated by  Dr.  J.  E.  Gray,  since  which  time  they  have  been  generally 
recognized  as  belonging  to  different  genera.  In  color,  size,  and  the 
character  of  the  pelage  they  are  undoubtedly  closely  related,  as  they 
seem  to  be  also  in  habits,  but  they  differ  greatly  in  the  form  of  the 
facial  portion  of  the  skull,  and  hence  in  physiognomy,  through  the  much 
greater  breadth  of  the  muzzle  in  the  northern  species,  and  its  abruptly 
rising  and  convex  nose. 

*  Novi  Commcntaria2  Acidemias  Petropolitanre,  Vol.  XI,  pp  331-359,  pi.  xv.  1751. 
t   Naturalist's  Library,  Mammalia,  Vol.  Vlh,  1839. 

|  History  of  Kamtchatka  (English  edition),  translated  from  the  Russian  by  James 
Grieve,  M.  D.,  pp.  120-  130,  1764. 


80  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Steller's  figures  were  the  only  original  ones  of  this  species  that  had 
been  published  up  to  a  recent  date,  which,  with  modifications,  have 
been  frequently  copied.  Those  given  by  Hamilton  (Plate  XXI  of 
his  work  above  cited)  are  among  the  best,  and  are  quite  accurate  in 
general  form,  hut  erroneous  in  details,  especially  in  respect  to  the  feet. 
Choris,  in  1822,  gave  a  plate  purporting  to  represent  a  group  of 
sea  bears,  as  they  appear  when  assembled  on  the  rocks  at  their  breed- 
ing-places. Though  douhtless  giving  a  good  idea  of  their  attitudes  at 
such  times,  as  the  other  plate  in  his  chapter  on  the  Aleutian  Islands, 
purporting  to  represent  the  sea  lions,  does  of  those  animals ;  but  they 
are  not  sufficiently  detailed  to  be  of  further  value.  Mr.  Dall,  in  his 
book  on  "Alaska  and  its  Resources"  (previously  cited),  has  published 
a  figure  from  nature  of  this  species,  which,  while  doubtless  generally 
correct,  gives  a  somewhat  erroneous  impression  in  regard  to  the  charac- 
ter of  the  hind  feet,  since  the  upper  surface  is  represented  as  being 
strongly  ridged  and  furrowed,  the  ridges  extending  to  the  ends  of  the 
flaps,  which  are  really  flat.* 

The  first  and  only  specimen  of  the  skull  hitherto  figured  is  that  of 
a  male,  represented  in  profile,  published  by  Dr.  Gray  in  the  Proceed- 
ings of  the  Zoological  Society  for  1859  (Plate  LXVIII). 

As  already  remarked,  the  sea  bears  of  the  North  were  for  a  long 
time  confounded  with  the  southern  sea  bears,  they  collectively  bearing 
the  name  of  either  Phoca  or  Olaria  vrsina.  This  name  was  originally, 
however,  applied  by  Schreber  and  Linne  to  the  Ursus  marinus  of 
Steller,  to  which  animal  the  name  nrsina  is  hence  exclusively  applicable. 

Forster  and  Cook,  and  other  voyagers,  subsequently  described  the 
southern  sea  bears,  so  far  as  respects  their  general  habits,  size,  and 
abundance.  Most  of  these  writers  seem  to  have  regarded  these  ani- 
mals as  the   same  as  the  northern    sea   bear,   and,  as   already  stated, 

*  It  is  remarkable  how  few  correct  figures  have  been  published  of  the  eared  seals, 
even  those  in  scientific  works  being  palpably  erroneous,  and  contradictory  of  the  char- 
acters given  in  the  descriptions  accompanying  them.  In  nearly  all  cases  the  feet  are- 
represented  as  covered  with  hair,  as  in  the  common  seals,  and  similarly  provided  with 
well-developed  nails  on  both  the  fore  and  hind  limbs.  In  this  respect  even  the  figures 
given  by  Quoy  and  Gaimard,  in  the  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  de  VAstrolabe,  are  faulty, 
not  corresponding  at  all  in  this  regard  with  the  accompanying  descriptions  of  the  ani- 
mals. The  figures  of  the  Otnria  jitbnta,  published  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  London 
;ical  Society  (1666,  p.  80,  woodcut;  1869,  PI.  VII)  seem  to  be  those  most  nearly 
approaching  accuracy. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  87 

naturalists  for  a  long  time  generally  confounded  them.  Peron,  in  1816, 
first  claimed  that  they  were  distinct,  but  no  specimens  seem  to  have 
readied  European  museums  till  some  years  later.  Dr.  Gray,  writing 
in  1859,  remarks  as  follows:  "  I  had  not  been  able  to  see  a  specimen 
of  this  species  in  any  of  the  museums  which  I  examined  on  the  Con- 
tinent or  in  England,  or  to  find  a  skull  of  the  genus  [Arctocephalus] 
from  the  North  Pacific  Ocean,  yet  I  felt  so  assured,  from  Steller's 
description  and  the  geographical  position,  that  it  must  be  distinct  from 
the  eared  fur  seals  from  the  Antarctic  Ocean  and  Australia,  with  which 
it  had  usually  been  confounded,  that  in  my  '  Catalogue  of  Seals  in  the 
Collection  of  the  British  Museum'  [1850]  I  regarded  it  as  a  distinct 
species,  under  the  name  of  Arctocephalus  ursinus,  giving  an  abridgment 
of  Steller's  description  as  its  specific  character."  "The  British  Mu- 
seum," he  adds,  "  has  just  received,  under  the  name  Otaria  leonina, 
from  Amsterdam,  a  specimen  [skull  and  skin]  of  the  sea  bear  from 
Behring's  Straits,  which  was  obtained  from  St.  Petersburg"  *  ;  which 
is  the  specimen  already  spoken  of  as  figured  by  Dr.  Gray.  From  the 
great  differences  existing  between  this  skull  and  those  of  the  southern 
sea  bears,  Dr.  Gray  separated  the  northern  species  from  the  genus 
Arctocephalus,  under  the  name  Callorhinus.^ 

Although  there  were  two  skulls  of  Steller's  sea  bear  in  the  Berlin 
Museum  as  early  as  1841,+  and  three  skeletons  of  the  same  species  in 
the  Museum  of  Munich  in  18-19,  §  Dr.  Gray  seems  to  have  been  the 
first  naturalist  who  was  able  to  compare  this  animal  with  its  southern 
relatives,  and  hence  to  positively  decide  its  affinities. 

Misled  by  a  label  accompanying  specimens  of  eared  seals  received 
at  the  British  Museum  from  California,  a  skin  of  the  Callorhinus  ursi- 
nus was  doubtfully  described  by  this  author,  in  the  paper  in  which  the 
name  Callorhinus  was  proposed,  as  that  of  his  Arctocephalus  monterien- 
sis,  which  is  a  hair  seal.  This  skin  was  accompanied  by  a  young  skull, 
purporting,  by  the  label  it  bore,  to  belong  to  it,  but  Dr.  Gray  observes 
that  otherwise  he  should  have  thought  it  too  small  to  have  belonged 
to  the  same  animal.    Seven    years  later,  ||  however,  he  described  the 

*  Proc.  London  Zool.  Soc,  1859,  p.  102. 

t  Ibid.,  p.  359. 

X  Archiv  fur  Naturgeschichte,  etc  ,  1841,  p.  334. 

§  Ibid.,  1849,  p.  39. 

||  Cat.  Seals  and  Whales,  1S66,  p.  51. 


88  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

skull  as  that  of  a  new  species  (Arctocephalus  calif ornianus),  still  asso- 
ciating with  it,  however,  the  skiu  of  the  Gallorhinus  ursinus.  The 
skull  lie  subsequently  considered  as  that  of  a  young  A.  monteriensis 
(=  Eametupias  Stelleri);  and  referring  his  A.  californianus  to  that 
species,  he  was  consequently  led  into  the  double  error  of  regarding  the 
Eumetopias  Stelleri  as  a  fur  seal  (as  already  explained  under  that 
species  and  elsewhere  in  the  present  paper),  and  of  excluding  the 
CaUor/n'uus  ursinus  from  the  list  of  fur  seals. 

Geographical  Distribution.  —  The  northern  fur  seal  seems  to  be 
nowhere  so  numerous  at  present  as  at  the  St.  Paul's  and  St.  George's 
Islands,  off  the  coast  of  Alaska.  They  seem  to  still  occur,  however, 
in  considerable  numbers  at  a  few  of  the  islands  to  the  northward  and 
westward,  especially  at  St.  Matthew's  and  Behring's  Islands.  They 
appear  never  to  have  landed  on  the  Asiatic  shores  to  any  great  extent, 
and  I  have  found  no  report  of  their  occurrence  to  the  southward  of  the 
Kuriles  on  that  coast.  On  the  American  side  they  were  formerly 
numerous  from  Sitka  to  the  southern  coast  of  California.  At  Point 
Conception,  Captain  Bryant  informs  me,  large  numbers  were  formerly 
taken,  but  that  they  are  now  rare  on  the  California  coast,  and  are 
only  seen  there  in  the  winter  season.  "  The  present  year,''  he  writes 
me,*  "  unusually  large  numbers  have  been  seen  off  the  coasts  of 
Oregon,  Washington  Territory,  and  British  Columbia,  and  many  .skins 
have  been  taken  and  brought  to  San  Francisco.  They  were  mostly 
of  very  young  seals,  none  appearing  to  be  over  a  year  old.  Formerly 
in  March  and  April  the  natives  of  Puget  Sound  took  large  numbers 
of  pregnant  females,  but  no  place-  where  they  have  resorted  to  lured 
seem  to  he  known  off  this  coast.  Neither  can  I  ascertain  that  any 
rookeries  of  the  hair  seals,  or  sea  lions,  are  known  to  exist  here  ; 
but  I  think  it  probable  that  both  species  occupy  the  rocky  ledges  off 
the  shore,  which  are  rarely  visited  by  boats." 

The  northern  fur  seals  seem  to  require  a  moderately  cool  and  hu- 
mid climate,  since  they  do  not  readily  bear  the  heat  of  the  sun.  These 
condition-  apparently  existing  in  an  eminent  degree  at  the  Pribyloff 
Islands, these  islands,  as  Captain  Bryant  remarks  beyond,  are  eminently 
suited  to  the  wants  of  these  animal-,  which,  according  to  his  computa- 
tion, resort  there  in  summer  to  the  number  of  more  than  a  million. 

*  Under  date  of  Jum  i  i.  1870,  from  the  United  States  revenue  cutter  "  Lincoln,"  en 
route  fur  the  Seal  Islands  of  Alaska. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  89 

At  Behring's  and  the  Pribyloff  Islands  the  fur  seals  are  reported  to 
make  their  appearance  from  the  southward  late  in  spring,  and  that  they 
only  resort  to  these  islands  for  the  purposes  of  reproduction,  and  leave 
them  early  in  the  autumn.  Their  haunts  at  other  seasons  seem  not  to 
be  well  known,  but  it  is  evident  that  their  winter  quarters  must  be  to 
the  southward  of  these  islands.  That  there  is  a  southward  migration 
of  these  animals  in  winter  is  evident  from  their  reported  greater  fre- 
quency at  that  season  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  the  United  States. 

Habits.  —  The  very  full  account  of  the  habits  of  this  species,  con- 
tained in  the  following  communication  of  Captain  Bryant,  together  with 
the  accompanying  notes,  require  nothing  to  be  added  on  this  point  in 
the  present  connection. 

II. 

On  the  Habits  of  the  Northern  Fur  Seal  (Callorhtnus  ursinus 
Gray~),  with  a  Description  of  the  Pribyloff  Group  of  Islands. 
By  Captain  Charles  Bryant,  with  Notes  by  J.  A.  Allen. 

Description  of  the  Pribyloff  Group  of  Islands. 

Discovery.  —  The  group  of  several  small  islands,  known  as  the 
Pribyloff  Group,  were  discovered  under  the  following  circumstances. 
Captain  Pribyloff,  who  in  1781  took  charge  of  the  Russian  trading 
factory  at  Ounalaska,  observed  during  his  voyages  among  the  islands 
to  the  westward  of  Ounalaska  numbers  of  fur  seals  going  north  in 
spring  and  returning  in  autumn.  Believing  that  there  must  be  un- 
known land  to  the  northward  to  which  these  animals  resorted,  he  fitted 
out  an  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  it,  and  in  June,  1785, 
while  cruising  for  that  purpose,  discovered  an  island.  He  took  pos- 
session of  this  island,  colonized  it,  and  called  it  St.  George's,  from  the 
vessel  in  which  the  discovery  was  made.  On  a  clear  day,  during  the 
following  year,  these  colonists  saw  another  island  to  the  northward  ot 
the  first,  and  visiting  it  in  their  canoes,  proceeded  to  occupy  it.  The 
island  was  called  St.  Paul's,  from  its  discovery  being  made  on  St. 
Paul's  day. 

St.  Pauls  Island. —  St.  Paul's  Island,  of  which  I  append  an  outline 
sketch  (Fig.  5)  is  nearly  triangular,  and  sixteen  miles  in  length.  Its 
northern  side  is  a  little  concave.     Its  greatest  breadth  is  four  miles,  at 


90 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 
Fig.  6. 


Diagram  of  St.  Paul's  Island :  a,  harbor  and  native  village ;  b,  sea-lion  rookery 

a  point  one  third  its  length  from  the  west  end.  From  this  point  a  nar- 
row peninsula,  half  a  mile  wide  and  two  and  a  half  miles  long,  extends 
in  a  southwest  direction  from  the  main  island.  The  island  is  of  vol- 
canic origin,  and  consists  of  a  cluster  of  flattened  cones.  The  central 
cones  of  the  island  have  an  elevation  of  from  two  to  three  hundred 
feet,  and  a  diameter  of  from  half  a  mile  to  one  mile  and  a  half.  Those 
on  the  outside,  which  form  the  shore  line,  are  much  smaller,  they  being 
only  from  one  eighth  to  half  a  mile  in  diameter,  and  from  fifty  to  sixty 
feet  in  height.  Their  bases  touch  those  of  the  central  higher  cones. 
Between  the  chains  of  cones  are  narrow  valleys,  raised  but  little  above 
the  sea  level.  The  border  cones  are  composed  entirely  of  clinkstone, 
and  their  surfaces  appear  to  have  undergone  no  change  other  than  that 
resulting  from  the  original  Assuring,  and  the  subsequent  action  of  frost. 
Where  these  cones  extend  into  the  water  they  form  rounded  points 
with  gently  sloping  shores.  There  is  a  belt  of  loose  rocks,  varying 
from  five  to  forty  rods  in  width,  between  the  base  of  the  outer  cones 
and  the  water.  The  coves  formed  between  these  points  have  shores 
of   loose  lava  sand. 

The  peninsula  is  formed  by  two  of  these  cones,  one  of  which  is  one 
half  and  the  other  two  and  a  half  miles  distant  from  the  main  island, 
with  which  they  have  been  recently  connected  by  the  deposition  of 
loose  sand   thrown  up   by  the  action  of  the  waves.     The  connecting 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  91 

necks  of  land  thus  formed  have  a  height  of  only  six  or  eight  feet  above 
the  tide  level. 

The  cones  of  the  peninsula  differ  from  those  of  the  main  island  in 
being  elongated  instead  of  circular,  and  in  having  their  surfaces  covered 
with  a  layer  of  pitchstones,  several  inches  in  thickness,  above  the 
clinkstones. 

On  the  cone  in  the  centre  of  the  peninsula  there  is  a  bed  of  vol- 
canic ashes  and  cinders,  which  shows  by  its  loose  mixed  condition  that 
it  fell  there  after  the  elevation  and  cooling  of  the  rock  above  water. 
Opposite  the  junction  of  the  peninsula  with  the  main  island  is  a  cliff, 
facing  the  southeast,  sixty  feet  high.  Its  composition  of  alternate 
layers  of  cinders  and  ashes  indicates  that  it  was  deposited  under  water, 
and  subsequently  elevated  to  its  present  positiop.  This  cliff  has  been 
worn  into  by  the  waves,  and  portions  of  it  continually  falling  down 
furnish  material  for  the  increase  of  the  sand  belt,  along  the  southeast 
shore  of  the  island.  A  seam  or  stratum  two  feet  in  thickness,  com- 
posed mainly  of  volcanic  ashes,  and  containing  lumps  of  calcined  sea 
mud  and  petrified  shells,  extends  the  whole  length  of  the  cliff,  parallel 
with  its  surface  curves,  and  situated  at  about  midway  its  height.  These 
shells  differ  from  any  now  found  on  the  island. 

The  distance  from  the  point  where  the  peninsula  joins  the  island  to 
the  west  end  of  the  island  is  about  eight  miles,  and  the  general  trend 
of  the  shore  is  northwest.  The  peninsula  itself  extends  two  miles  and 
a  half  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  with  a  reef  continuing  to  the  west- 
ward a  mile  farther.  Within  the  angle  formed  by  these  two  shores  is 
an  open  harbor,  with  anchorage  of  from  nine  to  thirteen  fathoms  of 
water,  half  a  mile  to  three  miles  off  shore. 

A  vessel  lying  here  is  sheltered  from  winds  blowing  from  any 
xiortherly  point  between  northwest  and  east ;  with  the  wind  more  to 
the  southward,  a  heavy  swell  rolls  over  the  reef,  making  it  very  rough. 
At  the  head  of  the  cove  is  located  the  trading-post  of  the  former  Rus- 
sian company  and  the  native  village.  This  portion  of  the  island  is 
undergoing  great  changes,  from  the  filling  in  of  sand  from  deep  water. 
At  no  very  remote  period  there  existed  a  spacious  harbor  within  the 
-ove  now  filled  with  sand  ;  and  there  are  people  living  on  the  island 
who  remember  when  the  peninsula  itself  was  an  island.  In  this  cove  last 
year  a  vessel  drawing  six  feet  of  water  lay  and  swung  at  her  anchor 
where  it  is  now  dry  at  low  tide.    The  sand  is  brought  up  by  the  action  of 


92  BULLETIN   OF    THE 

the  tides  from  deep  water,  and  being  thrown  on  the  shores  soon  becomes 
dry  and  light,  and  is  blown  by  the  high  winds  into  the  valleys  and  over 
the  slopes  of  the  hills,  tilling  up  the  cracks  in  the  rocks.  The  climate 
being  moist,  the  soil  thus  thrown  up  is  rapidly  overspread  with  a  luxu- 
riant growth  of  grass,  conspicuous  among  which  is  the  redtop  and  other 
common  grasses  of  the  New  England  States  ;  at  a  lower  level  on  the 
made  land  a  grass  grows  which,  when  young,  resembles  oats,  but  later 
it  heads  out  like  rye,  and  bears  a  small  black  seed  which  resembles  the 
latter  grain  when  shrunken  in  ripening.  These  grass-heads  in  winter 
furnish  rich  forage  for  the  cattle  and  other  stock  living  on  the  island. 
Among  the  profusion  of  wild  flowers  are  the  dandelion,  buttercup,  wild 
pea  and  bean,  yarrow,  wormwood,  and  other  weeds  ;  also  the  cow-pars- 
nip or  wild  celery.  The  latter  the  natives  consider  a  great  luxury, 
they  eating  the  seed  stalks  when  green  and  tender  with  great  relish. 

The  northeast  point  of  the  island  is  formed  by  a  cone  two  miles  in 
diameter  and  a  hundred  feet  in  height.  It  was  once  two  and  a  half 
miles  distant  from  the  main  island,  but  is  now  connected  with  it.  The 
action  of  the  tide  ebbing  and  flowing  has  formed  bars  of  sand  on  the 
two  outer  sides  ;  they  thus  have  extended  until  they  have  united  the 
two  islands,  enclosing  between  them  a  long  narrow  lake.  This  lake  is 
now  rapidly  filling  with  sand,  and  being  only  a  mile  loug  it  has  become 
quite  fresh  by  the  annual  melting  of  snow  in  it. 

The  southeast  shore  of  the  island  has  also  a  belt  of  sand,  which  is  in 
many  places  half  a  mile  wide,  and  is  constantly  increasing.  In  many 
places  the  sand  is  drifted  to  the  height  of  fifty  feet,  which  shows  that 
at  some  period  of  the  year  the  island  is  subject  to  very  high  winds. 

On  one  of  the  largest  cones  near  the  centre  of  the  island  is  the  rim 
of  an  extinct  volcano,  with  a  crater  thirty  rods  in  diameter.  This 
rises  to  a  height  of  two  hundred  feet  above  the  surrounding  plain  of 
clinkstones.  Its  walls  are  of  red  tufa,  much  crumbled  and  broken,  the 
debris  of  which  fills  the  opening  in  the  centre. 

Around  its  base  an;  several  fissures  communicating  with  dark  caves. 
Three  fourths  of  a  mile  west  i>  a  still  larger  crater,  but  of  less  eleva- 
tion. The  surface  of  this  portion  of  the  island  is  covered  with  broken 
clink-tones,  and  is  either  entirely  bare  of  vegetation  or  only  covered 
with   mov. 

Otter  Island.  —  Four  miles  southwest,  and  in  line  with  the  peninsula, 
is  a  small  rocky  island,  half  a  mile  in  its  longest  diameter,  one  fourth  of 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


93 


a  mile  wide,  and  about  forty  feet  high,  with  a  sloping  shore  on  one  side. 
It  is  a  part  of  a  cone  which  has  been  broken  off  on  three  sides,  and  the 
other  part  submerged.  This  is  called  Otter  Island,  and  has  on  it  a 
small  fur  seal  rookery,  yielding  three  thousand  skins  annually. 

Mosrovia,  or  Walrus  Island.  —  East-southeast  from  the  east  end  of 
St.  Paul's  Island,  eight  miles  distant,  is  a  rock  rising  on  all  sides  to  a 
height  of  thirty-five  feet,  half  a  mile  long  by  one  eighth  wide.  It  has 
around  its  base  at  the  water  line  several  ledges  or  shelves,  on  which  the 
walruses  come  to  lie  after  feeding  on  the  banks  east  of  the  island. 
These  animals  frequent  the  island  during  the  summer  in  large  num- 
bers, and  are  killed  by  the  natives  for  their  ivory.  On  the  island  is 
also  a  small  sea  lion  rookery.  It  is  also  the  breeding-place  of  immense 
flocks  of  sea-fowl,  and  the  natives  of  St.  Paul  hence  visit  it  in  the  lay- 
ing season  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  eggs. 

St.  George's  Island.  —  This  island  lies  forty  miles  to  the  southeast 
of  St.  Paul's,  and  is  nearly  triangular  in  form  (Fig.  6)  ;  its  greatest 

Fig.  6. 


Diagram  of  St.  George's  Island :  a,  principal  seal  rookery ;  6,  harbor  and  settlement. 

length  is  twelve  miles  in  an  east  and  west  direction.  The  greatest 
width  of  the  island,  which  is  near  its  centre,  is  four  miles.  Its  north- 
ern shore  has  an  indentation  near  its  centre  of  three  fourths  of  a 
mile  in  depth,  with  a  bank  in  front.  Within  this  cove  vessels  may 
anchor  in  ten  fathoms  of  water,  one  half  a  mile  off  shore.  It  is  at  this 
point  that  the  settlement  is  situated.  The  southeast  and  southwest 
sides  are  very  irregular,  with  indentations  on  each  side  where  vessels 
may  anchor  in  from  ten  to  sixteen  fathoms,  one  fourth  of  a   mile   from 


94  BULLETIN  OF  THE 

shore,  but  with  poor  holding-ground,  and  no  shelter  except  when  the 
wind  is  from  the  land. 

This  island  is  of  similar  origin  to  St.  Paul's,  but  differs  from  it  in 
outline.  A  mountain  ridge  nearly  one  thousand  feet  high  traverses 
the  southeast  part  of  the  island  parallel  to  the  shore,  and  forms  a  per- 
pendicular sea  front,  from  two  to  six  hundred  feet  high.  West  of  the 
ridge  the  island  is  intersected  by  a  valley  three  miles  wide,  descending 
gradually  on  either  side  to  the  shores,  where  it  terminates  in  low  broken 
cliffs.  To  the  westward  of  the  valley  the  surface  rises  again  rapidly, 
and  ends  in  a  narrow  perpendicular  headland  six  or  seven  hundred 
feet  high. 

The  whole  appearance  of  the  island  indicates  that  it  was  originally 
much  larger  than  it  is  at  present,  and  that  the  outer  portion  has  been 
broken  off  and  submerged,  leaving  the  sides  perpendicular.  It  is  only 
on  the  sloping  shores  near  the  middle  of  the  island  that  the  seals  can 
obtain  a  footing.  On  all  the  other  sides  the  surf  breaks  against  the 
base  of  the  cliffs.  Broken  clinkstones  cover  most  of  the  surface  of  the 
island,  upon  the  lower  parts  of  which  a  thin  soil  of  decayed  vegetable 
matter  has  accumulated.  Owing  to  the  springy,  oozy  nature  of  the 
ground,  the  houses  are  all  built  above-ground,  and  not  partially  below 
the  surface  as  on  St.  Paul's.  The  island  has  one  hundred  and  sixty 
Aleutian  inhabitants,  similar  to  those  of  St.  Paul's. 

The  island  of  St.  George  is  estimated  to  yield  one  half  as  many 
seals  as  St.  Paul's,  but  owing  to  the  poor  anchorage  and  the  difficulty 
of  loading  the  vessels  with  the  skins,  the  seals  have  been  less  disturbed. 

The  Climate. — No  record  of  the  temperature  at  these  islands  had 
been  kept  previous  to  my  arrival.  My  observations  at  St.  Paul's  give 
the  mean  temperature  of  June  as  48°  F. ;  of  July,  51°;  a  part  of 
August,  60°  These  are  the  three  warmest  months  of1  the  year.  I 
was  told  that  the  mercury  froze  twice  during  the  previous  winter. 

Snow  falls  on  these  islands  from  October  to  April,  but  except  in 
sheltered  spots  it  does  not  attain  any  great  depth,  blowing  off  as  fast  as 
it  falls. 

From  the  middle  of  March  to  the  latter  part  of  May  the  great  body 
of  floating  ice  comes  down  from  the  north,  and  passes  by  the  east  end  of 
the  island  to  the  southwest.  At  this  time  the  weather  is  very  severe, 
this  being  the  most  stormy  period  of  the  year.  This  body  of  ice  seldom 
extends  as  far  south  as  .St.  George's,  forty  miles  distant.     During  my 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  95 

residence  at  St.  Paul's  there  was  very  little  fog  on  the  island,  though  it 
could  be  seen  resting  on  the  water  ten  or  fifteen  miles  off  shore,  form- 
ing clouds  which  obscured  the  sun  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time. 
The  climate  is  not  favorable  to  agriculture,  but  there  is  at  least  a  thou- 
sand acres  of  first-class  grazing  land  along  the  southeast  shore  and  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  village. 

Last  year  a  horse  and  four  neat  cattle  were  brought  to  the  island. 
Directions  had  been  given  to  prepare  hay  for  them,  but  owing  to  the 
dampness  of  the  atmosphere  it  was  not  done,  so  that  when  the  cattle 
were  landed  there  were  only  such  supplies  of  food  for  them  as  the 
island  naturally  afforded.  They  therefore  had  to  subsist  on  the  dry 
grass  of  the  flats,  on  which  they  wintered  in  good  condition,  the  cows 
giving  a  good  supply  of  milk.  The  wild  rye-heads  proved  nutritious 
food,  of  which  the  supply  was  abundant.  The  horse  also  came  through 
in  excellent  condition,  though  having  no  grain.  Goats  and  sheep  have 
been  added  to  the  stock  on  the  island  during  the  past  season.  They 
have  all  bred  and  are  doing  well.  I  have  been  thus  minute  in  these 
details,  because  I  have  often  heard  it  asserted  that  these  islands  are  bar- 
ren rocks,  without  vegetation. 

The  Habits  of  the  Fur  Seal. 

The  fur  seals  resort  to  the  Pribyloff  Islands  during  the  summer 
months  for  the  sole  purpose  of  reproduction.  Those  sharing  in  these 
duties  necessarily  remain  on  or  near  the  shore  until  the  joung  are  able 
to  take  to  the  water.  During  this  considerable  period  the  old  seals  are 
not  known  to  take  any  food.  In  order  to  speak  intelligibly  of  the 
duties  of  the  several  classes  of  seals  at  this  important  season,  it  is 
necessary  at  this  point  to  describe  the  animals. 

The  male  fur  seal  does  not  attain  mature  size  until  about  the  sixth 
year.  He  then  measures  in  total  length  from  seven  to  eight  feet,  and 
six  to  seven  in  girth.  His  color  is  then  dark  brown,  with  gray  over- 
hair  on  the  neck  and  shoulders.  When  in  full  flesh  his  weight  varies 
from  five  to  seven  hundred  pounds.  These  and  no  others  occupy  the 
rookeries  (or  breeding-grounds)  with  the  females. 

A  full-grown  female  measures  four  feet  in  length  and  two  and  a  half 
around  the  body,  and  differs  from  the  male  in  form  by  having  a  some- 
what longer  head,  shorter  neck,  and  a  greater  fulness  of  body  poste- 
riorly.    She  usually  weighs  from  eighty  to  a  hundred  pounds.     Her 


96  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

color  when  she  first  leaves  the  water  is  a  dark  steel-mixed  on  the  hack, 
the  sides  and  breast  being  white  ;  but  she  gradually  changes  somewhat, 
and  in  eight  or  ten  days  after  landing  becomes  dark  brown  on  the  back, 
and  bright  orange  on  the  breast,  sides,  and  throat.  Hence  it  is  easy  to 
distinguish  those  that  have  just  arrived  from  those  that  have  been  sev- 
eral days  on  the  shore.  The  female  breeds  the  third  year,  and  is  full- 
grown  at  four  years. 

The  yearlings  weigh  from  forty  to  fifty  pounds,  and  are  dark  brown 
with  a  lighter  shade  on  the  throat  and  breast.  The  ages  of  those 
between  one  and  six  years  old  are  easily  distinguished  by  the  differ- 
ences in  size  and  state  of  development  of  the  animal-.  The  repro- 
ductive organs  of  the  male  are  fully  developed  the  fourth  year,  and 
it  is  mainly  by  males  of  this  age  that  the  fertilization  of  the  females  is 
effected.  Copulation,  described  more  fully  later,  usually  takes  place  in 
the  water. 

The  breeding-rookeries,  which  are  frequented  exclusively  by  the  old 
males  and  females  with  their  pups,  occupy  the  belt  of  loose  rocks  along 
the  shores  between  the  high-water  line  and  the  base  of  the  cliffs  or 
uplands,  and  vary  in  width  from  five  to  forty  rods.  The  sand  beaches 
are  used  only  as  temporary  resting-places,  and  for  play-grounds  by  the 
younger  seals  ;  these  beaches  being  neutral  ground,  where  the  old  and 
infirm  or  the  wounded  may  lay  undisturbed. 

The  old  male  appears  to  return  each  year  to  the  same  rock  so  long 
as  he  is  able  to  maintain  his  position.  The  native  chiefs  affirm  that 
one  seal,  known  by  his  having  lost  one  of  his  flippers,  came  seventeen 
successive  years  to  the  same  rock.* 

Those  under  six  years  are  never  allowed  by  the  old  ones  on  these 
places.  They  usually  swim  in  the  water  along  shore  all  day,  and  at 
night  go  on  the  upland  above  the  rookeries  and  spread  themselves 
out,  like  flocks  of  sheep,  to  re.-t. 

*  Dr.  Newberry  states  (United  States  Pnrifie,  Railroad  Surveys  and  Explorations, 
Vol.  VI,  Zoology,  p.  50,  1857)  that  Dr.  William  0.  Ayres  of  San  Francisco  presented  a 
skull  of  a  "  sea  lion"  to  the  California  Academy  of  Science,  obtained  by  him  during  a 
visit  to  the  Farallone  Islands  in  June,  is.",:.,  concerning  which  he  mad.'  the  following 
remarks,  which  tend  to  corroborate  Captain  Bryant's  opinion  that  the  seals  return  year 
after  year  to  the  snnc  breeding-grounds.  Dr.  Ayres  observes:  "  The  specimen  is  of  in- 
terest as  illustrating,  in  one  particular,  the  habits  of  these  animals.  The  left  zygomatic 
arch  has  been  perforated  by  a  bullet,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  left  inferior  maxillary 
bone  by  another;  both  these  injuries  having  been  received  so  long  since  that  the  action 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  07 

Wherever  a  long  continuous  shore  line  is  occupied  as  a  breeding- 
rookery,  neutral  passages  are  set  apart  at  convenient  distances  through 
which  the  younger  seals  may  pass  from  the  water  to  the  Lip'uiiil  and 
return  unmolested.  Often  a  continuous  line  moving  in  single  file  may 
be  seen  for  hours  together  going  from  the  water  to  the  upland,  or  the 
reverse,  as  the  case  may  he.  When  suddenly  disturbed  while  sleeping 
on  the  upland  by  an  attempt  of  an  animal  to  cross  the  rookery  at  any 
other  place,  a  general  engagement  ensues,  which  often  results  in  the 
death  or  serious  crippling  of  the  combatants.  After  the  females  have 
arrived  at  the  rookeries,  many  of  them,  as  well  as  their  pups,  are  tram- 
pled to  death  in  these  struggles. 

Constant  care  is  also  necessary  lest  thoughtless  persons  incautiously 
approach  the  breeding-grounds,  as  the  stampede  of  the.  seals  that  would 
result  therefrom  always  destroys  many  of  the  young. 

The  old  males  are  denominated  by  the  natives  Seacutch  (married 
seals).  These  welcome  the  females  on  their  arrival, and  watch  over  and 
protect  them  and  their  }'Oung  until  the  latter  are  large  enough  to  be 
left  to  the  care  of  their  mothers  and  the  younger  males. 

Those  under  six  years  old  are  not  able  to  maintain  a  place  on  the 
rookery,  or  to  keep  a  harem,  and  these  are  denominated  HoUuschuck 
(bachelors).  These  two  classes  of  males,  with  the  full-grown  females 
termed  Mothu  (mothers),  form  the  three  classes  that  participate  in  the 
duties  of  reproduction. 

By  the  first  to  the  middle  of  April  the  snow  has  melted  from  the 
shore  and  the  drift  ice  from  the  north  has  all  passed.  Soon  after  this 
period,  a  few  old  veteran  male  seals  make  their  appearance  in  the  water 
near  the  island,  and  after  two  or  three  days'  reconnoissance  venture  on  to 
the  shore  and  examine  the  rookeries,  carefully  smelling  them.  If  the 
examination  is  satisfactory,  after  a  day  or  two  a  few  climb  the  slopes 
and  lay  with  their  heads  erect  listening.  At  this  time,  if  the  wind  blows 
from  the  village  towards  the  rookeries,  all  fires  are  extinguished  and 

of  the  absorbents  lias  almost  smoothed  the  splintered  edges  of  the  bones.  Inside  of  the 
wound  of  the  zygoma  was  found  the  piece  of  lead  which  had  caused  it,  and  which  was 
at  once  recognized,  from  certain  peculiarities  of  form,  as  one  which  had  been  fired, 
without  fatal  effect,  at  a  sea  lion,  on  the  same  rocks,  in  the  summer  of  1854.  We  have 
thus  a  demonstration,"  Dr  Ayres  continues.  "  that  these  huge  seals  return,  in  some 
instances  at  least,  year  after  year,  to  the  same  localities.  They  leave  the  Farallones  in 
November  and  return  in  May,  being  absent  about  six  months.  How  far  they  migrate 
during  that  interval  we  have  at  present  no  means  of  determining."  —  j.  a.  a. 
VOL.    II.  7 


98  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

all  unnecessary  noises  avoided.  These  scouts  then  depart  and  in  a  few 
days  after  small  numbers  of  male  seals  of  all  ages  begin  to  arrive.  The 
old  patriarchs  soon  take  their  places  on  the  rookeries  and  prevent  the 
younger  males  from  landing.  They  thus  compel  them  to  either  stay  in 
the  water  or  go  to  the  upland  above. 

In  locating,  each  old  male  reserves  a  little  more  than  a  square  rod  of 
space  to  himself.  For  this  proceeding  they  evidently  have  two  reasons. 
First,  from  the  constant  liability  to  surprise  from  their  rear,  which  is 
their  weakest  point,  they  require  room  enough  to  make  one  leap  in 
turnin"-  before  being  able  to  defend  themselves  or  to  attack  their  ene- 
mies. Their  eyes  being  adapted  to  seeing  in  the  water,  their  vision  is 
feeble  when  they  are  out  of  that  element.  Consequently  they  have  to 
rely  mainly  on  the  senses  of  hearing  and  smell  for  warning  of  danger  ; 
hence  while  dozing  on  the  rocks  every  movement  or  sound  in  their 
vicinity  keeps  them  constantly  turning  towards  the  direction  from 
which  it  proceeds.  A  second  reason  is  that  each  requires  that  amount 
of  space  for  the  reception  of  his  ten  or  fifteen  wives.* 

Male  seals  continue  to  arrive  in  small  numbers  daily,  a  few  of  which 
are  yearlings  ;  those  two,  three,  four,  and  five  years  old  arrive  in  about 
equal  proportions.  Those  older  than  this  are  more  numerous  than  the 
younger,  each  one  of  which  fights  his  way  to  his  old  place  on  the  rook- 
ery,! or,  taking  a  new  one,  prepares  to  contend  for  it  in  case  the  owner 
comes  to  take  it.  As  they  acknowledge  no  right  but  that  of  might,  the 
later  comer  has  to  select  again.  The  growling  and  fighting  are  con- 
stant, so  that  day  and  night  the  aggregated  sound  is  like  that  of  an 
approaching  railway  train. 

About  the  15th  of  June  the  males  have  all  assembled,  the  ground 
being  then  fully  occupied  by  them,  as  they  lay  waiting  for  the  females 
to  come.  These  appear  in  small  numbers  at  first,  but  increase  as  the 
season  advances  till  the  middle  of  July,  when  the  rookeries  are  all  full, 
the  females  often  overlapping  each  other. 

*  Steller  gives  the  number  of  females  to  each  male  as  eight  to  fifteen  or  even  fifty. 
("  Mares  polygami  sunt,  unus  ssepi  8,  15,  ad  50  fcemollas  habet,  quas  anxie  semula- 
bundus  custodit,  et  vel  alio  tantillium  appropinquante,  in  furorem  agitur.")  Several  of 
the  carle"  <cul<.  as  well  as  all  the  species  of  eared  seals,  are  well  known  to  be  polyga- 
mous. The  seraglios  of  the  male  sea  elephant,  whoso  habits  are  better  known  than 
those  of  any  other  of  the  group,  are  said  to  embrace  frequently  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
females.  —  j.  a.  a. 

f  Steller  remarks  that  the  males  sometimes  become  so  attached  to  their  stations  that 
they  prefer  death  to  the  loss  of  them.  —  J.  a.  a. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  99 

Many  of  the  females  on  their  arrival  appear  desirous  of  returning  to 
some  particular  male,  and  frequently  climb  the  outlying  rocks  to  over- 
look the  rookeries,  calling  out  and  listening  as  if  for  a  familiar  voice. 
Then  changing  to  another  place  they  do  the  same  again,  until  some 
"bachelor"  seal  swimming  in  the  water  approaches  and  drives  her  on 
shore,  often  compelling  her  to  land  against  her  will.  Here  comes  in  the 
duty  of  the  "  bachelor  "  seals.  They  swim  all  day  along  the  shore  es- 
corting and  driving  the  females  on  to  the  rocks  as  fast  as  they  arrive. 
As  soon  as  a  female  reaches  the  shore,  the  nearest  male  goes  down  to 
meet  her,  making  meanwhile  a  noise  like  the  clucking  of  a  hen  to  her 
chickens.  He  bows  to  her  and  coaxes  her  until  he  gets  between  her 
and  the  water  so  that  she  cannot  escape  him.  Then  his  manner  changes, 
and  with  a  harsh  growl  he  drives  her  to  a  place  in  his  harem.  This 
continues  until  the  lower  row  of  harems  is  nearly  full.  Then  the  males 
higher  up  select  the  time  when  their  more  fortunate  neighbors  are  off 
their  guard  to  steal  their  wives.  This  they  do  by  taking  them  in  their 
mouths  and  lifting  them  over  the  heads  of  the  other  females,  and  careful- 
ly placing  them  in  their  own  harem,  carrying  them  as  cats  do  their  kit- 
tens. Those  still  higher  up  pursue  the  same  method  until  the  whole 
space  is  occupied.  Frequently  a  struggle  ensues  between  two  males  for 
possession  of  the  same  female,  and  both  seizing  her  at  once  pull  her  in 
two  or  terribly  lacerate  her  with  their  teeth.  When  the  space  is  all 
filled,  the  old  male  walks  around  complaisantly  reviewing  his  family, 
scolding  those  who  crowd  or  disturb  the  others,  and  fiercely  driving  off 
all  intruders.     This  surveillance  always  keeps  him  actively  occupied. 

In  two  or  three  days  after  landing,  the  females  give  birth  to  one  pup 
each,*  weighing  about  six  pounds.  It  is  entirely  black,  and  remains  of 
this  color  the  whole  season.  The  young  are  quite  vigorous,  even  at 
birth,  nursing  very  soon  after  they  are  born.  The  mother  manifests  a 
strong  attachment  for  her  own  young,  and  distinguishes  its  cry  among 
thousands.  The  voice  of  the  female  is  like  the  bleating  of  a  sheep,  and 
the  cry  of  the  pup  resembles  that  of  a  lamb.f 

*  A  single  young  at  a  birth  seems  to  be  the  general  rule  in  this  family;  ea<es  where 
two  are  produced  seeming  to  be,  so  far  as  known,  exceptional.  The  period  of  gestation 
is  stated  by  different  authors  as  being  nine  to  twelve  months,  varying  in  the  differing 
species,  from  twelve  in  the  fur  seals  to  nine  or  ten  in  the  hair  seals.  — j.  a.  a. 

t  By  several  different  writers  the  voice  of  the  male  is  compared  to  the  roaring  of  the 
lion ;  that  of  the  female  to  the  bleating  of  a  sheep  ;  and  that  of  the  young  to  the  cry  of  a 
lamb,   not  only  in  the  case  of  the  present  species,  but  also  of  their  southern  allies. 


100  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

In  a  few  days  after  the  birth  of  the  young  the  female  is  ready  for 
intercourse  with  the  male.  She  now  becomes  solicitous  of  liis  atten- 
tions, and  extends  herself  on  the  rocks  before  him.  Owing  to  the 
position  of  the  genital  organs,  however,  coition  on  land  seems  to  be  not 
the  natural  method,  and  only  rarely,  perhaps  in  three  cases  out  of  ten, 
is  the  attempt  to  copulate  under  such  circumstances  effectual.  In  the 
mean  time  the  four  and  five  year  old  males  are  in  attendance  along  the 
shore.  When  their  jealous  lord  is  off"  his  guard,  or  encased  in  driving 
away  a  rival,  the  females  slip  into  the  water,  when  an  attentive  "bach- 
elor" seal  follows  her  to  a  distance  from  shore.  Then,  breast  to  breast, 
they  embrace  each  other,  turning  alternately  for  each  other  to  breathe, 
the  act  of  copulation  sometimes  continuing  from  five  to  eight  minutes.* 

"When  the  female  again  returns  to  the  shore  she  is  treated  with  in- 


Kraschennimkow,  apparently  quoting  from  Steller,  thus  quaintly  describes  their  voice 
as  heard  under  different  circumstances.  "  When  this  animal  lies  upon  the  shore  and 
diverts  himself,  hi>  losing  is  like  that  of  a  cow  ;  when  he  fights  he  growls  like  a  bear  ; 
when  he  has  conquered  his  enemy  he  chirps  like  a  cricket."  —  Hist,  of  Kamtsck.,  p.  228. 
Mr.  Dall  observes  that  they  have  "a  kind  of  piping  whistle  which  they  use  when  tired 
or  hot."  — j.  A.  a. 

*  Other  accounts  somewhat  vary  from  this.  Steller's  remarks  on  this  point  areas 
follows:  "  Concubitum  exercent  more  hominum  ita  ut  mas  incubus  foemella  succuba 
sit.  prseeipue  autem  circa  vesperam  veneris  exercitiis  inhiant:  horam  antea  tarn  mas 
quam  foemella  in  mare  se  recipiunt,  una  placide  natant,  dein  una  reuertunter,  fcemella 
supina  in  dorso  jacet,  mas  vero  e  mari  superueuit,  anterioribus  pedibus  innixus,  maximo 
feruore  libidinem  exercet,  et  sub  hoe  lusu  fcemellamita  premitet  pondere  su'oin  arenam 
demergit,  ut  nihil  nisi  caput  cmineat,  ipse  vero  pedibus  anterioribus  adeo  in  arenam 
endit,  ut  tandem  toto  ventre  fcemellam  premat  et  contingat.  Locum  eligunt  ipsum 
litns  arenosum,  qua  undis  huncdum  alluitur, adeo  intentiet  obliuiosisui  ipsius  sunt,  ut 
plusquam  per  quadrantem  horau  scortanti  abstarem,  antequam  me  obsernai'et,  nee  obse- 
ruasset,  nisi  mum  colapham  impegissem,  ex  quo  adeo  iratus  maximo  fremiti!  me  laces- 
siuit,  ut  aegre  me  surriperem,  ille  vero  nihilominus  me  eminus  vidente,  quod  cceperat, 
absoluit  opus  per  integrm  quadrantem  horse." 

Mi-.  W.  II.  Dall.  in  August,  1S68,  spent  some  time  at  St.  George's  Island,  and  in  some 

valuable  notes  on  the  natural  history  of  this  island,  which  he  has  kindly  placed  at  my 

disposal,  1  find  tin'  following  remarks,  which,  it  will  be  seen,  are  quite  confirmatory  of 

:  "They  [the  females]  sleep  in  the  water, lying  on  their  sides,  with  the 

two  flippers   [of  the   upper   side]   out  of  the   water,  and   receive    tin-   male   ill   the   same 

times  nanain  in  copula  for  upwards  of  an  hour."     While  these 

statements  arc  doubtless  quite  true,  at  least  in  numerous  instances,  the  more  favorable 

unit!      for  observation  Captain  Bryant  has  had,  leave  little  reason  to  suppose  he 

ition,  been  deceived  in  the  matter. 

I  have  been  thus  lengthy  in  these  comments  from  the  fact  that  tlii-  mode  of  coitus 
■  Ijccii    no,-  r  among  the  lower  mammalia.  —  j.  a.  \. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  101 

difference  by  all  the  males.  She  now  roams  at  will  about  the  rookery, 
whereas  before  she  was  not  allowed  to  go  to  the  relief  of  her  young 
when  in  distress  and  crying  for  her.  By  the  middle  of  August  the 
young  are  all  born,  and  the  females  are  again  pregnant.  The  old  males 
having  occupied  their  stations  constantly  for  four  months,  without  food, 
now  resign  their  charge  to  the  younger  males,  and  go  to  some  distance 
from  shore  to  feed. 

The  fact  of  their  remaining  without  food  seems  so  contrary  to  nature, 
that  it  seems  to  me  proper  to  state  some  of  the  evidences  of  it.  Having 
been  assured  by  the  natives  that  such  was  the  fact,  I  deemed  it  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  test  it  by  all  the  means  available.  Accordingly  I 
took  special  pains  to  examine  daily  a  large  extent  of  the  rookery  and 
note  carefully  the  results  of  my  observations.  The  rocks  on  the  rookery 
are  worn  smooth  and  washed  clean  by  the  spring  tides,  and  any  discharge 
of  excrement  could  not  fail  to  be  detected.  I  found,  in  a  few  instances, 
where  newly  arrived  seals  had  made  a  single  discharge  of  red-colored 
excrement,  but  nothing  was  seen  afterwards  to  show  that  such  discharges 
were  continued,  or  any  evidence  that  the  animals  had  partaken  of  food. 
They  never  left  the  rocks,  except  when  compelled  by  the  heat  of  the 
sun  to  seek  the  water  to  cool  themselves.  They  are  then  absent  from 
the  land  for  but  a  short  time.  I  also  examined  the  stomachs  of  sever- 
al hundred  young  ones,  killed  by  the  natives  for  eating,  and  always 
without  finding  any  traces  of  food  in  them.  The  same  was  true  of  the 
few  nursing  females  killed  for  dissection.*       On  their  arrival  in  the 


*  Steller  states  that,  in  the  numerous  specimens  he  dissected,  he  always  found  the 
stomachs  empty,  and  remarks  that  they  take  no  food  during  the  several  weeks  they 
remain  on  land.  Mr.  Dall  confirms  the  same  statement  in  respect  to  the  present  species, 
and  Captains  Cook,  Weddel,  and  others,  who  have  had  opportunities  of  observing  the 
different  southern  species,  affirm  the  same  fact  in  respect  to  the  latter.  Lord  Shuldham 
long  since  stated  that  the  walrus  had  the  same  habit,  though  its  annual  fast  seems  some- 
what shorter  than  those  of  the  eared  seals.  In  the  London  Philosophical  Transactions 
for  the  year  1775  (p.  249),  in  briefly  describing  the  droves  of  walruses  that  at  that  time 
frequented  the  Magdalen  and  other  islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  he  says  that 
they  crawl  upon  the  land  in  great  numbers,  at  convenient  landing-places,  "  and  some- 
times remain  for  fourteen  days  together  without  food,  when  the  weather  is  fair;  but  on 
the  approach  of  rain  they  immediately  retreat  to  the  water  with  great  precipitation." 

This  singular  phenomenon  of  a  protracted  annual  fast  during  the  period  of  parturition 
and  the  nursing  of  the  young —  the  season  when  most  mammals  require  the  most  ample 
sustenance  —  seems  not  wholly  confined  to  the  walruses  and  the  eared  seals.  So  far  as 
known,  however,  it  is  limited  to  the  Pinnipedes;  and,  excepting  in  the  case  of  a  single 


102  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

spring  they  are  very  fat  and  unwieldy,  but  when  they  leave,  after  their 
four  months'  fast,  they  are  very  thin,  being  reduced  to  one  half  their 
former  weight. 

The  female  has  four  teats,  two  on  each  side,  equidistant,  and  in  line 
between  the  fore  and  hind  flippers.  Their  milk  is  of  a  yellowish  color, 
composed  of  water  and  caseine,  very  insipid,  and  containing  no  sugar. 
The  pups  nurse  but  seldom,  and  when  separated  from  the  mother  for 
thirty-six  hours  and  returned  to  her  again,  they  seem  in  no  haste  to  do 
so,  and  in  some  cases  did  not  for  several  hours  afterwards. 

About  the  20th  of  July  the  great  body  of  the  previous  year's  pups 
arrive  and  occupy  the  slopes  with  the  younger  class  of  males,  and  they 
continue  to  be  mixed  together  during  the  remainder  of  the  season.  The 
two-years-old  females,  which  pair  with  the  young  males  in  the  water 
near  the  island,  also  now  associate  with  the  other  females. 

The  pups  are  five  weeks  old  when  the  old  females  go  off  to  feed; 
they  go  with  the  mothers  to  the  upland,  but  keep  by  themselves.  The 
pups  born  on  the  lower  edge  of  the  rookery,  where  the  surf  breaks  over 
them  occasionally,  learn  to  swim  early,  but  the  larger  portion  of  them 
do  not  take  to  the  water  until  later,  and  many  have  to  be  forced  in  by 
the  parent.*  Once  in,  however,  they  soon  love  to  sport  in  it.  The 
young  are  taught  to  swim  by  the  old  males  on  their  return  from 
feeding. 

By  the  last  of  October  the  seals  begin  to  leave  the  islands  in  small 
companies,  the  males  going  last  and  by  themselves.     In  November  the 

member,  the  sea  elephant  ( Macrorhinus  elephantinus  ),  to  the  two  above-named  fami- 
lies. By  some  of  the  old  writers  the  sea  elephant  was  said  to  feed  sparingly,  at  this 
time,  on  the  grasses  and  sea-weeds  that  grew  in  the  vicinity  of  its  breeding-places,  out 
the  weight  of  the  evidence  in  respect  to  this  point  seems  to  indicate  that  this  species 
fasts  similarly  to  the  eared  seals  and  walruses,  during  the  period  it  resorts  to  the  land  to 
bring  forth  its  young.  Regarding  the  period  of  abstinence  of  the  sea  elephants  and  its 
effect  upon  the  animals,  Weddel  observes  as  follows:  "The  circumstance  of  these 
animals  living  on  shore  for  a  period  not  less  than  two  months,  apparently  without  taking 
food  of  any  description,  may  certainly  be  considered  a  remarkable  phenomenon  in 
natural  economy.  That  they  live  by  absorption  is  evident;  that  is,  by  consuming  the 
substance  of  their  own  bodies;  because,  when  they  come  first  on  shore  they  are  ex- 
cessively fat,  and  when  they  return  to  the  sea  they  are  very  lean"  (  Voyage  toicards 
the  South  Pole,  p.  136). 

It  may  be  that  other  species  of  the  earless  seals  undergo  similar  fasts,  but  if  so  I  have 
■  en  ii rd  of  the  fact.  —  j.  a.  a. 

*  A  dislik '  fear  of  the  water  on  the  part  of  the  young  of  other  species  of  fur  and 

hair  seals  has  been  reported  by  other  observers.  — J.  a.  a. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  103 

young  seals  (as  I  was  informed  by  the  natives,  my  own  observations 
ending  in  August)  stop  to  rest  a  few  days  on  the  Aleutian  Islands,  and 
at  Ounalaska  the  natives  obtain  several  hundred  skins  annually.* 

*  The  following  remark?,  quoted  from  Captain  Weddel's  "  Voyage  towards  the  South 
Pole"  (p.  137,  August,  1827),  show  how  closely  the  southern  fur  seal  (Ar otocephalus 
falklandicus)  resembles  the  northern  fur  seal  in  habits  and  general  economy:  — 

"  Nothing  in  this  class  of  animals  [the  seals],  and  more  particularly  in  the  fur  seal  of 
Shetland,  is  more  astonishing  than  the  disproportion  in  the  size  of  the  male  and  female. 
A  large  grown  male,  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the  extremity  of  the  tail,  is  six  feet  nine 
inches,  whilst  the  female  is  not  more  than  three  feet  and  a  half.  This  class  of  males  is 
not,  however,  the  most  numerous;  but  being  physically  the  most  powerful,  they  keep 
possession  of  the  females,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  younger  branches;  hence,  at  the  time 
of  parturition,  the  males  may  be  computed  to  be  as  one  to  twenty  [females],  which  shows 
this  to  be,  perhaps,  the  most  polygamous  of  large  animals. 

"  They  are  in  their  nature  completely  gregarious;  but  they  flock  together  and  assem- 
ble on  the  coast  at  different  periods  and  in  distinct  classes.  The  males  of  the  largest 
size  go  on  shore  about  the  middle  of  November  to  wait  the  arrival  of  the  females,  which 
of  necessity  must  soon  follow,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  forth  their  young.  These,  in 
the  early  part  of  December,  begin  to  land ;  and  they  are  no  sooner  out  of  the  water  than 
they  are  taken  possession  of  by  the  males,  who  have  many  serious  battles  with  each 
other  in  procuring  their  respective  seraglios;  and  by  a  peculiar  instinct  they  carefully 
protect  the  females  under  their  charge  during  the  whole  period  of  gestation. 

"  By  the  end  of  December,  all  the  female  seals  have  accomplished  the  purpose  of 
their  landing.  The  time  of  gestation  may  be  considered  twelve  months,  and  they  seldom 
have  more  than  one  at  a  time,  which  they  suckle  and  rear  apparently  with  great  affec- 
tion. Ey  the  middle  of  February  the  young  are  able  to  take  to  the  water;  and  after 
being  taught  to  sicim  by  the  mother,  they  abandon  them  on  shore,  where  they  remain 
till  their  coats  of  fur  and  hair  ai-e  completed.  During  the  latter  end  of  February,  what 
are  called  the  dog-seals  go  on  shore:  these  are  the  young  seals  of  the  two  preceding 
years,  and  such  males  as,  from  their  want  of  age  and  strength,  are  not  allowed  to  attend 
the  pregnant  females.  These  young  seals  come  on  shore  for  the  purpose  of  renewing 
their  annual  coats,  which  being  done  by  the  end  of  April,  they  take  to  the  water,  and 
scarcely  any  are  seen  on  shore  again  till  the  end  of  June,  when  some  young  males  come 
up  and  go  off  alternately.  They  continue  to  do  this  for  six  or  seven  week«,  and  the 
shores  are  then  abandoned  till  the  end  of  August,  when  a  herd  of  small,  young  seals  of 
both  sexes  come  on  shore  for  about  five  or  six  weeks;  soon  after  they  retire  to  the 
water.  The  large  male  seals  take  up  their  places  on  shore,  as  has  been  before  described, 
which  completes  the  intercourse  all  classes  have  with  the  shore  during  the  whole  year. 

"  The  young  are  at  first  black ;  in  a  few  weeks  they  become  gray,  and  soon  after 

obtain  their  coat  of  hair  and  fur I  have  estimated  the  female  seal  to  be.  in 

general,  at  its  full  growth-wifhin  four  years,  but  possibly  the  male  seal  is  much  lo 
very  likely  five  or  six  years;  and  some  which  I  have  contrasted  with  others  of  the  same 
size  could  not,  from  their  very  old  appearance,  be  less  than  thirty  year-  " 

[For  further  information  in  respect  to  the  habits  of  the  Pinnipedes  in  general,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  Dr.  Robert  Hamilton's  "  Natural  History  of  the  Amphibious  Car- 
nivora,"  etc.  (1839),  which  forms  the  eighth  volume  of  the  Mammalia  of  Jardine's  "  Nat- 


104  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Manner  of  Killing  the  Seals.  —  It  will  be  recollected  that  I  have  de- 
scribed the  younger  seals  as  spreading  out  on  the  slopes  above  the 
rookeries  to  rest  at  night.  A  party  of  men  approach  these  places  armed 
with  clubs  of  hard  wood,  and  quietly  creep  between  the  seals  and  the 
shore.  "When  ready  the  men  start  up  with  a  shout  at  a  given  signal,  and 
drive  the  seals  inland  in  a  body.  When  at  a  sufficient  distance  from 
the  rookery,  they  halt  to  screen  the  flock  of  as  many  as  possible  that 
are  too  old  for  killing,  only  those  that  are  two  and  three  years  old  yield- 
ing prime  skins  ;  the  fur  of  those  older  is  too  coarse  to  be  market- 
able. The  screening  is  done  by  driving  the  seals  slowly  forward  in  a 
curve ;  the  older,  sullenly  holding  back,  force  the  more  timid  forward, 
when  the  men  opening  their  ranks  let  them  pass  through  and  return 
to  the  shore.  The  remainder  of  the  flock  is  then  driven  to  the  killing- 
ground,  though  still  containing  many  too  old  to  be  of  value. 

It  is  necessary  to  drive  the  flock  some  distance  from  the  breeding- 
ground,  as  the.  smell  of  the  blood  and  the  carcasses  disturbs  the  seals. 
Another  object  is  to  make  the  seal  carry  his  own  skin  to  the  salt-house, 
and  it  is  hence  sometimes  necessary  to  drive  them  six  or  seven  miles. 
The  driving  has  to  be  conducted  with  great  care,  as  the  violent  exer- 
tion causes  the*  seals  to  heat  rapidly,  and  if  heated  beyond  a  certain 
degree  the  fur  is  loosened  and  the  skin  becomes  valueless.  In  a  cool 
day  they  may  be  driven  one  mile  and  a  half  per  hour  with  safety. 
They  travel  by  lifting  themselves  from  the  ground  on  their  fore  legs, 
and  hitching  their  body  after  them  with  a  kind  of  sideways,  loping  gal- 
lop. When  arrived  at  the  killing-ground  a  few  boys  are  employed  to 
keep  them  from  straggling,  and  they  are  thus  left  to  rest  and  cool. 
Then  a  small  number,  from  seventy  to  one  hundred,  are  separated  from 
the  flock,  surrounded  and  driven  on  each  other,  so  that  they  confine 
themselves  by  treading  on  each  other's  flippers.  Those  desired  for 
killing  are  then  easily  selected  and  quickly  killed  by  a  light  blow  on 
the  nose  from  a  hard  wooden  club.  When  these  are  killed,  those  left 
as  unfit  are  allowed  to  go  to  the  nearest  water,  whence  they  imme- 
diately return  to  the  place  from  which  they  were  driven.  This 
operation  is  repeated  until  the  whole  flock  is  disposed  of,  providing 
there  is   time   to  skin  and  take  care  of  them  all  before  putrefaction 

uralist's  Library,"  — an  excellent  compilation  from  previous  authors.  The  more  impor- 
tant of  the  recent  papers  treating  of  the  habits  and  other  characters  of  the  cared  seals 
have  already  been  cited  in  the  historical  "  Resume"  of  the  present  paper.  —  J.  A.  A.] 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  105 

would  begin.  The  work  of  skinning  is  performed  by  all  the  men  on 
the  island,  and  every  one  participating  in  it  is  allowed  to  .share  in  the 
proceeds. 

As  the  seals  are  not  wholly  at  rest  until  the  females  arrive,  great  care 
is  necessary  in  selecting  the  time  and  place  from  which  to  drive.  These 
points  are  determined  by  a  head  man,  who  assumes  the  whole  control 
of  this  part  of  the  business.  In  the  month  of  May  only  the  small 
number  required  by  the  natives  for  food  are  driven.  In  June,  when 
the  seals  are  more  numerous,  they  are  driven  and  killed  for  their  skins, 
although  the  percentage  of  prime  skins  is  at  this  time  very  small,  often 
not  twenty  per  cent  of  the  whole  flock  driven.  About  the  middle  of 
July  the  females  go  off  into  the  water,  and  there  is  a  period  of  general 
rest  among  all  the  seals,  during  which  time  the  natives  desist  entirely 
from  killing  for  from  ten  to  fourteen  days.  At  the  close  of  this  period 
the  great  body  of  yearling  seals  arrive.  These,  mixing  with  the  younger 
class  of  males,  spread  over  the  uplands  and  greatly  increase  the  pro- 
portion of  prime  skins,  but  also  greatly  increase  the  difficulty  of  killing 
properly.  Up  to  this  time,  there  having  been  no  females  with  the 
seals  driven  up  for  killing,  it  was  only  necessary  to  distinguish  ages; 
this  the  difference  in  size  enables  them  to  do  very  easily.  Now,  how- 
ever, nearly  one  half  are  females,  and  the  slight  difference  between  these 
and  the  younger  males  renders  it  necessary  for  the  head  man  to  see 
every  seal  killed,  and  only  a  strong  interest  in  the  preservation  of  the 
stock  can  insure  the  proper  care.  September  and  October  are  consid- 
ered the  best  months  for  taking  the  seals. 

Besides  the  skin,  each  seal  will  yield  one  gallon  and  a  half  of  oil,  and 
the  linings  of  all  the,  throats  are  saved  and  salted  as  an  article  of  trade 
to  other  ports  in  the  Territory,  these  being  used  by  the  natives  for  mak- 
ing water-proof  frocks  to  wear  in  their  skin  canoes  when  hunting  the 
sea  otter  or  fishing.  These  parts  have  no  very  great  commercial 
value,  though  they  are  considered  by  the  natives  as  indispensable  to 
them. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  description  of  the  habits  of  the  fur 
seal,  that  the  conditions  necessary  for  their  preservation  and  increase 
are  very  simple.  The  first  is  that  they  be  not  unnecessarily  disturbed 
during  the  period  of  their  arrival  on  the  island.  Second,  that  care  be 
taken  in  killing  to  kill  only  males,  and  to  reserve  enough  of  these  for 
breeding  purposes.     If  these  precautions  are  taken,  they  increase  faster 


106  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

than  if  left  to  themselves ;  for  when  the  number  of  males  is  in  excess, 
the  continual  fighting  on  the  rookeries  destroys  many  of  both  females 
and  young,  which  get  trampled  to  death.* 

Mode  of  Curing  the  Skins.  —  The  skins  are  all  taken  to  the  salt- 
houses  and  are  salted  in  kenches  or  square  bins,  the  skins  being  spread 
down  flesh  side  up,  and  a  quantity  of  loose  salt  profusely  scattered  over 
them.  They  remain  thus  packed  for  thirty  or  forty  days,  when  they 
are  taken  from  the  bins  ;  the  loose  salt  is  removed,  and  the  skins  are 
folded  together,  the  flesh  side  in,  and  sprinkled  as  they  are  folded  with 
a  small  quantity  of  clean  salt.  They  are  then  ready  for  shipment,  only 
requiring  a  small  additional  quantity  of  salt  whenever  removed. 

Number  of  Seals  frequenting  the  Island.  —  There  are  at  least  twelve 
miles  of  shore  lme  on  the  island  of  St.  Paul's  occupied  by  the  seals 
as  breeding-grounds,  with  an  average  width  of  fifteen  rods.  There  be- 
ing about  twenty  seals  to  the  square  rod,  gives  one  million  one  hundred 
and  fifty-two  thousand  as  the  whole  number' of  breeding  males  and  fe- 
males. Deducting  one  tenth  for  males  leaves  one  million  thirty-seven 
thousand  and  eight  hundred  breeding  females.  Allowing  one  half  of  the 
present  year's  pups  to  be  females,  this  will  add  half  a  million  of  breeding 
females  to  the  rookeries  of  1872,  in  addition  to  those  now  there,  while 
the  young  of  last  year  and  the  year  before  are  also  to  be  added.  This 
estimate  does  not  include  the  males  under  six  years  of  age,  these  not 

*  The  almost  total  extermination  at  some  points  of  some  of  the  various  seals  formerly 
extensively  hunted  for  their  skins  or  their  oil  on  the  islands  and  coast  of  Southern  South 
America  is  well  known.  Weddel  states  (in  his  "Voyage,"  already  cited)  that  the 
number  of  fur  seals  taken  off  the  Shetland  Islands,  during  the  years  1821  and  1822,  may 
be  computed  at  320,000.  li  This  valuable  animal,"  he  adds,  "  might,  by  a  law  similar  to 
that  which  restrains  fishermen  in  the  size  of  the  mesh  of  their  net,  have  been  spared  to 
render  annually  100,000  furs  for  many  years  to  come.  This  would  have  followed  from 
not  killing  the  mothers  till  the  young  were  able  to  take  to  the  water;  and  even  then  only 
those  which  appeared  to  be  old,  together  with  a  proportion  of  the  males,  thereby  dimin- 
ishing their  total  number,  but  in  slow  progression. '  This  system  is  [183fl]  practised  at 
the  river  of  Plata.  The  island  of  Lobos,  in  the  mouth  of  that  river,  contains  a  quantity 
of  seals,  and  is  farmed  by  the  Governor  of  Monte  Video,  under  certain  restrictions,  that 
the  hunters  shall  not  take  them  but  at  stated  periods,  in  order  to  prevent  the  animals 
from  being  exterminated.  The  system  of  extermination  was  practised,  however,  at 
Shetland;  for  whenever  a  seal  reached  the  beach,  of  whatever  denomination,  he  was 
immediately  killed  and  his  skin  taken,  and  by  this  means,  at  the  end  of  the  second  year 
the  animals  became  nearly  extinct  ;  the  young  losing  their  mothers  when  only  three 
or  four  days  old,  of  course  all  died,  which,  at  the  lowest  calculation,  exceeded  100,000." 

J.  A.  A. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  107 

bein"-  allowed  on  the  rookeries  by  the  older  males,  nor  the  yearlings. 
If  we  now  add  those  frequenting  St.  George's  Island,  which  number 
half  as  many,  and  make  a  very  liberal  discount  for  those  that  may  be 
destroyed  before  reaching  maturity,  the  number  is  still  enormous.  It 
will  also  be  seen  that  the  great  importance  of  the  seal  fishery  is  not  to 
be  calculated  from  the  basis  of  its  present  yield,  since  each  year  adds 
to  its  extent,  as  with  proper  care  the  number  can  be  increased  until 
both  islands  are  fully  occupied  by  these  valuable  animals* 

Peculiar  situation  of  the  Pribylqff  Island.  —  These  islands  are  situ- 
ated immediately  between  the  northern  edge  of  the  great  warm  oceanic 
current,  —  which,  passing  into  Behring's  Sea  west  of  the  Aleutian 
Islands  and  flowing  east  through  Ounimak  Straits,  enters  the  Gulf 
of  Alaska  at  that  point,  —  and  the  edge  of  the  rotary  cold  current 
which  flows  from  the  Gulf  of  Anadir  east  through  Norton  Sound, 
returning  westward  to  this  point  again.  These  currents  furnish  the 
necessary  climatic  conditions  of  a  cool  uniform  temperature  and  hu- 
mid atmosphere  necessary  to  these  animals,  while  their  position  is  just 
far  enough  south  to  escape  being  visited  by  the  polar  bears  floating  on 
the  ice,  as  is  not  the  case  with  the  island  of  St.  Matthew's,  the  nearest 
land  on  the  north.  There  are  no  other  islands  possessing  these  ad- 
vantages in  an  equal  degree.  Behring's  and  Copper  Islands,  further 
westward,  in  Russian  waters,  approach  it  nearest. 

Prices  paid  for  the  Skins  at  the  Islands,  and  their  Value  in  Eu- 
rope.—  The  Russian  company  allowed  the  natives  the  value  of  ten 
cents  per  skin.  This  was  the  pay  they  received  for  the  labor  of  kill- 
ing, curing  the  skins,  and  delivering  them  alongside  the  vessel  ready  for 
shipment,  the  company  finding  salt  and  magazines  in  which  to  salt 
them. 

The  parties  who  took  advantage  of  the  interval  between  the  transfer 
of  the  Territory  and  the  enacting  and  enforcement  of  the  law  of  the 
27th  of  July,  1868,  to  kill  and  purchase  of  the  natives,  paid  twenty- 
seven  cents  per  skin,  and  had  they  been  allowed  to  trade   the  present 

*  It  may  be  added  that  the  United  States  government  has  already  taken  measures  to 
prevent  an  undue  decrease  of  the  fur  seals  of  the  Pribyloff  Islands,  in  the  amendment 
to  the  bill  for  the  preservation  of  the  fur-bearing  animals  of  Alaska,  which  was  passed 
by  Congress  early  in  July  of  the  present  year,  and  that  private  parties  have  interested 
themselves  in  the  preservation  of  the  sea  lions  that  frequent  portions  of  the  California 
coast.  —  j.  a.  a. 


108  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

year  would  have  bidden  forty  cents  apiece  for  tliem.  To  this  is  to  be 
added  the  cost  of  salt,  buildings,  and  the  expense  of  the  agency  on 
shore.  Their  market  value  was  at  that  time  five  dollars,  so  that,  after 
a  liberal  allowance  for  incidental  expenses,  the  profit  must  be  very 
large. 

Previous  to  1 8GG  these  skins  were  worth  only  three  dollars  each, 
but  owing  to  recent  improvements  in  their  manufacture  they  have 
become  fashionable  for  ladies'  wear,  and  soon  after  the  transfer  of  the 
Territory  to  the  United  States  the  price  rose  to  seven  dollars.  At  this 
time  the  Russians  had  one  hundred  thousand  on  hand,  which  were  for- 
warded to  London,  the  only  market  for  seal-skins  in  the  raw  state,  and 
the  only  place  where  they  are  dressed.  The  different  parties  who  sealed 
on  the  islands  in  the  summer  following  the  purchase  took  two  hundred 
thousand,  which  so  overstocked  the  market  that  they  are  now  worth 
only  three  or  four  dollars. 

The  agents  of  the  Russian  Fur  Company  aimed  to  control  this  branch 
of  the  fur  trade  in  Europe  by  regulating  the  supply.  To  do  this  they 
sent  orders  a  year  in  advance  to  have  such  a  number  killed  as  in  their 
judgment  the  market  might  need,  always  keeping  at  the  same  time  one 
year's  supply  on  hand.  At  the  time  of  the  sale  of  the  Territory  the 
annual  yield  was  estimated  at  eighty  thousand  skins.  The  opinion  of 
the  men  who  have  the  special  care  of  the  seals  is  that  it  has  reached 
one  hundred  thousand,  and  that  the  killing  yearly  of  this  number  will 
in  no  way  cheek  their  increase.  As  I  have  elsewhere  explained,  to 
kill  a  proper  number  of  males  annually  tends  to  a  general  increase  in 
the  whole  number  of  seals. 

Use  of  the  Flesh  by  the  Natives.  —  The  flesh  of  the  seal  constitutes 
the  principal  food  of  the  inhabitants  they  killing  from  time  to  time 
such  numbers  as  are  necessary  for  that  purpose.  Before  the;  seals 
leave  in  autumn  a  number  are  killed  sufficient  for  their  winter's 
supply.  Tie-  carcasses  are  allowed  to  freeze,  and  in  this  state  they 
keep  them  until  the  return  of  the.  seals  in  the  spring.  The  flesh  of 
the  yearling  seal  is  somewhat  darker  than  beef;  it  is  juicy  and  tender, 
but  lacks  the  sweetness  and  flavor  of  beef,  and  is  less  firm  and  nutri- 
tious. In  highly  seasoned  dishes  it  is  relished  by  nearly  all  who  partake 
of  it.  The  soldiers  on  the  island  preferred  it  to  salt  rations.  Alive 
weeks'  old  pup  roasted  is  esteemed  a  great  luxury.  The  sea  lion 
also  constitutes  a  part  of  the  natural  food  of  the  natives. 

Cambridge,  August,  1870. 


Plate  I. 

Eumetopias  Stelleki  Peters. 

[The  figures  are  all  one  third  natural  size,  when  not  otherwise  stated.] 

Fig.  1.     Skull,  seen  from  below,  of  a  middle-aged  $  (spec.  No.  2920). 
"    2.     Posterior  view  of  the  same  skull. 

«    3.     Skull,  seen  from  below,  of  a  very  old  $  (spec.  No.  2921). 
"    4.     Posterior  view  of  the  same  skull. 

«  5.  Teeth  (one  half  nat.  sire)  of  the  middle-aged  skull;  5a,  upper 
incisors  seen  from  the  side;  bb,  lower  incisors,  same  view;  be, 
upper  molars,  seen  from  the  side;  bd,  same  view  of  lower  molars. 
(The  canines  are  not  figured.) 
«  6  View  of  upper  surface  of  the  right  anterior  extremity.  (The  more 
heavily  shaded  portion  indicates  the  termination  of  the  hair- 
covered  part.  One  twentieth  natural  size.) 
«    7.     View  of  the  upper  surface  of  one  of  the  posterior  extremities. 

(one  twentieth  natural  size). 
"    8.     Ear  (one  half  natural  siz<*.). 


Bull.M.CZ.Vol.lI.No.l. 


Plate  I. 


I'.jiucttri'.cni.sfo/Hr  from  nature. 


.//  ■'',:',  fo Jiosro 


EUMETOPIAS      STELLERl  (Pe/ers) 


Plate  II. 

Callorhinus  ursinus  Gray. 

[The  figures  are  all  one  third  natural  size,  when  not  otherwise  stated.] 

Fig.    1.     Upper  view  of  skull  of  an  old  <J  (spec.  No.  2922). 
Lower  view  of  the  same  skull. 

Upper  view  of  another  skull  of  an  old  <J  (spec.  No.  2923). 
Lower  view  of  same  skull. 
Inside  of  the  left  ramus  of  the  lower  jaw. 
View  of  the  same  from  below. 
View  of  the  same  from  above. 

Skull  of  a  young  9  (thirty-five  days  old)  seen  in  profile. 
The  same  seen  from  above  (nasals  wanting). 
The  same  seen  from  below. 

Anterior  extremity  seen  from  above  (one  twentieth  natural  size). 
Posterior  extremity  seen  from  above  (one  twentieth  natural  size). 
Ear  (one  half  natural  length,  but  relatively  too  broad). 


"      2. 

"      3. 

"      4. 

"      5. 

"      6, 

"       7. 

«      8. 

"       9, 

"    10. 

"    11. 

"    12. 

"    13, 

Bull. MX. 7.. Vol  !'  Mo. 3 


f.ftor/j,/   w,oVm/<   ft 


X/'ll •////.'  //'//'  rtj  fjnstoit 

CALLORHINUS     URSINU5.  (Gray.) 


Plate  III. 

Callorhinus  ursinus  Gray. 
[The  figures  are  all  one  third  natural  size,  when  not  otherwise  stated.] 

Fig.  1.     Skull  of  9  seen  in  profile  (specimen  No.  2924). 

"    2.     The  same  seen  from  above. 

'•    3.     The  same  seen  from  below. 

"  4.  Underside,  in  part,  of  the  skull  of  another  9  (spec.  No.  2925), 
showing  the  teeth  and  the  posterior  outline  of  the  palatine  bones 
(natural  size). 

"  5.  Anterior  part  of  the  skull  of  young  9  (thirty-five  days  old),  show- 
ing the  dentition  (natural  size). 

"  6.  Teeth  (one  half  nat.  size)  of  an  old  $  (spec.  No.  2926)  ;  6a,  upper 
incisors  seen  from  the  side ;  6b,  same  teeth  seen  from  the  oppo- 
site side ;  6c,  upper  molars  seen  from  the  outside ;  6a*,  same  seen 
from  the  inside ;  6e,  lower  molars  seen  from  the  inside;  6/,  same 
seen  from  the  outside ;  6a,  lower  incisors  seen  from  the  side. 

"  7.  Teeth  (one  half  nat.  size)  of  another  old  <J  (spec.  No.  2922)  ; 
7a,  incisors  seen  from  the  side  ;  76,  same  teeth  seen  from  the 
opposite  side ;  7c  and  7c',  upper  canines ;  7  a*,  upper  molars 
seen  from  the  outside ;  7e,  same  teeth  seen  from  the  inside ;  If, 
lower  molars,  seen  from  the  outside ;  7a,  same  teeth  seen  from 
the  outside. 

"    8.     Scapula  of  a  male  (spec.  No.  2923).' 

Eumetopias  Stelleri  Peters. 

Fig.  9.  Inner  side  of  the  right  ramus  of  the  lower  jaw 

"  10.  Same  seen  from  above. 

"  11.  Same  seen  from  below. 

"  12.  Scapula  of  the  middle-aged  g. 

"  13.  Scapula  of  the  very  old  g. 

"  14.  Os  penis,  seen  from  the  side. 

"  15.  Muzzle  of  £  (one  tenth  natural  size). 

Phoca  vitulina  Linn. 
Fig.  16.     Scapula. 


Bull.M.C.Z.Vol.U.No.l 


Plate  III 


6  f 


6  a 


^IH  HX\  IU»  " 


P.Roetter.  on  stone  from  nature 


XewEng  Lith  Co.  Boston 


1  &.E.STELLERI, 


9    15.   C.URSJNUS 


I  (-;     ~Vi\ir\r\     irrTTir   i  xt  a 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  109 

No.  2.  —  Preliminary  Report  on  the  Crustacea  dredged  in  the 
Gulf  Stream  in  the  Straits  of  Florida,  by  L.  F.  de  Pourtales, 
Assist.  U.  S.  Coast  Survey.  Part  I.  Brachyura.  Prepared 
by  Dr.  William  Stimpson. 

(Communicated  by  the  Superintendent  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey.) 

The  Crustacea  collected  by  M.  Pourtales  are  very  numerous  iti 
species,  and  among  them  there  is  an  unusually  large  proportion  of  new 
forms;  so  that  their  investigation  has  occupied  more  time  than  was 
anticipated.  To  avoid  delay  in  publishing  a  portion  at  least  of  the 
results,  it  is  thought  best  to  give  at  once  that  part  of  the  work  which 
has  been  done  thus  far,  reserving  the  completion  for  a  second  part,  in 
which  the  general  considerations  derived  from  the  entire  study  will  aLo 
be  given. 

To  preserve  accuracy  in  the  statements  of  localities  and  depths,  and 
to  insure  the  correction  of  any  errors  which  may  have  occurred,  all  the 
details  on  the  labels  of  each  species  are  given  below,  arranged  in  the 
order  of  depihs  of  water. 

MAIOIDEA. 

Family   MAIIDAE. 

Subfamily   LEPTOPINAE. 

The  group  typified  by  the  genus  Leptopus  Lamarck  (Egeria  Latr.)  should 
be  separated  from  the  Inachinae  of  Dana  on  account  of  the  broad  and 
somewhat  heart-shaped  meros-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds,  which  in 
Inachus  is  simply  ovate  and  elongated,  with  the  palpus  articulated  at  the 
small  extremity. 

Pyromaia  nov.  sen. 

Carapax  somewhat  pyriform,  convex  :  rostrum  simple,  slender,  of  moder- 
ate length,  acute;  transorbital  breadth  small;  praeorbital  spine  short, 
almost  erect ;  postorbital  tooth  rather  large,  pointing  forwards.  Meros- 
joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  short  and  broad,  deeply  and  broadly 
notched  for  the  reception  of  the  palpus,  and  with  the  inner  lobe  stronglv 
projecting  and  the  outer  lobe  angular.  Ambulatory  feet  long;  those  of 
the  first  pair  t'  ree  times  as  long  as  the  post-frontal  portion  of  the  carapax 

This  genus  approaches  nearest  to  Micrnrhynchus  Bell,  but  <lifiers  in 
its  more  elongated  and  pyriform  carapax,  larger  rostrum,  and  prominent, 
angular  external  lobe  of  the  meros-joint  of  the  outer  maxillipeds.  From 
Lepfoptis  it  differs  in  its  simple  rostrum. 


110  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Pyromaia  cuspidata  nov.  sp. 

Body  and  feet  naked.  Carapax  granulated,  with  the  regions  well 
defined,  tumid,  and  armed  with  short  spines.  Rostrum  trigonal,  with  the 
three  edges  (the  superior  and  two  lateral)  armed  with  minute  spines. 
Basal  joint  of  external  antennae  with  a  slender  spine  in  front,  and  a 
smaller  one  beneath;  the  latter  pointing  directly  downward.  Chelipeds 
with  the  meros-joint  spinous  below  and  with  a  spine  at  the  summit ;  carpus 
with  one  spine  on  the  outer  side  at  the  articulation  of  the  hand;  hand 
inconspicuously  spinulose,  fingers  longer  than  the  palm,  not  gaping, 
serrated,  and  acuminate.  Ambulatory  feet  with  cylindrical  joints;  in  the 
adult  female  smooth  and  naked ;  in  the  young  male  sparsely  and  incon- 
spicuously hairy;  dactyli  two  thirds  as  long  as  the  penult  joint,  and  flat- 
tened toward  the  extremities. 

The  dimensions  of  the  largest  specimen,  a  female,  are  as  follows: 
Length  of  the  carapax,  1.2  inch;  greatest  breadth,  0  94  inch;  proportion 
of  breadth  to  length,  1  :  l."28.  Length  of  ambulatory  feet  of  the  first  pair. 
3.05  inch. 

This  species  lives  in  deep  water,  with  a  range  of  from  82  to  125  fathoms, 
as  shown  by  the  following  table  of  localities,  etc.,  taken  from  the  notes  of 
the  expedition. 

Off  Sand  Key,  May  11,1 868. 

Off  Alligator  Reef,  May  8,1809. 
Off  the  Samboes,  May  9,1868. 
Off  the  Samboes,  May  9,1868. 
S.  W.  of  Sand  Key,  February  17,  1869.    Cast  No.  2.     125        " 

Subfamily  ITSINAE. 
Pisa  antilocapra  nov.  sp. 
Carapax  subovate,  rather  narrow,  pubescent,  and  spinous,  with  a  strong, 
acute  spine  on  the  hepatic  region,  seven  to  ten  smaller,  subequal  ones  on 
the  branchial,  and  four,  forming  a  rhomb,  on  the  intestinal  region.  A  few 
sharp  tubercles  on  the  cardiac  and  gastric  regions.  Rostrum  horizontal, 
equalling  in  length  more  than  one  third  the  post-frontal  length  of  the 
carapax;  horns  diverging  from  the  basal  third,  rather  slender,  acute,  and 
straight,  or  slightly  curved  inward  near  the  extremities.  Prseorbital  spine 
slender,  less  than  one  third  as  long  as  the  rostrum.  On  the  superior  mar- 
gin of  the  orbit  there  are  two  spiniform  teeth  between  the  base  of  the 
praeorbital  spine  and  the  external  angle,  which  is  also  acute.  Spine  of  the 
basal  joint  of  the  external  antenna?  much  smaller  than  the  prseorbital 
spine.  Feet  pubescent,  with  the.  meros-joint s  sparsely  Bpinose  above. 
Dactyli  of  the  ambulatory  feet  unarmed  on  the  inferior  edge. 


Cast  No.  5. 

82  : 

fathoms. 

Cast  No.  6. 

88 

" 

Cast  No.  6. 

93 

It 

Cast  No.  1. 

121 

it 

MUSEUM    OF   COMFARATTVE   ZOOLOGY.  Ill 

Dimensions  of  a  male  :  Total  length  of  carapax,  1.22  ;  breadth,  exclud- 
ing the  spines,  0.65;  length  of  ambulatory  foot  of  the  first  pair,  1.30 
inch. 

It  is  a  more  elongated  species  than  any  of  the  three  Pisae  described  by 
Desbonne  and  Schramm,  which  are  the  only  ones  as  yet  indicated  as  in- 
habiting the  West  Indian  seas,  if,  indeed,  these  species  truly  belong  to 
the  genus. 

The  specimens  occurred  at  the  following  localities  and  depths:  — 

OffCarysfort  Reef,  March  31,  1869.     Cast  No.    1.      52  fathoms. 
Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  31,  1869.     Cast  No.    5.       60 

Off  Alligator  Reef,  May  8,  1869.  Cast  No.  10.     118 

Pisa  praelonga  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  long  and  narrow,  the  width  across  the  branchial  regions  being 
very  little  greater  than  that  between  the  orbits.  It  is  sparsely  hairy,  and 
armed  with  a  few  very  small  spines  on  the  sides.  Surface  beneath  the 
hairs  smooth.  Rostrum  large,  as  long  as  one  third  the  post-frontal  length 
of  the  carapax  ;  horns  slender,  acute,  divergent.  Prseorbital  spine  slender, 
acute.  Orbit  large,  with  one  sharp  tooth  on  the  upper  margin,  near  the 
base  of  the  post-'orbital  tooth.  Basal  joint  of  external  antenna?  with  a 
spine  in  front  (smaller  than  the  praeorbital  spine),  and  another  on  the 
o  'ter  side  near  the  base. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  :  Length  of  carapax,  rostrum  included,  0.39  ;  length 
to  the  base  of  horns  of  rostrum,  0.30;  breadth,  0.19  inch. 

It  differs  from  all  species  of  the  genus  hitherto  known  in  the  narrowness 
of  the  carapax. 

Off  Alligator  Reef,    May  8,  1869.     Cast  No.  10.     118  fathoms. 
Off  Tennessee  Reef,  May  7,  1869.     Cast  No.    7.     124        " 

Milnia  bicornuta  Stm. 

Pisa  bicornuta  Latreille,  Encyc.  Meth.,  X,  141. 

Pericera  bicorna  II.  Mii.ne-Edwards,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Crust.,  I,  337. 

Pisa  bicorna  Gibbes,  Proc.  Am.  Assoc.  Adv.  Sci.,  1850,  p.  170. 

Pericera  birornis  Saussure,  Crust.  Nouv.  du  Mexique  et  des  Antilles,  p.  12; 

pi.  i,  fig.  3. 
Milnia  bicornuta   Stimpson,  Notes   on    North   American    Crustacea,    p.   52. 

Smith,  Trans.  Connecticut  Acad,  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  II,  1. 

Found  at  low-water  mark  at  the  Tortugas,  and  dredged  at  Key  West 
in  2  to  5  fathoms. 

The  generic  name  Milnia  is  preoccupied,  having  been  used  by  Haime 
for  an  Echinoid,  but  it  seems  scarcely  necessary  to  change  it. 


112  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Subfamily  PERICERINAE. 
Milne-Edwards,  Dana,  and  authors  generally,  speak  of  the  eyes  of 
Pericera  as  being  non-retractile,  having  probably  studied  the  genus  by 
means  of  dried  specimens  only.  In  fact,  however,  the  eyes  in  this  group 
are  more  perfectly  retractile  than  in  any  other  Crustacea  ;  so  much  so 
that  they  may  be  entirely  concealed  in  their  orbits,  which  form  a  capa- 
cious cavity  with  a  small,  round  external  orifice.  In  this  cavity  the  pe- 
duncle of  the  eye,  the  inner  half  of  which  is  not  indurated,  becomes  bent 
to  a  right  angle  when  retracted. 

Pericera  trispinosa  11.  M.-Emv. 
Pisa  trispinosa  Latreille,  Encye.  Meth.,  X,  142. 
Pericera  trispinosa  H.  M. -Edwards,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Crust.,  I,  336       Guerin, 

Iconog.  du  Regne  Anim.,  Crust,   pi.   viii,  fig.  3.      Gihbes,  Proc.  Am. 

Assoc.  Adv.  Sci.,  1850,  p.  172. 

Dredged  at  Key  West  in  from  2  to  5  fathoms,  and  found  at  the  Tortugas 
at  low-water  mark. 

Pericera  camptocera  nov.  sp. 

Allied  to  P.  triapinom,  but  differs  as  follows  :  The  carapax  is  narrower 
and  more  sparsely  pubescent.  The  tour  tubercles  at  the  summit  of  the 
gastric  region  are  more  prominent,  forming  erect  spines.  The  posterior 
spine  and  the  lateral  spines  are  longer  and  more  curved.  The  rostrum  is 
longer,  and  its  horns  are  regularly  divergent  from  the  base.  The  orbital 
tubes  are  more  protuberant,  and  the  praeoeular  and  postocular  teeth 
longer.  The  movable  part  of  the  antenna?  is  both  longer  and  stouter. 
Finally  the  carpal  joint  of  the  ambulatory  feet  is  narrower  and  not  tuber- 
culated. 

Measurements  of  a  male :  Total  length  of  carapax,  0.92  ;  length  of  ros- 
trum, from  base  of  orbital  tubes,  0.25;  breadth,  between  the  tips  of  the 
lateral  spines,  0.70;  between  the  bases  of  these  spines,  0.48  inch. 

One  male  and  one  female  specimen  were  taken  near  Key  West  in  from 
2  to  5  fathoms. 

Pericera  eutheca  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  subtrapezoidal,  constricted  anteriorly  behind  the  orhits,  and 
broadly  rounded  behind.  Frontal  and  hepatic  regions  concave;  gastric, 
cardiac,  intestinal,  and  branchial  regions  moderately  prominent  and  each 
bearing  a  slender  spine.  Rostrum  very  small, forming  about  one  sixth  the 
length  of  the  carapax,  nearly  horizontal,  and  consisting  of  two  slender, 
acute,  parallel  horns.  Orbits  very  strongly  prominent,  projecting  forward 
and  outward  far  beyond  the  anterolateral  margins,  ((inning  sheaths  longer 
than  the  rostrum,  and    each   occupying    nearly  one    third    the    intcrorbital 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  113 

width  of  the  carapax.  The  distance  between  their  extremities  equals 
four  fifths  of  the  greatest  width  of  the  carapax.  The  extremity  of  the 
orbital  sheath  is  armed  with  two  spines,  one  before  and  one  behind  the 
eye.  The  spine  of  the  basal  joint  of  the  external  antennas  is  rather  small 
and  slender,  and  abdut  one  third  as  long  as  the  rostrum.  The  ambulatory 
feet  are  very  slender. 

The  measurements  of  a  female  specimen  are  :  Total  length  of  carapax, 
0.90  ;  breadth,  excluding  the  spines,  0.G5  ;  length  of  first  pair  of  ambula 
tory  feet,  0.75  inch. 

It  may  be  distinguished  from  all  the  species  hitherto  known  by  the 
great  size  and  prominence  of  the  orbital  sheaths. 

Off  French  Reef,     April  3,  1869.     Cast  No.  1.     15  fathoms. 
West  of  Tortugas,  Jan.  1(3,  1869.     Cast  No.  9.     37  fathoms. 

Pericera  septemspinosa  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  oblong,  strongly  convex,  pubescent ;  antero-lateral  and  postero- 
lateral sides  concave.  Dorsal  surface  armed  with  seven  prominent  spines, 
one  on  the  gastric,  one  on  the  cardiac,  one  on  the  intestinal,  and  two  on 
each  branchial  region.  Rostrum  about  one  fourth  as  long  as  the  post-frontal 
portion  of  the  carapax,  detlexed  ;  horns  snbtriangular,  acute,  diverging, 
curved,  pointing  outward.  Orbits  projecting,  with  a  prominent,  acute 
prasocular  and  postocular  spine.  On  the  suborbital  and  subhepatic  region 
there  are  three  spines,  the  posterior  one  of  which  is  longest.  There  is  a 
small,  slender,  acute  spine  on  the  basal  joint  of  the  antenna?.  Feet  un- 
armed. The  pubescence  of  the  body  adheres  strongly  to  rough  objects 
brought  in  contact  with  it,  and  notably  to  that  of  other  specimens  of  the 
same  crab. 

Measurements  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.33  :  breadth,  excluding 
the  spines,  0.25  inch. 

It  differs  from   P.  eutheca  in   its  broader  rostrum  and  less  prominent 
orbital  sheaths;  also  in  the  spines  on  the  subhepatic  region,  etc 
West  of  Tortugas,  January  16,  1869      Cast  No.  4.     36  fathoms. 

Pericera  cornuta  H.  M.-Edw. 

Cancer  cornuta  Herbst,  Naturg.  d.  Krahhen  u.  Krebse,  pi.  lix,  fig.  6. 

Maia  taunts  Lamarck,  Animaux  sans  Vert.,  V,  242. 

Pericera  cornuta  II.  Milne-Edwards,  Hist.  Nat  des.  Crust.,  I,  335  ;  pi.  xiv 
bis,  fig.  5.  Illust.  Cuv.  Rcgne  Anim.,  pi.  xxx,  fig.  1.  Gibbes,  Proc 
Am.  Assoc.  Adv.  Sci.  1850,  p  172.  Stimpson,  Notes  on  N.  American 
Crust.,  p.  55. 

A  young  example,  one  inch  long,  of  this  well-known  species,  occurred  in 
rather  dee])  water.     It  had  previously  been  found  only  about  low-water 

VOL.    II.  8 


114  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

mark.  In  the  young,  the  horns  of  the  rostrum  are  more  divergent  than  in 
the  adult,  and  the  anterior  branchial  spine  is  smaller.  The  feet  are  pro- 
vided with  a  few  long,  thick  hairs  not  found  in  the  adult. 

Off  the  Quicksands,  January  23,  1809.     Cast  No.  1.     34  fathoms. 

Tiarinia  setirostris  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  narrow,  with  perpendicular  sides.  The  greatest  breadth, 
which  is  at  the  posterior  fourth  of  the  post-frontal  length,  is  only  one 
fourth  greater  than  the  transorbital  breadth.  The  upper  surface  is  naked, 
and  bears  a  few  small  tubercles,  of  which  three,  in  a  median  line  on  the 
posterior  half  of  the  carapax,  are  larger  than  the  others.  The  posterior 
tubercle,  on  the  intestinal  region,  is  spiniform  and  curved  upward.  Sides 
of  the  carapax  somewhat  setose.  Rostrum  half  as  long  as  the  post-frontal 
part  of  the  carapax,  with  the  horns  slightly  gaping  near  the  base,  but  con- 
tiguous for  the  remainder  of  their  length,  very  slender,  setiform,  and  setose. 
External  antennae  as  long  as  the  rostrum  ;  basal  joint  concave,  without 
any  spine  at  the  antero-external  angle  ;  flagellum  long,  hair-like.  Cheli- 
peds  in  the  male  large,  longer  than  the  carapax  including  the  rostrum  ; 
hand  somewhat  compressed,  granulated  above  ;  fingers  very  short,  widely 
gaping.  Ambulatory  feet  long,  slender,  and  smooth  ;  those  of  the  first 
pair  nearly  as  long  as  the  chelipeds. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  specimen  :  Length  of  carapax,  0.82  ;  breadth, 
0.35  inch. 

This  species  differs  much  from  the  typical  Tiariniac  in  the  great  length, 
slenderness,  and  smoothness  of  its  ambulatory  feet,  and  future  investiga- 
tions, on  more  abundant  materials,  than  those  at  present  available,  may 
prove  it  to  be  generically  distinct;  in  which  case  I  would  propose  for  it 
the  name  Leptopisa. 

The  Tiariniae  hitherto  described  all  belong  to  the  Indo-Paeific  fauna, 
living  chiefly  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Japanese  Archipelago,  in  the 
seas  of  Sulu  and  the  Philippines,  Nicobar,  etc.  Of  these  species  our 
Florida  form  approaches  nearest  to  T.  anrjusta  Dana,  which  it  resembles 
in  the  narrowness  of  the  carapax,  but  from  which  it  is  at  once  distinguished 
"by  the  less  tuberculated  carapax  and  slender  feet. 

It  was  taken  at  the  following  points  :  — 

Key  West,  2  to  5  fathoms. 

Near  the  Tortngas,  9  fathoms. 

On  the  Fishing  Ranks,  S.  W.  of  Loggerhead  Key. 

Subfamily  NAXIINAE. 

The  characters  of  the  orbital  region  in  Chorinus  are  so  different  from 
those  of  Naxia  and  its  allies  as  to  forbid  its  being  placed  in  the  same  sub- 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  115 

family  with  the  latter  group,  for  which  the  name  Naxiinae  is  here  proposed. 
The  deep  notch  on  the  upper  side  of  the  orbit  is  here  a  constant  char- 
acter. 

Scyra  umbonata  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  triangular,  with  six  large  flat-topped  protuberances  on  the 
nppcr  surface ;  one  on  the  posterior  part  of  the  gastric  region,  one  on  the 
cardiac,  and  two  on  each  branchial  region-  On  the  outer  side  of  the 
branchial  region  there  is  also  an  acute  triangular  tooth,  pointing  forward 
and  outward,  and  of  similar  character  and  nearly  as  large  as  the  other 
protuberances  just  described.  They  aie  all  not  only  flattened,  but  some- 
what expanded  at  the  top.  Their  summits  are  naked,  but  the  deep  chan- 
nels between  them  are  pubescent.  Besides  the  above  there  are  on  the 
carapax  three  small  tubercles  on  the  gastric  and  a  strong  erect  tooth  on 
each  hepatic  region.  The  gastric  and  the  sides  of  the  branchial  regions 
are  hairy.  The  rostrum  is  rather  longer  than  the  interorbital  width  of 
the  carapax  ;  it  is  hairy  above,  and  is  neither  flattened  nor  expanded.  The 
movable  part  of  the  external  antennae  has  cylindrical  joints.  The  meros- 
joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  is  not  notched  for  the  reception  of  the 
palpus.  Abdomen  and  sternum  pubescent.  Sternum  of  the  male  with 
deep  excavations  between  the  segments,  the  excavations  being  broader 
than  the  i-idges  separating  them. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  :  Length  of  carapax,  0.94  ;  breadth,  measured 
between  the  tips  of  the  branchial  teeth,  0.72  inch. 

The  species  of  Scyra  heretofore  known  are  but  two  in  number,  and  in- 
habit waters  of  moderate  depth  on  the  shores  of  the  North  Pacific  Ocean, 
one  on  the  coast  of  California  and  Oregon,  the  other  on  that  of  Japan.  The 
present  species  was  placed  in  the  genus  with  some  doubt,  on  account  of 
tin'  character  of  the  rostrum,  the  external  antennae,  and  the  outer  maxilli- 
peds which,  as  may  be  noticed  by  the  description,  differ  somewhat  from 
those  of'  the  type,  S.  acutifrons.  The  resemblance  in  all  other  essential 
characters  is,  however,  very  great ;  and  in  the  present  state  of  our  knowl- 
edge, the  Florida  species  ought  not  to  be  separated  as  the  type  of  a  distinct 
genus. 

It  is  an  inhabitant  of  deep  water,  as  follows  :  — 

Off  Sand  Key,  May  11,  1868.     Cast  No.  15.     143  fathoms. 

Subfamily    OTHONIINAE. 

The  Othoniinae  are  characterized  by  great  orbito-frontal  breadth,  a 
small,  short  rostrum,  an  extremely  short  epistome,  and  gaping  external 
maxillipeds.  The  orbits  are  tubular  like  those  of  the  Pericerinae  but  are 
directed  forwards  instead  of  outwards. 


116  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Othonia  aculeata  Stm. 
Hi/as  aculeala  Gibbes,  Proc.  Am.  Assoc.  Adv.  Sci.,  1850,  p.  171. 
Othonia  aculeata  Sti.mpson,  Notes  on  N.  American  Crust.,  p.  .3. 
Othonia  Lherminieri  Desbonne  et  Schramm,  Crust,  de  la  Guadeloupe,  p.  20. 
The  specimens  in  the  collection   are  all  young,  and  occurred  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

At  Key  West,  2  to  5  fathoms. 

At  the  Tortugas,  5  to  6  fathoms. 

Off  the  Tortugas,  January  29,  1868,  in  13  fathoms. 

Subfamily   MITHRAC1NAE. 

Mithrax  hispidus  H.  M.-Edw. 

Cancer  hispidus  Herbst,  Naturg.  d.  Krabben  u.  Krehse,  pi.  xviii,  fig.  100. 

Maia  spinicincta  Lamarck,  Anim.  sans  Vert.,  V,  241. 

Mithrax  spinicinctus  Desmakkst,  Consid.   sur  les  Crust.,   p.    150;    pi.  xxiii, 

figs.  1,2. 
Mtthrax  hispidus  H.  Mi lne-Ed wards,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Crust.,  I,  .522.     Gibbks, 

Proc.    Am.    Assoc.   Adv.   Sci.,    1850,   p.  172.     Stimpson,    Notes  on   N. 

American  Crust.,  p.  60.     Smith,  Trans.  Connecticut   Acad,  of  Arts  and 

Sciences,  II,  2,  32. 
This  well-known  species  occurred  at  Key  West,  in  from  2  to  5  fathoms. 

Mithrax  pleuracanthus  nov.  sp. 

This  is  closely  allied  to  J/,  hispidus,  but  is  a  smaller  species,  with  a 
somewhat  narrower  carapax.  The  protuberances  of  the  carapax,  and  the 
teeth  or  spines  of  the  orbits  and  the  basal  joint  of  the  antenna;,  are 
sharper  and  more  prominent,  and  there  are  small  tubercles  on  the  intes- 
tinal, branchial,  and  hepatic  regions  which  do  not  occur  in  .1/.  hispidus. 
The  minute  punctures  of  the  surface  are  less  apparent  than  in  that 
species. 

The  dimensions  of  a  male;  specimen  are  :  Length  of  the  carapax,  0.57  ; 
breadth,  0.55  inch;   proportion  of  length  to  breadth,  1  :  0.965. 

This  sjieeies  ean  scarcely  lie  I  be  .1/.  affinis  of  Desbonne  and  Schramm 
(Crust  de  la  Guadeloupe,  ]>.  10),  the  description  of  which  applies  to  it  in 
most  respects,  for  those  authors  state  that  the  front,  rostrum,  and  orbits 
are  like  those  of  Mithraculus  sculptus. 

Tt  occurred  at  Key  West  in  from  2  to  5  fathoms,  and  at  the  Tortugas  in 
5  to  6  fathoms.  There  is  in  the  Smithsonian  Collection  a  specimen  taken 
at  St.  Thomas  by  A.  II.  Riise,  Esq. 

Mithrax  acuticornis  nov.  sp. 
Carapax  much  longer  than    broad,  and    tuberculated,  sparsely  on  the 
gastric  region  but  more  closely  posteriorly  and  at  the  sides,  the  tubercles 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  117 

becoming  spiniform  toward  the  margins,  which  arc  armed  with  true  spines 
curving  forward  at  their  tips.  Rostrum  half  as  long  as  the  interorbital 
width,  and  consisting  of  two  rather  slender,  acute  horns.  Basal  joinl  of 
the  external  antennae  armed  with  two  spines,  the  anterior  one  of  which  is 
slender,  curved,  and  two  thirds  as  long  as  the  rostrum.  The  margin  of 
the  orbit  is  armed  with  six  spiniform  teeth,  not  including  those  of  the 
antenna]  joint.  The  feet  are  strongly  spinose  above,  but  the  hands  are 
unarmed.  The  color  in  wet  specimens,  and  probably  in  life,  is  a  bright 
deep  red. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  :  Length  of  carapax,  o.7;j  ;  breadth,  0.55  inch  ;  pro- 
portion,  1  :  <».7o3. 

This  species  approaches  Sckizophrys  in  the  shape  of  it-  carapax,  which 
is  much  more  oblong  than  in  other  species  of  the  genus  in  which  I  have 
placed  it:  but  the  rostrum  i-  simply  two-horned,  and  the  orbit-  are  similar 
to  those  of  the  typical  forms  of  Mithrax. 

Off  the  Quicksands,      January  23,  1869.     Cast  No.     1.     34  fathoms. 
West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  16,  1869.     Cast  No.    8.     37 
West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  10,  1869.     Cast  No.  12.     42        " 

Mithrax  Holderi  now  sp. 

This  species  resembles  .1/.  acuticornis  in  the  characters  of  the  front,  but 
the  carapax  is  broader  and  more  strongly  and  closely  tuberculated,  the 
tubercles  occupying  nearly  the  whole  upper  surface,  causing  it  to  resemble 
that  of  Tinr'ini<i  cornirjera.  There  i-  a  small  spine  on  the  hepatic  region 
and  one  at  the  lateral  extremit.3  of  the  branchial  region.  The  anterior 
spine  of  the  basal  joint  of  the  antenna1  is  nearly  as  long  as  the  rostrum, 
and  there  is  another  -p  ne,  very  small,  at  the  insertion  of  the  movable 
part  nt'  the  antenna.  The  ambulatory  feet  are  flattened  above,  giving  the 
joint-  a  somewhat  trigonal  form,  and  both  margins  of  their  upper  surface 
are  spinulose  ami  ciliated. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  :  Length  of  the  carapax,  0.55  ;  breadth.  0.48  inch; 
proportion,  1  :  0.872. 

This  species  occurred  at  the  Tortugas  in  7  fathoms  It  is  named  in 
compliment  to  Dr.  .1.  B.  Holder,  who  found  it,  also  at  the  Tortugas,  and  I 
believe  at  low-watei  mark,  several  years  ago.  Dr.  Holder's  specimen  is  in 
the'  Museum  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

Mithraeulus  sculpms  Stm. 
Maia  sculpta  Lam  \i:<  k,  Anim.  sans  Vert,  V,  242. 
Mithrax  sculptus  II.  Milne-Edwards,  Ili-t.  Nat  des  Crust.,  I,  322.     Gibbes, 

Proc.  Am.  Assoc.  Adv.  Sci.,  1850,  p.  172.     Desbonne  et  Schramm,  Crust. 

i|e  la  Guadeloupe,  p.  9. 
Mithraeulus  sculptus  Stimfsox,  Notes  on  N.  American  Crust.,  p.  58. 


118  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Key  West,  2  to  5  fathoms. 

Tortugas,  5  to  6        " 

\  Off  the  Samboes,      123 

This  well-known  species  is  (bund  throughout  the  West  Indian  seas,  and 
is  very  abundant  on  the  reefs  at  and  abov.e  low-water  mark.  I  have 
queried  the  depth  123  fathoms,  fearing  that  some  accidental  transposition 
of  labels  has  taken  place,  as  the  Milhracuh  are  eminently  littoral  in  their 
habits,  and  the  specimen  so  labelled  is  a  full-grown  male,  similar  in  all 
respects  to  those  found  on  the  shores. 

Mithraculus  ruber  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  subtriangular,  one  fifth  broader  than  long.  Surface  naked. 
polished,  and  uneven,  luit  with  the  protuberances  less  numerous  and 
smaller  than  in  M.  sculptus  and  .1/.  coronatus.  These  protuberances  are 
also  rounded,  and  not  elongated  as  in  the  allied  species,  and  some  of 
them  are  sparsely  tuberculatcd.  Antero-lateral  margin  armed  with  three 
teeth,  besides  the  angle  of  the  orbit,  the  posterior  tooth  being  sharp,  spini- 
fbrm,  and  curving  forward,  the  other  two  teeth  tuberculiform  ;  the  middle 
tooth  is  composed  of  two  tubercles,  and  there  is  a  small  tubercle  between 
it  and  the  posterior  tooth.  Behind  the  posterior  tooth  there  is  a  small 
sharp  tubercle  on  the  postero-lateral  margin.  The  meros-joinl  of  the  outer 
maxillipeds  is  slightly  sinuous  in  front,  showing  a  faint  indication  of  a 
notch.  Chelipeds  rather  lofig  and  slender;  meros  armed  above  with  six 
small,  conical,  equal  tubercles;  carpus  and  hand  smooth.  Ambulator) 
feel  cylindrical,  densely  short-hairy  above  (hairs  simple);  they  are  also 
spinulose  above,  the  spines  being  scattered  in  two  rows.  Color  of  the 
carapax  chestnut  red,  with  some  bluish  posteriorly. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  the  carapax.  0.48  ;  breadth,  0.60  inch; 
proportion,  1  :   1 .25. 

It  differs  from  M.sculpfus,  M.  cinctimanus,  ami  M.  minutus  in  its  broader 
carapax,  etc.,  and  from  .1/.  coronatus  in  its  spinifbrm  lateral  tooth  and  in 
the  character  of  the  surface  of  the  carapax. 

Found  on  the  reef  at  Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba. 

Mithraculus  coronatus  Stm. 
Cancer  coronatus   Ili.i.msi ,  Naturg.  d.   Krabben   und   Krebse,  I.  184;   pi.   xi, 

ti-.  6  I 

Mithraculus  coronatus  White,  Brit.  Mas.  Cat.  Crust.,  p.  7  Cpartim).     Stimp- 
son,  Notes  mi  N.  American  Crust.,  p.  58.     Smith,  Trans.  Conn.  Acad,  of 
Arts  and  Sciences,  II,  2. 
It  is  somewhal   doubtful  whether  this  is  really  the  Cancer  coronatus  of 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  119 

Herbs!      He  refers  to  Seba,  |>1    xxii,  fig.  6.    Seba's  fig.  22  of  pi.  xix  is  a 
better  representation  of  the  species  under  consideration. 

Littoral  on  the  reef  at  Eastern  Dry  Rocks. 
Reef  at  Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba. 
Key  West,  in  2  to  5  fathoms 

Family    TYCHIDAE. 

Subfamily  TYCHINAE. 

Tyche  einarginata  White. 
Tyche  einarginata   White,   Annals   and   Magazine  of  Natural  History,   First 

Series,  Vol    XX.  p.  206. 
Platyrinchwi  Iritnbercuhitus  Desbonxe  et  Schramm,  Crust,  de  la  Guadeloupe 

p.  :i  ;  pi.  iii,  ligs.  T  and  8. 

The  curious  genus  Tyche  is  so  little  known  that  a  short  description  of 
the  crab  under  consideration  may  not  be  out  of  place  here.  The  carapax 
is  flattened  and  partly  concave  above,  and  has  laniinilbnn  expansions  in 
front  and  behind.  The  frontal  region  is  very  broad,  the  transorbital  width 
nearly  equalling  that  across  the  branchial  regions.  The  hepatic  region  is 
concave.  Rostrum  rather  long,  forked  from  the  base  ;  horns  widely  diver- 
pent.  Prajorbital  spines  very  long,  and  somewhat  divergent,  thus,  with 
the  rostrum,  giving  the  entire  front  a  tour-horned  form.  External  antenna' 
concealed  beneath  the  rostrum.  Eyes  long  but  reaching  scarcely  beyond 
the  edge  of  the  expanded  orbit. d  margin,  which  is  entire,  without  nop  h  or 

oolll. 

The  external  maxillipeds  are  very  remarkable  in  form,  the  exognath 
having  a  hook-shaped  process  at  the  base,  which  nveTaps  the  base  of  the 
ischiuin-joinl  of  the  endognath.  The  meros-joint  of  the  endognath  has  ;l. 
posterior  lobe  which  projects  fir  into  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  ischium. 

This  crab  was  found  by  the  expedition  at  Key  West  in  2  to  .">  fathoms, 
and  al  the  Tortugas  in  7  fathoms. 

Family   EURYPODIIDAE. 

Among  tin1  general  characters  of  this  family,  the  existence  of  a  distinct 
orbital  arch  over  the  base  of  the  eye,  and  of  a  postocular  spine,  seem  to  be 
the  most  important. 

Subfamily    COLLODIjSTAE. 

'I  his  name  is  proposed  for  a  group  nfgi  nera  of  Eurypodiidae  character- 
ized by  the  extreme  shortness  of  the  rostrum,  which  group  is.  as  far  as 
known,  peculiar  to  the  tropical  parts  of  the  American  sea-,  and  occurs  on 
both  sides  of  the  continent. 


120  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Collodes  trispinosus  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  ovate-triangular,  hah-)',  and  everywhere  covered  with  small 
granulated  tubercles,  except  on  the  front  and  the  anterior  portion  of  the 
gastric  region.  There  is  an  erect,  capitate  spine  on  the  gastric,  one  on  the 
cardiac  region,  and  one  of  equal  size  on  the  basal  joint  of  the  abdomen. 
Rostrum  with  two  minute  horns.  Four  minute  spines  on  the  basal  joint 
of  the  antennae,  the  anterior  one  of  which  is  placed  nearly  on  a  level 
with  the  horns  of  the  rostrum.  Ambulatory  feet  long,  and  provided  with 
long  stiff  hairs ;  hairs  of  the  penult  joint  below  straight  and  above  hook- 
like and  often  serrated  on  the  inner  side  near  the  tip.  Dactyli  of  the  am- 
bulatory feet  about  as  long  as  the  penult  joint. 

In  the  male  of  this  species  the  carapax  is  somewhat  more  elongated  and 
depressed  than  in  the  female ;  the  hands  are  of  moderate  size  only,  and 
much  curved  inward  ;  fingers  nearly  as  long  as  palm  and  gaping,  with  a 
tooth  inside  on  the  middle  of  the  thumb.  Abdomen  of  the  male  elongate 
triangular ;  intromittent  organs  nearly  straight,  simple,  reaching  nearly  to 
the  extremity  of  the  abdomen. 

All  the  specimens  examined  were  covered  with  a  thick  coating  of  mud, 
held  by  the  setae. 

The  dimensions  of  a  female  specimen  are  :  Length  of  the  carapax,  0.41  ; 
breadth,  0.32  inch. 

The  only  species  hitherto  known  of  this  genus  is  the  C.  granosus  of  the 
west  coast  of  North  America,  described  by  me  in  "  Notes  on  North  Ameri- 
can Crustacea,"  page  66  (Annals  of  the  New  York  Lyceum  of  Natural 
History,  Vol.  VII,  p.  194),  from  which  the  species  under  consideration 
differs  in  its  more  elongated  carapax,  which  is  more  completely  covered 
with  granulated  tubercles,  and  in  the  somewhat  greater  length  of  (he 
rostral  horns  and  the  spines  on  the  basal  joint  of  the  antennae.  It  is 
proper  to  state  that  of  C.  granosus  only  a  single  (female)  specimen  is  as 
yet  known. 

The  species  occurred  as  follows  :  — 

Off  the  Quicksands,  January  23,  1869.     Cast  No.  1.     34  fathoms. 
OffCarysfort  Reef,   March  21,  1869.        Cast  No.  8.     35 
Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1860.        Cast  No.  7.     40 
Off  French  Reef,       April  3,  1869.  Cast  No.  4.     50 

Collodes  nudus  nov.  sp 
Allied  to  C.  granosus  and  C.  trispinosus,  having  three  spines  on  the  back 
similar  in  shape  and  position  to  those  of  those  species.  It  differs  from 
them,  however,  in  its  naked  carapax  and  feet,  and  in  the  less  numer- 
ous and  prominent  granulated  tubercles  of  the  dorsal  surface.  The  carapax 
is  also  much  broader  anteriorly. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  121 

The  ambulatory  feet  of  the  second  pair  are  rather  longer  than  those  of 
the  first  pair.  The  dactyli  of  the  ambulatory  feet  are  armed  with  spines 
along  the  inner  edge. 

The  dimensions  of  the  single  specimen  found,  a  male,  are  as  follows : 
Length  of  carapax,  0.24  ;  breadth,  0.18  ;  length  of  ambulatory  foot  of  the 
first  pair,  0.45  inch. 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  I860.     Cast  No.  7.     40  fathoms. 

Arachnopsis  nov.  <;en. 

Carapax  oblong,  narrow,  and  somewhat  truncated  in  front.  Rostrum  short, 
bifid.  Orbital  arch  high,  protuberant.  Postocular  spine  long,  and  separated 
from  the  orbital  arch  by  a  dee]),  narrow  fissure.  Eye  long,  considerably 
overreaching  the  tip  of  the  postocular  spine,  but  capable  of  being  drawn 
back  beneath  it.  Basal  joint  of  the  external  antenna?  with  a  small,  sharp 
spine  at  the  extremity,  pointing  obliquely  tin-ward  and  outward,  between 
which  and  the  rostrum  the  movable  part  of  the  antenna  is  exposed,  and 
with  a  spinulous  crest  on  the  inferior  surface  extending  back  to  the  angle 
of  the  buccal  area.  Meros-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  broader  than 
long,  and  with  sharply  prominent  external  and  internal  anterior  angles. 
Ambulatory  feet  long,  filiform;  those  of  the  second  pair  longest  ;  dactyli 
straight,  acute,  and  nearly  as  long  as  the  penult   joint. 

This  genus  differs  from  Collodes  in  its  filiform  ambulatory  feet  and  long 
eye  peduncles. 

Arachnopsis  filipes  nov.  sp. 

Body  armed  above  with  three  erect,  slender,  blunt  spines,  one  on  the 
gastric  re  :"n,  one  on  the  cardiac  region,  and  one  on  the  basal  joint  of  the 
abdomen.  Abdominal  spine,  small ;  cardiae  and  gastric  spines  equal  and 
about  as  long  as  the  distance  between  the  orbital  arches.  Carapax  convex 
anteriorly,  and  flattened  posteriorly.  Surface  of  carapax  smooth  and 
glossy,  naked,  except  for  a  few  hairs  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  bran- 
chial, the  sides  of  the  gastric,  and  the  frontal  region.  Beneath,  the  sub- 
hepatic and  pterygostomian  regions  are  armed  with  spiniform  granules. 
Chelipeds  in  the  male  as  long  as  the  carapax  and  much  curved  ;  edges 
of  meros  and  carpus  spinulose;  hand  nearly  smooth ;  fingers  as  long  as  the 
palm.  Ambulatory  feet  spinulose  along  the  lower  edges  of  all  the  joints, 
except  the  dactyli;  those  of  the  second  pair  more  than  twice  as  long  as 
the  carapax.      Sternum,  abdomen,  and  external  maxillipeds  tuberculated. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  :  Length  of  carapax,  0.25  ;  breadth,  0.18  ;  length 
of  ambulatory  foot  of  first  pair.  0.5  inch. 

Off  Conch  Reef,        May  11,  1869.         Cast  No.  2.     34  fathoms. 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  18(59.     Cast  No.  7.     40 

Off  French  Reef,      March  21,  1869.     Cast  No.  2.     45        " 


122  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Batrachonotus  nov.  gen. 

Carapax  triangular,  broadly  expanded  behind  :  surface  rough  with  gran- 
ulations :  gastric,  cardiac,  and  branchial  regions  strongly  protuberanl  ;  cer- 
vical depressions  deep  and  broad,  giving  the  carapax  a  superior  outline 
mucb  like  thai  of  a  frog's  back.  Rostrum  very  short,  not  extending  beyond 
the  walls  of  the  antennulary  fossa?,  rounded  in  outline,  and  slightly  emargi- 
nated  at  the  middle.  Basal  joint  of  the  external  antenna?  with  a  small 
tooth  or  spine  on  the  (inter  margin,  but  none  at  the  anterior  extremity. 
No  spine  on  the  orbital  arch.  Post-ocular  spine  minute.  Meros-joint  of 
the  external  maxillipeds  broad,  with  prominent  external  and  internal 
anterior  angles.  Ambulatory  feet  simple;  those  of  the  fust  pair  dispro- 
portionately long,  nearly  twice  as  long  as  those  of  the  second  pair;  those 
of  the  posterior  pairs  very  short.  Dactyli  of  ambulatory  feet  rather  long. 
Abdomen  very  narrow  at  base. 

It  differs  from  the  other  genera  of  Collodinae,  among  other  characters,  in 
the  want  of  a  terminal  spine  on  the  basal  joint  of  tin-  antenna',  and  in  its 
very  long  anterior  and  short  posterior  ambulatory  feet. 

Batrachonotus  fragosus  nov.  sp. 

The  following  description  i>  licit  of  a  male.  Body  and  feet  naked.  On 
each  of  the  protuberant  regions  of  the  carapax  there  are  one  or  two  large 
and  many  smaller  rounded  tubercles  or  granules.  A  strong  tubercle  on 
the  basal  joint  of  the  abdomi  n.  A  sharp  tubercle  on  the  subhepatic,  and 
one  on  the  pterygostomian  region.  Sternum  regularly  granulated.  Cheli- 
peds  as  long  as  the  carapax.  and  sparsely  granulated  within;  ischium  with 
an  erect  spine  at  the  summit;  hand  unarmed:  fingers  toothed  and  slightly 
gaping.  Ambulatory  feet  of  the  firsl  pair  about  three  times  as  Ion-- as  the 
carapax. 

Color  of  the  body  in  the  alcoholic  specimen  whitish,  or  pale  flesh-color, 
variegated  with  purplish. 

Of  this  species  we  find  in  the  collection  only  one  specimen,  a  male,  the 
dimensions  of  which  are:  Length  of  the  carapax,  0.2S;  breadth,  0.245; 
length  of  ambulatory  feel  of  the  first  pan-,  0.80  inch. 

The  specimen  was  taken  in  X.  I. at.  24°  36'  10",  \V.  Lou-.  *:)°  2'  20",  on 
the  22d  of  January,  L868.     Cast  Xo.  3.      Depth  16  fathoms. 

Euprognatka  nov.  gen. 

Carapax  pyriform.  Rostrum  short,  trifid,  the  median  horn  being  the 
interantennular  spine,  which  point-  foi  ward  and  downward  at  a  much  lower 
level  than  that  of  the  other  two  horns,  which  are  minute  and  divergent. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  123 

B;isal  joint  of  the  external  antennae  armed  at  the  anterior  extremity  with 
a  slender  spine  reaching  forward  as  far  as  do  the  rostral  horns;  movable 
part  nt'  tlif  antennae  exposed  from  its  insertion.  An  ered  spine  on  the 
orbital  arch.  Eye  large;  peduncle  short.  Post-ocular  spine  reaching  be- 
yond the  extremity  of  the  eye.  Meros-joinl  of  the  external  maxillipeds 
somewhat  L-shaped,  strongly  produced  beyond  the  insertion  of  the  palpus 
in  fronl  and  at  the  postero-interior  angle.  Feet  long  and  slender.  Penult 
joint  of  the  ambulatory  feet  of  the  first  pair  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the 
dactyli,  and  three  times  as  long  as  the  antepenult  i> >in t . 

This  genus  differs  from  all  the  other  genera  of  Collodinae  in  its  interan- 
tenular  spine  and  the  spine  on  the  orbital  arch,  and  especiallyin  the  shape 
of  the  meros-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds. 


Euprognatha  rastellifera  nov.  sp. 

The  following  description  is  that  of  a  male.  Carapax  naked,  with  the 
regions  well  denned,  and  minutely  and  irregularly  granulated.  There  is  a 
single,  erect,  blunt,  almost  capitate  spine  on  the  gastric,  the  cardiac,  and 
each  branchial  region  making  four  in  all,  and  there  are  a  few  smaller 
spines  on  the  sides  of  the  branchial,  and  on  the  hepatic  and  pterygosto- 
inian  regions.  There  is  also  a  small  spine  on  the  basal  joint  of  the  abdo- 
men. The  intcrantennular  spine  projects  somewhat  beyond  the  other 
tbnr  spines  of  the  front,  which  reach  to  the  same  vertical  plane.  The 
chelipeds  are  large,  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  carapax:  hand  swollen: 
fingers  not  gaping.  Ambulatory  feel  of  the  first  pair  nearly  one  third 
longer  than  the  chelipeds.  The  ambulatory  feet  are  naked  (except  in 
bearing  a  few  minute  curled  seta-  above),  and  rough  with  minute  spines. 
The  sternum  is  regularly  granulated,  except  on  the  concave  portion  be- 
tween the  chelipeds. 

Dimensions:  Length  of  carapax,  0.32;  breadth,  0.23;  length  of  ambula- 
tory foot  of  the  first  pair,  0.7U  inch. 

This  crab  is  an  inhabitant  of  deep  water,  ranging  from  80  to  138  fathoms, 
and  occurred  in  considerable  abundance,  as  follows:  — 

Off  the  Samboes,      May  9.  '         No.    5.  80  fathoms. 

Off  Alligator  Reef,    May  8,  1869.  Cast  No.    6.  88 

Off  Sand  Key,           May  16,    1868.  Cast  No.    2.  120         " 

Off  the  Samboes,      May  9,    1868.  Cast  No.  12.  123 

S.  W.  of  Sand  Key,  February  17,  1869.  Cast  No.    2.  125         " 

Off  Boca  Grande,      February  15,  1869.  Cast  No.    5.  1l>."> 

Off  Sand  Key,          May  11,   1868.  Cast  No.  II.  128        " 

S   W.  of  Sand  Kev,  February    17.  I HG9.  Cast  No.    3.  138         " 


124  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Subfamily   AMATHIINAE. 

The  only  species  of  this  group  hitherto  known  is  the  Amatkia  Rissoana 
of  the  Mediterranean  Sea.     Two  species  are  now  added,  as  lbllows  :  — 

Amathia  hystrix  nov.  sp. 

This  species  lias  a  close  resemblance  to  .1.  Rissoana,  but  differs  in  having 
four  instead  of  three  spines  on  the  gastric  region. 

The  dimensions  of  a  male  specimen  are  as  follow?  :  Length  of  carapax, 
including  the  rostrum,  L.23;  excluding  rostrum,  0.7]  ;  breadth,  including 
lateral  spines,  0.5)5;  excluding  these  .-pines,  U  4<S  inch. 

Off  Sand  Key,  May  11,  1869.     Cast  No.  ltl.     138  fathoms. 

Amathia  modesta  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  armed  with  twelve  spines  shorter  than  in  the  other  species  of 
the  genus,  the  two  on  the  gastric  region  being  in  fact  only  spiniforin  tuber- 
cles. The  lateral  and  posterior  spines  are  longest,  that  on  the  outer  ex- 
tremity of  the  branchial  region  equalling  in  length  one  fifth  the  width  of 
the  carapax.  Rostrum  nearly  as  long  as  the  post-frontal  part  of  the 
earapax;  horns  rather  stout,  divergent,  and  curving  outward  at  the  tips. 
The  spine  before  the  eye  is  small,  and  that  behind  still  smaller.  No  trace 
of  a  spine  at  the  anterior  angles  of  the  buccal  area.  Feet  somewhat 
shorter  than  in  the  oilier  two  species,  and  with  no  trace  of  a  spine  at  the 
summit  of  the  meros-joint. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax.  rostrum  and  posterior  spine 
included,  0.84  ;  from  base  of  rostral  horns  to  tip  of  posterior  spine,  0.54  ; 
breadth  of  earapax,  including  spines.  0.50;  excluding  spines,  0.36  ;  length 
of  ambulatory  foot  of  the  first  pair,  0.95  inch. 

Taken  off  Sand  Key  in  120  fathoms. 

s,  BFAMH.Y    ANOMALOPINAE. 

This  group  is  indicated  for  the  reception  of  the  genus  Anomalopus,  now 
for  the  first  time  described,  with  a  single  species.  The  crab  differs  from  all 
other  Maioids  in  its  elongated,  subcylindrical  carapax,  and  in  the  character 
of  its  ambulatory  feet  ;  those  of  the  posterior  pair  being  larger  than  those 
of  the  penult  pair.  The  orbital  arch  is  less  distinct  than  in  other  Eury- 
podiidae,  and  the  post-ocular  spine  much  smaller. 

Anomalopus  nov.  gen, 

Carapax  verv  much  elongated,  almost  subcylindrical;  rostrum  very  long, 
slender,  bifid.     Eyes  without  orbits  ;  prajorbital  spine  small,  acute  ;   post- 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  12o 

ocular  spine  minute.  External  antenna'  exposed  from  above;  basal  joint 
narrow.  Antennulary  fossa1  lame.  Epistoine  two  thirds  as  long  as  it  is 
broad.  Meros-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  without  any  notch  at  the 
interior  angle  when.'  the  palpus  is  inserted;  external  angle  sharply  prom- 
inent. Chelipeds  in  the  female  shorter  than  the  carapax.  Ambulatory 
feel  of  the  first  pair  very  long,  twice  as  long  as  the  carapax,  with  the 
dactylus  nearly  straight,  and  three  fourths  as  long  as  the  penult  joint. 
Ambulatory  feet  of  the  posterior  two  pairs  shorter  and  stouter  than  those 
of  the  anterior  two.  and  with  prehensile  extremities;  those  of  the  penult 
pair  shorter  than  those  of  the  last  pair. 

Anomalopus  furcillatus  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  minutely  pubescent,  unarmed  except  in  front,  regions  scarcely 
defined.  Rostrum  equalling  in  length  two  thirds  that  of  the  post-frontal 
pari  of  the  carapax,  forked  in  the  terminal  half  of  its  length;  horns  but 
slightly  divergent.  External  antenna'  much  shorter  than  the  rostrum; 
flagellum  as  long  as  the  two  joints  preceding  it  taken  together.  Anten- 
liuhc  reaching  to  the  extremity  of  the  peduncle  of  the  antenna'.  Cheli- 
peds with  a  small  spine  on  the  outer  side  of  the  carpus;  hand  very  small; 
fingers  half  as  long  as  the  palm  and  much  gaping. 

Dimensions  of  a  female;  Length  of  carapax  0.67;  breadth,  0.25; 
length  of  ambulatory  foot  of  the  first  pair,  1.50;  of  the  third  pair,  0.48  ; 
of  the  fourth  pair.  0.82  inch. 

Of  this  species  I  find  hut  one  specimen  in  the  collection,  a  female,  which 
wa-  taken  at  the  depth  of  123  fathoms  off  "The  Samboes." 

Family    LEPTOPODIIDAE. 
This  family  is  characterized  by  an  entire  want    of  orbits  and   of  a  true 
post-ocular  spine,  and  by  the  great  length  of  the  feet. 

Subfamily    LEPTOPODIIXAE. 

Leptopodia  sagittaria  Leach. 

Cancer  Sagittarius  Fabrii  us,  Em.  Svst.,  II,  -142. 

Inachus  Sagittarius  Fabricius,  Suppl.  Ent    Syst.,  p.  359. 

Cancer  sc-ticornis  Herbst,  Naturg.  d.  Krabben  a.  Krehse,  III,  pi.  lv,  fig.  2. 

Leptopodia  sagittaria  Leach,  Zool.  Misc.,  II.  pi.  lxvii.  Latreille,  Encyc. 
Meth.  pi.  ecxcix,  fi--.  1.  Des.ua rest,  Consid.  snr  !es  Crust.,  pi.  xvi, 
li--.  _'.  Guerih,  Iconographie  da  Rcgne  Anim.,  Crust.,  pi  \i,  fig.  4. 
II.  Milne-Edwards,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Crust.,  I,  276  ;  pi.  xv,  fig.  14.  1! lust. 
Cuv.  Regne  Anim.,  Crust.,  pi.  xxxvi.  Gibbes,  I'roc.  Am.  Assoc,  1850, 
p.  169.     Desboxne  et  Schramm,  Crust,  de  la  Guadeloupe,  p.  1. 


12»>  BULLETIN    OK    IIIK 

This  crab,  which  has  hitherto  been  found  in  shallow  waters,  bul  never, 
as  far  as  1  am  aware,  above  low-water  mark,  occurred  to  the  expedition  at 
the  following  points  and  depths  :  — 

South  of  the  Tortugas,        January  15,  1869.  Cast  No.  3.  17  fathoms. 

Off  Conch  Reef,                    May  11,  1869.  Cast  No.  1.  •■!() 

Santarem  Channel,  at  the  edge  of  Bahama  Bank.  CastNo-.  ;s.">  " 

Off  French  Reef,                   March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  2.  45  " 

Subfamily  ACHAEINAE. 

Podoehela  maci'odera  Stm. 
Podochela  macrodera  StiiMpson,  Notes  on  N.  American  Crust.,  p.  68. 

Found  at  Key  West,  in  from  2  to  5  fathoms 

Podochela  gracilipes  nov.  sp. 

Closely  allied  to  P.  macrodera,  but  differs  in  its  narrower  body,  longer 
and  more  acute  rostrum,  and  longer  and  much  more  slender  feet.  The 
dactylus  of  the  first  pair  of  ambulatory  feet  is  exceedingly  slender  and 
longer  than  in  either  of  the  two  specie?  hitherto  known,  being  more  than 
one  third  as  long  as  the  penult  joint.  The  process  of  the  penult  joint  in 
the  other  ambulatory  feet  is  almost  entirely  obsolete. 

Dimensions  of  a  female:   Length  ofcarapax,  0.35;  breadth,  0.24  inch. 

Only  female  specimens  occur  in  the  collection. 

West  of  Tortugas,  January  16,  1867.  Cast  No.  5.  36  fathoms. 

Off  Pacific  Reef,  May  13,  1869.  Cast  No.  2.  49 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  31,  1869.  CastNo    I.  52 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  5.  60 

Podonema  nov.  gen. 
The  species  of  this  genus   I  formerly  included  under  Podochela  (Notes 
on  X.  American  Crust.,  p.  69),  but  the  study  of  several  species  which  have 

since  become  known  to  me  has  led  me  to  consider  it  distinct  in   the  h 1- 

shaped  rostrum,  and  in  the  existence  of  lamelliform  ridges  on  the  ptery- 
gostomian  regions,  defining  the  afferent  channels,  hike  Podochela,  tins 
genus  has  a  concave  posterior  margin  of  the  carapax. 

Podonema  Riisei  Sim. 
/'"-  Stimpsox,  Notes  on  N.  American  Crust.,  p   69 

A  female  specimen  of  this  species  was  taken  in  13  liithoms,  off"  the  Tor- 
tugas. 

Podonema  lamelligera  nov.  sp. 

The  following  description  is  that  of  a  female,  the  only  specimen  as  yet 


MUSEUM    OK    COMPARATIVE    ZOOLOGY  127 

found.  Carapax  similar  to  thai  of  P.  Riinei,  except  that  there  is  a  spini- 
form  tubercle,  curving  backward  at  tin-  tip,  on  the  gastric  region,  and  that 
the  rostrum  is  smaller  and  more  pointed.  The  two  marginal  lamellae  of 
the  basal  joint  of  the  external  antenna'  are  strongly  prominent,  joining 
each  other  in  Iron t,  and  curving  outward  at  the  posterior  extremity  On 
the  ischiiun-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  there  is  a  smooth  longitu- 
dinal channel,  defined  exteriorly  by  a  ciliated  r i < I l^ < ■ .  On  either  side  of 
the  buccai  area  there  ace  four  laminiform  crests ;  one  at  the  antero-exterior 
angle  of  the  area,  one  on  the  hepatic,  ami  two  on  the  pterygostomian 
region.  The  sternum,  where  not  covered  by  the  abdomen,  ami  the  bases 
ot'all  the  feet,  are  ornamented  with  cavities,  the  surface  of  each  joint  being 
concave  and  surrounded  l>\  a  raminiform  expansion. 

Dimensions  of  the  female  specimen:  Length  of  carapax,  0.44  ;  breadth, 
o.:;r  inch. 

It  was  taken  at  the  depth  of  21  fathoms,  oil  Tennessee  Reef,  on  the  7th 
of  May,  1869. 

Podonema  hypoglypha  now  sp. 

The  following  description  is  that  of  a  male.  Gastric,  cardiac,  and 
branchial  protuberances  low  and  rounded.  Rostrum  slightly  curved  up- 
ward, and  triangular  in  outline  when  seen  from  in  front  and  below,  but 
with  the  lateral  expansions  well  developed  The  basal  joint  of  the  ex- 
ternal antenna>  is  greatly  elongated,  and  the  laminiform  expansions  of  the 
margins  slight.  Hepatic  tooth  and  pterygostomian  ridges  moderately 
developed.  Sternum  with  deep  and  broad  channels  separating  the  seg- 
ments, which  have  each  a  corresponding  flattened  ridge  as  broad  as  the 
channel. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  specimen  :  Length  of  carapax,  0.63  :  breadth, 
0.48  inch. 

It  differs  from  P.  Riisei  in  the  shape  of  the  rostrum,  and  from  both 
Riitei  and  lamelligera  in  the  elongated  basal  joint  of  the  external  an- 
tennae. 

No  female  specimen  occurs  in  the  collection. 
Key  Wot,  in  4  to  5  fathoms. 
8.  W.  of  Loggerhead  Key,  in  9  fathoms. 

Family  AC'AXTIIOXYCIIIDAE. 
In  this  group  the  eye  i<  short,  in  some  genera  scarcely  movable,  and  in 
others  somewhat  retractile,  or  rather  capable  of  being  moved  in  a  horizonT 
tal  plane.  There  are  no  true  orbits,  but  in  many  genera  the  eye  lies 
beneath  the  expanded  orbital  margin  of  the  carapax.  which  has  frequently 
two   teeth,  one   before    and    one  behind  the  position  of  the  eye.      The  eye 


l'J8  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

is,  however,  never  concealed  by  these  expansions.  The  carapax  is  gen 
erally  flattened,  angular,  and  naked,  instead  of  subpyriform  and  spinous 
as  in  tlic  majority  of  Maioids      The  feel  arc  usually  short. 

It  is  necessary  to  reject  the  name  Periceridae,  which  was  applied  to  this 
group  by  Dana,  forin  the  genus  Pericera  the  eyes  are  completely  retractile, 
as  stated  on  a  previous  page.  The  genus  Acanthonyx  seems  tin'  most 
typical  of  the  group,  and  from  this  is  taken  the  name  adopted  above. 

Si  bfamily   EPIALTINAE. 

Epialtus  longirostris  Stm. 
Epialtus  longirostris  Stimpson,  Notes  on  \.  American  Crust.,  p.  71. 
Found  at  Key  West    in  from  2  to  .">  fathoms. 

Epialtus  affinis  Stm. 
Epialtus  affinis  Stimcson,  Notes  on  N    American  Crust.,  ]>.  3. 
Found  on  the  Reef  at  Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba. 

Mocosoa  nov.  gen. 

Carapax  subpentagonal,  tumid:  rostrum  subtriangular,  entire,  obtuse, 
excavated  below  ;  eyes  large,  immovable.  External  antennae  concealed 
beneath  the  rostrum  and  not  reaching  to  its  tip;  basal  joint  triangular, 
unarmed  in  front.  External  maxillipeds  very  broad  :  meros-joint  particu- 
larly short  ami  broad,  with  the  outer  angle  much  projecting  outward,  and 
the  inner  one  a  right  angle,  not  at  all  notched  lor  the  reception  of  the 
palpus. 

This  genus  differs  from  Epialtus  m  its  immovable  eyes,  which  resemble 
those  of  Hue.nia.  From  Huenia  it  differs  in  the  character  of  the  rostrum. 
The  name  adopted  for  the  genus  is  that  of  one  of  the  Florida  Caciques 
encountered  by  I V  SotO  in  his  inarch. 

Mocosoa  erebripunctata  nov.  sp. 

Upper  surface  of  carapax  everywhere  uniformly  punctate,  the  minute 
pits  being  equal  in  size  and  wider  than  the  interspaces.  Carapax  naked 
and  protuberant,  there  being  two  prominences  between  the  eyes  three  on 
the  gastric  region,  one  large  one  on  the  cardiac,  and  three  on  each  bran- 
chial region.  Of  the  three  branchial  protuberances  one  is  situated  at  the 
middle  of  the  region,  and  two  on  the  outer  margin,  the  posterior  one 
being  smallest  and  bearing  a  minute  blunt  -pine.  Feel  short  and  armed 
with  a  few  short,  hliuit  spines  chiefly  on  the  meros-joint. 

Body  <>f  a  strawberry  color:  upper  surface  of  carapax  iridescent. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  129 

Of  this  species  there  is  but  one  specimen  in  the  collection,  an  immature 
female,  the  dimensions  of  which  are:  Length  of  carapax,  0.20  ;  breadth, 

0.17  inch. 

It  was  taken  in  15  fathoms,  off  French  Reef,  April  3,  1869. 

Family    PARTHENOPIDAE. 

Subfamily   PARTHEN<  >PINAE. 

Lambrus  crenulatus  Sauss. 

Lambrus  crenulatus  Dr.  Saossure,  Crust.  Nouv.  du  Mexique  et  des  Antilles, 
p.  13  ;  pi.  i,  fig  4.  Stimpson,  Notes  on  N.  American  Crust.,  p.  73.  Des- 
boxxe  et  Schramm,  Crust,  de  la  Guadeloupe,  p.  21. 

This  species  is  remarkable  for  its  depressed  torm  and  the  excavation  of 
the  pSerygostomian  and  subhepatic  regions,  which  excavation  extends  to 
the  infero-exterior  margin  of  the  orbit,  forming,  when  the  chelipeds  are 
retracted,  covered  afferent  passages,  the  external  apertures  of  which  are 
seen  between  the  base  of  the  finger  of  the  cheliped  and  the  margin  of  the 
orbit.  Tins  arrangement  would  indicate  that  the  crab  habitually  conceals 
itself  in  the  sand,  with  the  rostrum,  eyes,  and  afferent  apertures  only  ex- 
posed. 

Lambrus  laciniatus  De  Ilaan  exhibits  the  same  features  in  a  less  marked 
degree,  and  the  two  species,  with  three  or  four  similar  forms,  comprise  a 
group  which  future  studies  may  prove  to  he  distinct  from  the  triangular 
Lambri,  and  for  which  the  name  Platylambrus  would  be  appropriate. 

Lambrus  crenulatus  was  taken  near  the  Tortugas  in  from  5  to  7  fathoms, 
and  off  Loggerhead  Key  in  13  fathoms. 

Lambrus  Pourtalesii  now  sp. 

Carapax  considerably  broader  than  long,  with  a  median  row  of  four 
spiniform  tubercles,  of  which  one  is  placed  upon  the  gastric  and  three  on 
the  cardiac  region.  In  front  of  the  tubercle  on  the  gastric  region  there 
are  two  much  smaller  ones  in  a  transverse  line.  The  oblique  ridge  on  the 
branchial  region  is  armed  with  three  unequal  tubercles,  and  a  strong, 
spiniform,  laciniated  tooth,  with  a  smaller  tooth  at  its  base,  at  the  margin  of 
the  carapax.  There  are  a  few  small,  scattering  tubercles  on  the  other  parts 
the  carapax,  particularly  in  the  hollows  between  the  branchial  and  cardiac 
regions.  The  depressions  between  the  branchial,  hepatic,  and  gastric  re- 
gions are  moderately  deep  The  general  surface  is  pitted  and  granulated, 
having  a  carious  appearance.  There  is  a  small  prominent  tooth  on  the 
hepatic  region.     Antero-lateral   margin,  behind   the  cervical  sulcus,  with 

VOL.    II.  9 


loO  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

nine  small,  slender,  laciniated  teeth,  progressively  diminishing  in  size  for 
wards;  posterior  tooth  only  one  third  the  size  of  the  large  branchial  spine 
or  tooth,  which  is  the  largest  on  the  margin  of  the  carapax.  There  is  a 
prominent  tubercle  at  the  summit  of  the  branchial  region.  Rostrum  of 
moderate  size,  pointing  obliquely  downward  and  forward,  and  bearing  a 
tooth  on  each  side  near  the  base,  and  a  smaller  one  near  the  tip.  At  the 
basal  tooth  tin-  rostrum  is  abruptly  contracted  more  than  one  half  in 
width.  Chelipeds  rather  Ion:;:  margins  armed  with  laciniated  teeth; 
meros  convex,  with  the  upper  surface  granulated  and  tuberculated,  the 
largest  tubercles,  those  along  the  middle,  being  subspiniform  ;  carpus  with 
live  large  and  several  small  spiniform  tubei'cles  above  and  on  the  outer 
side.  Upper  surface  of  hand  with  only  two  or  three  tubercles  about 
the  middle;  teeth  of  the  margins  larger  and  more  triangular  than  those 
of  tin-  margins  of  the  meros;  those  of  the  inner  broader  than  those  of 
the  outer  margin,  particularly  those  toward  the  fingers,  which  are  not,  like 
those  toward  the  carpus,  separated  by  intervals;  inner  margin  with  eight 
large  and  three  small  teeth;  outer  one  with  four  large  and  six  small  teeth. 
Lower  surface  of  hand  punctate,  with  a  regular  median  row  of  tubercles. 
Ambulatory  feet  somewhat  compressed  ;  meros-joint  spinulose  on  both 
upper  and  lower  edge.  The  ridges  of  the  abdomen,  sternum,  and  outer 
maxillipeds  are  tuberculated. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  :  Length  of  carapax,  <->.47;  breadth,  lateral  teeth 
included,  0.52  inch ;  proportion  of  length  to  breadth,  1  :  1.106;  length  of 
meros-joint  of  chelipeds,  0.37  inch. 

Off  Conch  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  1.       40  fathoms. 

Off  French  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  CastNo.  2.      45 

Off  American  Shoal,  May  6,  1868.  Cast  No.  9.  too 

Off  Conch  Reef,  May  11,  1869.  Cast  No.  6.  117      " 

Lambrus  fraterculus  nov.  sp. 

Nearly  allied  to  L.  Pourtalesii,  but  differing  as  follows:  The  carapax  is 
narrower,  the  proportion  of  length  to  breadth  being  1  :  1.04  even  in  the 
female,  while  in  the  male  it  is  longer  than  broad.  The  depressions  between 
the  branchial  and  the  gastric  and  hepatic  regions  are  much  deeper.  In 
the  female  the  tubercles  of  the  carapax  and  the  teeth  of  the  margins  are 
less  spiniform  and  generally  smaller;  the  tubercles  of  the  branchial  and 
gastric  region?  are  indeed  sometimes  obsolete  or  nearly  so.  In  the  only 
male  specimen  at  hand  the  median  tubercle  of  the  gastric  and  that  of  the 
cardiac  region  are  much  taller  than  in  L.  Pourtalesii.  The  rostrum  is  also 
longer  than  in  that  species,  with  the  narrowed  extremity  much  more 
slender,  and  the  basal  teeth  more  prominent  :    there  is  also  a  small  slender 


MUSEUM  'OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  131 

spine  placed  beneath  and  outside  <>f  this  basal  tooth.  The  chelipeds  are 
shorter,  and  the  lower  surface  of  the  hand  is  always  ornamented  with 
several  rows  of  granulated  tubercles.  The  daetyli  <>t'  the  ambulatory  feel 
arc  covered  with  a  dense  velvet-like  pubescence,  except  at  the  tips. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  earapax,  0.47  ;  breadth,  0.45  inch. 
Of  a  female,  length  of  earapax,  0.5  1  ;  breadth,  0.5G ;  length  of  meros-joinl 
of  cheliped,  i»..">  1  inch. 

Off  Sand  Key,  May  11,  1868.  Cast  No.    2.  26  fathoms. 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.    8  •">:> 

West  of  Tcrtugas,  January  16.  1869.  Cast  No.    4.  .'if. 

Off  Conch  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.    1  40 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.    :>.  60 

West  of  Tortugas,  January  16,  1869.  Cast  No.  13.  68 

Lambrus  agonus  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  broader  than  long,  of  rounded  form,  without  angles  at  the  sides. 
Depressions  between  the  regions  rather  shallow.  Surface  above  every- 
where minutely  tuberculated  and  granulated.  The  larger  tubercles  are 
somewhat  spiniform,  and  are  arranged  as  follows  :  Five  on  the  gastric 
region,  of  which  four  arc  placed  in  a  transverse  line  across  the  middle, 
and  one,  larger  than  the  others,  on  the  median  line  behind  them;  three 
in  a  longitudinal  row  on  the  cardiac  region  ;  one  each  side  of  the  intes- 
tinal, far  apart  ;  five  on  each  branchial,  and  one  on  the  hepatic  region. 
From  the  central  cardiac,  and  from  each  hepatic  tubercle,  proceeds  on  each 
side  a  row  of  granules,  forming  a  V.  Antero-lateral  margin  behind  the 
hepatic  region  armed  with  six  very  small  teeth,  beneath  and  behind  the 
posterior  one  of  which  there  i-  a  short  tooth-like  crest.  The  rostrum, 
though  smaller  in  size,  resembles  that  of  L.  Pourtah  ni  in  having  a  slender 
extremity,  but  instead  of  two  denticles  near  the  tiji.it  has  two  or  three 
denticles  near  the  basal  teeth.  There  arc  two  prominent  teeth  on  the 
outer  side  of  the  orbit,  and  a  minute  spine  at  the  summit  of  the  eve.  On 
the  sternum,  near  the  base  of  the  chelipeds,  there  is  a  conical  tubercle  on 
each  side.  Tooth  of  tin-  basal  joint  of  the  cheliped  acutely  triangular. 
On  the  second  joint  of  the  abdomen  there  is  a  sharply  prominent,  bluntly 
triangular  transverse  crest,  and  a  tooth  on  each  side  ;  and  on  the  penult 
joint  there  is  a  crest  like  that  of  the  second  joint,  hut  smaller. 

The  chelipeds  are  very  long  and  slender;  upper  surface  minutely  sca- 
brous, and  with  an  irregular  row  of  tooth-like  tubercles  which  is  median  on 
the  ineros  and  carpus,  bnl  approaches  the  outer  margin  in  the  hand. 
Edges  of  the  meros  and  carpus  with  numerous  small  irregular  teeth.  On 
the  inner  (superior)  edge  of  the  haul  there  are  nineteen  teeth,  increasing 


132  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

somewhat  regularly  in  size  to  a  point  near  the  anterior  extremity,  where 
they  gradually  diminish  again.  <  >n  the  outer  edge  of  the  hand  there  are 
four  or  five  large  and  about  eleven  small  teeth  alternating  by  threes  with 
the  larger  ones.  The  fingers  are  white  in  color,  and  not  so  much  bent 
downwards    as   is    usual    in    the    genus.      Ambulatory   feet    long,   slender, 

naked,  and    unarmed,  or  will ly   obscure   indications  of  teeth  on    the 

ineros-joint. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.45  ;  breadth,  0.50  ;  propor- 
tion, 1  :  1.11  ;  length  of  ineros-joint  of  cheliped,  0.55  inch. 

In  a  male  specimen  of  what  is  probably  a  variety  of  this  species,  dredged 
off  Conch  Reef,  the  hands  arc  shorter  than  in  the  typical  form,  and  the 
rostrum  is  not  narrowed  toward  the  extremity,  and  is  devoid  of  marginal 
teeth.  These  differences  are  certainly  important  ones,  but  the  specimen 
accords  so  well  with  the  type  in  all  other  characters  that  I  can  scarcely 
believe  it  to  he  distinct. 

The  species  lias  some  resemblance  to  /..  mediterraneus  Roux,  hut  differs 
in  the  smaller  and  less  numerous  marginal  teeth  of  the  carapax,  and  in  the 
unarmed  ambulatory  feet. 

Off  the  Marquesas,  February  10,  1869.  Cast  No.  3.  40  fathoms. 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  7.  40 

Off  Conch  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  1.  40 

Off  Conch  Reef,  May  11,  1869.  Cast  No.  3.  49 

Solenolambrus  nov.  gen. 

This  name  is  proposed  for  a  well-defined  group  of  Parthenopidae,  allied 
to  Lambrus,  of  which  I  have  before  me  three  species,  the  only  ones  as  yet 
known,  all  of  which  ate  new  to  science. 

The  carapax  is  pentagonal,  and  more  or  less  broader  than  long.  The 
posterior  side  of  the  pentagon  is  much  the  shortest,  and  the  other  four 
sides  are  about  equal.  The  margin  is  acute  on  all  sides,  forming  a  slight 
crest.  The  upper  surface  is  naked,  -lossy,  strongly  convex,  and  bears 
four  protuberances,  one  gastric,  one  cardiac,  and  two  branchial.  The  gas- 
tric and  cardiac  protuberances  are  more  or  less  triangularly  pyramidal,  and 
the  branchial  protuberance  i^  armed  with  an  acute  ridge,  running  obliquely 
to  the  postero-lateral  margin  of  the  carapax.  The  frontal  region  is  slightly 
convex,  and  there  is  no  protuberance  on  the  orbital  region.  'I  he  rostrum 
is  short  and  blunt,  or  faintly  tridentate.  The  orbits  are  round,  with  the 
upper  margin  entire  and  smooth.  The  basal  joint  of  the  external  antenna' 
is  about  as  long  a-  the  next  joint  ;  it  may  he  either  longer  or  shorter. 
The  epistome  is  concave.  From  the  antero-external  angle  of  the  buccal 
area  a  sharp,  elevated,  crenulated  ridge  extends  to  the  outer  base  of  the 
cheliped,    separating    the    concave    pterygostomian    from    the    subhepatic 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  133 

region,  which  is  also  concave  and  channel  like.  When  retracted,  the 
extremity  of  tluj  hand  of  the  cheliped  covers  the  pterygostomian  region, 
forming  the  afferenl  passage.  The  external  maxillipeds  fit  accurately 
the  buccal  area,  and  closely  against  each  other  within,  and  the  exognath 
is  concave,  forming  part  of  the  wall  of  the  afferent  channel,  which  is  denned 
within  l>v  a  slight  elevated  ridge  on  the  outer  side  of  the  ischium  of  the 
endognath;  the  meros-joint  has  a  prominent  antero-external  angle,  and  its 
surface  is  concave  toward  the  antero-interior  angle,  and  there  is  no  notch 
for  the  insertion  of  the  palpus,  which,  except  at  its  origin,  is  concealed  be- 
neath the  other  joints  of  the  endognath.  The  chelipeds  resemble  those  of 
Lambrus,  except  that  the  fingers  are  very  small,  and  the  dactylus  is  gener- 
ally at  right  angles  with  the  palm  when  retracted.  The  terminal  joints 
of  the  ambulatory  feet  are  acuminate.  The  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  joints 
of  tin'  male  abdomen  are  soldered  together. 

This  genus  differs  from  Parthenope  and  Lambrus  in  its  naked,  polished 
carapax,  in  the  distinct  definition  of  the  afferent  channels,  and  in  the  want 
of  a  notch  in  the  meros-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  tor  the  reception 
of  the  palpus.  As  far  as  known,  it  is  peculiar  to  the  tropical  portions  of 
the  American  seas,  species  being  found  on  both  the  east  and  the  wesl 
coasts  of  the  continent. 

Solenolambrus  typicus  nov.  sp. 
Carapax  one  eighth  broader  than  long;  posterior  side  considerably  pro- 
duced. Surface  punctate.  Protuberances  of  the  gastric  and  cardiac 
regions  triangularly  pyramidal,  and  acute,  with  the  ridges  forming  the 
angles  crenulated;  one  of  the  ridges,  the  posterior.  i>  in  the  median  line 
of  the  carapax,  and  the  other  two  diverge  from  each  other  in  front.  The 
cardiac  pyramid  is  symmetrical,  each  of  its  triangular  sides  being  equal; 
while  the  gastric  protuberance  is  not  symmetical,  the  posterior  ridge  being 
a  short,  steep  slope,  and  the  two  anterior  ridges  being  long,  and  enclosing 
a  gradual,  somewhat  convex  slope  toward  the  trout.  The  ridge  of  the 
branchial  region  is  also  crenulated,  and  is  bent  at  the  middle  at  an  obtuse 
angle,  almost  a  right  angle.  In  the  male  each  of  the  protuberances  of  the 
carapax  is  surmounted  by  an  acute  spine,  while  in  the  female  the  apical 
angles  are  not  thus  acute.  The  margin  of  the  carapax  is  more  or  less  dis- 
tinctly crenulated,  especially  the  antero-lateral  margin,  at  the  outer  or 
posterior  end  of  which  there  are  three  small  out  distinct  teeth.  The 
antero-lateral  margin  is  concave  anteriorly  and  convex  posteriorly.  The 
posterior  margin  is  straight,  with  the  lateral  angles  sharply  defined,  and 
even  spinifbrm  in  the  male.  Eyes  rather  large,  with  a  minute  tubercle  on 
the  anterior  side  of  the  extremity.  Basal  joint  of  the  external  antennae 
somewhat  longer  than  the  next  joint. 


134  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

Epistome  of  moderate  Length.  On  t  lie  subhepatic  region,  near  tne  afferent 
ridge,  and  parallel  to  it.  there  is  a  slighl  supplementary  ridge.  External 
maxillipeds  naked  :  ischium  with  the  outer  ridge  tuberculated,  and  a  few 
tubercles  on  the  surface  near  the  extremity  ;  external  angle  of  meros  very 
strongly  prominent.  On  the  sternum  between  the  bases  of  the  chelipeds 
there  arc  two  small  tubercles,  one  on  either  side  of  the  median  line. 
Chelipeds  long,  naked,  with  the  exception  of  some  inconspicuous  setae 
on  the  crest  nt'  the  hand  ;  meros  with  denticulated  margins,  and  with  the 
surface  smooth  and  glossy  above,  except  at  the  inner  or  posterior  extremity, 
where  there  are  three  or  four  small  tubercles,  and  at  the  outer  extremity, 
where  there  is  a  granulated  protuberance;  carpus  with  five  denticulated 
crests  ;  hand  trigonous,  with  ten  strong,  regular,  equal  teeth  on  the  superior 
crest,  twelve  small,  granulated  teeth  on  the  outer  margin, and  fifteen  teeth, 
increasing  regularly  in  size  toward  the  extremity,  on  the  lower  margin; 
upper  surface  of  the  hand  with  two  rows  of  tubercles  and  two  or  three 
scattered  ones  between  the  rows :  lower  surface  with  three  rows  of  tuber- 
cles, those  of  the  middle  row  minute  and  obsolescent  toward  the  extremity  : 
inner  surface  glabrous  at  the  middle,  and  with  a  row  of  tubercles  close 
to  cither  margin,  and  a  few  scattered  ones  near  the  fingers.  All  the 
tubercles  of  the  surfaces  of  the  hand  are  ornamented  with  granules,  from 
two  to  live  in  number.  Fingers  very  small  and  slender,  one  fifth  as  long 
as  the  palm;  dactylus  when  retracted  placed  almost  at  a  right  angle  with 
the  palm.  Ambulatory  feet  compressed,  naked,  polished,  with  a  lamini- 
form  crest  above;  the  meros  of  the  posterior  pair  having  a  crest  below 
also,  which  has  a  lobe-like  expansion  at  the  inner  extremity.  Abdomen 
tuberculated  on  the  sides;  that  of  tin-  male  not  narrowed  at  the  third 
joint  and  very  little  tapering. 

Dimensions  of  a  female  specimen  :  Length  of  carapax,  0.45  :  breadth, 
0.50  inch:  proportion,  1  :  1.1  I:  length  of  meros-joint  of  cheliped,  0.41; 
length  of  hand,  0.50  inch. 

Off  the  Samboes,      May  '.),   1868.      Cast   No.  5.      BO  fathoms. 
Off  Alligator  Reef,  May  8,   1869.      Cast  No.  6.      88 
Off  Alligator  Reef,  May  8,  1869.      Cast   No    B.     IK) 

Solenolamb  us  tencllus  nov.  sp. 

This  species  i-  much  smaller  than  the  preceding,  and  more  delicate  and 
fragile  in  appearance.  The  carapax  i-  but  little  shorter  than  broad,  and 
about    equally    produced    in    front    ami    behind    beyond   the    line  of  the 

lateral  angles.      Surface  rather  c 'sch  punctate.      Protuberances  of  the 

carapax  much  less  prominent  than  in  the  other  species  :  those  of  the  gas- 
tric and  cardiac  regions  obtusely  rounded,  without  angular  ridges  ;  ridge 
of  branchial  region  sufficiently  well  marked  near  the  postero-lateral  margin, 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  135 

but  almost  obsolete  anteriorly.  Margins  of  carapax  crenulated,  the  teeth 
being  most  distinct  on  the  flattened,  expanded,  and  broadly  rounded  lateral 
angle,  where  they  are  about  six  in  number,  not  crenulated,  and  but  little 
projecting,  being  denned  chiefly  by  the  impressed  lines  on  the  marginal 

limb.  On  the  hepatic  region  there  are  two  or  three  denticulated  teeth. 
Posterolateral  margin  slightly  concave.  Posterior  margin  convex;  its 
lateral  angles  obtuse.  Rostrum  rather  prominent  and  faintly  tridentate  at 
the  extremity ;  median  tooth  smallest  and  most  prominent.  External 
angle  of  orbit  not  prominent.  Eye  large,  with  a  very  minute  tubercle  at 
the  summit.  In  the  external  antennae  the  basal  joint  is  about  equal  to 
the  next  in  length.  Subhepatic  region  less  eoncave  than  in  >'.  typicus, 
and  without  any  supplementary  ridge.  External  maxillipeds  and  afferent 
channels  nearly  as  in  S.  typicus,  but  with  the  ridges  less  strongly  tubercu- 
lated,  and  with  the  outer  angle  of  the  meros-joint  less  acutely  prominent. 
Sternum  between  the  bases  of  the  chelipeds  convex  on  either  side,  but 
not  tuKerculated.  Chelipeds  very  long  and  slender;  edges  denticulated. 
hut  with  the  surface  between  them  smooth  and  polished:  meros  with 
about  thirteen  denticles  on  either  edge,  the  third  denticle  from  the  outer 
extremity  being  larger  than  the  others;  hand  with  twelve  sharp,  forward- 
curving  teeth  on  the  superior  edge,  the  terminal  tooth  above  the  finger 
being  spiniform  and  considerably  longer  than  the  others;  outer  edge  of 
hand  with  about  eleven  obtuse,  equal,  less  prominent,  minutely  crenulated 
teeth;  inner  edge  with  nineteen  or  twenty  very  minute  teeth  Ambula- 
tory feet  naked  and  compressed,  but  without  laminiform  crests;  meros- 
joint  of  the  posterior  pair  slightly  expanded  below  near  the  base.  In  the 
male  the  sternum  and  abdomen  are  smooth  and  glabrous;  abdomen  broad 
at  the  base  and  narrower  at  the  third  joint. 

Dimensions  of  a  male  ;  Length  of  the  carapax,  0.25  ;  breadth,  0.27  inch; 
proportion,  1:1.08;  length  of  meros-joint  of  cheliped,  0.29;  length  of 
hand,  0.32  inch. 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  8.  35  fathoms 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  7.  40 

Off  Conch  Reef,         March  21,  1869.  fast   No.  I.  40 

Off  French  Reef,       March  21,   1869.  Ca-t   No.  2.  45 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,   1869.  Cast  No.  6.  48 

Off  Conch  Reef,        May  11,  1869.  Cast  No.  3.  49 

Mesorhoea  nov.  gen. 

Tins  genus  bears  an  almost  exact  resemblance  to  Solenolambnt?  in  the 
form  and  armature  of  the  carapax,  the  character  of  the  feet,  and  that  of 
the  pterygostomian  and  hepatic  channels,  except  that  the  latter  are 
deeper.      It  differs,  however,   in    the   very   important   point    that   the  affe- 


136  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

rent  channels  meet  at  the  middle  of  the  endostome,  which  has  there  a 
triangular  projection,  and  a  deep  notch  in  its  vertical,  laminiform  wall. 
The  meros-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  is  acutely  produced  forward 

at  its  internal  angle,  and  behind  it  the  palpus  is  entirely  concealed.  The 
epistome  is  very  short.  The  eyes  are  small,  and  may  be  retracted  into 
their  deep  sockets  so  as  to  be  almost  entirely  concealed  The  basal  joint 
of  the  external  antennae  is  somewhat  shorter  than  the  next  joint. 

The  remarkable  form  of  the  endostome  and  external  maxillipeds  in  this 
genus  indicates  an  approach  to  the  oxystomatous  crabs,  to  which  the  Par- 
thenopidae  show,  indeed,  considerable  resemblance  in  other  respects. 

Mesorhoea  sexpinosa  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  one  fifth  broader  than  long,  and  about  equally  produced  in 
front  and  behind  beyond  the  line  of  the  lateral  angles.  Surface  punc- 
tate and  inconspicuously  pubescent.  Protuberances  of  the  gastric,  car- 
diac, and  branchial  regions  strongly  angular,  each  surmounted  by  a 
three-sided  spihe,  the  spine  of  the  branchial  region  being  situated  on  the 
posterolateral  margin,  of  which  it  forms  a  projection.  The  angles  or 
ridges  are  more  or  less  crenulated.  The  lateral  edges  of  the  gastric 
protuberance  are  continued  forward  nearly  to  the  front,  becoming  parallel 
shortly  after  diverging  from  the  spine.  The  cardiac  spine  is  more  slender 
than  the  others,  and  its  posterior  edge  is  nearly  vertical.  The  branchial 
ridge  is  nearly  straight.  Between  the  protuberances  and  ridges  the  sur- 
face is  more  or  less  regularly  concave,  the  sides  of  the  protuberances  being 
not  swollen.  The  rostrum  is  short.  The  margins  of  the  carapax  are  sub 
laminiform  and  almost  entire,  the  normal  crenulation  being  indicated  only 
by  faint  impressed  lines  on  the  limb.  Microscopic  n  tches  may,  however, 
be  detected  on  the  antero-lateral  margin,  which  is  slightly  convex  toward 
the  lateral  angle.  Postero-lateral  margin  concave.  Posterior  margin  about 
half  as  long  as  the  postero-lateral,  convex  at  the  middle,  and  terminating 
on  either  side  in  a  slight  tooth.  Afferent  channels  deep,  separated  from 
the  subhepatic  channels  by  a  very  thin  and  sharp,  prominent,  ciliated 
lamina,  and  defined  on  the  inner  side  by  tin'  ciliated  outer  edge  of  the 
ischium  of  the  external  maxillipeds.  From  the  anterior  angle  of  the 
buccal  area  ;i  short  ridge  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  inner  tooth  of 
the  orbit,  which  ridge  separates  the  concavity  of  the  epistome  from  that  of 
the  subhepatic  region.  Meros-joint  of  the  external  maxillipeds  with  two 
tubercles  on  the  surface,  one  towards  the  postero-exterior  angle,  the 
other  close  to  the  antero-exterior  angle;  anterior  margin  of  the  joint, 
deeply  concave  or  notched.  Chelipeds  short,  pubescent,  especially  on  the 
toothed  edges;    surface   between   the  edges  smooth;    on   the  basal  joint 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  loT 

below  there  is  a  strong,  triangular,  pyramidal  spine,  nearly  as  large  as 

the  dorsal  spines  of  the  carapax ;  margins  of  the  meros  crenulated  with 
six  or  seven  small  teeth  on  either  edge;  carpus  flattened  above,  with  two 
strong,  crenulated  crests,  the  outer  one  of  which  bears  a  larger,  spini- 
form  tooth  at  the  middle  :  hand  with  an  elevated,  nine-toothed  superior  crest 
and  eleven-toothed  outer  margin;  fingers  very  small;  dactylus  at  right 
angles  with  palm  Ambulatory  feet  much  compressed  ;  antepenult  and 
penult  joints  with  a  laminiform  crest  above;  meros-joint  of  the  posterior 
pair  with  a  slight  crest  below.      Abdomen  glabrous. 

Of  this  species  there  is  but  one  specimen  —  a  female  —  in  the  collec- 
tion; in  which  the  length  of  the  carapax  is  0.32  ;  the  breadth,  0.39  inch. 
The  length  of  the  hand  is  0.28  inch. 

The  specimen  was  taken  in  11  fathoms,  lour  miles  southwest  of  Logger- 
head Key. 

Subfamily  CRYPTOPODILNAE. 

Cryptopodia  concava  now  sp. 

Carapax  subpentagonal,  greatly  expanded  posteriorly,  the  posterior 
margin,  which  is  nearly  straight,  equalling  the  entire  width :  lateral 
margins  short ;  antero-lateral  margins  slightly  convex.  Rostrum  trian- 
gular. Tlie  gastric  region  is  protuberant,  and  from  its  summit  a  sharp, 
crenulated  ridge  or  raised  line  passes  on  either  side  to  the  postero-lateral 
angle,  enclosing  a  concave,  triangular  space.  The  surface  between  this 
ridge  and  the  antero-lateral  margin  is  also  concave.  The  entire  upper 
surface  of  the  carapax,  the  ridges  excepted,  is  smooth  and  shining.  The 
margins  are  crenulated  with  small  teeth,  the  furrows  separating  which 
extend  for  some  little  distance  inward,  giving  the  indentations  the  appear- 
ance of  being  much  deeper  than  they  really  are.  The  teeth  themselves 
are  minutely  granulated.  External  maxillipeds  smooth,  glabrous  ;  meros- 
joint  triangular,  with  the  external  angle  very  acutely  projecting,  and  the 
internal  angle  without  a  notch  for  the  insertion  of  the  palpus,  the  first 
joint  of  which  is  indurated,  with  a  projecting  tooth  at  its  extremity. 

Chelipeds  flattened  as  in  C.  fornicata,  but  with  the  meros-joint  nar- 
rower, the  carpus  smaller,  and  the  hand  convex  below  ;  fingers  slender. 
curved.  Ambulatory  feet  crested;  crest  of  meros  spinulosc  above  and 
below.  Transverse  crest  of  sternum  bilobed,  each  lobe  beino-  three- 
toothed,  and  in  the  same  line  with  a  tooth  on  the  basal  joint  of  the 
cheliped,  which  belongs  also  to  this  crest,  which  forms  the  margin  of  the 
concave  and  perpendicular  front  of  the  sternum. 

The  dimensions  of  the  only  specimen  found  —  a  young  female —  arc  as 
follows:    Length  of  carapax,  0.32;    breadth,   0.43;    proportion,   1  ;  1.34; 


138  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

length  of  meros-joint  of  cheliped,  0.22  ;  length  of  hand,  0.26  ;  breadth  of 
hand,  0.12  inch. 

The  specimen  was  taken  off  Conch  Reef  in  34  fathoms. 


CANCROIDEA. 

Family  CANCRIDAE. 

Subfamily  XAXTIIINAE. 

Actaea  nodosa  Stm. 
Actaea  nodosa  Stimpson,  Notes  on   N.  American    Crust.,  p.  75.      Desbonne 
et  Schramm,  Crust,  de  la  Guadeloupe,  p.  25. 

Dredged  January  16,  1869,  west  of  the  Tortugas,  in  35  and  3  7  fathoms. 

Actaea  setigera  Stm. 

Xantho  setiger  II.  Milne-Edwards,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Crust.,  I,  390. 
Actaea  setigera   Stimpson,  Notes  on   N.American  Crust.,  p.  51.      A.Milne- 
Edwards,  Nouv.  Arch,  du  Museum  d'llist.  Nat.,  1,  271  ;  pi.  xviii,  tig.  2. 

Found  on  the  Reef  at   Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba. 

Carpoporus  nov.  gen. 

Carapax  subhexagonal,  nearly  as  long  as  broad;  antero-lateral  margin 
armed  with  three  small  teeth  (in  a  line  which  conducts  beneath  the  orbit 
anteriorly),  and  drawn  in  posteriorly,  the  greatest  breadth  of  the  carapax 
being  at  the  middle  tooth;  postero-lateral  shorter  than  the  posterior  mar- 
gin; facial  region  very  broad;  front  prominent.  Orbit  circular,  without 
teeth  below,  except  two  or  three  minute  spinitbrm  denticles  on  the 
margin  ;  fissures  of  outer  and  inferior  margins  obsolete.  Basal  joint  of 
the  external  antenna'  narrowing  forwards,  reaching  the  front,  ami  passing 
well  into  the  hiatus  of  the  orbit,  nearly  as  in  Euxanthus ,  movable  part 
of  the  antennae  very  small.  .  Chelipeds,  when  retracted,  having  a  large 
hole  between  the  carpus  and  hand  above  for  the  passage  of  water  to  the 
afferent  branchial  apertures.  Third,  fourth,  and  fifth  joints  of  the 
abdomen  in  tin-  male  soldered  together;   terminal  joint  as  broad  as  long. 

This  genus  differs  from  Xantho  in  its  external  antenna'  ;  front  Euxan- 
thus in  the  narrowness  of  the  carapax  ;  from  Polycremnus  in  its  five- 
jointed  male  abdomen;  and  from  Halitnede  and  Merfaeus  in  the  want  of 
conspicuous  fissures  and  teeth  on  the  margin  of  the  orbit. 

It  is  very  peculiar  in  the  perforation  of  the  retracted  chelipeds,  recall- 
ing a  similar  perforation  of  the  chelipeds  of  Echinocerus  foraminatus,  in 
which,  however,  it  occurs  between  the  carpus  and  meros. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  139 

Carpoporus  papulosus  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  naked  above,  areolated;  areolets  protuberant,  somewhat  wart- 
like, and  granulated  ;  gastric  and  fiontal  regions  very  prominent.  Lateral 
teeth  small,  spiniform ;  their  interstices  armed  with  denticles,  two  or 
three  in  number.  Front  strongly  projecting  at  the  middle,  ami  bilobed; 
margin  of  lobe  concave.  Peduncle  of  the  eye  granulated,  and  with  a  few 
minute  spines  at  the  summit.  Orbit  with  tin-  margin  minutely  crenulated 
with  granules,  with  a  slight  fissure  near  the  middle  of  the  superior  margin, 
ami  with  two  spiniform  teeth  below  neat-  the  outer  side.  Quter  maxilli- 
peds  armed  in  front  ami  along  the  inner  edges  with  small  hut  strongly 
prominent  tubercles.  Tin-  carpus  ami  hand  of  the  chelipeds  are  sculp- 
tured externally  with  granulated  protuberances,  which  on  the  hand  are 
arranged  in  four  or  five  longitudinal  rows;  hand  serrated  above  with 
four  teeth  ;  fingers  short,  less  than  halt  the  length  of  the  palm.  Ambu- 
latory feet  hairy  below  :  penult  and  antepenult  joints  armed  above  with 
two  rows  of  short,  stout  spines. 

Dimensions  of  n  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.25  ;  breadth,  0.31  inch; 
proportion,  1  :    1.21. 

S.  XV.  ot   the  Tortugas,      January  18,  1869.      Cast  Xo.  1.     25  fathoms. 
Off  Carysfort  Reef,  "March  31,  1869.         Cast  No.  1.     52 

Micropanope  nov.  pen. 

The  generic  group  now  for  the  first  time  described  is  nearly  allied  to 
Panopi  us,  and  also  shows  some  resemblance  to  Pilumnus.  As  in  the 
latter  genus,  the  species  are  among  the  smallest  fit'  Cancroid  forms,  and 
live  in  deep  or  moderately  deep  water.  A<  far  as  I  am  aware  they  are 
never  truly  littoral  like  the  Panopei.  Species  of  the  genus  occur  in  the 
warmer  seas  of  both  sides  of  the  American  continent. 

The  carapax  is  rather  narrow,  with  the  antero-lateral  margin  short  and 
the  front  broad.  As  in  Panopt  us,  there  are  five  teeth  on  the  antero-lateral 
margin,  but  the  second  tooth  i-  coalesced  with  the  scarcely  prominent 
angle  of  the  orbit,  and  the  posterior  tooth  i-  minute;  so  that  only  two  of 
the  teeth  are  prominent,  arming  the  carapax  at  its  antero-lateral  angle. 
The  external  hiatus  of  the  orbit  is  reduced  t  i  a  simple  emargination. 
The  basal  joint  of  the  external  antenna*  is  short,  hut  meets  a  process  from 
the  front.  The  endostome  is  usually  marked  on  either  side  by  a  slight 
ridge,  which  does  not,  however,  extend  to  the  anterior  margin.  The  hind 
in  the  chelipeds  is  larjrc.  with  rather  long  fingers,  bent  to  an  angle  with 
the  palm,  so  that  the  lower  margin  of  the  hand  is  rather  deeply  con- 
cave. 


140  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Micropanope  sculptipes  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  naked,  distinctly  areolated  ;  anterior  and  antero-lateral  areolets 
somewhat  roughened  infront  with  small,  sharp,  tooth-like  tubercles.  An- 
tero-lateral teeth  sharp  and  denticulated  ;  the  posterior  one  nearly  obsolete. 
Frontal  lobes  little  projecting, but  with  a  convex  outline;  margin  minutely 
crenulated,  and  defined  by  a  slight  furrow  following  it  above.  A  small 
tubercle  on  the  subhepatic  region  beneath  the  second  antero-lateral  tooth. 
Chelipeds  granulated  above  ;  carpus  with  a  sharp  tooth  and  denticulated 
margin  within,  and  with  the  granules  arranged  in  reticulating  lines;  hand 
with  a  double  denticulated  crest,  and  with  tin'  minute  granules  of  the 
outei  surface  showing  a  tendency  to  arrangement  in  rows  ;  these  granules 
become  obsolete  toward  the  base  of  the  thumb  or  propodal  finger. 
Ambulatory  feet  armed  with  minute  spines  above, which  form  two  rows  on 
the  carpal  joint. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.13 ;  breadth,  0.17  inch; 
proportion,    1  :  1.30. 

It  was  taken  at  the  following  localities  and  depths  :  — 

Off  the  Marquesas,  February  10,  1869.  Cast  No.  — .    L 5  fathoms. 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.    8.35 

West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  16,  1869.  Cast  No.    6.35 

West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  Hi,  1869.  Cast  No.  12.  42 

OffFrenchReef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.    2.45 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.     5.60 

West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  10,  1869.  Cast  No.  13.  68 

Chlorodius  dispar  nov.  >\>. 

Carapax  transversely  oval,  very  broad,  convex,  smooth,  polished,  sparsely 
punctate  in  front,  and  scarcely  at  all  areolated,  the  only  depressions  at  all 
conspicuous  being  those  at  the  antero-lateral  corners  of  the  gastric  region, 
partly  defining  the  protogastric  lobes.  Antero-lateral  margin  almost 
entire,  the  posterior  two  of  the  live  normal  teeth  only  being  distinguisha- 
ble. Orbits  entire,  above  and  below.  Front  straight,  slightly  notched, 
hut  not  at  all  prominent  at  the  middle;  margin  furrowed.  Chelipeds 
very  unequal,  tin-  right  one  in  both  specimens  under  observation  being 
much  larger  than  the  other:  they  are  naked,  smooth,  and  polished; 
fingers  a  little  more  than  half  as  Ion-  a-  the  palm,  scarcely  gaping,  and 
but  little  excavated  at  the  tips.  Ambulatory  feet  compressed,  hairj 
above. 

Colors:  Caranax,  dark  brown:  chelipeds,  dark  reddish;  fingers,  black; 
greater  hand  with  one  or  two  white  .-pot-  on  the  outer  side  between  the 
bases  of  the  fingers. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  141 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.18  ;  breadth,  0.26  inch; 
proportion,  1  :  1.44. 

This  species  approaches  somewhat  C.  levissimus  Dana,  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  but  differs  from  that  and  all  other  known  species  in  its  smooth, 
oval,  convex  carapax  and  the  obsolescence  of  the  anterolateral  teeth. 

Found  on  the  reef  at  Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba;  two  specimens,  a  male  and 
a  female. 

Family    ERIPHIIDAE. 

Subfamily  OZINAE. 

Pilumnus  aeuleatus  II.  M.-Edw. 

Cancer  acuh  at  us  Say,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Son,  Philad.,  I,  449. 

Pilumnus    aeuleatus   II.    Milne-Edwards,   in   Gueein,    Iconog.   du    R'egne 

Anim.,  Crust.,  pi.  iii,  tig.  2;  and  Ilist.  Nat.  ties  Crust.,  I,  420.     Gibbes, 

Proc.  Am.  Assoc  Adv.  Sci.,  1850,  p.  177. 
A  young  specimen  of  this  species  was  collected  at  the  Tortugas.     I  find 
no  note  of  the  depth  of  water  at  which  it  was  taken. 

Pilumnus  caribaeus  Desb.  et  Schr. 

Pilumnus  caribaeus  Desbonne  et  Schramm,  Crust,  de  la  Guadaloupe,  p.  32. 

The  specimens  which  I  have  referred  to  the  above  species  differ  from  P. 
aeuleatus  in  having  the  anterior  spine  of  the  three  principal  ones  of  the 
anterolateral  margin  bifid,  and  in  the  shorter  and  more  numerous  spines 
of  the  frontal  margin. 

Found  on  the  reef  at  Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba,  and  at  Key  West  in  from 
2  to  5  fathoms. 

Pilumnus  noridanus  nov.  sp. 

This  species  belongs  to  the  same  group  with  P.  arvhatus,  and  bears  a 
close  resemblance  to  it.  It  differs  in  its  narrower  carapax,  which  is 
covered  with  a  dense,  short  pubescence,  with  a  few  longer  hairs,  a  trans- 
verse series  of  which,  across  the  frontal  region,  forms  a  somewdiat  con- 
spicuous feature.  Below  the  ciliated  line,  the  frontal  region  is  naked, 
and  its  margin  is  unarmed  :  its  lobes  are  not  strongly  and  evenly  project- 
ing as  in  aeuleatus,  hut  are  most  prominent  within,  near  the  median  sinus. 
The  orbits  are  unarmed  above,  but  have  eight  or  ten  spiniform  teeth  on 
the  margin  below,  which  teeth  are  far  shorter  than  in  aeuleatus.  The 
subhepatic  tooth  or  tubercle  is  small  and  inconspicuous,  and  the  surface  of 
the  subhepatic  region  is  not  perceptibly  granulated.  There  are  no  spines 
on  the  hepatic  region  above.  In  the  chelipeds  the  entire  outer  surface  of 
the  greater  hand  is  tuberculated.  The  ambulatory  feet  are  armed  with 
spines  as  in  acuh  at  us. 


l-i'2  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Dimensions  of  a  female  specimen:  Length  of  carapax,  0.22 ;  breadth, 
0.30  inch  ;  proportion,  1  :  1.3&. 

Found  at  tlic  Tortugas. 

Pilumnus  lacteus  nov.  sp. 

Closely  allied  to  /'.  gemmaius  Stm.  (Notes  on  North  American  Crus- 
tacea,  p.  86),  and  like  that  specie-  covered  with  a  whitish  or  cream-colored, 
velvet-like  pubescence.  It  differs  in  the  mure  spiniform  shape  of  the 
antero-lateral  teeth  of  the  carapax,  in  the  less  numerous  tubercles  on  the 
carapax  and  chelipeds,  in  the  want  of  tubercles  on  the  superior  margin  oi 
the  orbit,  and  in  the  smooth,  glabrous  outer  surface  of  the  hands,  which  i< 
li'iht  red  in  color.  The  lobes  of  the  front  also  are  more  triangular  and 
pointed. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.31;  breadth,  0.44  inch; 
proportion,  1  :  1.42. 

Found  on  the  reef  at  Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba,  and  at  Key  West  in  from 
■_'  to  5  tii thorns. 

Pilumnus  Agassizii  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  convex,  and  with  the  anterior  two  thirds  deeply  areolatcd; 
areolets  protuberant.  Surface  pubescent  everywhere,  except  on  the 
anterior  and  antero-lateral  areolets,  which  are  naked  and  thickly  granu- 
lated. The  depressions  between  the  protuberant  areolets  are  broad, 
occupying  fully  as  much  space  as  the  areolets  themselves.  Tun  of  the 
areolets  form  the  lobes  of  the  front,  which  are  as  large  and  prominent  as 
the  epigastric  lobes,  or  even  larger.  The  frontal  surface  i>  vertical,  and 
not  much  projecting,  hut  the  lobes  are  deeply  separated  from  each  other 
and  from  the  orbits.  Orbital  region  protuberant  and  granulated  :  margin 
not  toothed,  but  crenulated  with  granules,  and  marked  by  two  fissures 
above  and  two  less  conspicuous  ones  below.  The  antero  lateral  margin 
behind  the  orbit  is  armed  with  three  triangular,  acute,  equal  teeth  of  mod- 
erate size.  Subhepatic  tooth  distinct.  Chelipeds  stout,  short,  and  thick  : 
carpus  covered  above  with  granulated  tubercles  which  are  confluent  ex- 
teriorly, forming  transverse  ridges;  hand  covered  above  and  on  the  outer 
side  with  small  but  prominent  maminillary  tubercles,  having  their  apices 
pointing  forwards.  Ambulatory  feel  pubescent  and  hairy;  penult  and 
antepenult  joint-  armed  with  minute  spine-  above. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.65  ;  breadth,  0.83  inch; 
proportion,  1  :  1.28. 

This  species  has  some  little  resemblance  to  P.  gemrnatus,  bul  the  pro- 
tuberances of  the  carapax  are  densel)  granulated  instead  of  sparsely 
tuberculated. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE    ZOOLOGY.  14o 

It  was  taken  in  from  5  to  7  fatTioms  between  East  and  Middle  Keys, 
Tortugas,  and  East  of  die  Tortugas  in  13  fathoms. 

Pilumnus  nudifrons  nov.  sp. 

Body  and  feet  everywhere  puhescenl  above,  except  on  the  frontal  and 
orbital  regions.  Carapax  about  seven  eighths  as  Long  as  broad,  much 
narrowed  posteriorly,  convex ;  regions  slightly  defined  and  not  protuber- 
ant; surface  beneath  the  pubescence  punctate  and  sparsely  roughened 
with  scattered  tubercles  variable  in  size,  and  most  numerous  on  the  gastric 
and  hepatic  regions.  Frontal  and  orbital  regions  continuous,  without  any 
teeth  or  spines,  forming  a  prominent,  wide,  naked,  minutely  granulated 
anterior  border  to  the  carapax,  made  more  distinct  by  a  channel-like 
depression  which  separates  it  from  the  rest  of  the  surface.  On  this 
border  there  are  no  sinuses  at  the  junction  of  the  front  and  orbits,  and 
tlie  median  emargination  of  the  straight  or  slightly  convex  frontal  outline 
is  very  slight.  At  the  outer  angle  of  the  orbit  the  border  i~  continued  tor 
a  short  distance  posteriorly,  on  the  antero-lateral  margin.  Bej'ond  this 
the  antero-lateral  margin  is  nearly  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  body,  and 
armed  with  three  small  triangular  teeth.  Orbital  margin  below  entire, 
and  smooth,  without  fissures  or  teeth,  with  the  exception  of  the  usual 
large  tooth  forming  the  inner  angle.  The  subhepatic  tooth  is  distinct. 
forming  part  of  an  irregularly  denticulated  or  granulated  ridge,  which 
extends  from  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  anterior  border  of  the  cara- 
pax to  the  anterior  angle  of  the  buccal  area.  The  basal  joint  of  the 
external  antennas  is  small,  and  the  space  between  it  and  the  frontal  pro- 
jection is  almost  equal  to  its  own  length.  Chelipeds  very  short  and  stout, 
armed  above  and  on  the  outer  side  with  roughened  tubercles  like  those 
of  the  carapax.  On  the  superior  margin  of  the  hand  there  are  three 
strongly  projecting  teeth. 

Dimensions  of  a  female  specimen:  Leilgth  of  the  carapax.  0.41; 
breadth,  0.49  inch;  proportion,  1  :  1.1!'."). 

Only  two  specimens  of  this  species  were  taken,  both  females.  They 
occurred  at  the  depth-  of  111  and  125  fathoms,  oif  Sombrero  Key. 

Pilumnus  granulimanus  nov   sp. 

This  is  a  small  species,  in  which  the  carapax  i>  rather  short  and  broad, 
naked,  areolated  and  granulated  in  trout,  and  smooth  posteriorly.  The 
granulation  is  especially  conspicuous  on  the  hepatic  regions.  Antero- 
lateral niacin  minutely  denticulated,  and  armed  with  four  small,  equal, 
acute,  triangular  teeth,  besi  les  the  angle  of  the  orbit  At  the  penult 
tooth   a    short    granulated    ridge  extends    inwards   on    the    surface    of  the 


144  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

carapax.  The  antero-latcral  margin  in  these  characters  resembles  that 
of  Xantho  and  Panopeus  rather  than  that  of  the  ordinary  Pilumni.  The 
subhepatic  region  is  granulated,  and  bears  a  minute  tooth  beneath 
tht'  interval  between  the  angle  of  the  orbit  and  the  next  marginal  tooth. 
Orbit  with  a  distinct  notch  beneath  the  outer  angle  ;  margins  otherwise 
entire,  above  and  below.  Front  somewhat  detlexed,  very  little  projecting; 
margin  unarmed  and  profoundly  notched  at  the  middle.  The  basal  joint  of 
the  external  antenna'  talis  considerably  short  of  reaching  the  front.  There 
is  no  ridge  on  the  endostome.  Feet  setose  ;  greater  ebeliped  less  setose 
than  the  rest;  carpus  and  hand  covered  externally  and  above  with  small, 
subequal  granules,  regularly  crowded,  and  diminishing  in  size  below  ■ 
carpus  with  two  minute,  sharp  teeth  at  the  inner  angle.  Ambulatory 
feet  with  a  few  minute,  short  spines  along  the  superior  edge.  Color 
yellowish,  marbled  with  red. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.18  inch;  breadth,  0.25 
inch;  proportion,  1  :  1.38. 

A  male  and  a  female  of  this  species  were  found  on  the  reef  at  Cruz  del 
Padre,  Cuba. 

Melybia  nov.  gen. 

Carapax  broad,  subquadrate ;  front  rather  depressed,  very  broad ; 
anterolateral  margin  short,  only  one  third  as  long  as  the  postero-lateral, 
and  armed  with  three  or  four  teeth.  Basal  joint  of  the  external  antenna? 
occupying  the  hiatus  of  the  orbit,  firmly  soldered,  and  reaching  a  process 
of  the  front.  External  maxillipeds  very  narrow,  widely  gaping  ;  exognath 
half  the  width  of  the  endognath.  Feet  all  spinulose  ;  chelipeds  rather 
large,  even  in  the  female  ;  ambulatory  feet  long,  slender,  and  compressed. 

This  genus  is  closely  allied  to  Melia,  but  differs  therefrom  in  its  broader 
carapax,  three-toothed  antero-lateral  margin,  firmly  soldered  basal-joint 
of  the  external  anteiiu:e,  broader  exognath  of  the  external  maxillipeds, 
and  spinulose  feet.     It  has  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  Thalamita. 

Melybia  thalamita  nov.  sp. 
Carapax  somewhat  convex,  slightly  pubescent;  surface  nearly  smooth 
and  even;  regions  faintly  defined.  Antero-lateral  margin  three-toothed 
(the  little-prominent  angle  of  the  orbit  not  included)  ;  teeth  spiniform, 
pointing  tin-ward,  the  anterior  one  longest,  the  posterior  one  minute. 
Front  bilobed;  margin  of  the  lobes  nearly  straight.  Orbit  with  two 
fissures  above,  and  one  below  near  the  outer  side;  margins  smooth  or 
minutely  crenulated.  Subhepatic  region  minutely  granulated.  In  the 
chelipeds  the  meros-joint  is  spinulose  along  the  upper 'edge,  and  armed 
with  two  slender  spines  on  the  inner  edge;   carpus  with  tour  or  five  spines 


MUSEUM  OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  1-15 

on  the  upper  side,  the  spine  at  itB  summit  being  the  longest  one  on  the 
chelipeds;  hand  oblong,  with  two  longitudinal  rows  of  spines  on  the 
upper  edge ;  fingers  two  thirds  as  long  as  the  palm.  Ambulatory  feet 
sparsely  hairy ;  meros  armed  with  spines  along  the  upper  edge,  and  with 
one  spine  below  near  the  extremity  ;  dactyli  nearly  as  long  as  the  penult 
joint. 

Dimensions  of  a  female  specimen  :  Length  of  carapax,  0.25  ;  breadth, 
0.36  inch ;  proportion,  1  :  1.44. 

In  a  variety  (?)  of  the  species,  dredged,  as  stated  below,  in  42  fathoms, 
the  carapax  and  feet  are  naked. 

Off  French  Reef,  April  3,  1869.  Cast  No.  1.     15  fathoms. 

West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  16,  1869.  Cast  No.  7.     35 

West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  16,  1869.  Cast  No.  8.     37 

West  of  the  Tortugas,  January  16,  1869.  Cast  No.  12.  42         " 

Subfamily    ERIPHILNAE. 

Eriphia  gonagra  H.  M.-Edw. 

Cancer  gonagra  Fabr.,  Ent.  Syst.,  II,  p.  460.     Suppl.  Ent.  Syst.,  p.  337. 
Eriphia  gonagra  H.  Milne-Edwards,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Crust.,  I,  426,  pi.  xvi, 

figs.  16  and  17.     Gibbes,   Proc.  Am.  Assoc.  Adv.   Sci.,   1850,  p.  177. 

Dana,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.,  Crust.,  I,  250.     Stimpson,  Notes  on  North 

American  Crust.,  p.  89.      Smith,  Trans.  Conn.  Acad.  Arts  and  Sciences, 

II,  7. 
Dredged  at  Key  West,  in  from  two  to  five  fathoms. 

Domeeia  hispida  Soul. 

Domecia  hispida  Souletet,  Voyage  au  Pole  Sud.,  pi.  vi,  figs.  3,  7.    Stimpson, 
Notes  on  N.  American  Crust.,  p.  90. 

Of  this  species  I  find  three  lots  of  specimens,  labelled  as  follows  :  — 

Florida  Reefs,  in  shallow  water. 
Reef  at  Eastern  Dry  Rocks,  littoral. 
Reef  at  Cruz  del  Padre,  Cuba. 

Family   PORTUNIDAE. 

Subfamily   PORTUNINAE. 

Bathynectee  nov.  gen. 
Very  near  Portunus,*  but  differing  in  its  antero-lateral  teeth,  which  are 
not  like  those  of  a  saw,  but  are  somewhat  spiniform,  and  separated  by 

*  By  Portunus  the  typical  forms  are  meant,  P.  puber,  corrugatug,  etc.  P.  holsatu* 
(mai-moreus)  should  be  separated  genencally;  it  is  quite  distinct  in  its  external  max- 
VOL.    II.  10 


146  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

considerable  intervals.  The  front,  also,  has  no  median  tooth,  and  the 
hiatus  of  the  orbit  is  widely  open,  not  being  filled  by  the  basal-joint  of  the 
external  antennae,  •which  is  narrow,  and  firmly  soldered  anteriorly  to  the 
process  of  the  front.  The  meros-joinl  of  the  external  maxillipeds  is  as 
broad  as  long,  and  does  not  projed  anteriorly,  but  fits  accurately  to  the 
anterior  edge  of  the  buccal  area.  The  ambulatory  feet  are  very  slender; 
those  of  the  first  pair  much  shorter  than  those  oi  the  second  ;  second  and 
third  pairs  very  long,  the  third  longest;  fourth  pair  two  thirds  as  long  as 
third. 

Bathynectes  longispina  nov.  sp. 
The  following  description  is  that  of  a  male  :  Body  naked  :  feet  also 
naked,  except  the  posterior  ones,  which  are  ciliated,  as  usual.  Carapax 
subhexagonal,  with  a  granulated  and  uneven  surface.  A  well-defined 
ridge  crosses  the  middle,  connecting  the  lateral  spines:  while  a  shorter 
ridge  crosses  the  cardiac,  and  another,  interrupted  at  the  middle,  the 
gastric  region.  Antero-lateral  margin  armed  with  five  sharp,  spinifonn 
teeth,  including  the  angle  of  the  orbit  :  the  posterior  tooth  or  spine  being 

three  time-  a-  long  as  tl tilers,  ami  more  than  one   third  as   long  as  the 

width  of  the  carapax,  excluding  the  spines;  first  (anterior)  two  teeth 
broader  and  less  spiniform  than  the  others;  third  and  fourth  teeth  very 
acute  and  a  little  longer  than  the  distance  between  their  bases.  Front 
prominent,  four-toothed;  the  middle  two  teeth  being  smaller  than,  and 
projecting  a  little  beyond,  the  two  lateral  ones.  Or!  it  with  two  open 
fissures  above  and  one  below;  besides  which,  below,  there  is  a  Minis 
beneath  the  outer  angle,  and  a  broader  one,  with  a  denticulated  margin, 
next  the  inner  tooth.  From  the  base  of  this  inner  tooth  of  the  orbit 
a  small  projecting  lobe  crosses  the  bottom  of  the  hiatus  of  the  orbit  and 
reaches  the  basal  joint  of  the  antenna.  This  joint  is  oblong  in  form,  and 
bear-;  a  crest   or  carina   along  the    outer   side,  terminating   anteriorly    in 

a  slight  tooth.      Flagellum  of  the  outer  antennas  re  than  half  as  long  as 

the  carapax.  Chelipcds  one  half  longer  than  the  carapax  ;  meros  with  a 
long  -pine  on  the  inner  edge,  and  a  short  one  on  the  -uperior  edge,  both 
distant  from  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  joint  about  one  third  its  length  ; 
carpus  with  a  very  long  spine  at  the  inner  angle,  which  spine  is  itself 
armed  with  two  or  three  small   teeth  on  the  anterior  edge,  and  with   three 

illipeds,  the  meros-joinf  of  which  is  elongated,  projecting  considerably  beyond  the 
buccal  margin;   and  the  basal  joint  of  the  external  nntennoe  i-  slightly  movable; 

tlio  carapax  1-  naked;  there  is  no  elevated  lit n  the  surface  of  the  terminal  and 

penult  joints  of  the  posterior  pair  of  ambulatory  feet,  and  tlio  first  joint  of  the  abdo- 
men is  almost  entii  led  beneath  the  carapax.  For  P.  hulsulus  ami  it.-  allies 
the  name  Liocarcinus  i-  proposed. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE    ZOOLOGY.  147 

other  spines,  and  several  spinuliform  tubercles  on  the  supero-exterior  sur- 
face.  Hand  costate,  there  being  three  ridges  on  the  outer,  two  on  the 
upper,  and  one  on  the  inner  side;  of  the  superior  ridges,  the  outer  one  is 
armed  with  five  spines,  and  the  inner  one  is  denticulated,  with  a  long 
spine  at  the  summit  anteriorly  :  fingers  nearly  as  long  as  the  palm,  and 
strongly  toothed  within,  the  teeth  being  four  or  five  in  number  on  each 
Ambulatory  feet  of  the  third  pair  two  and  a  half  times  as  long  as  the 
carapax.     Colors:  Body  greenish  ;  ambulatory  feet  white. 

Dimensions:  Length  of  carapax,  0.58;  breadth,  including  the  lateral 
spines,  1. 10;  excluding  the  spines,  0.68  inch;  proportion  of  length  to 
latter  breadth,  1  :  1.17;   length  of  third  pair  of  ambulatory  lie:,  1.45  inch. 

Oft' Sand  Key,  May  1.').  1868.        Cast  No.  -.     100  fathoms. 

Off  Key  West,  April  21,  1869.     Cast  No.  5.     120 

Off  American   Shoal,    May  8,  1808.  Cast  No.  3.     150 

Bathynectes  brevispina  nov.  sp. 

This  species  greatly  resembles  the  typical  form  in  color  and  most  other 
characters,  but  differs  in  the  following  important  particulars  :  The  carapax 
is  more  convex,  and  the  transverse  ridges  are  less  prominent  The  antero- 
lateral teeth  are  much  smaller  and  shorter,  the  second,  third,  and  fourth 
teeth  being  only  half  as  long  as  the  distance  between  their  bases,  and  the 
posterior  tooth  (lateral  spine)  equalling  in  length  only  one  seventh  the 
wi  Ith  of  the  carapax,  excluding  the  spines. 

The  dimensions  of  the  only  specimen  in  the  collection  —  a  female  — 
are:  Length  of  carapax,  1.96;  breadth,  including  the  lateral  spines,  2.95; 
excluding  the  spines,  2.-lo  ;  proportion  of  length  to  latter  breadth,  1  :  1.22. 

The  specimen  was  taken  in  107  fathoms,  off  the  Marquesas,  February 
11.  18G9. 

It  was  at  first  regarded  as  a  large  female  of  B.  longispina,  but  the  differ- 
ences between  the  two  firms  are  so  much  greater  than  is  usual  between 
the  sexes  in  Portunidae,  that  I  have  preferred  to  consider  them  dis- 
tinct, until  the  question  can  be  decided  by  the  acquisition  of  additional 
materials. 

Subfamily  LUPIN AE. 

Neptunus  Sayi  Stm. 
I.iijm  pelagica  Say,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  I,  97  (1817). 
Lupa  Sayi  Gibbes,  Pioc.   Am.  Assoc.  Adv.   Sci.,  1850,  p.  178.     Dana,  U.  S. 

Expl.  Exped.,  Crust.,  I,  273,  pi.  xvi,  fig.  8. 
V  Sayi  Stimpson,  Notes  on  N.  American  Crustacea  (18G0),  p.  92.     A. 

Milne-Edwards,  Arch,  du  Mas,  N,  317,  pi.  xxix,  fig.  2. 
Found  on  Gulf  weed,  January  1<S,  18G9. 


148  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Callinectes  ornatus  Ordway. 
CaUinectes  ornatus  Ordway,  Monograpli  of  the  genus  Callinectes  (1861),  p.  6. 

Found  al  Key  West  in  from  •_'  to  •"»  fathoms. 

The  Callinectes  ornatus  of  Smith  (Trans.  Conn.  Acad,  of  Arts  and 
Sci.  II,  8)  is  probably  not  the  same  as  that  of  Ordway,  as  the  Brazilian 
specimens  are  described  as  having  the  carapax  deeply  areolated,  which  is 
not  the  case  in  specimens  from  the  Florida  coast. 

Acheloiis  Ordwayi  Stm. 
Acheloiis  Ordwayi  Stimpson,   Notes  on  N.  American  Crustacea  (1SG0),  p.  90. 

Smith,  Trans.  Conn.  Acad,  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  II,  9. 
Neptunus   Ordwayi   A.   Milne-Edwards,  Arch,   du   .Museum  d'Hist.  Nat.,  X, 
Add. 

The  carapax  is  everywhere  granulated  above,  except  on  certain  spaces 
about  the  middle.  The  depressed  pubescent  areas  on  the  male  abdomen 
are  characteristic. 

For  the  differences  between  this  species  and  A.  spinimanus  and  A. 
cruentatus,  see  the  excellent  description  of  Smith,  referred  to  in  the 
synonymy. 

Dredged  in  from  5  to  7  fathoms  between  Fast  and  Middle  Keys, 
Tortugas. 

Acheloiis  spiniearpus  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  convex,  and  rendered  uneven  by  granulated  ridges  and  protu- 
berances similar  to  those  seen  in  all  species  of  Acheloiis,  hut  which  are 
generally  much  less  prominent  than  in  the  species  tinder  consideration. 
The  branchial  ridge  (that  extending  inward  from  the  lateral  spine)  is 
sinuous  and  strongly  convex  forward.  The  lateral  spine  is  long,  equalling 
in  length  two  thirds  that  of  the  entire  antero-lateral  margin.  The  eight 
smaller  teeth  of  the  anterolateral  margin  vary  somewhat  in  si/e,  the 
second,  fourth,  and  sixth,  counting  from  the  front,  being  smaller  than  the 
others.  Front  moderately  prominent,  projecting  slightly  beyond  the 
level  of  the  outer  angles  of  the  orbit;  teeth  sharp,  triangular,  rather 
deeply  cut.  and  about  equal  in  size,  hut  the  median  ones  are  more  promi- 
nent than  the  outer  ones.  The  postero-latural  angles  of  the  carapax  are 
armed  with  a  slight  tooth.  In  the  chelipeds,  the  meros-joint  is  armed 
in  front  with  lour  or  five  spines  (usually  four  on  one  side  and  five  on  the 
other)  ami  with  one  spine  at  the  outer  extremity.  The  inner  spine  of 
the  carpus  is  xrry  long,  two  thirds  as  long  as  the  palm  of  the  hand.  The 
outer  .-pine  of  the  carpus  i-  short.  There  is  only  one  spine  on  the 
superior  margin  of  the  hand.  There  is  no  spine  on  the  meros-joint  of  the 
posterior  pair  of  ambulator)  feet,  bul  the  margins  of  this  joint  are  den- 
til   date. 1  both  above  and  below,  most   strongl)  so  toward   the  extremities. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE    ZOOLOGY.  149 

The  abdomen  of  the  male  is  naked,  smooth,  and  polished,  and  the  ster- 
num is  granulated. 

Dimensions  of  an  adult  male:  Length  of  earapax,  0.37;  breadth,  in- 
cluding spines,  0.84  :  excluding  spines,  0.50  inch:  proportion  of  length  to 
latter  breadth,  l  :  1.35.  In  a  young  male  the  length  of  the  earapax  is 
0.25;  breadth,  including  spines,  0.55;  excluding  spines,  0.34   inch. 

This  species  is  easily  recognized  among  mosl  of  its  congeners  by  its 
lime;  carpal  spines.  From  .!.  Ordwayi  and  A.  tumidtdus  it  is  distin- 
guished by  the  great  length  of  the  lateral  spines. 

Oil' the  Tortugas,  January  4,   1868.  Cast  No.  I.  13  fathoms 

Off  Carysfort   Reef,  March  "21,   1869.  Cast  No.  7.  40 

Off  Conch  Reef,  May  11,  1SG9.  Cast  No.  3.  4'.i 

Off  Alligator  Reef,  May  8,  1869.  Cast  No.  3.  53 

Off  Pacific  Reef,  May  13,   18G9.  Cast  No.  3.  60 

Lat  31°  31',  Long.  79°  41',  May  25,  1868.  Cast  No.  l.  74 

Off  American  Shoal,  May  s,   IS68.  Cast  No.  3.  150 

Achelous  tumidulus  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  rather  narrow,  only  one  fourth  broader  than  long,  rather  more 
convex  than  is  usual  in  the  genus,  and  somewhat  protuberant  about  the 
middle  and  posteriorly.  Posterior  tooth  of  the  antero-lateral  margin 
(lateral  spine)  of  moderate  length,  about  as  long  as  the  space  occupied  by 
the  three  teeth  next  in  trout  of  it.  Front  prominent,  projectile:  much 
beyond  the  level  of  the  outer  angles  of  the  orbits,  convex  ;  teeth  rounded, 
the  two  middle  ones  being  smaller  and  most  prominent,  and  separated 
from  the  lateral  ones  by  a  rather  broad,  shallow  sinus.  Xo  notch  on  the 
orbital  margin  above  the  insertion  of  the  external  antenna'.  Meros-joint 
of  the  outer  maxillipeds  longer  than  broad.  Chelipeds  rather  short; 
meros  armed  with  three  large  and  one  small  spine  on  the  front  edge; 
spine  of  the  outer  extremity  of  the  posterior  edge  of  the  meros  almosl 
obsolete.  Inner  spine  of  the  carpus  long,  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the 
palm  of  the  hand.  There  is  only  one  spine  on  the  superior  margin  of  the 
hand.  On  the  meros-joint  of  the  posterior  p-ur  of  ambulatory  feet  there 
is  a  denticulated  extero-inferior  margin,  but  no  spine.  The  abdomen  of 
the  maie  is  smooth  and  polished. 

Dimensions  of  a,  male:  Length  of  earapax,  0.20:  breadth,  including  the 
lateral  -pine-.  0.31  ;  excluding  the  spines,  0.25  inch;  proportion  of  length 
to  latter  breadth.  I   :  1.25. 

This  differs  from  most  other  American  species  heretofore  described  in 
the  narrowness  of  the  carapax  and  the  prominence  of  the  front.  From  .I. 
Ordicayi  it  differs  in  the  frontal  teeth,  which  are  not  deeply  cut. 

West  of  Tortupas,  January  16,   1869.     Cast    No.  8.     37  fathoms. 
Off  Conch   Reef,       March  21,    1869        Cast   No.    1       10 


150  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

Aeheloiis  spinimanus  De  IIaan. 
Partunus  spinimanus  Latr ei lle,  Encyc.  Me'th.,  X.  188. 
Lupa  spinimana  Leach,  in   Desmarest,  Considerat.  sur  les  Crustace's,  p.  98. 

II.  Milne-Edwards,  Hist    Nut.  dcs  Crust.,  I,  452. 
Aeheloiis  spinimanus   De    Haan,   Fauna  Japonica,   Crust.,  p.   8.     A.  Milne- 

I'.i'\\  lrds,  Arch,  ilu  Museum  d'Hist.  Nat.,  X,  341,  pi.  xxxii.      Smith, 

Trans.  Conn.  Acad,  of  Arts  ami  Sciences,  II,  9. 

Taken  in  shallow  water  mi  the  Florida  coast. 

Aeheloiis  depressifrons  Stm. 
Amphitrite  depressifrons  Stimpson,  Notes  on  N.  American  Crustacea  (1859), 

p.   12. 

Aeheloiis  depressifrons  Stimpson,  Notes  on  X.  American  Crustacea  (I860),  p.  95. 
A.  Milne-Edwards,  Arch,  du  Muse'um  d'Hist.  Nat.,  X,  .'342. 

Key  Wot.  in  from  two  to  five  fathoms. 

Two  miles  south  of  Rebecca  Shoal,  in  ten  fathoms. 

OCYPODOIDEA. 

Family  CAECINOPLACIDAE. 

In  this  family  the  base  of  the  abdomen  covers  the  entire  width  of  the 
posterior  extremity  of  the  sternum. 

Si  bfamily    EURYPLACINAE. 

The  genus  Euryplax  is  the  type  of  a  group  which  differs  from  the  usual 
forms  of  Carcinoplacidae  (as  Pseudorltombila,  Eucrate,  Pilumnoplax,  and 
Tleteroplax)  in  having  the  verges  lodged  in  covered  or  closed  canals,  and 
in  having  the  anterior  corners  of  the  posterior  segment  of  the  sternum  ex- 
posed instead  of  being  covered  by  the  abdomen.  The  first  joint  of  the 
abdomen  is  narrow  ami  very  little  developed.  The  eyes  are  long  ami  the 
antennae  are  excluded  from  the  orbit  by  the  internal  suborbital  lobe. 

Euryplax  nitida  Stm. 
Euryplax  nitida  Stimpson,  Notes  on  X.  American  Crust.,  p.  14.     Smith,  Trans. 
Conn.  Acad,  of  Arts  ami  Sciences,  II.  162. 

The  female,  now  for  the  first  time  described,  differs  remarkably  from 
tin-  male  in  its  narrower  and  more  convex  carapax,  in  which  the  broadest 
part  is  al  the  second  antero-lateral  tooth.  The  outer  angle  of  the  orbit  is 
very  prominent,  forming  the  largest  tooth  of  the  anterolateral  margin, 
the  posterior  tooth  of  which  is  the  smallest;  just  the  opposite  of  what 
occurs  in  the  male.  There  is  no  pit  on  the  meros  joint  of  the  chelipeds. 
This  pit  would,  therefore,  appear  to  be  a  sexual  character,  belonging  to  tin; 
male. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  1")1 

In  a  young  female  specimen,  probably  of  this  species,  w  liieli  was  dredged 
in  forty-nine  fathoms,  and  is  less  than  two  tenths  of  ;in  inch  in  length,  the 
posterior  tooth  of  the  antero-lateral  margin  is  obsolete.  The  same  thing 
occurs  in  a,  young  male  of  about  the  same  size  from  St.  Thomas.  In  this 
young  male  tin-  pits  are  already  present  on  the  meros  of  the  chelipeds, 
but  tlic  shape  of  the  carapax  is  like  that  of  the  female,  and  the  internal  sub- 
orbital lobe  is  much  less  developed  than  in  the  adult. 

Key  West.  -2  in  r,  fathoms. 

Off  Elbow  Reef,  March  21,  i860.     Cast  No.  :;.     49  fathoms. 

Subfamily  EUCRATOPSINAE. 

In  this  group  the  vergal  canals  arc  closed,  ami  the  last  joint  of  the 
sternum  in  the  male  i-  exposed  at  the  anterior  corners,  as  in  the  Eurypla- 
cinae ;  hut  the  first  joint  oT  the  abdomen  is  well  developed,  ami  is  much 
broader  thin  the  second,  reaching  to  the  coxa;  of  the  posterior  feet,  which 
the  second  joint  docs  not.  The  third  joint  of  the  abdomen  is  much  wider 
than  the  second,  but  falls-considerably  short  of  the  margins  of  the  sternum. 
The  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  joints  are  soldered  together.  Except  in  the 
passage  of  the  verges  through  the  sternum,  the  typical  genus  of  this  group 
(Eucratopsis)  dithers  little  from  Panop<  us. 

Panoplax  now  gen. 

This  genus  resembles  Panopt  us  in  general  appearance.  The  carapax  is 
somewhat  depressed,  and  much  broader  than  long.  Antero-lateral  margin 
short,  with  three  teeth  (not  including  the  angle  of  the  orbit,  which  is  not 
prominent),  and  a  slight  emargination  indicating  the  fifth,  or  posterior 
tooth,  which,  being  placed  within  as  well  as  behind  the  prominent  fourth 
tooth,  belongs  more  properly  to  the  postero-lateral  margin.  Facial  region 
narrow:  eye-  short;  orbit  rather  small,  with  a  slight  hiatus  beneath  the 
outer  angle.  Antenna'  and  outer  maxillipeds  as  in  Pa  opt  is.  Ambula- 
tory feet  compressed  :  dactyli  but  little  longer  than  the  penult  joint. 

It  is  very  closely  allied  to  Etta  tlopsis  Smith  (  Enrralt  Dana),  but  differs 
in  its  broader  and  more  depressed  carapax.  deflexed  front,  more  elongated 
bands,  etc. 

Panoplax  depressa  nov.  sp. 

Carapax  faintly  arcolatcd,  and  smooth  and  naked  above.  Third  and 
fourth  antero-lateral  teeth  triangular,  acute,  and  about  equal  in  size,  the 
third,  however,  being  somewhat  broader.  Second  antero-lateral  tooth  half 
as  large  as  the  third.  Front  deflexed,  in  a  curve ;  lobes  broadly  convex, 
smooth.  There  is  a  slight,  straight,  acute  transverse  ridge  crossing  the 
frontal   region   just   above  the  margin.      Chelipeds  rather  large;    carpus 


152  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

with  a  small  spine  at  the  inner  angle;  hand  eonrpressed,  smooth.  Ambu- 
latory feet  pubescent,  the  dactyli  in  particular  being  covered  with  short 
hairs  on  all  sides. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.28 ;  greatest  breadth,  at 
tips  ut'  the  fourth  antero-lateral  teeth,  0.  (3  inch  ;  proportion,  1  :  1,54  ;  length 
of  ambulatory  feel  of  the  second  pair,  0.60  inch. 

Dredged  between  East  ami  Middle  Keys,  Tortugas,  in  from  5  to  7 
fathoms. 

LEUCOSOIDEA. 

Family   CALAPPIDAE. 

Subfamily   CALAPPINAE. 

Cyelois  Balguerii  Stm. 

Afursia  Balguerii  Desp,onxi:  et  Schramm,  Crust,  de  la  Guadeloupe,  p.  52.  pi.  iv, 
fig.  -jo. 

The  specimens  agree  in  all  respects  with -the  description  and  figure 
quoted,  except  in  the  proportions  of  the  carapax,  which  is  narrower  than  in 
the  (juadaloupu  specimens,  being  full}  as  long  as  broad. 

Key  West,  2  to  5  fathoms. 

Between  East  and  Middle  Keys,  Tortugas,  5  to  7  fathoms. 

Off  Orange  Key,  Bahamas,  April  1,  1869.  Cast  No.  2.  9  fathoms. 

Off  die  Tortugas,                 March  4,  1868.  Cast  No.  -  13 

Off  Pacific  Reef,                    May  13,  1869.  Cast  No.  1.  30 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,               March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  8.  .35 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,              March  21,  1869.  Cast  X...  7.  40 

Off  French  Reef,                   March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.  2.  45 

Acantkocarpus  uov.  ecu. 
Body  regularly  ovale,  strongly  convex  in  its  antero-posterior  dorsal  out- 
line. Carapax  as  broad  as  long,  broadest  in  front.  Antero-lateral  con- 
tinuous with  the  postero-lateral  margin;  the  latter  armed  with  a  strong 
tooth  at  about  the  middle.  Pronto-orbital  region  very  broad,  occupying 
more  than  half  the  width  of  the  carapax.  Eyes  large.  External  maxilli- 
peds  not  reaching  to  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  buccal  area;  ischium 
truncate  in  front,  without    projecting  at    the   inner  angle,  which,   like  the 

outer  one,  is  a  right   angle;  meros  shorter  and   br ler  than  the  ischium, 

and   narrowed   in   Iron!,   with    the    palpus  attached  at    the  autero-interior 

:  exognatlt  reach in«  to  the  tip  of  the  meros.  Chelipeds  with  a  great 
spine  on  the  carpus  placed  in  a  horizontal  plane  and  pointing  outward  in  a 
direction  exactly    transverse  to  the  axis  of  the  body.       The  ambulatory 

II  I,     .     lender  dad  \  li,  as  in  (  'alapjm  and  Mursia. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  I  ■'>'■'> 

This  genus  differs  from  Calappa  in  the  want  of  lateral  expansions  of  the 
carapax,  and  from  Mursia  in  the  want  of  lateral  spines.  From  all  the 
genera  of  the  family  hitherto  described  it  differs  in  its  ureal  facial  width. 

Acanthocarpus  Alexandri  nov.  sp 

Carapax  regularly  convex,  with  uneven  surface,  the  protuberances 
being  arranged  obscurely  in  five  longitudinal  rows  anteriorly,  the  middle 
ones  of  which  form  centrally  and  posteriorly  three  conspicuous  ridges, 
the  lateral  ridges  terminating  in  the  teeth  of  the  postero-lateral  margin. 
The  surface  is  uniformly,  but  not  thickly,  covered  with  minute,  equal 
granules,  the  interspaces  between  which  are  wider  than  the  granules 
themselves.  The  posterior  margin  is  regularly  arcuate,  and  hears  a  slight- 
ly prominent  tooth  at  the  middle,  and  a  slight  wave  in  the  outline  on 
either  side.  The  lateral  margin  is  unarmed,  except  by  two  or  three  slight 
tuberculiform  teeth  near  the  orbit.  The'  orbits  are  large,  without  fissures, 
except  the  inner  superior  one.  which  is  itself  nearly  obsolete  ;  orbital  mar- 
gin ciliated.  The  front,  is  of  moderate  width,  a  little  convex,  lint  not 
toothed,  and  is  separated  from  the  orbit  by  irs  lateral  angle  -imply,  and 
not  by  any  notch.  The  spine  on  the  carpus  of  the  cheliped  is  nearly  half 
as  long  as  the  carapax;  and  above  it,  on  the  same  joint,  there  is  another 
spine,  stouter,  but  only  one  fourth  as  long  as  the  first.  Both  these  spines 
are  granulated.  The  hand  is  provided  with  a  seven-toothed  crest  above, 
and  another,  oblique,  six-toothed  crest  on  the  outer  surface,  extending  from 
the  base  of  the  daetylus  to  the  postero-inferior  angle.  On  the  latter  crest 
the  posterior  tooth  i>  largest,  and  firms  by  itself  a  short  crest,  separated 
from  the  other  teeth  by  a,  considerable  interval.  Between  the  upper  and 
lower  crests  of  the  hand  there  are  four  or  live  tubercles  scattered  upon  the 
surface.      Ambulatory  feet    naked,  unarmed,  with  smooth  polished  surface. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.31  inch;  breadth  the  same. 
(Jti'the  Quicksands,  January  -j:i,  1869.     Cast  No.  i'.     74  fathoms. 

Calappa  marmorata  Faisr. 
Cancer  marmoratusFwRicivs,  Ent.  Syst.,  II,  450  (17;n). 
<'mtr<_r  flammeus    Herust,  Nattirg.  d.   Krabben  unci    Krcbse,  II,  161;   pi.   \I, 

tig.  2. 
Calappa  marmorata  Farricus,  Suppl.  fait.  Syst.,  p.  346.     II.  Milne-Edwakos, 

Ili-t.    Xat.    des    Crust.,  II,    104.      Dkshonxe  et    Schramm,  Crust.  de  la 

Guadeloupe,  p.  51. 

Found  at  Key  West,  in  from  2  to  5  fathoms. 

Calappa  galloides  Stm. 
Calappa  galloides  Stimpson,   Notes  on   V  American  Crustacea,  p.  25. 
Found  at  Key  West,  in   1  to  5  ['alliums. 


154  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

Family  MATUTIDAE. 

Tin'  Matutidae  may  conveniently  be  dividefl  into  two  subfamilies,  Ma- 
tutinae  and  Hepatinae.  Tlie  latter  gi p  differs  from  the  former  in  hav- 
ing a  broader  carapax,  a  narrow  facial  region,  and  short  orbits  and  eyes. 

Subfamily  HEPATINAE. 

Osachila  nov.  gen. 

This  genus  is  allied  to  Hepatus  in  all  essential  characters,  but  differs 
considerably  in  the  shape  of  the  carapax,  which  is  nearly  as  long  as  broad, 
and  lias  the  front  much  produced,  so  much  so  as  to  form  a  true  rostrum  in 
one  species.  The  carapax  i-  also  more  or  less  depressed  and  expanded  at 
i  he  -ides,  and  its  surface  is  verj  une\  en,  Inn  ing  six  chief  protuberances. 

Species  of  this  genus  are  found  in  the  seas  of  both  sides  of  Tropical 
America.     The  name  is  that  of  a  Florida.  Cacique. 

Osachila  tuberosa  nov.  sp. 
Carapax  somewhat  octagonal,  very  slightly  broader  than  long;  surface 
very  uneven,  deeply  pitted  on  the  protuberances,  and  finely,  densely  punc- 
tate on  tin'  depressed  parts.  Three  of  the  protuberances  are  on  the 
gastric  region  and  correspond  to  the  metagastric  and  nrogastric  lobes, 
the  protuberance  of  the  latter  being  much  the  smallest,  and  continued  an- 
teriorly in  the  form  of  a  slight  ridge  in  the  furrow  between  the  metagastric 
lobes,  reach  in-,  with  the  furrow.-,  nearly  to  the  frontal  region.  The  cardiac 
protuberance  is  rounded  and  smaller  than  tin-  metagastric  ones.  Themeso- 
branchial  lobes  are  strongly  protuberant  and  larger  than  the  metagastric, 
and  there  is  a  small,  elongated,  longitudinal  protuberance  between  them 
and  the.  cardiac  protuberance.  The  front  is  projecting,  and  bilobed,  with 
the  lobes  verv  obtuse  and  separated  h\  a  deep  tin  row.  No  protuberance  on 
the  concave  hepatic  region.      Antero-lateral  margin  straight  or  slightly  con 

cave  anterior!} ,  but  quickly  curving  backward  and  bee ing  parallel  to  the 

axis  of  the  body  in  the  greater,  posterior  part  oi  its  length;  it  is  armed 
with  numerous  small  irregular  teeth,  and  i>  pitted  above  like  the  protuber- 
ant parts  of  the  carapax  ;  and  the  posterior  tooth,  which  forms  part  of  the 
branchial  protuberance,  is  larger  than  the  others.  Postero-lateral  margin 
nearly  straight,  obtuse,  rugose,  and  armed   with   two  or  three  tuberculi- 

torm    teeth,  of  which   one.  separated    fr the    post*  rior  extremity   of  the 

carapax  by  a  concavity,  is  the  largest.  Posterior  extremity  of  the  carapax 
narrow,  with  a  rugose  and  much-thickened  margin  concealing  the  base  of 
the  alrdomen.  Beneath,  the  entire  surface  of  the  carapax,  maxillipeds, 
sternum,  abdomen,  and  of  the  base?  of  (he  feet,  is  densely  covered  with 
rather    large    pits,   giving    it   a    vcrmiculated   or    reticulated    appearance. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  155 

Ohelipeds  father  stout;  outer  surface  strongly  rugose  with  punctate 
tubercles  and  juts;  hand  with  four  teeth  on  the  superior  crest.  Ambula- 
tory feet  (except  dactyli)  naked,  compressed,  and  crested  above  and  lie- 
low;  crest  ofmeros-joint  with  a  row  of  pits  along  the  posterior  side,  giving 
it  a  plicated  appearance;  last  three  joints  with  another  crest  on  the  pos- 
tero-superior  surface;  dactyli  stout,  densely  pubescent  below. 

Dimensions  of  a  male:  Length  of  carapax,  0.56;  breadth,  0.59  inch; 
proport  ion,   1  :  1.05  !. 

West  of  Tortillas,  January  16,  1869.  Cast  No.    4.  36  fathoms. 

Off  Conch  Reef,  March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.    1.  40 

Off  French  Reef,  March  21,    L869.  Cast  No.     2.  45 

Off  Carysfort  Reef,  .March  21,  1869.  Cast  No.    5.  60 

West  of  Tortugas,  -January  16,  1869.  Cast  No.  13.  68 

Family  LKUCOSIDAE. 

Subfamily  ILLIINAE. 

Xo  attempt  has  yet,  1  believe,  been  made  to  separate  the  Leucosidae 
into  subfamilies.  The  existence  of  the  group  which  I  have  here  named 
Iliinae  seem-  to  be  sufficiently  well  indicated  by  tangible  characters,  such 
as  the  long,  slender  chelipeds,  and  the  two-notched  extremity  of  the 
pterygostomian  channel. 

Iliacantha  nov.  gen. 

Closely  allied  to  Ilia,  but  having  three  -pines  (one  median)  at  the  pos- 
terior extremity  of  the  carapax,  instead  of  tour  tuberculiform  teeth.  From 
Persephona,  Myra,  and  other  allied  genera  of  Leucosidae,  it  differs  in  the 
peculiar  conformation  of  the  hands,  which  are  twisted,  so  that  the  fingers 
open  in  a  vertical  instead  of  a  horizontal  plane. 

The  pterygostomian  channels  at  their  anterior  extremities  project  con- 
siderably beyond  the  orbits.  The  abdomen  in  a  young  male,  the  only 
specimen  of  that  sex  1  have  seen,  is  seven-jointed,  none  ^\'  the  joints  be- 
ing soldered  together. 

The  species  of  Ilia,  the  nearest  ally  of  this  new  Lreuu<.  are  confined  t< 
the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

Iliacantha  subglobosa  nov.  sp. 
Carapax  subglobose,  smoothly  and  evenly  convex,  and  unarmed,  except 
a'  the  posterior  extremity,  where  there  are  three  spines,  similar  in  position 
to  those  of  the  species  of  Myra  ami  Persephona,  the  middle  one  being  long 
(equalling  in  length  one  seventh  that  of  the  carapax)  and  curved  upward, 
and  the  lateral  ones  flattened,  triangular.  The  hepatic  region  is  consider- 
ably swollen,  hut  entirely  unarmed,  and  is  hounded  posteriorly  byadepres- 


15G  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

sion  indicating  the  outer  extremity  of  the  cervical  sulcus,  which  is  entirely 
obsolete  in  its  median  portion.     The  margin  of  the  carapax  is  distinct  ami 

somewhat  acute  on  the  hepatic  region,  and  on  the  anterior  part  of  the 
branchial,  as  far  as  a  slight  angular  projection,  posterior  to  which  it 
ceases  to  be  denned.  Surface  of  the  carapax  minutel)  granulated.  Chel- 
ipeils  in  the  female  two  and  a  hah'  times  as  long  as  the  carapax, excluding 
the  spine,  ami  minutely  granulated ;  meros  more  sharply  granulated  than 
carpus  ami  hand;  fingers  very  slender,  much  longer  than  the  palm,  ami 
armed  within  with  needle-like  teeth.  Ambulatory  feet  very  slender  ami 
smooth,  those  of  the  first  pair  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  palm  of  the 
chelipeds ;  meros-joint  as  long  as  the  terminal  three  joints  taken  together. 

The  above  description  is  that,  of  a  female.  In  the  male  the  carapax  is 
less  smoothly  rounded  above,  the  regions  being  faintly  indicated,  and  the 
intestinal  region  protuberant  above  the  base  of  the  posterior  spine. 

Dimensions  of  a  sterile  female:  Length  of  carapax,  including  the  poste- 
rior spine,  0.63  ;  breadth,  0.52;  length  ofcheliped,  1.38  inch. 

Off  Carysfort   Iteef,    March  21,   18(59.     Cast  No.  7.      40  fathoms. 
Off  French  licet',         March  21,   18(59.     Cast   No.  2.      45 
Oil'  Pacific  beef,         May   13,   1869.         Cast   No.  :i.      do 

Iliacantha  sparsa  nov   ^]>. 

Carapax  oval;  intestinal  and  hepatic  regions  only  defined;  surface 
sparsely  granulated;  granules  scattered,  sharply  projecting,  almost  like  short 
capitate  spines;  surface  between  the  granules  punctate,  or,  as  near  the 
margins,  covered  with  smaller  granules.  Postero-lateral  margin  less  con- 
vex than  in  /.  subglobosa.  Posterior  spines  large;  lateral  ones  similar  in 
shape  to  and  more  than  one  half  as  large  as  the  middle  .-pine.  A  spine  on 
the  hepatic  region  half  as  large  as  the  lateral  posterior  ones.  Depression 
between  the  frontal  and  gastric  region  very  deep,  giving  great  prominence 
to  the  facial  projection;  median  sinus  of  front  very  deep:  frontal  tee.h 
much  projecting.  External  maxillipeds  larger,  more  produced  in  front, 
ami  more  coarsely  granulated  than  in  the  preceding  specie-:  granules 
prominent,  like  those  of  the  back  of  the  carapax. 

Dimensions  of  a  sterile  female:  Length  of  carapax,  posterior  spine 
included,  0.30  ;    breadth,  0.25   inch. 

It  is  easily  distinguished  from  /.  subr/lobosa  by  it-  hepatic  spine. 

\V.    i  ,,f  the  Tortu»as,  January   !»'>,   1869.     Cast   No.   1.     30  fathoms. 

Myropsis  nov.  gen. 
This  rronus  differs  from    Mijra,  to  which   it    is   nearly  allied,  in   its  more 
globular  form,  in  having  five  instead  of  three  posterior  spines,  in  the  want 
of  the  median  and  hepatic  ridges,  and  in   having   the  outer   margin   of  the 


MUSKUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  L57 

exognath  of  the  outer  maxillipcds  straight  instead  of  curved.  From  Ilia 
and  Iliacantha  ii  differs  in  its  chelipeds,  the  fingers  of  which  open  in  a 
horizontal  plane.  From  Persephona  it  differs,  among  other  characters,  in 
the  basal  joint  of  the  antcnnulas,  which  is  indurated  and  crested.  The 
anterior  extremity  of  the  pterygostomian  channel  does  not  reach  beyond 
the  orbits.  All  the  joints  of  the  male  abdomen  are  soldered  together,  ex- 
cept the  terminal  one. 

The  species  of  Myra,  the  nearest  ally  of  the  new  genus,  are  all,  as  far  as 
known,  inhabitants  of  the  Kasl  Indian  and  Australian  seas. 

Myropsis  quinquespinosa  nov.  sp. 

Body  and  chelipeds  everywhere  granulated,  above  and  below.  Carapax 
subglobular,  regularly  and  evenly  convex,  as  in  Iliacantha  subglobosa ;  in- 
testinal and  cardiac  regions  only  defined,  and  defined  by  rather  deep 
furrows  on  either  side  ;  hepatic  region  not  swollen  ;  cervical  sulcus  obso- 
lete; granules  of  the  surface  equal  in  size  and  distributed  with  great 
regularity,  being  distant  from  each  other  by  a  space  equal  in  width  to  two 
or  three  times  their  diameter.  Lateral  margins  of  carapax  regularly 
arched.  Of  the  five  posterior  spines,  the  median  one  is  situated  on  the 
intestinal  region;  the  intermediate  ones  are  but  little  smaller  than  the 
median  one,  and  are  placed  at  a  lower  level,  occupying  the  postero-1 
angles  of  the  carapax  :  the  outer  ones,  placed  on  the  branchial  region  over 
the  insertion  of  the  posterior  feet,  are  small,  only  one  third  as  long  as  the 
median  spine.  There  is  also  a  small  spine  at  the  middle  of  the  lateral 
margin,  and  one  on  the  hepatic  region.  The  frontal  teeth  are  obtuse,  and 
not  very  prominent.  Chelipeds  cylindrical ;  meros  more  than  two  thirds 
as  long  as  the  carapax,  and  covered  with  granules  as  large  as  those  of  the 
carapax,  but  densely  crowded  :  granules  of  hand  smaller,  but  also  densely 
crowded  :  fingers  longer  than  the  palm,  and  armed  within  with  very 
minute  and  acute  teeth  varying  in  size.  Ambulatory  feel  naked  (except 
the  dactyli),  cylindrical,  and  parth  microscopically  granulated;  those  of 
the  first  pair  one  sixth  longer  than  the  carapax. 

Dimensions    of  a    male:     Length    of  carapax,    spines    included,    0.72; 
breadth,  0.5.S  ;  length  ofcheliped,  1.2.")  inch. 

Off  Tennessee  Reef,  May  7,  ISG'J.     Cast  No.  I.     21  fathoms. 
May  11, 1SH8.    Cast  No.  5.     82 

Callidaetylus  nov.  -m. 
Carapax  rounded,   ncarl\    as   broad    as   long,   regularly   convex,  except 
if. i:    I  he  anterior  margins:   hepalie    i  rell  defined,  protuberant,  and 

toothed:   posterior  extremity  armed  with   threi    spines,  as   in    Pcrsej 
etc.       Fi\  nt    short  :    basal    joint    of  (be   ante  inula1    not     indurated.      Orbit 


158  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

longitudinal,  with  three  very  distinel  fissures  on  the  outer  side,  which  ex- 
tend to  the  base  of  the  orbital  tube.  Pterygostomian  channel  much  nar- 
rower than  in  Myra,  strongly  tridentate  in  front,  and  extending  beyond 
the  orbit.  External  maxillipeds  sharply  granulated  ;  exognath  with  a  con- 
vex outer  margin,  bul  much  less  dilated  than  in  Myra;  meros-joint  of 
endognath  with  a  concave  outer  surface.  Chelipeds  of  moderate  length ; 
hand  much  longer  than  the  meros ;  palm  short,  pyriform,  much  swollen 
within  toward  the  base,  and  somewhat  twisted,  though  less  so  than  in  Ilia, 
so  that  the  fingers  move  in  an  oblique  plane  ;  fingers  much  longer  than  the 
palm,  very  thin  and  delicate,  laminate,  curving  upward  and  inward  toward 
the  tips,  serrated  on  the  outer  edge,  and  armed  within  with  numerous 
needle-shaped  teeth.  Ambulatory  feel  naked  (except  the  dactyli  of  the 
posterior  pair,  which  are  sparsely  pilose)  ;  penult  joint  compressed,  with  a 
laminiform  crest  above  and  below;  dactyli  lanceolate,  those  of  the  first 
three  pairs  three-edged,  those  of  the  posterior  pair  two-edged  and  shorter 
and  broader  than  the  others. 

in  the  female  there  is  a  deep,  smooth  channel  on  the  outer  maxillipeds, 
in  the  median  line,  between  and  on  the  ischium  joints,  defined  on  cither 
siik'  by  a  strong  ciliated  ridge.  This  channel  does  not  exist  in  the  male, 
and  has  doubtless  something  to  do  with  the  flow  of  the  water  which  bathes 
the  eggs  or  young  in  the  abdominal  cavity. 

In  the  male,  all  the  joints  of  the  abdomen,  except  the  terminal  one,  are 
soldered  together. 

The  genus  resembles  Myrodes  somewhat  in  the  character  of  the  fingers, 
but  differs  from  it  as  well  as  from  Myra  and  the  allied  genera  in  the  want 
of  an  indurated  crest  on  the  basal  joint  of  the  antennuhe,  and  in  the  char- 
acter of  the  dactyli  of  the  ambulatory  feet,  from  Peisephona,  etc.  it  (lif- 
ters in  the  convex  outer  margin  of  the  exognath  of  the  outer  maxillipeds. 

Oallidactylus  asper  nov.  sp. 
The  following  is  a  description  of  an  adult  female.  Carapax  con- 
vex in  the  middle  and  posteriorly,  hut  somewhat  depressed  toward  the 
anterior  margins.  The  sulci  separating  the  gastric,  cardiac,  and  intesti- 
nal from  the  branchial  regions  are  easily  traceable,  as  well  as  that  between 
the  cardiac  and  the  gastric;  but  there  is  none  between  the  cardiac  and 
the  intestinal  regions.  The  hepatic  region  is  surrounded  by  rather  pro- 
found depressions,  and  on  its  posterior  pari  there  is  a  strong  tooth-like  pro- 
tuberance, occupying  about  one  third  its  area.  The  upper  surface  of  the 
carapax  i  ornamented  with  scattered,  prominent  granules,  or  short,  capi- 
tate spiimles.  which  become  less  prominent  posteriorly  and  disappear  alto- 
gether near  the  posterior  extremity,  where  the  surface  i>  covered,  with 
smaller  and   more,  crowded  and   depressed   granules.     On  the  lateral  parts 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE    ZOOLOGY.  L59 

of  the  branchial  region  the  two  kinds  of  granules  arc  found  together.  In 
the  median  line  there  arc  three  or  four  shorl  blunl  spines  on  the  posterior 
part  of  the  gastric  and  the  cardiac  regions,  the  posterior  one  of  which  is 
rather  remote  from  the  others,  and  much  larger  than  they,  nearly  as 
large  as  the  median  posterior  spine.  There  is  a  strong,  triangular  tooth, 
pointing  forward,  on  the  subhepatic  region,  and  a  smaller  tooth  at  the  an- 
terior extremity  of  the  branchial  region  on  the  antero-latera!  margin.  On 
the  postero-lateral  margin  there  is  also  a  small  tooth,  or  short  spine.  The 
three  posterior  spines  occupy  the  usual  position  (as  in  PersepJiona,  Myra, 
etc.),  and  are  short.  The  outer  maxillipeds  arc  granulated,  like  the  upper 
surface  of  the  carapax,  and  somewhat  setose,  the  setae  arising  between  the 
granules.  The  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  joints  of  the  abdomen  are  soldered 
together;  the  surface  is  smooth  and  glossy  about  the  middle,  hut  there  is 
a  transverse  tuberculated  ridge  on  the  fourth  joint,  and  the  sixth  joint  is 
sparsely  granulated. 

Of  the  male  sex  I  have  lmt  one  half-grown  example.  The  carapax  is 
rather  broader  and  more  depressed  than  in  the  female,  and  the  granules 
are  smaller,  less  numerous,  and  more  scattered.  The  posterior  spines  are 
longer.  The.  sternum  and  abdomen  are  evenly  covered  with  minute,  de- 
pressed, crowded  granules. 

Dimensions  of  a  female  specimen:  Length  of  carapax,  spine  included, 
o.7!>:  breadth.  0.61;  length  of  meros-joint  of  cheliped,  0.42;  length  of 
hand,  0.65  inch.  In  the  young  male  the  length  of  the  carapax  is  0.311 ; 
breadth.  0.65  inch. 

Lat.  24°  X.  Long.,  S3°  W.,  January  22,  1868.     Cast  No.  3.     16  fathoms. 
Off  Carysfort  Reef,  March  21,  1869.        Cast  No.  8.     35 

West  of  Tortugas3  January  16,  1869.      Cast  No   S.     37         " 

Subfamily  EBALIINAE. 

The  genera  Ebalia,  Nursia,  Lithartia,  Oreophorim,  Spelaeophorus,  etc., 
appear  to  form  a  natural  group,  to  which  the  name  Ebaliinae  may  be 
applied. 

Lithadia  cadaverosa  no  v.  sp. 
The  following  description  is  that  of  a  female,  no  males  having  occurred  : 
Carapax  broad,  somewhat  octagonal  in  shape,  very  little  produced  poste- 
riorly, and  very  strongly  convex  ;  the  branchial  regions  being  more  swollen 
than  in  any  of  the  Other  known  species  of  the  genus,  am)  occupying  by  far 
the  greater  portion  of  the  carapax  These  regions  and  the  other  protu- 
berant parts  of  the  carapax  are  more  or  less  covered  with  depressed,  often 
confluent  granules,  arranged  in  lines  or  groups  with  depressed  spaces  in- 
tervening, giving  to  the  surface  an  eroded  or  vermiculated   appearance. 


160  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Tl xcavations  between  the  regions  are  very  deep,  but  those  surround- 
ing the  cardiac  region  are  broader  and  less  abrupt  than  in  other  species 
of  the  genus;  those  surrounding  the  hepatic  region  and  lying  in  fronl  of 
the  branchial  arc  very  narrow.  In  one  of  the  two  specimens  then'  are 
several  small,  round,  isolated  tubercles  in  the  depression  between  the 
cardiac  and  gastric  regions;  while  in  the  other  this  space,  as  well  as  the 
entire  gastric  and  part  of  the  branchial  region,  is  evenly  covered  with  flat, 
translucent  granules,  giving  the  surface  a  finely  reticulated  appearance. 
The  hepatic  region  is  narrow,  with  a  granulated  ridge  extending  inward  a 
slmrt  distance  from  the  antero-lateral  margin,  which  is  here  defined  by  a 
similar  ridge.  Behind  the  hepatic  region,  and  separated  from  it  l>y  a  deep 
transverse  sinus  below,  there  are  on  the  margin  two  strong,  triangular 
teeth  pointing  downward  mi  the  antero-lateral  part  of  the  branchial  region. 
The  posterior  of  these  two  teeth  corresponds  to  the  anterior  lateral  tooth 
of  other  species  of  the  genus,  but  the  tooth  in  fronl  of  it  is  the  larger;  the 
surface  of  both  is  flattened.  The  posterior  lateral  tooth  of  the  branchial 
region  is  blunt.  The  intestinal  region  is  broad,  and  the  two  marginal 
lobes  are  thickened,  but  very  little  projecting,  and  not  at  all  dentiform. 
On  the  inferior  surface  of  the  branchial  region  there  are  one  or  two  rows 
of -mall  tubercles.  The  front  is  thick,  the  epistome  and  suborbital  region 
ample,  and  the  external  maxillipeds  bent  nearly  to  a  right  angle  in  front, 
so  that  the  anterior  portion  of  the  facial  region  is  large  and  lies  in  a  verti- 
cal plane.  The  frontal  mar-in  is  slightly  concave,  hut  not  notched.  The 
chelipeds  are  rugose,  with  angular,  granulated  protuberances;  meros  not 
at  all  flattened,  hut  nearly  as  thick  as  it  is  broad.  Ambulatory  feet  armed 
above  with  short,  thick  spines,  as  in  L.  Cumingii ;  dactyli  and  penult 
joints  somewhat  setose.  Color,  bluish-white,  with  flake-white  ridges  and 
tubercle-:  frontal  portion  ami  feet,  flesh-colored;  a  tew  blood-red  spots  on 
the  abdomen  and  about  the  bases  of  the  feet,  particularly  of  the  chelipeds. 

Dimensions  of  the  larger  female:  Length  of  carapax,  0.26;  breadth, 
0.30  inch 

This  crab  is  well  protected  by  its  general  appearance,  and  with  its  feet 
retracted  would  scarcely  be  taken  for  a  living  object-  It  differs  from  L. 
cariosa  in  it-  broader  and  more  convex  carapax,  and  in  the  much  less 
prominent    lobes  of  the  intestinal   region. 

West  of  Tortujras,  January    16,   I860      Cast   No.  7.     •'?:>  fathoms. 
Off  Concli   Reef,       March  21,    I860.        Cast  No.   1.     40 

A.  AM   M  \     Ol     SCIKNCES,    ('no    VGO,    111.., 
December   1st,    1870. 


MUSEUM  OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  1G1 

No.  3.  —  On  the  Mammals  and  Winter  Birds  of  East  Florida, 
with  an  Examination  of  certain  assumed  Specific  Characters 
in  Birds,  and  a  Sketch  of  the  Bird-Fauna;  of  Eastern  North 
America.     By  J.  A.  Allen. 

Introduction. 

The  present  paper  embraces  five  more  or  less  distinct  parts.  The 
first  consists  of  introductory  remarks  respecting  the  topographical, 
climatic,  and  faunal  features  of  that  part  of  the  peninsula  of  Florida 
usually  known  as  East  Florida.  The  second  is  an  annotated  li.~t  of 
the  mammals  of  this  region.  The  third  is  devoted  to  a  consideration 
of  individual,  seasonal,  age  and  geographical  variation  among  birds, 
with  reference  to  certain  characters  commonly  assumed  to  be  specific. 
The  fourth  contains  a  list  of  the  winter  birds  of  East  Florida,  with 
field  and  revisionary  notes.  The  fifth  is  given  to  an  examination  of 
the  geographical  distribution  of  the  birds  and  mammals  (more  particu- 
larly of  the  birds)  of  Eastern  North  America,  in  which  is  considered 
the  number  of  the  natural  faunae  of  this  region,  their  distinctive  fea- 
tures and  their  boundaries. 

The  enumeration  of  the  mammals  and  birds,  forming  Parts  II  and 
IV,  is  based  partly  on  my  own  observations  and'  partly  on  notes 
kindly  furnished  me  by  Messrs.  C.  J.  Maynard  and  G.  A.  Boardman. 
These  observations  may  be  considered  as  equivalent  collectively  to  the 
labors  of  a  single  observer  constantly  in  the  field  for  at  least  four  or 
five  winters. 

My  own  observations  were  made  during  a  three  months'  exploration 
of  the  country  bordering  the  St.  John's  River,  between  Jacksonville 
and  Enterprise,  in  the  winter  of  1868  and  I860,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology.  The  greater  part  of  January 
was  passed  at  Jacksonville,  where  I  also  spent  the  last  week  of  March. 
Five  weeks  were  also  passed  in  the  vicinity  of  Enterprise,  and  the  bal- 
ance of  the  time  at  various  intermediate  points. 

Mr.  Maynard's  explorations  were  made  during  the  same  winter, 
mainly  in  portions  of  the  country  unvisitcd  by  myself,  a  large  part 
of  his  collection  coming  from  the  Upper  St.  John's  and  Indian  Rivers. 
lie  also  spent  several  weeks  at  Dummitt's,  twenty  miles  south  of 
New  Smyrna.     During  most  of  December  and  January  he  collected 

VOL.  II.  11 


162  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

in  the  vicinity  of  Jacksonville,  at  which  point  one  of  his  assistants, 
Mr.  Charles  Thurston,  remained  during  April  and  a  portion  of  May, 
collecting,  among  other  tilings,  the  later  arriving  birds.  Nearly  all  the 
birds  ami  mammals  collected  by  these  gentlemen,  and  by  Mr.  J.  F.  Le- 
Baron,  a  third  member  of  Mr.  Maynard's  party,  have  been  added  to 
the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  and  are  accom- 
panied by  measurements  carefully  taken  before  skinning. 

Mr.  Boardman's  observations  were  continued  through  three  suc- 
cessive winters,  during  which  he  spent  considerable  lime  at  the  follow- 
ing points  :  St.  Augustine  and  Fernandina  on  the  coast,  Jacksonville, 
Green-Cove-Springs  and  Enterprise  on  the  St.  John's  River.  Al- 
though the  numerous  specimens  he  collected  at  these  and  intermediate 
points  were  presented  by  him  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  I  am 
indebted  to  him  for  an  annotated  manuscript  list  of  the  species  he  met 
with.  I  am  also  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Marcy,  who  accompa- 
nied me  on  my  Florida  trip,  for  valuable  assistance  in  collecting,  and  to 
Mr.  J.  E.  Brundage  for  similar  aid. 

Having  made  use  of  the  reports  of  previous  visitors  on  the  faunae  of 
this  region,  the  following  lists  are  believed  to  embrace  all  the  species 
of  mammals  thus  far  known  from  East  Florida,  and  all  the  birds  regu- 
larly  present  in  winter,  of  nearly  all  of  which  I  have  examined  speci- 
mens from  Florida.  A  few  other  birds  not  included  in  my  list  doubt- 
less  occasionally  visit  this  region  from  the  North,  and  others  may  lin- 
ger here  which  usually  pass  the  winter  further  south.  In  order  to 
increase  the  value  of  the  bird  li>t  as  a  fatinal  record,  those  species 
known  to  be  resident  throughout  the  year  have  been  indicated  by 
an  asterisk  (*),  and  those  known  only  as  winter  visitors  by  an  obelisk 
(f).  The  date  of  the  first  appearance  of  the  strictly  spring  visitors  is 
also  noted,  so  far  as  such  arrivals  were  observed. 

The  specimens  on  which  the  investigations  detailed  in  Part  III  are 
based,  as  well  as  tin'  revisionary  notes  of  Parts  II  and  IV,  are  mainly 
those  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  which  embrace,  among 
Others,  nearly  a  thousand  specimens  of  birds  from  Florida.* 

The  topics  discussed  in  Part  III,  namely,  individual  and  climatic 
variation,  necessarily  involve  the  question  of  the  nature  of  species, 
as  well  as  the  validity  of  various  diagnostic  characters.      Many  details 

*  I  have  also  made  use  of  measurements,  taken  by  Mr.  Wm.  Brewster  and  Mr.  C.  J. 
M;iyiiurd,  of  hundreds  of  specimens  not  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  163 

in  reference  to  these  variations  arc  given  in  this  part,  but  a  lame  pro- 
portion are  recorded  in  the  general  and  revisionary  notes  of  Part  IV. 
The  conclusions  arrived  at,  it  may  be  here  premised,  are  mainly  the  fol- 
lowing: (i.)  That  the  majority  of  nominal  species  originate  in  two 
principal  sources  of  error;  namely,  (a)  an  imperfect  knowledge  of  the 
extent  and  character  of  individual  variation,  and  (b)  of  geographical 
variation.  ('-.)  That  this  imperfect  knowledge  is  mainly  due  to  the 
neglect  of  zoologists  to  study  with  sufficient  care  the  common  species 
of  their  respective  countries,  whence  has  arisen  a  faulty  method  of  in- 
vestigation and  erroneous  ideas  respecting  species  and  specific  charac- 
ter-. (3.)  Instead  of  the  method  at  present  pursued  by  a  large  school  of 
descriptive  naturalists  —  the  analytic,  or  the  search  for  differences  — 
being  the  proper  one,  that  synthesis  should  be  duly  combined  with  analy- 
sis, and  that  general  principles  should  be  sought  as  well  as  new  forms, 
or  so-called  "new  species"  and  '-new  genera."  (4.)  It  is  claimed  that 
nothing  is  to  be  gained  by  giving  binomial  names  to  climatic  or  other 
form-,  in  cases  where,  however  considerable  the  differences  between  them 
may  be,  a  complete  transition  from  the  one  to  the  other  can  be  traced 
in  specimens  from  intermediate  localities,  notwithstanding  the  plea 
sometimes  urged  that  their  use  affords  "  convenient  handles  to  facts." 

In  accordance  with  such  views  a  partial  revision  of  the  species  of 
certain  groups  is  incidentally  attempted  in  Part  IV,  more  especially 
of  the  Icteridcc,  the  raptorial  birds,  and  the  genera  Pants,  Tardus,  Pas- 
serculus,  etc. 

Part  I. 

The    Topographical,    Climatic,    and  Faunal    Characteristics   of  East 

Florida. 

No  part  of  the  Florida  Peninsula,  as  is  well  known,  is  much  ele- 
vated above  the  level  of  the  sea,  the  greater,  port  ion  being  extremely 
low  and  lame  areas  swampy.  The  surface  is  slightly  undulating,  but 
tin;  higher  ridges  randy  attain  a  height  of  more  than  lifiy  or  seventy- 
five  feet,  and  the  highest  eminence  is  less  than  two  hundred.  A  large 
part  of  Northern  Florida,  including  what  is  usually  termed  Fa-t  and 
West  Florida,  is  covered  with  open  pine  forests,  constituting  the  so- 
called  "  pine  barrens."  These  barrens  frequently  rise  into  dry  knolls, 
but  they  likewise  embrace  considerable  tract-  that  are  so  low  as  to  be 
more  or  less  submerged  during  a  portion  of  the  year,  especially  in  wet 


1G4  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

seasons;  they  are  nlso  interspersed  with  cypress  swamps  of  varying 
extent.  Such  swamps  usually  bonier  the  St.  John's  on  its  upper 
course,  sometimes  extending  back  from  the  river  for  several  miles. 
Other  portions  of  the  low  grounds  support  ;i  mixed  foresl  of  live-oak, 
water-oak,  elm,  bitter-nut  hickory,  maple,  laurel,  sweet  gum,  etc.,  with 
a  more  or  less  dense  undergrowth,  Mich  forests  forming  the  so-called 
"  hummocks."  Some  portions  of  these  forests  are  swampy  ;  others  are 
dry,  and  slightly  elevated.  The  saw  and  dwarf  palmettos  (Subal  serru- 
lata  R.  &  S.  and  S.  Adansonii  Guerns.)  frequently  render  the  former 
difficult  to  penetrate,  and  extensive  groves  of  the  cabbage  palm  (Cha- 
mcerops palmetto  Michx.  ;  Sabal  palmetto  R.  &  S.)  here  and  there  oc- 
cupy  the  banks  of  the  streams.  At  intervals  in  the  pine  barrens  exten- 
sive thickets  of  low  trees  and  thickly  growing  shrubs  are  met  with, 
which  are  exceedingly  difficult  to  enter,  and  are  appropriately  termed 
"  scrubs."  Each  of  these  kinds  of  country,  as  would  be  naturally  ex- 
pected, forms  the  favorite  haunt  of  certain  species  of  birds  and  mam- 
mals, the  grassy  or  open  pineries  being  frequented  by  some  that 
rarely  v i-i t  the  swamps  and  hummocks,  and  the  hitler  by  others  that 
rarely  visit  the  open  pineries.  The  extensive  savannas  which  occur 
along  the  upper  portion  of  the  St.  John's  River  and  elsewhere  form  the 
favorite  haunts  of  numerous  wading  birds  ;  and  the  numerous  lakes  are 
congenial  to  the  swimming  bird-. 

East  Florida  hence  differs  but  little  in  its  general  character  from  the 
lower  portions  of  Georgia  and  the  low  land-  ol  the  coast  ol  South  Carolina. 
The  tree-,  especially  of  the  hummock-  and  swampy  forests,  arc  usually 
covered  with  the  pendant  Tillandsia  vsnoides,  or  "  Spanish  moss,"  and 
the  abundance  of  epiphytic  orchids  and  other  plant.-,  as  well  as  the  palms, 
clearly  indicates  the  subtropical  and  peculiar  character  of  the  climate. 

From  the  great  extent  in  latitude  of  the  Florida  peninsula  —  from 
2.3°  to  3F,  or  about  four  hundred  miles  —  considerable  differences 
necessarily  exist  between  the  fauna  and  flora  of  the  northern  and  south- 
ern portions.  Although  the  change  in  these  features  from  the  north 
southward  i-  more  or  less  gradual,  it  seems  to  be  appreciably  greater 
near  Lake  George  than  elsewhere.  At  this  point  so  well-marked  a 
change  occurs  in  the  vegetation  as  to  attract  the  attention  ol  unscien- 
tific observers,  and  a  corresponding  change  in  the  fauna  is  readily 
traced.  Above  bake  George  the  general  aspect  of  both  the  flora  and 
fauna   is   decidedly   more   southern    than    it   is    below    the   lake.      The 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  165 

boundary  between  the  Floridian  and  Louisianian  fauna?  and  florae,  it 
would  hence  seem,  may  be  properly  regarded  as  passing  near  this 
point,  the  portion  of  the  State  to  the  southward  being  alone  properly 
Floridian,  the  northern  resembling  more  the  Louisianian  type.* 

As  already  observed,  Florida,  from  its  excessively  marshy  charac- 
ter, is  pre-eminently  suited  to  the  wants  of  the  grallatorial  birds.  Im- 
mense numbers  of  the  heron  tribe  hence  make  it  their  permanent 
home,  while  it  is  the  favorite  winter  resort  of  numerous  species  of  Gral- 
he  that  pass  the  breeding  season  far  to  the  northward.  Ibises  and 
egretts  abound  in  its  swamps  and  savannas,  forming  at  all  times,  by 
their  numbers  and  showy  plumage,  a  characteristic  feature  of  the  fauna. 
In  winter  the  abundance  of  snipe  and  other  species  of  Grallce  and 
ducks  render  it  at  that  season  a  sportsman's  paradise.  Florida  hence 
attracts  great  numbers  of  sportsmen  in  winter,  through  whose  reckless 
and  often  wanton  waste  of  life  the  water-fowl,  especially  of  late  years, 
are  annually  decimated. 

The  summer  bird  fauna  of  Florida  is  probably  not  better  represented 
in  species  than  that  of  the  temperate  parts  of  the  continent  generally ; 
but  this  State  being  the  winter  resort  of  numerous  species  of  spar- 
rows and  warblers,  and  of  those  smaller  land  birds  generally  that  pass 
the  summer  in  much  higher  latitudes,  its  winter  bird  fauna,  as  compared 
with  that  of  the  Northern  States,  is  extremely  rich.  In  New  England 
the  number  of  species  of  birds  that  can  be  regarded  as  "  common  "  in 
winter  does  not  exceed  fifteen,!  but  in  Florida  at  that  season  at  least 
five  times  that  number  can  be  so  regarded.  This,  however,  accords 
with  a  general  law  of  distribution  in  respect  to  the  relative  number  of 
species  found  at  different  points  in  latitude  from  the  arctic  zone  south- 
ward, the  number  increasing  in  proportion  to  the  decrease  of  the  lati- 
tude, or  with  the  increa-e  of  the  mean  temperature.  In  winter,  through 
the  southward  migration  of  many  species,  the  minimum  number  of 
species  which  in  summer  is  characteristic  of  the  arctic  zone  is  carried 
down  nearly  to  the  Northern  States,  there  being  a  marked  decrease 
from  summer  to  winter  as  far  south  as  the  warm  temperate  or  sub- 
tropic  belt  ;  within  the  tropics,  on  the  contrary,  the  number  of  species 
is  far  greater  in  winter  than  in  summer,  through  the  temporary  influx 
of  species  from  colder  regions. 

*  For  a  further  definition  of  the  Floridian  bird  fauna,  as  distinguished  from  the  Louis- 
ianian, see  beyond,  Part  V. 
t  See  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  I,  p.  47,  March,  1867. 


1G6  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

In  consequence  ot  the  subtropical  character  of  the  climate  of  Florida 
certain  peculiarities  occur  in  respect  to  the  development  of  vegetation  at 
the  vernal  period,  and  in  the  time  of  breeding  of  the  resident  birds,  that 
seem  in  this  connection  worthy  of  record.  The  mildness  of  the  winter 
climate  is  such  that  the  verdure  of  the  forests  is  to  a  greater  or  less 
degree  perennial,  severe  frosts  being  of  rare  occurrence.  Some  of 
the  early  flowering  trees,  such  as  the  maples,  ashes,  and  elms,  begin  to 
bloom  and  to  gradually  unfold  their  leaves  early  in  January.  Although 
the  forest  trees  in  general  put  forth  their  leaves  in  February,  and  a  few 
have  acquired  their  full  summer  dress  by  the  1st  of  March,  their  de- 
velopment is  slow  and  irregular.  I  observed  peach-trees  in  flower  at 
the  same  locality  (Jacksonville)  in  January  and  in  April ;  and  the  flow- 
ering period  of  some  of  the  forest  trees  is  nearly  as  protracted.  The 
development  of  vegetation  is  hence  as  great  during  a  single  week  in 
May,  in  New  England,  as  during  any  four  weeks  in  February  and 
March,  in  Florida. 

A  similar  irregularity  is  observed  in  respect  to  the  pairing  and  breed- 
ing of  the  resident  birds.  Some  of  the  rapacious  species,  as  the  fish- 
hawk  and  the  white-headed  eagle,  commence  incubation  in  January,  and, 
as  I  have  been  informed,  occasionally  in  December ;  other  members  of 
the  same  species  delay  breeding  till  February  or  March.  The  great 
blue  heron  and  the  egretts  nest  in  February,  as  do  also  the  courlans, 
several  of  die  hawks,  the  sandhill  crane,  the  wood-duck  and  the  blue- 
bird ;  the  mocking-bird  and  other  resident  soug-birds,  in  March  and 
April. 

In  the  Northern  States  the  vivacity  of  the  birds  during  the  pairing 
season  is  as  much  greater  than  it  is  in  Florida  as  is  the  rapidity  of  the 
development  in  vegetation.  In  spring  at  the  North  the  woods,  the 
fields,  and  the  hedgerows  are  ever  vocal  with  bird  music  ;  but  in  Flor- 
ida no  such  outburst  of  song  marks  the  arrival  of  the  vernal  season. 
The  brown  thrush,  the  blue-bird,  the  cat-bird,  the  towhee,  and  the 
various  kinds  of  sparrows  that  are  common  in  the  breeding  season  to 
both  New  England  and  Florida,  seem  to  lose  at  the  latter  locality  the 
vivacity  which  characterizes  them  at  the  North,  their  attempts  at  song 
being  listless  and  feeble.  The  songs  of  some  are  also  much  abbre- 
viated,  and  so  differen!  from  what  they  are  at  the  North  as  to  be  some- 
times scarcely  recognizable  as  proceeding  from  the  same  species. 
Even  the  mocking-bird  sings  far  less  than  in  the  Middle  States,  and 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  167 

with  much  less  power.  Such  at  least  is  the  general  fact  as  indicated 
by  my  own  limited  experience  in  Florida,  which  accords,  I  find,  with 
that  of  various  other  observers. 

In  recounting  the  faunal  peculiarities  of  Florida  it  is  necessary  to 
allude  further  to  a  few  facts  that  will  be  more  fully  presented  in  the 
following  chapters,  namely,  the  differences  which  distinguish  the  Florida 
representatives  of  species  that  have  a  wide  distribution  to  the  northward 
from  the  northern  ones.  It  has  for  some  time  been  well  known  that  a 
difference  in  size  in  birds  and  mammals  usually  accompanies  differences 
of  locality  in  respect  to  latitude  and  elevation.  Other  differences,  how- 
ever, are  found  to  accompany  these  with  considerable  uniformity  ;  namely, 
a  relative  increase  in  the  length  or  general  size  of  the  bill,  and  an  in- 
crease in  the  intensity  of  the  general  color  of  the  plumage.*  Florida 
birds,  in  short,  usually  differ  considerably  in  these  respects  from  their 
New  England  cospecific  representatives ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  in 
many  cases  the  majority  of  ornithologists  would  probably  regard  the 
two  forms  as  distinct  species,  though  few  of  them  have  as  yet  been 
specifically  separated. 

Hence  not  only  do  birds  of  the  same  species  living  at  distant  points 
differ  considerably  in  size,  color,  and  other  features,  but  also  in  their 
habits,  notes,  and  songs.  With  the  decrease  in  size  to  the  southward 
there  seems  to  be  a  corresponding  decrease  in  vivacity,  —  a  fact  which 
accords  with  the  general  law  of  the  distribution  of  the  higher  forms  of 
life  in  the  temperate  latitudes.  Although  a  few  structurally  high  types 
are,  from  certain  peculiarities  of  their  conformation,  necessarily  tropical, 
the  highest  races  of  men,  whether  considered  physically,  intellectually, 
or  morally,  are  inhabitants  of  a  medium  climate,  and  gradually  decline 
in  rank  both  to  the  northward  and  southward  from  this  favored  re- 
gion, animal  and  vegetable  life  reaching,  as  a  whole,  its  highest 
manifestation  in  the  temperate  latitudes.  The  excessive  variety  of 
forms  within  the  tropics  mainly  results  from  the  addition  of  those 
of  comparatively  low  or  medium  grades,  only  a  few  of  the  exclusively 
tropical  forms  being  of  absolutely  high  rank.  Generally,  too,  the  forms 
to  be  properly  regarded  as  temperate  are  represented  in  the  tropics  by 
only  their  lower  members,  while,  conversely,  many  of  the  higher  types 
of  the  tropics  are  really  cosmopolitan. 

*  See  Annual  Report  of  the  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  1669,  p.  16. 


1()8  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

Part  II. 

List  of  the  Mammals  of  East  Florida,  with  Annotations. 

FELIDJE. 

1.   Felis  concolor   Linn€.    Panther. 

Not  very  unfrequent  in  the  more  unsettled  parts  of  the  State.     I 

saw  several  hunter's  skins  of  it  at  Jaeksonville,  said  to  have  been  taken 

up  the  river. 

2.  Lynx  rufus     Rafinesque.    Bay  Lynx. 

Abundant.  Especially  numerous  on  the  Upper  St.  John's  and  In- 
dian Rivers,  according  to  Mr.  Maynard  and  others. 

CANID^. 

3.  Canis  lupus   Linne.     Gray  Wolf. 

Canis  lupus  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  58,  1767.  —  Allen,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool., 

I,  154,  October,  1869 
Canis  Iiijiik,  occidentalis  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amor.,  I,  60,  1829. 
Canis  occidentalis  et  var.  Bairi>,  Mam.  X.  Anier.,  104,  111,  113,  1857. 

Not  numerous.  They  were  described  to  me  as  being  very  dark  col- 
ored, or  black.*  This  account  tends  to  confirm  the  statement  of  Au- 
dubon and  Bachman  in  respect  to  this  point. f  After  citing  the 
comparative  frequency  of  this  form  of  the  common  wolf  in  Kentucky, 
and  in  several  of  the  Southern  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  as  compared 
with  its  occurrence  in  regions  more  to  the  northward  and  westward, 
they  observe :  '"  The  varieties  with  more  or  less  of  black  continue  to 
increase,  as  we  proceed  farther  to  the  south  ;  and  in  Florida  the  pre- 
vailing color  of  the  wolves  is  black."  } 

4.   Vulpes  virginianus   Richardson.    Gray  Fox. 
Canis  virginianus  Erxl.,  Syst.  Keg.  Aiiiin.,  567, 1 777.  —  "  Sciireber,  Si'uigcth., 

Ill,  361,  pi.  xcii,  1778." 
Canis  cinereo-argentatus  Kr.xi..,  Syst.  Reg.  Anim.,  567,   1778.  —  "  ScHREBER, 

Saugeth.,  360,  pi.  xcii."  —  Godman,  Am.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  280,  1826. 
Canis griseus  Bodd.,  Elcnchus  Anim,,  I,  77,  1784. 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  II  ed  a  letter  from  Mr.  G.  A.  Boardman,  ofMill- 

town,  Me.,  in  which  he  i  of  the  Florida  wolves. 

t  Quad.  X.  Amer.,  Vol.  II,  p.  130. 

t  Respecting  tin-  distribution  of  the  different  color  races  of  the  common  wolf  in  North 
America,  see  my  paper  on  the  Mammals  of  Massachusetts,  Bulletin  Mus.  Comp.  Zool., 
Vol.  I,  p.  156,  1869. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  109 

Canis  [Vulpes]  virginianus  Rich.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  I,  96,  1S29. 

Vtdpes  virginianus  Dekay,  New  York   Fauna,   I,  45,  pi.  vii,  fig.  2,  1842. — 

Am.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  T,  162,  pi.  xxi,  1849. 
Vidpes  ( Urocyon)  virginianus  Baird,  Mam.  X.  Am.,  138,  1857. 

Common. 

MUSTELID^J. 

5.  Putorius  lutreolus  Cuvier.    Mink. 

Mustda  lutreola  Linn.,  Syst  Nat.,  66,  1766. 

Putorius  lutreolus  Crv.,  Reg.  Anim.,  I,  14S,  1817.  —  Allen,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp. 

Zoiil.,  I,  175,  October,  1869. 
Putorius  vison  Gapper,  Zool.  Journ.,  V,  202,  1830. 
Putorius  nigrescens  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  Ill,  104,  pi.  cxxiv,  1853. 

"Not  common."  —  Boardman.  I  did  not  meet  with  it.  It  is  well 
known  to  be  common,  however,  in  the  adjoining  States.  Audubon  and 
Bachman  speak  of  it  as  being  very  numerous  in  the  rice-fields  of  South 

Carolina 

6.  Lutra  canadensis  Sabine.     Otter. 

Abundant.  Its  fur,  however,  is  of  little  value,  compared  with  that 
of  northern  specimens,  and  the  animal  is  hence  not  much  hunted. 

7.   Mephitis  mephitica  Baird.     Common  Skunk. 

Viverra  mephitica  Shaw,  Mus.  Lever.,  172,  1792.  —  Ibid.,  Gen,  Zool.,  I,  390, 

1809. 
Mephitis  chinga  Tiedem.,  Zool.,  362,  1S08. 
Mustela   (Mephitis)   americana  Desm.,  Marnm.,  I,  1S6,  1820. 
Mustela  varians  Gray,  Charlesw.  Mag.  Nat  Hist.,  I,  581,  1837. 
"  Mustela  mesomelas  Licht.,  Darst.  Saugeth.,  I,  fig.  2." —  Geoff.  St.  Hil.,  Vov. 

de  la  Venus,  Zool.,  I,  133,  1855.  —  Max.  zu  Wied,  Archiv  fur  Natorgesch., 

XXVII,  218,  1861.  — Baird,  Mam.  X.  Am.,  199,  1S57. 
Mephitis  macroura  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  Ill,  11,  1853. 
Mephitis  mephitica  Baird,  Mam.  X.  Amer.,  195,  1857.  —  Allen,  Bull.  Mus. 

Com.  Zool.,  I,  178,  October,  1869. 
Mephitis  occidentalis  Baird,  Mam.  N.  Amer.,  194,  1857. 

Common  on  the  Lower  St.  John's,  but,  according  to  Mr.  Maynard, 
quite  unknown  on  the  Indian  River. 

8.  Mephitis  bieolor  Gray.    Little  Striped  Skunk. 
Mephitis  bieolor  Gray,   Charlesw.   Mag.  Xat.  Hist.,  I,   5S1,   1837. —  Baird, 

Mam.  X.  Amer.,  196,  1857. 
Mephitis  zorilla  Liciit.,  Abhand.  Ak.id.  Wiss.  Berlin,  for  1836,  281,  1838.  — 

Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  X.  Amer.,  Ill,  276,  1854. 
Mephitis  interrupta  Licht.,  Abhand.  Akad.  Wiss.  Berlin,  for  1836,  283,  1833. 


170  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

This  beautiful  little  animal  was  obtained  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  at 
Captain  Dummitt's,  where  it  was  said  to  be  common  in  the  scrub.  Mr. 
May n aid  says  they  arc  domesticated  and  used  there  as  cats,  the  odor 
glands  being  removed  when  the  animals  are  young;  they  become  very 
tame  and  are  quite  efficient  in  destroying  the  mice  {Hvsperomys  sp.) 
that  infest  the  houses.  I  am  not  aware  that  this  animal  has  been 
reported  before  from  any  point  east  of  tin:  Mississippi  River.  It  has 
been  recently  ascertained  to  extend  northward  in  the  interior  as  far  as 
Central  Iowa.* 

(JRSIDJE. 

9.  Procyon  lotor  Storr.    Raccoon. 
Ursus  Jolor  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  48,  1758. 
Procyon  lotor  Baird,  Mam.  N.  Amer.,  209,  1857.  —  Allen,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp. 

ZooL,  I,  181,  October,  1869. 
Procyon  Hernandezii  Wagler,  Isis,  XXIV,    514,  1831.  —  Baird,  Mam.  N. 

Amer.,  212,  1857.  — Ibid.,  U.  S.  and  Mex.  Bound.  Surv.,  II,  Mam.,  22, 1859. 

Exceedingly  numerous. 

10.  UrSUS  arctOS  Linne.     Common  Bear. 
Ursn!.  arcfos  Linne,  Syst.  Nat,  CO,  1706.  —  Cuvier,  Reg.  Anim.,  I.  142,  1817. 

Blainvii.t.e. —  Middendorff,  Sibirische   Reise,  II,  ii.  1854.  —  Gray, 

Proo.  London  Zool.  Sue,  1864,  682.  —  Allen,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  ZooL,  I, 

184.  October,  186'.). 
Ursus  americnmis  Pallas,  Spicelcgia  ZooL,  XIV,  6,  1780.  — Gmelin,  Syst. 

Nat.,  I,  lni,  1788. —  Richardson,  Faun.  Bor.  Amer.,  I,  14,  1829.  — Aud. 

&  Ba<  h.,  Quad.  X.  Amer.,  III.  187,   1853.  — Max.  zu  Wild  &  Mayer, 

Verhandl.  Akad.  der  Naturf.,  XXVI,  i,  33,  1857.  — Baird,  Mam.  X.  Amer., 

225,  1857. 
Ursus  [Euarctos)  americanus  Cray,  l'roe.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc.  1864,  602. 
Ursus  horribilis  Ord,  "Guthrie's  Geo-.,  2d  Amer.  ed..  II,  201,  200,  1815."  — 

Say,  Long's  Exped.,  II,  53,  1823.—  Baird,  Mam.  X.  Amer.  210. 
Ursus  horribilis,  var.  horriaceus,  Baird,  U.  S.  &  Mex.  Bound.  Survey,  Rep.,  II, 

Mam.,  24,  1859. 
Ursus  cinereus  Desm.,  Mam.,  I,  164,  1820. 
Ursus  (Dam's)  cinereus  Gray,  Proc.  Loud   Zool.  Soc,  1864.  690. 
Ursus  ferox  Rn  hardson,  Faun.  Bor.  Amer..  I,  24,  1S20.  —  Max.  zu  Wied, 

Reise  in  das  innerc  Nord  Amer..  I,  4SS,  is:;'.).—  M  w.  /r  Wild  &  Mayer, 

Verliandl.  Akad.  der  Natnrforsch.,  XXVI,  30. 
Ursus  cinnamomeus  Baird,  U.  S.  &  Mex.  Bound.  Survey  Rep.,  II,  Mam.,  29. 

*  See  H.  \V.  Parker,  in  Amor.  Nat  ,  Vol.  IV,  370,  August,  1870. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  171 

Numerous  and  often  troublesome,  occasionally  destroying  swine,  of 
which  they  are  exceedingly  fond.  Judging  from  their  tracks  in  the 
swamps,  they  must  not  only  be  exceedingly  numerous,  but  some  of 
them  of  enormous  size.  The  several  .--kins  seen  by  me  were  all  in- 
tensely black.* 

CERVIDJE. 

11.  Cariacus  virginianus  Gray.     Virginia  Deer. 
Cervus   virginianus    Bodd.ert,    Elcnch.    Animal.,    I,    136,    1784.  —  Gmelin. 

SCHREBER,    DESMEREST,    Al'D.    &   BaCII.,    BaIRD,    &C. 

Cariacus  virginianus  Gray,  Cat.  of  Bones  in  Brit.  Mus.,  266,  1862. 

Abundant  almost  everywhere.  Not  so  numerous  along  the  Lower 
St.  John's  as  in  the  more  unsettled  districts  further  south.  As  re- 
marked by  Professor  Baird,  the  Florida  deer  are  considerably  smaller 
than  those  of  the  Northern  States ;  so  much  so  that  it  is  a  fact  of 
common  observation. 

MANATIDJ3. 
12.  Triekechus  manatus  Limit?.     Manatee. 

Trichechus  manatus  Lixxe,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  34,  1758. 

"Manatus  australis  Tilesius,  Jahrb.  der  Naturg.,  I,  23."  —  Gtat,  Cat.  Seals 

and  Whales,  358,  1866.  —  Murray,  Geo-.  Distr.  Mam.,  202,  1SC6. 
Manatus  amer'  anus  Desm.,  Mam.,  507,  1822. 
Manatus  lalirostris  JIari.ax,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Ill,  390,  pi.  xii,  fig. 

1-3,  1824.  —  Ibid.,  Faun.  Anier.,  277,  1825. 

I  learn  from  Mr.  Maynard  that  the  manatee  is  still  quite  common.in 
Indian  River,  where  they  are  often  caught  in  nets.  They  come  into 
the  river  at  niglit  to  feed  on  the  mangrove  bushes.  Mr.  Maynard  did 
not  meet  with  them  in  Mosquito  Lagoon,  which  he  traversed  nearly  its 
whole  length,  and  he  thinks  they  do  not  occur  there. 

The  manatees  of  America  and  Africa  seem  to  be  very  closely  allied,  and 
to  number  at  most  but  two  species.  Those  of  the  same  species  also  appear 
to  be  exceedingly  variable  in  their  osteological  characters.    Dr.  J.  E.  Gray, 

*  In  my  recent  paper  in  this  Bulletin,  cited  above,  I  have  discussed  the  mutual  re- 
lationship of  the  numerous  supposed  species  of  lan.l  bears  <>f  the  northern  hemisphere. 
The  close  affinity  between  the  hears  of  Northwestern  America  and  Northeastern  Asia 
is  especially  noticed;  but  at  that  time  I  was  nut  aware  that  Temminck,  in  the  Fauna 
Japonica,  had  referred  the  large  land  bear  of  Japan  to  the  U.  fa-ox  of  authors,  or  to 
the  so-called  "grizzly  bear"  of  Western  America.  Tliis  indicates  the  very  close  affinity, 
in  this  author's  opinion,  of  the  Japan  and  American  bears. 


172  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

in  a  valuable  paper  entitled  "  On  the  Species  of  Manatee?  (Manatus),  and 
on  the  Difficulty  of  distinguishing  such  Species  by  Osteological  Characters,"* 
states  thai  he  finds  the  African  and  American  species  are  distinguished  by 
only  a  single  character,  —  the  absence  of  the  nasal  bones  in  the  African 
species.  Concerning  the  individual  variation  in  the  skulls  of  the  two  species, 
lie  oh  crves  as  follows  :  "  When  Cuvier  had  a  skull  of  the  American  and  one 
of  the  African  Manatee,  he  gaveeighl  characters  by  which  the  African  skull 
could  be  known  from  the  American.  Now  we  have  a  series  of  skulls  of  each 
kind,  we  find  that  not  one  of  these  characters  will  separate  the  skulls  of  the 
two  countries  from  one  another.  Indeed,  the  skulls  of  each  kind  are  so 
variable  that,  after  having  them  laid  out  before  me  for  two  or  three  days, 
studying  them  every  now  and  then,  and  inducing  two  proficients  in  the  study 
of  bones,  and  in  observing  minute  characters,  to  give  me  their  assistance,  we 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  we  believed  there  was  no  character,  common  to 
all  the  skulls  of  each  kind,  which  could  he  used  to  separate  them.  As  a 
proof  of  the  difficulty  of  so  doing,  I  may  state  that  there  was  one  skull  in  the 
series  which  had  been  long  in  the  collection,  and  had  been  received  without 
any  habitat,  and  neither  of  the  three  could  decide  to  which  of  the  series  this 
skull  should  he  referred;  and  it  was  not  until  I  accidentally  observed  the 
character,  derived  from  the  absence  of  the  nasal  bones  in  the  African  kind, 
that  this  question  could  be  settled." 

Having  myself  been  struck  with  the  variability  of  osteological  as  well 
as  external  characters  in  individuals  of  the  same  species,  in  both  birds  and 
mammals,  —  a  matter  to  which  I  have  already  often  called  attention,  and  the 
consideration  of  which  occupies  a  considerable  portion  of  Part  III  of  the 
lire-cut  paper,  ■ —  I  can  hardly  refrain,  in  this  connection,  from  citing  further 
the  judicious  remarks  of  Dr.  Gray  on  this  point.  "The  examination,"  he 
savs,  '•  of  a  lame  series  of  skulls  of  the  hears  (I'rsus)  and  Paradoxuri,  shows 
how  difficult  it  is  to  distinguish  species  by  the  study  of  the  >kulls  alone. 
Thus,  when  we  have,  a  series  of  skulls  of  hears  from  different  localities,  which, 
from  their  external  form  and  habits,  are  known  to  be  distinct  species,  it  is 
easy  to  shy  which  is  the  skull  of  U.  thibetanus,  U.  syriacus,  U.  arctos,  U. 
us,  and  / '.  ami  ricanus,  when  we  have  the  habitat  marked  on  each  ;  but 
the  true  test  of  the  power  of  distinguishing  the  one  from  the  other  is  to 
determine  to  what  species  a  skull  belongs,  of  which  we  have  no  information 
as  to  its  origin ;  and  we  have  several  skulls  in  the  British  Museum  under 
then-  circumstances,  and  I  cannot,  with  the  best  assistance  at  my  command, 
determine  to  which  species  they  ought  to  be  referred.  And  it  is  the  same 
with  the  Pciradoxuri."  "  If  this  is  the  case  with  the  skulls,"  he  continues, 
"  bow  must  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  species  with  certainty  be  increased 
when  we  have  only  fossil  bones,  which  are  generally  more  or  less  imperfect, 
*  Anc  and  Mag.  Xat.  Hist.,  3d  Ser.,  Vol.  XV,  pp.  130- 139,  1865. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  173 

to  examine  and  compare,  or  of  which  only  a  limited  number  of  example?  are 
to  be  obtained  and  compared  ?  They  [tin*  skullsjvary  in  most  genera  much 
more  than  was  expected,  before  series  of  the  skulls  of  each  species  were 
collected  and  compared." 

These  observation-  by  Dr.  Gray  arc  fully  confirmed  by  my  own  studies; 
and  I  hence  believe  that,  as  the  number  of  specimens  of  different  species 
increases  in  our  museums,  many  species  now  believed  to  be  valid  will  be 
found  to  rest  merely  on  individual  characters. 

VESPERTILIONID^. 

13.  Lasiurus  noveboracensis  Gray.    Red  Bat. 
I  i  no    horacensis  Erxl.,  Syst.  Reg.  Anim.,  135,  1717. 

Vespertilio  lasiurus  Gmel.,  Syst.  Nat.,  1788. 
Vespertilio  rubellus  Pal.  de  Beaut.,  Cat.  Peale's  Mus.,  1796. 
?  Vespertilio  cinereus  Pal.de  Beauv.,  Ibid. 
?  Vespertilio  pruinosus   Say,  Long's  Exped.,  G7,  1S23. —  Rich.,  Faun.   Bor. 

Am.,  I,  1,  1829. 
Taphozous  rufus  Harlan,  Faun.  Amcr..  23,  1S25. 
Lasiurus* ruf us  Gray,  List  Mam.  Brit.  Mus.,  32,  1842. 
Lasiurus  noveboracensis  Tomes,  Proc.  Lond.  Zoiil.  Soc,  1837,  34. 
?  Lasiurus pruinosus  Tomes,  Ibid,  37. 
Lasiurus  noveboracensis  II.  Allen,  Mon.  N.  Am.  Bats,  15,  1SG4.  —  J.  A.  Allen, 

Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zoiil.,  I,  207,  1SG9. 
?  Lasiurus  cinereus  II.  Allen,  Mon.  N.  Am.  Bats,  21. 

Common.  All  of  the  several  specimens  obtained,  both  by  myself 
and  Mr.  Maynard,  are  of  a  deep  cherry  red,  with  but  a  slight  skirting 
of  ash,  and  are  uniformly  much  darker  or  deeper  colored  than  any  I 

have  seen  from  the  Northern  States.     All  examined  (nine  specimens) 
were  males. 

14.  Scotophilus  fuscus  II.  Allen.     Carolina  Bat. 

Vespertilio fuscus  Pal.  de  Beauv  ,  Car.  Peale's  Mus.,  14,  179G.  —  LeConte, 

Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VII,  437,  Is.")."). 
Vespertilio  carolinensis  Geoff    St.  IIil.,  Ann.  du  Mus.,  VIII,  193,  1806,  pi. 

xlvii,  rig.  7.—  Harlan,  North  Am.  Jour.  Geol.  &  Nat.  Sci.,  I,  218,  1831  — 

LeConte,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VII,  437. 
I  rtibo  arcuatus  Say,  Long's  Expcd.,  167,  1823. 
I  is   Raf.,  Amcr.  Month.  Mag.,  445,  1S18. 

Vespertilio  ursinus  Temm.,  Mam.,  II,  234,  1835. 
-    iophilus  fuscus  II.  Allen,  Mon.  N.  Am.  Bats,  31,  1SG4. 
Scotophilus  carolinensis  II.  Allen,  Ibid.,  28. 

Common.     Several  specimens  taken. 


174  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

1")   Scotophilus  georgianus  II  Allen.    Georgia  Bat. 

Scotophilia  georgianus  H.Allen,   Mon.    N.   Am.  Bats,  33,  1864,  nee.  si/n. — 
J.  A.  Allen,  Bull.  Mus.  Com]).  Zool.,  No.  8,  1809. 

This  species  doubtless  occurs  in  Florida,  at  least  in  the  northern 
part,  since  the  capture  of  specimens  at  different  localities  in  Georgia 
and  at  New  Orleans  is  on  record.* 

16.  TsTycticejus  crepuseularis  H.  Allen. 
Vespertilio  crepuseularis  LeConte,  McMurtrie's  Cuv.  An.  King.,  I,  432,  1831. 

Ibid.,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VII,  438,  1855. 
Nycticejus  crepuseularis  11.  Allen,  Mon.  N.  Am.  Bats,  12,  1864. 

A  specimen  collected  by  Mr.  Maynard  at  Jacksonville,  in  January, 
but  afterwards  lost,  I  refer  from  his  measurements  and  description  of  it 
to  this  species.  There  is  also  a  specimen  (Xo.  7-il)  in  the  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology,  collected  in  Florida  by  Mr.  Chas.  Belknap. 

17.  Corynorhinus  inacrotis  H.Allen.    Big-eared  Bat. 

Phcotm  macrotis  LeConte,  McMurtrie's  Cuv.  An.  King.,  I,  431,  1831. 

Plecotis  1 1  I     v<    (  Iooper,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  IV,  12,  1837. 

Synotus  macrotis  II.  Allen,  Mon.  N.  Am.  Bats,  G3,  1864. 

Corynorhinus  macrotis  II.  Allen,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XVII,  173,  Aug. 

A  specimen  of  this  species  from  Micanopy,  Florida,  collected  by  Dr. 
Bean,  is  cited  by  Dr.  Allen  |  This  Southern  species  ranges  northward 
along  the  coast  nearly  or  quite  to  the  Middle  States,  it  being  compara- 
tively common,  according  to  authors,  in  South  Carolina. 

NOCTILIONID^. 

18.  Nyctinomus  nasutus  Tomes. 

Molossus  nasutus  Spix,  Sim.  ct  Vesp.  Bras.,  60,  pi.  xxxv,  fig.  7,  1823. 
Nyctinomus  nasutus  Tomes,   Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1861,  68.  —  II.  Allen, 
Mon.  N   Am    Bats,  7,  1867. 

This  widely  distributed  southern  species  should  unquestionably  he 
included  among  the  mammals  of  Florida.  Tt  has  been  reported  from 
Texas,  Louisiana,  South  Carolina,  and  the  West  Indie-. $  as  well  as  from 
South  America,  as   far  south  even  as   Buenos  Ayres.§     Specimens  in 

*  Dr.  II.  Allen,  Monograph  of  North  American  Bats,  p.  38. 

t   Ibid.,  p.  55. 

t  Ibid.,  p.  10. 

§  Tomes,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1861,  p.  68. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  '  175 

the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  from  ITayti,  collected  by  Mr.  P.  R, 
1'lik-r.  have  been  identified  by  Dr.  Harrison  Allen  as  of  this  species. 

19.  Megadermatidse  Sp.  ? 
A  large  species  of  bat  was  noticed  by  both  Mr.  Maynard  and  my- 
self, but  as  it  always  flew  very  high,  neither  of  us  obtained  it.  It 
was  very  much  larger  than  any  other  species  yet  described  from  the 
United  States,  and  is  doubtless  a  AVest  Indian  form ;  probably  a  spe- 
cies of  Mefjadermatidee. 

SORECID.E. 

20.  Blarina  brevicauda  Baird.    Mole  SnfcE-w. 
Sori  '■  brevicaudus  Say,  Long's  Expcd  ,  I,  164,  1862-63. 
Soi;ex parvus  Say,  Ibid.,  164. 

Sfirex  taipoides  Gapper,  Zool  Journ.,  V,  20S,  pi.  viii,  1830. 
Sorex  car.olinensis  Bach.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VII,  366,  pi.   x.wi, 

tig.  3,  1837. 
Sorex  cinereits  Bach.,  Ibid.,  373,  fig.  3. 
Surex  Dekoyi  Bach.,  Ibid.,  377,  fig.  4. 

rira  (Blarina)  talpoides  Gray,  Proc   Lend.  Zool.  Soc,  V,  124,  1837. 
Blarina  brevicauda  Baird,  Mam.  N.  Am.,  42,  pi.  xxx,  fig  6,  1 S 3 " . —  Allex, 

Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  I,  212.  October,  1 -<  l. 
Blarina  taljmides  Baird,  Mam.  X.  Am.,  37.  pi.  xxx,  fig   5. 
Blarina  carolinensis  Baird,  Ibid.,  45,  pi.  xxx,  fig.  8. 
Blarina  cinerea  Baird,  Ibid.,  4S,  pi.  xxx,  tigs.  9  and  10,  young. 
Blarina  erilipes  Baird,  Ibid.,  51,  pi.  xxviii,  young. 
Blarina  Berlandieri  Baird,  Ibid.,  53,  pi.  xxviii,  young. 

A  single  specimen  of  Blarina  from  Indian  River,  Florida,  collected 
by  Mr.  G.  Wurdemann,  is  mentioned  under  '•Blarina  cinerea"  by  Pro- 
fessor Baird,  as  having  been  received  at  the  Smithsonian  Institution.* 
While  it  may  be  of  a  species  distinct  from  B.  brevicauda,  it  seems  more 
probable  that  it  is  the  young  of  that  species,  as  1  have  elsewhere  stated. t 
Sorex  cinereus  of  Bachman,J  which  Professor  Baird  cites  as  a  synonyme 
of  his  Blarina  cinerea,  Dr.  Baehman  subsequently  regarded  as  the 
young  of  his  S.  carolinensis,^  which  is  the  same  as  B.  talpoides  et  bre- 
vicauda  of*  recent  writers. 

*  North  American  Mammals,  p.  50 

t  Bull.  Mus.  Com.  Zool.,  Vol.  I.  No.  8,  p.  212. 

I  Journ.  Phil   Acad.  Nat.  Sri..  Vol.  VII.  1837,  p   373,  nl.  xxiii,  fig.  3. 

^'Quadrupeds  vf  North  America,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  344. 


170  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

TALPID.E. 

21.  Scalops  aquaticus  Fischer.  Shrew  Mole. 
Several  specimens  of  this  species  from  Indian  River  and  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  are  mentioned  by  Professor  Baird  in  his  list  of  the  specimens 
of  this  species  in  the  Museum  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  in  his 
Report  on  North  American  Mammals.  Mr.  Boardman  has  also 
informed  me  that  it  is  not  uncommon  there. 

SCIURIDJE. 

22.  Sciurus  niger  Linne.    Southern  Fox  Squirrel. 

Sciurus  niger  JjINNE,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  64,  1758. 
Sciurus  vulpinus  Gmel.,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  147,  1788 
Sciurus  vulpinus  <t  syn.  Baird,  Main.  N.  Am.,  246,  1857. 

Common.  Confined  chiefly  to  the  pine  woods.  Extremely  variable 
in  general  color,  the  variations  in  this  respect  ranging  from  pale 
yellowish  gray  to  black.  The  specific  name  niger  of  Linne  is  the  one 
which  has  unquestionably  the  priority,  as  observed  by  Professor  Baird, 
and  its  applying  only  to  a  single  stage  of  coloration,  inasmuch  as  it  is 
a  common  one,  does  not  seem  to  be  sufficient  reason  for  rejecting  it, 
since  it  is  as  applicable  as  any  name  referring  to  its  color  can  be,  and 
is  not  likely  to  seriously  mislead.* 

23.  Sciurus  carolinensis  Gmelin.     Gray  Squirrel. 

Sciurus  carolinensis  G.mel.,  Syst.  Nat.,  L,  143,  1788.  —  Baird,  Mam.  N.  Am., 

256,  1857. 
"  Sciurus  anereus  Schreber,  Saugeth.,  IV,  766,  pi.  ccxiii,  1792." 
Sciurus  niger  Godman,  Am.  Nat.  Hist.,  II,  133,  1826. 
Sciurus  leucotis  Gapper,  Zool.  Journ.,  V,  2(>G,  \>\.  xxi,  1830. 

Exceedingly  abundant,  and  generally  very  tame.  Two  of  my  party 
shut  a  dozen  one  evening  in  less  than  half  an  hour  at  Ilawkinsville. 
Tiny  are  considerably  smaller  than  at  the  North,  and  also  diner  some- 
what in  color  from  northern  specimens,  the  gray  being  more  suffused 
with  brownish  than  in  the  gray  northern  type. 

The  fifty  or  sixty  specimens  carefully  examined  were  quite  uniform 
in  color  and  generally  so  in  size.  The  yellowish-brown  patch  on  the 
back  usually  presenl  in  the  gray  type  of  this  species  was  of  greater 
extent  and  Less  distinctly  defined    than    in   northern    examples.       No 

*   See  Baird,  W.rtli  American  Mammals,  p.  218. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


177 


dusky  or  black  varieties  were  noticed,  nor  could  I  learn  that  they  ex- 
isted here.  Their  voice  is  not  so  heavy  as  that  of  the  northern  animal, 
hut  in  no  other  respects  than  in  those  above  mentioned  do  they  differ 
from  it.  Professor  Baird  has  quite  fully  described  the  gradual  transi- 
tion from  the  common  gray  to  the  glossy  black  type  of  coloration  seen 
at  the  North,  where  the  dark  varieties  are  most  common.* 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens. 


245.". 
2454 

•j  4.').-; 

2040 
2041 


,2054 
2055 
2056 
2057 
2058 
2059 
20(56 
206" 


206S 


203  ' 

JIM,  J 

24J7  * 

351  i 

352  ■ 

221  , 

222  / 

365  " 

366  . 

367  i 

368  ? 

369  J 
37()  / 
377  f 
378 

379  • 

380  . 

381  I 
3S2  f 

384  ' 

385  -• 

386  . 

387  ' 

388  ' 

389  -' 

390  ' 

391  ■ 

392  " 

393  ' 

394  • 

395  ' 

396  ' 

397  ' 

398  ' 
3  .  i 

4HU  ' 


-  z       o  "a 


Hi   »0 


Jacksonv'l  Jan.  12  CJ.Maynard  20. 

Ki  "  18 

12  "  17. 

25   J.  A.  Allen    19 

25  "  20 

Dummitt's  Mar.  16  CJ.Maynard  20. 

'•      18  "  lis 

Welaka     Feb.   6  J.A.Allen   21. 


Ilawl.iiisv'I  Mar. 12 


2.50 

2.40 
.45 


2.4H 
2  42 
2  33 
2  50 
2.45 
2.35 
2.45 
2.30 
2  35 
2.45 
2  50 
2.35 
2.40 
2  35 
2.40 
2.40 
2.38 
2  40 
2.50 
2.40 
2.40 
2.50 
2  411 


9.00  8.00 

9.00  7.75 
8.45  7.50 
9.50  7.:o 

10  50  7.50 
9  50  8  15 
10.20  8  00 
in  no  8  25 
10.00  S  75 
lo.i  0  8.40 

9.1  'i  7.50 
9.15  7  60 

10.15  9.60 
9.50  8  00 
9  25  8.00 
s  25  !».75 
9.25  -  0 
8.75  7.60 
8.90  7. so 
9  00  7.60 
9.50  6.75 
8.50  8.0U 
9  ii'  3.50 

10  00  8.00 
8.75  8.00 
9.00  8.00 
9.25  7.65 
9  on  7  50 
9.15  7.85 
9.25  8.1 
9.00  7.90 
9. 75  -.15 
9.00  7.7.". 
8.75  7.95 

10.15  7.S5 
8.90  7.35 


I  LOO  2.00 


1 .35 
1.45 


1.60 
1.35 


10.45 
10.25 
[0.00 
10.00 
10.50 
10.56 
11.00  - 
11.50  — 

9.00  — 
in  on  — 

9.85  — 
11.35  — 
in  '(■  1  ;,n 

9.25  l.to 
11  on  1.35 

9.75  1.40 
lo.oo  1.50 
10.60  1.50 
10.00  1.50 

9.00  1.40 

10.00   1.40 

10  75  1.45 
10  50  1.45 
11.00  1.42 
10  25  1.45 
9.75  1.40 
9.50  1.45 
10. 1011.45 
10.75  1.45 
10.50  1.50 
10.25  1.55 

lo.: :.  i  40 

9.60  155 
lo.Ti  1.65 
10.10  1.60 


2.45 

2.35 
2  45 


2.56 
2.40 


2.15 
2  23 

2. 'J  2 
2.20 
2.25 
2  05 

2.25 

■i  20 
2.15 

2  jo 

2.:;  7 

2.25 
2.22 
2.30 
2.32 

2.22 

2  LO 

2.40 

2  3( ' 

1  LO 

2.45 

2  15 


*  N.  Am.  Main.,  p.  259.     See  further  on  this  point  my  remarks  on  this  species  in 
No.  "  of  the  first  volume  of  this  Bulletin,  already  cited. 
VOL.   II.  12 


178  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

24.  Geomys  pineti  Rqfinesque.    "  Salamander." 
Geomys  pinelis  Raf.,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  II,  45,  1817. 
Pseudosloma  Jloriduna  Acd.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  Ill,  242,  pi.  cl,  fig.  1,  1853. 

Common,  but  mainly  confined  to  the  drier  portions  of  the  pine  woods. 
The  five  specimens  collected  by  me  differ  very  much  in  size,  and 
considerably  in  color,  some  of  them  being  plumbeous  and  others  brown- 
ish-plumbeous ;  in  other  words,  some  are  much  darker  than  others. 
The  difference  in  size  appears  to  be  mainly  due  to  age.  This  species 
extends  southwards  at  least  as  far  as  Lake  Harney,  and  at  some  locali- 
ties is  particularly  numerous,  the  little  hillocks  of  earth  it  throws 
up  sometimes  nearly  covering  the  ground. 

MURIDiE. 
25.  Mus  decumanus  Pallas.     Brown  Rat. 
Abundant  at  Jacksonville,  but  not  observed  by  any  of  my  party  on 
the  Upper  St.  John's,  nor  by  Mr.  Maynard  on  Indian  River. 

Although  no  other  species  of  Mus  was  observed,  it  is  not  improba- 
ble that  the  common  mou>e  (M.  musculus)  occurs  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
towns.  It  was  not  found  on  the  Upper  St.  John's  (to  which  locality  it 
probably  has  not  yet  extended),  where  the  common  house  mice  are  a 
species  of  Hesperomys,  as  are  also  the  house  mice  on  Indian  River, 
according  to  Mr.  Maynard.  Neither  was  any  species  of  Reithrodon 
obtained.  The  R.  humilis,  which  occurs  in  Georgia  and  South  Caro- 
lina, is  certainly  to  be  expected  in  Northern  Horida;  but  it  has  not 
yet  to  my  knowledge  been  reported  from  there. 

26.  Hesperomys  leucopus   Wagner.    White-footed  Mouse. 

Mus  sylvaticus,  var.  Erxl.,  Syst.  Re?.  An.,  I,  300,  1775. 

Mus  leucopus  Desm.,  Mam.,  II,  307,  1822. —  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am., 

I,  300,  pi.  xlvi,  1849. 
Mus  agrarius  Godman,  Am.  Nat.  Hist.,  II,  18:20. 
Mus  noveboracensis  Selys-Longcii.,  Etude  Micromam.,  G7,  1839. 
Mus  Emmonsii  Dekay,  Emmon's  Rep.  Quad.  Mass.,  01,  1840. 
Cricdus  myoides  Gapper,  Zool.  Journ.,  1830,  204. 
Hesperomys  polionotus  Wagner,  Wicgm,  Arch.,  1843,  ii,  52. 
f  Hesperomys  cognatus  I.i  <  'onte,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VI,  442,  1852. 
Hesperomys  leucopus  LeConte,  Ibid.,  413. —  Baird,  .Mam.  N.Am.,  459,  1857. 

—  Allen,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  1,  227,  October,  18G9. 
Hesperomys  myoides   I5.vir.ii,  Main.  N.  Am.,  472. 
Hesperomys  indianus  Max.  zl  Wild.,  Arch,  fiir  Naturg.,  XXVIII,  i,  1 1 1,  1862. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  179 

A  mouse  provisionally  referred  to  this  species  was  abundant,  espe- 
cially at  certain  localities.  At  my  first  camp,  about  twenty-five  miles 
above  Jacksonville  (near  Hibernia),  an  Hcsperomys  and  the  wood  rat 
(Neotoma  fioridand)  were  excessively  numerous.  At  eveuing  they 
began  scampering  over  the  leaves,  their  little  footsteps  being  •heard 
in  every  direction  ;  at  times  they  approached  so  near  the  camp-fire  as 
to  be  distinctly  seen.  They  ascended  the  bushes,  and  could  be  heard 
on  the  lower  branches  of  the  trees.  Some  of  my  party  being  unac- 
customed to  such  manifestations  of  nocturnal  life,  were  at  first  filled 
with  app:"ehension  as  to  the  character  of  their  visitors,  and  could 
scarcely  be  convinced  that  the  place  was  not  infested  with  poisonous 
snakes  or  other  dangerous  animals.  Depending  upon  my  traps  for 
specimens,  which  unfortunately  for  me  the  mice  avoided,  I  secured  but 
two  or  three  examples  of  the  Hesperomys  so  abundant  here.  These, 
with  several  others  obtained  by  me  elsewhere,  as  also  others  obtained 
on  Indian  River  by  Mr.  Maynard,  including  both  young  and  adult, 
are  undistinguishable  from  the  common  II.  leucopus  of  the  North,  the 
young  being  deep  plumbeous. 

I  observed  at  this  place  a  fact  in  respect  to  the  habits  of  the  Hes- 
peromys I  had  not  previously  noticed  nor  seen  pointed  out,  though  it 
was  noticed  in  all  the  parts  of  Florida  I  visited.  I  refer  to  its  habit  of 
cutting  off  the  branches  and  main  stems  of  the  young  saplings.  I  at 
first  supposed  this  work  to  be  that  of  the  wood-boring  larvae  of  some 
coleopterous  insect,  so  nearly  did  the  "pruning"  resemble  that  of  the 
so-called  "  oak-pruners  "  (Cerambycidoe  sp.).  A  closer  examination, 
however,  showed  that,  instead  of  the  twigs  being  smoothly  cut,  as  by  a 
boring  insect  working  from  within  outwards  and  severing  the  bark 
last,  the  cutting  was  begun  from  without,  and  that  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  wood  had  been  gnawed  away,  both  the  cut  surfaces  being 
highest  at  the  middle.  Marks  of  the  teeth  of  these  little  gnawers 
were  also  generally  clearly  distinguishable.  No  traces  of  boring  by 
insect  larvae  could  be  detected  near  the  severed  point.  The  branches 
thus  cut  are  generally  of  about  the  size  of  one's  finger,  and  are  usually 
the  main  stem  of  a  young  sapling.  Various  species  of  trees  are  thus- 
mutilated  ;  but  as  they  are  usually  destitute  of  fruit,  the  purpose  of 
these  animals  in  this  work  is  not  apparent.  It  is  a  habit  that  may  be 
common  to  the  Hespi  >mys  of  the  North,  but  I  have  never  seen  it 
referred  to.     These  little  animals  being  a  hundred-fold  more  numerous 


180  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

in  East  Florida  than  they  generally  are  in  the  Northern  States,  their 
work  would  here  be  of  course  much  more  noticeable. 

27.  Hesperomys  auroolus  Wagner.    Golden  Mouse. 

Afcieola  Nutta/li  Harlan,  Month.  Amer.  Journ.  Gcol  &.  Nat.  Sri.,  I,  440, 
1342.  —  Iisid.,  Med.  &  Plus.  Researches,  55,  pi. ,  1835. 

Mus  (Calomys)  aareolus  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Jouin.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VIII, 
302,  1842.  —  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  II,  305,  pi.  xcv,  1851. 

Hesperomys  aureolas  Wagner,  Wieg.  Archiv,  1 S43,  ii,  51. 

Hesperomys  Nuttalli  Baird,  .Mam.  N.  Am.,  467,  1857. 

A  single  specimen  which  I  refer  to  this  so-called  species  was  obtained 
by  Mr.  Maynard  at  Dummitt's.  While  this  example  is  of  the  size  and  gen- 
eral proportions  of  H.  It  ucopus,  it  is  markedly  different  in  color,  being  of  a 
bright  golden  yellow  above,  which  color  reaches  on  the  outside  of  the  legs 
to  the  feet :  the  under  surface  has  also  a  yellowish  wash.  It  also  differs  in 
the  texture  of  its  fur,  which  is  remarkably  soft  and  fine.  It  is  a  little  lighter 
colored  than  Audubon  and  Bachman's  description  and  figure  of  //.  am  i  olus 
represent  that  animal  to  be,  but  the  distribution  of  the  colors  is  the  same, 
the  specimen  in  question  being  not  orange,  but  bright  yellowish-cinnamon. 
It  is,  however,  much  nearer  this  than  to  Dr.  Harlan's  Arvicola  Nuttalli. 
The  latter  does  not  differ  very  appreciably,  judging  from  Dv.  Harlan's 
very  unsatisfactory  description  and  his  wretched  figure  of  it,  which 
was  evidently  made  from  a  badly  stuffed  skin.  Mr.  Maynard  believes 
the  specimen  referred  to  above  to  be  a  young  animal,  and  states  that  it 
was  so  regarded  by  the  people  in  whose  house  it  was  caught.  He  further 
informs  me  that  he  captured  another  of  the  same  color,  but  very  much 
larger,  which  was  lost.  This  he  regards  as  merely  the  adult  of  the  same 
species.  His  measurements  show  the  latter  to  have  agreed  in  size  and 
proportions  with  the  so-called  H.  gassy pinus.  The  texture  of  the  fur  <4' 
the  small  specimen  above  referred  to  agrees  with  that  of  the  plumbeous, 
immature  stage  of  //.  leucopus.  This  form,  whether  a  valid  species  or 
not,*  is  now  known  to  occur  in  Southeastern  Pennsylvania,  Southern 
Illinois,  Georgia,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  and  at  several  intermediate 
points. 

28.  Hesperomys  gossypinus  LeConte.    Cotton  Mouse. 

Hesperomys  gossypinus  LeConte,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sei.,  VI,  411,  1853, 
— Baird,  Mam.  N.  Am.,  469,  1857. 

*  This  and  the  following  species  arc  only  provisionally  adopt         See  a  previous 
number  of  this  Bulletin  (Vol.  I.,  No.  8,  p.  227)  for  a  fuller  expression  of  my  \ 
to  the  number  of  North  American  species  of  this  group,  and  their  mutual  affinities. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  181 

Several  specimens  were  obtained,  corresponding  in  size  and  color 
with  what  LeConte  and  Baird  have  described  under  this  name.  It  is 
apparently  common.  As  I  have  previously  stated  elsewhere,*  these  Flor- 
ida specimens  have  well-developed  cheek-pouches. 

The  specimens  in  question  arc  rather  larger  than  any  examples  of  77. 
leucopus  I  have  seen  from  the  Northern  States,  they  agreeing  very  well  in 
measurements  with  the  two  specimens  cited  by  Professor  Baird.  j  The 
large  size  of  these  specimens,  conjoined  -with  their  southern  habitat,  would 
seem  at  first  to  clearly  indicate  their  being  distinct  from  II.  leucopus,  as 
they  are  at  least  one  third  larger  than  the  average  size  of  the  latter  at  the 
North.  Professor  Baird  in  speaking  of  this  species  observes  :  "  There  is 
every  reason  to  consider  this  mouse  as  specifically  distinct  from  II.  leuco- 
pus  of  the  North;  although  skins,  when  much  stretched  (as  Nos.  1105, 
1112.  from  Middleboro',  Massachusetts),  of  the  latter,  may  measure  as 
much  as  those  recorded  here,  yet  they  are  certainly  actually  smaller,  as 
shown  by  the  feet,  which  never  attain  anything  of  the  length  of  .45  for  the 
anterior  and  .90  for  the  posterior."  But  he  is  "  hardly  satisfied,"  he  adds, 
"  that  this  animal  is  different  from  the  smaller  27.  leucopus,  as  the  differ- 
ence in  size  is  no  greater  than  is  to  be  seen  in  a  series  of  Hesperomys  from 
more  northern  localities.  The  tail  is  duskier  beneath  than  in  77.  cognatus, 
and  the  sides  more  rusty ;  otherwise  I  can  realize  only  the  larger  size. 
Should  both  [77.  cognatus  and  II.  gossypinus']  prove  to  be  the  same,  the 
name  77.  gossypinus  must  of  course  take  precedence."' 

As  already  observed,  the  prevailing  form  of  the  Hesperomys  of  East 
Florida  is  not  essentially  different  from  a  large  proportion  of  the  77. 
leucopus  of  the  North,  either  in  measurements,  proportions,  or  color, 
although  it  is  unmistakably  referable  to  the  so-called  77.  cognatus,  which 
has  been  supposed  to  replace  in  the  Southern  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  the 
77.  leucopus  of  the  nmre  northern  ones.  If,  as  I  have  elsewhere  suggested 
(Joe.  cit.),  as  Professor  Baird  admits  may  be,  and  as  the  facts  seem  to  indi- 
cate, 77.  gossypinus  is  inseparable  from  77.  cognatus,  and  the  latter  being 
most  unquestionably  referable  to  II.  leucopus,  it  would  seem  that  77.  gos- 
sypinus must  also  be  referred  to  the  II.  leucopus. 

Respecting  the  variations  in  this  species  and  the  affinities  of  the  77. 
gossypinus,  Audubon  and  Bachman  observe  as  follows:  "  That  a  species  so 
widely  distributed  and  subject  to  so  many  variations  in  size,  length  of 
tail,  and  color,  should  have  been  often  described  under  different  names  is 
not  surprising.  We  have  ourselves  often  been  in  a  state  of  doubt  on 
obtaining  some  striking  variety.     The  name  Hypudccus  gossypinus  of  our 

*  Bulletin  Mus.  Comp.  Zobl.,  Vol.  I,  No.  8,  p.  229,  1869. 
t  Mam.  X.  Am.,  p.  469. 


182  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

friend  Major  LeConte  (sec  Appendix  to  McMurtrie's  translation  of  Cuv. 
An.  Kingd.,  Vol.  I,  p.  431)  was  intended  for  this  species,  as  it  is  found  in 
the  Southern  States.  We  were  for  several  years  disposed  to  regard  it  as 
distinct,  and  have,  not  without  much  hesitation,  and  after  an  examination 
of  many  hundred  specimens,  been  induced  to  set  it  down  as  a  variety 
only."  These  authors  also  remark  that  they  are  considerably  larger  in 
the  Carolines  than  in  the  Eastern  States.* 

29.  Hesperomys  palustris   Wagner.    Rice-field  Mouse. 

Mvspalustris  Harlan,  Am.  Journ.  Sci.,  XXXI,  386,  1837. 

"  Hesperomys  palustris  Wagner,  Supplem.  Schreb.  Saugeth.,  Ill,  543, 1843." 

Hesperomys  {Oryzomys)  palustris  Baird,  Mam   N   Am:,  482,  1857. 

Arvicola  oryzvtora  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  Ill,  214,  pi.  cxliv,  fig.  3, 1857. 

No  specimens  of  this  species  were  obtained  by  either  Mr.  Maynard 
or  myself.  Its  habitat  is  usually  given  as  South  Carolina  and  Georgia, 
but  Audubon  and  Bach  man  state :  "  The  late  Dr.  Leitner  brought  us  a 
specimen  obtained  in  the  Everglades  of  Florida."  |  It  in  all  probabil- 
ity occurs  also  in  East  Florida.  The  above-mentioned  authors  give  it  as 
somewhat  common  in  the  salt-marshes  near  Savannah  and  Charleston. 
Professor  Baird  has  received  it  from  Columbus  and  St.  Simon's  Island, 
Georgia,  and  Society  Hill,  South  Carolina. 

"0.  Neotoma  floridana  Say  <j-  0>d.    Wood  Rat. 

Mas  floridanus  Ord,  Lull.  Soc.  Plnlom.,  1818,  181.  —  Say,  Long's  Exped., 

I,  54,  1823. 
Arvicola  Jlondana  Harlan,  Faun.  Amer.,  141,  1825. 
Neotoma  floridana  Say  &   Ord,  Journ.   Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  IV,   ii,   352, 

1825.—  Baird,  Mam.  N.  Am.,  487,  1857. 

I  found  this  species  very  abundant  on  the  Lower  St.  John's,  espe- 
cially around  Jacksonville  and  Hihernia,  but  I  did  not  meet  with  it 
above  Lake  George.  The  old  residents  about  Ilawkinsville  seemed 
•wholly  unacquainted  with  it.  Mr.  Maynard  also  failed  to  meet  with  it 
on  Indian  River.  It  hence  appears  probable  that  it  may  not  occur 
very  frequently  in  the  southern  part  of  the  peninsula.  Professor  Baird, 
however,  lias  recorded  a  specimen  from  "Indian  River,  Fla.,"  collected 
by  Dr.  Wurdemann. 

The  present  usual  northward  range  of  this  species  does  not  appear 
to  extend  beyond  North  Carolina  ;  but  Professor  Baird,  writing  in  1837, X 

*  Quad.  N.  Amer.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  301,  305.  \  Mum.  X.  Am.,  p.  489. 

t  Ibid.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  216. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE    ZOOLOGY.  183 

remarks :  "  A  few  specimens  of  unusually  large  size  were  captured 
some  years  ago  by  J.  G.  Bell,  near  Piermont,  on  the  Hudson  River, 
but  I  have  not  heard  of  any  in  intermediate  localities  [New  York  and 
Society  Hill,  South  Carolina]."  Mi-.  George  Gibbes  states  that  he 
"caught  a  specimen,  many  years  ago,  in  Massachusetts."*  Audu- 
bon ami  Bachman  remark  that  specimens  of  it  have  been  obtained  in 
North  Carolina,  and  that  they  had  "observed  a  few  nests  in  the  valleys 
of  the  Virginia  mountains,"  and  that  they  had  "  somewhere  heard  it 
stated  that  one  or  two  had  been  captured  as  far  to  the  north  as  Mary- 
land." f 

31.  Sigmodon  hispidus  Say  $•  Ord.    Cotton  Eat. 
Arvicola  hispidus  Godman,  Am.  Nat.  Hist.,  II,  68,  1826. 
Arvicola  hortensts  Harlan,  Faun.  Am.,  138,  1825. 
Arvicola  ferrugineus  Harlan*,  Am.  Journ.  Sci.,  X,  285,  1826. 
Sigmodon  hispidum  Say  &  Ord,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  IV,  ii,  354,  pi.  x, 

figs.  5-8,  1825.  —  Baird,  N.  Am.  Mam.,  503,  1857. 
Sigmodon  Berlandien  Baird,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VII,  333,  1855. 

Ibid.,  N.  Am.  Mam.,  50-1. 

Abundant  throughout  the  country  along  the  St.  John's  River, 
and  also  on  Indian  River,  whence  Mr.  Maynard  brought  fifteen  speci- 
mens. They  are  quite  a  pest  to  the  farmers,  who  often  successfully 
resort  to  poison  to  reduce  their  numbers.  By  scattering  grain  poi- 
soned with  strychnine  about  their  fields  they  are  able  to  destroy  hun- 
dreds with  slight  trouble.  Different  specimens  vary  considerably  in 
color,  from  gray  through  yellowish-brown  to  rufous.  The  so-called 
Sigmodon  Berlandieri,  from  Texas  and  New  Mexico,  seems  undistin- 
guishable  from  S.  hispidus. 

In  its  general  economy,  the  cotton  rat  represents  the  Arvicola?  of  the 
North,  especially  A.  riparius. 

Concerning  .S\  Berlandieri,  Professor  Baird  remarks :  "  This  species  is 
readily  distinguishable  from  .S'.  Imp'ulus  by  the  much  lighter  color  above, 
where  it  is  grayish-yellow  brown  instead  of  distinct  reddish-brown  ;  the 
tail  is  considerably  longer  and  covered  by  finer  annuli.  The  toes  are 
shorter,  and  the  metatarsus  shorter,  while  the  feet  are  nearly  the  same 
length.  The  claws,  however,  are  much  weaker."  The  tail  in  this  species 
is  said  to  be  "  equal  to  or  longer  than  the  trunk  "  ;  the  "  color  above  gray- 
ish-yellow  brown,  lined  with  black  ";  while  5.  hispidus  is  said  to  have  the 

*  Xat.  Hist.  Wash.  Terr.,  Zool.,  p.  12S,  1SG0. 
t  Quad.  X.  Am.,  Vol.  I,  p.  36. 


1S4  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

tail  "  less  than  the  trunk,"  and  "the  color  above  reddish  brown,  lined  with 
very  dark  brown."  The  specimens  from  Florida  examined  by  me  are 
mainly  of  the  gray  type,  and  hence  like  S.  Berlandieri,  but  some  were  de- 
cidedly rufous,  or  like  S.  hispidus.  In  "Mammals  of  North  America,' 
measurements  of  specimens  of  the  so-called  X.  Berlandieri  are  given,  and 
of"  twelve  of  S.  hispidus.  In  the  latter  the  length  of  the  tail  to  the  length 
of  the  trunk  is  as  69  to  100  ;  in  the  former  (.S'.  Berlandieri)  as  G3  to  100  ! 
It  hence  appears  from  Professor  Baird's  own  measurements  that  the  X. 
Berlandieri  is  far  from  having  the  tail  relatively  the  longer.  The  other 
distinctions  are  based  on  too  few  specimens  to  have  much  value,  since  indi- 
vidual variations  of  the  same  character  are  common. 

32.  Arvicola  pinetorum  LeConte.    Pine  Mouse. 

Psammomys  pinetorum.  LeCoxte,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lyceum  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  132,  pi.  ii, 

1820. 
Arvicola  scalopsoides  Add.  &  Bach.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VIII,  299, 

1 842. 
Arvicola  pinetorum.  Aud.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  II,  216,  pi.  lxxx,  1851. 
Arvicola  [Pitymys)  pinetorum  Baird,  N.  Am.  Mam.,  544,  1857. 
Included  on  the  authority  of  Audubon  and  Bachman,  who  state  that 
they  had  received  it  from  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Georgia. 
Professor   Baird   also  cites   specimens   from    Georgia  and   Louisiana. 
This  is  the  most  southern  of  the  Arvicolce,  and  the  only  one,  except 
A.  austerus,  whose  habitat  includes  the  Gulf  States. 

LEPORIDJE. 

33.    Lepus  sylvaticus  Bach.    Gray  Rabbit. 
Lepus  amcricanus  Desm.,  Mam.,  II,  351,  1822.  —  ILuilan,  Faun.  Amer.,  193, 

L825. 
Lcjhi*  sylvaticus  Bach.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VII,  1837.  —  Waterh., 

Nat.   Hist.  Mam.,  II,  116,  1S48.— Aun.  &  Bach.,  Quad.  N.  Am.,  I,  173, 

pi.  xxii,  1849.  —  Baird,  Mam.  N.  Am.,  597,  1857. 

Abundant.     Mr.  Maynard  obtained  a  specimen  but  a  few  weeks  old, 
at  Dummitt's,  as  early  as  the  lGth  of  February 

34.     Lepus  palustris  Bachman.    Marsh  Rabbit. 
Lepus  palustris  Ba<  ii  ,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VII,  194,  336,  pi.  xv,  xvi, 
1837;    Ibid.,    VIII,  79,   1 8 39.  —  Aun.   &    Bach.,   Quad.  N.   Am.,  I,  151, 
pi.  xviii,  1849. —  I5.\iki>,   Mam.   X.  Am.,  615,    ls.">7.  —  Coues,  Proc.  Bust. 
Sue.  Nat.  [list.,  XIII,  86,  1869. 
Common,  especially  on  the  Lower  St.  John's.* 

my  <>f  this  species  a  paper  by  Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  Proceed. 
Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  lli^t.,  Vol.  XIII,  pp.  tO  -  101,  June,  1669. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  185 

DIDELPHIDJE. 

35.    Didelphys  virginiana  Shaw.    Opossum. 

Didelphys  viryiniana  Shaw,  Gen.Zo.il.,  I,  473,  pi.  cvii,  1800.  — Desmar est, 
Harlan,  Temjiinck,  Waterhouse,  Baird,  and  most  other  authors. 

?  "  Didelphys  marsupialis  Schreb.,  Saugeth.,  Ill,  pi.  cxlv,  1778." 

Didelphys  califomica  Bennett,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  I,  40,  1833.  —  Also 
Wagxer,  Waterhouse,  Aid.  &  Bach,  (from  Bennett).  —  Baird,  Mam. 
N.  Am.,  233,  1857.  —  Baird,  U.  S.  &  Mex.  Bound.  Surv.  Rep.,  II,  Zool., 
32,  1859. 

Didelphys  breviceps  Bennett,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  I,  40,  1833.  —  Water- 
house,  Nat.  Hist.  .Mam  ,  I,  477,  1846  (from  Bennett  '<.).  —  Aid.  &  Bai  ii., 
Quad.  X.  Am.;  Ill,  330,  1S51  (from  Bennett). 

Didelphys  pruinosus  Wagner,  Wiegmann's  Archiv,  1842,  358.  —  Water- 
house,  Nat.  Hist.  Mam.,  I,  477,  1846,  (from  Wagner). 

Abundant. 

This  species  is  quite  variable  in  its  color-markings,  and  remarkably  so 
in  many  other  features,  especially  in  the  length  and  size  of  the  nose,  and 
in  the  size  and  proportions  of  the  skull,  even  in  specimens  from  the  same 
locality.*  Slight  and  quite  inconstant  differences  also  occur  between  ex- 
amples from  the  Southern  States,  Texas,  Mexico,  and  California.  It 
would,  in  fact,  be  quite  unusual  if  specimens  of  any  species  ranging  so 
widely  should  not  be  found  to  differ  somewhat  at  localities  so  widely  sepa- 
rated. Two  supposed  species  of  North  American  Didelphys  described 
by  Mr.  Bennett,  as  cited  above,  have  been  quoted  by  numerous  other 
authors,  and  by  them  currently  adopted,  without  apparently  an  exam- 
ination of  their  merits.  Professor  Baird.  rejecting  one  of  them,  has  en- 
deavored to  separate  the  opossums  occurring  west  of  the  Mississippi  valley 
from  those  living  farther  eastward,  designating  the  western  one  as  D.  cali- 
fomica. The  distinctions  claimed  are  somewhat  similar  to  those  urged  as 
distinguishing  the  so-called  Procyon  Hernandezii  of  the  western  half  of 
the  continent  from  the  /'.  hilar  of  the  Atlantic  States.  They  are  equally 
slight  and  unsatisfactory,  and  at  most  mark  but  a  geographical  race,  so 
intimately  allied  to  and  intergrading  with  the  better-known  eastern  form 
that  the  point  at  which  the  one  supplants  the  other  is  thus  far  undeter- 
mined. The  Didelphys  breviceps  of  Bennett  was  founded  on  a  single 
specimen  from  California,  which  differed  from  the  so-called  D.  califomica 
only  in  having  a  relatively  shorter  head. 

*  Since  writing  the  above  I  have  been  incidentally  informed  by  Dr.  Cones  that,  in 
preparing  his  memoir  on  the  anatomy  of  Didelphys  viryiniana  (now  publishing  in  the 
Mem.  of  the  Bost.  Sue.  Nat.  Ili-t.,  Vol.  11,  l't.  I),  he  had  occasion  to  examine  a  large 
number  of  specimen-,  ami  that  he  found  the  variation  in  size  and  proportions  to 
amount  to  nearly  twenty  per  cent. 


186  BULLETIN    OF   THE 


Part  III. 

On  Individual  and    Geographical  Variation  among  Birds,  considered 

in  respect  to  its  bearing  upon  the   J'alue  of  certain  assumed  Specific 

Ch  evaders. 

A  systematic  investigation  of  the  extent  and  character  of  individual 
variation  in  birds  seems  not  to  have  hitherto  been  attempted;  in  fact, 
few  collections  exist  that  furnish  the  material  necessary  to  such  a 
work.  In  occasional  instances  considerable  differences  between  indi- 
viduals of  the  same  species,  other  than  those  that  result  from  age  and 
sex,  have,  however,  already  been  pointed  out,  but  these  instances  seem 
to  have  been  generally,  but  improperly,  regarded  as  exceptional  cases. 

The  collection  of  birds  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  now 
offers  unusual  facilities  for  a  general  investigation  of  this  subject,  most 
of  the  common  species  of  Eastern  North  America  being  each  repre- 
sented by  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  more  specimens.  The 
greater  part  of  them  having  been  collected  in  Southern  New  England, 
and  a  large  proportion  in  Eastern  Massachusetts,  they  are  the  more 
valuable  for  this  purpose,  from  their  having  been  collected  essentially 
from  the  same  locality.  The  examination  of  this  material  has  disclosed 
a  hitherto  unsuspected  range  of  purely  individual  differentiation  in 
every  species  thus  far  studied.  At  the  same  time  regard  has  been 
had  to  the  more  obscure  seasonal  variations  in  color,  and  to  the  gen- 
eral differences  that  dfpend  upon  age,  including  such  as  result  from 
senility  as  well  as  from  immaturity.  Local  or  geographical  variations 
have  likewise  been  carefully  considered,  with  results  that  a  short  time 
since  were  unsuspected.  These  several  lines  of  investigation  have 
shown  that  in  many  instances  what  have  been  regarded  as  reliable  char- 
acteristics of  species  have  in  not  a  few  eases  really  little  or  no  value; 
that  the  importance  of  many  diagnostic  features  has  been  too  highly 
estimated,  and  that  consequently  a  careful  revision  of  our  published 
fauna'  will  be  necessary  for  the  elimination  of  the  merely  nominal 
species.  In  the  following  pages  many  of  the  data  which  have  led  to 
these  conclusions  will  be  presented. 

Individual  variation  not  only  affects  color  and  size,  but  the  propor- 
tions of  different  part-,  as  the  relative  size  ami  form  of  the  wings,  tail, 
bill,  toes,  and  tarsi,  including  the  skeleton  as  well  as  the  external  organs; 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  187 

of  the  soft  parts  no  account  can  as  yet  be  given.  Geographical  varia- 
tion has  an  equally  universal  range,  but  is  most  strikingly  exhibited  in 
the  color,  in  size,  and  in  the  form  of  the  bill.  Individual  variation  will 
be  first  considered,  and  subsequently  geographical  variation.  In  each 
case  each  prominent  phase  of  variation  will  be  more  or  less  fully  de- 
scribed. 

1.   Individual  Variation. 

Individual  Variation  in  Color. —  In  birds  of  whatever  age,  two  lines 
of  variation  from  the  average  or  medium  type  of  coloration  are  readily 
distinguishable,  the  variation  depending  essentially  on  differences  in  the 
depth  or  intensity  of  the  general  tint.  On  the  one  hand,  individual 
variation  in  color  results  from  a  greater  than  the  average  amount  of 
coloring  matter  in  the  integuments  ;  on  the  other  hand,  from  an  amount 
less  thau  the  average  amount.  The  difference  in  this  respect  between 
the  extremes  of  a  series  of  fifty  or  one  hundred  specimens  of  any  spe- 
cies, collected  in  course  at  a  single  locality,  and  nearly  at  the  same 
season  of  the  year,  is  often  as  great  as  occurs  between  truly  distinct 
species.  But  the  difference  is  here  solely  one  of  intensity  of  color, 
while  in  allied  species  there  is  almost  always  an  appreciable  variation 
in  the  style  of  coloration.  In  individual  variation  the  differences  usually 
extend  alike  to  all  parts  of  the  integuments  ;  that  is,  if  the  plumage 
of  the  upper  surface  of  the  body  is  brighter  or  paler  than  usual, 
the  same  difference  extends  to  the  plumage  of  the  lower  surface  of  the 
body,  and  also  to  the  bill  and  the  feet.  This  is  noticeable  not  only  in 
species  that  have  the  color  in  uniform  masses,  differing  in  tint  on  differ- 
ent regions  of  the  body,  as  in  the  robin  (Tardus  migratoriw),  the  blue- 
bird (Sialiasialis),  the  Maryland  yellow-throat  (Geotlth/pis  trichas),  the 
mocking-bird  (Mimus  polyglotti/s),  and  species  generally  of  that  type 
of  coloration,  but  also  in  spotted  bird*,  as  in  the  various  spotted  species 
of  Fringillidce,  Tardus,  Dendrozca,  etc.,  where  the  plumage  on  certain 
regions  of  the  body  is  marked  with  numerous  streaks  and  .-pots  differing 
from  the  ground  color,  in  which  case  the  intensity  of  the  color  of  the 
markings  correllates  in  its  variations  with  that  of  the  ground  color. 
Closely  allied  species,  on  the  contrary,  usually  vary  more  or  less, 
not  only  in  respect  to  the  ground  color,  but  also  to  a  greater  or  less 
degree  in  the  style  of  the  markings.  In  illustration  of  this  point  the 
familiar  group  of  the  small,  spotted-breasted  wood-thru -lies  of  Eastern 


188  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

North  America  —  the  group  Hylocichla  of  Professor  Baird —  may  be 
taken.  Three  of  these  species  {Tardus  fuscescens,  T.  Swainsoni,  and 
T.  Pallasi)  are  so  closely  related  that  for  many  years  they  were  vari- 
ously confounded  with  each  other  by  almost  all  who  wrote  of  them, 
one  of  them  not  being  clearly  recognized  as  distinct  from  the  others  till 
thus  established  by  Dr.  T.  M.  Brewer,*  in  184  1,  and  also  at  about  the 
same  time  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Giraud.f  each  apparently  independently  of  the 
other.  Yet  they  are  so  distinct  that  there  seems  to  be  not  the  slightest 
excuse  for  again  confounding  them.  While  they  all  agree  so  closely  in 
general  size,  in  form,  and  in  proportions,  that  a  series  of  detailed  meas- 
urements of  many  specimens  of  each  species  gives  in  the  average  no 
constant  differences  in  any  of  these  particulars,  each  differs  from  the 
other  radically  and  constantly  in  style  of  coloration,  and  somewhat  in 
general  tints,  in  habitat,  nidification,  habits  and  song.  Two  of  these 
species  (T.  fuscescens  and  T.  Swainsoni)  agree  in  the  style  of  the  colora- 
tion of  the  dorsal  surface,  but  differ  so  much  in  the  color  of  this  part,  that 
this  character  alone  is  always  sufficient  to  separate  them,  while  a  still 
wider  difference  is  seen  in  the  color  and  markings  of  the  ventral  surface, 
a  glance  at  this  part  of  T.  fuscescens  being  sufficient  to  invariably  dis- 
tinguish it  from  either  of  its  above-named  allies.  The  third  species  (T. 
Pallasi)  differs  markedly  from  both  the  other  two  in  the  style  of  color- 
ation of  the  dorsal  surface,  the  rump  and  tail  being  conspicuously  dif- 
ferent in  color  from  the  anterior  part  of  the  body,  whilst  the  others 
exhibit  no  contrast  of  color  between  these  regions.  But  the  under  sur- 
face of  T.  Swainsoni  is  so  like  that  of  T.  Pallasi  that  frequently  speci- 
mens cannot  readily  be  referred  to  the  one  species  rather  than  to  the 
other  from  a  view  of  this  surface  alone.  This  group  serves  as  a  fair 
general  illustration  of  the  kind  of  variation  in  color  usually  seen  in 
closely  allied  species,  but  there  occur  occasional  exceptions,  where  a 
difference  in  the  relative  proportions  of  different  parts,  or  a  wide  differ- 
ence in  size,  is  the  prominent  specific  distinction,  the  smaller  species,  so 
far  as  color  is  concerned,  being  a  diminutive  representative  of  the  larger. 
Taking  the  present  group  of  Hylocichla  (for  reasons  that  will  appear 
hereafter])  as  a  group  illustrative  also  of  individual  variation,  it  is  found 
that  the  differences  in  color  in  different  individuals  of  either  species 

*  Proc.  Boston  Soc.  Nat  Hist,  Vol.  I,  p.  191,  July,  1844. 

t   Bird    of  Long  1  land,  p.  91,  1843-44. 

X  See  the  remarks  on  these  species  in  Tart  IV. 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  189 

results  from  the  amount  of  rufous  pervading  the  plumage.  Individuals 
of  Tardus  Swainsoni  of  the  rufous  or  bright-colored  type  have  the  dorsal 
surface  of  a  uniform  brownish-olivaceous  tint,  and  the  sides  of  the  head 
and  breast  strongly  suffused  with  yellowish-brown,  which  tint  is  also 
traceable  throughout  the  lower  plumage,  in  the  brighter  color  of  the 
basal  brownish  band  on  the  inside  of  the  wing-,  and  in  the  color  of  the 
mouth  and  base  of  the  bill.  In  other  individuals  the  upper  plumage 
is  of  a  dark  olivaceous  tint,  without  any  trace  of  brownish,  the  sides 
of  the  head,  neck,  and  breast  being  ashen,  with  often  no  appreciable 
tinge  of  ferruginous  ;  specimens  of  this  type  thus  differing  widely  in 
general  aspect  from  those  of  the  other.  Between  these  extremes,  of 
which  examples  are  not  unfrequent,  nor  confined  to  any  particular 
locality  or  season  of  the  year,  there  is  every  degree  of  intergradation, 
specimens  intermediate  between  the  two  being  by  far  the  most  fre- 
quent, and  constituting  the  average  or  common  form. 

Turdus  Pallasi  and  Tv.rdus  fuscescens  present  precisely  similar  vari- 
ations. They  are  also  seen  in  Turdus  mustelinus,  in  Turdus  migrato- 
rius,  in  Siulia  sialis,  in  Seiurus  noveboracensi's,  in  many  species  of  Dcn- 
drceca,  sparrows,  and  other  species  which  I  have  especially  investigated 
in  reference  to  this  point,  embracing  examples  of  all  the  leading  families 
of  birds.  The  ruffed  grouse  (Bonasa  umbellus),  as  is  well  known, 
varies  in  the  color  of  the  upper  parts  from  reddish-brown  to  gray  ;  the 
great  horned  owl  (Bubo  rirginianus)  from  dusky  through  numerous 
shades  of  rufous  and  fulvous  to  nearly  white,  the  fulvous  suffusion  so 
commonly  present  in  this  species  varying  from  ferruginous  on  the  one 
extreme  to  its  complete  obsolescence  on  the  other.  In  such  common 
and  thoroughly  known  species  as  the  robin,  blue-bird,  etc.,  the  true 
character  of  these  variations  is  recognized,  but  in  groups  where  the 
species  are  not  well  known,  and  especially  in  specimens  from  partially 
explored  regions,  they  are  frequently  regarded  as  of  specific  value,  and 
the  addition  of  numerous  nominal  species  is  the  result. 

Besides  the  variation  in  the  depth  of  color  already  noticed,  birds  hav- 
ing the  plumage  varied  with  streaks  and  spots  differ  exceedingly  in 
different  individuals  of  the  same  species  in  respect  to  the  size,  shape,  and 
number  of  these  marks,  and  in  the  general  aspect  of  the  plumage  result- 
ing from  such  variations.  Generally,  as  already  stated,  such  differences 
correllate  with  the  variations  in  the  intensity  of  the  ground  color,  the 
darker  or  more  deeply  colored  birds  being  usually  those  with  the  mark- 


100  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

ings  largest  and  brightest.  A  wide  range  of  variation  in  this  respect  is 
seen  in  all  birds  which  have  the  breast  and  lower  plumage  marked  with 
dark  streaks  and  spots  on  a  lighter  ground,  or  that  have  the  whole  plu- 
mage  streaked.  In  the  common  song  sparrow  (Mcluspiza  melodia),  the 
fox-colored  sparrow  (Passerella  iliaca),  the  swamp  sparrow  {Mclospiza 
palustris),  the  black  and  white  creeper  (Mniotilta  varia),  the  water  wag- 
tail (Seiurus  noveboracensis),  in  Tardus  fuscescens  and  its  allies,  etc., 
the  difference  in  the  size  of  the  streaks  is  often  very  considerable.  In 
the  song  sparrow  they  vary  to  such  an  extent  that  in  some  cases*  they 
are  reduced  to  narrow  lines  ;  in  others  so  enlarged  as  to  cover  the 
greater  part  of  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  body,  sometimes  uniting  on 
the  middle  of  the  breast  into  a  nearly  continuous  patch.  Variation  in 
this  respect  is  equally  great  in  the  fox-colored  sparrow  and  in  the  grass 
finch  (Pooccetes  gramineus).  Massachusetts  specimens  of  the  savanna 
sparrow  {Passerculus  savanna  auct.)  also  present  variations  exactly  par- 
allel with  those  of  the  song  sparrow.  Yet  these  differences,  with  other 
variations  to  be  hereafter  mentioned,!  have  been  regarded,  as  in  the 
case  of  Passerculus  savanna,  as  of  specific  value.  Similar  variations  in 
the  Ilijlocichla  group  are  very  marked,  as  in  Turdus  (Hylociclda)  fus- 
cescens especially.  In  some  specimens  of  this  species  the  colors  are  on 
all  parts  not  only  very  pale,  but  the  markings  on  the  breast  are  reduced 
to  indistinct  narrow  lines  ;  in  others,  in  which  the  general  color  of  the 
plumage  is  darker,  the  markings  on  the  breast  are  dark,  broad,  and 
triangular.  Two  specimens  taken  in  Cambridge  the  same  day  (early 
in  May),  both  of  which  are  males,  exhibit  these  extremes.  Average 
male  specimens  of  the  black  and  white  creeper  (Mniotilta  varia),  in 
which  the  plumage  is  varied  with  longitudinal  black  and  white  streaks, 
have  the  black  streaks  about  a  third  broader  than  the  white  ones ; 
but  other  specimens  occur  in  which  the  white  ones  are  equal  to  and 
even  broader  than  the  black  ones  ;  others  have  the  black  streaks  so 
much  broader  than  they  usually  are,  —  the  white  ones  of  course  being 
proportionally  reduced, —  that  the  general  aspect  of  the  plumage  at  a 
short  distance  is  nearly  black.  The  difference  between  these  two 
extremes  is  strikingly  great.  Yet  similar  variations,  scarcely  less  in 
degree,  occur  in  nearly  all  of  the  striped-breasted  warblers. 

In  birds  which  have  'lie  ground  color  of  certain  areas  of  the  body 

*   Perfectly  mature  specimens  only  are  here  referred  to. 
|    See  the  remarks  on  the  genus  Passerculus  in  Part  IV. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  191 

black  spotted  with  white,  as  in  some  of  the  woodpeckers  (Picus  villosus 
and  P.  pubescens,  for  example),  the  white  markings  vary  in  size  most 
notably,  and  sometimes  in  number.  The  wliite  markings  so  common 
on  the  wings  and  tails  of  birds,  as  the  bars  formed  by  the  white  tips  of 
the  greater  wing  coverts,  the  wliite  patch  occasionally  present  at  the 
base  of  the  primary  quills,  or  the  white  band  crossing  them,  and  the 
white  patch  near  the  end  of  the  outer  tail  feathers,  are  also  extremely 
liable  to  variation  in  respect  to  their  extent  and  the  number  of  feathers 
to  which,  in  the  same  species,  these  markings  extend.  Variation  in  the 
tail  markings  is  particularly  common,  as  may  be  seen  by  comparing 
numerous  specimens  of  almost  any  species  of  Dendrceca,  Junco,  Pipilo, 
of  Mimus  polyglottus,  Chordeiles  popetue,  etc.  In  the  latter  species  the 
white  patch  on  the  wing  does  not  ordinarily  encroach  upon  the  outer 
vane  of  the  first  primary,  and  rarely  upon  its  shaft,  but  in  several  spe- 
cimens before  me  it  covers  not  only  the  shaft  of  the  first  primary,  but 
extends  completely  across  its  outer  vane  !  The  black  subterminal  bar 
on  the  upper  surface  of  the  tail  of  the  ruflfed  grouse  (Bonasa  umbellus) 
ordinarily  crosses  all  but  the  middle  pair  of  feathers,  on  which  there  is 
usually  no  trace  of  this  bar;  in  many  specimens,  however,  it  is  barely 
traceable  on  them,  and  in  others  it  is  as  distinct  and  perfect  on  the 
middle  pair  as  on  the  others.* 

The  Parula  americana  presents  also  remarkable  examples  of  indi- 
vidual color  variation.  The  colors  of  the  males  are  usually  much 
brighter  than  those  of  the  females,  but  cases  are  frequent  where  the  sex 
cannot"  be  determined  by  the  color  of  the  plumage.  Adult  males  also 
vary  greatly  in  the  style  of  coloration.  They  are  generally  bright 
yellow  anteriorly  below,  with  a  broad  band  of  dusky  reddish-brown 
across  the  breast,  varying  in  tint  from  nearly  pure  chestnut  to  dusky 
reddish-brown,  and  even  black,  and  also  greatly  in  extent.  In  some, 
however,  this  band  is  partially  obsolete,  in  which  case  the  whole  plu- 
mage is  generally  paler  than  in  average  specimens.  More  rarely  large, 
brightly  colored  males  are  taken,  even  in  New  England,  with  the  whole 
breast  bright  yellow,  the  brownish  pectoral  band  being  entirely  absent. 
This  condition,  however,  seems  to  be  more  frequent  in  specimens  of 
Parula  collected  in  Mexico,  and  Central  and  Northern  South  America, 
which  on  this  account  have  been  regarded  as  distinct  from  the  Parula 
of  the  North ;  yet  all  the  conditions  of  color  seen  in  specimens  from 

*  See  remarks  on  color  variations  in  other  species  in  Part  IV. 


192  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

the    North   are   also    common    to    those    from    the    South,    and    vice 
versa. 

In  species  in  which  the  (Vmale  usually  differs  from  the  male  in  being 
paler  colored,  the'  pattern  of  coloration  being  the  same  in  both  sexes, 
females  occur  more  or  less  frequently  which  arc  as  brightly  colored  as 
the  brightest  males,  and  males  that  are  paler  than  the  generality  of  the 
females. 

Variation  in  Color  depending  on  Season.  —  A  word  in  this  connection 
seems  necessary  concerning  some  of  the  more  obscure  variations  de- 
pending upon  season  and  age,  since  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  avoid 
confounding  these  differences  with  those  resulting  from  individual  vari- 
ation. In  many  species  there  is  a  marked  change  in  the  color  of  the 
plumage  without  a  change  of  the  plumage  itself.  No  experienced  col- 
lector can  have  failed  to  notice  the  much  brighter  and  livelier  tints 
the  plumage  of  mo?t  song  birds  presents  immediately  after  the  autum- 
nal moult,  in  species  in  which  there  is  no  marked  seasonal  change 
of  color,  in  comparison  with  the  faded  appearance  they  exhibit  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  breeding  season.  This  brighter  autumnal  tint 
is  particularly  marked  in  the  Vireos,  the  different  species  of  Em- 
pidonax,  Sayomis,  Contopus,  and  in  some  of  the  Sylvicolidee,  and 
is  clearly  traceable  in  hundreds  of  other  species.  But  almost  as 
great  a  difference  is  seen  when  specimens  of  any  species  taken  in 
spring,  on  its  first  arrival  at  its  breeding  station,  are  compared  with 
those  collected  several  weeks  later,  or  just  before  the  autumnal  renewal 
of  the  plumage.  In  this  case  the  variation  results  in  part  from  an  ac- 
tual lading  of  the  color,  and  in  part  from  the  wearing  of  the  edges  of 
the  feathers.  Seasonal  differences  of  this  character  are  often  only  read- 
ily appreciable  to  the  experienced  eye,  and  the  failure  to  recognize 
the  cause  of  these  differences  has  led  in  many  instances  to  their  being 
regarded  as  of  specific  value.  Especially  noteworthy  instances  of  such 
mistakes  will  be  noticed  later.  Collectors,  and  even  naturalists,  gen- 
erally place  little  value  on  failed  or  dull-colored  specimens,  so  that  or- 
dinarily in  collections  of  our  native  birds  only  fine-looking  specimens 
are  preserved.  But  travellers  and  explorer-  of  new  localities  are  often 
compelled  to  content  themselves  with  any  representative  they  may  be 
able  to  get,  so  that  the  "  closet "  or  exclusively  "museum  naturalist" 
has  not  usually  the  material  necessary  to  furnish  him  with  a  clew  to  the 
cause  of  these  variations. 


MUSEUM  OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  193 

Generally,  aside  from  the  paler  tints  of  late-collected  birds,  as  com- 
pared with  those  taken  early  in  the  season,  there  is  a  total  absence  of 
the  grayish,  yellowish,  brownish,  or  rufous  suffusions  (the  particular 
tint  varying  of  course  in  different  species)  that  tinges  the  feathers  early 
in  the  season.  The  general  aspect  of  the  plumage  at  the  two  pe- 
riods in  question  is  thus  essentially  different.  The  common  chickadee 
(Parus  atricapillus)  will  illustrate  this  point,  in  which  the  brownish 
tint  so  conspicuous  on  the  lateral  portions  of  the  ventral  plumage  in  au- 
tumn and  winter  is  gradually  lost  as  spring  approaches,  and  in  summer 
is  almost  entirely  wanting,  especially  in  nesting  females,  which  at  this 
season  have  the  plumage  generally  much  more  worn  than  the  males. 
The  savanna  sparrow  will  also  illustrate  the  differences  resulting  simply 
from  the  fading  of  the  color  during  the  breeding  season.  In  spring 
both  sexes  have  a  greenish-yellow,  superciliary  stripe,  varying  more  or 
less  in  intensity  in  different  specimens,  but  rarely  or  never  of  the  pale 
soiled-whitish  so  frequently  met  with  late  in  the  breeding  season.  In 
the  large  series  of  specimens  before  me  collected  at  that  season  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, few  if  any  have  this  stripe  so  bright  as  average  spring  spe- 
cimens have  it,  in  many  it  having  faded  to  soiled  white.  Scores  of  sim- 
ilar cases  might  be  cited,  but  the  above  are  sufficient  for  illustration. 

Variations  in  Color  depending  upon  Age.  —  So  well  known  are  many 
of  the  variations  depending  upon  age,  that  it  seems  necessary  to  advert 
to  only  a  few  of  the  lesser  known  phases.  In  many  species  there  is  no 
marked  difference  between  old  and  young  birds,  after  the  moulting  of 
the  first  or  nestling  plumage,  which  usually  occurs  in  the  oscine  groups 
in  a  few  weeks  after  they  leave  the  nest.  But  even  in  these,  in  many 
cases,  sufficient  marks  of  immaturity  remain  for  a  time  to  enable  any 
one  acquainted  with  such  features  to  recognize  birds  of  one  or  two  years 
of  age  from  those  that  are  older.  Yearling  birds  of  this  group  are  often 
recognizable  by  their  having  more  or  less  well-defined  bars  across  the 
wings,  formed  of  light-colored,  hastate,  or  drop-shaped  spots  on  the  ends 
of  the  greater  wing-coverts  and  inner  secondaries,  which  in  many 
genera  are  peculiar  to  yearling  birds,  though  in  other  respects,  so  far  as 
the  plumage  is  concerned,  they  are  not  distinguishable  from  adults,  — 
a  difference  which  in  some  instances  has  been  considered  specific. 
Similar  marks  are  also  seen  in  older  birds,  in  species  that  do  not  obtain 
their  adult  colors  till  later  in  life. 


194  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Yearling  and  two-year-old  birds  are  also  often  distinguishable  from 
older  ones  by  the  presence,  after  the  spring  moult,  of  a  greater  than  the 
ordinary  amount  of  ferruginous,  ashy,  or  yellowish  edging  to  t lie  feath- 
ers, such  as  is  often  seen  in  the  winter  plumage  of  adult  birds.  In 
some  eases  such  a  bordering  to  the  clothing  feathers,  especially  those 
of  the  back,  is  often  strictly  distinctive  of  young  birds,  and  is,  more- 
over, a  feature  of  common  occurrence. 

Generally  speaking,  several  years  elapse  before  the  purity  of  the 
colors  and  the  definiteness  of  outline  of  the  markings  characteristic  of 
maturity  is  fully  obtained,  especially  in  highly  colored  species.  In 
birds  of  variegated  colors  the  contrasts  of  color  become  for  a  time  more 
and  more  decided  with  each  moult,  and  the  markings  better  and  better 
defined,  especially  in  respect  to  the  white  bars  of  the  wings  and  the 
spots  on  the  tail  common  to  a  large  number  of  species.  The  latter 
markings  usually  gradually  increase  in  extent  for  a  considerable  period. 
A  good  illustration  of  this  is  seen  in  many  of  the  gulls,  particularly  in 
the  genus  Larus.  In  L.  argentatus  the  following  gradual  change  with 
age  occurs  in  the  white  markings  on  the  tips  of  the  primaries.  At  first, 
as  ornithologists  are  aware,  the  plumage  of  this  species  is  uniformly 
dusky,  the  adult  colors  not  being  acquired  before  the  second  year,  and 
apparently  frequently  not  before  the  third,  there  being  in  the  breeding 
season  usually  a  large  proportion  of  individuals  in  the  brown  plumage.* 
But  there  are  wide  ditferences  in  the  intensity  of  the  color  in  different 
individuals  in  this  stage  of  plumage,  some  being  but  slightly  du>ky  and 
others  extremely  dark,  —  differences  that  probably  result  mainly  from 
differences  in  age,  the  darker  birds  being  probably  yearling  birds  and  the 
lighter  ones  two  years  old,  though  part  of  the  difference  is  doubtless  due 
to  individual  differentiation.  In  this  stage  the  wings  and  tail  are  of 
nearly  the  same  uniform  dusky  tint  as  the  general  plumage.  In  what 
may  be  considered  as  the  second  stage,  the  general  color  is  somewhat 
lighter,  the  tail  much  lighter,  and  the  primaries  much  darker,  with  a 
distinct  paler  apical  margin.  At  a  third  stage  the  tail  becomes  white, 
the  dorsal  plumage  begins  to  assume  the  blue  tint  characteristic  of  ma- 
turity, the  primaries  change  from  dull  blackish  brown  to  black,  and  a 
small  white  spot  appears  near  the  end  of  the  inner  vane  of  the  first 

*  Generally  the  largo  parties  that  spend  the  summer  on  the  coast  of  Massachusetts, 
where  none  of  these  birds  now  breed,  consist  almost  wholly  of  birds  in  the  brown  stage 
of  plumage.     See  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  640,  1870. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  195 

primary,  separated  from  the  -white  at  the  extreme  tip  by  a  broad  space 
of  black.  A  subsequent  gradual  increase  occurs  in  the  purity  of  the 
colors  and  in  the  extent  and  form  of  the  wing  markings.  The  complete 
series  of  the  changes  in  the  latter  is  as  fullows :  At  first,  as  previously 
remarked,  the  primaries  are  dull  brownish  black,  a  little  darker  than  the 
general  plumage,  with  their  extreme  apical  margins  lighter.  At  the 
next  stage  the  three  inner  primaries  have  become  much  lighter,  and 
the  light  border  to  all  broader  and  whiter.  Later  the  three  inner  pri- 
maries and  the  distal  portions  of  most  of  the  others  become  wholly  ashy 
white,  and  the  outer  portion  of  the  other  primaries  much  blacker.  The 
subapical  dark  portion  of  the  wing  now  embraces  only  the  seven  outer 
primaries,  and  is  of  a  triangular  form,  the  first  primary  forming  the  base 
of  the  triangle.  The  black  on  the  outer  vane  of  the  first  primary 
reaches  nearly  to  the  base  of  the  outer  vane  of  the  second,  and  is  more 
and  more  restricted  on  the  others,  till  on  the  sixth  (or,  more  rarely,  on 
the  seventh)  it  forms  only  a  narrow  bar  near  the  tip.  In  other  words,  the 
black,  if  present  on  the  seventh  primary,  exists  as  a  narrow  transverse 
subapical  bar,  which  bar  increases  in  distal  extension  on  the  sixth, 
fifth,  fourth,  third,  and  second,  to  the  first,  and  embraces  the  whole 
outer  vane  of  the  first  primary.  The  basal  outline  of  the  black 
area  being  an  oblique  one,  a  much  larger  portion  of  the  outer  than  of 
the  inner  vane  of  each  feather  is  embraced  in  the  black  space.  All  the 
primaries  are  now  terminated  with  a  narrow  white  border,  the  first  pri- 
mary having  also  an  oval  white  spot  on  the  inner  vane,  near  the  end  of 
the  feather.  Subsequently  this  spot  enlarges  so  as  to  embrace  a  part  of 
both  vanes,  the  white  at  the  tip  of  the  feather  also  meantime  increasing 
somewhat  in  extent,  and  the  two  being  separated  by  a  broad  bar  of  black. 
Coincident  with  this  increase  in  the  amount  of  white  on  the  first  primary, 
a  small  white  spot  appears  on  the  inner  vane  of  the  second  primary. 
Subsequent  increase  in  the  extent  of  these  white  markings  goes  on  until 
the  white  area  on  the  second  primary  extends  to  both  vanes,  and  the 
two  white  spots  on  the  first  primary  are  separated  by  only  a  narrow 
bar  of  black.  Later  still  this  bar  becomes  broken,  through  the  partial 
union  of  the  two  white'  spots,  and  finally  becomes  entirely  obsolete, 
leaving  the  first  primary  with  a  single  continuous  white  apical  area,  an 
inch  and  a  half  to  two  inches  in  length.  It  is  probable  that  not  all 
individuals  reach  this  final  stage,  though  most  doubtless  do  in  old  age. 
A  large  series  of  specimens  of  mature  birds  usually  exhibit  the  gradual 


196  BULLETIN   OF    THE 

change  above  described,  and  indicate  the  inconstancy  of  these  markings 
and  their  unreliability  as  specific  characters.  Often,  as  is  well  known, 
these  markings  in  the  gulls  differ  considerably  in  the  two  wings  of  the 
same  bird. 

Although  the  L.  argenlatus  has  been  taken  as  a  general  illustra- 
tion, the  same  variations  with  age,  or  in  different  individuals,  are 
exhibited  by  most  species  of  the  genus  Larus.  Generally  they 
are  admitted  to  have  no  value  as  specific  characters,  even  by  those 
who  in  the  case  of  L.  argentatus  have  accorded  to  them  this  impor- 
tance. 

In  some  of  the  species  of  Janco  and  Pipilo,  in  Mimus,  in  numerous 
species  of  Dendrceca,  in  Panda,  Mniutilta,  etc.,  there  is  a  similar  in- 
crease with  age  in  the  extent  of  the  white  markings  on  the  tail,  some- 
times three  and  sometimes  four  pairs  of  feathers  being  spotted  or 
terminated  with  white  in  different  specimens  of  the  same  species.  In 
short,  these  variations  occur  in  so  many  species  that  they  may  be  looked 
upon  as  indicating  a  general  law  of  variation  in  color  depending  upon 
age,  namely,  an  increase  in  the  purity  or  intensity  of  the  general  color, 
and  an  increase  in  the  size  of  the  wing  and  tail  markings,  for  a  time, 
witl i  age. 

After  complete  maturity  is  attained  there  is,  however,  unquestionable 
evidence  of  a  decline  in  color,  which  in  many  cases,  and  especially  in 
bright-colored  species,  is  quite  marked.  So  general  is  such  a  decline 
in  other  groups  of  the  animal  kingdom  that  a  citation  of  evidence  on 
this  point  seems  wholly  needless.  Yet  in  birds,  in  numerous  instances, 
it  is  scarcely  appreciable,  and  doubtless  is  in  most  species  too  slight  to 
be  readily  traced.  This  obscurity  may  result,  however,  more  from  an 
absence  of  favorable  conditions  for  such  a  decline  to  be  recognized 
than  from  its  real  absence.  It  can  hardly  be  doubted,  in  fact,  that  a 
share  of  the  color  variation  seen  in  mature  birds  is  attributable  to  this 
cause.  It  is  well  known  that  young  mammals  in  their  first  pelage  are, 
as  a  general  rule,  much  darker  colored  than  the  adults  of  the  same  spe- 
cies. At  a  later  period  the  color  fades  more  slowly,  but  in  old 
age  the  hair  often  beconi"-  more  or  less  gray,  the  blanching  being  in 
some  cases  very  marked.  Nearly  all  birds  are  also  darker  in  their  nest- 
ling and  immature  stages  of  plumage  than  alter  they  arrive  at  maturity, 
especially  if  in  the  adult  stage  the  plumage  is  light  colored  ;  and  it  is 
more  than  probable,  and  in  some  cases  certain,  that  the  decline  in  color 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  197 

continues  in  a  slight  degree  through  life.  The  change  of  Falco  candi- 
cans  from  du-ky  when  young  to  nearly  white  when  fully  mature  may 
be  hardly  referable  wholly  to  the  blanching  of  age  ;  but  the  gradual 
obsolescence  of  the  dusky  mottliugsof  the  snowy  owl  {Nyctea  m'rea),  a3 
it  advances  in  age,  seems  strictly  parallel  to  the  blanching  of  the  gray 
colt  to  a  white  horse.  Hence  a  second  law  of  variation  in  color  in  old 
age,  namely,  that  of  smile  decline. 

Individual  Variation  in  General  Size  and  in  the  Relative 
Size  of  Different  Parts. 

Individual  Variation  in  General  Size  and  Form. — Measurements 
of  scores  of  specimens  of  birds  of  the  same  species  and  sex,  collected  at 
the  same  locality  and  season,  show  the  existence  of  a  large  range  of 
individual  variation,  both  in  size  and  in  general  proportions;  the  varia- 
tion extending  to  every  external  part  of  the  body,  and  implying  a 
corresponding  variation  in  the  internal  anatomy.  In  birds  size  has 
usually  been  regarded,  from  its  comparative  constancy  in  the  same 
species,  as  an  important  specific  character.  But  from  the  fact  that 
specimens  of  closely  allied  species  often  differ  but  little  from  each  other 
in  this  respect,  it  has  been  justly  looked  upon  as  being  in  some  cases 
more  or  less  unreliable  ;  but  from  the  great  importance  commonly 
attached  to  it,  it  is  evident  that  such  instances  are  usually  regarded  as 
exceptional.  Individual  variation  in  this  respect  having  been  formerly 
regarded  as  too  slight  to  have  any  significance,  the  size  of  a  single  speci- 
men has  usually  been  given  as  that  of  the  species  to  which  it  belonged  ; 
hence  subsequent  variations  from  it  discovered  in  other  specimens  of  the 
same  species  has  sometimes  led  to  the  recognition  of  the  latter  as 
specifically  distinct.  E-pecially  has  this  .been  the  case  when  a  differ- 
ence in  size  has  been  associated  with  a  wide  difference  of  locality.  The 
facts  in  the  case,  however,  show  that  a  variation  of  fifteen  to  twenty  per 
cent  in  general  size,  and  an  equal  degree  of  variation  in  the  relative 
size  of  different  parts,  may  be  ordinarily  expected  among  specimens  of 
the  same  species  and  sex,  taken  at  the  same  locality,  while  in  some 
cases  the  variation  is  even  greater  than  this.  Table  A  (p.  198)  shows 
to  some  extent  the  general  variation  in  size,  but  it  does  not  always 
give,  nor  even  generally,  the  extreme  differences  in  the  size  of  similar 
parts,  as  the  wing,  tail,  etc.,  since  those  averaging  the   largest  or 


198 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


smallest  for  the  four  measurements  given  are  orten  not  those  having 
the  longest  or  the  shortest  wing,  tail,  or  tarsus,  or  which  measure  the 
most  or  the  least  in  length  or  alar  extent.  The  extremes  of  variation 
in  the  size  of  the  wing  and  tail  is  given  in  Tables  B,  C,  and  D.  * 


Table  A.  —  Variation  in    General  Size. 


A'    ■'-  . 

O  >,    S  J5 

»»     »S 

. 

w  —      —   = 

=  '§       ~  '*• 

gN    ° 

_ 

SS44    G9i 

•• 

1520    — 

250 

r 

t;  ig 

i 

8330  337  •■ 

8634    5 

621     ■ 

641     ' 

5 1  i    ■" 

451    C 

4J74  Mil    f 

43:3    -      f 

19J0  1411  o" 

164    I 

4819       5    f 

4701    317    f 

5093    - 

89 

5088    8 

711     ' 

713   J 

46241407    ' 

4926    L50    • 

106    - 

55   • 

1456    —     ( 

2378    -     i* 

4371 

437*3    372    f 

8S7    ■ 

5111    -- 

1  (32    ' 

_    / 

78  i    ' 

4852    653    ' 

94  i 

10485    91  i    ' 

10461    932    ' 

992 

4009    —  id 

10151    - 

d 

Turdus  S.vainsoni 
Tardus  Swainsoni 
Turdus  Pall  isi 
Turdus  I'.illasi 
Tardus  fuscescens 
Turdus  fuscescens 
Dendroe  a  striata 
Dondroaca  striata 
Da  id  penns)  Ivanica 
I)    i  1  penusy  Ivanica 
Spizella  pusilla 
Spizi  Hi  pusilla 
S  lyornis  fuscus 
S  i)  ornis  fuscus 
Sayornis  fuscus 
Pas:  erculus  savanna 
Passcrculus  savanna 
Passcrculus  savanna 
1'  isserculus  savanna 
Vireo  oiivaceus 
Vireo  oiivaceus 
Uhrysomitris  tristis 
Chrysomitris  tristis 
Melospiz  i  melodia 
Melospizi  melodia 
Sialia  sialis 
Si  ilia  sialis 
M  niotilla  v  iria 
Mniotiila  varia 
Cot)  le  riparia 
( lot)  le  rip  iria 
Passerellu  ili  ica 
Passerclla  iii  ica 
[ctei  us  Baltimore 
Icterus  Baltimore 
Sterna  liirundo 
Sterna  liirundo 
Sterna  arctica 
Sterna  arctica    [thus 
Pipiloerythrophthal- 
l'i  pilo  erythropli  thai. 


Locality. 


Belmont,  Mass. 
Springfield,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Watertown,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
New  ton,  " 
Walt  ham,  " 
Newton,  " 
Waltham,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Ipswich,  " 
Ipswich,  " 
Ipswich,  " 
Waltham,  " 
Waltham,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Worthingt'n," 
Watervide,  Me. 
Newton,  Mass. 
Waltham,  " 
[pswich,  " 
Ipswich,  " 
Springfield, " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Newton,  " 
Muskeget  Isl 
Muskegetlsl 
Muskegel  1-1. 
Muskegetlsl. 
Milton.  Mass 
Cambridge,  " 


Mav  27, 
May  11, 
Apr.  25, 
May  25, 
May  5, 
Ma)  20, 

Mav  27, 
May  27, 
\I  ly  20, 
Mav  20, 
Jul)  22, 
Sept.19, 
Sept  30, 
Mar.  28, 
Oct.  9, 
Apr.  5, 
June]  f, 
JunelT, 
JunclT, 
Maj  30, 

Mav  30, 
Sept.28, 
Mar  2  i, 
Mar  12, 
Nov. -11, 
Inly-, 
Apr  15, 
Apr  20, 
Mav     6, 

.Ilinel7. 

,lunel7. 
Mar.  22, 
Mar  27, 
June  6, 
May  27, 
June29, 
June2  i. 
July  2, 
Julv   2, 


Collected  by 


'68  C  .1  Mavnard 
•62  J.  A  Allen 
>,-  C  J  Maynard 
68  C.J. Maynard 
68  C.J  Maynard 
68  C  J.Maj  nard 
68|C  .I.May  nard 
'68  <  '..I.May  nard 
68  C  .1  Maynard 
63  C  .1  Maynard 
'68  C  . I. Maynard 
:67  C  J  Maynard 
.st'  J  .Maynard 
'68  C  J  Mavnard 
'69  C  .1. Maynard 
UN  U  .1  Mavnard 
'68  .1.  A  Allen 
'68  J.  A.  Allen 
68  .1.  A    Allen 

68  C  J. Maynard 

'68  CJ  M  iv  nard 
68  0  .1  Maynard 
'63  C  .1  Maynard 
68  C  .1  M  lynard 
'67  C.J  .M  lynard 
'63  C.II  Hamlin 
'64  W.  II  Niles 
us  c  .1  Maynard 

18'C.J    Mavnard 
'68  J.  \    Allen 
■67  d    A    Allen 
US  .1.  A    Allen 
Ms  C  .1  Mavnard 
US  C  .1  Mavnard 
'68  C.J  Mavnard 
'68  .1.  A    Allen 
T,S  ,1    A    Allen 
'68  .1.  A    A  Ten 
lis  .1    A.  Allen 

-  II   C    Daring 

-  L.  Agassiz 


7.70  12.65 
6.62  U.4U 
7  3i  12.83 

7.""  10  64 
7.81  13.70 

7.IIU  11.115 
5  17    s  75 

5.71  9  3 
5.40  825 
5  00    7  51 

on.  i       -    ;;_ 

5.06    7.62 

7  50  11.40 
7  25  L2.6 
6.51  10.32 
5  85  o  73 
5.83  7.75 
5.35  7.75 
5.75  it. 75 
6.55  lo  or, 
6.25    0  ss 

5  35  0.40 
5.00  8.60 
0  75  Hi:, 
tin. i    8.25 

6  50  11.10 
7on  L2.25 
540  9.00 
5.3D  3.25 
5.45  11  oo 
5  ■-'.  1  '  5? 
7.50  11.65 
6.80  lo  so 
son  12.25 

7  3-11   15 

15  50  31.S5 
14  90  29  30 

16  1-  32  15 
14.40  29.00 

s  55  12.25 
7.50  l" -J" 


4  20 
3  80 

3  8  i 
3.00 

4  16 
3.58 
•j  8  ' 
310 
2.01 
2  35 

2  02 
•2  00 
360 

3  82 
3  20 


3oo 
2.83 
3  33 

2  1.7 
10,1 

355 

1.70 

2  00 

2.07 

1  75 

2..  ,o 
-   '12 

3.00 
2.20 
2.85 


3.00  2  26 

2  so  2  lo 
2  51  L.95 

2  78  2.0.7 

3  1-2  16 

3  22  2.10 
3.002.00 
2.65  1  85 
2.652.80 
2.35  2.68 

3  75  2.45 

4  102.60 
3  00J2  17 
2.-;  2.05 

IT,  2.1o 

3.75  1  86 
3-65  2 

3  40  2  50 
1  on:;  lo 

3.56  2.55 
11.30  7.00 
10  io  5  50 
ll.iio  7.50 
L0.70  ''.30 

3.57  3.85 
3.34  3.60 

I 


As  a  large  proportion  of  the  specimens  mentioned  in  some  of  the  fol- 
lowing tallies  (most  of  Tables  A  to  G)  were  taken  during  the  season 
of  their  migration,  they  may  have  originated  at  widely  different  locali- 
ties, and  thus  the  differences  indicated  may  lie  in  some  measure  due 
to  geographical   causes.      In   other  cases,  however,  all   the    specimens 

*  The  measurements  pven  jn  this  pnper  were  all  taken  eiihcr  from  fresh  specimens 
by  the  collector,  or  by  myself  from  specimens  preserved  in  spirits. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  199 

were  taken  in  the  breeding  season ;  while  in  still  other  instances 
(Tables  II  to  P)  the  species  were  purposely  chosen  from  among 
such  as  find  their  northern  limit  of  distribution  near  the  locality  where 
all  were  taken.  Of  ten  species  of  the  latter  class,  twenty  perfect  male 
specimens  have  been  carefully  measured,*  the  measurements  embra- 
cing a  series  of  eighteen  to  twenty  distinct  parts;  uuder  such  circum- 
stances the  variation  in  general  size,  in  length,  in  alar  extent,  in  the 
length  of  the  folded  wing,  the  tail,  the  tarsus,  the  head,  the  bill,  etc.,  etc., 
commonly  ranged  from  twelve  to  eighteen  per  cent. 

In  respect  to  the  differences  in  the  general  form  of  the  body,  two 
leading  styles  of  variation  from  the  average  form  may  be  recognized  in 
nearly  all  species,  namely,  a  relatively  robust  form,  in  which  the  stout- 
ness extends  to  all  parts,  and  a  relatively  slender  form,  in  which  the 
slenderness  is  equally  general.  Variations  of  this  general  and  sym- 
metrical character  are  remarkable  only  for  their  extent,  since  in  such 
cases  there  are  no  marked  discrepancies  between  the  relative  size  of 
different  parts.  Contrary,  however,  to  our  usual  notions  of  exact  sym- 
metry in  animals,  the  unsymmetrical  variations  are  by  far  the  most 
frequent  and  important. 

Variation  in  the  Relative  Size  of  Different  Parts.  —  In  specimens 
of  average  size  of  any  given  species,  considerable  differences  exist 
in  the  relative  size  of  different  parts.  In  individuals  of  the  aver- 
age alar  extent  of  their  species,  for  example,  the  length  of  the  folded 
wing  may  vary  very  considerably,  in  consequence  of  a  difference  in  the 
length  of  the  primary  quills  as  compared  to  the  length  of  the  bones  of 
the  wing.  The  length  of  the  folded  wing  or  the  alar  extent  may  vary 
with  reference  to  the  whole  length  of  the  specimen,  in  consequence  of 
differences  in  the  relative  length  of  the  tail,  the  neck,  or  the  body.  The 
tarsus  also  varies  independently  of  variation  in  the  general  size,  as  do 
also  the  toes  to  the  tarsi,  relatively  short  toes  being  found  to  accom- 
pany tarsi  of  ordinary  length,  and,  conversely,  long  toes  short  tarsi.f 
The  wing  varies  in  its  form  in  consequence  of  the  different  relative 
development  of  the  primary  and  secondary  quills.  \  The  tail  varies  in 
respect  to  its  form,  especially  in  regard  to  the  degree  of  its  emargination 
or  graduation,  and,  in  some  groups,  in  respect  to  the  number  of  its 
feathers.  The  bill  also  varies  greatly  in  size  and  form.  The  variations 
in  these  various  parts  will  be  considered  separately  and  in  detail. 

*  See  below,  Tables  H  to  P,  pp.  210-219.  J  See  Table  E,  p.  204. 

f  Seo  Table  F,  p.  205. 


200  BULLETIN   Of    iHE 

Variation  in  the  Length  of  the  Folded  Wing  and  the  Tail.  —  The 
measurements  given  in  the  following  table  (Table  B)  sufficiently  illus- 
trate the  variation  in  the  length  of  the  folded  wing  in  fully  mature  speci- 
mens of  the  same  sex  and  species,  while  Table  C  indicates  the 
variation  in  the  length  of  the  tail,  in  specimens  of  a  similar  char- 
acter. All  the  specimens,  with  a  few  exceptions,  were  taken  within 
a  few  miles  of  Cambridge  ;  the  others  are  mainly  also  from  Eastern 
Massachusetts,  a  few  *  being  from  a  single  locality  in  Florida.  The 
series  from  which  these  extremes  are  taken  embrace  ordinarily  not 
more  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  specimens  ;  with  larger  suites  the 
differences  would  in  many  cases  doubtless  be  much  increased.  The 
largest  and  smallest  only  are  taken,  between  which,  however,  there 
is  every  gradation.  The  difference  between  these  extremes  is  indicated, 
and  also  the  percentage  of  the  variation,  based  on  the  average  of  the 
two  extremes.  The  amount  of  the  variation  in  the  length  of  the  folded 
wing  ranges,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  table,  from  twelve  to  twenty-one 
per  cent  of  the  average  length.  In  the  tail  the  amount  of  variation  in 
respect  to  length  ranges  from  fourteen  to  twenty-three  per  cent.  The 
different  species  vary  considerably  in  respect  to  the  amount  of  variation 
each  presents,  some  being  much  more  variable  than  others.  It  should 
be  stated,  however,  that  as  a  general  rule  the  widest  extremes,  or  the 
highest  percentages  of  variation,  occur  in  those  species  of  which  the 
greatest  number  of  specimens  has  been  examined.  It  will  also  be  noticed 
that  the  tail  usually  varies  more  than  the  wings.  In  species  with  a 
relatively  long  tail  the  percentage  of  variation  in  the  length  of  this 
member  is  found  to  be  greater  than  in  those  species  in  which  it  is  of 
medium  length  or  short,  as  would  have  been  naturally  expected.  In 
several  cases  the  greater  differences  occur  between  females,  but  this 
may  be  a  mere  coincidence. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  added  that  the  variation  proves  to  be 
much  less  between  specimens  of  the  same  species  and  sex  when  taken 
at  a  single  locality  in  the  breeding  season  than  when  taken  during  the 
period  of  migration.  In  many  instances  specimens  of  the  same  species 
may  be  obtained  at  one  locality  which  shall  represent  the  whole  range 
of  its  geographical  variation,  as  well  as-  its  individual  variation,  as  in 
the  case  of  those  species  which  breed  far  to  the  North,  but  migrate  in 
winter  to  the  tropics,  being  thus  but  transient  visitors  to  the  temperate 
portions  of  the  United  States. 

*  Those  of  Mimus  pc'iyglottus,  Cardinalis  virdnianus,  Picus  borealis. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


201 


Table  B.  —  Individual  Variation  in  the  Length  of  the  Folded  Wing. 


JM   C.  7.   No. 
10596 

Orig  No. 

Sex 

folded  Wing 

Difference. 

I'd' ..-lit  of 

Variation. 

25 1 0 

9 

.Minius  polvglottus 

4.75  i 

17.0 



2-185 

9 

Minius  polyglottus 

4.00  ( 

10710 

1987 
1993 

d 
d 

Card  in  al  is  virginianus 
Cardinalis  virginianus 

3.85  / 
3.30  \ 

.55 

14.6 



316 

d 

Passerculus  savanna 

2.95  I 

.40 

14.5 



820 

d 

Passerculus  savanna 

2.55  j 

8830 

367 

d 

Turtlus  fuseescens 

4.16  ) 

.61 

15.S 

883-1 

556 

d 

Turdus  fuscesceus 

3.55  J 

4821 

148 

d 

Savornis  fuscus 

3.87  | 

.67 

19.0 

4819 

5 

d 

Sayornis  fuscus 

3.20  j 

DO.")  7 

618 

d 

Geothlypis  trichas 

2.56  I 

.50 

21.0 

5020 

703 

d 

Geothlypis  trichas 

2  06  j 

4648 

1389 

d 

( Carpodacus  purpureus 

3.70  / 

.GO 

17.6 

4655 

751 

d 

Carpodacus  purpureus 

3  10  S 

9G96 
1421 



d 
d 

Pipilo  erythrojdithalmus 
Pipilo  ervthrophthalinus 

3.68  / 
3  1'7  j 

.51 

14.6 

■ 

170 

d 

Junco  hvcmahs 

3.20  | 

.45 

180 

4910 

140 

d 

Junco  hyemalis 

2  75  } 

1563 



i 

Tvrannus  carol inensis 

4.85  j 

.68 

15.0 

1 0025 



1 

Tv  ran  mis  carolinensis 

4  17  \ 

10014 



i 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis 

3  85  ^ 

.60 

17.0 

2734 



1 

Galcosco]»tcs  carolinensis 

3.25  \ 

786 
1334 



d 
d 

Icterus  Baltimore 
Icterus  Baltimore 

4.00  ) 
3  42  \ 

.58 

16.0 

Table  C. —  Individual  Variation  in  the  Length  of  the  Tail. 


M   C.  Z  No 

Orig   No 

Sex 

Tail 

Difference. 

Percent  of 

Vai  i:itinn. 

10592 

2474 
2372 

Minius  polycrlottus 
Mimas  polyglottus 

5.15  ) 
4  20  i 

,95 

20.5 



1955 

.f 

Cardinalis  virginianus 

4  30  ) 

.90 

23.4 



24H0 

d 

Cardinalis  virjjnianus 

3  40  j 



317 

d 

Passereulus  savanna 

2.26  ) 

.41 

19.5 

5086 

846 

d 

Passcrculus  savanna 

1.85  [ 

8830 

528 

d 

Turdus  f'uscescens 

3  00  I 

.45 

14.4 

8835 

556 

d 

Turdus  fuscescens 

2  55  j 





V 

Parus  atiicapillus 
Parus  atricapillus 

2.63  1 
2  15  j 

.48 

20.0 

9056 

454 

d 

Geothlypis  trichas 

2.L5  / 

.45 

23.4 

5020 

703 

d 

Geothlvpis  trichas 

1 ,70  J 

4651 

1071 

9 

Carpodacus  purpureus 

2.57  I 

59 

22.5 

4653 

1371 

V 

Carpodacus  purpureus 

2.05  J 

4614 

4727 

1330 

415 

d 

d 

Pipilo  ervthrophthalmus 
Pipilo  ervthrophthalinus 

4  00  / 
3.29  [ 

.71 

19.5 



160 

d 

Junco  hvenialis 

2.78  / 

.38 

15.0 

4  017 

201 

* 

Junco  hyemalis 

2.40  \ 

10646 

1972 

y 

Picns  horealis 

3.75  ( 

.50 

14.0 

10633 

41 

V 

Pious  borealis 

3.25  ( 

1317 



/ 

Tyrannus  carolinensis 

2.93  ) 

.61 

19.0 

1568 



? 

Tyrannus  carolinensis 

3.54  S 

2734 
10014 



i 

( raleoscoptes  carolinensis 
Galeoscoptes  carolinensis 

3.35  ) 
410  ) 

.75 

20.0 

1334 



d 

Icterus  Baltimore 

2.70  ) 

.40 

13.8 

2289 



:' 

Icterus  Baltimore 

3.10  j 

202 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


Variation  in  the  Relative  Length  of  the  Wings  and  Tail.  —  Table  D 
illustrates  the  irregularity  of  the  variation  in  the  wings  and  the  tail.  The 
first  column  of  measurements  gives  the  length  of  the  folded  wing,  and 


Table  D. —  Individual  Variation  in  the  relative  Length  of  the 
Folded  Wing  and  Tail. 


DifF.  betw'n 

Amount 

M.  C.  Z. 

No. 

Original 
No. 

Sex. 

Wing. 
4.35 

Tail. 

Wing  and 
Tail. 

of 
Variation. 



2429 

c? 

Mimus  polyglottus 

4.35 

.00' 

105'JO 

2342 

9 

Mimus  polyglottus 

3.25 

4.35 

+  1.00 



2560 

9 

Mimus  polyglottus 

4  15 

4.35 

+  .25 



2614 

d 

Mimus  polyglottus 

4.40 

4  90 

4-  .50 

1.20 



2340 

i 

Mimus  polyglottus 

4.40 

4. 50 

-4-    .10 



2478 

9 

Mimus  polyglottus 

4.40 

4.20 

—   .20 



2374 

d 

Mimus  polyglottus 

4  30 

4.16 

—  .14 

8881 

441 

d 

Gateoscoptes  carolinensis 

3  60 

3.60 

.00  , 



1376 

9 

Galcoscoptes  carolinensis 

3.70 

3  60 

—  .10 ! 

.45 

8879 

412 

" 

Gateoscoptes  carolinensis 

3.75 

4.10 

+  .35  ) 

8841 

495 

d 

Turdus  fuscescens 

4.00 

3.00 

1.00  . 

8832 

332 

d 

Turdus  fuscescens 

4.10 

4.00 

.10 

1.15 

8835 

581 

•" 

Turdus  fuscescens 

4. 1  5 

2  90 

1.25  ) 

8821 

374 

d 

Seiurus  aurocapillus 

3.0O 

2.00 

1.00 

.66 



423 

d 

Seiurus  aurocapillus 

3.00 

2  66 

1.66 

8851 

322 

9 

Turdus  Pall  as  i 

3.50 

2  60 

.90 

.67 



301 

d 

Turdus  Pallasi 

3.43 

3  17 

.23 

4301 

514 

d 

Dendrceca  aestiva 

2.85 

1.80 

1.05 

.58 



362 

d 

Dendroeca  asstiva 

2  45 

1.98 

.47 

5053 

707 

d 

Dendroeca  striata 

2.85 

2.00 

.85 



1341 

d 

Dendrceca  striata 

3.00 

1.75 

1.25 

.79 

5062 

734 

f 

Dendroeca  striata 

2.45 

1.93 

.46 



741 

9 

Dendroeca  striata 

2.80 

1.80 

1  00 

5041 

665 

d 

Setophaga  ruticilla 

2.60 

2.10 

—  .50 

.57 



698 

d 

Setophaga  ruticilla 

2.43 

2.50 

-+-   .07 



693 

9 

Regulus  satrapa 

2.20 

1.52 

.68 

.49 



50 

9 

Regulus  satrapa 

1.94 

1.75 

.19 

4808 

711 

d 

Contopus  virens 

3  35 

2.36 

.99 

.54 

4994 

1116 

d 

Contopus  virens 

3.15 

2.70 

.45 

10645 

1924 

d 

Picus  l)ore;ilis 

4.80 

3.32 

1.48 

.48 

10616 

1972 

9 

Picus  borealis 

4.75 

3.75 

1.00 

4587 

323 

d 

Agelafus  phceniceus 

4.85 

340 

1 .45 

.67 

4589 

214 

d 

Agelseus  phceniceus 

4.60 

3.82 

.78 

4654 

1069 

d 

( Jnrpodacus  purpureus 

3  85 

2  00 

1.35 

.64 

4655 

286 

d 

Carpodacus  purpureus 

3.03 

2.32 

.71 

- 

288 

d 

Poocaetes  gramineus 

3  55 

2.41 

1.14 

.54 



846 

9 

Poocaetes  gramineus 

3.10 

2.50 

.60 



881 

d 

Passerculus  savanna 

2.75 

1  85 

.90 

.41 



127 

d 

Passerculus  savanna 

2.74 

2.25 

.49 



115 

d 

Passerella  iliaca 

3  75 

2.65 

1.10 

.78 



55 

9 

Passer  lia  iliaca 

332 

3.00 

.32 



177 

d 

Melospiza  melodia 

235 

2.68 

+   .33 

.53 



2363 

' 

Mclospiz  i  melodia 

2  60 

2.40 

—   .20 



2369 

d 

Cardinalis  virginianus 

3  60 

3  40 

—  .20 

.70 

d 
d 
d 
d 
d 

Cardioalis  virginianus 
Dolichonyx  oryzivora 
Dolichonyx  oryzivora 
Ilodvuicles  ludoviciana 
Hedymcles  ludoviciana 

3.60 
3.75 

4.10 
2.78 
2.72 
2.93 
2.95 

-H  .50 

.96 

1.28 

1.27 

.88 

2293 

5711 

10107 

1     9787 

4  (III 

.32 

4.20 

3.83 

.39 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  203 

the  second  the  length  of  the  tail,  of  the  same  specimens  ;  the  third 
column  shows  the  difference  in  length  between  the  tail  and  the  win", 
and  the  fourth  column  the  amount  of  the  difference  between  the  two 
extremes.  In  Mimus  polyglottus  the  tail  is  usually  one  fourth  to  one 
half  an  inch  longer  than  the  wing;  but  in  many  specimens  the  wings 
and  tail  are  equal,  and  in  a  small  proportion  the  tail  is  shorter  than  the 
wing.  In  the  seven  specimens  of  this  species  cited  in  the  table,  the 
variation  ranges  from  the  tail  being  one  fifth  of  an  inch  shorter  than 
the  folded  wing  to  one  inch  longer.  In  the  three  specimens  which 
agree  in  the  length  of  the  tail  (4.35  in.),  the  variation  in  the 
length  of  the  folded  wing  ranges  from  3.25  in.  to  4.25  in.,  or  is  nearly 
twenty-seven  (2G.85)  per  cent.  The  larger  specimen,  however,  is  a 
male,  while  the  others  are  females  ;  but  between  the  two  females  the 
difference  is  over  twenty-four  (24.3)  per  cent.  Similar  differences 
have  been  met  with  in  various  other  species,  but  it  has  not  been  deemed 
necessary  to  cite  a  larger  list  of  examples. 

Variation  in  the  Form  of  the  Wing.  —  By  the  form  of  the  wing  is 
meant  its  general  outline  when  expanded,  which  is  mainly  deter- 
mined by  the  relative  length  of  the  remiges.  The  form  of  the  wing, 
and  especially  the  relative  length  of  the  different  primary  remiges, 
has  direct  relation  to  the  power  of  flight.  In  strong,  swift-flying 
birds,  the  outer  primaries  are  the  longest,  giving  a  narrow  pointed  form 
to  the  expanded  wing,  as  in  the  swifts,  the  swallows,  in  Chordeiles,  in 
the  Slernince  and  in  most  of  the  Procellaridce.  In  birds  of  medium 
powers  of  flight,  as  in  most  of  the  true  finches  (Coccothranstince)  and 
Tardince,  the  Tyrannidce,  the  Sylvicolidce,  etc.,  etc.,  the  third,  fourth, 
and  fifth  primaries  are  the  longest,  the  wing  being  less  pointed  and 
broader.  In  species  with  low  power  of  flight,  as  the  Troglodytidce, 
several  genera  of  sparrows,  the  grouse,  etc.,  the  outer  primaries  are  still 
more  reduced,  the  wing  is  much  more  rounded  and  shorter,  and  the 
power  of  flight  is  in  each  case  correspondingly  less.  In  birds  of  the 
first  class,  which  live  almost  wholly  on  the  wing,  little  variation  is  seen 
in  the  relative  length  of  the  primaries.  In  those  of  the  second  and  third 
classes,  slight  variations  affect  in  less  degree  the  particular  habits  of 
life,  so  that  among  the  latter  would  be  naturally  expected  the  greatest 
range  of  individual  variation. 

Correlating  with  the  variation  in  the  form  of  the  wing,  as  determined 
by  the  relative  length  of  the  outer  primaries  to  the  length  of  the  inner 


204 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


primaries  are  similar  variations  in  the  relative  length  of  the  inner  secon- 
daries as  compared  with  the  outer  secondaries.  Relatively  short  inner 
secondaries  (generally  improperly  called  "  tertiaries ")  hence  ac- 
company long  primaries,  and,  conversely,  long  inner  secondaries, 
short  outer  primaries.  The  particular  form  of  the  wing  in  any  group 
depending  upon  the  relative  development  of  these  several  elements, 
they  hence  afford  excellent  generic  characters  ;  but  while  thus  impor- 
tant, they  are  subject  to  a  considerable  range  of  individual  variation. 
The  form  of  the  wing  being  readily  determined  by  measurements, 
and  easily  expressed  mathematically,  the  amount  of  the  variation  i3 
easily  measured  and  tabulated.  In  the  following  table  (Table  E)  the 
extent  and  character  of  this  variation  is  to  some  degree  illustrated.  In 
the  first  column  of  measurements  is  given  the  length  of  the  folded  wing; 
in  the  second  the  extent  of  the  longest  primary  beyond  the  outer  (or 
shortest)  secondary,  and  in  the  third  the  extent  of  the  longest  pri- 
mary beyond  the  inner  (or  longest)  secondary.  The  fourth  column 
gives  the  amount  of  variation  in  each  specimen  cited. 

Table  E.  —  Variation  in  the  Form  of  the  Wing. 


M.  C.  Z   No. 

Sex. 

d 

Species. 

Length  of 
the  Wing 

Ext.  ofPr. 
beyond 

Onicr  Sec 

Ext.  of  Pr. 
beyond 

Inner  Sec. 

Amount  of 
Variation. 

2119 

Icterus  Baltimore 

3.75 

.77 

.90 

.13 

2290 

d 

Icterus  Baltimore 

3  83 

.67 

.81 

.14 

1333 

d 

Icterus  Baltimore 

3.64 

.57 

1.06 

.49 

1567 

• 

Icterus  Baltimore 

3.  SO 

.56 

.92 

.36 

2964 

t 

Icterus  Baltimore 

3.85 

.77 

1.07 

.30 

2299 

d 

Icterus  Baltimore 

3  85 

.87 

1.12 

.25 

2296 

d 

Dolichonyx  oryzivora 

3.80 

.98 

1.42 

.44 

5741 

d 

Dolichonyx  oryzivora 

4.00 

1.20 

1.40 

.20 

119 

d 

Dolichonyx  oryzivora 

3.82 

.78 

1 .23 

.45 

9854 

d 

Dolichonyx  oryzivora 

3  53 

.98 

1.14 

.16 

284 

7 

Tyrannus  carolincnsis 

4.30 

.85 

1.15 

.30 

113 

i 

Tyrannus  carolincnsis 

4.  GO 

.90 

1.45 

.55 

1317 

■2 

Tyrannus  carolinensis 

4.25 

.76 

1.10 

.34 

4008 

1 

Tyrannus  carolincnsis 

4  60 

1 .35 

1  62 

.27 

10107 

d 

Heclymelcs  ludoviciana 

4.20 

.90 

1 .05 

.15 

590 

d 

Hedymelcs  ludoviciana 

■leu 

.'.10 

1.25 

.35 

99  ;:> 

■ 

Hedymelcs  ludoviciana 

4.00 

.60 

1.06 

.40 

1  156 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

3.75 

1.00 

1.10 

.10 

1945 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

3.90 

1.03 

1.10 

.07 

338 

d 

Si  ilia  sialis 

4  <i7 

1 .30 

1.30 

.00 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

4  i  15 

1  25 

1.40 

.15 

10292 

d 

Si.ilin  sialis 

3.90 

.95 

1  15 

.20 

256 

1 

( raleoscoptes  carolinensis 

3.37 

.55 

.50 

—.05 

1790 

1 

( raleoscopi  -s  c  irolinensis 

3.75 

.55 

.70 

+  .15 

5358 

7 

Galeoscoptes  carolincnsis 

3.:,.') 

.35 

.57 

-(-.22 

Km!  t 

f 

Galeoscoptes  carolincnsis 

3  -:, 

.70 

.75 

+  .05 

■m;\ 

t 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis 

::.7:. 

.07 

.70 

+  .03 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  205 

Variation  in  the  relative  Length  of  the  Primary  Quills.  —  From  the 
great  stress  laid  upon  the  relative  length  of  the  outer  primaries  by  de- 
scriptive ornithologists  in  determining  genera  and  species,  one  would  be 
led  to  expect  but  a  slight  amount  of  variation  in  this  respect  in  speci- 
mens of  the  same  species.  On  the  contrary,  however,  it  is  soon  found, 
on  giving  special  attention  to  this  character,  that  a  considerable  amount 
of  individual  variation  in  this  regard  really  exists.  That  the  wing 
formula,  so  generally  introduced  of  late  years  into  specific  diagnoses,  is 
in  a  great  degree  unreliable  as  a  specific  character,  is  sufficiently  shown 
by  the  subjoined  table  (Table  F,  p.  20G)  of  the  relative  proportions  of 
the  primaries.  The  comparison,  extended  in  the  table  to  only  a  few 
species  has  been  carried  to  scores  of  others  with  similar  results. 

In  general,  in  species  of  the  Oscines  which  have  the  second  primary 
usually  the  longest,  it  is  sometimes  the  first  and  sometimes  the  third 
that  is  the  longest.  In  those  which  have  the  third  ordinarily  the  longest, 
the  second  and  third,  the  third  and  the  fourth,  or  the  second,  third,  and 
fourth  are  frequently  equal.  In  those  in  which  the  first  (or  the  second 
when  the  first  is  very  short)  is  intermediate  to  the  second  and  fourth 
or  to  the  third  and  fifth,  it  may  be  equal  to  or  longer  than  the  second  or 
third,  or  only  equal  to  the  fourth  or  fifth. 

Variation  in  the  Form  of  the  Tail,  and  in  the  Number  of  the 
Rectrices. —  Individual  variation  in  the  form  of  the  tail  is  often  quite 
marked.  In  species  with  the  tail  deeply  forked,  different  specimens 
vary  considerably  in  respect  to  the  depth  of  the  fork.  Those  with  the  tail 
rounded  and  much  graduated  differ  greatly  in  respect  to  the  amount  the 
middle  feathers  exceed  the  outer  ones  in  length.  In  species  with  a  nor- 
mally nearly  even  tail,  the  tail  is  sometimes  distinctly  emarginate,  and 
sometimes  as  distinctly  rounded  in  different  specimens  of  the  same  species. 

In  regard  to  the  number  of  rectrices,  in  those  groups  in  which  the 
number  exceeds  twelve,  as  in  the  Rasores,  the  Lamellirostres,  etc.,  the 
number  is  frequently  variable.  The  rectrices  of  the  common  ruffed 
grouse  (Bonasa  umhellus)  are  usually  eighteen  in  number,  but  an  ex- 
amination of  numerous  specimens  shows  that  the  number  varies  from 
sixteen  to  twenty.  The  usual  number  in  Tetrao  canadensis  is  sixteen, 
but  the  number  varies  from  fourteen  to  eighteen.  In  Cupidonia 
cupido,  and  in  other  species  of  grouse,  similar  variations  also  occur. 
They  are  also  frequent  in  the  Anserina*.  In  Bernicla  canadensis, 
for  example,  the  usual  number  of  rectrices  is  eighteen,  but  the  number 


206 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


Table  F.  —  Variation  in  the  relative  Length  of  the  Primaries. 


M.  C   Z. 

No 

Species. 

to 

c 
o 
►3 

-  a 
■■■^ 

3 
4 

c5 

—  to 

•a  =  . 

CO  « 

2 

—  tL 

—  _ 

5~ 
5 

o£ 

—  uj 

6 
6 

5-3 

=  5 

—   £ 

3-289 

67G4 

Tardus  iiisccsceus 
Tardus  f'uscescens 

4 
3 

7 
7 

8837 

Turclus  fuscescens 

i\ 

2 

5 

6 

7 

8 

8843 
5197 

Turdus  Pallasi 
Turdus  Pallasi 

4 

4 

3 

5 

5 
3 

6 
6 

2 
2 

7 
7 

8205 

Turclus  Pallasi 

4 

3 

5 

II 

7 

8 

8206 

Turdus  Pallasi 

4 

',) 

6 

2 

7 

8 

10698 
10699 

Myiarcbus  crinitus 
Myiarchus  crinitus 

3 
3 

4 
2 

2 
4 

5 

5 

6 
C 

1 
1 

7 

- 

8166 

Myiarchus  crinitus 

4 

3 

2 

5 

6 

!) 

8 

10700 

Myiarchus  crinitus 

:i 

2 

5 

6 

1 

7 

8 

10701 

Myiarchus  crinitus 

3 

4, 
2) 

5 

6 

1 

7 

8 

12420 
4612 

Tyrannus  carolinensis 
Tyrannus  carolinensis 

2 

2 

3 
3 

1 
4 

4 
1 

5 
5 

6 
6 

6457 

Tyrannus  carolinensis 

o 

3 

1) 

5 

6 

7 

4816 
6665 
693S 

Contopus  borcalis 
Contopus  l)orealis 
Sayornis  fuscus 

2 
2 
3 

1 
3 

4 

3 
1 
2 

4 
4 
5 

5 
5 
6 

C 
6 
1 

7 

6932 

Sayornis  fuscus 

J) 

II 

6 

1 

7 

8 

9 

5364 
5248 

Lophophanes  bicolor 
Lophophanes  bicolor 

4 
5 

il 

6' 

o 

3 

5 

4 

6 
6 

3 

7 

7 
3 

8 
8 

9 

9 

2 

2 

1 
1 



Lophophanes  bicolor 

7 

3 

8 

9 

2 

I 

5080 
5176 

Dendroeca  coronata 
Dcndrceca  coronata 

3 
2 

1 

4 

4 
1 

5 
5 

6 
6 

P«78 

Dendrceca  coronata 

3 

I) 

1 

5 

6 

7 

3412 

Dcndrceca  coronata 

I) 

4 

1 

5 

6 

7 

10533 

Dcndrceca  coronata 

1) 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

5056 
5057 

Dcndra'ca  striata 
Dendroeca  striata 

41 

2 

1 

1 
2 

3 
3 

4 
4 

5 
5 

6 
6 

3390 

Dendrceca  striata 

2 

51 

4 

5 

6 

7 

6675 
10958 
10963 
10960 

Dendroeca  striata 
Pinicola  enucleator 
Binicola  enucleator 

Pinicola  enucleator 

2 
3 
3 
3 

3 
4 
2 
2 

1 
2 
4 
1 

4 
5 
1 
4 

5 
1 

5 
5 

6 
6 

6 
6 

7 
7 
7 

10962 

Pinicola  enucleator 

l\ 

4 

1 

5 

6 

7 

8 

8114 

Pinicola  enucleator 

3 

i\ 

1 

5 

6 

7 

8 

4843 
4633 

4844 

Ampelis  ccdrorum 
Ampelis  cedrorum 
Ampelis  cedrorum 

2 
1 
2 

3 
2 

1 

1 
3 
3 

4 

4 
4 

5 
5 
5 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


207 


varies  from  fourteen  to  twenty.  Specimens  with  sixteen  are  tolerably 
frequent.  Yet  one  of  the  principal  characters  urged  as  separating  the 
B.  Hutchinsii  from  the  B.  canadensis  is  the  possession  of  two  more 
feathers  in  the  tail  by  the  latter  tlian  the  so-called  B.  Hutchinsii  is 
assumed  to  have.  In  Bernicla  brenta  the  usual  number  is  sixteen, 
but  in  different  specimens  they  vary  from  fourteen  to  eighteen.  A 
greater,  or  less  amount  of  variation  in  the  number  of  the  feathers  of 
the  tail  is  more  or  less  common  to  numerous  other  species  of  the  duck 
tribe.  An  odd  number  is  even  quite  frequent,  one  half  of  the  tail  hav- 
ing normally  one  more  feather  than  the  other. 

Variation  in  the  Relative  Length  of  the  Tarsus  and  Toes.  —  A  com- 
mon feature  in  modern  generic  and  specific  diagnoses  is  a  statement  of 
the  ratio  the  length  of  the  tarsus  bears  to  the  length  of  the  middle  toe 
or  to  the  hallux,  and  the  relative  length  of  the  hallux  to  the  outer  or 
inner  toe,  as  though  we  had  here  constant  structural  proportions.  The 
following  table  (Table  G)  shows  that  such  is  not  the  case,  the  varia- 


Table  G.  — Relative  Length  of  Tarsi  and  Toes. 


M.  C.  Z.  No. 

Sex. 

Species. 

Tarsus. 
1.08 

Middle 
Toe. 

Outer 
Toe. 

. .  7 

Hallux. 

5853 

i 

Galcoscoptes  carolinensis 

1.04 

.75 

2273 

i 

Galcoscoptes  carolinensis 

1.15 

.98 

.70 

.70 

10356 

i 

Galcoscoptes  carolinensis 

1.00 

1.00 

'    .70 

.73 

5S57 

7 

Galcoscoptes  carolinensis 

1.18 

1.08 

.70 

.75 

2229 

? 

Galcoscoptes  carolinensis 

1.07 

.93 

.68 

.67 

5605 

c? 

Sialia  sialis 

.77 

.77 

.57 

.58 

1456 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

.74 

.84 

.62 

.65 

5766 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

.83 

.80 

.56 

.60 

1 SS3 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

.80 

.91 

.77 

.65 

1946 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

.80 

.84 

.77 

.61 

1881 

d 

Sialia  sialis 

.77 

.85 

.56 

.72 

1771 

d 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus 

.98 

.95 

.73 

.80 

1399 

d 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus 

1.05 

1.05 

.80 

.78 

350 

d 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus 

1 .05 

1.12 

.76 

.84 

1476 

d 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus 

1.10 

1.03 

.75 

.78 

2985 

d 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus 

1.13 

1.00 

.80 

.80 

9854 

d 

Dolichonyx  orvzivora 

.98 

I    1.17 

.83 

.82 

5585 

^ 

Dolichonyx  orvzivora 

1.15 

1.27 

.98 

.93 

9894 

d 

1  )olichonyx  orvzivora 

1.00 

1.00 

.83 

.81 

10219 

d 

Dolichonyx  orvzivora 

1.03 

1.25 

.98 

.76 

2320 

d 

Icterus  Baltimore 

.S3 

.68 

.88 

.72 

9793 

d 

Icterus  Baltimore 

1.02 

.85 

.70 

.70 

1567 

d 

Icterus  Baltimore 

.97 

1.00 

.75 

.80 

10025 

■2 

Ty  ran  mis  en  rolinensis 

.67 

.73 

.53 

.54 

10027 

1 

Tyrannus  carolinensis 

.80 

.85 

.55 

.61 

10028 

1 

Tyrannns  carolinensis 

.70 

.87 

.53 

.57 

5546 

1 

Tyrannus  carolinensis 

.70 

.80 

.60 

.60 

208  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

tion  being  as  great  between  different  specimens  of  tlie  same  specie3 
as  between  different  species  of  the  same  genus,  and  even  of  differ- 
ent genera.  The  variation  in  the  length  of  the  toes  is  often  due  to 
an  increase  or  a  decrease  in  the  length  of  the  nail,  but  by  no  means 
rarely  to  variations  in  the  length  of  the  phalanges  themselves.  As 
already  stated,  and  as  appears  from  the  table,  toes  of  less  than  the 
average  length  accompany  tarsi  of  the  average  or  of  more  than  the 
average  length,  and  toes  of  more  than  the  average  length  accompany 
tarsi  of  medium  or  less  than  the  medium  length.  In  compiling  the  above 
table  the  specimens  mentioned  have  been  selected  in  each  case  from 
a  series  of  only  twenty  specimens  of  the  species  to  which  they  respec- 
tively belong,  and  represent  the  longest  and  shortest  tarsus,  middle  toe, 
outer  toe,  and  hind  toe  met  with  in  each  series,  and  also  the  greatest  and 
least  amount  of  difference  in  these  several  elements.  They  are  all 
taken  from  Tables  H  to  Q  (see  pp.  210-219),  which  serve  to  show 
the  usual  range  of  variation,  in  respect  to  size  and  proportions,  in  ten 
species.* 

Individual  Variation  in  other  Parts.  —  In  addition  to  the  instances 
already  mentioned,  individual  variation  of  a  similar  character  and  equal 
extent  occurs  in  the  relative  size  of  other  parts.  The  length  of  the  bill, 
for  instance,  is  often  compared  to  the  length  of  the  head,  or  to  that  of 
the  tarsus  in  specific  diagnoses.  Table  G1  (see  next  page)  serves  to 
show  the  individual  variation  in  respect  to  the  proportion  of  length  to 
alar  extent  ordinarily  met  with  in  specimens  of  the  same  species. 

To  show  more  fully,  however,  the  exact  nature  and  extent  of  what 
may  be  considered  as  purely  individual  variation,  tables  of  detailed 
measurements  of  about  twenty  specimens  of  each  of  a  number  of 
species  are  herewith  appended  (Tables  II  to  Q).  Care  has  been 
taken  to  not  only  select  specimens  of  the  same  sex,  collected  at  the 
same  locality,  and  as  nearly  as  possible  at  the  same  season,  but  also 
such  species  as  find  their  northern  limit  so  near  the  locality  at 
which  they  were  taken  as  to  obviate. the  complication  of  individual 
witli  geographical  variation,  which  would  result  if  the  range  of  the 
spcci.s  extended  far  to  the  northward  of  tin1,  locality  in  question. 
In   general,  the   specimens   are   all  from   Eastern   Massachusetts,  and 

*  Icterus  Baltimore,  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  Sialia  sialis, 
,;  co  tes  carolinensis,  Pyranga  rubra,  Geothlypis  trichas,  Harporhynchus  rufus, 
Tyraunus  carolinensis,  Hedymeles  ludoviciana. 


MUSEUM  OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


209 


Table  Gl  — Individual  Variation  in  the  Proportion  of  Length  to 
Alar  Extent. 


M.  C.  Z.  No. 

Orig.  No. 

Sex. 

Species. 

5056 

668 

9 

Dendrceea  striata 

5.45 

9.70 



777 

? 

Dendroeca  striata 

5.50 

8.68 

5087 

848 

d 

Passerculus  savanna 

5.50 

9.13 



981 

d 

Passerculus  savanna 

5.83 

7.75 





d 

Passerculus  savanna 

6.00 

8.27 



1987 

d 

Cardinalis  virginianus 

9.00 

11.50 



2394 

9 

Cardinalis  virginianus 

800 

11.75 

9901 



cf 

Dolichonyx  oryzivorua 

6.65 

1 1 .50 

2295 



d 

Dolichonyx  oryzivorus 

7.50 

11.50 



2340 

i 

Mimas  polyglottus 

960 

14  25 



2374 

9 

Mimas  polyglottus 

9 .75 

14.00 



2371 

? 

Miinus  polyglottus 

9.80 

13  00 

5757 



Turdus  Swuinsoni 

7.25 

12.15 

2930 



i 

Turdus  Swainsoni 

7.75 

11.20 

1829 



•2 

Turdus  Swainsoni 

6.90 

11.20 

307 



■2 

Turdus  Swainsoni 

7.24 

11.00 

9691 



■2 

Turdus  Pallasi 

700 

10  50 

145 



■2 

Turdus  Pallasi 

7.00 

11  40 

5756 



? 

Turdus  Pallasi 

7.38 

11.05 



314 

d 

Turdus  Pallasi 

7.38 

12.33 



363 

d 

Turdus  Pallasi 

7.23 

11.94 



26 

d 

Turdus  Pallasi 

680 

11.28 



367 

d 

Turdus  fuscescens 

7.81 

13.70 



495 

d 

Turdus  fuscescens 

7.87 

11.91 



551 

d 

Turdus  fuscescens 

7.00 

11.95 



112 

d 

Parus  atricapillus 

5.50 

8.12 

4946 

268 

9 

Pnrus  atricapillus 

5  00 

8.60 

11714 

114 

9 

Parus  atricapillus 

5  75 

7.88 

95 



cf 

Agelaeus  plia-niceus 

9.00 

15.10 

93 



d 

Age! reus  phceniceus 

9  20 

14.40 

5723 



d 

Agelssus  phceniceus 

845 

14.45 

from  within  a  short  distance  of  Cambridge.  A  very  few  are  from 
Southern  Maine  and  from  the  Connecticut  valley  at  Springfield ; 
but  the  general  faunal  character  of  all  these  localities  is  essentially 
the  same.* 

In  addition  to  the  measurements  given  in  these  tables,  several  others 
are  sometimes  taken  by  collectors,  as  the  relative  posterior  extent  of  the 
outstretched  feet  and  the  wing,  as  compared  with  the  tail.  As  they  are, 
however,  among  the  most  variable  of  proportions,  and  are  likewise 
among  the  most  difficult  measurements  to  take  with  accuracy,  they  have 
been  here  neglected. 

*  In  consequence  of  the  small  size  of  these  pages,  it  has  been  found  impracticable  to 
Include  the  names  of  the  localities,  the  date  of  collecting,  and  the  name  of  the  collector 
in  the  tables,  as  would  have  been  desirable. 
VOL.   II.  14 


210 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


a 

<$ 

a 
a 
o 

H 
►J 
■< 
« 

P 

« 
H 


£ 


s 

•W!Ai 

r  in  ci  -t  m  in  o  ti  k;  -t  ^  li    i   en  "t  ao  x  en  o  r~» 

rrcjKnnnnnnnccn    1  en  en  en  en  en  en  en 

•?ti3ian 

M  oc  in  s  f  i>  n  m  is  in  -f  n    |  ti  rf  oo  o  m  ifi  t— 

enenenencoencneneneneneo    1   K  O  ^  ■*  f;  c:  M 

•s.Cuoo 

r^t^-C71:r»a0~e-cen71— '     1    O'S-tOOt^O 

•t  -t  l1;  c  -t  -t  t  ^  -t  lt  o  li    I  m  *  *  in  m  *  o 

•3jn-i>unuio3 

r-  r t»  x  n  «  C  t-  7i  X  n    1   oeo-ff    1   71  no 

1-  M  l>  T  *  1-  »  l>  X  N  N     I    1  -  «^  1^  00      I    00  1- 

•naming 

icoxmwONt-iftwxx    1  o  i—  *m  "M    |  o  m 

ti  x  ti  s  c  o  :  !"  >n  i  x  ji  :  ?i  :  m  ^i  so  o  i 

<D  in  x  ic  c  o  o  x  »n  *x  »n  c  o  c  tc  o  t£  in  *  o 

u 

in  to  !C  k  ai  x  in  »  en  c  n  ?i  oo  oo  -  in  n  n  in  si 
j  to  o  i-  «  ic  c  m-  md  I-  o  '£  o  o  tc  i-  r~  i- 

t^ocinococ«cn)Oin'M«-i,oot~cinin 

0) 

oi  m  m  m  «  tu>  o  O  x  c  »  x  si  i«  «  o  x  o  O 
aoooaocoioaocitccioo*xi0[/oooo3)0!0) 

.£  § 

NOi^-omooooeooooo'No:  c  m  ©  o  o\ 

3 
H 

c  m  »  -  i>  t-  c  i>  o  o  -  o  k  o  «  -t  in  in  o  x 

M 

puoAaq  jibx  jo  luajxji 

C  «  O  in  m  x  x  c  o  C  :  i-  m  :  fl    i  ssfl    1 
-rcOTtvD en  t  ;i  -  ^  ji  ffi  in  o    1  n  f  io    1 

•S1J3A03  jaddfi 
puo^aq  [ibx  jo  jujjxa 

o  i»  71  ^  h.  m  en  en  in  in  en  Xj  O  i-  i-    1   r  ~t  t—    | 

m  ^  in  r~  en  oo  o  in  ■*  m  »t  m  en  in  .d    1   m  m  ao    1 

•sau-epuoaag  jajno 
pno.faq  -auuuiu,}  jo  jusjxg 

n  md  71  en  en  in  ?i  -t    i  o  I  in  i-  m  e-  -  ;  in    | 

eiio-occ  oix    Isioacxoxoo    1 

•gau-epnoaag  jaunj 
pno.foq  sauiiuiuj  jo  }ua-)xjji 

cot-  e»ocixtoo    |  x  in  t-  t-  m  ;  i-  n  oo    i 
m-  in  x  x  x  a  in  io    |  c  *  i-  il  »  o>  c  n  t»    1 

'3 

o  >n  is  c  m  c  ;  a  o  O  i-  x  in  c  in  ;  in  m  o  o 
moico-Hcoooo^csciii^t-ooKjiaicooo 
cn  on  im  n  7i  en  en  en  ci  7i  71  71  7)  en  71  71  71  7<  en  en 

! 

O  en;  -t  in  ■•+  m  71  0  m  0  m  nr  c  in  ift  00  en  m  in  en 
1.  1.  0  x  *  1-  1-  x  t  c  i«  »  0  x  m»  x  Mn  x 

eneneneneneneneneneneneneneneneoencnenen 

u  a 
<  * 

m  0  0  0  0  0  O  in  s  0  0  0  c  0  m  m  m  m  0  0 
t»  10  71  si  t  en  in  1.  c  0  n  0  in  er.  1-  r-  1-  r-  1-;  O 

a 
.3 

>! 

T. 

iftOOOOinOOOOOOO«ftO«tf5>ftOfS 

-t  in  71  0  s  m  in  ■-  71  f  e;  t  en  i>  x  c-  m  ec  in  ec- 

*T5«D^^*D'o^^'o^o"D•D^^^^*o'^^*D"o*D•o,b*D 

M.  C.  Z. 

Number. 

71  en  en  en.  -t  en  71  1 HoeOtOO^OOlOOliflO 

CO  ej)  en  oc  ot   en  —  -r  en  to  er.  oc  71  er  er.  en  er.  —  co  3 

en  n  en  71  e>  1  -   -   .-.  en  0  71  en  en  m  m  ^  71  en  x  m 

—  O  —  7ier>CNCN~  —  r-iCN         CN7<7l7)CNCNC7-ieN 

MUSEUM   OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


211 


o 

n 


s 


£ 


•W'Ai. 


woeoweoro^rocoeoeoweococoeoeoeoweo 


•iqSian 


co  co  co  co  «  co  co  co  cq  o  co  cq  cq  cq  co  co  w  m  w  w 


8.(009 


nwcowwwnweoeo^owwWBWWww 


•ainssunuioa 


•aonqn;) 


5  r= 


.S  o 

EH 


cn  in    I   ci  ti  C  «  O  ffl  Jl  "t  O  «  rt  fi  -J  C  -t  C  •N 

go    |  o  &S  Jo  <a  in  in  <e  <o  ift  in  «  >n  «»  «J  «•  «0  » 
wwmwSeoeow^cowcoeoweoeoeoeo.ww 

S  £  £!»££§£  S  oo  oo  as  oo  ao  oo  oc  «-  co  r-  oo 

r~  co  t~  co  in  o  c©  c  in  c>i  c*i  co  in  in  cn  cc  co  —  to  oi 
£  "  £  5  co  r-  r~  i~  ^  ao  cc  c©  ao  oq  oo  oo  «~  ao  «~  oq 


2SS£;2S2S2S2?2gSia8^8S2 


£e»omosoco«oooocjaooo«coooocccsoj 


msdmocooiBooin    |  "JOTjiCtSC0 
CO—  —  OO  —  CCC5©    I    O  —  O  O  w  c  c_  — 


•85J3AO0  J3AS01 

puo.Caq  iibx  jo  1034x3 


•S4J3AOf)  jsddfi 
pao.Csq  i;ex  jo  4034x3 


1  ©c-occot^  01  m  cno<n  cm  —  o  in  ;2 
I  a>  ao  a»  00  00  c--  00  00  cn  00  ©  cs  c;  cr.  a>  o  0_  o 


•ssixepnoosc;  aajno 
pao.Csq  sauBinu  j  jo  4034x3 


•s3UBpao33g  asani 
puoisq  ssuEUiu,!  jo  4034x3 


t-ooocococo>nOTcmoiMt-inino£>coco 


cowct^moocofrimaocoocceor-.oinineoco 

o»5io>ot-o»«oiqfio;e>o>occioo 


00  in  o  to  co  t-  cc  co  C  >-  00  <m  in  co  01  r-.  r-  o  in  cn 

CN  <m"  CN  CN  CN  CN  CN  <N  fri  C^  CN  CN  CN  CN  CN  CN  CN  CN  CN  CN 


1-  d 
<  >1 


„<  *  N  o  -  f  u<!  o  >»  1^  "S  o  o  O  o  in  o  o  n  16 
t;Sco»N»<eNiSiftNq«ciooc60!Neecq 
co'coco'coco-*oco'cocococo-*cocococococococo 


ooomoinmoomoinoinooinmoin 
m  ©  00  m  m  to  r-  m  cm  —  ao  to  m  t^-  cr.  c:  —  r^  ,_  cq 


oooinOinininoooininininoin 


o  m  m 
in  o  co  co  in  cn  co  to  <m  oc  t^  —  —  cq  cn  —  cn  a>  in  -# 
t^t-^t^i~i-»r--r"-tot^tor-^i^r»t-»r-*~t--tOt^t» 


nfi-oiion-cstM-ionjijiiojo-t 

ci  co  ?  m  -M  —  r-  01  co  =0  <M  r-  cn  00  or,  tC  00  co  cm  t- 
CNOOincN       men       0  cn  m  cn  en  0  —  cnoicm 


212 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


£ 


s 


£ 


5 

•qjpuv 

r-  r-  -t  »n  x  C*  0  li  li  li  li  li  i~   n  0  1^  01  ^  ci  li 

»qS»H 

1-  c  n  0  -t  O  «  ^  L»  s  0  0  n  ^  Tj  -t  —  r--  ci  r- 

•s.Cnog 

1    c  C  t-  -t  C  to  r-  r—  n  0  ci  1—  n  co  00  t—  0  t-  t- 

1   -t-tr:^-t^r:"^f:-t^"f:?:r;r:KJ: 

•amssiniraog 

t-najJiN'rOCJiCCKfictJuc-MrN 
tc  1-  to  1-  —  so  1-  ■-  1-  I—  1—  t-  '-  —  '-  to  «-  —  '-  to 

•nanqno 

©  <o  C  O  co  co  li  1—  co  O  to  0  CI  i~  0  ""  0  co  c  0 

0  >fi  0  c  0  ^  ^  in  1.1  c  0  ifi  to  0  tn  ^  c  l"  c  * 

■3 

i 

a 

M-oscoisoacoc  r  =  •-  ~  m  c  li  0  0 
d  -t  li  li  -t  -t  -t  -t  li  -t  -t  0  ••-  -r  *r.  -r  li  t  '.i  -t 

h 

M  0  00  n  s  ^  i>  n  0  «  00  a)  «  r;  ?;  i":  11  11  «  O 
00  co  00  i-  (^  t^  r*  1^  30  t-  t^  to  t^  i--  1-  i^  i>  i«  x  qo 

u 

s  ° 

T|iiftG000PIC0C000CnC3t0i!?O00O9IN69ei3 

00  x  00  r~  00  i-  1-  i-  ac  x  oc  i~  t--  x  i^  00  x  <-  x  ao 

Middle 
Toe. 

ci  c»  x  «  c  0  O  >o  O  x  ■*  -t  O  li  x  -t  n  01  t-  0 
^OOO  —  OOCOOOOi-tOCCC  —  OO 

•6   • 

s  s 

EH 

OXr-ilOOOCLl  —  r-COCCOXCCLlXil 

1-  1-  1-  t-  x  x  x  x  t-  x  1—  x  x  1-  t»  cc  x  r-  1-  t— 

3 

il    CO   il   O   CI  r—  X  il  CO  O  l~  Li   O   X  C   X  O  X  C   CI 

0  ©  c cc©  —  ccc  —  c-.  —  c©c  —  © 

puo.Caq  iibx  jo  }f3}xa 

in  fi  t>  50  r  l*  oh':  c  ©  O  ui  c  li  r-  O  x  co  li  0 
CI  —   Cl  —  —    »    a-    —  ©  -t  CI  —  Li  X  —  CO  —  ~    c    © 
CI    CI    CI    CI    CI   —   —    CI   CI    CI   CI   CI   CI   CI   CN   CI   CI   1—   CI  CI 

•sjjSAOf)  jaddfl 
pno.foq  ijbx  jo  juajxg; 

i.1   .1   li   cr    ©     |       I       I    CO   C   X  O   ©    '1   O   CO   CI  X   Li     I 
CI   CI   CI   CI  CI                       CN  CN  CN  CI  CI  CI  CI  CI  CI  CI  CI 

•sauBpuooag  J3>n() 
paoiaq  ssauBinuj  jo  }aa}x;j 

co  ©  X  ul  x  ©  0    I    ci  Li  r^  co  —  c  r-  li  co  1.1  ©  r- 

•>t    Li     -*     •*    ifi    d    Ul        1      41     Li     Tt    Li     -^    Li     Li     t    11     Li     Li     -f 

•BauBpuoosg  j.iuii; 
pno.Caq  sjijbiuijj  jo  ^uajxa 

CO  O  co  ul  CO  O  CO     I    li  ul  r-  li  ©  11  ©  C  Ci  to  ©  X 
CO  ■»  Tf  ■*  O  CO  ■*     IcOt-t-tCOCCtt-t-t-tLlCO 

'3 

LI  0  O   O  O   X   Li  r-  >i   0  Li  X  Li    0    ci    ~   1.1   0   co   O 

e;  1^  ci  i1  r>  -t  i'  c  c  n  x  w  -t  t»  *  x  1-  '-  r.  i- 

cocicococicococococccocccccicocicccccieo 

a 

©C0©Oinr-©Llcl©i~**OIXC1-t<CI-tX© 
ci  -t  to  ci  -t  —  li  co  -t  li  li  li  ci  co  -t  in  11  co  tc  co 
co'cocirccocococococococococococococococo 

u  a 

,3.8 

■<  « 

W 

OiOOOHCOO  i-i  c  11  c  i-i  ii  C  li  m  c  O  li 
li  0  O  co  ci  tc  1-  0  —  li  ci  ci  -t  00  x  r-  —  ci  c  ci 

00  —  00000  —  0  ci  —  cod  —  —  0  —  0 

0  11  0  0  11  0  11  'i  'i  '-1  »i  11  ci  li  c  i-i  0  0  0  »n 

X    CI    Z-    X    CI I  -   CO   CI   Li    CI    O  1  -    CV    CI   Li   ul  CI   — 

t-  X  X  1-  X   X   X  t^  X  X  X  X  X  I~  1^  X  X  t^  X  X 

^^«D^^*D*o"D*D"D*D*D"D^^  ^^*D^^'D'D^^*o^^ 

K3    t' 

OtCCOtOt^-  —  C50L1L105COCI  —   -*  —  CO  —  o-* 

miOTi-aici'toixoOD'-  t^xxxuiox 
cociLi-tci-tco.cicnoGi--tor-.r-.             —  tc 
^  —  —  —  —        «£i|ci^hh-h             ©a> 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


213 


4 


■J 


£ 


"WLH 


•?qSion 


SCO  —  OCOCCOOCCOCCOO    I   t-  r^  —  oo  to  X 
-jiri--r((Mri'Dji-jt-    I  —  —  n  —  —  — . 


•s.Cnoo 


N  i>  t>  i»  x  oo  i-  a  t-  x  t»  x  i-    I   x  x  i^  i-  t-  i- 


•naming 


oo  o  c  to  eo  c  o  to  m  -m  oo  in  t~-   i  n  «  m  ir.  <m  m 

■t  in  o  m  l-  m  -r  i_~  i_-  ..-  -t  ir.  -p    I   u~  ,/;  ^  »r  u-  ^ 


■SJjaAOf)  J3M01 

puo.Caq  [i«x  jo  }aaixg; 


•sjjsaoj  jaddfl 
puoiaq  [ibx  ;o  ju'ajxg; 


O  t  so  K  O    I    CsCsoXi-'ioor-i.-co    I 
W  in  ri  ?;  eoJi    I   ?i  —  •.-  co  —  o  —  m  M  ?i  cn  ?<    I 


•sauBpaoaas;  lainn  '©  - '  *  O  c  is  m  —  -m  m  o  o  m  in  r-  o  O  O  ~  o 

pno.Caq-Sa!a«mua  jo  ,u3,x3  ]     2  2  !!  '!  !!  !!  2  ~  ~  *!  "  ~  "  *!  ~  *  "  "  ^  n- 


•sauBpaoasg  aauai 
puo.teq  sauBinuj  jo  }aajx;j 


owooeor-moopjinooooinmomoin 


~~0  =  ootoococor~ooL-:r-~x 
in  *o  to  o  o  o  c  -t  r:  t,  o  >t  ^  c  -,i  -,s 
ci  •n  ^N  ri  ?i  i>i  ^i  ci  ci  ri  ci  -m  ~i 


to  >n  -t  m 
?i  c>i  i-i  ?i  o<  Tl 


^«^f!ft«n 


X  O  o  O  O  x   x  c-. 

•<*  co  co  co  *t  co'  -■*  •*'  co :  co'  co' 


C  O  m  m  o  m  lo  m  co  c  c  C  O  lo  o  »-o  O  >c  c  o 
^  Jl  '!  "  "  °  '■;  '-;  -  ^  ™  ~  :  ?l  x  »  ■*  "  -  '' 
oi  oi  -m  —  oi  oi  —  — '  oi  oi  oi  —  oi  oi  -^  —  —  oi  oi  — 


5 

O 

m  o 

o  «  m 

LO 

o 

C   in 

m 

o 

O  x 

1- 

_ 

- 

0 

_ 

— 

I  - 

x  r- 

i  - 

lO 

l^   to 

to 

in 

t 

c 

X 

t> 

3 

t~- 

to  r- 

•x  to  to 

•X 

to 

to  to 

CO 

•-T 

to  to 

tc 

to 

•X 

r» 

to 

to 

X 

*O*0"0*0"o"0"O,1D'0"0 

*Q 

*O"OfO*O«O«O*0«O*0 

w  3 


C  ID  »  O  C  N 

C3toeoo»«oot- 
■  -  to  co  t-  i~ 


214 


BULLETIN   OF  THE 


« 

■qroiM 

n  n  co  oo  n  r^  r^  Oi    1   otosotCN^i^WNh- 

«nKtonono    1  nonnnnnonon 

I^SwH 

o  t("t  in  in  •*  -t  •*    i  nnin'O't'tun'"  n  « 

CI   CN   CM  CI   CI   CN  CI   CI     1    CN  CM  IM  CN  (M  CN  W  CN  CN  (N  CI 

•ba"uoq 

K!»cmiflnifti-nMmoin!fiMO't**is 

•aansstmraoo 

ooociooot©incii.oco»^i^oaoot©-ti--co 

OCTsC75OOOC75C7iC7^C^C750^C7^OC7sO0^C7>C7iCX> 

_                —  — .  —                                                  — i          — 

•nauung 

©comoo-tmcooocicooocinmtocooi-^co 
oc  t^  id  i^  i^-  t~  r^  oo  r—  i~  t~  «-  oo  t-  i~  i-  t—  oo  to  to 

1 

a 

r-  cr.  to  X  t^  i~  t^  i^  to  to  t-  i-  t—  r-  t-  t^.  t-  t—  r-  to 

u 

s  * 

n  «  m  -t  c    |  ©-tic©  —  c  ron'-  ch  o  oi  s  o 
i-  i-  i  -  i-  t^    I  i»  to  <o  t-  i-  i-  to  i-  t—  i-  «-  i-  <©  **■ 

|l 

r»  t-  i-  t-  J^  t~  n  to  m>  i~.  i-  i^  i-  i^  i-  t^  t»  r~  t- 

*3  6 

'f(ono»!enf)icoiNONO'Hi»Mi)0« 

OOO  —  CT>0>CC5000000000©CO 

•2I 

inonHootiooocoioooo-O'M-eio 
i—  r-  r-  »—  t~  J-  t-  o  i-  t-  to  t-  t©  r»  i~  t-  t-  i^  t©  to 

3 

oooocimooi^mooociotocooincoom 
o  —  —  —  — O  —  O  O  —  —  C  —  —  O  — •  —  © 

pno.foq  iibx  jo  o,uajxa 

in  m    |   m  ic  r-  in  o    I     I   m  o  O    I     1   ci    i   ©    l     1 

o»    1  ooooooo    1     li-oNtol     loqlpl     1 

CN  —          —  —   —  CN  CI                -<  —  .-                —          CN 

CN  O     1    CM |     |    — ;   -t   CO     1       1    -*   ■<*     1       1      1             1    iO     1      1 

ci  oi       ci       ci  oi  ci            ci  ci                          ci 

pno.Coq  sauuinuj  jo  ^uajxjj 

i-  o  in  n  is  w  n  (m    1  o  o  o  o  o    |  ci    i  in  «o 
int^ot-totototo    I   to  i-  i-  m  t©    |   in    1   *m  » 

•saiiBpaoD33  jonnj 
pno.Caq  sdjautuuj  jo  juojij 

m  m  ci  ©  oc  in  x  ©    1  co  in  r~  m  t-    |  to    |  co  ©  m 
co  in  t*  i^  ■■*  Tt  in  m    I   in  to  t©  in  ■*    |  -t    |   m  -<t  m 

i 

ininoOinooooinr^r-Oinoooocomt^in 

i-  x  t-  -  o  to  -  o;  o  o  to  o  «;  n  *  t>  o  e>  to  i1 

COCOCO-tCOCO-i'COCOCOCO-'tCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCO 

bO 

a 

in  in  m  m  3  o  m  in  ir:  m  ci  m  r—  m  m  ci  ©  co  o  o 

ini^cocD'rttoi^tocicotot^coinr^Tj'intO'^'Tt 

cocococococococococococococococococococo 

<  * 

in  in  o  in  in  c  in  in  o  O  in  in  in  o  o  in  O  in  o  in 
co  i-  in  ci  ci  oo  t—  t~  m  o  •*  oo  ci  ■**  m  t~-  ci  ci  cj>  t— 

_  —  o'^^d  —  oo  —  —  —  —  —  — 'd  —  —  do 

to 
c 

3 

m  m  o  m  O  o  o  m  o  m  o  O  m  o  m  m  ci  o  o  O 
i-  n  x  Mn  >*  o  'o  o  n  oo  o  cn  x  x  i-  to  *  »  in 

ooooi^ooooccoiaoooooooooooooooooooooooo 

J! 

..Q 

o  a 

•    3 

oooci-^co-ti^cTJ-ftO't'-ttoGO  —  i^-in^-'tto 
m  cj>  co  —  i~  co  in  ci  co  in  o  i  -  in  co  oo  in  co  oo  >ft  oo 

Ofj  1 O  CI  CI  CN  CI  1^  CO  1^  CI   CI  to  CI  00  CI  Tji  CI  3> 

•n  — <  c  o  ci            cn  ci  o  — •  ci       —  ci  in       —       cn 

MUSEUM   OF  COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


215 


< 


N 


£ 


■?q3pH 


•s.fuoo 


t:  0 

5H 


•sjj'iAo-)  joddfl 
pno.foq  [jbx  jo  juoixg; 


■saunpnooag  Mjno 
pno.Caq  saiaBinuj  jo  jaajxa 


c?  ***  i.*?  r~  c?  o  t~  *+  r^  f~  :o  i.^  o  C}  o  7**  tc  o  x  in 

"ft  "-"  -f  W  -r  m  -t  -r  -*■ |  -r  -j ■  -r  -t  -f  o  -t  -r  -*  -t  -t 

<MSt^»r>.0©ooi~i— ooi^oocir-.aooi.nao 

w  :•:  c;  7<  .-;  ro  cr  7;  71  7t  7;  71  w  7;  71  71  im  «  7,  71 

~  "*.  t  T  L"  "•  t  "*  u~  "•  "*  t  "  "*  *T  ~  S  ■*  -r  ■* 
qqoioioqoiaoqqooiqcftocqffl 
oc  x  1-  i-  x  00  1-  1-  x  t~  «j  x  so  x  x  t-  oc  x  x  i- 

t~t^ox  —  ?ooxx<M7Txr^XM~xCi~~ 
<-?  '--5  *°  *~  !~  r~  *o  *-~  to  <~  *  tc  »-~  *x  i~  o  tc  1-  r~  to 

OXIOBNOlDOnOOOlftOOOOOlfiOBQ 

"5  ">  ii  ^~   l"  l~_  in  m  in  to  m  vc  c~  o  ■»  m  o  a  c  o 

?1  —  2  rr  —  «  c  «*  o  -m  -  o  ~i  1.1  -c  o  00  to  r-  -m 

t—.  -o  o  in  to  o  to  m  to  to  to  1-  to  to  to  cs  m  to  »n  to 

O  in  i,  r~  c  r-  r~  77  r~  ifl  ir.  1-  x  r-.  r-  x  t»  m  71  r- 
00  00  t--  00  00  I-  t-  I--  1--  00  I--    DO  t-.   OC   1,  r-  «~   X  X  1^ 

O  o  rt  c;  2  ^  n  r;  «  ji  n  00  m ■■  -f  l-  71  x  o 

in  l-5  o  u-;  so  o  m_  in  in  1-  .r  in  t-  m  m  in  in  to  in  o 

jnOppOOor^oOWOOe-5  —  «iftOOO« 
.     .  '~  '"".  r~  °°.  '";  *  *■;  *-  o  f-  <-  1-  1-  1-  1-  i~  <-  «~ 

~  ~  ^  '"   ~  ^  ^  ^  ^  '  :  -r  -N  -N  -t  -r  -   -   ~  ~   -r 

L:  l~  *  '■:  -q  '-  t^  x  i--  i~  t-  in  in  i~  i~  to  1-  x  1-  ct> 

22SS2'S23<N22<='r!ino<Nin(M«n-ifso 

"t   ^  '   .    "*  L?   "t   ■*   c!   \   ^  ^   "*  -  ^   -  <M  •*■  1-  T   ? 

r^  >.^  m  x  o 

aoaioso 

rt   C   t  Nfi 

?;  cc  •-:  -r  -t 
rt  cc  ?T  r?  rj 

C    ~   i~   X   o 

ri  ir.  -x.  i_-  to 

*i*  *^*  ^  *^  '•^, 

■n  0000 
71  -y    x  ?i  in 

»  TO  >*  ■*  ci 

s  r,  -7  -  ■"  =  r-  2  ■"  2  ~  '"  ~  ~  -  '"■  -  -  ■"  ~ 

~  •!  ■*-  —  —  — .  ~|  —  '  7  -   —  ?i  -r  ?i  x  x c  to  w 

X  X  I-  X  X  X  00  t-.'  I-  00  x  x  1--;  X  r-  I-  X  X  X  X 

f*.    o.    ^..     p..    ^.     ^.     ,..     ^.     ^,.     ^_     ^       ^       ^       ^       _^_    ^^    ^_    ^_    ^      ^_ 

.""  £;  «5  T,  '~   -*  ?'  "«   -   ~   -  ^  '-   x   ,-    r    00  00  «  M 

2  2  £  2  '2 5  2  2«-"»o«nso8>io 

~  —  —  —  «  coo  — -*      —  —  _      -* 


-sauepnoaag  asuaj 
pno.Caq  soiiciuuj  jo  jaa^xg 

S  Ir  'J-  •£  J  "  '"  —  c  -  L"  O  to  >n  ec  i-  ■-  ,-  x.  0 
—   x ■  —   0   0    -   c-.  c-.  0  C".  X  c-.  «~  CT  x  x  c.  —   ~   0 

•3 

S29°  B««ceniftcnoiftcO'*Mf! 
.1   . 1  1  .   1-;    -)■  -m  c-r  —  ti   ?l  —  (M  cs  CO   t.  71  r;  i-   -r  t 

roeoeosoeoeoeoweoweoed  ci  m  ro  rt  n'n'nn' 

a 

^-  f?  I-.  .~  r-  .•-  r,  t^.  -m  i~  0  0  m  O  x  0  0  >-  x  0 

■-.  — :  '-q  '-  '-^  "t  -t  —  -t  t  r?  -x  71  to  r?  ri  u-  x  l"  to 

S  !2  ?.  '-C;  '~  =  -  ~  '~  °  -  '~  -  '*  —  '"  O  0  ir>  0 
m  71  71  7i  —  _  in  ONoon-  in  —  c  71  x  x  71  in 

216 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


< 
M 
pq 
U 

o 


K 


WLii. 


•iqSian 


•siuoQ 


'oinssiimno^) 


•81J3A03  issso'j 

pno.(o  i  [rex  J°  }uoixji 


puo.faq  ijex  jo  }u<>}xg; 


•sou-cpnooog  Jajno 
puo.Caq  sbubiuijj  jo  jus^xj 


pnoXaq  souTJUiuj  jo  4110^x3 


_;  3 


(S  I-  (D   S  C  O  O     I    1SMOOON 

nno-t  Ti;n    I  co  -*  co  -t  co 

k  co  o  k  on  n    I  n  o  n  n  n 

■c  16  m  o  «i  mo  I  o  «:  ci  r:  rt 
*  t  "t  *t  •*  "t  >»    ''*'*.  "t  "t  "* 

co  m.  m  co  co  co  m-  i  cc  n  o  t-  n 
't  '~. l^  •"* '": '":  *"*   '  rT  '": '":  'I '": 

on  *  01  -t  uo  n  n  I  t-  oi  -t  in  o 
in  o  o  id  to  o  to  I  >n  £0^0 

1  co  00  o  00  cm  cm  1  00  co  00  o  o 

[  in  -t  lo  i<  tn  in  |  -t  -i-  w  in  o 

inONNnsi-cn-teiMoo 
-t  m  Tf  m  m  m  m  m  in  in  in  m.  •(> 

n  f»  c?  n  m»  «  m  m  »  o  1-  ift 

in  o  in  m  in  in  in  in  in  in  in  in  in 

inCNOOin'DQiflWCO'^ 

I»  r-  C   CO  tt  l-  t^-  l~  t-  <~  t-  1-  t-> 

ti  o  o  o  n  m»  w  tc  o  m  in  n 
m  co  m  co  m  m  m  m  in  co  m  m  m 

N  ?l  CO  5P  00  (M  O  N  CO  O  r^  CO   o 

t~  00  r-  00  c£)  t~  t~  r-  t-  t>.  cc  t~  f~ 

I  m  m  co  Q  c    I  oo  00  cm  c  in  o 

I  o  00  —  co    I  cox-o  3- 

loco  —  mm    1   m  in  cm  O  co  O 

I   in  01  -t  oi  n    I   cm  ■*  —  m  co  in 

co  m  cm  cm  m  o    I   o  o  1^  O  m  co 

-Ol CM   CO     I    CM  O  —>  CM  ©  CN 

0  m  m  cm  m  r--  o  m  m  m  ©  m  r- 
ooooi^cr>C5000ioqoooooo 

cm  m  cm  m  co  co  m  m  r~  o  -*  m  m 
co  i~  co  m  i~  r-  00  r~  (^  m  co  m  r~ 
ci  cn  ci  cm  oi  cm"  cm  ci  cm'  cm  cm  cm  cm 

t—  m  m  ©  ©  ©  m  1--  r—  o  ©  ©  »ft 

in  1-01-00  o  oooot-ojii-oq 

co'cocococo-tcocococo'co'coco 
m  o  O  ©  O  m  m  o  O  ©  m  m  >n 

I-  CO  CO  CO  -  I-  '"   *   -  co  1^  71  CO 

^  _•_;_:  —  _:_:  —  —  _:  o'  —  d 

moo 
r-mq 
CD  co  1-^ 

"to  *o  *D 

*    *.   iO    O^  Cl  CD  CO  CO  "t  O  CO  01 
O     OM    CT.    —    X    CO    K     CO    CO    C75    CO    -f 

co  cc  r  -  — ■  m  co  co  — >  00  —  00  co 
OMOIO         COO—         ->  — ' 


.£3 

to 

a 

m  c  m  m  m  c  O  c  0  m  m  0  O 
1^  *  01  01  01  co  co  01  ;  i'  1-  cn  0 

CD  CD  l>  1-  l~  l~  I^  t-  l»  CD  CD  CD  1-- 

CO 

^*O'O*C*0''O*O*0*0"o'O*O*O 

MUSEUM   OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


217 


s 

•wui 

»nt--cooinCi-ncoinmcN-*coor^ 

15 

iqSian 

-*  w  c  — ■  o  o-  in  m  —  co  co  -»■  •+  m  01 

in  ^  ifi  o  ^  o  "C  »fi  tfi  in  o  in  o  c  o 

s 

•s.iaoQ 

co  oo  m  m  50  ©  o  o  i>  ic  co  in  in  m  ec 

3 

•aanssuninoo 

OJ  O  iC  r.  oc  J)  >M  «  C  1-  O  f  I  r-  71  s 

I^  CO  1^  N  N  X  0C(  CC  I-  r-  1-  00  1--  t»  1- 

5 

'tmxqttg 

t~  t~-  r-  1^  I-  t--  f-  t~  «£  t^  tO  t—  1-   tc  l~ 

* 

•S1J3A03  J3M07 

puoAoq  itwj,  jo  jaa^xa; 


M  x  ic  ;  :i  c 


puo.Cdq  ip;x  }o  ju'ajxg; 


•sotiEpnooa^  jajno 
pno^q  souBmu  j  jo  ^usjxg; 


•s.iuBpuo.53g  jannj 
pno.Caq  ssiaBinuj  jo  jua^xjj 


lAOlAlfl  Ol  A  lA  00  O  N  9)  a  Or*  c  in  CO 
OCaoOOhXNNKC  c  ~  r  /.  ri 
co  co'  5>i  co'  co  co  c>i  ci  oi  oi  oi  co  co  ?i  co  oi  oi 


in  r-  c 
CO-*CO-t-l--fC0C0COC0C0'T-tC0-t-1;-f 


CM  OI  —  Ol  —  Ol  ~-  Ol  Ol  —  Ol  •—   Ol   IN   01   SH  — • 


N  N  r^  O)  N  30  N  N  1^  1^  r^  1-  X  N  X  I'  t- 


'oso'io,b*o''D"o,o'to*>i,"o'o*o"D"o-ot> 


«--z 


co  o  n  ?i  in  c  x  l*  n  n  —  —  oi  oi  -t  ~~  t^ 
cooi*oo«co-33<hcoooo)oi-*  c  oi  o 
<r  in  i-  i  c.  o  c  c  m  —  in  m  o  en  ~.  x  — 
^«       ci  oi  c;  ci  ^  ^-  ^       c  tn  in  ?i  c.  «  o 


218 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


•W!AV 

IMNMO^MSh'MMlO      I     IS  C  ffl    CI    -    t?    -t    -t 
CN  <M  CM  CI  CI  CI  CI  CI   CI   CI  CI     1    IN  CI  <M  CI  CI  CI  CI  CI 

•niSpn 

r~  r—  i^  x  in  or-  x  x  X'  s  ^  co  r;  io  o  i1  o  o  ift 

•s.Cqoq 


ojnssuntno^ 


—  ©  ©  C  t~  — "  ci  ci  ci  co  ci  —  o  ci  ©  CI  ci  r~ 

roeoc5eo<Ne<5eowwcoOTC>jeoeo!oeoeoeoeo»j 

NrtciNinoosNOO^^ooxNNOisto 

Ift  ift  tntdiOAlALOOtOtfOtOtfiAiftlOifl  W  O 

in  t—  or  irs  co  oo  m  r—  ©  ©  ci  ic  x   cc  cc  go  co  o  oo  -+ 

■^'tTfi^-ftt-tCOiKrC-tTrif-tTt-f-t'l' 

O  ©  t—  O  W  00  CI  CI  X   CI  vc  CO  CI  00  if!  ci  in  ©  cc  in 
CI  CI   —   CI   —    CI    CI   CI    —   CI    CI   —   CI   —   «  CI  —    CI    CI  — • 

—  cc  x  ci  cc  —  cc  cc  —  or :  cc  -f  ci  ci  in  —  ©  —  **  © 

o  »c:  rf  lc  *.c  o  in  i-C  ».c  -i-o-ri-c.i-c.-r  o  l.c  in  in  o 

ci  -r  ©  in  -r  —  m  ic  cc  oo  ic  -o  ct  ci  i-  cc  ci  re  m  ci 
ir;  o  ic  ifi  »s  o  r.  o  ^  ^t  lc  -t  in  in  ^r  i-C  in  ift  in  in 

CO  O  00  «C  CC  CI  CC  CI  CI  00  i-C  CI  CC  C  to  CC  O  ©  CC  I— 
CO  l~  to  l~  t-  *"■  I-  I-  I-  to  t-  Cl^l»OI^C  I-  t-  to 

W  cc  CC  iC  ci  ci  cc  ci  ©  t-  ci  —  -t  -r  s  oo  —  ©  oo  ci 

CI  ©  l C  X  N  »  I-  -t  CI  N  IS  X  Cl  Ci  c  c  o  »  ■* 

CO    00  1^  I-  I-  I-  I-  I-  I-   I-.  I--  1-  I-  XI-XI-I-  I-  I- 

I  I  S  3  I  §  ,=  x'  I  I  I  I  R  I  I  I  I  I  I  I 


Si  » 

C:  o 

5H 


c 


- 

- 

H 
O 
K 

a 


£ 


■suw>/)  a.n\o'[ 
pnoA"j.|  |U'j,  jo  ju  >jx-j 


■-ii.>ao-)  iaddi~) 
pno.Ca  (  [lux  jo  jaajxrj 


3  I   I  &  I  S  I   I   I 


■saimpno  )33  J.i)n() 
pno  Ca  i  - -lUHiuu,]  jo  (ujjxg 


Tj«    I  eo  co  eo  co  co    I     I   cc  ^    I   cc    I     I     I     I     I     I 


■souBpnoasg  laaai 
puo.Ceq  souuimij  jo  juajxg 


>.c    I  to  .c  in 
co    I   cc  cc  ci 


u  s  I  n  i  i  i  i  i  i  i 


~  i-  m  x  i~  c  ic  c  ©  ©  t-  x  x  ci  x  ic  ic  ~  ■-  m 
©  ©  ©  00  ©  ©  CR f-©coaoOao©©35 

EH 

CI    CI    CI   —    CI    CI   —   CI   CI   <M   CI   —   CI  —   —    CI   —   CI    CI   — 

to 

a 

©  ©  ic  ci  t-  c  x   ©  t-  cc  ci  in  i-  ci  cc  cc  ic  m  m  © 

—    CI    Cl    —    CC    CI    —    CI    CI    —    CC   C.    CI   —    ©    —    ©    Cl   —   — 

ci  ci  ci  ci  ci  ci  ci  ci  ci  ci  ci  — '  ci  ci  ci  ?i  ci  ci  ci  ?i 

i-  a 


- 
o 

m 

Cl 

1- 
.1 

.0 

z 

— 

Cl 

i  - 

- 

s 

cc 

in 

irt 
i  - 

m 

m 

X 

r. 

- 
- 

© 

CO 

1  - 

I- 

l-» 

i- 

to 

to  1- 

CC 

i- 

•— 

i- 

CC 

l- 

CO 

to 

VC 

CC 

t~ 

to 

to 

~  -r  in  -r  -r  ic  >.c  -n  in  o 


'-  = 

J    3 


'o^^^^'x5'o'o^D^o^3'D^^'t3^3"D  ^o*o*o^^^oto 


to  oo  x  -t  'C  r-.  i  -  x  m  ©  -f  —  tr  — 

i  -  ic  c  c"  '  -  C  ~  ic  —  :?  -r  t  -  —  ■^, 

en  cc  x  i*.  i  -  y  -    /  m  cc  t  c.  — .  cc 

o  —  ci  ~.  —  ci  ~  i-  —  —  ci  ci 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


219 


C 


o» 


£ 


•qipjjiv 


?q3ian 


•s.Cuoq 


•ojnsjuninog 


•nsrajng 


.2  8 

ton 


•S1J3A03  jailor 
puoiaq  HK.L  jo  juojx^ 


•s^isAOf)  jaddfi 
pno.Caq  [iex  J°  jndjxj 


puoisq  sauBinuj  jo  ^uajxa 


•ssuBpnoasg  aanai 
pno-faq  souBiniid  jo  }iw}xa 


in  —  oc  w  »t  c  c?  ift    IO    |   c  r~  00  oo  to  © 
-*■*«■*■*•*■*■>*    I  -*    I  ••*  «  «  «0  «  "* 

rtooMSM»i^soi-    I  t:  t~  iff  t-  oo  «« 

CO   Ol   7-1  Oi   C!  Ol  CN   CO   CO   CN     I    CN  CN  CN  Cj   ~)   Ol 
OO(0W  li  CO  Is-  CO  "#  **-  l-i  6N  C  i-  Ol  co  00 

N  C   L"  N   C  '^  (C  I"  I"   O  O  1^  I-  C   I-  t>  o 

H  -c  co  -c  oo  in  co  i-i  Si  eo~it»  od  m  to  oi  x  c 
eNeNeorocNeoeoeoeosNOjCNoocMOoeNec 

co  o  to  m    I  co  cm  co  •»  =  o  o  -r  c  li  -i  ■* 
^■ooo   lo^-ooopcopopo; 

©  '1  O  Li  00   to  Li  O  If!   H   CO     I    CM     I    CO  Ol     I 

c:  -  n  ri  -  !M  ri  rr  !N  -  ji    I  f]    I  <n  c^    I 
CN  C>l  CN  !N  (01  CN  CN  On  CN  CN  en        oi        ci  on 

ON2NOCIS5CWWTK10M1I/O1.1 

a.  t-  x  i^  oc  i-  oo  n  t>  i>  oc  x  t—  t^  i-  «-  t> 

li  *■*■  to  00  in  ©  ©  O  »-n  o>  li  O  i~  i^»  to  CO  c*5 
ooooxNXxais  i-xocoxxx-xoo 

fi  e  n  7i  m  noo  «  ic  n  n  if  o  •♦  is  o  i- 
d  n  -  n  ?i  -  n  ?i  ci  ci  en  CM  CO  Ol  Ol  CO  ?i 

n  O  ■*  n  «  n  M  ic  o  is  1 1  x  li  ir;  Mf  o 
CiC«aoaoCT>ooaiooi^ccaoi-aoocccoooq 

CI  »--.  co  ?i  to  m  «VCN  in  c  ©  C  oi  r—  ift  -t  li 

TtOJco-i-coeucococicococNCNcicooico 

COCNCNCNCOOnOncO 

IS2SS  I^S  I  I  I  I  I  II  I  I 

CO   CO   CO    CO  CO    CO 

aoooooctois   I     I     |     I     I     I     I     I     I 
to  to  m  to  to  to  u-  w    I  I     I     I     I     I 


I     I     II     I     II     I     I 


ii©oomootoco©©C3©c©©©©© 

O  ffl  N  31  -  X  I:  C  C  tf  c  -  ;   C    ~    CO  CN 
IS  I'  <   t'  O   I'  *  iK  ^  *  iS  ^  1-1   i-l   "-1   1   l1 


Li  ©  O  i-1  i-l  Li  ©  Li  ©  r~  to  ©  —  i-1   3   oi  m 

C-lClXCi-ClO-'MI-C-:!-"- 
■^COCOCO-TCO'*-*-*'*^"  Li  -#  -*  -i<  -<t  •* 


b  a 


•*fMCNCOCOCNC>Jcocor0COCOCOr0CO 


.s 

11     11     ©     Li     ©     .1    ©    Li     —     —     —     C     Li     ©     C     Li    O 

oo  n  o  on  m  oo  —  oo  oi  -t  ro  co  co  —  li  i~  to 

c 

^-©_„„~_©______ — 

J 

* 

OT 

C--  o-  f  ■  p"  *o  «"■  "O  ""  *D  *0  O*  O  *D  "O  *D  t>  "D 

Sz 


220  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Individual  Variation  in  the  Size  and  Form  of  the  Bill.  —  That  con- 
siderable variation  occurs  in  the  size  and  shape  of  the  bill,  in  specimens 
of  the  same  sex  and  species  living  together  at  the  same  locality,  is  evident 
from  a  glance  at  some  of  the  preceding  tables  of  measurements.  The 
variation  in  this  organ  is  further  illustrated  in  the  accompanying  plates 
(Plates  IV- VIII),  in  which  are  given  figures  of  the  bills  of  several 
specimens  of  each  of  a  number  of  species.  Much  greater  differences 
are  here  shown  to  exist  in  cospecific  specimens  of  the  same  sex 
and  from  the  same  locality  than  occur  between  those  supposed  to 
be  distinct,  of  which  comparative  figures  of  the  bills  have  been  pub- 
lished with  a  view  of  demonstrating  their  specific  diversity.  In  only  a 
few  groups  in  fact,  and  mainly  in  the  long-billed  Grallce,  is  the  bill 
generally  admitted  to  be  too  variable  to  afford  an  important  basis  for 
the  discrimination  of  species. 

The  principal  points  of  variation  in  the  form  of  the  bill  eonsi.-t  in 
variations  in  its  general  size,  without  corresponding  variations  in  the 
general  size  of  the  individual,  and  in  the  details  of  its  form  in  regard  to 
thickness  and  length.  There  are  also  other  variations  in  respect  to  the 
emargination  or  dentation  of  the  terminal  portion,  especially  in  the  vast 
group  of  the  insectivorous  species,  and  in  the  "festooning"  of  the  bill 
in  many  of  the  hawks.*  In  respect  to  the  size  of  the  bill,  it  is  a  note- 
worthy fact  that  birds  specifically  and  sexually  identical  vary  in  such  a 
way  that  specimens  much  below  the  average  size  possess  bills  above 
the  average  size  for  their  respective  species,  and,  conversely,  that 
specimens  above  the  average  size  have  bills  much  smaller  than  the 
average  for  their  respective  species,  the  general  proportions  of  the 
bill  in  each  case  being  essentially  the  same.  In  such  cases,  with 
the  increase  or  decrease  in  length,  there  are  corresponding  differ- 
ences in  the  thickness  of  the  bill,  both  in  the  vertical  and  trans- 
verse directions.  In  other  cases  with  the  increase  in  length  there 
is  no  corresponding  increase  in  thickness,  such  a  differentiation  thus 
resulting  in  a  relatively  attenuated  form  of  the  bill.  In  other  cases 
the  bill  is  shortened  without  a  corresponding  decrease  in  its  thick- 
ness, from  which  results  a  short,  thick,  or  robust  bill.  The  variation 
in    thickness    is    again    sometimes    relatively   greater    in    the   vertical 

*  In  respect  to  this  point,  see.  Dr.  Henry  Bryant's  paper  on  "  Variations  in  the  Plu- 
mage in  Buleo borealis  auct.  and  B.  Hwlani  Aud.V"  (Proc.  Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist., 
Vol.  VIII,  p.  107  et  $eq.,  Ifc6l,  where  the  variation  in  this  feature  is  especially  noticed. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  221 

than  in  the  transverse  direction,  and  sometimes  the  reverse,  thus 
giving  in  some  cases  a  deep,  narrow  bill,  and  in  others  a  broad,  de- 
pressed bill.  In  the  latter  case  the  differences  are  especially  important, 
as  will  be  more  fully  shown  later.  In  regard  to  the  tooth-like  inden- 
tation near  the  tip  of  the  bill  in  so  many  of  the  insectivorous  birds,  it  is 
found  that  in  some  species  which  usually  have  it  strongly  developed, 
specimens  occasionally  occur  with  the  indentation  nearly  or  quite  obso- 
lete. Again  in  other  cases  where  this  feature  is  usually  but  slightly 
developed,  some  specimens  have  the  notch  at  the  tip  of  the  bill  exceed- 
ingly prominent.  Similar  variations  occur  in  regard  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  so-called  "  festoon  "  of  the  upper  mandible  in  the  hawks, 
as  Dr.  Bryant  has  already  sufficiently  shown. 

The  greatest  range  of  individual  differentiation  in  any  given  organ 
occurs,  as  would  be  naturally  expected,  in  those  species  which  have  that 
organ  more  than  ordinarily  developed,  and  also  in  species  of  a  low 
grade  of  structure.  In  the  long-billed  Grallce  both  these  conditions 
exist,  and  it  is  in  such  genera  as  Numenius,  Gambetta,  Limosa,  Scolo- 
pax,  Philohela,  and  Gallinago,  that  the  maximum  of  bill  variation  is 
seen.  It  is  less  marked  in  the  song-birds,  though  in  many  members  of 
this  group  the  variation  is  by  no  means  small.  In  the  typical  wood- 
peckers, on  the  other  hand,  which  have  the  bill  especially  adapted  to  a 
peculiar  function,  that  of  digging  into  wood,  the  variation  is  scarcely 
appreciable,  since  any  considerable  variation  from  its  usual  form  would 
seriou-dy  impair  its  efficiency.  In  the  semi-frugivorous  and  terrestrial 
Picidcc,  however,  we  again  meet  with  the  usual  range  of  variation. 

In  the  accompanying  plates  illustrative  of  variation  in  the  bill, 
representatives  from  the  higher  types  of  the  Oscines  have  mainly  been 
chosen,  several  representatives  from  widely  different  families  having 
been  selected.  Plate  IV,  figures  1  and  la,  2  and  2a,  give  a  view  of 
the  bills  of  two  specimens  of  the  common  king-bird  [Tyrannus  caro- 
linensis),  from  Eastern  Massachusetts,  which  differ  from  each  other  as 
much  as  the  bills  of  different  genera  sometimes  do.  One  of  them,  as 
will  be  seen,  is  so  much  narrower  and  deeper  than  the  other  as  to  give 
very  different  proportions  and  outlines.  The  skulls  of  these  two  speci- 
mens vary  in  the  same  manner  as  do  the  bills,  the  one  having  ;i  broad, 
flat  skull,  and  the  other  a  narrow,  high  one.  Two  specimens  of  M>/iar- 
chus  crinitus,  one  of  which  is  from  South  Carolina  and  the  other  from 
Western  New  York,  differ  as  much  from  each  other,  and  in  nearly  the 


222  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

same  way,  as  do  those  of  (he  king-bird.  Similar  and  nearly  as  great 
variations  occur  also  between  different  specimens  of  Contopus  borealis, 
C.  virens,  Empidonax  minimus,  E.  jiaviventris,  Sayorius  fuscus,  and 
in  several  species  of  (he  South  American  Tyrannida.  But  between 
these  (wo  extremes  are  found  in  other  specimens  nearly  every  possible 
degree  of  gradation. 

Figures  3  and  oa  to  figures  7  and  la  (same  plate)  represent  different 
forms  of  the  bill  in  Troglodytesaedon.  Between  these  specimens  there 
are  great  differences  both  in  respect  to  absolute  size  and  to  general 
form,  greater  than  would  be  deemed  necessary  by  most  ornithologists 
for  the  differentiation  of  species.  These  examples  are  all  from  Florida, 
and  essentially  from  the  same  locality.  Other  specimens  in  the  Muse- 
um come  between  these  extremes  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  the  incon- 
stancy of  all  these  forms.  The  variation  in  color,  which  is  considerable 
in  this  species,  does  not  accord  with  the  variation  in  the  bill,  specimens 
exhibiting  the  extremes  of  color  as  often  having  the  bills  alike  as  other- 
wise, and,  conversely,  those  with  bills  alike  differ  widely  in  color. 

Figures  8  and  8a  to  11  and  11a  (same  plate)  indicate  the  varia- 
bility of  the  bill,  especially  in  respect  to  length,  in  Massachusetts 
specimens  of  Seiurus  noveboracensis.  The  first  corresponds  essentially 
with,  and  unquestionably  is,  an  example  of  the  so-called  Seiurus  ludo- 
vicianus,  which,  in  all  probability,  is  but  the  darker  colored,  longer- 
billed  southern  form  of  S.  noveboracensis.  This  species  varies  also 
remarkably  in  color,  but  the  variation  in  color,  as  in  the  case  of  Tro- 
glodytes aedon,  and  as  is  commonly  the  case  in  other  species,  does  not 
accord  with  the  variation  in  the  bill,  some  of  the  long-billed  specimens 
being  in  color  almost  undi-tinguishable  from  some  of  the  short-billed 
ones,  while  some  of  those  with  medium  bills  present  the  extreme 
degrees  of  variation  in  respect  to  color. 

Figures  12  and  12a  to14  and  14a  (same  plate)  represent  the  bills 
of  three,  male  specimens  of  Mniotilta  varia  from  the  vicinity  of  Cam- 
bridge, which  present  as  great  differences  as  modern  ornithologists 
would  ordinarily  deem  sufficient,  if  the  specimens  had  come  from 
Mexico  instead  of  from  Massachusetts,  to  warrant  their  recognition  as 
types  of  three  distinct  species.  The  correspondingly  great  variations  in 
color  in  this  species  have  already  been  adverted  to  (p.  190).  The 
bill,  however,  in  specimens  presenting  extreme  forms  of  color  variation, 
unfortunately  for  ultra-divisionists,  may  be  either  of  the  ordinary  form 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  223 

or  of  either  of  the  forms  figured,  or  of  any  intermediate  form,  as  exem- 
plified by  the  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum. 
Figure  15  and  15a  and  16  and  IGa  (same  plate)  are  accurate  repre- 
sentations of  the  bills  of  two  Massachusetts  males  of  Dendrceca  striata. 
The  differences  between  these  specimens,  though  so  great,  are  not 
greater  than  occur  in  different  cospecific  examples  of  several  other 
species  of  this  genus  contained  in  the  Museum. 

Massachusetts  specimens  of  Certhi  a  familiar  is  differ  even  more  in  the 
form  of  the  bill  than  do  the  specimens  above  figured  of  either  Troglody- 
tes a'edon  or  Mniotilta  varia.  They  also  present  a  similar  range  of  color 
variation  in  the  plumage,  and  one  equally  at  variance  with  the  variation 
in  the  bill. 

Figures  19  and  19a,  20  and  20a  (same  plate),  show  how  widely 
two  Florida  specimens  (both  males)  of  Pyranga  cestiva  vary  in  respect 
to  the  size  of  the  bill,  the  specimens  in  question  differing  but  little  in 
general  size.  If  these  figures  are  compared  with  the  figures  recently 
published  of  the  bills  of  certain  supposed  species  of  Pyranga'*  they  will 
be  found  to  vary  more  than  some  of  the  latter  do,  and  indicate  how  un- 
satisfactory the  nature  of  species  must  be  when  based  mainly  upon  dif- 
ferences in  the  bill.  Other  cospe'cific  specimens  of  Pyranga  in  the 
Museum  exhibit  great  difference  in  the  size,  form,  and  position  of  the 
tooth-like  processes  of  the  upper  mandible,  and  in  the  color  of  the  bill, 
—  differences  that  have  been  regarded  as  specific  characters.  The 
color  of  the  bill  in  many  species  of  birds,  in  fact,  varies  greatly  in  speci- 
mens of  the  same  species  taken  at  the  same  season,  and  generally  in 
those  taken  at  different  seasons  ;  yet  it  is  a  character  that  has  been  re- 
lied upon  for  the  distinction  of  species. 

Figures  1  and  la,  2  and  2a,  4  and  4a,  and  5  and  5a,  Plate  V,  illus- 
trate variations  in  the  bill  in  Massachusetts  representatives  of  .2EgiotJtns 
linarius.  Figures  3  and  3a,  and  5  and  oa,  are  drawn  from  specimens  from 
Arctic  America,  the  first  being  an  original  specimen  of  the  jE.  fuscescens 
Coues  ex  auct.,  and  the  other  a  similar  specimen  of  the  JE.  exilipes  Coues. 
Figures  7  and  la  to  10  and  10a,  inclusive  (same  plate),  represent  varia- 
tions of  the  bill  in  male  specimens  of  Chrysomitris  tristis,  a  species  allied 
to  JE.  linarius.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  two  series  are  nearly  parallel  in 
respect  to  the  amount  and  character  of  the  variations  in  the  bill. 
Figures  11  and  11a  and  12  and  12a  indicate  similar  variations  in  an- 

*  Proceed.  Phil.  Acad.  Xat.  Sci.,  June,  1869,  pp.  130-133. 


224  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

other  allied  species,  the  Chrysomitris  pinus,  and  figures  13  and  13a 
to  1j  and  15a,  inclusive  (same  plate)  similar  variations  in  another 
species  (Curviroslra  americana),  of  the  same  sub-family.  In  the  latter 
case  the  specimens  are  also  all  males,  and  all  from  the  vicinity  of  Cam- 
bridge, they  having  been  killed  in  fact  from  the  same  flock.  In  the 
jEgiotkus  group  numerous  so-called  "  species  "  have  been  described  by 
different  writers,  six  or  seven  of  which  were  recognized  by  Dr. 
Coues  a  few  years  since  in  his  monograph  of  that  genus.*  A  consid- 
erable number  of  these  species  have  been  generally  looked  upon  as 
equivocal,  and  the  exact  number  in  the  group  and  their  distinctive 
characteristics  have  been  a  matter  of  much  uncertainty.  Recently  the 
writer  above  referred  to  has  again  revised  the  group,f  and  arrives  at 
the  conclusion  that  if  more  than  one  species  exists,  all  the  forms  pre- 
viously recognized  by  him  as  species  are  valid  species.  I  can  readily 
grant  this  alternative,  being  fully  convinced  that  the  genus  consists  of 
but  a  single  known  species,  which  has  a  circumpolar  distribution.  The 
alleged  specific  distinctions  have  consisted  in  differences  in  general 
size,  in  the  relative  size  of  the  bill,  the  length  of  the  tarsus,  wing,  and 
tail,  and  in  color.  Some  of  these  differences  are  doubtless  climatic  and 
local,  while  others  may  be  due  to  age,  but  the  greater  part  I  believe  to 
be  to  a  great  degree  purely  individual,  inasmuch  as  they  are  paralleled 
in  allied  species,  whose  standing  has  not  been  and  cannot  reasonably  be 
questioned.  But  the  special  consideration  of  the  variations  presented 
by  the  JEtjiotla  and  similar  groups  will  be  reserved  till  after  the  facts 
relating  to  geographical  variation  have  been  presented,  since  they  can 
then  be  move  appropriately  discussed. 

Figures  1G  and  IGa  to  18  and  18<7,  inclusive  (Flate  V),  represent 
the  bills  of  three  male  specimens  of  Pusserculus  savanna,  from  different 
localities  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  specimen  represented  in  figures 
18  and  18c?,  has  the  bill  of  minimum  size,  being  in  bulk  less  than  half 
that  of  the  one  represented  in  figures  17  and  17a.  \  Figure  17,  it  will 
be  observed,  corresponds  nearly  with  the  so-called  P.  sandwichensis  §  of 

*  A  Monograph  of  the  genus  JEgiolhus,  etc.,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  XII,  p. 

1.   Vol.  XV,  p.  4",  1SG3. 
j   On  variations  in  the  plumage  of  the  jEgiotki,  Ibid.,  Vol.  XXI,  p.  — ,  1869. 
J  Other  specimens  received  from  Grinnell,  Iowa,  from  Professor  II.  \V.  Parker,  since 
the  above  was  written,  have  lulls  still  smaller  than  any  of  those  here  figured. 
§   ISaird's  Birds  of  N.  Amer.,  p.  444,  1858. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  225 

the  Pacific  coast,  and  figure  17  with  the  so-called  Passerculus  alaudi- 
nus*  also  of  the  Pacific  coast. 

Plate  VI,  although  designed  more  especially  to  illustrate  local  varia- 
tion, indicates  to  some  extent  the  individual  variation  existing  in  Age- 
Iceus  phoenkeus.  Figures  1  and  la  represent  the  average  type  of  the 
hill  in  this  species  in  Massachusetts,  and  figures  3  and  3a,  and  4  and 
4a,  unusually  long  and  unusually  short  forms  of  the  bill  found  at  the 
same  locality.  Figures  2  and  2a,  5  and  5a,  and  6  and  Ga,  represent  a 
similar  series  from  the  St.  John's  River,  Florida.  All  the  specimens  of 
the  two  series  are  adult  males. 

Plate  VII  represents  similar  variations  of  the  bill  in  Quiscahi* 
purpureus.  Figures  1  and  la,  3  and  3a,  4  and  4a,  and  G  andfGa, 
represent  the  average  and  the  extreme  types  of  the  bill  met  with  in 
Massachusetts  males.  The  latter  also  represents  an  inflexed  type  of 
bill,  a  modification  seen  in  many  species,  it  being  especially  common  in 
the  Quiscali  and  other  genera  having  the  bill  of  a  similar  form.  It  is 
unmistakably  an  individual  peculiarity,  evidently  depending  mainly 
upon  age,  and  resulting  from  the  upper  mandible  outgrowing  and  over- 
hanging the  lower.  In  Quiscalus  purpureus  such  specimens  are  more 
or  less  frequent  at  probably  all  localities,  they  having  been  received  at 
the  Museum  from  Maine,  Massachusetts,  New  Jersey,  Florida,  and 
Illinois,  and  I  have  seen  them  from  the  "West  Indies.  It  often  gives 
rise  to  the  name  inflexirostris,  which  is  found  so  frequently  a  synonyme.f 
The  figures  of  the  bills  of  four  females  of  Sturnella  ludoviciana  (Plate 
VIII),  from  Florida,  indicate  the  character  of  the  bill  variation  ex- 
hibited by  different  individuals  of  this  species  at  the  same  locality, 
independently  of  any  variation  attributable  to  sex.  Figures  o  and  oa, 
and  G  and  Go  (same  plate)  show  that  like  variations  occur  in  Colaptes 
auratus,  the  figures  being  drawn  from  two  Massachusetts  females. 

Similar  comparisons,  with  similar  results,  might  be  made  with  scores 
of  other  species,  but  the  above  illustrations  will  doubtless  suffice  to  show 
that  individual  variation  in  the  form  of  the  bill  is  not  only  great,  but 
that  it  exists  in  groups  having  a  high  grade  of  structure.  Other  groups 
might  have  been  chosen  in  which  the  individual  variation  in  the  form 
of  the  bill,  as  already  stated,  is  far  greater  than  in  the  instances  above 

*  Bonaparte,  Comptes  Rendu?,  Vol.  XXXVII,  p.  918,  1853. 

t  Concerning  Quiscalus  i/ijltxirostris  Swuiuson,  see  below  (Part  IV),  under  Q.  pur- 
pureus. 

VOL.   II.  15 


226  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

cited.  The  Grallce  have  already  been  referred  to  as  presenting  re- 
markable examples  of  bill  variation.  In  some  of  the  Anatidce,  how- 
ever, it  is  scarcely  less,  whilst  it  is  especially  great  among  many  of  the 
Longipennes.  Hence  some  authors  evidently  attach  too  high  impor- 
tance to  the  exact  form  of  the  bill  in  these  groups. 

All  the  illustrations  referred  to  above  have  been  drawn,  with  one  or 
two  exceptions,  from  fully  adult  specimens.  One  of  these  is  a  speci- 
men of  Passerculus  savanna  (Plate  V,  fig.  18),  which  is  a  bird  of  the 
year,  killed  in  Labrador  in  Augu.-t,  before  it  had  quite  completed  its 
first  moult.  Another  is  the  smallest  billed  specimen  of  Chrysomitris 
trisfis  (Plate  V,  fig.  10),  which  is  also  evidently  a  bird  of  the  year.  The 
other  is  an  autumnal  specimen  of  Dendrceca  striata  (Plate  IV,  fig. 
15).  They  all,  however,  would  be  ordinarily  considered  as  adult  in 
size. 

Variations  in  the  Size  and  Form  of  the  Bill,  Wing,  etc., 
resulting  from  age. 

In  the  foregoing  remarks  on  the  variations  in  general  size,  in  propor- 
tions, and  in  the  form  of  different  parts,  exclusive  reference  has  been 
had  to  adult  specimens.  It  is  easy,  however,  to  confound  difference 
depending  upon  age  with  those  strictly  resulting  from  individual  differ- 
entiation. The  form  of  the  bill  is  especially  subject  to  variation 
by  age  in  specimens  that  upon  casual  inspection  would  seem  to  be 
full-grown  In  long-billed  birds  the  bill  increases  in  length  for  several 
months  after  the  bird  is  full-fledged,  and  even  after  it  has  once 
moulted.  In  short-  and  thick-billed  birds,  the  bill  increases  considerably 
in  thickness  as  well  as  in  length  after  the  individual  seems  to  have 
acquired  its  adult  size  and  proportions.  As  a  general  rule,  then,  "  birds 
of  the  year  "  possess  a  relatively  shorter  and  thicker  bill  than  those 
fully  adult,  or  three  or  four  years  of  age.  In  old  age  an  abnormal 
elongation  of  the  upper  mandible  occasionally  occurs,  especially  in 
species  in  which  the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible  is  decurved  and  projects 
slightly  beyond  the  lower,  as  in  Corvus,  Quiscahts,  Vireo,  Tta-dus, 
Larus,  etc.  Since,  however,  great  differences  occur  in  the  form  of  the 
bill  in  specimens  of  the  same  age,  in  birds  of  the  year  as  well  as  in  those 
unquestionably  adult,  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  determine  how  much 
of  the  difference  in  certain  cases  is  to  be  considered  as  due  to  age  and 
how  much  to  individual  variation. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  227 

The  wing  also  varies  considerably  in  form  with  age.  In  many  of  the 
song-birds,  at  least,  and  also  in  the  raptorial  birds,  the  wing  becomes 
more  pointed  with  the  second  and  third  moultings  of  the  remiges. 
Birds  of  the  first  year  hence  have,  even  after  the  flight  feathers  are 
fully  grown,  a  shorter  and  more  rounded  fore-wing,  as  a  general  rule, 
than  birds  of  two  or  three  years  of  age.  These  differences  of  course 
result  from  variations  in  the  relative  length  of  the  primaries,  the  outer 
primaries  being  the  last  to  acquire  their  ultimate  proportions,  as  they 
are  also  the  last  primaries  to  be  renewed  in  the  annual  moult.  A 
similar  change  with  age  occurs  in  the  form  of  the  inner  point  of  the 
wing,  or  that  formed  by  the  inner  secondaries.  These,  like  the  pri- 
maries, are  subject  to  a  gradual  increase  in  length  for  a  time  with  each 
moult,  they  likewise  being  the  latest  of  the  secondaries  to  acquire  their 
mature  size,  as  they  are  also  the  last  of  the  secondaries  changed  in 
each  normal  moult.  Thus,  through  the  gradual  elongation  of  the  outer 
primaries  and  the  inner  secondaries,  a  slight  change  is  produced  in  the 
general  form  of  the  wing.  It  is,  however,  only  slight,  and  since  some 
young  birds  have  as  pointed  wings  as  any  of  the  same  species  which 
are  fully  adult,  and  some  adult  birds  have  wings  as  much  rounded  as 
the  full-grown  young,  the  rule  is  subject  to  many  exceptions.  The 
sexes  of  the  same  species  also  often  differ  similarly  with  the  young  and 
old  in  respect  to  the  form  of  the  wing.  This  is  more  especially  the 
case  in  those  species  in  which  the  female  is  much  smaller  and  much 
duller  colored  than  the  male,  the  structural  inferiority  of  the  female  to 
the  male  being  thus  evident  in  various  features. 

"While  the  wing  may  be  regarded,  as  already  stated,  as  generally 
smaller  and  more  rounded  in  the  younger  individuals,  it  not  unfre- 
quently  happens  that  the  specimens  having  the  greatest  alar  extent  are 
immature  birds.  This  has  been  particularly  noticed  in  the  eagles  and 
hawks,  as  well  as  in  some  of  the  gulls,  in  which  it  is  so  frequent  as  to 
have  attracted  the  attention  of  numerous  observers.*  The  feathers  of  the 
wings  and  tail  are  not  only  longer,  but  they  are  also  broader,  and  hence 
in  the  expanded  wing  present  a  greater  resisting  surface  to  the  air. 
Two  explanations  of  this  fact  present  themselves.  First,  in  the  cases 
referx-ed  to,  the  birds  may  have  been  born  at  a  very  northern  locality, 
whence  only  the  younger  birds  ever  descend  so  far  south.  Second,  the 
greater  lack  of  power  in  the  muscles  of  flight  in  the  young  birds,  as 

*  See  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  Ill,  1S69,  p.  617. 


228  BULLETIN    OF  THE 

compared  with  those  fully  mature,  may  he  counterbalanced  by  a  rela- 
tively larger  supporting  surface  in  the  wings  and  tail.  Whatever  the 
explanation  may  be,  the  facts  seem  to  be  unquestionably  as  above 
stated. 

Other  variations  in  the  plumage  and  in  other  characters  depending 
upon  age,  but  which  are  liable  to  be  confounded  with  individual  differ- 
entiation, might  be  cited,  but  none  seem  to  be  of  sufficient  importance 
to  require  a  special  description. 

General  Remarks  on  Individual  Variation. 

After  the  preceding  remarks  on  this*  subject,  I  should  perhaps  state 
expressly  what  I  regard  to  be  the  bearing  of  the  facts  above  discussed, 
otherwise  I  might  be  understood  as  in  a  great  measure  discarding 
the  majority  of  the  characters  used  in  the  diagnoses  of  species  and 
genera.  Nothing,  however,  is  further  from  my  purpose.  What  I  urge 
is  simply  this :  that  the  extent  of  purely  individual  variation  is  far 
greater  than  has  usually  been  recognized,  and  that  as  a  result  numerous 
strictly  nominal  species  have  found  their  place  in  our  systems,  from 
naturalists  having  mistaken  these  differences  for  true  specific  characters. 
Individual  variation,  however,  is  so  complicated  with  geographical 
variation,  that  the  general  bearings  of  the  whole  subject  will  be  deferred 
till  the  end  of  the  discussion  of  the  latter  topic. 

As  regards  the  general  cause  of  individual  differences  in  animals,  it 
is  too  evidently  constitutional  to  allow  of  any  other  hypothesis,  and  akin 
to  that  seen  in  domestic  animals,  and  which  in  man  gives  to  each  indi- 
vidual his  unlikeness  in  temperament  and  physical  structure  to  all  other 
men.  While  individuality  is  so  patent  and  so  universal  in  the  human 
species,  and  scarcely  less  so  in  domesticated  animals,  it  is  one  of  the 
most  surprising  facts  in  zoology  that  so  many  naturalists  should  have 
entertained  the  idea  that  there  is  an  almost  total  absence  of  it  in  feral 
animals,  and  that  the  description  of  a  single  specimen  will  suffice  for 
that  of  its  species.  Practically,  however,  this  has  been  the  fact,  and 
eminently  so  with  that  large  class  of  "  species  hunters,"  who  have  not 
inaptly  been  characterized  as  "closet  naturalists";  for  to  this  class 
and  not  to  the  field  naturalists  are  we  mainly  indebted  for  the  long 
lists  of  synonymes  that  form  so  vexatious  a  burden  to  zoological 
science. 

Certain  secondary  causes  that  share  in  producing  individual  variation 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  229 

are  doubtless  more  or  less  obscurely  traceable.  Among  these  are  cer- 
tain circumstances  attending  the  time  of  hatching,  as  well  as,  of  course, 
the  vigor  of  the  parent.  Not  unfrequently  the  first  attempts  of  birds  to 
rear  their  brood,  are  unsuccessful,  from  their  eggs  or  young  bein<*  de- 
stroyed by  their  enemies.  Persisting,  however,  in  their  efforts,  it  is  late 
in  the  season  before  their  brood  is  fledged,  several  sets  of  eggs  or  young 
having  been  previously  destroyed.  The  birds  of  such  broods  are  found 
to  be  smaller  and  paler  colored  than  those  hatched  earlier  in  the 
season.  In  cases  where  several  broods  are  reared  each  year,  as  a 
general  rule  the  birds  of  the  earlier  brood  seem  in  all  respects  the  most 
perfect  and  vigorous.  Various  other  causes  operating  during  their 
infancy  doubtless  more  or  less  affect  their  general  size,  their  propor- 
tions, and  colors  when  mature.  Food  has  doubtless  much  to  do  with 
variation  in  color,  though  but  few  facts  bearing  upon  this  point  have 
been  yet  recorded.  Professor  Agassiz  informs  me,  however,  that  many 
years  since,  in  Switzerland,  he  raised  many  Pyrrhula  vulgaris,  and 
found  that  by  feeding  them  on  the  seeds  of  hemp  the  red  on  the  breast 
changed  to  black.  The  well-known  fact  that  certain  brightly  colored 
birds,  as  the  purple  finch  (Carpodacus  purpureus)  and  the  crossbills 
(Curvirostra),  change,  when  kept  in  cages,  from  bright  red  to  dull 
olive  with  their  first  moult,  and  never  again,  or  at  least  so  long  as  kept 
in  confinement,  regain  their  original  color,  shows  how  susceptible  the 
color  of  birds  is  to  the  influences  of  food  and  artificial  conditions  of  life. 

Climatic  Variation. 

Climatic  variation  involves  as  completely  all  parts  of  the  animal  as 
does  individual  variation.  It  is  more  marked,  however,  in  some  features 
than  in  others.  The  three  most  prominent  phases  of  climatic  variation 
in  birds  are  the  following :  variation  in  general  size,  variation  in  the 
size  ;md  form  of  the  bill,  variation  in  color. 

Climatic  Variation  in  Size.  —  Variation  in  the  size  of  individuals  of 
the  same  species  with  differences  in  the  latitude  and  altitude  of  their 
respective  places  of  birth  is  a  fact  already  so  well  known  as  to  be  quite 
generally  recognized ;  hence  any  demonstration  of  such  a  variation  is 
in  the  present  connection  unnecessary.  A  few  tables  of  comparative 
measurements  of  New  England  and  Florida  specimens  given  in  Part  IV 
serve  to  illustrate  its  general  character  and  extent.  Similiar  illustrations 
are  abundantly  afforded  by  the  tables  of  measurements  published  in  Pro- 


230  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

fessor  Baird's  Birds  of  North  America,*  in  the  text  of  which  work  fre- 
quent reference  is  made  to  the  differences  in  size  between  northern  and 
southern  specimens  of  the  same  species.  The  same  author  also  subse- 
quently called  attention  to  the  subject,  and  explicitly  announced  a  general 
law  of  geographical  variation  in  size  ;  namely,  a  gradual  decrease  in  size 
in  individuals  of  the  same  species  with  the  decrease  in  the  latitude  and 
altitude  of  their  birth-places.t 

In  some  species,  and  throughout  some  entire  families,  climatic  varia- 
tion is  more  marked  than  in  others ;  generally,  however,  it  is  very 
appreciable,  and  amounts,  in  respect  to  size,  not  unfrequently  to  from 
twelve  to  twenty  per  cent  J  of  the  average  dimensions  of  the  species. 

Climatic  Variation  in  the  Bill.  —  The  climatic  variation  in  the  size  of 
the  bill  is,  in  general,  inverse  to  that  of  the  general  size  of  the  individual. 
In  some  species,  as  in  the  Sittce  and  the  typical  members  of  the  Picidce, 
I  have  as  yet  been  unable  to  trace  an  independent  variation  in  the  size 
of  the  bill  to  that  of  the  body  ;  but  in  many  species  there  is  not  only  a 
marked  relative  increase  in  the  size  of  the  bill  to  the  southward,  but,  in 
some,  an  absolute  increase,  especially  in  its  length. 

*  Pacific  Railroad  Explorations  and  Surveys,  Vol.  IX,  Birds.  By  Professor  S.  F. 
Baird,  with  the  co-operation  of  Mr.  John  Cassin  and  Mr.  George  N.  Lawrence.  1858.  Sub- 
sequently republished  under  the  title  of  "  The  Birds  of  North  America,"  with  an  Atlas 
of  one.  hundred  plates. 

t  Proc.  Phila.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  XI,  p.  300,  November,  1859.  Also  in  Am.  Journ. 
Sci.  and  Arts,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  XLT,  p.  190,  March,  1866. 

\  Variation  in  size  with  differences  in  habitat  is  by  no  means  confined  to  birds.  In 
mammals  it  .is  well  known  to  be  as  great,  if  not  greater,  than  among  birds.  In  some 
wide-ranging  species  of  mammals  there  appears  to  be  a  double  decadence  in  size,  —  a 
diminution  to  the  northward,  in  those  non-migratory  species  whose  habitats  extend  into 
the  arctic  regions,  as  well  as  a  diminution  to  the  southwards  of  the  point  where  in  gen-, 
eral  the  maximum  of  size  is  attained, —  as  I  have  elsewhere  had  occasion  to  remark. 
(Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zotil.,  Vol.  I,  p.  199.)  But  in  these  exceptional  cases  of  a  decline 
in  size  to  the  northward,  the  cause  of  such  a  decline  must  result  from  climatic 
conditions  the  i-everse  of  those  producing  the  decline  at  the  southward,  —  from  the 
excessive  rigor  of  the  arctic  climate  instead  of  from  the  enervating  influence  of 
warm  temperate  and  sub-tropical  latitudes. 

In  the  case  of  reptiles,  the  larger  representatives  of  a  given  species  are  generally  found 
at  the  North,  as  has  also  been  observed  to  be  the  case  with  the  edible  marine  and  fluviatile 
fishes.  (I  am  credibly  informed  that  this  is  markedly  the  case  with  the  codfish  and  the 
halibut.)  In  some  groups  of  Crustacea  and  mollusca-the  same  fact  has  been  repeatedly 
observed;'  but  in  insects,  as  in  plants, the  increase  in  size  is  generally  to  the  southward, 
as  is  especially  noticeable  in  the  diurnal  Lepidoptera.  In  plants,  however,  the  increase 
is  a  purely  vegetative  one,  the  northern  representatives  of  a  given  species  being  gener- 
ally far  the  most  prolific,  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  plant,  utar  the  northern 
limit  of  their  respective  habitats. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOULOGY-.  231 

An  increase  in  the  length  of  the  bill  is  most  frequent  in  long-billed 
species,  while  in  short-billed  ones  the  increase  is  in  general  size,  without 
material  change  in  its  proportions.  With  the  increased  length  and 
slenderness  of  the  bill  there  is  in  many  cases  also  a  tendency  to  greater 
curvature. 

An  increase  in  the  length  of  the  bill  is  quite  marked  in  the  genera 
Quiscalus,  Agelceus,  Geothlypis,  Troglodytes,  Seiurus,  Harporhynchus, 
Galeoscoptes,  etc.  Quiscalus  purpureus  and  Agelceus  phamiceus  afford 
good  illustrations  of  geographical  variation  in  the  size  and  shape  of  the 
bill.  Notwithstanding  that  the  northern  specimens  are  the  larger,  the 
southern  ones  have,  in  the  average,  bills  as  long,  though  slenderer,  than 
the  northern,  and  occasionally  even  longer.  These  differences  are  shown 
to  some  extent  in  Plates  VI  and  VII,  where  the  figures  of  the  bills 
of  Massachusetts  and  Florida  specimens  of  these  species  are  given  side 
by  side.  In  Plate  VI,  figures  1  and  la  represent  the  bill  of  an  average 
Massachusetts  male  A.  phozniceus,  and  figures  2  and  2a  the  bill  of  an 
average  Florida  male  of  the  same  species.  The  latter,  while  much  less 
thick,  is  fully  as  long  as  the  former.  Figures  4  and  4a  represent  the 
shortest  bill  of  a  considerable  series  of  Massachusetts  specimens,  and 
figures  6  and  Go  the  shortest  or  thickest  bill  of  a  similar  series  of  Florida 
specimens.  Figures  3  and  3a  give  the  longest  bill  of  the  Massachusetts 
series,  and  figures  5  and  ba  the  longest  of  the  Florida  series,  the  speci- 
mens being  in  each  case  adult  males.  Plate  VII,  figures  3  and  3a  rep- 
resent the  bill  in  average  Massachusetts  males  of  Quiscalus  purpureus, 
and  figures  2  and  2a  that  of  average  Florida  specimens,  while  figures  1 
and  la,  and  I  and  4a,  show  respectively  the  longest  and  the  shortest  bills 
of  a  considerable  series  of  Massachusetts  specimens.  Figures  5  and  ba 
are  from  a  New  Jersey  specimen,  and  figures  6  and  6a  from  a  Florida 
specimen,  the  latter  showing  an  inflection  of  the  upper  mandible  more 
or  less  frequent  in  the  various  species  of  Quiscalus.  The  figures,  as  in 
the  previous  plate,  were  all  drawn  from  adult  males.  Jn  each  of  these 
species  the  average  difference  in  the  bills  of  Florida  and  Massachusetts 
birds  is  as  great  as  is  frequently  considered  to  be  sufficient  to  constitute 
specific  differentiation,  and  between  the  extremes,  especially  of  A.  phoz- 
niceus, even  subgeneric.  Yet  specimens  from  intermediate  localities 
resent  such  a  gradual  and  complete  transition  between  the  two  forms 
as  to  render  their  specific  identity  unquestionable. 

A  similar  difference  between  Massachusetts  and  Florida  examples, 


232  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

with  a  gradual  transition  from  the  one  to  the  other,  through  specimens 
from  intermediate  localities,  is  seen  in  Troglodytes  aedon,  Geotklypis 
triclias,  and  Seiurus  noveboracensis.  In  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  Orlyx 
virginianus,  Corvus  americamts,  and  Cyunura  cristata  the  bill  is  appre- 
ciably larger  in  the  Florida  than  in  the  northern  form.  In  Corvus 
americanus  this  difference  was  long  since  noticed  by  Professor  Baird, 
the  larger  bill  of  South  Florida  specimens  having  led  him  to  recog- 
nize a  variety  floridanus  of  this  species,  based  chiefly  on  this  difference.* 
The  same  author  has  also  referred  to  the  larger  size  of  the  bill  in 
Florida  specimens  of  Ortyx  virginianus.^ 

In  some  species  individual  variation  is  so  great  that  it  is  unsafe  to 
draw  conclusions  respecting  geographical  variation  from  the  examina- 
tion of  a  small  number  of  specimens.  This  is  notably  the  case  in 
Sturnella  ludoviciana,  in  which  the  bill  varies  greatly  in  size  and  form, 
as  does  the  bird  in  general  bulk,  at  all  localities.  In  the  average,  how- 
ever, Florida  specimens  of  this  species  seem  to  have  a  relatively  longer 
and  slenderer  bill  than  those  from  the  Northern  States. 

As  already  noticed,  variation  in  the  bill  is  not  equally  marked  in  all 
species,  but  it  occurs  in  too  many  to  admit  of  the  supposition  that  the 
numerous  cases  wherein  it  is  clearly  marked  are  exceptional,  or  that  it 
does  not  follow  a  general  law  of  geographical  variation.  The  observa- 
tions above  detailed  are  based  on  specimens  collected  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  from  New  England  southward  to  Florida,  and  refer  exclusively 
to  species  breeding  within  that  range.  But  specimens  of  species  which 
breed  entirely  to  the  northward  of  this  range,  collected  during  their 
semi-annual  migrations,  corroborate  the  law  already  staled,  namely, 
an  increase  in  the  size  of  the  bill  to  the  southward  in  specimens  of  the 
same  species  from  different  breeding  stations.  In  the  Anatidce  and 
TringcE,  which  breed  far  to  the  northward  and  pass  the  winter  in  lower 
latitudes,  it  is  noticeable  that,  while  those  which  arrive  first  in  the  fall, 
and  those  which  return  north  latest  in  the  spring,  are  smaller  than 
those  that  arrive  later  and  depart  earlier,  they  have,  nevertheless, 
relatively  larger  bills.  This  has  been  especially  noticed  in  species  of 
Fulix,  Bernicla,  Actodromas,  and  Macrorhamphus.  Professor  Baird 
has  also  referred  to  the  larger  size  of  the  bill  of  the  southern  repre- 
sentatives of  Lagopus  ulbus  as  compared  with  those  from  further  north, 

*  Birds  of  North  America,  p.  568, 1858, 

t  Am.  Journ.  Sci.  and  Arts,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  XLI,  p.  191, 1866. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  233 

"  those  from  Eastern  Labrador  and  Newfoundland,"  he  says,  appear- 
in^  "  to  have  decidedly  broader,  stouter,  and  more  convex  bills  than  those 
from  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  more  northern  countries."*  In  the  writings 
of  various  authors  on  the  birds  of  Southern  Mexico,  Central  America, 
Southern  Asia,  and  Northern  Africa,  frequent  mention  is  incidentally 
made  of  the  larger  size  of  the  bills  of  southern  representatives  of  north- 
ward ranging  species.  Although  such  statements  record  what  have 
been  apparently  regarded  as  only  isolated  facts,  their  frequency  indicates 
that  the  increase  in  the  size  of  the  bill  to  the  southward  is  not  confined 
to  the  birds  of  Eastern  North  America,  nor  exclusively  to  those  of 
temperate  and  sub-tropical  countries,  but  that  it  is  a  general  geograph- 
ical law,  similar  to  that  of  the  variation  with  locality  in  the  general  bulk 
of  the  individual. 

Geographical  Variation  in  Color.  —  Geographical  variation  in  color 
in  birds  may  be  regarded  as  of  two  kinds,  which  may  be  termed,  from 
their  different  geographical  relations,  latitudinal  variation  and  longi- 
tudinal variation.  The  first  is  coincident  with  differences  in  latitude, 
and  the  second  with  differences  in  longitude.  Both  are  due,  however, 
to  climatic  peculiarities,  and  are  hence,  strictly  speaking,  climatic.  The 
latitudinal  is  perhaps  at  present  the  best  known,  and  will  be  first  con- 
sidered. 

(a)  Latitudinal  Variation.  — ■  In  those  species  of  North  American 
birds  whose  breeding  range  extends  over  a  wide  range  of  latitude,  the 
southern-born  specimens  are,  as  a  general  rule,  appreciably  darker  or 
brighter,  or  more  intensely  colored,  than  northern-born  ones  of  the 
same  species  ;  in  many  instances  the  difference  being  so  great  as  to  im- 
press even  the  casual  observer.  Dark  colored  birds,  like  the  Quiscali, 
Agelceus  phceniceus,  etc.,  become  blacker  towards  the  southern  limit  of 
their  respective  habitats,  where  tho.-e  with  metalic  reflections  have  the 
iridescence  more  intense  and  of  a  darker  hue,  greenish  and  bronzy  re- 
flections changing  to  purple.  The  slaty,  ferruginous,  and  olive  tints,  and 
the  various  shades  of  red  and  yellow  of  others,  become  also  far  more 
intense.  In  species  barred  transversely  with  dark  and  light  colors,  the 
dark  bands,  as  a  general  rule,  become  broader,  and  the  light  ones 
narrower.  Those  with  white  spots  on  a  black  ground  have  the  spots 
reduced  in  size  and  number,  the  smaller  ones  becoming  ob-olete. 
White  bars  on  the  wings  and  terminal  white  spots  on  the  tail  feathers 
*  Birds  of  X.  Amer.,  p.  634. 


234  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

are  also  of  less  extent  in  southern  specimens.  There  hence  results,  as 
already  observed,  a  generally  darker  aspect  in  the  plumage  of  the 
southern  representatives  of  wide-ranging  species  ;  the  bill  and  the  feet 
also  usually  sharing  in  the  general  accession  of  coloring  matter  in  the 
integuments.  The  difference  in  color  between  the  extremely  northern 
and  the  extremely  southern  representatives  of  a  given  species  is  often 
so  great  that,  taken  in  connection  with  other  differences,  as  in  general 
size  and  in  the  size  and  form  of  the  bill,  the  two  extremes  might  be 
excusably  taken  for  distinct  species,  especially  if  viewed  aside  from  the 
connecting  series  between  the  two  types  formed  by  specimens  from  suc- 
cessively intermediate-  points,  which  beyond  question  show  their  specific 
identity. 

As  in  the  case  of  climatic  variation  in  the  bill  and  in  general  size, 
the  variation  in  color  differs  greatly  in  degree  in  different  species. 
Climatic  difference  in  color  is  particularly  striking  in  Agelceas  pharni- 
ceus.  In  the  males  the  black  is  greatly  intensified  and  more  lustrous 
at  the  South,  and  the  red  on  the  shoulders  becomes  equally  heightened. 
Instead  of  the  light  red  shoulder-patch,  bordered  externally  with 
whitish  or  pale  yellowish-whitish,  seen  in  Massachusetts  specimens,  the 
shoulder-patch  in  the  Florida  males  is  of  a  brilliant  dark  red,  with  a 
rich  cream-colored  or  orange-yellow  border.  "While  the  differences  in 
the  bills  of  the  two  types  might  in  extreme  cases  be  taken  as  indicative 
of  different  sub-genera,  the  difference  in  color  is  as  great  as  occurs 
between  the  northeastern  type  of  A.  phce?iiceus,  and  either  the  so-called 
A.  tricolor  or  A.  gubernator  of  the  Pacific  slope,  or  between  any  of  these 
ititer  se.  Quiscalus  purpureus  also  affords  a  similar  example  of  climatic 
variation,  as  well  in  color  as  in  the  bill  and  general  size.  In  the  males 
the  change  in  general  tint  is  in  the  black  becoming  more  intense  at  the 
South,  and  the  iridescence  being  dark  purple  or  bluish  instead  of  bronzy 
or  greenish.  The  change  in  the  females  is  as  great  as  that  in  the 
males.  At  the  North  their  plumage  is  nearly  lustreless  brownish-black, 
but  at  the  South  it  becomes  nearly  as  black  as  that  of  the  northern 
males,  and  has  considerable  iridescence,  so  that  the  northern  collector, 
judging  from  color  alone,  would  at  first  be  likely  to  mistake  the  south- 
ern females  for  males. 

In  Ortgx  virginianus,  through  the  increased  breadth  of  the  transverse 
bars  of  hlack  at  the  South,  on  the  dorsal  as  well  as  on  the  ventral  sur- 
face, the  general  aspect  of  the  plumage  is  very  much  darker  in  Florid? 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  235 

specimens  than  in  New  England  ones.  In  Sturnella  ludoviciana  the 
yellow  of  the  ventral  surface  in  Florida  specimens  is  far  more  intense 
than  it  is  in  northern  ones  ;  the  slate  color  of  Guleoscopies  carulinensis 
is  correspondingly  darker,  and  the  ferruginous  of  Harporhynchus  ruf us  is 
much  redder.  In  Centurus  carolinus  not  only  are  the  black  transverse 
bars  on  the  back  broader  and  darker,  but  the  red  on  the  head  and 
abdomen  becomes  more  extended  and  lustrous.  In  Picus  pubescens 
the  white  spots  on  the  wings  become  smaller  and  fewer,  with  a  greater 
tendency  to  black  streaks  on  the  sides  of  the  breast,  a  variation  in  the 
direction  of  P.  Gairdneri  and  P.  Harrisi,  as  will  be  noticed  at  length 
in  the  remarks  on  P.  pubescens  and  P.  villosus  in  Part  IV.  Similar 
differences  occur  between  northern  and  southern  specimens  of  Picus 
borealis,  which  are  so  great  as  to  have  led  Mr.  Cassin  to  regard  the 
southern  type  as  specifically  distinct  from  the  northern.  Similar  differ- 
ences to  those  above  described  occur  between  northern  and  southern 
specimens  of  Thryothorus  ludovicianus,  Troglodytes  a'edon,  Geotldypis 
trichas,  Colaptes  auraius,  Buteo  lineatus,  and  various  other  species,  as 
will  be  described  more  in  detail  in  Part  IV. 

The  climatic  variation  in  respect  to  the  relative  size  of  the  white 
spaces  on  the  rectrices  and  primary  remiges  may  be  illustrated  by  a 
single  example.  In  northern  specimens  of  Pipilo  erythrophihalmus  the 
terminal  white  spots  of  the  tail  feathers  are  found  on  the  four  outer 
feathers  of  each  side ;  but  in  Florida-born  ones  they  occur  on  only  the 
three  outer  feathers  on  each  side  ;  and  are  correspondingly  reduced  in 
length.  The  white  area  on  the  tail  of  Florida  specimens  hence  has 
only  about  the  extent  that  would  be  presented  in  northern  specimens  if 
the  outer  pair  of  feathers  were  removed.  The  extent  of  the  white 
space  at  the  base  of  the  primaries  is  correspondingly  reduced  in  size  in 
the  southern  type. 

Extending  the  examination  to  northern  species,  it  is  found  that  simi- 
lar color  differences  with  the  latitude  of  the  birthplace  are  of  frequent 
occurrence.  In  Bernicla  brenta  and  Bernicla  canadensis  the  smaller 
southern-born  birds  are,  as  a  general  rule,  considerably  darker  than  the 
larger  northern-born  ones.  The  same  is  true  of  Fulix  marila  and 
Bucephala  americana,  the  so-called  Bucephala  ulandica  being  the 
larger  northern  type  of  B.  americana,  in  which  the  white  markings  on 
the  wings  and  head  occupy  a  somewhat  larger  area.  It  is  altogether 
probable  also  that  the  so-called  Anser  frontalis  holds  a  similar  relation 


236  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

to  A.  Gambeli  (=  A  albifrons  ?),  and  the  Anser  cceruhscens  to  the  A. 
hyperboreus,  though  by  some  the  former  has  been  regarded  as  the  young 
of  the  later.  In  Larus  argentatus  the  southern  specimens  are  not  only 
smaller,  with  the  "  mantle  "  somewhat  darker,  but  as  a  general  rule  the 
white  spots  at  the  tips  of  the  first  and  second  primary  quills  are  more 
restricted. 

The  changing  of  the  pelage  to  white  in  winter  in  certain  northern 
mammals,  and  of  the  plumage  in  certain  birds,  as  the  ptarmigans,  cor- 
relates perfectly  with  these  geographical  differences  in  color;  and  since 
in  some  species  of  mammals  only  the  northern  representatives  change 
to  white  in  winter,  while  the  southern  ones  are  of  the  same  color 
throughout  the  year,  this  seasonal  change  seems  evidently  to  come 
under  the  above-stated  general  law  of  geographical  or  climatic  color 
variation,  namely,  a  gradual  increase  in  color  to  the  southward  in 
individuals  of  the  same  species. 

A  comparison  of  Florida  birds  with  "West  India  specimens  of  the 
same  species  shows  that  the  difference  between  them  in  color  (and,  it 
may  be  added,  in  size  and  other  general  features)  are  generally  not 
greater,  and  in  some  cases  jfar  less,  especially  between  Cape  Florida  and 
Cuba  specimens,  than  obtains  between  Florida  and  Massachusetts 
examples,  and  that  it  is  of  precisely  the  same  character.  West  Indian 
specimens  of  course  differ  more  from  Massachusetts  examples  of  the 
same  species  than  the  latter  do  from  others  from  East  Florida,  yet  by 
means  of  the  South  Florida  specimens,  which  differ  but  slightly  from 
the  Cuba  type,  a  gradual  transition  is  evident  from  the  extreme  northern 
to  the  extreme  southern  forms.  Of  late  many  Jamaican,  Porto  Rican, 
and  Cuban  forms  have  been  regarded,  by  many  writers,  as  specifically 
distinct  from  their  representatives  in  the  Northern  States,  and  in  many 
cases  they  might  well  be  so  regarded,  were  there  not  a  succession  of 
intermediate  forms  connecting  them,  —  a  fact  which  seems  to  have 
been  hitherto  overlooked.  The  earlier  writers  considered  the  Ortyx, 
the  Slurnella,  the  Strix,  the  Circus,  several  of  the  Buteos,  etc.,  of  the 
West  Indies  as  specifically  identical  with  the  Ortyx  virginianus, 
Sturnella  ludoviciana,  Strix  Jlammea,  Circus  hudsoniiis,  Bntco  bore- 
alis,  etc.,  of  the  United  States,  and  doubtless  justly,  notwithstanding 
that  the  comparison  of  specimens  reveals  certain  relatively  slight 
but  constant  differences  in  color  and  size,  and  to  some  extent  in 
other  features. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  237 

(b)  Longitudinal  Variation.  —  In  comparing  the  birds  of  the  Atlantic 
States  with  specimens  specifically  identical  from  the  interior  of  the 
continent,  one  is  soon  struck  with  the  brighter  colors  of  the  latter,  and 
especially  with  a  tendency,  in  many  species,  to  more  ferruginous  tints, 
and  to  melanism  in  others.  In  comparing  again  the  birds  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi valley  with  those  of  the  Pacific  slope,  especially  that  portion 
north  of  the  fortieth  parallel,  a  similar  difference  is  also  noticeable,  the 
extremes  of  color  variation  in  truly  continental  species  being  met  with 
(especially  to  the  northward  of  this  parallel)  at  the  Atlantic  seaboard 
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Pacific  on  the  other,  between  which  there  is  a 
gradual  and,  with  an  exception  soon  to  be  noticed,  a  uniform  increase  in 
intensity  of  color  to  the  westward.  This  tendency  to  more  ferruginous 
and  melanic  colors  to  the  westward  is  especially  marked  in  Falco  pere- 
grinus*  Accipiter  fuscus,  Circus  hudsonius,  Buteo  lineatus,  Buteo 
borealis,  Archibuteo  lagopus,  Hypotriorchis  columbarius,  Olus  vulgaris, 
and  other  species  of  Strigidce,  Tetrao  canadensis,  Bonasa  umbellus, 
Bernicla  canadensis,  Bernicla  brenta,  Larus  argentalus,  Par  us  atrt- 
capillus,  Carpodacus  purpureus,  etc.,  etc.  The  western  representatives 
of  Melospiza  melodia,  Passerella  iliaca,  Jlvico  hyemalis,  Pipilo  ery- 
throphtkalmus,  Parus  hudsonicus,  etc.,  differ  mainly  from  their  Eastern 
congeners  in  their  more  ferruginous  or  darker  colors,  according  to  the 
species. 

While  the  general  tendency  from  the  East  westward  is  thus  to  darker 
or  deeper  colors  in  specimens  of  the  same  species,  and  in  representative 
species  of  the  same  genus,  the  rule  is  not  without  exceptions,  nor  is  the 
transition  quite  uninterrupted.  On  the  arid  sterile  plains  the  repre- 
sentatives of  not  a  few,  and  probably  of  most,  species  are  much  lighter 
colored  than  their  relatives  either  to  the  eastward  or  to  the  westward. 
Also  at  the  southward  on  the  Pacific  slope  there  is  not  the  tendency  to 
deeper  colors  seen  farther  to  the  northward,  specimens  from  North- 
western Texas,  New  Mexico,  much  of  the  Colorado  basin  and  Lower 
California,  being  lighter  than  others  of  the  same  species  from  Northern 
California,  Oregon,  and  Washington,  an  explanation  of  which  will  be 
suggested  later.f 

In  comparing  again  the  European  representatives  of  cireumpolar 
species  with  their  representatives  in  Eastern  North  America,  a  difference 

*  For  the  synonymy  and  other  remarks  on  these  species,  see  Part  IV. 
f  See  below,  p.  239  et  seq. 


238  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

similar  to,  but  hardly  so  great  as,  that  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coast  examples  of  indentical  species  is  likewise  seen,  the  American 
being  in  general  several  shades  darker  than  the  European.  In  certain 
cases  there  is  also  a  difference  in  the  markings,  as  in  some  of  the  hawks, 
in  which  in  the  European  the  transverse  bars  are  broader  and  better 
defined,  and  the  longitudinal  ones  less  so  than  in  the  American.  This 
is  illustrated  in  Astur  palumbarius  and  A,  alricapiUus,  in  Acci'piter 
nisits  and  Ac.  fuscus,  etc.  In  many  instances  the  only  tangible  differ- 
ences between  so-called  representative  American  and  European  species 
consists  in  the  darker,  brighter,  or  intenser  color  of  the  American,  the 
differences  being  oftentimes  less  than  that  between  specimens  of  the  same 
species  from  the  Atlantic  States  and  the  Mississippi  valley,  or  between 
those  from  the  Mississippi  valley  and  the  Pacific  coast.  Not  unfre- 
quently,  however,  are  American  and  European  specimens  so  nearly 
alike,  even  of  species  that  have  rarely  been  considered  as  identical,  that 
without  a  knowledge  of  the  locality  whence  they  came  it  would  be 
impossible  to  confidently  refer  them  to  the  one  species  rather  than  to 
the  other. 

There  are  also  indications  of  various  local  differences  in  color  in  speci- 
mens specifically  identical  within  the  larger  areas  above  considered, 
and  which  are  in  a  measure  exceptional  to  the  general  law  of  a  west- 
ward increase  in  color.  The  data  at  hand  are  at  present  too  few  either 
to  limit  these  exceptional  areas  or  to  indicate  to  what  extent  they  are 
exceptional.  They  appear,  however,  to  be  coincident  with  peculiar 
climatic  conditions,  the  exact  nature  and  extent  of  which  are  likewise 
imperfectly  known.* 

Variation  in  the  Length  of  the  Tail  and  in  other  Characters.  —  At 
certain  localities,  and  more  especially  to  the  southward,  there  are  well- 
known  instances  of  an  increase  in  the  length  of  the  tail,  without  an  ap- 
preciable modification  of  other  parts.  Marked  examples  of  this  are 
seen  in  Icteria  virens,  Harporhynchus  rufus,  and  Mi/nus  polyglottus, 
as  has  h^en  pointed  out  by  Professor  Baird  and  other  writers,!  each  of 
which  species  has  a  western  long-tailed  variety.  The  Quiscalus 
macrura  is  also  little  else  than  a  long-tailed  variety  of  Q.  major.  A 
tendency  is  seen  to  this  variation  in  Geothlypis  trichas  at  the  southward, 

*  See  on  this  point  below,  p.  239  et  seq. 

t  See  especially  Prof.  Baird  in  Amer.  Joum.  of  Science  and  Arts,  2d  Series,  VoL 
XLI,  p.  191. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  239 

while  it  seems  to  be  a  marked  characteristic  of  many  of  the  birds  of 
Lower  California.  The  tendency  in  southern  forms  to  an  elongation  of 
the  tail  seems,  however,  less  general  than  the  southward  decrease  iu  size 
and  the  increase  in  color,  or  the  tendency  to  an  elongation  of  the  bill. 

Among  other  local  variations  may  be  mentioned  the  white  instead  of 
a  red  iris  in  the  South  Florida  representatives  of  Pipilo  erythroph- 
thalmus  ;  the  yellow  instead  of  a  black  bill  in  the  magpies  of  the  coast  of 
California  ;  the  white  basal  half  of  the  feathers  of  the  neck  of  the  raven 
of  Southwestern  Texas  and  Mexico,  by  which  it  is  chiefly  distinguished 
from  the  common  species  ;  the  greater  continuation  anteriorly  of  the 
superciliary  stripe  in  the  western  forms  of  Zonotriclda  leucophrys, 
by  which  alone  it  is  distinguishable  from  the  eastern  form ;  the  white 
frontlet  of  one  of  the  western  forms  of  the  Parus  atricapillus  group, 
etc.  There  appears  frequently  to  be  also  a  locally  greater  development 
of  the  foot  in  western  and  southern  forms  of  wide-ranging  species, 
and  occasionally  an  exceptional  increase  in  general  size  under  identical 
isothermes. 

Causes  of  Climatic  Variation.  —  The  facts  respecting  climatic  varia- 
tion are  at  present  too  imperfectly  known  to  be  fully  explained.  There 
are,  however,  certain  peculiarities  of  climatic  variation,  especially  in 
color,  coincident  with  certain  meteorological  peculiarities  of  the  regions 
where  they  occur,  that  demand  attention.  The  increase  in  color  to  the 
southward,  especially  the  tendency  to  darker  tints  above  shown  to  be  so 
general,  coincides  with  the  increase  in  the  intensity  of  the  solar  rays  to 
the  southward,  and  in  the  humidity  of  the  climate.  The  southward 
increase  in  depth  of  color  and  in  iridescence  in  birds  specifically  identi- 
cal coincides  also  with  the  general  increase  in  brilliancy  of  color  in 
birds,  taken  as  a  whole,  in  the  lower  latitudes  (as  well  as  in  insects 
and  animals  generally),  the  maximum  being  reached  in  the  tropics. 

The  longitudinal  variation,  or  the  westward  increase  in  color,  seems 
to  be  also  coincident  with  the  increased  humidity  to  the  westward,  the 
darker  representatives  of  any  species  occurring  where  the  annual  rain- 
fall is  greatest,  and  the  palest  where  it  is  least.  This  coincidence  is 
clearly  illustrated  in  the  birds  of  the  United  States,  where  the  darkest 
representatives  of  a  species,  as  a  general  rule,  (indeed  without  exception 
so  far  as  known  to  me,)  come  from  regions  of  maximum  annual  rain- 
fall, and  the  palest  from  those  of  minimum  annual  rain-fall.  In  the 
Northeastern  States  the  amount  of  rain  is  only  one  half  to  two  thirds 


240  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

what  it  is  in  the  Northwestern  States,  while  on  the  Great  Plains  it  is 
less  than  one  half  what  it  is  in  the  Northeastern  States.  In  the  lower 
part  of  the  Mississippi  basin  and  in  the  Southeastern  States  it  is  much 
greater  than  to  the  northward  under  the  same  meridians.  Within  the 
tropics,  in  America  and  Asia  at  least,  the  humidity,  as  well  as  the 
intensity  of  the  solar  rays,  reaches  the  maximum,  as  does  the  in- 
tensity of  color  in  both  birds  and  other  animals.  In  Europe,  as  is 
well  known,  the  birds  from  near  the  Scandinavian  coast,  where 
the  annual  rain-fall  reaches  forty  inches,  are  darker  than  in  Central 
Europe,  where  the  yearly  rain-fall  is  only  half  this  amount.  So 
much  darker,  in  fact,  are  the  Scandinavian  forms,  that  by  some 
writers  they  have  been  regarded  as  specifically  distinct  from  their 
representatives  in  Southern  Germany,  the  Scandinavian  forms  of 
circumpolar  species  being  as  dark  as  their  Eastern  North  American 
allies.  There  is  again  a  striking  parallelism  between  the  relative 
humidity  of  Western  Europe  and  Eastern  North  America,  and  the 
relative  depth  of  color  in  the  representatives  of  circumpolar  species 
living  in  these  two  countries,  the  rain-fall  of  the  latter  region  being 
double  that  of  the  former,  and  the  birds  of  darker  and  livelier  colors. 
As  already  intimated,  this  coincidence  is  not  confined  to  the  birds  of 
these  different  regions,  the  same  correlation  of  livelier,  brighter,  deeper 
tints  with  increased  humidity  being  also  exhibited  by  the  mammals 
of  these  various  districts,  the  Europeo-North  American  species  being 
higher  colored,  as  a  general  rule,  in  Eastern  North  America  than 
in  Europe,  as  the  western  forms  of  the  continentally  distributed  Ameri- 
can species  are  often  higher  colored  than  the  eastern. 

It  is  a  most  striking  fact  that  the  birds,  and  even  the  mammals  and 
reptiles,  of  the  almost  rainless  districts  of  Lower  California,  the  Gila 
and  Colorado  deserts,  are  almost  all  so  much  paler  in  color  than  their 
relatives  of  the  better-watered  neighboring  districts,  that  many  of  them 
have  been  described  as  distinct  species,  and  the  others  referred  to  as 
strongly  marked  varieties,  they  all  being  characterfzed  to  a  greater  or 
less  degree  by  a  faded  or  bleached  aspect.  The  birds  and  mammals  of 
the  arid  plains  of  the  middle  region  of  the  continent  exhibit  also  the 
Same  bleached  appearance,  but  in  a  somewhat  less  degree. 

I  had  long  suspected  that  hygrometric  conditions  had  much  to  do 
with  local  variations  in  color  in  individuals  of  the  same  species,  but  I 
was  not  a  little  surprised  when  I  came  to  compare  the  known  areas 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  241 

most  prolific  of  dark  and  light  local  forms  witl  rain-fall  charts,  —  which 
may  be  assumed  as  indicating  relatively  the  liygrometric  conditions  of 
different  regions,  —  to  find  the  distribution  of  the  light-colored  races  so 
strictly  coincident  with  the  regions  of  minimum  mean  annual  rail-fall, 
and  the  dark  forms  with  those  of  maximum  mean  annual  rain-fall,  as 
seems  to  be  the  case.» 

Humidity  has  hence  apparently  far  more  to  do  with  climatic  varia- 
tion in  color  than  solar  intensity,  though  the  latter  has  undoubtedly 
an  influence  upon  color.  The  occurrence  of  a  light-colored  race 
of  Arvicola  riparius  on  Muskeget  Island  and  the  sandy  sea-beaches 
of  the  coast  of  Massachusetts  shows  clearly  that  the  intense  light 
caused  by  reflection  from  a  sandy  surface  tends  to  the  diminution 
rather  than  to  an  increase  of  color  in  animals,  and  even  plants, 
since  the  foliage  of  the  latter  in  arid  districts  so  commonly  assumes 
a  dull  grayish  tint.  The  capture  on  Muskeget  Island  last  season 
(July,  1870),  by  Messrs.  Maynard  and  Brewster,  of  two  pairs  of 
the  short-eared  owl  (Olus  brachyotus)  with  the  color  of  the  plu- 
mage so  pale  as  at  first  to  suggest  their  being  albinos,  is  additional 
evidence  of  the  bleaching  effect  of  strong  light  upon  the  colors  of  ani- 
mals. Such  facts  render  it  doubtful  whether  the  increased  intensity  of 
the  light  in  the  tropics  has  really  much  to  do  with  the  brighter  colors 
of  tropical  birds  and  insects,  and  suggest  that  humidity  alone  may  be 
the  principal  agent  in  producing  this  accession  of  color. 

In  regard  to  the  cause  of  other  climatic  variations,  certain  other 
facts  are  naturally  recalled.  In  the  remarks  on. the  climatic  and  faunal 
peculiarities  of  East  Florida,*  attention  was  called  to  the  less  degree  of 
vivacity  and  energy  exhibited  by  the  southern  as  compared  with  the 
northern  members  of  the  same  species,  and  the  general  higher  physio- 
logical development  of  essentially  extra-tropical  species  in  the  temperate 
portions  of  their  habitats.  Is  it  hence  improbable  that  the  southward 
deterioration  in  size  seen  in  such  species  is  directly  related  to  the  ener- 
vating influence  of  increased  heat  ?  And  why  is  it  that  so  large  a  pro- 
portion of  the  birds  pre-eminently  singing-birds  are  found  in  temperate 
latitudes  ? 

In  the  increased  size  of  the  bill  and  tail  to  the  southward,  especially 
of  the  former,  we  have  a  fact  somewhat  parallel  to  what  is  not  unfre- 
quently  seen  in  mammals.     The  ears,  for  example,  of  the  arctic  repre- 

*  See  above,  p.  166. 
VOL.   II.  16 


242  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

sentatives  of  species  ranging  to  warm-temperate  latitudes  are  smaller 
at  the  northward  than  at  the  southward,  as  is  seen  in  the  native  dogs, 
the  foxes,  and  the  wolves,  and  in  the  arctic  races  of  man.  The  ex- 
planation generally  given  of  this  seems  possibly  applicable  to  the  beaks 
of  birds,  namely,  a  greater  activity  in  the  circulation  of  the  blood  in 
the  peripheral  parts  of  the  body  in  the  temperate  latitudes. 

Species,  Varieties,  and  Geographical  Races. 

The  foregoing  remarks  on  individual  and  geographical  or  climatic 
variation  necessitates  a  brief  consideration  of  the  character  of  species, 
varieties,  and  races,  and  the  propriety  of  appl  \  ing  binomials  to  such 
forms  as  can  be  clearly  shown  to  be  connected  by  intergrading  links 
with  others  previously  known.  As  preparatory  to  what  follows,  it 
seems  proper  to  refer  briefly  to  the  origin  of  the  excessive  synonymy 
with  which  our  descriptive  ornithological  works  are  burdened. 

Ornithological  synonymes  may  be  arranged,  as  regards  their  origin, 
under  four  primary  heads,  namely:  (1)  Those  arising  from  the  de- 
scription of  immature  and  adult  birds  of  the  same  species  for  different 
species,  (2)  from  authors  mistaking  sexual  for  specific  differences,  (3) 
individual  variation  for  specific  differentiation,  and  (4)  climatic  differ- 
entiation for  specific.  A  fifth  source  of  error,  and  one  which  has  given 
rise  to  a  large  class  of  synonymes,  results  from  a  combination  of  the 
causes  indicated  under  (3)  and  (4). 

Synonymes  arising  from  the  first  two  causes  mainly  preceded  the 
others  in  regard  to  the  relative  frequency  of  their  occurrence,  especially 
so  far  as  regards  the  birds  of  this  continent.  During  the  previous 
century,  and  the  first  two  decades  of  the  present,  our  birds  were  mainly 
described  by  European  naturalists,  who  had  no  acquaintance  with  them 
in  life,  and  whose  resources  often  consisted  of  single  and  imperfect 
specimens  received  from  chance  travellers,  without  any  indication  of 
their  sex  or  age.  Later  they  were  studied  by  resident  naturalists,  by 
whom  the  mistakes  of  their  predecessors  in  this  respect  were  to  a  great 
extent  corrected.  The  laws  of  sexual  and  age  variation  becoming  grad- 
ually known,  errors  from  this  source  were  soon  far  less  frequent  than  in 
earlier  times.  When  at  a  comparatively  recent  date  critical  compari- 
sons were  made  of  specimens  from  distant  localities  before  regarded  as 
specifically  identical,  it  was  found  that  occasionally  distinct  species  had 
been  confounded.      Such  results  led  in  the  end  to  undue  importance 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  243 

being  attached  to  trivial  differences,  so  that  assumed  species  were  fre- 
quently based  solely  on  either  individual  or  climatic  variation,  but 
oftener  on  both  combined. 

As  the  rage  for  describing  new  species  increased,  differences  seemed 
alone  to  be  sought ;  and  so  long  as  a  given  species  was  usually  deemed 
sufficiently  represented,  even  by  the  best  ornithologists  of  the  day,  by 
a  single  pair,*  the  subject  of  individual  and  climatic  variation  was  neces- 
sarily almost  wholly  neglected,  the  custom  of  many  naturalists  being  to 
describe  species  from  single  specimens,  as  though  all  the  representatives 
of  a  species  were  cast  after  an  unvarying  pattern.  As  the  number  of 
specimens  of  well-known  species  increased  in  our  large  museums,  it  was 
soon  seen  that  some  of  the  supposed  most  reliable  diagnostic  features 
were  subject  to  considerable  variation.  The  collections  brought 
together  from  various  parts  of  the  continent  by  the  Pacific  Railroad 
surveying  parties  and  from  other  sources,  and  the  reports  published 
thereon,  formed  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  orni- 
thology of  North  America,  and  in  ornithological  science.  The  facts  thus 
disclosed  in  respect  to  geographical  range,  and  individual  and  climatic 
variation,  opened  new  fields  of  inquiry.  Old  theories  and  blind  adher- 
ence to  authorities,  however,  still  impeded  progress  and  led  to  frequent 
inconsistencies,  which  only  time  and  further  investigations  could  correct. 
Hence  has  gradually  dawned  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  a  range  of 
individual  variation  previously  unsuspected,  and  of  general  laws  of 
climatic  variation,  the  full  scope  of  which,  as  bearing  upon  the  character 
of  species,  is  yet  to  be  determined. 

Nearly  half  a  century  since  it  was  discovered  that  the  North 
American  representatives  of  what  were  then  commonly  regarded  as 
circumpolar  species  could  not  in  all  cases  longer  be  regarded  as  identical 
with  the  European.  Further  comparisons  showed  that  in  most  cases 
of  the  supposed  circumpolar  distribution  of  species,  specimens  from  the 
Old  "World  and  the  New  could  be  more  or  less  readily  distinguished, 
yet  the  differences  were  in  most  cases  slight,  more  or  less  inconstant, 
and  not  unfrequently  due  more  to  differences  in  the  latitude  whence  the 
specimens  came  than  to   other  causes.     Yet  a  precedent  for  specific 

*  Not  many  years  since  amateur  ornithologists  were  kindly  informed,  by  ono  of  the 
leaders  in  the  science  of  ornithology,  that  his  collection  of  the  birds  of  a  certain  country, 
numbering  over  two  thousand  species,  required  for  their  convenient  storage  a  space 
equal  to  only  about  one  hundred  cubic  feet,  the  specimens  averaging  less  than  two  to  a 
species  1 


244  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

separation  in  such  cases  having  been  established  by  recognized  author- 
ities, it  was  followed  till  all  the  land-birds  and  a  large  proportion  of 
the  water-birds  of  the  two  continents  were  separated,  in  many  cases,  it 
would  appear,  on  purely  theoretical  or  geographical  grounds.*  When 
the  comparison  was  carried  to  specimens  of  continentally  di-tributed 
species  from  distant  localities,  differences  between  these  were  also  de- 
tected, and  the  theory  of  specific  diversity  assumed,  till  the  Pacific 
representatives  of  such  species  were  separated  from  the  Atlantic  ones, 
and  in  like  manner  the  southern  from  the  northern,  and  those  of 
particular  areas,  as  insular,  peninsular,  and  interior  basins,  from  the 
others.  In  some  cases  such  separations  were  of  course  properly  made, 
but  a  high  percentage  of  such  forms  are  now  found  to  intergrade  through 
specimens  from  the  intermediate  localities. 

Not  a  few  of  the  species  of  our  faunal  lists  have  been  based  on,  and 
are  still  only  known  from,  single  specimens,  and  often  on  differences 
manifestly  within  the  range  of  individual  variation ;  others  represent 
local  races,  which  only  appear  distinct  when  extremes  alone  are  consid- 
ered, the  intermediate  stages  being  unknown  or  ignored.  The  increase  of 
synonymes  from  this  fruitful  source  appears  to  have  not  yet  culminated, 
a  large  proportion  of  the  "new  species"  now  annually  described  being 
but  slight  local  differentiations  of  previously  known  specific  forms,  from 
which  they  often  differ  only  in  being  a  little  smaller,  a  little  darker  or 
brighter  colored,  and  in  the  individual  peculiarities  of  the  single  specimens 
on  which  some  of  them  are  based.  In  many  cases  this  process  of  ultra 
subdivision  has  furnished  stepping-stones  to  later  generalizations  ;  in  too 
many  other  cases  it  has  been  in  its  results  only  unmitigatedly  injurious. 

So  large  a  proportion  of  the  commonly  recognized  species  are  virtu- 
ally nominal,  or  rest  on  a  false  basis,  it  is  not  surprising  that  in  the 
reaction  consequent  upon,  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  birds  of  this  conti- 
nent, which  has  already  commenced,  the  reality  of  species  should  be  to 
some  extent  ignored.  Whether,  however,  species  are  considered  as 
entities  or  only  as  arbitrary  inventions,  convenience  demands  some 
established  definition  of  them. 

*  Audubon,  writing  in  1838  (Orn.  Biog.,  Vol.  IV,  p.  608),  refers  to  the  Prince  of 
Musignano  (by  whom  a  large  part  of  the  circumpolar  and  cosmopolitan  specie*  were 
separated  into  numerous  assumed  species)  as  *'  having  altered  his  notions  so  far  as  to 
seem  desirous  of  proving  that  the  same  species  of  birds  cannot  exisfc  on  both  the  con- 
tinents"; and  there  seems  to  have,  been  good  reason  for  the  remark,  only  instead  of 
proving  them  distinct,  he  in  most  cases  merely  assumed  them  to  bo  so. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  245 

Not  a  few  naturalists  have  hence  adopted  the  test  of  intergradation, 
which  seems  a  reasonable  and  an  unobjectionable  one.  The  question  of 
species  and  of  specific  synonymy  is  thus  simplified  to  this:  that  when- 
ever two  forms  which  have  both  received  names  are  found  to  intergrade, 
the  more  recent  name  shall  become  a  synonyme  of  the  older.  Some, 
however,  still  urge  that  every  recognizable  form,  however  closely 
allied  to  others,  and  even  intergrading,  should  be  recognized  by  a 
binomial  epithet,  and  that  whether  we  call  them  species,  or  varieties, 
or  races,  or  simply  forms,  that  such  names  are  none  the  less  convenient 
expressions  for  certain  facts.  It  seems  to  me,  however,  that  there  are 
insuperable  objections  to  this  course ;  for  however  distinct  the  extreme 
geographical  forms  of  a  species  may  be,  a  vast  proportion  of  its  repre- 
sentatives are  intermediate  to  them,  and  could  never  be  but  doubt- 
fully referred  to  the  one  rather  than  to  the  other.  Ordinarily,  for 
instance,  in  the  birds  of  the  Atlantic  slope,  the  representatives  of  a 
given  species  at  the  extreme  north  of  its  breeding  range  almost  always 
differ  very  tangibly  from  its  representatives  at  the  extreme  southern 
limit,  sometimes  more,  sometimes  less,  according  to  the  species.  Those 
living  only  a  little  to  the  northward  of  the  middle  region  differ  less  from 
the  extreme  southern  type  than  the  extreme  northern  type  does,  and  those 
a  little  to  the  southward  of  the  middle  region  differ  still  less  from  the 
southern  type,  and  are  qviite  distinguishable  from  the  extreme  northern 
form.  In  other  words,  in  species  ranging  from  Southern  Labrador  or 
Northern  New  England  to  Florida,  of  which  there  are  numerous  un- 
questioned instances,  specimens  from  Southern  New  England  differ 
somewhat  from  the  more  northern  ones  ;  those  from  Southern  New  Eng- 
land from  those  of  Southern  New  Jersey  and  Eastern  Maryland,  and 
these  latter  from  those  of  Georgia  and  Florida.  It  hence  depends  en- 
tirely upon  individual  predilection  whether  two,  three,  or  four  "  species  " 
or  "  binomial  forms  "  shall  be  recognized ;  and  in  either  case  there  is 
the  same  difficulty  in  disposing  of  the  intermediate  types.  Again,  speci- 
mens from  the  Mississippi  valley  differ  more  or  less  from  their  relatives 
from  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  central  plains,  and  the  Pacific  slope.  Here 
again  similar  difficulties  are  encountered.  Hence  it  is  necessary  to 
decide  between  recognizing  a  single  binomial  form,  with  a  considerable 
but  definite  range  of  climatic  variation,  or  three,  or  six,  or  nine,  or  even 
more,  which  cannot  be  rigidly  defined,  and  between  each  of  which  will 
always  be  found  a  greater  or  less  proportion  of  intermediate  types, 


246  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

doubtfully  referable  to  one  of  the  binomial  forms  rather  than  to  another. 
Another  important  objection  may  be  urged  against  giving  binomial 
names  to  intergrading  forms.  In  faunal  and  nominal  lists  of  the 
species  of  a  large  or  continental  area,  scarcely  distinguishable  forms 
take  equal  rank  with  the  most  distinct  congeneric  species.  For  in- 
stance, in  a  list  of  the  birds  of  North  America,  Tardus  Alicia  and 
Tardus  Swainsoni,  Tardus  Auduboni  and  Tardus  Pullasi,  stand  side 
by  side  with  Tardus  mustelinas  and  Tardus  fascescens,  though  in  the 
former  cases  Tardus  Alicice  and  T.  Auduboni  are  founded  at  best  on 
slight,  and  in  the  one  case  on  inconstant  individual  or  local  differences, 
while  in  the  latter  no  two  congeneric  species  need  be  more  distinct.  In 
the  one  case  only  experts  can  distinguish  the  forms,  and  frequently  they 
only  by  an  actual  comparison  of  specimens,  and  then  too  frequently  but 
doubtfully,  while  in  the  other  case  a  casual  observer  need  not  mistake 
them.  The  names  alone  give  no  clew  to  their  real  character,  and  are 
hence  in  a  great  measure  meaningless  when  separated  from  the  most  ex- 
plicit diagnoses,  and  whose  affinities  can  frequently  only  be  settled  by  the 
arbitrary  criterion  of  locality.  But  it  is  urged  that  cognizance  should 
in  some  way  be  taken  of  these  differences ;  and  "  How  can  they  be  better 
recognized,"  it  may  be  asked,  "  than  in  the  way  proposed  ?" 

As  already  shown,  and  as  I  trust  a  large  proportion  of  ornithologists 
are  willing  to  admit,  these  local  forms  occur  in  accordance  with  recog- 
nizable laws  of  climatic  variation,  similar  variations  with  locality  occur- 
ring, to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  in  all  species  having  nearly  the  same 
geographical  range.  Eventually,  then,  will  not  the  recognition  of  these 
laws  be  sufficient,  and  should  not  a  statement  of  the  tendencies  to  varia- 
tion with  locality,  and  the  degree  to  which  it  is  developed,  be  embraced  in 
the  specific  diagnosis  of  each  species  as  a  part  of  its  specific  description  ? 
Is  not  this,  in  fact,  actually  essential  to  the  proper  characterization  of  a 
species  ?  The  average  characters  being  give*n,  a  line  or  two  would 
suffice  for  a  statement  of  its  variations,  both  geographical  and  individual. 
Then  only  in  one  case  where  now  there  are  hundreds  would  there  be 
instances  of  doubtful  identification.  Till  within  a  very  recent  period, 
perhaps,  no  other  course  could  have  been  pursued  than  that  of  giving 
binomial  names  to  each  apparently  distinct  form,  however  slightly  it 
may  have  differed  from  others  previously  known.  In  many  cases, 
indeed,  the  differences  between  strictly  intergrading  geographical  forms 
are  very  great,  —  greater,  indeed,  if  they  were  not  thus  serially  con- 


MUSEUM   GF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  2-17 

neet'ed,  (han  would  be  deemed  necessary  for  specific  separation  ;  and  so 
long  as  the  extr  raes  only  were  known,  no  one  could  have  regarded  them 
otherwise  than  as  well-defined  species.  But  the  time  has  already  come, 
it  seems  to  me,  for  a  different  and  a  more  philosophic  method,  and  that 
to  furl  her  increase  synonymy  by  giving  new  names  to  slightly  different 
local  forms  of  the  same  species  is  worse  than  useless. 

It  is  important,  in  this  connection,  to  observe  that  the  species  occur- 
ring at  any  point  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  or  on  the  Pacific  coast,  or  in 
the  Mississippi  valley,  or  on  the  Great  Plains,  in  short,  at  any  re- 
stricted locality,  have,  as  compared  with  each  other,  with  scarcely  an 
exception,  an  unequivocal  character  ;  they  are  based  on  differences  that 
place  them  beyond  controversy.  It  is  not  so,  however,  when  we  com- 
pare the  species  of  distant  localities  with  each  other,  whether  the 
localities  differ  in  latitude  or  longitude.  In  such  cases  we  constantly 
meet  with  controverted  species.  At  the  South  are  species  admitted 
as  doubtfully  di.-tmct  from  others  found  farther  north;  at  the  West, 
those  holding  the  same  relation  to  others  of  the  East  ;  while  at  in- 
termediate points  either  both  the  disputed  forms  occur  with  greater 
or  less  frequency,  or  there  is  a  gradual  transition  of  the  one  into 
the  other,  neither  form  being  typically  represented.  This  is  evi- 
dently what  should  be  expected  to  occur,  if  what  has  been  said  above 
in  respect  to  climatic  variation  be  correct,  and  is  evident^  a  suggestive 
and  important  fact.  Is  the  theory  of  hybridization,  so  often  appealed  to 
in  such  cases,  necessary  to  explain  these  facts  ?  and  is  it,  in  fact,  true  ? 
By  uniting  the  intergrading  forms,  the  number  of  species  occurrin"-  at 
any  >ingle  locality  is  not  essentially  reduced,  but  such  a  union  would 
considerably  reduce  the  total  number  recognized,  as  well  as  the  num- 
ber usually  assigned  to  the  several  continents,  as  at  present  not  a  few 
fire  repeatedly  counted. 

The  many  facts  bearing  upon  individual  and  geographical  variation, 
presented  in  the  foregoing  pages  form  but  an  imperfect  exposition  of 
the  subject.  They  are,  nevertheless,  eminently  suggestive  of  interesting 
results,  and  the  conclusions  above  deduced  I  can  but  believe  will  be 
only  the  more  fully  confirmed  by  further  research.  Additional  details 
are  given  in  the  general  remarks  embraced  in  Part  IV,  where  various 
fact-  merely  hinted  at  above  are  more  fully  presented,  and  an  appli- 
cation is  made  in  many  cases  of  the  pinciples  deducible  from  them. 

As  previously  stated,  individual  and  geographical  variations  are  in 


248  BULLETIN   OF   TOE 

some  cases  difficult  to  distinguish.  They  can  he  satisfactorily  investigated 
only  from  extensive  suites  of  specimens  taken  from  the  same  locality 
in  the  breeding  season,  and  sufficiently  extensive  suites  of  this  character 
arc,  with  rare  exception-,  still  wanting.  In  specimens  taken  during 
migration  it  is  difficult  to  determine  what  share  of  the  variation  is  due 
to  birthplace  and  what  to  individuality.  Whilst,  however,  the  varia- 
tions noticed  cannot  be  always  traced  with  certainty  to  their  origin, 
their  bearing  upon  the  general  subject  of  variation  within  specific  limits 
is  in  no  way  vitiated.  In  considering  hypothetical  species,  it  is  fre- 
quently clearly  evident  that  they  are  based  in  part  upon  slight  and 
tolerably  constant  climatic  differences,  and  in  part  and  sometimes  wholly 
upon  the  individual  peculiarities  of  the  single  specimen  upon  which  the 
original  description  of  the  species  was  based  ;  in  part,  too,  upon  seasonal 
differences,  and  upon  characters  of  immaturity.  It  seems  to  me  that  in 
the  numerous  clo-ely  allied  species  of  the  ^.Egiutltus  group,  to  cite  a  case 
in  point,  some  are  based  in  part  upon  one  and  in  part  upon  other  of 
these  differences  of  a  single  circumpolar  species.  As  already  shown, 
the  bill  in  different  specimens  oF  ^E.  Unarms  varies  greatly  in  size,  yet 
an  examination  of  a  considerable  series  of  specimens  of  several  of  its 
allies  shows  an  amount  of  variation  in  the  bill  closely  approximate  to 
that  seen  in  the  specimens  of  the  various  assumed  species  of  uEgiothus. 
Much  of  the  variation  in  color  seen  in  the  flocks  of  JEgiothi  that  visit 
the  Northern  States  in  winter  is  due  to  age,  yet  it  has  been  taken  as 
characteristic  of  different  species.  These  birds  only  visiting  us  in 
winter,  those  inhabiting  widely  distant  localities  in  the  breeding  season 
are  probably  then  more  or  less  associated.  The  light-colored  specimens 
are  doubtless  in  part  old  or  fully  mature  birds,  or  inhabitants  in  summer 
of  more  northern  districts  than  the  browner  or  more  fulvous  ones,  a 
large  portion  of  which,  however,  an;  unquestionably  young  birds.  The 
short-hilled  ones  have  also  relatively  longer  seta;  at  the  base  of  the 
bill,  which,  by  concealing  a  large  portion  of  it,  give  it  the  appearance 
of  being  shorter  than  it  really  is.  Analogy  would  lead  us  to  infer  that 
those  with  the  shorter  and  more  heavily  clothed  bills  have  a  more 
northern   habitat  than   the  others. 

The  persistency  with  which  nominal  species  when  characterized  by 
"  authorities  "  are  retained  in  our  literature  is  not  a  little  remarkable. 
If  specimens  from  the  original  localities  cannot  lie  found  to  exactly  tit 
the  descriptions,  the  diagnosis  is  slightly  amended  to  suit  examples  that 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  249 

somewhat  approach  them,  and  the  name  retained.  In  other  cases 
the  species  i-  retained  without  its  character  being  questioned,  the  name 
and  the  original  description  being  copied  by  succeeding  writers,  till  the 
species  becomes  traditionally  accepted  without  its  claims  to  recognition 
having  been  critically  examined. 

Another  noteworthy  coincidence  in  regard  to  nominal  species  is  the 
fact  of  their  most  frequent  occurrence  in  obscurely  known  groups,  which 
obscurity  usually  results  from  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  specimens  of 
the  forms  in  question,  —  either  from  the  remoteness  of  their  habitat, 
their  scarcity,  or  the  peculiarities  of  their  habits,  —  or  from  preconceived 
notions  of  the  intimate  relationship  of  the  species  of  such  groups. 


Since  the  above  was  put  in  type.  I  have  for  the  first  time  met  with 
some  important  and  timely  remarks  by  an  eminent  English  botanist 
concerning  variation  within  specific  limits  in  plants,  which  are  so 
apropos  to  what  has  been  said  above  in  regard  to  individual  and 
climatic  variation  in  birds,  and  contains,  moreover,  such  judicious 
strictures  on  various  practices  indulged  in  by  botanist-,  and  of  which 
zoologists  are  equally  guilty,  that  a  short  abstract  of  them  forms  a  fit- 
ting conclusion  to  the  present  paper.  Says  Dr.  J.  D.  Hooker,  in  the 
introductory  essay  to  his  "  Flora  Nova>Zelandia3  "  (Part  I,  pp.  xii,  xiii, 
xv,  1853)  :  — - 

"  Some  naturalists  consider  every  minute  character,  if  only  tolerably 
constant  or  even  prevalent,  as  of  specific  value  ;  they  consider  two  or 
more  doubtful  species  to  be  distinct  till  they  have  been  proved  to  be  one  ; 
they  limit  the  ranges  of  distribution,  and  regard  plants  from  widely  severed 
localities  as  almost  necessarily  distinct  ;  they  do  not  allow  for  the  effects 
of  local  peculiarities  in  temperature,  humidity,  soil,  or  exposure,  except 
they  can  absolutely  trace  the  cause  to  the  effect  ;  and  they  hence  attach 
great  importance  to  habit,  stature,  color,  hairiness,  period  of  flowering,  etc. 
These  views,  whether  acknowledged  or  not,  are  practically  carried  out  in 
many  of  the  local  floras  of  Europe,  and  by  some  of  the  most  acute  ami  ob- 
servant botanists  of  the  day;  and  it  is  difficult  to  overestimate  the  amount 
of  synonomy  and  confusion  which  they  have  introduced  into  some  of  the 
commonest  and  most  variable  of  plants Jn  working  up  incom- 
plete floras  especially,!  believe  it  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance  to  regard 
dubious  species  as  varieties,  to  take  enlarged  views  of  the  range  i  f 
variation   in   species,   and   to  weigh   characters  not  only  per  sc\  but  with 


250  BULLETIN   OF   TILE 

reference  to  those  which  prevail  in  the  order  to  which  the  species  under 
consideration  belong;  and  to  resist  steadily  the  temptation  to  multiply 
names  ;  for  it  is  practically  very  difficult  to  expunge  a  species  founded  on 
an  error  of  judgment  or  observation.  The  state  of  the  British  flora  proves 
not  only  this,  but  further,  that  one  such  error  leads  to  many  more  of  the 
like  kind;  students  are  led  to  overestimate  inconstant  characters,  to  take 
a  narrow  view  of  the  importance  and  end  of  botany,  and  to  throw  away 
time  upon  profitless  discussions  about  the  differences  between  infinitely 
variable  firms  of  plants,  of  whose  identity  really  learned  botanists  have  no 
doubt  whatever.  There  is,  further,  an  inherent  tendency  in  every  one 
occupied  with  specialties  to  exaggerate   the  value  of  his   materials   and 

labors 

"  To  the  amateur  these  questions  are  perhaps  of  very  trilling  impor- 
tance, but  they  are  of  great  moment  to  the  naturalist  who  regards  accu- 
rately defined  floras  as  the  means  of  investigating  the  great  phenomena 
of  vegetation  ;  he  has  to  seek  the  truth  amid  errors  of  observation  and 
judgment,  and  the  resulting  chaos  of  synonomy  which  has  been  accumu- 
lated by  thoughtless  aspirants  to  the  questionable  honor  of  being  the  first 
to  name  a  species.  The  time,  however,  has  happily  passed  when  it  was 
considered  to  be  an  honor  to  be  the  namcr  of  a  plant  ;  the  botanist  who 
has  the  true  interests  of  science  at  heart  not  only  feels  that  the  thrusting 
of  an  uncalled-for  synonvme  into  the  nomenclature  of  science  is  an  ex- 
posure of  his  own  ignorance  and  deserves  censure,  but  that  a  wider  range 
of  knowledge  and  a  greater  depth  of  study  are  required  to  prove  those 
dissimilar  forms  to  be  identical,  which  any  superficial  observer  can  sep- 
arate by  words  an  1  a  name." 

The  above  remarks  are  as  strictly  applicable  to  zoology  and  zoologists 
as  they  have  ever  been  to  botany  and  to  botanists.  The  present  state  of 
ornithology,  and  the  tendency  the  majority  of  ornithologists  have  to 
multiply  species  on  improper  grounds,  find  here  a  fitting  rebuke. 

Part   IV. 

List  of  the    Winter  Birds  of  East  Florida,  with  Annotations.* 

TURDID.S3. 

it    Turdus  migratorius  Linn€.    "Romx. 

Seen  daily,  sometimes  in  considerable  flocks,  till  about  the  first  of 

March,  after  which   time   few  were  observed.      It   was  shot  by  me  at 

*  An  asterisk  (*)  prefixed  to  the  name  of  a  species  indicates  that  it  is  a  constant 

resident;  an  obelisk  (t),  that  it  is  a  winter  visitor. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  251 

Jacksonville,   April   1st,  but  according  to  general  report  it  does  not 
breed  in  the  State. 

In  this  species  the  females  are  commonly  supposed  to  be  paler  colored 
than  the  males,  which  is  undoubtedly  usually  the  case,  but  specimens  as 
brightly  colored  as  any  I  ever  saw  proved  on  dissection  to  be  fannies, 
and  other  specimens  as  palely  colored  as  any  I  ever  met  with  have  like- 
wise proved  on  dissection  to  be  males.  This  shows  the  importance  of 
determining  the  sex  in  all  cases  by  dissection,  and  not  from  external 
appearances.  It  also  indicates  a  wide  range  of  variation  in  color  in 
the  present  species,  as  great  as  is  seen  between  typical  representatives  of 
the  so-called  Turdus  Swainsoni  and  T.  Alicice,  and  which  is,  moreover, 
of  the  same  character,  namely,  simply  a  variation  in  intensity. 

2.1     Turdus  Swainsoni  Cubanis.     Olive  backed  Thrush. 

Turdus  minor  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  S17,  1788;  in  part  only.  —  Vieillot, 
Ois.  Am.  Sept,  II,  7,  pi.  lxiii,  1807;  in  part  only. — Bonaparte,  Geog. 
and  Comp.  List,  1838. 

Turdus  solitarius  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V,  pi-  xiii,  fig.  2  :  not  the  text. 

Turdus  nanus  Audubon,  Birds  of  Amer.,  Ill,  pi.  cxlvii,*  not  the  text.  — » 
Samuels,  Am.  Nat.,  II,  218,  1868 

Turdus  olicaceus  Giraud,  Birds  of  Long  Island,  92,  1843-44.  Not  the  T. 
olicaceus  of  Linne' 

Turdus  Swainsonil  Cabanis,  "  in  Tschudi's  Fauna  Peruana,  188,  1844  -  46."  — 
Baird,  Birds  >»T  Am.,  216,  1858.  —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  2,  1862.— 
Allen,  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  IV,  56  864.  —Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  19, 
1864. —  Allen,  Mem.  Post.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  I,  514,  1868.  —  Ridgway, 
Proc.  Phil   Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XXI,  128,  1869. 

Turdus  Alicia  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  217,  1858.  —  Coues  and  Prentiss, 
Smithsonian  Pep.,  1861,  405.  — Coues,  Proc  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XIV, 
217,  1861—  Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  21,  1864. —Ridgway,  Proc.  Phil. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XXI,  128,  1869. 

Merula  Wi/sonh  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  I,  182,  1831. 

Merula  olivacea  Brewer,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  191,  1844. 

Rare.  Given  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Boardman,  who  writes  me  he 
obtained  one  specimen  at  Enterprise,  February  18th,  and  another  at 
St.  Augustine,  in  the  same  month.  The  greater  part  pass  the  winter 
farther  south. 

*  The  plates  in  :l  Birds  of  America"  are.  too  poorly  colored,  as  is  well  known,  to  be 
recognizable  representations  of  the  species  whose  names  they  bear,  including  all  those 
representing  wood-thrushes,  they  having  but  little  resemblance  to  those  of  the  folio 
edition.  The  figures  of  "  Tun/us  nanus,''  Turdus  solitarius.  and  Turc/ns  mustelinus, 
might  all  pass  for  the  Turdus  Swainsoni,  so  far  as  the  color  of  the  dorsal  surface  is  con- 
cerned. 


252  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

In  my  "  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts,"*  published  in  1864, 
I  first  advanced  the  opinion  that  the  so-called  Tun/us  Alicia-  Baird  was 
the  paler  form  of  T.  Swainsoni.  To  this  view  other  writers  have  taken 
exception.  Professor  Baird,  in  his  "  Review  of  American  Birds  "  (p.  21), 
summarily  disposes  of  the  matter  by  presuming  that  I  had  not  seen  what  he 
called  T.  Alicice.  In  18G8,  in  my  "  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Iowa,  Illinois," 
etc.,t  I  again  reviewed  the  subject,  having  in  the  mean  time  examined 
some  twenty  specimens  sent  out  by  the  Smithsonian  Institution  to  different 
scientific  institutions,  labelled  respectively,  "  Turdus  Alicia,"  "  Tardus 
Ahem?"  "Turdus  Alicice?  hybrid?"  "Turdus  Swainsoni"  "Turdus 
Swainsoni  ?"  "  Tardus  Swainsoni  f  hybrid  ?  "  Alter  having  examined  these 
authentic  specimens  of  the  bird  in  question,  and  also  large  numbers  of  Mas- 
sachusetts examples  of  what  I  called  Turdus  Swainsoni,  —  among  which 
are  a  considerable  number  that  correspond  in  every  particular  respectively 
with  the  typical,  authentic  specimens  of"  Turdus  Swainsoni"  and  "  Turdus 
Alicice  "  of  Baird,  the  larger  number,  however,  being  intermediate  in  char- 
acter between  them,  and  agreeing  with  specimens  sent  out  from  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution  as  "T.  Swainsoni  f"  "Turdus  Alicice  ?  "  "Tardus  Alicia;  ? 
hybrid?"  etc,  —  I  state  in  this  paper  that  the  opinion  I  had  previously 
expressed  in  respect  to  Turdus  Swainsoni  and  Turdus  Alicice  was  fully 
confirmed.  In  this  paper  I  discussed  at  some  length  the  variations  pre- 
sented, not  only  by  this  species,  but  by  Turdus  Pullasi  and  Turdus  fus- 
cescens,  and  the  character  of  their  supposed  allies,  T.  Auduboni,  T.  nanus, 
and  T.  uslulatus,  and  their  supposed  respective  habitats.  I  gave  also  some 
details  in  respect  to  the  variations  in  general  size,  form  of  the  bill,  propor- 
tions of  the  primary  quills  of  the  wing,  etc.,  as  well  as  in  color,  and  con- 
cluded that  Turdus  Alicia  was  based  on  simply  individual  variation  in 
color,  the  other  differences,  as  of  size,  form  of  bill,  etc.,  supposed  at  first  to 
characterize  it,  being  rarely  coincident  with  the  variations  in  color,  they 
occurring  as  frequently  in  the  one  type  of  coloration  as  in  the  other. 
Turdus  nanus  and  Tardus  uslldatus  I  also  deemed  to  hold  the  same 
relation-hip  to  7'.  Pullasi  and  7'.  fuscescens  that  7'.  Alicia  dues  to  T. 
Swainsoni.  Though  described  as  exclusively  western,  I  stated  I  had  found 
specimens  in  .Massachusetts  that  accorded  with  them  in  every  particular. 
After  having  given  the  subject  still  further  attention,  I  am  but  the  more 
fully  confirmed  in  these  opinions. 

Dr.  Coues,  thus  far  one  of  the  most  strenuous  advocates  of  the  validity 
of  these  nominal  species,  in  a  somewhat  recent  paper  of  his,  X  after  stating 

*  Proceedings  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  IV,  p.  r>G. 
tnoirs  of  the  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  l!i-t.,  Vol.  I,  p.  507. 
J   "A  List  of  the  Buds  of  New  England,"  Proceedings  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  V,  p.  267, 
1868. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


253 


that  he  had  shown  the  T.  Alicia;  to  he  "  a  very  common  eastern  bird,  hav- 
ing a  range  of  habitat  as  extensive  as,  and  nearly  identical  with,  that  of 
T.  Swainsoni,"  says,  in  referring  to  my  earlier  remarks  on  this  subject, 
that  they  "  illustrate  very  fully  the  well-known  seasonal  and  other  varia- 
tions to  which  T.  Sicainsoni  and  T.  fuscescens  are  subject,"  and  adds  that 
I  appear  to  have  been  " autoptically  unacquainted  "  with  T.  Alicia:  at  the 
time  of  writing  them.  In  respect  to  this  supposition  of  Dr.  Cones,  I  will 
merely  add  that  one  of  the  numerous  specimens  considered  by  me  to  typi- 
cally represent  the  supposed  T.  Alicice  has  been  sent  to  the  Smithsonian 
Institution,  and  pronounced  by  Professor  Baird  himself  to  "typically 
represent  the  T.  Alicice." 

The  measurements  given  below  of  this  species  and  the  two  following 
indicate  the  average  size  and  the  usual  range  of  variation  in  this  respect 
in  these  species  as  represented  in  the  Atlantic  States.  These  measure- 
ments embrace  twenty-four  specimens  of  Tun/us  Sicainsoni,  nearly  fifty  of 
T.  Pallasi,  and  about  forty  of  T.  fuscescens,  nearly  all  of  which  are  from 
New  England,  and  by  far  the  greater  part  from  Eastern  Massachusetts. 

The  following  is  the  range  of  variation  in  the  series  of  twenty-four 
specimens  of  T.  Sicainsoni:  Length,  C.C2  to  7.75;  alar  extent,  10.75  to 
12.C5  ;  wing,  3.47  to  4.30  ;  tail,  2.40  to  3.40  (4.00  ?)  ;  tarsus,  1.02  to  1.27. 
The  average  dimensions  are  as  follows:  Length,  7.17  ;  alar  extent,  11.65; 
wing,  3. 80;  tail,  2.88;  tarsus,  1.15. 


Measurements  of  Neiv  England  Specimens  of  Turdus  Swainsoni. 


6 

si 

Z     £ 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

"P. 

ti 

j 

1 

o 

2£  §  .  w 

? 

£• 

H 

(*=; 

~ 

< 

2S77 

Ppringfiel  1,  Mass. 

May    11.  '63 

J.  A.  Allen 

6.75 

11  |.n 

3  1'.' 

2.78 

1  12 

__ 

— '  — 

" 

May    14,  -63 

" 

6  62 

11  4n 

3  80 

2.83 

1.11 



is    _ 

11                          l! 

May   2,,  '''I 

" 

6.75 



::  92 

2.78 

1  in 



19 

d 

"                          " 

May  27,  v.l 

" 

t;  98 



4.30 

3.40 

1  '  2 

2930 

"                           ■< 

Ma\    25,   63 

" 

7  60 

12  :.n 

4  12 

! 

1  20 



37 

— 

"                           " 

May  25,  '63 

" 

7  ii.; 

1140 

•  •' 

2  86 

1.13 

2940 

— 

"                           " 

.May    29 

" 

7  L0 

12.00 

4.00 

1.13 



44 

cf 

"                           " 

May  29,  '63 

" 

7.25 

L2.00 

too 

2.9:. 

I  In 

— 

"                           " 

May   14,  '63 

ii 

7.15 

11.10 

2  71' 

1.   5 

1829 

29 

— 

"                          " 

May   3d,  "62 

" 

6  90 

11.20 

1    2 

1830 

23 

— 

U                          II 

May   30,  '62 

" 

7.75 

12.20 

3.95 

1  17 

1831 

1 

— 

II                          11 

May  30,  '62 

" 

7.35 

11.50 

2.73 

1.10 

2!  ■■  II 

— 

11                           U 

May   25,  '63 

" 

7  7"> 

12.20 

::   >7 

1.17 

2940 



— 

11                          11 

May    29,  '63 

" 

:  ■■> 

11.37 

2-7     1.11 



— 

Concord,          " 



II    Mann 

7  2-'. 

12  15 

1.10 

2.95    1.10 

8844 

64fi 

d 

Belmont,         " 

May    27,  '68 

C.  .1 .  Maynard 

7.76 

12.65 

1.2.i 

4.00 

— 

1999 

1326  - 

ii              ii 

Sept.  21,  '68 

•■ 

7.7" 



1  1 

3  07 

1  20 



17 

9 

Watertown,     " 

Oct.      _',  !69 

Win.  Brewster 

7.12 

12.00 

3.94 

1  l  1 

_ — 

213 

V 

"               •' 

May    'J  I    '69 

" 

7.12 



i  i 

2  K7    1.27 

282 

— 

Maiden,           " 



D.  IIi<:'_'iiis 

7  1" 

lUii 

2  1-    LOS 

307 

— 

Norway,  Maine 



A.  E.  Verrill 

7  24 

11  i  ii 

3.47 

2.73    1.14 

308 
5963 

7  llll 

lu.7.-, 
11  lo 

.:  18 
:;  ;i 

2  10     1    12 

2  08    I    3 





Upton,         " 



J.  G   Rich 

7:;i 

1520 

— 

GlenHou?e,W.  Mts. 



S.  11.  Scudder 

7.00 

1 1  ;,•  i 

3.84 

254  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

3.t     Turdus  Pallasi  Cabanis.    Hermit  Thrush. 

Tardus  solitarius  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V,  95,  1812.  Not  the  figure  (pi.  xliii,  2), 
which  is  of  T.  Stvainsoni.  Not  T.  solitarius  Linne. —  Bonaparte,  Geog. 
and  Comp.  List,  17,  1838.  —  Audubon,  Synop.,  91,  1839  — Ibid.,  Birds 
of  Amcr.,  Ill,  29,  pi.  cxlvi,  1841. 

Turdus  minor  Bonaparte,  Obs.  on  Wilson's  Nomenclature,  Journ.  Phil. 
Acad.,  IV,  33,  1S24.  — Nuttall,  Man.  Am.  Orn..  I,  346, 1830.  — Audubon, 
Orn.  Biog.,  I,  303,  pi.  lviii,  1831.  — Ibid.,  V,  445,  1839.  —  Gambel,  Proe, 
Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Ill,  113,  1846.  —  Giraud,  Birds  of  Long  Island,  90, 
1843-44. 

Turdus  Pallasi  Cabanis,  Wiegm.  Archiv,  I,  205,  1847.  —  Baird,  Birds  N. 
Am.,  212,  1858. —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  2,  1862. —  Baird,  Review 
Am.  Birds,  Part  I,  14,  1864. —Allen,  Mem.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  514, 
1868.—  Ridgway,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XXI,  128,  1869. 

Turdus  nanus  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  V,  201,  pi.  ccccxix,  1839  (T.  minor  on 
the  plate). —  Ibid.,  Birds  of  Am.,  Ill,  32,  1841.  —  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am., 
213,  1858.  — Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  2,  1862.  — Baird,  Rev.  Am. 
Birds,  I,  15,  1864.— Ridgway,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XXI,  129, 
1869. —  Cooper  and  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  4,  1870. 

Turdus  Audubunii  Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  16,  1864.  —  Ridgway,  Proc. 
Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XXI,  129,  1869. 

Merula  solitaria  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Amcr.,  II,  184,  pi.  xxxvii,  1831. — 
Brewer,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  191,  1844. 

Merula  silens  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Amcr.,  II,  186,  1831.  —  Sclater,  Cat. 
Am.  Birds,  2,  1862. 

Common.     Last  seen  about  March  25th. 

As  already  observed  in  the  remarks  under  Turdus  Sicainsoni,  I  regard 
the  Turdus  yianus  of  authors  as  identical  with  T.  Pallasi.  The  assumed 
differences  arc  slight  and  inconstant,  and  seem  to  be  principally  individual 
variation  ill  color.  Although  of  late  supposed  to  be  exclusively  western, 
representing  0I1  the  Pacific  slope  the  T.  Pallasi  of  the  Atlantic  and  Central 
States,  Audubon's  original  specimen  came  from  Pennsylvania,  though  lie 
subsequently  received  it  from  the  valley  of  the  Columbia  River.  In  his 
"Synopsis"  he  gives  its  habitat  as  "Columbia  River.  Accidental  in  the 
United  States."  His  description  of  its  color  is  identical  with  that  he  gives 
of  T.  Pallasi  (T.  solitarius  And.),  even  the  words  used  being  almost 
entirely  tin;  same  throughout  each  description.  In  size,  however,  he 
gives  T.  nan  its  as  being  one  inch  less  in  length  and  one  inch  less  in  extent 
than  7'.  Pallasi.  Since  Professor  Baird,  in  1858,  recognized  the  T.  nanus 
as  a  valid  species  and  its  habitat  as  "  Pacific  coast  of  North  America  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains,"  and  restricted  the  7'.  Pallasi  to  "Eastern  North  Am- 
erica to  the  Mississippi  River,"  the  validity  of  T.  nanus  has  been  gener- 
ally accepted.     Professor  Baird  himself,  however,  speaks  of  it  in  this  work 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  255 

as  though  it  was  in  his  opinion  doubtfully  distinct,  and  observes  that,  "  if 
really  distinct,  is  so  closely  allied  to  T.  Pallasi  as  to  render  a  separa- 
tion of  the  two  exceedingly  difficult."  The  T.  Pallasi  was  formerly 
recognized  as  inhabiting  California  by  good  authorities.  Dr.  Ganibel,  in 
his  "  Remarks  on  the  Birds  of  Upper  California,"  etc.,*  after  stating  that 
'•the  dwarf  thrush  of  Audubon  was  founded  upon  specimens  from  the 
Atlantic  States,  and  no  doubt  upon  the  true  hermit  thrush,"  remarks  : 
"An  examination  of  specimens  of  the  T.  minor  [=T.  Pallasi]  from  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  North  America  shows  no  difference  in 
any  way,  except  that  perhaps  the  western  one  is  somewhat  smaller,  yet 
the  difference  is  scarcely  appreciable.  From  the  measurement  of  many 
western  specimens  I  found  its  length  to  be  6^  inches,  and  the  extent  of 
wings  10^  inches;  the  tail,  wings,  and  relative  length  of  quills  the  same  as 
in  our  eastern  one,  and,  in  fact,  I  think  it  can  in  no  possible  way  be  dis- 
tinguished as  specifically  different."  California  specimens,  however,  seem 
to  average  a  little  smaller  than  New  England  ones,  so  that  the  T.  nanus 
seems  best  entitled  to  recognition  of  any  of  the  several  disputed  forms  of 
this  group. 

The  habits  of  T.  nanus,  as  described  by  Dr.  Cooper,  are  exactly  like 
those  of  the  T.  Pallasi  of  the  East,  except  in  regard  to  the  situation  of  its 
nest,  Jus  account  of  its  nest  and  eggs  according  exactly  icith  those  of  T. 
Swainsoni,  and  not  at  all  with  those  of  T.  Pallasi,  its  nearest  ally.f 

The  Tardus  Auduboni  of  Baird,  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  I  have  already 
also  referred  to  T.  Pallasi,  from  average  specimens  of  which  it  differs 
only  in  being  slightly  larger.  My  reasons  for  this  opinion  have  been  given 
with  sufficient  detail  elsewhere.  % 

It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  the  account  given  by  Wilson, §  and  corrobo- 
rated by  Audubon,  ||  of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  species  with  what  is 
now  known  of  the  distribution  in  the  breeding  season  of  this  group  (sub- 
genus Hylociclda)  of  thrushes.  The  account  given  by  these  authors  of  the 
situation  and  structure  of  the  nest  is  applicable  to  only  T.  Swainsoni, 
which,  as  well  as  the  T.  Pallasi,  is  not  known  to  breed  so  far  south  by 
several  hundred  miles  as  the  localities  they  give.  The  only  species  which 
may  probably  breed  there  is  the  T.  fuscescens  ;  but  this  species  does  not 
nest  on  trees.    To  determine  to  which  species  of  thrush  these  authors  refer 

*  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  14,  October,  1844.  Also  Journal  Phil.  Acad. 
Nat.  Sci.,  2d  Series,  Vol.  I,  p.  41,  1847. 

t  According  to  Professor  A.  E.  Verrill,  the  T.  PaUasi  nests  on  the  ground,  and  lays 
"  bright-blue  "  eggs.    Proc.  Essex  Inst,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  145. 

J   Mem.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  I,  p.  012. 

$  Am.  Orn.,  Vol.  V,  p.  91. 

||  Orn.  Biog.,  Vol.  I,  p.  303:  Bird;  of  America,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  30 


25G 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


as  breeding  in  this  manner  on  the  Lower  Mississippi  would  solve  an  in- 
teresting problem. 

The  following  table  will  indicate  tin'  average  size  of  Turdus  Pallasi  in 
the  Atlantic  States.  The  extremes  in  size  of  forty-six  specimens  are  as 
follows  :  Length,  G.50  and  7.G5  ;  alar  extent,  10.00  and  12.25  ;  wing,  3.30 
and  3.90  ;  tail,  2.-17  and  3.17  ;  tarsus,  1.12  and  1.33.  The  average  dimen- 
sions of  these  specimens  are  as  follows  :  Length,  7.04  ;  alar  extent,  11.17  ; 
wing,  3.7D;  tail,  2.72;  tarsus,  1.15. 

Measurements  of  Specimens  o/ Turdus  Pallast. 


M.  C.  Z.  No. 

Collectors 
Number. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

J3 

"to 
c 

>3 

a 
H 

03 
< 

ti 

'rt 

H 

3 
u 
H 

9835      — 

Milltown,  Maine 

June  — ,  '64 

O.  A.  Boardman 

6.98 



3.50 

2  68 

1.17 

4071      — 



" 

June  — ,  '65 

J.  G.  Rich 

6.88 

10.00 

3.48 

2.67 

116 

1990  — 

1991  — 

Norway,         " 

A.  E.  Verrill 

6.90 

10.50 

3  3  i 

2.51 

1  is 

7  00 

10.60 

"  65    1  17 

<<                i< 



S.  I.  Smith 

725 

11.55 

y.7U 

2.93    120 

5311      - 

312     — 

■■ill      — 

6.S0 

In  95 

3.45 

■_•  7-    1  12 

ii                ii 

ii 

7  15 

11  50 

:;  70 

2  02    1.15 

ii                i( 



" 

7. -'52 

11.00 

;;  59 

2.98     1  17 

1897      — 

Waterville,  " 

Apr.  20,  '62 

C.  E.  Hamlin 

7.20 

10.77 

2.93    1.07 

mi:;     — 



Apr.  14,  "62 

" 

6.80 

10.75 

3.49 

2.65i  1  18 

4-j;j")    — 



1C                      tt 

Oct.  21,  "63 

" 

6  90 

10.25 

3.37 

2.60!  1.18 

42;,  l     _ 



ii             n 

Oct.    24,  :63 

" 

6  80 

10.75 

3.57 

2.93       - 

575 1     — 
;, ,  55     — 
1060 
2584      — 

Concord,      M  I    i. 

II  Mann 

7  50 
7.15 
7.25 

.;  s  i 

11.82 

3.83 

2.95    1-93 

10.15 

3.45 

2.57 
2  ''i 

1.14 

ti                  ii 

(( 

11  02 

3  77 

1  18 

Woburn,          " 

. 

J.  G.  Shut" 

10.25 

2  57 

1.17 

2832     — 

Springfield,      " 

May     s,  '>;■; 

J.  A.  Allen 

7.25 

10.70 

3.52 

2.83    1  20 

9690  1002   - 

Oct.    17,  '63 

" 

7.10 

11.20 

357 

2.70    1.13 

9391  L021!  — 

u                ii 

Oct.     29,63 

" 

7.00 

Li 

:;47 

2  71     1  18 

4.1      • 

Watertown,    " 

Dec.   1  i,    39 

ffm.  Brewster 

700 

11.63 

3  63 

2  63    133 



.1             ii 

Nov.    6,  '69 

" 

6  -7 

11.19 

301 

2  52 

1 .20 



a             ti 

.Nov.   1 

a 

7.12 

11  12 

3.74 

2  5S 

1.27 



Belmont,         " 

Nov.  22,  -69 

" 

7.12 

11.50 

3  30 

2  71 

1  20 

3tt    d 

Cambridge,     " 

Apr.  16,  70 

" 

7.23 

11.94 

3  71 

2.S5 

129 



Waltham,        " 

0  • 

u 

7.20 

11.12 

3  74 

2  58 

1.27 

'.1     . 

ii               ii 

X  IV.      1,  '69 

'• 

7.06 

1137 

3  72 

1.25 

62     i 

Watertown      " 

Oct.  26,  !69 

•  ' 

10.50 

3  50 

237 

115 

283     , 

.i              ii 

Nov.  22,  '69 

« 

6.56 

11.00 

3.50 

2  ;,s 

1.16 

—  :r, ;    , 

ii              ii 

Apr,  li  I,  '70 

•• 

6.75 

L1.30 

3  45 

2  50 

1.17 

8845 

Newton,          " 

Oct.    12,  '67 

C.  J.  Maynard 

6.83 

11.00 

332 

2.65 

— 

— -     13    i 

ii                  ii 

Oct.   12,  '67 

'I 

7.00 

1"  77 

3.37 

2.47 

— 

8848    250    i 

ii                 ii 

Apr.    IS,  '68 

■| 

7  21 

11  32 

2  80 

— 

8852    322    i 

ii                  a 

Apr.  2.",,  -6S 

«« 

11.00 

2.60 

— 

8847    338 

? 

•  I                  n 

May     5,  '68 

" 

fn'i 

11  30 

3.50 

2.73 

— 

21 

■• 

ii                  ii 

Oct.    19   '68 

•  • 

7.0U 

11  17 

2.75 

— 

14 

{ 

ii                 ii 

Oct.    16, '68 

•' 

7.00 

1 1  43 

3.50 

2.71 

— 

n                  i; 

Oct.    16,  '63 

ii 

6.80 

11.28 

3  57 

2  75 

— 

38-J  1 

ii                 ic 

Apr.   25,  '70 

■' 

7.60 

1 1  75 

317     ■ 

—  ; 

ii                  .1 

Apr.   25,  '70 

,; 

7  38 

2.  S3     — 

•  i                  a 

Apr.   28,  '70 

" 

7.45 

11.83 

2.90 

— 

5120      — 

i 

Jacksonville,  Fla. 

Jan.  21,  'OS 

J.  A.  Allen 

7.40 

12.25 

3  85 

— 

— 

51  15      - 

Jan.  25.  'tis 

" 

7.UO 

11  60 

3  60 

— 

— 

5143     - 

ii              ii 

Jan.   25,  'OS 

" 

6.75 

11  lo 

3  15 

— 

— 

5147      - 

■> 

ii              ii 

Jan.  25,  '68 

" 

7.oo 

1 1  51 1 

3.60 

— 

— 

51  <; 

Hibemia,          " 

Feb.    :;.  '68 

" 

7  65 

11  S7 

;;  85 

— 

— 

532 I     - 

? 

Enterprise,       " 

Mar.     l.  '68 

6.75 

10.90 

3  40 

4.t    Turdus  fuscescens  Stephens.    Wilson's  Thrush. 

mustelinus  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V,  98,  pi.  xliii,  1812.     (Not  T.muste- 
Units  Gmelin.) 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  257 

Turdus  fuscescens  Stephens,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zoo].,  X,  i,  182,  1817. —  G.  R. 
Gray,  Gen.  Birds,  1S49.  —  Baiud,  Birds  X.  Am.,  2U,  1858.  —  Sclater, 
Cat.  Am.  Binls,  2,  1862.  —  Bated,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  17,  1864. —  Allen, 
Mem.  Bost.  Soc*.  Nat.  Hist.,  1,514,  1S68.  —  Ridgway,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad. 
Nat.  Sci.,  XXI,  127,  1869. 

Tualas  Wilsonii  Bonaparte,  (>bs.  on  Wilson's  Nomenclature.  —  Ndttall, 
Man.  Am.  Orn.,  I,  349,  1832. —Audubon,  Urn.  Biog.,  II,  362,  pi.  clxvi, 
1834.     Ibid.,  V,  446.  —  Giracd,  Birds  L.  Island,  89,  1843-44. 

Turdus  usiulatus  Nuttall,  Man.  Am.  Orn.,  I,  (2d  ed.)  400,  1840.  —  Baird, 
Birds  N.  Am.,  215,   1858.  — Ibid.,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  18,  1804. —Ridg- 
way, Proc.  Phil.  Aead.  Nat.  !Sci.,  XXI,  127,  1S69.  — Cooper  &.  Baird, 
Orn    Cal.,  I,  5,  1870. 

Mervla  minor  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am..  II,  179,  pi.  xxxvi,  1831. 

Morula  Wilsonii  Brewer,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Xat.  Hist.,  I,  191,  1844. 

Not  common,  the  greater  part  passing  the  winter  in  the  tropics.  A 
few  specimens  were  taken  by  Mr.  Boardman  at  Green  Cove  Springs, 
February  20th  and  22d.     I  did  not  meet  with  it. 

The  considerable  variation  in  color  exhibited  by  different  specimens  of 
this  species  have  perhaps  been  already  sufficiently  adverted  to.  It  may  be 
added  that  some  of  the  brightest  colored  specimens  of  this  species  proved 
on  tlissection  to  be  females,  as  well,  also,  as  some  of  the  palest.  As  in  T. 
migratorius,  T.  Swainsoni,  etc.,  these  variations  in  color  do  not  depend 
entirely  upon  sex,  age,  nor  season.  The  latter,  however,  doubtless  has 
much  to  do  with  it,  as  has  also  age,  as  already  explained;  *  but  the  varia- 
tion is  in  the  main  strictly  the  result  of  individual  differentiation. 

Dr.  Cooper  says  f  that  in  habits  this  species  is  the  "  exact  counterpart 
of  T.  nanus,"  the  resemblance  extending  to  the  situation  and  structure  of 
the  nest,  and  also  to  the  color  of  the  eggs.  In  this  connection  it  may  be 
remarked  that  it  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  the  eggs  and  nests  of  both 
the  so-called  T.  ustulatus  and  T.  nanus  should  so  exactly  coincide  with 
those  of  T.  Swainsoni  (which  breeds  where  the  other  species  are  said  to), 
when  the  birds  themselves  are  scarcely  distinguishable  respectively  from 
T.  fuscescens  and  T.  Pallasi,  both  of  which  nest  on  the  ground  and  lay 
unspotted  eggs,  while  T.  Swainsoni  nests  in  trees  and  lays  spotted  eggs. 
The  nests  and  eggs  I  have  seen  purporting  to  be  those  of  T.  ustulatus  and 
T.  nanus  (and  also  of  T.  Alicia;)  were  so  closely  like  those  of  T.  Swainsoni, 
—  not  differing  more  from  those  of  this  species  than  those  of  the  same 
species  usually  differ,  —  as  to  at  once  raise  the  suspicion  in  my  mind  that 
they  might  all  be  really  those  of  T.  Swainsoni,  and  that  they  may  have 
been  in  some  accidental  way  wrongly  identified  by  the  collector. 

*  In  Part  III,  pp.  193  et  seq. 
t  Ornithology  of  California,  Vol.  I,  p.  5. 
vol.  ir.  17 


258 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


In  the  following  table  are  given  the  measurements  of  forty  specimens, 
some  twenty-five  of  which  were  taken  in  Massachusetts  during  the  breed- 
ing season.  The  extremes  of  the  series  arc  as  follows  :  Length,  6.95  and 
7.87;  alar  extent,  11.05  and  12.70;  wing,  3.55  and  4.16;  tail,  2.63  and 
3.02;  tarsus,  1.06  and  1.18.  The  average  dimensions  are  as  follows: 
Length,  7.38;  alar  extent,  11.83;  wing,  3.82;  tail,  2.88;  tarsus,  1.13. 

Measurements  of  Specimens  of  Turdus  fuscesckn'S. 


6 

+, 

S5 

2.2 

5  = 

x 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

to 

a 

X 

i 

3 

O 

—   3 

co 

S 

a! 

<< 

2272 

-  s. 

J 

1125 

3  90 

2  87 

H 

1.10 

Wateryille,  Maine 

June    2,  '02 

C.  E.  Hamlin 

7.12 

2275 

— 



"               " 

June    5,  ;62 

7  39 

11'.- 1 

3  79    2  84 

1.18 

2270 

— 



"              " 

June   2,    02 

" 

7.53 

11  73 

3.86   2.ss 

1.06 

2277 

— 



"              " 

June   2,  '62 

" 

7.40 

12.(10 

3  83   2  s7 

1.13 

9607 

- 

- 

Canton,  St.  Law-  1 
renee  Co  ,  N.  Y.  J 

June  — ,  "60 

J.  S  Foley 

7.3i> 

1140 

3.72   292 

1.12 

9608 

— 



" 

June—,  "60 

« 

7.50 

1175 

3  93   3  00 

1.10 

9609 

— 



" 

June—,  "60 

ti 

7  50 



3  92:  2  93 

1.18 

10382 

— 



" 

June—,  "60 

it 

7.30 

1143 

3.77    2  97 

1.13 

10383 

— 



" 

June—,  "60 

" 

6  95 

11.05 

3  55    2  63 

1.09 

10384 





" 

June-,  '60 

" 

7,4.-, 

1175 

3  69|  2.80 

1  12 

10385 

— 



" 

June—,  "Bit 

ii 

7.12 

11.75 

3.68    2.67 

111 

883  I 

367 

r 

Newton,      Mass. 

May     5,  "68 

C.  J.  Maynard 

7.81 

12.7(1 

4.16!  3.00 



B831 

382 

d 

"               " 

May     6,  "68 

" 

7.75 

12.55 

4  10 1  3.00 

— 

8841 

495 

• 

"               " 

May   15,  :68 

" 

7.87 

1191 

400    3.00 



s.s32 

528     r 

"               " 

May    10,  "68 

" 

7  7ii 

12.45 

4.00    3.00 

— 

■--::.: 

538 

' 

Way  land,      " 

May   is,  'lis 

i< 

735 

11.91 

3  91   2  73 

— 

8834 

550 

■• 

Weston,         " 

May   20,  '68 

'' 

7. mi 

11.95 

3  55    2  55 



8835 

581 

' 

Newton,         " 

May  22,  "68 

" 

741 

12  5(1 

4  15    2  90 



8337 

611 

t 

a               i< 

May   2f,.  "68 

" 

7.50 

12  45 

3.80;  2.90 



8838 

683    / 

"               " 

May    28.  "68 

" 

7.5H 

12.30 

4.15|  317 



8839 

692     ■ 

"               " 

May  28,   68 

" 

7.45 

12.16 

3  76    2.85 



8338 

610    -J 

"               " 

May  2;-,,  '68 

" 

7  30 

11  33 

3.55    2  60 



8840 

768    5 

"               " 

June   5,  '68 

" 

7.51) 

12  15 

3  mi   2.89 

_ 

2876,2876   - 

Springfield,  " 

June  11,  '02 

J.  A.  Allen 

7.0(i 

11  7(1 

3  75     '1  so 

1.17 

1740  174!»   — 

"              " 

June  14,  '62 

" 

7  mi 

1 1  35 

3  63   2.65 

1.10 

1828  1828 

2 

"              " 

May  29,  "62 

" 

7  5'  i 

11.50 

3  99    2.86 

1.08 

1832  1832 

3 

"              " 

May  29,  "62 

" 

7.50 

11.55 

3  7:i    2.80 

1.12 

-ins 

— 

Newton,        " 

May    18,  "70 

Wm.  Brewster 

7.50 

12ii(i 

3  74    2  74 

1.14 

2873  2873 

— 

Springfield    " 

May   12,  '63 

J.  A.  Alien 

7  75 

12.40 

3.98    3.02 

1.08 

2876  2876 

— 

i.            ti 

May    14,  '63 

" 

7.12 

11.30 

;:  ,::    29] 

1.12 

2937  2937 

— 

"            " 

May   29,  '63 

" 

7.45 

11  so 

3.65    2.7s    1.12 

2938  2938 

— 

"             " 

\i..\   29,  '63 

" 

7  65 

11  511 

3.86   "00 

1  15 

1131    — 

— 

Maiden,         " 

May  22,  '62 

" 

7.15 

11.87 

3  75   2  93 

1.14 

1432    — 

— 

"               " 

May    22,  "62 

" 

7  52 

11  80 

393   300 

1  15 

281 i    — 

D.  Higgius 

7.35 

7.25 

11.75 
11  90 

3  70   2.89 

:;  18    2  73 

1.10 

1.15 

281    — 



ii 



143    — 

— 

"               " 

June  — ,   T,l 

" 

7.30 

11  72 

3.72   2.83    112 

1H 

— 

— 

"               " 

JllIH ,     1)1 

" 

7.25 

11.75 

3.78    2.70    l  15 

I!:", 

— 

— 

"               " 

June  — ,  'Hi 

" 

7.IKI 

11  40 

3.03    2  68    1  11 

146    - 

1 

June  — ,  '61 

7-45 

1175 

3  oo    2.80   1.12 

5.*     Harporhynchus  rufus  Calianis.     Brown  Thrush. 
Very  abundant.    The  specimens  examined  were  smaller  and  much 
brighter   colored    than  any   I    have  seen    from    the    Northern    States. 
Commences  nesting  the  last  week   in  March. 

6.*    Galeoseoptes  carolinensis  Cabanis.    Cat-Bird. 
Abundant.     Smaller  and  darker  colored  than  at  the  North.     Some 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  259 

evidently  remain  and  breed.  Audubon  states  that  none  breed  so  far 
south  as  South  Carolina,  and  that  few  remain  so  far  north  as  Florida 
in  winter;  but  Dr.  Coues,  in  his  ''Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  South  Caro- 
lina,"* gives  it  as  abundant  and  resident  in  that  State. 

7*    Mimus  polyglottus  Boie.    Mockixg-Bird. 

Common.  Contrary  to  my  anticipations,  I  failed  to  hear  this  bird 
sing  during  my  three  months'  stay  in  Florida,  except  in  a  few'  instances 
near  Jacksonville  early  in  April,  at  which  time  they  were  nesting, 
although  everywhere  more  or  less  common.  It  was  more  frequent 
along  the  borders  of  the  forest  and  about  clumps  of  bushes  in  the  pine 
barrens  than  in  the  hummocks.  It  differed  from  its  relatives,  the 
brown  thrush  and  cat-bird,  in  avoiding  the  denser  thickets,  which  are 
the  favorite  resorts  of  the  latter.  The  resemblance  of  the  mocking-bird 
to  the  loggerhead  shrike,  in  mode  of  flight  and  general  appearance, 
which  must  strike  every  observer,  has  been  properly  referred  to  by  Dr. 
Coues.  f 

Different  specimens  of  the  mocking-bird  from  Florida  differ  consider- 
ably from  each  other  in  intensity  of  color,  some  being  much  darker 
than  others,  and  in  the  extent  of  the  white  on  the  outer  tail  feathers,  and 
also  in  the  length,  thickness,  and  curvature  of  the  bill.  Some  have  the 
commissure  but  slightly  curved  and  the  tip  of  the  bill  moderately  de- 
pressed ;  others  have  the  commissure  much  arched  and  the  tip  much 
decurved.  Several  specimens  before  me  from  Cape  Florida  are  smaller 
than  those  from  the  St.  John's  River,  with  longer,  slenderer,  and  more 
curved  bills.  There  seems  to  be  as  much  difference  between  specimens 
from  South  Florida  and  the  Middle  States,  as  between  the  numerous  so- 
called  species  of  the  West  Indies,  which,  many  of  them  at  least,  are 
scarcely  more  than  local  forms  of  the  original  or  first-described  M.  poly- 
glottus. 

The  following  measurements  of  forty-four  Florida  specimens  of  this 
species  indicates  its  usual  range  of  variation  in  size  and  proportions.  The 
extremes  of  this  series  are  as  follows  :  Length,  9.25  and  11.00  ;  alar  ex- 
tent, 13.00  and  14.75;  wing,  4.00  and  4.75;  tail,  4.10  and  5.15.  The 
average  dimensions  are  as  follows  :  Length,  9.01 ;  alar  extent,  13.69  ;  wing, 
4.28;   tail,  4.87. 

*  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Xat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XII,  p.  113. 

t  "  Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  South  Carolina,"  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XII, 
p.  113,  October,  1868. 


260 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Mimtts  POLYGLOTTTJS. 


1      o 

6 

• 

a 

N 

13 

a 

M 

Locality 

Date. 

Collector. 

1j 

w 

'3 

6 

!§P 

DQ 

►3 

P 

H 

a 

o 

< 

5118 

^ 

Jacksonville,  Fla 

Jan.   19,  '68 

J.  A.  Alleu 

9  75 

14  00 

4.60 

5124 

j< 

"                 " 

Jan     21, '68 

" 

14  35 

4  50 

5350 

cf 

Enterprise,       " 

Nov.     4,  '69 

" 

1 ) 

14  15 

4  25 



Hawkinsville,   " 

Mar    15,  '69 

10.60 

14  75 

4  50 

5415 

• 

"                " 

Mar.    15,  :6i 

" 

9  85 

1400 

4  40 



ii                ii 

Mar    14,  '69 

'' 

9.85 

14-00 

1  in 

5355 

9 

1955    9 

2407     r 
2614    ,■ 
2341    d 

"                " 

Mar    10,  '6S 

" 

10.12 

1300 

4  26 

5185 

Ilibernia,          " 

Jan.   30,  '69 

" 

10.30 

14.15 

i  30 

UioSH 

Jacksonville,     " 

Dec.    31,  '68 

C.  J.  Maynard 

10.00 

13  00 

4(15 

4.65 



"                " 

Jan.   HI,  '69 

" 

10.20 

14.00 

i  50 

4.70 

Dummitt's,        " 

Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

11.00 

11  65 

4  50 

4.60 



"                   " 

Mar    13,  '69 

" 

10. 15 

11  00 

1  to 

4.90 

10589 

"                   " 

Feb.   16,  '69 

" 

9.75 

13.50 

4.25 

4.75 



"                   " 

Feb.  24,  ''lit 

" 

9  25 

11  00 

I  35 

4.35 



"                   " 

Mar,   13,  '09 

" 

10  20 

14-00 

4  4D 

4.75 

2374      ■ 

2370     ■; 

"                   " 

Mar    13,  '69 

" 

ll.SII 

14  00 

i  30 

4.10 



"                   " 

Feb.    17,  '69 

" 

9.50 

13  25 

4.25 

4.40 

10592 

2372     r 

"                   " 

Feb.    IT,  '69 

" 

9.75 

13.75 

4.20 

4.50 



2528     •■ 

"                   " 

Mar.     5,  '69 

" 

10  30 

14. no 

4  45 

4.95 



2171      • 

"                   " 

Feb.    16,  '69 

" 

10.15 

11  :n 

4  60 

5.15 

10595 

2486     -- 

"                   " 

Feb.    16,  '69 

" 

10.00 

13.00 

4.00 

1  38 

10596 

2518 

9 

"                 "        Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

9  75 

13  50 

4.75 

4  50 



2428 

9 

"                   "         Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

10.00 

13  50 

4  ."i1 1 

4.45 



242!) 

1 

Mar.     2,  '69 

L0.00 

13  50 

4  35 

4  35 



2478 

j 

"        Mar.   11,  69 

" 

1050 

13.50 

1  L8 

4. 75 

2419 

,• 

Mar.   11,   69 

" 

10.00 

13  35 

4.25 

4.75 

10590   2340 

9 

"                     "          Mar.  13,  '69 

" 

i 

1 1  35 

4.40 

4.50 

10594   234  I 

(' 

"                  "        Mar.  16,  '69 

" 

9  75 

13  60 

4.25 

4  35 

10597  25  19 

9 

"                   "        Mar.  11,  69 

" 

10 

13.00 

400 

4. 17 

2507 

Mar    11,  '6S 

" 

9.60 

1      : 

4  10 

4.60 

10587  2339 

5 

"                   "         Feb.    L0,  '69 

" 

9.40 

13.50 

1  05 

4.20 

2 

,:                    "         Feb.    17,  '69 

" 

9.75 

13.50 

3  1" 

1  50 

s 

Mar.   13,  '69 

" 

9.50 

13.25 

4  2(  i 

i  a 

2560 

2 

Mar.     8,  "69 

" 

9  50 

13.20 

4.15 

10593  2375 

,' 

Feb.   17,  '69 

" 

9  so 

13.00 

4  10 

4.60 

247S 

? 

"                      "          Feb.    16,  '69 

" 

9.50 

13  50 

1  10 

4.20 

24S5 

V 

Feb.    16,  VJ 

10.00 

13.00 

4.00 

SAXICOLIDJE. 

8*    Sialia  sialis  Haldemann.*    Blue-Bird. 
Common.     In  this  species  the  smaller  size  of  the  Florida  specimens, 
as  compared  with  those  from  Massachusetts,  is  very  marked,  as  is  also  the 
greater  intensity  of  color. 

SYLVIADJE. 
9.1     Regulus  calendula  Lichtenstein.     Rcbt-crowned  Kinglet. 
Abundant.     One  of  the  most  numerous  of  the  winter  birds.     Chiefly 
confined  to  the  swamps  and  hummocks. 

lO.t    Regulus  satrapa  Lichtenstein.     Golden-crested  Kinglet. 
Not    common.     A    single  pair   was   collected    by    Mr.  Maynard    at 
Jacksonville  in  January. 


*   Sialia    sialis    Haldemann,    Trego's    Geography  of   Pennsylvania,   p.   77.    1843. 
-Baird,  Birds  of  X.  Am.,  222,  1S58.     Sec  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  159,  1869. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  261 

11.*    Polioptila  cserulea  Sclaler.    Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher. 
Common.     Generally  seen  in  the  same  situations  as  It.  calendula. 

VKRTDM. 

12.*    Lophophanes  bicolor  Bonaparte.    Crested  Titmouse. 
Common. 
13.*    Parus  atricapillus  Linne.    Black-capped  Titmouse.     Chickadee. 
Parus  atricapillus  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  341,  1766.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  I, 

137,  1808. —  Bonaparte,  Obs.  Nom.  Wils.  Orn.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat. 

Sci.,  IV,  254,  1825.— Rich.  &  Swain.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  226,  1831.— 

Audubon,  Birds  Am.,  II,  146,  pi.  cxxvi,  1841.  —  Cassin,  111.  Birds  Cal. 

I,   17,  1853.  — Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,   390,    1858.  —  Sclatek,    Cat.  Am. 

Birds,  13,  1862. —Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  80,  1864. 
Parus  palustris  Nuttall,  Man.  Orn.,  241,  1832. 
Parus  carolinensis  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  341, 1837  ;  V,  474,  pi.  clx,  1839.  — 

Audubon,  Birds  Am.,  II,  152,  pi.  cxxvii,  1841.  —  Cassin,  111.  Birds  Cal.,  I, 

17,  1853.  —  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  392,  1858.  —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds, 

14,  1862.  — Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  81,  1864. 
Parus  septentrionalis  Harris,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  II,  300,  1845. — 

Cassin,  111.  Birds  Cal.,  I,  17,  80,  pi.  xiv,   18"53.  — Baird,  Birds  N.  Am., 

389.  —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  14.  —  Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  82. 
Parus  meridionalis  Sclater,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1856,  293.  —  Baird,  Birds 

N.  Am.,  392.  —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  14.  —  Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds, 

1,81. 
Parus  occidental^  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  391,   1858.  —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am. 

Birds,  14,  1862.  — Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  81,  1864. 
Po:cila  atricapilla  Bonap.,  Consp.  Av.,  230,  1850. 
Pacila  carolinensis  Bonap.,  Ibid. 

Seen  by  Mr.  Marcy  at  Jacksonville,  where  also  specimens  of  it  were 
collected  by  Mr.  Maynard.  Not  observed  by  any  of  us  up  the  river. 
Audubon  speaks  of  having  found  it  abundant  in  the  Floridas  in  the 
winter  of  1831  and  1832,  and  "breeding  in  the  swamps  as  early  as  the 
middle  of  February."  * 

The  common  titmouse  (P.  atricapillus),  although  not  more  subject  to 
geographical  variation  than  many  other  birds,  is  one  of  the  species  in 
which  such  differences  were  first  detected,  though  not  recognized  at  the 
time  as  such.  Audubon,  in  1833,  upon  returning  to  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  from  a  visit  to  the  Eastern  States,  the  British  Provinces,  and 
Labrador,  noticed  a  considerable  difference  in  size  between  the  examples 
of  this  bird  he  met  with  at  the  North,  and  those  of  the  lowlands  of  the 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  II,  p.  153. 


202  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Carolinas.  Though  no  other  difference  was  appreciable,  he  and  his  friend 
Bachinan  thought  this  was  sufficient  to  warrant  the  description  of  the 
southern  form  as  specifically  distinct  from  the  northern.  He  accordingly 
thus  separated  them  in  the  second  volume  of  his  "  Ornithological  Biog- 
raphy." But  if  the  black-capped  titmice  of  the  Carolinas,  the  lower 
parts  of  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Southern  New  Jersey  are  distinct  from 
those  of  Massachusetts,  on  precisely  the  same  grounds  are  those  of  Mas- 
sachusetts distinct  from  those  of  Northern  Maine.  Even  the  titmice 
of  Massachusetts  are  not  just  the  same  in  winter  that  they  are  in 
summer,  those  which  breed  here  doubtless  mainly  going  south  in  winter, 
while  their  place  is  filled  by  others  that  spend  the  summer  more  to  the 
northward.  This  at  least  is  what  the  slight  average  difference  in  size 
between  summer  and  winter  specimens  seems  to  indicate.  But  the  Caro- 
lina titmouse  (P.  carolinensis)  has  been  recognized  as  valid  by  most 
subsequent  writers,  and  in  accordance  with  the  principle  upon  which  this 
supposed  species  was  admitted,  several  others  have  been  added  by  other 
authors. 

The  titmice  from  the  middle,  elevated  regions  of  the  continent,  in 
accordance  with  a  general  law  of  geographical  variation  among  both  birds 
and  mammals,  are  a  little  larger  than  those  of  either  the  Mississippi 
valley  or  the  Pacific  coast,  and  have  also,  apparently,  a  relatively  slightly 
longer  tail  and  paler  colors,  —  variations  which  occur  in  a  number  of  other 
birds  that  have  a  similar  distribution.  The  titmice  of  this  region  form 
the  Parus  septentrionalis  of  authors.  Specimens  labelled  "  Parus  septen- 
trionalis,"  collected  near  Chicago,  have  been  received  at  the  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology  from  the  Chicago  Academy.  They  do  not  differ, 
however,  from  numerous  others  collected  in  Massachusetts,  though  the 
true  P.  septentrionalis,  or  the  black-capped  titmice  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, does  have  a  slightly  longer  tail  than  those  from  the  other  parts  of  the 
continent. 

Those  which  occur  on  the  Pacific  slope  of  the  continent,  though  forming 
the  P.  occidentulis  of  authors,  are  admittedly  the  same  in  size  and  general 
appearance  as  the  P.  atricapillus  of  the  Atlantic  States,  Ibis  species  having 
been  introduced  to  the  world  with  the  following  suggestive  remarks: 
"It  is  rather  a  hazardous  undertaking  to  add  another  to  the  list  of  North 
American  black-capped  and  throated  titmice;  but  if  we  have  three  good 
species  now,  instead  of  one,  then  the  present  is  equally  entitled  to  specific 
distinction  with  carolinensis  and  septentrionalis." 

The  P.  meridionalis  was  first  made  known  from  a  single  specimen  from 
Mexico,  and  of  which  very  tew  specimens  seem  to  have  been  recognized  as 
belonging  to  it.  The  original  type  certainly  recalls  only  a  worn  summer 
specimen  of  the  common  titmouse,  though  its  darker  color  may  be  due  to 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  263 

its  southern  habitat.  Towards  the  end  of  the  breeding  season  specimens 
of  P.  atricapillus,  more  especially  females,  have  the  plumage,  particularly 
that  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  body,  much  darker  than  in  fall  and  winter, 
simply  from  the  wearing  off  of  the  rufous  and  ashy  extremities  of  the 
leathers,  July  specimens  generally  differing  much  in  color  from  winter  ones. 

In  respect  to  P.  carolinensis,  as  already  observed,  the  only  difference 
urged  as  distinguishing  it  from  P.  atricapillus  is  that  of  its  smaller  size. 
Yet  this  difference  is  so  slight  that  it  is  admitted  that  if  P.  carolinensis  and 
P.  atricapillus  were  "  separated  by  a  wide  interval  of  locality,  it  might  be  a 
question  whether  it  [P.  carolinensis']  might  not  be  a  variety.  As,  how- 
ever," it  is  urged,  "  both  are  found  together  in  the  Middle  States,  and  pre- 
serving together  their  characteristics,  there  will  be  little  risk  in  considering 
them  distinct."  Since  the  larger  birds  are,  in  the  main,  either  northern 
or  occupy  the  elevated  regions  of  the  Alleghanies,  the  two  forms  must 
necessarily  be  found  associated  together,  especially  in  winter,  through  their 
migrations.  Unfortunately,  in  the  work  where  this  group  has  been  most 
elaborately  considered,*  but  two  examples  of  each  are  cited,  with  a  state- 
ment of  their  measurements  ;  the  two  of  P.  atricapillus  being  from  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  two  of  P.  carolinensis  from  Washington,  D.  C. 
From  the  annexed  table  of  measurements  of  P.  atricapillus  from  Massachu- 
setts and  Maine,  it  will  be  seen  that  a  few  are  small  enough  to  be  regarded 
as  belonging  to  the  P.  carolinensis.  There  is,  also,  a  larger  amount 
of  seasonal  difference  in  the  color  and  general  character  of  the  plumage 
than  has  been  either  admitted  or  suspected,  as  well  as  in  size.  No  one 
who  has  previously  written  on  this  group  appears  yet  to  have  compared 
many  specimens  of  these  supposed  two  species,  or  to  have  examined  a 
sufficiently  large  number  of  either  to  become  aware  of  the  wide  differences 
that  exist  between  specimens  from  the  same  locality. 

Variations  similar  to  those  assumed  to  specifically  distinguish  P.  caro- 
linensis from  P.  atricapillus  occur  in  P.  hudsonicus  between  sj:>eeimens  from 
localities  quite  distant  in  latitude.  Dr.  Bryant  has  already  called  attention 
to  such  differences  in  the  P.  hudsonicus,  and  at  the  same  time  proposed 
for  the  southern  "variety"  the  name  of  "P.  hudsonicus  var.  littoralis." 
Concerning  this  variety  and  the  general  subject  in  question,  he  remarks 
as  follows  :  "  The  specimens  of  Paras  hudsonicus  from  Yarmouth  [Nova 
Scotia]  and  those  from  the  Hudson  Bay  territory  present  as  great,  if  not 
greater,  differences  in  size  than  exist  between  P.  carolinensis  and  P.  atri- 
capillus, and  in  color,  between  P.  septentrionalis  and  P.  atricapillus.  I  am 
inclined  myself  to  consider  P.  atricapillus,  septentrionalis,  meridionalis,  and 
occidentalis  as  varieties  of  on"  species;  but,  if  they  are  considered  as 
specifically   distinct,    there  can   be   little   question   of  the   propriety   of 

*  Baird's  Birds  of  North  America. 


264 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


separating  the  Yarmouth  bird  from  those  found  in  the  Hudson  Bay  ter- 
ritory." * 

In  the  following  table  of  measurement-!  of  twenty-seven  specimens,  all 
taken  within  ten  miles  of  Cambridge,  and  all  but  two  in  December  and 
January,  the  extremes  of  size  are  as  follows  :  Length,  4.70  and  5.75,  both 
specimens  being  females  ;  alar  extent,  7.50  and  8.60,  both  specimens  being 
also  females;  wing,  2.33  and  2.63,  also  both  females;  tail,  2.15  (female) 
and  2.G7  (male)  ;  tarsus,  .G2  (male)  and  7  7  (female).  The  average  size 
of  these  specimens  is  as  follows:  Length,  5.38  ;  alar  extent,  8.3  7  ;  wing, 
2.4  7;  tail,  2  50;  tarsus,  .70.  The  females  average  a  little  smaller  than 
the  males,  but  the  difference  is  only  slight. 

The  largest  specimen  of  the  group  of  black-capped  and  black-throated 
titmice  cited  by  Professor  Bairdf  measures  as  follows:  Length,  5.75; 
alar  extent,  8.37;  wing,  2.75;  tail,  2.86  (Parus  septentrionalis,  from  the 
Black  Hills,  Neb.,  Sm.  Inst.  No.  8827).  A  specimen  of  the  P.  carolinensis, 
cited  by  the  same  author,  measures  as  follows  :  Length,  4.62  ;  alar  extent, 
7.00  ;  wing,  2.50  ;  tarsus,  .60  (Sm.  Inst.  No.  706,  from  Washington,  D.  C). 
So  far  as  the  length  of  the  wing  and  tail  are  concerned,  specimens  are  fre- 


Measurements  of  Massachusetts  Specimens  of  Parus  atricapillus. 


Z.  No. 

jetor's 
mber. 

a! 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

if 

a 

X 

W 

si 

a 

'5 

3 

O       =3 

OZ 

S     » 
11703     52 

Ji 

hH 

< 
8.12 

2_62 

Eh 

2.07 

e3 

EH 

.75 

-' 

Cambridge,  Mass. 

Dec.  10,  '69 

AVm.  Brewster 

5.38 

L1704      86 

1 

"                 " 

Dec.  14,  '69 

" 

5.25 

812 

2.55 

2.37 

.75 

11705     87 

- 

"                 " 

Dec.  14,  "69 

" 

5.00 

7.88 

2.02 

2  50 

.02 

11708     96 

i 

"                 " 

Dec.  14,  '69 

" 

5.00 

7.50 

2.44 

2  311 

.75 

11707      'M 

..< 

"                 " 

Deo.    17,  V.I 

" 

5.06 

7.S7 

2.50 

2.50 

_ 

99 

d 

"                 " 

Dec.  17,  '69 

" 

5.12 

8.12 

2.55 

2  13 

.72 

104 

f 

"                 " 

Dec.  20,  '69 

" 

5.25 

8.00 

2.55 

2.50 

.70 

11711    103 

--" 

"                 " 

Dec.  20,  '69 

" 

5.06 

8.00 

2.02 

2  43 

.75 

11710    1"1 

•• 

"                 " 

Dec.  20,  "69 

" 

512 

8.06 

2.55 

2.43 

.75 

153 

• 

"                 " 

Jan.    7,  '70 

" 

4  94 

7.80 

2.43 

2  25 

.69 

112 

• 

"                 " 

Dec.  24,  '09 

" 

5  50 

8  12 

2.62 

.69 

206 

5 

"                 " 

Jan.  20,  '70 

" 

5  10 

8.21 

2.58 

2.55 

.70 

11706     88 

"                 " 

Dec.    L4, '69 

" 

1  94 

7  50 

2.43 

2.31 

— 

95 

5 

"                 " 

Dec.   17,  "69 

" 

5.1  ii  i 

8.00 

2.50    2  37 

.75 

11709     97 

5 

"                  ' 

Dec.   17,  '69 

" 

5.06 

7  83 

'  2  13    2  12 

. — 

11712    105 

5 

"                 " 

!).■<■.   20,  '69 

" 

5.19 

7-75 

2.5ii    2-25 

.07 

100 

5 

"                 " 

Dec.  20,  '69 

" 

8.12 

2.56    2.50 

.75 

11713    114 

5 

"                 " 

Dec.  24,  '69 

" 

5.75 

7.88 

2:,"    2  3:: 

.63 

101 

, 

Watertown,     " 

Jan.     7.  '70 

" 

5.45 

8.00 

2  .'3    264 

.69 

163 

5 

"                " 

Jan.     7,  70 

" 

4.94 

7-5n 

.69 

179 

5 

Belmont,          " 

Jan.   13,  '70 

" 

1  84 

7.55 

2.35    2.15 

•  77 

205 

5 

"                 " 

Jan.  20,  '70 

" 

5  11 

8.17 

2.54    2.42 

.70 

239 

ii                 ii 

Jan    20,  '70 

" 

7.52 

2.35   2.30 

.67 

203 

5 

Arlington,       " 

Jan.  20,  '70 

4  70 

7  75 

2  15    2.40 

.68 

4946    268 

5 

Newton,          " 

Apr.  21,  '68 

C.  J.  Maynard      5.00 

8.60 

2.58   2.30 

— 

5011  1216 

,' 

u                it 

Sept.    S,  '68 

" 

7  85 

.65 

4945    209 

■ 

Apr.  21,  -09 

5.00 

8.00 

2.41    2.35 

*  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist..  Vol.  IX,  p.  368,  April,  1865. 
t  Birds  of  North  America,  p.  39u. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  2G5 

quently  taken  in  Massachusetts  (and  of  which  I  have  measurements  before 
me)  that  are  considerably  smaller  than  this  one  from  Washington,  or 
than  any  given  in  the  above  table. 

SITTIDJE. 
14.*    Sitta  carolinensis  Gmdin.    White-breasted  Nuthatch. 
Common  ;  especially  in  the  pineries. 

15.*     Sitta  pusilla  Latham.     Brown-headed  Nuthatch. 
Common  in  the  pineries  ;  rarely  seen  elsewhere. 

TROGLODYTID^. 

16*     Troglodytes  aedon  VieSlot.     Common  "Wren. 

Tng'odyies  aedon  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  II,  52,  pi.  cvii,  1807.  —  Bona- 
parte, Richardson  &  Swainson,  Audubon.  —  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am., 
367,  1858.  —  Ibid.,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  138, 1864.  —  Maynard,  Naturalist's 
Guide,  Part  II,  p.  95,  1870. 

Troglodytes  fulvus,  Nuttall,  Man.  Am.  Orn.,  I,  422,  1832. 

Troglodytes  amerieanus  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  452,  pi.  elxxix,  1834. — 
Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  368.  —Ibid.,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  141. 

Troglodytes  Parkmani  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  V,  310,  1839.  —  P  t;d,  Birds  N. 
Am.,  367.  —  Ibid.,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  140. 

Troglodytes  sylvestris  Gambel,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Ill,  113,  1864. 

Sylvia  domestica  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  I,  129,  pi.  viii,  fig.  3,  1808. 

Abundant,  occurring  everywhere.  It  keeps  so  closely  concealed  that 
it  is  difficult  to  shoot,  except  when  on  the  wing.  Both  this  and  the 
Carolina  wren  are  exceedingly  quick  in  their  movements,  and  if  they 
are  watching  the  collector  when  he  is  about  to  shoot  at  them,  they  are 
pretty  sure  to  dodge  the  charge  ;  although  he  finds  the  bushes  and 
foliage  where  the  bird  sat  riddled  by  the  shot,  he  usually  searches  in 
vain  for  the  specimen  he  is  sure  he  ought  to  have  killed.  When  ap- 
proached in  old  grassy  fields  or  pine  openings,  they  will  allow  one  to 
almost  tread  on  them  before  attempting  to  get  away,  and  then,  instead 
of  taking  to  wing,  often  seek  to  escape  by  running  off  like  a  mouse 
beneath  the  grass.  The  term  "  house  "  wren,  usually  applied  to  this 
bird,  is  decidedly  a  misnomer,  since  it  frequents  the  fields  the  thickets, 
and  even  the  forest,  as  much  as  the  vicinity  of  houses.  In  the  wilds  of 
Florida,  where  human  habitations  are  few,  there  is  nothing  whatever  in 


266 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


The  "  wood  wren,"  Troglodytes  americanus  of  Audubon,  I  am  sure  is 
only  the  brighter  colored  ibrm  of  T.  aedon  ;  in  size  or  proportions  there 
is  nothing,  though  the  contrary  has  been  claimed,  to  distinguish  them. 
Specimens  equally  large  and  equally  small  occur  in  each  state  of  plu- 
mage, in  which  the  same  general  range  of  variation  in  proportions  is  pre- 
sented. There  is  also  an  intergradation  in  color,  and  no  observable 
difference  in  habits.  Both  forms  were  common  in  Florida ;  both  also 
occur  in  New  England,  whence  Audubon  obtained  the  first  specimen  of 
his  supposed  new  species.  Audubon  admits  that  it  "  can  hardly  be  dis- 
tinguished in  description  "  from  the  house  wren.  The  large  size  assumed 
by  him  as  characterizing  it  maybe  readily  accounted  lor  by  the  fact  of  his 
obtaining  his  first  specimens  at  Eastport  in  Maine,  which  is  the  extreme 
northern  limit  of  the  habitat  of  this  species. 

The.  following  measurements  of  fifteen  Florida  specimens  indicates  the 
usual  range  of  variation  in  respect  to  size  and  proportions  found  in  speci- 
mens from  the  same  locality.  The  extremes  of  this  series  are  as  follows  : 
Length,  4.30  and  5.10,  both  specimens  being  females  ;  alar  extent,  G.10 
and  6.95,  both  specimens  being  males  ;  wing,  1.90  and  2.44  ;  tail,  1.30  and 
2.40  ;  tarsus,  .50  and  .G8  ;  bill,  .4  7  and  .GO  (.80?).  The  differences  between 
these  extremes,  it  will  be  noticed,  are  very  great,  considering  the  small  size 
of  the  bird.  The  average  dimensions  are  as  follows :  Length,  4.89  ;  alar 
extent,  G.G1  ;  wing,  2.05  ;  tail,  1.80;  tarsus,  .52. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Troglodytes  aedon. 


6 

^i 

a 

■u  u 

■ 

a 

N 

o  0> 

-  3 

& 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

"S 

* 

W 

3 

s 

a 

O 

—  3 

Vl 

H 

C3 

S 

S3 

5* 

»3 

6.60 

2  44 

2.40 

.50 

.47 

10681 

1900 

6 

Jacksonville 

Jan. 

1/69 

C.  J.  Maynard 

4.70 



1942 

i" 

*' 

Jan. 

1,  '69 

" 

5.00 

6  50 

2.00 

1.70 

.57 

.50 



19  Hi 

:•' 

11 

Jan. 

3,  '69 

" 

5.00 

6.75 

2.05 

1.75 

.65 

.50 

10682 

1967 

<$ 

" 

Jan. 

3,  '69 

" 

4.75 

6  75 

2.05 

1  95 

.55 

.52 



L968 

■ 

" 

Jan. 

3,  :69 

" 

4.50 

6.50 

2.05 

1.65 

.61 

50 

2790 

■- 

•' 

Mar. 

20,  '69 

" 

5.65 

6.95 

2.00 

1.64 

.54 

.51 



2576 

d 

r"iniiM',t's 

Mar. 

In,  '69 

" 

5. mi 

6.  nil 

2.10 

2.00 

.62 

.50 



4 

■■ 

Jacksonville 

Mar. 

29,  '69 

" 

4.60 

6.10 

2  00 

1  so 

.61 

.60 



2033 

" 

Jan. 

5,  '69 

" 

5.70 

6.75 

2.1(1 

1.75 

.tin 

.80 



1979 

y 

" 

" 

4.3d 

6  50 

2  0(1 

1.3H 

.60 

.56 



2588 

,' 

Dnmmitt's 

Mar. 

11.  '69 

" 

6.00 

6.7(1 

L.90 

1.70 

.65 

.50 

5178 



— 

Hibernia 

Jan. 

20,  "''.'.i 

J.  A.  Allen 

5.20 

6.75 

2.03 

1.70 

,65 

.60 

5179 



— 

" 

Jan. 

2ii,  '69 

" 

4.75 

6.50 

2. mi 

1.65 

.67 

.55 





— 

Hawkinsville 

Mar. 

in,  '69 

" 

5.00 

6.50 

2.00 



6361 

~~ 

Mar. 

In,  '69 

4.87 

6.75 

•J  Oil 

— 

.68 

— 

17*    Thryothorus  ludovicianus  Bonaparte.    Carolina  Wren. 
Common.      Rarely  seen  outside  of  thickets. 

In  few  species  is  the  difference  in  color  between  northern  and  southern 
specimens  greater  than  in  this.    Florida  specimens  have  the  reddish-brown 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  267 

of  the  dorsal  surface  many  shades  deeper  than  Maryland  ones,  and  the 
under  surface  strongly  rufous.  The  tail  and  wings,  besides  bein<>-  much 
darker,  have  the  dark  bars  black,  they  being  deep  black  on  the  tail,  and 
consequently  far  more  conspicuous.  The  crissum,  however,  is  lighter  than 
in  the  Maryland  specimens,  with  the  black  bars  broader.  The  Florida 
specimens  have  also  a  much  longer  bill,  they  closely  agreeing  in  every  par- 
ticular with  the  so-called  Thryothorus  Berlandieri  of  Northeastern  Mexico 
the  Florida  specimens  even  possessing  the  interrupted  black  bars  on  the 
sides  of  the  body  said  to  occasionally  characterize  that  species  as  distin- 
guished from  the  T.  ludovicianus.  The  differences  between  Florida  and 
Maryland  specimens  of  T.  ludovicianus  in  the  length  of  the  bilL  as  well 
as  in  color,  are  very  striking.  They  are  paralleled,  however,  in  Harpo- 
rhynchus  rufus  and  in  other  species.  The  T.  Berlandieri  hence  appears  to 
be  only  the  smaller,  darker  form  of  T.  ludovicianus,  —  the  Mexican  homo- 
logue  of  the  Florida  representatives  of  this  species. 

The  Thryothorus  Bewickii,  from  what  is  known  of  its  range,  doubt- 
less occurs  as  a  resident  bird  in  Florida,  but  is  probably  rare  there,  as 
it  generally  is  elsewhere. 

lS.t    Anorthoura  hy emails  Rennie.    Winter  Wren. 
Rare.  —  Board/nan. 

19-t     Cistothorus  stellaris  Cabanis.     Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

Rare.     Enterprise,  February.  —  Boardman. 

The  Telmatodytes  palustris  doubtless  also  occurs  as  a  winter  resident. 

MOTACILLID^I. 

20.t    Anthus  ludovicianus  Lichtenstein.    Titlark. 
Common.      Several  were  usually  seen  in  company,  but  along  the 
river  I  saw  no  large  flocks.    According  to  Mr.  Maynard,  however,  they 
occurred  in  large  flocks  in  the  "  old  fields  "  away  from  the  river. 

SYLVICOLID^J. 

21. t    Mniotilta  varia  Vieillot.    Black  and  White  Creeper. 
Not  uncommon  throughout  the  winter,  but  much  more  numerous  in 
March. 
22.t     Parula  americana  Bonaparte.     Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler. 

Occasional  during  the  winter  months,  but  very  numerous  after  the 
1st  of  March,  soon  after  which  time  they  were  in  full  song. 


268  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

23.t    Helminthophaga  celata  Baird.     Orange-crowned  Warbler. 
"  Enterprise,  loth  of  February.     Rare."  —  Boardman. 

24.*     Dendrceca  pinus  Baird.     Pine  Warbler. 
Abundant.     Is  much  on  the  ground  at  this  season,  as  it  sometimes  is 
at  the  north  in  spring ;  on  the  whole,  however,  it  is  much  less  ter- 
restrial in  its  habits  than  is  D.  palmarum.    In  full  song  in  February. 

25.t  Dendrceca  palmarum  Baird.  Yellow  Redpoll  Warbler. 
Extremely  abundant.  Probably  the  most  numerous  of  the  winter 
birds  in  East  Florida,  where  it  is  more  or  less  common  in  all  situations. 
Exceedingly  terrestrial  in  its  habits,  being  generally  seen  hopping 
along  the  ground  or  fallen  timber.  At  the  1st  of  April  they  had  con- 
siderably decreased  in  numbers,  but  many  were  at  that  time  observed 
at  Jacksonville. 

There  is  some  indication  that  the  males  and  females,  and  possibly  the 
adult  and  young-,  frequent  separate  districts  at  this  season.  When  at 
Jacksonville  in  January  I  saw  only  males  ;  on  the  Upper  St.  John's,  in 
February  and  March,  only  females  or  immature  males  ;  but  these  were  in 
excessive  abundance,  as  were  also  the  males  at  the  earlier  date  around 
Jacksonville.  Is  it  not  probable  that  the  old  males  either  do  not  go  quite 
so  for  south  as  the  females  and  immature  males,  or  that  the  species  was 
already  on  its  way  north  ?  As  is  well  known,  the  males  in  the  species  of 
this  family,  as  probably  in  most  other  birds,  precede  the  females  in  their 
journey  northward. 

26. t    Dendrceca  coronata  Gray.     Yellow-crowned  Warbler. 
More  or  less  common  till  the   1st  of  April,  and  probably  some  re- 
mained still  later.     During  the  last  half  of  March  they  began  to  moult, 
but  at  the  end  of  the  month  a  large  part  were  still  in  winter  dress. 
The  same  remarks  in  respect  to  moulting  apply  also  to  D.  palmarum. 

27.*    Dendrceca  dominica  Baird.     Yellow-throated  Warbler. 
Seen  at  Jacksonville  in  January,  but  much  more  abundantly  up  the 
river  in   February  and    March.     March   5th   I  found  them    in  great 
numbers  in  the   cypress    and   maple  swamps  near   Lake   Munroe,  at 
which  time  the  spring  migration  had  commenced. 

28.*    Dendrceca  discolor  Baird.    Prairie  Warbler. 
Abundant  at  Jacksonville,  April  1st,  and  occasionally  seen  at  earlier 
dates.    This  specie-  is  undoubtedly  resident  in  Florida  the  whole  year. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  269 

29.t     Seiurus  aurocapillus  Swainson.     Golden-crowned  "Wagtail. 
Not  common.     A  few  were  seen  in  February,  as  well  as  later. 

30.  t    Seiurus  noveboracensis  NuttaU.     "Water  Wagtail. 
Rare.     Found  at  Dummitt's  by  Mr.  Maynard  in  Februrary. 

31.*     Geothlypis  triehas  Cabanis.     Maryland  Yellow-throat. 

Abundant.  Though  somewhat  brighter  colored  throughout,  they  dif- 
fer mainly  from  the  northern  type  in  the  greater  breadth  of  the  black 
facial  band.  There  is  but  little  difference  in  general  size,  that  is,  so  far 
as  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  observing ;  occasionally  a  Florida 
example  has  a  bill  considerably  longer  than  the  average  in  northern 
examples,  but  this  does  not  appear  to  be  a  very  constant  difference 
between  the  southern  and  northern  specimens.  It  would  probably  be 
more  marked  in  specimens  from  South  Florida. 

Other  species  of  this  family  were  seen  in  March  that  are  not  to  be 
reckoned  as  winter  residents.  Amonsr  them  are  the  following :  Den- 
drceca  maculosa,  D.  virens,  and  D.  pennsylvanica,  Euthhjpis  cana- 
densis, Setophaga  ruticilla,  and  Hehninthophagg.  ruJicapiUa,  all  of  which 
began  to  appear  on  the  Upper  St.  John's,  near  Enterprise,  about  the 
middle  of  March,  and  most  of  them  were  also  seen  later  at  lower  points 
on  the  river.  Helmitherus  vermivorus  and  H.  Swainsoni  were  taken  at 
St.  Augustine,  by  Mr.  L.  L.  Thaxter,  in  April. 

HIRUNDINID.E. 

32.t    Tachycineta  bicolor  Cabanis.     "White-bellied  Swallow. 
More  or  less  numerous,  but  observed  at  irregular  intervals.     Large 
flocks  were  seen  near  the   St.  John's  River  in  January.     It  probably 
does  not  breed  in  Florida. 

33.t    Cotyle  riparia  Boie.     Bank  Swallow. 
Not  observed  by  either  Boardman,  Maynard,  or  myself  prior  to  the 
last  of  March,  but  Mr.  Audubon  saw  it  in  immense  flocks  "  in  winter," 
first  at  St.  Augustine,  and  afterwards  in  other  parts  of  the  State.* 

The  Stelgidopteryx,  serripennis  was  seen  about  Jacksonville  the  first 
week  in  April,  and  specimens  of  it  were  obtained.  Several  pairs  were 
seen  flying  about  some  bluffs  a  few  miles  below  the  town,  apparently 
with  the  intention  of  selecting  breeding-places. 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  I,  p.  187. 


270  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

VIREONID^l. 
34.t    Lanivireo  solitarius  Baird.    Solitary  Vireo. 
Rather  common.     In  full  song  early  in  March. 

35.*    Vireo  noveboracensis  Bonaparte.    White-eyed  Vireo. 
Common.     In  full  sons  in  March. 

36.t    Vireosylvia  olivacea  Bonaparte.     Red-eted  Vireo. 

u  A  few  all  winter."  —  Boardman.  Common  after  the  1st  of  March, 
on  the  Middle  St.  John's. 

The  Yellow-throated  Vireo,  Lanivireo  Jiavifrons,  was  quite  common 
early  in  March,  and  is  undoubtedly  a  winter  resident  in  South  Florida. 

AMPELID-EJ. 

37.t    Ampelis  cedrorum  Baird.    Cedar  Bird. 
Common.     Perhaps  resident. 

LANIID-B3. 

38.*    Collurio  ludovicianus  Baird.    Loggerhead  Shrike. 

Lanius  ludovicianus  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  184,  1766.  — Bonaparte,  Nuttall, 

Audubon. —  Gambel,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Ill,  200,  1847. 
Lanius  garrulus  Bartram,  Travels,  289,  1791  (no  description). 
? Lanius  ardosiaceus  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  81,  pi.  li,  1807.  —  Bonaparte, 

Obs.  on  Wils.  Nomenc,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  III.  358,  1824. 
Lanius  carolinensis  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  Ill,  57,  pi.  xxii,  fig.  5,  1811. 
Lanius  excubitoroides  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  pi.  xxxiv,  1831. 
Lanius  elegans  Swainson,  Ibid.,  122.  —  Nuttall,  Man.  Am.  Orn.,  I,  2d  ed., 

287,  1840.  — Gambel,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  I,  261,  1843. 
Lanius  mexicanus  Brehm,   Cab.  Journ.  fur  Orn.,  II,  145,  1854.  —  Sclater, 

Catal.  Am.  Birds,  46,  1861. 
Collurio  ludovicianus  Baird,  Birds  of  N.  Am.,  325,  1858.  —  Allen,  Amer. 

Nat.,  III.  579,  1869.  —Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  443,  1866. 
Collurio  excubitoroides  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  337. — Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds, 

I,  445.  — Cooper  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  138,  1870. 
Collurio  elegans  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  328.  —  Baird,  Rev.  Am.  Birds,  I,  444. 

Cooper  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  140,  1870. 

Not  very  numerous. 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  questionable  distinctness  of  the  so-called 
C.  excubitoroides  from  the  present  species.*     Further  examination  of  the 

*  See  a  series  of  articles  in  the  ''American  Naturalist,"  entitled  "  Notes  on  some  of 
the  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts,"  Vol.  Ill,  1869. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  271 

subject  has  only  confirmed  me  in  the  opinion  that  they  are  not  distinct, 
and  that  in  all  probability  the  C.  elegans  of  California  should  also  be  re- 
ferred to  the  C.  ludovicianus.* 

TANAGRID-2E. 

The  Pyranga  (estiva  became  common  on  the  Lower  St.  John's 
April  1st  to  5th,  but  was  not  observed  previously.  P.  rubra  was  not 
seen  at  all. 

A  considerable  number  of  specimens  of  this  species  (P.  cestiua)  in  the 
Museum,  from  the  Atlantic  States,  present  great  differences  in  the  size  of 
the  bill  in  respect  to  vertical  and  lateral  thickness,  as  well  as  in  the  posi- 
tion and  distinctness  of  the  "  tooth "  of  the  bill,  and  in  the  curvature 
of  the  commissure,  as  indicated  by  the  accompanying  figures  (Plata  IV, 
figs.  19,  20).  They  also  vary  greatly  in  intensity  of  color,  both  of  the  bill 
and  plumage,  as  do  different  specimens  of  P.  rubra  from  Massachusetts. 
Hence  species  based  solely  on  such  distinctions  should  be  accepted,  if  at 
all,  with  great  hesitancy,  f 

FRINGILLID^l. 
39.t     Chrysomitris  tristis  Bonaparte.     Yellow  Bird. 
Common   throughout  the  winter,  and  as  numerous  the  first  week  in 
April  as   earlier. 

I  am  sure  I  heard  the  notes  of  the  Pine  Finch  {Chrysomitris  pinus), 
but  as  I  obtained  no  specimens  of  it  and  do  not  find  it  reported  by 
others,  I  do  not  include  it  in  the  present  list.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  this  species  and  the  Purple  Finch  (Carpodacus  purpureas)  are 
occasional  winter  visitors. 

*  Since  writing  the  above  I  have  met  with  the  following  observations  on  this  group, 
made  by  Dr.  Gambel,  in  his  "  Remarks  on  the  Birds  observed  in  Upper  California  " 
(Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  200,  1S47):  "In  the  shrikes  we  are  presented 
with  a  group  of  birds  closely  allied  to  each  other,  and  undergoing  such  changes  in 
plumage  as  renders  them  difficult  to  discriminate.  Although  examined  with  great  care 
by  Swainson  in  the  Fauna  Boreali-Americana,  yet  he  appears  to  have  laid  too  much 
Stress  upon  characters  subject  to  great  variation,  as  sue,  relative  length  of  quills,  and 

color The  relative  length  of  quills  in  the  snrikes  i»  an  uncertain  character,  and 

differs  very  much  according  to  age.  In  the  young  of  this  species  the  second  quill  is 
generally  much  shorter  than  the  sixth,  but  in  the  adult  equals  and  may  even  exceed  the 
sixth  in  length;  the  proportion  of 'he  third,  fourth  and  fifth  to  each  other  is  also  exceed- 
ingly various,  and  indeed  m  each  wing  of  the  same  bird  it  is  very  common  to  find  the 
proportions  of  the  quills  differing  very  materially.  This  I  have  found  to  be  the  case  in 
the  European  and  botb  American  ,veeies  [iniluno  ludovicianus  and  C.  borealis)." 

t  See  some  remarks  on  the"  Uniformly  red  >pecies  of  Pyranga,"  m  Proceed.  Phil. 
Aead.  Nat.  Sciences,  p.  127.  June,  l&G'J. 


272  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

40.t     PasserculllS  savanna  Bonaparte.     Savanna  Sparrow. 

Emheriza  sandwichensis  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  875,  1788. 

Emberiza  arctica  Latham,  Ind.  Orn.,  I,  414,  1790. 

Emheriza  chrysops  Pallas,  Zool.  Rosso-Asiat.,  II,  45,  pi.  xlviii,  fig.  2,  1811. 

Fringilla  savanna  Wilson,  Am.  Urn.,  Ill,  55,  pi.  xxii,  fig.  2,  1811. 

Passerculus  savanna  Bonaparte,  Geog.  ami  Comp.  List.,  3.3,  1838.  —  Baird, 

Birds  N.  Am.,  442,  1858.  —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  112,  1862. 
Passerculus  alaudinus  Bonaparte,  Compte    Rendu,   XXXVII,  918,  1853. — 

Baird,  Birds  X   Am.,  446,  1858.  —  Sclatek,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  112,  1862. — 

Coues,  Proc  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XVIII,  84,  1866.  — CouES,Proc.  Essex 

Inst.,  V,  281,  1868.—  Cooper  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  181,  1870. 
Passerculus  ant/unus  Bonaparte,  Compte   Rendu,    XXXVII,   919,    1853. — 

Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  445,  1858.  —  Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  112,  1862.  — 

Cooper  &  Baird,  I,  18.3. 
Passerculus  sandwichensis  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  444,  1858.  —  Sclater,  Cat. 

Am.  Birds,  112,  1862.  — Cooper  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  180. 

Abundant,  especially  on  the   savannas,  where   it  was  the  principal 
sparrow  seen. 

This  species,  like  all  the  sparrows,  varies  considerably  in  color  with  the 
season  of  the  year.  Fall  specimens,  and  especially  the  young  of  the  year, 
have  the  yellow  superciliary  stripe  very  indistinctly  defined,  it  being  in 
numerous  cases  entirely  obsolete.  The  general  plumage  is  also  much 
browner,  with  the  streaks  on  the  dorsal  surface  suffused  and  obscured  with 
ferruginous,  and  those  below,  as  in  fall  specimens  of  Melospiza  melodia, 
bordered  with  the  same  tint.  Different  individuals  also  vary  considerably 
in  the  breeding  season,  some  being  much  grayer  above  than  others ;  the 
superciliary  line  varies  from  bright  yellow  to  grayish  white,  with  the  yellow 
either  entirely  wanting  or  limited  to  a  slight  wash  on  the  part  anterior  to 
the  eve.  This  graver  plumage  and  faded  condition  of  the  superciliary 
stripe  is  more  especially  seen  towards  the  end  of  the  breeding  season. 
The  spots  below  also  vary  so  much  in  size  as  to  give  very  different  aspects 
to  the  plumage  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  body  in  different  specimens.  In 
some  they  form  little  more  than  a  narrow  line  along  the  middle  of  the 
feathers  of  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  body  ;  ill  others  they  are  quite 
broad,  occupying  relatively  a  much  larger  surface  ;  occasionally,  also,  they 
are  aggregated  on  the  lower  part  of  the  breast,  forming  a  large  conspicuous 
patch,  as  distinct  as  is  ever  seen  in  Melospiza  melodia.  The  general  size. 
of  the  bird  also  varies  considerably,  as  is  indicated  in  the  accompanying 
table  of  measurements,  and  the  bill  i-  subjeel  to  very  marked  variations  in 
respect  to  length,  size,  thickness,  and  slenderness,  as  substantiated  by  a 
series  of  nearly  one  hundred  specimens  now  before  me,  including  some 
thirty  specimens  taken  at   Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  in  the  breeding  season. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  273 

These  specimens  are  separable  to  some  extent  into  several  series,  which 
may  be  based  either  upon  difference  in  general  size,  the  character  of  the 
bill,  or  upon  coloration;  but  these  several  kinds  of  variation  fail  to  cor- 
roborate each  other.  If  separated  upon  differences  in  size,  the  two  or 
more  series  thus  separated  embrace  every  combination  of  the  other  dif- 
ferences ;  and  similar  incongruities  result  when  the  separation  is  made 
upon  differences  in  coloration  or  other  characters.  Yet  the  Massachusetts 
specimens  present  among  themselves  differences  as  well  marked  and  of  the 
same  character  as  is  assumed  to  distinguish  several  of  the  so-called  species 
from  the  Pacific  coast,  that  have  been  proposed  and  adopted  by  different 
authors. 

Alexander  Wilson  was  the  first  naturalist  who  gave  any  adequate  de- 
scription of  the  species  in  question,  though  the  Emberiza  sandwichensis  of 
Gnielin  unmistakably  refers  to  this  bird,  and  this  name  having  been  given 
long  before  that  of  Wilson,  should,  in  accordance  with  the  rule  of  priority, 
supplant  Wilson's  more  euphonious  and  familiar  one  of  savanna.  The  first 
supposed  species  recognized  by  modern  writers  after  the  well-known  one  of 
Wilson  was  the  P.  alaudinus,  described  by  Bonaparte  in  1853,  in  his  notes 
on  the  Delattre  collection,*  from  a  specimen  from  California.  He  says  it 
is  not  easily  distinguished  from  P.  savanna,  but  differs  from  it  in  being 
smaller,  with  the  bill  shorter  and  slenderer,  and  in  wanting  the  yellow 
superciliary  line.f  Professor  Baird  redescribed  it  in  his  Birds  of  North 
America  in  similar  language,  and  cites  under  it  five  specimens,  which  came 
respectively  from  Brownsville,  Texas;  Tamaulipas.  Mexico;  Petaluma, 
Cal..  and  Shoalwater  Bay.  AY.  T.  lie  remarks  respecting  it  as  follows: 
"This  species,  if  really  distinct  from  P.  sacanna,  differs  in  the  rather 
smaller  size,  although  the  difference  is  not  great,  and  in  the  considerably 
paler  colors.  The  superciliary  stripe  shows  a  very  faint  trace  of  yellow, 
especially  anteriorly  near  the  bill.  In  some  specimens,  as  4342,  there  is 
none  at  all."  Bonaparte,  in  his  paper  just  cited,  added  another  "  new 
species"  from  Kodiak,  Alaska,  which  he  called  Passercidus  anthinus,  and 
described  as  follows:  "  Passercidus  anthinus,  Bp.,  ex  Kadiak,  Am.  Ross. 
Simillimus  pr&cedenli,  sed  rostro  eliam  graciliore  et  capite  jlavo  induto ; 
subtus  alho-rufttcens  matjis  maculatus."  He  says  it  is  still  smaller  and  has 
the  bill  slenderer  even  than  the  other,  and  that  it  appears  to  live  farther 
noi-th.  Professor  Baird  al~<>  redescribes  this  species,  and  is  much  more 
explicit  in  his   account   of  it.     He    says :   "  Similar   to   P.  savanna,    but 

smaller Breast  and  upper  part  of  belly  thickly  spotted  with  sharply 

defined  sagittate  brown  spots,  exhibiting  a  tendency  to  aggregation  on  the 

*  Compte  Rendu,  Tome  XXXVII,  p.  918. 

t  "  Passerculus  alaudinus,  Bp.,  ex  Wils.,  mais  plus  petite  sans  jaune  aux  sourcils  et 
a  bee  plus  court  et  plus  effileV' 
VOL.    II.  18 


274  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

middle  of  the  belly,"  etc.  He  adds  :  "  This  species  is  the  smallest  of  its 
group,  and  differs  from  all  in  the  much  greater  amount  of  spotting  on  the 
under  parts.  The  streaks,  indeed,  extend  over  the  whole  breast  and  upper 
part  of  the  abdomen,  instead  of  being  mainly  confined  to  the  jugulum."  It 
differs,  he  says,  from  P.  alaudinus  "in  the  strong  shade  of  yellow  on  the 
head,  the  much  darker  tints  above,  and  the  thick  crowding  of  larger  and 
better  defined  spots  beneath,  with  a  faint  tinge  of  reddish."  lie  refers  to 
it  three  specimens  from  San  Francisco,  Benicia,  and  Petaluma,  California. 

In  1858  Professor  Baird  added  still  another  species  of  Passerculus  to 
those  previously  recognized,  through  the  redescription  of  the  original  type 
of  this  group,  the  Emberiza  sandwichensis  of  Gmelin,  based  upon  La- 
tham's Sandwich  Bunting  *  and  Pennant's  Unalaska  Bunting.f  The  name 
Sandwich,  as  Professor  Baird  has  remarked,  refers  not  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  but  to  Sandwich  Sound,  on  the  northern  coast.  To  this  species 
Baird  judiciously  refers  the  Emberiza  arctica  of  Latham  J  and  Vigors,  § 
and  the  E.  chrysops  of  Pallas.  ||  Professor  Baird's  description  of  it  is  as 
follows :  "  Almost  exactly  like  P.  savanna,  but  half  an  inch  larger,  with 
much  larger  bill.  Length,  6.12  ;  wing,  3.00 ;  tail,  2.55.  Habitat,  north- 
western coast,  from  the  Columbia  River  to  Kussian  America."  He  also 
further  observes  :  "  This  species  is  extremely  similar  to  the  P.  savanna,  and 
is  only  distinguishable  by  its  greater  size  and  more  western  locality.  The 
tail  feathers  also  are  rather  more  acutely  pointed.  There  is  also  a  greenish- 
yellow  shade  on  the  top  and  sides  of  the  head,  brighter  than  is  seen  in  P. 
savanna.  The  bill  is  considerably  larger  and  longer,  measuring  .51  of  an 
inch  above  instead  of  .44."  To  this  is  referred  one  specimen  from  "  Rus- 
sian America,"  one  from  Fort  Steilacoom,  W.  T.,  and  three  from  Shoal- 
water  Bay,  W.  T.,  three  of  which  measure  as  is  indicated  in  the  above- 
quoted  description,  and  the  other  nearly  three  fourths  of  an  inch  less. 

In  respect  to  size,  then,  it  appears  that  the  so-called  P.  sandwichensis  is 
the  larger,  the  P.  savanna  the  next  in  size,  P.  alaudinus  the  third,  ami  /'. 
anthinus  the  smallest.  So,  at  least,  it  is  claimed  ;  but  from  the  measure- 
ments published  in  Birds  of  North  America,  a  female  of  P.  savanna  from 
Carlisle,  Pa.  (No.  780),  is,  with  one  exception  (No.  4340,  from  Browns- 
ville, Texas),  the  smallest  of  the  specimens  of  this  genus  of  which  meas- 
urements are  there  given  ;  two  others  from  Pennsylvania  are  below  the 
average  of  A  alaudinus.  No.  10,203,  from  Russian  America,  referred  to 
P.  sandwichensis,  is  scarcely  larger  than   an   average  P.  sava?ina.     The 

*  Latham's  Synopsis,  Vol.  II,  p.  202,  1783. 

t  Pennant's  Arctic  Zoology,  Vol.  II,  Species  No.  229,  pp.  320,  368. 

X  Indian  Ornithology,  Vol.  I,  p.  414,  1790. 

§  Zoology  of  the  Blossom,  p.  20,  1839. 

||  Zoographia  Rosso-Asiatica,  Vol.  II,  p.  45,  pi.  xlviii,  fig.  1,  1811. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  275 

accompanying  series  of  measurements  shows  that  specimens  occur  in 
Massachusetts  as  large  and  as  small  as  any  specimens  of  the  genus  of 
which  measurements  are  given  by  Professor  Baird. 

In  respect  to  the  geographical  distribution  of  these  different  supposed 
species,  it  will  be  observed  that  of  the  three  West  Coast  species,  the  larger, 
P.  sandwichensis,  is  northern,  and  the  others,  P.  alaudinus  and  P.  anthi- 
nus, southern,  which  perfectly  explains  the  difference  in  size  that  occurs 
between  them.*  In  respect  to  P.  alaudinus  and  P.  anthinus,  one  is  only 
the  paler  colored  and  the  other  the  brighter  colored  form  of  the  common 
savanna  sparrow  as  represented  in  the  Pacific  States ;  the  three  supposed 
species  together  forming  a  series  similar  to  what  is  seen  when  a  large 
number  of  specimens  of  this  bird  from  the  Atlantic  States  are  compared. 
In  other  words,  the  characters  whereon  these  species  are  based  are  evi- 
dently only  individual  differences.  The  P.  alaudinus  is  the  form  with 
narrow  streaks  and  generally  paler  tints,  or  that  having  a  minimum  inten- 
sity of  color ;  the  P.  anthinus  is  that  with  the  brighter  tints,  or  with  the 
maximum  intensity  of  color,  the  greater  breadth  of  the  streaks,  and  the 
rufous  suffusion  below  correlating  with  the  generally  brighter  tints.  Aside 
from  this  normal  range  of  variation  referred  to  at  length  in  Part  III 
as  obtaining  in  all  species,  there  i«  that  of  season  to  be  taken  into 
account,  as  the  fading  of  the  superciliary  stripe  and  the  grayer  aspect  of 
the  plumage  above  towards  the  end  of  the  breeding  season,  through  the 
natural  wearing  and  bleaching  of  the  plumage,  f  and  also  the  rufous  suf- 
fusion and  greater  amount  of  color  characteristic  of  the  renewed  plumage 
in  fall.  It  will  be  noticed  that  authors  report  the  occurrence  of  all  the 
western  species  either  actually  at  or  near  the  -same  points^  while  P. 
savanna  was  not  until  recently  supposed  to  occur  on  the  Pacific  slope  of  the 
continent.  §  But  one  of  the  others  have  been  announced  from  the  plains 
as  far  east  as  Nebraska,  ||  and  from  Brownsville,  Texas.^f 

In  respect  to  the  habits  of  these  supposed  species,  there  is  nothing 
attributed  to  the  western  one  that  is  not  equally  applicable  to  the  eastern 
bird.  Dr.  Coues,  it  is  true,  says  that  in  Southern  California  P.  anthinus 
seemed  confined  to  the  moist  salt  grass  and  sedgy  weeds  of  the  sea-shore 

*  Since  the  above  was  written,  Mr.  Dall  has  given,  not  only  P.  savanna  and  P.  sand- 
mchensis,  but  also  P.  alaudinus  and  P.  anthinus  in  his  list  of  the  birds  of  Alaska.  (See 
Trans.  Chicago  Acad.  Sciences,  Vol.  I,  pp.  283, '284.) 

t  See  Part  III,  p.  193. 

J  See  Professor  Baird,  "  Birds  of  North  America,"  Dr.  Coues,  "  Notes  on  the  Birds  of 
Arizona  Territory,"  and  Cooper's  Ornithology  of  California. 

§  It  has  recently  been  reported  by  Mr.  Dall  as  common  in  Alaska. 

||  P.  alaudinus,  Sclater's  Catalogue  of  American  Birds,  p.  112. 

^  P.  alaudinus,  Baird,  in  Birds  of  North  America,  p.  446. 


276  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

itself.  "  When  with  difficulty  it  was  flushed,  its  flight  was,"  he  remarks, 
"  very  rapid  and  irregular  ;  and  it  would  alight  again  almost  immediately, 
and  run  with  great  celerity  among  the  roots  of  the  thick  grasses.  It  was 
then  exceedingly  difficult  to  procure."  *  All  of  which  is  quite  true  of 
P.  savanna  when  frequenting  the  salt  marshes,  which  form  its  most  favor- 
ite resort  in  Massachusetts.  "  I',  alaudinus"  he  says,  "was  common  two 
or  three  miles  away  from  the  coast,  but  on  the  sea-shore  itself  I  never 
found  one  mixing  with  P.  ant/anus  ;  it  is  a  bush-and-weed  rather  than 
a  grass  species."  P.  saccuuia  also  frequents  similar  localities.  Mr. 
Dall,  under  P.  antJiinus,  has  also  accurately  indicated  the  habits  of  the 
eastern  Passerculus.  Under  P.  savanna,  however,  he  mentions  a  fact 
in  respect  to  the  breeding  habits  of  this  species  I  have  never  before  seen 
mentioned  as  characterizing  any  of  the  Passerculi,  namely,  its  nesting  in 
bushes.  I  have  met  with  many  nests  of  the  eastern  savanna  sparrow,  and 
have  always  found  them  placed  on  the  ground,  usually  in  a  tuft  of  grass. 

To  recur  again  to  the  series  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology, 
I  may  add  that  while  some  of  the  Ipswich  specimens,  taken  late  in  June, 
have  a  decidedly  yellow  superciliary  stripe,  none  have  it  so  bright  as  it  is 
usually  in  spring  specimens  ;  in  a  considerable  proportion  it  is  very  pale, 
and  in  Nos.  4700,  10GC8,  etc.,  it  is  grayish-white,  with  no  perceptible  trace 
of  yellow.  No.  5099,  and  some  others,  have  the  spots  on  the  breast  and 
sides  very  narrow,  occupying  but  a  small  share  of  the  surface  ;  on  the 
other  hand,  in  No.  5088,  as  also  in  several  others  of  the  series,  the  spots 
are  so  broad  as  to  occupy  more  space  than  the  enclosing  white  portion. 
In  other  specimens,  taken  at  a  different  season  of  the  year,  the  "rufous 
tinge"  surrounding  the  spots  referred  to  in  the  above-quoted  description 
of  P.  anthinus  is  very  marked.  There  is  likewise  great  difference  in  the 
color  of  the  upper  surface,  in  different  specimens.  In  some  the  black  cen- 
tral spots  of  the  interscapularies  are  so  broad  as  to  give  to  the  dorsal  aspect 
a  very  dark  tint;  in  others,  taken  the  same  day  at  the  same  locality,  they 
are  so  restricted  that  the  general  aspect  of  this  surface  is  gray.  The  bills 
of  the  different  specimens  vary  as  much  in  length  and  robustness  as  they 
are  represented  to  do  in  the  two  extremes  in  this  respect  in  the  western 
bird.  Some  of  the  long-billed  ones  have  the  bill  slender:  others  have  it 
thick  and  stout.  Occasionally  one  has  the  upper  mandible  projecting 
considerably  beyond  the  lower,  but  only  in  cases  where  it  is  abnormally 
developed.  A  specimen  from  Fort  Bridger,  Utah  (No.  11115  of  the 
Smithsonian  Catalogue),  in  the  Museum,  labelled  Passerculus  alaudinus 
at  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  is  of  this  character,  the  upper  mandible 
being  very  much  abnormally  developed  and  decurved,  and  projecting 
much  beyond  the  lower. 

*  Ibis,  July,  1S66,  268. 


MUSEUM   <">F   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  277 

In  short,  while  not  denying  that  there  maybe  a  slight  average  difference 
between  eastern  and  western  specimens,  as  I  know  there  is  between  those 
of  the  Central  Plains  and  those  of  the  Atlantic  States,  I  cannot  allow  that 
it  is  at  all  sufficient  to  substantiate  a  specific  difference.  On  the  contrary, 
I  am  confident  that  the  above-named  supposed  species  of  the  Pacific 
States  are  based  chiefly  on  individual  variation  perfectly  parallel  with 
that  seen  in  a  large  series  of  specimens  from  the  Atlantic.  States.  No 
one,  in  fact,  seems  to  have  felt  very  confident  that  any  of  them  were 
distinct  from  the  eastern  P.  savanna.  Dr.  Coues  has  even  repeatedly 
expressed  his  belief  that  Passeixulus  alaudinus  is  not  permanently  dis- 
tinct from  that  species.  "  In  a  large  series  of  the  latter,"  he  says,  '•  shot 
about  Washington,  I  have  found  fully  as  great  differences  as  I  have  ever 
detected  in  comparing  the  eastern  with  the  western  forms."  * 

Dr.  Cooper  also  refers  as  follows  to  the  close  resemblance  of  the  P. 
alaudinus  to  the  P.  sayulwichensis.  He  says,  "  I  think  it  very  doubt- 
ful whether  these  specimens  (which  measure  larger  than  the  dimensions 
given  by  Baird,  though  otherwise  agreeing)  are  anything  more  than  a 
southern  form  of  P.  sandwichensis,  though  collected  near  San  Diego. 
....  Baird  considers  it  almost  identical  with  P.  sacanna  of  the  east, 
and  says  that  P.  sand/vichensis  differs  from  that  species  in  its  larger 
size.  Spring  specimens  have  the  superciliary  stripe  more  decidedly  yel- 
low, so  that  there  only  remains  a  more  slender  bill  to  distinguish  this 
from  P.  savanna,  and  the  larger  size  (characteristic  of  northern  speci- 
mens generally),  with  darker  hues,  from  P.  sandwichensis."  f  Respecting 
P.  anthinus  Dr.  Cooper  remarks,  "  This  species  appears  better  marked,  as 
compared  with  P.  savanna,  than  the  preceding  [P.  alaudinus  and  P.  sand- 
wichensis], although  I  am  not  entirely  satisfied  that  it  is  different."  J 

The  following  measurements  of  twenty-six  specimens  (fourteen  males 
and  twelve  females),  all  taken  at  Ipswich  during  June  and  July,  1868,  and 
measured  before  skinning,  indicates  the  range  of  individual  variation  pre- 
sented by  this  species.  The  extremes  are  as  follows  :  Length,  5.20  and 
6.00,  both  males;  alar  extent,  7.61  and  9.75,  both  females;  wing,  2.44  and 
2.95  ;  tail,  1 .64  and  2.25  ;  tarsus,  .75  and  .88.  The  average  dimensions  are  : 
Length,  5.20  ;  alar  extent,  8.79  ;  wing,  2.70;  tail,  1.96  ;  tarsus,  .84.  The 
following  are  the  extremes  of  the  series  of  measurements  of  the  western 
Passerculi,  given  in  Birds  of  North  America  :  Length,  5.00  (P.  alaudinus 
Tamaulipas,  Mex.)  and  6.12  (P.  sandicichensis,  Fort  Steilacoom,  \V.  T.)  ; 
alar  extent,  8.50  and  9.37  (same  specimens)  ;  wing,  2.50  and  2.95  (same 
specimens)  ;  tail,  2.00  and  2.57  (same  specimens).     It  thus  appears  that 

*  Ibis,  July,  1866,  p.  289. 

t  Ornithology  of  California,  Vol.  I,  p.  182. 

J  Ibid.,  p.  183. 


278 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


specimens  taken  in  the  breeding  season  in  Massachusetts,  overlap  in  two 
out  of  the  four  measurements  given,  all  the  so-called  western  species, 
while  specimens  taken  in  Massachusetts  at  other  seasons,  vary  still  more 
than  the  specimens  cited  in  the  following  table. 

Measurements  of  Massachusetts  Specimens  of  Passerctjlus  savanna, 
taken  in  the  Breeding  Season. 


6 

m 

^ 

X 

o 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

a 

a 
w 

to 

c 

"3 

9 

6 
8 

s  5 

oz 

C/J 

►2 

< 

£ 

E-i 

03 

5083 

811 

ft 

Ipswich 

June  12, 

'68 

Allen  &  Maynard 

5.70 

8.32 

2  72 

2.07 



821 ' 

d 

June  13, 

:68 

5.76 

9.25 

255 

2.00 

.85 

5086 

S40 

d 

June  14, 

•68 

5.65 

9.15 

2.75 

1.85 

.85 

5087 

848 

d 

June  14, 

68 

5.50 

9.13 

2.75 

2.07 

84 

5089 

852 

d 

June  15, 

•68 

5.40 

9.10 

2  65 

2.00 

.85 

5090 

853 

d 

June  15, 

'68 

5.70 

9.20 

2.08 

2.10 

.87 

5094 

854 

■' 

June  15, 

v,s 

5.70 

9.25 

2  04 

1.95 

.88 



855 

d 

June  15, 

'68 

9.15 

2.75 

185 

84 

5901 

S56 

d 

June  15, 

-68 

1.40 

9.25 

2  60 

193 

.80 

5092 

857 

d 

June  15, 

'68 

5.20 

9.37 

2  95 

2.00 

— 

5092 

858 

d 

June  15, 

'68 

5.40 

9  25 

2.63 

2  06 

.83 

5096 

832 

d 

Juiih  17, 

'68 

6.76 

8  00 

2  90 

2  00 

— 

5098 

873   j 

June  17, 

os 

5.83 

7  75 

2.* 

2.10 





881   c 

r 

June  17, 

•68 

6.00 

827 

2.74 

2.25 



5082 

810    : 

> 

June  12, 

68 

5.42 

8.81 

271 

1.81 



5084 

819    \ 

June  13, 

•63 

5.75 

S-85 

2.57 

1.83 

.83 

5084 

847    ^ 

June  14, 

•68 

5.54 

8.55 

2.70 

1.90 

.80 

r.uss 

851    f, 

June  15, 

'68 

5.75 

9.75 

2.70 

2.05 

.75 

5094 

859'  (, 

June  17, 

•68 

5.45 

8.90 

2-65 

2.05 

.85 

5095 

860    $ 

> 

June  17, 

■68 

5  25 

8.50 

2-44 

1.85 



5096 

862 

June  17, 

•68 

5,70 

8.90 

2.7i 

1.90 



6097 

878;  ? 

June  17, 

'68 

5.75 

«  7.01 

2.60 

1.80 



5099 

877:  { 

June  17, 

'68 

5-75 

8.05 

2.75 

2.00 





890 !  <, 

June  17, 

'68 

5.35 

9.75 

2. 77 

1.95 



5100 

1006    5 

July  15, 

'68 

C.  J.  Maynard 

5.65 

795 

2^72 

2.00 

.87 

1158:   $ 

> 

Aug   19, 

•68 

5.30 

8.50 

2.70 

1.64 

.85 

41.t     Poocsetes  gramineus  Baird.    Grass  Finch. 
Abundant,  especially  in  and  about  the  old  fields.     The  most  numer- 
ous sparrow  in  East  Florida  in  winter. 

42.t    Junco  hyemalis  Sclater.     Snow  Bird. 
"  Common    in  January."  —  Boardman.      Not    seen    by  either  Mr. 
Maynard  or  myself.     Probably  of  somewhat  irregular  occurrence  so 
far  south. 

43.t     Spizella  SOCialis  Bonaparte.     Chipping  Sparrow. 
Common.     A  large  proportion  of  those  seen  were  young  birds. 

44*     Spizella  pusilla  Bonaparte.     Field  Sparrow. 
Common.     More  numerous  than  the  preceding  species  (S.  socialis). 
They  appeared  to  be  breeding  at  Jacksonville  the  first  week  in  April. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  279 

The  songs  of  the  males  were  so  different  from  those  of  the   northern 
binl  that  the  species  was  almost  unrecognizable  by  me  from  its  notes. 

45.t    Zonotrichia  albicollis  Swainson.    White-throated  Sparrow. 
Generally  more  or  less  common. 

46. t    Melospiza  melodia  Baird.     Song  Sparrow. 
Not  numerous.     At  least  comparatively  few  were  seen. 

47.t     Melospiza  palustris  Baird.     Swamp  Sparrow. 
Common,  frequenting  the  hummocks  and  swamps. 

48.t    Passerella  iliaca  Swainson.     Fox-colored  Sparrow. 
A  single  specimen  was  seen  by  Mr.  G.  A.  Boardman  at  Enterprise. 
None  were  seen  by  Mr.  Maynard  or  myself. 

49.t    Ammodromus  maritimus  Swainson.    Seaside  Finch. 
"  Abundant  at  Fernandina."  —  Boardman. 

50.t    Ammodromus  caudacutus  Swainson.     Sharp-tailed  Finch. 

"  Abundant,  with  the  preceding."  —  Boardman.  Although  I  have 
marked  as  winter  visitors  both  these  species  of  Ammodromus,  they  may 
be  resident. 

51. t    Coturniculus  Henslowi  Bonaparte.     Henslow's  Sparrow. 
Stated  by  Audubon   to  be   abundant  in  winter  on  the  grassy  pine 
barrens  of  Florida.* 

52.*    Peucsea  aestivalis  Baird.    Pine-wood  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  aestivalis  Lichtenstein,  Verzeich.  Doubleder  Zool.  Mus.  der  konigl. 

Univ.  zu  Berlin,  25,  1823. 
Fringilla  Bachmani  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  366,  pi.  clxv,  1834. 
Fringilla  astiva  Nuttall,  Man.  Orn.,  I,  2d  ed.,  568,  1846. 
Peucau  Bachmani  Audubon,  Syn.  Am.  Birds,  112,  1839. 
Peuccea  ccsti calls  Cabanis,  Mus.  Hein.,  132,  1850. 

Zonotrichia  Cussinii  Woodiiouse,  Proe.  Phil.  Arad.  Xat.  Sci.,  1852,  60. 
Peucoca  Cussinii  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  485,  1858. 

Common,  but  confined  to  the  pine  woods. 

The  twenty-two  specimens,  collected  by  Mr.  Maynard's  party  and 
myself,  now  in  the  Museum,  present  considerable  differences.  Several 
are  so  different  in  color  from  most  of  the  others  as  to  almost  have  the 
appearance  of  being  a  different  species,  the  general  color  of  the  upper 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  76. 


280 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


parts  being  rufous  instead  of  gray.  These  are  all  females,  the  others 
being  males.  But  the  males  differ  greatly  in  color,  few  of  our  sparrows 
being  more  variable  in  this  respect  than  the  present  species. 

The  following  measurements  of  twenty-two  Florida  specimens  indicate 
quite  a  constancy  in  size,  much  greater  than  in  color.  The  extremes  of 
this  scries  are  as  follows:  Length,  5.75  and  6.20;  alar  extent,  7. GO  and 
8.30  ;  wing,  2.17  and  2.55  ;  tail,  2.25  and  2.G8.  Average  :  Length,  5.88; 
alar  extent,  8.99  ;  wing,  2.40;  tail,  2.49. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Peucjea  aestivalis. 


6     ' 

•n 

^ 

55 

S3 

Sii 

■r  a 

y. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

A 

a 

m 

'3 

3 

d 
5377 

=  3 

oz 

d 

iS 

<! 

% 

EH 

2.50 

H 

.76 

5377 

Hawkinsville 

Mar.  13,  '69 

J.A.Allen 

6.00 

8.20 

2.35 

5393 

5398 

" 

Mar.  15,  '69 

" 

5.S5 

8.05 

liLS 

2.3(1 

.75 

5425 

5425 

? 

Jacksonville 

Apr.    2,  '69 

" 

5.90 

8.00 

'J.  in 

2.4(1 

.76 

54l6 

5426 

d 

" 

Apr.    2,  69 

" 

5.90 

8.30 

2.55 

2.50 

.70 

5427 

5427 

' 

" 

Apr.    2,  '69 

" 

5.60 

7.85 

2.50 

2  25 

.76 

5428 

5428 

/ 

" 

Apr.     2,  '69 

" 

5.80 

8.20 

2.40 

2.50 

74 

54-9 

5429 

'• 

" 

Apr.    2,  '69 

" 

5.90 

7.85 

2.45 

2.47 

.76 

5430 

5430 

d 

" 

Apr.    2,  '69 

" 

5.60 

7.S5 

2.40 

2  50 

68 

10  18 

18 

• 

" 

Apr.    3,  '69 

C.  Thurston 

5.80 

8.00 

•J  45 

250 

.70 

L0617 

21 

'• 

" 

Apr.    3,  '69 

" 

5.90 

7  -  7;". 

2.17 

250 

.07 



24 

.-' 

" 

Apr.     5,  '69 

" 

5. 75 

8.00 

2.45 

2.35 

.66 

10818 

27 

d 

" 

Apr.    6,  '69 

" 

5.75 

8.00 

'J  51 1 

2.55 

.65 

10619 

28 

d 

" 

Apr.    6,   ii(' 

" 

6.90 

8.00 

2  45 

2.65 

.62 

10620 

36 

? 

" 

Apr.    7,  "69 

" 

5.90 

8.00 

2  25 

2  55 

.68 

L   i   t 

72 

J 

" 

Apr.  24,  '69 

" 

6  00 

8.00 

2.40 

2.55 

.70 

I  6  3 

68 

d 

" 

Apr.  16,  '69 

" 

6.00 

S.00 

2.40 

2.56 

.75 

10622 

67 

r 

" 

Apr.  16,  "69 

" 

6.00 

8.00 

2.45 

2.50 

.74 

10625 

73 

d 

" 

Apr.  24,  '69 

" 

6.20 

8.15 

2.40 

2.50 

.70 



651 

d 

" 

Apr.  15,  '69 

" 

6.0(1 

8.00 

2.40 

2.53 

.72 

10621 

45 

- 

" 

Apr.  is,  '69 

" 

6.10 

8  m 

2.35 

2.60 

73 



37 

d 

" 

Apr.    7,  :69 

" 

5.90 

8.00 

2.45 

2.68 

.75 

10626 

2934 

d 

Apr.  13,  '69 

5.85 

7.60 

2.25 

2.34 

.70 

53.*    Cardinalis  virginianus  Bonaparte.     Cardinal  Bird. 
Exceedingly  numerous.     Their  clear,   musical,  loud    call-note  was 
heard  everywhere,  this  being  the  most  noisy  bird  of  the  forest. 

None  of  the  specimens  I  have  seen  from  Florida  are  as  large  as  those 
from  the  Middle  States.  The  colors  of  the  dinner  are  also  somewhat 
brighter,  especially  in  the  females,  in  which  the  brownish-yellow  of  the 
lower  parts  is  not  only  much  deeper,  but  a  large  proportion  have  the  breast 
and  middle  of  the  abdomen  strongly  tinged  with  bright,  red,  giving  a  very 
different  appearance  from  northern  females. 

The,  following  measurements  of  fifty-eight  specimens  shows  the  amount 
of  variation  in  size  in  specimens  from  the  same  locality.  The  females,  it 
will  be  seen,  average  a  little  smaller  than  the  male-,  but  the  sexual 
difference  in  this  respect  is  not  very  great.  The  range  of  variation, 
which  is  much  less  in  this  species  than  in  many,  is  as  follows:  In  the 
males:  Length,   7.75  to  9.10;  alar  extent,  11.00  to  11.78;  wing,  3.50  to 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


281 


3.85  ;  tail,  3.40  to  4.20  ;  tarsus,  .62  to  .80.  In  the  females  :  Length,  7.50  to 
8.75  ;  alar  extent,  10.70  to  11.75  ;  wing,  3.25  to  3.85  ;  tail,  3.40  to  4.10  ; 
tarsus,  .62  to  75  Average  size  of  the  males  :  Length,  8.46  ;  alar  extent, 
11.43;  wing,  3.63;  tail,  3.87.  Average  of  the  females:  Length,  8.27; 
alar  extent,  11.27;  wing,  3.53;  tail,  3.77. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Cardinalis  VIRGINIANUS. 


6 
e4 

i  S 

* 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

a 

w 

u> 

d 

d> 

°  z 

i. 

>3 

u 

P 

h-i 

g 

y^ 

< 

5164 

5164 

9 

Hibernia 

Jan.  30,  '69 

J.  A   Allen 

8.60 

11.45 

:;  35 

4.10 

5165 

5165 

cf 

" 

Jan.  30 

»69 

" 

8  45 

11  7d 

3.65 

3  83 

5163 

5166 

-• 

" 

Jan.  30 

"69 

" 

8.45 

1 1  :,i  i 

3.60 

4  10 

5167 

5167 

7 

" 

Jan.  30 

'69 

" 

8.75 

1 1  :,i ' 

3  55 

3  95 

51S9 

5  ISt 

9 

" 

Feb.     3 

•69 

" 

1 1 .25 

3  50 

:;  :<5 

5192 

5192 

cf 

" 

Feb.     3 

'69 

" 

8  75 

1 1 .  75 

;:  5  i 

4  Id 

5193 

5193 

9 

" 

Feb.    3 

'69 

" 

8.45 

11.35 

3.60 

3  83 

5230 

5230 

Volusia 

Feb.  12 

'69 

" 

815 

11.00 

3.30 

3.78 

5311 

5311 

cf 

Enterprise 

Mar,    1 

69 

" 

8.75 

11.60 

:;  mi 

3  90 

5312 

5312 

? 

" 

Mar.    1 

•69 

" 

8.50 

11  35 

:;  m 

3.78 

5347 

5347 

cf 

" 

Mar.    4 

'69 

•' 

9.10 

11.50 

:;  58 

4.15 





? 

Ilawkinsville 

Mar.  13 

'69 

" 

7-75 

10.70 

3  •_.-, 

— 





cf 

Jacksonville 

Mar  31 

'69 

" 

7. 75 

11.15 

3.55 

— 

5424 

5424 

cf 

" 

Apr.     2 

'69 

" 

8  50 

115H 

3.65 

3.90 





9 

" 

Apr.    2 

•69 

" 

S.55 

11.10 

:;i,r, 

— 



1955 

•' 

" 

Jan.    2 

'69 

C.  J.  Maynard 

9.00 

11.50 

3.65 

4  30 



1987 

cf 

" 

Jan.    5 

■on 

" 

9.00 

11.50 

3  85 

4.K5 

10706 

1988 

r 

" 

Jan.     5 

'69 

" 

S.50 

1151 

3  75 

4.20 

10707 

1989 

f 

" 

Jan.    5 

'69 

" 

8  50 

11.45 

3.75 

3  SO 



2003 

• 

" 

Jan.  10 

'69 

" 

8  05 

11.60 

3  75 

4.15 



2i)U 

1 

" 

Jan     7 

'69 

" 

8.00 

11.00 

3  75 

4.00 



24  >0 

i 

D  urn  mitt's 

Feb   24 

'69 

" 

S  HI  1 

11.25 

3.50 

3.40 



241S 

cC 

" 

Feb.  22 

'69 

" 

8  75 

11  lu 

3.80 

3.90 



2531 

g 

" 

Feb     7 

■69 

" 

S  0(1 

11.00 

:; >;.", 

410 



2537 

-7 

" 

Feb.    9 

'69 

" 

S.70 

11.50 

:;  65 

4.00 



2447 

cf 

" 

Feb.  24 

•69 

" 

Mil) 

11.56 

3.60 

3  0(1 

10709 

2337 

cf 

" 

Feb    16 

-69 

" 

8  50 

11  5H 

360 

3.80 



2328 

cf 

" 

Feb.  25 

•69 

" 

8  25 

1150 

3  50 

3.80 

10710 

233S 

cf 

" 

Feb.  16 

•69 

" 

8.50 

11.5(1 

3  60 

3.80 

10713 

2393 

<J 

" 

Feb.    16 

'69 

" 

s  5i  i 

11.5H 

3.65 

3.65 



2324 

cf 

" 

Feb.  25 

Y,'» 

" 

8.60 

11,50 

3.60 



2389 

cC 

" 

Feb    '.'5 

'69 

" 

S75 

11  is 

3.65 

3.00 



2368 

cf 

" 

Feb.  25 

■69 

" 

8.40 

11  5li 

3  60 

4  10 



23  55 

•" 

" 

Feb    17 

>69 

" 

8.00 

11  5(1 

Mill 

3.90 



2384 

-" 

" 

Feb.  17 

•69 

" 

8.50 

11.50 

3i;o 

:j  60 



2363 

(f 

" 

Feb.  17 

•69 

" 

8.50 

11  5m 

3  60 

4(1(1 



2538 

cf 

" 

Mar.  10 

•69 

" 

8  15 

11. IS 

3.60 

3  4(1 



2535 

cf 

" 

Mar.    4 

•69 

" 

S40 

11  00 

3  57 

3  95 



2459 

cf 

" 

Feb.  25 

'69 

" 

8  50 

11.50 

3. 75 

;;  95 



2008 

9 

Jacksonville 

Jan.    9 

•69 

" 

8.25 

1 1  25 

;;  35 

3S5 



2(142 

V 

'• 

Jan.    6 

"69 

" 

8  75 

11  21 

3  50 

::  70 

— — 

23   1 

, 

" 

.Ian.  11 

'69 

" 

3  00 

11  hi' 

:;  in 

3  K) 



2579 

9 

Dummitt's 

Mar.  10 

'69 

" 

7  75 

10.75 

3  in 

3  Ii.", 



2317 

s 

" 

Feb    24 

■611 

" 

7.5U 

11  ("i 

10 

:;  30 

- — 

2594 

9 

" 

Feb    11 

•69 

" 

8.50 

11  Id 

3.50 

3.9J 



2593 

9 

" 

Fell    11 

•on 

" 

3.50 

11.05 

;;  50 



2334 

9 

" 

Feb    21 

•60 

" 

8.75 

11  t^> 

3  67 

4iKI 



2415 

V 

" 

Feb.  20 

■69 

" 

SHU 

11.10 

3.50 

:;  so 



2394 

9 

" 

Feb    16 

•69 

" 

8.00 

11 .75 

1(1716 

2324 

9 

" 

Feb    15 

'69 

'• 

8.50 

1 1    0 

3TH 

4  In 

___ 

2458 

9 

" 

Feb    25 

69 

" 

3  in 

11   15 

3  75 

3  or, 



23  !  I 

, 

" 

Feb.  17 

'69 

" 

S  Tii  i 

1  1  5'  I 

3.60 

3  70 



2474 

, 

" 

Feb.  16 

'69 

" 

3.00 

1 1  25 

■i  15 

3  55 



2475 

9 

" 

Feb.  26 

'69 

" 

S.i  HI 

1  1  i  ii  i 

3  i" 

3  75 

10117 

2489 

9 

" 

Mar     1 

'69 

" 

Ml", 

11    15 

3.64 

;;  W 

10715 

21SS 

, 

" 

Mar     1 

■69 

" 

8.50 

11  20 

3.60 

■l.i  m 

10714 

2427 

9 

" 

Mar     4 

'69 

'■ 

8  20 

1 1  25 

3  35 

360 



2043 

9 

Feb    11 

•09 

" 

850 

11  50 

3  75 

3.90 

282  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

54*    Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  Vieillot.    Chewix-k. 
Exceedingly  numerous. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  detected  an  interesting  local  race  or  variety  of  this 
bird  at  Dummitt's.  Besides  having  the  irides  yellowish-white  instead  of 
red,  there  is  less  white  at  the  base  of  the  primaries,  less  skirting  the 
secondaries,  and  much  less  on  the  tail.  The  whole  bird  is  also  smaller. 
The  white  on  the  tail  generally  extends  only  to  the  three  outer  pairs  of 
feathers ;  in  the  common  northern  form  it  extends  over  the  four  outer 
pairs,  and  on  the  first  is  much  more  extended  than  in  the  Florida  one. 
The  tail  of  the  common  form,  with  the  outer  pair  of  feathers  removed, 
would  resemble,  in  respect  to  the  distribution  and  extent  of  the  white,  that 
of  the  Florida  bird.  The  song  of  this  bird,  as  I  heard  it  at  Jacksonville 
in  April,  is  quite  different  from  that  of  the  northern  bird,  it  being  ordinarily 
only  about  half  as  long,  and  uttered  with  much  less  spirit.  As  is  well 
known,  the  song  of  the  towhe,  or  chewink,  at  the  north  consists  of  two 
parts,  nearly  equal  in  length  but  otherwise  quite  different.  In  the  Florida 
bird  the  last  half  is  almost  entirely  omitted.  According  to  Mr.  Maynard, 
this  variety  is  almost  the  only  one  occurring  on  Indian  River,  and  of  which 
he  brought  home  some  forty  or  more  specimens.  I  found  also  one  among 
half  a  dozen  I  shot  at  Jacksonville  in  January.  In  April,  among  a  few 
towhes  exposed  in  cages  for  sale  in  the  market,  were  several  of  this  kind. 
There  is  probably  a  large  proportion  of  northern  birds  among  the  Pipilones 
of  Northern  Florida  in  winter,  while  probably  in  summer  the  majority  are 
of  the  southern  type  above  described,  as  are  those  of  Middle  and  Southern 
Florida,  doubtless,  :it  all  seasons. 

Had  this  form  been  discovered  ten,  or  even  five  years  since,  it  would 
probably  have  been  regarded  by  most  ornithologists  as  entitled  to  specific 
rank,  and  not  as  a  local  race  of  P.  erythrophthalmus,  as  it  evidently  is. 
Indeed,  there  are  many  species  still  on  our  lists  that  are  far  less  entitled  to 
rank  as  species  than  this,  but  which,  though  at  first  only  provisionally 
adopted,  have  become  traditionally  established  as  valid  species. 

The  two  tables  of  measurements  of  specimens  of  this  species  given 
below,  with  Table  J  (p.  212),  show  the  difference  in  size  that  obtains  be- 
tween Massachusetts  and  Florida  specimens.  The  first  table  embraces 
twenty-nine  specimens  (nineteen  males  and  ten  females)  of  the  white- 
eyed  Florida  type  ;  the  second  table  embraces  sixteen  specimens  (ten 
males  and  six  females)  of  the  common  northern  type  from  Eastern  Massa- 
chusetts ;  the  measurements  of  twenty  other  Massachusetts  males  having 
been  also  already  given  in  Table  J,  on  p.  212.  The  following  are  the 
extremes  of  the  two  series.  Northern  type,  males  :  Length,  7. .00  and  8.80; 
alar  extent,  10.00  and  12.25;  wing,  3.17  and  3.90;  tail,  3.30  and  3.93; 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


283 


Measurements  of  Specimens  of  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  from 
Indian  River,  Florida. 


6 

N 

<->  3 

—  3 

°z 

1) 

ce 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector.- 

to 

□ 

a 
o 

"3 

w 

u 

3 

bio 

'3 

H 

3 
u 
a 
Eh 

10722 

2477 

cf 

Dummitt's 

Feb.  26,  '69 

C.J.  Maynard 

8.10 

10.25 

3.25 

360 

1.00 



2476 

cf 

" 

Feb.  26,  '69 

" 

8.00 

10.50 

3.20 

3.65 

.95 



2531 

cf 

" 

Mar.    5,  '69 

" 

8.00 

10.00 

3  60 

100 



2530 

' 

" 

Mar.    5,  '69 

" 

7.20 

10.10 

3.00 

3.65 

.90 



2529 

rf 

" 

Mar.    6,  '69 

" 

8.30 

10.20 

3.25 

3.70 

1.00 



2559 

g 

" 

Mar     7,  '69 

" 

7.90 

9.85 

3.42 

3.50 

1.02 

10729 

2669 

cf 

" 

Mar.  12,  '69 

" 

8.20 

11.00 

3.45 

3.57 

1.01 



2592 

cf 

" 

Mar.  11,  '69 

" 

8.50 

11.00 

3.50 

3.60 

.87 



2417 

cf 

<l 

Feb.  22,  '69 

" 

8.00 

10.00 

3  05 

3.70 

.95 



2416 

cf 

" 

Feb.  22,  '69 

" 

8.00 

10.25 

325 

3.35 

— 



2394 

cf 

" 

Feb.  25,  '69 

" 

8.00 

10.10 

3  10 

3  50 

.95 



2426 

cf 

" 

Feb.  20,  '69 

" 

7.78 

10.0(1 

300 

325 

.90 



2514 

cf 

" 

Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

7.70 

9.50 

280 

3.40 

.80 



2512 

1 

" 

Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

7.25 

10.25 

3.10 

3.70 

.80 

10724 

2511 

c? 

" 

Feb.  20,  '69 

" 

7.75 

10^0 

3.20 

3.50 

1.09 

10721 

2395 

cf 

" 

Feb    18, '69 

" 

7.40 

10.00 

2.92 

3.90 

— 

10729 

2668 

cf 

" 

Feb    22,  '69 

" 

7.40 

lo7f, 

3.00 

3.45 

.95 



2044 

cf 

" 

Feb.  17,  '69 

" 

8.50 

11.30 

3.00 

3  50 

.95 

10728 

2516 

c? 

" 

Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

8.00 

10.25 

3  05 

3  45 

.90 



2481 

" 

Feb.  24,  '69 

" 

7.50 

U  A< 

300 

3.60 

.90 



2483 

5 

" 

Feb.  20,  '69 

" 

7-50 

9.50 

3.00 

3.54 

.90 



2590 

\ 

" 

Mar.  11,  '69 

" 

7.65 

10.05 

3.00 

3  75 

.92 



2593 

2 

" 

Mar.  11,  '69 

" 

8.20 

10  10 

305 

3  58 

1.00 



2591 

? 

" 

Mar.  11,  '69 

" 

790 

9.95 

3.03 

360 

.92 



2578 

5 

" 

Mar.  10,  '69 

" 

740 

9.75 

3.00 

3.80 

.95 

10727 

2515 

V 

" 

Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

7.50 

9.75 

3.10 

3.05 

.95 

10725 

2513 

$ 

" 

Mar.    2,  '69 

" 

7.35 

10.50 

3  35 

3.10 

.85 



2445 

? 

" 

Feb.  18,  '69 

" 

8.05 

10  53 

350 

3.45 

.95 

10726 

2514 

5 

Mar.    2,  '69 

7.50 

9  50 

3  90 

3.05 

95 

Measurements  of  Specimens  of  PinLO  erythrophthalmus  from 
Eastern  Massachusetts. 


6 
si 

a> 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

J3 
to 

c 
w 

-j 

3 

^5 

~  3 

1-3 

u 

a 

< 
12  35 

3.30 



3^4 

rf 

Newton 

May     6,  '68 

C.  J .  Maynard 

8.30 

3.60 

_ 



414 

rf 

Weston 

May    9.  '68 

" 

8.25 

11.00 

3  35 

3  64 

— 



415 

,-f 

■' 

May     9,  '68 

" 

8  20 

11.30 

3  45 

3  49 

— 



430 

-f 

Newton 

May  11,  '68 

" 

825 

11.00 

365 

3.76 

— 



439 

rf 

Walt  ham 

May  13,  '68 

•' 

8  45 

11  30 

3.51 

3  Bo 

— 



639 

rf 

•' 

May  18,  '68 

" 

8. as 

11.23 

.•',  46 

3.55 

— 



1008   cf 

Weston 

July  10,  '68 

" 

8.50 

11.00 

341 

3  46 

— 

4616 

1329;  <t 

Newton 

Sept.  21, '68 

" 

8  80 

11.(15 

3  42 

370 

1  10 



1330;  cf 

" 

Sept  21,  '68 

" 

8  51 

1141 

3  51 

4  00 

100 

4615 

1295    cf 

" 

Sept.  17,  '68 

" 

8  50 

1 1  51  I 

3. 55 

3  75 

1.00 

4725 

496    V 

'• 

May  15, '68 

" 

7.60 

10  45 

331 

3  35 

— 

4726 

527    V 

Waltham 

May  16,  '68 

" 

8  25 

11.76 

335 

3.60 

— 



-,j 

" 

May   16,  '68 

" 

826 

10  55 

355 

365 

— 

4724 

555    V 

Weston. 

May  2o,   68 

" 

8  00 

10.56 

3  25 

3  36 

— 

4617 

1028    9 

Newton 

.hi lv  22,  '68 

8.50 

11  00 

341 

3  52   ]  lo 

4613 

1328    ? 

■' 

Sept  21,  '68  i 

845 

1100 

335 

3  65   1  05 

tarsus,  .98  and  1.13.     Southern  type,  males  :  Length,  7.20  and  8.50  ;  alar 
extent,  9.50  and  11.30;  wing,  2.80  and  3.50  ;  tail,  3.25  and  3.90  ;  tarsus, 


284  BULLETIN   OF   TOE 

.80  and  1.09.  The  females  in  both  cases  average  a  little  smaller  than  the 
males.  The  average  dimensions  of  thirty  northern  males  are  as  follows  : 
Length,  8.19  ;  alar  extent,  11.32  ;  wing,  3.43  ;  tail,  3.66  ;  tarsus,  1.06.  Of 
nineteen  southern  males:  Length,  7.88;  alar  extent,  9.88;  wing,  3.13; 
tail,  3.56  ;  tarsus,  .94.  The  measurements  given  in  the  two  preceding 
tables  were  all  taken  by  Mr.  Maynard  from  fresh,  specimens. 

Other  species  of  Fringillidce  that  from  their  general  distribution  one 
naturally  expects  to  meet  with  in  East  Florida  in  winter,  but  which,  so 
far  as  I  can  learn,  have  not  yet  been  met  with  there,  are  the  Yellow- 
winged  Sparrow  ( Coturntculus  passerinus),  Black-throated  Bunting 
(Euspiza  americana),  Indigo  Bird  (Cyanospiza  cyanea),  and  the  Non- 
pariel  (0.  ciris).  Specimens  of  the  latter,  collected  at  Cape  Florida  in 
winter,  have  been  received  at  the  Museum,  and  it  was  taken  in  April 
at  Jacksonville  and  St.  Augustine  by  Mr.  Thurston  and  Mr.  L.  L. 
Thaxter. 

ICTERID.3S. 
55. t     Molothrus  pecoris  Swainson.     Cow  Blackbird. 

Not  numerous.  Sometimes  seen  in  small  parties  by  themselves,  but 
more  frequently  associating  with  the  red-wings  and  grackles. 

56*    Agelseus  phoeniceus  I  icillot.     Red-winged  Blackbird. 
Abundant.     Apparently  chiefly  Florida  born  birds  seen,  especially 
in  February  and  March.     The  sexes  were  usually  in  separate  flocks. 

The  differences  in  respect  to  size  and  color  between  Florida  and  New 
England  specimens  usually  seen  in  individuals  of  the  same  species,  from 
these  localities  are  very  marked  in  the  present  species,  especially  in  re- 
spect to  color.  In  no  group,  in  fact,  is  it  generally  more  so  than  in  the 
Icteriilii . 

In  the  Florida  red-wings  the  general  form  is  slenderer  and  more  deli- 
cate, the  bill  relatively  longer  and  more  pointed,  and  the  general  color 
more  intense  and  lustrous.  The  difference  is  particularly  marked  in  the 
shoulder-patch,  in  which  tlie  red  of  its  anterior  portion  is  darker,  approach- 
ing bright  orange,  and  the  posterior  part,  which  in  the  northern  bird  is 
usually  pale  cream-color,  whitish,  or  even  nearly  pure  white,  is  orange- 
yellow, —  very  nearly  as  in  the  .1.  gubernaior  of  the  Pacific  States.  The 
difference  in  color,  si/e,  and  especially  in  the  form  of  the  bill,  is  much 
greater  than  the  differences  existing  between  many  currently  received 
Species  of  North  American  birds,  and  it  is  surprising  that  the  two  forms 
have  not  Keen  specifically  separated.  I  can  only  account  for  it  on  the  sup- 
position that  specimens  from  Florida  and  the  Gulf  States  have  not  fallen 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  285 

into  the  hands  of  the  assiduous  species  hunters.  As  remarked  in  Part  III 
(p.  234),  Florida  and  New  England  specimens  are  as  different  from  each 
other  as  are  the  so-called  Agelceus  phceniceus  of  the  Northeastern  States, 
the  A.  tricolor  and  the  A.  gubernalor  from  each  other. 

Specimens  of  A.  phceniceus  from  Louisiana  I  find  correspond  very  nearly 
in  every  respect  with  the  specimens  from  Florida.  I  have  also  before  me 
one  specimen  from  Maine  with  the  shoulder-patch  as  highly  colored,  and 
with  nearly  as  long  a  bill  as  is  found  in  the  specimens  from  Florida. 

Plate  VI  shows  the  average  form  of  the  bill  in  Florida  and  Massachu- 
setts specimens,  and  the  annexed  table  of  measurements  the  difference  in 
general  size.     They  also  illustrate  individual  variation. 

The  following  measurements  of  seventy  specimens  of  this  species  from 
Massachusetts  (forty  males  and  thirty  females),  eighteen  specimens  from 
South  Carolina  and  Florida  (eleven  males  and  seven  females),  and  thirteen 
specimens  from  California  (four  males  and  nine  females),  exhibit,  besides 
the  average  size  and  the  individual  variation  at  the  same  locality  (espe- 
cially in  the  case  of  those  from  Massachusetts),  several  interesting  facts  in 
respect  to  geographical  variation.  While  the  northern  specimens  (see  the 
summary  of  these  measurements  given  below)  are  somewhat  larger  than 
the  southern  ones,  the  latter  have  the  longer  head  (including  the  bill),  and 
also  the  longer  bill.  The  height  and  width  of  the  bill  at  the  base  re- 
maining essentially  the  same  in  both,  the  southern  ones  have  the  bill 
relatively  more  attenuated.  The  difference  in  this  respect  is  more  strik- 
ing than  the  measurements  given  seem  to  indicate.  The  California 
specimens  closely  resemble  those  from  Florida,  not  only  in  respect  to  size, 
but  in  regard  to  the  size  and  form  of  the  bill,  and  also  in  respect  to  color  ; 
these,  as  well  as  the  Florida  ones,  belonging  to  the  southern  tvpe.  As 
previously  remarked,  they  bear  a  much  closer  resemblance  to  the  Florida 
form  in  every  respect  than  to  that  found  in  New  England.* 

The  individual  variation  in  this  species  seems  to  be  very  great  everv- 
where,  the  variation  in  specimens  of  the  same  sex  from  the  same  locality 
being  fully  fifteen  per  cent  of  the  average  size  at  that  locality. 
*  The  affinities  of  Agelaus  gubernator  and  A.  tricolor  witli  A.  phce?iieetis  are  acknowl- 
edged to  be  exceedingly  close.     Professor  Baird  cites,  in  his  Birds  of  North  America, 
one   specimen  of  the  A.  phceniceus  from  San  Jo«e,  California,  and  five  from  Fort  Steila- 
coom,  W.  T.     He  also  cites  specimens  of  A.  gubernator  from  Petaluma  and  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.;  hut  Dr.  Cooper  regards  this  species  as  "limited  to  the  interior  of  the  State" 
(California),  while  those  found  along  the  coast,  he  say?,  clearly  resemble  the  eastern 
bird.    (Ornithology  of  California,  Vol.  I,  p.  264.)     From  the  close  res  .already 

alluded  to,  of  both  the  A.  gubernator  and  .4.  tricolor  to  A.  phceniceus,  and  their  occur- 
rence mainly  in  the  hot  valleys  of  California  and  the  region  more  to  the  south- 
ward, I  can  scarcely  doubt  that  these  forms,  especially  A.  gubernator,  are  the  southern 
smaller,  brighter  colored,  more  attenuated  billed  western  homologues  of  the  similar 
eastern  form  from  Florida  and  the  Gulf  States. 


286 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


Measurements  of  Northern  Specimens  of  Ageljeus  pikeniceus. 


6 
6 

*  ii 

M 

•-■ 
OQ 

Locality. 

Collector. 

5 

S 
(J 

c 

ti 
c 

is 

'3 

•a 

S 

K 

Bill. 

Date. 

a 
0 

a 

1 

T3 

1274 
9577 

<SZ 

7 

< 

3~82 
3.88 

L82 

I  77 

3 

.87 

~.45 
46 

^37 

.40 

Vassalboro',  Me. 
Waterville,     " 

Mr   Becker 
C.  E.  Hamlin 

9  4014.90,4.65 

9  45  H.75  4.82 



June  20, '64 

'.87 

391 

— 

•' 

Maiden,       Mass. 

1859 

D.  Higgius 

9.35  14.75  4.67 

3  75 

1  70 

•86    .47 

.40 

96    - 

cf 

ii                ii 

' 

" 

9.15  U -35  4.55 

3.50 

1.75 

.80    .50 

.37 

392    - 

d 

ii                 ii 

' 

n 

9  20  '4  75  4.70  3.66 

1.82 

.89    .47 

38 

92    — 

' 

ii                 ii 

1 

" 

9.25  11  50  4.75'3.82 

1.80 

•92     50 

.40 

93'  — 

d 

it                 ii 

' 

" 

9.2014.40  150  3.45 

1  S5 

.88    .45 

40 

94    - 

d 

ii                 it 

' 

" 

9.00  14.25  4.60  355 

176 

.90    .50 

.38 

95    - 

■' 

ii                 ii 

' 

" 

9.O0  L5  10  4653.65 

1.83 

95    .50 

.40 

<■ 

it                 ii 

' 

" 

9.0014.65  4.65  3  35 

1  SL 

84     45 

.37 

394    - 

{ 

ii                 ii 

' 

" 

8.40  14.10  4.50,3.40 

1.60 

•  75     46 

.40 

5727    - 

d 

Concord,          " 

' 

II.  Mann 

8  58  13  95  4  50  3.46 

1.78 

.92     4S 

.40 

5723    - 

' 

ii                 ii 

' 

" 

8  45 

1445  4.55  3  35 

1  75 

90     43 

45 

5724    - 

< 

u                  ii 

1 

" 

8.40 

14  25  4.43  3.12 

1.80 

.84    .45 

3S 

5729    - 

r 

ii                  ii 

' 

" 

9.60 

14  51  4.54  3.33 

1.K2 

.85    .47 

.39 

5726 

— 

cf 

ti                  ii 

" 

9.26 

14.95  4.75  3.75 

1.80 

.87 

.44 

38 

5720 

— 

•' 

ii                  u 

' 

" 

9  05 

15.00  4.86  3.86 

184 

.88 

.44 

.37 

5721 

— 

d 

u                  ii 

' 

" 

9.70 

14.88  40^0  so 

1  77 

.92    .46 

.40 

5722 

— 

d 

u                  ii 

' 

" 

9  00 

14.50l4.65  3.65 

1.71 

83    .43 

38 

5725;  - 

d 

ii                  ii 

" 

" 

9.85 

14  25  4  7:;:;  76 

185 

.93 

.43 

.35 

5728    - 

? 

ii                  ii 

' 

" 

9  25 

14.50  4. r,o  3.81 

1.78 

.88 

.44 

.33 

5732 

— 

'• 

ii                 ii 

" 

" 

9  58 

14.62 

4  74  3  85 

1.83 

.91 

■is 

.38 

Monti 

— 

'• 

Ipswich,           " 

June  14,'68 

J.  A.  Allen 

9.15 

14.50 

4.70  3.78 

1.79 

92 

44 

.40 

1674 

— 

f 

Springfield,      " 

June  26, '62 

9.00 

14.00 

4.59  3.42 

1.62 

87 

45 

.40 

1675 

— 

1 

i.                ii 

June  26,'62 

" 

9-25 

151  1 

4  82  3.73 

1.84 

.93 

46 

43 

L782 

— 

•'■ 

July  12, '62 

" 

9  50 

1 1  51 

4  62  3  65 

1-91 

.97 

.45 

37 

1781  j  - 

-" 

July  12, '62 

" 

9  00 

14.61 

4.50  3.38 

ISO 

.86 

.43 

.40 

626 

— 

c? 

Auburndale,   " 

Mar.  23, '57 

S.  Tenney 

9  62 

1535 

4.87  3.77 

1.85 

.91 

.43 

40 

1022 

•"  \\  enham,         " 

May  —,'61 

J.  Bartlett 

9  25 

15.00 

4.67  3.55 

1.84 

.89 

.48 

43 



114 

Newton,          " 

Mar.  13/68 

('.  J.  Maynard 

8  75 

14.83 

4.70  3.53 

— 

— 

— 

— 



180  cf!      " 

Mar.  28  ,'68 

" 

9  :;> 

15.00 

4  75  3.60 



— 

— 

— 



214    -        " 

Apr.   Ll,'68 

SOI 

14  85 

4.60  3.52 

— 

— 

— 

— 



251        Weston, 

Apr.  18/68 

9.52 

1500 

4.82  3  80 



— 

— 

— 



302   f  Newton, 

Apr.  23/68 

9.00 

15.00 

4.66  3.65 

— 

— 

— 

— 



323   •• 

Apr.  25, '68 

" 

9  00 

15.0014  85  8  40 

— 

— 

— 

— 



352    ■•  Weston,           '■ 

May     1/68 

" 

9  16 

15  lo 

1  hi:;. 70 

— 

— 

— 

— 

.'J71  d  Newton'.          " 

May     5/68 

;; 

9.00 

15.00 

5.00  3.S0 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1  351c?1      " 

May     1/68 

9.50 

15  25 

4  92  3.85 

— 

— 

— 

— 

!  417icf;Weston,            " 

May     9/68 

" 

9  50 

15  15 

4.90  3.77 

— 

— 

— 

— 

3047 

•'  Newton,            " 

Mar.  23/70 

" 

9.50 

15.00 

I  60  3  56 

— 

— 

— 

— 

9843    — 

f    Milltown,       Me. 



G.A.Boardman 

8.00 

12.50 

3.95  3.05 

157 

73 

.38 

32 

9844    — 



« 

800 

12  50 

I  08  :;  10 

1  54 

.79 

.40 

.30 

399    - 

J  Maiden,       Mass. 

1853 

D.  Higgins 

7  50 

11.75 

3.60  2.70 

1  48 

.72 

.42 

33 

396 

V 

u                 ii 

•' 

" 

7.75  12  30 

3  90  3.06 

1  60 

.82 

.43 

35 

97    - 

* 

u                 ii 

' 

" 

7:::,  11.75 

3  63  2  so 

155 

•  70 

.40 

.37 

402!  — 

9 

ii                 ti 

' 

" 

8  55  13  55 

4.26  3.15 

It;.; 

.75 

M 

.41 

398    - 

t 

ii                 ii 

' 

" 

8  05  L3.50 

4.16  3  10 

[.67 

77 

.43 

36 

98    - 

. 

ii                 ii 

' 

" 

7  75  L2.10 

::  71  2.97 

158 

72 

.37 

33 

I 

it                 it 

« 

" 

7.42  11  55 

:;s7  2  7:; 

1  02 

.73 

.37 

35 

397    — 

5 

it                 ii 

' 

" 

7  51 1  1 1  25 

3.70  2.98 

1  58 

76 

84 

33 

395    - 

V 

"                 " 

' 

" 

7  40  12.50 

1.11  2  68 

150 

70 

.38 

.38 

99    - 

9 

ii                 ti 

1 

" 

7  45  11.50 

3.75  2.90 

1.55 

75 

.42 

43 

5730    - 

$!  Concord,          " 



11    Mann 

7.75  12-50 

3  80  3.02 

1 .54 

.70 

.40 

.33 

1  ..ii 

9 

Springfield,      " 

July   15/62 

J.  A.  Allen 

7  50  12.00 

3.73  2.90 

1.68 

79 

.40 

;;t 

( 

it                 ii 

June  26/62 

" 

7.65  11.75 

3.07  2.82 

1  54 

.70 

:;s 

.37 

1672     - 

2 

ii                 ii 

June  26/62 

" 

7.85  11  82|3.75  2.89 

l  60 

.75 

.40 

.38 

1673    - 

i 

u                 ii 

June  26, '62 

" 

7.75  12  003.77  2.85 

157 

.78 

.38 

37 

1679    - 

1 

" 

June26.'62 

" 

8.00  12  25::  79  3.00 

1  :,:, 

74 

.39 

36 

? 

it                ii 

June26,?62 

" 

soo  12  10  ■".  85  2.93 

1  53 

.78 

38 

— 

— 

5 

Weston,            " 

C.  J.  Maynard 

7  7:;  12.61  3.95  2  05 

— 

— 

— 

— 

E 

[pswich,          " 

June  15/68 

" 

7.45  13.60  A  00  3  05 

— 

— 

— 

— 

sol    *    Essex. 

June  17/68 

" 

8.00  1235  1.00! 

— 

— 

-- 

— 

893  i      " 

June  17/68 

" 

7.75  12  51  3.90  2-90 

— 

— 

— 

— 

loo:i   >   Walt  ham,        " 

Aug.  —,'68 

" 

7  15  12.37  380  2  75 

— 

— 

— 

— 

—  M7r,  y; 

Aug.  —,'68 

" 

7.67  12  30  3.85  2.85 



— 

— 

— 

,10961$'        " 

Aug.  —,'68 

" 

7.5o  12403.95  2.72 

— 

— 

— 

— 



.    Newton,          " 

Aug.  —,'68 

ii 

7  7',  1280  3.71  2  so 

— 

— 

— 

— 



vw 

W  althain,       " 

Aug.  —,'68 

" 

7  50  12.00  3.85  2.65 

— 

— 

— 

— 



1099 

Weston,           " 

Aug.  —,"68 

" 

7  50  12.10367  2  so 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2830  V  Newton, 

June    8/69 

" 

7.50  12.00  4.00  2.90 

- 

— 

— 

— 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


287 


Measurements  of  Southern  Specimens  Oj 

f  Ageljeus  phceniceus. 

6  4 

o 

S5 

>< 

Locality. 

Date.. 

Collector. 

i   i  i 

■6 

s 

Bill. 

j 

j 

E 
4126 

o 

•' 

►3 

=5  \*    '- 

a 

o 

.45 

37 

Charleston,  S.  0. 

L.  Agassiz 

9.55  14  75  4  75  3.65  190 

1.00 

4127 

— 

•' 

"              " 



*' 

B  80  14.30  4  50  3.551.74 

.87 

.47 

.40 

412* 

— 

•' 

"              " 



" 

9.45  14.50  4.60  3  72  1.80 

.90 

.50 

.40 

4129 

— 

• 

"              " 



'• 

9.05  13.50  4.37  3.45  1.73 

.85 

.43 

.42 

4125 

— 

-• 

"              " 



" 

9.05  14.12  4.42  3  35  1.94 

.95 

.46 

.35 





-? 

HiwkinsviHe.Fla. 
Jacksonville,    " 

Mar.  15, '69 

J.  A   Allen 

825  13  60  4.34    — 



1928  d" 

Dec.   31, "69 

C.  J.  May nard  9  10  14  90  4  75  3. 58 







1056 i  1929  cC 

"              " 

Dec.   31, '69 

" 

9.20  14  ^o  4.80  390 

— 

— 



— 

10561  2018  rt" 

"              " 

Dec.  Sl,'69 

" 

8.80  14  15  4.55  3  58 

— 





— 

10574  2552  rf 

Dummitt's,      " 

Mar.    8,'69 

" 

950  14.20  4.75  3.90 

— 







10573  2450  <f 

"              " 

Feb.  24, '69 

" 

8.50  14.00  4  75  3  45 

— 







5153    — 

? 

Hibernia,          " 

Jan.  30,'69 

J.  A.  Allen 

7  65  12.60  3.85  3.05 









5154    — 

T 

"                  " 

.Ian.   30,'69 

" 

7.85  12  5H3.90  3  07 









5155    — 

"                  " 

Jan.   30,'69 

" 

7.80  12.85   —  3  20 









4141    - 

"                  " 

Jan.  3D, '69 

" 

8.0012.25  3  80  3  05 

5209   — 

9 

Welaka,           " 

Feb.    8,  '69 

" 

765  12  50  3  75  2  SO 









5208    — 

1 

M                       cc 

Feb.     8, '69 

" 

7.50  11  85  3  63  2  75 





_ 



5210    — 

* 

"                      " 

Feb.    8,  "69 

" 

Measurements  of  California  Specimens  of  Ageljeus  PHCenicetji 


>< 

CO 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

A 

c 

W 

ho 

a 

'3 

3 
u 

ta 

TT 

Winter   '59  -'60 

|J 

< 

fr* 

5S*5 

San  Francisco,  Cal. 

A.  Agassiz 

8.50 

14.93 

4.83 

3.50 

1.63 

5884 

<-r 

"                " 

Winter   '59  -'60 

8.75 

15  05 

4  95 

335 

1.74 

666 

■• 

"                " 

Winter   '59 -'60 

860 

14  55 

4.47 

3o9 

1.90 

2188 

rT 

GulfofGeorgia,W.T. 

Sept.  — ,  '60 

8.71 

13.50 

4.45 

3.26 

1.75 

9 

Sau  Francisco,  Cal. 

Winter   '59 -'60 

758 

12  80 

4.03 

2  73 

1.63 

5893 

i 

"                " 

Winter   '59- '60 

7.55 

12.35 

3.05 

247 

1.46 

5887 

i 

"               " 

Winter   '59  -'60 

7.81 

12  30 

4.25 

3.86 

154 

V 

"                " 

Winter   '59  - '6  ) 

7  50 

12.75 

3  04 

2.47 

1.56 

58S6 

i 

"                " 

Winter   '59 -'60 

T.  G.  Cary 

7.82 

12.77 

4o4 

2.62 

1.56 

20,o 

? 

"                " 

Winter   '59  - '60 

8.29 

1327 

4  32 

3.00 

1.62 

20.4 

y 

"               " 

Winter   '59  - '60 

8.18 

13.25 

3.85 

2.95 

167 

2078 

i 

"               " 

Winter   '59 -'6') 

8.50 

13.00 

4.15 

310 

165 

5888 

I 

" 

Winter   '59 -'60 

A.  Agassiz 

7.25 

12.25 

390 

3.71 

1.50 

Summary  of  the  above  Measurements  of  Specimens  of  Ageljeus 
phceniceus. 


Locality. 

"S| 

to 

to 

c 

c 

2 

co 

< 

£ 

H 

~T79* 

3 

rj 
J38* 

£ 

' 

40 

Aver. 

9.16 

14.71 

4  69 

3.63 

.46* 

.39* 

9 

28 

Aver. 

7-53 

1224 

3.86 

2  93 

1.571 

.75t 

.395t 

.357+ 

South  Carolina   | 

li 

11 

Aver. 

9.02 

14.41 

4.62 

361 

1.83 

.91* 

.46+ 

.391 

and  Florida    | 

9 

i 

Aver. 

773 

12  44 

3.83 

2.99 

— 



California           I 

d 

7 

Aver. 

864 

14.52 

4.67 

3.30 

1.75 







9 

9 

Aver. 

7.83 

12.70 

4.00 

2.99 

157 

— 





[ 

rf 

40 

Max. 

9.&5 

15  35 

5.00 

3  90 

1.94* 

,97* 

.50* 

.45* 

Massachusetts    -j 

40 

Min. 

8.40 

13  95 

4.43 

3.12 

1.60* 

.75* 

.43* 

.33* 

9 

'28 

Max. 

8  55 

13  55 

4.26 

3  15 

1.681 

.82t 

lit 

I 

9 

28 

Min. 

7.35 

11.25 

3.63 

265 

1.48t 

.70t 

37t 

.301 

1 

ft 

11 

Mux. 

9.55 

14  90 

4  B0 

390 

1.94  J 

1.00J 

50J 

South  Carolina  ! 

'• 

11 

Min. 

8.25 

13.60 

4  34 

335 

1.74J 

.85+ 

.43; 

.35; 

and  Florida  1 

7 

Max. 

8.00 

12.85 

390 

3  20 



1 

§ 

i 

Min. 

7  50 

11.85 

3.63 

2.75 









rf 

t 

Max. 

875 

15.05 

4.95 

3.50 

190 







California           < 

f 

7 

Min. 

8.50 

13  50 

4.45 

309 

1.63 

_ 





9 

Max. 

8.50 

13.27 

4  32 

3.86 

1.67 







I 

* 

9 

Min. 

7  25 

12  25 

3.85 

2  17 

146 

— 

- 

- 

29  specimens. 


t  19  specimens. 


t  5  specimens. 


288  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

57*    Sturnella  ludoviciana  Svoainson.    Meadow  Lark. 

Alauda  magna  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  167,  1758.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  Ill,  20, 

p!.  xix,  1811. 
Slurnus  ludovicianus  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  290,  1766. — Bonap.,  Joum.  Phil. 

Acad.    Nat.    Sri.,    IV,    180,    1824.  —  Nuttall,  Man.    Orn.,   I,   147,    1832. 

—  Audcison,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  216,  1834. 
Sturnus  collaris  Wagleh,  Syst.  Avium,  I,  1827. 
Sturnella  ludoviciana   Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  282,  1831.  —  Bonap., 

Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838.  — Audubon,  Synop.  Am.  Birds,  148,  1839.  — 

Cabanis,  Mus.  Hein.,  192,  1851.  — Sclater,  Cat.  Am.  Birds,  139,  1862.— 

Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1866,  23. 
Sturnella  magna  Swainson,  Phil.  Mag.,  I,  436,  1827.  —  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am., 

535,  1858.  —Allen,  Mem.  JBost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  496,  1868. 
Sturnella  collaris  Vieillot,  Analyse,  1816. 
Sturnd/a  hippocrcpis  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  281.  —  Lawrence,  Ann.  N.  York 

Lyceum  N.  Hist.,  VII,  266,  1860.  —  Sclater,  Ibis,  1861,  79.  —  Cassin, 

Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1866,  24. 
Sturnella  neglecta  Audubon,  Birds  of  Am.,  VII,  339,  pi.  cccclxxxvii,  1843. — 

Baird,  Birds  of  N.  Am.,  537,  1858.  —  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci., 

1866,  23. 
Sturnella  mexicana  Sclater,  Ibis,  1861,  79.  — Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat. 

Sci.,  1866,  24. 
Sturnella  meridionalis  Sclater,  Ibis,  1861,  79. —  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad. 

Nat.  Sci.,  1866,  24. 

Abundant.     Found  chiefly  in  the  moister  parts  of  the  pineries. 

Somewhat  smaller  than  in  the  Northern  States,  but  in  most  eases  with 
longer  and  larger  bills,  brighter  colors,  and  a  quite  different  song.  The 
latter  somewhat  resembles  that  of  the  western  meadow  lark,  but  is  still  as 
distinct  from  it  in  its  general  character  as  it  is  from  that  of  the  New  Eng- 
land bird.  The  present  species  has  a  wide  geographical  range,  throughout 
the  greater  part  of  which  it  is  resident.  The  Alleghanian  fauna  forms  its 
northern  limit,  from  which  it  mostly  retires  during  winter.  To  the  south- 
ward it  extends  to  Cuba  and  the  other  larger  West  India  Islands,  through- 
out most  of  Central  America,  and  to  the  elevated  parts  of  Northern  South 
America.  It  ranges  westward  over  the  elevated  arid  plains  of  the  middle 
of  the  continent  to  the  Pacific  As  might  be  expected,  it  is  not  quite  uni- 
form in  its  characters  at  all  points.  The  main  differences,  however, 
consist  merely  in  the  lighter  color  of  those  from  the  plains,  and  the 
smaller  size  of  those  from  the  south.  The  former  constitute  the  S!itni</!a 
neglecta  of  Audubon  and  most  other  writers  since  his  time.  In  Cuba  it  is 
the  S.  hippocrepis  of  Wagler  and  others,  and  tin?  Mexican  and  (iuatemalan 
tlji'in  i-  the  S.  mexicana  of  Sclater,  and  the   South  American  form  the  S 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  289 

meridional^  of  the  same  author.  Yet  the  distinctions  between  them  are 
trivial,  all  of  these  so-called  species  having  been  generally  looked  upon  as 
doubtfully  distinct  from  the  S.  ludoviciana  of  the  United  States,  especially 
the  three  last  named.  The  S.  collaris  of  Vieillot  has  very  generally  been 
referred  by  subsequent  writers  to  the  5.  ludoviciana.  The  main  distinctive 
feature  of  the  S.  neglecta  has  been  its  song,  —  a  very  doubtful  basis  on 
which  to  found  a  species.  The  Florida  specimens  are  intermediate  in  size 
and  other  characters  between  the  Cuban  and  New  England  represent- 
atives of  this  species.  As  already  remarked,  the  song  of  the  Florida  birds 
is  as  widely  different  from  that  of  the  New  England  bird  as  the  song  of 
the  latter  is  from  that  of  the  western  ones.  Concerning  the  affinities  of  5. 
neglecta  I  have  already  remarked.*  Concerning  those  of  the  other  sup- 
posed species,  I  may  well  borrow  the  appropriate  remarks  of  the  late  Mr. 
Cassin,  who  observes  in  respect  to  them,  in  his  "  Study  of  the  Icteridce"] 
as  follows  :  — 

"  This  bird  [Slamella  ludoviciana']  is  nearly  related  to  the  next  four 
species  of  this  genus  [S.  neglecta,  S.  hippocrepis,  S.  mexicana,  S.  meridio- 
nalis],  equally  in  structure  and  in  colors,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  de- 
scribe by  positive  characters  either  species  of  this  group,  so  as  to  insure 
recognition  absolutely,  or  without  comparative  characters  being  given. 
....  No  other  genus  or  sub-genus  of  this  family  presents  so  many  species 
of  such  uniformity  of  structure  and  similarity  of  color,  and  there  are,  as- 
suredly, few  such  in  the  kingdom  of  birds."  Under  S.  neglecta  he  further 
remarks  in  respect  to  the  transition  that  is  so  apparent  between  it  and  S 
ludoviciana :  "In  the  central  regions  of  North  America  it  is  possible  that 
a  hybrid  race  between  the  two  species  may  be  produced,  to  be  referred 
•with  about  equal  propriety  to  either."  S.  hippocrepis,  he  says,  is  very 
nearly  related  to  5.  mexicana,  "  and  can  scarcely  be  distinguished  from  it 
by  any  characters  which  seem  to  be  reliable."  He  thinks  it  to  be  some- 
what more  distinct,  however,  from  5.  neglecta.  Mr.  Lawrence  had  pre- 
viously remarked  that  the  S.  hippocrepis  is  somewhat  smaller  than  S. 
ludoviciana  of  the  United  States,  and  that  he  "  thinks  it  is  specifically 
distinct "  ;  although  he  adds,  "  it  would  be  difficult  to  point  out  any  re- 
liable differences  in  coloration,  especially  of  the  upper  plumage,  as  in- 
dividuals even  of  the  same  species  are  very  variable.''^  He  says,  further, 
that  specimens  of  it  from  Jalapa,  Mexico,  differ  "  only  in  the  pectoral  band 
appearing  broader  in  the  Mexican  bird,  and  the  tertials  much  shorter 
than  the  primaries,  but  this  last  may  not  be  a  reliable  character."     In  the 

*  See  Memoirs  of  the  Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  p.  494,  1868. 
t  Proceedings  of  the  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences,  1866,  p.  23. 
t  Annals  of  New  York  Lyceum  of  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VII,  266,  1860. 
VOL.   II.  19 


290 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


following  year,  however,  Mr.   Sclater  separated   the    Mexican  bird  from 
those  of  Cuba  and  the  United  States,  under  the  name  5.  mexicana,  and 
also  the   South  American  under  the  name  5.  meridionalis.     Mr.  Cassin 
says  of  the  latter  :  "  Very  nearly  related  to  the  preceding  (S.  hippocrepis), 
if  distinct,  and  I  give  it,  at  present,  as  a  species  provisionally  only.  ..... 

The.  colors  of  the  upper  parts  seem  to  be  less  clearly  defined,  and  of  a 
slightly  different  style  and  pattern  from  the  preceding,  and  it  may  bear 
about  the  same  relation  to  that  species  (S.  hippocrepis)  that  S.  neglecta  does 
to  <S\  ludoviciana.  Such  relation  I  hold  to  be  rather  probable  from  the 
specimens  now  at  hand." 

Having  given  the  views  of  the  describers  of  these  several  "species,"  I 
may  add  that  I  have  seen  examples  of  each,  and  do  not  question  that  they 
should  all  be  referred  to  one.  As  is  evident  from  the  above-quoted  re- 
marks, these  different  species  gradually  pass  into  each  other,  —  the  S. 
magna  into  the  S.  neglecla,  the  S.  neglecta  into  the  S.  mexicana,  and 
the  6'.  mexicana  into  the  S.  hippocrepis,  which  is  their  exact  geographical 
relation. 

In  regard  to  the  Florida  specimens,  as  compared  with  New  England 
ones,  the  most  striking  differences  consist  in  their  smaller  size  and 
much  brighter  colors,  especially  of  the  ventral  surface. 

The  following  tables  of  measurements  indicate  the  individual  and  sexual 
differences  in  size,  and  also  the  difference  in  size  between  specimens  from 
the  Northern  States  and  from  Florida. 

Measurements  of  Northern  Specimens  o/*  Sturnella  ludoviciana. 


4862 
4863 


362 

363 

3  14 
865 
366 

568 
569 

97ti4 
9765 
9766 
2646 

4n42 
41U2 


416 
lloO 
[134 
2696 
2698 
1700 
4045 

4D61 

2738 


Locality. 


Newton, 


Walt  ham, 
Newton, 


Maiden,        " 


Evanston,   111. 


Lawn  Ridge,  " 
Concord,   Mass 


Collector. 


May  8,  '68 

Aug.  6,  "68 

Aug.  19,  '68 

May  15,  '69 

May  15,  '69 

Aug.  6,  '68 

Aug.  2,  '69 

Aug.  2,  '69 

May  15,   69 


C.  J.  Maynard 


D.  Higgins 


0.  Marcy 


K.  Butler 
F.  C.  Brown 


1075 

in  'jo 

10.25 

in  75 
11.00 
10  20 
1100 
11.00 
0.75 
9.25 
9.58 
111.50 
10.35 

1 

10  75 

8.90 

9.50 

o  25 

0  75 

10.00 

9.60 

lit  25 

10.33 


w 
^< 

16.59 
16.30 

15  85 

Hi  75 

17.IKI 

16.30 

17  on 
16.00 

15.00 

13.50 
1400 
15.33 
15.65 
15  05 
15  50 
lino 
I  ,.68 
13.92 
U  65 

15  50 
1475 
16.00 

15.65 


5.13 

■i  us 
4.80 

,-,   I  I!  , 

5  15 
■1  OS 
5.00 

4. MP 

4.55 
4.17 

4.:j5 
4.82 
4.83 
4.75 
4.  st; 
4.35 
5.00 
4  15 
4.50 
4.74 
4.55 
4.77 
467 


3.50 
290 
2.92 
3  35 
3.35 
•i  0i  p 
:!4ii 
3.35 
2.65 

•J  .Ml 
290 
311 
313 
314 
3  30 
2.60 
3  05 
2  82 
310 
3.15 
2K4 
2.83 
3.08 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


291 


Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Sturnella  ludoviciaxa. 


s 

o 
J5 

M 

Locality. 

Date. 

1       £ 

Collector.           |> 

in 

c 

"5 

o 

o 

oa 

1      — 

< 

4  50 

H 



203* 

d 
d 

f 

Jacksonville 

Jan. 

20,  '69 

C.J.  Maynard      9.55 

15.60 

2.85 



2817 

Duminitt's 

May 

15,  '69 

" 

10  20 

1510 

4.50 

3  20 



2816 

" 

May 

15,  '69 

" 

1 

1515 

4  60 

295 

6335 

■f 

Enterprise 

Mar. 

4,  -69 

J.  A.  Allen 

9.75 

14  75 

4.50 

— 

633(5 



3 
d 

" 

Mar. 

4,  '69 

" 

9.85 

15.20 

4  10 

2.89 

5337 

" 

Mar. 

4/69 

" 

9  70 

14.80 

4  45 

- 



Hawkins  ville 

Mar. 

12,  '69 

" 

9  75 

15.00 

450 

3.05 

5369 

f 

" 

Mar. 

12,  '69 

" 

9.50 

14  75 

4.25 

537  1 



J 

" 

Mar. 

12,  '69 

" 

10.00 

15  75 

4.50 

3.07 



Volusia 

Mar 

17,  '69 

" 

8.75 

13  75 

4.05 

— 

5370 



i 

Hawkinsville 

Mar. 

12,  '69 

" 

8.90 

14  15 

4.10 

2.65 

5372 



" 

Mar. 

12, '69 

" 

950 

14  65 

4.20 

2.90 

6125 



Q 

Jacksonville 

Jan. 

" 

8.75 

14.25 

4.20 

2  70 

2072 

? 

" 

Jan 

20,  '69    G.  J.  Maynard 

8.75 

14.00 

4.40 

2  51 1 



2070 

? 

" 

Jan. 

20, '69 

" 

8.50 

13  55 

3.90 

2.55 



2070 

? 

" 

Jan. 

20,  '69 

" 

8.75 

13  00 

4.00 

2.55 



2068 

" 

Jan. 

20,  '69 

it 

9.25 

14  75 

4.50 

2  BO 



2069 

" 

Jan. 

20,  "69 

" 

8.76 

14  25 

4  20 

2  40 



2071 

o 

" 

Jan. 

20,  '69 

" 

9.00 

14.00 

430 

2  80 



2051 

? 

" 

Jan. 

20/69 

" 

9.50 

14.75 

4.66 

2.50 



2791 

9 

" 

Apr. 

15,  '69 

" 

905 

14  00 

4  10 

2.S8 

The  following  is  a  tabulated  summary  of  the  two  preceding  tables :  — 


No.  of 
Speci- 

Locality. 

Length. 

Alar 
Extent. 

Wing. 

Tail. 

mens. 

15 

d" 

Northern  States 

Average 

10.43 

16.30 

4.91 

3  16 

8 

s 

" 

Average 

9.55 

14  43 

4  29 

2.82 

15 

d 

" 

Maximum 

11.00 

17.00 

5.15 

350 

15 

d 

" 

Minimum 

10.00 

15.05 

4  74 

2.83 

8 

V 

" 

Maximum 

9.75 

15-65 

4.55 

3.10 

8 

9 

" 

Minimum 

8.90 

1350 

4.15 

2.50 

9 

d 

Florida 

Average 

9.81 

15  70 

4.47 

2.85 

12 

? 

" 

Average 

8.93 

14  09 

4  22 

257 

9 

d 

" 

Maximum 

10.20 

15.75 

4.60 

3.20 

9 

d 

" 

Minimum 

9  50 

14.75 

4.25 

2.82 

12 

2 

" 

Maximum 

9.50 

14.75 

4  65 

2.90 

12 

¥ 

" 

Minimum 

8.50 

13.00 

3.90 

2.40 

58.t    Scolecophagus  ferrugineus  Swainson.    Rusty  Grackle. 
Abundant.     Occasionally  met  with  in  large  flocks. 

59.*     Quiscalus  purpureus   Cassin.     Purple  Grackle. 

Gracula  quiscula  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  165,  1766. — Wilson-,  Am.  Orn.,  Ill, 

44,  pi.  xxi,  fig.  4,  1811. 
Gracula  barita  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  165,  1766.  —  Ord,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat. 

Sci.,  I,  253,  1818. 
Gracula  purpurea  Bartram,  Travels,  289,  1791.    (No  description.) 
?  0  riot  us  ludovicianus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  387,  1788. 
Quisaitus  baritus  Vieillot,  Nouv.  Diet.,  XXVIII,  487,  1819.  —  Baird,  Birds 

North  Amer.,  556,  pi.  xxvii,  1858.  —  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci., 

1866,  405. 
Quiscaius  versicolor  Vieillot,  Nouv.  Diet.,  XXVIII  488, 1819.  —  Bonaparte, 

Swainson,  Nuttall,  Audubon,  Baird. 


292  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Quiscalus  purpureus  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1866,  403. — Ridg- 

way,  Ibid.,  1869,  133. 
Quiscalus  purpuratus  Swain.,  Lardner's  Cab.  Cyclop.,  299,  1838  (female). 
?  Quiscalus  Iwjubris  Swain.,  Lardner's  Cab.  Cyclop.,  299,  1838.  —  ?  Cassin, 

Proc.  Phil.  Acad  Nat.  Sci.,  1866,  408. 
Quiscalus  inflexirostris  Swain.,  Lardner's  Cab.  Cyclop.,  300,  1838.  —  Cassin, 

Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1866,  407. 
Quiscalus  crassirostris  Swain.,  Lardner's  Cab.  Cyclop.,  355,  1838.  —  Gosse, 

Birds  of  Jamaica,  217,  1847. 
Quiscalus  aghtus  Baird,  Amcr.  Journ.  Sci.  and  Arts,  XLI,  87, 1866.  —  Cassin, 

Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1866,  404.  —  Ridgway,  Ibid.,  1869,  135. 
Quiscalus  aneus  Ridgway,  Ibid.,  134. 
Quiscalus  mexicanus  Cassin,  Ibid.,  1866,  408. 
Quiscalus  Gundlachii  Cassin,  Ibid.,  406. 
Quiscalus  brachypterus  Cassin,  Ibid.,  406. 
Quiscalus  niger  Cassin,  Ibid.,  407. 
?  Quiscalus  rectirostns  Cassin,  Ibid.,  409. 
Chalcophanes  quiscalus  Wagler,  Syst.  Avium,  1827. — Cabanis,  Mus.  Hein., 

197,  1851. 
Chalcophanes  baritus  Wagler,  Syst.  Avium,  1827.  —  Cabanis,  Mus.  Hein.,. 

197, 1851 

Very  abundant  everywhere.    Flocks  containing  many  hundreds  were 
frequently  met  with. 

As  already  remarked  in  Part  III,  few  species  present  such  marked 
climatic  variations  as  the  present,  or  better  illustrate  the  three  prin- 
cipal laws  of  geographical  variation  already  enumerated  ;  namely,  a  de- 
crease in  general  size  from  the  north  southward,  and  at  the  same  time 
an  increase  in  the  length  and  slenderness  of  the  'bill,  and  an  increase 
in  the  intensity  and  brilliancy  of  the  color  of  the  plumage.  Far  to  the 
north,  as  in  Labrador,  the  colder  parts  of  Canada,  and  Northern  New  Eng- 
land, the  bill  is  shortest  and  thickest,  the  size  of  the  bird  at  its  maximum, 
and  the  colors  of  the  plumage  least  brilliant,  with  the  metallic  reflections 
of  a  light  tint,  tending  to  green  rather  than  to  blue.  In  Southern  New 
Jersey  the  change  from  the  northern  type  is  already  considerable ;  even 
between  summer  specimens  from  Calais  (Maine)  and  Eastern  Massachu- 
setts there  is  an  appreciable  difference.  In  the  lowlands  of  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia  the  divergence  from  the  northern  type  is  still  greater, 
and  it  goes  on  rapidly  increasing  in  Florida,  especially  in  South  Florida, 
the  maximum  of  divergence  from  the  northern  type  being  attained  in  the 
West  Indies.  In  East  Florida,  while  the  general  size  of  the  bird  is  less  than 
in  New  England,  the  bill  is  considerably  longer,  much  slenderer  and  much 
more  decurved,  as  is  shown  by  the  accompanying  figures  (Plate  VII).    The 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  298 

change  in  color  is  equally  marked.  Not  only  do  the  reflections  become  much 
darker  at  the  south,  but  form  prismatic  bars  across  the  interscapularies  and 
the  feathers  of  the  rump,  especially  in  the  South  Atlantic  States.  In  South 
Florida  and  the  West  Indies  these  prismatic  bars,  in  some  specimens  at 
least,  seem  to  lose  their  distinctness,  evidently  through  the  continued  dark- 
ening or  increased  intensity  of  the  general  color.  The  difference  in  size 
between  Florida  and  Massachusetts  specimens  is  considerable,  especi- 
ally between  those  from  South  Florida  and  Massachusetts.  Those  from 
the  West  Indies  are  still  smaller ;  and  in  comparing  specimens  of  these 
with  others  from  Northern  New  England,  the*  difference  is  so  striking 
that  it  seems  impossible  at  first  to  believe  that  both  can  belong  to  the 
same  species,  yet  a  gradual  transition  between  the  two,  through  the  indi- 
viduals inhabiting  the  intermediate  region,  fully  proves  it.  Even  between- 
Florida  and  New  England  specimens  the  difference  is  so  great  that,  were 
there  no  transition  from  one  to  the  other,  the  two  extremes  might  well 
be  regarded  as  not  only  valid  species,  but  as  well-marked  ones.  Being  fa- 
miliar with  the  so-called  Quiscalus  aglceus  before  visiting  Florida,  through 
specimens  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  from  Cape  Florida,  I 
had  no  doubt  that  it  was  a  species  distinct  from  the  Q.  purpureus.  But 
a  subsequent  study  of  these  birds  in  Florida,  and  an  examination  of  speci- 
mens from  various  points  between  Florida  and  Northern  Maine,  and 
also  from  the  West  Indies,  has  forced  me  to  the  conclusions  indicated  in 
the  above  table  of  synonymes. 

The  purple  grackles  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  have  recently  been- sep- 
arated as  specifically  distinct  from  those  of  the  Atlantic  States,  under  the 
name  Q.  ceneus,  Q.  purpureus  being  retained  for  the  latter.  The  range  of 
Q.  purpureus  is  given  as  "  Atlantic  and  Gulf?  States,  north  to  Nova 
Scotia,  west  to  the  Alleghanies."  The  New  England  type,  however,  is 
entirely  referable  to  the  Q.  ceneus,  as  defined  by  its  describer.  The  same 
writer  also  follows  some  of  his  predecessors  in  separating  those  of  South 
Florida  from  the  Q.  purpureus,  under  the  name  of  Q.  aglceus.  But  Cape 
Florida  specimens  differ  but  little  —  being,  in  fact,  scarcely  distinguishable 
except  in  size  —  from  those  from  the  St.  John's  River. 

Mr.  Cassin,  in  one  of  his  latest  papers,*  took  fhe  ground  that  each  of 
the  larger  West  India  Islands  has  a  distinct  species  of  this  group,  peculiar 
to  itself.  That  these  forms,  many  of  them  evidently  difficult  of  recognition, 
should  be  distinct  species  is  quite  contrary  to  general  principles.  These 
islands  are  generally  separated  by  a  distance  of  rarely  more  than  a  hun- 
dred miles ;  yet  a  near  ally  of  these  "  species,"  the  Q.  purpureus  (or  Q. 
ceneus  as  recently  restricted),  is  admitted  to  range  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 

*  "  A  Second  Study  of  the  Icteridae,"  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat  Sci.,  1866,  pp.  403  -  417. 


294 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


to  the  arctic  regions,  so  that  those  that  breed  farthest  north  make  annu- 
ally a  journey  of  fully  a  thousand  miles  to  reach  their  breeding-grounds. 
As  I  have  already  observed,  individuals  of  species  possessing  a  very  north- 
ern habitat  usually  present  a  great  uniformity  of  character,  while  those  of 
species  ranging  farther  to  the  southward  are  more  variable  ;  also  that  with- 
in the  warm-temperate  and  tropical  latitudes,  islands  but  slightly  separated 
from  each  other  or  the  mainland,  and  peninsulas  which,  like  Florida,  are 
almost  insular  in  their  geographical  relations,  present  each  peculiar  modi- 
fications of  species  ranging  throughout  not  only  all  of  them,  but  portions 
of  the  adjoining  continents,  which  render  the  individuals  from  these  differ- 
ent localities  more  or  less  readily  distinguishable.  This  results  partly, 
doubtless,  from  the  isolation  of  these  different  districts,  partly  from  the 
more  sedentary  habits  of  birds  in  warm  countries,  as  compared  with  those 
of  cold  latitudes,  and  partly  from  the  greater  tendency  to  variation  in 
species  inhabiting  tropical  and  sub-tropical  countries. 

In  the  subjoined  tables  measurements  are  given  of  thirteen  males  and 
eight  females  from  the  Northern  States,  and  of  twenty-three  males  and  seven 
females  from  Florida,  of  which  the  following  is  a  tabulated  summary  :  — 


No.  of 
Speci- 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Length. 

Alar 

Wing. 

Tail. 

mens. 

17.73 

13 

d 

Northern  States 

Average 

12.63 

5.66 

5.30 

S 

9 

" 

Average 

11.45 

15.76 

4.94 

4.49 

13 

<$ 

" 

Maximum 

13.50 

18.43 

6.05 

6.00 

13 

cj 

" 

Minimum 

12.00 

17.00 

5.20 

4.58 

8 

9 

" 

Maximum 

12.05 

16.30 

5.20 

4.85 

8 

9 

" 

Minimum 

10.90 

15.38 

4.60 

4.10 

23 

d" 

Florida 

Average 

12.19 

16.64 

5.42 

5.22 

7 

9 

" 

Average 

11.12 

14  si; 

4.75 

455 

23 

cT 

" 

Maximum 

13  00 

17.80 

5.75 

6.50 

23 

" 

Minimum 

11.00 

15.25 

5.00 

4.55 

7 

p 

" 

Maximum 

11.75 

1675 

6.00 

4.77 

7 

9 

" 

Minimum 

10.25 

13.75 

4.50 

4.45 

Measurements  of  Northern  Specimens  of  QuisCALUS  purpureus. 


1234 


9770 
2643 

1401 

1871 

1874 
2574 
L602 
1873 
9769 
07., 7 
9598 
2284 
2271 
2501 


187 
L86 
185 

3097 


Locality. 


Rod  River,  B.  A. 
Water  town,  Mass. 


Ipswich,  " 

Evanston,       111. 

Lawn  Ridge,   " 

Springfield,  Mass 


Evanston,      111. 
Waterville,    Me. 

Lynn,  Ma.«s 


Date. 

Apr. 

3, 

'68 

Apr. 

3, 

68 

Apr. 

3, 

'68 

Mar. 

28, 

i;k 

Aug. 

28, 

•69 

July 

29, 

'62 

July 

29, 

'62 

July 

29, 

»62 

July 

12, 

!62 

July 

29, 

62 

May 

3, 

"62 

June 

». 

'62 

Collector. 


S.  H.  Scudder 
C.  J.  Maynard 


0.  Marcy 
K.  Butler 


O.  Marcy 
C.  E.  Hamlin 


12.50 

12.50 
12.45 
12  80 
12.80 
13.10 
12.40 
12.25 
12.50 
13.50 
12.48 
12.12 
12.77 
11  17 
10.90 
11  30 
11.48 
II  50 
11.40 
12.05 
1 1  50 


w 
17.50 
17.80 
18  25 
17.53 
18.10 
1800 
1775 
17.05 
17.25 
1843 
17. 25 
17.00 
17.50 
15. 7  5 
15  15 
15  38 
15  67 
16.00 
16.00 
16.30 
15.50 


5.65 
5.77 
5.85 
557 
5-86 
5.85 
5.62 
5.42 
560 
6.05 
550 
5.20 
5.68 
5.1  in 
4.75 
4.60 
4.95 
5.00 
4.98 
5.20 
6  05 


5.68 
5.20 
5  30 
6.43 
5.50 
560 
5.07 
4.87 
6.20 
6.00 
5.00 
4.58 
560 
4.37 
4.10 
4.25 
4  40 
4.65 
4.46 
4.85 
4.86 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


295 


Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Quiscalus  purpureus. 


"I 

Coll. 
No. 

X 

02 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

ti 

a 

A 
12.75 

si 

<x 
M 

1780 

si) 
5.65 

'3 

H 

5201 



d 

Weiaka 

Feb. 

6,  "69 

J.  A.  Allen 

53i2 



• 

" 

Feb. 

6,  '69 

" 

12.40 

16.87 

545 

5.00 

5204 



<■ 

Hawkinsville 

Feb. 

18,  '69 

" 

12.80 

1715 

5.50 

5.37 

5251 



'■ 

" 

Feb. 

18,  '69 

" 

1175 

17.00 

5.50 

4.87 

5266 



d 

" 

Feb. 

18,  '69 

" 

1300 

17  60 

5-55 

5.40 

5267 



i 

" 

Feb. 

18,  '69 

" 

11.50 

16  70 

5.50 

— 





f 

Enterprise 

Feb. 

21,  69 

12.85 

1'.  -7 

— 



5345 



d 

Mar. 

5, '69 

" 

12.30 

17.38 

550 

5.25 

5346 



d 

" 

Mar. 

5, '69 

" 

12.37 

1660 

5.20 

525 

10604 

2583 

d 

Dumnritt's 

Mar. 

9, '69 

0.  J.  Maynard 

1240 

17.50 

5  55 

— 



2344 

d 

" 

Feb. 

26,  -69 

" 

12  25 

17.50 

5.75 

550 

10602 

2469 

d 

'• 

Feb. 

25,  69 

" 

12.50 

17  30 

550 

555 



2470 

d 

" 

Feb. 

25, '69 

•' 

1250 

17(H) 

5.50 

5  00 

10603 

2471 

d 

" 

Feb. 

25,  69 

" 

1175 

16.75 

575 

5  55 

6S48 



■ 

Cape  Florida 

Mar. 

31,  '58   GWurdemann 

11.50 

1550 

5.50 

5.12 

6851 



d 

" 

Apr. 

10,  58 

" 

12.00 

16.25 

5.25 

6.00 

6852 



d 

;1 

Apr. 

22, -58 

" 

11.75 

16.25 

5.75 

500 



10335* 

d 

" 

Mar. 

31 ,  '5S 

" 

1150 

16.00 

5.50 

— 



10336* 

d 

•' 

Apr. 

15, '58 

" 

11.50 

15  25 

5  00 





10.337* 

J 

" 

Apr. 

15,  '58 

" 

12.00 

15.50 

5.00 





10340* 

f 

" 

Apr. 

22,   58 

" 

12.00 

16.50 

5.12 

— 



1034 1  * 

? 

Apr. 

9,  '58 

" 

11.00 

1525 

5  25 





10342* 

3 

" 

May 

18,   oS 

" 

11.75 

16.25 

5.00 





2342 

" 

Feb. 

26,  "69 

" 

11.50 

15  50 

5.00 

477 



2344 

■ 

" 

Feb. 

26,  '69 

" 

11.00 

1550 

5.00 

4.40 

10601 

2468 

( 

" 

Feb. 

26,  "69 

" 

11.50 

16.00 

4.50 

4. CO 

5263 



; 

Hawkinsville 

Feb. 

18,  '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

11.45 

15  25 

4.85 

4  55 

6853 



9 

Cape  Florida 

Apr. 

22,  '58   G.Wurdemaun 

11.00 

14  50 

4.50 

4.45 



10338*    ? 

Apr. 

22,  '58  i 

11  12 

14.50 

4.75 





10&39*    ? 

Mar. 

31,  '53  ! 

10.25 

13.75 

4  75 

— 

The  specimens  from  Cape  Florida  are  considerably  smaller  than  those 
from  the  St.  John's  River ;  but  the  same  difference  occurs  in  other  species 
between  specimens  from  these  two  localities.  The  Cape  Florida  specimens 
of  Quiscalus  purpureus  differ  from  others  from  North  Florida  also  in  having 
a  relatively  longer,  slenderer,  and  more  decurved  bill,  but  not  appreci- 
ably in  color. 

60.*  Quiscalus  major  Vieillot.  Boat-tailed  Grackle. 
Abundant.  Particularly  numerous  along  the  St.  John's  River. 
According  to  Dr.  Bryant  they  breed  about  the  first  of  April.  He  says 
that  about  Lake  Monroe  some  of  the  birds,  as  late  as  the  6th  of  April, 
had  not  commenced  laying,  "  though  the  majority  had  hatched,  and  the 
young  of  others  were  almost  fledged."  f  He  notes  also  their  sandpiper- 
like habit  of  running  along  the  fedge  of  the  water.  At  Lake  Dexter  I 
observed  great  numbers  of  them  walking  on  the  floating  aquatic  plants. 

The  females  of  this  species  present  very  singular  variations  in  color. 
Of  four  specimens  collected  at  Lake  Dexter,  in  March,  one  is  pale  ashy- 


*  Smith.  Inst.  No.     Copied  from  Baird's  Birds  of  North  America,  p.  557. 
t  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VII,  p.  9,  January,  1859. 


296 


BULLETIN   OF   THE. 


brown. below,  on  the  throat  and  breast  nearly  white,  and  dull  dusky-brown 
above  ;  while  another  is  deep  reddish-brown  below  and  proportionally 
darkc  above,  and  the  others  are  intermediate  to  these. 

Between  the  two  extremes  there  is  more  difference  than  usually  ob- 
tains between  valid  congeneric  species.  The  series  of  twenty-four  males, 
on  the  otber'  hand,  are  quite  uniform  in  color,  there  being  only  a  slight 
difference  in  Us  intensity  and  in  the  prevailing  tint  of  the  iridescence.* 

The  average  dimensions  of  the  thirty-three  specimens  of  which  meas- 
urements are  given  below  are  as  follows  : 

Length  (males):  lb.51  ;  alar  extent,  22.48;  wing,  7.19;  tail,  7.00. 
Length  (females)  :  ltf.95  ;  alar  extent,  17.94  ;  wing,  5.67  ;  tail,  5.11. 

The  individual  variation  is  as  follows  . 

Males,  length,  15.50  to  J6.80;  alar  extent,  21.10  to  23.50;  wing,  6.25  to 
8.35  ;  tail,  6.25  to  7.60. 

Females,  length,  12.10  to  13.40  ;  alar  extent,  17.25  to  18.25;  wing,  5.25 
to  5.95  ;  tail,  4.75  to  5.60. 


Measurements  of  Florida 

Specimens  of  Q 

CISCALUS    MAJOB 

M.CZ. 

No. 

"5272 

Coll. 
No. 

w 

17" 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

5 

a 
►J 

id 

<x 

w 

to 
□ 

'3 

E-t 

Blue  Springs 

Feb. 

21,  '69 

J   A.  Allen 

16.00 

22.15 

725 

6.80 

5252 



cf 

.Enterprise 

Mar. 

1,'69 

" 

16.25 

22.50 

715 

7  15 

5283 



cf 

»' 

Feb. 

22,  '69 

" 

16  25 

21.75 

7.15 

7.10 

5332 



• 

" 

Mar. 

4,  '69 

" 

15.50 

22.00 

6.85 

6.70 

5333 



• 

" 

Mar. 

4,  '69 

" 

15  75 

22.30 

7.20 

6.85 

5334 



■ 
f 

" 

Mar 

4, '69 

" 

15  60 

2185 

7.00 

— 

6407 



Hawkinsville 

Mar. 

15,  '69 

" 

16  00 

23  00 

7.00 

7.00 

5243 



" 

Feb. 

18,  '69 

" 

15  75 

22.25 

7.30 

— 

5408 



" 

Mar. 

15,  "69 

" 

16  50 

22  50 

7.30 

7.15 

6244 



cf 

" 

Feb. 

18,  -69 

" 

1730 

2350 

7.80 

— 

6409 



cf 

" 

Mar. 

15,  '69 

" 

16  00 

22.75 

7  15 

7  00 

5410 



cf 

" 

Mar. 

15,  '69 

" 

16  00 

22.75 

7  20 

6  90 

0411 



cf 

" 

Mar. 

15,  '69 

" 

16  35 

22.50 

7.50 

— 



cf 

" 

Mar. 

15,  '69 

" 

16  50 

23  25 

725 

7.40 



2408 

.<■ 

Dummitt's 

Feb. 

19,  '69 

C.J.  Maynard 

16  50 

23.00 

7  40 

7.10 

10607 

2405 

cf 

" 

Feb. 

19,  '69 

" 

16.75 

23.50 

7.50 

7.25 

2406 

cf 

" 

Feb. 

19,  '69 

" 

17  50 

23HO 

s  :;5 

7.60 

2345 

<f 

" 

Mar. 

17, '69 

" 

16.00 

2110 

6  75 

6.60 

10610 

2585 

tj 

« 

Mar. 

9, '69 

" 

10.90 

23  00 

7.70 

7.50 

2409 

cf 

" 

Mar. 

9, '69 

" 

16.25 

22  00 

700 

7.20 



2586 

cf 

«' 

Mar. 

9,  '69 

" 

16  75 

22.00 

7.00 

7.00 



2399 

cf 

•  ' 

Mar. 

9, '69 

" 

15.75 

22.00 

6.90 

7.00 



2431 

/ 

•• 

Mar. 

9, '69 

" 

16.00 

22-25 

7.25 

6.75 



2404 

cf 

" 

Mar 

9,  '69 

•' 

16.17 

20  75 

6.50 

6.50 



2345 

cf 

" 

Feb. 

16,  '69 

" 

16.50 

22  30 

6.25 

625 

10609 

2563 

v 

" 

Mar. 

9, '69 

.    " 

13.00 

1750 

5.85 

5.60 

2343 

v 

" 

Mar. 

9,  '69 

" 

13.00 

1  *  2.5 

5.80 

500 



2464 

v 

" 

Mar. 

9, '69 

" 

13.00 

18.25 

5.95 

5.25 

5290 

V 

Enterprise 

Feb. 

25, '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

1340 

18.25 

5.85 

4.75 

5334 



V 

" 

Mar. 

4,  't;:i 

" 

12.75 

17.50 

5.50 

5.00 

6412 



v 

Lake  Dexter 

Mar. 

23,  '69 

" 

13  00 

18.05 

5  60 

620 

6413 



v 

<> 

Mar. 

23,  '69 

" 

n  io 

17  25 

5.25 

5.00 

5414 



5 

" 

Mar. 

23, '69                               12  50 

17  60 

5.45 

— 

*  For  a  very  full  biography  of  this  species,  see  an  article  by  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  in  the 
Ibis.  Vol.  VI,  pp.  367-378,  1870. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  297 

The  present  species  is  hence  not  only  remarkable  for  variation  in  size 
between  specimens  of  the  same  sex,  but  espeeiallj'  so  for  its  sexual  varia- 
tion in  size,  the  sexual  difference  in  this  respect  being  greater  than  in 
any  other  species  of  insessorial  bird  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  and  it  is 
rarely,  if  ever,  exceeded  in  any  group. 

CORVID^E. 

61.*    Corvus  americanus  Audubon.    Common  Crow. 

Corvus  corone  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  IV,  79,  pi.  xxv,  fig.  3,  1811. — Nuttall, 

Man.  Orn.,  I,  209,  1832. 
Corvus  americanus  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  317,  1834.  —  Baikd,  Birds  N. 

Am.,  566,  1858. 
Corvus  americanus  var.  floridanus  Baird,  Ibid.,  568,  1858. 
Corvus  minimus  Gundlach,  Cabanis's  Journal  fur  Ornithologie,  IV,  97,  1856. 

Everywhere  abundant. 

In  the  average,  while  the  general  size  of  Florida  specimens  is  smaller 
than  New  England  ones,  the  bill  is  somewhat  larger.  As  is  well  known, 
the  crow  is  exceedingly  variable  in  the  size  and  shape  of  its  bill  even 
in  specimens  collected  from  the  same  flock.  There  is,  however,  an  ap- 
preciable average  difference  in  the  size  of  the  bill,  as  in  general  size, 
between  northern  and  southern  examples.  This  was  some  time  since 
observed  by  Professor  Baird  in  comparing  a  single  specimen  from  the 
southern  point  of  the  Florida  peninsula  with  others  from  the  Northern 
States,  and  so  strongly  was  he  impressed  by  it  that  he  thought  if  his 
Florida  specimen  did  not  represent  a  distinct  species,  it  did  at  least  a  dis- 
tinct variety,  and  as  such  he  characterized  it,  calling  it  Corvus  ameri- 
canus var.  Jloridanus.  He  at  the  same  time  referred  to  the  little  crow  of 
Cuba,  described  by  Dr.  Gundlach  as  Corvus  minutus,  to  which  he  said.it 
was  more  nearly  allied  than  either  are  to  C.  americanus.  I  have  no 
examples  of  the  latter,  but  from  descriptions  of  it  see  no  reason  why  it 
should  be  regarded  as  other  than  the  extreme  southern  form  of  C.  ameri- 
canus. 

62*     Corvus  OSSifragUS    Wilson.     Fish  Crow. 
Abundant.     Perhaps  rather  more  numerous  than  the  common  crow. 

63*    Cyanurus  cristatus  Stoainson.    Blue  Jay. 
Very  abundant  and  unsuspicious.     It  frequents  the  towns,  where  it 
seems  half  domestic. 

The  same  difference  occurs  in  this  species  between  Florida  and  northern 
specimens  in  size  and  shape  of  bill  as  has  been  already  pointed  out  in 


298 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


respect  to  Corvus  americanus,  hut  it  is  far  less  marked  than  in  Agelceus 
phccniceus,  Quiscalus purpureus,  and  Sturnella  ludoviciana.  The  brilliancy 
of  its  colors  seems  not  much  greater  than  in  New  England  specimens. 

The  difference  in  size  between  northern  and  southern  specimens  is  as 
follows :  Average  of  eighteen  Massachusetts  specimens  (eleven  males  and 
seven  females):  Length,  11.71;  alar  extent,  1G.87  ;  wing,  5.13;  tail, 
4.89.  Average  of  eleven  Florida  specimens  (proportion  of  males  and 
females  nearly  the  same  as  in  the  previous  case):  Length,  10.98;  alar 
extent,  15.11;  wing,  4.75;  tail,  5.00.  The  maxima  and  minima  of  the 
eleven  males  from  Massachusetts  are  as  follows  :  Length,  12.25  and  11.35  ; 
alar  extent,  17  50  and  16.30;  wing,  5.50  and  5.00;  tail,  5.65  and  4.25. 

Measuretnents  of  Specimens  of  Cyanura  cristata. 


M.C.Z. 
No. 

Coll. 
No. 

to 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

to 

a 

3 

si 

■<  * 

a 

a 
3 

H 



34" 

d 

Newton,       Mass. 

Oct.  25,  '67 

C.  J   Maynard 

1162 

T.6\30~ 

"ET32 

5  06 



90 

d 

"                  " 

Feb.    5,  '68 

" 

11.35 

17.00 

5.00 

4.78 



94 

' 

"                  " 

Feb.    8,  -68 

" 

12  00 

17.00 

500 

5.00 



93 

d 

"                  " 

Feb.    8,  '68 

" 

11.55 

17.20 

5.25 

4.80 



— 

d 

"                  " 

Feb.  21,  '68 

" 

12.00 

16.80 

5-00 

5.00 



687 

• 

"                  '• 

May  28,  '08 

" 

12  16 

17  00 

5.45 

6.40 



1667 

•• 

"                  '• 



" 

12.25 

1725 

5.65 

565 

12393 

— 

d 

Springfield,     " 

Feb   25,  '70 

Irving  Allen 

12.00 

17.20 

5.15 

5.15 

12392 

— 

■ 

"                   " 

Feb    25,  "70 

" 

11.50 

17  00 

530 

5.10 

12338 

— 

d 

i.                   ii 

Feb.  25.  "70 

" 

12.00 

17.00 

6.00 

4  25 

12385 



■ 

ii                   i< 

Feb.  25.  "70 

" 

1200 

17.50 

5.50 

5.40 

12389 



? 

"                   " 

Feb.  25,  '70 

" 

12.00 

17  00 

4.40 

4.45 

12392 



ii                   ii 

Feb.  25,  'TO 

" 

1100 

16  50 

4.33 

4  80 

12391 



p 

u                   ii 

Feb.  25,  '70 

" 

1100 

17.00 

5  25 

4  75 

12386 



y 

ii                   ii 

Feb.  25,  "70 

" 

11.50 

17  00 

5.50 

5-15 



33 

0 

Newton,          " 

Oct.  25,  (17 

C  J.  Maynard 

11.40 

16.32 

530 

5  30 

4875 

688 

Q 

ii                   ii 

May  28,  '68 

" 

11.62 

1653 

4  75 

4.77 



1685 

y 

ii                   ii 

Nov.    4,  '68 

" 

11.75 

16  00 

5.20 

435 

10733 

1951 

■■ 

Jacksonville,  Fla. 

Jan.    2, '69 

" 

11.15 

16.00 

5.00 

5.00 

10734 

1973 

"                 " 

Jan.    3,  '69 

" 

11.00 

15  50 

4.80 

4  80 

10731 

1974 

§ 

i'                 u 

Jan.    S,  '69 

" 

1100 

14.75 

4.00 

4.80 

5522 

— 

■> 

Blue  Springs,  " 

Feb.  21,  '69 

J   A.  Allen 

10.75 

1575 

4  20 

— 

5128 

— 

? 

Jacksonville,   " 

Jan   21,  '69 

" 

10  75 

15  50 

4  70 

5.12 

5190 



d 

Welaka,           " 

Feb     M,  '69 

" 

10.70 

15(10 

510 

610 



— 

d 

Enterprise,      " 

Mar     1,  '69 

" 

1100 

15  75 

500 

— 





? 

ii                ii 

Mar.    4,  '69 

" 

10  70 

15.15 

•1  50 

— 

6348 



? 

"                " 

Mar     4, '69 

" 

11.00 

16.00 

5.00 

5.05 

5162 



Hibernia,          " 

Jan    30    "69 

" 

11.25 

15  75 

5.00 

5.15 

61113 

— 

i 

"                   " 

Jan.  3D,  'fVJ 

" 

11  50 

15  50 

5.00 

— 

64.*     Cyanocitta  floridana  Bonaparte.     Florida  Jay. 

Corvus  Jloridanus  Bartram,  Travels,  291,  1791.  —  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  I, 

444,  pi.  lxxxvii,  1831. 
Garruhis  Jloridanus  Boxap.,  Am.  Orn.,  II,  11,  pi.  ix,  1828. 
Garrulus  cceruiescens  Okd,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  I,  347,  1818. 
Garrulus  californicus  Vigors,  Zool.  Beechey's  Voyage,  21,  pi.  v,  1839. 
Cyanocitta  floridana  Bon ap.,  Consp   Gen.  Avium,  377,  1850. 
Cyanocitta  superciliosa  Strickland,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  XV,  260,  1845. 
Cyanocitta  californica  Strickland,  Ibid.,  342. 
Cyanocitta  Woodliousei  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  585,  1858. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


299 


Numerous  in  the  scrub,  but  does  not  appear  to  frequent  the  pine  woods 
the  hummocks  or  swamps.  I  saw  none  along  the  St.  John's,  except  at 
Blue  Springs,  but  they  occur  in  numbers  a  few  miles  back  from  the  river. 

On  comparing  a  number  of  specimens  of  the  so-called  Cyanncilla  cali- 
fornlca  with  numerous  others  from  Florida,  I  find,  as  previous  writers  have 
observed,  that  the  differences  between  them  are  very  slight,  and  not 
so  great  as  obtain  between  Florida  and  New  England  specimens  of 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  Agelceus  phceniceus,  and  other  species  where  there 
is  no  reason  to  question  their  specific  identity.  The  so-called  C.  Wood- 
housei  is  described  as,  and  is,  intermediate  in  character  between  C.  fiori- 
dana  and  C.  californica.  The  habitat  of  C.  Woodhousei  is  also  interme- 
diate between  those  of  the  other  two,  but  adjoins  that  of  C.  californica,  to 
which  it  is  most  nearly  allied.  How  great  the  interval  is  between  the 
habitats  of  C.  floridana  and  C.  Woodhousei  I  have  not  been  able  to  accu- 
rately determine.  Bonaparte  *  reported  the  former  as  being  found  in  Louis- 
iana and  northward  to  Kentucky,  and  the  latter  occurs  in  Western  Texas. 

In  the  following  measurements  of  twelve  specimens  of  this  species  (six 
males  and  six  females)  the  extremes  are  as  follows:  Length,  11.00  and 
12.50  (both  specimens  being  females)  ;  alar  extent,  13.50  (female)  and 
15.00  (male);  wing,  4.00  and  4.75  (both  specimens  females);  tail,  4.25 
and  5.35  (both  specimens  females).  The  average  dimensions  of  these 
specimens  are  as  follows:  Length,  11.74;  alar  extent,  14.44;  wing,  4.42; 
tail,  4.80.     The  females  average  slightly  smaller  than  the  males. 


Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Cyanocitta  floridana. 


M.C  Z 

No. 

Coll. 
No. 

""2480 

02 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Length 

Alar 
Extent. 

~14.50 

Wing. 

Tail. 

10739 

^- 

Dummitt's 

Feb.  22,  '69 

C.J.  Maynard 

1150 

4.30 

435 



2377 

rf 

" 

Feb.  22,  '69 

•' 

12.00 

15.00 

4.45 

4.75 



2421 

rf 

" 

Feb.  15,  '69 

" 

12  00 

15.00 

4.75 

5.00 

10738 

2326 

rC 

" 

Feb.  15,  '69 

" 

12.00 

14  50 

4.50 

4.60 



2329 

7 

" 

Feb.  15,  '69 

" 

11.50 

14.25 

4  50 

4.25 



2379 

r! 

" 

Feb.  22,  -69 

" 

11.50 

14.25 

4.50 

5.35 

10737 

2328 

" 

Feb.  15,  -69 

" 

12.50 

14.50 

4  75 

4.90 



2378 

§ 

" 

Feb.  16,  '69 

" 

1150 

14.10 

4.30 

5.15 



2375 

V 

" 

Feb.  15, '69 

" 

1160 

14  40 

4.60 

4.25 

5271 



V 

" 

Feb.  21,  "69 

J.  A.  Allen 

1100 

1350 

4.00 

5.35 

5272 



rf 

" 

Feb.  21,  "69 

" 

12.00 

14.50 

4.30 

4.75 

5523 



" 

Feb.  21,  '69 

" 

11.75 

14.80 

4.20 

— 

TYRANID.E. 
65.t    Sayornis  fuscus  Baird.    Pewee. 
Abundant  all  winter,  and  a  few  remain  till  into  April. 
The    king-bird    (Tyrannus     carolinensis),    the    great-crested    flycatcher 
(Myiarchus   crinitus),   and    the    wood    pewee    (Contopus    virens)   became 

•  Am.  Orn.,  Vol.  II,  p.  60,  1828. 


300  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

common  the  last  week  in  March,  as  also,  according  to  Mr.  Boardman, 
the  least  flycatcher  (Empidonax  minimus). 

Several  specimens  of  the  gray  king-bird  (Tyrannus  dominicensis) 
were  obtained  by  Mr.  L.  L.  Thaxter  at  St.  Augustine,  about  the  first 
of  May. 

ALCEDINID^I. 

66.*  Ceryle  alcyon  Boie.  Kingfisher. 
Abundant.  As  shy  and  distrustful  here  as  in  the  more  thickly 
settled  parts  of  the  country.  Begins  to  breed  very  early.  Mr.  May- 
nard  saw  them  forming  their  holes  in  the  coquina  rock,  in  the  banks  of 
the  canal  connecting  Indian  River  with  Mosquito  Lagoon,  the  first  week 
in  February. 

CAPRIMULGID^I. 
67.*    Antrostomus  carolinensis  Gould.    Chuokwill's  Widow. 
Abundant.      Not   observed  till  about  the  first  of  March,  when  its 
notes  are  usually  first  heard.     Said  by  Audubon  to  be  resident ;  which 
statement  is  confirmed  by  the  testimony  of  old  residents  of  the  State. 

68*    AntrostOmUS  VOCiferuS  Bonaparte.    Whippoorwill. 

Apparentlv  not  numerous  in  winter.  I  heard  it  once  in  February, 
and  Mr.  Maynard  took  it  at  Dummitt's  in  the  same  month.  The  in- 
habitants along  the  St.  John's  agree  with  Audubon  that  this  species  is 
also  a  winter  resident. 

The  night  hawk  ( Chordeiles  popetue  *  Baird)  was  collected  at  Jack- 
sonville by  Mr.  Thurston  as  early  as  April  20th 

*  C'iprimulgus  virgininnus  Brisson,  Orn.,  II,  477  (in  part). 

Caprimulgus  popetue  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  56,  pi.  Hv,  1807. 

Qtprimuhjus  americanus  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V,  65,  pi.  cxl,  1812. 

Caprimulgus  (  Cliordeiles)  virgininnus  .Swain.,  Faun.  Ror.  Am.,  II,  62,  1831. 

Chordeiles  virginianus  Bon.,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  8,  1838.  —  Gosse,  Birds  of  Ja- 
maica, 33,  1847. 

Chordeiles  snpiti  Bonap.,  Consp.  Gen.  Avium,  I,  63,  1849.  —  Cassin,  111.  N.  Am. 
Birds,  238,  1855. 

Chordeiles  brasilinnus  Lawr.,  Ann.  X.  Y.  Lyceum  Nat.  Hist.,  V,  114,  1851. 

Oiordeiles  Henryi  Cassin,  111.  N.  Am.  Birds,  239.  — Baihd,  Birds  N.  Am.,  153. 

Chordeiles  Gundlachii  Lawr..  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  VI,  167,  1856. 

Chord,  H,  s  texerisis  Lawk.,  Ibid.,  165.  —  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am..  154. 

Chordeiles  minor  Caranis.  Journ.  fur  Orn.,  5,  1856. 

Chordeiles  popetue  Baihd,  Birds  X.  Am.,  151. 
This  widely  distributed  species  presents  only  the  usual  variations  in  size  and  color 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


801 


CYPSELID^I. 

The  chimney  swift  ( Chcetura  pelasgia)  arrives  about  the  last  week 
in  March.     It  was  common  at  Jacksonville,  April  1st. 

TROCHILID^I. 

The  ruby-throated  humming-bird  (Trochilus  colubris)  became  com- 
mon about  March  1st.  Some  probably  spend  the.  winter  in  South 
Florida. 

V1C1DM. 

69*    Campephilus  principalis  Gray.    Ivory-bjt.led  Woodpecker. 

Picus  principalis  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  173,  1767. 
Campephilus  principalis  Gray,  Genera  of  Birds,  1840. 

Campephilus  Bairdii  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1863,  322.    (West 
Indian  form.) 

Rather  rare  ;  at  least  far  less  numerous  than  most  of  the  other 
species  of  woodpecker. 

With  only  Florida  specimens  of  this  species  before  me,  I  am  unable  to 
give  comparisons  between  them  and  specimens  from  other  localities.  Ac- 
cording to  the  late  Mr.  Cassin,  those  found  in  Cuba  differ  from  those  of 
the  Southern  States,  in  being  smaller,  as  would  be  expected,  with  very 
slight  deviations  in  color-markings.  He  has,  however,  given  to  the  Cuba 
race  the  name  of  Campephilus  Bairdii,  remarking  that  it  appears  to  be 
"  one  of  those  singular  insular  species  which  have  become  well  known  to 
naturalists." 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Campephilus  principalis. 


M.  C.  Z. 
No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Length. 

Alar 
Extent. 

Wing. 

Tail. 

5221 
5222 
5229 
6354 
5399 

(J          Volusia. 

d 

? 

cf  !     Enterprise 

9      Hawkinsville 

Feb.  12,  '69 
Feb.  12,  '69 
Feb.  12,  '69 
Mar     5,  '69 
Mar.  15,  '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

20.00 
19.50 
19.30 
19.25 
19.50 

32.25 
32  50 
31.50 
30.50 
31.50 

10.40 
10.25 
10.60 
9.70 
10.25 

690 
690 
6.85 
6.40 
6.75 

seen  in  other  species  of  our  birds.  Yet  these  variations  have  in  the  present  case  been 
mistaken  as  indicating  numerous  species.  The  southern  representatives  of  it  are  ap- 
preciably smaller  than  the  northern,  and  have  the  white  markings  on  the  wings  more 
restricted,  —  variations  that  have  already  been  pointed  out  in  this  paper  as  occurring  in 
numerous  others  similarly  distributed.  Those  from  the  central  arid  region  of  the  con- 
tinent are  also  Ughter  in  general  color  than  those  from  the  eastern  or  western  portions; 
also  a  common  color  variation  in  other  species.  The  latter  type  forms  the  so-called 
Chordeiles  Henryi ;  the  southern  ones  have  been  variously  characterized  as  C.  sapid, 
C  texensis,  C.  Gundlachii,  etc.,  as  indicated  in  the  above-cited  syuonymes. 


302 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


70.*    Hylotomus  pileatus  Buird.    Pileated  Woodpecker. 
Abundant.      Much   smaller   than   at  the   north,  but  not  otherwise 
appreciably  different. 

The  average  dimensions  of  fourteen  Florida  specimens  (seven  males  and 
seven  females)  are  as  follows  :  — 

Males,  length,  17.48  ;  alar  extent,  28.07  ;  .wing,  9.21  ;  tail,  6.82. 

Females,  length,  16.44  ;  alar  extent,  26.80;  wing,  8.98  ;  tail,  6.54. 

The  individual  variation  is  as  follows :  — 

Males,  length,  17.25  to  17.75;  alar  extent,  27.50  to  28.50;  wing,  9.00 
to  9.50 ;  tail,  6.20  to  6.75. 

Females,  length,  15.50  to  16.80  ;  alar  extent,  26.00  to  27.75  ;  wing,  8.50 
to  9.50 ;  tail,  5.85  to  6.80. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Hylotomus  pileatus. 


M.C.Z. 
No. 

— 5118 

Coll. 

No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Length. 

Alar 
Extent. 

Wing. 

Tail. 



d 

Hibernia 

Jan.  30T'69 

J.  A.  Allen 

17.75 

28.25 

9.2o 

6.65 

6203 



d 

Welaka 

Feb.     7,  '69 

" 

17.25 

28.00 

900 

650 

5215 



d 

" 

Feb.  10,  '69 

" 

1750 

28.50 

9.25 

6.75 





d 

Hawkinsville 

Mar.  10,  '69 

" 

17.25 

27.50 

9.50 





1937 

d 

Jacksonville 

Dec.  31,  '69 

C.  J.  Maynard 

17-75 

28.50 

9.50 

6.40 



2076 

d 

" 

Jan.  — ,  '69 

" 

17.25 

27.75 

9.00 

6.20 



2543 

d 

Dummitt's 

Feb.  15,  '69 

" 

17.60 

28.00 

9.00 

6.45 



2334 

2 

" 

Mar.  11,  '69 

" 

15  50 

26  40 

8.70 

5.85 



2602 

2 

" 

Mar.    5,  '69 

" 

16.60 

27.75 

9  00 

6.75 

5204 



Welaka 

Feb.     7.  '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

16.75 

26  25 

8.50 

6  75 

5214 



§ 

" 

Feb.  10,  '69 

" 

16.35 

26.75 

9.15 

6.60 

6216 



0 

" 

Feb.  10,  '69 

" 

16.30 

27.25 

9.00 

6  80 

6274 



§ 

Blue  Springs 

Feb.  21,  '69 

" 

16  75 

27  20 

9  50 

6.50 





2 

Hawkinsville!  Mar.  10,  '69 

" 

16.80 

26  00 

9.00 

— 

71.*  Picus  vill0SU8  Limit.    Hairy  Woodpecker. 
Picus    villosus    Linne,    Syst.    Nat.,    I,    175,    1767.  —  Forster,    Philosoph. 
Transact.,  LXII,  383,  1772.  — Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  I,  150,  pi.  ix,  fig.  3, 
1808.  —  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  V,  164,  pi.  ccccxvii,  1837.    (Northern  form.) 
Picus  leucomelanus  Wagler,  Syst.  Av.,  No.  18,  1827.     (Immature  male.) 
Picus  Auduboni  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  306,  1831.   (Immature  male.) 
—  Trudeau,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  404, 1837.    (Immature  male). — 
Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  V,  194,  1839.     (Same  as  the  last.) 
Picus  Martince  Audubon,  Ibid.,  181,  pi.  ccccxvii.     (Very  immature.) 
Picus  Phillpsii  Audubon,  Ibid.,  186,  pi.  ccccxvii.     (Immature.) 
Picus  Harrisii  Audubon,  Ibid.,  191,  same  plate.     (Northwestern  form.)  — 

Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  87. 
Picus  septentrionalis  Nuttall,  Man.  Orn.,  I  (2d  Ed.),  685,  1840. 
Picus  rubricapillus  Nuttall,  Ibid.,  G84.     (Immature  male.) 
Picus  Cuvieri  Malherue,  Mon.  1'icida;/  I,  85,  pi.  xxii,  fig.  3.     (Young  fe- 
male.) 
Picus  Jardinei  Malherbe,  Ibid.,  I,  85,  pi.  xxv,  fig.  4,  5.  —  Cassin,  Proc. 
Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1863",  201. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  303 

Not  numerous  in  Florida  in  comparison  with  the  other  species  of 
Picidce. 

The  difference  in  size  between  northern  and  southern  specimens  of  all  the 
species  of  the  Picidce  is  greater  than  obtains  in  most  other  families  of  birds. 
So  great  is  it  in  Picus  villosus  and  Picus  pubescens  that  it  was  in  these  species 
that  such  variations  were  first  noticed.  This  difference  is  well  pointed  out 
by  Professor  Baird  in  his  work  on  the  North  American  Birds,  and  fully  de- 
monstrated in  his  table  of  measurements.  On  this  ground  he  distinguished 
three  varieties  of  P.  villosus,  —  P.  villosus  major,  occupying  the  northern 
and  western  portions  of  the  continent;  P.  villosus  medius,  occupying  the 
Middle  States ;  and  P.  villosus  minor,  occupying  the  Southern  States. 
Audubon  regarded  the  two  former  as  distinct  species.  In  addition  to  these 
variations  in  size,  my  Florida  specimens  indicate  a  well-marked  variation 
in  color  between  the  northern  and  extreme  southern  races,  the  Florida 
specimens  differing  from  New  England  ones  in  having  the  white  mark- 
ings of  relatively  less  extent,  which  gives  to  the  plumage  a  considerably 
darker  aspect.  Through  this  variation  there  is  an  approach  in  the  Florida 
examples  of  P.  villosus  to  the  so-called  P.  Harrisii  of  the  Pacific  coast  and 
Rocky  Mountain  regions  of  the  continent,  and  in  the  Florida  examples  of 
P.  pubescens  to  the  so-called  P.  Gairdneri,  also  of  the  middle  and  western 
regions  of  the  continent.  These,  as  is  well  known,  differ  respectively  from 
P.  villosus  and  P.  pubescens  almost  solely  in  a  general  darker  aspect,  re- 
sulting simply  from  the  relatively  greater  predominance  of  the  black  color 
of  the  plumage  over  the  white  markings  in  the  western  type  ;  there  being 
no  change  whatever  in  the  general  style  of  coloration,  though  some  of  the 
smaller  white  spots  seen  in  the  eastern  are  entirely  obsolete  in  the  western 
type.  Under  Picus  Gairdneri  Professor  Baird  thus  describes  these  varia- 
tions. "  There  is,"  he  says,  "  the  same  series  in  specimens  of  Picus  Gaird- 
neri that  were  indicated  under  P.  Harrisii.  Thus  the  most  northern  from 
Washington  Territory  and  Oregon  have  the  under  parts  more  brown, 
with  faint  black  streaks,  the  white  spots  above  smaller  and  less  numerous. 
In  specimens  from  California  and  farther  east  the  white  is  purer,  the 
spots  more  conspicuous."  "  The  almost  perfect  parallelism,"  he  further 
observes,  "  with  appreciable  differences  between  the  markings  of  the 
northwestern  and  southeastern  varieties  of  Picus  Harrisii  and  Gairdneri, 
and  their  relationship  to  P.  villosus  and  pubescens,  is  a  remarkable  fact  in 
American  ornithology,  and  may  possibly  indicate  the  necessity  either  of 
dividing  the  dark  ones  into  a  Pacific  and  Rocky  Mountain  series,  or  of  con- 
sidering all  as  variations  of  two  species,  a  larger  [P.  villosus]  and  a  smaller 
[P.  pubescens],  changing  their  character  with  longitudinal  distribution." 
And  he  aptly  adds,  "  Many  other  supposed  species  are  involved  in  the 


30-1  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

same  consideration."  *  Professor  Bairri  in  his  account  of  these  species,  ex- 
pressly refers  to  •California  specimens  that  have  less  white  on  the  wings 
than  the  one  form  and  more  white  than  the  other,  f  This  with  the  color 
differences  existing  between  Florida  specimens  and  New  England  ones, 
similar  in  character  to  these,  though  less  in  degree,  seems  to  confirm  the 
necessity  alluded  to  by  Professor  Baird  of  regarding  the  small  spotted 
woodpeckers  in  question  as  forming  only  two  species,  —  the  Picus  villosus 
and  Picus  pubescens, —  with  parallel  and  remarkable  geographical  varia- 
tions. So  great  is  the  difference,  however,  between  typical  representatives 
of  the  two  leading  forms  of  each,  that  their  discoverers,  with  too  few  speci- 
mens of  each  to  enable  them  to  detect  the  gradual  passage  of  the  one  into 
the  other,  —  a  fact  which  now  seems  well  substantiated,  —  were  quite 
excusable  in  regarding  them  as  distinct  species.  Several  other  sup- 
posed species,  as  indicated  by  the  synonymes  given  above,  and  previously 
by  other  authors,  have  been  based  on  phases  of  immaturity.  The  young 
of  either  sex  often  have  the  crown  spotted  with  red  or  yellow,  while  the 
mature  male  alone  has  red  on  the  head,  and  in  which  it  is  usually  confined 
to  a  narrow  occipital  transverse  band.  In  respect  to  the  number,  shape, 
position,  and  size  of  the  white  spots  on  the  wings,  however,  there  is  al- 
ways considerable  variation  in  specimens  from  the  same  locality,  these 
variations  being  dependent  upon  neither  sex  nor  age. 

Florida  specimens  of  not  only  Picus  pubescens  and  P.  villosus,  but  of 
Centurus  carolinus,  Sitla  carolinensis,  and  Si/la  pusilla,  often  have  the 
plumage  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  body  so  much  soiled  and  darkened  by 
running  over  the  blackened  trees  in  recently  burnt  districts  as  to  ma- 
terially alter  their  appearance,  so  that  they  might  almost  be  taken  for 
distinct  species,  as  previously  noted  by  Audubon.  J 

72.*    Picus  pubescens  Linne.    Downy  "Woodpecker. 
Picas  pubescens  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  175,  1766.  —  Wilson,  Audubon,  Box a- 

PARTE,  NoTTALL,  BaIKD,  CaSSIN,  CtC 

Pints  (Dendrocopus)  pubescens  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  307,  1831. 
Picus  (Dendroco/ms)  mcdianus  Swainson,  Ibid.,  308.     (Described  from  New 
Jersey  specimens). 

*  Birds  of  North  America,  p.  91. 

t  In  accounting  for  these  intermediate  forms,  Mr.  Cassin  adopts  the  very  convenient 
but,  as  it  seems  to  me,  uncalled-for  and  incorrect  theory  of  hybridity,  so  often  resorted 
to  in  similar  cases.  Under  Picus  villosus,  he  says  that  J',  villosus  and  P.  Harrisii  prob- 
ably associate  in  a  region  intermediate  between  the  proper  ranges  of  the  two  species, 
"and  produce  hybrids,  which  present  difficulties  to  naturalists."  Under  Picus  pu- 
bescens lie  makes  similar  remarks  in  respect  to  P.  pubescens  and  P.  Liairdneri.  Proc. 
Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sri.,  1863,  pp.  200,  201. 

J  Orn.  Biog.,  Vol.  II,  p.  82. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


305 


Picus  (Dendrocopus)  meridionalis  Swaixson,  Ibid.     (Southern  race.) 

Picus  Gairdneri  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  V,  317,  1839.  (Northwestern  form.)  — 

Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  91,  1858. 
Picus  meridionalis  Nuttall,  Man. Orn.,  I,(2d  Ed.)  690, 1840.  (Not  of  Swainson). 
Picus  Lecontei  Jones,  Ann.  N.  York  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  IV,  489,  pi.  xviii,  1848. 

(Three-toed  specimen.) 
Picus  Turati  Maliierbe,  Mon.  Pic.,  I,  125,  pi.  xxix,  fig.  5,  6.  —  Cassin,  Proc. 

Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1863,  202. 

Common.     Much  more  numerous  than  Picus  villosus. 

The  difference  in  size  and  color  between  northern  and  southern  speci- 
mens has  been  sufficiently  detailed  under  the  previous  species. 

73.*    Picus  borealis   Vieillot.    Red-cockaded  Woodpecker. 

Picus  borealis  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  II,  66,  pi.  exxii,  1807.  —  Cassin, 

Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1863,  203. 
Picus  querulus  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  II,  103,  pi.  xv,  fig.  1,  1810.  —  Cassin,  Proc. 

Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1863,  203. 

Common  in  the  pineries. 

Mr.  Cassin  regards  the  Carolina  and  Georgia  representatives  of  this 
species  as  specifically  distinct  from  the  Pennsylvania  ones.  He  says  that 
they  are  as  distinct  and  as  easily  recognized  as  are  Picks  villosus  and  P. 
Harrisii,  which  he  of  course  regards  as  valid  species.    He  assigns  Yieillot's 


Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Picus 

BOREALIS. 

M.  C.  Z. 

No. 

Coll. 
No. 

y. 

CO 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

c 

(3 

<   X 

'3 

10641 

1919 

9 

Jacksonville 

Dec.    31, '68    C.  J.  Maynard 

~ fT40 

14.20 

4.75 

3.52 

10642 

1920 

d 

" 

Dec.    31,  '68 

" 

8.30 

14.20 

4.76 

362 

10043 

1921 

2 

" 

Dec.    31,  "68 

" 

8.30 

14.80 

480 

3  56 



1922 

d 

" 

Dec.    31,  "68 

" 

8.50 

14.50 

4.75 

3  69 

10644 

1923 

d 

" 

Dec.     31,  '68 

" 

8.20 

14  45 

4.75 

3.39 



1924 

d 

" 

Dec.    31,  '68 

" 

8.50 

15.00 

4  80 

3.32 

10645 

1925 

d 

" 

Dec.    31,  '66 

" 

8  50 

14.75 

4.85 

3.60 



1971 

8 

" 

Jan.      3,  '69 

" 

8.50 

15  00 

4.85 

3.50 

10646 

1972 

• 

" 

Jan.      3,  '69 

" 

8.50 

14  30 

4.75 

3.75 

10631 

29 

■ 

" 

Apr.    11,  '69 

" 

8.00 

14.75 

4.90 

3.45 

10632 

30 

" 

Apr.     6,  '69 

" 

8.50 

15.00 

4.90 

335 

10633 

31 

, 

" 

Apr.      6,  '69 

" 

8.30 

14  90 

4.85 

335 

10634 

41 

.•" 

" 

Apr.      7,  '69 

" 

8.15 

1450 

4.70 

3-25 

10637 

47 

' 

" 

Apr.      8,  '69 

" 

8.60 

15.15 

4.87 

3.40 

10638 

48 

-■ 

" 

Apr.      8,  '69 

" 

8.50 

15.00 

4.95 

3.46 

1063y 

58 

i 

" 

Apr.    13,  '69 

" 

8.50 

1410 

4.75 

3.59 



49 

" 

Apr.      8,  '69 

" 

8,50 

14.15 

4.85 

3.49 

10640 

59 

0 

" 

Apr.    12,  '69 

•« 

8.50 

15.00 

4.80 

3.50 

10636 

44 

— 

" 

Apr.      7,  '69 

ic 

8.30 

15.00 

4.80 

3.60 

10635 

43 

? 

" 

Apr.      7,  '69                " 

8.35 

14.60 

460 

3.60 



32 

d 

" 

Apr.      3,  '69 

'« 

830 

14.90 

4.85 

3.50 



42 

d 

" 

Apr.     7,  '69 

" 

8.20 

14.70 

475 

329 

5116 

— 

" 

Jan.    19,  '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

8.50 

15  20 

4  40 

330 

5137 

— 

d 

" 

Jan.    25,  '69 

" 

8.33 

14.75 

4.57 

3.42 

6375 

— 

d 

Hawkinsville 

Mar.    12,  '69 

" 

8.55 

14.55 

4.50 

3.40 

5393 

— 

d 

" 

Mar.    15,  '69 

" 

8.50 

14.50 

4  45 

320 

5394 

— 

d 

" 

Mur.    15,  '69 

" 

8.25 

14.50 

4.40 

315 

5414 

— 

i 

Volusia 

Mar.    25,  '69 

" 

7.90 

14.60 

4.45 

3.25 

20 


306  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

name  borealis  to  the  Pennsylvania  type,  and  Wilson's  name  querulus  to 
the  more  southern  form.  In  recognizing  two  species  of  red-eockaded  wood- 
pecker in. the  Atlantic  States,  Mr.  Cassin  differs  from  all  previous  writers. 
Having  only  Florida  specimens,  a  series  of  twenty-two,  before  me,  I  cannot 
state  from  personal  observation  as  to  how  they  differ  from  northern  ones. 
They  appear,  however,  to  be  merely  a  little  smaller  and  darker. 

The  average  size  of  the  twenty-eight  Florida  specimens  of  which  meas- 
urements are  given  in  the  foregoing  table  is  as  follows  :  Length,  8.34  ; 
alar  extent,  14.46;  wing,  4.71;  tail,  3.41. 

74.t    Sphyrapicus  varius  Baird.    Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker. 
Common. 

75*    Centurus  carolinus  Bonaparte.    Red-bellied  Woodpecker. 

Picus  carolinas  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  174,  1767. 

Picus  griseus  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  II,  52,  pi.  cxvi,  1807. 

Centums  carolinus  Bonap.,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  40,  1838. 

Abundant.  The  most  numerous  species  of  its  family  in  Florida. 
Specimens  in  the  Museum  from  Cape  Florida,  taken  the  8th  of  May  by 
Mr.  G.  Wurdemann,  indicate  it  as  resident  throughout  Florida,  though 
considered  by  Audubon  and  others  as  only  a  winter  visitant  to  this  and 
the  other  Gulf  States. 

The  Florida  specimens  are  all  very  much  brighter  colored  than  others 
before  me  from  Maryland,  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Michigan,  the  Michigan 
specimens  being  the  palest.  Professor  Baird  has  remarked,  in  regard  to  a 
specimen  from  Amelia  Island,  Florida,*  that  it  was  not  only  very  much 
smaller  than  northern  ones,  but  had  the  white  transverse  bands  on  the 
back  much  narrower,  the  black  ones  being  three  times  the  breadth  of  the 
white  ones,  instead  of  twice,  as  in  the  northern  specimens.  These  differ- 
ences my  large  series  from  the  St.  John's  River  indicate  as  constant.  A  simi- 
lar increase,  in  the  breadth  of  the  black  bands  over  the  white  ones  in  southern 
specimens  as  compared  with  northern  ones,  in  species  banded  transversely, 
i<  seen  in  numerous  other  species.  It  is  well  marked  in  Colaptes  auratus 
(where  the  bands  are  dark  and  light  brown),  in  Sphyrapicus  i-nriu.<,  and,  as  I 
shall  show  more  fully  subsequently,  in  Ortyx  virginianus.  The  extent  and 
intensity  of  the  red  on  the  abdomen  and  head,  and  especially  its  brilliancy 
on  the  head,  is  much  greater  in  the  Florida  specimens  of  C.  carolinus.  In 
this  respect  there  is  also  a  well-marked  difference  between  Cape  Florida 
specimens  and  those  from  the  St.  John's  River,  the  Cape  Florida  ones 
being  much  the  brighter.  These  seem  to  accord  in  every  particular  with 
*  Birds  of  North  Amer.,  p.  109. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


307 


the  so-called  Cenlurus  subelcgans  of  Lower  California  and  Mexico.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  variations  in  color  occur  between  the  northern  and 
southern  representatives  of  Centurus  Jlaviventris  similar  to  tl\ose  exhibited 
by  northern  and  southern  examples  of  C.  carolinus.  The  southern  forms 
of  C.  Jlaviventris  were  long  since  characterized  by  Wagler,  Swainson,  and 
Bonaparte  as  specifically  distinct  from  the  northern,  under  the  names  of  C. 
elegans,  C.  santacruzi,  etc.,  etc.,  which  many  authors  still  rank  as  species. 

76.*  Melanerpes  erythrocephalus,  Swainson.  Red-headed  Wood- 
pecker. 
Rare  in  winter ;  said  to  be  common  in  summer.  I  saw  two  only, 
about  March  loth.  Mr.  Boardman  also  gives  it  as  rare,  while  Mr. 
Maynard  did  not  meet  with  it  at  all.  Audubon  speaks  of  its  being 
very  abundant  in  winter  in  Louisiana,  and  Dr.  Coues  gives  it  as  resi- 
dent in  South  Carolina  ;  but  it  is  certainly  not  common  in  winter  in  East 
Florida. 

77.*  Colaptes  auratus  Swainson.    Golden-winged  Woodpecker. 
Abundant. 

Considerably  smaller  than  at  the  north,  with  the  colors  much  more  in- 
tense, and  the  transverse  black  bars  on  the  back  relatively  broader.  The 
individual  variations  in  this  species,  even  at  the  same  locality,  are  very 
considerable,  especially  in  respect  to  the  bill.  Figures  5  and  6,  Plate  VIII, 
illustrate  the  variation  in  the  form  and  size  of  the  bill  of  two  specimens 
from  Massachusetts,  both  of  which  are  females. 

The  following  summary  of  the  subjoined  tables  indicates  the  difference 
in  size  between  Massachusetts  and  Florida  specimens,  and  the  individual 
differentiation  in  the  same  respect  at  each  locality.  The  sexes  seem  not 
to  differ  essentially  in  size. 


No.  of 
Speci- 
mens. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Length. 

Alar 
Extent. 

Wing. 

Tail. 

18 
11 
18 
18 
11 
11 

— 

Massachusetts. 

Florida 
Massachusetts. 

Florida. 

Average 

Average 

Maximum 

Minimum 

Maximum 

Minimum 

12.45 
11.66 
13.00 
12.00 
12.75 
10.60 

19.94 

18.82 

20.75 

19.00 

19.75    - 

17.60 

6  24 
6.84 
660 
6.00 
6.25 
6.60 

4.35 
4.40 
4.70 
4.00 
4.85 
4.10 

"While  the  Florida  specimens  are  considerably  smaller  than  the  northern 
in  three  of  the  measurements,  the  tail  is  actually  longer  in  the  Florida 
birds,  and  hence  relatively  much  longer.  In  most  of  the  species  of  which 
comparative  tables  of  measurements  are  given  in  the  present  paper,  there 
is  a  decided  tendency  to  an  elongation  of  the  tail  at  the  southward,  the 
tail  decreasing  less  in  length  than  the  wing  or  the  general  size. 


308 


BULLETIN   OF  THE 


Measurements  of  Massachusetts  Specimens  of  Colaptes  auratus. 


M.CZ 

No. 

Coll. 

No. 

CO 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Length. 

c 

'3 

E-t 



2075 

? 

Jacksonville 

Jan. 

20, '69 

C.  J.Maynard 

10.75 

18.50 

5.75 

4.55 



2074 

v 

" 

Jan. 

20, '69 

" 

11.00 

17.60 

550 

4.50 

10612 

2346 

Dummitt's 

Feb. 

16, '69 

" 

11.75 

19.50 

6.25 

4.10 

10014 

2601 

g 

" 

Mar. 

11,  '69 

" 

12.00 

19  00 

5.90 

4  60 

10611 
10613 

2584 

o 

" 

Mar. 

9, '69 

" 

10.60 

1775 

5.70 

4.30 

2542 

V 

" 

Mar. 

6,'69 

" 

12  75 

19.10 

6.00 

4.85 

10610 

23S5 

rf 

" 

Mar. 

6,  "69 

" 

12  00 

19.20 

6.00 

4.26 

5196 



i 

Welaka 

Keb. 

5, -69 

J.  A.  Allen 

12  20 

19.10 

5.85 

4.30 

6321 



Enterprise 

Mar. 

1,"69 

" 

11.50 

18.75 

5.60 

4.15 





v 

Volusia 

Mar. 

25,  "69 

" 

12.25 

19.75 

6.00 

— 





a 

" 

Mar. 

25,  '69 

" 

11.50 

18.75 

5.65 

— 

Of  the  eight  species  of  woodpecker  mentioned  above  as  occurring  in 
Florida  in  winter,  all  but  one  or  two  {Melanerpes  erythrocephalus 
and  Campepkilus  principalis)  are  numerously  represented.  Most  of 
them  are  exceedingly  abundant,  the  woodpeckers  hence  forming  a  con- 
spicuous element  in  the  bird-fauna  of  East  Florida.  All  of  them  are 
resident,  according  to  Dr.  Coues,  in  South  Carolina.  Audubon,  how- 
ever, states  that  two  of  them  ( Sphyrapicus  varius,  Centurus  carolinus) 
do  not  breed  south  of  Maryland,  but  Dr.  Coues  gives  them  as  resident 
the  whole  year  in  South  Carolina. 


PSITTACID-S3. 

78.    Conuru8  carolinensis  Bonaparte.    Caiolina  Parokeei-. 
Common.     Hundreds  are  captured  every  winter  on  the  Lower  St. 
John's  by  professional  bird-catchers  and  sent  to  the  northern   cities. 
Thousands  of  others  are  destroyed  wantonly  by  sportsmen.     Concerning 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


309 


this  needless  slaughter  Mr.  Boardman  i„us  writes  :  "  The  little  parokeet 
must  soon  be  exterminated.  Some  of  our  Enterprise  party  would 
sometimes  shoot  forty  or  fifty  at  a  few  discharges,  for  sport,  as  they 
hover  about  when  any  are  shot  until  the  whole  flock  is  destroyed." 
From  its  habit  of  feeding  upon  the  tender  maize  in  autumn,  it  is  some- 
times somewhat  injurious  to  the  farmer,  and  for  this  cause  many  are 
also  killed.  It  is  also  more  or  less  hunted  as  a  game-bird.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  parokeet  formerly  inhabited  large  portions  of  the  United 
States  where  it  is  now  never  seen,  and  the  cause  of  its  disappearance 
has  been  deemed  a  mystery.  Such  facts  as  these,  however,  seem  to 
render  clear  what  its  ultimate  fate  must  be  in  the  United  States,  —  ex- 
termination. 

I  could  learn  nothing  from  the  inhabitants  in  regard  to  the  time, 
manner,  or  place  of  breeding  of  this  species,  even  old  residents  pro- 
fessing total  ignorance  in  regard  to  these  points. 

The  following  table  of  measurements  of  specimens  of  this  species  serves 
to  indicate  its  average  size  and  proportions  in  Florida.  In  mature  speci- 
mens the  sexual  difference  in  color  and  size  is  very  slight.  Neither  sex 
acquires  its  adult  colors  before  the  second  or  third  year. 

The  average  size  of  the  nineteen  specimens  (six  males  and  thirteen 
females)  cited  below  is  as  follows:  Length,  13.10;  alar  extent,  21.76; 
wing,  7.59. 

The  extremes  are  as  follows  :  — 

Length,  12.50  and  13.60  (both  specimens  females);  alar  extent,  21.10 
(female)  and  22.50  (male)  ;  wing  7.00  and  7.85.  These  specimens  seem 
to  indicate  a  tolerable  constancy  in  general  size  and  proportions. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Conurus  carolinensis. 


M.  C  Z. 

No. 

Sex. 
~d~ 

Locality. 
Welaka 

Date. 

Collector. 

Length. 
~TsW 

Alar 
Extent. 

Wing. 

Tail. 

5205 

Feb.    8,  '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

~22~0(T 

7  70 

6.05 

5206 

d 

" 

Feb.    8,  '69 

" 

1355 

2230 

7.85 

6.75 

5207 

? 

'< 

Feb.    8,  "69 

" 

12.90 

2150 

7.45 

6.10 

5225 

9 

Volusia 

Feb.  12,  '69 

" 

13.00 

21.75 

7.00 

5.80 

5226 

2 

" 

Feb.  12,  "69 

" 

13  00 

21.60 

7.35 

5.80 

5227 

2 

" 

Feb    12,  "69 

" 

13.00 

21.75 

7  30 

6.00 

5228 

9 

" 

Feb    12,  "69 

" 

13  00 

21.50 

7  50 

6.00 

5291 

d 

Enterprise 

Feb    25,  "69 

" 

1325 

21.50 

740 

— 

5295 

2 

" 

Feb.  25, '69 

" 

13  00 

22.45 

7-60 

6.00 

5293 

? 

" 

Feb.  25,  '69 

" 

13.60 

22  00 

7.34 

6.60 

5297 

d 

" 

Feb.  25,  '69 

" 

13.45 

22.00 

7.50 

— 



d 

Hawkinsville 

Mar.  13,  '69 

" 

1325 

22.50 

7.75 

— 



d 

" 

Mar  13,  '69 

" 

13.15 

21  25 

7.50 

— 



9 

" 

Mar   13,  '69 

" 

12.50 

21  35 

7.30 

— 



? 

Orange  Bluffs 

Mar.  24,  "69 

" 

12.S5 

21  75 

7.40 

— 



? 

" 

Mar.  24,  -69 

" 

13.60 

22.30 

7.75 

— 



? 

" 

Mar  24,  '69 

" 

1305 

21.10 

7.50 

— 



? 

" 

Mar.  24,  '69 

" 

13.25 

21.30 

7  50 

— 



9 

Mar   2t,  '69 

13.25 

21.50 

7.55 

— 

310  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

VULTUEID^J. 

79  *    Cathartes  aura  Ittiger.     Turkey  Vulture. 
Vultur  brasiliensis  Brisson,  Orn.,  I,  468,  17G0. 
Vultur  aura  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  122,  1767.  —  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  25, 

pi.  2  bis,  1807.  —Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  IX,  pi.  lxiv,  fig.  1,  1814. 
Cathartes  aura  Illiger,  Prodromus,  283,  1811.  —  Bonaparte,  Ann.  N.  Y. 

Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  II,  23,  1828. —  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  296,  pl.clii,  1835. 

—  Bonaparte,  Gcog.  and  Comp.  List,  I,  1838.  —  D'Orbigny,  Voy.  dans 
l'Amer.  Merid.,  IV,  ill,  38,  1844.  — Cassis,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nut.  Sci., 
1849,  159.  —Bonaparte,  Consp.  Gen.  Av.,  I,  9,  1850. 

Vultur  jot  a  Molina,  Saggio  sul  stor.  nat.  del  Chile,  1782. 

Cathartes  nificolUs  Spix,  Av.  Spec.  Nova:,  2,  1824. 

Vultur  jota  Molina,  Sagg.  sul  stor.  nat.  del  Chile,  235,  1782.  —  Gmelin,  Syst. 

Nat.,  I,  347,  1788. 
Cathartes  jota  Bonaparte,  Consp.  Gen.  Av.,  I,  9,  1850.  —  Cassin,  U.  S.  Nav. 

Astr.   Exp.,  II.  172,  1855. 
Cathartes septentrionalis  Pr.  Maximilian,  Rcise  in  das  Nord-Amer.,  1, 162,  1839. 
?  Cathartes  Burrovianus  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sciences,  1843,  212. 

—  ?  Cassin,  Baud's  Birds  of  N.  Am.,  6,  1858. 

Abundant.  Collect  in  large  companies  about  the  dead  alligators  so 
numerous  in  the  St.  John's  River. 

Both  this  species  and  the  following  (  Carthartes  atratus)  paid  us  fre- 
quent visits  at  our  camps  at  Enterprise  and  Hawkinsville,  and  whenever 
we  left  them  they  did  not  fail  to  gather  up  and  devour  the  carcasses  of 
the  birds  and  mammals  thrown  away  by  us  after  skinning.  We  found 
them,  in  fact,  rather  troublesome  neighbors,  since  on  more  than  one 
occasion  they  proceeded,  in  our  absence,  to  investigate  the  character  of 
the  specimens  we  had  left  in  the  sun  to  dry,  and  in  a  manner  so  unsat- 
isfactory to  ourselves  that  one  of  the  party  was  frequently  obliged  to 
stay  in  camp  to  protect  them  while  the  others  were  away  collecting. 

Both  this  and  the  following  species  were  represented  as  breeding 
late  in  the  season,  and  as  frequenting  the  palmetto  swamps  as  well 
as  some  of  the  islands  above   Enterprise  for  this  purpose. 

The  synonymy  hero  given  of  the  present  and  following  species  indicates 
clearly  tin-  confusion  which  several  continental  European  authors  have  in- 
troduced through  their  descriptions  of  these  species,  to  which  attention  has 
been  previously  called  by  Mr.  Cassin.*  While  a  Vultur  (or  Cathartes)  aura 
has  been  described  by  most  authors  who  have  written  of  the  two  species 
in  question,  the  name  aura  has  been  applied  sometimes  to  the  one  and 

•  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat  Sci.,  1849, 159. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  311 

sometimes  to  the  other,  but  when  given  to  the  true  aura  of  Linne",  Vieillot, 
and  Wilson,  the  atratus  of  Bartram  and  Wilson  has  been  cited  as  a  syno- 
nyme,  and  the  true  atratus  described  under  a  new  name.  The  name  jota 
has  likewise  been  repeatedly  applied  to  both  species  by  different  authors, 
and  in  some  cases  even  by  the  same  author,  as  has  been  also  the  name 
bra&iliensis.  The  description  given  by  Linne  in  the  twelfth  edition  of  his 
Systema  Naturae,  under  V.  aura,  clearly  refers  to  the  V.  aura  of  Wilson,  of 
which  the  V.  jota  of  Molina  and  Gmelin  are  synonymes  ;  although  some  of 
Linne's  synonymes  may  refer  to  the  C.  atratus  of  modern  writers.  Bona- 
parte, however,  in  both  his  Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  the  United  States  and 
in  his  Geographical  and  Comparative  List,  strangely  applied  the  name  jota 
to  the  atratus  of  Wilson,  in  which  he  was  for  a  time  followed  by  other 
writers.  By  those  who  have  regarded  the  South  American  representatives 
of  C.  aura  as  distinct  from  its  North  American  ones,  the  name  jota  has 
latterly  been  applied  to  the  supposed  distinct  South  American  representa- 
tive of  the  supposed  true  or  northern  C.  aura. 

The  distinctions  between  the  so-called  C.  jota  and  C.  aura  seem,  judg- 
ing from  the  published  accounts,  to  be  by  no  means  clear.  Mr.  Cassin,  in 
his  report  on  the  birds  of  Lieutenant  Gilliss's  Expedition,  says  the  C  jota 
"  is  apparently,  or  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained  from  prepared  specimens, 
a  more  slender  bird,  and  loncjer  in  all  its  measurements.  The  last  character 
is  particularly  applicable  to  its  wings."*  In  his  Illustrations  of  the  birds 
of  California  and  Texas,  published  the  following  year,  he  reverses  this 
statement,  and  says :  "  The  South  American  species  [C.jota]  is  the  smaller," 
and  "  is  the  more  slender  in  all  its  members  " ;  and  adds :  "  All  the  spe- 
cimens that  we  have  seen  have  been  of  a  more  uniform  clear  black  color." 
Having  myself  examined  numerous  specimens,  both  in  Brazil  and  in  Florida, 
I  find  the  difference  in  the  average  exceedingly  slight,  and  nearly  as  stated 
by  Mr.  Cassin  in  his  later  work  ;  that  is,  the  Brazilian  are  slightly  smaller, 
and  have  the  plumage  appreciably  darker. 

Bonaparte,  in  his  Conspectus,  gives  the  jota  of  Molina  as  being  simply 
smaller  and  with  a  shorter  tail  than  aura  of  Linne.  The  differences  are  in- 
deed very  slight;  they  are,  moreover,  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  well- 
known  general  laws  of  variation  between  specimens  of  the  same  species  from 
northern  and  southern  localities,  and  by  no  means  indicate  a  diversity  of 
species.  Because  formerly  not  known  to  occur  in  some  of  the  West  India 
Islands,  it  was  at  one  time  supposed  by  some  that  the  habitats  of  the  two 
supposed  species  did  not  meet,  or  that  there  was  a  region  in  Central  and 
Northern  South  America  where  neither  existed.  As  I  have  elsewhere 
stated,f  this  is  a  mistake,  both  this  species  and  the  C.  atratus  ranging  from 

*  U.  S  Naval  Astronomical  Expedition,  Vol.  II,  p.  173,  1855. 
t  Memoirs  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  p.  500,  1S68. 


312 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


the  middle  and  northern  portions  of  the  United  States  nearly  to  the  south- 
ern extremity  of  South  America  ;  the  C.  aura  also  extending  as  much  be- 
yond  the  southern  limit  of  the  C.  alratus  in  South  America  as  it  does  to 
the  north  of  it  in  North  America. 

The  Cathartes  Burrovianus  of  Cassin,  described  in  1843,  from  a  single  spe- 
cimen from  Mexico,  is  referred  by  Bonaparte,  in  his  Conspectus,  to  C.  jota, 
or  to  what  I  regard  as  the  typical  form  of  C.  aura,  and  evidently  with  good 
reason.  It  differs  from  C.  aura  only  in  being  smaller.  I  am  therefore 
disposed  to  regard  it  as  based  on  an  unusually  small  specimen  of  that  spe- 
cies. Though  Dr.  Gambel  supposed  he  had  seen  it  with  the  other  species 
in  Lower  California,  but  two  specimens  seem  to  have  been  known  to  Mr. 
Cassin,  one  of  which  was  from  an  unknown  locality. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Cartiiartes  aura. 


M.CZ. 

No. 

Coll. 
No. 

a* 

C/J 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

to 

□ 

ti> 

.2 
22.50 

'5 
H 

5143 



■• 

Jacksonville 

Jan. 

25, 

'69 

J.  A.  Allen 

'11   'ill 

7 'J -Mi 

11.10 

5  ISO 



,-r 

Hibernia 

Feb. 

1, 

'69 

" 

27.50 

72.U0 

22.no 

11.75 

51S7 



rl 

" 

" 





21.00 

12.00 

10746 

2541 

? 

Dummitt's. 

Mar. 

11, 

'69 

C.J.  MayuarU 

26.50 

6S.O0 

21  mi 

11.00 



2603 

? 

" 

War. 

11, 

•6!) 

" 



68.00 

20.00 

10.50 

1 

2433 

5 

" 

Mar. 

in 

'69 

" 

27.50 

72.00 

21.75 

11.25 

80.*     Cathartes  atratUS  Swainson.     Black  Vulture. 

?  Vultur  brasiliensis  aut  mexicanus  Ray,  Synop.  Meth.  Avium,  10,  1713. 

Vultur  atratus  Bartram,  Travels,  289,  17'Jl. 

Cathartes  atratus  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  6,  1831.  — Audubon,  Synop- 
sis, 3,  1839. — Bonaparte,  Consp.  Gen.  Av.,  I,  9,  1850.  —  Cassin,  Illust. 
Birds  Cal.,  Texas,  etc.,  58,  1854.  —  Cassin,  Gilliss's  U.  S.  Nav.  Astr.  Exp., 
II,  173,  1855. 

Vultur  jota  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,IX,  104,  pi.  lxxv,  fig.  2,  1814.  (Not  of  Molina; 
not  of  Gmclin.) 

Cathartes  jota  Bonaparte,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  II.  — Audubon,  Orn. 
Bio?.,  II,  33,  1835.— Bonaparte,  Gcog.  and  Comp.  List,  I,  1838. 

Vultur  urubu  Vikillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  53,  pi.  ii,  1807. 

CdHiartes  urubu  Lesson,  Voy.  autourdu  Monde,  014.  —  D'Orbigny,  Voy.  dans 
1'Amer.  Merit!.,  1844. 

Cathartes  <ntra  Spix,  Av.  Spec.  Novae,  2,  1824. 

Cathartes  brasiliensis  Bonap.,  Consp.  Gen.  Av.,  I,  9,  1850. 

Abundant.  On  the  whole,  probably  about  as  numerous  as  the  pre- 
ceding, but  the  two  species  occur  in  different  proportions  at  different 
localities,  and  at  different  times  at  the  same  locality.  None  were  seen 
about  Jacksonville  during  the  two  weeks  I  spent  there  in  January,  and 
none  were  met  with  for  some   distance  up  the   river.     Above   Lake 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  313 

George  it  was  generally  common,  and  sometimes  outnumbered  the 
other  species,  as  it  did  often  at  Hawkinsville  during  my  stay  there. 
The  younger  birds  appear  to  be  generally  not  so  highly  colored  as  the 
fully  mature,  nor  to  have  the  naked  skin  of  the  head  and  neck  so  rugose 
and  corrunculated  as  the  older.  The  differences  in  these  respects  are 
very  considerable  between  individuals  of  the  same  flock. 

A  comparison  of  Florida  specimens  with  Brazilian  ones  shows  that  the 
latter  are  slightly  smaller  than  the  former ;  in  color  or  other  general  fea- 
tures they  do  not  appear  to  differ.  Most  writers  have  regarded  the  South 
American  as  identical  with  the  North  American,  but  Mr.  Cassin,*  appar- 
ently on  the  authority  of  Bonaparte,f  says  the  South  American  bird  "  is 
the  Vullur  brasiliensis  Kay,"  and  that  "  it  is  considerably  smaller,  and  other- 
wise quite  distinct."  But  he  only  refers  definitely  to  the  difference  in  size. 
The  year  preceding  the  publication  of  these  remarks,  however,  he  gives 
C.  atratus  as  inhabiting  Chili. £  In  speaking  of  the  Chili  specimen,  he 
says  :  "  A  single  specimen  in  mature  plumage  and  excellent  condition  is 
exactly  identical  in  size  arid  other  characters  with  the  common  species 
[C.  atratus^  of  the  southern  parts  of  North  America."  He  adds:  "It  is 
the  only  specimen  presenting  this  similarity  that  we  have  ever  seen  from 
South  America,  and  is  larger  and  in  other  respects  different  from  the  allied 
Catliartes  brasiliensis,  which  is  an  inhabitant  also  of  that  division  of  this 
continent."  C.  atratus,  he  says,  is  "not  abundant  in  Chili,  though  repre- 
sented to  be  occasionally  met  with  in  the  interior  "  ;  these  larger  individuals 
referred  to  being  doubtless  the  birds  that  inhabit  the  more  elevated  dis- 
tricts. Whatever  Mr.  Cassin's  Cathartes  brasiliensis  may  prove  to  be,  it 
remains  unquestionable  that  the  C.  atratus  is  a  general  inhabitant  of  South 
America,  and  that  Bonaparte's  brasiliensis  is  merely  the  southern  type  of 
this  species.  The  exact  parallelism  of  its  range  on  the  two  continents  as 
compared  with  that  of  C.  aura  has  already  been  alluded  to. 

The  Paixtfd  or  Sacred  Vulture  ('•  Vultur  sacra"), §  an  apocryphal 
species  described  by  Bartram  ||  as  inhabiting  Florida,  demands  in  this  con- 
nection a  passing  notice.  Though  not  identified  by  any  succeeding  author 
(by  some,  however,  it  has  been  referred  to  the  king  vulture,  Sarcorham- 

*  Must.  Birds  of  Cal.  and  Texas,  p.  58.  1856. 
t  Conspectus  Generum  Avium,  Tom  I.  p  9,  I^'jO 
X  V.  S.  Naval  Astronomical  Expedition,  Vol.  II,  p.  173,  1855. 
§  Travel,  in  Florida,  etc.,  p.  150,  1790. 

||    Vullur  sacra  Baktkam,  Travel-,  pp.  150,  289, 1791.  —  Vieillot.  —  Xcttall,  Man. 
Orn.  I,  42. 

SarcorhampliHs  sneer  Cassin,  Must.  Birds  of  Cal.  and  Texas,  59,  1S5C. 
See  also  Bonatakte,  Conspectus  Gen.  Av.,  I,  9. 


314  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

phus  papa),  Bertram's  account  of  it  leads  one  to  infer  thatlie  found  itquite 
abundant.  His  description  of  it  is  given  with  satisfactory  detail.  He  says 
it  is  "  near  the  size  of  the  turkey-buzzard,  but  his  wings  are  much  shorter, 
and  consequently  he  falls  greatly  below  that  admirable  bird  in  sail.  I 
shall  call  this  bird  the  painted  vulture.  The  bill  is  long  and  straight  al- 
most to  the  point,  where  it  is  hooked,  or  bent  suddenly  down,  and  sharp  ; 
the  head  and  neck  bare  of  feathers  nearly  down  to  the  stomach,  where  the 
fe?*.hers  begin  to  cover  the  skin,  and  soon  become  long  and  of  a  soft  text- 
ure, forming  a  ruff  or  tippet,  in  which  the  bird,  by  contracting  his  neck, 
can  hide  that  as  well  as  his  head  ;  the  bare  skin  on  the  neck  appears  loose 
and  wrinkled,  which  is  of  a  deep  bright  yellow  color,  intermixed  with  coral 
red  ;  the  hinder  part  of  the  neck  is  nearly  covered  with  short,  stiff  hair; 
and  the  skin  of  this  part  of  the  neck  is  of  a  dun-purple  color,  gradually  be- 
coming red  as  it  approaches  the  yellow  of  the  sides  and  fore  part.  The 
crown  of  the  head  is  red;  there  are  lobed  lappets  of  a  reddish  orange 
color,  which  lay  on  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible.  But  what  is  singular, 
a  large  portion  of  the  stomach  hangs  down  on  the  breast  of  the  bird,  in 
the  likeness  of  a  sack  or  half  wallet,  and  sceijis  to  be  a  duplicative  of  the 
craw,  which  is  naked  and  of  a  reddish  flesh  color  ;  this  is  partly  concealed 
by  the  feathers  of  the  breast,  unless  when  it  is  loaded  with  food  (which  is 
commonly,  I  believe,  roasted  reptiles),  and  then  it  appears  prominent. 
The  plumage  of  the  bird  is  generally  white  or  cream  color,  except  the 
quill  feathers  of  the  wings,  and  two  or  three  rows  of  the  coverts,  which  are 
of  a  beautiful  dark  brown  ;  the  tail,  which  is  large  and  white,  is  tipped 
with  this  dark  brown  or  black  ;  the  legs  and  feet  of  a  clear  white  ;  the  eye 
is  encircled  with  a  gold-colored  iris;  the  pupil  black. 

"The  Creeks  or  Muscogulgees,"  he  continues,  " construe!  their  royal 
standard  of  the  tail  feathers  of  this  bird,  which  is  called  by  a  name  signi- 
fying the  eagle's  tail;  this  they  carry  with  them  when  they  go  to  battle, 
but  then  it  is  painted  with  a  zone  of  red  within  the  brown  tips,  and  in 
peaceable  negotiations  it  is  displayed  new,  clean,  and  white;  this  standard 
is  held  most,  sacred  by  them  on  all  occasions,  anil  is  constructed  and  orna- 
mented with  great  ingenuity.  These  birds  seldom  appear  but  when  the 
deserts  are  set  on  fire  (which  happens  almost  every  day  throughout  the 
year  in  some  part  or  other,  by  the  Indians,  for  the  purpose  of  rousing  up 
game,  as  also  by  the  lightning)*,  when  they  are  seen  at  a  distance  soaring 
on  the  wing,  gathering  from  every  quarter,  and  gradually  approaching  the 
burnt  plains,  when  they  alight  upon  the  ground  yet  smoking  with  hot  em- 
bers;  they  gather  up  the  roasted  serpents  frogs,  and  lizards,  filling  their 
sacks  with  them.  At  this  time  a  person  may  shoot  them  with  pleasure, 
they  not  being  whTng  to  quit  the  feast,  and  indeed  seem  to  brave  all 
danger." 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  315 

Mr.  Cassin  *  refers  the  species  described  as  above  by  Bartram  to  the 
genus  Sarcorhamphus  (S.  sacer  Cassin  =  Vultur  sacra  Bartram),  believing 
it  to  be  a  valid  species,  and  remarks  that  its  identification  "  may  be  consid- 
ered as  one  of  the  most  important  services  to  be  performed  in  North  Ameri- 
can ornithology."  It  is  related,  Mr.  Cassin  continues,  <-to  the  king  vulture 
(S.  papa),  but  that  species  has  a  black  tail,  and  in  case  of  mistake  or  mis- 
print in  Bartram's  description,  it  may  be  presumed,  at  any  rate,  to  relate 
to  an  occurrence  of  that  species  within  the  United  States.f  There  is  no 
more  interesting  nor  more  singular  problem  in  North  American  ornithol- 
ogy." Two  years  later,  in  Baird's  Birds  of  North  America,  Mr.  Cassin 
again  refers  to  the  subject,  and  says  that  "  recent  information  renders  it 
probable  that  this  [  Vultur  sacra  Bartram],  or  a  species  different  from  the 
vultures  just  described  [Cathartes  aura,  C.  alratus,  C  Burrocianus'},  is 
found  about  Lake  Okechobee  in  Southern  Florida,  where  it  is  called  king 
buzzard.  The  verification  of  this  statement  by  actual  specimens  would 
be  one  of  the  most  important  discoveries  yet  to  be  made  in  North  Ameri- 
can ornithology." 

Although  the  description  of  Bartram's  "  Vultur  sacra "  accords  more 
nearly  with  the  Sarcoramphus  papa  than  with  any  other  known  species,  I 
cannot  avoid  the  conclusion  that  it  is  in  the  main  a  purely  mythical  species, 
notwithstanding  the  high  reputation  for  veracity  generally  accorded  to  Mr. 
Bartram.  I  mainly  so  regard  it  for  the  reason  that  Florida  has  of  late 
been  too  often  traversed  by  naturalists,  and  especially  all  the  parts  visited  by 
Bartram,  for  a  bird  of  so  striking  an  appearance,  and  so  numerous  as  Bar- 
tram represented  his  V.  sacra  to  be,  to  remain  undiscovered  if  such  a 
species  exists  there.  While  it  nearly  accords  with  the  5.  papa  in  size 
and  general  color,  it  is  most  radically  different  from  this  species,  in  the 
color  of  *the  tail,  and  in  having  a  "  large  portion  of  the  stomach  hanging 
down  on  the  breast,  in  the  likeness  of  a  sack  or  half-wallet."  In  the  latter 
feature  it  is  structurally  widely  different  from  any  known  American  bird. 
It  is  mentioned  as  though  it  was  an  abundant  species  on,  at  least,  the 
upper  portion  of  the  St.  John's  River,  inasmuch  as  he  speaks  of  large 
flights  of  them.  As  to  the  feathers  of  its  tail  being  used  by  the  Creek  In- 
dians for  a  royal  standard,  and  to  ■which  feathers  they  give  a  "  name  signi- 
fying an  eagle's  tail,"  it  seerns  to  me  more  probable  that  they  were  really 
feathers  of  the  white-headed  eagle  {Halia'elus  leucoccphalus),  since  it  is 
well  known  that  the  tail  feathers  of  that  bird  are  very  generally  used 
for  this  and  similar  purposes  by  the  Indian  tribes  of  this  continent, 
whereas  the  tail  feathers   of  so  foul  a  bird  as  the  vulture  must  in  all 

*  Illustr.  of  Birds  of  Cuba  and  Texas,  p.  59. 

t  The  S  pnpa,  a  Central  and  South  American  species,  appears  to  have  not  yet  been 
seen  north  of  Mexico. 


316  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

probability  be  too  ill  scented  to  suit  even  the  unfastidious  taste  of  an  In- 
dian. As  to  Mr.  Cassin's  supposition  that  the  word  white  in  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  tail  should  perhaps  read  Mack,  the  context  wholly  forbids  its 
probability.  If  thus  changed  the  passage  referred  to  would  read,  "  the 
tail  which  is  rather  large  and  black,  is  tipped  with  this  dark  brown  or  black  !  " 
which  makes  simply  an  absurdity.  Besides  this,  the  tail  is  again  men- 
tioned in  the  following  paragraph  as  being  painted  by  the  Indians,  when 
used  in  their  war  standards,  etc.,  "  with  a  zone  of  red  within  the  brown 
tips,"  and  afterwards  as  being  "  displayed  new,  clean,  and  while."  As  to 
the  information  referred  to  by  Mr.  Cassin  as  having  been  received  by  him 
respecting  a  "  king  buzzard  "  existing  in  Southern  Florida,  it  may  be  re- 
marked that  this  is  the  name  by  which  the  caracara  eagle  (Polyborus  tharus 
Cassin)  is  commonly  known  in  Florida,  and  which  is  undoubtedly  the  bird 
of  which,  under  the  name  of  "king  buzzard,"  Mr.  Cassin  had  heard. 

On  the  whole,  it  seems  evident  that  Bartram's  account  of  the  Vultur 
sacra  is  a  confused  mixture  either  of  pure  fiction  and  truth,  with  the  former 
largely  in  preponderance,  or  of  the  characters  of  several  different  species. 
The  description  would  seem  to  have  been  mainly  drawn  from  an  example 
of  Sarcoramphus  papa  that  he  may  have  somewhere  met  with,  but  with 
which  he  combined  certain  features  of  this  or  other  species  which  he  had 
only  observed  at  a  distance,  and  that  he  thus  misjudged  their  exact  char- 
acter (as  in  respect  to  the  strange  external  food-pouch)  or  else  added  them 
solely  on  popular,  fabulous  rumors.  The  flights  of  these  birds,  which 
he  observed  assembling  over  recently  burned  districts,  I  think  must  refer 
to  the  Polyborus  tharu*,  which  is  well  known  to  have  this  habit,  while  the 
tail  feathers  he  speaks  of  as  used  by  the  Indians  in  their  councils  were 
more  probably  either  those  of  the  Haliaetus  leitcocephalus  or  Polyborus 
tharus  than  of  any  species  of  vulture,  since  a  white-tailed  American  vul- 
ture, I  believe,  is  a  bird  thus  far  unknown.  If  the  "V.  sacra,"  then,  is  to 
be  regarded  as  anything  else  than  a  myth,  it  should  in  all  probability  be 
identified  with  the  S.  papa,  as  already  stated,  and  as  was  done  by  Bona- 
parte in  his  Conspectus. 

FALCONIDJE. 

81 1    Faleo  peregrinus  LinnA.   Duck  Hawk. 
Fako  prrrgrinus  Gmelin,   Syst.   Nat.  I,  272, 1788.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  IX, 

120,1814.  —  Bonai'AUTE,  Joum.   Phil.   Acad.   Nat     Sci.,  1st  Ser.,  I,  342, 

1824. —  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,   I,   85,   1832,  V,  365,  pi   xvi.  —  Nuttall, 

Man.  Orn.,  I,  53,  1832. 
Fako  anatum   Bonaparte,  Gcor.  and  Comp.  List,  I,  1838. —  Cassin,  Illust. 

Birds  Cal.  ami  Texas,  86,  1853.  —  Cassin,  Baud's  Birds  of  N.  Am.,  7,  1858. 

—  Allen,  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  IV,  153,  1865. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  317 

Falco  nigriceps  Cassin,  Illust.  Birds  of  Cal.,  87,  1853.  —  Cassin,  Baird's  Birds 
ofN.  Am.,  1858. 

"One  instance,  St.  Augustine,  February,  18C8."  Boardman.  Mr. 
Maynard  found  it  rather  common  near  Dummitt's,  where  he  observed 
its  peculiar  manner  of  capturing  the  ducks.  Also  well  known  to  occur 
in  winter  in  Cuba  and  other  of  the  West  India  Islands. 

In  1838,  Bonaparte,  in  his  "Geographical  and  Comparative  List,"  gave 
to  the  American  peregrine  or  duck  hawk  the  name  Falco  anatum.  Pre- 
vious to  this  time  all  writers  had  considered  it,  and  it  seems  to  me  justly,  as 
identical  with  the  European  peregrine,  or  F.  peregrinus, —  an  opinion  still 
held  by  many  eminent  ornithologists.  Until  about  this  date  the  peregrine 
falcon  was  believed  to  have  a  nearly  cosmopolitan  distribution,  but  since 
then  the  Australian  and  other  supposed  species  have  been  separated  from 
it  on  grounds  that  it  now  seems  should  be  reconsidered.  Among  these 
supposed  species  is  the  Falco  nigriccps  of  Cassin,  first  described  in  1858, 
from  specimens  received  from  California  and  Chili.  These  first  specimens 
were  smaller,  with  the  rufous  color  of  the  under  parts  in  the  young  of  a 
stronger  tint  than  in  the  so-called  F.  anatum,  they  more  resembling  the 
African,  Australian,  and  especially  the  Indian  type  of  F. peregrinus.  Speci- 
mens since  obtained  from  farther  north,  however,  fully  equal  those  from 
Eastern  North  America,  and  the  slight  differences  found  to  really  exist 
between  them  seem  to  be  by  no  means  ol  specific  value. 

Formerly  a  difference  in  breeding  habits  was  supposed  to  obtain  be- 
tween the  American  and  European  peregrines,  the  American  peregrine 
being  for  a  long  time  believed  to  breed  in  trees,  whilst  the  European  was 
well  known  to  nest  on  cliffs.  Recently,  however,  the  American  bird  has 
been  repeatedly  found  nesting  in  similar  situations,  but  never  yet  in  trees.* 

82. t    Falco  COlumbarius  Linn€.   Pigeon  Hawk. 
Falco  columbarius  Wilson  and  subsequent  American  writers  generally. 
Falco  aisalon  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  35,  pi.  xxv,  1831. — Ncttall, 

Man.  Orn.,  I,  60,  1832. 
Falco  temerarius  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  381,  pi.  lxxv,  1832. 

"  Frequent."     Boardman. 

*  For  an  account  of  the  breeding  habits  and  nesting-places  of  the  American  bird  in 
the  Atlantic  States,  see  the  author's  papers  in  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  153  -  161, 
and  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  514.  The  past  summer  (1870)  its  eggs  have  been 
received  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Bennett  from  Vermont.  Prof.  S.  S.  Haldeman  was  not  only  the 
first  naturalist  who  made  known  the  fact  of  its  breeding  on  cliffs,  but  of  its  breeding  in 
the  United  States.    See  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  I,  p.  54,  July,  1841. 


318  BULLETIN   OF   TIIE 

Many  of  the  earlier  ornithological  writers  regarded,  as  is  well  known,  a 
considerable  proportion  of  the  rapacious  birds  of  North  America  as  iden- 
tical with  species  inhabiting  the  Old  World.  More  accurate  comparisons 
of  specimens  from  the  two  continents,  however,  eventually  revealed  ap- 
preciable differences  between  them,  and  one  after  another  of  those  of  the 
American  continent  were  regarded  as  specifically  distinct  from  their  Old 
World  relatives;  and  now  there  is  not  one  of  the  diurnal  species  that  has 
not  been  separated  by  one  author  or  another.  The  owls  of  the  two  conti- 
nents, with  two  exceptions,  have  also  been  similarly  separated.  While  in 
many  of  these  cases  there  are  appreciable  differences  that  seem  more  or 
less  constant,  in  the  majority  of  instances  there  appears  to  be  no  just  causo 
tor  the  separation.  Especially  is  this  the  case  in  respect  to  Falco  peregri- 
nus  (as  already  observed),  Falco  candicans,  Archibuteo  lagopus,  Aquila 
chrysaelos,  Pandion  halia'elus,  Olus  vulgaris,  Brachyotus  palustris,  Nyctale 
Tengmalmi,  and  Strix  jiammca,  in  all  of  which  species  the  American  birds 
have  been  specifically  separated  from  the.  European.  Buteo  borealis, 
Astur  alricapillus,  and  Falco  columbarius  present  stages  of  plumage  that 
are  scarcely  distinguishable  from  certain  stages  of  respectively  Falco 
cesalon,  Buteo  vulgaris,  and  A  slur  palumbarius ,  and  it  is  hence  not  strange 
that  each  of  these  European  species  have  been  described  by  many 
good  authorities  as  occurring  in  the  northern  parts  of  North  America. 
Certain  styles  of  plumage  presented  by  Falco  columbarius,  especially 
at  northwestern  localities,  so  strongly  resemble  common  phases  of  F. 
cesalon,  that  one  is  readily  puzzled  to  know  whether  to  recognize  the 
latter  as  also  inhabiting  North  America,  or  whether,  since  these  types 
imperceptibly  grade  into  the  so-called  typical  F.  columbarius,  all  should 
not  be  regarded  as  forming  a  single  species,  since  they  differ  essentially 
only  in  coloration,  and  never  very  widely.  The  specimens  of  F.  asalon 
before  me  (all  immature)  mainly  differ  from  average  specimens  of  F.  colum- 
barius of  corresponding  age  in  being  less  ferrugineous,  the  style  of  color- 
ing being  the  same  in  both. 

83*  Falco  sparverius  Linn€.     Sparrow  Hawk. 
Falco  sparverius  Lixx£,  Syst.  Nat.,  128,  17GC;  and  of  subsequent  Writers  gen- 
erally. 
Fuku  dominicrnsis  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  285,  1788. 
Falco  gracilis  Suainsox,  Lardncr's  Cab.  Cyc,  281,  1838. 
Falco  cinnamominus  Swainsox,  Ibid.,  281. 
Falco  Isabel  I inus  SwAlNSON,  Ibid.,  281. 
Falco  sparveroides  Vigors,  Zool.  Journ.,  Ill,  4.'!G,  1827. 

Abundant.     Breeds  in  March.     As  has  been  previously  pointed  out, 
though  not  observed  by  all  writers,  the  sexes  differ  greatly  in  color,  the 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  319 

adult  females  being  banded  transversely  above,  mucb  as  the  young 

birds  are. 

Florida  specimens  are  considerably  smaller  than  New  England  ones,  the 
former  being  intermediate  in  size  between  the  latter  and  the  West  Indian 
and  South  American  representatives  of  this  species,  which  have  been  re- 
garded as  distinct  species,  and  to  which  various  names  have  been  applied 
bv  different  writers.  Audubon  observes  that  he  found  this  species  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  more  especially  in  Florida,  so  much  smaller  than  the 
northern  birds  that  he  was  at  first  inclined  to  consider  them  specifically 
distinct,  but  finally  felt  sure  they  were  the  same.  The  colors,  as  usual 
in  other  species,  are  generally  brighter  in  the  more  southern  exam- 
ples. Wide  variations  in  the  color  of  the  plumage  in  this  species  have 
been  long  recognized,  but,  as  Mr.  Cassin  has  remarked,  "  they  do  not  ap- 
pear to  be  constant,  nor  peculiar  to  any  locality."  * 

84  *    Accipiter  fuscus  Bonaparte.     Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

Falcofuscus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  280,  1783. 
Accipiter  fuscus  Bonaparte,  Geog.  and  Comp  List,  5,  1838. 
Astur fuscus  Audubon,  Syn.,  18,  1839 
Falcodubius  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  281,  1788. 
Falcovelox  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V,  116,  1812. 
Falco  pennsjjlvanicus  Wilson,  Ibid.,  VI,  13,  1812. 
Accipiter  slriatus  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  42,  1807. 
Accipiter  frimjilloides  Vigors,  Zoul.  Journ.,  Ill,  434, 1827. 
Accipiter  pennsylvanicus  Rich.  &  Swain.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  44,  1831. 
Nisus  Maifini  Lesson,  Traite  d'Ornithol.,  I,  58,  1831. 
Common.     I  was  unable,  however,  to  obtain  specimens. 

In  this  species,  as  in  the  hawks  generally,  but  more  especially  in  the 
group  to  which  the  present  species  belongs,  there  are  wide  variations  in 
color  and  size,  not  only  with  age  and  sex,  but  independently  of  either. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  features  in  the  specimens  before  me,  in  respect 
to  these  variations,  is  the  much  brighter  color  of  the  several  western  and 
southwestern  examples  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum,  as  compared  with 
New  England  ones.  In  one  from  Cheltenham,  Missouri,  the  color  of  the 
lower  parts  is  nearly  uniformly  red  ;  the  transverse  dark  lines,  which  in 
adult  eastern  specimens  usually  occupy  half  the  exposed  surface  of  the 
feathers,  and  often  more,  being  in  this  specimen  almost  obsolete.  The 
tibial  feathers  are  especially  bright,  while  the  tints  are  livelier  throughout 
the  plumage.  Other  specimens  from  Fort  Steilacoom,  received  from  the 
Smithsonian  Institution,  present  nearly  the  same  appearance.  Although 
the  western  representatives  of  the  present  species  yet  await  some  enter- 
*  Illust.  Birds  of  California  and  Texas,  etc.,  p.  93 


320  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

prising  divisionist  to  give  them  a  distinctive  name,  they  are  interesting 
as  indicating  a  rufous  western  race,  corresponding  with  the  Accipiter 
mexicayius  form  of  the  A.  Cooperi,  the  Falco  nigripes  form  of  the  F  pere- 
grinus,  the  Archibuteo  ferrugineus  form  of  the  A.  lagopus,  and  the  west- 
ern rufous  forms  of  Jiuleo  borealis  and  Circus  hudsonius.* 

Although  the  Accipiter  fuscus  has  always  been  regarded  as  closely  re- 
lated to  the  Accipiter  nisus  of  the  Old  World,  they  have,  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,!  been  regarded  by  all  authors  as  specifically  distinct.  The 
only  distinctive  difference  between  them,  however,  has  been  properly  re- 
garded as  a  slight  difference  in  color,  which  difference  is  merely  one  of 
tint,  the  style  of  coloration  being  precisely  the  same  in  both.  In  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  are  several  specimens  of  A.  nisus  from 
Germany  and  Switzerland,  which  represent  both  the  adult  and  the  young. 
The  brown  transverse  markings  on  the  lower  plumage  of  the  mature  A. 
nisus  are  rather  darker  and  broader  than  in  most  New  England  specimens 
of  .i.  fuscus  ;  but  they  still  more  closely  resemble  average  New  England 
specimens  than  the  latter  do  any  specimens  of  A.  fuscus  I  have  seen  from 
the  western  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  western  form  of  A.  fuscus, 
as  already  stated,  is  brighter  colored  or  more  rufous  than  the  eastern, 
while  the  eastern  differs  similarly  from  the  European,  the  latter  being 
much  duller  colored  than  the  eastern  form  of  A.  fuscus.  So  closely,  how- 
ever, does  one  of  the  immature  examples  of  A.  nisus  resemble  several  of 
the  immature  New  England  specimens  of  A.  fuscus,  that,  if  their  origin 
was  unknown,  few  ornithologists  would  probably  consider  them  as  other- 
wise than  specifically  identical  ;  especially  if  placed  in  a  large  series  com- 
posed of  both  eastern  and  western  specimens  of  the  A.  fuscus.  As  I  have 
previously  remarked,  the  transverse  markings  on  the  lower  plumage  in  the 
adult  stage  are  broader  and  more  regular  and  distinct  in  A.  nisus  than  in 
A.  fuscus.  This,  it  may  be  added,  is  also  the  only  difference  observable  be- 
tween A.  palumbarius  and  A.  atricapillus.  Such  a  coincidence  of  parallel 
differences  between  Accipiter  nisus  and  Accipiter  fuscus,  and  between 
Astur  palumbarius  and  A.  atricapillus,  is  a  point  of  much   interest  to  any 

*  For  further  remarks  concerning  the  rufous  western  races  of  several  of  these  species 
see  the  following  pages. 

t  Prince  Max  zu  Wied,  in  his  "  Beitrage  zur  Naturgeschichte  von  Brasilien,"  referred 
a  hawk,  probably  of  this  species,  of  which  he  obtained  a  single  immature  mule  in  Fa-t- 
ern Brazil,  to  the  Falco  nisus  Linn.     Respecting  this  species  lie  observes:  "  Der  Vogel 

dieser  Beschreibung  scheint  von  dem  europaischen  Sperbernicht  abzuweichen 

t  mir  selbst  in  Braslien  nicht  vorgekommen,  allein  Freireifs  hat  mir 
ein  Exemplar  davon  mitgetheilt,  welches  in  derGegendvon  Camamu,  sudlich  von  Bahia, 
geschossen  wurde.  So  viel  ich  von  diesem  einzigen  Individuo  urtheilan  kann,  so  scheint 
<■- 1  lentisch  mit  dem  europaichen  Xisus  zu  seyn;  denn  sowohl  seme  Verhaltnisse  als  sein 
Gefieder  stimmen  vollkommen  uberein."     Vol.  Ill,  pp.  112,  114. 


MUSEUM    OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  321 

one  Interested  in  geographical  color  variations  in  animals;  the  more  so, 
perhaps,  from  the  two  latter  species  being  so  intimately  related  as  to  have 
been  at  one  time  generally  regarded  as  identical.  Yet  so  far  as  can  be 
judged  from  a  limited  number  of  specimens,  Astur  palumbarius  differs 
more  from  A.  alricapillus  than  Accipiter  nisus  does  from  Accipiter  fuscus, 
which  latter  species  have  never  been  considered  as  identical.* 

85.*    Accipiter  Cooperi  Cassin.     Cooper's  Hawk. 

Falco  Cooperi  Boxap.,  Am.  Orn.,  II,  1,  1828. 

Falco  Stanlei/i  Aldlbon,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  186,  1831  (young). 

Astur  Cooperi  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  5,  1838. 

Accipiter  Cooperi  Cassin,  Must.  Birds  of  Cal.,  etc.,  96,  1854. 

Accipiter  mericanus  Swain.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  45,  1831.  —  Cassin,  Baud's 

Birds  N.  Am,  17,  1858. 
Accipiter  Gundlaclu  Lawk.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  VII,  252,  1860. 

Common. 

Mr.  Cassin  has  very  properly  indicated  the  variations  in  sice  and  color 
commonly  seen  in  this  species  in  the  following  remarks:  "  Rather  a  diffi- 
cult species  to  the  ornithologists,  on  account  of  the  great  variations  in  its 
colors,  and  in  size  also.  It  is,  in  fact,  unusual  to  find  two  alike  in  a  dozen 
specimens."  t  Its  relationship  to  Accipiter  Juscus  is  of  course  well  under- 
stood, it  holding  a  similar  relationship  to  that  species  that  Picus  villosus 
does  to  Picus  pubescens,  the  essential  difference  between  them  being  mainly 
a  great  difference  in  size.  But  the  specific  distinctness  of  A.  mexicanus 
from  it  is  not  so  clear.  Being  without  authentic  specimens  of  A.  mexi- 
canus, and  having  only  New  England  specimens  of  A.  Cooperi,%  I  cannot 
speak  confidently  respecting  the  character  and  affinities  of  the  former. 
According  to  authors,  however,  it  seems  to  differ  from  A.  Cooperi  in  being 
somewhat  smaller  and  more  highly  colored.  It  is  also  more  southern  in 
its  distribution.  Hence  these  variations,  being  in  accordance  with  the 
general  laws  of  geographical  variation  in  size  and  color,  do  not  necessarily 

*  In  this  connection  I  wish  to  cite  some  interesting  variations  in  color  presented  by 
Massachusetts  and  Maine  specimens  of  Astur  alricapillus.  Ordinarily  this  species  has 
each  feather  below  centred  with  a  longitudinal  dark  shaft-line,  with  several  transverse 
broader  but  somewhat  irregular  dark  ashy-brown  bars  on  a  lighter  ground.  Some 
specimens,  however,  as  one  from  Maine,  have  the  transverse  bars  so  narrow  and 
broken  that  the  lower  surface  presents  a  nearly  uniform,  minutely  mottled  appear- 
ance. Another  specimen  (from  Springfield,  Muss.)  represents  the  opposite  ex- 
treme, it  having  the  transverse  bars  broad,  regular,  and  quite  far  apart,  so  that  its 
resemblance  to  average  specimens  of  Astur  palumbarius  is  very  close.  The  color  in 
this  specimen  is  much  darker  throughout  than  is  usual  in  this  species. 

t  Illustrations  of  Birds  of  California,  etc.,  p.  93,  1854. 

|  Since  the  above  was  written,  specimens  have  been  received  at  the  Museum  from 
Jalapa,  Mexico,  from  Sn.  E.  Montes-de-Oca. 


322  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

imply  a  diversity  of  species  ;  they  only  accord  with  what  would  naturally 
be  expected  to  occur  if  A.  mexicanus  and  A  Cooperi  were  known  to  con- 
stitute but  a  single  species.* 

Accip'tter  Cooperi,  as  is  well  known,  is  not  only  closely  allied  in  general 
structure  to  Buteo  lincatus,  but  also  in  style  of  coloration  in  both  the  imma- 
ture and  adult  stages.  It  may  be  fair,  then,  to  test  the  value  of  the  dis- 
tinctive characters  assigned  to  A.  mexicanus  by  what  obtains  as  geographi- 
cal variations  in  size  and  color  in  Buteo  linealus  Of  this  species  I  have 
fortunately  a  large  number  of  specimens,  including  some  from  localities 
similarly  separated  to  those  whence  A.  Cooperi  and  A.  mexicanus  respec- 
tively come.  In  the  case  of  Buteo  linealus  there  is  no  reason  whatever  to 
doubt  that  my  specimens  from  Florida  and  New  England  are  specifically 
identical.  Yet  the  Florida  specimens  are  very  much  brighter  colored,  and 
very  much  smaller  ;  the  difference  in  the  length  of  the  folded  wing  between 
two  males,  one  of  which  is  from  Maine  and  the  other  from  Florida,  being 
two  and  one  half  incites,  with  corresponding  differences  in  general  measure- 
ments. This  is  relatively  much  greater  than  the  difference  in  size  between 
specimens  of  the  so-called  A.  Cooperi  and  A.  mexicanus.  Similar  varia- 
tions in  color  and  size  to  those  between  A.  Cooperi  and  A.  mexicanus  also 
occur  between  northeastern  and  southwestern  specimens  of  A.fuscus,  the 
latter,  as  already  noted  under  A.  fuscus,  being  smaller  than  the  former, 
and  very  much  brighter  colored  ;  the  difference  in  color  between  speci- 
mens from  Maine  and  (he  State  of  Missouri  being  greater  than  is  repre- 
sented to  occur  between  A.  Cooperi  and  A.  mexicanus,  and  of  a  parallel 
kind.  In  accordance  with  the  evident  inference  that  may  be  drawn  from 
these  facts,  I  provisionally  include  A.  mexicanus  among  the  synonymes  of 
A.  Cooperi.  The  A.  Gundlachi  of  Cuba  differs  from  the  southern  A.  Coop- 
eri in  the  way  southern  birds  usually  differ  from  the  northern  ones  of  the 
same  species,,  that  is,  in  being  smaller  and  brighter  colored,  and  in  having 
the  dark  transverse  bars  on  the  under  plumage  increased  in  breadth  at  the 
expense  of  the  alternating  light  ones. 

86.*    Buteo  borealis  Bonaparte.     Red-tailed  Hawk. 

Falco  borealis  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  266,  178S. —  Wilson,  Am.  On.,  VI, 
75,  pi.  lii,  fig.  2,  1812.—  Rich.  &  Swain.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.  II,  50,  1831.— 
Audubon,  Om..Biog.,  I,  265,  pi.  II,  1832. 

Buteo  borealis  Bonaparte,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  3,  1838.  —  Gossi,  Birds 
of  Jamaica,  II,  1847.  —  Lemiseye,  Av.dc  la  Isla  dc  Cuba,  18,1850.— 
Cassin,  Syn.  N.  A.  Birds  (Illust.  Birds  Cal.  and  Texas,  etc.),  97,  IS34.— 
Brewer,  N.  Am.  Oology,  21,  1857.  —  Cassin,  Baird's  Birds  of  N.  Am., 
25,  1858. —  Bryant,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  VIII,  109,  1861.-- 
Allen,  Memoirs  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  499,  1868. 

*  Bonaparte  indeed  long  since  cited  A.  mexicanus  Swainson  as  a  synonyme  of  A. 
Cooperi. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  323 

Falco  kverianus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  T,  266,   1788.  —  Wilson,  Am.  On.,  VI, 

78,  pi.  lii,  1812. 
Falco  jamaice.nsis  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  266,  1788. 
Falco  aquilinus  Bartra.m,  Travels,  290,  1791. 
Falco  Harlani  Audubon-,  Am.  Orn.,  I,  441,  1831. 
Accipiter  rujicaudus  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  47,  1807. 
Buteo ferrugineicaudus  Vieillot,  Ibid.,  32. 
Buteo  fulvus  Vieillot,  Nouv.  Diet.  Hist.  Nat.,  IV,  472,  1816. 
Buteo  americanus  Vieillot,  Ibid.,  477. 
Buteo  vulgaris  Rich.  &  Swain*.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  47,  pi.  xxvii,  1831. — 

Audubon,  Syn.,  5,  1839. 
Buteo  but coides  Nuttall,  Man.  Orn..  I,  100,  1832. 
Falco  buteo  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  IV,  108,  1S38. 
Buteo  Swainsoni   Bonaparte,  Geog.   and   Comp.  List,  3,   1838.  —  Cassin, 

Ulust.  Birds  Cal.   Texas,  etc.,  98,  1854. —Brewer,  N.Am.  Oology,  24, 

1857.  —  Cooper  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  476,  1870. 
Buteo  Harlani  Bonaparte,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  3,  1838.  — Cassin,  Ulust. 

Birds  Cal.,  Texas,  etc.,  101,  1854.  — Cassin,  Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  14.— 

?  Bryant,  Proc.    Bost-  Soc.   Nat.   Hist.,    VIII,    115,  1861.— Cooper  & 

Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  473. 
Buteo  montanus  Nuttall,  Man.  Orn.  I  (2d  ed.),  112,  1840. — Cassin,  Baird's 

Birds  N.  Am.,  26.  —  Coues,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1866, 43.  —  Cooper 

&  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  469. 
Buteo  Bairdii  Hoy.,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1853,451.  —  Cassin,  Baird's 

Birds  N.  Am.,  21. 
Buteo  insignalus  Cassin,  Birds  Cal.  and  Texas,  102,  pi.  xxi,  1854. — Cassin, 

Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  23.  —  Cooper  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  474. 
Buteo  calurus  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1855,  281.  —  Cassin,  Baird's 

Birds  N.  Am.,  22.  —  Cooper  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cal.,  I,  471. 

Not   apparently   uncommon,  but   far  less   numerous  than  the  next 
species. 

The  Buteoninaz,  or  the  group  of  hawks  to  which  the  present  and  the 
two  following  species  belong,  is  well  known  to  embrace  species  more 
variable  in  color  than  those  of  any  other  section  of  the  Falcoriidce,  al- 
though all  the  members  of  this  family  are  more  or  less  remarkable  for  in- 
dividual and  other  variations  of  plumage.  The  present  species,  however, 
admitting  for  it  the  wide  variation  in  this  respect  herein  claimed,  scarcely 
equals  the  immense  range  of  color  variation  well  known  to  characterize  its 
near  ally  and  representative  in  the  Old  World,  the  Buteo  vulgaris  auct. 
(Falco  buteo  Linne).  Six  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  Museum  from 
Switzerland  and  Germany,  received  under  the  name  Falco  buteo,  vary  in 
color  as  follows  :  One  is  almost  entirely  black  ;  another  is  nearly  black 
throughout,  with  obscure  narrow  transverse  bands  of  ferruginous  on  the 
VOL.    II.  21 


324  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

crissum  and  abdomen  ;  another  is  mainly  black,  but  varied  belov 
bars  of  pale  rufous  and  blotches  of  white  ;  a  fourth  is  also  nearly  black,  *.. 
verv  dark  brown,  but  considerably  more  relieved  with  white  below  than 
the  last ;  a  filth  is  mainly  white  below,  with  longitudinal  stripes  of  dark 
brown,  and  so  nearly  resembles  a  common  immature  stage  of  the  American 
Buteo  borealis  that  if  placed  together  the  most  discriminating  observer 
could  not  tell. which  specimen  was  the  European  or  which  the  American 
one.  The  sixth  is  very  light  colored  throughout,  with  only  a  few  dusky 
longitudinal  spots  on  the  breast.  This'  specimen  is  also  not  readily  dis- 
tinguishable from  certain  common  phases  of  B.  borealis.  Another  specimen 
of  B.  vulgaris,  in  the  La  Fresnaye  collection  in  the  Museum  of  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History,  is  still  lighter  than  this,  being  nearly  uniform 
whitish  below,  and  very  light  colored,  almost  white  above.  The  latter 
specimen  and  the  first-mentioned  dark  specimen  present  as  great  differences 
in  color  as  two  specimens  of  one  species  can  well  be  conceived  to  exhibit. 
The  variations  presented  by  the  American  B.  borealis  have  already  been 
fully  detailed  by  the  late  Dr.  Henry  Bryant,  in  his  "  Remarks  on  the  Varia- 
tions of  the  Plumage  of  Buteo  borealis  auct.,  and  B.  Harlani  Aud."*  He 
observes  that  the  variation  in  plumage  of  the  species  of  Buteo,  common  in 
the  Atlantic  States,  "  are  so  slight  that  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
the  first  specimens  from  other  parts  of  the  country,  presenting  as  they  did 
such  extraordinary  variations  in  color,  should  have  been  described  as  dis- 
tinct species.  At  present,  however,"  he  continues,  "  the  number  of  speci- 
mens known  is  so  large  that  on  careful  examination  i^seems  to  me  necessary 
to  adopt  one  of  two  conclusions,  namely,  either  to  increase  the  number  of 
species  indefinitely,  or  to  reduce  them  to  a  much  smaller  number  than  are 
now  supposed  to  exist.  As  the  European  buzzard,  Buteo  vulgaris,  is  well 
known  to  present  the  greatest  variety  of  color,  it  seems  to  me  more  reason- 
able to  adopt  the  last  conclusion."  f  With  the  above  opinions  and 
remarks  I  in  the  main  agree,  but  do  not  regard  the  variations  presented  by 
the  Buteo  borealis  as  by  any  means  slight,  even  in  the  Atlantic  States. 
Although  instances  of  such  excessive  variation  as  are  seen  in  the  Central 
and  Pacific  States  are  apparently  more  rare  in  the  Atlantic  States,  speci- 

*  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VIII,  p.  107,  1861. 

t  In  respect  to  the  variety  of  color  in  the  B.  vulgaris,  Dr.  Bryant  makes  the  following 
quotation  from  Nanmann's  Natural  History  of  the  Birds  of  Germany  (Vol.  I,  p.  347): 
"  In  the  coloring  of  the  feathers  of  the  bird  there  prevails  a  most  extraordinary  differ- 
ence, and  one  which  is  not  often  seen  in  other  birds  of  prey.  From  the  darkest  uniform 
blackish-brown  to  the  purest  white,  we  find  all  the  shades,  and  also  both  colors  mixed 
and  spotted,  in  such  various  ways  that  the  countless  transitions  cannot  be  described; 
this  difference  is  independent  of  age  and  sex."  Many  other  European  writers,  it  may 
be  added,  have  made  similar  remarks  in  respect  to  its  astonishing  range  of  variation  in 
color. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  325 

mens  from  Massachusetts  now  before  me  vary  as  follows :  Some  are  nearly 
unspotted  beneath,  others,  sparsely  spotted,  have  the  spots  mainly  restrict- 
ed to  the  pectoral  region ;  others,  in  which  the  spots  are  equally  few, 
have  them  mainly  accumulated  on  the  abdominal  region,  while  still  other? 
have  them  so  numerous  as  to  occupy  the  greater  part  of  the  lower  surface, 
sometimes  covering  the  abdomen  in  an  almost  unbroken  broad  band. 
They  likewise  vary  in  the  amount  of  rufous  tint  in  the  plumage,  in  some 
it  being  very  slight,  while  others  are  as  strongly  ferruginous  as  any  of  the 
California  specimens  (B.  montanus)  I  have  yet  seen. 

The  Buteo  borealis  was  first  described  by  Latham  in  his  "  General 
Synopsis  of  Birds,"*  in  1781,  under  the  names  of  "cream-colored  buz- 
zard "  and  "  American  buzzard,"  the  first  name  being  applied  to  the 
young,  f  and  the  last  to  the  adult  stage  of  plumage.  Pennant,  in  his 
"  Arctic  Zoology,"  %  also  redescribes  the  immature  bird  as  the  "  Leverian 
falcon,"  and  to  these  several  descriptions  of  Latham  and  Pennant,  Gmelin, 
in  lus  "  Systema  Naturas,''  gave  respectively  the  names  Falco  jamaicensis, 
F.  borealis,  and  F.  Leverianus.  Some  twenty  years  later  the  Buteo  borealis 
was  redescribed  by  Vieillot,  in  his  '•  Histoire  des  Oiseaux  de  l'Amerlque 
Septentrionale,"  as  Acc'qnter  ruficaudus  and  Buteo  ferruyineicaudus,  both 
names  evidently  referring  to  the  mature  or  nearly  mature  bird ;  and  again 
ten  years  later,  in  the  "  Nouvcau  Dictionnaire  d'Histoire  Naturelle,"  as 
Buteo  fulvus  and  B.  americanus.  Audubon,  in  1831,  figured  and  described 
a  specimen  from  Louisiana  under  the  name  Falco  Harlani.  This  speci- 
men, which  was  finally  sent  to  the  British  Museum,  has  been  regarded  by 
Mr.  G.  11.  Gray  and  others  as  only  a  very  dark-colored  example  of  B. 
borealif.%  In  the  same  year  Richardson  and  Swainson  reported  the  Buteo 
vulgaris,  in  their  "  Fauna  Boreali- Americana,"  as  an  inhabitant  of  North 
America,  and  of  which  they  figure  an  immature  male.  As  already  re- 
marked, the  B.  vulgaris,  in  certain  stages  of  plumage,  is  not  readily  distin- 
guishable from  B.  borealis,  so  that  the  mistake  is  a  perfectly  excusable  one. 
This  form,  however,  was  for  some  time  currently  received  by  most  writers 
as  a  species  distinct  from  the  B.  borealis,  ana  to  which  the  name  B.  Swain- 
sorii  was  given  by  Bonaparte.  In  1832  Nuttall  described  a  Buteo  buteoiiles, 
which,  though  referred  by  Bonaparte  to  B.  lineatus,  and  by  Cassin  to  B. 
pennsylvanicus,  seems  to  me  to  much  more  nearly  agree  with  B.  borealis. 
In  1840  the  same  writer  described  a  B.  montanus,  which  was  subsequently 

*  Vol.  I,  pp.  49,  50,  Nos.  30  and  31. 

t  Latham  observes:  "This  beautiful  specimen  was  sent  to  me  from  Jamaica  by  an 
intelligent  friend  and  a  good  naturalist,  who  did  not  hint  the  least  of  its  being  a  variety 
of  the  common  buzzard  [Buteo  vulgaris  auct.],  which  I  should  have  otherwise  sus- 
pected." 

J  Vol.  II,  p.  206.  No.  101.  i  Cat.  of  Birds  in  British  Museum. 


326  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

referred  by  Bonaparte  to  his  B.  Swainsoni,  but  has  since  been  recognized 
as  a  valid  species  by  Cassin  and  other  recent  American  authors.  In 
1853  Mr.  P.  It.  Hoy  described  a  Buteo  Bairdii,  and  in  1854  Mr.  Cassin 
added  B.  insignatus,  in  1855  B.  calurus  and  B.  oxypterus,  and  in  1856  B. 
Cooperi.  In  1861  Dr.  Bryant  made  a  revision  of  the  group,  then  contain- 
ing eight  or  nine  species  currently  recognized  by  American  ornithologists, 
and  reduced  the  number  of  species  to  two,  one  of  which  he  called  B. 
borealis  and  the  other  B.  Harlani;  which  latter,  however,  is  not  the 
Harlani  of  Cassin,  and  probably  not  the  Harlani  of  Audubon. 

Dr.  Bryant,  in  the  above-cited  paper,  describes  in  detail  the  leading 
variations  presented  by  our  red-tailed  hawks,  and  the  character  of  the 
numerous  supposed  species  of  this  group  that  had  then  been  recently 
described.  He  having  at  his  command  all  the  specimens  of  this  group  con- 
tained in  the  Museums  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  and  the  Smithsonian 
Institution,  including  the  original  types  of  Mr.  Cassin's  species,  as 
well  as  the  specimens  in  his  own  collection,  his  opportunities  lor  investi- 
gating the  subject  were  unusually  favorable.  The  results  of  his  exam- 
ination of  this  material  may  be  briefly  stated  in  his  own  words.  He  says 
that  after  examining  this  large  series  of  specimens,  he  found  "  that  of  all 
those  belonging  to  Harlani,  insignatus,  Swainsoni,  Bairdii,  oxypterus, 
borealis,  montanus,  calurus,  and  perhaps  Cooperi,"  could  be  "easily  reduced 
to  two  very  distinct  groups,  each  of  which  is  distinguishable  by  definite 
external  characters,  and  in  which  the  variations  of  plumage,  though 
apparently  so  great,  if  the  extremes  of  the  series  only  are  taken  into  con- 
sideration, can,  it  seems  to  me,  be  arranged  in  a  series,  in  which  the 
connecting  of  the  different  members  may  be  readily  traced.  Of  these  two 
groups,  or  rather  species,  one,  which  should  be  called  B.  borealis,  as  the 
first  described,  consists  of  that  species,  montanus,  calurus,  Harlani,  and 
probably  Cooperi,  and  is  characterized  by  a  very  muscular  body,*  stronger 
and  longer  bill,  longer  and  more  powerful  tarsi,  and  a  more  rounded  wing, 
the  fourth  quill  generally  the  longest,  tin-  fifth  little  if  any  shorter  than 
the  third,  anil  the  first  always  longer  than  the  eighth.  The  other  species, 
to  which  Harlani?,  insignatus,  Swainsoni,  Bairdii,  and  oxypterus  belong,  is 
distinguishable  by  a  more  slender  body,  shorter  and  weaker  tarsi,  and  a 
more  pointed  wing,  the  third  quill  generally  the  longest,  the  fifth  consid- 
erably shorter  than  the  third,  and  the  first  always  longer  than  the  eighth." 

"  On  making  the  examinations  which  led  to  the  conclusion  above  stated," 
he  further  observes,  "  I  was  struck  by  tin-  small  number  of  specimens  in 
which  all  the  feathers  were  equally  developed,  and  when  they  were  so, 
the  variation    in   the  proportions  of  the   primaries,   and  of  the  wings  and 

*  Stuffed  skin>  evidently  ruTord  rather  unsatisfactory  data  for  the  determination  of 
the  relative  muscularity  of  the  body. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  327 

tail,  in  specimens  of  the  same  variety,  was  much .  greater  than  I  had  ex- 
pected to  find";  a  result*  which  indicates  how  unreliable  such  fea- 
tures are  as  specific  distinctions,  as  I  have  already  repeatedly  remarked, 
and  also,  of  course,  the  fallacy  of  the  belief,  so  generally  held,  that  they 
are  really  among  the  most  trustworthy.*  After  detailing  some  of  the  in- 
stances of  variation  in  this  respect  in  the  specimens  in  que.-tion,  he  makes 
the  following  remarks  on  variations  in  other  characters  :  "  The  variation 
in  the  number  and  shape  of  the  tarsal  scales  is  considerable,  as  is  usual  in 
birds  of  this  order.  The  development  of  the  festoon  of  the  lower  edge 
of  the  upper  mandible,  one  of  the  principal  generic  characters,  f  varies  par- 
ticularly in  B.  montanus,  the  series  of  which  is  the  largest,  from  a  sharp, 
almost  tooth-like  process  to  an  entire  absence  ofit."% 

Dr.  Bryant  described  each  of  the  so-called  species  of  the  later  authors, 
and  generally  several  authentic  specimens  of  each,  showing  the  variations 
of  color  they  present.  B.  montanus  is  the  so-called  "  western  red-tail," 
replacing,  it  is  supposed,  B.  borealis  in  the  western  half  of  the  continent, 
and  differing  from  it  in  the  main  only  in  being  more  rufous  or  brighter 
colored.  Some  specimens,  however,  from  California  and  Oregon  are  not 
appreciably  different  from  others  from  the  Atlantic  States,  and  among 
them  is  one  received  at  the  Museum  from  the  Smithsonian  Institution 
labelled  "  B.  borealis."  B.  calurus  differs  from  these  in  being  much  darker 
throughout,  and  especially  below.  It  has,  however,  according  to  Dr. 
Bryant,  two  varieties,  one  of  which  is  much  darker  than  the  other.  The 
B.  Harlani  of  Cassin,  Dr.  Bryant  says,  "resembles  very  closely  the  dark 
variety  of  calurus,  with  the  exception  of  its  tail,  which  resembles  mon- 
tanus." Respecting  the  single  known  specimen  of  B.  Coope.ri,  he  says 
there  is  nothing  in  its  coloration  M  that  would  make  the  supposition  of  its 
being  a  variety  of  montanus  improbable."  The  tail  presents  the  greatest 
dissimilarity  and  "has  very  much  the  appearance  it  would  have  in  a  semi- 
adult  of  this  species,  if  the  color  were  partially  washed  out.'  The  tarsus, 
though  long,  he  says  is  not  longer  than  in  some  specimens  of  montanus  ; 
but  observes  that  the  scutellation  of  the  tarsus  presents  certain  peculiar- 
ities not  seen  in  the  others,  there  being  but  two  rows  of  lateral  scales  in- 
stead of  three  or  four,  and  two  more  than  the  usual  number  of  transverse 
scales.  §    In  respect  to  these  supposed  species  he  then  observes :  "  After 

*  See  the  remarks  on  this  point  in  Part  III. 

t  The  italicizing  is  my  own. 

\  On  differences  of  this  kind  the  several  supposed  species  of  the  B.  borealis  group 
have  been  arranged  in  different  subgenera  .' 

§  Since  writing  the  above  I  have  learned  from  Professor  Baird  that  he  is  inclined  to 
regard  this  specimen  as  "  only  an  Archibuteo ferrugineus  without  feathers  on  the  tarsus; 
at  any  rate,  hardly  a  species."  It  is  hence  omitted  in  Cooper  and  Bairds  "  Orni- 
thology of  California,"  which  has  just  appeared. 


328  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

carefully  examining  the  birds  described  above,  I  do  not  see,  if  Buteo  bo- 
rea/is,  monlanus,  and  calurus  are  to  be  considered  distinct  species,  that  we 
can  avoid  increasing  the  number  by  separating  from  montanus  two  species, 
—  one  the  dark  Stcilacoom  variety,  and  the  other  that  from  Cape  St. 
Lucas  (which,  by  the  way,  is  the  most  distinct  variety  that  I  have  seen)  ; 
from  calurus,  one  species,  the  ferruginous  variety  from  Fort  Tejon;  and 
adding  to  this  group  one  species  based  on  the  adult  Harlani  of  the  Acad- 
emy \_Harlani  of  Cassin,  not  of  Audubon],  making  in  all  seven  species 
of  this  group.  I  have  not  included  in  this  list  the  youiig  Harlani  of  the 
Academy,  which  differs  as  much  from  the  adult  as  from  any  other  speci- 
men of  this  group  ;  or  Cooperi"  etc.  After  next  describing  in  detail 
Buteo  Harlani  (B.  Harlani  of  Bryant,  not  B.  Harlani  of  Cassin,  nor  of 
Audubon),  and  its  several  varieties,  which  form  the  "  species"  B.  insigna- 
tus,  Sioainsoni,  and  oxypterus  of  Cassin  and  the  B.  Bairdii  of  Hoy  and 
Cassin,  with  several  varieties  under  each,  some  of  which  lie  clearly  shows 
are  connecting  links  to  others,  Dr.  Bryant  concludes  his  paper  with  the 
following  summary  :  "  Taking  color,  therefore  as  a  sufficient  ground  for 
specific  distinction,  we  find  that  we  have  in  the  red-tailed  group  seven 
species,  and  in  the  other  nine,  which,  with  the  young  Harlani  of  the 
Academy,  Cooperi,  fuliijinosus,  albonolatus,  lineatus,  elegans,  and  pennsyl- 
vanicus,  give  a  total  of  twenty-three  species  of  this  genus  which  are  found 
in  the  United  States." 

But  Dr.  Bryant  by  no  means  admits  color  in  this  group  to  be  a  specific 
characteristic,  and,  as  I  have  already  remarked,  in  reducing  the  number 
of  species  of  the  red-tailed  hawks  to  two,  he  takes  general  size  and  the 
proportions  of  the  primary  quills  of  the  wing  as  the  basis  of  distinction. 
He  has  accordingly  given  a  table  of  comparative  measurements  and  pro- 
portions of  the  two  species,  in  which  he  has  arranged,  as  he  says  and 
doubtless  supposed,  the  larger  specimens  under  B.  borealis,  and  the  smaller 
under  B.  Harlani.  Size  and  the  proportions  of  the  quills,  however,  it 
seems  to  me,  arc  equally  ai-bitrary  grounds  for  their  separation,  as  an 
examination  of  his  tables  and  descriptions  evidently  proves.  It  hap- 
pens that  in  the  first,  or  B.  borealis  series,  marly  all  the  specimens 
are  fully  adult,  as  indicated  by  the  tail  being  uniformly  red,  with  a  subter- 
minal  black  band,  —  a  stage  of  plumage  which  characterizes  only  adult 
individuals.  In  the  second,  or  B.  Harlani  series,  but  one  specimen  (which 
does  not  appear  in  the  table  of  measurements),  is  described  that  is  not 
evidently  somewhat  immature,  while  the  greater  part  of  them  are  quite 
so.*  Respecting  the  so-called  Buteo  Bairdii,  of  which  numerous  speci- 
mens have  been  reported,  some  from  quite  eastern  localities,  Dr.  Bryant 

*  They  have  at  least  the  tail  numerously  banded,  a6  all  immature  B.  borealis  do  have, 
and  their  general  diagnosis  is  that  of  immature  birds. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  329 

remarks  that  a  single  specimen  in  the  Museum  of  the  Philadelphia  Acad- 
emy is  the  only  one  he  had  seen  "presenting  the  least  appearance  of 
adult  plumage."  In  regard  to  the  size  of  the  specimens  of  the  two  scries, 
adopting  the  length  of  the  folded  wing  as  the  basis  of  comparison,  —  the 
besl  clement  in  the  tables  available  for  comparison,  in  this  respect, — the 
smallest  and  the  largest  specimens,  measuring  370  and  438  millimetres  re- 
spectively, occur  in  the  B.  borealis  series.  The  average  length  of  wing  in 
twenty  specimens  of  B.  borealis  is  409  millimetres,  and  in  fourteen  *  speci- 
mens of  B.  Harlani  Bryant,  405.  The  difference  of  4  millimetres  is  an 
amount  too  trivial  to  be  of  account,  as  the  addition  of  a  single  specimen  to 
cither  series  might  reverse  the  difference.  Hence  the  impression  possessed 
by  Dr.  Bryant  of  an  average  difference  in  size  between  the  two  series 
was  evidently  an  erroneous  one. 

There,  hence  remains  but  a  single  difference,  that  in  respect  to  the  form 
of  the  wing,  or  the  relative  length  of  the  primaries,  by  which  to  distinguish 
the  two  series,  which  is  at  best  one  of  doubtful  value.  My  present  opinion 
is  that  all  the  so-called  species  of  these  two  groups  may  be  safely  referred 
to  the  original  Buleo  borealis,  except  the  B.  oxypterus,  which  should  be  un- 
doubtedly referred  to  the  B.  pennsylvanicus, 

87.*    Buteo  lineatus  Jardine.      Red-shocldered  Hawk. 

Falco  lineatus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat,  I,  268,  1788.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  VI, 

86,  pi.  liii,  fig.  3,  1812.  —  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  296,  pi.  lvi,  1832. 
Buteo  lineatus  Jardine,  Am.   Orn.,  I,  1832.  —  Audubon,  Svn.,  7,   1839. — 

Cassin,  Baiid's  Birds  N.  Am.,  28, 1858.  —  Verrill,  Proc.  Essex  Institute, 

III,  141,  1862. 
Falco  hyemalis  Gmelix,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  274,  1788.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  IV, 

73,  1812.  —  Nuttall,  Man.  Orn.,  I,  106,  1832.  —  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog., 

V,  pi.  lxxi,  1832  (young). 
Buteo  Cooperi  Allen,  Amer.  Nat.,  Ill,  518,  1869. 

Circus  hyemalis  Bonap.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat  Sci.,  1st  Ser ,  III,  305,  It 
Butto  elegans  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1855,281.  — Cassin,  Baird's 

Birds  of  N.  Am  28,  1858. 

Very  abundant.     By  far  the  most  numerous  species  of  the  family. 

Generally  smaller  and  much  brighter  colored  than  New  England  speci- 
mens. The  dark  line  along  the  shaft  of  the  feathers  below,  especially  on 
the  throat  and  breast,  is  very  distinct,  in  this  respect  and  in  the  bright 
colors  greatly  resembling  the  so-called  Buleo  elegans  of  Cassin.    B.  elegans, 

*  The  B  oxypterus,  referred  to  the  B.  Harlani  by  Bryant,  is  very  much  smaller  than 
any  other  specimen  in  either  series,  and  it  seems  to  me  has  decided  affinities,  in  its 
small  size  as  in  other  features,  with  the  B.  pennsylvaniais,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Cassin, 
and  it  is  hence  excluded  in  my  computation  of  the  average  length  of  the  folded  wing. 


380 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


however,  has  been  generally  considered  as  the  western  representative  of 
B.  linealus,  but  it  differs  from  the  latter  only  in  being  brighter  colored,  or 
in  having  the  ferruginous  of  the  under  parts  more  intense.  In  this  it 
resembles  the  western  representatives  of  the  B.  borealis,  Archibuleo  lago- 
pus,  Accipiter  fuscus,  Circus  cyaneus,  Falco  peregrinus,  and  other  species 
of  this  family,  the  western  specimens  of  which  are  ordinarily  more  rufous 
than  the  eastern,  though  in  only  a  part  of  them  have  the  eastern  and 
western  races  as  yet  been  separated  as  distinct  species. 

The  considerable  difference  in  size  between  specimens  of  this  species 
from  New  England  and  Florida  has  led  to  the  supposition  that  the  former 
may  be  specifically  distinct  from  the  latter,  or  at  least  that  they  form  well- 
marked  varieties.*  The  following  measurements,  however,  show  that 
specimens  occur  in  Florida,  in  winter  at  least,  nearly  as  large  as  average- 
sized  New  England  specimens.  But  these  may  have  been  merely 
winter  visitors,  since  two  of  the,  three  specimens  taken  in  February  on 
the  St.  John's  River  are  larger  than  any  of  the  others,  all  of  which  were 
taken  later  in  the  season.  Those  taken  by  Dr.  Wiirdemann  at  Cape 
Florida  and  Indian  Key  are  also  smaller  than  those  from  the  St.  John's 
River. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Buteo  lineatus. 


M  C.Z. 
No 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

.d 
to 

i-  a 

to 

a 

'3 

til 

£ 

H 

5223 

~d 

Volusia 

Feb. 

12, '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

22  25 

^JL50~ 

13.00 

7.75 

£224 
Ti276 

d 

" 

Feb. 

12,  '69 

" 

20.00 

39  50 

12  25 

7  50 

d 

Blue  Springs 

Feb. 

21  ,''69 

" 

211.00 

42.00 

13.00 

8.40 

6310 

d 

Enterprise 

Mar. 

V69 

" 

17  65 

39.15 

12.25 

8.00 

6331 

d 

" 

Mar 

1,'69 

" 

17.75 

40.25 

12.30 

7.50 

5398 

d 

H.nvkinsville 

Mar. 

15, '69 

" 

18.00 

40  50 

12  85 

7.75 

10744 

Jacksonville 

Dec. 

31,  '68 

C.  J.  Maynard 

19  20 

4150 

12.60 

8.50 

10743 

6 

" 

Jan. 

11/69 

" 

19.20 

40.05 

12.60 

8.50 

6899 

$ 

Cape  Florida 

Apr. 

6, '58 

G.  Wiirdemann 

15.75 

35.75 

1100 

6  75 

8fi30t 

d 

Indian  Key 

Aug 

31, '57 

" 

17  50 

3700 

1120 

— 

6898 

" 

Aug. 

1,'58 

" 

15.50 

34.50 

10.50 

7.15 

8629t 



" 

Nov. 

10,  '57 

" 

1775 

40.00 

12  00 

— 

8631t 

r 

" 

Aug. 

31,  '57 

" 

17.50 

37  no 

11.10 

— 

88.t     Buteo  pennsylvanicus  Bonaparte.     Broad-winged  Hawk. 

Falco pennsylvanicus  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  VI,  22,  1812. 

Buteo  pennsylvanicus  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  3,  1838.  —  Audubon, 

Syn.,  6,  1839.  —  Cassin,  Illust.  Birds  Cal.,  Texas,  etc.,  100,  1854.  —  Cassin, 

Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  29, 1858. 
Falco  latissimus  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  VII,  22,  1812.    (Later  published  copies.)! 

*  See  Prof.  A.  E.  Verrill  in  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  141.1S62. 

t  Smithson.  Inst.,  No.  (Copied  from  f!t.o«>;n  |n  Baird's  Birds  of  North  America, 
p.  28.) 

J  Concerning  the  names  F.  pennsylvanicus  and  F.  latissimus  given  by  Wilson  to  this 
6pecies,  sec  Air.  Cassin's  remarks,  Illust.  Birds  of  Cal.,  Texas,  etc.,  p.  101. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  831 

Falco  Wilsoni  Bonap.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Ill,  348,  1824. 
Sparvius  platypterus  Vieillot,  Encyc.  Meth.,  Ill,  1273,  1823. 
Buteo  orypterus  Cassin,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.   Sci.,  282,  1855.  —  Cassin, 
Baud's  Birds  of  N.  Am.,  31,  1858. 

"  Common."  —  Boardman.  Audubon,  however,  gives  it  as  rare  south 
of  the  Middle  States,  and  it  is  uot  mentioned  by  Dr.  Coues  in  his  list 
of  the  birds  of  South  Carolina.  There  is,  however,  a  specimen  in  the 
Museun  of  Comparative  Zoology  labelled  as  having  been  taken  in 
Florida. 

As  previously  observed,  it  appears  to  me  that  the  Buteo  oxypterus  of 
Cassin,  described  from  a  single  specimen  taken  at  Fort  Filmore,  New 
Mexico,  corresponds  more  nearly  with  the  young  of  this  species  than  with 
any  known  stage  or  form  of  B.  borealis. 

89*     Circus  cyaneus  Bote.      Marsh  Hawk. 

Falco  cyaneus  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.  I,  126,  1766.  —  Bonap.,  Am.  Orn.,  II,  30. — 

Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  IV,  396,  pi.  ccclvi,  1838. 
Circus  cyaneus  Boie,  Isis,  1822,  549.  —  Audubon,  Synop.,  19,  1839.  —  G.  R. 

Gray,  Gen.  of  Birds,  I,  p.  32.  — Ibid.,  Cat.  Brit.  Birds,  17,  1863. 
Falco  hudsonius  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  128,  1766. 
Falco  uliginosus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  278,  1788. 
Circus  uliyinosus  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  37,  1807. 
Falco  uliginosus  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  VI,  67,  pi.  li,  fig.  2,  1812. 
Buteo  ( Circus)  cyaneus  ?  var.  ?  americanus,  Rich,  and  Swain.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am., 

II,  55,  pi.  xxix,  1831. 
Circus  hudsonius  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  36,  1 807.  —  Cassin,  111.  Birds 

Cal.,  Texas,  etc.,  108,  1854  —Brewer,  N.  Am.  Ool.,  42,  1857.  —  Cassin, 

Baird's  Birds  N.  Am,  38,  1858. 
Circus  variegatns  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  37,  1807. 
Strigiceps  uliginosus  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  5,  1838. 
Strigiceps  pygargus  Bonap.,  Ibid. 

Common  about  the  savannas. 

The  present  species  has  been  considered  by  most  writers  as  identical 
with  the  C.  cyaneus  of  the  Old  World.  It  was  first  separated  as  a  dis- 
tinct species  by  Bonaparte  in  1838,  in  his  Geographical  and  Comparative 
List.  Mr.  Cassin  also  regarding  it  as  distinct,  this  opinion  has  been 
generally  adopted  by  recent  American  ornithologists.  They  seem  to  be, 
however,  quite  identical. 

The  same  variation  in  color  between  eastern  and  western  specimens  is 
seen  in  this  species  that  has  been  noted  in  others  of  this  family,  the  young 
western  ones  especially  being  much  brighter  colored  than  the  eastern. 


332  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

The  great  variation  in  plumage  attending  differences  of  age  and  sex  in 
this  species  have  given  rise  to  numerous  synonymes,  of  which  twenty  arc 
cited  by  Mr.  G.  R.  Gray  in  his  Catalogue  of  British  Birds. 

90.*    Pandion  haliaetus  Cuvier.    Fish  Hawk.     Ospret. 

Falco  haliaetus  Linne,  Faun.  Suec,  22,  1735.—  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V.  13,  pi. 
xxxvii,  1812.  —  Bonap.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  N.  Hist.,  II,  26, 1828.  —  Audubon, 
Orn.  Biog.,1,415,  pi.  lxxxi,  1832.  —  Nuttall,  Man.  Am.  Orn.,  I,  78,  1832. 

Pandion  haliaetus  Cov.,  Reg.  An.,  1,316, 1817.  — Audubon,  Synopsis,  12, 1839. 
—  G.  It.  Gray,  Cat.  Brit.  Birds,  5,  1863.  —  Pelzeln,  Ornithol.  Brasiliens, 
4,  1868.—  Heuglin,  Ornithol.  Nordost-Afrika's,  54,  1869. 

Falco  arundinaceus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.  I,  263,  1788. 

Falco  carolinensis  Gmelin,  Ibid. 

Pandion  carolinensis  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  3, 1838.  —  Cassin,  Illust. 
Birds  Cal,  Texas,  etc.,  112,  1854.  — Brewer,  N.  Am.  Ool.,  53,  1857.  — 
Cassin,  Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  44,  1858. 

Falco  cayanensis  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.  I,  268,  1788. 

Anuila  piscatrix  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  29,  1807. 

Pandion  flucialilis  Savig.,  Descr.  de  l'Egypte,  Hist.  Nat.,  I,  96,  1809. 

Pandion  americamis  Vieillot,  Gal.  des  Ois.,  I,  33,  1828. 

Pandion  indicus  Hodgson,  Journ.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  366,  1837. 

Abundant  everywhere  ;  especially  so  around  the  lakes  of  the  Upper 
St.  John's.  Commences  nesting  in  January.  At  Lake  Monroe  I 
counted  six  iic:sts  from  a  single  point  of  view.  Their  nests  were  also 
frequent  all  along  the  river.  They  generally  selecting  a  dead  tree  in 
which  to  build,  and  often  those  situated  in  cleared  fields,  their  nests 
were  conspicuous  objects,  and  could  usually  be  seen  from  a  long  dis- 
tance. Even  these  harmless  birds  do  not  fail  to  attract  the  fire  of  the 
numerous  sportsmen  who  visit  this  region  in  winter,  some  of  whom 
are  ignorant  enough  to  believe  that  when  shooting  them  they  are  killing 
"bald  eagles." 

Gmelin,  in  his  "  Systema  Naturae,"  described  the  present  species  not  only 
as  Falco  haliaetus,  but  he  gave  to  it  also  the  names  F.  carolinensis,  F.  arun- 
dinaceus, and  F.  cayanensis,  apparently  indicating  under  them,  however, 
what  he  regarded  as  varieties  rather  than  as  distinct  species.  For  many 
years,  however,  the  common  fish-hawk  was  generally  regarded  as  having 
an  almost  cosmopolitan  distribution.  Bonaparte  spoke  of  it  in  182C,  in  his 
Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  the  United  States,*  as  follows :  "  Inhabits  almost 
every  part  of  the  globe  near  waters;  much  more  common  in  North  Amer- 
ica than  in  Europe."     Ten  or  twelve  years  later,  however,  he  seems  to 

*  Annals  of  tho  N.  Y.  Lyceum  of  Nat  History,  Vol.  II,  p.  26. 


MUSEUM   OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


333 


have  changed  this  opinion,  since  in  his  Geographical  and  Comparative 
List  of  the  Birds  of  Europe  and  the  United  States  (to  which  paper,  by 
the  way,  we  are  indebted  for  the  separation  of  eight  of  the  American 
species  of  raptorial  birds  previously  considered  identical  with  the  Euro- 
pean,* embracing  all  thus  separated  up  to  the  present  time,  except  two  t) 
he  calls  the  American  fish-hawk  Pandion  carolinensis,  and  gives  its 
habitat  as  "  America  generally."  Other  authors  have  since  separated 
the  West  Indian  and  South  American  as  a  tbird,  the  Asiatic  as  a  fourth, 
and  the  Australian  as  still  another.  The  numerous  specimens  in  the 
Museum  show  that  considerable  variation  obtains  in  color,  size,  and  pro- 
portions among  those  recognized  by  authors  as  belonging  to  the  P.  caro- 
linensis, much  greater  differences  in  color — the  main  ground  on  which 
they  have  been  separated  from  the  European  —  being  presented  among 
the  Florida  specimens  alone  than  obtains  in  the  average  between  Bra- 
zilian and  New  England  specimens,  or  American  and  European.  Gen- 
erally the  feathers  of  the  breast  are  each  centred  with  a  broad  longi- 
tudinal spot  or  stripe  of  brown,  which  spots  sometimes  cover  the  greater 
part  of  the  breast ;  but  they  are  often  simply  narrow  lines,  and  are  not 
unfrequently  entirely  wanting.  Sometimes  these  spots  are  uniform  dark- 
brown,  at  others  suffused  or  broadly  margined  with  ferruginous,  and  are 
occasionally  altogether  of  the  latter  color.  In  reuniting  the  American  fish- 
hawk  with  the  osprey  of  the  Old  World,  I  but  adopt  the  view  always  held 
by  a  large  number  of  ornithologists,  though  by  all  American  authors  they 
have  for  the  last  fifteen  years  been  commonly  considered  as  distinct. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Pandion  haliaetus. 


M.C.Z. 

No. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

Length 

Alar 
Extent. 

Wing. 

Tail. 

5268 

rf 

Blue  Springs 

Feb.     21, 

'69 

J.  A.  Allen 

21.75 

64.00 

19.50 

8.75 

5298 

rT 

Enterprise 

Feb.     25, 

'69 

" 

24.25 

68  75 

20.25 

10.00 

5331  1 

rT 

" 

Mar.       4, 

'69 

•' 

22.00 

63  50 

19.25 

9.00 

5356 

rf 

Hawkinsville 

Mar.     10, 

'69 

" 

20  75 

63.00 

18.75 

8.60 

5355 

9 

" 

Mar.    10, 

•69 

" 

'- 



20.25 

7.80 

9 

" 

Mar.    15, 

•69 

" 

24.25 

66.25 

19.00 





* 

" 

Mar.    15, 

'69 

" 

23.50 

68  50 

20.25 



91.     Haliaetus  leucocephalus  Savigny.     White-headed  Eagle. 

Falco  leucocephalus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  255,  1788.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn., 
IV,  89,  pi.  xxxvi,  1811.  — Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  58,  pi.  xxi,  1832;  II, 
160;  V,  354,  pi.  exxvi. 

*  Pandion  carolinensis  from  P.  haliaetus,  Butceles  (or  Archlbuteo  ns  now  called)  Sancti- 
Johannis  from  B.  lagopus;  Buteo  Swainsoni  from  B.  vulgaris;  Falco  anatumfrom  F.  pere- 
grinus  ;  Astur  atricapillus  from  A.  palumbarius ,-  Strigiceps  (Circus  as  now  called)  w/i- 
ginosus  from  S  pygargus  (cyaneus  auct.);  Otus  americanvs  (or  "  Wilsonianus  ")  from  0. 
vulgaris;  Nyctale  Richardsoni  from  N.  Tengmalmi ;  Strix  pratincola  from  S.  jlammea. 

f  Aquila  chrysaetos,  Brachyotus  paluslris. 


334  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Haliaetus  leucocephalus  Savigny. — Bonaparte,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  3, 
1838.  —  Audubon,  Synop.,  10,  1839. —  Cassin,  Illust.  Birds  Cal.,  Texas, 
etc.,  Ill,  1854.  —  Cassin,  Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  43,  1858 

Faico  ossifiagus  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  VII,  16,  pi.  lv,  1813. 

Aquila  (Haliaetus)  leucocephalus  Kich.  &  Swain.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  15,  1832. 

Faico  Washingtom  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  58,  pi.  xi,  1831  (plate  published 
1827). 

Faico  Washingtomana  Audubon,  Loudon's  Mag.  N.  Hist.,  I,  115,  1828. 

Haliaetus  ]\ \ishingtoni  Audubon,  Synop.,  10.  1839.  —  Cassin,  Baird's  Birds 
N.  Am.,  42,  1859. 

Common.  Breeds  in  January  and  later.  Very  abundant  on  the 
Upper  St.  John's,  and  especially  at  Lake  Monroe.  Saw  them  repeat- 
edly dive  and  catch  their  own  fish,  though  usually  depending  upon  rob- 
bing the  fish-hawks  for  them.  The  same  fact  has  been  reported  by 
other  observers,*  although  it  was  formerly  supposed  they  never  caught 
any  fish  themselves. 

The  large  specimen  of  an  eagle  taken  by  Audubon  in  Kentucky,  and 
figured  and  described  by  him  as  Faico  Washingtoni,  seems  not  to  have 
been  preserved ;  it  is  at  least  not  known  to  be  extant,  and  appears  to  have 
never  been  examined  by  any  other  naturalist.  Audubon  states  that  he 
altogether  saw  not  "  more  than  eight  or  nine  "  specimens,  f  and  deemed  it 
very  rare.  He  does  not  appear,  however,  to  have  really  examined  but  the 
one  figured.  Numerous  local  observers  have  reported  it  as  occasional  at 
different  localities,  and  Mr.  Cassin  has  doubtfully  referred  specimens  to  it 
taken  in  New  Jersey.  Nuttall  believed  the  young  were  more  or  less 
common  near  Boston  every  winter,  and  considered  it  as  "  probably  also 
indigenous  to  northern  Europe,  but  confounded  with  the  ordinary  sea 
eagle."  J  But,  as  remarked  by  Mr.  Cassin,  "  No  specimen  precisely 
corresponding  to  Mr.  Audubon's  bird  has  been  obtained  since  its  dis- 
covery, and  it  has  latterly  been  looked  upon  by  naturalists,  especially 
in  Europe,  as  an  unusually  large  specimen  of  the  white-headed  eagle."  § 
The  important  point  of  difference  between  Audubon's  bird  and  other  rep- 
resentatives of  this  genus  consists  in  the  scutellation  of  the  tarsi,  which 
are  covered  in  front  with  broad  transverse  scales,  instead  of  with  a  great 
number  of  small  irregular  ones,  as  in  other  sea  eagles.     This,  Mr.  Cassin 

*  William  Couper,  Massachusetts  Ploughman,  August  26, 1S70.  Charles  H.  Nau- 
man,  on  his  own  authority  and  that  of  Professor  S.  S.  Hakleman,  Ibid.,  September  24, 
1870.     Henry  Reeks,  Can.  Nat.,  Vol.  V,  No.  1,  p.  43,  1870. 

t  Loudon's  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  p.  116,  April,  1828. 

I  Mem.  Am.  Acad.,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  I,  p.  92,  1831. 

§  Illustrations  of  Birds  of  California,  Texas,  etc.,  p.  Ill,  1854. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  335 

has  observed,  is  "  a  character  quite  unusual  in  any  rapacious  bird,"  *  though 
I  do  not  see  that  in  this  respect  it  differs  essentially  from  Buteo  linealus, 
B.  pennsylcanicus,  or  Circus  cj/aneus,  etc.  Its  other  main  point  of  differ- 
ence from  the  H.  leucocephalus  is  its  greater  size.  Audubon  described 
his  bird  as  measuring  "  3  feet  7  inches  in  length,"  "10  feet  2  inches  "  in 
extent  of  wings,  and  the  folded  wing  "32  inches."  In  this  series  of 
measurements  there  is  no  discrepancy  between  the  different  dimensions 
given  —  the  proportions  being  exactly  the  same  as  in  H.  leucocephalus — 
that  might  lead  to  the  suspicion  of  a  typographical  or  other  accidental  er- 
ror, as  some  writers,  have  suggested  there  maybe  in  respect  to  the  alar 
extent.  It  is,  then,  either  a  valid  species  or  a  large  individual  of  //.  leu- 
cocephalus, or  a  large  immature  H.  albicilla.  Since  known  specimens  of 
H.  leucocephalus  sometimes  nearly  approach  the  supposed  //.  Washing' 
toni  in  size,  it  seems  not  unreasonable,  on  the  whole,  to  regard  it  as 
reallv  a  remarkably  large  example  of  //.  leucocephalus  in  immature 
plumage.  Audubon  describes  his  bird  as  breeding  within  the  United 
States,  and  hence  it  is  hardly  probable  it  coidd  have  been  the  arctic 
H.  albicilla,  which  has  never,  so  far  as  known  to  me,  been  observed 
60  far  south  at  any  season  of  the  year.  In  reference  to  its  fishing  habits, 
supposed  by  Audubon  to  distinctively  characterize  it,  it  is  now  well  known 
that  the  //.  leucocephalus  will  occasionally  capture  its  own  fish,  instead  of 
depending  wholly  upon  robbing  the  fish-hawk  for  them. 

Mr.  Cassin  further  observes,  f  respecting  the  H.  Washingioni,  that  he 
believes  it  to  be  more  nearly  related  to  his  //.  pelagica,  which  he  describes 
as  "  the  largest  of  eagles,"  than  to  any  other.  In  the  same  connection  he 
judiciously  remarks  respecting  the  numerous  apocryphal  species  of  eagles 
on  record  as  follows  :  "  But  there  is  no  end  to  the  accounts  of  strange 
eagles  given  by  travellers  and  naturalists.  Some  of  them  may  have  refer- 
ence to  peculiar  species  which  have  in  later  times  escaped  attention,  but 
the  probability  is  they  more  frequently  allude  to  accidental  varieties,  or 
that  the  authors  describe  from  such  reports  as  they  had  heard  at  second 
hand,  or  fell  into  error  from  insufficient  personal  observation."  Many  of 
these  reports  he  alludes  to  in  detail,  including  the  reference  by  Captain 
Cook  %  to  a  "  black  eagle  "  with  a  "  white  breast  "  seen  by.him  at  Kay's 
Island,  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America.  A  specimen  of  the  //.  leu- 
cocephalus in  peculiar  (probably  albinic)  plumage  in  the  Museum  of  Com- 
parative Zoology,  taken  in  Eastern  Massachusetts,  seems  to  indicate  that 
the  eagle  of  Captain  Cook  may  have  been  but  an  unusual  stage  of  colora- 
tion of  the  common  white-hea'ed  eagle.     The  Massachusetts  specimen 

*  Baird's  Birds  of  X.  America,  p.  42. 
t  Illust.  Birds  of  Cal.  and  Texas,  p.  36. 
*J  Cook's  Voyages,  II,  352,  1784. 


336  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

above  referred  to  has  the  general  color  of  the  under  parts  white,  with 
most  of  the  feathers  centred  with  spots  of  dusky  brown  of  varying  size, 
but  with  a  nearly  uniform  dusky  brown  patch  on  the  middle  of  the  breast. 
The  interscapulars  are  also  mainly  white,  and  the  general  plumage  above, 
except  the  wings,  more  or  less  varied  with  the  same  color.  The  tail  below 
is  mottled  with  irregularly  shaped  specks  and  spots  of  dusky  or  black  on  a 
white  ground,  and  above  with  white  on  a  nearly  black  ground,  and  tipped 
with  dusky.  The  appearance  of  the  under  side  of  the  bird  at  a  distance 
vould  be  nearly  uniform  whitish. 

Mr.  Cassin  having  stated  repeatedly  that  his  HaliaL'tus  pelagicus  (the 
Anuila  pelagica  Pallas*)  is  the  largest  and  most  powerful  of  all  known 
>agles,f  I  was  greatly  surpised,  in  critically  studying  his  description,  to 
ind  it  in  every  respect  evidently  far  inferior  in  size  to  Audubon's  bird  of 
Washington,  and  scarcely  equalling  the  //.  albicilla,  as  described  by  him- 
self; the  folded  wing,  in  fact,  of  his  H.  pelagicus  is  one  inch  shorter  than 
the  folded  wing  of  his  H.  albicilla,  four  inches  shorter  than  the  wing  of  the 
//.  Washingtoni,  as  measured  by  Audubon,  and  two  inches  shorter  than  the 
folded  wing  of  several  different  Massachusetts  specimens  of  //.  leucocepha- 
lus!  The  length  he  gives  of  "a  skin  from  Behring's  Strait  "  —  the  only 
specimen,  he  says,  at  that  time  in  America  —  is  "  about  3  feet  8  inches," 
which  exceeds  by  one  inch  only  the  length  of  Audubon's  II.  Washingtoni, 
as  given  by  Audubon,  doubtless  from  the  fresh  bird.  But  the  length  given 
y  Mr.  Cassin  for  his  i/.  pelagicus  is  evidently  too  great,  as,  taken  in  eon- 
■ection  with  the  other  measurements  of  the  same  specimen  given  by  Cas- 
in,  if  correct,  it  would  indicate  a  bird  of  the  most  anomalous  and  im- 
probable proportions.  Mr.  Casein's  erroneous  conception  of  the  gigantic 
size  of  his  bird  was  doubtless  formed  from  the  length  of  his  specimen, 
which  if  a  flat  or  unfilled  skin,  as  it  probably  was,  must  have  measured 
several  inches  more  than  the  natural  length  of  the  bird.J  While  I  do  not 
'n  the  least  question  the  sincerity  of  Mr.  Cassin's  belief  in  the  large  size 
jf  his  bird,  I  have  felt  it  proper  to  call  the  attention  of  future  investiga- 

*  Zoographia  Rosso-Asiatica,  I,  p.  343. 

t  "  The  bird  which  is  the  subject  of  our  present  article  is  the  largest  and  most  power- 
ful of  the  eagles."  —  Illust.  Birds  Cat.  and  Texas,  p.  32,  first  paragraph.  "Even  the 
famous  condor  of  the  Andes,  the  largest  of  vultures,  scarcely  exceeds  him  in  size," 
etc.  Ibid.,  p.  32,  third  paragraph.  "  The  largest  of  all  known  eagles,  and  nearly  re- 
lated to  IJ.  Washingtoni  (Aud.).  It  differs  from  the  hitter  as  described  by  Audubon  in 
being  generally  larger,"  etc.  Ibid.,  p.  38.  "It  is  the  largest  of  the  eagles  and  ap- 
pears to  be  related  to  the  species  immediately  succeeding"  (77.  Washingtoni).  Ibid., 
p.  110. 

}  Pallas  says  of  his  Aquila  pehgica,  which  Cassin  makes  identical  with  his  II.  pela- 
gicus: •' Caudse  1'  1",  lohgitudo  alae  composite  1",  11",  2'"  ";  which  dimensions  do 
not  indicate  a  bird  larger  than  avarage  examples  of  B.  leucocephalus  or  U.  albialfa. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  337 

tors  of  this  group  to  tins  evident  discrepancy  of  proportions  in  Mr.  Cas- 
sin's  description.  An  error  in  Mr.  Cassin's  figure  also  demands  attention, 
which  is  doubtless  due  to  an  inadvertency  of  the  artist.  This  consists  in 
the  scales  on  the  front  of  the  tarsus  being  arranged  as  Mr.  Cassin  says 
he  never  saw  in  any  rapacious  bird,  namely,  continued  to  the  toes  in 
broad,  unbroken  transverse  plates,  nearly  as  in  Audubon's  figure  of  the  //. 
Washingtoni  ! 

92.*    Polyborus  brasiliensis  Audubon.     Caracara  Eagle.     "  King  Buz- 
zard." 

Milvus  brasiliensis  Pay,  Synop.  Method.  Av.  et  Pise,  17,  No.  6,  1713. 

Circus  brasiliensis  Brisson,  Ornithologie,  I,  116,  No.  31,  1760. 

Falco  brasiliensis  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  262,  1788. 

Falco  tharus  Molina,  Sagg.  sul.  Storni  Nat.  del  Chile,  17S2. 

Polyborus  tharus  Cassin,  Illust.  Birds  of  Cal.  and  Texas,  113,  1856.  —  Cassin, 

Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  45,  1858. 
Polyborus  vulgaris  Vieillot,  Nouv.   Diet.,  V,  257,  1816.  —  Audubon,  Orn. 

Biog.,  II,  350,  pi.  clxi  (young). 
Polyborus  brasiliensis  Audubon,  Synop.,  4,  1839.  —  Bonap.,  Consp.  Gen.  Av., 

13,  1850. 

"  Frequent  at  Enterprise,  associating  with  the  vultures."  —  Boardman. 

The  swallow-tailed  hawk  (Nauclerus  furcatus)  became  more  or  less 
common  early  in  March.  I  also  saw  a  specimen  of  the  Mississippi  kite 
(Ictinia  ?nississippiensis)  at  Hawkinsville,  March  loth. 

STRIGID^J. 

93.     Bubo  virginianus  Sivainson.    Great-horned  Owl. 

Strix  virginiana  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  287,  1788. — Wilson,  Nuttall,  Au- 
dubon. 

Strix  (Bubo)  virginiana  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  82,  183i. 

Bubo  virginianus  Bonaparte,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  6,  1838.  —  Audubon, 
Synop.,  29,  1839  —Cassin,  Illust.  Birds  Cal.  and  Texas,  177,  1854.— 
Cassin,  Baird's  Birds  of  N.  Am.,  1858. 

Strix  bubo,  var.  magellanicus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  286,  1788 

Slrix  pythaules  Bartram,  Travels,  289,  1791. 

Bubo  ludovicianus  Daudin,  Traite'  d'Orn.,  II,  p.  210,  1800. 

Bubo  pinicola  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  51,  1807. 

Strix  (Bubo)  arctica  Swainson,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  II,  86,  pi.  xxx,  1831. 

Bubo  sub-aixticus  Hov,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  VI,  211,  1852. 

Not  apparently  numerous.     Mr.  Boardman  states  that  he  saw  only  a 
=ingle  specimen,  which  was  killed  at  Enterprise.     I  did  not  observe  it 
VOL.  it.  20 


338  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

above  Lake  George,  and  only  heard  its  notes  a  few  times  below.  Mr. 
Maynard  gives  it  as  rather  common  about  Jacksonville,  and  says  he 
frequently  observed  it  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Cassin  has  very  properly  remarked  that  different  specimens  of  this 
widely  distributed  species  vary  materially  in  size  and  color,  and  states  that 
after  having  examined  a  large  number  of  specimens  from  many  localities 
he  believed  that  they  were  all  of  one  species.  lie  thought,  however,  that 
four  leading  varieties,  which  he  called  allanticus,  pacijicus,  arclicus,  and 
magellanicus,  could  be  distinguished.  I  am  not  disposed  to  regard  them, 
however,  as  by  any  means  strictly  geographical,  since  specimens  have  been 
taken  recently  in  Massachusetts  that  typically  represent  each  of  them.* 
While  there  are  doubtless  more  or  less  well-marked  local  forms  of  this 
species,  as  of  all  other  widely  distributed  species,  many  of  the  differences 
on  which  the  different  varieties  have  been  based  are  probably  only  indi- 
vidual. 

94.*     Scops  asio  Bonaparte.     Mottled  Owl. 

Strix  asio  Linne,  Syst.  Nat,  I,  132,  17G7.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V,  83,  pi. 

xliii,  fig.  1,  1812.  —  Audubon,  Nuttall,  etc. 
Scops  asio    Boxaparte,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  6,  1838.  —  Cassin,  Illust. 

Birds  Cal.  and  Texas,  179, 1854.  —Cassin,  Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  51,  1858. 

—  Allen,  Amcr.  Nat.,  IF,  327,  18G8. 
Strix  no?via  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  289,  1788.  —  Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  Ill,  16,  pi. 

xix,  fig.  1,  1812. 
Bul>o  striatus  Vieii.lot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  54,  pi.  xxi,  1807. 
Ephialles  choliba  Lawrence,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  VI,  4,  1854. 
Scops  McCalli  Cassin,  Illust.  Birds  Cal.  and  Texas,  180,  1854.  —  Cassin, 

Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  52,  1858. 
Scops  Kennicotti  Elliot,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1867,  69.  —  Ibid.,  Illust. 

Birds  N.  Am.,  pi.   xi. — Baird,  Trans.   Chicago  Acad.   Sci.,  I,  311,  pi. 

xxvii,  1869. 

Specimens  were  procured  by  Mr.  Maynard,  by  whom,  and  also  by 
Mr.  Boardman,  it  is  reported  as  not  unfrequent. 

The  remarkable  differences  in  the  color  of  the  plumage  this  species 
presents  has  led  many  to  suppose  it  embraced  two  well-marked  species, 
the  reil  stage  being  recognized  as  one  and  the  gray  or  mottled  as  another. 
Gmelin  described  the  red  stage  as  Strix  asio  (which  is  the  same  as  the 
Strix  asio  of  Linne",  and  the  Scops  caro'inensis  of  Brisson)  and  the  gray 
6tage  as  Strix  nmvia.  Wilson  redescribed  these  different  stages  as  distinct 
species.     Bonaparte  was  the  first  to  regard  them  as  identical,  he  believing 

♦  See  Part  III,  p.  189. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  339 

the  differences  in  plumage  to  be  the  result  of  age.*  The  red  he  believed 
to  be  the  young  bird,  and  the  mottled  the  adult,  which  opinion  was  also 
entertained  by  Audubon.  During  the  last  thirty  years,  however,  they  have 
been  by  some  authors  again  regarded  as  distinct  species ;  ■(•  by  others  % 
the  gray  were  regarded  as  the  adult  and  the  red  as  the  young,  while  some 
have  held  the  opinion  that  the  difference  in  color  was  sexual.  A  general 
survey  of  the  facts,  either  on  record  or  known  to  me,  show  that  the  young 
birds  are  sometimes  gray  and  sometimes  red ;  that  red  young  have  some- 
times red  parents  and  sometimes  gray ;  that  the  female  is  sometimes  red  and 
sometimes  gray  ;  and  also  that  both  sexes  of  a  mated  breeding  pair  of  old 
birds  are  sometimes  alike  in  color  and  sometimes  different.  Hence  the 
opinion  already  advanced,  §  that  this  variation  is  dependent  upon  neither  age 
nor  sex,  but  is  simply  a  case  of  irregular  and  somewhat  remarkable  individ- 
ual variation  of  a  single  species,  seems  a  well-founded  one.  But  these  dif- 
ferent stages,  though  usually  so  different,  are  not  always  well  marked,  so  that 
one  is  often  at  a  loss  to  know  whether  to  refer  certain  specimens  to  the  red 
series  or  to  the  gray.  In  other  words,  specimens  occur  of  every  intermediate 
grade  between  the  typically  bright  red  stage  and  the  typically  gray  stage. 
I  have  already  given  my  reasons  for  referring  the  Scops  McCalli  of 
Cassin  to  the  common  S.asio,  of  which  it  is  merely  the  somewhat  smaller 
southern  type.  §  It  is  also  difficult  to  perceive  wherein  the  Scops  Kennicotti 
Elliot,  known  thus  far  from  a  single  specimen,  differs  essentially  from  a 
common  phase  of  S.  asio.\\ 

*  "  Observations  on  the  Nomenclature  of  Wilson's  Ornithology,"  Journ.  Phil.  Acad. 
Nat.  Sci.,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  357, 1824.  —  "  Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  the  United  States," 
Annals  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  II,  p.  36,  1828. 

t  Michner,  Dr.  Ezra,  "A  few  Facts  in  Relation  to  the  Identity  of  the  Red  and 
Mottled  Owls,"  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  VII,  p.  53, 1834.  —  Hoy,  Dr.  P. 
R.,  "Notes  on  the  Ornithology  of  Wisconsin,"  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  VI,  p. 
306,  1853;  Ibid.,  Transact.  Wisconsin  Agr.  Soc,  Vol.  II  (1852),  p.  344,  1853. 

J  Cabot,  Dr.  S.,  Jr.,  "  Observations  on  the  Plumage  of  the  Red  and  Mottled  Owls," 
Journ.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  II,  p.  126,  1838. 

§  Allex,  J.  A.,  "  Notes  on  the  Red  and  Mottled  Owls,"  American  Naturalist,  Vol. 
II,  p.  327,  1868. 

||  Since  the  above  was  written  two  adult  specimens  of  this  species  have  been  received 
at  the  Museum  from  Dallas,  Texas,  one  of  which  is  of  the  mottled  and  the  other  of  the 
red  type  of  plumage.  The  specimen  in  mottled  plumage,  besides  being  generally  darker 
throughout  than  northern  specimens,  has  also  the  dark  markings  broader  and  blacker. 
The  specimen  in  red  plumage  has  the  red  more  intense  than  it  is  in  specimens  of  the 
northern  red  type.  Both  the  Texas  specimens  are  a  little  smaller  than  average  New 
England  specimens. 

1  have  seen  no  specimens  as  yet  from  Florida,  but  from  Mr.  Cassin  having  referred  a 
specimen  from  Indian  River,  (Fla.,)  provisionally  to  his  Scops  McCalli,  they  would  seem 
to  differ  but  little  from  Texas  specimens,  resembling  them,  as  would  be  naturally  ex- 
pected, more  than  northern  ones. 


340 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


95.*    Syrnium  nebulosum  Gray.    Barked  Owl. 

Strix  helmlosa  Forster,  Trans.  London  Philos.  Soc,  LXII,  386,  424,  1772. — 
Wilson,  Am.  On.,  IV,  61,  pi.  xxxiii,  fig.  2, 1812.  —  Audubon,  Orn.  Biog., 
I,  242,  pi.  xlvi,  1832. 

Syrnium  nabulosum  Gould,  Birds  of  Europe,  I,  pi.  xlvi,  1832. — Audubon, 
Synop.,  27,  1839.  — Cassin,  Illustr.  Birds  of  Cal.  and  Texas,  184,  1654.— 
Brewer,  N.  Am.  061.,  I,  72,  1857. —  Cassin,  Band's  Birds  N.  Am.,  56, 
1858. 

Ulula  nebulosa  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1,  1838. — .donap.,  conspect. 
Gen.  Av.,  I,  53,  1851. 

Strix  chichictli  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  296,  1788. 

Strix  acclamator  Bartram,  Travels,  289,  1791. 

Strix  fernandica  ShaW,  Gen.  Zoiil.,  VII,  263,  1809. 

Very  abundant.  The  only  species  of  owl  at  all  common.  Their 
ludicrous  notes  are  heard  at  night  everywhere,  and  not  unfrequently 
during  the  day.  At  night  they  often  startle  the  traveller  by  their 
Strange  utterances  from  the  trees  over  his  head. 

The  four  Florida  specimens  of  this  species  before  me  are  several  shades 
darker  than  New  England  specimens,  one  only  of  a  considerable  series  of 
the  latter  being  as  dark  as  the  lightest-colored  Florida  example.  The 
Florida  specimens  are  also  a  little  smaller  than  the  northern  ones. 

Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Syrnilm:  nebulosum. 


M.C.  Z. 

No. 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 
~~T.  Marcy 
J.  A.  Allen 

Length. 

Alar 
Extent. 

Wing. 

Tail. 

6241 

5242 
6299 

Lake  Dexter 

Enterprise 
Hawkin«ville 

Feb.  14, '69 
Feb.  14, '69 
F-b.  25, '69 
Mar.  15,  "69 

20.00 
20.00 
19.50 
19.75 

45.75 

46.25 
45.75 
46.00 

14  00 
14.00 
13.00 
1325 

8  75 
8.75 
9.00 

96.*    OtUS  brachyotUS  Boie.     Short-eared  Owl. 
Strix  hrachyotus  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat,  I,  2b3,  1788.  —  Forster,  Trans.  Lond. 

Phil.  Soc.,  LXII,  384,  1772.  — Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  IV,  64,  pi.  xxxiii,  fig.  3, 

1812. —Bonap.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  N.  Hist.,  II,  37,  1828. —  Audubon,  Orn. 

Biog.,  V,  373,  pi.  ccccxxxii,  1835.  — Rich.  &  Swain.,  Faun.  Bor.  Am.,  I, 

75,  1831. 
Otus  hrachyotus  Boie,  Isis,  1822,  549.  —Audubon,  Syn.,  28,  1839. —  Cassin, 

Illust.  Birds  Cal.  and  Texas,  182,  1854.  — G.  R.  Gray,  Gen.  of  Birds,  I,  40. 

—  Ibid.,  Cat.  Brit  Birds,  27,  1863. 
Otus  palustris  Brehm,  Viig.  Dcutschl.,  I,  124. 
Brachyotus  palustris  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  7,  1838. 
Brachyotus  Cassmi  Brewer,  Proc.  Bost.   Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  V,  321,   1856. — 

Brewer,  N.  Am.  061.,  1, 68, 1857.  —  Casbin,  Baird's  Birds  N.  Am.,  54, 1858. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE. ZOOLOGY.  341 

"  Quite  common  about  marshes."  —  Boardman. 

Specimens  of  this  bird  from  Europe,  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology,  are  not  appreciably  different  from  others  from  various  parts  of 
the  United  States.  Neither  do  the  habits  of  the  European  bird  appear  to 
differ  from  those  of  the  American,  as  some  have  supposed.  Dr.  Richard- 
son described  its  principal  haunts  in  the  Fur  Countries  as  being  "  dense 
thickets  of  young  pine-trees  or  dark  entangled  willow  clumps,  where  it 
sits  on  a  low  branch,  watching  assiduously  for  mice."  But  it  is  now  well 
known  to  more  commonly  frequent  open  fields  and  savannas,  situations 
similar  to  those  the  European  frequents. 

An  interesting  state  of  plumage  of  this  owl  is  exhibited  by  two  pairs 
taken  on  Muskeget  Island,  Massachusetts,  about  July  1,  1870,  by  Messrs. 
C.  J.  Maynard  and  William  Brewster,  in  which  the  color  is  so  light  as  to 
almost  suggest  their  being  albinos.  They  are  many  shades  lighter  than 
the  specimens  of  this  species  are  from  the  interior,  and  show  clearly,  when 
taken  in  connection  with  the  light  race  of  Arvicola  riparius  (Arvicola 
Breweri  Baird),  also  occurring  on  this  small  sandy  island,  the  effect  of  the 
combined  influence  of  an  absence  of  shade  and  the  increased  light  caused 
by  reflection  from  the  light-colored  sand.  The  influence  of  similar 
circumstances  is  seen  on  a  large  scale  in  the  birds  and  mammals  of  the 
Colorado  desert  and  the  arid  peninsula  of  Lower  California,  and  in  less 
degree  on  the  open  arid  plains  of  the  middle  region  of  the  continent. 

The    long-eared    owl,  Otus   vulgaris    Fleming,*   may  be    expected, 
from  its  known  distribution,  to  also  occur  in  Florida. 

97  *    Strix  flammea  Limit.    Barn  Owl. 

Strix  flummea  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  133,  1767. — "Wilson*,  Nuttall,  Audu- 
bon (Orn.  Biog.),  Bonaparte  (Synop.). 

Strix  pratincola  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  7,  1838.  —  Cassin,  Brewer, 
and  recent  American  authors. 

Strix  americana  Audubon,  Synop.,  25,  1839. 

Strix  perlata  Bonap.,  Consp.  Gen.  Av.,  I,  55,  1850. 

Strix /areata  Temm.,  PI.  Col.,  I,  432. 

A  specimen  was  taken  by   Mr.  Thaxter  at   St.   Augustine.     Mr. 

*  Strix  otus  Linne,  Faun.  Suec,  24,  1761. 

Strix  otus  americana  ct  mexicana  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  288,  1788 

Strix  otus  Wilson,  Bonap.  (Synop.),  Nuttaix,  Audubon  (Orn.  Biog.). 

Olus  vulgaris  Fleming,  Brl  ish  Animals,  60,  1828. —  Audubon,  Synop.,  28, 1839. 

G.  R.  Gray,  Gen   Birds,  T,  40;  Cat-  Brit.  Birds,  26,  1863. 

Otus  Wilsonianui  Lesson,  Traite  d'Orn.,  I,  110, 1831.  —  Cassin,  Brewer,  and  re- 
cent American  authors. 

Otus  americanus  Bonap.,  Geog  and  Cooip.  List,  7,  1835. 


S42  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

Maynard  informs  me  it  was  said  to  be  common,  and  that  at  Dummitt's  a 
hollow  tree  was  shown  him  in  which  a  pair  of  these  birds  had  bred  for 
several  years.     Audubon  also  speaks  of  it  as  being  common  in  Florida. 

Respecting  the  numerous  species  of  late  recognized  in  the  Slrix  flam- 
mea  group  of  owls,  Mr.  Cassin  has,  with  great  propriety,  remarked  that 
naturalists  have  "  established  species  on  very  slender  characters." 

As  is  well  known,  different  specimens  from  near  the  same  locality  vary 
considerably  in  color  and  size,  while  specimens  from  different  continents 
are  frequently  almost  undistinguishable.  From  the  considerable  number 
of  specimens  I  have  seen  from  distant  points,  as  Europe,  the  United 
States,  South  America,  Southern  Asia,  the  West  Indies,  Australia,  and 
South  Africa,  I  see  no  reason  why  the  Slrix  JIammea  may  not  be  regarded 
as  having  a  nearly  cosmopolitan  distribution,  which  indeed  seems  to  be 
the  present  opinion  of  several  European  ornithologists.  Nearly  the  same 
variations  in  color  appear  to  occur  on  each  continent,  the  general  color 
in  specimens  from  near  the  same  locality  varying  from  yellowish  rufous 
to  pale  fulvous,  and  the  dusky  spots  from  being  large  and  conspicuous  to 
nearly  obsolete  or  entirely  wanting. 

COLUMBJJXai. 
98.*    Chamsepelia  passerina  Swainson.    Ground  Dove. 
Common,  especially  about  cultivated  grounds. 

99*    Zensedura  carolinensis  Bonaparte.    Mourning  Dove. 

Columlm.  carolinensis  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  286,  1766.—  Gmelin,  Wilson,  Nut- 
tall,  Audubon  (Orn.  Biog.). 

Columba  marginata  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  286,  1766. 

Ectopistes  margincllus  Woodhouse,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  VI,  104, 
1852. 

Zenrcdura  carolinensis  Bonaparte,  Consp.  Gen.  Avium,  II,  84,  1854. 

Zenccdura  marginellus  Bonapakte,  Ibid.,  85. 

Abundant.  Among  its  favorite  resorts  are  the  wild  orange-groves, 
where  it  feeds  on  the  seeds  of  the  decaying  fruit.  Smaller  than  at  the 
north,  with  the  metallic  tints  much  brighter  and  more  bronzy. 

MELEAGRIDJE. 

100*    Meleagris  gallopavo  Linne.     Wild  Turret. 
Meleagris  galloparo  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  268,  1766. —Gmelin,  Wilson,  Bona- 
parte, Audubon,  Nuttall,  Baird,  etc. 
Meleagris  americana  Bartram,  Travels,  290,  1791. 
Meleagris  syluestris  Vieill ,  Nouv.  Diet.,  IX,  447. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  343 

Mflcngris  /era  Vieiix.,  Gale'rie  des  Ois.,  II,  10,  pi.  x,  1324. 

Meleagris  mexicana  Gould,  Proc.  Lond.  Zool.  Soc,  1856,  61.  —  Baird,  Birds 

N.  Am.,  618,  1858.  —  Coopkr  &  Baird,  Orn.  Cab,  I,  523,  1870. 
Oafhpnvo  sjjlvestris,  Nora  Anc/liie  Bay,  Synopsis,  51,  1713.  —  LeConte,  Proc 

Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  IX,  179,  1857. 

Common  and  even  quite  numerous  in  those  sections  where  it  is  not 
too  much  hunted.  Mr.  Boardman  informs  me  that  very  fat  male  birds 
often  weigh  twenty-five  to  twenty-eight  pounds,  but  that  the  average 
weight  of  the  males  is  eighteen  to  twenty  pounds,  and  of  the  females 
6ix  to  ten  pounds. 

The  Origin  of  the  Domestic  Turkey. 

Although  it  had  been  for  a  long  time  previously  vaguely  conjectured 
that  the  domestic  turkey  did  not  originate  from  the  common  wild  turkey  of 
North  America,  it  was  not  until  about  1856  that  it  was  fully  asserted 
that  such  was  not  its  origin.  In  a  paper  road  before  the  Zoological  So- 
ciety of  London,  in  April,  185G,  Mr.  John  Gould,  the  well-known  English 
ornithologist,  assigned  this  bird  to  the  list  of  those  domesticated  animals 
whose  origin  had  become  involved  in  obscurity.  He  refers,  however,  to 
the  fact  of  its  known  introduction  into  Europe  from  Mexico  about  1524, 
and  to  the  belief,  shared  by  all  naturalists  from  Linne  up  to  that  time,  that 
the  domesticated  turkeyr  was  derived  from  the  wild  turkey  of  North 
America.  He  also  states  that,  "  on  account  of  the  great  differences  which 
are  met  with  among  our  domestic  turkeys,  and  the  circumstance  that  the 
wild  turkeys  recently  imported  from  North  America  not  readily  associating 
or  pairing  with  them,"  he  had  for  some  years  entertained  the  opinion  that 
the  wild  turkey  of  the  United  States  was  not  the  original  of  the  domestic 
turkey.  He  also  at  this  time  described  a  single  specimen  of  a  turkey  from 
Mexico  as  belonging  to  a  species  distinct  from  the  wild  turkey  of  the 
United  States,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Meleagris  mexicana.  It 
differed,  however,  but  slightly  from  the  northern  bird,  mainly  in  having 
more  white  on  the  upper  tail  coverts.  Although  he  claimed  that  it 
was  of  larger  size,  his  measurements  indicate  it  to  be  only  barely 
above  the  average,  and  considerably  smaller  than  the  larger  speci- 
mens from  the  Northern  States.  In  considering  it  as  distinct  from  the 
common  wild  turkey,  he  seems  to  have  been  greatly  influenced  by  the  lo- 
cality whence  his  specimen  came ;  as  he  states  that  he  hardly  thinks  it  prob- 
able that  the  common  turkey,  "  authors  to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding," 
ranges  very  far  into  Mexico,  since  it  is  found,  he  says,  along  the  southern 
boundary  of  Canada,  which  is  nearly  two  thousand  miles  from  Mexico. 
He  deems  it  unlikely  that  a  bird  inhabiting  "  the  cold  regions  of  Canada 


344  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

should  also  be  indigenous  to  the  hotter  country  of  Mexico,  ■whence,"  he 
adds,  "  and  not  from  North  America,  the  turkey  was  originally  introduced 
into  Europe  "  ;  thus  leaving  it  to  be  inferred  that,  in  his  opinion,  the  Mexi- 
can bird  —  bis  new  species  —  was  the  ancestor  of  the  domestic  turkey. 
The  facts  in  respect  to  the  distribution  of  the  wild  turkey  are  briefly 
these  :  It  exists  in  Canada  only  in  the  warmer  portions  of  that  country, 
and  thence  southward  uninterruptedly  throughout  the  table-lands  of 
Mexico. 

Dr.  Henry  Bryant,  of  Boston,  in  reviewing  Mr.  Gould's  paper,  a  few 
months  after  its  appearance,  took  exceptions  to  the  views  of  that  gentle- 
man, and  in  referring  to  the  two  principal  statements  made  by  Mr.  Gould, 
namely,  that  the  wild  and  domestic  turkeys  were  structurally  different,  and 
refused  to  breed  together,  Dr.  Bryant  thus  observes :  "  How  far  climate 
and  other  influences  may  have  affected  the  domestic  variety  in  England 
I  do  not  yet  know,  but  with  us  neither  of  these  two  statements  is  correct. 
If  it  were  not  for  the  difference  in  the  plumage  it  would  be  impossible  in 
many  cases  to  distinguish  the  two  birds  ;  and  even  with  this  aid  it  is  some- 
times very  difficult   to   decide    with   certainty  when   the  specimen  is  a 

female The   wild  turkey  breeds  here   with  the  tame  variety  quite 

as  readily  as  could  be  expected  ;  wherever  the  wild  turkeys  are  numerous, 
it  is  an  ordinary  occurrence  for  the  tame  hen  to  prefer  the  wild  gobbler  to 
the  domestic  ones.  I  have  had  in  my  own  possession  wild  hens  that  bred 
with  the  tame  gobblers,  —  a  fact  much  stranger  than  that  of  the  wild  gob- 
bler breeding  with  the  tame  ben.  But  the  most  satisfactory  proof  of  their 
specific  identity  is  that  the  offspring  of  mixed  blood  is  known  to  be  har- 
dier and  more  prolific  than  the  domestic  variety,  —  a  fact  which  cannot 
be  reconciled  with  their  specific  diversity."* 

Dr.  Bryant's  facts,  with  those  of  previous  writers,  seem  amply  sufficient 
to  settle  the  question  as  to  the  origin  of  the  domestic  turkey  ;  yet  a  few 
months  later  Major  John  EeConte,  who  probably  at  that  time  had  not 
seen  Dr.  Bryant's  remarks,  published  a  paper  entitled  "  Observa- 
tions on  the  Wild  Turkey,  or  GaUopavo  syloestris  of  Ilay."f  In  this 
paper  he  took  the  ground  that  the  tame  turkey  could  not  possibly  have 
been  derived  from  the  wild  turkey  of  the  United  States.  And,  if  what  he 
states  in  support  of  his  opinion  as  facts  were  such,  they  would  go  far 
towards  rendering  his  position  a  tenable  one,  but  in  reality  they  are  but 
baseless,  dogmatic  assumptions,  which  not  only  ran  counter  to  the  then 
generally  received  opinion,  but  were  squarely  opposed  to  unquestionable 
evidence  already  on   record.     Major  LeConte's  opinions,  notwithstanding 

*  Proc.  Bost  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  158,  March,  1857. 

t  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  IX,  p.  179,  September,  1857. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  345 

that  they  were  based  on  groundless  assumptions,  as  an  investigation  of 
the  subject  fully  proves,  have  been  so  generally  entertained  by  subsequent 
authors,  who  have  accepted  his  statements  without  investigating  the 
facts  for  themselves,  that  a  careful  revision  of  the  subject  is  now 
required.  Major  LeConte  observes  :  "  Whoever  has  compared  the  wild 
turkey  of  the  United  States  with  the  domestic  animal  of  the  same  genus 
must  have  observed  that  there  existed  very  striking  differences  between 
them."  While  asserting  that  "'these  differences  do  not  consist  of  slight  and 
unimportant  particularities,  but  in  radical  disagreements,  which  ought  to 
remain  unchangeable  under  all  circumstances,  and  which  form  good  spe- 
cific characteristics,"  his  sole  point  of  distinction  consists  "in  the  posses- 
sion by  the  tame  bird  of  an  enormous  palear  or  dewlap,"  which  he  affirms, 
contrary  to  fact,  is  not  possessed  by  the  wild  bird.  *  He  refers  also  to 
the  conviction  that  had  long  existed  in  his  mind,  that  the  two  birds  —  the 
wild  and  domestic  —  "were  really  distinct  species."  "More  than  fifty 
years  ago,"  he  says,  "  when  I  first  saw  a  wild  turkey,  I  was  led  to  con- 
clude that  one  never  could  have  been  produced  from  the  other.  I  have 
mentioned  this  to  many  ornithologists,  but  no  one  would  take  the  trouble 
to  investigate  the  matter  [!],"  etc.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that 
even  with  him  this  long-standing  conviction  had  resulted  from  a  thorough 
investigation  of  the  subject,  for  he  gives  no  detailed  comparison  of  the  two, 
and  many  of  his  statements  are  not  simply  erroneous,  but  diametrically 
opposed  to  facts  previoudy  well  substantiated.  He  refers  to  the  early  in- 
troduction of  the  turkey  into  Europe,  and  to  the  fact  that  it  was  found  by 
the  first  explorers  of  America  in  both  the  wild  and  domesticated  state. 
He  alludes  also  to  Mr.  Gould's  above-cited  paper,  remarking  respecting  it 
that  he  was  unable  to  determine  whether  Mr.  Gould's  supposed  new  Mexi- 
can species  was  the  same  as  the  M.  gallopavo,  or  was  the  original  of  the 
domestic  bird.  He  thought,  however,  that  the  Mexican  was  identical  with 
the  common  wild  bird.  He  then  remarks  :  "  I  have  before  observed  that 
the  turkey  was  found  domesticated  among  the  nations  of  Central  America. 
Now  the  bird  which  ice  hare  native  among  us  has  never  been  domesticated. 
All  attempts  to  conquer  its  peculiar  habits  have  failed,  nolwi'hslanding  what 
has  been  said  and  written  on  the  subject  to  the  contrary.     I  defy  axy  oxe 

TO    SHOW    A    TURKEY,    EVEN    OF    THE    FIRST    GEXERATIOX,    PRODUCED 

from  A  pair  hatched  from  A  wild  HEX.f  We  have  every  year 
in  our  market  offered  for  sale  birds  of  a  very  dark  color,  and  in 
some  degree  resembling  the  wild  species ;  but  in  every  instance, 
by   the   presence   of  the   palear,    the    imposition    can    be    detected    at 

*  It  is  usually,  however,  either  entirely  absent  in  the  wild  bird,  or  present  only  in  a 
rudimentary  state. 

t  The  italicizing  in  this  extract  is  of  course  my  own. 


346  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

first  sight,  and  the  cheat  exposed.  I  have  known  the  eggs  found  in 
the  woods  hatched  hy  a  domestic  hen,  the  chickens  brought  up  carefully, 
and  rendered  so  tame  and  familiar  as  to  eat  out  of  the  hand,  and  to 
show  considerable  pleasure  whenever  persons  with  whom  they  were  ac- 
quainted approached  them.  Yet  they  never  would  associate  icith  the  domes- 
tic turkeys,  studiously  avoiding  their  company,  and  in  little  more  than  a  year 
running  oil' to  the  woods,  and  never  again  returning  to  the  haunts  of  their 
infancy.  /  knoiv,"  he  continues,  "that  I  shall  be  contradicted  in  this 
statement,  and  many  quotations  from  authors  brought  forward  against  me.  I 
repeat,  contrary  to  the  assertions  of  many  others,  that  no  one  has  ever 

SUCCEEDED   IX    DOMESTICATING   OUR  WILD  TURKEY.      I   Speak    not   Only 

from  my  own  personal  observations,  but  from  the  undivided  testimony  of 
many  southern  gentlemen.  The  turkey  of  our  own  poultry-yards,  which, 
when  young,  is  difficult  to  bring  forward,  it  was  thought  might  be  obtained 
of  a  hardier  race  by  a  new  domestication  ;  but  every  attempt  has  failed, 
nor  can  I  find  a  single  well-authenticated  case  of  a  mixed  breed  being 
obtained."  One  is  certainly  at  a  loss  to  know  what  the  self-confident 
Major  would  call  a  well-authenticated  case  of  a  mixed  breed  of  wild  and 
tame  turkeys,  since  he  must  have  been  familiar  with  Bonaparte's  excellent 
account,  derived  mainly  from  notes  furnished  him  by  Mr.  Audubon,  of 
this  bird  given  in  the  first  volume  of  his  continuation  of  Wilson's  "  Ameri- 
can Ornithology."  In  sneaking  of  the  mixing  of  the  wild  and  tame  tur- 
keys, this  author  remarks  as  follows  :  "  This  crossing  often  occurs  in  coun- 
*ies  where  wild  and  tame  turkeys  are  frequent  ;  it  is  well  known  that  they 
,vill  readily  approach  each  other  ;  and  such  is  the  influence  of  slavery 
upon  even  the  turkey,  that  the  robust  inhabitant  of  the  forest  will  drive 
his  degenerate  kinsfolk  from  their  own  food  and  from  their  females,  being 
generally  welcomed  by  the  latter  and  by  their  owners,  who  well  know  the 

advantage  of  such  a  connection Eggs  of  the  wild  turkey  have  been 

frequently  taken  from  their  nests  and  hatched  under  the  tame  hen  ;  the 
young  preserve  a  portion  of  their  uncivilized  nature,  and  exhibit  some 
knowledge  of  the  difference  between  themselves  and  their  foster-mother, 
roosting  apart  from  the  tame  ones,  and  in  other  respects  showing  the  force 
of  hereditary  disposition.  The  domesticated  young,  reared  from  the  eggs 
of  the  wild  turkey,  are  often  employed  as  decoy  birds  to  those  in  a  state  of 
nature."  * 

Audubon,  in  his  account  of  the  Canada  goose,  also  incidentally  refers 
to  the  crossing  of  the  wild  and  tame  turkeys,  in  a  manner  tint  leads 
US  to  suppose  that  it  was  to  bis  knowledge  a  matter  of  common  oc- 
currence,    lie  says  :  "  The  crossing  of  the  Canada  goose  with  the  com- 

*  Nearly  the  same  words  are  used  by  Audubon  in  his  Ornithological  Biography  and 
in  his  Birds  of  America. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOULOGY.  S47 

men  domestic  species  has  proved  as  advantageous  as  that  of  the  wild  with 
the  tame  turkey."*  He  also  states,  "  My  friend,  Dr.  Bachman,  assures 
me  that  in  a  state  of  domestication  the  wild  turkeys,  though  kept  separate 
from  tame  individuals,  lose  the  brilliancy  of  their  plumage  in  the  third 
generation,  becoming  plain  brown,  and  having  here  and  there  white 
feathers  intermixed  "  f 

The  assertions  of  Major  LeConte  are  so  fully  controverted  by  pre- 
viously recorded  testimony  that  they  might  have  been  justly  ignored, 
had  they  not  received,  as  already  observed,  the  sanction  of  eminent 
authorities,  and  thus  have  come  to  be  more  or  less  currently  adopted. 
Among  the  first  to  give  them  support  was  Professor  Baird,  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution.  This  gentleman,  in  his  work  on  the  "  Birds  of  North 
America,"  published  less  than  two  years  subsequently  to  Major  LeConte's 
paper,  cites  LeConte's  opinions  and  statements,  and  partially  indorses  them, 
though  he  had  not,  he  says,  specimens  at  hand  of  the  domestic  bird  for 
comparison  with  the  wild  one.  To  the  data  for  their  distinction  adduced 
by  Major  LeConte,  he  adds  a  statement  from  Bonaparte  in  respect  to  the 
difference  in  color  between  the  domestic  and  wild  bird  ;  Bonaparte  ob- 
serving that  the  wild  bird  never  has  the  whitish  tip  to  the  tail  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  domestic  ones.  Professor  Baird  also  adds  that  the  flesh  of  the 
two  differs  in  color,  that  of  the  wild  bird  being  "  much  dai-ker."  He  adds 
that,  upon  the  whole,  it  is  exceedingly  probable  that  they  are  specifically 
distinct.  "  If  the  dewlap,"  he  says,  "  be  characteristic  of  a  species  at 
present  only  known  in  captivity,  then,  as  Major  LeConte  remarks,  it 
should  bear  the  name  of  M.  gallopavo,  as  based  by  Linnams  essentially  upon 
the  description  by  Brisson  of  Gallopavo  sylvestris,  in  which  this  dewlap  is 
particularly  mentioned.  In  this  event  our  wild  bird  will  be  entitled  to  a 
new  name,"  etc.  Professor  Baird  concludes  his  remarks  on  this  subject  with 
the  following  ingenious  theory,  which  has  been  to  some  extent  accepted  as 
a  probably  correct  one.  "  In  conclusion,"  he  says,  "  I  venture  to  suggest 
the  following  hypothesis,  which,  however,  is  not  original  with  myself: 
That  there  are  really  three  species  of  turkey,  besides  the  M.  ocellata,  a 
fourth  species  from  Central  America,  entirely  different  from  the  rest. 
That  one  of  them,  M.  americana,  is  probably  peculiar  to  the  eastern  half 
of  North  America  ;  another,  HI.  mexicana,  belongs  to  Mexico,  and  extends 
along  the  table-lands  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  Gila,  and  the  Llano 
Estacado;  and  a  third  is  the  M.  gallopavo,  or  domesticated  bird.  That  it 
is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  last  was  originally  indigenous  to  some 
one  or  more  of  the  West  Indian  Islands,  whence  it  was  transplanted  as 
tamed  to  Mexico,  and  from  Mexico  taken  to  Europe  about  a.  d.  1520. 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  VI,  p.  190. 
t  Ibid.,  Vol.  V,  p.  55. 


348  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

Finally,  that  the  wild  turkeys  were  probably  completely  exterminated  by 
the  native?,  as  has  been  the  case  with  equally  large  birds  in  other  islands, 
as  the  dodo  and  solitaire.*  Tins  hypothesis,"  he  continues,  "  will  ex- 
plain the  fact  of  our  meeting  nowhere  at  the  present  day  any  wild  turkeys 
resembling  the  domestic  one.  f  ....  The  entire  subject  is  one  of  much 
interest,  and  deserves  to  be  investigated  thoroughly.  It  is  quite  possible 
that  a  careful  examination  of  the  external  form  and  habits  of  the  New 
Mexican  bird  may  do  much  to  throw  full  light  on  the  whole  question." 

It  is  not  surprising  that  a  theory  presenting  to  the  imagination  so  many 
attractive  features,  and  indorsed  by  authority  so  eminent,  should  have 
been  currently  received,  as  has  this,  by  those  who  have  not  had  the  oppor- 
tunity, nor  perhaps  the  desire,  to  examine  the  subject  for  themselves.  But, 
if  I  mistake  not,  it  has  also  been  accepted  as  at  least  a  probably  correct 
hypothesis  by  many  ornithologists.^  I  have,  however,  already  adduced 
evidence  from  Bonaparte,  Bachman,  Audubon,  and  Bryant  sufficient  to 
show,  not  only  the  erroneous  character  of  Major  LeConte's  fundamental 
proposition,  to  wit,  that  the  wild  turkey  of  the  United  States  has  never 
been  and  never  can  be  .domesticated,  but  that  such  an  hypothesis  as  the 
one  above  quoted  is  wholly  uncalled  for.  As  the  whole  question  of  the 
origin  of  the  domestic  turkey  and  its  relationship  to  the  wild  turkey  of  the 
United  States  turns,  however,  upon  the  fact  of  the  domesticability  or  non- 
domesticability  of  the  common  wild  turkey,  it  may  perhaps  be  proper  to 
bring  forward  some  recent  testimony  respecting  this  disputed  point. 

I  have  myself  always  been  more  or  less  familiar  with  the  domestic  bird, 
and  with  the  fact  that  breeds  exist  which  closely  resemble  the  wild  bird, 
and  which  their  owners  claimed  were  one  fourth,  one  half,  or  one  eighth 

*  Mr.  Darwin,  in  referring  to  this  gratuitous  theory,  refers  to  the  fact  of  the  de- 
terioration of  the  turkey  within  the  tropics,  and  very  properly  to  the  "  improbability  of 
a  bird  having  long  ago  become  extinct  in  these  large  and  luxuriant  islands,  or  of  its 
ever  having  been  aboriginally  an  inhabitant  of  the  lowlands  of  the  tropics."  (Animals 
and  Plants  under  Domestication,  Am.  ed.,  Vol.  I,  p.  303,  note.) 

t  But  does  it  explain  the  frequent  occurrence  of  domestic  ones  so  closely  resembling 
the  wild  ones  as  to  be  quite  undistinguishable  from  them? 

t  Dr.  Cooper,  who  considers  the  western  wild  turkey  specifically  distinct  from  the 
wild  turkey  of  the  cast,  appears  to  believe  that  the  domestic  turkey  originated  from  the 
wild  turk,ey  of  Mexico.  He  says:  "  It  is  well  known  that  at  the  period  of  the  Spanish 
discovery  the.  native  turkey  was  widely  domesticated  in  Mexico,  and  was  introduced 
thence  first  into  Europe,  and  thence  into  North  America.  Furthermore,  the  native  bird 
of  Eastern  North  America  does  not  occur  in  Mexico  at  all.  The  markings  of  the  do- 
mestic turkey  are  sometimes  exactly  like  those  of  the  wild  bird  of  Mexico,  while  they 
never  assume  the  plumage  of  the  wild  Meleagris  gallopavo  of  the  north."  (Orn. 
Cab,  Vol.  I,  p.  523,  1870.)  Dr.  Cooper's  last  remark  is  unfortunately  erroneous,  since 
domestic  birds  do  often  occur,  especially  females,  that  cannot  well  be  distinguished 
from  wild  northern  birds. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  349 

wild  blood,  as  the  case  might  be,  and  which  differed  in  habits  in  some  re- 
spects from  the  common  breeds.  I  have  also  been  long  conversant  with 
the  fact  that  in  the  Western  States,  and  in  those  other  parts  of  the  coun- 
try where  the  turkey  exists  in  its  native  state,  that  fhe  eggs  of  the  wild 
bird  are  frequently  taken  and  hatched  under  the  domesticated  turkey,  the 
young  carefully  raised  and  held  at  high  prices,  they  being  considered  as 
highly  valuable  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  domestic  breeds.  In  a 
recent  correspondence  with  Mr.  D.  Darwin  Hughes,  an  able  ornitholo- 
gist of  Marshall,  Michigan,  I  alluded  to  the  fact  that  the  domestication 
of  the  wild  bird  had  been  disputed,  and  requested  him  to  give  me  any 
facts  he  might  possess  in  reference  to  the  subject.  The  facts  given  in  the 
following  extracts  from  his  letters  are  fully  co-roborated  by  other  private 
testimony  in  my  possession. 

Under  date  of  October  25,  1869,  he  wrote  me  respecting  the  domes- 
tication of  the  wild  bird  as  follows  :  "  Here  [Calhoun  County,  Michigan], 
where  the  wild  bird  is  abundant,  they  mix  freely  with  the  tame  ones,  and 
it  is  a  common  thing  to  see  large  flocks  of  half-breeds  ;  I  have  owned  them 
myself.  They  are  fond  of  roaming  and  are  apt  to  stray ;  not  to  the  woods 
exclusively,  but  also  to  other  farms.  I  have  known  the  pure  wild  bird, 
hatched  from  wild  eggs  and  raised  in  the  poultry-yard,  to  remain  for  years 
in  the  yard  without  being  confined  ;  but  this  is  not  usual.  One  fine  gob- 
bler, as  beautiful  a  bird  as  I  ever  saw,  was  hatched  from  a  wild  eg£  and 
headed  a  flock  of  mixed  turkeys  in  a  barn-yard.  He  was  tame,  like  the 
others,  but  easily  distinguished  by  his  wild  plumage ;  at  night  the  flock 
roosted  in  the  yard,  but  this  bird  could  not  brook  so  low  a  perch,  and 
when  the  flock  went  to  roost  he  invariably  took  wing  and  perched  on  an 
immense  forest-tree  one  fourth  of  a  mile  away,  where  he  spent  the  night ; 
but  in  the  morning  he  always  returned  to  the  barn-yard.  Such  instances 
are  not  uncommon.  The  eggs  are  eagerly  sought  for  for  hatching,  and  in 
this  manner,  as  I  have  belbre  said,  there  is  a  liberal  sprinkling  of  wild 
blood  in  domestic  birds,  where  the  wild  birds  are  abundant.  The  eggs  of 
the  wild  bird  are  found  every  year,  and  although  I  have  offered  at  the 
rate  of  six  to  eight  dollars  per  dozen  for  them,  there  is  not  one  in  my  col- 
lection of  eggs,  which  numbers  over  two  hundred  species,  so  eager  are  the 
finders  of  them  to  hatch  them,  the  chicks  selling  for  a  large  price." 

In  another  letter,  dated  November  5,  1869,  Mr.  Hughes  wrote  me 
further  concerning  this  subject,  in  which  he  remarks  as  follows  :  "  I  have 
already  said  that  the  wild  bird  has  been  so  domesticated  as  to  reproduce 
its  kind  in  the  poultry-yard,  and  inquiries  made  since  my  last  letter  show 
that  in  the  more  northern  counties  of  the  State  such  cases  are  quite  com- 
mon. I  cannot  agree  with  what  is  said  in  the  ninth  volume  of  the  Pacific 
Railroad  Reports  (p.  617),  that  there  is  an  appreciable  difference  in  the 


350  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

color  of  the  flesh  of  the  wild  and  tame  birds  when  cooked.  There  prob- 
ably is  some  difference  in  color,  but  so  little  that  one  must  have  very  acute 
powers  of  observation  to  tell  the  difference  when  brought  to  the  table 
roasted.  There  'is  a  difference  in  the  color  of  the  head,  caruncles,  and 
dewlaps,  as  stated  by  Professor  Baird,  but  with  my  present  means  of 
knowledge,  having  no  fresh  specimens  before  me,  I  will  not  undertake  to 
describe  the  differences.  One  thing,  however,  should  not  be  forgotten  ; 
that  we  see  the  tame  bird  under  all  circumstances  of  passion,  —  in  fear 
and  when  proudly  strutting ;  in  short,  under  all  the  different  emotions 
that  turkeys  are  heirs  to,  while  we  rarely  or  never  see  the  wild  turkey 
under  such  varied  circumstances,  but  only  when  they  are  terror-stricken 
or  dead.  The  head  and  neck  in  the  tame  bird  makes  rapid  and  surprising 
changes  in  sympathy  with  its  emotions,  and  it  may  be  so,  and  probably  is, 
with  the  wild." 

From  the  evidence  that  has  now  been  given,  it  is  sufficiently  apparent 
that  Major  LeConte's  two  fundamental  assumptions,  —  first,  that  the  wild 
bird  will  not  mix  or  breed  with  the  domesticated  ;  and,  second,  that  the  wild 
bird  never  has  been  and  cannot  be  domesticated,  —  upon  which  was 
erected  an  hypothesis  to  explain  the  origin  of  the  domesticated  bird  by 
referring  it  to  an  extinct  ancestor  that  probably  inhabited  some  of  the 
"West  Indian  Islands,  are  entirely  groundless,  and  never  had  for  their  sup- 
port only  the  negative  evidence  afforded  by  the  limited  experience  of 
Major  LeConte  and  a  few  of  his  friends. 

Inasmuch  as  the  domestic  turkey  was  first  introduced  into  Europe  from 
Mexico,  it  may  be  well  in  this  connection  to  inquire  further  into  the  rela- 
tionship of  the  so-called  M.  mexicana,  or  Mexican  turkey,  to  the  wild 
turkey  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States.  As  already  stated,  the 
M.  mexicana  was  originally  described  by  Mr.  Gould  from  a  single  specimen 
from  Mexico.  This  specimen  differs  but  slightly  from  the  common  wild 
turkey  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  continent.  But  like  many  other  merely 
nominal  species,  this  "  Mexican  turkey"  has  been  since  generally  recognized 
by  writers  on  American  ornithology,  doubtless  mainly  because  its  describer 
was  deemed  too  eminent  a  naturalist  to  be  mistaken  on  such  a  point.  Its 
habitat  has  been  since  extended  to  embrace  half  of  that  portion  of  the 
continent  over  which  the  wild  turkey  ranges,  —  the  entire  western  half  of 
the  United  States:  yet  the  point  at  which  the  habitat  of  the  eastern 
species  ceases  and  that  of  the  western  begins,  no  one  has  yet  ventured  to 
attempt  to  definitely  indicate.  It  is  universally  conceded  to  be  exceed- 
ingly closely  allied  to  the  .1/.  gallopavo,  as  the  latter  is  now  defined. 
Though  admitted  provisionally  as  a  valid  species  by  Professor  Baird  in 
his  work  already  cited,  he  says  that  "  whether  these  differences  can  be 
considered  as  establishing  a  second   species  for  the   United  States  is  a 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  351 

question  yet  to  be  decided."  Dr.  Coues,  however,  in  his  "  List  of  the 
Birds  of  Fort  Whipple,  Arizona,"  *  says  he  thinks  there  can  be  no  doubt 
respecting  the  propriety  of  separating  the  "  western  turkey  from  the  com- 
mon species  of  the  Eastern  United  States";  but  he  has  given  us  no  infor- 
mation as  to  how  great  the  differences  between  them  are,  or  in  what  they 
consist.  As  mentioned  by  Gould  and  by  Baird,  the  Mexican  bird  differs 
from  the  eastern  one  only  in  being  lighter  colored,  and  in  having,  in 
correlation  with  the  generally  lighter  color  of  the  plumage,  the  terminal 
band  of  the  tail,  as  also  the  tips  of  the  tail  coverts,  whitish  instead  of  pale 
brown,  as  the  eastern  bird  usually  has  them.  This,  however,  seems  by  no 
means  necessarily  a  specific  difference,  it  being  only  a  slight  geographical 
variation,  not  restricted  to  the  turkey,  but  which  runs  through  most  spe- 
cies of  both  birds  and  mammals  that  have  the  same  distribution  ;  the 
probable  cause  of  which  variation  I  have  already  adverted  to  in  Part  III. 
The  common  eastern  turkey  occasionally  approaches  much  nearer  to  the 
so-called  Mexican  bird  than  appears  to  be  generally  supposed.  According 
to  some  authors,  the  tip  of  the  tail  in  M.  gallopavo  is  never  whitish,  but 
"  plain  chestnut,  lighter  than  the  ground  color  "  of  the  tail.  Yet  of  five 
specimens  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  from  one  of  the  West- 
ern States,  probably  either  Ohio  or  Michigan,  two  correspond  with  the 
description  of  the  assumed  typical  M.  gallopavo,  two  very  nearly  as  well 
with  that  of  the  so-called  M.  mexlcana,  and  one  is  intermediate  between 
them.  Three  of  them  are  decidedly  lighter  colored,  and  possess  a  lighter 
terminal  band  to  the  tail  than  they  should  to  correspond  with  the  true  M. 
gallopavo  as  recently  defined.  I  have,  on  the  whole,  no  hesitancy  in  refer- 
ring the  .1/.  mexicana  Gould  to  the  M.  gallopavo  Linne.  The  unquestionable 
specific  identity  of  the  domestic  turkey  with  the  wild  one  of  the  Eastern 
United  States,  though  originally  derived  from  the  Mexican  bird,  seems 
further  to  support  this  view.  From  the  great  constancy  of  the  white  on 
the  tail  and  its  coverts  in  the  domestic  turkey,  it  has  been  thought  to  more 
resemble  the  western  bird,  or  the  M.  mexicana,  than  the  eastern.  I  need, 
however,  only  to  recall  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Bachman,  already  given  in 
discussing  another  point,  to  show  that  it  has  necessarily  no  such  signifi- 
cance. It  will  be  remembered  that  Dr.  Bachman  states  that  he  had 
known  the  wild  birds  of  the  Atlantic  States,  when  kept  entirely  by  them- 
selves, to  become  more  or  less  white  under  confinement  in  three  genera- 
tions.f  Instead  of  this  being  either  a  "  reversion  "  or  a  distinctive  specific 
feature,  it  can  be  regarded  only  as  the  result  of  a  diminution  of  the  color- 
ing matter  through  degeneracy,  under  the  influences  of  domestication. 

*  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  XVIII,  p.  93,  1866.  Republished  under  the  title 
of  "  Prodrome  of  a  Work  on  the  Ornithology  of  Arizona  Territory." 

t  Mr.  Darwin  mentions  a  similar  fact  as  having  happened  iu  England.  (Animals  and 
Plants  under  Domestication,  Vol.  I,  p.  354). 


352  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

As  the  whole  plumage  becomes  lighter,  those  portions  that  are  naturally 
lightest  are  those  we  should  expecl  would  soonest  become  white;  and 
such  is  actually  the  case.  Under  domestication  the  turkey  not  only  de- 
generates in  size  and  hardiness,  but  is  well  known  to  soon  lose  much  of 
the  brilliancy  of  plumage  that  characterizes  it  in  a  state  of  nature.  In  a 
few  generations  it  loses  to  a  great  extent  its  metallic  tints,  and  becomes 
much  lighter  colored ;  the  terminal  band  of  the  tail,  as  well  as  its  coverts, 
changes  to  white,  and  in  succeeding  generations  the  cream-colored  and 
pure  white  birds  often  seen  in  our  poultry-yards  are  gradually  developed. 
The  fact  of  the  domestic  turkey  having  been  first  introduced  into 
Europe  from  Mexico,  and  into  the  United  States  from  Europe,  admits  of 
easy  explanation  ;  since  the  advanced  state  of  civilization  enjoyed  by  the 
native  Mexicans  had  enabled  them  to  domesticate  the  turkey,  while  their 
more  degraded  neighbors  of  the  north  had  accomplished  nothing  of  the 
kind.  The  turkey  having  been  introduced  into  Europe  nearly  a  century 
before  the  establishment  of  permanent  settlements  in  the  northern  portions 
of  the  continent,  it  was,  of  course,  as  naturally  introduced  thence  into  this 
country  as  were  our  other  domesticated  animals. 

PERDICID^E. 
101*    Ortyx  virginianus  Bonaparte.    Qdail. 
Tetrao  virginianus  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  277,  1766. 
Titrao  marilandicus  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  277,  1766. 
Ortyx  borealis  STEPHENS,  Shaw's  Zoul.,  XI,  377,  1819. 
Perdix  [Ortyx)  virginiana  Bonap.,  Obs.  on  Wils.  Nomcn.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad. 

Nat.  Sri.,  1st  Scr.,  IV,  268,  1825. 
Ortyx  virginianus  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  640,  1838.  —  March,  "Notes  on 

Birds  of  Jamaica,"  Proc.  Phil.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  XV,  303,  1863. 
Ortyx  texanus  Lawrence,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  VI,  1,  1853.  —  Baird, 
Birds  N.   Amcr.,  641,  1858. 
Abundant. 

The  quails  of  Florida  differ  from  those  of  the  Northern  States  in  being 
smaller,  larger  billed,  and  darker  colored.  While  the  difference  in  size  is 
very  appreciable,  as  is  also  that  in  respect  to  the  size  of  the  bill,  —  the  bill 
being  actually  larger  while  there  is  a  general  decrease  in  the  size  of  the 
individual,  —  the  most  marked  dissimilarity  is  in  the  coloration,  through 
tin'  darker  color  of  the  Florida  birds.  In  the  latter  the  ground  color 
above  i-  nitons  instead  of  ashen,  as  in  northern  specimens,  and  the  trans- 
verse  black  markings  are  broader.  In  average  northern  specimens  the 
transverse  black  bars  on  the  lower  surface  of  (he  body  are  scarcely  half 
the  breadth  of  the  intervening  white  spaces;  in  the  Florida  specimens 
they  are  much  mure  than  half,  and  in  some  cases  nearly  equal  them.     In 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


353 


general  the  proportion  of  black  in  the  Florida  fernales  is  the  same  as  that 
in  the  northern  males.  There  is  a  similar  relative  increase  in  the  extent 
of  the  black  markings  on  the  wing  coverts,  scapulars,  and  interscapulars, 
and  on  the  dorsal  surface  generally.  The  black  bonier  to  the  white  throat- 
patch  is  also  broader,  and  extends  back  on  the  sides  of  the  head  so  as  usu- 
ally to  cover  the  auriculars,  which  in  average  northern  specimens  are  dark 
rufous.  The  bill  is  also  much  darker,  being  generally  jet  black  ;  in 
Massachusetts  specimens  it  is  brownish  black,  with  the  tip  decidedly 
lighter  than  the  other  parts. 

The  so-called  Texas  quail  (Ortyx  texanus  Lawr.)  does  not  differ  very 
greatly  from  either  the  Florida  or  the  northern  ones,  it  combining  some 
of  the  essential  characters  of  each,  but  more  resembling  Florida  speci- 
mens than  northern  ones.  Lawrence  and  Baird  mention  the  ashen  or 
decided  gray  hue  on  portions  of  the  dorsal  surface  as  distinguishing  it 
from  the  0.  virginianus,  which  has  these  parts  of  a  "dull  pinkish  red." 
"  A  dull  pinkish  red,"  however,  is  just  the  color  of  these  parts  in  my 
Florida  specimens  ;  but  the  Massachusetts  specimens,  on  the  contrary,  are 
ashen,  as  already  stated,  and  in  this  respect  agree  with  the  descriptions 
of  the  Texas  form,  and  differ  from  the  Florida  ones  in  the  same  way  that 
the  Texas  ones  are  said  to  do  from  those  of  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the 
Middle  and  Southern  States.  In  both  the  Florida  and  Texas  specimens 
there  is  a  similar  increase  in  the  breadth  of  the  black  transverse  mark- 
ings, Lawrence  describing  them  as  being  twice  as  broad  in  the  Texas 
specimens  as  in  the  northern  ones. 

The  Ortyx  cubanensis  of  Cabanis  appears  scarcely  to  differ  from  the 
quails  of  Florida  and  Texas.  D'Orbigny  and  Lembeye  were  hence  doubt- 
less correct  in  believing  the  so-called  Ortyx  cubanensis  to  be  identical  with 
the  0.  virginianus. 

The  following  summary  of  the  subjoined  tables  shows  the  difference  in 
size  that  obtains  between  northern  and  southern  specimens,  and  also  in 
the  sexes.  The  largest  Florida  specimen,  it  will  be  seen,  scarcely  equals 
the  smallest  northern  one,  when  those  of  the  same  sex  are  compared. 


No.  of 

Speci- 
mens. 

ax 

Locality. 

Length. 

Alar 

Extent. 

"  15.44 

Wing. 

Tail. 

7 

d 

Illinois 

Average 

10.18 

4.47 

2.82 

16 

d 

Florida 

Average 

9.4*3 

14  16 

4.22 

2.52 

6 

? 

Illinois 

Average 

9.83 

15.10 

4.36 

2  67 

10 

? 

Florida 

Average 

9.37 

14.02 

4  17 

2.54 

10 

? 

" 

Maximum 

10.00 

1450 

4.40 

2.77 

10 

s 

" 

Minimum 

9  00 

13  10 

3.35 

250 

16 

d 

" 

Maximum 

1000 

14  75 

4.50 

3.00 

16 

d 

" 

Minimum 

9.00 

13.80 

4.00 

2  30 

7 

d 

Illinois 

Maximum 

1050 

15.60 

4.60 

3  00 

7 

d 

" 

Minimum 

10.00 

15.00 

4.37 

2.55 

6 

9 

'< 

Maximum 

10.25 

15.50 

4  50 

2.85 

6 

? 

" 

Minimum 

9.50 

14.50 

4.25 

2.45 

23 


854 


BULLETIN   OF   TIIE 


Measurements  of  Florida  Specimens  of  Ortyx  virginianus. 


M.C.Z. 
No. 

Coll. 
No 

Sex. 

Locality. 

Date 

1      "B 
Collector.             g> 

1      ^ 

sg 

•<  x 

w 

bo 

'3 

5151 



rf 

Ilibernia 

Jan.  30,  '69 

J    A.  Alien 

9.25 

14  75 

4.15 

•2  40 

6152 



rf 

" 

Jan  30,  "09 

" 

9  25 

14.10 

4.00 

2.i;o 

5183 



rf 

" 

Jau.  30,  '69 

" 

9.00 

14  00 

4  00 

2.30 

5184 

rf 

" 

Jan.  30,  '69 

" 

9  25 

14.25 

4.10 

260 

6337 

rf 

Enterprise 

Mar     4.  "69 

" 

9  05 

14  50 

4.40 

240 

5336 

rf 

" 

Mar.   4,  '69 

" 

9.C0 

1425 

4.15 

250 

10578 

1990 

rf 

Jacksonville 

Jan.    9,  "69 

C.  J.  Maynard 

9.50 

13.80 

4.30 

2  80 

10579 

1990 

rf 

" 

Jan     9,  '69 

" 

9  33 

14.15 

4.45 

2  53 

10580 

1991 

rf 

" 

Jan.    9,  '09 

" 

9.30 

14.30 

4.00 

2  30 



2547 

rf 

Dummitt's 

Mar.    8,  '69 

" 

10  00 

1408 

4.10 

2  65 



2546 

rf 

" 

Mar.    7,  '09 

" 

9.30 

14.05 

4  25 

3.00 



2562 

rf 

" 

Mar.    9,  '69 

" 

9.85 

13.80 

4.45 

2S4 

10583 

2472 

rf 

" 

Feb.  24,  '69 

" 

9.50 

14  00 

4  25 

250 



2517 

rf 

" 

Mar.    4,  '69 

" 

9  25 

14  00 

4  40 

2.70 



•.T.iil 

rf 

" 

Mar.    9,  '69 

" 

9  70 

14.08 

4  25 

265 

10581 

2356 

rf 

" 

Feb.  16,  '69 

" 

9  70 

14.50 

4  50 

270 

10582 

2456 

9 

" 

Feb.  24,  '69 

" 

10  00 

14  50 

4.25 

2  55 



2795 

* 

" 

Feb.  16,  '69 

" 

9.00 

13.75 

3  35 

2.70 



2G15 

r\ 

" 

Mar.    S.  '69 

" 

950 

14  20 

4  10 

2  57 



1993 

* 

Jacksonville 

Jan     9,  '69 

" 

935 

14.10 

4  35 

2.70 



1994 

A 

" 

Jan.     9,  '69 

" 

9.40 

13  10 

4  35 

2.65 



1995 

fS 

" 

Jan.    9,  '69 

" 

9  50 

13.60 

4.40 

2.77 

61S2 



5 

Hibernia 

Jan.  30,  '69 

J.  A.  Allen 

9.35 

14  25 

4.10 

2.30 

6338 



? 

Enterprise 

Mar.   4, '69 

" 

9  00 

14  00 

4  05 

2.33 

6351 



? 

" 

Mar.   5,  '69 

" 

9.40 

14  50 

4.30 

2.45 

5352 



8 

" 

Mar.   5,  '69                " 

9.25 

14^5 

4.15 

2.47 

Measurements  of  Northern  Specimens  of  Orttx  virginianus. 


m.  c  z 

No. 


13096 

10410 
10408 
10411 
13099 
i:;n'.<s 
13097 
13101 
10407 
10409 
10412 
10406 
13100 


Locality. 


Northern  Illinois 


Date. 


Jan.  18 

Jan.  18 

Jan.  18 

Jan.  18 

Jan.  18 

Jan.  18 


4an. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 


Length 


10  25 

10.(0 

10  00 

10  50 

10.25 

10  28 

10  00 

10.25 

9.50 

lo  00 

9  85 

9.50 

9.85 


Alar 
Extent. 


15 
15 
15 

15 

,  15 
15 

I  15 
15 
It 
14 
15 
15 
15 


Wing 


4  45 
4.60 
4  40 
4.50 
4.60 
4  50 
4  37 
4.45 
4.25 
4.50 
4  38 
450 
4  30 


2.72 
2.75 
2.85 

2  75 

3  00 
290 
2.55 
2  72 
2  73 
2.85 
2.4S 
2.45 
2.60 


CHARADRIID^. 
102.t    Squartarola  helvetica  Cuvier.    Black-bellied  Plover. 

"  Some  remain  on  the  shores  of  the  Floridas  in  winter."  —  Audu- 
bon* 

103.t    Charadrius  virginicus  Borck.    Golden  Plover. 
"  St.  Augustine  ;  rare."  — Boardman. 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  V,  p.  200. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  355 

104  *    JEgialitis  vociferus  Cassin.    Killdee  Plover. 
Abundant. 

105*    JEgialitis  Wilsonius  Cassin.    Wilson's  Plover. 
Not  recently  reported  as  found  in   Florida  in   the   winter  months. 
Audubon  pbserves  :  "  While  in  the  Floridas,  near  St.  Augustine,  in  the 
months  of  December  and  January,  I  found  this   species  much  more 
abundant  than  any  other."  * 

106.t    JEgialitis  semipalmatus  Cabanis.    Semx-palmated  Plover. 
"  Not  uncommon  at  St.  Augustine  throughout  the  winter."  —  Board- 
man. 

107.t     JEgialitis  melodus  Cabanis.    Piping  Plover. 
Observed  at  St.  Augustine  in  the  winter  months  by  Mr.  Boardman. 

H^MATOPODmSE. 

los.t    Hsematopus  palliatus  Temminck.    Oyster-Catcheb. 

Given  by  Mr.  Boardman  as  rare  in  winter  at  St.  Augustine. 

I09.t    Strepsilas  interpres  llliger.    Turnstone. 
"  Rare  at  St.  Augustine  in  winter."  —  Boardman. 

SCOLOPACID.5J. 

no*    Philohela  minor  Gray.    Woodcock. 
More  or  less  common.     Probably  resident. 

111.  (t?)    Gallinago  "Wilsoni  Bonaparte.    Snipe. 
Abundant      Probably  resident.     Florida  specimens  are  darker  col- 
ored and  have  longer  bills  than  northern  ones. 

112.1    Calidris  arenaria  'IlUger.    Sanderling. 
"  Common  at  St.  Augustine."  —  Boardman.     "  Abundant  on  Indian 
River."  —  Maynard. 

113.t    Pelidna  americana  Coues.    Red-backed  Sandpiper. 
"  Common."  —  Maynard.     Boardman. 

lU.t    Ereunetes  pusillus  Cassin.    Semi-palmated  Sandpiper. 
"  Common."  —  Maynard. 

*  Ibid.,  p.  216. 


356  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

iis.t    Actodromas  minutilla  Coues.    Least  Sandpiper. 
"  Common."  —  Maynard. 

116.t    Actodromas  Bonaparte!  Cassin.    "White-rumped  Sandpiper. 
"St.  Augustine."  —  Audubon. 

117.*    Symphemia  semipalmata  Harthub.    "Willet. 
"  Indian  River  to  St.  Augustine.     Breeds  in  March."  —  Maynard. 

118.t    Gambetta  flavipes  Bonaparte.    Yellow-legs. 
Common. 

119.t    Gambetta  melanoleuca  Bonaparte.     Greater  Yellow-legs. 
Common. 

120*    Tringoides  macularius  Gray.     Spotted  Sandpiper. 
Common. 

121.*    Limosa  fedoa  Ord.     Marbled  Godwit. 
Common.     Reported  to  Mr.  Maynard  as  common  all  the  year  near 
St.  Augustine,  but  where  it  nested  was  unknown  to  his  informants. 

I22.t    Numenius  hudsonicus  Latham.    Hudsonian  Ccrlew. 

123.f    Numenius  borealis  Latham.    Esquimaux   Curlew. 
I  have  no  knowledge  of  the  actual  occurrence  of  these  two  species 
in  East  Florida,  yet  they  apparently  must  occur  as  winter  visitors.     Dr. 
Coues  gives  them  as  winter  visitors  in  his  South  Carolina  list,  and  they 
are  well  known  to  range  at  this  season  southward  into  the  tropics. 

124.t    Numenius  longirostris  Wilson.    Long-billed  Cuklew. 
"  Very  abundant  on  the  coast."  —  Boardman. 

Several  other  species  of  this  family  are  well  known  to  pass  through 
East  Florida  in  their  migrations,  and  perhaps  a  few  others  are  winter 
residents  there. 

RECURVIROSTRIDiE. 

125.*    Himantopus  nigricollis   Vieillot.     Black-necked  Stilt. 
Audubon  says  it  is  found   in   Florida  in  winter.*     Mr.   Boardman 
gives  it  as  "quite  common  at  Enterprise  after  the  15th  of  March." 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  VI,  p.  85. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  357 

126.t    Recur  virostra  americana  Gmelin.    Avoset. 
This  species  must  occur  in  Florida  as  a  winter  visitor,  but  I  have 
as  yet  seen  no  specimens  that  were  collected  there. 

GRUID^S. 

127.*    Grus  canadensis  Temminck.    Bbown  Crane. 
Abundant. 

In  1853,  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,* 
Dr.  Bryant  discussed  at  length  the  question  of  the  relationship  of  G 
americana  Ord  to  the  G.  canadensis,  and  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that 
■while  the  young  of  the  G.  americana,  or  white  whooping  crane,  might  be 
brown  like  the  mature  G.  canadensis,  or  sand-hill  crane,  that  the  two  were 
distinct  species ;  and  this  conclusion  ornithologists  seem  to  have  generally 
adopted.  I  saw  none  of  the  white  birds  in  Florida,  where  the  brown  were 
very  numerous.  In  Iowa  I  have  seen  both,  but  only  at  a  distance.  The 
account  given  by  Dr.  Bryant  of  the  breeding  of  the  sand-hill  crane  in 
Florida  is  very  complete  and  interesting.  According  to  this  author  the 
eggs,  two  in  number,  are  laid  from  early  in  February  till  about  the  middle 
of  April,  f 

RALLIDiE. 

128.*    Rallus  elegans  Audubon.    Marsh  Hair. 
Common. 

129*    Rallus  crepitans  Gmelin.    Clapper  Rail. 

Common. 

130.t    RaUus  virginianus  Linne".    Virginia  Rail. 

"  Common  along  the  St.  John's  River."  —  Boardman. 

I3i.t    Porzana  Carolina  Vieillot.    Carolina  Rail. 
"  Common."  —  Maynard. 

132. (t?)    Porzana  noveboracensis  Cassin.    Yellow  Rail. 
"  Common  throughout  the  winter  along  the  St.  John's."  —  Boardman. 

I33.t    Pulica  americana  Gmelin.    Coot. 
Abundant.     As  numerous  the  1st  of  April  as  during  the  winter. 

134.*    Gallinula  galeata  Bonaparte.    Florida  Gallinule. 
Abundant. 

*  Vol.  IV,  p.  303. 

t  See  also  on  this  point  the  same  Proceedings,  Vol  VU,  p.  H. 


858  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

135.*    Gallinula  martinica  Latham.    Purple  Gallinule. 
Well  known  as  a  resident  bird  of  Florida,  but  not  observed  by 
either  Messrs.  Maynard  and  Boardman  or  myself. 

ARDEID-E. 
136  *    Demiegretta  ludoviciana  Baird.    Louisiana  Heron. 
Common. 

137  *    Demiegretta  Pealei  Baird.   Pe ale's  Egret. 
Several  specimens  of  this  beautiful  species  were  brought  home  by 
Mr.  Maynard  from  Indian  River,  taken  at  Dummitt's.     This  is  some- 
what farther  north  than  any  point  from  which  it  has  been  previously 
reported. 

138.*     Garzetta  caildidissima  Bonaparte,     kittle  "White  Heko*. 
Abundant.     Breeds  in  February  and  March. 

139.*    Herodias  egretta  Gray.    White  Heron. 

Abundant.  Breeds  early  in  the  season.  At  a  small  heronry  on  an  islet 
in  Lake  Dexter  1  found  several  nests  containing  nearly  fledged  young, 
March  23d.  The  nests,  built  eight  to  fifteen  feet  above  the  ground,  were 
composed  of  a  few  sticks  loosely  put  together.  Often  they  were  placed 
in  the  tops  of  bushes  which  were  thickly  overgrown  with  woody  vines. 
The  young,  when  shaken  from  the  nest,  climbed  through  the  vines, 
using  their  bills  as  an  organ  of  prehension,  either  seizing  the  branches 
between  their  mandibles  or  hooking  their  bills  over  them,  and  clung  so 
closely  that  it  was  exceedingly  difficult  to  dislodge  them. 

This  and  the  preceding  species  are  greatly  persecuted  by  the  hun- 
ters, who  sometimes  destroy  great  numbers  at  their  breeding  places, 
so  many  of  the  birds  being  killed  and  the  others  so  much  alarmed,  that 
large  heronries  are  thus  completely  broken  up.  Some  gunners  make 
it  their  business  to  hunt  them  for  their  plumes.  Some  means  should 
be  devised,  however,  for  the  protection  of  these  beautiful  birds,  as  at 
their  present  rate  of  decrease  their  number  will  soon  be  greatly  di- 
minished. 

140.*     Ardea  herodias  LinnC.     Great  Blue  Heron. 
Abundant.     Breeds   in   the  retired  swamps,  nesting  in  the  highest 
cypres3-trees.     It  is  rare  that  more  than  a  .single  nest  is  seen  in  one 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGT.  359 

tree,  but  often  several  pairs  breed  near  eacb  otber.  Young,  a  third 
grown,  were  met  with  as  early  as  the  12th  of  March.  This  species 
breeds  while  in  immature  plumage,  young  females  being  found  mated 
with  adult  males,  and  vice  versa.  The  only  very  appreciable  external 
sexual  difference  is  that  of  size,  the  males,  as  is  generally  the  case  in 
this*  family,  being  much  larger  than  the  females. 

141.*    Florida  cserulea  Baird.    Small  Blue  Heron. 
Common. 

142.*    Ardetta  exilis  Gray.    Little  Bittern. 
Not  common. 

I43.t    Botaurus  lentiginosus  Stephens.    Bittern 
Very  common  at  some  localities. 

144.*  Butorides  virescens  Bonaparte.  Green  Heron. 
Not  uncommon.  Smaller  than  northern  specimens,  the  Florida 
examples  being  intermediate  in  size  between  those  from  New  Eng- 
land and  the  West  Indies,  the  latter  of  which  are  usually  regarded  as  a 
distinct  species,  under  the  name  of  B.  brunnescem.  They  also  de- 
cidedly approach  the  West  Indian  type  in  coloration. 

145*    Nycticorax  griseus  Gray.    Night  Heron. 

Ardea  nycticorax  Linne,  Syst  Nat.,  I,  235.  —  Wilson,  Audubon,  Nuttall, 
Bonaparte  etc. 

Ardea  grisea  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  239,  1766. 

Ardea  Gardeni  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  644,  1788. 

Nycticorax  europaus  Steph.,  Gen.  Zool.,  XI,  609,  pi.  xlvii. 

Nycticorax  americana  Bonap.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  48,  1838. 

Nycticorax  Gardeni  Jardine,  Notes  to  Wilson's  Orn.  —  Bonap.,  Conspectus 
Gen.  Avium,  II,  141,  1855. 

Nyctiardea  Gardeni  Baird,  Birds  N.  Am.,  678,  1858,  and  subsequent  Ameri- 
can authors. 

I  did  not  observe  this  species  on  the  St.  John's,  but  Mr.  Maynard 
found  it  more  or  less  common  on  Indian  River  and  Mosquito  Lagoon. 
Mr.  Boardman  gives  it  as  "not  rare."  It  is  said  to  be  resident  the 
Whole  year  in  Florida,  by  Audubon. 

Having  compared  specimens  of  the  American  night  heron  with  others 
from  various  parts  of  the  Old  World,  I  see  no  jeason  for  considering  them 
specifically  distinct,  though  so  considered  by  all  American  and  some  Euro- 
pean ornithologists.  The  differences  between  them  are  scarcely  appreciable. 


860  BULLETIN  OF  TBE 

TANTALID^J. 

146*    Tantalus  loculator  /''"",'     "Wood  Ibis.     "Gannet." 

Common  on  the  Upper  St.  John's.  In  March  they  were  undergoing 
their  spring  moult,  and  were  consequently  in  poor  plumage.  According 
to  Dr.  Bryant,  who  is  the  first  and  only  writer,  so  far  as  I  am  aware, 
who  has  minutely  described  their  eggs  and  breeding  habits,  incubation 
is  generally  commenced  by  the  1st  of  April.  Dr.  Bryant  visited  two  of 
their  breeding  places,  one  of  which  was  between  New  Smyrna  and 
Enterprise,  in  a  large  cypress  swamp  on  the  southern  border  of  Lake 
Ashby.     He  estimated  that  a  thousand  pairs  were  breeding  there. 

There  is  a  singular  discrepancy  in  the  accounts  of  authors  in  respect 
to  the  habits  of  this  bird.  Bartram  mentions  it  as  solitary  in  its 
habits,  not  associating  in  flocks.  Audubon,  always  finding  it  in  large 
flocks,  calls  attention  to  this  remark  of  Mr.  Bartram  as  being  wholly 
erroneous,  and  regrets  that  his  account  had  been  so  extensively  copied 
by  authors.  Dr.  Bryant  fully  corroborates  Bartram's  account,  and 
censures  Audubon  for  not  remembering  that  birds  vary  in  their  habits 
at  different  times  and  places.  He  says  he  never  saw  it  in  flocks  except 
at  its  breeding  places,  and  that  they  usually  went  off  and  returned 
either  singly  or  in  pairs.  I  saw  wood  ibises  more  or  less  frequently  on 
the  Upper  St.  John's  for  four  or  five  weeks,  and  only  in  two  or  three 
Instances  singly  or  in  pairs.  I  almost  invariably  saw  them  in  flocks, 
both  at  their  feeding  grounds  and  flying  in  the  air,  they  varying  in 
number  from  a  dozen  to  a  hundred.  While  more  or  less  gregarious  at 
all  times,  they  often  doubtless  also  separate  into  pairs  or  wander  singly. 

In  East  Florida  the  wood  ibises  are  called  "  gannets."  Under  this 
name  they  were  described  to  Audubon  when  he  visited  that  country, 
and  concerning  which  he  remarks  :  "  On  asking  the  appearance  of  the 
Gannets,  I  was  told  they  were  large  white  birds,  with  wings  black  at 
the  end,  a  long  neck,  and  a  large  sharp  bill.  The  description  so  far 
agreeing  with  that  of  the  common  gannet  or  solan  goose,  I  proposed  no 
questions  respecting  the  legs  or  tail,  but  went  off."  On  visiting  the 
locality  where  they  were  said  to  occur,  he  was  surprised  to  find  the 
trees  covered  with  wood  ibises.  He  hence  adds  :  "  Now  as  the  good 
people  who  gave  the  information  spoke  according  to  their  knowledge, 
and  agreeably  to  their  custom  of  calling  the  ibises  gannets,  had  I  not 
gone  to  the  pond,  I  might  have  written  this  day  that  gannets  are  found 


MUSEUM   OF  -COMPARATIVE:  ZOOLOGY.  561 

in  the  interior  of  the  woods  in  the  Floridas,  that  they  alight  on  trees, 
etc.,  which,  if  once  published,  would  in  all  probability  have  gone  down 
to  future  times  through  the  medium  of  compilers."  *  Numbers  of  simi- 
lar errors  have  in  fact  crept  into  our  natural-history  literature,  and 
after  they  have  become  well  known  as  such  to  investigators,  they  are 
perpetuated  for  a  generation  or  two  by  superficial  compilers.  The 
same  may  almost  equally  well  be  said  in  respect  to  nominal  species. 

147.*    Ibis  alba  VieMot.     White  Ibis. 

Abundant.  Towards  the  end  of  February  they  were  moulting  and 
in  very  poor  plumage.  Most  of  the  young  still  retained  their  brown 
dress,  but  in  a  large  proportion  the  moulting  was  considerably  advanced. 
Before  the  end  of  March  it  was  completed,  and  April  1st  I  saw  large 
flocks  passing  northward  high  in  the  air,  apparently  migrating. 

During  the  winter  these  birds  have  the  peculiar  habit,  on  the  Upper 
St.  John's,  of  daily  flying  up  the  river  at  evening  and  down  again  early 
ii»  the  morning.  They  usually  fly  very  low,  passing  just  over  the  tree- 
tops  when  cutting  across  a  bend  in  the  river,  and  at  other  times  close 
to  the  water.  They  are  hence  in  easy  gun-shot  range  from  the  river  or 
its  banks,  and,  flying  in  dense  flocks,  afford  fine  sport  to  the  numerous 
sportsmen  camping  along  its  banks,  who  make  great  havoc  among  them. 
They  breed  much  later  in  the  season  than  the  herons.  Dr.  Bryant 
states  that  as  late  as  the  20th  of  April  they  had  not  commenced  laying, 
and  that  they  fly  up  and  down  Indian  River  in  the  same  manner  as  on 
the  St.  John's.f  Mr.  Maynard  informs  me  he  did  not  meet  with  this 
bird  on  Mosquito  Lagoon. 

148.    Ibis  falcinellus  Linn€.     Glossy  Ibis. 

Tantalus  mexiranus  Orp.,  Journ.  Phil.  Acad.  Xat.  Sci.,  I,  53,  1817. 

Ibis  falcinellus  Bonwp.,  Obs.  on  Noniencl.  Wilson's  Orn.,  Ibid.,  V,  70,  1825. — 

Ibid.,  Am.  Orn.,  IV,  23,  pi.  xxiii,  1831.  — Acdubon,  Orn.  Biog.,  IV,  608, 

pi.  ccclxxxvii,  1838. 
Ibis  Ordi  Bonaf.,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838.  —  Baird,  Birds  N.  Amer., 

685,  1858. 

"  Pine  barrens  between  Lake  Harney  and  Indian  River,  in  the 
ponds,  in  flocks  of  twelve  to  twenty."  J 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  VI,  p.  68. 

t  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VII,  15. 

t  The  above  is  a  memorandum  of  the  recent  occurrence  of  this  species  in  East 
Florida,  obtained  from  Mr.  Maynard,  but  whether  given  by  him -on  his  own  authority  or 
on  that  of  Mr.  C.  H.  Nauman,  I  am  at  present  uncertain. 


362  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

ABAMID^E. 

149.*  Aramus  giganteus  Baird.  Crying  Bird.  "Limpkin." 
This  singular  and  stupid  bird  is  at  present  more  or  less  common  about 
the  grassy  lakes  and  bayous  from  Lake  Dexter  southward.  Now  that 
Florida  has  become  such  a  favorite  winter  resort  for  health-seekers, 
pleasure-seekers,  and  sportsmen,  it  will  be  surprising  if  it  is  not  soon 
exterminated,  as  it  seems  to  have  almost  no  fear  of  man  or  the  gun. 
They  are  generally  seen  in  pairs,  rarely,  however,  more  than  a  few 
occupying  the  same  vicinity  ;  and  when  one  of  a  party  of  them  is  shot, 
the  others,  instead  of  seeking  safety  by  flight,  remain  and  salute  the 
intruder  with  their  singularly  discordant  cries.  Their  excellent  flesh 
will  tend  to  favor  their  rapid  extermination.  They  build  their  nests  in 
bushes  along  the  river  and  its  bayous,  occasionally  at  a  considerable 
height,  but  make  no  effort  to  conceal  them.  At  Hawkinsville  I  found 
a  newly  built  nest,  containing  a  single  egg,  March  20th,  and  a  few  days 
later,  at  Lake  Dexter,  I  met  with  young  nearly  full  grown.  Hen«e 
they  must  breed  very  early,  and,  perhaps,  somewhat  irregularly.  Dr. 
Bryant  gave  the  first  detailed  account  of  the  habits  of  this  bird,*  to 
which  there  is  little  to  be  added.  He  says  he  found  it  more  or  less 
common  on  the  St.  John's  from  Lake  George  to  Lake  Harney,  but 
most  abundant  on  the  Wikiva  Creek,  which  empties  into  the  St.  John's 
about  twenty-five  miles  below  Enterprise.  This  account  agrees  with 
my  own  experience  in  respect  to  its  distribution.  I  did  not  ascend  the 
"VVikiva,  but  was  informed  that  this  bird  was  much  more  abundant  there 
than  on  the  St.  John's.  Dr.  Bryant  says  that  incubation  usually  com- 
mences in  February,  and  that  the  number  of  eggs  it  lays  is  very  large, 
sometimes  numbering  fifteen.  Its  popular  name  in  Florida  is  "  limp- 
kin." 

Possessing  many  features  that  ally  them  to  the  rails,  they  in  other 
respects  resemble  the  herons,  and  especially  the  ibises,  besides  having 
peculiar  characters  which  mark  them  as  a  group  distinct  from  either. 

ANATID^. 
150.t     Anas  boschas  Linnif.     Mallard. 
"Common  all  winter  in  very  large  flocks."  —  Boardman.     Audubon 
speaks  of  their  occurring  in  such  numbers  in  portions  of  Florida,  when 

*  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  Vn,  p.  12. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  363 

he  was  there  in  1831,  as  to  darken  the  air,  and  the  noise  of  their  wings, 
when  rising  from  the  large  submerged  savannas,  he  compares  to  the 
rumbling  of  thunder.  Mr.  Maynard  also  found  them  in  vast  numbers 
in  1869  on  Indian  River. 

15l.t    Anas  obscura  Linn€.    Black  Duck. 
"  Quite  common."  —  Maynard. 

152.t     Daflla  acuta  Jenyns.     Pintail  Dcck. 
"  St.  John's  River  ;  not  common."  —  Boardman.    Mr.  Maynard  says 
that  on  Indian  River  he  found  them  in  immense  numbers,  passing  over 
in  clouds  for  hours  together. 

I53.t    Nettie- n  carolinensis  Baird.    Green-winged  Teal. 
Abundant. 

154.t    Querquedula  cyanoptera  Cassin.     Red-breasted  Teal. 
This  species  was  found  by  Mr.  Maynard  in  great  numbers  in  the 
savannas  of  the   upper  part  of  Indian   River,  but  unfortunately  the 
specimens  he  obtained  were  lost.     This,  I  believe,  is  the  first  time  it 
has  been  reported  from  any  of  the  Atlantic  States. 

I55.t    Querquedula  discors  Stephens.    Blue-winged  Teal. 
Abundant. 

156+    Spatula  clypeata  Bote.    Shoveller. 
"  Common."  —  Maynard.     Boardman. 

I57.t    Mareca  americana  Stephens.    Baldpatb. 
"  Common."  —  Boardman. 

158*    Aix  sponsa  Boie.    Wood  Duck. 
Abundant.     Breeds  early.     Saw  young  March  15th. 

159.t    Fulix  marila  Baird.    Scaup  Duck. 

Anas  marila  Linne,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  1766,  196.  —Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  VIII,  84, 

pi.  lxix,  1814. 
Fuliijnla  marila  Aud.,  Birds  of  America,  VII,  355,  pi.  ccccxcviii,  1843. 
Fidigula  affinis  Eyton,  Mon.  Anat,  157,  1838. 
Fulignla  maritoides  Vigors,  Zoiil.  Blossom,  31,  1839. 
Fuligula  minor  Giraud,  Birds  of  Long  Island,  323,  1844.  —  Bell,  Proc.  Phil. 

Acad.  Nat.  Sci..  I,  141,  1842. 
Fuhx  marila  et  affinis  Baird,  Birds  N.  Amer.,  791,  1858. 


864  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Very  abundant.  By  far  the  most  numerous  duck  on  the  St.  John's 
River.     Quite  common  at  Jacksonville  as  late  as  April  1st. 

The  Fullx,  or  Fuligula,  affinis  auct.  is  evidently  only  the  smaller,  darker 
southern  form  of  the  F.  marila  auct.  Most  of  the  specimens  collected  in 
Florida  were  of  the  so-called  F.  ajims  type. 

160.f    Aythya  americana  Bonaparte.    Red-head. 
Abundant  in  the  marshes  near  St.  Augustine,  in  1831.  —  Audubon.* 
I  find  the  A.  vallisneria  recorded  in  my  notes  made  at  Jacksonville. 

I  saw  none,  however,  myself,  but  it  was  reported  by  sportsmen  to  Dot 

unfrequently  occur  there. 

161.1    Bucephala  albeola  Baird.    Butter-Ball. 
Observed  in  Florida  by  Audubon. f 

162.t  Erismatura  rubida  Bonaparte.  Ruddy  Duck. 
More  or  less  common  on  the  Lower  St.  John's.  Also  observed  by 
Audubon  when  he  was  on  the  plantation  of  General  Hernandez,  in 
East  Florida,  and  "  in  immense  flocks  "  about  a  hundred  miles  up  the 
St.  John's  River,  in  February,  1832. J  Also  obtained  by  Mr.  Maynard 
at  Dummitt's. 

163.t    Lophodytes  CUCUllatus  Reichenbach.    Hooded  Merganser. 
"  Very  abundant  on  the  coast."  — Boardman.    "  Numerous  at  Dum- 
mitt's." —  Maynard.     Occasional  on  the  St.  John's. 

Geese  are  currently  reported  by  the  inhabitants  to  occur  in  winter  in 
North  Florida,  but  I  am  unable  to  state  what  species.  Probably  Ber- 
nicla  canadensis  and  B.  brenta,  and  perhaps  others,  are  at  times  more 
or  less  common,  since  they  are  well  known  to  occasionally  visit  Cuba. 

PELECANID^J. 

164  *    Pelecanus  erythrorhynchus  Gmelin.    White  Pelican. 
"  Seen  in  large  flocks  near  the  mouth  of  the  St.  John's  all  winter."  — 
Boardman.     "  Common  on  Indian  River.     Said  to  breed  on  an  island 
near  Dummitt's,  and  at  Jupiter  Inlet."  —  Maynard. 

165.*    Pelecanus  fuscus  Linne".    Brown  Pelican. 
"  Abundant  on  the  coast  in  winter."  —  Boardman. 

*  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  VI,  p.  312. 

t  Ibid.,  p.  370.  J  Riid.,  p,  325. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  865 

SULIDJE. 
166-t    Sula  bassana  Brisson.    Common  Garnet. 
"  Abundant  on  the  coast."  —  Board/nan. 

167.*    Sula  fusca  Linne'.    Booby  Gannet. 
A  few  were  seen  on  the  coast  near  St.  Augustine  by  Mr.  Boardman. 
Mr.  Maynard  also  observed  it  at  Cape  Canaveral 

PHALACROCORACID-EI 

168.*    Graculus  floridanus  Bonaparte.    Florida  Cormorant. 
Common  on  the  St.  John's,  and,  according  to  Mr.  Boardman,  abun- 
dant on  the  coast. 

PLOTID.E. 
169*    Plotus  anhinga  Linne'.    Snake  Bird.    Water  Turkey. 
Abundant.     Breeds  in  February  and  March,  sometimes  nesting  in  the 
tops  of  the  highest  trees,  and  sometimes  quite  low.    Both  sexes  incubate. 

PROCELLARID.S3. 

I70.t    Oceanites  oceaniea  Coues.    Wilson's  Stormy  Petrel. 
"A  few  about  the  coast  at  Fernandina." —  Boardman. 

171.t    Puffinus  major  Fabricius.    Greater  Shearwater. 
"  A  few  about  the  coast  at  Fernandina."  —  Boardman. 

LARID.^ 

172. t    Larus  argentatus  Briinnich.    Herring  Gull. 

Common.     Seen  up  the  St.  John's  as  far  as  Hibernia. 

On  my  voyage  from  New  York  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  on  my  way  to 
Florida,  small  parties  of  these  gulls,  numbering  usually  six  to  twenty, 
were  almost  constantly  hovering  near  the  vessel.  In  the  Bay  of  New 
York,  as  along  the  coast  of  New  England,  and  doubtless  along  that  of 
all  the  Atlantic  States  at  this  season,  the  birds  in  immature  plumage 
far  outnumbered  the  others  ;  but  a  hundred  miles  from  land  all  the  gulls 
of  this  species  seen  were  old  birds,  which  accords  with  observations  of 
mine  made  on  other  winter  voyages  in  the  North  Atlantic.  It  hence 
appears  that  the  young  birds  are  less  venturesome  than  the  adult,  and 
keep  mainly  near  the  land.  This  accords  also  with  the  well-known 
fact  that  young  birds,  in  migratory  species,  do  not  generally  attain  so 


366  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

high  latitudes  in  the  breeding  season  as  the  fully  adult.  It  is  also 
highly  probable  that,  generally,  the  young  birds  of  this  family  do  not 
range  quite  so  far  southward  in  winter  as  the  older.  The  mature  herring 
gulls,  so  far  as  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing,  far  outnumbered 
the  young  ones  along  the  Carolina  coast  and  on  the  St.  John's  River. 

173.t    Larus  delawarensis  Ord.    Ring-billed  Gull. 
"  Not  numerous."  —  Boardman. 

174*    Chrcecocephalus  atricilla  Lawrence.    Laughing  Gull. 
Common  along  the  coast  and  on  the  Lower  St.  John's. 

175.t    ChrCBCOCephalus  Philadelphia  Lawrence.    Bonaparte's  Gull. 
With  the  preceding,  and  equally  numerous.     Also  common,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Maynard,  on  Indian  River. 

176.t    Gelochelidon  anglica  Bonaparte.    Marsh  Tern. 
Obtained  by  Mr.  Maynard  on  Indian  River. 

177.*    Thalasseus  regius  Gambd.    Royal  Tern. 
"Abundant  about  the  coast."  —  Boardman.     Maynard. 

178.    Sterna  hirundo  Linn€.    Common  Tern. 
"  Common  at  Dummitt's."  —  Maynard. 

The  following  table  of  measurements  of  sixty-five  specimens  (forty-five 
males  and  twenty  females)  of  this  species,  taken  in  the  breeding  season  at 
Muskeget  Island,  Massachusetts,  indicates  the  considerable  range  of  indi- 
vidual differentiation  that  obtains  in  this  species.  Though  so  great,  it  does 
appear  to  be  greater  than  occurs  in  Sterna  macrura,  of  which  I  have  the 
measurements  of  twenty-five  specimens  taken  at  the  same  locality  and  dur- 
ing the  same  excursion,  nor  is  it  probably  greater  than  most  of  the  terns 
and  gulls  present,  as  is  evidently  indicated  by  the  great  number  of 
measurements  of  specimens  of  other  species  of  the  Laridm  of  our  coast 
now  before  me. 

The  average  dimensions  of  the  specimens  cited  in  the  subjoined  table 
are  as  follows :  — 

Males:  Length,  14.51;  alar  extent,  30.72;  wing,  10.47;  tail,  5.80;  cul- 
men,  1.40;  tarsus,  .78.  Females:  Length,  13.85  ;  alar  extent,  30.59  ;  wing, 
10.57;  tail,  5.74;  culmen,  1.36;  tarsus,  .77.  The  extremes  of  the  same 
are  as  follows  :  — 

Males  :  Length,  13.00  to  15  77  ;  alar  extent,  29.00  to  32.00;  wing,  9.65 
to  11.70;  tail,  5.00  (4.81?)  to  7.00;  bill  (culmen),  1.28  to  1.55;  tarsus,  .70 
to  .87. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


367 


Females:  Length,  13.10  to  15.50  ;  alar  extent,  28.20  to  32.00  ;  wing,  9.90 
to  11.50  ;  tail,  5.20  (4.75?)  to  6.11  ;  bill  (culmen),  1.25  to  1.55  ;  tarsus  .70 
to  .90. 

Measurements  of  Massachusetts  Specimens  of  Sterna  hirundo, 
Taken  in  the  Breeding  Season. 


S3 

U  ° 

.<5 

8*  a 

Locality. 

Date. 

Collector. 

c 

£3 

si 

.n 

■3 
in 

S 

i 

u 

S 

Isli'd 

>3 

w 

^* 

6.90 

i.a: 

.73 

Ipswich 

1  June  16,  '68 

Allen  &  Maynard 

14  00 

"30  50 

10.65 

8071  d 

June  16,  '68 

" 

14.36    29.60 

10.11 

6  56    1.3S 

.70 

I047i 

905  \d 

Wellfleet 

June  26,  '68 

" 

14  75    31.90 

10.5C 

6.50    1  3£ 

.80 

1047- 

906!  d 

June  26,  '68 

" 

1430'  31.70 

10.4f 

6.00:  1.41 

.76 

1047: 

907k 

" 

June  26,  '68 

" 

14  nil     31  « 

10. 6C 

5.50;  1  3£ 

.74 

10481 

908:  d 

June  26,  '68 

" 

13  75;  31. oO 

10. 7E 

5.40    1.28 

.76 

911,  d" 

Muskeget  Isl. 

June  29,  '68 

" 

14.75    30.50 

1051 

6  00,  1.3C 

.87 

10431 

913  d 

" 

June  29,  '08 

" 

14.40 !  293' 

10.1a 

0.0(1      l.r,l 

.80 

1048.3 

913;  d 

" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

14  801  29.30 

1040 

5.50 1  1  45 

1048b 

917  d" 

" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

14  901  29.60 

10.40 

5.55i  1.36 

.85 



920   ? 

" 

June  29,  '08 

" 

14  001  30.00 

11.00 

5.75    1.35 

.76 



923'd" 

" 

June  20,  '68 

" 

14.001  30.50 

10  40 

5.55    140 

.77 

10480 

" 

June  29,  '08 

" 

14.40;  29.80 

10.25 

5  45!  137 

.81 

10490 

926  d" 

" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

14.501  30:25 

10.30 

5.40    1.35 

.80 



927  d 

" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

14.00  ai.iM 

10.50 

600 

14' 

.75 

10491 

928    ? 

" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

14  50!  30.80 

10.15 

5.60 

1.52 

.74 



910l  d 

" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

13  601  31.15 

10.25 

560 







94lj  d 

" 

June  30,  '68 

" 

14.50    31  65 

10.15 

6.10 



. 



942'cT 

" 

June  30,  '68 

" 

14.50:  3150 

9.65 

690 







943,  d 

" 

June  30,  '68 

" 

14. 25;  30.25 

9.75 

5-00 







944!cf 

" 

June  30,  '68 

" 

14.60    30.20 

10  80 

6.00 





10492 

945   -• 

" 

June  30,  '68 

" 

14.10    30.50 

lo2_, 

5.50 







941  d 

" 

June  30,  '63 

" 

15.50;  31.85 

11.30 

7.00 



80 



947    •• 

" 

June  31.  '68 

" 

15.75!  31.50 

10.75 

6.00 



.v.. 



949  d 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

13.75;  29.90 

10  45 

5.85 



.79 



957  cf 

" 

July    2,  ~m 

" 

15.65    32.00 

11  50 

5.95 

150 

.75 

10198 

935    ' 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.00    30.25 

1170 

5.00 

1.45 

•77 

10500 

963    ' 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.30;  31.27 

10.70 

5.01    1.33 

•77 

10501 

" 

July    2,  :68 

" 

14.26    31.00 

10.65 

5.61    1.30 

•  76 



939  d 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

L5.60    31  60 

lu  85 

6.7o    1.30 

.75 



970'  d 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.281  30.80 

10.50 

5.40    135 

•81 



971;  cf 

" 

July    2,  '63 

" 

14  40:  31.60 

10.30 

5.70    1.40 

•75 



972;  d 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.00 j  30.00 

9.80 

5.15    140 

.78 



973  d 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

15.00    31.00 

9.90 

5.80    1.50 

■75 

10503 

975!  d" 

" 

July     2,  '68 

" 

15-20    30.50 

10.56 

5.S51  143 

•  85 



" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.25    31.20 

10.25 

5-70    1.51 

•80 

10504 

979  d 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

15  25    31.00    10.00 

6  27 

145 

•81 



930!  d 

" 

July    2,  '68 

»' 

14.70 :  30.55    10.40 

5.45 

1.51 

•85 



981  d 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14  55|  3100 

10.55 

5  55 

1.41 

•  75 



" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

13.00;  29.00 

10.30 

4  81 

135 

•76 



" 

July     2,  '08 

" 

15.00,  31  43 

10.80 

6  11 

•75 



99      ' 

" 

July     2,  '68 

" 

14  50'  31.50 

In;,. 

1  45 

.85 



" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

15.77    30.00 

1050 

1  55 

•77 



" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

L4.25    31  00 

10.65 

,".  75 

•70 



" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.00    30.30 

10  35 

1.41 

•70 

10476 

904   i 

Wcllfleet 

June  20.  '68 

" 

9.90 

•  7o 

10481 

912  V 

Muskeget  Isl 

June  29.  '68 

" 

14.20    :; 

10.00 

6.00    1.40 

•  70 

1  1484 

915   . 

l( 

June  29,  '68 

" 

li;:,    30.75    10.55 

6.07    1  42 

•75 

1  1483 

914   i 

" 

Juue'io,   68 

" 

13.90   29.80    L0.05 

5.75    1.30 

•75 



" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

13.60,  28. 50    lorn 

5.50    1  36 

•  74 



919  . 

" 

June  29.  '68 

" 

13.50   28.20    10.30 

5  85    1  .25 

•75 



0-1     1 

" 

June  20,  »68 

" 

25    10.25 

5.65    1.26 

•  71 

10487 

922 

" 

June  29,  '68 

" 

13.55   30.55    10.63 

5.70    1  26 

•80 

10488 

924    I 

" 

June  29.  '68 

" 

.  1.50    10.50   •". 

•  73 



948   . 

'■ 

June  30,  '6S 

" 

14.50    31  7.'.    10.80    5.90       — 

.80 

10491 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

.1           ,.80    128 

.80 

10495 

" 

July    2,  '68 

■' 

13.60   32-00    11  50    5  75    130 

.80 



" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

1550   31.75    U.25 

5.41    1  43 

•71 

10498 

985  9 

" 

July    2   '68 

" 

13.56,  30.00    1030 

5.14    1.30 

•74 



oTt    , 

" 

July     2, '68 

" 

15  25    32  00    1125 

6  11    134 



976  9 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

i.20    J"  26   5.55    1  31 

•  75 



97S!9 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.™   31.80    10.70    5.45    1.55 

•80 

10504 

99719 

" 

July    2,  '68 

" 

14.45'  31.70    10.45    6.46    141 

.80 

10505: 

999:  9 

" 

July    2,  SS 

" 

14.35    30.50,  10.45,  560i  1.491 

.80 

1001  V 

July    2,  '63 

14.40,  31.00!  10.65   5.85    1.401  .85 

368  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

179.    Sterna  macrura  Neumann,    Arctic  Tern. 
"Common  at  Dummitt's."  —  Maynard. 

As  already  remarked  under  Sterna  hirundo  the  individual  variation  in 
the  present  species  is  very  great.  The  largest  and  smallest  specimens  in 
a  series  of  twenty-five,  taken  at  Muskeget  Island  in  the  breeding  season 
measured  as  follows  :  — 

Largest  {$)  :  Length,  16.00;  alar  extent,  32.75;  wing,  11.75;  tail,  6.00. 

Smallest  (<?)  :  Length,  14.33  ;  alar  extent,  27.52  ;  wing,  9.85  ;  tail,  4.26. 

The  maxima  and  minima  of  this  series  are  as  follows  :  — 

Length,  14.10  and  17.00;  alar  extent,  27.52  and  32.75;  wing,  9.85  and 
11.84;  tail,  4.26  and  8.25. 

"While  the  females  average  a  very  little  smaller  than  the  males,  several 
of  the  females  are  very  nearly  as  large  as  the  largest  males. 

The  Sterna  Forsteri  may  also  occur  as  a  winter  resident,  but  I  have 
at  present  no  evidence  of  its  occurrence  there  at  this  season.  A  specimen 
from  the  "  St.  John's  River,  Florida,"  collected  by  Dr.  "Wurdemann,  is 
■cited  by  Mr.  Lawrence  *  and  Dr.  Coues  f  (Smithsonian  collection  No. 
4928),  but  no  information  is  given  as  to  when  it  was  collected. 

180.*    Rhynchops  nigra  Linn€.    Black  Skimmer. 
Abundant  on  the  coast,  occurring  in  large  flocks.     Not  observed  by 
me  on  the  St.  John's. 

COLYMBIDJE. 

181  .t    Colymbus  torquatus  Brunnich.    Loon. 

"  A  single  specimen  at  Mandarin,  on  the  Lower  St.  John's ;  abun- 
dant off  Fernandina  harbor."  —  Maynard. 

The  considerable  number  of  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology  show  a  wide  range  of  individual  variation.  In  a 
series  of  fifteen  specimens  from  various  localities  in  New  England,  but 
mainly  from  Massachusetts,  the  variation  in  the  length  of  the  folded 
wing  amounts  to  twenty  per  cent  of  its  average  length  in  the  whole  se- 
ries ;  in  the  length  of  the  tarsus,  to  twenty-nine  per  cent ;  in  the  length  of 
the  outer  toe,  to  thirty  per  cent ;  in  the  length  of  the  head,  to  twenty- 
eight  per  cent ;  and  in  the  length  of  the  culmen  to  twenty-three  per  cent. 

The  form  described  some  years  since  as  Colymbus  Adamsi  seems  to  have 
been  founded  on  very  old  specimens  of  the  large  northern  race  of  C.  tor- 

*  Baird's  Birds  of  North  America,  p.  863. 
t  Proc.  Acad.  Xat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1862,  p.  547. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  369 

quatus,  in  which  the  color  of  the  hill  is  unusually  light,  and  the  bill  itself' 
unusually  produced. 

182.t     Podiceps  cornutus  Latham.     Horned  Grebe. 
"Not  uncommon  on  the  St.  John's."  —  Boardman. 

183.t    Podilymbus  podiceps  Lawrence.     Carolina  Grebe. 
Abundant  on  the  St.  John's. 

Resume  of  the  preceding  Tables  of  Measurements,  with  suvplemental 

Remarks. 

The  following  tables  present  a  brief  summary  of  the  measurements 
given  in  Part  IV.  In  the  first  table  is  given  the  average  dimensions  of 
thirty-two  species,  based  on  specimens  collected,  in  each  case,  essentially 
from  the  same  locality,  and  generally  based  on  twenty  or  more  speci- 
mens, the  number  varying  in  the  different  species  from  thirteen  to 
sixty-five  specimens.  In  all  cases  where  the  average  sexual  differ- 
ence in  size  is  appreciable,  the  dimensions  are  given  for  each  sex. 
In  most  cases  very  nearly  all  the  specimens  are  from  Eastern  Massa- 
chusetts, a  few  being  from  different  localities  in  Southern  Maine,  and 
a  few  from  Northern  Illinois.  In  a  few  species  all  the  specimens  cited 
are  from  Eastern  Florida  ;  in  a  few  other  species  part  of  the  specimens 
are  from  Southern  New  England  and  a  part  from  Eastern  Florida ; 
but  in  these  cases  a  separate  average  is  made  of  those  from  each  of 
the  two  localities.  The  number  of  the  specimens  on  which  the  average 
is  based  is  given  in  each  instance. 

The  second  table  shows  the  range  of  individual  variation  in  size  in 
the  same  species,  based  also  on  the  same  specimens. 

The  third  table  shows  the  amount  of  geographical  variation  in  size  in 
specimens  of  the  same  species  from  northern  and  southern  localities, 
these  localities  being  generally  Southern  New  England  (Eastern  Massa- 
chusetts in  the  main)  and  East  Florida.  Only  seven  species  are  cited, 
but  I  have  traced  about  the  same  ratio  of  difference  in  a  score  or  more 
of  others,  of  which  the  measurements  have  not  yet  been  published. 
Although  the  number  of  specimens  compared  from  the  two  localities 
has  in  many  of  these  cases  been  comparatively  small,  enough  have 
been  examined  to  show  the  general  constancy  of  the  variation  in  all 
the  species  which  breed  at  both  these  localities. 

It  should  be  added  that  the  specimens  on  which  the  generalizations 

vol.  ir.  24 


370 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


given  in  Table  Hi  are  based  were  not  taken  at  the  seasons  likely  to 
give  the  greatest  differences,  the  northern  specimens  having  been  taken 
in  summer  and  the  southern  ones  in  winter.  Had  summer  Florida 
specimens  been  used  instead  of  winter  specimens,  the  differences  would 
have  been  doubtless  much  greater,  since  in  some  eases,  and  especially 
in  the  cases  of  Agelceus  phoeniceus  and  Quiscalus  purpureus,  the  sum- 
mer home  of  a  part  at  least  of  the  Florida  specimens  must  have  been 
somewhat  to  the  northward  of  Florida. 

I.  Table  showing  the  Average  Dimensions  of  Thirty-two  Species  of 
American  Birds,  based  on  Measurements  of  Thirteen  to  Sixty-five 
Specimens  of  each  Species. 


Species. 


Turdus  Swainsoni    . 
Turdua  Pallasi    .     .     . 
Turdus  fuscescens   .     .     . 
Ilarporhynchus  rufus 
Mini  us  polyglottus  .     .     . 
Galeoscoptes  earoliuensis 

Sialia  sialis 

Geothlypis  triehas  .     .     . 
Parus  atricapillus    .     . 
Tyrannus  carolinensia .     . 
Pyranga  rubra    .     . 
Troglodytes  aedon       .    . 
Passerculus  savanna 
Peucaaa  aestivalis 

Cardinalis  virginianu3 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  \ 

Hedymeles  ludoviciana 
Icterus  Baltimore 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus 

Agelajus  phoeniceus  j 


Sturnella  ludoviciana  . 


Quiscalus  purpureus 

Quiscalus  major .     . 

Cyanura  cristata 
Cyanocitta  florMana 
Hylotomus  pileatus 
Picus  borealis     .     . 
Colaptes  auratus 
Conurus  carolinensig 

Oxtyx  virginianus  . 
Sterna  hirundo  . 


Locality. 


Massachusetts 
Florida .     .     . 


Massachusetts 

Florida  . 


Illinois  .  .  . 
Florida  .  . 
Illinois  .  .  . 
Florida  .  .  . 
Massachusetts 


Suuthem  New  England 


Florida 

Southern  New  England 


Eastern  Massachusetts 
Southern  New  England 

Florida  .  .... 
Massachusetts  .  .  . 
Florida 

Southern  New  England 

Florida 

Southern  New  England 


Northern  States 
Florida  .     .     . 
Northern  States 
Florida  . 
Northern  States 
Florida 

Northern  States 
Florida  .     .     . 


"Sri 

J3 

Sex. 

a 

Z  o. 

3 

24  !  - 

7.17 

46  1  — 

7.o4 

40     — 

7.38 

17      - 

11.29 

37     - 

9.91 

20      - 

8.60 

6.80 

20      S 

5.10 

27     — 

5  38 

20     — 

8.00 

13       - 

7.05 

15     — 

4.89 

26     — 

5.20 

22     - 

5.88 

32  '  d" 

8.46 

26 ;  $ 

8  27 

30      d 

8.19 

19  '   d" 

7.ss 

17 

7-77 

20 

rT 

7  52 

20 

rT 

7-24 

40 

rT 

9.16 

28 

V 

7-53 

15 

rt 

10.43 

12 

d 

8 

V 

9  55 

9 

V 

8.96 

15 

rf 

10.43 

12 

r-T 

9.81 

8 

9  55 

9 

o 

8.96 

24 

rT 

16.51 

8 

9 

12.95 

18 

11  71 

11 



1?, 



11.74 

7 

? 

17.48 

7 

16  It 

28 

18 



12.45 

11 



11  66 

19 



13.10 

i 

rf 

lo  18 

16     r 

o  4-; 

o  37 

45     d" 

14.51 

20  1    9 

13.85 

Tf65  '~S\86 
11  17  3.07 
11  83  3-2 
13.09  4.15 
13.69  428 
11.16     3.53 


11.93 
693 
8.37 
13.77 
11.33 
t;  oi 


11.27 

11  32 
9.88 

12  15 

11.67 

14.71 

12.24 

15  70 
14.43 


15.70 
11  13 
14.09 

22  18 
1704 

0.-7 
15  11 


3.94 
2.17 
2.47 
4  49 
3  76 
2.05 


5  7*  2.70 
8  99  2  in 
11.43    3.63 


3  53 
3  43 
3.13 
3  93 
3  71 
3.78 
1.69 

3  86 

4  91 
447 
I  29 


14.09     I  21 


1  91 
1  17 

4  •» 
7  19 
5.67 

5.13 

4  7.", 


14  44  4  41 
28  07  0  21 
26.80  8  98 
14.46  4.71 

1 B  82  5  8 1 

21  70  7  59 

15  44  4  47 
14.16  4  22 
15  10  4.36 
It  02  4  17 
30.72  10.47 
30.59  1057 


j 

— 

P 

3 

H 

ci 

EH 

2.88 

1  15 

2.72 

1.15 

2.88 

113 

5.00 

1.31 

4.87 

— 

3.76 

1.10 

2.55 

78 

2.00 

.77 

2.50 

.70 

3  30 

.73 

2  00 

.75 

1.80 

.52 

1.96 

.84 

2.49 

70 

3.87 

— 

3.77 

— 

3.30 

1.00 

3.56 

.94 

■■    s-< 

.86 

2  02 

.92 

2  07 

1.00 

:;  ••:; 

— 

2  03 

— 

3  10, 

— 

— 

— 

2.57 

— 

3.16 

— 

— 

2  82 

— 

2  57 

— 

7on 

— 

5.11 

— 

1  89 

— 

5.00 

— 

4  SO 

— 

6.S2 

— 

6.54 

— 

3.41 

— 

4  85 

— 

4.40 

— 

2.82 



2  52 

— 

2.67 

— 

2.54 

— 

5-80 

.78 

5.74 

.77 

MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


371 


II.  Table  showing  the  Range  of  Individual  Variation  in  Tldrty  Species 
of  American  Birds,  based  on  the  Measurements  of  Thirteen  to  Sixty- 
five  Specimens  of  each  Species,  collected  at  the  same  Locality. 


Species. 


Turdus  Swainsoni  .     .  j 

Turdus  Pallasi    ...  J 

Turdus  fuscescens  .    .  j 

Harporhynchus  rufus .  j 
Galeoseoptes  carolinensis  ] 

Mimus  polyglottus  .     .  j 

Sialia  sialis           .     .     .  j 

Geothlyms  trichas  .     .  j 

Pyratiga  rubra    .     .     .  j 

Parus  atricapillus   .     .  j 

Troglodytes  aedon  .     .  j 

Passerculus  savanna    .  j 

Peucaea  aestivalis     .     .  { 

Cardinalis  virginianus  . 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  .j 

( 

Hedymeles  ludovicianus  J 

Icterus  Baltimore   .     .  j 

Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  ! 

Agebeus  phceniceus 
Sturnella  ludoviciana 
Quiscalus  purpureus 
Quiscalus  major 

Cyanura  cristata     . 

Cyanocitta  floridana    .  j 

Tyrannus  carolinensis  I 
Picus  borealis     . 


Locality. 


Southern  New  England 


Florida  .     .  ... 

Southern  New  England 


Eastern  Massachusetts 

Florida 

Eastern  Massachusetts 
Florida 


Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 


Southern  New  England 

Florida 

Southern  New  England 


Massachusetts 


Florida  .  .  .  , 
Northern  States 
Florida  . 


Massachusetts 
Florida  .    .    . 


Southern  New  England 
Florida       .    .         .    . 


Min. 

Max 

Min. 

Mix. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min 

Max 

Min. 

Max. 

Min 

Max. 

Min 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min 

Max. 


—     \  <*  a 

tao  i  =  v 
g       <x 

6.62  10  75 

7  7,"  12  65 
6.50  10.00 
7.05  12.25 

7.87  12.70 

10  55  12  55 
11.85  14.00 
7tt0  10.50 
9<)0  11.95 
9  27  13  00 
11.00  14  75 
6.10  11.10 
7.00  12.55 

5.63  7.50 
6.7510  65; 
7.30  11  75 
4  7-7  :■<  I 
5.75  8.60 
4.30  <3  10 
5.10  6.95 
5.20  7.61 
6.00  '.'.7.". 
5.7-J  7.60 
6.20|  8.30! 
7.75  11.00 
9.10  11.78 

7  50  10.70! 
8.7511.75 
7.50  10.00 
8.80  12.25 
7.20  9.50 
8.50  11.30 
7.15  11.50 
8,30  12.90 
7.00  10.40 
8.00  12.00 
6.65  1100 
7.70  12.15 
8.40  13.95 
9  85  15.35 
7.35  11  25 
8.55  13.55 

10.00  15.05 

11  00  17.00 

8.50  13.00 

9  50    4  75 

L200  17  00 

13.50  18  43 

•   11.00  15.25 

13  00  17  80 

15.50  21.10 

16.80  23.50 

12.10  17  25 

L3  i  I  18.25 

11  00  16.00 

12  2",  17.50 
10-70  14.75 
112-",  1600 
11  00  13.50 
12.50jl5.00 

7.0012  50 

8  65  14.80 
7  90  14.10 
8.60  15.20 


3  17  2.40 

4.30  3.40 

3.30,  2.4 

3  90  3.1 
3.55  2  63 

4  16  3.02 
3  8 I  4.50 
4.25  5.30 

3  25  335 
3.85  l  l" 
4.00  4.10 

4  75  5  15 

3  85  2.33 
4.10  2 
1.95  1 

2  37  2.10 

3.57  2  55 

4  00  2a5 
233  2.15 
2.63  26 
1.90  130 
2  44  2.40 

2.44  1.64 
2.95  2  25 
2.17  2.25 

2  55  2.68 

3  50  3  40 
3.85  4.20 
3.25  3  40 
3.85  4.10 
3.17  3.30 
3  90  3  93 
2.80  3.25 
3.50  3.90 
3  83  2  70 
4.25  3.08 

3.45  2  70 
3.851  310 

3  53  2  45 

4  00  2.82 


4.43 
5.00 
4  26 
4  43 
4  74 
5.15 

3  90 

4  65 

5  2( ' 
6.05 
500 
5  75 


2  99 

3  90 
2.65 
315 
2.82 
3.58 
2.40 
2.90 

4  58 
6.00 
455 
5.50 


6  25  6  25 

8.35  7.60 

5.251  4.75 

5.95  5.60 

4.33  4.25 

5f,5  5.65 

4  on  4  80 

5.00  5.15 

4.00  4  2_, 

4  75  5. 3.5 

4.171  2.93 

4.85  3.54 

4.40  3.15 

4.951  3.'i  5 


1.02 

127 
1.12 
1.33 
106 
118 
120 
1.42 
105 
1.18 


.62 
80 
.62 
.75 
.98 

1.13 
.80 

1.09 


.83 
1.02 

.98 
1.15 


372 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


Table  II.     (Continued.) 


Species. 


Colaptes  auratuB 
Conurus  carollnensis 

Ortyx  rirginianus  . 
Sterna  hirundo  .    . 


Locality. 


Massachusetts 
Florida  .     .     . 


Illinois  .     .     . 
Florida       .    . 
Illinois  .    . 
Florida  .     .     . 
Massachusetts 


Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
Max 


III.  Table  showing  the  Geographical  Variation  in  Si2e  in  Seven 
Species  of  American  Birds,  between  Specimens  from  Florida  and 
the  Northern  States. 


Species. 


Pipilo  erythrophthalmus 
Agelseus  phceniceus 

Sturnella  ludoviciana 

Quiscalus  purpureus  .     . 

Cyanura  cristata    .     .     . 
Colaptes  auratus     .     .     . 

Ortyx  virginianus  .     . 


Locality. 


Southern  New  England 

Florida 

Southern  New  England 
South  Carolina  &  Florida 
Northern  States     .     . 

Florida 

Northern  States    .     . 

Florida 

Northern  States    .     . 

Florida 

Northern  States     .     . 

Florida 

Massachusetts  .     .     . 
Florida  .... 

Massachusetts  .     .     . 

Florida 

Illinois     .     .  .     . 

Florida 

Illinois                .     .     . 
Florida 


o  g 

Sex. 

fc  & 

03 

32 

r? 

26 

c? 

40 

<t 

11 

r? 

15 

r? 

12 

rf 

8 

V 

9 

V 

15 

rf 

12 

(T 

8 

V 

9 

? 

18 

11 

— 

18 

— 

11 

— 

7 

rf 

If, 

rf 

6 

V 

10 

V 

8.19 
788 
9.16 
9  02 

10  43 
9.81 
9.55 
8  96 

10.43 
9.81 
9.55 

8  96 
11.71 
10.98 
1245 
1166 
10  18 

9  46 
9  83 
9.37 


1132 

9.88 

14  71 
1441 
16.30 

15  70 
1443 
14.09 
1630 
15  70 
1443 

14  09 
16.87 
15.11 
19  94 
18.82 

15  44 
14  16 
15.10 
14.02 


ti. 

3 

£ 

is 

EH 

C3 

EH 

3.43 

3  36 

1.06 

3.13 

3  56 

.94 

469 

3.63 

— 

4  62 

3.61 



4  91 

3.16 

— 

4  47 

2.85 

— 

4.29 

2.82 

— 

4  22 

2.57 

— 

4.91 

3  16 

_ 

4  47 

2.85 

— 

i  4.29 

282 



4.22 

2  r.T 

— 

5.13 

4  89 

— 

475 

5.00 

— 

6.24 

4.35 

— 

r,  si 

4  40 

— 

4.47 

2  82 

— 

4  22 

2.52 

— 

4.36 

267 

— 

4.17 

2.51 

— 

In  the  tables  and  remarks  contained  in  the  preceding  pages  many 
facts  have  been  given  bearing  upon  the  subject  of  geographical  varia- 
tion in  birds,  and  especially  in  reference  to  the  differences  that  al- 
most universally  obtain  between  specimens  of  the  same  species  from 
northern  and  southern  localities.  In  addition  to  the  smaller  size  of  the 
southern  specimens,  —  a  fact  which  has  been  for  some  time  quite  gen- 
erally recognized,  —  attention  has  been  called  to  the  differences  in  color 
and  in  the  form  of  the  bill  that  seem  almost  equally  constant  and  easy 
of  recognition.     In  several  species  that  range  in  the  breeding  season 


MUSEUM  OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  373 

from  Florida  to  Maine,  a  tendency  to  a  relatively  greater  elongation  of 
the  tail  in  the  Florida  specimens  has  also  been  noticed,  —  a  feature  so 
well  known  to  characterize  a  large  proportion  of  the  birds  of  Lower 
California,  as  pointed  out  some  years  since  by  Professor  Baird,  —  but 
this  variation  is  not  so  frequent  as  the  differences  in  size,  color,  and  in 
the  length  and  form  of  the  bill.  As  already  remarked,  the  tail  i3  not 
usually  abbreviated  proportionally  to  the  general  diminution  in  size  in 
the  southern  or  Florida  forms  of  the  birds  of  Eastern  North  America, 
and  in  some  species  it  is  actually  longer  than  in  the  larger  northern  birds. 
As  shown  in  the  above  tables,  this  is  the  case  in  Pipilo  erythrophthal- 
mus,  Cyanura  a-istata,  and  Colaptes  auratus,  or  in  three  species  out  of 
the  seven  cited  in  the  last  table. 

In  numerous  instances  the  southern  forms  of  the  birds  enumerated 
in  Part  IV  of  this  paper  have  already  been  specifically  separated  from 
their  northern  relatives ;  and  if  the  example  of  some  previous  writers 
was  to  be  followed  at  least  a  dozen  other  similar  species  might  still  be 
added  from  among  the  birds  of  Florida.  Some,  indeed,  might  be  re- 
ferred to  the  already  separated  West  Indian  and  Mexican  or  Central 
American  so-called  species  rather  than  to  the  northern  type.  As  al- 
ready stated,  I  consider  this  almost  universal  similar  variation  of  the 
southern  representatives  of  species  from  their  northern  representatives 
to  be  the  result  of  a  law  of  gradual  geographical  differentiation,  and 
that  the  interest  of  science  is  better  subserved  by  simply  recognizing 
these  differences,  and  the  law  of  geographical  variation  of  which  they 
are  the  result,  than  by  giving  to  each  newly  discovered  race  a  distinctive 
binomial  name ;  and  the  more  especially  since  in  numerous  instances 
there  is  the  most  indubitable  proof  of  the  gradual  and  almost  imper- 
ceptibly minute  intergradation  of  the  extreme  northern  and  extreme 
southern  types,  even  in  cases  where  they  are  the  most  widely  diverse. 

In  conclusion,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  differential  diagnoses  of  the 
southern  types,  in  cases  where  they  have  been  specifically  separated 
from  the  northern,  and  the  comparisons  of  them  made  with  the  northern 
for  the  purpose  of  showing  their  specific  distinctness,  are  in  many 
cases  admirable  descriptions  of  the  usual  differences  found  to  distinguish 
the  Florida-born  birds  from  their  -co-specific  representatives  born  in 
the  Northern  States.  These  differences  are  commonly  solely  the  fol- 
lowing :  In  the  southern  types  the  size  is  smaller,  the  bill  longer,  and 
the  colors  generally  darker ;  the  latter  resulting  from  the  greater  pre- 


374 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


dominance  of  the  black  in  those  in  which  portions  of  the  plumage  are 
mottled  with  this  color,  and  the  greater  breadth  of  the  dark  transverse 
bars,  and  the  correspondingly  diminished  breadth  of  the  alternating 
lighter  ones.  To  illustrate  this  point  more  fully,  I  herewith  append  a 
list  of  some  of  the  so-called  species  of  American  birds  that  have  been 
specifically  separated  by  different  authors  from  their  northern  repre- 
sentatives, but  which  are  in  reality  only  the  extreme  southern  forms  of 
species  previously  well  known,  with  which  they  were  considered  by  the 
older  writers  to  be  specifically  identical,  the  most  of  them  having  been 
separated  within  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  years  :  — 

Accipiter  Gundlachi,    separated  from  Accipiter  Cooperi. 
Accipiter  fringilloides,  "  Accipiter  fuscus. 

Falco  dominicensis, 

cinnamominus  et     '  "  Falco  sparverius. 


Mimus  polyglottus. 

Seiurus  noveboracensis. 
Thryothorus  ludovicianus. 
Dendrceca  aestiva. 

Chordeiles  popetue. 

Antrostomus  vociferus. 
Icterus  spurius. 

Sturnella  ludoviciana. 

Quiscalus  purpureus. 
Corvus  americanus. 
Ortyx  virginianus. 
Campephilus  principalis. 
Colaptes  auratus. 
Butorides  vircscens. 
Actiturus  Bartramius. 
Macrorhamphus  griseus. 
Charadrius  melodus 

Larus  argentatus. 


Sparveroides,  etc. 
Mimus  Gundlachi       ") 

et  Hillii,  etc.  ) 

Seiurus  ludovicianus, 
Thryothorus  Berlandieri, 
Dendrceca  Gundlachi,  etc. 
Chordeiles  minor  et    ") 

Gundlachi,  etc.       > 
Antrostomus  cubanensis, 
Xanthornus  affinis, 
Sturnella  hippocrepis  et    | 

mexicana,  ) 

Quiscalus  baritus, 
Corvus  minuttts, 
Ortyx  cubanensis  et  texanus, 
Campephilus  Bairdii, 
Colaptes  chrysocaulosus, 
Butorides  brunnescens, 
Actiturus  longicaudus, 
Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus 
Charadrius  tenuirostris, 
Larus  argentatoides  et     *> 

Smithsonianus,  ) 


In  other  cases  the  arctic  forms,  or  the  northern  types,  having  been 
discovered  subsequently  to  the  southern  ones,  these  have  been  described 
a3  specifically  distinct  from  the  latter.     The  Bucephala  islandica,  sep- 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  375 

arated  from  the  B.  americana  et  clangula,  and  the  Collurio  excubitoroides 
from  the  G.  ludoricianus,  will  serve  to  indicate  the  class  of  so-called 
species  here  referred  to. 

The  Pacific  Slope  of  North  America  furnishes  a  similar  list  of  spe- 
cies, based  on  either  southern  or  northern  forms  of  others  previously 
known  ;  and  the  middle  region  of  the  continent  its  list  of  similar  nominal 
species,  mainly  based  on  the  desert  forms  of  widely  ranging  species.  In 
the  northern  half  of  the  Old  World,  also,  have  the  northern  and  south- 
ern geographical  forms  of  the  same  species  been  specifically  separated ; 
but  it  is  not  my  intention  to  call  farther  attention  to  them  at  present. 

As  already  remarked,  the  American  representatives  of  circumpolar 
species  differ  from  the  European  and  Asiatic  principally  in  two  ways, 
namely,  in  the  apparently  slightly  larger  size  of  the  American,  and  in 
their  somewhat  brighter  colors ;  but  specific  separations  seem  to  have 
been  based  almost  as  frequently  upon  some  theory  of  geographical  distri- 
bution, or  upon  the  individual  variation  of  single  specimens,  as  upon  the 
real  though  slight  differences  that  frequently  obtain  in  such  cases. 

PART    V. 

On  the  Geographical  Distribution  of  the  Birds  of  Eastern  North  Amer- 
ica, with  special  reference  to  the  Number  and  Circumscription  of  the 
Ornithological  Fauna. 

1.  Introductory  Remarks. 
The  distribution  of  plants  and  animals  in  circumpolar  zones  over  the 
earth's    surface  has  been  long  recognized;   Humboldt*    first  making 
known  the  fact  of  such  a  natural  distribution  of  the  plants,  and  Agassiz,f 

*  Humboldt,  A.  vox,  et  Boxpland,  Ai.me.  "  Essai  sur  la  G^ographie  des  Plantes," 
etc.     4to.     Paris.     1805. 

t  Acassiz,  Louis.  "  Essai  sur  la  G(?ographie  des  Animaux,"  Pevue  Suisse  et  Chro- 
nique  LitteYaire,  Tome  VIII,  pp.  441-452,  538-585,  1845.  •' Note  sur  la  Distribution 
Geographique  des  Animaux  et  de  l'Homme,"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe"  des  Sciences  Natu- 
relles  de  Xeuchatel,  Tome  I,  pp.  162-166,  357-361,  366-369,  1845.  "Sur  la  Distribu- 
tion Geographique  actuelle  et  le  mode  de  l'apparition  actuelle  des  Animaux  a  la 
surface  du  Globe."  Ibid.,  Tom.  2,  pp.  347-351,  1847.  "Geographical  Distribution  of 
Animals,"  Edinburgh  New  Philosophical  Magazine,  Vol.  XLVI,  pp.  1-25,  1850. 
Ibid.,  Christian  Examiner,  Vol.  XL VIII,  pp.  184-204,  1850.  '-Sketch  of  tiie  Natural 
Provinces  of  the  Animal  World  and  their  Relation  to  the  different  Types  of  Man,"  Nott 
and  Gliddon's  Types  of  Mankind,  pp.  lviii-  Ixxxii,  1854.  Also  especially  insisted  upon 
in  a  course  of  unpublished  Lectures  delivered  before  the  Lowell  Institute,  Boston, 
December,  1869. 


376  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

"Wagner,*  Dana,f  and  other?,  subsequently  establishing  the  same  in  re- 
gard to  animals  ;  the  distribution  of  both  plants  and  animals  being  prima- 
rily determined  by  the  same  influences.  It  has  been  further  shown  that 
these  influences  are  mainly  climatic,  temperature  having  been  justly 
recognized  as  governing  the  limitation,  especially  in  latitude,  of  not  only 
the  species,  but  of  faunae  and  flora;.  Their  limitation  in  longitude  is 
likewise  as  directly  determined  by  climatic  influences,]:  though  indirectly 
by  physical  barriers,  as  oceans,  mountain  chains,  and  deserts.  Humidity, 
in  many  instances,  is  scarcely  a  less,  and  in  some  cases  a  more,  power- 
ful limiting  agent  than  temperature,  plants  being  highly  sensitive  to 
hygrometric  conditions,  and  their  distribution  intimately  affects  that  of 
animals,  since  the  existence  of  the  latter  is  dependent  upon  the  presence 
of  the  former,  and  their  variety  and  numbers  upon  the  degree  of  luxu- 
riance of  the  vegetation.  The  faunal  and  floral  zones  hence  coincide 
in  their  limitation  in  latitude  with  the  climatic  zones,  but  by  no  means 
necessarily  with  the  geographical  circles  ;  isothermal  lines,  and  not  paral- 
lels of  latitude,  forming  their  boundaries.  Their  limits  in  longitude  are 
determined  by  the  influence  geographical  barriers,  especially  long  chains 
of  high  mountains,  exert  upon  climate. 

*  Wagneb,  Andreas.  "  Die  geographische  Verbreitung  der  Siiugethiere,"  Abhand- 
lungen  de:  baierischen  Akademie  der  Wissenschaften,  Math.  Phys.  Classe,  Band  IV, 
Abth.  I,  pp.  1-146,  2d  Abth.,  pp.  1-108,  3d  Abth.,  pp.  3-114.  Mit  9  Karten,  1844- 
1846. 

t  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition  Report,  Crustacea,  Vol.  II,  pp.  1451-1500,  1852. 

J  I  am  aware  of  the  diversity  of  opinions  still  prevalent  among  naturalists  in  regard 
to  the  influence  climate  exerts  in  determining  the  geographical  distribution  of  species, 
and  that  many  writers  on  this  subject  attribute  to  it  only  a  slight  importance,  or  alto- 
gether ignore  it.  The  limits  of  these  preliminary  remarks  will  not  allow  of  an  extended 
comparison  of  the  views  of  different  authors  on  this  point,  nor  a  detailed  consideration 
of  the  supposed  objections  that  have  been  raised  against  the  proposition  above  expressed. 
I  agree  with  Mr.  Andrew  Murray  in  his  remark,  that,  although  "various  authors  have 
endeavored  to  embody  the  differences  between  the  faunas  and  floras  of  the  different  re- 
gions of  the  globe  into  some  kind  of  system,  ....  they,  with  one  or  two  exceptions, 
have  worked  upon  no  definite  principle,  and  the  result  has  been  a  mere  catalogue  of  re- 
gions which  possessed  peculiarities  without  distinguishing  their  relative  importance, 
or  their  relation  to  each  other"  (Geographical  Distribution  of  Mammals,  p.  296,  4to, 
London,  1866),—  a  remark  which  unfortunately  semis  in  some  degree  applicable  to 
Mr.  Murray's  own  generalizations.  That  temperature  is  n  powerful  limiting  influence 
affecting  the  range  of  species,  especially  in  respect  to  their  northward  and  southward 
extension,  is  so  easily  demonstrable  that  I  am  surprised  to  see  it  -till  questioned.  I  have 
myself  subjected  this  principle  to  a  rigid  examination  in  studying  the  distribution  of 
the  animals  and  plant-  of  Eastern  North  America,  and  have  been  surprised  at  the  exact 
coincidence  I  have  almost  constantly  met  with  between  their  northern  and  southern 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  377 

The  uniform  character  of  both  the  flora  and  the  fauna  throughout  tlie 
arctic  zone  is  one  of  the  most  striking  onto-geographical  features  thus 
far  known,  and  one  of  primary  importance,  especially  when  taken  in 
connection  with  its  relation  to  the  fauna?  and  flora?  of  more  southern 
latitudes.  Not  less  significant  is  the  fact  that  in  the  temperate  zone 
there  is  still  a  prevalence  of  identical  forms  in  each  of  the  three  north- 
ern continents,  where  the  resemblance  of  the  animals  and  plants  of 
either  continent  to  those  of  the  others  is  far  greater  than  is  the  resem- 
blance of  those  of  the  temperate  regions  of  either  continent  to  those  of 
the  tropical  portions  of  the  same  continent. 

Different  animals  and  plants,  as  every  one  recognizes,  are  differently 
limited  in  respect  to  their  geographical  range.  A  small  proportion  of 
the  species  are  almost  or  quite  cosmopolitan  ;  others  range  over  the 
greater  part  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  finding  their  southern  limit  of 
Mstribution  near  the  tropics.  A  few  are  exclusively  arctic,  or  range 
only  over  the  arctic  and  cold-temperate  zones.  Many  are  limited  to  the 
temperate  zone,  throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  which  they  find  a  con- 
genial home.     A  large  number  can  only  exist  within  the  tropics,  often 

limits  of  distribution  and  isothermal  lines,  they  following  them  in  all  their  numerous 
undulations,  sweeping  northward  in  the  valleys  and  southward  along  the  sides  of 
mountain  ranges.  The  occurrence  on  isolated  alpine  summits  of  species  existing  at  a 
lower  level  only  far  to  the  northward,  is  of  itself  suggestive  of  the  powerful  influence 
temperature  has  on  the  distribution  of  animals  and  plants.  In  the  northern  hemisphere 
a  northern  fauna  and  flora  everywhere  extends  along  the  mountains  hundreds  of  miles 
to  the  southward  of  their  respective  limits  in  the  adjoining  plains  and  valleys.  Various 
other  causes  have,  of  course,  a  greater  or  less  influence  in  determining  the  range  of  spe- 
cies, but  none  other,  on  the  land  areas,  humidity  perhaps  alone  excepted,  is  nearly  so 
potent.  The  want  of  conformity  of  isothermal  lines  with  parallels  of  latitude  has  doubt- 
less led  to  confusion  in  regard  to  this  subject,  since  vain  attempts  have  often  been  made 
to  circumscribe  the  botanical  and  zoological  zones  by  the  latter. 

Differences  of  temperature  evidently  explain  many  of  the  otherwise  seeminglv  inex- 
plicable sudden  transitions  in  the  faunae  and  florae  of  adjoining  regions,  especially  in  re- 
gard to  the  marine  animals  and  plants,  temperature  forming  a  strong  barrier  to  the  com- 
mingling of  species  inhabiting  the  waters  of  opposite  sides  of  peninsulas  having  a  north 
and  south  trend,  or  such  long  narrow  points  of  land  as  terminate  the  South  American  ami 
African  continents.  Those  of  the  one  side  cannot  pass  to  the  other  without  passing 
through  a  zone  of  colder  water  than  their  organization  will  allow  them  to  sustain.  The 
isotherms  of  the  continents  are  widely  deflected  by  the  irregularities  of  the  surface  of  the 
land,  running  nearly  straight  and  parallel  across  level  areas;  but  in  mountainous  districts 
they  bend  abruptly  northward  or  southward,  following  along  the  sides  of  mountains  in- 
stead of  crossing  them.  In  the  same  manner  are  species,  and  fauna?  and  florae,  limited, 
—  a  coincidence  clearly  indicative  of  th«  strong  influence  climates  exert  in  determining 
their  geographical  limits. 


378  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

embracing  whole  families,  none  of  whose  representatives  are  found  oui- 
side  of  the  torrid  zone  of  a  single  continent.  Others  are  again  equally 
at  home  in  the  torrid  and  warm  temperate  zones,  but  which  do  not  exist 
either  in  the  arctic  or  cold  temperate  zones  ;  others  range  throughout 
the  temperate  and  subtorrid.  Nearly  an  equal  number,  some  tropical, 
but  the  greater  part  temperate  species,  range  across  continental  areas, 
within  which,  however,  they  are  restricted.  A  great  number  of  others 
find  their  range  limited  in  longitude  to  the  half  or  the  third  of  a  conti- 
nent, and  others  within  still  more  circumscribed  boundaries,  fluviatile 
species  being  frequently  confined  to  single  river  basins.  Through  this 
diversity  of  geographical  range  we  have  what  may  be  termed  cosmopoli- 
tan, semi-cosmopolitan,  circumpolar,  continental,  semi-continental,  and 
(relatively  speaking)  restricted  species.  The  circumpolar  and  the  conti- 
nental are  again  realm  species,  the  semi-continental  and  restricted, prov- 
ince species.  Rarely  is  any  species  limited  to  a  narrower  area  than  that 
of  two  or  three  fauna;  or  flora;.  Hence  fauna;  and  flora;  —  which  terms, 
in  their  restricted  sense,  are  properly  applied  only  to  the  smallest  of 
the  onto-geographical  divisions  —  are  determined  by  the  peculiar  associa- 
tion of  species,  and  not  by  the  range  of  a  single  or  of  a  few  "  restricted  " 
species  ;  hence  by  their  general  facies.  Provinces,  and  realms,  on  the 
other  hand,  may  have  species,  and  even  genera  and  families,  exclusively 
distinctive  of  them.  As  there  are  cosmopolitan,  circumpolar,  continental, 
and  other  kinds  of  species,  so  there  must  be  cosmopolitan,  circumpolar, 
continental,  and  other  kinds  of  genera  and  families  ;  the  latter,  as  well 
as  species,  having  each  a  definite  or  specific  geographical  range  as  dis- 
tinctive of  them  as  any  biological  or  anatomical  character  may  be.  They 
are  each  circumscribed  within  definite  areas,  beyond  which  their 
special  adaptation  to  their  natural  surroundings  forbids  their  extension, 
unless  aided  by  extraneous  and  unusual  circumstances. 

The  three  divisions  of  zones,  realms  (or  "  regions"),  provinces,  and 
fauna'  and  flora-,*  comprise  the  phyto-zoblogic  divisions  usually  recog- 

*  Z>me,  realm,  region,  kingdom,  and  province,  are  forms  which  have  been  used  by  dif- 
ferent authors  to  designate  the  primary  natural-history  divisions  of  the  earth's  surface. 
In  deciding  as  to  which  of  those  terms  should  be  exclusively  applied  to  these  divisions, 
not  only  priority  of  use,  but  appropriateness,  should  of  course  be  considered,  and  also  the 
sense  in  which  they  are  at  present  currently  employed,  in  order  to  avoid,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible,  the  confusion  necessarily  attending  changes  of  nomenclature.  So  far  as  priority 
is  concerned,  zone  undoubtedly  has  the  precedence,  it  having  boon  u-ed  for  animals  by 
Wagner  in  1844,  by  Agassiz  in  1845,  and  much  earlier  than  this  by  Humboldt  and  ot 
in  relation  to  the  distribution  of  plants.    It  is,  however,  not  always  a  strictly  convenient 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  379 

nized.  The  boundaries  of  realms  and  provinces  have  often  been  arbi- 
trarily fixed,  inasmuch  as  they  have  been  frequently  limited  and  named 
in  conformity  to  the  continental  areas,  regardless  of  the  fundamental 
law  of  the  distribution  of  life  in  circumpolar  zones.* 

In  addition  to  the  law  of  the  circumpolar  distribution  of  life  in  zones, 
another  may  be  recognized,  namely,  that  of  a  differentiation  from  the 
north  southward,  since  in  passing  from  the  northern  pole  to  the.  equator 
we  meet  with  a  constant  and  accelerated  divergence  in  the  character 
of  the  animals  and  plants  of  successive  regions  of  the  continent.  More 
or  less  related  to  the  last  is  a  third  law  of  differentiation,  namely,  a 
divergence  of  the  life  of  given  portions  of  continental  areas  from  that 
of  the  corresponding  portions  of  other  continents,  in  proportion  to  the 
oceanic  space  separating  such  corresponding  regions.  As  evidence  of 
this  fact  we  have  but  to  compare  successively  the  life  of  the  north 
temperate,  tropical,  and  south  temperate  zones  of  the  Western  hemi- 
sphere with  the  life  of  the  corresponding  zones  of  the  Eastern  hemi- 
sphere ;  or  that  of  Australia  with  the  life  of  the  other  continents,  as  a 
whole ;  or  that  of  tropical  Asia  with  Africa  or  South  America.  A 
comparison  of  Africa  with  South  America,  and  the  fauna?  and  florae 
of  islands  with  those  of  the  different  continents,  further  corroborates 
this  law.     There  is,  furthermore,  a  correlation  between  the  diversity 

term.  Realm,  region,  fauna  and  flora,  and  province,  have  been  also  successively  used  in 
the  same  sense,  and  also  for  divisions  of  subordinate  rank,  and  in  different  ways  by  even 
the  same  writers.  In  regard  to  the  names  of  the  divisions  of  the  second,  third,  and 
fourth  rank,  there  is  an  equal  want  of  uniformity  in  the  use  of  the  terms  by  which  they 
have  been  designated.  As  being  most  convenient  and  least  opposed  to  current  usage, 
the  following  schedule  of  -names  for  *'ie  primary  and  subordinate  divisions  has  been 
°dopted  in  the  present  paper:  — 

Realms  for  divisions  of  tlie  first  rank. 

Regions  for  divisions  of  the  second  rank. 

Provinces  for  divisions  of  the  third  rank. 

Districts  for  divisions  of  the  fourth  rank. 

Fauna  and  flora  for  the  smallest  or  ultimate  divisions,  like  the  bird  faunae  of  Eastern 
North  America,  presently  to  be  characterized. 

Intermediate  divisions  to  some  of  those  above  mentioned  may  in  special  cases  be  re- 
quired; but  until  the  necessity  for  them  is  made  apparent,  no  names  for  such  need  be 
proposed. 

*  Sclater,  P.  L.  "  On  the  general  Geographical  Distribution  of  the  Members  of  the 
Class  Aves,"  Jour,  of  the  Proc.  of  the  Linnsean  Society,  Vol.  II,  Zoology,  pp.  130-  149, 
1858.  The  divisions  proposed  by  this  author  have  been  quite  generally  adopted,  but 
without  corroboration,  or  apparently  a  critical  examination  of  their  merits 


380  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

of  life  in  a  given  area  and  the  relative  temperature  of  that  area,  the 
number  of  distinct  forms  increasing  directly  with  the  increase  in  the 
temperature,  other  conditions  remaining  essentially  unchanged.  The 
number  of  distinct  species  and  geographical  races  also  increases  directly 
with  the  increase  in  the  diversity  of  the  conditions  of  life  resulting 
from  differences  of  geographical  configuration.  Hence  fauna?  and 
flora?  cover  a  smaller  area  in  the  warm  temperate  and  tropical  latitudes 
than  at  the  northward,  and  in  a  mountainous  region  than  in  a  level 
region.  Hence  within  the  torrid  zone,  where  a  maximum  temperature 
is  generally  associated  with  a  highly  diversified  surface,  species,  genera, 
and  families  are  the  most  numerous,  and  faunae  and  flora?,  as  well  as 
species,  are  ordinarily  the  most  narrowly  circumscribed. 

In  accordance  with  the  facts  stated  above  respecting  the  mode  of 
the  distribution  of  animals  and  plants  over  the  earth's  surface,  and  the 
zoological  and  botanical  laws  of  the  differentiation  and  mutual  relations 
of  the  different  regions,  the  following  primary  natural-history  divisions 
may  be  recognized :  I,  an  Arctic  Realm  ;  II,  a  North  Temperate 
Realm ;  III,  an  American  *  Tropical  Realm ;  IV,  an  Indo-African 
Tropical  Realm;  V,  a  South  American  Temperate  Realm;  VI,  an 
African  Temperate  Realm  ;  VII,  an  Antarctic  Realm  ;  VIII,  an  Aus- 
tralian Realm. 

The  Arctic  Realm  presents  a  nearly  uniform  character  throughout 
its  extent,  and,  though  embracing  several  faunae,  is  not  divisible  into 

*  The  terms  "  Palir-ogean  "  and  "  Neogean,"  "  Pala?arctic  "  and  '  Nearctie  "  etc.,  like 
those  of  "  Old  World  "  and  "  New  World,"  have  been  given  with  reference  solely  to  the 
length  of  time  the  different  land  areas  of  the  earth's  surface  have  been  known  to  the 
dominant  race  of  mankind,  and  hence  regardless  of  the  zoological  history  of  these 
different  land  areas.  Modem  science  has  taught  us  that  the  latent  discovered  continent 
(Australia)  is  peopled  with  the  most  ancient  types  of  animals  and  plants  now  in  exist- 
ence, and  that  it  is,  zoologically  considered,  the  ancient  continent.  Also  that  North 
and  South  America  are  behind  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa  in  their  zoological  and 
geological  development,  while  they  are  far  in  advance  of  Australia.  To  apply  the 
term  "ancient"  to  what  is  really  the  most  recent,  and  "modern"  to  what  is  mediaeval, 
is  evidently  too  great  a  misuse  of  language  to  be  allowable  in  scientific  nomenclature. 
The  sciences  of  geographical  zoology  and  geographical  botany  concern  not  merely 
the  geographical  distribution  of  the  animals  and  plants  now  living,  hut  also  those  of  the 
pa  t.  If  such  descriptive  terms  as  the  a  hove  are  to  be  employed,  it  is  evidently  im- 
portant that  they  should  he  used  in  their  legitimate  sen<e.  In  the  present  paper  it  has 
hence  been  considered  advisable  to  altogether  discard  these  terms,  since  to  use  them 
properly  woidd  nece-dtate  their  adoption  in  a  manner  directly  opposite  to  their  origma' 
and  generally  accepted  application. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  381 

provinces.  Its  southern  boundary  may  be  considered  as  the  northern 
limit  of  forest-trees,  or  about  the  isotheral  of  50°  F. 

The  North  Temperate  Realm  presents  a  more  varied  character,  and 
is  divisible  into  an  American  Region  and  an  Eur  opceo- Asiatic  Region, 
each  of  which  is  divisible  into  provinces,  districts,  and  faunae  and  florae. 
Its  boundaries  may  be  provisionally  considered  as  the  isotherms  of  32° 
and  70°  F. 

The  American  Tropical  Realm,  and  also  the  Indo- African  Tropical 
Realm,  may  be  regarded  as  bounded  by  the  isotherms  of  70°  F.  The 
first  is  far  more  homogeneous  than  the  second.  Though  the  American 
Tropical  Realm  is  perhaps  not  divisible  into  distinct  regions,  it  cer- 
tainly embraces  several  provinces  and  districts,  and  is  rich  in  faunae 
and  florae.  The  Indo-African  Tropical  Realm  may  be  divided  into  an 
African  Region  and  an  Indian  Region,  each  composed  of  several  prov- 
inces and  districts,  and  a  great  number  of  faunae  and  florae. 

The  South  American  Temperate  Realm  embraces  that  part  of  South 
America  south  of  the  isotherm  of  70°  F. ;  the  African  Temperate 
Realm  includes  that  part  of  Africa  south  of  the  same  isotherm,  whilst 
the  Antarctic  Realm  is  restricted  to  the  antarctic  islands. 

The  Australian  Realm,  embracing  Australia,  New  Zealand,  New 
Guinea,  and  their  dependent  islands,  including  those  to  the  eastward 
as  far  as  Timor  and  Celebes,  is  zoologically  as  distinct  from  the  other 
primary  regions  as  it  is  in  its  geographical  position.  It  is  divisible 
into  a  Temperate  and  a  Tropical  Region,  the  former  embracing  New 
Zealand  and  the  southern  third  of  Australia.  Each  of  these  regions 
includes  two  or  three  well-marked  provinces. 

The  above  division  of  the  earth's  surface*  avoids  the  arbitrary 
partitioning  of  an  almost  homogeneous  Arctic    Realm   between   two 

*  It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  the  present  article  to  trace  the  subdivisions  of  the 
earth's  surface  in  relation  to  the  distribution  of  its  organic  life  any  further  than  to 
furnish  illustrations  of  the  general  principles  according  to  which  it  is  believed  animals 
and  plants  are  distributed,  and  by  which  the  land  surface  of  the  earth  is  divided.  De- 
termining the  rank  of  the  several  divisions  by  the  amount  of  variation  from  others  they 
present,  it  is  found,  as  indicated  above,  that  the  divisions  of  co-ordinate  rank  increase 
in  number  to  the  southward.  The  Arctic  Realm  is  homogeneous  to  such  an  extent  as 
not  to  admit  of  divisions  of  a  higher  grade  than  faunae  and  flora;.  In  the  Temperate 
Realm  the  animals  and  plants  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  hemispheres  are,  as  a  whole, 
so  far  different  as  to  admit  of  the  division  of  this  zone  into  two  grand  divisions  (divis- 
ions of  the  second  order),  with  other  divisions  between  these  and  the  ultimate  ones. 
In  the  Tropical  Realm  the  differences  in  the  life  of  the  two  hemispheres  is  so  great  as 


382  BULLETIN   OF   TIIE 

implied  totally  distinct  life  regions,  and  also  a  similar  division  of  the 
two  slightly  differentiated  regions  of  the  North  Temperate  Realm. 
For  nearly  all  the  species,  and  hence  of  course  the  genera  and  fam- 
ilies, of  the  Arctic  Realm,  and  a  considerable  percentage  of  the  species, 
a  larger  proportion  of  the  genera,  and  nearly  all  the  families  of  the 
Temperate  Realm,  occur  in  the  northern  parts  of  both  the  so-called 
"  Neogean  "  and  "  Palrcogean  Creations."  *  It  is  thus  seen  that  the 
life  of  the  North  Temperate  Realm  differs  far  more  from  that  of  the 
Tropical  Realms  than  the  life  of  the  Old  World  does  from  that  of 
the  New.  Hence  the  subdivision  of  the  earth's  surface  into  pri- 
mary ontological  regions,  according  in  area  with  the  two  primary  divis- 
ions of  the  land,  now  so  generally  adopted,  is  contrary  to  the  facts, 
since  it  wholly  ignores  the  close  resemblance  of  the  animals  and  plants 
inhabiting  the  north  temperate  and  arctic  regions,  and  the  striking 
differences  between  them  and  those  of  the  intertropical  zone.  The 
recognition  of  a  "Nearctic"  as  contradistinguished  from  a  "  Palas- 
arctic  Region "  is  almost  equally  arbitrary  and  at  variance  with  the 
law  of  the  distribution  of  life  in  circumpolar  zones. f 

Dana,  in  his  map  of  the  geographical  distribution  of  marine  ani- 
mals,} divided  the  Tropical  Zone  into  four  subzones,  —  a  North  and  a 
South  Torrid  and  a  North  and  a  South  Subtorrid ;  and  each  temper- 
to  require  a  division  of  the  torrid  zone,  considered  as  a  climatic  zone,  into  two  primary- 
divisions,  with  subdivisions  of  each  of  several  ranks.  The  south  temperate  (climatic) 
zone  is  similarly  divisible,  while  the  Australian  Realm,  from  its  isolated  position  and 
its  remarkable  individualization,  forms  a  primary  region,  with  subdivisions  of  various 
grades. 

*  Dr.  Sclater  properly  observes:  "It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  ornithology  of  the 
Palsearctic,  or  great  temperate  region  of  the  Old  World,  is  more  easily  characterized  by 
what  it  has  not  rather  than  by  what  it  has.  There  are  certainly  few  among  the  groups 
of  birds  occurring  in  this  region  which  do  not  develop  themselves  [to  an  equal  or]  to  a 
greater  extent  elsewhere,"  etc.  —  Journ.  of  P roc.  /.inn.  Soc  ,  Zoology,  Vol.  II,  p.  137. 

t  I  may  here  add  that  the  homoge msness  of  the  life  of  the  boreal  regions  has  been 

recognized  by  a  number  of  recent  writers,  among  whom  are  Dr.  L.  K.  Schmarda,  Dr.  Von 

Middendorff,  and  Professor  Huxley,  who  have  each  recognized  a  circumpolar  region. 

Professor  Huxley  has  also  called  attention  (see  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.   Loud.,  1868,  pp.  313- 

819)  to  the  wide  divergence  of  the  life  of  the  tropics  from  that  of  the  north-temperate 

19  of  even  the  same  continents,  and  the   individualization   of  Australia  and  its 

ent  islands.     He  considers  that  the  whole  surface  of  the  globe  may  be  "primarily 

subdivided  into  two  principal  areas, —  a  northern  and  a  southern,"  tor  winch  be  has  pro- 

I  the  names  Arclogoea  and  Notogcea.     The  latter  be  has  divided  into  three  regions, — 

>. Columbia  (=  Neotropical  Region  of  Sclater),  Australasia,  and  New  Zealand. 

I    Rep.  on  Crust,  of  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped   (Vol   II),  under  Capt.  Wilkes. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  383 

ate  zone  into  five  subzones, — a  Temperate  proper,,  a  Subtemperate,  a 
Warm  Temperate,  a  Cold  Temperate,  and  a  Subfrigid.  These  zones 
are  equally  recognizable  in  the  distribution  of  terrestrial  life  ;  but,  owing 
to  inequalities  of  its  surface,  they  are  of  course  less  regular  on  the 
land  than  on  the  oceans. 

The  zones  and  subzones,  or  the  Provinces  and  the  minor  phytological 
and  zoological  divisions  of  the  globe,  are  usually  not  trenchantly  de- 
fined. Their  boundaries  being  determined  by  climatic  conditions,  the 
transition  between  adjacent  zones,  or  between  ontological  divisions  of 
•whatever  rank,  is  rarely  abrupt ;  like  the  climatic  zones,  they  blend 
more  or  less  at  their  edges,  their  boundaries  being  strongly  marked  only 
in  regions  possessing  a  highly  varied  surface,  as  in  mountainous  dis- 
tricts.  They  are,  nevertheless,  easily  recognizable,  and  can  be  ap- 
proximately defined.  Generally  the  dividing  lines  are  more  or  less 
undulating,  and,  being  determined  indirectly  by  chains  of  mountains 
and  other  physical  barriers,  adjoining  faunae  and  florae,  and  even  adjoin- 
ing provinces  and  realms,  almost  always  interdigitate,  and  frequently 
enclose  isolated  areas  of  others,  as  will  be  presently  shown  in  describ- 
ing the  ornithological  fauna?  of  Eastern  North  America. 

The  boundaries  of  faunae  and  florae,  like  the  range  of  species,  are 
determined  indirectly  by  elevations  and  depressions  of  the  earth's  sur- 
face, these  variations  in  the  altitude  of  the  land  producing  varying 
conditions  of  temperature  and  humidity,  which  latter,  as  already  stated, 
are  the  direct  limiting  influences  of  species,  and  of  tn*e  botanical  and 
zoological  divisions  of  the  globe.  The  permanency  of  their  boundaries 
hence  depends  upon  the  constancy  of  the  physiographic  conditions  of 
these  areas,  a  migration  of  species,  and  of  faunae  and  florae,  necessarily 
following  changes  in  these  conditions.  That  such  migrations  have 
taken  place  is  evident  from  the  occurrence  in  the  post-tertiary 
deposits  of  the  warm  temperate  latitudes  of  the  fossil  remains  of 
species  found  now  only  in  the  cold  temperate  and  arctic  regions,  and 
in  the  tertiary  strata  of  high  latitudes  of  the  remains  of  other  species 
whose  nearest  allies  are  now  found  in  the  warm  tempeiatu  and  sub- 
tropical zones.  These  facts  indicate  clearly  the  great  changes  in 
temperature  that  have  repeatedly  occurred  at  given  localities  during 
the  earth's  history.  In  respect  to  existing  animals,  however,  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  determine  how  much  their  known  recession  northward,  as  of 
the  reindeer,  for  example,  is  due  to  climatic  changes,  and  how  much  to 


38-i  BULLETIN   OF-  THE 

human  agency,  or  whether  it  may  not  be  due  exclusively  to  the  latter 
cause. 

2.    The   Natural   Provinces   of  the   North  American  Tem- 
perate Region  * 

Before  passing  to  the  special  subject  of  the  present  article,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  consider  briefly  the  North  American  continent  as  a  whole. 
As  already  shown,  North  America  embraces  portions  of  three  realms, 
the  Arctic,  the  North  Temperate,  and  the  Tropical.  It  belongs  mainly, 
however,  to  the  North  Temperate  Realm,  of  which  the  temperate  por- 
tions of  North  America  form  the  Western  Region.  Within  this  Region 
may  be  recognized  two  Provinces,  —  an  Eastern  and  a  Western,  —  quite 
distinct  from  each  other  in  their  general  features  as  well  as  in  man; 
special  characteristics.  The  Eastern  Province  is  characterized  by  the 
uniformity  of  its  geographical  and  climatic  features  and  by  a  com 
sponding  uniformity  in  its  faunal  and  floral  aspects.  The  Wester^ 
Province,  on  the  other  hand,  is  characterized  by  the  diversity  of  ito 
geographical  and  climatic  features,  —  different  areas  situated  under  the 
same  parallels  differing  greatly  «n  these  respects,  —  and  by  the  number 
and  small  extent  of  its  zoological  and  botanical  areas,  and  its  compara- 
tively numerous  restricted  flora1,  and  fauna?. 

The  Eastern  Province  f  extends  in  the  United  States  from  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  to  the  vicinity  of  the  100th  meridian,  but  to  the 
northward  its  western  boundary  sweeps  rapidly  westward,  and  extends 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  whilst  farther  northward,  where  it  approaches 
the  Arctic  Realm,  it  occupies  the  whole  breadth  of  the  continent.  Its 
■western  border  is  not  generally  abruptly  defined,  and  is,  moreover,  quite 
irregular,  through  its  extension  up  the  valleys  of  the  numerous  rivers 
which  enter  it  from  the  westward.  According  to  Professor  Baird,  its 
western  boundary  "starts  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  near  the  eastern  bor- 
der of  Texas,  perhaps  between  the  Brazos  and  the  Sabine,  and  follow- 

*  The  "  Districts"  of  the  North  American  Region,  or  the  ontological  divisions  of  this 
region  of  the  fourth  rank,  can  be  more  conveniently  characterized  after  the  seve 
fauna'  have  been  defined,  to  which  point  in  the  paper  their  consideration  i^  accordingly 
deferred. 

t  The  boundaries  of  these  two  regions  have  been  sketched  with  apparent  accuracy 
by  Professor  Baird.  See  American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts,  2d  Series,  Vol.  XLI, 
pp.  82-85,.Tan.,  1666. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  385 

ing  up  the  direction  of  the  former  river  to  the  approaches  of  the  Great 
Desert,  nearly  on  the  meridian  mentioned  [the  100th],  proceeds  north- 
ward, forced  sometimes  more  or  less  westward,  especially  along  the 
Platte,  sometimes  eastward.  It  crosses  the  Platte  between  Forts 
Kearney  and  Laramie  and  intersects  the  Missouri  between  Fort  Ran- 
dall and  Fort  Pierre,  perhaps  near  Fort  Lookout,  as  it  is  between  the 
first  mentioned  two  points  that  in  ascending  the  river  we  find  the 
change  to  take  place  in  the  ornithology  of  the  country.  Soon  after 
crossing  the  northern  boundary  of  the  United  States  the  line  rapidly 
inclines  westward  and  extends  to  the  Rocky  Mountains."  To  the 
southeastward  this  region  embraces  the  whole  of  the  United  States, 
except  perhaps  the  southern  portion  of  Florida,  which  is  decidedly 
"West  Indian  and  tropical  in  its  affinities.  To  the  northward  it  em- 
braces the  whole  northern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  continent  up  to 
the  Arctic  Realm. 

The  "Western  Region  commences  at  the  western  border  of  the  East- 
ern, and  extends  thence  to  the  Pacific  coast.  In  the  United  States  its 
area  is  about  two  thirds  that  of  the  Eastern  Province,  but  a  little  farther 
to  the  northward  it  narrows  rapidly,  and  is  finally  bounded  in  this  direc- 
tion by  the  Alaskan  mountains.*  To  the  southward  it  of  course  merges 
in  Mexico  into  the  Tropical  Realm,  but  its  southern  limit  is  not  as  yet 
well  known.  While  its  varied  character  renders  it  subdivisible  into 
several  more  or  less  distinct  longitudinal  areas,  each  of  which  may  be 
again  divided  transversely  into  numerous  fauna?  and  florae,  many  species 
range  throughout  its  whole  extent  and  give  to  it  a  certain  degree  of 
homogeneousness.  This  portion  of  North  America  is,  however,  as  yet 
too  indefinitely  known,  geographically  and  meteorologically,  as  well  as 
ontologically,  to  admit  of  the  exact  definition  of  its  primary  and 
ultimate  life  regions. 

The  Eastern  Province,  notwithstanding  its  larger  area,  has  not  only 
a  less  number  of  ornithological  faunae  than  the  Western,  but  has  also 
a  smaller  number  of  species  represented  in  it,  as  well  as  a  smaller 
number  exclusively  restricted  to  it.  The  following  list  of  one  hundred 
and  eight  species  embraces  most  of  the  birds  that  are  exclusively 
restricted  to  the  Eastern  Province,  and  hence  those  that  distinctively 
characterize  this  Province. 

*  According  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Dall.    See  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XII,  p.  144, 
Dec,  1868*. 

vol.  ii.  25 


386 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


List  of  Species  limited  in  their  Longitudinal  Distribution  to  the  Eastern  Prov~ 
ince  of  the  North  American  Temperate  Region. 

40.  Galeoscoptes  carolinensis. 

41.  Harporhynchus  rui'us. 

42.  Thryothorus  ludovicianus. 

43.  Cistothorus  stellaris. 

44.  Lophophanes  bicolor. 

45.  Parus  hudsonicus. 

46.  Cotumiculus  passerinus. 

47.  Cotumiculus  Henslowi. 


1.  Turdus  mustelinus. 

2.  Sialia  sialis. 

3.  Mniotilta  varia. 

4.  Parula  americana. 

5.  Prothonotaria  citrea. 

6.  Geothlypis  {Philadelphia. 

7.  Oporornis  agilis. 

8.  Oporornis  ibrmosa. 

9.  Helmitherus  vermivorus. 

10.  Helminthophaga  Swainsoni 

11.  Helminthophaga  pinus. 

12.  Helminthophaga  ehrysoptera, 

13.  Helminthophaga  Bachmani. 

14.  Helminthophaga  ruficapilla. 

15.  Helminthophaga  peregrina. 

16.  Seiurus  auroeaj)illus. 

17.  Seiurus  noveboraeensis. 

18.  Dendrceca  virens. 

19  Dendrceca  ea'iulescens. 

20.  Dendrceca  coronata. 

21.  Dendroeca  blaekburnhe. 

22.  Dendroeca  castanea. 

23.  Dendroeca  pennsylvanica. 

24  Dendrceca  caerulea. 

25  Dendroeca  striata. 

26.  Dendroeca  maculosa. 

27.  Dendroeca  palmarum. 

28.  Dendroeca  dominica. 

29.  Dendroeca  discolor. 

30.  Perisoglossa  tigrina. 

31.  Wilsonia  mitrata. 

32.  Euthlypis  canadensis. 

33.  Setophaga  ruticilla. 

34.  Pyranga  rubra. 

35.  Pyranga  aestiva. 

36.  Vireosylvia  olivacea. 

37.  Vireosylvia  philadelphica. 

38.  Lanivireo  flavifrons. 

39.  Yireo  noveboraeensis. 


48.  Ammodromus  eaudacutus. 

49.  Ammodromus  maritimus. 

50.  Zonotrichia  albicollis. 

51.  Junco  hyemalis. 

52.  Spizella  monticola. 

53.  Spizella  pusilla. 

54.  Peucaea  aestivalis. 

55.  Passerella  iliaca. 

56.  Euspiza  americana. 

57.  Hedymele*  ludoviciana. 

58.  Cyanospiza  eiris. 

59.  Cyanospiza  cyanea. 

60.  Cardinalis  virginianus. 

61.  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus. 

62.  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus. 

63.  Icterus  spurius. 

64.  Icterus  baltimore. 

65.  Quiscalus  purpureus. 

66.  Corvus  ossifragus. 

67.  Cyanura  cristata. 

68.  Sayornis  fuscus. 

69.  Campephilus  principalis. 
70    Pic  us  borealis. 

71.  Sphyrapicus  varius. 

72.  Centurus  carolinus. 

73.  !Melanerpes  erythrocephalus. 

74.  Colaptes  auratus. 

75.  Coccy^us  americanus. 

76.  Coccygus  crythro[)htbalmus. 

77.  Conurus  carolinensis. 

78.  Trochilus  eolubris. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


387 


79.  ?Chsetura  pelasgia. 

80.  Antrostomus  vociferus. 

81.  Antrostomus  carolinensis. 

82.  Nauclerus  furcatus. 

83.  Ictinia  mississippiensis. 

84.  Rosthramus  sociabilis. 

85.  ?Tetrao  canadensis. 

86.  Cupidonia  cupido. 

87.  Ortyx  virginianus. 

88.  Grus  americanus. 

89.  Florida  cserulea. 

90.  Ibis  alba. 

91.  Platalea  ajaja. 

92.  JEgialitis  Wilsonius. 

93.  iEgialitis  melodus. 


94.  ?Actiturus  Bartramius. 

95.  Limosa  hudsonica. 

96.  ?Numenius  borealis. 

97.  Rallus  crepitans. 

98.  Porzana  jamaicensis. 

99.  Porzana  noveboracensia. 

100.  Gallinula  galeata. 

101.  Gallinula  inartinica. 

102.  Anas  obscura. 

103.  Querquedula  discors. 

104.  Camptolasmus  labradorius. 

105.  Sula  fiber. 

106.  Graculus  floridanus. 

107.  Plotus  anhinga. 

108.  Chroecocephalus  atricilla. 


3.  The  Ornithological  Faunae  of  the  Eastern  Province  op 
the  North  American  Temperate  Region. 

Passing  to  the  Eastern  Province  of  the  North  American  Region,  the 
distribution  of  the  birds  will  be  now  mainly  considered.  But  a 
somewhat  detailed  comparison  of  the  distribution  of  the  represent- 
atives of  this  class  with  the  distribution  of  the  mammals  and  reptiles, 
and  to  some  extent  with  the  insects,  mollusks,  and  plants,  shows  that  the 
same  divisions  apply  almost  equally  well  to  all.  The  distribution  of 
plants,  however,  is  everywhere  greatly  affected  by  the  nature  of  the  soil, 
as  well  as  by  humidity  and  temperature;  and  the  character  of  the  veg- 
etation is  also  intimately  connected  with  the  distribution  of  the  insects. 
The  character  of  the  soil,  and  especially  the  nature  and  amount  of  the 
mineral  matter  held  in  solution  in  the  waters  of  the  streams  and  lakes, 
has  much  to  do  with  the  relative  abundance  and  distribution  of  the  ter- 
restrial and  fluviatile  mollusca,  neither  of  which  influences  materially 
affects  the  distribution  of  the  birds  and  mammals.  The  presence  or 
absence  of  forests  only,  in  respect  to  vegetation*  and  the  soil,  has  much 

*  At  the  junction  of  the  prairies  with  the  eastern  wooded  districts  there  is  quite  an 
appreciable  change  in  the  fauna,  especially  in  respect  to  the  birds  and  mammals.  Tho 
faunal  differences  between  these  regions,  in  respect  to  these  two  classes,  result  mainly 
through  the  addition  of  a  relatively  small  number  of  strictly  prairie  species,  the  west- 
ward extension  of  none  of  the  species  of  the  Eastern  Province  wholly  terminating  at 
this  point.  The  number  of  their  representatives,  however,  becomes  greatly  reduced, 
and  their  distribution  from  being  general  and  uniform  is  restricted  to  the  belU  of 


388  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

influence  on  the. distribution  of  the  terrestrial  vertebrates.  The  distri- 
bution of  the  fishes,  the  aquatic  reptiles  and  certain  groups  of  batrachians 
is,  however,  in  great  measure  determined  by  the  hydrographic  basins. 
Hence  we  meet  with  relatively  more  restricted  forms  among  the  latter, 
as  well  as  in  insects,  moll usks,. and  plants,  than  we  find  in  either  mam- 
mals or  birds,  the  latter  class  being  the  most  independent  of  all  animals 
of  geographical  barriers. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  the  great  extent  of  the  Eastern  Province, 
as  compared  with  the  Western,  is  due  to  the  great  extent  of  the  low- 
lands of  Eastern  North  America,  or  of  that  area  which  has  an  elevation 
not  exceeding  eight  hundred  feet  above  the  sea.*  This  is  unquestion- 
ably the  true  reason,  there  being  no  highlands  of  sufficient  altitude  to 
interpose  serious  obstacles  to  the  range  of  species.  Some  portions  of 
this  area,  however,  as  the  Arctic  lowlands,  do  not  belong  to  this  region, 
while  large  portions  of  the  country  included  in  the  Eastern  Province 
more  or  less  exceed  that  altitude.  These  differences  of  elevation  are 
sufficient  to  cause  the  marked  interdigitation  of  the  fauna?  of  contiguous 
regions  lying  under  the  same  parallels,  as  in  the  Eastern  United  States, 
where  the  upper  portions  of  the  Appalachian  system  support  a  Cana- 
dian or  subalpine  fauna  and  flora  as  far  south  as  Georgia.  Yet  this 
elevation,  in  consequence  of  its  nearly  meridional  trend  and  its  lack  of 
perfect  continuity,  forms  a  barrier  to  but  few  vertebrates  except  the  strict- 
ly aquatic  ones.  If,  however,  the  trend  of  the  Appalachian  range  had 
been  an  easterly  and  westerly  one,  the  influence  of  these  highlands  as  a 
geographical  barrier  would  have  been  most  marked.  Without  the  dif- 
ferences  in  altitude  it  affords,  the   faunas  and  floras  of  Eastern  North 

forest  skirting  the  streams.  At  the  eastern  limit  of  the  prairies,  in  fact,  the  distinctively 
western  species  begin  to  appear,  thence  westward  few  additional  western  species  being 
met. with  till  the  edge  of  the  great  central  plateau  of  the  continent  is  reached,  where 
the  differentiation  is  further  increased  not  only  by  the  addition  of  many  new  forms,  hut 
by  the  gradual  disappearance  of  eastern  types.  Whether  the  addition  of  a  few  prairie 
species  be  sufficient  reason  for  recognizing  a  western  subdivision  of  each  of  the  fauna? 
of  the  Eastern  Province  may  perhaps  be  thought  questionable. 

The  forested  portion  of  the  Eastern  Province  also  presents  a  lack  of  total  uniformity 
between  its  eastern  and  western  portions,  a  few  species  of  birds  occurring  east  of  the 
Appalachians  in  the  Eastern  States  only  a-  stragglers,  whilst  they  are  quite  common 
west  of  these  highlands.  About  half  a  dozen  species  avoid  the  region  circumscribed 
by  the  valleys  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  Lake  Champlain,  the  Hudson  River,  and  the 
Atlantic  Coast,  that  are  found  west  of  this  area. 

*  See  Baird,  Am.  Journ.  of  Science  and  Arts,  2d  Series,  Vol.  XLI,  p.  86. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  389 

America  would  have  extended  in  regular  and  parallel  zones  from  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  to  the  central  plateau  of  the  continent,  whereas  they 
now  sweep  far  southward  near  the  coast,  and  passing  around  the  Appa- 
lachian highlands  extend  northward  again  along  their  western  base. 

In  attempting  to  determine  the  number  and  limits  of  the  ornitho- 
logical faunoe  of  a  large  area,  it  is  evident  that  the  distribution  of  the 
birds  in  the  breeding  season  should  be  taken  as  the  basis  for  the  inves- 
tigation rather  than  their  entire  range,  since  during  no  other  portion  of 
the  year  can  the  migratory  species  be  regarded  as  being  at  their  true 
homes.  The  species  numerously  represented  are  also  of  far  greater 
importance  than  those  having  but  few  representatives,  as  it  is  the 
common  species  which  are  not  only  the  most  characteristic,  but  those 
whose  distribution  is  at  present  best  known. 

Applying  the  term  fauna,  when  used  in  a  special  sense,  to  the  smallest 

of  the  natural  divisions  in  zoological  geography,  and  considering  faunas 

to  be  characterized  by  their  general  facies,  as  determined  by  a  peculiar 

assemblage   of   species,   rather  than   by  the   restriction    of   a  certain 

number  of  specific  forms  within  their  areas,  Eastern   North    America 

may  be  considered  as  embracing  seven  ornithological  fauna?,  which 

occupy  narrow,  somewhat  parallel  zones  or  belts  of  varying  breadth, 

extending  from  the  Atlantic  coast  westward  to  the  great  middle  plateau 

of  the  continent.     The  extent  of  each   in  an  east  and  west  direction  is 

generally  many  times  greater  than  what    may   be  considered    as   its 

meridional   extent.      Their  breadth,   however,   is   quite   unequal,   not 

only  as  compared  with  each  other,  but  that  of  the  same  fauna  varies 

greatly  at  different  points.     They  have  their  minimum  breadth  on  the 

slopes  of  the  mountains,  and   attain  their  maximum  breadth  on  the 

plains.      Each  species  having  its  own  peculiar  limits,  which  may  or 

may  not    coincide    with    those    of   other  species,  it    usually  happens 

that  at  somewhat  regular   intervals,  in   passing  either  northward   or 

southward  from  a  given  point,  a  greater  number  of  species  disappear 

at  some  points  than  at  others,  at  which  point  also  other  species  first 

appear.     These   divisional  lines   usually   coincide  with  some   marked 

physical  change  in  the  general  character  of  the  country,  more  especially 

in  respect  to  its  elevation,  and  form  the  boundaries  between  adjoining 

faunas.*     These  faunal  boundaries,  as  has  been  before  remarked,  coin- 

*  The  first  terrace  of  the  Atlantic  slope,  which  marks  not  only  the  transition  from  the 
tertiary  deposits  of  the  coa<=t  of  the  Middle  and  South  Atlantic  States  to  theolder  forma- 


390  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

cide  with  isothermal  lines.  These  isothermal  lines,  however,  are  not 
so  often  the  yearly  isotherms  as  those  of  particular  seasons.  While 
some  writers  have  considered  isocrymal  lines  as  those  having  the 
greatest  amount  of  limiting  influence,  as  Dana  has  supposed  to  be  the 
case  with  marine  animals,*  and  as  may  be  true  in  the  case  of  plants, 
and  possibly  also  of  some  terrestrial  animals,  f  the  mean  temperature 
of  the  breeding  season  must  necessarily  more  affect  birds,  especially  the 
migratory  species,  than  that  of  any  other  part  of  the  year,  or  than  the 
mean  annual  temperature.  Isotherals  hence  most  nearly  coincide  with 
the  lines  limiting  the  distribution  of  birds  in  the  breeding  season,  and 
also  the  ornithological  faunae,  since  the  majority  of  the  species  in  the 
region  now  under  consideration  breed  almost  exclusively  during  the 
summer  months,  .and  mainly  in  June  and  July.  Some  breed  in  May, 
and  a  few  of  the  rapacious  birds  in  April,  and  even  in  March,  but  they 
are  the  exceptions  to  the  general  rule.  The  isotheral  lines  are  hence 
adopted  in  the  present  essay  in  giving  the  boundaries  of  the  ornitho- 
logical faun se.  t 

Owing  to  the  imperfect  state  of  our  knowledge  of  the  summer  dis- 
tribution of  the  birds  of  North  America,  the  present  attempt  at  a  defini- 
tions of  the  interior,  as  well  as  forming  the  limit  of  steam  navigation  on  the  rivers  of 
the  lower  Atlantic  States,  forms  also  the  dividing  line  between  the  fauna?  of  the  coast 
and  thoso  situated  next  to  them  in  the  interior,  although  having  an  altitude  of  generally- 
less  than  three  hundred  feet.  The  rise  from  the  succeeding  plateau  to  the  more  abrupt 
slope  of  the  Appalachians  forms  likewise  the  boundary  between  the  second  and  third 
tiers  of  faunae  in  the  Atlantic  States.  The  terrace  forming  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  tertiary  deposits  of  the  Gulf  States,  and  of  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley  generally, 
coincides  likewise  with  faunal  boundaries,  as  do  similar  slight  changes  in  elevation 
elsewhere. 

*  See  Report  on  the  Crustacea  collected  by  the  U.  S.  Expl.  Expd.  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Wilkes,  Vol.  II,  p.  1452. 

t  There  must;  however,  be  many  exceptions,  since  in  cold  climates  many  mammals 
and  all  reptiles,  as  well  as  a  large  proportion  of  the  molhisca  and  insects,  hibernate, 
and  thus  are  to  a  great  degree  (especially  the  reptiles)  beyond  the  influence  of  excessive 
cold.  In  regard  to  plants,  also,  their  northward  range  seems  to  be  limited  more  by  the 
amount  of  heat  in  summer  than  by  the  cold  of  winter,  particularly  in  the  case  of  annuals. 
As  soon  as  the  sum  of  the  heat  ot  summer  is  diminished  to  such  a  degree  as  to  be 
insufficient  to  mature  the  plant,  or  to  allow  it  to  ripen  its  fruit,  whether  an  annual,  a 
shrub  or  tree,  it  must  at  that  point  cease  to  propagate,  and  there  find  its  polar  limit. 

}  Professor  A.  E.  Verrill  states  that  he  has  found  the  "boundaries  between  the 
Canadian  and  Alleghanian  Faunas"  to  be  "  coincident  with  a  line  which  shall  indicate 
a  mean  temperature  of  50°  Fahrenheit  during  the  months  of  April,  May,  and  June." 
Proc.  Dost.  S"c.  Nat.  Hiti.,  Vol.  XII,  p.  260,  May,  1S66. 


MUSEUM   OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  391 

tion  of  the  faunas  of  this  region  is  to  be  regarded  as  merely  a  pro- 
visional one,  to  be  perfected  as  the  required  data  become  known. 
The  distribution  in  summer  of  the  birds  of  the  United  States,  even  of 
that  portion  situated  east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  is  still  too  little 
known  to  afford  even  there  entirely  satisfactory  data.  The  data  are 
tolerahly  full  only  for  the  region  embraced  between  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  Upper  Lakes  on  the  north,  and  the  Ohio  River  and  Virginia 
on 'the  south.  Much  is  also  known,  however,  in  regard  to  the  summer 
distribution  of  the  birds  in  the  other  Atlantic  States  ;  but  in  respect  to 
the  whole  region  of  the  lower  Mississippi  and  the  Gulf  States,  the  re- 
corded facts  bearing  on  this  subject  are  lamentably  few.*  The  iso- 
thermal lines  of  even  our  best  climatological  charts  are  also  obviously 
more  or  less  erroneous,  and  are  nowhere  laid  down  with  sufficient  detail 
to  meet  the  wants  of  the  student  of  zoological  geography.  The  follow- 
ing lists  of  those  species  which  by  their  presence  or  absence  determine 
the  facies  of  the  several  faunae  of  the  Eastern  Province  are  hence  not 
only  often  incomplete,  but  will  in  some  cases,  doubtless,  require  more 
or  less  modification  as  our  knowledge  of  the  subject  increases.!  The 
facts  at  hand  for  the  work  herein  attempted  are,  however,  far  more  nu- 
merous than  would  at  first  seem  probable  ;  J  and  doubtless  the  general 
conclusions  reached  in  the  following  pages  will  be  in  the  main  substanti- 
ated by  future  investigations. 

Beginning  with  Florida  and  passing  northward,  we  meet  with  the 
following  ornithological  Faunae  :  — 

I.  Floridian  Fauna.  As  stated  in  Part  I  (p.  164),  that  part  of 
Florida  south  of  Lake  George  in  the  interior,  and  of  Cape  Canaveral 

*  The  importance  of  complete  and  carefully  annotated  lists  of  the  birds  of  many- 
localities  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  and  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  is  hence 
clearly  manifest.  Now  that  the  necessity  of  a  precise  knowledge  of  the  habitats  of 
animals  is  so  generally  recognized,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  every  year  will  add  something 
to  our  knowledge  in  regard  to  these  regions. 

t  This  is  especially  true  in  respect  to  the  Floridian,  Louisianian,  and  Carolinian 
Faunae.  Over  this  large  area  I  have  been  unable  to  determine  satisfactorily  the  exact 
southern  limit  of  the  breeding  range  of  any  species.  Their  northern  limit,  however,  is 
readily  approximately  determined. 

J  See  the  Appendix  to  Part  V  for  a  list  of  the  special  papers  that  have  been  con- 
sulted in  the  present  connection.  In  addition  to  these  papers  the  specimens  of  birds  in 
the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  have  been  of  great  use,  whilst 
many  additional  facts  have  been  gathered  from  correspondents  and  from  other  sources 
not  there  indicated. 


392  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

on  the  coast,  differs  quite  sensibly  in  its  general  faunal  and  floral 
characteristics  from  that  part  of  the  State  situated  farther  to  the  north- 
ward, its  fauna,  especially  the  ornithological  portion,  having  a  decidedly 
West  Indian  or  tropical  aspect,  as  has  also  its  flora.  Dr.  Stimpson  has 
recently  shown  that  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  the  State  the  southern  forms, 
among  the  marine  animals,  extend  considerably  farther  north  than  they 
do  on  the  Atlantic  coast;  *  but  whether  the  warm  waters  of  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  sensibly  modify  the  land  fauna  of  the  northern  coast  of 
the  Gulf  sufficiently  to  atfect  the  distribution  of  the  birds  is  a  point  I 
have  been  as  yet  unable  to  determine.  As  it  seems  probable,  however, 
that  it  does  not  to  any  great  degree,  the  Floridian  Fauna  may  accord- 
ingly be  provisionally  regarded  as  terminating  near  the  latitude  of 
Lake  George. 

The  peculiarities  of  the  bird  fauna  of  Southern  Florida  in  summer  is 
still  too  imperfectly  known  to  admit  of  the  Floridian  ornithological  fauna 
being  fully  characterized.  The  occurrence  within  it  of  the  following 
species  which  do  not  appear  to  extend  much,  if  any,  to  the  north 
of  it,  may  serve  for  the  present  to  distinguish  this  fauna  from  the 
Louisianian. 

Species  limited  in  their  Northward  Range  by  the  Floridian  Fauna. 

1.  Vireosylvia  barbatula.  12.  Starnaenus  cyanocephalus. 

2.  Certhiola  flaveola.  13.  Rostrhamus  sociabilis. 

3.  Icterus  vulgaris.  14.  Polyborus  tharus. 

4.  Cyanocitta  floridana.  15.  Aramus  giganteus. 

5.  Tyrannus  dominiccnsis.  16.  Demiegretta  Pealei. 

6.  Coccygus  minor.  17.  Demiegretta  rufa. 

7.  Crotophaga  ani.  18.  Audubonia  occidentalis. 

8.  "  Crotophaga  rugirostris."  19.  Ibis  rubra. 

9.  Columba  leucocephala.  20.  Phoenicopterus  ruber. 

10.  Zenaeda  amabilis.  21.  Ilaliplana  fuHginosa. 

11.  Oreopelia  martinica.  22.  Anoiis  stolidus. 

II.  Louisianian  Fauna.  The  Louisianian  Fauna  may  be  pro- 
visionally considered  as  limited  at  the  northward  by  the  isothcral  line 
of  77°  F.,  it  embracing  all  thpt  part  of  the  United  States  south  of  this 
line  east  of  the  Great  Plains,  except  the  Floridian  Fauna.  Beginning 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  apparently  as  far  north  as  Norfolk,  Virginia,  it  oc- 

•  See  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  IV,  p.  636,  December,  1870. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  393 

cupies  a  narrow  belt  thence  southward  along  the  coast,  and  in  the  lati- 
tude of  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  begins  to  expand  to  the  westward. 
Farther  southward  its  northern  boundary  passes  to  the  southward  of 
the  mountains  in  Georgia,  west  of  which  it  rises  obliquely  northward, 
and  extends  in  a  narrow  point  up  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  as  far 
as  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  West  of  the  Mississippi  it  bends  again 
somewhat  to  the  southward. 

The  Louisianian  Fauna  hence  embraces  the  coast  of  North  Carolina, 
the  lowlands  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  nearly  all  of  Alabama, 
all  of  Mississippi  and  Louisiana,  nearly  all  of  Arkansas,  Western 
Tennessee,  the  extreme  western  part  of  Kentucky,  Southern  Missouri, 
the  extreme  southern  part  of  Illinois,  and  a  small  portion  of  Eastern 
Texas.  Most  of  the  following  species  range  throughout  its  entire 
extent,  but  appear  farther  to  the  northward  only  as  stragglers.  The 
presence  of  these  species,  and  the  absence  of  those  given  in  the 
preceding  list,  will  serve  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Floridian  Fauna. 
It  is  similarly  distinguished  from  the  Carolinian  Faun*  »°  will  be 
presently  shown. 

Species  limited  in  their  Northward  Range  hij  the  Louisianian  Fauna. 

1.  Peucaea  aestivalis.  13.  Chamsepelia  passer' ia. 

2.  Cyanospiza  ciris.  14.  Cathartes  atratus. 

3.  Quiscalus  major.  15.  Ictinia  mississippiensis. 

4.  Heliuinthophaga  Swainsoni.  16.  Elanus  leucurus. 

5.  Helminthophaga  Bachmani.  1 7.  Demiegretta  ludoviciana. 

6.  ?Prothonotaria  citrea.  18.  Platalea  ajaja. 

7.  Dendrceca  dominica.  19.  Ibis  alba. 

8.  Sitta  pusilla.  20.  Tantalus  loculator. 

9.  Antrostomus  carolinensis.  21.  Porzana  jamaicensis. 

10.  Campephilus  principalis.  22.  Plotus  anhinga. 

11.  Picus  boreaiis.  23.  Graculus  floridanus. 

1 2.  Conurus  carolinensis.  24.  Puffinus  obscurus. 

III.  Carolinian  Fauna.  The  Carolinian  Fauna  extends  from 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  Louisianian  Fauna  northward  to  about 
the  isotheral  line  of  71°  F.  On  the  Atlantic  coast  this  fauna  includes 
Long  Island  and  a  small  portion  of  Southeastern  New  York,  which 
form  its  northern  limit.  In  New  Jersey  it  is  restricted  to  the  low- 
lands, extending  westward  in  Southern  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and 
Virginia  to  the  Appalachian  highlands.      It  embraces  the  middle  por- 


394  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

tion  of  the  Carolinas,  and  a  narrow  belt  in  Northern  Georgia.  West 
of  the  Appalachian  highlands  its  northern  boundary  sweeps  to  the 
northeastward  as  far  as  Northern  Ohio,  and  thence  runs  westward,  pro- 
bably along  the  water-shed  of  that  State  ;  rising  somewhat  to  the  north- 
ward in  passing  farther  west,  it  crosses  Michigan  near  the  southern 
border  of  that  State,  and  embraces  a  portion  of  Southern  Wisconsin 
and  Southern  Minnesota. 

The  Carolinian  Fauna  hence  embraces  Long  Island  and  Southeastern 
New  York,  the  greater  part  of  New  Jersey,  all  of  Delaware,  a  small 
portion  of  Southeastern  Pennsylvania,  the  greater  part  of  Maryland 
and  East  Virginia,  all  of  North  Carolina,  except  the  extreme  eastern 
and  western  portions,  the  northwestern  half  of  South  Carolina,  a  narrow 
belt  of  Northern  Georgia  south  of  the  mountains,  the  eastern  part  of 
Tennessee,  the  larger  part  of  West  Virginia,  nearly  all  of  Ohio  and 
Kentucky,  all  of  Indiana,  nearly  all  of  Illinois,  a  narrow  strip  of 
Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  nearly  all  of  Iowa  and  the  greater  part  of 
Missouri,  and  the  eastern  portions  of  Nebraska  and  Kansas.  It  also 
occupies  the  lower  Appalachian  valleys. 

It  is  distinguished  from  the  Louisianian  Fauna  by  the  absence  of  the 
species  mentioned  in  the  preceding  list,  and  by  the  presence  of  those 
given  in  the  list  next  following.  The  features  distinguishing  it  from 
the  Alleghanian  will  be  presently  given  in  the  diagnosis  of  that  fauna. 

Species  limited  in  their  Northward  Range  by  the  Carolinian  Fauna* 

1.  Cardinalis  virginianus.  14.  Corvus  ossifragus. 

2.  Euspiza  amerieana.  15.  Centurus  carolinus. 

3.  Guiraca  casrulea.  16.  Stelgidopteryx  serripennis. 

4.  Helmitherus  vermivorus.  1  7.  Nauelerus  furcatus. 

5.  Icteria  virens.  18.  Strix  flammea. 

6.  ?Prothonotaria  citrea.  19.  Cathartes  aura. 

7.  Wilsonia  mitrata.  20.  JEgialitis  Wilsonius. 

8.  ?I)endrocca  cacrulea.  21.  Gallinula  galeata. 

9.  Pyranga  aestiva,  22.  Gallinula  martinica. 

10.  Mimus  polyglottus.  23.  Garzetta  candidissima. 

11.  Thryothorus  ludovicianufl.  24.  Herodias  egretta. 

12.  Polioptila  ca:rulea.  25.  Florida  ca?rulea. 

13.  Lophophanes  bicolor.  26.  Nyctherodius  violaceus. 

*  A  few  of  these  species  occur  as  stragglers  in  the  Alleghanian  Fauna. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.-  395 

27.  Rallus  ciegans.  31.  Himantopus  nigricollis. 

28.  Rallus  crepitans.  32.  Sterna  aranea. 

29.  ?IL-ematopus  palliatus  33.  Rhynchops  nigra. 

30.  Recurvirostra  amerieana. 

IV.  Alleghanian  Fauna.  The  Alleghanian  Fauna  has  the  Car- 
olinian for  its  southern  boundary.  Its  northern  boundary,  from  the 
ample  data  for  its  determination  at  the  eastward,  appears  to  nearly  coin- 
cide with  the  isotheral  line  of  65°  F.  It  is,  however,  an  extremely  irreg- 
ular line,  with  abrupt  and  deep  sinuosities.  Beginning  on  the  coast  to 
the  eastward  of  the  Penobscot  Bay,  it  sweeps  first  somewhat  to  the 
northeast,  nearly  or  quite  reaching  Bangor ;  thence  passing  westward 
and  southward,  it  follows  the  northern  boundary  of  the  lowlands  through 
Southern  Maine  and  Southern  New  Hampshire.  In  the  Connecticut 
valley  it  Vises  farther  to  the  northward,  and  in  its  southern  descent 
skirts  the  eastern  base  of  the  Green  Mountains,  passing  to  the  south- 
ward and  westward  of  these  highlands  in  Connecticut,  and  thence 
abruptly  to  the  northward.  Skirting  the  eastern  boarder  of  the  Cham- 
plain  valley,  it  continues  still  northward  to  the  valley  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence as  far  as  Quebec  ;  thence  turning  again  southwestward,  it  passes 
along  the  northern  border  of  the  lowlands  east  of  the  Lawrentian  Hills 
(including  the  valley  of  the  Ottawa),  and  crosses  the  southern  peninsula 
of  Michigan  near  the  forty-fifth  parallel ;  continuing  thence  northwest- 
ward it  passes  near  Fort  Ripley.  Reaching  the  valley  of  the  Red  River 
of  the  North,  it  turns  abruptly  to  the  northward,  enclosing  the  lowlands 
around  Lake  Winnipeg  and  embracing  the  valley  of  the  Saskatchewan 
and  those  of  its  northern  and  southern  branches,  passing  westward 
till  it  meets  the  higher  plateau  forming  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  This  may  be  considered  as  approximately  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  Alleghanian  Fauna;  the  physical,  climatic,  and  phyto- 
zoological-  character  of  the  interior  of  British  North  America  being  at 
present  too  imperfectly  known  to  render  it  easy  to  determine  definitely 
the  northwestern  limit  of  the  Alleghanian  Fauna.* 

*  As  already  stated,  the  mean  temperature  of  the  breeding  season  (May,  June,  and 
July)  has  been  taken  as  limiting  the  breeding  range  of  the  species.  But  this  criterion 
associates  regions  which  have  very  different  climatic  peculiarities, "when  the  temperature 
of  the  whole  year  is  considered,  the  isotheral  lines  diverging  more  widely  from  the 
isothermal  or  yearly  lines  in  the  interior  than  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  While  in  the 
Winnipeg  basin  the  summer  heat  is  sufficient  to  ripen  corn  and  to  permit  of  the  cultiva- 


396  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

The  Alleghanian  Fauna  hence  includes  all  of  Southern  New  Englanu, 
except  the  higher  parts  of  the  Green  Mountain  ranges,  including  even 
the  southern  third  of  Maine  and  a  considerable  part  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Vermont ;  all  of  New  York,  except  the  higher  portions  of  the 
Adirondacks  and  the  southeastern  extremity  of  that  State  (which  be- 
longs to  the  Carolinian  Fauna),  all  the  lowlands  of  the  Canadas,  as  far 
east  at  least  as  the  vicinity  of  Quebec ;  the  northern  border  of  Ohio, 
the  greater  part  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  (in  fact,  very  nearly  all 
of  these  two  States),  and  the  valleys  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North, 
the  Assinniboine,  and  large  portions  of  the  valleys  of  the  Saskatchewan 
and  its  two  main  branches,  including  also  the  extensive  lowlands  sur- 
rounding Lake  Winnipeg.  It  also  embraces  all  the  Appalachian  high- 
lands southward  to  Georgia,  except  the  higher  parts  (which  belong  to 
the  Canadian  Fauna),  and  hence  includes  a  large  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
the  greater  part  of  the  highlands  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  the  Caroli- 
nas.  The  isolated  areas  within  this  region  belonging  to  the  Canadian 
Fauna  are  the  highlands  of  Northeastern  New  York,  and  the  most 
elevated  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Virginias,  North  Carolina,  and 
Georgia.  The  northwestern  part  of  New  Jersey  seems  also  to  belong 
to  the  Canadian  Fauna. 

The  Alleghanian  Fauna  is  characterized  by  the  absence  of  those 
species  already  mentioned  as  finding  their  northern  limit  within  the 
Carolinian  Fauna,  by  the  presence  of  those  mentioned  below  as  limited 
in  their  northward  range  by  the  Alleghanian  Fauna,  and  by  the 
absence  of  a  considerable  number  which  occur  abundantly  in  the  Cana- 
dian Fauna.  It  is  further  distinguished  from  the  Carolinian  Fauna  by 
the  occurrence  within  it  in  the  breeding  season  of  the  species  enumer- 

tion  of  tobacco, .the  winter  climate  is  almost  arctic,  ice  remaining  in  the  lakes  in  shel- 
tered places  till  late  in  May.  Yet  in  summer  the  Winnipeg  district  is  frequented 
by  birds  that  find  their  northern  range  limited  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Southern  Maine, 
■where  the  winters  are  much  shorter  and  the  cold  far  less  severe  than  en  the  prairies  of 
the  Saskatchewan.  The  same  continental  character  of  the  climate  of  the  interior 
is  similarly  seen  as  far  south  as  the  prairies  of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  to  which  the 
northern  birds  descend  in  winter  in  greater  numbers  and  with  greater  regularity  than 
in  the  corresponding  latitudes  near  the  Atlantic  coast.  A  limitation  of  the  ornithologi- 
cal fauna;  by  the  distribution  of  the  birds  in  winter,  —  in  other  words,  by  their  maxi- 
mum range,  —  would  hence  differ  considerably  from  the  circumscription  of  these  faunae 
based  on  the  breeding  range  of  the  species.  This  remark  applies,  of  course,  not  only 
to  the  present  fauna  (  Alleghanian),  but  to  Eastern  North  America  as  a  whole,  especially 
to  that  portion  north  of  the  Louisiauian  Fauna. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


39T 


ated  in  the  second  list  next  subjoined,  to  which  the  present  fauna  forms 
the  southern  limit  of  their  breeding  range. 


1    Species  limited  in  their  Northward  Range  by  the  Alleghanian  Fauna.* 


1.  Turdus  mr~folinus. 

2.  Sialia  sialis. 

3    Pyranga  rubra. 

4.  Dendroeca  discolor. 

5.  Lanivireo  flavifrons. 

6.  Vireo  noveboracensis. 

7.  Troglodytes  aedon. 

8.  Harporhynchus  rufus. 

9.  Cyanospiza  cyanea. 

10.  Pinilo  erytbrophthalmus. 

11.  Spizella  pusilla. 

12  Coturniculus  passerinus. 

13  Ammodromus  caudacutus 
14.  Ammodromus  inaritimus. 


15.  Icterus  Baltimore. 

16.  Icterus  spurius. 

1 7.  Sturnella  ludoviciana. 

18.  ?Antrostomus  vociferus. 

19.  Zenaedura  carolinensis. 

20.  Cupidonia  cupido. 

21.  Ortyx  virginianus. 

22.  Meleagris  gallopavo. 

23.  Ardetta  exilis. 

24.  Rallus  virginianus. 

25.  Chrcecocephalus  atricilla. 

26.  Sterna  paradisea. 

27.  Hydrochelidon  fissipes. 


2.  Species  junited  by  the  Alleghanian  Fauna  in  their  Southward  Range  in 
the  Breeding  Season. 


1.  Turdus  fuscescens. 

9,.  Dendroeca  pennsylvanica. 

3    Parula  americana. 

4.  Helminthophaga  ruficapilla. 

5.  Helminthophaga  chrysoptera. 

6.  Hirundo  bicolor. 

7.  Lanivireo  solitarius. 

8.  Carpodacus  purpureus. 

9.  IVrelospiza  palustris. 

10.  Passerculus  savanna. 

11.  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus. 

12.  Contopus  borealis. 

13.  Empidonax  minimus. 

14.  Empidonax  flaviventris. 

15.  Pedia?cetes  phasi  nellus. 


16.  Rallus  virginianus. 

1 7.  Porzana  Carolina. 
8.  iEgialitis  melodus. 

19.  Nettion  carolinensis. 

20.  Querquedula  discors. 

21.  Mareca  americana. 

22.  Anas  boschas. 

23.  Anas  obscura. 

24.  Mergus  merganser. 

25.  Lophodytes  cucullatus. 

26.  Bernicla  canadensis. 

27.  Colymbus  torquatus. 

28.  Podilymbus  podiceps. 

29.  Larus  argentatus. 

30.  Sterna  macrura. 


*  A  few  of  the  species  mentioned  in  this  list  are  more  or  less  frequent  stragglers  into 
the  Canadian  Fauna,  but  none  of  them  seem  to  occur  there  except  a?  irregular  and 
infrequent  visitors. 


398  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

V.  Canadian  Fauna.  The  next  fauna  to  the  northward  of  the 
Alleghanian  is  the  Canadian.  The  southern  boundary  of  the  Canadian 
is  hence,  of  course,  the  northern  limit  of  the  Alleghanian,  which  bound- 
ary has  been  already  defined.  Its  northern  limit  coincides  very  nearly 
with  the  isotheral  line  of  57°  F.  The  region  to  the  northward  of  the 
Alleghanian  Fauna  is  unfortunately  too  little  known  to  permit  of  a 
very  satisfactory  determination  of  the  northern  boundary  of  either  the 
Canadian  Fauna  or  of  the  faunas  to  the  northward  of  the  Canadian. 
On  the  Atlantic  coast  the  Canadian  Fauna  appears  to  embrace  the 
greater  part  of  Newfoundland,  nearly  or  quite  all  of  Nova  Scotia*  and 
New  Brunswick,  Northern  New  England,  including  the  crests  of  the 
Green  Mountain  ranges  southward  to  Connecticut,  the  greater  part  of 
the  province  of  Quebec,  including  the  Lower  St.  Lawrence  valley  as 
far  up  as  the  city  of  Quebec,  the  southern  slope  of  the  Height  of  Land 
in  Northern  Ontario,  and  the  highlands  on  both  sides  of  Lake  Superior. 
To  the  southward  it  also  embraces  as  outlying  islands  the  Adirondacks 
of  Northern  New  York,  and  the  higher  crests  of  the  Appalachians 
southward  to  Georgia.  To  the  northward  it  probably  extends  nearly 
to  the  summit  of  the  Height  of  Land,  and  may  embrace  part  of  the  low- 
lands bordering  the  southwestern  shore  of  Hudson's  Bay.  Its  northern 
boundary  hence  sweeps  northwestward  in  the  interior  nearly  or  quite 
to  Fort  Resolution,  on  the  southern  shore  of  Great  Bear  Lake. 

The  Canadian  Fauna,  as  above  limited,  may  be  characterized  as  fol- 
lows. It  is  distinguished  from  the  Alleghanian  Fauna  by  the  absence 
of  the  species  mentioned  above  as  limited  in  their  northward  range  by 
that  fauna,  and  by  the  presence  in  the  breeding  season  of  those  men- 
tioned in  the  first  subjoined  list ;  from  the  Hudsonian  Fauna  by  the 
presence  of  those  given  in  the  second  subjoined  list,  and  by  the  absence 
of  those  given  in  the  first  list  under  the  Hudsonian  Fauna.  *  It  is 
further  distinguished  by  its  forming  the  breeding  haunts  of  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  Sylvicolidce,  especially  of  the  species  of  Dendrceca, 
several  of  which  are  in  summer  mainly  restricted  to  it. 

*  Nova  Scotia,  zoologically  considered,  presents  somewhat  anomalous  characters. 
In  summer  a  number  of  birds  which  are  reported  as  either  rare  or  accidental  at  Calais, 
Me.,  are  represented  as  common  summer  residents  in  Nova  Scotia,  while  other  northern 
species  breed  there  in  numbers  which  do  not  usually  breed  at  localities  where  the  other 
species  referred  to  are  summer  residents.  The  half-insular  position  of  Nova  Scotia  is 
doubtless  the  explanation  of  the  faunal  peculiarities  above  mentioned. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


399 


Species  limited  by  the  Canadian  Fauna  in  their  Southward  Range  in  the 
Breeding  Season. 


1.  Turdus  Pallasi. 

2.  Turdus  Swainsoni. 

3.  Regulus  satrapa. 

4.  Regulus  calendula. 

5.  Dendrceca  castanea. 

6.  Dendrceca  Blackburnia?. 

7.  Dendrceca  coronata. 

8.  Dendrceca  ca^rulescen 

9.  Dendrceca  striata. 

10.  Dendrceca  palmarum. 

11.  Dendrceca  maculosa. 

12.  Euthlypis  canadensis. 

13.  Troglodytes  hyemalis. 

14.  Parus  hudsonicus. 

15.  Pinicola  enucleator. 

16.  Curvirostra  americana. 

1 7.  Curvirostra  leucoptera. 

18.  Chrysomitris  pinus. 

19.  Zonotrichia  leucophrys. 

20.  Zonotrichia  albicollis. 

21.  Junco  hyemalis. 

22.  Spizella  monticola. 

23.  Passerella  iliaca. 

24.  Scolecophagus  ferrugineus. 

25.  Perisoreus  canadensis. 

26.  Picoides  hirsutus. 

27.  Picoides  arcticus. 

28.  Falco  columbarius. 
•j:'.  Astur  atricapillus. 
30.  Surnia  ulula. 

.31.  Nyctale  Tcntrmalmi. 


32.  Tetrao  canadensis. 

33.  Calidris  arenaria. 

34.  Macrorhamphus  griseus. 

35.  Phalaropus  Wilsoni. 

36.  Aytliya  vallisneria. 

37.  Aytliya  americana. 

38.  Fulix  marila. 

39.  Fulix  collaris. 

40.  Erismatura  rubida. 

41.  Bucephala  clangula. 

42.  Bucephala  albeola. 

43.  Mergus  serrator. 

44.  Somateria  mollissima. 

45.  Cymochorea  leucorrhea. 

46.  Puffinus  anglorum. 

47.  Larus  marinus. 

48.  Rissa  tridactylus. 

49.  ?Chroecocephalus  Philadelphia. 

50.  Pelecanus  erythrorhynchus. 

51.  Sula  bassana. 

52.  Graculus  carbo. 

53.  Graculus  dilophus. 

54.  Podiceps  cristatus. 

55.  Podiceps  cornutus. 

56.  Podiceps  Holbolli. 

57.  Fratercula  arctica. 

58.  Utamania  torda. 

59.  Uria  grylle. 

60.  Lomvia  ringvia. 

61.  Lomvia  svarbag. 


2.  Species  limited  by  the  Canadian  Fauna  in  their  Northviard  Range. 

1.  ?Turdus  Pallasi.  7.  Euthlypis  canadensis. 

2.  Mimus  carolinensis.  8.  Parus  atricapillus. 

3.  Dendrceca  virens.  9.   Chrysomitris  tristis. 

4.  Dendrceca  ca?rulescens.  10.   Chrysomitris  pinus. 

5.  Dendrceca  castanea.  11.  Curvirostra  americana. 

6.  Dendrceca  Blackburniae.  12.  Poocstes  irramineus. 


400 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


13.  Melospiza  melodia. 

14.  Melospiza  palustris. 

15.  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus. 

16.  Tyrannus  carolinensis. 

1 7.  Myiarchua  crinitus. 

18.  Contopus  virens. 

19.  Trochilus  colubris. 

20.  Ant-  stomus  vociferus. 

21.  Sayornis  fuscu° 

22.  Cyanura  cnstata. 

23.  Buteo  lineatus. 

24.  Buteo  pennsylvanicus. 


25.  Accipiter  Cooperi. 

26.  ?Syrnium  ncbulosum. 

27.  Butorides  virescens. 

28.  Porzana  Carolina. 

29.  iE^ialitis  vociferus. 

30.  iEgialitis  melodus. 

31.  Philohela  minor. 

32.  Actiturus  Bartramius. 

33.  Aix  sponsa. 

34.  Chaulelasmus  streperus. 

35.  Aythya  vallisneria. 

36.  Hydrocbelidon  fissipes. 


VI.  Hudsonian  Fauna.  The  next  ornithological  fauna  north  of 
the  Canadian  may  well  be  termed  the  Hudsonian  Fauna.  Its  northern 
limit  seems  to  nearly  coincide  with  the  isotheral  line  of  50°  Fahrenheit, 
its  southern  limit  being  the  isotheral  of  57°,  or  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  Canadian  Fauna.  It  will  include  at  least  the  southern  third  of 
Labrador,  the  northern  peninsula  of  Newfoundland,  Anticosti  Island, 
the  more  elevated  parts  of  the  Height  of  Land  separating  the  low- 
lands bordering  Hudson's  Bay  from  the  lowlands  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  Winnipeg  district,  and  the  basin  of  the  Mackenzie's  from  Lake 
Athabasca  to  a  point  considerably  north  of  Fort  Simpson,  extending  in 
the  Mackenzie's  River  valley  some  distance  within  the  Arctic  Circle, 
probably  to  the  Arctic  coast.  Extending  still  westward,  it  embraces 
the  valleys  of  Liard's  and  Peel's  Rivers,  and  probably  the  valley  and 
adjoining  lowlands  of  the  Youkon,  including  the  greater  part  of  that 
portion  of  the  Territory  of  Alaska  situated  to  the  southward  of  the 
Arctic  Circle.  In  other  words,  that  portion  of  boreal  America  situ- 
ated between  the  Canadian  Fauna  and  the  Barren  Grounds.  It  is 
far  from  certain  that  a  western  or  Alaskan  Fauna  will  not  have  to 
be  separated,  embracing  all  the  more  temperate  portions  of  Alaska. 
Although  strictly  western  species  occur  here,  they  appear  to  be  con- 
fined mainly  to  the  western  coast  and  the  lower  part  of  the  Youkon 
valley.  The  faunal  differences  between  the  western  shore  of  Alaska 
and  the  valley  of  Mackenzie's  River  become  far  greater  when  the 
marine  species  are  taken  into  account,  even  if  only  the  birds  and 
mammalia  are  considered.  The  Pacific  coasts  of  Alaska  and  Si- 
beria have   many   species  peculiar  to  the   shores   of  those   countries 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  401 

and  to  the  intervening  islands,  constituting  a  distinct  fauna,  which 
may  well  be  called  the  Aleutian  Fauna.  Tlie  mingling  of  Asiatic 
and  American  species  forms  its  distinctive  feature.  There  is  also  a 
slight  commingling  of  western  species  in  the  valley  of  the  Mac- 
kenzie's River,  as  there  is  also  in  the  valley  of  the  Saskatchewan. 
The  Hudson ian  Fauna  doubtless  embraces  outlying  islands  in  the 
Canadian  Fauna,  as  the  upper  part  of  the  White  Mountains,  and  the 
summits  of  some  of  the  higher  peaks  of  the  Adirondacks.  The 
southern  point  of  Greenland  embraces  many  species  common  to  the 
Hudsonian  Fauna,  and  though  Greenland  belongs  almost  wholly  to  the 
Arctic  Realm,  its  extreme  southern  portion  is  doubtless  Hudsonian.* 

The  Hudsonian  Fauna  being  coextensive  northward  with  the  limit 
of  forest-trees,  it  forms  the  northern  limit  of  distribution  of  all  the 
species  of  birds  whose  mode  of  life  renders  them  dependent  upon  a 
forest  vegetation.  The  distinction  between  the  Hudsonian  Fauna  and 
the  Arctic  Realm,  as  well  as  between  the  Temperate  Realm  and  the 
Arctic  Realm,  is  hence  a  strongly  marked  one,  nearly  one  hundred 
species,  nearly  all  of  them  land  birds,  finding  their  northern  limit  of 
distribution  near  the  polar  limit  of  forests,  or  at  least  within  the  Hud- 
sonian Fauna. 

The  Huds.cnian  Fauna  may  be  distinguished  from  the  Canadian  by 
the  absence  of  the  species  given  in  the  preceding  lists  and  by  the 
presence  of  those  enumerated  in  the  first  of  the  lists  next  subjoined, 
and  from  the  Arctic  Realm  by  the  presence  of  those  given  in  the 
second  list  below. 

1.  Species  limited  by  the  Hudsonian  Fauna  in  their  Southward  Range  in  the 
Breeding  Season. 

1.  Anthus  ludovicianus.  9. .  ?Picoides  arcticus. 

2.  Saxicola  oenanthe.  10.  ?Picoides  hirsutus. 

3.  Ampelis  garrula.  11.  Faleo  candicana. 

4.  JEgiothus  linaria.  12.  Archibuteo  lagopus. 

5.  Plectrophanes  lapponicus.  13.   Syrnium  cinereum. 

6.  Plectrophanes  nivalis.  14.  Nyctea  nivea. 

7.  Plectrophanes  pictus.  15.  Lagopus  albus. 

8.  Leucosticte  tephrocotis.  16.  Lagopus  rupestris. 

*  For  remarks  respecting  the  similarity  of  the  Fauna  of  Northern  Labrador  and 
Southern  Greenland,  see  Dr.  A.  S.  Packard,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  X,  p.  255, 
1866. 

VOL.  II.  26 


402 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


1 7.  Charadrius  virginicus. 

18.  iEgialitis  semipalmatus. 

19.  Squartarola  helvetica. 

20.  Strepsilas  interpres. 

21.  Actodromas  maculata. 

22.  Actodromas  Bonapartei. 

23.  Actodromas  minutilla. 

24.  Ereunetes  pusillus. 

25.  Anser  Gambeli. 

26.  Anser  hyperboreus. 


27.  Bernicla  brenta. 

28.  Dafila  acuta. 

20.  Harelda  glacialis. 

30.  Somateria  spectabilis. 

31.  Pelionetta  perspicillata. 

32.  Procellaria  glacialis. 

33.  Sterna  caspia. 

34.  Larus  glaucus. 

35.  Colymbus  septentrionalis. 

36.  Stercorarius  parasiticus. 


2.  Species  limited  in  their  Northward  Range  by  the  Hudsonian  Fauna 


1.  Turdus  migratorius. 

2.  Turdus  Swainsoni. 

3.  Regulus  calendula 

4.  Regulus  satrapa. 

5.  Helminthopliaga  ruficapilla. 

6.  Helminthopliaga  peregrina. 

7.  Helminthopliaga  celata. 

8.  Seiurus  aurocapillus. 

9.  Seiurus  noveboracensis. 

10.  Dendroeca  coronata. 

11.  Dendroeca  striata. 

12.  Dendroeca  aestiva. 

13.  Dendroeca  maculosa. 

14.  Dendroeca  palmarum. 

15.  Wilsonia  pusilla. 

16.  Setophaga  ruticilla. 
1  7.  Hirundo  horreorum. 

18.  Hirundo  lunifrons. 

19.  Hirundo  bicolor. 

20.  Ampelis  garrula. 

21.  Collurio  borealis. 

22.  Yireo  olivaceus. 

23.  Yireo  gilvus. 

24.  Parus  hudsonicus. 

25.  Pinicola  enucleator. 

26.  Curvirostra  leucoptera. 

27.  >Egiothus  linaria. 

28.  Plectrophanes  nivalis. 

29.  Plectrophanes  lapponicus. 


30.  Plectrophanes  pictus. 

31.  Passerculus  savanna. 

32.  Zonotrichia  leucophrys. 

33.  Zonotrichia  albicollis. 

34.  Junco  hycmalis. 

35.  Spizella  monticola. 

36.  Sj)izella  socialis. 

37.  Melospiza  Lincolnii. 

38.  Passerella  iliaca. 

39.  Molothrus  pecoris. 

40.  Agelanis  phoeniceus. 

41.  Scolecophagus  ferrugineus. 

42.  Quiscalus  purpureus. 

43.  Corvus  corax. 

44.  Corvus  americanus. 
45    Pica  caudata. 

46.  Perisoreus  canadensis. 

47.  Contopus  borealis. 

48.  Empidonax  minimus. 

49.  Empidonax  Traillii. 

50.  Picus  villosus. 

51.  Picus  ])ubescens. 

52.  Picbides  hirsutus. 

53.  Picoides  arcticus. 
51.  Sphyrapicus  varius. 

55.  Hylotomus  pileatus. 

56.  Colaptes  auratus. 

57.  Chordeiles  popetue. 

58.  Ceryle  alcyon. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


403 


59.  Falco  candicans. 

60.  Falco  peregrinus. 

61.  Falco  columbarius. 

62.  Falco  sparverius. 

63.  Astur  atricapillus. 

64.  Archibuteo  lagopur 

65.  Buteo  borealis. 

66.  Accipiter  fuscus. 

67.  Circus  cyaneus. 

68.  Bubo  virginianuf 

69.  Otus  vulgaris. 

70.  Otus  bracbyotus. 

71.  Ectopistes  migratori 

72.  Tetrao  canadensis. 

73.  PeJioecetes  phasianellus. 

74.  Bonasa  umbellus. 

75.  Lagopus  leucurus. 

76.  ?Grus  aiuericanus. 

77.  Gallinago  Wilsoni. 


78.  Macrorhamphus  griseus. 

79.  Ereunetes  pusillus. 

80.  Gambetta  mclanoleuca. 

81.  Gambetta  flavipes. 

82.  Tringoides  niacularius. 

83.  Limosa  budsonica. 

84.  Porzana  Carolina. 
35.  Fulica  americana. 

86.  ?Dafila  acuta. 

87.  Nettiou  carolinensis. 

88.  Querquedula  discors. 

89.  Spatula  clypeata. 

90.  Mareca  americana. 

91.  Fulix  marila. 

92.  Fulix  collaris. 

93.  Erismatura  rubida. 

94.  Lopbodytes  cucullatus. 

95.  Graculus  dilopbus. 

96.  Pelecanus  erythrorhyncbus. 


VII.  American  Arctic  Fauna.  The  Arctic  Realm  may  be 
considered  as  occupying  that  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere 
north  of  the  isotheral  of  50°  F.  Though  presenting  a  great  uniformity 
of  character  througbout  its  extent,  it  seems  to  be  divisible  into 
four  faunas,  —  an  American  Arctic  Fauna,  an  Americo-Asiatic  Fauna, 
an  Europeo-Asiatic  .Arctic  Fauna,  and  an  Europeo-American  Arctic 
Fauna,  the  second  and  fourth  being  essentially  marine.  While  a  few 
species  of  mammals  seem  to  be  almost  wholly  restricted  within  the 
Arctic  Realm,  it  contains  but  few  resident  birds,  and  no  species  of 
birds  seem  to  be  wholly  confined  to  it,  even  in  the  breeding  season. 
The  following  species  are  reported  to  range  to  the  Arctic  coast  of 
North  America,  the  most  of  which  have  been  observed  at  Melville 
Island  and  in  Greenland.  The  greater  part  are  Natatores  and  Grallce, 
the  only  commonly  so-called  land  birds  being  two  or  three  species  of 
grouse,  a  sparrow  or  two,  and  a  few  hawks  and  owls. 


Species  found  in  the  American  Arctic  Fauna  in  the  Breeding  Seas' 
1.  Cotyle  riparia.  4.  Haliaetus  leucocephalus. 

5.  Pandion  haliaetus. 


2.  Corvus  corax. 

S.  Aquila  chrysaetos. 


6.  Nyctea  nivea. 


404 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


7.  ?Surnia  ulula. 

8.  Tetrao  canadensis. 

9.  Lagopus  albus. 

10.  Lagopus  rupestris. 

11.  Grus  canadensis. 

12.  Botaurus  lentiginosus. 

13.  Charadrius  virginicus. 

14.  JEgialitis  semipalmatus. 

15.  Strepsilas  interpres. 

16.  Phalaropus  fulicarius. 

17.  Calitlris  arenaria. 

18.  Tringa  canutus. 

1 9.  Pelidna  "  americana." 

20.  Arquatella  maritima. 

21.  Cygnus  "americanus." 

22.  Anser  hyperboreus. 

23.  Anser  Gambeli. 

24.  Bernicla  canadensis. 

25.  Anas  boschas. 

26.  Bucephala  albeola. 

27.  Bucephala  clangula. 

28.  Histrionicus  torquatus. 

29.  Harelda  glacialis. 

30.  Melanetta  velvetina. 

31.  Pelionetta  perspicillata. 

32.  G^demia  "  americana." 


33.  Somateria  spectabilis. 

34.  Somateria  mollissima. 

35.  Bupbagus  skau  Cones. 

36.  Stercorarius  pomarinus. 

37.  Stercorarius  parasiticus. 

38.  Stercorarius  Buffoni  Coues. 

39.  Fulmarus  glacialis. 

40.  Larus  argentatus. 

41.  Larus  glaucus. 

42.  Larus  leucopterus. 

43.  Rissa  tridactyla. 

44.  Pagophila  eburnea. 

45.  Xema  Sabini. 

46.  Sterna  arctica. 

47.  ?Sula  bassana. 

48.  Colymbus  septentrionalis. 

49.  Colymbus  arcticus. 

50.  Colymbus  torquatus. 

51.  Utamania  torda. 

52.  Fratercula  glacialis. 

53.  Lunda  cirrhata. 

54.  Mergulus  alle. 

55.  Uria  grylle. 

56.  Lomvia  troile. 

57.  Lomvia  ringvia. 

58.  Lomvia  svarbag. 


The  Faunce  of  the  Eastern  Province  considered  in  Reference  to  the 
Distribution  of  the  Mammals  and  Reptiles. 

The  faunae  of  the  Eastern  Province  of  the  North  American  Region 
above  characterized  from  the  distribution  of  the  birds  seem  to  be 
equally  well  marked  as  natural  zoological  districts  by  the  distribution 
of  the  mammals  and  reptiles.  About  the  same  proportionate  number 
of  mammals  are  limited  similarly  with  the  birds  in  regard  to  their 
northward  and  southward  distribution.  The  correspondence  in  the 
geographical  limitation  of  the  species  of  the  two  groups  will  be 
briefly  shown  by  the  following  remarks  respecting  the  range  of  the 
mammals. 

The  Arctic  Realm  is  well  known  to  be  characterized  by  a  few  species 
nearly  or  quite  restricted  to  it,  as  the  polar  beat   (  Ursus  maritimus), 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  405 

the  artic  fox  (Vulpes  lagopits),  the  musk  ox  (Ovibos  moschatus),  the 
lemmings  {Myodes),  the  small  northern  race  of  the  caribou  or  reindeer, 
the  Eskimos,  etc. 

The  Hudsonian  Fauna  forms  the  southern  limit  of  the  polar  hare 
{Lepus  glacialis)  and  the  northern  limit  (at  least  in  wiuter)  of  the 
Lynx  canadensis,  Mustela  "  americana,"  Mustela  Pennantii,  Pulorius 
vulgaris,  Putorius  ermineus,  Ursus  "  americanus"  Ursus  "  horribilis" 
Sciurus  hudsonius,  Arctomys  monax,   Vespertilio  subidatus,  and  others. 

The  Canadian  Fauna  forms,  at  present,*  the  southern  limit  of  Mustela 
Pennatii,  Mustela  "  americana"  Gulo  luscus,  Arvicola  xanthognathus, 
Erethizon  dorsatus,  Alces  malchis,  Rangifer  tarandus,  etc.,  and  the 
northern  limit  of  Felis  concolor,  Lynx  rufus,  Mephitis  mephitica,  Pro- 
cyon  lotor,  Bos  americanus,  Condylura  cristata,  Blarina  brevicauda, 
and  others. 

The  Alleghanian  Fauna  forms  the  southern  limit  of  Lynx  cana- 
densis, Sciurus  hudsonius,  Arvicola  Gapperi,  Jaculus  hudsonius,  Lepus 
americanus,  Cervus  canadensis,  Sorex  platyrhinus,  Condylura  cristata, 
and  doubtless  of  several  other  species ;  and  the  northern  limit  of  Sciu- 
rus cai'olincnsis,  Lepus  sylvaticus,  Arvicola  pinetorum,  Cervus  virgini- 
anus,  Scalops  aquaticus,  etc. 

The  Carolinian  Fauna  forms  the  southern  limit  of  Mustela  vulgaris, 
Tamias  striatus,  Arctomys  monax,  and  Fiber  zibethicus  ;  and  the  north- 
ern limit  of  Vulpes  virginianus,  Nycticejus  crepuscularis,  Didelphys 
virginiana,  etc. 

The  Louisianian  Fauna  seems  to  form  the  southern  limit  of  Putorius 
vison,  Blarina  brevicauda,  Scalops  aquaticus,  and  doubtless  thus  limits 
several  other  species,  though  not  a  small  proportion  of  those  which 
occur  in  this  fauna  range  also  into  South  Florida,  or  into  the  Floridian 
Fauna.  The  Louisianian  Fauna  limits  the  northward  range  of  Neo- 
toma  fioridana,  Reithrodon  humilis,  Sigmodon  hispidus  Hesperomys 
palustris,  Geomys  pineti,  and  Lepus  palustris. 

In  respect  to  reptiles,  a  similar  proportion  of  species  are  limited  in 
either  their  northward  or  southward  range  b)r  each  fauna.  Several 
species  of  batrachians  range  into  the  Hudsonian  Fauna,  but  apparently 
this  fauna  must  be  the  northern  limit  of  their  distribution.      The  Cana- 

*  It  is  probable  that  some  of  the  fur-bearing  species,  as  well  as  Hystrix  dorsatus,  the 
moose  and  the  caribou,  once  ranged  southward  throughout  the  Alleghanian  Fauna,  and 
have  been  exterminated  there  by  man. 


406  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

dian  Fauna  forms  the  northern  limit  of  the  reptiles  proper,  where  this 
class  is  represented  by  two  orders  only,  the  Tesludinata  and  the  Ophi- 
dia  The  Testudinuta  are  there  represented  by  only  three  species 
(C/ielydra  serpentina,  Glyptemys  inscidpta,  Chrysemys  picta),  and  the 
Op/tidin  by  five  (Baseanion  constrictor,  Tropidonotus  sirtalis,  Diadophis 
punctatus,  Storeria  occipito-maeidata).  In  the  Alleghanian  Fauna  the 
number  of  species  in  each  of  these  groups  is  more  than  doubled.  The 
Carolinian  Fauna  forms  the  northern  limit  of  the  Sauria,  of  which  two 
species  {Plesliodon  fasciatus,  Tropidolepis  undulalus)  here  first  make 
their  appearance,  and  the  number  of  species  of  the  other  groups  is 
still  further  increased,  several  additional  generic  types  being  added. 
In  the  Louisianian  Fauna  the  number  of  species  of  Sauria  becomes 
considerably  greater,  and  while  few  of  the  northern  species  of  either 
the  true  reptiles  or  the  batrachians  have  disappeared,  other  more 
southern  forms  have  been  added  in  almost  every  family. 

These  several  faunae,  it  may  be  added,  seem  in  general  to  coincide 
in  their  number  and  limits  with  the  florae  of  the  same  region.  These 
several  flora?,  as  thus  circumscribed,  form  successively  the  northern 
limit  of  the  successful  cultivation  of  some  more  or  less  important  cul- 
tivated plant.  But  a  detailed  consideration  of  the  distribution  of  the 
vegetation  of  the  region  under  consideration,  in  respect  to  the  number 
and  circumscription  of  the  flora?,  and  their  correspondence  with  the 
fauna?.,  cannot  of  course  well  be  here  introduced. 

4.   The  Ornithological   Districts   of    the    North  American 
Temperate  Region. 

The  subdivision  by  Professor  Dana  of  the  tropical  and  temperate 
climatic  zones  of  the  oceanic  areas  into  several  zoological  zones  has 
been  already  alluded  to  as  being  equally  applicable  to  the  land  areas. 
To  these  life  zones  I  propose  to  apply  the  term  "districts."  Dana's 
divisions  of  the  north  temperate  climatic  zone  correspond  respectively 
in  latitudinal  extent  with  the  several  ornithological  faunae  of  the 
Fastern  Province,  as  defined  in  the  preceding  pages.  Unlike  tie 
fauna?,  however,  the  districts  extend  in  an  east  and  west  direction  across 
the  North  American  Region,  each  district  embracing  not  only  one  oi 
the  fauna?  of  the  Fastern  Province,  but  also  its  representative  fauna  (or 
fauna?)  in  the  Western  Province.  The  Hudeonian  Fauna  corresponds 
in  latitudinal  extent  with  Dana's  subfri"id  division  of  the  north  tern- 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  407 

perate  zone,  and  the  term  Sub/rigid  District  may  be  very  properly 
applied  to  that  district  of  which  this  fauna  forms  the  eastern  portion. 
The  zone  corresponding  with  the  Canadian  Fauna  may  in  like  manner 
be  termed  the  Cold-temperate  District;  that  corresponding  with  the 
Alle^hanian  Fanua  the  Subtemperate  District;  that  corresponding 
with  the  Carolinian  Fauna  the  Temperate  District;  and  that  corre- 
sponding with  the  Louisianian  Fauna  the  Warm-temperate  District; 
the  Floridian  Fauna  in  like  manner  corresponding  with  the  Subtorrid 
District,  or  with  Dana's  subtorrid  zone.  Each  of  these  districts  is 
distinguished,  in  contradistinction  from  the  faunae,  by  species  which 
range  across  the  continent,  while  the  districts  are  distinguished  from 
each  other  by  the  same  kind  of  difference  as  has  been  shown  above  to 
characterize  the  several  fauna3  among  themselves. 

5.   Ox  the  Geographical  Range  of  the  Species. 

The  preceding  tables,  while  serving  to  characterize  the  ornithological 
faunae  of  Eastern  North  America,  indicate  only  very  obscurely  the  range 
of  the  species.  The  following  tables  have  hence  been  prepared  in  order 
to  show  more  clearly  the  hreeding  range,  and  also  the  winter  quarters,  of 
those  species  whose  distribution  in  the  breeding  season  is  tolerably 
known.  For  this  purpose  the  birds  occurring  iu  the  Eastern  Province 
of  the  North  American  region  have  been  grouped,  according  to  their 
geographical  distribution,  into  the  following  classes,  beginning  with  those 
which  have  the  widest  breeding  range :  I.  Cosmopolitan  Species. 
II.  Circitmpolar  Species.  III.  Species  which  range  across  the  whole 
breadth  of  the  North  American  Temperate  Region.  IV.  Species  limited 
in  longitude  to  the  Eastern  Province  of  this  region.  The  birds  of  the 
Eastern  Province  are  further  subdivided  according  to  the  range  of  the 
species  in  the  breeding  season  in  latitude.* 

*  In  a  preliminary  notice  like  the  present  it  has  been  found  impracticable  to  give  the 
authorities  in  detail  on  which  the  generalizations  given  in  the  following  synopsis  have 
been  based.  The  list  of  papers  given  in  the  Appendix  serve  in  a  general  way  to 
indicate  the  principal  sources  from  which  information  has  been  derived.  It  is 
believed,  however,  that  the  limits  assigned  each  species  will  be  found  in  the  main 
correct,  though  in  many  cases  the  accessible  data  have  been  quite  too  few  to 
be  satisfactory.  The  generalizations  are  given,  of  course,  as  a  representation  of  our 
present  knowledge  of  the  subject  rather  than  as  final.  The  polar  and  equatorial  limits  of 
the  migratory  range  of  the  species  varies,  as  is  well  known,  more  or  less  in  different  years, 
according  to  the  season.     It  is  also  somewhat  different  on  the  coast  from  what  it  is  in 


408  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

I.  Cosmopolitan  Species.  A  large  proportion  of  ornithologists 
have  of  late  been  unwilling  to  admit  that  any  bird  has  what  is  usually 
termed  a  "  cosmopolitan  "  range,  while  others  recognize  only  about 
twenty  such  species,  taking  into  account,  of  course,  their  total  range. 
These  embrace  two  or  three  species  each  of  hawks  and  owls,  the  rest 
being  either  Grallce  or  Natatores.  Very  few  of  them,  however,  breed 
within  both  the  tropic  and  the  polar  zones ;  many  of  those  which 
visit  the  shores  of  all  lands  in  their  migratory  journeys  being  restricted 
in  the  breeding  season  to  comparatively  limited  areas.  Pandion 
haliaetus  and  Otus  brachyotus  are  the  only  examples  of  commonly  so- 
cahed  cosmopolitan  species  which  appear  to  breed  from  the  Arctic  Circle 
southward  through  the  tropics  to  the  southern  extremity  of  the  southern 
continents.  Falco  peregrinus  may  form  a  third,  but  its  peculiar  breed- 
ing habits  give  it  a  very  irregular  dispersion  at  that  season.  Slrix 
flammed  appears  to  be  also  everywhere  resident,  except  in  the  arctic  and 
cold-temperate  zones.  Colyle  riparia  and  Hirundo  rufa  (including 
under  the  latter  name  the  several  slightly  differing  geographical  races 
of  this  group,  which  have  of  late  been  regarded  as  species),  seem  also  to 
be  nearly  cosmopolite.  The  list  of  species  which  are  permanently  cos- 
mopolitan will  hence  not  exceed  half  a  dozen,  and  are  those  above 
enumerated. 

II.  Circumpolar  Species.  Regarding  as  circumpolar  species  only 
those  numerously  represented  in  both  the  eastern  and  western  hemi- 
spheres, nearly  one  hundred  species*   can  be  included  in  the  list  of 

the  interior,  as  has  been  previously  explained;  so  that  an  indication  of  only  the  average 
boreal  and  austral  limits  of  the  species  at  this  season  has  been  aimed  at,  and  only  so  far 
is  their  winter  range  is  circumscribed  within  the  region  under  special  consideration. 
The  blanks  in  the  third  column  of  the  tables  hence  indicate  that  the  species  winter 
entirely  within  the  American  Tropical  Realm;  those  in  the  fourth,  that  the  austral  limit 
is  within  that  realm.  The  few  occurring  in  the  second  column  of  the  tables  indicate 
that  the  species  in  question  also  ranges  southward  in  the  breeding  sea>on  into  the  Tropi- 
cal Realm.  A  [?]  in  place  of  a  blank  indicates  that  the  southward  range  of  the  species 
is  supposed  to  be  limited  to  the  Eastern  Province,  but  as  being  too  vaguely  known  to 
warrant  a  specification  of  its  limit  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the  column  in  which  the 
query  stands. 

*  Dr.  Richardson,  in  1831  (in  the  "  Fauna  Boreali-Americana,"  p.  xxxix),  gave  thirty- 
two  species  of  land  birds  and  "upwards  of  sixty-two  species  of  water  birds"  (ninety- 
four  in  all)  as  "common  to  the  Old  World  and  the  Vm-  Countries."  A  few  truly  cir- 
cumpolar species  were  not  included  in  this  list,  and  others  were  included  which  were 
merely  accidental  vi-itors  from  one  continent  to  the  other.  Since  the  date  of  that  list 
the  identity  of  the  greater  part  of  the  species  therein  mentioned  has  been  questioned  by 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  409 

circumpolar  species.  A  small  number  of  others  that  are  properly 
either  exclusively  American  or  Europeo-Asiatic  species  occur  more 
or  less  frequently  as  accidental  visitors  to  the  continents  not  embraced 
within  their  usual  habitats. 

one  or  another  writer,  and  their  representatives  on  the  two  hemispheres  separated  under 
different  names.  But  a  considerable  proportion  of  those  mentioned  in  the  next  sub- 
joined table  are  still  regarded  as  truly  circumpolar  by  a  number  of  leading  European 
onithologists.  Dr.  Von  Middehdorff  ("  Uebersicht  der  Natur  Nord-  und  Ost-Sibiriens, 
Theil  2,  Erste  Lieferung,"  etc.;  see  Newton's  Ibis,  April,  1870,  p.  275),  in  1867,  gave 
lists  of  eighty-seven  circumpolar  species,  a  part  of  which  (called  "  Hyperboreal  Birds  ") 
are  distinctive  of  what  has  been  termed  above  the  Arctic  Realm,  whilst  many  of  the 
others  range  quite  far  southward  even  in  summer.  These  lists,  however,  do  not  era- 
brace  a  number  of  circumpolar  species  whose  boreal  limit  does  not  extend  to  the 
districts  named.  A  dozen  or  more  Europeo-Asiatic  species,  in  addition  to  those  given 
below,  have  representatives  in  America  so  closely  resembling  them  in  habits  and  in 
geographical  distribution,  as  well  as  structurally,  that  they  have  often  been  confounded, 
specimens  frequently  occurring  on  the  one  continent  that  are  undistinguishable  from 
those  from  the  other  continent. 

In  1846  Professor  Edm.  de  Selys-Longchamps,  in  his  excellent  paper  entitled  "  Sur 
les  Oiseaux  americains  admis  dans  la  Faune  europeenne  "  (Mem.  de  la  Soc.  R.  de  Liege, 
Vol.  IV,  pp.  35-50,  1849),  included  thirteen  species  in  his  list  of  "  Oiseaux  terrestres 
communs  a  1'Europe  et  a  l'Amerique,"  and  mentions  nine  other  terrestrial  American 
species  which  he  regards  as  "ne  semblent  etre  en  realite  que  des  modifications  clima- 
tiques  de  nos  oiseaux  europeens."  All  but  two  of  these,  and  also  one  or  two  in  addi- 
tion to  them,  have  been  regarded  in  the  present  paper  as  specifically  identical.  In  his 
list  of"  Oiseaux  aquatiques  communs  a.  1'Europe  etal'Amerique  "  he  includes  fifty-five 
species,  and  mentions  thirteen  others,  "  decrits  comme  especes  distinctes,  ne  semblent 
etre  que  des  races  locales,"  three  or  four  of  which  I  have  regarded  as  specifically  iden- 
tical. The  whole  number  mentioned  by  Selys-Longchamps  as  common  to  Europe  and 
boreal  America  is  seventy-six,  plus  twenty -four  "  autres  qui  semblent  n'etre  que  des 
races  legerement  modifiees  par  le  climat."  (See  1.  c,  p.  48.)  In  the  same  paper  he  gives 
a  list  of  twenty-eight  American  species  as  of  accidental  occurrence  in  Europe,  eight  of 
which  are  land  birds,  eight  echassiers  or  waders,  and  twelve  palmipedes  or  swimmers, 
and  also  a  list  of  twenty  American  species  which  he  considers  to  have  been  improperly 
included  among  the  birds  of  Europe,  among  which  are  HaUaetus  leucocephalus,  Slrix 
nebulosn  (=  Syrnium  nebitlosum),  Loxia{=  CurvirOstra)  leucoptera,  Struihus  (=  Junco) 
hyemalis,  and  Parus  (=  Lophophanes)  bicolor. 


410 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


II.    List  of  Circumpolar  Species,  with  Indications  of  their  Boreal  and 
Austral  Limits. 


Species. 


Certhia  familiaris 
Saxicola  cenanthe 
Ampelis  g.irrula 
Cotyle  riparia  . 
Plectrophanes  nivalis 
Plectrophanes  lapponica 
.Fgiotlms  linaria 
Pinieola  enucieator 
i'ur\  [rostra  leucopter 
Eremophila  alpestris 
i  Ion  11-  corax    .    . 
Pica  caudata    .    . 
Aquila  chrysaetos 
Archibuteo  lagopus 
PandioD  haliaetus 
Falco  candicans 
Falco  peregrinus  . 
Circus  cyaneus 
Strix  flammea  . 
Nyctale  Tengmalmi 
Sj  rnium  cinereum 
Otus  vulgaris   .    . 
Otus  brachyotus  . 
Surnia  ulula    .     . 
Nyctea  aivea 
Lagopus  albus .    . 
Lagopus  rupestris 
X)  cticorax  griseus 
Strepsilas  interpres 
Charadrius  pluvialis 
Squartarola  helvetica 
Hsematopus  palliatus 
Arquatella  maritima 
( lalidri  j  arenaria  .    . 
Tringa  canutus     .    . 
Ancy  locheilus  subarquatus 
Pelidna  alpina  . 
ictodromas  maculata 
Actodromas  Bonapartei 
Tringites  rufescens    . 
Lobipes  h\  perboreus 
Phalaropus  fulicarius 
Anser  hyperboreus   . 
Anser  albifrons     .     . 
Bernicla  brenta    .    . 
A  nas  boschas   .     .     . 
Dan  la  acuta      .     .     . 
Spatula  cly  peata  .    . 
Chaulelasmus  streperus 
Soma  teria  mollissima 
Somateria  spectabilis 
Buccphala  claugula  . 
Histrionicus  torquatus 
Him    i  i  facialis  .     . 
Fulix  marila 
Pelionettaper  spicillata 
Melanetta  fusca    . 
Mergus  merganser     . 
Mergus  serrator    .     . 
Graculus  carbo     .    . 
Sula  b  issana    .     .    . 
Gelochelidon  anglica 
Thalasseus  caspius    . 
Thai  i  -liH  cantiacus 
Sterna  birundo     .     . 
Sterna  inacrnra     .      . 
Sterna  paradisea  .     . 
Hydrocbelidon  flssipes 


Boreal  Limit        Austral  Limit 

iu  the  Breeding  in  the  Breeding 

Season.  Season. 


Allegh.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 


Canad   fauna 

Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coa  I 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Hudson   Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coa  -i 
Arctic  Coast? 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast  ? 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauua 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Hudson.  Fauua 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 

Arctic  Coast 

Arctic  Coast 

Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast? 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  C 
Arctic  <  loast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Co  ust 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  (  'hi  -i 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  ( loast 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Carolin     Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 

Louis     Finn  i 

Arctic  <  loasl  ' 

Arctic  Coast 
Allegh.  Fauna 

Carolin.  Fauna 


Hudson.  Fauna, 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 

Hudson.  Fauna 

Louis.  Fauua  ? 


Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 


Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna' 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna? 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Realm 
Hudson.  Fauna 

Arctic  Realm 
Canad.  Fauna 

irctic  Realm 
A  rctic  Realm  ? 
II  ml  mi.  Fauna? 
Arctic  Realm 
Arctic  Realm 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna7 
Hudson.    Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.    Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Hudson.    Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 

Canad     Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad    Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.   Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 

Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 

Hudson.  Fauna 

Carolin.  Fauna 
Allegh    Fauna 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Allegh.  Fauna 


Hudson.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 

Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna' 
Canad.  Fauna  ' 
Arctic  Realm 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna1 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 

Canad   Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Hudson    F'auna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Hudson   F'auna? 
Arctic  Realm 
Arctic  Reaim 
Arctic  Realm 
Arctic  Realm 
Carolin    F'auna 

Tropical  Amer. 
Carolin.  Fauna 

Canad    Fauna 
Allegh    Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna: 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauua 
Louis    F'auna 
Carolin    Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna! 
Canad.  Fauna  '. 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad. Fauna 

Allegh.  Fauna 


Canad  Fauna 

Hudson.  Fauna 


Canad.  Fauna  ? 
Canad.  Fauna  ' 
Canad  Fauna  ' 

Canad.  Fauua 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Carolin.  Fauna 


Canad.  Fauna 

Allegh  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauua 
Canad.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 


Carolin  Fauna' 
Allegh.  Fauna 


Canad.  Fauna 


Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 


Canad.  Fauna 
Allegh   Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 


Florid    Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 


Florid.  Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna 
Funis.  Fauna 
Louis  Fauna 
Louis  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 

Carolin.  Fauna 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


411 


List  of  Circumpolar  Species.     (Continued.) 


Species. 


'^ 


Pagophila  eburnea    .     . 
X.-in.'i  S  iliini     .... 
Ki.-s.i  tridactyla    .     .     . 
Khodostethia  rosea    .     . 
Larue  glaueus  .... 
Larus  inariiius 
Larue  leucopterus     .    . 
Larus  argentatus       .     . 
Buphagus  skau     .     .     .     , 
.>tercorarius  pomarinus 
'Sterrorarius  parasiticus 
Stt'tyorarfus  "  Buffoni" 
Ttfalassidroma  Leachii  . 
gowceps  grWigena  .    . 
l'ni'licr-|is  cetnutus    .     .     . 
I'nclici  j.s -cristatus      .     . 
Podict'ps.auritus  .    .     . 
Colymbus  torquatus 
Colymbus  arcticus    .     .     , 
Colymbus  septentrionalis 
Fratercula  arctica    .     . 

Uria  grylle 

Lomvia  svarbag    .     . 
Lomvia  troile  .     .     .     .     , 
Mergulus  alle 


Boreal  Limit       Austral  Limit 

in  the  Breeding  in  the  Breeding 

Season.  Season. 


Arctic  Realm 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Arctic  Realm 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad    Fauna 
Hudson   Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna? 
Hudson.  Fauna? 
Hudson.  Fauna? 
Canad.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna? 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad   Fauna 


Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
■> 

Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson   Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Huds.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Allegh   Fauna 
? 

Canad   Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Trop   Realm 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad   Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna. 
Allegh    Fauna? 
Louis   Fauna 
Louis   Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Carol   Fauna? 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh   Fauna 


Summary  of  the  Preceding  Table.  —  The  whole  number  of  species  in 
the  preceding  list  is  93.  Its  most  striking  feature  is  the  great  pre- 
dominance of  the  water  birds,  less  than  one  third  of  the  whole  being  land 
birds.  Of  the  27  land  birds,  7  are  owls,  6  are  hawks,  and  5  belong 
to  the  family  Fringillidce ;  9  species  embracing  all  the  representatives 
of  other  families.  The  water  birds  include  1  heron,  14  Grallce,  17 
Anatidce,  19  Laridce,  5  Alcidce,  3  species  of  Colymbus,  and  4  of  Podiceps. 

In  summer  65  species  are  inhabitants  of  the  Arctic  coast  and  adjacent 
seas  ;  22  have  their  boreal  limit  near  the  northern  border  of  the  Hua- 
sonian  Fauna;  2  are  similarly  limited  by  the  Canadian  Fauna,  5  by  the 
Alleghanian,  3  by  the  Carolinian,  and  1  by  the  Louisi'anian  ;  3  are  essen- 
tially tropical  aquatic  species. 

Seven  seem  to  be  altogether  restricted  in  the  breeding  season  to  the 
Arctic  Realm  ;  36  find  their  austral  limit  during  the  same  season  near 
the  southern  border  of  the  Hudsonian  Fauna;  23  are  similarly  limited 
by  the  Canadian,  9  by  the  Alleghanian,  and  3  by  the  Carolinian,  while 
10  extend  nearly  to  or  within  the  Tropical  Realms,  4  being  also  inhab- 
itants of  the  greater  part  of  the  southern  hemisphere. 

The  winter  quarters  of  the  land  birds  of  this  list  are  the  cold-temper- 
ate and  middle-temperate  districts  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  Most 
of  the  water  birds  visit  the  warm-temperate  parts  of  the  same  hemi- 
sphere ;  a  considerable  number  also  visit  the  tropics,  and  a  few  wander, 
at  this  season,  over  the  greater  part  of  the  warmer  regions  of  the  globe. 


412 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


TIL    Stecies  mainly  restricted  in  the  Breeding  Season  to 
the  North  American  Temperate  Region. 

1.  List  of  Species  ivhich  breed  throughout  the  greater  Part  of  Temperate 
North  America,  with  Indications  of  their  Boreal  and  Austral  Limits 
Distribution  in  the  Eastern  Province. 


Species 


Turdus  migratorius 
Turdus  fuscescens 
Geothlypis  trichas 
Hirundo  horreorum 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons 
Tachycineta  bicolor  . 
Cotyle  riparia  .     .     . 
Progne  subis    .     .     . 
Ampelis  cedrorum 
Oolluno  ludovicianus 
Vireosylvia  gilva    .     . 
Lanivireo  solitarius  •. 
Cistothorus  palustria 
Troglodytes  aedon 
?  Sitta  carolinensis     . 
Sicta  canadensis    .     . 
Parus  atricapillus 
Carpo  Lacua  purpureus 
Chrysoinitris  tristia  . 
Passerculus  savanna 
Poocajtes  gramineus 
Spizella  socialis     .     . 
'  Melospiza  melodia  . 
Melospiza  Lincolnii   . 
Molothrus  pecoris 
igelaeua  phoeniceus  . 
Sturnella  ludoviciana 
Corvus  americanu8    . 
Tyrannua  carolinensis 
'  \I\  i  minis  crinftus  . 
'  Sayomis  fuscus  .    . 
Contopus  borealis 
'  Contopus  virens 
?  Empidonax  minimus 
'  Empidonax  acadicus 
Empidonax  tlaviventris 
Picua  villosus  .     .     . 
Picas  pubescens   .     . 
Ilylotomus  pileatus  . 
Chordeiles  popetue  . 
dcyon   .    .    . 
Accipiter  Cooperi 
Accipiter  fuscus    .    . 
Buteo  borealis 
Buteo  lineatus      .    . 
Buteo  pennsj  Ivanicus 
II. ili  i  i  us  leucocephalus 

.!>  .  .  .  . 
Zensedura  carolinensis 
Meleagris  gallopavo  . 
Bonasa  umbellua  .  . 
Boi  lurus  lentiginosus 
Ardetta  <-xiIi  <    .     .     . 

tgo  Wilsoni 
K  i .  ai  ophilus  solitarius 
Tringoides  mocularius 
Limosa  fedoa         .    . 
Rallus  virginianus 
Porzana  Carolina  .     . 
Fulica  americana  . 
Nettion  carolim 


Boreal  Limit       Austral  Limit 

iu  the  Breeding  in  the  Breeding 

Season.  Season. 


Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad   Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 
Hudson   Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Canad   F'auna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
i  lanad.  F'auna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauria 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
I  !anad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson   Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudspn.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad    Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Canad.  F'auna 
Allegh    F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast  ' 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad    F'auna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 


Carol  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 
iLouis.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna  ? 
Carol.  Fauna 
Carol.  F'auna 

Florid.  Fauna 
Florid.  F'auna 
Carol.  F'auna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Florid.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Carol.  F'auna 
Florid.  F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Florid.  F'auna 
Florid.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna  ' 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 


Florid.  Fauna 


F'lorid.  Fauna 


Florid    Fauna 

Florid.  Fauna 
F'lorid.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 
Allegh    F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Louis    Fauna 
Carol.   Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter 


Florid 

Louis. 

Louis 

Canad 

Canad 

Canad 

Allegh 

Allegh 

Carol. 

Carol. 

( larol. 

Carol. 

Carol. 

Carol. 

Carol. 

Carol 

Canad. 


Louis.  F'auna 


Carol.  Fauna 
F'lorid.  F'auna 


Louis.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 


.  Fauna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
Fauna 
F'auna 
.  Fauna 
.  Fauna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
Fauna 
F'auna 
F'auua 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Canad.  Fauna? 
Canad  Fauna? 
Canad    Fauna? 

('and    Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna: 
Canad.  Fauna 
Carol    F'auna 
Allegh    Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna1 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Caml    Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
i 

Louis.  Fauna 
('and.  F'auna 


Florid.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna? 
F'lorid.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 


Florid.  F'auna 


Florid.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 
Florid.  F'auna 


Florid.  F'auna 

Florid.  F'auna 

Florid.  F'auna 
Florid.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 


*  Blanks  in  the  third  column  indicate  that  the  species  ranges  southward  in  the  breeding  season  into 
the  Tropical  Realm.  Blanks  in  the  fourth  column  that  the  species  retires  wholly  within  the  Tropical 
Realm  in  winter ;  in  the  fifth  column,  that  the  southern  limit  in  winter  is  within  the  Tropical  Realm. 


MUSEUM  OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


413 


2.  List  of  Species  which  breed  throughout  the  greater  Part  of  the  Cold- 
temperate  Portions  of  the  North  American  Region,  with  Indications  of 
their  Boreal  and  Austral  Limits  of  Distribution  in  the  Eastern  Province. 


Species. 


Turdus  Pallasi       .     , 
Turdus  Swainsoni 
Regulus  calendula    . 
Regulus  satrapa    .     . 
Anthus  ludovicianus 
Helminthophaga  celata 
Wilsonia  pusilla   . 
Collurio  borealis   .     . 
Troglodytes  hyemalis 
Chrysomitris  pir/us   . 
Curvirostra  americana 
Zonotrichia  leucophrys 
Scolecophagus  ferrugiueus 
Perisoreus  canadensis 
Picoides  arcticus  .    . 
Picoides  hirsutus  .     . 
Fair.,  columbarius    . 
Astur  atricapillus 
JEgialitis  seuiipalmatus 
Phalaropus  VVilsoni  . 
Ereunetes  pusillus     . 
Gambetta  nielanoleuca 
Gambetta  rlavipes 
Numenius  longirostris 
Numenius  hudsonius 
Cygnus  americanus  . 
Bernicla  canadensis  . 
Mareca  americana 
F'ulix  eollaris    .     .     . 
Aythya  americana     . 
Aythya  vallisneria     . 
Bueephala  albeola 
Ei'ismatura  rubida     . 
Lophodytes  cucullatus 
Pelecanus  erythrorhynchus 
Graculus  dilophus 
Larus  delawarensis 
Chroeeoccphalus  philadepbia 


Boreal  Limit  in 
Breeding  Season. 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Antic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic.  Coast 
Arctic  Coast 
Arctic  Coasc 


Austral  Limit  in 
Breeding  Season. 

Canad    Fauna 
Canad   F'auna 

<  '.mad.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Canad    Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad    Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Canad. Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
j  Canad.  F'auna 
.Carol.  Fauna 
Carol.  F'auna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
ICarol.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
;Cauad.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  F'auna 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Carol.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna 

Carol.  Fauna 
Allegh    Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Carol.  Fauna 

Canad.  F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Carol.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Louis   F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Carol.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Carol.  F'auna 
Carol.  Fauna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  F'auna 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Carol.  F'auna 


Florid.  F'auna 
Allegh.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 

Canad.  F'auna 
Canad.  F'auna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Allegh.  F'auna 


3.  List  of  Species  which  breed  only  in  the  Warm-temperate  Portions  of 
the  North  American  Temperate  Region,  and  range  Southward  in  the 
Breeding  Season  into  the  Tropical  American  Realm. 


_                                   Boreal  Limit  in 
Speaes.                     Breeding  Season. 

Austral  Limit  in 
Breeding  Season. 

Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 

Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 

Mimus  polyglottus    .     . 
Polioptila  caerulea     .     . 

Icteria  virens 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis 
Tim  othorus  Bewicki    . 

Guiraca  caerulea   .... 
'  Quiscalus  major .     .     . 

_ 

I  larolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Florid.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Carolin.  F'auna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna  ' 
Carolin.  F'auna 
FTorid.  Fauna 
? 

Carolin   Fauna 
Florid   Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 

# 

Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna. 

Louis.  Fauna  ? 
Louis.  Fauna 

Louis.  Fauna 



l'oh borus  tharus .     .    . 
Craxirex  unicinctus  .     . 
Chauiapselia  passerina  . 

Tantalus  loculator     .     . 

Garzetta  candidissima   . 
Herodias  egretta   .     .     . 
Himantopus  nigricollis. 

Florid.  Fauna 





Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 

Louis.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna  ? 





Phoenicopterus  ruber     . 
Que rq uedu la  c  vanop  tera 
Pelecanus  fuscus  .      .      . 
Tachypetes  aquila      .     . 

• Louis.  Fauna 





Florid.  Fauna 



Within  the  Tropical  Realm 


41-4 


BULLETIN    OF   THE 


4.  List  of  Species  whose  Breeding  Range  extends  throughout  the  greater 
Part  of  the  North  American  Realm,  and  Southivard  into  the  Tropical 
Realm,  with  Indications  of  their  Boreal  and  Austral  Limits  in  the 
Eastern  Province. 


Species. 


Boreal  Limit    |   Austral  Limit  j 
in  the  Breeding  in  the  Breeding 
Season.  Season. 


Dendiueca  .Estiva  .     .     . 
Grua  canadensis    . 
Butoii  les  virescens  .     . 
Ardea  berodias     .     . 
Hoeuiatopus  palliitua    . 
.I'.ui  tlitis  vociferus    . 
Recurvirostra  americana 
Sj  mphemia  semipalmata 

Aix  sponsa 

Podilymbus  podiceps 


Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Allegh.  Kauua 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Allegh.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Louis.  Fauna  ? 


Carolin.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Carolin    Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 


*  Within  the  Tropical  Realm. 

5.  List  of  Species  whose  Breeding  Habitat  includes  the  greater  Part  of 
both  North  and  South  America,  with  Indications  of  their  Boreal 
Limit,  both  in  the  Breeding  Season  and  in   Winter. 


Species. 

Boreal  Limit 

in  the  Breeding 

Season. 

Austral  Limit 

in  the  Breeding 

Season. 

Boreal  Limit 
iu  Winter. 

Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 

*  Pandion  haliaetus  .     .     .     . 
Falco  sparverius 

*  Falco  peregrinus     .     .     .     . 

Bubo  virginianus 

k  Strix  flammea 

*  Otus  vulgaris 

*  Otus  brachyotua     .    .     .     . 

Allegli    Fauna 

Arctic  Coast 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Carolin.  F'auna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Arctic  Coast 

Carolin.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Hudson    Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna? 
Hudson.  Fauna? 



• 

*  Also  circumpolar  species. 

Summary  of  the  Preceding  Five  Tables.  —  The  total  number  of 
species  given  in  the  above  lists  of  the  species  characteristic  (mainly 
exclusively  so)  of  the  North  American  Temperate  Region  is  135.  Of 
these  38  are  restricted  in  the  breeding  season  in  their  austral  range  to 
the  Cold-temperate  District;  about  one  third  of  them,  chiefly  natatorial 
species,  reach  the  Arctic  coast ;  61  are  similarly  mainly  limited  to 
the  Middle-temperate  District,  but  two  or  three  reach  the  Arctic  coast, 
and  nearly  one  third  range  into  the  Hudsonian  Fauna  ;  21  are  limited 
in  their  boreal  range  to  the  Warm-temperate  District,  the  greater  part 
of  which,  even  in  the  breeding  season,  range  southward  into  the 
tropics.  Of  the  whole  number,  90  are  land  birds,  23  being  raptorial 
species.  Of  the  remaining  45  water  birds,  7  are  herons,  20  are  Grallce, 
and  18  are  Natatores,  12  of  the  latter  being  Anatidce. 

In  the  li-t  of  those  whose  breeding  habitat  is  the  cold-temperate 
portions  of  the  continent  (Table  1),  20  of  the  species  are  aquatic  and 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


415 


18  terrestrial ;  of  those  breeding  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the 
continent,  10  only  are  aquatic  and  51  are  terrestrial ;  of  those  breeding 
in  the  warm-temperate  portions  of  the  continent,  9  are  aquatic  and  9 
terrestrial;  of  the  10  wide-ranging  species,  whose  breeding  habitats 
embrace  not  only  nearly  the  whole  of  temperate  North  America,  but 
extend  also  into  the  tropics,  1  only  is  a  land  bird,  3  being  Herodiones, 
4  Grallce,  and  2  Natatores.  Of  the  9  species  given  in  the  Fifth  Table, 
which  range  in  the  breeding  season  throughout  both  the  North  American 
and  South  American  continents,  none  are  aquatic  ;  4  are  owls,  3  hawks, 
and  2  vultures.  The  most  numerously  represented  family,  and  one  of 
those  almost  exclusively  characteristic  of  the  North  American  Temper- 
ate Region  (the  Sylvicolidce),  has  but  three  species  which  range  across  the 
continent,  and  only  one  of  these  is  a  typical  representative  of  the  family. 

IV.   Species  limited  in  Longitude  to  the  Eastern  Province 
of  the  North  American  Temperate  Region. 


1.  List  of  Species  restricted  in  the  breeding  Season  to  the  Cold-temper- 
ate Portion  of  the  Eastern  Province,  with  Indications  of  their  Boreal 
and  Austral  Limits. 


Species. 


Mniotilta  varia 

Parula  americana .     .     .     • 
Geothlypis  Philadelphia     .     . 

Oporornis  agilis 

Helminthophaga  chrysoptera 
?  Helminthophaga  peregrina  . 
Helminthophaga  ruficapilla 
Dendroeca  coronata   .     .     .     , 
Dendroeca  castanea   .     .     .     . 

Dendroeca  striata 

Dendroeca  Blackhurniae  .  . 
Dendroeca  ca?mlescens  .  .  . 
Dendroeca  maculosa .    .    .     . 

Dendroeca  virena 

Dendroeca  palmarum  .  .  . 
Perissog'.ossa  tigrina .  .  .  . 
Euthlypis  canadensis  .  .  . 
Setophaga  ruticilla  .  .  .  . 
Vireosylvia  olivacea  .  .  . 
Vireosylvia  philadelphica  .  . 
Cistothorus  stellaris  .  .  .  . 
Parus  hudsonicus  .  .  .  . 
Zonotrichia  albicollis      .     .     . 

Junco  hyemalis 

Spiztlla  montieola     .     .    ,     . 

Passerella  iliaca 

Dolichonyx  oryzivora  .  .  . 
Tetrao  canadensis'  .  .  .  . 
iEgialitia  melodus  .  .  .  . 
Limosa  hudsonica  .  .  .  . 
Numenius  borealis  .  .  .  . 
Porzafla  noveboracensis      .     . 

Anas  obscura 

Querquedula  discors  .  .  . 
Camptolwmus  labradorius 


Boreal  Limit  in 
Breeding  Season. 


Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna: 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna  ? 
Canad.  Fauna  ? 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad   Fauna? 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  F'auna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 
Canad.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast  ? 
Arctic  Coast  ? 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Arctic  Coast 


Austral  Limit  in 
Breeding  Season. 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin  Fauna 
? 

Ailegh.  Fauna  ? 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Canad  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Canad-  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  F'auna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Florid.  Fauna 


Carolin.  Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna 


Florid.  Fauna 


Louis   Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  Fauna 
Ailegh.  F'auna 
Caroiin   Fauna 


Canad.  Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 


Hudson.  Fauna?  Canad   Fauna 

Louis.  Fauna 

Louis    Fauna 

Louis    Fauna 

Louis.  F'auna 

Ailegh.  Fauna     Florid.  Fauna 

Ailegh    Fauna    '  

Canad   Fauna 


*  The  blanks  in  the  fourth  and  fifth  columns  indicate  that  the  limit  in  question  is  within  the 
Tropical  Realm. 


41G 


BULLETIN   OF   THE 


2.  List  of  Species  which  breed  throughout  the  3Iiddle-temperate  Por- 
tions of  the  Eastern  Province,  toith  Indications  of  their  Boreal  and 
Austral  Limits  in  the  Eastern  Province* 


Species. 


Turdus  mustelinus  .  .  . 
Galeoscoptes  earolinensis  . 
Harporhynchus  ruf'us  .  . 
Sialia  sialis 

Dendroeca  peansylvanica  . 

Dendroeca  discolor  .  .  . 
Dendrceca  cacrulea  .  .  . 
(Vilsonia  mitr.it. i  .... 
Pyranga  rubra  .... 
Vireo  noveboracensis  .  . 
Lanivireo  fiavifrons  .  .  . 
Lophophanes  bicolor  .  . 
Coturniculus  passerinus  . 
Coturniculus  Henslowi  .  . 
Ammodromus  caudacutus . 
Ammodromua  maritimus  . 
Spizella  pusilla  .... 
Euspiza  americana  .  .  . 
Hedymeles  ludovicianus  . 
Cyanospiza  cyanea  .  .  . 
Cardinalis  virginianus  .  . 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  . 
Icterus  spurius  .... 
Icterus  baltimore  .... 
Corvus  ossifragus .... 
Ceuturus  earolinus  .  .  . 
Melanerpes  erythrocephalus 
Antrostoinus  voeiferus  .  . 
Coccygus  americanus  .  . 
Coccygus  erytlirophthalmus 
Ortyx  virginianus  .  .  . 
Cupilouia  cupido .     .     .     . 


Boreal  Limit    |    Austral  Limit 
in  the  Breeding  in  the  Breeding 

Season.  Season. 


Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
i  lanad. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Carolin 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh 
Carolin 
Allegh. 
Carolin 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Carolin 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Carolin 
Carolin 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 
Allegh. 


Fauna 
Fauna 

Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauua 
Fauna 
Fauua 
Fauna 
Fauna 
.  Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
. Fauna 
Fauua 
.  Fauua 
Fauua 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauna 
Fauua 
Fauna 
F'auna 
F'auna 
Fauna 
F'auna 
Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna  ! 
F'lorid.  Fauna  ' 
Florid.  Fauna  ' 
Louis.  Fauna 
Allegh.  Fauua 

Carolin.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Florid.  Fauna? 

Louis  F'auna? 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Louis.  F'auua 
Louis.  Fauna  ? 


Caroliu   Fa.una 


Florid.  F'auna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Florid.  Fauna' 

Florid.  Fauna' 
Florid.  Fauua 


Allegh.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna?  Allegh.  Fauua 


Boreal  Limit 
iu  Winter. 


Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 
Carolin.  F'auna 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Louis.  Fauna 


Carolin.  F'auna    Florid   Fauna 

Carolin  F'auna'  

Carolin  F'auna?  

Louis.  Fauna      j         

Louis.  Fauna  

Carolin.  F'auna  !         


Carolin.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'-auna 


Louis.  Fauna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  F'auna 


Louis.  Fauna 


*  The  blanks  in  this  and  the  following  tables  have  the  same  significance  as  in  the  last  preceding 
table. 


3.  List  of  Species  ivhich  breed  throughout  the  Temperate  Portions  of 
the  Eastern  Province,  with  Indications  of  their  Boreal  and  Austral 
Limits. 


Species. 


Seiurus  aurocapillus 
Seiurus  noveboracensis 
Cyanura  cristata  . 
Sphyrapicua  varius   . 
Colaptes  auratus  .     . 
Trochilus  colubris     . 
Chaetura  pelasgia .    . 
Grus  americanus  . 
Actiturus  Bartramius 

mtillarum 
Dendroeca  pin  us    .    . 
Quiscalus  purpureus 


Boreal  Limit    |   Austral  Limit 

in  the  Breeding  in  the  Breeding 

Reason.  Season. 


Canad.  Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna  ? 
Hudson.  Fauna 
i  lanad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
Canad.  Fauna 
I  'ana  I    Fauna 
C  mad     Fauna 
Hudson.  Fauna' 
Hudson.  Fauna 


Carolin    Fauna 
Louis   F'auna 
Florid.  Fauna 
F'lorid    Fauua? 


Louis    Fauna  ? 
Florid    Fauna 


Louis.  F'auna  ' 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Florid    Fauna 


Allegh.  F'auna 
I  'arc in.  F'auna 
Carolin.  Fauna 
Florid.  Fauna.' 

Louis   Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 

Caroliu  Fauna 
Carolin.  F'auna 


Austral  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Florid.  Fauna 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY. 


417 


4.    List  of  Species  which  hrced  in  the  Eastern  Province  only  within  the 
Warm-temperate  and  Subtropical  Districts. 


Boreal  Limit        Austral  Limit 

in  the  Breeding  in  the  Bn  eding 

Season.  Season. 


Prothonotaria  citrea .     .     .     JCarolin.  Fauna  

Oporomis  formosus  .  .  .  .]Allegh  Fauna  Louis.  Fauna? 
Helmitherus  vermivorus  .  JCarolin.  Fauna  florid.  Fauna? 
Helmitherus  Swainsoni  .  .  Louis.  Fauna 
Helminthophaga  pinus  .  .  Carolin.  Fauna.' 
Ilelminthophaga  Bachmani  .  Louis.  Fauna 
Dendroeea  dominica  .  .  .  .  Louis.  Fauna 
i  i  liarliatula    .     .     .  Florid.  Fauna 

Pyranga  aestiva Carolin    Fauna 

I  irus  ludovicianua  .     .  Carolin.  Fauna 

Peucaea  aestivalis Louis   Fauna 

Cyanospiza  ciris Louis.  Fauna 

Tyrannus  doniinicensis       .     .  Florid.  Fauna 
Campephilus  principalis     .    ".Carolin.  Fauna 

Picus  borealis Louis.  Fauna 

Oonurus  carolinensis      .     .     .  Louis.  Fauna 

Crotpphaga  ani florid.  Fauna 

Antrostomus  carolinensis  .     .  Louis.  Fauna 
Nauclerus  furcatus    ....  Carolin.  Fauna 
I  (tin  it  mississippiensis  .     .     .  Louis   Fauna 
Rosthramus  sociabilis    .     .     .Florid.  Fauna 

Florida  caerulea Carolin.  Fauna 

Nyctherodius  violaceus .    .    .Carolin.  Fauna 
Demiegretta  Pealei    .     .     .     .Florid   Fauna 
Demiegretta  luduvkiana    .     .JCarolin   Fauna 

Ibis  alba       Icaroiin   Fauna 

Platalen  ajaja Louis.  Fauna 

iEgialitis  VVilsonius  ....  Carolin.  Fauna 
Aramus  giganteus     ....  Florid    Fauna 

Rallus  crepitans Carolin    Fauna 

Porzana  jamaicensis .     .     .     .  Carolin.  Fauna 

Gallinula  galeata Carolin.  Fauna 

Gallinula  martinica  ....  Carolin.  Fauna 

Sula  fiber Louis.  Fauna 

Graculus  froridanus  .     .     .     .Louis.  Fauna 

Plotus  anhinga iCarolin   Fauna 

Chroecocephalus  atricilla    .     .  Allegh.  Fauna 
Tliala.-.-ous  acuflavidus  .      .      .  Louis.  Fauna 

Anoiis  stolidus Florid.  Fauna 

Ualiplana  fuliginosa .     .     .     J  Florid.  Fauna 
Rhynckops  nigra I  Carolin.  Fauna 


Boreal  Limit 
in  Winter. 


Austral  Limit 
m  Winter. 


Louis.  Fauna 
Florid.  F'auna 


Louis   Fauna 

Louis.  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna 


Louis.  Fauna 

Florid  Fauna 
Louis  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 

Louis.  F'auna 
Florid.  Fauna 
Louis  Fauna 
Florid  Fauna 
Louis.  Fauna 
Louis  Fauna 
Florid  Fauna 
Florid.  F'auna 
Florid.  F'auna 
Florid.  F'auna 


Florid   Fauna 


Summary  of  the  Four  Preceding  Tables.  —  About  one  hundred  and 
twenty  species  occur  in  the  Eastern  Province  of  the  North  American 
Temperate  Region  that  do  not  appear  as  regular  residents  in  the  West- 
ern Province  of  the  same  region,  of  which  a  small  proportion  are  in 
part  tropical.  Of  these  one  hundred  and  twenty,  thirty-five  are  northern, 
or  range  in  the  breeding  season  only  over  the  cold-temperate  portions 
of  the  Eastern  Province  ;  twenty-eight  of  the  latter  being  land  birds, 
and  only  seven  aquatic.  Eighteen  species  of  the  land  birds  belong  to 
the  single  family  of  the  Sylvicolidce.  About  one  fourth  of  the  Eastern 
Province  species  (thirty-two),  all  land  birds,  range  in  the  breeding  sea- 
son over  only  the  middle-temperate  part  of  the  province.  Of  these 
only  three  belong  to  the  family  Sylvicolidce,  and  only  one  is  a  typical 
representative  of  that  group  ;  ten  belong  to  the  family  Fringillidce,  three 

VOL.  ir.  27 


418  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

to  the  Turdidce,  and  two  each  to  the  Icteridce,  Picidce,  Cucididce,  and 
Tetraonidce  ;  several  other  families  have  one  representative  each.  The 
total  absence  of  any  species  of  Falconida,  Strigidee,  Herodiones,  Gralla, 
and  Natatores  is  one  of  the  most  striking  features  in  the  list  of  the 
species  restricted  to  the  Eastern  Province. 

Twelve  of  the  Eastern  Province  species  breed  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  the  province,  three  of  which  are  Sylvicolidce,  two  are  Picidce, 
one  is  a  humming-bird,  one  a  wader,  and  one  a  tern. 

Forty-one  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty  species  restricted  in  longi- 
tudinal range  to  the  Eastern  Province  extend  so  far  into  the  Tropical 
American  Realm  in  the  breeding  season  as  to  be  essentially  tropical 
species,  exclusive  of  a  considerable  number  that  appear  only  in  the 
Floridian  Fauna.  Twenty-one  of  these  are  land  birds  and  twenty 
aquatic  ;  the  latter  embracing  six  Herodiones,  six  Grallce,  and  eight 
Natatores,  five  of  which  are  terns.  The  land  species  embrace  three 
hawks,  two  species  of  Fringillidce,  seven  of  Sylvicolidce,  two  of  Picidce, 
and  one  each  of  seven  other  families. 

General  Remarks  on  the  Distribution  and  Migration  of  the 
Birds  of  the  Eastern  Province. 

The  preceding  tables,  illustrative  of  the  geographical  distribution  of 
the  birds  of  the  Eastern  Province  of  the  North  American  Temperate 
Region,  and  the  summary  remarks  already  given  respecting  them, 
indicate  a  number  of  interesting  general  facts. 

I.  The  species  which  have  the  greatest  longitudinal  range  in  the 
breeding  season  are  the  hawks,  owls,  and  vultures,  the  swallows,  the 
Turdince  or  typical  thrushes,  the  woodpeckers  and  flycatchers,  and  the 
water  birds  ;  among  the  latter,  especially  the  Scolopacidce,  the  C/iara- 
driidce  and  their  allies,  the  Anatidoe,  and  the  Laridce  ;  in  fact,  nearly 
all  the  Natatores.  All  the  land  birds  ranging  widely  in  longitude  are 
hence  species  which  possess  highly  developed  powers  of  flight,  and  have 
also  a  wide  latitudinal  range.  The  few  circumboreal  Natatores,  which 
have  only  moderate  or  greatly  reduced  powers  of  flight,  possess  great 
power  of  locomotion  in  the  water.  Their  habitat  is,  moreover,  not 
only  generally  the  sea-shores,  but  the  boreal  shores  of  the  converging 
continents  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  Hence  all  the  species  having 
a  wide  geographical  range  —  as  the  circumpolar  and  continental  —  are 
either  pre-eminently  strong  fliers  or  powerful  swimmers.     It  also  ex- 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  419 

plains  the  occurrence  of  the  large  proportion  of  long-winged  birds,  and 
especially  of  the  preponderance  of  the  water  birds,  in  the  three  first 
primary  divisions  given  above  of  the  birds  of  the  Eastern  Province, 
namely,  the  cosmopolitan,  the  circumpolar,  and  the  continental,  and  the 
small  proportion  of  such  species  among  those  restricted  in  their  longi- 
tudinal range  to  the  Eastern  Province.  Most  of  the  circumpolar 
species  are  also  boreal  ones. 

II.  The  aquatic  species,  while  forming  only  about  four  tenths  of  the 
birds  found  in  the  Eastern  Province,  greatly  predominate  over  the 
land  species  in  the  boreal  regions,  in  the  Arctic  Realm  they  outnum- 
bering the  land  birds  in  the  proportion  of  five  to  one,  or  form  eight 
tenths  of  the  whole.  In  the  Cold-temperate  District  of  the  North 
American  Region  the  water-birds  form  about  six  tenths  of  the  whole  ; 
in  the  Middle-temperate  Districts,  between  four  and  five  tenths ;  in 
the  Warm-temperate  District,  rather  less  than  four  tenths.  Farther 
southward,  although  a  few  groups  (as  the  Rallidce,  Herodiones,  and 
Sternince)  are  more  numerously  represented,  the  relative  proportion 
of  water  birds  to  the  terrestrial  seems  scarcely  to  increase.  In  the  breed- 
ing season,  however,  a  numerical  comparison  of  the  land  and  water 
birds  yields  very  different  results,  in  respect  to  the  proportion  char- 
acteristic of  localities  situated  under  different  parallels  of  latitude. 
Passing  from  the  extreme  boreal  regions  southward,  the  number  of 
Grcdlce  (exclusive  of  the  Paludicolce),  Anatidce,  Larince,  and  Lestrid- 
ince  decreases  rapidly,  so  that  the  number  of  the  Grallce  (exclusive 
of  the  rails  and  their  allies)  is  reduced  in  the  breeding  season,  in  the 
warm-temperate  parts  of  the  Eastern  Province,  to  only  seven  or  eight 
species,  the  Anatidce  to  one  (Aix  sponsa),  the  Larince  to  one  (C/irceco- 
cephalus  atriciUa),  and  the  Lestridince  disappear  entirely. 

III.  A  large  proportion  of  the  accessions  to  the  land  birds  near  the 
tropics  being  species  of  a  comparatively  low  grade  of  structure,  the 
prevalence  of  the  water  birds  in  the  arctic  and  subarctic  fauna;,  the 
comparative  absence  of  water  birds  in  the  temperate  latitudes,  and  the 
great  development  here  of  the  higher  groups  of  the  land  birds,  give  to 
the  temperate  regions  the  maximum  proportion  of  high  forms  of  avine 
life,  —  a  fact  as  true  in  respect  to  mammalian  life  as  it  is  of  birds. 

IV.  In  respect  to  the  distribution  and  relative  development  of  par- 
ticular families,  the  Sittidce  (Sittce),  the  Paridce,  and  the  Alcidce  are  alone 
restricted  to  the  North  Temperate  Realm.     The  species  of  these  groups 


420  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

(except  the  Alcidce)  are  also  sedentary  throughout  nearly  their  whole 
range.  In  the  Eastern  Province,  Larus,  Stercorarius,  and  their  allies, 
as  well  as  Columbus,  are  restricted  in  the  breeding  season  to  its  north- 
ern half,  as  are  also,  as  already  remarked,  most  of  the  water  birds, 
except  the  Rallidce  and  the  Herodiones,  which  are  chiefly  southern. 
The  representatives  of  the  Troglodytidce  and  Icteridce  increase  rapidly  in 
number  towards  the  tropics,  while  the  Mi  mi  ace  and  several  genera  of 
the  more  brightly  colored  Fringillid<e  are  confined  to  the  southern  half 
of  the  province.  The  Sylvicolidce,  the  most  exclusively  distinctive 
family  of  the  North  American  temperate  region,  reaches  its  maximum 
development  in  the  Middle  and  Cold-temperate  Districts.  The  sec-, 
tion  Sylvicolece,  and  especially  the  genus  Dendroeea,  is  more  numer< 
ously  represented  in  the  Eastern  Province  than  in  the  Western,  and 
the  greater  part  breed  in  the  colder  latitudes,  their  "metropolis"  dur- 
ing the  breeding  season  being  the  Canadian  Fauna  of  the  Eastern 
Province  and  the  corresponding  fauna  of  the  Western.  The  species 
of  the  section  Vermivorece  (genera  Helmitherus  and  Helminthophagct) 
have  a  wider  longitudinal  distribution  than  the  Dendrcecce,  the  species 
of  which  genus  are  mainly  restricted  either  to  t he  Eastern  or  to  the 
Western  Province.  The  two  species  of  Helmitherus  are  southern  in 
their  distribution,  while  four  or  five  of  the  six  Helminthophagce  are 
northern. 

V.  At  the  extreme  north,  or  from  the  Arctic  coast  southward  to  the 
Canadian  Fauna,  nearly  all  the  birds  are  migratory,  owing  to  the 
extreme  severity  of  the  winter  season  ;  they  also  spend  a  smaller 
portion  of  the  year  at  their  breeding  stations  than  do  the  species 
which  breed  farther  to  the  southward.  Even  as  far  south  as  the  Alle- 
ghanian  and  Carolinian  Faunae,  the  greater  proportion  of  the  species 
are  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  migratory.  In  die  Carolinian  and 
Louisianian  Faunse  a  much  greater  proportion  are  resident,  even  in- 
cluding many  species  whose  boreal  limit  of  distribution  is  the  Carolin- 
ian Fauna.  From  the  Hudsonian  Fauna  southward  many  species  are 
found  the  whole  year  at  tin'  same  localities,  and  are  hence  termed 
"resident,"  though  the  individuals  representing  such  species  are  migra- 
tory, there  being  a  general  movement  of  the  winter  habitat  southward, 
lint  too  limited  to  carry  the  wave  of  migration  entirely  beyond  the 
southern  limit  of  the  summer  habitat  of  these  species. 

VI.  The  representatives  of  the  various  groups  differ  from  each  other 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  421 

widely,  as  is  well  known,  in  respect  to  the  extent  of  their  migrations. 
Those  of  a  few  families  (as  the  TdraonidcE,  the  Picidce,  Sittidee,  Cor- 
vidce,  and  Strlyidce)  are  nearly  sedentary,  the  nature  of  their  food 
being  such  that  the  supply  is  almost  equally  sure  at  all  seasons.  The 
insectivorous  species  have  the  most  extended  migratory  range  ;  the  pis- 
civorous, the  graminivorous,  and  the  raptorial  the  least  of  the  non- 
sedentary  species,  the  migrations  of  the  latter  being  mainly  governed 
by  those  of  their  prey.  Hence  the  wood  warblers  {Sylvicolidce),  the  fly- 
catchers (Tyrannidce),  and  the  swallows  make  the  longest  journeys,  and 
leave  their  breeding  stations  the  earliest.  Requiring  apparently  a 
temperature  in  winter  similar  to  that  of  their  summer  habitats,  as  well 
as  a  constant  supply  of  insect  food,  they  begin  their  southward  journeys 
almost  before  the  close  of  the  short  northern  summer,  proceeding  grad- 
ually southward  during  the  autumn  months  to  pass  the  winter  in  the 
tropics.  The  Grallce  have  also  to  seek  districts  almost  wholly  beyond 
the  reach  of  severe  frosts,  their  food  being  only  accessible  to  them 
where  the  ground  continues  unfrozen.  The  Natatores  also  necessarily 
migrate  to  localities  where  the  streams  and  estuaries  are  nearly  free 
from  ice  ;  the  strictly  littoral  and  pelagic  species  hence  making  shorter 
journeys  than  the  inland  species. 

The  migratory  insessorial  birds  that  pass  the  winter  wholly  or  in 
part  within  the  Eastern  Province  are  principally  fringilline  species. 
The  others  are  a  single  flycatcher  (Sayornis  fuscus),  the  northern 
members  of  the  Icteridce,  two  species  of  Tardus,  three  of  Mimince, 
three  wrens,  and  three  or  four  sparrows.  All  of  these  species  are 
resident  the  whole  year  in  those  sections  to  which  the  northern  mem- 
bers of  these  species  mainly  resort  in  winter.  In  these  species  there 
is  hence  only  a  partial  recession  southward  in  winter  from  the  northern 
portions  of  their  respective  summer  habitats.  Most  of  the  Frinyillidce, 
however,  which  pass  the  summer  within  or  to  the  northward  of  the 
Alleghanian  Fauna,  remove  wholly  in  winter  from-  their  summer  sta- 
tions. "While  some  in  winter  barely  abandon  their  summer  stations, 
as  shown  in  the  preceding  tables,  of  distribution,  others  pass  entirely 
over  one  fauna,  throughout  which  they  occur  only  as  spring  and  au- 
tumn passengers  ;  others  in  a  similar  way  pass  over  two  fauna?  in 
reaching  their  winter  quarters.  Hence  some  which  breed  in  the  Cana- 
dian Fauna  and  farther  northward  pass  only  into  fhe  Alleghanian  and 
Carolinian  Faunas  in  winter,  while  others  pass  over  the  Alleghanian 


422  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

into  the  Carolinian,  and  others  over  both  the  Alleghanian  and  the 
Carolinian  into  the  Louisianian. 

Some  species  which  in  general  breed  far  to  the  northward  of  the 
tropics,  to  which  they  retire  in  winter,  are  also  known  to  breed  on  the 
mountain-  within  the  tropics  (as  Dendroeca  coronata  and  Perissoglossa 
tigrina),  and  doubtless  many  others  will  be  found  to  do  so  when  the 
mountain  faunae  of  these  regions  become  fully  known  ;  it  being  already 
well  ascertained  that  there  is  a  migration  from  the  plains  and  lowlands 
to  the  mountains  (more  especially  in  the  Tropical  Realms)  as  well  as 
(in  the  northern  hemisphere)  from  the  south  northward. 

VII.  The  lack  of  suitable  food  and  the  low  temperature  in  winter  in 
northern  latitudes  are  evidently  the  causes  which  impel  so  many  species 
to  leave  their  breeding  stations  at  that  season  to  seek  a  warmer  zone. 
"While  in  most  cases  a  degree  of  cold  sufficient  to  cut  off  the  supply  of 
food  of  any  species,  especially  of  the  insectivorous  ones,  would  of  itself 
also  prove  fatal  to  the  birds  themselves,  it  is  by  no  means  the  case  with 
the  baccivorous  and  graminivorous  species,  their  winter  migrations  ap- 
pearing to  be  primarily  and  principally  controlled  by  the  accessibility 
of  their  food.  This  is  evidently  indicated  by  the  irregular  dispersion 
in  winter  of  such  species  near  the  boreal  limit  of  their  range  at 
that  season,  they  being  numerous  where  their  food  abounds  and  en- 
tirely absent  in  the  immediately  adjoining  districts.* 

VIII.  The  breeding  range,  as  well  as  the  migratory  range,  differs 
greatly  not  only  among  the  species  of  different  families  (nearly  all  the 
species  of  some  families  having  a  wide  range,  while  nearly  all  the  spe- 
cies of  other  families  have  a  quite  restricted  range,  as  in  the  Cor- 
vidcB  and  Ficidce,  for  instance,  as  compared  with  the  Syhicolidce),  but 
also  among  those  of  the  same  family  and  even  of  the  same  genus. 
The  two  extremes  are  well  illustrated  by  the  osprey  or  fish-hawk  and 

*  These  remarks  are  illustrated  by  the  winter  distribution  of  the  robin  and  the  cedar- 
bird  in  tin-  Alleghanian  Fauna,  and  by  the  sudden  southward  incursion  of  the  snow- 
buntings  and  other  northern  sparrows  when  deep  snows  suddenly  render  their  food  more 
than  usually  difficult  to  procure  in  their  usual  winter  reports.    The  early  return  of  birds 

to  their  br ling  stations,  —  their  real  homes,  —  as  soon  as  the  causes  that  impelled  their 

winter  migration  are  removed,  is  further  corroborative  of  the  same  view.  Most  of  even 
the  insectivorous  species  visit  regions  in  winter  whose  average  winter  temperature  dif- 
fers but  little  from  that  of  their  breeding  stations,  and  when  the  excessive  heats  of  spring 
and  summer  arrive  in  the,  southern  latitudes,  they  gradually  retire  again  to  their  north- 
ern breeding  stations,  keeping  pace  in  their  migration  with  the  northward  advance  of 
the  summer  warmth. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  423 

the  bobolink,  the  one  having  an  almost  cosmopolitan  breeding  range, 
while  the  breeding  range  of  the  other  is  nearly  or  quite  restricted 
to  the  Alleghanian  Fauna.  Several  of  the  Sylvicolidce  have  a  breeding 
range  as  restricted  as  the  bobolink,  while  a  few  other  species  of  the 
same  family  breed  throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  North  America. 
One  of  the  species  of  Dendrceca  (D.  cestiva)  has  this  wide  breeding 
range,  while  other  species  of  the  same  genus  appear  to  breed  only  in 
the  Canadian  Fauna. 

IX.  Species  which  have  a  wide  breeding  range  usually  present 
a  greater  or  less  number  of  easily  distinguishable  local  forms,  which 
merge  generally  the  one  into  the  other  in  the  regions  lying  be- 
tween the  localities  at  which  these  several  forms  are  most  fully 
developed.  A  part  of  these  local  forms  have  received  distinctive 
names,  and  have  of  late  been  quite  commonly  regarded  as  distinct 
species,  while  many  are  as  yet  not  so  regarded.  Every  year  additional 
races  of  this  character  are  discovered,  and  doubtless  many  still  remain 
unknown.  Much  time  will  probably  elapse  before  naturalists  will  gen- 
erally agree  as  to  their  true  character  and  relations,  though  evidence 
indicative  of  their  being  the  result  of  general  and  uniformly  acting 
laws  of  geographical  variation  is  apparently  by  no  means  wanting. 
The  difference  in  color,  size,  form  of  the  bill,  length  of  the  tail,  etc., 
that  appear  almost  universally  to  obtain  between  the  northern  and 
southern  representatives  of  the  same  species,  have  already  been  suffi- 
ciently dwelt  upon  in  the  preceding  pages  ;  but  the  insertion  of  a  few 
species  in  the  list  of  those  alleged  above  (Class  IV  of  the  preceding 
tables)  to  range  across  the  North  American  continent  calls  for  an  ad- 
ditional word  in  respect  to  the  differences  which  have  led  to  the  specific 
separation  of  the  western  representatives  of  these  species  from  their  east- 
ern representatives,  or  to  suggestions  that  they  might  prove  to  be  spe- 
cifically distinct.  Most  of  the  cases  of  this  kind  have  been  distinguished 
in  the  tables  under  Class  IV  by  the  prefix  of  a  [?]  before  their  names. 
In  all  these  cases  almost  the  sole  difference  alleged  for  the  separation 
of  the  western  forms  is  that  of  either  the  darker  or  brighter  or,  in  other 
words,  the  more  intense  colors  of  those  from  the  Pacific  coast ;  this  char- 
acter being  always  the  one  most  strongly  urged  as  distinguishing  them, 
and  not  unfrequently  the  Only  one,  especially  in  those  species  that  breed 
wholly  to  the  northward  of  the  latitude  of  San  Francisco.  The  fre- 
quency of  this  difference  seems  to  be  a  strong  reason  for  regarding 


424  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

it  as  the  result  of  a  general  law,  and  to  remove  it  from  the  category 
of  genuine  specific  distinctions.* 

X.  Tlie  number  of  species  which  breed  in  the  American  Arctic 
Fauna  appears  to  be  not  far  from  sixty.  In  the  Hudsonian  Fauna  the 
number  is  increased  to  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty,  in  the  Cana- 
dian to  probably  about  one  hundred  and  sixty.  In  the  Alleghanian 
the  number  is  nearly  one  hundred  and  forty;  in  the  Carolinian  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five;  in  the  Louisianian  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty.  The  Hudsonian  and  Canadian  Faunae  hence  have  a  greater 
number  of  species,  in  areas  of  the  same  extent,  and  probably  a  far 
greater  number  of  individuals,  than  the  Carolinian  and  Louisianian 
Faunae.  In  respect  to  the  number  of  individuals,  it  is  evident  that 
this  must  result,  in  consequence  of  the  hordes  of  wading  and  swim- 
ming birds,  of  thrushes,  sparrows,  and  Sylvicolidce  that  pass  through 
the  southern  and  middle  districts  of  the  Eastern  Province  to  breed 
in  its  boreal  portions  ;  few  of  the  species  that  breed  at  the  southward 
being  there  as  numerously  represented  as  are  scores  of  species  that 
breed  exclusively  at  the  northward.  Taking  the  whole  number  of 
species  found  at  particular  localities  during  the  year,  there  is  a  con- 
stant increase  in  number  to  the  southward,  the  increase,  however, 
being  less  rapid  from  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Canadian  Fauna 
southward  than  from   that  point  northward.!     There  is  also  a  steady 

*  In  addition  to  the  list  of  examples  of  this  variation  already  cited  in  Part  III  of 
this  paper,  the  following  may  be  added  as  marked  instances:  Reyulus  satrapa,  Pacific 
coast  specimens  forming  the  variety  olivaceus  Baird  ;  Troglodytes  hyemalis,  Pacific  coast 
specimens  forming  the  variety pacificus  Baird;  Cistothorus  palustris,  Pacific  coast  speci- 
mens forming  the  variety  paludicola  Baird;  Helminthophaga  celata,  Pacific  coast  speci- 
mens being,  according  to  Professor  Baird,  "  much  brighter  and  clearer  yellowish  be- 
neath and  olivaceous  above,"  than  those  from  the  interior  of  North  America  ;  Myiodioctet 
(=  Wihonia)  puiilla  ;  Ilirundo  bicolor  ;  Collwrio  excubiloroides  (=  C.  ludovicianus),  Pacific 
coast  specimens  being  darker  than  those  from  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  much  darker 
than  those  from  the  Plains  {Baird);  Ctrpodacus  purpureas,  Pacific  coast  specimen!) 
being  darker  and  forming  the  C.  californicus  of  Baird  :  Mdospiza  melodia,  the  darker 
Pacific  coast  specimens  forming  the  M.  Ihermanni  Baird,  etc. 

t  There  seems  to  have  been  no  exhaustive  list  published  of  the  birds  occurring  at 
any  locality  north  of  the  Alleghanian  Fauna.  Dr.  Richardson's  list  is  the  largest,  and 
gives  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  as  the  whole  number  known  in  1831  to  inhabit 
British  North  America  north  of  the  Canadas  and  east  of  the  Pocky  Mountains.  Prob- 
ably this  number,  and  even  more,  may  occur  at  a  single  locality  on  the  Saskatchewan; 
but  probably  not  more  than  two  hundred  and  sixty  or  seventy.  Three  hundred  and 
ten  have  been  detected   in  Massachusetts,  including  those  of  irregular  and  very  rare 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  425 

increase  southwards  in  the  number  and  even  in  the  proportion  of 
species  which  are  resident  at  the  same  locality  the  whole  year.  But 
from  the  absence  of  exhaustive  lists  of  the  species  occurring  at  numer- 
ous localities,  differing  in  latitude,  it  is  difficult  to  make  at  present  a 
wholly  satisfactory  numerical  comparison  of  the  different  ornithological 
faunae.* 

occurrence  ;  three  hundred  and  twenty-seven  in  ttie  vicinity  of  New  York  City  (Law- 
rence), and  three  hundred  and  forty-three  in  New  Jersey  (  Turnbull).  The  number 
given  by  Ross  as  observed  by  him  in  the  "  Mackenzie's  River  District"  is  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two.  Tne  greatest  number  I  have  seen  recorded  from  any  restricted  1  icality 
within  the  American  tropical  Realm  is  five  hundred  and  forty,  the  number  given  from 
Costa  Rica  by  Messrs.  Lawrence  and  Salvin. 

*  Dr.  Richardson  in  1831,  found  that  the  number  of  species  "  known  to  rear  their 
young  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan  "  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  forty-one. 
At  least  twenty  species  more  may  now  be  safely  added.  Bonaparte,  in  1S27,  estimated 
the  number  of  species  breeding  at  Philadelphia  to  be  one  hundred  and  four.'  Messrs. 
Coues  and  Prentiss  in  their  list  of  the  birds  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  published  in 
1861,  mention  forty-four  species  as  being  permanent  residents,  and  fifty-nine  others  as 
summering,  making  one  hundred  and  three  that  probably  breed  in  the  District,  —  one 
less  than  the  number  given  by  Bonaparte  as  breeding  at  Philadelphia.  Messrs.  S.  F. 
and  W.  M.  Baird  gave,  in  1*44,  one  hundred  and  nine  species  as  breeding  at  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania.  The  tfiree  latter  being  inland  localities,  they  may  properly  be  compared 
with  the  Saskatchewan  district.  The  numerous  lakes  at  the  latter  locality,  however, 
afford  favorite  breeding  places  for  numerous  water  birds,  while  few  such  localities  are 
afforded  by  the  other  localities  mentioned;  but  since  few  water  birds  breed  so  far  south 
as  these  localities,  the  difference  in  this  respect  is  a  fact  of  small  importance.  Dr. 
Turnbull,  in  1869,  gave  the  number  of  permanently  resident  species  in  "East  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey"  as  fifty-two,  and  the  number  of  summer  visitors  as  one  hun- 
dred and  fourteen,  making  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  species  that  occur  there 
in  summer;  but  the  area  included  in  this  list  is  more  extended,  and  embraces  a  greater 
variety  of  surface  than  in  the  other  cases,  and  includes  several  strictly-  coast  species. 
Farther  than  this,  an  examination  of  his  list  shows  that  at  least  thirty  of  the  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-six  are  either  wholly  of  accidental  or  of  very  rare  occurrence,  and  hence 
do  not  regularly  (many  of  them  never)  breed  at  the  locality  named.  The  number  of 
resident  speeies  in  Massachusetts  is  not  far  from  thirty,  of  summer  visitors  one  hun- 
dred and  six.  making  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  that  are  more  or  less  frequent  in  sum- 
mer,—  a  number  considerably  less  than  undoubtedly -eccur  in  an  equal  area  on  the 
Saskatchewan.  Mr.  ('.  J.  Maynard,  in  his  careful  analysis  of  the  birds  of  Eastern 
Massachusetts  (Naturalist's  Guide,  Part  II,  pp.  162-  164,  1870),  gives  only  one  hundred 
ami  fifteen  as  being  known  with  certainty  to  breed  in  the  eastern  half  of  that  State, 
one  or  two  of  which  cannot  be  considered  as  breeding  there  regularly.  While  this 
somewhat  <-xr<-<-,\~  the  number  generally  given  as  breeding  at  localities  more  to  tin 
ward,  it  is  far  less  than  the  number  given  by  Dr.  Richardson  as  breeding  on  the  Sas- 
katchewan, and  much  less  than  the  number  now  well  known  to  be  found  there  in 
summer.  Dr.  Coues,  in  his  "  Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  South  Carolina,"  indicates  i , 1 1 1  y 
nbout  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  as  being  known  to  breed  regularly  in  that  State. 


426  BULLETIN   OF  THE 


APPENDIX   TO    PART   V. 

LIST    OF    AUTHORITIES. 

In  the  following  list  are  given  the  titles  of  general  works  and  special 
papers  tliat  may  be  profitably  consulted  in  a  study  of  the  geographical 
distribution  of  the  birds  of  North  America.  An  attempt  has  been  made 
to  cite  all  the  papers  of  much  importance  bearing  upon  this  subject 
that  have  appeared  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  year  1870,  those  pub- 
lished in  this  country  having  been  also  brought  down  to  the  present 
date  (April,  1871).  Some  of  those  published  in  the  transactions  of  for- 
eign societies  during  1869  have  been  necessarily  omitted,  as  also  a  large 
proportion  of  those  published  in  1870,  since  most  of  these  publications 
are  usually  several  months  in  reaching  this  country. 

In  compiling  the  present  list  I  have  been  greatly  aided  by  the 
"List  of  Authorities"  published  by  Professor  Baird  in  the  Appen- 
dix of  his  Report  on  the  Birds  of  North  America  in  1858  ;  Agassiz's 
"  Bibliographia  Zoblogia?  " ;  Carus  and  Engleman's  ';  Bibliotheca 
Zoologica,"  ending  with  the  year  1860  ;  by  Dr.  G.  Hartlaub's  "Bericht 
iiber  die  Leistungen  in  der  Naturgeschichte  der  Vogel,"  in  Wiegmann's 
Archiv  fur  Naturgeschichte,  and  by  Professor  Alfred  Newton's  ad- 
mirable ornithological  record  in  Dr.  Gunther's  "Zoological  Record."* 
I  am  also  indebted  to  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  for  the  addition  of  the  titles  of 
a  considerable  number  of  articles  to  the  proof-sheets,  which  he  has  had 
the  kindness  to  carefully  examine.  The  few  titles  enclosed  in  brackets 
indicate  those  papers  I  have  not  myself  consulted. 

In  aiming  at  brevity  I  may  have  excluded  from  the  list  a  few  papers 
that  might  well  have  been  added.  Usually  papers  mentioning  less 
than  half  a  dozen  species  have  been  excluded,  including  announcements 
of  the  capture  of  species  at  localities  beyond  their  usual  range.  To  cite 
all  such  notices  would  nearly  double  the  length  of  the  list,  without  ma- 
terially adding  to  its  value,  at  least  for  general  purposes.  Papers  in 
which  new  species  were  described  are  frequently  omitted  where  the 
geographical  data  given  in  them  have  been  subsequently  incorporated 
in  other  papers  published  by  the  same  author. 

*  The  volume  for  1869  I  regret  to  find  has  not  yet  appeared. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  427 

The  geographical  arrangement  of  the  papers  serves  to  show  at  a 
glance  what  portions  of  the  continent  are  tolerably  well  known,  so  far 
as  regards  the  birds  occurring  there,  as  well  as  to  indicate  the  consider- 
able areas  that  are  still  almost  unknown,  and  the  amount  of  information 
possessed  respecting  the  regions  partially  known.  In  order  to  indicate 
to  some  extent  the  character  of  the  papers  mentioned,  the  number  of 
species  given  in  each  is  usually  stated,  as  well  as  the  number  of  pages 
the  papers  embrace. 

Occasionally  valuable  notes  on  the  distribution  of  our  birds,  and  some- 
times nearly  complete  local  lists,  are  to  be  found  in  the  various  agricul- 
tural periodicals,  in  the  transactions  or  reports  of  agricultural  societies, 
and  in  the  various  State  agricultural  reports.  Although  a  number  of 
such  have  been  entered  in  the  following  list,  others  may  have  escaped 
notice  ;  and  information  of  such  omissions,  or  of  the  omission  of  any 
local  list,  would  be  thankfully  received  by  the  writer. 

GENERAL   WORKS. 

Audubon,  J.  J.  Facts  and  Observations  connected  with  the  permanent 
Residence  of  Swallows  in  the  United  States.  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist., 
Vol.  I,  pp.  166-168,  1824. 

Audubon,  J.  J.  Ornithological  Biography.  5  vols.  8vo.  Edinburgh, 
1831-1839. 

Audubon,  J.  J.  A  Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  North  America.  8vo.  Edin- 
burgh, 1839. 

Audubon,  J.  J.  Birds  of  America.  7  vols.  8vo.  Philadelphia,  1840  -  1844. 
(506  species.) 

Bachman,  John.  On  the  Migration  of  the  Birds  of  North  America.  Am. 
Journ.  Sci.  and  Arts,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  XXX,  pp.  81  - 100,  1836. 

Baird,  S.  F.  Review  of  American  Birds,  in  the  Museum  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution,  Part  I,  North  and  Middle  America.  8vo.  Washington, 
pp.  1-176,  1864;  pp.  177-320,  1865;  pp.  321-450,  1866. 

Baird,  S.  F.  The  Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Birds. 
Am.  Journ.  Sci.  and  Arts,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  XLI,  pp.  78-90,184-192, 
337-347,  1866. 

Baird,  S.  F.,  Cassin,  John,  and  Lawrence,  G.  N.  Birds  of  North 
America  :  a  Report  on  the  Birds  collected  during  the  Explorations  and 
Surveys  for  a  Railroad  Route  from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  Pacific  R.  R.  Rep.  of  Expl.  and  Surv.,  Vol.  IX,  4to,  1858.  (Re- 
published under  the  title  of  "  Birds  of  North  America,"  with  an  Atlas  of 
Plates.  —  738  species,  22  of  them  extralimital  ) 


428  BULLETIN    OF    THE 

Bannister,  TT.  M.     A  sketch  of  the  Classification  of  the  Aneriean  Anserea. 

Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1870,  pp.  130-132.     (12  North  American 

species.) 
Bonaparte,  C.  L.     Additions  to  the  Ornithology  of  the  United  States. 

Journ.  Acad.  Nat  Sci.  Philad.,  Vol.  V,  pp.  28-31,  1825.     (7  species.) 
Bonaparte,  C.  L.     Specchio   comparativo   della  orni'ologia   di   Roma  e 

Filadelfia.    8vo.     Pisa,  1827.     Supplement  to  the  same,  1832. 
Bonaparte,  C.  L.     Saggio  di   una  distribuzione  metodica  degli    Animali 

vertebrati   etc.      8vo.      Roma,    1831-1832;    Isis,    1832,   pp.    283-319; 

1833,  pp.  1183-1230. 
BONAPARTE,   C.  L.     A  Geographical  and  Comparative  List  of  the  Birds  of 

Europe  and  North  America.     8vo,  London,  1  838.     (4  71  American  species.) 

See  a  review  of  tie  same  in  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  p.  318,  1839. 
Bonaparte,   C.  L.     American  Ornithology,  or  the  Natural  History  of  .the 

Birds  inhabiting  the  United  States,   not  given  by  "Wilson.     4   vols.  4to. 

New  York,  1825-1833. 
Bonaparte,  C.  L.,  and  Schxegel,  H.     Monographic  des  Loxiens.     4to. 

Leiden  et  Dusseldorf,  1850.     (38  species.) 
Prandt,  Johann  Friedrich.     Rapport  sur  une  Monographic  de  la  famille 

des  Alcadees.     Bull.  Sc.  Acad.  Tmp.  St.  Petersb.,  Tome  II,  pp.  344-349, 

1837. 
Brandt,   Johann   Friedrich.      Erg'a'nzungen   r.nd    Berichtigungen   zur 

Naturgeschichte   der   Famiiie   der    Alciden.     Bull.   Se.    Acad.    Imp.    St. 

Petersb  ,  Tome  VII,  pp.  199-256,  1869.     (21  species  ) 
Brandt,  Johann  Friedrich.     Beirerkungen  iiber  die  Classification,  die 

Entwickelungsstufen  und  die  Verbreitung  der  Alciden.     Bull.  Sc.  Acad. 

Imp.  St.  Petersb.,  Tome  VII,  pp.  256-268,  1869. 
Brewer,  Thomas  M.     Norfh  American    Oology,  Part  I,   Rapiores  and 

Fissirostres,  June,  1857.     Smithsonian  Contributions,  Vol.  XI. 
Brewer,  Thomas  M.     A  List  of  Birds  common  to  Europe  and  America, 

with  others  not  identical  but  confounded  together  from  close  resemblance. 

Proc.  Bost.  Soe.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  324  -  328,  1853.     (115  species.) 
Brewer,  Thomas  M.     A  Synopsis  of  die  Birds  of  North  America.     Pub- 
lished  as  an  Appendix  to  Brewer's  edition  of  Jardine's  Wilson's  Orni- 
thology, pp.  682-746,  1810.     (491  species). 
Bryant,  IIenm'.     Remarks  on  the  Variations  of  Plumage  of  Buteo  borealis 

auct.  and  Buteo  Harlani  Aud.      Proc.  Bost.  Sue.  Net.  Hist.,  Vol.  VIII, 

pp.  107-119,  1861. 
Bryant,  Henry.     Monograph  of  the  Genus  Cctarractes  Moehring.     Proc. 

Bost.  Soc.  N:.t.  Hist,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  134-144,  1861.     (4  species.) 
Cabot    S.,  Jr.     <>n  the  Distribution  of  Tetrao  cupido,  and  of  other  Grouse 

in  New  Eng'and.     Proc.  Bo:t.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  V,  p.  154,  1855. 


MUSEUM   OF  COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  429 

Cassin    JOHN.     Illustrations  of  the  B'rds   of   California,  Texas,   Oregon, 

British    and    Russian    America,    etc.      8vo.     Philadelphia,    1853-1856. 

(Contains   al.so  Synopses    of  the  Parince,   Raptures,  and  Fissirostres  of 

North  America). 
Cassin,  John.     Notes  on  North  American  Falconidce,  etc.     Proc.  Acad. 

,vit.  Sri.  Philad  ,  1855,  pp.  277-284.    (25  species.) 
Cassin,  Joiiy.     Ornithology  of  the  United  States  and  British  and  Russian 

America.     United  States  Mag-,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  18,  109,  205,  181,  1856  ;  Vol. 

IV,  p.  10,  185  7.     (Raptores  only.) 
Cassin,  John.     Studies  of  the  Tcteridcs.     Proc.  Acad.  N:t.   Sci.  Philad., 

1866,  pp.  10-25,  10.?  -417;    1867,  pp.  45-74. 
Cassin,  John.     Notes  on  the  Picidce,  etc.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad., 

1863,  pp.  194-204,  322-328. 
Cassin,  John.     Notes  of  an   Examination  of  the  Birds  of  the  Suhfamily 

Ccerebince.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1864,  pp.  265-275. 
Cope,  E.  D.     The  Birds   of  Palestine  and  Panama  compared.     Am.  Nat., 

Vol.  II.  pp.  351-359,  1868. 
Coues,  Elliott.     A  Monograph   of  the   Alcidce.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.   Sci. 

Philad.,  1868,  pp.  2  -  81.     (33  species.) 
Coles,  Elliott.     A  Critical  Review  of  the  Family  Procellariidce.     Proc. 

Acad.  Nat.   Sci.  Philad.,  1S64,  pp.   72-91,116-144;  1866,  pp.  25  -  33, 

134-197.      (92  species.) 
Coues,  Elliott.     A  Critical  Review  of  the  Suh-family  Lcsiridhtce.     Proc. 

Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1863,  pp.  121  - 138.     (7  species.) 
Coues,  Elliott.      Review  of  die   Gulls  of  North  America,  etc.     Proc. 

Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1862,  pp.  291-312.     (25  species.) 
Coues,  Elliott.     Synopsis  of  the  North  American  Forms  of  Co'ymbidce 

and  PoJicipidre.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phihad.,  1862,  pp.  226-233. 
Coues,  Elliott.     A  Revision  of  the  Terns  of  North -America,  etc.     Proc. 

Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phi'ad.,  1862,  pp.  535-559.     (14  species.) 
Coues,  Elliott.     A  Monograph  of  the  Tringece  of  North  America.     Proc. 

Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1861,  pp.  170-205.     (12  species.) 
Coues,   Elliott.     On  Variation   in  the   Genus  ^■Egiothui.      Proc.   Acad. 

Nat,   Sc.  Philad.,   1869,  pp.    180-189.     (Special   reference  to  the  geo- 
graphical races.) 
[Coues,  Elliott.     Key  to  North  American  Birds  (in  press).     1  vol.  imp. 

8vo.     Salem.] 
Dresser,  H.  E.,  and  Sharpe,  R.  B.     Notes  on  Lanius  excuhitor  and  its 

Allies.     Proc.  Zobl.  Soc.  Bond.,  1870,  pp.  590-600.     (9  species.) 
Elliot,  D.  G.     Remarks  on  the  Species  composing  the  Genus  Pedioscetes. 

Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1862,  pp.  402-401. 
Elliot,  D.  G.     Morograph  of  the  Tetraonidce.     Folio. 


430  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Elliot,  D.  G.     The  New  and  heretofore  Unfigured  Birds  of  North  Amer- 
ica.    2  vols,  folio.     New  York,  1869. 
Elliot,  D.   G.     A  Monograph  of  the  Genus  Pelecanus.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc. 

Lond.,  1869,  pp.  571-591.     (9  species.) 
[Finsch,    Otto.     Die    Papageien,    monographische    bearbeitet.      2  vols* 

royal  8vo.     Leiden,  1867  -  1868.] 
Gambel,    Wm.      Contributions    to  American   Ornithology.      Proc.   Acad. 

Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  126  - 129,  1848.     (Remarks  on  6  species.) 
Gould,  John.     Monograph  of  the  Troc/ulidcc,  or  Humming-Birds.     Folio, 

1850,  et  se.q. 
Heermann,  A.    L.      Additions   to   North    American    Ornithology.      Proc. 

Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  1  77  -  180,  1854.     (5  species.) 
Herbert,  William  Henry.     Frank  Forester's  Field  Sports  of  the  United 

States  and  British  Provinces    of  North  America.     2    vols.  8vo.      New 

York,  1848.     (Contains  many  valuable  observations  on  the  game  birds  of 

North  America.) 
Huxley,  T.  II.     On  the   Classification   and  Distribution  of  the  Alectoro- 

rnorphce  and  Heteromorphce.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1868,  pp.  294-319. 

With  a  map. 
Lawrence,  G.  N.     Additions  to  the  Ornithology  of  the  United   States. 

Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  V,  pp.  112-124,  1851.     (22  species.) 
Lesson,    R.  P.     Distribution  geographicpie  de  quelques    Oiseaux  maiins. 

Ann.  Sci.  Nat,  Tome  VI,  pp.  88-  102,  1825. 
Lesson,    R.  P.      Essai  sur  la  dispersion   des   Oiseaux  sur   la  surface  du 

globe.     Ferrus.  Bull.  Sc.  Nat.,  Tome  XXVII,  pp.  92  -  100,  1831 
Lewis,  E.  J.     American  Sportsman.     8vo.     Philadelphia,  1863.    (Contains 

valuable  information  respecting  the  Rasores,  Gralhr.  and  Analidce.} 
Malherbe,    A.      Monographic  des  Picidees.      2  vols,   folio,  avec  125  pi. 

eoloriecs,  Metz,  1859-1862. 
[Muller,  J.  W.  von.     Reisen  in   den  Vereinigten   Staaten,  Canada  und 

Mexico.      3   vols,  royal  8vo.   Leipzic,   1864-1865.     Vol.  Ill,    pp.  551- 

594.     (Gives  a  list  of  611  species  of  North  American  birds.)] 
Nuttall,  Thomas.     A  Manual  of  the  Ornithology  of  the  United   States 

and  Canada,     2  vols.   12mo.     Boston.     Vol.  I,  Land  Birds,  1832 ;  2d  ed., 

with  additions,  1840;  Vol.  II,  Water  Birds,  1834. 
Ord,   GEORGE.     List  of  North  American  Birds,   Guthrie's  Geog.,  2d  Am. 

ed.,  2  vols.  8vo.     Philad.,  1815. 
Pennant,  Thomas.     Arctic  Zoology.      3  vols.  4to,  1784  -  1787;  2d  ed,  2 

vols.  4to,  1792. 
RlDGWAY,  Robert.     Notices  of  certain  obscurely  known  Species  of  Amer- 
ican Birds  [of  the  Genera  Tardus  (Hylocickla),  I'yranga  and  Quiscalus.] 

Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1869,  pp.  125-135. 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  431 

Ridgway,  Robert.  A  New  Classification  of  the  North  American  Falconidce. 
Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1870,  pp.  138-150. 

Roosevelt,  R.  B.  The  Game  Birds  of  the  Northern  States  of  America. 
12mo.     New  York,  1866,  pp.  338. 

Salvin,  O.  On  the  Genus  C Indus.  Ibis,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  109-122, 
186  7.    (Contains  remarks  on  the  geographical  distribution  of  13  species.) 

Schmarda,  L.  K.  Die  geographische  Verbreitung  der  Thiere,  3  Bd. 
Wien,  1853. 

Sclater,  P.  L.  Catalogue  of  a  Collection  of  American  Birds,  belong- 
ing to  Philip  Lutley  Sclater,  M.  A.,  etc.,  etc.     8vo.     London,  1862. 

Sclater,  P.  L.  On  the  general  Geographical  Distribution  of  the  Mem- 
bers of  the  Class  Aves.  Journ.  of  Proc.  of  Linnsean  Society  of  London. 
Vol.  II,  Zoology,  pp.  130-  145,  1858. 

Sclater,  P.  L.  Notes  on  Krueper's  Nuthatch  and  on  the  other  known 
Species  of  the  Genus  Sitta.     Ibis,  1865. 

Sclater,  P.  L.  Notes  on  the  Genera  and  Species  of  Cypselidce.  Proc. 
Zobl.  Soc.  Lond.,  1865,  pp.  593-617. 

Sclater,  P.  L.  Notes  upon  the  American  Caprimulgidce.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc. 
Lond.,  1866,  pp.  123-145. 

Sclater,  P.  L.,  and  Salvin,  O.  Notes  on  the  Species  of  the  Genus 
Asturina.    Proc.  Zobl.  Soc.  Lond.,  1869,  pp.  129-134.     (7  species.) 

Sclater,  P.  L.,  and  Salvin,  O.  Synopsis  of  the  American  Rails  (Pallida.) 
Proc.  Zobl.  Soc.  Lond.,  1868,  pp.  442-  470.     (48  species.) 

Sclater,  P.  L.,  and  Salvin,  O.  Exotic  Ornithology.  4to.  London,  1866 
el  seq.     (Publishing  in  parts.) 

Selys-Longchamps,  Edm.  de.  Sur  les  Oiseaux  americains  admis  dans  la 
Faune  europe'enne.    Mem.  de  la  Soc.  R.  de  Liege,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  35-50, 1849. 

[Sharpe,  R.  B.  A  Monograph  of  the  Alcedinidce,  or  Family  of  Kingfishers. 
Imp.  8vo.  London,  1870.  Introduction  published  senarately.  (4to,  Lon- 
don, 1871.)] 

Slxdevall,  C.  J.  Conspectus  Avium  Picinarum.  1  vol.  8vo.  pp.  116. 
Stockholm,  1866.     (254  species.) 

Sun  devall,  C.  J.  Conspectus  Generis  Dendrcecce.  Ofvers.  Kongl.  Vetensk. 
Acad.  Forhandl.,  1869,  pp.  605-618.     (30  species.) 

Taylor,  G.  C.  Birds  observed  during  two  Voyages  across  the  North 
Atlantic.     Ibis,  1869,  p.  388. 

Verrill,  A.  E.  On  the  supposed  Eastward  Migration  of  the  Cliff  Swal- 
low (Hirundo  lunifrons  Say).  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  IX,  pp. 
276-278,  1863. 

Verrill,  A.  E.  Report  of  some  Investigations  upon  the  Geographical 
Distribution  of  North  American  Birds,  made  with  Reference  to  the 
Physical  Causes  that  determine  their  Limit  in  Latitude.  Proc.  Bost. 
Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  X,  pp.  259-262,  1866. 


432  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Wallace,  A.    R.      Letter  concerning   the    Geographical  Distribution   of 

Birds.      Ibis,  Vol.  I,  pp.  449-454,  1859. 
Wied,  Max  Prinz  vox.      Verzeichniss  der  Vbgel  welche  auf  seiner  Reise 

in  Nord-Amerika  beobaehtet  wurden.    Cabanis's  Journ.  tur  Ornithol.,  VI 

Jahrgang,  pp.  1-29,  97-124,    1.77-204,  257-284,   337-354,417-444, 
1858 ;  VII  Jahrgang,  pp.  81  -  9(3,  1C1  -  180,  241  -  260,  1859. 
"Wilson,  Alexander.     American  Ornithology,  or  the  Natural  History  of 
the  Birds  of  the  United  States.    9  vols.  4to.     Philadelphia,  1808-1814. 
(283  species/) 

GREENLAND. 

Fabricius,  O.  Fauna  Grcenlandia?,  etc.  8vo.  Hafhise  et  Lipsiae,  1780. 
(54  species.) 

IIolrull,  Carl.  Ornithologiske  Bidrag  til  den  gronlandske  Fauna. 
Kroyer's  naturhist.  Tidskr.,  Bd.  IV,  pp.  361-457,  1843;  Isis,  1845,  pp. 
739-  792.     (88  species.) 

Reinhardt,  J.  List  of  Birds  hitherto  observed  in  Greenland.  Ibis,  1st 
Ser.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  1  -  19,  1861.     (118  species.) 

[Richardson,  J.  Birds  and  Mammalia  collected  during  the  last  Arctic 
Land  Expedition  under  Sir  John  Franklin.  Proc.  of  the  Com.  of  Sci.  and 
Carres,  of  ZooL  Soc.  Loud.,  Vol.  I,  p-  132,  1831.] 

Sabine,  Edward.  A  Memoir  on  the  Birds  of  Greenland;  with  Descrip- 
tions and  Notes  on  the  Species  observed  in  the  late  Voyage  of  Discovery 
in  Davis's  Straits  and  Baffin's  Bay.  Transact.  Linn.  Soc.  of  London,  Vol. 
XII,  pp.  527-559,  1819.     (54  species.) 

BRITISH  NORTH  AMERICA  EAST  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS. 
Labrador  and  Anticostl. 
COUES,  Elliott.     Notes  on  the  Ornithology  of  Labrador.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat. 

Sci.  Philad.,  1861,  pp.  215-257.      (83  species  ) 
Verreaux,  Jules.     Der  in  Labrador   befindlichen  Lands'augethiere  und 

Vbgel.     Bull.  Akad.  Munchen,  1844,  pp.  122-126,  129-  133. 
VERRILL,  A.  E.    Notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  Anticosti.    Proc.  Bost.  Soc: 
Nat.   Hist,  Vol.   IN,   pp.    137-145.      (Contains  a  list  of  62  species  of 
birds.) 
Weis,  Samuel.    List  of  Vertebrates  observed  at  Okak,  Labrador,  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Weis,  with  Annotations  by  Dr.  A.  S.  Packard,  Jr.    Proc.  Bost.  Soc. 
Nat. Hist,  Vol.  X,pp.  264-277,1866.    (Birds,  pp.  267  -  269  ;  85  species.) 
Interior  of  British  North  America. 

[Armstrong,  A.  A  personal  Narrative  of  the  Discovery  of  the  Northwest 
Passage,  etc.     8vo.     London,  185  7.     (31  species  from  the  Arctic  Coast.)] 


MUSEUM    OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  433 

Barxstox,   George.     Recollections  of  the  Swans  and  Geese  of  Hudson's 

Bay.     Can.  Nat  and  Geol.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  33  7  -  344,  1861. 
[Bi.akistox,  Thomas.    [Ornithological]  Scraps  from  the  Far  West.     Zoolo- 
gist, 1859,  pp.  0318-6325,  6373-6376:] 
Bjlakistox,  Capt.     On  Birds  collected  and  observed  in  the   Interior  of 

BritUi  North  America.      Part  I,  Ibis,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  314-320, 

1861  ;  Part  II,  Ibid.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  3  -  10,  1862. 
Blakistox,  Capt.     Notes  on  the  Interior  of  British  North  America.     Ibis, 

1st  Ser.,  Vol.  V,  pp.  ul»-8  7,   1863.     (Devoted  principally  to  remarks  on 

the  birds.) 
Cassix.  -Tohx.     Remarks  on  Birds  from  the  Arctic  Regions,  presented  by 

Dr.  Kane.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1852,  p.  107. 
Edwards,  Geoi:<;e.     Natural  History  of  Bird*  etc.     4  vols.  4 to.     London, 

1743-1751.     (Contains  the  first  descriptions  of  38  species  of  birds  from 

Hudson's  Bay.) 
Guxx,  Doxald.     Notes  of  an  Egging  Expedition  to  Shoal  Lake,  west  of 

Lake  Winnipeg.     Smithsonian  Report,  1867,  pp.  427  -432. 
Forster,  J.  R.     An  Account  of  the  Birds  sent  from  Hudson's  Bay,  etc. 

Phil.  Trans.,  Vol.  LXII,  pp.  382-422,  1772.     (58  species.) 
Leach,  W.  E.      Zoological  Appendix  to'  Ross's  Voyage  to  Baffin's  Bay. 

Birds,  App.     No.  2,  pp.  xlviii-lx,  1819.     (20  species.) 
Lord,  J.  K.     List  of  Birds  collected  and  presented  by  the  British  North 

American  Boundary  Commission  to  the  Royal  Artillery  Institution.     Proc. 

Roy.  Artill.  Instit.,  1864,  pp.  110-126.     (87  species.) 
Lord,  J.  K.    Catalogue  of  the  Birds,  Nests,  and  Eggs  cpllected  by  him  when 

Natural'st  to  the  North  American  Boundary  Conmifssion.    Proc.  Roy.  Art. 

Inst.,  1865,  pp.  33  7-339. 
Murray,  Andrew.     Contributions  to  the  Natural  History  of  the  Hudson's 

Bay  Company's  Territory.    Part  III,  Birds.   Edinburgh  New  Phil.  Journ., 

2d  Ser.,  Vol.  IX,  pp.  221  -  231,  1857.     (82  species.) 
Richardsox,  J.,   and    Swaixsox,  W.     Fauna   Boreali-Americana.     Vol. 

II,  Birds.    4to,  1831.     (238  species.) 
Richardsox,  John.     Geographical  Distribution  of  some  American  Birds. 

Ann.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  XI,  pp.  484,  1843.     (A  list  of  12  species  collected 

at  Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie's  River.") 
Ross.  Berxard  R.     Mammals  and  Birds  of  the  Arctic  Regions.     Edinb. 

Phil.  Journ.,  2d   Ser.,  Vol.   XIII,  1861,  pp.   161-164.     (A  nominal  list 

of  94  species.) 
Ross,  Berxard  R.     List  of  Species  of  Mammals  and  Birds  collected  in 

Mackenzie's  River  District  during  1860-1861  (June,  i860,  to  April,  1861). 

Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  441-444,  1862.     (80  species  of  birds 

mentioned.) 

vol.  ii.  28 


434  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Ross,  Bernard  R.  List  of  Mammals,  Birds  and  Eggs,  observed  in  the 
Mackenzie's  River  District,  with  Notices.  Nat.  Hist.  Rev.,  Vol.  II,  pp. 
276-290,1862.     (192  species.) 

Sabine,  Edward.  Supplement  to  the  Appendix  to  Captain  Parry's  First 
Voyage.     London,  4to,  1824.     (73  species.) 

Sabine,  Joseph.  Birds  of  Sir  John  Franklin's  [First]  Journey.  Frank- 
lin's Journey  to  the  Shore,  of  the  Polar  Sea.  4to.  London,  1823.  Ap- 
pend., pp.  669  -  703.     (94  species.) 

Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  and  Newfoundland. 
Ambrose,"  John.      Observations  on  the    Sea-Birds  frequenting  St.  Mar- 
garet's Bay,  N.  S.     Proc.  Nov.  Scot.  Inst.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  II,  Part  II,  pp. 

51-59.     (19  species) 
Brewer,  Thomas  M.     A  few  Ornithological  Facts  gathered  in  a  hasty 

Trip  through  Portions  of  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia,  in  June,  1850. 

Journ.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  297-308,  1852.     (7  species.) 
Bryant,  Henry.     List  of  Birds  observed  at  Grand  Menan  and  at  Yar- 
mouth, N.  S.,  from  June  16  to  July  8,  1856.     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist., 

Vol.  VI,  pp.  114  -  123,  1857.     (55  species.) 
Bryant,  Henry.     Remarks  on  some  Birds  that  breed  in  the  Gulf  of  St. 

Lawrence.     Proc.   Bost.   Soc.   Nat.   Hist.,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.   65-75,   1860; 

Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  VI,  1861,  pp.  255  -  267.     (14  species.) 
Downs,  A.     On  the  Land  Birds  of  Nova  Scotia.     Proc.  Nov.  Scot.  Inst. 

Nat.  Sci,  Vol.  II,  pp.  38-51,  1865.     (61  species.) 
Jones,  J.  M.     On  some  of  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Nova  Scotia.     Proc.  Nov. 

Scot.  Inst.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  II,  Part  II,  pp.  70  -  73,  1868. 
Reeks,  Henry.     Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Newfoundland.     Can.  Nat.,  Voh 

V,  pp.  38-47,  151  -159,  1860. 
Willis,  J.  R.     List  of  the  Birds  of  Nova  Scotia,  compiled  from  Notes  by 

Lieut.  Blakiston  and  Lieut.  Bland.     Smithsonian  Report,  1858,  pp.  280  ~ 

286.     (207  species.) 

The  Canadas. 

Bell,  Robert.  Catalogue  of  Birds  collected  around  Lakes  Superior  and 
Huron  in  1860.  Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  270-275,  1861. 
(77  species.) 

Cabot,  J.  E.  Report  of  the  Birds  collected  and  observed  at  Lake  Supe- 
rior.    Agassiz's  Lake  Superior,  pp.  383-385,  1850.     (69  species.) 

Couper,  Wm.  List  of  the  Birds  found  in  the  Vicinity  of  Quebec,  Lower 
Canada.  Samuels's  Birds  of  New  England,  pp.  80,  81,  368-372)  396, 
477-478,  571-573,  1868.     (154  species.) 

D'Urban,  W.  S.  M.     Notes  on  the  Land    Birds    observed  around  Mon- 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  435 

treal  during  the  Winter  of  1856-57.     Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  II,  pp. 

138-145,1857.     (18  species.) 
[Hadfield,  Henry.     Birds  of  Canada  observed  near  Kingston  during  the 

Spring  of  1858.    Zoologist,  1859,  pp.  6701  -  6709,  6744- G752,  G751 -G787.] 
Hall,  Archibald.     On  the  Mammals  and  Birds  of  the  District  of  Mon- 
treal.   Part  II,  Birds.     Canadian  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  44-54, 

1862.     (199  species.) 
King,  W.  Ross.     The  Sportsman  and  Naturalist  in  Canada;  or,  Notes  on 

the  Natural  History  of  the  Game,  Game  Birds,  and  Fish  of  that  Country. 

Imp.  8vo,  London,  1866. 
Le  Moine,  J.  M.     Notes  on  Land  and  Sea  Birds  observed  around  Quebec. 

Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  411-414,  1859. 
Le  Moine,  J.  M.     Ornithologie  du  Canada.     Oiseaux  de  Proie  et  Palmi- 
pedes.    8vo,  pp.  96,  Quebec,  1860. 
McIlvv'raitii,  Thomas.     List  of  Birds  observed  near  Hamilton,  Canada 

West.     Proc.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  V,  pp.  79  -  96,  1866.     (241  species.) 
Vennor,  II.  G.     A  short  Review  of  the  Sylviadce,  or  Wood- Warblers,  found 

in  the  Vicinity  of  Montreal.     Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  VI,  pp.  349-362,  1861. 
Vennor,  H.  G.,  Jr.     Notes  on  Birds  wintering  in  and  around  Montreal. 

Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  V,  pp.  425-430,  1860.     (27  species.) 
W.,  J.  F.     Notes  on  Canadian  Birds.     Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  Vol.  V,  pp.  230, 

231,  1870.     (The  capture  of  9  rare  species  near  Quebec  mentioned.) 

NEW  ENGLAND   STATES. 
General. 

Brewer,  T.  M.  Seaside  Ornithology.  Am.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  225-235. 
1869. 

Coues,  Elliott.  A  List  of  the  Birds  of  New  England.  Proc.  Essex  Insti- 
tute, Vol.  V,  pp.  249-314,  1868.      (335  species.) 

Samuels,  E.  A.  Birds  of  New  England  and  Adjacent  States,  5th  ed.  (of 
"  Ornithology  and  Oology  of  New  England").     Boston,  1870. 

Maine. 

Boardman,  G.  A.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  in  the  Vicinity  of  Calais, 
Maine,  and  about  the  Islands  at  the  Mouth  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  Proc. 
Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  IX,  pp.  122-132,  1862.    (231  species.) 

Cabot,  S.,  Jr.  Notes  of  the  Breeding  of  Mergus  serrator,  M.  cucullatus, 
Anns  sponsa,  A.  obscura,  and  Fuligida  clangula,  on  the  Sources  of  the 
Androscoggin  River,  Maine.     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nai.  Hist.,  Vol.  II,  p.  55. 

Hamlin,  C.  E.  Catalogue  of  Birds  found  in  the  Vicinity  of  Waterville, 
Kennebec  County,  Maine.  Rep.  of  Sec'y  Maine  Board  of  Agric,  1865, 
pp.  168-173.     (135  species.) 


436  BULLETIN    OF   THE 

Holmes,  Ezekiel.     Birds  of  Maine.     Agr.  Maine,  6th  Ann.   Rep.,  1§61. 

pp.   113-122.     (A  nominal  list  of  193  species.)     Addenda  to  the  same. 

2d  Ann.  Rep.  Nat.  Hist,  and  Geol.  of  Maine,  18G2,  p.  118.  (13  species.) 
Verrill,  A.  E.     Catalogue  of  Birds  found    at  Norway,    Oxford    County, 

Maine.  Proc.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  13G  -  158,  1863.  (159  species.) 
Verrill,  A.  E.     Additions  to  the  Catalogue  of  Birds  found  in  the  Vicinity 

of  Calais,  Maine,  and  about  the  Bay  of  Fundy.     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 

Hist.,  Vol.  IX,  pp.  233,  234,  1863.    (12  species.) 

Vermont. 

Thompson,    Zadoc.     Birds   of  Vermont.     History  of  Vermont,  Natural, 
Civil,  and  Statistical,  8vo.     Burlington,  1842.     Birds,  pp.  56 -112. 

Massachusetts. 

Allen,  J.  A.     Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  at  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 

■with  a  List  of  those  found  in  the  State  not  yet  observed  at  Springfield, 

etc.     Proc.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  48-98,  1864.     (296  species.) 
Allen,  J.  A.     Winter  Notes  of  an  Ornithologist.    Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  I,  pp. 

38-48,  1867.     (On  the  Winter  Birds  of  Massachusetts.) 
Allen,  J.  A.     The  Birds  of  Spring.     Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  141-144, 

1867. 
Allen,  J.  A.     Notes  on  some  of  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts.    Amer. 

Nat,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  505-519,  568-585,  631-648,  1869-70.  (92  species.) 
Anonymous.     Notes  on  the  Ducks  found  on  the  Coast  of  Massachusetts  in 

Winter.     Amer.  Nai.,  Vol.,  IV,  p.  49.     (8  species.) 
Brewer,  Thomas  M.     Some  Additions  to  the  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of 

Massachusetts  in  Prof.   Hitchcock's  Report,  etc.     Jour.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 

Hist,  Vol.  I,  pp.  435-439,  1837.     (45  species.) 
Brewer,  T.  M.     Observations  on   the  Appearance    of  the  Cliff  Swallow 

(Htrundo  lunifrons),  giving  Data  of  its  Appearance  in  New  England.    Puoc. 

Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  1 1  i  - 1 . ,  Vol.  IV,  p.  270,  1852. 
Bryant,  II.     Notice  of  Mareca  Penelope  and  Querquedula  crecca  taken  in 

Eastern  Massachusetts.  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  V,  p.  195,  1855. 
Emmons,  E.     Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts.    Hitchcock's  Report 

on  the  Geology  of  Mass.,  Amherst,  1833.     (165  species.) 
Maynard,  C.J.     Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Eastern  Massachusetts.     Nat- 
uralist's Guide,  Part  II,  Boston,  1870.     (299  species.) 
Nuttall,   Thomas.     Remarks    and    Inquiries   concerning  the   Birds   of 

Massachusetts.     Mem.  Amer.  Acad.  Arts  and  Sciences,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  I, 

pp.  91  -  106,  1833.     (45  species  remarked  upon.) 
Peabody,  W.  B.  O.     A   Report   on    the    Ornithology   of  Massachusetts. 

Rep  on  the  Fishes,  Reptiles,  and  Birds  oi  Mass.,  8vo,  1839,  pp.  256-404 ; 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  43T 

Ibid.,  Jour.  Bost.    Soc.  Nat.   Hist.,   Vol.  Ill,  pp.    65-246,1840.     (284 

species). 
Putnam,  Fred.  W.     Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Essex  County,  Mass.   Proc. 

Essex  Institute,  Vol.  I,  pp.  201  -  231,  1856.     (245  species.) 
Samuels,  E.  A.     Descriptive  Catalogue   of  the    Birds    of  Massachusetts. 

Agr.  of  Mass.,  Sec'y's  Rep.,  18G3,  App.  pp.  xvii-xxix,  1864.    (267  species.) 

Connecticut. 

Linsley,  J.  H.     A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Connecticut,  etc.     Am.  Jour. 

of  Sci.  and  Arts,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  XLIV,  pp.  249  -  273,  1843.     (302  species.) 
"Wood,  Wm.     Rapacious  Birds  of  Connecticut.     Hartford  Times,  March  14 

to  August  8,  1861. 

MIDDLE  ATLANTIC   STATES. 

New  York. 

De  Kay,  James  E.     Zoology  of  New  York,  or  the  New  York  Fauna.    4to. 

Albany,  1844.    Part  II,  Birds.     (317  species.) 
GiraoD,  J.  P.     The  Birds  of  Long  Island,  8vo.     New  York,  1843-1844. 

(276  species.) 
Hopkins,  Wm.     List,  of  Sea-Birds  obtained  at  Auburn,  New  York.     Proc. 

Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  V,  p.  13,  1854.     (8  species.) 
Lawrence,  Geo.  N.     Catalogue  of  Birds  observed  on  New  York,  Long 

and  Staten  Islands.     Ann.  New  York  Lye.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  VHI.  pp.  279- 

300,  1867.     (327  species.) 

New  Jersey. 

Abbott,  C.  C.     Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  New  Jersey.     Geol.  of  New 

Jersey,  Appendix,  pp.  761  -  798,  1868.     (301  species.) 
Abbott,  C.  C.     Notes  on  certain  Inland  Birds  of  New  Jersey.     Amer. 

Nat,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  536  -  550,  1870.     (26  species.) 
Turnbull,  "Wm.  P.     The  Birds  of  East  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey. 

8vo  pamphlet     Philadelphia,  1869.     (343  species.) 

Pennsylvania. 

Baird,  Wm.  M.  and  S.  F.  List  of  the  Birds  found  in  the  Vicinity  of 
Carlisle,  Cumberland  County,  Penn.  Am.  Jour.  Sci.  and  Arts,  1st  Ser., 
Vol.  XLVI,  pp.  261  -  273,   1844.     (201  species.) 

Baird,  S.  F.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  in  the  Neighborhood  of  Car- 
lisle, Cumberland  County,  Penn.  Literary  Rec  and  Journ.  Linn.  Ass. 
Pennsyl.  College,  Vol.  I,  p.  249,  1845. 

Barnard,  Vincent.  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania,  etc.     Smiths.  Rep.,  1860,  pp.  434  -  438.     (191  species.) 

Barton,  Benj.  S.     Fragments  of  the  Natural  History  of  Pennsylvania. 


438  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

Folio.  Philadelphia,  1799.  (Contains  a  list  of  the  birds  of  Pennsylvania, 
with  dates  of  migration.) 

Halpemanx,  S.  S.  Facts  in  Ornithology.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad., 
Vol.  I,  p.  54,  1841.  (Falco  peregrinus  stated  to  breed  "  on  the  cliffs  along 
the  Susquehanna.") 

Taylor,  It.  C.  On  the  Geology  and  Natural  History  of  the  Northeastern 
Extremity  of  the  Alleghany  Mountain  Range  in  Pennsylvania,  U.  S. 
Loudon's  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  539-540.  (Contains  a  nomi- 
nal list  of  5G  species  of  birds.) 

Taylor,  R.  C.  A  Supplement  to  the  List  of  Species  of  Birds  occurring  at 
the  Northeastern  Extremity  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  Loudon's 
Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  IX,  pp.  72-74,  1836.     (36  species.) 

See  also  Turnbull,  under  New  Jersey. 

SOUTH  ATLANTIC   STATES. 
General. 

Bartram,  John.  Travels  through  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
East  and  West  Florida,  etc.,  8vo.  Philadelphia,  1791.  Contains  a  list  o: 
the  birds  of  the  United  States,  pp.  289  -  296.     (216  species.) 

Catesby,  Mark.  The  Natural  History  of  Carolina,  Florida,  and  the 
Bahama  Islands.     2  vols,  folio,  3d  ed.     London,  1771. 

Virginia  and  the  District  of  Columbia. 

[Clayton,  John.  On  the  Birds  of  Virginia.  Phil.  Trans.,  Vol.  XVII,  p. 
988,  1693.] 

Couks,  Elliott,  and  Prentiss,  D.  Webster,  List  of  the  Birds  ascer- 
tained to  inhabit  the  District  of  Columbia,  with  the  Times  of  Arrival 
and  Departure  of  such  as  are  Non-residents,  etc.  Smithsonian  Report, 
1861,  pp.  399-421.     (226  species.) 

North  Carolina. 

Cope,  E.  D.     Observations  on  the  Fauna   of  the  Southern  Alleghanies. 

Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.   392-401,   1870.      (Madison   County,  North 

Carolina,  and  Giles  County,  East  Virginia.) 
[Coues,  Elliott.     Notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  Fort  Macon,  N.  C. 

Birds,  Part  I.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1871  (in  press).] 

South  Carolina. 

Bachman,  Jonx.  On  the  Migration  of  the  Birds  of  North  America. 
Am.  Journ.  Sci.  and  Arts,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  XXX,  pp.  81  -  100,  1836.  (Con- 
tains numerous  observations  on  the  birds  of  South  Carolina.) 

Burnett,  AV.  I.  Notes  on  the  Fauna  of  the  Pine  Barrens  of  Upper  South 
Carolina.  Proc  Bost  Soc.  Nat  Hist,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  115-118,  1851.  (69 
species  of  birds  mentioned.) 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  439 

Coues,  Elliott.  Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  South  Carolina.  Proc.  Bost. 
Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  XII,  pp.  104  - 127,  1868.     (294  species.) 

Gibbs,  Lewis  R.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  South  Carolina.  Tuomey's  Ge- 
ology of  South  Carolina,  Appendix,  pp.  iii  -  viii,  1848.     (271  species.) 

Georgia. 

Gerhardt,    Alex.      Uber  die    Lebensweise    der  Vdgel  Nord-Amerikas 

(Georgia).     Naumannia,  1855,  pp.  380-397,  458-469  ;  1856,. pp.  1  -  18. 
Gerhardt,    Alex.      Verzeichniss  der  Vbgel  des   Staats  Georgia,  nach 

White.      Naumannia,    1855,    pp.    382-383.      (A   nominal   list   of    270 

species.) 

Florida. 
Allen,  J.  A.     List  of  the  Winter  Birds  of  East  Florida,  -with  Annotations. 

Bulletin  Mus.  Comp.  Zodl.,  Vol.  II,  pp.  250  -  368,  1871.     (183  species.) 
Bryant,  H.     Observations  on  some  of  the  Birds  of  East  Florida.     Proc. 

Bosc.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  5-21,  1859.     (26  species.) 
Taylor,  George  Cavendish.     Five  Weeks  in  the  Peninsula  of  Florida 

during  the   Spring   of  1861,  with  Notes  on  the  Birds  observed  there. 

Ibis,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  IV,"pp.  127,  197,  1862. 

GULF  STATES. 
Mississippi. 

Wailes,  B.  L.  C  Birds  of  Mississippi.  Rep.  on  Agr.  and  Geol.  of  Mis- 
sissippi, pp.  317-327,  1854.     (91  species;  mainly  a  nominal  list.) 

CENTRAL  STATES 
Ohio. 

Kirkpatrick,  John.  The  Rapacious  Birds  of  Ohio.  Ohio  Farmer  for 
1858-59;  Ohio  Agricult.  Rep.,  1858,  pp.  340-383,  1859. 

Kirtland,  J.  P.  Fragments  of  Natural  History.  II,  Ornithology.  Am. 
Journ.  Sci.  and  Arts,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  XL,  pp.  19-24,  1841.  (Contains 
notes  on  16  species  observed  near  Cleveland.) 

Kirtland,  J.  P.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Ohio.  Secona  Ann.  Re- 
port of  the  Geol.  Survey  of  Ohio,  pp.  1 77 -  187,  1838.     (223  species.) 

Read,  M  C.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Northern  Ohio.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sci.  Philad.,  1853,  pp.  395-402.     (145  species.) 

Wheaton,  J.  M.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Ohio.  Ohio  Agri.  Rep.,  1860, 
pp.  359-380,  480.    (285  species.) 

Indiana. 

Allen,  J.  A.  List  of  Birds  observed  in  Richmond,  Wayne  Co.,  Indiana. 
in  June,  1867.  Mem.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  522-526,  1868. 
(72  species.) 


440  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Haymoxd,  Rufus.  Birds  of  Southeastern  Indiana.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci 
Thilad.,  1856,  pp.  286-299.     (147  species.) 

Haymoxd,  Rufus.  Birds  of  Franklin  County  Indiana.  Cox's  Geol.  Sur- 
vey of  Ind.,  1869,  pp.  209-235.     (164  species.) 

Illinois. 

Allen,  J.  A.     Notes  on  Birds  observed  in  Northern  Illinois,  in  June,  1867. 

Mem.  Bost.  Soc*.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  I,  pp.  502-522,  1868.     (94  species.) 
Brendel,  F.    Vbgel  der  Cmgegend  Peoria's  in  Illinois.    Giebel's  Zeitsch. 

fur  Naturk.,  1857,  p.  420. 
Kenxicott,  Robert.     Catalogue  of  the  Animals  of  Cook  County,  Illinois. 

[Birds.]  Transact.  111.  State  Agric.  Soc,  I,  1853  -  54,  pp.  580  -  591.     (187 

species.) 
Kenxicott,  R.     Notes  of  the  Occurrence  of  Plolus  anhinga  and  Tantalus 

loculalor  in  Southern  Illinois.     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  V,  p.  391, 

1856. 
Prattex,  Henry.     Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Southern  Illinois  (Wayne 

and  Edwards  Counties).    Transact.  111.  State  Agric.  Soc,  I,  pp.  596-609, 

1853  -  54.     (184  species.) 

Michigan. 

Hughes,  D.  Darwin.     The  Game  Birds  of  Michigan.     Detroit  Free  Press, 

1870. 
Kneeland,  S.,  Jr.     On  the  Birds  of  Keweenaw  Point,    Lake   Superior. 

Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  231-240,  1858.     (147  species.) 

Minnesota* 

Head,  J.  F.  Some  Remarks  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Country  about 
Fort  Ripley,  Minnesota.  Smithsonian  Report,  1854,  pp.  29i  -  293.  (60 
species  of  birds  mentioned.) 

[Trippe,  T.  Martin.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Minnesota  (in  press).  Proc. 
Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VI.     (138  species.)] 

"Wisconsin. 

Barry,  A.  Constantixe.  Ornithological  Fauna  of  Wisconsin.  Proc. 
Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  V,  pp.  1-13,  1851.     (193  species.) 

Hoy,  P.  R.  Notes  on  the  Ornithology  of  Wisconsin.  Proc  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 
Philad.,  1853,  pp.  304-313,  381-385,  425-429.  Ibid.,  Transact.  Wis- 
consin Agric  Soc,  1852,  pp.  341-364.     (283  species.) 

Iowa. 
Allex,  J.  A.     Notes  on  Birds  observed  in  Western  Iowa,  July  1  to  Sept. 

20,  1867.    Mem.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  I,  pp.  491 -502,  1868.    (108  species.) 
Allex.  J.  A.     Catalogue  of  the   Birds  of  Iowa.     White's  Geol.  of  Iowa, 

Voi.  II,  Appendix,  pp.  419-427,  1870.     (283  species.) 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  441 

Missouri. 

Hoy,  P.  K.  Journal  of  an  Exploration  of  Western  Missouri  in  1854,  etc. 
Smithsonian  Rep.,  18G4,  pp.  431-438.  (Includes. a  nominal  list  of  the 
birds  observed, — ■  153  species.) 

Texas. 

Butcher,  II.  B.  List  of  Birds  collected  at  Laredo,  Texas,  in  186G  and 
■1867.     Proc  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1868,  pp.  148-150.     (89  species.) 

Dresser,  H.  E.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Southern  Texas.  Ibis,  2d  Ser., 
Vol.  I,  pp.  312-330,  466-495;   Vol.  II,  pp.  23-46,  1866. 

McCall,  Geo.  A.  Remarks  on  the  Habits,  etc.,  of  Birds  met  with  in 
Western  Texas,  between  San  Antonio  and  the  Rio  Grande,  and  in  New 
Mexico,  with  Descriptions  of  several  Species  believed  to  have  been  hitherto 
undescribed.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1850-51,  pp.  213-224. 
(^GS  species.) 

McCall,  Geo.  A.  [Ornithological]  Facts  and  Observations  from  Notes 
when  in  Texas.  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  9-14.  (18 
species.) 

Roemek,  Ferdinand.  Texas :  mit  besonderer  Rlicksicht  auf  deutsche 
Auswanderun"-  und  die  physichen  Verhaltnisse  des  Landes,  nach  eigener 
Beobachtung  geschildert.  8vo.  Bonn,  1849.  (Contains  a  list  of  birds, — 
40  species.) 


KOCKY  MOUNTAINS  AND  ADJACENT  PLAINS. 
General. 

Baird,  S.  F.     ["Nominal]  List  of  Birds  inhabiting  America,  west  of  the 

Mississippi,  not  described  in  Audubon's  Ornithology.     Stansbury's  Expl. 

and  Survey  of  the  Valley  of  the   Great  Salt  Lake,  pp.  327-335,  1852. 

(153  species.) 
Baird,  S.  F.     Descriptions  of  New  Birds,  collected  between  Abuquerque, 

New  Mexico,  and  San  Francisco,  during  the  Winter  of  1853-54,  by  Dr. 

C.   B.   R.   Kennerly  and  H.   B.  Mbllhausen,  etc.     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 

Philad.,  Vol.  VII,  p.  118-120,  1854.     (8  species.) 
Baird,  S.  F.     Report  on  the  Birds  collected  by  the  United  States  and 

Mexican  Boundary   Survey,  with  Notes  by  J.  H.   Clark,  D.  N.  Couch, 

and  C.  B.  R.  Kennerly.     U.  S.  and  Mex.  Bound.   Sur.,  Vol.  II,  Part  II, 

No.  2,  pp.  1-32,  1859.     (236  species.) 
Baird,  S.  F.     Report  on  the  Birds  collected  on  the  Route  near  the  3§th 

and  39th  Parallels,  explored  by  Capt.  J.  W.  Gunnison,  and  near  the  41st 

Parallel,  explored  by  Lieut.  E.  G.  Beckwith.     Pacific  R.  R.  Rep.  of  Expl. 

and  Surv.,  Vol.  X,  Part  IV,  No.  2,  pp.  11  -  16,  1S59.     (25  species.) 


442  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Cooper,  J.  G.,  and  Suckley,  G.  Report  on  the  Birds  collected  on  the 
Route  near  the  47th  and  49th  Parallels,  explored  by  I.  I.  Stevens,  Gov- 
ernor of  Washington  Territory.  Pacific  R.  R.  Rep.  of  Expl.  and  Surveys, 
Vol.  XII,  Part  II,  No.  3,  pp.  140-291,  1859.  (Republished,  "with  ad- 
ditions and  corrections,"  in  1860,  forming  the  work  entitled  "Natural 
History  of  Washington  Territory.")     (212  species.") 

Cooper,  J.  G.,  and  Suckley,  G.  List  of  Birds  heretofore  reported  as 
found  in  the  Northwestern  Part  of  America,  but  of  which  no  Specimens 
have  been  reported  by  recent  Explorers.  Pacific  R.  R.  Rep.  of  Expl. 
and  Surv.,  Vol.  XII,  Part  II,  Zoology,  pp.  288-290,  1859.    (120  species.) 

Coues,  Elliott.  Ornithology  of  a  Prairie  Journey,  and  Notes  on  the 
Birds  of  Arizona.     Ibis,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  V,  April,  1865. 

Haydex,  F.  V.  List  of  the  Birds  of  the  Upper  Missouri.  Geol.  and  Nat. 
Hist,  of  the  Upper  Missouri,  pp.  157-176,  4to.  Philadelphia,  1862. 
(191  species.) 

Heermanx,  A.  L.  Report  on  the  Birds  collected  on  the  Route  near  the 
32d  Parallel,  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  the  Pimas  Villages,  explored  by 
Lieut.  J.  G.  Parke.  Pacific  R.  R.  Rep.  of  Expl.  and  Surveys,  Vol.  X,  Part 
— ,  No.  1,  pp.  5  -  20,  1859.     (25  species.) 

Kexxerly,  C.  B.  R.  Report  upon  the  Birds  of  the  Route  near  the  35th 
Parallel,  explored  by  Lieut.  A.  W.  Whipple.  Pacific  R.  R.  Rep.  of  Expl. 
and  Surveys,  Vol.  X,  Part  VI,  No.  3,  pp.  19-35,  1859.     (88  species.) 

Newberry,  J.  S.  Report  upon  the  Zoology  of  Lieut.  R.  S.  Williamson's 
Explorations  in  Oregon  and  California.  Pacific  R.  R.  Expl.  and  Surveys, 
Vol.  VI,  Part  IV,  No.  2,  chap,  ii,  Birds,  pp.  73  -  110,  1857.    (175  species.) 

Say,  Thomas.  The  Ornithological  Articles  in  Long's  Expedition  (from 
Pittsburg  to  the  Rocky  Mountains).        2  vols.  8vo.     Philadelphia,  1823. 

Towxsexd,  Johx  K.     List  of  the  Birds  inhabiting  the  Regions  of  th 
Rocky  Mountains,  the  Territory  of  Oregon,  and  the  Northwest  Coast  of 
North  America.     Journ.  Acad.  Nat.   Sci.  Philad.,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  VIII,  pp. 
151-158,  1839.     (231  species.) 

Towxsexd,  Johx  K.  Description  of  twelve  new  Species  of  Birds,  chiefly 
from  the  Vicinity  of  the  Columbia  River,  with  an  Appendix  containing  a 
[nominal]  List  of  the  Birds  of  the  Columbia  River.  Journ.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sci.  Philad.,  1st  Ser.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  187  -  193,  1837.     (72  species.) 

Woodiiouse,  S.  W.  Report  on  the  Birds  of  Capt.  L.  Sitgreaves's  Expedi- 
tion down  the  Zuiii  and  Colorado  Rivers.  Sitgreaves's  Report,  pp.  58  - 
105,  1853.     (247  species.) 

Montana. 

Cooper,  J.  G.  The  Fauna  of  Montana  Territory.  Part  II,  Birds.  Amer. 
Nat.,  Vol.  II,  pp.  596 -GUU;  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  31-35,  73-84,1869.  (107 
species.) 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  443 

Utah. 

Baird,  S.  F.  Exploration  and  Survey  of  the  Valley  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake, 
etc.,  by  H.  Stansbury,  T.  E.,  U.  S.  A.  8vo.  Philad.,  1852,  Appen- 
dix C,  Birds,  pp.  314-324.     (31  species.) 

Baihd,  S.  F.  Birds  found  at  Fort  Bridger.  Gen.  Rep.  on  Birds  of  N. 
Amer.,  Append.,  pp.  926,  927;  P.  R.  K.  Rep.  of  Expl.  and  Surv.,  Vol' 
IX,  1858.     (104  species.) 

Arizona. 

Coues,  Elliott.  List  of  Birds  collected  in  Southern  Arizona  by  Dr.  E. 
Palmer,  with  Remarks.  Proe.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1868,  pp.  81-85 
(53  species.) 

Coues,  Elliott.  List  of  the  Birds  of  Fort  Whipple,  Arizona,  with 
which  are  incorporated  all  other  Species  ascertained  to  inhabit  the  Ter- 
ritory, etc.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1866,  pp.  39-100.  (245 
species.)  —  Republished  under  the  title,  "  Prodrome  of  a  Work  on  the 
Ornithology  of  Arizona  Territory."  * 

New  Mexico 

Baird,  S.  F.  On  Birds  collected  in  New  Mexico  by  Lieut.  Abert.  Stans- 
bury's  Exped.,  pp.  325-327.     (9  species.) 

Henry,  T.  Charlton.  Notes  derived  from  Observations  made  on  the 
Birds  of  New  Mexico,  during  the  Years  1853  and  1854.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sci.  Philad.,  1855,  pp.  306  -  317.     (170  species.) 

Henry,  T.  Charlton.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  New  Mexico,  as  com- 
piled from  Notes  and  Observations  made  while  in  that  Territory,  during 
a  Residence  of  six  Years.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1859,  pp.  104- 
109.     (198  species.) 

PACIFIC   COAST. 
General. 

Cassin,  John.  Catalogue  of  Birds  collected  by  the  North  Pacific  Survey- 
ing and  Exploring  Expedition,  in  Command  of  Capt.  Rogers,  U.  S.  N., 
etc.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1862,  pp.  312-328.  (Contains  many 
species  from  the  West  Coast  of  North  America.) 

Peale,  Titian  R.  Report  on  the  Mammalia  and  Birds  of  the  U.  S.  Ex- 
ploring Expedition  under  Capt.  Wilkes.  4to.  Philadelphia,  1848.  (In- 
cludes many  species  from  the  West  Coast  of  North  America.) 

Vigors,  N.  A.  Ornithology  of  Captain  Beechey's  Voyage.  Zool.  of 
Beechey's  Voyage,  pp.  13-40,  1839. 

*  I  regret  to  learn  from  Dr.  Coues  that  this  work  will  not  be  published. 


444  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

Alaska. 

Baird,  S.  F.     On  Additions  to  the  Bird-Fauna  of  North  America,  made 

by  the  Scientific  Corps  of  the  Russo-American   Telegraph   Expedition. 

Transact.   Chicago  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  311-337,  1870.     (16  species.) 
Dai.l,  W.   II.,  and  Bannister,  II.  M.     List  of  the  Birds  of  Alaska,  with 

Biographical  Notes.     Transact.  Chicago  Acad.  Science,  Vol.  I,  pp.  267  — 

310,  1870.     (212  species.) 
Dall,  W.  H.    Alaska  and  its  Resources.    8vo.    Boston,  1870,  pp.  580-586. 

(Contains  a  nominal  list  of  212  species.) 

Vancouver's  Island. 

Brown,  Robert.  Synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  Vancouver's  Island.  Rois, 
1868,  pp.  414-428.     (153  species.) 

[Lord,  Joiix  K.  The  Naturalist  in  Vancouver's  Island  and  British  Co- 
lumbia. 2  vols.  8vo.  London,  1866.  Vol.  II,  pp.  291-301,  contains  a  list 
of  226  species  of  birds  collected  by  Mr.  Lord.] 

Sclater,  P.  L.  On  a  Collection  of  Birds  from  Vancouver's  Island.  Proc. 
Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1859,  pp.  235-237.     (35  species.) 

California. 

Brewer,  T.  M.     List  and  Descriptions  of  Eggs  obtained  in  California  by 

Mr.  E.  Samuels.    Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  145  -  149,  1857 

(16  species.) 
Bridges,  Thomas.     Notes  on   California  Birds,  with   Remarks  by  P.  L 

Sclater.     Proc.  Zobl.  Soc.  Lond.,  1858,  pp.  1  -31,  1858.      (11  species.) 
Cooper,  J.   G.     The  Fauna  of  California  and  its  Geographical  Distribution 

Proc.  Cal.  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  61  -81,  1869. 
Cooper,  J.  G.     Species  of  Animals  new  to  the  State  of  California.    Proc 

Cal.  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  II,  pp.  118-123,  1861.     (18  species  of  birds.) 
COOPER,  J.   G.     Some  recent  Additions  to  the  Fauna  of  California.    Proc 

Cal.  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  3-13,  1868.     (33  speciesof  birds  added.) 
Cooper,  J.  G.     The  Naturalist  in  California.     Amer.  Nat,  Vol.  Ill,  pp 

182-  189,  470-481,  1869. 
Cooper,  .1.   G.     Monterey  in  the  dry  Season.     Amer.  Nat.,   Vol.  IV,  pp 

756-758,  1871.     (About  30  species  of  birds  mentioned  as  summer  resi- 
dents.) 
Cooper,  J.  G,  and  Baird,  S.  F.     Ornithology  of  California.    Vol.  I,  [Land 

Birds,]  royal  8vo,  1870. 
Coi  i  S,  Elliott.     From  Arizona  to  the  Pacific.     Ibis,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  I.  pp. 

260-275,  1866. 
Feilner,  Joiix.     [Ornithological]    Explorations   in    Upper   California  in 

1860      Smith.  Rep.,  1864,  pp.  421-430. 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  445 

Gam bel,  Wm.  Remarks  on  the  Birds  observed  in  Upper  California,  with 
Descriptions  of  New  Species.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  184G-47, 
pp.  44-48,  110-115,  154-158,  200-205.  (84  species.)  Ibid.,  Journ. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  25-56,  215  -  229,  1847  -  1849. 
(176  species.) 

Heermann,  A.  L.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  California  observed  during  a  Res- 
idence of  three  Years  in  that  Country.  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  2d 
Ser.,  Vol.  II,  pp.  259-272,  1853.     (103  species.) 

Heermann,  A.  L.  Report  on  the  Birds  collected  during  Explorations  in 
California  for  Railroad  Routes  to  connect  with  the  Routes  near  the  35th 
and  3  2d  Parallels  of  North  Latitude,  made  by  Lieut.  R.  G.  William- 
son. Pacific  R.  R.  Rep.  of  Expl.  and  Surveys,  Vol.  X,  Part  IV,  No.  2,  pp. 
29  -  80.     (221  species.) 

Lichtexsteix,  H.  Beitriige  zur  ornithologischen  Fauna  von  Californien, 
etc.     Abhandl.  der  Berlin  Akad.,  Phys.  Kl.,  1838,  pp.  417-451. 

Sclater,  P.  L.  List  of  Birds  collected  by  Mr.  Thomas  Bridges,  in  the 
Valley  of  San  Jose,  California.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1857,  pp.  125- 
127.     (33  species.) 

Vigors,  N  A.  On  a  Collection  of  Skins  of  Birds  from  California.  Proc. 
Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  Vol.  I,  p.  65,  1833.     (Only  a  paragraph  often  lines.) 

Xantus,  Johx.  List  of  Birds  collected  at  Fort  Tejon,  California.  Proc. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1859,  pp.  189  -193.     (144  species.) 

MEXICO. 
Baird,  S.  F.     Notes  on  a  Collection  of  Birds  made  by  Joan  Xantus,  Esq., 

at  Cape    St.   Lucas,  Lower    California.     Proc.  Acad.    Nat.  Sci.  Philad., 

1859,  pp.  299  -  306.     (42  species.) 
Boxaparte,  C.  L.     Catalogue  d'Oiseaux  du  Mexique  et  du  Perou.     Rev. 

Zool.,  1840,  p.  19. 
Cabot,    Samuel.      Descriptions   and    Habits   of  some  of  the  Birds  of 

Yucatan.     Journ.   Bost.  Soc.  Nat.   Hist.,  Vol.   IV,   pp.  460-467,  1843' 

(4  species.) 
Cassin,  Joiix.     Catalogue  of  Birds  collected  by  Mr.  Wm.   S.  [H.]  Pease 

during  the  March  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States  from  Vera  Cruz  to 

the    City  of  Mexico.      Proc.    Acad.   Nat.    Sci.     Philad.,    1848-49,  pp. 

87-91.     (45  species.) 
Lawrence,  G.  N.     List  of  a  Collection  of  Birds  from  Northern  Yucatan. 

Ann.  N.  Yr.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  IX,  pp.  198  -  210,  1869.     (103  species.) 
Montes-de-Oca,  Rafael.     The  Mexican  Humming-Birds.     Proc.  Acad. 

Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1860,  pp.  47,  48,  80,  81,  551  -  553.     (4  species.) 
[Parzudaki,  E.     Catalogue  des  Oiseaux  du  Mexique  qui  composent  les 

collections  de  M.  Salle.     (432  species.)] 


446  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

Sclater,  P.  L.     On  a  Collection  of  Birds  made  by  Mr.  H.  S.  le  Strange, 

near  the  City  of  Mexico.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1869,  pp.   3G1-364. 

(Of  the  262  species  said  to  have  been  contained  in  the  collection  only  15 

are  particularly  mentioned.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.      List  of  a   Collection   of  Birds  procured  by  Mr.   G.  H. 

"White  in  the  Vicinity  of  the  City  of  Mexico.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond., 

1864,  pp.  172  -  179.      (156  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.     Notes  on  some  Birds  from  Southern  Mexico.     Proc.  Zool. 

Soc.  Lond.,  1858,  pp.  95-99.     (14  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.     On  a  Collection  of  Birds  received  by  Mr.  Salle  from  South- 
ern Mexico.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1857,  pp.  226-230.     (29  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.     Catalogue  of  the  Birds  collected  by  M.  Aug.  Salle  in  South- 
ern Mexico,  etc.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1856,  pp.  283-311.    (233  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.     On  a  Collection  of  Birds  made  by  Sign.  Matteo  Botteri 

in  the  Vicinity  of  Orizaba,  Southern  Mexico.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond., 

1857,  pp.  210-215.     (38  species.) 
Sclater,  P.    L.      Notes  on   a   Collection   of  Birds   from  the  Vicinity  of 

Orizaba  and  neighboring  Parts  of  Southern   Mexico.     Proc.  Zool.   Soc. 

Lond.,  1860,  pp.  250  -  254.     (44  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.     List  of  Birds  collected  by  Mr.  A.  Boucard  in  the  State 

of  Oaxaca  in  Southern  Mexico.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1859,  pp.  369  — 

393.     (236  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.     List  of  Additional   Species  of  Mexican  Birds  obtained 

by  M.  Salle,  from  the  Environs  of  Jalapa  and  San  Andres  Tuxtla.     Proc. 

Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  pp.  201-207,  1857.     (62  species) 
Sclater,  P.  L.     On  a  Series  of  Birds  collected  in  the  Vicinity  of  Jalapa, 

Mexico.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1859,  pp.  362- 369.     (226  species.) 
Sclater,  P.   L.      On  some  Birds  to  be  added  to  the  Avifauna  of  Mexico. 

Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1862,  pp.  368,  369.     (8  species  N, 
Sumiciirast,  F.     The   Geographical   Distribution  of  the  Native  Birds  of 

the  Department  of  Vera   Cruz,  with    a  List  of  the   Migratory   Species, 

translated  from  the  French,  by  Dr.  T.  M.  Brewer.     Mem.  Bost   Soc.  Nat. 

Hist.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  542-563,  1869.      (225  species.) 
Sw.uxso.v,  Wm,     A  Synopsis  of  the   Birds  discovered  in  Mexico  by  W. 

Bullock,  Sen.  and   Jun.     Phil.  Mag.,  2d  Ser.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  364-369,  433- 

442,  1827.     (101  species.) 

CENTRAL  AMERICA. 

General. 
BONAPARTE,   C    L.     Notes  sur  les  collections  rapporte'es  en  1853,  par  M. 
A.  Delattre  de  son  voyage  en  California  et  dans  ie  Nicaragua.     Comptes 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  447 

Rendus,  Tome  XXXVIII,  pp.  827-835,  913-927, 1853;  Tome  XXXVIII, 

pp.  1-11,  53-66;  258-266,  365-389,  533-542,  650-665,  1854. 
Coues,  Elliott.     Notes  on  Certain  Central  American  Laridce.     Ibis,  1864. 
Moore,  T.  J.     List  of  Mammals  and  Birds  collected  by  Mr.  Jos.  Leland 

in  Honduras,  Belize,  and  Guatemala.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1859,  pp. 

50-65.     (129  species.) 
Lawrence,  Geo.  N.     Descriptions  of  New  Species  of  Birds  of  the  Families 

Zanagradce,'etc,  etc.     Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  126- 

135.     (12  species.) 
Lawrence,   Geo.  N.      Descriptions  of  Six  New   Species  of  Birds  from 

Central  America.     Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  170-173. 
Salvin,  Osbert.     A  List  of  Species  to  be  added  to  the  Ornithology  of 

Central  America.     Ibis,  1861. 
Salvin,  O.,  and  Sclater,  P.  L.     Descriptions  of  New  Species  of  Birds  of 

the   Families   Dendrocolaplidce,   Slrigidce,    and    Columbidce.      Proc.    Zool. 

Soc.  Lond.,  1868,  pp.  53-60. 
Salvin,  Osbert.     On  the  PsiUacidce  of  Central  America.     Ibis,  1871,  pp. 

86-100.     (27  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L.,  and  Salvin,  O.     On  the  Ornithology  of  Central  America. 

Ibis,  I,  pp.  1  -  22,  1 1 7  -  138,  213  -  234,  1859.     (382  species.) 
Sclater,  P.  L„  and  Salvin,  O.     Descriptions,  of  New  and  Little-known 

American  Birds,  etc.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1868,  pp.  322-329. 
Sclater,  P.  L.,  and   Salvin,  O.     Descriptions  of  Six  New   Species  of 

American  Birds,  etc.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1869,  pp.  416-420. 
Sundevall,  C.  J.     Conspectus  genris  Certhiolce.    Ofvers.  Kongl.  Vetensk. 

Acad.  Forhand.,  1869,  pp.  619-625.     (20  species.) 

Guatemala. 

Salvin,  Osbert,  and  Sclater,  P.  L.  Contributions  to  the  Ornithology 
of  Guatemala.     Ibis,  1860,  pp.  28-45,  272-278.     (119  species.) 

Salvin,  Osbert.  Notes  on  the  Humming-Birds  of  Guatemala.  Ibis, 
1860,  pp.  259-272.     (23  species.) 

Salvin,  Osbert  The  Sea-Birds  and  Waders  of  the  Pacific  Coast  of 
Guatemala.     Ibis,  1865,  pp.  187-  199. 

Salvin,  Osbert.  A  further  Contribution  to  the  Ornithology  of  Guate- 
mala.    Ibis,  1866,  pp.  188-206.     (81  species.) 

Salvin,  Osbert.  On  some  Collections  of  Birds  from  Veragua.  Proc. 
Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1867,  pp.  129  -  161.     (220  species.) 

Salvin,  Osbert.  Descriptions  of  Eight  New  Species  of  Birds  from  Vera- 
gua.    Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1866,  pp.  67-76. 

Sclater,  P.  L.,  and  Salvin,  O.  Descriptions  of  Four  New  Species  of 
Birds  from  Veragua.     Proc   Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1868,  pp  387-390. 


44S  BULLETIN   OF   TIIE 

Sclater,  P.  L.,  and  Salvin,  O.  Descriptions  of  Three  New  Species  of 
Tanagers  from  Veragua.     Proc.  Zobl.  Soc.  Lond.,  18G9,  pp.  439-440. 

Honduras. 

Lawrence,  G.  N.  Catalogue  of  a  Collection  of  Birds  in  the  Museum  of 
the  Smithsonian  Institution,  made  by  Mr.  II.  E.  Holland  at  Greytown, 
Nicaragua,  etc.  Ann.  Lye.  Nat  Hist.  N.  York,  1865,  pp.  179  -  185.  (61 
species.) 

Salvin,  Osbert.  A  Fortnight  amongst  the  Sea-Birds  of  British  Honduras. 
Ibis,  1864,  pp.  372-387. 

Sclater,  P.  L.  List  of  Birds  collected  by  Geo.  Cavendish  Taylor  in  the 
Republic  of  Honduras.     Proc.  Zobl.  Soc,  1858,  pp.  356-360.    (39  species.) 

Sclater,  P.  L.,  and  Salvin,  Osbert.  List  of  Birds  collected  on  the 
Bluefields  River,  Mosquito  Coast,  by  Mr.  Henry  Wickham.  Proc.  Zool. 
Soc.  Lond.,  1867,  pp.  278-280.     (39  species.) 

Taylor,  Geo.  Cavendish.  On  Birds  collected  in  the  Republic  of  Hon- 
duras, etc.  Ibis,  1860,  pp.  10-24,  110-122,  222-228,  311-317.  (96 
species.) 

Costa  Rica. 

Cabanis,  J.  Uebersicht  der  im  Berliner  Museum  befindlichen  Vbgel  von 
Costa  Rica.  Journ.  fur  Orn.,  VIII  Jahrgang,  pp.  321-336,  401-416, 
1860;  IX  Jahrgang,  pp.  1-14,  96,  241-256,  1861.     (113  species.) 

Cassin,  John.  On  some  Conirostral  Birds  from  Costa  Rica,  etc.  Proc. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.,  1865,  pp.  169  - 172.     (22  species.) 

[Fran zi us,  V.  Ueber  die  geographische  Verbreitung  der  Vbgel  Costa- 
Rica's.     Caban.  Journ.  fur  Ornith.,  1869,  pp.  195,  290.] 

Lawrence,  G.  N.  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Costa  Rica.  Ann.  Lye. 
Nat.  Hist.  New  York,  1868,  pp.  86  -  149.     (511  species.) 

Salvadori,  Tommaso.  Intorno  ad  alcuni  Uccelli  di  Costa  Rica.  Atti 
della  R.  Accad.  Sc  di  Torino,  1868,  pp.  170  -  185.     (23  species.) 

Salvin,  Osbert.  Descriptions  of  Seventeen  New  Species  of  Birds  from 
Costa  Rica.     Proc.  Zobl.  Soc.  Lond.,  1864,  pp.  5  79-586. 

Salvin,  Osbert.  Notes  on  Mr.  Lawrence's  List  of  Costa  Rica  Birds. 
Ibis,  1869,  pp.  310-319  ;  1870,  pp.  107-116.  (29  species  added  to  Mr. 
Lawrence's  List.) 

New  Granada. 

La  whence,  Geo.  N.  Catalogue  of  a  collection  of  Birds  made  in  New 
Granada,  etc.  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  New  York,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  288-302, 
315-334;  461-479,  1861;  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  1-13,  1862.     (415  species.) 

LAWRENCE,  Geo.  N.  List  of  Birds  from  near  David,  Chiriqui,  New  Gra- 
nada, etc.  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  New  York,  1865,  pp.  175-179.  (39 
species.) 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY.  449 

THE  BERMUDA  AND  WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS. 
Bermudas. 

Bland,  Lieut.     List  of  the  Birds  of  Bermuda.     Smithsonian  Report,  1858, 

pp.  286-289.     (114  species.) 
Wedderburn,  J.  W.,  and  Hurdis,  J.  L.     Notes  and  Observations  on  the 

Birds  of  Bermuda,   etc.     Jones's  The  Naturalist  in  Bermuda.  London, 

1859,  pp.  23-97. 

Bahamas. 

Bryant,  Henry.  A  List  of  Birds  seen  at  the  Bahamas,  from  January  20  to 
May  14,  1859,  etc.  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VII,  pp.  102-134, 
18G0.     (87  species.) 

Bryant,  Henry.  Additions  to  a  List  of  the  Birds  seen  at  the  Bahamas. 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  XI,  pp.  63  -  70,  1866.     (31  species.) 

Cuba. 

Brever,  T.  M.     [Nominal]  List  of  the  Birds  of  Cuba,  compiled  from  two 

Lists  furnished  by  Dr.  John  Gundlach.     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol. 

VII,  pp.  305-308,  1860.     (251  species.) 
Gundlach,  John.     Description  of  Five  new  Species  of  Birds,  and  other 

Ornithological  Notes  of  Cuban  Species.     Journ.  Bost.   Soc.    Nat.    Hist., 

Vol.  VI,  pp.  313-319,  1852.     (18  species  in  all.) 
Gundlach,  J.     Beitrage   zur  Ornithologie   Cuba's.     Journ.   fiir    Orn.,    II 

Jahrgang,  pp.  — ,  1854;  III  Jahrgang,  465,  1855;  IV  Jahrgang,  pp.  1, 

97,  337,  417,  1856  ;  V  Jahrgang,  pp.  225-242,  1857.     (251  species.) 
Gundlach,  J.     Tabellarische  Uebersicht  aller  bisher  auf  Cuba  beobach- 

teten  Vbgel.     Journ.  fur  Orn.,  IX  Jahrgang,  pp.  321-349,  1861.     (249 

species.) 
Gundlach,  J.     Zus'atze  und  Berichtigungen  zu  den  "  Beitr'agen  zur  Or- 
nithologie   Cuba's."     Journ.  fiir    Orn.,  IX   Jahrgang,  pp.   401-416;  X 

Jahrgang,  pp.  81-96.     (249  species.) 
Gundlach,  Juan.     Revista    y  Catalogo  de  las   Aves  cubauas.     Repert. 

fisico-nat.  de  Cuba,  Vol.  I,  pp.  165-180,  221-242,  2S1  -302,  347-363, 

386-403,   1865,  1866.     (257  species.) 
Gundlach,  J.     Briefliches  von    Cuba.     Cab.  Journ.  fur  Orn.,  1866,  pp. 

352-353. 
Lawrence,  Geo.  N.     Notes  on  some  Cuban  Birds,  etc.     Ann.  Lye  Nat. 

Hist.  New  York,  Vol.  VII,  p.  247,  1860.     (27  species.) 
Lembeye,  J.     Aves  de  la  Isle  de  Cuba,  8vo.  Habana,  1850.     (222  species.) 
Ramon  de  la  Sagra.      Histoire  physique,  politique  et  naturelle  de  File 

de  Cuba,  etc.    Ornithologie  par  A.  d'Orbigny.    8vo,  1839.     (129  species.). 
Vigors,  N.  A.     On  some  Birds  from  Cuba.     Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp. 
432-448,  1828.    (45  species., 


450  BULLETIN   OF  THE 

Jamaica. 
Gosse,  P.  H.     The  Birds  of  Jamaica.     8vo.     London,  1847. 
Makch,  W.  T.     Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Jamaica,  with  Remarks  by  S.  F. 

Baird.     Proc.   Acad.  Nat.   Sci.   Philad.,   1863,  pp.  150-154,  283-304; 

1864,  pp.  62-  72.     (109  species.) 
[Osuurn,  W.     Notes  on  the  Mountain  Birds  of  Jamaica.     Zoologist,  pp. 

6709,  6761.] 
Sclater,  P.  L.     A  List  of  a  Collection  of  Birds  made  by  the  late  Mr.  W. 

Osburn  in  Jamaica,  with  Notes.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1861,  pp.  69- 

82.     (92  species.) 

St.  Domingo,  St.  Thomas,  Porto  Rico,  etc. 
Bryant,  Henry.     A  List  of  the  Birds  of  St.  Domingo,  etc.     Proc.  Bost. 

Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XI,  pp.  89  -  98,  1866.     (78  species.) 
Bryant,  II.     A  List  of  Birds  from  Porto  Rico,  etc.     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 

Hist.,  Vol.  X,  pp.  248  -  257,  1866.     (41  species.) 
Cassin,  John.     Catalogue  of  Birds  from  the  Island  of  St.  Thomas,  West 

Indies,  collected  and  presented  to  the  Academy  of  Natural  Science  by 

Mr.   Robert   Swift.     Proc.  Acad.    Nat.  Sci.,    1860,   pp.    374-379.     (27 

species.) 
Lawrence,  G.  N.,  and  Julien,  A.  A.     Catalogue  of  Birds  collected  at 

the  Island  of  Sombrero,  AV.  I.     Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  New  York.,  VIII, 

pp.  93-107,  1864.     (34  species.) 
Newton,  A.  and  E.     Observations  on  the  Birds  of  St.  Croix,  West  Indies, 

made  between  February  20  and  August  6,   1857,  and  March  4  and  Sep- 
tember   28,    1858.     Ibis,  I,    pp.    59-69,    138-150,    253-264,   365-379, 

1859.      (64  species.) 
Salle\  Aug.     Liste   des    Oiseaux  rapportes  et   observes  dans  la  Repub- 

lique  Dominicaine,  pendant  son  voyage  de  1849  -  1851.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc. 

Lond.,  1857,  pp.  230-237.     (61  species.) 
Sundevai.l,  C.  J.    Aves  Insula?  Portorico.    Ofvers.  Kongl.  Vetensk.  Akad. 

Forhand.,  1869,  pp.  593-603.     (90  species.) 
Sundevall,    C.   J.      Aves   Insulae    Sancti    Barthelemy.      Ofvers.  Kongl. 

Vetensk.  Akad.  Forhand.,  1869,  pp.  579-592.     (47  species.) 

Cambridge,  April,  1871. 


N.  B.  —  The  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  would  gladly  accept  books  not 
yet  upon  the  shelves  of  its  library  in  exchange  for  its  publications  or  zoological 
specimens. 


:: 


— — 


■ 


-'• 


-• 


;    i 


Plate  IV.* 

Fig.  1  -  la.  Tyrannus  carolinensis,  specimen  No.  6942,  from  Eastern  Massa- 
chusetts. 

"  2  -  2a.  Tyrannus  carolinensis,  specimen  No.  6945,  from  Eastern  Massa- 
chusetts. 

"     3  -  3a.     Troglodytes  aedon,  specimen  No.  10931,9,  from  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

"     4  -  4a.     Troglodytes  addon,  specimen  No.  10684,  9  ,  from  Dummitt's,  Fla. 

"     5 -5a.     Troglodytes  aedon,  specimen  No.  10683,  from  Dummitt's,  Fla. 

"  6  -  6a.  Troglodytes  aedon,  specimen  No.  5212,  from  Welaka,  St.  John's 
River,  Fla. 

"     7 -7a.     Troglodytes  aedon,  specimen  No.  10930,  from  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

"  8 -8a.  Seiurus  noveboracensis,  specimen  No.  5447,  from  Mount  Tom, 
Mass. 

"  9 -9a.  Seiurus  noveboracensis,  specimen  No.  1442,  from  Weston, 
Mass. 

"  i0-10a.  ^Seiurus  noveboracensis,  specimen  No.  6794,  from  Brookline, 
Mass. 

"  11  -  11a.  Seiurus  noveboracensis,  specimen  No.  4246,  from  Waterville, 
Maine. 

"  12- 12a.  Mniotilla  varia,  specimen  No.  5148,  £,  from  Jacksonville, 
Fla. 

"  13 -13a.  Mniotilla  varia,  specimen  No.  6806,  £,  from  Brookline, 
Mass. 

"     14 -14a.     Mniotilla  varia,  specimen  No.  8216,  £,  from  Hudson,  Mass. 

"  15  -  15a.  Dendrozca  striata,  specimen  No.  5052,  £,  from  Watertown, 
Mass. 

u  16- 16a.  Dendrozca  striata,  specimen  No.  4367,  £,  from  Newtonville, 
Mass. 

"  17- 17a.  Pipilo  crythrophthalmus,  specimen  No.  4727,  £,  from  "Wes- 
ton, Mass. 

"  18-  18a.  Pipilo  erythrophthahnus,  specimen  No.  10721,  £,  from  Dum- 
mitt's, Fla. 

"  19 -19a.  Pyranga  cestiva,  specimen  No.  10629,  £,  from  Jacksonville, 
Fla. 

"  20 -20a.  Pyranga  astiva,  specimen  No.  5431,  £,  from  Jacksonville, 
Fla. 

*  At  bottom  of  Plata  IV,  last  line,  for  "  Pyranga  rubra  "  read  "  Pyranga  cestiva." 


' 


I 


jg 


■- 


' 


JB 


m 


I 


Plate  V. 

Fig.  1  -  la.     Mgioihw  linaria,  specimen  No.  10859,  £,  from  Newton,  Mass. 
"        -2a.     jEgiothus  linaria,  specimen  No.  10860,  <J,  from  Newton,  Mass. 
"      3  -3a.     jEgiothus  linaria,  specimen  No.  6392,  <£,  from  Fort  Anderson, 
British  America.   (An  original  specimen  of  jE.  fuscescens 
Coues.  —  Smith.  Inst:,  No.  43386.) 
u     4 -4a.     JEg'iothus  linaria,  specimen  No.  4943,  from  Newton,  Mass. 
"      5 -5a.     jEgiothus  linaria,  specimen  No.  3229,  from  Southern  Maine. 
"      6 -6a.     JEg'iothus  linaria,  specimen  No.  6489,  9  >  from  Fort  Simpson, 
British  America.     (An  original  specimen  of  JE.  exilipes 
Coues.  —  Smith.  Inst.,  No.  27431.) 
"      7  -  7a.     Chrysomitris  tristis,  specimen  No.  6453,  £,  from  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, west  of  Denver,  Colorado. 
"     8 -8a.     Chrysomilris  tristis,  specimen  No.  8125,   £,  from  Springfield, 

Mass. 
u     9 -9a.     Chrysomitris   tristis,   specimen    No.   4925,  from  Newtonville, 

Mass. 
"     10 -10a.     Chrysomitris  tristis,  specimen  No.  4631,  from  Newtonville, 

Mass. 
11     11 -11a.     Chrysomitris  pinus,   specimen  No.  9556,  from  "Waterville, 

Maine. 
"      12 -12a.     Chrysomitris  pinus,  specimen  No.  10875,  from  Gorham,  New 

Hampsliire. 
"     13  -  13a.     Curvirostra  americana,  specimen  No.  4639,  £,  from  Newton, 

Mass. 
"     14 -14a.     Curvirostra  americana,  specimen  No.  4638,  ^,  from  Newton, 

Mass. 
"     15-  15a.     Curvirostra  americana,  specimen  No.  4637,  <J,  from  Newton, 

Mass. 
"     16 -16a.     Passerculus  savanna,  specimen  No.  5084,  £,  from  Ipswich, 

Mass. 
"     17 -17a.     Passerculus  savanna,  specimen  No.  5175,  £,  from  Hibernia, 

St.  John's  River,  Florida. 
"     18 -18a.    Passerculus  savanna,  specimen  No.  7119,  <J,  from  Henley 
Harbor,  Labrador. 


. 


Plate  VI 

Fig.  1- la.     Agelceus  phceniceus,    specimen  No.  8071,    <J,   from   Orleans, 

Mass. 
"     2 -2a.     Agelceus  phoeniceus,  specimen  No.  10572,  <£,  from  Dummitt's, 

Fla. 
"     3 -3a.     Agelceus  phceniceus,  specimen  No.  4589,  £,  from  Newtonville, 

Mass. 
"     4 -4a.     Agelceus  phceniceus,  specimen  No.  8068,  £,  from  Orleans,  Mass. 
"     5  -  5a.     Agelceus  phceniceus,  specimen  No.  10569,  £,  from  Dummitt's, 

Fla. 
"     6 -6a.     Agelceus  phceniceus,  specimen  No.  10576,  <J,  from  Dummitt's, 

Fla. 


Plate  VH 

Fig.  1  -  la.     Quiscalus  purpurcus,  specimen  No.  4601,  £,  from  Newtonville, 

Mass. 
"     2  -2a.     Quiscalus  purpureus,  specimen  No.  5201,  £,  from  "Welaka,  St. 

John's  River. 
"     3  -'6a.     Quiscalus  purpureus,  specimen  No.  4603,  £,  from  Newtonville, 

Mass. 
"     4- 4a.     Quiscalus  purpureus,   specimen   No.  8072,  g,  from    Orleans, 

Mass. 
"     5 -5a.     Quiscalus  purpureus,  specimen  No.  6834,  g,  from  Phillipsburg 

New  Jersey, 
"     6  -  6a.     Quiscalus  purpureus,  specimen  No.  6848,  <J,  from  Cape  Florida. 


£a 


■ 


• 


- 


Plate  Vm. 

Fig.  I -la.     Siurnella  ludoviciana,  specimen  No.  5370,  9>  from  Hawkins- 

ville,  Fla. 
"     2  -  2a.     Siurnella  ludoviciana,  specimen  No.  5372,  9>  from  Hawkins- 

ville,  Fla. 
u     3  -  3a.     Siurnella  ludoviciana,  specimen  No.  5339,  £ ,  from  Enterprise, 

Fla. 
"     4  -  4a.     Siurnella  ludoviciana,  specimen  No.  5340,  g,  from  Enterprise, 

Fla. 
"     5 -5a.     Colapfex  auratus,  specimen  No.  4881,  9»  from  Newton,  Mass. 
<f     6 -6a.     Colaptes  auratus,  specimen  No.  5464,  9)  from  Newton,  Mass. 


Errata.    At  the  upper  left-hand  corner  of  all  the  plates,  for  "  Bull.  M.  C.  Z.,  Vol. 
II,  No.  2,"  read  "  Bull.  M.  C.  Z.,  Vol.  II,  No.  3." 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


451 


No.  4.  —  Directions  for  Dredging.     Drawn  up  by  L.  F.  de 
Pourtales,  Assist.  U.  S.  Coast  Survey. 

The  results  obtained  in  late  years  by  dredging  in  various  depths 
have  been  such  as  to  open  a  wide  field  to  the  naturalist.  The  laborers 
are  few  as  yet,  and  these  directions  are  issued  in  the  hope  of  increasing 
their  number  by  making  them  acquainted  with  the  readiest  modes  of 
operation. 

The  dredge  has  as  yet  received  but  few  improvements  sin<*e  the  days 
of  Forbes.  His  model  has  proved  simple  and  sufficient,- and  would  prob- 
ably gain  little  by  being  made  more  complicated.  Its  construction  will 
be  best  understood  by  referring  to  the  figure  below,  in  which  a  a  repre- 
sents an  iron  frame  with  the  edges  b  b  sharpened  and  slightly  turned 
up,  and  forming  the  scrapers-  The  rear  edge  is  pierced  with  a  row  of 
holes,  through  which  the  twine,  or,  better,  brass  wire,  is  passed  by  which 
the  net  is  fastened.     The  arms  c  c  are  hooked  to  the  short  sides  of  the 


frame,  in  such  a  way  as  to  allow  their  being  folded  in,  for  easier  trans- 
portation, and  turned  out  in  case  they  are  caught  among  the  rocks,  as 
will  be  explained  further  on.  The  net  is  made  of  strong  twine  with 
small  meshes,  and  may  be  three  or  four  feet  deep,  according  to  the  size 
of  the  dredge.  It  was  found  convenient  to  have  it  open  at  the  bottom, 
and  gathered  and  firmly  tied  only  when  in  use.  This  gives  greater 
convenience  in  emptying  and -washing  out  the  bag  after  a  haul.  The 
net  is  protected  against  the  rocks  and  corals  by  an  outer  covering  of 
stout  canvas  or  leather,  open  at  the  bottom.     It  is  represented  cut 


452  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

open  and  tliu.wn  back  in  the  figure,  so  as  to  show  the  net.  The  Eng- 
lish Deep-Sea  Dredging  Expedition  used  a  double  bag,  the  outer  being 
a  close  net  of  sounding-line,  the  inner  a  piece  of  "  bread-bag,"  a  some- 
what open  canvas.  To  prevent  the  bag  from  being  turned  inside  out 
in  going  down,  a  stout  brass  wire,  bent  in  a  semicircle  and  put  inside 
the  ba"  with  the  ends  fastened  to  the  frame,  will  be  found  very  con- 
venient. 

The  dredge  used  by  the  Swedish  expeditions  is  a  little  different,  the 
ba^  being  simple  and  made  of  canvas  with  several  square  holes  closed 
with  wire-gauze.  Light  objects  would  seem  liable  to  be  washed  out 
of  this  bag  when  hauling  up,  still  it  appears  to  have  worked  satisfac- 
torily. 

Mr.  Bowerbank  used  a  bag  formed  of  two  pieces  of  raw  hide  con- 
nected at  the  ends  and  bottom  by  a  net  made  of  cod-line. 

The  dimensions  of  a  dredge  vary  according  to  the  depth  or  bottom  on 
which  it  is  to  be  used.  From  two  feet  by  six  inches  up  to  four  feet  by 
ei^ht  inches  will  be  found  the  most  useful  dimensions.  For  deep-sea 
dredging,  the  dredge  ought  to  be  heavy,  so  as  to  sink  rapidly,  and  be 
kept  on  the  bottom  by  its  own  weight.  A  heavy  lead  was  attached  to  it 
with  advantage  in  the  United  States  Coast  Survey  Expedition.  The 
English  dredgers  consider  it  an  impediment,  and  prefer  to  have  the 
weight  in  the  metal  of  the  dredge.  The  rope  used  by  the  United  States 
Coast  Survey  in  deep-sea  dredging  was  from  one  and  a  half  to  one  and 
three  fourths  inches  in  circumference,  made  of  best  Italian  hemp  by 
Messrs.  Sewall,  Day,  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  and  gave  entire  satisfaction. 
The  Porcupine  Expedition  used  hemp  rope  two  and  two  and  a  half 
inches  in  circumference. 

In  dredging  over  rocky  ground,  the  rope  is  fastened  to  the  ring  of 
one  of  the°af"ms  only,  whilst  the  other  is  tied  to  it  with  spun-yarn. 
Should  the  dredge  get  foul  of  a  rock,  the  stop  will  break  and  the 
dredge  come  up  endwise,  the  whole  pull  acting  then  on  one  arm. 

As  a  rule  the  length  of  line  should  be  about  twice  the  depth.  On 
very  soft  bottom  it  is  somewhat  shortened,  to  keep  the  dredge  from 
getting  filled  too  soon.  In  very  great  depths  it  was  found  by  the 
English  Porcupine  Expedition  that  the  line  could  be  kept  much  shorter 
by  attaching  to  it  weights  of  one  hundred  or  two  hundred  pounds  at 
about  one  fourth  the  depth  from  the  dredge.  The  dredging  is  then 
carried  on,  as  it  were,  from  the  weight,  and  not  from  the  vessel.     In 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  453 

this  way  three  thousand  fathoms  were  used  for  a  depth  of  two  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  thirty-five  fathoms. 

Dredging  may  be  carried  on  from  a  boat,  down  to  ten  or  twelve  fath- 
oms, with  wind  enough  to  propel  it,  or  a  good  crew  to  pull  it  if  calm. 
From  a  sailing  yacht  two  hundred  and  fifty  fathoms  have  been  attained, 
though  probably  with  some  difficulty.  For  greater  depths  a  steamer  is 
almost  indispensable,  provided  also  with  a  donkey-engine  to  haul  up  the 
line.  Without  the  latter  the  labor  of  the  men  is  very  heavy,  and  the 
time  consumed  a  great  drawback.  To  ascertain  the  strain  on  the  rope, 
some  kind  of  a  dynamometer  ought  to  be  attached  to  it.  A  convenient 
form  is  the  "  accumulator  "•  used  in  the,  Porcupine.  It  cousists  of  a 
number  of  solid  india-rubber  springs,  about  two  feet  long,  connected  at 
each  end  with  a  disk  of  wood.  One  end  of  the  accumulator  is  fastened 
below  to  the  derrick  and  above  to  a  rope,  which,  passing  through  i 
block  at  the  top  of  the  derrick,  supports  the  snatch-block  through 
which  the  dredge-line  goes  overboard.  The  motions  of  the  accumu- 
lator show  the  variable  strain  on  the  line. 

Many  valuable  specimens  were  obtained  on  board  the  Porcupine  by 
means  of  hempen  tangles  or  swabs,  attached  to  the  ends  of  a  trans- 
verse bar  made  fast  to  the  dredge.  According  to  Mr.  Jeffreys,  it  is, 
however,  more  advisable  to  use  them  separately,  as  they  interfere  with 
good  work  of  the  dredge  itself. 

In  dredging  it  is  preferable  to  have  the  dredge  go  over  the  bow, 
especially  on  rough  bottom,  as  it  is  easier,  in  case  of  fouling,  to  steam 
ahead  to  release  the  dredge  than  to  back  up.  Otherwise  the  stern  is 
more  convenient,  as  the  working-table,  alcohol  jars,  &c,  are  usually 
stowed  on  the  quarter-deck. 

After  the  dredge  is  brought  up  the  contents  may  be  emptied  into  a 
tub,  the  more  delicate  specimens  picked  out  and  transferred  to  clean 
sea-water  if  they  are  to  be  observed  alive,  and  the  residue  washed  in 
graduated  sieves  of  copper  wire.  A  rough  list  of  the  contents  is  noted 
in  a  book,  with  specification  of  the  depth,  temperature  of  the  water, 
fee.  Until  they  can  be  sorted,  the  contents  of  every  dredgeful  can  be 
cied  up  in  a  bag  of  some  loose  stuff  (old  bunting  from  worn  signal-flags 
was  used  in  the  Coast  Survey),  a  label  written  with  ink  and  folded  up 
being  enclosed,  and  the  whole  put  in  alcohol.  Thus  a  large  metallic 
vessel,  filled  with  alcohol,  can  be  used  to  contain  the  results  of  many 
dredgings ;  bottles  being  reserved  for  the  more  delicate  objects.  Econ- 
omy of  space  can  thus  be  gained  to  a  considerable  extent. 


454  BULLETIN   OF   TIIE 

Surface  specimens  can  be  obtained  during  the  dredging  in  tow-nets 
of  bunting,  stretched  over  a  hoop  ;  when  under  way  very  small 
towing-nets  raa_   occasionally  be  used  also,  if  the  speed  is  slow. 

The  naturalists  of  the  Swedish  Josephine  Expedition  used  also  an 
implement  intermediate  between  the  dredge  and  the  tow-net,  to  obtain 
the  small  swimming  Crustacea,  found  near  but  not  on  the  bottom.  It 
was  a  sort  of  very  light  dredge,  made  of  hoop-iron,  with  the  end-pieces 
rounded  off  in  such  a  way  as  to  lift  the  edge  of  the  net  some  distance 
above  the  ground,  so  as  not  to  scrape.  The  net  was  made  of  some 
strong  gauze-like  stuff. 


MUSEUM   OF    COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  455 


No.  5.  —  Appendix  to  the  Preliminary  Report  (Bulletin  No.  9, 
Yol.  I.)  on  the  Echini  collected  by  L.  F.  de  Pourtales.  By 
Alexander  Agassiz. 

The  two  species  of  sea-urchins  here  briefly  noticed  are  interesting 
in  a  geographical  point  of  view ;  the  one  being  a  second  species  of  a 
genus  thus  far  only  known  from  the  Indian  Ocean  ;  the  other  as 
additional  evidence  on  an  interesting  question  of  geographical  distribu- 
tion in  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

Among  the  Echini  collected  by  Mr.  Pourtales  in  1868-69,  during 
his  exploration  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  were  numerous  fragments  of  spines 
of  sea-urchins  which  I  was  unable,  at  the  time  of  writing  the  prelimi- 
nary report,  to  refer  to  any  genus  of  Echini  known  to  me.  Having 
while  in  Paris  had  the  opportunity  —  thanks  to  Professor  Bayle  —  of 
examining  Michelin's  collection  now  in  the  Ecole  des  Mines,  containing 
among  other  types  a  remarkable  sea-urchin  of  which  only  a  single 
specimen  exists,  described  by  Michelin,  in  Annexe  A  to  Maillard's 
notes  sur  l'isle  de  Bourbon,  in  1863. 

This  sea-urchin  he  named  Keraiaphorus  Maillardi  ;  it  was  brought 
up  from  a  depth  of  two  hundred  metres  on  a  fishing-line,  and  was 
called  Keraiaphorus  on  account  of  its  long  curved  spines,  resembling 
the  antennas  of  Cerambycidcz.  The  fragments  of  spines  collected  by 
Mr.  Pourtales  off  Tennessee  Reef,  at  a  depth  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
fathoms,  belong  to  this  genus,  but  differ  sufficiently  in  appearance  to  show 
they  do  not  belong  to  the  same  species.  They  are  of  a  bright  vermilion 
on  the  concave  part  of  the  spine,  and  a  light  pink  on  the  opposite  side  ; 
the  extremity  of  the  spine  is  white  for  a  considerable  distance  ;  the  spine 
is  slightly  curved  from  the  base ;  a  section  of  the  spines  shows  them 
to  be  somewhat  triangular,  with  rounded  sides,  the  long  convex  side  of 
the  triangle  being  placed  on  the  side  of  greatest  diameter  of  curvature 
of  the  spine,  and  the  short  slightly  concave  or  straight  sides  on  the  con- 
cave part  of  the  spine.  The  spine  is  nearly  solid,  with  the  exce  ption  of 
a  small  annular  space,  nearer  the  centre  than  the  periphery,  made  up  of 
one  row  of  large  triangular  limestone  cells,  such  as  are  so  characteristic 
of  spines  of  Echini  ;  the  central  part  and  the  periphery  of  the  spine 
consist  of  very  minute  circular  cells  closely  packed  together,  present- 


456  BULLETIN   OF   THE 

ing  a  homogeneous  structure  ;  in  consequence  the  outside  of  the  spine 
is  not  striated,  either  longitudinally  or  transversely,  and  shows  simply 
a  homogeneous  close  granulation,  like  very  fine  marble.  The  longest 
fragments  are  about  two  inches  in  length,  and  to  judge  from  analogy  with 
Keraiaphorus  Maillardi,  they  must  have  attained  a  length  of  at  least 
five  or  six  inches.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  future  explorations  will 
bring  to  light  this  interesting  sea-urchin,  as  the  only  specimen  thus 
far  found  is  not  in  such  a  state  of  preservation  as  to  enable  us  to  ascer- 
tain its  affinities  perfectly  satisfactorily.  As  far  as  an  examination 
would  allow,  Keraiaphorus  is  identical  with  Ccelopleurus,  and  is 
closely  allied  to  Echinocidaris.  There  are  some  discrepancies  between 
the  description  of  Michelin  and  his  figures,  the  tubercles  are  not  per- 
forated nor  crenulated,  the  general  structure  of  the  genital  and  ocular 
plates  is  similar  to  those  of  Echinocidaris  ;  unfortunately  the  anal 
plates  are  not  preserved,  and  Michelin  says  nothing  about  them. 
The  peculiar  structure  of  the  bare  portion  of  the  abactinal  part  of  the 
interambulacra  is  not  sufficiently  brought  out  in  Michelin's  figures,  in 
the  specimen,  ridges  of  small  tubercles,  running  in  S-shaped  curves  across 
this  bare  part  of  the  interambulacra  from  the  base  of  one  plate  to  the  an- 
gle of  the  opposite  plate,  are  quite  prominent  and  fully  as  marked  as  in 
the  best  figures  of  Ccelopleurus  given  by  Cotteau  in  the  Actes  de  la 
Societe  Linneenne  de  Bordeaux,  pi.  xii,  fig.  4,  Vol.  27.  The  spines 
of  Ccelopleurus  are  as  yet  not  known,  unless  the  spines  cited  under 
the  name  of  Cidaris  incerta  d'Arch,  found  in  the  same  beds  as  those 
containing  Ccelopleurus,  should  turn  out  to  be  the  spines  of  this  genus. 
They  greatly  resemble  the  smaller,  shorter,  and  straight  spines  of  Kerai- 
aphorus found  round  the  actinostome,  as  was  suggested  to  me  by  Mr. 
Vaillant  of  the  Ecole  des  Mines.* 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  species,  there  was  a  small  sea-urchin,  one 
eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  which  will  most  probably  turn  out  to  be 
he  young  of  some  species  of  the  Diadematidae  allied  to  Asthenosoma 
Grup.k.  It  is  already  of  a  .-i/.e  when  a  young  Diadema  has  its  plates 
tolerably  well  defined,  and  when  its  spines  far  surpass  the  diameter  of 
the  test  in  length,  besides  being  provided  with  a  long  anal  proboscis,  which 
at  once  characterizes  young  Diadematidae.  This  specimen  was  nearly 
flat,  the  outline  deeply  cut  at  the  ambulacra,  the  interambulacra  pro- 

•  It  i-  interesting  to  note  that  we  find  a  species  of  Ccelopleurus  in  the  tertiaries  of 
Alabama,  and  in  the  Londen  ( 


MUSEUM   OF   COMPARATIVE   ZOOLOGY.  457 

jecting  as  large  lobes  beyond  the  general  outline ;  the  whole  test  was 
made  up  of  small  limestone  cells,  and  evidently  was  quite  movable, 
though  tough,  in  its  present  condition ;  there  were  deep  actinal  cuts  in 
the  centre  of  the  ambulacral  field,  the  actinal  membrane  unfortunately 
was  not  well  preserved.  The  spines  were  very  short,  and  bore  about 
the  same  ratio  to  the  test  which  they  have  in  Astropyga  and  Asthe- 
nosoma.  The  tubercles  were  not  yet  separated  from  the  general  lime- 
stone network  of  the  test,  and  the  spines  were  arranged  in  the 
interambulacral  spaces  in  two  irregular  main  rows,  and  in  one  row 
in  the  ambulacral  spaces,  both  extending  to  the  abactinal  pole.  A 
species  of  a  genus  closely  allied  to  Asthenosoma  Grube  has  been 
dredged  by  the  Porcupine  Expedition  off  Cape  Wrath  and  south  of 
Cape  Finistere,  off"  Vigo ;  I  presume  this  will  prove  to  be  the  young 
of  it.  Professor  Wyville  Thomson  will  soon  describe  this  species  as 
Calveria  hystrix,  and,  like  several  of  the  species  first  dredged  by  Mr. 
Pourtales,  and  subsequently  found  also  by  the  Porcupine  and  by  the 
Josephine  Expeditions,  will  add  another  to  the  list  of  Echini  common 
to  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  They  are  the  following,  exclusive  of  the 
circumpolar  species  :  — 

Cidaris  annulata  Gray.  ?  Diadema  antillarum  Phil.  Calveria  hystrix 
W.  Thoms.  Genocidaris  macidata  A.  Ag.  Trigonocidaris  albida  A.  Ag. 
Echinus  norvegicus  D.  et  K.  ?  Echinometra  J\fichelini  Des.  Echinocyamus 
angulosus  Leske  (not  young  of  Stolonoclyp.  Ravenelli).  Pourlalesia  mi- 
randa  A.  Ag.  ?  Brissus  columbaris  Ag.  Echinocardium  cordatum  Gray. 
Echinocardium  ovatum  Gray.  ?  Echinocardium  Icevigaster  A.  Ag.  Bris- 
sopsis  lyrifera  Ag.     Lissunolus  fragilis  A.  Ag.     Schizaster  fragilis  Ag. 

Cambridge,  April,  1871. 


DATE  DUE 

mi  ,4- a  1QQS 

jJ\jL  *n  v^  *m*<J^— 

JUN301338 

DEMCO    INC    38-2931 


Harvard   MCZ   Librar 


3   2044   066   303   181