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INDEX

Bowna Rrs-g

ia“'1M4

After Five years - ----- - --- - - . 31

Barred Owl, the - - - ■ - - - 838053)

Book Reviews:- a ■ ' ■

Holman & Robbins "Elements of Botany" - - - -^.'4:9

Small, J. Ko "Ferns of Florida"' - - - - 48

Cacti, Maryland - 44

Common Eel, Life of the----' - - - - - 70

Common Swift, the - 72

Department of Entomology Notes- - - - - - 23

Early Spring Flowers - ---• - - - 45

"Elements of Botany" by Holman & Robbins - 49

Entomology Notesj-r--- - 23

Fangs of Maryland Pit-Vipers - - - 7

Feeding Habits of the Glass Prawn (Notes on the) - 54

"Ferns of Florida" by Small, J.K. - 48

Ferns (Wild) in the Garden - - - - 28

Fifty Minerals I have Found near Baltimore - - - 10

Fish of the Chesapeake Bay, Uncommon - - - -- 67

Fluorescence and Triboluminescence - 21

Fluorescent Minerals Found in Maryland - 17

Four Queer Fish of the Chesapeake Bay - 26

Gambusia Holbrooki (Notes on) - 63

Glass Prawn, Feeding Habits of - 54

Indian Implements Found in Maryland, Types of - 1

Indian Village Site on the Severn River, Maryland - 58

Indigo Bunting (Notes on) the Incubation of - - - 66

Life of the Common Eel - ■ *-- - - - * - - - 70

Limestone (Maryland) Recent notes on the - - - 55

Maryland Cacti--- - - - - - 44

Maryland Pit- Vipers, Fangs of the - - - - 7

Mineral (New) from the Jones Falls Area - 54

Mineral (Rare) found at Jones Falls Gneiss Quarry - 60

Minerals I have found near Baltimore (Fifty) - 10

Miocene Formation of Maryland, Notes on the - - - 5,12,18

New Mineral from the Jones Falls Area - 54

Patridge Pea - - - - - - - 22

Paramecium, Relation between Locomotion and Frequency

of Contraction of the Contractile Vacuoles - - - 64

Pitcher Plant - - - - - • - 50

Rabbits, Tularemia in - 24

Rare Mineral Found at Jones Falls Gneiss Quarry - 60

Recent Notes on Maryland Limestone (some)- - 55

Relation between Locomotion and Frequency of Contrac¬
tion of the Contractile Vacuoles in Paramecium - - - 64

Sparrow Hawk - 60

Spring Burning Destroys Wildlife - 41

Spring Flowers , Early - 45

Staff - — - 68

Swift, Common - 72

Top Minnow (Notes on) - - - 63

Tularemia in Rabbits - - - - - - - - - '24

Types of Indian Implements Found in Maryland - 1

Uncommon Fish in the Chesapeake Bay - ■ - 67

Underwater Nocturne - 20

Wild Ferns in the Garden - 28

Wood Warblers of Maryland - 37

*5? . !

"A i

Volume IV SEPTEMBER , 19Sb

Herbert C. Moore , Editor

Number 1

TYPES 0? INDIAN IMPLEMENTS FOUND IN MARYLAND
BY RICHARD E. STEARNS

In pre-Columbian days Tidewater Maryland was a favorite Iocot
tion for Indian settlements inasmuch as the shores abounded with
game and the waters contained food in great quantities. Usually it
is not difficult to find the former sites of these villages - the
Indians* fondness for the oyster resulted in shells being piled in
heaps or strewn over the ground where they may be still seen*

The antiquities found in these shell fields are fairly numer¬
ous, comprising pottery fragments, arrow points, grooved axes and
celts, gorgets and bnnnerst ones , pestles, mortars, fragments of

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steatite

ana

Many clay vessels
water Indians, In fact,
are found in the shell
implements. Complete
tically never found,
size from small vessels
ones with a capacity of
made of red clay and bore
the rims. Sometimes
entirety may be discerned
fragments. Cord impres-
quin pottery covered the
were placed at intervals

Figure 1
remainder of the

rarely, pipes.

were used by the Tide-
more pottery fragments
heaps than any other
clay vessels are prad-
The pottery varied in
holding a quart to large
ten gallons. They were
geometric designs around
these designs in their
by piecing together the
a ions common to Algon-
ve s s e 1 s . Sus pen s i on holes

Figure 1 illustrates a typical pot.

The principal types of arrow and spear points found in Maryland
are shown in Figure 2. They were usually made of quartz, quartzite,
or rhyolite, very little flint of finer quality being found in Mary¬
land. "Rhyolite was quarried at South Mountain, near what is now
Maria Furnace, Pennsylvania, not far from the Maryland line, and then
carried to the villages around the Chesapeake Bay. Points and spears
of jasper are sometimes found too, and this material was also brought
from Pennsylvania. The points of quartz which were flaked from water
worn pebbles seldom exceeded two and a half inches in length. The.

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rhyolite, a blue gray volcanic stone, was quarried from the mas¬
sive rock. Consequently, the larger types were made of this
material, some measuring up to a foot in length.

Grooved axes and celts were made from boulders of tough
sedimentary rock. These implements were pecked into shape with
hummers tones and finished by grinding with an abrasive rock such
as sandstone. A vine or other tough pliable wood was looped
around the groove of an ax, after which the two ends were bound
together forming the handle. The celt, which had no groove, was
inserted in a hole in the end of a club. (See Figure 3).

At various places in Maryland, notably the Patuxent River
above Laurel, occur outcrops of steatite. This stone was quarried
by the natives for the manufacture of cooking vessels. At all
the quarries visited by the writer, the Indians' work is apparent
in the shape of shallow pits and heaps of debris. The pits are
almost obliterated by leaves and earth washed in over a period
of many, many years.

In the heaps of debris or lying nearby on the ground the
archaeologist may find fragments of vessels which were broken dur¬
ing their manufacture. They averaged a foot or two in length and
were hewn out of the solid rock with chisels of stone. Very few
finished vessels will be found as they were carried to the village
some of them a considerable distance away. A finished steatite
vessel and stone chisels are shown in Figure 4. For campfire use-
steatite vessels were superior to those of clay since they were
able to withstand heat far better.

The other implements to be described are those showing the
highest type of Indian workmanship - banners! ones , gorgets, and
pipes. Bannerstones are found sparingly all over the Tidewater
Country but are more numerous at the head of the Bay and at Cono-
wingo. Usually they were made of slate or steatite and were
pecked into shape and finished in the same manner as were axes.
Holes were drilled with a wooden drill, probably with the use
of sand as an abrasive. The rotating marks of the drill are plain
ly evident .

Many theories have been advances, as to the use of banner-
stones, the best one being that they were used as badges of officc-e
Figure 8A , from the Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1890
91, shows a part of a figured copper plate from the Etowah group
of mounds. This headdress suggests the round winged type of
southern bannerstones. Figure 8B illustrates a banners! one found
with a stone handle in the Tennessee-Eentucky district. Types of
Maryland bannerstones are shown in Figure 5.

Gorgets are flat tablets of slate with one or more holes
bored in the center. They were probably used on a necklace or as
wrist ornaments. Specimens have been found in Indian graves over
the breastbone and at the wrists. Three types are shown in
Figure 6.

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Figure 2

Figure 3

Steatite Vespel Chisels

Figure 4

4.

Pipes are not often found in Maryland, only three broken
specimens of clay being in our collection. Two of these are pic¬
tured in Figure 7. The upper one from C on ow in go is a typical
Iroquois pipe.

(in a later number of the Bulletin Mr. Stearns will describe
many of the localities in Maryland where he has found Indian arti¬
facts . )

Figure 8

(Figure 8A - From the Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology,
1390-91)

(Figure 9 illustrates Indians hollowing a log canoe by the use of
-ire and the stone adz. This latter implement resembles a grooved
ax, but the cutting edge is at right angles to the handle. The
probable manner of haft in g this implement as well as the grooved ax
and celt is shown in Figure 3.) *

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5.

Notes on the Miocene Formation of Maryland
By Elra M. Palmer

(This is one of a series of miscellaneous notes by the Curator
of the Department of Paleontology) .

Remains of Teleost fish in the Miocene deposits are few
and comparatively rare . One reason f or this may be due to the
fragile texture of the bone structure of these fish.

Otoliths of Teleost fish were found about one mile south
of Plum Point Wharf, Calvert County, Maryland. These specimens
were found in the Calvert Formation of the Miocene. The specimens
collected measured:

Cat. No. C 583 - Width-4mm. ; Length 6 mm.; Max. thickness 1mm.

Cat. No. C 583 . l-Width-4mm. ; Length 5 mm.; Max. thickness 1mm.

3

1 Inner 2
Views of
Teleost

Outer 3
Otolith

Fish (X2)

(An Otolith is frequently called an "ear
bone." It is usually a concretion of Cal¬
cium Carbonate (Ca CO3) and Calcium phosphate
(Ca3(P04)2) found in the auditory organ of
many invertebrates and in the internal ear
of the vertebrates) .

Side

of The only other fossil remains of Teleost

fish which the department has in its study
collection wore collected by Mr. Roger S.
Hecklinger in August, 1928. The remains consist of two vertebrae
found in the Calvert Formation, about three-quarters of a mile
south of Plum Point Wharf, Calvert County, Maryland.

Notes

Exhibits - Two exhibits were held during the month of
September , one at the Enoch Pratt Library from the eleventh to the
thirtieth, and the other at the store of the Gault Marble Company
from the eleventh to the twenty-seventh. At the Library a series
of nature prints depicting the turkey buzzard from the egg to the
adult were on display. The photographs were taken fron life by
Edward McColgan and W. Bryant Tyrrell of the Department of Ornith¬
ology. Previous to the exhibit, the photographs appeared in the
Photogravure Section of the Baltimore Sunday Sun.

The exhibit at the Gault Marble Company consisted of a series
of Indian artifacts from the Department of Archaeology.

Staff Meeting - The semi-annual meeting of the Staff was held
on September 15th . The meeting was called to formulate new plans
for the coming season and to interchange ideas helpful to the De¬
partments .

\

6 »

Weekly Talks - A series of weekly talks by members of the
various' Departments has been inaugurated. These talks, to be given
on assembly nights other than the monthly lecture, are to last
fifteen minutes each.

The first talk was given on September 5 by Hr. Fla clung who
chose as his subject ’’The Organization, History, and Aims of the
Society.'* He discussed the history of the Society, its aims
(which embrace a large part of our present program) , the position
of the Board of Trustees as an active body of men who follow close¬
ly the business and scientific affairs of the organization, and the
natural history work of the Staff which consists of members who
constitute the real working part of the Society.

On September 12, Mr. Elra M. Palmer presented a brief ad¬
dress on "The Functions and Operation of the Department of Educa¬
tion," of which he is the Curator. Mr. Palmer discussed the
lecture and exhibition work of his department - in the Society
as well as in schools, churches, clubs and other organizations.

Also he explained the operation of the Junior Division.

Mr. F. Stansbury Haydon, Curator of the Department of Entom¬
ology, gave on September 19 a short demonstration and talk. Mr.
Haydon mounted specimens of the Orders Coleoptera and Ornithoptera ,
describing at the same time the reasons for his procedure.

On September 26, Mr. A. Llewellyn Jones chose as the Subject
of his talk "The Department of Mineralogy." The program for this
new department, of which Mr. Jones is Curator, was outlined.

Paleontology - The Staff of the newly created Department of
Paleontology had its first meeting on September 10. This depart¬
ment and the Department of Mineralogy constituted the old De¬
portment of Oeology which the Board of Trustees recently divided.

A definite plan of operations was adopted ana assignments were
made .

Junior Meeting - The monthly meeting of the Junior Division
was held on September 23. Robert Wheeler and Richard Webster were
made Junior members. The former gave a talk on "The Evolution of
the Pearly Nautilus," while the latter spoke on "Some Noxious In¬
sects of Maryland." Both talks were illustrated by specimens and
drawings .

An Archaeological Find - Mr. Richard E. Stearns, Assistant
Curator of the Department of Archaeology, recently unearthed in
Anne Arundel County about 300 fragments of a large specimen of
Indian pottery* This bowl, now being restored in part, will cer¬
tainly prove to be one of the largest ever found in Maryland. It
v/ill be described more fully at a later time.

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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

f* JUL I! 1334 M

Volume IV

OCTOBER , 1933
Herbert C. Moore , Editor

Number 2

FANGS OF MARYLAND PIT -VIPERS
BY HARRY C. ROBERTSON

Maryland is inhabited by two pit -vipers, the copperhead
snake (Agkistrodon mokasen) and the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus
horridus). The term ’'pit-viper” refers to a small cavity in
the loreal region just before the eye. It is heavily innervated,
but what the function of this cavity may be is not entirely
understood.

Many people believe poisonous serpents sting in some manner
and often mistake the forked tongue for the "sting” or poison
injecting equipment. It should be clearly understood that
poisonous serpents do not possess a "sting” either in their
mouths or in the end of their tails.

Dark phase of Timber Rattlesnake - Crotalus horridus

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used for obtaining food and as a weapon for defense. It is
•efficient in both cases. A general outline of this equipment
fall 'W s .

The poison apparatus consists of a pair of hollow teeth in
the anterior part of the upper jaw, A duct which connects at the
base of these hollow fangs runs back to the gland. This duct,
passing the fang and turning upon itself, is closely applied to an
opening on the anterior face of the upper end of the fang. Figure
2 illustrates the location of these organs. When not. in use the
fangs which are on a movable bone lie flat against the roof of the
mouth as illustrated in Figure 3.

The poison is derived from the a lmond -shaped glands which lie
above the lip margin. By the compression of a ligament the poison
is forced out through the duct down through the fang. The poison
is a thick yellowish fluid which, when extractor and sealed in a
container, retains its toxic properties for years.

Both the copperhead a no rattlesnake strike forward with
terrific speed and force, driving the fangs deep into the flesh of
the victim, after which they are immediately withdrawn. This action
often causes the loss of one or both of tie fangs. Reserve fangs
graduated in size down to the tiny tooth germ lie in a fold of
flesh behind the principal fangs, so that the serpent has another
pair in a short time. This explains why such serpents can not be
made permanently harmless by the removal of the fangs.

Almost in every case these snakes strixe from a coil or an
S-shaped loop. They do not have to be coiled to strike however.

In addition to the fangs these serpents are provided with
short solid teeth which are not poison conductors and which are
useful only to hold the prey about to be swallowed.

The bite of one of these serpents should be met with the proper
first aid treatment at once and then the patient should be taken
as soon as possible to a doctor. Anyone badly bitten will find
the only first aid treatment that, can he relied upon is the re¬
moval of the venom by mechanical suction. Kits containing this
suction equipment along with full directions are now on the mar¬
ket. It is more logical to remove the venom in this manner than
to try to neutralize it once it has gotten into the circulation,
for this type of poison acts directly upon the blood, breaking
down the red blood cells and destroying the walls of the carrying
vessels. Anti-venin serum, used to neutralize poison that, has al¬
ready gained way in the circulation, is important however, and it
is advisable when possible to follow up the mechanical suction
treatment with the serum. On the other hand, immediate use of the
suction equipment would insure recovery without the use of the ex¬
pensive anti-venin. In case of emergency, a companion (or the
victim, himself) may suck the wound , spitting out the venom, but this
is very dangerous if there are sores in his mouth.

and

Old fashioned treatments such as kerosene, whiskey,
poultices to draw off the poison are not effective. Those who
claim to have been cured by such methods would have recovered any¬
way. Occasionally the rattler or copperhead when striking does
not inject much or any venom beneath the skin. Also some of the
venom mair be absorbed by clothing, making the bite much less
dangerous . It is in such cases that the so-called remedies appear
to be reliable cures.

Recent experiments conducted in Texas have shown the worth¬
lessness of most of the old treatments for snake bite. It was
proven also that potassium permanganate, magnesium sulphate,
chloral hydrate, and alcohol, as well as other chemicals were not
to be depended upon. The experiments wore performed on dogs and
only those treated with the suction equipment recovered.

(l!r. Robertson, who for some time has been studying the habits
of Maryland snakes, especially some eighteen species found in the
Pa taps co Forest Reserve, will publish shortly in the Proceedings of
the Natural History Society of Maryland the results of his obsorva-
t ions) .

1 -Fangs

2 _•]' ongue

3 -3-land

4 -glottis
£ -Regular Teeth

6 - Duct

7 - Opening in Fang
8 ~N o s t r i 1

9 -Pit

1

Figure 2

Head and neck of copperhead
snake showing one of the
cha ra o t o r i s t i c oh oc o la t e -
brown bands.

1 - Fang f o 1 d e d ha c k

2 - Permanent Teeth

3 - Movable Bone

4 - Reserve Fangs

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10

FIFTY MINERALS I HAVE FOUND NEAP BALTIMORE
BY L. BRYANT FATHER, JR.

(Those interested in naming short collecting trips for minerals
will find the following list quite helpful. The works of Edward S.
Dana, William E. Ford, and Frederick Brewster Loomis, as well as
many articles in the various volumes of the Maryland Geological Sur¬
vey, may be particularly u seful for purposes of identification).

I Sulfides

1.

Born it e .

Bare Hills Copper Mine

2 .

Chalcopyrite . . .

tt II 11 II

3.

Pvrite .

Gwynns Falls Stone Corporation Quarry

II A

Oxides of Silicon

4 .

Quartz

(a) Transparent . .

Tows on (Dulaney Valley Bead)

(b) Milky. . . . .

Bare Hills Copper Mine

(c) Smoky .

A vo 1 on , Pa t a p s c o River

(d) Citrine( yellow)Ranover (near West Elkridge)

(e) Crystals . . .

Pare Fills and Gwynns Falls

( f ) F e r rug in ou s . .

Govans, F.illen Road

(g) Flint. . . . .

Soldiers Delight (West of (Swings Mills)

(h) Moss -agate . .

ii ii it it ii ti

(i) Carnelian. . .

it ti n it ii it

(j) Chalcedony . .

Bare Hills (Falls IFsd)

5,

Opal .......

Ba re Hills ( Fa 1 Is R oa d )

II B

Oxides of Metals

6.

Hematite .....

Hanover (near West Elkridge)

7 .

Magnetite .

Bare K i 1 Is C e P pe r M i n e

8.

Cl romite .

Bare Hills or Soldiers Delight

9.

Pyr olusi t e .

Ba re R ills ( Fa 1 Is R oa d )

II C

Hydrous Oxides

o

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Limoni te . . . . .

Timoniun (Pot Springs Road)

III A

Carb onates

11.

Calcite .

C ockeysvil le

12 .

Dolomite .

ii

13.

Magnesite .

Bare Hills Quarry (Falls Road)

14.

Siderit e .

3 outh Ba It im ore

(a) Sph.aer osiderite Jones Falls G-neiss Quarry

Ill B

H yd r ou s C a rb ona t e s

15.

I la la ch i t e .

Bare Hills C op per M i no

IV Silicates (A) Feldspar

Group

16 .

Orthoc lase .

J on e s Fa 1 1 s

17.

Mic roc line. . . . „

Gwynns Falls

18.

Oligoc la se .

Wyman Park

19 .

Plagioclase . . . ,

Gwynns Falls

(B)

Araphibole Group

20.

Anthophy lli'te T . ,

Bare Hills Copper Mine

21 .

Tremolite .

Texas, Ma r y 1 an d ( H . T . C a npb e 1 1 Qu a r r y )

22.

Ac tin o'lite . . . .

Stony Run, near Sisson Street

23.

Asbestos .

Gwynns Falls

24.

Horneblende ....

Hollo field (patapsco River)

11,

(C) Garnet Group

2 5. Almandite 3 .

26. Andradite .

(D) Topaz Group

27 . Siiiimanit e .

28. Kyanite .

(S) Epidote Group

29 . Z o i s i te -Thu IT t e . . ,

30. Epidote . . .

(F) Subsilicates

31 . "tourmaline ("b la ck) . .

(a) ” (brovm) . .

32. Staurolite . . . . .

( G) Zeolites

o-3 7 Tri iTT ip si te .

34. St i lb i te .

35. La urn on t it e .

56. Ohacazite -Hayden ite .

_(H ) _ I- lie a Group

57, Muscovite .

5 8. S e r i c i t e .

39. B.iotite .

40. I’b logopite .

(j) Chlorite Group

tl 1 CtT rT3 oTTI "or e . . .

42. Rhodo chrome . . . . .
( j) 8 e r pent ine -Ta lc Group
4 'Z~. TTe'r p eat ine

(a ) Picrolite . . .

(b) Baltimorite. . .

(c) Karmolite . . .

(d) Williamsite . .

(e) Ghrysotile . . .

44. Deweylite-Gymnite . .

45 . Ta lc . . . . . . . .

00 _ Kaolin Group

46. Ka olinit e ! > . . . .

(a) Lithonarge . . .

47. Halloysite.

V _JPh o s ph ate 3

48. ^.pfciite .

VI A Sul f at e s

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Fa 1 Is R '.'a d ( N or th o f F;a re Ii i 1 3 s )

Rare Hills Copper Mine
Stony Run , Fyman park

Stony Run

J o n e s Fa 1 1 s , Gn e i s s Qu a r r y
Jones Falls

Green Spring Avenue, Rare Hills
Falls Road (North of Bare Hills)

Avalon (patapsco River)

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Woodberry Trap Quarry
Jones Fa 1 Is Gn e i s s Qua r r v

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Butler Quarry
Jones Falls
C ockeysvi lie

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Soldiers Delight

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12 .

Notes on the Miocene Format ion of Maryland
By Elra M. Palmer

i

In the Calvert Cliffs soi th of little Cove Point, on the
western shore of the Chesapeake Bay numerous impressions of
Xenohelix marylandica (Mansfield) were noted. The predominating
form was the spiral type, always found standing vertically in the
cl if f s .

The Xenohelix marylandica was first described by Dr. Wendell
C . Mansfield of the United States Geological Survey. *■ The type
specimens were collected in the low bluffs about 6 1/2 miles south
of Cedar Point, St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Excellent specimens
of the coiled as well as uncoiled types were collected at this
locality by Messrs. Palmer and Colder m November, 1932.

Dr. Mansfield offers no theory to explain the origin of these
peculiar fossil forms. The generic name, Xenohelix, of Greek
derivation- -‘'Zeno - strange'* and ’’helix - sp'ira 1 , :r~ is certainly
quite appropria te for these fossilsT Dr. Mansfield suggests,
however, that they may owe their origin to some marine plant,
such as a fucoid (a seaweed, one of the Algae).

Mansfield, XI . C. "Some Peculiar Fossil Forms from Maryland,"
1927, Proceeding of the United States National Museum -^2688--
V o 1 . 77 1 --ART . 16

Specimen of Xenohelix marylandica
in original vertical position! The geological
hammer serves to show the comparative size of
the fossil.

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N ot es

Junior Exhibition - The Society's fall and winter activities
were inaugurated on October 6 by the Second Annual Junior Exhibi¬
tion. This exhibit of the Junior Division, open from 8 to 10*30
P.M., was attended by a great many visitors, among whom were a
number of teachers from the schools of Baltimore City and the
nearby Counties. The displays were unusually large and attrac¬
tive; in fact, there was hardly sufficient room in which to
place all the material. The exhibits consisted of minerals,
fossils, insects, mounted flowers and leaves, birds’ nests,
diving equipment, drawings, photographic leaf prints, nature
photographs, Indian artifacts, and tropical fish. These were dis¬
played by David Bachrach, Woodward Burkhart, Clarence Burner,

Ned Crosby, George Didusch , Edmund B. Fladung Jr-, Edwin Ghering,
Andrew Goss, L. Bryant Mather, Jr., Govane McClees . Jerome Meuse 1,
Charles Ostrander, Edmund poffel, Carroll Wagner, Richard Webster,
and Robert 7/heeler.

Two features which attracted much attention were the mi¬
croscope of Carroll Wagner, through which active paramecium could
be seen, and the apparatus of Ned Crosby for illustrating flu¬
orescence in minerals.

Trustees Meeting - The quarterly meeting of the Board of
Trustees was held on October 12. Many matters required the atten¬
tion of the Board, one of the most important of 'which was the
revision of the Staff rules. This has become necessary because
of the rapid growth of the Staff.

Junior Semi-annual Guest Evening - The first Semi-annual
Gues t— Evening of the Junior Division was held on October1 21. The
feature of the evening was a lecture on ,!The Snakes of Maryland"
by Mr. Harry C. Robertson, curator of the Department of Herpetol¬
ogy. Mr. Robertson illustrated his lecture with live and preserved
specimens. Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, president of the Society, pre¬
sented awards to the Juniors who had had the best exhibits at the
Second Annual Junior Exhibition. Those who received awards were;
Andrew Goss, Jerome Meusel, L. Bryant Mather, Jr., Woodward Burk-
hart, and Richard V/e bster. Honorable mention; Edwin Ghering,

Edmund B. Fladung, Jr., Robert Wheeler, George Didusch, Ned Crosby,
Carroll Wagner, and Govane McClees. Tea was served after the
presentations .

Paleontological Meeting - On October 23, the bi-monthly
meeting of the Department 5T Paleontology was held. Work was
commenced on a large whale skull recently unearthed.

Lecture - The first of our fall and winter lectures was given
on October 17 by Mr. Walter E * Price, Jr., assistant curator of
the Department of Mineralogy. His subject wa s "The Miners logical
Features of a Small Section of Jones Falls Valley." Although Mr.
Price limited the scope of his interesting lecture to a small area,

14.

it was surprising to see the number of different minerals and
varieties which he had found. The lecture was illustrated by
s pe cimens a nd la n tern slides.

Weekly Talks - On October 11, Mr. Harry Zachary spoke about
the new diving tank that is being constructed by the Department
of Marine Research. He gave a detailed description of the tank
that he and Curator Klingel will use in their next year's work.

"A Comparison of European and Maryland Butterflies” was the
subject of a talk by Hr. Eugene R. Polacek on October 23. Among
the number of species compared were Europe’s Papilio machaon with
our Papilio asterius, Papilio podalirius ’with Papilio marcellus,
Limenitis populi with Basilarchia astyanax, and Argynnis paphia
with Argynnis cybele.

On October 30, Fir. Irving Rarnpe gave an outline of the work
of the Department of Ornithology, especially in regard to a check¬
list of the birds of Maryland. Of special interest was his de¬
scription of the work he is doing in the State Forest Reserve. In
the section of G-lenartney and Orange Grove alone over 120 species
have been recorded, twenty of them warblers.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

"Diving” was the subject of a lecture presented by Mr. Harry
M. Zachary on September 29 to Trcop 86, B,S.A. of the Wa lb rook
M.E. Church.

At a meeting of the Rural Club of the Tows on State Normal
School on October 25, Mr. Earl H. Palmer of the Department of
Botany explained the methods of preparing and preserving botanical
materials .

Checklists of Birds

We note with interest "A List of Vermont Birds” by K. 0.
Fortner, Wendell p. Smith, and E. J. Dole, Bull. No. 41, State
Department of Agriculture. 8 vo. 54 pages. This recent checklist
of 298 species and subspecies of birds found in Vermont, with
brief descriptions of most of the birds is of practi c a 1 va lue
and is an example of the type of work our Department of Ornith¬
ology has been engaged in with respect to Maryland birds. Members
of this Department have been very active in collecting data in
every part of the state. Associate members have been helpful.

When the checklist and other descriptive material connected with
it are completed (or as nearly so as possible), not an easy task,
the results will, be published in the Proceedings of this Society.

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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

((* JUL U 1334 4)

Volume IV

NOVEMBER , 1933
Herbert C . Moore , Editor

Number 3

THE BARRED OWL (Strix varia varia)
BY R, BRUCE OVERINGTON

The Barred Cwl is
Maryland. Its habitat

the commonest of the large
is usually where there are

timber with nearby streams or rivers, but now and
a foraging expedition to the uplands where game
ful. Often this owl is of great benefit to the
catches many small noxious rodents. To call it
policeman" (the Red Shouldered Hawk act¬
ing as the "day policeman") woi Id be
appropriate. Those farmers who realize
how many dollars this bird saves them
each year attempt to protect it.

Truly there are instances whan the
Barred Owl preys on other birds. In
the winter months when mice are scarce
it may catch a Bob White, or perhaps,
a Mourning Dove. Walking through the
show one morning I saw a number of
feathers of the Mourning Dove with a
few long soft feathers of the owl,
and I realized that I was witnessing
one of the tragedies of nature. But
as a whole, the good done by this
owl surpasses by far the bad.

This nocturnal bird possesses
the common characteristic of all
owls - an unusually well developed
sense of hearing. The slightest

sound which would be imperceptible to the human ear
owl. Then, too, its nocturnal vision is especially
daytime it sees less clearly.

owls found in
swamps and tall
then it goes on
may be more plenti-
farmers since it
the farmers’ "night

is heard by the
keen, but in the

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16.

John Burroughs, when speaking of this bird, aptly said, "His
appearance by day is hailed by shouts of alarm and derision from
nearly every other bird that flies and they literally mob him back
into some dusky retreat. Silence is as to the breath of the nostrils
to him, and the uproar which greets him when he emerges into the
open day seems to alarm him as it does the pickpocket when everybody
says 'Thief' !" So all during the day this owl sits quietly in some
hidden bower surrounded as much as possible by the foliage of some
tree or vine, and dreams perhaps of the happy hunting grounds which
it soon hopes to find. As soon as the first shades of evening
approach, it is all action and attention to the matters at hand.

Very soon its weird "auc auc cu ewe wa 11 is heard throughout the
woods .

The courtship of the Barred Owl begins in early February or
sometimes as early as January 4 These birds are very ardent lovers.
The whole woods seem to be alive with hoots. After the birds are
mated, they choose a certain part of the woods for their domicile.

I have never found two pairs of birds nearer to each other than one
mile, and I do think, as a whole, that both pairs hunt in their own
domains. Usually, their eyrie is located in a large hollow in a
tree close to a pool of water or a running stream. They deposit
their eggs in the last days of February or first days in March,
according to the weather conditions and possibly, the age of the
owls. Two eggs perfectly white, globular, in size about 1.95 mm.x
l,70mra. are usually the complete clutch, but sometimes three eggs
are laid. The nest may be from one foot to five feet down in the
hollow. Large gum trees, oaks, ana beeches are preferred. In one
case, I found a pair of these birds using a deserted hawks’’ nest.

Barred Owls use the same cavity year after year even after
their nest has been robbed. However, if a nest has been found and
disturbed before the eggs are laid, the birds will practically al¬
ways desert the nest and go elsewhere. Even if one egg has been
deposited this owl may leave its nest if disturbed.

I once found a nest of the Barred Owl which contained two eggs
and a dead short -tailec. mouse, but why the mouse had not been eaten
I do not know. Raccoons sometimes break up owls' nests. If the
first clutch is destroyed, no more eggs are laid that year.

In the middle of April the young may be found, several days to
several weeks old. They are white, downy, and always ready to eat.
When they think they hear one of the parent birds they make a pecu¬
liar snapping noise caused by the opening and closing of their
mandibles. At first they are kept warm by the mother bird, but as
time and mutation go on and they can fly, the mother bird leads them
farther and farther from the nest until they can hunt for themselves.

In the locality of the Upper Patuxent River these owls a.re not
quite holding their own because of the cutting down of the timber
along the banks of the river. They are still abundant, however, and
will probably continue to be so wb i 1 e there are deep timber lands
near streams. They are not migratory. They must acclimate them¬
selves to winter, when food is usually scarce. Consequently, those
individuals which have the greatest strength, sharpness of eye,
keeness of hearing, and speed, to procure game in any season will
survive .

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SOME FLUORESCENT MINERALS FQUNE IN MARYLAND

BY WALTER E. PRICE , JR.

A fluorescent material in one which glows with a peculiar light
of its own when light , usually of a different color, falls upon it.
Minerals are only one of the many classes of materials that exhibit
this phenomenon. In mineral fluorescence, ultra-violet light is used.
Fluorescence in minerals is caused by minute amounts of certain im¬
purities that act as light transformers, lengthening the wave-lengths
of the invisible ultra-violet to wave-lengths the eye can detect.

The fluorescent color varies, for example* red, yellow , blue, or green.
Minerals exhibit fluorescence best under the wave-lengths of 3300 to 370D
angstrom units . The pure mineral does not fluoresce, and all speci¬
mens from the same locality that affords fluorescent specimens do not
fluoresce. Ultra-violet light can be obtained from many types of
apparatus, and unfortunately no one type gives all the rays which
produce fluorescence. Frequently a fluorescent mineral does not show
up because the wave-lengths to which it is sensitive are absent from
the ultra-violet light thrown upon it.

Maryland affords a few specimens that fluoresce under the ultra¬
violet. Gymnite , a variety of deweylite , and a magnesium silicate,
fluoresces a pale pea green under the rays of the a.rgon bulb. In
Maryland gymnite is found in serpentine rock with chalcedony, as a
brown amorphous mass resembling gum arabio . It is found at Bare Hills,
and at Delight, the first locality yielding the better specimens.

The mineral is rare, and at Bare Hills it has been so exploited that
now only poor specimens are to be found. It is a peculiar fact that
the variety gymnite was first found at Bare Hills, and received its-
name in allusion to its occurrence there.

In Baltimore, in the Jones Falls pegmatite, a mineral has been
found that fluoresces a brilliant green under the argon bulb. It
occurs with apatite (a calcium phosphate) in microscopic, sulphur-
yellow tabular crystals having a perfect basal cleavage. It is
probably autunito, a calcium uranium phosphate, which was reported
found at a nearby quarry many years ago. All specimens of the mineral
aut unite fluoresce. The Jones Falls specimen nay be radioactive, a
fact that is yet to be determined.

Another fluorescent mineral of Maryland is pearl spar, a. variety
of dolomite, which is a double carbonate of calcium and magnesium.

It is found at Bluemont in trap rock. It occurs in white, pearly,
platy crystals that fluoresce a beautiful pale bluish-green. The
specimen is peculiar in the fact that all parts of it do not fluoresce,
but the part that does fluoresce continues to do so after the excit¬
ing rays have been cut off; that is, the specimen is luminescent also.
This, we believe, is the first reference to any fluorescent Maryland
dolomite .

Up to the present time, according to the records of the Depart¬
ment of Mineralogy, these are all the minerals occurring in Maryland
that are known to fluoresce. It is probable that there are a great
many more .

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It remains only to bring under our lamps the minerals believed
to possess this characteristic . Anyone can find them as no deep
knowledge of mineralogy is necessary. The amateur is amply rewarded
by the dazzling results. The search for a fluorescent mineral is a
fascinating pastime. Discovery is very exciting , for as the beauti¬
ful glow appears s and stands out from the dull rock;, it is like a
magical change that transforms the plain every day stone to a wonder¬
ful thing that seems almost alive,

N'Q too oh the Mi oc one Formation
of Maryland

By B^ra M. Palmer

One of the localities worthy of note , surveyed by our recent
Southern Maryland Paleontological Expedition, was St. Leonard Creek
(Calvert County, Maryland). The area surveyed is located about 3/4
of a mile on each side of the Mac kail Wharf.

The Miocene outcrop in this area consists of a rock ledge at the
base of the section. This ledge is similar in structure and position
to the ledge which is found at the Drum Cliffs, near J ones Wharf on
the Patuxent River. This rock ledge carries innumerable fossil re¬
mains which definitely place this deposit as of choptank Formation
and probably Shattuck’s Zone 17.

The predominate Mollusca remains in this ledge are Melina maxil-
lata, and Pec ten madisonius . Large barnacles ( Balanus e oncavusj”
typical of Chbpta nk deposits are also plentiful. Two good specimens

of Pec ten (Chlamys) marylandi -
cu s (Wagn e r)' were f ou nd . T h i s
species is new to our study
collection and has net been
noted by us in any other
locality.

It is interesting to note
that no sand -do liar remains
w o re f oun d at St. Leona rd
Creek in the area which wo
su r ve yed in do t a i 1 , wh e re a. s
in the similar ledge found at
Drum Cliffs and bearing the
same characteristic fossils,
sand-dolla r re mains ( Scute 11a
Pacten marylandicus a b o rt i ) were very numerous ,

A few other specimens which are new accessions to our study
collection were found in this locality and will he described later.

N ot e s

Semi-annual Quest Evening - The Ninth Semi-annual Guest Evening
of the Society was hold on Novo mb e r 12. The occasion was especially
devoted to the Miocene deposits of Maryland. An unusually fine
collection of Miocene fossils was exhibited by the Department of

19.

paleontology. Among the specimens on display wore two large whale
mandibles and two whale skulls, all of which were secured by the de¬
partment’s expedition in 1932.

There was also on exhibition a fine collection of nature photo¬
graphs taken by Mr. Edward McColgan and Mr. Gilbert Klingel of the
Department of Ornithology.

The principal feature of the evening was a joint lecture en¬
titled "The Miocene Deposits of Maryland" by the curator and the
assistant curator of the Department of Paleontology, Mr. Elra M.
palmer and Mr. John B. Calder. Mr. Calder spoke first about the
"Geographic and Geologic Relationship of the Miocene." This was
followed by Mr. Palmer’s lecture - "The Fauna and Flora of the Mio¬
cene." Charts and lantern slides illustrated these talks.

After the lecture tea was served.

Weekly talks

November 7 - Mr. E. Bruce Overington of the Department of Or¬
nithology gave a short talk on the habits of birds, in which he told
about many of the interesting observations he had made.

November 14 - "The Susquehannocks of Conowingo" was the subject
of a short talk by Mr. Woodward Burkhart, who illustrated implements
used by these Indians with specimens he had found at Conowingo.

November 28 - Mr. Francis O'Rourke of the Department of Botany
presented an interesting talk with the title "The United States
Government plant Quarantine'!" Mr. O'Rourke, an employee of the
Government in the plant quarantine work, told about the importance
of the sutject and the great benefits derived from such work by the
public. Charts which accompanied the talk showed the tremendous
scope of the work.

Junior Meeting - The monthly meeting of the Junior Division was
held on November 18. Talks for admittance to membership were given
by Clarence Burrier, David Bachrach, and Charles Ostrander.

Paleontological Meetings - The special semi-monthly meetings
of the Department of ’Paleontology took place on the 3rd and 2 7th
of November.

Lecture to Outside Organization - Mr. Elra M* Palmer, curator
of the Department of Paleontology, delivered to the Chui’ch Club of
the Clifton Methodist Episcopal Church on November 12 an illustrated
talk concerning different phases of the World of Nature about us.

Ornithological Note - Mr. Irving E. Hampe, assistant curator of
the Department of Ornithology, represented the Society from November
14-18 at the annual meeting of the American Ornithological Union held
in Now York City. Next month Mr. Hampe will describe s one of the
meetings he attended.

The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

/

{(☆ JUL 1

\v

«aSi

X'

Volume IV

DECEMBER ,1933
Herbert C. Moore , Editor

Number 4

storm jei'to !:>!//•

AN UNDERWATER NOCTURNE
BY GILBERT C, KLINGEL

On the 23rd of August, 1933, a terrific _

verging on hurricane force ravaged the coasts of
Maryland and Virginia. Excessively high tides
accompanied by winds of extreme velocity eroded
large sections of shoreline, and heavy rain¬
fall caused the rivers to pour large quantities
.of fresh water into the Chesapeake, Three dav,?
later we rowed into the Patuxent River near 1
Solomons with our diving helmets and equipment
with the idea of seeing just what effect the'
storm had had underwater. We anchored in twenty
feet of water and prepared to dive. It yds
night-time and all was dark save the pale sheen
of the phosphorescent water.

On our last night -dive before the storm an
electric flash-light held over the side lured
innumerable organisms. Crustaceans, fishes,
crabs and others milled about the gloving light,
feeding on each other and in turn being fed upon,

G t on oph ores and jellyfish throbbed by and all wa activity.

this night the water wa-v- deserted except for a
pra wn .

few isolated

But
sa nd

We turned. -onr light off, donned our helmets, and dropped
beneath the surface. The water was brilliantly pi osph crescent ,
Our hands glowed as if on fire and every movement brought
streams of pale green light. Our waterproof flash-lights
turned on and cut a vivid and definite cone of light through the
liquid blackness. For a moment no life showed in the bean but
suddenly, wriggling undulating streaks of red began flashing back
and forth. They moved rapidly, jerking and twist
with near -to-bursting energy. V/e recognized them
They momentarily became more numerous until the
with them.

on

to life
v e re

ng as if filled
as Nereid worms
water was flooded

21.

Then a marvelous thing happened. A worm stopped its erratic
streaking, paused, and began looping round and round over its length
with undersides outward making a perfect semicircle of its tody.
Another worm swimming nearby dashed over to the looping worm and
also began frenziedly looping, its orbit cutting the orbit of the
first worm tut at an angle to it. Then came another worm and
another until eight frantically circling worms and the combined
orbits of their circling formed a sphere.

The sphere slowly moved up and then as slowly drifted downwards.
Another formed and still another. Up and down, up and down they
drifted, so gently, but yet in themselves endowed with incredible
energy. And against the liquid glow of underwater moved a swarming
streaking mass of other worms. The significance of it all was
puzzling. And why the numbers of worms on this particular night?

On previous night-dives sea worms were not particularly numerous,
their place being taken by various types of Crustacea now absent.

Was this a breeding time? Was the recent storm responsible in any
way? 7/e watched the spheres for some moments and then went to the
surface. The flash showed nothing but empty water. Apparently the
worms were all lower down.

We descended again and collected one of the circling worms in
a vial. Hours later when home in the laboratory the worm was still
circling round and round. It showed no signs of slowing up. But
when daylight came it was dead.

FLUORESCENCE AND TRIBOLUMINESCENCE
(Additional Notes)

BY WALTER E. PRICE, JR.

The apparatus for observing fluorescence in minerals is simple,
consisting of an inverted black box containing an argon glow lamp
and an ordinary electric lamp, both controlled by the same switch on
the outside. One side of the box has half of its side removed to
permit observation. The specimen is placed under the box beneath
the lamps, and then illuminated by ordinary electric light. Then
the light is switched off, thereby switching on the argon glow lamp.
As soon as the ultra-violet light falls upon the specimen, the
fluorescent minerals present glow with a weird light, and stand out
from the rest of the rock which is non-f luorescent , and therefore
inert. There is no mistaking the fluorescence when it appears, for
on switching off the ultra-violet light, and turning on the ordinary
light, the color disappears, and the whole of the rock resumes its

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Some crystalline minerals become luminous when rubbed or
scratched. This property, known as t riboluminescence , is exhibited
by a variety of calcite found in Dyer’s Quarry at Soldiers Delight.
The crystalline calcite, which breaks up into perfect rh onbobedrons
under the blow of a hammer, is found in the serpentine rock of the
quarry in large masses. When a specimen of this calcite is scratched
by a' steel file in the dark, an orange streak appears momentarily
on the abraded surface. This is due to certain peculiar properties
of the crystal , and is not due to sparks from the file, since other
specimens, of calcite do not give any light under the same conditions.

— ?<--

THE PARTRIDGE PEA
(CASSIA CHAMAECRISTA)

BY JOSEPH C. WHITE

The Partridge Pea is a showy little plant with sensitive leaves
and yellow flowers in the summer and small deep-red seed pods in the
fall. It belongs to the large and well known Pulse Family (Legum-
inosae) . The genus Cassia, of which it is a member, contains
species ranging from low-lying types to some that grow from six to
twelve feet in height.

Chamaecrista is usually
described as growing from one to
two feet in height, but I have
never seen it over one foot high
in Maryland. In Virginia, how¬
ever, it is reported to reach
the greater height.

Its habitat is dry soil;
frequently it is found in fields
and in thin growths on the edge
of woods. Often, too, the
Partridge Pea thrives in the
cinders and coal dust by the
side of railroad tracks. Only
in these places have I seen it
growing in large clusters. On
several occasions these clusters
covered areas of 120 square feet
One group, which I have been
observing for the last three
years, seems to possess an un¬
changing size - each year it has
been practically the same,
neither larger nor smaller.

The yellow-orange flowers
of this plant measure from one
to one and one -ha If inches in

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diameter, possess five petals, and grow at the base of the leaves.
These leaves are compound and are composed of twenty to thirty
small leaflets, each tipped with a tiny bristle. If the sun gets
too hot or the humidity too low, the leaflets betray their sensi¬
tiveness to these conditions by closing up. Since this species
is a typical legume, the pod contains the customary neatly arranged
little seeds which mature in October when the pod turns red and
eventually brown.

When collecting herbarium specimens, the botanist finds this
species hard to press, for a very short while after the plant is
taken from the ground its leaves close up with the top surfaces
together. They can bo extended again by dropping the whole plant
in water.

If cultivated the Partridge Pea might be a welcome addition
to the garden. Grown in large clusters it would make a showy
background for larger plants,

DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY NOTES
BY F. STANS BURY HA YD ON

This department during the current season has branched out
from its original program of collecting specimens confined only to
the orders Lepidoptera and cole opt era and has thus far begun the
nucleus of a collection of all orders. These notes are published
for the benefit of the various members of the Society who are not
informed or familiar with the functioning of this particular depart¬
ment. The study collection of Maryland insects including all 21
orders has been for the last four years the goal and ambition of
our work. Recently we arrived at the point where we believed that
a sufficient representative collection had been formed of the two
above mentioned orders and that time might he taken from these two
groups and used to advantage in carrying out the original program.

Possibly the most outstanding work has been done in the order
Odonata . We have collected a formidable amount of material, some
of the specimens being extremely fine and unusual. A new method of
mounting has been employed to insure the specimens of permanent
preservation. The method is that which was advised by the Depart¬
ment of Entomology at the University of Michigan and consists of the
insertion of a very fine pin through the abdomen entering at the
last segment and fixing the narrow body firmly to the more solid
thorax. Also a very fine short wire is inserted through the center
of the head between the compound eyes thus fixing the head firmly
and permanently and avoiding the possibility of its breaking off
through handling. More than fifty specimens have been taken com¬
prising roughly twelve or fifteen species. Our policy will be to
collect material and assemble similar species for later determina¬
tion. This work will have to be done at the United States National
Museum. In addition to this order , the collection has been in¬
creased by the accession of a very fine lot of specimens included
in the orders Hymen opt era , Dipt era , Orth opt era , and a smaller
number in the orders Hemipt era and N europt era . All of this material
is being carefully mounted and stored, being classified according to
order for future determination and arrangement.

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TULAREMIA IN RABBITS

(This article is published at the request of E* Lee Leconpte, State
Game Warden, Conservation Department, State of Maryland).

Prior to 1930, the State Game Department annually imported
from 8000 to 10,000 cottontail rabbits from Kansas and Missouri. An
outbreak of tularemia occurred in Maryland in 1929, the cause of
which was traced to the handling and skinning of cottontail rabbits.
Investigations made by the State Department of Health caused said
Board to advise against further importation of rabbits to Maryland
on account of this dreaded disease. Due to the demand from the
sportsmen for rabbits for restocking purposes on January 2nd, 1934,
we addressed a letter to the State Board of Health requesting to
know whether or not they would advise the importation of rabbits
this coming Spring for restocking purposes, Said Board replied that
tularemia persisted throughout 1933, 14 cases reported; only 1 less
than in 1932. The City Board of Health reported 11 cases of tularemia
in Baltimore City in 1933 and in view of a number of cases which
occurred in Maryland in 1933, the State Department of Health stated
they would not at this time recommend the importation of rabbits,
however, advised us to get in touch with the U« S. Public Health
Service, requesting information as to the effect of tularemia in
Kansas and Missouri in the past four years, States from ’which we
had been importing these animals.

Under date of January 12th, Mr. R. C. Williams, Assistant
Surgeon General, Division of Sanitary Reports and Statistics of the
U. S. Public Health Service, replying to our inquiry of January 5th
reports 120 cases of tularemia reported in Kansas by Brown, Lattimore
and Hofmann, Kansas Medical Society of August, 1933, report covering
cases from 1928 to April 27th, 1933. A quotation from Mr. Williams'
letter is as follows;

"Skinning or handling wild rabbits, or preparing them for cooking was
given as the mode of infection of 105 cases. Other methods included;
skinning opossum, 2; dressing quail, 2; dressing quqil or skinning
squirrels, 2; skinning squirrel, 1; bite of wood tick, 1; fly bite,

1; and handling a cat, 1. The latter probably a mechanical infec¬
tion. The method of infection in 5 cases was unknown or not given.

Of the 105 rabbit contact infections, 98 were cottontail and 7
iaekrabbit s . "

Said report also quotes 41 cases having occurred in Missouri,
1930 to 1932. A summary of the report is as follows;

Year

Kansa s

Cases

; Deaths

1930

♦

16

; 3T5

1931

*

*

33

5 1

1932

i

38

: 1

1933

»

0

17

4

•

Missouri

Oases
27 y~

82

87

18

Deaths
— 375

1

Showing a decided increase in the disease in said States in 1931
and 1932; however, showing a decrease in 1933. Therefore, in reply
to those interested in the hunting of cottontail rabbits, we are very
sorry to report that acting upon advice of the State Board of Health
and the U. S. Public Health Service, we will not import any rabbits
this season.

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NOTES

Lecture - On December 5, the members of the Society had the
pleasure of 'hearing Dr. Howard A. Felly deliver a lecture entitled
"Snakes of the World." Dr. Kelly's lecture was of unusual interest
inasmuch as it was illustrated with lantern slides and beautiful
paintings , as well as with live specimens. During the lecture Dr,
Kelly called particular attention to the snakes of our state.

Weekly Talks

December 12 - Mr. Irving E. F.ampe, of the Department of
Ornithology, described his visit to the Fifteenth Stated Meeting of
the American Ornithologists’ Union at the American Museum of Natural
History in New York City, held November 13 - lb. The program con¬
sisted of the reading of sixty-nine papers, many of which wore
illustrated with slides and motion pictures. Other activities in¬
cluded the Banquet, a reception at the Aquariun, receptions at the
homes of resident members, and an inspection of the various depart¬
ments of the Museum, Those who remained until the 17th and 18th
also took part in field excursions to the surrounding areas.

December 19 - Mr. Edward McColgan of the Department of
Ornithology gave a very interesting talk on "Bird Banding," another
phase of this department’s work. Mr. McGolgan traced the history
of this subject and told of the valuable scientific data, especially
in regards to bird migrations, which has been obtained by bird
banding. He also demonstrated the method of bird banding advocated
by the United States Biological Survey.

Paleontological Meetings - The semi -month lv meetings of the
Department of Pale onto logy were held on December 4 and 18.

Junior Meeting - The monthly meeting of the Junior’ Division
took place on December 21. This meeting was in the nature of a
Christmas Assembly. The President of the Society addressed the
Juniors, after which refreshments were served.

Lectures to Outside Organizations - On December 10, Mr. Woodward
Burkhart of the Depart men t of Archaeology delivered a lecture at
olifton Methodist Episcopal Church. His subject was "Indian Arti¬
facts of the G on cw ing o Reg i on . "

"Snakes of Maryland" was the title of a lecture given to the
boys of the Gilman Lower School on December 18 by Mr. Harry
Robertson, Curator of the Department of Herpetology, Live speci¬
mens illustrated this talk. On December 20, Mr. Robertson delivered
to the Knights of Columbus a similar lecture, illustrated by lantern
slides as well as live specimens.

Exhibit - The temporary exhibits at the Enoch Pratt Library,
which were removed for a short period of time, have been replaced
with new exhibits. These exhibits are temporary too, pending the
opening of the third floor of the Library, when permanent displays
will be installed.

The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

/Tib

m \\

//

(r Jul i : 1934 *|

MUSg^ J

Volume IV

JANUARY , 1934
Herbert C. Moore , Editor

Number 5

FOUR QUEER FISH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
By Frank c. Yingling

From the depths of the sea to the shallow water near the shore
the piscatorial world consists of many queer fish, some of which
are odd in form, others peculiar in habit. I have observed some
of these odd fish at Cove Point, Maryland.

The Pipe Fish, Syngnathus fuscus, (Figure 1) is an auculeiform
(needle-shaped) fish with a peculiar snout and a small mouth. It
is a member of the order Lophobranchii which is distinguished by a
curious mode of reproduction. A pair when mating intertwine their
bodies like two letter
S's, and the female by
her ovipositor places
her eggs in th« mar-
supium (egg pouch) of
the male, where they
are fertilized and re¬
tained until they
hatch .

One specimen of
this species, floating
sluggishly at the sur¬
face of the water, was
collected last summer
about one-half mile
from the shore. The

specimen, a male about 150 mm. in length, contained a marsupium
with young ready to hatch. Upon placing it in the killing jar,
over forty fry were born. Each fry was 10 mm. in length and about
the thickness of a heavy thread.

The Blow Fish or Puffer, Tetradon maculatus, (Figure 2) a
globi form-shaped fish / inflates its body when attacked. The body

Figure 1

The Pipe Fish Syngnathus fuscus (X. li)

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27

Figure 2

The Blow Fish (inflated) Tet radon ma culatus (Xl/3)

Figure 3

The Cling Fish CJofciesox strumosus (X3)

figure 4

The € omrrzon Sole Achirus fascia tus (Natural Size)

28,

is scaleloss, but possesses small spines which are most numerous be¬
tween the eyes and the back.

When in a group these fish are known to attack a. crab and kill
it by piercing its shell with their parrot-like teeth.

The eggs of the Blow Fish are produced in great numbers. The
fry when born are simi lar in shape to the adult. Several specimens
which varied in length from 140 mm. to 225 nrm were observed last
s urane r .

The Cling Fish, Gobiesox strumosus, (Figure 3) is a tadpole¬
shaped fish possessing on the ventral part of its body a sucking
disk which helps it to cling to rock, shells, and the like. This
sucking disk is not derived from modified fins but from the folds
of the skin and underlying muscles. After the Great Storm last
summer the Cling Fish was very abundant at Cove Point in small pools
along the shores. The specimens collected were about 20 mm. in
length and had sucking disks 7mm. wide.

The Common Sole, Achirus fasciatus, (Figure 4) is known also
as the Aeroplane "Fish because of its free undulating motion through
the water. It is a member of the Keteros omata , a suborder consist¬
ing mostly of "shore" fishes. The body is flattened from side to
side. When born the fry have the eyes on each side of the body, as
do other fishes, but as the young fish grows, one eye migrates over
the top of the skull and places itself close to the other, while the
fish continues its life reclining on one side.

The spawning takes place in the late spring. The female, about
165 mm. in length, contains in her ovaries approximately 54,000 eggs.
Several of this species were observed last summer at Cove Point.

These specimens ranged in length from 60 mm. to 85 mm.

WILD FERNS IN THE GARDEN
By Earl H. Palmer

In your rambling walks in the woodlands, how often have you
wished to bring back a bit of Nature's most delicate and perfect
leaf-work - the Filicales (True ferns). They look very fragile as
they grow In the shade of a group of trees, hut, contrary to appear¬
ance, they can be successfully transplanted with correct handling.

An American Fern Journal says that the best time to transplant
ferns is in late spring or early summer. I have had excellent succes
with ferns transplanted in July and August. In any event, it is host
to transplant them when the fronds are reaching maturity, since this
gives one an idea of the size of the plant and, consequent ly , of the
receptacle needed.

I once read, "Give ferns what they need, and as they need it , and
they will amply repay all your cares." No statement says so much in
so few words, plant your specimen in as nearly the same manner as

29.

you found it; if the? or own is atovo the surface, as the Dryppteris
marginalia, do not cover it with an inch of dirt; do not plant the
creeping rhizome of the Os nun da cinnamonoa; if the fern is growing
in the shade, do not place it in a direct sun-light. Most all the
Filica les show preference for rich loan.

In digging the fern plant start several inches from the base
of the outermost frond. Once the earth has been broken use your
hands to remove it - the fingers are more sensitive than a trowel
and the chances of injuring the rhizome are less. Wash off as much
superfluous dirt as is possible a pd wrap the whole p lant in damp
moss or wet newspaper. After the fern has been transplanted, cut
off all broken fronds and keep the freshly planted Filicale well
moist .

Most of the ferns
lat iusculum, Onoclea se
teris pa lust ri 3.

Marginal Shield Fern
(Leather Woodfern)
Dryopteris marginal!

are suitable for home gardens except Pteridium
nsibilis, Dennstedtia punetilobula and Dwyop-

NOTES

Lecture - On January 30, Dr. Joseph L, Wheeler, Librarian of the
EnochT'ratt Library, delivered a very interesting lecture at the head
Quarters of the Society. In this lecture, entitled "Natural History
and the Library," Dr. Wheeler pointed out the important work the
Library was doing in bringing to the notice of the public the best-
literature on Natural History. One special means of doing this i s by
Science Booklists, embracing most of the Natural Sciences. These may
be procured at the Library,

W eekly Talks

January 9 - Mr. Richard E. Stearns of the Department of Archae¬
ology spoke about the importance of pattern designs on pottery in
the identification of village sites.

January IS - An interesting talk concerning observations made on

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the metamorphosis of the noth, Sonia cecropia, was given by Mr. Edgar
E. Gretsky of the Department of Entonology. Sane very fine original
drawings of the various stages of this noth ' s life history were
shown .

January 23 - "Some Fresh Water Fish of the Fanilies Oyprinidae,
Cottidae, Cent rarohidae , and poeciliidae" was the subject of a talk
by Mr, Frank Mingling of the Departnent of Marine Research. Mr,
Mingling spoke especially about fish found in the Chesapeake Bay.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

January 16 ' - Mr. Elra M. Fa iner , Curator of the Departnent of
Education, delivered a lecture to the Natural History Section of the
private School Association. The subject of Mr. palmer's talk was
"Ways and Means to Interest Moung People in Natural History."

January 19 - A lecture on the "Japanese Beetle" was given to
Troop R3, B.S.A., Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Gwynn Oak Avenue,
by Mr. Eugene R. Polacek of the Departnent of Entonology.

January 21 - "Mature Trails in the Spring" was the subject of a
lecture given by Mr. Edmund B, Fla dung, president of the Society, to
the Moung People's Club of the c lift on M. E. Church.

January 23 - Mr. Harry 0. Robertson, Curator of the Department
of Herpetology, delivered four lectures to the Science Department of
the Baltimore City College. His subject was "Maryland Snakes and How
to Identify the Poisonous Ones."

Junior Meeting - The monthly meeting of the Junior Division was
held on January 27. The most important feature of the evening was
a lecture by Mr. Francis O'Rourke entitled "The United States plant
Quarantine . "

Exhibit - An exhibit of nature photographs was held in conjunc¬
tion with the Hobby Club of the M.M.C.A. on January 1 and 2 at the
Central M.M.C.A. Building.

Trustees Meeting - The quarterly meeting of the B^ard of
Trustees was held on January 13. The business transacted included
the appointment of a Nominating Committee since the terms of three
Trustees expire on February 28, and the appointment of a Budget
Committee to draw' up the budget for our coming fiscal year, com¬
mencing March 1, 1934. The Nominating Committee consists of Mr.

A. Llewellyn Jones, chairman, Mr. John Calder, and Mr. Elra M. ?? liner;
the Budget Committee, of Mr, Edmund B. Fladung, chairman, Mr. Edward
McOolgan, and Mr. Gilbert 0. Klingel.

As this year is the fifth anniversary of the Society, the
Trustees decided to have a ceremony befitting the occasion, and
plans are being made accordingly. Mr. Elra M. Palmer was appointed
chairman of the Fifth Anniversary Committee, which consists of all
the Trustees,

Collection Donated - A collection of Miocene Fossils was given
to the State 'Normal School . This is another phase of the Society's
work, which will be extended as duplicate material accumulates.

Other requests for such collections have been received by the De¬
partment of paleontology and are now being filled.

Other Meetings

Paleontology - January 8 and 15, the semi-monthly meetings of
the Department" of paleont ologv .

Ent omology - January 31, the first special weakly meeting of
this department. This department has reorganized its work and will
hold a special meeting every Wednesday evening.

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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

- - 'lb ,

((* JUL 1

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1 18*

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Volume IV

FEBRUARY , 1934
Herbert C. Moore , Editor

Number 6

AFTER FIVE YEARS
By Edmund B. Fladung

President, The Natural History Society of Maryland

It is now five years since the Natural History Society of Mary¬
land was organized. During this period the activities of the
Society have increased steadily in their usefulness to this commu¬
nity.

The mission of our Society is to bring to as many persons as
possible the Natural History of Maryland. The chart accompanying
thi3 article gives some idea of the steady growth and progress of
this Society from year to year.

MEMBERSHIP There were eight gentlemen who organized the
Natural' 'History Society of Maryland. The organizers in drawing up
their constitution and by-laws laid particular stress on a high
type of membership. In consequence, the growth in members has been
slower perhaps, than in many other societies; nevertheless we have
developed from our members a very large number of interested staff
workers. The fruits of such a rigid constitution- resulted in a
Board of Trustees, seriously and intensely interested in Natural
History. All of the seven Trustees are working in one or more of
our departments and six of these seven are heads of departments.

Of the original eight founders, after five years, three are
Trustees, four are heads of departments and two are connected with
some department. This illustrates the sincerity of the founders
and the interest that our members have in our work.

The qualification for Junior membership is even more rigid.
Before a Junior is admitted to membership he must read a paper or
deliver a talk on some original work done by himself in one of the
many branches of Natural History. Therefore we have only interested
and trained young men, who after a time are taken up by department

32,

heads and placed upon their respective staffs. To date two of these
Juniors after becoming of age have become Senior members, and twelve
others are now working in various departments.

MI jHTS OPEN AND ATTENDANCE The original plan of the organiza¬
tion was to have ''Tuesday evening of each week for general assembly
and lectures. The Society was to be closed only when important
holidays came upon a Tuesday. Usually the members of the staff
were engaged in field work on these holidays. After a time this
plan had to be modified because of tbe many activities which com¬
pelled the opening of the Society on other than Tuesday evenings.

One of the reasons was that the members of the Junior Division have
a special evening each month assigned them. Other evenings have
developed for Various departments and staff workers.

It may be seen by tbe accompanying chart that at the end of
February, 1930, we had 24 members, with 49 assembly evenings and
335 persons attending, whereas at the end of February, 1934, we bad
82 members with 99 assembly evenings and 1901 persons attending,

I EP ART HUNTS AMD STAFF T7CRKERS In the year 1929-1930 the
Trustee's installed 5 departments and had 7 staff workers. The de¬
partments were j Geology , Entomology, Herpetology, Ornithology, and
the Library. The? following year Conohology was added, and in the
year 1931-32 a Department of Archaeology and a Department of Educa¬
tion and Publication. The staff was increased to 20 workers and in
the year1 1932-33 to 30 workers.

During the past year (1933-34) the Trustees deemed it necessary
to revise and reorganize our departments, since the interest in the
Society had expanded to such an extent that there v;as an overlap¬
ping in some departments and many new activities were being inaugu¬
rated. This necessitated the dividing of the Department of Zoology
into two separate departments, one of Kinera iologv and another1 of
Paleontology. The same condition caused the Department of Education
and Publication to be divided in like manner; that is, a separate
Department of Education whi"h embraces the lectures, exhibitions
and the Junior division, and a Department of Publication, whi"h
assumes c omplete control of all of the publications of the Society.

The Department of Ooncholcgy was fused into the Department of
Marine Research, a new activity . A Department of Botany, also a new
activity of the Society, 'was inaugurated. At present we have 11
departments , namely* Mineralology , paleontology, Botany, Marine
Research , Entomology, Herpetology, Ornithology , Archaeology, Educa¬
tion, Publication, and the Library. Attached to these 11 department
are 38 staff workers, including the curators in ‘"barge.

LECTURES The lecture service in the Society is divided into
three captions* monthly lectures at which guests are invited, weekly
talks or demonstrations for members only, and lectures t ■> outside
organ izati ons .

At first the monthly lecture's were given during the fall and
winter months, but in our fourth y ar they were continued into the
spring months. This year there were two lectures during the month
instead of the usual one. A total of 50 lectures was given over a

period of five years. Many of these lectures were ty noted non of
Science outside of the organization, but the majority were by our
own staff.

TALKS AND DEMONSTRATIONS In the midyear of 1932-1933 it was de¬
cided to instiTuLo' a series of informal talks or demonstrations on
some phase of Natural History. These talks were held every evening,
except those evenings on which there was to be a formal lecture . So
far 4R of these talks have been given, 36 in this last year.

LECTURES OUTSIDE OF THE SP3IETY Since its organization the
Society has been called upon by schools, church clubs, lodges, boy
scout troops, and societies to give lectures upon Natural History.
Nearly all of the lectures wore- illustrated with lantern slides,
photographs, motion pictures, and live specimens. .Of’ a' total df 69
lectures, 4 were given in 1929-1930, 12 in 1950-1931, R in 1931-1932,
15 in 1932-1933, and 30 in 1933-1934. It will he noted that 43/ of
the lectures were delivered in our fifth year.

An exact record of attendance was kept of the number of persons
contacted through this medium. If one studies the chart, it will he
seen how popular these lectures have become. Whereas in 1929-1930
the attendance registered 231, in 1930-1931 it registered 591, or
an increase of over 155/* In 1931-1932 there was a slight decrease
which was made up the following year (1932-1933) to 1353 persons.

This last year (1933-1934) the attendance has Increased to 3712 or
174/ over the previous year or 1500/ over the first year. These
figures show how our Society is carrying its mission to the people
of our City and State, and how well it is being received.

EXHIBITIONS In 1931-1932 we inaugurated our first public exhi¬
bition. Since then we have had R exhibitions each year, or to date
17 exhibitions in all. These exhibit i mis do not include the exhibits
at the Enoch Pratt Library which were inaugurated over a year ago,
arid are in the nature of permanent displays.

These exhibitions covered a wide range ~>f subjects, but all on
Maryland Natural History. Among the exhibits Were two on nature
photography, one of which was at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the
other at the Maryland Institute. Other exhibits were at various
public high schools of the City and State, at scout troops, and a
number were as window displays at the Enoch Pratt Library. At time;

■ n j un c t i o n w i t h vari bus s t u d i r- s i n t h e

+ l

these exhibits were held in
Co jol-s .

This phase cf our work is yet in its infancy and we hope to be
in a position shortly to have a series of rotating exhibits for
schools and branch libraries.

Two interesting exhibitions worthy of mention were held by cur
Junior Division, one last year and another this year. At both of
these exhibits there were large crowds. The exhibits were only for
the evening, from R to 10 p.M. One hundred and seventy-seven per¬
sons attended the one in the year 1932-1933, and two hundred and
twenty-five persons in 1933-1934. Many requests were received from
schools to have the exhibits in the afternoon as well as the evening,
ibis will be an annual feature which will be given more publicity
and- o on tinned over a longer period of time.

CHART SHOWING PROGRESS FOR THE FAST FIVE YEARS.

ORGANIZATION

1st year
1929-30

i

2nd y^ar
1950-31

3rd year
1931-32

4th year
1932-33

5th year
1933-34

MEMBERS

24

34

50

64

32

NIGHTS OPEN

49

57

60

76

99

ATTENDANCE

REGISTERED

535

371

592

1423

1901

ACTIVE

DEPARTMENTS

6

r>

8

11

ACTIVE STAFF
WORKERS

ry

(

7

2 0

30

38

ACTIVITIES

LECTURES AT

THE SOCIETY

6

5

8

f

13

18

LECTURES OUT-
| SIDE SOCIETY

j

4

12

8

15

30

INFORMAL TALKS
& DEMONSTRA¬
TIONS AT society

-

-

-

12

36

TOTAL OF ALL

lectures

1

10

17

16

40

84

PERSONS

ATTENDING

231

591

499

1353

3712

EXHIBITIONS
OUTSIDE OF
SOCIETY

-

-

1

r>

o

8

ARTICLES PUB¬
LISHED IN VA¬
RIOUS PERIODI¬
CALS

-

8

18

15

2 5

PUBLICATIONS

ISSUED

2

3

'Z

3

3

collections

GI YEN

_

. . 1 '

- - — _ _ i _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1

!

34.

The exhibits at the Enoch Pratt Library (central Branch) have
been on display for a year. They are only temporary. The permanent
exhibits are now under construct ion and will present a series of
demonstrative exhibits as an aid to the fundamentals of Natural
Hist ory .

FUhLIGATIQNS For lack of funds this branch of our Work has not
been "as" extensive as we should like; nevertheless we have been able to
publish within the past years four transactions, four annual reports,
one guide leaflet and four volumes of our bulletin. This work we are
prepared to extend; in fact , a number of transactions are ready for
publication as soon as funds are available.

Aside from the above publications we published ap articles in
various periodicals in the country. These articles appeared in
Natural History, National Geographic, The London Times, Naturens
Vidundore, Nature Magazine, Novitates cf the American Museum, The
Auk, The Sunday Sun Magazine, The Sunday Sun Photogravure Section,
Th e M ' in i e i pa 1 Jou rna 1 a n d a n umt er of s ehool papers.

CLLEGTI0N3 TO BE GIVEN TO SCHOOLS

t i v i ty in" the s C7T

This is the most recent a c -
pec linens accumulate, it is our

iet y . As du pi: irate

intention to make collections and give them to schools where Nature
Study is being taught. So far we have donated hut one of these
collect ions , consisting of Miocene fossils, the recipient of which was
the State Normal School at Tew son. This work will he continued as
material is a o cumulated.

IN CONCLUSION Our Society has four definite mediums by which we
^eaoh t.fre pubTTc rf Bo It imore city and the ".aunties; namely, lectures,
oxhit itj. ons , publications and the donation of collections to schools.
Dur lecture service promises to be more sought after this year than
ever and at the present writing there are three lectures scheduled
for the month of March which will be attended by approximately 1300
persons i The exhibits given to the State Normal Schools are being
viewed ty SCO students. This method cf reaching students -is one of
one rest. First of all) it is permanent; secondly, there are always
new students entering the school each year; and lastly, when their
studies refer to the exhibits, the subject becomes doubly interesting.

From, our activities of the past five years, some approximate
figures may be gleaned of the- amount of persons contacted through
tnr- above mentioned mediums, and after a careful survey the follow¬
ing figures have been °cnpilel; by 1-.. "Mures - S?3A persons, by exhi¬
bit] ons - 107514 persons, by publications - 52 34 persons, and by
exhibits donated - 2.CC persons, or a total of 117504 persons within
the past five years. These figures are very conservative.

ORIENT LFI ACTIVITIES In our scientific work we have been making
n cntinuaT advancement . This rr ogress has been attained by the f i eld
work of our enthusiastic staff, Fifty percent of the Society’s work
has been in the field. To date 5395 days have been spent collecting
and studying the Natural History of cur State. Every week some partie.
are in the field, and in the spring, summer, and fall all departments

are engaged i n this na nn e i • .

it would he difficult to enumerate the many field trips and the
Vt. salts attained , but an idea can be had of the most important.

. -s';

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In t&ia field of HERPETOLOGY two important expeditions wore c on -
lusted, one to Haiti ancT SanTo^oming o , and the other to Greater
Inagua Island. Ry the latter expedition, a "'onplete Rerpet ologioal
and Geographical survey was made of the Island of Greater Inagua,
one new genus of lizard was discovered as well as three new species
and one new sub-species. On the expedition to Haiti the first notion
picture was made of the giant Rhinoceros Iguana , an inhabitant of
the Island of La Petite Gonaves. Also, for the first tine, the life
histories of the lizards of the Genus Ariel va were worked out . In
addition , this department has made a ''heck list of Maryland snakes,
with some species not previously recorded in this range.

The Department of PALEONTOLOGY has had two very important ex¬
peditions, the St. Ma ry 1 s Expedition which extended over a period
of 14 days, and the Southern Maryland Expedition which covered a
period of hi days. Both of these expeditions have resulted in a
very fine collection of Miocene fossils, among which are three very
rare whale skulls, three whale mandibles, two new species of fossil
? r a c s a n d s e v e r a 1 n ew s p e c i e s of moll u s k s .

T re Department of CRNITHOLDGY has been working on a check list
of Maryland birds, and has accumulated a large collection of bird J
photographs with notes on arrivals and nesting dates. The depart¬
ment has been conducting a bird banding station and to date 273 birds
have been banded. An expediti on was made to j obbs Island to study
nesting habits of terns, gulls, and black skinners, arid a survey was
made of the osprey population of the Chesapeake pay.

For study and exhibition a collection of mounted birds and bird

3 xxns is r.eir.g made. Rome of the birds as Well as
now or, exhibition at the Enoch Pratt Libra rv.

one manna Is are

We now nave a large "■ olio rt ion of Indian implements and pottery
m our Department of ARCHAEOLOGY. The department’s most valuable
work is the mapping of Indian village sites of Maryland which are
gradually being obliterated. This work is being conducted in re¬

ar ds

>f

nation regarding the Indian
during Oolonial times.

calitv in correlation with the known inf or -

tribes of the coastal plain region

The Department of ENTOMOLOGY has now a represents t i ve collection
o i Ma ry la n d 1 n s e e t s , as w e ITT "as a ' ompa ra t i ve c oil e c ti on of e x o t i **
insects, and a nearly complete collect! on of Maryland Rhopalooera
\ ( "y t erf lies ) . In conjunction with the butterflies a check list is
being prepared and is almost ready for publication.

The first underwater exploration of the Chesapeake Pay was made
by our Department of MARINE RES EAR. LH. This department is making a
survey - of underwater life of The cffesa peaks , and although a new

depart merit , it has gathered a fair amount of material with copious
n at .

The Department of MINERALOGY has added two new specimens to the
min era j.s of Maryland and i's'now re vi sing the check list of Maryland
minerals, with special notes on their fluorescence and luminescence .
k j.a rge study collection of Maryland minerals is also being pi’epared.

has conducted many field trips . but the nest impor¬
tant was

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The no st recent department in the Society is our Department of
BOTANY, tut nevertheless it is doing some very important work. He-
saagpE in the PH values of soil in regards to the cultivation of
Maryland wild flowers is being conducted, and a herbarium of wild
flowers and plants of an area adjoining Baltimore is being made. So
far we have a rather complete collection of Maryland Ferns as well as
a large collection of colored photographs of Maryland fungi .

AN AFTER THOUGHT After careful thought and study of the amount
of activities and work done, especially when one considers that all
is being done gratis by a staff that gives valuable time, as well
as funds to carry on this important work, it is evident that the
past five years have been very fruitful. We are endeavoring to make
our results available to the public as soon as funds are forthcoming,
but in the meantime we are planning a further extension of our v/ork,
and to that end we are enlarging our program.

Lecture - Qn February 20, the Society had the pleasure of hear¬
ing a rather unique lecture by Mr. filbert 0. Klihgel, curator of
Marine Research and Mr. Harry M. Zachary, Assistant Curator, entitled
,! Exploring the bottom of the Chesapeake.” The lecture was well il¬
lustrated with lantern slides.

Weekly Talks

February A' - Mr. John B . Gaidar of the Department of paleon¬
tology spoke or: the organization and work of this department.

February 13 - Mr. Joseph White of the Department of Botany spoke
about work done in this recently organized department.

February 27 - ,! perns and Their Mythology” was the subject of a
short talk by Mr. Earl H. Palmer, of the Department of Botany.

Le o t nr es t o s 1 do 0 r-ga n i za t i s

Or: February ' Mr . Earl F . 'Calmer, gave a lecture entitled
"Fossils” to the 3rd Trade of the campus Demonstration School at
The 3 1 a t o N o r ma 1 School, T ow s on .

Mr. Harry G. Robertson, Curator of Herpetology gave a lecture
on "Reptiles" at the Baltimore City College. The lecture was il¬
lustrated with live specimens .

Junior Meeting - The monthly meeting of the Junior Division was
held on February 24 . The lecture of Mr. Rlingel and Mr. Zachary -
"Exploring the Bottom of the Chesapeake" - 'was repeated for the
Juniors. commencing with the month of March the Junior Division will
have two meetings each month, on the first Saturday of each month
and on the third Saturday of the month.

Sta_f f Meeting - The semi-annual meeting of the Staff was held on
Feb rue ry ~I6T “Flans for the anniversary celebration were discussed,
as well as those relating to the spring and summer activities.

Departmental Meetings - 3n February 7, 14, 21, and 26, the De¬
partment of En tono logy" hfeTd its weekly meetings.

The Department of Paleontology held its semi-monthly meetings
on February 12 and 19:

The Department of Botany held its first reorganization meeting
on February 23. Hereafter this department will hold its meetings on
the first and third Frida vs of each month.

The Natural History

WOOD WARBLERS OF MARYLAND
(Family corapsothlypidae)

By Irving E. Rampe

There are about 160 species of wood warblers known, forty-
four of which are found in the United States during migration,
most of which breed here. With a few exceptions they are insec¬
tivorous, and are therefore migratory. With the first warm days
of spring these exquisite birds may be observed migrating to their
breeding grounds. To the inexperienced bird student they form one
of the most difficult groups to identify. Small, usually on the
move, they give the student very little opportunity to observe
them. During the spring migration when they are breeding, most of
them, especially the males, are of brighter plumage. At this time
they appear to be spots of sunlight dancing in and about the newly
developed foliage. As a rule they are arboreal, but some are
thicket haunting, and some are terrestrial.

About two-thirds of the forty-four mentioned above are found
In the Eastern States during migration. At the present time I
have recorded twenty-two species, most of them in the vicinity of
u-lena rtney , Maryland, in the Patapsco State Forest Reserve. Other
localities are noted in the following list.

It will be noted that most of the transient species were
observed during the spring migrations. In the fall they are far
less discernible due to the loss of the brilliant nuptial plumage,
and since this fall migration takes place while the trees are still
thickly foliaged. Thus it is difficult to observe and identify
these birds.

The young of these species are altricial; that is, born blind,
naked, and helpless. They are reared in the nest until their
juvenile plumage grows and their wings are capable of sustaining
them in flight. They are fed predigested food by the parents un¬
til they are able to digest their own food. The parents continue

KENTUCKY WARBLER

REDSTART

BLACK AMD WHITE
WARBLER

OVEN BIRD

feeding the young after they have left the nest, sometimes for a
period of one month.

The following notes cover observations during the years 1930
■through 1933. A list of the breeding species with my observations
follows ,

Maryland Yellow-throat ( G-eothlvpis trichas trichas)

- — f H X S' 1 r ~fs'"on o of the commonest species of the family

C-om-ps othlypidae observed in the State Forest Reserve. From May
1 to the latter part of September, one may find this inquisitive
creature flitting among the low bushes, giving voice to its
characteristic call note. It breeds during the latter part of
May. The nest is bulky, of strips of bark and leaves, lined with
grass or rootlets. It is located on or near the ground. The
clutch consists of three to five white eggs, each speckled with
rufous at the larger end.

Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

~~A pair was observed building a nest in a crotch of a sapling
on June 15, 1932. Several days later the nest was visited and
found to be deserted. Although a close watch was kept the pair
did not return. The nest was firmly woven in the crotch. The
materials used were strips of bark and plant down. This species
was observed from May 3 tr> September 15. The eggs of this species,
numbering four or five, are bluish white, spotted at the larger
end with brown.

Black and White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

‘“AT'c on s p l c u ou s c reepe r , rea d 1 1 v i den t i f i ed by its un us ua 1
habits. Very common after May 15 until late September. My notes
jlo not contain any record of nests observed during the breeding
period, but another observer gives May 30 as a nesting date when
he discovered a nest with four eggs in a knothole in a telegraph
pole. I examined this nest sometime later, but the young had
flown. The nest was made of strips of bark and grass loosely
packed in the knothole,

Louisiana Water Thrush (Seiurus motacilla)

_ ^ common summer "resident . Observed along the mill race at

jlena rtney, Maryland, and along nearby streams from May 1 to Octo¬
ber 1. Since it is a very shy bird, one seldom observes it unless
especially searching for it. The nesting date for one pair was
May 13, 1931. The nest of twigs and rootlets is usually located
under a bank near a stream. There are usually f our eggs, al¬
though I have recorded six from one nest. The eggs are white
spotted with distinct b r own markings.

Qvenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)

~ A ~ ommon summer resident. Usually observed on or near the
ground. Observed from May 8 to September 8. Although it is a
common bird in the vicinity of (Menartney , Maryland, I have
located but one nest, It was a bulky, roofed affair of grass
and ^ark fibers, located cn the ground. It contained five eggs
which were destroyed during a storm. The nest was located on a
steep hillside and was washed away.

40.

Kentucky Warbler (-Oporornis fornosus)

- ^Turing TT93T" I observed but one Kentucky Warbler at Glenartney,
Maryland. During 1932 they were fairly conmon from May 26 to
August 27. Their nests, always built on or near the ground, are
composed of twigs and rootlets firmly wrapped with several thick¬
nesses of leaves. Four to five eggs, coarsely blotched with brown,
are the usual clutch.

Ye How- breasted Chat (Icteria virens virens)

Although I' have" observed this species in various localities, I
have found it rather uncommon about Glenartney, Maryland. It
arrives about May 1, and is occasionally observed until the latter
part of August. The presence of juvenile birds proves this species
breeds in or near this locality.

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva aestiva)

An uncommon summer resident, although numerous during migra¬
tion. Observed from May 15 to September 18 c On May 15, 1933, I
discovered a nest of this species in a crotch of a small shrub about
eight feet from the ground on the bank of a small mill race; near
Avalon, Maryland. A pair of adult Yellow Warblers was nearby.

When I returned to this spot on thel8t.nl found the nest partially
dislodged. The birds were not observed, although I watched this
spot carefully on several later trips. The nest was a beautiful,

3 up shaped affair of plant fibers and grasses.

Northern Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus pious)

The fine Warbler is the first of the warblers to arrive in the
Glenartney, Maryland, area. About the first week in April I look
for them and have not been disappointed. They may be found in or
near the pine woods until the middle of the summer. My breeding
records for this species are incomplete and I hope to present more
complete notes after- the coming season.

Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor discolor)

The prairie Warbler is the latest addition to my list of the
Ccmpsothlypidae family. My records show only one observat i on, made
on Pune 11, 1933, at Cove P oint ,Ma ryland , where I observed a pair
feeding several nestlings that were barely able to fly. They were
unafraid and carried on their parental duties within a dozen feet
from where I stood. After being fed they hopped through the under¬
brush after the adult birds.

The following list is of transient species. The dates of
appearance are approximate. The locality is the same as noted be¬
fore - Glen a rt n e y , Ma r y la nd ,

Yellow Palm Warbler (Dendroica pa Inarum hypochrysea)

Un c onm on migrant. Date, April 19,

Myrtle Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

Common migrant. Date, April 26. During the winter of 1951-
1932 a small flock wintered along the Patapsco River and was
observed nearly every week-end from late October to April,

41.

Magnolia Warbler ( Dendroica nagnolia )

Common migrant . Date, Kay 3.

Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica cast enea)

Common migrant.' Date, May 17.

falaokpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

“Common spring migrant. Date, May 23.

Uncommon fall migrant. Date, October 16,

Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina)

Uncommon migrant . Date, May 13,

Bla ck-th roated Blue Warbler (Dendroica cae rule scens caerulescens )

Common spring migrant. Date, Kay 23. Males observed at first;
females usually arrive about one week later.

Uncommon fall migrant . Date, September 18. Both sexes appear
at same time during this migration.

Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca)

Common spring migrant in 1935. Date, May 13.

Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens virens)

1 Common spring migrant in 1935. Date, May 15 .

Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla pusi 11a )

Common spring migrant. Date, May 17.

Canadian Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

Common spring migrant. Date, May 17,

Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina)

n— Sp r j_ n g migrant. Date, May 8.

To the student of ornithology the study of the life histories
of the Comps othlypidae is of unusual interest. The notes recorded
above have aroused my interest to such an extent that I am. under¬
taking a further and more complete study of this family.

SPRING BURNING DESTROYS WILDLIFE

It is very unfortunate that the landowners and tenants of our
state, as a rule, annually burn over areas on their property of
brush, weeds , etc., especially during the spring season. This
spring burning is one of the most destructive agents to wildlife
and especially to all ground-nesting birds and animals. Great
destruction is also caused by carelessness of those in charge of
oh e ■ burnings , by allowing the fire to get away from them, often
damaging their neighbor1 s property. We have annually pointed put
to the public the destructiveness of spring burning. However,
many believe that the burning causes grass to grow quicker . The
scientific experts on agriculture have repeatedly shown that it
does not and that the fire often destroys the roots and In all
cases weakens the plant. Hence, spring burning defeats the pur¬
pose the landowner would have it serve.

S p r in gpptmr n. ing-.-oie u.t roj s ja t in g o ove i -s- ,

nest s and 3roung and

V

.1 . . i

42 #

often mother birds upon them, and baby cotton-tail rabbits are
destroyed in tbeir nests. If you have dense broom-sedge growth
that you feel needs burning, then it should be under careful super¬
vision and only thinned out, leaving patches for nesting birds, as
small patches of thin growth of broom-sedge are very desirable as
nesting areas for bob -white.

If you desire to eliminate weeds and broom-sedge from your
areas, plowing is by far the best means and if the area is not
planted in crops, now growth w ill come back and furnish food and
cover for the following Fall and Winter for wildlife.

If you anticipate cutting over your area this spring, by all
means use the famous "flushing bar", which is a very simple arrange¬
ment--- — take a long pole and lash it to the yoke and extending to
the right, in front of the flushing bar, draping the pole with
burlap sacks, using stone or iron to weight the sacks at the bottom
or ropes attached to the pole with iron at bottom as weight. in
this manner, birds or animals either nesting or feeding on the area
will be flushed before the cutting blade reaches the point where
the bird or animal is. Wherever this system has been used,
thousands of birds and small animals have been saved,

Maryland, without a question of doubt, has the best muskrat
areas of the Atlantic Coast. The entire Chesapeake Bay country
furnishes excellent breeding areas for Maryland's famous black
muskrat and a great many of the marshland owners have a habit of
burning these areas annually which is very detrimental indeed to
this great little fur-bearing animal, oftimes destroying their
homes and we advise if you desire to eliminate certain homes on
your marshes, tear them down instead of burning the area. The
turning of these marsh areas is also very destructive to the nest¬
ing areas of the famous black duck and blue-winged teal which
breed i-n the muskrat marshes.

E. Lee LeCompte, State Game Warden of Maryland

NOTES

Fifth Anniversary Meeting

The Fifth Anniversary Meeting of the Society was held in
the large assembly room of the Enoch Pratt Library on the evening
of March 27. The two hundred and seventy people present enjoyed
a very instructive program arranged by the chairman, Elra M. Palmer,
featuring an interesting illustrated lecture entitled "Travels of
a Naturalist in Haiti and the Dominican Republic" by Dr. Alexander
Wet more , Director of the United States National Museum. Interest¬
ing shorter talks were given by Dr. Joseph L. Wheeler, Librarian
of the Enoch Pratt Library, who spoke of "The Library and the
Natural History Society," by Dr. J. Carey Taylor, Superintendent
of Secondary Education of the Baltimore Public Schools, who spoke
on "The Possible Value of a Natural History Organization to the
School System," and by Edmund B. Fladung, President of the Society,
whose subject "After Five Years" embraced the history, work, and
aims of th o organise t i on .

hfc $

Meetings of the Society

March 3 Junior Me e t i ng , Talk by Ned Crosby entitled" Prac¬
tical Applications of Fluorescence,”

March 6 - General Assembly. Talk by Albert Rubens te in - "Semi¬
precious Stones in Relation to Archaeology," Illustrated,

March 13 - General Assembly, Talk by 17. B .Tyrrell - "The
Starlings as a Menace."

March 17 - Junior Meeting. Talk by Earl Palmer - "Preservation
of Botanical Material,”

March 29 - Annual Meeting. Departmental reports read by
curators of various departments. Programs for coming year outlined.

March 27 - Fifth Anniversary Meeting. (Reported elsewhere).

Departmental Meetings

March 7 and 14. Entomology .

Ma rch 12 and 2 6. pa le ont ol ogv .

Lectures to Outside Organizations

March I - &tate N orna 1 "School ~aT''T ow s on . Lecture by Elra M.
Palmer - "interesting Young People in Natural History, Discussed
from a Teacher's Point of View." illustrated,

March 2 - Gilman Country School. Lecture by Elra M. Palmer -
"In Quest of Natural History." Illustrated.

March 4 - Young Peoples' Guild, First Unitarian Church .

Lecture by Robert Wheeler - "Fossils of Maryland." illustrated.

March 15 - Gilman Country School. Lecture by Elra M. Palmer -
"Collecting in the Various Fields of Natural History." illustrated.

March 15,16,19,29,21,22,28 - Baltimore City college. Sixteen
lectures to different groups by Richard Webster- - "insects Repre¬
sentative of Various Orders , Mimicry, coloration."

March 22 ~ Scout Troop 39. Lecture by Eugene R. Polacek -
"Life Histories of the Mosquito and Silk Worm. "

Exh ibit ions

Ma rch T2 ~26 . Exhibition of Indian Artifacts in connection
with the Maryland Tercentenary exhibits at the Enoch Pratt Library.
The feature of the exhibit was the model of an old Maryland Indian
village by Richard E- Stearns and Milton T. Dior of the Department
of Archaeology.

March 26 - April 14. Exhibit at Enoch Pratt Library featuring
Maryland trees. H e id in connection with Arbor Day. Also another
exhibit at the Enoch Pratt .Library - featuring Maryland spring birds.

March 27 - Exhibition of Nature Photographs at Enoch Pratt
Library in connection with Fifth Anniversary Celebration of the
Society .

School Service

March 16 - Bryn Mawr School. Identification of Minerals and
Fossils .

March 15 - Gift Collection of Miocene fossils of Maryland to
Gilman Country School.

Save your copies of the Bulletin, Upon the completion of
Volume IV in September, 1934, printed folders will be distributed
to those who request them. Also, the final issue of Volume IV
will contain an index of all the articles published in the Volume.
The Bulletin may be bound and preserved in book form.

The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume IV

APRIL , 1934

Herbert C. Moore , Editor

Number 8

MARYLAND CACTI
By Charles Svec

When the v/ord cactus is mentioned one’s mind naturally turns
to the semi-deserts of the Southwest, Mexico, or the country of
the Andes in South America. Yet if we are observant as we roam
about in the more barren fields of Maryland, we shall find many
cacti, especially in Southern Maryland and on the barren mountain
tops. If we happen to be doing our wandering in June or July we
do not have to be so observant, for the large, golden, waxy
blossoms, rivaled in beauty only by the orchid, stand out to mark
the existence of the lowly weed so cursed by man and avoided by
beast. This bloom is only t o be admired from a distance. The
plant seems to resent its curse and challenges anyone to touch its
blossom. If you do, you will spend many days trying to remove the

Opuntia opuntia

45.

tiny spinas from your hand*

All cacti found in Maryland are Opuntia - Opuntia opuntia,
Opuntia humif usa , and others. They are all very closely related
and only the trained eye can tell the difference, so let us call
them prickly pears or Indian figs. They are a 1 ow -growing , spread¬
ing plant, often forming clumps three feet across. Immediately
attached to the root is a so called "pad”. Along the margin of
this pad other pads will grow , and the following year other pads
will grow on these pads. Eventually the plant becomes u op heavy
and topples over. 'Where pads come in contact with the soil they
root and thus the cactus spreads .

In the late winter the fruit becomes ripe. It resembles a
fig in appearance and has a sweet, slimy taste. The flesh is then
a beautiful red. If the Indians still existed here they could
tell us how to make some tempting wholesome dishes from this fruit.

Anyone interested in the wonders of nature should plant a few
prickly pear seeds in a box of sand and loam. To see a cactus
sprouting is most fascinating. First come two seed leaves like
any other plant. Thee the little fuzzy ball begins to form be¬
tween the leaves. In a few months a pad is formed and the seed
leaves drop off. Then we have a full fledged cactus.

Practically all cacti, wherever found, have little or no
disease. Their greatest enemy is rot. This is especially true
of desert cacti. Our wet winters would quickly destroy them.

Nature has taken care of our prickly pear, however. In winter
when the ground is either frozen or soaking wet, this plant as¬
sumes a shrivelled and dead looking appearance and refuses to
take moisture.

EARLY SPRING FLOWERS
By Joseph C. "White

In the spring when the early flowers appear, the c ount ry is
at its peak of beauty, and the new leaves have a fresher and
prettier green color than at any other time of the year. After
the flowerless winter, they appeal to us especially, perhaps more
than in any other season. There are so many species of plants in
bloom at this time of the year it would be a very difficult task
f or anyone to observe them all in one season , so let us take one
location and see what is there.

About one mile above Orange Grove, Maryland, on the patapseo
River, is a small stream that wanders up through the hills back
into the country. Let us walk to this place anytime around the
last of April or the first of May. The Laurel is growing here and
there over the upper parts of the hills among the trees, and in the
shady, damp spots you will see mosses and lichens, and on the bank
the remains of Christmas Ferns from the past summer. Along the
stream in marshy spots will be seen clumps of Skunk Cabbage
( Symplocarpus f'aetious). At this time the plant is only about
nine inches high, and by pulling apart the leaves, the hidden
spadix may be seen.

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Dog-Toothed Violet

Early Saxifrage

47.

Looking above the high water-nark of the stream one will see
plants of the Wild Ginger (Asa rum canadense) scattered here and
there in cool, damp, shady spots. This is another plant at which
one must look twice to see the dull brown flower. It grows at
the base of the plant and is very inconspicuous in color.

The May Apples (podophyllum peltatum) as usual are present in
large numbers, furnishing blankets of green over most of the sur«- ■
rounding hillsides. The white flowers will not appear yet f or a
few weeks. A plot of those plants looks very much like a forest
of palm trees, making damp, shady spots, where later in the season
the Broom-rape ( Orobanche uniflora) will grow in plenty.

Among the May Apples you will see the Hepatica (Repatica
triloba). At this time of the year the flowers are starting to
wane , but the. ones that remain seem to be larger and more brilliant
in color than the early blossoms. Another favorable habitat of
this plant is the old leaves upon the ground, and in early spring
all you can see above them are the flowers . Some blossoms are
white and other lavender, while others are a combination of the two.

All along the lower parts of the hills, close to the stream
one will see many ' D og -Toothed Violets (Erythroniun anericanium) .

The golden-yellow, lily-like flowers are very conspicuous, and the
two basal leaves are green with reddish-brown markings. Growing
near the Dog-Toothed Violets is the Spring Beauty (clavt onia
virginica) with the pink and white flowers . These two flowers
make a very pretty floral display.

Scattered over the hillsides will be seen the Early Saxifrage
(Saxifrage virginiensi s) . This plant grows everywhere in profusion.
Although the white flowers are very small, they add greatly to
nature's picture.

If one were to visit this spot just one month later he would
see an entirely different scene, for many other flowers would bo in
bloom.

NOTES

Trustees Meeting

Tli e~q uaTr t e r 1 y a s well as the annual meeting of the Board of
Trustees was held on April 1, 1934. In addition to the routine
business of the Board, the reelected trustees, Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel,
Mr. Edward McColgan, and Mr. Herbert C . Moore, and the reelected
officers, Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, president, Mr. Gilbert C . Klingel,
vice-president, Mr. Elra M . Palmer, secretary, and Mr, Edward McColgan,
treasurer, were installed.

The most important business of the meeting related to the ex¬
tension and enlargement of the program for the coming year.

Meetings of the Society

On AprIT'TO, the SocTeTy had the pleasure of hearing an in¬
teresting lecture by Dr. R. V. Truitt entitled "The Blue Crab of the
Chesapeake Bay." The lecture was illustrated by motion pictures,
some of which had been taken by Mr. Gilbert Klingel of our Depart¬
ment of Marine Research.

48.

On April 24, Mr. Daniol Shipley presented a very delightful
lecture , the subject of which was "Nat’i^e Wild Flowers and Shrubs."

April 3 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Milton Olor -
"'Indians of Maryland." Illustrated.

April 17 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Sira M. Palmer -
"Carnivorous* plants of Maryland." Illustrated.

April 7 - Junior Meeting. Talk by Richard Webster - "Work
of the Department of Entomology."

April 21 - junior Meeting. Short talks by John Lutraan - "The
Periwinkles," Clyde Reed - "'Winter Fungi," and I,. Znaimerososki -
"Calcium and Its Compounds." These talks were illustrated with
specimens .

Departmen ta 1 Meetings

April 173" and 2T". WdTFa n y

April 7, 11, 18, 2 5. Entomology

April 25. Ornithology

April 9, 23. Paleontology

Exhibitions

April 11-2 5. Exhibition of nature photographs of mammals,
birds, reptiles, bat ra chians , insects, and plants at the Gilman
Country School.

April 4-8. Exhibit at the Baltimore Flower Show depicting a
forest scene in early spring with plants, birds, insects, and
reptiles of the season. This exhibit attracted much attention and
the officers of the Flower Show have requested the Society to pre¬
pare a similar exhibit for next year's Flower Show.

April 16-30. Exhibit at the Enoch Pratt Librarjr, featuring
the collecting and preserving of insects.

April 23. Exhibit at the Friends School of our Maryland
Indian Village and Indian artifacts - in conjunction with the Ter¬
centenary of Maryland.

April 5. Exhibit of fossils at School No. 63.

April 27. Exhibit of Minerals at St. Johns M.E. Church Club.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

April 21 - Enoch Pratt Library. Lecture by Elra M. Palmer -
"Nature Trails in the Spring." This was the first of a series
of four illustrated lectures for the students of the Baltimore
High Schools.

April 28 - Enoch Pratt Library. Lecture by Mr. Edmumd B.
Fladung - "Our Maryland Birds." Illustrated. The second lecture
of the series.

April 12 - Baltimore City College Chemistry Club. Lecture
by Ned Crosby - "The Fluorescence of Minerals." Illustrated.

April 17 - School No. 63, Fourth Grade - Lecture by Mr. Earl
H. Palmer - "The Cecropia Moth and Its Metamorphosis." Illustrated.

April 20 - Clifton M.E. Church. Lecture by Mr. Woodward
Burkhart - "Indian Artifacts." Illustrated.

BOOK REVIEWS

Small, John Kimkel--"Ferns of Florida"

N~. Y7 ’"The Selene e Press 1931
237 pages

"Ferns of Florida," a gift to the Enoch Pratt Free Library by
Mrs. Joseph L. Wheeler, is one of the finest books of its kind that
I have had the pleasure of reading. Mr. Small, the author, is the
Head Curator of the Museums and Herbarium of the New York Botanical

49.,

G-arden,

In Florida one can collect ferns the year round. There are
”107 species growing naturally within this political subdivision cf
the United States. They fall into 6 orders, 14 families, and 48
genera . ”

Following the List of Illustrations, there are eighteen pages
devoted to the general description of the ferns in relation to the
physiographic divisions of the state, such as the pinelands, prairies,
woods, hammock, marshes, swamps, and sand dunes. Each of these
divisions is spoken of individually and a list of ferns given which
can be found in the particular region under discussion.

There are 217 pages devoted to the description of the 6 orders r
namely, Ophi oglossales , Filicales, Salviniales, Lycopodia les ,
Isoetales, and Equisetales. This is followed by a three page list
cf authorities, five pages of glossary notes, and a four page com¬
prehensive index.

The descriptions of the ferns and their allies consist of a
short statement concerning the rootstocks, leaves, length of the
fronds, the general appearance of the specimen, and a detailed
description of the sori . This is followed by a short paragraph
describing its natural habitat and range.

Earl H. Falmer, Department of Botany.

"Elements of Botany" --Holman and Robbins,

_ Second Edit i on -1933 ,

John Wiley & Sons

This tex-book, written by two well known authors is indeed a
very good book for beginners in the botanical field. The subject
matter presented is not only well organized but is expressed in a
concise understandable manner. Scientific terms or phrases of im¬
portance are in heavier print and each term is clearly explained.

Part One of the bo-ok is devoted to a study of the various parts
of a typical flowering plant. This material is presented in suf¬
ficient detail as to give the student a good knowledge of the
essentials of botany.

The other half of the book considers life histories and
examples of the various groups in the plant kingdom. The system
cf classification employed is, to be sure, a simple one. The book
offers a profu si on of illustrations , most of which are rath er good ,
although there are the usual diagrammatic illustrations which seem
t o be traditional in books of this nature.

A new feature is embodied in the binding which is water proof.
This new method of pyroxylin impregnation of the cloth, which makes
the finished binding completely waterproof, is a great help to
students working in laboratories and workrooms where textbooks are
needed for reference.

Elra M. Palmer.

w L- ' #

T/ie Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume IV

MY, 1934

Herbert C . Moore , .Editor

Number 9

THE PITCHER PLANT
(Sarracenia purpurea)

By Eire M. Palmer

The pitcher plant, although a rather common inhabitant of
fresh water bogs in Southern Maryland, is rarely seen by the casual
observer. Perhaps it is frequently overlooked because it grows
snuggled down in carpeted bogs of peat moss and drooping ferns,
and is passed unnoticed* It is occasionally found growing in
association with the Sundew (Drosera rot undifolia , L.)

The Huntsman’s Cup, as the pitcher plant is sometimes called,
is certainly one of the most interesting plants found among our
wild flowers. It is indeed a peculiar form, and is classed as an
insect-eating plant, or in other words, a carnivorous plant.

The leaves are very striking both in shape and color. They
grow from the root stock in a basal rosette, usually of five
pitcher-shaped broadly winged leaves. (Figure 1). The leaf is
green in color and the venation is usually very distinct, being a
dull red to reddish purple in color. The pitcher-like leaves
attract one’s attention, not only because of their graceful form,
but also by the pitfalls which they set for unwary insects. The
leaf has a sugary exudation which apparently attracts the insects.
The wings of the leaf are covered with stiff, downpointed bristles
which prevent the escape of such insects that may be attracted to
the plant. It is seldom that one finds a plant whose leaves are
not partially filled with water and insects.

Among the fifty some odd plants which the author has examined,
it was found that the little midges were the most common victims.
Flies and beetles were next in number; ants, spiders, bees, and
an occasional small dragon fly or moth completed the list of in¬
sect victims. The largest number of insects that I found in any
one leaf was thirty-eight, the majority of which were midges, ants,
and small beetles; two small moths wore also found in this par¬
ticular leaf. (1)

Figure 2

Apparently the soft parts of the trapped insects are digested
by enzymes which the leaf exudes into the water of the pitcher¬
like container. Hepburn et al believe they have found in the
pitcher liquid the enzyme protease. (2) The exact mechanics of
this process is still unknown. According to Lloyd, absorption
occurs most readily at the base of the pitcher. (3) It is be¬
lieved, however, that these insect bodies are the chief source of
nitrogenous nourishment of the plants.

Pitcher plants can be transplanted and grown under artificial
conditions with much success, provided they are given a good supply
of water and are kept in a relatively high humid atmosphere. The
rosette growth of the leaves however, is not as regular as in nature.
It is also essential that the plants be potted in bog soil, which
usually ha s a rather high acidity.

The Pitcher Plant, aside from its peculiarly interesting leaf
form, produces a flower which is equally, if not more attractive,
than its leaves.

The plant blooms in its natural habitat at the end of May or
in June. The flower is difficult to describe and to draw. Figure
2 shows two views of the flower. (A. a view looking directly into
the face of the flower; B. the natural position.) The flower varies
in size from an inch and a quarter to two inches in diameter. it
is a greenish-purple flower with red petals which arch over the
greenish -yellow umbrella-shaped si vie .

The scape or flower stalk is naked, one-flowered and varies
from eight to twelve inches in height. The calyx is made up of
five greenish purple sepals (Figure 5) with three bract lets at its
base. Five f iddle -sha ped , pink to dull red petals arched over the
style make up the corolla (Figure 4). The stamens (Figure 6) are
numerous. Examination of three flowers shows the average number
of stamens t o be seventy-five. There is but one pistil (Figure 7)
having a fairly large round compound ovary and a short style. A
cross section of the ovary discloses five cells with innumerable
ovules (Figure 8). The summit of the style is modified into an
umbrella -sha ped body with five points. Within each of these points
is a small delicately hooked stigma.

Here is a flower with excellently adapted parts to insure self-
pollination. Figure 3 illustrates a partially dissected flower
showing the stamens and pistil as well as the umbrella -shaped style
which holds the ripe pollen grains as they are discharged from the
anthers .

The flowers studied have been raised under artificial condi¬
tions. The plants were partly covered with large glass bell jars
in order to insure a high humidity. The remarkable rapid growth
of the scape has also afforded a source of interest and a chart
of growth with regard to temperature and number of hours of direct
sunlight has been made for the plants.

Citations and References

(1) Hegner, R. Biol. Bull. Vol. 50, 1926

(2) Hepburn, J.S. St. John, and Jones* Biochemical Studies of
the North American Sarraceniaceae . Trans. Wagner Free
Inst. Sci. Phi la . 11., 1927

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 8

54.

(3) Lloyd, F.E., The Carnivorous plants -A Review with Con¬
tributions. Trans. Royal Soc . , of Canada. 3rd series
Vol. XXVII . , 1933

(4) Shreve, F-, Botanical Gazette, Vol. 42 -Aug. 1906.,
Development and Anatomy of Sarracenia purpurea.

NOTES ON THE FEEDING HABITS OF THE GLASS PRAWN
By Gilbert C. Klingel

On June 10, 1933, an immature silverside (Menidia) was noted
in a dying condition in an aquarium in the writer's laboratory.
While still moving it was attacked by a glass prawn (pa lea nonet es
vulgaris), which seized the fish, tore out the eyes, and immediate¬
ly devoured them. The eyes were shredded bit by bit from their
sockets by the clawed legs (Chelapods) and transported thence to
the mouth. The body of the fish was then turned tail upwards so
that the stomach was pressed against the mouth of the crustacean.

A hole was bitten through the thin membranes lining the abdomen
and the contents sucked out. The entire procedure consumed five
minutes. Glass prawns are perfectly transparent, and the food
could be seen entering the mouth, and passing into the body where
it collected in a little sac in the anterior portion of the thorax.

Digestion in this prawn seems to be fairly rapid, for three
hours later the body was again transparent and the accumulated
food disposed of.

By way of experiment, four prawns and as many dead fish'lets
were placed in an aquarium. One prawn did not feed at all but the
others soon consumed the eyes and stomachs of the dead fishes.
Temporari lv satisfied the prawns discarded the empty husks of the
dead fishes, retired to a corner and remained quiescent. Later,
however, all four prawns were observed feeding on the carcasses.

This peculiar preference for eyes and stomachs has been
recorded in other organisms higher in the scale of life than the
Crustacea. A notable example is the turkey vulture. Perhaps the
explanation may lie in the fact that these organs are richer in
organic salts and in flavor than other portions of the body.

— #-

A NEW MINERAL FROM THE JONES FALLS AREA

On April 29, 1934, the Department of Mineralogy made a trip to
the Davis Trap Quarry at woodberry , operated by the T.C. Davis Com¬
pany. The Quarry is in gabbro 500 yards north of "/oodberry on the
west bank of Jones Falls, just at the Pennsylvania Railroad Trestle.

Here in the face of the gabbro, in a vein of white compact
laumontite was found t rapezohedral crystals of analcite associated
'with calcite. The crystals of analcite are of a yellowish white
color ranging in size from a quarter of an inch to one and one
quarter inches. Excellent specimens showing the crystal forms
were collected. Me believe this to be the first official report
of analcite having been found in this area.

A. Llewellyn Jones, Department of Mineralogy.

55

SOME RECENT MOTES ON MARYLAND LIMESTONES
By Walter E . Price, Jr.

With the passing of the last few weeks the Department of
Mineralogy has begun its spring field work. The most interesting
developments have been in the study of the C ockeysville marble
areas. More success has been met with in this territory than we
have heretofore had. To our check list of Maryland minerals we
are recording four species from the C ockeysville marble, nearly
completing, the present kn own list.

The C ockeysville marble is a completely crystalline marble
of variable grain. It ranges from a fine grained marble, to a
coarse, sugary rock, locally called "alum stone". Irregular out¬
crops occur over the whole central part of Baltimore County. In
many places the marble grades into dolomite (magnesium limestone),
but it is impossible to sharply define the change. in some places
the marble contains abundant brown phlogopit e mica, which some¬
times occurs in wavy bands, showing that the rock was once
subjected to high pressure. The quarries in this district have
been famous for the fine building stone which has gone into the
construction of beautiful architectural masterpieces, such as the
National Capitol, the United States Post Office, the Washington
Monument, and many government buildings in Wash ingt on , D . C .

It is the Texas-Cockeysvi lie area in which we have done most
of our work. In all the Texas quarries magnificent specimens of
white radiating t remolite (a silicate), which stand out beaut i -
fully against the white marble, have been found. The most
sensational find was a specimen containing 1/4 inch crystals of
scapolite ( a complex silicate) with a vein of pvrite (iron
sulphide) running through it. The scapolite has a bluish -gray
tint, which with the yellow pyrite, affords a striking contrast
to the snow white of the limestone. A still more wonderful ef¬
fect is produced when the specimen is exposed to ultra-violet
rays, - then the scapolite crystals fluoresce a brilliant yellow,
v/hile the rest of the specimen remains inert. Only one specimen
of this mineral was collected, and that, from the quarry of the
Maryland Calcite Company at Texas. Just adjacent to this is
another called the Campbell Quarry. From here was taken a speci¬
men of brown tourmaline crystal embedded in white marble; it was
1/2 inch thick and only one specimen was collected. In the same
quarry a rare green variety of common mica called fuchsit e was
collected. It was found occurring with fine crystals of brown
phlogopi te mica. The brown and green micas are additional ex¬
amples of the splendid color contrasts so characteristic of the
minerals of this section.

In a carbonate sand pit, just a little north of the junction
of the Texas and York Roads, was found a very interesting mineral
called mountain leather, a peculiar kind of asbestiforn amphibole .
In the soft rock it is found in pliable, fibrous sheets resembling
kid leather, hence the name. Another mineral, a calcium silicate
called wollast cnite , is found here also, but the best specimens
were collected from the famous Beaver Dam Quarry at C ockeysville .

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Its yellow tinted .-masses have a peculiar pearly luster on the rougp
surfaces after being fractured, so that it is easy to distinguish
the mineral fr an the limestone.

Further south in the McMahon Quarry not far from Smith Avenue,
near Mt . Washington, were found some fine specimens of calcite
rhorabs. in veins in the limestone the calcite runs for several feet
in a pure state. The white rhombs grade, in a few small pieces,
to Iceland Spar, a transparent variety of pure calcite. The largest
white rhomb found measured 3x4 inches.

Many of the specimens of the limestone from the Cockeys vi lie
formation luminesce after a short exposure under the ultra-violet
rays. Other specimens, like doloraitxc limestone, glow in the dark
after* being “struck* This is a phenomenon called tribolunine scene e .

Map showing Texas -0 ockeysville area. (Shaded portion shows Coe keys-

villo marble)

NOTES

Meetings of the Society

On May 29, members and friends of the Society heard a most en¬
joyable lecture by Father John A. Frisch, S.J. on "The Life History
of the Hunting Wasp.” The lecture was illustrated with a number
of slides.

May 1 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Bryant L, Mather -
"Some Rare and New Minerals of Maryland." Illustrated.

May 8 - General Assembly, Talk by Mr. Frank Mingling - "The
Eel." Illustrated.

May 15 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Roger Hecklinger -

' ! "

’’Preparation of Paleontological Material in the Field and Laboratory.
Illustrated with slides.

n

May 22 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Gilbert C, K.lingel -
’’The Benefits I Have Derived from the Pursuit of Natural History.”

May 5 - Junior Meeting. Lecture by Mr. Elmo Masters - "The
Insect in the Field.”

May 19 - Junior Meeting. Talk by R. Nelson Crosby - ’’introduc¬
tion to Dendrology.” illustrated with specimens.

Departmental Meetings

May 11 and 2 5. Botany

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. Entomology

Ma y 5 , 26® M i n e r a 1 og v

May 7, 21. paleontology

Lee t u r e s t o Out side Organ 1 za t i on s

May 12 - Enoch Pratt Library. Lecture by Mr. Harry C.Robertson-
”The Reptiles of Maryland.” illustrated. This was the third of a
series of four lectures for Baltimore High School students.

May 26 - Enoch Pratt Library. Lecture by Mr. Gilbert C. Klingol-
”The Life of the Chesapeake Bay.” illustrated. The fourth and last
lecture of the special series.

Play 5 - Lecture to Camp Wachusett at Chesapeake Club. ’’Nature
Study” by Mr. Elra M. Palmer.

May 6 - Holy Nativity Church, Young Peoples' Society. Lecture
by Richard Webster - ’’Characteristics of Insects.” Illustrated.

May 17 - School No. 63, Classes of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Grades.
Lecture by Mr. Earl H. Palmer - "The Cecropia Moth and Its Metamor¬
phosis.” Illustrated.

Play 22 - School No. 63. Lectures by Mr. Earl H .- Palmer. To
the 4th Grade - "The Silk Worm." To the 6th Grade - "The Mosquito.”
All illustrated.

May 22, 23. Baltimore City College, Biology Classes. Lectures
by Carroll Wagner - ’’Bacteri ologica 1 Technique.”

School Service

May 8 - Gift of cocoons to 3rd Grade, School No. 63.

May 9 - Gift of two minerals to the Johns Hopkins University
collection - a uranium mineral from Jones Falls and deweylite from
Soldiers Delight.

Play 10 - Loan of Cardinal skin to School No. 63.

May 23 - Loan of lantern slides (on birds) to Blue Ridge College.

Report of Pleating of the Department of Mineralogy

The Department of MineraT’ogy held its fTrst of f i c i a 1 meeting
of the new season on May 5. L. Bryant Mather, Jr., was elected
•secretary of the Department.

The work of the past season was briefly reviewed and several
reports were read. Also the proposed program for the coming sea¬
son was considered and the dates were set for the collection of
material needed for exhibition work.

Society of Maryland

Volume IV JUNE, 1934 Number 10

Herbert C. Moore, Editor

AN INDIAN VILLAGE SITE ON THE SEVERN RIVER, MARYLAND
By Richard E. Stearns and Woodward Burkhart

In the spring of 1934 the Department of Archaeology excavated
a small village site at Little Round Bay Creek on the right bank
of the Severn River in Anne Arundel County. The site is situated
in a swamp on a small natural sand knoll at the mouth of the creek
(see map). A road skirting the right bank of the Severn River
passes through it. When this road was erected through the swamp,
the center of the knoll was removed for road ballast, destroying
most of the site.

Work was begun on the east side of this road where the shell
deposit seemed to cover the largest undisturbed area. At this
point the deposit was about eight to ten inches thick under six
inches of leaf mold.

The first few minutes of digging brought to light many frag¬
ments of pottery including the decorated fragment shown in Figure
2. The first find of importance was a three and a quarter inch
bone awl made from a fragment of the leg bone of the Virginia deer
(Figure 3). Further excavations unearthed a number of fragments
of the vessel shown in Figure 1. About fourteen inches of the rim
of this vessel were found, giving it a probable diameter of sixteen
inches. Close to these fragments lay a broken clay pipe with most
of the stem missing (Figure 4).

Further digging also disclosed fragments of six other vessels,
bones of the Virginia deer and of small animals, one arrow point
of rhyolite, and a few chips of quartz. An antler, its upper parts
smashed, and with tines missing, was found too. The tines had
probably been fashioned into implements.

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A study of tho pottery and other implements shows that this
site was once an Algonquin village similar to others found on tho
rivers of Anne Arundel County.

VERY RARE MINERAL FOUND AT JONES FALLS GNEISS QUARRY

Tho Jones Falls Gneiss Quarry, where our Department of
Mineralogy has been working for sometime, yielded recently another
now and rare mineral.

This mineral has just been identified as Hisingori to by the
Geology Department of the Bureau of Interior in Washington. The
mineralogist who examined the specimen to groat length claimed
that it was one of the very few times Hisingori to had been re¬
corded in tho Uni tod States.

Hisingori te is a hydrous sesquisilicate of iron. It Is red
In color and has a distinct cleavage in one direction while being
earthy in a cross fracture. At the Jones Falls Gneiss Quarry it
occurs in small masses associated with stilbite, houlandite, and
haydenite. Two localities whore Hisingori te is known to occur
are Sodormanland, Sweden, and Bodonmais, Germany.

Charles Ostrander, Department of
Mineralogy.

-if-

TKE SPARROW HAWK*

By Henri Seibert

On May 7,1 first noticed a pair of sparrow hawks flying over
my head, but being preoccupied with a p hoe bo* s nest I paid little
attention to them. However, when on tho following week-end and
the one after that, I still saw them flying around, I surmised
that they were nesting in the neighborhood.

An old dead tree, isolated in a cow pasture, first drew my
at ton tiejo as a likely site. Several hundred yard.3 away, I con¬
cealed myself in a blackberry patch (a very uncomfortable hiding
place) and waited. Tho birds used the tree as a perch, but did
not attempt to enter an old hole in the trunk which had once boon
utilized as a nest.- I roalizod that the nest must be elsewhere .

On Juno 24, I happened to look up at an old starling’s nesting
site under the roof of a house, when I saw four heads peering out
at me. Tho heads darted back, but I had soon enough. Scrambling
up to the roof, I looked into the hole where I saw a very dirty
nost with four small birds.

The entire entrance, both floor and sides, was covered with
excrement. A vile odor emanated from the nost; the entire place
was filthy, but v/hen I later picked up tho young, they appeared
very neat and tidy.

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I had not found tho nest any too soon, for a few days later
(Juno 30), a venturosomo youngster who had triod to see too much
fell out. As I was about to pick him up, ho turned on his back
and defended himsolf by drawing up his feet and pinching anything
that came near with his talons. I replaced him in his nest, but
the time of departure was very near.

On July 5, all of the birds loft tho nest, - two males and
two females. Some went to the peak of the roof, others to a near¬
by tree, all clamoring for their mother. Meanwhile the mother
hovered in the air, shouting hor killy-killy-killy, and watching
anxiously that nothing happened to her children. The other parent
I had not seen since I found the nest; either he deserted his mate
or was killed.

It was marvelous how the fairly large mother bird could re¬
main In the air motionless by only boating her wings like a
hummingbird or a dragon-fly. She was always crying out her en¬
couragement to the young w ho answered from a fence post or an
apple tree in a very baby-like walling .

A few days later when they were gone, I could not help but
wish that everybody could become associated wi th this friendly
and beneficial hawk.

* Palco sparvorius sparvorius LInnd

NOTES

Mootings of the Society

On June 12, the Society’s lecture season closed with a most
interesting lecture by Dr. Andrew Colin Gillis, entitled "Super¬
stition and Pseudo-Science."

June 5 - Mr. William Hasslcr, an honorary member of our
Society, and a member of the American Museum Staff in New York,
visited our quarters. In the evening he gave an interesting talk
on the courtship and mating habits of several species of lizards
he has boon studying.

Juno 19 - Mr. Hassler v/as again the guest of the evening.

On this occasion ho showed some of his moving pictures of various
phases of his reptile work in Nov/ Jersey, Florida, Haiti, and tho
Dominican Republic.

June 23 - Mr. A. Llewellyn Jones, curator of the Department
of Mineralogy, spoke on "The Benefits I Have Derived from the Study
of Mineralogy."

June 2 - Junior Mooting. Father John A. Frisch, S. J., gave
tho boys and young men an illustrated lecture - "Life History of
the Hunting Wasp.

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Juno 16 - Junior Mooting - Round table discussion concerning
recent scientific research.

Departmental Meetings

Juno 4 - Paleontology

June 6 - Entomology

June 8, 22 - Botany

Lectures to Outside Organizations

June 1 - Eastern High School. Pour lectures by Mr. Harry
C. Robertson - "Snakes of Maryland." Illustrated.

John Carroll of Carrollton High School - Lecture
by Mr. Richard Webster - "Characteristics of Insects."

Exhibitions

June 6 - Exhibition of snakes a t the Pre-Vocational School.

Expediti ons

Two expeditions of note wore conducted during the month.

Bo th left Baltimore on June 15 and returned on June 25.

One, headed by Mr . Gilbert C . Klingel, curator of the Depart¬
ment of Marine Research, was made to Juniper, Florida, to try out
underwa ter equipment, and to s tudy and make special observations
of the marine life of this locality. Mr. Klingel was accompanied
by Mr. Harry Zachary, assistant In this Department.

The other was con due ted by Messrs • W, Bryant Tyro 11 and
Edward McColgan of the Department of Ornithology. This expedition,
made in conjunction with the Biological Surve y, was to Smith* s Point
arid Reeds vi lie • The object was to study the osprey colony of this
region . Fifty-nine ospreys were banded as well as three great blue
herons .

Mineral Check List

On Tuesday, Juno 26, the Department of Mineralogy presented
the Department of Geology of the Johns Hopkins University with a
list of mineral localities of Baltimore City and County, contain¬
ing a check list of the minerals found there to date by the Natural
His tory Society of Maryland.

Interesting Mineral Publication

The Oregon Mineralogis t, official publication of the Oregon
Agate and Mineral Society, Portland, Oregon, now in its sixth
issue of Volume II, contains much interesting matter. Most of
the articles are not local, but consis t of subject matter adapted
to mineralogists everywhere •

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63

NOTES ON GA1IBUSIA HOLBEOOKI - "THE TO? MINNOW”

Bv Frank C. Yingling

This little fish, unusual in that it is the only nenber of the
family Poecillidae found in Maryland waters, receives its generic
name ’’Gambusia” from the Spanish, in which it means ”of no account.”
This is an incorrect appellation, however, since Ganbusia is es¬
pecially valuable for the destruction of mosquitoes in the larval
stage. In many parts of the world it has been introduced for this
purpose .

Seven specimens, three of them females, were collected in a
small stream two miles north of Cove Point, Maryland. The males
were from 17 mm. to 19 mm. in length, and the females from 25 mm.
to 29 mm. Two of the females were gravid. The young, which were
later brought forth alive (for Gambusia bolbrooki is viviparous)
measured when born about 8 mm. in length.

The male is smaller than the female, rarely reaching a length
of I53- inches, and can be readili/ distinguished from the female by
the anal fin which is used as an intromit tent organ. In the case
of the male this fin is prong-shaped; in the female, fan-shaped.

; ■ i ;/ ,

# 'i

The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

b

Volume IV

JULY, 1934

Herbert C. Moore , Editor

Number 11

RELATION between locomotion and frequency op contraction

OF THE CONTRACTILE VaCUOLES IN PaRaMECIUM.
Preliminary Report.

By John A. Frisch, S. J.

A drop or two of culture fluid containing about twenty to thirty
individuals of Paramecium caudatum and mult imicronucleat urn together
with a few individuals of Vorticella and Paranema, some Rotifers and
unicellular green algae from a mixed hay- infusion, culture were
placed in a vaseline enclosure on a glass slide and sealed in with a
cover glass. In some of the slides a small amount of air was trapped
in the enclosure. These slides were first kept in the diffused light
of the laboratory though later some of them were kept in the dark.

In these preparations some of the paramecia survived for over a
month, and died apparently of starvation, as judged by their emaciated
appearance. Those kept in the dark seemed to survive as well as did
those kept in the light. The algae were probably not responsible for
the survival. To check the physical condition of the paramecia daily
observations were made on the frequency of the pulsations of the con¬
tractile vacuoles. These observations showed a gradual decrease in
the frequency of the pulsations, and a great variation in the fre¬
quency of successive pulsations in the same individual. Thus single
individuals observed during 50 to 100 consecutive pulsations of the
contractile vacuoles showed frequencies varying between 15 seconds
and b minutes and 5 seconds, (cf. Chart).

A quite marked correlation was observed between the frequency of
the pulsations and swimming. All the long cycles occurred while the
animals were actively swimming; the short cycles while they were at
rest. Spasmodic swimming during which the animals alternately rest
and swim every few seconds, showed an intermediate frequency. A
probable explanation of this correlation lies in the fact that pa-
ramecia do not feed while actively swimming, and hence ingest less

65

water. The frequency of the pulsations of the contractile vacuole
appears therefore to be directly correlated with the locomotion of
the animal and more particularly with the feeding. If this is true
it strongly supports the contention that the primary function of the
contractile vacuole is hydrostatic, namely, to control the water
content of the protoplasm.

Moreover, if the amount of water ingested during feeding is
such a controlling factor in the frequency of the pulsations, it
suggests, that the results of certain experiments, such as the ef¬
fect of salts; of osmotic pressure, of hydrogen ion concentration,
and others, might be duo not directly to these factors, but indirect¬
ly to their influence on the rate of feeding.

a complete report on these experiments will be published later.

Ti me
in

Seconds Number of Consecutive Contractions

o indicates active swimming; a spasmodic swimming; • at rest

66

NOTE 6 ON THE INCUBATION OF THE INDIGO BUNTING *

By Henri Seibert

On July 30, in a grove of locust trees near Sykesville I found
a nest of the Indigo Bunting, ns this was a rather late date I de¬
cided to pay special attention to it. The nest was situated three
feet from the ground on a branching limb of a small locust tree. It
was composed of dead leaves, strips of bark, grass stems, and bits of
newspaper. The interior, which was lined witn finer grasses, had an
inside diameter of one and a half inches and an outside or overall

width of three and a half inches. In the nest were three bluish white-
eggs which the bird was incubating when I interrupted her.

During the building of the blind the female was very nervous and
demonstrated her anxiety by continually hopping from limb to limb of
nearby trees and uttering a sharp '’tsick5’. The male bird would then
come and join her in vociferating disapproval, but his activities
were limited to an occasional flutter in the tree foliage where he
was careful to make himself inconspicuous.

On the fourth of august I entered the blind for the first time
at 8:37 in the morning and watched for two and a half hours. I
crawled into the blind from the rear and as the entrance was on the
same level as the nest, the bird could not see me and consequently
was not frightened off her nest. During the first seventeen minutes
she turned her eggs throe times. This operation consisted of the
bird’s raising her tail out of the nest and pushing herself backwards
to an angle of 45 degrees, in which position she was capable of
manipulating the eggs. The performance was short, never lasting more
than five seconds. After the egg had been turned, she wriggled her¬
self into a comfortable position and remained that way until the next
egg was turned. At first she was extremely nervous and peered con¬
tinually over the edge of the nest at the slightest disturbances.

Her restlessness finally got the better of her and she left the nest,
but she returned within four minutes with her fears allayed. From
10:^4 to 10:34 she turned the eggs three times. In the interim she
closed her eyes, but they always opened at the slightest sound. At
10:34 she left the nest and did not return until nine minutes later.

In this interval she undoubtedly ate, for on her return she smacked
her mandibles in a chop licking fashion. It was forty-nine minutes
until she again left her nest and during that time she turned the
eggs ten times. All was quiet and her incubation was undisturbed ex¬
cept for the prowlings of a House Dr on that attracted her attention.

At 11:37 she left her nest to eat and was gone for fourteen
minutes, at 12:02 she turned the eggs. I had to leave the blind at
this time.

liil hen I returned on the afternoon of the sixth, everything was as
usual. In the hour and a half that I watched, she turned the eggs
only twice, while during the two and a half hours’ observation of the
previous day she turned them sixteen times. Probably the heat of the
..aftofttoo« rut down the necessity for their frequent turning.

In all that time I saw the male bird only twice. I came around
at night to make sure the male had no hand in the incubation, and as

I expected, the female was on the nest.

The bird continued incubation until August 14, on which day I
found the nest empty.

•s* Passerine cyanea (L.)

UNCOMMON FISH IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
By U . Bryant Tyrrell

On September 30, 1933, at Hong a. Hoopers Island, Maryland,
Captain Sam Tolly caugut in his pound nets, near Cedar Point, a
Cutlass Fish (Triciiiurus lepturus ) . This fish, of unusual occur¬
rence so far north in Chesapeake Bay, was twenty-seven inches long,
two inches wide, and not mere than half an inch thick. Its color
was a light pearly blue, somewhat darker on top and shading to a
pearly white below. Two interesting features about this fish were
that the dorsal fin extended nearly the entire length of the back
and the mouth was full of needle sharp teeth.

On the same day a large Garfish (Lepiosteous osseous) was
killed by a blow of an oar in the shoal water near Solomons Island
by one of the residents of Honga. This fish was forty-four inches
long and thirteen and one-half inches wide. The color was a dark
greenish blue, shading to a pearly white below, with each white'
scale edged with a delicate pink.

NOTES

Meetings of the Society

July_ 17 - Talk by Mr. Edward McColgan - ''Ruins of Paestum and
Girgent i . "

July 24 - Talk by Mr. Harry H. Zachary concerning the con¬
struction of the float which will be used in connection with the
diving tank of the Department of Marine Research.

Departmental Meetings

Botany - July 27

Mineralogy - July 28

Paleontology - July 2, S, lb, 23, 30

Junior Meetings

July 7" - Talk by Mr. Martin Fedder - "Minerals and Their
Ide nt if ic ati on . "

July 21 - Round table discussion.

Lectures to Outside _ Organizat i qn s

July 23 - Lecture by Mr. John B. Calder, assistant Curator, De¬
partment of Paleontology, to the Boy Scours' of America at Camp
LInstead - "The Geology of the Region around Camp Linstead."

Exhibit ion

July 9-30 Exhibit at Enocn Pratt Library, Central Branch,
featuring minerals of Maryland with apparatus showing the fluores¬
cence of some minerals .

Educational Field Trips

July 2*3 [lT7 July 24 (2) , July 25 (2). Conducted by Mr. John
B. Calder to Sullivans Cove with various parties of Boy Scouts from
Camp Linstead.

68

Trustees Meeting

July 12 - Quarterly meeting of Board of Trustees. The following
committees were appointed by the president: Executive - Mr. Gilbert C. fCLingel,
chairman, Mr. Edward McColgan, and Mr. Elra M. Palmer; Finance - Mr. Edward
McColgan, chairman, Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel, and Mr. Herbert C. Moore; Member¬
ship - Mr. Elra M. Palmer, chairman, Mr. John B. Calder, and Mr. A. Llewellyn
Jones.

The curators appointed by the president for this fiscal, year were
accepted by the Board.

Tie Staff including the Staff officers appointed by the respective
curators follows:

THE STAFF

Chief of Staff, Edmund B. Fla.dung, President
Secretary, Elra M. Palmer

DEPARTMENT OF MINERALOGY

Curator- A. Llewellyn Jones

Halter E. Price, Jr., Assistant Curator; Elra M. Palmer, Assistant Curator

Associate Curators

John B. Calder ,B.S., Benjamin Calder, Herbert C. Moore, B.S., L.O. Robertson, B.S.
Charles Ostrander

Junior Associates

L. Bryant Mathers, Jr., Edward Crosby, Jr.

Martin Fedder

DEPARTMENT OF PALEONTOLOGY

Curator - Elra M. Palmer

John B. Calder, B.S., Assistant Curator; A. Llewellyn Jones, Assistant Curator

Benjamin Calder, Staff Assistant
Oscar L. Helm, A.B. , Associate in Fossil Mammals
Associates in Fossil Invertebrates
William E. Lehr, B.S. , Roger S. Hecklinger, Robert Wheeler

DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY

Curator - Earl M. Palmer
Secretary, Clyde Reed

Associate Curators

Elra M* Palmer, Francis O’Rourke, B.S., Mitchell Hilpert

DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY

Curator - F. Stansbury Haydon, LL.B.

Francis O’Rourke, B.S., Assistant Curator
Edward Gretsky, Assistant Curator; Elmo Masters, Assistant Curator; Richard
Webster, Staff Assistant; L. Bryant Mathers, Jr., Staff Assistant

69*

DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESEARCH

Curator-Gilbert C. KLingel

Harry H. Zachary, Assistant Curator; Frank Yingling, Assistant
Curator

Joseph White, Associate Curator

DEPARTMENT of HERPETOLOGY

Curator - Harry C. Robertson
Richard M. VonHagel, Assistant Curator

Associate Curators
Gilbert C. IQ. ingel , George Maugans

DEPART!' TENT OF ORNITHOLOGY

Curator - Edmund B. Fladung, B.S.

Irving E. Hampe, Assistant Curator in charge of Collections
W. Bryant Tyrrell, Assistant Curator in charge of Taxidermy
Edward McColgan, Assistant Curator in charge of Bird Banding

Associate Curators

Bruce R. Overington, Henri Seibert, Harold L. Eaton

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Cur a tor -Richard E. Stearns

Milton Oler, Assistant Curator ; Woodward Burkhart , Assistant
Curator

LIBRARY

Librarian - John B. Calder, B.S.

Earl M. Palmer, Assistant Librarian; Eugene R. Polacek, Assistant
Librarian

Junior Assistant Librarians
Edmund B. Fladung, Jr, , Woodward Burkhart

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLICATION
Editor - Herbert C. Moore, B.S., LL.B.

Edmund B. Fladung, Jr., Assistant Editor

Associate Editors - all department heads

DEPARTI IENT OF EDUCATION

Curator - Elra M. Palmer

John B. Calder, B.S. , Assistant Curator
Walter E. Price, Jr., Assistant Curator
Earl M. Palmer, Secretary
Charles H. Waller, Staff Artist

L. Bryant Mathers, Jr., Chairman, Junior Division

Associates - all department heads

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Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume IV

aUGUoT, 1934
Herbert C. Moore, Editor

Number 12

LIFE OF THE COMMON EEL

(With notes relating to the appearance of the elevers in the

Pat apse o River)

By Frank C. Yingling

One of the most interesting and mysterious life histories is
that of the common eel, Anquilla rostrata, the only species found
in our waters. In spite of its snakish appearance, it belongs to
the class Pisces or true fishes. Although of marine origin, it
spends most of its life in fresh water. Then upon sexual maturity
it migrates far out to sea again to spawn. The spawning place
according to authorities occurs southwest of Bermuda,

Specimens with ripe eggs have never been taken because
maturity is not fully attained until the spawning grounds are
reached. The eggs are very small and extremely numerous; the
young upon hatching are flat ribbon- shaped creatures and are total¬
ly transparent, being entirely devoid of pigment except in the eyes.
They have a well developed mouth with very large teeth. This is
known as the "Leptocephalus" stage. In the migration from mid-
ccean to the shore a metamorphosis takes place. The larvae lose
their length and depth but gain in thickness. Also the larval
teeth are lost and are replaced by permanent ones, and the body
pigment is still largely wanting. By the time they have reached
our shores they are known as "glass eels" or elevers.

Observations have been made for the past three years on the
elevers as they reach the upper Patapsco in the vicinity of Glen-
artnoy. The elevers reach this section around the last of April
and the early part of May, the migration lasting from two to three
weeks. It is quite a fascinating sight to see thousands of these
small fish fighting their way against the swift current of the
river. Sometimes they are washed back several feet, but they never
give up until their destination is reached.

At night the elevers are found in no great activity close to

71.

shore and among rocks and logs, hut upon the presence of a light
for a few moments they become quite active and begin squirming in
and among the rocks and logs where the darkness is greatest.
Apparently it is daytime when the fish work their way up stream,
climbing dams until a suitable feeding ground is reached.

The elevers of the two previous years’ migration were between
47 mm. and 60 mm. in length and about .03 of an ounce in weight,
with the body p igment fairly well developed. The specimens ob¬
served this year w or o about the same except the pigment was largely
wanting .

Two months later some of these elevers were taken in a small
stream near the Patapsco River, one -eighth of a mile from the spot
where the specimens above were observed. They were found close to
the banks among the rocks and other debris. They were from 53 mm.
to 65 mm. in length, and most of those eels had the body pigment
well developed and the body becoming more cylindrical in shape.

The growth of these fish seems to be very slow, as specimens
of previous years’ migrations had only reached a length of 96 mm.,
100 mm., 116 mm. It is supposed that maturity is reached between
7-g- and 9 years; then these eels start on their migration to the sea,
all traces being lost when they leave the bay until the larval
stage is taken. After spawning it is supposed the adult dies, thus
completing the life cycle of Anquilla rostrata.

Leptocephalus stage
(Enlarged )

Glass-eel or clever
(Enlarged )

72.

THE COMMON Sb IFT
By Harry C .Robertson

The Common Swift (Sceloporus undulatus) is the most abundant
of the few species of lizard found in Maryland. It is easily
identified by its rough keeled scales which end in sharp points.
Its ground color varies from a gray to a reddish-brown, and its
back is marked with a series of darker V shaped bands. Occasion¬
ally, males lack these V shaped markings, in which case they are
usually the reddish-brown variety.

Males may be distinguished from females by the dark blue or
bluish- green markings on both sides of their abdomens and on the
underside of the lower jaws. Females sometimes show similar
blotches on the jaws but they never have tne abdominal marks.

(See illustration).

This species is found in all parts of the state, especially
in those sections which are sandy. It lives in old decaying trees
where there is an abundance of insects for food.

As early as March the Common Swifts come out of hibernation
and may be seen catching their insect prey. On cloudy days they
move about sluggishly, but if one attempts to pick them up there
is a lightning-like movement as tne lizard races away.

When collecting this species, one is confronted with an
amusing situation, for the lizard darts from one side of the tree
to the otner and usually works its way up high enough to be out
of the collector’s reach. Care must be taken in collecting too,
if the lizard is to be had intact, since slight pressure on its
tail leaves that member of its body wriggling in the collector's
hand or fingers while the reptile escapes to shelter. However,
the lizard will grow a new tail and many specimens are observed
with this replacement of cartilage which is always lighter in
color than the remaining section. The original tail is an exten¬
sion of the spinal column, but the new tail is only cartilage.

These Swifts never roam far from their own group but spend
their lives in a particular location year after year. May is the
mating season, and as is the case with most reptiles, they are
oviparous, depositing in the earth from five to twelve eggs during
July and August. These eggs are three-eights to one-half inch in
length according to the size and condition of the female. If the
eggs are carefully collected, placed in damp wood pulp, and kept
in a temperature of about thiroy-f ive degrees, they usually hatch
in six weeks.

The approximate measurements of an adult specimen are as
follows: -

Total lengoh - 5-1/2 inches
Length of tail - 2-7/8 inches
Width of body - 3/4 inch
Width of head - 9. 16 inch

The Common Swifts will thrive a long time in captivity if

73

supplied with a dry cage, with meal worms or other soft-bodied in¬
sects for food .

Inasmuch as they eat many noxious insects, including grubs
of the wood boring types, they are beneficial to man and should
be therefore protected.

Male (under side)

Female (under side)

Common Swift
(Sceloporus undufatus )

NOTES

Meetings of the Society

august 7 - Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer - "The Planetarium of
tJaa Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. "

14 - Talk by Mr. Gilbert C. K1 ingel - ’’Nocturnal ism.

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August 21 - Talk by Mr. Irving E. Hampe - " Animal Ecology.'’

August 28 - Talk by Mr. Francis O’Rourke - "Plant Ecology."

Departmental Mootings .... - -

Botany - August 8.

(All other departmental meetings were discontinued during the
month of August but will be resumed in September),

Junior Meetings

August 4 - Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer to the Junior group -
"The Planetarium of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia."

Exhibitions

July 30 - August 12. Exhibit of marine shells at the Enoch
Pratt Library, Central Branch.

August 1 - September 15, Exhibit of minerals by J. D. Doxen
of the Junior Division at the Enoch Pratt Library, Branch No. 15.

August 6-27. Exhibit of enlarged photographs of Bald Eagles
by Mr, N . Bryant Tyrrell of the Department of Ornithology at the
Enoch Pratt Library, Central Branch.

Field Trips

On August 19, Messrs. Frank Yingling and Joseph White of the
Department of Marine Research returned from a week’s trip to Cove
Point, Maryland, where they studied and collected various forms
of marine life.

Notes from Canada

Mr. Wallace Coleman, associate curator of Ornithology, and one
of the founders of our Society, who has been residing in Saskatoon,
Canada, the last few years, recently wrote Mr, Fladung a long letter
in which he described in some detail one of his field trips to the
Canadian Zone in Saskatchewan.

Mr. Coleman has already done a great deal of work with the birds
and flora of the Transitional Zone which crosses southern Saskat¬
chewan, and we are glad to hear that he is expanding his scientific
studies so as to include a portion of the Canadian Zone too. Mr.
Coleman's first impression of this latter zone follows:

Our first glimpse of the Canadian Zone occurred about twenty
miles south of Prince Albert. We had reached a higher level of
ground and a belt of spruce crowned the ridge. The change from
the monotony of the prairie vista was glorious. The small town
of Prince Albert offered very little of interest except historical¬
ly, for it figured much more prominently in the early days of
settlement than did Saskatoon. Dr. Raws on had driven down to meet
us and we were on our way for the next hundred miles. There was
a definite change in both the topography and the vegetation. The
flat plain was replaced by rolling hills, the meager clumps of
cotton wood and willow now gave way to beautiful stands of spruce,
tamarack and birch. The weather became more and more threatening,
the clouds seemed to roll over the very tops of the trees. I have
seen it much brighter at nine in the evening under different con¬
ditions.

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INDEX
VOLUME V

■M i'L" : "0 ' iff08’ 1-12

% A 934- 1935

Ammobia ichnenmonia (Linn.

Bare Hills Copper Mines , Brief History of -

Bare ^ills Copper Mines, Minerals of — - - - ------

Bird Banding- - - - - — — ---------

Birds Notes from Honga, Maryland - -

Birds in Maryland, Extinct and Rare--------------- - —

Birds (Spring) of Eastern Shore--' -

Black Skimmer and Cobbs Island------ ------------------

Brief History of the Copper Mines at Bare Hills, Md . - -

Camp to sorus rhizophyllus- - - - -

Catostomus commer sonnii- - -----------------------------

Chrome Ore in Maryland — - •-* — - - -

Cobbs Island and the Black Skimmer--------------------

Cockeysville Marble, Four New Minerals in - - - -

Collecting the Copperhead----” --------------

Copper Mines at Bare Hills, Brief History of - - -

Copper Mines at Bare tills, Minerals of---------------

Copperhead, collecting------- - - - -----

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain, notes on- - - -

Exposure of Arundel Member of the Maryland Lower

Cretaceous on Washington Blvd. near Lansdowne- - ■-

Extinct and Rare Birds in Maryland----- - - - -

Four New Minerals found in Cockeysville Marble- - - —

Ground Skink, Some Haunts in Southern Maryland---- -

Hab enar i a gr andif lo r a - - - - - - - - * -

Hunting Wasp, Life History of the--' - - - -

Implements Collected from the Indian Mounds of Florida

by Our Department of Archaeology--' - • - - -

Indi an Cucumber- root------------ - - - - - - - -

Large Purple Fringed Orchis---------' - - — - -

Life History of the Common Sucker, notes on the - - - -

Life History of the Hunting Wasp----------- - -

Lower Cretaceous on Washington Boulevard near Lans¬
downe, Exposure of Arundel Member of the - - - - -

Ly go soma la ter ale in Southern Maryland, some haunts---

Medeo 1 a vi rgini ana- — - - - - - - - - —

Minerals (four new) Fbund In the Cockeysville Marble- -

Minerals of the Bare Hills Copper Mines-------- -

Mouth-rot, a Common Disease of Snakes------------- - -

Notes on a Breeding Warbler, the Redstart---- - - - -----

Nutrition in Paramecium, Studies of - - - - — -----

Order Haplorni (of Fishes) one of the- - - - - - -

Paramecium mul t imi cronucleatuin and P. cau da turn, rela-
rlve Frequencies of the Pulsations of the Anterior

and Posterior Contractile Vacuoles In-- - * - - -

Paramecium mul t i mi chr o nu c 1 e a t urn , Relation between the
Rate of Formation of the Food Vacuoles and the Rate

of Pulsation of the Contractile Vacuoles in the - -

Pe rami urn pub escens- - - - - - - — - - - ---

Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis-- - - - - - - -

Redstart, Notes on a Breeding Warbler-- - - - - -

Page

7

49

77

73

33
75
43
66
49
45

15
1

66

14

24

49

77

24

16

13
75

14
19
70

7

59

63

70

15
7

13

19
63

14
77

20
10
45

34

33

11

16

63

10

1

INDEX
VOLUME V
1934-1935
continued

Page

Relation Between the Rate of Formation of the Pood
Vacuoles and the Rate of Pulsation of the Contrac¬
tile Vacuoles in Paramecium multimicronucloatum - — 11

Relative Frequencies of the Pulsations of the Anterior
and Posterior Contractile Vacuoles in Paramecium

multimicronucleatum and P. caudatum---- - 33

Setaphaga ruti cilia (Redstart) - - - • - - - — 10

Short Trip (bo Eastern Shore - - - - - 43

Society’s New Quarters---------- - - - - - - - - 31

Some Haunts of Lygosoma laterale in Southern Maryland- 19

Spring Birds of Eastern Shore - - 43

Sucker, Common, notes on the Life History of-- - 15

Walking Fern - - - - - - - 45

Warbler, Notes on a Breed Redstart - - - - 10

Whi te-f ooted Mice, notes on - 63

Zeolites of the Gabbro of Baltimore City - - - 42

CHROME CHE IN MARYLAND
By Elra M. Palmer

The discovery of the element chromium is credited to the
French chemist, Louis Nicolas Vauquelin, In Vauquelin's first
paper on this element, published in 1797, he speaks of the dis¬
covery of a new metal found j.n a mineral called crccite, a lead
chromate which had been sent to him for analysis. (1) The second
memoir of Vauquelin describes in detail the properties of the
element which he calls chromium., a descriptive name based on tho
Greek word chroma (xpwus; meaning color, (2)

As a result of Vaucuelin's research, in 1798 deposits of
chrome iron or chromite were discovered in the Ural Mountains, The
element was extracted from the ore, converted into chromic salts
and used as coloring matter f which was found to bo especially well
adapted for use in porcelain and pottery ware. The ore, however,
was very expensive, principal] y because of transportation expense.
Again, extraction process was very crude; hence chromic salts sold
at high prices.

About 1810 or 1811 chromite was discovered in America at Bare
Hills, near Baltimore, Maryland, by a man named Henfroy, (3) Chrome
at this time was a little known metal and the Bare Hills deposits
were probably not worked, to any extent until 1827 when Isaac Tyson,
Jr., began his operations in the Kills., In view of the fact that
he was engaged in the manufacture of epsom salts, Mr, Tyson was
quito interested and well road in the chemical research of the day.
Being familiar with Vauquelin's work, Tyson was able to identify
the chromite which he found in scattered pockets and lenses across
the Bare Hills area. Realizing the value of this ore, Tyson im¬
mediately began mining it. The exact date at which the mining
commenced is uncertain. However, the sketch map which K. H, Hayden
made in 1833 locates many of the openings now existing. (4) The
operations are referred to in tho past tense and as having been
abandoned for sometime. Therefore, the mining probably began about
1812 or 1813. At present date seventeen openings may be found on

2.

this locality (5), same of which are not found on Hayden's map,
so that we can conclude that work was resumed after 1833,

An interesting account of the discoveries of chrome ore in
Maryland was written in 1895 by William Glenn, (b) Apparently,

Glenn had overlooked H. H. Hayden’s 1811 letter in which the dis¬
covery of chrome is attributed to a Mr. Henfrey. According to
Glenn, in 1827, Tyson saw in Belair market, Baltimore, a cart con¬
taining a cider barrel held from rolling by some heavy black
stones which he recognized to be chromite . The source of the stones
was traced to what became the site of the Reed mine near Jarret t Se¬
ville in Harford County. The property was owned by the Reed family
and operated under lease by the Tyson Mining Company. This mine was
one of the largest operated in Maryland.

After this discovery and the opening of the Reed mine, Tyson
immediately began prospecting. His keeness in recognizing chromite
as always being associated w ith serpentine aided him in ferreting
out nearly all known chrome deposits that extended across the State
of Maryland as well as those across the state line into Pennsylvania.

The Tyson Company by purchase or lease obtained mining control
in all the areas where chromite was found. These were Cecil and
Harford Counties, Maryland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and also
Baltimore and Montgomery Counties, Maryland. In Cecil County,
Maryland, the most extensive mines were the Line pits just north¬
west of Rock Springs, Knopf (7) describes the workings of this
mine as consisting of a vertical shaft sunk to about 95 feet, from
which a draft was run southwest 75 feet. About five miles north¬
west of Rising Sun, Maryland, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was
located the Uood mine, the largest and richest chromite deposit ip
the United States. The ore, assaying about 56. 0% chromic oxide
(7), was found here in a vein about 300 feet long and averaging
about 20 feet wide. The average ore assays about 40%, chromic oxide.
This mine was also under the control of the Tyson Company. The
Company's chief holdings in Harford County were the Reed and Uilkins
mines, both situated near Coopst own just northeast of Jarrett svillo .
The Reed mine tapped a vein of ore about 80 feet long. The lilkins
mine was hardly more than a pocket deposit. Baltimore County con¬
tained two areas that have been very productive. At Bare Hills the
ore was found in lenses or in disseminated grains throughout the
matrix of blue-green serpentine. The mining activities at this
locality were numerous but not very extensive. The Soldiers De¬
light region has probably been the most productive area in the
State of Maryland. This region is located about ten miles north¬
west of Bare Hills. Pour important mines are located here; the
Choate, the Weir, the Harris, and Calhoun. A concentrating mill
treated ores from the Ueir and Harris mines. The serpentine out¬
crops of Montgomery County contain little chromite, and hence are
of no commercial value. Thus, although a shaft was sunk at Etchin-
son, it was early abandoned. In all the serpentine areas throughout
the state, the streams and runs draining the areas have been worked
to obtain sand chrome, which is merely the grains of cliromite freed
from their matrix of serpentine by weathering. The sand is screened
and then washed in a long narrow trough, known as a huddle, through
which water is run. (8) The lighter grains of sand are carried off ,
leaving the heavier grains of chromite.

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HAYDEN* S I.L/iP 07 HIB

BAJE HILLS

1,853

1# Footpath

E. Hoad leading to the Gimp order uorhs on
Jones' Jails

5. Snail house in tlic roods by the side of
the road.

4. Baltimore and Susquehanna Huy.

5. Bastern slope of Boro Hills

Hie squares represent chrone holes.

(From Description of Bare Hills, II.il. Hayden, Bncrican Journal of Science, Yol. 24,
pp. 349 - 3G0. On the original nap the chrone holes are designated by letters in
squares. It is in this uay that the author refers to then specifically in the
test. There are also a feu other special references to places discussed in the
article.)

" ■ r '

4.

By 1833^ ry&on held a monopoly on the chrome mining in the
United States, the ores being sent to London and Paris where they
were treated and made into pigments. During the year 1823 Tyson
established a factory on what is now Columbia Avenue, Baltimore,
for the manufacture of chrome yellow. At first he was unsuccess¬
ful, In 1833 he attempted to establish a successful plant but cgain
failed. In 1845, however, the great Tyson Chrome Works - The
Baltimore Chrome Works - were established in Baltimore and monopo¬
lized the manufacture of chromium compounds in this country for
over forty-five years, long after the Maryland mines received an
economic jolt when the great deposits of chromite were discovered
at Brusa, near Constant inople , Turkey in 1848. In 1870, when the
chrome deposits in Maryland were nearing exhaustion, the Tyson
Company sent prospectors to California and leased all the workable
deposits. The ore was sent by sailing vessels, by way of Cape Horn,
to the Tyson plant at Baltimore. From 1827 to 1860 the Tyson Com¬
pany of Maryland controlled the world’s production of chromite and
the manufacture of pigments. (9) In 1861 still larger and richer
deposits of chromite were discovered in Turkey, and from that date
to 1897 the Turks produced most of the chrome ore. Singe wald says,
’’The Tysons, however, maintained the prestige of their Baltimore
Chrome Works until they sold out to the Mutual Chemical Company of
America in 1908 and finally withdrew from the chrome business.” (10)

By 1885 very little chrome mining was done in Maryland, most of
the ore being mined abroad. Brewer (9) gives the following in re¬
gard to the output of chromite :-

1827 to 1861 Maryland and Pennsylvania, U.S.

1861 to 1897 Turkey

1897 to 1902 Russia

1902 to 1909 New Caledonia

1909 to 1917 Rhodesia

1918 United States

1919 India

1920 to 1932 Rhodesia

Due to the IN or Id V« ar , in 1918 all foreign mining operations
ceased. Hence there was a demand for chromite. The Maryland Chrome
Corporation was formed and leased mining rights at Soldiers Delight.
The Company reopened the old Choate mine and sunk a shaft 200 feet
deep adjoining the original mine. Contemporarily the Chrome Mining
Company reworked the Line pits and hood mine. (11) These operations
were quickly brought to a close when the foreign mines reopened in
1919. Since this time the Maryland mines have been idle. It is
reported, however, that Harford County produced twenty-five long
tons of chromite in 1928. (12) Obviously, however , further chrome
mining in Maryland will never be of any importance. Nevertheless,
before the greater European and California mines were discovered,
they had their day, and they were, as the Encyclopaedia Britannic a
says ’’the earliest worked deposits in the world.”

Chromium ores were formerly used chiefly in the chemical in¬
dustries, but the main use of chromium now is in metallurgy.

In the chemical industries, chromium is used for the manufacture of
pigments, dyes, chemical compounds, and in the tanning of leather.
Chrome green, chrome yellow, chrome orange, and chrome red are v a dur¬
able because of their strength and permanence. Solutions of
chromates and bichromates probably find their greatest application

'

in the dye industries, not so much as a direct dye but as a mordant
for fixing and producing "fast" colors. (13) Bichromates and
chromic acids are also used in chemical laboratories as oxidizing
agents. Chromic salts are used to tan light glove-leather, such
as calf, kid, etc. Chrome also makes the leather tougher and water¬
proof.

The greatest use of chrome ore today is in the manufacture of
chromium alloys. In 1922 there was a rapid expansion in the con¬
sumption of the chromium alloys and the amount has steadily in¬
creased. (14) The principal alloy is ferrochrome , which produces
a steel of great hardness and toughness. This chrome steel can be
bent cold and can be welded to iron, forming an impermeable sur¬
face. Hence its use for armour-plate, burglar proof safes, tires,
stamp-mill shoes, etc. Steel containing about thirteen to fifteen
percent chromium with one percent nickel or carbon forms an alloy
which is impervious to oxidation by water, air, and certain acids.
This alloy is known commercially as stainless steel and is used
chiefly in cutlery. It also has many other uses in such things
as exhaust valves of aeroplane engines, turbine blades, acid pumps,
etc .

The newest chromium alloy is known as stellite. It is an alloy
of cobalt and chromium. This alloy is the only serious rival to
steel, as it takes a good cutting edge, can be run at high speed
without softening and is rustless .

The automobile industry is now using chromium plate almost ex¬
clusively due to its high permanent lustre. The United States
Bureau of Engraving is putting a thin plate of chromium on its
electrotype plates which are used in printing paper currency. (15)

Although no longer producing any chromium ores, Maryland is
still very active in the chrome industry. Ore is shipped to the
Mutual Chemical Company of America (The successors to the Tyson
Chrome TNorks) at Baltimore. The ores are here converted to pig¬
ments and chromic salts. The Bethlehem Steel Corporation at
Sparrows Point, Maryland, is probably one of the largest chromite
consumers in the United States. Here the chrome is used not only
to form alloys but also to serve as a lining for the basic hearth
and refractory furnaces.

It is quite evident that Maryland has given much impetus to
the chromium industry; and although future chromite mining in the
state is problematic, Maryland will undoubtedly continue to be one
of the leading states in the consumption of chrome ores.

(1) Glenn, Urn., Trans. Amer , Inst. Min. Engineers, Vol. XXV
1895, pp. 488-469.

(2) Watts, -- Chemical Dictionary, Vol. II, pp. 152.

(3) Hayden, H. H., Geological Sketch of Baltimore - Letter to
Dr. Nathaniel Potter, dated July 12, 1811. Balto. Med. Phil. Lyceum.
Vol. 1, pp, 255-271.

(4) Hayden, H. H. , Descript ion of the Bare Hills near Baltimore,
nmer. J.our , Sci. 1833, pp. 349-360, map.

(5) Personal Observations. Dec. 1932.

(6) Glenn, Ylm., Trans. Amer . Inst. Min. Engineers, Vol. XXV
1895, pp. 488-489.

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(7) Knopf, Eleanora Bliss, Chrome Ores of Southeastern Penn,
and Mary hand. U.S, Geol. Survey Bull. 725, 1922, p. 97.

(8) Singewald, Jos. T. , Maryland Sand Chrome Ores, Economic
Geology. Vol. 14, 1919, pp. 189-197.

(9) Brewer , Q,. L», Mine Magazine 1932, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 11-12.

(10) Singewald, J. T.,Jr.,Md. Geol. Survey, 1928, Vol. XII,
pp-. 158-159.

(11) Knopf, Eleanora Bliss, Chrome Ores of Southeastern Penn,
and Maryland. U.S. Geol. Survey Bull* 725 , 1922, pp . 85-139.

(12) Singewald, J. T., Jr ., Md. Geol. Survey. 1928, vol. XII,
pp. 150- lb 1.

(13) Rumbold, , G., Chromium Ores. 1922.

(14) U.S. Mineral Resourses , 1928, Vol . I, Metals.

(15) Payne, H. M. The Undeveloped Mineral Resources of the
South, 1928, p. 34.

—a—

NOTES

General Meetings o f the Society

September 4 - T alk~by Mr. Bryant Tyrrell - "The Migration
of Birds of White Fish Point.1’

September 11 - Talk by Mr. Charles Svec - "The Development
of Cactus.”

September 18 - Talk by Mr. Edmund B. Fladung - ’’Aristotle and
Linnaeus, the Fathers of Natural History.”

September 25 - Talk by Mr. L. Bryant Mathers - "The History,
Functions, and Work of the Junior Division of the Natural History
Society of Maryland.”

Do par t mo nt al Mo o tings

Botany - September “14.

Entomology - September 19.

Mineralogy - September 20.

Junior Meetings

September 8 - Election of officers of the Junior Division -
Chairman, L. Bryant Mathers; Vice chairman, Richard Webster;
Secretary, Ned Crosby; Advisors. Robert Wheeler and David Bachrach.

September 22 - Planning of Program.

Field Trips

Messrs. Edmund B„ Fladung and Gilbert C, K1 ingel of the De¬
partment of Ornithology spent a few days on the Patuxent River
between Priests Bridge, Defense Highway and Lower Marlboro, for the
special purpose of securing notes on river birds.

Mr. John B. Calder conducted a field trip to Governor’s Run and
Jones Wharf with members of the Biology Club of Forest Park High
School .

In addition to the above, many single day trips were taken by
Staff members for the purpose of research and collecting. It would
be impracticable to list these individually since members of the
various departments are engaged in field work weekly and often, in
vacation seasons, daily.

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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

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Volume V

OCTOBER, 1954
Herbert C. Moore, Editor

Number 2

THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE HUNTING WaSP, aMMOBIA ICHNEUMONIA, LINN.

By John A, Frisch, S. J.

Packard (1870) spent several hours observing a number of these
wasps, nesting in proximity to one another, and reported that their
nest consists of a single cell, the digging of which occupies half
an hour. The cell is stored with a single paralyzed meadow grass¬
hopper, either Orchelimum vulgare or Conocephalus •fasciatus.

The Peckhams (1898), studying a single wasp they chanced upon
in the act of starting its nest confirm Packard’s report, but state
that it takes the wasp four hours to build its nest.

Davis (1911) is the first to report a nest consisting of two
cells, one cell containing three individuals of Atlanticus dorsalis,
and the other five. He also reports a wasp carrying a specimen of
Noooonocephalus .triops.

Hancock (1911) reports two nests consisting of two cells each.
Three of the cells contained two specimens of No oc onoc ephalus cn~
sigor ;tho fourth cell contained in addition a specimen of Orchelimum
vulgare. He also reports that the egg is placed on the last grass¬
hopper brought in and not on the first as reported by Packard and
Peckhams.

All these reports are based upon chance findings of the wasp
engaged in nest building. No systematic study has been made of
this wasp. To check the conflicting statements of these observers
and to fill in the gaps in our knowledge the author made a system¬
atic study of this wasp during three summers on the grounds of
N oodstock College, 1 oodstock, Maryland. A number of experiments
bearing on the question of intelligence in wasps, and on the varia¬
bility of the instincts of these wasps were conducted at the same
time. This preliminary report deals only with the facts of the life-

history of the wasp. Variations in habits and instincts will bo
reported separately.

8,

At Woodstock College, Ammobia iclineumonia makes its appearance
during the first week of June. But nest building does not begin
until several weeks later. The first nests were observed during the
third week in June and the nest building continues until the third
week in September. These nests are built in the ground. They con¬
sist of an entrance tunne 1 , about a quarter of an inch in diameter ,
which extends into the soil at an angle of about 85 degrees for
about five inches. Prom this main tunne 1 , branch tunne 1 s extend at
rignt angles for about one incn, and then enlarge into cells . These
cells are oval chambers, one and three quarters inches in length and
three quarters of an inch in width. On an average three such cells
are found in the nest, though one two story nest of seven cells was
f ound .

These cells are stored with two varieties of grasshoppers ,
Neoconocephalus ensiger during the first half of the season and
Conocephalus attenuatus dur ing the latter half of the season. The
number of grasshoppers per cell varies from an average of 3.7 to
cells containing as many as six.

These grasshoppers are immobilized, though not killed, by three
stabs of the wasp’s sting. The first stab is in the ventral surface
of the neck, in the region of the suboesophageal ganglion. The
second stab penetrates the membranous cuticle on the ventral surface,
between the first and second pair of legs . The third stab penetrates
the cuticle between the second and third pair of legs , In both of
the latter cases, however, the sting is inserted somewhat to one side
of the mid-line and nearer to the coxae of the legs. The sting, how¬
ever, is directed toward the mid-lino of the body. The first sting
in the neck completely immobilizes the grasshopper. The paralyzed
grasshoppers live from eight to twelve days.

The egg is ere scent shaped and about 6 mm. long and one mm. wide.
It is usually glued to the ventral surface, between the first and
second pair of legs , near to the coxa of the first leg. In some
cases it is glued to the ventral surface of the neck. In both cases
it lies transversely across the body. The egg is always laid on the
first grasshopper deposited in the cell .

The egg hatches in about forty-eight hour s . The larval period
lasts eight days, though as the end of the season approaches it is
shortened to five days . Additional food may prolong the larval
period to 11 days, bhen food is abundant only the soft viscera of
the thorax and abdomen are consumed, but when food is scarce , the
chitinous skeleton and even the legs are consumed. Katydids para¬
lyzed by Ammobiu pennsylvanic a are accepted as food, even after the
larva ’ s original store of grasshoppers has been consumed . Crushed
crickets are also accepted. Dead and partially decayed grasshoppers
are accepted and consumed, apparently without any deleterious effects.

The cocoon consists of six layers of silk and the usual chiti¬
nous inner shell. The size of the cocoon varie s from 3.3 cm. in
length and 1.2 cm. in width for large larvae to 2.3 cm. in length
and 0.9 cm. in width for small larvae . The cocoons remain in the
ground all winter and the wasps hatch in the early days of June.

In one case a larva which spun its cocoon on June 29, hatched on
July 15 of the same season.

The following parasites were recovered from Ammobia nests,

Ammohia ichnoumonia

cce of A. ichneumon! a

Neoconoceph.cQ.us cnsiger rrith larva
of A. ichneumon! a

Cocoon of A, ichneumonia

10

either as larvae or pupae: Metopia campestris (Fall)*, Metopia
leucooephala (Rossi)* and Senotainia trilineata (V.d.l ,)#. Another
parasite, Dihrachys n.sp.** both male and female, was recovered from
cocoons .

* Both determined by J. M. Aldrich, Bureau of Entomology,

U.S. Department of Agriculture.

# Determined by C . T. Greene, Bureau of Entomology, U.S. De¬
partment of Agriculture.

** Determined by A. B. Graham, Bureau of Entomology, U.S. De¬
partment of Agriculture.

References

Packard (1870): Guide to the Study of Insects, 2nd edition,
p. 167..

Peckham, G.l. and E.G. (1898): On the Instincts and Habits of
the Solitary Wasps . Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey,

2.

Davis, Wm. T. (1911): Miscellaneous Notes on Collecting in
Georgia. Journal, New York Entomological Society, Volume 19, p. 218.

Hancock, Joseph Lane, (1911): Nature Sketches in Temperate
America, a. C. McClurg and Company, Chicago, pp. 195-201.

"■Vr"

NOTES ON A BREEDING YhlRBLER, THE REDSlhiRT (SETOPHaGa RUTICILLa)

By Irving E. Hampe

The Redstart is one of the most abundant of the warblers ob¬
served during migration at the Patapsco State Park, Glenartney,
Maryland. My records from 1931 to the present time place the date
of arrival as April 29. This is the earliest recorded date. The
latest date recorded was May 3. For several weeks the Redstarts
are abundant. However , they soon move northward, leaving but a few
of the species that breed in this locality.

During the nesting season I have searched diligently for a nest
of this species. On June 15, 1932, I observed a pair building a nest
in a small tree, but a week later it was deserted. During 1933 I
continued my search but was unsuccessful.

This spring I observed a pair building a nest in a Black Willow.
The nest was placed in a crotch on a branch about fifteen feet from
the ground and eight feet out from the trunk of the tree. Climbing
the tree and edging out on the branch as far as I could go with
safety, I could just touch the nest with my fingers. Fearing the
birds would desert the nest If frightened by my presence I climbed
down, after ascertaining there were no eggs. This concluded my obv
servations on that day. May 12.

The next visit was made on May 20. The female flew from the
nest as I climbed the tree. Reaching out I felt two eggs in the
nest. I carefully picked one out and while straddling the branch
I made a drawing in my note book of the egg and noted the colors.

It was white, speckled about the larger end with cinnamon brown
blotches. The size, taken later from my drawing, was 16x10 mm.

I replaced the egg and returned to the ground where I watched from

11.

a clump of shrubs. After half an hour the female had not returned
and I left. The male was not observed at any time on this date.

On May 2b I again visited the nest. This time I felt four eggs
in the nest. Not caring to handle the eggs too much, and not being
able to get in a position where I could see them, I withdrew.

Neither the male nor female was seen during this visit.

On June 2 I found the female on the nest. She did not fly off
until I reached out. The foliage by this time had become so thick
I could not see her, and the sudden flight from the nest nearly
caused me to fall from my precarious position. Then the male Red¬
start joined his mate and the pair flew about uttering shrill cries.
After noting there were still four eggs I quickly climbed down. The
female flew to the nest immediately but was lost to my view since
the foliage hid the nest. The male, after singing for >a short time
from a nearby tree, soon flew away.

My next visit was on June 9, during a rainstorm. As I put my
fingers into the nest I touched three young Redstarts. Three wide
open mouths raised upward begging for food. The young ones were
about half grown. Since there was no sign of the fourth egg, it
evidently had been infertile and had been disposed of by the parent
birds. The branch was sagging so much I f oared I would knock the
young from the nest. I descended and from a distance watched for
the parent birds. In a few minutes the female appeared and flew to
the nest, but the foliage prevented me from observing her further
ac t ion s .

a week later, on June 16, I again visited the nest site. Ob¬
serving no movement about the nest I climbed out on the branch. As
I suspected the nest was deserted. In a nearby tree I saw a juvenile
Redstart, perhaps one of tne three.

A week later I collected the nest which I now have before me.

It is a beautiful cup- shaped affair, saddled between two branches.

The outside consists of plant fibers cleverly woven together, and
the inside is lined with grass. The measurements are as follows:

Depth: outside - 2 inches; inside 1-g inches.

Diameter: outside - 2-|- inches; inside 2 inches.

This was the only nest of this species I observed this year.

Redstarts were fairly common throughout the summer in this
locality until September 9. None was noted from that time until
September 28, when one male was seen. This was probably a straggler,
for my records show they leave about the first of September.

RELATION BETWEEN THE RATE OF FORMATION OF THE FOOD VaCUOLLS
aND THE RaTE OF PULSATION OF THE CONTRACTILE VACUOLES IN
P aR aMEC IUM MU LT IM IG KONU C LE aTUM

The observations wore made on individuals sealed in vaseline
enclosures under cover glasses. The rate of pulsation of the poste
rior contractile vacuole and the rate of formation of the food
vacuoles in given individuals were fairly constant. In different
individuals the rate of pulsation of the posterior contractile

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vacuole varied from 10 to 30 seconds; the rate of formation of the food
vacuoles varied from 21 to 64 seconds. These variations v;crc diroctly re¬
lated. There were from 2 to 3,5 pulsations of the contractile vacuole for
every food vacuole formed, end this was independent of the time required
for the formation of the food vacuole. This correlation was close enough
to warrant the assumption that the main factor determining the: rate of
pulsation of the contractile vacuole is the rate at which vat or is taken
in by the cytostomo during feeding. This assumption is supported by the
author’s previous findings that when specimens are actively swimming and
not feeding, the contractile vacuoles do not pulsate.

John A. Frisch, S. J,

Department of Entomology Report

The members of the Department of Entomology held their first meeting of
the fall season on September 19, and succeeding meetings on October 3 and
October 17. It is the plan of the department to hold meetings as fop? as
practicable on the first and third Wednesdays of each month • As por a
tentativo arrangement each meeting will ho divided into four parts. Part
One will consist of a lecture course and school, given by one of the assist¬
ant curators; Part Two , a report by one of the members on an entomological
topic of general interest as a result of research, compilation, or observa¬
tion; Part Throo, a short laboratory period in anatomy or taxonomy; and
Part Four, a general discussion of entomological problems by the entire
membership. Several of the staff have pledged themselves to prepare lec¬
tures of a popular character to deliver to clubs, schools, or other laymen's
associations.

Insect specimens will be greatly appreciated by tho department, as
they are needed to complete collections and for locality records. All
Society members are urged to submit dato and place of collecting along
with the specimen. Any department member will bo glad to accept specimens
at any time.

NOTES

Trustees Meeting - October 28 - Discussion of plans of Society for Fall term.

General Mooting and Lectures of tho Society

October 2 - Talk by Mr, Charles Ostrander - "The Department of Mineralogy.”

October 9 - Talk by Mr. William Hasslcr of tho American Museum of Natural
History - "Songs and Mating of Frogs and Toads.” Illustrated
with motion pictures,

October 16 - Talk by Mr, Oscar Holm - "Evidences of Evolution in Comparative
Anatomy. ”

October 23 - Talk by Mr, Jack Whiteman of New Mexico - "History of the Indians
of New Mexico.”

October 30 - Opening of Society’s Lecture Season. Lecture by Father John A.

Frisch - "Ants and Their Ways.” Illustrated with lantern slides.

Special Mootings - Entomology - October 3, 17; Mineralogy - October 27.

Junior Meetings - General meeting, October 6; lecture by Father John A. Frisch-*
"Ants and Their Ways.” Illustrated.

Exhibits - October 1 - Exhibition at Enoch Pratt Library, Central Branch, in
conjunction with tho Library’s exhibits about "Books to Be Written about
Maryland. ”

October 12, 13, 15. Junior Exhibit. This display of the work of the
Junior members received much favorable comment. Over 450 people attended
the exhibit.

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

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Volume 5

NOVEMBER, 1934
Herbert C. Moore, Editor

Number 3

EXPOSURE OF ARUNDEL MEMBER OF THE MARYLAND LOWER CRETACEOUS ON
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD NEAR LANSDOWNE

By L. Bryant Mather, Jr.

The beds which comprise the Arundel member of the Cretaceous
formation are very well exposed in a small gully cut by an infant
intermittent stream in the bank on the north side of the Washington
Boulevard. This small ravine which is only a few hundred yards
in length varies from thirty to forty feet in height at its nouth
to practically nothing at its head.

As one enters the dry stream bed from the highway, the first
minera logical feature which is noted is the red-brown character of
the sediments which are exposed. This is caused by the large
quantities of iron-oxides present. The first consolidated rock
is seen as angular boulders in the stream bed itself. These are
easily recognized as iron stone or ” pudding -st one" conglomerate;
i.e. quartz pebbles cemented by iron minerals. The iron minerals
which form this conglomerate and which form beds themselves are
1. Hematite (Red-iron oxide - F02O3) ; 2. Limonite (Brown iron
oxide - 2p02Ofc.3H2l ) J and 3. Siderite (Gray iron carbonate.- FeCCg).
The occurrence of these minerals in the Coastal plain deposits of
this region has played a great part in Baltimore’s becoming a.
center in the iron-steel industry. For example, it was ore mined
from these ore banks that supplied the iron which was used in the
making of cannon and balls for the American defenders in the far
of 1812.

Some few of the specimens of limonite collected at this
locality show cellular ligniform structure. This shows that the
iron oxide has replaced the vegetable matter of the Cretaceous
trees atom for atom, retaining ligniform characteristics. Such an
occurrence is known as a pseudomorph or false form. The average
specimen of limonite has no characteristic form of its own, being
an amorphous substance.

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limonite pseudomorph
ere preserved of the

however, is not the only evidence
Cretaceous forest. In one layer of

14.

cloy near the head of the ravine many feet below the surface is
found lignitized wood. This lignite is formed by the partial
carbonization of wood, and constitutes one of the intermediate
steps in the formation of coal. Physically the lignite looks quite
like charcoal, although it is much heavier and retains more of the
woody texture. One specimen which I collected at this locality
measures 25g" x 9£H x 3^" and is on display at the Society's Head-
qua rters .

Several unusual specimens of limonite discovered here have
cavities in them which have been caused by their concretionary
origin. These cavities in some cases have a lining of d.rusy
crystals. These crystals have a shiny, velvety appearance and
have been chemically determined: as Manganite (MnOf). This mineral
in so far as I can determine, has not been reported from this vicini
ty of Maryland heretofore.

Catalogue of

minerals from this locality* -

1 - Limonite *

2 - Hematite

3 - Siderite

4 - Lignite

5 - Manganite

6 - Qua rt z

7 - Kaolinite (clay)
both amorphous and
ligniform

-■35-

FOUR NEW MINERALS FOUND IN THE COCKEYSVILLE MARBLE '

By Charles W. Ostrander

Recently the Department of Mineralogy found four new minerals
in the Cockeysville Marble at the T. C, Campbell Quarry at Texas,
Maryland, that are unreported by Williams (1) or the Maryland
Geological Survey (2),

In What must have been one side of a cavity in the limestone,
which was covered with pink calcite crystals, were cubes of purple
fluorite (calcium fluoride), presenting a pleasing contrast in color
The crystals had a purple center surrounded by a colorless exterior.
We believe that this is the first time that fluorite has ever been
reported from the Cockeysville Marble, The only other locality in
Maryland known to us where fluorite has been found is near Cumber¬
land where a pink variety occurs.

In veins and cavities in the limestone, barite (barium sul¬
phate), a white opaque mineral, was found massive and in crystals.
The tabular crystals were in cavities with transparent crystals of
calcite. Although barite has been reported from Maryland before,
this is the first record of it3 being found in the Cockeysville
Ma r b 1 e .

Another new mineral for the Cockeysville Marble was sphalerite
(zinc sulphide) which was found in oloavable masses in the lime¬
stone. It was of the dark variety commonly known as Black Jack.
Sphalerite is easily recognized by its resinous luster.

The most recent find was that of galena (lead sulphide). It
eeourred in small crystals in veins of white opaque barite.

15,

This shows that records of mineral occurrences heretofore
published are incomplete as references , and that extensive field
work must be undertaken to get a complete check list of Maryland
Min era Is .

(1) Notes on the minerals in the neighborhood of Baltimore ,

G-. H . Williams , J,H .U. , 1887; also contributions to mineralogy by
the latter,

(2) Maryland Geological Survey of Baltimore County,

NOTES ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE COMMON SUCKER (CATOSTOMUS COmERSCNICT)

By Joseph C . White

One of the many fish which migrate from one type of habitat
to another for spawning is the Common Sucker, It lives principally
in large rivers and lakes but travels in the early spring to shallow
waters to breed. Usually , it grows to about twelve inches , rarely
larger. The upper part of the body is olivaceous; the lower ,
whitish. In spring males have a rosy lateral stripe.

On April 8, 1934 , two males measuring ten and eleven inches
in length were taken in Bull Branch at Glenartney , Maryland, An
examination of each fish showed that the milt was free, and when
pressure was applied in front of the vent the milt flowed very
freely .

Two hundred yards down stream a female measuring eleven and a
half inches was found dead. Her ovaries were full of ripe eggs
(approximately 4,500) which varied in size, the largest being two
mm. in diameter.

The next record was taken on June 18, when fry each measuring
about eight mm, were found in large numbers in the same stream,

A week later slightly larger fry were caught in the pa t apse o River
near the point where Bull Run empties into it. On July 21, the
young in the river were forty-five nn, in length.

A few specimens caught on August 5 in Bull Run measured
fifty -four mm. At this time the fish seemed to be leaving the
smaller streams and taking to deeper waters , Only a few were seen.

Nearly two months later on September 28, a young sucker forty-
five mm, long was caught in the swamp at Vineyard. Since the
swamp seemed too small to support any breeding size fish, the young
one must have been washed there from a nearby stream during a
storm.

All during September and October the number of fish of this
species was decreasing in the small streams until on October 28,
not a specimen could be found.

I1’!

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16

An examination of the mouth of this fish shows that it is
papillose, and adapted to a bottom feeder; that is, located on the
under part of the head, and not in the front as in other fish.

NOTES ON PERAMIUM PUEESCENS (THE DOWNY RATTLESNAKE PLANTAIN)

By Earl H. Palmer

If one is very fortunate while walking through the woodlands
in July or August he may see this beautiful uncommon but not rare
member of the Orchid family. Although I have been visiting a
particular locality (Falls Road near Rockland) for several years
this last summer was the first that I have noted this species in
b 1 os s ora .

It was found growing on a hillside with a 45° slope in the
shade of a beech tree. The soil (Manor loam) was moist from re¬
cent rains. 'At the foot of the hill, a little pond gives a moist
touch to the atmosphere, which is so important to the growth of
orchids .

The plant is easily recognized by the peculiarly veined leaves
which grow in a rosette -like cluster at the base of the spike.

They are ovate, thick and velvety to the touch. The leaves are
dark green with olive green veins while the midvein has a narrow
white border on both sides of it.

The spike is very downy, "densely glandular-pubescent , " and
has a few lancelot scales. The spikes vary in length from eight
inches to twenty inches high. The flowers are c res my -white , sessil,
and saccate; the roots, thick fleshy fibres which grow just below
the surface of the soil. I have even noticed the roots growing
above ground*

(Figure 1 after 3r.it ion & Brown; Figures 2 and 3 from specimen) .

PERAMXUM

Figure S

18

NOTES

General Meetings and Lectures of the Society

November 6 - Talk by Mr. George Maugans - TTArchaeoLogica 1 Excava¬
tions at Safe Harbor, C onowingo . " Illustrated with
motion pictures.

November 13 - Talk by Mr. Frank Yingling - "Fish Collecting and
Preservation,”

November 20 - Father William McClellan - "Notes and Studies of
the Lizards of Maryland."

November 27 - Lecture by Dr. John J. Rutledge of the Maryland

Bureau of Mines - "The Goal Deposits of Maryland."

Lectures to Outside Organizations

November 2 - Lecture to the First Form of the Gilman Country
School by Mir. Gilbert C. Klingel - "Bird Life."

November 4 - Lecture to the Young Peoples' Club, Holy Nativity
Church, by Richard Webster. Subject - "The Hunting
Wasp. "

N ovember
N ovember

N ovember

N ovember

N ovember

14 - Lecture to Parents and Teachers Association at Essex

School by Mr. H. Charles Robertson - "Maryland Snakes."

15 - Lectures to Upper and Lower Schools of the Gilman

Country School by H. Charles Robertson - "Poisonous
Snakes , "

16 - Lecture to the Civilian Conservation Corps by

Dr, Howard A, Kelly and Mr. H. Charles Robertson,
"Snakes of the World."

23 - Lecture to Troop 29, Boy Scouts of America , Edmondson
Avenue and Grant ley Street, by Mr, H. Charles Robert¬
son. "Snakes of Maryland."

2 - Lecture to troop 69, St. Johns M. P. Church by Mr.

L. Bryant Ma tinier, Jr, "How Coal is Formed."

Exh ibi t ions

November 1 t o 30 - Exhibit of Natural History specimens of marine
life typical of Maryland at the Gwynn's Falls Park

High School.

November 13-16, 19-21 - Exhibit at the Baltimore City College, for
the Parents and Teachers Association, representing
the day school students and the night school students.
Natural History work of Our Junior Division.

November 16-30 - Exhibit at Branch #26, Enoch Pratt Library.
Minerals of Maryland.

Junior Meetings

November 3 - Meeting with lecture by Mr. Milton Oler, Sri, on "Making
Plaster Casts of Leaves,"

November 17 - Fathers' and Sons' Night with lecture by Mr. Gilbert
C. Klingel on "Benefits of Natural History." Tea was

served ,

The Maryland Outdoor Life C on vent i on

A number- of our members attended the meeting and
banquet of the very successful Maryland Outdoor Life
Convention held at Hotel Emerson, November 21 and 22.
On exhibition at the Convention were a collection of
the Society's nature photographs and the Model Indian
Vi 1 la ge , Mr . Ed mund B . Fla dun g an d M r . Herbert C .
Moore were the Society's delegates.

\

The Natural History

Society of Maryland

Volume V

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DECEMBER , 1954
Herbert G. Moore, Editor

Number 4

SOME HAUNTS OF LYGCSOMA LATERAL IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND
By William H. McClellan, S. J.

If the diminutive Ground Skink, Lygosoma laterale, is not
generally classed among Maryland's lizards, the omission is not
surprising. The generous and hospitable people of the southern
counties are scattered over their fields, with few considerable
towns, and few public lodgings where a stranger collecting zoolog¬
ical specimens might readily find a few days' accommodation. On
the other- hand, a private guest among them would rarely have in¬
terest enough in herpetology to improve the opportunity in that
direction. It has merely been my own chance to combine such an
interest with the leisure hours of a priest on transient duty and
on yearly vacation.

It must have been in 1921 that I first recognized Lygosoma in
St. Mary's County. The place was a large tract of timber between
the Three Notch Road just north of Ridge and the main State Road
opposite St. Peter Claver’s Church. On a sunny day in April the
lizard wa s basking on the upturned edge of a large fallen leaf,
which its weight was not enough to disturb. I had a perfect view
of the animal’s figure and outer organs, and of the golden -bronze
back bounded by the darker stripe along the side. But when I
withdrew to prepare for a capture the lizard escaped unseen.

My captive specimens later came from another woodland tract
nearby, just west of Beochville and extending south from St.
Ignatius' Church to near the sources of Smith's Creek. Here there
is a larger proportion of heavy pine. In most respects Lygosoma
shares the habits of Eumeces quinquelineatus (the Five-Lined
Skink) , which is very abundant in the southern counties; but the
latter's favorite tree is white oak, with sweet gum and swamp
willow as second choices, whereas Lygosoma seems more at home in
pine. Moreover, while both these skinks require more moisture and
less direct sunshine than the Swift, it seems that Lygosoma can
thrive in slightly dryer quarters than Eumeces . However, they have
enough in common to frequent together the woods of St. Mary's
County. Treading softly on pine-needles along the abandoned
timber-trails, one often hears the sharp rustle of a Lygosoma
darting to cover. Even then, if the eye can catch a parting

glimpse, the small brown body and wriggling motion closely resem¬
ble those of a newt, and the lizard must be seen at rest and
close at hand to be recognized with certainty. In these weeds, at
any rate, I have uncovered two of them from their bark shelters in
a single morning's hunt.

My largest specimen, somewhat over four inches long, was
brought me by two Boy Scouts of St. Aloysius 1 Parish, Leonard*, own *

Of all places, they had picked it up beside the main street (here
the State Road) just opposite the Rectory where I was staying, and
"thought I might want it". This was early in May, 1934, Inquiry
revealed that our opposite neighbor had recently stocked his back
yard with cord-wood, the bark of which must have sheltered the
lizard until it started in quest of deeper solitude and was noticed
by the boys.

Perhaps few naturalists have seen a young Lvgosoma in the act
of emerging from its egg, yet Maryland has afforded even this
novelty. From the wood below St. Ignatius' Church I received a
female specimen captured by one of our students. The next day
(about July 1st) she laid three eggs, of which, unfortunately, I
have no recorded measurements; they must have been about 7x5 mm.

In a medium of damp sawdust one of them somehow disappeared,
possibly by shrivelling. The other two developed normally. At
the end of about six weeks I brought them out to show to some
friends, and found one of the young already out, and coiled, skink-
fashion, in a perfect circle on the surface of the sawdust. It
might have rested on a lady's thumb-nail with room to spare. On
digging out the remaining egg, we immediately noticed a movement
within the shell, and the next moment the lizard's head came
through it while three of us were looking on. At the time, however,
it was impossible to find food for the tiny creatures, and they
were taken to the woods and released.

M&OTH-ROT , A COMMON DISEASE OF SNAKES
By Carroll E. Wagner

From available literature on this subject (1), and from my
own observations it appears that mouth-rot in snakes is a purely
local disease of the gums. However, in some cases it develops into
a deep-rooted inflammation of the jaw-bone and oral cavity, and in
the majority of cases terminates in a generalized sepsis,

Klingelhofer (1) differentiates between two forms of the
disease, the acute, or "mucous form of mouth-rot," to which the
snake succumbs in a few days, and the chronic form, from which the
reptile may suffer several months and then may die ^r recover.
This he calls the " caseous form of mouth-rot."

The observations recorded below are drawn from, indigenous and
foreign poisonous and non-poison cu s snakes, all of which were sick
or suspected of being so. Of United States species the following
were found to be suffering from mouth-rot: three Blacksnakes, seven
Water Snakes., one Timber Rattlesnake, two Copperheads, one Chicken
Snake, one Milk Snake, and one Corn Snake. The only foreign snake
studied was a Rainbow Boa from Brazil.

21.

As a typical example of the acute form of the disease, we
may take the case of a Milk Snake” ( La mpr ope It us t riagulum; This

snake, captured in the early spring of 1934, was apparently live¬
ly and normal in captivity, fed voluntarily, and the tongue
movement was rapid. After about two months it gave the impression
of being sick. It refused food, and movements of the tongue be¬
came rare. The snake no longer lay in its normal position; it
was stretched with its head held high in the air and was com¬
paratively restless. Twenty-four hours after these first symptoms
of illness, the upper and lower jaws were seen to be badly swollen.
The swelling progressed to such a point within twenty-four hours
that the snake f s head appeared to be about twice its normal size.
Around the teeth tiny postular spots were found. The snake died
suddenly, with spasmodic coiling and a wavelike contraction of the
belly wall. Autopsy showed the inner organs macroscopica lly
practically unchanged, but well filled with blood.

As an example of the chronic course of mouth-rot we take the
history of a Bla cksnake ( Ela ph e "ob s e 1 e t a obseleta ) . This snake was
caught at the same time as the Milk Snake, and likewise was at first
completely normal in captivity, fed voluntarily, and the tongue
movement was very quick. After two months (a week before the Milk
Snake) the first signs of illness were observed. The snake took
no more water or food, lay abnormally in the cage, and almost ceased
making any movement of the tongue at all, A slight reddening of
the membrane of the throat was observed. After several days, tiny
white caseous clumps were noticed on the mucous membrane of the
upper jaw. The mouth did not close completely. The body appeared
swollen. This condition lasted over a month, during which time the
snake lay in an abnormal position, the head held high, often at an
angle of ninety degrees. Several days before the reptile f s death,
the following conditions were noted* swollen inflamed upper right
jaw; in the front portion, mucous membrane partially necrotic around
the teeth, heavily covered with a yellowish caseous deposit which
could be very easily detached; the upper left jaw showed similar
changes and was likewise covered with a necrotic membranous tissue.
The front part of the lower jaw-bone was visible and seemed to be
eaten away; the mucous surface was greatly swollen , hemorrhagic,
gelatinous, oedema tous , and covered by a thick caseous film. In
the back of the oral cavity the mucous membrane was likewise in¬
flamed, swollen, oedema tous, with a purulent necrotic film, Aut opqy
showed the inner organs to be filled with blood.

It is interesting to note that a snake with this disease can¬
not completely close its mouth,

A number of methods of treatment were tried Such as tepid
baths, warmed cages, bathing-pool for the snakes, sunning under
Violet lamps. Ths most successful treatment wan bathing the mouth
with Hexy Ires ore inol Solution S.T. 37 (Sharpe & Dohme) .

Prom other literature and from my own observations I have
found that, generally, contributory factors to the disease of mouth-
rot are that the cage is not warm enough and that it is not moist
enough. The best preventive is to have the cage in a well heated
place with a good sized bathing-pool for the snakes. This water
should be changed often and warm water added.

22 .

BACTERIOLOGI CAL EXAMINATIONS

From all the snakes whi oh died of mouth -rot, microscopic ex¬
amination of the mucous membrane showed tiny Grom-negative rods
present in it. This bacterium closely resembled Bacillus typhosus.
Autopsy of the snakes showed these bacilli in all the organs.
Culturally examined, they proved to be identical with tho bacilli
of the mouth. The bacillus is abopt, the size of the bacillus of
Typhoid Fever and is present abundantly. It is easily stained with
all the aniline dyes but is decolorized in Gram’s Stain. The
bacillus is very motile and possesses about eight to ten flagella.

Good growth is seen of infusion agar at room temperature and
at 37°C, Gelatine is not liquefied nor is Loeffler’s serum slant.
The hemolysis on blood agar pour plates is gamma. Colonies are
fairly large. AH cultures give off a very foul odor.

Cultural Characteristics

Glucose

Sucrose

Lactose

Xylose

Indol

Nitrites

Ma nn it e

Gelatine

Loeffler ' s

acid only
negative
negative
negat ive
positive A
positive #
acid on ly
negative
negat ive

As soon as it had been established from seventeen cases of
mouth-rot in snakes that the same microorganism was repeatedly iso¬
lated, the effect of pure1 cultures on normal snakes and other
reptiles and amphibians was tried, in order to see to what degree
this bacillus was pathogenic for the latter, and eventually to
demonstrate the relation of this bacillus to mouth-rot.

Bla cksnakes injected subcutaneously die within one to three
days. Up to a very short time before death, the snake gives the
impression of normal health. It can be clearly seen that about ten
hours before death its movements are no longer as lively as before
the injection. Suddenly the reptile becomes nervous, rears up,
coils itself wildly around in the cage, and in most cases foams at
the mouth. The movements become feebler and the snake dies. The
foam contains masses of short Gram-negative rods, which are cul¬
turally identical with the bacillus before isolated. Autopsy
reveals a hemorrhagic, serous exudate under the skin at the point
of injection. The trachea is filled with blood as are also the
inner organs. In the lungs, heart, and liver, the Gram-negative
rods are found in large numbers.

By rubbing pure cultures in the mouths of Water Snakes (Natrix
sipedon) which were clinically healthy, it was possible to reproduce
the disease. The snakes died within thirty days. On the mucous
membrane of the mouth was a caseous mucus.

I am greatly indebted to Dr, Tsao Ohih-Chu of the National
Medical College of Shanghai, China; Dr. J. Howard Brown, and Mrs.
Isabella G. Schaub of Johns Hopkins Medical School for technical

23.

assistance, and I am very grateful to Dr. Donald D. Sturgis of
Arnold, Maryland, for the use of his snakes. it is my intention
to publish in the future a complete report on this subject. The
above is a preliminary report.

(1) Zentralblatt f 3r Bakteriologie 77 (1929) J. Burtscher

NOTES

General Meetings and Lectures of the Society

December 4 - Talk by Mr. Richard Von Rage! “ "pi old Work of the
Department of Herpetology,"

December 11 - Talk by Mr. Wilmer Bell - "The Chemistry phase Rule
and Its Application to Industry,"

December 18 - Lecture by Dr, Howard A. Kelly "An Amateur’s Ex¬
cursions in the Field of Natural History." The lecture
was illustrated by specimens, prints, and lantern
slides .

Lecture to Outside Organization

December~dL3 TecLure to Biology Club of the Baltimore City College
by Carroll Wagner. "History of Bacteriology and
Baet eriologi ca 1 Technique , "

Exhibition

November 12 - December 3 - Exhibit of Taxidermy at the Central

Branch of Enoch Pratt Library by Mr. William B. Tyrrell.

Junior Meetings

December I - Talks by Donald Roberts - "The Coloration of Leaves",
and Dale Boxen - "chalk,"

December 15 - Lecture by Richard Webster "A Summer's Work in
Ent omology . "

Gift collection - On December 1 a collection, of forty Maryland

minerals was presented to the Department of Sfeology
of Johns Hopkins University.

Other Meetings

December 19 “Special meeting of the Department of Entomology.

New York Trip

Oh December 30, twenty-five members of the Society were the guests
of the American Museum of Natural History, New York.
In the morning the laboratory/3 were visited by the
Staff members, and the aftep100n was devoted to view¬
ing the Museum proper. Ev^K courtesy of the American
Museum was extended to oy members. The Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad placed a °°ach at our disposal.

Feed the Birds 1

The appeal of Stata/arne Warden E. Lee Lecompte to help
preserve our birds by feeding t*'ra c1tl; ni ng the winter months should
be backed by every nature love*

Mr. Lecompte su/jes,t 3 for ^he feeding of song and in¬
sectivorous birds that a wo^on or vessel of some kind with

Pi/d

be

3Win/ng

tray

on the window sill, and also that suet
limb in, a wire mesh bag or ordinary

small grain or suet
be suspended from a
wire soap tray. p ■ /

Describin 3 ' °f establishing a feeding

station (perhaps morn?1 mra .sections) Mr. Lecompte says, "One
the best is - corn ? on >Ahi cn the ladder remains, set up in

Of

Indian tepee styles

( ~ i juutir rema ;

/leaving the bottom open at all

time;

*

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BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

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Volume V JANUARY, 1935 Number 5

Herbert C . Moore , Editor

COLLECTING THE COPPERHEAD
By H. Charles Robertson

It is generally believed that the Copperhead Snake (Agkist rodon
m oka sen) is rare in the State of Maryland, but this belief is not
true. However, there are many sections of the State where its oc -
currence is spotty or where it is not found at all.

fne of the best places for observing these reptiles is Allegany
County where, high upon the rocky ledges, they are very common. Bal¬
timore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington Counties
also provide excellent locations to collect and observe these ser¬
pents, I have not found them quite
so common in Harford, Howard, and
St. Mary's counties.

The coloration of the Copper¬
head, for that of a dangerously
poisonous reptile, is beautiful.

Its ground color is pale-brown, Y
pinkish, or sometimes a 1 i gh t r$i3rJ ^
dish brown. A series of dark
chocolate-brown blotches cross the
body, beginning a short distance
from the head and continuing the
entire length. There are usually,
eighteen of the blotches which ,
when viewed from above, look like
hour-glasses in shape, being nar¬
row in the center and becoming
wider on the sides. From the side these blotches appear like Y's in¬
verted. The head is a uniform copper color and is not marked except
for two tiny black dots. The underside is usually pinkish with a row
of dark spots showing on each side*

New-born copperheads are gray, and the blotches are either
blackish or brownish until about two weeks pass, when they take on
the brown shade and the copper color of the head. The tails of the

fl

b '

J

young are a brilliant sulphur-yellow, a color that is retained un¬
til the serpent is about two years old. This yellow does not
always fade entirely away, for many old specimens I have examined
still show traces of yellow on the underside.

Some observers claim the yellow tail serves as a decoy in
catching small prey that may be interested in a bright yellow grub
in the leaves. it is believed young birds and sometimes frogs are
attracted by this yellow tail and meet their ultimate end in mis¬
taking the wiggling tail for a grub, while the body of the serpent
is hidden under the leaves.

Copperheads are, on an average, about two and one half feet
in length. Many examples collected were from thirty-two to thirty-
eight inches in length. Occasionally four foot specimens are
captured, A three foot copperhead is a large example.

Several of the harmless serpents are sometimes mistaken for
Copperheads and killed. This, no doubt, may be attributed to the
fact that many of these other serpents have stout bodies marked with
brown or reddish blotches.

The Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata) is often mistaken for a Copper¬
head because of the saddles of reddish brown on its back.

The Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon contortrix) is also confused with
the Copperhead. Hog-nosed Snakes have stout bodies and heads that
look anything but harmless. (Figure 2)

Once while collecting at a favorite Copperhead den I heard a
slight hissing sound near my foot in the underbrush and my first
glance showed me what had created the sound. A two foot Hog-nosed
Snake was spreading the anterior section of its neck and putting up
quite a show .

These serpents (Hog-nosed Snakes) are absolutely harmless and I
have never induced one to bite. 7/hen surprised or disturbed they
are most unusual in their behavior, hissing and spreading the neck
somewhat like a Cobra (Naja). If the observer continues to disturb
the serpent it will roll over on its back as though dead. This is
only a sham, for the serpent will crawl away to safety after several
minutes have passed. Once while waiting for a Hog-nosed serpent to
roll back on its crawling surface I bent over and picked it up, only
to hear an exclamation of horror from a friend who had accompanied
me on the trip. Having seen several Copperheads at different times
he noticed the blotched pattern which led him to believe I had picked
up a poisonous serpent.

A valuable point of identification is in the eye of the Copper¬
head. The pupil of the eye is elliptical. Rattlesnakes also have
this type of pupil, which at once suggests nocturnal habits. Most
non -venomous serpents have a round pupil.

Last year I began my outdoor observations in April, so as to be
on hand when the serpents cane out of hibernation. Attention was
centered upon a den which had been "worked" several years before and
which was known to house a goodly number of Copperheads. In the

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Figure 2
Hog-nosed Snake
(Hotcrodon contortrix)

Figure 3 Figure 4

Copperhead Snake Mill: Snake

(Agkistrodon mokasen)

(Lanpropeltis triangulum trianguluia)

:

*;v : - -v y ; j

27 o

same den dwelt the Mountain Black Snake (Elaphe obsolete obsolete),
a harmless species that lives in perfect harmony with the venomous
serpent. The adults and the young of the Blacksnake live in the
den with no apparent respect for the Copperhead, whose bite w ould
be fatal. These Blacksnakes unlike the Black Racer are powerful
constrictors and are believed to lead the Copperheads and Rattle¬
snakes to safety when danger threatens, this being responsible for
another local name the "Pilot Blacksnake". The Blacksnakes have no
interest in the Copperheads' safety although their living together
might have prompted this belief. Blacksnakes of the species men¬
tioned are believed in some localities to be the enemies of the
Copperhead and Rattlesnake and it is thought that they kill these
dangerous serpents. Those who claim to have witnessed a battle to
the death between a Blacksnake and a venomous species have no doubt
observed the common King Snake ( Lampropelt is getulus getulus) in
combat, for this species is a cannibalistic serpent, and is immune
to the deadly venom of the Copperhead and Rattlesnake. King Snakes
kill their prey by constriction . The Copperhead and Rattlesnake
lack this power.

The first appearance of a Copperhead at the den was on April
27. The temperature in the den at the time - 11*45 A.M. - was 70°F.

Poison Apparatus
of the
' Copperhead

PM ~ Premaxilla
F - Poison Fang
D - Palatine
M - Maxilla
Mi - Muscles
D - Poison Gland
and Duct

At one o'clock the temperature had risen to 74°F and several other
specimens made their appearance. The adults seemed satisfied with
lying between the ledges, but a young Copperhead about eighteen
inches long crawled out. At three o'clock two other specimens came
out upon the rocks and lay in coils where they could receive the
full benefit of the life-giving rays of the sun. After sundown
they sluggishly crawled back into the den.

The following day found several Copperheads in the same places
as before. Basking with them was a three foot Mountain Blacksnake
which quickly found its way into my collecting bag. While picking
up the Blacksnake my hand came dangerously close to a Copperhead,
but the reptile made no attempt to move and showed no signs of
excitement .

Knowing the Copperheads to be of nocturnal habits, we took a
trip to the locality at night. Two serpents were lying on a flat
rock above the den. With the aid of a flashlight we carefully
worked our way up to a position where a noose could be placed over
their beads. With more than fifty feet of jagged rock below us
our danger lay in being bitten by a Copperhead or in falling. My
assistant held the light and guided the noose, the other end of
which I was holding. At the proper time the wire was pulled, making

the serpent ours. The second Copperhead crawled out of reach.

Repeated tri ps were made to the den at night and on almost every
trip we brought back a Copperhead. The hour between eleven and
twelve seemed to be the best time. Trips made at an earlier hour
found the serpents too far down among the rocks so that observation
was difficult.

Further invest iga tions made later in the season proved that the
Copperheads came down from the ledges to the swamp area below. The
serpents could be found bordering the swamp. Apparently they spent
the entire season in the lowlands where there was an abundance of
food* Many small rodents inhabited these lowlands, supplying the
serpents with an ideal hunting ground.

This location just mentioned, Patapsco State Park, is being
reforested by workers of the Civilian Conservation Corps. In the
swamp area members of this Corps killed thirty Copperheads in one
day. Several more seasons such as this will no doubt destroy all
Copperheads in this section, as well as the valuable serpents. At
this present rate reptile life in Orange Grove, Vineyard, and Glen-
artney will be exterminated in a short time. The copperhead is the
only poisonous serpent found there, although sixteen harmless species
have been collected, proving that the territory was an ideal one for
the study of reptiles. At Glonartney the Copperhead has been abun¬
dant in the heavily wooded hills. A specimen captured there two years
ago measured four feet.

In August a large female was captured in the Glenartney district.
On the eighteenth of September she gave birth to twelve young. The
majority of these babies were six inches in length, the remainder
between four and five inches. They were provided at birth with fangs
and well developed poison apparatus. A bite from a baby Copperhead
would be dangerous and could possibly cause death*

The color of these babies was a decided gray and the markings
were blackish. All hod sulphur-yellow tails. After eight days they
were rapidly turning to the brown color and the head3 were becoming a
distinct copper color. Two tiny black dots wore on tbe top of each
head. By December they had grown from three to five inches and
several were eleven inches long. They took small frogs (Ryla cruci¬
fer) , until v/ inter cut off this supply. Then they were successfully
force-fed with a pipette full of well-beaten eggs and tiny bits of
raw beef.

So perfect is tbe protective coloration of the Copperhead it can
lie unnoticed among dry leaves when only a few feet away, and as a
rule, it is better behaved than it is usually given credit for. On
several occasions I have been very close to one of these snakes with¬
out knowing it, and still it did not bite. Being a sluggish serpent
it prefers to lie perfectly still when an intruder cones along and
never dashes away like most serpents. Seldom will it strike or bite
unless stepped upon or otherwise disturbed. But if it is stepped
upon or cornered it will strike with the speed of an arrow. Should
one place a stick across the body of a Copperhead, holding it down,
it will turn and bite the stick viciously. Sometimes in excitement
it will bite its own body with no ill effects, for it is immune to
its own and other Copperheads’ venom.

4

'

■

.

29.

A Copperhead, will inject approximately forty milligrams in one
bite, according to the size and condition of the serpent. One drop
of this venom properly injected could cause the death of a man.
However, fatal accidents from this serpent are rare.

It is unwise to try to handle captive Copperheads with the be¬
lief that they will become tame. Captive specimens may become very
sluggish in their actions and appear docile but when picked up
usually turn and bite. They do not have to be coiled to bite.

Small animals poisoned by the injection of the venom are
affected immediately and are helpless in a short time. The prey
is always bitten and poisoned before being consumed as food. Not
possessing constricting power the Copperhead would soon starve if
deprived of its venom.

The poison apparatus consists of a pair of hollow teeth, called
fangs, in the anterior part of the upper jaw. A duct which connects
at the base of these fangs runs back to the gland. (See Figure 5).
The fangs are attached to a movable bone and when not in use lie
flat against the roof of the mouth, covered by a sheath of whitish
skin. Copperheads like other poisonous serpents cannot be made
harmless by pulling out these fangs. New ones grow m place within
a short time. These fangs are shed frequently, the new fangs
appearing along side of the old ones. Specimens about to lose
their fangs are sometimes caught and the dual fangs may be seen.
There are about fourteen or more of these reserve fangs in different
stages of development, equally divided on either side.

The venom, a yellowish fluid, is derived from an almond-shaped
gland which lies above the lip margin and when injected into an
animal quickly destroys the blood and the carrying vessels. Venom
is carried through the system from the wound by means of the
lymphatic vessels. Venom when extracted for experimental use con
be dried and kept in sealed containers for years. (An illustration
of the apparatus used for the extraction of venom is shown in
Figure 6). Poisonous serpents are held firmly by the neck close
to the head and are made to bite into the cloth covering the glass
cone-shaped container. Two tiny jets of venom, which are produced
when the serpent bites, run down to the bottom of the container.

In storing venom, if the container be glass, it should be pro¬
tected from light, for light rapidly decreases the toxic value of
the venom. Venom thus preserved can be put back into solution by
dissolving it in a sterile salt solution.

Dr. Howard A. Kelly has what I believe to be the oldest tube
of venom in the world - a tube nearly a hundred years old. It is
not known at the time of writing if the venom still retains its
toxic properties as no experiments with this venom have been made.

The "pit" from whence the serpents possessing this organ get
the term "pit viper" is a sensory organ. Highly innervated, the
pit is believed to be responsible for the accuracy with which the
serpents strike. Experiments show that if a pit viper is blinded
it can still strike accurately. Knowing the tongue to be a highly
developed organ the experimenters also removed it. Still the
serpent could strike an animal placed in its cage. Finally when
the pits were removed, the serpent made slow strikes sweeping to
one side as though trying to find the animal. Microscopic examina¬
tion of sections of the pit showed it to be well supplied with
nerves. The animals used by these experimenters were rats.

.

.

!" « •:

4

30

Meetings of the Society

January 8 - Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer - "Benefits Derived from
the Natural History Society of Maryland,"

January 15 - Talk by Mr. Edmund B. Fla dung - "Development of
the Natural History Society of Maryland."

January 22 - Talk by Mr. John B* Calder - "Barnacles."

January 29 - Talk by Mr. H. C. Robertson - "Treatment of Snake
Bites . "

Junior Meetings

January 5 - General meeting and discussions,

January 19 - Lecture by Dr. Joseph L. Wheeler - "Museums,
Collections, and Books as an aid to Amateur Scientists."

Trustees Meetings

January 4 - Quarterly business meeting of the Society.

Committees appointed:- Nominating for two Trustees; G. C. Klingel,
Chairman, Edward McColgan and Herbert C, Moore. Budget Committee:
Elra M. Palmer, Chairman, John B. Calder, Gilbert C. Klingel, and
Edmund B. Fla dung, Ex Officio.

January 12 - Special Meeting in connection with securing new
building .

Departmental Meetings

January 12 - Mineralogy .

J a nua r y 9 - Entomology.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

January 3 - To Troop i?8, B.S.A. by Mr'. K. C. Robertson -
"Snakes of Maryland."

January 14 - To State Normal School by Mr. Earl H. Palmer -
"Botany . "

Januarv 14 - To School SI by Mr. Richard Webster - "insect
Life."

January 16 - To School #1 by Mr. L. Bryant Mather - "Rocks."

January 17 - To the Gilman Country School by Prof. John A.
Frisch, S.J. "Ants and Their Ways."

January 23 - To the State Normal School by Prof. John A. Frisch ,
S.J. - "Ants and Their Ways."

January 18 - Talk over Station WFBR - School News Broadcast.
Resume of the talks of R. Webster and L. Bryant Mather at School 41.,

Exhibitions, Gifts, and Loans

Janue ry 12 - Exhibit of Rocks and Minerals at Branch No. 12,
Enoch Pratt Library.

January 10 - Loan collection of rocks to Towson High School.

January 31 - Acknowledgment by National Museum of a gift of
three mineral specimens - two of sepiolite froim Bare Hills, and one
of Deweylite from Soldiers Delight, Maryland.

The Natural Mis

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

trl u. O im i V

F?EF'D TO

Volume V FEBRUARY, 1935 Number 6

Herbert C. Moore , Editor

THE SOCIETY’S NEW QUARTERS
By

Edmund B. Fla dung

Six years ago when the Founders of this Society drew up their
Charter and constitution they were imbued with the idea of having
more than an ordinary Society of kindred spirits, an institution
which would not only be engaged in research work, but one that would
render services to the citizens of Maryland and especially of Balti¬
more. Article 3 of Section A of our Charter, and Article 2 of our
Constitution read:-

”The object of the Corporation shall be to increase and diffuse
knowledge of Natural History and to this end establish and
maintain in the State of Maryland a museum and reference
library, to collect and preserve objects of Natural History,
to protect wild life from needless destruction, to provide
facilities for research and publication, and for the pursuance
of allied sciences and endeavors, and to offer popular in¬
struction.”

For the past six years the Society has been working to these
ends. Many of these objects we have been able to fulfill beyond
our original expectations. One dream is now being materialized -
that is, to possess a building large enough where we can place on
public exhibition the vast amount of material we have been collect¬
ing so that the results of our work will be at the disposal of those
interested in diffusing the knowledge of Natural History.

We now have such a building. Though small, it furnishes room
to expand and provides more and better facilities for research, -to
render to teachers, students and pupils of our schools more service
than heretofore.

At the commencement of this fiscal year we had no idea that we
would be forced to expand so soon, although it would have been in¬
evitable. However, the demands that have been made upon us during
this year for services to schools, libraries, clubs, etc., have
hastened this step.

"FLOOR PLAN OF SOCIETY'S NEW HOME

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The Society's new quarters are at 2103 N. Bolton Street. A
plan of the building accompanies this article and will give the
reader an idea of the extent of our expansion. This will especial¬
ly interest those who have been acquainted with the Society's
quarters of the past six years.

We now have 3700 square feet of floor space whereas we only
had 400 feet heretofore. Our lecture service at the Society had to
be curtailed owing to our limited space. With our enlarged quarters
we can accommodate more persons, our lecture room being so located
that the hall and members* lounge will takb care of an excess
audience ,

The library has now plenty of room for expansion. Also there
is office space for the officers where they may perform their duties.

We have sufficient room to exhibit many of our specimens which
have been housed in the homes of our members. The rooms are so
located that visitors will have a clear passageway to them. More¬
over, the members' lounge and hallways can be used if more exhibi¬
tion space is needed.

But the most needed space of all is for laboratories and 'work¬
rooms . For these, the third floor and cellar lend themselves
admirably. Each department will have working space as well as space
for storage of its collections,

A part of the cellar will be quite appropriate for a dark room
in which to make lantern slides, etc., and a shop for building cases
and other necessary adjuncts.

Besides these added facilities the members will have a commo¬
dious room in which to lounge and chat, and also a suitable room
for hats and coats.

We trust with the above acquisitions the Society will be able
to hasten much of its work and facilitate the many other projects
it is contemplating.

Relative Frequencies of the Pulsations of the Anterior and Posterior
Contractile Vacuoles in Paramecium multimicronuclea turn and Paramecium

caudo turn

Preliminary Report

Fortner (1924) reports that the posterior contractile vacuole
pulsates more rapidly than the anterior in Paramecium cauda turn.

Child and Deviney (1926), Eisenberg (1926) and Port (1927) report
that the anterior vacuole pulsates more rapidly. The latter is in
accord with Child's axial gradient theory.

Fifty-one individuals of Paramecium multimicronuclea turn were
studied by timing the pulsations of the anterior and posterior
contractile vacuole simultaneously, for as many successive pulsa¬
tions as possible. In only 6 individuals with a total of 122
pulsations did the anterior vacuole pulsate more rapidly. In the
remaining 45 individuals, with a total of 1132 pulsations, the

posterior vacuole pulsated more rapidly by from .03 to 3.16 seconds.

Early results of studying Paramecium cauda turn by tbe same
method indicate that the posterior vacuole pulsates more rapidly
also in this species. A complete report of both these studies will
re published later.

References

1924 - Fortner, H. Uber die physi ologisch dif ferente Bedeutung dor
kont raktilen Vakuolen bei Paramecium caudatum, Ehrbg. : Zool. Anz.,
60*217.

1926 - Child, C.M. and Deviney, E. Contributions to tbe physiology
of Paramecium cauda turn. Jour. Exp. Zool. {43, 257-312.

1926 - Eisenberg, E. Researches srr le f onct ionnement do la vesicule
pulsatile des infusoires, (Par. caud. Stein), dans les conditions
norma les et sous 1 'action des certains agents experinentaux :
pression osmotique et electrolytes. Arch. Biol, Liege-Paris; 35;
441-464.

1927 - Port, J. Beitrag zur Temperaturwirkung auf die Pulsation
der Vakuolen bei P. caud. Protoplasma* 1(4), 566-580.

John A. Frisch, S.J.

ONE OF THE ORDER HAPLOMI
By Frank C. Yingling

In the lowland pools and swamps there is a small sluggish,
carnivorous fish, Umbra pygmaea, the Eastern Minnow, which is close¬
ly related to the pike family and belongs to the family of Umbridao
or Mud Minnows .

Due to the draining of the swamps at Vineyard in Baltimore
County these fish were abundant in the stagnant water of the small
pools. Over fifty specimens were collected, examined, and later
released in streams in the vicinity. The fish ranged in size from
40 mm. to 85 mm. The smaller fish were of a light brown, the larger
an olive green with about twelve longitudinal pale stripes.

From the specimens examined it appears that the spawning of

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this fish is most likely in late March and early April. A ripe
female 76 mm. in length was taken in March. Later this specimen
spawned approximately 1200 eggs of a milky white each about 1 mm.
in diameter. This female was a very dark green and the stripes
very distinct and dark. After spawning the stripes faded and the
color changed to the usual olive green.

Whether this fish is a nest builder or not , little is known.
According to the observations of one a querist who kept a pair in a
tank, the male hollows . a nest in the algae where the female spawns .

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principally in swamps where there is a heavier vegetation than in
rivers or streams. They have been observed at C on ow in go in the
pools below the dam and especially at Vineyard.

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NOTES

General Meetings and Lectures of the Society

WBmaTy3^^aTF~byTIF7^1!riTon^Ter , Jr. - "A Description of
Ancient Dinosaurs/1 Illustrated with plaster casts of original
models by Mr, Oler . (Made to scale).

Februa ry 12 ~ Talk by Mr. Francis O'Rourke - ’'plant Momoncla*-
ture . "

February 19 - Lecture by Dr. William S. Pike "Crater Lake,
Grasshopper Glacier, and Heat Activity of Yellowstone Park." The
lecture was illustrated with colored motion pictures.

February 26 ~ Talk by Mr. Woodward Burkhart - "Three Important
Indian village Sites of Maryland." Illustrated with Indian arti¬
facts.

Special Lectu re

February 15 ;r~The first of a series of illustrated lectures
for the general public was given at the Central Branch of the Enoch
Pratt Library by Mr. Gilbert C . Klingel. This lecture was en¬
titled - "Exploring the Bottom of the Chesapeake."

Lecture to Outside Organization

Fe^ruar y "u STT^Xec t/u re e nTTtTIelT™ -"insect Life" to the Science
Faculty and Science Club of the Clift an Park Junior High School by
Mr. Richard Webster. Illustrated with specimens.

Exhibit! on

Fehruary_T5 - Exhibit of Minerals at the fifth anniversary
celebration of Boy Scout Troop #175,

Junior Meetings

Februa*r^~^^r_Tal k by Mr, Med Crosby - "The Use of Specific
Gravity and Magnetism in Determining Minerals."

February 16 - Lecture by Mr. H. Charles Robertson - "Snakes
of the World." Illustrated.

Other Meetings

Feb ruary 9 p e c i a 1 meeting of Board of Trustees.

February 23 - Special meeting of Curators.

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume V

MARCH , 1935

Herbert C. Moore, Editor

Number 7

BIRD NOTES FROM HONGA, MARYLAND
By W. Bryant Tyrrell

In the fall of 1933 I spent three weeks, from September 23 to
October 15, at Honga, Hoopers Island, Maryland. During this in¬
terval most of my time was taken up by my work and therefore my
attention to the bird life of the island was limited. However,
when the work was nearing completion I was able to take several
short trips to nearby localities. Notes were made whenever possi¬
ble, but they are not complete.

Honga is a small village on the northern or upper end of the
most northernly island of the group of three Hooper’s islands,
located on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, in Dorchester
County, in the southern part of the eastern shore of Maryland.

Hooper1 s Islands, as well as some of the other islands of the
eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay have long been known as a fall
migration route for hawks and other birds and during the late fall,
winter, and early spring the waters, which abound with natural
food, are visited by thousands of ducks, geese, and swans. The
islands, which are bounded on the east by the Honga River, and on
the west by Chesapeake Bay (except at the northern part, where they
are separated from the Bay by Tar Bay and Barron Island) are a
group of three long, narrow, low-lying islands, extending in a
northwest, south-easterly direction, the highest point of which
does not exceed twenty feet above the water. A large part of the
margins of the islands are swampy, though there are stretches of
gravel and in some places sandy beaches. There are some wooded
areas, but the greater part of the land is clear and is used as
pasture, or i s occasionally farmed, although most of the inhabi¬
tants make their living from the water- -fish , crabs, oysters.

The localities visited included a number of different types
of country, all typical of the region. On the way to, and only a
few miles distant from Honga, the Blackwater marsh, a federal game
preserve, was crossed, though unfortunately but little tine was

S7
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spent there. On the afternoon of Sunday, October 8, a walk was
taken through the evergreens to a wide, marshy area to the south
and east along the Honga River. On October 9, a short time was
spent in the late afternoon on an area known locally as ‘the "Great
Marsh*’, in the hope of finding some shore birds which were said to
abound there. This area, which is on Chesapeake Ray, has a sandy
beach, back of which are alternately marshy areas and open water.

The Bay was crossed twice in a fishing boat to Cedar Point; once in
beautiful weather and the second time on a cold, dull, rainy day
with frequent short squalls. At Cedar Point there is a wide, sandy
beach backed by a low growth of trees and there the most conspicuous
bird was the eagle. The last trip was taken to a mixed wood of
virgin timber near Golden Hill, where the peculiar gray form of the
fox squirrel is found. There we found some of the forest -loving
birds which were not seen elsewhere.

On several days there were distinct migrations. On October 4
and 9 there was a h eavy hawk migration. One could see them in the
air most of the time and literally thousands were killed for food,
for the people of the island v/ould rather eat hawk than chicken.

On the night of October 12, which was clear and cool, with a bright
moon, there was a migration of small birds, with Warblers in abun¬
dance, and on the morning of the 15th the yard was full of small
birds. At about the time I was leaving, the duck and geese migra¬
tion was just starting, the first few flocks being seen.

The following is the list of birds observed;

Loon--Gavia i. immer--On September 28 one was seen flying over
Tar Bay; on the 29th five more were seen; on October 12, when cross¬
ing to Cedar Point, several were seen in Chesapeake Bay; and on
October 13 many were seen.

Double-crested Cormorant --Phalacrocorax a. auritus--on October
13 one was seen on a pond net stake near Cedar Point.

Great Blue Heron --Ardea h, herodias--a common bird around the
ma rshes .

Canada Geese- -Branta c. canadens is - -on October 13 one flock
was seen, the first of the season.

Black Duck--Anas rubripes tristis--on September 22, two were
seen over the Blackwater marsh and on October 9 seven were seen on
the ” Great Marsh” .

Pinta i l-~Dafi la acuta tzitzihoa --Captain Sam Tolley reported
seeing two over the Bay on his trip to Cedar Point on September 29,
and on the 14th of October reported several flocks.

Ducks and Geese are birds over which there is considerable
controversy on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The local hunters
claim that all the good shooting grounds have been bought by wealthy
interests and it leaves no place for the little fellow to hunt. But
they will hunt - so most of their hunting is done illegally at night,
with a light. Several experiences were related to me, one of which

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I shall repeat. Two men had been baiting a certain bar for sone
time, watching it to see when the geese were numerous. One dark
night the two of them started out in a fast power boat - faster than
the game warden’s. As they come near the bar they could hear the
geese, so they got into a skiff and rowed slowly in the direction
of the birds. When they were close they turned on a powerful light
with which they saw a group of birds, thirty or forty feet in front
of them. One barrel of a heavily loaded 8-gauge gun was fired into
the flock. With the report the entire flock, possibly several
hundred birds, rose. When the birds were gone the two men picked
up seventeen dead birds, making no attempt to chase the cripples.
Upon arriving home they picked the birds, packed them in ioe, and
kept them until they were wanted. packs are taken in the same way,
and I was told that as many as two hundred had been killed with one
shot .

Turkey Vulture -Cathartes aura sept entrionalis -one of the common¬
est birds.

Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter v. velox - on September 30 one
was collected; two were seen on October 1, flying just over the tops
of the bushes; on October 4 and 9 many were seen, all flying low.

Cooper’s Hawk - Accipiter cooperi - an immature female was
collected on September 30, and many v/ere seen on October 4 and 9,
flying quite high .

Northern Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo 1. lineatus - an immature
bird was collected by H. Hall, on October 11.

Broad -winged Hawk - Buteo p. platypterus - a few were seen on
October 4 and 9.

American Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus s. johannis - one
was seen near Golden Hill on October 13.

Southern Bald Eagle - Hal laeetus 1. leucocephalus - at Cedar
Point on both October 12 and 13, a number of these birds v/ere seen;
at one time four old white-headed birds and six or seven '■ immature
were in view. The principal food of eagles is fish, and when the
unmarketable fish were thrown overboard, the eagles v/ere not long
in coming after them. It was interesting to watch the gulls, which
always followed the boat, give way as an eagle approached. They
eemed to just spread out and let the eagle take its pick, and when
e had gone, back they would come, until another eagle appeared.

Marsh Hawk - Circus hudsonius - one was seen over Blackwater
Marsh on September 22, and another was seen near the house on Octo¬
ber 9 .

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus carolinensis - several v/ere noted at
Cedar Point on October 12 and 15.

Duck Hawk - Falco peregrinus - one was seen over the Great Marsh
on October 9.

Eastern Pigeon Hawk - Falco c. columbarius - reported to be quite

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plentiful during the fall migration, though I did not see any.

H. Hall collected one on September 23, and also he s a mounted one
in his collection.

Eastern Sparrow Hawk - Falco s. sperverius •- an adult male
collected on October 2.

During the fall migration there is a heavy flight of hawks.

The birds follow the land along the eastern shore of the Chesapeake
Bay, usually flying with a northwest wind. At times hundreds are
in sight. Elmer Hall and his son Harold, residents of the Island,
have a collection of mounted birds which contains the following,
all taken on Hoopers island:- Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broadwing Hawk, Rough¬
legged Hawk, Bald Eagle, Marsh Hawk, Osprey, Duck Hawk, Pigeon Hawk,
Sparrow Hawk.

Coot - Fulica a. americana - two small flocks of five or six
were seen on October 12; one was collected October 13; reported to
be exceedingly abundant a little later.

Killdeer - Oxyecbus v. vociferus - quite common, often heard
during the day flying high. Twice heard at night, on the 28th
and 29th of September.

American Woodcock - Philohela minor - one collected on October
4, but shot too badly to save.

Spotted Sandpiper -- Actitis macularia - one seen at Cedar Point
on October 13.

Least Sandpiper - Fisobia minutilla - two in a flock of Sander-
lings at Cedar Point as October 12.

Sanderling - Crocethia alba - three collected from a flock at
Cedar Point, October 12.

Herring Gull - Larus argentatus smithsonianus - common.

Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis - common, but not as
abundant as the former species; one collected.

Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla - common, several collected.

Common Tern - Sterna h. hirundo - several seen on September 28;
one collected on the 29th.

Eastern Whip-poor-will - Antrostonus v. vociferus - one collect¬
ed on October 3.

Eastern Kingfisher - Megaceryle a. alcvon - an immature female
collected on September 29; one seen at Cedar Point.

Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus luteus - Flickers or
"Hanners" as they are locally called, are considered quite a deli¬
cacy and are hunted each fall on their southern migration.

It was interesting to hear the men talk of them.

Hanner Poles -■ tall straight poles are erected in suitable
locations, usually near the house Or in a clearing near the house,
and early in the noming the men sit under these poles until a
number of birds "pitch” up on them and then they fire, often getting
four, five or even more with one shot. On September 29, there was
a northwest wind and the birds came down with that wind. They wore
surely abundant; one could see them everywhere. The 30th, Saturday,
was a beautiful, clear, calm day with nothing much for the men to do,
so they all went out to shoot birds. Some hawks were killed, but
the hanners suffered most. A thousand birds must have been killed
on that day; two men shot sixty-six, another f ortv-eigh t , another
twenty-five, another nine, and so on over the entire island.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphvrapicus v. varius - one seen on
October 4.

Eastern Phoebe- Sayornis phoebe- on September 28 one was seen
near the house; and another at Cedar Point on October 12.

Tree Swallow - Iridoprocne bicolor - several flocks flying over
on October 8.

Northern Blue Jay - Cyanocitta c. cristata - one was heard near
Golden Hill on October 13, though H. Rail reported it quite common
at times.

Eastern Crow - corvus b. brachyrhynch os - a common bird at all
times .

Fish Grew - Corvus ossifragus - not as abundant as the former
species .

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor - one seen near Golden
Hill, Oct ob er 13.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis - one seen in the yard
on October 8; and again at Cedar Point on October 12.

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus 1. ludovicianus - on October 8 one
was seen; and again on the 12th at Cedar Point.

Mocking Bird - Minus p. polyglottos - one collected October 11.

Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum - one was seen in the fig tree
in back of the house September 20, October 3, 4, and 8.

Eastern Robin - Turdus m. migratorius - one heard singing a
feeble song on October 8; noted again on the 12th and 14th.

Eastern Hermit Thrush - Hylocichla guttata faxoni - one collect¬
ed on. October 13.

Eastern Bluebird - Sialia s. sialia - a few were seen on October
11; also at Cedar Point on the 12th; and on the 14th near Golden
Hill they were quite abundant.

Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet - Regu lus s. satrapa - one in
the yard the morning of Oct ober 12; and several were seen near Golden
Hill on the 14th.

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Eastern -Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Corthvlio c. calendula - one
seen at Cedar point cn the 12th of October; on the l3th a boy
brought one to me which he had killed with a stone.

Starling - Sturnus v, vulgaris ~ abundant; and, as elsewhere,
a pest. In former years a good crop of figs were usually harvested,
now the starlings eat them as fast as they ripen.

Cape May Warbler - Dondroica tigrina - on October 13 one was
seen in the yard. Hundreds of warblers arrived the night of 'October

12 and on the morning of the 13th the low trees and bushes were full
of them, but I was not able to take tine to identify then.

Myrtle Warbler - Dondroica coronata - one seen on October 3.

Meadlowlark - Sturnella n. magana - one or two were seen or
heard nearly every day.

Eastern Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius p. phoenieeus - usually
to be seen over the marshy areas, though no large flocks were noted.

Purple Crackle - Quiscalus q. quiscula - a few seen on October

13 •

Eastern Goldfinch - Spinus t. tristis - a few seen every day or

two .

Red-eyed Towhee - pipilo e. erythrophthalmus - several seen on
October 3 and again on the 8th; a pair collected on October 14.

Slate-colored Junco - junco h. hyemalis - two were seen on
October 3 and by the 14th they were an abundant bird.

Eastern Song Sparrow - Melospiza m. nelodia - first noted on
October 3; seen often after that; one making a poor attempt to sing
on October 9.

NOTES '

Meetings and Lectures at the Society - March 5 - Talk by Mr, Joseph
White- ’’Fish of the Family CyprinodontTdae . " March 12 - Talk by
Mr. Elmo Mast ers- "Bui Id ing a Mature Trail." M.a rch 19 - Talk by
Mr. Charles Svec - "Soil as a Factor in Plant Growth." March 26 -
Annual Meeting of the Society. The President delivered his annual
address on the growth and pr ogress of the Society during the past
fiscal year. Reports were submitted by the Secretary, Treasurer,
the Curators of the various Scientific departments , the
Editor of the Department of Publication, the Director of the Depart¬
ment of Education, and the Librarian.

Lectures to Outside Organizations - March 15 - The second of the
first series of lectures to the public at large was held in the
Auditorium of the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Library. Rev.

John A. Frisch, S.J. delivered the lecture, the subject of which
was "Ants and Their Ways." March 27 Lecture entitled "Snakes
of Maryland" to the Clifton Park High School by Mr. Elra M. Palmer.
March 2 7 - Two lectures entitled "Snakes of Maryland" we re given to
two Science Classes of the Public Evening High School by Mr. Lira
M. Palmer.

Exhibitions - March 29 - A fourteen day exhibit of minerals, plants,
and insects was installed in School No. 1.

Junior Division - March 1 - Talks by Robert Wheeler "Rock Forma¬
tion in the Baltimore Area" and Elias Cohen, "The Life History cf
the Garter Snake." March 16 - Lecture by Mr. Frank Yingling "Fishes
of Maryland."

The Natural History

Society of Maryland

.K

Vol. V No, 8

APRIL, 1935

$1,00 a Yoar

ZEOLITES OF THE GABBRO OF BALTIMORE CITY

By Walter E. Price, Jr

The zeolites are a group of well defined hydrous silicates
closely allied chemically with the feldspars, but different from
them in that they contain water of crystallization. They are
characterized by a moderate hardness of from 3 to 5.5, a low-
specific gravity of from 2 to 2.5, and are easily fusible with
intumescence at from 2 to 3. The name zeolite, from the Greek
meaning boiling stone, describes appropriately their peculiar
action before the blowpipe. Acids easily decompose them with the
separation of silica in either a powdery or gelatinous form. Op¬
tically they all possess a low index of refraction and weak
birefringence. Most commonly they occur white; they are rarely
colored. The zeolites are secondary minerals found in cavities
in the basic igneous rocks such as basalt, diabase, gabbro, etc.
The most noted localities for zeolites in the United States are
Table Mt , at Golden, Colorado, and in New Jersey at Bergen Fill,
and West Paterson.

The gabbro of Baltimore County is a medium to coarse grained,
granular, completely crystalline rock of a black to dark green
color. It is composed of pyroxene and dark plagioclase feldspar.
The greater parts of the north and northwestern sections of Balti¬
more City are covered by this rock. There are several good ex¬
posures in various quarries and stream valleys in the city.

The most abundant zeolite occurring in the Baltimore area of
gabbro, or "trap” as it is commonly called, is laumontite
CaAl2Si40]_2 • 4Hs^ ». It is found in greatest abundance at the

Woodberry Trap Rock Quarry. There it occurs along all the joints
in the rock, and frequently it is found in beautiful groups of
slender prismatic, white crystals that have filled in the larger
spaces between the joints. Sometimes it occurs with calcite
crystals which are unmodified rh ombohedrons , a rare form for cal¬
cite. Some of these calcite crystals occurring with the laumontite
are golden-yellow in color, and are penetrated by white laumontite
crystals, showing clearly that the laumontite. developed first, and

1 1935

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43

then the calcite formed around it. This golden calcite luminesces
strongly after a short exposure to ultra-violet rays. Along the
banks of Gwynns Falls, near Franklintown Road, laumontite is also
found in rather stout, but imperfect crystals. A comparatively
rare form of laumontite occurring at Woodberry, is laumontite
pseuomorph after analcite (see below). These pseud omorphs occur
as t rapezohedrons in a matrix of finely crystalline laumontite.

They are a dull white color, and specimens have been found as large
as one inch in diameter.

Ranking next in attractiveness to laumontite at Woodberry, is
apophyllite, Kg0.8CaO . l6Si0o . 16 KgO. (1) It is rather rare there,
occurring in clear, sparkling, small crystals about 1mm in size.

Heulandite, (Na,Ca)^ AI5 (Al,Si) Si^O^*, . 10 RoO is another
zeolite found in the Wooclberry trap occurring in finely crystalline
masses with a pearly luster. It also is among the rare ones there.

A zeolite occurring at Woodberry, which is easy to distinguish
from the others, is stilbite (Ca ,Na)Al(Al,Si)Si0Oig • 5 HgO. Its
white, flat, radiating groups stand out clearly on the rock surfaces.

In the gabbro of the Gwynns Falls valley small, white, acicular
crystals of natrolite, Mag Alg Sig Oj_q • SRgO, occurring with
analcite, Nag AI2 Si^O^g • 12 HoO, have been found. The natrolite
is unattractive but the^small white, vitreous trapezohedrons of
analoite are very beautiful. The largest analcite crystal found
measured 7mm in diameter.

(1) Apophyllite is not a zeolite but is included here because
it is closely related in its occurrence.

A SHORT TRIP TO THE EASTERN SHORE
(Notes on the Spring Birds of This Section)

By Henri C . Seibert

We built our campfire in a pine woods seven miles west of
Berlin, Maryland, and prepared for the night. Before going to bed,
however, we searched the neighboring streams for frogs but only
found the leopard and the green along with some spring peepers.

The spadefoot is known to occur here but although we searched
diligently we were unable to locate any. The weather had been very
inclement for over a week and consequently the number of amphibians
was at a minimum.

The hoots of a horned owl and sporadic spring peeper choruses
were the only sounds to break the stillness of the night. The sky
had cleared up and we hoped for good weather during the day, but
by daybreak the sky was overcast and remained so until nightfall.

As we rose in the early morning, the first birds to greet us
were the pine and yellow throated warblers. Both were in song and
fairly common in the pine wood areas. As the sky became lighter,
Black and White warblers, redstarts, yellow-throats, wood thrushes,

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and oven birds joined their notes to the cheerful noises of an
early spring morning.

We had come to this region expressly to visit the cypress
swamp that was about 250 yards away. This swamp is part of the
Pocomoke River system and possesses all the features characteris¬
tic of a typical cypress swamp* The water was dark brown and very
placid; the shores were extremely boggy with tree roots winding in
and out of the soft ground , and here and there cypress knees from
the few remaining cypress trees protruded abbve the water* A white
vi diet (viola lanceolata) was very abundant, growing in clusters
wherever the soil was above water. But it was not the flora that
attracted our attention • it was the multitude of birds all about
us - a veritable ornithologist’s paradise.

This was the typical haunt of the prothonotary warbler , and in¬
deed we found this bird everywhere ; it was one of the more common
species. Great blue herons flew overhead going both up and down
stream. At one time we spotted a lone egret flying upstream, to
be followed a moment later by a pair of wood ducks. We stood on
a little bridge over the river and from this spot we observed
blue-grey gnat cat chers , scarlet tanagers , Louisiana water-thrushes,
parula , blue-winged, Kentucky, myrtle, and worn-eating warblers,
Carolina chickadees, black-billed cuckoos, white-eyed, red-eyed,
and yellow-throated vireos , all this without budging an inch*

As we were about to penetrate the swamp we looked up and saw
a pileated woodpecker pass over our heads and disappear behind the
trees ,

In the deeper recesses of the swamp we continued to. find the
warblers, many of which were new to our ever growing list. We ran
across an old nest of a yellow-crowned night heron and as we were
returning, one of these birds was seen.

By this time most of the morning had passed and it was time
for us to leave this haven of birds. We proceeded to Ocean City
but we on ly f ound the herring and laughing gulls and a single
greater yellow-legs. Therefore we went on to Bethany Beach and
rode along the coast to Rohobeth. Our luck was very much better
for we saw many interesting and unusual birds. Spotted, semi -
palmated sandpipers, ringed and black-bellied plovers, blue-winged
teal and greater and lesser vellow-legs were all on the sand bars
and adjacent shallow waters. Quite remarkable was the number of
ospreys. At one time I counted 37 in the air I It is well known
that eagles chase these birds to force then to drop their fish but
this time the osprey’s enemies were his brothers. The minute any
one of these birds captured a fish the others started pursuit un¬
til the prey was given up. The new owner would then be immediately
beset by others until he, too, was forced to abandon the fish. One
fish I watched changed from one bird, to another three tines.

We saw a pair of least terns and scoters of indeterminable
species on the seaward side of the narrow pen insula . A harsh
whistle drew our att ent i on to boa t -tai led grackles that haunted
the water’s edge together with sharp -tailed sparrows.

As we proceeded up the coast we encountered the marsh and

45

pigeon hawks , American bittern , and another rarity , the little blue
heron. We brought our trip to a close by visiting the Delaware City
marshes. The weather was now so severe that we were unable to ob¬
serve for any length of time, but we did see coots and some Florida
gallinules .

When we reached home we amassed our records and discovered that
we had recorded 106 different birds, which, considering the bad
weather conditions, was not at all unsatisfactory.

STUDIES OF NUTRITION IN PARAMECIUM

Phelps in a recent report on the nut r it i on al needs of Para¬
mecium reaches the conclusion that two elements are necessary, and
that both are particulate. One element is a suitable living
bacterium and the other is some particulate matter in the medium.

In his historical summary of the question Phelps makes no mention
of two papers by Che jfec (2 , 3. ) In these papers Chejfec reports that
he has cultured Paramecium on a suspension of B . coli in tap water.
The cultures have to be renewed every two or three days, because
the bacteria presumably do not multiply in the tap water. If this
is done the animals can be cultured indefinitely on such suspensions,

Chejfec' s transfers from hay infusion media to the B . coli
suspensions afe probably contaminated by the bacterial flora of the
hay infusion, since he does not sterilize the animals but merely
keeps them in tap water for ten hours , before making the transfers.
Succeeding transfers may however be pure. The suspensions of B.
coli may c onta in nutritive material , contrary to Chejfec ' s implied
assumption, due to his method of preparing these suspensions by
washing the bacteria from peptone agar slants by means of a pipette.
These two possibilities are now being investigated.

But, apart from these objections, even if valid, it would seem
that in Chejfec ' s method a particulate substance in the medium is
not necessary for the continuous culture of Paramecium.

(1) Phelps, Austin, 1934. Studies on the Nutrition of Para¬
mecium. Arch. Prot ist , , 82 • 134.

(2) Chejfec, M. , 1928. On the Nuclear Reorganization in
Paramaeciun cauda turn. Acta Biol. Exper. , 2; 89.

(3) chejfec, M . , 1929. Die Lebensdauer von Paranaecium cauda -
turn in Abhangigkeit von der Nahrungsmenge » Acta Biol.

Exper . , 4s 73.

John A. Frisch, S. J.

THE TALKING FERN

(Campt osorus rhizophyllus (L.) Link)

By Earl R. palmer

At the sudden bend of the river, when the bank faces north,
and where the creviced limestone hill rises suddenly before you -
there look for this quaint fern. The Walking Fern flourishes most

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47 a

abundantly in coal, damp, wall-shaded limestone regions, but it
has been reported growing on sandstone, shale; gneiss, quartzite,
and granite. In one locality, the writer has found the C* rhi-
zophyllus growing in great profusion on moss covered limestone
surrounded by many species of ferns - Dryopteris marginalis,
hexagonoptera and noveboracensi s , Adiantum pedatum and others.

The name, Walking Fern, has given rise to many confusing ideas.
The fern has no feet to walk on; true to the Pt eridophyta , it pro¬
duces spores , but this plant has another form of reproduction .

The filiform frond bends over, touches soil and takes root thus
giving rise to a new plant by the ultimate withering of the connect¬
ing tissue 5 in th is way the plant "walks" . The connections are
usually slow to die and thus we find three and four generations
linked together.

The fronds rise in circular tufts from black rootstocks. They
seldom grow upward more than a few inches before they bend over
and take root. The base of the frond is heart shaped and tapers
off to a slender tip. The fronds vary in length from one to four¬
teen inches. The earlier fronds are short and blunt tipped,
devoted apparently to vegetative functions only. The sori are
oblong, irregularly scattered on either side of the veins and
usually parallel or oblique to the mid-rib.

The caraptosorus rhizophvllus remains green the entire year,

NOTES

Meetings at the Society

April 2 -Talk by Mr. Walter E. Price, Jr. - "Geological
Features of the Baltimore Area." illustrated.

April 16 - Talk by Mr. Edward McColgan - "Canera Lenses,"

I llustrated.

April 23 - Talk by Mr. Richard E. Stearns - "The Excavation
of Shellfield Indian Villages in Maryland." Illustrated.

April 30 - Talk by Mr. Herbert C. Moore - "Vulcanism." Maps.

Exhibits

Apri I~F~ - 12. Exhibit of typical woodland scene with plants
and animals at the Baltimore Flower Show . First Prize.

April 17 - May 1. Exhibit of Indian artifacts at the Enoch
Pratt Library, Mt . Washington Branch.

April 15 - May 7. Exhibit of birds in conjunction with the
commemoration of the Audubon Centenary - Enoch Pratt Library,
Central Branch.

Junior Meetings

April 6 - Talks by Joseph Lutnan and Govane McClees - "Diving
Helmets. "

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April 20 - General meeting.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

April 5 - At Cat on s vi lie Elementary School by Fir. W. Bryant
Tyrrell - "Birds, Bird-banding, and Feeding."

April 8 - At Forest Park High School by Mr. John B. Calder -
"Maryland Fossils."

April 9 - At Hamilton Junior High School by Mr. L. Bryant
Mather, Jr. - "Minerals of Maryland."

April 11 - At Baltimore City College Evening High School -
three lectures by Mr, Elra M. Palmer - "Some Maryland Insects."

April 11 - At the Biological Club, Baltimore City College by
Donald Roberts - "Frogs, Newts, and Salamanders."

April 11 - At the Baltimore City College - three lectures by
Richard Webster - "Representatives of the Insect Orders."

April 16 - At Forest Park High School Ethical Club by Mr.

John W. Calder - "Maryland Fossils."

April 17 - At Baltimore City College by Richard Webster -
11 Representatives of the Insect Orders."

April 19 - At Catonsville Elementary High School by Mr. W.

Bryant Tyrrell - "Eagles and Ospreys."

April 24 - At All Saints Parochial School by Harry "Putsche -
"Snakes and Their Ways."

April 26 - At St. Mary's Star of the Sea Parochial School by
Harry Putsche - "Snakes and Their Ways."

April 29 - At Forest Park High School Girls' Leader Club by
Mr. John B. Calder - "Maryland Fossils."

Special Meetings and Lectures

April 12- Reception to the biology teachers of Maryland Schools.
Lecture by Dr. John A. Firsch , S.J. - "Wild Flowers of Maryland."

April 13 - Lecture to the Maryland State Biology Teachers' con¬
vention by Mr. Elra M. Palmer - "Collecting, Preparing, and Preserv¬
ing Laboratory Materials."

April 26 - Reception and opening of the Society's new building
to members and friends.

April 27 - Trustees Meeting. Election of Officers: President -
Mr. Edmund B. Fladung; Vice president - Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel;
Secretary - Mr. John B. Calder; Treasurer - Mr. Edward McColgan.

Committees

•Executive - Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel , Chairman , Mr. John B. Calder
and Mr. Edward McColgan. Membership - Mr. John B. Calder, Chairman,
Mr. Herbert C. Moore, Mr. Elra M. Palmer. Finance - Mr. Edward
McColgan, Chairman, Mr. A. Llewellyn Jones and Mr. Herbert C. Moore,
Museum - Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, Chairman, Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel and
Mr. Elra M. Palmer.

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1 he Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Vol. V No. 9

MAY, 1935

51.00 a Year

A BRIEF HISTORY CF THE COPPER MINE AT BARE HILLS, MARYLAND

By Herbert C. Moore

The Bare Hills are now located less than a mile from Balti¬
more City, near the suburban section known as Mt . Washington.

That portion of the Hills where the chrome mining operations were
carried on is near Falls Road (see article by Elra M. Palmer -
"Chrome Ore in Maryland", Vol. V, No.l), while the copper mine
is on Smith Avenue. Old Pimlico Road connects Falls Road and
Smith Avenue. As Baltimore City increased in size, Rare Hills,
quite naturally, became closer. In the 60* s the Hills were seven
miles from the city.

Copper was discovered at Bare Hills in the days when Smith
Avenue was a mere dust road. The earliest reference appears to
be a Maryland law case mated 1848, deciuing a dispute which had
its beginning in 1844 and 1845.

Sometime prior to 1844, copper had been discovered on the
farm of Thomas B. Watts, who desired that the deposits should be
explored and worked, (in reality, he was the reversioner, his
mother possessing a life interest in the land.) He, very prob¬
ably, having little money, and knowing nothing about mining,
entered into an agreement with Thomas Petherick, a mining engineer
of some repute, for the exploration of the copper on the farm.

In the agreement Y/atts received one dollar consideration and a
promise of a full fifteenth part of all the minerals after the
same had been rendered fit for smelting, clear of all expenses.
Petherick paid Y/atts $30.00 "to make an excavation to the shaft
sunk on the copper ore on the farm." Apparently a small shaft
had been already made.

In December, 1844, Petherick transferred his interest to
Isaac Tyson, Jr. This gentleman attempted to hold Y/atts to his
agreement,, but Y/atts, perhaps advised that, he had made an unequal
contract, treated it as null. Tyson brought suit for specific
performance. The case was argued by some of the most noted lawyers

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BARE HILLS

Original rough sketch of the old road leading from the
,J opper Mine to Bare Hills Station in the 1860's.)

51,

of the tine - Reverdy Johnson and J.H.B* Lat robe for Tyson, and
T, Parkin Scott for Watts. The Court decided that the agreement
was one-sided. Peth erick (or his assignee , Tyson) could, under
the agreement, use the mine if it were found productive, but if
found otherwise, he could just lag along, doing nothing, and all
the time depriving Watts of revenue which he might be able to get
from somebody else who knew better how to work it, or by using
the property for other purposes. Therefore, the contract was not
mutual ,

Subsequently it seems, from an isolated allusion in Scarf,
the great Maryland historian, that Tyson did dally with the mine.
Others also endeavored to nine the copper there. However, the
operations between 1845 and 1855 were carried on none too success¬
fully, although the shaft was dug to a depth of 350 feet. The
drainage of water, always a great question at the Bare Hills copper
mine, and the hoisting of the ore and rubbish were effected by
means of a small steam engine of 4 horse power, the water being
drawn up in buckets through a snail irregular shaft which struck
the vein at the depth of 140 feet, below which point another small
opening was made on the dip of the vein about 180 feet. In 1855,

Dr. William H. Keener acquired a small Interest in the mine, and
in 1858, he purchased a controlling interest. captain Edward Powers,
his superintendent, abandoned the combined use of shaft and slope,
widened the slope and extended it to the surface.

In i860 the Bare Hills copper Mining Company was incorporated
by Act of the General Assembly of Maryland. Later, in 1864, the
company was reorganized with Keener as president, and work com¬
menced on a greater scale. Up t o 1864 the shaft, whi ch was not
vertical but on an incline of 45 degrees, had been dug to a depth
of 590 feet. The new system of pumping and hoisting was effected
by a steam engine cylinder with two boilers, 25 feet long and 3^
feet in diameter. An ore crusher was attached to the engine with
a pair of rollers 18 inches in diameter and 14 inches in length,
and three jigger machines of the oblong type, for sifting, were
used. Other very important improvements were made, such as a suit¬
able dressing house for the ore (84 x 45 feet), an office, smith's
shop and carpenter’s shop, magazine, dwelling for the captain, and
four blocks of miners’ houses, ea ch 50 feet.

In 18 64 the mining company had a capital stock of $500,000
in 100,000 shares of $5.00 each, AH was apparently subscribed
to at the time or within a short period, for two dividends on the
total capital stock were declared before 1866, but the working
capital was not absorbed at the outset as was so often done.
Furthermore, $25,000 was loaned on g ood security. Keener, before
1864, had explored the levels and exposed to easy access enough
ore, so that it was not necessary to spend a great deal in sinking
the shaft.

During the first two months of the new company’s operations,
over 175 tons of ore were mined. Only twelve miners Were working
at the time.

I

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52,

Prom March, 1864 to March, 1865, 700 tons were taken from
the mine, and the shaft was dug fifty feet deeper to the 650 foot
level. (See sketch).

During the month of May, 1864, alone, 80 tons of ore wore
brought to the surface by 25 miners, and in June, 1864, 40 hands
were engaged at the mines. Thereafter, until 1867, the average
was 2 5 men, 9 for exploration and 16 t o work the ore.

A resumed of the period 1863 - 65 shows* in 1863 - 432 tons
of 2,352 lbs. of 11 11-100 per cent of copper were mined with a
value of $21 , 558, In 1864, 700 tons - value about $54,300. In
1865 about 75 tons a month. In June, 1864, a dividend was de¬
clared of 2-g- per cent - $12,500., on the capital stock of
$500,000., and in December, another of 4 per cent, or $20,000.

T,7eed in "copper Deposits of the United States" writes that
Dr. Lehmann, once chemist at the Baltimore Copper TVorks, reported
yearly shipments prior to 1864, as varying between 2000 - 2500
tons of 15 - 20 per cent ore. Inasmuch as the records of the
Baltimore Copper TVorks were destroyed by fire and his figures are
mostly from memory they are probably not so accurate as the ones
given by the copper mining company itself.

The records between 1865 and 1868 do not seem to exist. In
July of this latter year, a great cloudburst and flood, mentioned
in Scarf and other Maryland histories as the worst one Baltimore
ever had , inundated much of the section around Jones Falls and
the Patapsco River, washed away half a dozen bridges, including
the bridge at Mount Washington, broke the dam which stored up the
water pumped out of the mine, used for dressing the ore, flooded
the mine, and stopped work for sometime. (This flood is described
vividly in the American and Commercial Advertiser of July 24,1868.
Several people were drowned in Baltimore City, while at Ellicott
City over thirty persons lost their lives.)

The water was pumped out, and the mines functioned inter¬
mittently from 1867 to 1887. The shaft during this period reached
900 feet in depth, inclining under Smith Avenue. For the ten year
period 1866-77, the annual output was from 800 to 1,200 tons of
"cobbed ore", averaging 18 per cent copper, 'with 1000 to 1500 tons
of "hutched" ore or concentrates. From 1866 to 1887 the shipment
gradually lessened, averaging about 50 tons a month of 18 per cen
"cobbed ore" from 1883 to 1886. At that time copper was worth a
price of about 15g a pound. ($54.00 per ton). The gross valua¬
tion from 1864 to 1887 was then about $1,750,000* for 32,500 tons
of 18 per cent material.

In 1880, according to the Tenth Census report, the mine
yielded 17 tons of concentrates, from which 1,275 pounds of copper
were produced. The mine 'was undoubtedly * dying • in the 80* s. In
the sane year the Mineral Hill Mine near Finksburg, Maryland,
yielded 164,640 p ounds of copper - quite a difference.

In the late 90' s the nine was operated again. A number of

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Longitudinal Section of the Bare Hills nine
"Keener1 s Shaft" 1865

( F r on an annual report)

a - Drey lode bb - Good ore 2 to 2j> feet wide c - Could

not be examined a ~ Lode 18 inches wide -orey e - Lode 18
inches wide ~ ore- 4 inches f - Lode 18 inch es-orey g - Vein
_arge and rich h - Vein large and rich 0 The counter vein at
the 530 foot level •

54>

Ht . Washington residents became st oc Ids older s in an unsuccessful
company. Very little was done - in all six carloads of ore went
to a New Jersey smelting company. The fact that the company ex¬
changed stock for provisions at the general store, for the services
of a mason who erected foundations, and for other material shows
that it was in a weak financial condition. According to the stock¬
holders and one former director who were interviewed ’’there were
some honest officers of the company and some dishonest ones." In
any event, the stockholders lost their money.

During this last venture, new machinery, an air compressor,
and other equipment were set up. One nearby resident states that
after all the money was gone, coal, which kept the steam engine
going - on which the pumps depended - could not be purchased; the
mine filled up with water again. And truly, so it is now.

After this last disastrous enterprise during which the proper¬
ty was mortgaged and sold, it came into the hands of the present
owner, a resident of Washington, D. C.

Another phase of this history is presented by men who were
workers in or above the mine many years ago. in this connection,
credit should be given Mr. J. Doheny, who worked in the mines as
a boy in 1866 and 1867, Mr. Joseph Burns, who now lives where the
old copper house near the siding at Bare Hills5 Station once existed,
and who formerly lived in the old miners' houses not far from the
mines, Mr. George Ga mb rill, who worked above the copper mine

as a boy, and who later performed the masonry work referred to
heretofore, and Mr.j. Starr, who worked there in the 80fs.

The period of greatest prosperity was apparently in the 1860's,
in those days, however, wages were not high. The miners received
about §1.50 a day, the surface men §1.25, and the boys - 50^.

The surface men and boys worked in one shift, ten hours - ten hours
of daylight; the miners worked in three shifts, eight hours each,
and since it was always 'night' in the mine, it mattered not at
all. The miners used candles, either stuck in clay on their stiff
hats or placed on a rock.

The ore was mined by means of hammer and black blasting powder.
Later the air drill came into use, a method- by which air was pumped
down a pipe to the apparatus. Dynamite was not used in the earlier
days, - it was hardly known - instead they used blasting powder
which was put in a hole with a fuse. If the hole wa s wot, they
made a paper cartridge. The rock foundations of the old powder
house lie where the house itself once stood, a hundred yards or so
from the mine,

A wooden cart with an iron frame was pulled up a three foot
gauge track by a cable on a drum, run by the engine. It took from
four to five minutes for a load to reach the top, for the cable on
the drum moved slowly.

After the ore arrived at the surface, the solid pieces of
copper were removed, the "dead” or dreg ( pronounced by the miners
"drudge1') was thrown away, and the remainder crushed, after which
it was given to the boys to sift. Next, the copper concentrates
were put in a trough and washed by water which was pumped up from
the mine and dammed up.

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55

ROUGH SKETCH OF THE BARE HILLS COPPER
MINE SECTION AS IT PROBABLY APPEARED IN 1900
(Constructed from the present ruins)

1 - The three old double houses - dating to the late 50 ’ s

or early 60* s. (At that tine miners’ habitations.)

2 - Boiler
5 - Engine

4 - Crush or

5 - Cobbing House

6 - Captain’s (Superintendent's) House

7 - where water pumped from mines was damned up. (Reservoir)

8 - powder House

9 - Air Compressor (Supplying air for the air drills)

10 - Houses - probably dating back to the 80 ’s

11 - Office of Mining Company (probably erected in the 60' s)

$ - Main mine opening

•* Opening leading to main shaft (leading more directly
from engine house)

0 - Minor openings

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The ore, in the earlier period, was taken by horse and wagon
through a natural cut in the hills to Bare Hills Station, where a
copper house and a siding were located on the Northern Central Rai l¬
way (formerly the Baltimore and Susquehanna). Old residents do
not recollect the copper house and siding as being there in the
7 0' s so this route through the hills was probably abandoned in
the 60' s. The siding was about a mile from the nine. A hundred
yards from where it once stood specimens of copper, ’which probably
had been dropped there over sixty years ago wore found by Mr. Burns
and the writer. The copper sent to the copper house near the sid¬
ing was transported to Cantu. At a later date the ore was taken
down Smith Avenue to the Mt . Washington Station, instead of by the
old route. (See sketch of the old roads leading to Bare Hills
Stati on) ,

Most of the miners lived around Bare Hills. Six or seven of
the old miners' houses were still in existence and occupied a few
years ago, and the old mining company office is now used as a
dwelling.

As for amusements, old miners declare, with a sigh, that
whiskey was one of the very few.

No laws had been passed in the third quarter of the last cen¬
tury in regards to child labor. Two of the non from whom informa¬
tion was obtained worked as boys, dressing the ore on the surface
of the mines. Mr. Doheny, who was eleven years of age when he
worked at the mine, says that there were at least ten other boys
between the ages of twelve and eighteen working there at the same
time. He was the youngest. Most of the boys had stopped school
in the fifth or sixth grades. He says that the boys were fired
daily for various pranks by old Captain Cooper, and then, as they
started to leave, were called back again. The captain, he added,
was superstitious about whistling in or near the mines, believing
accidents would follow. Happily, however, there does not seen
t o be a record of any.

Practically all of the miners were Irish. (Every person in¬
terviewed was very emphatic about this point). This was especial¬
ly true in the early period of the mine's history. So far as can
be traced, no slaves were used in working the mine before the
Civil War, and certainly not in Tyson's time, for he was a strict
advocate of abolitionism. Old residents do not remember even
seeing free negroes thereabouts.

The ruins of the old engine house, the foundation where the
air compressor rested, the foundations of the old powder house,
the old reservoir (about 75 feet x 20 feet) where the water was
stored up (now empty), a water filled shaft, the old office, the
captain's house, and a few houses in which the miners lived, be¬
sides the hills of 'dead' materials, are about all that are left
the surface to show what was once a busy nine. (See diagram,
which from present appearances, attempts to illustrate how mine
district looked in 1900).

5 7

Bibli ography

1. First and Second Reports of P. T. Tyson, State Agricultural
Chemist, to Md. House of Delegates, Jan. i860 - 1862.

2. Maryland Law Reporter - 7 Gill, p. 124, 1848.

3. Copper Ores of Maryland. J. Overbeck. J.H.U. Dissertat ion, 1915,

4. Copper Deposits of the Appalachian States , -Wa It er Harvey Weed,
1911*

5* Maryland - its Resources, Industries and Institutions, 1893,
pp. 112, 114, and 120.

t

6. Exposition of the Baltimore & Cuba Smelting and Mining Co.

1845. (contemporary references to copper and prices as a
wh ole . )

7. The Monumental City. G.T/J-Ioward , 1873. p, 225, etc. Advertise¬
ments, etc.

8. History of Baltimore City and County. J.T.Scharf, 1881.
pp. 772, 773; pp. 343, 422.

9. Report of the Bare Hill Mining Co., 1864.

10. Prospectus of the Bare Hill Copper Mining Co. 1864.

11. The Annual Report of the Bare Kill Mining Co., 1865. (Sketch
of sb aft . )

12. Report of the Guilford Mining Co. (N.C.) May 1860, (con¬
temporary copper prices.)

13. Ore Knob Prospectus 1873 (Contemporary information relative
to copper.)

14. The Maryland Copper Co. of Carroll and Baltimore Co., 1860.

15. Tenth U.S. Census, Vol. 15, pp. 798,977,978.

16. Maryland Mining Industries - W.B. Clark and E. R .Mathews , 1908.

17. prospectus of the Mineral Hill Mane, Carroll Co., i860.

(Valuable contemporary references.)

18. Frospectus of the Springfield copper Mine, Carroll Co., 1853.

NOTES

Meetings a-t the Society

May 8 - Talk by M F7~A7~ 'Llewellyn. Jones - ’’History of Principle
Furnace.”

May 14 - Talk by Mr. Irving E. Hampe - "Mammals of Maryland,”

- - -

58

May 21 - Talk by Mr. L. Bryant Mather, Jr. - "What Maryland
is Made Of."

May 28 - Talk by Mr. Roger Hecklinger - "iron pyrite in the
Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid."

Junior Meetings - May 4 - Talk by Clyde Reed - "Maryland
Violets , " May IS - Lecture by Mr, Irving E, Hanpe - "The

Mammals of Maryland. "

Exhibits - May 15 to June 6« At Enoch Pratt Library, Branch
12 - Minera Is , May 22 to May 27. Exhibit at Maryland State
Normal School - plants. May 28 to May 51 Exhibit at Maryland
State Normal School - insects and How to Collect and Preserve Them.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

May 1 - To Troop 17 B .S .AT~by‘ Mr , A. Llewellyn Jones - "The
Bare Hills Deposits."

May 15 - At Gilman Country School, by Mr. Gilbert C „ Klingel -
"Diving in the Chesapeake."

May 16 ~ At Citizens Conservation Camp, Avalon, Maryland, by
Mr, Gilbert C. Klingel - "Diving in the Chesapeake*"

May 17 - To Troop 17 B.S.A. by Mr. A. Llewellyn Jones - "The
Bare Hills copper and Chrone Mines."

May 22 ~ To Science Club, Baltimore City college by Richard
Webster - "insects of Maryland."

May 24 - To Troops 25 and 100 B.S.A. by Mr. H. C. Robertson -
" Snake s of Ma ry la n d . "

May 28 ~ To Knights of Columbus by Dr. John A. Frisch, S.J. -
"Ants and Their Ways."

REPORT OF ROCKS AND MINERALS OUTING, MAY 19,1935

Every year the Rocks and Minerals Assoc iation of Peekskill,

New York, sponsors National Rocks and Minerals Day. In every state
of the Union parties gather and proceed to devote the day to col¬
lecting minerals. 1955 saw the Third Annual Outing. The Natural
History Society has led the last two in Maryland,

A party of eighteen gathered at the meeting place on the morn¬
ing of the 19th. The early arrivals had an opportunity to visit
the nearby headquarters of the Society, where the laboratories and
collections were inspected. With a fine day for collecting the
party left in high spirits, and the localities mentioned below
were visited. At the Jones Falls location some interesting pot¬
holes and faults in the r x k were examined, and throughout the day
many photographs were taken of the formations,

(1) Near Baltimore at Lansdowne in the sedimentary deposits -
massive hematite, limonite, wood replaced by limonite> lignite,
concretionary siderite, and ironstone sand concretions.

(2) In Baltimore at Jones Falls Quarry in gneiss - albite, micro-
cline, biotite, garnet, ilmenite, stilbite, and pyrite.

(5) Falls and Clipper Mill Rds . , in Baltimore. Found in pegma¬
tite, - microcline, muscovite, garnet, tourmaline, apatite, and
autuni te ,

(4) In Baltimore at Woodberry Trap Quarry - in gabbro - launontite
and calcite crystals,

(5) Near Bare Hills, Baltimore C out tv at the McMahon Quarry in
the Cockeysville Marble - phlogopite, trenolite, brown and black
t ourmal in n , and rut i lo ,

Walter E. Price

4 P

c

The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

Vol. V No, 10

JUNE, 1935

$1.00 a Year

SOME IMPLEMENTS COLLECTED FROM THE INDIAN MOUNDS OF
FLORIDA BY OUR DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY.

By Richard E. St earns

During Juno, 1930, we decided to take a trip to lower Florida
for the purpose of studying the shell nounds. On this trip We were
fortunate, for we located several town sites on the west coast of
Florida as well as two on the east coast.

The first mound encountered, situated about ten miles below
St* Augustine on the Ocean Shore Boulevard, was very large., faced
the Atlantic Ocean and extended several hundred yards westward into
the inland passage. The Spaniards in the early days of St. Augustine
referred to it.

A series of sites clustering about the inlets a few miles south
of Daytona Beach wa3 • also visited.

On the west coast of Florida, a shell mound on Sneads Island
in Tampa Bay was inspected, as well as a shell field on the Alafia
River, which drains into Tampa Bay.

In the Ten Thousand Island district a large shell mound was
found at Naples and two others on Marco Island.

Since 1930, we have twice revisited these sites and have
collected a large quantity of artifacts. Many photographs were
taken too. Since the largest collection of implements we found
came from the Ten Thousand Island district, we shall discuss the
principal types of this locality.

Inasmuch as no stone of suitable quality for fashioning cutting
implements was found in lower Florida, shells acted as a substitute.
The most common types are axes and hammer3 made from whole conch
shells (Fulgar perversum) . Roles or notches Were knocked in the
sides to accommodate the hand le ,a nd the. beak was ground to a sharp
edge (Figure 1), or left to wear flat as in the case of a hammer
< F i gu iv 2 ) .

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A few gouges wore found made from the collune3 la of Fociolarie
(Figure 3), and celts name from the aides of Fulgar perversun
(Figure 4) .

Net sinkers, fashioned, fron the round shell clan (Venus
mortoni) were collected quite frequently. (Figure 5).

A drinking cup made of Fulgar perversun is shown in Figure 6.

Also many pendant ornaments were found, - two fashioned of
shell, one of fossil bone, and the rest of line rock, the only stone
available fron which anything could be node. Figure 7 illustrates
the shell pendants, and Figure 8 those of line rock.

A groove banner of line rock, the only one found? is shown in
Figure 9.

Some pointed implements of bone were unearthed, an exanple of
which is depicted in Figure 10. It is shown full size, but it is
minus the point. Two engraven narks nay be seen below the grooved
end .

pottery fragments wore very numerous in these mounds and a
large number of decoraten pieces were collected. From a study of
the fragments the vessels seen to have been of the shapes shown in
Figure 11. Some are plain while others have incised designs about
the rims as shown in Figure 12.

Medeola virgin iana ( L, }

63

THE INDIAN CUCUMBER -ROOT
(lledoola virginiana L.)

By Earl h. palmer

This plant, native to most of our oh aeon , noiot wood lands,
had a part in the Indian diet , as the name implies. The 'white,
crisp root tastes like our cucumber of commerce. The Indians of
North America found the root edible and used it extensively as a
food. Joseph 2 . Earned in his book, "Wild Flowers of the AUo-
ghanies,’1 says the t the li. Virginians was used as a cure for
”torpoid livers.”

The a v c rage spec 1 men he s a v o o 1 y stem twelve to e id ht e on inch es
high but -when found in very rich', marshy lands it often reaches a
height of twenty -four inches. It. can easily be recognized by the
ovate, lance-shaped leaves arranged in a whorl about nib -way up
the stem. There are usually nine leaves - I have counted seven
and eight, but nine is the average for most plants. The leaves
are pale green with dark green ribs. Also the tip of the wo o ly
stem boars two or three smaller leaves , of the same shape as the
lower ones, and two or more flowers which are pa lo green with
five to six stamens and a pistil. The Little purplish berries
often f urn i sh f o od f o r our sma Her b i rd s .

During Hay and June this plant will be found in bloom.

NOTES ON THE b HITE -FOOTED NICE
(Peronyscus loucopus noveboracensis)

By Irving E. Hanpe

The white-footed nice are among the most common and most wide¬
ly distributed mammals in North America. The genus, Peronyscus,
includes more species and geographic races than any other genus
of North American mammals. Peronyscus loucopus noveboracensis is
found in the Upper Austral and Transition zones of the Eastern
United States and Canada, extending from Nova Scotia to central
Minnesota, thence south through the humid parts of Nebraska and
Kansas, and eastward to the Atlantic coast, following quite close¬
ly the boundary between the Lower and Upper Austral Zones on the
south and that between the Transition and Canadian Zones on the
north .

A typical specimen, from the Society’s collection, measures
six and three-quarter inches total length, three and one-eighth
inches tail vertebrae, and thirteen-sixteenths of an inch hind leg.

The color of the pelage varies a good deal. In the adult of
both sexes, the upper parts are usually dark brown with a yellowish
tinge, slightly darker along the median line from the shoulders
to the base of the tail. In some specimens I have trapped, the
median line is alnost black* There is some black about the eyes

and at the base of the whiskers. The tail is sharply bicolor , black¬
ish above and white below* The feet and under parts are pure white.
Innature specimens are a mixture of black and gray on the upper pa ht
with the median line almost completely black, with the under parts
and feet white, and the tail blackish above and white below.

The food of the white- footed mice consists of seeds, nuts,
snails, insects, and the flesh of dead animals. In several in¬
stances they have been observed eating the eggs and young of birds.
All of the specimens in my collection were caught in traps baited
with meat. They store seeds and nuts for the winter. I have trapped
several of these mice at my bird feeders during the winter months.
They are rather a nuisance because they carry away all the food
they cannot eat and leave none for the birds.

This species breeds from early spring until fall, and evident¬
ly produces three or four litters. The litters contain from three
to seven young. A litter of four young was found in a cabin at
Glenartncy , Maryland, in April, 1935. They build a bulky nest of
any soft material available. The nest may be in a burrow, under a
log, or in an abandoned bird nest. The use of bird nests has been
observed many times by me in the Patapsco State Forest Reserve.

In one pa rticular case, the nest of a white-eyed Vireo was appropri¬
ated as soon as the young birds hau flown. I had returned expecting
to collect the nest when I discovered that a mouse was using it to
raise a family of four. The nest was discovered on the ground the
following week, ripped apart.

The enemies of these mice are many. They fall prey to the
hawk, owl,bluejay, and shrike among the birds, to the mink, weasel,
skunk, fox, and shrew among the mammals, and also to snakes. when
trapping the white-footed mice, it is not unusual to find only part
of the carcass left in the trap. This is usually the result of the
v/ork of shrews. Occasionally a mouse is found with its skull ripped
open while the rest of the animal is not disturbed. This nay be
the work of mink or weasel.

Individuals of this genus have been known to sing a prolonged
and musical song somewhat similar to the notes of a canary.

The white-footed mice make very interesting pets and will eat
readily in captivity. They are beautiful little creatures and
their habits are of sufficient interest to gain our consideration.
However, they are not of much economic importance since they usual¬
ly live in the woods instead of open fields, so that the damage
they do to crops is not great. (The blame lies mostly with the
meadow mouse, Microtus).

NOT MS

Meetings at the Society

June 4 - Talk by Hr. Andrew Goss, "Birds of the Families of
woodpeckers, Crows am- Jays, picidae and Corvidae."

)

% '

65

Juno 11 - Talk by Hr. T. Hilton Oler, Sr., "Making Piaster
Casts of Natural History Specimens."

Juno 18 - Talk by Hr. John B. Ca Icier, "Fossils and How to
Preserve Them."

June 25 - Talk by Mr. Edward Crosby, "Heat and Electrical
Phenomena in Minerals."

Junior Meetings

June 1 - Talks by Francis wise, "Calcite Deposits of Woodberry" ,
John Gleim, "Spiders", and Robert Rurder, "C ockevsyi lie Minerals. V

June 15 - Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Reorganization Program.."

Exhibits

June 7 to July 6 - Branch 7, Enoch Pratt Library, "Minerals."

Field "work for This Sumner Season

Field work comprises seventy per cent of the Society’s activ¬
ities, Throughout the year various departments are constantly in
the field, "with the coming of summer and vacation time all of the
departments are making special plans for extensive field work.

Some departments are planning expeditions to cover a period of
two to three' weeks, while others are preparing to make special
studies which cannot be made any other time.

One of the most outstanding of the former is being made by the
Department of paleontology. For the past four years this depart¬
ment has been making special studies of the Miocene deposits of
Maryland. This year the department will start its work on the
Eocene deposits of Maryland.

Another is that of the Department of Marine Research which will
launch a new marine project. This is the "Bentha riun" , an undersea
tank from which observations and photographs of marine life can be
made. This wbrk promises to reveal much new nata and natter re la -
tive to the life of fish and other marine forms.

Many important facts ana discoveries are expected from this
summer's work.

E d nun C. B . F 1 a dun g

The Natural History-

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Vol . V No. 11

JULY, 1935

$1,00 a Year

COBBS ISLAND aND THE BLACK SKIMMER

By Edmund B, Fladung

There is a desire in alnost every naturalist to visit certain
places that have been visited and where studies have been made by
naturalists at previous times. Such a place depends upon the
branch of Nature in which the individual is interested, and to a
lover of birds such a place is Cobbs Island, In looking over an
old register, the possession of ’’captain” George Cobb, who was
then Game Warden of the island, I noted many well kn own names of
bird lovers therein, notably Auuubon and Chapman.

We left Baltimore, June 24, 1932, by automobile and arrived at
Oyster, Virginia, the following day at 9*30 P.M* ’’Captain" Cobb
who was aware of our coming provided us with a launch to convey us
and our equipment to the island, on which we arrived an hour later,

Cobbs Island is one of a series of small islands off the coast
of Virginia about eight miles from the mainland. To the north is
Hog island and to the south are Wreck Island and Smith’s Island.

Cobbs Island is a sandy, flat plain about four miles long and
at its greatest width two miles wide, with marshes along the west
coast. With the exception of marsh grass, there was only one bush
upon the island. There was no water supply, excepting tihe rain water
which was caught in barrels, and could only be used for washing pur¬
poses. The drinking water had to be brought from the mainland.

With the except! on of the United States Coast Guard, the only
other inhabitant of the island was "captain” George Cobb, the Game
Warden, who maintained a sort of hotel for many years, which was
destroyed by fire and was replaced with a less pretentious build¬
ing to accommodate sportsmen and naturalists.

The island was settled by Nathan Cobb about a century ago. It
seemed from the story told by "captain" Cebb, that the family tried
to eke out a living by evaporating the sea water for its salt.

This venture proved unsuccessful. Nevertheless some part of the
family continued to reside there and finally established a hotel
for sportsmen, who found a paradise of game and fish. With these
came the egg and plume hunters, who almost exterminated the Royal
and Caspian Terns.

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The object of our trip was to stuev and photograph the gulls,
terns, and black skimmers, but previous to our arrival a storn
had destroyed the entire nesting ©o'lony of the laughing gulls and
terns, so our entire study was directed to the black skinners
(R'yn chops nigra) which were at the height of their breeding season.

The ornithological history of the island has been a st orny
one. Gale -driven seas swept over it, not only destroying the nests
of beautiful, graceful birds, but continually reducing the size
of the island. It has been estimated that two miles of the island's
length has thus been reduced. During the storn of August 23, 1933,
the warden, George Cobb, lost his life.

There was one colony of skinners on the north end of the island,
but by far the greater colony was on Cardwell Island, which was, no
doubt, at one tine a part of Cobbs Island, and which is now separated
by a narrow inlet, here we found the birds by the thousands.
Everywhere we walked were nests, sometimes so close together that
we had to be careful not to tread upon them. The nests were found
in every stage of development from the depression just scooped out
of the sand, to the young chicks.

The nest of the black skimmer is a hollow depression from four
to five inches in diameter and about one inch in depth. There were
from one to five eggs in each nest, or the same number of young.

The eggs are cream white and buff white, with many chocolate
spots. They are about 1,75 X 1.35 inches, (See figure).

The young leave the nests several hours after hatching and
are found everywhere, but are hard to distinguish, owing to their
coloration which blends in admirably with the sand,

I did not see the young fed by direct contact with the parent.
The parent seemed to drop the food from overhead, sometimes from
quite a distance, and the young would follow the parent and pick it
up as does a baby chick* How long this method of feeding is con¬
tinued I cannot say, as our stay was not long enough and there were
no young over seven days of age.

The old birds arrive from the south sometime during the month
of May, but egg laying does not commence until the latter part of
June or first part of July.

The adult is not a graceful bird upon land. The legs are short,
giving the creature a rather squatty appearance. The neck is rather
long and the tail somewhat short. The bill is black with a red base,
and is uneven, the lower mandible being longer than the upper. Rut
in flight the bird is very graceful. It is truly an imposing sight
with its long, black topped wings and underneath a pearly white,
as it flies rapidly skimming the water for food, while uttering its
bark-like call.

Upon our arrival hundreds of these birds took to wing, with
their loud barking cry, always flying directly at the intruder and
then swerving around to the water's edge. After we were settled in
our blinds, the birds readily returned. They do not stay for any

I

69

Bird Blind

Black Skimner

70

length of time on the nest. I should say about five minutes at
the longest. They then fly away and return after five or six-
minutes, repeating the performance. This brief period on the
nest may have been owing to the heat of the day. The birds may
remain longer upon the nest when the temperature is lower.

There was never more than one bird at a nest at any time0

When taking off, the bird does not fly from the nest at once
but seems to glide for some distance before taking to flight.

In returning to the nest it a lwa ys alights some distance from
the nest and then, as it were, glides to it.

Flying was always accompanied with a barking noise, even
when th e b i rd wa s n ot f r i gh t en e d , Wh en disturbed, th e nearest
part of the colony would all take to flight and then the noise
would become deafening.

In feeding, the birds would fly close to the surface, every
now and then dipping their long bills into the water, allowing
the water to drain from both sides of the mandibles, thereby re¬
taining the food*

When at rest the birds seemed to squat close to the ground,
facing the wind.

i\ll of our observations and photographs were made from the
blind or tent here shown. Without this it would have been im¬
possible to accomplish much.

HABENARIA GRAND I FLORA (BIGEL)

(LARGE PURPLE FRINGED ORCHIS)

By Earl H. Palmer

One day while on a field trip around Qwings Mills, we en¬
tered a marshy field which, from the road, looked drab and unin¬
teresting. A few steps were sufficient, however, to prove the
fact that a cursory glance does not pay while botanizing. The
purple Fringed Orchis was everywhere. All together, we counted
upward of sixty specimens, ranging from ten to tnirty-six inches
high.

This most regal of fringed orchis has a wide range in spite
of its retiring nature; New Brunswick to Ontario, westward to
Michigan, south to North Carolina. It is t 0 be found in flower
during June and July in rich, moist woods and meadows.

The large clasping leaves, several in number p are oval or
lanceolate; between four and twelve inches long, and one to three
inches wide. The stalk is grooved and covered with small leaves
on its upper half.

The stem is capped by a large purplish or lilac raceme of
long spanned, feathery blossoms, Tbe beautiful fan spread lip

71

has throe divisions and varies in width fron a half inch to an
inch. An examination of sketch ’’A” will show that the lower
division of the lip is grooved* The two side divisions of the
lip, as Grey once remarked , "aid in hindering approach” from
those directions. Naturally the visiting insect will land on
the middle division, walk up the groove, which leads directly
to the nectary within the spur.

”The two anther cells are widely separated, but little
divergent; their lower ends projecting strongly forward, bring
the naked discs just into line within the orifice of the
nectary.” (1)

The dainty fluttering blossoms with their bracts, green and
pointed, their long spurs making a loose feathery-like raceme,
suggested to Baldwin, ” a flock of birds struggling to get a
foot hold on the sane branch.” Nothing is more descriptive of
this beautiful plant.

(1) Gibson, V/n. H. - ”Our Native Orchids".

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Natural Size
Front View

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Habenaria

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Side View

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Leaf and Stem

M e et in g s of the Society

72.

NOTES

July 2 - Talk by Mr. Elra palmer - ''Geologic Time and
Paleont ologi cal Prob lens . "

July 9 - Talk by Mr. Harry Putsche - "The Bee." Illustrated.

July 16 ~ Talk by Mr. Joseph White - "Fish of the Family
Cyprinidae." Illustrated.

July 23 - Talk by Mr. Earl H • Palmer - "Ferns , Their Growth
and Development." Illustrated.

July 30 - Talk by Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel - "The Benthariun."

Special Lecture courses

July 15, 22, and 29 - On Mineralogy by Mr. Walter E.Price,jr0

July 15, 22, and 29 - On Photography by Mr. Edward McColgan

and Mr. Edmund B. Fla dung.

July 17, 24, and 31 - On Botany by Mr. John B. Eger ton.

July 17, 24, and 31 - On public Speaking by Mr. Elra M. Palmer.

Junior Meetings

July 6 - Talk by Mr* Elra M. Palmer - "Geologic Times and
Paleontological Problems,”

July 20 - Talk by Mr, Earl H. Palmer - "Short History of Botany
and Some Special Plants.”

Sxhi bits

July 15 - August 3 - Exhibit of two scale models of Dinosaurs ,
at the Enoch Pratt Library, Central Branch.

July 1 - 31 - Exhibit of Indian Artifacts, at Enoch Pratt
Library, Branch #7,

July 10 - August 9 - Exhibit of Sea Shells, at Enoch pratt
Library, Branch #12.

July 18 - August 17 - Exhibit of Nature Photographs, at Enoch
Pratt Library, Branch #12.

Special Meetings

July 13 - Trustees Meeting; Staff Appointments, Mineralogy,
Walter E. Price, Jr., Curator, A. Llewellyn Jones, Research Associ¬
ate; paleontology, Elra M. Palmer, Curator; Botany, John B. Egerton,
Curator; Marine Research, Gilbert c. Klingel, Curator; Entomology,
Dr„- John A. Frisch, Curator, F. Stansbury Haydon, Research Associ¬
ate; Herpetology, Harry C* Robertson, Curator; Ornithology9 Irving
E* Hampe, Curator; Archaeology, Richard E. Stearns, curator; Educa¬
tion, Elra M, Palmer, Director; Fubliation, Herbert C. Moore,

Editor; and Library t Earl H* Palmer, Librarian. The President is
Chief of the Staff.

July 27 - Meeting of entire Staff,

1

4

Vol . V No. 12 AUGUST 1935

•J1.00 a Year

BIRD BANDING
By E Uwa r d M c C 0 1 ga n

Ornithologists have long realized that the more study of col¬
lected specimens could not give a satisfactory knowledge of bird
life, but study of the living bird was difficult on account of its
powers of sustained flight and especially on account of the habit
of seasonal migration common to so many species.

One of the great difficulties was the identification of the
individuals. A bird or a flock would be observed at a certain
point, disappear, and others of the same species would be noted at
another place, but was this a continuation of the same observation
or was this an arrival of an entirely different group? Here was a
creature coverea with feathers, which were moulted at least once a
year, so that marking the feathers would be useless. A mark on
beak or claws would be too small, and if put on by branding or like
means, would cause suffering. The great naturalist Audubon hit on
the idea of attaching tiny silver rings to the birds' legs. These
fitting like tiny bracelet^ would cause no suffering, and if
marked, furnish a permanent proof of identity, A Stork marked by
such a ring, in Berlin, about 1880, returned the following year with
a second ring inscribed "Bombay, India, sends greeting to Berlin".

As time went on the plan was extended and, when the bird pro¬
tection law was passed, this work was placed in the hands of the
Department of Agriculture. It is carried on by institutions and
individuals, including members of our Society, to whom Federal and
State permits are issued. Without these permits, bird trapping is
illegal. Should any one find dead, or accidently capture a banded
bird, he or she should send its number and letter to the Bureau of
Biological Survey, Washington, D.C. This also applies to banded
gamebirds shot while hunting.

Among the results obtained, the following are noted in, " A
Decade of Bird Banding" by F. C. Lincoln; Smithsonian Reports , 1932 .

The fact was discovered that there is an east and west nigra -

rg g <| S 188®

tion in addition to the ordinary north and south one, Sone ex¬
amples •

A Duck Hawk banded at Mohonk Lake, New York, was retaken at
Grand island, Nebraska; a Coot banded at Green Bay, Wisconsin, was
killed at Essex, C onnect icut f a June o banded at Crystal Bay,
Minnesota, waa retaken at Demarest, Now Jersey; while another Junco
banded at Paoli, Pennsylvania, was retaken at Jamestown, North
Dakota. Two purple finches, one banded at Sault Ste. Marie,
Michigan, the Other at Katona, New York, were retaken together at
Milton, Massachusetts.

A number of instances of long distance flights were proved.

Two Great Blue Herons banded at 7/aseka, Minnesota, were retaken in
Central America. A Pintail Duck banded at Ellenwood, Kansas, was
retaken at the mouth of the Kobuc River, 3300 miles away. A Blue-
wing Teal banded at Kearney, Nebraska, was retaken at Santa Marta,
Columbia, 2600 miles. A Duck Hawk banded at Kings Point, Yukon
Territory, was killed at Duchesne, Utah, 2000 miles, A Purple
Finch banded at Hyde Park, Massachusetts, was retaken at Nacogdoches,
Texas, 1400 miles, and a Mourning Dove banded at Fort Riley, Kansas,
was killed at Apipiluco, Mexico,

And from the same article we have an account of a most interest
ing discovery; that of the route of the Arctic Tern e This was
for a long time one of the mysteries of ornithology. The bird’s
breeding range is circumpolar, while in winter it has been found
south to the Antarctic continent, but it is practically unknown on
the North American coast south of Long Island, In 1927-28, Dr.
Austin banded several hundred of these terns on the coast of
Labrador. One was recovered on the west coast of France, another
from Natal, South Africa, The last had been banded as a chick,
and was less than four menths old when found, and it had flown 8000
miles at least. Another return showed that an Arctic Tern banded
in Maine was found in southern Nigeria. It now appears that the
American birds cross the ocean and join their European fellows,
then follow the coasts of Europe and Africa to their winter quar¬
ters in the Antarctic regions.

There have also been some remarkable cases of longevity among
the smaller birds which were only supposed to live a few years.

’'Bird Banc-ing Notes", a publication of the Biological Survey, gives
the following instances:

A V/ren -Tit , banded March 25, 192 5, by E. D. Clabaugh, in
Strawberry Canyon, near Berkeley, California, was last observed
February 21, 19,34 - ten years old, at least,

A Bronze Grackle, banded June 26, 1925, at Indianapolis,
Indiana, by S. E, Perkins, III, was found dead at Riverside Park,
Indiana, March 21, 1934 - nine years at least, probably ten.

A purple Finch, banded at Northeast. Harbor, Maine, on June 21,
1924, by Mrs. Eloanora S, Morgan, was trapped and released at Bar
Harbor, Maine, April 28, 1935, by Mrs. Effio A. Anthony.

A Meadowlark, banded June 14, 1926, at Ridley Park, Penn¬
sylvania, by Mr, and Mrs, John A. Jillespie, was shot February
16, 1935, at Beaufort, North Carolina, Ten years old,

A Blue Jay, banded November 26, 1925, at Baldwin, Mew York,
by K. W, Baas oh, was fount dead June, 1934, Nine years old.

There are several other records of snail birds, some of
"which run to eleven and twelve years, the particulars of which
a re n ot a va i la b 1 e .

A snail station is now being operated by the author at his -
hone. Among the points noted so far is the great difference

in the returns of the various species. Twenty -four mourning doves
were banded at this station during one season ana twelve returned.
On the other hand, only one return was obtained, and one found
dead, out of forty -eight Whit e-throat ee Sparrows banded in two
seasons. From one hundred and four purple grsckles banded in two
seasons, two returns and four reports of birds killed or found
dead were obtained. The doves, it will be noticed are of a family
noted for its homing qualities. Whether the other cases are to
be attributed to intelligence in the bird, or to lock of affection
for its old habitation is uncertain, in this connection it may
be mentioned that the Blue Jay, generally considered an intelli¬
gent bird, is one of the easiest of all to trap and returns quite
freely. On the other hand this may be attributed to its other
quality of greediness. Certainly at some seasons it can be heard
every day, but will not come near the trap, while at other times
the birds will crowd into it.

-■$:*■

SOME EXTINCT AND RARE BIRDS IN MARYLAND
By R. Bruce Qverington

The phenomena of the extinction of some species of birds
is probably governed by changes in temperature, habits, enemies,
food shortages, development of now and stronger species, or the
changing of the contexture of the country. In the universal laws
which govern change we notice intelligence and every living thing
is particularly fitted for its part in existence. When changes
come and a species is not adapted to the new order of things,
it must either change its habits, its complex makeup, or become
extinc t ,

Whole orders of birds have become extinct because of in¬
ability to meet changing conditions. In some cases, branches of
one or more of these orders may be preserved to-day due to the
adaptability of a species to change its mode of living.

Audubon ( 1780-1851) ., speaking of the Passenger Pigeon
(Ect opiates migrat orius) , says that the air was literally filled
with pigeons, that the light of noonday was obscured as by an
eclipse, and for three days they came on in undiminishing numbers.

Row different is the last record from my locality in Maryland
In the fall of 1P8R three of these birds were seen and shot near

f '■ i: : \ ■

Laurel, Still later, however, in August, ISO 3, three others were
reported by Hr. F. 0. Kirkwood , as having been seen by him in the
Dulaney Valley, and he also states that several flocks of 40 to
60 were seen that fall, one near Ellieolt Oity and one in the
Green Spring Valley.

In the extinction of this bird wh ich at one tine numbered
millions and millions we can readily see that no matter how
numerous the species, a few years only is necessary for the wane
and final eclipse'. If they had not traveled in mass', if their
breeding range had not been so restricted’, we might have this
beauti f u 1 bi r d to- d a y . Pa; t w i th on t a n y p.rote c t i on from man’s
depredations, and without the ability to take on new characteris¬
tics in so short a time, it was obvious that the Passenger Pigeon
should pass away.

The Carolina paroquet (gonurus carolinenis) had a very beau¬
tiful plumage for which it had to pay a heavy penalty. Besides
this, its food was entirely vegetable - cookie burs, beechnuts,
pawpaw, cultivated fruit and tender grain. One could not. stand
idly by and see his orchard robbed of every bud’, or his field of
maize being destroyed by a whole flock of these birds. Also the
birds had the habit of hovering about when any member of. the flock
w as shot j whi oh made it easier to shoot others. These birds once
inhabited the whole southwest, and when food was scarce they have
been taken as far north as New York State, They have not been
recorded from Maryland for over seventy years.

Formerly, the Wild Turkey (Meleagris , gallopavo) , as well as
the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) inhabited my county (Prince
Georges) in Maryland. From early accounts I assume that with the
opening of the country the Wild Turkey naturally became more scarce,
although very probably it was never a very connn bird in this
locality. But the Ruffed Grouse was not uncommon thereabouts.
Several bad years, inroads by natural enemies, and the cutting of
much timber have practically obliterated it to-day. True there
nay be a few pairs left, and some may occasionally find their
way in from other sections. Notwithstanding, I have not heard
of one bird having been seen here for quite a number of years i

Many sportsmen think that no more birds will become extinct,
but to my mind it is only the beginning. Whi eh will be the next
it is hard to say. That there will be a next I an thoroughly
convinced, possibly it may be one of our larger shore birds;
again it may be a kite with a restricted breeding area. Cur ducks,
fortunately, raise large broods and manage to hold their own fair¬
ly well in spite of losses. With the draining of marshes, a few
years of drought, and the automatic shotgun, they may also dwindle
down to a point where there is no recovery.

Other causes have helped to make many of our birds scarce.

The automobile sc quickly takes one to out of the way places where
shooting may be had. Also some people disregard the hunting laws,
and others shoot wantonly, trying to hit everything they see.

In the last few years game refuges have been established.

The State Itself is raising and distributing game birds. The
Biological Survey has been checking up on the breeding ranges and
the numbers of the different species. Then too the laws have be-

come more stringent, am. this is as it should Ido, for- there is not
much time to lose if the rarer species are to be preserved.

MINERALS OF THE BARE HILLS COPPER MINE
By Charles IV. Ostrander

Many interesting minerals have been found at the well known
Bare Hills copper Mine, located on Smith Avenue about one mile
east of Old Pimlico Road. This mine was in operation, somewhat
intermittently, from the middle of the last century up t o the
early 1900’s.

The ore-bearing rock is netn-gabbro (hornblende gneiss),
bordering on the Serpentine rock of Bare Rills. Little remains
to show that the mine once existed except the extensive dumps
now badly weathered, the water-f i lied shafts, and foundations of
the old engine house.

Of the ore minerals collected at this location the most im¬
portant is chalcopyrite ( On Fe Sg)? which occurs in brassy yellow
masses, the specimens now fo une in tie surface dump being badly
weathered. As yet we have found no crystals of this mineral at
the mine. Bornite (CU5 Fe S4) is found in a massive state often
associated with the Chalcopyrite. It is easily recognised by
the iridescent coating on the surface of the mineral from which
the name "peacock ore" originated.

Sometimes one sees a soluble coating of a bluish green
mineral surrounding the Chalcopyrite, This is Chalcanthite
(cu SG^.SHgO), a prouuct of the oxidation of the former minerals.
Azurite (2gu CO3. Cu(CH)2) » another mineral formed by the oxida¬
tion of copper, is found but rarely. It occurs as a blue stain
on rock. Malachite (CuCOg .Ou(CH)o) , which is easily recognizable
by its dull green color, is also found staining the rocks. It
can be commonly seen on the rocks in the small stream, which runs
through the nine dumps. It was in solution and was deposited on
the rocks.

Magnetite (FeO . FeoCg) occurs in heavy black crystalline
masses and in small octahedral crystals. This mineral is easily
identified by its magnetic properties, Limonite (FeoOg. HpC)
is found as a rusty brown coating on the ores of which it is
an ox i ua t i on p r oduc t .

Two minerals of the Amphibole group seem to be the most
prevalent material on the dump, the reason for this being that
they comprised the greater part of the waste material from the
mine. The most common of this group is Actinolite (2ca0.5(Mg,
Fe)0. BSi92*H20) which is found in greenish to brown lamelar
masses (1). Much similar to this Is Tremolite ( 2Qa9 . 5MgO. BSi02
Hg9) whi eh occurs in the same form but has a lighter brown color.

plagoclase feluspar (Na, ga feluspar) is found in small
white crystals , usually being associated with Hornblende ,

In small rac'd, ating pistachio colored crystals in Feldspar and
Caloite is found Epidote ( 4CaO . 3Al£Cg . CSiOpHsC ) . Small crystals
of black Tourmaline are also found on the dump (Complex silicate).
Chlorite (complex silicate) is found as a decomposition product
of the silicates. Carnet (Almandite) occurs in minute red
crystals in the feldspar. Stilbite (2caC. NagO , 3Alo03«26Si02 •
2$H20) occurs rarely as a drusy lining of rock cavities.

(1) The mineral in question has been observed in other
collections under the labels of Cummingtonite or Bronzite-
Enstatite, but optical analysis has shown it to be Actinolite.

So far no trace of the other two minerals mentioned above has
been found.

(A "History of the copper Mine at Bare Hills" will be found
in the May, 1935 Bulletin),

NOTES

Meetings at the Society

August 6 - Talk by Mr. Edmund B. Fla dung, "The Organization of the
Society, "

August 13 - Talk by Mr. V/. Bryant Tyrrell, "Familiar Birds."

I llus t rated ,

August 20 - Talk by Dr, John A. Frisch, S.J., "The Paramaecium. "

1 1 lust rated.

August 27 - Talk by Mr, Frank Mingling, "Mythological Fish."

Special Le o t u re C ou r s e

August
Augus t

Augus t
Augus t

5 and 12 - Mineralogy, by Mr, 'Valter E. Price, Jr.

5 and 12 - photography, by Mr, Edward McColgan and
Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel,

7 and 14 - Botany, by Mr. John B, Egerton,

7 - public Speaking, by Mr. Elra M« Palmer.

Exbib its

Augus t 3

to 31 - Exhibit of Models of Dinosaurs at the Enoch
Pratt Library, Branch 7.

Junior M e e t i ng s

August 3 and 17.

.. Z3

2i5~

V\ (Xv U V*

K

I i w/vW/

Ty^JLJU^v

INDEX
VOL. VI
Nos. 1-12
1935-19,33

Adder's Tongue Fern- - - - -- - --■ -

Another Side of Nature-- - - - - -

Baltimore Gneiss, Minerals Occurring with the -

Baltimore Summer-flowering Oi cliicls (some) -

Beech Ravine (An Ecological Studs7-)--- - - - - -

Bentharium Construction - - - - - - -

Bird Notes from Ocean City, Maryland-- - - - ---• -

Bird Notes from Solomon's Island and Cove Point, Maryland -

Bladk Widow Spider- - - - - - - - - - - -

Blue Mount Quarry, some Minerals of the - - -

Book Review :-

Hegner, Robert-- "Parade of the Animal Kingdom" - - -

Botanist in Nanjcmoy Swamp -

Butterflies of Europe and America - - - - -

Early Spring Frogs, Two - - - - - - - - - -

Ecological Study- -The Beech Ravine -

Fish Observed at Cove Point, Maryland - - - - - - -

Fossil Crab from the Miocene of Maryland - - -

Frogs, Two Early Spring - - - - - - -

Green Tree Frog (Eyla cinera) - *

King Snake, Life History of------ - - - - - - - - -

Large Twayblade (Liparis Liliifolia) - - - - -

Life History of the King Snakd (Lampropeltis getulus getulus )

Local Rare Plants - - - - - ■ -

Minerals Occurring with the Baltimore Gneiss of Baltimore -

Minerals of the Blue Mount Quarry, some Notes on- -

Minerals of the Montebello Area, Baltimore - - -

Miocene of Maryland, Preliminary Report on a Possible New

Species of Fossil Crab - - - - - -

Nanjemoy Swamp, a Botanist in the - - - - -

Nature Study Classes - - - - - - - ■ -

One of Maryland's Most Common Snakes - ■ -

Ophioglossum vulgatum - - - - - - - - -

Orchids, some Baltimore Summer-flowering -

"'Parade of the Animal Kingdom" by Robert Hegner - - -

Plants, Notes on some Rare Local - - - - - - -

Preliminary Report on a Possible New Species of Fossil Crab

from the Miocene of Maryland - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Snake Myths - - - - - - - - -

Snakes, One of Maryland's Most Common (DeKay's)- - - -

Spider, Black Widow- - •- - - - - - - - - - - -

Squirrel (white) of Princeton - -

Summer- flowering Orchids, some Baltimore - - - - -

Two Early Spring Frogs - - - - - - -

White Squirrel of Princeton - - - - -

Page

65

56
38

14
54
25
21
59
1 &
19

15
29
27
72
54
47

7

72

57
32

6

32

64

33
19

16

7

29

69

70

65
14
18

64

7

65
70
1 &
74
14
57
72
74

8

8

The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume VI

SEPTEMBER, 1935

THE BLACK 1VIDCV; SPIDER
By Elmo Masters

The Black Vidov; was first described from America in 1775 by
Fabricus as Aranea mactnns (now known as Latrodectus mac tans).

It is one of a group of spiders, notorious in all ages, in whatever
part of the worlu they may occur, for the poisonous nature of their
bite.

In southern Europe the well known Malnigniatle (L* malnignia-
tus) is a member of this group; in southern Russia the ’’Black
Volf’’ (L. lugribus), known to the Tartars as the Kara -Kurt is
found; and in New Zealand there is a form known to the natives as
Kapito, to distinguish it from the common harmless spider, Punga-
we re -were .

According to Dr. 0. Hart Merriam, the Northern Mewan Indians
of California refer to the Black widow as r'?o~ko-noo - the small
black spider with a red spot under his belly is poison. Some¬
times he scratches people with his long fingers and the scratch
makes a bad sore." Dr. Merriam also states that these Indians
crushed the body of the spider and used it to poison the tips of
arr ows .

Some students of spiders have been inclined, however, to
accept these general beliefs as myths c F„ ? «, Cambridge (1892)
believes chat the idea that the Black Widow is poisonous is due
to fear inspired by the strongly contrasting colors of the species.

Riley and Howard (1889) in a series of articles on the Black
w'idow arrive at no definite conclusion, but state - "Admitting in
its fullest force the argument that in reported cases the spider
has seldom, if ever, been seen by a reliable observer to inflict
the wound, we consider the fact that species of Latrodectus secur¬
ing m such widely distant localities as S. Europe, the Southern
United States and New Zealand are unifermily sen aside by the
natives as poisonous, when there is nothing especially dangerous
in their appearance, is the st range si argument for believing that
these statements have some verification m fact." In this same
series Riley and Howard accept the European form L. malmigniatus
as congeneric with L, mactans and base most of their discussion on

this specie s, and they accept the statement of the Rev. J. Black-
wall (Experiments and Observations me the Poison of Animals of
the Order Araneidae) on reports of fatal results of the bites by
L. malmigniatus "as amusing fictions in the natural history of
Araneidae . "

As late as 1911, J. II, Comstock makes no definite statement
about the venomous nature of the bite of L. mactans but apparently
he does not take too seriously the stories of its poisonous ef¬
fects .

In 192 6, Bogin states that 15C reports of poisonous spider
bites had been recorded by thirty-three physicians in the United
States and in 1932 he lists a total of 380 cases,

with in the past few years 1933-34-35, with the apparent in¬
crease of the Black Y/idow throughout the United States and par¬
ticularly in some of the western States, a great deal of work has
been done in this connection; many papers have been published;
and a definite poisoning resulting from the bite of the Black
Y/idow, called Arachnidism, recognized*

In America the Black Widow is distributed as far north as
the middle and western provinces of Canada, The Royal Ontario
Museum reports it as having been collected in northern and southern
Ontario, northern and southern Manitoba, northern and presumably
southern Alberta, and southern British Columbia. it has been
taken in practically every state in the United States, and there
is every reason to believe it to be distributed through. out the
United States. In the state of Maryland it is fairly common and
has been taken in considerable quantities. Its distribution ex¬
tends southward through Mexico, Central American and the Y/est
Indies to Tierra del Fuego in South America, it is found in greate
numbers in warmer sections, particularly thxe having mild winters,
as the Black widow is not very well adapted to withstand rigorous
w inters .

The apparent reported increase in numbers of the Black Y/idow
within the past few years is probably due to at least several of
these facts - the generally mild winters of 1933-34, the drought
of 19 34, a gradual moving of the spider from its native out-of-
door habitat to the protection of man made shelters, the greater
recognition, not only of the spider itself, but of the effects of
its bite, and also to a great deal of publicity given it by the
press an d cu rr e n t pu bl i ca t i on s »

The Black Widow is found with its web in dark, protected
localities such as lofts, cut -buildings , around old lumber piles,
protected fence corners and vacated rodent burrows. it also
frequents dark, damp locations such as cellars and water meters
and seems to be particularly found in and around outdoor privies.

The web of the Black Y/id ow is an irregular, loosely woven,
tangled mass of coarse strands running in all directions, not at
all like the usual neatly shaped webs that we associate with
spiders. A funnel ahaped web may generally be seen leading from
the web to some crack or crevice, where the spider waits in con¬
cealment. Y/ben the web is disturbed by some awkwa rd visitor

3.

temporarily ensnarlec , the spicier approaches, always backwards , •
extending a freshly spun strand of viscid silk and commences to
wrap her prey. When the victim is secure the hi to is administered.
This appears to have a virulent, paralyzing effect on the intruder.
Frequently, little effort is made to secure the prey beyond a few
retaining strands, many spiders apparently being more aggresive
in biting. In the case of particularly large or active prey the
spider may eject large droplets of viscous silk from her spinnerets;
these dry quickly and serve to absolutely ensnarl such victims as
make themselves difficult. The feeding is especially interesting
as like all other spiders the Black Widow has no jaws, but only
a mouth on either slue of which is a single leg-like appendage
known as the peui palps, the upper segment of which, thq coxa, bears a
crushing plate called th e endite , near the distal edge of which
is a finely toothed keel, the serr-ula* When hungry, the spider
takes her prey, crushes it with the end it os , the serrula probably
serving to lacerate so as to free the body juices. The crushed body
is then held against the mouth and by the action of a sucking
stomach, sucked dry. The remaining hard parts are then cut free
from the web and discarded. The female once established in a web
remains there throughout her life, feeding on unwary insects and
guarding her egg cases.

The male Black 'Widow after moulting the last time leaves his
web a mature . spide r in search of a mate. Unlike most other animals
the male spiders possess no true copulatory organ. The ejaculatory
organ consists of the reeepta culun seminis, a complicated organ
wh i c h w or k s o n the g cue e r a 1 pri n c i p a 1 of a b u 1 b ou s s y ri n g e . Thi s
organ is situated in the digital or tarsus segment of the palpus.

The endite and the segment bearing it, the coxa, ( 1) are regarded
as the trunk of the pedipalps. The remaining segments,- trochanter,
femur, patilla, tibia and tarsus, (2) are regarded as an appendage
termed the palpus.) Sometime previous to mating the male spins a
delicate web on which is emitted the seminal fluid from the open¬
ing of the reproductive glands (these are situated in the epigastric
furrow, which is located on the ventral side of the abdomen near
the basal end). This seminal fluid is picked up by the roceptaculum
seminis and stored while the male proceeds in search of a mate*
During this time the male partakes of no food, although he may stop
to suck up a little water or liquid food that may be immediately
available. On entering the web of a likely mate the male vibrates
his abdomen rapidly, causing a vibration of the entire web, The
male then approaches the female and strokes her gently with his
forelegs. This is all cone very cautiously, - if the female 13
not agreeable death may result for the luckless suitor. If the
female is agreeable she remains quiet while the n3 le spins her up
in a delicate web. Once the web is spun coitus is affected by the
male's placing the reeepta culun seminis in conjugation with the
epigynum of the female. This has been observed to be repeated in
some instances. When coitus has been affected the female easily
frees herself and she may ensnare and feed upon her mate. This is
the reason for the name - Black Widow. it has been observed how¬
ever that in the presence of other immediate food she will not
kill the male*

(To be continued in the October Bulletin*)

the BLACK 7/1 DDL SPIDER

X4

(Figures after cuts fron Uni toe; States Dopartnont, of
A jriculture Publico ti ons ) .

-

.

' .

A

Li pa ris liliifolia

A ~ Plant - natural size

B ~ Single bins son - X3

6 «

LARGE Tw'AYBLADE (LI PARIS LI LI I FOLIA)

By Earl H . Palnor

One of the outstanding characteristics of the genus Liparis
Is the pair of oval or ovate leaves rising fron the root and
clasping the stem. The nane "Twa yblade" Is likewise used to de¬
note the genus Li stera - but this genus ( Lis tern ) bears smaller
leaves half-way up the stem; a glance at the leaves will quickly
distinguish the two genera . The leaves of the Liparis liliif olia
vary fron two to five inches long and one to two and one -ha If
inches wide.

The scape (a leafless stem rising fron below ground and bear¬
ing o flower or a flower-cluster) is four to ten inches high. The
many f 1 owe re d ra c e me is s on e ti ne s six in ch e s 1 ong , Th e in d i v I dua 1
flowers stand off fron the scapes - sketch R (after Gibson) -on
pedicels fully three-quarters of an inch long; looking, as one
writer put it , as though they "have a combative air like so many
little dragons."

As to the exact method of f erti liza ti on , nothing to ny know¬
ledge has been published. An examination of sketch B will show
that the incurved column (1) of B stands upright, (The column is
a torn applied to the consolidated pistil and anther of the Family
Orchis.) The lateral petals and sepals are reduced to thread-like
organs, while the one broad lip (2) of B is raised in a most en¬
ticing manner. Sketch B shows this broad lip to be slightly
incurved, and, I think, with a reason. The lip bears a nectar-
secreting groove down its median line. what is there to keep a
visiting insect from knocking off the column’s protective cap as
he flies away, thus releasing the sticky pollen masses?

Range;- Maine to Minnesota south to Georgia and Missouri.

Habitat;- damp wooded ravines May to July.

NOTES

Meetings at the Society

September 3~~ Talk by Mr . George Maugans, "Snakes of the
Family E la pi da e."

September 10 - Talk by Mr. Oscar Helm, "idiosyncrasies of
Tea cb ing Biology.”

September 17 - Talk by Mr. V/alter E. Price, Jr., "The Line-
s t on e of Ma ry la n d . "

September 24 - Lecture by Dr. E. A. Andrews of Johns Hopkins
University, "Some Janacian Snails." 1 1 lust rated.

Jun i or Meet! ngs

September 7 ~ Me eting .

September 21 - Talk by Nathan Canter, "The Bacteria in Sheep.”

Exhibits

Sepllumber 1-7 - Exhibit at Tinonium Fair, representing the
work of our eight Natural History Departments.

September 8-16 -Exhibit at the Fish Guitarist Show at Druid
HiH Park. Some Maryland Fish*,

; %

I#.

THE MIOCENE OF MARYLAND

By Elra M. Palmer

This report is one of many t o be published on the scientific
results of the Miocene Paleontological Survey which has been con¬
ducted by the Department of Paleontology of this Society over a
period of five years. A number of extremely interesting specimens
have been found, many representing new species. The detailed
descriptions of these species will be published later in the pro¬
ceedings of the Society.

Occasional fragmentary remains of crabs have been found here¬
tofore in the choptank as well as in the St. Marys formation of
the Miocene, but none was complete enough to afford identification.
In the latter part of August, 1932, Mr. John B.Calder collected two
specimens of the genus Callinectes, both excellently preserved and
fairly complete. In August, 1934, Mr. Benjamin A. Calder collected
an immature specimen of the genus Callinectes in the pleistocene
deposits of St. Marys county. A preliminary report on these
specimens will be published shortly.

»n November, 1933, the writer had the good fortune to find a
specimen of the genus Libinia, one of the spider crabs. The
specimen was found imbedded in the bluish clay of the St. Marys
formation. The following fossils, characteristic of this forma¬
tion were found in association with the Libinia* Area idonea,
polynices heros, Turritella plebeia, Nassa peralta, and panopea
goldfussi .

The specimen found may be classified as follows;

Order Docapoda Family Kajidae

Suborder Reptantia Subfamily pisinae

Superfamily Oxyrhyncha Conus Libinia ( Leach)

Libinia diary landicus (proposed new species)

The specimen designated as Libinia narylandicus is not com¬
plete. It consists of a much compressed carapace. The shape is
triangular orbiculate. The dorsal surface is broken up into many

fgg ";i * 1880

8.

plates; however, the Intestinal, cardiac, urogastric and neta-
gastric regions are clearly distinguishable. The urogastric region
and the posterior end of the metagastric region is narrowly con¬
stricted. The rostrun is lacking and the pro- and post orbital
spines are indistinguishable. Tubercles are easily noted near the
margin of the mesobranchial region.

The ventral surface is partly obscure, being covered with
hard matrix. The ambulatory legs as well as the chelipeds are
lacking, but the coxae of all the legs can clearly be distinguished.
The basis, ischium, and a portion of the nerus of the left cheliped
are the most complete leg remains of this specimen. The apron is
lacking, and the anterior portion of the seventh segment of the
sternum, as well as the region around the maxillipeds, is covered
with matrix. Only a portion of the right sub-hepatic region is
exposed .

The measurements of the type specimen in centimeters are«-

Length of carapace ------------ 10,1 cm,

width of carapace in widest part ----- ioa5 om.

Exorbital width ------------- 2.5 cm.

Catalog M3C0c

The specimen is in the study collection of the Department of
Paleontology of the Natural History Society of Maryland.

THE BLACK WIDOw SPIDER
(Continued from September Bulletin)

Ey Elmo Masters

The fertile female, when ready to deposit her eggs, forms a
cup of loosely woven silk. The eggs are laid singly but very
rapidly in this cup, which is then closed with a few strands and
the whole is covered with a tough, waterproof covering of silk.
This process, which usually takes place during the night, re¬
quires from one to three hours. These egg cases,, white or buff
in color, measure from l/2 to 5/8 inch in diameter, are usually
oval in shape and may contain from 25 to 910 (average around 400)
spherical eggs. Each egg measures about l/32 of an inch in
diameter. A single female may spin from one to nine of the egg
cases in a season, and Lawson (1933) reports, that in the month
of July as many as four egg cases have been observed in one web,
hanging balloon-like in the upper portion. The time elapsing be¬
tween the deposition of these egg cases varies from one week to
about four months, depending on the temperature and the amount
of available food.

The time required for incubation of the eggs may vary from
fourteen to thirty days. The spider lings, after hatching, spend
some time in the egg case before emerging (this is usual in all
spiders) - this time may vary from four to thirty days. A spider

9.

grows by a series of moults or sloughing of its skins as it be¬
comes too small for them. The period between these moults is
known as an instar. From egg to the first moult is the first
instar. The first moult occurs in from one to two weeks

after hatching; (prior to this the spider-ling cannot feed). Usual¬
ly this instar and occasionally the second are spent within the
egg case, and even after emerging the spider lings cluster for
several days thereabouts. Throughout this period (after the first
moult) cannabilism reigns and their numbers are considerably
lessened by this practice. It has been observed that the mother,
even though extremely hungry, will not feed upon her own young.

Uhen first hatched and prior to the first moulting the
spiderling is very pale in color, the abdomen - white with no mark¬
ings, and the cephalthorax (3) white to pale yellow, in the second
instar the spiderling becomes darker, particularly the eyes,
appendages and mouth parts; two rows of black dots appear on the
dorsal side of the abdomen and the hour glass design begins to
appear on the ventral side. From the third instar to maturity
there is present a wide variety in color patterns, and in this in¬
star lateral stripes appear on the dorsal side of the abdomen,
the abdomen becomes a pole, yellowish green in color, and the legs
acquire four black bands; also the hour glass narking on the ventral
surface takes on a crimson tinge. In the fourth instar all of the
markings become darker. About this time the spider becomes nega¬
tively phototropic (goes away from light). Barrett ( 1927) states
that this develops after the fourth moult, and also at about this
time the spider establishes itself in some dark, protected crevice
where it constructs a small web. This web is retained and enlarged
progressively as the spider matures. In the fifth instar all of
the whit e areas become a light brown in color, and the central strip*.,
on the dorsum is constricted and acquires a reddish tinge near the
tip. The hour glass marking becomes quite distinct. In this instar
males usually nature. In the sixth and seventh instars oil colora¬
tion becomes much darker and reddish dots nay appear at or near the
center of the dorsum; usually only females pass through these later
instars. Only females have an eighth instar and the spider becomes
all black except for the crimson hour glass marking and occasionally
a white band or an additional crimson spot near the anterior the
abdomen. These instars are by no means consistent in number as they
seem to depend largely on food and weather conditions, and in the
male may range from three to six moults while in the female there
may be six to eight.

The mature female Black 'widow is usually of a uniform black or
sepia with a characteristic sheen described by Phillips ( 1935) as
a ’’patent leather" appearance. The most characteristic marking is
the crimson hour glass on the ventral surface of the abdomen.
Occasionally this marking consists more of two triangles than an
hour glass and it may vary in color from a dark marking hardly
discernible to a pale yellowish color. In the male the "patent
leather" appearance is altogether absent, for it is much paler in
color with markings on the dorsum similar to an immature female.

The abdomen of both the male and the female is of a characteristic
globose shape often likened to a "shoe button", and in the average
female it is about 1/4 of an inch wide?. A mature specimen measures
about l-g- inches with the legs extended* Males are usually smaller
than females.

■ !•': ■■ i. •/' '<* V

'

,

10,

The usual life cycle of a Black Widow is a single season, but
since it requires about fur months to pass from egg to maturity,
young hatched in the late summer or early fall hibernate as im¬
mature forms, while females hatched in the early summer often
hibernate as adults and lay their eggs the following year. Jelli-
son and Phillips report that they have taken immature specimens
deep in rodent burrows in November after the ground has frozen, and
they suggest these as natural places of hibernation.

The poison apparatus of the Black Widow consists of two long,
narrow, poison sacs situated in the cephalthorax and extending
about two -thirds of its length, curving outwardly towards the ex¬
terior body wall. From recent reports it would seem these sacs are
absorptive in function and pick up their poisonous constituents
from the body fluid. These sacs have ducts leading forward into
the heavily, chitinized chelicerae or fangs which are situated on
the forward portion of the head. At the time of the biting the
poison is expelled through these fangs. In the male spider the
poison apparatus is only used in the immature stages, and in the
nature form is small and inactive. This nay be due to the fact
that the mature male does not attack prey. In the female, however,
the poison sacs increase in size, and with maturity the poison is
virulent, there being sufficient poison present in the adult female
to make her presence dangerous to man.

Black V/idow poisoning, Spider poisoning or Ara chnidism, as it
may be called, is now definitely recognized by medical authority.
Experiments with the poison venom have demonstrated its ability to
destroy the blood corpuscles of animals, thus classing it with the
strongest of blood poisons. Despite its neurotoxic effects the
venom of the Black Widow is not under usual conditions fatal to
man, (in fatal cases there is usually a complication of other
diseases) but its bite is definitely dangerous.

The Black "widow is ordinarily shy and there is no danger of
her attacking a human being, but as stated by Dr. T7. A. Hayward
"accidents from the bite of this spider are due largely to faulty
discernment in tactile responses. when some portion of the b"dy
comes in contact with her web thereby shaking it. she is inclined
to respond in a seemingly senseless manner attacking and biting
the intruding object. Due to the fact that under the seat of the
outdoor toilet is so common a place for her to he found, many of
the reported cases in males have occurred on the penis or scrotum.”
It is interesting to note that in the majority of all reported
cases of Black "Widow bites the victims have been men*

Persons who have been bitten by the Black ITiaow are frequently
not aware of the bite, at the time, as the pain is similar to the
prick of a pin; hov/ever pain in the region of the bite is felt al¬
most immediately thereafter, usually with in ten minutes. This
pain increases and spreads steadily, usually reaching a maximum in
from one to three hours. It has been described as excruciating
and agonizing and is usually continuous, but it nay be intermittent
or cramp-like. it is manifested by screening or moaning, writhing
and doubling up. Spasms of the larger muscles are also present,
particularly of the hack, chest and abdomen. The muscles of the
abdomen become rigid and “board -like" ; local tenderness as in

11

appendicitis is almost always absent, however, hut this condition
has been mistaken for general peritonitis or other severe abdomi:-?
nal disturbances and occasional patients have submitted to ex¬
ploratory operations. There is a slight rise in body temperature,
a definite increase of white corpuscles in the blood, profuse
perspiration is usually present and often a tendency to nausea and
vomiting, localized edema, restlessness, difficulty in breathing,
and occasionally constipation and retention of urine. Bogen (1932)
reports an increase in the pressure of the spinal fluid. These
symptoms are generally continuous (gradually subsiding) for 12
to 48 hours and all symptoms usually spontaneously disappear in a
few days. In fatal cases death usually occurs in from 14 to 34
h X1. rs .

First aid treatment for Black Widow spider bites consists of
the application of a local antiseptic, such as tincture of iodine,
to prevent secondary infection, the application of eps om salt
packs to relieve pain, and the usual treatment for shock should
it be present. A 1th pugfr recommended by a few - cutting, bleeding,
cauterization and application of the tourniquet, as in Rattlesnake
poisoning, is frowned upon since the venom is neurotoxic in effect
and practically instantaneous. Such treatment is not only useless
but extremely painful. The use of alcohol or other stimulants is
n ot r e c ommende d .

Medical attention for all persons bitten by the Black Widow
should be secured at once. This treatment will consist mainly of
opiates, such as morphine administered in very large doses (strych¬
nine and caffein are also used), hydrotherapy, and similar measures
to alleviate the acute pain. Bogen reports success with spinal
punctures and he lists more than seventy-five different medical
remedies of which three are outstanding - spinal puncture, intra-
vaneous injections of magnesium sulphate (10 cc of a 2o£ solution to
relieve hypertension ), and intramuscular administration of con¬
valescent serum (serum taken from convalescent patients) when given
within eight hours. The field of discovery of better treatment is
still open, but inconsistent symptoms and the difficulty of repro¬
ducing constant symptoms in experimental animals will probably
make progress in this field rather slow. Recently, however, pecker
and D’ Amour (1934) have announced the development of an antiserum.
As yet there is little available information on its success.

Great difficulty is experienced in the control of the Black
Widow, due to its wide distribution and solitary habits « A great
measure of success can be attained, however, by the collection and
destruction of the egg cases, as they are conspicuous and not
carried by the spider. Fly sprays and ordinary insect sprays have
but little effect on the adult spiders but a 1% solution of nico¬
tine sulphate in water is very effective if the spider is thorough¬
ly drenched. Creosote has proved to be the most effective material
yet used. When sprayed it will kill the spider on contact and it
further acts as a repellent. Since the majority of all Black Widow
bites occur in outdoor latrines, the under sides of seats, in such
places, should be treated with a creosote application. Experiments
are now being conducted by the University of California to find
natural predators and parasites, in an attempt to create a natural
control. it is recommended that persons working with water-meters
or such other places whe re the Black Widow abounds, wear gloves.

12.

Spielers, with the except i on of the Black Widow, are very
beneficial to nan;/ and by their destruction of innumerable in,*
sects render a great service* It would be most deplorable if we
in our zeal to eradicate the Black Widow should kill or allow to
be killed other harmless spiders*

(1) The coxa is sometimes termed the maxilla » (2) Sometimes

called axillary, humeral * cubital, radial and digital.

Notes 1 and 2 refer to a specialized set of terms often used to
describe the segments of the pedipalps.

(3) In all spiders the head and thorax are fused into one part
termed the cephalth orax . (Bibliography on page 13.)

V 0~”

**n Krnrjrp c?

**» * » KU

Meetings at the Society

October 1 “Talk by Mr. Richard E. Stearns, "Excavation of Indian
Village Sites in Florida."

October 8 - Talk by Mr, John B. Egerton, "Self Pruning*"

October 15 - Talk by Mr* william Lehr* "Mechanics of Mountain
Format ion . "

October 22 - Talk by Mr* Gilbert C. Klingel, "Symmetry in Nature,
October 29 - Talk by Mr. Bryant Mather, Jr., "Native Elements in
Maryland, with a Special Reference to Gold,"

October 30 - Lecture-Associate Members and Friends*- by Mr* Gilbert
L El-ingel, "A Naturalist^ Adventures in the Bahamas."

Junior Meetings

October 5 - Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer* "The Hobby Show,"

October 19 - Lecture by Mr. Gilbert c. Klingel, "A Naturalist's
Adventures in Inagua . "

Lectures to Outside Organizations

October 22 - Lecture" at Uni ve rs itv of Maryland by Hr, Jovane
McGlees, "The Diving Helmet and Its Use,"

October 18 - Lecture to Boy Scouts of America, Rarforc: Road Dis¬
trict, by Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel, "Exploring the Bottom of the
Che sa pea ke „ "

October 25 - Address - Maryland State Teachers Convention, by Mr.
Elra M - Palmer, "Educati onal and Scientific Material Available at
the Natural History Society of Maryland."

Exhibits

September 20 - Branch 12, Enoch Pratt Library "Sea Shells."

Co Lobe r 12 to November 1 - Junior High School $1 Exhibit of Birds
Re p Li le s , Insects, Fossils * Mine ra Is a nd P lan t Ma t e ria Is .

October 30 to November 15 - Eastern High School - Exhibition of
Fossils „

October 31 - Fairview School, Calvert County, Exhibit of Minerals
Special School Service - Baltimore City college
October 16 Id 19' - SpfT lBrnTt of I h sec til I'b'r' 'De n oil's t r a t i on .
v'ctobor 23 to 26 - Demonstration - plant Materials and Exhibition

13,

BIBLIOGRAPHY
(Black Li clow Spicier)

nonstock, John Henry - The Spicier Book - 1911

Hills , Fred c,

- Tinely Tips in Scout Protection - Scouting

March, 1935

Riley & Howard

~ Insect Life Vol. 1, 18S9

Philips ,C ,B . -

Arachnibisn - Northwest Medicine, Vol. 34

c

Hayward, 17. A,

pp. 52-55, Feb, 1935

- The Black widow, Shoe Button op Hourglass

Spicle r .

University of California - The Black 17 i clow Spider, Bull, 591,

June, 1935

United States D e pa r t n e nt of A g r i cu It ur e - The Black 17 i cl ow

Spider, April, 1955

Merrian, c. H ~ The Dawn of the 17 or Id, 1910

The Natural Histo

Society of Maryland

Volume VI NOVEMBER , 1935 Number 3

SOME BALTIMORE SUMMER -FLOV/ERIMG ORCHIDS
By John B. Egorton

As every good business men regularly takes account of his
stock-in-trade so should the naturalist keep informed of the ob¬
jects of his affections. In the course of "civilization", woodland
and stream are cleared and nature’s richest legacies squandered.

If this process continues in the future, guided by no more in¬
telligence than it has been in the past, there will be nothing
left in a few years but the memory of a once rich heritage and
only so much of that as has been recorded and passed on to pos¬
terity by the naturalists who have seen, loved and cherished it.

Baltimore and Maryland are indeed fortunate I think, in having
a body of naturalists dedicated to this worthy and laudable task.
The field is large and there is promise of varied and abundant
crops, but the workers are few in comparison, and their tools
inadequate. Rut where there is a will, a way will be found.

For several years past, I have been anxious to "take stock"
of our sunne r-fl owering orchids, but the opportunity did not
present itself t During the summer just passed, however, I was
fortunate enough to have associated with me in this task a number
of young botanists, members of the Natural History Society of
Maryland and some others, all eager for new conquests, who spurred
me on to get out into the country even on some very hot and sultry
days when the coolness of my study might have been preferable to
the sultry vapors of overgrown thicket and tangled brier.

But searching for orchids is so fascinating that once one gets
on the trail of these alluring plants most physical difficulties
are forgotten. The rarity, shyness and beauty of some species
make them universal favorites with all lovers of the beautiful.

Yet these very qualities that charm us so are, like human populari¬
ty, likely to be their own undoing. Hence the need and value of
oi-igina 1 obserx'at ion , and permanent record, lest all be forgotten.

Unfortunately Baltimore and vicinity are no longer blessed

15.

with a large number of showy species of the Orchis Family. 7/hen
one mentions the Pink Moccasin Flower ( Cypripediun acaule) , the
Showy Orchis (Orchis special ills), and the Yellow Laclys slipper
(Cypripediun parvif lorun) he has about exhausted the list of showy
species. And moreover these are all spring flowering forms, so
that when one runs across a large and brilliantly colored orchid
later in the season, he is very much pleased.

It fell to our good fortune during the past summer to find,
on two or three occasions, these beautiful species. First, on
June 27, Father Frisch, S . J . , head of tl e Biology Department at
Loyola College, some students, and the writer were botanizing in
a meadow, when Father Frisch spied a beautiful specimen of the
Green Fringed Cr-chid, (Habenaria lasers). Then each of us took
a turn and located other specimens nearby. The sane species was
found subsequently by Clyde Reid in several other localities some
distance from the first place.

On June 22, while outing in the vicinity of Prettyboy Dam,
about twenty miles north of Baltimore City, we ran across an orchid
in bud. it seemed to be one of the fiabenarias , but I was not sure
and, as there were several plants growing there, I dug up one and
took it home. Just one month later it bloomed and was identified
as the smaller Green Orchid (Habenaria clavellata). The same
species was also found in another locality, miles away, just finish
ing blooming on August 15. This orchid is not a showy species.

On July 13. v/e recognized for the first time plants of the
large, Round-leaf Orchis, (Habenaria or’: iculata ) r It was growing
along with Orchis spc> eta bills on a shady, moist hillside. 7/hen
first seen, I was struck by the way the leaves lay appressed to
the ground and sai< to myself, "This is surely not the common Showy
Orchis." One of the plants had already flowered but, the long spur
of some of the withered flowers still clung to the ovary and made
the identification certain.

But one of the best finds of the summer occurred when the
young botanist, Clyde Reid, called and asked, '* 7/hat is this pink
flower here in the thicket?" be were then exploring a marshy
meadow in which the pink milkweec, (Asclepias incarnata), in full
flower, predominated with 7/r.ter plantain and Arrowhead close
seconds, and Cardinal Flowers and Cat-tails nearby. At first
glance I thought it was a pink Phlox, for at a distance it might
well be taken for the far more common plant; but I soon realized
that I was wrong a It was no common flower at all; it was an orchid
but which one I could not say for sure at the time.

7/e 11, we scoured the meadow all around and within a radius of
fifty yards found about two dozen plants, some larger but most
smaller, than the first plant seen. One specimen wa s taken for
the herbarium. On being analyzed this proved to be Habenaria
peramoena , claimed by some to be our handsomest wild orchid.

A few days later, Mr. 7/. Bryant Tyrrell brought in a fine
specimen of the Crested Yellow Orchis, (Habenaria cristata), w hich
I have not seen for many years. It once grew in great profusion
in a swampy piece of ground in southwest Baltimore, but it has long
since departed. The specimen brought in had been found near Jessups
about twenty miles southwest of Baltimore.

16

Another worthwhile find was a number of fine specimens of the
Cane fly Orchid, (Tipularia unifoiin) by another botanical friend,
Mr. Earl H. Palmer, in the extreme southern part of the state near
the Potomac River. The tallest plants were about fifteen inches
high and consisted of a single cylindrical, leafless spike of al¬
most invisible flowers. Tipularia is a rather widely distributed
plant in the Coastal plain region of Maryland, but there are usually
only a few plants in one place; it grows in small groups. The
leaves, dark green above and reddish -purple beneath, are striking
enough in the fall and winter but not so at time of flowering in
late summer when the old leaves have disappeared and the new ones
have not yet appeared. Tipularia is leafless at time of flowering.

A very attractive little orchid, as far as foliage is con¬
cerned, is the Rattlesnake plantain, (q„ pube scans) « It is our
most widely distributed and possibly the most abundant member of
its family in the vicinity of Baltimore, Its grayish -green leaves
variegated ‘with white veins make it quite conspicuous by contrast
with the bright green mosses and brown leaves of the forest floor.
Its flowers, though quite small, are numerous and form a dense
spike on a long leafless stem in July and August.

And lastly come the little Ladies' Tresses, but this takes
us rather into the fall.

THE MINERALS OF THE MONTEBELLO AREA , BALTIMORE

By Francis T/ise

The Montebello area, which lies at Hi lien Road and V/iride mere
Avenue, is a barren stretch of sun baked soil covered with patches
of rough dry grass. Approaching this region on the east from
Hi Hen Road, one comes to a pond which is sometimes dry. The small
streams of the region end here and deposit their detrital material.
Small pieces of mica, tourmaline, and ironstone are to be found.

Muscovite is the most commonly found mica. It is found in the
mud of the streams in silvery plates from one to three inches in
size, it is here that one also finds black tourmaline crystals
coated with clay and flakes of mica. Most prominent is the iron¬
stone, which in the form of sand gives a ruddy appearance to the
surrounding area.

’Talking up towards the woods one comes to a field in which
ironstone concretions are very common. These, upon being broken
open, show their interior to be filled with coarse sand; the size
of the concretions varies up to about three inches.

Farther up the hill tourmalines in quartzite or white clay
are to be found. These are small black crystals usually of poor
quality due to weathering, a I though some still show the hexagonal
prism faces, but are rarely terminated.

■Talking west t o ole; Ki'Hen Road, one fines piles of stone
which were left there after the completion of the building of the
Montebello tunnel a few years ago. Presumably this rock came from
the underlying rock bed which is principally Baltimore Gneiss .

•' '

; . .

.

..

i

■ ■' ' ■ ' 1 i

The minerals found on the rock piles are epidote, pyrite , feldspar,
mica, and garnet. No unusual specimens have been found. The
pyrite occurs in epidote in broken tarnished cubes.

To the east are found quartz pebbles covered with a film of
iridescent limonite. These are of fair quality, but the best speci¬
mens cone from a similar region about two miles to the northwest.

All these minerals are most commonly found distributed at
random throughout the territory. This is due to the weathering of
the great amount of excavated rocks present, which yield their
minerals to the surrounding soil.

-##-

NOTES

Me e t i n g s a t the Society

November 5 - Talk by Mr, Irving E. Hampe , "The State Forest
preserve . ”

November 12 - Lecture by Dr. F. D* Crane, "clays, past and
present , "

November 19 - Talk by I!r. Lewis Puten, "The Life History of
the Spotted Salamander."

November 26 - Talk by Mr. Milton T » Qler, Jr., "The Elephant
and His Progenitors,"

November 22 - Lecture to Associate Members and Friends by

Mr, Elra M, Palmer, "The Miocene Fossils of Maryland."

N o verab e r 2 3 - staff M e e t i ng .

Junior Meeting

November 2 - Lecture by Mr. Milton T. Qler, Sr,, "Casting of
Natural History Specimens,"

November 16 - Lecture by Mr. George Maugans, "Reptiles."

Lectures to Outside Organizations

November 5 - To the Eastern High School by Mr. John B. Ca Icier,

18.

"Fossils - What They Are and Where They Are Found in Maryland."

Novenber 7 - To the "cosmopolitans" of the United Presbyterian
Church bv Mr. John Calder, "Fossils - What They Are and ./here They
Are Found in Maryland. "

Novenber 8 - Troop 146 - Boy Scouts of America by Mr. H. C.
Robertson, "The 'Jays of a Snake."

November 13 - To the c lift on Park Junior High School by Richard
Webster, "insects of Maryland."

Novenber 20 - To the St. Agnes Hospital Staff by Dr. Howard
A. Kelly, Assisted by Mr. H. c. Robertson, "Reptiles and the
Treatment of Snake Bites."

November 22 - To Troops 10C - 112 Bov Scounts of America by
Mr. Joseph White, "Native Fish in the Aquarium"

November 27 - To the Clifton park Junior High School Science
Club by Elias Cohen, "Collecting Snakes and Turtles."

BOOK REVIEW

"parade of the Animal Kingdom" "by Dr. Robert Hegneh, Macmillan Co*, Rev
York, 675 pages, 743 illustrations. $5.00 Indexed,

This book should be of general interest to all nature lovers, especially
those imho care to read a good popular scientific outline of the animal world. It
should also be an aid to beginners in biology, as it gives many fine examples of
life histories in the various classes, frorr the protozoa to the marnals. Teachers
and nature trail builders will find this book quite useful.

Vre are especially interested in this book since our Society has contributed
some dozen or more of the illustrations used.

Dr. Hegner presented a copy of "Parade of the Animal Kingdom" to the Library
of the Society.

Edrund. B. Fladung

The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

Volume VI DECEMBER, 1935

Number 4

SOME NOTES ON THE MINERALS OF THE BLUE MOUNT QUARRY

By Walter E. Price, Jr.

Tbe Blue Mount Quarry, operated by the J. E. Baker Company
of York, Pennsylvania, is the largest qua rry in Baltimore County,
and is situated on the 0-unpowder Falls, along Big Falls Road,
one mile southwest of White Hall, The immense workings in a
slightly serpent inized basic igneous rock (trap) comprise an ex¬
posure 450 feet long worked back for some few hundred feet from
the stream. The rock as a whole is purplish-black and hard, but
in a few places veins of serpentine may be found, much softer
and light green in color.

The close relation between these rocks of both igneous and
metamorphic origin, affords a large variety of minerals common to
both types, and consequently this locality proves to be a veritable
treasure trove for the mineralogist. The quarry is being exten¬
sively worked and thus fresh material is constantly being exposed,
a factor very essential for the best study and collecting.

The minerals to be found are the follow ing»-

Serpentine (1), HqKggSipOg Found in many varieties, chief among
which are antigorite, chrysotile, picrolite, and williansite „
Serpentine is the most abundant mineral found at the quarry.

Talc, Ho Mg 3 (SiCK'4 In soft, light green masses.

Bronzite, (MgSiCg with little iron) Occurs in bronze-like sub-
metallic cleavages in the trap,

Actinolite, Cap ( Mg.,Fe ) 5 (OH )p ( SiqO]^) o In glassy, green prismatic
crystals, usually with talc,

Pyrite, FeS2 In. small brassy, yellow masses and veins.

Chromite, Fe c r2 Cm in black grains in serpentine;' not abundant.

PB§$$ im

20 o

Quartz, SiOo Found as masses of chalcedony, and in sparkling
druses .

Caleite, CaCOg In veins and snail crysatls; sometimes in cleavages
of Iceland spar.

Dolomite, CaCO^.MgCCk Found in masses and small crystals. The
white massive dolomite resembles porcelain somewhat, and is
luminescent after exposure to ultra-violet light. The crystals
are light brown, about 3/l6 inches in size, and occur in cavities.

Aragonite, CaoO- Occurs in beautiful small white tufts of radiating,
acicular crystals with drusy quartz and other minerals in joint
cavit ie s .

Magnesite, MgCOg Occurs in white, chalky masses and seams.

Hydromagnesite, Mgq( OH ) 2 ( C 0g) 3 . 3lTpO Found as thin, white crusts
on rock surfaces.

Brucite, Mg(0H)2 Translucent, white, pearly cleavages. Some
specimens fluoresce blue (argon bulb) and luminesce strongly.

Pyroaurite, MgCO- . 5Mg( 0h)2 • 2F0 ( OR ) ^HgO Recently Francis Wise,
a junior member of this Society, received a letter from the United
States Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., in which it was stated
that a mineral specimen from this locality submitted by him for
identification, was pyroaurite. The mineral is a pearly brown
lamellar mass, intimately mixed with manganif e rous calcite on a
nicke lifercus serpentine. Purer specimens are being sought for
further investigation. The chief localities for pyroaurite in the
world are in Sweden and Scotland. The verification of this mineral
occurrence will establish the fact that Blue Mount, Maryland, is
the only reported locality for pyroaurite in the western hemisphere.

Deweylite, 4MgO.QSiOo.0H2o In white to brown colloform masses
filling cavities.

Aquacreptite (2), (amorphous magnesium silicate). A mineral that
is probably aquacreptite is found in the serpentine in dull masses,
grading from white to yellow, to brown. Cracks up very easily.

Chlorite, (complex silicate). Soft dark green masses, exposing a
choppy surface showing scaly structure when broken.

Vermiculite, (complex silicate). Soft, tobacco brown, finely
foliated masses .

Kaolinite, HqA^Sip^g A product of rock decomposition. Soft whit e
masses that powder in the hand.

Limonite, HgFegO^HgC^x Resulting from the decomposition of
ferriferous minerals. Rusty brown, powdery masses.

These are the minerals that have been found to date. it is
believed that the above list is yet incomplete and it is the ex¬
pectation that in the near future we v/ill be able to add more.

>

21

Note (1) Serpentine is a rock, not a mineral. Modern authori¬
ties have declared serpentine to consist of two minerals of
the same composition, H^iggSigOg, antigorite (fiborous, lamellar,
or massive) and Chrysotile (always in fibrous seams).' The
modern tendency is to disregard the multiplicity of varities of
the old Dana system, but yet to retain a few old terms to
designate the more distinct varieties. The term "serpentine"
is used above in this light for convenience.

Note (2) This mineral has a hardness of 2*5? G-2,0? decrepi¬
tates before the blowpipe, and falls to pieices in water with a
crackling noise. It has an orange -yellow streak and adheres
to tongue. This conforms apparently with the description of
aquacreptite. This mineral belongs to a group of very similar
amorphous minerals whose nature is still little known, making
fine discrimination very difficult.

BIRD NOTES FROM OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND
By 17. Bryant Tyrrell

On the 15th and 16th of June, 1935, Mr. F. C« Kirkwood, my son,
Arthur, and I spent part of two days in the region of Ocean City,

Ocean City is located near the northern boundary of Maryland
on a long sand bar that flanks the ocean along almost the entire
length of Delaware, Maryland, and the Virginia peninsula. This bar
which varies from a quarter of a mile to several miles in width
has a wide sandy beach fronting the ocean, back of which are low
grass-covered dunes, and beyond these, flats and tidal marshes cut
into by many estuaries from the various bays. Two areas of this
region were visited, both similar - one to the north of the city on
June 15, and the other, the more interesting of the two because of
its abundant bird life, to the south of the city on June 16.

So far as I ’was able to ascertain very little definite informa¬
tion is available about the bird life of the region, and therefore
it was with considerable enthusiasm that we welcomed an opportunity
to visit the region, even for only a short period.

Me arrived at Ocean City about noon on June 15, and after a
hurried lunch started up the beach. There was a slight breeze off
the ocean but nevertheless the heat was intense, both from the direct
rays of the sun and the reflected heat from the hot sand. The most
interesting bird life observed was a mixed flock of shore birds,
consisting of sanderlings, ruddy turns tonjes , and three black-bellied
plover, and then about three miles up the beach we found a small
colony of least terns.

On returning to town and talking to some of the residents we
were informed that we would be apt to find birds more abundant to
the south of town beyond the inlet, a trip that would have to be
made in a boat. 77 e therefore made arrangements for a boat at 5; 30
the To flow ing morning ,

After a night on the beach under a full moon and a dip in the

• . ...

22

ocean, we were ready for our bacon and eggs, At 5«30 we were at
the appointed place, and after our equipment was stowed away in
the bow of the boat we were soon putt -putt ing over the quiet waters
of Sinepuxant Bay* Some three miles down the Bay v/e came to the
location of the old inlet, where v/e were told we would f ind a colony
of "strikers”, the local name for the small gulls and terns, and
"flood gulls", black skimmers. We v/e re not disappointed, for there
we found a large colony of least and common terns and a few black
sk immers .

The following is a list of the birds observed.

Double-crested Cormorant, phala croc orax a * auritus, Two
"nigger geese" were flushed from pond net stakes on the morning of
June 16 in Sinepuxant Bay.

Great Blue Heron, Ardea h, herodias. On June 16 fresh tracks
were seen in the soft mud of the tidal marshes, exposed by the
ebbing tide.

American Bittern, Botaurus lent iginosus . One was seen to the
north of town on June 15.

Black Duck, Anas rubripes tristis. Tv/o v/e re seen. Kirkwood
saw a female with young.

Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura septent rionalis , Common.

Marsh Hawk, Circus hudsonius* On June 15 one was seen flying
low over the tidal marshes.

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus carolinensis* Common, A few nests
were seen, one on the top of a tepee of old pond net stakes, though
it was not occupied.

Piping plover, Cbaradrius melodus. A few were seen; Kirkwood
saw a female with two young,

Killdeer, Oxyechus v* vociferus. One was seen and heard on the

16th .

Bla ck -be Hi ed Plover, Squatarol squatarola. Three were seen
on the 15th in a flock of sanderlings and turns tones north of town.

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaris interpres morinella. Several were
seen on both days in flocks of sanderlings.

Greater Yellow- legs, Totanus melanoleucus . A lev/ were seen
by Kirkwood.

Sanderlingj Crocethia alba, A small flock with turnstones and
three bla ck-bellie d plover v/as noted on the 15th. A flock of
fully one hundred, with a few turnstones, v/as seen on the 16th to
the south of town i

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus smith sonianus, Common. Abun¬
dant about the harbor, where a large number of immature birds were
observed .

delawarensi s .

C onnon , tin ou gh n ot a s

Ring -billed Gull, La run
abundant as the herring gull.

Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla. Conn oru l7e were disappointed
in not finding some of their nests.

Common Tern, Sterna h. hirunda. The most abundant tern. Their
nests, hollows in the sand, we re usually beside pieces of driftwood,
or among clumps of grass. Each contained two or three eggs in
various stages of incubation, and a few young had just hatched. No
attempt was made to count the number of nests, though we estimated
that there were about 200.

Least Tern, Sterna a. antillarum. A small colony which con-
tained three nests of three eggs and six of two was found to the
north of town on June 15, On June 16 we noticed another small
colony on a point across the inlet but we did not visit it. The
larger colony w as found on the wide expanse of sandy beach where
the old inlet used t o be . There the nests were, as usual, only a
slight hollow in the sand with no protection. Often the nests were
so close together and the coloration of the eggs so harmonized with
the small pebbles and sand of the beach that we had to watch close¬
ly where we stepped. Fourteen nests contained one egg, fifty-three
nests two eggs, and three nests three eggs. Host of the eggs were
well incubated and a few chicks were hatched.

Caspian Tem, Hydroprogne caspia imperator. Several were seen
on a pile of sand near the dock on June 16.

Black Skimmer, Rynchops n. nigra. Nests of this bird v/ere
found among those of the least and common terns, though they were
few and far between. They were also only depressions in the sand,
but somewhat deeper and with the sane that had been pushed out
banked up about the edge of the; hollow. Nine nests of four eggs,
and one which contained one egg were fount , ail fresh. There were
many unoccupied nests, and we believe that they had just started to
ne st .

Chimney swift. Chaetura pelagica. A few v/ere seen flying over
town on the evening of the 15th.

Barn Swallow, Rirundo e rythrogaste r . Several were seen on the
afternoon of the 15 th , and a few early in the morning of the 16th.

Eastern crow, corvus brachyrhynchos paulus. Common,

Maryland Yellow- throat, Geothlypis t. trichas. One was seen
in some brush about four miles south of Ocean city.

Eastern Meadowlark, Sturne 11a m. magna. A few we re noted on
b ot h da y s .

Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammospiza c. cauda cuta. Seen and heard
singing on the afternoon of the 15th.

Atlantic Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia atlantica. Observed
on both days. The song was noticeably different from that of the
Eastern Song Sparrow .

24.

NOTES

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

December 3 - Talk by Mr. IV, Bryant Tyrrell, "Birds of Smith
Point . n

December 1 0 - Lecture by Dr. Mark H. Secrist of Johns Hopkins
University, "The Antiquity of Man." Illustrated,

December 17 - Talk by Mr. Joseph A. Lutman, "The Copper
plating of Fish." illustrated.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

December 5 - To Boy Scouts club of Baltimore City college
by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Fossils and what They Are,"

December 12 - To the Biology Club of Baltimore City College
by Elias Cohen, "Snakes of Maryland."

December 17 - To the Southern High School Science Club by
Richard Webster, "Representation of the insect Orders."

December 19 - To the Boy Scouts Club of Baltimore City
College by Elias Cohen, "Reptiles of Maryland."

Other Meetings

December 7 - Junior Meeting - Lecture by Mr. Elra M, Palmer,
"Fossils and What They Are."

December 28 - Staff Meeting.

- f 1 J1 -r ; . '

Volume VI JANUARY, 1936 Number 5

THE BENTHARI UK -CON STRUCT I ON
By Joseph C « White

For several years the Department of Marine Research of this
Society has been actively engaged in diving for the purpose of
studying the life of the Chesapeake Bay. The helmet or hood was
the first type of diving equipment used, and much has been written
about the work with this apparatus.

After working for sometime under the water there came a time
when photography was found t o be a great help to the Departments
work. There were other things too that- could not be done very well
in a helmet. Notes could not be written easily and it was very
difficult to stay belo w the surface for any great length of time
due to the coldness of the water.

To overcome these difficulties it was decided to build a tank
in which a man could sit, dry, the pressure no greater than that
on the surface, with note books and cameras nearby, ready f oh use.
The plans called for a cylinder of one -quarter inch steel, four
feet in diameter and six feet in length, with a circular opening
in the side for an observation window and one in the top fop a
manhole. A tank was finally secured with the circular opening in
the side, but the manhole in the top had to be cut. The manhole
was an oval, twenty-four inches long and fourteen inches across.
Holes were drilled about two and one-half inches apart all around
the opening. The cover was made of half inch steel with bolts to
correspond to the holes that had been drilled around the manhole.

A rubber gasket v/as placed on the cover next to the tank and the
cove i’ tightened down from the inside by means of dogs,

The observation window was made of three-quarter inch plate
glass set in a wooden frame twenty-seven inches in diameter. This
was strengthened on both sides by steel rings and between these
various sections, rubber gaskets were placed. This was firmly
bolted to the flange on the tank by half-inch steel bolts. (See
drawing). One piece of glass was broken in assembling the observa¬
tion w.i.n-dow because of an error in making the frame for the glass.

26

wHiTf UA0

Cr OSS Tio/i/ Of
w/ wflofc'

itfci. .. —

DIAGRAMvlATIC SKETCH OF THE BENTHARIUM

27.

The glass was fitted flush with the wood allowing no space for
contraction of materials. Naturally when the part was bolted to
the flange, which was found to be crooked, the glass cracked in
several places. After buying a new piece of glass and making a
new frame with the groove a quarter-inch deeper than the glass
and filling it with white lead, the observation window was success¬
fully fastened on the tank.

Running lengthwise around the tank v/as a flange where the
two halves had been bolted together* Around this a sling was placed.

Across the bottom a U beam v/as placed and at the top v/ere tv/o

angle bars, one on each side of the flange. Tv/o three-quarter inch
iron rods v/ere bent in the shape of large U's. One of these v/as
passed through holes drilled in the ends of the angle bars at the
top, down the side of the tank close to the flange, and the two
ends passed through holes in the U beam at the bottom. The ends
of the rods v/ere threaded and by placing nuts on the rods and
tightening up under the U beam the sling was drawn up tightly
around the tank. The other rod was placed on the other side of
the flange in the same manner. At the top of the tank the two rods
v/ere pulled together and fastened, and the hook of the chainfall
placed in the center. (See drawing).

The raft for carrying the Bentha riun is twenty feet long and

fourteen feet wide. Eight metal drums were placed under each side

to float it, leaving the center open for the tank. Around the out¬
side edge of the raft is a deck from which all the work can be done
with little difficulty. Over the well in the center is a derrick
from which the tank is hung . The heavy tank is raised and lov/ered
by a 1-g- ton chainfall. i

Two hundred and seventy bags of sand weighing approximately
three thousand, two hundred and forty pounds v/ere used to sink the
Benthariura. Most of the bags v/ere placed inside the tank, filling
it up to the window. The remainder of the ballast v/as hung on an
iron rod around the outside below the window.

The construction of the tank took tv/o years. At times our
work did not come up to the qua lifi cat ions that safety or our needs
demanded and work was consequently delayed. Almost an entire day
was spent cutting rubber gaskets and fitting the first window on
the tank, only to have it break in the end. All this day’s v/ork
had to be done over. But after tv/o years' work the tank was
finished and proved to be very successful.

In a later Bulletin an article will be published describing
some of the experiments conducted at Solomons Island with this
equipment.

SOME CLOSELY RELATED BUTTERFLIES OF EUROPE AND AMERICA

By Eugene R. Polacek

Some of my fondest memories of boyhood days are associated
v/ith that colorful valley in the heart of Tfurttemberg (Germany),
surrounded on every side by mountains of singular beauty. There

*

28.

in the niclst of the valley nestled the thriving city of Stuttgart,
the smoke of its factories blending with the purple haze of the
sur round i ng hills .

In those early days I acquired a love of natural history,
which has lasted th rough the years. Than much later in the new
world and particularly here in Maryland I have enjoyed many un¬
forgettable days tramping the woods and meadows, fascinated by
the beauty of its wild life.

Though both are in the temperate zone and have many things
in common, there are marked climatic differences in these widely
separated cities* Baltimore, with its tidewater harbour, has an
extremely damp though moderate climate, while in contrast, Stuttgart,
located 820 feet above sea level, 50C miles inland, is mild in
summer, severely cold in winter, and has always a low humidity.

As I often have occasion to compare species indigenous to
Baltimore with closely related species across the sea, I notice
the effects of these climatic and other differences.

If we consider tut terf li es , for instance, we find there are
many there that are known to us here in the States; the Mourning
Cloak (Aglais. antiopa),. the Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and the
Painted Lady or Thistle Butterfly (Vanessa cardui), but there are
other species too, representing families and genera found in our
locality which are quite different from ours. For example the
Swallow-tail (Papilio machaon) , may be contrasted with our Carrot
Swallow-tail (Papilio polyxenes) . The former has a gold-yellow
base -color with black margins, while polyxenes has black as a base-
color with yellow margins..

Maryland is rich In Swallow-tails, in fact far more so than
Europe, which can boast of only two species - one being the already
mentioned P. machaon, the other - the Sail-butterfly, P, podalirius,
which slightly resembles our Zebra Swallow-tail (p. maroellus or
ajax) but is broader In shape, with a distinct tinge of cream color
in the white and less accentuated tail appendages. The habits of
these two are also very different, as the former is generally found
near high bleaky rocks at most times difficult to reach, while
P. maroellus is found near springs and at the edge of open waters,
usually not far from its food plant the Paw-Paw.

If you go along a woodland-path in V/urttemberg , you will most
likely be startled by a large dark brown butterfly known as the
Great Ice -bird (Limenitis populi), but if one is an ent omologist ,
at once something becomes noticeable in its flight; it has a slow
deliberate flight like that of our Red-spotted purple (Basilarchia
astyanax) . As the generic names of Limenitis and Basilarchia are
synonymous, this proves our ident ifi cati on as correct, for while
the coloring is not much like the American species mentioned, the
caterpillar and chrysalis are so much alike that their differences
a re hardly distinguishable.

At the edge of the woods near the clearings are found the
fast flying Emperors -jloaks (Argynnis paphia) , pretty medium-sized
butterflies in gold-brown coats with black stripes. The underside
of their wings is worth noticing too. Unlike our Frit ilia ries
they have a bright emerald base-color on tbe rear wings, with
mother of pearl stripes mixed with pale orchid colored stripes,

. d

29.

and so give full justice to the popular name. However, these
markings, as well as the color on the under side of the rear
wings, show quite a contrast to our Great Spangled Fritillary
(Argynnis cybele) though both feed on the leaves of the violet,
like most of the Silver-spots. The upper side of the front wings
has brown as a base -color, but this brown varies quite frequent¬
ly in shades, and the black markings are more or less in the shape
of irregular spots and not in stripes radiating from the base as
in A. paphia. Also the under side has buff in shadings as a
primary color and the mother of pearl there on the rear wings
appears in the shapes of triangles and moons.

There are many other butterflies in Europe, as well as moths,
which might be compared with those of Maryland. The reasons for
the differences or similarities in habits, color, and structure
provide a very interesting field of study for the entomologist.

—

A BOTANIST IN NANJEMOY SWAMP
By Earl H. Palmer

Some botanically minded members of the Natural History
Society* s Paleontological Expedition last summer to the cliffs
of the Potomac, spent an afternoon in the upper basin of the
Nanjemoy Greek. Nan jemoy , one of the numerous streams of Charles
County, Maryland, has cut its way through the loose sandv-forma-
tions of the coastal plain regions of Southern Maryland to the
Potomac River. The lay of the land was none too well known to
most, if not to all of us, so that we had to depend for guidance
largely on United States Topography maps.

Tie parked our car at Trappe Bridge near the village of
Nanjemoy, on the main road about five miles from Riverside, where
the rest of our party were engrossed in their paleont ological in¬
vestigations, and turned down stream in search of what -e ver-of -
interest in the plant world that might turn up. Just below Trappe
Bridge the creek reaches its base level. Here . too, its bed
broadens out between hills which rise rather abruptly at first,
then more gradually, to a height of from 60 on the south to 100
feet on the north, and the stream tends to divide and interlace,
forming a marshy flood-plain of varying width and firmness* Here
our study of the plants began.

The most conspicuous of the herbaceous plants was the Green
Arrow-Arum (Peltandra virginica). In one instance a specimen was
found to be approximately 4 1 /2 feet high, the leaves measuring
nearly 2 l/2 to 3 feet long and 8 to 12 inches broad. Another
plant that was very conspicuous because of its bright cardinal
flowers was the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinal is ) .

The five of us in the party spread out fan-wise soon after
entering the Nanjemoy Swamp so that a larger area could be sur¬
veyed. First, we would hear some ore call out, "This Lobelia is
the tallest, brightest I've ever seen I" From some other direction
there would come a shout, "V/ hat's this?" And going over to satis¬
fy our natural curiosity we would see an unusual form of May Apple

or perchance a strange Hypericum. Suddenly, we heard a triumphant
shout as some one found the first Orchid - a Small Green !7ood
Orchis ( Rabenaria clave 11a ta) - the plant was in seed..

The first new find of the day came when, by mere accident,
the writer stumbled into a colony of Small Pale -green Orchis
(Habenari a f lava ) , The small flowers at first seemed to be a seed
pod, but not for long were we deceived; several specimens now rest
in the Society's herbarium. This fund was quickly followed by an
Iris (iris versicolor) and that, by a small group of Lady Slippers
(Oypripedium acaule) in seed. The large oval leaves of the Lady
Slipper, resting on the ground, make this plant easy to identify.

In the places not quite so wet we ran across such ferns as
the Chain Fern (Woodwardia areolata), the New York Fern (Dryopteris
noveboraneesis) , and the Low Land Lady Fern (Athvrium angustum) .

In the same region we came across one of the rarer plants y the
Crane-Fly Orchis (Tipularia discolor). This particular species
was so named because of its resemblance to the insect Crane-fly or
Tipulia. The flowers are small and greenish-brown in color, borne
on a stalk devoid of leaves. They are quite inconspicuous against
the green and browns of the wood. The leaves of the species are
put forth in autumn and by spring are brown and dry, and have dis¬
appeared altogether by the time the flowering scape has developed
and the flowers opened.

Of the fifty odd herbaceous plants observed, the rarest
appeared near the end of our explorations. We had been examining
several Orchids - five different species to be exact - (and that's
a great many for any one locality) when we spied what at first
looked like another Orchid . But, on closer observation a spore
bearing spike was noted. The plant was the very rare Adder’s Tongue
Fern l ( ^phioglossum vulgatum) . There were only two plants, about
12 or lfi inches apart, and though we looked carefully for others,
none was found. But this find was certainly a very good ending for
the afternoon, for although rather widely distributed in Maryland,
few local botanists have been so fortunate as to find it.

NOTES

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

January 7 - Talk by Mr. An Llewellyn Jones, "The History of
Copper. ”

January 14 - Talk by Mr... C.. Haven Kolb, Jr., "Feathers and
Their Structure."

January 21 - Talk by Mr. Gilbert C . Kl ingel "poetry and
Nature . "

January 28 - Talk by Mr. Wilmer T. Bell, "structural Color

31 ,

in Natural Objects.”

January 16 - visit of Boy Scouts of America , Troops 23, 100,
and 156 of the Harford Road District, Lecture by Mr . Edmund B.

Fla dung , "Natural History Rambles through River, Swamp, Forest,
and Field,"

January 18 - Junior Meeting - Lecture by Mr. Edmund R.

Fla dung , "Hunting with the Camera . ”

January 11 - Trustees Quarterly Meeting. Appointment of the
Nominating Committee - fir. Gilbert C, Klingel, Mr, Edward McColgan ,
and Mr. Herbert C . Moore. Appointment of the Budget Committee -
Mr. John B . Calder , Mr. Edmund B . Fla dung, and Mr, Elra M. Palmer.
Lectures to Outside Organizations

January 17 - To Boy Scout Troops, North Avenue District, by
Mr. Gilbert C » Klingel, "inagua . "

January 21 - To the Sportsman's Luncheon Club by Mir. Gilbert
C. Klingel, "Exploring the Bottom of the Chesapeake."

January 21 - To the Bancroft Literary Society by Mr. Elra M.
Palmer, "Fossil Collecting in Maryland."

January 2 4 - To the Current Events club of Baltimore City
College by Mr. Elra h. palmer, "Geological Trails in Maryland."

January 29 - At the Citizens conservation Gamp, El bridge ,
Maryland, by Mr. H • C. Robertson, "Snakes of the 7/ or Id . "

Gifts

Received from Dr. G. Howard -Jhite a collection of volumes of
the "Maryland Geological Survey."

r,

4

THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE KING SNAKE
( Lanpropelt is get ulus get ulus)

By H. Charles Robertson

While strolling through the woods and fields in Maryland, one
is likely to be startled by the sight of a large black serpent
hurriedly taking to shelter after being frightened by the presence
of the intruder.

If one is interested, closer observation will disclose that
the snake is not entirely black* being crossed with narrow white
bands which give it a rather striking appearance. It nay even be
picked up for examination, for it is a King Snake and is perfectly
harmle ss .

The King Snake (Lampropeltis get ulus getulus) is the only
serpent in the State that has a black ground color and is marked
with white cross-bands. In some sections it is known by another
local name - the "chain Snake", due to the pattern made by the
bands resembling a chain entwined about the body.

King Snakes may be observed in Maryland from the latter part
of April to late in September. In the southern sections of the
State they are occasionally noted late in the month of October.

The species is considered the most beneficial reptile to the
agriculturist that is found in Maryland. To the student of
reptiles it is certainly one of the most interesting.

The general range of the King Snake is from southern New Eng¬
land to northern Florida. In Maryland it is moderately abundant
and is well distributed over the State.

A description follows. In Maryland the coloration is a black
ground with narrow white cross -bands that fork on the sides form¬
ing the chain-like pattern. The bands as a rule are two scales
wide. The underside is black with blotches of white. The scales
are in twenty -one rows and are smooth and shiny. Light shining
upon the scales is reflected, giving off prismatic colors. The
eye is of normal size, has a dark brown iris, and a round black
pupil .

53.

1. Egg at time of deposit*

2. Egg at time of deposit showing embryo,

3. Egg two days before hatching.

4. Egg, hatching.

5. Showing position of snake in figure 3.

Baby King snake
Natural oiza

34.

The King Snake -Jx.

in Maryland the averago length of the speoios is from two and
a half to three and a half feet. A large male collected in Harford
County, May 11, 1933, measured as folXows<

Total length
Length of tail
Greatest diameter
ttidth of head
Length of head

1 5/8"

In Florida where this serpent attains its greatest length, a
variation in color, which is constant, takes place. The croes bands
instead of being white are yellow*

The King Snake has a cannibalistic nature, and is more of a
cannibal than the other species found in the genus. Toward ser¬
pents of another genus it exhibits active enmity oven if the other
serpent is larger. !7hen it meets another member of the 3orpent
clan there usually follows a battle to the death* In most cases
the King Snake is the victor.

7/ith a disposition such a3 thi3 it would appear that they
would not bo at all gentle toward nan, but this is not the cose,
for the King Snakes are extremely gentle and sometimos act as if
they enjoyed being handled. They make very interesting pets and
live in captivity for years. I know of one specimen that was so
kept for over twelve years.

The poisonous rattlesnakes and copperheads have no chance of
surviving an attack by a King Snake inasmuch as their deadly venom,
usually such a potent weapon, has no effect upon the powerful
constrictor. The King Snakes are immune to the venom of those pit-
vipers, it is becauso of this unique immunity as well as its can¬
nibalistic habits that the serpeht receives its name the "King

Snake . "

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Laboratory experiments show that King Snakes can be injected
with venom of the pit -vipers and suffer no ill effects. The sane
experiment carried out on a serpent of another genus would cause
the death of the serpent in a short time, although the pit-vipers
are immune to their own and each others poison.

It is generally believed that the King Snake is the natural
enemy of the rattlesnake. This is not true. 7/hen a rattlesnake
and a King Snake meet it is just by chance ; for the King Snake
prefers rodents as food, and a good sized specimen will destroy
about one hundred and fifty destructive rodents in a season. It
never actually searches for other serpents when there is a fair
supply of rats and mice to be had as food. Truly, a serpent of
this type is of more value to the farmer than all the rodent traps
he can buy. Often it goes down into the burrows of the rodents and
destroys not only the adults but any young it finds.

The King Snake is oviparous, that is, it produces eggs.

In the fall of the year the serpents go into hibernation for
the winter. How and where they hibernate depehds upon the type of
locality in which they live. Maryland affords many different types
of hibernation quarters and therefore any very close, accurate
observations are difficult. Some may hibernate in an old log or
hollow tree. A place such as this gives excellent insulation from
the deadly frost during the winter. In rocky sections the serpents
find crevices that go far down below the frost line, and they often
coil about each other to create mutual warmth.

Serpents are sometimes found entangled in a ball shaped forma¬
tion. Workmen engaged in the building of roads, where blasting of
rock uncovers hibernating dens , occasionally find them so arranged.

In the spring the warm rays of the sun heating the rocks or
hollow tree., as the case may be, increase the temperature of the
atmosphere within the den and the serpents begin to get active.

Days pass, each with increasing temperature, and each day they' be¬
come more active. On the first real warm days they crawl out and
bask in the sun., returning to their quarters as the sun’s rays be¬
gin to fade..

When the weather becomes warm enough they discard the dens -
dens whi ch have been in use as a winter home by serpents for many
generations, perhaps a hundred years or more. The serpents are now
off to seek a mate. May is the mating season. The night air may
be very cold and then shelter is taken under low vegetation or
fallen timber..

Never do they start hunting for food until after the mating
function is completed. However, King Snakes under two years of age
are not fully developed sexually. The balance of the season is
spent in search of rodents which ‘make up the greater part of their
diet .

In the month of July the female King Snake deposits from nine
to two dozen eggs, depending upon the size and condition of the
se rpent .

A two and one-half foot specimen was captured near Cove Point,
in Calvert County on July 12, 1935. When captured the serpent had

36.

been at the base of an old stump where there was a large quantity
of wood pulp. Some of the wood pulp was placed in a container,
and, on the following day, the serpent deposited therein nine eggs
in a zig zag fashion from the top to bottom. She lay coiled on
the surface above the eggs. In the natural state the eggs are
usually deposited close together to insure them as much warnth as
possible .

I have never been able to determine if the female of the King
Snake spends any time with her eggs after they are deposited in
the hatching medium. Some of the larger oviparous serpents do
this and, in such cases, the f. e^male' ha s' 'a?n increase in body tenpera-
• t-ure during her stay with the. eggs.' g )

On July the • 13th - the date of deposit - the eggs measured
31 mm. in length. • On the following day they were carefully packed
■in some of the wood pulp and 'taken to Baltimore', where they were
placed in an improvised incubator which consisted of a one gallon
all glass aquarium containing s ime of the damp wood. <pulpd ■ Care
•was taken to k'eep the wood pulp from becoming soggy .from excess
water. A certain degree of moisture is necessary to hatch the
eggs, but arj excess' of water would cause the eggs to solidify,
commonly known a s ’'drowning'1 , placed in the pulp also 'was a ther¬
mometer so that a temperature reading could be had at any time.

T.7hen possible, constant temperature is nost- essential, along
with the proper deg rep of moisture to insure incubation. In this
case constant temperature was- -not' available and a natural' cbndit ion
where the temperature would drop >-at -ni ght was used instead. The
average temperatures for ' the month of July were 80 degrees in the
day and 65 degrees at night,. . •

Measurements taken on the eighth of August showed that the eggs
had increased in size to about 35 mm. in length. On September 7,
another examination was made, and the eggs had increased to 40 mm.

By this time it was noted that the eggs were developing "humps" and
were no longer the original shape* This meant that the embryos were
well developed and soon would hatch.

On the twenty-eighth of September the first one hatched. Two
more appeared on the. following day and by the thirtieth of the
month all ha d hat ch e d .

All of the young King Snakes measured at least nine inches in
length. AH had the colors and markings of the parent. No change
of color takes place with this serpent. All survived and s pent
the greater part of the day trying to find an opening so that they
could crawl away to freedom.

Food in the form of small salamanders and young Ring-Necked
Snakes (Diadophis) was put in their cage. No attention was paid to
the food. The next food offered was six small frogs (Hyla cruci¬
fer). The following day the little frogs had disappeared, and
examination of the young serpents showed the tell-tale humps in
their bodies. Fortunately this gave some idea as to what to feed
them in their early life, for force -feeing so small a serpent
offers, many difficulties. Four months later they began to accept

37.

the salamanders and other snail serpents.

One day a tightly coiled ball of King Snakes was noticed and
it was found that one had attacked its brother, killed it, and had
already swa 11 owed about two inches. The 3c were separated and the
unfortunate victim was preserved in a museum jar. Both were ten
inches in length. This incident suggests that their cannibalistic
instinct is well developed at birth, since an abundant supply of
food was in the cage.

At the time of this writing, the remainder of the young are all
in a healthy condition. Their average length is n ow eleven inches ,
five months after birth. It is believed that this species , proper¬
ly fed and under good conditions, grows about six inches a year
until maturity.

Some localities in Maryland where the King Snake has been noted
during the past four years follow* April 5, 1932 pear c rumpt on ,
Queen Anne s County; April 16, 1933 Brooklyn, Baltimore City; April
19 , 1933 Severn, Anne Arundel County; May 11 , 1933 Fear Sweetair ,
Baltimore County; July 7, 1934 Lusbys, Calvert County; July 8, 1934
Prince Georges County; May 3, 1935 Glonartney , Baltimore County;

July 12, 1935 cove Point, Calvert County; August 15, 1935 Swan ton ,
Garrett County; August 25, 1935 Kent County; September 7, 1935
Vineyard, Baltimore County; September 20, 1935 I lcheste r , Howard
County; October 12, 1935 Avalon, Baltimore County .

NOTES

Meetings and Lectures at the Soc iety

Fe b r*ua ry — TS" - 1 Liu st ra t e d ie c t ure b y Dr. R» V. Truitt, "The 7/ork of
the Chesapeake Biological Survey.”

February 4 - Meeting;,

February 11 - Talk by Mr, Herbert C . Moore, "Advertisements, Chemi¬
cal Ingredients of Products, and the Lav/.’1

February 25 - Talk by Mr. Robert Wheeler, "Geology and Religion."
Lectures and Services to Outside Organizations

February 4 - 7/ iTh A p pal a cKTa n Trail Club, trip to Mt * Washington
Copper and Chrome Mines, etc. Conducted by Mr, A. L. Jones.

February 17 - At the Gilman Country School, talk by Mr. H . G. Robert -
s on , " Sna ke s of Ma ry 1 an d 0 "

February 20 - At the Stare Normal School, talk by Mr. L. Bryant
Ma t h e 1 ■ , Jr c , " 7/ha t I ia ry 1 a nd i s Ma de of . "

February 20 - At the Gilman Country School, talk by Mr, Elra M.

Paine r , "F os si Is of Ma ry land , "

February 21 - To the St, John’s Church Bov Scout Tr cop , talk by Mr,
Elias Cohen, "Turt les of Maryland."

February 28 - To Civilian Conservation corps , s.P« No. 2, Elkridge ,
talk by Mr .E . C . Robertson, "The Truth about Snakes."

February 28 - With Groups Harford Road District, during month of
February, by Mr, Frank 0 ’ Rcurke , -twe lve nature examinations and four
field trips 6
Exh i bi ti on

‘january~3T - February 7 At Enoch Pratt Library Branch. Exhibit of
Reptiles and Turtles by Elias Cohen.

The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

w

Volume VI

MARCH , 1936

Number 7

THE MINERALS OCCURRING WITH THE BALTIMORE
GNEISS OF BALTIMORE CITY

By Falter E. Price, Jr.

The Baltimore gneiss is a light gray, banded rock consisting
of quartz, feldspar, and mica. The most striking feature of the
gneiss. is its banded character, which varies considerably. The
layers of biotite and h omblendic material persist straightly for
some distance, and with the effect of the whitish and pink feldspar,
give an appearance best described, by calling it "salt and pepper
rock. "

The gneiss has been intruded by pink pegmatite and white
granite, both cutting across the bedding plane. There have been
two intrusions of pegmatite; the younger is characterized by the
absence of biotite, while the older is heavily biotitic. In some
places, as at Gwynns Falls, Ealtimore, the gneiss contains more
quartz, and because of this, it does not split as easily along the
bedding plane as it does in the less quartzic variety. The gneiss
has a series of right angled joints which permit it to be worked
with facility. These joints allow the stone t o be squared off
easily, a property enhancing its value as a building stone. In
Baltimore, the old court House, some of the women’s buildings of
Gouoher College, the old City Jail, and more recently, the new
Fifth Regiment Armory, and the Druid Hill Park Lake wall, have
been built of the Baltimore gneiss.

The gneiss outcrops in parts of both Howard and Baltimore
counties, and these areas have teen named accordingly. The minerals
of the Baltimore area are discussed here. The north and west sides
of the city are covered by the gneiss, and exposures have been made
by quarrying. The two centers of quarrying of the gneiss in Balti¬
more City are at Jones Falls and Gwynns Falls.

Formerly these places were worked much more extensively than
they are to-day. The presence of buildings and otber property
nearby has limited operations, and work has subsided in some parts
of these valleys. The Jones Falls section was worked as early as
1811, as mentioned in a rare old journal of that time. During the
last century many quarries existed at Jones Falls, the largest and

39 .

most fanous of whi ch wore the Peddicord, Curley-Sohwind, and Atkin¬
son. There aro also old quarries in the G-wynns Falls area. At
present there are only a few companies working in the gneiss of
these sections.

At Jones Falls the Falls Road Stone Corporation operates a
quarry on the east bank, just below the junction of Stoney Run with
the Falls, between 26th and 28th streets, adjacent to an old quarry
site where the lit. Vernon Roundhouse now stands. Two quarries
operate at G-wynns Falls at the present time, next to one another.

The T. C. Campbell company’s Quarry is situated on the west bank
of the Falls, about 500 yards north of the Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge. Just a few hundred yards south of the latter, also along
the bank of the Falls, is found the Hilton Quarry. This quarry has
not been worked extensively of late.

A geological romance has grown around these two sections, and
especially around the Jones Falls quarries. The mineral molybdenite
was first discovered on this continent at the Jones Falls quarries
in 1811; it was not of economic importance however. Also Tyson (1)
a decade or so later, reports the occurrence of sphalerite and galena
in a vein near chabazito , but they too were of no economic value,
and their traces were soon lost on the dump heaps. Zinc and lead
sulphides seemed to be rather rare, and in a later report in 1887,
Williams (2) refers to Tyson’s find. Watson (3) still more recent,
mentions in his report about a cube of galena 4 inches on a side
being found (1928) at Gwynns Falls associated with sphalerite,
marcasite, and carbonates. This indeed was a rather remarkable find,
since large crystals of galena are rare in Maryland, and especially
so in the gneiss.

In addition to these famous finds, there were collected early
at Jones Falls certain varieties of zeolites that were found to be
new sub-species. These are described further on.

The minerals occur in two ass oc iati ons , - in small crystals in
pockets in the gneiss, and in veins of coarse pegmatite associated
with the gneiss.

The minerals t o be found are the following*

Molybdenite - This mineral is rare here. Qf late years a 2 cm. lead
gray “cleavage plate was found at Gwynns Falls (Hilton Quarry), and
more recently it has been found at Jones Falls as fine flakes,
occurring on gneiss with galena, stilbite and calcite.

Galena - Also rather rare at the present time. In the fall of last
year a specimen of galena was collected at Jones Falls. A few 2 mm.
crystals were found with molybdenite as mentioned above. It is
notable that only one such specimen was found even after diligent
search. Galena seems to be a little less rare at Gwynns Falls as
evidenced by Dr. Wat soil’s find.

Sphalerite - This was found rather commonly at Jones Falls during
i93~5. It v/as found almost invariably along joint cavities, in dark
red, malformed crystals, 2 to 4 mm. in size, and easily identified
by the typical resinous luster.

40.

Chalcopyrite - This is found in minor quantities only, and always
maTsslve . Here it is interesting to note that by tarnishing on ex¬
posure, pyrite closely resembles chalcopyrite in the gneiss, but
the latter mineral can be told by its test for copper in the
laboratory. Chalcopyrite is usually found at Gwynns Falls.

Pyrite - This mineral occurs abundantly and usually in good crystals
at b oth localities. At Jones Falls a crystal has been found ex¬
hibiting a purely octahedral form, and averaging 2 cm. in ’’diameter"
similar crystals have been recently found at Gwvnns Falls (Hilton
Quarry). At Gwynns Falls, large cubes and pyri t ohedrons have been
found. The cube seems to be the most common form. One especially
fine cube has been found, malformed., and measuring 1-g- x 1§ x 2 cm.
in size. It is very brilliant and singularly free from many striae
Larger and coarser cubes than this occur, but more often the pyrite
is found in veins and masses.

Marcasite - Found usually at Gwynns Falls in cavities as a drusy
encrustabi on with spherosiderit e . It is a little lighter in color
than pyrite, and can usually be told by the presence of its de¬
composition product melanterite.

Quartz - Quartz occurs in crystals and masses. Most commonly it is
f ouncl in gray or smoky masses. The crystals are always on a mass¬
ive quartz, and vary in size up to the largest but coarser prisms
of about 5 cm, in length. At Gwynns Falls, short and stumpy doubly
terminated crystals lying on a prism face on the rock have recent¬
ly been found. Smaller but clear and stumpy crystals are sometimes
found radiating from the cavity walls. The crystals occur most
commonly at Gwynns Falls. Small masses of yellowish, translucent
botryoidal chalcedony also occur in quartz cavities here (Hilton
Quarry ) .

Hematite - This is found most frequently at Jones Falls as bright,
brick- rod earthy deposits in small cavities. It is found only in
small amounts. Often the spots of hematite give an appearance of
drops of blood on the stone.

Magnetite - Occurs generally in small octahedrons (1 to 3 ran.’) and
Tn iron black metallic masses and cleavages in the gneiss.

Ilmenite - Occurs in black platy cleavages, sometimes as large as
8 cm', long, and frequently with masses of small cubic pyrites, that
are often drusy.

Limoni te - Very often found with and encrusting other minerals.
Often at Gwynns Falls one finds masses of milky quartz with numer¬
ous crystal cavities filled with limonite that has resulted from
the oxidation of the pyrite crystals that were there. Also as
brown earthy deposits with hematite along joint cavities.

Pyrolusite - Occurs generally in beautiful black delicate dendrites
on rock surfaces. At Gwynns Falls, dendrit ic areas of a square foot
or more have been observed.

Calcite - Occurs very sparingly, Powell (4) in 1893 described cal-
oite crystals occurring in cavities at Jones Falls. The crystals
were "transparent prisms of first and second orders in combination

41.

with th e rhomb oh eel ron and basal plane.” The sizes of the crystals
varied from 2 to 4 ram. dia . , and from. 5 to 13 ram. in length. But
the ealcite is usually found in small veins and cleavages in the
gneiss, Iceland Spar has been reported to occur in snail amounts.

Anke rite - Powell reports at Jones Falls ankerite in druses with
the zeoiit s , and as semi-transparent r h o mb oh e d r on s and saddle
shaped globular forms as large as 1 inch in diameter.

Siderite - This mineral always occurs as the variety sphe reside rite.
1TXent icular carbonate' of iron” is an appropriate name for it, for
it very much resembles the 1 en til seed in shape and co lor . it
occurs in cavities with sulphides and zeolites . However it weathers
rapidly, on exposure, to limon it e . Jones Falls is noted for the
best specimens..

Barite - In tabular, or ac icular white to colorless crystals occurr-
Tng with carbonates and zeolites. The prisms vary in size up to
about 3 mm. wide and 3 cm. in length. Most commonly found at Jones
Falls. At this locality a loo there was found a gray cleavage p iece
of fetid barite several crus, on an edge. It is a peculiar fact
that only this one specimen was found.

Gypsum - Recently a white powdery mineral in crusts was collected
from an exposed joint surface at Jones Falls. Analyzed it proved
to be impure gypsum. These crusts are soon washed away by the rain,
however, so that they are only observed in dry weather.

Me lanteri te - This natural ” green vitrol” occurs as a decomposition
product oTAnarcasit e . The white powder is soluble in water; hence
it is seldom seen.

Apatite - Occurs in small thin prisms 1 to 2 ems . in length. At
Jones Falls sea-green crystals have been found, and at Qv/ynns Falls,
brown ones.

Titanite - Reported in large crystals by the Maryland Geological
SurveyT- Only a small, brown , vitreous mass has been observed by
the writer at Jones Falls. A one Inch crystal of Titanite was
collected in 1864 at Jones Falls by Mr. Horace A. Brooks, and later
found a place in the Chat are (5) collection. The crystal was
described to be of the ” lode rite” type. Smaller envelope -shaped
crystals are also described.

Samarsklte - Referred to by T/i Ilia ms as being in the Chatard collec -
1 i on ~ and 'reputed to have been found at Jones Falls by Mr. Brooks
in the latter part of the 1 9th century. No specimens have been
reported found since then. Described as having ” a black coaly
luster, and a conchoidal fracture”, very splintery, brittle, and
massive. Dr. Chatard had an analysis made of the specimen.

Mic roc line - in la r go flesh re d to b r own cleavages, somet imes
green.' Occurs abundantly in the pegmatite associated with the
gneiss. My r me kite , a micro growth of quartz and plagioclase, de¬
veloped on the border of the mi croc line is a characteristic con¬
stituent of the gn eis s .

Qrthoclase - Occurs in short, stout, white opaque prisms, some-
t irae s as large as 6 mm. The crystals exhibit the forms (001),

42.

(010), (110), and (101). The better specimens were collected at
Gwynns Falls > but Jones Falls is referred to by Fowell.

Oligioclase - This feldspar proves t o be a sodic oligioclase. It
occurs as’ grayish white cleavages in the pegmatite, and is told by
the fine striae on the cleavage surface. A specimen that exhibits
a play of colors was collected from the Hilton Quarry a few years
ago.

Albite - The variety cleavelandite is reported, by ha t s on to occur
at Jones Falls in small quantities.

Axlnite - Reported in 1814 by G-i Imor (6) as occurring with chlorite,
e pi doth , and feldspar at Jones Falls, but no further finds have
been reported since,

Muscovite - Found at the present time most frequently at G'wvnns
Falls in~"large cleavages, often smoky. Small sharp hexagonal
plates of muscovite occur in the gneiss at Jones Falls.

Biotite - Occurs best at Gwvnns Falls in large black plates, some-
times as broad as 7 cm. A specimen of biotite running through
muscovite is exhibited in the mineral collection of the Maryland
Rouse in Druid Hill Park.

Lepidonelane - In jet black scaly masses. A variety of black mica
from Jones Falls is in the collection of the Johns Hopkins Univer¬
sity identified as haughtonite. It was analyzed by Clarke (7)
through hr. 7/illiams in 1886.

Chlorite - Found very commonly. At Jones Falls a very dark chlorite
occurs Tn scaly lamellae differing from the lepidonelane only in
its dull appearance. Powell reports the variety helminth occurring
at Jones Falls with calcite and a dark brown mica. It is described
as light green hexagonal plates, in rosettes, fan shapes, and
vermicular forms of great variety. At Gwynns Falls, prochlorite
has been fount; in light green, compact scaly masses.

Garnet - Occurs commonly in an almandite-spessartite variety. The
t rapezoh e d r on s (211) are sometimes very small and perfect, but less
fine specimens occur in sizes up to 3 cm. dia. The best crystals
are usually to be found at Gwynns Falls.

Anthophylli te - In lamellar, dark green masses, best found at
Gwynns Falls . Specimens break with a choppy surface, and show a
splintery cleavage.

Tremollte - An asbestiform variety of tremolite was found at Gwynns
Falls occurring in layers of smoky quartz as white, silky fibers;
it is rather rare.

Hisingerite - This rare mineral was found in almost microscopic
quantities on a specimen from Jones Falls, occurring with feldspar
and epidote . The specimen was sent to the United States Geological
Survey, Washington, D. C. for confirmation. Its composition was
found to approximate that of hisingerite. No specimens have been
f ound sine e th e di sc ove ry i n 19 34 .

43

Hornblende - Found usually in snail thin black prisms, sometimes
as Tong as 2 cms* in length. Good crystals are not common.

Jhabazite - As the variety haydenite. This mineral variety was
first noticed at Jones Falls in the early part of the 19th century
by Dr. H. K. Hay don of Baltimore in whose honor it was named. The
Jones Falls area early became world famous for this and other zeo-
litic varieties described below. in former years zeolite specimen
were fine and many, but today due to the lessor amount of quarryin
and other factors, they are becoming scarce. Haydenite occurs in
"cube -like" rhombohedrons , of a mahogany color, and ranging up to
about 1 cm. on an edge. Occurring in cavities with other zeolites,
it often is found with a brown earthy mineral (see below).

Stilbite - In dark orange radiating disks and globular masses,
occu rr-ITIg with other zeolites. The best specimens are found at
Jones Falls. Sometimes the disks are arranged over the rock sur¬
faces so as t o suggest the name "V/he el stone" of the quarryraen.

Laumontite - In white prisms which rapidly crumble on exposure to
the weather. Sometimes, at Jones Falls, it occurs as short stout
prisms, about 1 cm. long which, when distributed over the rock sur¬
faces, resemble "crab meat'1. Laumontite never occurs here with
other zeolites.

Heulandite - As the variety beaumontite. First described as a
variety from Jones Falls in 1839. Occurs in small colorless, pale
yellow, to green crystals, ranging in size up to about 1 mm; usual¬
ly as drusy crusts on other zeolites. Its occurrence shows it to
be younger than the other zeolites. Most common at Jones Falls, as
the other zeolites are.

Harmotome (or Phi Hips ite ? ) - First noticed at Jones Falls in 1882.
The crysla Is were white,' cross -shaped, and altered quickly on ex¬
posure to a green earthy mineral (probably halloysite). Mentioned
by williams, who questions their identity. Mo specimens , apparently,
have been found since then. They occurred with barite and
sphe reside n t,e .

Halloysite - Williams calls attention to a "compact, apparently
amorphous mineral of a light blue color" which occurs with zeolites,
and turns brown on exposure to the air. This mineral, which also
occurs light steel gray to olive green, has been observed t o be a
decomposition product of the zeolites. There has been some con¬
troversy over its identity in recent years. Shannon (8) states
that its analysis does not conform to halloysite, but to one of the
high water clay group. it is deposited in a colloidal form but
tufns completely crystalline; it does not become plastic v/hen wet.

H e n :: e the mi a ■ i ra 1 aw a i i s a better name.

Fpidete - Occurs in pi.stacio colored bladed to columnar aggregates,
a® also ip fine granular masses. Found commonly at both 1 ocali-
t ie s .

T eurma lino - Black prisms occurring most commonly at the
"time at Gwynns Falls, where it is enveloped in chlorite,
crystals are perfect and terminated, A singular fact is
tourmaline is rarely found today at Jones Fells, where it
to be quite common formerly. At Gwynns Falls one large c

present

Some

that

seemed

rystal

to to

44.

was found measuring 5x5x15 cm.

Beryl - Reported by Tyson to occur in the gneiss in large crystals.
Beryl has not been found by later investigators.

Kaolinite - This mineral, a felspathic decomposition Product., has
been found in pure, white, compact masses of several inches diameter
at Jones Falls. It usually collects in joint cavities.

Allanite - Reported as a microscopic inclusion in the iron micas.

Zircon - Occurs as rounded rough grains in the gneiss. It can
usually be detected in the decomposition debris of the gneiss.

Staurolite, Sillimnnite, and Cyanite - have been reported as micro¬
scopic constituents.

It is indeed with affection that the Baltimore mineralogists
regard these old quarries. It is fascinating to read the old re¬
ports of these localities, when new mineral varieties were being
found. Baltimore became very early well known as a famous mineral
locality due to the specimens turned up at Jones Falls. In cleave-
land’s "Mineralogy" (1822) and in Robinson's "catalogue of American
Minerals" (1825) are long lists of minerals occurring here. These
lists have passed over into those of later authorities. ,

It is with regret that the mineralogist views the future of
these localities with the inevitable closing down of all operations,
thereby denying access to new material from these quarries. However,
some of these old mineral treasures have found a place in the Lee
(9) collection, housed at V/e stminster College, '7e sminste r , Maryland,
and the CLatard collection housed at the Maryland Academy of Sciences,
Baltimore. Dr. 'Jill iams ' collection is at the Johns Hopkins Univer¬
sity. Also these localities are well represented in the collections
of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and the National
Museum, V/ash ingt on , D. C.

The Natural History Society of Maryland has been very fortunate
in adding to its collection some fine specimens collected in the past
few years from these localities.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AMD NOTES

(1) P. T. Tyson - "A Descriptive Catalogue of the Principal Min¬
erals from the State of Maryland" . Trans, of the Maryland
Academy of Science and Literature - Vol. I - 1837.

(2) Geo. H, ',7i Ilians - "Notes on the Minerals Occurring in the
Neighborhood of Baltimore". Johns Hopkins University publica¬
tion 1887.

(3) E , H. 7/atson - "The pegmatites of Maryland with Associated
Phenomena'" , Johns Hopkins University dissertation, 1929.

(4) S. L. Powell - "Notes of Minerals Recently Obtained from the
Quarries of Jones Falls". Johns Hopkins University circular
Vol. XII , 1893.

(5) Dr. F. E. Chatard of the Maryland Academy of science.

(6) Robert Gilmor - "74 Descriptive Catalogue of the Minerals occurr¬

ing in the Vicinity of Baltimore, arranged according to the
Methodique of Huav", 1814. Lived .1774-1848' and was presi¬
dent of the Maryland Academy of Science and Literature.

45 i

(7) Prof. P, w, Clarke, United States Geological Survey, Washing¬
ton, D. C.

(8) Earl v. Shannon - "The So-called Halloysite of Jones Falls",
American Mineralogist, Vol 10, 1925,

(9) Mr. John TV. Lee of Baltimore.

In addition to the above references , the following volumes of

the Maryland Geological Survey have been consulted: -

Vol . II, 1898; Vol. VI, 1905, and Report,! on Baltimore County.

NOTES

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

March 3 - Talk by Mr. Elmo Masters, "insects and Their Ana¬
tomical Structure ."

March 5 - Visit of students of Eastern High School accompanied
by Miss Leonaie Meid, Address by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "The Functions
of the Natural History Society of Maryland."

March 7 - Junior Meeting - Talk by Mr. Elmo Masters, "insects."
I llustrated.

March 10 - Talk by Mr. Harry C. Robertson, "Snake Myths."

I llus t rated .

March 21 - Junior Meeting, Lecture by Mr. Herbert C. Moore,

" Vo 1 c a n oe s of t h e U o rid."

March 24 - Seventh Annual Meeting of the Society. Address on
the progress by the President. Reports by the Secretary, Treasurer,
Curators of Mineralogy, paleontology, Botany, Entomology, Marine
Life, Herpetology, Ornithology, Archaeology, the Editor of the £e -
partment of Publication, the Librarian, and the Director of Educa¬
tion.

March 28 - Junior Divisi on .Field trip to cross country Boule¬
vard. Insect larvae and batrachians collected.

March 31 - Talk by Mr. Elra M. I aimer, "The Rivers of Maryland."

■ iC

'

.

' - T

'

. ■ . .

v r ■ ;

?

■ ■ i - ;•< .

. .. ■■ ' ■ ■

'

: i ■ •: ■ Vv.:; . • •

■ . ./;• ■

46.

Lectures to outside Organizations

March 13 - To Troop 109, Boy Scouts of America, First M.E.
Church, 22nd and St. Paul Sts., by Mr. L. Bryant Mather, Jr.,

"Rocks and Minerals." illustrated.

March 16 - To Junior High School M 1 by Mr. Elra M. Palmer,
"Mature Study."

March 26 - To Baltimore City College, Boy Scouts of America
Club and Biology students by Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, "Birds and
Their T/a ys . "

Exhibi ts

March 14 to 22 - Exhibit of Maryland Nature at the National
F 1 ow e r Sh ow .

February 27 to March 31 - Three exhibits at the Gwynns Falls
Park High School. Fossils, Minerals, and Insects.

February 1 to March 13 - Exhibit of Rocks and Minerals at
Fairview School, Maryland.

Donati ons

From Dr. Edward B. Mathews, State Geologist, 32 bound volumes,
consisting of Geological Annual Reports, County Reports and
County Maps, Systematic Reports, New State Geological Map 1936,
and the Hypsometric Map.

From Dr, Howard A. Kelly three volumes; "Guide to Common
Mushrooms of New York* " "Birds of North America. , " (just pub¬
lished) , "Bibli ography Of Dr, Howard A. Kelly's Myoological
Library . "

Volume VI APRIL, 1936 Number 8

FISH OBSERVED AT GOVE POINT, MARYLAND
By Frank Yingling

Members of the Department of Marine Research of this Society
spent a very pleasant week in the summer of 1934 on the colorful
Chesapeake at Cove Point, Calvert Count 3? , Maryland.

This article deals principally with the coastal fishes as we
observed them. Two types of localities were worked, the marine
waters of the Bay and the brackish waters of the tide pools.

The Bay at this locale was quite barren, being devoid of eel
grass and other flora. The bottom was but a barren stretch of
sand. At this point most of the collecting was done close to
shore with a twenty foot collecting seine. Eighteen species vie re
collected and some very interesting observations made.

The most widely observed fish was the Menhaden ( Brevoort ia.
tyrannus) . Due to their habit of swimming near the surface in
huge schools, those fish could easily be seen from a distance.

This schooling caused ripples in the water and reminded one of
the wind blowing in one spot on a calm day. As the fish approached
near the shore or to a stationary object, such as a boat or a light
beacon they seldom broke water. They were mostly observed a few
inches below the surface, the ripples ceasing ns they descended
lower in the water. Under the water their undulating and turning
reminded one of a gleaming piece of mat a 1 in the sunlight, the
gleam being caused by the brassy luster of their sides. If one were
really observant he could notice the fish swimming, their mouths
open, by this means feeding on the microscopic forms, straining
them from the water which passed into the mouth and through the
gills. These fish arc so abundant they are used for fertilizer
and fish oil. They are quite useless for food.

Some very common coastal fish, which collected in schools near
the shore were the SI Ive rsid.es (Menidia menidia) . They are gre ~
garious in habit and wore largely observed traveling in schools of
a few dozen to several hundred fish. The smaller schools of these
f i sh w o re se ve ra 1 t i me s seen c lo se t o sh ore sw i mming in a V- sb a pe d

-SEP 15 198S

Menhaden fBreyoortia tyr annua ) X l/s

Gurnard (Prionotus carolinus) X l/3

49.

format ion and usually followed by a Houndfish. When the fish were
attacked the school broke and reformed in the opposite direction.
Due to the small size of the Silvc asides they are not utilized for
food by man but are prey for our predacious fish.

A rather wicked looking fish that swam close to the surface
was the Houndfish (Tylosurus marinas ) , Very often we saw this
fish following schools of Silvers ides in the same manner as a
hound would pursue a fox. Several Si Ivor side's that were injured
during seining were thrown into open water and wore readily seized
by the Houndfish . The manner in which these fish seized the prey
was quite odd; the victim was taken crosswise in the jaws, then
twirled, possibly to stun it,. The Houndfish then swan with its
prey to deeper water where it was most likely devoured.

A fish of considerable food value is the Croaker (Micropogon
undulatus) . The Croaker was found to be quite common in the after¬
noon off shore on the flood tide. Several of them were dissected
and were found to be females with undeveloped eggs in the ovaries.
Fish taken during the flood tide were found upon dissection to he
feeding on bivalves, the intestine being gorged with the valves of
the same. A few had fdd on the Silverside . The Croakers when
taken from the water emitted a peculiar grunt; hence the name
’’Croaker". It was quite capable of emitting this sound either
under the water or when removed, This choaking is caused by the
croaking muscles and the air bladder.

Closely observing large Jellyfish floating on the ebbtide we
noticed something rather odd under the hood of the Jellyfish. By
quickly placing a dip net the re unde r we found the Harvest Fish
(Peprilis alepidotus) . At this locality this species was only
seen and collected from under the hood of the Jellyfish.

A scene which was peculiar hut interesting was noted when one
of these fish was thrown into open water. The fish returned swift¬
ly to the shore and was caught freely with the hand.

It appeared as though the Harvestfish had a great fear of the
open water when not in schools. Also it was quite lost without its
host the Jelly. Others of this species that were released quickly
sought a Jelly and swam beneath the hood; then floated leisurely
under their host.

Along a sandy stretch of sh a 1 low water we cane across a rather
grotesque looking fish which is called the Sea Robin or Gurnard
(Prionotus carolinus) . The Gurnard is known as the walking and
swimming fish of the Bay because of its peculiar habit of spreading
its pectoral appendages. It settled upon the bottom and by a
hopping motion looked as though it was strutting. When it was
taken from the water, it immediately spread its fin and produced
a. strange sound. As the Gurnard was dropped back into the water
it swam for a short distance, settled upon the bottom again, and
began strutting in a hopping-like motion.

We found close to the rh ore in the shallows the Anchovy,
(Anchoviella epsetus). This fish was seen in association with the
Silverside but was not quite as abundant. It was more easily
recognized from the others by the wide mouth and upper jaw which

>

Anchovy (Anchoviella epsetus) Hat® size

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) X l/4

' i ! O'i't A :

51.

a ve rh-ung the lower.

Several times while viewing schools of Menhaden we noticed
that the school would jump and break. We watched closely and found
the reason was that the bloody pirates of the bay, the Blue fish
(Pomatoraus saltatrix) were at work attacking the schools like a
pack of hungry wolve s ' follow ing a herd of sheep. The Bluefish
seem to kill for the mere love of killing, as numerous fish were
found dead or injured. These fish were not eaten; merely a chunk
of flesh was torn out* In some instances an opercle had been
ripped off and on others the tail was severed from the body. One
glance at the saw toothed mouth of the Bluefish will suffice to
indicate the damage it is capable of doing.

Because of the high, winds and rough waters which caused the
tide to rise several feet, large quantities of eel grass were found
washed close to Shore. Upon close examination we found the young of
several species of fish securely hidden among the strands. The
most common was the Pipefish ( Syngna thus fuscus ) . These Pipefish
were taken in several color patterns, the most dominant color being
a pale brown with the sides patterned in bars.

Among other fish collected at this locality were the Bay Trout
(Cynioscion nebulosus), the Sand Perch (Bairdiella chrysura), the
Sea Mink ( Menti curhus americannus) , and the Spot (LeioStomus
xanthurus) .

Collected but not common at this locale were the Common Eel
(Anquilla rostrata) and the Swellfish (Tetraoden maculatus) i which
is quite an oddity, because of its ability to inflate itself' with
either air or water. The Toad Fish (Opsanus tau) also noted, is the
most widely despised fish of the bay because of its appearance and
its formidable mouth.

Off the rocks we seined a small peculiar fish, the Cling Fish
(Gobiesox strumosns), a fish that is capable of clinging to objects.
This it is able to do because it has a sucking disk on the ventral
part of the body between the pelvic fins.

Along the beach we came across several tidepools. The most
prominent fish here v/ere the Killifish of the family Cyprinodont-
idae, a family of snail fish having no direct food value but being
quite valuable as food for our larger fishes. The most abundant was
the Mummichog ( Fundulus heteroclitus) found in a variety of colors.
The Pursy Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) which is considered the
most gaudy of this family, the body being highly iridescent, was
also seen. These fish swan very close to shore in small schools
and were in a spawning condition. The males were very bellicose.
They were often observed engaged in battle for the favor of a mate.
The males* colors became almost brilliant. The back and head
assumed a steel blue hue, fading further back to a greenish luster;
the ventral part of the body seemed to brighten to a deep salmon
pink. The dorsal fins had an orange tinted margin in front while
the ventral and anal fins changed to a dusky color margined wi th
orange. After the mate was accepted or selected, the male would
swim about the female forcing her toward shallow water. In fact so
far up did they go it seemed that on the receding tide,' the spawn

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52

would be* -left out of the water. When the fish were side by side
-the spawn was most likely ejected, the female swimming off after
a momentary pause. The? na le hovered a bit about the eggs , then
swam away and selected another mate. According to our observations
the male spawned with several females.

We also found, where vegetation was thick, the Rainwater Fish
(Lucania parva) and t he Top Minnow ( Ga mbus i a h.olbrooki ) .

NOTES

Meetings an d Lectures at the Society

April 4 - Junior meeting. Talk by Mr. Clyde Reed, "Thallophytes
and Protozoa." Illustrated.

April 4 - The Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees. Elec¬
tion of officers. President, Edmund B , Fla dung , Vice President,
Gilbert C. K1 ingel, Secretary, John B. Gaidar, Treasurer, A .Llewellyn
Jones. Following committee s were appointed - Execu ti ve , Gilbert C.
Klingel , chairman, John B. Galder , A. LleweTTyn Jones , and Presi¬
dent Ex. officio. Finance , A. Llewellyn Jones, chairman, Gilbert
C. Klingel, Elra M. Palmer, President Ex. officio. Membership,

John B . Galder, chairman, Edward McColgan , Herbert CV Moore , ~Fres i -
dent Ex. officio. Museum, Edmund B. Fla dung, chairman, Gilbert G.
Klingel, Elra M, Palmer, and Frederick Saffran.

April 7 - General assembly. Talk by Mr. Walter E . Price, Jr.,
"Structure of the Earth."

April 14 - General assembly. Talk by Mr. Andrew A. Goss,

"How Our Maryland Indians Lived."

April 18 - Junior meeting. Two lectures. Arthur Moore,
"Minerals of Woodbury Quarry." Ned Crosby, "Radium," Followed by
discussion on radium and radio-activity.

April 21 - Lecture at Enoch Pratt Library, Central Branch, by
Dr. Harry C. C be rho 1 se r of U. S, Biological Survey, "A Bird Lover
about Baltimore."

April 25 - Junior meeting. Hike - Bare Hills and Copper Mines.
Collected new specimens and lichens.

Lectures to Outside Organizations

April 3 - At Biological Club Baltimore City College, "Turtles
Me Should Know", by Elias Cohen.

April 7 - Maryland Fish Gultur ist "Exploring the Bottom of the
Chesapeake." Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel.

April 11 - Three separate lectures - Y.M.C.A. Central Branch i

: ■ - v> •

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:

53.

i

’'Truth about Snakes" by Mr. H. Charles Robertson.

April 15 - At Baltimore City College Evening High School, two
lectures, "Snakes of Maryland.", by Mr. Eire M . Palmer.

April 15 - At Enoch PrattLibrary , Branch 12 9 "Birds about
Maryland", by Mr. Irving E . Hanpe .

April 16 - At Baltimore City College Evening High School, three
lectures, "Snakes of Maryland", by Mr, Eire M. Palmer,

April 16 - Assembly at Edgar Allen Poe Junior High School.
"Snakes of Maryland", by Mr. Elra M. Palmer,

April 17 - Assembly, Roland Park Junior High School, "Snakes
of Maryland" f by Mr. Elra M. Palmer.

April 21 - Enoch Pratt Library, Branch 13. "Reptiles We Should
Know’!, by Elias Cohen.

April 23 - At Baltimore City College Evening High School , Science

X ■

Glass, "Beauties of the Insect World" by Mr. Elra M. Palmer .

April 23 - At Baltimore City College Evening High School Science
C la ss , "Re pro sentat ive s of Insect Orders , by Mr. Elra M. Palmer.

April 23 - At Baltimore City College Evening High S c hoo 1 " C o 1 loot*
ing and Preserving Insects", by Mr. Elra M. Palmer.

April 23 - School Service - Demonstration cases of Insects
loaned to Biology classes, Baltimore City College.

April 29 - Talk at Gilman Country School , "Birds and Their Ways",
b y M r . E dm und B . F la dung .

Special Sch 0 So rvice,

April 13 ~ Junior High School No. 1 - Loan of Karine specimens
for 4 days .

April 15 ~ Enoch Pratt Library , Branch #12. Judging of Bird
contest by Mr. Fla dung and Mr. Klingel.

Exhibit! ons

April 2 0 - At South Potomac Junior High School Hagerstown Con¬
servation Exhibit. Exhibit of Bird and Plant photographs,

April. 30 - At Enoch Pratt Library, Branch #12. Month exhibit
of Bu tt er f 1 i os and lie i hs ,

Gift Co 1 3.e c 1 1 on s April 8 - Gift of 27 minerals to Department
of Chemistry, Universit y of Maryland.

Contrlbr tl ons ~ From Dr. German - Collection of birds' eggs.

From T . B. Gat ch "Build ing & Construction Company mineral specinen.

0(a. /.J

AM $r

The Natural History

Volume VI

HAY, 1936

Number

THE BEECH RAVINE

(An Ecological Study)
By John B. Egerton

Of the numerous vales that open into the lower Patapsco Valley,,
there is one known to us as the Beech Ravine. For years it has been
a favorite retreat in inclement weather and a place where the earli¬
est flowers bloomed. It is a narrow, eroded valley, in its broadest
part not more than one hundred yards wide, through which a stream
known as Soapstone Branch wends its way, by gradual descents, in a
southwesterly direction for about a mile between hills that rise
rather steeply on both sides to a height, in its deepest part, of
approximately two hundred feet. It is thus shut in and protected
from the cold northwest winds but lies open to the setting sun for
a longer day.

The soil is a rich loam overlying a solid formation of
granetic rock. The slopes and bed are well wooded and a never fail¬
ing stream flows down it to join a larger one known as Bull Run
which empties into the Patapsco. Here the first blossoms of spring
are almost always to be found in profusion in advance of other
places thereabouts. To this ravine a little group of botanists be¬
took themselves the first Saturday of April.

The winter with us, as all know, was extremely cold. Seldom
does the thermometer around Baltimore get down to zero; but last
winter it went far below. In addition to the extreme cold, it
lasted nearly to the end of March. Vegetation was thereby held
back and the first signs of awakening spring delayed so that, in¬
stead of the usual succession of blossoming, the flowers of the
earlier blooming species seemed to appear simultane rv sly on the
first warm days of spring.

The few warm days this year towards the end of March were all
that were needed to awaken dormant plant life and start things
agoing. So the first Saturday of April was just the day to visit
the Beech Ravine and t o be sure it found us there. Already we bad
seen from the trolley windows and in many places along the road the
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) offering an early feast to the bees.
And after alighting, we saw in abundance in old fields end garden
spots, Chickweed ( Stellar! a or A 1 sine media) lifting its small cleft
petals ‘ the sun's warm rays. In dryer and j2poror J12LiL-£^

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shoots of the Lyre leaf Rockcress (Arabia lyrata) were rising above
the little rosettes of winter leaves and. beginning to bloon.

As we entered the wood leading to the ravine, a naze of gold
greeted us everywhere; for the twigs and larger branches of Spice-
wood (Benzoin aestivale) were densely covered with their exquisite
little yellow flowers, so snail that a magnifying glass is needed
to enjoy their individual beauty and see the curious little trap¬
doors to the anthers that gua rd their pollen; while on the ground
beneath, in fuzzy grass-like clumps, the Wood-Rush (Luzula or
Juncoides canpestre) reared in profusion, though inconspicuously,
its tawny, lily-like flowers.

A little further on in the woods the bright green, trilobed
leaves of Liver Leaf (Hepatica triloba) would have stood out in
sharp contrast to the brown leaves of Oak, Tulip-tree, Beech end
Red Maple, had not their own bright purple, blue, pink and. white
flowers been so much nore conspicuous. Here too, a grass was in
flower, possibly Poa annua , but I an not sure; while in damper
places a sedge resembling Carex pennsylvpn lea was in evidence.

Rising above these ground-loving plants in little thickets,
here and there, were patches of Hazel (Corylus anericana) with long,
drooping catkins of stamina te flowers along the sides of their
upper branches and exquisite little pistilate flowers with bright
red stigmas at their tips. And in a layer above these, Slippery
Elm (Ulmus fu.lva) had burst its buds and the flowers were well on
to setting seed.

As the ravine was descended, the hill sides began to glow with
the white petals and. golden stamens of Bloodroot. ( Sa.nguinaria. cana¬
densis) as its large deeply lobed leaves expanded and its creamy
flowers exposed; while here and there the white flowers of Rue
Anemone (Anemonella or Syndesmon thalictroid.es), some slightly tinged
with pink, added to the display.

A little fb.rther down the valley its rocky foundation began to
crop out and irregular masses of stone made walking less easy. Here
that peculiar supple plant we call Leatherwood (Dirca palustris)
made its appearance in full bloom; though its fairly large flowers,
of a brownish -yellow , scarcely differing from the bark in color,
are not at all conspicuous. Here too was the Papaw (Asinina triloba)
its dark purple buds large enough to attract attention and reveal its
identity to even a casual observer.

By this time the lowest part of the ravine had been reached.

Here Red Maple (Acer rub rum.) , Rough Alder (Alnus rugosa) , and Slip¬
pery Elm (Ulmus fulva) were abundant and all in bloom, or very near
it; tnough their fl owe rs , exquisite as they are to the botanist,
are apt to be over-looked by others. Here too on rocky ledges, in
addition to Hepatica and Bloodroot, our little Saxifrage (Saxifraga
virginiensis) w as holding its own; while in more level and wetter
places, Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) and. the Dogtooth Violet
(Erythronium americanum) covered the ground wj th pink and gold and
bronze spotted leaves, making a. picture that would charm any lover
of the beautiful.

Less conspicuous, but no less beautiful, still in their winter
attire were such shrubs as Witch Hazel, so attractive in late fall,

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Ironwood, several species of Dogwood, and Viburnum. Wild Hydrangea ,
the Bush Honeysuckes (Azalea) and American Laurel (Kalnia), to say
nothing of evergreen Ferns, Mosses, Liverworts and Lichens; enough
to keep a botanist busy for weeks. While overhead towered the
sturdy Oak, the graceful Elm and the beautiful Beeches from which
the ravine received its name.

Here, in the deepest part of the Beech Ravine, at an accustomed
spot, we built our fire on a pile of ashes, the remains of many a
cord of wood burned on previous occasions. Here we listed our finds
and talked of old times and times yet to be; watched the sun sink
over the hills into the western sky as the flames consumed the last
log and quivering gently died away. And when each lingering ember
had ceased to glow and all was safe from smoldering sparks, we
gathered up our belongings and sauntered off through the darkening
woods towards home, a little tired perhaps, but immensely better
for the afternoon spent in Nature’s company.

ANOTHER SIDE OF NATURE
By Irving E. Hampe

On August 9, 1935, while observing the birdlife of the pine
woods near Gove Point, Maryland, I saw what I at first thought was a
small yellow bird fluttering about in the path several hundred feet
ahead of me. Close inspection showed a large yellow moth frantical¬
ly trying to dislodge a wasp which had fastened itself to the moth’s
head. The moth fluttered to the ground and was immediately pounced
upon by a half dozen wasps that had been hovering about. Taking a
seat on the ground as close as possible to the combat, I followed
the struggles of the moth with inte re st , and re c orde d the contest
in ray notebook.

A.M.

11:05 .Observed the moth fluttering about, a foot or so above
ground, with one wasp attached to its head.

11:07 The moth fell to the ground and was attacked by six more
wasps. These fastened themselves to the moth's abdomen.

11:08 Motfi fluttered about within a radius of one foot of where
to it fell to the ground. Occasionally a wasp would be

11:15 thrown off but it would immediately return to the fray.

Hr 15 The moth's movements became feeble as the wasps tore
to pieces of its abdomen loose and carried then away.

1 1 ; 2 5 Several times the moth turned over on its back in

spasmodic efforts to dislodge the wasps.

1 1 ; 2 5 During this time, except for an occasional flutter of its

to wings, the moth had not moved. The wasps that had flown

11:45 away with particles of the moth's anatomy returned,
accompanied by other ’wasps.

11:45 The noth showed no sign of life beyond a slight fluttering

to of its wings. Wasps swarmed all over its body.

11:50

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11:55 The moth showing no signs of life, was collected for
identification with several of the wasps.

The specimens were identified, by Mr. Elmo Masters, of the
Department of Entomology, as follows:

MOTH : Ba si Ionia imperial!?? Drury.

WA SP : Ve s pula ve s pu la ge r nn n i c a Fa b r i c i u s .

THE GREEN TREE FROG
(Hyla cinera)

By Louis A. Putens

As we force our way through the reeds and swamp grasses of
any southern Maryland marsh we will see many green tree frogs
(H. cinerea) clinging to the tall blades. They could well be
called the reed frog, for it is on them and in the water from
which the reeds grow, that they make their home,

. In the upper parts of the body they vary in color from light
green to dark olive. On the back there are a. few minute golden
flecks. The under surface is white end rather granular. Running
from the snout to the end of the body and extending the whole
length of the leg is a prominent silvery white line. This white
side -stripe gives these little creatures a very neat and attractive
appearance T

The general structure of the body is slender and flat with a
pointed head and shallow face.

In size H. cinerea varies from l-§- to 3 inches in length. For
its size it is the longest legged Hvla of the east.

This frog breeds from April to August. The eggs are in small
masses at or near the surface of the water, attached to floating
vegetation. The tadpole is about 1 -3/5 inches long, its body
green with a white stripe from snout to eye. The larval period
is from fifty to sixty days. When the young frogs transform they
are from l/2 to ll/l6 inches long.

The range of H. cinerea is from Maryland to Texas. The
marshes near Cove Point, Maryland are a typical locality in which
to find this interesting Hyla. As the observer moves through the
very thick growth he will get fleeting glimpses of these bright
green fellows as they make frantic leaps to elude him. If his
movements are slow and cautious they can sometimes be seen clinging
to the reed blades with then r bodies pressed tightly against the
surface .

Their favorite location is about midway between the bottom and
the tip of the blade. When pursued they are very reluctant to take
to the water. This is contrary to the habits of many other frogs,
particularly those of the Rana group, which will invariably seek
safety be lev/ the surface.

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58.

NOTES

Meetings and Lecture 3 at the Society

May 5 - Illustrated lecture by Dr. R .Lee Collins, of Johns
Hopkins University, "Whales Past and Present."

May 12 - Talk by Hr. Francis O'Rourke, "Our Native shrubs*"
Illustrated.

May 19 - Talk by Mr. Edmund B* Fladung , "The Value of the
Educational Policy and Program of the Society,”

May 26 - Talk by Mr. Charles Ostrander, "Opals, Their Beauty
and Value*"

May 2 - Junior Meeting. Lecture by Hr. Elmo Masters, "The
17 Year Locust."

May 9 - Junior Meeting. Lecture by Mr. Elra M, Pelner, "Through
S ou the rn Ma ry lan d . "

May 16 - Junior Meeting. Talks by Carl Ortol , "Hawks and Owls"
Illustrated; by Elias Cohen, "Turtles."

May 23 - Junior Division. Field Trip to Morrell Park. Minerals,
plants and fossils were collected.

lectures to Out si do 0 r ga n i za t i on s

May 5 - To The Isaac Walton League by Mr. Gilbert C. Klin go 1 .
"Marine Research Work of the Natural History Society of Maryland.'
Illustrated..

May 8 - To the Boy Scouts of America, St. Johns Church, by Mr.
Elias Cohen, "Snakes We Should Know."

May 8 - Three lectures to Boy Scout Troops, Nos. 23, 100, 156,
by Mr* Francis O'Rourke, "Our Conn an Birds."

May 14 - Lecture to Clifton Park Improvement Association by
Mr. Gilbert C . Klingo 1, "Exploring Beneath the Waters of the
Chesapeake . "

May 26 - To Boy Scout Troop No. 86 by Mr. Elmo Masters, "The
17 Year Locust . "

May 29 - Four lectures to Biological Class of Baltimore City
College by Elias Cohen, "Maryland Turtles We Should Know."

Exh ibi ti on

May 1 - 21 ?Exh ibiti ons of Birds in connection with the Federated
Garden Clubs at Enoch Pratt Library.

Publicati on

Republics tion of the "Familiar Moths of Maryland" a leaflet
of twenty pages with half-tone cuts.

A four page leaflet "The Periodic Cicada"

Masters, Curator of Entomology.

written by Mr. Elmo

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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

mfh

((* FEB 27 1937 £ '

Volume VI

JUNE, 1936

N unb or 10

BIRD NOTES FROM SOLOMON'S ISLAND AND COVE POINT, MARYLAND

,

By Irving E. Hampe

l m

During the month of August, 1935, I was fortunate enough- to
spend a week , from the fourth to the eleventh , at the Chesapeake
Biological Laboratory at Solomon's Island, Maryland. Although ny
work was not of an ornithological nature, I found tine to make
numerous observations of the birds about Solomon's Island and made
several trips to Cove Point especially to observe the birdlife
there .

The birdlife at Solomon's Island was observed mainly from the
float of the Marine Research Department's diving apparatus, the
Benth a rium. The first two days 'were spent in the harbor where the
birdlife was not abundant-. On the third day the apparatus was
towed to a location in the Patuxent Riv^r about a quarter of a
mile off shore facing the laboratory. From this location observe-
tions increased and numerous notes were rec orded .

.

The Cove Point area, where I spent several days, proved of
exceptional interest. Many hours were spent plodding the hot,
sandy beaches, wading through the swamps and tide pools , and
traversing the adjacent woods and fields. The varied typ^s of
flora appealed to the various species of birds.

Following is the list of birds observed: -

Great Blue Heron * Ardea b . herodia s A few were observed in

the marshes at Cove Point. Mot numerous
at any one time.

I

'■ Eastern Green Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nvcti corax hoactli One bird

ob s e r ve d i n t h e ma rsbes near C ove Point.

fir" Aix sponsa Male and female flushed from

Butorides v. viresceus At least one of
this species was observed on every trip
to Gove Point. Several seen in tb e creek
a t Sol on on ' s Is la nd .

Wood Duck

Turkey Vulture

Black Vulture

Cooper's Hawk

Osprey

B ob -V/h i t e

Catbartos aura septentriona lie Very
common at Solomon's Island. A feu ob¬
served at Cove Point.

Coragyps a. atratus Several birds of
this species were seen every day at
Solomon's Island mingling with the pre¬
vious species.

Accipiter coopori One bird observed near
wood between Solomon's Island and Cove
Point .

Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Common
species at both localities.

C o 1 i nus v . vi r g i n i a nu s S e en a n d hear d
nearly every day spent at; Cove Point.

Killdeer

0 x ye c hu s v . v o c i f e ru s C omn on a 1 on g th e
be^ch at Cove Point.

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularia Observed along the tide
pools several times at Cove Point.

Herring Gull

Laughing Gull

Larus argent a. tus smiths on i anus Four birds
of this species were observed, over the
Patuxent River near Solomon's Island on
August 7th.

Larus a trie ilia Very common about Solo¬
mon's Island. A large number of immature
bird s w e r e ob s e r ve d .

Forster's Tern

Common Tern

Least Tern

Mourning Dove

Chimney Swift

Sterna fosteri Common about Solomon's
I s 1 a n d . C ou 1 d be f on n d a t. a n y t i me Gu ring
the day on poles in the water several
hundred yards off shore from the laboratory.

Sterna h. hi run do SeverPl birds of this
species we re ob s e r ve d. o ve r the P a t u xen t
River above Solomon's Island.

Sterna a. antillarum A colony of these
birds was observed at Cove Point. They
breed there earlier in the summer.

Zenaidure. macroura carolinensis Common in
fields and open woodlands a^out, Solomon's
I s la n d .

Chactura pelagica A small flock observed
every day at Solomon's Island.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris Very common back

of the beaches at Cove Point .

.

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Pb oebe

Bonk Shallow
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Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titnouse

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Long-bi lie d Ha r sb V; r en

Mockingbi rd

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61 .

Megaceryle a. nlcyon Several observed on
the Patuxent near Solomon's Island.

Ceopbloeus p. pileatus This species is
un c o nn on i n t b i s 1 oc a 1 i t y . 0 no hi . r d ob -
served in heavy woods beyond. Cove Point.

Dryobatos pubesceus nedianus Cbm on through¬
out woods in both areas.

Tyrannus tyrannus Observed o ve rywh o re I
went during the week. Very connon.

Myiarchus crinitus boreus Found in snail
lumbers near Cove Point and. occasionally
at S olonon 1 s I sland .

So. yn or is phoebe Next to the Kingbird , this
s pe c ie s wa s the no s t c o nn on of th e fly¬
catchers .

Riparia. r. ripa ria Abundant at Solomon's
and a few at Cove Point.

Sto lgidopteryx ruficollis serripennis
A few of this species observed near Solo¬
non's.

Hirundo erytlsroga ster Abundant on the Is¬
land. The telegraph wires were lined with
then every evening.

Progne s. subis Fairly connon at both
places.

Corvus b. brachyrhvncb os Connon at all
ti no s .

Corvus ossifrngus Several birds observed
w i th th e p re v i ous species at C o ve Point.

Penthestes carolinensi sea rolinensis Ob¬
serve d on s e ve ra 1 o c c a s i on s in p i no w o od s
near Cove Point.

Baeolophes bicolor Observed a few in con-
pany with tbe preceding species.

Troglodytes a. aedon Connon everywhere.

Telnatodytes p. palustris Several of this
species observed in narshes beyond Cove
Point .

Minus p. poll yg lottos Connon everywhere.

Dune te 11a ca rolinensis Only s few birds
of this species observed although they
have been found in numbers at other seasons*

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62

Robin

Turdus migratorius achrusterus Abundant
at both localities.

Wood Thrush

Hylocichla musteline Numerous in all woods
n e a rb y , a n d sometimes o b s e r ve d i n th e t own «

Bluebi rd

Sialia s. sialis Fairly common in open
lots and fields. Observed quite often
a long the r oa G s .

Blue -gray gnat catcher

Polioptila c. caerula Fairly common in
shrubs back of the beach at Cove Point.

Starling

S t u rnus v . v i 1 ga ri s A bu n dan t e ve r ywh e re .

Yellow Warbler

Dendroica a. a estiva Observed, one in
shrubbery near the Cove Point lighthouse.

Pine Warbler

Dendroica p, pinus Common in woods near
Cove Point.

Prairie Warbler

Dendroica d. discolor Found in the low
shrubbery back of the beaches at Cove

Point. Immature specimens vrere in the
majority. Very common.

Yellow “throated Warbler

Dendroica d. dominica Several birds of
this species observed in woods above the
Calvert Cliffs.

English Sparrow

i

Passer d. domesticus This pest was every¬
where as usual, except in heavy woods.

Meadow la rk

Sturnella m. magna Found in nearly every
field at both localities.

Red-wing Blackbird

Age la ius p. phoenicius A large flock was
observed, several times near the marshes at
Cove Point.

Purple Grackle

Quiscalus q. quiscula Common in and near
the town at Solomon's Island.

Card ina 1

Richnondena c. card.inalis Common near open
woodland .

Goldfinch

Spinus t. tristis Fairly common, probably
breeding although I found no nests.

Field Sparro

Spizella p. pusilla Observed several of
these birds every time I traveled from
Solomon's Island to Cove Point.

Swamp Sparrow

Melospiza georgiana Common near marshes
at Cove Point.

Song Sparrow

Melospiza m. melocia Common near both
loca li tie s .

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NOTES

Mootings and Lectures a t tbo Soc i o t y

Juno 2 - Talk by Mr. Irving E. H'an.pe , "Feathers."

Juno 9 - Talk by Mr. L. Bryant Mather, Jr., "Role of V/ater in
Natural Sciences."

$

Juno 23 - Talk by Mr. Louis Futons, "Breeding and Egg laying
of tbo Wood Frog."

Juno 16 - Lecture by Mr. Benjamin Kurtz, "Indians of North
America and Mexico."

Juno 30 - Talk by Mr. T. Milton Oler, Jr. , "Tbo Folson Points
as Evidence of Prehistoric Man in the United States."

Juno 6 - Junior mooting. Lecture by Mr. Edward McColgan,

"Ancient Egypt . "

June 13 - Junior meeting. Talk by Elias Cohen, "Mythology
and Superstitions of Snakes."

June 20 - Junior mooting. Lecture by Mr. A ndrew Goss, "Our
Maryland Indians and How They Lived."

Lectures to Outside Organization s_

June 5 - T o the Quill and Scroll Club Baltimore City College by
Mr. John B. Calder, "Fossils."

June 7 - To the Bible Class of Zion Evangelical Reformed Church
by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "God and Science."

June 12 - T 0 Girls' Scout Tr )op, Brooklyn, by Mr. Eugene R.
Polacek, "History of Insects with Special Reference to the Cecropia
and Silk Moths."

Field Trip

June 7 - The Annual Field Trip of the Rocks and Minerals Associa¬
tion in Maryland was as usual conducted by the Department of
Mineralogy.

Exhi bi ti on

June 2 - An exhibition of Insects, Birds, and Nature Photo¬
graphs was held at the Annual Exhibition of the Frederick Garden
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tempts to clean up our woodlands, a few patches of the Sweet
Pinesap or Schweinitzia (Monotropsis odorata) a, re still to he
found in pine woods along the Severn River. Of a rich clovelike
fragrance, this brownish purple plant is not at all conspicuous;
but being one of our rarest plants is watched and cherished
year after year and it is always a pleasure to be able to report
that it is "still there". In addition to the distinction of
extreme rarity, it is also our earliest plant to bloom! Pully
formed flowers are often found in December and if the weather is
favorable, they open in January.

Swamp Pink (Kelonias bullata) is another rare and retiring
plant that appeals to all who admire modest beauty more than vain
show. So unobtrusive isthis beautiful pink flower, that it is
little known locally even to botanists. It prefers the seclusion
of almost inaccessible stream beds, where it flourishes on little
hummocks just above water level, .protected from outside inter¬
ference by masses of entangled Greenbrier, in the same general
locality as Schweinitzia; but it is by no means wide-spread with
us. Our search for it this year was rewarded by finding it in
luxuriant bloom towards the end of April; but it seems to have
disappeared from several places where it once grew in greater
abundance .

On May second, just coming in flower another very rare plant
hereabouts was found, apparently the first time for many years.
Not one in the party recognized it at the time, though all placed
it among the Rariunc ulac eae as possibly a near relative of Black
Cohosh. It really turned out to be Golden Seal (Hydrastis
canadensis) sometimes called Orange Root .and Yellow Puccoon.
Though once common enough to the north a.nd west of us, it does
not appear in the local check lists of the plants of Baltimore
and Vicinity since that of Wm. E.A, Aiken, published in the
Transactions of the Maryland Academy of Sciences and Literature

pe .a 4 im

55

in 1837. Hence the refinding of this plant growing wild seems
worthy of note.

Another plant usually classed as rare was found just coming
into bloom May 16 in quite abundance on the shady hillsides west
of Cockeysville . Like other members of the Orchis Family, the
finding of which is usually accompanied with a thrill, whether
the flowers are particularly attractive or not, the finding of
dozens of plants of Begonia verticillata in bloom at this place
was the occasion of considerable satisfaction, for it was the
special object of this outing, originally planned some two years
ago .

In addition to the rarities mentioned above, numbers varying
from fifty to around a hundred other flowers have been found in
bloom on each of our Saturday afternoon trips since the middle of
April .

ADDER’ S- TONGUE PERM - OPHIOGLOSSUM VULC-ATIM
By Clyde E. Reed.

On one of our field trips this month, we had the pleasure of
unexpectedly coming across one of Maryland’s rarest ferns, the
Adder’s Tongue Pern. The trip was along the Cross Country Boule¬
vard near Western Run,

Because of the hills and gradual sloping of the leaf mold
laden soil several springs are prevalent, widening out into bogs
before reaching the stream. In one of these bogs among Cardinal
Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) Agrimony (Agrimonia Eupatoria) ,

Monkey Flowers. (Mimulus alatus) and Skunk Cabbage ( Symplocarpus
foetidus), we found the Adder's Tongue Fern. There were over a
dozen plants thereabouts.

According to Mr. John B, Egsrton, the plant is very rare and
since 1888 he has only seen the fern four times. Last August 28
we saw it at Hanj emoy Creek, near Riverside, Maryland.

The plant suggests an orchid at a distance. However, the
leaves have no main midrib, and the veins form small meshes en¬
closed in larger ones. The plants are usually solitary, but we
found a group of seven which, was less than a square yard in cir¬
cumference. Also the simple fertile spike has two ranks of
sporangia which are filled with sulfur-yellow spores. The fertile
spike is surrounded at the lower end by the stipe of the frond qs
seen in the diagram. The plants are from two to twelve inches
high.

SOME SHAKE MATHS
By H. Charles Robertson

Superstition and weird stories have been in circulation about
reptiles for ages. The serpent seems to have always been the
least understood memberof the reptile clan; consequently, there

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67.

now exists nore unnatural stories about reptiles than any other
torn of life.

According to superstition, reptiles possess a strange hyp¬
notic power and exercise it upon birds and other aninals. The
breath of sone species is supposed to be poisonous and 3 one say
a bite fron any serpent will cause death. Moreover, it is said
that serpents lie in readiness to junp upon an intruder, chase
him or connit sone other horrifying act that serpents are be¬
lieved to do.

As a result of such stories there is little wonder that a.
great nunber of persons detest reptiles* especially the serpents
which they usually destroy at sight i

When a nan begins life there is no instinctive fear of
reptiles. I have personally conducted experinents to clarify this
The fear of serpents is acquired and increases in sone cases ( due
to tales that have been heard) to such an extent that the sudden
appearance of a serpent will cause hysteria .

In Maryland there are only two serpents that are dangerous
to nan. The rattlesnake (Crotalus Horridus) and the copperhead
(Agkistrodon Moka sen) . If these serpents are avoided the rest of
the native serpents are ha ml ess .

I have assiduously listened to ns ny snake stories and often
have attenpted to explain the origin of then. Sone of the nore
popular stories are: the hoop snake, snakes that swallow their
young to protect then fron danger, and snakes that charn birds.
These stories are not true and can be d is proven by any herpetolo¬
gist .

That young serpents occasionally are found inside of a nut i -
la ted adult cannot be denied. But this can be logically explained
There is no proof that they were swallowed to protect then.

There are a large nunber of viviparous species that, retain
the young until they are fully developed and when born these young
ones are capable of caring for thenso Ive s . The venonous serpents
are born with fully developed poison apparatus. When a gravid,
viviparous (live bearing) serpent is slaughtered, it nay leave a
nunber of young of sufficient developnent to crawl a way. This
would create the illusion that the parent swallowed then to in¬
sure their safety, especially to persons with superactive inagina¬
tions. Serpents never exhibit any naternal interest in their
young. They are left to take care of the nse Ive s directly after
birth .

Several serpents found in Maryland are true cannibals; e.g.,
the king snakes of the genus Lanpropolti s . They subsist upon a
diet of frogs, lizards, and serpents; quickly, they overpower and
engulf serpents of size equal their own. Digestive juices in a
serpent’s stomach are so potent as to dissolve animal tissue in a
few hours* Hair , bone, and claws of aninals are readily dis¬
solved and assimilated. Such powerful juices would destroy a
young serpent in a short time. If the victim did not reach the

'

68.

stomach directly, suffocation would he inevitable.

A serpent that swallows another does so to satisfy its
appetite, not to protect the victim. Serpents have no hypnotic
influence over any other animal. One snake story tells of black-
snakes charming birds. Birds have been observed to fly re¬
peatedly very close to a blacksnake upon a tree limb, eventually
being seized and promptly devoured by the serpent. The antics
of the bird prompt the idea that it was under some weird power
exercised by the reptile.

Some serpents are agile climbers and ascend trees in search
of birds and nests containing eggs. This happens when there is
a shortage of rodents as food for the serpent. A bird observing
a serpent near her nest will do everything in her power to divert
its attention away from the eggs. She will fly as close to the
serpent as she dares, sometimes feigning exhaustion. In the
meantime the serpent cautiously advances, maneuvering its body
into "S" shaped loops. Finally when the bird comes within strik¬
ing range, the reptile seizes it. The birds are deceived by the
loops in the body of the serpent and underestimate its striking
range; therefore, the birds are outwitted and not hypnotized as
superstition would have us believe.

Those afraid of reptiles can easily overcome their fear by
applying a little reason to that which they observe. Remember
that serpents are afraid of nan and will escape whenever escape
is possible.

NOTES

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

July 7 - Talk by Mr. Joseph white, "Protective Devices of Fish."

21 - Talk by Mr. Gilbert G. Klingel, "The Dismal Swamp."

28 - Talk by Mr. Frank Yingling, "Sharks, Skates, and Rays."

Lectures to Outside Organizations

July 1 - To Biological Laboratory, Solomons Island by Mr. Gilbert
G . K 1 in ge 1 , " Sh i pw re c ke d on I no gua . "

Junior Division Activities

July 11 Lecture by Clyde Reed, "Fungi."

18 - Talk by Francis 'wise, "The Gold Deposits of Maryland."

2 5 - Hike to Gwvnns Falls Quarry.

69.

SPECIAL LA PURE STUDY COURSES

A special course in Nature was offered to children from
the ages of twelve to eighteen at the Maryland House, July
14 to July 31. The courses were under the direction of
Mr. Elra M. Palmer, Director of Education, assisted by
Mr. Edmund P. Fla dung, President of the Society. Courses
were conducted in Bird Life, Insect Life, Reptile Life,

Plant Life and Recks and Minerals.

ATTENDANCE

Children from ages of twelve to eighteen 42

Adults for observation purposes 5

Total

47

Certificates were awarded to twenty-seven children
successfully completing work in one or more of the six sub
jects. The number of subjects completed by these children
were fifty-five. One to three prizes wore awarded for pro¬
ficiency in each subject.

Trustees Meeting

July 22 - The quarterly meeting of the Beard of Trustees
The following Staff was appointed for the year:- Mineralology
Mr, Walter E. Price, Jr. Curator; Paleontology, Mr, Elra M.
Palmer, Curator ; Botany, Prof, John B, Egortcn, Curator;
Marine Life, Mr. Gilbert C: Kl ingel, Curator; Entomology,

Mr. Elmo Masters, Curator; Herpetology, Mr. George Maugans,
Acting Curator; Ornithology, Mr, Irvin E, Hampe. Curator;
Archaeology, Mr, Richard E. Stearns, Curator; Library,

Mr. Earl H. Palmer, Librarian; Publication. Mr., Herbert C,
Moore, Editor; Education, Mr, Elra M. Palmer, Director;

Museum Committee, Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, Director, Mr.

Gilbert C, Kl ingel , Mr. Elra M. Palmer and Mr. Frederick
Saffran, Jr.

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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

Volume VI

AUGUST, 19 36

Number 12

ONE OF MARYLAND’S MOST COMMON SNAKES
By Elias Cohen

One of the r.iosL common snakes in the State of Maryland is
Dekay's Snake (Storeroa dekayi), often confused with the Carter
Snake by the layman. In localities where few other serpents are
to be found, Dekay's Snake is usually found in great numbers.

One of the best places for observing and collecting this
species is the brickyard owned by the Baltimore Brick Company to¬
ward the end of East Monument Street, between that street and
Philadelphia Avenue,, in the northeast section of Baltimore. There
among piles of broken brick scattered about the large kilns used
for heating sand, this snake is very common. Deserted graveyards
and rocky fields throughout Baltimore County provide excellent loca¬
tions for observing these serpents. The best tine of the day to
collect then is xate afternoon or evening. Many of the writer’s
specimens have been captured at night with the aid of a flashlight.

The coloration of Dekay’s Snake is not vivid. In the adult
the dorsal surface is of a uniform brown or tan (appearing to be
gray), with a double row of dark brown spots running down the
middle of the body. in some color phases the central area between
these spots is of a lighter tint than i,he ground color, imparting
to these snakes the effect of an indistinct stripe. The head is
dark brown with three bands of the same color on each side of the
head. The abdomen is either white or gray usually tinted with
pink, and bordering the ventral plates are faint specks of a very
dark brown.

A new-born Dekay’s Snake is dark brown, almost black, the dark
spots being barely visible. There is a. light -colored ring composed
of two blotches about the neck, and there is a blotch of the same
color behind each eye. The abdomen is gray with no pinkish tint
vi sible .

Dekay’s Snake should not be mistaken for the Garter Snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis sir t a 11 s) , which has a yellow stripe on each

side of the body, located on the second and third, rows of scales,
counting upward from the abdominal plates. The Garter Snake's

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ground f'olor is dark bbown or olive brown.

Dekay’s Snake is a keel-scaled serpent, usually having seven¬
teen rows of scales about the body. There are seven upper lip
labial 3 and the anal plate is divided.

This serpent is, on an average, about one foot in length. II of -
ever fifteen inch specinons are not rare.

Dekay's Snake is viviparous (live bearing), giving birth to from
twelve to twenty young. Each little snake is extruded inside of an
oval shaped, jelly-like container. The serpent bursts through this
in a few seconds and is about eighty- three nn. in length, and no
thicker than a natchstick. It opens its mouth and rubs the jaws
against rough projections to get rid of the sticky substance of the
egg sac. A few minutes later the young reptile sheds its skin for
the first time. Dekay's Sna Ice comes out of hibernation as early as
March, mating taking place in late April or May, and the young are
born during late August and early September.

Near the base of the snake's tail there are a pair of glands
secreting a musky fluid, which is discharged, when the snake is
excited or handled in the wild state. This is a protective defense
used by the snake against its enemies.

The natural food of this serpent is the earthworm, although
insect larvae and salamanders are also eaten.

Dekay's Snake is entirely harmless and cannot be induced to
bite. The fact that it feeds upon insect larvae causes it to be
of some, if not large, economic importance and it should not be
de stroyed .

TY/O EARLY SPRING FROGS
By L o 11 .1 s A, Put on s

Each spring I have eagerly awaited the arrival of our two well
known frogs, the Y/oodfrog (Rana sylvatica) and the Spring Peeper
(Hyla crucifer). These tv/o species, the first of the frogs to be¬
come active, seem to emerge almost at the same time.

Since 1934 our Department has been observing the Y/oodfrog and
the Spring Peeper at Glenartney Maryland. This locality is situ¬
ated on a low strip of land, roughly three-quarters of a mile long,
bordered on one side by the Patapsco River, and on the other by the
Baltimore and Ohio Railway tracks. In this section of flat open
meadow there are only two small ponds ’which contain water throughout
the year. However from March until May about one-third of this area
i g flooded from melting snow and heavy rain. In depth the submerged
section varies from one to one and one half feet.

These conditions provide an ideal breeding ground for many
amphibians. The Y/oodfrog is so abundant here that I have counted
thirty or forty in a space about ten yards square. The Spring
Peeper is not so easily seen, but I am sure they equal R. sylvatica
in numbers.

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H. crucifer is usually thought to he the earliest arrival
a-no-rrg Che frogs, hut over a period of three years in the Patapsco
valley I have found then just, a little later than R. sylvatica.

In 1935, Fe found R. sylvatica breeding as early as March
3rd. On this particular day the Feather Fas very warn for that
tine of the y^ar , the tonpera Cure of the air being 78 degrees F ,
and that of the water 55 degrees F.

Wood frog s have the ability to withstand v»ry low temperatures.
On the night of March 9^ 19 35 we found then in larg^ numbers at a
temperature of 32 degrees F. Their mating season ends in the
latter part of May or the first of June. May O’7, 1934 is the
latest breeding record we have.

This attractive member of the genus Rana is one of our most
beautifully colored frogs: It is light tan with delicate pink
shadings on the back; the under parts are white . On each side of
the head, back of the angle of the jaw and beloT” the eye is a tri¬
angular brown spot. Rut the colors of the Wood frog are difficult
to describe -nsd only by watching them in their natural haunts can
one fully appreciate their dainty markings.

Their call is a gutteral croaking sound, repeated at short
intervals. Easily distinguished from the piping of R . crucifer,
yet blending perfectly, the call of Sylvatica forms the deeper,
louder part of the frog chorus.

Soon after their eggs are laid the iVood.f rogs leave the water*
and scatter to the woods and fields nearby. Although they favor
damp cool places they are often found long distances from water.
Almost fearless in the spring, later in the season they become shy
and hard to find,

Hibernat ion takes place at the beginning of cold, weather. I
found one specimen in a torpid condition on November 11, 1934 under
four inches of leaves in upland irroods.

We found H. crucifer on March 9, 19 35 at a temperature of 32
degrees F . Their breeding season is about the sane as Sylvatica,
March to May. Their habits are similar in some ways to those of
the Voodfrog and they can be found in the ’moods of the Patapsco
throughout the spring and summer. Very often after a shower when
the sun is hidden and the foliage is still wet I have heard the
shrill calls of the little tree frog. On trees and bushes or
plants such as the Jack-in-the -Pulpit or May Apple they are quite
at h one .

Ag they cling with th^ir sticky toe-pads to the under side of
a leaf, or make astonishingly long leaps to capture insects they
are a never ending source of interest and amusement to the natural¬
ist .

Varying from three-quarters to one and one -quarter inches in
length H. crucifer is the smallest of Maryland tree frogs. Light
gray or pale yellow in color its name is taken from the markings
on t b e ba c k ,wh i c h re s dm b 1 e a c r o s' s i

74

Once beard, their sweet high-pitched trill is not easily for¬
gotten. Their voices are often taken for the calls of so oe snail
hir'd. Much has been written about these little follows and they
should be cone well known to us all.

The TYoodfrog seems to be more noisy during the day, while the
Proper is easier to find and shows more activity at night. How¬
ever, they can both be heard constantly from early March until the
first summer days.

THE WHITE SQUIRREL OF PRINCETON

For some years I have heard of a white squirrel on the campus
of Princeton University but I never saw it until my last ^isit, when
I at last had a close view. The animal is a real albino, white, not
grey; in size and build conforming to the grey type. All agree in
describing its tail as rather "moth eaten" but this may be from its
being partly grey.

Those who have seen it very close, state the eyes to be red,
as is proper to an albino, but from the distance of my view they
looked black. There did not seem to be any weakness in them as
the animal seemed to have as keen a sight as other squirrels,
though it was a sunshiny day.

This interesting little fellow has been about the campus for
eight years. It is very wary as many have tried to catch it, but
it did not seem to me to have any real dread of human beings as it
sat in the fork of a tree and watched our party, apparently with
much interest.

E dw a r d Me C o 1 ga n

-•k-

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

Augu st
Augu st
petology in
Augus t

3 - Talk by Mr. Edward McColgan, "The Turkey Buzzard."
11 - Talk by Mr. George Maugans, "The Fathers of Her-
th e Un i t e d States."

18 - Talk by Mr. John B. Egerton, "The Smallest Flower¬

ing Plant."

Augu st
Hog Island,

2 5 - Talk by Mr.
Maine . "

H

Kolb,

Jr .

"The Marine Life of

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75

Exhibition.

August 1 - Exhibition of Minerals at Enoch Pratt Library,

Branch $12.

August 1 - Exhibit of Butterflies and Moths at Enoch Prat +
Library , Bra rich $24.

August 17 - Exhibit of Minerals at Enlco Pratt Library, Central
Branch .

Junior Division Activities

August 1 - Lecture by Mr. E. R. Polacek, ’’The Silk Moth."

August 8 - Talk by Francis Groves, "Snakes"; Elias Cohen,
"Preadaptation of Amphibians."

Au gu s t 15 - Ge n e r a 1 d. i s cu s s i on .

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