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FPOM THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
SECOND SERXES-1899.1900 VOLUME V
SECTION IV
OBOLOOICAL AND BIOLOQICAL SCIENCES
Presh Water Fishes and Batrachia
OP THE
PENINSULA OF GASPE. P.Q.
AND THEIR
Distribution in the Maritime Provinces of Canada By PHILIP COX, Ph.D.
irOR lALS BY
J HOPE A SONS, OTTAWA : THE COPP-CLARK CO., TORONTO
BERNARD QUARITCH, LONDON. ENGLAND
1899
Sbotion IV., 1899.
[141]
Trans. R. S. C.
y.-Freah water Fishes and Batrachia of the Peninsula of Gaspi, P.O., and their distribution in the Maritime Provinces of Canada.
By Philip Cox, Ph. 1).
(Presented by Prof. J. Macoun, and read May 2tfth, 1«00.
A glance at the map will suggest many reasons, and reflection on Its ««°logicaI history even more, for including the Quebec slope at least of the Baie des Chaleurs with New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island,
.!^ftvT/\ . '" ®r"' ^^ °^' ^"^^*'"^« ^'''^'^^''^ P^^^^i^ce, the unity of which is marked not so much by the occurrence of peculiar forms, as by the general similarity of the flora and fauna. Portions of
t'Ll!^^ J^ *r'. ^^'' "^^'^ ^ *^" ^^*™^«« «f heat and cold, «iow- all, length of winter and other physical aspects, but the averag; annual temperature is nearly the same thrStighout ; and hence the adaptive power of most plants and lower vertebrates, found anywhere
provmce. But while the means plants make use of for their dispersal
SerlTJ' ?? f t*''u ""^^^'^ *° ''''''''' ^'' '^'" P^««^'^^e here and ItZJ^^Z A"'"""^''^ ^r^^ '^^'' P°^^^ ^'^ *he same purpose, iVo-^T J'! '^T* "^ *^' '''' '^ fresh-water fishes, the study o whose distnbution often presents problems not to be solvk by a know-
tilV ^^'i''''^ "°' ^^^*^°« ^^y''""^ ^-"ditions. EspeciaUy kt!d ir '"' "'^''^ '' '''' ^P^"^^' °^«"^^^g ^t ^e'^otely iso
reject the usua theory, and recognizing the great antiquity of the fish the student in ichthyology prefers to find an explanation oHhese phen omena m the evidence of a different relation of the land a^d wa er surfaces to each other at different epochs in the world's history. In
and widely distributed race, which, in favourable enviromnents, have here and there survived the great changes that elsewhere engulfed their A t T ^^teresting examples of this nature are met with in Gasp^ JropL' plTce ^' °' ^'' ""*' ^^' ^" "^ ^--^ ^* ^-^h in their Though the average annual temperature of all parts of the coast region of this biological province may be nearly the sLe, yet The IZ mer, and probably also the winter, temperature of the L^^ rive^ much lower than what obtains in the rivers of New Bmn^w^I^nd ^ova Scotia, due to the former rising in the Notre Dam'e rou^taLs
Sec. IV.. 1899. 9a. '
j^2 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
.„a bemg fed l.y cold alpine »t.am.. They «. '«>■ XrdTnY,' 7^ „d boMerou,, eBpecially in their upper "'''^-^ • '"* """^ 7,^ d,„oe
^vard extension of the Restigouche. >
Catoslomus commcrsoni, Lac. Big-scale.! sucker. Carp (French).
the deviation from the scale fonuula is more "^^^ked^nd cons^^^^^^^^^^ the Gaspe fish. Here it is 9-60-7, a divergence not at all ^f^P^^J^^ant so a !s he numher of transverse series (60) is conceded ; hut th
■" active moveraej.., r^ cnrren^; ^"^7^;, have been of
u^^^hSrc Jei- x^a to — «o«i^ ^-:rtri:::
ment not to tod in the GaspS rivers 0. '«T™'™'s^'jZ k™? N.B ; „o»e1, or Northern, Sucker, not uncommon m the St. John river, r.,B , nor L it eeem to occur in the Ee=tigo«che or Metaped...
f
*
t
1
f
.)-
1
V
i; f
[001] FttESH WATER FISHE8 AND BATRACHIA ,43
CYPRINII)^.
Leuciacus cornutuK, Gntlir. Rt'd-fin.
t«r . 7 . '"^ ^''"'^■'' ""''^>'*"^ '"^^^ the (Jnmd (Wanedia near
form IS a woll-m.rked varu-ty, de.ervi„g recognition as a boreal type
wit the two commonly evanescent lateral golden bands very distine in life, aiid visible after months of immersion in spirit • ^the " e formula shows a slight increase, with .7 in front of the dorsal, iie ^ew Brunswick and Motapedia shiners have from 16 to 32. Tl an fin-rays are 8 instead of 9, and the free margin of the dorsal is strad or slightly convex n..t concave, due to a shortening of the anterior ravs, which, when the fin is depressed, about equal the posterior. As w U
tant diirerences, canm,t be regarded as a modification of mueii si^ni-
Nolemvjonus chrysohucus, Jor. Golden Shiner.
Like the last, this species was found in but one river vallev in Gaspe, that of Grand Tabos, where it occurs in tuo small 1 .it water near the coast, known as Lac a Canard and Murphy's Lake I 8 lu a 1 respects typical except that the anal fin-rays are L instead of i5 but this variation is not uncommon among xYew Brunswick speci- mens. Occurs also in Metapedia river and lake
This was the only fresh-water fish found on P.E. Island by Rov McLean Vanwart of Fredericton and the writer in 1896, whil making an investigation 0 its bati^chia an.l fishes. It was Collected from Af ton Lake near Mount Stewart, and agrees with the Gaspe specimei n having U rays in the anal fin. No information could b^lad T^ txme nor manner of its introduction, nox was its presence knln to th people hvmg m the vicinity. As the lake is only a few acres in extent without affluents, and with an outlet only during spring freshet it I' just possible that some admirer of this handsome fish planted U here
iTt^rthes^from 'n ^ 7 d "^^' *'^ ^^^^"^ ^^^^^^ ^' '^« «-" ^-^-
a, _u„ !jiii„ m ^uy general hne of bird mipmHnn «g.eB str„„g,y .g.i„.t ti, th,„^ „, l^ ^^^^^ of fllieT Cgh
144 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
the agency of birds. Even where lakes and ponds belonging f' ^if^^^"^ b si^ are made the sumn.er home of fish and "va-eatrng b.rds t^^ results do not appear to be dilTercnt. In New B.-un.wick the St. John r^^er with its numerous bu.nches and lakes seems favourably <ii^P-^ ^ 'U S ifr^ ect to receive form, from the contiguous ^-^- -;^ of the Androscoggin and other Maine nvers ; bu -^ ^^^P ^^^J transmission by such means having occurred t .s \^"; ^'^^^ J^^^^^^^ odd years ago, the Eastern Pickerel, Eso.r reUcuUU.s^^ LeS a common fish in the Maine rivers, made it. appearance ^ the St. John but fnqu ^ revealed the fact that a few years before it Imd been art.fic ally nScTd into the Meduxnakik, a branch of the St. Jolm. llenco i ; Srseem more scientific to seek an explan.vtion of the l-he-me- of distribution Gaspt. presents, in sumo general and far-r.ach.ng cau^e, «:rlTave recourse to a theory which seems inadequate to account for the facts.
Semotihs atromaculatus, Mitcli. Horned Dace.
This species was found in small numbers in the Grand Cascapedia Littlfc scapea a, and New Carlisle lakes, but does not attam the s>ze ^r aches ^Ne; Brunswick. Moreover, it presents some var.ations ir;!;ru^al ^pe 0^-. ^e^l. . ^ - P— Zd ^
"^' ^'Thrrttt^aHeaTt mokfi^aZ' characteristic of the influ-
''"*"• 4 t I W habitat or mountain forms usually show an increase enceof a highland hab tat for ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^
in these hony supports. Th^^/f.*^^J P"^ ^j^h the Black-nosed Dace,
tion. Common in all the waters of New Brunswick. Phoxinus neogaeus, Cope. Minnow.
\>'\
[cox]
FRESH WATER FI8HE8 AND BATRACHIA
U8
■ "•CJ
county „a. ehara^.^ e^L^^^^^^^^^ '^•■^"^'-"- ^« ^^^
lack of any further stnfin, ! / .. ""'*' '" '■^"«"t years, the
accepted a8prlo7it?^"r ^°V,'"V''^<^'- being recorded might be
rence h.re of this w t? rt n "^ But the occur-
•urprisca. it was o^lv an 1^1 r^ '"""'" '"^--^t'ng, was no • recent and mo e ant^n.nf! "f;*'^\^° '''^^'^^ f«ots which suggest
these sections? r°tTa^^i:::r t'"" *'' '"""' ^"' «"'«^' western range re ind Lnou 7n .. ""^'^ *'"»* ^'^">' PJ^"t« of
email ma.m'Ils. n tabfv Z^ r IT" '^ ''^'^"- ^'^ ^''"^ --^ reported east of Maniloba a^onit / ''' ■ ^"'^''"^"' °"* ^'^^^h^'-e (See Bull. No. XIV., Nat HUt.^ of Nr B^nr. T'' ""' '''' ''^''■ however, a genuine surprise to meet J^h th^ T ' ^^ '''''■^ ^* ^'"' coast, where it occurs in a small hi ^^^' Ir ^^"'•*««* «« the Oasp6 .notherequallyinterLt^g";";';,^^^^ CWmu. erythrogaster Ag ^ ''''^'"^ '"^'^ «""them range,
free ?::m7redr uTflit! r;! tT"^' '^ ^*^^''"- ^ ^^^"^
respect, so that the Trightly ci^ d 7 Z^" " '^"'■*^ ^^■"'•^'''- '^ "-a -y, in part, owe its prfservat ^ h^^^^ ,1 therT'^:." ""^"^^ '"^^--
It varies considerably fhT., i . ' ^ *^'' ''*"««•
guished from that ofTno h^^^^ '*'' '""^ "-^'^^ ^•^*-
oertain stn,ctnn.l differed' ^ B^r^C^ ^h "'^r '"* ^^ known to the writer, never exceediL ...'^ ""^ *^® «°^^"««t
length, wherea. in icZald l1 fh ? '1 *^^^«-^""*«- inches in on record. The formorTo W J^^ "! *^''' ^ ^°"^' *he largest dorsal insertion mor;o;terio; bv L .\'f ^ "°^*'^ ^^y^^ ' the branchial leaflets obrorandTtoul^ n l*^' ^^°^*^ '' ^^^ «-"d-l ^ with broader bases ; sn^o^f shtrt^'anltl^fteT/tri '^ ''^'' «^^ longer, and the band on the «idp infl , ^i V ^*^'**' ^'°« relatively conspicuous patch on the ope" "^^^ ''^^' ^° ''''' ^^ ^™ng a
The Gaspe Phoxinns is very cIosp tn t>, i forms, being about four inchest length w f^f ^f^' «— -^ more pointed, the pectorals longer and 'uz.l '''' ""^ '"^^ ^^«
tition, however, is very irregular j"^^''^'^^'' ^C'^te. The den-
Chrommu, erythrogaster, Ag. Red-belliod Dace
^^g ROYAL bO( lETY OK CANADA
St. John Co.. a Wy of water only^^^;- ;;^ ::::l::^: wS
Orovo. n.ne m.le. from M. J"l « . *" ' u.^t when he collected it ITo.n its only Canadian recordB untd A"K- ^; ^^^ , .,,„ ,,«,,p,dia, and a few Bmall lake, in tl.e valley« of »»^« ' ^ / " n where it was fts.o- from the N<.uvelle lakes, near New Crh I . ^J^J ^^ ^,,^. ,,,ter,
ciated with i'. n.o,.u. '^: ^^^^^^I'^'^J^^ ^ upper part of for it iB reported fron.M.olngan and a^f-^^^^^^^^
the Mississippi ha.in. and recen y ^om nc rt ^ _^^ ^,,^,„i,,ion.
by W. V. Kendall and Hugh M. Snuth {Hm. u ^^.^^
1L4, pp. 15-'^). AV.V/^ro,a«^- ;;;;:;::;;e;^\e Maine s eein.ens all our Chrosomi have ., and m '»'; -^;;,;;;:;^„, ^s next station to agree, as well as C. .o.v. Cope, from the S s u h ^^^^ ,,,,,
the south, which, however, pres.iits a slightly
(I'roc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phd., 1861). ^ .^^,^ ^j^,.
^ The Gaspe lish, espec.ally tho.e f r - he G - ^^^^^ ,„^^,,,
capedia, are somewhat peculiar. He body is m .^
^proportion to the ^^V l^H lii^ Une T ^..l/iu.tea'l of A^^ snout -, generally seven dark longitu.l nal line ^.^^^ ^^^. ^^^^
the two extra ouo. often well f ^■^-;; j'/^^^ '' a.^ele ; dorsal inter- vertebral line, but ^^2^:^'^^^^^ "^i ^-'-. :''''
tion more posterior, b.ze ^"^'^i'' ^ ^ Cascapedia, and Goose
variety predomimtes in Hamman Uke ^-"^ ^^ J ,^^^ ,,,,^ble Lake, Little Cascapedia Th^ J^veU^ ^^^,,,,,i,„ ,,d proporti.m of most those found in New B.un.^ick in c ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^
parts. While the slender elongate body recalls eo., B3-28 i. P-tically thaj^of ^^-"^^X,,^^ ^,,,,, N.B., CKrosomi are
To sum up, the Clear f^^ker^ . f^„„g exhibit a divergence so very near to .ny/.ro,a.s/.r but he G .pc^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^,^^,^,,,
„.arked and constant -^% ^0 recogn^^^^^ ,^ ,,,,,„te them by
:iinr;rrre:s"r rnTnvestigated and more material
accumulated.
Ceratichthys Plumheus, Gunther.
ThU .pe.» wa, reported « f«« ^h — .„^- ,«™™*
,, the writer i„ l»»^>^o ;*;<l-2S-t:! ite eceurrence in G«^ in the provmce. JJeing a naiuj u
>
1 1
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[COI]
FHE8H WATER FI8HKS AND BATRACIIIA
147
X.
could bo cx{) '( ti>(l. wlieru it wa- ob»erv*(l IiimI 8iiiiiiner in tlw Mi'tupfdiu river nml luko, Grind und Little ('as<afM'<liii, Nouvfllc (New Carlisle) lakes, and in the Imsiii of tliu (irand i'abnH (I^ac li Ciinard and Murphy's Lake.)
Thf genuH is widely distributed in Xnrth Anierica, consiatinp, however, of only a few elosdy alli(d upeeies, wlxme diirerenliatii)n is made to rest npi n such slijiht and varvinj: rhannters a-i to render the clas8i(i<ation a mere reeojrnition of the extremes of varieties, blending with eaeh other through a series of intermediate forms. For the pur- pose of illustrating this point, it is only necessary to compare with one another the three most dominant northern forms, C. plumbciis, (iunther, C. dissimilis, Girard, and C. ijreeni, Jordan. The first is our alleged eastern form ; the second peculiar to Lake Superior and the northern and northwestern portion of the Mississippi basin ; the last a recently descrilied specie^ from I'ort St. James, B.C. (Bull. Nat. Hist. Soc. of B.C., 1893). The element of chief value, indeed of any value, is the scale formula, which is as follows : —
C. greeni, 10-57-7.
C. plumbeua, 11-G5-7 (11-GO to 70-7).
C. dissimilis, 12-68-8.
To one who has been afield, examined hundreds ut specimens, and noticed the wide range of variation in this respect among stock of the same place or neighbouring places, the founding of species on such small, inconstant, and largely accidental diiferences must appear as little else than designating the extremes of variation in a given species. The writer has found plumbcus to vary ifrom lO-GO-7 to 12-70-8, and hence to comprehend within its limits the three above species, at least as far as this feature— the chief one— is concerned. To the relative height, too, of the dorsal and the form of its free margin is attached some sig- nificance in the attempteil sepiration of dissimilis from plumoeui, the former having the margin nearly straight with anterior rays not pro- duced, the latter with the margin concave and rays produced. When somewhat marked, constant, and associated with other contrasts, the feature would be of some value ; otherwise it should be used with much caution, for it is just in these two respects that fins of the same ^ecies are often found to differ. Age, sex, season, and nature of summer and winter habitats are modifying causes. Anadromous tribes and fishes of lacustrine habit, resorting to the upper courses of rivers for breeding purposes, exhibit at different seasons a considerable variation in this respect. Our Atlantic salmon is a good example. Under these circum- stances there is extra wear or ahrnsjon of the anterior ravs and external parts, often materially changing the outline. Ceratichthys exhihits all
148
ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
these modifications. The stock of the Grand Cascapedia, Nouvelle and Grand Pabos have the anterior rays shortened and the margin either straight or more frequently convex, while the lake form from New Brunswick, Lake Metapedia, P.Q., and the Little Cascapedia, shows a concave margin with anterior rays produced. A short description of these two varieties may be given here.
(a) C. plumbeus, Gunther.
Size large, heavy anteriorly ; back slightly arched ; head broad and flattish, its profile nearly straight ; dorsal insertion a little anterior to last ray of ventral, midway between front of orbit and base of caudal. Mouth moderate ; barbel evident ; lateral band distinct. Dusky olive above, sides dull silvery, axjils of paired fins and angles of mouth red.
Head, 4J ; depth, 4|. D. 8, A. 8. Scales 11-62-7. Length about 6 inches. i
Lake Metapedia and river ; Little Cascapedia, and throughout New Brunswick. Though agreeing in the main, the Little Cascapedia plumbeus shows some evidence of being a form intermediate between the lake variety and the one next to be described. The head is not so broad, and is more pointed. Dorsal insertion more posterior (midway between snout and base of caudal), with the hinder rays shorter, hence its margin more oblique. Tail very emarginate. Eye large. Lateral band dusky. Size smaller. A handsome fish.
(b) C. plumbeus, Gnthr. var.
Size moderate, stoutish ; head short, muzzle blunt, no barbel, mouth and eye small ; vent more posterior than in any other form. Fina all small. Dorsal insertion far back, behind last ray of ventral, iiiidway between snout and ends of middle rays of caudal ; its anterior rays shortened and free margin convex, its first rays equalling the last when fin. is depressed. Anal same form. Caudal peduncle short and stout, hardly compressed, and fin less emarginate.
Coloration brilliant. Back olive brown with the usual dark scales, and passing into steel-blue. A blackish band from eye to caudal, with a narrow pale one above; sides slavery, with the region under the lateral band and extending fyom the operculum to the base of the caudal, almost scarlet in life.
Head, 4^. Depth, 4^. D. 8, A. 8. Scales. 12-70-8. Length, 4 inches. A beautiful little fish which deserves recognition as a well marked variety.
This is the form which the lower Gasp6 rivers, Nouvelle and Grand Pabos, alone contain. It does not occur in New Brunswick.
^ d
[coxj FRESH WATER FISHES AND BATRACHIA 149
Ehinichthys cataractce (Val), Jordan. Long-nosed Dace. Lake Metapedia, P.Q., and generally throughout Xew Brunswick. R. atronasus (Mitch.), Ag. Black-nosed Dace.
Not uucommon in Xew Bruns-
Cascapedia and Bonaventure rivers, wick ; Nova Scotia, J. M. Jones.
These two species are with us very closely related, and present at times such an instability of characters as to suggest intergrading. None have the 7-rayed dorsal said to be peculiar to atronasus further south ; that fin has always the 8 rays of cataro . The scale formulae, too, show an approximation ; for cataraclw the average is about 13-63-7 or S ; for atronasus, 11-60-7. The latter is peculiar in having a narrow silvery band bordering the dark lateral band above— a feature nowhere else ascribed to it.
PERCIDiE.
Perca americana, Schranck. Yellow Perch.
Though many suitable stations for this species were met with in the peninsula of Gasp^, it was not seen east of the Metapedia, nor was it known to settlers nor Indians to occur in the country. It is, however, quite abundant in Metapedia river and lake, and is generally distributed m NcNv Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is in all respects typical except in the number of anal fin-rays which are almost invariablv II. 6 instead of II. 7.
CyPRINODON'lTD^. Fundulus diaphanus, LeSu. Spring Minnow.
This, the only fresh-water representative of the familv in eastern Canada so far as the writer knows, Ls very widely distributed ; and, as 18 usual with such a species, varies greatly. Its occurrence in New Jirunsmck was first reported by the writer in Bull. No. XIII Nat Hist Soc of N.B., pp. 5-7, and Roy McLean Vanwart and he collected it in HiUsboro river and at Rustico, P.E. Island, in June, 1896
Common in the Bonaventure, Grand Pabos, York, and Dartmouth rivers, Gaspe. Abundant in the lower course of the St. John NB and in lakes about the Bay of Fundy. ' ' ''
inrJ}' Bonaventiore fish, however, are peculiar in the reduced scale fonnula, narrow and shorter head and snout, scarcely enlarged teeth in outer row lemon-yellow of inferior parts and fins, and shorter and stouter body.
10O
ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
As diaphanus is more or less an anadromous form but capable of living permanently in fresh water, its general distribution throughout the maritime provinces and Gaspe was to be expected.
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C0TTIDJ5.
Fresh-water sculpins are diminutive fish, affecting lakes, rivers, and especially rocky mountain streams, where they skulk about under cover of bottom objects, darting quickly across interspaces and disappearing suddenly, showing in their rapid movements fear of lurking enemies. Their food is found adhering to pebbles and rocks or creeping on the bottom, and consists largely of the aquatic larvfe of insects, Crustacea, and worms. They also destroy immense quantities of trout spawn. Their habits and coloration make them hard to detect ; but if a few stones in the bed of a stream be cautiously turned over, the observer will be often surprised at the number of th«se little denizens found skulking beneath. Like other small fresh-water fishes of great power of adaptation to environment, these little cottoids seldom exhibit much stability in what are usually regarded as specific characters, so that the classification of the members of the genus Uranidea, to which nearly all our forms belong, consists largely in the recognition of certain extremes of variation. Hence the description and synonymy of thi^ genus are very much confused. A large number of species and a larger number of varieties, have been described by various authors, especially by Girard in the "Monograph of the Fresh-water Cottoids," but there is little uhanimity among them, and the whole genus needs a thorough revision.
Uranidea gracilis, Putnam. Miller's Thumb.
Metapedia River and Nouvelle Biver, P.Q. This species was first reported from the Maritime Provinces by the writer in 1896, who col- lected it from Green Eiver, Victoria Co., N.B., and had it identified by Dr. B. E. Bean, of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington.
U. holeoides (Girard), Jordan. Miller's Thumb.
Metapedia River, with the last from which it is hardly separate. Miramichi, Restigouche and St. John rivers, N.B.
U. richardsoni, Ag. Miller's Thumb.
In all the Gasp6 rivers, except those discharging into Gaspe Basin. Miramichi and Restigouche, New Brunswick. Mosyt of our northern miller's thumbs belong to this species, which should more properly be
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FRESH WATER FISHES AND BATRACHIA
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.
classed as a Cottus, for the ventral fin has one concealed spine and four soft rays, while Uranidea has but three of the latter. Its varieties are as numerous as its localities, but the following was the most conspicuous met with : —
U. richardsoni, Ag. var.— A peculiar type from Bonaventure River, distinguished by its tadpole shape, wide separation of the dorsals, and uniform black colour.
SALMONID^.. Coregonus labradoricus, Rich.? White Fish.
A Coregonus occurs sparingly in the Grand Cascapedia, of which specimens could not be obtained ; but, judging from descriptions given by persons familiar with it, the writer thinks it is the above species. It seems confined to this river, for guides, settlers and Indians had never met with it elsewhere on the peninsula. Not uncommon in the St. John River, N.B., and in many of its tributary streams and lakes, especially above Grand Falls, where it is associated with C. quadr Hater alts, Rich. ; found also in the Restigouche and Metapedia. Our form at least is very closely allied to C. albus, LeSu., of the Great Lakes and north- westward, of which it is probably a modified mountain or river form as suggested by the character of the main points of difference— a slight increase m the scale formula and number of dorsal ray supports (being frequently 12 instead of 11), and the more elongate body.
Among the fresh-water fishes of New Brunswick none are more common nor characteristic of its streams, rivers, and lakes than Semotilis buUans, Raf., Silver or River Chub ; Lepomis gibbosus, L., Sun-fish, Fond-fish ; Amiurm catus, Gill, Homed Pout, Cat-fish ; and Lota maculosa, Cuv. & Val., Burbot, Cusk ; all of which are absent from the Gaspe rivers and lakes, and only one, L. maculosa, is known to the writer to occur in the Restigouche. They are, however, in the main peculiar to lakes, ponds, lowland streams, and the lower courses of rivers, and hence, possessing little power of dispersal, their transmission from one river system to another, especially in a mountainous country, is nich impossible. ®
REPTILIA OF GASPE.
Though no part of the primary object of the investigation, it was thought desirable to examine the rer-'!.in Hfe of the peninsula, as far a.? time permitted, aud append a list lUereof to this report. Compared with that of New Brunswick, there is a dearth of both species and individuals.
182 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
BUFONID^.
Bufo (lentiginosus) Americanus, Le Conte. Toad.
Quite common throughout the peninsula, and in the Maritime Provinces. In New Brunswick, v ^^ere the writer has studied it for many years, its characters are very unstable. Indeed, var'eties seem to be marked in some localities.
EANID^. Bana virescens, K. Green Frog.
Rather uncommon, but observed in every river valley. The sub- species B. V. hrachycephala, Cope, the prevailing' inland form in New Brunswick, was not met with, nor was the latter collected in P.E. Island by Roy Vanwart and the writer in 1896.
Common in the coast region of New Brunswick, and in less abun- dance in P.E. Island. Reported from Nova Scotia by J. M. Jones, Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 123, N.S. Inst Nat. Sc.
B. palustris, Le Conte. Marsh Frog.
Occasional in Gaspe. Everywhere in New Brunswick, but not abundant. Rare in P.E. Island (Vanwart and Cox), and not reported from Nova Scotia.
B. septentrionalis, Baird. Mink Frog.
Abundant in all suitable places in Gasp6, where it takes the place largely of B. fontinalis, Le Coute. Lately reported from New Bruns- wick. Vide Proceedings Nat. Hist. Ass. of Miramichi, N.B., No. 1, p. 14. Not reported from Nova Scotia, nor does it occur on P.E. Island.
B. fontinalis, lie Conte. Spring Frog.
Rather uncommon in Gaspe, its place being takfjn by the last species. Abundant in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia (J. M. Jones), and in P.E. Island.
Very variable in New Brunswick, where three types occur, B. fon- tinalis nigricans, Ag., a small black variety ; B. fontinalis clamitans, a semi-terrestrial form, and the one mentioned in the list, which is the dominant type, especially in the northern part of the province.
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FBESH WATER FISHES AND BATRACHIA R. syhaiica, Le Conte. Wood Frog.
183
timep^I'viZ.'" '""^- °™'™"^ ■'-'"'■"«»-' tfro„gl.„„,. the Man-
Hyla picheringii, Storer. Tree Frog.
Common in Gasp^, where its note was heard in the valleys of all rivers. Common in all the Maritime provinces of Canada. ^
PLEURODELID^. Diemydylus viHdescens, Bat. Spotted Newt.
■O. v., var. miniatm, Hallowell was nnf t««* ™uu xu , ,
w *? r.'r "^"^ '" '"^ - ™ i^t^ pT.t' Z 4T
».ewt, oi which It .. . «asoBaI and terrestrial form It would heater ^tr^ if .hi. .trange temp„.,y .^, „, deve,opl„t ob Jtas
Desmognathus fuacus, Eaf. Painted Salamander. No mature example of this species was collected, but abundant
writer has not met it here, but instead what may be a colour varie v of
specif' ""' ^'^'' *'' '"^" "^^"^'^ *o °^-y be of this alleged
PLETHODONTID^.
Plethodon cinereus, var. erythronotus, Green. Bed-backed Salamander.
Not uncommon on the peninsula. Generally distributed in th« Mantime provmces of Canada, including P.E. Island.
13* ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
AMBLYSTOMID^.
Amhlystoma Jeffersonianum, var. laterale, Hall.
Seems to be very rare, for, though industriously sought after, was collected at but one station, Grand River. Heard of at a few points.
Common in New Brunswick, where, as in Gaspe, the type is larger, the body longer in proportion to the head, the legs, ^oo, relatively shorter, anal groove wanting, and pelvic and caudal folds well represented.
Not observed on P.E. Island, nor reported from Nova Scotia. A. punclatum, L. Great Spotted Salamander.
No specimen seen, but its unique and conspicuous colour pattern cannot be confounded with that of any of our salamanders, and hence it IS easily known from descriptic Heard of at a few points in the peninsula.
Common in the Maritime provinces.
SNAKES.
Coluber vemalis, De Kay. Green Snake.
Observed at several points on the peninsula. All through the Maritime provinces.
C. sirtalis, Hobb. Spotted Snake.
Occasionally met with in Gaspe. Common also in the Maritime provinces.