i LHe . Ses aby Hesht iW He aes sa Hp tk Harari ti Hin i i | i fe hg ths 7 | vF ihe Sy f Sinn feat ieuahin HC th she Bri Ant t Raitt i y fish il ( . pve ' hn Jit batty mpeeri iy BUN eo 2 . PREAH nk Hk A ae Wane, aE 0 " it if | ADL REAID RE | it) iis “ Be ae PARA ; BU SAMRAT AN AAT HA : ) 7 fe is iF Ri ne MEMOTRS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. NEW SERIES. WOE. “Y. LIBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN CAMBRIDGE AND BOSTON: METCALF AND COMP ANY, PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. S— Lepro. MEMOTRS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY ARTS AND SCIENCES. NEW SERIES. VOL. V.—PART I. CAMBRIDGE AND BOSTON: Mei Dy Cr Act, Boe ACN De C.OcM PB AYN. ¥, PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 1858. “WB M0 LE (CAMBRIUG PAs - ae BEY a2t.F APS PUPA T- : / eee re deflec- tion, °F S88) 36° OR’ 20” 8 MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Observations for Total Magnetic Intensity. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W George. Stand, strong wooden tripod, free from iron. Magnetic Meridian, on limb north, 4° 20’; south, 4° 30’; mean, 4° 25’. Face of instrument, west. Hour of commencing observations, 11.15. Hour of ending observations, 11".35. Deflection with Weight 2 grs. Deflection with Weight 2 grs. + 5 grs. Deflection with Weight 2 grs. + 1 gr. Deflection from the Ver- etisction toward ‘hel Ther- |nefection from the ‘Deflection toward) Ther- Deflection toward) Ther- ucal and at the Hori- and i ibe Verti-| mom | Deflection from the | Vertical. ees Vertical oe Vertical. and Pe Verti- Bey ° , | ie) t ° 4 45 67 30 93 4 43 67 30 4 45 | 67 45 | 442 | 67 45 | 4 45 67 32 4 45 67 32 g4 Mean 4 44 Mean 67 35 Angle of deflec- ; tion, 36° 09’ 30” 31° 25'.5 | | Observations for Magnetic Inclination. Needle A. — Station, Panama, under a shed, upon the glacis just beyond the ditch, about 300 feet outside the western gate of the city. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, North, 8° 57’ 12”. Longitude, 79° 29’ 24”.5 west of Greenwich. Face of Instrument, north, needle perpendicular, reading of azimuth circle, 15° 18’. Face of Instrument, south, needle perpen- dicular, reading of azimuth circle, 15° 12’. Reading of azimuth circle, when the vertical circle was in the magnetic meridian, 15° 15’. Date, March 21st, 1849. Weather, clear. Face of Circle. ee Ob- | Thermometer. \change ofBrackets.| End of Needle. | Reading of Needle A. Remarks. 1-20"P.M. 90 Ist. below 31 35 above aul 373) Fast. 2d. below 31 40 above 31 45 3d. below 31 45 | above 31 45 Mean Reading East, . : ; : ; 31 40.8 - 1st. below 31 32 | above 3311 Bi West. | 2d. below Ssh above 31 40 3 3d. below 31 35 [= 3b™= PI NE|) VS8s above 31 35 Mean Reading West, . : 4 : j 3l Sb.% Magnetic inclination of needle A, 31° 38’.2. Needle B.— Station, Panama. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Observations for Magnetic Inclination and Intensity. Observer, Major Emory. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12” north. Longitude, 79° 29’ 24’.5 west of Greenwich, = 5" 17" 57°.63. Date, March 26th, 1849. Weather, clear. Mean time of commencing observations, 1" P. M. Mean time of ending observations, 2"" P.M. Thermometer, 86°. Deflection North from App. Dip. | Deflection South from App. Dip. | Face of Circle. Direct. Results. 40° below. 40° above. 40° below. 40° above. | 31 45 840 | 5440 | 710 | 55 45 East, lr) 8 35 54 30 7 20 55 45 eb 31 30 8 35 54 30 7 20 55 40 31 46 Direct. 00 | 830 | 6445 4) -y 00 oh we go |B -| 3 oe § out West, 32 00 8 20 54 50 7 02 56 35 ; } 31 52 8 20 54 50 7 05 56 Le Sums, 190 37 50 50 328 05. AQ 57 336 30 94 57.8 Sum. Means, 31 46 8 28.3 | 54 40.8 7 09.5 56 05 31 39.26 Mean, Needle B.— Station, Panama. Emory. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12” north. Date, March 26th, 1849. Weather, clear. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Deflection North at App. Dip. | Deflection South at App. Dip. . (1) (2) | (L.) @) ante Face of Circle. | Thermometer. Deflection from |Deflection toward Results for Magnetic Inclination. Deflection toward) the Vertical and \Deflection towardthe Vertical and the Vertical. | past the Hori-| the Vertical. |past the Horizon- zontal. tal. 86 7245 | 916 | 7405 | 10 05 East, 72 50 9 15 7A 07 10 00 72 48 9 16 7A 15 10 02 ie) U * By Teen, | {9 8e. bh YL 305) «9180 fs | Sy att § edeaon. West, 72 45 9 30 74 31 9 55 } 72 50 9 30 7A 32 9 50 Sums, 436 48 56 22 446 00 59 42 64 16.2 Means, 72 48 9 23.6 74 20 9 12 32 08.1 Observer, Major Longitude, 79° 29’ 24.5 west of Greenwich, = 5" 17" 57°.63. * Used with mean. VOL. V. NEW SERIES. + Not used in mean; probably error in observation. 10 MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Observations for Magnetic Inclination and Intensity. Needle A. — Station, Panama. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12’. Longitude, 79° 29/ 24”.5 = 5" 17™ 57°.63. Date, March 28th, 1849. Weather, clear. Time of commencing observations, 1" 27". Deflection North 40° from App. Dip.|Deflection South 40° from App. Dip. Face of Circle. |Defection toward) Deflection from |Deflection toward! Deflection from | Thermometer. Results. the Vertical. the Vertical. the Vertical. the Vertical. 5432 | 850 | 5635 | 7 10 86 East, 54 35 8) bb 56 35 7 10 54 40 8 55 56 35 v (07 5430 | 855 | 5625 | 658 86 N. | 31 446 By West, 54 37 8 58 56 28 6 58 Ss. 31 46.5 | ¢ Defiectors. 5430 | 858 | 5628 | 6 50 Sums, | 327 24 | 53 31 | 339 06 | 42 13 63 31.1 Means, 54°34 | 8 55.2 56 31 FeO2sIe 31 45.5 Observations for Magnetic Inclination. Needle A. — Station, Panama. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12” north. Longitude, 79° 29! 24.5 west of Greenwich, = 5" 17" 57°.63. Face of instrument, north, needle perpendicular, reading of azimuth circle, 49° 15/5. Face of Instrument, south, needle perpendicular, reading of azimuth circle, 49° 16’. Reading of azimuth circle, when the vertical circle was in the magnetic meridian, 49° 15/.43. Date, March 28th, 1849. Weather, clear. Face of Circle. Mpsae nat Ob- | Thermometer. |Change of Brackets.| End of Needle | ier wes A Remarks. 12.10 87 Ist. aoa Gee below 31 40 Kast. 2d. above 3l 45 below 31 45 3d. _ above 31 45 below 31 40 Mean Reading East, 31 42.1 Ist. above 31 32 below 3135 West. 2d. above 31 30 below 31 30 bs 3d. above ailll a37/ 12.15 87 below S51k, B15) Mean Reading West, . : : : 31 33.1 Magnetic inclination by needle A, 31° 37’.5. MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Observations for Total Magnetic Intensity. Wy Needle A.— Station, Panama. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12. Longitude, 79° 29! 24.5 = 5" 17™ 57.68. Date, March 28th, 1849. Observer, mencing observations, 2" 30™. A. W. Whipple. Weather, clear. Hour of ending observations, 3 30. Deflection with Weight 2 grs. Face of instrument, east. Hour of com- Deflection with Weight 2 grs +- 5 grs. Deflection from the Deflection _to- UC ae haere 415 | n.| 68 15 415 | =| 68 17 4 02 | n. | 68 20 405 | s. | 68 00 4 18 | ». | 68 45 4 20 | s. | 68 30 Mean 4 12.3) Mean 68 21.1 cle of de- oe aad 36 16.7 Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Deflection with Weight 2 grs. + | gr. Ther- | Deflection from the NOG Vertical. ter. 83.5 Deflection toward and past the Verti- cal. Ther- mome- ter. Deflection from and past the Horizontal. Deflection toward |Ther- and past the Verti- | mom cal, eter. 29 25 93 20 | 86 29 30 93 20 29 40 93 20 29 28 93 20 29 30 93 25 29 15 93 25 Mean 29 28 Mean 93 21.6 Hee |) ele osRO Stand, strong wooden tripod, free from iron. Magnetic meridian, on limb north, 49° 15/5; south, 49° 16’; mean, 49° 15/.43. Face of instrument, west. Hour of commencing observations, 2" 30". Hour of ending observations, 3" 30™. Deflection with Weight 2 grs. Deflection with Weight 2 grs. +- 5 grs. Deflection from the! Ther- Ther- Deflection with Weight 2 grs. +-1 gr. Ther- Varga ana hDafecn toma he mom [Peters fom thelDetoton sward4| pon | Deestio fom snd [Dest omar ene 4 33 67 50 30 18 92 30 A 35 67 45 30 35 92 32 A 45 67 45 30 00 92 30 4A 46 67 40 30 45 92 32 4 35 67 50 30 35 92 45 By Al 333° 67 52 30 25 92 47 86 Mean 4 37.5 |Mean67 47 Mean 30 36.3 |Mean92 36 Angle of de- Angle of de- flection, | 86 12.25 flection, 61 36.15; 12 MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Observations for Magnetic Inclination. Needle C. — Station, Panama, Isthmus of Darien, New Grenada. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12” north. Longitude, 79° 29’ 24.5 west of Greenwich = 5 17" 57°.63. Date, March 28th, 1849. Weather, clear. Poles direct. Face of Circle East. | Face of Circle West. Mean Solar | srhermom- | Change of |Reading of North|Reading of South\| Mean Solar | phermom-| Change of |Reading of North{Reading of South Time of Ob- Time of Ob- 5, 7 aeen Gon eter. Brackets. | End of Needle. | End of Needle. | gration: eter. Brackets. | End of Needle | End of Needle. 5b 50™ | 83 1 S163 | 3205 || 5»s50m| 83 | 1 3156 | 31 47 2 | 3145 | 31 50 2.) 281/50 |. 31 47 | 3 | 3155 | 32 00 3 | 3158 | 31 50 Mean with Poles Direct, : - : , : : : : ; ; 81 52.5 Poles reversed. Face of Circle East. | Face of Circle West. pleats Thermom-| Changeof | Thermom- | Change of |Reading of North Reading of South servation. eter. Brackets. eter. Brackets. | End of Needle. | End of Needle. | i Reading of North) Reading of South | = Sr End of Needle. | End of Needle. adsl ele servation. | | | U | fe] 1 1) | | 6» 15™ | | 6-15" | gi 1 32 05 32 00 81 1 33:15 “| 32 a5 2 | 3200 | 32 00 | 2 | 3225 | 32 28 6h 24m. 3 32 00 | 32.00 || 6 24m 3 30 07 | 32 07 Mean with Poles Reversed, : 32 08 Final result with needle C, poles direct and reversed, 32° 00/.25. Needle B. — Station, Panama, northwest bastion of the city wall. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12”. Longitude, 79° 29' 24.5 = BES br syiGs} Face of Instrument, north, needle perpendicular, reading of azimuth circle, 11° 05/.5; 11° 03/.5; 11° 05’. Face of instrument, south, needle perpendicular, reading of azimuth circle, 11° 06'.5; 11° 06/5; 11° 06.5. Reading of azimuth circle, when the vertical circle was in the magnetic meridian, 11° 05/.5. Date, April 2d, 1849. Weather, clear. Face of Circle. Btoan Tine a Ob- | Thermometer. (|Changeof esa) End of Needle. nes for Dip | Remarks. 3° P.M. 90.5 1 below 31 55 above 31 52 Rast 2 below 31 50 ae above 31 57 3 below 31 55 above 31 55 31° 54 5% 40™ 91 1 below | 3185 . above 31 52 2 below 31 59 West. above ol 55 3 below 31 55 above 31 50 By ho yt Mean result for dip of needle B, 31° 54’.2. MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. 13 Observations for Total Magnetic Intensity. Needle B.— Station, Panama, northwest bastion of the city wall. Latitude, 8° 57 12”, Longitude, 5° 17! 57’.63. Date, April 2d, 1849. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Weather, clear. Face of instrument, east. Hour of commencing observations, 5" 25". Hour of ending observations, 6” 00". Deflection with Weight 2 grs. Deflection with Weight 2 gers. +- 0.5 grs. Deflection with Weight 2 ers. ++ 1 er. Deflection from the} c ‘ Ther- Deflection from the . ¥ er- |Deflection from the! 5 aie the| bi ve mom- ieee iat the ae are the) mom Wertcal and pac os eee eran ‘mm a. 3 58 b. 68 07 a.1458 | 6.7958 |90| a.2945 | 0.9315 |Sa 6. 3 58 a. 68 05 b. 15 05 a: (955 b. 29 55 a. 93 20 a. 415 b. 68 15 a. 15 30 b. 79 52 a. 29 58 b. 93 30 6. A 00 a. 68 15 b. 15 22 a. 79 50 b. 29 57 a. 93 15 a. 4 02 b. 68 12 a. 15 07 b. 79 58 a. 29 50 b. 93 32 6. 415 a. 68 20 Li i555 a. 79 58 b. 29 50 a. 93 28 Mean 4 04.6 | Mean 68 12.3 | Mean 15 12.8/Mean 79 55.1 Mean 29 52.5) Mean 93 23.3) _Angle of deflec- _Angle of deflec- Angle of deflec- | tion, 36 08.5 tion, AT 33.95 tion, 61 37.9 Observations for Magnetic Declination. Station, Panama. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, 8° 57' 12’ north. Longitude, 79° 29! 24.5 = 5" 17™ 57*.63. Date, March 21st, 1849. Weather, clear. [Mean Time of Pas- i - ur Angle in ace of In- eading of Circle foi ‘orrection for True Reading of Circle ee a larg eect ie: waereal fe cee ee ee eee eee og en Feluced 10 h m hm. h m. ° 1 “ ° 1 ut | ° 1 “ Tale 1 08 6 09 23 54 eS ORAT 22 23 19 iG ou 6 19 23 52 30 1 30 20 22 22 10 a ot 6 29 23 52 1 30 00 22 22 00 ea 6 39 East. 23 51 30 1 29 30 22 22 00 oF 6 49 23 51 30 1 28 34 22 22 56 8 09 7 Ol 23 50 30 1 27 34 22 22 56 9 24 8 16 2a 35 30 1 14 30 22 21 00 Mean 22 22 20.1 8 21 if 1133 23 37 30 1 25 53 22 IL 37 9 04 7 56 West 23 34 30 TOS 22 15 15 9 13 8 05 ce 23 34 30 1 16 42 22 17 48 9 17 8 09 23 33 30 Sas: 22 17 56 Mean 22 15 39 Reading of azimuth circle when reduced to true meridian, 22 18 59 Reading of azimuth circle when the vertical circle is in the plane of the magnetic meridian, 15 15 Magnetic declination east of north, deduced from observations on Polaris, March 21st, 7 03 59 14 MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Observations for Magnetic Declination. Station, Panama. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12’ north. Longitude, 79° 29’ 24.5 = 5° 17™ 57°.63. Date, March 28th, 1849. Weather, clear. ime . |Mean Time of Pas! 4, ngle in e of In- ing of Ci for | i Reading of Circle To aton” fageot Plans ove] Rival, |tument| Observing Asimuth, | simu of Fors, | hen taluced o h. m. km. bh. m. ° 1 “u fo) 1 u ° ree 6 21 0 40 542 |p | 57 37 30 i 30 3 56 06 58 6 45 6 05 : 57 37 30 1 30 44 56 06 46 Mean 56 06 52 6 52 6 14 57 32 1 30 30 56 O1 30 Reading of azimuth circle when reduced to true meridian, 56 04 11 Reading of azimuth circle when the vertical circle is in the plane of the magnetic meridian, 49 15 45 Magnetic declination east of north, deduced from observations on Polaris, 6 48 26 Station, Panama. Instrument, Fox magnetic circle, made by W. George. Observer, A. W. Whipple. Latitude, 8° 57’ 12’. Longitude, 79° 29’ 24”.5 west of Greenwich = 5° 17" 57.63. Date, April 2d, 1849. Weather, clear. Reading of Circle i Si Mean Time of Pas-| gle i ‘ace 0} nd eading of Circle for rrection for True ee bags org Sideredl Tame geil | ae oa remeers of Polaris woe i h. m. h m. 8. h. m 3. ° 1’ " ° P a ° > FA 6 49 0 20 30 6 29 34 19 31 00 1 29 59.5 18 O01 00.5 6 50 6 34 30 19 30 30 1 29 40 18 00 50 6 57 6 37 30 East. 19 31 00 1 29 33 18 01 27 6 58 6 38 30 19 30 30 1 29 29 18 00 OL 7 00 6 40 00 19 30 00 1 29 21 18 00 39 Mean 18 00 47 7 06 6 47 30 19 22 00 1 28 46 17 53 14 7 06 30 6 48 19 22 00 1 28 40 icoomld, 7 08 6 49 30 West. | 19 22 00 1 28 34 17 53 26 (AY) 6 51 30 | |" 19 21 45 1 28 22 17 53 23 7 15 6 56 30 | | 19 21 30 1 27 52 17 53 38 of UG. 7-00 00 ! 1921S ne Oo, 17 53 48 Mean 17 53 28 7 24 | 7 05 19 21 00 1 27 01 17 53 59 7 26 7 OF 19 21 00 1 26 43 ee ts 17 7 28 7 09 West. 19 20 30 1 26 25 17 54 05 7 30 Zp lil 19 20 30 1 26 07 Ure te ve: 7 32 713 19 20 00 1 25 53 17 54 07 Mean 17 54 OO 7 44 7 25 19 24 30 1 24 30 18 00 00 7 48 Uf 244) 19 24 00 1 23 34 18 00 26 7 50 7 31 East. 19 23 30 1 23 06 18 00 24 7 55 7 36 19 23 30 1 22 51 18 00 39 7 58 7 39 19 22 00 1 21 19 18 00 41 | Mean 18 00 26 MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. 15 Results from the Observations of April 2d. lst mean, . : : : c c : - ° : : é é ; 3 18 00 47 Qa * é : ; t 5 : ; : : 5 : : ; : . 18 00 26 Mean reading face east, : : . 5 c - : . : : 5 18 00 36 & ce west, . 5 : 5 0 ; 5 : ' : , 5 . 17 58 49 Reading of azimuth circle when reduced to true meridian, ; i 3 : 2 . Li 57) 12:5 te te cr the instrument is in the magnetic meridian, : : - 11 05 36 Magnetic declination deduced from observations on Polaris, April 2d, 1849, _.. P ; 6 51 36.5 Results for Magnetic Declination at Panama. ° BoriMarckisist 1s40.-me eee Ske! CU ee BR oy ue) ee Ge0 «“ 28th, “ 2 ie en : : - : 5 - : : . . 6 51 36 Final result for the declination of the magnetic needle at Panama, April, 1849, east of north, 6 54 37 Computation of the Preceding Observations for the Intensity of the Magnetic Force V I sin Ve = sin Vl Mr. Fox observed with this instrument upon needles A, B, and C, at Falmouth, England, September, 1844, and at the temperature of 60° obtained an intensity of 1,000. Major Graham and Mr. W. C. Bond observed with the same instrument upon needles A, B, and C, and obtained the following results, which are uncorrected for difference of temperature : — 1844, December 30th. Temperature +39°.5, needle B with weight 3 grs. gave an intensity = 1.2963 “ “c “c he 7 3.5 “ ce sl OGL “ 26 “cc A & “ 3 “ &6 = 1.2900 “ce “ “cc “ce “ “cc 3.5 “cc oc = 1.289 “ “ “ “ «2 deflectors ue — a— 13014 1845, January 2d. Temperature +36°, needle A with weight 3.5 grs. gave an intensity = 1.2870 «“ “ “ Cc 6 2.5 és ee = 1.2940 ‘“ “6 « “ “ 3 & Ce = 1.2986 1845, January 3d. Temperature +13° to 19°, needle C with weight 2.5 grs. gave an intensity = 1.30106 “ “ “cc “ 3 oc “ce = 1.30230 ue 26° ue & 3.5 te Lalu 16 MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Mr. Bond and Mr. Whipple at the magnetic observatory at Cambridge made ob- servations with the same instrument upon needles A, B, and C, and the following are some of the results obtained : — 1849, February 24th. Temperature 42°, magnetic inclination by needle B, . : : 74° 33/9 Angle of deflection of needle B, with deflector north at apparent dip, 5 ; : - 32° 55/.6 st Ke se ge south as : ; . : 34° 04 Feb. 24th. Temperature 46°, angle of deflection of needle B with weight 2 grs., 23 32.25 z cc = oe . & & 2+ 1 grs., 36 28.75 x Ke “ 2 + ue ae 2+1-+ 0 dgrs., 44 05.3 Feb. 25th. Se 36.5, “ & £ A “e 2 grs., 23 26.55 «e x < ks = = és 2+ 1lgrs., 36 25.65 < “ x + < < ee 211+ 0.5 grs., 43 55.25 Plane of instrument in magnetic meridian, magnetic declination 9° 28’ west. Isin V sin V’ Formula for Computation, V = I = Intensity of magnetism of the needle at Cambridge, Mass. V = Angle of deflection ‘ “s « es Vi — (73 “ “ “ station. I’ = Intensity of magnetic needle at station. Results for Magnetic Intensity. Obtained by Computation of the Preceding Observations. - Angles of Deflection. | Intensity at Cam- 5 Weight defiect- = | bridge Observato- Intensity at Date, 1849. Station. Needle Station. | used. ed by Vv. Vv. ry, Mass. } “ | | March 14 | Chagres, | B. | 2 grains, | 23 32 21 | 36 09 06 | 1.2962 | 0.87745 | WEE ee « "| « loi tor | 36 28 45 | 62 06 39| 12962 | 0.87181 | © 17 | Gorgona, _ | Qgrains, | 23 26 33 | 36 02 21 1.2900 | 0.87229 | | } | * 28 | Panama, A. 2 grains, | 23 26 33 | 36 16 42 1.2900 | 0.87141 «| | « | 2+ 17. | 35 45 27| 61 24 48| 1.2900 | 0.87648 April 2 « B. | 2grains, | 23 32 21| 36 08 30) 1.2962 | 0.87766 «6 « | « |o4-1 97 | 36 28 45 | 61 37 54| 1.2962 | 0.87573 | Results for intensity at Panama, 0.87507 ss es Gorgona, 0.87229 oH Chagres, 0.87493 MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Results for Magnetic Inclination. 17 SiH D 1849 eit nes Inclination |True Inclina- Weist Deflectors No. of ag reat Station. ate, Reel Renae Ofsarv edhe tioniDadtited: eights used. aaa aad Inclination at Chagres, March 13) A |+18.5/31 54.5 |32 13.0 12 Lat. $® 20! North. “« 14 B j+15.5)32 01.5 |32 17.4 12 Rote On OS AW) ie eae) ee 131626192 OSS || arate: 12 32 11.4 Ce SiC te /3l 55.6 132 11-5 Or ¢ 12 a GE Ak Sot 0 Sals2 0630 i) womens 12 Gorgona, March 17) A |+18.5)31 16.2 |31 34.7 12 Ua 33)! Se « |31 43.2 |31 61.7 | 2 ers. E 12 |31 46.8 US E51) “ 131 25.5 |31 44.0 | 2 ers. W 12 Panama, Glacis, (March 21) A |+18.5/31 38.2 |31 56.7 12 Lat. 8° 57! 12" North. Come ceil ace “ |31 49.7 |31 68.2 IN. face E.} 12 LOR eet ale | 139 Anta (Si 50.4 N. face W.| 12 “ 626) B |+15.9)31 46.0 |31 61.9 6 MCB) Ge “ |3134.5 |31 50.4 N. 6 GG Ge), 108 Sl Sicomlol nose Ss. 6 G5 UN) “ |81 42.2 |31 58.1 N. 12 “ 628) A |+18.5)/31 44.6 |31 63.1 N. 12 Ga 05) Xe © \31 46:5 |31 65:0 8. 12 « al «| « 131375 [31560 VR « «| « | « 131495 |3168.0| 2ers. |B. and W\| 24 Cl eC ce Ms Nea set Bil AGH) I) a} BE. and W.| 24 Panama, N.W. bast.| April 2 | B |+15.9)31 54.2 |31 70.1 12 of city wall, Cede || tO SAS As SL GlrSel) Sane 12 Panama, Glacis, March 28 C 0.031 52.5 |31 52.50)Poles direct. 12 2 Io9 00,25* « «| « | 0,0|31 60.25/31 68.00] « reversed. 12 cis * Mean result for magnetic inclination at Panama, with needle C, poles direct and reversed. VOL. V. NEW SERIES. 18 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Meteorological Observations Thermometers. Clouds. | Winds. Station. | Date, 1819. | Hour. | Barometer. a ee Att. Det. Name. Direction. | Amount Direction. Force. a | } Panama.| March 22 9 A. M.| 30.014 | 78 | 78 Stratus, 9 IN. 2 “« «© 15: P. MJ 29.919 | 82.5 | 81.5 1 INODG Ed %e « 9 « | 29929| 78 | 77.6 0 “ 1 « 23 |9 A. MJ 30.021 | 81 | 80.5 4 “ 2s “« « |3 P. M.| 29.984 | 84.5 | 84 3 3 « « Ig « | 30.009 | 78 | 77 1 1 « 94 19 A.M 30.020 | 79.5 | 78.5 | i 1 “« « 3 P. M.| 29.960} 85 | 84 4 2 “ 25 9 A. M. 30.000 | 80 | 79 « « 13 P. MJ 29.945 | 85 | 84 N. E. 5 IN. W. | 8 « 26 9 A.M 30.000 | 78.5 | 77.5 | N. W. 1 | « 1 « «© 13 P, MJ 29.940 | 82.5 | 81.5 4 1 « «19 & | 29.956 | 75 | 75.5 (Clear, Ww. 1 “ 97 19 A. M| 30.000 | 76 | 75.5 | 1 IN. W. 1 « « 3 P. M/ 29.958 | 82.5 | s2 3 1 « 28/9 A. M| 30.018 | 78 | 7 1 ie “« « 13 P. MJ) 29.940 | 83.5 | 82.5 | | ae 2 « « 9 & | 30.075 | 75 | 75.5 IN. E. | 6 « 29 9 A. M 30.000} so | 79 4 1 « « 13 P. M| 29.970 | 82.5 | 81.5 | 8 1 « 30 9 A. MJ 30.030 | 80 | 79 | 3 2 « « |3 P. M| 29.970 | 86 | 83.5 | 6 } 5 « «© 19 «© | 30.025 | 77.5 | 77.2 | 5 « 31 (9 A. M. 30.020/ 81 | 80 | | 6 2 « « 3 P. M| 29.965 | 86.5 | 84.5 | as | 2 April 1 |9 A. M. 30.006 | 81.5 | 80 | 6 1 se 2/9 «“ 30.031 | 82 82 (Cirrocumuli, | 8 |N. E 2 « 3/9 « | 30.022] 78 | 78 (Cumuli, 8.5 | 2 « 13 P. M/| 29.980] 85.5] 845) « 5 2.5 « 4/9 A. MJ 30.040] 81 | SO “« best 1 « © 13 P. M| 29.965] 85 | 84 “ 7 1 “« 5/9 A. M| 29.990] 82 | 8I «“ east os « «13 P, M| 29.922 | 86.5 | 845] « Ns! 2 « 6/9 A. M| 29.960} 825| S15| « as 5 « 13 P. M| 29.900] 86 | 8&5 , 1 « 7/9 A. Mj 29.986 | 82 | 81.5 5 5 « ¢ 13 P. M| 29.927] 86 | 84.5 2 5 « 89 A. M| 29.960] 82 | 81.5 3 5 « 9/9 “ | 29.960] 82 | 81.5 3 5 « «(3 P. Mj} 29.916 | 85 | 84 4 5 « 10 9 A. M.| 29.960 | 82 | 815 3 5 « << |3 P, M| 29.905 | 85.5 | 84.5 Cumuli, 5 5 « 11/9 A. M| 29.960 | 815 / 81.5| « 3 5 « |3 P.M] 29.905 | 85.5 | 84 4 1 « «« 9 « | 29.970] 78.8 | 78.6 | « 129 A. M. 29.980} 82 | 81.3 Cumuli, 2 5 « 139 « | 29.980} 82 | 81 Cirro, 1 |N.E. 3 «. « |3 P.M, 30.000 | 86 | 85 Cumuli strata, 5 IN. W. 2 « 14/9 A. M| 30.050] 80 | 783 3 2 « « |3 P, M, 29.980 | 84.5 | 83.7 | « 15/9 A. M| 30.000 | 77 | 765 1 1 «6 13 P, MJ 29.930 | 83 82 | « 16/9 A. MJ 30.040 | 78.5 | 77.7 | & 5 « 17/9 « |30.074| 79 | 78.5 | 4 1 « « 13 P, M!| 30.001 | 84.5] 83.2 ow, 2 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA, 19 made at Panama. Thermometers. Dan. Hygrometer. Dew-point Wet Bulb. Hour. ; \Before be-) After be- Difference aed ee |S | Mt [anes tte | ranns prse ee] Fme | Wet = 9 A. M. 85.2 78 79 13.5 Barometer sixty-two feet above 6P. M. 81.5 | 74 [medium tide. 9 « 77.5 | 72.5 |Syphon barometer, No. 2, by 9 A. M.| 85.2 | 74.5 8L.5 | 73.5 [James Green, of Baltimore. 6 87 72.5 82.5 | 78.4 a 87 71.5 77.1 | 76 SPM 75.5 | 70.5 9A. M.| 86.5 | 69.5 75.5 | 74.5 ee 86 70.5 77 71.5 Gs: 85.5 | 70 79 74 & 85 72.5 ag 72 “ 87 74 80 73 ss 87.5 | 75 80 75 ss 85.2 | 74.3 82 72 “ 86 73.5 77.5 | 72 | Drizzly rain. “s 86 73.3 80 73 et 86.3 | 73 81 74 +f 87.5 | 74.5 81.5 “ 86.5 | 74.5 81.5 | 76 ck 87.5 | 74.5 81.5 | 76 cs 87.5 | 74.8 81.5 | 76 oe 86.5 | 75.5 81.5 | 75 cS 87.5 | 77.5 81.5 | 77 se 88 75 81.5 | 75.3 ue 87 73.5 81.5 | 74 0: 87.5 | 70.5 78.5 | 72 G: 86 69.5 76.5 | 70 os 83.5 | 70.5 CSN “RD ce 85.5 | 72 78.5 | 75 20 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE AT PANAMA. Meteorological Observations Station. Date, 1849. Hoon | oe Panama.| April 18 9 A. M. 30.050 « 6 613 P.M, 29.938 Cee ald) o y'S* 29.990 « 19 9 A.M. 30014 oc «¢ 13 P. M.| 30.020 « 20 9 A. M.| 29.995 co 66 3 P.M.) 29.910 Be Me ey Gs 29.980 « 21 9 A.M) 30.010 « « 13 P.M, 29.975 « 22 9 A. M. 30.030 « « 13 P. M| 29.920 « 23 9 A.M.) 29.995 ce 3 P.M.) 29,9338 “cc ce 6 “cc 29 935 « « Ig « | 29,917 | we 112M. | 29.945 « 24 (8 A. M.| 29.919 “ 73 6 “ 29,936 “ “ g “cc 29.986 cc ce 1 Mi: 29.954 « « 13 P. M|) 29,874 “c “ 6 “ 29.988 “c “ 9 “cc 29 907 “« « 112M. | 29.913 “ 25 6 A. M.} 29.920 oc ee 9 74 29 972 “(12M |eey9ag SPAN eo see “ “ 6 “cc 29.880 “ “ 9 “cc 29.898 « « 112M, | 29.913 “« 26 16 A. MJ 29.924 Ge |) CS eee 112 M. | 29.933 cS Pe ML 29:912)) “ “ 6 “cc 29 880 “cc “ 9 “cc 29 915 “« 27 9 A. M.|.29.970 « « 112M. | 29.958 « « 13 Pp. M| 29.909 “ “ 6 “cc 29 892 “cc ec 9 “cc 29 943 « 6 119M. | 29.904 “« 28 16 A. M| 29.953 “cc “cc 9 “cc | 29 993 « « |19M. | 29.987 | « os 63 P.M.) 30.000 CC 36ce IGE Eee 29.900 Se as 3 ae 29.930 « 99 |6 A. MJ 29.920 By Be Di & 29.952 CC NODES |) BED SHS ies his) SE EO apical OSs ts 29.865 Thermometers. Clouds. Winds. Att. Det. Name. Direction. | Amount. | Direction. Force. 83 81 |Cumulo stratus, 6 1 84.8 | 84 N. Dy NE We 3 778 | 774 80.8 | 79.7 IN. BL INSeW. 3 80.2 | 79.8 |Cirro cum. strat.,N. E. 9 ee 2 80.7 | 79.4 se 9 1 8L 80 Cumulo stratus, | “ Se | ay 2 7 Wed 8: 1 « 2 82.7 | 81.6 Cumuli, N. 2.5 3 1 85 83.2 |Cirrocumuli, |N.N.E.| 4 |N.N.E.| 3 82.3 | 81 Cumuli, N. E. 3.5 |N. W 1 86.3 | 85.3 oe se 3.5 ce 3.5 83 81.8 Cumulo stratus, | ‘“ 8 st Q 86.2 | 84.8 & « 5 - Q 81.5 | 81 |Cirrus, INS We 3 sf 1 79.5 | 78.8 \Clear, $& 2 7D i Coase None. 77 aid 0 0 81 | 77.8 |Cirrus, | 3 |W. 1 84.5 | 82.8 Cumulus, N. SIN AW: 2 86.8 | 85 “ N. E. 4 4 1 86.8 | 84.4 Cirro cumulus, |N. 3 sf 2.5 83.5 | 82.3 |Cirrus, Na We 3 st 2 75.5 | 78.8 |Clear, is 1.5 76.5 | 73.5 a 0 75.8 | 75.2 \Cumulus cirrus, Sy HNN: Wel) al 83.6 | 81.8 \Cirro cumulus, |N. N. E.| 4.5 |N. W. 2 86.5 | 84.8 “ IN. W. 5 |S. W. 1 85.8 | 84 « IN. 5 < 2 82.5 ‘Cumulus, 27 1S: i: 1 7 78.2 (Clear, S. W. 2.5 ui 76 Oo |W. 3 7 75.8 Cirrus, 1 INE WY. 1 83.5 | 81.6 Cirrocumulus, IN. N.E.| 2 1 86.8 | 85 POF

4 Niuean or za \ AR TS and SCIEN C i SS t » ? cca Tappan 4 Bradford iP 1 Researches upon the Origin, Mode of Development, and Nature of the Spermatic Par- ticLes among the Four Classes of Vertebrated Animals. By WALDO J. BURNETT, M. D. (Communicated July, 1850.) In the minds of those who are interested in, or have pursued, physiological studies, there appears to be a kind of predilection for that branch relating to the primitive con- ditions of being. The existence of an animated being, and the modes of its contin- uation, considered as physiological facts, are such mysteries, that the mind naturally turns, for the removal of these obscurities, to the very conditions attending its primitive elimination. To watch the new being, as it arises from an amorphous mass, starting into life, gathering constantly the material forms for the expression of its type, —to watch its gradual growth until it shall burst forth a living, thinking being, — to do all this has, with- out doubt, been the source of higher delight, and of a happiness more transcendently pure, than that afforded by any other study in which the scientific mind has ever been engaged. It has been, perhaps, for this reason, that, from the earliest days, and more particularly since those of available artificial optics, men of nearly every civilized part of the world have been devoted with an untiring patience to the most thorough and correct study of embryology; a branch of knowledge which can boast of more details, and yet which is more unfinished, than any other in physiology. All studies of this kind are attended with difficulties of no usual character. Nature, if I may so say, appears to have taken care that the finest expressions of her wisdom and skill should be located in the most recluse situations. ‘The paraphernalia surrounding VOL. V. NEW SERIES. 5 30 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. the production of a new being are in exact accordance with the importance of that process. ‘To these difficulties may be added those of the minuteness and delicacy of the objects. One would suppose that these latter difficulties might have been done away in the present condition of optical science. In some respects they have been, but in others they never have been, and never can be. It is rather a remarkable fact, that most of the material objects actively concerned in the processes of reproduction have a delicacy such as is nowhere else found, and such as evades our correct appreciation of their character by any mode of illumination. So that, while the grosser parts (if I may so call them) in this department are well understood, it has been within the few past years only that those of a more minute, and perhaps, on that very account, of a more important character, have been pursued. The study of the growth of the impregnated germ has a counterpart at least as important in the study of the means of that impregnation. Every thing connected with our existence is enveloped in wonder, and the man of science, standing on material facts, is continually brought to the knowledge of the truth, that he can go no farther. However this may be, and however wonderful all around us may seem, yet the mind recognizes degrees of these wonders and of our ignorance, and this according as they are with or without analogy, or have or have not preliminary facts with which we may start. And I do not hesitate to affirm, that the fact that the simple, minute particles of one being should, by the mere agency of contact, not only give rise to a living whole, but in this way convey to it many of the moral and physical properties of the being of which it comes, —all this has a wonder about it more mys- terious than any other phenomenon with which the man of science has to do. It is for this reason that I have for a long time thought, that a course of study to ascertain the real nature of these fecundating particles of the male, the Spermatozoa, has an importance paramount to that of what may be called the secondary processes, included under the name Embryology. Although attention to the study of the Spermatozoa dates back a long time, yet it is within a few years only that researches of value have been made. I know of no better example in science how a single false conception of an object is a source of constant retardation of its progress, than that furnished by the Spermatozoa. The notion that they are animals, adopted when they were first known, and continued until within a few years, was of itself a sufficient bias against any knowledge of their true char- acter. Such has been the opinion of Czermak,* who regarded them as Vibrios ; of * Beitrige zu Lehre von den Spermatozoiden. Vienna, 1833. SPERMATIC PARTICLES. 31 Valentin,* who thought he had seen traces of a high organization in those of a bear, which has since been shown to be a delusion; of Gerber,t who was certain he per- ceived organs of generation in those of the Cabiai; of Schwann,t who thought he perceived in those of man a sucking lip; of Pouchet,{ who fancied he saw a digestive system, and has given figures to that effect. I cannot here stop to speak of the fanciful figures found in the Suites a Buffon, where objects appear to have been seen rather as the observers would wish them to be seen, than as they really were. The whole amount of these observations seems to be based on the assumption, that, as they were animals, they must at any rate have an animal structure, a view which the philosophers (perhaps not their observations) bore out. To Wagner|| and to Kolliker 1 we are indebted for researches far more trustworthy, and which have shed a great degree of light and interest upon the subject. Most of what is really known about these particles is referable to these men and their co-laborers. I shall not here refer to the grounds in support of the view that they are not animals; they will come up more fittingly another time. I have thus, as a prologue, referred to the general condition of the subject, a digres- sion which could hardly be excused, considering the vague manner in which it even now presents itself to the minds of many. I should consider that I had not begun my subject at the beginning, did I not preface the more minute details of microscopic structure with some general remarks upon the secreting male or testicular organs, which alone, throughout the animal kingdom, are the tissues from which these particular bodies are eliminated. Physiologically speaking, the testicles are, like all the other organs of the animal body, endowed with a peculiar function, — simply a basement tissue, on which the peculiar secreting tissues rest. And throughout the whole vertebrated kingdom this secreting tissue has, anatomically, common characters, the differences of these organs being traceable to the mode of the packing of the tissue, and the means for its more or less constant production. As to this latter point, there is the same grade preserved as appears in the other characters of the types. * Repertorium, 1837, p. 134. + Allgemeine Anatomie, p. 210. t Mikroscopische Untersuchungen. Berlin, 1839. § Théorie positive de l Ovulation spontanée et de la Fécondation, p. 321. Paris, 1847. || Histoire de la Génération et du Développement, p. 26. Bruxelles, 1841. {| Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Geschlechts- Verhiltnisse und Samenflissigkeit Wirbelloser Thiere. Berlin, 1841. 39 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. In fishes, the lowest vertebrates, we find the structure of the testicle the most simple. And even here, we perceive a grade as to their two grand divisions, marking differences as wide as those of their other characters. In the Plagiostomes and Cyclostomes the structure of the organ does not appear to have risen above the primitive cellular type, that is, it is but a collection of parent cells, which have never advanced to the condition of losing their identity as such by passing into seminal tubes. In the higher osseous fishes, a higher condition of things exists. There is an ad- vancement beyond the cell-type, and the large cells appear to have passed either into tubes or bundles of transverse folds, on the inner surfaces of which the parent sperm- cells are produced, as before they were inside the large cells of those of a lower character. The prolific nature of the testis, as a secreting organ, is just in proportion to these convolutions and variations. And we find this prolificness in a ratio corresponding to the liabilities of the semen reaching the ova of the females. Thus, in the lower orders, the species of which are dormant and sluggish in their character, and which are almost constantly in contact with the bottom of the water, the quantity of sperm to insure the continuation of the species is necessarily less than in those higher and more active orders, where, from their constant movement and travelling, the contact of the two may be looked upon more in the light of an accident than otherwise. If, then, we are allowed to reason on the relation of things, I think that in this fact may be found the reason of the larger and more fertile character of the testes of the higher fishes. Among the Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia, with which the process of fecundation takes place only by the conjunction of the sexes, a different and stricter economy is manifested. The testes are more compact, their product less in quantity, and the value of this quantity is shown by the means adopted for its contact with the ova by efferent ducts, receptacles, and an intromittent organ. With these three grand classes, I need not refer to the differences of size and ex- ternal character everywhere met with; they bear not at all upon the grand type of testicular structure, but are referable to the economy of the species to which they be- long. And only this much may be mentioned, that, generally speaking, as we approach nearer and nearer the higher forms, the size of the testis compared with the whole body is less and less, and the prolificness of the animal is less and less, because, per- haps, the liabilities for the destruction of the species are in the minimum. We have now the organs for the elimination of the sperm. Our next inquiry is, What are the preliminary steps of that process ? There is, in all the real glandular organs of the animal body, a common structure. This is a layer or layers of epithelial cells, situated on a basement membrane, which last SPERMATIC PARTICLES. $15) is conformable to the structure of the organ generally. And I think it pretty clearly settled now, that all the products of secretion are the results of the functions of these cells ; that is, the elaboration of bile or milk, for instance, is accomplished by the material transuding the walls of these cells.* Considering the testicle as a glandular organ, it is a matter of considerable physio- logical importance, to ascertain if its epithelial lining serves as the real secreting tissue of the sperm. In other words, if parent sperm-cells are not epithelial cells. In the very able and complete article entitled “Semen,” by Drs. Wagner and Leuckardt, in The Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology, this question is raised and discussed, but no positive opinion given, as they think it not yet mature. I have had the good fortune to conduct some observations bearing upon this point with success. The result of these may be briefly stated as follows. The tubes of the testes of animals which have not arrived at the age of puberty have a simple epi- thelial lining, the cells of which do not differ at all from those of a pavement form cover- ing mucous membranes. When, however, the animal begins to have the generative im- pulses, the character of the cells seems in a manner modified ; they appear to pass to a higher grade of function, exactly as do those of the mammary gland at the time of lactation, and this without losing their primitive type as epithelial cells. It may be thought that the thin vesicular character of the parent sperm-cells would separate them distinctly from the category of epithelium; but this difference can, I think, be considered only as an expression of their higher relation and function. Of this much I feel pretty certain, and, aside from the facts just mentioned, it may be considered as deciding the matter, at least as far as can be in questions of this kind : We see in the field simple nucleated cells, differing from the common epithelial cells in no respect, except their slightly increased size. By the side of these, perhaps, we see a similar cell with the nucleus divided, and then, again, these divided nuclei sub- divided, and so on, the original cell simply dilating, being thinned and rendered quite transparent ; and this process goes on until the embryology of the Spermatozoa is completed, the whole being referable to an epithelial cell, undergoing the highest metamorphoses attainable by cell-structure. Our next inquiry is, What is the histology of these epithelial cells? For an exposé of this part of our subject, I must refer to my former investigations on these matters. This is, in brief, that the cells arise from minute hollow nuclei, — consisting most probably of a particle of oil, having an albuminous envelop (the haplogen membrane of * See an article in the July number of the American Journal of Medical Science, upon Epithelial Struc- tures. 34 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. Acherson), — which, by expansion from endosmosis, become hollow vesicles, inside of which are formed nuclei, by a kind of condensation of their granular contents, they then being nucleated cells. This mode of cell-formation, and which, as far as my observa- tion goes, is the mode of cell-genesis in the animal economy, differs, it will be seen, es- sentially from that set forth by Schwann and Schleiden, as to these two points, viz. : — Ist. That the nucleus and cell are one and the same as to their histological character ; and 2d. That the cell precedes, as to its formation, its nucleus, instead of the reverse. These histological facts are more than interesting, because, as I have stated in an- other place, Professor Agassiz, in his studies of the formation of the ovum, has arrived at the conclusion that the primitive cell, on which the ovum starts, (and this, I have no doubt, is an epithelial cell from the lining membrane of the ovary,) arises in the same manner. And the bearing of this will be the more forcibly seen, as we pass on to show that the formation of Spermatozoa is strictly but a miniature embryology. Having thus passed the preliminaries of our subject, concerning which little has hitherto been done, and about which, therefore, little has until now been known, we next come to a section to which the direct processes of the formation of the Spermatozoa belong, and upon which most of the labors in this direction have been spent. ‘That it may appear that I do not ignore what has been done in former times, it will be proper for me to allude briefly to the history of this subject. Although this subject has been one in that category which has been pursued since the days of assisted optics, yet most of what is valuable may be dated only as far back as the early labors of Siebold.* These were soon followed by those, well marked for their elaborate character, of R. Wagner.t The researches of Kolliker,t however, since 1840, claim the highest credit, and it is to these that some of our clearest ideas of the ““Spermatic Particles” can be traced. Kolliker was the first to break up those rude notions of the animality of these bodies, and, considering them no longer meriting the name of Spermatozoa, he termed them Spermatic Particles. I need not review the wide field over which these men have passed. Both Wagner and Kéilliker have described and figured the size and form of these bodies in very many of the genera of the animal kingdom. They have shown that they * In Miller’s Archiv, 1836, p. 232. + Fragmente zur Physiologie der Zeugung; Beitrage zur Geschichte der Zeugung und Entwickelung. Munich, 1837. t Beitriige zur Kenntniss der Geschlecht-Verhdltnisse und Samenflussigkeit Wirbelloser Thiere. Berlin, 1841. Also, Die Bildung der Samenfalen in Blaschen. Nuremberg, 1846. SPERMATIC PARTICLES. ou are formed inside parent-vesicles, and, according to Kdlliker, developed under five differ- ent types; and, notwithstanding these changes have been described with a detail indica- tive of indefatigable labor, yet those preliminary changes which seem, as it were, to mark the philosophy of the whole process, and which make the whole analogous to the corresponding function of the other sex, —all this seems to have been overlooked, or, if perceived, to have been passed over without recognizing their significant value. Early in 1849, Dr. Charles Robin of Paris presented to the Académie des Sciences a memoir entitled (as translated), “The Existence of an Ovum as well in the Male as in the Female of Plants and Animals; producing, in the one case Spermatozoa, in the other the Primitive Cells of the Embryo.” This memoir was submitted to a commission, consisting of MM. Serres, Dumas, and Milne-Edwards, and their report may be found in the Comptes Rendus, 1849. The grand fact of the memoir is the announcement of the fact of the segmentation of the nucleus of the male sperm-cell, as well as of the female ovarian cell of plants and animals, preceding the elimination of their special products. ‘The memoir had more a botanical than a zodlogical import, because the data on which it rested appeared to be furnished almost entirely from vegetable, instead of animal morphology. In fact, his support of these views with reference to the sperm- cells of animals appears referrible to the observations of M. Reichert * upon the Spermatozoa of Strongylus auricularis and Ascaris acuminata. Also upon observations of his own upon one of the Acalephe, Rhizostoma Cuvieri. If M. Robin’s inferences were based upon his paucity of observation alone, they cer- tainly were not scientifically warranted, considering that M. Kolliker had then just pub- lished his memoir, in which there appeared no less than five dissimilar methods by which the spermatic particles were formed in the parent vesicles. The merit of a broad sugges- tion, however, certainly belongs to Robin, and I am free to admit that I have borrowed it from him ; but its application, and the testing of its correctness, traced by innu- merable details throughout the four classes of the vertebrated animals, I must humbly claim for myself. And, in so doing, I have not relied upon the observations of Wagner or Kolliker, but have traversed the whole field myself. In this way, I have been able to perceive what I think to be important errors made by others, as well as to travel new and unexplored grounds. I say this with that humility which belongs to all scientific * It is quite remarkable that Reichert, whose observations Robin quotes in support of his theory, declares that this segmentation of the vitellus (the very virtue of the whole) is ‘une sorte d’illusion produite par la mise en liberté de vesicles préexistantes, emboitées les unes dans les autres.” Quoted from Longet’s Trai/é de Physiologie, in De la Génération, p. 144, where reference is made to Reichert, Miller’s Archiv, 1841, p- 523. 36 SPERMATIC PARTICLES, investigation, and especially in the department of minute and vital morphology, where the contingencies to error and illusion are more prominent than in grosser studies. The grand result at which I have arrived in these investigations, and which has an importance sufficient to justify me in the details already given, and those which shall be presented hereafter, may be stated as follows : — That, throughout the range of vertebrated animals, the morphological changes in the sperm-cell preceding the formation of the spermatic particles are identical in their charac- ter with the morphological changes in the ovum preceding the formation of the new being. The processes are the vitalization of the sperm-cell in the male, and of the ovum in the female, by the continued segmentation of the nucleus or vitellus, until each is a mul- berry mass. The changes sequent upon this are of several kinds. ‘Two of them, how- ever, may be mentioned as apparently the most important and best known, viz. :— Ist. The liquefaction of the segmented contents into a minute granular blastema, out of which are formed, in the one case, spermatic particles, in the other, a new being; and 2d. The immediate passage of the segmented contents; in the one case, each cell becoming a spermatic particle, in the other, masses of cells forming the organs of the embryo. There appear to be other modes than these, both with the sperm-cell and the ovum ; but they are very imperfectly understood, and may here be omitted. I shall now take up the description of my observations in the four grand classes, commencing with the lowest : — Ist. Fishes. — The spermatic particles of fishes exist under two forms, and these corresponding to the two forms of their testes of which we have already spoken. In the higher osseous fishes, where the structure of the testes is tubular, these bodies consist of a very minute globular or cordate cephalic portion, to which is appended a still more minute tail, the presence of the latter, however, being far from constant in all specimens. : In the Plagiostomes, where, as we have seen, the structure of the testicle is cellular, and not tubular, the form of these bodies is quite different ; they are of a much larger size, and are long and filiform, their cephalic portion being only thickened, and gradu- ally tapering off into a tail, which, compared with the body, is not very long. The ex- istence of these two forms is important, as we shall soon perceive. The formation of the spermatic particles among fishes has, as far as I] am aware, been observed only in the Plagiostomes. And with the observations of Hallman * * Miller’s Archiv, 1840, p. 467. SPERMATIC PARTICLES. 37 and Kolliker* may be found nearly all that relates to the subject. My own observa- tions have shown this much : Each of the large testicular cells arises from small nucleated cells, situated in the stroma of the organ. I have seen them nucleated, and as small as one two-thousandth of an inch in diameter. Soon after this, each has a nucleolus, and the whole increasing, we have regular nucleated cells inside of vesicles. Soon after this, the nucleus of the cell (not the vesicle) begins to segment, until the cell is full of minute cells. The next stage at which I perceived the progress was this mulberry mass composing the nucleus or vitellus, disappearing and apparently replaced by a fasciculus of spermatozoa. (Vid. Fig. 1-5.) The stage of their real formation, or the metamorphosis of this granular cellular mass into the bodies, I have always failed to observe. It has, notwithstanding, appeared to me quite probable, that the filamentous bodies are formed by the gradual elongation of the subdivided cells, and this because I have seen cell-like bodies of a more or less pyriform shape, as though in a state of transition, and also because the subdivided cells appear of too small a size to admit of a spermatic particle to be formed within them. However, according to both Hallman and KGlliker, they are formed within “ vesicles of formation.” Although this may be the case in many instances, yet their production in the other way does occur in other cases. At any rate, the discussion of these questions does not appear to bear upon the grand formula of vitalization by segmentation. In the higher osseous fishes, where the testes are either tubular or ampullar, the for- mation appears somewhat dissimilar. Upon the inner surface of the tubes or ampulle there are developed vesicles, simple at first, but which soon become nucleated. This nucleus or vitellus soon divides, and this segmentation goes on until the parent vesicle is filled with minute cells. Next, the vesicle has its cellular contents replaced by Sper- matozoa, the cephalic portion of which is about the size of one of the subdivided cells, a fact which would lead me to infer that they are these last, slightly metamorphosed. I am, however, quite unwilling to entertain any opinion on this point, as my observations have not been sufficient, and as it is, of all microscopy I ever handled, the most difficult clearly and definitely to make out. (Vid. Fig. 6-11.) Spermatic particles of this form do not appear to be very dissimilar wherever they occur ; and of many species of several families which I have examined, the differences were far from being well marked. ‘They consist generally of a pyriform body (the small portion in front), to which is attached, when they are fresh, a remarkably thin tail. In my earlier observations, I denied the statement that they had a caudate portion, which was certainly true of the specimens I examined, —as they were subjected to the * Op. citat. VOL. V. NEW SERIES. 6 38 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. highest and best optical power known. Investigations of a later date, and upon speci- mens taken fresh from the animal, have shown that the normal spermatic particles have tails, but perhaps of the most transient nature.* Unless one has the best of eyes, and a still better instrument, I should think that they would be unwise to attempt the study of those bodies with fishes; their bodies, or rather cephalic portions, are from one eight-thousandth to one twelve-thousandth of an inch in diameter, and their tails, when present, of a diameter nine or ten times more minute, being in fact the smallest organic objects coming under the eye ot the microscopist, and the clear definition of which may be taken as a fine test for a most superior instrument. 2d. Reptilia. —'The spermatic particles of this class have been more thoroughly and satisfactorily studied than those of any other class. ‘This is due to their larger size and more permanent characteristics throughout their several orders. Although there are marked differences, yet they seem to have a general form, consisting of an oblong, staff- like body, to which is attached a long thin tail. Among some of the different genera of the same order, they appear so nearly alike, that, were one examining them together, care would be necessary in order to know from which genus they were taken. My own observations have been mostly among the Batrachia, and the mode of de- velopment here seen may be, I am well assured, considered as expressing that of all the other orders of this class. If, at the approach of the season of heat, the testicles be examined, there will be found, in the midst of the normal epithelial cells lining the tubes, others larger, and hav- ing a more opaque and prominent nucleus. These are the sperm ovules or cells. After they have increased to four or five times their original size, the granulated nucleus seg- ments, by a slight sulcus, which gradually deepens until the whole is divided into two spheres. Each of these divides, and this subdivision goes on until the parent vesicle, which has all this time been increasing in size, is filled with small nucleated vesicles. This condition of things is feplaced by the presence of the spermatic particles, some- times scattered in a random way throughout the vesicle, but commonly in a fasciculus. (Vid. Fig. 12 - 21.) Having thus watched the vitalizing processes immediately preceding their formation, our inquiry is here, as it has been before, — Are they formed by the elongation of the * Czermak (Beitriige zu der Lehre von den Spermatozoen, Wien, 1833) says positively that the spermatic particles of fishes have no tails. Dujardin, however, from his observations on the“ Carp, believes that they are tailed, but shows that they can only be seen as such when fresh. (Vid. Annal. des Sci. Nat., N.8., Tom. VII. pp. 291 — 297.) SPERMATIC PARTICLES. oo segmented cells, or are they the ultimate product of a granular mass produced by the liquefaction of these divided cells? ‘The presence in the field of pyriform moving cells, of about the size of the subdivided ones, would certainly favor the former view, as these were probably cells in a state of transition. On the other hand, the presence of a fasciculus of these bodies in a parent vesicle would favor another mode of devel- opment, if the fasciculi are the result of development, and not of a subsequent grouping, as some have supposed.* This point I shall have occasion to refer to at another time. The grand fact of vitalization has here been seen more distinctly than in the other classes. 3d. Aves. — The spermatic particles of birds resemble quite closely, as to their form and other gross characteristics, those of reptiles. As they were the animals on which the first exact observations of the genesis of these bodies were made,+ more observations have subsequently been made upon this than upon any other class, and those of a vast number of genera have been delineated. My own observations have been made for the most part upon Passerine and Co- lumbide, and, as there is a singular uniformity throughout the whole. class as to genesis, those of these orders are good representatives of the whole. Exactly as in the pre- ceding class, the sperm-cells appear on the inside of the testicular tubes among the normal epithelial cells. Segmentation here goes on as previously described, and in place of the crowded vitelline cells we have a fasciculus of spermatic particles. These, when inside the parent vesicle, are never, as far as | have seen, very numerous, but appear to bear a pretty close ratio with the number of segmented cells that the vesicle would contain. ‘This fact will admit of two constructions; namely, either that each of these segmented cells was changed into a spermatic particle, and that, therefore, the fascicular form was from a subsequent arrangement ; or, according to both Kélliker and Wagner, that each of these served as a “cell of development,” in which a single spermatic particle was formed. ‘The latter view is most supported by direct observation ; in fact, I have never been able to see any condition looking at all like a stage of transition from a cell to a spermatic’ particle ; but notwithstanding this, I should much hesitate offering any decided opinion. The appearance of these bodies in fasciculi, as though they might have been thus formed out of a solid mass, merits our attention here, because Kolliker has based this type of genesis on observations of this class. According to K6lliker, there is formed inside the parent vesicle a granular mass, * Vid. Longet, Traité de Physiologie, (De la Génération,) p. 114. t+ Wagner’s Histoire de la Génération et du Développement, etc., p. 26. Bruxelles, 1841. 40 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. which splits up into the spermatic bodies. There are several facts which ought here to be considered before this view is admitted. One is, that the number of bodies composing the fasciculus appears to be in a pretty close ratio with the number of preéxisting cells the vesicle would contain; so that there appears to be a morphological connection, indicating that the structure of the cells as such does not become lost in a granular mass. This may be clearly seen in many of the Passerine birds. Again, it is difficult to conceive how a granular mass can split up into a group of bodies which have not a trace of a granular structure, at least as far as we can perceive, and especially so when many of these bodies have in their interior the remains of an old nucleus, the relics of the former cells. Lastly, it is quite common to perceive in the testicular tubes of birds fasciculi of these bodies of a size so large as shows that it could not have been at- tained within the parent vesicles, but is rather the result of an accidental coincidence, they having a strong tendency whenever they come together to unite in a regularly formed manner; and large groups are continually gathering as they pass along, and not broken up until forced through the vasa deferentia. This point will again come up for consideration in the general remarks upon the modes of genesis. (Vid. Fig. 22-28.) Ath. Mammalia. — The spermatic particles of this class have a uniformity as to form and shape, and a delicacy of structure, exceeding any other class. ‘They are characterized by a broad, disk-like, neatly sculptured anterior extremity, to which is appended a tail, generally of considerable length. Among the higher orders, there is a remarkable simi- larity, which meets with a considerable modification in those of less rank. Both Wagner and Killiker have illustrated these forms by many figures. My own observations have been made as to their genesis upon the orders Bimana, Carnivora, Rodentia, and Ruminantia. With the exception of a few important points, the same mode of pro- cedure is observed as in the former classes. Sperm-cells appear, their nucleus is divided, and so on as in the former classes. The spermatic particles, however they may be formed, are more often found, especially in the higher Mammalia, in a free, unconnected state in the parent cell, rather than in fasciculi. In many species of the genus Mus, where the large size of these bodies allows them to be easily seen, I have sometimes perceived them in small fasciculi in the parent vesicle, and have often particularly noticed the fact of these fasciculi being made up of an even number of bodies, and this number corresponding to the results of segmentation, 2, 4, 8, 16, &c., thus making it exceed- ingly probable that these particles are not formed from a granular mass, but rather di- rectly from or in the segmented cells. (Vid. Fig. 29-35.) There are some pecu- liarities of these bodies among some of the Mammalia, that deserve our notice. Among the Sciuride the cephalic portion of the spermatic particle has its largest SPERMATIC PARTICLES. 41 and finest development, it being a thin and quite transparent disk-like body, as though from the flattening of a cell, the two membranes coming in contact; and in it may be often seen granules of considerable size, which go to support the view of its cell-mem- brane origin; these disks, generally circular, have often a slightly pyriform shape, and are of a size equalling one twenty-five-hundredth or one three-thousandth of an inch in diameter. ‘To these is appended a rather long and delicate tail. When making obser- vations on these animals, one must be struck with the similitude of these disk-like bodies to the segmented cells floating beside them in the field. Among the Muride, we meet with a marked peculiarity of form, such as is not met with elsewhere. It consists in a curved, sickle-shaped body, to which is appended a very long tail. This sharp, knife-like portion of the body is situated on one side, so that the spermatic particle has a rather symmetrical aspect. It is difficult to understand how they are formed in this manner, and more particularly so if we attempt to trace them to a cell-origin. The genesis of these bodies in man does not differ at all from that of the higher brute Mammalia. ‘Their form and general characters are too well known to need mention, and I have seen nothing particularly distinguishing them from those of some of the Solipedes and Ruminantia. The figures of Buffon* and Pouchet ¢ savor so much of the fanciful, and offend so much our best notions of the most minute morphological changes, that I shall not allude to them here. And here I may as well say, that most of the spermatic particles of the Mammalia are of such character as to admit of being studied only as a whole. And even admitting the very absurd view that they are animals, I should hesitate long before I believed that any one had ever seen their inéernal structure. I have thus rather hastily described the mode of genesis of the spermatic particles in the four grand classes of the vertebrated animals; a fuller detail would have been inappropriate, as illustrating the grand formula of their genetic morphology, which we have seen is always present. I shall now turn to some considerations upon the alleged various modes of their production, after the vitalization by segmentation has taken place, especially as they bear upon the formula just stated, and the commonly received embryological changes of the ovum after segmentation. KGlliker { has spoken of five types by which they are developed, viz. : — * Op. citat. t Op. citat. { Beitrige zur Kenntniss der Geschlechts-Verhiltnisse, etc. Berlin, 1841. 42 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. Type A. Each filament arises from a special cell, by the increased growth of whose walls it passes into an elongated or filamentous condition. Type B. Out of each cell formed springs a bundle of seminal filaments. Type C. The filaments are developed in crowds within large cells, probably in an analogous manner to the generation of the primitive muscular fibres. Type D. Each filament arises within a special cell. Type E. The filaments are formed in bundles from minute granular cells, these cells becoming dissolved, as it were, into each other, and assuming a delicate filamental form. Of these, types A and DI think I have myself observed. The other three, I think, may be included under the head of the Fusciculus mode. I have, on a preceding page, expressed my doubts, and the reasons for them, of the reality of this mode of genesis. The other two forms merit our attention. Ist. Genesis out of nucleated cells. In the ovum fecundated and segmented we have this peculiarity ; namely, that the homogeneous individual parts blend together and lose their individuality as such, for the formation of a perfect whole, the vitelline cells dissolve and mingle, and their characteristics as individuals are lost. Nevertheless, holding to the view which I have some time ago announced of cell-types as the basis of all higher types, it must be that each of these vitelline cells isa miniature and correct representation of the whole ovum; and therefore, could morphological changes sufficiently minute occur within it, it would form a new being exactly like that resulting from hundreds together. Exactly so is it with the Spermatozoa. Each of the subdivided vitelline cells represents the whole, and instead of all dissolving together to form one large body, each forms the same body in miniature, and this is in this form accomplished by a slight modification of the cell, which forms the body or anterior extremity of the particle. In these cases, it is very probable that the nucleus of the cell plays an important part. But whether or not it is the chief agent | am unprepared to say. ‘This kind of elongation, this metamorphosis, has its analogue in the organizable cells of the higher tissues, and must be considered indicative of a higher vitality, seeking its expression in a metamorphosis of form above the cell grade, a view still better borne out by the fact, that, in the cephalic portions of some, the nucleus is persistent. ‘Thus reminding one of the higher metamorphotic tissues, where the nuclei, the only indices of their former cell-days, have not passed away. 2d. Genesis in cells. In this case, each of the divided cells serves as a parent, in which is developed a particle. When fully developed, they rest upon the side, their cephalic portion appearing to form a portion of the parietes with the caudate portion SPERMATIC PARTICLES. 43 curled around. Nevertheless, this may be considered only an accidental relation, the particle, most probably, having no relation with the parietes. I have always noticed that in these cases the nucleus is absent, and this fact has led me to adopt the view, that it is transformed directly into the particle, the cell-membrane acting simply as a protecting shield for the process. This view would involve no new or anomalous morphological process, if we consider the real nature of the nucleus, and its relation to the parent cell; namely, that it differs not at all from the cell, except in being the active metamorphosing agent.* Both KGlliker and Wagner have inclined to the opinion, that this form was developed on the inside of the cell by aggregated particles, exactly as lignine is deposited on the inner surface of vegetable cells of woody plants. ‘This is quite plausible, but the fact, that I have seen among the higher Mammalia the sperm-vesicles undoubtedly filled previously with segmented cells, having, on their inner side, particles, and these gen- erally four and eight in number, would seem to show that they were formed either Jrom or in segmented cells, and became there situated afterwards. The tail of the spermatic particle, from its constant presence, has most probably an inappreciable importance. As to their genesis, I do not think it referrible to exactly the same processes as those of the body proper. It appears to be a subsequent formation, and not formed from either the cell or the nucleus, but rather from a minute granular matter. The parietes of the parent vesicle of most of the spermatic particles of Mammalia have a delicacy amounting almost to real transparency. It is difficult to conceive of an organized structure having a fineness more delicate than this; and yet the very spermatic particles formed within have tails far more delicate than this membrane as to thickness. Among the osseous fishes, the tail has a still greater delicacy of structure, and it would be very absurd to suppose that these are formed from a cell-membrane, since this last is formed of layers of granules, each of which very granules has a diameter equal with the tail itself, and perhaps larger. Moreover, it not unfrequently occurs, that, within the field you are viewing, there are some bodies with no tails. And I have noticed, that, during the unprocreative season among the lower classes, a few spermatic particles are formed, but they are generally deficient as to tails. ‘This may easily be seen with some of the common Batrachians. These two facts, and another, that these bodies generally lose their tails with their * Vid. Transactions of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1849, p. 261. 4A. SPERMATIC PARTICLES. vitality, have led me to adopt the opinion, that this portion is intimately connected with their vitality, and that generally of the whole process of their elimination. It would seem to be this wise: after the cephalic portion has been formed, the minute organic granules with which it is surrounded begin to take a linear arrangement at one of its extremities, and by this means, modified by the type of spermatic particle in question, the tail of variable length is formed. ‘This will account for its excessive tenuity and the variations in its length. Of course, when the vitality of the particle has ceased, the tail would, as a granular body, be the first to lose its integrity, and therefore drop off. During the intervals of the procreative period, when the sexual impulse is passed, and the corporeal forces are abstracted from the testicular organs, the elimi- nation of these bodies must be less perfect than at any other time. Less vitalized organizable blastema is thrown out, and of course less of the primitive granular matter formed. This would account for the fact above mentioned, that the spermatic particles of the Batrachians in the month of October do not generally have tails, or, if so, they are short and imperfectly formed. In this connection I ought to mention a fact M. Lallemand* has noticed in patients broken down by seminal losses. It is, that, in these cases, the spermatic particles are imperfectly formed, their tails being rough, irregular, and indistinct. This mode of the genesis of the filamentous portion of the spermatic particles is not without its very apt analogue in the common morphology of tissues. In the process of inflammation, this granular blastema is thrown out in abundance, and that portion which does not take the organization of pus or other cells, is very apt to form by a single aggregation in a linear way that fibrillated structure, extremely delicate, met with in inflammatory products. The Motion of Spermatic Particles. This, from several considerations, should claim our attention for a few moments. I think there can be but little doubt, that the movements are effected by means of the tail, and therefore expressive of the vitality of the body. But I should be unwilling to assert that these movements are entirely due to this organ, since among some of the Articulata, and especially with some of the Arachnida, no tails are found. It is useless here to discuss a question, when we have no data to stand upon. Of the whole class of cell-motions we know nothing, excepting that they are purely * Des Pertes Séminales involuntaires. Montpélier, 1841. Also, Annal. des Sci. Nat., Tom. XV. p. 30. SPERMATIC PARTICLES. 45 molecular, and are indicative of the higher vitality of these molecules. We have yet to learn every thing about any animal motion, and my own impression is, that all (muscular, &c.) will be found to be essentially molecular, or belonging to molecules, which are the first expressions of vitality, and serve as the basis of all organized tissues whatsoever. During my investigations, I have tried the influence of various agents. Electricity had no well-marked effect. But all those chemical agents that in- fringed affinitively upon the material structure, thereby impairing their integrity and vitality, put a stop to the motion. All my own experiments went to show that all these movements were identical in character with those of the cilia of epithelial cells, a matter that I have fully discussed in another place.* Signification of Vitelline Segmentation. Before closing this interesting subject, I have thought it essential to a clear un- derstanding of the whole ground of analogy existing between the sperm-cell and the true ovum, that a survey should be taken of the process of segmentation and _ its Meaning, since it forms the basis of the analogy. We will take it up as studied with the ovum. ; The earliest phases of change the observer is able to perceive with the fecun- dated ovum is the fissuration of the vitellus. Upon a single surface of the vitellus, a kind of retreat of substance from a given point occurs; this produces a slight sulcus, which, deepening, divides the vitellus into two spheres. Upon each of these spheres the same process is repeated, and this goes on increasing in a geometrical proportion, until the whole is a granular mass. Succeeding this subdivision is the immediate process of the embryo’s formation. The true signification of the segmentation of the vitellus has not, I am convinced, been fully understood. Noticed first by Prevost and Dumas + in the frog, it has since been more carefully watched by Rusconi, { Baer,§ Bergman, || Ruchert, 1 Vogt,** Agassiz,t{ and others of a later day. It has, until quite recently, been considered * American Journal of Medical Science, July, 1849. + Annal. des Sci. Nat., Tom. II. p. 129. t Développement de la Grenouille commune. Milan, 1826. § Miller’s Archiv, 1834, p. 481. || Miller’s Archiv, 1841, p. 89. {| Miller’s Archiv, 1841, p. 523. ** Untersuchung iiber die Entwickelungsgeschichte von Alytes obstetricans, 1842, p. 3. ++ Lectures on Embryology. 1848. VOL. V. NEW SERIES. 7 46 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. as the first grand expression of impregnation, and most certain it is, that no fecun- dated ovum goes on to the formation of the embryo, without first experiencing these changes. But, on the other hand, later and more extended inquiries in this wide field have shown that it occurs to a certain extent without fecundation. Late morphological inquiries have shown the complete analogy existing between cells and ova, and that these same segmentary changes occur, to a certain extent, not only in the unimpregnated ovum, but in individual non-organic cells.* I have observed it with the ova of many fishes, before they have left the female, and there- fore before impregnation. I have also observed its many heterogenous pathological cells, such as those of cancer, pus, &c. But, however this may be, there appears to be this difference, that in the one case they are purely abortive in their character, the segmenta- tion rarely going on beyond twice, and here ceasing, whereas in the impregnated ovum these changes have a definite end, which is accomplished by the appearance of the new being. And it is the furtherance of this process, for this end, that char- acterizes the ovum from a cell, in regard to morphological changes. Wherever it occurs in cells, it is only among the higher individual species, and may be considered an index of vitality, having no end except the production of its own species. While in the ovum and sperm-cells, the vitalizing process is more finely marked, and the cells lose their individuality by a metamorphosis into higher form or forms. And perhaps one of the best evidences that such segmentation to a definite end lies at the bottom of the primitive development of all new individual beings, is the fact that it occurs most extensively in those portions of the embryo that afford the highest expressions of the animal as such, viz. the nervous system. Let us now take a survey of the whole matter, and the true relations of the sexes. With nearly all the processes of life, the male bears the marks of a higher physi- ological being than the female. All those functions that are characteristic of an individual isolated being are with him more finely pronounced than with her. His energies tend to vitalizing and animalizing processes, hers to a development of his by processes of a more vegetative nature. Although, in the reproductive process, the one sex is the counterpart of the other, and without each of no avail; yet I think it may be affirmed that the male exercises the higher function, and is the grand moving agent of the whole process. After the sperm-cell is produced, there occur, from forces innate, * This phenomenon has been quite extensively observed among vegetables. Vid. Prof. Hugo von Mohl, Vermischte Schriften, p. 362, et seq. Also by Griesbach, Weigman’s Archiv, 1834. See, in addition, the works of Nageli, Karl Miller, Schaffner, &c. SPERMATIC PARTICLES. 47 a complete set of processes, ending in the elimination of bodies which are, in a physio- And it is the function of these bodies to come in contact with the ovum, and to awake within it those dormant logical sense, the miniature representatives of the whole being. energies which find their expression in changes identical with those attending the elimination of the awakening body. And these forces, thus called into action by the combined agency of the two sexes, have their final expression in the elimination of a being possessing the characteristics of both. Such appears to be the philosophy of fecundation. You ask, “* How is it accom- plished ? ” that is, as the magnet awakens in the iron slumbering forces like its own, so I have for some time thought it might be called a kind of Catalysis ; that it possesses nearly the characteristics of its awakener, so the spermatic par- ticle, coming in simple contact (not mixing) with the ovum, awakens in the latter slumbering forces like its own, — life being the result. We see exemplifications of this Catalysis in organized forms in the production of cells, having types according to their local character. And although the word may serve to cover up our ignorance, yet, as it is expressive of a power which the For, after all, the wltimata of all science having any thing to do with vitality must ever rest scientific mind by analogy only can comprehend, it may be adopted. on words or conditions equally as vague and unsatisfactory. I subjoin, in a tabular form, the analogies existing between the Sperm-cell and the Ovum. The Sperm-Cell. 1. Isa nucleolated cell. 2. The nucleus, increasing and becoming granular, undergoes segmentation. 3. The result of this segmentation is, that each of the subdivided cells forms a spermatic particle. 4. The function, then, of the sperm-cell, is to eliminate the vitalizing spermatic particles. 5. In the lowest sense of the term, the spermatic particle is alive; that is, it is an organized acting form. But it is so in the lowest sense only, since it holds no relations whatever to the external world. On this account it can never be an animal. The Ovum. 1. Is a nucleolated cell. 2. The nucleus (vitellus) increasing, becoming granular, undergoes segmentation. 3. The result of this segmentation is, that all the subdivided cells, by a metamorphosis, form an embryo. 4. The function, then, of the ovum, is to eliminate the vitalized product, the embryo. 5. Inthe lowest sense of the term, the embryo is alive ; that is, it is an organized acting form. But it is so in the lowest sense only, since it holds no re- lations whatever to the external world. It is not an animal until it does. 48 SPERMATIC PARTICLES. Explanation of the Plate. Fic. 1-5. Platessa Flesus ; Fig. 1, nucleolated sperm-cells in testicular cells; fig. 2, the same segmented ; fig. 3, increased to the maximum and extensively segmented ; fig. 4, spermatic particles in testicular cell ; fig. 5, free spermatic particles. Fig. 6-11. Leuciscus chrysoleucas ; fig. 6, nucleolated sperm-cells ; fig. 7, nucleus singly segmented ; fig. 8, nucleus doubly segmented; fig. 9, extensive segmentation ; fig. 10, free spermatic particles in parent cells, the tail most distinctly seen; fig. 11, free spermatic particles, the tail excessively minute. Fig. 12-21. Rana pipiens ; fig. 12, spermatic ovules, with nucleus as a vitellus; fig. 18, vitellus dividing and divided; fig. 14, each still dividing, so as to make four; fig. 15, still further fissuration, so that there are eight and sixteen segments; fig. 16, spermatic particles formed in parent cells in fasciculi; fig. 17, spermatic particles formed in parent cells, scattered ; fig. 18, spermatic particles without tails; fig. 19, spermatic particles with tails ; fig. 20, spermatic particles curved like a hoop, no tail; fig. 21, moving, slightly caudate cells, in the field, probably escaped spermatic cells. Fig. 22-28. Columba livia; fig. 22, nucleolated sperm-cells ; fig. 23, nucleus divided and subdivided ; fig. 24 and 25, still further segmented ; fig. 26, free spermatic particles among granules in sperm-cells ; fig. 27, spermatic particles in a fasciculus; fig. 28, free spermatic particles. Fig. 29-35. Mus decumanus ; fig. 29, nucleolated sperm-cells; fig. 30, the same increased in size with nucleus singly segmented ; fig. 31, doubly segmented ; fig. 32, segmentation more and more extensive ; fig. 33, eight spermatic particles in sperm-cell ; fig. 34, four spermatic particles in sperm-cell ; — in both cases they have probably been developed out of or in cells, and assumed this disposition from convenience ; fig. 35, free sickle-shaped spermatic particles. Fig. 36-41. Sciurus hudsonicus ; fig. 36, nucleolated sperm-cells ; fig. 37, singly segmented ; fig. 38, doubly segmented ; fig. 39, extensive segmentation ; fig. 40, spermatic particles with thin, broad, disk-like anterior extremity, containing granules; fig. 41, the same seen sideways to show the thinness. Fig. 42-48. Ovis aries ; fig. 42, nucleolated sperm-cells; fig. 43, the same described ; fig. 44 and 45, still further segmented ; fig. 46, spermatic particles free in sperm-cells; fig. 47, spermatic particles in a fasciculus in sperm-cell; fig. 48, free spermatic particles. A Sonrel from D? Burnett's drawings. Printed by Tappan & Bradford. Ly". A History of the Fishes of Massachusetts. By DAVID HUMPHREYS STORER, M.D., A. A. S. As one of the Commissioners on the Zodlogy of Massachusetts, in the year 1839, ] prepared a Report on the Ichthyology of the State. From the brief time occupied in its preparation, it was necessarily imperfect, and, not being accompanied by figures, was comparatively useless, except to scientific men. Since the appearance of that communication, much information has been obtained respecting several of the most common and valuable fishes, and quite a number of new species have been ascertained to exist in our waters. Having carefully re-described all the species, I trust the following paper will present an accurate history of the fishes of our State. Considering this as the completion of my former Report, I have kept in view the primary object of the commission, — to ascer- tain the value of our Fauna in an economical point of view, rather than to prepare labored scientific descriptions. To all who have aided me since this paper was commenced, or rather since my attention was first directed to our ichthyology, I would return my grateful acknowledg- ments. The following gentlemen, to whom in my previous Report I remarked I was under peculiar obligations, I cannot pass by unnoticed : — Thomas Kidder, Esq., of the General Inspection Office, Boston, for his polite attention in furnishing me with all the statistical information in his power regarding the quantities of fish inspected in the State ; C. R. Vickery, Esq., of Taunton, for his very acceptable remarks respecting the fisheries of Taunton River ; Hiram Hosmer, M. D., of Watertown, for his numerous and valuable facts con- cerning the fisheries of Charles River ; VOL. V. NEW SERIES. 8 50 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. Elisha Bartlett, M. D., of Lowell, for his interesting account of the fisheries of the Merrimack River ; J. B. Forsyth, M. D., of Chelsea, formerly of Sandwich, for much useful information respecting the fishes taken along “ the Cape ” ; Jonathan Johnson, Jr., of Nahant, for several very rare species, and many valuable observations concerning more common fishes. To Captain Nathaniel Blanchard, a veteran fisherman of Lynn, and Leroy M. Yale, M. D., of Holmes’s Hole, I am most deeply indebted ; — to the former, for his constant and unwearied efforts to serve me amid the fatigues of his arduous occupation, during the entire period I was engaged in the State Survey, and for many judicious remarks and valuable details imparted to me, respecting the fishes and fisheries of the northern shore of Massachusetts Bay; and to the latter, for his invaluable aid. To him I am not only obliged for specimens of nearly one fifth of all the species I have described, and which, but for him, I could not have procured, but also for many specimens of more common species, and much valuable information respecting them. Since these obser- yations were made, my excellent friend, Dr. Yale, while in the faithful discharge of his professional duties, contracted a malignant disease, the attack of which he survived but a few days. By his death, science has lost an enthusiastic votary, and his profession a most honorable member. During the last six or eight years, no individual has rendered me such essential assistance as Captain Nathaniel E. Atwood, of Provincetown. For nearly thirty years a practical fisherman, thoroughly acquainted with the habits of most of our fishes, and willing and ready to do all in his power to advance my wishes, he has placed me under obligations which I cannot express. or several fishes never before described, and for much acceptable information respecting each of our marketable species, | am indebted to him, the best practical ichthyologist in our State. To Professor Agassiz my thanks are due for many valuable suggestions in the prepa- ration of this work, and to his accomplished draughtsman, Mr. Sonrel, for the admirable plates which illustrate it. In my nomenclature, I have been guided, as far as possible, by the principle which would give the credit of a species to the author who first placed it under its appropriate genus. This plan, I am led to understand, is about being adopted by our most eminent naturalists. In addition to the works mentioned in my “Synopsis of the Fishes of North America,” the following have been consulted in the preparation of this paper: — HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 51 Richardson. Report on North American Zodlogy. London. 1837. Schomburghk. History of Barbados. London. 1848. Zodlogy of Beechey’s Voyage to the Pacific. 4to. London. 1839, Magasin de Zodlogie, par Guérin de Méneville. S8vo. Paris. Agassiz. Lake Superior. 8vo. Boston. 1850. Storer, H. R. Observations on the Fishes of Nova Scotia and Labrador, in Boston Journal of Natural History, Vol. VI. 1850. Perley. Catalogue of the Fishes of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Frederickton. 1837. CLASS I. OSSEOUS FISHES. SKELETON bony, the osseous matter being deposited in fibres. Sutures of the cranium distinct, with maxillary or intermaxillary bones, always one, and generally both, present. Gill-membrane with rays. ORDER I. ACANTHOPTERYGII. SPINE-RAYED. They are known by the spines which represent the first rays of the dorsal fin, or which alone sustain the anterior fin of the back, when they have two. Sometimes, instead of an anterior dorsal fin, they have nothing but a few free spines. ‘Their anal fin has also some spines instead of the first rays, and there is, in general, one to each ventral. FAMILY I. PERCIDA. Comprehends fishes with an elongated body, covered with hard or rough scales, in which the operculum or preoperculum, and frequently both, have indented or spinous edges, and in which the jaws, the front of the vomer, and almost always the palatines, are furnished with teeth. GENUS I. PERCA, Cov. Two dorsal fins distinct, separated ; the rays of the first spinous, those of the second flexible ; tongue smooth ; teeth in both jaws, in front of the vomer, and on the palatine bones; preoperculum notched below, serrated on the posterior edge ; operculum bony, ending in a flattened point directed backwards. Branchiostegous rays. Scales rough- ened, and not easily detached. HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. Perca FLAVESCENS, Cuv. The American Yellow Perch. (Pate II. Fic. 1.) Bodianus flavescens, Yellow Perch, Mircuitt, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 421. La Perche jaunatre d’ Amérique, Perca flavescens, Cuy. et Vat., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, 11. p. 46. Perca flavescens, American Perch, Ricu., Fauna Boreal. Americ., ut. p. 1, pl. 74. s Gs Common Perch of Massachusetts, Storer, Massachusetts Report, p. 5. Bodianus flavescens, Yellow Perch, Kintianv, Rep. on Zodl. of Ohio, pp. 168, 190. Perca flavescens, Yellow Perch, KintLanv, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., v. p. 337, pl. 27, fig. 2. a L American Yellow Perch, Dexay, N. Y. Report, p. 3, pl. 1, fig. 1. ce ow Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1v. p. 256. ee “ American Yellow Perch, Lixsvxy, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. La Perche @ opercules grenues, Perca serrato-granulata, Coy. et VAL., 1. p. 47. Perca serrato-granulata, Grirritu’s Cov., x. pl. 39, fig. 1. “ & Dexay, N. Y. Report, p. 5, pl. 22, fig. 64. cc Cc Common Perch, Tuomrson, Hist. Vermont, p. 129. La Perche a téte grenue, Perca granulata, Cuv. et Vat., vu. p. 48, pl. 49. Perca granulata, Jarpvine, Nat. Lib., 1. p. 92, pl 1. ce a Dexay, N. Y. Report, p. 5, pl. 48, fig. 220. co & Lisstey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. La Perche & museau pointu, Perca acuta, Cuv. et Var., 11. p. 49, pl. 10. Perca acuta, Sharp-nosed Perch, Ricu., Fauna Boreal. Americ., 111. p. 4. “ at Yellow Perch, Dexay, N. Y. Report, p. 6, pl. 68, fig. 222. La Perche gréle, Perca gracilis, Cuy. et Vat., 11. p. 50. Perca gracilis, Ricu., Fauna Boreal. Americ., ut. p. 4. “ “ Slender Yellow Perch, Dexay, N. Y. Report, p. 6. Perca flavescens, Storer, Mem. of Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 269. “ a Srorer, Synopsis, p. 17. “ & AGassiz, Lake Superior, p. 291. Color. Above of a greenish-yellow; sides golden-yellow, crossed by seven trans- verse dark bands, all broader above than below, and those upon the middle of the body broadest. Abdomen white ; lower jaw tinged with pink, Centre of operculum of a deep green. Head darker than rest of body. Pupils back ; irides golden. Dorsal and caudal fins yellowish-brown ; pectorals yellow ; ventrals and anal a bright scarlet. Description. The length of the head is less than one fourth of the entire length. Top of head broad and flattened; that portion of it between and in front of eyes is naked, and covered by a smooth membrane ; the portion back of eyes is bony, and roughened by raised, radiating strie. The preoperculum is scaled, and serrated along its entire edge, save a small portion of its superior posterior angle, which is naked and smooth. The operculum is a subtriangular bone, covered at its upper part by a few scales, but otherwise almost entirely scaleless, and exhibiting numerous raised lines diverging to its outer edge, which presents in some instances a few serrations, and terminates posteriorly in a sharp angle or spine. The subopercle is scaled above, naked beneath, and minutely denticulated along its edge. The scapulary bones are a es HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUESTTS, 53 slightly corrugated by striz. The humeral bones are strongly denticulated. Eyes of moderate size, preceded by several mucous pores. The anterior nostril much in advance of the posterior, which is the larger. The lateral line commences at the humeral bone, and, assuming the curve of the body, is continued to the base of the tail, The first dorsal fin arises nearly on a line with the pectorals; its height is equal to one third of its length, The rays are very stout, their naked extremities projecting above the transparent membrane connecting them; fin rounded posteriorly. I have seen several specimens in which the fourth and sixth rays of this fin were about one half the height of the third and fifth rays, and the connecting membrane was con- tinued directly above their extremities, as if they were absent. ‘The membrane stretch- ing from the last ray of the first dorsal fin extends to the first of the second dorsal. The second dorsal is subquadrangular, rounded above ; it is more than half the length of the first. ‘The first ray is very minute, and, as well as the second, is spinous; the third ray is simple: all the soft rays are articulated. The pectorals arise just beneath the humeral bone. They are quite long; fan- shaped ; their rays are bifurcated and articulated. The ventrals are subtriangular ; they arise at a distance back of the pectorals equal to one third their height ; their outer ray is a strong spine, the others are multifid. The anal is higher than long, and arises about opposite the middle of the second dorsal; its first two rays are spinous, the first less than one half the height of the second, The caudal is deeply emarginate. The fin rays are as follows: —B.7. D.13.2-13. P.15. V.1-5. A. 2-8. C. 18. Length 12 to 15 inches. In this species, as in many others, I have represented two scales, one from the lateral line, and one from above it, whose characters will sufficiently distinguish them. Remarks, This species is universally distributed throughout the State. In the spring and autumn, it is frequently found in the market, and is readily sold. When young, it usually swims in extensive shoals, while the larger ones remain in the deepest water, and by themselves, It does not take its food timidly, but seizes it instantly without nibbling. It is not only caught with the hook in summer, but also through the ice in winter, with pickerel, and in pretty large quantities in brooks while netting for alewives. Individuals are seldom taken which measure more than twelve or fifteen inches in length. Mr. Ayres has seen a specimen weighing two and a half pounds, and 54. HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. Dekay has caught them weighing nearly three pounds. ‘This species has been re- peatedly transported from one pond to another with complete success. Dr. Mitchill transferred them a distance of forty miles. It has been noticed in Maine, Massachusetts, Storer ; New Hampshire, H. R. Storer; Vermont, THompson ; Connecticut, Ayres; New York, Mircuiti, Dexay; Pennsylvania, Harpeman ; Ohio, Kirrianp ; and in all the ponds and streams of the great lakes, Ricuarpson, Acassiz ; New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Perey. GENUS II. LABRAX, Cov. Distinguished from the Perch by the scaly opercula, terminating with two spines, and by a tongue covered with prickles. LaABRAX LINEATUS, Cuv. The Striped Bass. (Prate I. Fic. 4.) Sciena lineata, Buocn, pl. 304. Perca Mitchilli, Striped Bass or Roch:-fish, Mireuttt, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 413, pl. 3, fig. 4. Rock Bass, Mrase, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 502. Le Bar rayé (ou Rock-fish) des Etats-Unis, Labraz lineatus, Cuy. et Vav., 11. p. 79. Labraz lincatus, Grirriru's Cuy. x. p. 103. 66 as Ricu., Fauna Boreal. Americ., 11. p. 10. ES Ke Storer, Report, p. 7. as co Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., rv. p. 257. ES « Dexay, N. Y. Report, p.7, pl. 1, fig. 3. ae C Linsey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. « “& Srorer, Mem. of Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 273. oe ce Srorer, Synopsis, p. 21. Color. The upper part of the body is silvery brown, with a greenish-blue tinge ; the sides are lighter; the abdomen of a beautiful, clear silvery color; the opercula are more or less golden. Eight or more longitudinal black bands pass from behind the operculum towards the tail; the upper bands are lost just back of the termination of the second dorsal fin ; the three or four central ones extend to the caudal fin; while the lower ones reach only the posterior portion of the anal, or are even lost anterior to that fin. Sometimes these bands are all entire ; in other specimens, more or less of them are interrupted at intervals ; while in others still, instead of being straight throughout, frequent undulations or curves are observed. It sometimes happens that all the bands on one side of the fish are perfect, while all on the other side of the same specimen are broken or irregular. Pupils black ; irides golden. Description. The form of this species is cylindrical, Length of head to entire HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 56 length of fish is as 1 to 4. The scales on the body are large and quadrangular, less than one third of scale attacned, marked by concentric lines upon their sides; numer- ous very delicate striz diverge from the centre of the attached base to the entire extent of the free edge. Sixty-two scales along the lateral line ; ten scales in an oblique line from the origin of the dorsal to the lateral line. The whole head is covered with scales, including the intermaxillary bones, save the suborbitar bones and the portion in front of and between the nostrils. The scales are largest on sides of body ; smaller towards tail and on anterior back, smallest on top of head. The eyes are circular, their diameter equal to about one third the distance between them. The nostrils are situated anterior to eye, at a distance about equal to diameter of eye; the posterior is circular and the longer; the anterior is larger. The lower jaw is the longer. ‘Teeth in jaws numerous and very small; the largest are at the middle of the upper jaw. ‘Teeth upon the palatine bones. Tongue rough at its base and upon its sides, smooth in its centre. The operculum at its posterior angle is armed with two spinous processes, the lower of which is the larger and more acute ; they are margined with a dark-colored membrane. The preoperculum at its posterior edge is very delicately and minutely serrated ; these serrations are larger at its inferior margin. The lateral line, which is very distinct, arises just above the superior spinous process of the operculum, and is continued in a straight course through the middle of one of the longitudinal bands, to the centre of the tail, upon the rays of which it is lost. The first dorsal fin arises on a line with the posterior half of the pectorals ; it is twice as long as high; the first ray is one sixth the height of the fourth and fifth, which are the longest rays in the fin, The second dorsal is not as long as the first. The first ray is spinous ; the second ray, which is the longest, is two thirds as high as the length of the fin. The pectorals are situated just beneath the inferior spine of the operculum ; their length to their height is as 1 to 5. The ventrals are situated just back of the pectorals; their first ray is spinous, and three fifths as long as the second ray, which is the longest of the fin; the rays are multifid. They are of the same length as the pectorals. The anal arises on a line with the middle of the second dorsal ; its first three rays are spinous; the first of these is one fourth the height of the third. This fin is shorter than the second dorsal ; it is one fifth longer than high. The caudal at its base is equal in depth to the length of the pectorals; it is as wide again at its extremity, when expanded, as its depth at base. Fin quite deeply forked. In each of the fins, the scales are more or less continued upon them. 56 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. The fin rays are as follows: —D.9.1-12. P.18. V.1-5. A.3-11. C. 18, Length, 5 to 4 feet. Remarks. This fine species is taken in considerable numbers upon our coast. It is generally found upon shoals near the land, where frequently a dozen or more may be seen at a time beneath the water, quietly lying upon the rocky bottom. Large quantities of small bass are caught with nets near Chelsea and Nantasket beaches. Captain Atwood writes me, that at Provincetown a few are caught in the summer with hook and line, by men standing upon the shore; and that in the months of September and October, when this fish is passing by, on its way to the South, large quantities are sometimes taken with nets, in the following manner. Several men put off from the Race in a boat, with a net from seventy to eighty fathoms long and from three to four fathoms deep; when the boat is at a short distance from shore, a line attached to the net is thrown ashore, and secured by some of the fishermen there in waiting, and a portion of the net is dragged from the boat. As soon as the fish are seen swimming along, near the bottom, the rest of the net is let out of the boat, which is now rowed ashore, while the other extremity of the net is drawn thither by the rest of the gang. In this way hundreds are taken at a haul; but as a large number of men is required, and considerable time is necessarily expended, this business is not very profitable, and is not attended to, unless it be at times of leisure from other pursuits. At Buzzard’s Bay they are speared by torch-light to some extent, in the month of May. In the winter, this species goes up into the rivers and arms of the sea. It is most common in Boston market in autumn and winter. At some seasons of the year it is taken in large numbers in seines, while at others the market is partially supplied by those taken with the hook, and consequently its price varies, from three to twelve cents per pound, It is most readily taken by the hook, when it is baited with the Squid (Loligo illecebrosa). The larger individuals feed voraciously upon this animal, and are hence called “‘ Squid-hounds.” The flesh of this species, particularly of the larger ones, is rather coarse, but meets with a ready sale when fresh. In 1836, a small number of barrels (67) was packed and inspected. Bass of considerable size are often taken in Boston harbor. In July, 1837, | saw a specimen weighing 36 pounds, which had been taken from one of the city bridges over Charles River; and I have been told that an- other, weighing 77 pounds, had been taken from the same bridge. The largest individ- ual I have known to be taken by any of our fishermen weighed 84 pounds. New Brunswick, Pertey. Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Ayres. New York, Mircurti, Cuvier, Dexay. HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 57 Laprax RuFUs, Dekay. The White Perch. (Puate I. Fic. 1.) Bodianus rufus, Red Perch, Mircutt1, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 420. Le petit Bar d’ Amérique, Labrax mucronatus, Cuy. et VAL., 11. p. 86, pl. 121. Labrax mucronatus, Small American Bass or White Perch, Storer, Report, p. 8. Labraz rufus, Ruddy Bass, Dexay, Report, p. 9, pl. 3, fig. 7. Labrax mucronatus, Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1v. p. 257. ce cS White Perch, Linstry, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. Labraz rufus, Srorer, Mem. of Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 274. oe “© Srorer, Synopsis, p. 22. Color. A silvery gray, darker above the lateral line. The sides and gill-covers exhibit metallic reflections. Lips, intermaxillaries, and tongue minutely dotted with black. Dorsals, pectorals, and caudal brown; ventrals and anal rose-colored at their base ; throat also rosaceous. Pupils black ; irides silvery. Description. Body much compressed, a perceptible convexity in front of the first dorsal fin. The depth of the body across from the first dorsal is to the length about as 3: to 10. The length of the head to the whole length of the body is as 1 to 4, The gill-covers, intermaxillary bones, and the space between the eyes are scaled; the portion in front of the eyes and nostrils is naked. The eyes are circular; their diameter is to the distance between the eyes as 3 to 5. The nostrils are situated just in advance of the superior anterior angle of the eye; the posterior is oval, the larger, and placed obliquely, pointing backwards; the anterior is circular. The upper jaw is protractile ; both jaws are armed with numerous very minute teeth. The tongue has a row of very delicate teeth upon its sides. The preoperculum is serrated posteriorly and inferiorly, the serrations upon the inferior edge being much the larger. ‘The oper- culum has at its posterior edge a sharp spinous process, and above this, separated by an emargination, is an obtuse point. The scales upon their exposed surface are covered with minute dots, like those of the lips and tongue; they are denticulated at their edge. Seven scales are found in an oblique line from the lateral line to the origin of the first dorsal fin. The lateral line, which is very distinct, commences just beneath the subscapular bone, and, rising a little at first, pursues nearly a straight course, from a line opposite the commencement of the first dorsal, to the tail, including 55 scales. The first dorsal fin arises opposite the anterior half of the pectorals, and is entirely composed of spinous rays; the first of these is the shortest, and the fourth the longest ; the fin is about half as long as high. The membrane of the last ray of this fin is continued to the base of the first ray of the second dorsal, which is nearly quadrangular, VOL. V. NEW SERIES. 9 58 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. and is composed of soft rays, with the exception of the first, whose height is about two thirds that of the next. ‘This fin is longer than high. The pectorals are quite broad when expanded; in height they are equal to the length of the second dorsal. The ventrals are just back of the pectorals ; their height is equal to that of the pectorals. The anal arises on a line with the fifth ray of the second dorsal. Its height and length are equal. It terminates on the same plane with the second dorsal. The second spinous ray is very stout. The caudal is considerably emarginated ; the depth at its base is equal to half the depth of extremity when expanded. The fin rays are as follows: —D.9.1-12. P.15. V.1-5. A.3-9. C. 173. Length 12 to 15 inches. Remarks. ‘This species is brought to Boston market in the spring and autumn, from the mouths of the neighboring rivers, and the ponds to which the sea has access. By the fishermen it is known as the “ White Perch.” Its usual weight is about half a pound. December 12th, 1837, I saw a specimen in Boston market which measured fifteen inches in length, and weighed one pound and three quarters, and its stomach contained a specimen of the shiner, Leuciscus chrysoleucas, more than five inches long. Found in New Brunswick, Pertey; Maine, Massachusetts, Storer ; Connecticut, Ayres, Linsey ; New York, Mircuitt, Cuvier, Dexay ; South Carolina, Dexay. Although the Labrax pallidus of Dekay was introduced in my “‘ Synopsis ” as belonging to this State, I am inclined to think the two species above described to be the only ones we possess ; and that perhaps the pallidus and rufus may prove to be one and the same. GENUS III. CENTROPRISTES, Cov. A single dorsal fin; branchiostegous rays seven; all the teeth small and crowded ; no canines. Their preoperculum is dentated, and the operculum spinous. CENTROPRISTES VARIUS, Storer. The Black Sea-Bass or Perch. (Piate II. Fic. 4.) Perca varia, Mircuttt, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 415, pl. 3, fig. 6. Centropristes nigricans, Grir¥Fitn’s Cuy , x. p. 117. Le Centropriste noir, Centropristes nigricans, Cuy. et VAL., 111. pp. 37, 44. HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 59 Centropristes nigricans, Régne Animal, ed. Vat., pl. 9, a, fig. 1. “ ue Black Perch, Black Sea-Bass, Storer, Report, p. 9. & 66 Black Sea-Bass, Dexay, Report, p, 24, pl. 11, fig. 5. & — Linstey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. “ ae Srorer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 287. J Us Srorer, Synopsis, p. 35. (Lutjanus trilobus, Lack&p. ?) Color. Of a dark brown, almost black, above ; lighter beneath; of the head, sea or bronze green. In some specimens, after death, there is a greenish tinge upon the abdomen, and a bluish one upon the top and back of head. The dorsal and anal fins are white; the former crossed by black bars, the latter marked by fuliginous blotches. The pectorals are of a leaden color, varied with dark brown; the membrane of the ventrals is white, while the rays are nearly black. Description. Body elongated, compressed ; convex in front of the dorsal fin. Great- est depth of body equal to one fourth the length of the fish. Length of head to the posterior angle of the operculum equal to rather more than one third the length of the fish. Head, between and in front of eyes, without scales. Scales upon the sides of the body large; small upon the preopercle, and at the base of the tail. Eyes of moderate size. Nostrils double, situated just anterior to the superior anterior angle of the eyes ; the anterior is tubular; the posterior much the larger. Jaws equal in length, armed with a great number of minute, sharp, card-like teeth ; upper jaw protractile. Lips fleshy. ‘The whole posterior edge of the preoperculum is denticulated ; the inferior edge is serrated. A flat, sharp spine is situated at the posterior angle of the operculum, below which is a broad, fleshy elongation projecting beyond it, the posterior portion of which is destitute of scales. By the union of the opercle and interopercle, a slight notch is produced. Humeral bone denticulated. The lateral line, which is of a dark color, arises at the lower edge of the humeral bone, and assumes the curve of the body. The dorsal fin arises on a line with the base of the pectorals; its first ten rays are spinous. At the posterior portion of each of these spines, suspended from the upper edge of the connecting membrane, is a small fleshy tentacle. The first ray is shortest, the fourth longest. The eleven fleshy rays are higher than the spinous ones, artic- ulated and bifid ; this portion extends farther back than the anal fin. The pectorals arise just below the fleshy projection of the operculum ; they are fan- shaped, quite broad when expanded, and rounded posteriorly. The ventrals are just in front of the pectorals; the middle rays are longest ; their length equal to that of the pectorals. The anal fin commences back of the soft rays of the dorsal; the first three rays are spinous. Fin higher than long. 60 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. The caudal is slightly convex at its centre, and its upper portion projects beyond the lower. It is scaled quite high upon its rays, which are bifid and articulated. The fin rays are as follows: —D. 10-11. P.17 or 18 V.1-5. A.3-7. C, 17 or 18. Length about one foot. Remarks. This species, which is known among our fishermen as the “ Black Bass ” and ‘“ Black Fish,” is taken in large numbers in the months of May, June, and July at Holmes’s Hole, and carried to the New York market, where it is considered one of the most valuable fishes, and meets with a ready sale. While visiting Gay-Head in August, 1846, I learned that this species had become much less abundant there than formerly. Thirty years since, it was not an uncommon circumstance for sixty sail of vessels to be fishing about Gay-Head at a time. And even fifteen years ago, this species was quite numerous; but several years since it disappeared almost entirely. ‘They are beginning to reappear again within the last two or three years, but are quite small. They are taken about ledges in deep water, and weigh from five to eight pounds. They seldom wander into Massachusetts Bay ; the few that are met with in Boston ‘market are brought from New Bedford. July Ist, 1846, a specimen was taken at Nahant. Massachusetts, Storer. New York to Florida, Dexay. This is evidently Mitchill’s Perca varia, and I have therefore retained his specific name. GENUS IV. POMOTIS, Cov. A few denticulations, more or less obvious, on the borders of the preoperculum. Palatines and tongue smooth, and without teeth. Minute teeth on the jaws, vomer, and pharyngeals, Branchial rays, six. A membranous elongation at the angle of the operculum. Pomotis vuLaaris, Cuv. The Bream. (Puate Ill. Fic. 1.) Le Pomotis Commun, Pomotis vulgaris, Cuy. et Vat., 111. p. 91, pl. 49, et vit. p. 465. Pomotis vulgaris, Régne Animal, ed. Vat., pl. 10, fig. 3. ae ce Northern Pomotis, Ricu., Fauna Boreal. Americ., ut. p. 24, pl. 76. U2 3 Jarvine, Nat. Lib., 1. p. 162. - cs Fresh-water Sun-fish, Pond Perch, Bream, Store, Report, p. 11. U C Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1v. p. 258. ee g: Sun-fish, Roach, Kirttanp, Report on Zodl. of Ohio, p. 191. ue ce Harlequin Roach, Kirrianp, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 11. p. 470, pl. 28, fig. 2. os ce Tuomrson, History of Vermont, p. 130. ss x Common Pond-fish, Dexay, Report, p. 31, pl. 51, fig. 166. ce se Linstey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. sf ce Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, 1. p. 292. a 03 Srorer, Synopsis, p. 40. os i Acassiz, Lake Superior, p. 293. HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS: 61 Color. Greenish-brown above, with irregularly distributed rusty blotches; in some specimens a certain regularity is observed in the arrangement of these blotches, pro- ducing longitudinal bands along the sides. Beautiful, undulating, longitudinal deep- blue lines across gill-covers. Opercular membrane black, with a bright scarlet blotch at its posterior portion. Abdomen whitish. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins dark brown. Ventrals and pectorals yellowish. Description. Body compressed, oval. The back curves very gradually as far as the posterior extremity of the dorsal fin, then abruptly gives place to the fleshy portion of the tail. Head less than one fourth the length of the body. Eyes large, circular. Nostrils double, the anterior tubular. Mouth small; teeth very minute and sharp. The edge of the preopercle very finely denticulated. The lateral line arises at the upper posterior edge of the operculum, and, assuming the curve of the body, is lost at the base of the caudal rays. Scales upon the body large, dentated at their bases; those at the base of the fins, small. The soft portion of the dorsal fin is highest and rounded posteriorly. The ex- tremities of the spines of the anterior portion of this fin project above the connecting membrane ; attached to them are small tubercles. ‘The first dorsal spine is shortest ; the fourth and fifth spines are the longest. The pectorals are long, when extended reaching the soft portion of the dorsal fin. The anal terminates on a line with the dorsal. The caudal is emarginate. The fin rays are as follows: —D. 10-12. P. 13. V.1-5. A. 3-10. C. 17. Length rarely exceeds eight inches. Remarks. As Agassiz, in his work on Lake Superior, considers our species as dis- tinct from that which is known in the Southern States by the same scientific name, I have omitted several references in my list of synonymes which were retained in my ‘¢ Synopsis.” It is a common species in the ponds of the various portions of the State, and is taken with the Perca flavescens, Leuciscus chrysoleucas, Esox reticulatus, &c. By many it is considered a very sweet fish, although it is but seldom brought to market. It is known by the names of “ Bream,” “ Ruff,” “ Pumpkin-seeds,” and ‘¢ Kivers.” They build circular nests by removing the weeds from the bottom, and excavating the sand or gravel to so great an extent that they are often two feet in width and a half foot in depth, ‘They are commonly placed near each other, and sometimes in so shallow water that the usual falling of the river in summer will leave them dry. In this way, besides the ordinary chance of falling a prey to the appetite of other fishes, a 62 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. large proportion of the species is yearly destroyed. In its care of the nest, it is very assiduous, and at this time it can be not only closely observed, but sometimes even handled, without its deserting its charge. New Brunswick, Pertry. Massachusetts, Srorer. Vermont, THompson, Con- necticut, Ayres, Linstey. New Hampshire, H. R. Srorer. New York, Mircuttt, Dexay. Ohio, Kirttanp. Kentucky, Rar. The Great Canadian Lakes, Ricnarpson, Pomotis appendix, Dekay. The Red-tailed Bream. (Pxate Ill. Fie. 4.) Labrus appendix, Black-cared Pond-fish, MircurL1, Supp. to Amer. Month. Mag., 11. p. 247. Pomotis appendix, Dexay, Report, p. 32. “ 6 Linsey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. Pomotis rubri-cauda, Red-tailed Pomotis, Storer, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1v. p. 177. & “ Liystey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. Pomotis appendiz, Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 294, 4. as Srorer, Synopsis, p. 42. Color. When alive, of a general rusty brown, or in some specimens golden brown, more strongly marked above the middle of the body by ferruginous spots being densely distributed along the scales; these spots are more sparse and more distinct below the lateral line; the body, beneath and in front of the ventral fins, of a blood-red color ; the throat is bluish-white. A bluish-white undulating line runs from the upper jaw just beneath the eye, across the operculum and beneath the opercular membrane to its posterior extremity ; a second line of a similar character arises just above this, and, interrupted by the eye, again commences back of it, and passes over the opercular membrane; so that the membranous appendage of the operculum, which is broad, rounded posteriorly, and of a uniform black color, is between these lines. Beneath the undulating lines just spoken of are bluish-white blotches irregularly distributed upon the preoperculum, some of them passing downwards towards its lower edge. Pupils black, irides red. The dorsal fin is anteriorly of a dark-brown color; its posterior membranous portion is red. The ventrals are red at their base and black at ex- tremities. The pectorals are of a yellowish-brown color. The anal is yellowish at its base and fuliginous at its margin. The caudal is of a blood-red color. After death, the body becomes of a bluish-gray color ; the abdomen changes to orange ; the ex- tremities of the ventrals are purple; and the tail is rust-colored, livid posteriorly. Description. Length of head, including the opercular membrane, equal to about one third the length of the body; greatest depth of fish, exclusive of the dorsal and anal fins, equal to more than one third the length of the body. The head, between ——— HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 63 and in front of the eyes, is naked. The eyes are circular; their diameter less than the distance between them. Gape of mouth large. The posterior nostril is the longer. ‘The lateral line commences above, and in front of, the base of the opercular membrane, and assumes the arch of the body. The dorsal fin commences above the posterior portion of the opercular membrane ; its first and second spines are the shortest; the membranous portion is rounded above and posteriorly. The pectorals are broad and rounded. The rays of the ventrals are multifid. The soft portion of the anal is rounded along its entire margin. The caudal fin is somewhat emarginated. The fin rays are as follows: —D.10 to 11-9toll. P.11to12. V. 1-5. A. 3-9 to 10. C. 18. Length about six inches. Remarks. ‘The specimens I have seen of this species were sent me from Concord, by Mr. Edward 8. Hoar; they were taken with P. vulgaris. Although Mitchill, in his description of the Labrus appendix, makes no mention of the color of the fins, which is a striking character, it agrees in other particulars so nearly with the species before me, that I cannot but think they are identical; and therefore suppress here, as I have previously done in my Synopsis, my specific name of “ rubri-cauda.” Massachusetts, Srorer. New York, Mircuict. The Genus Sphyrena, which has usually been included in the Family Percide, will be introduced hereafter in a different group. FAMILY Il TRIGLIDA. Contains a numerous series of fish, to which the singular appearance of their head, variously bristled and covered with armor, gives a peculiar physiognomy. ‘Their general character consists in having the suborbitar bone more or less extended over the cheek, and articulated behind with the preoperculum. GENUS IJ. PRIONOTUS, Cov. Pectorals very large, with numerous rays. A band of even teeth on the palatines. 64 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. Prionotus tineatus, Dekay. The Banded Gurnard. (Pirate V. Fic. 4.) Trigla lineata, Gurnard or Sea-Robin, Mitcui11, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 430, pl. 4, fig. 4. Le Prionote strié, Prionotus strigatus, Cuy. et VAL., tv. p. 86. Prionotus strigatus, Régne Animal, ed. Vat, pl. 20, fig. 2. ue Ke Sea-Robin, Gurnard, Grunter, Storer, Report, p. 12. se Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., rv. p. 258. € a Linstey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. Prionotus lineatus, Banded Gurnard, Dexay, Report, p. 45, pl. 4, fig. 12. ae C3 Srorer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 302. « oC Storer, Synopsis, p. 50. Color. The recent specimen is of a reddish-brown color above, and the entire surface, including the head, is covered with numerous black dots. ‘The gill-covers and intermaxillaries in some specimens are orange. ‘The dead fish is of a slate- color above the lateral line, with a few black dots irregularly distributed over its surface, the sides are lighter, with a reddish tint; abdomen white. Beneath the lateral line, and parallel to it, runs a broader brownish line, which arises under the humeral spine ; this line is broken at its posterior extremity with interrupted points or spots. Beneath the anterior portion of this line are several broken brown bands. The first dorsal fin is of a light reddish tint, with a black blotch upon the upper portion of the membrane between the fourth and fifth, or third, fourth, and fifth rays. The anterior edge of the first three rays barred with black. ‘The second dorsal is reddish. The pectorals are fuliginous beneath and reddish above ; fuliginous also in centre of upper portion, with numerous transverse black lines, which are more obvious at the base of the fin. The ventrals are white. Description. Head broader than the body; its length rather less than one third the length of the fish; its depth equal to more than half its length, and made up of seven distinct bony plates, which form a perfect helmet of defence. The whole upper part of the head, the occiput, the space between the eyes, and the portion anterior to the snout, are composed of one plate; this portion is roughened throughout its whole extent by irregular corrugations, and terminates posteriorly in two strong, very acute spines ; at the upper anterior and posterior angles of the eyes, minute spines are also observed. This plate is emarginated anteriorly, deeply truncated posteriorly. The operculum is a distinct plate, of an irregularly triangular form, having two spines at its posterior extremity ; the lower larger and pointing directly back, the upper pointing obliquely upwards ; this plate is covered with elevated strie radiating from the anterior portion towards the circumference, and is separated from the preopercle by a membrane, HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 65 which renders it movable; its margin is bordered by a wide membrane. The pre- operculum is rather small and is triangular, slightly movable, and divided at its lower portion by a horizontal, serrated, bony ridge, which terminates posteriorly in a naked spine ; beneath this ridge, the inferior portion is corrugated and granulated ; from the base of the preopercle, radii diverge to its upper portion. Suborbitar bones roughened like the top of the head; cheek-bones covered with elevated strie, slightly serrated upon their whole lower margin, and strongly serrated anteriorly on each side of the snout. A strong ridge upon the humeral bone, serrated on its under edge, terminating in a naked spine. All the spines upon the head are much more acute in young specimens. In front of the emargination of the frontal bony plate is a naked mem- branous portion, equal in width to the distance between the eyes; in this space, half way between the eyes and the extremity of the snout, are situated the nostrils, the posterior of which is the larger. Eyes oblong; longest diameter equal to the distance between the eyes. Jaws armed with numerous, small, card-like teeth; upper jaw projecting beyond the lower. Tongue colorless, fleshy. The lateral line arises above the posterior angle of the operculum, and, curving slightly downwards to a line op- posite the space between the dorsal fins, thence pursues a straight course to the tail. The first dorsal fin is situated in a groove which partially receives it when closed, and arises just back of a line with the termination of the occipital spines; it is longer than high. Its first ray is spinous, and serrated upon its entire anterior edge; the second and third rays are serrated at their upper anterior portion; the third and fourth rays are the longest. It is composed of ten spinous rays; the three posterior are exceedingly small, and look like isolated spines, between the fins. The second dorsal is one third longer than high; its rays are bifid, and their tips slightly project beyond the connecting membrane. The pectorals are very broad when expanded, and are one third the length of the body. On a line with the base of the pectorals, beneath them, are three fleshy appendages, somewhat similar in their appearance to the fin rays, though larger, and of equal size throughout their entire length; the upper, which is the longest, is equal to half the length of the pectorals. The ventrals are situated beneath the base of the pectorals; their longest rays are equal to two thirds the length of the pectorals ; the connecting membrane is emar- ginated between the tips of the rays. The first ray is spinous, and shorter than the others. The anal fin arises back of, and terminates posteriorly to, the second dorsal, which fin it equals in length. VOL. V. NEW SERIES. 10 66 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS, The caudal is composed of stout articulated rays, and is nearly straight at its ex- tremity. The fin rays are as follows: —D.9 to 10-12 to 13. P.12to13. V.6. A. 10. C. 124. Length, a foot to 18 inches. Remarks. This pretty species, which is much more common than the P. Carolinus, is frequently taken in the Vineyard Sound while fishing for Scapaug (P. argyrops), but is not used as an article of food. Massachusetts, Srorer. Connecticut, Ayres. New York, Mircuitt, Cuvier, Dekay. PRIONOTUS PALMIPES, Storer. The Web-fingered Gurnard. (Prate V. Fic. 1.) Trigla Carolina, Lin., p. 528, Cuy. et Vav. Trigla palmipes, Web-fingered Gurnard, Mitcuitt, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 431, pl. 4, fig. 5. Le Prionote de la Caroline, Prionotus Carolinus, Cuy. et VAL., tv. p. 90. Prionotus Carolinus, Web-fingered Grunter, Storer, Report, p. 14. - = Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., rv. p- 258. & “ « Web-fingered Gurnard, Dexay, N. Y. Report, p. 46, pl. 5, fig. 15. ee Ye Linsey, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. « a Srorer, Mem. of Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 303. ae “ Storer, Synopsis, p. 51. Color. When first taken, the body above is of a reddish-brown color, with irregular blotches and shadings of a darker brown appearing like indistinct transverse white bands across the dorsum; beneath nearly white. Branchial membrane fuliginous ; margined anteriorly and posteriorly with white. The connecting membrane of the first dorsal is transparent, slightly dusky, marked by oblique white lines, and has a large dark-brown spot, the greater portion of which is between the fourth and fifth rays; in young specimens this spot is confined entirely to the space between the fourth and fifth spines. The second dorsal is of a dull white color, marked by interrupted longitudinal orange bands. The pectorals are reddish-brown above, slate-colored be- neath, with the exception of the two posterior rays, which are white. The pectoral appendages are reddish-brown at their base, and orange at extremities. The ventrals are reddish-white above, white beneath. The anal is of the same general color as the second dorsal. Description. Length of head rather less than one fourth the length of the entire fish ; width of head more than half its length. ‘The armature of the head is very similar to that of P. lineatus, and yet there are striking differences; the several bones HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 67 are less deeply furrowed and ridged, appearing more like shagreen ; at the anterior angle of the eye are three distinct spines. The occipital spines are not so acute as in P. lineatus, but are the terminations of carine in two arrow-shaped plates of bone; in P. lineatus, there is a small spine at the posterior angle of the eye; in this species are two elevated ridges which run posteriorly; these ridges are not prominent in the immature fish. Nostrils of moderate size; the anterior the larger. Eyes high up on the head. Sides of snout strongly serrated. Jaws armed with numerous card- like teeth; the upper jaw the longer. The lateral line, arising between the occipital spine and the posterior superior edge of the operculum, is very indistinct throughout its whole course, but more so at its origin, and is continued ‘in a straight line to the middle of the base of the tail. The first dorsal fin is situated in a deep groove. The whole anterior edge of the first three rays is serrated, and the upper portion of the fourth. The second dorsal is nearly straight upon its margin. The pectorals are large, broad, rounded, and about one third the length of the body. Just in front of and beneath the pectorals are three fleshy appendages, widened at extremities; the posterior the largest. ‘The anal commences just back of, and termi- nates upon the same plane with, the second dorsal. The caudal is lunated. The fin rays are as follows: — D. 9 or 10-13. P.130r14. V.6. A.12. C. 124. Length 15 to 18 inches. Remarks, This species is much more rare than the P. lineatus. It was well de- scribed by Mitchill, who makes no mention of its infrequency in the waters of New York; but Dekay remarks, that in the course of twenty years he had not met with more than six or eight specimens. As one of its names implies, it is a Southern spe- cies. Individuals are not unfrequently taken in the Vineyard Sound, during the entire summer, while fishing for Tautog. It is caught in deeper water than P. lineatus. Dr. Yale informed me that he had eaten this species, which, when skinned and boiled, is quite palatable. Occasionally this species is captured north of Cape Cod. In September, 1840, I received from Captain Nathaniel Blanchard of Lynn a specimen twelve inches in length, taken in a net at Green Island; and Henry Sheafe, Esq., of this city, the next year sent the Boston Society of Natural History two specimens which were captured at Phillips’s Point, Lynn. I have also seen two or three other individuals in the market, which have been caught in Massachusetts Bay. The speci- men here described is the largest of those I had the good fortune to procure while on a visit at Tisbury, in August, 1846. Mr. Ayres, in his enumeration of the Fishes 68 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. of Brookhaven, L. I., contained in the fourth volume of the “ Boston Journal of Natural History,” when speaking of this species, says: ‘‘ When at rest, they lie on the bottom, with their broad pectorals sometimes spread and sometimes closed ; in swimming, however, the pectorals are closed and flat upon the body. If alarmed by the approach of a boat or any other object, they bury themselves so completely in the sand, that a very close observation is necessary to detect them. ‘This concealment is effected by a rapid lateral movement of the body, which displaces the sand from beneath, and causes it to fall upon their sides and back, covering them entirely, except the eyes and top of the head. Probably they often resort to this manoeuvre when approached by the large fish which feed upon them.” Massachusetts, Srorer. Connecticut, Ayres. New York, Mrrcnity, Cuvier, Dexay. Carolina, Cuvier. Although this species was supposed by Cuvier to be the 7’rigla Carolina of Linneus, I am compelled to reject his specific name, as his description is altogether too indefinite to identify the fish, He makes no mention of the characteristic palmation of the pec- toral appendages. Prionotus PILatus, Storer. (Prate VI. Fie. 1.) Prionotus pilatus, Storer, Proceedings of Bost. Soc. of Nat. Hist., 1. p. 77, 1845. a “ Srorer, Mem. of Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 522.