A MANUAL OF THE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES INCLUDING THE DISTRICT NORTH AND EAST OP THE OZARK MOUNTAINS, SOUTH OP THE LAURENTIAN HILLS, NORTH OF THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OP VIRGINIA, AND EAST OP THE MISSOURI RIVER INCLUSIVE OF MARINE SPECIES BY DAVID STARR JORDAN PRESIDENT OF LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY EIGHTH EDITION NEWLY REVISED AND ENLARGED CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG AND COMPANY 1899 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY COPYRIGHT BY JANSEN, MCCLURG, AND Co. A. D. 1876, 1878 COPYRIGHT BY A. C. MCCLURG AND Co. A. D. l888, 1899 :GY rp , L;* PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. THIS book is designed to give to students and collectors a ready means of identifying the Vertebrate fauna of the region which it covers, and of recognizing the characters on which the families, genera, and species of these ani- mals are founded. To these ends, I have made use of a system of analyti- cal keys by which differential characters are brought into contrast. The usefulness of such keys has long been recognized by botanists, and in ornithology the recent works of Coues and Ridgway have proved their value to the student. That the book might not reach a size too large for field or class use, I have made all descriptions very concise, with as few repetitions as possible. I have confined the generic characters to the analytical keys, using as a rule only such characters as are distinctive as well as descrip- tive. The need of condensation has caused the omission of synonymy, and of references to authorities except in special cases. In the first four editions of this work (1876, 1878, 1880y 1884), large use was made of artificial characters in the analyses of the genera. The use of such characters is often a help to quick identification of species, but with the disadvantage of hiding from the student the real char- acters on which classification is based. In the present edition, these artificial keys have been chiefly set aside, 333 11 PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. and I have tried, with more or less of success, to set be- fore the student the essential characters of each group. The present edition is wholly re-written and it is printed from new stereotype plates. The order of ar- rangement is reversed, the lowest forms being placed first. The region covered by the Manual has been extended in the present edition so as to include, in addition, Mis- souri, Iowa, Minnesota, the Provinces of Canada, and the sea-coast from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. The deep- sea fishes of this region are, however, omitted, as well as the tropical and semi-tropical forms which occasionally drift northward in the Gulf Stream, without gaining any permanent place in the northern fauna. Several species of birds which have been once or twice taken in our limits, but which are merely accidental wanderers from the West or South or from Europe, have also been omitted. I have wished to include only those animals which really form a part of the fauna of the region in question. I have made free use of every available source of infor- mation, and I believe that the present state of our knowl- edge in this field is fairly represented. The arrangement of the fishes is essentially that of Jordan and Gilbert's " Synopsis of the Fishes of North America " (1883), and, almost exactly that of Jordan's " Catalogue of the Fishes of North America " (1885). The manuscript of the fresh water fishes, in the present edition, has been carefully re- vised by Prof. Charles H. Gilbert. The arrangement of the Batrachians and Reptiles is essentially that set forth in the various papers of Prof. Edward D. Cope. I have made use of Boulenger's Cata- logues of the Keptiles in the British Museum, and of the " Catalogue of North American Batrachia and Keptilia " by N. S. Davis and Frank L. Rice. The manuscripts of the Reptiles and Batrachians have been revised by Prof. O. P. Hay. PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. Ill In the nomenclature and classification of the Birds, I have followed exactly the " Check List of North Ameri- can Birds/7 published by the American Ornithologists' Union. In the preparation of analytical keys to the genera of Birds, I have made large use of Ridgway's " Manual of North American Birds,'7 and of Coues7 " Key to North American Birds.77 In the arrangement of the Mammals, I have been guided primarily by Professor Baird's " History of North American Mammals.'7 In the Kodentia, I have made use of the elaborate monographs of Dr. Elliott Coues and Dr. J. A. Allen ; and in the other groups reviewed by Dr. Coues, I have adopted most of his conclusions. In the Cetaceans, I have used chiefly the papers of Mr. Frederick W. True and Prof. E. D. Cope, and both these naturalists have kindly furnished me with unpublished catalogues of the species recognized by them. In the preparation of the present edition I am also personally indebted for aid in various ways to Prof. Ed- ward D. Cope, Mr. Leonhard Stejneger, Prof. Charles H. Gilbert, Prof. Oliver P. Hay, Mr. Frederick W. True, Mr. Robert Eidgway, Mr. Amos W. Butler, Dr. J. Sterling Kingsley, Mr. Charles H. Bollman, Dr. Stephen A. Forbes, Mr. Barton W. Evermann, and others. I may again refer to the obligations acknowledged in the earlier edition, — especially to my indebtedness to Dr. Elliott Coues, Dr. Theodore Gill, Dr. G. Brown Goode, Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, Prof. Herbert E. Copeland, and Mr. Edward W. Nelson. DAVID S. JORDAN. BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, June, 1888. PREFATORY NOTE TO EIGHTH EDITION. THE present edition is printed from the same plates as the fifth edition, published in 1890. The decade which closes the century has seen greater activity in the study of species of animals and their relation to their environment than has been known in any other corresponding period in the world's history. Such study has given much greater precision to our knowledge of the characters and the dis- tribution of species, with the minor results of the recogni- tion of synonyms, and the correction of nomenclature by its establishment on the solid basis of priority. Most of the recent changes in the scientific names of animals are due to the use of the earliest name given to the species, instead of some later one applied through error of one sort or another. To bring the present work up to date, it is necessary to change these antedated names, but there is no correspond- ing change, in most cases, in the definitions of the genera and species themselves. It has therefore seemed unneces- sary to ask the publishers to incur the great expense of resetting the type for a new edition. I have indicated in an appendix the principal additions and alterations which seem necessary in the group of Fishes. By the applica- tion of these corrections the nomenclature of this group will be made to correspond to that of Jordan & Ever- mann's Fishes of North and Middle America (4 parts: part 1, published 1897; parts 2 and 3, 1898; part 4 in 1899), to which elaborately illustrated work students are referred for further details. VI PKEFATORY NOTE TO EIGHTH EDITION. The corrections in the Reptiles and Batrachians have been made on the plates, from data kindly furnished by Dr. Leonard Stejneger, and Dr. Oliver P. Hay of the Smithsonian Institution, and by Dr. John Van Denburgh of the California Academy of Sciences. A few additional species are inserted in an appendix, the descriptions having been furnished by Dr. Stejneger. " The Birds " is revised to follow the generally accepted nomenclature of the American Ornithologists' Union. " The Mammals " has been fully revised and is printed from new plates. The nomenclature has been carefully corrected in accordance with the views of Mr. T. S. Palmer of the Department of Agriculture. "The Cetaceans" has been revised by Mr. Frederick W. True of the United States National Museum. Two of my own students, Mr. William Weightman Price and Mr. Walter Kenrick Fisher, have assisted me in the revision of the account of the Mammals and the compila- tion of the additional descriptions needed to bring the work fairly up to date. DAVID STARR JORDAN. LELAND STANFORD JR. UNIVERSITY, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA. March, 1899. THE VEKTEBEATE ANIMALS OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES. VERTEBRATA. (THE VERTEBRATES.) THE Vertebrates are, in popular language, " animals with a back-bone." They are distinguished from all other animals, says Professor Huxley, " by the circumstance that a transverse and vertical section of the body exhibits two cavities, completely sep- arated from one another by a partition. The dorsal cavity contains the cerebro-spinal nervous system ; the ventral, the alimentary canal, the heart, and, usually, a double chain of ganglia, which passes under the name of the * sympathetic/ A vertebrated ani- mal may be devoid of articulated limbs, and it never 'possesses more than two pairs. These are always provided with an internal skeleton, to which the muscles moving the limbs are attached." Modern researches have shown that, besides the ordinary " back- boned animals," certain other creatures, formerly considered as Mollusks or Worms, are really degenerate forms of Vertebrates, and must be considered as members, or at least as associates, of this group. The resemblance to the other Vertebrates on the part of the forms in question is seen in their early or larval develop- ment, and scarcely at all in the adult condition. " Many of the species start in life with the promise of reaching a point high in the scale, but after a while they turn around, and, as one might say, pursue a downward course, which results in an adult which dis- plays but few resemblances to the other vertebrates." (Kingsley.} These are the Tunicates or Ascidians, forming the Class or Prov- ince of " Urochordata." The essential character of the Vertebrata, in the broad sense of the term, is now understood to be this : " The 6 VERTEBRATA. possession of a cellular cord, — the * notochord,' — which runs un- derneath the central nervous system, and which in the higher forms is surrounded by the permanent vertebral column and skull, and is largely obliterated by the development of these structures. So the term CHORDATA is frequently employed as synonymous with VER- TEBRATA in its wide sense." (R. R. Wright.) Without further discussion of the VERTEBRATA or "CHOR- DATA" as a whole, we may proceed to the account of the several subordinate groups or classes. The existing forms may first be divided into about six primary groups, which have been called " provinces " by Professor Huxley. These are (I) the Uroclwr- data, including the class Tunicata ; (II) the Hemichordata or En- teropneusta ; (III) the Cephalochordata, corresponding to the class Leptocardii : (IV) the Ichthyopsida, including the classes of Cyclo- stomi, 'Pisces, and Batrachia ; (V) the Sauropsida, including the Reptilia and Aves ; and finally (VI) the Mammalia, correspond- ing to the single class of the same name. The relations of these provinces and classes are shown in the following analysis taken, in part, from Dr. Gill's " Arrangement of the Families of Fishes." Only the more obvious characters are here mentioned. Others may be found in the more elaborate works on Comparative Anatomy. Analysis of the Classes of Chordata. a. Anterior end of the central nervous axis not dilated into a brain, and not surrounded by a protective capsule or skull. b. Notochord confined to the tail and usually present only in the tadpole- like larval stage of the animal (UROCHORDATA) : adult animal not fish-like nor worm-like, its body invested with a tough envelope or "tunic." TUNICATA, A. bb. Notochord not confined to the tail, but extending forward to the anterior end of the body; sides of body with numerous gill slits which are persistent through life. d. Notochord developed in anterior end of body only (HEMICHOR- DATA) : adult animal worm-like, without trace of fins ; a long proboscis before the mouth ENTEROPNEUSTA, B. dd. Notochord perfect, continued forward to a point before the mouth (CEPHALOCHORDATA) : body elongate, lanceolate, somewhat fish- like in form, not worm-like nor enveloped in a "tunic"; middle line of body with rudimentary fins; no proboscis; the mouth slit- like, fringed with cirri LEPTOCARDII, C. CM. Anterior end of the nervous axis dilated into a "brain," which is con- tained within a protective capsule, the " skull " ; notochord not continued forwards beyond the pituitary body; heart developed and divided into at least two parts, an auricle and a ventricle. (CRA- NIOTA.) e. Respiration during part or the whole of life performed by means of gills; blood cold. (ICHTHYOPSIDA.) VERTEBRATA. 7 f. Skull imperfectly developed and without jaws ; paired fins un- developed, with no shoulder girdle or pelvic elements ; a single median nostril ; gills purse-shaped; skin naked ; skeleton car- tilaginous CYCLOSTOMI, D. ff. Skull well developed, and with jaws; shoulder girdle and pelvic elements developed; nostrils not median. g. Limbs developed as rayed fins (rarely abortive) ; rayed fins nor- mally present on the median line of the body ; respiration throughout life by means of gills; lungs usually not developed. PISCES, E. gg. Limbs not developed as rayed fins, but, if present, having the same skeletal elements as in the higher vertebrates ; respiration in the adult chiefly accomplished by means of lungs, the gills usually not persistent ; skin usually naked BATRACHIA, F. ee. Respiration performed throughout life by means of lungs, the gill slits disappearing before birth. h. Mammary glands not present; diaphragm incomplete; a single occipital condyle ; oviparous (or sometimes ovoviviparous), the j^oung hatched from a rather large egg. (SAUROPSIDA.) i. Exoskeleton developed as scales or bony plates; blood cold; heart with three (rarely four) cavities. . . REPTILIA, G. ii. Exoskeleton developed as feathers; blood warm; heart with four cavities AVES, H. hk. Mammary glands present; the j'oung developed within the body from a minute egg (except in the Monotremata), and nourished for a time after birth by milk secreted in the mammary glands ; exoskeleton developed as hair; two occipital condyles; dia- phragm complete; heart with four cavities; blood warm. MAMMALIA, I. Of these classes, the Tunicata (A) and the Enteropneusta (B) are excluded from the plan of the present work. The Tunicata are all marine forms, of small size, the larger species being familiarly known as " Sea Squirts," " Sea Peaches," and " Sea Pears " ; but the most of them are without common names. A considerable number of species, representing several families, are found on our Atlantic coast. The Enteropneusta consist of the single genus Balanoglossus, a worm-like creature, of which two or three species are found on our coasts. They reach a length of six to twelve inches. They have been considered as worms having possible affinities with the Echinoderms, but the recent studies of Mr. William Bateson seem to show conclusively that their place is among the Chordata. Leaving these groups aside, we take up LEPTOCARDII : CIRROSTOMI. — I. CLASS C. — LEPTOCARDII. (THE LANCELETS.) Skeleton membrano-cartilaginous ; no brain ; no skull ; the noto- chord persistent and extending to front of body ; no heart, its place being taken by pulsating sinuses ; blood colorless ; respiratory cav- ity confluent with cavity of abdomen ; gill slits in great number ; the water expelled from an abdominal pore in front of vent ; no jaws; the mouth inferior, slit-like, with cirri on each side. (Gr. AeTTTos, thin ; Kapdia, heart.) ORDER I. CIRROSTOMI. The single order of this class contains but a single family. (Lat., cirrus, hair ; Gr. oro/xa, mouth.) FAMILY I. BRANCHIOSTOMATID^I. (THE LANCELETS.) Body elongate-lanceolate, compressed, naked, colorless, the fins represented by a low fold which extends along the back around the tail, past the vent, to the abdominal pore ; eye rudimentary ; liver a blind sac of the simple intestine. One genus, with 5 or 6 species ; small, translucent creatures found imbedded in the sand on warm coasts. These animals are highly interesting to the anatomist as showing the vertebrate type in its simplest condition. 1. BRANCHIOSTOMA Costa. (Amphioxus Yarrell.) gills ; ordfia, mouth.) 1. B. caribaeum Sundevall. LANCELET. Muscular bands (myocommas) 55 to 60 (37 -}- 14 -f- 9 = 60) ; tail short ; extremi- ties attenuate. (Otherwise as in the European B. lanceolatum, which has 56 to 60 myocommas; 35 -f- 12 -f- 13 = 60). X. Y. to S. A. buried in soft sand, locally abundant. (Name from Carib- bean Sea.) MYXINID.E. — II. CLASS D. CYCLOSTOMI. (THE MYZONTS.) Skeleton cartilaginous ; skull imperfect, not separate from ver- tebral column ; no jaws ; no limbs ; no ribs ; no shoulder girdle nor pelvic elements ; gills in the form of fixed sacs, 6 or more on each side ; nostril single, median ; mouth subinferior, nearly circular, adapted for sucking; heart without arterial bulb; alimentary canal straight, simple ; vertical fins with feeble rays. Naked, eel- shaped animals found in all cool waters. (Gr. KVK\OS, circle ; , fox). 12. G. maculatus (Ranzani). TIGER SHARK. Brown, with numerous large dark spots. L. 10 feet. Warm seas ; rarely N. to N. Y. (Lat., spotted.) ALOPIID.E. — VIII. 17 10. CARCHARHINUS Blainville. (Carcharias Cuvier.) (/tap^apos, rough ; ptVr/, shark.) (The largest genus of sharks, represented in most warm seas. It is often divided into several genera, but intergradations make it difficult to maintain these divisions. In young specimens the serration of the teeth is not evident.) a. First dorsal far behind pectoral, nearer root of ventral than that of pec- toral. (Carcharhinus.) 13. C. glaucus (L.). GREAT BLUE SHARK. Snout very long ; color grayish blue. A large shark, rare on our coast. (Eu.) (Lat., grayish blue.) aa. First dorsal not far behind pectoral. b. Upper teeth oblique; deeply notched on outer margin. (Platypodon Gill.) 14. C. obscurus (Le Sueur). Pectorals large; second dorsal evidently smaller than anal ; first dorsal large ; head pointed. L. 10 feet. N. Atl. Frequently on our coast. bb. Upper teeth sub-erect, triangular, scarcely notched at outer margin. (Eulamia Gill.) 15. C. caudatus (Dekay). Snout moderate, its length from mouth forward not less than width of mouth ; pectoral fin not very long. Atlantic coast : a little known species of uncertain synon- ymy. (Lat., long-tailed.) 11. SCOLIODON Miiller & Henle. ((TKoAtos, oblique ; oScoi/, tooth.) 16. S. terras-novae (Richardson). SHARP-NOSED SHARK. Body slender ; snout depressed ; mouth with short labial grooves on both jaws ; second dorsal smaller than anal ; gray, tail dusky- edged. West Indies, N. to Cape Cod, common S. (erroneously ascribed to Newfoundland). (Lat. terra, land; nova, new. New- foundland.) FAMILY VIII. ALOPIID^J. (THE THRESHER SHARKS.) Body rather slender ; snout short ; teeth equal, flat, triangular, entire ; gill openings moderate, the last above P. ; no nictitating membrane ; spiracles obsolete ; first dorsal large, second dorsal and anal very small ; tail about as long as rest of body ; no caudal keel ; pectorals falcate, very large. One species, a large shark, found in most warm seas, 12. ALOPIAS Rafinesqne. (dA^I, a fox.) 17. A. vulpes (Gmelin). THRESHER. SWINGLE-TAIL. Fox SHARK. Color gray. L. about 20 feet. Open sea ; occasionally on our coast. (EuS) 2 18 SELACHII: SQUALL — IV. FAMILY IX. CARCHARIID^3. (THE SAND SHARKS.) Body elongate, the snout sharp ; mouth wide, the teeth large, long, narrow, entire, very sharp, most of the teeth with one or two small cusps at base ; gill openings all in front of pectorals ; dorsals small, similar to the anal ; tail as in Galeorhinidce ; no nictitating membrane ; spiracles minute. One genus and 3 species ; rather small sharks, of the Atlantic. 13. C ARCH ARIAS Rafinesque. (Odontaspis Agassiz.) , jagged.) a. First and fourth teeth of the upper jaw, and first tooth of the lower without basal cusps. (Eugomphodus Gill.) 18. C. littoralis (Mitchill). SAND SHARK. Pectoral short. Color gray. L. 6 feet. Cape Cod to S. C., rather common N. A voracious little shark. (Lat., of the shore.) FAMILY X. LAMNID^E. (THE PORBEAGLES.) Body robust, contracted to a rather slender tail, which has a keel on each side ; caudal fin lunate, the lower lobe nearly as large as the upper, and not very different in form ; teeth large ; gill openings wide, all in front of pectorals ; first dorsal and pectorals large ; second dorsal and anal very small ; a pit at root of caudal v spiracles obsolete. Large, voracious sharks of the warm seas. Genera 3, species about 6. a. Teeth slender, sharp, with entire edges; tail very slender. 6. Teeth very slender, flexuous, without basal cusps . . . ISURUS, 14. bb. Teeth broader, most of them with a small cusp on each side at base. LAMNA, 15. aa. Teeth broad, compressed, triangular, distinctly serrate ; tail rather stout. CARCHARODON, 16. 14. ISURUS Rafinesque. (lo-oy, equal ; ovpd, tail.) a. First dorsal entirely behind pectorals, nearly midway between base of P. and V. (Isuropsis, Gill.) 19. I. dekayi (Gill). MACKEREL SHARK. Color bluish. L. 15 feet. W. I., rarely N. (For James E. Dekay, author of the Fauna of New York.) 15. LAMNA Cuvier. (Xa/ii/a, a kind of shark.) 20. L. cornubica (Gmelin). PORBEAGLE. MACKEREL SHARK. First dorsal close behind pectorals ; snout conical, sharp ; back elevated ; third tooth on each side in upper jaw small. L. 8 feet. Warm seas, frequently N. to Cape Cod. (Eu.) (Lat., pertaining to Cornwall.) SQUATINID.E. — XH. 19 16. CARCHARODON Andrew Smith, (xap^apos, jagged ; oba>v, tooth.) 21. C. carcharias (L.). MAN-EATER SHARK. GREAT WHITE SHARK. First dorsal somewhat behind pectorals. Color leaden- gray, P. edged with black. L. 25 feet. Most voracious of all sharks, and next in size to Cetorhinus, weighing nearly a ton. Warm seas, occasional off our coasts. Linnaeus says, " Jonam prophetam ut vete- res Herculem, in hujus trinoctem ventriculo tridui spateo, baesisse verosimile est." The fossil teeth of a far larger extinct species, Carcharodon megalodon, are often found in tertiary beds along our South Atlantic coast. (.Ew.) (icapxapias, old name of large sharks.) FAMILY XI. CETORHINID^. (THE BASKING SHARKS.) Largest of all fishes ; immense sharks with the gill openings ex- tremely wide, nearly meeting above and below ; mouth moderate ; teeth very small, numerous, conical, simple ; no nictitating mem- brane ; spiracles very small ; first dorsal and pectorals large ; sec- ond and anal small ; caudal lunate, the upper lobe the larger ; tail keeled on the side. One species, a huge, sluggish creature, found in Northern seas. 17. CETORHINUS Blainville. (^roy, whale ; pivrj, a shark.) 22. C. maximus (Gunner). BASKING SHARK. Head small, snout blunt. Gray. L. 35 feet ; depth nearly 6 feet. Open sea, S. to Va. (Eu.} FAMILY XII. SQUATINID^J. (THE ANGEL-FISHES.) Ray-like sharks, with the body depressed, the pectoral fins very large, expanded in the plane of the body, the anterior margin bear- ing some resemblance to the bend of the wing in birds ; ventrals very large ; dorsal fins two, small, subequal, behind ventrals ; cau- dal small ; no anal ; gill openings wide, subinferior, partly hidden by base of pectoral ; spiracles wide, crescent-shaped, behind eyes ; mouth and nostrils anterior ; teeth small, conical, pointed, distant. A single species, in most seas. The singularly formed pectoral fins give an absurd resemblance to the conventional pictures of angels. 18. SQUATINA Dumeril. (Rhina Giinther.) (Latin name, from squatus, skate.) 23. S. squatina (L.). ANGEL-FISH. MONK-FISH. Skin rough, with small, stiff prickles ; ashy gray above, usually much mottled. L. 3 or 4 feet. Warm seas, rarely N. (Eu.) ORDER V. KAI^]. (THE RAYS.) The Rays, as a whole, differ from the sharks in having the gill openings underneath the flat disk formed by the body and the 20 SELACHII: KALE. — V. expanded pectoral fins. The tail is comparatively slender, and its fins are small. Spiracles present. The Rajidce produce large eggs, enclosed in leathery cases; most of the other Raice, are ovovi- viparous, bringing forth their young alive. Families of Raise. «. Tail comparatively thick, with two dorsal fins ; no serrated caudal spine nor cephalic fins. b. Snout much produced, flat, armed with strong teeth on each side, set at right angles to its axis ; body somewhat shark-like, the disk grad- ually passing into the tail PRISTIDID.E, 13. bb. Snout not saw-like ; disk ending abruptly at base of tail. c. Electric organs wanting; skin not perfectly smooth. . RAJID.*:. 14. cc. Electric organs present ; a structure of hone3rcomb-like tubes between pectoral fins and head; skin perfectly smooth. . TOKPEDINID.E, 14. aa. Tail slender, with but one dorsal fin or none, and usually armed with a serrated spine. d. Pectoral fins uninterrupted, confluent about the snout; teeth small. DASYATID^E, 15. dd. Pectoral fins divided, leaving detached appendages ("cephalic fins ") on the snout. e. Teeth very large, flat, tessellated AETOBATID^E, 16. ee. Teeth very small, flat or tubercular ; size enormous, largest of the rays. MANTID^B, 17. FAMILY XIII. PRISTIDID^J. (THE SAW-FISHES.) Rays with elongate body, stout, thick tail, and a long saw-like snout, below which is the inferior mouth with small blunt teeth. Dorsals and caudal well developed. One genus, with 5 or 6 species, in warm seas. 19. PRISTIS Latham. (TT/JIO-T?;?, one who saws ; the ancient name.) 24. P. pectinatus Latham. SAW-FISH. Saw with 25 to 28 pairs of spines. L. 10 feet. West Indies; occasional!^". (Lat., comb-toothed.) FAMILY XIV. RAJIDCE. (THE SKATES.) Rays with the disk broad, rhombic, more or less rough; the males usually with about two rows of strong spines on each pec- toral ; tail rather stout, with a fold of skin on each side, and two dorsal fins above ; caudal fin small or obsolete ; no serrated spine ; no electric organs. Egg in a large leathery case, four-angled, and having two tubular horns at each end> Genera 4, species 40, mostly of the Northern seas. a. Caudal fin rudimentary ; pectorals not confluent, leaving a translucent area at the snout; ventrals deeply notched RAJA, 20. TORPEDINIM. — XV. 21 20. RAJA (Artedi) Linnaeus. (Raia or Raja, the Latin name.) a. Middle line of back and tail behind shoulders, unarmed in adult, with a row of spines in young; outline of disk before spiracles obtuse, without acute angle at tip of snout. b. Rows of teeth about -|£. 25. R. erinacea Mitchill. COMMON SKATE. TOBACCO-BOX. Spines largest on front of pectorals ; smaller ones on head, back, and shoulder girdle. Light brown, with round dark spots. L. 1£ feet. Smallest and commonest of our skates, from Va. northward. (Lat., hedge-hog.) bb. Rows of teeth about £ fi.. 26. R. ocellata Mitchill. BIG SKATE. Similar to preceding, but much larger, and with additional rows of spines along the back and on sides of tail. Light brown, with dark spots ; usually a large white ocellus with a dark centre on P. behind. L. 3 feet. Mass. X. oa. Middle line of back and tail with a row of spines at all ages ; outline of disk before spiracles forming a more or less marked angle at tip of snout. c. Angle at tip of snout short, obtuse; teeth 4.^.; body and tail with strong spines with broad stellate bases. 27. R. radiata Donovan. A median dorsal row of large spines or bucklers ; others about head. L. 1^ to 2 feet. N. Atl. ; rather rare, S. to Cape Cod. (Eu.) cc. Angle at tip of snout acute, moderately long; teeth JLO.; no coarse spines or bucklers. 28. R. eglanteria Lacepede. Prickles small and sharp ; a large spine on each shoulder. Brown, with darker bars and blotches. L. 2 feet. Cape Cod southward ; not common. (Eglantine, brier- rose.) ccc. Angle at tip of snout much produced, blunt; teeth M. 29. R. Isevis Mitchill. BARN-DOOR SKATE. Spines of body very few and small, on head and back ; a row of larger ones on median line of tail ; female rougher, as is usual among rays ; snout very long, somewhat spatulate. Color brownish, with paler spots mostly ringed with darker. L. 4 feet. Va. N. ; not rare. (Lat. smooth.) FAMILY XV. TORPEDINID^E. (THE ELECTRIC RAYS.) Trunk broad and smooth, the tail short and thick, with rayed caudal and usually two rayed dorsals, the first over or behind ven- trals ; a large electric organ made up of hexagonal tubes, between head and pectorals. Genera 6, species 15, found in most warm seas ; noted for their power of giving electric shocks. a. Dorsal fins two ; ventrals separate ; spiracle placed nearly an eye's diameter behind eye TORPEDO, 21. 22 SELACHII: RALE. — V. 21. TORPEDO Dumeril. 30. T. occidentalis Storer. TORPEDO. CRAMP-FISH. NUMB- FISH. Black, with obscure darker blotches; spiracles with entire edges. L. 3 to 5 feet. Cape Cod S. ; not common. FAMILY XVI. DASYATID^J. (THE STING-RAYS.) Disk broad, the pectorals confluent anteriorly, forming tip of snout ; tail, usually whip-like, sometimes short and stout, with or without fins, but never with two dorsals. Tail usually armed with a sharp, retrorsely serrate spine above, near the base (this often duplicated and sometimes wanting) : ventral fins entire. Skin smooth or variously rough, the adult roughest. Mouth small, with small teeth. Sexes similar. Genera 10, species 50, in most warm seas. The large spine or " sting " on the tail in most species may inflict a dangerous wound. a. Tail slender, whip-like, without caudal fin, longer than the disk; "sting " on tail strong DASYATIS, 22. aa. Tail very slender and short, shorter than the very broad disk : sting minute or wanting PTEROPLATEA, 23. 22. DASYATIS Rafinesque. (Trygon Adanson.) (dao-vs, shaggy or rough ; /Sari's-, skate.) «. Tail with a fold on its lower margin only, the upper edge rounded. 31. D. centrums (Mitchill). COMMON STING-RAY. CLAM- CRACKER. STINGAREE. Snout not prominent ; disk a little wider than long; tail usually not quite twice length of disk. Adult with some stellate tubercles on back and tail. Color olive-brown. L. 12 feet. Cape Cod S., common, (zevrpov, spine; ovpa, tail.) aa. Tail with a fold of skin on its upper as well as lower margin. 32. D. say (Le Sueur). SOUTHERN STING-RAY. WHIP- PAREE. Snout not prominent ; disk a little wider than long ; tail nearly twice length of disk. Body and tail without large spines. N. Y., S. (To Thomas Say, a distinguished zoologist.) 23. PTEROPLATEA, Miiller & Henle. 33. P. maclura (Le Sueur). BUTTERFLY RAY. Di.sk nearly twice as broad as long, three times as long as tail ; sting on tail usually obsolete. Olive-brown, finely marbled and speckled ; tail with four dark blotches : front edge of disk with pale half-circular spots. Va. S. (To William Maclure.) FAMILY XVII. AETOBATID^]. (THE EAGLE RAYS.) Pectoral fins interrupted, reappearing on tip of snout as one or two detached appendages or cephalic fins ; skull somewhat elevated, so that eyes and spiracles are later.al ; teeth large, flat, hexangular, . — xviii. . 23 the middle series largest. Otherwise essentially as in Dasyatidce. Genera 3, species 20, in the warm seas. a. Snout entire. b. Teeth very broad, in one series STOASODOX, 24. bb. Teeth in several series AETOBATIS, 25. aa. Snout emarginate ; teeth in several series RHINOPTERA, 26. 24. STOASODON Cantor. (Aetobatis Miiller & Henle.) (orod, arcade; odovs, tooth.) 34. S. narinari (Euphrasen). BISHOP RAY. Disk twice as broad as long. Tail very long, three or four times disk. Brown with many round yellowish spots. Warm seas, ]ST. to Va. (Nari- nari, the Brazilian name.) 25. AETOBATIS Blainville (1816). (Myliobatis Dumeril, 1817.) (ajrds, eagle ; /Sari's, ray.) 35. A. freminvillii (Le Sueur). EAGLE RAY. Skin smooth ; color reddish brown. Cape Cod S. Scarce. (For Christian Pau- lin de Freminville, author of some papers on Plectognaths.) 26. RHINOPTERA Kuhl. 36. R. bonasus (Mitchill). COW-NOSED RAY. Cephalic fin emarginate, and placed below level of pectorals, so that the snout appears four-lobed when viewed from the front. Skin nearly smooth. Cape Cod S. " He enters the bay and ranges very exten- sively the flats where the soft clam lives. These shell-fish he is supposed to devour, for a shoal of cow-noses root up the sak- water flats as completely as a drove of hogs would do." (Mitchill.) (R. quadriloba Le Sueur.) (Lat., a buffalo.) FAMILY XVIII. MANTID^. (THE SEA DEVILS.) Rays of immense size, similar to the Aetobatidce, but with the cephalic fins forming long ear-like appendages, and with the teeth very small. Skin rough. Genera 2, species 7 ; among the largest of all fishes, found in warm seas, a. Teeth in lower jaw only ; mouth terminal MANTA, 27. 27. MANTA Bancroft. (Mania, blanket. " a name used at the pearl fisheries of Panama, for an enormous fish much dreaded by the divers, whom it is said to devour, after enveloping them in its vast wings.") 37. M. birostris (Walbaum). SEA DEVIL. MANTA. Disk not quite twice as broad as long ; tail as long as disk. Brown ; disk 12 feet long; its breadth about 20. Tropical seas, K". to Delaware Bay. (Lat. bis, two ; rostrum, snout.) 24 HOLOCEPHALI. SUBCLASS HOLOCEPHALI. This group, defined on page 13, is equivalent to the ORDER VI. HOLOCEPHAI,!. Skeleton cartilaginous ; gill cavity with four clefts within, but externally with a single opening, which is covered by a fold of skin within which is a rudimentary opercle. Xo spiracles. Jaws with- out separate teeth, but armed with bony plates. Notochord persist- ent, the vertebrae consisting of rings around a notochordal sheath. No air-bladder ; intestine with a spiral valve ; skin smooth, with a highly developed mucous system. Dorsal fin with a strong spine. One family. (6Xos, solid ;