THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID */ * J- MANUAL VERTEBRATES UNITED STATES, LIBRARY OF F. I. tf INCLUDING THE DISTRICT EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND NORTH OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE, EXCLUSIVE OF MARINE SPECIES. DAVID STARR JORDAN, PH.D., M.D. PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY IN INDIANA UNIVERSITY. FOURTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. CHICAGO: JANSEN, McCLURG & COMPANY. 1884. COPYRIGHT, JANSEN, MCCLURG & COMPANY. A. D. 1876, COPYRIGHT, JANSEN, MCCLURG & COMPANY. A. D. 1878. B. K. DONNELLEY & SONS, THE LAKMSIDE PBKSS, PRINTERS. PREFACE. This book has been written to give collectors and students who are not specialists, a ready means of identifying the families, genera and species of our Vertebrate Animals. In deference to the uniform experience of botanists, and in view of the remarkable success achieved by Dr. COUES, in the application of the method to Ornithology, the author has adopted the system of artificial keys. To keep the book of a size convenient for field use, class and ordinal characters have been abbreviated, since they do not lie directly within the purpose of the work ; generic characters have been confined to the " key," under the head of each family, while for specific characters, only such points have been gen- erally retained, as are distinctive as well as descriptive. The same necessity has led to the suppression of many of the doubt- ful or nominal " species," which still encumber our systematic works, and to the omission of synonymy and references to auth- orities, excepting in cases of recent or original changes of nomenclature. Use has been freely made of every available source of infor- mation, and it is believed that the present state of our knowl- edge is fairly represented. A list of the principal papers which have proved useful in the preparation of this work may be found on page 363. The writer is under deep personal obligations for assistance, criticism and advice, to many persons, among whom I may especially mention Dr. ELLIOTT COUES, Prof. E. D. COPE, Dr. THEODORE GILL, Prof. H. E. COPELAND, Mr. E. W. XELSOX, Mr. B. H. VAX YLECK, Mr. C. H. GILBERT and Dr. A. W. BRAYTOX. The present edition is from the same stereotype plates as the second. From the latter it differs in some changes of nomencla ture, in the correction of occasional errors, and in other minor respects. A few additional species are included in the Addenda. 3 M368642 4 PREFACE. Iii the preparation of the second edition, it was " found necessary to entirely recast the account of the Fishes, in order to include the results of recent investigations in that department. The author has availed himself of this opportunity to substitute for the artifieial keys in the previous edition, a series of generic diagnoses, which, while serving the purpose of a 'key,' also serve to express the true relations of the species." The author regrets that this change can not in the present edition be extended to all the groups included in the work, as well as to the Fishes. D. S. J. NOTE TO FOURTH EDITION. This edition is from the same stereotype plates as the second (1878) and third (1880). In the groups other than the Fishes, the nomenclature has been changed in several places. It is now brought fully up to date, so far as it is possible to do so without alteration in the arrangement of the genera or insertion of addi- tional matter. The account of the Fishes remains exactly as in the third edition. Changes in this group have been deemed less necessary, as those especially interested will find an account of the recent additions and modifications in Jordan & Gilbert's Synopsis of the Fishes of North America, published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1883. D. S. J. BLOOMINOTON, IND , April, 1884. SIGNS, ABBREVIATIONS, ETC., EXPLAINED. I. — MAMMALS. i.= Incisor teeth. c.= Canines. pui. = Preniolars. )/t. = Molars. Thus kl i. f :f " indicates two incisor teeth on each side in the upper jaw, and one on each side in the lower. "Toes 5-4" implies fore feet five-toed, hind feet four-toed. Other signs are as used in Birds. II.— BIRDS. //.^Length in inches (along back from tip of bill to end of longest tail feather); thus, "L. 7±" means, length 7i inches. #.:=Extent (spread of wing) measured in inches. W.= Length of wring (from bend of closed wing — carpal joint — to tip of longest feather) in inches. jP.=Length of tail in inches (i.e., actual length of the longest tail feather.) #.:= Length of bill in inches (measured along culmen from tip to frontal feathers.) Zfrt=Length of head in inches (measured with dividers from base of bill to nape.) 7V = Length of tarsus in inches (measured in front.) 7W.= Length of middle toe with its claw. The measurements given in the descriptions are understood to represent a fair nreracje nflvlt mrfe; a variation of one-sixth, or more, in absolute length is. nothing unusual ; rd fit ire lengths, as of wings and tail, are much more constant. To save space I have preferred to say " L. 6," to saying " L. 5-i to 6i." S=Male. ?= Female. 6 SIGNS, ABBREVIATIONS, ETC. > =More than, longer than, or more than equivalent to. <=Less than, in its various senses. = =Sign of equivalence. The toes are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 ; 1 being the hind toe, or hallux; 2 the inner anterior toe; 3 the middle toe; and 4 the outer toe. III.— REPTILES. L.= Length in inches. Sc. or Scales= Number of longitudinal rows of scales exclusive of the ventral series. O.= Number of ventral plates, or gastrosteges, counted along the belly, from the throat to the vent. The figures given in the descriptions are intended to be arcnn/c, the actual number being quite variable. tr.=Number of pairs of sub-caudal plates, or urosteges, counted from the vent to the tip of the tail. IV— FISHES. D.= Dorsal fin. 2d D.— Second dorsal fin. P. = Pectoral fins. V.= Ventral fins. A = Anal fin. C. -Caudal fin. B. — Branch iostegals. liontan numerals used with the above abbreviations indicate the number of spines or imii-ticnlnte rays in a fin. Arabic, numer- als indicate the number of soft rays. In a fin containing both spines and soft rays, a comma ( , ) separating the numerals indicates that the two kinds of rays are cotitiunoux, or more or less connected. A dash ( — ) indicates their separation. Thus, UD, X, D," describes a single dorsal fin with 10 spines and 12 soft rays; " 1), X — 12," indicates two dorsal fins — the first of 10 spines, the second of 12 soft rays; u D, X — I, 12," would indicate the presence of a single spine in the second dorsal. The posterior soft ray of the dorsal and anal fins is usually split to the base. It should be counted as one ray and not as two. SIGNS, ABBREVIATIONS, ETC. • 7 Lat. I. — Lateral line, i.e., the number of scales contained in its course. When the lateral line is obsolete, u lat. 1." signifies the number of scales in a row from the head to the base of the caudal fin. Thus, " lat. 1. 36 " means that there are 36 scales in a row along the sides from the head to the caudal. In all cases the number of rays or scales, as given in the descriptions, is intended to represent a fair average, and a vari- ation of one-sixth, or even more, in either direction need not surprise the student. Generally the spines and scales are more constant in their numbers than the soft rays, and the fewer of either, the less variable. Depth in fi-nf/fh=T\\e greatest depth of the body as contained in the distance along the side from the snout to the base of the caudal. Head in lengt?t,=The distance from the snout along the cheeks to the extremity of the opercle, as contained in the distance from the snout to the base of the caudal. Eye in he«(1=It$ longitudinal diameter as contained in the length of the side of the head. As above stated, these measurements; as given in the descrip- tions, are intended to be the . Canine teeth present, in some form ; incisors not f nor f . <•. Anterior limbs adapted for flight; ulna and radius united; bones of hand and fingers much elon- gated, supporting a thin, leather}' skin, extending along sides of body to the posterior limbs; mammae pectoral. . . CHIROPTERA, C. cc. Limbs all adapted for walking ; ulna and radius not united; hand normal; mamma usually abdomi- nal IXSECTIVORA, D. bb. No canine teeth ; incisors f , rarely f, chisel shaped ; limbs adapted for walking. . RODENTIA, E. ** Young born when of very small size and incomplete develop- ment, never connected by a placenta to the mother; corpus callosum rudimentary. (DIDELPHIA.) . MARSUPIALIA, F. A. FAMILIES OF CARNIYORA. * Intestinal canal provided with a coecuni ; feet digitigrade; toes 5-4. f Teeth 28 to 30 ; head broad ; snout short ; claws sharp, retractile. . FELID.E, 1. ft Teeth 38 to 46; snout elongated; claws bluntish, non- retractile CANID.E. 0. ** Intestinal canal without a ccecum; feet plantigrade, or, if not, toes 5-5. 14 MAMMALS. ^ Teeth less than 40; body rather slender; feet often more or less perfectly digitigrade. . . . MUSTELID^E, 3. \\ Teeth 40 or 42; body stout; feet completely plantigrade. a. Tail rudimentary ; teeth 42; lower jaw with three true molars ; body very large and heavy. . URSID^E, 4. aa. Tail well developed; teeth 40; lower jaw slender, with two true molars ; body moderately stout. PROCYONIDJE, 5. B. FAMILIES OF UNGULATA. * Toes paired (artiodactylous) ; horns solid, deciduous; teeth 34 or 32. CERVID^E, 6. C. FAMILIES OF CHIROPTERA. * Snout not appendaged ; tail inclosed in the membrane, or only the last joint exserted. . . . VESPERTILIONID^E, 7. D. FAMILIES OF INSECTIVORA. * No external ear; fore feet greatly enlarged — adapted for digging; limbs very short. . . . TALPID/E, 8. ** An external ear ; feet normal ; hind feet usually longest. SORICID^S, 9. E. FAMILIES OF RODENTIA. * Incisors f ; tail well developed. f Hair forming a fur, without spines. «. Tail broad, flat and scaly; feet webbed; molars f'f ; body stout and heavy CASTORID^E, 11. aa. Limbs very short, about equal ; fore claws much enlarged ; large external cheek pouches ; body thick-set and heavy ; molars |:f GEOMYIM;, 12. aaa. Tail and hind legs excessively elongated, the latter adapted for leaping ; molars fif. . ZAPODHXE, 13. aaaa. With none of the preceding combinations. FELID.E. — I. 15 b. Molars Jl} or f!f; no foramen (as in the next); tail usually long and hairy ; (squirrels, etc.) SCIURID^E, 10. bb. Molars f'.f to |:|; zygomatic process of upper jaw with a foramen ; (rats and mice). . . MUKID/E, 14. ff Fur with stiff spine-like bristles ; toes with long, curved claws SPALACOPODID.*:, 1">. ** Incisors f ; the middle upper incisors large, grooved, the outer ones small ; teeth 28 ; tail very short ; ears long. LEPORJD/E, 16. F. FAMILIES OF MARSUPIALlA. * Tail long, prehensile, nearly naked ; feet plantigrade ; incisors f if ; teeth 50 DIDELPHIDID^:, 17 OEDEE A.— CAKNIVOBA. (The Flesh-Eaters or Ferae.) FAMILY I. — FELID^E. (The Cats.) Digitigrade Carnivoni with the toes 5-4; claws com- pressed, very sharp, retractile; palms and soles hairy, with naked pads under each toe and the ball of the foot. Body compact; head short, broad and rounded. Dentition i. |;|; c. i:i ; pm. |.;.| or ||; m. j.-i — 30 or ^8; canine teeth long and sharp; teeth all strongly trenchant; tongue with short, retrorse papilla. General aspect cat-like. A well- known group comprising about fifty species, found in all parts of the world excepting Australia and its islands. *Premolars |;f, anterior upper one very small: tail at least half as long as the body (exclusive of head and neck) ; fur compact and glossy; cars not tufted FELTS,!. ** Premolars 1 1, (anterior upper one wanting); tail less than half length of body proper ; ears triangular, tufted. LYNX, 2. 16 MAMMALS. I. FELIS, Linnaeus. CATS. 1. F. concolor, L. AMERICAN PANTHER. COUGAR. PUMA. Above tawny brownish yellow; a wash of dark- er along dorsal line; dirty white below; large; body 4^- feet long. Whole continent of America, N. to lat. 50° to 60°. 2. LYNX, Rafinesque. WILD CATS. 1. L. canadensis, (Desm.) Raf. CANADA LYNX. Feet very large, densely furred beneath in winter, concealing the small, naked patches; tail black at tip; no distinct bars on inner side of legs; much larger than the next, with larger feet and longer fur. N. A. 2. L. rufus, ( Guldenstadt. ) Raf. AMERICAN WILD CAT. Inner sides of legs with dark cross bands; tail with a black patch at end above, preceded by half rings. U. S. and northward. FAMILY II.— CANID^E. ( The Dogs. ) Digitigrade Carnivora with blunt, non- retractile claws; toes 5—4. Muzzle more or less elongated. Dentition typi- cally i. |;|; c. •}-:-}-; pm. J:|; m. f.-f =42; canines large, rather blunt. Both hemispheres. * Tail comparatively short; upper incisors distinctly lobed ; pupil circular. CAN is, 1 ** Tail comparatively long and bushy; upper incisors scarcely lobed; pupil elliptical; body more slender. f Tail with soft fur and long hair ; muzzle long. . VULPES, 2. ft Tail with a concealed mane of stiff hairs, and without soft fur ; muzzle shorter UROCYON, 3. MUSTELID^. — III. 17 /. GANIS, Linnreus. WOLVES. 1. C. lupus, L. WOLF. Color exceedingly variable; northward it is chiefly, gray, southward more and more blackish and reddish, till in Florida black wolves pre- dominate, and in Texas red ones. N. A. and northern parts of the Old World. (C. occidentalis, Auct.) 2. VULPES, Brisson. FOXKS. 1. V. vulpes, L innaeus. RED Fox. CROSS Fox. SILVER Fox. BLACK Fox. Chiefly red, with black feet and ears; tip of tail white. A single species, widely variable in color, as indicated by the common names. N. Am. Europe (V.fulotts, Auct.) 3. UROCYON, Baird. GRAY FOXES. 1. U. cinereo-argentatus, (Schreb.) Coues. GRAY Fox. Chiefly gray; fur dusky or fulvous, hairs hoary at tip; tip of tail usually dark. Penn. S., W. to the Pacific. FAMILY III. — MUSTELHXffi. (Tlie Weasels.) Carnivora either plantigrade or digitigrade, with the toes 5-5. Molars J"| (rarely ±.\ ); the upper and the last lower one tubercular; no caecum. Most species provided with glands near the anus which secrete a fetid liquid. Some are strictly carnivorous while others are rather om- nivorous. Size usually medium or small. They are foui.d in all parts of the earth excepting the Australian region. * Last or true molar of upper jaw short, small, transversely elon- gated; toes short; claws retractile. (MUSTELINE.) f Teeth 38; body slender; feet digitigracle ; tail rather long; low- er first molar with an internal tubercle. . MUSTELA, 1. 18 MAMMALS. ff Teeth 34; body slender; feet digitigrade ; tail usually long; sectorial tooth without internal tubercle. . PUTORIUS, 2. Iff Teeth 38 ; body stout ; feet sub-plantigrade ; tail as long as head, very full and bushy. .... GULO, 3. ** True molar of upper jaw very large, sub-triangular, tubercu- lar; fore claws much lengthened, for digging. (MELIN/E.) a. Body short and stout; tail very short; teeth 32. TAXIDEA, 4. *** True molar of upper jaw quadrangular, wide, very large, with an outer cutting ridge; claws non-retractile, fore claws lengthened, fossorial. (MEPHITIN^E.) ft. Snout pointed; colors black and white; fetid glands highly developed ; teeth 34. .... MEPHITIS, 5. **** True molar large, quadrate ; teeth 36 ; body elongated ; toes palmate, adapted for swimming. ( LUTRIN^E.) LUTRA, 6. /. MUSTELA, Linno?us. MARTENS. 1. M. americana, Turton. SABLE. PINE MARTEN. Chiefly reddish yellow, clouded with black; legs and tail, blackish; length less than two feet. Maine to Oregon, and northward. 2. M. pennant//, Erxleben. FISHER. BLACK CAT. Color, variable ; belly, legs, tail, and hind parts chiefly black; length more than two feet. Northern N. A. 2. PUTORIUS, Cuvier. WEASELS. 1. P. vu /gar is, Cuvier. LEAST WEASEL. Liver-brown, white beneath ; usually white in winter ; tail never really black at tip ; body 6 to 7 inches long. N. U. S. arid northward, also Old World. 2. P. ermineus, Cuvier. COMMON WEASEL. ERMINE. Colors various ; tip of tail usually black ; white in winter northward. Length of body 8 to 11 inches. . — IV. 19 N. Am. and Old World, abundant. (P. noveboracensis^ cicognanii, etc., of authors.) 3. P. vison, Gapper. COMMON MINK. Brownish chestnut ; tail black or nearly so ; length of body 15 to 20 inches. N. A. 3. GULO, Storr. WOLVERINES. 1. G. luscus, (L.) Sabine. WOLVERINE. Dark brown ; legs and beneath black. N. U. S. and X. 4. TAXIDEA, Waterhouse. BADGERS. 1. T. americana, (Bodd.) Baird. AMERICAN BADGER. Chiefly grayish. Wisconsin, X. and W. 5. MEPHITIS, Cuvier. SKUNKS. 1. M. mephitica, (Shaw) Baird. COMMON' SKUNK. Usually black with tip of tail, dorsal stripes and nuchal patch white; sometimes all black or even nearly all white. Mexico to Arctic regions, an abundant and fa- miliar species. ( J/. chinga, Tiedemann.) 6. LUTRA, Linnaeus. OTTERS. 1. L. canadensis, Sabine. AMERICAN OTTER. Liver- brown; length 4t7 feet. IT. S. FAMILY IV. — URSID^E. ( The Sew*. ) Plantigrade Carnivora having the body thick and clumsy. Tail rudimentary. Teeth 42 ; molars broad and tuberculated, according- with the omnivorous diet. Species few and widely distributed, — in North America, there are probably but three, although many have been described, the Polar Bear Thahn'ctf.n* mt.fr it imus, the Grizzly Bear, Ursus horribilis, and the following. 20 MAMMALS. /. URSUS, Linnaeus. BEARS. 1. U. americanus. Pallas. BROWN, BLACK OR Cix- NAMON BEAR. Color, size, etc., exceedingly variable, but the several forms or varieties intergrade perfectly. N. Am. FAMILY V.— PROCYONID^E. (The Raccoons.) Plantigrade Carnivora of moderate size, with the body comparatively slender and the tail well developed. Teeth 40. Snout more or less elongated; no cdecum. Genera two, — Nasua, the Coatimundi of Mexico, and the follow- ing, all American. /. PROCYON, Storr. RACCOON. 1. P. loior, (L.) Storr. COMMON RACCOON. " COON." Grayish white; hairs black-tipped; tail with black rings. U. S.; abundant. OEDEE B.-UIsTGULATA. (The Hoofed Mammals). FAMILY VI. — CERVID^E. (The Deer). Horns deciduous, solid, developed from the frcntal bone, more or less branched, covered at first by a soft, hairy integument, known as "velvet"; when the horns attain their full size, which they do in a very short time, there arises at the base of each a ring of tubercles known as the "burr; " this compresses and finally obliterates the CERVLD^E. — VI. 21 blood-vessels supplying the velvet, which dries up and is stripped off, leaving the bone hard and insensible; the horns or " antlers " are shed annually, the separation of the "beam" from its "pedicel" taking place just below the burr ; the antlers are wanting in the female (except- ing in the Reindeer) but they are usually present in the male. Herbivorous; stomach in four divisions, of the ordinary ruminant pattern. Dental formula, i. £;£; c. (usually) -J.-J; pm. |;|; m. |;|. A widelv distributed family. * Horns (in males only) very broadly palmated to the tip; nose very broad, entirely hairy except a small naked spot between nostrils. . ALCE, 1. ** Horns (in both, sexes) broadly palmated at tip; nose entirely hairy. . '. . RANGIFER, 2. *** Horns (in males only) rounded more or less; rarely sub-pal- mated ; nose naked and moist. f Horns large, curving backward, with the snags all directed forward, one of them immediately above the burr; tail very short; hoofs broad and rounded; size very large. CERVTJS, 3. ft Horns smaller, curving forward, the first snag short, at some distance above the base, and like the others curving upward; tail rather long; hoofs rather elongate; size smaller CARiACUS,4. /. ALCE, Hamilton Smith. ELKS. 1. A. americanus, Jardine. MOOSE. AMERICAN ELK. Largest of our Cerviclte, reaching the size of a horse. Maine and N. N. Y. to Oregon and N. 2. RANG I PER, Hamilton Smith. REINDEER. 1. R. caribou, Aud. & Bach. WOODLAND CARIBOU. REINDEER. Maine to Hudson's Bay and Lake Superior; perhaps the same as the Reindeer of Europe (E. tarandus.) 22 MAMMALS. 3. CERVUS, Linnseus. DEER. 1. C. canadensis, Erxleben. "AMERICAN ELK." WAPITI. Chestnut red, grayish in winter; size nearly equal to that of the Moose. Alleghany region of Penn. and Va., Wis. (near Green Bay, Vein Vleck^) Yellow- stone region and W. 4. CARIACUS, Gray. RED DEER. 1. C. virginianus, (Bodd.) Gray. VIRGINIA DEER. RED DEER. General color chestnut red, grayish in winter. Maine to Rocky Mountains and S., abundant in many re- gions. ORDER C.-CHIROPTERA. ( The Bats.} FAMILY VII. — VESPERTILIONID^E. (The Ordinary Bats.) Insectivorous Bats with the snout not appendaged, or merely with two lateral excrescences. Wing membranes ample. Tail completely enclosed in the interfemoral membrane or only the last joint exserted. * Cheeks without excrescences ; ears moderate. f Incisors f if . VESPERTILIO, 1. ff Incisors JlJ. ATALAPHA, £. ** Cheeks with two large excrescences; ears excessively large, an inch high; teeth 36; i. f if. . . CORYNORHINUS, 3. /. VESPERTILIO, Linnjcus. TYPICAL BATS. > Scotophilus^ Leach. * Teeth 38; molars -f -f ; species with thin wings and ears. (Ves- pertilio.} 1. V. subulatus, Say. LITTLE BROWN BAT. Face — VII. 23 small, fox-like, with high forehead and pointed snout; ears large, oval, twice the height of the erect tragus; winsfs naked; interfemoral membrane naked except at base, face whiskered; color dull olive-brown. L. 3; E. 9; T. H. N. Am.; abundant every where. A small and very variable species. ( V. lucifugus, Le C.) ** Teeth 36; molars jflf-. (Vesper ides.) 1. V. noctivagans, LeC. SILVER BLACK BAT. Tragus almost as broad as high, scarcely one-third height of ear; femoral membrane entirely though scantily furred; fur long and silky, black, usually with silvery tips to the hairs. L. 3J; E. 12; T. H. U. S. generally. *** Teeth 34; molars -f'f; stouter species, with thicker wings and more leathery ears. ( Vesperugo.) 3. V. georgianus, F. Cuvier. GEORGIA BAT. Tragus slender, erect, half the height of the auricle; upper in- cisors about equal in size; femoral membrane one-third furred; dark reddish brown, brighter forwards. L. 3; E. 9; T. 14-. Maine to Texas; chiefly southward. **** Teeth 32; molars fif; stout species. (Ve*perus.) 4. V. fuscus, Beauv. CAROLINA BAT. DUSKY BAT. Tragus never pointed, nearly half as high as auricle; wings naked; interfemoral membrane furred at base; ears more or less turned outward; upper lateral incisors small, scarcely visible. L. 3 to 4; E. 12; T. 1£. U. S.; a widely diffused species. (V. carolinensis, Geoff. St. Hilaire.) 2. ATA LA PH A, Rafinesque. RED BATS. * Teeth 30; molars -f-^; upper incisors small; wings naked and interfemoral membranes nearly so. {Nycticejus.) 1. A. crepuscularis, (LeC.) Cones. TWILIGHT BAT. Ears small, wide apart; a small wart above eye; fur 24 MAMMALS. rather scanty; dark fawn color above, passing into brownish below; L. 3^; E. 9; T. 1^. Penn. to Mo., and S.W. ** Teeth 32; molars f'.f; upper incisors stout; interfemoral mem- brane hairy above, and wings with furry patches (Lasiurus.) 2. A. noveboracensis, (Erxl.) Coues. RED BAT. Fur long and silky, reddish brown, mostly white at tip; lips and ears not edged with black; a whitish tuft at base of thumb; L. 3f; E. 12; T. If. U. S., every where. An abundant species, readily known by its reddish color. 3. A. cinereus, (Beauv.) Coues. HOARY BAT. Rich chocolate - brown, overlaid with white ; lips and ears marked with black; L. 5; E. 14; T. 2£. U. S., rather northward, rare. ( V. prumos-us, Say.) 3. COR YNORHINUS, Harrison Allen . BIG-EARED BATS. 1. C. macrotis, (Le C.) H. Allen. BIG-EARED BAT. Blackish, fur soft and long; L..3£; E. 11; T. If. Va. to Missouri region and S. ORDER D.-DTSEOTIVORA. (The Insect Eaters.) FAMILY VIIL— TALPID^E. (The Moles.) Body stout, thick, and clumsy, without visible neck. Eyes rudimentary, sometimes concealed. No external ears. Limbs very short; feet greatly expanded and provided with strong claws, adapted for digging; anterior limbs much larger than posterior. Scapula as long as humerus and radius together. Canines usually present. . — ix. 25 Fur compact, soft and velvety. Found on both conti- nents. * Nose elongated, not fringed ; nostrils superior or lateral ; tail short. f Teeth 36 ; nostrils partly superior ; tail nearly naked. SCALOPS, 1. ff Teeth 44; nostrils lateral; tail densely hairy. SCAPANUS, 2. ** Nose elongated, fringed at end with a circle of long fleshy projections; nostrils terminal; tail nearly as long as body; teeth 44. . ..... Q>NDYLURA, 3. /. SCALOPS, Cuvier. SHREW MOLES. 1. S. aquaticus, (L.) Fischer. COMMOX MOLE. Dark plumbeous, paler below; feet full webbed; eyes not covered by skin. E. U. S.; an abundant and well known species. 2. S. argentatus, Aud. & Bach. PRAIRIE MOLE. Silvery plumbeous; said to be larger and more silvi-rv than the preceding. Ohio and W., chiefly in the prairie region. 2. SCAPANUS, POTKQ\. HAIRY -TAILED MOLES. 1. S. breweri, (Bach.) Pomel. HAIRY -TAILED MOLE. Dark plumbeous, with brown gloss. E. U. S. 3. CONDYLURA, Jlliger. STAR-NOSED MOLES. 1. G. cristata, (L.) Desmarest. STAR-XOSED MOLE. Blackish. U. S., chiefly northerly, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. FAMILY IX.— SORICID^E. (The Shrews.} Mouse-like Insectivora, with the eyes and external ears distinctly developed. Muzzle elongated. Feet normal, not fossorial; the fore-feet mostly smaller than the hind ones. Teeth ^--0-, no canines. The most 26 MAMMALS. abundant and widely distributed family of the Insecti- vora. The assumed specific distinctions in this family are utterly worthless, and it is at present impossible to characterize the species. The following are the best known. (See Addenda.) * Ears large; auricle directed backwards; tail about as long as the body ; upper anterior incisors with a second basal hook, and an angular process on the inner side near the point. SOREX, 1. ** Ears small, concealed by the fur; tail not longer than head; auricle directed forwards; upper anterior incisor without above-mentioned hook and process. . . BLARINA, 2. /. SOREX, Linnaeus. SHREWS. 1. S. platyrhinus, (Dek.) Wagner. COMMON SHREW. A small, long-nosed, large-eared species, of a chestnut color, having the tail much shorter than head and body; said to be abundant in the Eastern and Middle States. 2. S. cooper/', Bach. WESTERN SHREW. Still smaller; color light chestnut; tail nearly as long as head and body. New England, N. and W. 2. BLARINA, Gray. SHORT-TAILED SHREWS. 1. B. brevicauda, (Say) Baird. MOLE SHREW. Tail less than one-third length of head and body; color brownish gray. E. U. S., the common species. OEDEB E.-EODENTIA. (The Rodents or Glires.) FAMILY X.— SCIURID^E. (The Squirrels.) Rodents with the molars |-;f- (upper anterior often deciduous), the last 4 of nearly equal size; a distinct postorbital process of frontal bone; tibia and fibula SCIURIDJE. — X. 27 distinct. Species of rather small size, widely distributed. The variations in color, etc., are extremely great, and the number of well-defined species is very much less than was once supposed. * A densely furred membrane extending along the sides between the anterior and posterior limbs; tail depressed, flattened, densely furred ; permanent molars 5-5 above. SCIUROPTERUS, 1. ** Sides without membrane for " flying." f No cheek pouches ; tail bushy, at least as long as body ; ears long; no black stripes along the back. . SCIURUS, 2. ff Cheek pouches present. $ Back with 3 to 5 distinct black stripes; tail shorter than body, not bushy; cheek pouches well developed. TAMIAS, 3. $ Not as above; body rather slender, squirrel-like; cheek pouches well developed; claw of thumb rudimentary or wanting SPERMOPHILUS, 4. $$ Body large, thick-set, depressed ; cheek pouches shallow ; thumb rudimentary, armed with a small flat nail, not a claw; soles naked. . . . ARCTOMYS, 5. /. SCIUROPTERUS, F. Cuvier. FLYING SQUIRRELS. < Pteromys, Cuvier. 1. S. volucella, (Pall.) Geoff. COMMON FLYING SQUIRREL. Yellowish brown, creamy white below. N. Am., abundant. (P. volucella, etc., authors.) 2. SCIURUS, Linnaeus. SQUIRRELS. 1. S. niger, Linn. Fox SQUIRREL. Upper molars permanently 4; tail very large and bushy; general color rusty gray, varying from almost white, through various shades of rusty red to jet black, the latter color rare northward, reddish and orange shades predominating westward; L. 26; T. 14. E. U. S., very abundant in the 28 MAMMALS. Mississippi region. Leading varieties are: var. niger, the Southern form, gray to black with the ears and nose white; var. cmereus, the Eastern form, with short ears, scarcely longer than the fur; and var. ludovicianus, the Western form, with high ears and a prevailing tinge of orange red. 2. S. caro/inensis, Auct. GRAY SQUIRREL. BLACK SQUIRREL. Upper molars 5; varies from grizzly yellow- ish gray to pure jet black; L. 24; T. 13. N. Am., E. of the plains, abundant. 3. S. hudsonius, Pallas. RED SQUIRREL. CHICKAREE. Chiefly rusty red, back with a wash of brighter red; L. 14; T. 6^. N. Am., rather northerly; abundant. 3. TAMIAS, Illiger. GROUND SQUIRRELS. 1. T. striatus, (L.) Baird. CHIPMUNK, GROUND SQUIR- REL. Back and sides with five black stripes; L. 11; T. 4^-. Maine to Va., and westward; abundant. 4. SPERMOPHILUS, Cuvier. GOPHERS. 1. S. tr/decem/ineatus, ( Mitch. ) Aud. & Bach. STRIPED GOPHER. Dark brown, with light stripes alternating with lines of dots, about thirteen in all; L. 10; T. 4. Prairies; Ark. to the Saskatchawan. 2. S. franklini, (Sab.) Rich. GRAY GOPHER. Yellow- ish gray, mottled with brown; L. 15; T. 5£. Prairies; 111. and northward. 5. ARCTOMYS, Schreber. MARMOTS. 1. A. monax, (L.) Gmel. WOODCHUCK. GROUND HOG. Grizzly gray, varying to chestnut and blackish. Hud- son's Bay to Va., and westward; common. GEOMYID^E. — XII. 29 FAMILY XL — CASTORID^E. ( The Beavers.) Aquatic Rodents of large size, having the molars rootless, f;£-, or |;f ; fore feet with five distinct toes and claws; tibia and fibula distinct; no postorbital process. A small family, containing but two existing genera, Haplodontia of our N.W. coast, and Ca-stor. * Molars 4-4 above ; hind feet webbed ; tail broad, flat, and scaly. CASTOR, 1. /. CASTOR, Linnaeus. BEAVERS. 1. C. fiber, L. BEAVER. Mexico to the Polar Sea; now being rapidly exterminated. (C. canadensis, Kuhl.) FAMILY XII. — GEOMYID^E. (The Pouched Gophers.) Cheek pouches large and distinct, opening outside of the mouth. Molars J:J; incisors large and thick; skull heavy; temporal bones enormously developed. Limbs about equal, the fore claws, five in number, very large; tibia and fibula united. Body thick-set and clumsy. Genera two, Geomys and Thomomys, all Ncrth Ameri- can, and chiefly inhabiting the central plains; habits nocturnal and subterranean. * A large groove near the middle of each upper incisor ; crown of molars elliptical GEOMYS, 1. /. GEOMYS, Rafinesque. POUCHED GOPHERS. 1. G. bursar/us, (Shaw) Rich. POCKET GOPHER. Red- dish brown, with plumbeous tinge. Prairies, Wis. and Ills., westward. FAMILY XIII. — ZAPODHXE. (Tlie Jumping Mice.) Hind legs greatly elongated, adapted for taking long leaps; fore legs short. Tail very long. Molars f;f; 30 MAMMALS. tibia and fibula united. Contains, probably, but a single species, inhabiting the Northern U. S., related to the Old World Jerboas. /. ZAPUS, Coues JUMPING MICE. = Jaculus, Wagler. 1. Z. Hudson! us, ( Zimmermann ) Coues. Yellowish brown. U. S., chiefly northward; variable. FAMILY XIV. — MURID^E. (The Mice.) Incisors f ; molars usually f;f ; anteorbital foramen a vertical slit, widening above and bounded externally by a broad plate of the upper maxillary; coronoid and condyloid processes of lower jaw well developed. A large family, found in all parts of the globe, some of the species (Mils] being cosmopolitan, having accompanied man in his migrations through the ages; all are of small size, the muskrat being one of the largest, and many are smaller than any other quadrupeds, except the Shrews. * Incisors laterally compressed ; molars rooted (MURDUL) f Molars with three tubercles in transverse series ; soles naked ; tail long, scaly; (Old World species, introduced in America.) Mus, 1. ft Molars complicated, with two tubercles in transverse series; soles usually hairy; (New World species.) a. Rat-like ; size large ; ears large, rarely naked. NEOTOMA, 2. aa. Mouse-like; size small. b. Incisors not grooved ; ears very large ; feet and lower parts usually white. ... HESPEROMYS, 3. bb. Size very small ; upper incisors grooved longitudinally along their anterior surface. . OCHETODON, 4. ** Incisors very broad; molars rootless (except in JSvotomy*). t Tail not specially compressed ; teeth not grooved. MURID^E. — XIV. 31 c. Molars rooted; coronoid process of lower jaw, not reaching level of condyle ; ears overtopping the fur. EVOTOM YS, 5. cc. Molars rootless ; coronoid process as high as condyle ; ears more or less concealed. . . . ARVICOLA, 6. tt Upper incisors grooved ; root of lower incisor ending abruptly opposite the last molar ; ears large. SYNAPTOMYS, 7. \\\ Tail scant-haired, vertically flattened; hind feet partly webbed; size large FIBER, 8. /. MUS, Linnaeus. OLD WORLD RATS AND MICE. 1. HI. decumanus, Pallas. BROWX or NORWAY RAT. Tail nearly an inch shorter than head and body, grayish brown above; paler below; feet dusty white; fur mixed with stiff hairs; cosmopolitan; introduced into America about 1775, and now the commonest species. 2. M. rattus, L. BLACK RAT. Tail not shorter than head and body; sooty black, plumbeous below; feet brown; introduced about 1544, but now being supplanted by the preceding. 3. M. alexandrinus, Geoff. ROOF RAT. WHITE - BELLIED RAT. Introduced in the Southern States. 4. M. musculus, L. COMMON HOUSE MOUSE. Cosmo- politan; every where too well known. 2. NEOTOMA, Say. & Ord. WOOD RATS. 1. N. florid ana, S. & O. WOOD RAT. Tail scantily hairy, scarcely as long as body without head; feet entirely white; L. 14; T. 6, or less. S. U. S., N. to Mass, and Ills. 3. HESPEROMYS, Waterhouse. WHITE - FOOTED MICE. * Fur soft and glossy; lower parts white; soles naked, or slightly hairy; tail closely hairy; ears large. (Vesperimus.) 1. H. leucopus, (Raf.) LeC. DEER MOUSE. WHITE- 32 MAMMALS. FOOTED MOUSE. Yellowish brown; tail distinctly bicolor, about as long as head and body; hind feet more than f inch. N. Am.; abundant. 2. H. michiganensis, (Aud. & Bach.) Wagner. MICHI- GAN MOUSE. Tail little longer than body without head, bicolor; hind feet less than £ inch; dark brown; a darker dorsal band; L. 3, or less, to base of tail. Upper Miss. Valley to Mich., etc. 3. H. aureolus, (Aud. & Bach.) Wagner. RED MOUSE. Yellowish cinnamon, bright especially on ears; belly not pure white. Pa. to Ills., and S. ** Soles naked ; tail scant-haired, about as long as head and body ; ears small. (Oryzomys.) 4. H. palustris, (Harlari) Baird. RICE -FIELD MOUSE. Blackish and ashy above, becoming paler below; fur harsh, but compact; a large rat -like species. S. States, N. to N. J. and Kas. 4. OCHETODON, Coues. HARVEST MICE. < Reithrodon, Baird. 1. 0. hum! I is, (Aud. & Bach.) Coues. HARVEST MOUSE. Tail shorter than head and body; appearance decidedly mouse - like. U. S., southerly, N. to Iowa. 5. EVOTOMYS, Coues. LONG -EARED MICE. < Arvicola, Bd. 1. E. rutilus (Pall.) var. gapperi, (Vigors) Coues. LONG- EARED MOUSE. Color chestnut ; ears prominent ; a brownish dorsal band; size of common mouse. North- ern frontier, S. to Mass. 6. ARVICOLA, Lacepede. FIELD MICE. * Back upper molar with two external triangles and a posterior crescent; middle upper molar with two internal triangles; front lower molar with three internal and two or three lateral triangles ; size large. ( Myonomes.) SPALACOPODED^E. — XV. 33 1. A. pennsylvanicus, Ord. MEADOW MOUSE. Fore claws not longer than hind claws; tail one-third length of head and body, or more. U. S.; generally abundant. ** Back upper molar with one exterior triangle and a posterior trefoil ; middle upper molar with one internal triangle ; front lower molar with two internal and one external triangle; fore claws not larger than hinder; fur ordinary; size medium. (Pedomys.) 2. A. austerus, LeC. Tail one-third length of head and body, or less. Western States, E. to Michigan. *** Teeth as in Pedomys; fore claws larger than hinder; fur dense, silky, mole-like; size small. (Pitymys.) 3. A, pinetorum, LeC. PIXE MOUSE. Tail about one- fourth length of head and body. E. U. S. 7. SYNAPTOMYS, Baird. COOPER'S MOUSE. 1. S. cooper/', Baird. Head short and heavy; fur soft and long. W. States, 'E. to Ind. 8. FIBER, Cuvier. MUSKRATS. 1. F. zibethicus, (L.) Cuv. MUSKRAT. MUSQUASH. A well - known aquatic animal, the largest of our Muridce. N. Am.; every where. FAMILY XV. — SPALACOPODID^E. (The Porcupines.) Body more or less armed with spines. Molars rooted, };f. Toes 4-5 in ours, sub -equal, with long, com- pressed, curved claws; soles warty. Muzzle hairy; upper lip without a groove; chiefly arboreal; nearly all are South American. The above characters apply rather to the sub - family Cercohibince, to which our genus belongs, than to the whole family. 34 MAMMALS. /. ERETHIZON, F. Cuvier. AMERICAN PORCUPINES. 1. E. dorsatus, (L.) F. Cuvier. WHITE-HAIRED PORCU- PINE. Dark brown, spines chiefly white. N. Am., S. to Mexico. FAMILY XVI.— LEPORIDJE. (The Hares.) Incisors f, the extra pair in upper jaw small, and placed behind the principal pair, which are grooved in front; molars f:f. A single well-known genus, widely distributed. /. LEPUS, Linnaeus. HARES. * Fur white in winter. 1. L. americanus, Erxleben. WHITE RABBIT. NORTH- ERN HARE. Size large; hind feet longer than head; ears about equal to length of head; fur, in summer, cinnamon brown, in winter, becoming white at the surface, plumbeous at base, with a broad median band of reddish brown. Wooded districts, New England to Minn., and S. to Va., along the Alleganies. ** Fur never white. 2. L. sylvaiicus, Bachman. GRAY RABBIT. Size small; hind feet not longer than head; ears two-thirds length of head; gray above, varied with black, and more or less tinged with yellowish brown ; below white. U. S. eastward; less northerly than the preceding. Two Southern species, L. palustris, Bach., the Marsh Rabbit, and TJ. aquaticus, Bach., the Water Rabbit, abound in S. Ills. (Nelson.) DIDKLPHIDID^.— XVII. 35 OEDEE F.-MAESUPIALIA. (The Marsupials.) FAMILY XVII. — DIDELPHIDID^E. (The Opossums.) Marsupial mammals of small size, with the teeth i. f :£, c. f'{, pm. f;f, m. J.J. Feet five -toed, plantigrade, claws 5-4. Tail usually very long, nearly naked, covered by a scaly skin, with a few scattered hairs, prehensile. All the species are American. /. DIDELPHYS, Linnaeus. OPOSSUMS. 1. D. virginiana, Shaw. COMMON OPOSSUM. Dirty white; legs dark; L. 35; T. 14. N. Y. to Rocky Moun- tains, rather southerly; common. 36 BIRDS. IJh (The Birds.) A Bird may be defined as an air -breathing- vertebrate with a covering of feathers; warm blood; a complete double circulation; the two anterior limbs (wings) adapted for flying or swimming, the two posterior limbs (legs) adapted for walking or swimming; respiration never effected by gills or branchiae, but, after leaving the egg, by lungs which are connected with air cavities in various parts of the body. Reproduction by eggs, which are fertilized within the body and hatched externally, either by incubation or exposure to the heat of the sun; the shell calcareous, hard and brittle. Much more might be added, but the obvious distinction is this: — All Birds have 'feathers, and no other animal has feathers. The classification of this group, as of most others, is still in an unsettled condition. Strictly speaking, the existing members of the class are so closely related that they might, with propriety, be combined into one order, which, by Prof. Gill, has been named EURHIPIDUKA. At present, however, the term " order " may be applied to the groups so designated below, without thereby implying any such structural differences as exist between the " orders " of Reptiles or Fishes. We now proceed to an artificial key to the ORDERS OF BIRDS. * Toes 3 : two in front, one behind. . . . PICARI^:, H. ** Toes 3 : all in front ; toes cleft or semipalrnate. LIMICOI^E, M. BIRDS. 37 *** Toes 4 : two in front, two behind. Bill cered and hooked. . . . PSITTACI, I. Bill lengthened, not cered. . . PICARLE, H. **** Toes 4 : three in front, one behind. I. Toes not webbed at all, cleft to the base, or with the basal joints immovably coherent. a. Hind toe inserted on a level with the rest and generally longer than the shortest anterior toe. 6. Claw of hind toe at least as long as that of middle toe. f Bill without cere, never very strongly hooked; outer toe not versatile PASSERES, G. ff Bill with cere, strongly hooked; outer toe usually versatile; claws very sharp and strong. RAPTORES, J. bb. Claw of hind toe shorter than that of middle toe. \ Bill stoutish; nostrils opening beneath a soi't, swollen membrane (shrunken in drying). COLUMB^E, K. \\ Bill tenuirostral, very slender; secondaries 6, very short. Humming-birds. . . PICARL&:, fl. aa. Hind toe elevated above the level of the rest, and usually shorter than the others. c. Bill fissirostral — culmen very short, but gape very Avide and deep, reaching to below eyes. . PICARLE, H. cc. Bill lengthened, not fissirostral. d. First primary emarginate, or else about as long as second. LIMICOLJE, M. dd. First primary not emarginate, shorter than second. ALECTORIDES, O. II. Toes syndactyle — without webbing, but with the outer and middle toes coherent half their length. . PICARLE, H. III. Toes semipahnate ; two or three of them joined at base only by evident movable webbing. e. Hind toe inserted on a level with the rest. /. Tibia? feathered below. g. Bill cered and hooked ; claws sharp and strong. RAPTORES, J. gg. Bill not cered and hooked ; nostrils opening beneath a soft, swollen membrane. . . COLUMB.E, K. 38 BIRDS. ff. Tibiae naked below. . . . HERODIONKS, N. ee. Hind toe inserted above the level of tire rest, and usually shorter than any of the others. h. Tibiae feathered below. i. Nostrils perforate ; head more or less naked. RAPTORES, J. ii. Nostrils imperforate. j. Bill fissirostral — gape wide, reaching to below eye. PICARI/E, H. jj. Bill stout, not fissirostral ; nostrils scaled or feathered. GALLING, L. M. Tibiae naked below. k. Nostrils perforate. . . . ALECTORIDES, O. kk. Nostrils imperforate. L Head bald ; tarsus reticulate. . HERODIONES, N. II. Head feathered ; tarsus usually scutellate. LlMICOL^E, M. IV. Toes lobate, webbed at base or not, but conspicuously bordered on sides by plain or scalloped membranes. m. Tail rudimentary ; legs set far back. . PYGOPODES, S. mm. Tail short ; a horny frontal shield. ALECTORIDES, O. mmm. Tail perfect; forehead feathered, without horny shield. LlMICOLuE, M. V. Toes palmate ; three front toes full-webbed. n. Bill curved upwards ; legs elongated. . LIMICOL.E, M. nn. Bill lamellate, mostly flatfish and furnished at tip with a decurved nail. . . LAMELLIROSTRES, P. nnn. Bill not recurved nor lamellate. o. Hind toe not lobate ; wings long and pointed ; tail well developed LONGIPENNES, R. oo. Hind toe lobate ; wings and tail short. PYGOPODES, S. VI. Toes totipalniate ; all four full-webbed. STEGANOPODES, Q. G. FAMILIES OF PASSERES. I. Oscines. Each side of tarsus covered with a plate, undivided in most of its length and meeting its fellow in a sharp ridge BIRDS. 39 behind (in a few cases, back of tarsus without ridge, and formed of a few scute] la distinct from those lapping over the front ); first primary short, spurious or wanting, if present, not more than two-thirds of the longest ; musical apparatus highly developed. * First primary short or spurious; (primaries 10). f Tarsus booled ; "rictus with bristles. a. Middle toe quite free from inner ; birds ot moderate size, length more than 0. b. Wings moderate, not reaching when folded beyond the middle of tail, and not more than one-third longer than tail; tip of wing formed by 3d to 6th quill; no blue TUKDID,*:, IS. bb. Wings very long, pointed, reaching beyond middle of tail, and more than half longer; tip of wing formed by 3d to 4th qui11$; ours chiefly blue. SAXICOLID/E. 19. aa. Middle and inner toes connected at base; small, length less than 5. . . . . . . SYLVIID^E, 20. ff Tarsus scutellate in front. c. Nostrils concealed by tufts of antrorse, bristly feathers. d First primary not more than half length of second ; bill not notched ; length less than 8. e. Bill as long as head ; wings pointed, much longer than tail SITTID^, 22. ee. Bill much shorter than head ; wings about as long as •tail PAKID/E, 21. dd. First primary more than half length of second ; bill usually notched, the bristly nasal feathers branched to their tips; large, length more than 8. CcmvnxE, 35. cc. Nostrils exposed (rarely slightly overhung). /. Bill distinctly notched near its tip, often hooked. g. Tail longer than wings ; general color gray or ashy- brown. 7i. Bill very stout, compressed, strongly notched, toothed and abruptly hooked at tip ; large, length 8 to 9. LANIID^E, 32. M. Bill more slender, not deeply notched nor abruptly hooked ; length 8 to 10. . . TURDID^E, 18. 40 BIRDS. hhh. Bill very slender, not strongly notched nor hooked ; small, length 4 to 5. . . SYLVIID^E, 20. gg. Tail shorter than wings ; general color olivaceous ; bill stout, notched and hooked ; length 4£ to 6£. VIREONID^E, 31. ff. Bill not at all notched. i. Rictus with bristles ; quills not barred, the tail longer than wings ; large, length 9 or more. TURDIM;, 18. U. No rictal bristles ; wings and tail barred or undulated, usually about equal in length, the latter of rounded feathers ; small, length 6 or less. TROGLODYTID^E, 24. iii. No rictal bristles ; tail about as long as wings, scan- sorial, — its feathers rigid and acute, not barred ; bill long, decurved; length 5 to 6. . CERTITUDE, 23. ** First primary about as long as second; (the real first one being minute and misplaced, leaving only 9 evident). | Bill fissirostral, — triangular, depressed, about as wide at base as long; its wide, deep gape twice as long as the culmen, reaching to opposite the eyes; no rictal bristles; wings very long and pointed. . . . HIIIUNDINID^, 29. $ Bill tanagrine, — stout, conic, its outlines convex, the tomia with one or more lobes or nicks near the middle; nostrils very high ; plumage brilliant, chiefly red ($) or yellow ($). TANAGRID^E, 28. $$ Bill conirostral, — stout at base, and more or less conic; nostrils high up ; tomia more or less evidently angulated near the base (i. e., " corners of mouth drawn downward." ) j. Bill truly conic, much shorter than the head, usually notched at tip, or with bristles at the rictus. FRTNGILLID/E, 33. jj. Bill conic, but lengthened more or less, about as long as head (except in Doliclionyx and Molothrus, the Bob-o- link and Cowbird) ; no notch at the tip or bristles at the rictus ICTERID^E, 34. \\\\ Bill not as above, with the tomia straight, or very gently curved. k. Conspicuously crested; bill triangular, depressed, notched, and hooked; tail tipped with yellow; secondaries (in full plumage) with red, horny tips. . AMPELID^E, 30. BIRDS. 41 A-/-. Nostrils concealed by bristly feathers •, tarsus scutellate behind; hind claw long and nearly straight; inner secondaries lengthened. . . . ALAUDID^E, 25. kkk. No crest ; nostrils exposed ; tarsus strictly " oscine." L Hind claw much elongated, twice as long as middle claw, with its toe much longer than middle toe and claw; bill very slender; longest secondary nearly equal to primaries in closed wing. . MOTACILLIDJE. 2<». II. Hind claw not specially elongated, not twice as long as middle claw ; inner secondaries not lengthened. m. Bill stout, compressed, notched, and abruptly hooked at tip; general color olivaceous, tail noi blotched with white or yellow. . . VIREOXID.*:, 31. mm. Bill various, notched or not, but little, if at all, hooked; colors often brilliant. SYLVICOLID.*:, 27. II. Clatnatore*. Outside of tarsus covered with a series of plates variously arranged, lapping entirely around in front and behind to meet in a groove on the inner side ; primaries 10. )i. First primary lengthened, often longest, always more than j length of the longest; bill broad, depressed, tapering to a point which is abruptly hooked; rictal bristles numerous; nostrils overhung but not concealed ; tail not tipped with yellow. .... TYRAXNID/E, 36. H. FAMILIES OF PICARI-E. I. Feet zygodactyle (two toes in front, two behind) by reversion of outer toe: (hallux wanting in Pi'coides.) a. Tail scansorial, of 12 rigid, acuminate feathers, of which the outer pair are short and concealed ; bill stout and straight ; nasal tufts usually developed. . . . PICID.F,. 42. aa. Tail not scansorial, of 8 to 10 long, soft feathers; bill de- curved ; no nasal tufts ..... CCCULIDJE, 41. II. Feet syndactyle, by cohesion of outer and middle toes; tibiae naked below; bill stout and straight, longer than head. Ill- Feet neither zygodactyle nor syndactyle; wings long and pointed. 42 BIRDS. b. Bill teuuirostral, very slender, much longer than head; secon- daries very short, 6 in number; plumage compact. TROCHILIO*:, 39. bb. Bill fissirostral, much shorter than head; secondaries more than 6. c. Rictal bristles present; middle claw pectinate; plumage lax, variegated ; length 8 or more. CAPRIMULGID^K, 37. cc. No ricttil bristles ; plumage compact, of blended colors ; tail leathers (in ours) spiuous ; length 6 or less.' CYPSELHXE, 38. I. FAMILIES OF PSITTACI. 1. Cere feathered, concealing the nostrils; plumage coarse and dry, chiefly green ARID^E, 43. J. FAMILIES OF RAPTORES. I. Hind toe on a level with the rest, more than half length of outer toe, and with a large claw; claws strong, sharp, much curved; nostrils inaperforate ; head mostly feathered; bill strongly hooked. a. Eyes directed forwards in consequence of the great lateral expansion of the cranium, and surrounded by a disk of radiating bristly feathers. . . . J-JTRionxas, 44. aa. Eyes lateral; no complete facial disk. . FALCONID^K, 45. II. Hind toe elevated, not more than half length of outer toe; claws weak and little curved; nostrils perforate; head mostly naked ; bill little hooked. . . . CATHARTID^E, 46. K. FAMILIES OF COLUMB.E. I. Head small, feathered (except sometimes a circumorbital ring); feathers loosely inserted, . , . COLUMBID^C, 47. L. FAMILIES OF GALLING. I. Head unfeathered, with wattles and caruncles; a tuft of bristly feathers on breast ; tarsus spurred in $ • plumage iridescent ; large, 36 or more MELEAGRID^E, 48. II. Head feathered-, plumage not iridescent; size much smaller. BIRDS. 43 Tarsus partly or entirely feathered, as is also the nasal groove ; sides of neck usually with bare skin or pecul- iar feathers ..... TETRAONID.*:, 49. Tarsus and nasal groove unfeathered ; no peculiar feathers on neck ....... PERDICIDA:, 50. M. FAMILIES OF LIMICOL^E. I. Toes lobate ; tarsus notably compressed ; body depressed. PHALAKOPODID^E, 54. II. Toes not lobate; tarsus not specially compressed. * Legs exceedingly long; tarsus as long as tail; bill much longer than head, slender, acute, and curved upwards ; feet 4-toed and palmate, or 3-toed and semipalmate. RECUKVIKOSTKID^G, 53. ** Bill usually shorter than head, pigeon-like, the broad, soft base separated by a constriction from the hard tip ; head .sub-globose, on a short neck ; tarsus reticulate ; toes 3 (except in Squatarula). . . . CfiARADRinx*:, 51. *** Bill usually longer than head, mostly grooved, not con- stricted, softish to its tip: tarsus scutellate; toes 4 (except in Cftlidn's) ...... SCOLOPACID*:, 55. **** Xot as above; bill hard, either compressed and truncate, or acute ; feet 4-toed and cleft, or 3-toed and semipalmate. N. FAMILIES OF HERODIOXES. I. Bill long, straight, acute ; middle claw pectinate, ARDEID^:, 56. II. Bill curved downwards, or else flat and spoon-shaped. TANTALHXE, 57. 0. FAMILIES OF ALECTORIDES. I. Very large; length 36 or more, with excessively long neck and legs; toes shorter than tarsus; bill contracted at the middle. GRUID^:, 58. II. Smaller, length 18 or less, with comparatively short neck and legs ; toes as long as tarsus ; bill not contracted. RALLID^E, 59. 44 BIRDS. P. FAMILIES OF LAMELLIROSTRES. I. Legs not very Jong ; tibiae feathered ; bill not decurved. ANATIDvE, 60. Q. FAMILIES OF STEGANOPODES. I. Bill longer than tail, many times longer than head, with the gular pouch enormous; wings long. . PELECANID,*, 61. II. Bill about as long as head, shorter than tail, which is fan- shaped, of rigid feathers; wings short. PlIALACROCOUACID/E, 62. R. FAMILIES OF LONGIPENNES. I. Nostrils not tubular, perforate; bill with a continuous covering. LAIIILME, 63. S. FAMILIES OF PYGOPODES. I. Feet palmate; tail developed ; head closely feathered. EUDYTID^E, 64. II. Feetlobate; tail undeveloped; head usually with naked 1 oral strip and peculiar feathers. . . . PODICIPID/E, 65. OBDEE G.-PASSEEES. ( Passerine Birds.) Toes always 4; feet fitted for perching; the hind toe always on a level with the rest, its claw at least as long- as that of middle toe, and often much longer; joints of toes respectively 2, 3, 4, 5, from first to fourth; toes never versatile; wing coverts comparatively few, chiefly in two series. Tail feathers 12, primaries 9 . or 10. Musical apparatus more or less developed. Sternum of a certain uniform pattern. Nature altricial. This group comprises the great majority of all Birds, and they represent the " highest grade of development, and the most complex organization of the class; their TURDID.E. — XVIII. 45 high physical irritability is co-ordinate with the rapidity of their respiration and circulation; they consume the most oxygen and live the fastest of all birds." (Cones.) FAMILY XVIII. — TURDUXE. (The ThrutJux.) Primaries 10, the first short or spurious: bill generally rather long, not conical, usually with a slight notch near the tip; nostrils oval, not concealed, but nearly or quite reached by the bristly frontal feathers; rictus with bristles, which are well developed in most of our species; tarsus in typical species, " booted,"' i.e.* enveloped in a continuous plate^ formed by the fusion of all the scutella? except two or three of the lowest; in other species dis- tinctly scutellate. Toes deeply cleft, the inner one free, the outer united to the middle one, not more than half the length of the first basal joint. A large family of more than two hundred species, found in most parts of the world, and embracing quite a wide variety of forms. Nearly all of them are remark- able for their vocal powers. Their food consists of insects and soft fruits. Our species fall into three strongly marked sub-families, of which the ~Mimin with less black; winter birds grayish, with the markings more obscure; L. 7^; W. 44; T. 3. N. Am. and Europe; common. A pleasant singer. \E. cornuta, (Wilson) Boie.] FAMILY XXVI. — MOTACILLID^E. (The Wagtails.) Primaries 9, first about as long as second; inner secondaries enlarged, the longest one about as long as the primaries in the closed wing. Bill shorter than the head, very slender, straight, acute, notched at tip. Feet large, fitted for walking; hind claw long and nearly straight, inner toe cleft; basal joint of outer toe united with middle one.. Rictal bristles not conspicuous; nostrils exposed. SYLVICOLID^E. — XXVII. 57 A group of about one hundred species, mostly of the Old World, connecting the Alaudidve, with the Sylci- colidce. Most of them are terrestrial. They have a habit (shared by various others) of moving the tail up and down, as if "balancing themselves on unsteady footing;" hence the name "Wagtail." * Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw; outstretched feet falling much short of end of tail. . . . AXTHUS, 1. /. A/I/THUS, Bechstein. TITLARKS. 1. A. pennsylvanicits, (Lath.) BRO\VN LARK. TIT- LARK. PIPIT. Dark brown, slightly streaked; superciliary line and under parts buffy; breast and sides streaked; outer tail feathers more or less white; L. 6^; W. 3^; T. 3. N. Am.; generally abundant. (The Missouri Sky- lark, Neocorys spraguei, is a near relative.) . FAMILY XXVII. — SYLVICOLID^E (T7ie Warblers.) Primaries 9; inner secondaries not enlarged, nor the hind toe long and straight, as in Alandidce and Moto<:il- lidce. Bill usually rather slender, notched or not; the commissure not angulated at base, as in FringillidfR, nor toothed in the middle, as in our Tanagridce; the end not notched and abruptly hooked, as in Vireonidce and Laniidce; the gape not broad and reaching to the eyes, as in HirundinidcB. Our warblers are small birds; all (except Icteria which may not belong here) are less than six and a half inches in length, and very many are less than five. The rictus is generally bristled, but in several of our genera it is not. The colors are usually brilliant and variegated, but the sexes are unlike, and the variations due to age and season are great, so that the study of the species is 58 BIRDS. often very difficult. Many of the Warblers are pleasing songsters, but none exhibit any remarkable powers in that line. All are insectivorous and migratory. This family consists of more than a hundred species, chiefly North American, and embraces quite a wide variety, so that the group can perhaps be only* distin- guished negatively. The SylvicolidcB grade perfectly into the TanayridoB and Ccerebidce^ and probably the three families, and perhaps the FringittiddB^ also, should be merged into one. Our species are divisible into three very distinct sub - families, indicated below. I. Bill slender, not hooked, as high as wide at base, with short bristles not reaching much beyond nostrils, or none ; wings longer than tail (except GeotUypis) ; length 6| or less. True Warblers. (SYLVICOLIN^E.) * Tail feathers, some or all of them blotched with white, f Rictus with evident bristles. ± Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw; entirely black and white, streaked. . . . MNIOTILTA, 1. $ Tarsus not shorter than middle toe and claw. a. Hind toe decidedly longer than its claw ; bill acute, scarcely notched ; bluish, throat and middle of back with yellow COMPSOTHLYPIS, 2. aa. Bill very acute, notched, perceptibly decurved, so that the gonys is slightly concave; rump and under parts chiefly yellow. . . PERISSOGLOSSA, 6. aaa. Warblers without above characters. DENDRCECA, 7. ff Rictus without evident bristles. b. Whole head and neck bright yellow ; Jbill notched, half inch or more long. . . . PROTONOTARIA, 3. Ib. Whole head and neck not yellow; bill acute, not notched nor bristled, less than half inch long. HELMINTHOPHILA, 5. ** Tail feathers yellow on inner webs; outer webs dusky; plumage chiefly yellow. . . . DENDROSCA, 7. SYLVICOLID^E. — XXVII. 59 *** Tail leathers all unmarked ; same color on both webs. c. Conspicuously streaked below; head plain or with two black stripes ; legs long. .... SIHRUS, 8. cc. Not streaked below. d. Wings about as long as tail ; chiefly yellow below ; crown (of <5) black or ashy ; legs strong. GEOTHLYPIS, 10. dd. Wings decidedly longer than tail. e. Bill not notched, half inch or more long ; head plain or with four black stripes. . HELMITHERUS, 4. ee. Bill less than half an inch long. /. Bill notched ; wings more than 2| ; crown plain or with black OPOROKNIS, 9. ff. Bill not notched, nor bristled, very acute ; wings less than 2i ; crown plain or with a bright spot. HELMIXTHOPHILA, 5. II. Bill rather stout, not notched, hooked nor bristled ; tail longer than wings ; length 7 to 8. Chats. (!CTERIN^E.) ICTERIA, 11. III. Bill depressed, broader at base than high, notched and some- what hooked, with strong rictal bristles half the length of bill ; wings longer than tail ; length 51 or less. Fly-catching Warblers. (SETOPHAGIX.E.) a. Bill fully twice as long as wide at base; tail feathers un- marked, or blotched with white. . MYIODIOCTES, 12. aa. Bill scarcely twice as long as wide at base ; tail marked with orange or yellow. . . . SETOPHAGA, 13. /. MNIOTILTA, Vieillot. CREEPING WARBLERS. 1. M. varia, (L.) Vieill. BLACK AXD WHITE CREEPER. Entirely black and white, streaked; crown with a broad white stripe; white wing bars; $ grayer; L. 5; W. 2f ; T. 2£. E. U. S.; a neat bird, with some of the habits of a Nuthatch. 60 B1EDS. 2. CHLORIS, Boie. BLUE YELLOW - BACKED WARBLERS. —Parula, Bonaparte. = Sylvicolci) Sw. (Preoccupied in Mollusks.) 1. C. americana, (L.) Jor. BLUE YELLOW- BACKED WARBLER. Clear ashy blue; back with a large golden- green patch; yellow below, belly white; a brown band across breast; white wing bars. $ obscurely marked; L. if; W. 2£; T. 2. Miss. Valley and E. One of our most elegant species, inhabiting tree-tops. 3. /V?0r0M?7>f/?/>f, Baird. GOLDEN SWAMP WARBLERS. 1. P. citrcea, (Bodd.) Bd. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. GOLDEN - HEADED WARBLER. Front and lower parts brilliant yellow; back, wings, etc., olivaceous; bill long; L. 5£; W. 3; T. 2£. U. S., southward; N. to Wabash Valley, in bushy swamps, rather rare, one of the most beautiful of our birds. 4. HELMITHERUS, Rafmesque. SWAMP WARBLERS. 1. H. vermivorus, (Gin.) Bon. WORM-EATING SWAMP WARBLER. Olive gree head yellowish, with four black stripes; buffy below; ? similar; L. 54-; W. 3; T. ty. E. U. S.; N. to L. Erie. 5. HELMINTHOPHILA, Ridgw. WORM - EATING WARBLERS. (See Addenda.) * Tail feathers conspicuously blotched with white. 1. H. chrysoptera, (L.) BLUE GOLDEN - WINGED WARBLER. Ashy blue; forehead, crown and wing bars bright yellow; throat and broad stripe through eye, black, white below; $ duller; L. 5; W. 24; T. 2^. S. E. States, rather rare; N. to Green Bay; a beautiful species. 2. //. pinus, (L.) BLUE- WINGED YELLOW WARB- SYLVICOLID/E. — XXVII. 61 LER. Olive yellow; crown and all under parts bright yellow; wing bars whitish; loral strip black; $ similar; L. 4J; W. 2£; T. 2. S. E. States, N. to N. Y. A hand- some bird, like a miniature Protonoiaria. ** Tail feathers without white blotches. 3. H. ruficapilla, (Wils.) NASHVILLE WARBLER. Olive green, ashy on head and neck; crown patch bright chestnut, more or less concealed; bright yellow below, lores and orbital ring pale; $ duller, crown patch obscure; L. 4f ; W. 2£; T. 2. E. U. S., frequent. 4. H. celata, (Say) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Olive green, never ashy on head; crown patch orange brown, more or loss concealed; greenish yellow below; $ duller, sometimes without crown patch; L. 4f ; W. 2J; T. 2. Miss. Valley, S. & W.; rare E. 5. H. peregrina, (Wils.) Cab. TENNESSEE WARBLER. Olive green; no crown patch; white or slightly yellowish below; L. 4J; W. 2£ ; T. If. E. U. S., not common. 6. PERISSOGLOSSA, Baird. FRINGED TONGUE WARBLERS. 1. P. tigrina, (Gm.) Bd. CAPE MAY WARBLER. Olivaceous above with darker streaks; rump and sides of neck bright yellow; yellow below, much streaked with black; crown black or nearly so; ear coverts orange brown, a white wing patch; $ duller, with no black or reddish about head; L. 5J; W. 2}; T. 2. E. U. S., rather rare. A fine species with a peculiar structure of the tongue, which is somewhat as in Ccerebidce. 7. DENDRECA, Gray. WOOD WARBLERS. A large genus comprising about thirty species of brightly colored little birds, all American, and very abundant in the United States during the migrations. 62 BIRDS. Our species, though well marked, are often difficult to determine when not in full plumage. The tail feathers are always marked with white or yellow, and the bill is but moderately pointed, notched and with evident bristles at the rictus. The following artificial analysis, partially borrowed from Coues' key to the genus, will generally enable the student to distinguish specimens. * Tail feathers edged with yellow; plumage chiefly yellow. cestiva, 1. ** Tail feathers blotched with white. f A white blotch on the primaries near their bases; no wing bars c&ruUtcens, 2. ff No white blotch on primaries ; wing bars, if present, not white. "White below; crown and wing patch more or less yellow. pennsyfoanicd, 6. Yellow below ; sides reddish-streaked ; crown reddish. palmarum, 15. Yellow below, sides black-streaked. Back olive with reddish spots. . . . discolor, 12. Back ashy kirtlandi, 11. fff No white blotch on primaries ; wing bars or wing patch white. \ Rump yellow: — crown clear ash; yellow and streaked below. maculosa, 4. — Crown with yellow spot ; white and streaked below. . coronata, 3. ^| Rump not yellow. Crown with orange or yellow spot; throat orange or yellow. blackburniw, 9. Crown black ; no distinct yellow any where : much streaked. striata, 8. Crown blue or greenish, like the back ; no definite yellow. ccerulea, 5. Crown chestnut, like the throat; no definite yellow ; bufly below castanea, 7. SYLVICOLID^E.— XXVII. 63 Crown bluish or yellowish, not as above— some yellow. Throat black (sometimes obscured by yellow tips to feathers) ; outer tail feather white-edged. mretis, 13. Throat yellow; — back ashy blue; cheeks black. dominica, 10. —back yellowish olive; cheeks same. pinus, 14. We copy from Coues' key the following valuable DIAGNOSTIC MAKKS OF WARBLERS IN ANY PLUMAGE. A white spot at base of primaries. . . . ccei-ulescens, 2. Wings and tail dusky, edged with yellow. . . cestiva, 1. Wing bars and belly yellow. . . discolor, 12. Wing bars yellow and belly pure white. . pennsylvanica, 6. Wing bars white and tail spots oblique, at end of two outer feathers only pinvs, 14. Wing bars brownish ; tail spots square at end of two outer feathers only palmarum, 15. Wing bars not evident (?); whole under parts yellow; back with no greenish kirtlandi, 11. Tail spots at end of nearly all the feathers, and no definite yellow any where. ....... ccerulea, 5. Tail spots at middle of nearly all the feathers; rump and belly yellow maculosa, 4. Rump, sides of breast (usually) and crown with yellow ; throat white coronata, 3. Throat definitely yellow; belly white; back with no greenish. dominica, 10. Throat yellow or orange ; crown with at least a trace of a central yellow or orange spot, and outer tail feather white-edged externally UacKburnice, 9. Throat, breast and sides black, or with black traces (seen on part- ing the feathers); sides of head with diffuse yellow; outer tail feather white-edged externally. . . . mrens, 13. With none of the foregoing special marks. striata 8 or castanea 1 . 64 BIRDS. 1. D. CBstiva, (Gm.) Bd. SUMMER WARBLER. GOLDEN WARBLER. Chiefly golden yellow; back olive yellow; breast and sides with orange brown streaks; quills dusky, edged with yellow; $ similar, scarcely streaked; L. 5£; W. 2|; T. 2%. America; everywhere abundant. 2. D. cceru/escens, (L.) Bd. BLACK - THROATED BLUE WARBLER. Rich gray blue, with a few dusky streaks on back; throat, sides of head, neck and sides of body black, otherwise pure white below; quills black, edged with blue; $ dull olive greenish, obscurely marked, known by the blotch on the primaries; L. 5-|-; W. 2f; T. 2£. E. U. S.; an elegant species, not uncommon in woodland. 3. D. coronata, (L.) Gray. YELLOW - RUMPED WARE - LER. MYRTLE WARBLER. Bluish ash above, streaked with black; white below with large blackish streaks; crown patch, rump and sides of breast bright yellow, there being four definite yellow places; $ and young brownish, with less yellow on breast and head; L. 5f ; W. 3; T, 2J. U. S., very abundant. The earliest migrant. 4. D. maculosa, (Gm.) Bd. BLACK AND YELLOW WARBLER. MAGNOLIA WARBLER. Back black, with olive skirtings; rump yellow; head clear ash; a white stripe behind eye; sides of head black, under parts (except the white crissum) rich yellow, with black streaks which are confluent on breast; $ similar, more olivaceous, with much less black; L. 5; W. 2J; T. 2±. E. U. S. A brilliant little bird, common in woodlands. 5. D. ccerulea, (Wils.) Bd. CERULEAN WARBLER. Bright blue with black streaks; white below; breast and sides with bluish lines; $ not streaked, greenish above, slightly yellowish below; L. 4J; W. 2£; T. 2. E. U. S.; N. to Niagara. Falls; rather rare. A dainty species. SYLVICOLLD^E.— XXVII. 65 6. D. pennsylvanica, (L.) Bd. CHESTNUT - SIDED WARBLER. Blackish above ; much streaked ; crown clear yellow; black patch about eye; pure white below; a line of bright chestnut streaks along sides; wing patch yellowish (never clear white); $ similar but with less chestnut and black; L. 5; W. 2J; T. 2£. E. U. S.; abundant, especially northward. A pretty species. 7. D. castanea, (Wils.) Bd. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. AUTUMN WARBLER. Back black and olive; thickly streaked; forehead and sides of head black enclosing a deep chestnut crown patch; chin, throat and sides, dull chestnut, otherwise pale buffy below; $ more olivaceous with less chestnut; young scarcely distinguishable from striata; L. 5; W. 3; T. 2|. E. U. S. Not very common. 8. D. striata, (Forst.) Bd. BLACK-POLL WARBLER. Black and olivaceous, almost every where streaked ; whole crown pure black; $ more olivaceous, slightly yellowish below; rather large; L. of; W. 3; T. 2J. E. U. S.; the last to migrate. " When the Black - Polls appear in force, the collecting season is about over " (Cones.) 9. D. blackburnice, (Gm.) Bd. ORANGE - THROATED WARBLER. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. HEMLOCK WARBLER. Black above with whitish streaks; crown patch, superciliary line, sides of neck and the whole throat brilliant orange or flame color, fading into yellow- ish on the belly; $ similar, but olive and bright yellow instead of black and orange; L. 5^; W. 2f ; T. 2£. E. U. S.; abundant among the tree-tops. The most brilliant species. 10: D. dominion, (L.) Bd. YELLOW-THROATED WARB- LER. Ashy blue; throat bright yellow; belly white; cheeks black ; superciliary line white or yellowish in front; L. 5; W. 2|: T. 2£. Southern States; N. to 66 BIRDS. Perm., Central Indiana and Kansas; rare northward. A neat, plain species, with the habits of a creeper. 11. D. kirtlandi, Bd. KIRTLAND'S WARB.LER. Ashy blue above; yellow and streaked below; lores black; L. 5-t; W. 2f; T. 2J. Ohio and the Bahamas. Two or three specimens known. 12. D. discolor, (Vieill.) Bd. PRAIRIE WARBLER. Olive yellow; back with a patch of red spots; forehead, superciliary line, wing bars and under parts bright yellow; streaked below; sides of head with black; $ similar; L. 4}; W. 2£; T. 2. E. U. S., N. to Mass, and Ills.; chiefly in evergreen thickets. An elegant species. 13. D. virens, (Gm.) Bd. BLACK -THROATED GREEN WARBLER. Clear yellow olive; sides of head rich yellow; whole throat and breast jet black, the color extending along the sides; otherwise whitish below; $ and winter birds with the black interrupted or veiled with yellowish; L. 5; W. 2J; T. 2±. E. U. S.; abundant. 14. D. pinus, (Wils.) Bd. PINE-CREEPING WARBLER. Yellow olive above; under parts and superciliary line yellow; no sharp markings any where; $ more grayish; L. 5f ; W.' 3; T. 2^. E. U. S., N. to Mass, and L. Superior; abundant in evergreen forests. 15. D. pa.lma.rum, (Gm.) Bd. YELLOW RED- POLL WARBLER. PALM WARBLER. Brownish olive above, somewhat streaked, rump brighter; crown bright chest- nut; superciliary line and under parts yellow with brown streaks; no wing bars; $ similar; L. 5; W. 2f ; T. 2£. E. N. A.; abundant; terrestrial; less beautiful than most of the group. 8. SIURUS, Swainson. WATER THRUSHES. 1. S. auricapillus, (L.) Sw. GOLDEN - CROWNED THRUSH. OVEX - BIRD. Bright olive green, white SYLVICOLID^E. — XXVII. 67 below, sharply spotted on breast and sides, after the fashion of the Thrushes; crown orange brown, with two black stripes; L. 6i; W. 3; T. % U. S.; abundant in woodland, spending most of its time on the ground, like the other species of this genus, and the next two; re- markable for its loud, ringing song, and its curious oven- shaped nest; the largest of the true Warblers. 2. S. ncevius, (Bodd.) Coues. WATER WAGTAIL. WATER THRUSH. Dark olive brown above, pale yellowish beneath; thickly spotted every where with the color of the back; a yellowish superciliary line; bill about a half inch long; feet dark; L. 6; W. 3; T. 2£. N. Am.; abundant in low thickets; moves its tail like a Wagtail. 3. S. motacilla, (Vieill.) Bon. LARGE - BILLED WATER THRUSH. Same general color as last, but white or pale buffy below, and less sharply spotted; bill much larger, about £ inch; feet pale; larger; L. 6£; W. 3£; T. 2£. E. U. S., scarce; N. to Mass. (Allen) and N. Wis. (Jordan.) (S. ludoviciamis, authors.) 9. OPORORNIS, Baird. NIMBLE WARBLERS. 1. 0. agilis, (Wils.) Bd. CONNECTICUT WARBLER. Olive green, ashy on head; throat and breast brownish ash, otherwise yellow below; no sharp markings; in fall more olivaceous; L. of; W. 3; T. 2%. E. U. S., rare; a shy, quiet bird. 2. 0. formosus, (Wils.) Bd. KENTUCKY WARBLER. Clear olive green, bright yellow below; crown and sides of head and neck black, with a rich yellow superciliary stripe, which bends around the eye behind; L. 5|; W. 3; T. 2-L. E. U. S., chiefly southerly, N. to Wis. and Conn.; in low thickets, not generally common; a handsome and active species. 68 BIRDS. 10. GEOTHLYPIS, Cabanis. GROUND WARBLERS. 1. G. trichas, (L.) Cab. MARYLAND YELLOW THROAT. BLACK- MASKED GROUND WARBLER. Olive green; fore- head and broad mask extending down sides of head and neck jet black, bordered behind with clear ash; under parts yellow, clear on throat and breast; $ obscurely marked, without black mask and with less yellow; L. 4£; W. 2i; T. 2£. U. S., abundant in thickets; a pretty bird with a lively song. $. G. Philadelphia, (Wils.) Bd. MOURNING WARBLER. Bright olive, clear yellow below; head ashy; throat and breast black, the feathers usually ashy - skirted (as though the bird wore crape, hence " Mourning Warb- ler"); $ and $ not in full plumage almost exactly like O. agiliS) but the tail as long as wings; L. 5^; W. 2i; T. 2-j. E. U. S., rather rare, in dense thickets. //. ICTERIA, Vieillot. YELLOW -BREASTED CHATS. 1. I. virens, (L.) Bd. YELLOW - BREASTED CHAT. Olive -green; throat and breast bright yellow; belly abruptly white; lores black, a white superciliary line; wings and tail plain; tarsus almost booted; L. 7^; W. 3i; T. 3i- U. S., southerly; N. to Mass, and Wis. (Cope- land.) A loud, quaint songster, often placed with the VireoS) but having little affinity with any of our groups. 12. MYIODIOCTES, Audubon. FLY-CATCHING WARE- LERS. 1. M. mitratus, (Gin.) Bon. HOODED FLY-CATCHING WARBLER. YELLOW- MASKED WARBLER. Bright yellow- olive, crown and neck all around jet black, enclosing a broad golden mask; under parts from the breast bright yellow ; tail with white blotches ; $ olive instead of TANAGRID^E, — XXVIII. 69 black; L. 5; W. 2f ; T. 2f E. U. S., southerly; N. to L. Erie; a singular species. 2. df. pusi/us, (Wils.) Bon. GREEN BLACK-CAPPED FLY-CATCHING WARBLER. Clear yellow-olive; crown glossy black; forehead, lores, sides of head and entire under parts bright yellow; wings and tail unblotched; $ with less black; L. -if; W. % T. 2±. U. S.; abundant. 0. M. canadensis, (L.) And. CAN-ADA FLY -CATCHING WARBLER. Bluish ash; crown speckled with black; under parts (except white crissum) clear yellow; lores black, continuous with black under the eye, and this passing as a chain of black streaks down the side of the neck and encircling the breast like a necklace; wings and tail plain; $ similar, with less black; L. 5^; W. 2f; T. 2^. E, U. S.,. to the Missouri, frequent. One of the handsomest Warblers. 13. SETOPHAGA, Swainson. AMERICAN REDSTARTS. 1. S. ruiiciila, (L.) Sw. REDSTART. Black; sides of breast and large blotches on wings and tail orange-red; belly white, reddish tinged; $ olive, similarly marked with reddish yellow; L. 5-J-; W. 2J; T. 2£. E. U. S., very abundant. A handsome and active Fly-Catcher. FAMILY XXVIII. — TANAGRID^E. (The Tanayers.) Primaries 9; bill usually conical, sometimes depressed or attenuated, the culmen curved; cutting edges not much inflected, sometimes toothed, notched or serrated; tarsus scutellate. Legs short; claws long; colors usually brilliant. A large family of three hundred or more species, confined to the warmer parts of America, and embracing a wide diversity of forms. Some have slender bills and are scarcely distinguishable from the Warblers. 70 BIRDS. Others, like our Pyranga, have stout conical bills and are very closely related to the Finches. The single North American genus has a stout, sparrow - like bill, notched at the tip, and more or less evidently toothed or lobed near the middle of the upper mandible. /. PYRANGA, Vieillot. FIRE TANAGERS. 1. P. rubra, (L.) Vieill. SCARLET TANAGER. ,3 brilliant scarlet; wings and tail black, no wing bars; $ clear olive green; clear greenish yellow below; L. 7^; W. 4; T. 3. E. U. S.; abundant in woodland; a respectable songster. 2. P. (BStiva, (L.) Vieill. SUMMER RED BIRD. $ bright rose red throughout; wings a little dusky; $ dull brownish olive, dull yellowish below; no wing bars; bill and feet paler than in P. rubra; sixe of last. E. U. S., chiefly southerly; N. to N. J. and Ills.; abundant. FAMILY XXIX. — HIRUNDINID^E. (The SicaUows.) Primaries 9; bill " fissi rostral," i.e., short, broad, tri- angular, depressed, the gape wide and about twice as long as the culmen, reaching to about opposite the eyes. Wings very long and pointed, the first primary usually longest, and twice as long as the last; secondaries very short. Tail more or less forked. Feet weak; tarsus scutellate, shorter than middle toe and claw. Plumage compact, and more or less lustrous. A very natural family of about one hundred species, found all over the world. All are strong on the wing, insectivorous, and usually migratory. * Plumage above more or less lustrous blue-black or green; no tarsal tuft nor recurved hooks on outer primary, f Tail deeply forked; outer feathers attenuate and blotched with white CHELIDON, 1. HffiUNDINLD^. — XXIX. 71 ff Tail scarcely forked; rump and forehead not colored like the back PETKOCHELIDON, 3. tff Tail somewhat forked , unblotched ; rump and forehead colored like the back. a. Lustrous green or violaceous; pure white below; length less than 6| TACHYCIXETA, 2. aa. Lustrous blue-black ; ? paler and whitish below ; length more than 6|. . PROGNE, 6. ** Plumage brownish-gray ; scarcely lustrous and without shades of blue or green. b. A. little tuft of feathers on tarsus at base of hind toe; edge of wing smooth. RIP ARIA, 4. bb. Outer web of first primary more or less saw like, with a series of minute recurved hooks, no tarsal tuft. STELGIDOPTEKYX, 5. /. CHELIDON, Forster. SWALLOWS. 1. C. erythrogastra, Bodd. BARN SWALLOW. Lustrous steel-blue, pale chestnut below ; forehead and throat deep chestnut; an imperfect steel-blue collar; tail very deeply forked; L. 7; W. 5; T. 4£. N. Am., abundant; breeding in colonies about barns, etc. 2. TACHYCINETA, Cabanis. WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOWS. 1. T. bicolor, ( Vieill.) Cones. WHITE - BELLIED SWAL- LOW. Lustrous green, pure white below; ? duller; L. 6i; W. 5; T. 2f. N. Am., abundant about water, nesting in trees, etc.; a handsome swallow. 3. PETROCHELIDON, Cabanis. CLIFF SWALLOWS. 1. P. lunifrons, (Say ) Cab. CLIFF SWALLOW. EAYE SWALLOW. Lustrous steel blue; forehead, sides of head, throat, rump, etc., of various shades of chestnut; a blue spot on breast, belly whitish; L. 5^; W. 4£; T. 2%. N. Am., abundant, formerly nesting in cliffs, but now under the eaves of barns, etc. 72 BIEDS. 4. RIPARIA, Forster. BANK SWALLOWS. (Cotyle Boie.) 1. /?. riparia, ( L, ) BANK SWALLOW. SAND MARTIN. Dark gray, not iridescent, white below, a brown shade across the breast; L. 4f ; W. 4; T. 2. N. Am., abundant, breeding in holes in sandbanks, etc. 5. STELGIDOPTERYX, Baird. ROUGH -WINGED SWALLOWS. 1. S. serripennis, (Aud. ) Bd. ROUGH -WINGED SWALLOW. Brownish gray; wing hooks weak in $; L. 54 ; W. 4rJ ; T. 2;|. U. S., not common, rare eastward, breeding in banks, etc. 6. PROGNE, Boie. MARTINS. 1. P. subiSf (L.) Bd. PURPLE MARTIN. Lustrous blue -black throughout; $ duller, whitish and streaky below; bill stout, almost hooked; L. 7£; W. 6; T. o^. N. Am., abundant. (P. purpurea, Auct.) FAMILY XXX. — AMPELID^E. (The Chatterers.) Primaries 10, or apparently 9, the first sometimes rudimentary and displaced; bill stout, triangular, de- pressed, decidedly notched and hooked, with the gape very wide. Nostrils overhung by membrane covered with bristly feathers. Tarsus short, with the lateral plates more or less subdivided, and often scarcely oscine in character; lateral toes nearly equal. As here con- stituted, ft small group of six or eight species, the Myidestince usually brought into this connection being really Turdidw, as shown by Prof. Baird. There are two sub - families, bearing but little resemblance to each other, — Ptilogonydince, of the warmer parts of N. America, and Ampelince, of the northern parts of both hemispheres. VIREONID^E. — XXXI.' 73 The AmpelinoB constitute a single genus of three species. All are crested birds with a soft plumage of a handsome cinnamon drab color; the ends of the secon- daries, and sometimes of the tail feathers, also, are tipped with horny appendages, looking like red sealing- wax. The tail is short and square, much shorter than the long wings, and in our species it is tipped with yellow. The Wax Wings are migratory and gregarious, feeding on insects and soft fruits. Their voices are weak and wheezy, and they can scarcely be considered as songsters. /. AMPELIS, Linnaeus. WAX WINGS. 1. A. garrulus, L. BOHEMIAN WAX WING. NORTHERN WAX WING. General color an indescribable silky, ashy brown with a red tinge; front and sides of head shaded with purplish cinnamon; a black band across forehead around head; throat black; crissum chestnut red; two broad white wing bars; L. 7^; W. 44; T. 3. Northern regions, S. in winter in large flocks to the Great Lakes; an interesting and beautiful bird. 2. A. cedrorum, (Vieill.) Bd. CEDAR BIRD. CHERRY BIRD. SOUTHERN WAX WING. Similar but smaller and less cinnamon-tinged, chin black; strip across face black, bordered above by whitish; belly yellowish; crissum white; no wing bars; ? with the wax-like appendages small or wanting; L. 6£; W. 3|; T. 2£. E. U. S., abundant. FAMILY XXXI. — VIREONID^E. (TJie Vireos.) Primaries 10, or apparently only 9, the first being sometimes rudimentary and displaced. Bill shorter than head, stout, compressed, decidedly notched and hooked. 4 74 BIRDS. Rictus with bristles. Nostrils exposed, overhung by a scale, reached by the bristly frontal feathers. Tarsus scutellate; toes soldered at base for the whole length of basal joint of middle one, which is united with the basal joint of the inner and the two basal joints of the outer; lateral toes usually unequal. A rather small family, comprising sixty or seventy species of small olivaceous birds, all American. The coloration is. usually blended and varies little with age or sex. All are insectivorous, and many of them are remarkable as songsters. Concerning the " nine-primaried " species, Prof. Baird remarks: "In V. flawfrons, in which the outer primary is supposed to be wanting, its presence may be easily appreciated. One of the peculiar characters of this species consists in a narrow edging of white to all the primary quills, while the primary coverts (the small feathers covering their bases, as distinguished from what are usually termed the wing coverts, which more properly belong to the forearm or secondaries) are without them. If these coverts are carefully pushed aside, two small feathers considerably shorter than the others will be dis- closed, one overlying the other, which (the under one) springs from the base of the exposed portion of the long outermost primary, and lies immediately against its outer edge. This small feather is stiff, falcate, and edged with white like the other quills, and can bo brought partly around on the inner edge of the large primary, when it will look like any spurious quill. The overlying feather is soft, and without light edge. In the other Vireos, with appreciable spurious or short outer primary, a similar examination will reveal only one small feather at the outer side of the base of the exterior large primary. VIREONIDJE. — XXXI. 75 In all the families of Passeres, v/here the existence of nine primaries is supposed to he characteristic, I have invariably found, as far as my observations have extend- ed, that there were two of the small feathers referred to, while in those of ten primaries but one would be detected." * Wings long and pointed, i or more longer Uiaa the tail ; first primary very small or apparently wanting, less than i length of second. YIKEOSYLVIA, 1. ** Wings relatively short and rounded, not one -fourth longer than the tail; first primary f or more length of second; bill stout VIREO, 2. /. VIREQSYLVIA, Bonaparte. LONG -WINGED VIREOS. < Vireo, Vieillot. * Slender species, the bill slender, light horn color, pale below; commissure straight and culmen relatively so; no wing bars uor conspicuous orbital ring; feet weak. (Vireosylma) \ Primaries apparent!}' 9. 1. V. olivacea, (L.) Bon. RED -EYED VIREO. GREEX- LET. Olive green, crown ashy, edged on each side with blackish; a white superciliary line, and below this a dusky streak; white below, somewhat olive shaded; eyes reel; L. 6; W. 3£; T. *>±. E. U. S., very abundant in v/oodland; an energetic songster. 2. V. philadelphica, Cassin. PHILADELPHIA GREEXLET. Dull olive green, becoming ashy on crown; no black lines on head; a whitish superciliary line; below faintly yellowish, fading to white on throat, etc.; L. 4f ; W. 2f ; T. 2±. E. U. S., scarce. ft Primaries evidently 10. 3. V. gilva, (Vieill.) Cass. WARBLING VIREO. Colors exactly as in the preceding, but the spurious quill evident; L. 5|; W. 2f ; T. 2£ E. N. A., frequent; an exquisite songster, nesting in tall trees in cities, etc. 76 BIRDS. ** Stout species; the bill short and stout, blue-black; both culmen and commissure decidedly curved ; a pale stripe running from bill to and around eye; white wing bars; quills blackish, mostly edged with white ; feet stout. (Lanimreo, Bd.) | Primaries apparently 9. 4. V. flavifrons, (Vieill.) Baird. YELLOW -THROATED VIREO. Rich olive green above, becoming ashy on rump; bright yellow below; belly, white; superciliary line and orbital ring yellow; L. 5£; W. o; T. 2. E. U. S., abundant; a brightly colored species. ft Primaries evidently 10. 5. V. so/ifariaf (Wils.) Baird. BLUE - HEADED VIREO. SOLITARY GREENLET. Bright olive green: crown and sides of head bluish ash; stripe to and around eye white, a dusky line below it; white below, somewhat washed with pale yellow; L. 5f ; W. 3; T. ££. U. S., in wood- land, frequent; a stout, handsome species. 2. J70£0, Vieillot. SHORT -WINGED VIREOS. 1. /. noveboracensis, (Gm.) Bonap. WHITE -EYED VIREO. Bright olive green, white below; sides and crissum bright yellow; pale wing bars; stripe from bill to and around eye, yellow; eyes white; L. 5; W. 2^; T. 2J. E. U. S., in thickets; a sprightly bird, with a loud and varied song. 2. V. belli, Aud. BELL'S VIREO. Olive-green, yellow below, chin and superciliary line whitish; wing bars whitish; L. 4J; W. 2£; T. 2. Western, E. to Ills, and Neb. Resembles F". gilva. FAMILY XXXII. — LANIID^E. (The Shrikes.) Primaries 10, the first short (rarely wanting) ; bill hawk- like, very strong, the upper mandible toothed and ab- . — XXX111. f T ruptly hooked at the tip ; both mandibles distinctly notched. Wings short, rounded. Tail long. Tarsus scutellate on the outside as well as in front. Sexes alike. Species about 100, found in most parts of the world, remarkable for their energy and pugnacity. * Rictus with bristles; nostrils concealed by bristly tufts ; colors black, white and gray ..... LAXIUS, 1. /. LANIUS, Linnaeus. SHRIKES. (GW/tfrio, Vigors.) 1. L. borealis, Vieill. GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE. BUTCHERBIRD. Clear bluish ash above; black bars on side of head not meeting in front, interrupted by a white crescent on under eyelid; rump and shoulders whitish; wings black; white below, waved with blackish; L. 94; W. 4i; T. 4f. Northern regions, S in winter to Ohio R. and Potomac. 2. L ludovicianus, (L.) var. excubitor 'aides, (Sw.) Coues. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. Clear ashy blue ; a whitish superciliary line; black bars on sides of head meeting across forehead; no crescent on under eyelid; white below scarcely or not dark- waved; L. 8£; W. 4; T. 4^. Western, E. to L. Michigan and Ohio R. (See Addenda.) FAMILY XXXIII. — FRINGILLHXE. (The Finches.) Primaries 9. Tarsus strictly oscine. Bill mostly shorter than head, robust, of a conical form, with ths commissure more or less abruptly angulated near its base; in other words, the "corners of the mouth drawn down." This feature is usually unmistakeable, and it is almost the only character pertaining to all the members of the family. Even this is also shared by the fcteridoe^ which, however, may generally be distinguished by the greater length and slenderness of the bill. 78 BIRDS. A very large family, the most extensive in Ornithology, comprising about one hundred genera and five hundred species, found in nearly every part of the world, except Australia. They are especially abundant in North America, where about one-eighth of all the birds are Frinyillidue. " Any one United States locality of aver- age attractiveness to birds, has a bird-fauna of over two hundred species, and if it be away from the sea-coast, and consequently uninhabited by marine birds, about one-fourth of the species are SylmcolidcB and Fringil- lidc/B together, the latter somewhat in excess of the former. It is not easy, therefore, to give undue promi- nence to these two families." (Coues.) All the Finches are granivorous, feeding chiefly on seeds, but not rejecting either berries or insects; nearly all sing, and some most delightfully; most of them are plainly clad, a streaky brown being the prevailing tint, but others are among the most brilliantly colored birds. Among these latter only are the changes in plumage strongly marked. The following key to the genera is aoout as artificial as it well could be, but a more natural one would be less easy of application. The characters here assigned are seldom truly generic. * Species of large size; length at least more than 7£. f Tail longer than wings. a. Conspicuously crested, chiefly red or rosy-tinted ; bill very large, reddish. . . CARDINALIS, 23. aa. Not crested ; black or brown with chestnut on sides ; wings and tail with white , bill moderate, black, PIPILO, 24. aaa. Not crested, head mostly black, no white on tail. ZONOTRICHIA, 13 ff Tail shorter than wings. b. Bill very large and stout. (" Grosbeaks.") FRINGILLIDJS. — XXXI1L 79 c. Black and white ($) or brown, streaked (?) ; under wing coverts rosy or yellow. . . . ZAMELODIA, 20 co. Rosy red (<*) or gray with brownish yellow on head and rump (?) PIXICOLA, 2. ccc. Bill greenish yellow, as long as tarsus ; wings and tail black ; secondaries mostly white. HESPERIPHONA, 1. 66. Bill moderate or small. d. White, with black on wings and tail, or washed with clear brown ; hind toe elongated. CALCARICS, 7. dd. Streaked above ; head striped ; tail about as long as wings. ZONOTRICHIA, 13. ** Species of medium or small size; length 7i or less. \ Mandibles long and much curved, their points crossed; colors chiefly red or olive LOXIA, 4. \\ Hind claw straightish, twice as long as middle claw; colors black, white and brown. . . CALCARIUS, 7. \\\ "With neither of the preceding combinations. e. No where decidedly spotted or streaked (sometimes appear- ing mottled owing to the darker centers of the feathers). /. Blackish, or ashy ; belly and one to three outer tail feath- ers white ; bill pale, without ruff. . Jcxco, 17. ff. Yellow, more or less ; base of bill with a small ruff; no blue ; young brownish. . . CFTRYSOMITRIS, 6. fff. Chiefly or entirely blue ($), greenish or plain brown (?). g. Length more than 6 ; wings with chestnut or whitish ; bill stout GCTRACA, 21. gg. Length 5 to 6 ; gonys usually with a dusky stripe. PASSER ix A, 22. ee. Some where or every where decidedly spotted or streaked. h. One or more outer tail feathers partly or wholly white. i. Hind claw very long and nearly straight ; colors black and white or brown. . . CALCARIUS, 7. ii. Hind claw not specially elongated. j. Bend of wing with chestnut ; crown and breast streaked ; tail much shorter than wings. POCECETES, 10. 80 BIRDS. jj. No chestnut on \ving ; breast uustreaked ; head with black, white and chestnut ; tail nearly as long as wings CIIONDESTES, 12. hh. Tail feathers rigid, acute, almost scansorial ; small streaked marsh-sparrows with yellow-edged wings. AMMODRAMUS, 11. JMi. Tail feathers more or less rounded and soft, none of them white. k. Wings decidedly longer than tail. I With crimson or clear (not rusty) red ; a ruff at base of bill. m. Crown crimson ; Chin dusky. . ACANTHIS, 5. mm. Crown, chin, throat and often whole plumage washed with red. . . $ of CARPODACUS, 3. II. With definite yellow some where. n. Bases and edges of quills and tail feathers yellow; bill acute. . . . CIIRYSOMITRIS, 6. nn. Rump sulphur yellow; bijl with a small ruff. ACANTHIS, 5. nnn. Edge of wing and superciliary line or spot at least, yellow or yellowish ; no ruff. o. Breast yellow ; throat patch or streaks black , bill bluish SPIZA, 19. oo. Breast buffy or streaky ; wings less than 2i ; tail feathers narrow. . AMMODHAMUS, 11. ooo. Breast streaked ; wings more than 2i ; inner secondaries nearly as long as primaries. PASSERCULUS, 9. III. With no definite crimson nor yellow any where. p. Introduced birds, not streaked below ; throat black in $ PASSER, 8. pp. Native bird?, much streaked below. q. Inner claw reaching at least half way to tip of middle claw ; tail, wings, etc., with much chestnut red; wings more than 3; no ruff. PASSERELLA, 18, FRINGILLID^. — XXXIII. 81 qq. Olivaceous; 110 black nor chestnut; wings more than 3 , secondaries not lengthened ; a ruff at base of bill. . . 5 of CARPODACUS, 3, qqq. Inner secondaries lengthened, about as long as primaries ; wings less than 3 ; no ruff. PASSERCULUS, 9, 'tck. Wings little if any longer than tail. r. Tail feathers very slender, rather stiff and sharp pointed ..... AMMODRAMUS, 11, rr. Tail feathers not rigid and sharp pointed. s. Sharply streaked below. . . MELOSPIZA, 15. ss. Not streaked below (when adult.) t. Crown chestnut in adult (streaky in young) , no yellow. u. Tail rounded; its middle feathers longest; sharply streaked above. MELOSPIZA, 15. uu. Tail forked ; its middle feathers short. SPIZELLA, 14. tt. Crown not chestnut in adult, often partially so in young. v. Head striped ; length more than G ; tarsus more than £ . . . ZONOTRICHIA, 13. OT. Length less than 6 ; bend of wing yellowish. 16. /. HESPERIPHONA, Bonaparte. EVENING GROSBEAKS. 1. H. vespertina, (Coop.) Bon. EVEXIXG GROSBEAK. Olivaceous; crown, wings, tail and tibia black; forehead and crissum yellow; bill very large, yellowish; L. 8; W. 4i; T. 2-|-. Western, E. to Ohio, etc. 2, P1NICOLA, Vieillot. PINE GROSBEAKS. 1. P. enuc/eator, (L.) Vieill. PIXE GROSBEAK. $ chiefly red; white wing bars; $ ashy gray with brownish yellow on head and rump; L. 8£; W 4£; T. 4. North- ward, S. in winter; in pine woods, etc. 82 BIRDS. 3. CARPODACUS, Kaup. PURPLE FINCHES. 1. C. purpureus, (Gmel.) Gray. PURPLE FINCH. Every where streaky; $ flushed with red, most intense on the crown, fading below and behind; ? olive brown with no red; bill stout; L. 6; W. 3J; T. 2J-. U, S., a fine songster. 4. LOXIA, Linnaeus. CROSSBILLS. 1. L leucoptera, (Gmel.) WHITE WINGED CROSSBILL. $ rose red; white wing bars; $ brownish olive, speckled with dusky; rump yellow; L. 6£; W. 3£; T. 2£. North- ern, S. in winter. 2. L curvirostra, L. RED CROSSBILL, 3 brick -red; wings unmarked; $ brownish olive; L. 6; W. 3£; T. %$. Northern regions and pine woods; S. in winter. 5. ACANTHIS, Bechstein. LINNETS. 1. A. linarius, (L.) Bech. RED POLL LINNET. Crown crimson in both sexes; throat, breast and rump also rosy in <$; much streaked above; chin blackish; L. 5f ; W. 3; T. 2£. Northern, S. in winter, in flocks. 2. A. fiavirostris,(Ij.)vfir.brewster/fPddgwsiy. BREWS- TER'S LINNET. No red on crown or breast; rump rosy in 6; yellow in ?; L. 5^; W. 3; T. 2£. Mass., lately dis- covered. 6. CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie. GOLDFINCHES. * Sexes alike ; plumage thickly streaked every where ; no black on head • bill very sharp. (Chrysomitris.) 1. C. pin us, (Wils.) Bon. PINE LINNET. Plumage streaky brown, suffused with yellow in the breeding season; bases of quills and tail feathers yellow, much as in the female Redstart; L. 4J; W. 2f ; T. 2. N. Am., rather northward, but liable to " turn up " any where. FRINGILLID^E. — XXXIII, 83 ** Sexes unlike, scarcely or not streaked; adult $ with black on crown, wings aud tail. (Astra galinus, Cab.) 2. C. tristis, (L,) Bon. YELLOW BIRD. THISTLE BIRD. AM. GOLDFINCH. 6 rich yellow; rump whitish; wing bars white; white spot on each tail feather; $ more olivaceous; fall plumage pale yellow brown; young variously ochraceous, with yellow or not; L. 5; W. 3; T. 2. N. Am.; every where. 7. GALCARIUS, Bechst. LONGSPURS. *Bill small, with a ruff; hind claw long but curved. (Plectro- phenax Stejnegger.) 1. C. nivalis, ( L. ) SNOW BUNTING. SNOW FLAKE. In breeding season, pure white, with black on back, wings and tail; bill and feet black; in U. S. usually bill pale, and white of body clouded with clear, warm brown; L. 7; W. 4.]-; T. 3. Northern, S. in winter to Ohio R.; a beautiful bird. **Biil larger, without ruff ; hind claw nearly straight. (Gal- carius.) 2. C. lapponicus, (L.) Stejn. LAPLAND LONGSPUR. $ with head and throat mostly black; a chestnut collar; back black and streaky, whitish below; outer tail feathers with white; legs and feet black; $ and winter birds with less black; L.'6J; W. 4; T. 2J. Northern, S. in winter to N. Y. and Ills. 3. C. pictus (Sw.) PAINTED LARK BUNTING. 5 with head and upper parts mostly black; collar and under parts rich fawn color; legs pale; $ duller. Northern, S. in the interior to Ills, and Kans.; rare. (See Addenda.) S. PASSER, Brisson. HOUSE SPARROWS, = Pyrgita, Cuvier. lc P. d'omesticus, L. ENGLISH SPARROW. <3 chestnut 84 BIRDS. brown abovev thickly streaked; ashy below; throat, lores and chin black; $ duller, without black; feet small; L. 6; W. 2f ; T. 2^-. Introduced from Europe; abundant in the large cities. 2. P. montanus, Auct. EUROPEAN TREE SPARROW. " Distinguished by the chestnut crown, and the similarity of both sexes and the young." Introduced with preced- ing, and abundant in St. Louis (Dr. J. 0. Merrill), and perhaps other places. 9. PASSERCULUS, Bonaparte. SAVANNA SPARROWS. 1. P. sandwichensis, (Gm.) SAVANNA SPARROW. Sharply streaked; streaks on back blackish; superciliary line and edge of wing yellowish; L. 5|-; W, 2f ; T. 2. N. Am., abundant on plains and shores. 2. P. princeps, Maynard. IPSWICH SPARROAV. Streaks on back sandy brown, not sharply defined; superciliary line white in front; L. 6; W. 3£; T. 2^-. Mass., lately discovered. 10. POOECETES, Baird. GRASS SPARROWS. l.-P. gramineus, (Gm.) Baird. BAY -WINGED BUNT- ING. GRASS SPARROW. GROUND BIRD. Thickly streaked everywhere; slightly buffy below; L. 6; W. 3; T. 2^. N. Am., abundant in fields, etc., and known at once by the chestnut bend of wing and white outer tail feathers/ //. AMMODRAMUS, Swainson. SHORE SPARROWS. * Bill stout ; tail feathers acute but not rigid ; crown with a medium light stripe ; inland species. (Coturniculus, Bon.) 1. A. passerinus, (Wils.) Baird. YELLOW -WINGED SPARROW. Much streaked above; feathers edged with bay; breast buffy, unstreaked; wings and tail short; edge FRINGILLID^. — XXXTII. 85 and bend of wing and. line over eye yellow; L. 5; \V. T. 2. U. S., in fields; notes sharp, grasshopper-like. 2. A. henslowi, (Aud.) Baird. HENSLOW'S SPARROW. Smaller; more yellow above; breast, etc., with some sharp black streaks; L. 5; W. 2±; T. 2f E. U. S., scarce; N. to Mass. 3. A. lecontei, (Aud.) Baird. LECONTE'S SPARROW. Intermediate between the preceding and the next; bill small, blue-black; back with rufous; tail feathers very sharp and slender; breast unspotted, a broad buffy superciliary stripe; L. 4f ; W. 2£; T. 2^. Chicago, Ills. {E. W. Nelson) to Texas and N. W.; very rare. ** Bill long and slender; tail feathers sharp and rather stiff; sea- shore Sparrows. (Ammodromw.) •4. A. maritimus, (Wils.) Sw. SEA-SIDE FINCH. Olive gray; back obscurely streaked; a yellow spot over eye; L. G; "W. 2£; T. 2. Salt marshes, Atlantic coast. 5. A. caudacutus, (Gm.) Sw. SHARP-TAILED FINCH. Back sharply streaked; no yellow spot over eye, a bright buff superciliary stripe; L. 5; W. 2^; T. If. Atlantic coast. Var. nelsoni, Allen. NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED FINCH. Shores of Lake Michigan about Chicago ; common. (E. W. Nelson.) 12. CHONDESTES, Swainson. LARK SPARROWS. 1. C. grammica, (Say.) Bon. LARK FINCH. Streaked above, ashy below; crown and ear coverts chestnut, blackening on forehead, with whitish median and super- ciliary stripes; black lines through and below eye; and a conspicuous black line on each side of the white throat; a black pectoral spot; middle tail feathers like back, the rest blackish, white tipped; L. 6J; W. 3£; T. 86 BIRDS. 3. Western, E. to Ohio; abundant on prairies and river bluffs; a fine songster. 13. ZONOTRICHIA, Swainson. WHITE - CROWNED SPARROWS. 1. Z. leucophrys, (Forst.) Sw. WHITE - CROWNED SPARROW. Streaked above, with but little chestnut; crown with a broad white median band, a narrow black one and a white one on each side of it; no yellow any where; throat like breast; young with the crown chiefly rich brown; L. 7; W. 3^; T. 3^. N. Am.; less common than the next. 2. Z. albicollis, (Gm.) Bon. WHITE-THROATED SPAR- ROW. PEABODY BIRD. Much chestnut streaking above; crown black, with white median and superciliary stripes; spot over eye and edge of wing always yellow; ashy below, whitening on throat; $ duller; L. 7; W. 3; T. 3^. E. N. Am.; an abundant and handsome sparrow. 3. Z querula, (Nutt.) Gambel. BLACK -HOODED SPARROW. Crown, face and throat jet black; no yellow; $ with less black; L. 7£; W. 3^; T. 3|. Missouri region, E. to Minn. 14. SPIZELLA, Bonaparte. CHIPPING SPARROWS. 1. S. moniana, (Forst.) Ridgw. TREE SPARROW. Streaked above ; crown chestnut ; bill black above, yellow below; neck, line over eye and under parts ashy gray; a dark pectoral blotch; white wing bars; L. 6^; W. 3; T. 3. N. Am., chiefly northerly; U. S. in winter. 2. S. pusilla, (Wils.) Bon. FIELD SPARROW. General color of preceding, but paler and duller; bill pale; wing bands rather obscure; L. 5|; W. 2£; T. 2£. E. U. S., abundant. [S. agrestis, (Bart.) Coues.] FRINGILLUXE.— XXXIII. 87 3. S. social is, (Wils.) Bon. CHIPPY. HAIR BIRD. Streaked above, with much dull bay; crown chestnut; bill, forehead and streak through eye black; ashy below; L. 5i; W. 2|; T. 2£. N. Am., every where. [S. domestica, (Bart.) Coues.] 4. S. pallida, (Sw.) Bon. CLAY -COLORED SPARROW. Still smaller; pale brownish yellow, streaked with black; crown grayish, with median stripe. S. Ills, and W. 15. MELOSPIZA^ Baird. SONG SPARROWS. 1. M. fas data, (Gmel.) Scott. SONG SPARROW. Much streaked above and on breast and sides; crown with an obscure pale median stripe; below white, pectoral streaks often forming a blotch ; L. 6£ ; W. 2% ; T. 3. U. S., every where; a well-known songster. [M. melodia.~\ 2. M. palustris, (Wils.) Baird. SWAMP SPARROW. Crown chestnut; wings strongly tinged with chestnut; breast and below with few streaks or none; tail shorter than in the Song Sparrow; L. of; W. 2£; T. 2£. E. U. S., in low thickets. 3. M. lincolni, (Aud.) Baird. LINCOLN'S FINCH. Every where thickly, narrowly and sharply streaked; breast with a broad band of pale buffy or yellowish brown; sides washed with the same; L. 5^; W. 2^; T. 2^. N. Am., rare eastward; a shy species quite unlike the others. 16. PEUCSEA, Audubon. SUMMER SPARROWS. 1. P. (Bstivalis, (Licht.) Cab. BACHMAN'S FINCH. Much streaked above, ashy below; yellow on bend of wing but none on head; L. 6; W. 2^; T. 2^. Southern, N. to Illinois. 88 BIRDS. 17. JUNCO, Wagler. SNOW BIRDS. 1. J. hyemalis, (L.) Scl. SNOW BIRD. $ more gray- ish; L. 6i; W. 3; T. 3. E. N. Am., every where abund- ant, mostly seen in winter. (See Addenda.) 18. PASSERELLA, Swainson. Fox SPARROWS. 1. P. iliaca, (Merrem) Sw. Fox SPARROW. Ashy above, overlaid and much streaked with rusty red, which becomes bright bay on rump, tail and wings; white below with large arrow-shaped spots and streaks, numer- ous on breast; feet stout, with long claws; L. 7; W. 3£; T. 3. E. N. Am.; migrating early; one of the hand- somest streaked sparrows. 19. SPIZA, Bonaparte. BLACK-THROATED BUNTINGS. 1. S. americana, (Grn.) Bon. BLACK -THROATED BUNTING. Grayish and streaked above; wing coverts chestnut; line over eye, maxillary stripe, edge of wing, breast and part of belly yellow; throat patch black; otherwise white below; $ with little chestnut, and the black reduced to a few streaks; L. 6f; W. 3J; T. 2f. Meadows, etc., Conn, to Kansas, chiefly westward; a handsome bird with sleek plumage, and a peculiar, but scarcely musical song. 2. 5. townsendi, (Aud.) Bon. TOWNSEND'S BUNTING. Upper parts, head, neck, etc., slaty blue; no chestnut, and little yellow or black. Smaller, a doubtful species. Only one specimen known from E. Penn. 20. ZAMELODIA, Coues. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. = Hedymeles, Cabanis. 1. Z. ludoviciana, ( L. ) Coues. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. $ with head, neck and upper parts mostly black, with white on rump, wings and tail; belly white; FRINGILLID.E. — XXXLTI. 89 breast and under wing coverts of an exquisite rose-red; bill very stout, pale; $ olive brown, much streaked, with the under wing coverts saffron yellow; head with whitish bands; L. 8±; W. 4; T. 3J. E. U. S., abundant; perhaps our handsomest bird, and one of our most brilliant songsters. 21. GUI RAG A, Swain son. BLUE GROSBEAKS. 1. G. cceru/ea, (L.) Sw. BLUE GROSBEAK. $ rich blue; feathers about bill, wings and tail, black; wing bars chestnut ; $ yellowish brown, with whitish wing bars; L. 7; W. 3±; T. 2f. Southern, N. to N. Y. and Wis.; a fine songster. 22. PASSERINA, Vieill. INDIGO BIRDS. 1. P. cyanea, (L.) Gray. IXDIGO BIRD. $ Indigo blue, clear on head, greenish behind ; $ plain warm brown, obscurely streaky, known from other small spar- rows by a dusky line along the gonys; L. 5£; W. 3; T. 2f. E. U. S., abundant in summer; a tireless songster. 2. P. ciris, (L.) Gray. NONPAREIL. PAINTED BUNT- ING. <$ head and neck blue; under parts, etc., vermillion; shoulders, etc., green; $ green, yellowish below; L. 5£. Southern, N. to S. Ills. (Nelson.) 23. CARDINALIS, Bonaparte. CARDINAL GROSBEAKS. 1. C. ca.rdina.lis, (L.) CARDINAL GROSBEAK. Red BIRD. Clear red, ashy on back; chin and forehead black; crest conspicuous; $ ashy brown, more or less washed with red; L. 8£; W. 4; T. 4£. E. U. S., south- erly, N. to Mass, and N. Wis.; abundant. A brilliant songster, much sought as a cage bird. 24. PIPILO, Vieillot. TOWHEE BUNTINGS. 1. P. erythrophthalmus, (L.) Vieill. CHEAVINK. MARSH 90 BIRDS. ROBIN. Black, belly white; sides chestnut; outer tail feathers, primaries, and inner secondaries with white; $ clear brown instead of black; L. 8£; W. 3£; T. 4. E. U. S., abundant every where. FAMILY XXXIV. — ICTERIDJS. ( The Orioles.) Primaries 9; bill with the commissure angulated, as in FringimddB) but usually lengthened, rarely shorter than head, straight or gently curved, without notch or rictal bristles; culmen usually extending up on the forehead, dividing the frontal feathers. Legs stout, tarsus strictly oscine. Plumage usually brilliant or lustrous, predom- inant color generally black, often with red or yellow; females usually different, smaller in size, brown or streaky in the lustrous species, and yellowish or dusky in the brightly colored ones. Notes usually sharp, often richly melodious, in other cases harsh. Genera about twenty, species one hundred, all Ameri- can, some of the short-billed forms scarcely distinct from Frinyillidae; others are as closely related to Sturnulw (Old World Starlings) and Corvidte. There are three sub-families, of which AyeloeiiVJB includes most of our species. IcterincB includes Icterus, while Scolecophayus and Quiscalus belong to Quiscalince. I. Tail feathers rigid, acute; middle toe and claw longer than tarsus; black and whitish (<5) or brownish, streaked (?); bill short, finch-like DOLICHONYX, 1. II. Feathers of crown bristle-tipped; tail short, its feathers acute; yellow below, a Mack breast patch; bill long. STURNELLA, 5. III. Lateral claws elongated ; black or brown, yellow on head and neck ; length more tlian 8. . . XANTHOCEPHALUS, 4. IV. "With none of the above combinations of characters. * Lengtli at least more than 7. ICTERID^E. — XXXIV. 91 f Bill horn-blue, very acute ; black or olivaceous, with orange or yellow ICTERUS, 6. ff Bill blackish ; plumage every where streaked i usually a rusty tinge on throat and bend of wing. ? of AGEL^US, 3. fff Bill jet black; plumage in $ black, in ? duller, streaky, or plain brown. \ Glossy black;' bend of wing red, bordered by bufty and whitish ' - . s of AGELJLUS, 3. \\ Black ; head and neck rich lustrous brown. $ of MOLOTHRUS, 2. \\\ Iridescent black throughout ; wings scarcely longer than tail ; length more than 10. . QUISCALUS, 8. \\\\ Black, often obscured by brownish or rusty; no red or yellow; wings longer than tail; length 9 to 10. SCOLECOPHAGUS, 7. ** Length less than 7. «. Dusky gray brown ; bill blackish, shortened, finch-like. $ of MOLOTHRUS, 2. aa. Black with chestnut or orange (4), or else olive and yellow- ish (j); bill acute, bluish or brown. . . ICTERUS, 6. /. DOLICHONYX, Swaiiisou. BOBOLINKS. 1. D. oryzivorus, (L.) Sw. BOBOLINK. REED BIRD. RICE BIRD. £ in Spring black, neck huffy, shoulders and rump ashy white, back streaky; ? and fall $ yellowish brown, streaked above, — dull yellow birds, resembling sparrows but known by the acute tail feathers; L. 7i; AV. 4; T. 3. E. U. S., abundant in meadows northward, where, in the breeding season, it is our merriest and most delightful songster. Retiring southward in the fall, it fattens in the rice swamps and becomes a "game bird." 2. MOLOTHRUS, Swainson. Cow BIRDS. 1. M. ater, (Bodd.) Gray. Cow BIRD. $ iridescent black, head and neck glossy brown; £ much smaller, 92 BIRDS. dusky brown; L. (<$) 8; W. 4; T. 3. U. S., abundant; noted for its parasitic habits. \M. pecoris (Gmel.), Sw.] 3. AGEL/EUS, Vieillot. RED-WING BLACK BIRDS. 1. A. phoeniceus, (I,.) V. RED -WINGED STARLING. SWAMP BLACK BIRD. $ glossy (not iridescent) black, lesser wing covers scarlet, with buffy and paler edgings; $ dusky, streaked; L. 9; W. 5; T. 4. U. S., every where abundant. 4. XANTHOCEPHALUS, Bonaparte. YELLOW - HEADED BLACK BIRDS. 1. X. xanthocephalus, (Bon.) YELLOW - HEADED BLACK BIRD. $ black with white wing patch; head and neck rich yellow; $ smaller, browner, with less yellow; L. 10; W. 54; T. 44, Southwestern, E. to L. Michigan. 5. STURNELLA, Vieillot, MEADOW LARKS. 1. S. magna, (L.) Sw. MEADOW LARK. Brownish and much streaked above; chiefly yellow below, a black crescent on breast. L. 10; W. 5; T. 3^. U. S.; very abundant. (/Sr. neglecta, And., is the Western variety, Illinois S. and W., with "a much sweeter song," and some slight differences of plumage.) 8. ICTERUS, Brisson. AMERICAN ORIOLES. 1. /. galbula, (L.) Coues. BALTIMORE ORIOLE. GOLDEN ROBIN. FIRE BIRD. Black; bend of wing, rump, most tail feathers, and under parts from the breast orange of varying intensity; $ duller, olivaceous and yellow; L. 7f; W. 3|; T. 3. E. U. S., abundant; noted for its elaborate hanging nest. 2. I. spur/us, (L.) Bon. ORCHARD ORIOLE. £ black; rump, bend of wing and lower parts deep chestnut; .$ CORVLD^E. — XXXV. 93 yellowish olive, quite small; young yellow, with various black or chestnut traces; L. 7; W. 3£; T. 3. E. U. S., rather southerly. 7. SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swainson. RUSTY BLACK BIRDS. 1. S. ferrugineus, (Gm.) Sw. RUSTY GRACKLE. RUSTY BLACK BIRD. $ glossy black and rusty in autumn; $ dusky, lustreless; bill slender; L. 9|; W. 4|; T. 4. E. if. S. •-2. S. cyanocepha/uSf (Wagl.) Cab. BREWER'S BLACK BIRD. $ black with green lustre, head glossed with purple; ? dusky; L. 10; W. 5£; T. 4J. • W., E. to Ills, and Wis. 8. QUISCALUS, Vieillot. CROW BLACK BIRDS. 1. Q. quiscula, (L.) CROW BLACK BIRD. PUR- PLE GRACKLE. Iridescent black, lustre on head purplish, on body bronzy; L. 13; W. 5£; T. 5£. E. U. S., abundant. FAMILY XXXV.— CORVID^E. (The Crows and Jays.} Primaries 10; first about half length of second; nostrils usually concealed by tufts of bristly feathers, which are branched to their tips. Bill long and strong, usually notched, commissure not angulated. Tarsus oscine, its sides undivided and separated from the scutella in front by a groove which is either naked or filled in with small scales. Voice usually harsh and unmusical. Birds of large size, the largest of the Oscines, found almost every where. Genera about forty; species one hundred and seventy -five. Our two sub - families, Corvince, the Crows, and Garrulince the Jays, are usually readily distinguishable. 94 BIRDS. * Tail much shorter than the long, pointed wings. (CormnoB.) \ Plumage glossy black CORVUS, 1. ** Tail longer than the short, rounded wings. (Garrulince.) | Conspicuously crested ; chiefly blue; quills black-barred. CYANOCITTA, 3. \\ Iridescent black and white; tail much longer than wings. PICA, 2. \\$ Chiefly gray, no blue ; tail scarcely longer than wings. PERISOREUS, 4. /. CORVUS, Linnaeus. RAVENS. 1. C. corax, L. RAVEN. Feathers of throat stiffened, elongated, nacrow and lanceolate, their outlines very distinct; L. 25; W. 17; T. 10. N. Am., chiefly north and westward; rare E. of the Mississippi. Also European. (C. carnivorus, Bartr.) 2. C. americanus, Aud. CROW. Feathers of throat short, broad, obtuse, with their webs blended; gloss of plumage purplish violet; head and neck scarcely lus- trous; L. 20; W. 13; T. 8. E. N. Am., chiefly eastward; abundant. (C. frugivorus, Bartr.) 3. C. ossifragus, Wilson. FISH CROW. Gloss of plumage green and violet, evident on head and neck; L. 1C; W. 11; T. 7. New England to Florida, chiefly southern, and found only along the coast. (C. maritimiis, Bartr.) 2. PICA, Cuvier. MAGPIES. 1. P. pica (L.) var. hudsonica, (Sab.) Coues. MAGPIE. Lustrous black ; belly, shoulders, and wing-edgings white ; L. 19; W. 8£; T. 13, much graduated. West- ern, E. to L. Michigan. 3. CYANOCITTA, Strickland. BLUE JAYS. 1. C. cristata, (L.) Str. BLUE JAY. Blue; collar and frontlet black ; grayish below; wings and tail clear TYBANNIDJE. — XXXVI. 95 blue, barred; outer tail feathers and secondaries tipped with white; L. 12; W. 5£; T. of. N.E. Am., abundant, 4. PERISOREUS, Bonaparte. GRAY JAYS. 1. P. canadensis, (L.) Bon. CANADA JAY. WHISKEY JACK. Ashy gray with blackish and whitish markings; L. 10|; W. 5f ; T. 6. Northern, S. to New England in Winter. FAMILY XXXVI.— TYRANNIE^E. (The Flycatchers.) Primaries 10; first more than f length of second, and one or more of them often attenuate ; bill broad, triangu- lar, depressed, abruptly hooked and notched at tip, with long rictal bristles; commissure nearly straight; nostrils small, usually partly concealed. Tarsus "clamatorial,3' the scutella extending around its back. Feet small, for perching. Mouth capacious; notes simple, often pleas- ant; changes of plumage slight; ours mostly olivaceous. A large family of eighty genera, and more than three hundred species; all American arid mostly tropical. All are insectivorous, most of them pre-eminently so; they [ire, therefore, in our latitude, migratory. * First primaries evidently attenuate ; crown with concealed bright red or yellow crest (in adult), f Tail widely forked, about twice as long as wings. MILVULUS, 1. ft Tail nearly even, shorter than wings. . . TYRANNUS, 2. ** First primaries not obviously attenuate ; crown plain, some- times crested. \ Wmgs edged with cli3stnut, not much longer than tail ; length 8 or more MYIARCHUS, 3. \\ Wings not cliestnut-edged, not much longer than tail ; tarsus longer tnan middle toe and clr.w; bill black; length 6| to 7i. . . SAYORXIS, 4. 96 BIRDS. Ut Wings longer than tail; tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw ; bill not all black ; length 6 or more. CONTOPUS, 5. Jttt Wings not much longer than tail ; middle toe and claw not longer than tarsus ; bill mostly pale below ; length oi or less EMPIDONAX, 6. /. M1LVULUS, Swainson. FORK -TAILED FLYCATCHERS. 1. M. forficatus, (Gm.) Sw. SCISSOR - TAIL. Ashy, tail, shoulders, sides, etc., with much red; L. 13; W. 5; T. 8. S. W., N. to Kansas, straying to New Jersey. 2. M. tyrannus, (L.) Bon. FORK - TAILED FLYCATCHER. Larger, no red, tail still more elongate. Tropical, stray- ing to N. J. and La. 2. TYRANNUS, Cuvier. KING BIRDS. 1. 7". tyrannus, ( L. ) KING BIRD. BEE MAR- TIN. Blackish ash, white below; tail black, white- tipped; L. 8£; W. 4J; T. 3£. U. S., chiefly eastward; abundant. " Destroys a thousand noxious insects for every bee it eats! " (Cones.) 2. T. verticalis, Say. ARKANSAS FLYCATCHER. Belly yellow; tail white-edged. Western, straying to N. J. 3. MYIARCHUS, Cabanis. CRESTED FLYCATCHERS. 1. M. crinitus, (L.) Cab. GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. Scarcely crested; olivaceous., yellow below, with bright chestnut on wings and tail; L. 8f; W. 4; T. 4. E, U. S.. chiefly southerly, N. to N. Wis. A handsome bird, "noted for the habitual use of cast-off snake skins in the structure of its nest." 4, SAYORNIS, Bonaparte. PEWEES. 1. S. fuscus, (Gm.) Baird. PEWEB. PHOEBE. PEWIT. Olive brown, head and tail darker; yellow below, more TYRANNID^E. — XXXVI. 97 or less; L. 7; W. 3£; T. 3£. E. U. S., abundant; known by its black bill. 5. CONTOPUS, Cabanis. WOOD PEWEES. 1. C. borealis, (Sw.) Baird. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Rictal bristles short, one-fourth length of bill; tuft of white cottony feathers on sides very conspicuous; middle line of belly distinctly and abruptly white; otherwise olive brown, paler or yellowish below; L. 7£; W. 4^; T. 3. Northern, S. to N. Y. 2. C. virens, (L.) Cab. WOOD PEWEE. Rictal bristles half length of bill; cottony tuft inconspicuous; wing bands whitish or rusty; olive brown above; pale or yellowish below; lower mandible usually pale; L. 6^; W. 34; T. 3. U. S., very abundant. 3. C. richardsoni, (Sw.) Bd. WESTERX WOOD PEAVEE. Darker; bill dusky below. N. W., E. toWis.; nearly like the preceding, but the notes and nesting different. 6, EMPIDONAX, Cabanis. LEAST FLYCATCHERS. 1. E. acadicus, (Gm.) Baird. SMALL GREEX-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. Clear olive green, wing bands buffy; whitish becoming yellowish below; yellowish ring about eyes; bill pale below; primaries nearly an inch longer than secondaries; 2d, 3d and 4th primaries nearly equal, and much longer than 1st and 5th; 1st much longer than 6th; L. 6; W. 3; T. 2f ; Ts. f ; Tel. f E. U. S., frequent, 2. E. traillii, (Aud.) Baird. TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER. Olive brown, duller than preceding; bill pale below; 5th primary about as long as 4th, 1st not much longer than 6th; middle toe f length of tarsus; longest primary f inch longer than secondaries; L. of; W. 2|; T. 2£; Ts. f ; Tel. f . U. S. •5 98 BIRDS. 3. E. minimus? Baird. LEAST FLYCATCHER. Olive gray; bill blackish below; wings like preceding, but longest primary but 4 inch longer than secondaries; middle toe half as long as tarsus; bill less than % inch; L. 5; W. 24; T. 2£. E. N. Am., abundant. 4. E. flaviventris, Baird. YELLOW-BELLIED FLY- CATCHER. Clear olive green; yellow below, becoming bright yellow (not merely yellowish as in the others) on the belly; first primary about equal to sixth; feet as in acadicus; bill yellow below; L. 5i; W. 2|; T. 24. E. U. S. OEDEE H.— PIOAELE. (Picarian Birds.} Hind toe small, sometimes wanting, occasionally ele- vated ; its claw shorter than that of middle toe (with rare exceptions); 3d and 4th toes often with less than the normal number of joints; 2d and 4th toos sometimes versatile. Wing coverts larger and in more numerous series than in the Passeres. Primaries 10, first rarely short; tail feathers 10 (8 to 12). Musical apparatus imperfect. Sternum non -passerine. Tarsus never oscine. Nature altricial. A highly diversified group, the mem- bers of which have little in common except their want of resemblance to other birds. FAMILY XXXVII.— CAPRIMULGID^E. (The Goatsuckers.) Bill very short, " fissirostral," the gape exceedingly deep and wide, reaching to below the eyes, and usually with prominent rictal bristles. Wings long and pointed; secondaries lengthened. Plumage long and loose, owl- like. Tai] feathers 10. Feet very small; tarsus short, CYPSELID^E. — xxxvin. 99 partly feathered; toes slightly webbed at base, the hind toe somewhat elevated. Genera fourteen; species one hundred or more, widely diffused; chiefly insectivorous. * Tail rounded ; rictal bristles very long. . CAPRIMULGUS, 1. ** Tail forked ; rictal bristles inconspicuous. . CHORDEILES, 2. 1. CAPRIMULGUS, (L.) WHIPPOORWILLS. 1. C. vociferus, (Wils.) WHIPPOORWILL. NIGHT JAR. Grayish, much variegated; pectoral bar and ends of outer tail feathers white ($) or tawny ($); rictal bristles unbranched; L. 10; W. 6; T. 5. E. U. S., abundant, nocturnal; noted for its "solemn and pro- phetic" cry. 2. C. carolinensis, (Gm.) CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW. More reddish; rictal bristles with lateral filaments; L. 12; W. 9; T. 6£. Southern, N. to Ills. (Nelson.) 2. CHORDEILES, Swainson. NIGHT HAWKS. 1. C. popetue, (V.) Bd. NIGHT HAWK. BULL BAT. Blackish, variegated; a large wing spot, bar across tail, and V-shaped blotch on throat — white in £, tawny or obscure in ?; L. 9£; W. 8; T. 5. U. S.; abundant. FAMILY XXXVIII.— CYPSELID^E. (The Swifts.) Bill fissirostral, as in Caprimulgidce and Hirundinidce. Wings very long, thin and pointed; secondaries very short. Feet small, weak; hind toe often elevated or otherwise turned; toes completely cleft. No rictal bristles. Tail feathers 10; plumage compact. In most species the salivary glands are highly developed, and their secretion is used as a glue in the construction of 100 BIRDS. the nest; species of Cvllocalia thus form the edible bird's nest. Small birds of the warmer parts of the world, bearing a superficial resemblance to Swallows, but structurally very different, being closely related to the Humming Birds. Genera six or eight; species about fifty. * Tarsus bare, longer than middle toe; tail feathers with the shafts spinous, projecting beyond the plumage. CH,ETURA, 1. /. CHSETURA, Stephens. CHIMNEY SWALLOWS. 1. C. pe/asff/ca,(L.) Baird. CHIMNEY SWIFT. Sooty brown; throat paler; L. 5J; W. 5; T. 2. E. U. S., abundant. FAMILY XXXIX. — TROCHILID^E. . (The Humming Birds.) Bill subulate, usually longer than the head, straight or curved; tongue capable of great protrusion. Wings long and pointed, the secondaries short, only six in number; tail of ten feathers. Feet very small, with sharp claws. Smallest of all birds and among the most brilliantly colored. Genera seventy -five; species three hundred or more, thus forming one of the largest families in Ornithology. All are American, and most of them tropical, but our common species ranges far into British America. * First primary not attenuate, bowed or curved inwards. TROCIHLUS, 1. /. TROCHILUS, Linnaeus. RUBY - THROATED HUMMING BIRDS. 1. T. colubris, L. RUBY - THROATED HUMMING BIRD. $ metallic green above; a ruby -red gorget; tail deeply forked, uniform purplish; $ without red, the tail vari- CUCULIDJE. — XLI. 101 egated; L. 31; W. If; T. H; B. f. E. N. Am.; abundant in summer. FAMILY XL. — ALCEDINID^E. (Jl .it Kingfishers.) Head large; bill long, straight and strong, usually longer than head; gape deep, tomia not serrate. Wings long; tail short. Legs quite small; feet syndactyle — the outer and middle toes united to their middle, a con- tinuous sole beneath; tibia naked below. Tail leathers twelve. Species about one hundred, chiefly of the tropical parts of the Old World and Australia. Many of them feed upon fishes, and nearly ail are remarkable for their brilliant coloration. * Head crested CERYLE, 1. /. CERYLE, Boie. KINGFISHERS. > Ispida, Swainson. 1. C. alcyon, (L.) Boie. BELTED KINGFISHER. Ashy blue above, a bluish band across breast; white below; 9 with sides and band across belly chestnut; tail barred with white; L. 13; W. 6; T. 3£; B. 2, or more. N. Am.; everywhere. FAMILY XLI. — CUCULIDJS. (The Cuckoos.) Bill compressed, lengthened, decurved; usually with- out rictal bristles or nasal tufts. Tail long and soft, of eight to twelve feathers. Tongue not extensible. Feet zygodactyle, by reversion of fourth toe. Species about two hundred, in various parts of the world. * Plumage lustrous olive gray or drab ; arboreal. COCCYGUS, 1. 102 BIRDS. /. COCCYGUS, Vieillot. AMERICAN CUCKOOS. 1. C. americanuSf (L.) Bon. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Bill yellow below; wings with much cinnamon red; middle tail feathers like the back; outer ones black with broad white tips; L. 12; W. 5£; T. 6. U. S. 2. C. erythrophihalmus, (Wils.) Baird. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. Bill chiefly black; wings with little or no reddish; tail feathers all brownish, obscurel- whitish at tips; L. Hi; W, 5; T. 6J. E. U. S. FAMILY XLII. — PICIDJ2. (The Woodpeckers) Bill stout, usually straight, with the tip truncate or acute, fitted for hammering or boring into wood. Tongue long, flattish, barbed, capable of great protrusion, adapted for securing insects (except in Sphyrapicus); hyoid appa- ratus peculiar, its horns generally quite long, curving around the skull behind. Feet zygodactyle, outer toe permanently reversed; hind toe present (except in Pico- ides)', claws compressed, sharp and strong. Tail feathers 12, rigid and acuminate, outer part short, concealed; tail never forked; nasal tufts usually present. Chiefly arboreal; all (except Sphyrapicus, which is truly a " Sap-Sucker,") are pre-eminently insectivorous and hence they are of the greatest service to the farmer. Voice loud and often harsh. Colors generally bright, the male at least having almost always red on the head; sexes usually slightly different. Species two hundred and fifty, abundant almost every where. *Conspicuously crested ; length 18 or more. — Bill dark. . . . . . HYLOTOMUS, 1. — Bill and nasal feathers pale. . CAMPEPIITTAIS, 2. ** Not crested; toes 3 only, liallux wanting. . PICOJDES, 4. *** Not crested; toes 4, length less than 14. PICLDJE. — XLII. 103 f Tongue obtuse, brushy; ridges on upper mandible running into the toinia ; belly with some yellow. SPHYBAPICUS, 5. ff Tongue acute, barbed; ridges on sides of upper mandible reaching the tip ; no yellow ; quills (in ours) with round white spots Piers, 3. fff Tongue acute, barbed ; ridges on sides of upper mandible wanting or indistinct. \ Back barred. #. Belly with round black spots ; feathers of wings and tail yellow or orange beneath. . . COLAPTES, 8. aa. Belly unspotted, tinged with red or yellow ; no yellow on quills CKNTURUS, 6. \\ Back not barred ; b(xty lustrous blue-black ; rump, second- aries, and under parts white ; head and neck red in adults, grayish in young. . . . MELASTERPES, 7. /. HYLOTOMUS, Baird. BLACK WOODCOCKS. 1. H. pi/eatus, (L.) Baird. PILEATED WOODPECKER. LOGCOCK. Black; white streak down neck; crest and cheek patch scarlet in <$; cheeks and front of crest black in $, L. 18; W. 9£; T. 7. N. Am.; in heavy timber. 2. CAMPEPHILUS, Gray. IVORY - BILLED WOODPECKERS. 1. C. principalis, (L.) Gray. GREAT IVORY -BILLED WOODPECKER. Black with white markings; crest scarlet in £, black in $; L. 21; W. 11; T. 8. Southern, N. to S. Ills. 3. PIC US, Linnaeus. SPOTTED WOODPECKERS. 1. P. boreal is r Vieill. RED - COCKADED WOODPECKER. Black and white, spotted and crosswise banded, but not streaked; a red line on each side of head in <3; L. 8^; W. 4£; T. 3^-. Southern States in swamps, N. to Perm. 2. P. vii'osus, L. HAIRY WOODPECKER. BIG SAP- SUCKER. Spotted and lengthwise streaked, but not 104 BIRDS. banded; back black with a long white stripe; outer tail feathers wholly white; L. 9; W. 5; T. 3^; a scarlet nuchal band in $ only. U. S.; everywhere. 3. P. pubescens, L. DOWNY WOODPECKER. LITTLE SAP-SUCKEE. Much smaller; outer tail feathers black and white, barred, otherwise precisely like the other; L. 6£; W. 3|; T. 2f. U. S.; everywhere. 4. PICOIDES, Lacepede. THREE - TOED WOODPECKERS. 1. P. arcticus, (Sw.) Gray. BLACK - BACKED WOOD - PECKER. Black and white; crown yellow in <$, plain in ?; back uniform black; L. 9; W. 5; T. 3f. Northern, 5. to U. S. in winter. 2. P. americanus, Brehm. BANDED THREE- TOED WOODPECKER. Back with a white lengthwise stripe; otherwise as above; L. 8; W. 4J; T. 3^-. Arctic, S. in winter to New England. 5. SPHYRAPICUS, Baird. SAP-SUCKING WOODPECKERS. 1. S. varius, (L.) Baird. YELLOW-BELLIED WOOD- PECKER. Black and white above ; black on breast ; chiefly yellowish below; white wing patch; crown red in adult, chin scarlet in 3; L. 8J; W. 4f ; T. 3J. U. S., abundant. 6. CENTURUS, Swainson. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS. 1. C. caro/inus, (L.) Bon. RED -BELLIED WOOD- PECKER. Grayish, much barred above with black and white; crown and nape crimson in $, crown ashy in $, belly reddish-tinged; L. 9f ; W. 5; T. 3J. E. U. S., rather southerly; N. to N. Wis. 7. MELANERPES, Swainson. RED -HEADED WOOD- PECKERS. 1. H. erythrocephalus, (L.) Sw. RED-HEADED WOOD- ARIDM. — XLIH. 105 PECKER. L. 9; W. 5£; T. 3£. U. S., E. of the Rocky Mts.; abundant. 8. COLAPTES, Swainson. FLICKERS. 1. C. auratus, (L.) Sw. GOLDEN - WINGED WOOD- PECKER. HIGH - HOLER. YARUP. Head ashy, with red nuchal crescent; back olivaceous, barred with black; rump white; below pinkish brown shading into yellowish, a black crescent on breast and numerous round black spots; shafts and under surfaces of quills golden yellow; $ with a black maxillary patch; L. 12£; W. 6; T. 4£. E. U. S., abundant. Var. mexicanus, (Sw.) Snow. RED- SHAFTED FLICKER. Quills with orange red instead of golden; maxillary patches in $ red instead of black; no nuchal crescent; no yellowish on belly. Western, E. to Kas., etc. Runs into the preceding, through C. hybridiis. Baird. ORDER L-PSITTACI. (The Parrots.) Bill enormously thick, cered at base and strongly hooked. Feet zygodactyle by reversion of outer toe, tarsus reticulate. Tongue short, fleshy; upper jaw un- usually movable. Altricial. Plumage often brilliant. In all warm regions; species three hundred and fifty-four, nearly half of which are American. FAMILY XLIII.— ARID^E. (TJie Macaws.) Parrots with the head not crested, and the tail long, wedge-shaped or graduated. (Baird.} * Culmen rounded ; face entirely feathered except a curve about the eye ; tail shorter than wings. . . CONURUS, L 106 BIKDS. /. CONURUS, Kuhl. PARROQUETS. 1. C. caro/inens/s, (L.) Kuhl. CAROLINA PARROQUET. Green; head and neck yellow; face red; wings with blue and yellow; bill white; L. 13; W. 7£; T. 6. Southwest- ern, formerly N. to the Great Lakes; now nearly exter- minated. • OEDER J.-RAPTORES. (The Birds of Prey.} Bill powerful, cered at base, strongly hooked at the end. Feet never zygodactyle ; fourth toe sometimes versatile; claws long and sharp; hind toe well developed, rarely elevated ; tibia, and often tarsus, feathered. Primaries 10; tail feathers 12 (with rare exceptions). Altricial, but young downy at birth. Carnivorous birds, generally of large size and great strength, found -in every part of the world. FAMILY XLI V. — STRIGID^E. (The Owls.) - Head very large, shortened lengthwise and greatly expanded laterally; the eyes directed forwards and partly surrounded by a disk of radiating feathers of peculiar texture; loral feathers antrorse, long and dense; feathers on the sides of forehead often elongated into ear - like tufts. Plumage very soft and lax, rendering the flight almost noiseless; its colors blended and mottled so as to render minute description difficult. External ear very large, often provided with a movable flap. Outer toe versatile; claws very sharp, long and strong. Eggs nearly spherical, pure white. Chiefly nocturnal. Sexes colored alike, $ usually the larger. Owls are found in every part of the globe, and most of the species have a STKIGID^E. — XLIV. 107 wide range. Their habits are so well known that I need not dwell upon them here. Genera about forty; species one hundred and fifty. * Tarsus naked or scant - feathered, facial disk perfect ; no ear- tufts; middle claw pectinate; iris black. . ALUCO, 1. ** Tarsus fully feathered, f Head with evident " ear-tufts ;" iris yellow. \ Tail about f of wing ; bill blackish ; length more than 18. BUBO, 6. # Tail about half length of wing; length less than 18. a. Bill pale ; length less than 12. ... SCOPS, 5. aa. Bill dark ; length more than 12. . . . Asio, 2. ff Head without evident " ear-tufts." b. Tail about i length of wing ; iris yellow ; length less than 12 NYCTALE, 4. bb. Tail about f of wing ; length 18 or more. c. Pure white, with dark markings ; toes concealed by long feathers ; facial disk incomplete ; bill black ; iris yellow. NYCTEA, 7. cc. Grayish, much barred ; facial disk complete ; bill yellow ; iris black or yellow STRIX, 3. bbb. Tail about £ of wing ; bill yellow ; iris yellow ; length about 16 SURNIA, 8. *** Tarsus long, sparsely bristly ; facial disk imperfect ; middle claw simple SPEOTYTO, 9. /. ALUGO, Fleming. BAUN OWLS. 1. A.flammeus,(L.} var. pratincola, (Bon.) Ridg. BARN OWL. Face elongated; reddish or tawny, much vari- egated; L. 17; W. 13; T. 5|. U. S., rather southerly. 2. AS/0, Brisson. EARED OWLS. (Otus, Cuvier.) 1. A. otus, (L.) Less. LONG -EARED OAVL. Ear tufts well developed, of 8 to 12 feathers; outer primary 108 BIRDS. only emarginate; much variegated; L. 15; W. 12; T. 6. U.S. 2. A. accipitrinus, (Pallas.) Macgil. SHORT -EARED OWL. Ear tufts small and inconspicuous; two outer primaries emarginate; L. 15; W. 12; T. 6. U. S. and Europe. (Brachyotus palustris, Auct.) 3. STRIX, Linnaeus. BARRED OWLS. *Iris black ; 5 outer primaries emarginate. (Syrnium.} 1. S.nebulosa, Forst. BARRED OWL. Toes not con- cealed ; olive brown, barred with white above; breast barred; belly streaked; L. 18; W. 14; T. 9. E. N. Am., common. **Iris yellow ; 6 outer primaries emarginate. (Scotiaptex.) 2. S. cinerea, Gmel. GREAT GRAY OWL. Toes con- cealed by long feathers ; cinereous brown above, waved with white ; breast streaked, belly barred ; largest of all our owls ; L. 30 ; W. 18 ; T. 12. Northern, S. in winter to N. States. 4. NYCTALE, Brehm. SPARROW OWLS. 1. N. iengmalmii, Gm. var. richardsonii, (Bon.) Ridg. TENGMALM'S OWL. Nostrils sunken, elongated, opening laterally; tail more than half wing; general color choco- late brown, variegated; L. 10; W. 7£; T. 4^. Northern, S. to N. U. S. 2. N. acadica, (Gm.) Bon. SAW-WHET OWL. Nos- trils prominent, nearly circular, opening anteriorly; L. 8; W. 5|; T. 2f. U. S., rather northerly. 5. SCOPS, Savigny. SCREECH OWLS. 1. 5. asio, (L.) Bon. SCREECH OWL. RED OWL. Grayish, speckled and barred, or else with the grayish replaced by bright reddish; these two different styles of FALCONTD^E. — XLV. 109 plumage bearing no relation to age, sex or season; L. 10; W. 7; T. 3£. U. S., abundant. 6. BUBO, Dumeril. GREAT HORNED OWLS. 1. B. virginianus, (Gm.) Bon. GREAT HORXED OWL. Black, gray and buffy, variously mottled and barred; usually a whitish half-collar; ear tufts large, their feathers mostly black; L. 22; W. 16; T. 10. U. S., abundant; one of the strongest and most untamable of the Owls. 7. NYCTEA, Stephens. GREAT SNOW OWLS. 1. H. scand/aca, (L.) Newt. SNOWY OWL. Pure white, more or less barred with blackish; L. 23; AY. 17; T. 10. Northern, S. in "Winter; one of the handsomest of Owls. (JY. nivea, Auct.) 8. SURNIA, Dumeril. HAWK OWLS. 1. S. funereaf (L.) Richardson & Swainson. HAWK OWL. DAY OWL. Brown, much speckled and barred ; L. 16 ; W. 9 ; T. 7. Northern, S. to Wis. and Mass. 9. SPEOTYTO, Gloger. BURROWING OWLS. 1. S. cunicularia, (Mol.) var. hypogasa, (Bon.) Coues. BURROWING OWL. Brownish, much spotted and varie- gated. L. 10; W. 74; T. 4. Fla. and Western Plains, living in the holes of prairie dogs. FAMILY XLY. — FALCONID^E. (The Falcons) Eyes lateral, eyelids provided with lashes, usually a projecting bony eyebrow; no complete facial disk. Toes always naked, and usually tarsus also ; hind toe not elevated. Head fully feathered (except in the Old World 110 BIRDS. Vulturince), no ear tufts. Base of stout, strongly hooked bill, not hidden by feathers. Claws very strong and sharp. Plumage usually of blended colors, barred or streaked; changes considerable; $ usually the larger. Genera fifty, species three hundred, abounding every where. Their habits are too well known to require description here. I. Tarsus feathered to the toes. a. Tarsus entirely feathered ; tail 12 or more. . AQUILA, 12. aa. Tarsus with a narrow unfeatherecl strip behind ; tail less than 12 ARCHIBUTEO, 11. II. Tarsus reticulate all around. b. Upper mandible toothed ; under notched ; nostrils circular. FALCO, 1. bb. Tail widely forked ; outer feather twice as long as middle ones ; colors black and white. . . ELANOIDES, 3. bbb. Claws all of same length, rounded beneath; tibial feathers close ; plumage compact, without after shafts. PANDION, 2. bbbb. Tail emarginate, and outer feather not longer than middle; head and tail white in adult. . . . ELANUS, 5. III. Tarsus scutellate in front only (occasionally "booted.") c. Toes not webbed at all; neck feathers lanceolate, white in adult . . HALIAETUS, 13. cc. Toes somewhat webbed at base. d. Nostrils circular; tail less than §- length of wing. ICTINIA, 4. del Nostrils oval ; tail more than £ length of wing. e. Tarsus feathered about half way down in front, the feathers scarcely separated behind. . ASTUR, 7. ee. Tarsus feathered less than one-third down in front, the feathers widely separated behind. . ACCIPITER, 8. IV. Tarsus scutellate in front and behind. /. Face with a slight ruff; tarsus twice length of middle toe; upper tail coverts white CIRCUS, 6. ff. No ruff; 3 or 4 outer primaries emarginate ; rump not white. BUTEO, 10. FALCONID^E — XLV. Ill fff. No ruff; 4 primaries emarginate ; tail coverts white; tail black. ASTURIXA, 9. /. FALGO, Linnreus. FALCONS. * First primary only emarginate on inner web; 2d longest, 1st shorter than 4th; tarsal plates small; sexes colored alike, f Tarsus not longer than middle toe, scarcely feathered below joint. (Falco.) 1. F. peregrinus, Tunst. PEREGRINE FALCON. DUCK HAWK. Blackish ash with paler waves; below whitish, barred; black cheek patches; L. 16; W. 13; T. 7. U. S., not common. ff Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, feathered for some distance. (Hierofalco, Cuv.) 2. F. sacer, Forst. GYRFALCON. Tarsus feathered half way down, with only a bare strip behind; white or ashy with dark markings; L. 24; W. 16; T. 10. Northern regions of both continents; var. islandicus, S. to U. S. in winter. (F. (jyrfalco, L.) 3. F. mexicanus, Licht. LANIER FALCON. Tarsus feathered J way down; general color brown; L. 18; \Y. 14; T. 8. S. W., E. to Ills. ** Two primaries emarginate .• tarsal plates enlarged in front, appearing like scutella. \ Tarsus about equal to middle toe; basal joints of toes without transverse scutella. (^Jsalon, Kaup.) 4. F. columbarius, L. PIGEON HAAVK. AMERICAN MERLIN. Ashy blue or blackish above, variegated below; L. 13; W. 8; T. 5. U. S. \\ Tarsus longer than middle toe; basal joints of toes with transverse scutella. (Tinnunculus, Vieill.) 5. F. sparverius, L. SPARROW HAWK. RUSTY - CROWNED FALCON. Back tawny; wings bluish and black; seven black blotches about head; tail chestnut, 112 BIRDS. with a broad black band in <$, and a narrow terminal one of white; below white or tawny; L. 11; W. 7; T. 5. U. S., abundant. (Female different, more streaky.) 2. PANDION, Savigny. OSPREYS. 1. P. haliaetus, (L.) Savigny. OSPREY. FISH HAWK. Dark brown; head, neck and under parts mostly white; feet very large; L. 24; W. 20; T. 10. U. S.; feeds on fishes. 3. ELANOIDES, Vieill. SWALLOW-TAILED KITES. 1. E. forficatus, (I..) Cs. SWALLOW - TAILED KITE. Lustrous black; head, neck and lower parts white; W. 17; T. 14. Southern, N. to Penn. and Minn. 4. ICTINIA, Vieillot. BLUE KITES. 1. /. subccerulea, (Bart.) Coues. MISSISSIPPI KITE. Chiefly lead blue, wings with chestnut; L. 15; W. 12; T. 6£. Southern, N. to Penn. and Wis. (I. mississip- piensis, Auct.) 5. ELANUS, Savigny. WHITE-TAILED KITES. 1. E. g/aucus, (Bartr.) Coues. BLACK - SHOULDERED KITE. L. 17. Southern, N. to S. Ills. (E. leucurus, Auct.) 6. CIRCUS, Lacepede. MARSH HARRIERS. 1. C. cyaneus (L.) var. hudsonius, (L.) Coues. MARSH HARRIER. Pale bluish or brown; rump and under parts whitish; L. 18; W. 15; T. 9. N. Am., abundant. 7. ASTUR, Lacepede. GOSHAWKS. 1. A. atricapillus, (Wils.) Bp. GOSHAWK. Slate blue with white superciliary stripe; tail with four dark bars ; L. 24 ; W. 14 ; T. 11. Northern, S. to U. S. in winter. FALCONTDJE. — XLV. 113 8. ACCIPITER, Brisson. HAWKS. = NisuS) Cuvier. 1. A. fuscus, vGm.) Bon. SHARP -SHINNED HAWK. " PIGEON HAWK." Bare portion of tarsus in front, longer than middle toe; tarsus "booted" in $; general color dark brown; L. 12; W. 7; T. 6. U. S., abundant. 2. A. cooperi, Bon. CHICKEN HAWK. Bare tarsus shorter than middle toe; L. 18; W. 10; T. 8. N. Am. 9. ASTURIHA, Vieillot. GRAY HAWKS. 1. A. nitida, (Lath.) var. plagiata, (Schl.) Coues. GRAY HAWK. L. 18; W. 10; T. 7£. Mexican, straying to S. Ills. 10. BUTEO, Cuvier. BUZZARDS. * 4 outer primaries ernarginate on inner web. (Buteo.) 1. B. borealis, (Gm.) Vieill. HEN HAWK. RED-TAILED BUZZARD. Dark brown; much barred and streaked; tail bright chestnut red above; L. 23; W. 15|; T. 8£. U. S., common. 2. B. lineatus, (Gm.) Jard. RED - SHOULDERED BUZ- ZARD. Dark reddish brown, variegated; bend of wing orange brown; L. 22; W. 14; T. 9. Smaller than the preceding, although nearly as long. E. N. Am., abundant. ** 3 outer primaries emarginate on inner web. (Craxirex, Gould.) 3. B. swainsoni, Bon. SWAIXSON'S BUZZARD. Gray, variously streaked, usually a dark area on throat and breast; tail with six or more narrow dark bars; variable; L. 20; W. 16; T. 8J. Western; E. to Ind. and Mass. 4. B. pennsylvanicus, (Wils.) Bon. BROAD -"WINGED HAWK. Brown above, whitish or fulvous below, variously streaked and barred; conspicuous dark cheek patches; tail with broad dark bands alternating with narrower 114 BIRDS. pale ones, white -tipped; L. 18; W. 11; T. 7. E. U. S.; a stout, handsome, though small hawk. //. ARCHIBUTEO, Brchm. SQUIRREL HAWKS. 1. A. lagopus, (Brunn.), var. sancti -johaRnis, (Gm.) Ridg. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. BLACK HAWK. Chiefly whitish but sometimes entirely black; L. 24; W. 18; T. 10. N. Am. 12. AQUILA, Mohring. GOLDEN EAGLES. 1. A. chrysaetus, (L.) GOLDEN EAGLE. Glossy purplish brown; head and neck golden brown; quills blackish; L. 36; W. 25; T. 16. N. Am., chiefly northerly. 13. HALIAETUS, Savigny. BALD EAGLES. 1. H. /eucocepha/uSf (L.) Savigny. BALD EAGLE. Dark brown; head, neck and tail white (after the third year); L. 36; W. 25; T. 14. N. Am., every where; feeds 011 fishes. "A piratical parasite of the Osprey, otherwise notorious as the emblem of the Republic." (Coues.) FAMILY XLVL — CATHARTID^E. ( The New World Vultures.) Head and part of neck bare. Eyes lateral, not over- hung; ears small. Bill lengthened, weak and but little hooked; nostrils perforate. Wings very long and strong, giving a strength and grace of flight scarcely excelled. Hind toe short, and elevated; front toes long, some- what webbed, with rather weak and straightish claws. Large turkey -like raptores, without the strength and spirit of the hawks and owls; " voracious and indiscrimi- nate gormandizers of carrion and animal refuse of all • sorts, hence efficient and almost indispensable scavengers in the warm countries where they abound." (Coues.) . — XLVI. 115 Two species, the Condor and the California Vulture, are among the largest birds of flight in the world'. All are American, the Old World Vultures (Vulturinaz) being Vulture - like hawks. Genera five ; species six or eight. * Wings very long, primaries reaching to end of tail or farther; skin of neck not corrugated ; a tuft of bristles in front of eye ........ CATHARTES, 1. ** Wings short, scarcely reaching middle of tail ; skin of neck corrugated ; no bristles in front of eye. . CATHAKISTA, 2. 7. CATHARTES, Illiger. TURKEY BUZZARDS. 1. £. aura, (L.) 111. TURKEY BUZZARD. Black, lustrous above; skin of head and neck red; L. 30; \V. 22 ; T. 12. N. Am., abundant, southward. 2. CATHARISTA,V\Qi\\Qt. CARRION CROWS. 1. C. atrata, (Bartr.) Gray. CARRIOX CROW. Uniform dull black; L. 24; W. 17; T. 8. N. C. to Mexico; rarely straying northward. OEDEE K-OOLUMBJB. (The Doves.) Bill straight, compressed, the horny tip separated by a constriction from the soft part. Nostrils opening beneath a soft, tumid membrane. Frontal feathers sweeping in a strongly convex outline across base of upper mandible; tomia? meeting. Hind toe on a level with the rest (except in Starncenas, etc.), the others usually not webbed. Tarsus mostly scutellate in front, elsewhere reticulate, the plates soft. Head small. 116 BIRDS. Plumage soft, compact, the feathers very loosely inserted. Altricial; monogamous. FAMILY XL VII. — COLUMBID^E. ( The Doves.} Wings long, pointed. Tail never forked, of 12 or 14 feathers; male with the neck iridescent. Species about three hundred, found in most regions, but most abundant in the East Indies. Besides the following, quite a num- ber of species occur in the Southern States. The com- mon domesticated dove (Golumba lima) is a fair type of the family. * Tarsus feathered at the suffrage, shorter than the lateral toes ; tail very long, wedge-shaped, of 12 feathers. ECTOPISTES, 1. ** Tarsus entirely bare, longer than the lateral toes, f Tail long, pointed, of 14 feathers; length more than 10. ZENAIDURA, 2. ft Tail short, rounded, of 12 feathers ; length less than 8. ClIAM/El'ELIA, 3. /. ECTOPISTES, Swainson. PASSENGER PIGEONS. 1. E. macrura, (L.) Sw. WILD PIGEON. Bluish with reddish and violet tinges, reddish below; L. 17; W. 7^; T. 8. N. A., abundant; gregarious. 2. ZENAIDURA, Bonaparte. MOURNING DOVES. 1. Z. carolinensis, (L.) Bon. MOURNING DOVE. TURTLE DOVE. CAROLINA DOVE. Brownish olive, glossed with blue and wine color; plumage with metallic lustre; L. 12; W. of; T. 6f . U. S., abundant. 3. CHAM/EPELIA, Swainson. GROUND DOVES. 1. .C passerina, (L.) Sw. GROUND DOVE. Grayish olive, with bluish gloss; L. 6J; W. 3£; T. 2f. Southern, N. to Washington, D.C. MELEAGEID^E. — XLVIII. 117 ORDER L.-GALLUSLE. (Tlie Gallinaceous Birds.) Bill short, stout, convex, horny, not constricted; nostrils scaled or feathered, cutting edge of upper mandible over- lapping. Head often partly or wholly naked, sometimes with fleshy processes. Legs moderate, stout; hind toe elevated (excepting in CracidcB, etc.), smaller than the other toes, sometimes wanting. Tarsus broadly scutellate (sometimes feathered), occasionally spurred in the males; claws blunt, not much curved. Wings short, strong, con- cave; tail various, sometimes wanting, often immensely developed. Precocial, often polygamous. A large order comprising the various kinds of domesti- cated fowl as well as the chief game birds of most countries. FAMILY XLVIII. — MELEAGRID^E. (The Turkeys.) Large birds, with the head and neck un feathered, covered with scattered hairs, and more or less caruncu- late. Bill moderate; nostrils bare; forehead with an elongate fleshy process. Tarsus spurred in male; hind toe elevated. Tail nearly as long as wing, truncate, of more than twelve feathers. Breast of male mostly with a tuft of long bristles. Genus one; species two. J/. ocellatits, of tropical America, and the common Turkey. /. MELEAGRIS, Linnaeus. TURKEYS. 1. M. gallopavo, L. WILD TURKEY. Glossy, coppery black; L. 48; W. 21; T. 18J. Canada to Rocky Moun- tains, and south to Mexico, becoming extinct eastwards. The domestic Turkey is descended from a Mexican variety. 118 BIRDS. FAMILY XLIX. — TETRAONID^E. (The Grouse.) Nostrils and tarsus densely feathered. Toes usually naked. Tail various with sixteen to twenty feathers. Usually a naked strip over eye; sides of neck often with a bare patch or lengthened feathers, or both. Genera seven; species fifteen; chiefly North American. * Toes naked. f Tarsus feathered to the toes. ^ Tail of 16 feathers; colors dark. . . . CANACE, 1. ft. Tail of 18 feathers. a. Neck without peculiar feathers; middle tail feathers pro- jecting. PEDIOZCETES, 2. aa. Neck with peculiar, elongated, lanceolate feathers above a large, bare, bright-colored patch. . CUPIDONIA, 3. ft Tarsus feathered about half way ; tail of 18 soft, broad feathers. BONASA, 4. ** Toes feathered ; winter plumage pure white. . LAOOPUS, 5. /. CANACE, Reichenbach. AMERICAN GROUSE. < Tetrao, L. 1. C. canadensis, (L.) Reich. SPRUCE PARTRIDGE. CANADA GROUSE. Black above with plumbeous mark- ings; mostly black below with white spots; tail with an orange brown terminal band; ? smaller, black interrupted or streaky; L. 10; W. Of-; T. 5£. Spruce swamps, N. U. S. and Northward. 2. PEDKECETES, Baird. SHARP- TAILED GROUSE. 1. P. phasianellus, (L.) var. columbianus, (Ord.) Coues. SHARP -TAILED GROUSE. Chiefly yellowish brown and white; sexes alike; L. 18; W. 8f; T. 5. Illinois to Colorado, N. and W. PERDICIDJE. — L. 119 3. CUPIDOHIA, Reich. PINNATED GROUSE. 1. C. cupido, (L.) Baird. PRAIRIE HEX. PRAIRIE CHICKEN*. Sides of neck with a tuft of long pointed feathers, beneath which is a patch of bare, red skin, capable of great inflation; black, tawny and white, barred and streaked; L. 17; W. 0; T. 4£; $ smaller. Prairies, etc., Martha's Vineyard to La. and N.; nearly extermin- ated eastward. 4. BO NASA, Stephens. RUFFED GROUSE. 1. B. umbellus, (L.) Stephens. PARTRIDGE (North.) PHEASANT (South.) Crested; sides of neck with a ruff of soft dark feathers; variegated, reddish or grayish brown, with blackish and pale; L. 18; W. 7£; T. 7." E. U. S., abundant in woodland. 5. LAGOPUS, Vieillot. PTARMIGANS. 1. L a/bus, (Gm.) Aud. WHITE PTARMIGAN. WILLOW GROUSE. Fore parts cinnamon brown, variegated with blackish; in winter pure white; bill stout; L. 16; W. 8; T. 5. British America; N. U. S. (rarely, in winter.) FAMILY L.— PERDICID^E. (The Partridges.) Nostrils unfeathered, protected by a naked scale; tarsus bare and scutellate, circumorbital space usually not bare; in most respects similar to the Grouse, but smaller. Our species are crested (excepting the com- mon Quail) and Western or Southwestern. /. ORTYX, Stephens. BOB -WHITES. 1. 0. virginianus, (L.) Bon. QUAIL (North.) PART- RIDGE (South.) BOB -WHITE. Forehead, line through eyes, chin and throat white, brownish yellow in $ ; 120 BIRDS. crown dark ; plumage generally chestnut red, barred and streaked; L. 9fc; W. 5; T. 3. E. U. S., and West Indies; W. to Plains. OEDEB M.-LIMICOL^E. (The Shore Birds.} Tibia more or less naked below (sometimes very slightly); legs, and usually neck also, elongated; hind toe free and elevated, often wanting. Head globose, abruptly sloping to the base of the bill, completely feathered (except in Philomachus 6); gape short; bill weak, flexible, more or less soft - skinned, and therefore sensitive, blunt at tip, without hard cutting edges — fitted for probing in the mud; nostrils slit-like, surround- ed by soft skin, never feathered; body never strongly compressed or depressed; nature precocial. Birds of medium or small size, more or less aquatic; found in most regions; very abundant in America. FAMILY LI. — CHARADRIID^E. (The Plovers.) Head rather large, nearly globose; bill of moderate length, shaped somewhat like a pigeon's bill, with a constriction behind the horny terminal portion; nasal fossae lined with soft skin, through which the slit - like nostrils open. Wings long and pointed, usually reaching beyond the tip of the short tail, sometimes spurred. Toes usually three, with basal web; tarsus reticulated; tibia? naked below. Sexes similar, but seasonal changes of plumage great. Species sixty or more, in most parts of the world. * Plumage speckled ; black below in breeding season. — LI. 121 f Hind toe present, very short. . . . SQUATAROLA, 1. ft Hind toe absent ...... CHARADRIUS, 2. ** Plumage not speckled ; head and neck with dark bands in the breeding season ; toes 3 ..... ^EGIALITIS, 3. /. SQUATAROLA, Cuvier. WHISTLING PLOVERS. 1. S. helvetica, (L.) Cuv. BLACK - BELLIED PLOVER. OX-EYE. Grayish, speckled; black below in breeding season, at other times white; L. 11 J; W. 7; T. 3; B. H; Ts. 2. In most parts of the world. 2. CHARADRIUS, L. GOLDEN PLOVERS. 1. C. dominie us, Mall. GOLDEN PLOVER. FROST BIRD. Dark and grayish above, profusely speckled, some of the spots bright yellow ; black below in breed- ing season, at other times grayish ; L. lOj- ; W. 7 ; T. 3 ; B. 1; Ts. If. N. Am., a well known game bird. 3. /EGIALITIS, Boie. RING - NECK PLOVERS. * Bill black, rather long; L. 8 or more. 1. /E. vociferus, (L.) Cass. KILDEER PLOVER. Brown; rump bright orange brown; tail with black, white, and orange; two black bars across breast, and one above the white forehead; L. 9J; W. 6£; T. 3J. N. Am., abund- ant in the Miss. Valley. ** Bill black-tipped, short and stout; L. 7 or less. 2. /E. semipalmatus, (Bon.) Cab. RING - NECK PLOVER. Dark ashy brown; black bands broad; feet semipalmatt; L. 7. N. Am. 3. /E '. melodus, (Ord ) Cab. PIPING PLOVER. Very pale ashy brown, clear white below; dark bands narrow and faint; toes slightly webbed; L. 6f. E. N. Am., abundant along the coast. 6 122 BIRDS. FAMILY LIL — ILEMATOPODIM). (The Turnstones.) Bill hard, 'acute, or truncate; nasal fossae short, broad, and shallow. Legs short, stout, brightly colored. Genera two, not much alike; species six or eight; in most parts of the world. * Toes 3, webbed at base ; tarsus reticulate, shorter than the trun- cate, compressed, almost woodpecker-like bill. H^MATOPUS, 1. ** Toes 4, not webbed ; tarsus scutellate in front, as long as the sharp, pointed bill MORINELLA, 2. /. H/EMATQPUS, Linnaeus. OYSTER CATCHERS. 1. H. palliatus, Temminck. OYSTER CATCHER. Ashy brown and blackish, mostly white below; L. 18; W. 10; T. 4J; B. 3. Coasts. 2. MORINELLA, Meyer & Wolf. TURNSTONES. 1. M. interpres, (L.) Stejn. TURNSTONE. Variegated ; black, white, brown, and chestnut above; mostly white below; no reddish in winter; L. 8£; W. 6; T. 2£. Cosmopolitan ; abundant. FAMILY LIIL — RECUR VTROSTRID^E. (The Avocets.) Legs excessively long. Bill very slender, long, acute, often recurved. Genera three, species eight; in most parts of the world. Himantopus is said to have the longest legs relatively of any bird. * Toes 4, full webbed ; bill recurved, flattened, tapering to a needle- like point ; plumage beneath thickened as in ducks ; swim- mers RECURVmOSTRA, 1. ** Toes 3, semipalmate ; bill nearly straight, not flattened. HIMANTOPUS, 2. PHALAROPODID^E. — LIV. ' 123 /. RECURVIROSTRA, Linnaeus. AVOCETS. 1. R. americana, Gm. AVOCET. BLUE STOCKING. White, marked with black and cinnamon; legs blue; L. 18; W. 8; T. 3f U. S. 2. HIMANTOPUS, Brisson. STILTS. 1. H. mexicanus, (Miiller.) STILT. LONG SHANKS. LAWYER. Glossy black, white below, legs pink; L. 15; W. 9; T. 3; Ts. 4. U.S. FAMILY LIV.— PHALAROPODID^E. (The Phalaropes.) Snipe-like birds with the toes lobed, as in the coots and grebes, but the lobes narrower. Swimmers; body depressed and the under plumage thick as in the Ducks. Tarsus much compressed. Three species representing as many genera; of northern regions of both hemis- pheres, southward in winter. * Bill flattened ; membranes scalloped. . . PHALAROPUS, 1. ** Bill subulate ; membranes scalloped. . . LOBIPES, 2. *** Bill subulate ; membranes plain. . . STEGANOPUS, 3. /. PHALAROPUS, Brisson. RED PHALAROPES. 1. P. fulicarius, (L.) Bon. RED PHALAROPE. Variega- ted above, purplish chestnut below; young white below; L. 8; W. 5; T. 2f ; B. 1. Northern Am. 2. LOBIPES, Cuvier. NORTHERN PHALAROPES. 1. L. hyperboreus, (L.) Cuv. NORTHERN PHALAROPE. Grayish black, variegated; rump and under parts white; sides of neck with chestnut stripe. Northern regions. 3. STEGANOPUS, Vieillot. PHALAROPES. 1. S. wilsoni, (Sab.) Coues. WILSON'S PHALAROPE. 124 BIRDS. Ashy above, variegated; rump and under parts white; sides of neck with a black stripe which changes to chest- nut below. Northern regions. FAMILY LV. — SCOLOPACID^E. (The Snipe.) Bill elongated, usually longer than the head; if short not plover - like, being soft - skinned throughout (hard when dry); nasal grooves narrow channels ranging from half to nearly the whole length of the bill; sides of lower mandible usually also grooved; nostrils narrow exposed slits; head feathered. Wings usually thin and pointed ; tail short and soft ; tibias rarely entirely feathered. Tarsus never entirely reticulate and usually scutellate in front and behind; hind toe present (except in Calidris)\ front toes cleft or slightly \vebbed; size medium or small. Sexes alike or female slightly larger ; seasonal changes in plumage often strongly marked. Eggs usually four, placed with the small ends together in a slight nest or depression in the ground; notes various; mostly migratory or gregarious. Genera fifteen or more, species about ninety; chiefly of northern regions, but some species in most parts of the world. * Toes 3 CALIDRIS, 8. ** Toes 4. f Tarsus scutellate in front only; bill slender, decurvecl, very much longer than the head. . . . NUMENIUS, 15. ff Tarsus scutellate in front and behind. \ Feet seniipalmate ; toes somewhat webbed at base. a Tail barred crosswise, with light and dark colors. 6. Gape not reaching beyond base of culmen. c. Culmen furrowed ; length less than 12. MACROBHAMPHUS, 4. SCOLOPACID^E. LV. 125 cc. Culmen unfurrowed ; length more than 12. LIMOSA, 9. bb. Gape reaching beyond base of culinen. d. Length more than 9. e. Bill longer than head. . . . TOTANUS, 10. ee. Bill not longer than head. f. Tail more than half the length of wing. BARTRAMIA, 13. ff. Tail less than half the length of wing. MACHETES, 12. dd. Length less than 9 ; second toe uuwebbed. g. Bill grooved nearly to tip ; back not speckled with white; adult with black spots below. TRINGOIDES, 11. gg. Bill grooved about halfway to tip; back speckled with white, not spotted below. . TOTANUS, 10. aa. Tail not barred. h. One minute web; primaries mottled with black. . TRYNGITES, 14. Jill. Feet with two plain webs. i. Bill about as long as head. . . EREUNETES, 6. ii. Bill much longer than head. . MICROPALAMA, 5. £}: Toes not webbed at all. j. First primary attenuate ; bill straight, longer than head ; culmcn grooved SCOLOPAX, 2. jj. First three primaries attenuate ; bill as in Scolopax. PHILOHELA, I. jjj. Primaries not attenuate. k. Bill straight, about twice as long as head. GALLINAGO, 3. kk. Bill straight, much shorter than head; primaries mottled with black. . . . TRYSTGITES, 14. kkk. All other Sandpipers. . . . TIUXGA, 7. /. PHILOHELA, Gray. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. 1. P. minor, (Gm.) Gray. AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 126 BIRDS. Variegated, black, brown, gray, and russet; below warm brown; eye high and far back; L. 11; W. 5; B. 3; T. 1^. E. U. S., in swamps, etc. 2. SCOLOPAX, Linnaeus. EUROPEAN WOODCOCKS. 1. S. rusticola, L. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK. General appearance of Philohela, but a third larger. European; accidental on our Atlantic coast. 3. GALLINAGO, Leach. SNIPE. 1. G. wilsoni, (Temm.) Bon. AMERICAN SNIPE. WIL- SON'S SNIPE. Back varied with black and bay; crown black, with a pale median stripe; bill straight, very long; L. 11; W. 5; B. 2J; leg naked, 3; T. 2£. E. U. S., abundant. 4. MACRORHAMPHUS, Leach. RED -BREASTED SNIPE. 1. M. griseus, (Gm.) Leach. GRAY SNIPE. BROWN- BACK. Blackish and grayish ; breast bay in summer; bill long nearly us in Gallinayo; L. 11; W. 5£; T. 2£. North America; Abundant coastwise. 5. MICROPALAMA, Baird. STILT SANDPIPERS. 1. M. himantopus, (Bon.) Baird. STILT SANDPIPER. Blackish, marked with chestnut, etc.; ashy gray in win- ter; bill nearly as in GaMinayo; L. 9; W. 5; T. 2^. N. Am., not abundant. 6. £/?£W£r£S, Illiger. SAND -PEEPS. 1. E. pusillus, (L.) Cass. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. PEEP. Plumage various, usually pale, white below ; small; L. GJ-; W. 3|; T. 2. N. Am.; abundant along beaches. SCOLOPACID.E. — LV. 127 7. TRINGA, Linnaeus. SANDPIPERS. * Bill, tarsus, and middle toe with claw, of about equal length. (Actodromas.) f Upper tail coverts (except the lateral series) black or dark brown ; throat with an ashy or brownish suffusion and dusky streaks. 1. T. minutilla, Vieill. LEAST SANDPIPER. PEEP. Smallest of the Sandpipers, resembling Ereunetes, but the feet different; L. 6; W. 3£; T. 2. N. Am., abundant. 2. T. bairdii, (Coues) Scl. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Colors of preceding but larger; throat but little streaked; L. 7 to 7^; W. 4|; T. 2£; B. J. America, rare E. of the Mississippi R. 3. T. maculata, Vieill. PECTORAL SNIPE. JACK SNIPE. GRASS SNIPE. Crown unlike neck; throat ashy-shaded and sharply streaked; L. 9; W. 5J; B. 1^. N. Am., abundant. ff Upper tail coverts white, with or without dusky marks ; throat sharply streaked, with little if any ashy suffusion. 4. T. fuscicollis, Vieill. WHITE - RUMPED SAND- PIPER. . L. 7}; W. 4J; T. 2£. E. U. S., abundant along the coast. ** Bill, tarsus, and middle toe, obviously not of equal length. \ Tarsus shorter than middle toe ; tibiae feathered. (Arquatella.) 5. T. maritima, BrLinnich. PURPLE SANDPIPER. Ashy black with purplish reflections; feathers with pale edg- ings; lower parts, etc., mostly white; bill nearly straight; L. 9; W. 5; T. 2|; B. 1J. Atlantic Coast. \\ Tarsus not shorter than middle toe ; tibiae bare below. «. Bill slightly decurvccl, much longer than tarsus. (Pelidna) 6. 7". alpina (L.) var. americana, Cass. AM. DUNLIN. Ox- BIRD. BLACK - BELLIED SANDPIPER. Chestnut brown above; feathers black centrally; belly, in summer, 128 BIRDS. with a broad black area; L. 9; W. 5; T. 2£; B. If. N. Am. aa. Bill perfectly straight. (Tringa.) 7. T. canutus, L. ROBIN SNIPE. RED -BREASTED SANDPIPER. Brownish black, brownish red (robin -like) below; L. 11; W. 6J; T. 2^. Atlantic Coast; abundant. 8. C A LI OR IS, Cuvier. SANDERLINGS. 1. C. arenaria, (L.) 111. SANDERLING. RUDDY PLOVER. Variegated; form of T. canutm, but the hind toe want- ing; L. 8; W. 5; T. 2J; B. 1. N. Am.; abundant coastwise. 9. LI M OS A, Brisson. GODWITS. 1. L. fedoa, (L.) Ord. GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. MARLIN. Cinnamon brown, variegated above, nearly uniform below; tail barred; no pure white; L. 16 to "22; W. 9; T. 3|; B. 4£. U. S., abundant along shores. 2. L. hcdmasi'iccL, (L.) Coues. BLACK -TAILED GODWIT. Brownish black and reddish, more or less variegated above and below; some white; tail black, white at base; L. 15; W. 8; Ts. 2£; B. 3f N. Am., rather northerly. 10. TOTANUS, Bechstein. TATTLERS. * Toes with two sub-equal webs; legs dark or bluish. (Sym- phemia.) 1. T. semipalmatuSr Gmelin. WILLET. SEMIPALMATED TATTLER. Grayish, variegated; L. 12 to 16; W. 7|; T. 3; B. 2|. U. S., common coastwise. ** Toes with the inner web very small ; legs yellow. (Glottis, Nilsson.) 2. r. melanoleucus, Gm. GREATER TELL-TALE. YEL- LOW SHANKS. STONE SNIPE. Ashy brown, variegated; bill very slender; legs long; L. 12|; W. 7J; T. 3J; B. 2J. N. Am., frequent. SCOLOPACID.E. — LV. 129 3. T. flav/pes, Gm. LESSER TELL-TALE. YELLOW SHANKS. Colors as in preceding; smaller; legs longer; L. 11; W. 6J; T. 2|; B. If. U. S., abundant. *** Toes with inner web rudimentary ; legs blackish. (Rhya- cophilus, Kaup.) 4. T. so/itar/uSf Wilson. SOLITARY TATTLER. Olive brown, streaked and speckled with whitish above; below white, breast with dusky suffusion; bill straight and slender; L. 9; W. 5; T. 2J; B. 1J. U. S., abundant about secluded ponds, etc. //. TRINGOIDES, Bonaparte. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. 1. T. macularius, (L.) Gray. TIP -Up. TEETER -TAIL. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Lustrous drab above, varied with black; pure white below, with round black spots in adult; L. 8; W. 4; T. 2; B. 1. U. S., everywhere. 12. MACHETES, Cuvier. RUFFS. 1. M. pugnax, (L.) RUFF (<$). REEVE ($). Male in breeding season with a great ruff, and the face bare; 9 without these characters; L. 10; W. 7; T. 2f ; B. 1£. European; accidental on our coasts. 13, BARTRAMIA. UPLAND SANDPIPERS. 1. B. longicauda, (Bechst) Cs. UPLAND PLOVER. Dark grayish, variegated; L. 13; W. 7; T. 4; B. 1£. U. S., abundant in fields, etc. 14. TRYNGITES, Cabanis. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS. 1. T. rufescens, (Vieill.) Cab. Grayish, reddish below; quills with white and finely mottled with black; L. 8; W. 5£; T. 2$. U. S., with the last, but not common. 15. NUMENIUS, Linnaeus. CURLEWS. 1. N. longirostris, Wils. LONG -BILLED CURLEW. 9 130 BIRDS. SICKLE BILL. Reddish gray, variegated; L. 24; W. 12; T. 4; B. 5 to 9. U. S., frequent. 2. N. hudson/cus, Lath. JACK CURLEW. Similar, but paler; L. 18; W. 9; T. 3J; B. 3 or 4. U. S., and north- ward. 3. N. borealis, (Forst.) Lath. ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. DOUGH BIRD. More reddish; L. 15 or less; W. 8J; T. 3; B. 2J. U. S., northwards. ORDER K-HEEODIONEa ( The Herons and Storks.) Birds usually of large stature, with compressed body, long legs and a very long "S-bent" neck; tibia naked below; toes long and slender, cleft or slightly webbed, the hind toe comparatively long and (usually) not ele- vated, provided with a large claw. Wings broad, rounded. Tail short. Head narrow, gradually contracting to the stout base of the bill, which is long and mostly hard and acute, with sharp cutting edges; lores, orbital space, and often whole head naked. Plumage with powder-down tracts (explained below); altricial. FAMILY LVL — ARDEID^E. (The Herons) Large birds with the bill straight, longer than the head, compressed, acute, with sharp - cutting edges; upper mandible grooved; nostrils linear; lores naked, the bill appearing to run directly to the eyes; rest of head feathered; parts of the body with "powder -down tracts," — strips of short, dusty, or greasy down -like feathers, usually three pairs of these strips, i. e., on the back above the hips, on the belly under the hips, and AKDEID^E. — LVI. 131 on the breast; usually long plumes from the back 01 head in the breeding season. Wings broad. Tail very short. Tibia? largely naked below; toes long and slen- der, hind toe on a level with the rest, middle claw pectinate. Sexes usually colored alike. Species nearly one hundred; in most parts of the world, abundant in the warmer regions. * Tail of 12 feathers ; usually a crest or train in the breeding season ; lateral toes more than half length of tarsus, f Tibia bare two inches or more. | Length 36 or more. a. General color bluish or ashy brown. . ARDEA, 1. aa. Color white at all times. . . . HERODIAS, 2. \\ Length 24 or less. b. Color white at all times; legs black and yellow. GARZETTA, 3. bb. General color bluish (young white), legs black or bluish. FLORIDA, 4. ff Tibia bare one inch or less. c. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. d. Bill more than thrice as loug as high. . BUTORIDES, 5. dd. Bill not four times as long as high. NYCTIARDEA, 6. cc. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw; bill more than half an inch deep at base. . . NYCTHERODIUS, 7. ** Tail of 10 feathers ; no crest nor train ; lower neck bare behind ; length less than 30. e. Length more than 18 ; tawny, much streaked. BOTAURCS, 8. ee. Length less than 18 ; glossy blackish or chestnut. ARDETTA, 0. /. ARDEA, Linnaeus. HERONS. 1. A. herod/as, L. GREAT BLUE HEROX. Grayish blue, marked with black and white; back of head crested in breeding season; tibia and edge of wing chestnut brown; L.' 48; W. 20; T. 7; B. 5i; Ts. 6£ ; ? much smaller. U. S., common. 132 BIRDS. 2. HERODIAS, Gray. GREAT WHITE EGRETS. 1. H. egretta., (Gm.) Gray. GREAT WHITE EGRET. WHITE HERON. Pure white; head without lengthened feathers; back in breeding season with a long train; L. 40; W. 17; B. 5; Ts. 6. U. S., chiefly southerly. 3. GARZETTA, Bonaparte. LITTLE WHITE EGRETS. /. G. candidissima, (Jacq.) Bon. SNOWY EGRET. Pure white ; head and neck with long plumes in breeding season; L. 24; W. 12; B. 3; T. 4. Southern and middle States; abundant. 4. FLORIDA, Baird. LITTLE BLUE HERONS. 1. F. ccerulea, (L.) Baird. LITTLE BLUE HERON. Slaty blue; young white; head with elongated feathers; no dorsal plumes; L. 24; W. 12; B. 3; Ts. 4. U. S.; abundant, southerly. 5. BUTORIDES, Bonaparte. GREEN HERONS. 1. B. virescens, (L.) Bon. GREEN HERON. Crown, back and wings lustrous dark green ; neck purplish cin- namon; crested; back with lengthened feathers; L. 18; W. 7; B. 2|. U. S., abundant. 6. NYCTIARDEA, Swainson. NIGHT HERONS. 1. N. grisea (L.) Steph., var. ncevia, (Bodd.) Allen. QUA BIRD. SQUAWK. NIGHT HERON. Bluish gray, crown and shoulders glossy green; no peculiar feathers save two or three long, white occipital plumes; young speckled, very different; L. 24; W. 14; B. 3; Ts. 3. U. S., frequent. 7. NYCTHERODIUS, Auctorum. YELLOW -CROWNED NIGHT HEROXS. 1. N. violaceus, (L.) . YELLOW -CROWNED NIGHT TANTALID.E. — LVII. 133 HERON. Grayish plumbeous; crested; back with long plumes; crown, etc., tawny or white; young speckled; size of last; B. 2£; Ts. 3f. U. S. 8. BOTAURUS, Stephens. BITTERNS. 1. B. lentiginosus, (Mont.) INDIAN HEN. STAKE DRIVER. BITTERX. Tawny brown of various shades, excessively variegated every where; dark patch on each side of neck; L. 23 to 28; W. 12; T. 4£; B. 3. U. S., abundant. 9. ARDETTA, Gray. LEAST BITTERN. 1. A. exilis, (Gm.) Gray. LEAST BITTERN. $ chiefly glossy greenish black above, brownish yellow below, neck and shoulders with chestnut; $ with purplish chestnut instead of black; L. 14; W. 5; T. If; B. 1£. U. S., rather rare. FAMILY LVII.— TANTALISE. (The Ibises.) Stork -like birds, usually of large size, with the head more or less bare of feathers when adult; neck and legs long; body small. Wings large and rounded. Tail very short. Tibia bare for some distance; toes 4; hind toe lengthened and low down. Genera four; species fifteen; swamps and lakes of warm regions. Sexes alike. Allied to the Storks (Ciconiidce) of the Old World. * Tarsus reticulate; bill very stout, tapering, dccurvccl. TANTALUS, 1. ** Tarsus scutellate in front; bill grooved, curved (curlew-like.) f Claws curved EUDOCIMUS, 2. ff Claws nearly straight PLEGADIS, 3. /. TANTALUS, Linnaeus. WOOD IBISES. 1. T. loculator, L. WOOD IBIS. White; quills, tail and primary coverts black; bare part of head and neck 134 BIRDS. bluish; L. 48; W. 20; B. 9. Southern States, N. to Ohio and Colorado. 2. EUDOCIMUS, Wagler. IBISES. 1 . £. albusu (L.) WHITE IBIS. Pure white, wings with black; L. 24; W. 11; T. 4; B. 7. Southern States, N. to L. L 3. PLEGADIS, Kaup. GLOSSY IBISES. 1. P. falcinelluSt (L.) Kaup. Rich dark chest- nut, with greenish and purplish on head; L. 24; W. 11; T. 4; B. 4£. S. States, N. to N. England. OEDEE O.-ALECTOEIDES. (The Cranes and Rails.) Tibia naked below; neck, legs and feet much as in Herodiones, except that the hind toe is small and ele- vated, and provided with a small claw. Bill various, usually lengthened; head fully feathered or else exten- sively bald. Body more or less compressed. Wings short, rounded, concave. Tail very short and small; size various. FAMILY LVIIL — GRUID^E. (The Cranes.) Very large birds with the head and neck extremely long. Wings large. Tail short. Head more or less naked, with scattered hair -like feathers. Plumage mostly compact. Bill as long or longer than head, straight and slender; tibire extensively naked; tarsus scutellate; toes rather short; hind toe highly elevated. Genera three; species fourteen, of various parts of the world. RALLID^. — LIX. 135 /. GRUS, Linnaeus. CRANES. 1. G. americanus, (L.) Ord. WHITE OR WHOOPING CRANE. Adult pure white with black on wings; bare part of head very hairy; young grayish, the head feathered; L.^ 50; W. 24; T. 9; Ts. 12; B. 6. U. S., rather southerly. 2. G. canadensis, (L.) Temm. BROWN OR SAND - HILL CRANE. Plumbeous gray, never whitening; head sparsely hairy; smaller. U. S., chiefly S. and W. FAMILY LIX. — RALLID^E. ^ (Tlw Rails.) Birds of medium or small size, with compressed bodies and muscular legs. Wings and tail short. Hind toe short and elevated; front toes very long. Bill various, rather short. Plumage blended. Sexes alike. Species about one hundred and fifty, of most parts of the world. * Forehead feathered ; no frontal plate. (RALLIN^E.) f Bill clecurvcd, longer than head. . . . RALLUS, 1. ft Bill straight, shorter than head. . . . POUZANA, 2. ** Forehead covered with a broad, horny, frontal plate. \ Toes scarcely or not lobate. (GALLINULIN.E.) a. Nostrils linear; tarsus less than 2. . GALLINULA, 3. aa. Nostrils nearly circular; tarsus about 2. IONOKXIS, 4. $ Toes lobate, edged with broad flaps. (FULICIN.E.) FULICA, 5. /. RALLUS, Linnaeus. RAILS. 1. R. longirostris, Bodd. CLAPPER RAIL. SALT- WATER MARSH HEX. Olive brown, variegated with ashy; dull reddish brown below; L. 14 to 16; W. 6; T. 2^; B. 2-J; $ smaller. Salt marshes; rather southerly. 2. R. elegans, And. KING RAIL. FRESH -WATER MARSH HEN. Brownish black, with chestnut below 136 BIRDS. and on wing coverts; much brighter colored than the last, and rather larger. U. S., fresh-water marshes. 3. R. virginianus, L. VIRGINIA RAIL. Colors exactly as in R. elegans; much smaller; L. 10; W. 4; T. 1J; B. 1J. U. S., frequent. 2. PORZANA, Vieillot. LITTLE RAILS. 1. P. Carolina, (L.) V. CAROLINA RAIL. SORA. "OR- TOLAN." Olive -brown, variegated; face and middle line of throat black; breast slaty gray; back streaked; belly barred; L. 9; W. 4£; T. 2. U. S., not rare. 2. P. noveboracensis, (Gm.) Cass. YELLOW RAIL. Variegated above; L. 6; W. 3£; T. 1£. E. U. S., not common. 3. P. jamaicensis, (Gm.) Cass. BLACK RAIL. Blackish; L. 5J. S. Am., etc., rarely in U. S. 3. GALLINULA, Brisson. GALLINULES. 1. G. ga.lea.ta, (Licht.) Bon. FLORIDA GALLINULE. Brownish olive above, grayish black on head and below; bill, frontal plate and ring around tibia red; L. 15; W. 7J; T. 3|; Ts. 2. S. States, straying northward. (Mani- towoc, Wis. Jordan?) 4. 10 NORN IS, Reich. PURPLE GALLINULES. 1. /. martin ica, (L.) Reich. PURPLE GALLINULES. Olive green; head and below purplish blue; crissum white; bill mostly red; L. 12; W. 7; T. 3. S. States, N. to Maine. 5. FULICA, Linnagus. COOTS. 1. F. americana, Gm. COOT. MUD HEN. Dark slate color or sooty; bill brownish; L. 14; W. 8; T. 2. U. S., abundant in reedy swamps; swims well. ANATID^E. — LX. 137 OEDEE R-LAMELLIEOSTEES. (Tlie Anserine Bird*.) Bill lamellate, i. 6., furnished along each cutting edge with a regular series of tooth-like processes, which cor- respond to certain laciniate processes of the fleshy tongue, which ends in a horny tip; bill large, thick, high at base, depressed towards the end, membranous except at the obtuse tip which is occupied by a horny nail; no gular pouch. Head high, compressed, with sloping forehead; eyes small. Feet 4-toed (excepting some Flamingoes), palmate ; hind toe small, elevated ; tibia feathered in AnatulcB) bare below in the Flamingoes. Wings strong, short. Legs short (except in PhcenicopteridfB, where excessively elongated) ; precocial; swimming birds. An important and familiar order, comprising nearly all the " Water Fowl " which are valued in domestication or as game birds. There are two families, Phcenicopteridce the Flamingoes, and the following: FAMILY LX.— ANATID^E. (The Ducks.) Characters of bill, etc., as given above. Body heavy, flattened beneath. Head large; eyes small. Tail various, usually short, of 14 to 16 feathers, the lower coverts being long and full. Feet shor-t, anterior toes full -webbed. Sexes usually quite unlike (excepting among the Swans and Geese.) Species one hundred and seventy -five, of all parts of the world; migratory. Thft sub - families are indicated below. * Lores naked ; adult entirely white ; large birds ; Swans. (CYG- NIN^E.) CYGNUS, 1. ** Lores feathered ; tarsus entirely reticulate ; Geese. (ANSERIX.E.) a- Bill and legs not black ; colors white, bluish, etc. ANSER, 2. 138 BIRDS. aa. Bill and legs black; neck black. . . BERNICLA, 3. *** Lores feathered ; tarsus scutellate in front ; Ducks, f Bill depressed ; the lamellae simple, bluntish. ^ Hind toe simple, not bordered by membrane. " River Ducks." (A^'ATIN^E.) b. Head crested ; tip of bill formed entirely by the nail ; colors brilliant in $ Aix, 11. bb. Bill very much widened towards the tip ; speculum green SPATULA, 10. bbb. Head not crested ; bill not much widened towards tip. c. Tail wedge-shaped, at least f length of wing. $ of DAFILA, 5. cc. Tail less than half length of wing. d. Speculum white ; wing coverts chestnut. CHAULELASMUS, 6. dd. Speculum violet, bordered with black and white. ANAS, 4. .ddd. Speculum greenish purple, bordered by black, white and buff; crown streaked; tail feathers acute. ? of DAFILA, 5. dddd. Speculum green. e. Wing coverts mostly white; crown whitish. MARECA, 7. ee. "Wing coverts sky-blue; head of $ plumbeous or purplish. . . . QUERQUEDULA, 8. eee. Wing coverts plain ashy ; head of male chestnut with green band. . . . NETTION, 9. ft Hind toe lobed (bordered by membrane.) " Sea Ducks." (FtTLIGULLN^E.) h. Cheeks bristly ; colors black and white (or gray.) CAMPTOL^EMITS, 16. M. Tail pointed, longer than wings (in adult) ; bill black and orange HARELDA, 15. TMi. Tail rounded ; the feathers stiff, narrow, exposed nearly . - to their bases, the upper coverts being very short. ERISMATURA, 20. . — LX. 139 hhhh. Ducks with none of the above peculiarities. t. Upper mandible gibbous at its unfeathered base; black or brown. . . . . . CEDEMIA, 19. it. Upper mandible not gibbous where unfe.athered. j. Nail at tip of bill narrow and distinct. A:. Head black or brown; nostrils sub -basal; bill longer than tarsus. . . . FULIX, 12. kk. Head reddish or brownish, without white ; nos- trils nearly median ; bill longer than tarsus. AYTHYA, 13. kkk. Head black or gray, with white ; nostrils nearly median ; bill about as long as tarsus. CLANGTJLA, 14. jj. Nail broad, scarcely distinct. I. Feathers extending on culmen and partly on sides of upper inaudible. . . SOMATERIA, 18. tt. Feathers not extending on culmen ; bill small, much tapering. . . HISTRIONICUS, 17. ff Bill narrow, nearly cylindrical; the lamellae acute, recurved, like saw-teeth ; usually crested. Fish Ducks. (MERGING.) m. Bill not black ; tarsus more than half the length of middle toe ......... MERGUS, 21. mm. Bill black ; tarsus half length of middle toe. LOPHODYTES, 22. /. CYGNUS, Linnreus. SWAXS. > Olor, Wagler. 1. C. buccinator, Rich. TRUMPETER SWAX. Tail (normally) 24 feathered; bill without yellow spot, longer than head; nostrils sub -basal; L. about 50. Miss. Valley, W. and N. 2. C. columbianus, (Ord.) Coues. WHISTLING SWAX. Tail 20 feathered; bill with a yellow spot, not longer than head; nostrils median; L. 50. N. Am. (C.ameri- canus, Sharpless.) 140 BIRDS. 2. ANSER, Linnaeus. GEESE. 1. A. albifrons, Gin., var. gambeli, (Hartl.) Ooues. WHITE - FRONTED GOOSE. SPECKLE - BILL. White, or gray, blotched with black; back dark; head and neck grayish brown; forehead white in adult; claws pale; lamelke usual; L. 27; W. 17; T. 6; Ts. 3. N. Am. 2. A. cceru/escens, L. BLUE GOOSE. Size and form of next, but plumage ashy, varied with dark brown. N. Am., rather rare. 3. A. hyperboreus, Pallas. SNOW GOOSE. Adult pure white or washed with reddish; wings with black; claws dark; young bluish; lamella very prominent; L. 30; W. 19; T. 6i; B. 2|. 3. BERN 1C LA, Steph. BRANT GEESE. = Bernicla, most authors. 1. B. bernicla, (L.) BRANT GOOSE. Head, neck, front, quills, and tail, black; white patch on neck; white on rump, crissum, etc.; back brownish gray; L. 24; W. 13; T. 5; B. 1^. Northern States; in winter to Carolina. 2. B. canadensis, (L.) WILD GOOSE. CANADA GOOSE. Grayish brown, paler below; head and neck black; white throat patch, extending on sides of head; tail black; upper coverts white; L. 36; W. 20; T. 7£; B. 2. N. Am., abundant; U. S. in winter. 4. ANAS, Linnaaus. DUCKS. 1. A. boscas, L. MALLARD DUCK. TAME DUCK. $ head and upper neck rich glossy green, a white ring below; breast purplish chestnut; speculum violet; wing coverts tipped with black and white; $ duller, chiefly dull ochraceous, streaked with dark brown; L. 24; W. 12. Am., abundant; commonest westward. Original . — LX. 141 of the common Domestic Duck; various hybrids of this species with others are described. 2. A. obscura, Gm. BLACK DUCK. Size of mallard and resembling1 the $, but darker; no decided white except under the wings. E. IT. S., common. 5. DAFILA, Leach. PINTAIL DUCKS. 1. D. acuta, (L.) Jenyns. PIN -TAIL. SPRIG -TAIL. $ dark brown with purplish gloss; sides of neck with long white stripes; tail cuneate when developed, central feathers much projecting; $ speckled and streaked; tail shorter; L. 24; W. 11; T. 9 or less. N. Am. 6. CHAULELASMUS, Gray. GADWALLS. 1. C. streperus, (L.) Gray. GADWALL. $ barred, black and white, wing coverts chestnut, greater coverts black, speculum white; $ with similar markings; L. 22; W. 11. N. Am. 7. MA'RECA, Stephens. WIDGEONS. 1. HI. penelope, (L.) Bon. EUROPEAN WIDGEON. Head and neck reddish brown; top of head brownish white; sides of head with green traces; L. 22; W. 11; T. 5. Europe; accidental in America, Wis. (Kumlien) and Atlantic Coast. 2. M. americana, (Gm.) Steph. AMERICAN WIDGEON. BALDPATE. Head and neck grayish, speckled ; colors more emphatic; sides of head with bright green patch. N. Am., abundant. 8 QUERQUEDULA, Stephens. BLUE WINGED TEALS. 1. Q. discors, (L.) Steph. BLUE WINGED TEAL. $ head and neck blackish plumbeous, darkest on the crown; a white crescent in front of eye; under parts 142 BIRDS. thickly spotted; $ quite different, known by the wings; L. 16; W. 7; T. 3. E. U. S., to Rocky Mts. 9. NETTION, Kaup. GREEN -WINGED TEALS. 1. N. carolinensQ, (Gm.) Kaup. GREEN -WINGED TEAL. A. white crescent on sides in front of wings; shoulders plain; L. 15; W. ?i; T. 3£. N. America, common. 10. SPATULA, Boie. SHOVELLERS. 1. S. clypeata, (L.) Boie. SHOVELLER. SPOON-BILL DUCK. $ head and neck green; wing coverts blue; speculum green; $ with similar bill and wings; L. 20; W. 9i; B. 2f . N. Am. //. AIX, Swainson. WOOD DUCKS. 1. A. sponsa, (L.) Boie. WOOD DUCK. SUMMER DUCK. Crested ; $ head iridescent green and purple, with white stripes and a forked white throat patch; breast rich brownish; $ duller, head mostly gray; L. 20; W. 9£; T. 5. U. S. frequent; nesting in trees. 12. FULIX, Sundevall. FLOCKING - FOWL. < Fuligula, Authors. 1. F. marila., (L.) Baird. BIG SCAUP DUCK. BLUE BILL. RAFT DUCK. Speculum white; no ring about neck; back and sides whitish, finely waved with black; $ face white; markings less distinct; L. 20; W. 9. N. Am. 2. F. affinis, (Eyton) Baird. LESSER SCAUP DUCK. Similar, but smaller; L. 16; W. 8. N. Am., rather southerly. 3. F. collaris, (Donovan) Baird. RING-NECKED DUCK. Speculum gray; an orange brown collar about neck; $ without collar; L. 18; W. 8£. N. Am. AXATID^E. — LX. 143 13. AYTHYA, Boie. CANVAS-BACK DUCKS. 1. A. ferina (L.) var. americana, (Eyton) Allen. RED HEAD. POCHARD. $ head and neck chestnut with red reflections; back mixed silvery and black; the dark waved lines unbroken; $ duller; bill shorter than head, two or less, bluish, the nail dark; L. 20; W. 10. N. Am., abundant. 2. A. vallisneria, ( Wilson) Boie. CANVAS -BACK DUCK. Head' more dusky; black wavy lines on back broken, the whitish predominating; bill as long as head, 2£ or more, dusky. N. Am.; especially coastwise in winter. 14. CLANGULA, Fleming. GOLDEN-EYES. 1. Cm clangula, (L.) GOLDEN - EYE. GARROT. 3 head puffy, glossy green with some white; upper parts black; white continuous on outer surface of wing; $ head duller, snuff- colored and scarcely puffy; L. 16 to 19'; W. 8 to 9. N. Am. and Europe. 2. C. islandica, (Gm.) Bp. BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. Similar; gloss of head purplish; white of wing divided by dark bar; more white on head; larger. N. U. S. and N.; rare. 3. C. albeola, (L.) Steph. DIPPER. BUFFLE HEAD. BUTTER-BALL. SPIRIT DUCK. $ with head very puffy and iridescent; a large white ear patch; L. 10; W. 7; ? small, dark gray ; head scarcely puffy. N. Am., abundant. 15. HARELDA, Leach. LONG - TAILED DUCKS. 1. H. hy emails, (L.) SOUTH - SOUTHERLY. OLD WIFE. LONG -TAILED DUCK. Reddish brown, nearly white in winter; tail very long; $ quite different, no 144 BIRDS. white on wing; L. 20; W. 9; T. 8, or less. N. Am. and Europe; chiefly northern and coastwise. 16. CAMPTOLSEMUS, Gray. PJED DUCKS. 1. C. labradorius, (Gm.) Gray. LABRADOR DUCK. $ chiefly black and white; ? plumbeous; L. 24; W. 9. Coast, chiefly northern; scarce. 17. HISTRIONICUS, Lesson. HARLEQUIN DUCKS. 1. H. histrionicus, (L.) HARLEQUIN DUCK. $ leaden bluish, much varied; speculum violet and purple; $ dark brown, etc. Atlantic Coast, Am. and Europe. 18. SOMATERIA, Leach. EIDER DUCKS. 1. S. mollissima, (L.) Leach. EIDER DUCK. $ in breeding dress, white; under parts, rump, quills, and crown patch black; $ reddish brown, streaked; bill with long, club-shaped, frontal processes extending in line with culmen; L. 24; W. 12. Arctic regions; S. to New England in winter. (S. dresseri, Sharpe.) 2. S. spectabilis, (L.) Leach. KING EIDER. $ chiefly black; front parts, etc., white; frontal processes broad, squarish, out of line of culmen; slightly smaller. Nor- thern regions; S. to N. Y. 19. (EDEMIA, Fleming. SURF DUCKS. * Bill not encroached upon by frontal feathers; tail 16-featherecl ; no white on wings. ((Edemia.) 1. (E. americana, Sw. AMERICAN BLACK SCOTER, $ entirely black; $ sooty brown, paler below and on throat; L. 18 to 24; W. 10. N. Am., all coasts. ** Bill broadly encroached upon by frontal feathers; a large white wing patch. (Melanettn.} 2. (E. fusca, (L.) Sw. VELVET SCOTER. WHITE ANATID^E. — LX. 145 "\VIXGED SURF DUCK. $ black; white spot under eye; 9 sooty brown, rather larger. Shores of Europe and X. Am. *** Bill narrowly encroached upon by frontal feathers; no white on wings ; tail 14-feathered. (Pelionetta.) 3. (E. perspicillata, (L.) Fleming. SURF DUCK. SEA COOT. $ black, with white spot on forehead and nape; $ sooty brown; white patch on lores and cheeks; size of first. Coasts. 20. ERISMATURA, Bonaparte. STIFF TAILED DUCKS. 1. E. rubida, (Wils.) Bon. RUDDY DUCK. Chiefly brownish or tawny (reddish in perfect plumage), con- siderably waved and dotted; crissum white; L. 17; ~\V. 6. X. Am., frequent. 2. . £. dominion, (L.) Eyton. SAX DOMINGO DUCK. Smaller and redder; forehead and chin black; L. 13J; TV. GJ. S. America and "W". Indies; accidental N. (Wis., Kumlien, L. Champlain, Cabot.) 21. MERGUS, Linnaeus. MERGAXSERS. 1. M. merganser, L. MERGANSER. GOOSANDER. FISH DUCK. <* black and white above, salmon-colored below; head glossy green, scarcely crested; $ smaller, ashy gray; head brownish; nostrils median; L. 24; W. 11. N. Am., common. 2. M. serrator, L. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. FISH DUCK. Similar, but smaller and more crested; $ with throat reddish brown, black-streaked; wing with two black bars, instead of one as in last; nostrils sub-basal; L. 20; AY. 9. N. Am., abundant. 22. IOPHODYTES, Reichenbach. CRESTED DIVERS. 1. L cucullatus, (L.) Reich. HOODED MERGAXSER. 7 146 BIRDS. SHELDRAKE. Black and white; sides chestnut in g; $ duller and grayish; crest high and compressed; nostrils sub-basal; L. 19; W. 8. N. Am., common. OEDEE Q.-STEGANOPODES. (TTie Totipalmate Birds.} Feet totipalmate; hind toe lengthened, scarcely ele- vated, united by a web to the other toes; tibia? feathered Bill various, horny, never lamellate, cutting edges often serrate; nostrils very small or abortive; a prominent, naked, gular pouch; tarsus reticulate; altricial. We here omit the families Sulidce (Gannets) and TachypetidcG (Frigate Birds) as they are exclusively marine. One species of the Southern family Plotidce, (the Darters) Plotus anhinga, L., the Snake Bird or Water Turkey of the Southern swamps, sometimes comes up the Miss. R. to S. Ills. FAMILY LXL — PELECANID^E. (The Pelicans.} Large fish -eating birds, with very long bills which end in a claw -like hook; the broad space between the branches of the lower .jaw occupied by a huge membran- ous sack; nostrils abortive; wings very long; tail very short; gregarious; sexes alike. Genus one; species six; found in most warm regions. /. PELECANUS, Linnaeus. PELICANS. 1. P. irachyrhynchus, Lath. WHITE PELICAN. Chiefly white, some black and yellowish; L. GO; W. 24; B. 12. N. Am., abundant S. and W., often inland. PHALACROCORACID^E. — LXII. 147 FAMILY LXII. — PHALACROCORACID^E. (The Cormorants.) Bill about as long as head, nearly terete, strongly hooked, the cutting edges uneven; gular pouch small. Wings short. Tail very large, almost scansorial, of very stiff feathers, often used with the aid of the legs, which are set far back, as a support for the body; a nasal groove but nostrils abortive. Colors in both sexes lustrous, iridescent black; in the breeding season usually with long, white, filamentous plumes; many species crested. Genus one; species twenty -five; of most regions. /. PHALACROCORAX, Brisson. CORMORANTS. 2. P. dilophus, ( S\\. ) DOUBLE - CRESTED COR- MORANT. Glossy greenish black; back and wing coverts coppery gray; adult with two curly black lateral crests; sac convex or straight - edged behind, orange; L. 33; W. 13; T. 7; tail of 12 feathers. N. Am.; our commonest species. 2. P. mex/canus, (Brandt.) MEXICAN CORMOR- ANT. Gular sac orange, white-edged; L. 24. S. W., N. to Ills. 3. P. carbo, (L.) NORTHERN CORMORANT. Tail of 14 feathers; sac heart-shaped behind; L. 36. Northern and coastwise. OEDEE R-LOXGIPEKNES. (The Long -Winged Swimmers.) Feet palmate; tibiae feathered; legs near center of equilibrium; hind toe elevated, small, often wanting. Bill usually long, horny, not serrate nor lamellate; nos- 148 BIRDS. trils developed; no gular pouch. Wings very long and pointed. Tail well developed; altricial; powers of flight remarkable; food chiefly fishes. There are two families, Laridce, below described, and Procellaridce, the Petrels, which we here omit, all our numerous representatives being strictly maritime. FAMILY LXIIL — LARID^E. (The Gulls.) Long -winged birds, with the nostrils not tubular; bill various. Hind toe small and elevated, but less so than in the Petrels. General color usually white, with a darker mantle of a pearly bluish tint, and commonly with some black markings. Sexes alike in color, but the plumage varying much with age and season. Genera about twelve (Coues), sixty (European authors); species ninety; abounding about all large bodies of water. Of the genera admitted below, Pagophila, Rissa, and C hrcecoceplialus may properly be considered as sections of Larus, while Gelochelidon and Thalasseus are perhaps sub - genera under Sterna. * Bill hooked (epignathous) — rarely not hooked, and the tail even. f Bill with a sort of cere ; middle tail feathers exserted ; Jsegers. (LESTRIDIISLE.) .... STEKCOKARIUS, 1. |f Bill not cered ; general color usually white with a darker mantle. Gulls. (LARIN/E.) a. Hind toe rudimentary, without a developed claw. RISSA, 3. aa. Hind toe perfect, provided with a claw. b. Tail even. c. Tarsus black, rough ; webs incised ; plumage white. GAVIA, 4. cc. Tarsus not black ; lower plumage white in adult. d. Head white — if dark below, head not whitish (spe- cies of large size ; never rosy-tinted below ; the head never with a dark hood.) . LARUS, 2. LARID.E. — LXIII. 149 dd. Head dark — if dark below, head whitish (small or slender species, with a black hood in the breeding season, and the white under parts then pinkish or rosy-tinted.) . . . CHROZCOCEPHALUS, 5. bb. Tail forked; bill black, yellow-tipped. . XEMA, 6. ** Bill paragnatlious (mandibles even) ; tail forked (in our species) ; Terns. (STEKNIN^E.) e. Toes full-webbed ; colors chiefly white, with a black cap at most seasons and the quills silvery dusky, with a long white stripe. /. Feet black ; forehead without white crescent. g. Not crested ; bill stout, scarcely longer than tarsus. GELOCIIELIDON, 7. gg. Crested ; bill slender, much longer than tarsus. THALASSEUS, 8. ff. Feet not black ; back pale, no crest. . . STERNA, 9. ee. Toes not full-webbed ; color quite dark. HYDROCHELIDON, 10. *** Bill hypognathous — the lower mandible much the longer, compressed like a knife-blade. Skimmers. (RHYNCHOPIX.E.) RHYNCHOPS, 11. /. STERCORARIUS, Brisson. J^GERS. = Lestris, Authors. 1. S. pomatorhinus, ( Temm. ) Lawr. POMARINE JAEGER. Chiefly blackish, colors varying with age; middle tail feathers broad to the tip, projecting- about four inches; L. 2-0; W. 15. Northern, U. S. in winter. 2. S. parasiticus, (Brunn.) Gray. PARASITIC JAEGER. General color dark brown ; middle tail feathers acuminate, projecting 4 inches; L. 18; W. 13. Northern, U. S. in winter. 3. S. longicauda, (Vieill.) LONG TAILED JJEGER. Similar, but still smaller; tail feathers filamentous, pro- jecting 8 or 10 inches. Northern, U. S. in winter. 150 BIRDS. 2. LARUS, Linnaeus. GULLS. * Primaries without any black. 1. L glaucus, Briinn. GLAUCOUS GULL. ICE GULL. BURGOMASTER. Bill yellow with red spot on lower mandible; large; L. 30; W. 18. Arctic regions; S. in winter. 2. L leucopterus, Faber. WHITE -WINGED GULL. Similar but smaller; L. 23; W. 17. Same region. ** Primaries crossed with black (adult), or all black (young). 3. L. marinus, L. GREAT BLACK -BACKED GULL. COFFIN-CARRIER. SADDLE-BACK. Mantle blackish slate color; largest' of our Gulls; L. 30 or more; W. 18; feet flesh colored. N. Atlantic, S. in winter. 4. L argentatus, Briinn. HERRING GULL. COMMON GULL. Mantle grayish blue; large, 22 to 27 ; W. 18 or less; feet flesh colored. N. Am., abundant. 5. L. delawarensis, Ord. RING-BILLED GULL. Plum- age like preceding; feet olivaceous; webs yellow; bill yellowish, a black band at the tip; size moderate; L. 20; W. 15. N. Am., abundant. 3. R/SSA, Leach. KITTIWAKES. 1. R. iridactyla, (L.) Bon. KITTIWAKE GULL. Mantle dark grayish blue; hind claw a minute knob; L. 16 to 18; W. 12. Northern, U. S. in winter. 3. GAVIA, Boie. IVORY GULLS. 1. G. alba, (Gunner.) IVORY GULLS. Adults pure white; young spotted ; L. 16 to 20; W. 12. Northern, rarely to U. S. in winter. 5. CHRGCOCEPHALUS, Eyton. ROSY GULLS. 1. C. atricilla, (L.) Lawr. BLACK -HEADED OR LAUGH- ING GULL. Tarsus \ longer than middle toe and claw; LAKID.E. — LXIH. 151 large; bill and feet dusky carmine; L. 16 to 19; W. 12 to 13. U. S., coastwise. 2. C. franklini, (Rich.) Bruch. FRANKLIN'S ROSY GULL. Tarsus about as long as middle toe and claw; bill and feet carmine; bill usually with a black mark; medium; L. 14 to 16; W. 11. U. S., chiefly W. of the Miss. R. 3. C. Philadelphia, (Ord ) Lawr. BONAPARTE'S GULL. Tarsus about as long as middle toe and claw; bill dark or black, slender, tern -like; small; L. 12 to 14; W. 10. N. Am., abundant. 6. XEMA, Leach. FORK -TAILED GULLS. 1. X. sabinei, (Sab.) Leach. FORKED -TAIL GULL. Chiefly white, a black hood and collar; L. 14; W. 11. Northern, S. in winter to N. Y. 7. GELOCHELIDON, Brehm. GULL - BILLED TERNS. 1. G. anglica, (Montagu ) Bon. MARSH TERX. Bill black, very short and stout; L. 15; W. 12. E. U. S., not abundant. 8. THALASSEUS, Boie. CRESTED TERNS. 1. T. caspius, (Pallas) Boie. CASPIAN TERN. Pri- maries without white band; bill red; much the largest of the Terns; L. 20 or more; W. 17; T. 6, not much forked. Northern, S. in winter; scarce. 2. T. regius, Garab. ROYAL TERN. Bill orange; L. 18 or 20; \V. 15; T. 8, deeply forked; much smaller than the last but nearly as long. Atlantic Coast. 3. T. cantiacus, (Gm.) Boie. SANDWICH TERN. Bill black, yellow at tip; I,. 16; W. 12*; T. 6. Europe and Am.] rare on our coast. 152 BIRDS. 9. STERNA, Linnreus. COMMON TERNS. 1. S. hirundo, Auct. COMMON TERN. SEA SWALLOW. WILSON'S TERN. Bill red, blackening towards tip; tail mostly white; outer web of outer feather darker than inner; L. 14J (13 to 16); W. 10 (9£ to 11|); T. 6 (5 to 7.) Coasts of Europe and America; abundant. (8. wilsoni, Lawr.) 2. S. forsteri, Nuttall. FORSTER'S TERN. Larger; tail longer and wings shorter; inner web of outer tail feather darker; W. 9J- to 1(% T. 6£ to 8. N. Am., Common. 3. S. macrura, Naumann. ARCTIC TERN. Bill carmine throughout; plumage as in hirundo, but darker below; L. 14 to 17; W. 10 to 12; T. 5 to 8; smaller than hirundo, but tail proportionally much longer. Northern regions, S. to U. S. 4. S. dougalli, Mont. ROSEATE TERN. Bill black, usually orange at base below; mantle very pale; some- what rosy -tinted below; L. 12 to 16; W. 9 to 10; T. 5 to 8. Atlantic Coast, abundant. (S. dougalli, Mont.) 5. S. portlandica, Ridgway. PORTLAND TERN. Near the preceding, but mantle as in hirundoj the rump white instead of pearly; feet blackish; under parts pure \\hite; L. 12^; W. 9f ; T. 5 or more. Lately discovered in Maine and Mass.; but two specimens known. 6. S. superciliaris, (Vieill.) var. antillarum, (Lesson) Coues. LEAST TERN. Bill yellow, usually tipped with black; a white frontal crescent between cap and bill; shafts of two or more outer primaries black above; very small; L. 8 or 9; W. 6±; T. 2 to 3£. U. S., chiefly abundant coastwise. LARLLVE. — LXIII. 153 10. HYDROCHELIDON, Boie. BLACK TERXS. 1. H. nigra, (L.) Stejn. BLACK TERN. Head, neck and under parts black (in full plumage); wings and tail above plumbeous like the back; crissum white; small; L. 10; W. 8 to 9; T. 3±. N. Am., chiefly inland. [//. fissipes, (L.) Gray.] 2. //. /etfC0/?tera,(Meisn.)WmTE-WiNGED BLACK TERN. Wings whitening along border of fore -arm; tail and upper tail coverts white. Straggler from Europe, a single specimen lately taken on Lake Koshkonong. (Ludovic JTumlien.) [If. leucoptera, (Meisn.) Boie.] //. RHYNCHOPS, Linmeus. SKIMMERS. 1. R. nigra, L. BLACK SWIMMER. CUTWATER. Glossy black; white below; lower mandible about an inch longest, compressed like a knife - blade, obtuse at end; L. 1(5 to 20; W. 15; T. 5, sharply forked. Coast, abundant southward. ORDER S.-PYGOPODES. (The Diving Birds.} Feet palmate or lobate; tibiae feathered, buried in the skin nearly to the heel joint, hence the legs are set very far back, and the birds are scarcely able to walk at all on land; hind toe small, elevated, often wanting. Nos- trils developed; bill of various forms, horny, not lamellate nor serrate; no gular pouch. Wings very short, scarcely reaching the base of the very small or rudimentary tail. Swimmers, many of them noted for their powers of div- ing. We here omit the three - toed family of ALCID^E, the Auks, they being strictly maritime and mostly northern. The twenty -one known species all occur in America. 154 BIRDS. FAMILY LXIV.— EUDYTID^E. (The Loons.} Bill long, strong, tapering, acute, wholly hard; nostrils linear. Head densely and evenly feathered, without rufls or naked spaces; eye large. Feet 4-toed, palmate; tar- sus reticulate, strongly compressed. Wings comparatively long and strong. Tail short, but well developed. Back of adult with small spots; precocial. Genus one; species three. Birds of large size, with strong powers of flight, and pre-eminent in swimming and diving, but scarcely able to walk; they are migratory, breeding northward, but coming S. in winter; the voice is singularly sharp and wild. /. URINATOR, Cuvier. LOONS. = Eudytes, Illiger. 1. U. immer, Briinn. GREAT NORTHERN LOON. DIVER. Black; breast and below chiefly white; head and neck iridescent, green and violet; a patch of white streaks on each side of neck and on the throat; back with many white spots; L. 36; W. 14; Ts. 3; B. 3, Northern Hemisphere; whole U. S. in winter. (C. glacialis, L.) 2. U. arcticus, L. BLACK - THROATED DIVER. Similar, but head and neck behind bluish or hoary gray; fore- neck purplish black, with a crescent of white streaks; L. 28; W. 12; B. 2£. Northern hemisphere, not common in U. S. 3. U. lumme, Briinn. (L.) RED -THROATED DIVER. Blackish, chiefly white below; head and neck mostly bluish gray; throat with a large chestnut patch ; L. 27; W. 11; B. 2. Northern hemisphere. PODICIPID^E. — LXV. 155 FAMILY LXV.— PODICIPID^E. (Tfa Grebes.) Bill usually slender, rarely stoutish; lores naked; head often with crests, ruffs or ear tufts in the breeding season. Back not spotted; under plumage lustrous, mostly white. Wings very short. Tail rudimentary. Feet four -toed, lobate, the toes webbed at base; toes flattened, provided with flat claws resembling human nails ; tarsus scutellate, compressed. Genera two ; species about twenty; in all parts of the world, chiefly about fresh waters. * Bill slender, straight, rather acute ; loral strip narrow ; head in breeding season with conspicuous crests or ruff. COLTMBUS, 1. **Bill stout, somewhat hooked ; loral strip broad; no ruff nor crest. . . • PODILYMBUS, 2. /. COLYHBUS, Linnaeus. CRESTED GKEBES. = Podiceps, Latham. 1. C. cr/status, (L.) CRESTED GREBE. Upper parts generally dark brown ; crest black ; throat and sides of head white, becoming reddish on the ruff ; primaries brown; secondaries mostly white ; silky white below, not mottled ; L. 24 ; W. 8|; B. 2. Northern hemis- phere; U. S. in winter. (Omit: not American.) 2. C. holbolli, Reinhardt. RED-NECKED GREBE. Upper parts brown; front and sides of neck rich brownish red; throat and sides of head ashy; crests and ruffs not large; below silvery ash, spotted or mottled; L. 18; W. 8; B. If. N. Am., U. S. in winter. 3. C. cornufus, Gm. HORNED GREBE. Dark brown; head glossy black; a brownish yellow band over eye and behind; fore-neck and breast brownish red; bill 156 BIEDS. compressed, black, tipped with yellow; crests and ruffs very large; L. 14; W. 6; B. 3J. Northern hemisphere, abundant. 4. C. auritus, (L.) var. californicus, (Heerm.) EARED GREBE. Crest in the form of ear tufts; front of neck black; bill depressed; L. 12. Western, E. to Ills. 2. POD/L YMBUS, Lesson. DAB - CHICK. 1. P.podicipes,(L.} Lawr. DIEDAPPER. HELL-DIVER. WATER WITCH. PIED - BILLED GREBE. Chiefly brown - ish gray; silvery ash below; bill bluish, with dark band; young and winter plumage different, but the bird resembles nothing else; L. 14; W. 5; B. 1. Whole of America, abundant. (Podiceps carolinensis, Lath.) BEPTILES. 157 Otlass (The Reptiles.) A Reptile is a cold - blooded, air - breathing vertebrate, having the exoskeleton developed as horny or bony plates, never as feathers or hair. Limbs, when present, usually adapted for walking, rarely for swimming, scarcely ever for flying. An incomplete double circula- tion, the ventricular septum being usually imperfect or wanting; no metamorphosis; oviparous, rarely ovo vi- viparous, the eggs relatively large and usually with a leathery skin. Various important anatomical distinc- tions exist, but the Reptiles are obviously separated from the Birds by the absence of feathers, and from the Batrachians by the presence of scales, and by the absence of gills after leaving the egg. Besides the three following orders, a fourth (CROCO- DILIA), is represented by two species Alligator mississip- piensiS) Daudin, and Crocodilus americanus, Seba, in our Southern States. ORDERS OF REPTILIA. * Body covered with square imbedded shields ; vent roundish or longitudinal, plaited; bones of skull soldered together. fBody short, depressed, enclosed between two bony shields, from which- the head, limbs and tail may be protruded ; no teeth TESTUDINATA, T. ** Body covered with imbricated scales ; vent a cross-slit ; bones of skull separate; jaws with teeth. \ Mouth not dilatable; bones of mandible united by a bony suture in front ; limbs 4 — rarely rudimentary. LACERTILIA, U. 158 REPTILES. ft Mouth very dilatable ; bones of mandible united by liga- ments ; limbs wanting or represented only by snort spurs on the sides of the vent. ... . . OPHIDIA, V. T. FAMILIES OF TESTUDINATA. * Carapace firm, not flexible at the margins, not greatly depressed ; both shields with well-developed horny plates. f Toes short, bound together by the integument ; legs and feet short, club-shaped ; carapace very convex ; plastron cover- ing nearly all of under surface of body ; caudal shields united ; claws blunt, 5-4 ; terrestrial. TESTUDINID^K, 66. f f Toes well developed, spreading, and in aquatic species webbed; claws usually 5-4. J Shell highest at about the middle, usually somewhat de- pressed, the margin ftaring outwards ; epidermal plates of the large plastroL 12 in number. . EMYDID.E, 67. %$ Shell highest behind the middle ; margin of carapace turned rather doM'nward or inward ; plates of plastron 7, 9 or 11 — nevei 12; size small. . CINOSTEKNID.E, 68. \^ Shell highest anteriorly; carapace flaring outward, its margin toothed behind; plastron small, cross-shaped with 12 platey and three accessory ones. on each side; jaws powerful, strongly hooked; neck and tail long, the latter with a crest of tubercles ; size large. CHELYDRID/E, 69. ** Much depressed ; Carapace and plastron covered with a leathery skin, and flexible at the margins; no horny plates; fleshy lips.; snout piolonged; toes 5-5, but claws 3-3. TRIONYCHID^, 70. U. FAMILIES OF LACERTILIA. * Tongue thick, convex, attached at its base to the gullet ; scales usually morb or less spinous. . . . IGUANID^E, 71. ** Tongue flat, elongate, bifid at the end ; scales never spinous. f Limbs rudinibntary, concealed beneath the skin ; sides with a longitudinal fold. .... ANGUID^E, 72. ff Limbs four — -vvell developed. \ Scales of the belly rounded, arranged in quincunx order. SCINCID^E, 74. REPTILES. 159 \\ Scales of the belly quadrate, arranged in cross-bands; throat with two cross-folds. . . . TEID^, 73. V. FAMILIES OF OPHIDIA. * Both jaws fully provided with small teeth; no poison fangs ; no rattle; no anal appendages; no ante-orbital pit; not venomous. ...... COLUBRIIXE, 75. ** Upper jaw with enlarged, erectile poison fangs, otherwise tooth- less ; a deep pit between eye and nostril ; venomous. CROTALID^E, 76. *** Upper jaw with small, permanently erect poison fangs; no ante -orbital pit; color red, with black rings; somewhat venomous ....... ELAPIM:, 75. (b.) OBDEK T.-TESTUDINATA. (The Turtles.) Reptiles with the body enclosed between two more or less developed bony shields, which are usually covered by horny epidermal plates, but sometimes (Trionychidce, Spfiargididoe) by a leathery skin. The carapace (upper shield) and plastron (lower shield) are more or less united along the sides. The neck and the tail are the only flexible parts of the spinal column, and these, together with the legs, can usually be retracted within the box made by the two shields. The bony part of the carapace is formed by the dorsal and sacral vertebrae, and the ribs co-ossified with a series of overlying bony plates, usually accompanied by a marginal row. The dorsal vertebrae have their ends flattened and immovably united by car- tilage, and all of them, except the first and last, have their neural spines flattened horizontally so as to form the median line of plates. On either side of this series is a single row of ossified dermal plates overlying the ribs and corresponding in number to the developed ribs of which there are usually eight pairs. 160 REPTILES. No traces of a true sternum have been discovered (Huxley). The plastron consists of membrane bones, of which there are usually nine pieces — four pairs and a single symmetrical median piece. These correspond neither in number nor position with the overlying dermal plates. The skull is more compact than that of the other Rep- tiles. There are no teeth, but the jaws are encased in horny sheaths, usually with sharp cutting edges; the eye is furnished with two lids and a nictitating membrane as in the Birds; the tympanic membrane is always present, although sometimes hidden by the skin. Respiration is effected by swallowing air. The order Testudinata is divided by Prof. Agassiz into two sub-orders: — AMYD^E, comprising the Land and Fresh Water Turtles, with retractile feet that may be used for walking; and CHELONII, the Sea Turtles, with flipper -like feet used chiefly for swimming. Of the latter, several species occur on our coast, but we here omit them. FAMILY LXVI. — TESTUDINID^E. (The Land Tortoises.} Carapace strong, thick, ovate, generally very convex and falling off abruptly at both ends; caudal shields united into one; plastron very broad, covering the whole under surface, the anterior part sometimes mov- able on a transverse hinge. Legs and feet club-shaped; toes firmly bound together by the integument, only the blunt claws being exserted. Herbivorous Turtles, entirely terrestrial, inhabiting the warmer parts of both continents; about twenty species are known.. EMYDLD.E. — LXVH. 161 /. XERO BATES, Ag. LAND TORTOISES. 1. X. polyphemus, Daud. "GOPHER." L. 15. S. States, N. to N. C.; burrows in the ground like a wood- chuck. FAMILY LXVIL — EMYDID^E. (T7te Pond Turtles.) Carapace ovate, broadest behind, the margin having a tendency to flare outward, highest near the middle, usually rather depressed, rarely strongly convex; plastron covering the whole under surface, its plates twelve in number; sometimes the anterior lobe (and rarely the posterior also) movable on a transverse hinge, enabling the animal to completely close the shell. Toes broadly webbed in the aquatic species; scarcely webbed in the others. Jaws never hooked and pointed, as in allied families. They feed largely upon animals, but they rarely catch active prey. They do not bite except under much provocation. Species seventy or eighty, widely distributed, inhabiting marshes, ponds, and the shores of still streams; a few are strictly terrestrial. * Carapace short, very high and strongly convex; plastron united to the carapace by a more or less cartilaginous suture and divided by a transverse hinge into two or more movable pieces ; the anterior one, the smaller ; toes scarcely webbed ; terrestrial CISTUDO, 1. ** Carapace somewhat elongated, considerably arched ; plastron immovable ; toes short, with a small web ; feet more nearly equal, and habits less aquatic than in the succeeding groups; species of small size. a. Shell more or less carinatecl, without round spots; upper jaw deeply notched and arched downward. . CHELOPUS, 2. aa. Shell not carinated, black, usually with round, yellowish spots ; upper jaw slightly notched, its edges nearly straight. NANEMYS, 3. 162 REPTILES. *** Carapace rather depressed ; plastron wide, flat, movable upon the carapace and also upon a transverse .hinge; anterior lobe somewhat smaller than the posterior, which is emargi- nate behind ; toes webbed. .... EMYS, 4 **** Carapace rather flat; plastron wide and flat, as is also the bridge connecting it to the carapace; toes broadly webbed; hind-legs much stouter than fore-legs ; larger species, deci- dedly aquatic. f Upper jaw not notched in front; carapace more or less strongly keeled or tuberculated. . . . MALACOCLEMMYS, 6. ff Upper jaw notched in front; shell not keeled in adult. | Horizontal alveolar surfaces of jaws not divided by a longi- tudinal ridge; stripes on neck, tail, legs, etc., bright red (in our species) ; head with yellow lines ; large plates of carapace plain ; marginal plates with bright red mark- ings; a small tooth on each side of notch in upper jaw; shell never keeled CIIIIYSEMYS, 5. # Horizontal alveolar surfaces divided by a longitudinal ridge, running parallel with the cutting edge; stripes on legs, etc., usually yellow, never bright red; large plates of carapace often variegated; traces of a keel usually evident, at least in the young. . . PSEUDEMYS, 7. /. CISTUDO, Fleming. Box TURTLES. 1. C. carol ina, (L.) COMMON Box TURTLE. Colors very variable, chiefly blackish variegated with yellowish; N. Y. to Mo. and S. in dry woods. Var. tr/unguis, (Ag.) Cope. THREE-TOED Box TURTLE. Hind-feet mostly 3-toed, paler. Southern, N. to Perm. 2. C. ornata, Ag. NORTHERN Box TURTLE. " Shell round, broad, flat, without keel, even when young." Iowa and W. 2. CHELOPUS, Rafinesque. WOOD TURTLES. * A deep notch in upper jaw, with a lengthened tooth on each side of it ; lower jaw strongly arched upwards. (Calemys, Ag.) EMYDIDJE. LXVII. 163 1. C. muhlenbergii, (Schweigger) Cope. MUIILEXBERG'S TORTOISE. Brown with yellowish markings ; plastron black with yellowish central blotch; an orange spot on each side of neck ; shell somewhat carinated; L. 4^. E. Penn. and N. J. ** Upper jaw broad at end, arched downward, with a notch at tip; just behind the tip the horny sheath slants inward so that the width of the jaw is less than that of the forehead ; edge of lower jaw straight, excepting the tip which is strongly upcurved. (Glyptemys, Ag.) 2. C. insculptus, Le C. WOOD TORTOISE. Shell car- inated, its plates marked with concentric striae and radi- ating lines; plastron with a black blotch on each plate; L. 8. U. S., E. of Ohio, in woods and fields. 3. NANEMYS, Agassiz. SPECKLED TORTOISES. 1. N. guttatus, (Schn.) Ag. SPECKLED TORTOISE. Black, dotted more or less with orange, these spots rarely obsolete; plastron yellow, blotched with black; shell not carinated; L. 4|. E. U. S., W. to N, Ind. (Levette)', abundant. 4. EMYS, Brogniart. TORTOISES. 1. £. meleagris, (Shaw) Ag. BLAXDIXG'S TORTOISE. Jet black; usually with yellowish spots; plastron yellow- ish with black blotches; head with yellow spots; L. 8. Wisconsin to Alleghanies, in moist woods and fields. 5. CHRYSEMYS, Gray. PAINTED TURTLES. 1. C. plcta, (Herm.) Ag. PAINTED TURTLE. MUD TURTLE. Greenish black; plates margined with paler; marginal plates marked with bright red; plastron yellow, often blotched with brown; L. 8. E. U. S., one of the most common turtles. 2. C. marginata, Ag. Plates of carapace alternating or in quincunx, the lateral rows out of line with the 164 REPTILES. middle one, instead of forming sets of three as in the eastern form; lateral plates with strong concentric stria1. W. N. Y. and W., common. C. oreyonensis, (Holb.) Ag., without red markings, occurs in Minn, and W. 6. MALACOCLEMMYS, Gray. MARSH TURTLES. * Lower jaw spread out into a spoon-shaped dilatation; head with a horny skin; inland turtles. (Graptemys, Ag.) 1. M. geographicus, (LeS.) Cope. MAP TURTLE. Dark olive brown with greenish and yellow streaks and retic- ulations, especially distinct on neck, legs and edges of carapace; plastron yellowish; carapace strongly notched behind and usually decidedly keeled. Miss. Valley, E. to N. Y. 2. M. lesueuri, (Gray) True. LESUEUR'S MAP TURTLE. Much like the preceding but grayer, the markings on the shell paler, less distinct and in larger pattern; keel of carapace stronger, each plate of the vertebral series with a blackish projection behind, which is more or less imbricated over the succeeding plate; plastron yellowish, marbled with blackish; head, neck and legs with bright yellow stripes. Wis. to Ohio and S. W. ** Sheath of jaws straight, the cutting edges smooth ; salt-marsh turtles. (Malacoclemmys.) 3. M. palustris, ( Gmel. ) SALT - MARSH TURTLE. DIAMOND -BACK. Greenish or dark olive; plates, both of carapace and plastron, with concentric dark stripes. N. Y. to Texas, along the coast. 7. PSEUDEMYS, Gray. TERRAPINS. * Jaws serrated. (Ptychemys, Ag.) 1. P. rugosa, (Shaw). RED-BELLIED TERRAPIN. Dusky, with red markings above; marginal plates with much red; plastron red or partly yellowish; neck, etc., with CINOSTERNID^E. — LXVIII. 165 yellow stripes; variable: N. J. to Va., an elegant turtle, known by the serrated jaws. ** Jaws not serrated. (Tmchemys, Ag.) 2. P. hieroglyphica, (Holbr.) HIEROGLYPHIC TURTLE. Shell smooth, depressed; olive brown with broad reticu- lated, yellowish lines; plastron dingy yellow; head very small. E. U. S. 3. P. iroostii, (Holbr.) YELLOW - BELLIED TERRAPIN. Greenish -black, lateral plates with horn -colored lines and spots; plastron dull yellow, with large, black blotches; throat with greenish stripes; shell never keeled. Miss. Valley, X. to Ills. 4. P. elegans, (Wied.) ELEGANT TERRAPIX. Brown with yellowish wavy lines and blotches; a blood-red band on each side of neck; plastron yellow with a dusty blotch on each plate. Ills, to Rocky Mountains. 5. P. scabra, (L.) Cope. ROUGH TERRAPIN. Dark brown, with yellow stripes; plastron yellow with small black blotches in front; carapace wrinkled. Va. to Fla. FAMILY LXVIII. — CINOSTERNID^E. (The C inosternoid Turtles.} Carapace rather long and narrow, the outline usually rising gradually from the front to a point beyond the center of the shell, then abruptly descending; the bulk of the body therefore thrown backward; margin of the carapace turning downward and inward rather than out- ward; plastron proportionally large, covered with 7, 9 or 11 horny plates, the anterior pair coalescing into one; anterior, and sometimes also posterior lobe of plastron, often movable upon the fixed central portion; head pointed; jaws usually strong. Turtles of small size, chiefly American. 166 REPTILES. * Anterior ana posterior lobes of plastron nearly equal, both freely movable and capable of closing the shell; posterior lobe emarginate behind, its angles rounded; carapace without traces of keel in adult CINOSTERNUM, 1. ** Posterior lobe of plastron narrower and longer, truncate behind, its angles rather pointed; lobes of plastron little movable, incapable of closing the shell ; carapace more or less carin- ated, at least when young; head very large, with strong jaws. AllOMOCHELYS, 2. 1. CINOSTERNUM,W&g\QY. SMALL Box TURTLES. > Thrynosternum, Ag. 1. C. pennsylvanicum, (Bosc.) Bell. SMALL MUD TURTLE. Shell dusky brown; head and neck with light stripes and yellow dots; anterior dorsal plate nearly as broad in front as long; L. 4. N. Y. to Fla. and W. 2. AROMOCHELYS, Gray. MUSK TURTLES. = Ozotheca, Agassiz. 1. A. odoratus, (Latreille) Gray. MUSK TURTLE. STINK- POT. Shell dusky, clouded, sometimes spotted; head very large with strong jaws; carapace with traces of a keel, but the plates not imbricated in the adult; anterior dorsal plate nearly twice as wide as long in front; a yellow stripe from snout, above eye, down the side of neck and another below eye; a strong musky odor; L. G. E. U. S., abundant. W. to Indiana. (Levette.) 2. A. carinatus, Gray. LITTLE MUSK TURTLE. Plates of carapace overlapping more or less, each one edged with black and marked with radiating stripes; neck unstriped. Lower Mississippi region. ( Goniochelys minor, Ag.) FAMILY LXIX. — CHELYDRIMJ. (TJie Snapping Turtles) Shell high in front, low behind; bulk of body thrown TRIONYCHID^E. — LXX. 167 forward; head and neck very large; jaws strono--!*- hooked, and exceedingly powerful; tail long, stroiig, with a crest of horny, compressed tubercles; plastron small, cross-shaped, covered with twelve plates; bridge very narrow. Large turtles of great strength and voracity, chiefly aquatic; two of the three species are American, the third (Platysternum) is from China. Their fierceness is well known; when angry they elevate the body, and, in biting, throw themselves forcibly forward. * Head rough, covered with soft skin ; tail with two rows of large scales beneath; ridges of carapace disappearing with age; jaws moderately hooked. . . . CHELYDKA, 1. ** Head veiy large, covered with smooth, symmetrical plates; tail with many small imbricate scales beneath; carapace very strongly three-keeled; jaws very strongly hooked. MACROCHELYS, 2. /. CHELYDRA, Schweigger. SNAPPING TURTLES. 1. C. serpentina, (L.) Schw. COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE. Canada to Equador, every where abundant. 2. MACROCHELYS, Gray. ALLIGATOR SNAPPERS. = Gypochetys, Ag. 1. M. lacertina, (Schw.) MISSISSIPPI SNAPPER. Gulf States, X. to Illinois; "perhaps the most ferocious, arid, for their size, the strongest of reptiles." FAMILY LXX. — TRIOXYCHID^E. (The Soft-Shelled Turtles.') Body flat, nearly orbicular; carapace not completely ossified, the ribs projecting freely towards the outer extremities ; marginal ossicles rudimentary ; carapace and plastron covered by a thick leathery skin which is flexible at the margins. Head long and pointed with a 168 REPTILES. long, flexible, tubular, pig-like snout; neck long. Feet broadly webbed; toes long, 5-5, but the claws only 3-3. Aquatic, carnivorous and voracious; species about 30, in both hemispheres. * Nostrils terminal, crescent -shaped; a prominent longitudinal ridge projecting from each side of septum. ASPIDONECTES, 1. ** Nostrils rather under the tip of snout ; nasal septum with- out an internal longitudinal ridge on each side. AMYDA, 2. /. ASPIDONECTES, Wagler. SOFT -SHELLED TURTLES. 1. A. spinifer, (LeSueur) Ag. COMMON SOFT -SHELLED TURTLE. Carapace olive brown with dark spots; plastron nearly white; head and neck olive green with light and dark stripes; legs and feet mottled every where with dark; male with the tubercles on the front of the carapace smaller than in the female, the body also longer and the tail extending considerably beyond the margin of the carapace. Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi, abundant. 2. A. nuchalis, Ag. CUMBERLAND .TURTLE. A marked depression on either side of the keel, which is dilated and triangular anteriorly; spines and tubercles on cara- pace largely developed. Cumberland and Upper Tenn. Rivers. 2. AMYDA, Agassiz. LEATHERY TURTLES. 1. A. mutica, (Les.) Ag. LEATHERY TURTLE. A depression along median line of carapace; no spines nor tubercles along anterior margin nor on back; feet not mottled below. Upper Mississippi and Great Lakes. ORDER TL-LAGERTILIA. (The Lizards.) Reptiles not shielded, with the body usually covered IGUANHXE. — LXXI. 169 with overlapping scales; mouth not dilatable; tongue free; jaws always with teeth. Limbs four, distinct, rarely rudimentary and hidden by the skin; a pectoral arch developed. Feet usually with five digits, the phalanges normally 2, 3, 4, 5, 3 or 4. Tail usually long and in many cases very brittle, readily broken by a slight blow; this is owing to a thin, unossified, trans- verse septum, which traverses each vertebra. "The vertebra naturally breaks with great readiness through the plane of the septum, and when such lizards are seized by the tail, that appendage is pretty certain to part at one of these weak points" (Huxley). Vent a cross slit; urinary bladder present. The great majority of the numerous species belong to tropical and sub- tropical regions. FAMILY LXXL — IGUANID^E. (The Iguanas.) New World lizards of various habits; the tongue short and thick and the eyes diurnal with round pupils; scales imbricated, those on the belly small and rhombic. Feet for walking; toes unequal. Tail with more or less dis- tinct whorls of scales, which are commonly spinous. Warmer parts of America. Genera about sixty; species one hundred and fifty, or more. (Gray.) * Body moderately depressed ; head broad, not spinous ; ventral plates not keeled SCELOPORUS, 1. ** Body much depressed ; head armed with stout spines. PHRYNOSOMA, 2. /. SCELOPORUS,Wiegmann. TREE SWIFTS. = Tropldolepis, Cuvier. 1. S. undulatus, (Harlan ) PINE TREE LIZARD. SWIFT. Greenish, bluish, or bronzed, with black, wavy cross bands above ; throat and sides of belly usually with 8 170 REPTILES. brilliant blue or green; dorsal scales rather large, cari- nated; tail slender; L. 7. U. S., in pine forests, etc.; abundant southward; varies greatly in color. 2. PHRYNOSOMA, Wiegmann. HOKNED TOADS. 1. P. douglasi, Bell. HORNED TOAD. TEGUEXIN. No row of large spines along sides of belly; ventral scales smooth. Central and Western parts of U. S. south- westward occurs P. cornutum (Harlan) Gray, with a row of stout lateral spines, and carinated ventral plates. FAMILY LXXIL — ANGUID.E. (Tlie Glass Snakes.) Limbs rudimentary, hidden under the skin; body, therefore, snake-like in form, but the general aspect lizard-like. /. OPHEOSAURUS, Daudin. GLASS SNAKES. 1. 0. ventralis, (L.) Baud. GLASS SNAKE. Body serpentiform; a conspicuous lateral fold; no external limbs; tail very brittle, as in most lizards; dusky and yel- low with narrow black streaks. Term, to Kansas and S. FAMILY LXXITI. — TEID^E. (The Teguexim.) New World Lizards; head pyramidal, with regular many-sided shields; scales of back granular or carinated; throat scaly, usually with a double collar. Warmer parts of America; genera 12; species about 40. /. CNEMIDOPHORUS, Wiegmann. TAKAGUIRAS. 1. C. sexlineatus, (L.) D. & B. SIX-LINED LIZAKD. Olive, with 3 or 4 yellow streaks on each side; abdomen SCINCILXE. — LXXIV. 171 silvery; length G to 9 inches. S. E. Va. to Ills, and Mexico. FAMILY LXXIV.— SCINCIDJE. (The Skinks.) Head subquadrangular; regularly shielded; body fusi- form or subcylindrical, often with longitudinal stripes; limbs 4, various. Genera 50; species 150; in most parts of the world. * Ear large; its front edge dentate; lower eye -lid scaly. EUMECES, 1. ** Ear veiy large, circular, its front edge rounded; lower eye -lid with a transparent disk OLIGOSOMA, 2. /. EUMECES, Wiegmann. BLUE TAILS. = Plestiodon, Auct. 1. E. fasciatus, (L.) BLUE-TAILED LIZARD. Blackish, with five yellowish streaks, middle one forked on the head; tail mostly blue; old specimens sometimes red- dish olive, obscurely striped; head reddish; L. 8 to 11. U. S., E. of the Rocky Mts.; abundant S.; very variable. 2. E. septentrionalis, (Baird)Cope. NORTHERN SKINK. Olive, with four dark stripes above; sides with two narrow white lines margined on each side with black. Minnesota to Nebraska. 3. E. anthracinus, (Baird) Cope, Four yellow stripes, between and below which are black lines. Penn. S. to Texas. 2. OLIGOSOMA, Girard. Mocos. 1. 0. laierale, (Say ) Grd. GROUND LIZARD. Chest- nut color; on each side a black lateral band, edged with white; abdomen yellowish; tail blue below; head short; small and slender; L. 5. Southern States, abundant; N. to Illinois. (Nelson.) 172 REPTILES. ORDER V.-OPHIDIA. (The Serpents.) Reptiles, not shielded, with air epidermal covering of imbricated scales, which is shed as a whole and replaced at regular intervals. Mouth very dilatable, the bones of the lower jaw separate from each other, only united by ligaments. Limbs wanting, or represented by small spurs on the sides of the vent; vent a transverse slit. Various anatomical characters distinguish the snakes, but the elongated form and absence of limbs separate them at once from all our other Vertebrates, excepting the Lizard Opheosaurus, and this is not in any other respect, snake-like. FAMILY LXXV. (a) — COLUBRIDJS. (The Colubrine Snakes.) Both jaws fully provided with teeth, which are conical and not grooved; head covered with shields; no poison fangs; no spur -like appendages to vent; belly covered with broad band -like plates (gastrosteges) ; tail conical, tapering; sub -caudal plates (urosteges) arranged in pairs. A very large family comprising nearly one hundred genera, and upwards of four hundred species, found in nearly every part of the world, but most abundant in warm regions. They differ from the Elapidce of the Southern U. S. and southward, in the want of erect poison fangs; from the Crotalidce, in having both jaws fully provided with teeth, and the absence of erectile poison fangs; and from the Boidce and their relatives in the want of the spur -like rudimentary posterior limbs. The following key is entirely artificial, and in the consideration of the species, I have generally omitted COLUBRID^E. — LXXV. * 173 characters taken from the cephalic plates as not available for my purpose. * Dorsal scales carinated. f Anal plate entire. a. Rows of scales 19 to 21 ; ventral plates (gastrosteges) 140 to 170 ; general color 3 light stripes on a darker ground ; sides usually with spots ; mostly viviparous. EuivENIA, 5. aa. Rows of scales 29 to 37 ; gastrosteges 200 to 240 ; general color whitish with a triple series of dark blotches. PlTYOPHIS, 7. ft ^ual plate bifid. b. Rows of scales 15 to 17. c. Tail about one-third of total length ; gastrosteges 150 to 160 ; urosteges 100 or more ; color clear golden green. PHYLLOPHILOPHIS, 9. cc. Tail much less than one-third of total length ; gastro- steges 125 to 130 ; urosteges 60 or less ; color brown or reddish. d. With one or two faint grayish dorsal stripes and usually a broken dusky baud along sides; small species: rows of scales 15 to 17; loral plate absent; anteorbital present. . . . STORERIA, 4. eld. No dorsal stripe; rows of scales 17; loral plate present; anteorbital wanting. . HALDEA, 16. bb. Rows of scales 19 to 21. e. Gastrosteges 130 to 170 ; general color usually 3 or more dark bands on a lighter ground ; size large. TROPIDONOTUS, 2. ee. Gastrosteges 130 to 140 ; general color brown with many obscure black cross-blotches, distinct on neck ; belly salmon red with a row of black spots on each side; size small TROPIDOCLOXIUM, o. bbb. Rows of scales 23 to 29. /. Form short and stout; snout prominent, acute, recurved and keeled, forming a sharp ridge; head flattened when angry; gastrosteges 125 to 150. HETERODOX, 1. 174 REPTILES. ff. Snout not recurved and keeled ; species of large size. g. Gastrosteges 130 to 155 ; general color 3 series of dark blotches on a lighter ground, sometimes simply barred or uniformly dark or reddish ; aquatic. TKOPIDONOTUS, 2. gg. Gastrosteges 200 to 235 ; general color brown or black, sometimes with quadrate blotches; abdomen usually blotched; terrestrial. . . . COLUBER, 8. ** Dorsal scales smooth. \ Anal plate entire ; gastrosteges 175 to 200 • color black, brown or red, more or less variegated. h. Rows of scales 21 to 25 ; loral plate present. OPHIBOLUS, 12. lih. Rows of scales 19; no loral plate. . . OSCEOLA, 13. \\ Anal plate bifid; scales in 13 to 17 rows. i. Gastrosteges 170 to 210; scales in 17 rows; snakes very large or very long — ours lustrous pitch black in color when adult BASCANIUM. 6. ii. Gastrosteges less than 170; snakes of medium to small size. j. Scales in 13 rows; gastrosteges 120 to 135; brown, salmon color or yellowish beneath. . CARPHOPHIOPS, 18. jj. Scales in 15 to 17 rows. fc. Color black, unstriped; a distinct yellowish ring about neck ; gastrosteges 140 to 160. . DIADOPIIIS, 11. Kk. Color clear bright green; no collar; gastrosteges 130 to 140 CYCLOPHTS, 10. Wfk. Color brownish, with black dots; no collar; gastro- steges 115 to 125 VIRGINIA, 17. \\\ Anal plate bifid ; scales in 19 rows ; gastrosteges, 170 to 185. I. Bluish black with squarish red spots on the blanks ; abdomen red with black spots FARANCIA, 14. II. Blue-black, with three red lines; abdomen yellowish with a series of dark spots ABASTOR, 15. /. HETERODON, Beauvais. SPREADING ADDERS. 1. H. platyrhinus, Latreille. BLOWING VIPER. HOG- COLTJBRID^E. — LXXV. 175 NOSE SNAKE. Brownish, with about 28 dark dorsal blotches, besides lateral ones and half rings on the tail; sometimes uniform black. Vertical plate longer than • broad, about equal to occipitals; L. 30; G. 125 to 150; scales 25. E. U. S., abundant. A very variable species; when angry it depresses and expands the head, hissing furiously, thus exhibiting a very threatening appearance, but it is perfectly harmless. 2. H. simus, (L.) Holbrook. HOG - NOSED SNAKE. Dorsal blotches about 35; ground color usually paler or yellowish brown ; vertical plate much longer than occip- itals, broader than long; G. 130; scajes 23 to 27, usually 25. Southern, N. to Ills, and Wis. 2. TROPIDONOTUS, Kuhl. WATER SNAKES. * Scales in 23 to 29 rows. (Nerodia, B. & G.) 1. T. sipedon, (L.) Holbr. WATER SNAKE. WATER ADDER. Brownish; back and sides with each a series of large, square, dark blotches alternating with each other; rarely uniformly dusky; scales 23; G. 130 to 150; L. 30 to 50. E. U. S., abundant; aquatic. Var. erythrogaster, (Shaw) Cope. RED -BELLIED WATER SNAKE. Uniform red-black above; copper-color below; head elongated. Michigan to Kansas and S. Var. woodhousei, (B. & G.) Cope. Scales in 25 rows. Mo. to Texas. 2. T. rhombifer, Hallowell. HOLBBOOK'S WATER SNAKE. Brown, with black quadrangular blotches; scales in 27 rows. Mich., Ills, and S. ** Scales in 19 to 21 rows. (Regina, B. & G.) 3. T. rigidus, (Say) Holbr. STIFF SNAKE. Greenish brown; two brown dorsal bands; abdomen yellowish, spotted; outer row of scales smooth; scales 19; G. 130 to 170; L. 24. Penn. to Ga, 176 REPTILES. 4. T. leberis, (L.) Holbr. LEATHER SNAKE. Chestnut brown; a yellow lateral band and three narrow black dorsal stripes; scales all carinated; scales 19; G. 140 to 150; L. 24. U. S., chiefly eastward. 5. T. grahami, (B. & G.) Cope. GRAHAM'S SNAKE. Brown; a broad yellowish lateral band; scales all strongly carinated; head slender; abdomen unspotted; scales 19 (to 21?); G. 100; L. 20. Mississippi Valley, N. to Michigan. 3. TROPIDOCLONIUM, Cope. LITTLE RED SNAKES. 1. 7". kirtlandi, ^Kenn.) Cope. KIRTLAND'S SNAKE. Head shiny black; vertical plate broad; scales 19, all carinated; G. 115 to 140; L. 8. Ohio to 111.; a hand- some little snake. 4. STORERIA, Baird and Girard. RED - BELLIED SNAKES. = Ischiiognathus, Dum. & Bibron. 1. $. occipitomaculata, (Storer) B. & G. RED-BELLIED SNAKE. Grayish or chestnut brown, usually showing a paler vertebral band bordered by blackish dots; obscure dots on side; occiput with three pale blotches (very constant); belly salmon red; scales 15; G. 120 to 125.; L. 12. U. S., chiefly eastward; abundant. 2. S. dekayi, (Holbr.) B. & G. DEKAY'S BROWN SNAKE. Grayish brown; a clay -colored dorsal band, bordered by dotted lines; grayish below; body thickish, tapering towards the small head; scales 17; G. 125 to 130; L. 12. E. U. S. 5. EUT/ENIA, Baird and Girard. GARTER SNAKES. * Body very slender, elongated; tail nearly one-third of total length; scales in 19 rows. 1. E. saurita, (L.) B. & G. RIBAND SNAKE. SWIFT COLUBRID^E. — LXXV. 177 GARTER SXAKE. Brown with three yellow stripes; light, clear brown, below the lateral stripes; tail usually more than ^ of length; colors bright; G. 150 to 160; L. 36. U. S., chiefly E. of the Alleghanies. 2. E. faireyi, B. & G. FAIRIE'S GARTER SXAKE. Blackish, with three greenish yellow stripes; body rela- tively stout; tail less than £ length; space below bands same color as above; G. 165 to 180; L. 30. Miss. Valley, N. to Wis. 3. E. proxima, (Say) B. & G. SAY'S GARTER SNAKE. Blackish, dorsal stripe brownish yellow; lateral stripes greenish; tail \ of total length; sides colored like back; G. 165 to 175; L. 35. Miss. Valley, X. to Wis. ** Body stouter ; tail shorter, about \ of total length ; scales 19. 4. E. radix, Baird & Girard. HOY'S GARTER SNAKE. Black with three narrow yellow lines; scales very rough, the outer row broad; colors deep; head short; G. 150 to 160; L. 25. L. Michigan to Oregon. 5. E. sirialis, (L.) B. & G. COMMON GARTER SXAKE. STRIPED SXAKE. Olivaceous, dorsal stripe narrow; lat- eral stripes rather broad but not conspicuous ; colors generally duller than in the other species, lateral rows of spots more or less distinct; G. 130 to 160. N. Am., every where ; our commonest snake ; very • variable. Prominent varieties are: Var. ordinata, (L.) Cope, has the stripes duller and the spots more distinct, 85 in number. Chiefly north- eastward. Vai. dorsalis, (B. & G.) Cope, has the dorsal stripe broad, and a row of distinct spots above the lateral stripe. N. Am., every where. Var. parieta/iSf ( Say ) Cope, has the stripes dull 178 REPTILES. greenish and the spaces between the lateral spots vivid brick red. Ind. (Jordan) and W. 6. BASCANIUM, Baird and Girard. BLACK SNAKES. > Coryphodon, Dumeril et Bibron. 1. B. constrictor, (L.) B. & G. BLACK SNAKE. Lus- trous pitch black, greenish below, chin and throat white; young olive with rhomboid blotches ; large, rather slender; scales 17 (rarely 19); G. 170 to 200; L. 50 to dO. E. U. S., common E. and S. 7. PITYOPHIS, Holbrook. PINE SNAKES. 1. P. melanoleucus, (Daud.) Holb. PINE SNAKE. BULL SNAKE. White, with chestnut brown blotches which are margined with black, besides other markings; scales 29; G. 220 to 230; L. 60. Pine woods; N. J. to Ohio and southward. 2. P. sayi, (Schlegel) B. & G. WESTERN PINE SNAKE. Whitish or reddish, with many dark blotches and spots; scales usually 25; G. 220 to 230; L. 40 to 70. Western, E. to Wis 8. COLUBER, Linnaeus. RACERS. > ScotophiS) B. & G. 1. C. guttatus, L. SPOTTED RACER. Red brown with a dorsal series of large, red, dark -edged blotches; belly checkered with black; scales 27; (jr. 210 to 230; L. 50. Virginia and S. 2. C. obsoletus, Say. PILOT SNAKE. RACER. Lustrous 1 black, some scales white -edged; vertical plate longer than broad; scales 27; G. 235; L. 50 to 75. Mass, to Tils, and Texas; one of our largest snakes. (C. alle- ghaniensis, Holbr.) COLUBRID^. — LXXY. 179 3. C. vulpinus, (B. & G.) Cope. Fox SXAKE. Light brown, with quadrate, chocolate-colored blotches; verti- cal plate broader than long; scales 25; G. 200 to 210; L. GO. Mass, to Kansas and Northward. 4. C. emoryi, (^B. & G.) Cope. EMORY'S RACER. Ashy gray with transverse brown blotches; vertical plate elongated; G or 8 median rows of scales only carinated; scales 20; G. 210 to 220; L. 40 to 50. Ills, to Kansas and Texas. 9. PHYLLOPHILOPHIS, Garman. SUMMER SNAKES. 1. P. cestivus, (L.) Garman. SUMMER GREEX SXAKE. Head conical, neck very small; bright clear green, yel- lowish below; scales IT; G. loOtolGO; L. 30. Southern, N. to N. J. and Ills., abundant in the mountains; a most exquisite little creature. 10. CYGLOPHIS, Gunther. GREEX SXAKES. 1. C. vernalis, (DsKAY.) GREEX SXAKE. GRASS SXAKE. SPUING SXAKE. Head elongate, neck slender, eyes very large; uniform deep green (bluish in spirits), yellowish below; scales 15; G. 130 to 140; L. 20. E. U. S., chiefly northerly; a beautiful species. //. D I ADO PHIS, Baird and Girard. RING - NECKED SXAKES. < Ablates, D. & B. 1. D. punctatus, (L.) B. & G. RIXG- NECKED SXAKE. Head depressed; eye rather large; blue-black above, bright pale orange below (yellowish in spirits); each plate usually with a black spot; yellowish occipital ring conspicuous; scales 15; G. 140 to 100; L. 15. Whole U.S. 180 KEPTILES. Var. amabilis, (B. & G.) Cope, is slender, with 180 or more gastrosteges; below darker and more spotted. Western, E. to OhiOo 2. D. arnyi, Kenn. ARNY'S RING -NECKED SNAKE. Lead black; belly spotted and mottled with black; occipital ring narrow, scales 17. Ills, to Kansas. 12. OPHIBOLUS, Baird and Girard. KING SNAKES, < Coronella, Laurenti. < Lampropeltis, Auct. 1. 0. getulus, (L.) B. & G. CHAIN SNAKE. THUNDER SNAKE. Black with narrow yellowish lines forking on the flanks, each fork embracing a large black spot; belly checkered; scales 21; G. 210 to 225; L. 50. Maryland to La., E. of the mountains; variable; represented west- ward by Var. say/, (Holbr.) Cope. KING SNAKE. Lustrous black, many scales with a whitish spot in the center. Alleghany to Rocky Mts., abundant, N. to Ills.; a hand- some species. 2. 0. doliaius, (L.) B. & G. RED SNAKE. CORN SNAKE, etc. Red with twenty to twenty -five pairs of black rings, each set enclosing a yellowish one; head red; scales 21; G. 180 to 210; L. 30 to 50. Md. to Kansas and S.; exceedingly variable, running by degrees into the following variety, extremes of which bear little resemblance to the typical doliatus. Var. triangu/us, (Boie ) Cope. MILK SNAKE. HOUSE SNAKE. SPOTTED ADDER. Grayish, with three series of brown, rounded blotches bordered with black, about fifty of them in the dorsal row; an arrow-shaped occipital COLUBRILXE. — LXXV. 181 spot; scales, etc., as in preceding. Va. to Iowa, and northward; very common. [Coronella eximia^ (DeKay) Jan.] 3. 0. calligaster, (Say ) Cope. KENNICOTT'S CHAIN SNAKE. Light olive gray, with about sixty quadrate, chestnut colored, emarginate blotches on back and two rows of smaller ones on each side; scales in 25 rows. Ills, to Kansas. (O. evansi, Kenn.) 13. OSCEOLA, Baird and Girard. SCARLET SNAKES. 1. 0. elapsoidea, (Holbr.) B. & G. SCARLET SNAKE. Brilliant red, with about fifteen pairs of jet black rings on body and three on tail, each pair enclosing a white ring; the black rings tapering towards the sides, the white ones spreading; resembles closely O. doliatus\ scales 19; G. 175 to 180; L. 20. Va. to Fla. 14. FARAHCIA, Gray. HORN SNAKES. < Calopisma, D. & B. 1. F. abacura, (Holb.) B. & G. RED-BELLIED HORN- SNAKE. Blue-black with red lateral spots; eyes small; scales 19; G. 175; L. 36. Southern, N. to Ills. (Nel- son.) 15. ABASTOR, Gray. RED-SIDED SNAKES. 1. A. eryihrogrammus, (Daudin) Gray. RED- LINED SNAKE. Blue-black; sides with three red lines; eyes very large; nostrils in the middle of nasal plate; scales 19; G. 180; L. 25. Southern, N. to Ills. (Nelson.) 16. HALDEA, Baird & Girard. BROWN SNAKES. = Cotiocep/ialtts, D. &-B. 1. H. $tr/afu/a, (L.) B. & G. BROWN SNAKE. Head 182 REPTILES. elongated, on a small neck; reddish gray, salmon red beneath; scales 17; G.. 125 to 130; L. 10. Va. to Texas. 17. VIRGINIA, Baird and Girard. BROWN SNAKES. 1. V. Valerias, B. & G. VALERIA BLANEY'S SNAKE. Head elliptical; body slender; brownish with minute black dots, often in two rows; yellowish beneath; scales 15; G. 120 to 130; L. 12. Md. to Ills, and S. 2. V. elegans, Kenn. KENNICOTT'S BROWN SNAKE. Scales much narrower; uniform olivaceous above; yel- lowish beneath; scales 17. S. Ills, to Ark. 18. CARPHOPHIOPS, Gervais. WORM SNAKES. = Celuta, B. & G, 1. C. amcenus, (Say) Cope. GROUND SNAKE. Glossy chestnut brown; belly salmon -red; head very small; vertical plate broad; nasal plate large, pierced by the nostril; scales 13; G. 120 to 130; L. 12. Mass, to Ills, and S. 2. C. helence, (Kenn.) Cope, HELEN TENNISON'S SNAKE. Lustrous chestnut -brown, flesh color beneath; snout short and narrow; a single pair of frontal plates; scales 13. S. Ills, to Miss. 3. C. verm is, (Kenn.) Cope. WORM SNAKE. Purplish- black, two pairs of frontals, as in C. amcenus; belly flesh color, color extending on sides; scales 13; larger than the others. Missouri to Kansas. FAMILY LXXV. (b.) — ELAPID^E. (The Harlequin Snakes.} Venomous snakes, provided with two or more perman- ently erect, grooved fangs in the upper jaw, and usually a series of smaller teeth behind them; scales not carin- ated; head usually quadrangular, with flat crown and CROTALID.E.— LXXVI. 183 short muzzle; no loral plate. Genera 15; species about 50, chiefly East Indian, a few inhabiting the warmer parts of America. * Anal plate entire; urosteges two rowed; scales in 15 rows. ELAPS, 1. /. ELAPS, Schneider. HARLEQUIN SNAKES. 1. E. fulvius, (L.) Cuv. BEAD SNAKE. Jet black, with about 17 broad crimson rings, each bordered with yellow, and spotted below with black; a yellow occipital band; tail with yellow rings; L. 30; G. 200 to 215; U. 32. Va. to Ark. and S. A beautiful snake, mild in dis- position and apparently harmless, although provided with venom-fangs. Resembles Osceola and Ophibolus. FAMILY LXXVI. — CROTALID^E. (Tlie Crotalid Snakes.) Upper jaw destitute of solid teeth, but provided with an erectile, grooved poison-fang on each side in front; a deep pit between eye and nostril. Tail often provided with a rattle, composed of horny rings of modi- fied epidermis. Urosteges generally undivided, at least anteriorly. Scales carinated in all our species. Species 50, more or less, all American, and renowned for the deadliness of their venom. * Tail with a rattle. f Top of head .covered with small, scale-like plates, larger ones in front ; size large ; rattle large. . CROTALUS, 1. ft Top of head with 9 large plates; size small; rattle small. CAUDISONA, 2. ** Tail without a rattle ; general color chestnut, variegated. ANCISTRODON, 3. /. CROTALUS, Linnaeus. RATTLESNAKES. 1. C, horridus, L. BANDED OR NORTHERN RATTLE- SNAKE. Sulphur brown of various shades, with two rows 184 REPTILES* of confluent, brown, lozenge - shaped spots; tail blacky a light loral line with a dark patch beneath; scales 23 to 25; G. 165 to 170; L, 40 to GO. U. S., chiefly eastward and southward, in rocky places; rapidly becoming ex- tinct; several other species occur southwestward. (C. durissus, Auct.) 2. CAUDISONA, Laurenti. MASSASSAUGAS. = CrotalophoruS) Gray. 1. C. catenata (Raf.) MASSASSAUGA. PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE. Brown or blackish with about seven series of deep chestnut blotches, sometimes entirely black; scales 25; G. 140 to 150; L. 30. Prairie region, E. to the Alleghanies; abundant in grassy fields where not exterminated. 3. ANCISTRODON, Beauvais. COPPEEHEADSO > Toxicophis^ Troost. < Trigonocephalus, Holbr., etc. 1. A. contortrix, (L.) B. & G. COPPERHEAD. Hazel brown; top of head bright coppery, back with a series of fifteen to twenty-five dark blotches having something the form of an inverted Y; yellowish below with dark blotches; scales 23; G. 150 to 160; L. 35 to 40. E. U. S., chiefly southerly. 2. A. afro fuse us, (Troost) B. & G. HIGHLAND MOC- CASIN. COTTONMOUTH. Dusky above, with smoky gray blotches; tail black; belly white, blotched with black and minutely punctate; upper lip white; scales 25; G. 130 to 140; L. 25. Mts. of Teim.tmd N. C. and South. 3. / piscivorus, (Holbr.) Cope. WATER MOCCASIN. Greenish brown with dark vertical bars; scales 25; G. 140; L. 30. Aquatic; southern, probably not in our limits. BATRACHIANS. 185 OTlass IftJo— Uatradjta. (The Batrachians^) Cold-blooded Vertebrates, allied to the fishes, but differing in several respects, notably in the absence of rayed fins, the limbs being usually developed and func- tional, with the skeletal elements of the limbs of Reptiles; toes usually without claws. The Batrachians undergo a more or less complete metamorphosis; the young ("tadpoles") being aquatic and fish -like, breathing by means of external gills or branchiae; later in life, lungs are developed and (except- ing in Proteida) the gills disappear. Skin naked and moist (rarely having imbedded scales) and used to some extent as an organ of respiration. Heart with two auricles and a single ventricle. Reproduction by means of eggs which are of com- paratively small size, without hard shell, developed in water or in moist situations. The Batrachians differ more from the Fishes in appearance than in reality, and they are sometimes combined into one group {Ichthyopsida), the Birds and Reptiles constituting another (Sauropsida). ORDERS OF BATRACHIA. * Body short, depressed ; tail wanting in the adult; four dereloped limbs, the posterior being much enlarged. . ANUHA, W. ** Body lengthened, with a distinct tail ; hind limbs if present not specially elongated. f "With no external gills or branchiae when adult; eyelids present URODELA, X. 186 BATRACHIANS. f f External branchiae and gill clefts persistent through life ; no eyelids. , PROTEIDA, Y. W. FAMILIES OF ANURA. * Fingers and toes tapering or cylindrical, not dilated into a disk at their tips. f Upper jaw with teeth; toes completely webbed. a. No spur at the heel ; fingers often webbed ; chiefly aquatic. RANID.E, 77. aa. One of the bones of the heel forming a sharp, flat-edged spur ; fingers scarcely webbed ; chiefly terrestrial. SCAPHIOPID^E, 78. f f Jaws toothless ; toes webbed ; skin more or less warty ; ter- restrial BUFONID.E, 80. ** Fingers and toes dilated at their tips, forming a viscous disk ; arboreal HYLID.E, 79. X. FAMILIES OF URODELA. * No spiracles or openings in the sides of the neck in the adult. * Sides (in our species) with a row of round red or yellowish spots which are bordered with black (these very rarely obsolete) ; belly dotted with black ; tarsus and carpus ossified ; verte- bra opisthoccelian (not biconcave). SALAMANDRID^E, 81. f f Spots, if any, not as above. \ Carpus and tarsus cartilaginous; tongue much smaller and more extensively free than in the next. a. Vertebrae concave behind only (opisthocoelian); teeth on parasphenoid (behind vomer). DESMOGNATHID.E, 82. aa. Vertebras biconcave (amphiccelian); parasphenoid teeth present. PLETHODONTIDJE, 8?. ft Carpus and tarsus ossified ; vertebrae amphicoeli an ; tongue large, thick, papillose, attached by its base, with i narrow free margin; salamanders usually of large si/e and dark colors; no teeth behind the cross band on vomer. AMBLYSTOMID^E, 84. ** With a spiracle or rounded opening in each side of th« neck? size large. b. Limbs well developed ; toes 4-5. . . MENOPOMID^E, 85. bb. Limbs rudimentary ; toes 2-2 or 3-3. . AMpmuMiDyE, 86. BANIDJE. — LXXVH. 187 Y. FAMILIES OF PROTEIDA. * Hind legs present; both jaws with teeth; form salamander-like. PROTEID/E, 87. ** Hind legs wanting;- upper jaw toothless; form eel-like. SIRENIIXE, 88. OEDEE W.-AJSTUBA. (The Tailless Batrachians.) Body nearly or quite naked, short and broad; all four limbs present; tail wanting in the adult; young (tadpole) fish-like, with broad head, external branchiae, a long tail, no limbs and no teeth; the intestinal canal very long, adapted for a vegetable diet; from this form by degrees it develops into the adult animal which is always more or less Frog-like. FAMILY LXXVIL — RANID^E. (The Frogs.) Tailless Batrachians with the tongue adherent in front and more or less free behind; fingers four, toes five, both commonly webbed; ear well developed, jaw and usually vomer, with teeth; chiefly aquatic. Genera fourteen, species about fifty; very abundant in tropical America. * Vomcriue teeth present ; no finger opposed to the others ; tongue nicked behind ; toes full-webbed. . . RAN A, 1. /. RAN A, Linnaeus. FROGS. * Back with large distinct spots arranged in more or less regular rows; back with two conspicuous yellowish folds. 1. R. virescenSt Kalm. LEOPARD FROG. COMMON FROG. General color greenish, often bright, sometimes brassy, with many pale-edged dark spots which lie in two irregular rows on back; usually two large spots 188 BATRACHIANS. between eyes; legs barred above; belly pearly or yel- lowish, each side of back with a well-marked fold. N. Am., the commonest species. 2. R. palustris, Le Conte. PICKEREL FROG. Brownish with the spots square, in four rows; young golden green; body with two glandular folds on each side; slender. E. U.S. ** Back with small dark spots or none. 3. R. clamitans, Merrem. GREEN FROG. SPRING FROG. Bright green, darker on the flanks, every where spotted with blackish; color sometimes rather brown than green; white below; glandular folds conspicuous, size moderate, U. S., E. of the mountains. (7t. horico- nensis, Holbr. ll.fontinalis^ LeC.) 4. R. catesbiana, Shaw. BULL FROG. Greenish, of varying shades, with numerous small, indistinct darker spots, head usually of a very bright pale green; glandu- lar folds little marked; very large, a foot or more long when adult. E. U. S., common; well noted for its rich bass notes. (7?. pipiens, Auct., not of L.) 5. R. silvatica, Le Conte. WOOD FROG. Color red- dish brown ; a dark band on each side of the head through eye and ear; quite small. E. U. S. common; scarcely aquatic. (R. cantabrigensis, Baird, the Cam- bridge frog, from E. Mass., N. and W. is another variety of this species.) (See Addenda.) FAMILY LXXVIIL — SCAPHIOPID^ (The Spade Foots.} Terrestrial frogs having the heel provided with a more or less developed spur. Genera three; species ten or more. In Europe, America, and Australia. * Toes completely webbed; forehead and crown bony, rough; skin slightly lubcrculate. . SCAPIIIOPUS, 1. HYLID^. — LXXIX. 189 /. SCAPHIOPUS, Holbrook. SPADE FOOTS. 1. S. holbrookii, (Harlan) Baird. SOLITARY SPADE FOOT. Heel with a sharp -edged spur; olive brown, a pale yellow streak on each side. E. U. S., not very common; burrows in the ground. (/S. solitarius, Holbr.) FAMILY LXXIX. — HYLID^E. (The Tree Frogs.) Arboreal frogs of small size, having the fingers and toes more or less dilated into disks at their tips; ear well developed. Genera ten; species sixty; found in most parts of the world; noted for their shrill voices. * Disks round, conspicuous ; fingers somewhat webbed ; skin roughened HTLA, 1. ** Disks small ; fingers not webbed, f Toes webbed only at base or not at all ; tympanum distinct. CHOROPHILUS, 2. ft Toes broadly webbed ; tympanum indistinct. . ACRIS, 3. /. HYLA, Laurenti. TREE FROGS. 1. H. versicolor, LeConte. COMMOX TREE TOAD. Green, gray or brown, with irregular dark spots; below yellow or white ; fingers one - third webbed ; exceedingly variable. E. U. S., very abundant. 2. H. pickeringii, Holbrook. PICKERING'S TREE TOAD. Yellowish brown with dusky rhomboidal spots and lines sometimes arranged in the form of a cross. E. U. S. 3. H. andersonii, Baird. AXDERSON'S TREE TOAD. Deep pea-green; sides with irregular yellow spots; a purplish band on sides of head. N. J. to S. C., rare 2. CHOROPHILUS, Baird. LITTLE TREE FROGS. 1. C. triseriatus, (Wied.) Baird. TREE FROG. E. U. S. 190 BATKACHIANS. 3. ACRIS, Dumeril and Bibron. CRICKET FROGS. 1. A. gryllus, (Le C.) var. crepitans, (Baird) Cope. CRICKET FROG. Brownish above; middle of back and head bright green; a dark triangle between the eyes; sides with three oblique blotches; a white line from eye to ear. E. U. S. (the typical gryllus southward.) FAMILY LXXX.— BUFONID^E. ( The Toads.} Maxillaries toothless; toes webbed, not dilated at their tips; ear well developed; skin usually warty. Genera three, species thirty; in every part of the world except Australia. Most of them belong to the familiar genus, Bitfo. 1. BUFO, Laurent!. TOADS. 1. B. lentiginosus, Shaw. AMERICAN TOAD. Brown- ish olive with a yellowish vertebral line and somp brownish spots; adults very warty; young nearly smooth. U. S., very common, variable; the northern form is var. Notophthalmus, Raf. 1. D. viridescens, Raf. SPOTTED TRITOX. NEWT, EVET. EFT. Above olive green of varying shades, lemon yellow below; each side with a row of several rather large vermillion spots, each surrounded by a black ring; back with a pale streak; belly, etc., with small black dots. E. U. S., abundant E. of the Alleganies; in ponds and brooks. 2. D. miniatus, Raf. RED EFT. RED EVET. Color vermillion red of varying shade, paler or yellowish below ; markings precisely as in the foregoing; same range, but found away from water, under stones, etc.; comes out after rain. Perhaps a variety or state of the preceding, at least Prof. Cope so considers it. FAMILY LXXXII. — DESMOGNATHID^E. (The Desmognaths.) Vertebrre opisthocoelian; carpus and tarsus cartilagin- ous; no crests or other dermal appendages developed at the breeding season. Genus one; species three; all of the Eastern U. S. In external characters, this family is scarcely distinguishable from the next, but the skeletal distinctions are quite numerous. They are, however, too technical for our present purpose. " The examination of the skeleton of species of this genus utterly changes the impressions produced by a consideration of the external characters. It may be stated as characteristic of the Batrachia in general, that their affinities can not be deter- mined without study of the skeleton." Cope. Proc. Phil. Ac. Nat. Sc. 1869, 113. 192 BATRACHIANS. /. DESMOGNATHUS, Baird. DUSKY SALAMANDERS. 1. D. ochrophcBa, Cope. YELLOW DESMOGNATH. Brownish yellow with a brown shade on each side; a yellowish dorsal band; back with a few spots; belly unspotted; tail rounded; <3 with lower jaw toothless behind; costal folds 14; size small; scarcely aquatic. Allegany Mountains, N. Y., southward. 2. D. fusca, (Raf.) Baird. DUSKY SALAMANDER. Brown above, with gray or purplish spots or shades, becoming blackish with age; marbled below; eyes prominent; tail compressed and keeled, as long as head and body; costal folds 14; larger. Mass, to Ohio and S.; one of the commonest species in springs and brooks; remarkable for its activity and strength. 3. D. nigra, (Green) Baird. BLACK SALAMANDER. Uniform black; tips of tail, jaws, etc., brown; tail com- pressed and finned; costal folds 12. Penn., S. in the mountain springs; the largest Eastern Salamander. FAMILY LXXXIIL— PLETHODONTIDJE. (The American Salamanders.) Vertebrae amphiccelian ; carpus and tarsus cartilagin- ous. Various other distinctive characters are given by Prof. Cope, but we omit them here as not available for onr present purpose. Genera eleven; species thirty; nearly all North American. * The tongue attached by a band running from its central or posterior pedicel to the anterior margin ; premaxillaries 2 . f Toes 4-4, small, ashy above, spotted below. HEMIDACTYLTUM, 1. ff Toes 4-5 ; colors dark ; spotted or banded. PLETHODON, 2. ** Tongue free all around, attached by its central pedicel only; toes 4-5, all free. PLETHODONTID^E. — LXXXIII. 193 | Premaxillaries united; color yellow or red, spotted or striped. SPELERPES, 3. \\ Premaxillaries 2 ; color purplish gray or salmon color, un- spotted. . GYRINOPHILUS, 4. /. HEMIDACTYLIUM, Tschudi. FOUR -TOED SALA- MANDERS. 1. H. scutafum, (Schl.) Tsch. FOUR- TOED SALAMAN- DER. Ashy brown above; snout yellow; silvery below, with dots like ink spots; tail slender, nearly twice the length of the body; head blunt. R. I. to Ills., and S. (S. melanosticta, Gibbes.) 2. PLETHODQN, Tschudi. PLETHODONTS. 1. P. erythronotus, (Green) Baird. RED -BACKED SALAMANDER. Plumbeous above, often with a broad red dorsal band; belly marbled; body very slender; tail cylindric; inner toes rudimentary; costal folds 16 to 19. E. U. S., common. \JP. cinereus, (Green) Cope, variety without red dorsal band.] 2. P. glutinosus, (Green) Baird. VISCID SALAMAN- DER. Black, usually with gray lateral blotches and smaller dorsal spots; stout; tail rounded; inner toes well developed. E. U. S., chiefly terrestrial, like the pre- ceding. 3. SPELERPES, Rafinesque. CAVE SALAMANDERS. 1. S. bilineatus, (Green) Baird. Two - STRIPED SALA- MANDER. Yellow with a dark line along each side of the back; belly unspotted; tail not keeled; costal folds 14; small. Maine to Wis. and S. 2. S. longicaudus, (Green) Baird. CAVE SALAMANDER. Lemon yellow; sides with many small black spots; a median dorsal series; belly spotless; tail keeled, very 9 194 BATEACHIANS. long, spotted or barred with black ; costal folds 13; large. Maine to Minn, and S., abounding in the caves of Ky. and Ind. 3. $. ruber, (Daudin) Gray. RED TRITON. Vermil- ion red, with black or brown spots; head wide; costal folds 15 or 16; large; variable. Maine to Nebraska and S. (Pseudotriton, Baird.) 4. GYRINOPHILUS, Cope. PURPLE SALAMANDERS. 1. G. porphyriticus, (Green) Cope. PURPLE SALA- MANDER. Uniform purplish gray above; head broad; tail rounded at base, not finned; large; aquatic. Alle- gany Mountains, N. E. and S. \jSpelerpes salmonea (Stor.) Gray.] " The only one of our Eastern Salamanders which attempts self defense. It snaps fiercely but harm- lessly and throws its body into contortions in terror." (Cope.) FAMILY LXXXIV.— AMBLYSTOMID^E. (The Amblystomas.) Vertebrae amphiccelian ; carpus and tarsus ossified; digits 4-5, without webbing; tongue thick; size gener- ally large and color dark. Genus one, species nineteen; probably all American, and very abundant in the South- ern and Western parts of the U. S. The larvae which reach a large size, and even breed before the gills are absorbed, have long been considered as forming a separ- ate genus, Siredon^ supposed to be allied to Necturus. 1. AMBLYSTOMA,T$chud{. BIG SALAMANDERS. * Folds of tongue radiating from behind ; costal folds 10 to 12 ; fourth toe with 4 phalanges, f Costal grooves 10. 1. A. talpoideum, (Holbr.) Gray. MOLE SALAMANDER. AMBLYSTOMLD^:. — LXXXIV. 195 Blackish brown, gray-speckled; tail short, compressed, 2£ in length; head very broad; body short and squat. Southern, N. to S. Ills, ft Costal grooves 11. \ Sole with one indistinct tubercle, or none. 2. A. opacum, ( Gravenhorst ) Baird. OPAQUE SALA- MANDER. Black above, with bluish gray bars; belly dark blue; no dorsal furrow, no enlarged pores on the head; tail 24- in total length; body stout. Penn. to Wis.and S. A handsome species. (S. fasciata, Green.) 3. A. punciatum, (L.) Baird. LARGE SPOTTED SALA- MANDER. Black above with a series of round yellow spots on each side of the back; body broad, depressed and swollen; skin punctate with small pores, from which exudes a milky fluid (Cope)', two or three clusters of enlarged pores on head; a strong dorsal groove; tail 2£ in length; large. U. S., E. of the Rocky Mountains. (A. venenosa and siibviolacea, Auct.) 4. A. conspersum, Cope. SMALLER SPOTTED SALA- MANDER. Lead colored, with one or two series of small yellow spots along sides; no dorsal groove; skin smooth; tail *2J in length; small. Penn. to Ga. \\ Sole with two distinct tubercles. 5. A. bicolor, Hallowell. TWO-COLORED SALAMANDER. Olive brown, yellowish below, rising in blotches on the sides; a few large yellowish spots above; limbs banded; tail yellow with brown spots. Xew Jersey. ftf Costal grooves 12. a. Large species ; sole with two distinct tubercles. 6. A. tigrinum, (Green) Baird. TIGER SALAMANDER. Chiefly brown with many yellow spots, about as large as the eye; body thick and strong; the head comparatively long and narrow; tail shorter than head and body; color 1 96 BATRACHIAKS. varying from uniform brown to yellow, but usually spotted. U. S., E. of the Rocky Mountains. (A. me/ens^ Hallowell.) 7. A. xiphias, Cope. LONG -TAILED SALAMANDER. Yellow-olive with brown reticulating bands; head small, blunt; tail very long, much longer than the head and body. Ohio. aa. Small species ; sole with one indistinct tubercle or none. 8. A. jeffersonianum, (Green) Baird. JEFFERSON'S SALAMANDER. Olive brown or blackish, usually with pale or bluish spots, but sometimes uniform plumbeous. Va. to Ind. and N., variable; several varieties are recog- nized by Prof. Cope. ** Folds on tongue radiating from the median longitudinal furrow ; costal folds 12 ; size small. 9. A. microstomum, Cope. SMALL - MOUTHED SALA- MANDER. Lead - colored, usually with gray shades and specks; head small, short, broad; body slender; skin very smooth and slippery; lower jaw projecting. Ohio to Kansas and S. FAMILY LXXXV. — MENOPOMID^E. ( The Menopomes. ) Salamanders of large size, having the form of Ambly- stoma, but with an orifice on each side of neck persistent during life; no external gills; legs well developed; toes 4-5; aquatic. Genus one; species two, Crypt, fusees, Holbr., of the head waters of the Tennessee, and the following : /. CRYPTOBRANCHUS, Leuckart. HELLBENDERS. 1. C. alleghaniensis. Harlan. HELLBENDER. BIG WATER LIZARD. Blackish; length H to 2 feet. Mis- sissippi Valley to N. C. and S. PROTEID^E. — LXXXVII. 197 FAMILY LXXXVL — AMPHIUMIDJ3. (The Congo Snakes.) Salamanders of large size, having the body elongated almost serpentiform; limbs rudimentary with two or three toes each; a spiracle on each side of neck as in the preceding family; aquatic. Genera two; the three-toed (3f. tridactylus) and the two-toed Ampfn- Species two, inhabiting the ditches and streams of the warmer parts of the U. S. /. AMPHIUMA, Linnaeus. Two-ToED CONGO SNAKES. 1. A. means, L. CONGO SNAKE. Dusky; limbs very small, each with two toes. Southern States, N. to N. C. ORDER Y.-PROTEIDA. (The Protean*.) Tailed Batrachians, provided with bushy external gills which are persistent during life; lungs more or less developed and functional, hence these animals are truly amphibious. FAMILY LXXXVIL — PROTEID^E. (The Mud Puppi™.) Salamanders of medium or large size, provided with bushy external gills, and having the branchial clefts remaining open through life; teeth well developed. Genera two. Proteus inhabitating caves in S. AY. Austria (Carniola), and Xetfurtts of the fresh waters of the U. S. Proteus is blind and has the toes 3-1. X<:<-tnrnx has the eyes well developed, though small, and the toes 198 BATRACHIANS. /, yV££r(//?tf$, Rafinesque. MUD PUPPIES. = Menobranclms, Harlan. 1. N. ma.cula.ius, Raf. MEXOBRANCHUS. MUD PUPPY (North). WATER DOG (South). DOG FISH. Brown, more or less spotted; young with traces of a lateral band; dusky below; gills large and bushy, bright red, forming three tufts on each side; head broad, de- pressed; tail much compressed. E. U. S., chiefly north- ern and west of the Alleganies, especially abundant in the Great Lake Region; reaches a length of eight inches to two feet. (M. maculatus, hyemalis, etc., of authors.) Another species. N. punctatus, (Gibbes) Cope, occurs in S. C. FAMILY LXXXVIII. — SIBENID JS. (The Sirens.} Body elongated, eel-like; external branchiae persistent; no posterior limbs, not even a vestige of pelvis; head flattened; snout obtuse; mouth narrow, the lower jaw with teeth all around, the upper toothless; eye very small. (Cuvier.) Genera two, species two, — Pseudo- bi'iuichus striatus, (LeC.) of Georgia, a small species with small gills, and the following: /. SIREN, Linnaeus. SIRENS. 1. S. laceriina, L. GREAT SIREN. Reaches a length of three feet. Southern, N. to N. C. and S. Ills. FISHES. 199 (The Fishes.) A fish is a cold-blooded vertebrate, adapted for life in water, having the limbs developed as fins, the fingers and toes being represented by cartilaginous rays con- nected by membrane (in rare cases limbs rudimentary or wanting); exoskeleton usually developed as scales or bony plates (skin rarely naked); one or more fins on the median line of the body, composed of rays connected by membrane. Skull developed, containing a brain of several differentiated ganglia; a distinct lower jaw. Heart with an auricle, ventricle, and arterial bulb; respiration by means of branchiae, which consist (typi- cally) "of bony arches attached to the hyoid bone, to which the filaments of the gills are attached, generally in a row upon each, and having their surface covered by a tissue of innumerable blood vessels. The water taken in at the niouth passes among the filaments of the gills and escapes by the gill openings towards the rear; in its progress through the filaments of the gills the water imparts to these the oxygen of the air which it contains. The blood is sent to the gills by the heart, which thus answers to the right side of the heart of warm-blooded animals, and from the gills it is sent to an arterial trunk lying along the under side of the vertebral column, which distributes the blood through the body of the fish" (Cumer)i branchiae free, gill openings a single cleft on each side. In most fishes there is a membran- ous air bladder immediately beneath the back -bone, answering homologically to the lungs of the higher 200 FISHES. vertebrates; in a few Ganoids the air bladder is cellular, and more or less functional and connected by a glottis with the oesophagus; in most of the soft -rayed Teleo- cephdli there is a slender duct connecting the air bladder with the alimentary canal; in the Acanthopteri and others this is wanting. Reproduction by eggs of small size, which are fertilized generally after exclusion; a few are ovoviviparous. As here characterized, the class Pisces includes the Teliosts and Ganoids, of authors, and excludes the Sharks and Skates and their allies, as well as the Lam- preys and Lancelets, which differ from the true Fishes more than the latter do from the Batrachians. The following key includes not only the families of fresh water fishes described in this work, but also all of the families of Fishes represented on the Atlantic Coast of the U. S. The names of those families which are ex- clusively marine are printed in italics, and no further reference is made to them. A student, therefore, who traces a fresh water fish to any of them will understand that there is an error on his part or mine. The key is, of course, purely artificial, and does not, in most cases, give true family distinctions, for instance: With 5 to 9 detached finlets behind dorsal and anal ; dorsals 2 ; scales small or none. . . Scombridcv, the. Mackerels. does not imply that all Scombridw possess those charac- ters, nor, indeed, that all possessing them are tScombridce; but that all fishes in the region here covered, which show those peculiarities, are to be referred to that family. SUB-CLASS I. Tail homocercal (caudal fin rarely wanting) ; optic nerves simply crossing, without chiasma ; arterial bulb simple, with two opposite valves at its origin; air bladder, if present, not cellular; exoskeleton typically of scales, either ctenoid or cycloid TELEOSTEI, page 201. FISHES. 201 SUB-CLASS II. Tail heterocercal ; optic nerves forming a cbiasma ; arterial bulb with several rows of valves ; air bladder fre- quently cellular and lung-like ; exoskeleton typically of bony plates GAXOIDEI, page 212. ORDERS OF TELEOSTEI. Gills pectinated— of the ordinary sort, not tuft-like. I. Maxillaries normally developed and normally distinct from each other ; gills not in the axils ; typical fishes (characters too various to be here summarized). . TELEOCEPHAI.I, Z. II. With 4 to 8 long barbels about the mouth, the longest of which is a continuation of the incomplete maxillary: subopercle wanting; ventrals abdominal; usually an adi- pose fin and dorsal and pectoral spines; skin naked or with bony plates ; chiefly in fresh water. XEMATOGXATIII, A A. III. Maxillaries rudimentary or wanting; scapular arch free from skull ; body elongated, serpentiform, . with a long dorsal and anal, which meet around the tail; no ventral fins; scales small or none; jaws with teeth; chiefly marine APODES, BB. IV. Carpal bones elongated, forming a kind of arm which sup- ports the pectorals, in the axils of which are the small gill openings; ventrals jugular, with 4 or 5 soft rays; body scaleless or tuberculate ; head very large ; marine. PEDICULATI, page 211. V. Intermaxillaries immovably united with the maxillarics; skin rough, often covered with spines or ganoid plates ; ventral fins wanting; marine. PLECTOGNATHI, page 212. ** Gills small, tuft-like, largest at their free tips; body covered with bony plates; mouth small, toothless, at the end of the long snout ; no ventral fins ; marine. LOPHOBRANCHII, page 212. Z. SUB-ORDERS OF TELEOCEPHALI. I. Body flat, uusymmetrical ; both eyes on the upper or colored side; ventrals jugular. . . HETEROSOMATA, page 208, II. Bones of snout prolonged into a long tube which bears the short jaws at the end. . . HEMIBRA^CHII, page 209. 202 FISHES. III. With two or more free spines in place of first dorsal ; ventrals sub-abdominal, of a stout spine and a small ray ; small fishes scaleless or with bony plates. . HEMIBRANCHII, page 209. IV. Dorsal fins two, distinct, small, the first of 4 to 7 spines ; ven- trals abdominal; teeth feeble or wanting; scales cycloid, silvery. ...... PERCESOCES, page 208. V. With the first rays of the dorsal, or the whole first dorsal, of simple — usually stiff spines; first ray of ventral usually inarticulate (spinous dorsal forming a hump in Cydopterus ; a lamellated sucking disk in EcJieneis, etc., wanting altogether in Aspidophoroides and Gobiesox). ACANTHOPTERI, page 203. VI. Fin rays soft and articulated (excepting occasionally one or two in dorsal or anal) ; no ventral spines ; scales when pres- ent, usually cycloid. * Ventrals jugular; dorsal and anal long, often divided. AITACANTHINI, page 208. ** Ventrals abdominal. f Mouth entirely toothless ; abdomen not serrated ; lower pharyngeals falciform, tooth-bearing ; no adipose fin ; head naked ; fresh water. . EVENTOGNATHI, page 211. ff Body elongated, scaly ; a series of keeled scales along sides of abdomen; lower pharyngeals united (as in Labridm)', no air duct ; no adipose fin ; no ventral serratures ; one or both jaws or else pectoral fins greatly elongated; chiefly marine. . . SYNENTOGNATHI, page 209. fff Head more or less scaly (naked in Amblyopsis, the Cave Blind Fish) ; both jaws fully provided with teeth ; lower jaw usually longest; dorsal far back, nearly opposite anal; no adipose fin, ventral serratures, nor peculiar scales ; chiefly fresh water. . HAPLOMI, page 209. ffff Soft -rayed fishes showing none of the above combina- tions of characters ; head naked ; adipose fin or abdominal serratures often present ; dentition and habitat various. ISOSPONDYLI, page 210. *## Ventrals entirely wanting. \ Jaws with teeth ; vent at the throat ; body oblong ; cave fishes HAPLOMI, page 209. ft Jaws toothless; vent normal; body serpentiform. ANACANTHINI, page 208. FISHES. 203 FAMILIES OF ACANTHOPTERL 1. With 5 to 9 detached finlets behind dorsal and anal; dorsals two ; scales small or none. . Scombridce, the Mackerels. 2. Upper jaw prolonged into a " sword " ; teeth feeble or wanting ; scaleless ; size large. . . Xiphiida, the Sword-Fishes. 3. Tail ending in a sharp point; no caudal norventrals; teeth strong Trichiuridce, the Hair-Tails. 4. First dorsal on the top of head, modified into a lamellated sucking disk. . . . Echeneididce, the Remoras. 5. Ventral fins completely united, sometimes forming a sucking disk. — Dorsals two, distinct ; body scaly or not. . GOBIHWE, 96. — Dorsal single ; spinous dorsal enveloped in skin, forming a hump in the adult ; scaleless, tuberculate. Cyclopteridce, the Lump-Suckers. — Dorsal single ; body elongated ; scaleless ; small fishes often parasitic in shells of Mollusks. Liparididce, the Sea Snails. 6. Ventral fins wide apart, with a sucking disk between them ; dorsal spineless, on the tail. Gobiesocidce, the Pike-Suckers. 7. With a stout, sharp spine on each side of tail ; body much com- pressed Aninthuridce^ the Surgeons. 8. With several unconnected spines in place of the first dorsal. — Tail with a keel on each side. Cfinuifiiilip, the Pilot Fishes. — Anal fin preceded by two free spines ; body compressed and elevated. . . . CVm/^V^, the Pilot Fishes. — Tail not keeled; jaws toothless; body very long and slender. Ammodytidce, the Sand Laum-cx. — Tail without a keel ; jaws with teeth. Body long ; snout elongated. Elacatidce, the Crab-Eaters. Body short, compressed ; snub-nosed. Stronufteidce, the Harvest Fishes. 9. With none of the preceding combinations. * With two distinct dorsal fins — rarely slightly connected by membrane at the base. f Body with developed scales or bony plates, large or small. 204 FISHES. 1. Small fresh water fishes (1 to 6 inches long) ; elongated or fusiform, often brightly colored; the fins — espe- cially the pectorals— well developed ; anal spines one or two ; branchiostegals 6. . ETHEOSTOMATID^E, 89 2. Pectoral fins very long, reaching at least to anal, with 3 detached appendages or else several connected, forming an additional fin • cheeks mailed ; head bony. Tricjlidm, the Gurnards. 3. With 7 or 8 filiform appendages on each side below the pectorals ; cheeks not mailed. PolynemidcK, the Thread-Fishes. 4. Throat with two long barbels. Mullidce, the Surmullets. 5. Dorsal spines only two ; scales minute, imbedded in the skin. . . . RhypticidcK, the Soap Fishes. 6. Yentrals abdominal ; body elongated ; scales cycloid ; teeth stout. . . Sphyrmnidce, the Barracudas. 7. With none of the above combinations ; ventrals mostly thoracic. a. Some or all of opercular bones, more or less serrated or spinous. b. With teeth on the vomer. c. First dorsal low and weak of 8 spines ; scales small ; one or more minute spines in front of anal ; teeth strong. . Pomatomidm, the Blue Fishes. cc. Dorsal spines stout ; scales ctenoid ; no free anal spines. d. Ventrals 1-5 ; branchiostegals usually 7. e. Cleft of mouth horizontal or oblique ; scales firm. — Anal spines 2, sometimes obscure. ^ERCID^E, 90. — Anal spines 3, distinct. . LABRACID^S, 91. ee. Cleft of mouth nearly vertical ; scales large, deciduous. ChilodipteridcK, theApogons. dd. Ventrals 1-7 .; branchiostegals 8 ; anal spines 4. ) the Berycoids. FISHES. 205 bb. No teeth on the voiner ; anal spines 1 or 2 ; lateral line usually running up on the caudal fin. SCI^ENID^E, 94. aa. Edges of opercular bones entire. /. Scales well developed, not enlarged along lateral line ; chin often with barbels; no free spines. Sdan&da^ the Maigres. ff. Scales minute ; no barbels. g. Body more or less compressed and elevated ; scales sometimes enlarged along lateral line ; usually 2 free anal spines. Carangida, the Pilot Fishes. gg. Body long and low; no free spines nor lateral shields Gobiida;, the Gobies. ft Body entirely scaleless. h. Body more or less depressed ; eyes high up on the broad head ; caudal usually rounded. i. Dorsal with 4 spines; ventrals jugular 1,5; mouth vertical. . . Umnoscopidce, the Star Gazers, ii. Dorsal with 3 spines; ventrals jugular 1,2; mouth broad, with conical teeth. Batmchidw, the Toad Fishes. iii. Dorsal spines 6 or more; ventrals thoracic; cheeks mailed (i. e., the sub -orbital bone extending back- ward over the cheek, articulating with the pre- opercle). — Spinous dorsal shortest, its middle rays . highest ; head without barbels. . . COTTID.E, 95. — Spinous dorsal longest, notched, its first rays highest ; head with many flesh}- slips. 1I< ndtripteridw, the Sea Havens. hh. Body greatly compressed; the eyes lateral or anterior; tins often filamentous; tail usually slender, the caudal fin widely forked. j. A series of bony shields along base of second dorsal. Zem'dce, the John, Dories, jj. Xo bony shields ; usually two free anal spines. Carangidce, the Pilot Fishes 206 FISHES. ** Dorsal fin single, not divided to its base. k. Fresh water species. 1. Ventrals I, 5 ; dorsal spines 5 to 12 ; vent normal. B. 6. m. Teetli on vomer ; anal spines 8 to 9. CENTRARCHID/E, 92. mm. No teeth on vomer; anal with 2 (or 1) spines, the second very strong. . . . SCIVENID.E, 94. mmm. No teeth on vomer; no lateral line; dorsal with five spines ; anal with three. , ELASSOMID^E, 92 (&). II. Ventrals 7-rayed ; dorsal spines 3; vent jugular. APHODODERID^, 93. kk. Marine species. 1. Cheeks mailed (as in Cottidce, etc.) n. Body covered with bony, keeled plates ; no dorsal spines. . . . Agonidce, the Sea Poachers. nn. Body with ordinary scales; spinous dorsal many- rayed. . . Scorpmnidce, the Sea Scorpions. 2. With broad, cutting, incisor -like front teeth, or with crushing, molar-like lateral teeth or both ; scales rather large ; usually a recumbent free spine in front of the dorsal fin; lower pharyngeals not united. o. Opercular bones entire ; vertical fins not much scaly. Sparidie, the Sea Breams. oo. Preopercle denticulated ; soft parts of vertical fins densely scaly. . Pimelepteridce, the Fat-Fins. £. Body much compressed and elevated ; the soft rays of the vertical fins covered high up with ctenoid scales ; teeth villiform ; body often dark-banded. p. Dorsal with less than 10 spines, separated by a notch from the soft part ; spinous dorsal scaleless. Ephippidce, the Moon Fishes. pp. Dorsal undivided, with 10 or more spines, scaly throughout; fins often filamentous. Chcetodontidce, the Chcutodonts. 4. Ventrals wanting; scales minute; body high, much compressed. . Stromateidce, the Harvest Fishes. 5. Ventrals jugular, few-rayed or wanting; body long and low; dorsal fin very long, occupying most of the back, at least half of it and sometimes all composed of flexible spines; scales small or none; usually an anal papilla. FISHES. 207 q. Ventrals present. r. Dorsal with both spines and soft rays. Blenniida, the Blennies. rr. Dorsal composed of spines only. s. Lateral line usually present and sometimes dupli- cated; head conic; compressed; pyloric cpeca present. . Stichceidce, the Snake Ble/inies. ss. No lateral line ; ventrals I, 1 ; no pyloric cceca ; teeth, small, acute. Xiphidiontida, the Gunnels, qq. No ventral fins. t. Gill openings wide ; scales rudimentary ; cleft of mouth not vertical ; teeth strong. Anarrhichnrltdce, the Wolf Fishe*. tt. Gill openings moderate ; no scales ; cleft of mouth nearly vertical ; dorsal of spines only ; body almost .eel-like. . Cryptacauthida\ the Ghost Fishes. 6 With none of the preceding combinations. u. Ventrals jugular, 4-rayed ; dorsal very high and long. Bramida, the Winged Dolphins, mi. Ventrals thoracic, I, 5. v. Dorsal of 50 or more raj-s running from head to tail ; the spinous part not differentiated. Coryphietiidtt, the Dolphins. TV. Dorsal shorter, the. two sorts of rays different. ID. Lateral line interrupted. x. Scales ctenoid ; dorsal spines 13 ; depth more than half length. PamacentridoB, the Demoiselles. xx. Scales cycloid ; dorsal spines 9 ; depth less than half length. . Labn'dcc, the Wrasse Fishes. ww. Lateral line continuous. y. Opercle or preopercle or both distinctly serrated. z. Spinous dorsal longer than the soft part, of 18 spines which are tipped with little mem- branous appendages ; scales cycloid. , the Wrasse Fishes. 208 FISHES. 22. Dorsal spines 8, very low, nearly equal and scarcely connected ; snout blunt. Stromateidce, the Harvest Fishes. 222. With neither of the preceding combinations. a. No teeth on vomer. Pristipomatidce, the Red Mouths, aa. Teeth on vomer. b. Canines present; branchiostegals 7. Serranidai, the Sea Bass, bb. No canines; branchiostegals 6; eyes large. . Priacanthidw, the Big Eyes, yy. Opercular bones with entire edges. c. Dorsal with nine to 20 spines ; anal III, 8 or more; lips large, fleshy. Labridw, the Wrasse Fishes, ec. Dorsal with 9 spines; anal III, 7. Gerridct}, the Gerroids. FAMILIES OF ANACANTHINI. * Ventrals jugular, sometimes rudimentary. f Caudal fin developed as a separate fin; lateral line continuous. GADID.E, 97. ft Caudal fin not separate, dorsal and anal confluent around the tail. J Ventral fins developed, 4-rayed. Lycodidw, the Eel Pouts. \\ Ventral fins replaced by a pair of bifid filaments. OpMdiidce, the Cusk Eels. ** Ventral fins entirely wanting. a. Vent remote from the head. Ammodytidce, the Sand Launces. aa. Vent at the throat ; size small. Fierasferidce, the Fierasfers. FAMILIES OF HETEROSOMATA. * Pectoral fins well developed. . Pleuroncctidce, the Flounders. ** Pectoral fins wanting or rudimentary. . Soleidce, the Soles. FAMILIES OF PERCESOCES. * First dorsal with 5 to 7 flexible spines ; body elongated; sides with a distinct silvery band. . . ATHERINID^E, 99. FISHES. 209 ** First dorsal with 4 stiff spines; body compressed; no lateral band MugilidcB, the Mullets. FAMILIES OF HEMIBRANCHIL * Bones of head moderately produced ; ventral fins of a stout spine and a rudimentary ray ; dorsal preceded by free spines ; scaleless, naked or with bony plates; an oblong, silvery, naked area in front of pectorals. . GASTEROSTEED^E, 98. ** Bones of head much produced, forming a long tube which bears the short jaws at the end; ventral fins without spine. f Body compressed ; no teeth ; scales small ; dorsal fins two ; first with spines. . . Centriscithe, the Snipe Finite*. ft Body greatly elongated ; teeth present ; no scales ; no dorsal spines ; middle rays of caudal produced into a long fila- ment. . . . Fistulariidte, the Trumpet Fishes. FAMILIES OF SYNENTOGNATHI. * Jaws one or both elongated into a long beak, f Both jaws elongated; no finlets; size large. Belonidce, the Gar -Fishes. ft Lower jaw only elongate, or else dorsal and anal with detached finlets, as in the Mackerels. Sconiberesocidce, the Sauries. ** Jaws moderate ; pectorals elongated, nearly as long as body, used for " flying." . . Exoc&tidce, the Flying FisJies. FAMILIES OF HAPLOMI. * Snout depressed and elongated, its length more than half the greatest depth of body ; jaws, vomer, palate and tongue armed with strong, hooked teeth ; body elongated, sub-terete ; size large ; in fresh water ESOCID^E, 102. ** Snout rounded and rather short, its length being less than half the greatest depth of body ; teeth moderate ; size small. f Vent jugular, in front of pectorals; eyes often undeveloped; ventrals small or wanting ; cave fishes. AMBLYOPSID.E, 103. f f Vent normal : eyes present ; ventrals well developed. 14 210 FISHES. \ Margin of upper jaw formed laterally by maxillaries ; lateral line inconspicuous ; small dusky fishes of muddy brooks ; usually a black bar at base of caudal. UMBKID^E, 101. ft Entire margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries ; head depressed ; small fishes of brackish or fresh waters, often barred or striped with black. CYPRINODONTID^E, 100. FAMILIES OF ISOSPONDYLI. * Body entirely scaleless ; deep sea fishes. » No adipose fin ; throat with a long barbel ; pectorals rudi- mentary Stomiatida, the Stomiatoids. ft An adipose fin ; no barbel ; belly with phosphorescent spots. Scopelidce, the Scopelids. ** Body scaly ; head naked ; scales sometimes small and imbedded, sometimes large and deciduous. \ An adipose dorsal fin ; belly rounded. a. Margin of upper jaws formed by intermaxillaries alone. b. Scales cycloid ; deep sea fishes. Synodontidm, the Synodonts. bb. Scales ctenoid ; fresh water fishes ; no teeth on vomer or palate PERCOPSID.E, 104. aa. Lateral margins of upper jaw formed by maxillaries; scales cycloid ; in all waters. . SALMONID.K, 105. ft No adipose dorsal; lateral margin of upper jaw formed by maxillaries which are usually composed of three pieces; scales rather large. * c. Abdomen compressed to an edge which is serrated ; lateral line obsolete; teeth very small or wanting ; in all waters. CLUPEID/E, 107. cc. Abdomen compressed but not serrated; jaws, vomer and tongue with strong teeth; scales large, silvery; body compressed; lateral line well developed; fresh water. HYODONTID^E, 106. ccc. Abdomen rounded ; teeth various ; marine. d. Upper jaw longest. e. Lower jaw toothless; sides with bright silvery band. the Anclwmes, FISHES. 211 ee. Both jaws with bands of villiform teeth ; roof and floor of mouth with coarse patches. Albulidce, the Lady Fishes. dd.. Lower j aw longest. /. No gular plates ; no lateral line ; anal short. DussumieridcB., the Round Herrings. ff. A narrow bony plate between branches of lower jaw (much as in Amia). . Elopida, the Jew Fishes. FAMILIES OF EVENTOGNATHI. * Pharyngeal teeth in small number (not more than 7) and com- paratively large ; dorsal with 7 to 12 rays (in American spe- cies); mouth moderately or not protractile; lips scarcely or not enlarged ; species mostly of small size (2 to 15 inches) Dace and Minnows. . . . . CYPRIKID^E, 108. ** Pharyngeal teeth very numerous, small ; mouth very protrac- tile, roundish when protruded, with enlarged, fleshy lips; dorsal with 1 1 to 40 rays ; species often of large size. Suckers. CATOSTOMUXE, 109. AA. FAMILIES OF NEMATOGNATHI. * Margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries only; maxil- lary rudimentary, forming the base of a long barbel. SILURLD/E, 110. BB. FAMILIES OF APODES. * Gape moderate ; stomach ordinary ; gill openings narrow. f Scales rudimentary ; dorsal beginning at a considerable dis- tance behind head ; fishes of shores or fresh waters. ANGUILLHXE, 111. ff Scaleless; dorsal beginning close behind base of pectorals; deep sea fishes. . . Leptocephalidce, the Conger Eels. '•'•'* Gape of mouth enormously wide, leading to an excessively distensible stomach; tail band -like, tapering to a fine fila- ment Saccopharyngidce, the Gulpers. FAMILIES OF PED1CULATI. '•;: Head very broad ; depressed. f Skin smooth, slimy; teeth strong, card -like; dorsal VI— 8, or more; the first three spines isolated, tentacle-like, on the head. . . . Lopkiidcv, the Fishing Frogs. 212 FISHES. f f Skin with conical tubercles; teeth villiform; dorsal I — 4; the spine tentacle -like, retractile into a cavity beneath a prominent protuberance on forehead. Maltheidw, the Sea Bats. ** Head high, compressed ; teeth card-like. Antennariidce, the Diablos. FAMILIES OF PLECTOGNATHI. *jjaws modified into a sort of beak, without distinct teeth, f Both jaws divided by a median suture (teeth fused into two in each jaw); belly greatly inflatable. Tetorodontidcs, the Puffers. f f Jaws without median suture ; belly scarcely or not inflatable. \ Body scarcely compressed, spinous, with a distinct caudal fin. .... Itiodontida, the Sox Fishes. \\ Body much compressed, very short, truncate ; the vertical fins more or less confluent. Orthagoriscidce, the Globe Fishes. ** Jaws with distinct teeth. a. Front teeth incisor-like ; 1 to 3 dorsal spines ; no carapace. Balistidw, the File Fishes. aa. Teeth slender ; no dorsal spines ; body enveloped in a box- like carapace, formed of hexagonal bony plates; snout, bases of fins and tail free, covered with skin. Ostraciontidce, the Trunk Fishes. FAMILIES OF LOPHOBRANCHII. * Tail prehensile, without caudal fin ; body abruptly contracted at base of tail ; head crested, out of line of axis of body. Hippocampidai, the Sea Horses. ** Tail not prehensile, with a developed caudal ; body gradually tapering; direction of head in a line with axis of body. Syngnathida, the Pipe Fishes. ORDERS OF GANOIDEI. * Skeleton bony; body scaly; air bladder cellular, lunglike (HYOGANOIDEI). f Scales cycloid ; snout short, broad. . CYCLOGASOIDEI, CC. FISHES. 213 ff Scales ganoid, diamond-shaped, enamelled plates; snout lengthened, depressed. . . RHOMBOGANOIDEI, DD. ** Skeleton chiefly cartilaginous ; body naked or with 3 to 5 rows of bony bucklers ; vertical fins with fulcra. (CHOXDKOGAX- OIDEI.) \ Mouth terminal, broad ; lower jaw, maxillaries and palate with many minute, deciduous teeth. SELACHOSTOMI, EE. \\ Mouth narrow, inferior, toothless. . CHOXDROSTEI, FF. CC. FAMILIES OF CYCLOGANOIDEL * A broad bony plate between branches of lower jaw; vertical fins without fulcra ; dorsal fin very long of more than 40 rays; body stout AMIHXE, 112. DD. FAMILIES OF RHOMBOGAXOIDEI. * Vertical fins with fulcra; dorsal short, far back, of less than 12 rays; body elongated. . . . LEPIDOSTEUX-E, 113. EE. FAMILIES OF SELACHOSTOMI. * Skin naked ; snout produced into a flat blade ; opercle with a long flap POLYODONTID^E, 114. FF. FAMILIES OF CHONDROSTEI. * Body with 5 rows of bony shields (rarely deciduous); snout produced ; four barbels in front of mouth. ACIPENSERUXE, 115. 214 FISHES. (The Bony Fishes.) Skeleton more or less ossified; tail homocercal; optic nerves simply crossing, without chiasma; arterial bulb simple, with two opposite valves at its origin; air bladder, if present, not lung -like; body usually scaly, sometimes covered with naked skin or bony plates; membrane bones (opercles, etc.) developed in relation to the skull. This group comprises the great majority of recent fishes. OEDEE Z.-TELEOCEPHALI (The Typical .Fishes.} This .order again comprises the vast majority of recent fishes, and is characterized rather negatively, as wanting the peculiarities of the other orders than as having any positive distinctions of its own. The maxillaries are normally developed and distinct from each other, never forming the base of a long barbel. The gills are pecti- nated and of the ordinary pattern, and the gill-openings are in front of the pectorals and never very narrow; the subopercle is present. The scales are (when present) very rarely ossified, and are generally either ctenoid or cycloid. This group includes the Acanthopteryyians and Malacopterygians of Cuvier, and the nearly cor- responding (Jtenoulei and Cycloidei, Physoulysti and ETHEOSTOMATID^E. — LXXXIX. 215 Physostomi of later writers; but however different the extremes of each (as Percoids and Cyprinoids) may be, the intervening forms are too closely related to render it possible to characterize them as distinct orders. SUB-OKDEK.-ACAIsrTHOPTEKI. (The Spiny -rayed Fishes.) FAMILY LXXXIX.— ETHEOSTOMATID^E. (The Darters.) Fresh" water fishes of small size, closely related to the Percidce, but so peculiar in many respects that it seems preferable to consider them as forming a distinct family. Dorsal fins two, generally connected by membrane at the base, the second and often both dorsals high and large; anal usually well developed, with one or two spines; pectorals (except in one or two species) very large and broad, often reaching beyond base of anal ; caudal large, rounded or slightly forked; scales ctenoid, sometimes absent on neck or belly, or both; head usually more or less scaly; teeth well developed on jaws and usually on vomer; branchios. G; air bladder rudimentary; " sub- orbital arch incomplete." Colors often very bright; species of Pcecilichthys and Diplesiuin being the most brilliantly colored fresh water fishes known ; sexual differ- ences usually recognizable, the females being as a rule duller in color and more speckled or barred. In most species there is a dark streak from eye to snout, and often a dark vertical bar below the eyes. Genera seven- teen, or fewer; species about sixtv, all belonging to the U. S. and Mexico, east of the Rocky Mountains, being most abundant in the Mississippi Valley, where almost or nearly all the genera may be found in the same stream. 216 FISHES. Most of them prefer clear running water, where they lie on the bottom concealed under stones, darting when frightened or hungry with great velocity for a short distance by a powerful movement of the fan -shaped pectorals, then stopping as suddenly. They rarely use the • caudal fin in swimming, and they are never seen moving or floating freely in the water like most fishes. When at rest they support themselves on their extended ventrals and anal. Pleurolepis, unlike the others, pre- fers a sandy bottom, where, by an almost instantaneous plunge, it buries itself in the sand and remains quiescent for hours at a time, with only its eyes and snout visible. All are carnivorous, and, in their way, voracious. All are of small size, the largest (Percinci) reaches a length of about eight inches, while the smallest (Microperca], which is the smallest spiny -rayed fish known, barely attains a length of an inch and a half. * Lateral line complete; body much elongate, subcylindrical, pellucid, with at least the entire ventral region naked. a. Body entirely naked, except the caudal peduncle and the lateral line ; dorsal fins high, well separated, equal to the anal fin and to each other ; a single anal spine ; head en- tirely scaleless; mouth large, with vomerine teeth, the upper jaw protractile. . . . AMMOCKYPTA, I aa. Body covered above with small, thin, imbedded scales, the ventral region entirely naked, the dorsal scales obscure but present; dorsal fins small, wide apart; one anal spine*; cheeks and opercles scaly; mouth large, with vomerine teeth, the upper jaw protractile. . PLEUUOLEPIS, 2. ** Lateral line complete; body less elongate, entirely scaly, or with definitely naked areas on throat, neck, or ventral line. f Second dorsal little, if any, larger than anal; the dorsal fins distinct, the first the longer and usually the larger ; body little compressed; two distinct anal spines. * In the genus IOA, two anal spines : see p. 404. ETHEOSTOlViATnXE. — LXXXIX. 217 b. Upper jaw not protractile; vomerine teeth present. c. Mouth narrow, inferior, overlapped by a tapering, trun- cate, more or less " pig-like " snout ; ventral plates pres- ent, or, if fallen, a naked strip ; body elongated ; cheeks and opercles scaly ; size largest of all the darters. PERCINA, 3. cc. Mouth wider, terminal, the upper jaw being but little longer than the lower. d. Ventral plates developed, or, if fallen, middle line of belly with a naked strip. e. Body and head elongate ; the vertebrae in increased number, more than 20 in front of anus ; well-devel- oped teeth on vomer and palatines ; dorsal spines 12 to 15 ; fins never tuberculate. . ALVORDIUS, 4. ee. Body and head shortened ; vertebra? fewer, less than 20 in front of anus ; a few minute teeth on vomer and none on palatines; dorsal spines 10 to 12; colors brilliant, the male in Spring with the lower fins tuberculate ERICOSMA, 5. del. Ventral plates not developed; middle line of belly scaled like the sides. . . HADROPTERUS, 6. 66. Upper jaw protractile, a distinct furrow separating it from the skin of the forehead. /. No ventral plates ; posterior ventral region scaled ; anterior region largely naked; vomer well toothed; head and body stout and heavy ; cheeks and opercles scaly ; anal fin (in adult males ?) greatly elevated, reaching to base of caudal fin IMOSTOMA, 7. ff. Ventral plates well developed, or, if fallen, a naked strip ; vomer with a few minute teeth ; palatines naked ; body rather slender, with rather narrow head and small sul)- inferior mouth ; cheeks naked ; opercles scaly ; anal fin not enlarged. .... RHEOCRYPTA, 8. Second dorsal considerably larger than anal fin; no ventral plates, the middle line of the belly always covered with small scales like those of the sides. g. Upper jaw protractile. 218 FISHES. h. No teeth on vomer or palatines ; mouth small, contracted, subinferior ; head short and thick, with swollen cheeks ; spinous dorsal rather long; maxillary non-protractile; anal spines strong; body elongated, little compressed. DIPLESIUM, 9. M. Vomerine teeth present ; dorsals contiguous, but distinct ; the spinous dorsal short ; max. protractile; the mouth rather small, horizontal, subinferior. i. Anal spines two, well developed ; the first the longer. ULOCENTHA, 10. ii. Anal spines obscure and undiff erentiated from the soft rays BOLEOSOMA, 11. gg. Upper jaw not protractile. j. Gill membranes broadly connected across ' breast ; scales large; cheeks and opercles scaly;, mouth small, horizontal, subinferior (as in Boleosoma) ; caudal pe- duncle rather slender. ... NANOSTOMA, 12. jj. Gill membranes nearly free ; body rather short, deep, strongly compressed ; scales small ; cheeks naked ; mouth rather large, oblique (as in Pmciliclithys) ; caudal peduncle deep NOTHONOTUS, 13. *** Lateral line incomplete or wanting; no ventral plates; upper jaw not protractile; second dorsal larger than anal; vomer with teeth. k. Lateral line present on anterior part of body; anal spines two. I. Lateral line nearly straight m. Spinous dorsal fin well developed, two-thirds or more the height of the second ; the spines graduated, never ending in little fleshy knobs; lateral line extending more than half the length of the body ; mouth moder- ate, the upper jaw usually a little the longer; gill membranes free. . . . PCECILICHTHYS, 14. mm. Spinous dorsal low and small, the spines subequal, scarcely half the height of the soft rays, in males end- ing in little fleshy knobs ; gill membranes connected ; body elongated, compressed. . ETHEOSTOMA, 15. ETHEOSTOMATID.E. — LXXX1X 219 II. Lateral line curved upward over the pectorals. n. Jaws about equal ; body elongated. . BOLEICHTHYS, 16. kk. Lateral line incomplete; anal spine feeble. (See Addenda. p. 405.) VAILLAXTIA. kkk. No lateral line ; dorsal fins small, subequal, well separated ; mouth small, with nearly equal jaws; scales large; size smallest of all spiny-rayed nshes. . MICKOPEKCA, 17. /. AMMOCRYPTA, Jordan. SAND-DIVERS. 1. A. beanii, Jordan. BEAN'S DARTER. Body very slender; general form and appearance of Pleurolepis; dorsal tins very high; color translucent, with a golden lateral band; dorsal tin with large black spots; D. X — 10; A. I, 9; lat. 1. 65. Lower Mississippi; a remarkable species. 2. PLEUROLEPIS, Agassiz. PELLUCID DARTERS. 1. P. pel lucid us, (Baird.) Ag. SAND DARTER. Depth 6 to 8 in length; body nearly cylindrical; head elongated, pointed; scales small, finely dotted, far apart, and deeply imbedded; fins small; color pinkish white, pellucid in life, with a series of small, squarish, olive (blue) blotches along back, and another along sides, the spots connected by a gilt line; D. X— 9; A. I, 6; length 2 to 3 inches. Ohio Valley, in sandy streams; one of the most interest- ing of our fishes. 3. PERCINA, Haldeman. LOG PERCHES. =Pi.hom<(, DeKuv. 1. P. caprodes, (Raf.) Girard. LOG PERCH. HOG FISH. ROCK FISH. Salmon yellow or greenish, with about fifteen transverse dark bands from back to belly, these usually alternating with shorter and fainter ones reach- ing about to lateral line; a black spot at base of caudal; belly with a row of enlarged plates, shed at some 220 FISHES. seasons; neck above scaly; D. XIII — 12; A. II, 10. .Great Lakes and Western Streams, abundant, E. to L. Champlain; the largest of the Darters, reaching a length of six or eight inches. (P. zebra, semifasciata^nebulosa, and bimaculata of authors.) 2. P. manitou, Jordan. MANITOU DARTER. Head notably shorter and broader than in P. caprodes; mouth smaller and less inferior; fins larger; lateral bars shorter and more blotch like, not meeting their fellows across the back; space in front of dorsal fin entirely naked; D. XV— 14; A. II, 10. Indiana (Lake Manitou) to Wisconsin. 4. ALVORDIUS, Girard. BLACK -SIDED DARTERS. (Etheostoma, Agassiz — not of Raf.) 1. A. aspro, Cope & Jor. BLACK -SIDED DARTER. BLENNY DARTER. Head long, pointed, 4 in length; depth • 5 to 5^-; belly with a series of caducous plates along the middle line (shed at some seasons.) Straw yellow, with dark tesselations and about seven large blotches along the sides, partly confluent, thus forming a moniliform band; D. XIII, to XV- 12; A. II, 9. Ohio Valley, Great Lakes and eastward; one of the most curious and elegant of all the Darters. (A. aspro, Cope & Jor. ? Alvordius and Hadropterus maculatus, Grd. Etheostoma blen- nioides, Ag.) 2. A. variatus, (Kirt.) Jor. SHIELDED DARTER. Head shorter; sides with broad, brownish shades; ventral shields much larger; D. XII — 13; A. II, 9; lat. 1. 53. Penn. (E. peltatum, Stauff.) 3. A. macrocephalus, Cope. LOXG-HEADED DARTER. Head much elongated, 3J in length, the snout much longer than the eye; cheeks and opercles naked; colora- ETHEOSTOMATHXE. — LXXXIX. 221 tion nearly that of A. aspro ' scales quite small; 1). XV-13; A. II, 11; lat. 1. 77. Headwaters of Ohio River. 4. A. phoxocephalus, (Nelson) Cope & Jordan. SHARP-. NOSED DARTER. Body slender, compressed; head 4 in length, very long, narrow and tapering, the snout very acuminate, scarcely longer than eye; mouth large, with the jaws about equal; cheeks, opercles and neck with small scales; coloration as in the other species except that the spots on the sides are nearly square and rather small; a small black spot at the end of the lateral line; D. XII — 13; A. II, 9; lat, 1. G8. Indiana to Tennessee and Kansas, a singular species known at once by the coloration and the form of the head. 5. ERICOSMA, Jordan. GILDED DARTEUS. 1. E. evides, Jordan & Copeland. Body rather short and deep; head heavy, 4-^ in length; mouth moderate, the lower jaw the shorter; cheeks, neck above, and throat naked; opercles with a few rather large scales; body with about seven broad transverse bars, black in the female, of a dark rich metallic blue-green in the male, the inter- spaces between the bars creamy in the female, bronze red in the male; belly chiefly yellow; cheeks orange red; dorsal orange with a black spot; vertical fins chiefly orange; anal somewhat dusky; ventrals blue -black; males with the ventral and anal fins tuberculate in the Spring; I). XI — 10; A. II, 0. A most beautiful species, as yet known only from the rapids of AVhite River, above Indianapolis. (E. niyrofasciaturn, Ed. I., not of Agassiz.) 6. HADROPTERUS, Agassi/. CRAWL- A -BOTTOMS. (ITypohom C/N, Cope.) 1. H. aurantiacus, (Cope) Jordan. ORANGE DARTER. 222 FISHES. Bright yellow, with a black lateral band formed of con- fluent spots in front; a few brown spots on back; fins plain; D. XV— 15; A. II, 11; size large, Tennessee R. 2. H. tessef/atus, Jordan. Head broad and heavy; mouth large; cheeks and opercles naked, or nearly so; D. X— 12; A. II, 8. Allegheny River. 7. IMOSTOMA, Jordan. BIG-HEADED DARTERS. 1. I. shumardii, (Grd.) Jor. Body stout and heavy forward, compressed behind; head blunt, broad and thick, 3| in length; mouth large, the "jaws nearly equal; belly naked anteriorly, scaly behind; cheeks,- opercles and neck scaly; breast naked; anal fin large, in males much prolonged, reaching caudal; color dark, vaguely blotched with darker; spinous dorsal with a large black spot be- hind, a smaller one in front; a strong suborbital bar; D. X — 15; A. II, 11; 'lat. 1. 56. Indiana to Illinois and Arkansas. 8. RHEOCRYPTA, Jordan. RIPPLE DARTERS. 1. R. copelandi, Jordan. COPELAND'S DARTER. Body rather slender; head rather long and narrow, 4^ in length; mouth small, subinferior; checks naked; opercles with a few scales; color yellowish, with oblong black spots along the lateral line, smaller than in the species of Alvordius. D. XI — 10; A, 11,9; lat. 1. 56. Rapids of White River, with Mricosma evides, a small and rather plain, but graceful species. 9. DIPLESIUM, Rafinesque. GREEN- SIDED DARTERS. —Hyostoma, Agassiz. 1. D. blennioides, (Raf.) Jordan. GREEX- SIDED DARTER. Olive green and tessellated above; sides with a series of about seven double transverse bars, each pair ETHEOSTOMATID.E. — LXXXIX. 223 forming a Y-shaped figure; these are joined above, making a sort of wavy lateral band; in life, these mark- ings are of a clear deep green; sides sprinkled with orange dots; head with olive stripes and the usual dark bars; first dorsal dark orange brown at base, blue above, becoming pale at tip; second dorsal and anal of a rich blue green with some reddish; caudal greenish; young specimens much duller, but the peculiar pattern is unmistakable; body stout; head short and thick; D. XII to XIII -13; A. II, 8; length 3 inches. Perm, to Kas. and S-, abundant in Indiana, one of the handsomest of fishes. [H. cymatogrammum, (Abbott) Cope.] H. blennioperca, Cope.) 10. ULOCENTRA, Jordan. SPECKS. 1. U. atripinnis, Jordan. BLACK - FIXXED DARTER. Body rather stout; head extremely short and deep, 4:1- in length of body ; the snout very short and abruptly rounded mouth small, with equal jaws; cheeks and opercles scaly; fins large; head black above; about eleven indistinct, bar-like blotches along the sides; fins chiefly black; D. XII -10; A. II, 7. Cumberland River. 2. U. simotera, (Cope) Jordan. SXUB - NOSED DARTERS. Body short and thick; head very short and blunt; a series of square dark green blotches along sides and another on the back; spotted above with red; belly saffron; soft dorsal chiefly blood - red; first dorsal orange- margined; D. X — 11; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 52; length 3 inches. Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. //. BOLEQSOMA, DeKay. TESSELLATED DARTERS. > Arlina and Estrella^ Grd. * Lat. 1. 40 or less ; cheeks naked. 1. B. effulgens, (Grd.) Cope. Caudal peduncle 224 FISHES. thick, not contracted; cheeks naked; snout blackish; D. IX— 13; A. II, 8; lat. 1. 40; caudal rounded. Maryland to N. C. 2. B. vexillare, Jor. HIGH - FINNED DARTER. Sim- ilar to the preceding, but with the second dorsal very short and high and scales very large; head black; D. IX -10; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 34. Eappahannock R., Va, ** Lat. 1. more than 40. 3. B. olmstedi, (Storer) Ag. TESSELLATED DARTER. Fins stouter and higher than in the next; depth 5^ in length; head 4£; olivaceous, fins barred; back tessel- lated; a black streak forward, and another downward from eye; cheeks and opercles scaly; neck and throat bare; D. IX-14; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 50. New England to Wisconsin; abundant eastward. (B. tessellatum, DeK.) 4. B. atromacu/ata, (Grd.) Jor. Neck and throat scaly; fins very high; spinous dorsal with a large black spot at base. Eastern streams. 5. B. nig rum, (Raf.) Jor. JOHNNY DARTER. Paler and more distinctly tessellated; brownish yellow; upper surface dotted with brown, the spots forming a few dark bars on back; a dark line from eye to snout; and some- times a bar below eye; smaller and slenderer than the preceding, with smaller fins; eye as long as the narrow, pointed snout; cheeks, neck and throat naked; opercles scaly; D. IX-12; A. 1, 8 to I, 10; lat. 1. 45. E. U. S., abundant, west of the Alleganies. (7?. brempinne, Cope.) 6. B. cesopus, Cope. Caudal peduncle contracted; dorsal outline curved; fins high; brownish, with spots on back and sides; D. VII -14; A. 10; lat. 1. 47. Allegheny River, Penn. ETHEOSTOMATID^E.— LXXXIX. 225 12. NANOSTOMA, Putnam. ZOXED DAKTEES. 1. N. zonal is, (Cope) Jor. ZOXED DAETER. Oliv- aceous, golden below ; six dark brown quadrate spots along the back, connected by alternating spots with a brown lateral band from which eight narrow bands en- circle the belly; lower fins yellow with brown spots; spinous dorsal with a crimson band; a series of crimson spots on base of soft dorsal; black spot on opercle, occi- put and base of pectorals; black bars downward from eye and forward; D. XI — 12; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 52. Indiana to Tenn. 13. NOTHONOTUS, Agassiz. BLUE-BEEASTED DARTERS. 1. N. maculatus, (Kirt.) Ag. TROUT DAETER. Body moderately elongate, deep and compressed, head 4 in length; depth 4f ; head long and rather pointed; mouth pretty large; jaws equal; dorsal fin elevated, the longest rays reaching caudal; olive, sides with rather large spots of brilliant carmine; vertical fins more or less barred with red and white; D. XII, 13; A. II, 8; lat. 1.00. Mabpning River, Ohio, a rare and handsome species. 2. N. camurus, (Cope) Jor. BLUE-BREASTED DARTER. Body stout, head short, with the muzzle abruptly decurved, so that the upper jaw is the longer, and the mouth some- what inferior; dark olive; head blackish above; breast and throat deep blue; sides greenish, sprinkled with carmine spots, much as in a trout; series of olivaceous lines along the rows of scales; vertical fins chiefly crimson at base, then yellow, with a bright blue or black edging, in $ merely speckled; lateral line nearly complete; D. XII— 13; A. II, 8; lat. 1. 52; length 2i inches. Ohio Valley, not common, one of the handsomest of our fishes; the coloration is often quite darks 226 FISHES. 3. N. sanguifluus, (Cope) .Tor. Slender; muzzle not decurved; black, with scattered crimson spots; breast blue; fins crimson without dark margin; D. XII — 13; A. II, 9; lat. 1. 58. Cumberland River. 4. N. vulneratus, (Cope) Jor. Stout; muzzle not decurved; back not arched; pale, with dark olive cross- bars and some crimson spots; first dorsal with red spots; second dorsal and caudal dark-margined; D. XIV — 13, A. II, 8; lat. 1. 53. French Broad R. 5. N. rufilineaius, (Cope) Jor. Stout; head, etc., as in the preceding ; back arched ; coloration pale, with narrow dark lines enclosing spaced, quadrate, red-brown spots; belly orange; throat blue; fins largely orange, with a broad vermillion border and a narrow black edge; D. XI -13; A. II, 8; lat. 1. 45. French Broad River. 14. PfECILICHTHYS, Agassiz. RAINBOW DARTERS. = Astatichthys, Le Vaillant. 1. P. cceruleus, (Stor.) Ag. BLUE DARTER. RAIN- BOW FISH. BLUE JOHNNY. Olivaceous, tessellated above, the spots running together into blotches; back without black lengthwise stripes; sides with about twelve indigo blue bars running obliquely downward, most distinct behind, separated by rich orange interspaces; caudal deep orange, edged with bright blue; anal orange, with deep blue in front and behind; soft dorsal chiefly orange, blue at base and tip; spinous dorsal crimson at base, then orange, with blue edgings; ventrals bluish, often deep indigo blue; cheeks blue; throat and breast orange, these two shades very constant; $ much duller, with but little or no blue or orange, the vertical fins barred or checked; colors fade in alcohol; body short and stout; head large; D. X— 12; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 45; length 2 to 3 ETHEOSTOMATIDJE. — LXXXLX. 227 inches. Mississippi Valley, abundant; the most gaily colored of all the Darters. 2. P. spectabilis, Ag. STRIPED BLUE DARTER. Like the preceding and equally brilliant, but larger and more compressed, and more elongate; back with distinct black- ish stripes along the rows of scales, pattern of coloration similar, but the colors having a clear or bleached appear- ance; with the other, but less abundant; often found in muddy water where P. varkttiis never ventures. 3. P. jessicB, Jordan and Bray ton. SOUTHERN BLUE DARTER. Cheeks scaly above — not entirely naked as in the two preceding species; lateral line extending to end of second dorsal — farther than in either of the preceding species; chestnut colored above, with squarish blotches of 'a dark, clear blue on the sides; fins mottled with chest- nut or golden; D. XII — 12; A. 11,9. Tennessee River. 15. ETHEOSTOMA, Rafinesque. STRIPED DARTERS. (Catonotus, Agassiz.) * Head entirely scalelcss ; lateral line short; lower jaw longest. 1. E. flabellaris, Raf. FAX -TAILED DARTER. Oliva- ceous, dusky above; sides with obscure dusky bars; each scale with a brownish spot, these sometimes forming series of longitudinal lines but never very distinct ones; head narrow; mouth oblique; body rather slender; fins strongly barred; D. VIII — 12; A. II, 8; length 24- inches. Great Lakes and streams from X. Y., S. and \V., abund- ant. (E. linsleyi) H. R. Storer. Oligoceplialus humer- al!* and Catonotus fasciutus, Girard.) 2. E. lineolata, (Ag.) Jor. STRIPED DARTER. Oliva- ceous, each scale with a black spot, hence the body with a series of fine dotted longitudinal lines which are very distinct above; some ($?) further marked with dark cross 228 FISHES. bars; D. VIII— 12; A. II, 8. Great Lakes and Missis- sippi Valley, rather northward; body deeper and colors much brighter than in the preceding, of which it is probably a variety. ** Head scaly; lateral line nearly complete; jaws equal. 2. £. squamiceps, Jordan. Body elongate; head large, 3^ in length; jaws shorter than in E.flabellaris; cheeks, opercles, neck and throat densely scaly; lateral line wanting only on about ten scales; colors dark; fins barred; I). IX— 12; A. II, 7. Ohio Valley. A curious species, in some respects intermediate between Etheostoma and Nothonotus. 16. BOLEICHTHYS, Girard. RED -SIDED DARTERS. > Hololepis, Agassiz. 1. B. fusiform is, (Grd.) Jordan. FUSIFORM DARTER. Lateral line on' 12 scales, reaching middle of first dorsal; head 3^ in length; yellowish brown; spotted; D. VIII — 9; A. II, 7; lat.l. 52. Charles R., Mass. 2. B. erochrous, (Cope) Jordan. RED- SIDED DARTER. Lateral line extending to middle of first dorsal on 12 to 16 scales; head 4 in length; sides with dusky band, interrupted by red dots; D. IX — 10; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 44. New Jersey. 3. B. eos, Jordan & Copeland. SUNRISE DARTER. Body slender, elongate, with long caudal peduncle; mouth small; lateral line to end of first dorsal on 22 to 26 scales; head 4 in length; dark olive with about ten dark dorsal blotches, and as many dark blue or blackish bars along the sides; the belly and interspaces between these bars are of a clear vermillion ; first dorsal bright blue, with a broad median band of crimson; other fins mostly barred; D, IX-11; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 58. North- PERCID^. — XC. 229 western States, Northern Ohio to Minnesota; abundant; a most brilliant species. 17. MICROPERCA, Putnam. LEAST DARTERS. 1. M. punctulata, Putnam. LEAST DARTER. Greenish olive, sides with irregular dark bars and zigzag markings; dusky lines along the rows of scales; a dark shoulder blotch; a black streak forward from eye and a vertical bar below it; D. VI to VII— 9 to 12; A. II, 5 or 6; length 1J inches. Western States. FAMILY XC.— PERCID^E. (The Perches.} Body oblong, more or less compressed, covered with rather small, strongly ctenoid scales; opercular bones mostly serrated; teeth in villiform bands on jaws, vomer and palatines; mouth slightly oblique; dorsals two, dis- tinct, both well developed; ventrals thoracic I, 5; anal with one or two spines; branchiostegals seven; air bladder present, moderately developed; intestinal canal with a fe\v pyloric cceca. Carnivorous fishes of moderate or rather large size, chiefly of the rivers of the Northern Hemisphere. As here restricted, a small family of about five genera and fifteen species. * No canine teeth among the villiform ones ; body compressed. PERCA, 1. ** With strong canine teeth ; body elongated. STIZOSTETHIUM, '2. 1. PERCA, Linnasus. PERCHES. 1. P. americana, Schranck. COMMOX YELLOW PERCH. Olivaceous, sides yellowish, with broad dark bars; head 3J in length; depth about the same; D. XIII — 14; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 63. Fresh waters E. U. S., chiefly north- ward and eastward, [P. flavescens (Mit.) Cuv.] 230 FISHES. 2. STIZOSTETHIUM, Rafinesque. PIKE PERCHES. * Pyloric caeca three only, subequal, all long, about as long as the stomach ; soft dorsal nearly as long as spinous dorsal ; body more or less compressed. (Stizostethium.} 1. S. viireum, (Mitch.) Jordan & Copeland. WALL- EYED PIKE. "SALMON." " DORY." GLASS - EYE. YELLOW PIKE. Body slender, becoming compressed with age, the back not especially depressed; dorsal spines high, more than half length of head; eye 4J- to 5 in head. General color a heavy olive, finely mottled with brassy; a large black spot on last rays of spinous dorsal, the fin other- wise nearly or quite unmarked ; I). XIII — 1 ; 21 ; A. II, 12; lat. 1. 90. Size very large; this species reaches a length of nearly three feet, and a weight of 20 to 30 Ibs. Great Lake region and some Atlantic streams, north to the Fur Countries; an abundant and valued food-fish. (Luti- operca americana, Cuv.) Var. salmoneum, (Raf.) Jor. BLUE PIKE. " WHITE SALMON." Body shorter, thicker and deeper, with slen- derer caudal peduncle; mouth smaller; eye larger; dorsal spines lower, 2^ in head; coloration bluer, with silvery instead of brassy mottlings; fin coloration darker; young pale, with traces of vertical bars; D. XIV — 1, 20; A. II, 13; lat. 1. 95. This species or variety is very similar to the preceding, but it is distinguished at sight by the fishermen, and seems to rarely attain a length of more than a foot. Lake Erie, Ohio River, and South. ** Pyloric cceca 4 to 7, unequal, all small (shorter than the stomach ;) soft dorsal much shorter than spinous dorsal ; body thick, cylindric, depressed forwards, (Cynoperca, Gill & Jordan.) 2. S. canadense, (Smith) Jor. SAUGER. SAND PIKE. GRAY PIKE. Body little compressed, broad across the back and rather depressed; cheeks, top of head, etc., LABRACHXE. — XGI. 231 usually thickly scaled; colors rather paler and more translucent than in ft. vitreum, the shades less blended; olive gray, sides pale orange with much black mottling, the black gathered into several definite dark areas; spiii- ous dorsal with two or three rows of round black spots; a large black blotch at base of pectorals; dorsal XII — 1, IT; A. II, 12; lat. 1. 95; size not large; length 12 to 15 inches. Ohio River and Great Lake region to Upper Missouri; a strongly marked species. (L. grlsea^ DeK., L. borea, Grd.) FAMILY XCL— LABRACID.E. (Tlie Bass.) Percoid fishes with the general characters of the pre- ceding family, but having three anal spines, the verte- bra? and the spines of the dorsal reduced in number, generally nine or ten of the latter; teeth on the tongue in our species. Genera fifteen ; species thirty-five. Mostly of northern regions, the majority of them marine, often entering rivers. * Base of tongue with a patch of teeth; scales on head cycloid; dorsal fins not connected Roccus. 1. ** Base of tongue toothless ; scales on head ctenoid ; dorsal fins united at base ; second anal spine enlarged. . MORONE, 2. /: ROCCUS, Mitchill. STRIPED BASS. < JLnhr Hufo and Grystes, 0. & V. = Calliurus, Raf. (not of Agassiz.) 1. M. pal I id us, (Raf.) Gill & Jor. LARGE- MOUTHED BLACK BASS. OSWEGO BASS. Dull olive green, more or less spotted when young but not barred; usually with an irregular dark laleral band, and three oblique stripes on opercles; ends of caudal fin blackish, these markings growing obscure with age; 3d dorsal spine twice as high as first; notch between spines and soft-rays deep; eight rows of scales between lateral line and dorsal; anal fin somewhat scaly; mouth very wide; D. X, 12; A. TIT, 10; lat. 1. 05 to 70. Great Lakes and rivers of the West and South, abundant in most regions, and, like the next, highly valued as a food fish, [fluro nigricans, C. & V. G. nobilior and nigricans, Agass.,' M.floridanus (LeS.)] 2. M. salmoides, (Lac.) Gill. SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK BASS. Moss BASS. Dark green; young brighter and more or less barred and spotted, but without lateral band; tail ye] low at base, then black, and edged with white; opercle with oblique olivaceous streaks; third dorsal spine half larger than first; dorsal notch rather shallow; scales smaller than in the preceding — eleven rows between lateral line and dorsal; mouth smaller; anal nearly scaleless; D. X. 13; A. Ill, 11; lat. 1. 70 to 80. Great Lakes and streams from L. Champlain S. and W.; common in N. Y. and in-most regions west of the Alleganies; introduced eastward. \G. fasciatus, (Les.) CENTRARCHID^E. XCII. 237 Air. ( '. t^fsri/nist DeK. (young.) Jl/". acJiiyan, (Raf.) Gill, etc., etc.] 2. AMBLOPLITES, Rafinesque. ROCK BASS. < CentrarcJius, Cuvier. 1. A. rupestris, (Raf.) Gill. ROCK BASS. GOGGLE EYK. RKD EYE. Depth about half length; head more than one -third; eye nearly four in head, very large; cheeks scaly; front convex; longest dorsal ray two-thirds depth of head at front of orbit; brassy olive with golden green and blackish markings; a dark spot at base of each scale, which is conspicuous after death, giving a striped appearance; I). XI, 11; A. VI, 10; fet. 1. 42; L. 8. Great Lakes and rivers west of the Alleganies; an abundant species. [.1. ceneus^ (C. & V.) Ag. .1. ic/tf/tc- toides, (Raf.) Ag.] 2. A. cavifrons, Cope. Depth 2|- in length; mouth larger, muzzle more projecting, the front therefore con- cave, cheeks nearly naked; eyes still larger, 3 in head; longest dorsal ray equal to depth of head at front of orbit; silvery, dusted with dark points; scales with dark shades; D. X, 12; A. VI, 11; lat. 1. 38. Roanoke R. 3. ACANTHARCHUS, Gill. BASS Sux FISHES. < Cetitrtrrc/tttfi, Baird. 1. A. pomotis, (Baird) Gill. MUD Sux FISH. Ellip- tical; mouth large; dark greenish olive, with dull yellow- ish markings and longitudinal dusky streaks; opercles with dusky radiating bars; D. XI, 12; A. V, 12; L. 5. Muddy streams coastwise, N. Y. to S. C. 4. CHSENOBRYTTUS, Gill. AVAR MOUTHS. Caliiurus, Ag. 1. C. gulosus, (C. & V.) Gill. BLACK Sux FISH. Dark olive green above; sides greenish and brassy with 238 FISHES. blotches of pale blue and bright coppery red — the latter shade predominating; belly bright brassy yellow, pro- fusely mottled with bright red; lower jaw chiefly yellow; iris bright red, as in most Sun Fishes; opercular spot as large as eye, black, bordered with copper color; three or four wide dark red bands radiating backwards from eye across cheeks and opercles, separated by narrow pale blue ones; upper fins barred with black, orange and blue, the former color predominating, lower fins blackish; a few small faint black spots on last rays of dorsal; dorsal spines moderately high, very stout, the longest as long as from snout to middle of eye; head 2f in length; depth 2£; eye as long as snout, 4 to 5 in head; mucous pores about head very large; body very robust, broad forwards, compressed behind; nape rounded; a depression over eye, the snout projecting, and forming an angle; fins rather low, with stout spines; mouth very large, with strong teeth, the maxillary bone very broad and flat, reaching to posterior margin of eye; tongue with one or more conspicuous patches of teeth; teeth on palatines; scales large; D. X, 10; A. TIT, 9; lat. 1. 40. Great Lakes South and West; a fine large species having the appear- ance and dentition of Ambloplites, but with three anal spines and a rounded operculum as in Apomotis. (Ch. cJuirybdis, Cope, C. melanops^ Grd.) In spirits, the coloration is very dark. 2. C. viridis, (C. & V.) Jordan. RED-EYED BREAM. WAR-MOUTH PERCH. Very similar to C. gulosus, but differently colored — olive green, with blackish spots on the scales, and more or less reticulated; form somewhat more slender; fins, etc., the same; Virginia to Florida. (C. gillii) Cope.) CENTBA£CHID,E. — XCII. 239 5. A POM OTIS, Rafinesque. RED EYES. (Telipomis, Raf., Bryttm, Cuv. & Val.) 1. A. cyanellus, (Raf.) Jordan. BLUE"- SPOTTED Sux FISH. Dark clear olive-green, each scale with a blue spot and more or less of gilt edging, the body thus appearing more or less striped along the rows of scales; colors variable, golden olive, green or even almost blue; cheeks with bright blue horizontal stripes; body more or less sprinkled with irregular dark dots; vertical fins marked with green and blue and more or less edged with pale orange; usually a distinct black dorsal spot; opercular spot small, with brassy edgings; depth 2f in length, head 2^; dorsal spines low and stout; lat. 1. 48; L. 4 to 0. Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and W., abundant. (C. longulus and C.formosus, Grd., C. mineopas et mel- anops, Cope.) '2. A. phenax, Cope & Jordan. Olive-green; body much deeper and more compressed than in A. cyanellus; depth 21 in length; spines higher; opercular flap rather long; mouth smaller, the jaws nearly equal; lat. 1. 43, the scales therefore larger. New Jersey. Resembles Lepo- mis rather than Apomotis. 6. LEPOMIS. Rafinesque. Sux FISHES. (Lepomis, Ichthelis and Pomotis, Raf.) * Palatine teeth present ; usually no black blotches on last rays of dorsal and anal. 1. L. macrochirus, Raf. CHAIX-SIDED Sux FISH. Bright steel blue, with many bronze orange spots, which cover nearly the whole surface, so arranged that the ground color forms a series of vertical chain-like bars, verv conspicuous in life; vertical fins mottled with bronze, and usually more or less edged with pale orange ; 240 FISHES. no black dorsal spot; no distinct blue cheek stripes, but sides of head shaded with purplish; body rather elon- gate; head somewhat acute; opercular spot small; depth 2j in length; head nearly 3; lat. 1. 42; L. 3 to 4. Ohio Valley. A small species and one of the handsomest; extremely hardy in aquaria, and perhaps the most vora- cious of the Sun Fishes. (L. nephelus, Cope.) 2. L. bombifrons, (Ag.) Jor. ROUND-FACED SUN FISH. Light brown; fins pale, unspotted; belly and sides dotted with golden orange; head much broader, deeper and shorter than in any other species; the profile being ex- ceedingly prominent, the forehead strongly arched, and the greatest depth immediately over the opercle ; flop very short and small; soft rays of dorsal much higher than spines; depth 2£ in length, head nearly 3. Ten- nessee R.; rare. (May be a Xenotis.~) 3. L. anagallinus, Cope. RED -SPOTTED SUN FISH. Dusky bluish, with greenish inottlings; sides with many distinct, rather large, salmon -red spots; belly bright salmon-red; opercular flap rather large, with a very wide red margin, which entirely surrounds the black; some- times a black dorsal spot; spines rather high; depth 2^ in length; scales large; lat. 1. 33 to 36. Arkansas to Tenn. and Kas.; a small, highly colored species. 4. L. ocu/atus, Cope. Coloration reddish, unspotted; body short and deep; head short; caudal peduncle and fin one-third length (more than one-third in L. anagal- linus^ opercular flap large, with a round black spot as large as eye, surrounded by a broad white margin. Min- nesota. 5. L. auritus, (L.) Raf. LONG -EARED POND FISH. RED-TAILED BREAM. SUN PERCH. Dusky olive; belly and vertical fins largely red; sides of body largely blue, CENT R ARC HID ^E. — XCII. 241 with rusty red spots; blue stripes on head; spines rather short; body rather elongate; opercular flap very long, longer than any in other species except the southern Xenotis fallax, and extremely narrow. Maine to Ala- bama, east of the Alleghenies, abundant; the only long- eared Sun-fish occurring in New England. A large handsome species, known at once by the peculiar ear-flap. L. 6 to 10. (/. rubricauda, appendix, etc., of authors.) ** No palatine teeth ; dorsal spines very hfgh ; a more or less dis- tinct black blotch on last rays of dorsal and anal. (Helioperca* Jor.) 6. L pallidus, (Mit.) Gill & Jor. BLUE SUN FISH. COPPER-XOSED BREAM. Olive green, adults dark; young more or less silvery, often uniformly so in spirits; a more or less distinct purple lustre in life; sides with undulat- ing, sometimes chain-like, transverse bars, most con- spicuous in the young; a black spot on base of dorsal and anal behind; no blue stripes on cheeks' no red on fins; opercular flap moderately long and wide in adults, without pale edge, very short in young; body deep, compressed, caudal peduncle rather slender; head 3 in length; depth about 2; dorsal spines very long; D. X, 11; A. Ill, 10; lat, 1. 40 to 45; L. 8. Great Lakes to Delaware R. (Abbott) and S., abundant. A large and very variable species, but almost always recognizable by the characters above emphasized. (L. ardesiacus, L. megalotis, and L. purpurascens, Cope, Ichthelis incisor, Auct.) Adult specimens are often nearly orbicular and have the belly coppery red. 7. L. ischyrus, Jordan & Nelson. A large, heavily- built species, similar to the preceding but with larger mouth, shorter spines and different coloration; top of head flat and short; opercular flap large, with a wide 11 242 FISHES. pale margin entirely surrounding the black; cheeks with wide blue bands; lower jaw, etc., dull leaden blue; belly and lower fins chiefly orange. Illinois River. 8. L. obscurus, (Agassiz) Jor. BLUE- MOUTHED SUN FISH. A heavily-built, dark-colored species, chiefly blue and coppery red in life; no blue stripes on cheek; lower jaw dark leaden blue; opercular spot large, without dis- tinct pale margin. Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. 7. XENOTIS, Jordan. LONG- EARED SUN FISHES. 1. X. mega/ot/s, (Raf.) Jor. BLUE AND ORANGE SUN FISH. SUN PERCH. Brilliant blue and orange, back chiefly blue, belly entirely orange, the orange forming irregular, longitudinal rows of spots, the blue in wavy vertical lines along the edges of the scales; fins with the rays blue and the membranes orange; ventral and anal shaded with dusky blue, appearing blackish when folded; flap very large, with a broad pale edge which is pink behind, and bluish in front; lips blue; cheeks with bright blue and orange stripes; top of head and neck blackish; eyes bright red; spines very low, lower than in any other species of this genus; the longest dorsal spine shorter than from snout to middle of eye; occiput depressed; profile high and strongly curved; depth more than half length; head with flap, a little less; eye 1^- in flap; pectorals not reaching vent; lat. 1. 40. Great Lakes and Upper Mis- sissippi River. A brilliantly colored species. (P. nitidus, Kirt.) 2. /. sanguinolentus, (Ag.) Jor. BLOODY SUN FISH. Similar, but rather more elongate; the spines notably higher and the blue cross-bars much more distinct. Ten- nessee and South, perhaps a variety. CENTRAKCHID^E. — XCII. 243 3. /. aureolus, .Tor. GILDED Sux FISH. Pale olive, young almost translucent; sides and fins profusely speckled with golden orange, forming bars or chains; orange below; cheeks with narrow blue horizontal lines; no dorsal spots; flap moderate, rather narrow, narrowly bordered by light; forehead regularly convex, the bulk of the body thrown forward; dorsal spines moderate; pectorals nearly reaching anal ; ventrals elongate; head 3 in length, depth 2^; eye = flap, 4 in head; lat. 1. 42. Ohio Valley and W., abundant, frequenting small streams in company with the next species and with Apomotis cyanellus. 4. /. lythroch!oris, Jor. RED AXD GREEN Sux FISH. Form of Apomotis, the body more elongate than usual in Xenotis; spines very low; green above with blue spots; belly, cheeks and fins generally blood red; cheeks with blue lines; opercular flap very long, entirely black, without any pale margin. Ohio Valley, a peculiar species frequenting small brooks; size small. (7". auritus, Raf., not of L.) 5. X. inscripfus, (Ag.) Jor. BLUE-GREEX Sux FISH. Dark olive green, with blue shades; many scales marked each with « short horizontal black line, like a pencil mark, these forming faint stripes along the sides of the back; cheeks with blue lines; opercular flap moderate, rather narrow, directed quite obliquely upwards* bordered above and below by pinkish; spines long; depth 24- in length. A small handsome species, abundant in the Valley of the Ohio and S. 6. X. pe /tastes, (Cope) Jor. A small deep-bodied species, with large scales; caudal fin and peduncle more than one -third the toted length; golden brown; sides somewhat spotted; belly and vertical fins largely orange; 244 FISHES. flap rather long, with a wide red border; lat. 1. 35. Mich* igan to Illinois. 8. XYSTROPLITES, Jordan. SUN FISHES. 1. X. heros, (B. & G.) Jor. A species bearing much resemblance to Lepomis pallidus, having the same general coloration, the black dorsal spot, the high spines, etc., but with the pharyngeal teeth more or less paved, and with the opercular flap broadly tipped with pale scarlet. Lower Mississippi Valley. Pomotis notatus, Ag., from Tennessee is probably the same species. 9. EUPOMOTIS, Gill & Jordan. POND FISHES. (Pomotis, Auct. not of Raf.) 1. E. pallidus, (Ag.) Gill & Jor. PALE SUN FISH. General color olivaceous, with faint darker bars; spines high; general form, color and appearance of Lepiopomus pallidus, but the mouth larger, the opercular flap broadly tipped behind and below with scarlet, and the lower pharyngeals very broad, concave, covered with large, paved teeth. The gill-rakers are comparatively short and weak. Illinois to Georgia and Louisiana. 2. E. aureus, (Walb.) Gill & Jordan. COMMON SUN FISH. PUMPKIN SEED. BREAM. Depth more than half length; greenish olive above, sides orange - spotted; orange yellow below; cheeks orange with blue wavy streaks; ear-flap rounded, broadly edged with scarlet below and behind; lower fins orange, upper orange- spotted; spines rather high; D. X, 10; A. Ill, 9; lat. 1. 37. Great Lakes and streams, chiefly northward and E. of the Alleganies; our most familiar species. (P. ma- culatus, auritus arid vulgaris of authors.) CENTRARCHLDJE. — XCII. 245 10. MESOGONISTIUS, Gill. BLACK-BAXDED Sux FISHES. 1. M. chcBiodon, (Baird) Gill. BLACK-BAXDED Sux FISH. Suborbicular; depth about half length; spines long, longest equal to distance from snout to preopercle; eyes large, three in head; dirty straw color, clouded with olive; sides with four to six well-defined black vertical bars running up on the fins; first through eye, last at base of tail; D. X, 11; A. Ill, 12; lat. 1. 28; L. 3. New Jersey to Maryland, in sluggish waters; a small, hand- some species, known at once by its peculiar coloration. //. HEMIOPLITES, Cope. FOUR-SPIXED Sux FISHES. 1. H. simulans, Cope. FOUR-SPIXED Sux FISH. Head 2£ in length, depth 2^; eye 3^ in head; bright olive, with dusky stripes; sides and cheeks with purple reflections; D. VIII, 11; A. IV, 10; lat. 1. 30. James R., Va. Re- sembles E . obesiis. 12. ENNEACANTHUS,Gi\\. NIXE-SPIXED Sux FISHES. * Dorsal and anal moderately elevated in $. 1. E. obesus, (Baird) Gill. SPOTTED Sux FISH. Depth about half length; dark olive green, with eight strong black cross bars and purplish spots; lateral line usually incomplete; cheeks with lines and spots; oper- cular flap velvet black, bordered with purple; a dark bar below eye; D. IX, 10; A. Ill* 10; I.. 3. Streams coastwise from Mass., southward; a handsome little fish. "2. E. margarotis, Gill & Jordan. BLUE-SPOTTED Sux FISH. Body without definite blackish cross-bars, in males covered with round bright sky-blue spots; a pearly- blue spot on opercle; body more elongate than in the others; lateral line complete; D. IX, 10; A. Ill, 9; lat. 1. 30. New Jersey to N. C. abundant. 246 FISHES. ** Dorsal and anal fins greatly elevated, in & reaching middle of caudal. 3. E. pinniger, Gill & Jordan. LAIIGE- BANNED SUN FISH. General color of preceding; body and fins in males with brilliant blue spots; size larger; lateral line complete; D. IX, 10; A. Ill, 10; lat. 1. 33. Neuse River, N. C. 13. COPELANDIA, Jordan. COPELANDIA. 1. C. eriarcha, Jordan. A species similar in appear- ance to Enneacanthus margarotis, but with a different number of spines, a rather more elongate body and a more advanced anal, which is reached by the ventral spines; D. X, 0; A. IV, 8. Menomonee River, near Milwaukee, Wis., — the only specimens known collected by Dr. P. R. Hoy; a singular and interesting species, connecting Enneacanthus with Centrarchus. 14. CENTRARCHUS, Cuvier. MANY-SPINED BASS. 1. C. irideus, (Bosc) C. & V. SHINING BASS. Bright green with dark spots; vertical fins mottled; dorsal with black spot behind, which is sometimes ocellated with orange; body deep, depth half length; fins comparatively low; the ventral spine less than half length of head and not reaching vent; D. XI, 13; A. VII, 14; lat. 1. 44. Illinois to Va. and South, chiefly in lowland streams. 2. C. macroptzrus, (Lac.) Jordan. LONG-FINNED SUN FISH. Similar, but more elongate, depth less than half length; ventral spine more than half length of head and reaching to about the fourth ray of anal; mouth and eye larger than in C. irideus; fins much higher; D. XII, 12; A. VIII, 14; lat. 1. 43. With the preceding but less abundant. ELASSOMIIXE.— xcn. 247 15. POMOXYS, Rafinesque. GRASS BASS. * Dorsal spines normally 7; body much elevated; depth half length. (Hyperistiua, Gill.) 1. P. nigromaculatus, (LeS.) Grd. GRASS BASS. CALICO BASS. Depth 2 in length; head nearly 3; snout pro- jecting, forming an angle with the descending profile; mouth large, very oblique, but smaller than in the next; fins very large; anal larger than dorsal; bright olive green and silvery; sides and fins much mottled; the anal fin nearly as much variegated as the dorsal; D. VII, 15; A. VI, 18; lat.1.41; L. 8. Great Lakes to Delaware R. (Abbott) and S. W.; a handsome fish. [P. hexacanthus, (C.&V.)Ag.] ** Dorsal spines normally 6; body less elevated; depth about one-third length. (Pomoxys.) '1. P. annularis, Raf. BACHELOR (Ohio R.) NEAV LIGHT (Ky.) CRAPPIE (St. Louis). Depth two-fifths to one-third length, scarcely greater than length of head; olivaeeous, silvery below; sides with irregular clusters of dark spots; the lower part of the sides, and the anal fin usually plain; D. VII, (V to VII) 15; A. VI, 17; lat. 1. 43 (39 to 48), L. 10. Mississippi Valley, a food fish of some value; abundant and exceedingly variable. (P. storerius, nitidus, intermedius^ protacanthus and brevi- cauda of authors.) FAMILY XCII. (&.)-ELASSOMID^E. (The Elassomes.) A provisional group framed for the reception of a single species whose affinities are at present uncertain. It includes small fishes similar in appearance to Centrar- chidce, but without lateral line, and the fins little devel- oped; the scales cycloid, the upper jaw extremely protractile and both jaws armed with strong teeth; no 248 FISHES. vomerine teeth are apparent, and the number of branch- iostegals appears to be but five. The vent is normal in its position. Vertebras 28. Pharyngeals as in Aphodo- derus^ separate, with sharp teeth. Its nearest relationships appear to be with the Aphodo- deridce. Two fossil genera, lately described by Prof. Cope, Erismatopterus and Amp/iiplaya, are perhaps allied to Elassoma. * Mouth small, oblique, the lower jaw the longer; jaws apparently with but one row of stout conical teeth ; dorsal spines live ; anal spines three; branchiostegal membranes broadly con- nected across the chest; body elongate, compressed; caudal fin rounded; cheeks and opercles scaly; bones of head entire. .ELASSOMA, 1. /. ELASSOMA, Jordan. ELASSOMES. 1. E. zonata, Jordan. Head 3 in length; depth 3^; olive green, finely punctate, sides with eleven dark verti- cal bands; a distinct round black spot behind the shoulder, D. IV, 10; A. Ill, 6; length of specimens known, one inch. Lower Mississippi region and S. W.; specimens seen from Arkansas and Texas. FAMILY XCIII.-APHODODERID^E. (The Pirate Perches.) Vent anterior, usually in front of the ventral fins; dor- sal fin single, high, with but three or four spines; ventrals thoracic, without spines and with seven soft rays; pre- orbital, preopercle and other bones of head strongly serrated; teeth on jaws and palate; scales ctenoid; branchiostegals six; ccecal appendages about twelve; air bladder simple. APHODODEKID^E. — XCIH. 249 The two species known inhabit lowland waters, and are remarkable for their voracity and for their nocturnal habits. The unusual position of the vent (as in Ambly- opsidoB] distinguishes them widely from the Percoid fishes. The relations of this group are obscure. It much re- sembles the Haplomi, and is perhaps as near to UmbridcB as to Centrarchidce. Although the vent is normally jugular, specimens occur with the vent variously poster- ior. On specimens with the vent between the ventral fins, the genus Asternotremia, Nelson was based. Others have the vent even farther back. From the observations of Prof. S. A. Forbes, it appears that in this group the position of the vent is not a generic character — not even specific, and that the four nominal species, Aphododerus sat/anus and A. cookianus, and Asternotremia isolepis and A. mesotrema, are to be reduced to one species of one genus. /. APHODODERUS, LeSueur. PIRATE PERCHES. 1. A. sayanus, (Gilliams) DeK. PIRATE PERCH. Head 3^ in length; depth 3f; greenish olive; a sub- orbital bar, and dark bars at base of caudal; caudal rounded; lower jaw longest; D. IV, 11; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 50 to 55; length 5 inches. N. Y. to La., in brooks near the coast; also throughout Mississippi Valley in sloughs and bayous. NOTE. — The position of the vent in this family varies with age; the young having the vent behind the ventrals, the adult in front — the difference being due to the prolongation of the rectum. 250 FISHES. FAMILY XCIV.-SCLENID^E. (The Maigres.} Body compressed, often elongate, covered with ctenoid scales; lateral line continuous, often running up on the caudal fin; teeth in villiform bands, sometimes with canines; vomer and palate toothless; opercles weakly if at all serrated; bones of skull moro or less cavernous, with muciferous system highly developed; chin usually with pores or barbels; lower pharyngeals distinct, except in Haploidonotus and its relatives, where they are firmly united (pharyngognathous) as in the Labridw, dorsals two, distinct or slightly connected, the soft pary, most developed; vertical fins usually scaly; ventrals I, 5, thoracic; anal spines generally 1 or 2; air bladder large and often complicated (rarely wanting); stomach ccecal, with a few pyloric appendages. Chiefly marine, in temperate and warm regions, the following only in fresh water. Genera about twenty; species one hundred and ten, numerous on our coasts: * Lower jaw shorter, received within the upper; both jaws fully provided with teeth ; no canines ; lower pharyngeals united. (HAPLOIDONOTINJE.) f Body moderately elevated; depth about one third length; caudal double-truncate, slightly prolonged behind. HAPLOIDONOTUS, 1. ft Body greatly elevated at the shoulders; depth nearly half length ; caudal truncate, . . EUTYCHELITHUS, 2. /. HAPLOIDONOTUS, Rafinesque. BUBBLERS. = Amblodon, Raf. 1. H. grunniens, Raf. SHEEPSHEAD (Lakes). WHITE PERCH. GRUNTER. DRUM. Depth 3 in length; head 3^; back elevated forwards, and much compressed; spines strong; first anal spine short; the second very large, COTTID.E. — XGV. 251 attached to a stout bone ; grayish silvery, dusky above ; scales rather large and irregularly placed, punctate with black; D. IX— I, 30; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 54. Great Lakes, Mississippi Valley, etc., abundant. (Corvina oscula and C. grisea, of authors.) Three other species of this genus have been' described but their validity is extremely doubtful. Southward this species is considerably valued as food, but in the Great Lakes its flesh is ill-scented and worthless. The large " ear-bones " of this species are marked with a rude "Z," and are highly valued by Wisconsin boys as " lucky stones." 2. EUTYCHELITHUS, Jordan. LAKE HURON DRUMS. 1. £. richardsonii, (0. & V.) Jordan. MALASHEGAXAY. LAKE DHU.NL. Head and shoulders much elevated; pro- file very steep; eye moderate; mouth rather large; the lower jaw rather projecting; head nearly one-third of length; depth about one-half; anal spine stout (single?), one-third shorter than the soft rays; pectorals pointed, much longer than the ventrals; opercular bones all finely serrated; greenish .with dark bands on the back; D. IX — I, •>'.); A.I,;; lat. 1.54. Lake Huron. (I retain this genus with much doubt. No specimens except the original type are known, and this may have been merely a monstrosity of the ordinary Haploidonotus FAMILY XCV.— COTTID^E. (The Sculpms.) Fishes with the cheeks mailed (i. e., the suborbital bone extending backward over the cheeks, articulating with the preopercle); head broad, usually not externally bony, but always more or less spinous; eyes high up, near together; body sometimes scaly, or with a series of bony plates, naked in all our species; dorsals usually two, 252 FISHES. soft dorsal largest; pectorals large, without detached rays; ventrals thoracic, near together, usually imperfect, but developed in all our species; air bladder usually absent. Genera about twenty; species about 70. Mostly of the shores of northern regions; several small species abounding in the fresh waters of Europe, Asia and North America. In habits these fresh water species bear a strong resemblance to the Etheostomoids. All of them are singular looking fishes, and many of the marine species are hideous in appearance. OBS. — In the measurements given below, the total length of the body is understood inclusive of the caudal fin, not to base of caudal as in other cases. * Second dorsal moderately elevated, not remote from the first; preopercle with 1 to 3 spines. f No teeth on the palate (pharyngeal teeth present, as usual) ; ven- trals 1, 3; size small (length 2 to 3 inches). URANIDEA, 1. ft Palate with teeth; ventrals 1,4; size usually larger (length 3 to 6 inches). \ Skin smooth, excepting usually a small patch of minute spines in the axils of the pectorals. POTAMOCOTTUS, 2. \\ Skin beset, especially above the lateral line, with small hooked prickles ; preopercle armed with a strong sharp spine, curved like a cow's horn ; back sub-carinate ; caudal peduncle slender TAURIDEA, 3. *** Second dorsal very high, widely separated from the first; pre- opercle with 4 needle-like spines. • . . TRIGLOPSIS, 4. /. URANIDEA, DeKay. MILLER'S THUMBS. < Coitus^ Girard. * Slender, fusiform species ; depth 6 to 6i in length. 1. U. gracilis, (Heckel) Putnam. MILLER'S THUMB. LITTLE STAR GAZER. Tips of pectorals reaching fourth ray of second D., and first of anal; head 4 in total length; eye 4 in head; grayish, mottled. D. VIII — 16, COTTID^E. — XCV. 253 A. 11 or 12. New England and New York; the common Eastern species, found "quiescent" under stones, after the manner of the Darters. (U. quiescens, DeK.) [V. boleoides (Grd.), from Vermont, is said to be slenderer, and with larger fins. U.formosa, (Grd.) from stomachs of Lota, in deep water, L. Ontario, is more elongate, with shorter fins; it needs further examination. U. gobioides, (Grd.) is larger, much stouter and with larger mouth. It is from La Moille R., W. Vt.] 2. U. kumlieni, Hoy. KUMLIEX^S COTTUS. A slender species, with the head 3£ in length (without caudal); pectorals falling just short of anal; preopercular spine laro^e, directed upwards and backwards, not much hooked; dorsals and anal high; D. VI — 17; A. 12. Lake Michi- gan— in deep water. ** Stouter ; depth about 5| in total length. 2. U. viscosa, (Haldeman) Cope. SLIPPERY MILLER'S THUMB. Pectorals scarcely reaching second dorsal; head 4^ in total length; eye 5 in head; body sub- cylindrical, covered with a viscid skin; dusky, mottled; D. VIII— 17; A. 1-2. Streams of Penn., Md., Va., etc., frequent, often found in caves. (C. copei, Abbott.) 3. U. franklini, (Ag.) Jordan. FRANKLIN'S COTTUS. Pectorals scarcely reaching second dorsal; first dorsal scarcely lower than second; head 3f in total length; eye 4J in head; D. VIII— 17; A. 12. S. and E. shores of L. Superior. 4. U. hoyi, Putnam. HOY'S BULL-HEAD. Body small, short and thick; head 3^- in length, without caudal; pre- opercle with a prominent, sharp, straight spine directed backwards; below this a prominent spine directed down- wards, and one or two minute spines still lower; mouth 254 FISHES. contracted, with the lower jaw projecting; eyes very large 3|j- in head; ventral fins long, reaching about to vent; D. VI — 15; A. 11; L, 21. Lake Michigan — in deep water. 2. POTAMOCOTTUS, Gill. BLOBS. 1. P. meridionalis, (Grd.) Gill. CAVE BULL-HEAD. GOBLIN. BLOB. MUFFLE - JAWS. Head 3^ in length; depth 5; width of head 3£; P. reaching beyond begin- ning of soft dorsal, to anal; preopercle with a stout erect spine and two smaller ones below; mouth wide; palatine teeth unusually strong; lateral line very distinct, chain- like, sometimes vanishing behind, and sometimes not. Grayish, mottled, three cross blotches on back; D. VI to VIII-16; A. 12 or 13; V. 1, 4. N. C. to Ala., Tenn., and Ind., abounding in many of the streams issuing from the caves in the limestone region; the largest species of the genus, reaching a length of 6 inches. (C. merid- ionalis, Grd. P. carolinoe, Gill., P. zopherm, Jor.) 2. P. richardsonii, (Ag.) Gill. LAKE SUPERIOR MIL- LER'S THUMB. Pectorals shorter than head, scarcely reaching second dorsal; depth 6 in total length; head 4J; eye 5^- in head; vent near the middle of total length; D. VIII -18; A. 14. L. Superior; one of the largest species. 3. P. bairdii, (Girard) Gill. BAIRD'S BULL -HEAD. Peotorals long, reaching beyond beginning of anal; depth 6 to 6^- in total length; spinous dorsal very low, with a black bar; head 4^ in length; eye 4 in head; D. VI to VII— 16 ; A. 13. Ohio, etc. 4. P. alvordii, (Grd.) Gill. Similar to the preceding but stouter, with the pectorals rather shorter, and the dorsal spines higher, 7 or 8 in number; color dark, variegated; . — xcv. 255 spinous dorsal with two black spots; D. VII — 16; A. 13. Rivers, Mich, to Ills, and Minn. 5. P. wilsoni, (Grd.) Gill. WILSON'S BULL -HEAD. Rather larger than the last; spinous dorsal higher; and the upper rays of the pectoral fins branched; Pennsyl- vania to Indiana. 3. TAURIDEA, Jordan & Rice. Cow - FACED SCULPINS. 1. T. spilota, (Cope) Jordan & Rice. RICE'S SCULPIN. Head and body elongate, depressed; head 34 in length; without caudal; body abruptly contracted opposite base of anal, forming an extremely slender caudal peduncle; head very broad and flat, as broad as long; the profile rising rapidly from occiput to dorsal, which runs along a sort of keel; eyes close together, entirely superior; pre- opercular spine extremely large, hooked backwards, and slightly spiral, giving to the physiognomy a wonderful resemblance to that of a cow; three spines hooked down- wards below the large one, the lower concealed; base of opercle with a strong spine directed downwards; head smooth; space above lateral line behind head covered with small stilf prickles, visible as small black specks when the skin is dry; no spines in the axillary region; coloration quite unlike that of our other Cottoids; pale brown, finely speckled and mottled with darker; belly white; D. VIII — 17; anal 12; ventrals I, 4. Lake Michi- gan and tributaries — in deep water. (Cottopsis ricei, Nelson; U Mm' <1ea spilota, Cope.) This species has been thus far referred to as a Cottopsis, but it has little affinity with C. asper. Cottopsis has essentially the character of Potamocottus, but the skin above is denselv villous, covered thickly with short velvety projections. 256 PISHES. In Tauridea, the prickles are much less numerous, but are longer and stiffer. The coloration and form of the body are essentially the same in Cottopsis and Pota- mocottus, in Tauridea, quite different. Perhaps these three genera should all rather be considered as sub- generic sections of Uranidea. 3. TRIG LOPS IS, Girard. LAKE SCULPINS. = Ptyonotus, Giinther. 1. T. thorn psoni, Grd. DEEP WATER LAKE SCULPIN. Body elongate; depth 7 in total length; head 3^; eyes very large, 4 in head; D. VI — 18; A. 15. Great Lakes (L. Ontario, L. Michigan) in deep water; till lately known only from remains found in the stomachs of Lake Trout and Ling, i FAMILY XCVI.— GOBIID^E. - (The Gobies) Body elongated, low, naked or scaly; dorsals two, sometimes united, the spines flexible and less developed than the soft rays; anal similar to soft dorsal ; ventrals 1, 5 (rarely 1, 4), sometimes united, forming a disk; gill openings narrow; teeth generally small; a prominent papilla near the vent, as in the Blennies; air bladder usually wanting; no pyloric appendages. Genera thirty; species three hundred and twenty-five. Of the seas of temperate and tropical regions, found on the bottoms near the shore. A few species inhabit both salt and fresh water. * Body naked; ventrals united. . . . GOBTOSOMA, 1. i NOTE. — The number of species of fresh water Cottoids as here given is much too great, as not more than seven of them are certainly distinguishable. The current genera might with little violence be all reunited to Coitus. XCVII. 257 1. GOBIOSOMA, Girard. NAKED GOBIES. 1. G. molesia, Grd. Dusky brown; head 3^ in length; D. VII — 12; A. 12. Coast of Texas, entering rivers. A single specimen in the Museum of Comp. Zoology from the Ohio R., near Louisville (Putnam.) SUB - ORDER -A^ACAJSTTHESTI. (The Jugular Fishes.} FAMILY XCVIL-GADID^E. (TJie God Fislws) Body elongated, covered with small smooth scales; dorsal fins 1, 2 or 3, occupying most of the back; rays of posterior part well developed; vertical fins never entirely united (as in some related families); ventrals jugular, usually several-rayed; gill openings wide; air bladder usually present; no pseudobranchias; pyloric coeca usually in large numbers (30 or more in Lota). Genera about twenty-five; species about seventy. An important family, found chiefly in the northern seas; a single genus inhabiting the lakes and larger streams of the northern parts of Europe and America. * Chin with a barbel ; dorsals 2; anal single; teeth villitbrm. LOTA, 1. /. LOTA, Cuvier. LIXGS. 1. L. maculosa, (LeS.) Cuv. LIXG. BUEBOT. LAKE LAWYER. EEL-POUT. LAKE CUSK. Dark olive, thickly marbled with blackish; yellowish or dusky beneath; head broad, depressed; body sub-cylindrical in front, com- pressed behind; upper jaw (usually) longest; D. 13 — TO; A. G8; V. T; length H to 24- feet. Great Lakes and streams of New England, north to the Arctic Circle, 17 258 FISHES. abundant; rather rare in the Miss. Valley. A curious fish, rarely used for food, although the livers are said to be delicious. \L. maculosa, (Les.) Guv. L. compressa, (Les.) and L. brosmiana, Storer. .L. inornata, DeK., etc.] The common European species (L. vulgar is, Cuv.) seems to be the same, but the American name, maculosa, is the older. SUB- OBDER-HEMIBKAISrCHl. (The Half-Qilled Fishes.) FAMILY XCVIII.-GASTEROSTEID^E. (The Sticklebacks) Small fishes with the body elongated and compressed; caudal peduncle very slender; mouth large, with the cleft oblique; villiform teeth on jaws and pharyngeals; bran- chiostegals three; opercles unarmed; sub-orbital bone articulated with the preopercle (as in Cottidce, with which these fishes were formerly associated); skin naked or with bony plates; dorsal preceded by two or more isolated spines; ventrals abdominal, of a stout spine, accompanied by a rudimentary ray; air bladder simple; a fewpyloric coeca. Genera about five; species twenty- five or less, in fresh waters and arms of the sea in north- ern Europe and America. * Dorsal with 2 to 6 free spines. f Sides mailed ; a serrated bony ventral cuirass and usually a bony caudal keel ; dorsal spines not in a right line. GASTEROSTEUS, 1. ff Sides naked; no caudal keel; ventral cuirass reduced, not serrated. \% Dorsal spines not in a right line when erected, the anterior ones highest; ventral plates 2 — not on median line, caudal peduncle very slender. , . APELTES, 2. GASTEROSTEID^;. — XCVILT. 259 \\ Dorsal spines in the same line, the lowest in front; ventral plate single, on the middle line of abdomen; caudal peduncle stouter EUCALIA, 3. ** Dorsal spines 7 or more; sides mailed or not; dorsal spines not in a right line. PYGOSTEUS,. 4. /. GASTEROSTEUS, Linnaeus. MAILED STICKLEBACKS. 1. G. noveboracensis, C. & V. NEW YORK STICKLE- BACK. Maine to Cape Hatteras, coastwise; sometimes ascending streams. 2. AfELTES, DeKay. NAKED STICKLEBACKS. < Gasterosteus, L. 1. A. quadracus, (Mitch.) Brevoort. FOUR-SPINED STICKLEBACK. Abundant, with the preceding. 2. EUCALIA, Jordan. NEST - BUILDING STICKLEBACKS. 1. E. inconstans, (Kirtland) Jordan. BROOK STICKLE- BACK. OHIO STICKLEBACK. Head about 34- in length; depth nearly 4; spines rather low; ventral spine about equal to eye; color olivaceous, marbled with darker; males in spring jet black, finely punctate; D. Ill to V— I, 10; A. I, 10; length 2£ inches. Ohio to Minne- sota and Kansas, chiefly northward; abundant in sluggish streams; an interesting species, remarkable for its pug- nacity and for its nest-building habits. Var. pygmcea, (Agassiz) Jordan. LAKE SUPERIOR STICKLEBACK. Depth 3f in length; head 3^; caudal peduncle short and stout; body shorter and deeper than in the preceding; vent much nearer tip of caudal than snout; color similar; D. Ill or IV— I. •'»; A. I, 6. L. Superior. Var. cayuga, Jordan. CAYUGA LAKE STICKLEBACK. Head 3^ in length; depth 4^; spines all high; caudal 260 FISHES. peduncle slender; vent much nearer snout than tip of caudal; D. IV— I, 10; A. I, 10. Cayuga L., N. ¥., dredged in deep water (Wilder). Probably this and the preceding are varieties of the variable E. inconstans. Length IJ inches. 4. PYGOSTEUS, Brevoort. MAXY-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 1. P. occidentalis, (C. & V.) Brevoort. TEX-SPIXED STICKLEBACK. Coastwise, abundant; sometimes ascend- ing streams. Var. nebulosus, (Ag.) Jordan. MANY - SPIXED LAKE STICKLEBACK. Head 3.} in length; ventral spine long; caudal keeled; sides not mailed; silvery, much clouded with olive; D. IX — 10; A. I, 8. Great Lakes (not distinct from preceding except in its fresh-water habits.) 2. P. mainensis, (Storer) Brev. MAINE STICKLEBACK. Sides with a serrated plate; body banded; D. VII — I, 9; A. 1, 8. Kennebec R., Maine. SUB-ORDEE.-PEECESOCES. (The Silver sides.) FAMILY XCIX.-ATHERINID/E. (The Silver sides.) Body elongated, more or less compressed, covered with rather small cycloid scales; sides with a bright distinct silvery band in all known species; dorsal spines flexible and feeble; teeth small, numerous. Small, car- nivorous fishes of warm regions, usually swimming in schools near the shore; a few species in permanently fresh water. Genera about five; species forty -five. CYPRINODONTID.E. — C. 261 Besides the following strictly inland species, the common Dotted Silverside [Chirostoma notatum (Mitch.) Gill] ascends rivers from the sea. * Mouth very oblique; the upper jaw plane above, concave with in; the lower jaw correspondingly convex, the protractile inter maxillaries forming a peculiar roof-like beak. LABIDESTHES, 1. /. LABIDESTHES, Cope. RIVER SILVERSIDES. 1. L sicculus, Cope. SILVER SKIP -.TACK. RIVER SILVERSIDE. Depth 6 in length; head 44; eye 3£ in head; anal long, nearly one-third of length of body; scales small; pale olive, translucent, dotted with black, the silver lateral band very distinct; D. IV— 11; A. I, 23; lat. 1. 75; length 3 to 4 inches. Western streams and ponds, Mich, to Ills, and Tenn.; abundant where found, but not noticed till comparatively lately. A very slender and elegant species of delicate organism. The peculiar "duck-like muzzle" is said to resemble that of some Cyprinodonte, especially the Central American Belone- sox. SUB-OEDER-HAPLOMI. (The Toothed Minnows.} FAMILY C.-CYPRINODONTID^E. (The Cyprinodonts.) Head and body scaly; no barbels; margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries only; teeth in both jaws and on pharyngeals well developed; dorsal fin far back; caudal usually rounded; no adipose fin; lateral line rudi- mentary; air bladder simple; no pyloric cceca; head more or less flattened above, the lower jaw usually longer; sexes commonly unlike, the female larger; anal 262 FISHES. of male often modified into a sword-shaped intromittent organ ; chiefly viviparous. Small fishes of fresh or brackish waters in both con- tinents; most abundant in warm regions. Genera twenty- five; species one hundred and twenty. A recently dis- covered Cyprinodont (Protistius, Cope) from S. A. is said to have a rudimentary spinous dorsal fin, indicating a close relationship between this family and the Percesoces. Our numerous species are not well known, and the current genera are but indifferently characterized. One species (Girardinus formosus) from S. C. and Florida is said to be the smallest known vertebrate. The species here mentioned are carnivorous surface swimmers; many southern species feed on mud and slime. * Intestinal canal short, but little convoluted; bones of eacli mandibilary firmly united ; carnivorous species ; anal fin not modified into an intromittent organ ; ventrals present, f Teeth in a single series, incisor-like, notched ; dorsal nearly over ventrals ; body stout and deep. CYPRINODON, 1. ff Teeth all pointed, in bands. a. Dorsal fin beginning in advance of anal. b. Branchiostegals 6 HYDRARGYRA, 2. bb. Branchiostegals 5. . . . -FUNDULUS, 3. aa. Dorsal beginning directly opposite anal ; both fins large ; branch iostegals 4; coloration peculiar. XENISMA, 4. aaa. Dorsal beginning behind origin of anal ; branchiostegals 5 ZYGONECTES, 5. /. CYPRINODON, Lacepede. MUMMKIIOGS. 1. C. variegatuSf Lac. The common coastwise species, entering streams. 2. HYDRARGYRA, Lacepede. MAY FISHES. 1. H. majalis, (Bloch & Schn.) C. & V. The common coastwise species — largest of our CyprinodontidcG. CYPKINODONTID^E. — C. 263 3. FUNDULUS, Lacepede. KILLIFISHES. 1. F. diaphanus, (Les.) Ag. BARRED KILLIFISH. SPRING MUMMICHOG. Sides silvery olive, with twelve to fifteen distinct, narrow, blackish, vertical bars; head rather narrow; D. 13; A. 13; lat. 1. 42. Coastwise, abundant, but ascending streams to their sources, hence found in clear springs as far inland as Mich. (Cope), Wisconsin (Copeland), Illinois, Colorado (Yarrow), etc. [F. multifaxi-i'itus, (Les.) Val.] 2. F. menona, Jordan & Copeland. Similar but larger, and the vertical bars bluish white on a darker ground. D. 12; A. 10; lat. 1. 48. Rock River, Wis. 3. F. heterocliius, (L.) Gthr. A common species of the coast, ascending streams; D. 11; A. 11; lat. 1. 35. 4. F. n/grofasc/atus,(LeS.)C.&V. D. 10; A. 9; lat. 1. 33; males with numerous silvery cross bars; females with black ones. With the preceding. 4. XENISMA, Jordan. STUD FISHES. 1. X. catenata, (Storer) Jordan. STUD FISH. MAY FISH. Pale steel blue, sides with series of bright bronze spots, forming very distinct longitudinal streaks; head with bright green stripes; $ dull; throat and bars on dorsal and anal bright orange; D. 14; .A. 15; lat. 1. 47; length 6 inches. Tenn. R.; one of the handsomest of the family. (JT. stellifera, Jor., from Alabama River, with the spots not in rows, is a still more brilliantly colored species.) 5. ZYGONECTES, Agassiz. TOP Mixxows. < ffaplochilus, Giinther. * Body elongate, rather slender. (Zygonectes.) 264 FISHES. 1. Z. notatus, (Raf.) Jor. BLACK- SIDED KILLIFISH. TOP MINNOW. Depth 4^- in length; head 4; head broad, depressed; clear pale olive with a few dots above; a wide purplish-black band along sides from snout through eye. to caudal, its margin usually serrated; D. 9; A. 11; lat. 1. 34; length 2^ inches. Miss. Valley; abundant (Z. pulchellus and tenellus, Grd., F. aureus, Cope, Z. olivaceus, Ag., etc.) ** Body short, deep, much compressed. (Micristius, Gill.) 2. Z. noiiii, Agassiz. STRIPED TOP MINNOW. A broad band and several dotted lines along sides; the darker continuous bands alternating with fainter inter- rupted ones; males transversely banded; silvery below. Mississippi Valley and Southern streams. 3. Z. melanops, (Cope) Jordan. Yellowish brown; belly golden; a black spot below eye; fins dotted; D. 6; A. 8; lat. 1. 31. Neuse R. to Illinois. 4. Z. di'spar, Ag. STRIPED MINNOW. Depth 4J in length; head 3f ; the width of interorbital space f length of head; the width between the eyes above nearly twice as great as below; snout broadly rounded; fins small; D. 7; A. 9; lat. 1. 34; color bluish, each scale with a bronze spot forming very regular longitudinal lines, which are very distinct; males with dark cross bars; very small; L. 1^-. Rivers and lakes of Indiana and Illinois, a singular and handsome species. FAMILY 01.— UMBRID^E. (The Mud Minnows.) Small fishes like the Cyprinodonts in most respects, but with the mouth different; margin of upper jaw formed by the intermaxillaries mesially and by the max- illaries laterally; head and body scaly; no lateral line; 265 scales moderate, cycloid; lower jaw longest; dorsal far back; caudal fin rounded; gill openings wide; teeth villifonn, on jaws, vomer and palatines. Genus one (or two); ( Melanura has never been properly distinguished from Umbra); species two, Umbra crameri of Austria and the following. Both are found in sluggish brooks in mud or among weeds. " A locality which, with the water perfectly clear, will appear destitute of fish, will perhaps yield a number of mud fish on stirring up the mud at the bottom and drawing a seine through it. Ditches in the prairies of Wisconsin, or mere bog-holes, apparently affording lodgment to nothing beyond tad- poles, may thus be found filled with Meltumras" (Baird.) 1. MELANURA, Agassiz. MUD MINNOWS. < Umbra ) Griinther. 1. M. limi, (Kirtland) Agassiz. MUD MINNOW. MUD DACE. DOG FISH. Depth about 4 in length; head 3^; head rather large, flattish above; greenish or dark olive; sides with narrow pale bars, often obscure; a distinct black bar at base of caudal; D. 14; A. 9; V. 6; lat. 1. 35; length 2 to 4 inches. Lake Champlain to Minne- sota, chiefly northward and westward; most abundant in Wisconsin; rare in Ohio Valley; usually associated with E i./<:;/:*, DeK.) 2. POMOLOBUS, Rafinesque. GASPEREAUS. 1. P. pseudoharengus, (VTils.) Gill. ALEWIFE. G.\ — PEREAU. SPRING HERRING. Head 4 in length; eye 4 in head; bluish, sides iridescent; D. 18; A. 18; V, 9. Newfoundland to Florida, entering rivers, sometimes land-locked in ponds ; a common .food fish. (A. tyrannus, DeK. A. cyanonoton, Stor., etc., etc.) Var. lacustris, Jordan. CAYUGA LAKE SHAD. Head 4 in length; body much heavier forward than in the others; depth of head 4^ in length of body; eye large, longer than snout, 3 in head; scales large, loose; caudal peduncle in its narrowest place not half wider than eye; steel blue, punctate; sides silvery; D. 15; A. 19; lat. 1. 4">: 33 scutes in all, 13 behind ventrals. Cayuga L., N. Y., dredged in deep water. (Same as preceding.) 2. P. chrysochloris, Raf. OHIO GOLDEN SHAD. SKIP JACK. Head 4 in length; eye 4^ in head; body ellipti- cal, much compressed; scales large, high, rather firm; depth of head 5£ in length of body; caudal peduncle about twice width of eye; brilliant blue with green and golden reflections, silvery below; D. 18; A. 18; lat. 1. 55; 17 scutes behind ventrals. Ohio R. and lower Mississippi; a handsome species. Jaws with distinct teeth. 3. DOROSOMA, Rafinesque. GIZZARD SHADS. = Chatoessus, Cuvier. 1. D. cepediana, (LeS. ) Gill. HICKORY SHAD. GIZZARD SHAD. Head 4 in length; depth 2|; origin of 280 FISHES. dorsal behind ventrals, nearer snout than caudal; uni- form bluish gray; often with a dark shoulder blotch; I). 13; A. 32; lat. 1. 55. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, chiefly marine, but often land-locked in ponds, where it becomes D. insociabile, Abbott. Var. heterura, (Raf.) Jor. OHIO GIZZAKD SHAD. THREAD SHAD. Head 3^- in length; depth 2f to 3 in length; dorsal about midway, slightly behind ventrals; dorsal filament nearly one-fourth length of body; bluish, sides bright silvery. Ohio R. and lower Mississippi, apparently not descending to the Sea; also escaped into the Great Lakes. The difference between the curve of the ventral and dorsal outlines is greater in heterura than in the Eastern variety. SUB-OKDEK.— EVENTOGKATHL (The Carp-like Fishes.) FAMILY CVIIL— CYPRINID^E. (The Minnows.) Head naked, body scaly (except in Meda, etc.); mar- gin of upper jaw formed by interrnaxillaries alone; mouth toothless; lips much less developed than in the Catostomoids; barbels two to four (absent in most of our genera and not large in any); lower pharyngeal bones well developed, falciform, nearly parallel with the gill arches, each 'provided with one to three series of teeth in small number, rarely more than seven on each side;^ belly usually rounded, rarely compressed, never serrated; gill openings moderate, separated by a narrow isthmus; no adipose fin ; dorsal fin (in all our species) short, with less than ten rays; air bladder usually large, commonly divided into an anterior and a posterior lobe, rarely CYPRINID.E. — cvm. 281 wanting; stomach without appendages, appearing as a simple enlargement of the intestines. Small fishes of the fresh waters of the Old World and of Xorth America. Genera about one hundred and fifty, species seven hundred to one thousand; excessively abundant where found, both in individuals and in species, and from their great uniformity in size, form and color- ation, constituting one of the most difficult groups in all Natural History in which to distinguish species, Ours are mostly of smaller size than those of the Old World, several of the larger European types being represented in America by Catostomoid forms. Our largest species, Semotilus btdlaris, rarely attains a weight of three or four pounds, and a length of nearly eighteen inches. The smaller Hybopses and Hem&rwnicB scarcely reach a length of two inches. The spring or breeding dress in many genera is peculiar. Often the top of the head, and sometimes the whole dorsal region also, is covered in the males with rows of spinous tubercles, outgrowths from the epider- mis, and usually the skin of the muzzle is then swollen and charged with pigment. In Semotilus and CeratichtJnjs these tubercles are quite large and cover the front and sides of the head; in Pimephales and Hyborhynchus they are placed entirely on the front of the obtuse snout; in Campostoma the whole dorsal region, and sometimes the whole body, is rough with large tubercles; in LH. ••>'<- lus, Cliola, Lythrurus, Telestes, and Minnilus, the prickles are quite small and crowded on the upper sur- face of the head and neck. In some genera, the males in spring are adorned with bright tints of red, which give these little fishes a temporary brilliancy scarcely surpassed even by Trouts or Darters. In Luxilus, Lythrurus, C ainpostoma, and 282 FISHES. Semotilus, the red appears chiefly as pigment in the membranes- of some or all of the fins, the sides of the body being usually more or less flushed; in jR/iitiicktki/s and Gilo,) the black of a portion of the lateral band usually changes to red; in Chrosomus, and Phoxinus, the pigment lies mostly in the skin of the belly, and in Minnilus it is chiefly about the head and the bases of the fins. In Phnephales and Hyborhynchus, black pigment is deposited in the skin of the head, and in the species of the sub-genus Photogenis, satin - white pig- ment occurs in the fins. So far as is known to me, species of Hemitremia, Hybognathus, Coliscus, Phena- cobius, Exoglossum, Ericymba and some species of other genera show no special variations in the breeding season. NOTE. — Young Cyprinidm usually are more slender than adults of the same species, and the eye is always much larger ; they also frequently show a black lateral stripe and caudal spot which the adults may not possess. Spots on the fins are generally charac- teristic. The student will find it necessary from the first to examine very carefully the teeth of these fishes, as the genera, as now accepted, are largely based on dental characters. The pharyngeal bones in the smaller species can be removed by inserting a pin (or better, a small hook) through the gill-opening, under the shoulder-girdle. The teeth should be carefully cleaned with a tooth-brush, or better, a jet of water, and when dry may be examined by any sort of hand rnagnifying-glass. In most cases a principal row of four or five larger teeth will be found, in front of which is a set of one or two smaller ones. The two sides are usually but not always sym- metrical. Thus, "teeth 2, 4 — 5, 1," indicate two rows of teeth on each side, on the one side, four in the principal row and two in the lesser, on the other side five in the main row and one in the other. "Teeth 4 — 4" indicates a single row of four on each pharyngeal bone, and so on. In most of our genera, these teeth — or the principal ones, are " raptatorial," that is, hooked inward at the tips. A '• grinding " or CYPRfXID-E. — CVIII. 283 "masticatory" surface is an excavated space usually at the base of the hook. Sometime when no masticatory surface is present a lateral bevel of the edge of the tooth much resembles such a sur- face, and should bu carefully examined. In young individuals of many species the edges of the teeth are more or less crenate or serrate. This condition is permanent in the Southwestern genus Cypnnella and in Notemigonus. * Xative species; tins without serrated spines; dorsal tin short, of less than 10 rays. f Dentary bones slender, arched and widely separated except at their symphy.sis ; lower jaw not three-lobed. J Air-bladder suspended in the abdominal cavity and sur- rounded by many convolutions of the long alimentary canal, which is six to nine times the length of the body; (Camp. ee. Teeth raptatorial, more or less strongly hooked; ali- mentary canal usually short, about as long as body (in Notemigonus and Chrosomus somewhat elongate.) g. Lateral line complete (rarely obscure or wanting on the last five or six scales.) h. Teeth in the principal row 4—4. i. Teeth with masticatory surface developed. j. Dorsal fin beginning above some part of base of ventrals; anal basis short, its rays seven to nine. k. Teeth 4-4 ; scales normal. HUDSONIUS, 6. kk. Teeth 2, 4-4, 2; scales closely imbricated. LUXILUS, 7. jj. Dorsal fin beginning entirely behind ventrals, between ventrals and anal ; anal elongate, of ten to twelve rays; (small, elongate species with the mouth oblique, the teeth 2, 4 — 4, 2, and a black soot at base of dorsal fin in front.) LYTHRURUS, 8. ii. Teeth without masticatory surface. 1. Lips thin, normal ; opercular and mandibul- ary bones without externally visible muc- ous chambers. m. Dorsal fin beginning entirely behind CYP1UNID.E.— CVIII. 285 ventrals; body elongate, \vith the rnouth oblique, terminal and the head more or less pointed; scales large; anal basis somewhat elongate, the rays usually 10- teeth usually 2, 4—4, 2. MINXILUS, 9. mm. Dorsal tin beginning over ventrals; body rather shorter, but similar as to form, form of head, mouth, scales, etc. ; anal basis rather short; the rays usually 8. EPISEMA, 10. II. Suborbital, interopercle and base of mandible much dilated, cavernous, crossed by muc- ous channels, (readily seen under any cir- cumstances by looking at the head of the fish from below); snout thick; mouth small, inferior; teeth 1, 4—4, 0; dorsal over ventrals. . . ERICYMBA, 11. III. Lips thick, fleshy, the lower enlarged be- hind; mouth small, inferior; teeth 4— -4; dorsal fin beginning anterior to ventrals; elongate species,reseinbling young Suckers. PHEXACOBIUS, 12. hh. Teeth in the principal row 5 — 5 or 4 — 5 ; dorsal entirely behind ventrals. n. Anal basis not elongate, of nine or fewer rays ; teeth entirely without masticatory surface, two-rowed. o. Mouth normally large and oblique; scales small ; (a very large group embracing a very wide variety of forms ; the typical Western species are very large, with somewhat the aspect of Esox, with large mouth, depressed head, arched back and very slender caudal peduncle ; the Eastern species are small, but typically have very large oblique mouths and brilliant coloration in the spring; no black spot at the base of the dorsal in front.) TELESTES, 13. 286 FISHES. (00. Semotilm corporalis with a black spot at the base of the dorsal in front, and 8. lullaris a large species with large scales, have the bar- bel so minute as to be easily overlooked ; they may therefore be looked for here.) SEMOTILUS, 18. (000. Phoxiuus inarfjuritus, with small scales, a small, horizontal mouth, and short, rounded head, has the lateral line so nearly com- plete that it may be looked for here.) PHOXINUS, 16. nn. Anal basis elongate, of 12 to 15 rays; teeth 5 — 5, with grinding surface and the edges cre- nate-serrate ; belly sub-carinate ; body deep, much compressed, with small head, small, oblique mouth, and the lateral line greatly decurved ; alimentary canal elongate. NOTEMIGONUS, 14. gg. Lateral line incomplete or wanting. p. Dorsal behind ventrals ; scales very small ; mouth oblique. q. Teeth 4 — 5 or 5 — 5, with grinding surface; ali- mentary canal elongate. CHROSOMUS, 15. qq. Teeth I or 2, 5 — 4, 1 or 2, without grinding sur- face; alimentary canal short; body short and thick PHOXINUS, 16. pp. Dorsal over ventrals ; scales large ; teeth 4 — 5, (rarely 4 — 4) with grinding surface; alimentary canal short. . . . HEMITKEMIA, 17. dd. Maxillary provided with a small— often very minute —barbel; alimentary canal short; teeth hooked. r. Premaxillaries projectile, the skin of the lip separ- ated by a groove from that of the forehead. s. Teeth two-rowed, the principal row 4 — 5, without grinding surface; barbels minute, just above the angle of the mouth ; size large, dorsal fin in- serted more or less backwards. SEMOTILUS, 18. CYPRINLD^E. — CVIII. 287 88. Teeth in the principal row 4—4; the barbel at the extremity of the maxillary. t. Teeth with developed grinding surface; dorsal fin directly over ventrals; scales large; head broadj much depressed, nearly flat above, re- sembling the head of a Cypriiiodont. PLATYGOBIO, 19. tt. Teeth without grinding surface ; dorsal fin be- ginning over, slightly before or slightly behind ventrals ; head not 'flattened. CERATICHTHYS^O. rr. Premaxillaries not projectile, the skin of the lip^ continuous with that of the forehead ; teeth 2, 4 — 4, 2, without grinding surface ; dorsal behind ventrals ; barbel terminal ; scales very small ; mouth more or less inferior. . . . RHIXICHTHYS, 21. ff Dentary bones straight and flat, united throughout their length; mandible much incurved, tongue-like, a lobe on each side of it at base ; air bladder normal ; bones of head not cavernous; intermaxillaries not projectile. (Exoglos- siwe.) u. Teeth 1, 4 — 4, 1, hooked, without grinding surface; dorsal slightly behind ventrals; no barbels. EXOGLOSSUM, 22. ** Species introduced from the Old World ; dorsal very long and anal short, each preceded by a stout spine which is serrated behind. v. Mouth without barbels teeth compressed, 4 — 4. (Carassuna.) CARASSIUS, 23. vv. Mouth with four long barbels; teeth molar 1, 3 — 3, 1, (Cy- prinince.) CYPKINUS, 24. /. CAMPOSTOMA, Agassiz. STONE LUGGERS. 1. C. anoma/a, (Raf.) Ag. STONE LUGGER. STONE ROLLER. Brownish, with a brassy luster above, the scales more or less mottled with dark; a black vertical bar behind opercle; iris usually 'orange-red; dorsal and anal each with a dusky cross-bar about half way up, the 288 FISHES. rest of the fin olivaceous, or in spring males fiery orange; males in spring with many rounded tubercles on head, and usually the whole upper surface — in no other genus are these nuptial appendages so extensively developed— scales deep, rather small and crowded anteriorly; intes- tinal canal six to nine times the total length of the body, its numerous convolutions passing above and around the air-bladder, an arrangement found in Campostoma alone among all the Vertebrates; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 50 to 55; L. 4 to 8; herbivorous. Mississippi Valley, every where abundant; one of the most curious and interesting of American fishes. [G. dubium, (Kirt.) Cope. C. cal- lipteryx, gobioninum, etc., Cope.] 2. PIMEPHALES, Rafmesque. ROUND-HEADED MINNOWS. 1. P. prome/asf Raf. FAT-HEAD. BLACK HEAD. Head almost globular, black in adult males; snout in <3 with several large tubercles; body very short and deep; scales crowded; eye small; mouth very small and short; a large black dorsal blotch; males dusky; females oliva- ceous; D. I, 7; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 46; L. 2f Ohio Valley to Upper Missouri. Known at sight, as it resembles nothing else. 3. HYBORHYNCHUS, Agassiz. BLUNT-NOSED MINNOWS. 1. H. notatus, (Raf.) Ag. BLUNT - NOSED MINNOW. Brownish or bluish, a dusky shade along sides, sometimes forming a caudal spot; a distinct black spot on middle of front rays of dorsal; head short; snout in spring- males with disproportionately large tubercles, usually fourteen in all; no distinct barbel at each angle of the mouth; scales in front of dorsal small and crowded; D. I, 8; A. I. 7; lat. 1. 45; L. 3 to 4. • N. Y. to Tenn., Wis., and Mo.; very abundant in the Ohio Valley. . — cviir. 289 2. H. supsrciliosus, Cope. Head broader; a distinct barbel at each angle of the mouth; scales on sides high and narrow. With the preceding, of which it is perhaps a variety. 4. COLISCUS, Cope. COLISCUS. 1. C. par/eta/is, Cope. Silvery; D. I, 7; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 42. Missouri. 5. HYBOGNATHUS, Agassiz. BLUNT-JAWED MINNOWS. 1..H. nuchal is, Ag. BLUXT- JAWED Mixxow. Sub- orbital bones broad and short, not long and narrow as in the next; head 4f in length; eye small, shorter than snout, 4 to 44- in head; depth 44^ in length, about equal to length of head; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 38; L. 24-. Ohio Valley and W. This and the next may be readily known from the Hybopses, which they strongly resemble externally, by the peculiarities of the intestines. 2. H. argyr tis, Grd. SILVKKV Mixxow. Olivaceous green above, sides clear silvery with bright reflections; fins unspotted; eye large, longer than muzzle, 3 to 4 in head; depth 4^ in length; scales in front of dorsal quite large; lateral line decurved; head large, upper jaw heavy; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat, 1. 38; L. 5. X. J. to S. C. and W. to the Upper Missouri; abundant in the larger streams; one of our handsomest dace. (H. osmerimis, Cope, not in the least different.) 3. H. regius, Grd. ROYAL Mixxow. Head 5 in length; mouth small; bright silvery; D. I, 9; A. I, 9; L. 7; lat. 1. 38. Maryland and Virginia; a species similar to the preceding but apparently much larger; the two need further comparison. 290 FISHES. 6. HUDSON/US* Girard. MINNOWS. * Mouth inferior, horizontal, small (rarely oblique, and the teeth 4 — 4) ; dorsal over or in front of ventrals. f Teeth two-rowed ; body elongate, silvery, the head contained 5i to 6 times in total length, including caudal fin ; dorsal fin beginning in front of ventrals ; grinding surface of teeth often more or less distorted or even obliterated. (Hudsonius, Grd.) 1. H. storerianus, (Kirt.) Grd. STOKER'S MINNOW. Silvery, scales with black dots, forming a dark lateral stripe; snout blunt, about as long as eye; depth 5 in length; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 41. Great Lake region, etc. 2. H. fluviatilis, Grd. SPAWN-EATER. Silvery, often with dark shades; snout much shorter than eye, bluntly rounded; depth 4 in length; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 38; teeth usually 2, 4 — 4, 2. Lakes and rivers; abundant eastward. (Jfuds. flumatilis, Grd.) 3. H. amarus, (Grd.) " SMELT." Very similar, but paler and with the snout much less decurved, less blunt than the two preceding species; D. I, 7; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 38; teeth usually 1, 4—4, 1. Penn. to Ga. (H. phae'nna, Cope.) f f Teeth 4—4 ; body shorter, small ; head larger, 44- to 5 in length, with caudal fin ; dorsal fin beginning over ventrals ; small species, usually without bright colors. \ Mouth inferior or horizontal, small. a. Lateral line 43 to 45; a spot on dorsal fin m front. 4. H. tuditanus, Cope. Form, coloration and dentition of Hyborhynchus notatus, but with the alimentary canal * The name Hybopsis, usually applied to this genus, was apparently based on a species of Ceratichthys. Alburnops also sometimes used, on species of Luxilus. CYPRINID^E. CVIII. 29J short, and the dorsal spine not distinct; olivaceous: scales black edged; ~Z! scales in front of dorsal fin. In- diana; a species unknown to me. mi. Lateral line 36 to 37. 5. H. spectrunculus, Cope. Eye large; head broad and flat; a plumbeous lateral band and black caudal spot; fins reddish; A. I, 9. Tennessee River. 6. H. stram/neus, Cope. STRAW-COLORED Mixxow. Mouth small; snout very obtuse; body rather stout; coloration pale; 12 to 15 large scales in front of dorsal; a small, pale, insignificant species. Common in our Western streams. aaa. Lateral line 31 to 33. 7. H. procne, Cope. Scales large; caudal peduncle contracted and slender; dorsal region compressed and elevated; muzzle very obtuse; a plumbeous lateral band over black pigment; D. I, 8; A. I, 7. Pennsylvania X. J., etc., common; one of the smallest species. 8. H. missuriensis, Cope. Form stout, with large head and thick caudal peduncle; twelve scales before dorsal; colors rather pale; D. I, 8. Missouri, etc. 9. H. microstomus, (Raf.) Jordan. LOXG -HEADED Mixxow. Head elongated; a silvery band along sides and a series of black dots along lateral line; depth 5 in length; caudal peduncle not abruptly contracted; pec- torals long, nearly reaching ventrals; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 33. Va. to Ky. (H. longiceps, Cope.) 10. H. volucellus, Cope. LOXG - FIXXED Mixxo w. Head flattened, elongate, 3f in length; pectoral fins unusually long, reaching to ventrals; caudal peduncle slender; olivaceous, a dusky lateral band. Michigan and Wisconsin. 292 FISHES. ft Mouth larger, oblique; the jaws about equal. b. Lateral line 35. 11. H. fretensis, Cope. Body compressed and elong- ate, as in the genus Notropis • lateral line decurvrd; seventeen rows of scales in front of the dorsal; a broad plumbeous shade on sides. Mich, to 111. bb. Lateral line 44. 12. H. hoematurus, Cope. RED -TAILED MINNOW. Lateral line nearly straight; colors dull; sides not sil- very; a dusky spot at base of caudal; caudal fin dull, brick-red; anal short, I, 7. Tributaries of Lake Michigan. ** Teeth 1, 4 — 4, 1 ; dorsal fin inserted just behind vcntrals; fins and lower parts with milk-white pigment in spring, never red; dorsal with a large black spot on the last rays, about half-way up (an important feature). (Photoyenis, Cope.) 13. H. ga/acturus, (Cope) Jor. MILKY-TAILED SHINER. Bluish above, sides bright silvery, with bright reflections; base of caudal fin largely yellowish, or cream-color; teeth rarely serrate; head 4^- in length; depth 4f ; mouth large, nearly horizontal; body slender, more elongated and less compressed than in the next; scales smooth and firm, usually with dusky edges; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 40; L. 5. Cumberland River and S., abundant. Re- sembles the next, but larger, and with a larger mouth. 14. H.analostanus, (Girard) Jor. SILVER FIN. Leaden silvery; fins satin white in the breeding season; dorsal with a conspicuous black spot, as in the preceding; head 4 in length, rather short and deep; mouth rather small, very oblique, yet the lower jaw received within the upper in the closed mouth; body much compressed; depth 3f in length; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 35 to 40; L. 34-. Teeth usually more or less serrate. Cayuga L., N. Y. (S. H. Gage), to N. J., Va., and Ind., abundant. In full breed- ing dress one of the most exquisite of all our fishes. T<. Jcentuckiensis, Kirt., not of Raf. CYPRINED^. — CVHI. 293 7. LUX/LUS,Ratinesry much swollen, elevated into a sort of crest, sometimes nearly one-third of an inch higher than the level of the neck, covered with large tubercles; a stout species, with large scales which are not crowded anteriorly; young with a dark caudal spot; head 4 in length; depth nearly the same; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 40 to 45; L. 6 to 9. Penn. to Utah and S.; abundant almost every where; the most widely diffused of all our fresh water fishes. [ Acomus and Minomus^ Grd. * Lateral line with 60 to 65 scales- snout comparatively short; (Decadactylus. Raf.) 320 FISHES. 1. C. feres, (Mit.) LeS. COMMON SUCKER. WHITE SUCKER. Depth about equal to length of head, 4 to 4£ in length; olivaceous, sides silvery, with bright reflec- tions; males with the sides roseate in spring; D. I, 12; lat. 1. 63. U. S., abundant every where east of the Rocky Mountains. (G. communis, bostoniensis, teres, sucklii, etc., of authors.) ** Lateral line with about 100 scales; snout much produced. (Catostomus.) 2. C. longirostris, LeS. RED-SIDED SUCKER. LONG- NOSED SUCKER. Slender, depth less than length of head; sides with a bright red band, and upper part of head with small tubercles in males in Spring; D. T, 10; lat. 1. 110. Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi and North- ward, abundant. [C. hudsonius, LeS., C. aurora, Ag.; C. griseus and C. lactarius, Grd. ; C. forsterianus, (Rich.) not C. forsterianuS) Ag., which is probably C. commer- sonii.] 8. CYCLEPTUS, Rafinesque. SUCKERELS. = Rhytidostomus, Heckel. 1. C. e/ongatus, (LeSueur) Ag. BLACK HORSE. GOURD-SEED SUCKER. MISSOURI SUCKER. Body fusiform, not greatly compressed; head and mouth very small; depth four to five in length; head 0^; eye small, well back, 6 to 7 in head; lobes of dorsal and caudal much atten- uated; longest dorsal rays a little longer than head; pectorals falcate, as long as head; anal fin small; scales with the exposed surfaces broad; $ jet black above, sides black with a coppery luster; snout minutely tuberculate in spring; ? olivaceous; D. 30; A. 7; lat. 1. 50; length 2 to 3 feet; weight 2 to 15 fbs. Mississippi Valley, in large streams. A singular species, quite unlike any other. CATOSTOMID^. — CIX. 321 9. CARP/ODES, Rafinesque. CARP SUCKERS. * First rays of dorsal very much elevated m and attenuated, about as long as the base of the fin. f Muzzle conic, projecting. 1. C. velifer, (Raf.) Ag. -SPEAR FISH. SAIL FISH. QUILLBACK. SKIMBACK. Muzzle conic, much less obtuse than in the next; depth 2^- in length; head 3f ; eye 4J in head; color pale, scarcely silvery, as in all the species; D. ->'2; lat. 1. 37. Ohio R. tf. Muzzle very abruptly obtuse. a. Anterior suborbital bone sub-triangular, longer than deep. 2. C. selene, Cope. Moox CARP - SUCKER. Back steeply elevated; intermaxillaries far in advance of orbit; D. 26; V. 10; A. 8; lat. 1. 37; silvery. Great Lakes, abundant. aa. Anterior suborbital bone, much deeper than long. 3. C. cutisanserinus, Cope. LOXG-FIXXED CARP SUCKER. Mouth usual in position, the upper lip in advance of the nostrils, etc.; dorsal fin beginning mid- way of body more elevated than in any other species; snout with small tubercles in spring males; head 4 in length; depth 24; D. 26; V. 10; A. 8. Ohio Valley, abundant. 4. C. difformis, Cope. DEFORMED CARP SUCKER. Eye very large, and well anterior; the front edge of the lower jaw in line with the anterior rim of the orbit, and the end of the upper lip reaching the line of the anterior rim of the orbit, the physiognomy being therefore peculiar in the great obtuseness of the head; insertion of dorsal anterior to middle of the head; D. 24; A. 8; V. 9; lat. 1. 35. Ohio River. ** Anterior rays of dorsal scarcely filamentous, little more than half the length of the base of the fin. b. Head comparatively urge, 3i to 4 in length. 21 322 FISHES. 5. C. bison, Ag. BUFFALO CARP SUCKER. Muzzle very long, conic; eye median, large, 4^ in head; body elongate; depth 3 in length; dorsal fin elongate, nearly as much so as in C. velifer; D. 28; lat. 1. 40. Missis- sippi Valley. 6. C. cyprinus, (LeS.) Ag. SILVEKY CAKP SUCKER. Muzzle prominent, but rather obtuse; eye small, anterior, 5 in head; depth 2|- in length; longest dorsal rays about | the length of the base of the fin; D. 28, or 29; lat. 1. 40. N. Y. to Ala., East of the Alleghenies. bb. Head smaller, 4£ to 5 in length. 7. C. thompsonif Ag. LAKE CARP SUCKER. Short and stout; dorsal region much arched; scales narrowly exposed; longest dorsal ray reaching the 22d; eye small, 5J in head; head 4J in length; depth 2J; D. 28; lat. 1. 41. Great Lakes. 8. C. carpio, (Raf.) Jordan. RIVER CAKP SUCKER. Body more elongate, the depth 3 in length, the head small, -nearly 5; longest dorsal rays shortest, reaching to • the 16th ray; eye small, anterior; D. 30; lat. 1. 36, the largest species, approaching Ichthyobus. Ohio Valley, abundant. (C. nummifer, Cope.) 10. ICHTHYOBUS, Rafinesque. BUFFALO FISH. (Sclerognatkus, Val.) * Body robust, little compressed, the dorsal region not especially elevated. 1. /. buba/us, (Raf.) Ag. BROWN BUFFALO - FISH, Depth 3£ in length; head the same; eye small, 6^- in head; depth of head five-sixths its length; opercle very wide, forming nearly half the length of head — convex and furrowed; scales very large; dull brownish olive, not silvery; D. 27; A. 10; lat. 1. 40; length (of specimen) CATOSTOMID^E. — CIX. 323 27 inches; weight 15 fibs. Mississippi Valley (described from specimen from Wabash R.) ** Body shorter, considerably compressed; the dorsal region elevated. (These three the young of the preceding!) 2. /. cyanelius, Nelson. BLUE BUFFALO. Head 3J in length; depth 24-; eye 4^ in head; longest dorsal ray reaching 18th; head very short, high and thick; mouth quite small, oblique, somewhat overlapped by the obtuse snout; insertion of dorsal rather anterior; steel blue, paler below; D. T, 30; lat. 1. 38. Illinois River. 3. /. rauchii, Ag. " Dorsal much higher than in I. bubal its; all other fins much larger and scales not higher than long." (Ag.) Mississippi River, Burlington, Iowa. An unrecognized species. Specimens in my collection from near Burlington agree with I. cyanellus, except that the insertion of the dorsal is midway. 4. /. ischyrus, Nelson. HEAVY BUFFALO. "This is a very stout and heavily built species; depth 2^- in length; head extremely broad between the eyes and but slightly convex; its length 3^ times in length of body; snout short and rounded, opercular apparatus large; depth of head 14- in its length; width of head 1-J; eye 6f in head, !§• in snout, 4 in interorbital space; caudal peduncle a little deeper than long; scales 7 — 37 — 7, nearly uniform, a little crowded anteriorly, finely punctate; fins all small; dorsal I. 27; A. I, 8; bluish-olive above, yellow- ish below; fins blackish.*' (AWtfo/*.) Rivers of Illinois. //. BUBALICHTHYS, Agassiz. BUFFALO FISHES. 1. B. urusf Ag. BLACK BUFFALO. BIG -MOUTHED BUFFALO. Body much less elevated and less com- pressed than in _/?. bubaUmix, the back not at all carinated: axis of body over the ventrals about at the 324 FISHES. lateral line, and but an eighth or tenth further from the dorsal line than the ventral; greatest depth midway of body over ventrals and just in advance of dorsal; depth 3^ in length; head strongly transversely convex, almost ridged above, less narrowed downwards than in bubu- lus ; greatest depth of head 1^ in its length; interor- bital space 2^; eye=:snout 5J in head, much smaller than in bubalus • snout scarcely projecting; no depres- sion at occiput; an almost even curve from snout to dorsal; head bounded by curves, therefore not trian- gular, thicker, larger, and less pointed than in bubalus ; mouth large, with a large and pappillose lower lip; man- dible longer than eye; scales 8 — 41 — 7; fin rays D. I, 30; A. I, 11; dorsal not so high nor so rapidly depressed as in bubalus, the longest ray scarcely half the length of the base of the fin, reaching to the, loth, the 9th ray, half the height of the first; anal reaching caudal, its middle rays more rounded, not so much shorter than the first; pectorals as long as ventrals, both longer than anal and less than head; colors very dark; fins all black. Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. 2. B. altus, Nelson. DEEP-BODIED BUFFALO. Body very deep and much compressed; the back is much arched and the profile descends steeply in front to end of snout, not forming an angle with it as in many species of Ichthyobus; depth of body 2J in length; head 4 in length; greatest thickness of body 1| in length of head; depth of head 1|- in its length; width 1|- in length; eye 5^- in head, 2£ in interorbital space, which is but little rounded; lateral line perfectly straight from upper edge of opercle to caudal; scales 8 — 35 — 5; dor- sal 1. 25; A. I, 9; color in spirits, dull yellowish-olive; fins dusky. Illinois. (Nelson. Same as the next!) CATOSTOMID^E. — CIX. 325 3. B. bubalus, Agassiz. SMALL - MOUTHED BUFFALO. Body considerably elevated and compressed above; the dorsal region sub-carinate; belly thicker; depth 2f in length; axis of the body above the ventrals, below the lateral line and nearly twice as far from the back as the belly; greatest depth of body at beginning of dorsal, which is in advance of ventrals, and a trifle nearer the snout than- the caudal; head wide, rounded across the top, wider above eyes than across chaeks; iiiterorbital space 2 in head; head 4 in length of body, its greatest depth 1^ in its length; eye=snout 4 in head, much larger than in B. niger" mouth small, notably smaller than in B. niger, and with thinner lips, which are granu- lated and feebly plicate; mandible about equal to eye; pharyngeal bones very strong, with large teeth, which grow larger downward; intestinal canal long, longer than body; a decided occipital depression; head trian- gular in outline, viewed from the side; ante-orbital region strongly elevated and curved; length of top of head 2f in distance from snout to occiput; nostrils large; scales 8 — 40 — 6 in two specimens, 8 — 39 — 6 in one, 7 — 39—5 in the fourth; fin rays D. I, 28 in two, I. 29 in rest; A. I, 10; V. 10; dorsal elevated in front and rap- idly declined, the seventh ray half the length of the third or longest; the latter reaches to the base of the 18th ray, or more than half the base of the fin; anal reaching caudal, its rays rapidly shortened; pectorals shorter than anal, anal than ventrals, all than head. Mississippi Valley, abundant. (13. bubalus, Ag., not C. bubalus, Raf.) 326 FISHES. ORDER AA.— JSTEMATOGNATHI. (The Shcat Fishes.\ Skin naked or with bony plates; no true scales; bar- bels always present, maxillary bone rudimentary and forming the base of the longest barbel; margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries only; sub-opercle absent; air bladder generally present; usually an adipose fin, and in all our species a spine in the dorsal and pectorals; ventrals abdominal. Chiefly fresh water fishes, inhabit- ing most regions, especially abounding in South America. The leading family is SiluridcB. FAMILY CX.-SILURID^E. (The Oat Fishes.) General characters as above given; genera one hund- red or more; species nearly seven hundred; a very large family abounding in the fresh waters of America and the warmer parts of the Old World; a few are marine. Our species constitute a peculiar group termed by Dr. Gill Ichthceluri. The characters of this group are as follows : The body is more or less elongated, compressed posteriorly, and terminating in a well-developed caudal fin. The skin is naked and unprovided with sucking cups; the head in profile presents the appearance of a more or less elongated cone, and is covered with a skin which is generally quite thick; it is more or less flat- tened, and broad above, and gradually becomes narrowed to the convex snout; there is never a casque, or helmet; the supraoccipital terminates in a point; there are eight barbels: the two maxillary, constant in the family; a pair in front of the posterior nasal apertures; and two pairs arranged in a curved line behind the lower jaw; the nostrils form nearly a transverse parallelogram SILUEID^E.— CX. 327 between the intermaxillaries and the eyes; the anterior are suboval or subcircular, and the posterior linear, with a raised margin, from the front of which the upper bar- bels originate; the eyes are generally placed in the anterior half of the head; the dorsal and pectoral fins are each provided with a stout, pungent spine. The adi- pose fin is developed, not rayed, and the rays of the dorsal fin are few in number. The branchial apertures are ample, continued from the supero-posterior angles of the opercula to beneath the throat. The air-bladder is well developed. The species commonly inhabit deep or sluggish waters, and are very tenacious of life — especially those of Amiurus. * Adipose fin with its posterior margin free, not connected with the caudal fin. f Intermaxillary band of teeth convex in front, abruptly trun- cate behind, without lateral backward processes ; brauchi- ostegals 8 or 9 (rarely 10 or 11); ventral fins normally with 8 rays. \ Supraoccipital bone prolonged backward, its apex emar- ginate, receiving the pointed anterior end of the second interspinal, thus forming a continuous bony bridge from the snout to the base of the dorsal ; branchiostegals 8 or 9; head elongate; mouth small, terminal, the upper jaw the longer ; anal fin elongate, of 24 to 34 rays ; caudal fin furcate ; body elongate, more or less slender, silvery, covered with thin skin. . . ICHTH/ELURUS, 1. \\ Supraoccipital bone tree behind, not connected with the interspinal ; branchiostegals normally 9 (varying from 8 to 11); head broad; mouth broad, terminal; anal fin moderate or rather long, with 15 to 27 rays ; caudal fin usually truncate, but often more or less deeply emarginate or even forked; body usually more or less shortened, covered with a rather thick skin . AMiuurs, 2. ft Intermaxillary band of teeth convex in front, with a lateral backward extension on each side; branchiostegals nor- 328 PISHES. mally 12 ; supraoccipital bone free behind ; head long, broad, and flat; mouth large, the lower jaw always the longer; anal fin short, of 12 to 14 rays ; ventrals with 9 rays ; cau- dal fin truncate, its numerous rudimentary rays recurrent above and below the caudal peduncle ; number of vertebra? increased ; body elongate, covered with thick skin. PELODICIITHYS, 3. ** Adipose fin long and low, keel-like, adnate to the back, more or less perfectly continuous with the caudal fin ; supraocci- pital bone free behind ; branchiostegals 9 ; anal fin short, with 11 to 20 rays; caudal fin rounded, with numerous rudi- mentary rays recurrent on the caudal peduncle ; ventral rays usually 9; form various, but body usually more or less elongate, depressed in front, compressed behind, covered with a thickish but semi-transparent skin ; size small. NOTURUS, 4. /. ICHTHMLURUS, Rannesque. CHANNEL CATS. * Eye small, anterior, the middle of the head being behind its- posterior margin. f Anal fin extremely elongate, its base one-third the length of the body ; its rays 32 to 34 ; body slender. 1. /. furcaius, (Cuv. &Val.) Gill. FORK-TAILED CHAN- NEL CAT. Head small, 4^ in length, the slope from dor- sal to snout somewhat concave; spines long. Missis- sippi Valley, and Southwest. tf Anal fin shorter, 3i to 4 in length ; its rays 27 to 30 ; body robust, compressed. 2. /. robustus, Jordan. ROBUST CHANNEL CAT. A stout, deep species, with shorter spines; dorsal region elevated; the profile concave. Mississippi Valley. ** Eye large, median, the middle of the head falling before its posterior margin ; anal short, not greatly elongate, its rays 25 to 29. 3. I. punctatus, (Raf.) Jor. COMMON CHANNEL CAT. BLUE CAT. WHITE CAT, etc. Head moderate, about 4 SILUBLD^E. — CX. 329 in length; dorsal region not especially elevated; spines long; coloration of the others, bluish silvery, young spotted with olive. New York to South Carolina, West to the Rocky Mountains and Mexico, very abundant. It has been described under some twenty-three different specific names. [I. ccerulescens, (Raf.) Gill.] 2. AMIURUS, Rafinesque. CAT FISHES. * Caudal fin forked, its lower lobe the larger ; upper jaw longest ; colors more or less olivaceous or silvery, f Anal fin elongate, of 23 to 28 rays. a. Head rather broad ; anal rays 25 or 26. 1. A. nigricans, (LeS.) Gill. GREAT FORK -TAILED CAT. CAT FISH OP THE LAKES. MISSISSIPPI CAT, FLORIDA CAT. GREAT BLUE CAT. Head comparatively small, 4^ in length, its width 5; barbels long; spines short and stout, serrated; body rather low and moder- ately stout; colors dark, mottled with paler; size very large. Great Lakes, Mississippi Valley and South to Florida, much the largest of our cat fishes, reaching a weight of 100 to 200 ft>s. CM. Head narrow, decidedly longer than broad f Anal rays 23 or 24. 2. A. lupus, (Grd.) Gthr. Caudal fin deeply furcate; head narrow, longer than broad; anal rays 23 or 24; pectoral spines long and slender, dentate; barbels long; depth about 5 in length; body rather slender; head nar- rowed, its width 4f in length, being less than its length above; distance from snout to dorsal spine 1^- to 1^ in distance from dorsal spine to adipose fin; base of anal as long as head. The species strongly resembles the species of Ichthcelurus, and is almost intermediate between the two genera, the supraoccipital bone being 330 FISHES. almost connected with the inter-spinal. Southwestern States. 3. A. niveiventris, Cope. Similar, but the head broader, its width equal to its length above; distance to dorsal spine 1^ in distance from spine to adipose fin; base of anal notably less than head. Neuse River, N. C. ft Anal fin short, of 19 to 22 rays. 4. A. albidus, (LeS.) Gill. WHITE CAT. CHANNEL CAT OF THE POTOMAC. Head narrowed, very wide in adults, quite narrow in young, its width 4 to 5 in length of body; upper jaw considerably the longer; dorsal spine nearer adipose fin than snout; caudal deeply forked; base of anal fin 4^ in length; A. 21. Pennsylvania to South Carolina, abundant. [A. lynx, (Grd.) Grill.] 5. A. lophius, Cope. BIG -MOUTHED CAT. Head extremely wide, its width 3f in length, as great as the length of the head; upper jaw slightly the longer; cau- dal shallow-forked; base of anal fin 6 in length; A. 21; color silvery as in the preceding. Tributaries of Chesa- peake Bay, rather common. Very old specimens of A. albidus resemble A. lopliius, but may be recognized by the characters above noted. A. lophius has the largest mouth of any North American Cat Fish. ** Caudal fin rounded or slightly emarginatc, usually truncate when spread open. $ Anal fin very long, its base one-fourth or more the length of the body ; of 24 to 27 rays. b. Head and body elongate ; mouth narrow. 6. A. erebennus, Jordan. GOODE'S CAT. Head and oody elongated; the dorsal region considerably elevated; the head quite long and narrowed forwards; much longer than broad; its width in front of eye only about half its length; mouth rather narrow, with equal jaws; barbels SILURID^E. — CX. 331 long; adipose fin large; spines strong; dorsal fin very high; anal fin long and deep; caudal tin short; color dark; gili openings narrow. Southeastern streams; resembling A. /}>< i, L. Inninrii, L. cHntonii, L. troostii, L. piquotianus, L. lesueurii, L. eUz as many branchial sacs; no spiral valve; marine para- sites, burrowing into the bodies of other fishes. Myxinidce, the Hag Fishes. 348 LAMPKEYS. ORDER GGL-HYPEROARTIA. (The Lampreys.) FAMILY CXVL— PETROMYZONTID^E. (The Lampreys.) Body eel-shaped, naked; dorsal and anal fins long and low, usually continuous with the caudal; mouth suctorial, armed with horny teeth which rest on papillae. Eggs small. These animals undergo a metamorphosis; the young are usually toothless, and have the eyes rudimentary. Genera five or six, in temperate regions, found in all waters. They attach themselves to fishes and other ani- mals, and feed by scraping off the flesh, by means of their rasp-like teeth. The American species are still very imperfectly known. Until quite recently the larvte were considered as form- ing distinct genera, which have been termed Ammoccetes, Scolecosoma, Chilopterus, etc. * Maxillary teeth close together, not forming a crcscentic plate, f Dorsals well separated. . . . PETROMTZON, 1. ff Dorsals connected ICHTHYOMYZOX, 2. ** Maxillary tooth forming a crescentic plate, with a cusp at each end ; dorsal continuous AMMOCOZTES, 3. /. PETROMYZON, Linnagus. LAMPKEYS. 1. P. marinus, L. GREAT SEA LAMPREY. Resembles the next, but larger, with a shorter head, which is but little longer than the "chest" (space occupied by the branchial openings); color olive brown, mottled with black; L. 30 to 40. Marine, ascending rivers, eastward. (P. (imericanus, LeS.) PETROMYZONTID^. — CXVI. 349 2. P. nigricans, L. LARGE BLACK LAMPREY. Head very large, longer than the "chest," 6^- in length; depth about 13; body little compressed; dorsal fins rather low, distinctly separated; eyes and mouth very large ; a depression between eyes and snout; a single bicuspid tooth in front of oesophagus; mandibulary plate curved, with about eight pointed teeth; rest of mouth covered with rather large teeth disposed in oblique cross-rows, five or more in each row; lips fringed; L. 12. Lakes and streams, Cayuga L., N. Y. (Wilder), and E.; prop- erly a marine species. Also in Europe. (P. nigricans, LeS., the American form.) (Several other Lampreys have been described from our Eastern streams and coast, but they are very doubtful.) 2. ICHTHYOMYZON, Girard. LAMPERNS. 1. /. argenfeum, (Kirt.) Gir. SILVERY LAMPREY. Head quite small, shorter than " chest," about 10 in length; depth nearly the same, in adult; body stout, compressed; dorsal fin very high, with a shallow depres- sion; eyes distinct in adult, concealed in young; mouth small, with inconspicuous teeth; color ashy silvery, with numerous small black dots; larger ones above the gill openings; L. 12. Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, E. to N. Y., frequent. (Ammoccetes concolor, Kirt., A. mpyp- tera, Abbott.) 3. AMMOC(ETES. DUMERIL LAMPERXS. 1. A. niger, (Raf.) Jor. SMALL BLACK LAMPREY. Head moderate, longer than " chest," 8£ in total length ; depth 14; body scarcely compressed except behind; dorsal fins rather high, slightly connected; eyes large; mouth rather small, one tooth with two cusps well apart 350 LAMPREYS. in front of oesophagus; mandibulary plate nearly straight, with about eight sub-equal teeth; a few scattering teeth on sides of mouth; snout rounded; dark blue black, un- spotted, silvery below; L. 8 to 11. Great Lakes, Upper Miss, and Ohio Valley, abundant in many localities, ascending small brooks in the spring. ADDENDA. To page 1G, after Canis lupus: 2. C. /atrans, Say. COYOTE. PKAIEIE WOLF. This common species of the Western plains is said still to occur occasionally in Wisconsin. It is much smaller in size than C. lupus. To page 19, after MEPHITIS MEPHITICA: Subgenus Spilogale, Gray. 2. M. putorius, (L.) Coues. LITTLE STRIPED SKUNK. Black, with white patch on forehead; four parallel dor- sal stripes, broken behind; tail black, with white pencil at tip. Size very small. L. 11; T. 7-J-. Southwestern, said to have occurred in Wisconsin. (Hoy.) On page 26, for the analysis of genera, substitute: * Ears ordinary; feet fimbriate; tail at least as long as head and body; teeth 32 -i-f^ NEOSOREX, 1. ** Ears ordinary ; feet not fimbriate ; tail shorter than head and body SOREX, 2. *** Ears small, the parts directed forwards, so as to show no open ing and no external ear whatever ; feet ordinary ; tail about as long as head BLARIXA. /. NEOSOREX, Baird. WATER SHREWS. 1. N. pa/ustr/s, (Rich.) Coues. Back hoary black; belly ashy gray; largest of our shrews; L. 6; T. 2£. British America, S. to N. H. and Mass. 351 352 ADDENDA. 2. SOREX, Linnaeus. SHREWS. * Teeth colored, 32— f-J. (Sorex.) 1. S. forsteri, Rich. Ears small; tail f length of head and body; snout slender; L. 4£; T. If. N. U. S. 2. S. richardsoni, Bach. Ears rather small; tail scant- haired; L. 4; T. 1J. Wis. and N. 3. S. plaiyrhinus, (DeK.) Wagn. COMMON SHREW. Ears very large for a Shrew; tail scant-haired; color chestnutty; L. 3f ; T. 1£. N. U. S. 4. S. cooperi, Bach. Ears large; chestnut brown; L. 3} ; T. 1|. N. U. S. 5. S. personatus, Geoff. St. Hilaire. Ears large; chestnut brown; L. 2f ; T. 1; smallest of our Shrews. Penn. and S. ** Teeth 30— |f- (Microsorex, Baird.) 6. S. hoyi, Baird. HOY'S SHREW. Very small and slender; ears large; olive brown; L. 3; T. 1^. North- ern States. (S. thompsoni, Bd.) 3. BLARINA, Gray. SHORT-TAILED SHREWS. * Teeth 32— f-f . (Blarma.) 1. B. brevicauda, (Say) Baird. SHORT-TAILED SHREW. Size large for a Shrew; fur short and coarse; color dark ashy gray; L. 4£; T. 1. E. U. S., common. [B. tal- poides (Gapper) Baird.] 2. B. carolinensis, (Bach.) Bd. Smaller; leaden gray; L. 3£; T. f. U. S., chiefly southward. 3. B. angusticeps, Baird. Intermediate; skull usual- ly narrow; uniform plumbeous. L. 3^; T. 1. New England. ** Teeth 30— |f. (Soriciscus, Coues.) ADDENDA. 353 4. B. parva, (Say). Body stout; iron gray, with brown gloss; L. 3^; T. f. Southern States, N. to Penn. [B. cmerea (Bach.) Bd.J 5. B. exilipes, Baird. Small, fur full; feet very small ; hoary olive; L. 2£; T. f. Southern States, N. to Ills. The number of species of Blarina and /Sorex is still uncertain, and their geographical distribution has been little studied. To page 28, after Tamias striatus: 2. T. quadriv/ttafus, (Say) Wagner. MISSOURI CHIP- MUNK. Smaller; inter-spaces between the stripes all whitish (in T. striatus^ the upper interspaces are colored like the back); L. 8; T. 4. Wisconsin (Hoy) and North- westward. To page 61, after Helminthophila pinus, add: 2. (b) H. lawrencii, Herrick. LAWRENCE'S WARBLER. Olive green above; wings bluish gray, with two white bands; crown and under parts orange; a broad black patch from bill through and beyond eye; chin, throat and fore part of breast black, these patches separated from the loral patch by a yellow stripe; L. 4^; W. 2^; T. 2. New Jersey, two specimens known. 2. (c) H. leucobronchialis, Brewster. WHITE-THROAT- ED WARBLER. Crown bright yellow; wing coverts chiefly yellow; superciliary line, cheeks and entire under parts silky- white, the breast tinged with yellow; nape ashy; upper surface otherwise olive; a narrow stripe of black from base of bill through and behind eye; no traces of black on cheeks or throat; L. 5^; W. 2^; T. If. Massachusetts, one specimen known. 054 ADDENDA. To page 77, after Lanius borealis : 2. L. /udovic/anus, (L.) LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. Slate-colored above, the rump scarcely paler; black head stripe not bordered above by hoary; L. 8^; W. 4; T. 4^. Southern States, up to Illinois, etc. To page 83, after Calcarius pictus : *** Bill very large, turgid, without ruff; hind claw straight but short. (Rhynchophanet, Kaup.) 4. P. maccownii, Lawr. MACCOWN'S BUNTING. Crown and pectoral crescent black; bend of wing chestnut; superciliary line and under parts white; back streaked; outer tail feathers white, inner partly white, the white areas being cut squarely off; L. 6£; W. 3£; T. 2^;' B. nearly -J. Plains, chiefly northward, E. to Illinois. (Nelson.) To page 88, after Junco hy emails: • 2. J. oregonus, (Towns.) Scl. OREGON SNOW-BIRD. Head, neck and breast black; back and wings with red- dish brown, belly white, sides brownish tinged; $ duller; L. 6£; W. 3; T. 3. Rocky Mts. to Pacific Coast, stray- ing East to Illinois. (Nelson.) On page 105, line 5, add to the common names of C. auratus, the name " Yellow Hammer" On page 108: In Otus brachyotus, occasionally but one primary is emarginate; the species however differs strikingly in color from O. vulgaris, the under parts especially being less variegated. Mr. Ridgway informs me that the genus Asio, Urisson, should probably stand instead of Otus. Our species would then be called Asio otus and Aslo brachyotus. ADDENDA. 355 On page 188, after J?. />#te£m, add: 2. (b) R. areolata, B. & G. HOOSIER FROG. Head broad; body, head and sides with the ground color largely predominating, and with narrow rings of a greenish slate color, which become larger and more irregular posteriorly; hind legs black, crossed with irregular lines of yellowish slate color; fore limbs simi- larly marmorate; tympanum black with pale ring; below chiefly yellowish white; toes very long; size medium ; L. 3j. Benton Co., Indiana, lately discovered by Mr. E. F. Shipman, South to Texas. (Rana circulosa. Rice & Davis. Ed. 3.) On page 271: Genus SALMO. Since the part of this work referring to the Salmonidce has been stereotyped, Professor Gill and the writer have been enabled to review the various species of that family found in the United States. Under the genus " Salmo" as defined in the text, at least four very distinct genera are confounded, which may be briefly diagnosed as follows: * Anal fin elongate, of 14 to 17 rays, vomer narrow, long, flat, with weak teeth, no hyoid teeth; snout in adult males in the spawning season in typical species greatly distorted, the premaxillaries prolonged, hooking over the lower jaw, which in turn is greatly prolonged upward and forward and somewhat hooked at tip; the teeth of the premaxillaries and of the lip of the lower jaw being then greatly enlarged.- a fleshy hump also developed before the dorsal fin; species, black-spotted. ..... ONCORHYNCHUS, 1. ** Anal fin short, of 9—12 rays. f Voiner flat, its toothed surface plane ; teeth on the shaft of the vomer in two alternating rows or in one zigzag row. placed directly on the surface of the bone, not on a free 356 ADDENDA. keel -like crest; (posterior vomerine teeth sometimes deciduous) ; species of various habit, black-spotted, the last rays of the dorsal and anal somewhat elongate. SALMO, 2. ft Vomer somewhat boat-shaped, the shaft depressed and the teeth placed not directly on the shaft but on a raised crest, which is posteriorly free; a band of stout recurved teeth on the hyoid bone; scales small; caudal well forked; dorsal and anal not elevated behind; species of large size, g ray-spotted, not anadromous, inhabiting American lakes CRISTIVOMEH, 3. fff Vomer somewhat boat-shaped; the shaft depressed and entirely toothless; scales very small, in 225 — 250 rows; dorsal and anal not elevated behind ; species of rather small size, crimson-spotted, the lower fins with marginal bauds of black and pale; not anadromous, but some- times descending to the sea, in salt water losing all markings and becoming nearly plain silvery. SALVELINUS, 4. In the following account, I include all the species thus far known from the waters of the United States, as the general interest felt in this group of fishes seems to render this arrangement desirable. /. ONCORHYNCHUS, Suckley. HOOKED -JAW SALMONS. * Body not greatly compressed; upper jaw the longer; sexual peculiarities excessively developed; size large. (Oncorhyn- chus.) . 0. gorbuscha, (Walbaum) Gill & Jordan. HUMP- BACK SALMOX. Scales very small, in more than 200 transverse rows. N. W. Coast. ($. proteus, Pallas. tS. gibber, Bloch.) 2. 0. keia, (Walb.) G. & J. EKEWAX. Scales medium, in 170 (155—180) rows; B. 16. N. W. Coast. (£. scouleri, Rich., £. layocephalus^ Pall., /S\ confluentus, Suckl.) ADDENDA. 357 3. 0. nerka, (Walb.) G. & J, DOG SALMON. Scales large, in 133 (120— UO) rows; B. 13; C. feebly forked; form elongate, heavy forwards. X. W. Coast. (/$'. lycaodon, PalL, A', can la, cooper i and richardi, Suckley. #. paucidenS) Rich.) 4. 0. quinnat, (Rich.) Gthr. QUINNAT. CALIFORNIA SALMON. Scales large, in 120 — 140 rows; B. 15; C. well forked; body deepest mesially, less elongate. "\V. Coast, now largely introduced into Eastern waters. (£ argyreus^ Grd., S. warreni, Suckley.) ** Body oblong, very strongly compressed, back elevated, the dorsal fin posterior; mouth large, the lower jaw rather the longer ; sexual peculiarities moderately developed ; size small. (Hypsifario, Gill.) 5. 0. kennerlii, (Suckl.) Jor. RED SALMON OF THE CHILOWEYUCK. Scales large, in 130 — 140 rows. W. U.S. 2. SALMO, Linnaeus. SALMONS. (Fario, Val., Salar, Val., Trutta, Siebold.) * Anadromous salmon with the vomerine teeth little developed, those on the shaft of the bone few, deciduous; scales large (in about 130 rows) ; caudal fin well forked, truncate in very old individuals; no hyoid teeth; lower jaws hooked upwards in breeding males, the upper jaw being then emarginate or perforate. (Salmo.) 1. S. salar, L. COMMON SALMON (see text). When landlocked in inland lakes, it becomes var. sebago. (S. yloveri, Grd., S. omiscomaycus, Walb.) ** River salmon, with the vomerine teeth largely developed, those on the shaft of the bone numerous, in one zigzag row, or in two alternating rows, persistent; caudal little forked. (Salar, Val.) f Hyoid bone toothless. a. Scales large, in 120 — 150 transverse rows ; caudal fin forked. 358 ADDENDA. 2. S. irideus, Gibbons. PACIFIC BKOOK TROUT. Form stout; head short, bluntish; mouth small, the maxillary scarcely reaching beyond eye. Streams W. of Sierra Nevada. (S. newberrii, Grd., S. masoni, Suckl.) aa. Scales small, in 165 — 205 rows. b. 'Caudal somewhat forked; head small, conical, rather pointed. 3. S. fsuppitch,Rich. BLACK TROUT OF LAKE TA HOI:. Rather slender; mouth moderate; opercle prolonged backwards; scales in 180 rows. Streams W. of Sierra Nevada. bb. Caudal double-rounded ; head heavy, shortish, convex. 4. S. spilurus, Cope. BIG-MOUTHED TROUT. Mouth very large, the maxillary reaching much beyond eye; opercle not specially prolonged; black spots most numer- ous posteriorly. Rocky Mountain region, Wyoming to Arizona. Var. pleuriticus, Cope. Scales small, in 200 rows; head carinate. Generally distributed. Var. spilurus, (Cope). Scales larger, in 170 rows; heUd strongly convex. Utah to Colorado, etc. f Hyoid bone with an elongate band of small teeth (easily scraped oft by careless observers). c. Head large and long — acuminate ; hyoid teeth weak ; cau- dal somewhat forked. 5. S. henshawi, G.& J. (sp.n.) SILVER TROUT OF LAKE TAHOE. Head little carinate; body elongate, not much compressed; scales in 160 — 184 rows. Streams of Cal. cc. Head comparatively short and blunt ; hyoid teeth rather strong ; caudal less forked. G. S. siomias, Cope. Scales in 200 rows; head broad and flat. Upper Missouri. ADDENDA. 359 7. S. clarkii, Rich. MISSOURI TROUT. COLUMBIA RIVER TROUT. Head somewhat carinate. All streams from Rio Grande and Basin of Utah to Upper Missouri and Northwestward to the Pacific. Var. clarkii. Scales 155 — 165. Streams of Oregon and Washington, chiefly W. of Cascade Range. (8. stellatus, Grd., S. brevicauda and S. gibbsii, Suckley.) Var. aurora, (Grd.) Scales 165 — 175. Streams chiefly E. of the Cascade Range. (8. lewisi & S. wrgimiUs, Grd., S. carinatus, Cope.) 3. CRISTIVOMER, Gill & Jordan. GREAT LAKE TROUTS. 1. C> namaycush, (Walb.) G. & J. MACKINAW TROUT. GREAT LAKE TROUT. LOXGE TOGUE. (See text). Scales in 170 — 215 rows. Lakes, from Rocky Mountains to Maine, and northward. Individuals from Eastern Lakes vary somewhat, but can hardly be specifically distinct. Their scales average rather larger, the colors are often darker, and the gray spots sometimes tinged with red. (S. con- finis, DeKay, S. symmetrica, Prescott, S. toma, Hamlin, S. adarondacits, Norris.) 2. C. s/scowet, (Ag.) G. & J. SISCOWET. Differs from the preceding in the great fatness of the flesh, and in having all the bones of the head shortened and broad- ened; scales in 175—180 rows. Lake Superior. 4. SALVELINUS, Richardson. CHARRS. ( Umbla^ Rapp. Baiom, DeKay. Salmo, Siebold.) * Hyoid bone with a median band of teeth. a. Body elongate, slender, compressed; head quite small, with mouth smaller than in any other of our trouts, the maxillary not reaching to posterior margin of eye ; cau- dal well forked ; adipose fin small ; red spots small, con- fined to the side? of thy body. 360 ADDENDA. 1. S. oquassa, (Orel.) G. & J. RANGELEY LAKE TROUT. (See text.) aa. Body stout; head large, broad above, with large mouth, the maxillary reaching past eye ; caudal little forked ; adipose fin very large; red spots large, on back as well as on sides. 2. S. spectabilis, (Grd.) G. & J. PACIFIC RED-SPOTTED TROUT. Streams W. of Sierra Nevada. (S. campbelli and S. parkii, Suckley.) ** Hyoid bone toothless ; adipose fin small. b. Head very large and pointed. 3. S. bairdii, (Suckl.) G. & J. " DOLLY VARDEN TROUT." Streams W. of Sierra Nevada. bb. Head large ; rather bluntish. 4. S. fontinalis, (Mitch.) G. & J. COMMON SPECKLED TROUT. (See text.). D. 2, 11; A. 2, 9. Scales in 225 rows. Georgia (Little Tennessee River) to Lake Supe- rior, Hudson's Bay, and Newfoundland; entering the sea, where it becomes the Canadian " Salmon Trout." (*S'. hudsonicus Suckley, S. immaculatus Storer, 8. cana- densis Smith, S. hearnii Rich.) On page 274: Genus COREGONUS. I am indebted to Prof. James W. Milner of the U. S. Fish Commission, for an opportunity to examine some of the manuscript of his forthcoming review of the Core- goni, and to study a very full series of the specimens on which the review is based. For many of the conclusions below given, I am indebted to Prof. Milner, but for the generic and specific diagnoses and their arrangement here, the present writer only is responsible. The species referred in the text to Coregonus, • fall into four well- marked groups, three of which at least may at present ADDENDA. 361 be regarded as genera, although they are much more closely related than the genera of Salmons. These genera or subgenera may be briefly defined as follows: * Premaxillaries narrow, placed more or less nearly horizontally, the mandible elongate, its tip about even with that of the upper jaw; the general outline of the muzzle therefore rather pointed ; bones of head generally elongate. ABGYROSOMUS, 1. ** Premaxillaries broad, placed vertically or turned inward, over- lapping the tip of the lower jaw, the general outline of the muzzle therefore rather bluntish or truncate ; mandible and bones of the head generally shortened. \ Supraorbital elongate ; preorbital long and narrow ; maxil- lary comparatively long, reaching to pupil ; the small sup- plemental bone ovate in form, rather broad; mouth not very small COREGOXUS, 2. \\ Supraorbital short, broadly ovate, cap-like ; preorbital com- paratively short and broad; maxillary short and rather broad, not reaching to the line of the eye ; the small sup- plementary bone narrow and sharply elliptical; mouth very email, the snout more or less 'produced. PROSOPIUM, 3. /. ARGYROSOMUS, Agassiz. CISCOES. Body short, deep, compressed, shad-like; the sides strongly compressed; curve of the back similar to that of the belly; scales large, notably larger forwards, rather closely imbri- cated, the posterior margin little convex. (Allosomus, Jordan.) 1. A. iullibee, (Rich.) Ag. Depth 3 in length; at posterior point of adipose fin equal to length of can- dal peduncle, 8^- in length; head 4 in length, conic and compressed; eye 4^- in head; maxillary reaching nearly to middle of eye; jaws equal; tongue with a patch of teeth; D. 2, 11; A. 2, 11; lat. 1. 74, 8 rows above it and 7 below; white, each scale with a bright silvery patch, these forming very distinct silvery stripes along the rows of scales. Upper Great Lakes and N. A species of this type occurs also in the eastern part of Lake Erie. 16 362 ADDENDA. ** Body elongate, subfusiform, less compressed ; dorsal and ven- tral outlines dissimilar ; scales smaller, loose and uniform, posteriorly more convex. (Argyrosomus.) 2. A. nigripinnis, Gill. BLACK FIN. BLUE FIN* (See text.) 3. A. artedi, (Le Sueur) Hoy. COMMON LAKE HER- RING. (See text.) 4. A. hoyi, Gill. Cisco of Lake Michigan. (See text.) 2. COREGONUS, Linnaeus,. WHITE FISHES. * Body elongate ; tongue with evident teeth. 1. C. labradoricus, Richardson. LAKE WHITING. BLACK Cisco. Body elongate, compressed, the depth 4^- in length; head long and slender, somewhat pointed, 4f in length; mouth moderate, reaching front of pupil; dorsal high in front, 2, 11; A. 2, 11; lat. 1, 80—84; about eight rows above and seven below; fins all blackish; color rather dark bluish, sides silvery. Lakes from Northern N. Y. to New Hampshire and Labrador. (C. neohantoniensis, Prescott.) ** Body stout, becoming deep and elevated with age ; no teeth. 2. C. clupeiformis, (Mitchill) Milner. COMMON WHITE FISH. (See text, C. albus.) (C. otseyo, Clinton.) 3. PROSOPIUM, Milner. ROUND WHITE FISH. 1. P. quadrilaterals, (Rich.) Milner. MENOMONEE WHITE FISH. (See text.) The Shad- waiter (C. novan- glice. Prescott) of the lakes of N. N. Y. and N. H., is apparently identical with this species. 2. P. couesii, Milner. CHIEF MOUNTAIN WHITE FISH. (See text.) ( For further Addenda, see page 403.) LIST OF PAPEES OF WHICH USE HAS BEEX MADE IX THE PREPARATION OF THIS WORK. The following list comprises many of the books and memoirs which have been found useful to the author in the preparation of this work. It is not designed to be exhaustive, and except in the department of Fishes, it is not at all full. The recent elaborate works on Mammals and Birds render references to earlier writ- ings less necessary in the study of those animals than in the study of the Fishes, all the literature pertaining to the latter being, as yet, more or less scattering and incomplete. The names of the authors have been arranged in alphabetical order. Several of the longer or more irrelevant titles have been, to save space-, shortened or otherwise modified. AGASSIZ (Louis). Xomenclator Zoologicus, 1842. Lake Superior. 1850. On a Collection of Fishes from the Southern bend of the Tennessee River in Alabama, 1854. On the Ichthyoiogical Fauna (Cyprinidtt) of the Pacific Slope, in American Journal of Science and Arts. 1855. Contributions to the Xatural History of Xorth America, Part II, Xorth" American Testudinata, 1857. ALLEX (Harrison). Monograph of Bats of Xorth America, 1804. ALLEN* (Joel Asaph), Mammals of Iowa, 1869. — Mammals and Winter Birds of East Florida, 1870. BAIKD (Spencer Fullertou) and GIRAKD (Charles), Catalogue of Xorth American Reptiles, Part I, Serpents, 185:3. Mammals of X. A.. Vol. VIII, Pacific R. R. Explorations and Survey-. 1S57. Review of Xorth American Birds in Smithsonian Miscel- laneous Contributions, 1864 to 187*2. BAIBD (S. F.i. BREWER (Thomas M.), and RIDGWAY (Robert), History of Xorth Am. Birds, Vols. I. II and III, 1874 (36.3) 364 LIST OF PAPERS. COPE (Edward Drinker), A partial Catalogue of the Cold- Blooded Vertebrata of Michigan, 1864-1865. Review of Plethodontidm and Desmognathidw, and Review of AmblystoniacSi in Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, 1866. — Cyprinidse of Pennsylvania, 1866. - Synopsis of the genera Hypsilepis and Photogenis, 1867. - On Phenacobius, 1867. — On the Fishes of the Allegheny Region of Southwest Vir- ginia, 1868. - On some Etheostomine Perch from Tennessee and North Carolina, 1870. - A partial Synopsis of the Fishes of North Carolina, 1870. - Report on Reptiles and Fishes, in Hayden's Geological Survey of Wyoming, for 1870. 1872. Check List of North Am. Batruchia and Reptilia, 1875. COPE (Edward Drinker) and YARROW (Henry C.), Report on Fishes in Lieut. Wheeler's Explorations, 1876. COUES (Elliott), Key to North American Birds, 1872. - Check List of Birds, 1873. Birds of the Northwest, 1874. Synopsis of the Muridae of North America, 1875. Precursory Notes on N. Am. Insectivorous Mammals, 1877. - Monograph of Fur-bearing Animals (Mustettdce), 1877. COUES (Elliott) and YARROW (Henry C.), Report on Mammals in Lieut. Wheeler's Explorations and Surveys west of the 100th Meridian, 1876. COUES (Elliott) and ALLEN (J. A.), Monographs of North Ameri- can Rodentia, 1877. CUVIER (George Christian Leopold Dagobert) and VALENCIENNES (Achille), Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, 32 vols., 1828 to 1849. DEKAY (James E.), Natural History of New York— Fishes, 1842. DUMERIL (August), Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, 2 vols., 1865 to 1870. GILL (Theodore Nicholas), Numerous minor papers in the Pro- ceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences and elsewhere, 1858-1865. LIST OF PAPERS. 365 Arrangement of the Families of Fishes, 1872. Arrangement of the Families of Mammals, 1872. — On the genus Micropterus (Lac.), or Grystes (Auct.), 1873. Catalogue of the Fishes of the East Coast of North America in the Kept. U. S. Fish Commissioner for 1871-1872. 1873. Ichthyology of Capt. Simpson's Explorations across the Great Basin of Utah, 1876. Scientific names of our Common Sun Fishes, in Field and Forest, 1877, p. 188. GIRAKD (Charles), Monograph of the Fresh Water Cottoids of N. A., in Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, 1851. Researches upon- Cyprinoid Fishes in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 18o6. Explorations and Surveys for the Pacific R. R, Vol. X, Fishes, 1858. Ichthyology U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, 1859. • Ichthyological Notices, and other papers, in the Proceed- ings of the Philadelphia Academy, 1859. GRAY (John Edward), Catalogue of Lizards in the British Museum, 1842. GUXTIIEK (Albert), Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes, 1858. Catalogue of Batrachia Salientia, 1858. Catalogue of the Fishes of the British Museum, 8 vols., 1859 to 1870. HOLBROOK (John Edwards). North American Herpctology. Ichthyology of South Carolina, 1860. JORDAN (David Starr) and COPELAXD (Herbert Edson), Check List of the Fresh Water Fishes of North America, 1876. JOIIDAN (D. S.), On the Fishes of North. Indiana, in Proceedings of the Academy of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, 1877. A partial Synopsis of the Fishes of Upper Georgia, in Annals of the Lyceum of Nat. Hist of New York, 1877. Review of Rafinesque'z, Memoirs on Am. Fresh Water Fishes, and Monographs of 5 ilurida>, Ctitostomidm, etc., in Bulletins IX, X and XII of the U. S. National Museum, 1877-1878. 366 LIST Of PAPERS. JORDAN (D. S.) and BRAYTON (Aleinbert Winthrop), On the Dis- tribution of the Fishes of the Allegliany region of the Southern States, in Bulletin XII of the U. S. National Museum, 1878. JORDAN (D. S.) and BRAYTON (A. W.), On Lagochila — a new genus of Catostomoid Fishes, 1877. KIRTLAND (Jared Potter), Fishes of the Ohio River and its Tribu- taries, 1838-1845. KLIPPART (John H.), First Annual Report Ohio State Fish Cora- mission (descriptions by D. S. Jordan and Chas. H. Gilbert), 1877. LESUEUR (Charles A.), Monograph of the genus Catostomus and numerous other papers in early numbers of the Journal of the Phil. Academy, etc., 1817 to 1825. MILNER (James N.), On species of Argyrosomus and Coregonus, and on the Grayling, in the Rept.U. S. Fish Commis- sioner for 1872-1873. 1874. NELSON (Edward W.), A partial Synopsis of the Fishes of Illinois, 1876. PUTNAM (Frederick Ward), Bulletin of the Museum of Compara- tive Zoology, I, 1863. . The Mammoth Cave and its Inhabitants. RAFINESQUE (Constantine Samuel), Ichthyologia Ohiensis, 1820, and numerous earlier papers, 1814 to 1820. RICHARDSON (John), Fauna Boreali-Amer. Ill, Fishes, 1836. STORER (David Humphreys), Synopsis of the Fishes of North America in Memoirs of the American Academy, 1846. - History of the Fishes of Massachusetts, 1867. SUCKLEY (George), Monograph of the genus Salmo, 1873. VAILLANT (Leon), Recherches snr les Poissons de 1'eau douce de Nord Ameriquc (Etheostomatida*), 187 1. GLOSSARY OP THE PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN THIS WORK.* Abdomen — Belly. Abdominal — Pertaining to the belly — said ot the ventral fins of fishes when inserted considerably behind the pectorals, away from the shoulder girdle. Abortive — Remaining or bepoming imperfect. Ai'itiiiinate — Tapering gradually to a point. Acute — Sharp-pointed. Adipose fin — A peculiar, fleshy, fin-like projection on the backs of Salmons, Cat Fishes, etc., behind the dorsal fin. Air bladder — A sac filled with air, lying beneath the back-bone c. fishes, corresponding to the lungs of the higher vertebrates Alhuitois — An organ of the embryo. Altrice-s — Birds reared in the nest and fed by the parents. Altricial — Having the nature of Altrin'*. Alula — The feathers attached to the "thumb" of a bird. Alveolar surface— A. portion of the jaw of a turtle, where the teeth-sockets (alveola) might be expected to be. Amnion — An organ of the embryo. Ampliiccdian — Biconcave — said of vertebrae. Anadromous—Said of marine fishes which run up rivers to spawn. Anal — Pertaining to the anus or vent. Anal fin — The fin on the median line, behind the vent, in fishes. Anal plate— The plate, immediately in front of the vent, in ser- pents. * In the preparation of this Glossary, the author has largely drawn from Dr. Coues' "Glossary of the Technical Terms used in Descriptive Ornithology." in Bairtl. Brewer and Ridgway's History of North American Birds, Vol. III. pp. 535-560. (367) GLOSSAKY. Anteorbital plate — The plate, in front of the eye, in serpents. Antrorse — Turned forwards. Anus — The external opening of the intestines. Arterial bulb — The muscular swelling, at the base of the great artery, in fishes, etc. Articulated— Jointed. Artiodactylous — Even-toed (toes 2 or 4.) Attenuate — Long and slender, as if drawn out. Auricle— The large lobe of the external ear; also, one of the chambers of the heart. Barbel — An elongated fleshy projection, usually about the head, in fishes. Basal — Pertaining to the base ; at or near the base. Beak — The bill of birds, or (in other animals) any beak-like structure. Bend of Wing — Angle at the carpus when the wing is folded. Bicolor — Two-colored. Booted — Said of the tarsus, when its scales coalesce and form a continuous envelope. Branchi(K — Gills; respiratory organs of fishes, etc. Branchial — Pertaining to the gills. Branchiostegals — The bony rays supporting the branchiostegal membranes, under the head of a fish, below the opercular bones, and behind the lower jaw. Bristle — A stiff hair, or hair-like feather. Caducous — Falling off early. Calcareous — Containing or composed of carbonate of lime. Canines — The teeth behind the incisors — the "eye-teeth"; in fishes, teeth in the front part of the jaws, longer than the others. Carapace — The upper part of the shell of a turtle. Carinate — Keeled, having a ridge along the middle line. Carpus — The wrist. Caudal — Pertaining to the tail. Caudal Jin— The fin on the tail of fishes. Caudal peduncle — The region between the anal and caudal fins in fishes. Cavernous — Containing cavities, either empty or filled with a mucous secretion. GLOSSARY. 3t>9 Cere — Fleshy, cutaneous or membranous covering of the base of the bill in many birds, particularly the Owls, Hawks, and Parrots. Cervical — Pertaining to the neck. Chiasma — Crossing of the fibres of the optic nerve. Chin — The space between the forks of the lower jaw. Ciliated — Fringed with eye-lash-like projections. Cinereous — Ashy in color. Clamatorial — Pertaining to or like the Clamatores. Clavicle — The collar bone. Ccecal — Of the form of a blind sac. Coicum — An appendage of the form of a blind sac, connected with the alimentary canal. Commissure — The line on which the mandibles of a bird are closed. Compressed — Flattened laterally. Condyle — Articulating surface of a bone. Conirostral — Said of a bill like that of a Sparrow; conical in form and with the commissure angulated. Costal folds — Folds of the skia (of a Salamander) showing the position of the ribs. Crest — In birds, any lengthened feathers about the head; else- where, any elevated or crest-like projection. Criwun — The under tail coverts, in birds. Ctenoid — Rough-edged, said of scales when the posterior margin is minutely spinous or pectinated. Culmen — The middle line or ridge of the upper mandible in birds. Cunente — Wedge-shaped ; said of a bird's tail when the middle feathers are longest and the rest regularly shorter. Cycloid — Smooth-edged ; said of scales not ctenoid, but concen- trically striate. Deciduous — Temporary, falling off. Decurved — Curved downward. Dentate — With tooth-like notches. Dent i rostral — Having the bill notched near its tip. Depressed — Flattened vertically. Depth — Vertical diameter (usually of the body of fishes.) DI ruifil — Pertaining to the skin. Diaphanous — Translucent. Digitigrade — Walking on the toes, like a dog. Dorsal — Pertaining to the back. 21 370 GLOSSARY. Dorsal fin — The fin on the back of fishes. Emarginate— Slightly forked or notched at the tip, or sometimes abruptly narrowed (said of quills.) Endoskeleton—The skeleton proper— the inner bony framework of the body. Epignathou* — Having the bill hooked. Erectile — Susceptible of being raised or erected. Even — (Tail) having all the feathers of equal length. Exoskeleton — Hard parts on the surface of the body. Exserted— Projecting beyond the general level. Facial — Pertaining to the face. Falcate — Scythe-shaped ; long, narrow, and curved. Falciform — Curved, like a scythe. frixe-iated — With broad colored bands. Fauna — The animals inhabiting any region, taken collectively. Ferrugineou* — Rusty red. Fibula — The small outer leg bone. Filament — Any slender or thread-like structure. Filiform— Thread-form. Fissirostral— Raving the bill very deeply cleft, beyond the base of the horny part, as in the Swallows. Forehead — Frontal curve of head. Foramen — A hole or opening. Forficate— Deeply forked. Fossce— The grooves in which the nostrils of many birds open. Fossorial — Adapted for digging. Fulcra— Rudimentary spine-like scales extending up the fins of some fishes. Fuliginous — Sooty or smoky brown. Furcate — Forked. Fuscous — Dark brown. Fusiform— Spindle-shaped; tapering toward both ends but rather more abruptly forward. Gape — Opening of the mouth. Ganoid — Scales or plates of bone covered by enamel. Gastrosteges— Band-like plates along the belly of a serpent. Gills — Organs for breathing the air contained in water. Gill openings— Openings leading to or from the branch ia1. Gill rakers — A series of structures like comb-teeth in the mouth of some fishes. GLOSSARY. 3fl Glabrous — Smooth. — The middle line of the lower mandible. t — Throat patch of peculiar feathers. Graduated— Said of a bird's tail when the outer feathers are regularly shorter. (ii'ii a n.latc — Rough with small prominences. Gular — Pertaining to the ynla,-QY upper fore-neck. Guttate — With rounded, drop-shaped spots. Hallii.i'— Tiie great toe — in birds, the hind toe. Height — Vertical diameter— practically the same as depth. Ileterocercal — Said of the tail of a lish, when unequal — the back- bone evidently running into the upper lobe. Hirsute — With shaggy hairs. Hviuocercal—Ssiitl of the tail of a fish when not evidently unequal ; the back-bone apparently stopping at the middle of the base of the caudal fin. UK merits — Bone of the upper arm. Hyind— Pertaining to the tongue. ffypognatfunu—Hia,vmg the lower mandible longer than the upper, as in the Black Skimmer. Imbricate — Overlapping, like shingles on a roof. Imperforate — Not pierced through. Inarticulate — Not jointed. I ti<- Ivors — The front or cutting teeth. Intfrfi'ini'H'al iiiuiibrane — The membrane connecting the posterior limbs of a bat. Intermaxittaritt—The bones between the superior maxillaries, forming the middle of the front part of the upper jaw. in fishes: the premaxillaries. Jugular — Pertaining to the lower throat— said of the ventral fins, when placed in advance of the attachment of the pectorals. . Keeled — See Carinnte. Labials — Plates forming the lip of a serpent. Li audio; — Plate-like processes inside of the bill of a duck. Lamellate — Said of a bill provided with lamellae, as in a duck. Late nil — To or towards the side. Lateral line — A series of muciferous tubes forming a raised line along the sides of a fish. Luti- rally — Sidewise. Lobate — Furnished with membranous flaps— said of the toes of birds. 372 GLOSSARY. Longitudinal— Running lengthwise. Loral plate — Plate between eye and mouth of a serpent. Lore — Space between eye and bill. Mailed cheeks — Having the suborbital bone extending over the cheeks, articulating with the preopercle (cheeks not neces- sarily hard or bony) ; said of some fishes. Mandible — Under jaw (or in birds, either jaw.) Maxilla — Upper jaw. Maxillaries — Outermost or hindmost bones of the upper jaw, in fishes. Metacarpus— The hand proper, exclusive of the fingers. Metatarsus — The foot proper. (See Tarsus.) Molars — The grinding teeth; posterior teeth in the jaw. Moniliform — Necklace-shaped — widened at regular intervals. Monogamom — Pairing; said of birds. Muciferous— Producing or containing mucus. Nape — Upper part of neck,, next to the occiput, Nasal— Pertaining to the nostrils. Neural— Pertaining to nerves. Nictitating membrane — The third or inner eye-lid, of birds, etc. Nuchal — Pertaining to the nape or nucha. Obscure — Dark, scarcely visible. Obsolete — Faintly marked; little evident. Obtuse— Blunt. Occipital — Pertaining to the occiput. Occipital plates — Plates on the head of a serpent, behind the vertical plate. Occiput — Back of the head. Ocellate — With eye -like spots, generally roundish and with a lighter border. OcJierous — Brownish yellow. Old (suffix) — Like— as Percoid, perch-like. Opercle, or operculum — Gill cover; the posterior membrane bone; of the side of the head, in fishes. Opercular bones — Membrane bones of the side of the head, in fishes. Opercular flap — Prolongation of the upper posterior angle of the opercle, in Sun -Fishes, etc. Opisthoc&lian — Concave behind ; said of vertebrae. Orbicular — Nearly circular. GLOSSARY. 372 Orbit — Eye socket. Oscine — Musical. Oscine tarsus — By ellipsis, tarsus as in oscine birds; i.e., its envelope undivided behind and forming a sharp ridge. Ociparous — Producing eggs which are developed after exclusion from the body, as in all birds. Ovoviviparous — Producing eggs which are hatched before exclu- sion, as in the Blind Fish and Garter Snake. Palate — The roof of the mouth — in fishes, a part of the roof of the mouth, lying behind the vomer and in front of the pharyngeals (not to be confounded with either.) Palatines — Bones of the palate. Palmate— Web-footed, having the anterior toes full-webbed. Papilla — A small, fleshy projection. Papillose — Covered with papillae. ParagnatJwus — Having the two mandibles about equal in length. Pectinate — Having teeth like a comb. Pectoral— Pertaining to the breast. Pectoral fins— The anterior or uppermost of the paired fins, in fishes, corresponding to the anterior limbs of the higher Vertebrates. Pelage — The hair of a Mammal, taken collectively. Pelagic — Living on or in the high seas. Perforate — Pierced through; said of nostrils when without a septum. Perissodactylous — Odd-toed (toes 1, 3, or 5.) Peritoneum — The membrane lining the abdominal cavity. Phalanges — Bones of the fingers and toes. Pliaryngeal bones — Bones at the beginning of the oesophagus of fishes, of various forms, almost always provided with teeth. Pharynrjogruitlintix — Having the lower pharyngeal bones united. Pigment — Coloring matter. Plantigrade — Walking on the sole of the foot, as do men and bears. Plastron — Lower shell of a turtle. Plicate — Folded ; showing transverse folds or wrinkles. Plut/tage—The feathers of a bird, taken collectively. Plumbeous — Lead-colored — dull bluish gray. Pollex— Thumb ; in birds, the digit which bears the alula— corre- sponding to the index finger. 374 GLOSSARY. Polygamous— Mating with more than one female. P-mcocen— Birds able to run about and feed themselves at birth. PrcMocial — Having the nature of Prcecoces. Premaxillaries—S'dme as intermaxillaries. Premolars—The small grinders; the teeth between the canines and the true molars. Preoperde—The membrane bone lying in front of the opercle and more or less nearly parallel with it; the "false gill covers." Primary— Any one of the ten (often nine, rarely eleven) of the large, stiff quills growing upon the pinion or hand-bone of a bird, as distinguished from the secondaries, which grow upon the fore arm. Primary Wing Coverts — The coverts overlying the bases of the primaries. Projectile— Capable of being thrust forward. Protractile— Capable of being thrust forward. Pulmonary — Pertaining to the lungs. Punctate — Dotted with points. Pyloric cceca — Glandular appendages in the form of blind sacs opening into the alimentary canal of many fishes at the pylorus or passage from the stomach to the intestine. Quadrate — Nearly square. Quadrilocular — Four-chambered—said of the heart. Quill — One of the stiff feathers of the wing or tail of a bird. Quincunx — Set of five arranged alternately, thus * * * Radius — Outer bone of fore arm. Ray — One of the cartilaginous rods which support the membrane of the fin of a fish. Rectrices — Quills of the tail of a bird. Recurved — Cu r ved upward . Remiges— Quills of the wing of a bird. Reticulate— Marked with a network of lines. Retractile — Susceptible of being drawn inward, as a cat's claw. Retrorte— Directed backward. Rictal — Pertaining to the rictus, as rictal bristles. Rictus— Gape of the mouth. Rostral — Pertaining to the snout, as rostral plate. Rudimentary — Undeveloped. GLOSSARY. 375 Huff— A series of modified feathers. Si'imxon'al— Capable of climbing. Scansorial tail — Tail feathers sharp and stiff, as in the scansorial birds (Woodpeckers). Scapula — Shoulder blade. Scutellate— Provided with scutella ; said of the tarsus when covered with broad plates in a regular vertical series, and separated by regular lines of impression. Scutettwii—Qnc of the tarsal plates or scutella. Secondaries — The quills growing on the fore arm. Second dorsal — The posterior or soft part of the dorsal fin, when the two parts are distinctly separated. Sector ial tooth — One of the premolars of carnivora, adapted for cutting. Semipnlmate — Half -webbed ; having the anterior toes more or less connected at base by a webbing which does not extend to the claws. Septum — A thin partition. Serrate — Notched, like a saw. Sessile — Without a stem or peduncle. Setaceous— Bristly. Shoulder girdle— The bony girdle posterior to the head, in fishes, etc., to which the anterior limbs are attached. Soft dorsal — The posterior part of the dorsal fin in fishes, when composed of soft rays. Soft rays— Fin -rays which are branching and articulate. Spine — Any sharp projecting point; in fishes, those fin -rays which arc imbranched, inarticulate, and usually more or less stiffened. Spinous— Stiff, or composed of spines. Spinous dorsal— The anterior part of the dorsal fin in fishes, when composed of spinous rays. Spiracles — Openings in the head or neck of some fishes and Batrachians. Spurious — Said of the first primary when less than about one- third the length of the second. (The student will notice that in Oxci/ics the presence of a short or spurious quill indicates ten primaries ; its absence, nine.) Sternum — The breast bone. Striate — Striped or streaked. 376 GLOSSARY. Sub (in composition) — Less than ; somewhat ; not quite ; under, etc. Suffrage — Heel joint; tibio — tarsal joint. Sub-caudal — Under the tail. Sub-opercle — The bone immediately below the opercle. Snb-orbital — Below the eye. Sub a la te — Awl-shaped . Superciliary — Pertaining to the region of the eyebrow. Supra-orbital — Above the eye. Syndactyle — Having two toes immovably united for some distance — as in the Kingfisher. Synonym — A different word having the same or a similar meaning. Tail — In mammals, the vertebrae, etc., posterior to the sacrum ; in birds, the tail-feathers or rectrices, taken collectively ; in ser- pents, the part of the body posterior to the vent ; in fishes (usually), the part of the body posterior to the anal fin. (Everywhere used more or less vaguely.) Tail Coverts — The small feathers overlapping the bases of the rectrices. Tarso-metatarsus — The correct name for the so-called tarsus of birds; the bone reaching from the tibia to the toes, composed chiefly of the metatarsus, but having at its top one of the small tarsal bones confluent with it. Tarsus — The ankle-bones collectively ; in birds, commonly used for the shank-bone, lying between the tibia and the toes, the tarso-metatarsus. Tectrices — The wing and tail coverts. Temporal — Pertaining to the region of the temples. Tenuirostral — Slender-billed. Terete — Cylindrical and tapering. Terminal — At the end. Tertials — The quills attached to the humerus. Tessellated — Marked with little checks or squares, like mosaic work. Thoracic — Pertaining to the chest; ventral fins are thoracic wnen attached immediately below the pectorals, as in the perch. Tibia — Shin-bone ; inner bone of leg between knee and heel. Tomium — Cutting edge of the bill. Totipalmate — Having all four toes connected by webbing. Tragus — The inner lobe of the ear ; the lobe opposite the auricle. GLOSSARY. 377 Transverse — Crosswise. Trenchant — Compressed to a sharp edge. Truncate — Abrupt, as if cut squarely oft". Tubercle — A small excrescence, like a pimple. Tympanum — Drum of the ear ; external in some Batracnia. Typical — Of a structure the most usual in a given group. Ulna — The inner or posterior bone of the fore-arm. Ungulate — Provided with hoofs. Unguiculate — Provided with claws. Unicolor — Of a single color. Urosteges—Thc plates underneath the tail of a serpent. Vent — The external opening ot the alimentary canal. Ventral — Pertaining to the abdomen. Ventral fins — The paired fins behind or below the pectoral fins in fishes, corresponding to the posterior limbs in the higher vertebrates. Ventral plates— Gastrosteges in serpents. Vent?' tele— One of the chambers of the heart. Versatile — Capable of being turned either way. Vertebra— One of the bones of the spine. Vertical — Up and down. Vertical fins — The fins on the median line of the body ; the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Vertical plate— Central plate on the head of a serpent. VilUform — Said of the teeth of fishes when slender and crowded into velvety bands. Viscous— Slimy; viscid. Vitta — A band of color. Viviparous — Bringing forth living young. Vomer — In fishes, the front part of the roof of the mouth ; a bone lying immediately behind the premaxillaries. 1J7& — The vane of a feather, on either side of the rhachis or " stem " ; also, the membrane connecting the toes. Zygoctactyle— Yoke-toed; having the toes in pairs — two in front, two behind. Zygoma — The malar or cheek bone. GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. The following Glossary includes all the Specific Names men- tioned in this work, with the exception of words formed from names of persons, and of a few words whose meaning I have been unable to ascertain. They are all of Latin origin unless other- wise specified : abacurus: Gr. checkered tail. acadiacus: Acadian. achigan: a Canadian French name for the bass. acutns: acute. adamantinus: like a diamond. aedon: Gr. a nightingale. selurus: Gr. a cat. aeneus: brassy, or coppery. jepypteru.s: Gr. high-flnned. aesopus: Gr. different-footed. jestivalis: pertaining to summer. ajstivus: summer. affinis: akin to. agilis: agile. agrestis: living in fields. albeolus: whitish. albicollis: white-throated. albidus: whitish. albifrons: white-fronted. albus: white. al'.-yon: halcyon— a sea-bird— during whose nesting there is always a calm. alexandrinus: Alexandrian (Egypt- ian). alleghaniensis: Alleghanian. alpestris: alpine. alpinus: alpine. altus: high or deep. amabilis: amiable. araarus: bitter (salt water). americanus: American. amoenus: pleasing. anagallinus: color of Scarlet Pimper- nel. analostanus: Analostan Island. anglicus: English. anisurus: Gr. tail unequal. annu'aris: ringed. anomalus: anomalous. anthracinus: coal -black. antillarnm: living in tlie Antilles. appendix: an appendage. aquaticus: aquatic. arcticus: arctic. arctos : Gr. a bear. ardens: burning. ardesiacus: glittering. arenarius: living in sand. arge: Gr. sluggish. argentatus: s Ivered. argenteus: silvery. argyritis: silvery. ariommus: Gr. big-eyed. artedi: to Peter Artedi, "the father of Ichthyology." asio: a horned owl. asper: rough. aspro: a genus of European Percoids. ater: black. atrarius: blackish. atratus: blackened. atricapillns: black -capped. atricillus: blackish. atripinuis: black-fiuued. (379) 380 GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. atrofuscus: blackish-brown. atromaculatus: black-spotted. atronasus: black-nosed. aura: pertaining to air. aurantiacus: orange. auratus: golden. aureolus: gilded. an revs: golden. auricapillus: golden-crowned. auritus: long-eared. aurora: sunrise. austerus: austere. baltimore : to Lord Baltimore, in sportive allusion to his black coat and scarlet vest, bernicla: a barnacle-goose, bicolor; two-colored, bifrenatus : two-bridled (stripe through snout), biguttatus: two-spotted, bilineatus: two-lined, bimaculatus: two-spotted bison; a buffalo, blennioides: blenny-like. blennioperca; blenny-perch. boleoides: darter-like, borealis: northern, boreus: northern, boschas: a kind ot duck, bostoniensis; Bostonian. brachyotus: Gr. short-eared, branta; brant, brevicauda: short-tailed, breviceps: short- headed, brevirostris: short-billed, brosmiauus: like a cusk. brunneus: brown, bubalinus: buffalo-like, bubalus: buffalo, buccatus: big- jawed, buccinator: trumpeter, bucco: big-cheeked, bullaris: bubbling, bursarius: purse-bearing, caeruleus: blue, caerulescens: bluish, californicus: California!!, calligastcr: Gr. beaut. ful belly, callipteryx: Gr. beautiful-finned. calendulus: a little lamp, calvus: bald, camurus: decurved. canadensis: Canadian, candidissimus: most white. caninus: dog-1 ke. canis: a dog. cantabrigcnsis: from Cambridge, cantiacus: Kentish, canutus: hoary, caprodes: Gr. like a pig. carbo: coal-black, caribseus: Caribbean, caribou: French Canadian name, car hiatus: keeled, carnivorus: carnivorous, carolinensis: Carolinian, carolinus: Carolinian, carpio: a carp, caspius: Caspian, castaneus: chestnut-colored, catarache: from Niagara Falls, cataractus: a cataract, catenatus: with chain-like lines, catulus a kitten, catus : a cat. caudacutus: sharp-tailed, caudafurcatus : fork-tailed, caudatus: long-tailed, cavifrons: having the front concava cayuga: Caytiga Lake, cedrorum: living among cedars, celatus: concealed, cephalus: Gr. big-headed, cervinus: tawny, like a deer, chaetodon: a marine genus, chalybteus: steel-colored, charybdis: a somewhat noted whirl- pool. chrysaetus: Gr. golden eagle, clirysocephalus: Gr. golden-headed, chrysochloris: Gr. golden-green, chrysoleucus: Gr. golden-white. chrysops: Gr. golden-eyed, chrysopsis: Gr. golden appearance, chrysopterus: Gr. golden-winged, cinereoargentatus: silver-gray. cinereus: ashy-gray, circulosus: with circles or rings, ciris: a water-bird of some kind, citrseus: citron-yellow, clamitans: screaming, clangula: a sharp bird's scream, clausus: closed. clupeiformis: herring or shad-shaped, clypeata: shielded, coccogenis: Gr. scarlet-cheeked, coenosus: muddy, collapsusi slab-sided. GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. 381 collaris: collared. colubris: pertaining to a snake. columbarius: pertaining to a dove. columbianus : Columbian. communis: common. compressus: compressed. concinnus: handsome. concolor: one-colored. confinis: confined (in its range). conspersus: bespattered. constrictor: one that hugs. contortrix- contorted. conus: a cone. corax: a raven. coregonus: a white-fish. cornutus: horned. coronatus: crowned. corporalis: big-bodied. crassilabris: thick-lipped. crepitans: screaming. crepuscularis: pertaining to twilight. crlnitus: long-haired. cristatus: crested. cucullatus: hooded. cunicularius : pertaining to a cony (prairie dog), cupido: Cupid, cupreus: coppery, curvirostra; curved-billed, cutisanserinus: goose-skinned, cyanellus: Gr. bluish, cyaneus: Gr. blue, cyanocephalus: Gr. blue-headed, cyanonoton: Gr. blue-backed, cyclotis: Gr. rounded, cymatogrammus: Gr. wavy-lined, cypho: humpback, cyprinella: a small carp, cyprinus: a carp, delawarensis: Delaware, diaphanus: transparent, difformis: deformed, dilectus: delightful, dilophus: Gr. two-crested, dinemus: Gr. two-threaded (a lateral line and a lateral streak), diplsemius: Gr. doubly-bloody, discolor: two-colored, discors: discordant, dispar: dissimilar, dissimilis: dissimilar, doliatus: sorrowful, domesticus: domestic, domiuicus: from San Domingo. dorsalis: dorsal. dorsatus: pertaiui g to the back. dubius: dubious. duquesnii : from Fort DuQuesne ( Pittsburgh durissus: hard, eburneus: ivory, effulgens: shining, egretta: Italian— an Egret, elapsoidea: like Elaps. elegans: elegant, eleutherus: Gr. free, ellipticus: elliptical, elongatus: elongate, enucleator: one who takes the seed from the husk, eos: Gr. color of sunrise, erebennus: Gr. jet-black, eriarchus: Gr. with a large anal fin. ermineus: ermine, erythrocephalus: Gr. red-headed, erythrogaster: Gr. red-bellied, erythrograrnmus: Gr. red-lined, erythronotus : Gr. red-backed, erythrophthalmus: Gr. red-eyed, erythrurus: Gr. red-tailed, estor: devourer. euryops: Gr. wide-faced, evides: Gr. comely, excubitoroides : like excubitor — a sentinel. exilipes: slender-footed, exilis: slender, eximius: excellent, falcinellus: falx— a scythe, fallax: deceptive, familiaris: familiar, fasciatus: banded, ferinus: wild, ferox: ferocious, ferrugineus: rust-colored. Sber: a beaver. Sissipes: cloven-footed, flabellaris: fan-shaped, flabellatus: fan -shaped, flammeus: flame-colored, flavescens: yellowish, ^avifrons: yellow -fronted, flavipes: yellow-footed, flavirostris : yellow-billed, flaviventris: yellow-bellied, flavus: yellow, floridanus: Floridian. fluviatilis: living in rivers. 382 GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. folium: a leaf. fontinalis: living in fountains. forflcatus: deeply forked. formosus: comely. fretensis: inhabiting straits (Detroit River). frontalis: forehead prominent, frugivorus: eating fruits, fulicarius: like a coot, fulvus: reddish-yellow, funduloides: like Fundulus. furcatus: forked, fuscescens : somewhat dusky or tawny. fuscicollis: dusky-throated, fuscus: dusky, fusiformis: fusiform, galacturus: Gr. milky-tailed, galeatus: helmeted. gallopavo: Gallas: a cock; Pavo: a peacock. garrulus: garrulous, gavialis: like a crocodile, geographicus: map-like, georgianus: Georgian, gibber: gibbous, gibbosus: with rounded outlines, gilvus: pale yellow, glacialis: icy. gladius: a sword, glaucus: glaucous, glutinosus: viscid, gobioides: goby-like, gobioninus: gudgeon-like, gorbuscha: a Kamtschatkan name, gracilis: slender, grammacus: Gr. striped, gramineus: pertaining to grass, griseus: gray, grunniens: grunting, gryllus: a cricket, gulosus: big-mouthed, guttatus: with drop like spots, gyrfalco: agyr-falcon. gyrinus: Gr. a tadpole, luematurus: Gr. bloody-tailed, halecinus: halec— a shad (appears in shad-run season), haliaetus: Gr. a sea-eagle, harengus: a herring, helveticus: Swiss. herodias: Gr. a heron, heros: a genus of Cichlidae. heteroclitus: Gr. different slope. heterodon: Gr. teeth otherwise, heterurus: Gr. tail uneven, hexacanthus: Gr. six-spined. hieroglyphicus : Gr. marked with crow-tracks. himantopus: Gr. crook-shanks, hirudo: a leech. hirundo: a swallow, horiconensis: from Lake George, horreoriun : inhabiting barns, horribilis: horrible, horridus: horrid, hudsonicus : from Hudson's Bay or River. hudsonius: Hudsonian. humeralis: a spot on the shoulder, humilis: humble, huronensis: Lake Huron, hyalinus: transparent, hybridus: hybrid, hyemalis: wintery. hyperboreus: Gr. far-northern, hypogseus: Gr. underground, ichtheloides: like a sunfish. icterocephalus: Gr. oriole-headed, iliacus: Trojan (why?). immaculatiis: unspotted, incisor: one that cuts, iiiconstans: inconstant, ingens: prodigious, inornatus: not ornamented, inscriptus: inscribed, insculptus: sculptured, insignis:' insignificant, insociabilis: unsociable, intermedius: intermediate, interpres: an interpreter, interruptus: interrupted, irideus: rainbow-colored, ischanus: Gr. thin, ischyrus: Gr. stout, islandicus: Iceland, isolepis: Gr. equal -scaled, jaculus: something thrown, jamaicerisis: Jamaican, kentuckiensis: Kentuckian. keta: a Kamtschatkan name, labr.sdorius: Labradorian. labradoricus : Labradorian. lacertinus: lizard-like, lacertosus: lizard-like, lacerus: torn. hichrymalis: pertaining to tears, lacustris: living in lakes. GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. 383 lycaodon: Gr. wolf-toothed, lynx: a wild-cat, lythrochloris: Gr. bloody-green, macrocephalus: Gr. long-headed, macrochirus: Gr. long-armed, macrolepidotus: Gr. large-scaled. laevis: smooth. lagopus: Gr. rough -footed, like a rab- bit. lapponicus: pertaining to Lapland. lariformis: shape of a gull. lateralis: pertaining to the side. latior: broader. latrans: barking. leberis: thick-skinned. lemniscatus: adorned with ribbons. leptacanthus: Gr. slender-spined. leuciodus: Gr. whitened. leucobronchialis: Gr. white-throated. leucocephalus: Gr. white-headed. leucophrys: Gr. white-crowned. leucops: Gr. white-eyed. leucopsis: Gr. white-faced. leucopterus: Gr. white-finned. leucopus: Gr. white -footed. leucurus: Gr. white- tailed. limi : pertaining to mud. limosus: muddy. liiieatus: lined (with narrow stripes >. lineolatus: finely-lined. liosternus: Gr. smooth-breasted. lirus: Gr. lily-white. lividus: livid. livius: dove-colorod. loculator: a big- talker. lougicaudus; long-tailed. longiceps: long-headed. lougirostris : long-snouted. longirostrum: lo g-snout. l»phius: the fishing frog. lotor : one who washes (from the raccoon's habit of washing his paws and I'verything else in reach). louisianensis: Louisianian. lucidus: shining. lucifugus: shunning the light. lucioides: like a pike. lucius: a pike. ludovicianus: Louisiani:in. lunatus: crescent-shaped. lunifrons: crescent forehead. lupus: a wolf. luscus: one-eyed (from the condition of Linnanis' unfortunate specimen ). ! macropterus: Gr. large-finned. macrotis: G. large-eared, macrurus: Gr. long-tailed, macularius: spotty, maculaticeps: spotted- headed, maculatus: spotted, maculosus: spotted, niagnus: large, mainensis: Maine, majalis: pertaining to May. manitou: Lake Manitou. margaritus: pearly, margar.itis: Gr. pearly-eared, marginatus: margined, marinus: marine, inaritimus: maritime, marmoratus: marbled, martes: a marten, martinicus: from Martinique, maxillilingua: jaw- i'ligue. means: moving, megalotis: Gr. big-eared, melanoleucus: Gr. black and white. melanops: Gr. black-eyed or faced, melanostictus: Gr. black spotted, melas: Gr. black, meleagris: a fowl, melodius: melodious, melodus: melodious, menona: Lake Menona. mephiticus: ill-scented, merganser: diving-goose, meridionalis: southern, mesotrema: Gr. vent intermediate, mexicanus: Mexican, michiganensis: Michigan, micropteryx: Gr. small-finned. microstomus: Gr. small-mouthed, migratorius: migratory, miniatus: vermilion color. mi .imus: smallest, mineopas: Lake Minneopa, Minn, minor: smaller, minutillus: minute, mississippiensis: Mississippian. missuriensis : Missourian. mitratus: mitred, miurus: Gr. curtailed; notched, molestus: uneasy, mollissiinus: softest, monachus: solitary, monax: a hermit. montanus: pertaining to mountains rnonticolus: living in the mountains 384 GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. mordax: biting; snapping. motacilla: wag-tail. mucronatus : abruptly and sharply pointed. mugitans: mooing, like a cow. multifasciatus : many - banded or striped. multilineatus: many-lined, uiusculus: a little mouse. Inustelinus: color of a weasel (foxy red). muticus: unarmed, mevius: with small spots, namaycusli: Indian name, nasutus: long-nosed, natalis: with a projecting rump, nelmlosus: cloudy, neglectus: neglected, neogaeus: Gr. New World, neohantoniensis: New Hampshire, nephelus: Gr. clouded, nerka: a Kamtschatkan name, niger: black, nigricans: blackish, nigricollis: black-throated, nigrilabris: black-lipped, nigripinnis: black-finned. nigrofasciatus: black-barred, nigromaculatus : black-spotted, nitidus: shining, nivalis: snowy, niveiventris: white-bellied, niveus: snow-white, nobilis: noble, nobilior: nobler, noctivagans: wandering at night, notatus: known (as by a spot, hence spotted). novaeanglise: New England, noveboracensis: New York, nuchalis: pertaining to the nape. immmifer: money - bearing (nickel color), obesus: fat. oblongus: oblong, obscurus: dusky, obsoletus: obsolete, obtusus: obtuse, occidentalis: western, occipitomaculatus : back of head spotted. ocellicaudus: ocellate spots on tail, ochrophseus: Gr.dark orange-brown, oculatus: with eye-like spot. odoratus: odorous, olivaceus: olivaceous, olivaris: olivaceous, omiscomaycus: an Indian name for* 3 molt. opacus: opaque. o(inassa: Lake Oquassa. ordinatus: in rows (spots), oregonensis: Oregonian. oregonus: Oregonian. ornatus: ornamented, oryzivorus- rice-eating, osculus: small-mouthed, osmerinus: like a smelt, osseus: bony. ossifragus: bone-breaking, otsego: Lake Otsego. oxyurus: Gr. sharp-tailed, palmarum- living among palm t ees. palliatus: cloaked, pallidus: pale. palumbarius: pertaining to pigeons, palustris: living among swamps, papillosus: papillose, paradisea: of paradise, parasiticus: parasitic, parietalis: pertaining totlie sides, parvus: small, passerinus: sparrow-like, paucidens: few-toothed, pecoris: pertaining to cattle, pelagicus: oceanic, pellucidus: pellucid, peltastes: Gr. large-scaled, peltatus: shielded, penelope- a widgeon; also the wife of Ulysses. pennsylvanicus: Pennsylvania!!, peregrinus: wandering, perspicillatus: transparent, phaenna: translucent, phasianellus: a little pheasant, phenax: Gr. deceptive. Philadelphia: Gr. brotherly love. Philadelphia: Philadelphia]!, phoaniceus: crimson, photogenis: Gr. born of light, phoxocephalus: Gr. tapering-headed, pictus: painted, pidiensis: Great Pedee River, pileatus: capped; crested, pilosus: with thin hairs, pinetorum: living among pines, pinniger: large-finned. GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. 385 pinus: pine tree. pipiens: chirping: piping. piscivorus: fish-eating. pisculentus: fishy. plagiatus: thievish. plargyrus: Gr. silver-sided. platycephalus: Gr. flat-headed. platyrhinus: Gr. flat-nosed. platyrhynchus: Gr. flat-nosed. platystomus: Gr, flat-mouthed. plumbeolus: lead-colored. po3Cilu'ra: Gr. tail variegated. polyglottus: many- voiced. pomatorhinus: Gr. snout operculate. podiceps: a grebe. pomotis: a sunfish. porosus: porous. porphyriticus: purplish. rortlandicus: pertaining to Portland. irsestabilis: standing first. •ratincola: living in meadows. »rinceps: princely. jrincipalis: princely. ^rocne: Gr. a swallow. productus: produced. jromelas: Gr. black forwards. ^roriger: having a prow. prosthemius: added. protacanthus : Gr. anterior spine large. >roteus: of many shapes. |>roximus: near. pruinosas : frosty. pseudogeographicus : not quite geo- graphicus. Vseudoharengus: not quite a herring. |mbesceus: pubescent. |>ugnax: quarrelsome, pulchellus: pretty, pullus: dusky, puuctatus: dotted, punctulatus: finely dotted, purpureus: purple, pusillus: weak, putorius: ill-scented, pygmaeus: pigmy, quadracus: four-spined. quadrilateralis: four-sided. quadrivittatus: four-striped querulus: querulous, quiescens: quiescent, qninnat: an Indian name for the sal- mon, meaning glittering. radix: Root criver in Wisconsin). rattus. rat. regius: royal. reticulatus: reticulate. rhombifer: bearing rhombs. rhotheus: Gr. pertaining to falls. rigidus: rigid. riparius: pertaining to shores. robustus: robust. rostratus: large-billed or snouted. rubellus; reddish. ruber: red. rubicundus: ruddy. rubidus: ruddy. rubricaudus: red-tailed. rubricroceus: saffron-red. rubrifrons: red-faced. rufescens: rusty-red. ruficapillus: rusty-crowned. rufilineatus: rusty-lined. rnfus: rusty-red. rugosus: rough. rupestris: living among rocks. rusticola: living in the country. ruticilla: somewhat fiery red. rutilus: fiery red. sacer: sacred. salar: a salmon. salmoides: like a salmon. salmoneus: like a trout. sanguifluus: blood-flowing. sanguinolentus: bloody. sapidissimus: most delicious to eat. satrapa: a prince (knight). sauritus: like a lizard. savanna: Savanna. scaber: rough. scabriceps: rough-headed. scandiacus : ascending ( or Scandl navian?) scomberius: mackerel-like, scopiferus: bearing a mark. scutatus: with scutes, scylla: a rock near Charybdis sebago: Lake Sebago. selene: Gr. the moon, selenops: Gr. moon-eye, semifasciatus: half-banded, semipalmatus: semipalmate. septentrionalis: northern, serpentinus: serpent-like, serrator: one that saws, serripinnis: sasv-finned. sexlineatus: six-lined, sialis: plump. 17 386 GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. sicculus: dry, 1 e., found in pools left by drying of streams, simoterus: Gr. snub-nosed, simulans: resembling, simus: Gr. snub-nosed, sirtalis: like a garter, sisco: vernacular, Cisco, siscowet: Indian name, socialist sociable, solitarius: solitary, sparverius: pertaining to a sparrow, spatula: a spatula, speciosus: handsome, spectabilis: notably handsome, spectrum: a sight to see. spectrunculus: a little image, spelaeus: living in caves. spilopterus: Gr. spotted-flnned. spilotus: Gr. spotted, spinifer: spine-bearing, spirlingulus : French eperlanule, a little smelt or sprat, sponsa: a bride, spurius: spurious, squamiceps: scaly-headed, stellaris: starry, stellatus: star-spotted, stelliferus: star-bearing, stigmaticus: Gr. spotted, stramineus: straw-colored, streperus: noisy, striatulus: narrowly striped, striatus: striated, sturio: a sturgeon, subcaeruleus: somewhat blue, subis: sudden, subterraneus: underground, subulatus: subulate, subviolaceus: somewhat violet, sucetta: French sucet, a sucker, superciliaris: pertaining to the region over the eye. superciliosus: ridge above the eye. sylvaticus: living in the woods, symmetricus: symmetrical, talpoideus: mole-like, talpoides: mole-like. tarandus:a reindeer, telescopus : Gr. far-seeing tenellus: slender, teres : terete, teretulus: terete. tergeminus: triple. tergisus: polished. tessellatus: checkered. thalassinus: Gr. sea-green. tigrinus: tiger-colored. toma: name of an Indian. torquatus: with a collar. trachyrhynchus: Gr. rough-billed. trichas: Gr. a kind of thrush. tricolor: three-colored. tridactylus: three -clawed. tridecemlineatus: thirteen-striped. triseriatus: three-rowed. triunguis: three-clawed. tristis: sorrowful. troglodytes: a wren. truncatus: cut off squarely. tuditanus: hamu:er-headed. tullibee: Indian name. typicus: typical. tyrannus: a king-bird. ulula: a bird that hoots. umbellus: ruffed. umbrosus: shady-colored. undulatus: wavy. uranops: Gr. sky-gazing. urus: a wild bull. vallisneria: eel-grass( which food im- proves the flavor). vandoisulus : French randaise, a dace. variatus: variegated. variegatus: variegated. varius: various. velatus: with a large sail. velifer: sail-bearing. venenosus: venemous. ventralis: on the belly. vermis: a worm. vernalis: spring. versicolor: various colored. verticalis: vertical (on high). vespertinus : evening. villo:sus: hairy. violacetis: violet. virescens: greenish. virens: green. virginianus: Virginian. viridescens: greenish. viridis: green. viscosus: viscid. vison: a scout; spy. GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. 387 vitrens: glassy, vittatus: striped, vitulus: a bull-calf, vociferus: loud-voiced, volucella: flying, vulgaris: common, vulneratus: wounded. vulpinus: fox-like. xanthocephalus: Gr. yellow-headed. xiphias: Gr. a sword. zebra: zebra. zonalis: banded. zonatus: banded. zopherus: Gr. dusky TXDEX TO NAMES GENERA AND HIGHER GROUPS, WITH THEIR DERIVATIONS. NOTE. — In this index, names of genera recognized in this work are printed in ordinary type, as Dendroeca; families and higher groups in small capitals, as EMYDID/E ; synonyms and sub-genera in italics, as Amblodon. In giving the etymology of terms, all words not otherwise designated are understood to be Greek ; L. indicates Latin. Greek words are here, for convenience, printed in Roman characters. PAGE. Abastor: a coined name, . . 181 Ablabes: ablabes, harmless, . 179 Abramls: L., a bream, , . 301 Aeantharchus: akantha — spine; archos — anal ( many anal spines) 237 Ac AXTHOPTERI : akantha— spine ; pteron — fin, . . 215 Accipiter: L., a hawk, . . 113 Acipenser: L., a sturgeon (sharp fins) 345 ACIPENSERIDJD, .... 344 Acomus: a coined narae> . . 319 Acris: L., sharp— from the note, 190 Actiturus: actaino — to move quickly; oura — tail (wagtail), 129 Actodromas: akte — sea beach; dromos— a running, . . 127 ^Egialitis: aigialites — pertaining to the shore, .... 121 ^giothus: aiglothos — a hedge sparrow, .... 82 JEsalon: aisalon— a merlin (kind of hawk), Ill Agelaeus: agelaios— gregarious, 92 Aix: aio>— goat (why?), . . 142 ALAUDID^E: L., alte 82 Castor: L., a beaver, ... 29 CASTORID^E, .... 29 Catharista: Ttathairo— to cleanse, 115 Cathartes ": kathartes — one who purifies 115 CATHARTIDJB, .... 114 Catonotus : Tcato — low; notos — back 227 CATOSTOMID.E, .... 309 Catostomus: kato — low; stoma— mouth 319 Caudisona: L., cauda — tail; sono —to sound, 184 Celuta: L-, eeler— swift, . . 182 CENTRARCHID^E . . . 232 Centrarchus : Ttentron — spine ; archos— anal (many anal spines) 246 frntrophanes : kentroi — spine ; phaneo — to show, ... 83 PAGE. Centurus: fcenteo— to prick; oura —tail 104 Ceratichthys: Tteras— horn; ichtJius —fish, 305 Certhia: L., a creeper wren, . 53 CERTHIID^E, • 53 CERVUXB, 20 Cervus: L., a deer, ... 22 Ceryle: Tterulos— a kingfisher, 101 Chaeuobryttus: chaino— to yawn ; bruttos— a sun fish (growler), 237 Chaetura : chaite— mane (bristle); oura— tail, 100 Chamsepelia : chamai — on the ground; peleia— ring-dove (pel- eios— dusky) 116 CHARADR1ID-B, . . . . 120 Cbaradrius : charadrios — a lap- wing or some other water-bird (from charadra, a torrent), . 121 Chatoessus: chateo — to yawn, . 279 Chaulelasmus: chaulos— loose, or gaping ; elasmos — a plate, or blade, 141 Chelopus : chele — claw ; pous — foot, 162 Chelydra: cheludros— a water tur- tle 167 CHELYDRID^E, .... 166 CHIROPTERA: cheir— hand; pttron —wing, 22 Chirostoina : cheir — hand; stoma mouth, 261 Chloris: chloros— green, . . 60 Chologaster : cholos — defective, lame; gaster — belly, (ventral fins) 269 Chondestes : chondros — grain ; esthio— to eat, .... 85 CHONDROSTBI: chondros — carti- lage; osteon— bone, . . 344 Chordeiles: choreo — to wander; deiZ«-twilight 99 Chorophilus : chor o s — dance (chorus); phUeo— to love, . 189 Chro3cocephalus : chroia — color; kephale— head 150 Chrosomus: chros — color; soma— body 302 Chrysemys : chrusos — golden ; emu*— water-turtle, . . 163 Chrysomitris : chrusos — golden; mitra— cap, .... 82 392 INDEX. PAGE. Circus: L., a sacred falcon which flies in circles, .... 112 ClNOSTERNID^E, . . . 165 Cinosternuni : kineo — to move; sternon— sternum, . . . 166 Cistothorus: kistos — rock - rose; thereuo— to seek, ... 55 Cistudo: kiste— a box, . . 162 Clangula: Latin name, clangor— a sharp bird's scream. . . 143 Clinostomus : klino — to incline; stoma— mouth, . . . 300 Cliola: an Indian name, . . 298 CLUPKID.E: from L., clupea— a herring, ..... 278 Cnemidophorus : knemidophoros— wearing leg armor, . . 170 Coccygus: kokkuxs-a, cuckoo, 102 Colaptes : kolapto— to strike with the bill, • ..... 105 Coliscus : kolos— a deficiency, 289 Collurio: k o II u r i on— a shrike (butcher) ..... 77-354 Coluber: L., a harmless snake, 178 COLUBRID/E, . . . . 172 Columba: L., a dove, . . 116 : L., doves, . . 115 COLYMBID.E, . . . . 154 Colymbus: kolumbus— a diver, 154 Condylura: kondulos— node ; our a —tail (from the beaded appear- ance when dried), ... 25 Conocephalus: fconos— cone; keph- ale— head, ..... 181 Contopus: fco?itos-spear; pous-foot, 97 Conurus: Tconos— cone; oura— tail, 106 Copelandia: dedicated to Herbert Edson Copeland, . . . 246 Coregonus: korre — the temples; gonos— angle, . . . 274-360 Coronella: L., corona — a crown, 180 Corvina: from corvus, . . 251 Corvus: L., a raven, ... 94 Corynorhinus : korune — club; rhin— snout, .... 24 Coryphodon: koruphe — vertex, point ; odon— tooth, . . . 178 COTTID^B: L., coitus — a sculpin (kottos— head) ..... 251 Cottopsis: Cottus; ops is — appear- ance. ... 255 PAGE. Cottus: kottos — head (from the great size of that part), . 252 Coturniculus: diminutive of ko- turnix— a kind of grouse. . 84 Cotyle: kotule— a cavity or hole, 72 Craxirex: L, crax— a gallinace- ous bird; rex— king, . . 113 Cristivomer ; L., crista — crest ; vomer— vomer, . . . 359 CROCODILIA: krokodeilos—a, cro- codile 157 Crocodilus, 157 CROTALID,E 183 CrotalopJiorus: krotalon — a rattle; phoreo— to bear, . . . 184 Crotalus : krotalon— a rattle. . 183 CUCULID^E: L., cuculus— a cuckoo, 101 Cupidonia: L., cupido— the god of love 119 Cyanospiza: kuancos— blue; spiza — sparrow, 89 Cyanurus: kunneos — blue; onr*OIDEI: ganoa— splendor, . 339 Garzetta: a proper name, . 132 GASTEROSTEIDJB, . • . 258 Gasterosteus: gaster — belly ; ost- eon— bone 259 Gelochelidon : gelao— to laugh ; chelidon— a swallow, . . 151 29 394 INDEX. 5PAOK. Geomys: ge — the earth; mus — mouse, 29 Geothlypis: ge — the earth; tMupis a warbler (?) 68 Gila: Gila River, where the typical species occurs, .... 300 Girardinus: to Dr. Chas. Girard, 262 GLIIIES: L., glis— a dormouse, 26 Glottis: glottis— name of some bird, 128 Glyptemys : gluptos — sculptured; emus— tortoise 163 GOBIID^B: L.. gobius — a goby, 256 Gobiosoma: L., gobius— a goby ; soma— body 257 Goniaphea : gonos — cheeks (?); phaios— bla k, .... 88 Goniochelys: gonia— angle; chelus —turtle, 166 Graculus: L., a jackdaw, from its note— gra, gra, . . . . 147 Graptemys : graptos — engraved ; emus— tortoise 164 Gronias: grone— a cavern, . -333 GKUID^B, ..... 134 Grus: L., a crane, . . . 135 Grystes: gruzo—to growl, . . 236 Guiraca: meaningless, . . 89 Gulo: L., gulo— a glutton, . 19 Gypochelys: gaps—a, vulture; che- lus—a, turtle, . . . . 167 Gyrinophilus: gurinos— a tadpole; phileo— to love, . . . . 194 Hadropterus: hadros — stout; pte- ron— fin, . . . . . 221 H^BJIATOPODID^B, . . . 122 Haeinatopus : haima— blood ; pous foot. 122 HaMea: meaningless ? . . 181 Haliaetus: lials— sea; aetos— eagle, 114 Haplochilus : haploos — single, simple; cheilos— a lip, . . 263 Haplodontia : haploos — simple ; odon— tooth, .... 29 Haploidonotus: haploid'is— cloak- ed; notos— back, from scales on dorsal fin, 250 HAPLOMI: haploos— simple; omos - humerus, .... 261 Harelda: L., a herald. . . 143 Harporhynchus : harpe—a, sickle; rhunchos—a, bill, . ... 48 Hedymcles: hedus — sweet ; melos —a song 88 PAGE. Helioperca: helios—the sun; perke —perch 241 Helminthophaga: helmins — a worm; phago— to eat, . 60-353 Helmitherus: helmins— a, worm; thereuo— to seek, ... 60 HKMIHRANCHII: 7i e m i — half ; bragchia— gills, . . , 258 Hemidactylium: hem I — half; daktulos— claw, . . . 193 Hemioplites: hemi— half; lioplltes —armed 245 Hemitremia: hemi— half; trema— aperture ( lateral line half way), 303 Herodias: herodios— a heron, . 132 HKIIODIONES, . . . . 130 Hesperiphona; liesperos— evening; phoneo— to sing, ... 81 Hesperocichla: hesperos — even- ing; feicMe— a thrush, . . 47 Hesperomys: hesperos — evening ; mus— a mouse, .... 31 Heterodon: heteros — different; odon,— tooth, . . . . 174 Hierofalco: L., hierax—a. hawk; falco—K, falcon, . . . . Ill Himantopus : h i m a n t o p o u .« — a kind of water-bird (crook- shanks), ..... 123 HIRUNDINID^: , . 70 Hirundo: L., a swallow, . . 71 Histrionicus: L., a harlequin, 144 Hololepis: holos— entirely; lepis— a scale 228 Hopladelus : hoplels — armed ; de- los— visible 334 Hucho: a Latinized name, (Ger. Hecht, a pike) 271 Hudsonius: Hudson River, . 290 Hurc: Lake Huron, . . . 236 Hybognathus : hubos — gibbous; gnathos— ja,w 289 Hybopsis: hubos— gibl^ous ; opsis —face, , 290 Hyborhynchus : hubos — gibbous : ' rhunchos— snout, . . . 288 Hydrargyra: hudor — water ; ar- guros— silver, .... 262 Hydrochelidon : hudor — water ; chelidon— swallow, , . . 153 Hydrophlox: liudor — water; phlox —flame 292 INDEX. 395 PAGE. Hyla: huZf-forest, ... 189 HYLID.E: 189 Hylocichla: hide — forest; kichle— thrush, 46 Hylomyzon: Talus — mud: muzo— to suck, 319 Hylotomus: hule — wood; tomos— cutting 10:3 Hyodou: L., os hi/oides — bone of the tongue; odon— a tooth (in- tended for " toothed tongue "), 277 HYODOXTID.E: .... 276 Hyostoma: hits— swine; sterna— a mouth, 222 Hypentelium: hupo— under (lip?); en teles— perfect (more likely— hupo— under (lip); pente — five; the lower lip was said by Rafin- esque to be five-lobed), . . 319 Hypohomus: hupo — beneatli ; ho- mos—uniform 2^1 Hyperistius: Jiuper— high; histion —a sail (dorsal), ... 247 HYPEROARTIA : huperoa— palate ; artios— perfect 347 HYPEROTRETA: huperoa— palate; tretos— perforate, . . . 347 Hypsifario: hupsi — deep; L., Fario —a trout, 35? Hypsilepis: hupsi — high; ^pis- scale 293 Ibis: name in Greek, . . 134 Ichthselurus: ichthus — fish; nilu- ros— cat, 328 Iclithelis: ichthus — fish; helois— the sun 239 Ichthyobus: ichthus— fish; bans— buffalo, 322 Ichthyomyzon: ichthus — fi s h ; muzo— to suck, .... 349 Ictiuia: iktinos— a kite, . . 112 Icteria: ikteros— a yellowish green bird, the sight of which would cure the jaundice (ikteros;. In the process the bird dies, . 68 ICTERID-.E, 90 Icterus: same as Icteria, . . 92 IGUAXID-E: Iguana— & vernacular name, 169 Imostoma: eimi— to move; stoina mouth (mouth protractile), ,' 222 IXSECTIYOKA: L., insccta— insect; voro— to eat, 24 PAGE. Ischnognathus : ischnos — thin; gnathos— jaw 176 ISOSPONDYLl: isos— equal; spon- dulos—a vertebra, . . . 270 Ispida: a Latin name, . . 101 Jaculus: L., something thrown, 30 Juiico: meaningless, . 88-354 Labidesthes: labis— a pair of for- ceps; esthio— to eat, . . 261 LABRACID-E 231 Labrax: labrax — name of some voracious sea-fish, . . . 231 LACERTILIA: L., lacerta— a lizard 168 Lagochila: lagocheilos — hare-lip- ped, 311 Lagopus: lagopous^—a ptarmigan from logos— a hare; pous — foot (rough-footed like a hare), . 119 LAMELLIROSTRES : L., lamella— a thin plate; rostrum — bill, 137 Lampropeltis: lampros — shining; pelte— shield 180 LAWHDJ3 : L., lanius — A shrike (butcher), 76 Lanirireo: lanius-vireo, . . 76 LARID.B, 148 Larus: laros— a seagull, . . 150 Lasiurus: lasios — hairy ; oura — tail 24 £cpibema . lepis — scale ; bema— step. " in allusion to the scaly basis of the unpaired fins," . 231 LEPIDOSTEID-F., .... 341 Lepidosteus: lepis— scale; osteon— —bone 342 Lepiopouius : lepion — a scale ; poma — opercle, .... 239 Lepomis : ' lepis — scale ; poma — opercle, 239 LEPORID^B, 34 LEPTOCARDII: leptos— thin; kar- dia— heart, ..... 347 Leptophis : leptos— slender ; op7tis —snake, 179 Lepus: L., a hare, ... 34 Lestris: lestris— a robber, . 149 Leuciscus : L.. a dace (leukus— white) 295 Le\icosomus: leukos— white; soma -body 304 LlMICOL.B : L., Umus— mud ; c»1» —to inhabit, .... 120 Limosa: L., limosus — muddy, 128 396 INDEX. PAGE. Liopeltis: leios — smooth ; pelte— shield 179 Litholepis : lithos — stone ; lepis — scale , 342 Lobipes: lobos— lobe ; pous—toot, 123 LONGIPENNES: L., longus — long; penna— wing 147 Lophodytes: lophos— crest; dutes— diver, 145 Lophophanes : lophos — crest ; phaino— to show, ... 51 Lota: L., a ling, .... 257 Loxia: loxos— crosswise, . . 82 Lucioperca : L., lucius — a pike; perca—a, perch, . . . 230 Lutra: L., an otter, ... 19 Luxilus: a shiner (L., luce— light), 293 Lynx: lugx— a wildcat, . . 16 Lythrurus: luthron — blood; oura tail 295 Macrochelys : makros — large ; chelus— a turtle, . . . 167 Macrorhamphus : makros— large: rhamphos— bill, . . . 126 Malacoclemmys: malakos — soft; klemmus— a turtle, . . . 164 MAMMALIA: Latin name (mamma) 12 Mareca: meaningless, . . 141 MARSIPOBUANCHII : marsipion— a pouch; bragchia— gills, . 347 MAUSUPIALIA : marsipion — pouch, 35 Meda: a classical name, . . . 280 Melanerpes: melas— black; nerpo —to creep 104 Melanetta : melas— black ; netta— a duck 144 Melanura: melas-black ;rmra-a tai!265 MKLEAGRIIXE, . . . . 117 Meleagris : meleagris — a fowl, (from the hero Meleager, whose sisters wept themselves into Gu nea-hens), . . . 117 Melospiza : melos— song ; spiza— a sparrow 87 Menobranchus : tnenos — strength; (meno — to remain) ; bragchos— a gill 198 MENOPCMID^E, . . . . 196 Menopoma : menos — strength : poma— opercle, . . . . 196 Mephitis: L., a bad odor, . 19-351 Mergus: L., mergo— to dive, . 145 PAGK. Mesogonistius : mesos — middle ; gonia — angle: histion — sail (dor- sal), 245 Micristius : mikros— small ; his- tion— sail (dorsal), . . . 264 Micropalama : mikros — small ; palame— palm (web), . . 126 Microperca: mikros— small; perke —a perch, 229 Micropterus : mikros — small ; pteron— a fin 236 Microsorex: mikros— small; sorex —shrew 352 Milvulus: dim. of L., milvus — a kite 96 Mimus: mimos— a mocker, . 48 Minnilus : English minnow; French, menuise ; L., minus- small 296 Minomus : meaningless, . . 319 Minytrema : minus — reduced ; trema— aperture (laternal line), 318 Mniotilta: mnion — moss; tillo— to pull, 59 Molothrus: molos— a mass; throos —a rustling ( ?), ... . 91 Morone: meaningless, . . 232 MOTACILLID.« : L.. motacilla — a wagtail 56 Moxostoma: muxo —to suck ; stoma — inoutli, . . . 313 Munenopsis : muraina — an eel ; opsts— appearance, . . . 13? MUKID.E, .39 Mus: mus— a mouse, ... 3i Mustela: L., a weasel, . . 18 MUSTELINE, .... 17 Myiadestes : myia— a, fly; deo — to bind (catch) 43 Myiarchus: myia— a fly; archos— chief 95 Myiodioctes: myia— a fly; dioko — to chase 68 Myonomes: mus— mouse; nomos— pasture, 32 Myxocyprinus : muxo — to suck; kuprinos— carp. . . . 309 Myxostoma: muxo— to suck; stoma —mouth 312 Nanemys: nanos— dwarf ; emus— turtle 163 Nanostoma: nanos — small; stoma —mouth, ... . 225 INDEX. 397 PAGE. Nauclerus: nnucleros— a ruler, 112 Necturus : neklos — swimming ; oura— tall 198 NEMATOGNATHI : nema — barbel ; gnathos— jaw, . . . . 326 Neocorys: neos— new; corns— hel- met, 57 Neosorex: neo— to swim; L., sorex —a shrew 351 Neotoma: neo — to swim ; tome — a cutting (Rodent), ... 31 Nerodia: neros— moist, . . 175 Nettion: nettion— a little duck, 142 Nisus: a king of Megara, changed to an eagle, .... 113 Nocomis : Ind., nofcomis— daugh- ter of the moon, . ; 305 Notemigonus; notos — back; Jiemi —half; gonia— angle, . . 301 Nothonotus : nothos — spurious : notes— back, .... 225 Notophthalmus : no t o s— back ; ophthalmos— eye, . . 191 Notropis: notos — back ; tropis— a keel 296 Noturus: notos— back; oura— tail 335 Numenius : noumenia — the new moon 129 Nyctale: nuktalos— nocturnal, 108 Nyctea: nuktios— nocturnal, . 109 Nyctherodius : nuktios — noctur- nal ; herodios— a heron, . . 132 Nyctiardea: L., a night-heron, 132 Nycticejus: nux— night, . . 23 Ochetodou: ochetos — a channel: odon— a tooth, .... 32 CEdemia: oidema— a swelling, 144 (Jligocephalus : ol i g o 8 — a few (small); kephnle— head, . . 226 Oligosoma : oligos— small ; some- body 171 Olor: a Latin name, . . . 139 Oncorhynchus : o n k o s — hook ; rhugchos— snout. . . . 356 Opheosaurus: ophis— snake; sau- ros— lizard, . . . . 170 Opuibolus : ophis— snake ; bolis— dart 180 OPHIDIA: ophis— snake, . . 172 Oporornis: opora — early autumn (fruit); amis — bird, . . 67 Ortyx : ortux — a European quail, 119 PAGE. Oryzomys: L., oryza— rice; mus— mouse 32 Osceola: Name of an Indian chief, ... . 181 Osmerus: osmeres— odorous, . 273 Otocorys: ous — ear; korus— helmet, 56 Otus: otos— a horned owl (otos— eared), 107 Ozotheca : ozo — to give out an odor; theke— a box, . . . 166 Pagophila : pagos— ice ; phileo— to love ,150 Pandion: name in mythology. 112 Pantosteus: pantos— everywhere; osteort— bone (from tlie closing of the fontanelle, which chiefly distinguishes the genus from Catostomus) .... 309 PARIDJB, 51 Parula: dim. of Par us, . . 60 Parus: L.. a titmouse, . . 51 Passer: L., a sparrow, . . 83 Passerculus: dim. of Passer, . 84 Passerella: dim. of Passer, . 88 PASSERES, 44 Pedioecetes: pedion— a field; koite —a nest 118 Pedomys: pedion— field; mus— a mouse, 33 PELECANID^E 146 Pelecanus: pelekan—Si pelican, 146 Pelidna: pelidnos— livid, . . 127 Pelionetta: peleios— blackish; netta-duck 145 Pelodichthys: pelos — mud; ich- thus— fish ,334 Perca: perTte — a perch (perkos— dusky) 229 PERCESOCES: L., perca — perch; esox— a pike, .... 260 PERCID.E, . . . . . 229 Percina: dim. of Perca, . . 219 PERCOPSID^E, .... 270 Percopsis: perke— a perch; opsis— appearance, .... 270 PERDICID^: L., perdlx— a part ridge 119 Perisoreus: peri— around; soros— a hill, a heap, .... 95 Perissoglossa: perissos— odd ; glos- sa— a tongue, .... 61 Petrochelidon: petros — a rock; chelidon— a swallow. . . 71 398 INDEX. PAGE. Petromyzon: petros— a stone; muzo —to suck, 348 PETROMYZONTID^E, . . . 348 Peucaea: peuke— a pine tree, . 87 PHALACROCORACID^E: phalakros —bald; korax— a raven, . 147 PHALAROPODID^J, . . . 123 Phalaropus : phalaros — shining ; pous— foot, . . . . 123 Phenacobius: phenax — deceptive; bios-life 299 Philobela: philea— to love; hele— sunlight; (hilus— mud?), . 125 Philomachus: phileo — to love; mache— a fight, . . . 129 Photogenis: photogenis — born of light 294 Phoxinus: phoxinos— a minnow; (phoxos— tapering), . . 302 Phrynosoma: phruna— a toad; so- mo— body 170 Pica: L., a magpie, ... 94 PICARI^E: L., picus — a wood- pecker, 98 PICID^B, 102 Picoides: L., like a woodpecker, 104 Picus: L., a woodpecker, . . 103 Ptteoma: pile ma — something compact 219 fimelodus: pimeloOes— fat, . 300 Pimephales: pimele— fat; kephale —head, ..... 288 Pinicola: L., living among pines, 81 Pipilo: L,.,pipilo— to chirp, . 89 PISCES: L., fishes, . . . 199 PUymys: pitus— a pine-tree ; mus —mouse, ..... 33 Pityophis: pi tus — a pine-tree; ophis— snake 178 Placopharynx: plax— anything flat and broad; pharunx— pharynx, 296 Plancsticiis: Greek, planesticos— wandering, vagabond, . . 47 Planiroslra: L., planus— flat; ros- trum—snout, .... 344 Plargyrus: pleura— side; arguros —silver, 293 Platygobio: platus— broad or flat; L., Oobio— a gudgeon, . . 304 Plectrophanes: plektron — a spur; plianeo— to show, . . 83-354 Plestiodon: pleistos— many; odon —tootu, 171 PAGE. Plethodon: plethos — abundance; odorir— tooth 193 PLETHODONTID^E, . . . 193 PLEURODELID^E : Pleurodeles ; pleuron— side ; deleeis — destruc- tive 190 Pleurolepis: pleuron — side; lepis —scale 219 PLO-mxB. ..... 146 Plotus: plos— a swimmer, . 146 Podiceps: L., podex — rump; pes— foot, 155 PODICIPID^E, .... 155 Podilymbus : L., podiceps — a grebe; colymbiis— a loon, . 156 Peecilichthys: poikilos — varie- gated; ic/it/ms-fish, . . 226 Polioptila: polios— hoary; ptilon— feather 50 Polyodon : polus — many ; odon — tooth, ..'.... 344 POLVODONTID^B, . . . 343 Pomoiobus : poma — opercle ; lobos —lobe, 279 Pomotis: poma — opercle; ous— ear, 239 Pornoxys: poma— opercle; oxus— sliarp 247 Pooecetes ; poa — meadow-grass ; fcoite-nest, ... 84 Porphyrio; porphurion — a red water bird, from porphurios, purple 136 Porzana: meaningless, . . 136 Potamocottus: potamos — a river; kottos— a sculpin, . . . 254 Procyon: pro— before; Uuon— dog 20 PROOYONID.E, .... 20 Progne: a daughter of Pandion, who was changed into a swallow 72 Prosopium: prosopeia— a mask (in allusion to the broad preorbital), 362 PROTEIDA 197 PROTEID^EJ 197 Proteus: a name in mythology, 197 Protistius: protos— before, in ad- vance; histion— sail (dorsal fin), 26'2 Protonotaria : L., noted above others: prothonotary , . . 60 Pseudemys: pseudos— false; emus —a tortoise 164 1'seudobranchus: pseudos — false; bragchos— gills, ... 198 INDEX. 399 PAGE. Pseudotritori: pseudos— false: tri- ton— a water Salamander, . 194 PSITTACI: L., p*iftac»s-a parrot, 105 Pleromys : pteron — wing ; mus— mouse, .... 27 Ptychemys : ptuche — A fold or wrinkle; emits— a tortoise, . 164 Ptychostomus: ptuche — a fold or wrinkle; stoma— mouth, . 312 Ptyonotus: ptuon—a fan; notos— back, 256 Putorlns: L., ill-scented, . 18 PYGOPODKS: puge— rump; pous— foot 153 Pygosteus: puge — rump; osteon— bone, 260 Pyranga : pur — fire; lanagra— tanager, 70 Pyryita: purgites-a, house sparrow, 83 Quassilabia: L. quassus — broken or torn; labia— lip, . . . 402 Querquedula: L., a teal, . . 141 Quiscalus: quiscala— a vernacular name, 93 R4LLID.JE 135 Rallus: L., a rail, . . . 135 Rana: L., a frog, . . . 187-357 RAXID^, 187 Rangifer: L., a reindeer, . . 21 RAPTORES: L., robbers, . . 106 Recurvl rostra: L., recurvus — re- curved; rostrum— bill, . . 123 RECURVIROSTRlD.fi, . . . 122 Regina: L., a queen, . . . 175 Regulus: L., a kinglet, . . 50 Reithroclon: reithron — a channel; odo?i— tooth, .... 32 REPTILIA: L., repto— to creep or crawl 157 Rheocrypta: r/ieo— to flow rapidly; kruptos— hidden (hiding in the rapids) 22'2 Rhinichthys: rhin— snout; ichlhus -fish 307 Rhinogryphus : rhin — snout ; grups— agiiffin. . . . 115 RHOMBOGANOIDEI : rhombus — a diamond - shaped fi g u r e , a rhomb; ganoi-dei— ganoids, . 340 Rhyacophilus : rhuax — river ; phileo — to love, .... 129 Rhynchophanes : rhunchos — bill; •phajieo— to show, . . . 35 1 PAGE. Rhynchops: rhunchos— snout : ops —face 153 Rhytidostomus: rhutis — rough ; stoma— mouth 320 Rissa: a Latin name (risus— laughing), 150 Roccus : from vernacular, Rock- fish, 231 RODKNTIA: L., rodo— to gnaw, 26 Salainandra: L., a Salamander, 193 Salar : L., a trout (salio — to leap) 271-337 Salino : L., a trout ( s a 1 1 o — to leap), 271-356 SALMOKID.B, . . . 270-355 Salvelinus: German, salbling — a small salmon, . . . 271-359 Sarchirus : sarx — flsh; cheir — hand 342 Sarcidium : sarkidion — a little lump of flesh .... 299 SAXICOLID^E: L., saxicola— living among rocks, .... 49 Sayornis: to Thomas Say; ornis— a bird, 96 Scalops: skalops — a mole, from skaUo— to dig, .... 25 Scapanus : skapane — a hoe or shovel, 25 SCAPHIOPID^B 188 Scaphiopus: skaphos- -spade; pous —foot 189 Scaphirhynchus : skaphos— spade; rhunchos— snout, . . . 346 Scaphirhynchops : Scaphirhynch- us; ops— appearance, . . 346 Sceloporus : skelos — leg; poros — pore 169 Schilbeodfs : from Schilbe, a for- eign genus of Siluridiv, . . 335 SCI.EXID.E: sciojna— Latin name, 250 SCINCID^E: skigkos—A kind of liz- ard 171 SCIL'RID^B, 26 Sciurus : skiouros — a squirrel • (sfci Surniarsurnia— an owl, . . 109 Sylvicola: L., sylvicola— living in the forest, '60 SYLVICOLID^E 57 SYLVIIDJB: L., sylva— woodland, 49 Symphemia : sun— together ; phemi —to talk 128 Synaptomys: sunnptos — connect- ing; mus — mouse (joining Ar- vicola and Myodes), . . 33 Synechoglcinis: synecho — to com- press; glanis— the fish Silurus, 328 Syrnium: surnion— an owl, . 108 Tachycineta: tachus— swift; kineo —to move, 71 TALPID^E: L., talpa— a mole, . 24 Tamias: tamias— a steward, 28-353 TANAGRID^E: Tanagra (tanagra a copper kettle?), ... 69 TANTAUD^M, . . . . 133 Tantalus: a mythological name, 133 Tauridea: taura — a cow; eldos— appearance, face, . . . 255 Taxidea: Taxus— an allied genus; eldos— appearance, ... 19 TEID^E: Tejus—a vernacular name,170 TELKOCEPHALI: teleos — perfect ; kephale— head, . . . . 215 TELEOSTEI: teleos— perfect; osteon —bone 214 Telipomis : teleis — full-grown ( "spotted") ; poma— opercle, 239 Telmatodytes: telmatodutes— liv- ing in ponds, .... 55 Teretulus: L., teres— cylindrical, 312 TESTUDINATA 159 INDEX. 401 PAGE. TESTUDINID^E, . . . . 160' Testudo: L., a turtle, ... 161 Tetrao: tetraon— a grouse, . 118 TETRAONID.E: .... 118 Thalarctos: thalassa— the sea (?); arktos— bear, . • . . . 19 Thalasseus: thalassa— the ocean, 151 Thrynosternum- thura — a, door: sternonr-sternum, . . . 166 Thryomanes : thruon — a rush; manes— a cup (uest ( ?), . . 55 Thryothorus: thruon — a rush; thereuo— to seek, ... 54 Thymallus: L., a grayling (a fish supposed to feed on water thyme) 274 Tinnunculus: L., a kestrel, spar- row-hawk Ill Totanus: Latin name, . . 128 Toxicophis: toxlkns — poison (for smearing arrows); ophis— snake 184 Trachemys: trachus— rough; emus —turtle, . . . . 165 Triglopsis: triyla — a. gurnard; opsis— appearance, . . . 256 Tringa: L., a sandpiper, . . 127 Tringoides; L., tringa — a sand- piper; aides— like, . . . 129 Trigonocephalus: treis — three ; gonos— angle; kephale— head, 184 TRIONYCHID^E: Trionyx; treis— three; onux — claw, . . . 167 TROCHILID^E: .... 100 Trochilus: trochilos— a small bird (wren) said to pick the teeth of crocodiles, . . . ' . . 100 Troglodytes: troglodiites— living in caves 55 TROGLODYTID^-:, ... 53 Tropidoclonium: tropis — a keel: clonion— a small twig, . . 176 Tropidolepis: tropis— a keel; lepis —scale, 169 Tropidonotus : tropis — a keel ; notos— back, . . . . 175 Trutta: L., a trout, . . . 271 Tryngites: L., tringa — a sand- piper, 129 TURDID^!, 45 Turdus: L., a thrush, ... 47 Typhlichthys : tuphlos — blind; ichthus— fish, .... 269 TYRANNID.E; .... 95 PAGE. Tyrannus: turannos— a tyrant, 96 Ulocentra: oulos — complete ; ken- tron^-a. spine 223 Umbla: L., a river fish, . . 271 Umbra: L., a small dusky fish (a shade) 265 UMBRID.E 264 UNGULATA: L., ungulatus — hav- ing hoofs 20 Uranidea: ouranos— the sky; eido —to see (star-gazer), . . 252 Urocyon: our a— tail; Tcuon— dog, 17 URODELA: oura — tail; delos— ob- vious, 190 URSID.B 19 Ursus: L., a bear, ... 20 VERTEBRATA : L., vertebrates, 9 Vesperides: L., vesper— evening, , 23 Vesperimus: L., vesper— evening; m us— mouse 31 Vespertilio: L., vespertilio— a bat, 22 VESPERTILIONID^, ... 22 Vesperugo: L., vesper— evening, 23 Vesperus: L., vesperus — evening, 23 Vireo: L., vireo— a green finch ; (vireo— to grow green), . . 76 VIREONID.*:, .".... 73 Vireosylvia : Vireo-Sylria, . 75 Virginia : Virginia, name of the state where first found, . 182 Vulpes: L., a fox, ... 17 IVilsonia: to Alexander Wilson, the " Father of American Orni- thology," 68 Xanthocephalus : xanthos — yel- low ; Jtephale— head. . . 92 Xema: a coined name, . . 151 Xenisma: xenisma— a surprise, 263 Xenotis: xenos— singular, remark- able; cms— ear 242 Xerobates : xeros — dry ; bates — walker 161 Xystroplites: xustron — a scraper or raker; hop lites— armed (from the toothed gill-rakers), . 244 ZAPODID^E 29 Zapus: za— strong; pous— foot, 30 Zenaedura : zenaida — a zenaida- dove; oura— tail, . . . 116 Zonotrichia: zonos— zone or baud; trichion— hair (crown), . , 86 Zygonectes : zugos — yoke; nektes swimmer, . . ... . 263 FURTHER ADDENDA. It is practically impossible to keep a faunal work like the present fully " up with the times." Since the last proofs were read, the following additions to our fauna have been noted : (December 1879.) To page 70, after Pyranga (Estiva, add: 3. P. ludoviciana, (Wils.) Bon. " LOUISIANA TAXA- GER." Male bright yellow; back, wings and tail black; head scarlet; two yellow wing-bars; $ as in nibra, known by the wing-bars. Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, accidental at Lynn, Mass. (Hreicer.) To page 88, after Passer ella, add: 18. (b) CALAMOSPIZA, Bonaparte. LARK BUNTINGS. 1. C. hi col or, (Towns.) Bon. WHITE- WINGED BLACK- BIRD. Black, with a large white wing-patch, and white on quills; $ streaky, like the female Bobolink, but known by the whitish wing-patch; bill stout; inner sec- ondaries as long as the primaries; L. 6£; W. 3£; T. 2f. Western plains, accidental in Massachusetts. Page 154. The females of Urmator immer and of some other swimming birds, lack the head markings described in the text, and are dull or streaky. Page 155. The occurrence of Podiceps cristatus in America at all, is lately denied by Dr. Brewer. 403 404 ADDENDA. To page 219, after Pleurolepis pellucidus, add: 2. P. asprellus, Jordan. ROUGH SAND DARTER. Form of P. pellucidus, but the squamation much more com- plete, and the scales rougher; sides, back and breast with imbricate scales; size larger and colors darker than in pellucidus; fins high; D. IX— 10; A. I., 8, lat. 1. 98. Sandy streams in Illinois. "Has in life all the colors of the rainbow." 2. (b) 10 A, Jordan and Bray ton. 1. /. vitrea, (Cope) Jordan. GLASSY DARTER. A species apparently similar to the last, but with smaller fins, and much larger scales; D. VII— 14, A. II, 9; lat. 1. 56. North Carolina. On page 225, after Nanostoma zonalis, add: 2. N. vinciipes, Jor. May be known from N. zonalis, by the absence of the bands encircling the belly, and by the fact that all the fins, including the ventrals, are strongly barred. Illinois River. On page 227, after P.jessice, add: 4. P. asprigenis, Forbes. ROUGH- CHEEKED DARTER. Short and stout; cheeks and opercles entirely scaly • scales large; lateral line about to end of second dorsal; spines high ; coloration apparently as in variatus / spinous dorsal dusky behind; D. XII — 13; A. IT, 8; lat. 1. 48. Illinois River. 5. P. virgatus, Jor. A slender species, known by the naked head, black-striped body (as in Etheostoma lineo- latum\ and by the presence of a black humeral scale. Rock Castle R. 6. P. punctulatus, Ag., from Mo. and S., has likewise a black humeral scale, but the cheeks are scaly and the body not striped. ADDENDA. 405 On page 229, after B. eos, add: 4. B. barratti, Holbr. Short, chubby and compressed; depth 4± in length; head 3f ; lat. 1. on 13 to 30 scales; D. X— 13, A. II, 7; lat. 1. 42 to 56. Colors greenish, with dark specks, no blue or red. Georgia to Texas, lately taken by Prof. Forbes in Southern Illinois. 16. (b) VAILLANTIA, Jordan. 1. /. camura, (Forbes) Jordan. A slender species, resembling Boleichthys eos in form, and Boleosoma n'ujnun in color. D. X — 11; A. I, 8. Illinois. On page 247. Many specimens of Elassoma zonatum have been lately obtained by Professor Forbes in South- ern Illinois. The fish, I think, unquestionably forms a separate family, the relations of which are with Aphodo- 'deridce, as indicated in the text. Its pharyngeals are as in Aphododerus j the vertebrae are but 28 in number; the fin rays are usually, D. IV, 10; A. Ill, 5. No speci- mens have been taken more than an inch in length. On page 296, after Lythrurus ardens, add: 4. L. atripes, Jordan. DUSKY RED-FIX. A strongly compressed, deep-bodied species, known at once by the coloration of the fins, the dorsal spot being faint, and there being a dusky bar across the upper part of the fin; the anal is similarly colored to the dorsal, but fainter, and the ventrals are dusky; A. I, 11. Southern Illinois. On page 284, after jj. LYTHRURUS, add: ii. Teeth without masticatory surface, their, edges always serrate CYPRIXELLA, 8 (b). On page 296, before Minnilus, add: 406 ADDENDA. 8. (b) CYPRINELLA, Girard. 1. C. forbesi, Jordan. FORBES' RED- FISH. Body short, very deep, much compressed, the depth 3 in length; color in life chiefly red, a violet crescent behind opercle; fins plain red; head and caudal peduncle pro- fusely tuberculate; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 35; teeth 4 — 4. South- ern Illinois, an elegant little fish. On page 223, et. seq. Generic names ending in the Greek neuter roots "soma," " stoma" " isma" etc., have been in this work considered as Latin feminine nouns, and the adjective has been made to agree with them accordingly, as " JSoleosoma maculata" " Etheos- toma flabellaris" This was done in deference to cer- tain recent authorities in classical matters, who regard such latinized words ending in a as feminine. It is probably better, however, to follow the common custom, and to consider them as neuter, until some other rule is definitely adopted. RETURN TO the circulation desk of any University of California Library or to the NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station University of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS • 2-month loans may be renewed by calling (510)642-6753 • 1-year loans may be recharged by bringing books to NRLF • Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date. DUE AS STAMPED BELOW 12,000(11/95)