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 have been often associated with
the Wrens, and the Myiadestindt with the Wax Wings.
I. The TURDIX.*:, or Typical Thrushes, have the tarsus
booted, the first primary spurious, and the wings longer
than the tail. They build rather rude nests, sometimes
plastered with mud, and they lay four to six greenish or
bluish eggs, either plain or speckled. All sing well, and
some of them most exquisitely. Our species are usually
referred to the typical genus, Turdus, but we have here
separated the Wood Thrushes, as a group of full generic
46 BIRDS.
value (Hylotichla), as suggested by Prof. Baird. (Hist.
N. Am. Birds, page 4.)
II. The MIMIXJK, or Mocking Thrushes, have the
tarsus scutellate (sometimes booted in Galeoscoptes), the
first primary scarcely spurious; the rictal bristles better
developed, and the tail relatively longer, in our species
longer than the wings. These birds have a brilliant and
varied song, but all of them are plainly clad. All are
American.
III. MYIADESTIN^E, the Fly-Catching Thrushes, have
been usually associated with the Ampelidce, but their
affinities are rather with the thrushes, as Prof. Baird has
shown. All are American, — the single species within
our limits is a rare straggler from the West.
* Tarsus booted; wings longer than tail. (TuRDiiUE.)
f Breast spotted ; length 8*, or less. . . HYLOCICHLA, 1.
ff Breast unspotted; (in ours) reddish or handed with black;
length 9^, or more. . . . . . TUKDUS, 2.
** Tarsus scutellate in front (scutella rarely obsolete) ; wings (in
ours) shorter than tail. ( MIMING.)
| Bill about as long as head, sometimes much longer, straight
or curved, not notched. . . METHRIOPTERUS, 3.
tt Bill much shorter than head, notched at tip.
a. Tarsus distinctly scutellate; ours ashy, with black and
white. . MTMUS, 4.
aa. Tarsus feebly scutellate; plumage lead-colored; crissmn
chestnut-red GALEOSCOPTES, 5.
*** Tarsus booted ; wings about equal to tail; bill short, much
depressed, notched and hooked; color ashy. (MYFADESTIN/E.)
MYFADESTES, 6.
/. HYLOCICHLA, Baird. WOOD THRUSHES.
< Titrdus, Linn.
1. H. mustelina, (Gm.) Bd. WOOD THRUSH. Cinnamon
brown, brightest on the head, shading into olive on the
TUBDID^E. — XVilJ. 47
rump; breast with large, very distinct dusky spots; L.
8; W. 4^; T. 3. E. U. S., in woodland; our largest and
handsomest thrush. An exquisite songster.
2. H. unalascoe, (Gmel.) HERMIT THRUSH. Olive
brown above, becoming rufous on rump and tail; breast
with numerous, rather distinct, dusky spots; a whitish
orbital ring; L. 7; W. 3£; T. 2£. N. Am., migrating
early.
3. H. ustu/ata (Nutt.) Bd. OLIVE -BACKED THRUSH.
SWAINSON'S THRUSH. Uniform olive above; breast and
throat thickly marked with large, dusky olive spots;
breast and sides of head strongly buffy- tinted; a con-
spicuous buffy orbital ring; L. 7J; W. 4; T. 3. N. Am.
4. H. alicice, Baird. GRAY CHEEKED THRUSH. ALICE
THRUSH. Similar to the preceding, of which it is
probably a variety, but without ring about eye, or any
buffy tint about head. E. N. Am., ranging more
northerly.
5. H. fuscescens, (Steph.) Bd. TAWNY THRUSH.
WILSON'S THRUSH. VEERY. Uniform tawny above;
breast and throat washed with brownish or pinkish
yellow, and marked with small indistinct brownish spots;
L. ?£; W. 4±; T. 3f E. N. Am., frequent, a fine
songster.
2. TURDUS, Linnaeus. THRUSHES.
* Sexes similar; breast not spotted nor banded; throat streaked;
bill notched. (Merula.}
1. T. migraiorius, L. ROBIX. AMERICAN RED BREAST.
Olive gray above; head and tail blackish; throat white,
with black streaks; under parts chestnut brown; L. 9|;
W. 54; T. 44. N. Am., abundant.
** Sexes unlike ; throat unstreaked ; male with a black collar; bill
not notched. (HetperocicUla, Bd.)
48 BIRDS.
2. T. ncevius, Gm. OREGON ROBIN. VARIED THRUSH.
Slate color, orange brown below; L. 9f ; W. 5; T. 4.
Pacific slope, accidental in Mass., N. .!., and L. I.
3. METHRIOPTERUS, Reich. MOCKING THRUSHES.
1. M. rufus, (L.) Ridgw. BROWN THRUSH. SANDY
MOCKING BIRD. THRASHER. Cinnamon red above;
lower parts thickly spotted; bill nearly straight, shorter
and much less curved than in many other Harporhynchi,
five species of which occur in the U. S. beyond the
Rocky Mountains; L. 11; W. 4; T. 5£. E. U. S.,
abundant. A brilliant songster.
4. /Iff /M US, Boie. MOCKING BIRDS.
1. M. polyglottus, (L.) Boie. MOCKING BIRD. Ashy
brown above; wings blackish, with white wing bars;
tail blackish, outer feathers white; I',. 9J; W. 4-J; T. 5.
U. S., chiefly southerly; N. to Mass., Iowa, etc. A
renowned songster.
5. GALEOSCOPTES, Cabanis. CAT BIRDS.
< MimuS) Boie.
1. G. carolinensis, (L.) Cab. CAT BIRD. Dark slate
color; crown and tail black; crissum brownish chestnut;
L. 8f ; W.' 3|; T. 4. U. S., every where.
6. MYIADESTES, Swainson. FLY -CATCHING THRUSHES.
1. M. townsendi, (And.) Cab. TOAVNSEND'S SOLITAIRE.
Ashy gray, paler below; wing bands buffy; tail blackish;
whitish ring about eye; young with reddish spots; L. 8;
W. 4J; T. 4J. Rocky Mountains and westward, straying
E. to Chicago. (Nelson.) An exquisite songster.
SYLVIID^E. — XX. 49
FAMILY XIX. — SAXICOLID^E.
(The Stone CMts.)
Characters similar to those of the Thrushes, but the
wings longer and very much pointed, reaching, when
folded, beyond the middle of the short tail. Tarsus
"booted;" first primary spurious. A family scarcely
distinct from Turdidce, of about twelve genera and one
hundred species. They are chiefly Old World birds, but
two genera occurring in America. Ours are rather small
(less than seven), with oval nostrils and bristles about
the rictus.
* Chiefly or partly blue ; tarsus not longer than middle toe and
claw; bill stout SIALJA, 1.
/. SI A LI A, Swainson. BLUE BIRDS.
1. S. sialis, (L.) Haldeman. COMMON BLUE BIRD.
Bright blue above, throat and breast reddish brown,
belly white; $ usually duller with a brownish tinge on
back; young, as in others, spotted; L. Of; W. 4; T. 3.
E. N. Am., abundant; breeds every where.
2. S. mexicana, Sw. WESTERN BLUE BIRD. Head,
neck all around and upper parts generally, blue; back
with more or less chestnut; breast and sides reddish
brown, otherwise bluish below; size of last. Pacific
Slope, E. to Iowa (accidental.)
3. S. arciica, Sw. ROCKY MOUXTAIX BLUE BIRD.
Rich greenish blue; belly white; $ with pale drab,
instead of blue, on breast, etc.; size of others, or smaller.
Central Table lands chiefly, E. to Missouri R.
FAMILY XX. — SYLVIID^E.
(The Sylvias.)
Primaries 10, the first short but scarcely spurious.
Bill slender, depressed at base, notched and decurved at
3
50 BIRDS.
tip. Rictal bristles conspicuous; nostrils oval, over-
hung by a few bristles or a feather. Tarsus booted or
scutellate. Basal joint of middle toe attached its whole
length externally, half way internally. A large family
of nearly six hundred species of small birds, chiefly of
the Old World, where they take the place filled in
America by the Sylvicolidm. To this family belongs
the European nightingale. Our species fall into two
sub - families, ReguUnce and PolioptiUnce^ each repre-
sented by its typical genus.
* Tarsus booted ; wings longer than tail. . . REGULUS, 1.
** Tarsus scutellate ; wings not longer than tail. POLIOPTILA, 2.
/. REGULUS, Cuvier. KINGLETS.
1. R. satrapa, Licht. GOLDEN - CROWNED KINGLET.
Olivaceous; crown with a yellow patch, bordered with
black, orange red in the center in <$; extreme fore-
head and line over eye, whitish; vague dusky blotch at
base of secondaries; a tiny feather over each nostril; L.
4; W. 2i; T. If. N. Am.
2. R. calendula, (L.) Licht. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.
Olivaceous; crown with a scarlet patch in both sexes,
wanting the first year; no black about head; no nasal
feather; L. 4^; W. 2£; T. If. N. Am.
2. POLIOPTILA, Sclater. GNAT CATCHERS.
1. P. ccerulea, (L.) Sclater. BLUE -GRAY GNAT
CATCHER. Clear ashy blue, brightest on head; whitish
below; $ with forehead and sides of crown black; outer
tail feathers chiefly white; L. 4^; W. 2; T. 2J. U. S.,
chiefly southerly; N. to Mass, and L. Mich. Noticeable
for its sprightly ways and squeaky voice, " like a mouse
with the toothache ; " but really a fine singer.
PARID^E. — XXI. 51
FAMILY XXI. — PARID^E.
(The Titmice.)
Primaries 10, first short; wings rounded; not longer
than the rounded tail. Bill much shorter than head, not
notched nor decurved at the tip; loral feathers bristly,
and nostrils concealed by dense tufts. Tarsus scutellate,
longer than middle toe and claw. Toes much soldered
at base, widened beneath into a sort of palm. Plumage
lax, little variable.
Small birds, less than seven inches long, resembling
the Jays in several respects, restless, noisy, and scarcely
migratory. Species seventy-five or more, chiefly of the
Northern hemisphere, and abounding in both continents.
* Conspicuously crested ; chiefly lead gray, paler below.
LOPHOPHANES, 1.
** Not crested ; crown, chin and throat black or brown. PAKUS, 2.
/. LOPHOPHANES, Kaup. TUFTED TITMICE.
1. L. bicolor, (L.) Bon. TUFTED TITMOUSE. Fore-
head alone black; whitish below; sides washed with
reddish; L. 6i; W. 3£; T. 3£. E. U. S., southerly; N.
to L. I. and L. Mich.; abundant in woodland and
remarkable for its loud, ringing notes. Three other
species occur in the S. W.
2. PARUS, Linnaeus. CHICKADEES.
1. P. atricapillus, L. TITMOUSE. BLACK -CAPPED
CHICKADEE. Grayish ash; wings and tail plain with
whitish edging; crown, nape, chin and throat black;
no white superciliary line; L. 5; W. 2£; T. 2-J. N. Am.;
abundant.
Var. carolinensis, (Aud.) Coues. SOUTHERN CHICKA-
DEE. Smaller; tail feathers not noticeably white-edged.
E. U. S.; southerly.
52 BIRDS.
2. P. hudsonicus, Forster. HUDSONIAX CHICKADEE.
Olive brown; crown browner; some pale chestnut below;
no white superciliary line; L. 5; W. 2£; T. 2f. British
America; S. to Mass.
FAMILY XXII. — SITTID^E.
(The NutMtclies.)
Primaries 10, the first spurious. Wings long and
pointed, much longer than the broad soft tail. Bill not
notched, rather slender, straight, nearly as long as head.
Loral feathers bristly; nostrils concealed by dense tufts.
Tarsus scutellate, shorter than middle toe and claw.
Tongue acute, barbed. Body depressed; plumage lax,
but less so than that of the Titmice. Active, nimble
little birds, running up and down trees, and hanging in
every conceivable attitude, the head down as often as
up. Species twenty-five or thirty, in most parts of the
world.
/. SITTA, Linnaeus. NUTHATCHES.
1. S. carolinensis, Gm. WHITE -BELLIED NUTHATCH.
" SAP SUCKER." Ashy blue above, white below; crissum,
etc., washed with rusty brown; crown and nape black,
unstriped; middle tail fenthers like the back, others
black, blotched with white; $ with less or no black on
the head; L. 5£; W. 3£; T. 2. U. S.; abundant every
where.
2. S. canadensis, L. RED - BELLIED NUTHATCH. Ashy
blue, brighter than the preceding, rusty brown below;
crown glossy black (£), or bluish ($), bordered by white
and black stripes; L. 4|; W. 2|; T. 1^. U. S., and
northward.
3. S. pusilla, Lath. BROWN -HEADED NUTHATCH.
Ashy blue; crown clear brown, a whitish spot on
TROGLODYTID^E. — XXIV. 53
pale rusty below. L. 4; W. 2J; T. 1J. South Atlantic
States.
FAMILY XXIII. — CERTHIID^E.
(Creepers.)
Primaries 10, first less than half second. Bill slender,
as long as head; without notch or bristles, decurved.
Tarsus scutellate, shorter than middle toe. Claws all
very long, curved and compressed. Wings about as long
as tail; tail feathers pointed, with stiffened shafts, almost
wood- pecker like, and used for support in the same way.
A small family of a dozen species, widely distributed.
Habits similar to those of the Nuthatches, but the voice
dill erent, being small and fine. (The above diagnosis
does not strictly apply to some foreign birds usually
placed in this family.)
/. CERTHIA, Linnaeus. BROWN CKKKPERS.
1. C. familiaris, Linn. Buowx CREEPER. Plumage
dark brown, much barred and streaked; rump clear
tawny; L. 5J; W. 2f ; T. 2f. N. Am. and Europe. A
curious little bird, recognizable at once by the scansorial
tail.
FAMILY XXIV. — TROGLODYTID^E.
(TJie Wrens)
Primaries 10, the first short but hardly spurious.
Wings rounded, usually about as long as the graduated
tail. Bill more or less slender, usually elongated, not
notched in any of our species. Nostrils oval, unbristled,
overhung by a scale -like membrane. No rictal bristles.
Loral feathers bristly. Tarsus scutellate. Lateral to* s
nearly equal ; middle toe usually united to half the basal
joint of inner toe, and to the whole of the basal joint of
the outer, or more. Quills barred in most of our species.
54 BIKDS.
A large family of small birds, chiefly belonging to
Tropical America. Genera about sixteen; species one
hundred or more. " Our species are sprightly, fearless
and impudent little creatures, apt to show bad temper
\vhen they fancy themselves aggrieved by cats or people,
or any thing else that is big or unpleasant to them; they
quarrel a good deal, and are particularly spiteful towards
martins and swallows, whose homes they often invade
and occupy. Their song is bright and hearty, and they
are fond of their own music; when disturbed at it they
make a great ado with noisy scolding. Part of them
(Cistothorus) live in reedy swamps and marshes, where
they hang astonishingly big globular nests, with a little
hole on one side, on tufts of rushes, and lay six or eight
dark colored eggs; the others nest any where." (Dr.
Cottes.) They are all plainly colored, being chiefly
brown. All are insectivorous, and most of them
migratory.
* Back nearly uniform in color a conspicuous white superciliary
line;
THRYOTHORUS, 1.
** Back barred crosswise, sometimes obscurely so; no conspicu-
ous superciliary line; bill shorter than head; hind claw
shorter than toe,
f Tail about as long as wings. . . . TROGLODYTES, 2.
ft Tail much shorter than wings. . . ANORTHDRA, 3.
*** Back streaked lengthwise, at least on shoulders; hind claw
as long as the toe ; tail barred. . . CISTOTHORUS, 4.
/. THRYOTHORUS, Vieillot. MOCKING WRENS.
* Tail not longer than wings, its feathers reddish brown with fine
black bars. ( Thryothoru*.}
1. T. ludovicianus, (Gm.) Bon. CAROLINA WREN.
Clear reddish brov:n, brightest on rump; tawny below;
TROGLODYTID^E. — XXIV. 55
L. 6; W. 2£; T. 2£. E. U. S., southerly; N. to Perm.;
not migratory. A remarkable singer.
** Tail longer than wings, its feathers mostly black. (Thryomanes.)
2. T. bewickii, (Aud.) Bon. BEWICK'S WREN. Grayish
brown; two middle tail feathers barred; L. 5£; W. ££;
T. 2J. U. S., southerly; N. to Perm.
2. TROGLODYTES, Vieillot. WRENS.
1. T. aedon, Vieill. HOUSE WREN. Brown, brightest
behind; rusty below; every where more or less waved
with darker, distinctly so on wings, tail, etc.; L. 5; W.
2; T. 2. E. U. S.; abundant every where; very variable.
T. d&mesticus, (Bart.) Coues.
3. ANORTHURA,Renme. WINTER WRENS.
1. A. troglodytes, (L.) Coues. WINTER WREN. Deep
brown, waved with dusky; belly, wings and tail strongly
barred; L. 4; W. If; T. 1£. N. Am., northerly; U. S.,
in winter, not common. ( T. hyemalis, Vieill.)
4. C/STOTHORUS, Cabanis. MARSH WRENS.
* Bill about half as long as head ; no white superciliary line.
(Cistothorus.)
1. C. stellaris, (Licht.) Cab. SHORT -BILLED MARSH
WREN. Dark brown, head and back darker; entire
upper parts with white streaks; L. 4J; W. If; T. If.
E. U. S., in marshes; rather rare.
** Bill slender, about as long as head; a conspicuous white super-
ciliary line. (Telmatodytes, Cab.)
'2. C. palustris, (Wilson) Baird. LONG- BILLED MARSH
WREN. Clear brown ; back with a black patch contain-
ing white streaks; otherwise unstreaked above; crown
blackish; rump brown; L. 5; W. 2; T. If. U. S.;
abundant in reedy swamps.
56 BIRDS.
FAMILY XXV. — ALAUDID^E.
(TJie Larks.)
First primary very short or entirely wanting. Tarsus
scutellate in front and behind (a character singular
among Oscmes.) Bill short, of various forms in different
species; nostrils concealed by tufts of antrorse feathers.
Hind claw very long and nearly straight. Inner secon-
daries lengthened and flowing. A group of about one
hundred species, chiefly Old World birds, but a single
genus belonging to America; many of them are
renowned as vocalists.
* Primaries 9; a little tuft of lengthened black feathers over each
ear (sometimes obscure in ?.)... OTOCORIS, 1.
/. OTOCORIS, Bon. HORNED LAKKS.
= Eremophila, Boie (preoccupied.)
1. 0. alpestris, (Forst.) Bon. SHORE LARK. Pinkish
brown, thickly streaked; a crescent on breast and strip
under eye black; white below; chin, throat, and line
over eye more or less yellow; 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./<: 7 i" inconstans,
'2. M. pygm&a, (DeK.) Baird. EASTERN MUD MIX-
NOW. Dark brown with whitish longitudinal streaks and
no trace of cross bars; body less compressed than in M.
limi; head broader, less depressed, with larger eye;
snout shorter; profile more gibbous; D. 13; A. 7; lat. 1.
35. Xew York to S. C., only in Atlantic streams.
12
266 FISHES.
FAMILY CII.-ESOCIDJE.
(The Pikes.}
Body elongated, sub- cylindrical, with rather small
scales; margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries
mesially and by the maxillaries laterally; mouth very
large; jaws elongate, depressed; teeth strong, hooked,
unequal, on intermaxillaries, vomer and palatines; dorsal
short, opposite anal; gill openings wide; air bladder
present. Voracious fishes of the fresh waters of north-
ern regions, two or three of the species reaching a large
size. With a single exception (E. lucius, L. the Pike
of Europe and Asia) all the species belong to the U. S.
Genus one; species six or seven; the following seem
to be well characterized; many others have been de-
scribed and some of them may be good, but that has yet
to be proven.
/. ESOX, Linnaeus. PIKES.
* Lower half of cheeks as well as opercles bare ; branchiostegals
17 to 19 ; species of very large size, dark-spotted on a lighter
ground. (Muskallunges.}
1. £. nobilior, Thompson. MUSKALLUNGE. GREAT
PIKE. Cheeks as well as opercles half bare; grayish
with round black spots; a magnificent fish; reaching a
length of 6 feet; B. 18; D. 3, 17; A. 3, 15; lat. 1. 155.
Great Lakes, etc. (E. estor of some authors.)
** Lower half of cheeks scaly ; of opercles bare ; branchiostegals
15 or 16; species of large size, white-spotted on a darker
ground. (Pikes.)
2. E. lucius, L. GREAT LAKE PIKE. NORTHERN
PICKEREL. Cheeks entirely scaly; depth 7 in length;
head 3£; olive gray; sides with round yellowish spots as
large as peas; each scale with a shining V-shaped mark
opening downwards; B. 15; D. 20; A. 17; lat. 1. 122.
ESOCID^E. — Oil. 267
Great Lakes and headwaters of the Mississippi. A fine
species reaching a length of 3 to 4 feet. (E. estor,
lucioides, borexs^ etc., of authors.)
*** Cheeks and opercles scaly; branchiostegals 12 to 15; species
of moderate or small size, reticulated or barred with dark
green on a lighter ground — sometimes plain. (Pickerels.)
f Branchioslegals 14 to 16; snout prolonged; front of eye nearly
midway in head.
3. E. reticulatus, LeSueur. COMMON .EASTERN PICK-
EREL. GREEX PIKE. Head 3^ in length; the snout
much prolonged; front of eye about midway in head;
eye more than three times in snout; green, sides with
a network of brown streaks; B. 1-4 to 16; D. 16 to IS;
A. 15 to 17; lat. 1. 120 to 130. Streams of Atlantic
States abundant, but not found far in the interior;
smaller than the preceding, but much larger than the
next.
ff Branchiostegals normally 12 ; front of eye nearer tip of snout.
4. E. cypho, Cope. HUMP-BACK PICKEREL. Resembles
E . salmoneus, but may probably always be known by
the elevated back and broad swollen ante-dorsal region.
Colors usually plain or somewhat reticulate. Western
States.
5. E. americanus, Gmelin. BANDED PICKEREL.
TROUT PICKEREL. Head 3| in length, the snout much
shorter than in the preceding; eye much nearer snout
than opercular margin, its diameter less than 3 in snout;
dark green; sides with about twenty distinct blackish
curved bars, scarcely reticulated; B. 12; D. 13; A. 13;
lat. 1. 100; length scarcely a foot. Atlantic streams, with
the preceding. (E. niger, scomberius, fasciatus and
ornatus of authors.) (Represented S. of Va. by E. ra-
venelii, Holbr.)
268 FISHES.
6. £. salmoneus, Raf. LITTLE PICKEREL. WESTERN
TROUT PICKEREL. Size and general form of preceding
or slenderer; olivaceous green above; white below; sides
with many reticulations and curved streaks, instead of
bars; a black streak in front of eye as well as below;
B. 12; D. 13; A. 14; lat. 1. 112. Western streams, abund-
ant in the Ohio Valley. (E. umbrosus, Kirtland.)
Resembles reticulafau more than americanus.
FAMILY CIIL— AMBLYOPSID^E.
(The Cave Fishes.)
Fishes with the ventral fins rudimentary or wanting;
the vent jugular, in front of the pectorals, and the eyes
sometimes rudimentary and concealed under the skin;
margins of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries alone;
head naked; body with small, cycloid scales, irregularly
arranged; no lateral line; villiform teeth on jaws and
palate; dorsal far back, opposite anal; stomach coecal,
with pyloric appendages; some (and probably all) vivi-
parous.
Fishes of small size living in subterranean streams and
ditches of the central and southern U. S. Three genera
and four species are "all of the family yet known, but
that others will be discovered and the range of the
present known species extended is very probable. The
ditches and small streams of the lowlands of our South-
ern Goast will undoubtedly be found to be the home of
numerous individuals, and perhaps of new species and
genera, while the subterranean streams of the central
portion of our country most likely contain other species."
(Putnam.)
* Eyes rudimentary, concealed under the skin ; body colorless.
Ventrals present, small. . . . AMBLYOPSIS, 1.
Ventrals entirely wanting. . . TYPHLICHTHYS, 2.
AMBLYOPSID.E. — CITE. 269
** Eyes well developed ; body colored; no ventrals.
CHOLOGASTEK, 3.
/. AMBLYOPSIS, DeKay. LARGER BLIND FISH.
]. A. soelceus, DeKay. BLIXD FISH OF THE MAM-
MOTH CAVE. Head 3 in length; D. and A. equal, well
developed; head and body with papillary ridges; scales
small; colorless; D. 10; A. 9; V. 4; P. 11; length 2 to
5 inches. Subterranean streams of Ky. and Ind., Mam-
moth Cave, Wyandot Cave, etc.
2. TYPHLICHTHYS, Girard. SMALL BLIXD FISH.
1. T. subterraneus, Grd. General character of Am-
blyopsis, but the head rather blunter and broader for-
wards; D. 7 or 8; A. 7 or 8; P. 12; length 2 inches or
less. Subterranean streams in Ky., Tenn., Ala.
3. CHOLOGASTER, Agassiz. DITCH FISHES
1. C. cornutus, Ag. Head 3 in length; eye moderate,
well developed; snout with two horn-like projections;
yellowish brown, dark above; sides* with three dark lines,
becoming dots on the tail; middle rays of C. dark, fins
otherwise uncolored; D. 8 or 9; A. 8 or 9; P. 12; length
2 to 2-i- inches. Ditches in a rice field, Waccamaw, S. C.
Three specimens known.
2. C. agassizii, Putnam. Head 4 in length; eyes
larger; uniform light brown, otherwise as above; length
1 to 2 inches. Subterranean streams in Tenn. and Ky.
270 FISHES.
SUB-OEDER— ISOSPOKDTLL
(The Trout-like Fishes.)
FAMILY CIV.— PERCOPSID^E.
(The Trout Perches)
Body covered with moderate-sized ctenoid scales; head
naked; no barbels; opercles well developed; gill open-
ings wide; an adipose fin; jaws with villiform teeth; no
teeth on voiner or palate; margin of upper jaw formed
by intermaxillaries alone; branchiostegals six. A single
genus and one or two species inhabiting the fresh waters
of the northern U. S. Interesting little fishes, with the
general characters of SalmonidoB^ but having the mouth
and scales decidedly Perch-like.
/. PERCOPSIS, Agassiz. TROUT PERCHES.
1. P. guttatus, Ag. Depth 4£ in length; head 3f;
silvery, almost pellucid; upper parts with rounded dark
spots made up of minute dots; I). 11; A. 7; L. 10;
Great Lakes; Ohio B. (Jordan); Potomac R. (Baird);
Delaware R. (Abbott.)
FAMILY CV.-SALMONID^E.
(The Trout.)
Head naked, body scaly, 110 barbels; margin of upper
jaw formed by intermaxillaries mesially and by maxil-
laries laterally; adipose fin present; belly rounded; air-
bladder large, simple; pseudobranchias present; pylori c
appendages usually numerous; eggs falling into the
cavity of the abdomen before exclusion. Fresh waters
of northern regions, many species periodically descend-
ing to the sea; a few permanently marine.
Genera sixteen; species one hundred and sixty. The
SALMONID^. — CV. 271
variations due to age, sex and food are very great, and
have led to the establishment of a great number of nomi-
nal species in all the leading genera, particularly in
Salmo.
* Jaws with evident teeth.
f Dorsal moderate, of less than 20 rays; teeth strong, on jaws,
voiner and tongue.
\ Scales small, often imbedded in the skin; lat. 1. 100 or
more SALMO, 1.
\\ Scales moderate, deciduous, not imbedded ; lat. 1. 60 to 70.
OSMERUS, 2.
ft Dorsal very high of 20 or more rays ; teeth small.
THYMALLUS, 3.
**. Teeth wanting or reduced to slight roughnesses ; scales rather
large, loose . . COREGONUS, 4.
/. SALMO, Linnaeus. SALMONS.
j^~ For Revision of this group see Addenda, page 355.
* Anadromous species, running up from the sea into fresh water
to spawn; the young remaining there for a time, then return-
ing to the sea where they remain except during the season
of reproduction; upper jaw in males moderately if at all
hooked. (Salmo.)
1. S. salar, L. GREAT SEA SALMON. No red spots;
young (known as Parr, or Smolt) with dusky cross bars;
males in the spawning season with the lower jaw strongly
recurved and hooked; body covered with black and red
patches; others silvery, with small black dots; eleven or
twelve scales in a transverse series from behind the adi-
pose fin obliquely forward to the lateral line; D. 14; A.
11; lat. 1. 120. Northern Europe and America, S. to
Cape Cod.
2. S. quinnat, Rich. COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON, known
272 FISHES.
by the large number of anal rays (16), has been lately
introduced into Eastern streams.
** Species not anadromous, living entirely in fresh water or only
occasionally passing down to the sea. (Trout.)
f In flowing fresh water, retiring to deeper places in winter ;
red-spotted.
3. S. fontinalis, Mitchill. BROOK TROUT. SPECKLED
TROUT. Mouth wide; teeth moderate; body olivaceous,
variegated with blackish, with numerous red spots;
lower fins usually orange with black and white marginal
bands; dorsal with black spots; colors variable; young
barred; D. 12; A. 12; lat. 1. 200. A well known and
beautiful fish, in clear brooks from the French Broad R.
to the Arctic regions.
ff In deep rivers or lakes, ascending shallow streams to spawn.
a. Red-spotted.
4. S. oquassa, Grd. BLUE -BACK TROUT. OQUASSA.
Slender, "the most graceful of all the trouts;" blue or
bluish above; sides and below silvery in female, orange
in male; sides spotted with orange in both sexes; upper
fins bluish, bordered with orange; lower fins fiery orange,
margined with white. Oquassa L. and other lakes in
Maine.
aa. Black-spotted.
5. S. sebago, Grd. SEBAGO LAKE TROUT. UNIOX
RIVER TROUT. Every where black-spotted; scales quite
large; D. 14; A. 10; V. 10; lat. 1. 115. Sebago L.,
Union R., and other waters in Maine. (S. gloveri, Grd.)
Iff Trout living in deep fresh water lakes, coming to the shores
to spawn in shallow water ; never entering running brooks
or passing to the sea.
6. S. namaycush, Bloch. MACKINAW TROUT. GREAT
LAKE TROUT. Stout; head very large, 3^ in length;
SALMONID^E. — CV. 273
bones of head strong; posterior point of juncture of
opercle and suh-opercle much nearer the upper end of
the gill opening than to the lower anterior angle of the
sub-opercle; teeth strong; fins large, the caudal deeply
forked; color grayish, more or less spotted, varying much
with circumstances; D. 13 to 14; A. 12; V. 9; lat. 1.
220; length 2 to 6 feet. All the Great Lakes, north to
the Arctic Sea; a fish of much firmer flesh than the next.
(S. amethystus, Mitch.)
7. S. siscowet, Agassiz. SISCOWET. L. SUPERIOR
TROUT. Stout; head smaller, 4£ in length; posterior
point of junction of opercle and sub-opercle nearer to
the lower anterior angle of sub-opercle than to the upper
end of gill opening; fins and teeth well developed but
weaker than in S. namaycush; ventrals farther back;
caudal less forked; flesh fat and not firm; grayish, with
round white spots and markings; D. 12 to 14; A. 12;
lat. 1. 200. L. Superior, L. Huron.
8. S. confinis, DeK. LAKE TROUT OF NEW YORK.
Blackish, with gray spots; body unusually short and
thick. Lakes of Central and Western N. Y.; a doubtful
species.
9. S. symmetr/caf Prescott. WINXIPISEOGEE TROUT,
Grayish and brown above, marbled with darker; white
below; body unusually slender and symmetrical. Lake
Winnipiseogee; also a doubtful species.
2. OS ME R US, Linnreus. SMELTS.
1. 0. mordcLx, (Mitch.) Gill. COMMON SMELT. Head
4 in length; eye 4 to 4^ in head; teeth stout, especially
large on the tongue; transparent greenish, a silvery band
along sides; scales very loose; D. 11; A. 15; lat. 1. 66.
18
274 FISHES.
Coast, Nova Scotia to Virginia; also " land-locked " in
fresh water ponds in Maine, etc. (0. viridescem, Mitch )
Var. spectrum, (Cope) Jordan. LAND-LOCKED SMELT
Head 4£ in length; eye large, 3 in head; depth 8-j in
length. Wilton Pond, Maine.
Var. abbot Hi, (Cope) Jordan. ABBOTT'S SMELT. Head
4f in length; eye 4^- in head; depth 7 in length; colors
dark; lat. 1. 68. Cobessicontic L., Maine.
3. THYMALLUS, Cuvier. GRAYLINGS.
1. T. tricolor, Cope. MICHIGAN GRAYLING. Depth
4f in length; head about the same; purplish gray, silvery
below; dorsal with rosy markings and rows of green or
blue spots; D. 27; A. 13; lat. 1. 97. Waters of the
north pctic of the S. peninsula of Michigan; a beautiful
fish.
4. COREGONUS, Linnaeus. WHITE FISHES.
§ Lower jaw longest; Ciscoes. (Argyrosomus, Agassiz.)
* Body sub-fusiform ; depth 4 to 5 in length.
1. C. artedi, LeS. LAKE HERRING. MICHIGAN
HERRING. Head 4f in length (4^ to 5^); depth 4 (3| to
4£); eye 4 in head; maxillary 3£ to 3f; mandible 2^;
scales rather large and loose; bluish above, silvery on
sides and below; D. 12; A. 13; lat. 1. 76; length 12
to 18 inches. Great Lakes, etc., very abundant; a
shallow water species. (Coregonus albus, clupeiformis,
luciduS) hareiiyus, etc., of authors.)
Var. sisco, Jordan. Cisco OF LAKE TIPPECANOE.
Head 4.J; depth 4^; eye 3| in head; maxillary 3^; man-
dible 2^; longest dorsal ray three times length of shortest;
steel blue above, sides silvery but without the clear luster
of C. hoyi, finely punctate; D. 11; A. 13; lat. 1. 84.
Lakes of Indiana and Wisconsin, living in deep water
SALMONID^. — CV. 275
except at the spawning season ; very close to the preced-
ing, of which it is probably a variety, but the habits are
more like those of the next.
2. C. n/'gr/p/nn/s, (Gill) Jor. BLACK Fix. Head 44- in
length; depth the same; eye 4 in head; body compressed;
fins blackish, darker than in the others; D. 12; A. 12;
lat. 1. 80; length 16 to 18 inches; a much larger fish
than the preceding. Lake Michigan, in deep water.
** Body elevated ; depth about 3 in length.
3. C. tullibee, Rich. TULLIBEE. Head 4J in length ;
D. 15; A. 15; lat. 1. 77. L. Superior and X.
§ Upper jaw projecting beyond the lower; '' White Fish." (Gore-
gonus.)
4. C hoyi, (Gill) Jor. Cisco OF LAKE MICHIGAN.
Head -4 in length; depth 44-; eye large, 3£ in head: max
illary 2f ; mandible 2; longest ray of dorsal four times the
length of the shortest; upper jaw somewhat projecting,
the mouth appearing much as in Coreyomts; bluish
above, sides lustrous silvery, more brilliant than in any
other species; D. 11; A. 12; lat. 1. 74; length 8 inches.
Smallest and handsomest of the Ciscoes, in the deep
waters of the Upper Lakes.
5. C. clupeiformis, (Mitch.) LAKE WHITE FISH. Depth
34- in length; head small, 5^; eye 4 in head, about as
long as snout; form varying much with age, sex and
food; the back generally elevated, and the sides com-
pressed; pale olive above; sides white; D. 13; A. 13;
lat. 1. 75 to 86. Great Lakes and bodies of water tribu-
tary to them, north to the Arctic Sea. (This species
seems to be Mitchill's Salmo clupeiforrrtis, and the latter
specific name will perhaps have to supersede albus.)
(C. sapidissimus, latior, ricJiardsonii, etc., of authors.)
276 FISHES.
Var. otsego, (DeWitt Clinton.) OTSEGO LAKE WHITE
FISH. A form, said to have smaller scales, and dusky
lateral stripes, and to be peculiarly excellent for food,
found in Otsego Lake, N. Y. (=-C. clupeiformis.)
Var.? n3vangli(B, (Prescott.) SHAD - WAITER. A
slender, short • headed form, found in L. Winnipiseogee,
N. H. ( — C. quadrilateral is.)
Var.? neohantoniensis, (Prescott.) WHITING. A lit-
tle known species or variety found also in Lake Winni-
piseogee. ( = 6\ labradoricus, Rich.)
6. C. quadrilateralis, Rich. MENOMONEE WHITE
FISH. Body much«more slender, its depth 5 in length;
snout compressed, projecting; maxillary very short and
small, less than one-fifth the length of head, not reaching
to eye; D. 14; A. 13; lat. 1. 88. Great Lakes and north-
ward, easily distinguished from the preceding.
7. C. couesii, Milner. CHIEF MOUNTAIN WHITE
FISH. Form of preceding, but mouth inferior and upper
jaw produced in a cutaneous appendage; D. Ill, 12; A.
IV, 10; lat. 1. 88. Upper Missouri region and perhaps
occurs in Minnesota. A curious species, more unlike the
typical Coregonus than the species of Argyrosomus are.
The genus Argyrosomus is not a good one and should
be reunited to Coregonus. Several other species of
Coregonus have been described from within our limits,
but I do not think them valid.
FAMILY CVL— HYODONTID^E.
(The Moon Eyes)
Body much compressed, covered with large, silvery
cycloid scales; head naked; margin of upper jaw formed
by intermaxillaries mesially and by maxillaries laterally;
HYODONTID.E. — CVI. 277
no barbels; no adipose fin; lateral line distinct; abdo-
men not serrated, compressed; moderate sized teeth on
jaws, vomer, sphenoid, hyoid, pterygoid and palatine
bones; tongue with large teeth; head short, deep; eye
very large; gill openings wide; one pyloric appendage;
air bladder simple. Three species, inhabiting our West-
ern Streams and the Great Lakes.
/. HYODOH, LeSueur. MOON- Eras.
* Belly scarcely carinate ; dorsal rays 12. (Hyodon.)
1. H. tergisus, LeSueur. MOON EYE. SILVER BASS.
TOOTHED HERRING. Depth 3^ in length; head 4f;
snout rounded, shorter than the large eye, which is 3^ in
head; scales largest on the flanks; pale olivaceous above,
sides brilliantly silvery; D. 3, 12; A. 30; V. 7; lat. 1.
59; length 1 foot. Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley,
abundant; one of our most beautiful fresh water fishes;
variable; it has been described under many names.
2. H. selenops, Jordan & Bean. SOUTHERN MOON
EYE. Body elbngate, not greatly compressed; depth 4
in length; belly in front of ventrals transversely rounded
(very slightly carinated in If. tergisus}; head 4^ in
length; eye very large, 2J in head; D. 3, 12; A. 27.
Cumberland River and South.
** Belly strongly carinated both before and behind ventrals ; dorsal
fin, very small, of nine rays; (Elattonistius, Gill & Jor.)
3. H. chrysopsis, Rich. GOLDEN MOON EYE. Body
deep, closely compressed; depth 3£ in length; head 4^-;
eye moderate, 3^- in head; pectorals much shorter than
in the other species, nearly as long as head, about reach-
ing ventrals; length of longest dorsal ray half greater
than base of fin (about equal to it in the other species) ;
D. 3, 9; A. 31; lat. 1. 58. Minnesota and northward-
278 FISHES.
FAMILY CVIL— CLUPEID^E.
(The Herrings.')
Body scaly; head naked; abdomen compressed to an
edge and sharply serrated; margin of upper jaw formed
by intermaxillaries mesially and maxillaries laterally;
maxillaries composed of three pieces which are some-
times movable; teeth usually minute or wanting; dorsal
moderate; anal often very long; scales usually large and
loose; no lateral line; gills well developed; posterior
part of tongue usually provided on each side with a row
of conspicuous "gill-rakers;" gill openings wide.
In most seas, many species entering fresh water to
spawn, a few remaining permanently. As here restricted,
there are about twelve genera, and one hundred and
twenty species. Many are highly valued as food fishes.
The mouth in Dorosoma is so peculiar, that it is prob-
ably best to regard that genus as forming a distinct
family (Dorosomatidce).
* Upper jaw not projecting beyond the lower. (CLUPEIN^J.)
f Teeth wanting, or on tongue only (rarely a few weak teeth in
jaws) no dorsal filament; scales regularly arranged, not
ciliated; upper jaw emarginate.
$ Depth 3£ in length; cheeks higher than long; preopercle
with a very short horizontal process. . . ALOSA, 1.
\\ Depth 3f to 3f in length ; cheeks longer than high ; pre-
opercle with an oblong horizontal process.
POMOLOBUS, 2.
** Upper jaw projecting beyond the lovrer. (DOROSOMIN^E.).
a. Body compressed, deep; last ray of dorsal filamentous;
mouth toothless DOROSOMA, 3.
/. ALOSA, Cuvier. SHADS.
1. A. sapidissima, (Wilson) Storer. COMMON SHAD.
Head 4£ in length; eye 5 in head; bluish, sides silvery;
CLUPKID.E. — cvn. 279
scales large; D. 18; A. 21; V. 9; lat. 1. 68. Newfound-
land to Florida, entering rivers; also lately introduced
into Western streams; a valuable food fish. (A.pra&sta-
!>;/:*, 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. //•/'•/*$, but with the caudal tin of A.
natalis.
bb. Head broad ; inouth wide ; form stout.
7. A. natalis, (LeS.) Gill. YELLOW CAT. CHUBBY
CAT. Body stout and heavy, with large head; dorsal
spine nearer snout than adipose fin; a widely diffused
species running into many varieties. The following are
some of the principal ones :
Var. natalis, (LeS.) Body very short and obese, with
short, deep, fleshy caudal peduncle, and short caudal fin,
on which the flesh encroaches. This may be simply a
peculiar state of individuals rather than a distinct variety.
Var. livid us, (Raf.) Jor. More elongate, dark colored;
the jaws equal. Western and Southern streams, com-
mon. (A. catus of authors.)
Var. cupreus, (Raf.) Jor. Similar, but yellowish
brown, and with the upper jaw decidedly the longer;
generally abundant.
Var. ccenosus, (Rich.) Jor. Like cupreus, but green-
ish or black in color. Great Lakes.
Var. ana/is, Jor. Anal fin very large, of 27 rays, its
base nearly j- length of body. S. "W.
\\ Anal fin moderate, of 18 to 22 rays.
c. Lower jaw distinctly longer than upper.
8. A. vulgaris, (Thompson) Nelson. LONG -JAWED
CAT. Body rather elongate, the depth 4£ to 5 in length;
head 3^; barbels long; mouth wide; head longer than
broad; dorsal nearer snout than adipose fin; head broad
forwards; A. 20 • dark reddish brown, varying to black-
832 FISHES.
ish. Great Lakes and tributaries, generally abundant.
[A. dekayi, (Grd.) Gill.]
Var. ce/urus, (Grd.) Jor. Has the head somewhat
narrowed forwards, the dorsal region more elevated, and
its spine about midway of the body. Upper Mississippi
River.
cc. Jaws about equal, or the upper evidently the longer.
d. Eyes well developed.
e. Body not notably elongate.
/. Head moderately broad ; a nearly even slope from the tip
of the snout to the elevated base of the dorsal.
9. A. catus, (L.) Gill. BULL -HEAD. HORN POUT.
SMALL CAT FISH. Body rather elongate, depth 4 to 4-^-
in length ; head broader than in the next, the front -less
steep, but its slope more uniform; body less rapidly nar-
rowed behind; anal fin longer, its base 4-^ in body, the
rays 21 or 22 in number; upper jaw distinctly the
longer; color dark yellowish brown, varying to blackish,
sometimes marbled, the young often quite black. Great
Lakes to Maine and South Carolina, the common East-
ern species. (A. atrarius, nebulosus, lioyi, etc., of
authors.)
10. A. marmoratus, (Holbr.) Jor. MARBLED CAT.
Body sharply mottled with brown, greenish and whitish;
the coloration therefore singular among Cat Fishes; jaws
equal or nearly so; depth about 4 in length; slope of
profile very steep; dorsal fin high; the spine more than
half length of head; dorsal spine nearer adipose fin than
snout; barbels long; branchiostegals 10; head 3J in
length. South Atlantic States to Illinois.
1.1. A. met as, (Raf.) Jordan & Copeland. BLACK
CAT. Body very stout, short and deep, the depth 3-j- to
4^ in length; head not very broad, rather contracted
SILUEID^. CX. 333
forwards, the front steeply elevated, the body thick
across the "shoulders," rather rapidly narrowed behind;
anal fin short and deep, of 18 or 20 rays, its base nearly
five in length, the color of the rays forming a sharp con-
trast with that of the membranes; upper jaw scarcely
longest; size small; color almost black. Mississippi
Valley, abundant. (A. catulus, obesus^ confinis, etc., of
authors.)
ff. Head very broad, the slope from snout to base of dorsal quite
uneven, there being a more or less decided angle at the
occiput.
12. A. xanthocsphalus, (Raf.) Gill. YELLOW-HEADED
CAT. Head about as broad as long, its length 4 in that
of body; dorsal nearer adipose fin than snout; anal fin
short, its base less than one-fifth the length of the body,
its rays usually 19; body stout and short; mouth very
broad; colors pale, chiefly yellowish; size small. Ohio
Valley, abundant; resembles A. natalis cupreus, but has
a much smaller anal.
ee. Body very elongate, slender, the head flattish and broad above.
13. A. platycephalus, (Grd.) Gill. FLAT -HEADED
CAT. Form slender, elongate, approaching that of Pelo-
dichthys, the depth being 4 to 6 times in length of body;
head broad and flat, nearly as wide as long; anal fin
with 20 to 22 rays; the base of the fin 44- to 5 in body;
jaws equal; branchiostegals 11; mouth very wide; dor-
sal spine nearer snout than adipose fin; coloration some-
what marmorate; a blackish horizontal bar at base of
dorsal. Southern Rivers; approaches A. brunnei^ but
less elongate, and with a different mouth.
(Id. Eyes rudimentary, concealed under the skin; blind cave
species. (G-ronias, Cope.)
14. A. nigrilabris, (Cope) Gill & Jor. CAVE CAT FISH.
334 FISHES.
Form, etc., nearly of Amiurus melas; but the eyes little
developed; anal short, of about 19 rays. Subterranean
stream, tributary of Conestoga River, E. Penn.
\\\ Anal fin small, 15 to 17 rayed.
g. Body short and stout.
15. A. pu//us, (DeKay) GilL BLACK BULL -HEAD.
Depth 4 in length; the head flattened, nearly as broad as
long; mouth large; dors"al nearer adipose fin than snout;
A. 16 or 17; color black, white below; size small. W.
N. Y. to New England.
gg. Body comparatively slender and eel-like.
16. A. brunneus, Jordan. GKEEN CAT. Body very
slender, elongate, the depth about 5-J in length; head
broad and flat, about 4 in length, the width 4^; the upper
jaw more projecting than in any other of the species
known; profile convex, not steep; dorsal fin very high,
f length of head, well forward, its spine nearer snout
than adipose fin; anal fin short and high, its base 5 in
length of body, its rays 16 to 18; pectoral spine serrated;
color pale olive-green; a blackish horizontal bar at base
of dorsal. The slenderest of the Amiuri, abundant in
many Southern streams.
3. PELODICHTHYS, Rafinesque. MUD CATS.
(Hopladelus, Raf.)
1. P. olivaris, (Raf.) Gill & Jordan. MUD CAT. Body
very long and slender, much depressed forwards, closely
compressed behind; head very long and flat, tapering
downwards and forwards, broadly rounded in front;
head 3^- in length, depth 6 in length; dorsal spine some-
what enveloped in thick skin; pectoral spine very long,
flattened, serrated behind; adipose fin high and long;
jaws thin and flat the lower always the longer; colors
SILURID^E. — CX. 335
much mottled; anal fin quite short, of 15 rays. A sin-
gular species, reaching a very large size, abounding on
the bottoms of our larger Western and Southern rivers.
4. NOTURUS, Rafinesque. STONE CATS.
* Intermaxillary band of teeth with strong lateral backward pro-
cesses, as in Pelodichthys. (Noturus.)
1. H. flavus, Raf. YELLOW STONE CAT. Head much
depressed and flattened, little longer than broad; bar-
bels rather short; head 4^ in length; depth 5f ; distance
from snout to dorsal 3; middle of body cylindrical, some-
what carinate above; adipose fin notched; spine of pec-
torals roughish behind, slightly retrorse-serrate in front.
St. Lawrence to Kentucky and Upper Missouri, abund-
ant, the largest species, reaching a length of a foot.
** Intermaxillary band of teeth without lateral backward pro-
cess. (Schilbeodes, Bleeker.)
t Pectoral spines more or less serrate on the inner edge ; adi-
pose fin notched.
a. Pectoral spines rather small, their internal serrae feeble, less
than halt' the diameter of the spine; anal rather long, of
more than 14 rays.
2. N. insignis, (Rich.) Gill & Jor. MARGINED STONE
CAT. Upper jaw decidedly longest; pectoral spine about
half length of head, pretty strongly retrorse - serrate
externally, dorsal spine much nearer anal than snout, the
distance from snout to dorsal more than one-third the
length; anal fin with 16 to 19 rays; body elongate;
head flattened; dusky, a distinct black margin to dorsal
and caudal fins; size rather large; Pennsylvania to S.
Carolina, abundant. [JV. lemniscatus, (Val.) Grd. N~.
in }>< 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.
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