<* \ 
 
MANUAL 
 
 VERTEBRATES 
 
 ITOKTHEKN' insTITED STATES, 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 THE DISTRICT EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND NORTH OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE, EXCLUSIVE 
 
 OF MARINE SPECIES. 
 
 DAVID STARR JORDAN, M.S., M.D. 
 
 PROFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY IN N. TV. C. UNIVERSITY, AND IN INDIANA 
 STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 JANSEN, McCLURG & COMPANY. 
 1876. 
 
Jfo 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 
 
 JANSEN, MoCLURG & COMPANY. 
 A.D. 1876. 
 
 THE LAKESIDE PRESS. CHICAGO. 
 
PEEFAOE. 
 
 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. 
 
 The account of the Mammals has been chiefly compiled from 
 PROP. BAIRD'S " Mammals of North America," in the light of 
 the recent revisions by Mr. J. A. ALLEN, Dr. COUES, and Prof. 
 GILL. I am indebted to Mr. B. H. VAN VLECK, of Cambridge, 
 Mass, for the revision of the proof-sheets of the Mammals and 
 the Turtles. 
 
 I wish further to express my deep obligation to Dr. ELLIOTT 
 COUES, having by his advice and consent, made free use of all 
 his published writings. These have been drawn upon especi- 
 ally in the preparation of the keys to the Warblers, the Hawks, 
 and other difficult groups, in the descriptions of the Water 
 
 3 
 
 M8563' 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 Birds, and in the preliminary key to the ordeis of Birds. Dr. 
 COUES has also kindly placed at my disposal the advance -sheets 
 of his yet unpublished monograph of American Bats. 
 
 I am also under obligations to Messrs. BAIRD and RIDGWAY, 
 whose writings have been to ine of essential service; to Prof. 
 COPE, whose numerous papers have been of great value in the 
 systematic arrangement of the Fishes, and whose check list of 
 the Reptiles and Batrachiaus has been closely followed in the 
 classification of those groups ; to Prof. GILL, whose arrangement 
 of the families of Fishes has been, with few modifications, 
 adopted in the present work ; to Dr. GUNTHER, whose Catalogue 
 of Fishes is the vade-mecum of the working ichthyologist; to 
 Prof. RICHARD BLISS, Jr., who has generously aided me in the 
 identification of the Ichthelidse, in advance of the publication of 
 his monograph of that most difficult group ; to Mr. E. W. NELSON, 
 of Chicago, who has kindly furnished me with a yet unpub- 
 lished list of the Birds and Reptiles of Illinois; to Prof. F. W. 
 PUTNAM, Dr. B. G. WILDER, and Dr. C. C. ABBOTT, for the loan 
 of books and other aids; to Prof. H. E. COPELAND, for help of 
 various kinds, particularly in the verification of descriptions, 
 and to the many collectors and compilers of local lists, who 
 have freely placed their material at my disposal. 
 
 Our knowledge of the geographical distribution of many 
 animals is still veiy imperfect. Quite a number of Southern 
 and Western species, here excluded as extra-limited, will prob- 
 ably yet be found within the region included in this work. 
 
 Additions and corrections of every character are earnestly 
 solicited from naturalists and teachers. 
 
 D. S. J. 
 
 INDIANAPOLIS, IND., May, 1876. 
 
SIGNS, ABBREVIATIONS, ETC., EXPLAINED. 
 
 I. MAMMALS. 
 '.= Incisor teeth. 
 c. Canines. 
 
 m,. Molars. 
 
 Thus " i. flf " 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. 
 
 i. Length in inches (along back from tip of bill to end of 
 longest tail feather) ; thus, "L. 7i " means, length 7 inches. 
 ^.^Extent (spread of wing) measured in inches. 
 
 W. Length of wing (from bend of closed wing carpal joint 
 
 to tip of longest feather) in inches. 
 T.= Length of tail in inches (i.e., actual length of the longest tail 
 
 feather.) 
 B.= Length of bill in inches (measured along culmen from tip to 
 
 frontal feathers.) 
 .ZZ#.=Length of head in inches (measured with dividers from 
 
 base of bill to nape.) 
 
 Ts.= Length of tarsus in inches (measured in front.) 
 Tcl.= Length of middle toe with its claw. 
 
 The measurements given in the descriptions are understood to 
 represent a fair average adult male; a variation of one-sixth, or 
 more, in absolute length is nothing unusual ; relative lengths, as of 
 wings and tail, are much more constant. To save space I have 
 preferred to say "L. 6," to saying "L..5i to 6i." 
 
 $= Female. 
 
6 ^ BIGKS, ; ABBREVIATIONS, ETC. 
 
 > liMprfc trails longer .than, -or more than equivalent to. 
 < =2 Bess tlian/in ite-vafifeus 1 '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. KEPTILES. 
 L.= Length in inches. 
 Sc. or Scales= Number of longitudinal rows of scales exclusive 
 
 of the ventral series. 
 G. = 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 average, the actual number 
 
 being quite variable. 
 Z7".=Number of pairs of sub-caudal plates, or urosteges, counted 
 
 from the vent to the tip of the tail. 
 
 IV. FISHES. 
 .= Dorsal fin. 
 2d D.= Second dorsal fin. 
 P. = Pectoral fins. 
 V.= Ventral fins. 
 .4.= Anal fin. 
 C.= Caudal fin. 
 B. =Branchiostegals. 
 
 Roman numerals used with the above abbreviations indicate 
 the number of spines or inarticulate 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 continuous, or more or less 
 connected. A dash ( ) indicates their separation. Thus, " D, X, 
 12," describes a single dorsal fin with 10 spines and 12 soft rays ; 
 "D, X 12," indicates two dorsal fins the first of 10 spines, the 
 second of 12 soft rays; "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. Z.=Lateral line, i.e., the number of scales contained in its 
 course. When the lateral line is obsolete, " 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 length=The greatest depth of the body as contained in 
 
 the distance along the side from the snout to the base of the 
 
 caudal. 
 Head in length=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 head=Its 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 average of living adults, and must be 
 applied to young specimens or preserved ones with caution. 
 
 Young fishes are always much more elongated than adults, and 
 the eye is proportionally much larger. 
 
 A fin is said to be " long" when it has a long base, or is many- 
 rayed. A "high" fin is one in which the individual rays are 
 elongated. 
 
PRINCIPAL ABBREVIATIONS OF NAMES OF AUTHORS 
 CITED IN THIS VOLUME. 
 
 Allen=3. A. Allen. 
 Auct.=A.uctOTum (of Authors.) 
 
 And. & Bach. = Audubon & 
 Bachman. 
 
 B. & G. Baird & Girard. 
 Bartr. Bartram. 
 Beauv.=Pa,Yi$ot de Beauvais. 
 BL & Schn. =Bloch & Schneider. 
 j&>eM. Boddaert 
 Bon., or Bp.=C. L. Bonaparte. 
 Brev. = Bre voort. 
 
 (7a&.=Cabanis. 
 CVm.=Cassm. 
 Coop.= Cooper. 
 
 C. & F.=Cuvier and Valen- 
 
 ciennes. 
 Daud. = Daudin. 
 
 Desm. = Desmarest. 
 Dum. Dumdril. 
 
 Gm., or 
 
 Gray (Birds)=G. R. Gray. 
 
 Gray (Mam,& Kept.) =J. E. ^Gray. 
 
 Hald. = Haldeman. 
 
 Lac. =Lacepede. 
 Lafr. = Lafresnaye. 
 Lath. = Latham. 
 
 Lawr. = Lawrence. 
 ZeO'.=LeConte. 
 
 Less.= Lesson. 
 
 Licht. Lichtenstein. 
 L. Linnaeus. 
 
 Raf. = Rafinesque. 
 Reich. = Reichenbach. 
 Mich. = Ri ch ardson. 
 Ridg. = Ridg way. 
 
 H. Smith Hamilton Smith. 
 
 Steph. = Stephens. 
 
 Strickl. = Strickland. 
 Sund . Sundevall. 
 Sw. S wainson. 
 Temm. = Temminck. 
 Towns. Townsend. 
 Veil. Valenci ennes. 
 Vieill., or F.=Vieillot. 
 F^.^Vigors. 
 Waal. 
 
 Wils.= Wilson. 
 
 *;,<* Names of Authors not in the above list are usually 
 written in full. 
 
VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 VERTEBRATA. 
 
 (The Vertebrates.) 
 
 The Vertebrates are, in popular language, "animals 
 with a back-bone." They are distinguished from all 
 other animals, says Prof. Huxley, " by the circumstance 
 that a transverse and vertical section of the body 
 exhibits two cavities, completely separated from one 
 another by a partition. The dorsal cavity contains the 
 cerebro-spinal nervous system; the ventral, the alimen- 
 tary canal, the heart, and, usually, a double chain of 
 ganglia, which passes under the name of the 'sympa- 
 thetic.' A vertebrated animal may be devoid of 
 articulated limbs, and it never possesses more than two 
 pairs. These are always provided with an internal 
 skeleton, to which the muscles moving the limbs are 
 attached." 
 
 Without further discussion of this great group of 
 animals, we will proceed at once to the consideration of 
 the classes. Of existing vertebrates, we here recognize 
 
 9 
 
10 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 
 
 eight classes. These are: 1. MAMMALIA, or Mammals; 
 2. AVES, or Birds; 3. REPTILIA, or Reptiles; 4. BATKACHIA, 
 or Batrachians; 5. PISCES, or True Fishes; 6. ELASMO- 
 BRANCHII, or Selachians; 7. MARSIPOBRANCHII, or Myzonts; 
 8. LEPTOCARDII, or Lancelets. 
 
 Of these classes, two, Elasmobranchii and Leptocardii, 
 are represented by marine forms only, and do not, 
 therefore, come within the scope of this treatise. 
 
 The relations of the classes of Vertebrates may be 
 recognized by the following analysis, taken, in part, 
 from Prof. Gill's "Arrangement of the Families of 
 Fishes." Only the most obvious characters are here 
 referred to, although others, less striking, are often of 
 greater taxonomic value. 
 
 CLASSES OF VERTEBRATES. 
 
 * Respiration never performed after birth by means of branchiae. 
 
 f Exoskeleton developed as hair (rarely obsolete) ; warm blood ; 
 
 heart with four cavities ; diaphragm complete ; two occipital 
 
 condyles ; viviparous ; young developed from a minute egg, 
 
 and nourished for a time by milk secreted in the mammary 
 
 glands of the mother. .... MAMMALIA. 
 
 f f Exoskeleton developed as feathers ; warm blood ; heart with 
 
 four cavities; diaphragm incomplete; a single occipital 
 
 condyle ; viviparous ; young hatched from a comparatively 
 
 large egg ; no mammary glands. .... AVES. 
 
 f f f Exoskeleton developed as scales, or bony plates ; cold blood ; 
 
 heart with three cavities (four in Crocodilia); a single 
 
 occipital condyle ; viviparous (or rarely ovoviparous) ; young 
 
 hatched from a rather large egg. . . . REPTILIA. 
 
 ** Respiration performed by gills for a part, or the whole, of life ;" 
 
 cold blood. 
 
 $ Skull more or less developed, with the notochord not continued 
 forwards beyond the pituitary body ; brain differentiated 
 and distinctly developed; heart developed and divided 
 into at least an auricle and ventricle. 
 
VEBTEBEATA. 11 
 
 a. Skull well developed and with a lower jaw; nostrils paired. 
 b. ]STo median rayed fins ; limbs not developed as rayed 
 fins, but, if present, having the same skeletal elements 
 as in the higher vertebrates; skin usually naked; 
 respiration in the adult chiefly, or entirely, accom- 
 plished by means of lungs, the branchiae rarely 
 
 persistent BATRACHIA. 
 
 bb. Rayed fins present on median line of the body ; limbs 
 developed as rayed fins ; at least one pair being always 
 present ; respiration by means of branchiae throughout 
 life ; lungs not developed. 
 
 c. Membrane bones (operculum, etc.) developed in con- 
 nection with the skull; gills free; the branchial 
 openings a single slit on each side; exoskeleton 
 usually of scales, or plates, never placoid; eggs 
 
 small and numerous PISCES. 
 
 cc. Skull without membrane bones ; gills not free ; the 
 branchial openings slit-like, usually several in 
 number; exoskeleton placoid, never of scales, but 
 usually composed of calcified papillae of various 
 styles ; eggs few and large. . ELASMOBRANCHII. 
 aa. Skull imperfectly developed and with no lower jaw; 
 a single median nostril ; paired fins undeveloped, with 
 no shoulder girdle nor pelvic elements; gills purse- 
 shaped ; skin naked. . . MARSIPOBRANCHII. 
 ft Skull undeveloped, with the notochord persistent and extend- 
 ing to the anterior end of the head ; brain not distinctly 
 differentiated ; heart none, LE?TOCABDII. 
 
12 MAMMALS. 
 
 . jaantmalia. 
 
 (The Mammals.) 
 
 A Mammal is a warm-blooded, air-breathing vertebrate, 
 having the skin more or less covered with hair; vivipar- 
 ous; embryo developed from a minute egg, and provided 
 with an amnion and allantois; young nourished for a 
 time after birth by milk, secreted in the mammary 
 glands of the mother; respiration never by branchiae, 
 but after birth by lungs, suspended freely in the thoracic 
 cavity, which is completely separated from the abdominal 
 cavity by a muscular septum (the diaphragm); heart 
 with four cavities; a complete double circulation. The 
 peculiarities of the skeleton are too numerous to be 
 noticed in this connection. 
 
 The following key to the Orders and Families of 
 Mammals which occur within our limits (omitting the 
 Seals and the Cetaceans, all our members of which 
 groups are marine), is mostly taken from Prof. Gill's 
 "Arrangement of the Families of Mammals." It has 
 been thought best not to give here any separate account 
 of the different orders, as, in the abundance of literature 
 on that subject, it seems unnecessary. 
 
 ORDERS OF MAMMALIA. 
 
 * Young not born until of considerable size and nearly perfect 
 development, deriving its nourishment, before birth, from 
 the mother through the intervention of a placenta ; a well 
 developed corpus callosum. (MONODELPHIA.) 
 
 f Brain with a relatively large cerebrum, overlapping much, or 
 all, of the cerebellum and olfactory lobes. (EDUCABILIA.) 
 
MAMMALS. 13 
 
 t Anterior and posterior limbs and pelvis well developed ; 
 femur and liumerus not exserted beyond the common 
 integuments of the body. 
 
 a. Feet with developed claws ; canines specialized ; molars, 
 
 one or more, sectorial, adapted for cutting ; incisors 
 
 f ; chiefly carnivorous. . . CARNIVORA, A. 
 
 aa. Feet with hoofs ; molars mostly with grinding surfaces ; 
 
 incisors various; no tusks; developed toes, four or 
 
 fewer ; chiefly herbivorous. . . UNGULATA, B. 
 
 ff Brain with a relatively small cerebrum, leaving behind much 
 
 of the cerebellum exposed, and, in front, much of the 
 
 olfactory lobes. (!NEDUCABILIA.) 
 
 &. Canine teeth present, in some form ; incisors not f nor f. 
 c. Anterior limbs adapted for flight ; ulna and radius 
 united; bones of hand and fingers much elon- 
 gated, supporting a thin, leathery 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; mammae usually abdomi- 
 na l INSECTIVORA, D. 
 
 Vb. 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 
 callosurn rudimentary. (DIDELPHIA.) . MARSUPIALIA, F. 
 
 A. FAMILIES OF CARNIVORA. 
 
 * Intestinal canal provided with a ccecum ; feet digitigrade ; toes 
 
 5-4. 
 f Teeth 28 to 30; head broad; snout short; claws sharp, 
 
 retractile FELID.E, 1. 
 
 ff Teeth 38 to 46; snout elongated; claws bluntish, non- 
 retractile CANID^, 2. 
 
 ** 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^, 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. 
 CM. Tail well developed; teeth 40; lower jaw slender, with 
 two true molars ; body moderately stout. 
 
 PROCYONIIXE, 5. 
 
 B. FAMILIES OF UNGULATA. 
 
 * Toes paired (artiodactylous) ; horns solid, deciduous ; teeth 34 
 
 or 32. CEKVIILE, 6. 
 
 C. FAMILIES OF CHIROPTERA. 
 
 * Snout not appendaged ; tail inclosed in the membrane, or only 
 
 the last joint exserted. . . . VESPERTILIONID^B, 7. 
 
 D. FAMILIES OF INSECTIVORA. 
 
 * No external ear; fore feet greatly enlarged adapted for 
 digging ; limbs very short. . . . TALPIDJS, 8. 
 ** An external ear ; feet normal ; hind feet usually longest. 
 
 E. FAMILIES OF RODENTIA. 
 
 * Incisors f ; tail well developed. 
 f Hair forming a fur, without spines. 
 
 a. 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 !|. ..... GEOMYHXE, 12. 
 
 aaa. Tail and hind legs excessively elongated, the latter 
 adapted for leaping ; molars f !f . ZAPODIIXE, 13. 
 aaaa. With none of the preceding combinations. 
 
FELID^. I. 15 
 
 6. Molars J-lf- or flj- ; no foramen (as in the next); tail 
 
 usually long and hairy ; (squirrels, etc.) SCIURID^, 10. 
 
 5&. Molars f if to |vf ; zygomatic process of upper jaw with 
 
 a foramen ; (rats and mice). . . MURDXE, 14. 
 
 ft Fur with stiff spine-like bristles ; toes with long, curved 
 
 claws SPALACOPODIDJB, 15. 
 
 ** Incisors f ; the middle upper incisors large, grooved, the outer 
 ones small ; teeth 28 ; tail very short ; ears long. 
 
 LEPORIIXE, 16. 
 
 F. FAMILIES OF MARSUPIALIA. 
 
 * Tail long, prehensile, nearly naked ; feet plantigrade ; incisors 
 f :f ; teeth 50 DIDELPHIDHXE, 17 
 
 OEDEB A.-OAENIYOEA. 
 
 (The Flesh-Eaters or Ferae.) 
 
 FAMILY I. FELID^E. 
 
 (The Cats.) 
 
 Digitigrade Carnivora with the toes 5-4; claws com- 
 jpressed, very sharp, retractile; palms and soles hairy, 
 with naked pads under each toe and the b all of the foot. 
 Body compact; head short, broad and rounded. Dentition 
 i. |;f ; c. -}; pm. f ;f or |:|; m. f |=30 or 28; canine teeth 
 long and sharp; teeth all strongly trenchant; tongue with 
 short, retrorse papillae. General aspect cat-like. A well- 
 known group comprising about fifty species, found in all 
 parts of the world excepting Australia and its islands. 
 
 * Prernolars f ."f , anterior upper one very small ; tail at least half 
 as long as the body (exclusive of head and neck) ; fur compact 
 and glossy ; ears not tufted. . . . . FELIS, 1. 
 
 ** Prernolars f'f, (anterior upper one wanting); tail less than 
 half length of body proper ; ears triangular, tufted. LYNX, 2. 
 
16 MAMMALS. 
 
 /. FELIS, Linnaeus. CATS. 
 
 1. F. concolor, L. AMERICAN PANTHER. COUGAE. 
 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, Rafiriesque. 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. -J-'.-J-; pm. J:|; m. $.-$=42; canines large, 
 rather blunt. Both hemispheres. 
 
 * Tail comparatively short ; upper incisors distinctly lobed ; pupil 
 
 circular. , CANIS, 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 UROCTON, 3. 
 
MUSTELID^E. III. IT 
 
 /. CANIS, Linnaeus. 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. FOXES. 
 
 1. /. vulgaris, Fleming. 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.fulvus, Auct.) 
 
 3. U ROC YON, Baird. GRAY FOXES. 
 
 1. U. virginianus, (Erxleben.) 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. MUSTELm/E. 
 
 (The Weasels.) 
 
 Carnivora either plantigrade or digitigrade, with the 
 toes 5-5. Molars J:|- ( rarely \:\ ); the upper and the last 
 lower one tubercular; no ccecum. 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 found 
 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 digitigrade ; tail rather long ; low- 
 er first molar with an internal tubercle, . MUSTELA, 1. 
 
18 MAMMALS. 
 
 ft Teeth 34 ; body slender ; feet digitigrade ; tail usually long ; 
 
 sectorial tooth without internal tubercle. . PUTORIUS, 2. 
 
 fft 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. ( MEPHITTNJS.) 
 &. 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.) LUTKA, 6. 
 
 /. MUSTELA, Linnseus. MARTENS. 
 
 1. M. martes, L. SABLE. PINE MARTEN. Chiefly 
 reddish yellow, clouded with black ; legs and tail, 
 blackish; length less than two feet. Maine to Oregon, 
 and northward; also in Old World. (M. americana, 
 Turton.) 
 
 2. M. pennantii, 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. vulgaris, 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. 
 and 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. lutreolus, Cuvier. COMMON MINK. Brownish 
 chestnut ; tail black or nearly so ; length of body 15 
 to 20 inches. N. A. and Old World. (P. mson, Gapper.) 
 
 3. GULO, Storr. WOLVERINES. 
 
 1. G. luscus, (L.) Sabine. WOLVERINE. Dark brown ; 
 legs and beneath black. N. U. S. and N. 
 
 4. TAXIDEA, Waterhouse. BADGERS. 
 
 1. T. americana, (Bodd.) Baird. AMERICAN BADGER. 
 Chiefly grayish. Wisconsin, N. and W. 
 
 5. MEPHITIS, Cuvier. SKUNKS. 
 
 1. M. mephiiica, (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. ( M. chinga, Tiedemann.) 
 
 6. LUTRA, Linnaeus. OTTERS. 
 
 1. L. canadensis, Sabine. AMERICAN OTTER. Liver- 
 brown; length 4 feet. U. S. 
 
 FAMILY IV. URSID^E. 
 
 ( The Bears. ) 
 
 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 two, although many have been described; 
 these are, as has been shown by Mr. J. A. Allen, the 
 
20 MAMMALS. 
 
 Polar Bear ( U. maritimus), and the following which is the 
 common Bear of the Old World. 
 
 /. URSUS, Linnaeus. BEARS. 
 
 1. U. arcfoSf L. BROWN, BLACK, CINNAMON AND 
 GRIZZLY BEAR. Color, size, etc., exceedingly variable, 
 but the several forms or varieties intergrade perfectly. 
 N. Am. and Europe. (U. americanw, Pallas. U. horri- 
 biliSy Ord.) 
 
 FAMILY V. PROCYONID.E. 
 
 (TJie Raccoons.) 
 
 Plantigrade Carnivora of moderate size, with the body 
 comparatively slender and the tail well developed. Teeth 
 40. Snout more or less elongated; no coecum. Genera 
 two, Nasua^ the Coatimundi of Mexico, and the follow- 
 ing, all American. 
 
 /. PROCYON, Storr. RACCOON. 
 
 1. P. lotor, (L.) Storr. COMMON RACCOON. " COON." 
 Grayish white; hairs black-tipped; tail with black rings. 
 U. S.; abundant. 
 
 OEDEE B.-IJ]SrGULATA. 
 
 (The Hoofed Mammals). 
 
 FAMILY VI. CERVID^E. 
 
 (The Deer). 
 
 Horns deciduous, solid, developed from the frontal 
 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 
 
CEEYIB^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. f:f ; 
 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. RANGIFEB, 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. 
 
 CERVUS, 3. 
 
 ff 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 CABiACUS,4. 
 
 /. ALCE, Hamilton Smith. ELKS. 
 1. M. amer/canus, Jardine. MOOSE. AMERICAN ELK. 
 Largest of our Cervidce, reaching the size of a horse. 
 Maine and N. N. Y. to Oregon and N. 
 
 2. RANGIFER, 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. (R. 
 tarandus.) 
 
 
 
22 MAMMALS. 
 
 3. CERVUS, Linnaeus. 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, Van 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. 
 
 (TJie 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 ! VESPERTILIO, 1. 
 
 ft Incisors jij. ATAIAPHA, 2. 
 
 ** Cheeks with two large excrescences ; ears excessively large, 
 an inch high ; teeth 36 ; i. -g-I-f. . . CORYNORHLNTJS, 3. 
 
 /. VESPERTILIO, Linna3us. TYPICAL BATS. 
 > Scotophilus, Leach. 
 
 * Teeth 38; molars J.-J-; species with thin wings and ears. (Ves- 
 
 pertilio} 
 1. /. subulatus, Say. LITTLE BROWN BAT. Face 
 
VESPERTILIONID^E. VII. 23 
 
 small, fox-like, with high forehead and pointed snout; 
 ears large, oval, twice the height of the erect tragus; 
 wings naked; interfemoral membrane naked except at 
 base, face whiskered; color dull olive-brown. L. 3; E. 
 9; T. 1|-. N. Am.; abundant every where. A small and 
 very variable species. ( V. lucifugus, Le C.) 
 ** Teeth 36; molars |:f. (Vesperides.) 
 
 2. /. 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. 3i; E. 12; T. 1|. 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. 1^-. Maine to Texas; chiefly southward. 
 
 **** Teeth 32; molars f:f; stout species. (Vesperus.) 
 
 4. /. 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. ATALAPHA, Rafinesque. RED BATS. 
 
 * Teeth 30 ; molars $ ; upper incisors small ; wings naked and 
 interfemoral membranes nearly so. (Nycticejus.) 
 
 1. A. crepuscularis, (Le C.) Coues. 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^-. Perm, to Mo., and 
 S.W. 
 
 ** Teeth 32 ; molars -f if ; 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. 3|; 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. pruinosus, Say.) 
 
 3. CORYNORHINUS, 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. 
 
 OEDEE D.-HTSECTIVOEA. 
 
 (The Insect Eaters.) 
 
 FAMILY VIII. TALPIDJE. 
 
 (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. 
 
SORICID^. 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 CONDYLURA, 3. 
 
 /. SCALOPS, Cuvier. SHREW MOLES. 
 
 1. 5. aquaticus, (L.) Fischer. COMMON MOLE. Dark 
 plumbeous, paler below; feet full webbed; eyes not 
 covered by skin. E. U. S.; an abundant and well known 
 species. 
 
 2. S. argentatuSf Aud. & Bach. PRAIRIE MOLE. 
 Silvery plumbeous; said to be larger and more silvery 
 than the preceding. Ohio and W., chiefly in the prairie 
 region. 
 
 2. SCAPANUS, Pomel. HAIRY -TAILED MOLES. 
 1. S. breweri, (Bach.) Pomel. HAIRY -TAILED MOLE. 
 Dark plumbeous, with brown gloss. E. U. S. 
 
 3. CONDYLURA, Illiger. STAR-NOSED MOLES. 
 1. C. cr/'stata, (L.) Desmarest. STAR-NOSED 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 I - JI 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. 
 
 * 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. . . BLABINA, 2. 
 
 /. SOREX, Linnaeus. SHREWS. 
 
 1. S. p/atyrhinuSf (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. brev/cauda, (Say) Baird. MOLE SHREW. Tail 
 less than one-third length of head and body; color 
 brownish gray. E. U. S., the common species. 
 
 OEDEE E.-BODESTIA. 
 
 (The Rodents or Glires.) 
 
 FAMILY X. SCIURID^E. 
 
 (The Squirrels.) 
 
 Rodents with the molars : (upper anterior often 
 deciduous), the last 4 of nearly equal size; a distinct 
 postorbital process of frontal bone; tibia and fibula 
 
SCIUELD^E. 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. 
 
 SCIUBOPTEKUS, 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. . Scrunus, 2. 
 f f 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. 
 ftt Body large, thick-set, depressed ; cheek pouches shallow ; 
 thumb rudimentary, armed with a small flat nail, not a 
 claw; soles naked. . . . ARCTOMYS, 5. 
 
 /. SCIUROPTERUS, P. Cuvier. FLYING SQUIRRELS. 
 < Pteromys, Cuvier. 
 
 1. S. volans (L.) Coues. COMMON FLYING SQUIRREL. 
 Yellowish brown, creamy white below. N. Am., abun- 
 dant. (P. volucella, etc., authors.) 
 
 2. SCIURUS, Linnaeus. SQUIRRELS. 
 
 1. S. cinereus, 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. cinereus, the Eastern form, with short ears, 
 scarcely longer than the fur; and var. ludomcianus, the 
 "Western form, with high ears and a prevailing tinge of 
 orange red. 
 
 2. S. carolinensis, 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. str/atus, (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^B. XII. 29 
 
 FAMILY XI. CASTORID^E. 
 
 ( The Beavers.) 
 
 Aquatic Rodents of large size, having the molars 
 rootless, |-;f-, or |-;j-; fore feet with five distinct toes and 
 claws; tibia and fibula distinct; no postorbital process. 
 A small family, containing but two existing genera, 
 Anisonyx of our N.W. coast, and Castor. 
 
 * 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. GEOMYHLE. 
 
 {The Pouched Gophers.) 
 
 Cheek pouches large and distinct, opening outside of 
 the mouth. Molars f: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 North 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. ZAPODIDJE. 
 
 (The 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. 
 
 = tTaculuSj Wagler. 
 
 1. Z. hudsonius, ( Zimmermann ) Coues. Yellowish 
 brown. U. S., chiefly northward; Variable. 
 
 FAMILY XIV. MURIDJE. 
 
 (The Mice.) 
 
 Incisors J-; molars usually f;J; 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 (Mus) 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- (MURING.) 
 f Molars with three tubercles in transverse series ; soles naked ; 
 tail long, scaly ; (Old World species, introduced in America.) 
 
 Mus, 1. 
 f f Molars complicated, with two tubercles in transverse series ; 
 
 soles usually hairy; (New World species.) 
 a. Rat-like; size large; ears large, rarely naked. NEOTOMA,S. 
 aa. Mouse-like ; size small. 
 
 6. Incisors not grooved ; ears very large ; feet and lower 
 
 parts usually white. . . . HESPEBOMYS, 3. 
 
 6&. Size very small ; upper incisors grooved longitudinally 
 
 along their anterior surface. . OCHETODON, 4. 
 
 : * Incisors as broad as deep ; molars rootless (except in Ewtomys). 
 
 J Tail not specially compressed ; teeth not grooved. 
 
MUHLD^E. XIV. 31 
 
 c. Molars rooted; coronoid process of lower jaw, not reaching 
 
 level of condyle ; ears overtopping the fur. EVOTOMYS, 5. 
 
 cc. Molars rootless ; coronoid process as high as condyle ; ears 
 
 more or less concealed. J . . ABVICOLA, 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. M. decuman us, Pallas. BROWN 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. /Iff. 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. flor/dana, 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,Wa,teThouse. 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. 
 
32 MAMMALS. 
 
 FOOTED MOUSE. Yellowish brown; tail distinctly bicolor, 
 about as long as head and body; hind feet more than 
 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 f 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., arid S. 
 
 ** Soles naked ; tail scant-haired, about as long as head and body ; 
 ears small. (Oryzomys.) 
 
 4. H. palustris, (Harlan) 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 His, (Aud. & Bach.) Coues. HARVEST MOUSE. 
 Tail shorter than head and body; appearance decidedly 
 mouse - like. U. S., southerly, N. to Iowa. 
 
 5. EVQTOMYS, Coues. LONG -EARED MICE. 
 
 < Armcola, 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.) 
 
SPALACOPODID^E. XV. 33 
 
 1. A. rlparius, 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. PINE MOUSE. Tail about one- 
 fourth length of head and body. E. U. S. 
 
 7. SYNAPTOMYS, Baird. COOPER'S MOUSE. 
 
 1. S. cooper i ', Baird. Head short and heavy; fur soft 
 and long. W. States, E. to Ind. 
 
 8. FIBER, Cuvier. MUSKEATS. 
 
 1. F. zibeihicus, (L.) Cuv. MUSKEAT. MUSQUASH. A 
 well-known aquatic animal, the largest of our Muridce. 
 N. Am.; every where. 
 
 FAMILY XV. SPALACOPODIDJ3. 
 
 (The Porcupines.} 
 
 Body more or less armed with spines. Molars rooted, 
 ;. 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 C 'ercolabmce, to which our genus 
 belongs, than to the whole family. 
 
34 MAMMALS. 
 
 /. ERETHIZON, F. Cuvier. AMERICAN PORCUPINES. 
 
 1. E. dorsatus, (L.) F. Cuvier. WHITE-HAIEED PORCU- 
 PINE. Dark brown, spines chiefly white. N. Am., S. to 
 Mexico. 
 
 FAMILY XVI. LEPORINE. 
 ( The Hares.) 
 
 Incisors f, the extra pair in upper jaw small, and 
 placed behind the principal pair, which are grooved in 
 front; molars :. A single well - known genus, widely 
 distributed. 
 
 /. LEPUS, Linnaeus. HARES. 
 * Fur white in winter. 
 
 1. L. amer/'canus, 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. sy I vatic us, 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 L. aquaticus, Bach., the Water Rabbit, abound in 
 S. Ills. (Nelson.) 
 
DIDELPHIDIIXE. XVH. 36 
 
 OKDEK -F.-MA-RflTTPTATJA. 
 
 (The Marsupials.) 
 
 FAMILY XVII. DIDELPHIDID^E. 
 
 (The Opossums.') 
 
 Marsupial mammals of small size, with the teeth i. f ;f , 
 c. }-:-}-, pm. |;|, 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, Linnasus. OPOSSUMS. 
 
 1. D. virg iniana, Shaw. COMMON OPOSSUM. Dirty 
 white; legs dark; L. 35; T. 14. N. Y. to Rocky Moun- 
 tains, rather southerly; common. 
 
36 BIRDS. 
 
 55. 
 
 (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 EUEHIPIDUEA. 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. . . . PTCARLE, H. 
 ** Toes 3: all in front; toes cleft or semipalmate. LIMICOL^J, M. 
 
BIRDS. 37 
 
 *** Toes 4 : two in front, two behind. 
 
 Bill cered and hooked. . . . PSITTACI, I. 
 
 Bill lengthened, not cered nor hooked. 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. 
 
 b. Nostrils opening beneath a soft, swollen membrane ; head 
 
 small ; tarsus reticulate behind. . COLUMB^E, K. 
 bb. Bill hooked and cered ; claws sharp and strong. 
 
 RAPTOKES, J. 
 
 bbb. Secondaries very short, six in number ; bill very slender ; 
 
 smallest of all birds. . . . PICARLE, H. 
 
 bbbb. Claw of hind toe as long or longer than that of middle 
 
 toe; wing coverts in about two series, not reaching 
 
 half way to tips of secondaries; musical apparatus 
 
 more or less highly developed. . PASSERES, G. 
 
 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 wide 
 
 and deep, reaching to below eyes. . PICARLE, H. 
 cc. Bill lengthened, not fissirostral. 
 d. First primary emarginate, or else about as long as 
 
 second. LIMICOL^E, M. 
 
 dd. First primary not emarginate, much shorter than 
 second. . . . . . ALJECTORIDES, O. 
 
 II. Toes syndactyle without webbing, but with the outer and 
 
 middle toes coherent half their length. . PICARLE, H. 
 
 III. Toes semipalmate; two or three of them joined at base only 
 by evident movable webbing. 
 
 e. Hind toe inserted on a level with the rest. 
 f. Tibiae 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. . . COLUMBJE, K. 
 
38 BIRDS. 
 
 ff. Tibiae naked below. . . . HERODIONES, N. 
 ee. Hind toe inserted above the level of the rest, and usually 
 
 shorter than any of the others. 
 fi. Tibiae feathered below. 
 *". Nostrils perforate ; head more or less naked. 
 
 RAPTORES, J. 
 tV. Nostrils imperforate. 
 
 j. Bill flssirostral gape wide, "reaching to below eye. 
 
 PICAHLE, H. 
 
 jj. Bill stout, not fissirostral ; nostrils scaled or feathered. 
 
 GALLINJE, L. 
 M. Tibiae naked below. 
 
 k. Nostrils perforate. . . . ALECTORIDES, O. 
 kk. Nostrils imperforate. 
 
 L Head bald ; tarsus reticulate. . HERODIONES, N. 
 
 tt. Head feathered ; tarsus usually scutellate. 
 
 LlMICOI^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 perfect; a horny frontal shield. ALECTORIDES, O. 
 mmm. Tail perfect; forehead feathered, without horny shield. 
 
 LIMICOL^E, M. 
 
 V. Toes palmate ; three front toes full-webbed. 
 
 n. Bill curved upwards ; legs elongated. . LiMicoiuE, 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 LONGDPENNES, R 
 
 oo. Hind toe lobate; wings and tail short. PYGOPODES, S. 
 
 VI. Toes totipalmate ; 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 scutellae 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. 
 * Primaries 10 ; the first short or spurious. 
 f Tarsus booted ; rictus with bristles. 
 a. Middle toe quite free from inner; birds of moderate size, 
 
 length more than 6. 
 
 &. 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 TURDID^E, 18. 
 
 lib. Wings very long, pointed, reaching beyond middle of 
 
 tail, and more than half longer; tip of wing formed 
 
 by 2d to 4th quills ; ours chiefly blue. SAXICOLID^E, 19. 
 
 act. Middle and inner toes connected at base ; small, length 
 
 less than 5 . SYLVIID.E, 20. 
 
 ft 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. . . . . . . SiTTnxas, 22. 
 
 ee. Bill much shorter than head ; wings about as long as 
 
 tail PARTD^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. CORVID^E, 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. 
 
 Wi. 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 6i. 
 
 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. TURDID^E, 18. 
 
 M. 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. 
 
 Hi. 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. . CERTHIID.E, 23. 
 
 ** Primaries 9 ; the first about as long as second. 
 
 $ 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. . . . HIRUNDINID^, 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 (9). 
 
 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. 
 
 FRrNGILLID/E, 33. 
 
 jj. Bill conic, but lengthened more or less, about as long as 
 head (except in Dolichonyx and Molothms, the Bob-c- 
 link and Cowbird) ; no notch at the tip or bristles at the 
 
 rictus ICTERHX, 34. 
 
 fttt 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. . AMPELIDJS, 30. 
 
BIRDS. 41 
 
 kk. 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." 
 
 I. 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. . MOTACTLLHXE, 26. 
 
 U. 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 not blotched 
 
 with white or yellow. . . VIREONID.E, 31. 
 
 mm. Bill various, notched or not, but little, if at all, 
 
 hooked ; colors often brilliant. SYLVICOLID.E, 27. 
 
 II. Clamatores. 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. 
 
 n. First primary lengthened, often longest, always more than 
 
 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. .... TYRANNIZE, 36. 
 
 H, FAMILIES OF PICARLE. 
 
 I. Feet zygodactyle (two toes in front, two behind) by reversion 
 
 of outer toe ; ( hallux wanting in Picoides.) 
 
 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. . . . Picnx<E, 42. 
 
 aa. Tail not scansorial, of 8 to 10 long, soft feathers ; bill de- 
 curved ; no nasal tufts CDCHLID^E, 41. 
 
 II. Feet syndactyle, by cohesion of outer and middle toes ; tibiae 
 
 naked below ; bill stout and straight, longer than head. 
 
 ALCEDINID.E, 40. 
 
 III. Feet neither zygodactyle nor syndactyle; wings long and 
 pointed. 
 
42 BIRDS. 
 
 5. Bill tenuirostral, very slender, much longer than head ; secon- 
 daries very short, 6 in number j plumage compact. 
 
 TKOCHILID^E, 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. CAPRIMULGHX<E, 37. 
 cc. No rictal bristles ; plumage compact, of blended colors ; 
 tail feathers (in ours) spinous ; length 6 or less. 
 
 CYPSELID^E, 38. 
 
 I. FAMILIES OF PSITTACI. 
 
 I. 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 irnperforate ; 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. . . . STRIGID^E, 44. 
 
 aa. Eyes lateral ; no complete facial disk. . FALCONIIXE, 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 COLTJMBJ3. 
 
 I. Head small, feathered (except sometimes a circumorbital ring); 
 feathers loosely inserted, . . . COLUMBID^J, 47. 
 
 L. FAMILIES OF GALLIX^B. 
 
 I. Head unfeathered, with wattles and caruncles: a tuft of bristly 
 
 feathers on breast; tarsus spurred in<5; plumage iridescent; 
 large, 36 or more MELEAGRIIXE, 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 ..... TETRAONHXE, 49. 
 
 Tarsus and nasal groove unfeathered ; no peculiar feathers 
 on neck ....... PERDICHXE, 50. 
 
 M. FAMILIES OP LIMICOL^E. 
 
 I. Toes lobate ; tarsus notably compressed ; body depressed. 
 
 PHAIAROPODUXE, 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. 
 
 RECURVIROSTRID.E, 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 Squatarola). . . . CHARADRIID.E, 51. 
 
 *** Bill usually longer than head, mostly grooved, not con- 
 stricted, softish to its tip; tarsus scutellate; toes 4 (except 
 in Oalidris) ...... SCOLOPACED^, 55. 
 
 **** Not as above; bill hard, either compressed and truncate, 
 or acute; feet 4-toed and cleft, or 3-toed and semipalmate. 
 
 H^EMATOPODIILE, 52. 
 
 N. FAMILIES OF HERODIONES. 
 
 I. Bill long, straight, acute ; middle claw pectinate. ARDEIIXE, 56. 
 
 II. Bill curved downwards, or else flat and spoon-shaped. 
 
 TANTALUM, 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. 
 
 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. Neck and legs moderate ; tibiae feathered ; bill not decurved. 
 
 ANATID.E, 60. 
 Q. FAMILIES OF STEGANOPODES. 
 
 I. Bill longer than tail, many times longer than head, with the 
 
 gular pouch enormous ; wings long. . PELECANFIXE, 61. 
 
 II. Bill about as long as head, shorter than tail, which is fan- 
 
 shaped, of rigid feathers ; wings short. 
 
 PHALACROCORACIIXE, 62. 
 
 R. FAMILIES OF LONGIPENNES. 
 
 I. Nostrils not tubular, perforate; bill with a continuous covering. 
 
 LARID^E, 63. 
 
 S. FAMILIES OF PYGOPODES. 
 
 L Feet palmate; tail developed ; head closely feathered. 
 
 COLYMBID^:, 64. 
 
 II. Feet lobate ; tail undeveloped head usually with naked loral 
 
 strip and peculiar feathers. . . . PODICIPID^E, 65. 
 
 OEDEE GL-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 
 
TURDIDJE. xvm. 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." (Coues.) 
 
 FAMILY XVIIL TURDIDJE. 
 
 (The Thrushes) 
 
 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 scutellas 
 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 Mimince have been often associated with 
 the Wrens, and the Myiadestincz with the Wax Wings. 
 
 I. The TURDIN^E, 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 (Hylocichla)) as suggested by Prof. Baird. (Hist. 
 N, Am. Birds, page 4.) 
 
 II. The MIHIN^E, 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. MYIADESTII^E, the Fly-Catching Thrushes, have 
 been usually associated with the Ampelidcv, 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; wiugs longer than tail. (TURDIN^.) 
 f Breast spotted ; length 8, or less. . . HYLOCICHLA, 1. 
 ft Breast unspotted ; ( in ours) reddish or "banded with black ; 
 
 length 9|, or more " TURDUS, 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. . . HARPORHYNCIIUS, 3. 
 \\ Bill much shorter than head, notched at tip. 
 a. Tarsus distinctly scutellate ; ours ashy, with black and 
 
 white. MIMUS, 4. 
 
 aa. Tarsus feebly scutellate ; plumage lead-colored ; crissum 
 
 chestnut-red GALEOSCOPTES, 5. 
 
 *** Tarsus booted ; wings about equal to tail; bill short, much 
 depressed, notched and hooked ; color ashy. (MYIADESTIN^.) 
 
 MYIADESTES, 6. 
 
 /. HYLOCICHLA, Baird. WOOD THRUSHES. 
 
 < Turdus, Linn. 
 
 1. H. mustelina, (Gm.) Bd. WOOD THRUSH. Cinnamon 
 brown, brightest on the head, shading into olive on the 
 
TUKDID^E. XVIH. 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. pa.lia.si, (Cab.) Bd, HEKMIT THRUSH. Olive 
 brown above, becoming rufous on rump and tail; Abreast 
 with numerous, rather distinct, dusky spots; a whitish 
 orbital ring; L. 7; W. 3-J; T. 2. N. Am., migrating 
 early. 
 
 3. H. swainsoni, (Cab.) 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. alicicB, 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. ?i; W. 4i; T. 3f E. N. Am., frequent, a fine 
 songster. 
 
 2. TURDUS, Linnaeus. THRUSHES. 
 
 * Sexes similar; breast not spotted nor banded; throat streaked; 
 
 bill notched, (Planesticus, Bon.) 
 
 1. T. tn/grator/us, L. ROBIN. AMERICAN RED BREAST. 
 Olive gray above; head and tail blackish; throat white, 
 with black streaks; under parts chestnut brown; L. 9f ; 
 W. 5i; T. 44. N. Am., abundant. 
 ** Sexes unlike ; throat unstreaked ; male with a black collar; bill 
 
 not notched. (Hesperocichla, Bd.) 
 
48 BIRDS. 
 
 2. T. n&vius, Gm. OREGON ROBIN. VARIED THRUSH. 
 Slate color, orange brown below; L. 9f; W. 5; T. 4. 
 Pacific slope, accidental in Mass., N. J., and L. I. 
 
 3. HARPORHYNCHUS, Cabanis. MOCKING THRUSHES. 
 
 1. H. rufus, (L.) Cab. 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. MIMUS, Boie. MOCKING BIRDS. 
 
 1. M. polyglottus, (L.) Boie. MOCKING BIRD. Ashy 
 brown above; wings blackish, with white wing bars; 
 tail blackish, outer feathers white; L. 9J; W. 4J; 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. 8|; W. 3f; T. 4. U. S., every where. 
 
 6. MYIADESTES, Swainson. FLY - CATCHING THRUSHES. 
 
 1. M. townsendi, (Aud.) Cab. TOWNSEND'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. SAXICOLIDJE. 
 
 (The Stone Chats.) 
 
 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 SIALIA, 1. 
 
 /. SIALIA, Swainson. BLUE BIRDS. 
 
 1. S. sia/is, (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. 6f ; W. 4; T. 3. 
 E. N. Am., abundant; breeds every where. 
 
 2. S. mexicana, Sw. WESTERN BLUE BIRD. Head, 
 neck all around arid 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. 5. arctica, Sw. ROCKY MOUNTAIN 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 Sylvicolidce. To this family belongs 
 the European nightingale. Our species fall into two 
 sub - families, HegulincB and JPolioptilince, 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. 2J; 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. 2J; T. If. N. Am. 
 
 2. POL/OPT/LA, Sclater. GNAT CATCHERS. 
 
 1. P. cceru/ea, (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. 
 
PAKID^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. 3i; 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. PAR US, Linnaeus. CHICKADEES. 
 
 1. P. atricapilluSf 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. J; T. J. N. Am.; 
 abundant. 
 
 Var. carolinensfe, (Aud.) Coues. SOUTHERN CHICKA- 
 DEE. Smaller; tail feathers not noticeably white-edged. 
 E. U. S.; southerly. 
 
52 BIEDS. 
 
 2. P. hudsonicuSf Forster. HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. 
 Olive brown; crown browner; some pale chestnut below; 
 a white superciliary line; L. 5; W. 2j-; T. 2f. British 
 America; S. to Mass. 
 
 FAMILY XXII. SITTID^E. 
 
 (The Nuthatches.) 
 
 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; midd.3 tail feathers 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 (5), or bluish ($), bordered by white 
 and black stripes; L. 4J; W. 2f ; T. If- U. S., and 
 northward. 
 
 3. S. pusi//a, Lath. BROWN -HEADED NUTHATCH. 
 Ashy blue; crown clear brown, a whitish spot on nape; 
 
TEOGLODYTID^. 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 
 different, being small and fine. (The above diagnosis 
 does not strictly apply to some foreign birds usually 
 placed in this family.) 
 
 /. CERTHIA, Linnaeus. BROWN CREEPERS. 
 
 1. C. familiaris, Linn. BROWN CREEPER. Plumage 
 dark brown, much barred and streaked; rump clear 
 tawny; L. 5|; W. 2f ; T. 2f. N. Am. and Europe. A 
 curious little bird, recognizable at once by the scansorial 
 tail. 
 
 FAMILY XXIV. TROGLODYTID^E. 
 ( The 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, uiibristled, 
 overhung by a scale - like membrane. No rictal bristles. 
 Loral feathers bristly. Tarsus scutellate. Lateral toes 
 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 
 when 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. 
 Coues.) They are all plainly colored, behig chiefly 
 brown. All are insectivorous, and most of them 
 migratory. 
 
 * Back nearly uniform in color , a conspicuous white superciliary 
 
 line ; outstretched feet falling far short of end of tail. 
 
 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. 
 ff Tail much shorter than wings. . . ANORTHURA, 3. 
 
 *** Back streaked lengthwise, at least on shoulders; hind claw 
 as long as the toe ; tail barred. . . CISTOTHORUS, 4. 
 
 /. THRYOTHORUS,ViQi\\ot. MOCKING WEENS. 
 
 * Tail not longer than wings, its feathers reddish brown with fine 
 
 black bars. ( Thryothorus.) 
 
 1. T. ludovicianus, (Gm.) Bon. CAROLINA WREN. 
 Clear reddish brown, brightest on rump; tawny below; 
 
TKOGLODYTID^:. XXIV. 55 
 
 L. 6; W. 2J; T. 2J-. 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. 5J; W. 2i; 
 T. 2J. U. S., southerly; N. to Penn. 
 
 2. TROGLODYTES, Vieillot. WEENS. 
 1. T. aedon, Vieill. HOUSE WEEN. 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. domesticus, (Bart.) Coues. 
 
 3. ANORTHURA, Rennie. WINTER WEENS. 
 
 1. A. troglodytes, (L.) Coues. WINTEE 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. 
 (Gistotlwrus.) 
 
 1. C. stellaris, (Licht.) Cab. SHORT - BILLED MARSH 
 WREN. Dark brown, head and back darker; entire 
 upper parts with white streaks; L. 4|-; 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. pa/ustris, (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. 
 
 (The Larks.) 
 
 First primary very short or entirely wanting. Tarsus 
 scutellate in front and behind (a character singular 
 among Osci?ies.) 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 ?.)... EREMOPHILA, 1. 
 
 /. EREMOPHILA, Boie. HORNED LARKS. 
 
 = Otocorys, Bonap. 
 
 1. E. a/pestris, (Forst.) Boie. 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. 4; T. 3. N. Am. and Europe; common. A 
 pleasant singer. [22. 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. 
 
SYLVICOLIDufE. XXVII. 57 
 
 A group of about one hundred species, mostly of the 
 Old World, connecting the Alaudidce with the Sylvi- 
 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. . . . ANTHUS, 1. 
 
 /. ANTHUS, Bechstein. TITLARKS. 
 
 1. A. ludovicianus, (Gm.) Licht. BROWN 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 
 
 (TJw Warblers) 
 
 Primaries 9; inner secondaries not enlarged, nor the 
 hind toe long and straight, as in Alaudidce and Motacil- 
 lidoe. Bill usually rather slender, notched or not; the 
 commissure not angulated at base, as in Fringillidce^ 
 nor toothed in the middle, as in our Tanagrido}; the 
 end not notched and abruptly hooked, as in Vireonidce 
 and Laniidcv; the gape not broad and reaching to the 
 eyes, as in Sirundinidcs. 
 
 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 Tanagridce and Coerebidoe^ and probably the 
 three families, and perhaps the FringilUd^ 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 Geothlypis) ; length 6i or less. True 
 "Warblers. (SYLVICOLIEMS.) 
 
 * Tail feathers, some or all of them blotched with white. 
 f Rictus with evident bristles. 
 
 i 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. PARULA, 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. 
 
 ft Rictus without evident bristles. 
 
 6. Whole head and neck bright yellow ; bill notched, half 
 inch or more long. . . . PROTONOTARIA, 3. 
 lib. Whole head and neck not yellow; bill acute, not 
 notched nor bristled, less than half inch long. 
 
 HELMINTHOPHAGA, 5. 
 
 **Tail feathers yellow on inner webs; outer webs dusky; 
 plumage chiefly yellow. . . . DENDRCECA, 7. 
 
SYLVICOLID^E. XXVXI. 59 
 
 *** Tail feathers all unmarked ; same color on both webs. 
 
 c. Conspicuously streaked below; head plain or with two 
 black stripes ; legs long. . . . SEIURUS, 8. 
 
 cc. Not streaked below. 
 
 d. Wings about as long as tail ; chiefly yellow below ; 
 crown (of $) 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 21 ; crown plain or 
 with black OPORORNIS, 9. 
 
 ff. Bill not notched, nor bristled, very acute ; wings less 
 than 2% ; crown plain or with a bright spot. 
 
 HELMINTHOPHAGA, 5. 
 
 II. Bill rather stout, not notched, hooked nor bristled ; tail longer 
 
 than wings; length 7 to 8. Chats. (!CTERIN^E.) 
 
 ICTERIA, II. 
 
 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 5i or less. Fly-catching 
 Warblers. (SETOPHAGIN^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. 
 
 /. MMOTILTA, Vieillot. CREEPING WARBLERS. 
 
 1. /Iff. varia, (L.) Vieill. BLACK AND 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 BIEDS. 
 
 2. PAR U LA, Bonaparte. BLUE YELLOW - BACKED 
 
 WARBLERS. 
 = C Moris, Boie. 
 
 = Sylvicola, Sw. (Preoccupied in Mollusks.) 
 1. P. americana, (L.) Bon. 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. 
 4; W. 2; T. 2. Miss. Valley and E. One of our most 
 elegant species, inhabiting tree-tops. 
 
 3. PROTONOTARIA,^\r&. 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. 5i; 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, Rafinesque. SWAMP WARBLERS. 
 
 1. H. verm Ivor us, (Gm.) Bon. WORM-EATING SWAMP 
 WARBLER. Olive gree head yellowish, with four black 
 stripes; buffy below; ? similar; L. 5J; W. 3; T. . E. 
 U. S.; N. to L. Erie. 
 
 5. HELMINTHOPHAGA, Cabanis. WORM -EATING 
 
 WARBLERS. 
 * Tail feathers conspicuously blotched with, white. 
 
 1. H. chrysoptera, (L.) Bd. 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. 2|; T. 2. S.E. 
 States, rather rare; N. to Green Bay; a beautiful species. 
 
 2. H. pinus, (L.) Bd. BLUE -WINGED YELLOW WARE - 
 
SYLVICOLID^J. XXVII. 61 
 
 LEE. Olive yellow; crown and all under parts bright 
 yellow; wing bars whitish; loral strip black; $ similar; 
 L. 4J; W. 2i; T. 2. S. E. States, N. to N. Y. A hand- 
 some bird, like a miniature Protonotaria. 
 ** Tail feathers without white blotches. 
 
 3. H. ruficapilla, (Wils.) Bd. 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. &J; T. 2. E. U. S., frequent. 
 
 4. H. celata, (Say.) Bd. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. 
 Olive green, never ashy on head; crown patch orange 
 brown, more or less concealed; greenish yellow below; 
 $ duller, sometimes without crown patch; L. 4f ; W. 2-$i 
 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. 4|; W. 2f ; 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. 2f; T. 2. E. U. S., 
 rather rare. A fine species with a peculiar structure of 
 the tongue, which is somewhat as in Ccerebiclce. 
 
 7. DENDRCECA, 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 BIEDS. 
 
 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 3 key to the genus, will generally enable the 
 student to distinguish specimens. 
 
 * Tail feathers edged with yellow ; plumage chiefly yellow. 
 
 (Estiva, 1. 
 ** Tail feathers blotched with white. 
 
 f A white blotch on the primaries near their bases ; no wing 
 
 bars cce-rulescem, 2. 
 
 ff No white blotch on primaries ; wing bars, if present, not white. 
 
 White below ; crown and wing patch more Or less yellow. 
 
 pennsylvanica, 6. 
 Yellow below ; sides reddish-streaked ; crown reddish. 
 
 palmarum, 15. 
 Yellow below, sides black-streaked. 
 
 Back olive with reddish spots. . . . discolor, 12. 
 
 Back ashy Mrtlancli, 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. 
 
 blacteburnicB, 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 ; buffy 
 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. wrens, 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 MARKS OF WARBLERS IN ANY PLUMAGE. 
 A white spot at base of primaries. . . . ccerulescens, 2. 
 Wings and tail dusky, edged with yellow. . . (estiva, I. 
 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 pinus, 14. 
 
 Wing bars brownish ; tail spots square at end of two outer feathers 
 
 only. . palmarwn, 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 carulea, 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. . . . wrens, 13. 
 
 With none of the foregoing special marks. 
 
 striata 8 or castanea 7 . 
 
64 BIRDS. 
 
 1. D. (Estiva, (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. 2J; T. 2. America; everywhere abundant. 
 
 2. D. ccerulescens, (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. coronaia, (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 yelloV on breast and head; L. 5|; 
 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. carulea, (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. 4; W. 2J; T. 2. E. U. S.; 
 N. to Niagara Falls; rather rare. A dainty species. 
 
SYLVICOLID^. XXVII. 65 
 
 6. D. pennsylvanica, (L.) Bd. CHESTNUT - SIDED 
 WAKBLER. 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. 2; T. 2. E. U. S.j 
 abundant, especially northward. A pretty species. 
 
 7. D. casfanea, (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 
 striataj L. 5; W. 3; T. 2J. E. U. S. Not very common. 
 
 8. D. striatUf (Forst.) Bd. BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 
 Black and olivaceous, almost every where streaked; whole 
 crown pure black; $ more olivaceous, slightly yellowish 
 below; rather large; L. 5f; W. 3; T. 2. 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. 5J; 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. 2f: 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 WAKBLEE. Ashy 
 blue above; yellow and streaked below; lores black; L. 
 5}; W. 2f; T. 2f. 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. 4f ; W. S&i; T. 2. E. U. S., N. to Mass, and 
 Ills.; chiefly in evergreen thickets. An elegant species. 
 
 13. D. virenSf (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. 2J. E. U. S., N. to Mass, and L. 
 Superior; abundant in evergreen forests. 
 
 15. D. palmarum, (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. SEIURUS, Swainson. WATER THRUSHES. 
 1. S. aurocapilluSt (L.) Sw. GOLDEN - CROWNED 
 THRUSH. OVEN-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. 6; W. 3; T. 2$. 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. noveboracensis, (Gm.) Nutt. WATER WAGTAIL. 
 WATER THRUSH. Dark olive brown above, pale yellow- 
 ish 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. motac///a, (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 f inch; feet pale; larger; L. 6J; W. 3; T. 2. 
 E. U. S., scarce; N. to Mass. (Allen) and N. Wis. 
 (Jordan.) (S. ludomcianus^ 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. 5f ; W. 3; T. 2%. E. U. S., rare; a 
 shy, quiet bird. 
 
 2. 0. formosuSr (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. 5f ; W. 3; 
 T. 2^. 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 WARBLEES. 
 
 1. G. tr/chaSf (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. 4J; 
 W. 2; T. 2. U. S., abundant in thickets; a pretty 
 bird with a lively song. 
 
 2. 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. agillS) but the tail as long as wings; L. 5|; W. 2; 
 T. 2. E. U. S., rather rare, in dense thickets. 
 
 //. ICTERIA, Vieillot. YELLOW - BREASTED CHATS. 
 
 1. /. 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. 3J. U. S., southerly; N. to Mass, and Wis. (Cope- 
 land.) A loud, quaint songster, often placed with the 
 Vireos y but having little affinity with any of our groups. 
 
 12. MYIODIOCTES, Audubon. FLY-CATCHING WARBLERS. 
 
 = Wilsoma, Nuttall (used in Botany). 
 1. M. mitratus, (Gm.) Aud. 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 
 
c XXVIII. 69 
 
 black; L. 5; W. 2f ; T. 2. E. U. S., southerly; N. to 
 L. Erie; a singular species. 
 
 2. Af. pusillus, (Wils.) Bonap. 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. 4f; W. 2; T. 2. U. S.; abundant. 
 
 3. M. canadensis, (L.) And. CANADA 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 
 jieck 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. $. ruticiila, (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. 5i; W. 2; T. 2. E. U. S., 
 very abundant. A handsome and active Fly-Catcher. 
 
 FAMILY XXVIII. TAN AGRID^E. 
 
 (The Tanagers.) 
 
 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 BIEDS. 
 
 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,Viei\lot. FIRE TANAGERS. 
 
 1. P. rubra, (L.) Vieill. SCARLET TANAGER. $ 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. oestsva, (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; size of last. E. U. S., 
 chiefly southerly; N. to N. J. and Ills.; abundant. 
 
 FAMILY XXIX. HIRUNDINID.E. 
 
 (The Swallows.} 
 
 Primaries 9; bill " fissirostral," 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 HIBUNDO, 1. 
 
HIEUNDINID^E. XXIX. 71 
 
 f f Tail scarcely forked ; rump and forehead not colored like the 
 
 back PETROCHELIDON, 3. 
 
 fff Tail somewhat forked , unblotched ; rump and forehead 
 
 colored like the back. 
 a. Lustrous green or violaceous; pure white below; length 
 
 less than 6i TACHYCINETA, 2. 
 
 aa. Lustrous blue-black ; ? paler and w r hitish below ; length 
 
 more than 6i. . PROGNE, 6. 
 
 ** Plumage brownish-gray; scarcely lustrous and without shades 
 
 of blue or green. 
 &. A little tuft of feathers on tarsus at base of hind toe; edge of 
 
 wing smooth. COTYLE, 4. 
 
 &&. Outer web of first primary more or less saw-like, with a 
 series of minute recurved hooks ; no tarsal tuft. 
 
 STELGIDOPTERYX, 5. 
 
 /. HIRUNDO, Linnaeus. SWALLOWS. 
 1. H. horreorum, Barton. 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.) Coues. 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. EAVE 
 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. COTYLE, Boie. BANK SWALLOWS. 
 1. C. r/paria, (L.) Boie. 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. serr/penn/s, (Aud.) Bd. ROUGH -WINGED 
 SWALLOW. Brownish gray; wing hooks weak in $; L. 
 5i; W. 4-J; T. 2|. U. S., not common, rare eastward, 
 breeding in banks, etc. 
 
 6. PROGNE, Boie. MARTINS. 
 
 1. P. sub/Sf (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, a small group of six or eight species, the 
 MyidestincB usually brought into this connection being 
 really TurdidcB^ 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 AmpelinoB^ of the northern parts of both 
 hemispheres. 
 
VIREONID^E. XXXI. 73 
 
 The Ampelince 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, Linmeus. WAX WINGS. 
 
 1. A. garru/us, 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. 4; 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. 3f ; T. 2|. E. U. S., 
 abundant. 
 
 FAMILY XXXI. VIREONID^E. 
 
 (The 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. flavifrons, 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 stiif, falcate, and 
 edged with white like the other quills, and can be 
 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.- -XX XT. 75 
 
 In all the families of Passeres, where the existence of 
 nine primaries is* supposed to be 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 than the tail ; first 
 
 primary very small or apparently wanting, less than i length 
 
 of second VIREOSYLVIA, 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. 
 
 /. VIREOS YL VIA, 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 
 nor conspicuous orbital ring ; feet weak. ( Vireosylvia, ) 
 f Primaries apparent^ 9. 
 
 1. /. olivacea, (L.) Bon. RED - EYED VIREO. GREEN- 
 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 
 red; L. 6; W. 3J; T. 2. E. U. S., very abundant in 
 woodland; an energetic songster. 
 
 2. V. philadelphica, Cassin. PHILADELPHIA GREENLET. 
 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. 2J. E. U. S., scarce. 
 
 ft Primaries evidently 10. 
 
 3. /. 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 BIEDS. 
 
 ** 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. 5f; W. 3; T. 2. 
 E. U. S., abundant; a brightly colored species. 
 
 Jt Primaries evidently 10. 
 
 5. If. so/itaria, (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. 2. U. S., in wood- 
 land, frequent; a stout, handsome species. 
 
 2. K//?0, Vieillot. SHORT - WINGED VIREOS. 
 
 1. If. noveboracens/Sf (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. 2. E. U. S., in thickets; a sprightly bird, with a loud 
 and varied song. 
 
 2. If. 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 V. gilva. 
 
 FAMILY XXXIL LANIIDJE. 
 
 (The Shrikes.) 
 
 Primaries 10, the first short (rarely wanting) ; bill hawk- 
 like, very strong, the upper mandible toothed and ab- 
 
FRINGILLIDJ3. XXXIH. 77 
 
 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 COLLUKIO, 1. 
 
 /. COLLURIO, Vigors. SHRIKES. 
 
 1. C. borealis, (Vieill.) Baird. 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. 9; W. 4^; T. 4f. Northern regions, S in winter to 
 Ohio R. and Potomac. 
 
 2. C. ludovicianus, (L.) var. excubHoroides, (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. 
 
 FAMILY XXXIII. FRINGILLID^E. 
 
 (The Finches) 
 
 Primaries 9. Tarsus strictly oscine. Bill mostly 
 shorter than head, robust, of a conical form, with the 
 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 Icteridce, 
 which, however, may generally be distinguished by the 
 greater length and slenderness of the bill. 
 
78 BIKDS. 
 
 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 
 Fringillidce. " 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 Sylvicolidce and Fringil- 
 lidce 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, 
 ft Tail shorter than wings. 
 
 6. Bill very large and stout. (" Grosbeaks.") 
 
FRLNGILL1D.E. XXXHI, 79 
 
 c. Black and white (?) or brown, streaked (?) ; under wing 
 
 coverts rosy or yellow. . . . GONIAPHEA, 20. 
 
 cc. Rosy red (<$) or gray with brownish yellow on head and 
 rump ($). ...... PINICOLA, 2. 
 
 ccc. Bill greenish yellow, as long as tarsus ; wings and tail 
 black; secondaries mostly white. HESPERIPHONA, 1. 
 &&. Bill moderate or small. 
 
 d. White, with black on wings and tail, or washed with 
 
 clear brown ; hind toe elongated. PLECTROPHANES, 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. . . PLECTROPHANES, 7. 
 \\\ With neither of the preceding combinations. 
 . 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. . JUNCO, 17. 
 ff. Yellow, more or less; base of bill with a small ruff; no 
 blue ; young brownish. . . CHRYSOMITRIS, 6. 
 fff. Chiefly or entirely blue (), greenish or plain brown ($). 
 g. Length more than 6 ; wings with chestnut or whitish ; 
 bill stout. . . . . . GDIRACA, 21. 
 gg. Length 5 to 6 ; gonys usually with a dusky stripe. 
 
 CYANOSPIZA, 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. . . PLECTROPHANES, 7. 
 ii. Hind claw not specially elongated. 
 j. Bend of wing with chestnut ; crown and breast 
 streaked ; tail much shorter than wings. 
 
 POOSCETES, 10. 
 
80 BIRDS. 
 
 jj. No chestnut on wing ; breast unstreaked ; head with 
 black, white and chestnut ; tail nearly as long as 
 
 wings CIIONDESTES, 12. 
 
 lih. Tail feathers rigid, acute, almost scansorial ; small 
 streaked marsh-sparrows with yellow-edged wings. 
 
 AMMODROMUS, 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 ; throat dusky. . ^EGIOTHUS, 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. . . . CHRYSOMITRIS, 6. 
 nn. Rump sulphur yellow; bill with a small ruff. 
 
 ^EGIOTHUS, 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 EUSPIZA, 19. 
 
 oo. Breast buffy or streaky ; wings less than 2| ; 
 tail feathers narrow. . AMMODROMUS, 11. 
 
 ooo. Breast streaked ; wings more than 2| ; inner 
 secondaries nearly as long as primaries. 
 
 PASSERCULUS, 9. 
 
 Ul. With no definite crimson nor yellow any where. 
 p. Introduced birds, not streaked below ; throat black 
 
 in $ PASSER, 8. 
 
 pp. Native birds, 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. 
 
FKINGILLID^E. XXXIII. 81 
 
 qq. Olivaceous; 110 black nor chestnut ; wings more 
 thaii 3 , secondaries not lengthened ; a ruff at 
 base of bill. . . $ of CARPODACUS, 3, 
 
 gqq. Inner secondaries lengthened, about as long as 
 primaries; wings less than 3; no rufi'. 
 
 PASSERCULUS, 9. 
 Ick. Wings little if any longer than tail. 
 
 r. Tail feathers very slender, rather stiff and sharp 
 pointed. . . . AMMODROMUS, it 
 
 rr. Tail feathers not rigid and sharp pointed. 
 8. Sharply streaked below. . . MELOSPIZA, 15. 
 ss. Not streaked below (when adult.) 
 t. Crown chestnut in adult (streaky in young) ; no 
 
 yellow. 
 
 u. Tail rounded ; length about 5| ; wings and tail 
 less than 2i; shaiply streaked above. 
 
 MELOSPIZA, 15. 
 
 uu* Tail forked; length 5 to 61; wings and tail 
 
 2| to 3 ; tarsus $ to f . . SPTZELLA, 14. 
 
 tt. Crown not chestnut in adult, often partially so 
 
 in young. 
 
 v. Head striped ; length more than G ; tarsus 
 
 more than f . . . ZONOTRICHIA, 13. 
 
 00. Length less than 6; bend of wing yellowish. 
 
 , 16. 
 
 /. HESPERIPHONA, Bonaparte. EVENING GROSBEAKS. 
 1. H. vespertina, (Coop.) Bon. EVENING GROSBEAK. 
 Olivaceous; crown, wings, tail and tibia black; forehead 
 and crissum yellow; bill very large, yellowish; L. 8; W. 
 4i; T. 2-J-. Western, E. to Ohio, etc. 
 
 2. PINICQLA, Vieillot. PINE GROSBEAKS. 
 1. P. enuc/eafor, (L.) Vieill. PINE GROSBEAK. $ 
 chiefly red; white wing bars; $ ashy gray with brownish 
 yellow on head and rump; L. 8-J; W. 4^-; T. 4. North- 
 ward, S. in winter; in pine woods, etc. 
 
82 BIRDS, 
 
 3. CARPODACUS, Kaup. PURPLE PINCHES. 
 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. 2. U. S., a fine 
 songster. 
 
 4. LQXIA, Linnaeus. CROSSBILLS. 
 
 1. L leucoptera, (Grael.) WHITE WINGED CROSSBILL. 
 3 rose red; white wing bars; $ brownish olive, speckled 
 with dusky; rump yellow; L. 6J; W, 3J; T. BJ. North- 
 ern, S. in winter. 
 
 2. L curvirostra, L. RED CROSSBILL. 3 brick -red; 
 wings unmarked; $ brownish olive; L. 6; W. 3; T. 2J. 
 Northern regions and pine woods; S. in winter. 
 
 5. MGIOTHUS, Oabanis. LINNETS 
 
 1. M. linarius, (L.) Cab. RED POLL LINNET. Crown 
 crimson in both sexes; throat, breast and rump also rosy 
 in 3; much streaked above; chin blackish; L. 5f ; W. 3; 
 T. 2. Northern, S. in winter, in flocks. 
 
 2. .flavirostris,(L.)vsiT.brewster/,Ridgwa,y. BREWS- 
 TER'S LINNET. No red on crown or breast; rump rosy in 
 6; yellow in $; L. 5; W..3; T. 2J. Mass., lately dis- 
 covered. 
 
 6. CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie. GOLDFINCHES. 
 
 * Sexes alike; plumage thickly streaked everywhere; no black 
 on head ; bill very sharp. (Ohrysomitris.) 
 
 1. C. pinus r (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. 4f; W. 2|; T. 2. N. 
 Am., rather northward, but liable to "turn up " any where. 
 
. XXXTTT. 83 
 
 ** Sexes unlike ; scarcely or not streaked ; adult $ with black on 
 crown, wings and tail. (Astragalinus, Cab.) 
 
 2. C. tristiSf (L.) Bon. YELLOW BIRD. THISTLE BIRD. 
 AM. GOLDFINCH. $ 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.; everywhere. 
 
 7. PLECTROPHANES, Meyer. LONGSPURS. 
 * Bill small, with a ruff; hind claw long but curved. (Plectra- 
 phanes.) 
 
 1. P. nivalis, (L.) Meyer. 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- 4J; T. 3. Northern, S. in winter to 
 Ohio R.; a beautiful bird. 
 
 ** Bill larger, without ruff; hind claw nearly straight. (Centra- 
 pJianes, Kaup.) 
 
 2. P. lapponicus, (L.) Selby. 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. 6; W. 4; T. 2f. Northern, S. in winter 
 to N. Y. and Ills. 
 
 3. P. pictus, Sw. PAINTED LARK BUNTING. $ 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. 
 
 8. PASSER, Brisson. HOUSE SPARROWS. 
 
 = Pyrgitd) Cuvier. 
 1. P. domesticus, L. ENGLISH SPARROW. $ chestnut 
 
84 BIRDS. 
 
 brown above, 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. C. Merrill), and 
 perhaps other places. 
 
 9. PASSERCULUS, Bonaparte. SAVANNA SPARROWS. 
 
 1. P. savanna, (Wils.) Bon. 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 SPARROW. Streaks 
 on back sandy brown, not sharply denned; superciliary 
 line white in front; L. 6; W. 3i; T. 2%. Mass., lately 
 discovered. 
 
 10. PO(ECETES, Baird. GRASS SPARROWS. 
 
 1. 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. 
 
 //. AMMODROMUS, 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 
 
FETNGILLID^E. XXXIII. 85 
 
 and bend of wing and line over eye yellow; L. 5; W. 
 2f; 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. /econtei, (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. (Ammodromus.) 
 
 4. A. mar Him us, (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. grammaca, (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. 3J; 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. 3J; 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-jp. 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. 3J. Missouri 
 region, E. to Minn. 
 
 14. SPIZELLA, Bonaparte. CHIPPING SPARROWS. 
 
 1. S. moniicola, (Gm.) Baird. 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.] 
 
FRINGILLIDJ3. XXXIH. 87 
 
 3. S. socialis, (Wils.) Bon. CHIPPY. HAIR BIRD. 
 Streaked above, with much dull bay; crown chestnut; 
 bill, forehead and streak through eye black; ashy below; 
 L. 5J; W. 2|; T. 2. N. Am., every where. [#. 
 domestica, (Bart.) Coues.] 
 
 4. 5. pa///(fa, (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. Nl. melodia, (Wils.) Baird. 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. 6J; W. 2|; T. 3. U. S., 
 every where; a well-known songster. [M. fasciata, 
 (Gmel.) Scott.] 
 
 2. M. pa/ustr/'s, (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. 5f ; 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-J-; T. 
 2-J. N. Am., rare eastward; a shy species quite unlike 
 the others. 
 
 IB. PEUC/EA, Audubon. SUMMER SPARROWS. 
 
 1. P. CBStivalis, (Licht.) Cab. BACHMAN'S FINCH. 
 Much streaked above, ashy below; yellow on bend of 
 wing but none on head; L. 6; W. J; T. 2%. Southern, 
 N. to Illinois. 
 
88 BIRDS. 
 
 17. JUNCO, Wagler. SNOW BIRDS. 
 1. J. hyemalis, (L.) Scl. SNOW BIRD. ? more gray- 
 ish; L. 6J; W. 3; T. 3. E. N. Am., every where abund- 
 ant, mostly seen in winter. 
 
 18. PASSERELLA, Swainson. Fox SPARROWS. 
 1. P. illaca, (Merrem.) Sw. Fox SPARROW. Ashy 
 above, overlaid and much streamed 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. EUSPIZA, Bonaparte. BLACK-THROATED BUNTINGS. 
 
 1. E. 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. E. 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. GONIAPHEA, Bowdich. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. 
 
 = Hedymeles, Cabanis. 
 
 1. G. ludoviciana, (L.) Bowdich. ROSE - BREASTED 
 GROSBEAK. $ with head, neck and upper parts mostly 
 black, with white on rump, wings and tail; belly white; 
 
FRINGILLID.E. XXXIII. 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. GUIRAGA, Swainson. BLUE GROSBEAKS. 
 1. G. ccerulea, (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. CYANOSPIZA, Baird. INDIGO BIRDS. 
 
 1. C. cyanea, (L.) Baird. INDIGO 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. C. ciris, (L.) Baird. 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. virginianus r (Brisson) Bon. 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. CHEWINK. MARSH 
 
90 BIKDS. 
 
 ROBIN. Black, belly white; sides chestnut; outer tail 
 feathers, primaries, and inner secondaries with white; $ 
 clear brown instead of black; L. 83- ; W. 3; T. 4. E. 
 U. S., abundant every where. 
 
 FAMILY XXXIV. ICTERID^E. 
 
 (The Orioles.) 
 
 Primaries 9; bill with the commissure angulated, as in 
 FringHlidcB) 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 
 FrinyiUidw; others are as closely related to Sturnidce 
 (Old World Starlings) and Corvidce. There are three 
 sub-families, of which Agelceinae includes most of our 
 species. Icterince includes Icterus, while Scolecophagus 
 and Quiscahis belong to Quiscalince. 
 
 I. Tail feathers rigid, acute; middle toe and claw longer than 
 
 tarsus; black and whitish ($) or brownish, streaked (?); bill 
 short, finch-like ., DOLTCHONYX, 1. 
 
 II. Feathers of crown bristle-tipped ; tail short, its feathers acute ; 
 
 yellow below, a black breast patch ; bill long. STURNELLA, 5. 
 
 III. Lateral claws elongated; black or brown, yellow on head and 
 
 neck ; length more than 8. . . XANTHOCEPHALUS, 4. 
 
 IV. With none of the above combinations of characters, 
 * Length at least more than 7. 
 
ICTEKID^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 j usually a 
 rusty tinge on throat and bend of wing. 
 
 ? of AGEL^EUS, 3. 
 fff Bill jet black; plumage in $ black, in ? duller, streaky, or 
 
 plain brown. 
 Glossy black ; bend of wing red, bordered by buffy and 
 
 whitish $ of AGEL^EUS, 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. 
 a. Dusky gray brown; bill blackish, shortened, finch-like. 
 
 $ of MOLOTHRUS, 2. 
 
 aa. Black with chestnut or orange (), or else olive and yellow- 
 ish (?) ; bill acute, bluish or brown. . . ICTERUS, 6. 
 
 /. DOLICHONYX, Swainson. BOBOLINKS. 
 
 1. D. oryzivorus, (L.) Sw. BOBOLINK. REED BIRD. 
 RICE BIRD. <$ in Spring black, neck buffy, 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. 7; 
 W. 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; <j> much smaller, 
 
92 BIEDS. 
 
 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. phceniceus, (L.) 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. icterocepha/us, (Bon.) Baird. 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. (S. neylecta. And., is the Western variety, 
 Illinois S. and W., with " a much sweeter song," and 
 some slight differences of plumage.) 
 
 6. ICTERUS, Brisson. AMERICAN ORIOLES. 
 
 1. /. baltimore, (L.) Daudin. 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. /. spur/us, (L.) Bon. ORCHARD ORIOLE. $ black; 
 rump, bend of wing and lower parts deep chestnut; $ 
 
CORVID^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. ferruginous, (Gm.) Sw. RUSTY GRACKLE. RUSTY 
 BLACK BIRD. $ glossy black and rusty in autumn; ? 
 dusky, lustreless; bill slender; L. 9J; W. 4f ; T. 4. 
 E. U. S. 
 
 2. S. cyanocephalus, (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. QU/SCALUS f Viei\\ot. CROW BLACK BIRDS. 
 
 1. Q. pur pure us, (Bartr.) Licht. CROW BLACK BIRD. 
 PURPLE 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 
 bv 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 Garrulmce the Jays, are usually 
 readily distinguishable. 
 
94 BIRDS. 
 
 * Tail much shorter than the long, pointed wings. (Corvince.) 
 
 \ Plumage glossy black CORVUS, 1. 
 
 ** Tail longer than the short, rounded wings. (Garrulinm.) 
 \ Conspicuously crested ; chiefly blue ; quills black barred. 
 
 CYANUHUS, 3. 
 \\ Iridescent black and white; tail much longer than wings. 
 
 PICA, 2. 
 \\\ Chiefly gray, no blue; tail scarcely longer than wings. 
 
 PERISOHEUS, 4. 
 /. CORVUS, Linrueus. RAVENS. 
 
 1. C. corax, L. RAVEN. Feathers of throat stiffened, 
 elongated, narrow 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. carmvorus, Bartr.) 
 
 2. C. amer/canus, Aud. CHOW. 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. 16; W. 11; T. 7. New England to Florida, chiefly 
 southern, and found only along the coast. (C. maritimus, 
 Bartr.) 
 
 2. PICA, Cuvier. MAGPIES. 
 
 1. P. me/ano/euca (Vieill.) var. hudsonica, (Sab.) Coues. 
 MAGPIE. Lustrous black; belly, shoulders, and wing- 
 edgings white; L. 19; "W. 8; T. 13, much graduated. 
 Western, E. to L. Michigan. 
 
 3. CYANURUS, Swainson. BLUE JAYS. 
 1. C. or/status, (L.) Sw. BLUE JAY. Blue; collar 
 and frontlet black; grayish below; wings and tail clear 
 
TYRANNTD^E. XXXVI. 95 
 
 blue-barred ; outer tail feathers and secondaries tipped 
 with white; L. 12; W. 5; T. 5f. N. E. Am., abundant. 
 
 4. PERSSOREUS, Bonaparte. GRAY JAYS. 
 
 1. P. canadensis, (L.) Bon. CANADA JAY. WHISKEY 
 JACK. Ashy gray with blackish and whitish markings; 
 L. lOf ; W. 5f ; T. 6. Northern, S. to New England in 
 Winter. 
 
 FAMILY XXXVI. 
 
 (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," 
 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 and mostly tropical. All 
 are insectivorous, most of them pre-eminently so; they 
 are, 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. 
 
 \ Wings edged with chestnut, not much longer than tail ; length 
 8 or more ....... MYIARCHUS, 3. 
 
 Jt "Wings not chestnut-edged, not much longer than tail ; tarsus 
 longer than middle toe and claw; bill black; length 6$- 
 to 7| ......... SAYORNIS, 4. 
 
96 BIBDS. 
 
 \\\ Wings loDger than tail; tarsus shorter than middle toe and 
 claw; bill not all black; length 6 or more. CONTOPUS, 5. 
 
 \\\\ Wings not much longer than tail ; middle toe and claw not 
 longer than tarsus ; bill mostly pale below ; length oi or 
 less EMPIDONAX, 6. 
 
 /. MILVULUS, Swainson. FORK -TAILED FLYCATCHERS. 
 
 1. Jiff, 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. arid La. 
 
 2. TYRANNUS, Cuvier. KING BIRDS. 
 
 1. T, carolinensiSj (L.) Baird. KING BIRD. BEE 
 MARTIN. Blackish ash, white below ; tail black, white - 
 tipped; L. 8J; W. 4f ; T. 3. U. S., chiefly eastward; 
 abundant. " Destroys a thousand noxious insects for 
 every bee it eats! " (Coues) 
 
 2. T. verticalis, Say. ARKANSAS FLYCATCHER. Belly 
 yellow; tail white-edged. Western, straying to N. J. 
 
 3. MYIARCHUS, Cabanis. CRESTED FLYCATCHERS. 
 
 1. Kl. 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 f (Gm.) Baird. PEWEE. PIKEBE. PEWIT. 
 Olive brown, head and tail darker; yellow below, more 
 
TYRAKNTD.E. XXXVI. 97 
 
 or less; L. 7; W. 3J; T. 3J. 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-J; W. 4^-; 
 T. 3. Northern, S. to N. Y. 
 
 2. C. v/'rens, (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. 3i; T. 3. U. S., very abundant. 
 
 3. C. richardsoni, (Sw.) Bd. WESTERN WOOD PEWEE. 
 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 GREEN-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. j. 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. 5f; W. 2f ; T. 2J-; 
 Ts. f ; Tel. f . U. S. 
 
98 BIRDS. 
 
 3. E. minimus, Baird. LEAST FLYCATCHER. Olive 
 gray; bill blackish below; wings like preceding, but 
 longest primary but \ inch longer than secondaries; 
 middle toe half as long as tarsus; bill less than -J inch; 
 L. 5; W. 2J; 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. 5; W. 2f; T. 2J. 
 E. U. S. 
 
 ORDER H. -PIC ABLE. 
 
 (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 toes 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^. 
 
 (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. Tail feathers 10. Feet very small; tarsus short, 
 
CYPSELID.E. XXXVIII. 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. . ANTROSTOMUS, 1. 
 ** Tail forked ; rictal bristles inconspicuous. . CHORDEILES, 2. 
 
 /. ANTROSTOMUS, Gould. WHIPPOORWILLS. 
 
 1. A. vociferus, (Wils.) Bon. 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. A. carolinensis, (Gm.) Gould. CHUCKWILL'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. virginianus, (Gm.) Bon. 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. \C.popetue, (Vieill.) Bd.] 
 
 FAMILY XXXVIIL CYPSELIDJE. 
 
 (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 Collocalia 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 spmous, projecting beyond the plumage. 
 
 CH^ETUKA, 1. 
 
 /. CH/ETURA, Stephens. CHIMNEY SWALLOWS. 
 
 1. C. pelagica, (L.) Baird. CHIMNEY SWIFT. Sooty 
 brown; throat paler; L. 5; W. 5; T. 2. E. U. S., 
 abundant. 
 
 FAMILY XXXIX. TROCHILHLE. 
 
 (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. 
 
 TROCHILUS, 1. 
 
 /. TROCHILUS, Linnaeus. RUBY - THEOATED 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- 
 
CUCULID^E. XLI. 101 
 
 egated; L. 3; W. If; T. li; B. f. E. N. Am.; 
 abundant in summer. 
 
 FAMILY XL. ALCEDINID^E. 
 
 (The 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 feathers 
 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 CEBYLE, 1. 
 
 /. CERYLE, Boie. KINGFISHERS. 
 
 > Ispida, Swainson. 
 
 1. C. alcyon, (L.) Boie. BELTED KINGFISHER. Ashy 
 blue above, a bluish band across breast; white below; 
 $ 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. CUCULID^E. 
 
 (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. 
 
'1Q2 " ; ; :,',, BIRDS. 
 
 /. COGCYGUStVieillot. 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. erythrophthalmus, (Wils.) Baird. BLACK-BILLED 
 CUCKOO. Bill chiefly black ; wings with little or no 
 reddish; tail feathers all brownish, obscurely whitish at 
 tips; L. Hi; W. 5; T. 6. E. U. S. 
 
 FAMILY XLIL PICID^E. 
 
 (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 sec <\g insects (except in 8phyrapicus)\ 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 com-n^essed, sharp and strong. Tail feathers 
 12, rigid and aci 'mate, outer pair 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 and nasal feathers dark. . HYLOTOMUS, 1. 
 
 - Bill and nasal feathers pale. . CAMPEPHILUS, 2. 
 ** Not crested ; toes 3 only, hallux wanting. . PICOLDES, 4. 
 *** Not crested ; toes 4, length less than 14, 
 
PICIDJS. xm. 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 Picus, 3. 
 
 f f f Tongue acute, barbed ; ridges on sides of upper mandible 
 
 wanting or indistinct. 
 J Back barred. 
 
 a. 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 CENTUHUS, 6. 
 
 \\ Back not barred; body lustrous blue-black; rump,. second- 
 aries, and under parts white ; head and neck red in adults, 
 grayish in young. . . . MELAJSERPES, 7. 
 
 /. HYLOTOMUS, Baird. BLACK WOODCOCKS. 
 
 1. H. p/Jeafus, (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. 9J; T. 7. N. Am.; in heavy timber. 
 
 2. CAMPEPHIL US, Gray. IVORY - BILLED WOODPECKERS. 
 
 1. C. principalis, (L.) Gray. GREAT IVORY -BILLED 
 WOODPECKER. Black with white markings; crest scarlet 
 in 3, black in $; L. 21; W. 11; T. 8. Southern, N. to 
 S. Ills. 
 
 3. PIC US f Linnaeus. SPOTTED WOODPECKERS. 
 
 1. P. borealis, Vieill. RED - COCKADED WOODPECKER. 
 Black and white, spotted and crosswise banded, but not 
 streaked; a red line on each side of head in <$; L. 8J; 
 W. 4-J-; T. 3^. Southern States in swamps, N. to Penn. 
 
 2. P. villosus, L. HAIRY WOODPECKER. BIG SAP- 
 SUCKER. Spotted and lengthwise streaked, but not 
 
104 BIKDS. 
 
 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- SUCKER. Much smaller; outer tail feathers black 
 and white, barred, otherwise precisely like the other; 
 L. 6; W. 3|; T. 2|. U. S:; every where. 
 
 4. PICO IDES, 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. %. 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 $', L. 8J; W. 4f ; T. 3^. U. S., 
 abundant. 
 
 6. CENTURUSf Swainson. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS. 
 1. C. carol in us, (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. M. erythrocephalus, (L.) Sw. RED-HEADED WOOD- 
 
. XLIII. 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. 4f 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. hybridus, Baird. 
 
 OEDER L-PSITTAOI. 
 
 (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 XLIIL ARID^E. 
 
 (The Macaws.) 
 
 Parrots with the head not crested, and the tail long, 
 wedge-shaped or graduated. (Itaird.) 
 * Culmen rounded ; face entirely feathered except a curve about 
 the eye ; tail shorter than wings. . . CONUKUS, 1. 
 
106 BIKDS. 
 
 /. CONURUS, Kuhl. PARROQUETS. 
 1. C. carolinensis, (L.) Kuhl. CAROLINA PARROQTJET. 
 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.-EAPTORES. 
 
 (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 XLIV. 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 t 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 
 
STRIGID^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. . STHIX, 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. . . . OTUS, 2. 
 ft Head without evident " ear-tufts." 
 b. Tail about i length of wing ; iris yellow ; length less than 
 
 12 NYCTALE, 4. 
 
 Kb. Tail about 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 SYRNIUM, 3. 
 
 bbb. Tail about f of wing ; bill yellow ; iris yellow ; length 
 
 about 16 SURNIA, 8. 
 
 *** Tarsus long, sparsely bristly ; facial disk imperfect ; middle 
 claw simple SPEOTYTO, 9. 
 
 /. STRIX, Linnaeus. BARN OWLS. 
 
 1. 5. flammea, (L.) var. pratinco/a, (Bon.) Ridg. BARN 
 OWL. Face elongated; reddish or tawny, much vari- 
 egated; L. 17; W. 13; T. 5|. U. S., rather southerly. 
 
 2. OTUS, Cuvier. EARED OWLS. 
 
 1. 0. vulgaris, (L.) var. wilsonianus, (Less.) Allen. 
 LONG -EARED OWL. Ear tufts well developed, of 8 to 
 
108 BIRDS. 
 
 12 feathers; outer primary only emarginate; much 
 variegated; L. 15; W. 12; T. 6. U. S. 
 
 2. 0. brachyotus, (Gm.) Steph. 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. SYRNIUM, Savigny. BARRED OWLS. 
 * Iris black ; 5 outer primaries emarginate. (Syrnium.) 
 
 1. S. nebulosum, (Forst.) Boie. BARRED OWL. Toes 
 not concealed; 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. cinefieum, (Gmel.) Aud. GREAT GRAY OWL. 
 Toes concealed 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. tengmalmii, Gm. var. richardsonii, (Bon.) Ridg. 
 TEXGMALM'S OWL. Nostrils sunken, elongated, opening 
 laterally; tail more than half wing; general color choco- 
 late brown, variegated; L. 10; W. ?i; 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 
 
FALCONID^!. 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 HORNED 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. N. scandiaca, (L.) Newt. SNOWY OWL. Pure 
 white, more or less barred with blackish; L. 23; W. 17; 
 T. 10. Northern, S. in Winter; one of the handsomest 
 of Owls. (N~. Hivea, Auct.) 
 
 8. SURNIA, Dumeril. HAWK OWLS. 
 1. S. ulula, (L.) Bon., var. hudsonica, (Gm.) Ridg. 
 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. vun/'cu/ar/a, (Mol.) var. hypogcea, (Bon.) Coues. 
 BURROWING OWL. Brownish, much spotted and varie- 
 gated. L. 10; W. 7|; T. 4. Fla. and Western Plains, 
 living in the holes of prairie dogs. 
 
 FAMILY XLV. 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. 
 
 Vulturinas), 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 unfeathered strip behind ; tail less 
 than 12 ARCHIBDTEO, 11. 
 
 II. Tarsus reticulate all around. 
 
 &. Upper mandible toothed ; under notched ; nostrils circular. 
 
 FALCO, 1. 
 6&. Tail widely forked ; outer feather twice as long as middle 
 
 ones ; colors black and white. . . NAUCLERUS, 3. 
 111). 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. 
 
 dd. 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 einargiuate ; rump not white. 
 
 BuTEOj 10. 
 
FALCONID^E. XLV. Ill 
 
 fff. No ruff; 4 primaries emarginate ; tail coverts white ; tail 
 black. ASTURINA, 9. 
 
 /, FALGO, Linnaeus. FALCONS. 
 
 * First primary only emarginate on inner web ; 2cl 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. com munis, Gm. PEREGRINE FALCON. DUCK 
 HAAVK. Blackish ash with paler waves; below whitish, 
 barred; black cheek patches; L. 16; W. 13; T. 7. U. 
 S., not common. 
 
 \\ 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. gyrfalco, L.) 
 
 3. F. mexicanus, Licht. LANIER FALCON. Tarsus 
 feathered ^ way down; general color brown; L. 18; W. 
 14; T. 8. S. W., E. to Ills. 
 
 ** Two primaries emarginate i tarsal plates enlarged in front, 
 
 appearing like scutella. 
 
 J Tarsus about equal to middle toe; basal joints of toes without 
 transverse scutella. (jffisalon, Kaup.) 
 
 4. F. columbarius, L. PIGEON HAAVK. AMERICAN 
 MERLIN. Ashy blue or blackish above, variegated 
 below; L. 13; W. 8; T. 5. U. S. 
 
 \i Tarsus longer than middle toe ; basal joints of toes with 
 transverse scutella. (Tinnunculus, Vieill.) 
 
 5. F. sparverius, L. SPARROAV HAAVK. 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. 
 
 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. NA UCLERUS, Vigors. SWALLOW -TAILED KITES. 
 
 1. N. furcatus, (L.) Vig. 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. /. subcceruleus, (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. glaucus, (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. palumbarius, (L.) var. atr/cap///us, (Wils.) Coues. 
 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. 
 
FALCONID^E. XLV. 113 
 
 8. ACCIPITER, Brisson. HAWKS. 
 
 = Nisus, Cuvier. 
 
 1. A. fuscus, ^Gm.) 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. ASTURINA, 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 emarginate on inner web. (Suteo.) 
 
 1. B. borealis, (Gm.) Vieill. HEN HAWK. RED-TAILED 
 BUZZARD. Dark brown; much barred and streaked; tail 
 bright chestnut red above; L. 23; W. 15J; T. 8J. U. S., 
 common. 
 
 2. B. //'neatus, (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. SWAINSON'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. 8. 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, Brehm. SQUIRREL HAWKS. 
 
 1. A. lagopus, (Brunn.), var. sancti-johannis, (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 r (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. leucocephalus, (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 on 
 fishes. "A piratical parasite of the Osprey, otherwise 
 notorious as the emblem of the Republic." (Coues.) 
 
 FAMILY XLVI. 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.) 
 
CATHARTID^E. 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 ( Vulturince) 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 RHINOGRYPHUS, 1. 
 
 ** Wings short, scarcely reaching middle of tail ; skin of neck 
 corrugated ; no bristles in front of eye. . CATHAJRISTA, 2. 
 
 /. RHINOGRYPHUS, Ridgway. TUEKEY BUZZARDS. 
 < Cathartes, Illiger. 
 
 1. R. aura, (L.) Ridg. TURKEY BUZZARD. Black, 
 lustrous above; skin of head and neck red; L. 30; W. 
 22; T. 12. N. Am., abundant, southward. 
 
 2. CATHARISTA,ViQi\\oi. CARRION CROWS. 
 
 1. C. atrata, (Bartr.) Gray. CARRION CROW. Uniform 
 dull black; L. 24; W. 17; T. 8. N. C. to Mexico; 
 rarely straying northward. 
 
 OEDEE K-COLUMB^E. 
 
 (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; tomias meeting. Hind toe on a level 
 with the rest (except in Stamcenas, 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 XLVIL COLUMBINE. 
 
 ( 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 (Columba 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. 
 
 ZEN^DUBA, 2. 
 ff Tail short, rounded, of 12 feathers ; length less than 8. 
 
 CHAM^PELIA, 3. 
 
 /. ECTOPISTES, Swainson. PASSENGER PIGEONS. 
 1. E. migraiorius, (L.) Sw. WILD PIGEON. Bluish with 
 reddish and violet tinges, reddish below; L. 17; W. 7; 
 T. 8. N. A., abundant; gregarious. 
 
 2. ZENSEDURA, Bonaparte. MOURNING DOVES. 
 
 1. Z. caro/inensis, (L.) Bon. MOURNING DOVE. TURTLE 
 DOVE. CAROLINA DOVE. Brownish olive, glossed with 
 blue and wine color; plumage with metallic lustre; L. 
 12; W. 5f ; T. 6f . U. S., abundant. 
 
 3. CHAMMPELIA, Swainson. GROUND DOVES. 
 
 1. .C passerinq, (L.) Sw. GROUND DOVE. Grayish 
 olive, with bluish gloss; L. 6J; W. 3; T. 2|. Southern, 
 N. to Washington, D.C. 
 
MELEAGBIIXE. XLVIII. 117 
 
 OEDEB L.- 
 
 (The 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 Cracidce, 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. MELEAGRIDJE. 
 
 (The Turkeys.) 
 
 Large birds, with the head and neck unfeathered, 
 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. M. 
 ocellatus, 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. 
 
 (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. 
 # Tail of 18 feathers. 
 a. Neck without peculiar feathers ; middle tail feathers pro- 
 
 jecting PEDICECETES, 2. 
 
 aa. Neck with peculiar, elongated, lanceolate feathers above 
 
 a large, bare, bright-colored patch. . CUPIDONIA, 3. 
 
 ff Tarsus feathered about half way ; tail of 18 soft, broad 
 
 feathers BONASA, 4. 
 
 ** Toes feathered ; winter plumage pure white. . LAGOPUS, 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. 16; W. 6|; T. 5. Spruce swamps, N. 
 U. S. and Northward. 
 
 2. PEDKECETESjR&ird. 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. 
 
PERDICID^E. L. 119 
 
 3. CUPIDONIA, Reich. PINNATED GEOUSE. 
 1. C. cupido, (L.) Baird. PRAIRIE HEN. 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. 9; T. 4; $ smaller. Prairies, 
 etc., Martha's Vineyard to La. and N.; nearly extermin- 
 ated eastward. 
 
 4. BONASA, Stephens. RUFFED GROUSE. 
 
 1. B. umbellus, (L.) Stephens. PARTRIDGE (North.) 
 PHEASANT (South.) Crested; sides of neck with a ruff 
 of soft black feathers; variegated, reddish or grayish 
 brown, with blackish and pale; L. 18; W. 7i; T. 7. E. 
 U. S., abundant in woodland. 
 
 5. LAG OPUS, Vieillot. PTARMIGANS. 
 
 1. L. a/bus, (Gm.) And. 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. v/rginianus, (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. 
 
 OEDEE 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 <$); 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^. 
 
 (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; 
 tibiae 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. 
 
CHARIDRIID2E. LI. 121 
 
 f Hind toe present , very short, . . . SQUATAROLA, 1. 
 
 ff Hind toe absent CHARADKICS, 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^, W. 7; T. 3; B. 
 1; Ts. 2. In most parts of the world. 
 
 2. CHARADRIUS, L. GOLDEN PLOVERS. 
 
 1. C. fulvus (<jrm.) var. virginicus, (Borck. ) Coues. 
 GOLDEN PLOVER. FROST BIRD. Dark and grayish 
 above, profusely speckled, some of the spots bright 
 yellow; black below in breeding season, at other times 
 grayish; L. 10i; W. 7; T. 3; B. 1; Ts. If. N. Am., a 
 well known game bird. 
 
 3. JEGIAIITIS, Boie. RING - NECK PLOVERS. 
 * Bill black, rather long; L. 8 or more. 
 
 1. JE. 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. 9fc; W. 6; T. 3J. N. Am., abund- 
 ant in the Miss. Valley. 
 
 ** Bill black-tipped, short and stout; L. 7 or less. 
 
 2. /E . semipalmaius, (Bon.) Cab. RING - NECK PLOVER. 
 Dark ashy brown; black bands broad; feet semipalmate; 
 L. 7. N. Am. 
 
 3. JE. melodus, (Ord.) Cab. PIPING PLOVER. Very 
 pale ashy brown, clear white below; dark bands narrow 
 and faint; toes slightly webbed; L. 6|-. E. N. Am., 
 abundant along the coast. 
 
 6 
 
122 BIRDS. 
 
 FAMILY LIL HJEMATOPODID^. 
 
 (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.EMATOPUS, 1. 
 
 ** Toes 4, not webbed ; tarsus scutellate in front, as long as the 
 sharp, pointed bill STKEPSILAS, 2. 
 
 1. HSEMATOPUS, Linnaeus. OYSTER CATCHERS. 
 
 1. H. pa//iatus, Temminck. OYSTER CATCHER,. Ashy 
 brown and blackish, mostly white below; L. 18; W. 10; 
 T. 4; B. 3. Coasts. 
 
 2. STREPSILAS, Linnaeus. TURNSTONES. 
 
 1. S. interpres, (L.) Illiger. TURNSTONE. Variegated; 
 black, white, brown, and chestnut above; mostly white 
 below; no reddish in winter; L. 8J; W. 6; T. 2. 
 Cosmopolitan; abundant. 
 
 FAMILY LIIL RECURVIROSTRID^. 
 
 (The Awcets.) 
 
 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 clucks ; swim- 
 mers RECTIRVIROSTRA, 1. 
 
 ** Toes 3, semipalmate ; bill nearly straight, not flattened. 
 
 HIMANTOPUS, 2. 
 
PHALAKOPODID^E. LlV. 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. nigricollis, Vieillot. 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. 2J; 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. 5. 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 ; tibiae 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 webbed; 
 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, decurved, very 
 much longer than the head. . . . NUMENIUS, 15. 
 
 ft Tarsus scutellate in front and behind. 
 Feet semi palmate; 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. 
 
 MACRORHAMPHUS, 4 
 
OPACID^E. LV. 125 
 
 cc. Culmen unfurrowed ; length more than 12. 
 
 LlMOSA, 9. 
 
 lib. Gape reaching beyond base of culinen. 
 d. Length more than 9. 
 
 e. Bill longer than head. . . . TOTANUS, 10. 
 ee. Bill not longer than head. 
 /. Tail more than half the length of wing. 
 
 * ACTITURUS, 13. 
 
 ff. Tail less than half the length of wing. 
 
 PHILOMACHUS, 12. 
 
 dd. Length less than 9 ; second toe unwebbed. 
 g. Bill grooved nearly to tip ; back not speckled with 
 white ; adult with black spots below. 
 
 TRINGOIDES, 11. 
 
 gg. Bill grooved about half way 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. 
 
 7i7i. Feet with two plain webs. 
 
 i. Bill about as long as head. . . EREUNETES, 6. 
 ii. Bill much longer than head. . MICROPALAMA, 5. 
 U Toes not webbed at all. 
 
 ,;". First primary attenuate ; bill straight, shorter than head ; 
 culinen grooved SCOLOPAX, 2. 
 
 jy. 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. . . . TRYNGITES, 14. 
 
 kkk. All other Sandpipers. . . . TRINGA, 7. 
 
 /. PHILOMELA, 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. 
 1J. E. U. S., in swamps, etc. 
 
 2. SCOLOPAX, Linnaeus. EUROPEAN WOODCOCKS. 
 
 1. S. rusf/co/a, L. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK. General 
 appearance of Philoliela, 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. HI. griseus, (Gm.) Leach. GRAY SNIPE. BROWN- 
 BACK. Blackish and grayish ; breast bay in summer; 
 bill long nearly as in Gallinago; L. 11; W. 5^; T. 2J. 
 North America; abundant coastwise. 
 
 5. MICROPALAMA, Baird. STILT SANDPIPERS. 
 
 1. M. himaniopus, (Bon.) Baird. STILT SANDPIPER. 
 Blackish, marked with chestnut, etc.; ashy gray in win- 
 ter; bill nearly as in Gallinayo; L. 9; W. 5; T. 2J. N. 
 Am., not abundant. 
 
 6. EREUNETES,mger. SAND -PEEPS. 
 
 1. E. pusillus, (L.) Cass. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 
 PEEP. Plumage various, usually pale, white below ; 
 small; L. 6; W. 3|; T. 2. N. Am.; abundant along 
 beaches. 
 
SCOLOPACID^. LV. 127 
 
 7. TRINGA, Linnagus. 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. minut///a, 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. bairdiif (Coues) Scl. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Colors 
 of preceding but larger; throat but little streaked; L. 7 
 to 7i; W. 4f ; T. 2; B. f. America, rare E. of the 
 Mississippi R. 
 
 3. T. ma.cula.ta, Vieill. PECTORAL SNIPE. JACK SNIPE. 
 GRASS SNIPE. Crown unlike neck; throat ashy-shaded 
 and sharply streaked; L. 9; W. 5; B. 1. N. Am., 
 abundant. 
 
 ft Upper tail coverts white, with or without dusky marks ; throat 
 sharply streaked, with little if any ashy suffusion. 
 
 4. T. fuscicollis, Vieill. WHITE - HUMPED SAND- 
 PIPER. L. 7; W. 4f ; T. 2J-. E. U. S., abundant along 
 the coast. 
 
 ** Bill, tarsus, and middle toe, obviously not of equal length. 
 \ Tarsus shorter than middle toe ; tibiae feathered. (Arquatetta.) 
 
 5. T. maritima, Bru'nnich. 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. 2f ; B. 1. Atlantic Coast. 
 
 $ Tarsus not shorter than middle toe ; tibiae bare below. 
 a. Bill slightly decurvecl, much longer than tarsus. (Pelidna) 
 
 6. T. alpina (L.) var. americana, Cass. AM. DUNLIN. 
 Ox - BIRD. BLACK - BELLIED SANDPIPER. Chestnut 
 brown above; feathers black centrally; belly, in summer, 
 
128 BIKDS. 
 
 with a broad black area; L. 9; W. 5; T. 2; B. If. 
 N. Am. 
 
 an. 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. CALIDRIS, Cuvier. SANDERLINGS. 
 1. C. arenaria, (L.) 111. SANDERLING. RUDDY PLOVER. 
 Variegated; form of T. canutus, but the hind toe want- 
 ing; L. 8; W. 5; T. 2; B. 1. N. Am.; abundant 
 coastwise. 
 
 9. LIMOSA, Brisson. GOD WITS. 
 
 1. L. fedoa, (L.) Ord. GREAT MARBLED GODWTT. 
 MARLIN. Cinnamon brown, variegated above, nearly 
 uniform below; tail barred; no pure white; L. 16 to 22; 
 W. 9; T. 3J; B. 4J. U. S., abundant along shores. 
 
 2. L hudsonica, (Lath.) Sw. 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. 3J. N. Am., rather northerly. 
 
 10. TOTANUS, Bechstein. TATTLERS. 
 
 * Toes with two sub-equal webs; legs dark or bluish. (Sym- 
 pfiemia.) 
 
 1. T. semipalmatus, Gmelin. WILLET. SEMIPALMATED 
 TATTLER. Grayish, variegated; L. 12 to 16; W. 7|; T. 
 3; B. 2J. U. S., common coastwise. 
 
 ** Toes with the inner web very small ; legs yellow. (Glottis, 
 Nilsson.) 
 
 2. T. me/ano/eucus, Gm. GREATER TELL-TALE. YEL- 
 LOW SHANKS. STONE SNIPE. Ashy brown, variegated; 
 bill very slender; legs long; L. 12J; W. 7J; T. 3J; B. 
 2J. N. Am., frequent. 
 
SCOLOPACID^E. LV. 129 
 
 3. T. flavipes, Gm. LESSER TELL-TALE. YELLOW 
 SHANKS. Colors as in preceding; smaller; legs longer; 
 L. 11; W. 61; T. 21; B. If. U. S., abundant. 
 
 *** Toes with inner web rudimentary; legs blackish. (Rhya- 
 cophilus, Kaup.) 
 
 4. T. solitarius, 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. PHILOMACHUS, Mohring. RUFFS. 
 1. P. pugnax, (L.) Gray. RUFF ($). REEVE ($). Male 
 in breeding season with a great ruff, and the face bare; 
 ? without these characters; L. 10; W. 7; T. 2f ; B. 1. 
 European; accidental on our coasts. 
 
 13. ACTITURUS, Bonaparte. UPLAND SANDPIPERS. 
 
 1. A. bartramius, (Wilson) Bon. UPLAND PLOVER. 
 
 Dark grayish, variegated; L. 13; W. 7; T. 4; B. !. 
 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. 5J; T. 2. U. S., with the last, but not common. 
 
 15. NUMENIUS, Linnaeus. CURLEWS. 
 1. N. hng/rostr/'s, Wils. LONG -BILLED CURLEW. 
 
130 BIRDS. 
 
 SICKLE BILL. Reddish gray, variegated; L. 24; W. 12; 
 T. 4; B. 5 to 9. U. S., frequent. 
 
 2. N. hudsonicus, Lath. JACK CURLEW. Similar, but 
 paler; L. 18; W. 9; T. 3J; B. 3 or 4. U. S., and north- 
 ward. 
 
 3. N. borea/is, (Forst.) Lath. ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. 
 DOUGH BIRD. More reddish; L. 15 or less; W. 8J; T. 
 3; B. 2J. U. S., northwards. 
 
 OEDEE K-HEEODICXtsTES. 
 
 (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 ARDEIDJE. 
 
 (T7ie 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 or 
 head in the breeding season. Wings broad. Tail very 
 short. Tibue 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. 
 ft Length 24 or less. 
 &. Color white at all times ; legs black and yellow. 
 
 GARZETTA, 3. 
 
 &&. General color bluish (young white), legs black or bluish. 
 
 FLORIDA, 4. 
 f f Tibia bare one inch or less. 
 
 c. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. 
 
 d. Bill more than thrice as long as high. . BUTORIDES, 5. 
 
 dd. Bill not three times as long as high. NYCTIARDEA, 6. 
 
 cc. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw; bill more than 
 
 half an inch deep at base. . . NYCTIIERODIUS, 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. BOTAURUS, 8. 
 ee. Length less than 18 ; glossy blackish or chestnut. 
 
 ARDETTA, 9. 
 
 /. ARDEA, Linnaeus. HERONS. 
 
 1. A. herodias, L. GREAT BLUE HERON. 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. 5; 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. cceru/ea, (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 HERONS. 
 1. N. violacsus, (L.) . YELLOW -CROWNED NIGHT 
 
TANTALIDJE. LVII. 133 
 
 HERON. Grayish plumbeous; crested; back with long 
 plumes; crown, etc., tawny or white; young speckled; 
 size of last; B. 2f ; Ts. 3f. U. S. 
 
 8. BOTAURUS, Stephens. BITTERNS. 
 
 1. B. mugitans, (Bartr.) Coues. INDIAN HEN. STAKE 
 DRIVER. BITTERN. Tawny brown of various shades, 
 excessively variegated every where; dark patch on each 
 side of neck; L. 23 to 28; W. 12; T. 4J; 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. If. 
 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 (Ciconudce) of the Old World. 
 
 * Tarsus reticulate ; bill very stout, tapering, decurved. 
 
 TANTALUS, 1. 
 
 ** Tarsus scutellate in front; bill grooved, curved (curlew-like.) 
 
 IBIS, 2. 
 
 /. TANTALUS, Linnaeus. WOOD IBISES. 
 1. T. /ocu/afor, 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. IBIS, Mdhring. IBISES. 
 * Claws curved. (Ibis.) 
 
 1. /. alba, (L.) V. WHITE IBIS. Pure white, wings 
 with black; L. 24; W. 11; T. 4; B. 7. Southern States, 
 N. to L. I. 
 
 ** Claws nearly straight. (Falcinelhis.) 
 
 2. /. falcinellus var. ordii, (Bon.) Allen. GLOSSY IBIS. 
 Rich dark chestnut, 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 Mails.) 
 
 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; tibiae extensively naked; tarsus 
 scutellate; toes rather short; hind toe highly elevated. 
 Genera three; species fourteen, of various parts of the 
 world. 
 
BALLIDJE. LIX. 135 
 
 /. GRUS, Linnaeus. CRANES. 
 
 1. G. amer/canus, (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. RALLIDJ3. 
 
 (TJie 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 decurvecl, longer than head. . . . RALLUS, 1. 
 ft Bill straight, shorter than head. . . . PORZANA, 2. 
 ** Forehead covered with a broad, horny, frontal plate. 
 \ Toes scarcely or not lobate. (GALLINTJLIN^E.) 
 a. Nostrils linear; tarsus less than 2. . GALLINTJLA, 3. 
 aa. Nostrils nearly circular; tarsus about 2. PORPHYRIO, 2. 
 tj: Toes lobate, edged with broad flaps. (FULICIN^E.) FULICA, 5. 
 
 /. RALLUS, Linnaeus. RAILS. 
 
 1. R. longirostris, Bodd. CLAPPER RAIL. SALT- 
 WATER MARSH HEN. Olive brown, variegated with 
 ashy; dull reddish brown below; L. 14 to 16; W. 6; T. 
 2^; B. 2^; $ smaller. Salt marshes; rather southerly. 
 
 2. R. elegans, Aud. 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 It. 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. 44; 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. 54. S. Arn., etc., rarely in U. S. 
 
 3. GALLINULA, Brisson. GALLINULES. 
 
 1. G. galeata, (Licht.) Bon. FLORIDA GALLINULE. 
 Brownish olive above, grayish black on head and below; 
 bill, frontal plate and ring around tibia red; L. 15; W. 
 74; T. 3; Ts. 2. S. States, straying northward. (Mani- 
 towoc, Wis. Jordan.) 
 
 4. PORPHYRIO, Temminck. PURPLE GALLINULES. 
 
 1. P. martinica, (L.) Temm. 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, Linnaeus. 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 P.-LAMELLIEOSTEES. 
 
 (The Anserine Birds) 
 
 Bill lamellate, i. e., 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 
 Anatidce, bare below in the Flamingoes. Wings strong, 
 short. Legs short (except in Phcenicopteridm, 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, Phoenicopteridce 
 the Flamingoes, and the following: 
 
 FAMILY LX. ANATIDJE 
 
 (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 short, 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. The 
 sub - families are indicated below. 
 * Lores naked ; adult entirely white ; large birds ; Swans. (CvG- 
 
 NIN^E.) CYGNUS, 1. 
 
 ** Lores feathered; tarsus entirely reticulate ; Geese. (ANSERINE.) 
 
 a. Bill and legs not black ; colors white, bluish, etc. ANSER, 2. 
 
138 BIRDS. 
 
 aa. Bill and legs "black ; neck black. . . BRANTA, 3. 
 *** Lores feathered ; tarsus scutellate in front ; Ducks. 
 f Bill depressed ; the lamellae simple, bluntish. 
 ^ Hind toe simple, not bordered by membrane. " River 
 
 Ducks." (ANATIN^E.) 
 
 &. Head crested ; tip of bill formed entirely by the. nail ; 
 
 colors brilliant in $. . . . . Arx, 11. 
 
 &&. Bill very much widened towards the tip ; speculum 
 
 green SPATULA, 10. 
 
 &&&. 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. Bill shorter than head. 
 
 e. Crown streaked ; tail feathers acute. DAFILA, 5. 
 ee. Crown creamy or white ; speculum green. 
 
 MARECA, 7. 
 
 dd. Bill about as long as head ; speculum white ; wing 
 coverts chestnut. . . CHAULELASMUS, 6. 
 ddd. Bill a little longer than head. 
 /. Speculum violet, bordered with black and white. 
 
 ANAS, 4. 
 ff. Speculum green. 
 
 g. Wing coverts sky blue ; head of $ plumbeous or 
 
 purplish. . . . QUERQTJEDULA, 8. 
 
 gg. Wing without blue ; head of $ chestnut, with 
 
 green band ; almost crested. . NETTION, 9. 
 
 JJ Hind toe lobed (bordered by membrane.) " Sea Ducks." 
 
 (FULIGTJLIISLE.) 
 
 h. Cheeks bristly ; colors black and white (or gray.) 
 
 CAMPTOI^EMTJS, 16. 
 
 Till. Tail pointed, longer than wings (in adult) ; bill black 
 and orange HARELDA, 15. 
 
 JMi. Tail rounded ; the feathers stiff, narrow, exposed nearly 
 to their bases, the upper coverts being very short. 
 
 ERISMATURA, 20. 
 
ANATID^E. LX. 139 
 
 TMih. Ducks with none of the above peculiarities. 
 
 i. Upper mandible gibbous at its unfeathered base ; black 
 
 or brown (EDEMIA, 19. 
 
 ii. Upper mandible not gibbous where unfeathered. 
 j. Nail at tip of bill narrow and distinct. 
 
 k. Head black or brown; nostrils sub -basal; bill 
 longer than tarsus. . . . FULJX, 12. 
 kk. Head reddish or brownish, without white ; nos- 
 trils nearly median ; bill longer than tarsus. 
 
 AYTHYA, 13. 
 
 Jckk. Head black or gray, with white ; nostrils nearly 
 median ; bill about as long as tarsus. 
 
 BUCEPHALA, 14. 
 
 jj. Kail broad, scarcely distinct. 
 
 I. Feathers extending on culmen and partly on sides 
 
 of upper mandible. . . SOMATERIA, 18. 
 
 II. Feathers not extending on culmen ; bill small, 
 
 much tapering. . . HISTBIONICUS, 17. 
 
 f f 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, Linnaeus. SWANS. 
 > Olor, Wagler. 
 
 1. C. buccinator, Rich. TRUMPETER SWAN. 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 SWAN. 
 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, Gm., var. gambeli, (Hartl.) Coues. 
 WHITE - FRONTED GOOSE. SPECKLE - BILL. White or 
 gray, blotched with black; back dark; head and neck 
 grayish brown; forehead white ^in adult; claws pale; 
 lamellae usual; L. 27; W. 17; T. 6; Ts. 3. N. Am. 
 
 2. A. c&ru/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; lamellae very prominent; L. 30; W. 
 19; T. 6i; B. 2. 
 
 3. BRANTA, Scopoli. BRANT GEESE. 
 = JZermcla, 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, Linnaeus. DUCKS. 
 
 1. A. boschas, 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 
 
ANATIDJE. 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 resembling the $, but darker; no decided white 
 except under the wings. E. U. 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. GAD WALL. $ barred, black 
 and white, wing coverts chestnut, greater coverts black, 
 speculum white; $ with similar markings; L. 22; W. 11. 
 N. Am. 
 
 7. MARECA, Stephens. WIDGEONS. 
 
 1. M. 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. carolinensis, (Gm.) Kaup. GREEN -WINGED 
 TEAL. A white crescent on sides in front of wings; 
 shoulders plain; L. 15; W. 7; 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. 9; 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. affin/s, (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. 
 
ANATID.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. va//isner/a, (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. 
 
 4. BUCEPHALA,Bsiird. GOLDEN -EYES. 
 Clangula, Authors. 
 
 1. B. clangula, (L.) Gray. GOLDEN -EYE. GARROT. 
 $ 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. B. islandica, (Gm.) Baird. 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. B. albeola, (L.) Baird. DIPPER. BUFFLE-HEAD. 
 BUTTER- BALL. SPIRIT DUCK. $ with head very puffy 
 and iridescent; a large white ear patch; L. 16; W. 7; ? 
 small, dark gray ; head scarcely puffy. N. Am., 
 abundant. 
 
 15. HARELDA, Leach. LONG - TAILED DUCKS. 
 
 1. H. glacial is, (L.) Leach. 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. PIED 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. torquatus, (L.) Bon. 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. (8. 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-feathered ; 
 no white on wings. (CEdemia.) 
 
 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. (Melanetta.) 
 
 2. (E. fusca, (L.) Sw. VELVET SCOTER. WHITE 
 
ANATID.E. LX. 145 
 
 WINGED SURF DUCK. $ black; white spot under eye; 
 $ sooty brown, rather larger. Shores of Europe and N. 
 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; W. 6. 
 N. Am., frequent. 
 
 2. E. dominica, (L.) Eyton. SAN DOMINGO DUCK. 
 Smaller and redder; forehead and chin black; L. 13^; 
 W. 0^. S. America and W. Indies; accidental N. (Wis., 
 Kumlien, L. Champlain, Cabot.) 
 
 21. MERGUS, Linnaeus. MERGANSERS. 
 
 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; W. 9. N. Am., abundant. 
 
 22. LOPHODYTES, Reichenbach. CRESTED DIVERS. 
 1. L cucullatus, (L.) Reich. HOODED MERGANSER. 
 7 
 
146 BIRDS. 
 
 SHELDRAKE. Black and white; sides chestnut in <3; $ 
 duller and grayish; crest high and compressed; nostrils 
 sub-basal; L. 19; W. 8. N. Am., common. 
 
 OEDEE Q.-STEGANOPODES. 
 
 (TJie 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 
 Tachypetidce (Frigate Birds) as they are exclusively 
 marine. One species of the Southern family Plotiilw, 
 (the Darters) Plotus anliinga, 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. trachyrhynchus, Lath. WHITE PELICAN. Chiefly 
 white, some black and yellowish; L. 60; W. 24; B. 12. 
 N. Am., abundant S. and W., often inland. 
 
PHALACKOCORACID^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. 
 
 /. GRACULUS, Linnaeus. CORMORANTS. 
 2. G. dilophus, (Sw.) Gray. 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. G. mexicanus, (Brandt) Bon. MEXICAN CORMOR- 
 ANT. Gular sac orange, white-edged; L. 24. S. W., N. 
 to Ills. 
 
 3. G. carbo, (L.) Gray. NORTHERN CORMORANT. Tail 
 of 14 feathers; sac heart-shaped behind; L. 36. North- 
 ern and coastwise. 
 
 OEDEE E. 
 
 (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. ^\ r ings very long and 
 pointed. Tail well developed; altricial; powers of flight 
 remarkable; food chiefly fishes. There are two families, 
 LaridcB, below described, and frocellciridcBj the Petrels, 
 which we here omit, all our numerous representatives 
 being strictly maritime. 
 
 FAMILY LXITL 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 kroecocephahis may properly be considered as sections 
 of Lams, 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 ; Jasgers. 
 (LESTRIDIN^E.) .... STERCORARIUS, 1. 
 
 f f Bill not cerecl ; general color usually white with a darker 
 mantle. Gulls. 
 
 a. Hind toe rudimentary, without a developed claw. RISSA, 3. 
 an. Hind toe perfect, provided with a claw. 
 b. Tail even. 
 c. Tarsus black, rough ; webs incised ; plumage white. 
 
 PAGOPHILA, 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. 
 
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.) . . . CIHWECOCEPHALUS, 5. 
 
 bb. Tail forked ; bill black, yellow-tipped. . XEMA, 6. 
 
 ** Bill paragnathous (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. 
 
 GELOCHELIDON, 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. (RHYNCHOPIN^E.) 
 
 RHYNCIIOPS, 11. 
 
 /. STERCORARIUS, Brisson. JJSGERS. 
 
 = LestriS) Authors. 
 
 1. S. pomaforhinus, (Temm.) Lawr. POMARINE 
 JAEGER. Chiefly blackish, colors varying with age; 
 middle tail feathers broad to the tip, projecting about 
 four inches; L. 20; 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. buffoni, (Boie.) Coues. LONG TAILED JAEGER. 
 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. glaucuSj 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 /eucopterus, 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, Brunn. HERRING GULL. COMMON 
 GULL. Mantle grayish blue ; large, 22 to 27 ; W. 1 8 or 
 less; feet flesh colored. N. Am., abundant. 
 
 5. L. de/awarensis, 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. RISSA, Leach. KITTIWAKES. 
 
 1. R. tridaciyla, (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. PAGOPHILA, Kaup. IVORY GULLS. 
 1. P. eburnea, (Gm.) Kaup. IVORY GULLS. Adults 
 pure white; young spotted; L. 16 to 20; W. 12. North- 
 ern, rarely to U. S. in winter. 
 
 5. CHRtECOCEPHALUS, Eyton. ROSY GULLS. 
 1. C. airicilla, (L.) Lawr. BLACK -HEADED OR LAUGH- 
 ING GULL. Tarsus J longer than middle toe and claw; 
 
. LXIII. 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. GELOCHELIDOH, Brehm. GULL -BILLED TERNS. 
 
 1. G. anglica., (Montagu.) Bon. MARSH TERN. 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, Gamb. ROYAL TERN. Bill orange; L. 
 18 or 20; W. 15; T. 8, deeply forked; much smaller than 
 the last but nearly as long. Atlantic Coast. 
 
 3. T. canfiacus, (Gm.) Boie. SANDWICH TERN. Bill 
 black, yellow at tip; L. 16; W. 12; T. 6. Europe and 
 Am.; rare on our coast. 
 
152 BIRDS. 
 
 9. STERNA, Linnaeus, 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 (9J to 11|); T. 6 (5 to 
 7.) Coasts of Europe and America; abundant. ($. 
 wilsoni) Lawr.) 
 
 2. S. forster/, Nuttall. FORSTER'S TERN. Larger; 
 tail longer and wings shorter; inner web of outer tail 
 feather darker; W. 9 to 10; T. 6J 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. paradisea, Auct. 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. doucjalli, Mont.) 
 
 5. S. portlandica, Ridgway. PORTLAND TERN. Near 
 the preceding, but mantle as in hirundo j the rump 
 white instead of pearly; feet blackish; under parts pure 
 white; L. 12; W. 9f ; T. 5 or more. Lately discovered 
 in Maine and Mass.; but two specimens known. 
 
 6. S. superciliaris, (Vieill.) var. antlllarum, (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. 6J; T. 2 to 3. U. S., chiefly 
 abundant coastwise. 
 
. LXHt 153 
 
 10. HYDROCHELIDON, Bole. BLACK 
 
 1. H. lariformis, (L.) Cones. BLACK TERN. Head, 
 iieck 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. 
 \H. fissipes, (L.) Gray.] 
 
 2. H. nigra, (L.) Gray. WHITE -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 Kumlien.) [H. 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. 16 to 20; W. 15; T. 5, sharply forked. Coast, 
 abundant southward. 
 
 OEDEE S.-PTGOPODES. 
 
 (The Diving Birds.) 
 
 Feet palmate or lobate; tibiag 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 BlftDS. 
 
 FAMILY LX1V. COLYMBID^. 
 
 (The Loons.} 
 
 Bill long, strong, tapering, acute, wholly hard; nostrils 
 linear. Head densely and evenly feathered, without rufi's 
 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. 
 
 /. COLYMBUS, Linnaeus. LOONS. 
 
 = Eudytes, Illiger. 
 
 1. C. torquatus, Brlinn. 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. C. 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. C. septenfriona/is, 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. 
 
155 
 
 FAMILY LXV. PODICIPID^. 
 
 (The 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. 
 
 PODICEPS, 1. 
 
 ** Bill stout, somewhat hooked ; loral strip broad ; no ruff nor 
 crest ........ PODILYMBUS, 2. 
 
 /. PODICEPS, Latham. CRESTED GEEBES. 
 = Colymbus, Illiger. 
 
 1. P. cr/status, (L.) Lath. CRESTED GREBE. Upper 
 parts generally dark brown; crest black; throat and 
 sides of head white, becoming reddish on the ruff ; pri- 
 maries brown; secondaries mostly white; silky white 
 below, not mottled; L. 24; W. 8; B. 2. Northern 
 hemisphere; U. S. in winter. 
 
 2. P. 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. P. cornutus, (Gm.) Lath. HORNED GREBE. Dark 
 brown; head glossy black; a brownish yellow band over 
 eye and behind; fore-neck and breast brownish red; bill 
 
156 BIBBS. 
 
 compressed, black, tipped with yellow; crests and ruffs 
 very large; L. 14; W. 6; B. 3f. Northern hemisphere, 
 ^abundant. 
 
 4. P. aurifus, (L.) var. californicus, (Heerfn.) Coues. 
 EARED GREBE. Crest in the form of ear tufts; front of 
 neck black; bill depressed; L. 12. Western, E. to Ills. 
 
 2. PODILYMBUS, Lesson. DAB- CHICK. 
 1. P. podiceps, (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 carolimnsis, Lath.) 
 
167 
 
 (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 ovovi- 
 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 
 
 # Mouth very dilatable ; bones of mandible united by liga- 
 ments ; limbs wanting or represented only by short 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^E, 66. 
 
 ff Toes well developed, spreading, and in aquatic species 
 
 webbed ; claws usually 5-4;. 
 
 $ Shell highest at about the middle, usually somewhat de- 
 pressed, the margin flaring outwards; epidermal plates 
 of the large plastron 12 in number. . EMYDIIXE, 67. 
 $$ Shell highest behind the middle; margin of carapace 
 turned rather downward or inward ; plates of plastron 
 7, 9 or 11 never 12 ; size small. . CINOSTERNLD^;, 68. 
 \\\ Shell highest anteriorly; carapace flaring outward, its 
 margin toothed behind; plastron small, cross-shaped 
 with 12 plates 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 prolonged ; toes 5-5, but claws 3-3. 
 
 TKIONYCHID^E, 70. 
 
 U. FAMILIES OF LACERTILIA. 
 
 * Tongue thick, convex, attached at its base to the gullet ; scales 
 
 usually more or less spinous. . . . IGUANID^E, 71. 
 ** Tongue flat, elongate, bifid at the end ; scales never spinous. 
 f Limbs rudimentary, concealed beneath the skin ; sides with 
 a longitudinal fold ..... ANGUID^E, 72. 
 f f Limbs four well developed. 
 
 \ Scales of the belly rounded, arranged in quincunx order. 
 
 SCINCIIX.E, 74. 
 
BEPTILES. 159 
 
 ft Scales of* the belly quadrate, arranged in cross^bands; 
 throat with two cross-folds. . . . TEUXE, 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. . . ... COLUBRID^E, 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.) 
 
 OEDEE T.-TESTUDIXA.TA. 
 
 (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 (TrionycTiidcz, 
 Sphargididce) 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 CHELONH, 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 LXVL 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. 
 
EMYDID^E. LXVH. 161 
 
 /. TESTUDO, Linnaeus. LAND TORTOISES. 
 > Xerobates, Agassiz. 
 
 1. T. Carolina, L. CAROLINA "GOPHER." L. 15. S. 
 States, N. to N. C.; burrows in the ground like a wood- 
 chuck. 
 
 FAMILY LXVIL EMYDID^E. 
 (The 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 carinated, 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 QJ tuberculated. . . . MALACOCLEMMYS, 6. 
 ft 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. clausa, (Gm.) COMMON Box TURTLE. Colors 
 very variable, chiefly blackish variegated with yellowish; 
 N. Y. to Mo. and S. in dry woods. 
 
 Var. triunguis, (Ag.) Cope. THREE-TOED Box TURTLE. 
 Hind-feet mostly 3-toed, paler. Southern, N. to Peiui. 
 
 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. (Culemys, Ag.) 
 
EMYDID^E. LXVH. 163 
 
 1. C. muhlenbergii, (Schweigger) Cope. MUHLENBERG'S 
 TORTOISE. Brown with yellowish markings ; plastron 
 black with yellowish central blotch; an orange spot on 
 each side of neck ; shell somewhat carinated; L. 4J. 
 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. inscu/ptus, 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. E. meleagris, (Shaw) Ag. BLANDING'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. picia, (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. 
 
 Var. marginata, Ag. Plates of carapace alternating 
 or in quincunx, the lateral rows out of line with the 
 
164 BEPTILES. 
 
 middle one, instead of forming sets of three as in the 
 eastern form; lateral plates with strong concentric strire. 
 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. pseudogeographicus, (Holbr.) Cope. 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 Oliio and 
 S. W. 
 
 ** Sheath of jaws straight, the cutting edges smooth; salt-marsh 
 turtles. (Malacoclemmys.') 
 
 3. M. pa/usfris, ( 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. (Ptycliemys, 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. (Trddiemys, 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. troostii, (Holbr.) YELLOW-BELLIED TERRA-PIN. 
 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, N. to Ills. 
 
 4. P. elegans, (Wied.) ELEGANT TERRAPIN. 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 Cinosternoid 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 and 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 cariu- 
 ated, at least when young; head very large, with strong jaws. 
 
 AROMOCIIELYS, 2. 
 
 /. CINOSTERNUM,^ T &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. 
 
 = Ozothecci) Agassi z. 
 
 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. 6. E. U. S., abundant. W. to Indiana. (Levette.) 
 
 2. A. carinaius, 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. CHELYDRID^E. 
 
 (The Snapping Turtles) 
 Shell high in front, low behind; bulk of body thrown 
 
TEIONYCHID^E. LXX. 167 
 
 forward; head and neck very large; jaws strong-lr 
 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 (PZati/sternum) 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. . . . CHELYDRA, 1. 
 
 ** Head very 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. 
 
 = Gypochelys, Ag. 
 
 1. M. laceriina, (Schw.) MISSISSIPPI SNAPPER. Gulf 
 States, N. to Illinois; "perhaps the most ferocious, and, 
 for their size, the strongest of reptiles." 
 
 FAMILY LXX. TRIONYCHID^. 
 
 (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 -sh aped ; 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, Agassi z. LEATHERY TURTLES. 
 1. A. mufica, (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 U.-LACERTILIA. 
 
 (The Lizards.) 
 Reptiles not shielded, with the body usually covered 
 
. LXXI. 169 
 
 with overlapping scales; mouth not dilatable; tongue 
 free; jaws always with teeth. Limbs four, distinct, 
 rarely rudimentary arid 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 LXXI. 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. THEE SWIFTS. 
 
 = TropidolepiS) Cuvier. 
 
 1. S. undu/atus, (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. HORNED 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 
 
 (Tlie Glass Snakes.) 
 
 Limbs rudimentary, hidden under the skin; body, 
 therefore, snake-like in form, but the general aspect 
 lizard-like. Through ignorance of the boundaries of 
 this family, I am unable to characterize it. 
 
 /. OPHEOSAURUS, Daudin. GLASS SNAKES. 
 
 1. 0. vent rails, (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. Tenn. to Kansas and S. 
 
 FAMILY LXXIIL 
 
 (The Teguexins.) 
 
 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. TARAGUIRAS. 
 1. C. sexlineatus, (L.) D. & B. SIX-LINED LIZARD. 
 Olive, with 3 or 4 yellow streaks on each side; abdomen 
 
SCINCIDJE. LXXIV. 171 
 
 silvery; length 6 to 9 inches. S. E. Va. to Ills, and 
 Mexico. 
 
 FAMILY LXXIV. SCINCID^E. 
 
 (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 very large, circular, its front edge rounded; lower eye -lid 
 with a transparent disk OLIGOSOMA, 2. 
 
 /. EUMECES, Wiegmann. BLUE TAILS. 
 
 = Plestiodon, Auct. 
 
 1. E. fasc/'atus, (L.) BLUE-TAILED LIZARD. Blackish, 
 with fine 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. . septenfriona/is, (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. COAL SKINK. 
 Black (?). Alleganies, from Penn. S. 
 
 2. OLIGOSOMA, Girard. Mocos. 
 
 1. 0. laterals, (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 BEPTILES. 
 
 OEDEE V.-OPHIDIA. 
 
 (The Serpents.) 
 
 Reptiles, not shielded, with an 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 Opheosaurm, and this is not in any other 
 respect, snake-like. 
 
 FAMILY LXXV. (a) COLUBRIDJE. 
 (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 Boidoe, 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. 
 
 EUT^LNIA, 5. 
 
 aa. Rows of scales 29 to 37 ; gastrosteges 200 to 240 ; general 
 color whitish with a triple series of dark blotches. 
 
 PITYOPHIS, 7. 
 f f ^xnal 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. 
 
 CYCLOPHIS, 9. 
 
 ce. 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 band along sides; small 
 
 species: rows of scales 15 to 17; loral plate absent; 
 
 anteorbital present. . . . STORERIA, 4. 
 
 dd. 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 TROPIDOCLONIUM, 3. 
 
 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. HETERODON, 1. 
 
174 BEPTILBS. 
 
 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. 
 
 TROPIDONOTUS, 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. 
 
 hh. 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 BASCANITJM. 6. 
 
 it. 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. 
 
 k. Color black, unstriped ; a distinct yellowish ring about 
 
 neck"; gastrosteges 140 to 160. . DPADOPHIS, 11. 
 
 kk. Color clear bright green ; no collar ; gastrosteges 130 
 
 to 140 LIOPELTIS, 10. 
 
 kkk. 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. 
 
 U. Blue-black, with three red lines ; abdomen yellowish with 
 a series of dark spots ABASTOR, 15. 
 
 /. HETERODON, Beauvais. SPREADING ADDERS. 
 1. Jf. platyrhinuSf Latreille. BLOWING VIPEB. HOG- 
 
COLUBKID^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; scales 23 to 27, usually 
 26. 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. HOLBROOK'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 31?); G. 160; L. 20. -Mississippi Valley, N. to 
 Michigan. 
 
 3. TROPIDOCLONIUM, Cope. LITTLE RED SNAKES. 
 
 1. T. k/rt/andi, ( Kenn.) Cope. KIRTLAND'S SNAKE. 
 Head shiny black; vertical plate broad; scales 19, all 
 carinated; G. 130 to 140; L. 8. Ohio to 111.; a hand- 
 some little snake. 
 
 4. STORERIA, Baird and Girard. RED - BELLIED SNAKES. 
 
 = Isch)i,ognathus, Dum. & Bibron. 
 
 1. S. occ/pitomacu/ata, (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. . saurita, (L.) B. & G. RIBAND SNAKE. SWIFT 
 
COLUBRID^E. LXXV. 177 
 
 GARTER SNAKE. 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. . faireyi, B. & G. FAIRIE'S GARTER SNAKE. 
 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. proximo., (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, N. to Wis. 
 
 ** Body stouter ; tail shorter, about J- 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. sirtalis, (L.) B. & G. COMMON GARTER SNAKE. 
 STRIPED SNAKE. 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. 
 
 Var. dorsal is, (B. & G.) Cope, has the dorsal stripe 
 broad, and a row of distinct spots above the lateral stripe. 
 N. Am., every where. 
 
 Var. parietalis, (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 
 60. 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; G. 210 to 230; L. 50. 
 Virginia and S. 
 
 2. C. obsoletus, Say. PILOT SNAKE. RACER. Lustrous 
 black, some scales white -edged; vertical plate longer 
 than broad; scales 27; G. 235; L. 50 to 75. Mass, to 
 Ills, and Texas; one of our largest snakes. (G. alle- 
 ghaniensiS) Holbr.) 
 
COLUBRID.E. LXXV. 179 
 
 3. C. vulpinus, (B. & G.) Cope. Fox SNAKE. Light 
 brown, with quadrate, chocolate-colored blotches; verti- 
 cal plate broader than long; scales 25; G. 200 to 210; 
 L. 60. Mass, to Kansas and Northward. 
 
 4. C. emoryi, (B. & G.) Cope. EMORY'S RACER. Ashy 
 gray with transverse brown blotches; vertical plate 
 elongated; 6 or 8 median rows of scales only carinated; 
 scales 29; G. 210 to 220; L. 40 to 50. Ills, to Kansas 
 and Texas. 
 
 9. CYCLOPHSS, Giinther. SUMMER SNAKES. 
 
 Leptophis^ B. & G. 
 
 1. C. (Bstivus, (L.) Giinther. SUMMER GREEN SNAKE. 
 Head conical, neck very small; bright clear green, yel- 
 lowish below; scales 17; G. 150 to 160; L. 30. Southern, 
 N. to N. J. and Ills., abundant in the mountains; a most 
 exquisite little creature. 
 
 10. LIOPELTIS, Fitzinger. GREEN SNAKES. 
 1. L. vernalis, (DeKay) Jan. GREEN SNAKE. GRASS 
 SNAKE. SPRING SNAKE. 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 
 
 SNAKES. 
 
 < Ablabes, D. & B. 
 
 1. D. punctatus, (L.) B. & G. RING - NECKED SNAKE. 
 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 160; L. 15. Whole 
 U.S. 
 
180 REPTILES. 
 
 Var. amabilis, (B. & G.) Cope, is slender, with 180 or 
 more gastrosteges; below darker and more spotted. 
 Western, E. to Ohio. 
 
 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. OPHI BOLUS, Baird and Girard. KING SNAKES. 
 
 < Coronella, Laurenti. 
 
 < Lamproptltis, 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. sayi, (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. doliatus, (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. iriangulus, (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 
 
COLUBRLD^E. LXXV. 181 
 
 spot; scales, etc., as in preceding. Va. to Iowa, and 
 northward; very common. \Goronella eximia^ (DeKay) 
 Jan.] 
 
 3. 0. calligasier, (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, he 
 white ones spreading; resembles closely 0. doliatus\ 
 scales 19; G. 175 to 180; L. 20. Va. to Fla. 
 
 14. PARANOIA, 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. erythrogrammus, (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. 
 
 = ConocepfialiiS) D. < B. 
 1. H. striatu/a, (L.) B. & G. BROWN SNAKE. Head 
 
182 BEPTILES. 
 
 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. /. 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. e/eganSf 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. vermis, (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 othejrs. Missouri to Kansas. 
 
 FAMILY LXXV. (b.) ELAPIDJE. 
 
 (TJie 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 
 
CBOTALIILE. LXXYI. 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. . fulvius, (L.) Guv. 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 LXXVL CROTALIDJE. 
 
 (The 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. 
 ff 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 black; 
 a light loral line with a dark patch beneath; scales 23 to 
 25; G. 165 to 170; L. 40 to 60. U. S., chiefly eastward 
 and southward, in rocky places; rapidly becoming ex- 
 tinct; several other species occur southwestward. (C. 
 durisnt&i Auct.) 
 
 2. CAUDISONA, Laurenti. MASSASSAUGAS. 
 
 = Crotalophorus, Gray. 
 
 1. C. iergemlna, (Say.) Cope. 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. COPPERHEADS. 
 > Toxicophis, Troost. 
 < Trigonocephalus, Holbr., etc. 
 
 1. A. confortr/'x, (L.) B. & G. COPPERHEAD. COTTON 
 MOUTH. 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. atrofuscus, (Troost) B. & G. BLACK MOCCASIN. 
 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 Tenn. and N. C. 
 
 3. A. pise i vows, (Holbr.) Cope. WATER MOCCASIN. 
 Greenish brown with dark vertical bars; scales 25; G. 
 140; L. 30. Aquatic; southern, probably not in our 
 limits. 
 
BATBACHIANS. 185 
 
 (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 Proteidci) 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. . ANUKA, 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. 
 
 ft External branchiae and gill clefts persistent through life ; no 
 eyelids PBOTEIDA, Y. 
 
 W. FAMILIES OF ANURA. 
 
 * Fingers and toes tapering or cylindrical, not dilated into a disk 
 
 at their tips. 
 
 f With teeth in the jaws ; toes completely webbed. 
 a. No spur at the heel ; fingers often webbed ; chiefly aquatic. 
 
 RANIDJS, 77. 
 
 aa. One of the bones of the heel forming a sharp, flat-edged 
 spur ; fingers scarcely webbed ; chiefly terrestrial. 
 
 SCAPHIOPIDJE, 78. 
 j-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- 
 brae opisthocoelian (not biconcave). PLEUKODELID^E, 81. 
 ff Spots, if any, not as above. 
 J Carpus and tarsus cartilaginous ; tongue much smaller and 
 
 more extensively free than in the next, 
 a. Vertebras concave behind only (opisthocoelian.) 
 
 DESMOGNATHID^, 82. 
 aa. Vertebrae biconcave (ainphiccelian.) 
 
 PLETHODONTIIXE, 83. 
 
 \\ Carpus and tarsus ossified ; vertebrae arnphicoeliau; tongue 
 large, thick, papillose, attached by its base, with a narrow 
 free margin ; salamanders usually of large size and dark 
 
 colors AMBLYSTOMIDJE, 84. 
 
 ** With a spiracle or rounded opening in each side of the neck : 
 
 size large. 
 
 I, Limbs well developed ; toes 4-5. . . MENOPOMIDJE, 85. 
 lib. Limbs rudimentary ; toes 2-2 or 3-3. . AMPHIUMID^E, 86. 
 
RANID^E. LXXVH. 187 
 
 Y. FAMILIES OF PROTEIDA. 
 
 * Hind legs present; both jaws with teeth; form salamander-like. 
 
 PnoTEnxE, 87. 
 ** Hind legs wanting ; upper jaw toothless; form eel-like. 
 
 SLRENHXE, 88. 
 
 OEDEE W.-AJSTTTEA. 
 
 (The Tailless Batracliians.) 
 
 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, jaws and 
 usually vomer, with teeth; chiefly aquatic. Genera 
 fourteen, species about fifty; very abundant in tropical 
 America. 
 
 * Vomerine teeth present ; no finger opposed to the others ; tongue 
 
 nicked behind ; toes full-webbed. . . RANA, 1. 
 
 /. RANA, Linnaeus. FROGS. 
 
 * Back with large distinct spots arranged in more or less regular 
 
 rows ; back with two conspicuous yellowish folds. 
 
 1. R. halecina, 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 BATKACHIANS. 
 
 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. clam Hans, 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. (R. horico- 
 nensiS) Holbr. R. 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. (J?. pipiens, Auct., not of L.) 
 
 5. R. temporaria, (L.) var. sylvatica, (Le C.) Gthr. 
 WOOD FROG. Color reddish brown; a dark band on 
 each side of head through eye and ear; quite small. E. 
 U. S., common; scarcely aquatic. (R. cantabrigeiisis, 
 Baird, the Cambridge Frog, from E. Mass., N. and W. 
 is another variety of this European species.) 
 
 FAMILY LXXVIIL SCAPHIOPID^E. 
 
 (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 tuberculate. ; . . SCAPHIOPUS, 1. 
 
HYLIDJE. 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. HYLIDJE. 
 
 (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 HYLA, 1. 
 
 ** Disks small ; fingers not webbed, 
 f Toes webbed only at base or not at all ; tympanum distinct. 
 
 CHOROPHILUS, 2. 
 ff Toes broadly webbed ; tympanum indistinct. . ACRIS, 3. 
 
 /. HYLA, Laurenti. TREE FROGS. 
 
 1. H. versicolor, LeConte. COMMON 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. ANDERSON'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 BATBACHIANS. 
 
 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. 
 
 (Tlie 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, 
 Bufo. 
 
 1. BUFO, Laurenti. TOADS. 
 
 1. B. lentiginosus, Shaw. AMERICAN TOAD. Brown- 
 ish olive with a yellowish vertebral line and some 
 brownish spots; adults very warty; young nearly smooth. 
 U. S., very common, variable; the northern form is var. 
 americanus (Le C.) Cope. 
 
 OEDEE X.-TJEODELA, 
 
 (The Salamanders?) 
 
 Body naked, elongated, subcylindrical ; four limbs 
 developed; tail persistent, usually much longer than 
 broad, terete or compressed; no external branchiae when 
 adult. 
 
 FAMILY LXXXL PLEURODELIDJE. 
 
 (The Newts.) 
 
 Vertebrae concave behind only (opisthoccelian) ; carpus 
 and tarsus ossified. I am unable to characterize this 
 family further. 
 
DESMOGNATHLD.E. LXXXII. 191 
 
 * Tongue small, thick, oval, attached by nearly its whole inferior 
 surface ; toes 4-5, outer and interior on hind foot rudimentary; 
 our species spotted. .... DIEMYCTYLUS, 1. 
 
 /. DIEMYCTYLUS, Rafmesque. SPOTTED NEWTS. 
 > N~otophthalmus, Raf. 
 
 1. D. viridescens, Raf. SPOTTED TRITON. 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 LXXXIL DESMOGNATHID^E. 
 
 (The DesmognatJis.) 
 
 Vertebrae 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. Tn 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 speoies 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. So. 1869, 113. 
 
192 BATRACHIANS. 
 
 /. DESMOGNATHUS, Baird. DUSKY SALAMANDERS. 
 
 1. D. ochrophcea, 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; $ 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 PLETHODONTID^E. 
 
 (The American Salamanders.) 
 
 Vertebrae amphicoelian ; carpus and tarsus cartilagin- 
 ous. Various other distinctive characters are given by 
 Prof. Cope, but we omit them here as not available for 
 our 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 ; preniaxillaries 2 . 
 f Toes 4-4, small, ashy above, spotted below. 
 
 HEMroACTYLTUM, 1. 
 
 ft 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^. LXXXIII. 19S 
 
 \. Premaxillaries united ; color yellow or red, spotted or striped. 
 
 SPELERPES, 3. 
 
 ft Premaxillaries 2 ; color purplish gray or salmon color, un- 
 spotted GYRINOPHILUS, 4. 
 
 /. HEMIDACTYLIUM, Tschudi. FOUR- TOED SALA- 
 MANDERS. 
 
 1. H. scutatum, (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. PLETHODON, Tschudi. PLETHODONTS. 
 
 1. P. erythronotus, (Green) Baird. BED -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. \P. 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, Rafmesque. CAVE SALAMANDERS. 
 
 1. S. bilineaius, (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. S. 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. \Spelerpes 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^. 
 
 (The Amblystomas.) 
 
 Vertebrae amphicoelian ; 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 larvas 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,Tschudi. BIG SALAMANDERS. 
 
 * Folds of tongue radiating from behind ; costal folds 10 to 12 ; 
 
 fourth toe with 4 phalanges. 
 f Costal grooves 10. 
 1. A. ialpoideum, (Holbr.) Gray. MOLE SALAMANDER. 
 
AMBLYSTOMID^E3. LXXXIV. 195 
 
 Blackish brown, gray-speckled; tail short, compressed, 
 2|- in length; head very broad; body short and squat. 
 Southern, N. to S. Ills, 
 ff 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 2|- in total length; body stout. Penn. to Wis. and S. 
 A handsome species. (S. fasciata, Green.) 
 
 3. A. punctatum, (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 submolacea, 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 2 in length; small. Penn. to Ga. 
 
 ft 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. New Jersey. 
 
 Iff 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 
 
196 BATEACHIANS. 
 
 varying from uniform brown to yellow, but usually 
 spotted. U. S., E. of the Rocky Mountains. (A. 
 ingens, 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 j 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, Menopoma 
 fuscum, Holbr., of the head waters of the Tennessee, 
 and the following: 
 
 /. MENOPOMA, Harlan. HELLBENDERS. 
 1. M. alleghaniense, Harlan. HELLBENDER. BIG 
 WATER LIZARD. Blackish; length 1 to 2 feet. Mis- 
 sissippi Valley to N. C. and S 
 
PROTEID^E. LXXXVH. 197 
 
 FAMILY LXXXVL AMPHIUMID^E. 
 
 (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 
 Murcenopsis (M. tridactylus) and the two-toed Amphi- 
 uma. 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. 
 
 OEDEE Y.-PEOTEIDA. 
 
 (The Proteans.) 
 
 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^. 
 
 (The Mud Puppies.) 
 
 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. W. 
 Austria (Carniolci), and Necturiis of the fresh waters of 
 the U. S. Proteus is blind and has the toes 3-2. 
 Necturus has the eyes well developed, though small, and 
 the toes 
 
198 BATEACHIANS. 
 
 /. NECTURUS, Rafinesque. MUD PUPPIES. 
 
 = Menobranchus, Harlan. 
 
 1. N. /atera/is, (Say.) Baird. MENOBRANCHUS. 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. SIRENHXE. 
 (TU 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- 
 branchus striatus, (LeC.) of Georgia, a small species 
 with small gills, and the following: 
 
 /. SIREN, Linnaeus. SIRENS. 
 
 1. S. lacertina, 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 mouth 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 " (Cuvier) ; 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- 
 cephali 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 Laricelets, 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. . . Scombridw, the Mackerels. 
 
 does not imply that all Scombridce possess those charac- 
 ters, nor, indeed, that all possessing them are Scombridce; 
 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 TKLEOSTET, page 201. 
 
FISHES. 201 
 
 SUB-CLASS II. Tail lieterocercal ; optic nerves forming a chiasma ; 
 arterial bulb with several rows of valves ; air bladder fre- 
 quently cellular and lung-like ; exoskeleton typically of bony 
 plates GANOIDEI, 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). . TELEOCEPHALI, 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. 
 
 NEMATOGNATHI, AA. 
 
 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 maxillaries ; 
 
 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, unsymmetrical ; 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. . . HEMIBRANCHII, 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 Aspidoplwroides 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. 
 
 ANACANTHINI, 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 Ldbridm) ; 
 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 Ambtyopsis, 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. 
 
 $ 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. . Scorribridce, the Mackerels. 
 
 2. Upper jaw prolonged into a "sword " ; teeth feeble or wanting; 
 
 scaleless ; size large. . . Xiphiidm, the Sword-FisJm. 
 
 3. Tail ending in a sharp point; no caudal norventrals; teeth 
 
 strong. .... Trichiuridw, the Hair-Tails. 
 
 4. First dorsal on the top of head, modified into a lamellated 
 
 sucking disk. . . . Echeneidida, the Remoras. 
 
 5. Ventral fins completely united, sometimes forming a sucking 
 
 disk. 
 
 Dorsals two, distinct ; body scaly or not. . GOBIIIXE, 96. 
 
 Dorsal single ; spinous dorsal enveloped in skin, forming a 
 
 hump in the adult ; scaleless, tuberculate. 
 
 Cydopteridm, the Lump-Suckers. 
 
 Dorsal single ; body elongated ; scaleless ; small fishes often 
 
 parasitic in shells of Mollusks. Liparididw, the Sea Snails. 
 
 6. Ventral fins wide apart, with a sucking disk between them ; 
 
 dorsal spineless, on the tail. GobiesocidcB, the Pike-Suckers. 
 
 7. With a stout, sharp spine on each side of tail ; body much com- 
 
 pressed. .... Acanthuridce, the Surgeons. 
 
 8. With several unconnected spines in place of the first dorsal. 
 
 Tail with a keel on each side. Carangida, the Pilot Fishes. 
 
 Anal fin preceded by two free spines ; body compressed and 
 
 elevated. . . . Garangidce, the Pilot Fishes. 
 
 Tail not keeled; jaws toothless; body very long and slender. 
 
 Ammodytidm, the Sand Launces. 
 
 Tail without a keel ; jaws with teeth. 
 
 Body long ; snout elongated. JSlacatidce, the Crab-Eaters. 
 Body short, compressed ; snub-nosed. 
 
 StromateidcB, 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. 
 
 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 ; air bladder rudimentary. ETHEOSTOMID,<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. 
 
 Triglidce, the Gurnards. 
 
 3. With 7 or 8 filiform appendages on each side below the 
 
 pectorals ; cheeks not mailed. 
 
 Polynemidw, the Thread-Fishes. 
 
 4. Throat with two long barbels. MullidcB, the Surmullets. 
 
 5. Dorsal spines only two; scales minute, imbedded in the 
 
 skin. . . . Rhypticidw, the Soap Fishes. 
 
 6. Ventrals abdominal ; body elongated ; scales cycloid ; 
 
 teeth stout. . . Sphyranidce, 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. 
 &. 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. . Pomatomidce, 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. 
 
 PERCID^:, 90. 
 
 Anal spines 3, distinct. . LABRACHXE, 91. 
 ee. Cleft of mouth nearly vertical ; scales large, 
 
 deciduous. Chilodipterida?, the Apogons. 
 
 dd. Ventrals 1-7 ; branchiostegals 8 ; anal spines 4. 
 
 Berycidce, the Berycoids, 
 
FISHES. 205 
 
 bb. No teeth on the vomer ; anal spines 1 or 2 ; lateral 
 line usually running up on the caudal fin. 
 
 SCI^ENIDJE, 94. 
 
 aa. Edges of opercular bones entire. 
 /. Scales well developed, not enlarged along lateral line ; 
 chin often with barbels ; no free spines. 
 
 Scicenidw, 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. Carangidce, 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. 
 
 *. Dorsal with 4 spines; ventrals jugular 1,5; mouth 
 vertical. . . Uranoscopidce, the Star Gazers, 
 u. Dorsal with 3 spines; ventrals jugular I, 2; mouth 
 broad, with conical teeth. 
 
 Batrachidce, the Toad Fishes. 
 
 Hi. 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. . . COTTUME, 95. 
 
 Spinous dorsal longest, notched, its first rays highest ; 
 
 head with many fleshy slips. 
 
 HemitripteridcBj the Sea Ravens. 
 
 hh. Body greatly compressed ; the eyes lateral or anterior ; 
 fins often filamentous ; tail usually slender, the caudal 
 fin widely forked. 
 
 .;". A series of bony shields along base of second dorsal. 
 
 Zenidce, the John Dories, 
 jj. No bony shields ; usually two free anal spines. 
 
 Carangidw, the Pilot Fishes 
 
206 PISHES. 
 
 ** Dorsal fin single, not divided to its base. 
 k. Fresh water species. 
 
 I. Ventrals I, 5; dorsal spines 8 to 12; vent normal. 
 
 m. Teeth on vomer ; anal spines 3 to 9. ICHTHELID^E, 92. 
 
 mm. No teeth on vomer ; anal with 2 (or 1) spines, the 
 
 second very strong. . . . SCMENID^, 94. 
 
 II. Ventrals 7-rayed; dorsal spines 3; vent jugular. 
 
 APHREDODERnXE, 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. . . Scorpcenidce, 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. 
 o. Opercular bones entire ; vertical fins not much scaly. 
 
 SparidcB) the Sea Breams. 
 
 oo. Preopercle denticulated ; soft parts of vertical fins 
 densely scaly. . Pimelepterid, the Fat-Fins. 
 
 3. 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. 
 
 Epliippidm, the Moon FisJm. 
 
 pp. Dorsal undivided, with 10 or more spines, scaly 
 throughout; fins often filamentous. 
 
 ChcetodontidcB, the Chcetodonts. 
 
 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 
 
 #. Ventrals present. 
 r. Dorsal with both spines and soft rays. 
 
 Blenniidce, the Blennies. 
 rr. Dorsal composed of spines only. 
 s. Lateral line usually present and sometimes dupli- 
 cated; head conic; compressed; pyloric coeca 
 present. . StichcBidce, the Snake Blennies. 
 88. No lateral line ; ventrals I, 1 ; no pyloric coeca ; 
 teeth, small, acute. Xiphidiontidce, the Gunnels, 
 qq. No ventral fins. 
 
 t. Gill openings wide ; scales rudimentary ; cleft of 
 mouth not vertical ; teeth strong. 
 
 Anarrhichadidce, the Wolf Fishes. 
 ft. Gill openings moderate ; no scales ; cleft of mouth 
 nearly vertical ; dorsal of spines only ; body almost 
 eel-like. . Cryptacanthidce, the Glwst Fishes. 
 6. With none of the preceding combinations. 
 u. Ventrals jugular, 4-rayed ; dorsal very high and long. 
 Bramidce, the Winged Dolphins, 
 uu. Ventrals thoracic,. I, 5. 
 
 v. Dorsal of 50 or more rays running from head to tail ; 
 the spinous part not differentiated. 
 
 Coryphcenidw, the Dolphins, 
 m. Dorsal shorter, the two sorts of rays different. 
 w. Lateral line interrupted. 
 
 x. Scales ctenoid ; dorsal spines 13 ; depth more 
 than half length. 
 
 Pomacentridce, the Demoiselles. 
 
 xx. Scales cycloid ; dorsal spines 9 ; depth less than 
 
 half length. . Ldbrida, 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. 
 
 Ldbridce, the Wrasse Fislies. 
 
208 FISHES. 
 
 zz. Dorsal spines 8, very low, nearly equal and 
 scarcely connected ; snout blunt. 
 
 Stromateidce, the Harvest Fishes, 
 zzz. With neither of the preceding combinations. 
 a. No teeth on vomer. 
 
 Pristipomatidw, the Red Mouths. 
 aa. Teeth on vomer. 
 6. Canines present ; branchiostegals 7. 
 
 Serranidm, the Sea Bass, 
 bb. No canines ; branchiostegals 6 ; eyes 
 large. . Priacanthidm, the Big Eyes. 
 yy. Opercular bones with entire edges. 
 c. Dorsal with nine to 20 spines ; anal III, 8 or 
 more ; lips large, fleshy. 
 
 Labridcu, the Wrasse Fishes, 
 cc. Dorsal with 9 spines ; anal III, 7. 
 
 GerridcB, the Gerroids. 
 
 FAMILIES OF ANACANTHINI. 
 
 * Ventrals jugular, sometimes rudimentary. 
 
 f Caudal fin developed as a separate fin ; lateral line continuous. 
 
 GADIDJE, 97. 
 ft Caudal fin not separate, dorsal and anal confluent around the 
 
 tail. 
 
 \ Ventral fins developed, 4-rayed. Lycodida, the Eel Pouts. 
 ft Ventral fins replaced by a pair of bifid filaments. 
 
 Ophidiida, the Cusk Eels. 
 ** Ventral fins entirely wanting. 
 
 a. Vent remote from the head. Ammodytidce, the Sand Launces. 
 aa. Vent at the throat ; size small. Fierasferidw, the Fierasfers. 
 FAMILIES OF HETEROSOMATA. 
 
 * Pectoral fins well developed. . Pleuronectidm, 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 Mugilidce, the Mullets. 
 
 FAMILIES OF HEMIBRANCHII. 
 
 * 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. . GASTEROSTEID^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. . . Centriscidce, the Snipe Fishes. 
 ft Body greatly elongated ; teeth present ; no scales ; no dorsal 
 spines; middle rays of caudal produced into a long fila- 
 ment. . . . Fistulariidw, 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. 
 
 Scomberesocidce, the Sauries. 
 
 ** Jaws moderate ; pectorals elongated, nearly as long as body, 
 used for " flying." . . Exocatidce, the Flying Fislies. 
 
 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 ESOCH^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. 
 
 ft 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^B, 101. 
 ^Entire margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries ; 
 
 head depressed ; small fishes of brackish or fresh waters, 
 
 often barred or striped with black. 
 
 CYPBENODONTID^E, 100. 
 
 FAMILIES OF ISOSPONDYLI. 
 
 * Body entirely scaleless ; deep sea fishes, 
 f No adipose fin ; throat with a long barbel ; pectorals rudi- 
 mentary Stomiatidce, the Stomiatoids. 
 
 \\ 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. 
 
 Synodontidce, the Synodonts. 
 Ib. Scales ctenoid ; fresh water fishes ; no teeth on vomer or 
 
 palate PERCOPSDXE, 104. 
 
 aa. Lateral margins of upper jaw formed by maxillaries; 
 
 scales cycloid ; in all waters. . SALMONLD^E, 105. 
 
 \\ 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 Anchovies. 
 
FISHES. 211 
 
 ee. Both jaws with bands of villiform teeth ; roof and floor 
 of mouth with coarse patches. 
 
 AlbuUdcB, the Lady Fishes. 
 dd. Lower jaw longest. 
 
 /. No gular plates ; no lateral line ; anal short. 
 
 Dussumieridce, the Round Herrings. 
 
 ff. A narrow bony plate between branches of lower jaw 
 
 (much as in Amia). . Elopidw, 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 CYPKINID^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. 
 
 CATOSTOMID^:, 109. 
 
 AA. FAMILIES OF NEMATOGNATHI. 
 
 * Margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries only; maxil- 
 
 lary rudimentary, forming the base of a long barbel. 
 
 SILUBID^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. 
 
 ANGUILLID^E, 111. 
 
 ff Scaleless ; dorsal beginning close behind base of pectorals ; 
 deep sea fishes. . . . Congridm, 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 Oulpers. 
 
 FAMILIES OF PEDICULATI. 
 
 * 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, . . . Lophiidw, the Fishing Frogs. 
 
212 FISHES. 
 
 ft Skin with conical tubercles; teeth villiform; dorsal I 4; 
 the spine tentacle -like, retractile into a cavity beneath a 
 prominent protuberance on forehead. 
 
 MaltheidcB, the Sea Bats. 
 ** Head high, compressed ; teeth card-like. 
 
 Antennariidce, the Diablos. 
 
 FAMILIES OF PLECTOGNATHI. 
 
 * Jaws 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. 
 
 Tetrodontidm, the Puffers. 
 
 f f Jaws without median suture ; belly scarcely or not inflatable. 
 \ Body scarcely compressed, spinous, with a distinct caudal 
 
 fin Diodontidce, the Box Fishes. 
 
 \$ Body much compressed, very short, truncate ; the vertical 
 fins more or less confluent. 
 
 Orthagoriscidm, the Globe Fishes. 
 ** Jaws with distinct teeth. 
 a. Front teeth incisor-like ; 1 to 3 dorsal spines ; no carapace. 
 
 Balistidce, 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. 
 
 Ostraciontidm, 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. 
 
 Hippocampida, the Sea Horses. 
 
 ** Tail not prehensile, with a developed caudal ; body gradually 
 tapering; direction of head in a line with axis of body. 
 
 SyngnathidcB, the Pipe Fishes. 
 
 ORDERS OF GANOIDEI. 
 
 * Skeleton bony; body scaly; air bladder cellular, lunglike 
 
 (HYOGANOIDEI). 
 f Scales cycloid ; snout short, broad. . CYCLOGANOIDEI, CC, 
 
FISHES. 213 
 
 \ f 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. (CHOKDROGAN- 
 
 OIDEI.) 
 
 J Mouth terminal, broad ; lower jaw, maxillaries and palate 
 
 with many minute, deciduous teeth. SELACHOSTOMI, EE. 
 
 ft Mouth narrow, inferior, toothless. . CHONDROSTEI, FF. 
 
 CC. FAMILIES OF CYCLOGANOIDEI. 
 
 * A broad bony plate between branches of lower jaw; vertical 
 
 fins without fulcra; dorsal fin very long of more than 40 
 rays ; body stout AMIIIX<E, 112. 
 
 DD. FAMILIES OF RHOMBOGANOIDEI. 
 
 * Vertical fins with fulcra ; dorsal short, far back, of less than 12 
 
 rays ; body elongated. . . . LEPIDOSTEIDJS, 113. 
 
 EE. FAMILIES OF SELACHOSTOMI. 
 
 * Skin naked ; snout produced into a flat blade ; opercle with a 
 
 long flap POLYODONTIIXE, 114. 
 
 FF. FAMILIES OF CHONDROSTEI. 
 
 * Body with 5 rows of bony shields (rarely deciduous) ; snout 
 
 produced ; four barbels in front of mouth. 
 
 AdPENSERUXE, 115. 
 
214 FISHES. 
 
 j5ut) z otiasg. STelensteu 
 
 (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.-TELEOGEPHALI. 
 
 (The Typical FisJies) 
 
 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 Acanthopterygians 
 and Malacopterygians of Cuvier, and the nearly cor- 
 responding Ctenoidei and Cycloidei, Physoclysti ami 
 
ETHEOSTOMTD^. 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-OEDER-ACAISTTHOPTEEI. 
 
 ( The Spiny-rayed 'Fishes.) 
 
 FAMILY LXXXIX. ETHEOSTOMID^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; eyes large; air bladder rudimentary; "sub- 
 orbital arch incomplete." Colors often very bright; 
 species of Pcecilichthys and Diplesium 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 eye. Genera ten, or 
 fewer; species about thirty, all belonging to the U. S. 
 and Mexico, east of the Rocky Mountains, being most 
 abundant in the Mississippi Valley, where sometimes 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 (Percina) 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 incomplete or wanting ; body normally more or 
 less compressed; jaws nearly even, lower jaw sometimes 
 projecting. (PCECILICHTHYIN^E.) 
 f No lateral line ; dorsal spines 6 or 7 ; fins barred. 
 
 MICROPERCA, 1. 
 
 ff Lateral line present on anterior part of body. 
 a. Dorsal fins slightly connected at base. 
 b. Spinous dorsal very low, scarcely more than half as 
 high as soft part, commonly of 8 spines; spines in 
 adult (male) ending in little fleshy knobs, in others 
 pointed ; color plain or with black bare and lines of 
 dots; a black shoulder spot; fins with black lines, 
 but no red or blue shades. . . CATONOTUS, 2. 
 66. Spinous dorsal not low, nearly as high as the soft part ; 
 dorsal spines 10 to 12 ; colors brilliant ; fins (in males 
 at least) with bright shades of red and blue. 
 c. Throat and breast deep blue ; dark dots along the rows 
 of scales; a dark shoulder spot; sides often with 
 red dots, but not notably barred. NOTHONOTUS, 3. 
 
ETHEOSTOMID^E. LXXXIX. 217 
 
 cc. Throat and breast orange ; coloration chiefly in verti- 
 cal bars rarely in lines or spots; no shoulder blotch. 
 
 PCECILICHTHYS, 4. 
 
 aa. Dorsal fins entirely separate ; dorsal spines 8 to 10 ; lateral 
 line curved upward over pectorals ; small, slender spe- 
 cies, often with red spots along the sides. 
 
 BOLEICHTHYS 5. 
 
 ** Lateral line present, obvious throughout its course ; body 
 normally more or less cylindrical ; upper jaw more or less 
 projecting beyond the lower. 
 
 $ Scales obvious only ajong lateral line, ventral region entirely 
 naked; body much elongated, translucent; dorsal spines 
 
 10. (PLEUROLEPIN.E.) . . . PLEUROLEPIS, 6. 
 
 fy Body scaly throughout, or naked only on throat or neck. 
 
 (ETHEOSTOMIN^E.) 
 d. Mouth scarcely inferior; lower jaw but little shorter than 
 
 upper ; vomer with teeth. 
 
 e. Anal spine single, sometimes obscure; -mouth small, 
 
 horizontal; soft dorsal usually larger than anal or 
 
 than spinous dorsal; the latter of 9 (rarely 10) spines; 
 
 back tessellated. . . . . BOLEOSOMA, 7. 
 
 ee Anal with two distinct spines. 
 
 /. Mouth large ; soft dorsal not much larger than anal or 
 than spinous dorsal, the latter with 10 to 15 spines; 
 sides usually with dark bars or a chain of confluent 
 dark blotches; no red nor blue markings, nor nar- 
 row lines of dots. 
 
 g. Belly with a series of enlarged mucronate plates 
 along the middle line (sometimes falling off, leav- 
 ing a naked strip.) . . ETHEOSTOMA, 8. 
 gg. Belly without enlarged plates at any time. 
 
 HYPOHOMUS, 9. 
 
 ff. Mouth moderate ; dorsal spines about 12; body with- 
 out large bars or blotches, but each scale with a 
 dark spot, these forming fine lengthwise lines; 
 throat with blue ; fins in $ with red and blue. 
 
 NOTHONOTUS, 3. 
 
 dd. Mouth decidedly inferior, very small. 
 10 
 
218 FISHES. 
 
 7i. Vomer roughish, but without teeth ; head very short and 
 rounded; muzzle blunt; cheeks swollen; soft dorsal 
 larger than anal ; dorsal spines 10 to 14 ; sides with 
 green blotches or markings. . DIPLESIUM, 10. 
 
 lili. Vomer with teeth ; head long, pointed ; the muzzle 
 conic, truncate at tip, projecting like a hog's snout; 
 dorsal spines about 13 ; sides with dark bars, alternately 
 long and short ; a small black spot at base of caudal. 
 
 PERCINA, 11. 
 
 /. 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 1^ inches. Western and Southern States. 
 
 2. CATONOTUS, Agassiz. LINED DARTERS. 
 
 1. C. flabellatus, (Raf.) Putnam. FAN-TAILED DART- 
 ER. Olivaceous, 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; D. VIII 12; A. II, 8; length 2| inches. 
 Great Lakes and streams from N. Y., S. and W., abund- 
 ant. (E. linsleyi) H. R. Storer. Oligocephalus humer- 
 alis and Catonotus fasciatus^ Girard.) 
 
 2. C. lineolatus, Agassiz. 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 
 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. 
 
ETHEOSTOMID^E. LXXXIX. 219 
 
 3. NOTHQNQTUS, Agassiz. TROUT DARTERS. 
 
 1. N. niger, (Raf.) Jordan. TROUT DARTER. BLUE- 
 BREASTED DARTER. Dark olive; head blackish above; 
 breast and throat deep blue; sides greenish, sprinkled 
 with carmine dots, much as in a trout; series of oliva- 
 ceous lines along the rows of scales; vertical fins chiefly 
 orange at base with a bright blue edging, in $ merely 
 speckled; lateral line nearly complete; D. XII 13 
 (D. X, Raf. Kirt.); A. II, 8; length 2J inches. Ohio 
 Valley, not common, one of the handsomest of our fishes; 
 the coloration is often quite dark. [C. maculatus, (Kirt.) 
 Jordan.] I have hitherto referred this genus to Catonotus, 
 but the two genera must either be . kept separate or 
 both united with Poecilichthys. 
 
 2. N. punctu/atus, Ag. DOTTED DARTER. Greenisn, 
 mottled with black; fins all dotted; D. IX 13; A. II, 8. 
 Mo.; Ark. (Boleichthys whipplei, Grd.) 
 
 4. P(ECILICHTHYS, Agassiz. RAINBOW DARTERS. 
 
 = Astatichthys, Le Vaillant. 
 
 1. P. c&ruleus, (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 
 
220 . FISHES. 
 
 checked; colors fade in alcohol; body short and stout; 
 head large; D. X 12; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 45; length 2 to 3 
 inches. Mississippi Valley, abundant; the most gaily 
 colored of all the Darters. 
 
 2. P. specfabi/is, 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. cceruleus never ventures; still it 
 is perhaps a variety. 
 
 3. P. zonal is, Cope. ZONED DARTER. Olivaceous, 
 golden below; six dark brown quadrate spots along the 
 back, connected by alternating spots with a brown lateral 
 band from which eight narrow bands encircle 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, occiput and base of 
 pectorals; black bars downward from eye and forward; 
 D. XI 12; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 52. Indiana to Tenn. 
 
 5. BOLEICHTHYS, Girard. RED- SIDED DARTERS. 
 > Hololepis, Agassiz. 
 
 1. B. fusiformis, (Grd.) Jordan. FUSIFORM DARTER. 
 Lateral line on 12 scales, reaching middle of first dorsal; 
 head 3J- in length; yellowish brown; spotted; D. VIII 
 9; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 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. 
 
ETHEOSTOMIDJE. LXXXIX. 221 
 
 3. B. exiliSf Girard. SLENDER RED-SIDED DARTER. 
 Lateral line on 22 to 28 scales, about reaching end of first 
 dorsal; head 3f in length; caudal peduncle much 
 elongated; olivaceous brown, with zigzag markings, sides 
 with about ten red spots, separated by brown interspaces; 
 first dorsal bluish at base, red above; other fins reddish 
 and barred; oblique streaks downward and forward from 
 eye; D. IX or X 9 to 10; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 60; length 2 
 inches. Wisconsin to Idaho; abundant in clear brooks. 
 
 6. PLEUROLEPIS, Agassiz. PELLUCID DARTERS. 
 1. P. pel lucid us, Agassiz. 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. II, 6; length 2 to 3 inches. 
 Ohio Valley, in sandy streams; one of the most interest- 
 ing of our fishes. 
 
 7. BOLEOSOMA, DeKay. TESSELLATED DARTERS 
 
 > Arlina and Estrella, Grd. 
 
 * Dorsal, with 9 spines ; soft dorsal much larger than anal. 
 (Soleosoma.) 
 
 1. B. olmstedi, (Storer) Ag. TESSELLATED DARTER. 
 Fins stouter and higher than in the next; depth 5^ in 
 length; head 4dt; 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. Western specimens 
 generally have D. IX, 12, and perhaps vary into the 
 next. (JB. tessellatum, DeK.) 
 
222 FISHES. 
 
 Var. atromacu/ata, (Grd.) has the neck and throat 
 scaly. 
 
 2. B. effulgens, (Girard) Cope. " LITTLE JOHNNY." 
 SLIM 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 sometimes a bar below eye; smaller 
 and slenderer than the preceding, with smaller fins; eye 
 as long as the narrow, pointed snout; cheeks, opercles, 
 neck and throat naked; D. IX 12; A. I, 8 to I, 10; 
 lat. 1. 45. E. U. S., abundant, west of the Alleganies. 
 
 ** Dorsal with 10 spines ; anal as large as soft dorsal. (Cottogaster, 
 Putnam.) 
 
 3. B. tessellation, Thompson, nee DeK. VERMONT 
 DARTER. L. Champlain. 
 
 8. ETHEOSTOMA, Rafinesque. BLACK-SIDED DARTERS. 
 
 < Hadropterus, Ag. 
 
 > Diplesion and Alvordius, Grd. 
 
 1. E. blennioides, Kirtland (nee. Raf.) 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 tessellations 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 and Great Lakes; one of the most 
 curious and elegant of all the Darters. (? E. macro- 
 cephalum, Cope.) (Alvordius and Hadropterus macu- 
 latus, Grd.) 
 
 2. E. peltatum, Stauffer. SHIELDED DARTER. Head 
 shorter; sides with broad, brownish shades; ventral 
 shields larger; D. XII 13; A. II, 9; lat. 1. 53. Penn.j 
 probably a variety of the preceding. 
 
ETHEOSTOMID^E. LXXXIX. 223 
 
 3. E. nigrofasciatum, ( Agassiz ) Jordan. BARRED 
 BLENNY DARTER. Salmon yellow, tessellated above; 
 sides with nine blackish vertical bars, broad and short, 
 almost rectangular, ending abruptly below and fading 
 above into the dark of the back; a black spot on last 
 rays of spinous dorsal ; chest bare ; second dorsal smaller 
 than spinous dorsal or than anal, the latter extending far 
 back; forward and downward streaks from eye; D. XI 
 10; A. II, 9; length 2 inches. Indiana to Ark. and S., 
 a pretty species, very distinct from any of the foregoing. 
 (Jfadropterus shumardi^ Grd.) 
 
 9. HYPOHOMUS, Cope. ORANGE -SIDED DARTERS. 
 
 1. H. aurantiacus, Cope. ORANGE DARTER. Bright 
 yellow, with a black lateral band formed of confluent 
 spots in front; a few brown spots on back; fins plain; 
 no ventral plates; D, XV 15; A, II, 11; size large. 
 Virginia and S. 
 
 10. DIPLESIUM, Rafinesque. GREEN- SIDED DARTERS. 
 
 = Hyostoma, Agassiz. 
 
 1. D. blennioides, (Raf.) Jordan. GREEN- SIDED 
 DARTER. Olive green and tessellated above; sides with 
 a series of about seven double transverse bars, each pair 
 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. Penn. to 
 
224 FISHES. 
 
 Kas. and S., abundant in Indiana, one of the handsomest 
 of fishes. \H. cymatogrammum, (Abbott) Cope.] (? E. 
 vciriatum, Kirtland.) (J5T. blennioperca, Cope.) 
 
 2. D. s/moterum, ( Cope ) Copeland. SNUB - NOSED 
 DARTER. 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. 
 Holston R. 
 
 //. PERCINA, Haldeman. LOG PERCHES. 
 
 = Pileoma, DeKay. 
 
 1. P. caprodes, (Raf.) Girard. LOG PERCH. HOG FISH. 
 JACK PIKE. 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 
 seasons; 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.) 
 
 FAMILY XC. PERCID^E. 
 
 (The Percys.) 
 
 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 
 
PERCIDJE. XC. 225 
 
 few pyloric coeca. 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, 
 
 cross-banded. . PERCA, 1. 
 
 ** With strong canine teeth ; body elongated. STIZOSTEDIDM, 2. 
 
 /. PERCA, Linnaeus. PERCHES. 
 
 1. P. flavescens, (Mit.) Cuv. COMMON YELLOW PERCH. 
 Olivaceous, sides yellowish, with broad dark bars; head 
 3 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. 
 
 2. STIZOSTEDIUM, Rafinesque. PIKE PERCHES. 
 = Lucioperca, Cuvier. 
 
 1. S. americanum, (Val.) Gill. WALL-EYED PIKE. 
 YELLOW PIKE. SALMON (S.) GLASS EYE. DORY. Olive 
 green; young yellow, with dark blotches; head 3^ in 
 length; depth about 4, varying with age; a dark spot on 
 spinous dorsal behind; D. XIV I, 20. A. II, 13; lat. 
 1. 100. Great Lakes and Western Rivers, reaching a 
 weight of 15 Ibs. or more. 
 
 2. S. griseum, (DeKay) Milner. SAUGER. GRAY PIKE 
 PERCH. Paler; fins all spotted; a smaller spine above 
 and one below the large opercular one; fins all black- 
 spotted; D. XIV I, 18; A. II, 12; lat. 1. 105. Great 
 Lakes; smaller than the preceding; perhaps the same 
 as the next. 
 
 3. S. salmoneum, Raf. WHITE SALMON OF THE OHIO. 
 Whitish, faintly barred; much paler than S. ameri- 
 
 15 
 
226 DISHES. 
 
 carmm; dorsal fins high; head 3f in length; depth 5; 
 D. XIV I, 20; A. II, 11; lat. 1. 100. Ohio R. "A 
 handsome fish, resembling an Aspro" (Cove.) 
 
 FAMILY XCL LABRACID^E. 
 
 (T7ie Bass.) 
 
 Percoid fishes with the general characters of the pre- 
 ceding family, but having three anal spines, and the 
 spines of the dorsal reduced in number, generally nine 
 or ten; teeth on the tongue in our species. Genera 
 fifteen; species thirty-five. Mostly of northern regions, 
 the majority of them marine, often entering rivers. 
 
 * No teeth on tip of tongue ; 3d anal spine longest and usually 
 
 stoutest; anal with 10 to 12 soft rays. . . Roccus, 1. 
 
 ** Teeth on tip of tongue ; second anal spine stoutest ; anal with 
 
 9 soft rays ; opercular scales large. . . MORONE, 2. 
 
 /. ROCCUS, Mitchill. STRIPED BASS. 
 < Labrax, Cuvier. 
 
 * Body little compressed ; depth less than of length ; chiefly 
 
 marine. (Roccus.) 
 
 1. R. lineatus, (Bl. & Schn.) Gill. STRIPED BASS. 
 ROCK FISH. Silvery or yellowish, with seven or eight 
 longitudinal bands; D. IX 1, 12; A. Ill, 11; lat. 1. 62. 
 Atlantic Coast, sometimes entering rivers. 
 
 ** Body much compressed ; depth more than i of length ; fresh 
 waters. (Lepibema, Raf.) 
 
 2. R. chrysops, (Raf.) Gill. WHITE BASS. STRIPED 
 LAKE BASS. Silvery, with six or more dark stripes, 
 sometimes " so interrupted and transposed as to appear 
 like ancient church music.'* D. IX 1, 12; A. Ill, 13; 
 lat. 1. 55. Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi Valley 
 and N. (Labrax multilineatus, notcitus, albidus and 
 osculatii of authors.) 
 
ICHTHELID^]. XCII. 227 
 
 2. MORONE, Mitchill. WHITE BASS. 
 < Labrax, Cuvier. 
 
 1. M. americana, (Gmel.) Gill. WHITE PERCH. Whit- 
 ish, usually faintly striped; depth 3 in length; D. 
 IX I, 12; A. Ill, 9; lat. 1. 50. Atlantic Coast, 
 abundant also in fresh water ponds, etc., coastwise; 
 variable. (L. mucronatus, rufus and pallidus, authors.) 
 
 2. M. interrupta. Gill. SHORT - STRIPED OR BRASSY 
 BASS. Silvery, with interrupted black stripes ; D. 
 IX I, 13; A. Ill, 9. Mississippi Valley, chiefly south- 
 ward. (L. chrysops, Grd., not of Gill.) 
 
 FAMILY XCIL ICHTHELIDJS. 
 
 (The Sun FisTies.) 
 
 Percoid fishes with a single dorsal fin, either continu- 
 ous or deeply divided, with eight to twelve spines; anal 
 fin large, with three to nine spines; ventrals thoracic, I, 
 5; body oblong, more or less elevated, sometimes much 
 compressed; opercular bones feebly if at all serrated, 
 often with entire edges; scales scarcely ctenoid, some- 
 times cycloid; cleft of mouth more or less oblique, lower 
 jaw the longer; villiform teeth on jaws, vomer and usually 
 on palatines; many species with a small supernumerary 
 bone lying behind the maxillary and parallel with it; 
 others with a more or less prolonged flap extending 
 backwards from the upper angle of the opercle; nearly 
 all with a black spot at this point, which also covers the 
 flap if the latter is developed; colors usually brilliant, 
 chiefly olive green, with spots or shades of blue, yellow, 
 orange or violet. Fresh water fishes; many of them 
 build nests which they defend with much courage; all 
 are carnivorous, voracious and " gamey." Genera about 
 fifteen; species forty; all American, and most abundant 
 
228 FISHES. 
 
 in the Mississippi Valley, every where forming a charac- 
 teristic feature of our fish-fauna. The genera are quite 
 well known, and most of them are firmly established; 
 but the species of some groups, particularly Ichthelis 
 and C ' hcenobryttus are in a state of almost inextricable 
 confusion. 
 
 * Dorsal fin long, deeply divided, sometimes almost into two fins ; 
 dorsal spines 10, anal 3 ; opercle emarginate behind ; caudal 
 emarginate; an additional maxillary bone; mouth wide; 
 body moderately elevated. (MICROPTERIN/E.) 
 
 MICROPTERUS, 1. 
 
 ** Dorsal fin continuous, without deep division, about equal to the 
 anal in extent; opercle emarginate behind, ending in two flat 
 points; a slender supernumerary bone attached along the 
 posterior margin of the broad flattish maxillary; soft fins 
 high, mottled. (CENTRARCHIN/E.) 
 
 a. Spinous dorsal longer than soft part, forming an angle with 
 it; dorsal spines 11 or 12, anal spines about 8. 
 
 CENTRARCHUS, 2. 
 
 aa. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft part, continuous with it ; 
 
 dorsal spines 6 to 8 ; anal spines normally 6. POMOXYS, 3. 
 
 *** Dorsal fin without division, notably larger than anal. (IcH- 
 
 THELIN.E.) 
 
 f Anal with 5 or 6 spines ; dorsal with 10 to 12 ; opercle emar- 
 ginate behind ; a supernumerary maxillary bone. 
 
 Scales ctenoid ; caudal emarginate ; fins mottled ; anal 
 
 spines normally 6. . . AMBLOPLITES, 4. 
 
 Scales cycloid ; caudal rounded ; fins plain ; anal spines 
 
 normally 5. ... ACANTHARCHUS, 5. 
 
 ft Anal with 4 spines ; dorsal with 8 ; caudal rounded. 
 
 HEMIOPLITES, 6. 
 
 fff Anal with three spines. 
 
 b. Dorsal spines 9 (sometimes abnormally 8 or 10) ; caudal 
 rounded; opercle emarginate behind not ending in 
 
 rounded flap ENNEACANTHUS, 7. 
 
 bb. Dorsal spines 10 (rarely 9 or 11 in abnormal specimens.) 
 
ICHTHELID^E. XCII. 229 
 
 c. Opercle emarginate ; caudal rounded ; spinons and soft 
 dorsals forming an angle; sides with black vertical 
 
 bars MESOGONISTIUS, 8. 
 
 cc. Opercle entire and rounded behind, often more or less 
 produced, and always with a black spot ; caudal emar- 
 ginate. 
 
 d. Maxillary rather broad and flat, somewhat triangular- 
 elongate, with (always?) a narrow supernumerary 
 bone lying along its posterior margin ; mouth w r ide. 
 
 e. Tongue with a conspicuous patch of teeth ; mouth 
 
 very large, maxillary reaching to opposite eye; 
 opercular spot large; body deep, thick and strong, 
 with large scales; aspect and dentition of Amblo- 
 
 plites GLOSSOPLITES, 9, 
 
 ee. Tongue without teeth ; mouth smaller ; maxillary not 
 reaching to middle of eye ; opercular spot small ; 
 body elongated; scales small, usually with blue 
 clots ; aspect and dentition of Ichthelis. 
 
 CH^NOBRYTTUS, 10. 
 
 dd. Maxillary narrow and thicker, approaching club- 
 shaped, without supernumerary bone ; mouth usually 
 smaller; colors mostly bright. 
 
 f. Lower pharyngeal teeth conic, acute; opercular flap 
 
 various, usually more or less elongated in adult. 
 
 ICHTHELIS, 11. 
 
 ff. Lower pharyngeal teeth rounded, pavement-like; 
 opercular flap rather short and broad, distinctly 
 tipped below and behind with scarlet. 
 
 POMOTIS, 12. 
 
 1. MICROPTERUS, Lacepede. BLACK BASS. 
 
 > Huro and G-rystes, C. & V. 
 
 = Calliurus, Raf. (not of Agassiz.) 
 
 = Lepomis, Raf. 
 
 1. M. nigricans, (Cuv.) Gill. LARGE-MOUTHED BLACK 
 BASS. OSWEGO BASS. Dull olive green, more or less 
 spotted when young but not barred; usually with an 
 
230 FISHES. 
 
 irregular dark lateral band, and three oblique stripes on 
 opercles; end 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; eleven 
 rows of scales between lateral line and dorsal; anal fin 
 somewhat scaly; mouth very wide; D. X, 14; A. Ill, 12; 
 lat. 1. 70 to 80. Great Lakes and rivers of the West and 
 South, abundant in most regions, and, like the next, 
 highly valued as a food fish. (Huro nigricans C. & V. 
 G. nobilior and nigricam, Agass.) 
 
 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 yellow 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 larger than in the preceding eight rows 
 between lateral line and dorsal; mouth smaller; anal 
 nearly scaleless; fin rays as above; lat. 1. 60 to 70. 
 Great Lakes and streams from L. Champlain S. and W.; 
 common in N. Y. and in most regions west of the Alle- 
 ganies; introduced eastward. [G. fasciatus, (Les.) Ag. 
 C. obscuruS) DeK. (young.) M. achigan^ (Raf.) Gill, 
 etc., etc.] 
 
 2. 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; form much as in next genus; D. XII, 14; 
 A. VIII, 15; L. 6. Rivers of Southern States. 
 
 3. POMQXYS, Rafinesque. HIGH-FINNED BASS. 
 * Dorsal spines normally 7 ; body much elevated ; depth half 
 length. (Hyperistius, Gill.) 
 
ICHTHELIIXE. XCII. 231 
 
 1. P. hexacanthus, (C. & V.) Agass. GRASS BASS. Six- 
 SPINED BASS. Depth 2 in length; head nearly 3; snout 
 projecting, forming an angle with the descending pro- 
 file; mouth large, very oblique; fins very large; anal 
 larger than dorsal; bright olive green and silvery; sides 
 and fins much mottled; D. VII, 15; A. VI, 18; lat. 1. 
 41; L. 8. Great Lakes to Delaware R. (Abbott) and 
 S. W.; a handsome fish. 
 
 ** Dorsal spines normally 6; body less elevated ; depth about 
 one-third length. (Pomoxys.) 
 
 2. P. annularis, Raf. BACHELOR (Ohio R.) NEW 
 LIGHT (Ky.) CRAPPIE (St. Louis). Depth two-fifths to 
 
 one-third length, scarcely greater than length of head; 
 olivaceous, silvery below; sides with irregular clusters of 
 dusky spots; D. VII (V to VIII), 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. 
 nitidus, Grd. P. storerius, (Kirt.) Gill. P. intermedius, 
 protacanthus and brevicauda, Gill.] 
 
 4. AMBLOPLITES, Rafinesque. ROCK BASS. 
 < Centrarchus, Cuvier. 
 
 1. A. rupestris, (Raf.) Gill. ROCK BASS. GOGGLE 
 EYE. RED EYE. Depth about half length; head more 
 than one-third; eye nearly 4 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 appear- 
 ance; D. XI, 11; A. VI, 10; lat. 1. 42; L. 8. Great 
 Lakes and rivers west of the Alleganies; an abundant 
 species. [A. ceneus, (C. & V.) Ag. A. ichtheloides, 
 (Raf.) Ag.] 
 
 2. A. cavifrons, Cope. Depth 2 in length; mouth 
 
232 FISHES. 
 
 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. 
 
 5. ACANTHARCHUS, Gill. BASS SUN FISHES. 
 
 < Centrarchus, Baird. 
 
 1. A. pomotis, (Baird) Gill. MUD SUN 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. J., N. Y., etc. 
 
 6. HEMIOPLITES, Cope. FOUR-SPINED SUN FISH. 
 
 1. H. simulans, Cope. FOUR-SPINED SUN FISH. Head 
 2f 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. obesus. 
 
 7. ENNEACANTHUS, Gill. NINE-SPINED SUN FISHES. 
 
 < Bryttus, Putnam. 
 
 1. E. obesus, ( Baird ) Gill. SPOTTED SUN FISH. 
 Depth about half length; dark olive green, much 
 barred or mottled; cheeks with lines and spots; opercular 
 flaps velvet black, bordered with purple ; a dark bar below 
 eye; $ brightly colored; fins high, spotted or mottled 
 with blue; D. IX, 10; A. Ill 10; L. 3. Streams coast- 
 wise from Mass., southward; a handsome little fish. E. 
 guttatus (Morris) Cope, is the male (Abbott.) 
 
 8. MESOGONISTIUS, Gill. BLACK -BANDED SUN FISH. 
 1. M. ch&todon, (Baird) Gill. BLACK -BANDED SUN 
 
ICHTHELID^E. XCII. 233 
 
 FISH. Suborbicular; depth about half length; spines 
 long, longest equal to distance from snout to preopercle ; 
 eye 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 
 
 resembling some Chcetodonts. 
 
 * 
 
 9. GLOSSGPLITES, Jordan. BLACK SUN FISHES. 
 < Calliurus, Ag. 
 
 1. G. melanops, (Grd.) Jordan. BLACK SUN FISH. 
 
 Depth nearly half length; head two-fifths; eye large; 
 body very robust, broad forwards, compressed behind; 
 nape rounded; a depression over eye, the snout project- 
 ing, and forming an angle; fins rather low, with stout 
 spines; mouth very large, with strong teeth, the maxil- 
 lary bone very broad and flat, reaching to posterior mar- 
 gin of eye; tongue with one or more conspicuous 
 patches of teeth; teeth on palatines; scales large; 
 coppery olive, or blackish, sides with faint streaks along 
 the rows of scales; five dark bands radiating from eye 
 across cheek; opercular spot very large; soft rays of 
 fins barred; D. X, 10; A. Ill, 9; lat. 1. 40. Illinois R. 
 (Prof. Forbes] to Texas and W.; a fine large species 
 having the appearance and dentition of Ambloplites, but 
 with three anal spines and a rounded operculum as in 
 C hcenobryttus. (Ch. charybdis, Cope.) 
 
 2. G. gilli'i, (Cope.) Jordan. RED-EYED BREAM. Light 
 green with olive cross-bars, which embrace pale spots, 
 forming a chain-like pattern ; four radiating bands behind 
 the eye; fins blackish, barred; opercular spot small; 
 
234 FISHES. 
 
 maxillary reaching to beyond eye; head = depth, 2| in 
 length; eye large, 3 in head; D. X, 10; A. Ill, 9; lat. 1. 
 45. Va. and S. ; chiefly E. of the Alleganies. (Perhaps 
 a Chcenobryttus.) 
 
 10. CH/ENOBRYTTUS, Gill. RED EYES. 
 
 Telipomis, Raf. (Perhaps the name to be adopted.) 
 
 = Calliurus, Ag. (but not of Raf.) 
 * Dorsal spines low; scales small, with blue spots. 
 
 1. C. cyanellus, (Raf.) Jordan. BLUE -SPOTTED SUN 
 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 no distinct black dorsal spot; 
 opercular spot small, with brassy edgings; depth 2f in 
 length, head xJ^; dorsal spines low and stout; pectoral 
 fins short, 4^ to 5 in total length (with caudal); lat. 1. 48; 
 L. 4 to 6. Ohio Valley and W. abundant. (C. longulus 
 and C. formosus^ Grd.) 
 
 Var. melanops, (Raf.) Jor. BIG - MOUTHED SUN FISH. 
 Very near the preceding, but perhaps a distinct species; 
 nape less elevated, body deeper, spines slenderer, 
 mouth rather smaller; pectorals long, 3 to 4 in total 
 length; color varying from pale olive to almost black; 
 sides usually showing vertical bars; a black blotch on 
 back of last rays of dorsal, and usually of anal also, as 
 in Ichthelis incisor. Ohio Valley and N. W., abundant. 
 (C. mineopas. Cope). 
 
 ** Dorsal spiues rather long ; scales larger, without distinct blue 
 spots. 
 
ICHTHELID^E. XCII. 235 
 
 2. C. gulosus, (C. & V.) Jordan. WIDE -MOUTHED 
 SUN FISH. Olive and yellow, sides with vertical bars; 
 no dorsal spot ; form broad ovate; eye 4 in head. 
 Southern States. An imperfectly described species, 
 unknown to me. 
 
 3. C. nephelus, (Cope) Jordan. CHAIN- SIDED SUN 
 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, very conspicuous in life; vertical fins mottled with 
 bronze, and usually more or less edged with pale orange; 
 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 
 2^ 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. (This may prove to belong 
 to the next genus.) 
 
 * //. ICHTHELIS, Rafinesque. SUN FISHES. 
 = Lepomis, Cope, and in part of Raf. (1818, not 1820). 
 > Bryttus, C. & V. (species with palatine teeth). 
 < Pomotis, Cuvier, (species without palatine teeth). 
 1. /. incisor, (C. & V.) Holbr. BLUE SUN FISH. COP- 
 PEE- NOSED BKEAM. Olive-green, adults dark, young 
 
 * The species of this genus are very closely related; the general structure 
 (dentition, scales, fin-rays, etc.) is essentially the same in all. while those char- 
 acters which usually afford specific distinctions are in the highest degree vari- 
 able. The form of body, size and form of opercular flap, coloration, etc., vary 
 very much with age, and even of specimens of the same age it is almost impos- 
 sible to find two which are alike in these respects. The following descriptions 
 are chiefly drawn up from Ohio River specimens, and they will be found to be 
 descriptions of individuals rather than of species, and more or less deviation 
 from them must be expected. It is hoped, however, that by their aid the 
 student will generally be enabled to identify adult specimens. The study of 
 Sun Fishes under two inches long, is. in the present state of our knowledge, 
 extremely diflicult and unsatisfactory. 
 
236 FISHES. 
 
 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 
 markings; opercular flap moderately long and wide in 
 adults, without pale edge, very short in young; body 
 deep, compressed, caudal peduncle long and 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.) 
 
 Var.? speciosus, (B. & G.) Jordan. SOUTHEKN SUN 
 FISH. Dorsal spines longer than the soft rays; otherwise 
 similar to incisor. S. W. (L. longispinis, Cope. P. heros, 
 Grd.) 
 
 Var.? obscurus, (Ag.) Jordan. DUSKY SUN FISH. 
 Like I. incisor, but uniformly dusky; face and jaws lead 
 color; body more elongate, and profile steeper; ear-flap 
 long; dorsal spines rather short. Tennessee R. 
 
 2. /. macrochira, Raf. GILDED SUN 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 spot; flap moderate, rather narroio, 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. 
 
ICHTHELID.E. XCII. 237 
 
 3. /. bombifrons, (Ag.) Bliss. 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 exceedingly prominent, the forehead strongly 
 arched, and the greatest depth immediately over the 
 opercle ; flap very short and small ; soft rays of dorsal 
 much higher than spines; depth 2^ in length, head 
 nearly 3. Tennessee R.; rare. 
 
 4. /. inscriptus, (Ag.) Bliss. BLUE-GREEN SUN FISH. 
 Dark olive green, with blue shades; many scales marked 
 each vrith a 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 2^ in length. 
 A small handsome species, abundant in the Valley of the 
 Ohio and S % 
 
 5. /. anagallinus, (Cope.) Bliss. RED-SPOTTED SUN 
 FISH. Dusky bluish, with greenish mottlings; 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; 
 sometimes a black dorsal spot (?); spines rather high; 
 depth 2 in length; scales large; lat. 1. 33 to 36. Michi- 
 gan to Tenn. and Kas. ; a small highly colored species. 
 (L. peltastes, Cope. ? L. oculatus, Cope.) 
 
 6. /. megalotis, Raf. LONG - EARED SUN FISH. Dark 
 olive, with blue shades; belly and sides of head strongly 
 tinged with orange; cheeks and sides of head with blue 
 horizontal bands; a broad blue stripe in front of eye; no 
 dorsal spot; caudal usually dusky; opercular flap ex- 
 tremely long in adults, more or less pale-edged, very 
 
238 FISHES. 
 
 variable; dorsal spines moderate, the longest longer than 
 from snout to middle of eye; body deep, profile very 
 steep; head, with flap, nearly half length, depth about the 
 same; lat. 1. 35 to 40. Ohio Valley, S. and W., abundant; 
 a beautiful species. (P. nitidus, Kirt.) 
 
 7. /. fallax, (B. & G.) Jordan. SOUTHERN LONG- 
 EAEED SUN FISH. Very similar, but with a distinct 
 black spot on last rays of dorsal at base. Lower Miss. 
 and S. W. 
 
 8. /. sanguinolentus, (Ag.) Bliss. 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; ven- 
 tral 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. Ohio Valley to Alabama. \L. auritus, (Raf.) Cope.] 
 Our most brilliantly colored Sun Fish. This and the 
 two preceding run very closely together and perhaps 
 form one polymorphous species. If so, the name I. 
 auritus, Raf., apparently intended for the present 
 species, has priority and should be adopted unless Labrus 
 auritus of Linnaeus proves to have been intended for 
 I. rubricauda. 
 
ICHTHELIDuE. XCH. 289 
 
 9. /. rubricauda, Holbr. RED-TAILED BKEAM. Dusky 
 olive above, belly and vertical fins red; a bay spot at 
 the base of each scale, these forming interrupted stripes; 
 head with blue lines, especially noticeable in front of 
 eye; opercular flap long, rather wide, bordered with 
 blue; spines rather high; pectorals shorter than ventrals; 
 depth 2 in length. Southern States, chiefly east of the 
 Alleganies. 
 
 10. /. appendix, (Mitch.) Bliss. NORTHERN RED- 
 TAILED SUN FISH. Reddish brown, with rusty red 
 spots ; cheeks with blue lines ; opercular flap long, 
 rather narrow, scarcely pale-edged / vertical fins more 
 or less bright red; spines moderately high; depth 2^ in 
 length; pectorals as long as ventrals. Maine to North 
 Carolina, east of the Alleganies; the only Ichthelis 
 occurring in New England. 
 
 Several other species of this genus have been described 
 within our limits, but we are unable to recognize them. 
 A rigid reduction would perhaps show the identity of 
 species 6, 7 and 8, and possibly rubricauda is a geo- 
 graphical variety of appendix. 
 
 12. POM OTIS, Rafinesque. POND FISHES. 
 
 1. P. aurHuSf (L.) Giinther. 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; D. X, 
 10; A. Ill, 9; lat. 1. 37. Great Lakes and streams 
 chiefly northward and E. of the Alleganies; seldom in 
 company with Chcenobryttus. (JP. maculatus, aureus, 
 vulgaris, and luna of authors.) 
 
240 FISHES. 
 
 2. P. noiatus, Ag. POXD PERCH. More elongated; 
 ear-flap about as above; a dusky band to eye; light 
 olive, silvery below; spines rather slender; pectoral fins 
 elongated; no dorsal spot; D. X, 11; A. Ill, 10; lat. 1. 
 37. Headwaters of Tennessee R., abundant. 
 
 3. P. pal I id us, Ag. PALE SUN FISH. Resembles 
 Ichthelis incisor, but with a larger mouth; dorsal with a 
 black spot behind; fins with dark markings; orange on 
 ear-flap narrow; olive green, sides with eight or nine 
 dusky bars. Tennessee R. 
 
 FAMILY XCIIL APHREDODERID^E. 
 
 (The Pirate Perches.} 
 
 Vent jugular, in front of the ventral fins; dorsal fin 
 single, high, with but three spines; ventrals thoracic, 
 without spines and with more than five soft rays; some 
 bones of head spinous; teeth on jaws and palate; scales 
 ctenoid; branchiostegals six; ccecal appendages about 
 twelve; air bladder simple. 
 
 A single species known from the waters of the Eastern 
 and Southern States. It is remarkable for its voracity 
 and for its nocturnal habits. The unusual .position of 
 the vent (as in Amblyopsidce] distinguishes it widely 
 from the Percoid fishes. 
 
 /, APHREDODERUS, LeSueur. PIRATE PERCHES. 
 
 1. A. sayanus, (Gilliams) DeK. PIRATE PERCH. 
 Head 3 in length; depth 3f ; greenish olive; a sub- 
 orbital bar; caudal rounded; lower jaw longest; D. Ill, 
 11; A. II, 7; lat. 1. 48; length 5 inches. N. Y. to La., 
 in brooks near the coast. 
 
. XCIV. 241 
 
 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; vonier and palate toothless; opercles weakly if 
 at all serrated; bones of skull more 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 LabridcKj 
 dorsals two, distinct or slightly connected, the soft part 
 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. 
 (HAPLOIDONOTIN^E.) 
 
 f Body moderately elevated ; depth about one-third length ; 
 caudal double-truncate, slightly prolonged behind. 
 
 HAPLOIDONOTUS, 1. 
 
 f f 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 j spines 
 II 
 
242 FISHES. 
 
 strong; first anai spine short; the second very large, 
 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.) 
 
 2. H. concinnus, (Ag.) Gill. TENNESSEE DRUM. Stouter; 
 profile steeper; dorsal beginning in advance of edge of 
 pectorals; very large, reaching a weight of 50 Ibs. Ten- 
 nessee R. 
 
 3. H. lineatus, (Ag.) Gill. MISSOURI DRUM. Similar, 
 head shorter; profile less arched; scales with darker 
 edges, giving the body an obscurely striped appearance; 
 very large. Osage R. This and the preceding species 
 need confirmation. 
 
 2. EUTYCHELITHUS, Jordan. LAKE HURON DRUMS. 
 
 1. E. richardsonii, (C. &. V.) Jordan. MALASHEGANAY 
 LAKE DRUM. 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, 29; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 54. Lake Huron. A little 
 known species, which, if correctly described, can not 
 belong to Haploidonotus, as Prof. Gill has shown. It 
 may be called Eutychelithus (Greek, eutuches lucky; 
 lithos stone), from the large " ear bones," which many 
 of the members of this family possess, and which are 
 known to Wisconsin boys as " lucky stones." 
 
COTTID^. XCV. 243 
 
 FAMILY XCV. COTTID^E. 
 
 (The Sculpins.) 
 
 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, 
 soft dorsal largest; pectorals large, without detached 
 rays; veiitrals 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 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. 
 ff Palate sometimes with teeth ; ventrals 1, 4 ; size usually larger 
 (length 3 to 6 inches). . . . PEGEDICHTHYS, 2. 
 ** Second dorsal very high, widely separated from the first ; pre- 
 opercle with 4 needle-like spines. . TKIGLOPSIS, 3. 
 
 /. URANIDEA, DeKay. MILLER'S THUMBS. 
 < Cottus, Girard. 
 
 * Slender, fusiform species ; depth 6 to 6i in total length. 
 
 1. U. gracilis, (Heckel) Putnam. MILLER'S THUMB. 
 LITTLE STAR GAZER. Tips of pectorals reaching fourth 
 
244 FISHES. 
 
 ray of second D., and first of anal; head 4 in total 
 length; eye 4 in head; grayish, mottled. D. VIII 16; 
 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.) [U. 
 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.] This genus is not suffi- 
 ciently distinct from the next. Pegedichthys is the older 
 name. 
 ** Stouter ; depth about 5J 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. 12. Streams of Penn., Md., W. Va., 
 etc. (Youghiogheny R., Jordan), 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 
 4i in head; D. VIII 17; A. 12. S. and E. shores of 
 L. Superior. 
 
 4. U. hoyi, Putnam, Mss. HOY'S BULL -HEAD. Lake 
 Michigan. Description not yet published. 
 
 2. PEGEDICHTHYS, Rafinesque. SPRING FISHES. 
 
 = Potamocottus, Gill.- 
 
 1. P. icfa/urops, Raf. CAVE BULL -HE AD. BIG 
 MILLER'S THUMB. CAT'S EYE SPRING FISH. GOBLIN. 
 
xcv. 245 
 
 Head 3 in length; depth 5; width of head 3J; P. 
 reaching beyond beginning of soft dorsal to anal; pre- 
 opercle with a stout erect spine and two smaller ones 
 below; mouth wide; 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 Ohio, 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. meridion- 
 aliS) Grd. P. carolince. Gill.) 
 
 2. P. richardsonii, (Ag.) Jordan. LAKE SUPERIOR 
 MILLER'S THUMB. Pectorals shorter than head, scarcely 
 reaching second dorsal; depth 6 in total length; head 
 4i; eye 5 in head; D. VIII 18; A. 14. L. Superior; 
 one of the larger species. (C. alvordi, Grd., from L. 
 Huron, "the smallest species" is said to be stouter 
 (depth 5) and to have the pectorals longer.) 
 
 3. P. bairdii, (Girard) Jordan. BAIRD'S BULL-HEAD. 
 Pectorals long, reaching beyond beginning of anal; 
 depth 6 to 6J 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. Mahoning R., Ohio; Baraboo 
 R., Wis. (Bundy), etc. \C. wilsoni, (Grd.) from the 
 Allegany R. is similar, but is said to have the spinous 
 dorsal higher, and the upper rays of the pectorals 
 branched. IT. spilota, Cope, from Grand Rapids, Mich., 
 is similar but stouter, and D. VIII 17.] 
 
 3. TRIG LOPS IS, Girard. LAKE SCULPINS. 
 
 = Ptyonotus, Glinther. 
 
 1. T. thorn psoni, Grd. DEEP WATER LAKE SCULPIN. 
 Body elongated; depth 7 in total length; head 3^; eyes 
 very large, 4 in head; D. VI 18; A. 15. Great Lakes 
 
246 FISHES. 
 
 (L. Ontario, L. Michigan) in deep water; till lately 
 known only from remains found in the stomachs of Lake 
 Trout and Ling. 
 
 FAMILY XCVL 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. . . . GOBIOSOMA, 1. 
 
 /. GOBIOSOMA, Girard. NAKED GOBIES. 
 1. G. mo/estum, Grd. Dusky brown; head 3J in 
 length; D. VII 12; A. 12. Coast of Texas, entering 
 rivers. A single specimen in the Museum of Oomp. 
 Zoology from the Ohio R., near Louisville (Putnam). 
 
 SUB- OEDER. - ANACANTHINI. 
 
 (TJie Jugular Fishes) 
 
 FAMILY XCVIL GADID^E. 
 
 (The Cod Fishes.) 
 
 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 
 
GASTEROSTEID^E. XCVIH. 247 
 
 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 number (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 villiform. 
 
 LOTA, 1. 
 /. LOTA, Cuvier. LINGS. 
 
 1. L /acustr/Sf (Mitch.) Gill. LING. BURBOT. 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 (always?) longest; D. 13 76; 
 A. 68; V. 7; length 1^- to 2% feet. Great Lakes and 
 streams of New England, north to the Arctic Circle, 
 abundant; very rare in the Miss. Valley. A curious fish, 
 rarely used for food, although the livers are said to be 
 delicious. [L. maculosa, (Les.) Cuv. L. compressa^ 
 (Les.) and L. brosmiana, Storer. L. inornata^ DeK., 
 etc.] It is closely related to the European L. vulgaris^ 
 Cuv. 
 
 SUB-OKDER -HEMIBK ARCHIL 
 
 (The Half-Gilled Fishes.) 
 FAMILY XCVIIL 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 
 
248 FISHES. 
 
 articulated with the preopercle ( as in Cottidoe^ 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 few pyloric cceca. Genera about four; 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 GASTEROSTEUS, 1. 
 
 ft 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. 
 
 \\ 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. PYGOSTEUS, 4. 
 
 /. GASTEROSTEUS, Linnaeus. MAILED STICKLEBACKS. 
 1. G. noveboracensis, C. & V. NEW YORK STICKLE- 
 BACK. Maine to Cape Hatteras, coastwise; sometimes 
 ascending streams. 
 
 2. APELTES, DeKay. NAKED STICKLEBACKS. 
 
 < GasterosteuS) L. 
 
 1. A. quadracus, (Mitch.) Brevoort. FOUR-SPINED 
 STICKLEBACK. Abundant, with the preceding. 
 
 3. EUCALIA, Jordan. NEST - BUILDING STICKLEBACKS. 
 
 < Apeltes^ Authors. 
 
 1. E. inconstans, (Kirtland) Jordan. BROOK STICKLE- 
 BACK. OHIO STICKLEBACK. Head about 3^ in length ; 
 
GASTEROSTEID^. XCVIII. 249 
 
 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. pygmcBCt, ( Agassiz ) Jordan. L. SUPERIOR 
 STICKLEBACK. Depth 3f in length; head 3; caudal 
 peduncle short and stout; body shorter and deeper than 
 the preceding; vent much nearer tip of caudal than 
 snout; color similar; D. Ill or IV I, 6; A. I, 6. L. 
 Superior. 
 
 Var. cayuga, Jordan. CAYUGA LAKE STICKLEBACK. 
 Head 3^ in length; depth 4^; spines all high; caudal 
 peduncle slender; vent much nearer snout than tip of 
 caudal; D. IV I, 10; A. 1, 10. Cayuga L., N. Y., 
 dredged in deep water ( Wilder). Probably this and the 
 preceding are varieties of the variable E. inconstans, 
 Length 1J inches. 
 
 4. PYGOSTEUS, Brevoort. MANY-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 
 
 1. P. occidentalis, (C. & V.) Brevoort. TEN-SPINED 
 STICKLEBACK. Coastwise, abundant; sometimes ascend- 
 ing streams. 
 
 2. P. nebulosus, (Ag.) Jordan. MANY-SPINED LAKE 
 STICKLEBACK. Head 3^ in length; ventral spine long; 
 caudal keeled; sides not mailed; D. IX 10; A. I, 8. 
 Great Lakes (scarcely distinct from preceding.) 
 
 3. P. mainensis, (Storer) Brev. MAINE STICKLEBACK. 
 Sides with a serrated plate ; body banded; D. VII I, 9 ; 
 A. I, 8. Kennebec R., Maine. 
 
250 PISHES. 
 
 STJB-OBDEB. -PEECESOCES. 
 
 (The Silversides.) 
 
 FAMILY XCIX. ATHERINID^E. 
 
 (The Silversides.) 
 
 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. 
 Besides the following strictly inland species, the common 
 Dotted Silverside [Chirostoma notatum (Mitch.) Gill] 
 ascends rivers from the sea. 
 
 * Mouth v.ery oblique ; the upper jaw plane above, concave within ; 
 the lower jaw correspondingly convex, the protractile inter- 
 rnaxillaries forming a peculiar roof-like beak. 
 
 LABIDESTHES, 1. 
 
 /. LABIDESTHES, Cope. RIVER SILVERSIDES. 
 
 1. L sicculus, Cope. SILVER SKIP -JACK. RIVER 
 SILVERSIDE. Depth 6 in length; head 4J; 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 Cyprinodonts, especially the Central 
 American Belonesox. 
 
CYPRINODONTHLE. C. 251 
 
 SUB - OEDER HAPLOML 
 
 (The Toothed Minnows.) 
 
 FAMILY C. CYPRINODONTID^E. 
 
 (TJie 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 
 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 ( Girardinm 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 arid slime. 
 
 * Dorsal fin commencing distinctly before anal ; brancliiostegals 
 about 5 FUNDULUS, 1. 
 
 ** Dorsal fin short, commencing behind or opposite the elongate 
 anal ; branchiostegals about 3. . . ZYGONECTES, 2. 
 
 /. FUHDULUS, Lacepede. KILLIFISHES. 
 1. F. diaphanus, (Les.) Ag. BARRED KILLIFISH. 
 SPRING MUMMICHO&. Sides silvery olive, with twelve 
 
252 FISHES. 
 
 to fifteen distinct, narrow, blackish, vertical bars ; head 
 rather narrow; D. 13; A. 12; 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. midtifasciatuSi (Les. ) Val.] Various marine 
 species of this genus, as well as of Cyprinodon, Hydrar- 
 gyra and Micristius are sometimes found in fresh waters 
 near the coast. 
 
 2. ZYGONECTES, Agassiz. TOP MINNOWS. 
 < Haplochilus, Giinther. 
 X Hydrargyra, Pcecilia and Fundulus of Authors. 
 
 1. Z. olivaceus, (Stor.) Ag. BLACK -SIDED KILLI- 
 FISH. 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; abun- 
 dant. (Z. pulchellus and tenellus, Grd. F. aureus, 
 Cope, etc.) 
 
 2. Z. notiii, 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. G; 
 A. 8; lat. 1. 31. Neuse R. 
 
 4. Z. catenates, (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; throat and bars on dorsal and 
 
UMBRIDJE. 01. 253 
 
 anal bright orange; D. 14; A. 15; lat. 1. 44; length 6 
 inches. Tenn. R.; one of the handsomest of the family. 
 Tt probably does not belong to this genus, but it is equally 
 unlike Fundulm^ Hydrargyra and Pcecilia, to all of 
 which genera it has been referred. 
 
 FAMILY CI. UMBRIDJ3. 
 
 (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; 
 scales moderate, cycloid; lower jaw longest; dorsal far 
 .back; caudal fin rounded; gill openings wide; teeth 
 villiform 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 Melanuras" 
 (Baird.) 
 
 1. MELANURA, Agassiz. MUD MINNOWS. 
 
 < Umbra, Giinther. 
 
 1. M. limi, (Kirtland) Agassiz. MUD MINNOW. MUD 
 DACE. DOG FISH. Depth about 4 in length; head 3J; 
 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. 
 
254 FISHES. 
 
 35; length 2 to 4 inches. New Jersey to Minnesota, 
 chiefly northward and westward; most abundant in Wis- 
 consin; rare in Ohio Valley; usually associated with 
 Eucalia inconstans. 
 
 FAMILY GIL 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., 
 and our E. estor is perhaps identical with E. lucius. 
 
 Genus one (or two) ; species five to twenty; the follow- 
 ing seem to be well characterized; many others have 
 been described and some of them may be good, but that 
 has yet to be proven. It maybe convenient to recognize 
 the sub-genus Picorellus, proposed long ago by Rafin- 
 esque. 
 
 * Lower half of opercles scaleless ; cheeks scaly or not ; species 
 of large size; grayish blue in color, with round whitish 
 spots Esox, 1. 
 
 ** Cheeks and opercles entirely scaly; size smaller; color olive 
 green, with darker bars or reticulations ; a black vertical bar 
 below the eye PICORELLUS, 2. 
 
 
 
 /. ESOX, Linnaeus. PIKES. 
 
 1. E. nobilior, Thompson. MUSKALLUNGE. GREAT 
 PIKE. Cheeks as well as opercles half bare; grayish 
 
ESOCITLE. on. 255 
 
 with round white spots; a magnificent fish, reaching a 
 length of 6 feet; B. 19; D. 19 to 21; A. 20; lat. 1. 155. 
 Great Lakes, etc. (E. estor of some authors.) 
 
 2. . lucius, L., var. estor, (LeSueur.) 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. Great Lakes and headwaters of the Missis- 
 sippi. A fine species reaching a length of 3 to 4 feet. 
 (E. lucius, lucioides, boreus, etc., of authors.) 
 
 2. PICORELLUS, Rafinesque. PICKERELS. 
 
 * Branch iostegals 14 to 16; snout prolonged; front of eye nearly 
 midway in head. 
 
 1. P. reticu/afus, (LeSueur) Jordan. COMMON EAST- 
 ERN PICKEREL. GREEN 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. 14 to 16; D. 16 to 
 18; 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. 
 Represented S. of Va. by P. affinis. (Holbr.) 
 
 ** Branchiostegals normally 12; front of eye nearer tip of snout. 
 
 2. P. americanus, (Lac.) Jordan. BANDED PICKEREL. 
 TROUT PICKEREL. Head ,3f 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 
 
256 FISHES. 
 
 the preceding. (E. niger, scomberius, fasciatus and 
 ornatus of authors.) Represented S. of Va. by P. ra- 
 venelii. (Holbr.) 
 
 3. P. salmoneus, (Raf.) Jordan. 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, 
 abundant in the Ohio Valley. (E. cypho^ E. porosus^ 
 Cope, etc.) (E. umbrosus, Kirtland.) Resembles reticu- 
 latus more than americanus. 
 
 FAMILY CIIL AMBLYOPSID^E. 
 
 (TJie 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 Coast 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 
 
AMBLYOPSHXE. CIII. 257 
 
 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. 
 ** Eyes well developed ; body colored ; no ventrals. 
 
 CHOLOGASTER, 3. 
 
 /. AMBLYOPSIS, DeKay. LARGER BLIND FISH. 
 
 1. A. spel&us, DeKay. BLIND 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 Iiid. Mam- 
 moth Cave, Wyandot Cave, etc. 
 
 2. TYPHLICHTHYS, Girard. SMALL BLIND 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 \ 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. 
 
 17 
 
258 FISHES. 
 
 SUB - OEDER - ISOSPOND YLL 
 
 (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 vomer 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 Salmonidoe^ but having the mouth 
 and scales decidedly Perch-like. 
 
 /. PERCOPSIS, Agassiz. TROUT PERCHES. 
 1. P. guitatus, Ag. Depth 4J in length; head 3f; 
 silvery, almost pellucid; upper parts with rounded dark 
 spots made up of minute dots; D. 11; A. 7; L. 10. 
 Great Lakes; Ohio R. (Jordan)', Potomac R. (Baird}\ 
 Delaware R. (Abbott.) 
 
 FAMILY CV. SALMONID^E. 
 
 (The Trout.) 
 
 Head naked, body scaly, no barbels; margin of upper 
 jaw formed by intermaxillaries mesially and by maxil- 
 laries laterally; adipose fin present; belly rounded; air 
 bladder large, simple; pseudobranchke present; pyloric 
 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^E. CV. 259 
 
 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, 
 
 vomer and tongue. 
 
 \ Scales small ; partly 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 veiy high of 20 or more rays ; teeth small. 
 
 THYMALLUS, 3. 
 ** Teeth wanting or reduced to slight roughnesses ; scales rather 
 
 large, loose. 
 
 a. Lower jaw longer than upper, or if not, body slender, sub- 
 fusiform ARGYROSOMUS, 4. 
 
 CM. Upper jaw notably longest; body more or less elevated. 
 
 COREGONUS, 5. 
 
 /. SALMO, Linnaeus. SALMONS. 
 
 > SalmO) Fario, Salar^ Trutta, Umbla^ Hucho, Sal- 
 velini) etc., of Authors. 
 
 * 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. 5. salar, L. GREAT SEA SALMON. No red spots; 
 young (Parr. Smolt) with dusky cross bars; males in 
 the spawning season with the lower jaw strongly re- 
 curved 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- 
 
260 FISHES. 
 
 pose fin obliquely forward to the lateral line; D. 14; A. 
 11; lat. 1. 120. Northern Europe and America, S. to 
 Cape Cod. 
 
 ** Species not auadromous, 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. (Hucho part.) 
 
 2. S. fontina/iSf 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. 
 
 f f In deep rivers or lakes, ascending shallow streams to spawn. 
 a. Red-spotted. 
 
 3. 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. 
 
 4. 5. sebago, Grd. SEBAGO LAKE TROUT. UNIOX 
 RIVER TROUT. Everywhere 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.) 
 
 fff 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. (Trutta.) 
 
 5. S. namaycush, Pennant. MACKINAW TROUT. GREAT 
 LAKE TROUT. .. Stout; head very large, 3^ in length; 
 
261 
 
 bones of head strong; posterior point of juncture of 
 opercle and sub-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, Mit.) 
 
 6. 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. 
 
 7. S. confinis, Mit. -LAKE TROUT OF NEW YORK. 
 Blackish, with gray spots; body unusually short and 
 thick. Lakes of Central and Western N. Y. ; a doubtful 
 species. 
 
 8. S. symmetrica, Prescott. WINNIPISEOGEE TROUT. 
 Grayish and brown above, marbled with darker; white 
 below; body unusually slender and symmetrical. Lake 
 Winnipiseogee ; also a doubtful species. 
 
 2. OSMERUS, Linnaeus. SMELTS. 
 1. 0. mordax, (Mit.) 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. 
 Coast, Nova Scotia to Virginia; also "land-locked" in 
 fresh water ponds in Maine, etc. (O. wridescens, Mit.) 
 
262 FISHES. 
 
 Var. spectrum, (Cope) Jordan. LAND-LOCKED SMELT. 
 Head 4 in length; eye large, 3 in head; depth 8^ in 
 length. Wilton Pond, Maine. 
 
 Var. abbottii, (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 part of the S. peninsula of Michigan; a beautiful 
 fish. 
 
 4. ARGYROSOMUS, Agassiz. SISCOES. 
 * Body snb-fusiform ; depth 4 to 5 iii length. 
 
 1. A. clupeiformis, (Mitch.) Ag. LAKE HERRING. 
 MICHIGAN HERRING. Head 4f in length (4^ to 5^); 
 depth 4 (3| to 4); eye 4 in head; maxillary 3J to 3f ; 
 mandible 2J; scales rather large and loose; bluish above, 
 silvery on sides and below; D. 12; A. 13; lat. 1. 7G; 
 length 12 to 18 inches. Great Lakes, etc., very abun- 
 dant; a shallow water species. (Coregonus albus, artedi^ 
 luciduS) harengus, etc. of authors.) 
 
 2. A. sisco, Jordan. Sisco OF LAKE TIPPECANOE. 
 Head 4-J; depth 4^; eye 3| in head; maxillary 3; man- 
 dible 2-J; longest dorsal ray three times length of shortest; 
 steel blue above, sides silvery but without the clear lustre 
 of A. hoyi, finely punctate; D. 11; A. 13; lat. 1. 84. 
 Lakes of Indiana and Wisconsin, living in deep water 
 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. 
 
HYODONTIDJ3. CVI. 263 
 
 3. A. nigripinnis, Gill. BLACK FIN. 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 or the next. Lake Michigan, in deep 
 water. 
 
 4. A. hoyi, Gill. Sisco OF LAKE MICHIGAN. Head 4 
 in length; depth 4^; eye large, 3f in head; maxillary 
 2f; mandible 2; longest ray of dorsal four times the 
 length of the shortest; upper jaw somewhat projecting, 
 the mouth appearing much as in Coregonus 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 Siscoes, in the deep 
 waters of the Upper Lakes. 
 
 ** Body elevated ; depth about 3 in length. 
 
 5. A. tu//ibee, (Rich.) Ag. TULLIBEE. Head 4| in 
 length; D. 15; A. 15; lat. 1. 77. L. Superior and N. 
 
 5. COREGONUS, Linnaeus. WHITE FISHES. 
 1. C. a/bus, LeSueur. LAKE WHITE FISH. Depth 
 3J in length; head small, 5^; eye 4 in head, about as 
 long as snout; form varying much with age, sex and 
 food; pale olive above; sides white; D. 13; A. 13; lat. 
 1. 75 to 86. Great Lakes and bodies of water tributary 
 to them, north to the Arctic Sea. (Various other species 
 have been described within our limits, but it is impossible 
 to distinguish them.) 
 
 FAMILY CVI. 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; 
 
264 FISHES. 
 
 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. A single species, inhabiting our 
 Western Streams and the Great Lakes. 
 
 /. HYODON, LeSueur. MOON EYES. 
 
 1. H. tergisus, LeSueur. MOON EYE. SILVER BASS. 
 TOOTHED HERRING. Depth 3 7 4 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. 
 
 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, 
 
CLUPEID^S. CVII. 265 
 
 * Upper jaw not projecting beyond the lower. 
 f Teeth wanting or on tongue only (rarely a few weak teeth in 
 jaws) no dorsal filament; scales regularly arranged, not 
 ciliated; upper jaw einargiuate. 
 
 \ Depth 3i in length; cheeks higher than long; preopercle 
 with a very short horizontal process. . ALOSA, 1. 
 \\ Depth 3 J to 3f in length ; cheeks longer than high ; pre- 
 opercle with an oblong horizontal process. 
 
 POMOLOBUS, 2. 
 
 ** Upper jaw projecting beyond the lower. (DOROSOMIN^E.) 
 a. Body compressed, deep ; last ray of dorsal filamentous ; 
 inoutli toothless ...... DOROSOMA, 3. 
 
 /. ALOSA, Cuvier. SHADS. 
 
 1. A. sapidissima, (Wilson) Storer. COMMON SHAD. 
 Head 4 in length; eye 5 in head; bluish, sides silvery; 
 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.prcesta- 
 lilts, DeK.) 
 
 2. POMOLOBUS, Rafinesque. GASPEREAUS. 
 
 1. P. pseudoharengus, (Wils.) Gill. ALEWIPE. GAS- 
 PEREAU. SPRING HERRING. Head 5 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. lacusiris, Jordan. CAYUGA LAKE SHAD. Head 
 4 in length; body much heavier forward than in the 
 others; depth ftf 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. 
 12 
 
266 FISHES. 
 
 45; 33 scutes in all, 13 behind ventrals. Cayuga L., 
 N. Y., dredged in deep water. ( Wilder.) 
 
 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. 
 
 3. DOROSOMA, Rafinesque. GIZZAED SHADS. 
 = Chatoessus, Cuvier. 
 
 1. D. cepedianum, (Lac.) Gill. HICKORY SHAD. 
 GIZZARD SHAD. Head 4 in length; depth 2f ; origin of 
 dorsals behind ventrals, nearer snout than caudal; uni- 
 form bluish gray; often with a dark shoulder blotch; D. 
 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. 
 
 2. D. notatum, Raf. OHIO GIZZARD 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; not well distinguished from 
 the preceding and perhaps the same. (C. ellipticus, Kirt.) 
 
. cvm. 267 
 
 SUB- OEDEE. -EVEBTOGSTATHI. 
 
 (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 intermaxillaries 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, never more than seven; belly usually 
 rounded, rarejy compressed, never serrated; gill openings 
 moderate, separated by a narrow isthmus; no adipose 
 fin ; dorsal fin (in all our species) short, of less than ten 
 rays; air bladder usually large, commonly divided into 
 an anterior and a posterior lobe, rarely wanting; stomach 
 without appendages, appearing as a simple enlargement 
 of the intestines. 
 
 Small fishes of the fresh waters of the Old World and 
 of North 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 rhotheus, rarely attains a weight of three or 
 four pounds, and a length of nearly eighteen inches. 
 
268 FISHES. 
 
 The smaller Hybopses and Hemitremioe, 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 Ceratich- 
 thys 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 Luxi- 
 lus, PlargyruS) Lythrurus, Gila and Minnilus the 
 prickles are quite small and crowded on the upper surface 
 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 JLuxilus, Lythrurus, C ampostoma, and 
 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 Rhinichthys 
 and Gila, the black of a portion of the lateral band 
 usually changes to red; in Chrosomus, and probably 
 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 Pimephales and Hyborhynchus^ 
 black pigment is deposited in the skin of the head, and 
 in the species of the sub-genus Plargyrus, satin-white 
 pigment occurs in the fins. So far as is known to me, 
 the species of Hybopsis, Hemitremia, Hybognathus, 
 Photogenis, Phenacobius^ Exoglossum, Notemigonus, 
 Ericymba. and the sub -genus Erinemus of Cera- 
 
CYPKINTDJS. cvm. 269 
 
 tichthyS) -with one or two exceptions, show no special 
 variations in the breeding season, but this matter needs 
 further investigation. 
 
 The genera given below appear to be well character- 
 ized, although several are very closely related, and the 
 occurrence of intermediate forms may require them to 
 be reunited. Lythrurus and Plargyrus are properly 
 sub-genera of Luxilus, but they show so many external 
 peculiarities that I have, for the present, given them 
 generic rank. Most of the species here admitted have 
 been pretty thoroughly tested by the author, though 
 there are several, particularly under Hybopsis^ which I 
 do not like to indorse. 
 
 NOTE.- -Young CyprinidcB 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 following artificial key will generally hold good for 
 adult fishes, but only great patience and long and careful observa- 
 tion will enable the student to identify the young. The accounts 
 of the pharyngeal teeth are taken from Prof. Cope's invaluable 
 "Monograph of the Cyprinidm of Pennsylvania," but most of 
 them have been verified by the author. It has been thought best 
 to make the dental characters subordinate in the present work, 
 but the student is strongly advised to examine the teeth of these 
 fishes, as the actual characters of the genera are largely drawn 
 from them. 
 
 * Native species ; fins without serrated spines. 
 
 f Dorsal preceded by a short, spinous ray, which is connected 
 by a membrane to the soft rays (about half the height of 
 the fin, and appearing as if broken off) ; snout short and 
 blunt, overlapping the small mouth ; front of muzzle with 
 about a dozen large tubercles in spring males; fins low; 
 dorsal with a black spot in front, about half way up ; peri- 
 toneum black ; intestines long, two to three times length of 
 body ; teeth one-rowed, 4-4, with masticatory surface. 
 
270 FISHES. 
 
 a. Lateral line complete ; body elongated ; angle of mouth 
 
 usually with a small barbel. . HYBORHYNCHUS, 4. 
 aa. Lateral line incomplete ; body very short ; no barbels. 
 
 PIMEPHALES, 3. 
 
 ff Dorsal without spine, the rudimentary ray in front smaller 
 and firmly attached to the first developed ray. 
 
 b. "With a small barbel (often very minute) at each angle of 
 
 the mouth ; alimentary canal not longer than body ; teeth 
 hooked, without masticatory surface. 
 
 c. Intermaxillaries not projectile, skin of lip and front 
 continuous; mouth rather inferior, beneath the promi- 
 nent snout; scales small, usually mottled; lat. 1. 60 to 
 70 ; sides rosy in Spring ; isthmus wide ; teeth 2, 4-4, 2. 
 
 RHLNICHTHYS, 9. 
 
 cc. Intermaxillaries projectile; species usually of larger 
 size or with larger scales. 
 
 d. Mouth very wide, oblique; head broad, rounded; jaws 
 nearly equal ; the minute barbel just above the angle 
 of the mouth ; often a black spot on front base of 
 dorsal ; teeth 2, 5-4, 2. ... SEMOTILUS, 7. 
 
 dd. Species usually of smaller size; the mouth rather 
 narrow and more or less inferior, with the small but 
 evident barbel at its angle ; no spot at base of dorsal ; 
 teeth 4-4 ; or 1 or 2, 4-4, 1 or 2. CERATICHTHYS, 8. 
 
 J&. Angle of mouth without traces of a barbel. 
 
 e. Mouth terminal, more or less oblique; the jaws about 
 even, or the lower somewhat projecting. (Upper jaw 
 sometimes swollen and projecting in spring males of 
 Luxilus and Semotilus.) 
 
 f Anal with twelve or more developed rays ; body ele- 
 vated, abdomen compressed; lateral line greatly 
 decurved; mouth short, oblique; lower jaw rather 
 longest; dorsal behind ventrals; intestinal canal 
 long; teeth one-rowed, crenate, with masticatory 
 surface ; rather large species, with a silvery or golden 
 lustre NOTEMIGONUS, 21. 
 
 jf. Anal with seven to eleven (rarely twelve) developed rays. 
 
CYPKINID^E. CVIII. 271 
 
 g. Lateral line incomplete or wanting ; mouth oblique ; 
 size small. 
 
 h. Scales very small ; lat. 1. more than 60 ; dorsal 
 behind ventrals. 
 
 i. Body very stout ; head short and heavy ; mouth 
 large; a single black lateral band; back 
 unspotted ; alimentary canal short ; teeth two- 
 rowed, inner 5-4, without masticatory surface. 
 
 PHOXINUS, 14. 
 
 it. Body moderately stout, graceful ; sides with one 
 or two black bands ; back spotted ; belly, etc., 
 brilliant red in spring; alimentary canal 
 elongate; teeth one-rowed, 4r-5 or 5-5, with 
 masticatory surface. . CHBOSOMUS, 13. 
 
 tih. Scales rather large ; lateral line less than 40 ; 
 small species with a dark lateral band; teeth 
 4-4 or 5^i, with masticatory surface. 
 
 HEMITREMIA, 12. 
 
 gg. Lateral line complete (rarely obsolete on the last 
 four or five scales) ; alimentary canal short. 
 
 j. Dorsal decidedly behind ventrals ; mouth oblique, 
 usually large, the lower jaw commonly project- 
 ing ; elongated species, generally of small size, 
 more or less compressed, with the caudal 
 peduncle long; males rosy and with small 
 tubercles in spring; teeth two-rowed. 
 
 k. Scales very small ; lat. 1. 45 to 75 ; dorsal without 
 spots ; scarcely silvery ; sides and below red 
 in spring ; anal fin short, with eight or nine 
 rays ; teeth 5-4 (inner series), without masti- 
 catory surface GILA, 15. 
 
 kk. Scales rather small, especially in front of dorsal, 
 larger along the sides and crowded so that the 
 exposed surfaces are decidedly higher than 
 long as in I/uxilus; lat. 1. 40 to 50; fins very 
 high, bright red in the spring, a large black 
 spot at base of dorsal in front ; anal fin long, 
 
272 FISHES. 
 
 of ten or eleven rays; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, with 
 masticatory surface. . LYTHRUIIUS, 16. 
 
 kkk. Scales rather large, not closely imbricated, 
 brilliantly silvery; lat. 1. 35 to 40; fins un- 
 spotted, uncolored; forehead, etc., rosy in 
 spring : anal fin rather long, of nine to twelve 
 rays; body elongate ; teeth (inner series) 4-4, 
 usually without masticatory surface. 
 
 MINNILUS, 20. 
 
 jj. Dorsal directly above ventrals (rarely slightly pos- 
 terior) ; anal short, of eight or nine rays. 
 I. Lateral line with less than 45 scales. 
 
 m. Scales quite large, closely imbricated, the ex- 
 posed portion being much higher than long, 
 especially on the sides of the body, very 
 conspicuously so in adults; body corn- 
 pressed; lateral line decurved; mouth 
 oblique ; males with the head tuberculate 
 in spring. 
 
 Dorsal fin directly over ventrals, without 
 
 distinct black spot ; sides and fins with 
 red pigment in spring ; mouth and eyes 
 large; anal commonly I, 9; teeth 2, 
 4-4, 2 with masticatory surface. 
 
 LUXILUS, 17. 
 
 Dorsal fin slightly behind ventrals, with 
 
 a large black blotch behind ; pigment 
 on sides and fins pure satin white; 
 mouth and eyes rather small ; A. nor- 
 mally I, 8; teeth 1, 4-4, 1, sometimes 
 crenate. . . PLARGYRUS, 18. 
 mm. Scales normal, not closely imbricated. 
 n. Elongated, compressed species with the 
 mouth very oblique, and the lower jaw 
 usually projecting; scales generally bril- 
 liantly silvery; eye large; lateral line 35 
 to 40; inner row of teeth 4-4, without 
 masticatory surface. r PHOTOGENIS, 19. 
 
CYPRTNID^E. CVIII. 273 
 
 nn. Small weak species, with the head short, 
 mouth small, and the lower jaw usually 
 not projecting; scales scarcely silvery; 
 inner row of teeth 4-4, with masticatory 
 surface. . . . HYBOPSIS, 11. 
 
 II. Lateral line with more than 45 scales ; head broad 
 and large; body little compressed; teeth with- 
 out masticatory surface, 2, 5-4, 2. 
 
 SEMOTILUS, 7. 
 
 . Mouth inferior, scarcely oblique, the upper jaw being 
 notably longest. 
 
 1. Intestinal canal about eight times the length of the 
 
 body, its numerous convolutions entirely surround- 
 ing the small air-bladder; peritoneum black ; head 
 rather long and narrow, with sub- vertical cheeks; 
 lips with cartilaginous sheaths ; eyes well back and 
 high up the head, the iris orange-colored; scales 
 rather small, more or less mottled; a blackish verti- 
 cal bar behind head and a dusky band across dorsal 
 and anal, which in spring males is bordered with 
 fiery orange; back and head coarsely tuberculated 
 in $ in spring; teeth 4-4, with oblique masticatory 
 surface CAMPOSTOMA, 2. 
 
 2. Sub-orbital bone, interopercle and base of mandible 
 
 much dilated, cavernous, crossed by large mucous 
 channels (these readily seen under any circum- 
 stances, by looking at the head of the fish from 
 beloio); snout thick; slender fishes, brightly silvery; 
 teeth 1, 4-4, 0, hooked, without masticatory surface. 
 
 ERICYMBA, 6. 
 
 3. Mandible much contracted, with a lobe on each side at 
 
 base; the middle portion appearing like a protrud- 
 ing tongue; intermaxillaries not projectile; stout 
 species, dusky in color; teeth 1,4-4, 1, hooked, with- 
 out masticatory surface. . . EXOGLOSSUM, 1. 
 
 4. Lips large, defended by a cartilaginous sheath on their 
 
 opposing edges, somewhat plicate or tuberculate; 
 18 
 
274 FISHES. 
 
 elongate species of small size, resembling young 
 suckers ; teeth 4-4, hooked, sharp-edged. 
 
 PHENACOBIUS, 10. 
 
 5. Intermaxillaries not projectile, the skin of lip and 
 
 forehead being continous ; small dark species with 
 60 or more scales in the lateral line. 
 
 RHINICHTHYS, 9. 
 
 6. Scales high, closely imbricated ; body compressed, 
 
 silvery ; dorsal with a black blotch behind ; snout 
 with small tubercles and fins with satiny pigment 
 in spring; teeth 1, 4-4, 1. . . PLARGYRUS, 18. 
 
 7. Small fishes silvery or plumbeous, with none of the 
 
 preceding combinations. 
 
 o. Jaws with sharp cutting edges ; intestines much con- 
 voluted, about four times the length of the head and 
 body; peritoneum black; size moderate; scales 
 brightly silvery ; teeth 4-4, with oblique mastica- 
 tory surface and no hook. . HYBOGNATHUS, 5. 
 
 oo. Jaws not trenchant ; intestines not longer than head 
 and body ; peritoneum pale ; scales various, rather 
 large; small, weak species; teeth one or two- 
 rowed, inner series 4-4. . . HYBOPSIS, 11. 
 
 ** Introduced species ; dorsal very long and anal short, each 
 being preceded by a stout spine which is serrated behind. 
 
 p. Mouth with four long barbels; teeth molar 3, 1-1, 3. 
 
 CYPRINUS, 23. 
 pp. No barbels ; teeth compressed, 4-4. . CARASSIUS, 22. 
 
 /. EXOGLOSSUM, Rafinesque. STONE TOTEES. 
 
 1. E. maxil lingua, (LeS.) Haldeman. DAY CHUB. 
 CUT - LIPS. NIGGER CHUB. Body stout ; depth 4 in 
 length, head 4; eye small, nearly 5 in head; dorsal be- 
 hind midway between snout and caudal ; dusky above, 
 a blackish shade along caudal peduncle; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; 
 lat. 1. 50 to 55; L. 4 to 6. W. N. Y. (Susquehanna basin) 
 
275 
 
 to Tenn. and S.; a fish of remarkable appearance, singu- 
 larly distinguished from all our other CyprinidcB by the 
 three-lobed lower jaw. 
 
 2. E. mirabile, Grd. WESTERN STONE TOTER. Head 
 5 in length; dorsal nearer snout; D. I, 9 ; A. I, 8. 
 Arkansas R. 
 
 2. CAMPOSTOMA, Agassiz. STONE LUGGERS. 
 1. C. anomalum, (Raf.) Ag. STONE LUGGER. STONE 
 ROLLER. Brownish, with a brassy lustre above, the 
 scales more or less mottled with dark; a black vertical 
 bar behind opercle; iris usually orange-red; dorsal and 
 anal each with dusky cross-bar about half way up, the 
 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. [C. dubium, (Kirt.) Cope. C. cal- 
 lipteryx, gobioninum, etc., Cope.] 
 
 3. PIMEPHALES, Rafinesque. ROUND -HEADED 
 
 MINNOWS. 
 
 1. P. prome/as, Raf. FAT -HEAD. BLACK HEAD. 
 Head almost globular, black in adult males; snout in $ 
 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- 
 
276 FISHES. 
 
 ceous; D. I, 7; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 46; L. 2J. Ohio Valley 
 to Upper Missouri. Known at sight, as it resembles 
 nothing else. 
 
 2. P. milesii, Cope. MILES' MINNOW. Snout longer; 
 eye larger; mouth larger; color paler, usually a blackish 
 lateral stripe; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 40. Mich, to Ky. 
 (P. agassizii, Cope.) 
 
 4. 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; a 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. (If. 
 superciliosus, Cope. This form, said to be distinguished 
 from the true " notatus " by the presence of the barbel, 
 is the only one I have yet seen. Specimens from 
 Rafinesque's original locality possess the barbel.) 
 
 5. HYBOGNATHUS, Agassiz. BLUNT- JAWED MINNOWS. 
 
 1. H. nuchalis, Ag. BLUNT - JAWED MINNOW. Smaller 
 and more dusky than the next; eye small, shorter than 
 snout, 4 to 4^ in head; depth 4J in length, about equal 
 to length of head; scales in front of dorsal very small 
 and crowded; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1.38; L. 2|. Ohio 
 Valley and W. This and the next may be readily known 
 from the Hybopses, which they strongly resemble exter- 
 nally, by the peculiarities of the intestines. 
 
 2. H. argyritis, Grd. SILVERY MINNOW. Olivaceous 
 
. cvm. 277 
 
 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. N. J. to N. C. 
 and W. to the Upper Missouri; abundant in the larger 
 streams; one of our handsomest dace. (Jf. osmerimts, 
 Cope, not in the least different!) 
 
 6. ERICYMBA, Cope. ERICYMBAS. 
 
 1. E. buccata, Cope. SILVER - MOUTHED DACE. 
 Elongated; depth nearly 5 in length; head 4; eye 
 large, 3 in head; olivaceous above, sides brilliantly 
 silvery, a narrow vertebral line, and a lateral chain of 
 brown dots; upper jaw rather large, its profile angulated; 
 mucous channels in lower jaw very conspicuous; D. I, 8; 
 A. I, 8; lat, 1. 33; L. 5. Ohio Valley, Penn. to Tenn. 
 (Jordan] and Illinois, abundant. A beautiful little fish 
 singularly distinguished from all our other species by 
 the cavernous bones of the head. 
 
 7. SEMOTILUS, Rafinesque. FALL FISH. 
 
 * Scales moderate, crowded forwards, 55 or more in lateral line ; 
 a black spot at base of dorsal in front. (Semotilus.) 
 
 1. S. corpora/is, (Mitch.) Putnam. COMMON CHUB.. 
 HORNED DACE. Body stout, depth 4 in length; head 
 large, 3f ; dusky above, especially along edges of scales; 
 sides bluish, a black lateral band in young; silvery 
 below, sides and fins flushed with crimson in spring; 
 D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 55 to 65; L. 10 to 12. New 
 England (Housatonic R., Jordan) to the Missouri region 
 and S.; the most widely diffused of our Cyprinidce, 
 excepting Ceratichthys melanot/tis. It may be known 
 under all circumstances by the large head and the 
 
278 FISHES. 
 
 peculiar dorsal spot. ($. atromaculatus, dorsalis, 
 cephalus, speciosus, etc., etc., of authors.) 
 
 Var. pallidus, (Grd.) Jordan. PALE CHUB. Differs 
 in its pale color and slightly smaller scales. Missouri 
 region and S. 
 
 ** Scales larger, scarcely crowded anteriorly; lat. 1. 45 to 55; no 
 dorsal spot. (Leucosomus, Hseckel.) 
 
 2. S. argenteus, (Storer) Putn. EASTERN CHUB. 
 ROACH. Brownish, sides roseate; depth 4|- in length; 
 head 4; eye 5 in head; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 51; L. 12 
 to 14. New England and New York. [$. pulchellus, 
 (Storer) Gill.] 
 
 3. S. rhotheus, Cope. BIG CHUB. ROSY FALL FISH. 
 Steel, blue above, sides silvery, rosy in spring; propor- 
 tions of the last; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 46; the largest 
 of our Cyprinidce, reaching a length of 18 inches. 
 Mass, to Md., in the larger streams. 
 
 8. CERATICHTHYS, Baird. HORNED CHUBS. 
 
 > Nocomis, Grd. 
 
 < Gobio, Cuvier (European). 
 
 * Mouth nearly terminal ; rather large species, scarcely silvery, 
 resembling Semotilus. (Ceratichthys.) 
 
 f Lateral line with 40 to 45 scales. 
 
 1. C. melanotus, (Raf. ) Jordan. HORNED CHUB. 
 JERKER. Bluish olive, sides with bright green and 
 coppery reflections; a curved blotch behind the opercle; 
 fins pale orange, unspotted; white below, rosy in spring; 
 adult males in the spring with the top of the head 
 very much swollen, elevated into a sort of crest, some- 
 times 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 
 
CYPRINIDJS. cvin. 279 
 
 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 everywhere; the most widely diffused of all our 
 fresh water fishes. \C. biyuttatus, (Kirt.) Bd., C. stig- 
 maticus, cyclotiS) etc., Cope.] 
 ff Lateral line about 60. 
 
 2. C. plumbeus, (Ag.) Gthr. LEAD -COLORED CHUB. 
 Depth = length of head, 4 to 5 in body; mouth small; 
 dusky; size large; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 60. L. 
 Superior. (C. prosthemius, Cope.) 
 
 ** Mouth small, inferior upper jaw notably longest; barbels 
 rather long; small, silvery species, resembling Hybopsis. 
 (Erijiemus, Jordan.) 
 \ Lateral line 30 to 42. 
 
 3. C. hyalinus, Cope. BIG -EYED MINNOW. Oliva- 
 ceous or bluish, sides clear silvery; eyes very large, 3 in 
 head; depth 5 in length; head rather large, 4; D. I, 9; 
 A. I, 8; lat. 1. 40; L. 3. Ohio Valley, abundant; the 
 smallest species, resembling Photogenis arriommus, but 
 with a very different mouth. 
 
 Var. labrosus, (Cope) Jordan. LARGE- LIPPED MIN- 
 NOW. Similar, but with the scales larger, the body 
 slimmer, and the barbels and lips more developed; D. I, 
 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 34. Rivers of N. C. and Tenn. 
 
 \\ Lateral line 45 to 50 ; long, slender species, with the snout 
 projecting. 
 
 4. C. dissimilis, (Kirt.) Cope. SPOTTED SHINER. Pale 
 olivaceous, sides bright silvery, with a bluish lateral 
 band, widened at intervals into spots; fins immaculate; 
 depth 5 in length; head 4; eye large, 3 in head; D. I, 8; 
 A. I, 7; lat. 1. 47 to 50; L. 6. Ohio Valley and Lake 
 region, not uncommon. 
 
280 FISHES. 
 
 5. C. monachus, Cope. SOLITARY CHUB. Similar, a 
 black spot on last rays of dorsal; a dark caudal spot; 
 eye small, 4 in head; lat. 1. 56. Holston R. 
 
 \\\ Lateral line about 70. 
 
 6. C. cataract, (Val.) Cope. NIAGARA GUDGEON. 
 Slender, depth 6 in length; head 4; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; 
 lat. 1. 70. Niagara Falls. 
 
 9. RHINICHTHYS, Agassiz. LONG-NOSED DACE. 
 
 = Argyreus, Haeckel (preoccupied). 
 
 * Snout projecting considerably beyond the mouth ; body slender, 
 depth usua.ly 5 to 6 in length; barbels evident. 
 
 1. R. nasutus, (Ayres) Ag. LONG-NOSED DACE. 
 Brownish, mottled, not banded; eye half the length of 
 the long snout; head 3|^ in length; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; 
 lat. 1. 63; L. 5. New England to Va. and Wis., in clear 
 brooks. 
 
 2. R. marmoratus, Ag. MARBLED DACE. Brown, 
 marbled; eye 2 in snout; head 4-]- in length; lat. 1. 70. 
 Great Lakes. 
 
 ** Snout scarcely projecting; body stout; depth 4 to 5 in length; 
 
 barbels scarcely visible, 
 f A distinct dark band from snout to caudal (reel in spring.) 
 
 3. R. atronasus, (Mitch.) Ag. BLACK- NOSED DACE. 
 Dusky, belly silvery; lateral band bright crimson in 
 spring, becoming orange in summer, black at other 
 times; fins often rosy in spring; depth 4f in length; 
 head 3f ; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 65. New England to 
 Ohio Valley, in clear brooks; abundant Eastward. 
 
 4. R. obtusus, Ag. BROWN- NOSED DACE. Similar; 
 sides with a brown band, edged above and below with 
 paler; head 4 or more in length; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 
 63 to 70. Western streams. 
 
CYPRINID^E. CVIII. 231 
 
 ft Sides without band, or with merely a dusky shade. 
 
 5. R. lunatus, Cope. FORK-TAILED DACE. Reddish 
 brown, with dusky spots; depth 4^ in length; head 4; 
 lat. 1. GO. Western streams. 
 
 10. PHENACOBIUS, Cope. PHENACOBIES. 
 
 1. P. teretu/us, Cope. Head depth, 4 in length; 
 lips plicate; a dusky lateral band; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; 
 lat. 1. 43. Streams of W. Va. 
 
 2. P. uranops, Cope. Head 4f in length; depth 6^; 
 lips tuberculate: lat. 1. 60. Holston R. 
 
 //. HYBOPSIS, Agassiz. BLUNT-FACED MINNOWS. 
 
 * Mouth inferior, horizontal, small. 
 
 f Head 5i to 6 times in total length, including caudal fin. (Hud- 
 sonius, Grd.) 
 
 1. H. storerianus, (Kirt.) Ag. 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, 9; A. I, 9; lat. 1. 41. Great Lake region, 
 etc. 
 
 2. H. hudsonius, (Clinton) Putnam. SPAWN -EATER. 
 Silvery, often with dark shades; snout much shorter 
 than eye; depth 4 in length; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 38. 
 Lakes and rivers; abundant eastward. (Huds. flumatilis 
 and amarus, Grd. H. phaenna, Cope.) 
 
 ff Head 4i tp 5 in length, inclusive of caudal fin. (Hybopsis.) 
 % Pectoral fins short, not reaching ventrals. 
 a. Lateral line 43 to 45. 
 
 3. H. tuditanus, Cope. Form and coloration of JFTybor- 
 hynchus notatus, but said to want the dorsal spine; head 
 broad and blunt. L. Michigan; "a doubtful species," 
 as are several others in this genus. 
 
 aa. Lat. 1. 36 or 37. 
 
282 FISHES. 
 
 4. H. spectrunculus, Cope. Eye large; head broad 
 and flat; a plumbeous lateral band and black caudal 
 spot; fins reddish; A. I, 9. Holston R. 
 
 5. H. stramineus, Cope. Silvery; head more rounded; 
 body plump; scales in front of dorsal 12 to 14, quite 
 large. Mich, to Ind., abundant. 
 
 aaa. Lat. 1. 32 or 33. 
 
 6. H. procne, Cope. Very similar, but the caudal 
 peduncle contracted and slender, scales large; a plumb- 
 eous band over black pigment. D. I, 8; A. I, 7. Penn., 
 etc., common E. 
 
 $. Pectorals elongated, nearly or quite reaching ventrals. 
 
 7. H. microstomus, (Raf.) Jordan. LONG-HEADED 
 MINNOW. 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, about reaching ventrals; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; 
 lat. 1. 33. Va. to Ky. [J?. gracilis, Ag. (type of genus.) 
 If. longiceps, Cope.] 
 
 8. H. volucellus, Cope. Elongated ; head long ; a 
 dusky lateral band; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 34. Detroit 
 R., (same as preceding?) 
 
 ** Mouth larger, oblique, the lower jaw about as long as upper. 
 
 (Alburnops, Grcl.) 
 b. Lateral line 35 or 36, a dark lateral band. 
 
 9. H. chalybceus, Cope. PIGMY MINNOW. Muzzle 
 flat; head 4 in length; caudal peduncle abruptly slender, 
 lateral band very distinct, shining black; A. I, 8. Penn., 
 N. J.; one of the smallest of the Cyprinidm; length 1-|- 
 inches; (resembles Hemitremia bifrenata.') 
 
 10. H. fretensis, Cope. Silvery, a plumbeous lateral 
 band; A. I, 8. Detroit R.; resembles a Minnilus. 
 
 W. Lateral line 38 to 39. 
 
CYPRINLLXE. CVIII. 283 
 
 11. H. fl/umbeo/uSf Cope. LEAD -COLORED MINNOW. 
 Uniform leaden silvery; body compressed; lower jaw 
 projecting; A. I, 9. Great Lakes. 
 
 12. H. regius, (Girard) Cope. SILVERY MINNOW. 
 Much elongated, compressed; uniform silvery; D. I, 10; 
 A. I, 9; lat. 1. 38. Potomac R. 
 
 13. H. rubricroceus, Cope. RED -BANDED MINNOW. 
 A red lateral band and red touches on head; belly yel- 
 low; A. I, 9; lat. 1. 38. Upper Tennessee; a brightly 
 colored species. 
 
 bbb. Lateral line 42 to 45 ; colors dull. 
 
 14. H. hcematurus, Cope. RED -TAILED MINNOW. A 
 black spot on dorsal and at base of caudal; dusky; tail 
 brick-red; A. I, 7. Tributaries of Lake Michigan. 
 
 12. HEMITREMIA, Cope. HEMITREMES. 
 
 1. H. vittata, Cope. SOUTHERN HEMITREMIA. Dusky; 
 a black lateral band, and above this several paler and 
 smaller ones, the upper running into the dorsal line; fins 
 small; depth 4 in length; head 4^; D. I, 8; A. I, 7; 
 lat. 1. 34; L. 2. Head waters of Tennessee and Cumber- 
 land Rivers. (Description from Kentucky specimens.) 
 
 2. H. heierodon, Cope. NORTHERN HEMITREMIA. 
 Head depth, about 4 in length; snout flat, rather 
 pointed; back compressed, elevated ; olive, a dusky 
 lateral shade; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 35. Mich., Wis. 
 
 3. H. bifrenata, Cope. EASTERN HEMITREMIA. Head 
 
 = depth, 4-J- in length; snout blunt; olive, a burnished, 
 jet-black lateral band of a deeper color than in any 
 other small minnow; D. I, 8"; A. I, 7; lat. 1. 36. Mass. 
 to Md., abundant. 
 
284 FISHES. 
 
 13. ///?0S0Aft/$, Rafinesque. RED - BELLIED MINNOWS. 
 
 1. C. pyrrhogaster, Jordan. CHKOSOMUS. RED-BELLIED 
 DACE. Brownish olive, with black spots on the back, a 
 black or brown band from above the eye, straight to the 
 tail; another below, running through eye, decurved along 
 the lateral line; belly and space between bands bright 
 silvery, brilliant scarlet red in spring males, as are the 
 bases of the vertical fins; a dark vertebral line; females 
 obscurely marked; D. 1,8; A. 1,9; lat.l. 80 to 90. Penn. 
 to Wis. and S., abundant in small streams; one of the 
 most beautiful of our fishes. [C. erythrog aster ^ (Kirt.) 
 Ag., not of Raf.] 
 
 2. C. erythrog aster, Raf. KENTUCKY RED -BELLY. 
 Similar but even more brilliant; a dark band through 
 eye to base of anal; another from the middle of the 
 body to caudal; above this, back with distinct cross-bars 
 and spots; belly silvery or crimson; fins orange and 
 yellow; lat. 1. 67. Ky. to Va. and N. C. (C. oreas, 
 Cope.) 
 
 3. C. eos, Cope. Lateral bands confluent on caudal 
 peduncle; teeth 5-5; lat.l. 75. Susquehanna R. 
 
 14. PHOXINUS, Rafinesque (1820!). EUROPEAN MIN- 
 
 NOWS. 
 
 1. P. neogceus, Cope. NEW WORLD MINNOW. Black- 
 ish above, a broad black lateral band through eye, 
 becoming a spot on the tail; belly white; fins dusky; 
 head large, 3^ in length; depth rather less; mouth large, 
 oblique; eye large; D. I, 7; A. I, 7; L. 3. Southern Mich. 
 (Cope)] Baraboo R., Wis. (Eundy]\ a curious fish, related 
 to the Minnow of Europe (P. Icevis, Ag.) 
 
CYPBINID^J. CVIII. 285 
 
 15. GILA f Baird and Girard. LEATHER- SIDED MINNOWS. 
 
 * Scales very small; mouth large, very oblique, the lower jaw 
 projecting. (Clinostomus, Grd.) 
 
 1. G. elongata, (Kirt.) Jordan. RED- SIDED MINNOW. 
 Dark bluish, mottled by paler scales; sides with a broad 
 black band, the front half of which is bright crimson in 
 the spring; a dark dorsal stripe; mouth very large, the 
 lower jaw narrowed and projecting farther than in any 
 other of our Dace; a little knob at the tip which over- 
 laps the end of the upper jaw; body much elongated, 
 but little compressed; depth 5 in length; head 4; eye 
 moderate, about 3 in head; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 65 
 to 70; L. 4. Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, etc.; a hand- 
 some species. (C. proriger, Cope.) 
 
 2. G. vandoisula, (Val.) Jordan. ROSY DACE. A light 
 and a dark lateral band; snout pointed; mandible shorter 
 than in the preceding; eye larger; depth 5 in length; 
 head 4; D. I, 9; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 48. Streams about 
 Chesapeake Bay and S. (C. funduloides, Grd.) 
 
 3. G. affinis, (Grd.) Cope. Body deeper, depth = 
 length of head, 3| in body; eye rather small; D. I, 9; 
 A. I, 8; lat. 1. 46. James R. (C. carolinus, Grd.) 
 
 4. G. margarita, Cope. No lateral band; snout obtuse; 
 depth 5 in length; head 4; lat. 1. 58. Penn. 
 
 16. LYTHRURUS, Jordan. RED- FINS. 
 < Hypsilepis, Cope. 
 
 1. L. diplcemius, (Raf.) Jordan. RED-Fttf. Bright 
 steel blue, with purplish shades, silvery below; a large 
 black spot on the anterior rays of dorsal in front; fins 
 otherwise unicolor, plain olivaceous in $, brilliant brick 
 red in spring males; scales with more or less dark edg- 
 ing; nuptial tubercles minute, very numerous, whitish, 
 
286 FISHES. 
 
 chiefly on the upper surface of head; body much com- 
 pressed; back elevated; head deep, rather obtuse; depth 
 3| in length; D. I, 9* A. I, 10; lat. 1. 44; L. 3. West- 
 ern streams, generally abundant; an exceedingly bril- 
 liant fish in the breeding season; known at all times by 
 the dorsal spot and compressed body, with large fins and 
 long caudal peduncle. (.Rutilus miber, Raf.) (Not Leu- 
 ciscus diplemius, Kirt.) 
 
 2. L ardens, (Cope) Jordan. SOUTHERN RED- FIN. 
 Colors similar, but red on sides more conspicuous; head 
 rather pointed, with the mouth still more oblique; depth 
 5 in length; D. I, 9; A. I, 11; lat. 1. 50. Cumberland 
 and Roanoke Rivers and S. 
 
 17. LUXILUS, Rafinesque. SHINERS. 
 = Hypsilepis, Baird. 
 
 * Fins and lower parts with rose-red pigment in spring and sum- 
 mer ; no distinct black dorsal spot ; eye large ; mouth large, 
 oblique, the lower jaw about as long as upper in closed 
 mouth ; species of large size ; " Red Fins." 
 
 1. L.' cornutus, (Mitch.) Jordan. COMMON SHINER. 
 RED - FINNED SHINER. ROUGH"- HEAD. RED - FIN. 
 Adult deep steel blue or olivaceous above, with golden 
 vertebral and lateral bands, very conspicuous in life ; 
 sides silvery, rosy inhales in spring; fins plain oliva- 
 ceous or somewhat dusky, becoming crimson in spring; 
 young olivaceous and silvery, not closely resembling the 
 adult; depth 3 to 5 in length, greater than length of 
 head in adults; head large; mouth moderately oblique, 
 the lower jaw not projecting; lateral line much decurved; 
 D. I, 8; A. I, 9; lat. 1. 40 to 45; L. 6. U. S. from Maine 
 to the Rocky Mountains, every where abundant, and 
 extremely variable. The adults may be known at once 
 by the high and narrow exposed surfaces of the scales; 
 
CYPRINID^E. CVIII. 287 
 
 the young often need close attention. (Plargyrus typi- 
 cits, Grd.; L. chrysocephalus, Raf.; L. diplemim and 
 plargyrus, Kirt.; Leuciscus frontalis, Ag., a stout variety 
 from the Great Lakes.) 
 
 2. L coccogenis, (Cope) Jordan. RED -CHEEKED 
 SHINER. Steel blue, sides silvery; dorsal, caudal, and 
 pectorals red in the male; adults of both sexes with the 
 upper jaw, base of dorsal, and a vertical streak down the 
 cheeks, bright orange red, the latter mark appearing like 
 a brand; dorsal and caudal with a broad dusky bar; 
 slimmer than cornutus; depth 4iJ- in length, about equal 
 to length of head; mouth very oblique, the lower jaw 
 projecting (excepting in tuberculate males); D. I, 7; 
 A. I, 9; lat. 1. 42. Head waters of the Tennessee R., 
 abundant; a beautiful and very distinct species. 
 
 18. PLARGYRUS, Rafinesque. SILVER FINS. 
 
 < Rutilus, Raf. (= Leuciscus, Klein, European.) 
 
 < Hypsilepis, Cope. 
 
 * 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); upper jaw projecting in 
 closed mouth ; eye rather small ; species of rather small size ; 
 " Silver-Fins." 
 
 1. P. galacturus, (Cope) Jordan. MILKY -TAILED 
 SHINER. SLENDER SILVER - FIN. Bluish above, sides 
 bright silvery, with bright reflections; 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. Ohio Valley and S., 
 abundant. Resembles the next, but larger, and with a 
 larger mouth. 
 
288 FISHES. 
 
 2. P. spir//ngu/us,(Val.) Jordan. SILVER-FIX. 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. 3J. Cayuga 
 L., N. Y. (S. H. Gage), to N. J., Va., and Ind., abundant. 
 In full breeding dress one of the most exquisite of all 
 our fishes. (Leuciscus spirlingulus, Val. L. kentucki- 
 ensis, Kirt., not of Raf. llutilus plargyrus, Raf. 
 Cyprinella analostana, Grd.) 
 
 . PHOTOGENIS, Cope. WHITE-CHEEKED SHINERS. 
 * Anal I, 10 or I, 9 ; no black caudal spot. 
 
 1. P. /eucops, Cope. WHITE - CHEEKED SHINER. 
 Dorsal fin much nearer caudal than end of snout; mouth 
 very oblique; rfvaceous above, sides silvery; scales 
 large; eye white, 3 in head; head 4 to 4|- in length; 
 depth less; D. I, 8; A. 1,10; lat 1. 35 to 40. Ohio 
 Valley; a handsome fish resembling a Minnilus. 
 
 2. P. arriommus, Cope. BIG-EYED SHINER. General 
 appearance of preceding, but larger, reaching a length 
 of nearly 5 inches; eye very large, 2^- in head, relatively 
 larger than in any other of our Minnows; head large; 
 bluish above, sides bright silvery; D. I, 8; A. I, 9; lat. 
 1. 40. White R., Indiana, abundant, but not yet recog- 
 nized elsewhere. 
 
 3. P. te/escopus, Cope. WHITE SHINER. Dorsal fin 
 equidistant; sea-green, silvery below; D. I, 8; A. I, 10; 
 lat. 1. 38. Holston R. 
 
 ** Anal I, 8 ; a black spot at base of caudal. 
 
CYPEIKID^E. CVIII. 289 
 
 4. P. leuciodus, Cope. WHITE SHINER. Olive, sides 
 silvery with purple reflections; snout and base of dorsal 
 red; lat. 1. 40. Holston R. 
 
 *** Anal I, 8 ; no caudal spot. 
 
 5. P. scabriceps, Cope. ROUGH -HEADED SHINER. 
 Head broad, minutely rough ; eye large, 3 in head; head 
 flattish above; mouth little oblique; greenish, sides 
 leaden silvery; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 38. Ohio Valley. 
 
 6. .P. spilopterus, Cope. SPOTTED - FINNED SHINER. 
 Head narrower; eye smaller; olive, a plumbeous lateral 
 band; black spot on dorsal behind; D. I, 8; A. I, 8; 
 lat. 1. 38. St. Joseph's R., Mich. This and some of the 
 ot^er species of this genus need confirmation. 
 
 20. MINNILUS, Rafinesque. ROSY -FACED MINNOWS. 
 
 = AlburnelluS) Girard. 
 
 1. M. rubrifrons, (Cope) Jordan. ROSY -FACED MIN- 
 NOW. Olive above, with a clear green lustre ; sides sil- 
 very; a dark vertebral line; forehead, opercular region, 
 base of dorsal, etc.,- flushed with red in spring; upper 
 surface of head minutely tuberculate in males at that 
 season; head rather pointed, about 3^ in length; depth 
 4; eye about 4 in head; D. I, 8; A. I, 10; lat. 1. 38; 
 L. 3 or less. Ohio Valley, abundant ; an elegant little 
 fish, well distinguished from M. rubellus by the smaller 
 size, deeper body and much longer head, as well as by 
 peculiarities of form. 
 
 Var. amcenus, (Abbott) Jordan. ABBOTT'S ROSY MIN- 
 NOW. Eye larger; head rather shorter. Delaware R. 
 
 2. M. dilectus, (Grd.) Jordan. DELECTABLE MINNOW. 
 Intermediate between the preceding and the next; 
 smaller than rubellus and more thick-set; head = depth, 
 
 13 
 
290 FISHES. 
 
 about 5 in length; eye longer than snout, 3 in head; 
 coloration of the others; D. I, 8; A. I, 11; lat. 1. 42; L. 
 3^. Ohio R. (New Albany, Dr. Sloan) to Arkansas R. 
 and S. (Type of Alburnellus.) 
 
 3. M. rubellus, (Ag.) Jordan. ROSY MINNOW. Light 
 olive, with brilliant clear green lustre; a dark vertebral 
 line, and dark edges to the dorsal scales; sides brilliantly 
 silvery, the lustre overlying a plumbeous lateral shade; 
 forehead, etc., rosy in spring ; sides sometimes rosy 
 tinted; golden dorsal and lateral stripes, conspicuous in 
 life as in most silvery species; head short, -somewhat 
 pointed, 5 in length; depth 5^ to 5^; eye 4 in head; 
 D. I, 8; A. 1, 10; lat. 1. 38; L. 4 to 5. Great Lakes and 
 Ohio Valley; abundant in the larger streams; even more 
 graceful in form and delicate in coloration than the pre- 
 ceding. 
 
 4. M. dinemus, Raf. EMEEALD MINNOW. Coloration 
 exactly as in M. rubellus, but the body very slender and 
 less compressed, more elongated than in any other of 
 our Cyprinidw, the depth being only from one-sixth to 
 one-seventh of the length; head 4f in length; eye 3^ in 
 head ; fins as in preceding; L. 4 to 5. L. Michigan and 
 Ohio Valley, in the larger streams, like the others, " going 
 in flocks." (A. jaculus and A. arge, Cope.) (This is 
 Rafinesque's " Emerald Minnow," the type of his genus 
 Minnilus. Rafinesque's generic name having nearly 
 forty years priority over Alburnellus^ must be substituted 
 for the latter appellation.) 
 
 5. M. micropteryx, (Cope) Jordan. SMALL -FINNED 
 MINNOW. Resembles M. rubrifrons^ but the fins all very 
 low, the ventrals scarcely reaching to the line of the 
 middle of dorsal; head 4 in length; depth 5|- to 5f ; 
 lat. L. 39; L. 3. Clinch R. 
 
291 
 
 21. NOTEMIGONUS, Rafinesque. GOLDEN SHINERS. 
 
 = Stilbe, DeKay (preoccupied in Botany.) 
 
 = StilbiuS) Gill (substitute for Stilbe.) 
 
 = Jjitxilus, Girard (not of Raf.) 
 
 = Leucosomus, Storer (not of Haeckel.) 
 
 = Plargyrus, Putnam (not of Raf.) 
 
 < AbramiS) Cuvier (a closely related European genus). 
 
 1. N. americanus, (L.) Jordan. SHINER. STILBE. 
 BREAM. Body much compressed; abdomen trenchant; 
 head small, about 4 in length ; depth 3 (2^ to 4) ; lateral 
 line much decurved; scales small on the back, much 
 larger below; dark steel blue or green above, sides 
 silvery or golden, every where with brilliant reflections, 
 green, yellow, and red; young specimens paler, looking 
 like young Luxili, but the adults are among the largest 
 in the family and bear a strong resemblance to Shad, a 
 circumstance which has misled many observers, and 
 among them Rafinesque; D. I, 7; A. I, 14; lat. 1. 45 to 
 50. New England to Minnesota and S.; abundant in 
 bayous, ponds, and weedy streams; this species is much 
 more tenacious of life than any other of our Qyprinoids. 
 \N. auratuS) Raf. /S. cJirysoleuca^ (Mitch.) DeK. A. 
 versicolor, DeK.] 
 
 21. CARASSIUS, Nilsson. CRUCIAN CARPS. 
 
 1. C. auratus, (L.) Bleeker. GOLD FISH. Orange or 
 blackish, rarely pale; D. I, 19; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 26; ex- 
 ceedingly variable in domestication Asia; common 
 every where in aquaria, and now naturalized in many of 
 our eastern streams. 
 
 22. CY PRIMUS, Linnams. CARPS. 
 1. C. carpio, L. EUROPEAN CARP. Olivaceous; 
 
292 FISHES. 
 
 D. Ill, 20; A. Ill, 5; lat. 1. 37. European, introduced 
 into some eastern rivers. 
 
 FAMILY CIX. CATOSTOMID^E. 
 
 (T7te Suckers.) 
 
 Cyprinoid fishes of medium or large size, with the 
 pharyngeal teeth in a single series, very numerous and 
 closely set; intermaxillaries forming but a small part of 
 the upper arch of the mouth, the maxillaries entering 
 into it extensively on each side; mouth toothless, with 
 fleshy lips, extremely protractile, roundish when fully 
 protruded; dorsal fin long; anal short and rather high; 
 no barbels; scales large; head naked; air bladder large, 
 divided into two or three parts by transverse constric- 
 tions. Genera ten, Pantosteus, Cope, and the following; 
 species about fifty, abounding everywhere east of the 
 Rocky Mountains ; two or three occur in China and 
 Japan, all the rest are North American. 
 
 * Dorsal moderate, of 11 to 20 rays ; size rarely large ; Suckers. 
 
 (CATOSTOMIN,E.) 
 f Air bladder in two parts. 
 \ Lateral line well developed ; lips papillose. 
 a. Scales much smaller anteriorly than posteriorly; inter- 
 orbital space convex ; body sub-terete. CATOSTOMUS, 1. 
 aa. Scales about as large on front part of body as on tail ; 
 body tapering rapidly from shoulders to tail ; inter- 
 orbital space concave; length of head greater than 
 depth of body ; young barred or variegated. 
 
 HYPENTELIUM, 2. 
 
 \\ No lateral line ; lips usually plicate. . ERIMYZON, 3. 
 ft Air bladder in three parts ; lips usually plicate ; lateral line 
 
 very distinct. 
 
 b. Pharyngeal teeth numerous and all small, of the usual type ; 
 the bones slender. . . . MOXOSTOMA, 4. 
 
CATOSTOMID^. CIX. 293 
 
 bb. Teeth on the lower half of the pharyngeal bones reduced 
 to about a dozen, which are quite large; upper teeth 
 numerous and small ; bones stout and heavy. 
 
 PLACOPHARYNX, 5. 
 ** Dorsal elongated, of 20 to 35 rays, more or less elevated in 
 
 front ; size usually large ; Buffalo fishes. 
 
 c. Body deep and heavy, usually considerably compressed; 
 general color olivaceous white or brown. (BUBALICB- 
 
 THYIN^E.) 
 
 d. Anterior dorsal rays very much elongated, reaching when 
 depressed at least to the middle of the fin ; back elevated ; 
 mouth small, inferior ; pharyngeal teeth minute, nearly 
 equal ........ CABPIODES, 6. 
 
 dd. Anterior dorsal rays moderately elevated, rarely reaching 
 the middle of the fin ; pharyngeal teeth becoming larger 
 downward ; eye small, operculum very large. 
 e. Mouth sub-terminal, protractile forwards. ICHTHYOBUS, 7 . 
 ee. Mouth inferior, protractile downwards. 
 
 BUBALICHTHYS, 8. 
 
 cc. Body very much elongated, not much compressed ; dorsal of 
 35 rays ; anal with 7 rays, placed very far back, the abdo- 
 men being therefore very long; general color black. 
 . . . . . CYCLEPTUS, 9. 
 
 /. CATOSTOMUS, LeSueur. BROOK SUCKERS 
 > Acomus and Minomus, Grd. 
 = Decactylus, Raf. 
 
 1. C. teres, (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; D. I, 13; A. 8 or 9; lat. 1. 63. U. S., abundant 
 everywhere E. of the Mississippi. (C. communis^ boston- 
 iensiS) etc., of authors.) 
 
 2. C. hudson/uSf LeS. NORTHERN SUCKER. LONG- 
 NOSED SUCKER, Very slender j depth less than length 
 
294 FISHES. 
 
 of head; snout very much produced; scales very small; 
 D. 1, 12; A. 9; lat. 1. 105. L. Superior to Arctic regions. 
 
 2. HYPENTELIUM, Rafinesque. BIG STONE LUGGEKS. 
 = Hylomyzon^ Ag. 
 
 1. H. nigricans, (LeS.) Jordan. STONE ROLLER. MUD 
 SUCKER. Depth 4f in length; head 4; depth of head 
 its length; eyes small, very high up and far back; lower 
 fins very large; pectoral nearly as long as head; brown- 
 ish; often beautifully marbled; D. 12; A. 8; lat. 1. 52. 
 Lakes and streams from N. Y., S. and W., abundant; 
 one of our most singular fishes. It frequents clear 
 streams and rapids, and it is not at all a " mud fish." as 
 some writers seem to suppose. 
 
 3. ERIMYZON, Jordan. CHUB SUCKERS. 
 
 = Moxostoma, Agassiz (not of Raf.) 
 * No stripes along the rows of scales. 
 
 1. E. oblong us, (Mit.) Jordan. CREEK FISH. CHUB 
 SUCKER. Head 4 to 4^- in length; depth 2, in adult; 
 eye 5 in head; scales crowded, deeper than long; dusky 
 above, brassy on sides and below; very variable; young 
 much less compressed, with black bands or bars, and 
 pale lateral and vertebral streaks; spring males with six 
 tubercles on head; D. 12; A. 8; lat. 1. 40. New England 
 S. and W., abundant in Great Lakes. 
 
 ** Each scale with a large, square black spot at its base, these 
 forming conspicuous stripes along the sides. 
 
 2. E. melanops, (Raf.) Jordan. STRIPED SUCKER. 
 Head 4f in length; depth about 4; scales very large; 
 blackish above; sides coppery, with black stripes; D. I, 
 13; A. I, 8; lat. 1. 47; size large. Great Lakes and 
 
CATOSTOMIDJE. CIX. 295 
 
 Ohio Valley, abundant; one of our handsomest suckers, 
 strangely overlooked by recent writers. This and the 
 preceding, unlike most of^ our suckers, are very hardy in 
 the Aquarium. 
 
 3. E. sucetta, (Lac.) Jordan. LACEPEDE'S SUCKER. 
 Head compressed and flat; lower lip very large; brown, 
 sides silvery, with brown stripes along the rows of scales; 
 D. I, 12; A. 9. Southern States. 
 
 4. MQXOSTOMA, Rafinesque. RED HORSES. 
 X Teretulus, Raf. 
 = PtychostomuS) Ag. 
 
 * Dorsal wi;h 13 to 15 developed rays ; body compressed, 
 f Lower fins reddish, becoming orange on death. 
 
 1. M. duquesnei, (LeS.) Jordan. COMMON RED HORSE. 
 WHITE MULLET. Head 4 to 4f in length; depth about 
 4^; eye large, 3^ to 4 in head; olive above, sides bright 
 silvery, with red and green reflections; lower fins pink, 
 becoming bright crimson; D. I, 13; A. 8; lat. 1. 42 to 
 47. Ohio Valley and Lake region, every where abundant. 
 [Pt. erytkrurus (Raf.) Cope.] 
 
 2. M. wreolum, (LeS.) Jordan. LAKE RED HORSE. 
 GOLDEN MULLET. Head quite small, about 5 in length; 
 mouth large, not much inferior; eye 5 in head; yellow- 
 ish biown, with bright reflections; lower fins decidedly 
 red; oack somewhat elevated; D. 1, 13; lat. 1. 49; large, 
 reacies a weight of 20 Ibs. Great Lakes, abundant. 
 
 3. M. anisurus, (Raf.) Jordan. CARP MULLET. Head 
 stout, less than 4 in length ; body short and thick, depth 
 3; mouth with the lower lips decidedly V-shaped; eye 
 small, 4f in head; lower fins pale orange; D. I, 13 to 
 I, 15. North Carolina to Ind., and S. (P. collapsus^ 
 Cope.) 
 
296 FISHES. 
 
 ff Lower fins white, never orange. 
 
 4. M. macrolepidoium, (LeS.) Jordan. LARGE-SCALED 
 MULLET. Fusiform, compressed, depth 3^ in length; 
 head short, convex, 4-J in length; eye large, 4 in head; 
 color pale, with dusky and yellow shades; D. I, 13; 
 V. 9; lat. 1. 45. N. Y. to Ind., chiefly eastward. 
 
 ** Dorsal with 16 to 18 developed rays ; body compressed. 
 
 5. M. carp/o, (Val.) Jordan. SILVEKY MULLET. Head 
 4J in length; depth 3^; eye 3^- in head; scales large, 
 silvery white; lips large; dorsal larger than in any other 
 species, dusky at tip ; olivaceous, sides silvery, lower fins 
 white; D. I, 8; V. 10; lat. 1. 43. Great Lakes, not 
 common. (Described from specimen from Fox R., Wis.) 
 
 6 M. velatum, (Cope) Jordan. Much like preceding, 
 but lips as in P. anisurus; head short; D. 16; V. 9; 
 lat. 1. 42. Ohio Valley. 
 
 *** Dorsal with 12 rays ; body nearly cylindrical. 
 
 7. M. cervinum, (Cope) Jordan. JUMPING MULLET. 
 Head 5 in length; flattish above; lips large; yellowish 
 with green reflections; size small; D. I, 12. "Va., N. C., 
 etc.; said to resemble Hypentelium. 
 
 5. PLACOPHARYNX, Cope. PLACOPHARYNX. 
 
 
 
 1. P. carinatus, Cope. COPE'S SUCKER. Reserables 
 M. duquesnei, but the pharyngeal bones quite different; 
 eye 4-j- in head; head 4 in length; depth 3f ; head 
 strongly ridged above; pharyngeal bones very heavy, 
 the lower 7 to 12 teeth on each side very large, truncate, 
 irregularly placed; D. 14; A. 7; lat. 1. 41. Wabash R.; 
 probably not uncommon, but not distinguished until 
 quite lately. 
 
CATOSTOMIDJ3. CIX. 297 
 
 6. CARP/ODES, Rafinesque. CARP SUCKERS. 
 
 * First rays of dorsal very much elevated and attenuated, about as 
 long as the base of the fin. 
 
 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 4^ 
 in head; color pale, scarcely silvery, as in all species; 
 D. 22; lat. 1. 37. Ohio R. 
 
 2. C. difformis, Cope. HIGH - BACKED CARP SUCKER. 
 Snout very blunt; eye 4^ in head; head 3f in length; 
 depth 2^; body short and high; dorsal fin strongly fal- 
 cate ; snout minutely tuberculate in spring as in some 
 other species; D. 26; A. 8; V. 9; lat. 1. 37. Western 
 streams (described from L. Erie specimens of "C. 
 cutisanserinus" Cope = C. selene, Cope.) 
 
 ** Anterior dorsal rays scarcely filamentous, little more than half 
 the length of the base of the fin. 
 
 3. C. bison, Ag. BUFFALO CARP. Muzzle very long, 
 conic; eye large, 4^ in head; longest dorsal rays reach- 
 ing nearly to end of fin; D. 28; lat. 1. 40. Mississippi 
 Valley and W. 
 
 4. C. thompsoni, Ag. LAKE CARP. Short and stout; 
 scales narrowly exposed; eye small, 5J in head; depth 
 2|- in length; long rays of dorsal reaching 22d ray; 
 D. 28; lat. 1. 41. Great Lakes. 
 
 5. C. cypriniis, (LeS.) Ag. SILVERY CARP SUCKER. 
 Body oblong; dorsal as above; eye 5 in head; depth 3f 
 in length; head 3; D. 30; lat. 1. 40. Rivers, chiefly 
 eastward. 
 
 6. C. carpio, (Raf.) Jordan. OLIVE CARP SUCKER. 
 Elongated; head small; dorsal rays short; depth 3 in 
 length; eye 4| in head; D. 30 or more; lat. 1. 36; the 
 largest species. Ohio Valley. (C. nummifer. Cope.) 
 
298 FISHES. 
 
 7. ICHTHYOBUS, Rafinesque. BUFFALO FISHES. 
 < SclerognathuS) Val. 
 
 1. /. bubalus, (Raf.) Ag. BROWN BUFFALO FISH. 
 Depth 3J 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) 
 27 inches; weight 15 fbs. Mississippi Valley (described 
 from specimen from Wabash R.) 
 
 8. BUBALICHTHYS, Agassiz. BUFFALO SUCKEKS. 
 
 1. B. niger, (Raf.) Agassiz. BUFFALO FISH. Depth 
 = length of head, 3f in body; eye 4 to 6 in head; nape 
 prominent, convex; length of opercle half its height; 
 D. 30 to 35; A. 8. Mississippi Valley; known from the 
 preceding by its more arched back, inferior mouth and 
 probably greater size. Several other species of Ichthy- 
 obus and Bubalichthys have been mentioned but not 
 recognizably described. 
 
 9. CYCLEPTUS, Rafinesque. SUCKERELS. 
 = RJiytidostomus, Ekeckel. 
 
 1. C. elongatus, (LeSueur) Ag. BLACK HORSE. 
 GOURD -SEED SUCKER. LONG BUFFALO. MISSOURI 
 SUCKER. Body fusiform, not greatly compressed ; 
 mouth very small; depth 4 to 5 in length; lobes of 
 dorsal and caudal much attenuated; jet black above, 
 sides black with a coppery lustre; snout minutely 
 tuberculate in spring; D. 35; length 2 to 3 feet; weight 
 2 to 15 ibs. Mississippi Valley, in large streams. A 
 singular species, quite unlike any other. 
 
299 
 
 OEDEE AA. NEMATOGUATHL 
 
 (The Sheat 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 intermaxillariesonly; 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, apparently 
 related to the Sturgeons. The leading family is Siluridce. 
 
 FAMILY CX. SILURID^E. 
 
 (The Cat Fishes.) 
 
 General characters as "above given, ours all have the 
 air bladder well developed, the skin naked, and the 
 dorsal and pectoral spines more or less developed and 
 often serrated behind; the fresh water species have 
 always eight barbels. Genera one hundred 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, though very numerous, are closely related. 
 * Eyes well developed. 
 f Adipose fin free from caudal. 
 
 $ Dorsal spine well developed ; branchiostegals less than 12. 
 
 a. Supra-occipital bone connected behind with the base of 
 
 the dorsal spine ; body slender, elongated ; head rela- 
 
 tively small ; tail strongly forked. . ICTALUKUS, 1. 
 
 aa. Supra-occipital bone free behind; body short and thick; 
 
 head very large, depressed ; caudal rounded (forked in 
 
 two or three species.) . . . AMIURUS, 2. 
 
 ft Dorsal spine rudimentary ; branchiostegals 12 ; body elon- 
 
 gated; lower jaw longest. . . HOPLADELUS, 3. 
 
300 FISHES. 
 
 ft Adipose fin long, keel-like, continuous with the rounded 
 caudal ; spines well developed. . . NOTDRUS, 4. 
 ** Eyes concealed beneath the skin ; blind cave fishes. 
 
 GRONIAS, 5. 
 
 /. ICTALURUS, Rafinesque. CHANNEL CATS. 
 = SynechoglaniS) Gill. 
 
 1. /. punctatuSf (Raf.) Jordan. CHANNEL CAT. BLUE 
 \{_ CAT. WHITE CAT. Depth 5 in length; head 4, longer 
 
 than broad; upper jaw longest; clear olivaceous, silvery 
 below and on sides; young punctate with black; barbel 
 longer than head; D. I, 6; A. 26; P. I, 8. Mississippi 
 Valley, abundant. [I. ccerulescens, (Raf.) Gill.] 
 
 2. I. nigricans, (LeS.) Jordan. GREAT LAKE CAT 
 FISH. Olive brown, sides ashy with large faint black 
 blotches; back nearly black; D. I, 6; P. I, 9; A. 26; 
 length 2 to 4 feet. Great Lakes, abundant; reaches a 
 large size. (This species proves to be an Amiurus; 
 see Addenda.) 
 
 3. I. furcatus, (LeS.) Gill. GREAT FORK-TAILED CAT. 
 Olivaceous, silvery; back blackish; maxillary barbel 
 shorter than head; D. I, 7; P. I, 10; A. 33; very large. 
 Mississippi Valley. 
 
 4. /. furcifer, (C. & V.) Gill. FORK -TAILED CAT. 
 Olivaceous; barbels longer than head; D. I, 6; P. I, 9; 
 A. 27. Mississippi Valley; a doubtful species. 
 
 5. /. gracilis, (Hough) Gill. NORTHERN SILVERY CAT. 
 D. I, 5; A. 23; barbels as long as head. N. N. Y. 
 
 2. AMIURUS, Rafinesque. HORNED POUTS. 
 
 < Pimelodus, early authors. 
 * Caudal fin deeply forked. 
 
 1. A. lynx, (Girard) Gill. POTOMAC CAT. Width of 
 head 4^- in length; eye large, 3 to 5 in interorbital space; 
 
. ex. 301 
 
 barbels long; black above, sides silvery, belly pure 
 white; D. I, 6; A. 22; V. 8. Rivers of Atlantic Coast, 
 N. J. to S. C. 
 
 2. A. lophlus, Cope. BIG-MOUTHED CAT. Width of 
 head 3 in length of body; head and mou-th excessively 
 large; brown, whitish below; D. I, 6; A. 21; V. 8. 
 Potomac R., etc. 
 
 ** Caudal fin deeply emarginate, but not forked. 
 
 3. A. confinis, (Girard) Gill. WISCONSIN BULL-HEAD. 
 Dorsal nearer adipose fin than snout; jaws equal; D. I, 
 6; A. 20. Root R., Wis. 
 
 4. A. hoy/, (Grd.) Gill. HOY'S BULL-HEAD. Dorsal 
 nearer snout than adipose fin; upper jaw longest; D. T 
 7; A. 23. Racine, Wis. (Same as preceding?) 
 
 *** Caudal rounded or truncate when spread open (rarely very 
 slightly emarginate.) 
 
 f Anal with 17 rays; upper jaw longest. 
 
 5. A. pullus, (DeK.) Gill. BLACK BULL -HEAD OF 
 N. Y. Blackish above; pale beneath; size small; head 
 deep, 3 in length; depth same; D. I, 5; P. I, 7; A. 17. 
 Lakes of New York and eastward, abundant. 
 
 ff Anal with 19 to 22 rays. 
 $ Jaws about even, or upper jaw projecting. 
 
 6. A. atrarius, (DeK.) Gill. NORTHERN BULL-HEAD. 
 HORNED POUT. Head 4 in length; depth 4j-; width of 
 head 5^ to 6; barbels long; slope nearly uniform up- 
 ward from snout to the elevated base of dorsal, a 
 character not shown by any other species known to me; 
 blackish above, sides coppery, belly white, yellowish 
 forwards; size small; D. I, 6; P. I, 8; A. 20. New 
 England to Maryland and the Great Lakes, abundant; 
 the common eastern species. 
 
302 FISHES. 
 
 7. A. albidus, (LeS.) Gill. BROWN CAT FISH. WEST- 
 ERN BULL - HEAD. Depth 3^ to 4f in length ; head 3| to 
 4J, its width 5; barbels moderate; eye 7 in head; head 
 wider than in the preceding; an uneven curve from snout 
 to base of dorsal which is not especially elevated; 
 yellowish brown or blackish above, sides coppery yellow, 
 belly usually decidedly yellow but variable, rarely 
 blackish and pale; caudal truncate; D. I, 7; P. I, 8; 
 A. 19 to 22. Lakes and streams, abundant; N. Y. to 
 Minn., Kansas, and S.; chiefly west of the Alleganies. 
 [A. nebulosus (LeS.), A. catulus (Grd.), A. xanthocepha- 
 lus (Raf.), etc.] Perhaps two or more species are here 
 confounded. 
 
 \\ Lower jaw longer than upper. 
 
 8. A. dekayi, (Girard) Gill. DEKAY'S BULL -HEAD. 
 Form nearly of A. atrarius ; head and body rather elon- 
 gated; A. 20, its base one - sixth of length of fish. Lakes, 
 etc., in N. Y. A doubtful species. ["7>. catus," DeK., 
 fide Girard. A. catus (L.), Gill, is a Southern species.] 
 
 9. A. o&lurus, (Girard) Gill. MINNESOTA CAT FISH. 
 Head broad, 3J in length; body rather short; reddish, 
 pale below; D. I, 6; A. 22; its base more than \ of 
 length. L. Amelia, Minn, to Ills. (Forbes) and S. 
 
 ff f Anal with 24 to 28 rays ; size usually large. 
 
 10. A. cupreus, (Raf.) Gill. GREAT YELLOW CAT FISH. 
 Upper jaw longest; head very large; body stout; barbel 
 rather short, but usually as long as head; color usually 
 a clear copper yellow, belly yellow; reaches a very 
 large size, probably the largest in the genus; D. I, 6; 
 P. I, 7; A. 25. Lakes and larger Western streams, 
 abundant. 
 
 11. A. lividus, (Raf.) Jordan. LIVID CAT FISH. Jaws 
 
SILTJEID^E. CX. 303 
 
 equal; color dark; size small; otherwise like the pre- 
 ceding. Ohio to Ills, (needs confirmation.) [A. cupre- 
 oides, (Grd.) Gill.] 
 
 12. A. ccenosus, (Rich.) Gill. LAKE HURON CAT FISH. 
 Dark greenish, paler below; spines strongly serrated; 
 D. I, 7; P. I, 8; A, 24. Lake Huron. A doubtful 
 species. 
 
 3. HOPLADELUS, Rafinesque. MUD CATS. 
 
 1. H. olivaris, (Raf.) Gill. MUD CAT FISH. Body 
 elongated, long and low; lower jaw longest; head de- 
 pressed, thick-skinned; caudal emarginate ; olive brown, 
 paler below; size very large; D. I-, 6; P. I, 30; A. 15 
 (or more?). Mississippi Valley. (Other species probably 
 exist, but they have never been studied.) 
 
 4. NOTURUS, Rafinesque. STONE CATS. 
 
 1. N. flavus, Raf. OHIO STONE CAT. Head 3 to 4 
 in length; dorsal longer than high; barbels rather short; 
 color nearly uniform yellowish brown; body thick and 
 short; D. I, 7; P. I, 7; A. 16. Ohio Valley; abundant 
 and very variable. 
 
 2. N. /emn/scatuSf (LeS.) Gill. SOUTHERN STONE CAT. 
 Head broad, 4 in length; spines short; D. I, 7; P. 1, 10; 
 A. 21. Rivers S. & W. 
 
 3. N. marg/natus, Baird. MARGINED STONE CAT. 
 Head 4 in length; dorsal higher than long; barbels rather 
 long; brownish or blackish, much mottled and barred; 
 fins black -edged; head smaller than in JV". flavus, and 
 the body more elongate; D. I, 7; A. 14; P. I, 7. Penn. 
 to S. C. and W. 
 
 4. N. gyrinus, (Mit.) Raf. NORTHERN STONE CAT. 
 Head elongate, flat, 3^ in length; barbels, long; brown- 
 
304 FISHES. 
 
 ish, fins yellow-edged; D. I, 6; P. I, 6; A. 16. Walkill 
 R., N. Y., etc. (The species of this genus need a critical 
 revision.) 
 
 5. GRONIAS, Cope. BLIND CATS. 
 1. G. nigrilabris, Cope. BLIND CAT FISH. Form of 
 Amiurus; blackish; D. I, 7; P. I, 9. Subterranean 
 stream tributary to Conestoga R., E. Penn. 
 
 OEDEE BB. - APODES. 
 
 (The Eels.) 
 
 Maxmary Dones rudimentary; body serpentiform ; no 
 ventral fins; scapular arch free from skull; scales small 
 or wanting. 
 
 FAMILY CXI. ANGUILLIDJE. 
 
 (The Eels.) 
 
 Body much elongated, nearly cylindrical, covered with 
 small scales; vent posterior; pectorals present; vertical 
 fins confluent; sides of upper jaw formed by the maxil- 
 laries; intermaxillaries more or less coalescent with the 
 vomer; stomach coecal. Genera two or three; "an in- 
 finite number of species have been described" (Gunther), 
 but the actual number cannot exceed forty. In seas and 
 sluggish fresh waters of all regions. 
 
 /. ANGUILLA, Thunberg. EELS. 
 1. A. rosfrata, (LeS.) DeK. COMMON AMERICAN EEL. 
 Distance between dorsal and anal shorter than head. U. 
 S., chiefly coastwise, but ascending all rivers and intro- 
 duced into the Great Lakes. But one species is recog- 
 nizable. (A. bostoniensis. Authors, but the name rostrata 
 has priority. 
 
AMIID^E. CXII. 305 
 
 ffianoiireu 
 
 The Ganoid Fishes. 
 
 Skeleton bony or cartilaginous; tail more or less 
 heterocercal; optic nerves forming a chiasma; arterial 
 bulb rhythmically contractile, provided with several rows 
 of valves; air bladder frequently cellular and lung-like; 
 skin usually with bony plates; intestine usually with a 
 spiral valve; ventral fins, if present, abdominal. Of this 
 important sub-class but few species are now existing, and 
 these few vary widely from one another. Of the earlier 
 fossil fishes, a very large proportion are Ganoids. 
 
 OEDEK OO.-CYOLOGAJSrOIDEL 
 
 (The Cydoganoids.) 
 
 This order contains but a single species among recent 
 fishes. 
 
 FAMILY CXIL AMIID^E. 
 
 (The Bow -Fins.) 
 
 Body oblong, rather stout, covered with thick cycloid 
 scales; tail heterocercal, the caudal peduncle curved 
 upwards behind, "like a sled -runner;" a large bony 
 buckler between branches of lower jaw; membrane 
 bones of head much developed, very hard; jaws broad 
 with strong teeth in two sets, similar teeth on vomer, 
 palate and pterygoids; snout short, rounded; ventrals 
 large, abdominal; dorsal very long, the rays of nearly 
 30 
 
306 FISHES. 
 
 uniform height; anal short and rattier high; air bladder 
 large, cellular, lung -like, communicating by a glottis 
 with the oesophagus; stomach large. 
 
 A single species is found in the larger bodies of fresh 
 water in the U. S. from N. Y. to the plains. It is 
 exceedingly tenacious of life, even more so than the 
 species of Amiurus. The flesh is soft and pasty, and 
 not edible. In some regions its voracity has acquired 
 for it the name of " Lawyer," because, as has been said, 
 " it will bite at any thing, and is good for nothing when 
 caught." 
 
 /. AMIA, Linnagus. BOWFINS. 
 
 1. A. calva, L. BOWFIN. DOG FISH. MUD FISH. 
 Depth 4 to 4|- in length; head nearly 4; eye .8 in head; 
 anterior nostrils each with a short barbel; dark olive or 
 blackish above, nearly white below; sides with traces 
 of greenish markings; lower jaw and gular plate with 
 round blackish spots; fins mostly dark; $ reaching a 
 length of 18 inches, with a roundish black spot on the 
 upper base of caudal, which is surrounded by an orange 
 or* yellowish shade ; $ larger, 2 feet or more in length, 
 without the black caudal spot; D. 42 to 53; A. 10 to 13; 
 lat. 1. 65 to 70. E. U. S. ; abundant in the Great Lakes. 
 (A. ornata,, reticulata, and viridis, LeS. A. marmorata, 
 canina, lentiginosa, cinerea^ and subccerulea, Val. A. 
 ocelUcauda^ Rich. A. occidentalis, DeK. A. thompsoni 
 and piquotii, Dumeril.) 
 
 ORDER DD.-RHOMBOGANOIDEL 
 
 (The Rhorriboganoids.) 
 
 This order includes, among recent fishes, only the 
 following family: 
 
LBPIDOSTEED^B. CXITL 307 
 
 FAMILY CXIIL LEPIDOSTEID^E. 
 
 (The Gar Pikes.) 
 
 Body elongated, sub - cylindrical, covered with hard, 
 enamelled, lozenge - shaped, ganoid plates; snout elon- 
 gated, spatulate, or beak -like; upper jaw of several 
 pieces, longer than the lower, which is formed of as 
 many parts as in Reptiles; both jaws and palate armed 
 with bands of rasp -like teeth, and series of larger, 
 conical ones; fins with fulcra (elongated modified scales) 
 in front; dorsal and anal short and placed far back, 
 moderately high; vertebrae concavo-convex, with ball 
 and socket joints as in Reptiles; air bladder cellular, 
 like the lungs of Reptiles, connected with the pharynx; 
 stomach not ccecal but with numerous pyloric append- 
 ages ; intestine with rudimentary spiral valve ; no spir- 
 acles; branchiostegals three; pseudobranchise present. 
 Fresh waters of N. A., from New England to the Rocky 
 Mountains, S. to Central America and Cuba. Genera 
 two or three (Cylindrosteus seems to us to be rather a' 
 sub-genus of Lepidosteus]\ species probably about five 
 although forty have been described; until some more 
 tangible distinctions are shown, we can admit but one 
 in each genus.* 
 
 * In a recent work on these fishes, Prof. August Dumeril very laboriously 
 distinguishes the following "species" among the specimens of Lepidosteus in 
 the Museum at Paris: 
 
 L. osseus, (L.) (= L. gavialis, Lac.); L. louisianensis, Dum. (= L. oxyurus, 
 Raf. = Sarchirus vititatus, Raf.); L. harlani, L. ayresi, I/, smithii, L. copei, L. 
 lamarii, L. clintonii, L. troostii, L. piquotianus, L. lesueurii, L. elizabeth, L. 
 thompsoni, L. horatii, L. milberti, L. treculii, Dumeril; and!/, huronensis. Rich. 
 Of Cylindrosteus, he finds C. platystomus (Raf.); C. productus (Cope); C. pla- 
 tyrhynchus (DeK.); C. agassizii, C, raflnesquei, C. bartoni, C. castelnaudii and 
 C. zadocM, Dum. 
 
 Most of these nominal species are based upon the most trifling individual 
 differences, and often the right side of a specimen indicates one " species," and 
 the left another. As matters stand, we have no alternative but to reject them 
 all, and to wait for the time when systematic writers shall be wiser or more 
 honest, 
 
308 FISHES. 
 
 * Large teeth on the maxillaries in a single row ; species of 
 
 moderate size, 2 to 5 feet long. 
 f Snout very slender, straight, much longer than the rest of the 
 
 head LEPIDOSTEUS, 1. 
 
 ft Snout shortened, rather broad, about as long as rest of head. 
 
 CYLINDROSTEUS, 2 
 
 ** Large teeth on the maxillaries in two rows ; snout broad, de- 
 pressed, about equal to rest of head ; size large, length 5 to 
 10 feet , . . * LITHOLEPIS, 3. 
 
 /. LEPIDOSTEUS, Lacepede. LONG-NOSED GARS. 
 > Sarchirus, Raf. (Young with the pectoral fins fleshy.) 
 
 1. L osseus, (L.) Ag. GAR PIKE. BONY GAR. BILL 
 FISH. Head nearly 3 in length; depth nearly 1U; snout 
 more than twice the length of rest of head; eye nearly 
 2i in distance to margin of preopercle, more than 2 in 
 interorbital space; ventrals midway between pectorals 
 and anal; length of mandible equals distance from pec- 
 torals to anal; olivaceous, white below; sides with obscure 
 spots, more evident posteriorly; vertical fins with distinct 
 round black spots; D. 7; A. 9; lat. line 64 to 66; length 
 2 to 5 feet. N. Y. to the plains and South, abundant in 
 large bodies of water. 
 
 2. CYL/NDROSTEUStR&fLnesquQ. SHORT - NOSED GABS. 
 < Lepidosteus, Agassiz. 
 
 JL. C. platysiomus, (Raf.) Grd. SHORT- NOSED GAR 
 PIKE. Depth 7 to 8 in length; head 3| ; eye 10 in head, 
 three times nearer opercular margin than end of snout; 
 ventrals much nearer P. than A. ; length of head notably 
 shorter than from P. to V.; olivaceous, sides and fins 
 spotted with black; D. 7; A. 8; lat. 1. 60 to 65. Great 
 Lakes and streams S. and W. of N. Y. to Rocky Moun- 
 tains, 
 
POLYODONTID^E. CXIV. 309 
 
 3. LITHOLEPIS, Rafinesque. ALLIGATOR GABS. 
 
 = Atractosteus, Raf. 
 
 1. L. adamant/nus, Raf. GREAT GAR. ALLIGATOR GAR. 
 DIAMOND FISH. Snout broad, depressed, the length of 
 the cleft of the mouth being about half the length of the 
 head; color olivaceous; very large, reaching a length of 
 of 8 feet or more. Mississippi Valley, N. to Illinois and 
 Ohio, abundant southward. (A. ferox, Raf., but the 
 name here adopted has precedence. Perhaps some still 
 older specific name may be found.) 
 
 OEDEE EE.-SELAOHOSTOMI. 
 
 (The Spoon-Bills.) 
 This order contains but the single family Polyodontidce. 
 
 FAMILY CXIV. POLYODONTID^E. 
 
 (The Spoon-Billed Cats.) 
 
 Body elongated; skin naked, with minute stellated 
 roughnesses, and some bony plates about head and tail; 
 mouth very wide, not inferior but overhung by the long 
 snout; minute teeth on lower jaw,maxillariesand palate, 
 teeth sometimes deciduous with age ; snout produced into 
 a very long and spatula-like process, thin and flexible at 
 its edges; no barbels; caudal with fulcra, as in Lepidos- 
 teus, heterocercal, the lower lobe well developed; opercle 
 with a long flap reaching to pectorals, or beyond and 
 sometimes to ventrals; spiracles present; no tongue; one 
 broad branchiostegal; air bladder large, communicating 
 with the oesophagus; intestine with a well developed 
 spiral valve; stomach ccecal, with a broad divided pyloric 
 
310 FISHES. 
 
 appendage. Fresh waters of U. S. and China. Species 
 two; P. folium from the Mississippi, and P. gladius 
 from the Yangtsekiang. 
 
 /. POLYODON, Lacepede. DUCK-BILLED CATS. 
 
 = Spatularia, Shaw. 
 
 = Planirostra, LeSueur. 
 
 1. P. folium, Lacepede. DUCK - BILLED CAT. SPOON- 
 BILLED STURGEON. Snout nearly ^ of length ; opercular 
 flap reaching much beyond pectorals; fins all more or less 
 falcate; color gray; D. 55 to 60; A. 56; length 5 feet or 
 more. Mississippi and its larger tributaries, abundant. 
 A singular fish, bearing considerable resemblance to a 
 Shark. 
 
 OEDEE FF. - CHOKDOESTEI. 
 
 (The Cartilaginous Ganoids.) 
 This order is equivalent to the family Acipenseridce. 
 
 FAMILY CXV. ACIPENSERID^E. 
 
 (TJie Sturgeons.) 
 
 Body elongate, sub-cylindrical, with five longitudinal 
 rows of bony shields, the lower sometimes deciduous; 
 snout produced; mouth entirely inferior, transverse, 
 protractile, toothless; four barbels in a row under snout 
 in front of mouth; vertical fins with fulcra; caudal hete- 
 rocercal; dorsal and anal far back. No branchiostegals ; 
 air bladder large, not cellular; stomach not ccecal, with 
 pyloric appendages; intestines with spiral valve; distri- 
 bution same as that of Salmo. Fresh waters of northern 
 regions, some species marine and entering rivers. 
 Genera two; species twenty (Giinther\ eighty or more 
 
POLYODONTIDJE. CXIV. 311 
 
 (August Dume'ril). Perhaps in no group has the making 
 of nominal species been carried to a greater extent than 
 in this. 
 
 * Rows of bony bucklers distinct throughout ; spiracles present ; 
 
 snout rather narrow, sub-conical. . . ACIPENSER, 1. 
 
 ** Rows of bony bucklers confluent behind, entirely surrounding 
 the depressed tail ; no spiracles ; snout flattened, rather broad, 
 shovel -shaped SCAPHIRHYNCHUS, 2. 
 
 /. ACIPENSER, Linnaeus. STURGEONS. 
 
 * Marine species ascending rivers ; lateral shields 22 to 32. 
 
 1. A. stur/'o, L. COMMON SEA STURGEON. SHARP - 
 NOSED STURGEON. Snout pointed, half the length of 
 head; dorsal shields 11 to 13; lateral shields 26 to 31; 
 D. 37 to 44 rays. Atlantic Ocean S. to Africa and West 
 Indies. (A. oxyrhynchus^ Mit., the American form.) 
 
 2. A. brevirosiris, LeSueur. BLUNT-NOSED STURGEON. 
 Snout blunt, one-quarter length of head; dorsal shields 
 8 to 10; lateral shields 22 to 28; abdominal 8 to 10; D. 
 30 rays; skin with minute scattered prickles and stellate 
 ossifications. Cape Cod to Fla. 
 
 ** Species of fresh water ; lateral shields 33 to 38. 
 
 3. A. macu/osuSf LeSueur. ROCK STURGEON. BONY 
 STURGEON. Snout pointed, nearly as long as rest of 
 head; head 3^ in length of body; bony shields large, 
 close together, 13 to 16 in front of dorsal, 33 to 38 on 
 sides, 9 or 10 on abdomen, all of them rough and strongly 
 radiated, with more or less hooked or incurved tips; skin 
 rough; D. 37 to 45. Great Lakes, Ohio B. and north- 
 ward. (Possibly the young of the next ?) 
 
 4. A. rubicundus, LeSueur. RED STURGEON. LAKE 
 STURGEON. Head 4-J in length; eye 10 in head, nearly 
 midway; dorsal scutes 16 (to base of D), relatively small 
 
312 FISHES. 
 
 and rather distant; lateral scutes 35; ventral scutes 9; 
 snout rather blunt, becoming more so with age, rather 
 shorter than rest of head; barbels nearer to end of snout 
 than to eye ; scutes relatively smaller, smoother and less 
 crowded than in the preceding; blackish, sides paler or 
 reddish; length 2 to 6 feet; D. 37. Great Lakes and 
 Western Rivers. 
 
 2. SCAPHIRHYNCHUS, Hajckel. SHOVEL -NOSED STUR- 
 GEONS. 
 
 1. S. platyrhynchus, (Raf.) Grd. SHOVEL-NOSED STUR- 
 GEON. Tail wider than deep, extending beyond caudal 
 rays and ending in a filament; snout nearly the form of 
 a spade; whole body rough with small prickles; dorsal 
 shields 15 or 16; lateral shields 40 to 46; abdominal 10 
 to 13; all the shields rough and strongly carinated, the 
 keel ending behind in a spine which points backward; 
 size large. Mississippi Valley. 
 
LAMPREYS. 313 
 
 (The Lampreys?) 
 
 Skeleton cartilaginous, without ribs, limbs, shoulder 
 girdle nor pelvic elements; skull imperfectly developed, 
 without true jaws; a single median nostril; gills in the 
 form of fixed sacs, without branchial arches; gill sacs 
 typically seven on each side ; mouth nearly circular, suc- 
 torial; no scales; body elongated, eel-shaped; alimentary 
 canal nearly straight and simple; no arterial bulb. 
 
 (Class VI. ELASMOBRANCHII, the Selachians, repre- 
 sented on our Atlantic Coast by many species of Sharks 
 and Skates, is here omitted, as its members are exclusively 
 marine, and it does not therefore come within the scope 
 of this treatise. Class VIII. LEPTOCAKDII, the Lan- 
 celets, is also omitted for the same reason. The latter 
 class contains, as far as now known, but a single genus, 
 BRANCHIOSTOMA or Amphioxus, with two or three species. 
 One of these, Branchiostoma caribceum, Sundevall, occurs 
 along the coast of our South Atlantic States.) 
 
 ORDERS OF MARSIPOBRANCHII. 
 
 * Nasal duct a blind sac, not penetrating the palate. 
 
 HYPEROARTIA, GG. 
 
 ** Nasal duct penetrating the palate. HYPEROTRETA, page 313. 
 GG. FAMILIES OF HYPEROARTIA. 
 
 * Branchial sacs seven on each side intestine with spiral valve. 
 
 PETROMYZONTID.E, 116. 
 
 FAMILIES OF HYPEROTRETA. 
 
 * One external aperture on each side of body, leading by six ducts 
 
 to as many branchial sacs ; no spiral valve ; marine para- 
 sites, burrowing into the bodies of other fishes. 
 
 Myxinida, the Hag Fishes. 
 14 
 
314 LAMPREYS. 
 
 OEDEK Ga.-HTPEEOAETIA. 
 
 (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 larvae were considered as form- 
 ing distinct genera, which have been termed Ammocoetes, 
 jScolecosoma^ CTiilopterus, etc. 
 
 * Dorsal fins two, nearly or quite distinct, tlie second continuous 
 with the caudal; "maxillary tooth bicuspid." 
 
 PETROMYZON, 1. 
 
 ** Dorsal fin single, continuous with the caudal ; " maxillary tooth 
 tricuspid." ICHTHYOMYZON, 2. 
 
 /. PETROMYZON, Linnasus. LAMPREYS. 
 
 > AmmocceteS) Dumeril, (jLarvce.) 
 1. P. marinus, (L.) var. americanus, (LeS.) Wilder. 
 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. 
 
PBTEOMYZONTID^!. CXVI. 815 
 
 2. P. nigricans, LeS. LAKGE BLACK LAMPREY. Head 
 very large, longer than the "chest," 6-J in length; depth 
 about 13; body little compressed; dorsal fins rather low, 
 distinctly separated; eyes and mouth very large; a de- 
 pression 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. (TPV&fer), and E.; properly a 
 marine species. (Several other Lampreys have been 
 described from our Eastern streams and coast, but they 
 are very doubtful.) 
 
 3. P. niger, Raf. SMALL BLACK LAMPKEY. Head 
 moderate, longer than "chest," 8J in total length; depth 
 14; body scarcely compressed except behind; dorsal fins 
 rather high, slightly connected; eyes large; mouth rather 
 small, two rather large teeth well apart in front of oeso- 
 phagus; mandibulary plate nearly straight, with about 
 eight sub-equal teeth; a few scattering teeth on sides of 
 mouth; snout rounded; dark blue black, unspotted, sil- 
 very below; L. 8 to 11. Great Lakes, Upper Miss, and 
 Ohio Valley, abundant in many localities, ascending 
 small brooks in the spring. 
 
 2. ICHTHYOMYZON, Girard. LAMPERNS. 
 > Scolecosoma^ Grd. (JLarvce.) 
 
 1. /. argenteus, (Kirt.) Grd. 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 depression; eyes dis- 
 tinct in adult, concealed in young; mouth small, with 
 inconspicuous teeth; color ashy silvery, with numerous 
 
316 LAMPREYS. 
 
 small black dots; larger ones above the gill openings; 
 L. 12. Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, E. to N. Y., fre- 
 quent. (Ammoccetes concolor, Kirt., A. cepyptera, Ab- 
 bott.) 
 
 2. /. casta neus, Grd. Chestnut-colored without spots; 
 eyes inconspicuous; " mandibulary plate with nine teeth." 
 Minn. 
 
 3. /. hirudo, Grd. Grayish, unspotted; eyes small; 
 "mandibulary plate with seven teeth." Ark. 
 
ADDENDA. 
 
 (Page 233.) 
 
 G/ossop/ites me/anops, (Grd.) Jordan. Two fine spe- 
 cimens, 6 inches long, of this species, taken in Lake 
 Michigan, June, 1876, show the following characters in 
 addition to those given in the text: 
 
 Dark olive green above; sides greenish and brassy 
 with blotches of pale blue and bright coppery red the 
 latter shade predominating; belly bright brassy yellow, 
 profusely mottled with bright red; lower jaw chiefly yel- 
 low; 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 nar- 
 row pale blue ones; upper fins barred with black, orange 
 and blue, the former color predominating; lower fins 
 blackish; a small faint black spot 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-J-; eye as long as snout, 4 to 5 in head; mucous 
 pores about head very large. 
 
 (Page 235.) 
 
 fchthe/is incisor, (C. & V.) Holbr. Some very large 
 specimens, taken in Lake Michigan, have the depth 
 considerably more than half length, the flap very large 
 and broad, sometimes an inch square, and the dorsal spot 
 
 (317) 
 
318 ADDENDA. 
 
 quite obscure. Occasionally the body is almost orbicular 
 in form, the profile being nearly vertical. Some speci- 
 mens have the belly strongly tinged with orange red. 
 
 (Page 300.) 
 
 " Ictalurus nigricans." The great Fork-Tailed Cat- 
 Fish of the Lakes, mentioned in the text under the above 
 name, is an Amiurus, and should stand as Amiurus nigri- 
 cans, (LeS.) Gill. 
 
 A specimen two feet long, taken in Lake Michigan, 
 shows the following characters : Tail strongly forked; 
 supra-occipital bone free behind; head small, 4^ in 
 length, its width 5; upper jaw much longer than lower; 
 barbels very long, longest reaching much beyond 
 opercle; body heavy and deep, the depth being about 
 4 in length; body wider than head; dorsal outline ele- 
 vated; color blackish, somewhat mottled, white below; 
 D. I, 6; P. I, 10; A. 25. (A. nigricans of Giinther and 
 of Cope is described as having the caudal fin truncate 
 which it certainly is not in this species.) 
 
GLOSSAET 
 
 OP THE 
 
 PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL TERMS 
 
 USED IN THIS WORK.* 
 
 Abdomen Belly. 
 
 Abdominal Pertaining to the belly said ol the ventral fins of 
 fishes when inserted considerably behind the pectorals, away 
 from the shoulder girdle. 
 
 Abortive Remaining or becoming imperfect. 
 
 Acuminate 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 of 
 fishes, corresponding to the lungs of the higher vertebrates. 
 
 Allantois An organ of the embryo. 
 
 Altrices Birds reared in the nest and fed by the parents. 
 
 Altricial Having the nature of Altrices. 
 
 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. 
 
 Amphiccelian 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 Baird, Brewer and Ridgway's History of North American Birds, Vol. III. 
 pp. 535560. 
 
 (319) 
 
320 GLOSSARY. 
 
 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. 
 
 BrancJiicB 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 fin 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. 321 
 
 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. 
 
 Coseal Of the form of a blind sac. 
 
 Caecum 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 skin (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. 
 
 Crissum 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. 
 
 Cuneate 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. 
 
 Dentirostral Having the bill notched near its tip. 
 
 Depressed Flattened vertically. 
 
 Depth Vertical diameter (usually of the body of fishes.) 
 
 Dermal Pertaining to the skin. 
 
 Diaphanous Translucent. 
 
 Digitigrade Walking on the toes, like a dog. 
 
 Dorsal Pertaining to the back. 
 21 
 
322 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. 
 
 Epignathous 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. 
 Fasciated With broad colored bands. 
 
 Fauna The animals inhabiting any region, taken collectively. 
 Ferrugineous Rusty red. 
 Fibula The small outer leg bone. 
 Filament Any slender or thread-like structure. 
 Filiform Thread-form. 
 Fissirostral Having the bill very deeply cleft, beyond the base of 
 
 the horny part, as in the Swallows. 
 .ForeJiead Frontal curve of head. 
 Foramen A hole or opening. 
 Forficate Deeply forked. 
 
 Fosses 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. 
 GiU openings Openings leading to or from the branchiae. 
 Gill rakers A series of structures like comb-teeth in the mouth 
 
 of some fishes. 
 
GLOSSABY. 323 
 
 Glabrous Smooth. 
 
 Gonys The middle line of the lower mandible. 
 
 Gorget Throat patch of peculiar feathers. 
 
 Graduated Said of a bird's tail when the outer feathers are 
 
 regularly shorter. 
 
 Granulate Rough with small prominences. 
 Gular Pertaining to the gula, or upper fore-neck. 
 Guttate With rounded, drop-shaped spots. 
 Hallux The great toe in birds, the hind toe. 
 Height Vertical diameter practically the same as depth. 
 Heterocercal Said of the tail of a fish, when unequal the back- 
 bone evidently running into the upper lobe. 
 Hirsute With shaggy hairs. 
 Homocercal Said 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. 
 
 Humerus Bone of the upper arm. 
 Hyoid Pertaining to the tongue. 
 Hypognathous Having 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. 
 Incisors The front or cutting teeth. 
 Interfemoral membrane The membrane connecting the posterior 
 
 limbs of a bat. 
 Intermaxillaries 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 Garinate. 
 
 Labials Plates forming the lip of a serpent. 
 Lamella Plate-like processes inside of the bill of a duck. 
 Lamellate Said of a bill provided with lamellae, as in a duck. 
 Lateral To or towards the side. 
 Lateral line A series of muciferous tubes , forming a raised line 
 
 along the sides of a fish. 
 Laterally Sidewise. 
 Locate Furnished with membranous flaps said of the toes of birds. 
 
324 GLOSSAKY. 
 
 Longitudinal Kunning lengthwise. 
 
 Loral plate Plate between eye and mouth of a serpent. 
 
 Lore Space between eye and bill. 
 
 Mailed cJieeks 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. 
 Monogamous 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. 
 Ocherous Brownish yellow. 
 Oid (suffix) Like as Percoid, perch-like. 
 Operde, 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. 
 
 OpistJwccelian Concave behind ; said of vertebrae. 
 Orbicular Nearly circular. 
 
GLOSSARY. 325 
 
 Orbit Eye socket. 
 
 Oscine Musical. 
 
 Oscine tarsus By ellipsis, tarsus as in oscine birds ; i. e. y its 
 envelope undivided behind and forming a sharp ridge. 
 
 Oviparous Producing eggs which are developed after exclusion 
 from the body, as in all birds. 
 
 Ovommparous 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. 
 
 Paragnathous 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. 
 
 Pharyngeal bones Bones at the beginning of the oesophagus of 
 fishes, of various forms, almost always provided with teeth. 
 
 Pharyngognathous 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. 
 
 Plumage 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. 
 
326 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Polygamous Mating with more than one female. 
 
 PrcBCoces Birds able to run about and feed themselves at birth. 
 
 PrcBCodal Having the nature of Prcecoces. 
 
 Premaxillaries Same as intermaxillaries. 
 
 Premolars The small grinders ; the teeth between the canines 
 
 and the true molars. 
 Preopercle 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 Curved 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. 
 Retrorse 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. 327 
 
 Ruff A series of modified feathers. 
 
 Scansorial 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. 
 Scutellum One 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. 
 Sectorial tooth One of the premolars of carnivora, adapted for 
 
 cutting. 
 Semipalmate 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. 
 Slwulder 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 are unbranched, 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 Oscines the presence of a short or spurious quill indicates 
 
 ten primaries ; its absence, nine.) 
 Sternum The breast bone. 
 Striate Striped or streaked. 
 
328 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. 
 
 Sub-orbital Below the eye. 
 
 Subulate 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 when 
 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. 329 
 
 Transverse Crosswise. 
 
 Trenchant Compressed to a sharp edge. 
 
 Truncate Abrupt, as if cut squarely off. 
 
 Tubercle A small excrescence, like a pimple. 
 
 Tympanum Drum of the ear ; external in some Batrachia. 
 
 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. 
 
 UrostegesThe 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. 
 Ventricle 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. 
 Villiform 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. 
 Web The vane of a feather, on either side of the rhachis or 
 
 " stem " ; also, the membrane connecting the toes. 
 Zygodactyle Yoke-toed ; having the toes in pairs two in front, 
 
 two behind. 
 Zygoma The malar or cheek bone. 
 
INDEX 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 Dendrceca; families and 
 higher groups in small capitals, as EMYDIDJS; synonyms and 
 sub -genera in italics, as Amblodon. In giving the etymology of 
 terms, all words not otherwise designated are understood to he 
 Greek; L. indicates Latin. Greek words are here, for con- 
 venience, printed in Roman characters. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Abastor: a coined name, . . 181 
 Ablabes: ablabes, harmless, . 179 
 A br amis : L.. a bream, . . 291 
 Acantharchus : aTcantha spine ; 
 
 archos anal (many anal spines) 232 
 ACANTHOPTERI: akantho spine; 
 
 pteron fin 215 
 
 Accipiter: L., ahawk, . . 113 
 Acipenser: L., a sturgeon (sharp 
 
 fins) 311 
 
 ACIPENSERID^E: . . . 310 
 Acomus: meaningless, . . 293 
 Acris : L., sharp from the note, 190 
 Actiturus: actaino to move 
 
 quickly; our a tail (wagtail), 129 
 Actodromas: akte sea beach; 
 
 dromos a running, . . 127 
 ^ffigialitis: aigialites pertaining 
 
 to the shore, .... 121 
 ^giothus: aigiothos a hedge 
 
 sparrow, 82 
 
 jUSsalon: aisalon a merlin (kind 
 
 of hawk) Ill 
 
 Agelseus: agelaios gregarious, 92 
 Aix: aix a goat, ... 142 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 ALAUDHXE: L., alauda a lark 
 
 (L., laudo to praise), . . 56 
 Alburnellus: Dim. of Alburnus 
 
 the Bleak (from L. albus, white) 289 
 Albumops: Alburnus-like, . 282 
 Alee: an elk (Scandinavian), . 21 
 ALCEDINID^E : L., alcedo a King- 
 fisher 101 
 
 ALECTORIDES: aleTttor a cock; 
 
 eidos likeness, . . . 134 
 Alligator: L., one who binds, 157 
 Alosa: German, alse ashad, 265 
 Alvordius: to Major Alvord, . 222 
 Amblodon: amblus blunt; odon 
 
 tooth, 241 
 
 Ambloplites : amblus blunt ; 
 
 hop lites armed, . . . 231 
 AMBLYOPSIDJE: .... 256 
 Amblyopsis; amblus blunt; opsis 
 
 vision, 257 
 
 Amblystoma: amblus blunt ; 
 
 stoma mouth 194 
 
 AMBLYSTOMID^E: . . . 194 
 Amia: name of some sea-fish, 
 probably the bonito, . . 306 
 
 (331) 
 
332 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 AMIID.E: 305 
 
 Amiurus: o not; meiouros 
 
 notched (the tail), . . . 300 
 Ammocoetes: ammokoites lying 
 
 in the sand, .... 314 
 Anun odromus : ammos sand ; 
 
 dromos running, ... 84 
 Ampells: ampeUs a kind of sing- 
 ing bird 73 
 
 AMPELIDJB: 72 
 
 Amphiuma: meaning unknown, 197 
 AMPHIUMID^E: .... 197 
 Amyda: L., a turtle (JSmy*), . 168 
 ANACANTHINI : a without ; 
 
 akantha spine, . . . 246 
 Anas: L., a duck, . . . 140 
 
 ANATID^S: 137 
 
 Ahcistrodon: agkisfron a hook; 
 
 odon tooth 184 
 
 ANOUID^S: L.. anguis the " blind 
 
 worm," 170 
 
 Anguilla; L., an eel (from anguis) 304 
 ANGUILLID^} . . .304 
 
 Anorthura: a without; orthos 
 
 regular; oura tail, . . 55 
 Anser: L., a goose, . . . 140 
 Authus : anthos a flower, or 
 
 something bright, ... 57 
 Antrostornus: antrqn cavern; 
 
 stoma mouth, ... 99 
 ANURA: a without; oura tail, 187 
 Apeltes: a without; pelte shield 248 
 APHREDODERID^E, . . . 240 
 Aphredoderus: aphros foam; 
 
 deros skin, .... 240 
 APODES: a without; potts foot 
 
 (ventral fins) 304 
 
 Aquila: L., an eagle, . . . 114 
 Archibuteo: L., chief of buzzards, 114 
 Arctomys: arktos bear; mus 
 
 mouse 28 
 
 Ardea; L., a heron, ... 131 
 
 ARDEID^B 130 
 
 Ardetta: L., a little heron, . 133 
 Argyreus: argureoss$\ery, . 280 
 Argy rosomus : arguros silver ; 
 
 soma body 262 
 
 ARIDJS: from Ara, L., a macaw, 105 
 Arlina: a coined name, . . 221 
 Aromochelys: aroma odor; che- 
 
 lus turtle 166 
 
 Arquatella: L., arcuatus bent 
 
 likBabow 127 
 
 Arvicola: L., living in fields, . 32 
 
 PAGE. 
 Aspidonectes: aspis shield; nek- 
 
 tes a swimmer, . . . 168 
 A static hthys: astatos never 
 
 standing still; ichthus fish, 219 
 Astragalinus ; astragalos the 
 
 ankle bone 83 
 
 Astur: L,, a goshawk, . . 112 
 Asturina : L., diminutive of 
 
 Astur 113 
 
 Atalapha: (atalos tender ?) . 23 
 ATHERINID^E : atherine a small, 
 bony fish (from other, an ar- 
 row) 250 
 
 Atractosteus; atraktos spindle ; 
 
 osteon, bone 309 
 
 AVES: L., birds 36 
 
 Aythya: aithuia a kind of water 
 
 bird 143 
 
 Baskanium: baskanos malignant 178 
 BATRACHIA: batrachos a frog, 185 
 Bern a: Latin name (a barnacle) 140 
 Blarina: a meaningless name, 26 
 Boleichthys: holts dart; ichthus 
 fish, ...... 220 
 
 Boleosoma. bolis dart; soma 
 
 body 221 
 
 Bonasa: L., a bull, from the 
 
 "drumming," . . . . 119 
 Botaurus: L., bos-taurus bull, 
 
 from the "booming." . . 133 
 Brachyotus : brachuotoa short- 
 eared, 108 
 
 Brauta: English, brant, . . 140 
 Bryttus: brutto to growl, . 235 
 Bubalichthys : bubalos buffalo ; 
 
 ichthus fish 298 
 
 Bubo: L., a horned owl, . . 109 
 Bucephala: bous bull; Ttephale 
 
 head, 143 
 
 Bufo: L., a toad, .... 190 
 
 BUPONID^E: 190 
 
 Buteo: L., a buzzard, . . . 113 
 Butorides: L., bittern-like, . 132 
 Calemys: katos beautiful ; emus 
 
 turtle, 162 
 
 Calidris: L., asanderling, . 128 
 Calliurus: katos beautiful; our a 
 
 tail, 234 
 
 Calopisma : Ttalos beautiful ; 
 
 lopisma skin 181 
 
 Campephilus : kampe caterpil- 
 lar; phileo to love, . . . 103 
 Campostoma : kampe curve ; 
 stoma mouth 275 
 
INDEX. 
 
 833 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Camptolyemus: kampte flexible; 
 
 lai??ios throat, . . . 144 
 Canace: L., a daughter of ^Eolus, 118 
 
 CANID^E: 16 
 
 Canis: L., a dog, .... 17 
 CAPRIMULGID.E: from L., Capri- 
 
 mulgus goat-sucker, . . 98 
 Carassi us : L., a crucian carp, . 291 
 Cardinalis: L., cardinal, . . 89 
 
 Cariacus: 22 
 
 CARJUVORA: L., flesh-eating, 15 
 Carphophiops : karphos a dry 
 twig; op his snake; ops ap- 
 pearance 182 
 
 Carpiodes: L., carp-like, . . 296 
 Carpodacus: karpos fruit; dakno 
 
 to bite, 82 
 
 Castor: L., a beaver, ... 29 
 
 CASTORID^E, 29 
 
 Catharista : kathairo to cleanse, 115 
 Catharles: kathartes one who 
 
 purifies 115 
 
 CATHARTID^E, . . . . 114 
 Catonotus: kata low; notos 
 
 back, 218 
 
 CATOSTOMID^E, .... 291 
 Catostomus: fcata low; stoma 
 
 mouth, 293 
 
 Caudisona: L., cauda tail; sono 
 
 to sound 184 
 
 Celuta: L., celer swift, . . 182 
 Centrarchus : kentron spine; 
 
 archos anal (many anal spines) 230 
 Centrophanes : kentron spine;' 
 
 phaneo to show, ... 83 
 Centurus: kenteo to prick : our a 
 
 tail 104 
 
 Ceratichthys : keras horn; ichthus 
 
 fish 278 
 
 Certhia: L., a creeper wren. . 53 
 CERTHIID^, ..... 53 
 
 CERVID^B, 20 
 
 Cervus: L,., a deer, ... 22 
 Ceryle: kerulos a kingfisher, 101 
 Chsenobryttus: chaino to yawn; 
 
 bruttos a sun fish (growler), 234 
 Chsetura: chaite mane (bristle); 
 
 our a tail, 100 
 
 Chamsepelia: chamai on the 
 ground; peleia ring-dove (pel- 
 eios dusky) .... 116 
 CHARADRIID^E, .... 120 
 Charadrius: charadrios a lap- 
 wing or some other water-bird 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 (from charadra, a torrent), . 121 
 Chatoessus: chateoto yawn, . 266 
 Chaulelasmus: chaulos loose, or 
 
 gaping; elasmos a plate, or 
 
 blade, 141 
 
 Chelopus: cliele claw; pous 
 
 foot 162 
 
 Chelydra; cheludros a water rep- 
 tile 167 
 
 CHELYDRID^E: . . . . 166 
 CHIROPTERA: cheir hand; 
 
 pteron wing, .... 22 
 Chirostoina: cheir hand; stoma 
 
 mouth 250 
 
 Chloris: chloros green, . . 60 
 Chologaster : cholos defective, 
 
 lame; gaster belly, . . 257 
 Chondestes : chondros grain ; 
 
 esthio to eat 85 
 
 CHONDROSTEI: chondros carti- 
 lage; osteon bone, . . . 310 
 Chordeiles: choreo to wander; 
 
 deile twilight, .... 99 
 Chorophilus : chores dance 
 
 (chorus) ; phileo to love, . 189 
 Chroacocephalus: chroia color ; 
 
 kephale head, .... 150 
 Chrosomus: chroia color; soma 
 
 body, 284 
 
 Chrysemys: chrusos golden; 
 
 emus water-turtle, . . 163 
 Chrysomitris : chrusos golden ; 
 
 mitra cap 82 
 
 Circus: L., a sacred falcon which 
 
 flies in circles 112 
 
 CINOSTERNID^E: .... 165 
 Cinosternum : feineo to move; 
 
 sternon sternum, . . . 166 
 Cistothorus : fcistos rock-rose ; 
 
 thereto to seek, ... 55 
 Cistudo: kiste a box, . . 162 
 Clangula: Latin name, clangor 
 
 a sharp bird's scream, . . 143 
 Clinostomus : klino to Incline; 
 
 stoma mouth, .... 285 
 CLUPEnx<E: from L., clupea a 
 
 herring 264 
 
 Cneinidophorus: knemidophoros 
 
 wearing leg armor, . . . 170 
 Coccygus: kokkux a cuckoo, 102 
 Colaptes : kolapto to strike with 
 
 the bill 105 
 
 Collurio: kollurlon a shrike 
 
 (butcher) 77 
 
334 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Coluber: L., a harmless snake, 178 
 
 COLUBRID^E 172 
 
 Columba: L., a dove, . . . 116 
 
 COLUMB^E: L., doves, . . 115 
 
 116 
 154 
 
 Colymbus: kolumbos a diver, 154 
 Condylura: kondulos node ; our a 
 
 tail (from the beaded appear- 
 ance when dried), ... 25 
 
 Conocephalus: fconos--cone ; Tteph- 
 
 ale head, . ... 181 
 Contopus: kontos spear; pous 
 
 foot, 97 
 
 Conurus^ konos cone; oura tail, 106 
 Coregonus: korre the temples; 
 
 gonos angle 263 
 
 Coronella : L., corona a crown, 180 
 
 CORVID.E 93 
 
 Corvina : from corvus, . . 242 
 Corvus: L., a raven, ... 94 
 Corynorhinus : Tcorune club ; 
 
 rhin snout, .... 24 
 Coryphodon : koruphe vertex, 
 
 point; odorir tooth, . . . 178 
 COTTUxas: L., coitus a sculpin 
 
 (fcottos-head) 243 
 
 Cottog aster : coitus a, sculpin; 
 
 gaster belly 222 
 
 Coitus: kottos head (from the 
 
 great size of that part), . . 243 
 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 
 CROCODLLIA: krokodeilos a cro- 
 codile 157 
 
 Crocodilus, 157 
 
 CROTALID^E, 183 
 
 Crotalophorus: krotalona. 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: kuaneos blue; spiza 
 
 sparrow, .'.... 89 
 Cyanurus: kuaneos blue; oura 
 
 tail, ...... 94 
 
 Cycleptus: kuklos circle; leptos 
 
 slender; (i.e. "small round 
 mouth.") 298 
 
 CYCLOGA2JOIDEI: cycloid-ganoid 305 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Cyclophis: kukloi circle ; ophis 
 
 snake, 179 
 
 Cygnus: kuknos a swan, . 139 
 Cylindrosteus: kulindros a cy- 
 linder; osteon bone. . . 308 
 
 Cyprinella: dim. of Cyprlnus, 288 
 
 CYPRINID^E, 267 
 
 Cyprinodou: kuprinos a carp; 
 
 odon a tooth 252 
 
 CYPRINODONTID^E, . . . 251 
 Cypriuus: kuprinos a carp, . 291 
 CYPSELIDJE: L., cypselus a swift 
 
 (kupsele a cavern), ... 99 
 Dania: Latin name, . . . 141 
 Decactylus: dekas ten; aktin 
 
 ray, 293 
 
 Dendroeca: dendron tree ; oikeo 
 
 to inhabit, ..... 61 
 DESMOGNATHIDJB: . . . 191 
 Desrnoguathus: desmos a bond; 
 
 gnathos jaw 192 
 
 Diadophis: did to divide; ophis 
 
 snake, . . . . . 179 
 
 DlDELPHIDID^E: .... 35 
 
 Didelphys: dis two; delphus 
 uterus, 35 
 
 Diemyctylus: meaning unknown, 191 
 
 Diplesium; dis two; plesion 
 nearly (dorsal fin), . . . 223 
 
 Dolichonyx: dolichos long ; onux 
 
 claw, 91 
 
 Dorosoma: doru lance; soma 
 
 body 266 
 
 Ectopistes: ektopisteos disposed 
 
 todepart, 116 
 
 Elanus: elanos a kite, . . 112 
 
 ELAPID^B: 182 
 
 Elaps: elaps a harmless snake, 183 
 ELASMOBRANCHII : elasmos a 
 
 plate; bragchia gill, . . 813 
 Enipidonax: empis a mosquito; 
 
 anax a prince. ... 97 
 
 EMYDIDuE, 161 
 
 Emys: emits a water tortoise, 163 
 Eimeacauthus: ennea iiine; 
 
 akantha spine, . . . 232 
 Eremophila : eremos desert ; 
 
 phileo to love 56 
 
 Erethizon: erethizo to irritate, 34 
 Ereunetes : ereunetesau inquirer, 
 
 searcher, 126 
 
 Ericyuiba: ert very or true ; 
 
 kumba hollow or cavity, . 277 
 Erirnyzon: ert true, strong; muzo 
 
INDEX. 
 
 335 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 to suck 294 
 
 Erinemus: eri strong; nema 
 
 a thread or barbel, ... 279 
 Erismatura: ereisma a support, 
 prop; OUTO, tail, . . . 145 
 
 ESOCID^E, 254 
 
 Esox: L., a pike .... 254 
 Estrella : a word of euphony, 221 
 Etheostoma: "various mouths," 
 from the variety in that respect 
 in the genus as at first consti- 
 tuted 222 
 
 ETHEOSTOMID^E, . . . 215 
 Eucalia: eu true; kalia nest, 248 
 Eudytes: eu true; dutes a diver, 154 
 Eumeces: eumekes long, of good 
 
 stature 171 
 
 EURHIPIDURA: eu true; rhipis 
 
 fan; our a tail, ... 37 
 Euspiza: eu true; spiza a spar- 
 row 88 
 
 Euttenia: eu true; tainia rib- 
 
 ' bon, 176 
 
 Eutychelithus : eutuches lucky ; 
 
 lithos stone, .... 242 
 EVENTOGNATHI: eu true; entos 
 
 within; gnathos jaw, . 267 
 Evotomys : evotos long - eared ; 
 
 mus mouse, . .32 
 
 Exoglossum: exo outside; glossa 
 
 tongue, 274 
 
 Falcinellus : L., /ate a scythe, 134 
 Falco: L., a falcon, . . , 111 
 
 FALCONID^B 109 
 
 Farancia: a word of euphony, 181 
 Fario: L., a brook trout, . . 259 
 
 FELID^B, 15 
 
 Felis: L., a cat, .... 16 
 FER^E: L., /era wild, savage, 15 
 Fiber: L., a beaver. ... 33 
 Florida: Florida, one of the U. S. 
 
 where Herons abound, . . 132 
 FRINGILLID^E: from L,, Fringilla 
 
 a finch 77 
 
 Fulica: L., a coot (sooty), . . 136 
 Fuligula: diminutive of F.ulix, 142 
 Fulix: same as Fulica, . , 142 
 Fundulus: L., fundus bottom, 251 
 GADID^E: L., gadus a cod-fish, 246 
 Galeoscoptes : galee weasel ; 
 
 skoptes mocker, ... 48 
 GALLING: L., Gallus a cock, 117 
 Gallinago: L., Gallina a kind of 
 
 wader, . . . . . . 126 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Gallinula: diminutive of Gallina, 136 
 GANOIDEI: ganos splendor, . 305 
 Garzetta: a proper name, . . 132 
 GASTEROSTEID^B, . . . 247 
 Gasterosteus: g aster belly ; ost- 
 
 eon bone, 248 
 
 Gelochelidon: gelao to laugh; 
 
 chelidon a swallow, . . 151 
 
 GEOMYIDJB 29 
 
 Geomys: fire the earth; mus 
 
 mouse 29 
 
 Geothlypis: ge the earth; thlupis 
 
 a warbler (?), ... 68 
 Gila: Gila River, where the typi- 
 cal species occurs, . . . 285 
 Girardinus: to Dr. Chas. Girard, 251 
 GLIRES: L., glis a dor-mouse, 26 
 Glossoplites: glossa tongue; ho- 
 
 plites armed, .... 233 
 Glottis: glottis name of some bird 128 
 Glyptemys; gluplos sculptured; 
 
 emus tortoise, . . . 163 
 GOBIID^E: L.. gobius a goby, 246 
 Gobio: L., gobio a gudgeon, 278 
 Gobiosoma: L., gobius a goby; 
 
 soma body, .... 246 
 Goniaphea: gonos cheeks (?); 
 
 phaios black 88 
 
 Goniochelys: gonia angle ; cfoelus 
 
 turtle 166 
 
 Graculus: L., a jackdaw, from its 
 
 note gra, gra 147 
 
 Graptemys : graptos engraved; 
 
 emus tortoise, . . . 164 
 Gronias: grone a cavern, . 304 
 
 GRUID-.E, 134 
 
 Grus: L., a crane, . . . 135 
 Grystes: gruzo to growl, . 229 
 Guiraca: meaningless, . . 89 
 Gulo: L., gulo a glutton, . 19 
 Gypochelys: gups a vulture; che- 
 
 lus a turtle 167 
 
 Gyrinophilus: gurinos a tadpole; 
 
 phileo to love 194 
 
 Hadropterus: hadros stout; pte- 
 
 223 
 
 ... 122 
 
 Haematopus: haima blooa; pous 
 
 foot, 122 
 
 Haldea: meaningless? . . 181 
 Haliaetus: hals sea; aetos eagle, 114 
 Haplochilus : haploos single, 
 
 simple; cTieiloa a lip, . . 252 
 Hapioidonotus: haploidos 
 
336 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGB. 
 
 cloaked; no to* back, from 
 scales on dorsal fin (more likely 
 haploos single ; noto* back, 
 i. e. dorsal fin), .... 241 
 
 HAPLOMI: haploos simple; omos 
 humerus 251 
 
 Harelda: L., a herald. . . 143 
 
 Harporhynchus: harpe a sickle; 
 rhunchos a bill, ... 48 
 
 Hedymeles: hedus sweet; melos 
 a soug, 88 
 
 Helminthophaga: helmins a 
 worm ; phago to eat, . . 60 
 
 Helmitherus: helmins a worm; 
 thereuo to seek, ... 60 
 
 HEMIBRANCHII: hemi half; 
 bragchia gills, ... 247 
 
 Hemidactylium: hemi half; 
 daktulos claw, . . . 193 
 
 Hemioplites: hemi half; hoplites 
 armed 232 
 
 Hemitremia: hemi half; trema 
 aperture (lateral line half 
 way) 283 
 
 Herodias: herodios a heron, 132 
 
 HERODIONES 130 
 
 Hesperiphona: hesperos evening; 
 phoneo to sing 81 
 
 Hesperocichla : hesperos even- 
 ing ; fcichle a thrush, . . 47 
 
 Hesperomys : hesperos evening; 
 mus a mouse, .... 31 
 
 Heterodon : heteros different ; 
 odon tooth 174 
 
 Hierofalco : L.. hierax, a hawk ; 
 falco, a falcon Ill 
 
 Himantopus : himantopous a 
 kind of water-bird (crook- 
 shanks) 123 
 
 HlRUNDINIJXE, , 70 
 
 Hirundo: L., a swallow, . , 71 
 Histrionicus: L., a harlequin, 144 
 Hololepis: holos entirely; lepis 
 
 a scale, 220 
 
 Hopladelus: hop leis armed ; de- 
 
 los visible, .... 303 
 Hucho: a Latin name, . . 259 
 Mudsonius: Hudson River . 281 
 Huro: Lake Huron, . . . 229 
 Hybognathus: hubos gibbous ; 
 
 gnathos jaw, .... 276 
 Hybopsis : hubos gibbous ; opsis 
 
 face 281 
 
 Hyborhynchus : hubos gi bbous ; 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 rhunchos snout, . . . 276 
 
 Hydrargyra : hudor water; ar- 
 guros silver, .... 252 
 
 Hydrochelidon : hudor water ; 
 chelidon swallow, . . . 153 
 
 Hyla: hule forest, . . . 189 
 
 HYLID^E: 189 
 
 Hylocichla: hule forest; kichle 
 thrush .46 
 
 Hylomyzon: hilus mud; muzo 
 to suck, ...... 293 
 
 Hylotomus: hule wood; tomos 
 cutting 103 
 
 Hyodon: L., os hyoides bone of 
 the tongue; odon a tooth (in- 
 tended for "toothed tongue " ), 264 
 
 HYODONTID^E 263 
 
 Hyostoma: hus swine; stoma 
 a mouth, 223 
 
 Hypentelium: hupo under (lip?); 
 enteles-perfect 293 
 
 Hypohomus: hupo beneath ; ho- 
 mosuniform 223 
 
 Hyperistius: huper high; histi- 
 on a sail (dorsal), ... 230 
 
 HYPEROARTIA: huperoa pal- 
 ate; artios perfect, . . 314 
 
 HYPEROTRETA: huperoa pal- 
 ate; tretos perforate, . . 313 
 
 Hypsilepis: hupsi high; lepis 
 scale 286 
 
 Ibis: name in Greek, . . . 134 
 
 Ictalurus: ichthus fish; ailuros 
 cat, 299 
 
 ICHTHELIDJ3 227 
 
 Ichthelis: ichthus fish; helios 
 the sun 235 
 
 Ichthyobus: ichthus fish ; boats 
 buffalo 297 
 
 Ichthyomyzon : ichthus fish ; 
 muse to suck, .... 315 
 
 Ictinia: 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 
 
 ICTERlDuE, 90 
 
 Icterus, 92 
 
 IGUANHXE: Iguana a vernacular 
 name, 169 
 
 INSECTIVORA: L., insecta in- 
 sect; voro to eat, ... 24 
 
 Ischnognathus : ischnos thin ; 
 gnathos jaw 176 
 
INDEX. 
 
 337 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 ISOSPONDYLI: isos equal; spon- 
 
 dulos a, vertebra, . . . 258 
 Ispida: a Latin name, . . 101 
 Jaculus: L., something thrown, 30 
 Junco: meaningless, ... 88 
 Labidesthes: labis a pair of for- 
 ceps; esthio to eat, . . 250 
 
 LABRACID^E 326 
 
 Labrax: labraxname of some 
 
 voracious sea-fish, . . . 226 
 LACERTILIA: L., lacertaa, lizard 168 
 Lagopus; lagopous a ptarmigan 
 from lagos a hare; potts foot 
 (rough-footed like a hare), . 119 
 LAMELLIROSTRES ; L., lamella 
 
 a thin plate; rostrum bill, . 137 
 Lampropeltis: lampros shining; 
 
 pelte shield, .... 180 
 LANIHXE: L., lanius a shrike 
 
 (butcher), 76 
 
 Lanivireo: lanius-vireo, . . 76 
 
 LARID^E 148 
 
 Larus: laros a sea gull, . . 150 
 Lasiurus: lasios hairy; oura 
 
 tail 24 
 
 LEPIDOSTEID^E 307 
 
 Lepidosteus; lepis scale; osteon 
 
 bone 308 
 
 Lepomis: lepis scale ; poma 
 
 opercle 235 
 
 LEPORIDJ3 34 
 
 LEPTOCARDII: leptos thin; kar- 
 dia heart, ..... 313 
 
 Lepibema: lepis scale; bema 
 step, ''in allusion to the scaly 
 bases of the unpaired fins," 226 
 
 Leptophis: leptos slender; ophis 
 snake 179 
 
 Lepus: L.. a hare, ... 34 
 
 Lestris: lestris a robber, . 149 
 
 Leuciscus: L., a dace (leukos 
 white) 287 
 
 Leucosomus: leukos white; soma 
 body 277 
 
 LlMicoLxE: L., limus mud; colo 
 
 to inhabit, .... 120 
 Limosa: L., limosus muddy, 128 
 Liopeltis: lews smooth ; pelte 
 
 shield, 179 
 
 Litholepis: lithos stone ; lepis 
 
 scale, 309 
 
 Lobipes: lobos lobe; pous foot, 123 
 LONGIPENNES: L., longus long ; 
 
 penna wing 147 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Lophodytes: lop hos crest; dutes 
 
 diver, 145 
 
 Lophophanes: I o p ho s crest; 
 
 phaino to show, ... 51 
 
 Lota: L., a ling 247 
 
 Loxia- loxos crosswise, . . 82 
 Lucioperca: L., lucius a pike; 
 
 perca a perch, .... 225 
 Lutra: L., an otter, ... 19 
 Luxilus: a shiner (L., Zua>-light), 286 
 Lynx: lugx a wild cat, . . 16 
 Lythrurus: luthron blood; oura 
 
 tail 285 
 
 Macrochelys: makros large; 
 
 chelus a turtle, . . . 167 
 Macrorhamphus: makros large; 
 
 rhamphos bill, . . . 126 
 Malacoclemmys: malakos soft; 
 
 klemmus a turtle, . . . 164 
 MAMMALIA: Latin name (mam- 
 ma), ....... 12 
 
 Minormis: meaningless, . . 293 
 Mniotilta: mnion moss; tillo to 
 
 pull 59 
 
 Molothrus: molos a mass ; throos 
 
 a rustling (?) .... 91 
 Morone: meaningless, . . 227 
 MOTACILLID^E: L., motacilla a 
 
 wagtail, 56 
 
 Moxostoma: muzo to suck; stoma 
 
 mouth, 295 
 
 Muraenopsis : muraina an eel ; 
 
 opsis appearance, . . . 197 
 
 MURID^E, 30 
 
 Mus: mus a mouse, ... 31 
 Mustela L., a weasel, . . 18 
 
 MUSTELID^!, 17 
 
 Myiadestes: myia a fly; deo to 
 
 bind (catch) 48 
 
 Myiarchus: myia a, fly; archos 
 
 chief, 96 
 
 Myiodioctes: myia a fly; diofco 
 
 to chase 68 
 
 Myonomes: mus mouse; 7iomos 
 
 pasture 32 
 
 Nanemys: nanos dwarf; emys 
 
 turtle 163 
 
 Nauclerus: naucleros a ruler, 112 
 Necturus : nekton swimming ; 
 
 oura tail, 198 
 
 NEMATOGNATHI: nemo barbel; 
 
 0nat/ios-jaw 298 
 
 Neocorys : neos new ; cor us 
 
 helmet 57 
 
 - J 5 
 
338 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Neotoma: neo to swim: tome 
 a cutting (Rodent), ... 31 
 
 Nero&ia: neros moist, . . 175 
 
 Nettion: nettion a little duck, 142 
 
 Nisus: a king of Megara, changed 
 to an eagle 113 
 
 Mareca: meaningless, . . 141 
 
 MARSIPOBRANCHH: marsipion 
 a pouch ; braychia gills, . 313 
 
 MARSTJPIALIA : marsipion 
 pouch 35 
 
 Melanerpes: melas black ; herpo 
 to creep, 104 
 
 Melanetta: melas black; netta 
 a duck 144 
 
 Melanura: melas black; oura 
 a tail, 253 
 
 MELEAGRID^E: . . . . 117 
 
 Meleagris : meleagris a fowl 
 (from the hero Meleager, whose 
 sisters wept themselves into 
 Guinea-hens) 117 
 
 Melospiza: melos song; spiza a 
 sparrow 87 
 
 M enobranchus : menos strength; 
 (meno to remain); bragchosa, 
 gill, ' 198 
 
 ME^-OPOMID^E 196 
 
 Menopoma : menos strength ; 
 poma opercle 196 
 
 Mephitis: L., a bad odor, . . 19 
 
 Mergus: L., mergo to dive, . 145 
 
 Mesogonistius : mesos middle ; 
 gonia angle; histion sail (dor- 
 sal) 232 
 
 Micristius: mikros small ; histion 
 sail (dorsal), .... 252 
 
 Micropalama . mikros small ; 
 palame palm (web), . . 126 
 
 Microperea: mikros small; perke 
 a perch 218 
 
 Micropterus : mikros small ; 
 pteron a fin, .... 229 
 
 Milvulus: dim. of L., milvus a 
 kite 96 
 
 Mlnnilus : English, minnow ; 
 French, menuise ; L., minus 
 small, 289 
 
 Nocomis: Ind., nokomit daugh- 
 ter of the moon, . . . 278 
 
 Notemigonus : notos back; Tiemi 
 half; gonia angle, . . 290 
 
 Nothonotus : notlios spurious ; 
 notos back, .... 218 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Notophthalmus : notos back; 
 
 ophthalmos eye, . , . 191 
 Noturus: notos back; oura tail, 303 
 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: mix night. , . 23 
 Ochetodon: ochetos a channel; 
 
 odon a tooth, .... 32 
 (Edemia: oidema a swelling, 144 
 Oligocephalus : o li g o s a few 
 
 (small); kephale head, . 218 
 Oligosoma: oligos small; soma 
 
 body 171 
 
 Olor : a Latin name, . . . 139 
 Opheosaurus: ophis snake; sau- 
 
 ros- lizard, . . . 170 
 Ophibolus: op Tiis snake ; fcolis 
 
 dart 180 
 
 OPHIDIA: ophis snake, . . 172 
 Oporornis: opora early autumn 
 
 (fruit); ornis bird, . . 67 
 Ortyx: ortux a European quail, 119 
 Oryzomys : L., oryza rice; mus 
 
 mouse, ..... 32 
 Osceola: Name of an Indian chief, 181 
 Osmerus: osmeres odorous, . 261 
 Otocorys: ous ear; korus hel- 
 met, 56 
 
 Otus: otos a horned owl (otos 
 
 eared) 107 
 
 O'zotheca: ozo to give out an 
 
 odor; theke a box, . . . 166 
 Pagophila: pagos ice; phileo to 
 
 love 150 
 
 Pandion: name in mythology, 112 
 
 PARIDJB 51 
 
 Parula: dim. of Parus, . . 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 
 
 Pegedichthys: pege a fountain; 
 
 icftthus-a fish, .... 244 
 PELECANID^E 146 
 
INDEX. 
 
 339 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Pelecanus: pelekan a pelican, 146 
 Pelidna: pelidnos livid, . . 127 
 Pelionetta: peleios blackish ; 
 
 netta duck, .... 145 
 Perca: per fee a perch (perfeos 
 
 dusky), 225 
 
 PERCESOCES: L., perca perch; 
 
 esox a pike 248 
 
 PERCIDvE, 224 
 
 Percina: dim. of Perca, . . 224 
 
 PERCOPSID^E 258 
 
 Percopsis: per fee a perch; opsis 
 
 appearance, .... 258 
 PERDICID^E: L., perclix a part- 
 ridge, 119 
 
 Perisoreus: peri around ; soros 
 
 a hill, a heap, ... 95 
 Perissoglossa: perissos odd; glos- 
 
 sa a tongue, .... 61 
 Petrochelidon: pefros a rock; 
 
 chclidon a swallow, . . 71 
 Petromyzon : petros a stone ; muzo 
 
 to suck 314 
 
 PETROMYZONTID^E, . . . 314 
 Peucaea: pewfce a pine tree, . 87 
 PHALACROCORACID.*: phalakros 
 
 bald; korax a raven, . 147 
 PHALAROPODIIMB, . . . 123 
 Phalaropus : phalaros shining; 
 
 pous foot, .... 123 
 Phenacobius: phenax deceptive; 
 
 bios life, . . . . . 280 
 Philohela- phileo to love; hele 
 
 sunlight; (hilus mud?), . 125 
 Philomachus: phileo to love; 
 
 mache a fight, . . . 129 
 Photogenis: pTios light; genus 
 
 -cheek 288 
 
 Phoxinus: phoxinos a minnow; 
 
 (phoxos tapering), . . 284 
 Phrynosoma: phrune a toad; so- 
 
 ma body, .... 170 
 Pica: L., a magpie, ... 94 
 PICARIJE: L., picws a wood- 
 pecker, 98 
 
 PiciDvE: 102 
 
 Picoides : L., like a woodpecker, 104 
 Picorellus: English, pickerel, . 255 
 Picus: L., a woodpecker, . . 103 
 Pileoma : pilema something 
 
 compact, ..... 224 
 Pimelodus : pimelodes fat, . 300 
 Pimephales: pimele fat; kephale 
 
 head, 275 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Pinicola: L., living among pines, 81 
 Pipilo: L., pipilo to chirp, . 89 
 PISCES: L., fishes, . . . 199 
 Pitymys: pitus a pine-tree; mus 
 
 mouse, 33 
 
 Pityophis: pitus a pine-tree: 
 
 ophis snake, .... 178 
 Placopharynx: plax anything flat 
 
 and broad; pharunx pharynx, 296 
 Planirostra : L., planus flat; ros- 
 trumsnout, .... 310 
 Plargyrus: pleura side; arguros 
 
 silver 287 
 
 Plectrophanes: plektron a, spur; 
 
 phaneo to show, ... 83 
 Plestiodon: pleistos many; oclon 
 
 tooth 171 
 
 Plethodon : plethos abundance ; 
 
 odon tooth 193 
 
 PLETHODONTID^E, . . . 192 
 PLEURODELID^E : Pleurodeles ; 
 pleuron side; deleeis destruc- 
 tive, .190 
 
 Pleurolepis: pleuron side; lepis 
 
 scale 221 
 
 PLOTID^E, 146 
 
 Plotus: plos a swimmer, . 146 
 Podiceps: L., podex rump; pes 
 
 foot, 155 
 
 PODICIPHXE, . . . . . 155 
 Podilymbus : L., podiceps a 
 
 grebe; colymbus a loon, . 156 
 Pcecilia: poikilos variegated, 252 
 Pcecilichthys : poikilos varie- 
 gated; ichthus fish, . . 219 
 Polioptila: polios hoary; ptilon 
 
 feather, 50 
 
 Poly odon: poi-us many; odon 
 tooth, 310 
 
 POLTODONTID^E, .... 309 
 
 Pomolobus: porno opercle ; loftos 
 
 lobe, 265 
 
 Pomotis: poma opercle ; ous 
 
 ear 239 
 
 Pomoxys: poma opercle; oirws 
 
 sharp, 230 
 
 Pocecetes: pocs meadow-grass; 
 
 koite nest, 84 
 
 Porphyrio : porphurion a red 
 
 water bird, from porphurios, 
 
 purple 136 
 
 Porzana: meaningless, . . 136 
 Potamocottus: potamosa, river; 
 
 kottos a sculpin, . . . 244 
 
340 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Procyon: pro before; Teuon^-dog 20 
 
 PROCYONID.E 20 
 
 Progue: a daughter of Pandion, 
 
 who was changed into a swallow 72 
 
 PROTEIDA, 197 
 
 PROTEID^!: proteus a name in 
 
 mythology, 197 
 
 Protonotaria 60 
 
 Pseudemys: pseudos false ; emus 
 
 a tortoise, 164 
 
 Pseudobranchus : pseudos false ; 
 
 bragchos gills, .... 198 
 Pseudotriton : pseudos false ; 
 
 triton a water Salamander, 194 
 PSITTACI: L., psittacus a parrot 105 
 Pteromys: pteron wing; mus 
 
 mouse, 27 
 
 Ptychemys: ptuche a fold or 
 
 wrinkle; emus a tortoise, . 164 
 Ptychostomus: ptuche a fold or 
 
 wrinkle; stoma mouth, . 295 
 Ptyonotus: ptuon a, fan; notes 
 
 back 245 
 
 Putorius: L., ill-scented, . . 18 
 PYGOPODES: puge rump; pous 
 
 foot, 153 
 
 Pygosteus: puge rump; osteon 
 
 bone 249 
 
 Pyranga: pur fire; tanagra 
 
 tanager 70 
 
 Pyrgita: purgites a house spar- 
 row 83 
 
 Querquedula: L., a teal, . . 141 
 Quiscalus : quiscala a vernacular 
 name, ..,.,. 93 
 
 RALLID^E, 135 
 
 Rallus: L., a rail, ... 135 
 
 Rana: L.. a frog 187 
 
 RANID^E 187 
 
 Rangifer: L., a reindeer, . . 21 
 RAP^TORES: L., robbers, . . 106 
 Recurvirostra: L., recurvus re- 
 curved; rostrum bill, . . 123 
 RKCURVIROSTRID^E, . . . 122 
 Regina : L., a queen, . . . 175 
 Regulus: L., a kinglet, . . 50 
 Reithrodon : reithron a channel ; 
 
 odon tooth 32 
 
 REPTILIA: L., repto to creep or 
 
 crawl, 157 
 
 Rhinichthys: rhin snout; ich- 
 
 <7ms-fish 280 
 
 Rhinogryphus : rhin snout; 
 grups a griffin, . . . 115 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 RHOMBOOANOIDEI: rhombos a 
 diamond -shaped figure, a 
 rhomb; ganoidei ganoids, . 306 
 
 Rhyacophilus rhuax river; 
 pMleo to love. . . . 129 
 
 Rhynchops: rhunchos snout; ops 
 
 face [ 153 
 
 Rhytidostomus : rhutis rough; 
 
 stoma mouth 298 
 
 Rissa: a Latin name (risus 
 
 laughing) 150 
 
 Roccus: from vernacular, Rock- 
 fish 226 
 
 RODENTIA L., rodo to gnaw, 26 
 Rutilus : Latin, rosy, . . . 287 
 Salamandra: L., a Salamander, 193 
 Salar : L., a trout (salio to leap), 259 
 Salmo: L., a trout (saZio to leap), 259 
 
 SALMONIDJE, 258 
 
 Salvelinus : a Latin name, . 259 
 SarcMriis: sarx flesh; cheir 
 
 hand, 308 
 
 SAXICOLID^B: L., saxicola living 
 
 among rocks, .... 49 
 Sayornis: to Thomas Say; ornis 
 
 a bird 96 
 
 Scalops: skalops a mole, from 
 
 sfcao-todig ,25 
 
 Scapanus : skapane a hoe or 
 
 shovel, 25 
 
 SCAPHIOPID^E, .... 188 
 Scaphiopus: skaphos spade; pous 
 
 foot 189 
 
 Scaphirhynchus: skaphos spade ; 
 
 rJiuncfoos snout, . . . 312 
 
 Sceloporus: skelos leg; poros 
 
 pore, 169 
 
 : scicena Latin name, 241 
 ^E: skigkos a kind of liz- 
 ard, 171 
 
 SCIURID^B 26 
 
 Sciurus: skiouros a squirrel; 
 (sfcia shade; oura tail), . 27 
 
 Sciuropterus: skiouros a squir- 
 rel; pteron wing, ... 27 
 
 Sclerognathus: skleros hard; 
 gnatTios-jaw 297 
 
 Scolecophagus : skolex worm ; 
 phago to eat, .... 93 
 
 Scolecosoma: skolex worm; soma 
 
 body, 315 
 
 SCOLOPACID^!, . . . 124 
 
 Scolopax: skolopax a snipe, 126 
 Scops: skops a screech owl, 108 
 
INDEX. 
 
 341 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Scotiaptex: skotia darkness ; 
 
 ptesso to frighten, . , 108 
 Scotophilus: skotos darkness ; 
 
 phileo to love, ... 22 
 Scotophis : skotos darkness ; 
 
 op his snake 178 
 
 Seiurus: seio to wag; oura tail, 66 
 SELACHOSTOMI : selachos a 
 
 shark ( cartilage ) ; stoma 
 
 mouth, 309 
 
 Seinotilus: unexplained, . . 277 
 Setophaga: ses a moth; phago 
 
 to eat, ...... 69 
 
 Sialia: sialis plump, . . 49 
 SILURID^B: Silurus ; silouros 
 
 some river fish 299 
 
 Siredon: seiredona, siren (seira 
 
 entangling), .... 194 
 Siren: seiren a siren, . . 198 
 
 SIRENID^E, 198 
 
 Sitta: sitte a nuthatch, . . 52 
 
 SlTTID^E, 52 
 
 Somateria: soma body; erion 
 
 wool, , 144 
 
 Sorex: L., a shrew-mole, . . 26 
 
 SORICID^E 25 
 
 SPALACOPODID.E : Spalacopus ; 
 
 spalax a mole; pous foot, . 33 
 Spatula: L., a spatula, . . 142 
 Spatularia: L., spatula, , . 310 
 Spelerpes: speos a cave; herpes 
 
 reptile, ,.,... 193 
 Speotyto: speos a cave; tuto a 
 
 night owl 109 
 
 Spermophilus : sperma seed ; 
 
 pMlos lover, .... 28 
 Sphyrapicus: sphura a hammer; 
 
 pikos a woodpecker. . . 104 
 Spizella; dim. of spiza a spar- 
 row 86 
 
 Squatarola: a vernacular name, 121 
 STEGANOPODES : steganos web- 
 bed; pous foot, . . . 146 
 Steganopus : steganos webbed ; 
 
 pous foot, 123 
 
 Stelgidopteryx: stelgis a kind of 
 
 scraper; pterux wing, . . 72 
 Stercorarius : L., stercus excre- 
 ment 149 
 
 Sterna: L., sterno to spread out, 152 
 Stilbe: stilbe splendor, . . 290 
 Stilbius : same as stilbe, . . 290 
 Stizostedium: stizo to prick; 
 sfethos-breast, .... 225 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Storeria: to Dr. David H. Storer, 176 
 Strepsilas: strepso to turn ; loos 
 
 stone, 122 
 
 STRIGID.E 106 
 
 Strix: strigx some night bird 
 
 with a sharp cry, . . . 107 
 Sturnella: L., sturnus a starling, 92 
 Surnia: surnia an owl, . . 109, 
 SyMcola : L., sylvicola living in 
 
 the forest, 60 
 
 SYLVICOLID.E 57 
 
 Sylviidce: L., sylva woodland, 49 
 
 Symphemia 128 
 
 Synaptornys: sunaptos connect- 
 ing; mus mouse ( joining Ar- 
 vicola and Myodes), ... 33 
 Synechoglanis: synechoto repeat; 
 
 plants the fish Silurus, . 299 
 Syrnium: surnion an owl, . 108 
 Tachycineta: tachus swift; kineo 
 
 to move 71 
 
 TALPID^E: L., talpa a mole, . 24 
 Tamias: tamias a steward, . 28 
 TANAGRID^B: Tanagra (tanagra 
 
 a copper kettle ?), . . 69 
 
 TANTALID^E: .... 133 
 Tantalus: a mythological name, 133 
 Taxidea: taxus an allied genus; 
 
 eidos form, . . . . 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, 234 
 Telmatodytes : telmatodutes liv- 
 ing in ponds, .... 55 
 Teretulus: L., teres cylindrical, 295 
 TKSTUDINATA: . . . . 159 
 
 TESTUDINIDJ3 160 
 
 Testudo: L., a turtle, . . . 161 
 Tetrao: tetraon a grouse, . 118 
 TETRAONID^E: . . . . 118 
 Thalasseus: thalassa the ocean, 151 
 Thryno sternum : ihura a door ; 
 
 sternon sternum, . . . 166 
 Thryomanes : thruon a rush ; 
 
 manes a cup (nest?), . . 55 
 Thryothorus : thruon a rush ; 
 
 thereuo to seek, ... 54 
 Thymallus : L., a grayling (a fish 
 supposed to feed on water 
 thyme) 262 
 
342 
 
 INDEX, 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Tinnunculua: L., a kestrel, spar- 
 row-hawk Ill 
 
 Totanus: Latin name, . . 128 
 Toxicophis: toxikos poison (for 
 
 smearing arrows); ophis snake 184 
 Trachemys: trachus rough ; emus 
 
 turtle 165 
 
 Triglopsis : trigla a gurnard; 
 
 opsis appearance, . . . 245 
 Tringa: L., a sandpiper, . . 127 
 Tringoides; L., tringa a sand- 
 piper; aides like, . . . 129 
 Trigonocevhalus : treis three: 
 
 Cronos angle; TiepfcaZe head, 184 
 TRIONYCHID^E: Trionyx; treis 
 three; onux claw, . . . 167 
 
 TROCHILID^E 100 
 
 Trochilus: trochilosa small bird 
 (wren) said to pick the teeth of 
 
 crocodiles, 100 
 
 Trogl ody tes : troglodutes living 
 
 in caves, 55 
 
 TROGLODYTID^E 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, . . . 259 
 Tryngites: L., tringa a sand- 
 piper 129 
 
 TURDID^E, 45 
 
 Turdus: L., a thrush, . . . 47 
 Typhlichthys : tuphlos blind ; 
 
 ichthus fish 257 
 
 TYRAITNID^E 95 
 
 Tyrannus: turannos a tyrant, 96 
 Umbla: L., a river fish, . . 259 
 Umbra: L., a grayling, . . 253 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 UMBRID^E, s>5 
 
 UNGULATA; L., ungulatus hav- 
 ing hoofs 20 
 
 Uranidea: ouranos the sky; eido 
 
 to see 248 
 
 Urocyon: our a tail; Ituon. dog 17 
 URODELA: euro tail; delos ob- 
 vious 190 
 
 URSID^E, IS 
 
 Ursus: L., a bear, ... 20 
 VERTEBRATA-. L., vertebrates, 9 
 
 Vesperides: L., vesper evening, 23 
 Vesperimus: L., vesper evening: 
 
 mus mouse, .... 31 
 Vespertilio: L., vespertilio-a bat, 22 
 VESPERTILIONID^E, ... 22 
 Vesperugo: L., vesper evening, 23 
 Vesperus: L., vesperus evening, 23 
 Vireo: L., vireo a green finch; 
 
 (rireo to grow green), . 76 
 VIRECXMD.E, .... 73 
 Vireosylvia: vireo-sylvia, . 75 
 Virginia: Virginia, name of the 
 
 state where first found, . . 182 
 Vulpes: L., a fox, ... 17 
 Wilsonia: to Alexander Wilson, 
 the " Father of American Orni- 
 thology," 68 
 
 Xanthocephalus : xanthos yel- 
 low; kephale head, . . 92 
 Xeina: a coined name, . . 151 
 Xerobates: xeros dry, . . 161 
 
 ZAPODID^B, 29 
 
 Zap us: za strong; pows foot, 30 
 Zensedura: zenaida a zenaida- 
 
 dove; our o tail, . . . 116 
 Zonotrichia: zonos zone or band; 
 
 trichion hair (crown), . . 86 
 Zygonectes : zugos yoke ; nektes 
 swimmer, 252 
 

 
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 BIOLOGY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 JUN 2- 1948 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 LD 21-10m-7,'39(402s) 
 
Jordan, David S. 
 
 Manual of the verte- 
 
 J6 
 
 brates of northern U.S 
 
 JC 7 
 
 JUN - 
 
 JIN 2- 1348 
 
 ivl85637 
 
 LIBRARY 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY