a ^eparinicnf of fhc inferior U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 17 PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. PUBLISHED rXDER THE DIRECTI KF SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. WASHINGTON: GrOVEENMENT PlilNTIXa OFFICEo 1879. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Boaii, Tarleton H. Description of a New Sparoid Fish, Sargus Holhroohii, from Savan- naliBaiik 198 Ou the Occurrence of Stichceus punctatus (Fabr.) Kxo;5er, at St. Michael's, Ahiska 279 Ou the Identity of Euchalarodus Futnami Gill, -with Pleuronectes glaber (Storer) Gill, with iSTotes on the Habits of the Species 345 Description of a Species of Lycodes {L. Turneri) from Alaska, beUeved to be unde- scribed 463 See also under Goode and Bean. Beldlng', ij. A Partial List of the Birds of Central Califox^ia : 388 Cook, Caleb. The Manufacture of Porpoise-Oil •• ■ 16 I>all, W. II. Descriptions of Now Forms of Mollusks from Alaska contained in the Collec- tions of the National Museum 1 Postplioceue FossOs in the Coast Eange of California 3 Fossil Mollusks from Later Tertiaries of California 10 Note on Shells from Costa Eica Kitchenmiddcn, cojlected by Drs. Flint and Bransford . . 23 — 1 Distribution of CaUfoiniau Tertiary FossUs 20 Descriptions of New Species of ShcUs from California in the Collections of the Na- tional Museum 40 »- Report on the Limpets and Chitons of the Alaskan and Arctic Regions, with Descrip- tions of Genera and Species believed to be new ^ 281 Edwards, Viiial K, On the Occurrence of the Oceanic Bonito, Orcynus pelamys (Linn^) Poey, in Vineyard Sound, Mass 203 Oill, Tlieodore. Synopsis of the Pediculate Fishes of the Eastern Coast of Extratropi- cal North America 215 Note on the Antrnnariidce 221 On the Proper Specilic Name of the Common Pelagic Antennariid Pterophryne 223 Note on the Ceratiidai 227 Note on the ATaltheidce 231 CJoode, G. Brown. _ The Clupea tyrannus of Latrobe 5 The Occurrence of Belone latimanus in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts 6 The Voices of Cnistaoeans 7 A Kevision of the American Species of the Genus Brevoortia, with a Description of a New Species from the Gulf of Mexico.. , 30 The Occurrence of Hiiypocampus antiqiiorum, or an Allied Form, on Saint George's Banks 45 The Occurrence of the Canada Porcupine in "West Virginia 2G4 Ou Two Fishes from the Bermudas mistakenly described as new by Dr. Giiuther 402 Goode, C Brown, and TarlctOM H. Bean. The Craig Flounder of Em-ope, Glyp- toeephaluji cynoylossus, ou the Coast of North America 19 The Oceanic Bonito on the Coast of the United States "24 Description of Ccmlolatilus 'inierops, a New Species of Fish from the Gulf Coast of Florida 42 On a New Serranoid Fish, Epinephelus Drumviond-Hayi, from the Bermudas and Florida ■. 173 Descriptions of Two New Species of Fishes, Lutjanus Blaclcfordii and Ltitjanns Stearnsii, from the Coast of Florida 17G A Note upon the Black Grouper (Epinephelus nigritus (Holbrook) Gill) of the Southern Coast ' 182 Descriptions of Two Gadoid Fishes, Phycis Chestcri and Haloporphyi-us viola, from the Deep-Sea Fauna of the Northwestern Atlantic 2oG Description of Argentina syrtansium, a New Deep-Sea Fish from Sable Island Bank 201 The Identity of lilanonenius caudacuta (Storer) Gill with Gadus eimbrius Linn " 348 Note on Platcssa ferruginea D. H. Storer, and Platessa rostrata H. E. Storer OCl On the Identity of Brosmius americanus GiU, with Brosmius hrosme (MiiUer) "White ... 302 III IV TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Jackson, J. C S., 3TI. 1>. Arsenic Acid for protecting Anatomical Preparations ftom In- sects 24 Jefferson, I^ieut. J. P.,X'. S. A. On tlie Mortality of Tislies in the Gulf of Mexico in 1878.. 363 Jefferson, ]L,ieut. J. P., Dr. Joseph Y. Porter, and Thomas 3Ioore. On the DesiTuction of JTish in the Vicinity of the Tortugas during the months of September aud October, 1S78 244 Jordan, David S., M. D. ISTotes on a Collection of Fishes from Clackamas Eiver, Oregon.. C9 Joi'dan, David S., and Charles H. Gilbert. Kotes on the Fishes of Eeaufort Harbor, Korth Carolina 365 I.awrence, George N. Catalogue of the Birds of Dominica, from Collections made for the Smithsonian Institution by Frederick A. Ober, together "with his Notes and Observa- tions 48 Catalogue of the Birds of St. Vinfent, from Collections made by Mr. Fred. A. Ober, under the Directions of the Smithsonian Institution, "with his Xotes thereon 185 Catalogue of the Birds of Antigua and Barbuda, from Collections made' for the Smith- sonian Institution, by Mr. Fred. A. Ober, ^yith his Observations 232 Catalogue of the Birds of Grenada, from a Collection made by Mr. Fred. A. Ober for the Smithsonian Institution, iucluding others seen by him, but not obtained 205 Catalog-ue of the Birds collected in Martinique by Mr. Fred. A. Ober for the Smithsonian Institution '. 349 Catalogue of a Collection of Birds obtained in Guadeloupe for the Smithsonian Institu- tion, by Mr. Fred. A. Ober 449 A General Catalogue of the Birds noted from the Islands of the Lesser Antilles visited by Mr. Fred. A. Ober ; -with a Table showing their Distribution, and those fovmd in the ITnited States 486 I/ni>ton, Prof. S. T. On the Breeding Habits of the Sea-Catfish (Ariopsis 21'dherti?) 278 Merrill, Dr. James C, \J. S. A. Kotes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas, being a List of Buds observed iu the Viciuity of Fort Bro\vn, Texas, from February, 1876, to June, 1878.. 118 Poey , Pelipe. Notes on the American Species of the Genus Cyhium 3 Pratt, Capt. R. II., V. s. A. Catalogue of Casts taken by Clark Mills, Esq., of the Heads of Sixty-fourlndianPrisoucrsof Various Western Tribes, and held at Fort Marion, Saint Augus- tine, Fla., in Charge of Capt. E. H. Pratt, U.S. A 201 Ridg"(vay, Robert. On a 'Sevi Humming Bird (Atthis Ellioti) from Guatemala 8 A Review of the American Species of the Genus /Scops, Savigny ....: '. 85 Descrijjtions of Several New Species and Geographical Eaces of Birds contained in the Collection of the United States National Museum 2i7 Description of Two New Species of Birds from Costa Eica, and Notes on other Eare Species from that Country 253 Descriptions of New Species and Eaces of American Birds, including a Synopsis of the Genus Tyrannua, Cuvier .' 400 Stearns, Silas. A Note on the Gulf Menhaden, Brevoortia patronus, Goode 181 Steindachner, Dr. Franz. Note on Perca flaveicens 243 Wilmot, Samuel. Notes on the Western Gizzard Shad, Dorosoma cepedianum heterunivi (Eaf.) Jordan , 268 PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 1878. I>ESCRII»TIOIVS OF KE^V FORITIS OF MOI.r.USK» FROITS ALASKA CONTAIIVED IIV THE COIiLECTIOlVS OF THE IVAXIONAI^ MSJSEUiyi, By "W. H. UAL.L.. CHITONIDJE. Genus AMICULA Gray. Type A, vestiia Sowerby. Subgenus Chlamydochiton Dall. Ch. t. ^Amiculce^ similiter sed branchiae ambientes. Type Chiton amiculatua Pallas. Amicula proper bas the branchiae median. Genus LEPTOOHITON Gray. Leptochiton Belknapi Dall, n. s. L. t. elongata,, valdeelevata,dorsualiter angulata; albidaplusminusve cinereo et nigro tincta; valvis elevatis, apicibus distinctis ; mucrone centrali couspicuo; sculptura ut in L. alveolo, sed granulis in areis dor- sualis sparsim et quincuucialiter dispositis; valva postica sub apice con- cava, postice sinuata; zona minima spiculis tenuibus versus marginem munita. Lou. 10, lat. 3™™. Div. 90°. ^a&.— North Pacific Ocean, in lat. 53° 08' K, and Ion. 171° 19' W., at a depth of 1006 fathoms, black sand and shells. Brought up in the sounding-cup, on the sounding expedition of the United States ship Tuscarora, Capt. George E. Belknap, TJ. S. N., in 1874. This specimen comes from a greater depth than any specimen of the order hitherto collected. It is nearest to L. alveolus Sars, from the coast of Norway. Genus TEACHYDERMON Cpr. Subgenus Traohyeadsia Cpr. (Ms.). Trachydermon, valvis centralibus bi- seu pluri-fissatis. Type Chiton fiilgeirum Reeve. Trachyradsia aleutica Dall, n. s. T. t.parva, rufo-cinereii, oblonga, fornicata; jugo .icutissimO; mucrone Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 1 I 2 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. submediano, apicibus promineutibus; areis lateralis iuconspicuis ; tota superficie quiucuncialiter minute reticulata ; intus, valv. aut. 10-, post. 11-, centr. 2-fissatis; deut. parvis, perspougiosis, late separatis; sub- grundis spongiosis, curtis; sinu parvo; zona squamulis minutis obsita. Lon. C, lat. S""™. Sab. — Western Aleutians, near low-water markj Dall. This bears no marked resemblance to any of the other Alaskan species. Genus TONICELLA Cpr. Type Chiton marmoreus Fabr. Tonicella saccharina Dall, n. s. T. t. parva, oblonga, tota superficie saccharina, rufo et albescente picta; mucrone submediano, inconspicuo; areis lateralis inconspicue ele- vatis, albescentis; areis dorsualissanguinosis, i&qne quiucuncialiter lente reticulatis; v. ant. 10-11-, v. post. 8-10-, v. centr. 1 fissatis ; dent, par- vis spongiosis, sinu parvo; subgrundis spongiosis, mediocris; zona coriacea ut in Tonicellw aliis : branchia? mediffi. Lon. C.5, lat. 4™"". j3a&.™^ Aleutian Islands, three to thirteen fathoms; Ball. This species has the lustre of rock-candy, and is well marked by the contrast of the white lateral with the red dorsal areas. Genus SCHIZOPLAX Dall. Testa et zona Tonicellw simulans ; valvre centrales sulco jugali medi- ano, antico argute inciso) ; branchiaj subambieutes. Type Chiton Brandtii Midd. For this remarkable Alaskan form, distinguished from all other Chi- tons by its slit central valves, I propose to adopt a name suggested by Dr. Carpenter, who, on Middendort's figures, had intended to j^ropose it as a subgenus of Tonicella, The specimens- obtained by my party seem to be the first found since the original ones were obtained. A careful examination of the soft parts shows that in dentition and some other details sufficient basis for generic separation is found, confirming the testimony of the valve characters. The sulcus is usually filled by a horny or cartilaginous deposit. It may be added here that investigation of the characters of the radula in numerous species and genera of Chitons in the National Mu- seum shows a very remarkable uniformity of dentition. No larger groups than genera are indicated in the whole order, which, it appears, can hardly comprise more than one family; and it is doubtful if this can be divided into subfamilies by any characters yet elucidated. The dentition in all species examined has the formula G • 2 • 1 • 2 • 6, or - — . . Of the te«th, the rhachidian appears always simply cusped; PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 3 the two laterals present varied characters; the third uDciuus, counting outward, is usually spatulate ; while the remainder are mere bosses, or scales. The wide differences found in the few figures of the dentition of Chitons extant appear to be due to erroneous interpretation of the objects represented. The figures of Loven are the most satisfactory. rOSTPIilOCElVE FOSSIL.S IIV THE COAST BAIVOE OF CAI^IFORNIA, By "W, II. DAL,L. The National Museum has received from Mr. G. F. Merriam, of San Luis Eey,Cal., specimens of Donax cali/ornicus, Chione succincta, Olivella biplicata,au(l Cerithidea sacrata, in a semi-fossilized condition. The first mentioned retained a considerable part of its pinkish interior coloration. These fossils (probably with other species) are stated by Mr. Merriam to be found in great abundance at the head of a cahon in that vicinity, in the heart of the Coast Range, twelve miles from the sea in a direct line, and six hundred feet above tide-water. All the species are found living in abundance on the present sea-coast. This indicates a very recent elevation for this part of the coast, if the facts are correctly interpreted, and further specimens and details will be awaited with interest. NOTES ON TnE AMERICAN SPECIES OF TIIE GENUS CYBIUItl. By FELIPE POEY. [Translated by G. Brown Goode, from MS. memorandum of Professor Felipe Poey.J Cybium caballa, Cuv. & Val. Cybium cahalla, Cuvier & Valenciennes, Histoire Natnrelle des Poiesons, viii, 18:51, p. 187. — Guntiier, Catalogue of tbe Acantboi)terygian Fishes in the Collectiou of the British Museum, ii, 1860, p. 373. — Poey, Repertorio Fisico-Natural de la Isla de Cuba, i, 1867, p. 322 ; ii, p. 13 ; aud in Synopsia Piscium Cubensiuiu, op. cit., ii, p. 362. CyUum acervum, Cuvier & Valenciennes, Ioc. cit., p. 186 {nee ti/puii). Vulgo : — Sierra. Differential Characters. — First dorsal with fourteen spines, without a blaclc spot anteriorly. Body immaculate in the adult, spotted with yel- lowish in the young fish. The number of teeth increases with the age ; in large specimens, it is If. The larger teeth are placed upon the middle of the jaw, those in the lower jaw being a trifle the longer. Tbe lateral line is very sinuous upon the posterior portion of the body. The eye is larger than in Cy- bium regale. Bluish upon the back, whitish under the belly. First dorsal white; second dorsal and caudal dusky-bluish {hlen-noiratre) ; pectorals bluish, as is also the anal, which, however, becomes white at its extremity ; ventrals whitish. 4 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Id the young fish, under the length of two or three feet, the sides are covered with round, irregular spots, of rather dirty yellow {jaune un peu sale). Cuvier described a specimen which weighed twenty-two pounds; at that size, the fish is still young, and retains its yellow spots. Those ordinarily taken range in weight from twelve to twenty-five pounds, though they reach the weight of one hundred iiounds. I have seen one which measured 285"^™. Cybium regale, (Bloch) Cuvier. Scomber regalis, Bloch, Naturgeschichte der ausliindischen Fische, taf. 333. Cybium regale, Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit., p. 184. — Gunther, op.cil., p. 372.— PoEY, op. cit., i, p. 322 ; ii, p. 362. Vnlgo : — Pintada. Differential Characters. — The first dorsal has seventeen spines and the spot upon its anterior portion. The lateral bands and spots are persistent through life. The teeth are f ^ in a specimen of moderate size. In the upper jaw, the median teeth are the larger; in the lower, their size is more nearly equal. The back is bluish, as are also the top of the head, the second dorsal and its finlets, the caudal, and the pectorals. The first dorsal is white, having in front a spot of deep-blue, which is prolonged far back upon the upper edge of the tin. The anal and the ventrals are white. The sides are sky-blue, with silvery lustre ; the belly is white, with a bluish tinge. The sides are marked with broken longitudinal bands and round spots ; these bands and spots are yellow, more or less golden, and with a reddish tint. The ordinary size is about twelve pounds, though they sometimes reach the weight of twenty. Cybium acervum, Cuv. & Val. Cybium acervum, CuviER & Valenciennes, op. cit., p. 186. The specimens described by Cuvier were of five pounds weight. He claims to have received specimens from Martinique, from Santo Domingo, and from Cuba, those from the latter place sent by me. I can only say that I have not been able to find this species, and that I have not included it in. my manuscript " Ichthyologie". According to Cuvier, it has seventeen spines in the first dorsal, and also the black spot. The body is immaculate, even in the specimens of five pounds weight. Cybium maculatum, (Mitchill) Agassiz. Scomher maculatus, Mitchill, Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, i, 1815, p. 426, pi. vi, fig. 8. Cybium maculatum, Agassiz, in Spix, Selecta Genera et Species Piscium, 1829, p. 103, tab. Ix. — Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit., p. 181.— GtJNTHER, op. cit., p. 372. The Cyhium maculatum of the United States has the teeth somewhat conical and very pointed. It has seventeen dorsal spines and a black spot upon the first dorsal. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 5 Cybium immaculatum, Cuv. & Val. Cyhiinn immaculatum, CuviKR & Valknciennes, oj). cit, p. 191. — Gi'NTnER, op. clt., p. 370, uote 5. The Cijhium immaculatum of Cnvier has the body immaculate in spe- cimens only six or seven inches long. Acanthocybium peto, Poey. Acanthocijbium Petua, Poey, Memorias sobre la Historia Natural cle la Isla de Cuba, ii, 18G0, p. 234, pi. xvi, fig. 1 ; Report., ii, p. 363. Vulgo : — Peto. This genus differs from Cyhium by its numerous dorsal spines, twenty- five in number. The type taken by Professor Gill has the teeth com- pressed, triangular. The Cuban species has the points of the teeth rounded. The caudal is very small. The lower jaw has its sides deeply notched and its extremity lower than its lateral edges. In spe- cimens of less than three feet, the body is covered with vertical bands of a vitreous lustre {(/lacees). It grows very large, sometimes attaining the weight of one hundred pounds. THE CI>UPEA TYBAIVNITS OF I^ATROBE. By a. BROWJV CiOODE, Mr. Benjamin H. Latrobe, a surveyor of public lands, published, in 1802, a description of a clupeoid fish the affinities of which have never been satisfactorily determined.* Dr. DeKay, misled by the name " ale- wife", applied the specific name tyrannus to the northern species known to him bj' that popular name {Pomolohus pseudo-hareyigus), a usftge which was concurred in by Dr. Storer and M. Valenciennes. In his earlier writings. Professor Gill referred the same name to the shad {Alosa sapidissinia). Latrobe's paper, and the name therein proposed, have lately been lost sight of; but there is little doubt that they refer to the menhaden, or mossbunker {Clupea menhaden, Mitchill, and Bre- voortia menhaden., Gill). The laws of priority demand that this species shall hsnceforth be designated Brevoortia tyrannus. The fishes of the Chesapeake and its tributaries have been very little studied until within the past three years, and the habits of the men- haden are so different in these waters and in the north that it does not seem surprising for Northern ichthyologists to have made mistaken identification of Latrobe's specific name. A few years ago the Capes of Delaware were thought to define the southern range of the menhaden, while its peculiar parasite and its habit of ascending southern rivers were unknown. *A Drawing and Description of the Clupea tyrannus and Oniscus prwgusfator. By Benjamin H. Latrobe, F. A. P. S. <^ Transactions of the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia for promoting useful knowledge, vol. v, 1802, p. 77. 6 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. I shall soou i^ublish a full discussion of this subject. At present, my conclusions may be stated as follows : — (1) The figure, while undeniably bad, resembles the menhaden very closely, while it cannot be intended to represent any allied species. The contour, were the missing dorsal fin supplied, is similar to that of the menhaden. The black spot upon the scapular region is constant in the menhaden only, though a similar one is occasionally seen upon the shad and alewife. (2) The name "bay alewife" is the same now given to the menhaden in the Chesapeake and its tributaries. This is a strong argument : for although seventy-five years have passed since Latrobe wrote, the per- sistence of popular names is very remarkable, as I have elsewhere pointed out.* Moreover, Latrobe was also acquainted with a "her- ring" and a "shad". These being eliminated, there is no other fish than the menhaden to which the description in question can refer. (3) The habits of the alewife, as described by Latrobe, are essentially the same as those of the menhaden at the present day. The alleged river-ascending habits of the " bay alewife" were thought to throw its identity with the menhaden out of the question. This is no longer an obstacle. (4) The presence of the crustacean parasite is the strongest argu- ment of all. While this is found in the mouths of a large percentage of the southern menhaden, suggesting the local name of " bug fish", it has never once been found attached to any other species, although careful search has been made by several persons. The northern men- haden is free from this parasite. This is still another reason for the failure to identify on the part of northern writers. Latrobe's name has the priority over Mitchill's by thirteen years. It is to be regretted that it is necessary to replace by another a name so, appropriate and of such long standing. January 1, 1878, tbe; oc€IJICre:n€e: of beIiOive i^ATairiAivus iiv buzzard'.^ bait, MASSACHUSETTS. By O. BRO^VN GOODE. A peculiar species of Belone was obtained at Wood's Holl, in 1875, by Professor Baird. It was caught in the weir on Great Neck, owned by the Wood's Holl Weir Company. On study, it proved to be the form described by Professor Poey under the name Belone latimanus, and hitherto known only from Cuba. A good water-color sketch (Cat. No. 795) was made by Mr. Kichard, a photograph (Cat. No. 218) taken, and the specimen and a finely colored cast (Cat. No. 16121) are preserved in the National Museum. * Catalogue of tbe Fishes of the Bermudas, 1876, p. 15. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 7 It raay be distinguisbed from tbe commou species of our coast, Belonc longirostris, (Mitcbill) Gill, by many characters, tbe most salient of which are the more elongate form, the lesser proportionate length of the head, the much greater number of rays in the vertical fins {B. (ati- manus has D. 25: A. 23. B. longirostris has D. 13-1(3 : A, lG-19), tbe broader and proportionately shorter pectorals, and the forked caudal. The length of the specimen was 49 inches (1244.G millimetres), its weight 5J pounds (2381 grams). Color: — Back, top of bead, and snout dark green in dead specimen, probably beryl-green in life. Fin-rays greenish-brown. Fin membranes and protected parts, such as axils of pectoral fins, colorless. Sides light brownish, with silvery overwasb. Belly, cheeks, throat, and lower part of lower jaw silvery-white. Eye greenish-yellow. Badial /orwmZa.— Brancbiostegals XIV. D. 24: A. 25: C. 7-6+7-5: P. 12 : V. 6. January 15, 1878. TIBSE VOICES OF CKIISTACEANS. By €i. BROIIVN «001>£. The observations of Mr. Saville Kent and Mr. J. Wood Mason (Na- TURE, vols, xvi, p. 565, and xvii, p. 11) recall to mind some similar facts recently noted by me in tbe Bermudas. Several species of Alpheus were observed to have the power of pro- ducing loud clicking sounds. Two or three of the larger species are accustomed to lurk under flat stones near low-water mark. Some of these are two inches long. When one of them is taken between tbe fingers by an inexperienced collector, tbe sudden, convulsive snap almost invariably causes him to drop it. Tbe effect is like that of a sharp blow across the knuckles. Some smaller species of the genus are found only in the cavities of a large aplysine sponge, abundant on tbe reefs. I have picked out seventy or eighty from a fragment of sponge not more than three inches in diameter. When the sponge is taken in the band, tbe quick succession of clickings reminds one of the sound of instruments in a large telegraph office. When one of these animals is put in an earthen or glass vessel, it makes a much louder noise, resembling a quick tap with the finger-nail or tbe back of a knife upon tbe edge of the same vessel. This noise is produced by a convul- sive snapping of tbe last joint of tbe large claw, by a movement resem- bling that of tbe spring beetles {E later idee) ^ and tbe sounds are quite similar. Possibly these movements may have a protective object, enab- ling tbe little decapods to escape from the grasp of enemies, or to work out from under the stones and loose sand in which they must often become buried. Another macrurous crustacean, Gonodactylus cJiiragra, known to the 8 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Bermudians as tbe "split-thumb", from its power of wounding by a sharp appendage of the larger claws, produces a viciously sharp, snap- ping noise, apparently in the same manner with Alpheus. The " Bermuda lobster" {PanuUrus americanus M. Edw.) makes a loud grating noise. Mr. Kent describes the voice of the allied species [Pa- Unurus quadricornis) as being produced by the rubbing together of the spinous abdominal segments. In the species observed by me, the sound was produced by means of certain modifications of tbe lower joints of tbe antennae. There is at the base of each antenna, upon the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax, a broad elevated ridge, parallel with the axis of the body, which in an adult of eighteen inches would be about two inches long. The rounded crests of these ridges are closely em- braced by processes from the sides of the basal antennal segments. The profile of each ridge describes the segment of a circle, the centre of which is the centre of articulation of its accompanying antenna. When the antennae are moved forward and backward, their tips waving over tbe back of tbe animal, the close contact of the hard, smooth, chitinous surfaces produces a shrill, harsh stridulation, like the sound of filing a saw. I have never heard the noise when the animals were under water, though I have seen them waving their antennjB. I have no doubt that they can thus produce vibrations perceptible to their mates at great distances, especially if their other senses are as acute as that of smell, which I have tested in a very curious manner. Both sexes are provided with the vocal organs. December 2.5. 1877. ON A NEW niJinjniivc; bird (atxhis x:i>i.ioti) froiti ouATEmALiA. By ROBERT RIDOWAT. Having had occasion, recently, to examine some specimens of Hum- ming Birds, I happened to notice certain striking differences between two examples labelled '•'■Atthis heloisw^^ — one from Guatemala, belonging to Mr. D. G.Elliot, the other a Mexican specimen, in my own collection, obtained from M. Boucard. The differences observed between these were so obvious that I immediately inspected the series contained in the collection of the National Museum, and on comparison found them repeated in the specimens contained therein, including two males from Jalapa and one from the Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Tbe former of course represent the true A. heloisw, being from the locality whence tbe types of that species were procured, and with them my Mexican ex- ample agrees in all essential particulars. Both the Guatemalan speci- mens, however, are very different from any of these, and undoubtedly represent a distinct species, which being, so far as I have been able to ascertain, hitherto unnamed, I propose to characterize as follows : — PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. ATTHIS ELLIOTI. '' Selasphorus heloisce", Scl. & Salv., Ibis, i, 1859, 129 (Guatemala); ih. 1860, 195 (Dueuae, Guatemala).— Salvin, ib. 2GG (Guatemala; Tieira Calieute, and slopes of Volcan de Fuego). "AttM8 heloisa", B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. B. ii, 1874, 4C5 (part : Guatemala references). Specific Characters.— Adult male:— Outer primary broad, the end not attenuated. Gorget uniform reddish-purple (much as in Calyiite annw), without varying tints of violet, as in A. heloisce. Jugulum wholly white; middle of the abdomen white; sides light rufous, slightly glossed with golden-green ; crissum white, tinged with light rufous. Upper parts metaliic-green, decidedly less golden than in A. heloisce. Tail with the basal half (approximately) bright cinnamon-rufous, the subterminal portion black; three outer feathers (on each side) tipped with rusty-white; the middle pair with the black portion above glossed with metallic-green anteriorly. Wings uniform dusky, the smaller cov- erts metallic-green. Wing, 1.35; tail, 1.00-1.05; culmen, 0.38-0.40. [Type, No. 20494, riA. By W. II. DAL,L. The National Museum has recently received from Mr. Ueury Hemp- hill a series of fossil shells collected by him from the later Tertiary deposits of the Californian coast. Some of them are from the vicinity of Santa Barbara, but the majority are from San Diego, part of them PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 11 (marked lo iu tbe list) from the material obtained in sinking a well* at a distance of from ninety to one bnndred and sixty feet below tbe surface of tbe earth, and not far from tbe present sea-level. Tbe matrix is usually rather soft, composed of loosely aggrt'g^ited grains of sand or fine sandy mud, occasionally hardened by intiltration of lime-bearing water. In tbe accompanying list, those species found living (li) at tbe present i\ay in tlie fauna of tbe Californian coast, between San Francisco and San Diego, are marked L, those at present making part of the northern or Oregouian fauna N, and those belonging to tbe fauna of Lower Cali- fornia, the Gulf of California, Mexico, and Central America are marked ►S. The extinct species (F) form a very small proportion of tbe whole, as will be readily seen. 7907 8 J) 7910 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7920 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ,Q 9 7930 1 2 3 4 5 fi 7 8 9 7940 1 a 3 4 .5 6 7 8 9 7350 1 2 Laqueits californicus (Koch) Dall . Fholadidca ovoidea Gld Corhula luieola Cpr Periploma arf/oiiaria Conr Soleciirtus cal>fo7-nianus Conr , Macoma stcta Coiir Alacoma indtntata Cpr Macoma nasuta Conr Macoma (like) s«t«/o8a Spengler . TeVina modesta Cpr TeUlna Bodegensis Hds Cumingia calif ornica Conr Donax Jlexuosus Gld Mactra caVifornica Cour Mactra falcata Gld CIcmentia stibdiaphana Cpr Chione simiUima Sby Cliione succincta Vtil Dosinia ponderosa Gray Tapes staminea Cour Saj idom us aratiis (j u u. ) Gld Pctricola i^lwJadiformis ? Lam Cnrdium prucerum Sby I'tiiericardia moiiUicosIa Gabb Venericardia monilicosta Gabb Liicina Xuftallii Conr Lucina aciitilineata Conr A rva microdonta Cour J.rinea profanda Dall, u. s Xiii'ida crigiia Sby Ltda calata Hds Peckn islandicus Mull Pccten hericeus Gld Pecten ventricosus Sby. (var. ?) Pecten expansus Dall, u. s Pecten Stearnsii Dall, n. s Pecten HcmphiUii Dall, n. s Pecten ? wquisulcatus Cpr. var Pecten ? paucicosto.tus Cpr. jun Jan ira dentatn Sby Ostrca lurida C\]v Ostrca Veatchii Gabb Atiomia rnnatula Dall, n, s Ehectaxis punctoccclata (Cpr.) Dall Tornatlna cerealis G\llataCpT DriUio, HcmpliiUH Stearns Snrcula Var pent eriana Gabb Mangelia angulata Cpr Conns californicus Hds Odostomia grarida Cpr Turbonilla stylina ? Cpr Turbonilla chocolataCpT Turhomlla virgo ?Cpr Turbonilla torquataf Cpr Eulima micans Cpr Scalaria indianorum Cpr Scalaria indianorum var Scalaria tincta Cpr Scalaria HemphillH Dall, n. 8 Opulia anomala Stearns Opalia raricosiata Stearns Ccrithiopsis assimilata Cpr Cancellaria Cancellaria Keverita Recluziana Petit Neverita liecluziana var. alta Dall Mamma nana MiiUer (Fos. Japan Tert.) ■ lianella muriciformis Brod. var Mitra maura Swains OUvella biplicata Sby Olivella boetica Cpr Xassa fo(^>P'>'(l>iis Hds Kassa legula live Nassa mendica Gld Astgris gausapa.ta Gld. vars NitideUa Gouldii Cpr Amphissa t'crsicolor Dall Amphissa versicolor Dall Monoceros cngonatum Conr Cerostoma Kuttallii Conr Pteronotus festivus Hinds Trophon {orpheus jnn. "?) Purpura crispata Cbemu Fusus Harfordi Stearns Serpula sji. indet Fish-teeth, one species, indet San Diego, tv. R '< R " R <( R " ? u R It R tl R 11 R t< R tl ? '< R " tc. R? it R it R " IV. R it R Santa Barbara. R u R San Diego. li Santa Barbara. R San Diego. R it R it R It 11 " R i( R i( R ;( R i< R " W. R it R It R it R It R " R (( R if R u F it F tt F " R " UK " W. 11 R II R (( R It R tt R " R it R tt R tt R it R tl R " 10. R Santa Barbara. R San Diego. R tt R Santa Barbara. R San Diego. R if R It R Santa Barbara. R San Diego. R u R 11 ? a ? PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 13 This, it will be observed, contains one hundred and seven well deter- mined species, omitting several doubtful ones, of which ten are extinct and ninety-seven still found recent. Of these recent or still existing forms, twenty ore found in the Californian fauna and northward at the present time. Eighteen more are found in the Californian fauna and southward, while forty-four are strictly Californian. Besides these, there are eight species belonging to the Oregonian or Arctic fauna, and no longer found living in the Californian region. Seven more are found on the west coast of Mexico, the Gulf of California, or Western Middle America, and, so far as known, no longer in the Californian region. One or two species are still found living in Atlantic seas, but not on the western shores of America. How far these peculiarities of distribu- tion may be explained by a restriction of their geographical range in modern times by some species, or by the association of fossils in one collection from beds of differing age, and consequently exhibiting the fluctuation of the northern and southern faunae based on varying temperatures of the sea, will be determined only by a most critical stratigraphical study of the localities. But in either case the problem is well worthy of solution. The very modern character of the beds is determined by the great majority of the species being still found living, and by the fact that some of them retain very evident traces of their original coloration. They are mostly in excellent preservation. The well fossils taken with those mentioned on p. 3 would give a vertical range of some six hundred feet for the Pliocene Tertiary beds of California. The species which appear to be new are as follows: — Axinea profunda, n. s. (7935). Shell subtri angular, ventral margin rounded, umbos erect, rather small. Area narrow, deep; marked by five or six lines meeting at an angle in the vertical of the umbo, one above another; anterior lines somewhat the shortest; exterior marked by twenty-five or thirty flat- tened ribs, separated by deep channels one-fourth as wide as the ribs, and by which the interior margin is crenulated. The ribs are crossed by thread-like close lines of growth, which may be elevated or obsolete on the ribs, but are sharply defined in the channels, which they partially fill up in some specimens. Toward the anterior and posterior margins? the sculpture is nearly obsolete. In eroded examples, this sculpture may be entirely altered, and such are hardly recognizable as the same thing. Interior smooth or lightly radiately striate, with a tendency to an elevated narrow ridge behind the anterior scar; hinge with teeth placed as if radiating from the centre of the valve, six to nine anteri- orly, and ten to fourteen posteriorly, with some ten or twelve small, crowded teeth between the two radiating sets, and placed perpendicu- larly and parallel with one another. Height, 32"'°^ ; length, 30""" ; thick- ness, 20"^'"; the last proportionally greater in the young. It PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. This species diflfers in its sculpture from any of the recent species ascribed to the coast, and from A. harharensis Conr. (Pliocene foss.) by its shorter, more elevated, and deeper form, as well as by details of sculpture. Pecten expansus, u. s. (7941). Shell large, thin, with the upper valve flatter than the lower one, both with very slight convexity; outer surface of upper valves marked by sixteen to twenty sharp, radiating ridges, but slightly elevated, and whose sides shade off iusensibly into the broad interspaces, which are but slightly depressed; faint indications of ridges appear between the jirincipal ones. The entire surface is covered with fine, slightly raised, sharp lamellae, which are waved in some places so regularly as to pro- duce the appearance of a delicate reticulation, which, however, does not really exist; angle of the umbo about 120°; ears finely sculptured, like the rest of the surface, but with only faint indications of ridges, sharply differentiated from the rest of the shell, very short, broad ; supra-foraminal ear with a sigmoid carve to the lateral margin ; mar- gin of the other ear nearly straight; hinge-line straight; interior of the valve smooth, except for faint depressions corresponding to the ridges; peripheral margins not crenulated, even or nearly smooth. Lower valve with twenty-five or thirty dichotomous ribs, flattened above, but not sharply diflerentiated from the interspaces, sculptured with fine lines of growth or nearly smooth, with faint appearances of radiating strite. Peripheral margin somewhat crenulated by the ends of the ribs; interior marked by shallow channels corresponding to the ribs ; ears rather small and distinctly but not strongly marked off from the rest of the valve ; byssal notch rounded, moderately deep. Height of shell, 135™™; breadth of shell, 140™™; breadth of hinge-line, 65™™; thickness, 32™™; some specimens one-half larger. This shell is nearest P. iwopatulus Conr. {conrinus f of Gould) from the Miocene of Oregon, but differs in all its details when compared. The Miocene shell has a sharper umbonal angle, larger ears with straight lateral margins, and strong and different sculpture; the ribs are not dichotomous, and are much more sharply defined, while the morgins are strongly crenulated. It is possible that some of the indeterminate nominal species of Conrad may have been based on this species, but the wretched figures given by him seem to difler strongly so far as they show any characters, while his descriptions are quite worthless, as usual/ Pecten Stearnsii, n. a. (7942). Shell moderately large, thin, regular; elegantly radiately ribbed. Upper valve flattened or even a little concave, with about twenty four regularly rounded, vaulted, even ribs, separated by slightly wider chan- nelled interspaces ; the whole surface covered with fine, sharp, concen- tric, regular lamellae, a little looped backward over the top of the ribs, but showing no appearance of reticulation anywhere; ears small, nearly PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 15 symmetrical, covered with more elevated, crowded, concentric lamella), especially near the margins; binge-margin straight, or even a little concave toward the umbo ; peripberal margins of the valves strongly and regularly crenulated and interlocking ; interior regularly deeply grooved, to correspond with the external ribs ; lower valve slightly con- vex, with about twenty-six regular even ribs, separated by channelled interspaces somewhat narrower than the ribs ; the top surface of each rib is flattened with abroad, shallow groove in the middle, with one or two faint riblets on each side of the groove ; the whole surface is cov- ered with concentric lamellae, like those of the upper valve, but less sharp, and about twice as crowded. Ears subequal, arched, covered with crowded, elevated lamelhe ; byssal notch very small. Ileigbt of shell, 90°""; breadth, lOO™""; breadth of hinge-line, 34"""; thickness, This very elegant species, while also showing some general resem- blance to P. caurinus Gld., forms a passage toward the section Jatiira, and differs in many details from any described west-coast species, recent or fossil, so far as figures and descriptions serve to indicate. Pecten Hempbillii, n. s. (7943). This species has a strong general resemblance to the last, and is best described by comparison with it. F. HemphiUii is smaller, with sixteen ribs, as against twenty-six in a P. Stearnsii of the same size, with which throughout it will be compared; the lateral margins of the ears are perpendicular and straight, instead of outwardly rounded ; the hinge- line is perfectly straight, not slightly concave; the ribs on the lower valve are flattened above, with symptoms of a groove on the top surface, instead of beautifidly roundly vaulted; the interspaces are of course wider; the raised concentric lamellte toward the periphery become long, coarse, and very crowded; on the lower valve, the shell is more vaulted, with hardly any traces of the raised lamella, and with larger, rude, hardly flattened, radiating ribs, which show no trace of grooving or riblets ; the ears and byssal notch are smaller and more coarsely sculp- tured. Height, oC"™; breadth, 63""'; breadth of hinge-line, 28"^"'; thickness, IS-"". This species seems to approach Janira even more closely than the last, but the value of these sections of Pcctinidw is very questionable. Anomia limatula, n. s. (7949). Shell large, thin, irregular, witn a rather thickened hinge line; exter- nal surface rough (when not worn), like the fresh fractured surface of a piece of china-ware; a few faint radiating lines with the lines of growth comprise the sculpture; shell originally yellowish, and still retaining some of its color and lustre. Normal form apparently that of a Pecten without ears. Breadth, 75""™; height, 70™°»; arch of valve, 10-15"'™. No lower valves were obtained. This large species is neither A. lampe Gray nor A. {Plac.) macroschisma Desh., which are the only recent spe- IG PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. cies known to inhabit these coasts, while the only fossil one, A. subcostata Conrad, a species from the Colorado Desert, appears to be different, as the name would imply. For this reason, I have attached a name to the rather imperfect material received from Mr. Hemphill. Scalaria Hemphillii, n. s. (7991). Shell in general resembling a robust specimen of *S'. indianorum^ having from nine to twelve varices on the last whorl, coronated behind near the suture, wholly pure white; surface of the whorls beneath the varices longitudinally delicately sculptured, with alternate riblets and grooves. Length about an inch; apical angle about 30°. This species has the sculpture of 8. bellastriata, but the shape of S. indianorum, and is the only grooved species, except the former, which has yet been reported from this region. All the specimens are decol- late. The specimens were sent by Mr. Hemphill with the suggestion that they might prove to be new, and an examination has confirmed the suggestion. I take much pleasure in dedicating it to its discoverer. The two species of Cancellaria mentioned were obtained from the San Diego well some years since, but having been mislaid cannot at this moment be identified. Mamma nana Moller is now found living in Arctic seas and fossil in the Tertiary of Japan. Washington, February 3, 1878. TH£ ITIANIJFACTURE OF PORPOI^iE-OIL.. By Capt. CALEB COOK, of Proviucetown, :nass. About the year 1816, sailors and fishermen having caught a porpoise on their voyage, would sometimes extract the oil from the jaw-bone and give it to carpenters and those who used oil-stones for sharpening their tools. Finding in this way that it did not gum nor glue, suggested the idea that it was just what was wanted for a nice lubricator. It was noticed that the weather at zero would not congeal it, neither would it corrode on brass. Watchmakers were then using olive-oil as the only fitting oil for watches; but by experimenring with the porpoise-jaw oil they found it superior to the olive or any other oil, consequently the sailors and fish- ermen found a ready market for all they were able to obtain. This state of things continued until the year 1829, when a shoal of blackfish, about forty in number, was taken at Proviucetown, Mass., being the first for many years. Solomon Cook, of that town, took from the jaws of those blackfish a few gallons of oil, and sent it to Ezra Kel- ley, of New Bedford, Mass., a skillful watchmaker, to be tested for watch-oil. Mr. Kelley soon found that this oil was superior to the porpoise-oil, as it had more substance and less chill. He contracted with Solomon Cook to supply him from year to year until 1840, when Solomon Cook died, and his oldest son sui)plied Mr. Kelley until the Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. I. Chitonidae. Plate I. \dM ^a e ^^ ''^i t> Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. I. Chitouidae. Plate II. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. I. Chitonidae. Plate ITT. Zi "^8?/ €? ^6 {m.'^ 7 R5- <^m. m BuU. U. S. Nat. Mus. I. Chitonides. Plate IV. BuU. U. S. Nat. Mus. I. Chitonidae. Plate V. j,T PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 1 7 demand was so great that the jaws of the blackfish were not sufficient to supply the market. Porpoise-jaw oil can be refined a little by exposure to the cold at zero, and in that state, with the atmosphere at zero, it is strained through a cotton flannel strainer made in the shape of a cone, but when filtered through paper it is so limpid that it has no lubricating properties what- ever, and becomes useless. This oil is called porpoise-jaw oil, but is taken from the blackfish, belonging in the family of whales, by a method known only by myself. It is warranted not to congeal with cold at zero, though it will thicken and turn a little milky in appearance. It is warranted not to corrode on brass or rust on steel, and it will not glue on the finest watch. Ezra Kelley, of New Bedford, Mass., has made it a business for many years to put it up for watch use, and has led in the market, while B. 11. Tisdale, of Newport, R. I., and I. M,. Bachelder, of Boston, are getting quite popular in the European market. Caleb Cook, youngest son of Solomon, from scientific experiments did discover, about the year I8i2, that the melon-oil of the blackfish was far superior to the jaw-oil in every respect — so much so that Mr. Kelley, who had about this time become very popular in preparing this oil for the trade, would not buy it until he was told what it was pro- duced from; and from that time to the prcvsent, 1876, Caleb Cook's blackfish-melon (watch) oil has been refined by Kelley, of New Bedford, Bachelder, of Boston, Tisdale, of Newport, and many others on a smaller scale, for the world's use. Since the year 1842, Caleb Cook, of Province- town, Mass., claims to be the only person who understands the art of pro- ducing this oil free from all glutinous matter and fit for use. This, he says, is done by a process known only by himself — not by mixing other oils or liquids with it, but by extracting all the acid and gluten from it, and leaving the oil pure for the finest and most delicate machinery. This, he says, cannot be done by the chilling and straining process; for when it becomes perfectly transparent at zero, the lubricating properties are all gone, the oil runs off the pivots, spreads on the plates, dries up, the pivots cut, turn red, and the oil is worse than worthless, for the val- uable tiraekeepier is no longer what it was once for the want of oil with more substance and lubricating properties. Porpoise jaw oil and blackfish-melon oil are worth from $5 to $15 per gallon, according to supply. These oils are sold under the above trade- names, and also under the names "watch-oil" and "clock-oil". They are used largely by manufacturers of firearms, watches, and philosoph- ical apparatus. Smith & Wesson, of Springfield, Mass., the Ethan Allen factory, at Worcester, Bye «& '^Johnson, of Worcester, the Howard Watch Company, the Elgin Watch Company, the Waltham Watch Company, and the clock-factories in Connecticut, use them constantly. The philosophical-instrument makers use them for air-pumps, as they keep the leather always soft and pliable. Telegraph-instrument makers Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 2 PubiishcA juiy i, isrs. 18 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. use them when they can get them. They are used in government light- houses for the clocks of revolving lights. The color of the oils is very light, and can be made very white by placing in the window, where they will bleach in a short time. One drop of water in one pint of the oil will injure it very much. It may be interesting to know how those fish or whales are taken. They make their appearance about the shores of Cape Cod and Barn- stable Bay from early in the summer until early in winter; and when it becomes known that a shoal of blackfish is in the bay, the boats are manned and proceed at once to get in their rear; and, as the fish are at the surface of the water the most of the time, it is easy to tell how to manage to keep them between the boats and the shore. While in this position the men in the boats will make all the noise with their oars they can, and that will cause them to go in the opposite direction from the boats and toward the shore; and when the fish find that they are in shoal water, by seeing the sandy bottom, they become alarmed, and go with all their might till they run fast aground on the sand. The boats then row in their midst; the men with lance in hand jump out of their boats into the water, and butcher them as a butcher would a hog, and it becomes one of the most exciting occasions that it is possible to imagine, for the water flies in every direction, and the blood flows freely until death puts an end to the great tragedy. When the water ebbs and leaves them dry, their blubber is taken off, cut in slices, and the oil tried out. About thirty gallons upon an average is what one fish will make, and the melons will average about six quarts. The melons are taken from the top of the head, reaching from the spout-hole to the end of the nose, and from the top of the head down to the upper jaw. When taken oflin one piece, they represent a half watermelon, weighing about twenty-five pounds. When the knife is put into the centre of this melon, the oil runs more freely than the water does from a very nice water- melon — hence the name melon -oil. About the same time that the blackfish made their appearance in our waters, another of the whale species made its appearance also, called by the fishermen "cowfish" and by the historian "grampus". These whales are very much in the shape of the blackfish, only smaller, not so fat, and not so dark-colored. The oil from the melon of this fish is thought to be superior to anything yet found in the blackfish or the porpoise. It is of a very yellow color, and when reduced by the chill- ing and straining process it appears to have all the body and lubricating properties that are wanted for the very best watch-oil; but as it will take one year to determine it by practical experiments, it is thought best to keep it out of the market for the present. This fish has made its appearance in our waters but three or four times in the last forty years, or about once in ten years. The method of taking it is the same as for the blackfish. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 19 THE CRAIO FliOUIVOER OF EUROPE:, GIiYPTOCEI»HAr,i;8 CY^fO- CM.08SIT!9, ON THE COAST OF NORTH AITIERICA. By G. BROW]V OOODE and TARJLETOIV H. BEAN. An unfamiliar pleuronectoid fish was found in our waters, in 1877, by the United States Fish Commission (Prof. S. F. Baird, Commissioner). Numerous specimens were trawled in the deep water off Salem, Mass., on La Have Bank, and on the coast of Nova Scotia, off Halifax, in Halifax Harbor, and in Bedford Basin, Halifax. A careful study proves that they belong to a well-known European species, the Plcuronectes cynoglossus of Linn6, lately referred by Pro- fessor Gill to the genus Glyptocephalus of Gottsche. We also discover the identity of this species with Glij2>tocephalus acadianus, described by Gill, from a single specimen (No. 12685), taken by the Commission in 1872, from the herring- weir on Treat's Island, Eastport, Me. Below are given detailed measurements of twenty-two individuals, including authentically named European specimens from the University of Christiauia, and the Bonaparte Collection, the type of G. acadianns, three specimens from Massachusetts Bay, five from La Have Bank, and eleven from the vicinity of Halifax. The genus of Gottsche was carefully redescribed by Professor Gill in 1873,* and at the same time was published a full specific description of the Eastport specimen. Although this description is founded upon an individual which is among the mosc elongate of the series before us, it is thoroughly satisfactory for all, if the tendency to variation in the following particulars be uoted.t (1) Height of body. — This is stated to be about 2| of length exclusive of caudal, and 3^ in total length. In the series studied, the proportions of this element varied, stated in units of hundredths of total length (including caudal), from 0.245 to 0.375, No. 12685 having it 30. An equally wide variation in the European fish is recorded by Parnell.| The Fleuronectes elongatus of Yarrell is not nearly so elongated as No. 21061 a (the figure of Couch has height about 0.275); and since no other diagnostic characters have been described, we place it without hesitation in the synonymy of G. cynoglossus. (2) Height of caudal peduncle. — This element is subject to very slight variation, measuring usually 0.07 of total iu both European and Amer- ican specimens. The most elongate, slender forms have it slightly nar- rower. In No. 12685 it measures 0.06, and 0.065 in No. 21001 b. (3) Length of head.— This varies from 0.15 to 0.175. In No. 12685 the * Oa a new American species of Pleuronectoid {Glyptocephalus acadianus). By Theo- dore Gill, M. D. <^ Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1873, pp. 360-362. t Instead of having its radial formula D. 110 ; A. 100, as stated in the description, No. 12685 has it D. 107; A. 96. t Fishes of the Frith of Forth, p. 210, pi. xxxviii, and in Memoirs of the Wernerian Society, vii, p. 370. 20 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. length is 0.15, and in the European specimens 0.15 and 0.1575 (Christi- ania specimen). The smallest proportion is represented by specimens from Massachusetts Bay and Halifax. (4) Teetli. — In number these are extremely variable. No. 12685, ac- cording to Gill, had on the blind side 17 above and 20 below, on the eye side 6 above and 7 below. A Salem specimen, larger and older, had on the blind side, above 26, below 28, on the eye side, above 13, below 14. In young individuals, the teeth present the characters described by Gill, having the teeth on the eyed side conical and separated. This peculiarity disappears with age, all large specimens showing closely set incisorial teeth upon both sides of each jaw. (5) Length of pectoral. — This is extremely variable within limits of 0.09 and 0.14. This measurement refers to the fin upon the colored side. Its shape is also variable; it is sometimes pointed, sometimes obtuse, owing to difference in comparative length of the upper rays. It is usually black, with a narrow whitish tip. The number of rays varies from 9 to 14. (6) Length of ventrals. — This is also extremely variable on both sides. The range on the blind side is 0.0475 to 0.07, and on the eyed side 0.056 to 0.0775. The difference between the length of the two fins upon the same individual varies from 0.0025 to 0.0155. (7) Contour of lateral line. — In some individuals this is essentially straight, in others considerably arcuated above the pectoral. This appears to be an individual variation. The two European specimens show a ijerceptible difference in this respect. In his diagnosis of Pleu- ronectes cynoglossiis, Dr. Giinther states that the lateral line is straight, without curve. (8) Position of the eyes. — Dr. Giinther states that in P. elongaius the upper eye is in advance of the lower. This is doubtless quoted from Yarrell. Neither the figure of Yarrell nor that of Couch indicates any such character. (9) Scales in lateral line. — The number on the blind side ranges from 109 to 150, on the eye side from 110 to 140, there being no relation be- tween the different sides of the same fish. (10) Radial formula. — In the dorsal this ranges from 102 to 120; in the anal, from 87 to 100. There is no apparent relation between the number of rays and the relative proportions of height and length of body. A large number of rays in the dorsal is usually accompanied by a relatively large number in the anal. (11) Transverse roics of scales. — Their number above and below the lateral line is nearly equal. The range is about from 40 to 50. There appears to be no relation of number of transverse rows to comparative height of body. The thermal range of the species appears to be defined nearly by the limits 340 and 45° F. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 21 The synonymy of the genus and species stands somewhat as follows : — GENUS. Clyptoceplialus, Gottsche, Archiv fiir Naturg. i, 1835, p. 156. — Bleecker, Compt. Eend. Acad. Sci. Amsterdam, xiii. — Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1873, p. 3G0. species. Giyptocephalua cynoglossus (Linn6) Gill. Fleuronectes oculis a dextris iotus glaber, Artedi, Gen. 14, N. 3; Mas. IchtL. No. 39; Syuon. p. 31, N. 3. Fleuronectes cynoglossus, Linn:6, Syst. Nat. ed. x, i, 1758, p. 269; ed. xii, 17C6, i, p. 456.— GuNTHER, Cat. Fish, Brit. Mus. iv, 1862, p. 449. Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1873, p. 301. Fleuronectes pol a, LACEPi:DE, Hist. Nat. Poiss. (Suites ilBuffon), 1819, iv, p. 401. Flatessa pola, Cuvier. — Parnell, Nat. Hist. Fish. Frith of Forth, 1838, p. 210, pi. xxxviii. — Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Fish. 1841, ii, p. 315.— Couch, Fishes British Islands, iii, 1864, p. 190. Fleuronectes saxicola, FiUjer, Isis, 1828, p. 877. Glyptocephalus saxicola, Gottsche, I. c. Fleuronectes nigromanus, Nilsson, Prodr. Ichth. Scand. 1832, p. 55. Flatessa elongata, Yarrell, op. cit. p. 318. — GCnther, o]). cit. p. 450.— CouCH, op. cit. p. 193. Glyptocephalus elongatus. Gill, ojj. cit. p. 362. Glyptocephalus acadianus. Gill, op. cit. p. 361, and in Baird's Report on Fish- eries of Soath Coast of New England, 1873, p. 794. Dr. GUather suggests that the fish first cited by Fabricius {Fauna Groenlandica, p. 163), under the name of Fleuronectes cynoglosstis, and subsequently named by him Fleuronectes p'mguis (Af handling. Kongel. Danske Videuskabernes Selskabs, Naturvid. og Math., Copenhagen, vol. i, 1824, p. 45), is probably identical with this species. The true rela- tions of the Greenland fish have already been pointed out by Professor Gill (Proc. Acad. Is'at. Sci. Phila. 1864, p. 218), as well as the curious misapprehension by which the synonymy of P. pinguis and the halibut has been confounded. The following tables give detailed measurements of twenty-three specimens, and a list of all the specimens in the National Museum : — 22 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Table I, — Catalogue of specimens in National Museum. 21000 21001 21005 21017 21019 21032 21047 21056 21U57 21058 21059 21060 21061 210t)2 21063 10068 17355 12685 Eh 'V go Locality. Massachusetts Bay, off Salem.. La Have Bank Hafifax 27 luiles south by west from Che- bucto Head. Halifax do Halifax (trawl 113 and 114) Massachusetts Bay do Mas.sachusett8 Bay (trawl 32, 90 fathoms). Halifax (trawl 54) Halifax (trawl 44) 27 miles off Chebncto (trawl 85).. Halifax (trawl 106, 111 fathoms) . . Bedford Basin (trawl 111, 37 fathoms). Eur ipe Christiania, Norway Eastport, Me , When col- lected. Aug. — , 1877 do do Sept. 6,1877 Sept. 4,1877 Sept. 11, 1877 Sepi. 24,1877 Aug. 6,1877 do Aug. 14, 1877 Aug. 25, 1877 Aug. 21, 1877 Sept. 6,1877 Sept. 20, 1877 Sept. 21, 1877 Aug. — , 1872 From whom received. United States Fish Commis- sion. do do .do .do , .do .do. .do .do. .do -do .do, .do -do Bonaparte Collection Norwegian Government ... United States Fish Commis- sion. £S Young Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Table II. — Measurements. Current number of specimen Locality < 10,003 Europe, Bonaparte Coll. 17,355 ChrKtiania. Swedish Coll. 21,000 a Massachu- setts Bay. 21000 & Massachu- setts Bay. 21,000 c Massachu- setts Bay. 12,685 Eastport. 21,001a La Have Bank. lOOtha. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOtha. Extreme length, in inches.. Body : 15.75 0.315 0.07 0.15 0.035 0.05 0.05 0.16 0.09 (0. 19) 0.05 0.056 112 99 11 6 117 115 15.15 0.33 0.07 0.156 0. 175 0.05 0.05 0.16 0.105 0. 18 0. 056 0.062 103 87 11 6 114 116 17.25 0.34 19 0.325 23 0.34 9.5 0.30 0.06 0.05 0.035 0.05 0.05 0.16 0.10 0.17 0.06 0.065 107 96 12 6 123 118 9.9 0.307 Least height of tail Head: 0.155 0.15 0.165 0.16 Length of maxillary Pectoral : Ventral : Length (blind side) (eye side) Dorsal 0. 051 C.057 110 93 11 6 138 133 0.055 0.057 110 91 13 6 136 134 0. 052 0.065 112 90 12 6 150 140 101 Anal 87 Pectnr '1 11 "Ventral Number of scales in lateral 113 117 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 23 Table II. — Measurements — Continued. Current number of specimen 21,0016 La Have. 21,001c La Have. 21,001 d La Have. 21,001 e La Have. 21,005 a Halifax. 21,0056 Halifax. 21,017 Halifax. 21,047 a Halifax lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOtha. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. Extreme length, in inches . . Body: 10.2 0. 295 0.065 0.16 0.04 0.06 11.5 0.299 12 0.33 12. 25 0. 325 15.75 0.37 19 0.35 16.25 0.330 19 32 Least height of tail Head: Greatest length 0.16 0.165 0.16 0.155 0.155 0.157 155 Length of maxillary Length of mandible Pectoral : Distance from snoat Length Ventral : Length (blind side) 0.052 0.065 115 97 11 6 112 119 0.047 0.058 110 95 11 6 130 128 0.055 0.065 113 98 13 6 117? 117? 0. 053 0. 062 105 92 12 6 109 115 0.047 0.063 120 100 11 6 133 127 0. 055 0.06 106 90 12 6 125 128 057 0.063 107 8S 12 111 95 10 6 Number of scales in lateral 115 110 127 125 Current number of specimen 21,0476 Halifax. 21,019 a Halifax. 21,0196 Halifax. 21,019 c Halifax. 21,019 d Halifax. 21,019 e HaUfax. 21, 032 Halifax. 21,061 a Halifax. lOOths. lOOtha. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. lOOths. Extreme length, in inches . . Body: 24.25 0.37 21.5 0.365 0.07 0.16 0.03 0.05 0.05 0.157 0.14 0.17 0.07 0.077 109 98 12 6 117 121 19 0.375 0.07 0. 1,56 0.03 0.05 0.05 0.160 0.11 0.17 0.057 0.067 113 99 11 6 130 130 20 0.316 20.25 0.33 19 0.34 19.25 0. 365 114 mm. 0.245 0.055 Head: 0.175 0.152 0.155 0.15 0.175 0.165 0.045 0.06 0.06 Pectoral : 0.17 0.03 Ventral : 0.20 Length (blind siile) (eye side) 0.047 O.Oo 106 92 12 6 117 122 0. 005 0.075 106 91 11 1!2 117 0.055 0.06 114 97 11 6 131 127 0.05 0.06 102 87 11 6 119 115 0.067 0.077 106 90 11 6 129 125 0. 055 0.055 104 87 14 6 Nnmber of scales in lateral note: OIV SHEIil^S FRo:n COI^TA RICA KITCmiEIVraiDDEIV, COIi- liSCTED BV urs. fliivt anjd braivsfobd. By TV. H. DAL.L. In their arcliaeological explorations in Costa Rica, while examining the shell-mounds of Culebra near the western coast, a number of shells were obtained from the mounds to exhibit the species of which the shell-heaps were composed. They are, of course, in a semi-fossil condi- 24 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. tion and usually broken, but the following species have been identified : — Phyllonotus nigritus Mensch., Stromhus gracilior Sby., Area grandis Brod., Chione dioncca Menke, Cardium iwocenim Sby., and Gardium con- sors B. & S. These species, which formed i)art of the food-sup|)ly of the former inhabitants, are abundant in the fauna of the Gulf of California at the present day. February 22, lb78. ABSE.-VIC ACID FOB PROTE€TINO AIVATOmiCAr. PBEPABATIOIVS By J. B. S. JACKSON, M. D. Arsenic acid is most intensely strong, and comes in the form of a solid and of a liquid, and the two are of about equal strength. Half an ounce (avoirdupois) of the one, or one-half of a fluid-ounce of the other, is to be added to a pint (f s xvj) of soft water, and it is ready for use. Any membranous preparation that is to be distended and dried, as a portion of the alimentary canal, any of the hollow organs, an ovarian cyst, an aneurism, and many ^^reparations that are not to be distended, will be most thoroughly protected, I believe, by the arsen- ical solution. A solution of corrosive sublimate will probably prove an equal protection ; but the membrane, when dried, has a disagreeably opaque and ash-colored look, whereas, after the arsenical solution, it dries without any change. I cover the preparation fairly with the solu- tion, and leave it for about twenty minutes, then take it out, let it drain, then inflate or distend it, and, lastly, hang it up to dry. Boston, Mass., Februanj 19, 1878. TBE OCFAIVI€ BONITO ON THE €OAST OF THE UIVITEB STATES. By O. BROWN OOODE and TARLETON M. BEAN. A specimen of the Oceanic Bonito, Orcynus pelamys (Linne) Poey, was captured off Provincetown, Mass., in July or August, 1877, and taken to the Museum of Comparative Zoology by Mr. James H. Blake. The specimen was lent to the Fish Commission for study. Drawings have been made, and a table of measurements and description are here presented. The specimen measures 447 millimetres (17.6 inches) to the end of the caudal carina. In form it closely resembles Orcynus alliteratus. The caudal rays are frayed, and their length cannot be exactly determined. The height of the body is a trifle more than one-fourth (0.26) of the length. The circumference of the body (0.71) is equal to the distance from snout to origin of anal (0.70). The length of the head (0.30) is PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 25 contained 3^ times in length of body. The width of the interorbital region (0.075) is as much less than the length of snout (0.08) as it is greater than the length of the operculum (0.07). The length of the maxillary (0.11) is nearly equal to that of the ventral (0.115), and more than double the diameter of the orbit (0.05). The length of the man- dible (0.14) is double that of the operculum. The distance of the first dorsal fin from the snout (0.34) is slightly greater thau that of the pectoral (0.325), and less than that of the ven- tral (0.38) by a distance nearly equal to the diameter of the orbit; it is also a trifle less than half the distance from the snout to the origin of the anal (0.70). The length of the first dorsal spine (0.145) is double the length of the longest anal ray (0.0725). The distance from the origin of the first dorsal to the end of the base of the second dorsal (0.36) is four times the length of the anal base (0.09). The length of the pectoral (0.15) is less than half its distance from the snout (0.325), and exactly half the length of the head ; it is con- tained G§ times in the length of the body ; its origin is slightly in advance of the origin of the dorsal, while its extremity reaches to the vertical from the tenth dorsal ray. The length of the ventral (0.115) is about one-third that of the dis- tance of the first dorsal from the snout. The corslet is very prominent. Its contour is defined by lines begin- ning at the edge of the branchial cleft, about midway between the axil of the pectoral and the median line of the belly, extending below, beyond, and around the extremity of the pectoral (which, when normally placed, touches with its tip the outer margin of the corslet), then extending be- yond its tip for a distance nearly equal to its length, round up into the lateral line, down which a narrow tract of scales continues to its extrem- ity, though narrowed to a single row after passing its curve ; passing the lateral line, the contour of the corslet curves forward and inward, then ascending to a point distant from the median line of the back about the diameter of the orbit, it follows backward in a direction parallel to this line, to a point opposite the posterior extremity of the second dorsal, where it curves upward to the median line of the body, and completes its circuit. When viewed from above, the rows of scales appear to be arranged concentrically about the origin of the first dorsal fin. The scales are largest along the edges of the pectoral arch and the dorsal fin, decreas- ing rapidly in size as they recede from these regions. There are about thirty rows between the dorsal and the upper margin of the pectoral, normally placed. Eadial Formula.— B. XIV, 2 + 12, VIII. A. 2 + 12, VII. P. 28. V. 6. Color. — The upper parts must have been deep blue in life ; the belly and flanks below lateral line, the opercles, and throat, pearly opalescent ■white. The lower part of the pectoral arch and tracts at the base of 26 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. the ventrals and anal, as well as those parts of the opercles where the bone is close to the outer skin, were of a chalky white. The corslet is bronzed brown in the alcoholic specimen. There are four distinct bluish lines upon the sides, which are nearly parallel with the lateral line, and which constitute the most prominent specific character. The first of these begins directly under the tip of the pectoral, the second at the margin of the corslet, at a point in the line from the upper to the lower axillary angles of the pectoral. The third and fourth are rather indistinct anteriorly, but are very distinct in the posterior half of the body, and are about as far distant from each other as are the first two, the interval between the two pairs being slightly greater than that between the members of each pair, and equal to the diameter of the orbit. The first or uppermost line is nearly straight, the others, following the lower contour of the body, curve upward over the anal fin, and all four become lost in the darker color of the caudal peduncle. This is without doubt the Scomber Pelamis of Linnd, characterized by him as " Scomber pinnulis inferioribus VII, corpore lineis utrinque qua- tuor nigris" (Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1758, i, p. 297), and given by Giinther as Tkynnus pelamys (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. ii, 1860, p. 364:). It is hope- lessly confused by Cuvier and Valenciennes with Pelamys sarda. Pro- fessor Poey assigned it to its present generic relations in 1868 (Syn. Pise. Cubens. p. 362). The geographical distribution of this species is not very well known, owing to the uncertainty of its synonymy. The British Museum has two stuffed specimens, one from the Cape Seas, and one from Yarrell's Collection of British fishes. Couch records it from the Frith of Clyde (July), and from Cumberland, England, and Ireland. Poey has it from Cuba. It has also been recorded from the seas of India and China. The presence of this form upon our coast was first suggested by Messrs. E. G. Blackford and Barnet Phillips of New York, who recognized the species in New York Market from the plates in Couch's History of Brit- ish Fishes. Only one was seen, and it was unfortunately not preserved. This was in the summer of 1873 ; and as none have since been found, it may be said, with some certainty, that the species is at present only accidental in our fauna. DISTRIBUTTON OF CAIilFORIVIAIV TERTIARY FOSSII^S. By TV. H. DALL. Further information has been received from Mr. Hemphill in regard to the Tertiary fossils enumerated lately in these Proceedings. These facts, having an important bearing on geological and faunal changes, are now summarized. PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 27 STRATA OF THE SAN DIEGO PENINSULA. The long, low, narrow strip of land lying between San Diego Bay and the ocean is locally known as the Peninsula. It appears to have been pierced formerly by narrow channels or outlets by which the waters of the bay communicated with the sea, and even now, in heavy storms, the surf breaks over the barrier. At high-water mark is a stratum about four feet thick, containing fossils mingled in a confused manner, above which is a bed of fine sand extending to the surface of the pen- insula, and having a total thickness of some twelve feet. From the lower bed (A) were obtained the following species : — Corhula luteola. Tellina modesta. Lucina Nuttallii. Pecten vaucicostatus. Nucula exigua. Hhectaxis punctoccelata. Tornatina ccrealift. Tornatina eximia. Volvula cylindrica. Melampus olivaceus. Dentalium liexagonum. Vitrinella sp. Crucihulum spinosum. Crepidula adunca. SerpuIorMs squamigerus. Litorina scutulata. Lacuna solidula. Rissoina Woodicardi ? Myurella simplex. Drillia Hemphillii. Mangilia angulata. Odostomia gravida. Turhonilla chocolata. Turhonilla vlrgo. Turhonilla torquata. Eulima micans. Scalar ia indianorum. Ceritkiopsis assimillata. Olivella Mplicata. Olivella hoetica. Nassa fossata var. Nassa perpinguis. Neverita, var. alta. Nitidella Gouldii. Amphissa 'versicolor. Pteronotus festivus. Fish teeth and a sp. of Serpula. From the sand bed (B) were obtained, — Periploma argentaria. Macoma secta. Macoma indentata. 3Iacoma nasuta. Mactra californica. In the lowest part exposed of bed A are found Cardium procerum^ Dosinia ponderosa, and Anomia Umatiila, but they do not seem to be scattered through the general body of the stratum. STRATA OF THE MAINLAND. On the mainland near the town of San Diego, the land is rather low, gradually rising inland toward some bluffs. To the eastward of the town, or what is known locally as the "railroad laud", a stratum (A^) four or five feet thick is exposed at high-water mark, and, like the stratum A of the peninsula, contains a confused aggregation of fossils, at the bottom of which is a layer of the upper valves of Anomia lima- 28 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. tula, hardly mixed with any other species, and containing, so far as could be discovered, no perfect specimens or lower valves. Stratum A^ is regarded by Mr. Hemphill as the outcroi)piag of an extensive formation, probably underlying the whole of the level land back to the bluffs, and presenting estuarine characters. It is sur- mounted by, or passes into, a fine sandy deposit (B^), at least seventy feet thick in some places, containing fossils scattered through it, and it is in this stratum that the fossils from the well were found. In nearly all the wells that have been sunk in San Diego, fossils have been found, showing that the bed is of wide extent as well as of great thickness. The following fossils were afforded by stratum A^ : — Plioladidea ovoidea, Solecurtus caUfornianus, Macoma sahulosa f Tellina Bodegensis, Donax flexuosus. Mactra falcata. dementia suhdiaphana. Chione simillima. Chione succincta. Dosinia ponderosa. Saxidomus aratus jun. Petricola pholadiformis f Cardium procerum. Ostrea lurida. Anomia limatula. FissurelUdea callomarginata. Crucihulum spinosum. Cerithidea sacrata. Drillia penicillata. Scalaria indianorum. Eanella muriciformis. N'assa fossata. Nassa tegula. Cerostoma Nuttallii. From the well-digging in stratum B^ came, — Venericardia monilicosta. Area microdonta, Leda coelata. Pecten expansus. Janira dentata. Mamma nana. Crepidula princeps. Turritella Cooperi. Turbonilla sfylina. I^assa mendica. Cyliclma alba. Cadulus fusiformis. To which may be added the following species not enumerated from that locality in the list (pp. 11-12) in these Proceedings, but also obtained by Mr. Hemphill: — Glottidia alhida Hds. Xylotrya sp. (tubes). Cryptomya californica Conr. Solen rosaceus Cpr. Solecurtus caUfornianus Conr. 2Iacoma expansa Cpr. dementia suhdiaphana Cpr, Cardium centifilosum Cpr. Lucina Nuttallii Conr. Lucina acutilineata Conr. Lucina tenuisciiJpta Cpr. Gryptodon fiexuosus Mont. Modiola recta Conr. N'ucula exigua Sby. Acila Lyallii Bd. Pecten hastatus Sby. Janira florida Hds. Ostrea concJiaphila Cpr. Placunanomia macroschisma Desh. Tornatina eximia Bd. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 29 Cylichna cylindracea Linn. Dentalium liexagonum Sby. Dentalium semipolitum B. & S. iSijyhonodentalktmpusillum ? Gabb. CalUostoma annulatum Martyn. Galerus filosus Gabb. Crepidula navicelloides Nutt. Turritella Jeivettii Cpr. Bittium asperum Cpr. Myurella simplex Cpr. BrilUa (four sp. undet.). Surcula Carpenteriana Gabb. Mangilia variegata Cpr. Ilangilia (four sp. undet.). Clathurella Conradiana Gabb. Odostomia straminea Cpr. var. Odostomia sp. Turhonilla torquata Cpr, JEulima rutila Cpr. Scalaria subeoronata Cpr. Cancellaria (four sp. uudet.). Neverita Recluziana Petit. Sigaretus debilis Gld. Banella Matheivsonii Gabb. Olivella hoetica Cpr. Nassafossata Gld. Asfyris tnherosa Cpr. Astyris sp. Ocinehra lurida Cpr. Fteronotus festiviis lids. Troplion orpheus Gld. Colus DupetWionarsi? Kien. Volutopsis (sp. uudet.). Chrysodomus Diegoensis Dall. About ten miles northward from San Diego, on the seacoast of Cali- fornia, are beds of coarse sandstone, of considerable thickness, dipping to the northward. About twenty feet of it (stratum C) are fossiliferous, containing the shells, not aggregated in a confused mass, as in some other cases above mentioned, but distributed much as they might have been while living. According to Mr. Hemphill, these fossils have not the aspect of an estuary deposit, but rather that of animals living in the open sea. Pecten expansus occurring in both the well (B^) formation and this sandstone, Mr. Hemphill supposes that they may be of identical age, but that the different assemblage of species may be due to the one being formed in an estuary and the other on an open coast. This sand- stone bed contained, among others, the following species: — Pecten islandicus. Pecten hericeus. Pecten rentricosns. Pecten expansus. Pecten Stearns H. Pecten HempMUii. Pecten ivquisulcatus var Ostrea Veatcliii. Lucina acutilineata. Opalia anomala. Opalia varicostata. Scalaria iincta. Scalaria HempMUii Adjoining bed C, and composed of recent alluvial soil, eight or ten feet above tide-wafer, is another stratum (D), in which the specimens are in a poor state of preservation, and nearly all found living near Saa Diego at the present time. This bed afforded, — Laqucus californicus. Cumingia californica. Tapes staminea. Lucina acutilineata. Axinea profunda. Acmwa mitra. Acmcea insessa. Fissurella volcano. 30 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. CMorostoma Pfeifferi. Surcula Carpenteriana. Conus californicus. Neverita Eecluziana. Mitra maura. Monoceros engonatum. Purpura crispafa. Fusus Harfordi. Near Santa Barbara, the outcrop (0^) upon the seabeach afforded a few fossils, some of which were similar to species obtained from the San Diego well. Among these were the following, all recent species: — Venericardia monilicosta. Bittium quadrifilatum. Bittium asperum. Lacuna vincta. Astyris gausapata. Ampliissa versicolor. Trophoii orpheus f jun. The formation within whose limits the beds above described are to be included extends from the Pribiloff Islands southward, at least to Yesso Island, Japan, on the west, and to Chili on the east. A fruitful locality is at Cerros Island, Lower California, from whence Waldheimia Kennedyi Dall, and also a number of the species referred to in the preceding article, have been obtained, some of which are described by Gabb in the Paleontology of California. Jurassic or Cretaceous beds appear to exist at Todos, Santos Bay, Lower Caliibruia, not far from San Diego. Mr. Hemphill collected here, and has presented to the National Museum, half a dozen species not yet critically examined, but containing a fine specimen belonging to the Eudistcv, which have hitherto been hardly known as American fossils. March 2, 1878. A REVISIOIV ©F THE A.TIERICAIV SPECffES OF THE GENUS BRE. VOORTilA, 'tVflTII A E>ES4;KII»TflOi'V OE A NE"*V SPECIES FROM THE GUEE OE MEXflCO. By G. BROWN GOODE. The type of the genus Brevoortia of Gill is the species described in 1802 by Latrobe under the name of Clupea tyrannus^ and later by Mitch- ill under the name of Clupea menhaden. As has been already indicated,* the former name has the prior claim to adoption, and the species must be called Brevoortia tyrannus. Of this species, there appear to be two geographical races or varieties. One of these is the typical form of the Atlantic coast of the United States, the other a closely allied form from the coast of Brazil, already described by Spix under the name of Clupanodon aureus. For the northern form, the name of Mitchill should be retained, and the two varieties may be distinguished as Brevoortia tyrannus var. menhaden, and Brevoortia tyrannus var. aureus. On the coast of Patagonia and Paraguay occurs a well-marked species described by Jenyns under the name of Alosa pectinata. This species is readily ' Vide su])ra, p. d. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEURr. 31 distinguished by its larger scales, which are arranged in 18 to 20 lateral rows, instead of 25 to 27, as in B. tyranmis. The generic relations of this species were recognized many years ago by Professor Gill, and its name should stand as Brevoortia pectinata, (Jenyns) Gill. A third species occurs in the Gulf of Mexico. It is distinguished by its larger head and fins. It appears to have never been described, and for this form the name Brevoortia patromis is proposed. It is accom- panied by the same Crustacean parasite that is found in the mouths of B. tyrafinus, to which Latrobe gave the significant specific name of 2Jrcegustator. Brevoortia tyrannus, (Latrobe) Goode. Diagnosis. — Head and jaws short, the length of the head less than one-third of the length of the body, less the caudal fin, especially short in var. aurea ; the maxillary in length much less than three-twentieths of the length of the body. Height of body about one-third of total length, in very fat individuals three-eighths. Fins comparatively short, the height of the dorsal less than length of maxillary, and considerably less than three-tenths of length of body, that of the anal usually less than half that of maxillary, that of ventral always less than one-tenth of total length, the length of middle caudal rays one-fifth that of body and less, that of exterior caudal rays usually about three-fourths, often less than two-thirds, and rarely more than five-sixths of total length. Fins all shorter in var. aurea. Insertion of ventral far behind tip of pectoral. Insertion of dorsal about equidistant from snout and base of middle caudal rays, but varying two or three one-hundredths to either side of the median point, and always slightly behind the vertical from insertion of veutrals. Scales of medium size, much serrated, arranged very irregularly in 24-20 transverse and GO-80 longitudinal rows. Scales forming sheath at base of pectoral not large. Squamation of caudal lobes moderate. Operculum strongly striated in var. menhaden., almost smooth in var. aurea. Scapular blotch conspicuous. This species is easily distinguished from Brevoortia patronus by its shorter head and fins, by its slenderer body, and its pectinated scales, and from B. pectinata by its smaller, less regularly arranged, and more numerous scales, and its shorter, less furcate caudal fin. INDIVIDUAL VARIATIONS AND SPECIAL CHARACTEKS. Read. — The length of the head varies from 0.28 to 0.33. The poste- rior end of the maxillary extends to a point in the vertical from the centre of the orbit. The length of the skull, as indicated by the " distance from snout to nape", varies from 0.19 to 0.23. The length of snout, measured from a line drawn perpendicularly through the centre of the orbit, varies from 0.09 to 0.11. The length of maxillary varies from 32 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STlTES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 0.12 to 0.145 ; that of mandible from 0.15 to 0.18. The diameter of the eye enters 4^ times in the length of the head. Its width varies from 0.11 to 0.15 in very fat individuals. Shape of Body. — This is exceedingly variable, and the variation is caused largely by the fatness of the individual. In very plump ones, the expansion of the belly throws back the origin of the ventrals and anal, and greatly changes the appearance of the fish. In the specimens before me, the height of the body ranges from 0.31 to 0.38i. The table of measurements subjoined shows the effect of increased height of body ui)on the other measurements of proportion. Fins. — The range of variation in the position of the dorsal is indi- cated in the diagnosis. There is no appreciable correlation between the positions of the dorsal and anal in the same specimen. The insertion of the anal is distant from the snout from 0.C8 to 0.75. The lengths of the rays in dorsal, anal, ventral, and caudal vary much, as the table of measurements indicates. In the caudal, the upper lobes vary from 0.16 to 0.25; the lower lobes from 0.18 to 0.27. The relation of the pectoral and ventral fins is much affected by the length of the head, the inser- tion of the former being thrown much further back in long-headed indi- viduals. Scales. — The degree of serration varies much in individuals as well as the squamation of the bases of the vertical fins and the number and regularity of the body-scales. In young individuals, the scales are arranged with much regularity; but, in adults, I have strong reason to believe that scales are intercalated here and there, throwing the arrange- ment into great disorder, and rendering an accurate enumeration imijos- sible. Varieties. — The series before me embraces some two hundred specimens of Brevoortia tyranniisoi various ages, seasons, and localities. Almost every feature is subject to wide variations, and there is usually no decided correlation between different characters except that a long head is accom- panied usually by long jaws, and a pectoral set farther back and extend- ing more nearly to the insertion of the ventral. There are, however, certain groups of individuals which can be included within a diagnosis which may serve to distinguish them from all the others of the same species. To what extent it is desirable to define varieties which are not separated geographically, I am not well satisfied. The exact mean- ing of the terms " sub-species" and "variety" as employed by Cope, Cones, Gill, Yarrow, and other recent writers has not been definitely interpreted. It seems desirable, however, to designate in some way the limits of variation from the normal specific type in different direc- tions. With this purpose, and premising that by a variety I mean sim- ply a divergent form, connected by intermediate forms with the typical specific form, I have thought it desirable to name provisionally two varieties, and to call attention to others which may possibly exist. This is done with much hesitation, and only with a view to an attempt to PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 33 Ibnnnhite the minor clitieiences to be observed between lishof tbe same species on different parts of our coast. A precisely parallel case is to be found in tbe shad of the different Atlantic rivers, which arc well known to exhibit strong- distinctive marks. Very possibly every school of menhaden has its own characteristics. In every case where I have had an opportunity to observe them, the individuals composing the same school were closely similar to each other. The typical form of the species as now defined is taken from the coast of Southern New England and the Middle States. It has the height of tbe body about one-third of the total length, the head three-tenths of the total length, or a little more, the maxillary long (0.14 to 0A41) and exceeding the height of the dorsal. The species described by Spix under the name of Clupanodon aureus cannot be distinguished by any apparent specitic characters from Bre- voortia fi/rannus, since one or more of the specimens of the latter species before me partake of some of the peculiarities of the Brazilian form. There is, however, a general average of characters exhibited by the Brazil- ian specimens as well as by the figure of Spix, with which they closely agree, which seems to me to entitle them, for the present at least, to recog- nition as belonging to a distinct geographical variety. The distinrtivc characters appear to consist in (1) a greater average height of body; (2) a lesser length of head ; (3) a lesser average length of maxillary and mandible ; (4) a slightly lower anal and dorsal fin ; (5) a greater average distance of anal from snout ; (G) a greater average length of the middle caudal rays; (7) a shorter average pectoral ; (8) a more regular arrange- ment of the scales, and a more luxuriant growth of small scales at the bases of the fins. A number of specimens from Xoank, taken in 1874, vary quite as much from the normal type and in almost the same respect as the variety just described. The maxillary and mandible are shorter, however, than in the Brazilian form, the anal fin lower, and the lobes of the caudal are extremely short, sometimes hardly exceeding in length the pectoral tin. But for the fact that these specimens show almost all the charac- ters of the Brazilian Brevoortia, and in some cases exaggerations of them, I should be inclined to consider the aurea a distinct species. Having with some hesitation allowed it the rank of a variety, the ques- tion must be decided as to the propriety of also allowing varietal rank to this peculiar form from Xoank. The exact meaning- of the terms sub- species and variety as recently employed by zoologists is not very clear to my mind, but I infer that a " variety" is composed of an assemblage of individuals varying uniformly from the typical specific form in a degree sufficient to be susceptible of description and definition, though not necessarily separated from it by the absence of connecting forms.. Prem^ing then that in giving to the Noank specimens a varietal r.ame my object is simply to define the limits of variation from the nor?nal Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 ;3 .Hav S, 1878. 34 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. type iu a j^iveii direction, J would provisioually propose that they be desifjnated as variety hrevicaudata. The specimens from the Saint John's River, Florida, are extremely variable in every respect. Certain individuals show a tendency to elongation of the head and fins, and also a slenderness of the posterior part of the body, and nearly all the individuals from that region are more lightly and gracefully shaped. They all have a tendency to a yellow coloration, especially upon the caudal lobes. I have not felt justified, hovrever, in calling it a variety. I have not had an opportunity to study the Maine schools, but am inclined to believe that their differences are very perceptible. TahJe of Measurements. CunxKl miiiibiv of specimen. Locality Extreme kngtb ' Body : Greatest heigbt Lea«t heiu'lit of tail Length of caudal jxiduuclo Head : Greatest length Distance from snout to nape Greatest width Length of suout from perp. from centre of orbit. Length of operculum , Length of maxillary Lengtii of mandible instance from snout to centre of orbit Dorsal : Distance from snout Length of base Origin of pectoral to origin of dorsal End of dorsal to end of anal Lengtii of longest ray Length of last ray . Z. , Anal : Distance from suout Length of base , Origin of anal to origin of doisal Length of longest ray Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays Length of external ray.s, superior interior Pec tor il : Distance from snout Distance of tip from suout Length , Length of longest axillary appendage Ventral: Distance from snout Length Origin of ^-entral to end of dorsal Dorsal rays , Acal rays 10,405 = 709 I 10,405 = 0rig. C. A. S. I No. 247. "Wood'-s Holl, Mass. Millim. lODths. Millim. lOOths Wood's lloll, Mass. Very fat. 251 I . . . . 38i 32 20 15 10 9 14i ITS lOi 54 19 41 12i 6' 73 14 39 Oh 23 26J 30 19 11 53 38 Plump. 243 I.... 31 20i 10 9 14i 171 lOJ 51 171 33| 24 11 14J 33 51 4j 4J 20A 23' 32 48 n.'> 20,0(36 a. Wood's Holl, Mass. Millim. lOOths. M 17 101- 49 17.^ 35i 2.5 12.V ]5i 30 0? H PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 35 Table of Measurements — Continued. Curreut number of specimen. Locality Extreme l^^ngth Body : Greatest beight Head : Greatest length Distance from snout to nape Greatest width Length of snout from perp. from centre of orbit. Length of operculum Length of maxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit Dorsal : Distance from snout Length of base Origin of pectoral to origin of dorsal End of dorsal to end of anal Length of longest ray Length of last ray. .'. Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Onjiin of anal to origin of dorsal Lengt.h of longest ray Length of last ray Caudal : Jjcngth of middle rays Length of external rays, superior interior Tectoral : Distance from snout Distance of tip from euout Length of longest axillary appendage Ventral : Distance from snout Length Origin of ventral to end of dorsal Dorsal rays Anal rays 20,GGC b. Wood's noil, Mass. Millim. lOOths. m 9 14J 174 12" 53 19 35 24 12 6 72 15 34 GJ 5" 22J 32 4a* 18 18,049 b. Saint John's Uivei- Florida. Millim. 9i 33" lOOths. Indian Eiver, Florida. Millim. lOOths, Fat 196 24" 27 30 47 17 50 9 33 Current number of specimen . Locality Extreme length Body : Greatest lieigbt Least height of tail Length of caudal peduncle Head : Greatest length Distance from snout to nape Greatest width , Length of snout from perp. from centre of orbit. Length of operculum Length of maxillary Length of mandible ; Distance from snout to centre of orbit Dor.sal : Distance from snout Length of base Origin of pectoral to origin of dorsal End of dorsal to end of anal Length of longest ray Length of last ray 5,152. West Florida. Millim. 100th; 10 9* 13" 15 17,927. Saint John's Eiver, Florida. Millim.! lOOths. 3U 20| 12 10 Saint John's River, Florida. Millim. lOOths 14 18 Hi 52 21 34 ,V 26 12 5 33 20 .V 12' lO.V 9i 14.V 18" lO.V 52.V n" 34 25 12 ' Broke' 36 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Table of Measurements — Continued. Current number of specimen Locality I I West Floiida. Anal : Distance from snout Length of base Origin of anal to origin of dorsal Length of longest ray Length of last ray Caudal: Length of middle rays Length of external rays, superior inferior Pectoral : Distance frcm snout Distance of tip from snout Length Length of longest axillary appendage Ventral: Distance from snout Length Origin of ventral to end of dorsal Dorsal rays Anal rays Millim. lOOths, 17,927. 19,040. Saint John's Saint John's River, Florida, liiver, Florid.i. Millim. lOOlhs. Millim. ' lOOtbs. 68 16 38 6i 5 5 21 23 31.V ■I'.l 19 12 49 9 33i 18 or 19 21 1(5 32.^ 6 6i 5,V 20' 2-1 32 50 18 Current number of specimen. Locality Extreme length Body: Greatest height Least height of tail Length of caudal peduncle Head : Greatest length Distance from snout to na])0 Greatest width Width of interorbital area Length of snout from perp. from centre of orbit. Length of operculum Length of luaxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit Dorsal : Distance from snout Length of base Origin of pectoral to origin of dor.sal End of dorsal to end of anal Length of longest ray Length of last ray Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Origin of anal to origin of dorsal Length of longest ray Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays .'.. Length of e xterual ray.s, superior interior Pectoral : Distance from snout Distance of tip from snout Length Length of longest axillary appendage Ventral : Distance from snout Length Origin of ventral to end of dorsal Dorsal rays Anal rays 10,044. Saint John's River, Fla. Millim. lOOths. 18,049 a. \ 19,408. Virgin i;i. Saint John's IMver, ria. Millim. lOOths. Millim. lOOths, 10 10 13 IG.i 11 49 17 35 29 12i G.V 32 9 32J 20i 12 14 1- 11 51 18. V 34' 2:3 11 14 V 33" i PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 37 Table of Meastirements — Continued. Current number of specimen. Locality 14,846 a. Noank, Conn. 14,846 b. Noanli, Conn. Var. axirea. M. C. Z. Rio Janeiro. MiUim. lOOths, Extreme length Body: Greatest lieiglit Head: Greatest length Distance from snout to nape Length of snout liom peip. from centre of oibit. Length of operculum Length Oi" maxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit Dorsal : Distance from snout Length of base Origin of pectoral to origin of dorsal. End of dor.sal to end of anal Length of longest ray I^ength of last ray Anal : Di.stance from snout Length of base Origin of anal to origin of dorsal. . Length of longest ray Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays Length of external lays, superior, inferior . Pectoral : Distance from snout Distance of tip from snout Length V.ntral: Distance from snout Length Origin of ventral to end of dorsal . Dorsal rays Anal rays Millim. lOOths 29 20 10 9J 13" 14A 10' 49 19 35 25 10 6 74 15 36J 4i 4' Millim. lOOtb.s, 6 721 16" I 37 1 5 ii. 5i 16 20J 28 43 15 50 7 36 IL17 19 Current number of specimen Var. aurea. M. C. Z. a. Sambaia, Thayer Exp. "Var. aurea. M. C. Z. h. Sambaia, Thayer Exp. Aver- age of Millim. lOOths. Millim. lOOths. lOOtha. 164 154 Body: Greate.st height 37 28 19 9 13 13 49 12 5 75 6 4 6 25 29 44 16 53 7 34 29 22 10 14 17 48 10 5 73 5 3 5 23 30 47 16 52 7 35 Head : Greatest length" 28 21 Length of snout from perp. from centre of orbit. 9§- 13 15% Dorsal : 49J- 10» 4} Anal: 731 5j 3i Caudal : Length of middle ravs 5J Length of external rays, superior 23i Pectoral : * 29 Distance of tip from snout :::::::::: 44i Length "ii'.vi" 20 15J Tentral : Distance from snout 51* Length 7i 11.17 22 Anal rays 38 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Btevoortia pectinata, (Jenyns) Gill. Diagnosis. — Proportions of head and jaws as in B, tyrannus. Height of body almost three-eighths of total length, and greater proportionally than in B. tyrannus. Fins nearly as in B. tyrannus, but uniformly aver- aging slightly more; the height of the dorsal somewhat less than three- twentieths of total length ; that of the anal equal to or slightly less than half the length of the maxillary. The caudal fin is somewhat longer and more furcate, the length of the external rays never being less than five-sixths of the length of the head, while that of the medial rays remains proportionally the same as in the species first described. Inser- tion of ventral somewhat behind tip of pectoral, this tin and the dorsal being uuiformly somewhat farther back than in B. tyrannus ; the inser- tion of the latter from one to four one-hundredths posterior to a point equidistant from the snout and the base of the median caudal rays, and, as in B. tyrannus, behind the vertical from the insertion of the ventrals. Scales very large, considerably serrated, and arranged regularly in 18 to 20 transverse and 50 longitudinal rows. Scales forming sheath at base of pectoral not large. Operculum smooth, or with inconspicuous and few striations. Squamation upou lobes of caudal extensive and conspicuous. Variations. — The variations in the individual specimens studied are not of great importance, and are indicated in the table of measure- ments. Table of Measurements. Current number of specimen. Locality Extreme length Body : Greatest height Head: Greatest length Distance from snout to nape Length of maxillary Length of mandible Dorsal : Distance from snout Length of longest ray Length of last ray Anal : Distance from snout Length cf longest ray Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays Length of external rays, superior inferior . Pectoral : Distance from snout Distance of tip from snout Length Ventral; Distance from snont Length Dorsal rays Anal rays Number of scales in lateral line Nunibei' ol l):,n>i verse rows 1709. Paraguay. Millim. lOOths, II. 17 I. 21 abt. 50 abt. 20 36 33 21 14i 18" 54 m 6" 70J 7 6 6i 24 + 26 32 .iO 18 9i M. C. Z. a. Rio Grande. Millim. lOOths IL 17 I. 20 4a 20 30 21 13 16 53 12 6 70 6 4 6 25 27 29 47 17 48 8 M. C. Z. b. Eio Grande. Aver- age. Millim. IL 17 I. 20 49 20 lOOths. lOOths. 31 •21 14 17 1-2 30^ 48 nf 49.i 8J PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 39 Brevoortia patronus, sp. noc, Goode. Diagnosis. — Head larger than ia the other American forms, its length usually more than one-third that of the body, the maxillary about three- twentieths of the length of the body. Height of body always more than three-eighths of its total length, its anterior inferior profile cultrate, con- vex, giving an obtusely rounded profile to the subpectoral outline, and throwing the snout above the median horizontal axis of the body. Fins long and powerful} the height of the dorsal usually equal to the length of the maxillary, and about three-tenths of total length of body ; that of the anal equal to or greater than half the length of the maxillary : that of the ventral one-tenth of body-length ; length of middle caudal rays always more than one-fifth and often more than one-fourth the length of the head, that of the exterior rays almost equal in length to the head and rarely less than five-sixths of its length. Insertion of the ventral under or slightly posterior to the tip of the pectoral. Insertion of dorsal always posterior to a point ou the dorsal outline, equidistant from the snout and the base of the medial caudal rays (sometimes as much as seven onehundredths of total length), and always in advance of the vertical from the insertion of the ventrals. Scales of medium size, with entire, tluted margins, arranged regularly (in young) in 24 to 25 transvere and 50 to 70 longitudinal rows. Scales forming sheath at base of pectoral very large, round. Squamutioa of caudal lobes inconspicuous. Axillary a])pendages large. Operculum smooth or very delicately striated. Scapular blotch inconspicuous. The variations of individuals are sufficiently indicated in the subjoined table of measurements. The most characteristic specimens occur at Brazos Santiago, Tex., and the more northern specimens show a tendency to shortening up of the head, jaws, and fins. Description.* — The body is much compressed, especially below and in advance of the pectorals ; the contour of the belly between the ventrals and the gill-opening is cultrate, projecting, obtusely rounded. The height of the body equals two-fifths of its length, and the least height of the body at the tail is one-fourth of its greatest height in front of the pectorals. The length of the caudal i^eduncle, from the end of the anal to the base of the exterior lobes of the caudal, is one-fifth of the height of the body, and one-twelfth (0.08) of its length. The head is elongated and large, triangular; its length is more than one-third (0.35 and 0.34) that of the body, and its height at the nape is slightly more than its length. The length of the skull, as indicated by the distance from snout to nape, is about one-fourth (0.24 and 0.24.]) of the length of the body, and the greatest width of the head (0.13) slightly ex- ceeds the half of this. The width of the interorbital is about equal to the diameter of the orbit, and slightly more than one-fourth the length of the head. The maxillary reaches to the vertical from the posterior margin *To avoid coufusion, this is drawn up from tlie HrazosSantiajjjo specimeus, which are most characteristically developed. 40 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. of the pupil; tbe inaudible nearly to the vertical from the posterior mar- gin of the orbit. The length of the maxillary is about equal to that of the longest ray of the dorsal tin (0.15 to O.IG), that of the mandible (0.19) half the distance from the origin of the anal to the origin of the dorsal (0.38) or to the length of the base of the anal (0.18). The distance from the tip of the snout to the centre of the orbit (0.13 to 0.13f ) equals the greatest width of the head. The length of the operculum is equal to that of the eye : the o[)ercular striations are fine, but distinct and numerous. The dorsal tin is inserted posteriorly to a point equidistant from the snout and the base of the caudal and in advance of the verti- cal from the insertion of the veutrals. Its length of base (0.20 to 0.21i] is double that of the operculum. Its greatest height is nearly half the length of the head. It is composed of 19 rays, of which the third is the longest. Its upper edge is slightly emarginated. The height of the last ray ^0.10) is equal to half the length of the base. The distance of the anal from the snout is slightly less than three- fourths of the length of the body (0.70-0.72), its length of base (0.18- 0.18_1) one-fourth of this distance. The distance from the origin of the ])ectoral to the origin of the dorsal (0.37-0.37i) is about equal to that from the origin of the anal to that of the dorsal (0.38). Its height (.09-.09i) is about half its length of base, its least height (at last ray) one- third of the same (.OG-.Oo^l). The tin is composed of 22 rays, its edges slightly emarginated. The caudal tin is much forked and elongate, the middle caudal rays (0.08) half the length of the maxillary, the exterior rays above (0.31-0.32) twice that length, the lower exterior rays (0.35-0.34) nearly equal to twice the length of the mandible. The pectoral tin is strong, falcate, inserted under the angle of the subopercnlum, at a distance from the snout (0.35-0.34) about midway to tbe insertion of the anal. Its tip extends beyond the insertion of the veutrals, its length (0.22) being nearly two-thirds that of the head. The axillary api)endages are half as long as the tin, or more. Tiie distance of the ventral from the snout (0.54-0.55) is about the same as that of the dorsal, though by the contour of the body it is thrown slightly behind the point of dorsal origin. Its length (0.10) is equal to that of the last ray of the dorsal. The scales are quite regularly arranged in about 24 to 25 horizontal and 50 vertical rows. Their free portion is narrow and high. They are entire at the edges, and lluted or crenulated. There are two rows of differentiated scales upon each side of the dorsal line, but they are scarcely pectinated. The scales forming the sheath at the base of the pectoral are large and round. Color. — Silvery, with a brassy sheen upon the sides and greenish gray upon the back. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Tahle of Measurements. 41 Current nuiul)er of specimen. Locality Extreme length Body : Greatest lieight Least iieight of tail Leniith of caudal ix-duuele. ... Head : Greatest length Distance from .snout to nape llreatest width I>enf:th of snout from )>eri>. from centre of orbit . . . . - Length of optrcuhim Length of maxillary Length of maudtble Distance from snout to centre of orbit Dorsal : Distance from snou t Length of base t)rigin of pectoral to origin of dorsal End of dor.sal to end of anal Length of longest ray T^ength of last ray Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Origin of anal to origin of dorsal Length of longest ray Length of last ray Caudal: Length of middle rays Length of external rays, superior, inferior . Pectoral : Distance from snout Distance of tip from snout Length Length of longest axillary ap- pendage .' Ventral : Distance from snout Length Origin of ventral to end of dorsal Dorsal rays Anal rays Number of .scales in lateral line Brazos Santiago Texas. Millim. lOOths. 19 22 47 to 50 40i U" 8 :}.■) \:i 1-2 10 16 13 13J r.3 21i 37 25 15 10 892 b. 891 rt. Brazos Santiago, I Mouth of Hio Mouth of llio Texas. ! Grande. : (Irande. Millim. lOOths. Millim lOOths. ! Millim. ICOths, 19 22 47 to 50 40.1 10 8 :!4 24 i:{ 11.V ij LJJ 18.!; 18 22 abt. 6f 12 11 Ki 19 51 17 37 2(3 l^i 70A 19" 36 331 .")3 abt. 65 414 11 :t.i 11 11 12 I'U 13 52 19 39 28 17 9 09 20 39 25H- 27 -i- 32 52 20 51 3.") 42 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Table of Meastirementu — Continued. Current number of specimen. Locality Extreme length IJody : Greatest height Head: ( Iieatest length Distance from snout to nape Length of snout from perp. from cent re of oibit Length of operculum Length of maxilhiry Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit Dorsal : Distance from snout Length of base Origin of pectoral to origin of dorsal End of dorsal to end of anal Length of longest ray Length of last ray Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Origin of anal to origin of dorsal Length of longest ray Length of last ray Caudail : Length of middle rays Length of external rays, superior inferior . Pectoral : Distance from snout Distance of tip from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Length Origin of ventral to end of dorsal . Dorsal rays Anal rays iv'imiber of scales in lateral line Mouth of llio Grande. 5,864 a. 5,864 b. Millim. lOOths. , Millim.i lOOths. Millim. lOOths, 18 '21 65 or more. 40 30 22h Hi 10 14 m 86 19 I 37 impt. 7 i impf. 5 ' 7 ■27 30 ■Xi 48 18 53 It 3-2 30 iil.V 10 10 13i 10 abt. 70 18 £0 abt. 55 57 ISi 33 20 li 5i 70 17 36 4 G '•25" 5864 c. Millim. lOOths. 19 21 abt. 55 3S\ 33 24 11 10 Uh 17. i 70 i ly 37 UESC'BIPTIO.X OF t; AUI..OIiATIIjUS ITIIC'ROPS, A IVEAV !«iPECIE!il OF FI8II FROiTl THE OeJI..F C'OA.ST OF FJ.OKIDA. By C. BROW^ CiOODE and TARLETO.lf II. BEAIV. The Smitbsonian Institution has received from Mr. Silas Stearns, of the Pensacola Ice Company, Pensacola, Fla., a fish new to the fauna of the United States, and believed to be new to science. This fish was taken March 18, 1878, on the Snapper Bank, off Pensacola, in 3.1 fathoms of water. It was packed iu ice, and arrived in good condition, March L*2, at the National iMnseum, where it was cast in plaster, and sketched by Mr. Shindler. It is now a fine alcoholic specimen, No. Ii0,971 of the Fish Catalogue. Caulolatilus mlcrops is related to the Brazilian form Canlolatilufi chrysops (Cuvier and Valenciennes) Gill, and the Cuban form Caulolatilus cyanops Poey, described in 1867.* Of the former, two specimens only " IJepertorio Fisico-Nattirtil de la Isla de Cubit, i, \k 'M'2. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 43 are recorded : one, tbe type of the original description, one foot long, collected on the coast of Brazil by M. Gay, and probably now iu the Museum iu Paris; a second iu the British Museum, a stufled specimeu, purporting to have beeu collected in the West Indies. Of Poey's G. cyanops the National Museum possesses a tine specimeu (Cat. No. 4750), 15 inches long, collected and presented by Professor Poey. The Peusacola specimen, now under consideration, is two feet and three inches long, weighing nine pounds and one-quarter. Its color has faded, but a yellow blotch is still visible under the eye, similar to that mentioned iu C. chrysops. A dark blotch is visible in and above the axilla of the pectoral. The following diagnosis is believed to characterize the peculiarities of the new form. It is accompanied by a table showing the detailed measurements of C. cyanops and C. microps^ and another showing the relations of C. chrysops as far as they can be gleaned from the published descriptions. Caulclatilus microps, i^jk nor., Goode and Bean. Diagnosis. — Height of body contained slightly more than three anJ one-half times iu its leugth, its width seveu times, the species being higher and more robust than C chrysops and C. cyanops. Leugth of head equal to height of body, being in same proportion to total length as iu C. cyanops (though less in proportion to height of body), and longer pro- l^ertioually than in C. chrysops. Width of interorbital area equal to half the leugth of snout, instead of four-tifths, as iu 6'. cyanops. Leugth of snout greater than that of maxillary. Diameter of eye contained six times in leugth of head, instead of four times, as iu C. chrysops, and three and three-fourths times, as in C. cyanops. Nostrils midway from eye tc* snout, and separated by a distance equal to diameter of eye. Deutitiou much as in C. cyanops. Fins all shorter than iu ('. cyanops, the anal and soft dorsal two-thirds as high. Caudal fin slightly emarginate. Pectoral not extending to first ray of anal, as in the other species, less than one-fourth of total leugth. Scales in lateral line 120, in transverse line 48, being smaller and more numerous than in C. cyanops. Radial Formula. — D. VII, 25 ; A. I, 23 ; C. 17 ; P. I, IG ; ^'. I, 5, instead of D. VII, 24 ; A. I, 22 ; C. VJ ; P. 1, 15 ; V. I, 5, as in C. cyanops, or D, VIII, 24; A. II, 22; C. 17; P. 17 ; V. I, 5, as in C. chrysops. 44 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Tahlc of Measurements. Current iiuiubor of speciiHeii. Locality CaulolatUus microps, 20,971. Pensacola, Fla. Millim. lOOths. CaulolatUus cyanopn 4,750. Cuba. Millim. lOOtha. Extreme length Length to end of middle caudal rajs Uody : Greatest height Greatest width Height at ventrals Least height of tail Length of caudal peduncle Head : ( heatest length 1 distance from snout to nape Greatest width Width of interorbital area Length of snout Length of maxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to ceutre of orbit . Diameter of orbit Dorsal (spinous) : Distance from snout Length ol' base Greatest height Length of lirst spine Length of seconE. A specimeu of llippocampn.s, measuring about five inclies, was pro- cured by the Uuited States Fish Commission from a mackerel schooner, which had captured it, in company with a school of mackerel, on Saint George's Banks, in August, 1873. It was kept alive for some days, and an interesting fact was observed witl) regard to its habits, its tail appa- rently not being used for prehension. This specimen agrees very closely with H. antiquorwn as described by G linther, and is provisionally referred to that species; it does not agree with the description and figure of H. hudsonius, DeKay, a species which has never been accurately defined, and which may prove identical with H. giittulatusj Cuv. II. antiquonim is, then, an addition to the fauna of L^asteni North America. The geographical range of the species is very wide ; it has been recorded from the English coast, the Mediterranean nt Malta and other points, Fernando Po, Japan, and Australia. Several specimens were collected in Bermuda in 1872 and 1877 in company with R. (juUulatus. A specimen received by Storer from Holmes'S Hole was, in his first report, referred to H. hrevirostris, Cuv., which is synonymous, according to Giinther, with If. antiquorum. Storer afterward adopted the name proposed by BeKay, but his description and figure refer to a form more nearly resembling that now under consideration. The following notes were taken from the fresh specimen, the colo;-5 while it was living : — No. 21044, U. S. Nat. Mus. Cat. Fish. 46 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Body rinj?s, 1 + 10. Caudal rings, 37. Tubercles of body and tail oloDgated, slightly recurved, usually prolonged into slender filaments; those on the 2d, 4th, and Gth body rings much larger than the others; tubercles prominent and filamentose upon the 4th, Gth, 9th, 12th, IGth, nud 20th caudal rings. Ventral tubercles upon Gth, 7th, 8th, and 9th body rings. Occipital crest very high, with live prominent tubercles, the anterior two with long filaments. Length of snout equal to dis- tance from posterior margin of orbit to gill-opening. Operculum marked with fine, radiating strine. Radial formula. — D. 19 (the first imperfect). P. 18. V. 4. Color. — Yellowish-brown; the eyes and cheeks covered with radiating, wavy lines of light brown. Snout encircled by a narrow, undulating, white band near its middle. The Commission has an accurate sketch by Mr. Emertou. April 30, 1878. »ESCKIB>TIO.>'.«( OF NEU' SPECIE!^ OF MHEI.I.S FROITI €Ar.IFORNIA i.\ Tin; c oi.i-iErTio:v.s of the natsoivai. miseijiII. By W. II. OALL. Haliotis (.'var.) assimilis, u. s. Shell solid, strong, not very thick, with a rather light piuk, white and greenish nacre, usually with five open holes ; spire more elevated than that of any other Californiau species, consisting of two and a half or three whorls; aperture very oblique in adult specimens, the thickened margin of the columella narrow, somewhat concave, inclined sharply inward and upward, about three-fourths as long as the columellar side, of the aperture. Between the row of openings and the columellar edge, the space is unusually broad, marked midway by an obtuse carina, sep- arated from the row of holes by a shallow channel; surface reddish or dull greenish, with rather rough, crowded, unequal, spiral ribs and rounded, irregular, wavy, radiating undulations crossing the spiral sculpture obliquely. The muscular impression, in most specimens, is but lightly marked, and, except for occasional spot-like impressions, is smoothly nacreous, like the rest of the interior. Lon. 4.5 in. Lat. 3.0 in. Alt. of spire 1.5 to 2.0 in. Aperture 3 inches wide and 3.75 long, in an adult specimen. Hah i tat— Monterey ; S3H Diego, Ciil.; in deep water only; thrown up by heavy storms, usually dead and worn when found and everywhere rare. Mus. Cat. 31267. This species, or variety, has long been knowu to me and to most Californiau collections, but has not hitherto been characterized, owing fo the dead condition of most of the specimens found. Mr. Hemphill having forwarded two fresh specimens, it seems well to put it on record. The form is different from any other Californiau species; the spiral PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 47 sculpture is that of II. rv/cscens ; the radiating sculpture, except that it is not sharp or imbricated, recalls IL corrugatus, and the nacre is similar but less bright. These characters suggest the possibility of its being a hybrid between II. corriigatus and riifescens; but if this be the case, why should it not have a similar habitat? Those two species are litto- ral, but this is exclusively deep-water. I have received it from Dr. Oanfield, Mrs. Capt. Lambert, and others, in past years, and have exam- ined some twenty specimens of all ages. Acmasa (scabra var. ?) Morchii, n. s. Shell conical, much elevated, with a sub-central recurved apex resem- bling that of Helcion pectinatus covered with close-set, rough, imbricated ribs and riblets, the coarse, imbricated, sharp lines of growth forming with the other sculpture a close reticulation in some specimens. Interior with a brown-mottled spectrum and margin, otherwise white; exterior dull grayish or greenish speckled. The imbrications on the principal ribs very strong, in some specimens forming small spines concave beneath. Lat. IG""". Lou. 20""". Alt. 10™'". Tomales Bay, California, Ilemphill, 16 specimens. Mus. Cat. 31268. This very peculiar form has the sculpture of A. scabra., but much exaggerated, and very nearly the profile of Helcion pectbiatus. The recurved apex recalls that of A. persona. It would not be referred to any described Californian species if its characters, as they appear, were the only test. But it is almost certain that all the species of Limpets and Siphonaria', which have this peculiar elevated shape, acquire it from a particular habitat which they seem to prefer. This may be the stem of a large Fucus, a shell, round pebble, or what not, as in the case of those species of Acmaa usually (but wrongly) termed Nacella by Californian conchologists: Acnucaosmi ; Liriola sithspiralis ; etc. They all have a flattened or normal variety, though this is often very rare. Hence I consider the elevated form and pointed apex as probably due to a peculiar habitat, as in the other cases ; a view which is borne out by a peculiar arcuation of the margin in most of the specimens, as if the creature had lived on a round shell or pebble. Eliminating the elevation as a permanent character, the shell, appa- rently very limited in its distribution, might well be a hybrid between .1. scabra and A. persona. Whether this be the case or not, it is a very remarkable form, and well deserves a name, even if only of varietal value. We owe its discovery to Mr. Hemphill's industry and eminent abilities as a collector. Afril 30, 1878. 48 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. C ATAIOWUE OF THE BIRD!^ OF l>OWI."VIC'A FRO.U l'OLI.ECTIO>Sl .HADE FOK THE SMITIISOIVIAX I.XSTITITION BV FREDEKICfi A. OltEK. TO«-ETIIEK AVITII HIS ^fOTES AIV» OBSERVATIONS. By GEORGE N. EA^VREIVCE. In the Aunals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 1, p. 40, I called attention to the explorations in the Lesser Antilles that were being made by Mr. F. A. Ober, giving an account of bis progress up to that time in the island of Dominica, and stating that when his final collection from there was received, a catalogue of the birds obtained and noticed by him would be published. When his last collection came to hand, it was found that the publica- tion of the promised catalogue would be delayed ; it was therefore deemed best to give a provisional list cf the species iu Forest and Stream ; this appeared in the issue of December G, 1877. On his second visit to Dominica, Mr. Ober had an attack of fever, which debarred him from concluding his explorations satisfactorily. Several species that were seen by him, but not procured, he was able to identify. A few other birds were heard of, but the descriptions given of them were insutticient for their identilication ; these being undoubted inhabitants of the island are included in the catalogue, with such infor- mation as he could obtain concerning them. Some of these species Mr. Ober hopes to have procured for him by residents, who promised to make efiforts to do so. Mr. Ober is entitled to much credit for his industry and perseverance thus far, and his notes testify that his heart is iu the enterprise. Besides birds, he has sent valuable collections in other branches of science. I have received fi'om him, by way of introduction to this catalogue, the following interesting account of the physical features of Dominica, with incidents of his movements, localities where birds were procured, etc. All of his communications and notes are designated by (juotation- marks. The arrangement of this catalogue is the same as that of the Xomen- clator Avium Neotropicalium, by Messrs. Sclater and Salviu. "The island of Dominica is 25 miles in length by 10 in breadth. It is mountainous in character, consisting of a central ridge running north and south, from which chain project hills and spurs east and west ; thus the entire island is but a succession of hills and valleys, the latter ever narrowing into ravines and gorges, from which pour foaming streams and torrents. "The coast-line is for the greater part bold and precipitous, some of the hills slope gently to the sea, and some of the valleys open upon spacious bays, which, though not deep, atford good anchorage on the Caribbean side for small craft. From the volcanic nature of this island^ PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 49 being thrust up from the great ocean bed, the water all around it is of great depth, and vessels anchoring off'Eoseau, the principal town, often run out sixty fathoms of chain before bringing up. "Thus when I speak of the small depth of the bays, I mean the small indentations they make in the general line of the shore. The valleys and low hills of the Caribbean shore are tolerably well culti- vated, principally in sugar-cane; the provision ground of the negroes reaching often to high hill-tops. "On the east or Atlantic side, called the ' windward ' side of the island (from the fact that the prevailing wind here is the northeast trade), are a few fine, though isolated, sugar estates, situated where deep bays give opportunity for boats to laud. The nature of the east side of the island is more rocky, and the seas more boisterous than the west or Caribbean slope. The almost unceasing trade-wind keeps the Atlantic in a tumult, in striking contrast to the calms of the Caribbean waters. "As this island is about midway the group known as the Lesser An- tilles, being in lat. loo 20' — 15° 45'; long. 61° 13' — 01° 30', it possesses much in its fauna that will prove of interest ; and doubtless some spe- cies will be found to inhabit it that exist neither north nor south of it; some that are found north but not south, and vice versa. Possessing as it does the highest mountain peak in any island south of Jamaica, and a range of mountains and hills of 2,000 to 3,000 feet in height, the essential character of the fauna is mountainous. In fact, along the coast and in the low valleys, very few birds are obtained more than the ordinary sparrows, hummingbirds, etc. Though not rich in either numbers or species, Dominica contains its best birds in high mountain valleys. Each kind has its characteristic haunt and breeding place, as will be described hereafter, and the majority of them are in the mount- ains and mountain valleys. " My first collecting ground was at Landat (see Forest and Stream), a mountain vale 1,500 feet above the Caribbean Sea, at the head of the Roseau Valley, which latter made up into the mountains from the sea for nearly five miles. The average temperature of this region was ten degrees lower than at Roseau, 1,500 feet below ; at night a blanket (sometimes two) was necessary. I collected here for a month — the month of March — during which period I visited the famous Boiling Lake, a chain of lakes on the mountains, the near mountain peaks, and thor- oughly explored every accessible ravine and valley within a day's walk. "After shipping my collections to the Smithsonian, I started for the central 'windward' portion of the island, where reside the last vestiges of the Carib Indians. With them I resided six weeks, in a cabin close by the Atlantic shore. It was while there that I procured the Imperial Parrot, and other birds of less note, by making forced marches into the high mountains. " I should note here that everything I needed had to be transported Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 4 July 31, 1878. 50 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. over tbe rugged mouutain trails, from the town of Eoseau, a journey of a clay and night, upon the heads of men and women. " In May I returned to Koseau. In Juue I passed a week in Landat, finding little difference in the birds, except in the scarcity of the Hum- mingbirds and a few others. I also spent more than a week, in June, at Batalie, a lime plantation midway the west coast, where I found a few birds which I had seen in the mountains more abundant, and one species — the Tropic Bird — breeding in the clifis. " During May and June 1 was exhausted by a low type of fever, the result of exposure, which greatly retarded my efforts to secure greater numbers of birds. From subsequent observation, however, and enquiry, I am certain that nearly all the resident species have been obtained. The very few not procured will be noticed further on. '• On the 15th September I returned to Dominica, after a visit to some of the northern islands. Making my way at once to the mountains, I had opportunity to note the changes that the seasons would make in the time which had elapsed since my first visit. The Hummingbirds were in great abundance, the 'Mountain Whistler' nearly silent, and perdu; the Flycatchers same as usual ; Wrens about the same, but more in the deep woods; sparrows, finches, etc., in customary abundance; the 'game birds' — 'Perdix', 'Kamier',and 'Tourterelles' — in abundance. " During this visit I succeeded in procuring the only species of Owl known in Dominica. The first was a female, September 18, sitting upon its nest, which contained three eggs freshly laid. The following day brought in the male ; this was the only find of value. " Strange to say, my old enemy, fever, visited me again, the first night I spent in the mountains; though I had been exempt from it for two months, and my last visit there had aided in its cure. This discouraging welcome to Dominica (I do not, though, attribute it solely to the climate) prevented me from going out on a projected trip to the mountains beyond for the Parrot ; I sent my men but they failed to get the bird. "The migratory species had arrived in small numbers— Golden Plover, Sandpiper, etc. — and the water of Eoseau Bay was black in places with large flocks of the 'twa-oo', a species of tern. These birds only come before a gale and are harbingers of a storm. September being a hurri- cane month, very few sailing craft of any kind were about; being, especially in the French islands, hauled up, to remain so through October. " Much to my regret, I was unable to procure the Parrot, but little larger than our Carolina Parrot, and the ' Diablotin'. The latter was, twenty years ago, in great abundance, breeding in the mountains ; but of late years it has become so scarce as to appear almost mythical. Its disappearance is attributed to the depredations of the 'Manacon', a worthless marsupial animal, introduced into Dominica years ago. Al- though the Diablotin is, probably, identical with the Petrel found in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica (the Prion CarVohcva^ as suggested by PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 51 Prof. Baird),- yet it would be very interesting to know exactly what it is. If it is possibly remaining, I have hopes of securing it, as my friend H. A. Alford Xicholls, M. D., of Eoseau, has offered a large reward for it; if obtained, to be sent to the Smithsonian. "Having been in the island during the breeding season, I procured many nests and eggs, which are, probably, little known. Nests and eggs of three species of Hummingbirds, the 'Perdix', Owl, and many smaller birds, were received. " There are few sea-birds resident here, or even visitors for the pur- pose of incubation, owing to the precipitous character of the coast, and the absence of small islands or detached rocky islets. " From Dominica I sailed south to St. Vincent, where I remain at this present writing (October). " Trusting you will make allowance for the many imperfections in this (necessarily) hasty sketch ; and hoping to give you full and perfect descriptions when I have leisure to elaborate my notes, " I remain, faithfully yours, "FEEDEEICK A. OBER. " It would be wrong in me to conclude without acknowledging the obligations I am under to a few gentlemen of Dominica. "To the President of the island, C. M. Eldridge, Esq.. for kindly let- ters of introduction to other islands ; for much proffered aid and a great deal of information. " To Dr. Imray, the oldest medical man in the island, one who has done much to develope the natural resources of Dominica; a botanist of repute, especially an authority on Tropical plants, to him I am in- debted for many favors. Free access to a large and well-selected library was one of the many delights his generous nature afforded me. " To the Hon. William Stedman, for many and delicate acts of kind- ness. " To Dr. H. A. Alford Nicholls, for numerous favors. I never can repaj' the debt I owe these two gentlemen, for the many and continued attentions during my stay. At the time when I was sick with fever, it was to the attentions of the one and the skilful medical attendance of the other, that my rapid recovery was due. The period of convales- cence, passed principally in their society, will continue a very jileasant remembrance. " The information possessed by Dr. Nicholls upon wood and mountain life was freely placed at my disposal, and it was owing chiefly to his suggestions, that my collecting grounds were so judiciously chosen as to comprise within their areas the characteristic birds of the island. Upon botany and ethnology the doctor is well informed, and his collec- tions and herbarium promise to become very valuable. " These remarks will perhaps account for my protracted stay in the island, and for a lingering regret at leaving it." 52 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Fam. TUEDID^. 1. Margarops herminieri (Lafr.).— Local name, "Morer". " This curious bird inhabits the high woods; especially does it delight in the comparatively open places beneath the towering gomier trees, where perhaps a narrow trail has left the ground bare of leaves. There you will find where it has been scratching with its strong feet. It is very shy, and being very good as food it is sought by the mountaineers, who call it to them by imitating its cry of distress. " Iris tea-color. Not abundant. "Length, ^, 9in. ; alar extent, 15; wing, 5; tail, 3y Of this fine species there are five males in the collection, but no females, and Mr. Ober makes no allusion to their plumage. It has not before been recorded from Dominica. 2. Margarops densirostris (Vieill.)-— Local name, "Gros Grive". " These birds are much esteemed for their flesh, and are hunted with- out mercy, when the law allows. They are thus made very shy; at St. Marie, however, in the Indian section of Dominica, where they are not shot, they are very tame, and frequent the mango and bread- fruit trees about the habitations of the people. They lay in April and May. " Iris very pale straw color ; bill horn color. "Length, io. Gill, including only Icennerlyi. O.liennerhji is very much smaller than the other species, and is much more compressed and of a different form. Its. form seems to me, however, rather an exag- geration of that of 0. quinnat than a distinct type, and the resemblance is almost as great between quinnat and Jcenneriyi as between quinnat and gorbuscha. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 71 The species of Oncorhynchus at present admitted by Dr. Gill and myself may be briefly compared as follows : — a. Body more elongate, heavier forward and less compressed than iu the next; jaws in the adult males very unequal ; the lower jaw prolonged and hooked upwards ; the upper jaw still more elongate and curled over the tip of the lower, the profile of the forehead being concave when viewed from the side; teeth of the premaxillaries and of the tip of the lower jaw greatly enlarged and hooked (Subgenus Oncoi-hynchus.) b. Scales very small, in more than 200 transverse rows ; smaller on caudal peduncle than on flanks ; form much distorted in the adult males, the fleshy hump at the shoulders being greatly developed, and the caudal peduncle slender and rather elongate ; the jaws greatly prolonged and curved ; size small. (Pacific coast and streams, Washington to Kamtschatka.) corbuscha.* hi). Scales medium, in about 170 (155 to 180) transverse rows; form distorted, but less so than in the i^receding, the fleshy hump considerably developed in the males, and the jaws greatly elongated and hooked; branchiostegals about 16. (Pacific coast and streams, Oregon to Kamtschatka.) KEXA.t bhb. Scales large for the genus, iu about 133 transverse rows, c. Form elongate, not greatly compressed, the greatest depth in advance of the middle of the body ; the males with the caudal peduncle rather slender, and with a well-marked fleshy hump, and with the jaws much elongated and dis- torted ; caudal fin feebly forked ; branchiostegals about 13. (Pacific coast and streams, California to Kamtschatka.) nerka.j: cc. Body elongate, compressed, the greatest depth (in female and immature speci- mens at least) being just under the dorsal fin; depth of body one-fourth of length, or a little more ; head moderate, rather bluntly pointed ; less distorted in male specimens than in the preceding species; maxillary shortish, curved, reaching somewhat beyond eye; caudal fin more or less forked ; branchioste- gals 15 or 16. (Coast and streams, California to Alaska.) quinnat. aa. Body oblong, very strongly compressed, the dorsal region much elevated ; a nearly even slope from the snout to the base of the dorsal fin ; dorsal fin unusually far back, the first ray being behind the middle of the body ; head long, deep, compressed, but still wide ; mouth extremely large and very oblique ; the jaws about equal in the females ; in the males, the lower jaw protruding beyond the upper, which is curled up like the snout of a snarling dog, showing the enlarged canines, the premaxillaries never hooking over the lower jaw, as is the case with Oncorhynchus proper ; dentition as in typical Oncorhynchus. (Subgenus Hypsifario Gill.) * Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walb.) Gill & Jordan. — Gorbnscha, Pennant, Arctic Zoology. — Salmo goi-buschajWaihaum, Artedi Gen. 1792. — Sahno gibber, Bloch, Schneider, Ichthyologia, 1801. — Salmo proteus, Pallas, Zool. Rosso-Asiatica, 1811. — Salmo gibber, Suckley, 1861. — Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 2d, 1878. t Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum) G. & J. — Kefa vel kayko, Pennant, Arctic Zool- ogy. — Salmo keta vel kayko, Walbaum, 1792. — Salmo keta vel kayko, Bloch, Schneider,, 1801. — Salmo lagocephalus, Pallas, 1811. — Hi-l, =- Salmo toma Hamlin, 18G3. i Salveliiius oqaaasa (Girard) Gill & Jordan. — Salmo oqnassa, Girard, 1854. Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 G August 6, 1878. 82 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. aa. Hyoid bone without teeth. c. Body elongate, moderately compressed, not much elevated, the depth .2!> of length : head large and long, notably so in the adult, nearly .30 of length, .22 to .25 in the young ; top of head .14 to .18 of length ; interorbital space broad, .07 to .08^ of length ; snout rather conical and pointed, .09 of length, blunter in the young; mandible .22 of length in adult, .15 in young: eye small, nearly in a line with the axis of the body : scales very small, similar to those in the other species, in about 230 transverse rows : caudal fin little forked ; adipose fin quite small, shorter than the eye ; pectoral and ventrol fius not elongate : red spots about the size of the pupil, confined to the sides of the body, the back being nearly plain. Rivers west of the Sierra Nevada ijairdi.* cc. Body oblong or elongate, moderately compressed, not much elevated, the depth .20 to .30 of leugth : head large, but not very long, its length .21 to ,24 of leugth, the top about .14, the rather broad interorbital space about .07: mouth large, the maxillary reaching more or less beyond the eye, about .10 of length; the mandible about .15: eye large, more or leps above the line of the axis of the body: scales very small, in about 230 transverse rows: caudal fin slightly lunate in the adult, forked in the young; adipose fin small; pectoral and ventral fius not especially elongate : red spots on body chiefly confined to the sides, rather less than the size of the pupil ; the back and vertical fins more or less barred or mottled ; coloration often plain in sea-run individuals. Rivers from Little Tennessee in Georgia to Lake Superior and Hudson's Bay. PONTINALIS.t The original type of 8. spectabiUs and of 8. camphelU, the latter being merely a substitute name, is still preserved in the National Museum. Although badly decayed, its identity with the species here called spec- tabiUs is evident. The types of 8almo parlcei are now lost, but that the species is the same as ;S^. spectabiUs seems unquestionable. The name spectabiUs should now be retained for this fish, as the spectabiUs of "Valenciennes, being a Solar, belongs to a different genus. 6. GILA OREGONENSIS (Richardson) Jordan. .1836 — Cijprinus (Leuciscus) oregonensis Richardsox, Fauna Bor.-Americana, iii, p. 305. Leuciscus oregonensis DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, p. 215, 1842. Leuciscus oregonensis Cuv. & Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, xvii, p. 326, 1844. Leuciscus oregonensis Storek, Synopsis Fishes N. A. p. 412, 1846. Phjchocheilus oregonensis Girakd, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila. p. 209, 1856. Pti/chocheilus oregonensis Giraud, Pac. R. R. Expl. Fishes, p. 298, pi. 64, figs. 5-9, 1858. Leuciscus oregonensis GtJNTHER, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus. vii, p. 239, 1868. Ptychochilus oregonensis Jordan & Copelaxd, Check List of Fishes, p, 151, 1876, Gila oregonensis Jordan, Catalogue Fishes N. A. p. 424, 1878, 1655— Ftychocheilus gracilis Agassiz, Am. Journ. Sci. Arts, xix, p. 229, Specimens from the Clackamas River agree in all essential respects with the descriptions given by Agassiz, Girard, and Giinther. The * Salvelinus iairdi (Suckley) Gill & Jordan.— Salmo bairdii, Suckley, 1861. t Salvelimts fontinalis (Mitchill) Gill & Jordan.— (7?MS, Temm. (see p. 95). Sclater and Salvin (Ex. Orn VII, 1808, it. 102), who have seen Lesson's type, say that it is " proba- bly only a paler form" of S. brasilianus. Another name, usually referred to S'. cassini (see page 102), and were it not that the habitat of Temminck's bird is given, on good authority, as Brazil, I should not hesitate to identify it with the latter form. The writer examined some years ago the type-specimens of EphiaUtes icatsoni, in the museum of the Philadel[)hia Academy, and as he recollects them they correspond quite closely, if not entirely, with the specimen described above. Still, they may be somewhat dif- ferent. The figure given by Cassin in the "Journal " of the Academy (pi. xii, fig. 1) is extremely inaccurate as regards the details of colora- tion ; but it may be observed that the coloring represents almost exactly the peculiar shades which we consider one of the chief characteristics of the present form. The following is the original description of EpMalites watsoni, in full : — " Summit of the head black, with a few very minute pale spots, more numerous on the front and eyebrows. Shorter feathers of the ear-tufts black, others black also, but with their inner webs spotted or mottled with white. A semicircle above the eye, extending to the ear-tufts, PROCEEDINGS OF TJNITED STATES NATIO>IAL MUSEUM. 97 black; rigid feathers at the base of the bill black, with pale grayish terminations; featbers immediately below the eye gray, mottled and broadly tipped with black. '' Discal feathers grayish white, many of them speckled, and all tipped with black, presenting a white and black semi-collar or rufl' on each side of the neck. Plumage of the throat with tine alternate bars of black and nearly white. " Neck above with a well-defined collar, the feathers composing which are strongly fulvous, terminated with white and speckled with black. " Back, rump, tail, and wing-coverts mottled and freckled with gray- ish white, upon a black ground, many of the feathers having about three to five very irregular transverse bands of whitish; on the wing-coverts and back some of the pale marks are almost circular with black centres; others are of irregular form also enclosing centres of black. " External webs of the primaries black, with subquadrate nearly white bars, nearly all of which have black centres, assuming, also, a more or less well defined square form. Internal webs of primaries with alter- nate baiuls of different shades of black. " Breast and entire inferior parts pale fulvous, every feather conspicu- ously marked on the shaft longitudinally^ with black, and with very irregular transverse bands and irregularly mottled with black; the black markings most numerous and most irregular on the breast. Many of the feathers on the breast with very pale, nearly white spots, having somewhat the appearance of being distributed in pairs. "Tail black, with about seven or eight narrow irregular grayish bauds,, many of which have central lines of black. "Tarsi feathered to the toes, pale fulvous white, mottled with black. " Bill horn color at the base, whitish at the tip. "Total length (of skin) about 9^ inches, wing 7, tail 3h inches. "Younger? Plumage above paler, with small spots aud minute freckles of grayish white, scarcely assuming the appearance of bands. " Breast with the dark markings predominating, and tending to form a; broad pectoral band ; lower parts of the body bright fulvous, with black marks. " Ilah. South America. "This species bears some resemblance to EpMalitcs atricapilla, (iSiatt.) Temm. i)l. col. 145, but is much larger, and has only one nuchal collar. The general color above is also much darker; the fulvous colouring of the inferior surface of the body is also a striking difterence. "One specimen of this species in the Rivoli collection is labelled 'Ore- noque', and another in the collection of the Academy is probably from South America." The description given in the Journal of the Philadelphia Academy (vol. ii, p. 95) is essentially the same as the above. Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 7 Awgaast B5, HST8. 98 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. ■y. nsttis. Scops usta, ScL., P. Z. S. March 9,1858, 13'2 (Ega, Upper Jmazons.—Mus. Norwich); Trans. Zool. Soc. Loud. IV, 1859, 265, pi. Ixi.— Gray, Hand-1, 1, 18(39, 47.— Bouc, Cat. Av. 1876, 91.— Scl. & Salv., P. Z. S. 1866, 198 ; Ex. Orn. 102. . Scops brasUianus, subsp. a. Scojfs ustus, Sharpe, Cat. Strig. Brit. Mus. 1875, 111 {Saraijacu and Chamicuros, E. Peru; Venezuela f). Habitat.— Um^er Amazonia (Ega; Scl., I. c; Chamicuros and Sara- yacu, E. rem, and Venezuela? ; Sharpe, I. c). This form I have never seen, and therefore have to give descriptions at second hand. Tlie original one (Sclater, I. c.) is as follows : — " Supra saturate castaneo-brunnea, plumis omnibus nigro subtilissime vermiculatis ; facie et gulapure castaneo-brunneis, hac pallidiore : linea post regionem auricularem,cornuum capitis extantium marginibus latis et pileo supero nigris : alarum pennis pallide castaneo brunneis nigro punctulatis, intus autem ochracenti-albidis, quinque et sex fasciis latis iu pogonio externo, raaculas quadratas efiicientibus, nigris trans-vitta- tus ; Cauda ex eodem colore sed fasciis nigris psene obsoletis : subtus clarius brunnea, lineis augustis longitudinalibus, scapus plumorum occupantibus, nigris parcenotata: tectricibus alarum inferioribus sor- dide albis : tarsis pallide fulvis : rostro et pedibus flavis. " Long, tota 8.5, alee 7.0, caudse 4.0, tarsi 1.2. " Hab. Ega, on the Upper Amazon (H. W. Bates)." Tlie above description, and the plate accompanying it, represent a form of Scops of which I have never seen typical examples. It seems clearly to belong to S. brasiUanus, of which it is probably a peculiar " strain '' — hardly to be called the rufescent extreme (since the latter is to be found in the bright rufous phase of '-' guatemakv''^), but rather showing a very highly-colored condition, in which the rufous tint is spread rather than intensified, so as to more or less completely obliterate the usual white markings. The case seems to be somewhat parallel to that of S. Icnnicotti as compared with 8. asio, and is probably more or less closely connected with climatic peculiarities of the district inhabited by the race ; for instance, an excessive rain fall and a prevalence of denser and darker forests than generally exist to the eastward. According to Mr. Sclater [l. c), this form " is distinguishable from every South American member of the genus by its rich brown coloring above and below, and by the longitudinal lines below not being crossed as in S. choliba and S. atricapiUa.^'' Among the .iumerous specimens of Scops brasiUanus in the series betore me, is one which seems to approach quite nearly to the characters of this race, being devoid of shari)Iy defined black bars below, where, in their place, are extremely irregular ragged zigzags of rusty rufous, the blackish shaft-streaks being unusually broad, and externally suifused with rufous; only the terminal half, or exposed portion, of the abdom- inal feathers is white, the entire breast, tibiir, and tarsus having a uniform deep ochraceous ground-color. Among other differences from PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 99 typical brasiliatms may be mentioned the deep buff or ochraceous outer webs of the scapulars, inner webs of the eartufts, and indeed all the markings of the upper surface, which are white in that form ; these peculiarities being among the distinguishing features of the 'ustiis type. This specimen, however, is from Sta. Catarina, S. E. Brazil. It belongs to the collection of Messrs. Salviu and Godmau. In his description of this form, Mr. Sharpe describes what he terms its "gray phase", but which seems to be decidedly more brown than gray, and, to judge from the description, quite different from anything I have seen. I quote the essential parts of the descriptions of this form given by Mr. Sharpe: — '•''Adult male (gray phasi*)« Grcneral color above dull earthy brown, so finely vermiculated as to appear almost uniform at first glance, a few fulvescent cross markings more conspicuous on the scapulars and secondaries, very slightly indicated on the hind neck, and not forming a distinct collar; crown of head rather blacker than the back, the feathers infinicesimally freckled with sandy rufous, the ear-tufts blackish, scarcely vermiculated at all ; ear-coverts sandy brown, indis- tinctly barred across with blackish brown, and narrowly shaft-streaked with white ; rest of under surface ochraceous buff, thickly sprinkled with wavy lines and vermiculations of dark brown, especially on the side of the chest, some of the breast feathers streaked with black and barred across with white, the flanks scantily barred with dark brown, inclining to white near the tip, the markings scanty, as also on the under tail-coverts Total length 9.5 inches, wing 6.0, tail 3.9, tarsus 1.3. '■^ Adult female (ru*'ous phase). General characteristics as in the gray phase, but rufous where the other bird is brown, and slightly more mottled on the upper surface with rufescent cross bars ; below nearly uniform rufous, deeper on the chest, some of the feathers slightly streaked with black, more narrowly on the breast and abdomen ; on the chest a few dull brown vermiculations, the abdomen indistinctly barred with fulvous. Total length 9 inches, wing 6.55, tail 3.4, tarsus 1.3. " Obs. The principal characteristics of this race are the uniformity of its upper surface, and the comparative absence of streaks ; scapulars fulvescent, not white. These remarks apply both to the brown and rufous phases, neither of which shows any collar on the hind-neck. " Rab. Upper Amazons." 6. guafcmalw. " Scojjs hrasiJianus", Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. IX, 1868, 132 (San Jose, Costa Eica). — Sal- viN, P. Z. S. IdTO, 21G ( Vtragua). Scops brasilianus, subsp. /?. Scops guatimalw, Sharpe, Cat. Strig. Brit. Mus. 1875, 112, pi. ix, both phases (6'!m/e?na/a; A coyapa, Nicaragua ; Costa Bica; Veragua), Scops guatemala;, Bouc, Cat. Av. 1870,91 (Central America). Eemarks. — In Central America, from Veragua to Guatemala, a form prevails which, in the absence of extralimital specimens or of examples 102 PROCEEDIl^S OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSFt^^' ferruginous, with of the other styles, I s' ' iu the middle port^Pecies. This style is ' ^ .....i\^ , ..Ji;. ;.. . ^ are white, with th^I'^ (^- ^•)» ^^ which probuv^.y as many as 90 per ct"' streaks are render^oughtlrom those countries may be referred. It hap- Re'^ardiuo- the '^ ^^^^ absolutely typical specimens of the " hrasili- p 1X4)- ^^ f^'O both these countries, specimens of typical "The rufous ph'pc^r 11 -izil, thus annulling the importance of geo- that I have seen ftions; 'e, as a further proof of specific identity, color with the head'^^ns ' cannot be referred to either one or the to a blackish patch ;^orm^ hich are in every respect intermediate, black, as is also the'- tious of bars." As ^^"^^ "iety are, a confusedly-mottled, '^^ ' sometimes assume t)> lo i§^e, and a darker upper surfac '; ■^ A specimen in tl'? ^^ mess and clearness of all the u '^'' i'^^'Oca* Mus. Salvin 1^*^ form; the bright orange-buff bases of ms described abovO^' ' ^o usual {hut not constant) iu typical spc^-^k shaft-streaks an' '^^> ^^ ^''^o absent in all the specimens I havvjQfi tiiroat, the c(?f 'ty» the individual variations in ''gua- lemahiQ r^jjjj ^he paler ta\ ^tb as to the shades of coloration and the paij-gd \ifith a rufous ^'^ rincipal of these are the following: — Gray -ences are ^^'^ 'ivin & Godman, Coban, "^'"c" ^ i'' Jan. — ^o- pi : -Prt'^ S mg color above pale bro. Jic^ii, .e," coarsely i pale buff and grayish-white, and with larger and very irre s'prts of blackish, these nowhere assuming the form of shaft-str ven on the crown; sides of the forehead or "eyebrows" appreci j,.iUt not abruptly, paler (mottled whitish). Face, throat, sides of fieck, and jugulum dirty whitish, finely and quite regularly undulat'-l transversely with brownish, the dusky facial circle not dis- tinct. BiSt of lower parts soiled white, the whole surface relieved by iiery irregtdar^ ragged, and confused zigzag lines of dusky brownish, the feathers showing very irregular, but quite distinct, mesial, blackish streaks, with which the transverse markings unite. The above description is of a specimen representing the extreme gray- ish phase, so far as shown by the series before me; others, in Messrs. Salvin and Godman's collection, exhibit a gradual transition to the rufous i)hase, sc-arcely two specimens being alike in the precise shade of brown, while positively none agree in the details of pattern. Thus, two males from Yeragua ("Arce, 2401", and "Arce, 1806") have the upper parts so nearly devoid of coarse mottlings as to appear of a nearly uniform light umberbrown. On the other hand, a specimen from Vera Paz ("O. S. 2348") has the general dusky coloring above relieved by very conspicuous, large, and, in places, regularly-oblong, transverse spots of pale fawn-color. In the latter specimen, the white on the outer ■web of the scapulars is broken by transverse wide bars of mottled fawn and dusky, while in nearly all the others this white is unbroken, having only the terminal blackish border common to nearly all the species of the genus. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATION AI typical hrasiliamis may be dii as to the markings c webs of t^'^*^, scapulars, iunei -oiis, and extremely r, IT" equently appearing u ^u confused ; in two sp' one from Choctum, Yera Paz, tbe other from Bahia, ] the transverse markings are much fewer, ivider regular, the average interval being, in the l-^aaer spf .25 of an inch ! pe The most aberrant specimen in the series dtjne fro 1873"), which, however, appears, from th, quitureof a young bird. In this all the markings Arts of ^y fin tions, there being no longitudinal strea or ( ^' ■^'^fr^ the feathers of the breast, ^f^l color al of ( j so fii ..with those of others in the s almost ui / fe iy)ecimen of gray plumage from /conspicuoiMe- f i*xus.; John Xantus), agrees strictlyn the hind CI i- scribed above in the markings of thtther black s- ,'ts are grayer, with conspicuous mesial st,indy rufora' lite form, agreeing exactly in this respect . . ear-cc^e ,>i«s" from Pernambuco, Brazil, in the coUeown, ani ' ,jpara- tive Zoology (Xo. 7805). , surtac< •^, '"'s^ extreme rufous phase is repre; Julatio'i.' , . ^ ) speci- ,u . \±^^ 'juatemala (belonging to... Bot ;,^ Natural History). These are bright brick-rufous above, t) ,./ >s of the scapulars pure white, in strong contrast, and the feat\ieio e pileum with mesial streaks of black, — thus very closely resemb' le corre- sponding phase of 8. asio. The face, throat, and jugulu.u 'so of a paler, but quite uniform, rufous, relieved by few or no marking s of any kind ; the rest of the lower parts are white, the feathers with i distinct mesial streaks of dusky brownish and faint and ragged cro^^ bars of pale rufous. These specimens resemble the extreme rufous phase of ^''hrasilianus^\ as described above, except that there are no distinct blackish streaks on the back, where also the feathers are devoid of the basal fulvous spots, while the bars on the lower surface are much less distinct and regular. Two other specimens of this phase in the collection of Messes. Salvia and Godman are quite different. One, from Coban, Vera Paz, is a young bird, with remnants of the immature plumage. The new dress however, largely prevails. In this example, the whole dorsal region is varied by an exceedingly faint, yet obvious spotting of a paler rufous, and narrow blackish shaft-streaks, and the lower parts are much more distinctly and regularly barred, the bars being, moreover, of a consid- erably darker shade. It thus approximates quite closely to the rufous specimen of " hrasilianus^^ above referred to. The other specimen is from Las Salinas, Vera Paz (" March, O. S. 2349"), and is still more different. The upper parts are so dark as to be almost chestnut, while the back is distinctly spotted with black. The breast is nearly uniform dark A face } surfad Compa the diffei correspoudiij^ VGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. distinct and wide blackish shaft- streaks, and broken ion by whitish bars; the retnaiuderof the lower parts e transverse bars of blacMsh so broad that the mesial ed nearly obsolete, iufous phase of this variety, Mr. Sharpe remarks (/. c. ase of S. guatemalcc is quite different from anything rom South America, being entirely of a foxy rufous { never darker than the back or showing any approach the back is generally rather narrowly streaked with head ; and there are in some examples slight indica- stated on p. 94, however, the Brazilian bird does his bright '• foxy rufous" phase. le bright rufous phase from Jalapa (S. E. Mexico; & Godman) differs from the two Guatemala speci- i in the paler rufous of the pileum (where the usual a almost entirely absent), the paler rufous of tlie ^arser and more ragged markings of the lower rsi. In otber respects, however, it is identical. .pecimen of S. cassini, from the same locality, much more conspicuous. The latter is more like the lase of S. harbarus, being distinctly variegated above with paler spotting and numerous blackish shaft-streaks, and the pictut^w of the lower parts more distinct. \ List of Siiecimena Examined. 26 L. — L. 2401 Arc6. 2,}5-2 0. S. 2348 O. S. \ Guatemala ;.... do J.... Chitra, Veragua.J Cobau, Vera Paz J Vera Paz, Guateniala. Choctum, Vera I/az .. Calovcvoro, Veragua . CLiriqui I Bahia, Brazil '111' — ,'i8C9 — , I860 G.N.L... ...do S. & G . . . . ...do ...do — 9- — 9- d g. — 9- — 9- — 9- d br. Juv. gr. Ad. gr. Ad. red. Ad. red. Ad. red. Ad. red. Ad. gr. Ad. red. Ad. gr. 6.80 6. 55 6.iO 6.50 6.60 6.60 6.60 0. -20 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.30 6.48 6.00 6.20 6.60 3.90 3.80 3.60 4.00 4.10 3.90 3. 8G 3.50 4.00 4.00 3.90 3.80 3.70 3.70 3.60 3.90 .58 .58 . 55 .52 .55 .58 .58 .60 .55 .55 ".'si' .55 .50 .55 1.30 1.10 1.12 1.20 1.15 1.18 1.15 1.10 1.25 1.18 1.20 1.20 1.30 1.18 1.25 .90 ".'8.5 .90 .85 1806A1-C6. 1873 Aroe. Feb — , 1862 — , 1868 ...do ...do .... ....do .do .. .80 .85 .80 .80 2349 0. S. La Saiiuas, Vera Paz . Cuban, Vera Vaz Guatemala Mar. — , 1860 — , 1859 ....do ....do Bost. Soc. ....do U.S S.&G.... U.S .85 .85 .82 23793 do Mazatlan, "W. Mex . . . .82 .82 55978 E . Mexico (Jalapa) . . . Costa Rica — , 1872 .80 e. cassini. " Scops atricapillus (Natt.) Steph.", Eidgw., in B. B. & E. Hist. N. Am. B. Ill, 1874, 48 (foot-note). Scops brasilianus, ^. cassini, Eidgw., MS. Habitat — Eastern Mexico (Mirador ; Jalapa). Diagnosis.— Wing, 5.80-G.lO; tail, 3.20-3.50; cnlmen, .45-.50 ; tar- sus, 1.20; middle toe, .80. Gray phase ; adult. — Above grayish-brown, finely mottled with lighter and darker shades, the general dusky brownisb hue interrupted by two conspicuous lighter bauds, one across the mi^e, and the other across PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 103 the occiput, where the pale browuish buff spots are very targe and the darker markings correspoudiugly reduced in size. Beneath whitish, the feathers with ragged mesial streaks of blackish and transverse ver- miculations of the same. Eufous phase; adult. — Above cinnamon-rufous, with blackish shaft- streaks. Beneath white, with blackish mesial streaks and irregular transverse base of rufous and blackish. Eemabks. — This very distinct race, which I refer somewhat doubt- fully to 8. hrasilianus, so closely resembles 8. maccalU, both in size and colors, that, were it not for the perfectly naked toes, certain specimens of the two could scarcely be distinguished. From S. barharus, with which it agrees in the nakedness of the toes, it may be readily distin- guished by the much stouter feet (both relatively and absolutely), as well as by certain well marked differences in the coloration. Of the other races of hrasilianus, it most closely resembles the one we have described under the name of atricapillus (see p. 95), having, like that style, a very distinct lighter nuchal collar. It is considerably smaller, however, and presents well-marked differences in coloration, which may be expressed as follows : — S. ATRICAPILLUS. — Wing, 6.80 ; tail, 4.00 ; tarsus, 1.15 ; middle toe, .80. Ground-color below pale buff; face and crown nearly uniform dusky. Hub., Brazil. S. CASSINL— Wing, 5.80-6.10; tail, 3.20-3.50; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .80. Ground-color below white; face grayish or brownish white, coarsely barred with dusky ; crown coarsely spotted with blackish, pale brown, and grayish-white. Hab., Eastern Mexico. It will be seen by the above, that while eassini has the wing and tail very much shorter than in atricapillus, the feet are, on the other hand, actually longer, the two birds thus having quite different proportions, in view of which fact it may ultimately prove advisable to recognize in S. eassini a distinct species. Compared with S. barbarus, which is sometimes exceedingly similar in plumage, the difference in the feet is still more striking; while the only other form which resembles it — 8. maccalli — has the toes distinctly bristled, whereas in the present form they are perfectly bare. 27115 33556 12372 u. s U.S. M.C.Z Gr. ad. Gr. iid. ? Enf. ad. Mirador, Mexico do Jalapa, Mexico . . Nov. — , 1863 Apr. 9,1869 6.10 5.90 5.80 3.50 3.40 3.20 .50 .45 .50 1.20 1.20 1.20 .80 .80 .80 3. SCOPS BARBARUS. " Scops flammeola", Salvin, Ibis, 1801, 355 {nee Licht.). Sco2)s barharus, ScL. & Salv., P. Z. S. 1668, 57 : Ex. Orn. 1, 1668, 101, pi. li ; Norn. Neotr. 1873, 117 (G«aS*. asio of the United States, but is considerably smaller, while the red phase is very diflerent from the corresponding plumage of that species. It is also smaller, unless compared with the small race bird distinguished os \ar. JJoridanus, w:hich differs in colors and markings, as explained in the remarks respecting that form on page 113. The Scojjs McCalUi of Cassin seems to be the present form rather than what has been so called by most subsequent writers (/. e., true asio and S. trichopsis ?), the description corresponding exactly, while the habitat is nearly the same — i. c.j Texas and "Northern Mexico". S. McCallii is described as follows : — " In form and general appearance like the preceding, (>S'. asio), but mncli smaller ; short and robust; wing with the fourth quill longest; tail short, slightly curved inwards; tarsi rather long, fully covered; toes partially covered with long hair-like feathers. Adult. Male. — Much resembling in color the adult of the species immediately preced- ing, [i. e.j 8. asio,] but darlcer ; entire plumage above ashy brown, nearly every feather with a longitudinal stripe of brownish black, and with numerous irregular transverse lines and points of the same; under parts, ashy white, every feather with a longitudinal stripe of brownish black, and with well defined but irregular transverse lines of the same; flanks and sides tinged with pale fulvous; quills brown, with several transverse bands of pale reddish-white, assuming the form of quad- rangular spots on the outer webs, and pale reddish ashy on the inner webs; tail ashy brown, with about ten narrow transverse bands on all except the two central feathers, well-defined on the inner webs; scapu- lar feathers and some of the greater coverts of the wings, edged with white; bill greenish horn-color, light yellowish at the tip; irides yellow. " Dimensions. Total length, 7^ to 8 inches; wing, G; tail, 3 inches. Male. "Had. Texas (Mr. Schott) ; Northern Mexico (Lieut. Couch). Spec. in Mus. Acad. Thilada., and Nat. Mus., Washington City. "Obs. This species very considerably resembles the adult or gray plumage of the Scops asio, but is uniformly much smaller and darker PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Ill in color. The transverse lines on the under surface of the body are better defined and more numerous." In the above description, those characters which fit ^^enano^\ and not " tricliopsis ", I have taken the liberty to italicize. In the "Birds of North America" (p. 53), a rufous specimen is de- scribed, which renders it still more certain that Cassiu's Sco^s McCallii is the form which we have hitherto called '''■enano''\ The specimen there mentioned as in the National Museum from Florida is not this form, but has since been made the type of 8. asio \?iv. floridanus* Boston Soc. S. & G ..do ...do ...do G.N.L Gray ad. Gray ad. Gray ad. d". Eiif. ad. Gray juv. Gray ad. Guatemala San Bernardo, Guatemala, V. do Fuego, Guatemala. Dueuas, Guatemala Coban, Vera Paz Mexico (?) Oct. —,1862 Jan. — , 1874 ,1801 (!) .(?) 5.60 3.30 .55 1.05 5.70 3.10 .50 1.15 5.00 3.35 .50 1.12 5.85 3.50 .50 1.05 5.60 3.25 .45 1.00 .70 .75 .75 y. kennicottii. f Scops asio, Coop. & Suckl., Pacific E. E. Eep. XII, ii, 1860, 155 {Washington Terr.). — Lord, Naturalist in Vancouver I., II, 1866, 292. Scops hennicottii, Elliot, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1867, 69 ; lllustr. Birds Am. 1869, p. xxvii, pi. 11 (Sitka, Alaska ; March, i8G6). — Dall & Bannist., Tr. Chicago Acad. I, ii, 1869, 273 (do.).— Baikd, id.'Sll, pi. xxvii (do.).— Gray, Haud-1. 1, 1869,47, no. 492.— FiNSCH,Abh. Nat. Brem. Ill, 1872, 28 (^Zasfca).— Bouc, Cat. Av. 1876, 91. Scops asio var. kennicotti, Ridgw. in Coues' Key, 1872, 203. — CouES, Check List, 1873, 65, no. 318 a.—B. B. & E., Hist. N. Am. B., Ill, 1874, 48, 53 ("from Cohmhia Biver northward ; Idaho"). Scoi)s asio, b. kennicottii, Coues, Birds N. W. 1874, 303. Scops asio, fiuhs}). a. Scops kennicotti, Sharpe, Cat. Strig. Brit. Mas. 1875, 117 (Fan- couver I. ; " w. side Rocky Mts."). KennicotVs 0.wl, AucT., Z. c, Habitat. — The Northwest coast district, from Oregon to Sitka; Idaho ; Yancouver Island (Sharpe) ; British Columbia (Sharpe). DiAG-sosis.— Adult {S, 59,847, Sitka, Alaska, March, 186G; Ferd. Bischoff. Elliot's type) : — Above nmber-bown, with a slightly reddish cast ; feathers confusedly mottled transversely with dusky, and showing rounded spots of rufous, most conspicuous on the nape ; each feather with a conspicuous mesial, broad, ragged stripe of black, these stripes most conspicuous on the forehead and scapulars; outer webs of scapu- lars light rufous, bordered terminally with black. Wings of a more grayish cast than the back, but similarly variegated ; lower feathers of the middle and secondary wing-coverts each with a large, oval, pale rufous spot, covering most of the lower web. Secondaries crossed by six narrow, obscure bands of pale rufous ; primaries with seven, some- what rounded, quadrate spots of the same on the outer webs, forming * Since the above was put in type, I have t-een, through the coui'tesy of Dr. E. Coues, a series of this species collected in Southern Texas (by Mr. G. B. Sennett), and conse- quently the true S. maccalli. They agree exactly with typical "»s'. enano ", which fact therefore settles the question of the i^roper name of this form. 112 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. as many transverse series ; each light spot with a central dusky mot- tling. Tail more finely and confusedly mottled than the wings ; the bands, though present, so indistinct as to be scarcely traceable, and so irregular or badly defined as to be of uncertain number. Ear-tufts black and rusty, the former along the shafts, and in transverse spots ; ou the outer webs the black predominating, ou the inner, the rusty. Lores and basal half of the frontal bristles white, the terminal half abruptly blaSk ; eyebrows about equally blackish and paler, the former bordering the feathers; eye surrounded by dark snuff-brown; cheeks and ear-coverts pale rusty, transversely barred with deeper rusty ; facial circle not well defined, black. Chin and lores only white. Ground-color of the lower parts dilute-rusty, becoming white on the flanks; each feather of the throat, jugulum, breast, sides, and flanks with a broad mesial stripe of black, this throwing oft' very narrow, rather distant, bars to the edge; the spaces between these bars alter- nately paler and deeper dilute-rusty; the black marks broadest on the sides of the breast, where they have an external deep rusty suffusion ; the abdomen medially and the anal region scarcely maculate rusty- white; the lower tail-coverts each with a central, cuneate, longitudinal stripe of black. Tibite, tarsi, and lining of the wing plain deep rusty. Wing-formula, 3 = 4, 5-2, 6-1 == 9. Wing, 7.40; tail, 4.00; culmen, .65 ; tarsus, 1.50 ; middle toe, .80, No. 59,068 (Idaho ; Dr. Whitehead), is considerably darker than the type, the groundcolor above approaching snuff-brown ; it differs, however, in no other respect as regards coloration ; the size (as might be expected) is considerably smaller, measurements being as follows: Wing, 6.80; tail, 3.50; culmen, .60; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .80. Wing-formula the same as in type. No. 4,530 (Washington Territory ; Dr. Geo. Suckley) is just interme- diate, in all respects, between typical Icennicotti and asio, being refer- able to either with equal propriety, though perhaps inclining rather more to the former. A very obvious character of this race is the smaller size, more quad- rate form, and more rufous color, of the spots ou the primaries, and the greater indistinctness of the bauds on the tail ; but this is merely in consequence of the greater extension of the brown markings, thus necessarily contracting the lighter spots. In these respects only, does the Washington Territory specimen differ from the two typical examples before me, having the larger, more whitish spots on the primaries, and more distinct bauds on the tail, as in asio. There is a wonderfully close resemblance in general aspect between this form of Scops asio and 8. semitorqiies (Schleg.) of Japan, caused by the exceeding similarity in size, form, and coloration, both as regards tints and pattern. Indeed, the only very obvious difference consists in the distinctly white jugulum and well-defined lighter occipital and nuchal collars of semitorques, which has also the pencillings of the PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 113 lower surface niirrower or more delicate. The differences between the two may be tabuhited as follows : — S. SEMITORQUES.* — A Well-defined nuchal collar, of mottled pale ochraceous; jugulutn immaculate white centrally. Feathers of the lower parts with their transverse pencillings growing fainter toward the middle line, which is unvariegated white from the central jugular spot to the anal region. Wing, 6.60-7.25 ; tail, 3.60-3.85 ; culraen, .60; tarsus, 1.25-1.40; middle toe, .80-90. Hah., Japan. S. KENNIOOTTI. — No Well-defined nuchal band ; jugulum closely barred centrally ; feathers of the lower parts with their transverse pencillings not growing fainter toward the middle line, which is unva- riegated white only on the abdominal portion ; the medial black streaks to the feathers of tbe lower surface much broader, and transverse pen- cillings rather coarser. Wing, 6.90-7.30 ; tail, 3.50-4.50 ; culmen, .60- .65; tarsus, 1.35-1.45 ; middle toe, .80-.90. ^a6., North Pacific coast of North America from Sitka to Washington Territory, and Western Idaho. 6. jioridanus. " Scops asio", Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. II, 1871, 338. Scojis asio var. Jioridanus, Ridgw., Bull. Essex Inst. V, Dec. 1873, 200 {Indian E., Flo- rida) ; in B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. B. Ill, 1 874, 48, 51. Scops asio, subsp. /3. Scops floridanus, Shakpe, Cat. Strig. Brit. Mas. 1875, 118. Scops floridanus, Bouc, Cat. Av. 1876, 91. Rabitat. — Florida and Lower Georgia. Diagnosis. — Similar to var. asio, but much smaller, and the colors deeper. The gray stage very similar to that of var. asio, but the red phase very appreciably different, there being a greater amount of rufous on the lower parts, the breast nearly uniformly colored, and the rufous broken elsewhere into transverse broad bars, connected along the shaft. Wing, 5.50-6.00; tail, 2.75-3.10. This extreme Southern form is much smaller than the more Northern ones, being about the same in size as S. maccalli of Guatemala and East- ern Mexico, and S. cassitii, also from the latter country. The colors are also darker and richer. In the collection of the National Museum are two specimens of this race, one in each phase of plumage. The red one (No. 5,857, Indian River) measures, wing, 5.50; tail, 2.70; culmen, .55; tarsus, 1.05; mid- dle toe, .65. The colors are much darker than those of Northern and Western specimens; the rufous of the neck, all round, shows indistinct, darker, transverse bars ; the black border to the white scapular spots is restricted to the tip of the feathers; the inner webs of the ear-tuft feathers are scarcely paler than the outer; the neck and face are deeper rufous, while on the lower parts this color predominates, and is disposed chiefly in transverse rays ; and the tibise and tarsi are plain rufous. Only the middle of the abdomen and the anal region are pure white. * Otus semitorques, Schleg., Fauna Japon. Aves, 1845, 25, pi. 8. Scops seviitorqties, Bonap., Consp.1,1850,46.— Sharpe, Cat. Strig. Brit. Mus. 1875,83. Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 8 August 15, 1878. 114 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. £. maxwellke. "Scops asio", EiDGW., Bull. Essex lust. Nov. 1873, 1P5 (Colorado). Scops asio, e. maxwelUa', RiDGW., Field aud Forest, June, 1877, 210, 213 (Boulder Co., Colo- rado; resident; breeding). Mrs. MaxiveU's Owl, Ridgw., /. c. Habitat. — Mouutaius of Colorado (Boulder Co.; resident aud breed- ing ; Mrs. Maxwell). Diagnosis. — Ground-color above pale gray or gray isb -brown, relieved by the usual ragged mesial streaks of black, and irregular mottliugs and vermiculations of lighter and darker shades. The groundcolor, how- ever, never inclining strongly to reddish, and not darker in shade than a very light ash-gray or brown. The white spots on outer webs of the primaries frequently confluent, the darker spots, in extreme cases, being hardly visible on the basal portion of the quills when the wing is closed. Face grayish-white, with faint vermiculations of darker grayish. No rusty gular collar, but in its stead sparse, narrow bars of brown or rusty on a white ground. Wing, G.80-6.90; tail, 3.90-4.10; culmen, .60; tarsus, 1.45-1.50; middle toe, .80-.85. The characteristics of this form are remarkably constant, a series of a dozen or more specimens affording no instance of notable variation. 6. SCOPS TRICHOPSIS? fScops tricliopsis, Wagl., Isis, 1832, 276 (Mexico).— BoissAV., Consp. I, 1850, 46.— Strickl., Oru. Syn. I, 185.5, 201.— Salvin, Ibis, 1874, 314.— Bouc, Cat. Av. 1876, 91 (Mexico). Ephialites trichojisis. Gray, Genera B. I, 1844, 38. Megascops irichopsis, Kaup, Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. IV, 1862, 227. Asio trichopsis, Bonap., Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, 543. Scops asio, subsp. 6. Scops tricliopsis, Sharpe, Cat. Strig. Brit. Mus. 1874, 119 (W. Mexico). "Ephialites choliha", Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. VI, 1853, 4 (nee Vieill.). Scops asio yur. maccalli,(JouES, Key , 1872,203; Check List, 1873, 65, no. 318 ft.— Ridgw., in B. B. & R. Ill, 1874, 49, 52. Habitat. — Western Mexico, and the extreme southwestern portion of the United States (Texas; Cassin. New Mexico; Nat. Mns. Stockton, Cal.; Mus. G. N. Latvrence.) Diagnosis.— J.c7tt/^ (No. 9,147, New Mexico, Feb. 10, 1854; Kennerly and Mollhauseu) : — Above light ash-gray, minutely vermiculated with dusky and grayish-white, each feather with a distinct mesial stripe of blackish, showing in strong relief ; these stripes broadest on the fore- head. Outer webs of the exterior row of scapulars white, without black terminal borders ; outer webs of two or three lower, middle, and greater wing-coverts also white ; outer webs of primaries marked with transverse series of white spots, these forming about eight bands across the larger quills. Tail crossed by about eight narrow, pale bands. Ear- coverts, cheeks, throat, and jugulum finely and uniformly barred trans- versely, or vermiculated, with dusky and grayish-white; the facial circle interrupted across the throat, where, in its place, is a series of PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 115 longitudinal, black dashes. Lower parts grayish- white, with numerous, very narrow, transverse bars of dusky, each feather with a mesial stripe of black, these stripes forming on the breast conspicuous spots; tibite and tarsi dull soiled-white, spotted with dark brown ; crissum immaculate white. Wing, G.50; tail, 3.30; culmen, .55 ; tarsus, 1.15 ; middle toe, .70. Young, in down, hut nearly full-grown (No. 10,932, Cape St. Lucas, Lower California ; J. Xantus) : — Remiges and rectrices as in the adult. Eest of the plumage, above and below, including the head, narrowly barred with dusky and grayish-white, the former predominating above, the latter prevailing below ; eyebrows and lores white ; wing-coverts finely mottled transversely with dusky and white, the latter forming spots on the lower feathers ; tibiae and tarsi with numerous dusky bars. Remarks. — An adult from Stockton, California (E. S. Holden), kindly loaned me by Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence, and the only United States example, besides the one described above, that I have seen, differs from the specimen from New Mexico in having the general tint of the plumage rather more brownish, and the mesial blackish streaks of the upper parts less distinct. It measures, wing, 0.20 ; tail, 3.10. The form of Scops-owl represented by the specimens described above, as well as by those from which Mr. Sharpe's descriptions are drawn, is certainly to be distinguished from the several styles of S. asio treated in the foregoing pages; but whether it is a distinct species, or merely another geographical race of asio, cannot be decided without additional material. For the present, however, I keep it separate, on account of the different pattern of the markings on the lower plumage, which in S. asio is exactly the same in all the several races. There is also considerable doubt as to the name this form should bear. Wagler {I. c.) describes an owl from Mexico which may be this bird, but the only pertinent character which I am able to glean from his description is that the toes are bristled ; it is, therefore, either this bird or one of the forms of asio ; but in identifying the Scops trichopsis of Wagler with the bird under consideration, I merely adopt the determi- nation of that name as made by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin, and, sub- sequently, by Mr. Sharpe. That this is the bird which Mr. Sharpe describes as Scojjs asio, "snbsp. d. Scops trichopsis'''' [l. c), there can be no doubt, his description fitting perfectly the example described above, while his additional remarks on pp. 120, 121, show that he fully appreciated the character of the diflereuces between it and true asio. We transcribe Mr. Sharpe's remarks : — " Ohs. This is a small race of S. Icennicotti [qu. lapsus calam. for asio f] ; but, as far as can be determined, it has only a grey phase and no brown one. Its measurements distinguish it at once ; and it may also be told by its narrowly barred under surface, every feather being- streaked with black, and barred with the same, from the chin to the 116 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. lower abdomen and flanks. It is larger than Scops enano [i. e., maccalUl and differs from that bird also in not having a rufous phase; the cross- barring of the under surface in the latter is of the same character in 8. enano as in 8. asio : that is to say, the bars are often double, whereas in 8. trichoims they are single and very distinct." The specimens in the British Museum, two in number, are both from Western Mexico; and it would seem that the species is mainly confined to the Pacific slope of that country, though ranging sparingly into the Southwestern United States, where, however, true 8. asio is much more common. 7. SCOPS COOPERI. Scops coopp.ri, Ridgway, MS. Habitat. — Costa Rica. gp. cH. — Very similar to the grayish style of 8. brasilianus, but with he toes very distinctly bristled. 9 ad. (No. 74,207, Santa Ana, Costa Rica, Sept. 4, 1875, Jos6 C. Zele- don) : — Above grayish umber-brown, very finely vermiculated with dusky, the feathers of the pileum and back having mesial, chain-like streaks of blackish ; outer webs of exterior scapulars somewhat varied with white spotting; outer webs of primaries marked with quadrate spots of pale fulvous, bordered with blackish, there being about ten of these spots on the longest quill (the filth); tail crossed with narrow bauds of the same color, likewise bordered with a narrower dusky bar, these light bands about 10-1.'? in number. Face brownish- white, finely but distinctly barred with dusk^ brown ; superciliary region lighter and more coarsely mottled ; face bordered laterally or posteriorly by a distinct narrow band of dusky spots. Lower parts white, densely marked with blackish and umber-brown zigzags, imparting a light brownish apj)ear- ance to the whole surface ; feathers of the tibia? and tarsi light rusty- umber, thickly barred with deeper brown. " Iris lemon-yellow ; cere, bill and feet, yellowish green." Wing, 7.00; tail, 3.75; culmen, .02; tarsus, 1.25 ; middle toe, 1.00. 9 juv. (No. 74,552, San Jos6, Costa Rica, May 10, 1866 ; Jose C. Zele- don) : — Toes distinctly bristled, excepting on the two or three terminal scu- tellfe. General color above light grayish-brown, relieved by very minute and ratlier indistinct, transverse vermiculations of dusky, and larger, but still inconspicuous, transverse marks of white, these larger and more obvious on the lower webs of the middle wing-coverts. Remiges and rectrices pale grayish-brown, minutely vermiculated with dusky, and distinctly banded with pale reddish-fulvous (color of sulphate of man- ganese). Lower parts dirty- whitish, crossed everyicliere with transverse vermiculations, or ragged, narrow lines of dusky, stiongly suffused with brownish across the jugulum, where the vermiculations are minute and confused ; flanks and crissum with the bars broad and distinct, the inter- spaces nearly pure white, and wider than the mottled-brownish bars. Bill pale horn-color, yellowish at the end; "iris yellow"; claws very PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 117 pale born-color, darker terminally. Culuien, .60; tarsus, 1.30; middle toe, .88* Eemarks. — It is very difficult to express, by a mere description, the points of difference in coloration between this new species and thegrayish phase of Scojys hrasiUanns. Specimens of the latter, collected in Costa Kica, by Mr. Zeledou, are hardly appreciably different at a casual glance. Upon close comparison, however, it may readily be seen that the lower parts of S. cooperi are much more densely vermiculated,t the legs much more rufescent and more distinctly barred, the white variegation of the outer scapulars far less conspicuous, and the light bars on the remiges and rectrices narrower and more numerous. Compared with one of these specimens of S. hrasiUamts, having the wing the same length (7.00 inches), it is found that the tail of IS. cooperi is much shorter, its length being only 3.75 instead of 4.25; this shortness of the tail in the present species causes the legs to appear proportionately longer, the claws reach- ing considerably beyond the end of the tail, while in >S'. brasiUanus they do not reach to within half an inch of the tip. This greater elongation of the legs is not merely apparent, however, the tarsi being absolutely longer and the toes both longer and stouter ; the claws in particular are decidedly stronger than in IS. brasiUanus. It is not necessary, however, to make a minute comparison of markings and proportions in order to distinguish between these two species, the single character of the toes, being strongly bristled in 8. cooperi and absolutely naked in 8. brasiUanus, being sufficient for the purpose. 8. cooperi is, moreover, the only bristly-toed member of this genus found south of Guatemala, so there is no need of confounding it with any other species of the same group. I have named this species, at the request of Mr. Zeledon, the collector of the type-specimens, after Mr. Juan Cooper, of Cartago, Costa Rica, a particular friend of his, to whom he is much indebted for many inter- esting contributions to his collections. * Being a very young bird, and the remiges and rectrices but partly develoj)ed, measurements of the wing and tail would of course be of no value. tNot more so, however, than in some specimens typical of the var. (juatemalw, Sharpe. 118 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. NOTES ON THE ORNITHOEOGY OF SOVTIIERX TEXAS, BEING A lilST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE VICISITY OF FORT BROWN, TEXAS, FROM FEBRUARY, 1876, TO JTNE, 1S7S. By JAIWES C. MERBIE/L., Assistant Surgeon U. S. Army. The post of Fort Brown, Texas, iu tbe immediate vicinity of which most of the following observations were made, is at the extreme southern point of the State, in latitude 25° 53' IG", longitude 97° 13'. It adjoins the town of Brownsville, on the left bank of the Rio Grande, and across the river is Matamoras, in the Mexican State of Tamaulipas. The nearest part of the Gulf coast is about eighteen miles distant. The surrounding country is level, and mostly covered with low chaparral; towards the coast this becomes more sparse, and gives place to extensive prairies, broken by shallow, brackish lagoons and sand ridges, with a scanty growth of cactus and yucca. The average annual temperature is about 73° Fahrenheit; snow and ice are unknown, and slight frosts are rare. But little rain falls from March to Septem- ber. This region offers an excellent field for the ornithologist. Besides a very large number of northern migrants that either remain throughout the winter or pass farther south, there are many forms characteristic of the river valley, and other Mexican species, either regular summer vis- itors or stragglers that are new to the United States fauna. A number of the latter class were obtained within our limits for the first time,* and others by Mr. G. B. Sennett; but there are doubtless many more yet to be found.t Of the localities mentioned in this list, Brazos and Padre Islands are the parts of the Gulf coast nearest the fort; they are long, narrow sand ridges, almost destitute of vegetation. A similar formation is seen in the outer beach on the south shore of Long Island. Santa Maria and Edinburgh (now Hidalgo) are on the river, about twenty-eight and sixty miles respectively above the Ibrt by road. Here the character of the country changes; the trees are much higher, and near the last-named settlement the laud begins to rise. The avifauna, too, is somewhat dif- ferent, and three species J in particular stop abrujjtly there. As a matter of local interest, an asterisk is prefixed to those species that are known to breed within the limits of the fort and government reservation. * Thryothorus ludovicianus var. berlandiet-i, Vireosylvia flavoviridis, Cyanospiza versicolor, Myiarchus erythrocercm var. cooperi, Amazilia fuscicaiidata, J. yucatajiensis, Nyctidromus albicolUs, Sturnella magna var. viexicana, Moloilwus aneus, Buteo alblcaudatus, Parra (jymnostoma, aud Podiceps dominicus. t Several species of Parrots are found about Vittoria, ninety miles south of Fort Brown, gome of which must occasionally cross the Rio Grande. During the summer of 1877, two specimens of a Trogon were killed north of the river, one near Ringgold Barracks, the second at Las Cuevas, some miles lower down. They were described to me by the persons who shot them, but unfortunately they were not preserved. [Un- doubtedly T. ainhiyuus, Gould. — R. R.] tCamprjlorhynclius hrmineicapiJlKs, Juriparus flaviceiis, and CaUipepla sqitamata. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. IIB I desire to express my indebtedness to Dr. T. M. Brewer and Mr. E. Ridgway for their assistance in many ways, and for their notes, which add so much to the value of the present paper. 1. Turdus fuscescens, Stephens. January 1, 1877. 2. Turdus migratorius, Linn. Occurs rather sparingly during the winter months. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1805,475.) 3. *Harporhyiichus rufus vat: longirostris, (Li.fr.) This fine songster is a common resident, frequenting shady thickets and rarely seen in the open. In habits, it scarcely differs from the Eastern var. rufus, and the large number of nests found here were quite as well built as those found in New England. The usual number of eggs is three, often two, more rarely four: the groundcolor varies from greenish to reddish-white, more or less thickly sprinkled with reddish and brownish dots and spots. One set is sparingly covered with large clouded blotches, giving the eggs an appearance unusual in this genus. Fifty-two eggs average 1.08 by .82, the extremes being 1.13 by .86 and .97 by .75. In some adult specimens, there is a decided tendency to whitish tips to the outer tail-feathers, as in var. rufus.— {R. rufus longi- rostris, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 3.) 4. *Harporhynchu8 curvirostris, (Swains.) This Thrush is about as common as the preceding species, and is resi- dent. They are not often seen together, however, as this bird prefers more open and sunny localities, especially sparse chaparral, where the prickly pear grows. Here it passes much of its time on the ground, run- ning rapidly about in search of small land-shells and insects, I cannot confirm the praises of the song of this bird given by Couch and Heer- mann : it seems to me to be one of the most silent of the song Thrushes. Its alarm note is a sharp ivhit-iohit. The nests are usually placed among the fleshy joints of the prickly jiear, or in some of the many thorny and almost impenetrable bushes found in Southern Texas : they are often seen in the dense prickly hedges that surround most Mexican jacals. Tbey are, as a rule, readily distinguishable from those of the Texas Thrasher and Mocking-bird by the almost invariable lining of yellow straws, giving a peculiar appearance to the nest. They are also more compactly built, are well cupped, and often have the edges well guarded by thorny twigs. The eggs are usually four iu number : the ground- color is a deep greenish-blue (more rarely pale yellowish), rather sparsely sprinkled over the entire surface with very fine brown dots. They average 1.13 x .80: extremes 1.18 x .83 and .94 x .72. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 482.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 4.) 5. *Mimus polyglottus, (Linn.) A very common resident. By the 20th of May, many pairs have eggs 120 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. of tbe second brood.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 481.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 3.) 6. Galeoscoptes carolinensis, (Liun.) A few seen during the migrations : some pass the winter here. 7. Sialia sialis, (Lino.) Uncommon. Two pairs, seen at Edinburgh in Maj', 1876, were un- doubtedly breeding. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 475. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 6.) 8. Regulus calendula, (Linn.) Found in some abundance from November to March. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1805, 470.) 9. Polioptila c^rulea, (Liuu.) Abundant during the migrations, a few passing the winter and a con siderable number remaining to breed. A nest taken April 24, 1877, was placed on a dead lichen-covered branch of an ebony-bush about six feet from the ground.. It was supported by three upright twigs, and was so well concealed that I did not notice it till the female flew off, though I had been standing with my head within a foot of it. It contained five eggs that would have hatched within a few days. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 485.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 6.) 10. * Lophophanes atricristatus, Cassin. A common resident. The usual notes of the species are like those of the Eastern Chickadee : it has, in addition, a loud whistling song, much like that of the Cardinal. A nest found near Edinburgh, April 26, 1876, was in a decayed branch, about fifteen feet Irom the ground, and contained six nearly fledged young : the males had well-developed crests. The nest proper was composed of various soft materials like that of Pariis atricapillus. About four weeks later, the same pair were mak- ing preparations for a second brood in an old Picns scalaris excavation just above my tent, but I was obliged to leave before any eggs were laid. A nest found about the middle of May of the following year was, I am confident, of this species. It was in a vertical hole in a stump, enabling the five eggs to be plainly seen : these seemed somewhat larger than eggs of P. atricainUus, but otherwise were similar. An the parents were not seen, I left, intending to return in a short time, but was prevented from doing so for several days, when the eggs had been destroyed by some animal. Another nest, found April 18, 1878, was placed in a deep crack in the trunk of a tree : it contained several young.- (Dresser, Il)is, 1865, 485.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 6.) Note, — A.n unidentified egg from Matamoras, but not distinguishable from one identified by Mr. Sennett as of this species, measures .62 by .48, is of an oval shape, has a white ground finely sprinkled over with purplish-brown dots. These are more abundant about the larger end, and form a ring around the latter. Fine, indistinct shell markings give a purplish cast to the ground, which is, however, of a pure white, — T. M. B, PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 121 11. Auiiparus flaviceps, (Sund.) I have not observed this species iu the immediate vicinity of Fort Brown, but it was rather common at Edinburgh in April and May, fre- quenting mostly amargosa chaparral. Several of its curious nests were found placed on horizontal branches of ebony and amargosa bushes about five feet from the ground. The outside w^as cou)posed of thorny twigs well interlaced: the inside was warmly lined with fur and feath- ers. The entrance was at one side, barely large enough to admit the bird, and somewhat projecting, giving the entire nest an oval shape. The birds were excessively shy, and were obtained with difficulty. — (Sen- NETT, B. Rio Grande, 6.) 12. * Thryothorus ludovicianus rar. berlandieri, Conch. A rather common resident, and Ibund in ail situations. Its song and habits are probably not diflerent from those of the Great Carolina Wren. Although several pairs breed each year within the fort, I did not succeed in finding their nests, which I think were placed in some thick brush piles and lences. At least two broods are raised, and the scarcely fledged young show the characteristic rufous of the under parts. A set of four eggs of this variety now before me, taken near Edinburgh in an old Woodpecker's excavation, average .73 X .54. In three, the ground- color is white with a reddish tinge, thickly dotted with reddish and pale lilac, especially at the larger end. The fourth has the ground color a warm reddish, like many eggs of the House Wren. A young brood fre- quented a pile of brush near camp at Edinburgh : they were very tame, coming into my tent and examining its contents with the greatest inter- est, not minding my presence in the least. The notes are loud and varied, but I am not able to say how much they may differ from those of var. ludomcianus. — {T. ludovicianus berlandieri, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 8.) 13. *Thryomanes bewicki rar. leucogaster, Baird. Thryothorus hewicki, Sch.,F. Z. S. 1659,372 (Oaxaca) ; Catal. 1861,22, No. 141 (part).— SCL. As SALV.,Nom. Neotr. 1873, 7, No. 11 (Mexico).— CouES & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. aud Geog. Survey Terr. vol. iv, No. 1, Feb. 1878, 9 (Brownsville and Hidalgo, Texas).* Thryothorus heu-icki var. leucogaster, Baird, Keview, 1864 127 (Sau Autonio and Ringgold Barracks, Texas ; Sta. Rosalia, Tamaulipas, aud New Leon, Mexico). * Mr. Sennett's specimens having been compared with the extensive series, embrac- ing the several races of this species, in the National Museum collection, prove to be the var. leucogaster of Baird, and not the true bewicki. The National Museum ])ossesses two specimens of the latter from Waller County and Brazos, Texas, but none from the Rio Grande, where probably only the var. leucogaster occurs, while it also probably does not penetrate farther into the State. The two specimens of true bewicki alluded to above were captured December 13 aud 14, 1876, aud were perhaps merely winter visitors. They are absolutely typical of the race, and, when compared with Mr. Sen- nett's specimens, the great difference in coloring is at once apparent. — R. R. 122 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. A common resident about Fort Brown, but fifty or sixty miles higher up the river it becomes less abundant. Few birds have a greater vari- ety of notes than this species, and I have frequently been led by a strange song through dense chaparral only to find this little bird perched upon tbe topmost twig of an amargosa bush apparently enjoy- ing my disappointment. Their principal song is much like that of the Song Sparrow, but sweeter. It probably raises three broods, as I have seen it leading fully fledged young as early as March 27. Its nests are placed in a variety of situations. I have found them in an old Wood- pecker's nest, placed between three or four joints of the prickly pear, forming a bulky structure, and among the twigs of various dense thorny bushes. A set of six eggs, now before me, average .G8 x .50, I have no eggs of var. bewicJcli at hand with which to compare them. A second set of five, taken on the 2d of May from a nest among the joints of a cactus, are smaller than the preceding, averaging .02 x .50 ; the markings are much fainter and finer, and the two sets are quite different in appearance. Three other sets taken subsequently vary greatly in size and markings. In some, the latter are very fine and in conspicuous; in others, there are heavy markings of reddish and lilac. Thirty eggs average .63 by .45, the extremes being .70 by .52 and .60 by .46. Note, — The eggs of T. leucogaster, as compared with those of hewicki and spilurus, exhibit many points in common, and do not vary more than the eggs of the same species are often found to differ. Nine eggs of the Texan form, leucogaster, are, in size, a trifle the largest, and all of them are much more deeply marked with larger and more confluent blotches of reddish-brown. In size, six eggs of hewicki, from Mount Carmel, III,, collected by Mr. Ridgway, are not quite equal to leucogaster and a little less strongly marked, the spots being nowhere confluent. Five eggs of spilurus from California are still less in size, and their markings are smaller, fewer, and of a lighter color, one being of an almost immaculate white, — T. M. B. 14. Troglodytes aedon, Vieill. Rather uncommon during the winter months. 15. Troglodytes aedon rar. parkmanni.Aud. A single specimen of this variety was taken in the autumn of 1877. 16. Telmatodytes palustris, (Wils.) One obtained December 16, 1876. 17. Anthus ludovicianus, (Gmel.) Very abundant from October to March. I have seen a few as late as April 28.— (Deesser, Ibis, 1865, 476.) 18. Mniotilta varia, (Linn.) Common during the migrations; a good many pass the winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 476.) PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 123 19. Helmiiithophaga chrysoptera, (Linn.) Several specimens taken in the spring. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478.) 20. Helminthophaga pinus, (Liuu.) One specimen taken at Edinburgh (Hidalgo) in May. 21. Helminthophaga ruficapilla, (Wils.) A male obtained in April approaches the supposed " var. ocularis " in the restriction of the yellow of throat. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478. — Sennett, B. Kio Grande, 12.) 22. Helminthophaga aetata, (Say.) Rather common during the colder months. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 12.) 23. Helminthophaga peregrina, (Wils.) Less common thau the preceding. 24. Parula americana, (Linu.) Occurs during the migrations. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 476.— Sen- nett, B. Rio Graude, 11.) 25. Parula nigrilora, Coues. Arrives about the third week in March, and passes the summer among thick woods and near the edges of lagoons where there is Spanish moss. Here they are quite common, and their song is constantly heard. A nest found July 5, 1877, was in a small bunch of the moss about eight feet from the ground: with the exception of four or five horse-hairs, there was no liniug. It contained three young. — (Coues & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr. vol. iv, Feb. 5, 1878, 11.) 26. Dendroeca aestiva, (Gmel.) Not uncommon during the migrations. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478.) 27. Dendroeca coronata, (Linu. ) This is perhaps the most common of the winter residents, and is found in the greatest abundance from the latter part of October to April. About the latter part of March, there is an arrival of males from the south in nearly full breeding plumage. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 13.) 28. DendrcBca maculosa, (Gmel.) Rather rare in the spring. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478.) 29. Dendroeca blackburniae, (Gmel.) A female taken May 3 nt Edinburgh.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478.) 30. Dendroeca dominica rar. albilora, Ridg. One of the first migrants to return in the autumn, when it is not rare. 124 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. A few pass the winter. — {D. svperciliosa, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478. — D. dominica albilora, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 13.) 31. DendrcBca pennsylvanica, (Linn.) Several seen in April and May. 32. Dendroeca striata, (Forst.) A single specimen taken in August. 33. DendrcEca castauea, (Wils.) Not rare in the spring migration. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478,) 34. Dendrceca virens, (Gmel.) Taken in May and November. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 477. — Sen- nett, B. Rio Grande, 13.) 35. Siurus naevius, (Bodd.) Rather common in the spring and fall. — (S. novehoracensis, Dresser, Ibis, 1805, 477.) 36. Siurrs motacilla, (Vieill.) Marcli 31, 1877.— (Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 13.) 37. * Geothlypis trichas, (Liuu.) Found throughout the year. Summer birds approach var. melanops, and are perhaps referable to that variety. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 476.) 38. Geothlypis Philadelphia, (Wils.) A female taken within the fort on September 7, 1877. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 476.) 39. *Icteria virens, (Linn.) A common summer resident, arriving at Fort Brown about March 26. Here it is much more common than higher up the river. Individuals breeding in Southern Texas are decidedly smaller than those taken in New England, bearing about the same relation to them that Icterus var. affinis does to var. spurius. Thirty-three eggs average .87 x .64. — (Sen- nett, B. Rio Grande, 13.) 40. Myiodioctes mitratus, (Gmel.) Several specimens taken in April, 1876. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478.) 41. Myiodioctes pusillus, (Wils.) Abundant during the migrations, returning in autumn about the 10th of August. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478.) 42. Myiodioctes canadensis, (Linn.) May 2, 1877.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 478.) 43. Setophaga ruticilla, (Linn.) Not rare iu spring and fall.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865. 479.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 14.) PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 125 44. Progne subis, (Linn.) Occurs during the migrations. I have seen them as early as Janu- ary 2i).—{F. purpurea. Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 479.) 45. Petrochelidon lunifroiis, (Say.) Very common from early in April until the latter part of August. It is one of the most abundant of the summer visitors, and is the only Swal- low that breeds here. I have not been able to detect P. swainsoni, Scl., of Mexico. — (Sennett,B. Rio Grande, 15. — Hirwndo /., Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 479.) 46. Hirundo erytlirogaster var. horreorum, Barton. The latest Swallow to arrive in the spring and the earliest to return in the autumn ; first seen about April 12, or earlier, and August 9. — {R. horreorum, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 479. — Sennett, B. Kio Grande, 15.) 47. Tachycineta bicolor, (Vieill.) Common during the migrations. Some of this species must pass the winter at no great distance from here, as I have frequently seen small flocks in November, December, and January, after a few warm days. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 15.) 48. Cotyle riparia, (Linn.) Not rare during the migrations. One of the latest Swallows to return in the autumn. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 479.) 49. Vireosylvia olivacea, (Linn.) May. — ( Vireo o.. Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 480. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 16.) 50. Vireosylvia flavoviridis, Cassiu. Vireosylvia flavoviridis, Cassin, Pr. Phila. Acad. V, Feb. 1851, 152 ; VI, pi. ii (Panama).— Scl., P. Z. S. 1656, 298 (Cordova); 1859, 375 (Oaxaca ; April); Catal. 1862, 44, No. 264 (Guatemala).— SCL & Salv., Ibis, I, 1859, 12 (Guai emalal ; Nom. Neotr. 1873, 11, No. 3 (Mexico to Panama).— Baird, Review, May, 1866, 336 (Monterey, Mazatlan, and Eosario, near Colima, Mexico ; San Jos^, Costa Rica ; Isth. Panama). — Sumichrast, Mem. Boston Soc. I, 1869, 547 (Orizaba ; Alpine Reg.).— Boucard, Cat. 1876, 215, No. 6665 (" N. America ")• Vireo flavoviridis, Baird, B. N. Am. 1658, 332. Phyllomanes flavoviridis, Caban., Journ. 1861, 93 (Costa Rica). A single specimen, a male, taken within the fort, August 23, 1877. 51. Vireosylvia gilva, (Vieill.) October 2, 1877. — {Vireo gilvus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865,480.) 52. Lanivireo solitarius, (Wils.) August 23, 1S17.— {Vireo s., Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 481.) 53. *Vireo uoveboracensis, (Gmel.) A common resident, breeding abundantly. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865,, 481.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 16.) 126 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 54. Vireo belli, Aud. A single specimen taken.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 481.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 16.) 55. Ampelis cedrorum, (Vieill.) Seen in small flocks during the migrations ; doubtless pass the winter here.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 480.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 16.) 56. Collurio ludovicianus rar. excubitoroides, (SwaiDS.) Abundant from about the first of September until April. I do not think that any remain to breed. — (C ludovicianus excuhitorides, Sen- nett, B, Rio Grande, W.—Collwio ludovicianus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 480.) 57. *Pyranga eestiva, (Gmel.) Not rare during the migrajtions ; a few remain here all summer. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 479.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 14.) 58. Chrysomitris tristis, (Linn.) Not rare during the winter months. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 479.) 59. Passerculus savanna rai: alaudinus, Bon. February. — (P. alaudinus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 487.) 60. Pooecetes gramineus rar. confinis, Baird. Spring and autumn. — (P. gramineus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 487 — P. gramineus confinis, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 17.) 61. Coturniculus passerinus, (Wils.) January. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 487.) 62. Chondestes grammica, (Say.) This species is most abundant during the migrations in April and September ; but a tew pass the winter, and some remain to breed. In this vicinity, they appear to build indifferently on the ground or in bushes. When in the latter situation, the nest externally is rather bulky, but is neatly finished inside with hairs and rootlets. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 488 —Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 19.) 63. Zonotrichia leucophrys, (Forst.) Abundant during the colder months. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 19.) 64. Zonotrichia intermedia, Ridg. This variety seems to be about as common during winter as the pre- ceding. — [Z.gambeli, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 488.) 65. Zonotrichia albicollis, (Bon.) On May 11, 1877, 1 heard the unmistakable song of this species within the fort. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 127 66. *Amphispiza bilineata, (Cass.) Much more commoa in summer than winter. The nests are placed in low, thick bushes, rarely more than two feet from the ground. The eggs, when fresh, have a decided bluish tinge. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, IS. — Poospim &., Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 488.) 67. SpizeUa socialis, (Wils.) April. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 19.) 68. SpizeUa pallida, (Swains.) Very abundant during the winter months, but I do not think that any remain to breed. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 19.) 69. Melospiza melodia, (Wils.) February and December. 70. Melospiza lincolni, (Aud.) Very common in winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 18.) 71. Peucaea arizonas, Eidgw.* Found in some abundance on a salt prairie about nine miles from Fort Brown, but obtained with difiQculty, as they could rarely be flushed from among the tall grass. Its notes were frequently heard, and are quite pleasing. A nest found June 16, 1877, was placed among the roots of a tussock of grass : it was made of blades and stems of grasses, and was rather deep, but so frail that it fell to pieces on removal. The eggs, four in number, were quite fresh. They are unspotted white, strongly tinged with greenish-blue, and measure .82 by .63. * The great variation iu size and color between the set of eggs of P. arizonce and those of P. cestivalis appears to me to be inconsistent with their belonging to birds of the same species. In North American Birds, I speak of the color of a'stivalis as being a pure, almost brilliant, white, and their size .74 by .60. This is probably a little smaller than the average. An egg taken by Dr. Bryant in Florida measures .76 by .61. Three eggs, taken by Dr. Gerhardt in Northern Georgia, measure .80 by .62, .78 by .61, and .72 by .60. Their color is crystalline white, similar in brilliancy to the eggs of a Woodpecker. On the other hand, the four eggs of P. arizonce measuie .>-5 by .64, .83 by .64, .82 by .65, .80 by .62, averaging .82| by .63f, the average of cestivalis being .77 by .61. The eggs of 2^ cassini have the same crystalline whiteness as those of cestivalis, while those of P. carpalis correspond in color with those of arizonce, and average .73 by .58. The color of the eggs of P. arizonce is of a very light blue, with just a tinge of green, but to some eyes it appears to be a greenisb-white. — T. M. B. [Without specimens of this form in good plumage, it is quite impossible to determine the question of its relationship to P. cestivalis by the skins alone. All the specimens I have seen are, unfortunately, iu the greatly worn and faded midsummer plumage, and, though resembling examples of P. a'stivalis in corresponding dress, are easily distin- guishable. Considering the latter fact, iu connection with the radical difference in their eggs, as insisted on by Dr. Brewer, I think, upon the whole, that the bird may yet prove to be a distinct species. — R. R.] 128 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. • 72. Peucaea cassini, (Woodh.) Arrives about the middle of March, its sweet song attracting atten- tion at once. Found in ratlier open chaparral, but usually keeping iu thick bushes, where alone it permits a near approach. It usually sings while hidden in some bush, and, I think,. rarely utters its notes on the wing unless the female is sitting. Its nest is difficult to find ; tLree, taken April 28, and May 4 and 22, 1877, respectively, were placed at tbe foot of small bushes and scarcely raised from the ground. They were composed of dried grasses, lined with finer ones and a few hairs, but were very frail. Thirteen eggs taken from these nests are pure white, and average .74 by .57. Feet and legs are peculiarly light yellowish- white; bill pale horn-color, darker above; iris light hazel. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 18.) 73. Embernagra rufivirgata, Lawr. A common resident, frequenting thickets and brush-fences, and per- mitting a close approach. The only note I have heard, besides a chij) of alarm, is a repeated chip chip chip, begun slowly, but rapidly increas- iug till the notes run into each other. I have found the nests with eggs at intervals from May 9 to September 7. These are placed in low bushes, rarely more than three feet from the ground : the nests are rather large, composed of twigs and straws, and lined with finer straws and hairs; they are practically domed, the nests being placed ratber obliquely, and the part above the entrance being somewhat built out. The eggs are from two to four iu number : thirty-two average .88 by .65, the extremes being .97 by .67 and .81 by .61 ; they are pure white. Two, and probably three, broods are raised in a season. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 22.) 74. Calamospiza bicolor, (Towns.) liither common during the winter months. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 490.) 75. Euspiza americana, (Gmel.) Common during the spring migration of 1877. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 490. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 19.) 76. *Guiraca caerulea, (Liuu.) A rather common summer visitor, four or five pairs having nests in patches of tall weeds on the reservation. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 491. — Goniaphea c, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 19.) 77. Cyanospiza cyanea, (Liun.) Not rare iu April and May. 78. Cyanospiza versicolor, (Bonap.) First taken April 23, 1877. This beautiful species seems to be rather abundant in this vicinity, frequenting mesquite chaparral. Its song has some resemblance to that of the Indigo-bird, and is constantly uttered. I did not succeed in finding any nests. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 129 79. Cyanospiza ciris, (Linn.) A not uucommoii summer visitor. — (Dressee, Ibis, 1865, 491.— Sen- NETT, B. Eio Grande, 20.) 80. * Spermophila moieleti, (Puch.) This curious little Sparrow is not uncommon (luring the summer months, and I am inclined to think that a few may pass the winter. During the breeding season the male has a very sprightly song, much resembling that of the Indigo-bird, but sweeter; this it frequently utters while perched on the topmost twig of a bush. They are usually seen in patches of briers and low bushes, at no great distance from water ; they are very tame, and will permit a person to approach very closely. At least two pairs built within Fort Brown during the season of 1877. One of these nests, found nearly finished early in May, was in a bush about three feet from the ground : it was not pensile, but was placed on a small branch between three or four upright twigs, and was entirely composed of a peculiar yellow rootlet : it was destroyed by a violent storm before eggs were deposited. A second nest, found May 25, in a young ebony-bush, four feet from the ground, was deserted im- mediately after completion. It is a delicate little nest, supported at the rim and beneath by twigs, and built of a very fine, dried grass, with which a few horse-hairs, a leaf or two, and a small rag are interwoven: it is 1.70 wide by 1.50 in depth. Both these nests are open and trans- parent. It is worthy of remark that none of the males seen or killed here were in the typical adult plumage, but in that described by Mr. Lawrence as S. albogularis. The stomachs of the specimens killed were filled with small seeds. A third nest, found May 5, 1878, was attached to a hanging rim about four feet from the ground. The nest was partly pensile, and was built of delicate rootlets. It contained three young. 81. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata, Bon. Of this species I cannot say much. At times abundant, particularly in the spring, it often escaped observation for mouths; and though it probably breeds here, I was unable to find any nests. The birds are usually seen in thickets and about brush-fences, and females are more frequently seen than males. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 491. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 21.) 82. *Cardinalis virginianus, (Briss.) A common resident. Some summer specimens approach var. cocdneus in the almost entire absence of grayish borders to the feathers of the back and rump. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 491. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 21.) 83. Eremophila alpestris var. chrysolaema, (Wagl.) Common during the winter months. I am confident that this species breeds rather plentifully on a prairie within ten miles of Fort Brown. Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 9 Sept. 30, 1878. 130 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Many pairs were seen May 1(5 and June 2 and 16, 1877, though no nests were found.— (i7. cormtta, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 48G.—E. al2)esiris cliry- solcema, Sennett, B. Kio Grande, 9.) 84. Molothrus ater, (Bodd.) Very common during winter, arriving early in September and leaving in April. The males frequent the stables and picket-lines in large flocks, with three or four other species of Blackbirds: the females are much less common. — (ili. 2>ecoris, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 492.) 85. * Molothrus ater rar. obscurus, (Gni«l.) Common during summer, replacing var.r)ecoris when it leaves. I have found the eggs or young in nests of Pyrocephahis var. mexicaiuis, Vireo novehoracensis, Icteria vircns, Ampliuxiiza hilineata, Embernagra rnfivir- gata, Icterus cucullatus, I. var. affinis, and Agelcens lilioeniceus.* Fifteen eggs now before me average .78 by .61, which is considerably larger than the measurements given by Dr. Brewer.t — [M. ater obsciirus, Sennett, B. Kio Grande, 22.) 86. * Molothrus aeneus, (Wagl.) — The Red-eyed Cowbird. Psarocolius wneus, Wagl., Isis, 1829, 758.— Bonap., Consp. I, 1850, 426. Molothrus (vneKS, Caban., Mus. Heiu. I, 1851, 192.— Scl., P. Z. S. 1856, 300; 1859, 365 (Jalapa), 381 (Oaxaca) ; Catal. 1861, 135, No. 819 (Jalapa;.— Sol. & Sai.v., Ibis, 1860, 34; Nom. Neotr. 1873, 37.— Owkn, Ibis, 1661, 61 (Guatemala; descr. eggs).- Cass., Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 1866, 18 (Mazatlan, Manzanillo, and Jalapa, Mexico; Yucatan; Nicaragua; Costa Rica ; Panama). — Sumichr., Mem. Bost. Soc. I, 1869, 552 (Vera Cruz; hot and temperate regions. Vulg. : " Tongonito" ; "^Enmante- cado"). — Salvin, P. Z. S. 1870, 191 (Cbitra and Calobre, Veragua). — Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. IX, 1868,104 (Costa Rica); Mem. Bost. Soc. II, 1874, 281 (Mazatlan, Manzanillo Bay, and Mts. of Colima, W. Mexico. Habits) ; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, 1876, 24 (Tapana, Isth. Tehuantepec; April. — "Iris red"). — Merrill, Bull. Nutt. Oru.Club, I, Nov. 1876,88 (Ft. Brown, Texas; very abundant); ib. II, Oct. 1877, 85 (habits ; descr. of eggs and young. — " Iris blood-red " in adult ; brown in young). — CouES & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. Terr. Feb. 1878, 23 (Fort Brown, Tex. — Syu, diag., remarks). Molothrus robustus, Caban., Mus. Hein. I, 1851, 193 ; J. f. O. 1861, 81. /3. armenti. Molothrus armenti, Caban., Mus. Hein. I, 1851, 192; J. f. O. 1861, 82. — Cass., P. A. N. S. March, 1866, 18 (Damarara ; Savanilla, New Granada). * On June 13, 1877, I found an egg of this variety in a nest of Amphispiza bilineata that contained three young and two addled eggs. The Cowbird's egg was cracked almost entirely across the middle, and in it was one of the addled Sparrow's eggs. This must have been done by some idle Mexicaii. t Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, North American Birds, ii, 157. ' PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 131 Sp. ch. — Adult male: Head, ueck, back, and lower parts soft, silky brouzoblack, of a peculiar shade, baviug a brassy greeuisb olive cast, much like the plumage of the body iu Quiscalus mieus ; the feathers violet-black immediately beneath the surface, the basal portion of the feathers slaty-graj'ish; scapulars and rump more violet; wings in gen- eral, tailcoverts, and tail lustrous silky steel-blue, the tail-coverts and upper wing-coverts more violaceous, the primaries and rectrices more greenish in certain lights; tibiae and anal region silky black; lining of the wings silky violet. Bill and feet deep black; iris blood-red. Wing, 4.G0-4.80; tail, 3.70-3.80; culmen, .85-.90; tarsus, 1.15-l.-'5; middle toe, .85-.95. Young male : Uniform dull black, with a faint violet lustre on the back and rump, and a slight gloss of bottle-green on the wings and fail. Adult female : Uniform brownish-gray, darker above, where very faintly glossed with dull bluish, and paler beneath, many of the feathers of the wings and tail showing indistinctly paler edges, and feathers of the breast exceedingly indistinct darker shaft- streaks. Wing, 4.10; tail, 3.25; culmen, 0.75; tarsus, 1.05; middle toe, 0.85. Hab. — Mexico and Central America, from the Eio Grande Valley (iu the United States) to the Isthmus of Panama. 1 have nothing of importance to add to the following notes, which appeared in the October (1877) number of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, pp. 85-87 : — " The occurrence of this species north of Mexico was noted in the Bulletin of November, 1876 (Vol. I, p. 88). It is now more than a year since it was first observed, and during that time I have had ample op- portunity to study its habits, a short account of which may be of interest. This Cowbird is found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Veragua, as well as in Southern Texas; how far it penetrates into the latter State I am unable to say. My first specimens were taken at Hidalgo, on the Rio Grande, seventy miles northwest of Fort Brown, where, however, they are not so abundant as lower down the river. Here they are common throughout the year, a small proportion going south in winter. Those that remain gather iu large flocks with the Long-tailed Grackles, com- mon Cowbirds, and Brewer's, Eed-wiuged, and Yellow-headed Black- birds ; they become very tame, and the abundance of food about the picket-lines attracts them for miles around. M. wneus is readily distin- guishable iu these mixed gatherings from the other species by its blood - red iris and its peculiar top-heavy appearance, caused by its habit of pulfing out the feathers of the head and neck. This habit is most marked during the breeding season and in the male, but is seen through- out the year. "About the middle of April the common Cowbird, Brewer's, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds leave for the North ; the Long tailed Grackles have formed their colonies in favorite clumps of mesquite trees; the Redwings that remain to breed have selected sites for their nests; the dwarf Cowbirds {Molothrus ater var. ohscnrus) arrive from the South, 132 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. and 31. ceneus gather in flocks by themselves, and wait lor their victims to build. The males have now a variety of notes, somewhat resembling those of the common Cowbird, but more harsh. Duriu<; the day they scatter over the surrounding country in little companies of one or two females and half a dozen males, returning at nightfall to the vicinity of the picket lines. While the females are feeding or resting in the shade of a bush, the males are eagerly paying their addresses by puffing out their feathers, as above noted, strutting up and down, and nodding and bowing in a very odd manner. Every now and then one of the males rises in the air, and, poising himself two or three feet above the female, flutters for a minute or two, following her if she moves away, and then descends to resume his puffing and bowing. This habit of fluttering in the air was what first attracted ray attention to the species. In other respects their habits seem to be like those of the eastern Cowbird. " My first egg of 31. mieus was taken May 14, 1877, [*] in a Cardi- nal's nest. A few days before this a soldier brought me a similar egg, saying he found it in a Scissor-tail's (Milvulus) nest; not recognizing it at the time, I paid little attention to him, and did not keep the egg. I soon found several others, and have taken in all twenty-two specimens the past season. All but tw^o of these were found in nests of the Bul- lock's, Hooded, and small Orchard (i. yar. affinis) Orioles. It is a curious fact that although Yellow- breasted Chats and Eed- winged Blackbirds breed abundantly in places most frequented by these Cowbirds, I have but once found thelatter's egg in a Chat's nest, and never in a Red-wing's, though I have looked in very many of them.[t] Perhaps they feel that the line should be drawn somewhere, and select their cousins the Black- birds as coming within it ; the Dwarf Cowbirds are not troubled by this scruple, however. Several of these parasitic eggs were found under interesting conditions. On six occasions I have found an egg of both Cowbirds in the same nest ; in four of these there were eggs of the right- ful owner,! who was sitting; in the other two the Cowbirds' eggs were alone in the nests, which were deserted : but I have known the Hooded Oriole to sit on an egg of M. (eneus which was on the point of hatching when found; how its own disappeared I cannot say. Once two eggs of ceneus were found in a nest of the small Orchard Oriole (var. affinis). Twice I have seen a broken egg of ceneus under nests of Bullock's Ori- ole on which the owner was sitting. " Early in June a nest of the Hooded Oriole was found with four eggs and one of 3L ceneus, all of which I removed, leaving the nest. Hap- pening to pass by it a few days later, 1 looked in, and to my surprise found two eggs of ceneus., which were taken : these were so unlike that *Iu the Bulletin misprinted 1876. t Since vs-riting this, I have found this Cowbird's egg in a deserted Redwing's nest. X " It would be interesting to know what would have become of the three species in one nest, and had the latter been near the fort, where I could have visited them daily, I should not have taken the eggs. It is probable, however, that M. ceneus would have disposed of the young Dwarf Cowbird as easily as of the young Orioles." PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 133 they were probably laid by dififerent birds. Still another egg, and the last, was laid in the same nest within ten days. But the most remark- able instance was a nest of the small Orchard Oriole found June 20, con- taining three eggs of ceneus, while just beneath it was a whole egg of this j)arasite, also a broken one of this and of the Dwarf Cowbird. Two of the eggs in the nest were rotten ; the third, strange to say, contained a living embryo. As the nest was certainly deserted, I can only account for this by supposing that the two rotten ones were laid about the first week of June, when there was considerable rain, and that the other was deposited soon after, since which time the weather had been clear and very hot. On one occasion I found a female ameus hanging with a stout thread around her neck to a nest of the Bullock's Oriole. The nest contained one young one of this Cowbird, and it is probable that its pa- rent, after depositing the egg, was entangled in the thread on hurriedly leaving the nest, and then died ; it had apparently been dead about two weeks. This case supports the view that the eggs or young of the owner are thrown out by the young parasite, and not removed by its parent, though I could find no trace of them beneath this nest. " Twenty-two eggs of 31. ceneus average .90 by .70, the extremes being .95 by .75 and .82 by .65. The color is a greenish white, unspotted, soon fading to a dull opaque white. There is more than the usual vari- ation in shape. Some are almost perfectly elliptical, others are nearly round ; some are quite pointed at the smaller end, while others still are there abruptly truncate. "The young, soon after leaving the nest, have the plumage uniform dull black; cheeks and sides of head bare; iris brown."* 87. ^Agelaeus phoeniceus, (Linn.) A common resident, breeding abundantly. The nests and eggs are smaller than the average of those found in more Northern States. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 492. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 24.) 88. Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, (Bonap.) Rather rare during winter, and 1 do not think that any breed, in this immediate vicinity at least. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 492. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 24.) 89. * Sturnella magna, (Linn.) Common during winter. — (Sennett, B. Kio Grande, 24.) *In the Ibis of January, 1861, pp. 61, 62, are the following notes by R. Oweu on the supposed eggs of this species: — " The eggs are pale greenish white, and measure, axis 1 inch, diam. .75. A few eggs of the 'Tordito', taken from the nests of the ' Chorcha' (Icterus) and the 'Cien-Sante Mejicano' (Minnis gracilis). The Indians here all identify these eggs as those of the 'Tordito'. However, personally, I have never surprised the bird on the nest of any other species. At ihe same time I may add that I have never seen it either building or occupied in any other domestic occupation what- ever, which somewhat confirms the statement aforesaid. The eggs are f.;und most commonly in the nests of the ' Choicha' and the ' Cieu-Sarjte Mejicano ', and occasion- ally in that of the largest species of ' Chaiillo' {Pitaugus derhianuH)." — T. M. B. 134 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 90. Stiirnella magna var. mezicana, Scl. " Sturnella magna ", Swains., Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 436. "Sturnella Jiipjjocrepis", Sci.., P. Z. S. 1856, 30,301; 1859, 58, 365, 381.— Scl. & Salv., Ibis, 1859, 19 ; 1860, 34.— Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. VIII, 1865, 177 (David, Veragua). Sturnella mexicana, Scl., Ibis, 1861, 179; P. Z. S. 1864, 175 (City of Mexico); Catal. 1861, 139, No. 842 (Jalapa).— Cass., Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1866, 24 (Mexico; Guatemala).— Salvin, P. Z. S. 1867, 142 (Veragua). " Sturnella ludoviciana ", Salv., P. Z. S. 1870, 191 (Veragua). Sturnella magna var. mexicana, B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. B. Irl, 1874, 172 (Mexico ; Central Am.).— Lawk., Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, 1876, 24 (Barris and Sta. Efigenia, Islb. Tebuantepec ; Sept., Feb.). Sturnella magna, a. mexicana, CouES, Birds N. W. 1874, 190. Summer specimens of the Meadow Lark found at Fort Brown have been identified by Mr. Ridgway as typical mexicana. Its notes and habits, as observed there, do not seem to differ essentially from those of S. magna. It is abundant from April until October. [This Southern form may be easily distinguished from true .nagna by its smaller general size (including the bill) and much larger legs and feet, which are not only relatively, but absolutely, longer and stouter than in S. magna. The two specimens examined by me were obtained at Fort Brown, August 21 and September 13, 1877. They agree exactly with Mexican examples. — R. E.] 91. Icterus auduboni, Giraud. This fine Oriole is found in moderate abundance, and is the only spe- cies that is resident. During the summer months, it is usually found in deep woods at some distance from houses, but during the winter it is less shy and retiring. They are frequently captured and offered for sale by Mexicans in this vicinity, but several I have kept would not sing at all in captivity. When free, their usual song is a prolonged and repeated whistle of extraordinary mellowness and sweetness, each note varying in pitch from the preceding. If once heard, it can never be forgotten. I have not succeeded in finding any nests. There is considerable varia- tion in the extent of white edging to the wings and tail, some specimens closely approaching var. melanocephalns. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 26.) 92. Icterus cucuUatus, Swains. This is perhaps the most common Oriole in this vicinity during the summer, arriving about the last week in March. It is less familiar than Bullock's Oriole, and, like the preceding species, is usually found in woods. The nests of this bird found here are perfectly characteristic, and can- not be confounded with those of any allied species; they are usually found in one of the two Ibllowing situations : the first and most fre- quent is in a bunch of hanging moss, usually at no great height from the ground ; when so placed, the nests are formed almost entirely by hollowing out and matting the moss, with a few filaments of a dark hair- like moss as lining; the second situation is in a bush (the name of PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSlilUM. 135 which I do not know) growiug to a height of about six feet, a nearly bare stem throwing out two or three irregular masses of leaves at the top; these bunches of dark green leaves conceal the nest admirably ; it is constructed of filaments of the hair-like moss just referred to, with a little Spanish moss, wool, or a few feathers for the lining ; tliey are rather wide and shallow for Orioles' nests, and, though strong, they ap- pear thin and delicate. A few pairs build in Spanish bayonets [Yucca) growing on sand ridges in the salt prairies ; here the nests are built chiefly of the dry, tough fibres of the plant, with a little wool or thistle- down as lining ; they are placed among the dead and depressed leaves, two or three of which are used as supports. A large series of eggs now before me are quite characteristic, and can readily be distinguished from eggs of our other Orioles by the absence of irregular blotches and pen-marks and by the white or very slightly bluish ground-color. The markings are chiefly at the larger end in an irregular ring of spots of varying shades of brown and lilac. Some sets are precisely like large Vireos' eggs. The average size is .82 by .59, with comparatively little variation. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 25.) 93. * Icterus bullocki, Swains. Common summer visitant. The breeding habits of this bird are quite unlike those of the Hooded Oriole. Instead of concealing its nest admirably in bunches of leaves or hanging moss, it is conspicuously placed at the extremity of an upper branch of a mesquite or ratama tree, usually at the edge of a prairie or near houses. One set of eggs has the groundcolor a beautiful pinkish buff.— (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 25.) 94. Icterus baltimore, (Linn.) Two specimens taken in April. I think that Mr. Dresser is in error in stating in the Ibis that this Oriole breeds at Matamoras. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493.) 95. * Icterus spurius var. afiinis, Ijawr. This small race of the Orchard Oriole is found rather plentifully from the latter part of March until August. Nests found here are much smaller than Eastern ones ; in size and shape, they are more like Vireos'. This species and Bullock's are frequently found breeding in small, irregu- lar colonies composed of both species ; the Hooded Oriole does the same, but with individuals of its own species only. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 25.) 96. Scolecophagus cyanccephalus, (Wagl.) Brewer's Blackbird is very abundant from about the first week in October until April.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 27.) 97. * Quiscalus macrurus, Swains. This handsome Grackle is a very common resident, and large numbers 136 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. breed on the reservation. Early in April, after several weeks of noisy courtship, they begin to build in irregular colonies, and by the middle of the month have eggs. The nests are perhaps most frequently placed near the top of one of the main upright branches of a young mesquite- tree. They are strongly built of straws, leaves, and grasses, mud being used freely. Where Spanish moss is plentiful, the nests are sometimes composed entirely of it, and I have found them among tule-reeds where several species of Herons were breeding. 1 have also found their nests either supi)orted by the lower part of the nest of the Caracara Eagle or in the same tree. The eggs, usually three in number, vary greatly in appearance; the ground color is usually a greenish white or purplish- brown, more or less heavily spotted and dashed with several shades of brown and black. These markings are apt to be heavier at the smaller end, which frequently has a much darker ground color than the larger ; and this is so often the case as to be rather characteristic. Forty -five eggs now before me give the following measurements: — average, 1.26 by .85; largest, 1.44 by .91 ; smallest, 1.16 by .82. The annual moult takes place in August. Unlike the Boat-tailed Grackle, the males of this race do not leave the females while incubating, but are jealous of intruders, and take their share of feeding the young. The various notes of this bird are quite indescribable, and must be heard to be appreciated. The long and heavy tail of this Grackle makes it easily recognizable at a long distance, but is rather inconvenient when there is much wind. At such times, the birds are obliged to " head up" wind, like so many sloops at anchor. They have a frequent and curious habit of throwing their heads up and far back, so that the reversed bill is almost parallel with the back.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 27.) 98. Xanthura luxuosa, Less. The Kio Grande Jay is a common resident about Fort Brown and higher up the river, but does not seem to pass much into the interior of Texas. It is a noisy and gaudy species, soon making its presence known by its harsh cries or by its green and yellow plumage, seen for a moment as it moves about. Though at times shy, it is often very tame and bold, entering tents and taking food off plates or from the kitchen whenever a good opportunity offers. Large numbers are caught by the soldiers in traps baited with corn, but the plumage is their only attraction as a cage-bird. Its eggs and nest were first described in vol. i, p. 89, of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Since that time, I have found several other nests, but they do not affect the statements above made in regard to their breeding habits.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 495.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 29.) 99. Sayornis fuscus, Gmel. Not uncommon from October until April.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865,473.) 100. Sayornis sayus, Bouap, More abundant than the preceding during the winter months. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 473.) PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 137 101. Contopus borealis, (Swains.) Not rare during the migrations. — (Drfssee, Ibis, 1865, 474.) 102. Contopus virens, (Linn.) Breeds; a few pass the winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 474. — Sen- net, B. Rio Grande, 33.) 103. Contopus richardsoni, (Swains.) August.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 474.) 104. Empidonax minimus, Baird. September. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 474. — Sennett, B. Bio Grande, 33.) 105. Empidonax acadicus, (Gmel.) Two specimens taken in the spring. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 475.) 106. Empidonax pusillus car. trailli, (And.) August 7, 1876. — {U. trailli, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 474.) 107. Empidonax flaviventris, Baird. A single specimen taken. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 475.) 108. Tyrannus carolinensis, (Gmel.) Rather common during the migrations, arriving about the first week in April and September. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 472. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 31.) 109. * Milvulus forficatus, (Gmel.) Common summer visitor, arriving about Maich 20 and leaving in Sep- tember and October. Several pairs of this exquisite Flycatcher build in the low trees surrounding the parade-ground of the fort. The nests resemble those of the Kingbird, but are smaller, and, as a rule, are not more than six or seven feet from the ground. The eggs are from three to five in number, and are deposited by the latter part of April. The annual moult takes place in July and August. About the middle of October, 1876, just before sunset, a flock of at least one hundred and fifty of these birds passed over the fort : they were flying leisurely southward, constantly pausing to catch passing insects ; and in the rays of the setting sun their salmon-colored sides seemed bright crimson. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 472.) 110. Myiarchus crinitus, (Linn.) Taken in March and April. I am confident that none of this variety remain to breed. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 473. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 32.) 138 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 111. Myiarchus erythrocercus var. cooperi. fTyrannus cooperi, Kaup,* P. Z. S. Feb. 11, 1831, 51 (" Northern America and Chili"). Myiarchus cooperi, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 180 ; Catal. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 132.— SCL., P. Z. S. 1859, 384; Catal. 1861, 232, No. 1428 (Mexico; Guatemala).— SCL. & SALV.,Ibis, 1859, 122, 440; 1870, 837 (coast Hon- duras). — Lawr., Ann. Lj-c. N. Y. ix, 1869, 202 (Yucatan). Myiarchus crinitus, c, var. cooperi, CouES, P. A. N. S. July -J, 1872, ()7 (Tehuantepec, Mazatlan, and Guadalajara, S. W. Mexico; Guate- mala ?). Myiarchus crinitus var. cooperi, B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. B. II, 1874, 331 (Mazatlan, Tehuantepec, and Yucatan). — Lawr., Bull. U. S.Nat. Mus. No. 4, 1876, 28 (Tapana and Sta. Efigenia, Isth. Tehuantepec ; April ; Dec). ? Tyrannus mexicanus, KAUP.t P. Z. S. Feb. 11, 1851, 51 {loc. incog.). Myiarchus mexicanus, Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. IX, 1869, 202 (Yucatan); Pr. Boston Soc. June 7, 1871 (Tres Marias Islands, W. Mexico). — SuMiCHR., Mem. Boston Soc. I, 1869, 557, 560 (Vera Cruz ; hot re- gion). Myiarchus yucatanensis, Lawr., P. A. N. S. Nov. 21, 1871, 235 (Yucatan, Mus. G. N. L.=M. mexicanus, Ann. Lye. N. Y. IX, 1869, 202!). Myiarchus crinitus erythrocercus, Couks & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. Terr. vol. iv, No. 1, Feb. 1878, 32 (Ft. Brown, Texas). Alguacil de Moscas, Tres Marias vernac. (Jide Lawr., /. c). The occurrence of this variety within our limits was noted in the April (1878) number of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Since that time I have paid particular attention to the species, and find that it is the only one of the genus that breeds on the Lower Rio Grande, which it does in considerable numbers. In its notes and habits, it appears to closely resemble the M. crinitus. Seven identified sets of thirty two eggs average .93 by .66, the extremes being 1.03 by .73 and .82 by .65. With one exception, no snake-skins were used in the construction of any of these nests. They were composed of felted locks of wool and hairs, and were placed not far from the ground, either in old Woodpeckers' holes or in natural hollows in decayed trees or stumps. Note. — The eggs of the Myiarchus, as a genus, have a very remark- able family resemblance. They are of a rounde. 389 (Parii).— Merrill, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, I, Nov. 1876,88 (Fort Brown, Texas, April and May; not rare; breeding). Caprimulgus (juianensis, Gmel., S. N. I, ii, 1788, 1030 (based on Buff., PI. Enl. 733).— Lath., Ind, Orn. II, 1790, 586, No. 8.— Max. Beitr. Ill, 1831, 318, No. 4. Nyctidromus guianensis, Cass., P. A. N. S. 1851, 183, 189 (Cayenne ; Surinam); Catal. Caprim. Mus. Phila. Acad. 1851, 12.— Burm., Syst. IJeb. II, 1856, 391.— SCL., Catal. Am. B. 1862,281, No. 1690 (Orizaba ; Bogota; Vera Paz; Esmeraldas, Ecuador ; Trinidad) ; P. Z. S. 1864, 176 (City of Mexico).— Tay^lor, Ibis, 1864, 90 (Trinidad).— Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. VII, 1861,290 (Isth. Panama).— ScL. «t Salv., P.Z.S. 1864,364 (Isth. Panama).- Pelz., Orn. Bras. 1871, 13.— Salvin, P. Z. S. 1870, 204 (Veragua). 144 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. IMyau, AzAKA, Apuut. 1801, No. 310. Nyctidromus americanus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. S. 1851, 179, 180; Catal. Caprim. Mus. Phila. Acad. 1H51, 12 (Nicaragua).— ScL., P. Z. S. 1856, 285; 1859, 367 (Jalapa, E. Mexico).— Scl. &, Salv., Ibis, 1859, 125, 173 (Guatemala).— Caban. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Ill, 1860, 92 (Jalapa; Porto Cabello ; Guiana; Brazil).- Lawr., Aun. Lye. N. Y. VII, 1861, 290 (Isth. Panama).— Salvin, Ibis, 1806, 203 (Guatemala).— CouES & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr. vol. iv. No. 1, Feb. 1878, 34 (Brownsville, Texas). Nyctidromus affinis, Gray, List B. Brit. Mus. II, 1844, 11, No. 2. Nyctidromus derhyanus, Gould, Icon. Av. II, 1838, pi. 2. — Gray «fc Mitch., Genera B. I, 1849, 48.— BoNAP., Consp. I, 1850, 62. Caprwmlgus grallarius, Wied, Mus. Lugd. {teste Bonap., Consp. 1, 1850, 62). Nyctidromus grallarius, Bonap., Consp. 1, 1850, 62 (Brazil). — Cassin, P. A. N. S. 1851, 179, 183 ; Catal. Caprim. Mus. Phila. Acad. 1851, 12 (Bogota).— Burm., Th. Bras. II, 1856, 392. Caprimulgus laiicaudatus, Drapiez, Diet. Class. Hist. Nat. VI, 1824, 169 (/este Cassin). Sp. CH. — Adult male: Wing, G.75; tail, C.75; tarsus, 1.10; middle toe, .80. Tarsus and beel-joint completely bare. Above, finely mottled brownish-gray, tbe crown with a central series of black, longitudinal dashes, the scapulars beautifully variegated with black and creamy-buff or ochraceous, in large, somewhat \/si»fiped, markings; wing-coverts with large terminal spots of creamy-buff or ochraceous. Basal portion (sometimes almost the basal half) of tbe exposed portion of the larger primaries white, including both webs, and forming a conspicuous patch ; remainder of the quills uniform plain dusky. Outer tail-feather (on each side) nearly plain blackish throughout ; next feather chiefly white, with the greater portion of the outer web blackish ; third feather chiefly white, with the outer web margined more or less with dusky ; four middle tail-feathers without any white, the ground -color being mottled grayish, variegated by ragged, badly defined "herring-bone"' blotches of black- ish along the shaft. Lower parts deep buff or creamy-ochraceous, the throat crossed by a distinct collar of pure white, the remaing portions transversely barred or " rayed " with dusky, these bars wider apart posteriorly. Adult female: Wing, 6.00-6.30; tail, 5.80-6.00. Generally similar to the male, but smaller, the colors less pure, the markings less sharply contrasted, and the white areas of the primaries and rectrices more re- stricted. General hue of the plumage decidedly more brownish ; white patches on the primaries situated rather farther toward the ends of the feathers, occupying only the outer four (instead of six) quills; of smaller extent than in the male, and more or less tinged with ochraceous. White of the rectrices occupying only the terminal portion (from 0.75 of an inch to 1.75 inches) of the inner web of the second and third tail-feathers (counting from the outer), the blackish portions of these feathers broadi.-y though somewhat irregularly barred and mottled with ochraceous. White gular collar less distinct than in the male. With a somewhat close general resemblance to the Whip-poor-will [Caiwimulgus vociferus), this species may be at "once distinguished by PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 145 the wholly naked tarsi, the white patch across the primaries, which are also destitute of ochraceous spots, by the much longer aud differently marked tail and other features. It is, in fact, a far handsomer bird, and, not excepting even the ^'■Antrostonius^^ nuttaUi, is by far the most beau- tiful of the Capriniulgid(v which occur in the United States. It is a species of very wide distribution, its range comprising the whole of the inter- tropical portions of America on both sides of the equator, with the ex- ception of the West India Islands, from none of which it has thus far been recorded. It is subject to considerable variations of color, which have given rise to a number of synonyms, as may be seen by reference to the citations given above, but the variations seem to be of an individual and sexual nature, rather than geographical. — R. R. This interesting addition to the avifauna of the United States proves^ to be a rather common summer visitor, arriving early in March, at least a month before any others of the family, and remaining as late, at least, as November 16, on which date I have taken two specimens. My first specimen was shot on the 1st of April, 1876, and its capture noted in the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, vol. i, p. 88. Since that time, I have taken quite a number of specimens, and found several sets of eggs. The habits and eggs of this species, in addition to its anatomi- cal characters, show its alBnity with the Whip-poor-wills rather than the Nighthawks. It frequents shady thickets and copses (where these can be found), and when tiushed dodges rapidly and silently among the bushes, but soon alights, only to repeat the short flight when again ap- proached. The eggs are deposited in such a situation, usually at the foot of a bush; the parent, when started from her eggs, makes no attempt to decoy one away, but flying a few yards alights to watch the intruder, frequently raising herself on her legs and nodding in a curious manner, uttering at the same time a low, whining sound. Their notes are among the most characteristic night sounds of the Lower Rio Grande, and are constantly heard at evening during the summer months. They consist of a repeated whistle resembling the syllables whew-whew-icJiew-ivlieic- iche-ee-e-etv, much stress being laid upon the last, which is prolonged. The whole is soft and mellow, yet can be heard at a great distance. The preliminary tcJiewsvary somewhat in number, and late in the season are often omitted altogether. The eggs are a rich creamy-buff color, sparingly marked with a deeper shade of the same and with lilac. Specimens average 1.25 by .92 inches. On the 15th of May, 1876, 1 found a set of eggs near camp at Hidalgo, and on returning in about fifteen minutes to secure the parent, who had disappeared among the thickets, I iound that she had removed the eggs, although they had not been touched. At least two pairs breed annually within Fort Brown, part of the reservation afibrding them the shade and shelter they always seek. 117. Antxostomus carolin-^nsis, (Gmel.) A few taken during the migrations. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 470.) Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 10 Oct. % 18T8. 146 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 118. Antrostomus vociferus, (Wils.) Rather uncommon in spring and autumn. 119. Chordeiles popetue, (Vieill.) A])ppars to be a ratber rare visitant in spring and autumn. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 471.) 120. Chordeiles popetue var. henryi, Cassiu. Abundant during the summer months, arriving about the 1st of April, and leaving in September. Deposit their eggs near the edges of prairies. Specimens said by Ridgway to be smaller than typical henryi. — (C. henryi, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 471.) 121. * Chordeiles acutipennis var. texensis, Lawr. Common summer visitor, arriving early in April. While var. henryi is usually found about prairies at some distance from houses, the pres- ent species is most plentiful just outside of Brownsville, and I have found several sets of eggs within the fort. These are usually deposited in ex- posed situations, among sparse chaparral, on ground baked almost as hard as brick by the intense heat of the sun. One set of eggs was placed on a small piece of tin, within a foot or two of a frequented path. The female sits close, and when flushed flies a few feet and speedily returns to its eggs. They make no attempt to decoy an intruder away. I have lidden up to within five feet of a female on her eggs, dismounted, tied my horse, and put my hand on the bird before she would move. This species is more strictly crepuscular than var. henryi or popetue, and is very seldom seen on the wing during the day. The notes are a mewing call, and a very curious call that is with difiSculty described. It is somewhat like the distant and very rapid tapping of a large Woodi^ecker, accom- panied by a humming sound, and it is almost impossible to tell in what direction or at what distance the bird is that makes the noise. Both these notes are uttered on the wing or on the ground, and by both sexes. The eggs vary considerably, but exactly resemble the surface on which they are placed. The ground color is usually clay : some are very spar- ingly dotted with brown; others mottled with light-brown and obscure lilac; others still are so thickly marbled with brown and lilac on a dark ground as togive them a granite-like appearance. They average 1.07 by .77. — (C. texensis, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 471. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 34.) 122. Chaetura pelagica, (Linn.") Not uncommon during the migrations, arriving about March 20 and returning in September. 123. Trochilus colubris, Linn. Abundant during the spring and autumn migrations, but I was not able to satisfy myself that any remained to breed or to pass the winter, PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 147 though I have seen them as late as December 7 aud as early as March 9. — (Dresser, Ibis, 18G5, 470. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 35.) 124. Amazilia fuscicaudata. TtocMlus fuscicaudatus, Eraser, P. Z. S. Feb. 11, 1840, 17 (Chachapoyas, Peru). Hylocharis fuscicaudatus, Gray & Mitch., Genera B. I, 114, sp. 26. Saucerottia fuscicauda, Keichenb., Troch. Euuiu. 1855, 8, t. 696, figs. 4552-'o3. TrocMlus riefferi, Bourcier, Auii. Sci. Pbys. et Nat. Lyon, 1843, 45; Rev. Zool. 1843, 103 (Fusagasuga, New Granada). Amazilius riefferi, Bonap., Consp. I, 1850,78; Rev. Zool. 1854,254. — Scl., P. Z. S. 1856, 140; 1657, 16 (Bogota); 1659, 145 (Pallatanga, Ecuador). Amazilia riefferi, Reichenb., Av. Syst. Nat. 1849, pi. 39 ; Aufz. der Colibr. 1853, 10 ; Trocbil. Euum. 18.55, 8, t. 775, figs. 4798-'99.— Gould, Monog. Trochilid. V, 1853, pi. 311.— Scl., P. Z. S. 1859, 145; 1860,94 (New Granada), 283 (Bababoyo, Ecuador), 296 (Esmeraldas, Ecuador) ; Catal. Am. B. 1862, 314, No. 1878 (Cuban, Vera Paz ; Baranquilla, New Granada ; Esmeraldas, Ecuador). — Scl. & Salv., Ibis, 1859, 130 (Guatemala); 1860, 40 (Dueuas, Guatemala); 1864, 365 (Panama); Nora. Neotr. 1873, 92 (Mexico; Central America; New Granada; Ecuador).— Salvin, Ibis, 1860, 195, 270 (Coban, Vera Paz); P. Z. S. 1867, 156 (Veragua) ; Ibis, 1872, 320 (Nicaragua).— Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, 378 (San Nicolas, New Granada ; alt. 3,000 feet). Polytmus riefferi, Gray & Mitch., Genera B. I, 1849, 108, No. 72.— Gray, Hand-list, I, 1869, 132, No. 1680 (S.Mexico; Guatemala; "Andes."- Subg. Amazili). Pyrrhophccna riefferi, Caban. &, Heine, Mus. Hein. Ill, 1860, 36. — Gould, Introd. Trochilid. 1861, 158 (" Southern Mexico, Guatemala, aud along the Andes to Ecuador ") ; P. Z. S. 1870, 803 (Citado, Ecuador).- Lawr., Ann, Lye. N. Y. Oct. 23, 1865, 184 (Greytown, Nicaragua) ; ib. IX, 1868, 127 (Costa Rica) ; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, 1876, 33 (Guichi- covi, Isth. Tehoantepec). — Merrill, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, I, Nov. 1876, 88 (Ft. Brown, Texas, June, 1876 ; 2 specimens). Eranna riefferi, Heine, J. f. O. 1863, 188 (New Granada). T)-ocMlus aglaiw, BouRC. & Muls., Ann. Soc. Phys. Sc. Lyon, 1846, 329 ; Rev. Zool. 1846, 316 {hab. incog.).— Mvj.s., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch. I, , 319. Polytmus aglaice, Gray & Mitch., Genera B. I, 1849, 109, sp. 73. Amazilius aglaice, Bonap., Consp. I, 1850, 71. Saucerottia aglaice, Reichenb., Aufz. der Colibr. 1853, 10. Chloresfes aglaio!, Reichenb., Troch. Enum. 1855, 4. Hemithylaca aglaice, Caban. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Ill, 1860, 38, note 13. Ornismya amazili, Delattre, £cho du Monde Sav. No. 45, June 15, 1843j col. 1069. " TrocMlus arsiuoides, Sauc, in Mus. of Berlin " (Gould). Trochilus dubusi, BouRC, Soc. Agric. Lyon, 1852, 141. Amazilia dubusi, Reichenb., Aufz. der Colibr. 1853, 10 ; Trochil. Enum. 1855, 8, pi. 778, figs. 4809-'10 Eranna dubusi, Heine, J. f. O. 1863, 188 (Veragua; Guatemala; Costa Rica ; S. Mexico). Amazilius dubusi, Bonap., Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, 2.'^4. — Scl., P. Z. S. 1856, 287 ; 1859, 386 ; 1860, 296. Pyrrhophwna dubusi, Caban. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Ill, 1860, 36. Eranna jucunda, Heine, J. f. 0. 1863, 188 (Babahoyo aud Esmeraldas, Ecuador). Pyrrhophwna sauvis, Caban. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Ill, 1860, 38 (Cartagena, New Granada). Eranna sauvis, Heine, J. F. O. 1863, 188 (Cartagena). ■- Sp. CH. — Above metallic grass-greeu (varying to golden-green), more 148 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. bronzy on the crown and rump; longer ui)per tail-coverts cinnamon- rufous. Tail deep chestnut-rufous, the feathers tipped and edged for a greater or less distance from their ends with metallic greenish-bronze, glossed with purple; wing-coverts metallic green, like the back; rest of the wing uniform dusky slate, with a distinct violet purple gloss in cer- tain lights. Side of the head bronzy- green, the lores bright cinnamon- rufous. Throat, jugulum, breast, and sides metallic green, most brilliant on the breast and jugulum, where bright emerald in certain lights, duller and more bronzy on the sides ; throat-feathers grayish-wljite beneath the surface, this color showing wherever the feathers are disturbed. Abdomen pale mouse-gray ; crissum deep cinnamon rufous; anal tufts and thighs cottony-white. Bill reddish at the base for a greater or less distance (pale brownish in the dried skin), the terminal portion black- ish; feet blackish. Wing, 2.00-2.35; tail, 1.45-1.70; culmen, .70-.90. Sexes alilce in color. Young similar to the adult, but with the plum- age duller, the rump more extensively tinged with rufous and the fore- head washed with rusty. With very numerous specimens before me, representing various loca- lities, from Eastern Mexico to Guayaquil, Ecuador, I am unable to dis- cover any differences coincident with locality, even in specimens from the most remote districts. There is a considerable range of individual variation, involving the amount of blackness of the maxilla (some speci- mens having the upper mandible wholly b!ackish except the extreme base, while in others only the end is dark-colored), length of wing and bill, etc. These differences, however, appear to be purely individual, and not at all, so far as I can see, local. — R. R. The occurrence of this species within our limits was noted in the Bul- letin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, vol. i, p. 88. I have nothing to add to the brief note there jiublished. The specimen was captured by a soldier and brought to me. After describing the bird, I returned it to him, as he wished to keep it, but it escaped in a day or two. Found from Southern Texas to Ecuador. 125. *Amazilia yucatanensis. Trochilus yucatanensis, Cabot, Pr. Boston Soc. N. H. 1845, 74. (Yucatan.) Amazilia yucatanensis, Gould, Monog. Trochilid. V, 1853, pi. 308. — MuLS., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch. I, , 295. Fyrrliopluma yucatanensis, Gould, Introd. Troch. 1861, 157. Eranna yucatanensis, Heine, J. f. O. 1863, 187 (Yucatan). Amazilius cei-viiiivenfris, Gould, P. Z.S. June 10, 1856, 150 (Cordova, Mexico). — SCL., ib. 287 (Cordova); 1857, 17. Amazilia cerviniveyitris, Gould, Monog. Troch. V, 18.53, pi. 319 (Cordova). — SCL., Cutal. Am. B. 1862, 314, No. 1877 (Tlacotalpam, S. Mexico).— ScL. & SALV.,Noai. Neotr. 1873,92 (Mexico).— Boucard, Catal. Avium, 1876, 350, No. 10,966 (Yucatan).- Merrill, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, II, Jan. 1877, 26 (Fort Brown, Texas, Aug. 17, 1876).— Coues & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geog. Surv. Terr. vol. iv, No. 1, Feb. 1878, 35 (Browns- ville. Texas). * PEOCEEDINGS OF TINITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 149 Pyrrhophwna cervlnivenins, Caban. & Heixe, Mus. Hein. Ill, 1860, 36 (note). — Gould, Introd. Trochilid. 1861, 157 (Cordova). Eranna cervinirentris, Heine, J. f. O. 1863, 187 (Cordova). Polytmus cervinirentris, Gray, Hand-list, I, 1869, 132, No. 1079 (Mexico. — Subg. Amazili), Sp. CH. — Above metallic grass-green, varying to golden-green, duller on the crown and more bronzy on the uj^per tail-coverts, which are sometimes slightly tinged on the edges with rufous. Tail cinnamon- rufous, the intermediae more or less filossed with greenish-bronze (some- times entirely of this color); the other feathers bronze terminally, this color usually' following the edge for a greater or less distance from the tip. Wing-coverts metallic grass-green, like the back ; remainder of the wing uniform brownish-slate, with a very faint violet-purple gloss in certain lights. Throat, jugnlum, and sides of the head and breast brilliant metallic-green, almost emerald in certain lights, the feathers dull white beneath the surface, thus breaking the continuity of the green, especially on the throat, where the feathers are broadly tipped with green. Rest of lower parts pale fawn-color, or dilute cinnamon- buff, deepest on the crissum ; sides glossed with bronze-green ; anal tufts and thighs cottony-white. Bill reddish (light brown in the dried skin), the terminal third blackish. Feet dusky. Wing, 2,15-2.20; tail, 1.50- 1.60, depth of its fork about 0.20 ; culmen, 0.80. iSexes alike in colora- tion. Hab. — Eastern Mexico, from the Rio Grande Valley (United States side) to Yucatan. The two examples in the National Collection (No. 24,873, tTalapa, and 70,949, Fort Brown, Texas) differ in some minor details of coloration Thus, the former has the middle pair of tail-feathers entirely greenish- bronze, except a very small space on each web concealed by the longer upper tail-coverts ; the bronzy ends of the other feathers are distinctly glossed with dark purple, and the outer pair of feathers have scarcely a trace of bronze at their ends. The latter specimen, on the other hand, has the basal two-thirds of the intermediae wholly rufous, the bronzy ends of the other feathers destitute of a purple gloss, and the outer pair of feathers very distinctly tipped with bronze and edged for their whole length with a darker shade of the same color. These differences, how- ever, are doubtless only individual, or, possibly, sexual. The Fort Brown specimen is a little the larger, but the diff'erence in size is very slight. Neither has the sex marked. I have not seen a s})ecimen of the so-called " yucatanensis, Cabot ", but follow Mr. Elliot (MSS.) in considering it the same as the bird after- wards described by Mr. Gould as cerviniventris. — R. R. This Hummer, also new to the avifauna of the United States, and heretofore known only from Mexico, was first taken on the 17th of August, 1876, and its capture noted in the Bulletin of January, 1877, p. 26. It proves to be an abundant summer visitor, and I have nowhere found 150 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. it SO abundaut as on the military reservation at Fort Brown. Here it seems perfectly at home among the dense, tangled thickets, darting rapidly among the bushes and creeping vines, an i is with difficulty obtained. A rather noisy bird, its shrill cries usually first attract one's attention to its presence. A Hummer's nest, undoubtedly made by this species, was found in September, 1877, within the fort. It was placed on the fork of a dead, drooping twig of a small tree on the edge of a path through a thicket : it was about seven feet from the ground, and contained the shrivelled body of a young bird. The nest is made of the downy blossoms of the tree on which it is placed, bound on the outside with cobwebs, and rather sparingly covered with lichens. Internally, it is somewhat less than one inch in depth by one-half inch in diameter. The external depth is one and one-half inch. Note. — Besides these two species of Hummers actually taken, I have seen two others that are certainly new to our avifauna, but have not been able to capture them. One of these is a large, green species, with a long tail ; the other, a very small bird, of a deep purplish-brown color. 126. Geococcyx californianus, (Less.) This curious bird is abundaut, and is a resident. Its food consists of insects, field-mice, small snakes, and snails. Of these latter, one spe- cies (a variety of Bulimulus alternatus) is very common, passing the dry season on bushes and cacti, and of this the bird is very fond. Quite large piles of the broken shells are constantly to be seen along the road- sides about some fallen branch on which the bird breaks them. As a rule, the "road-runner" is a silent bird, but occasionally it is heard to utter one of two notes. One is a " IcooTc-Jcook-TcooJcJcooJc ^\ much like the call of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but louder, and usually heard during the breeding season. The other is a note of alarm or anger : it is a low, growling sound, accompanied by a chattering of the bill. The nests are usually placed in low, thorny bushes, and are thick, clumsy structures, with but a slight depression for the eggs. The latter appear to be deposited at intervals of several days, and a perfectly fresh egg is often found with one on the point of hatching. I have never found more than four eggs or young in one nest. — (Dressek, Ibis, 1665, 466. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 36.) 127. *Coccyzus americanus, (Linn.) Not uncommon summer visitor; breeding rather plentifully. — (Dres- ser, Ibis, 1865, 467.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 38.) 128. * Picus scalaris, Wagler. Common resident. In notes and habits, this little bird is so like the Downy Woodpecker that there is little to be said about it. Eighteen perfectly identified eggs now before me average .81 by .64, which is much less than the measurements given in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, II, 519.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 468.— Senne : t, B. Rio Grande, 38.) PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 151 129. Hylotomus pileatus, (Linu.) Late in May, 1876, I saw one specimen near Santa Maria, and have seen several holes that from their size were probably made by this bird.*— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 469.) Mem. — Perhaps this was a Mexican species. 130. * Centurus aurifrons, (Wagl.) This handsome Woodpecker is found abundantly, perhaps rather more so than P. scalaris. Its habits and mode of nesting do not differ from those of other Woodpeckers of the same size. In places where there is only low chaparral, the poles of the government telegraph line are completely riddled by this bird. The eggs are usually four in number, and are rather fragile ; before they are blown, they are a beautiful shade of pink. Seven specimens average 1.03 by .76. — (Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 39. — C. Jiaviventris, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 469.) 131. Strix flammea vat: pratincola, Bou. This Owl seems to be a rather common resident. Near Hidalgo it breeds in holes in the banks of the Rio Grande, and in Brownsville a few nest in ruined buildings. — {S. pratincola, Dresser, Ibis, 1865,, 330. — 8. flammea americana, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 39.) 132. Asio accipitrinus, (Pall.) During the latter part of January, 1877, a small gathering of these Owls frequented a patch of tall grass in an open field near Browns- ville. — {Brachyotus cassini, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 330.) 133. Scops asio var. maccalli, Cass. Common resident. Near Hidalgo, on May 6, 1876, I captured a female of this race on her nest in an old hollow.stump about five feet from the ground. There were two eggs, nearly hatched, placed on a few chips at the bottom of the hole: these were of a dull white color with yellowish stains, and measure 1.40 by 1.15 and 1.39 by 1.13. The parent made an interesting pet for a few days, but finally escaped from my tent with ouq of the pegs to which it had been tied. — {IS. asio maccalli, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 39. — 8. maccalli, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 330.) 134. Bubo virginianus, (Gmel.) Probably resident. I have seen them occasionally in deep woods, and on one occasion in a perfectly open prairie, miles from timber of any size. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 39.) 135. Speotyto cuuicularia var. hypogaea, (Bon.) The Burrowing Owl is rather abundant during the winter months, but I do not think that any remain to breed. — {Athene Jiypogoea, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 330.) • This may possibly liave been the Mexican species S. ncapularis (Vigors). — R. E. 152 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 136. Falco communis iiar. naevius, Gmel. Eather common oa the prairies near the coast during winter.— (i?". anatiim, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 333.) 137. Falco fusco-caerulescens, Vieill. Until recently but two specimens of this beautiful Falcon had been taken within the United States, one in New Mexico, the other in Texas. Daring 1876 and 1877, I had occasionally seen a Hawk that I felt confident was of this species, but did not succeed in obtaining any specimens. On the 16th of June of the latter year, I found a nest placed in the top of a low Spanish bayonet growing in Palo Alto prairie, about seven miles from Fort Brown. After waiting a long time, I wounded the female, but she sailed off over the prairie and went down among some tall grass, where she could not be found: the male did not come within gunshot, though he twice rose from the nest on my approach. The nest was a slightly depressed platform of twigs, with a little grass for lining. The eggs, three in number, were rotten, though containing well-developed embryoes. They measure 1.81 by 1.29, 1.77 by 1.33, and 1.88 by 1.33 respectively. This set is now in Dr. Brewer's collection. On May 7, 1878, a second nest was found within one hundred yards of the one just mentioned, and the parent secured. The nest in situa- tion and construction was precisely like the other, except that the yucca was higher, the top being about twelve feet from the ground. The eggs were three in number, all well advanced but one, with a dead embryo. They measure 1.78 by 1.34, 1.82 by 1.29, 1.73 by 1.32 ; the ground-color is white, but so thickly dotted with reddish-brown as to appear of that color ; over these are somewhat heavier markings of deeper shades of brown. A single egg, without history, sent to me from Hidalgo, Texas, by Dr. S. M. Finley, U. S. A., measures 1.73 by 1.36: it is probably of this species, but its general appearance is much more reddish than either of the above sets. Since becoming more familiar with the habits of this Falcon, I have several times observed it among yuccas and prickly pears on open prairies, and it is probably a not very uncommon summer resident in such places in this vicinity. Note. — The egg referred to by Dr. Merrill as without history presents a very interesting problem, only to be solved when eggs precisely similar can be found with their parentage satisfactorily established. It may be an egg of femoralis, but is quite as likely to be something else. It resembles in the color and peculiarities of its markings no eggs of the femoralis I have ever seen. It has neither the beautiful vandyke-brown markings of the egg figured in my Oology, nor any of the more abundant raw-sienna dottings found in both the speci- PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 153 mens from the Pampas, and which is the only color present in the specimens identified by Dr. M. Instead, it is marked all over its surface with handsome spots and blotches of a deep reddish-buff, almost cinnamon in shade, completely obscuring the ground. Excepting in size, it most resembles an egg of Hierofalco islandicus. — T. M. B. 138. Falco columbarius, Linn. Not uncommon during winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865,323. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 42.) 139. Falco sparverius, Linn. Abundant from about the middle of September until the early part of April. All the specimens obtained were var. sparyeriMS, — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 42. — Tinnunculus s., Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 323.) 140. *Polyborus cheri-way, (Jacq.) A common resident, but more abundant in winter than in summer. This seems to be due to a partial migration, from the north, of birds in immature plumage, for the number of mature individuals does not seem to vary. I do not think that the perfect plumage is acquired for at least two years. I have but little to add to the many accounts already given of this bird, except to say that, at times at least, it is more active than some of the descriptions would lead one to infer. I have seen a Caracara chase a jackass-rabbit for some distance through open mesquite chapar- ral, and while they were in sight the bird kept within a few feet of the animal and constantly gained on it, in spite of its sharp turns and bounds. If one bird has caught a snake or field-mouse, its companions that may happen to see it at once pursue, and a chase follows very dif- ferent from what is seen among true Vultures. The nests are bulky platforms of small branches, with a slight dei)ression lined with fine twigs, roots, and grasses, or sometimes altogether without lining : they are placed in trees or on the tops of bushes, at no great height from the ground. Both sexes incubate. I have not found more than two eggs in one nest, and these are laid at an interval of three or four days. Eleven eggs average 2.28 by 1.84. The ground-color is a deep chocolate or red- dish-brown, more or less thickly covered with several darker shades of the same. — (P. tharus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 329. — P. tharus auduboni, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 42.) 141. Elanoides forficatus, (Linn.) This beautiful bird I have observed on but few occasions, and do not think that it breeds in this immediate vicinity. Nothing can be more graceful than its mov^ements when pursuing insects, and for such a large bird it is very active.— (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 42. — Nauclerus fur- catus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 325.) 142. Elanus leucurus, (Vieill.) Seen on a few occasions, but is rare. 154 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 143. Circus hudsonius, (Linn.) Probably the most common species of Hawk during the winter months, arriving in September and leaving in April. A large propor- tion are in immature plumage. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 328. — C. cyaneiis hudsonius, Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 40.) 144. Nisus fuscus, (Gmel.) Found sparingly in winter. — {Accipiter /., Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 324.) 145. Nisus cooperi, (Bon.) Like the last. — {Accipiter c. Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 323. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 42.) 146. Antenor unicinctuB rar. harrlsi, (Aud.) Resident and quite abundant. In its habits, this bird resembles the Caracara Eagle, but is not so active. The nests are hardly distinguish- able in situation or construction, and the two eggs are also deposited at an interval of three or four days. Six eggs average 2.08 by 1.62; they are dull bluish or yellowish-white, faintly stained with yellowish- brown. — {Craxirex unicinctus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 329.— Buteo unicinc- tus harrisi, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 42.) 147. Buteo pennsylvanicus, (Wils.) Uncommon winter visitor. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 325. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 43.) 148. Buteo swainsoni, Bon. Occurs sparingly in winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 324.) 149. Buteo borealis, (Gmel.) A pair seen January 10, 1877, near Fort Brown, seemed to approach var. Icrideri in the extent and purity of white beneath, although the subterminal baud of black on the tail was very distinct. The birds sailed several times quite near me, and I had a very good view of them.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 324.) 150. Buteo harlani, And. Early in November, 1876, 1 observed a single specimen of this species sailing in easy circles at no great distance from the ground ; but, not having my gun, I was unable to secure it. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 324.) 151. Buteo albicaudatus. — The White-tailed Buzzard. Aquila coUblanca, Azara, Apuuo. 1, 1803, 69. Buteo albicaudatus, Vieiix.,Nouv. Diet. IV, 1816, 477 (ex Azara, /. c.).— Strickl., Oru. Syn. 1, 1855, 35.— Salvin, P. Z. S. 1H70, 215 (Veragua). Tachytriorchis albicaudatus, Sharpe, Cat. Ace. Brit. Mus. I, 1874, 162. Craxirex albicaudatus, Ridgw., Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1875, 92. Buteo {Craxirex) albicaudatus, Ridgw., t. c. 98 (monographic). Spizaetus leucurus, Vieill., Noiiv. Diet. XXXII, 1819,59. Buteo leucurus, Lafi;., Rev. Zool. 1849, 100. PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 155 Falco literacies, Temm., PI. Col. 1, 1823, pis. 56 (adult) and 139 (young). Buteo literacies, Less., Man. 1, 1828, 103.— Gray, Gen. B. I, 1849,12; Hand- list, I, 1869, 8.— Caban., in Schomb. Guiana, III, 1848, 739.— Kaup, Contr. Orn. 1850, 75 (subgen. Taehytriorchis). — Burm., Th. Bras. II, 1855, 49.— SCHLEG., Mas. P.-B. Buteones, 1^63, 13; Rev. Ace. 1873, 110.— Pelz., Orn. Bras. 1871,3, 396.— Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, 782 (Andes of MeriJa, Venezuela); Nom. Neotr. 1873, 119 (Mexico to Brazil). — Lawr., Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, 1876, 41 (Tapan^^ S. Mexico, July).* Taehytriorchis pterocles, Kaup, Siiug. Vog. 1844, 123. — Boxap., Consp. 1, 1850, 17. Butea a^&icaHrfa, LESS.,Traite, 1831,81, pi. 15, fig. 2. — Puchekan, Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1850, 214. Butea tricolor, Hartl., Ind. Azara, 1847, 1 (nee D'Orb.) "Butea erythronotus", Scl., P. Z. S. 1859,389 (Oaxaca) (iicc Kiug). — Salvin & Scl., Ibis, 1860, 401 (Antioqnia, Guatemala.) — Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. IX, 1868, 133 (San Jose and San Antonio, Costa Rica). "Butea harlani" (supposed young), Sharpe, Cat. Ace. Brit. Mus. I, 1874, 191 (^juv.f). Hab. — The whole of Middle America, north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas (on the eastern side), Colioia (west coast), and the City of Mexico (central plateau); Eastern Soutli America as far as Paraguay. Diagnosis. — Wing, 14.50-18.00; tail, 7.70-10.50; culmeu, .95-1.05; tar- sus, 3.30-3.70 ; middle toe, 1.55-1.80. Form: Third quill longest; first intermediate between sixth and eighth. Tail even in adult, slightly rounded in young. Color : Adult, tail white (the lateral feathers much tinged with ash), crossed by a broad subterminal band of black ; the white portion crossed by faint lines or narrow bars of plumbeous. Above dark plumbeous; rump and lower parts pure white; throat plumbeous- black or bluish-plumbeous. Flanks, rump, and lining of the wing usually faintly barred with ashy, dusky, or rufous. S : Lesser wing- coverts with a restricted patch of rufous on the anterior portion ; longer scapulars strongly tinged with rufous. 5 : Tiufous patch on lesser wing- covert region extended over nearly the whole of its area ; longer scapu- lars scarcely tinged with rufous. Young: Tail hoary-grayish (the inner webs mostly white), growing gradually darker terminally, and passing narrowly into dull whitish or rufous at tip ; crossed by numerous nar- row and very indistinct bars of darker, these growing gradually obsolete towards the base.| General color brownish-black, the lower parts more or less variegated (most conspicuously on the posterior portions and on middle of the breast) with ochraceous or whitish. BemarJcs. — The identity of specimens of the two plumages described in the diagnosis as "adult" and "young" is proven by specimens in which part of the tail-feathers are of one plumage and part of the other. Such a specimen is in Mr. Lawrence's collection from the City of Mexico. The older individuals in the immature dress are colored as follows: — Tail hoary ash, growing darlcer terminally, and passing narrowly into ^ Iris bazel-brown ; cere greeuisb ; fe t yellow. t Fide Salvin, Ibis, October, 1874, 314. t These bars are sometimes entirely obsolete on the outer webs. 156 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. brownish-white at the tip — the inner webs mostly white ; the termin;il half with just discernible obscure bais of darker, these becoming gradu- ally obsolete on the basal half; sometimes they are entirely obsolete for the full length of the outer webs. Upper tail-coverts pure white, usually immaculate, but sometimes barred; inner webs of primaries ashy, the two or three outer ones more whitish, and sometimes barred with dusky. In males, the middle of the breast, the tibiae, and crissum are usually ochraceous, irregularly spotted with brownish-black. The darker-colored individuals in this stage are distinguishable from the dark examples of the young of i^. sivahisoni only by the very much stouter and longer tarsi. The adults vary but little. The white of the jugulum usually reaches forward medially into the plumbeous of the throat, and in one ( $ ad., Tehuantepec, Mexico; Sumichrast) it extends — iaterruptedly, however — to the chin. Another male from the same locality has the scapulars almost entirely rufous, with black shaft-streaks. The white of the lower jjarts in the adult is of a pureness and continuity strikingly character- istic of this species. A very young specimen from Paraguay has the tail more brownish, more distinctly barred, and more ochraceous on the tip; the upper tail- coverts are ochraceous, marked' with broad crescentic bars of blackish, and the upper parts generally are variegated with ochraceous. The specimen collected by Dr. Merrill (No. 74,404) is an adult male in fine plumage. It agrees strictly with Mexican examples of correspond- ing sex and age. Dr. M. furnishes the following notes on this specimen : — " Length, 19.20 ; extent, 47.40; wiug, 15.30; tail, 7.20. Feet and legs yellow ; cere greenish yellow ; tip of bill dark, basal half bluish green ; iris brown." Material examined. — United States National Museum, 13; Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, G; Museum of G. N. Lawrence, Esq., 1; other specimens,* 4. Total number of specimens ex- amined, 24. Measurements. Sex and age. Wins. Tail. Culiuen. Tarsua. Middle toe. Specimens. d ad. cTjuv. $ ad. $ juv. 16. 30—16. 70 14. .50-16. 75 17. 75— . . 17. 00—17. 75 7. 50- 9. GO 8. 60— 8. 75 8.2.'S— 8. 40—10. 30 . 95—1. 10 1.02—.... 1.00—.... .95—1 05 3. 30—3. 55 3. 30—3. 60 3.60—... 3. 30—3. 70 1. 60—1. 80 i. 55— 1.65 1.75— ... 1. 60—1. 80 5 3 1 3 This fine Hawk is a rather common resident on the extensive prairies near the coast, especially about the sand ridges that are covered with yucca and cactus. Its habits appear to be like those of the allied spe- cies of Prairie Hawks. On the 2d of May, 1878, 1 found two nests, each * These are specimens collected on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec by Prof. F. Sumi- chrast, and not entered in the Register of the National Museum. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 157 placed in the top of a yucca growing in Palo Alto prairie, about seven miles from the fort. The nests were not more than eight feet from the ground, and were good-sized platforms of twigs, with scarcely any lining. While examining these nests, the parents sailed in circles over- head, constantly uttering a cry much like the bleating of a goat. Each nest contained one egg. The first was quite fresh, and measures 2.35 by 1.91. It is of a dirty-white color, with a few reddish blotches at the smaller end. The second egg was partly incubated. It resembles the first one, but the reddish blotches are rather sparsely distributed over the entire egg. It measures 2.35 by 1.85. 152. Rhinogryphus aura, (Linn.) Very common at all seasons. Deposits its eggs on the ground, some- times on the opeu prairie ; at others, in more or less dense chaparral.* — (Cathartes a., Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 322. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 44.) 153. Catharistes atratus, (Bart.) About as common as the preceding species, and, like it, breeds on the ground. I have not heard of either species building in trees here, as they are said to do in other parts of Texas. — {Cathartes a., Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 322.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 45.) 154. Columba flavirostris, Wagl. This large and handsome Pigeon is found in abundance during the summer months, arriving in flocks of fifteen or twenty about the last week in February. Though not very uncommon about Fort Brown, it is much more j)lentiful a few miles higher u[) the river, where the dense woods offer it the shade and retirement it seeks. Three nests found in a grove of ash-trees, on the bank of the Rio Grande, near camp at Hidalgo, were frail platforms of twigs, such as are usually built by other Pigeons. Each contained one egg. It would appear from Mr. Sennett's observa- tions, which are more complete than mine, that this Pigeon rarely, if ever, lays more than one egg. These are of a pearly whiteness, and average 1.50 by 1.08. Both sexes incubate. A perfectly fresh specimen has the soft parts as follows : — Terminal half of bill pale horn-color; basal half light pink; margin of eyelids and a ring near its base deep pinkish-red; iris bright orange-yellow, lighter yellow at pupillary margin; legs and feet vivid purplish-red. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 23.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 45.) 155. * Melopelia leucoptera, (Linn.) Very common during the summer months. The nests as a rule are smaller and more frail than those of the Carolina Dove, and the eggs have a decided creamy tinge, which is rarely lost after blowing, at least " I have looked carefully for B. biirrovianus, but without success, although Mr. Dresser (Ibis, 18G5, p. 322) states that he has seen it on Palo Alto prairie, not more than seven miles from the fort. 158 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. not for months. Thirty-four eggs average 1.17 by .88 ; extremes 1.30 by .95 and 1.05 by .80. The note is a deep, sonorous coo^ frequently repeated, and heard at a great distance.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 24.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 47.) 156. * Zenaedura carolinensis, (Linn. ) Although this species is found throughout the year, it is decidedly uncommon during the winter months; probably not more than 5 jier cent, or less remain at that season. One habit noticed here I have not seen mentioned before, — that of occasionally occupying old nests of the Great- tailed Grackle for their second brood.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 24. — Sen- nett, B. Rio Grande, 47.) 157. * Chamaepelia passerina, (Linn.) Quite abundant, particularly in summer. The small and rather com- pact nests are placed on the horizontal branch of a stout bush or tree, aud are lined with a few straws. On one occasion, I found the eggs in a roughly made nest on the ground on the edge of a prairie. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 24.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 48.) 158. '.aJchmoptila albifrons. Z\_enaida'\ amabilis, McCall, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1851, 220 (between Mata- moras and Camargo). "Leptojjfila albifrons, Gray. List Spec. Brit. Mns. j). 1.5." — Bonap., Cousp. II, 185.5,74.— SCL., P. Z. S. 1859, 363 (Jalapa) ; 1860, 289 (Bababoyo, Ecua- dor) ; 1864, 178 (Cily of Mexico) ; 1870, 838 (Honduras).— Pcl. & Salv., Ibis, 1859, 222 (Dueuas, Guatemala); P.Z.S 1864, 370 (Gn;.teui;ila; 1'..- nauia) ; 1868, 60 (Mexico; Guatemala); 1870,838 (coast ol Honduras) ; Norn. Neotr. 1873, 133.— Lawr., Pr. Boston Soc. 1871, — (Tres Marias Islands, W. Mexico ; common. Vulg. : " I'aloma ") ; Mem. Boston Soc. II, 1874, 305 (Mazatlau; Tres Maiias; babits); Bull. U. S. Nat.Mus. No. 4, 1876, 44 (Isth. Tehuantepec. " Iris orange ; bill black ; bare or- bital space bluish ; feet carmine ").— Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, II, July, 1877, 82 (Hidalgo, Texas, April 18, 1877; not uncommon; breeding). Mchmoptila albifrons, Coues & Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. aud Geog. Surv. Terr. vol. iv. No. 1, 1878, 49 (Hidalgo, Texas). Feristera albifrons, Bonap., Consp. II, 1855, 74 (Mexico; " Cuba " ; " Colum- bia " ; " Cartbagena ").— Gray, Hand-list, II, 1870, 242 (Mexico. Subg. Leptotila). " Feristera brachxjptera, Gray, MSS." (Sclater). [A good description of this species having already been given by Dr. Coues in Mr. Sennett's paper, I give here only a list of references, mostly additional to those already published. — R. R.] This Pigeon is not rare in the vicinity of Fort Brown, but is shy and not very often seen. I can give nothing very definite in regard to its habits. The only nest I have found was taken on June 8, 1878, on the government reservation. It was about seven feet from the ground, supported by the dense interlacing tendrils of a hanging vine growing on the edge of a thicket. The eggs, two in number, were quite fresh. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 159 The^s measure 1.16 by .86 and 1.19 by .89. They are much like eggs of M. Uucoptera, but have a strong olive-buff instead of a creamy-buff tinge. 159. Ortalida vetula var. maccalli, Baird. The Ohachalac, as the present species is called on the LowerKio Grande, is one of the most characteristic birds of that region. Rarely seen at iiuy distance from woods or dense chaparral, they are abundant in those places, and their hoarse cries are the first thing heard by the traveller on awaking in the morning. During the day, unless rainy or cloudy, the birds are rarely seen or heard ; but shortly before sunrise and sun- set, they mount to the topmost branch of a dead tree, and make the woods ring with their discordant notes. Contrary to almost every description of their cry I have seen, it consists of three syllables, though occasion- ally a fourth is added. When one bird begins to cry, the nearest bird joins in at the second note, and in this way the fourth syllable is madej but they keep such good time that it is often very difficult to satisfy one's self that this is the fact. I cannot say certainly whether the female utters this cry as well as the male, but there is a well-marked anatomical distinction in the sexes in regard to the development of the trachea. In the male, this passes down outside the pectoral muscles, beneath the skin, to within about one inch of the end of the sternum ; it then doubles on itself, and passes up, still on the right of the keel, to descend within the thorax in the usual manner. This duplicature is wanting in the female. These birds are much hunted for the Brownsville market, though their flesh is not particularly good, and the body is very small for the apparent size of the bird. Easily domesticated, they become trouble- somely familiar, and are decided nuisances when kept about a house. Beyond Ringgold Barracks, this species is said to become rare, and soon to disappear ; and it probably does not pass more than fifty miles to the north of the Rio Grande. The nests are shallow structures, often made entirely of Spanish moss, and are placed on horizontal limbs a few feet from the ground. The eggs, commonly three in number, are about the size and shape of common hens' eggs; they are of a buffy-white, and are roughly granulated ; they average about 2.18 by 1.55. — [0. maccalli, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 24. — 0. vetula, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 50.) 160. Meleagris gallopavo, Linn. Found in abundance in all suitable localities, but not in the immediate vicinity of the fort ; birds taken here present the characters of var. mexicana well developed. Two eggs taken near Hidalgo by Mr. G. B. Senuctt, and presented to me, are quite unlike; one measures 2.41 by 1.84, and in color and markings is like a typical egg of the domestic turkey ; the other egg, 2.33 by 1.72, is of a pale creamy-white, the spots being few and very pale.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 25.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 53.) 161. Cupidonia cupido var. pallidicincta, Ridgw. I am informed by a i)erson perfectly familiar with the bird that the Prairie Chicken is occasionally seen on the prairies about Miradores 160 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM ranch, which is about thirty miles north of the fort and a few miles from the coast. This is probably about the southernmost point in the range of the bird.— (C. cupido, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 26.) 162. *Ortyx virginiana var. texana, Lawr. The Texan Quail is very common, and in its habits resembles the Eastern Quail in all respects, except that it does not lie well to a dog. They are with difficulty flushed, but run at once into chaparral, from which it is almost impossible to dislodge them. The only nest 1 suc- ceeded in finding was at the foot of a small stump, surrounded by a small, but dense, growth of offshoots; the nest was rather elaborately built of grasses, and was well domed. On the 21st of Mny, it contained sixteen fresh eggs. These average 1.15 by .93, the extremes being 1.18 by .95 and 1.12 by .92. Four odd eggs from different nests are rather larger than this average. — (0. texanus, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 27. — 0. virginiana texana, Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 53.) 163. Callipepla squamata, (Vigors.) Tbis beautiful Partridge is found in great abundance at Ringgold Barracks about 120 miles from Fort Brown, but does not come very much farther down the river. Hidalgo is about the limit of their range in this direction, though on September 13, 1877, 1 killed one within two miles of the fort. This was one of a covey and the only one flushed, and I did not recognize it until I picked it up ; the others were not distinctly seen, but were probably of the same species. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 28.) 164. ^gialitis vocifera, (Linn.) Common resident. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 33. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 53.) 165. .Slgialitis \vilsonia, (Ord.) Resident, breeding rather abundantly along the coast. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 34.) 166. Haematopus palliatus, Temm. Breeds on Padre and Brazos Islands. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 34. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 53.) 167. Strepsilas interpres, (Linn.) The Turnstone is found on the coast and adjacent lagoons throughout the year, and I feel confident that it breeds in spite of the latitude. Dur- ing May and June pairs in full plumage may daily be seen in the same localities.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 34.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 54.) 168. Recurvirostra americana, Gm. Common during winter, a few pairs remaining to breed. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 35.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 54.) PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 161 169. Himantopus mexicanus, (Miiller.) Common resident. Breeds in the marshes about the middle of May, making its nests on wet grassy flats and laying three or four eggs. The nests are i^latforms of straw and grasses, often wet, and barely keeping the eggs out of the water. Twenty-two eggs average 1.75 by 1.19, the extremes being 1.88 by 1.25 and 1.60 by 1.10. — [H. nigricollis, Dresser, Ibis, 18GG, 35.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 54.) 170. Gallinago ■wilsoni, (Temm.) Plentiful during the winter, though the great majority go farther south. The time of their arrival in the autumn is uncertain. In 187G, the first were shot on the 18th of September, and they soon became abundant ; this was said to be at least a month earlier than usual. In 1877, the main flight arrived on the 28th of November, during a cold and wet " norther ".—(Dresser, Ibis, 186G, 36.) 171. Macrorhamphus griseus, (Gmel.) Common from September until April. — (Dresser, Ibis, 18GG, 36.) 172. Tringa alpina var. americana, Cass. Ou May 16, 1877, I found the Eed-backed Sandpiper rather common about some lagoons in the salt marshes; the males were in full breed- ing plumage. 173. Tringa bairdii, Coues. Two females taken March 30, 1876, on a sand-bar in the river. 174. Tringa maculate, Vieill. Common during the migrations, returning in the latter part of July. They do not seem to pass the winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 36.— Sen- nett, B. Eio Grande, 55.) 175. Tringa fuscicoUis, Vieill. Common in winter. 176. Triniga minutilla, Vieill. Common in winter. — [Tringa icilso?ii, DRESSER, Ibis, 1866, 37.) 177. Calidris arenaria, (Liun.) Common in winter on Padre and Brazos Islands, where I have also seen it in July. 178. Ereunetes pusillus, (Linn.) Common in winter. — [E, petrijicatus, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 37.) 179. Micropalama himantopus, (Bonap.) October 13, 1877.— (Dresser, Ibis, 186G, 37.) 180. Actiturus bartramius, (Wils.) This species arrives in small flocks about the second or third week in March, and is found abundantly on the grassy prairies. On its arrival Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 11 Oct. S, 1 878. 162 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. in spring, it is in poor condition, and soon goes farther north, though a few linger until about May 10. Late in July some reappear, and by the first of September they are abundant ; by the middle of this month, they begin to leave, and few are seen or heard after the first week in October.— (DeesseRj IbiSj 1866, 38.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 55.) 181. Tryngites rufescens, (Vieill.) The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is found in the same localities and at the same seasons as the Upland Plover, which it closely resembles in habits, but is much less shy and suspicious. — (Deessee, Ibis, 1866, 39.) 182. Limosa fedoa, (Linn.) Taken in spring and autumn. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 39.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 55.) 183. Symphemia semipalmata, (Gmel.) Breeds rather plentifully in suitable localities. Four eggs, somewhat advanced in incubation, were found on May 2, 1877, placed on a few grass-blades under a weed in a dry -part of the marsh. Two of the eggs were broken by the carriage-wheel ; the others measure 2.06 by 1.52 and 2.05 by 1 .50. I do not think that any remain during winter. — (Deessee, Ibis, 1806, 2>1 .—Totanm s., Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 55.) 184. Gambetta melauoleuca, (Gmel.) Abundant during the migrations, many passing the winter here. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 38.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 55.) 185. Gambetta flavipes, (Gmel.) Like the last, but j)erhaps less common in winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 38.) 186. Numenius longirostris, Wils. Common during winter, many remaining to breed on the partially dry marshes near the coast. Found recently fledged young June 16. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 40.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 55.) 187. Numenius borealis, (Forst.) Common during the migrations, some passing the winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 40.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 56.) 188. Charadrius fulvus var. virginicus, Borck. Not rare in winter. — {C. virginicus, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 33.) 189. Tringoides macularius, (Linn.) Eather rare in winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 38.) 190. Tantalus loculator, Linn. On the 10th of April, 1876, 1 saw a pair of these birds on the edge of a shallow lagoon near Fort Browu. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 32.) PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 163 191. Plegadis guarauna, (Gm.) Resident, but much more common in summer than in winter. On the 16th of May, 1877, Mr. G. B. Sennett and I visited a large i^atch of tule- reeds growing in a shallow lagoon, about ten miles from the fort, in which large numbers of this Ibis and several kinds of Herons were breeding. The reeds covered an area of perhaps seventy -five acres or less, growing in water three or four feet in depth. Irregular channels of open water traversed the reeds here and there, but the bottom was comparatively firm, and there was little difficulty in wading in any direction. Besides the Ibises, the Great and Little White Egrets, Lou- isiana and Night Herons, and several other birds were breeding here. Often nests of all these species were placed within a few feet of each other, but there was a tendency towards the different kinds forming little nesting groups of ten or fifteen pairs. The reeds grew about six feet above the surface of the water, and were either beaten down to form a support for the nests, or dead and partly floating stalks of the previous year were used for that purpose. It was impossible to estimate the number of the Ibises and different Herons nesting here. On approaching the spot, many would be seen about the edges of the lagoon or flying to or from more distant feeding grounds, but upon firing a gun a perfect mass of birds arose, with a noise like thunder, from the entire bed of reeds, soon to settle down again. Both nests and eggs of the Ibises were quite unlike those of any of the Herons, and could be distinguished at a glance. The nests were made of broken bits of dead tules, supported by and attached to broken and upright stalks of living ones. They were rather well and compactly built, and were usually well cupped, quite unlike the clumsy platforms of the Herons. The eggs were nearly always three in number, and at this date were far advanced in incubation ; many nests contained young of all sizes. Fifty eggs now before me average 1.95 by 1.35, the extremes being 2.20 by 1.19 and 1.73 by 1.29; they are decidedly pointed at the smaller end, and are of a deep bluish green color. On May 7 of the following year, I revisited this heronry, but there were no nests, and very few Ibises or Herons were to be seen. I am inclined to think that they moved to some other part of the extensive prairie, in several parts of which were beds of reeds similar to the one above described, but I was prevented by sickness from making any further investigations. The young, when first hatched, are clothed in blackish down; the bill is whitish, with dusky base. When nearly fledged, the wings and back have a very marked metallic lustre ; the base of bill, with terminal one- fourth inch and a two-fifths inch median band, black ; the intervening portions pinkish-white. — [Ibis ordi, Dresser, Ibis, 18G6, 32. — Falcinel- lus g., Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 56.) 164 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 192. Ibis alba, (Linn.) A few observed at all seasons, but I was unable to find any locality where they nested.— (Dressee, Ibis, IGG, 32.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 58.) 193. Platalea ajaja, Linn. Not rare, but more common near the coast. It must breed in the vicinity. — (Dresser, Ibis, 18G6, 33. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 58.) 194. Ardea herodias, Linn. Common resident. Found nesting abundantly on Padre Island by Mr. Sennett. — (Dresser, Ibis, 18CG, 31. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 58.) 195. Herodias egretta, (Gm.) Common resident, but more plentiful in summer. Breeds abundantly in the same locality as the preceding species. The nests, as a rule, were distinguishable by their large size ; the eggs and young were also quite characteristic. Twelve eggs average 2.14 by 1.54. — (Dresser, Ibis, 186G, 31.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 59.) 196. Garzetta candidissima, (Jacq.) Abundant during the summer, a few passing the winter. Breeds in great numbers. Its nest and eggs are only to be confounded with those of the succeeding species.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 31. — Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 59.) 197. Hydranassa tricolor, (Miill.) Common summer visitant. I do not think that any are found here during winter. In visiting the heronry already referred to, the Louisi- ana Heron was found in abundance. The birds seemed more shy in leaving their nests than the two preceding. The nests and eggs closely resembled those of the Little White Egret, and could not be positively identified without seeing the parent; but, as a rule, the nests were smaller, and the eggs a little larger and of a deeper shade. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 60. — Bcmiegretta ludoviciana, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 31.) 198. Dichromauassa rufa, (Bodd.) Not uncommon during the summer. In the latter part of March, 1878, Mr. Sennett found this species breeding in large numbers on Padre Island. The nests were placed on low prickly pears or on the ground. — (Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 60. — Demiegretta rufa, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 31. — Demiegretta pealii, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 31.) 199. Florida caerulea, (Linn.) Seen throughout the year, but most abundantly in summer. Breeds on Padre Island.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 31.— Sennett, B.Rio Grande, 61.) 200. Nyctiardea grlsea var. nasvia, (Bodd.) Rather common resident, but many go farther south in winter. Found breeding with the other species among the tules, but in fewer PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 165 numbers. The nests differed from those of the others by twigs and small branches being generally used in their coustrucMou, which must have been brought from a considerable distance. They were but slightly above the surface of the water, and most of the nests contained nearly (fledged young. — K gardeni, Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 32. — K ncevia, Sen- next, B. Kio Grande, 61.) 201. Nyctherodius violaceus, (Linn.) Eather uncommon. Probably breeds at no great distance, but I found no nests. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 32.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 61.) 202. *Butcrides virescens, (Linn.) Common in summer, but rare in winter. Several pairs breed within Fort Brown, placing their nests on horizontal branches of mcsquite-trees. Several sets average 1.49 by 1.15.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 32.) 203. Botaurus lentiginosus, (Montag.) Occurs in moderate numbers during the migrations.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 32.) 204. Ardetta exilis, (Gmel.) A few pairs were seen in the heronry already referred to. No nests were found, but the birds unquestionably breed there. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 32.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 61.) 205. Grus ataericana, (Linn.) !N^ot rare, especially on the prairies near the coast. I do not think that either species of Crane breeds in this neighborhood. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 30.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 61.) 206. Grus canadensis, (Linn.) Decidedly more abundant than the White Crane during the winter months, and not so shy. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 30.) 207. Pcrzana Carolina, (Linn.) Common during the migrations. I am quite ])0sitive that a few pairs breed near here in suitable localities. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 40.) 2 OS. Gallinula galeata, (Licbt.) Parents and eggs obtained on the 16th of Mny among beds of reeds. — (Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 61.) 209. lonornis raartinica, (Linn.) Doubtless breeds, for I have taken young birds in September that were scarcely able to fly. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 41.) 210. Fulica americana, Gm. Very common resident. Breeds among patches of tales, making a rather bulky jtlatform of bits of dead reeds scarcely raised above the surface of the water. Fourteen is the greatest number of eggs I have found in one nest. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 40. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 62.) 166 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Family PARRID^E: The Jacanas. Parridw, "Selys, 1842".— Gray, Hand-list, III, 1871, 09.— Scl. & Salv., Norn. Neotr. 1873, viii, 142.— Boucard, Cat. Av. 1876, IX, 11. < EaUidw, Vigors (fide Gray).— Lilljeborg, P. Z. S. 1866, 17. = Farrinw, Gray, List Genera B. 1840, — ; 2cl ed. 1841, 91 ( < PaIamcdeid(c).—Gn\Y & Mitch., Genera B. 4to, III, 1849, 588 ( < Falamedeida') ; Genera and Subg. 1855, 119 ( < Falamedeida).— LiLi^EDORG, P. Z. S. 186G, 17 ( < Fallidw). < Falamedeida', Gray, I. c. < GalUnuUda', Blas. (fide Gray'). Ch. — Small-sized wading birds, combiuiug the general appearance of Eails and Plovers, but differing from either in the remarkable and ex- cessive elongation of the toes and claws, the latter nearly straight and much compressed, that of the hallux much longer than its digit and slightly recurved. The above brief diagnosis is sufficient to distinguish the Jacanas from all other wading birds. Their nearest allies appear to be the Plovers, from which they differ chiefly in the character of the feet, as pointed out above. The single American genus Parra, Lath., is further charac- terized by the presence of leaf-like lobes at the base of the bill, and a sharp, conical spur projecting from the inside of the bend of the wing, in the possession of which features they present a striking analogy to certain Plovers, as the genera Lohivanellus, Strickl., and Hojilopterus, Bonap. The genus P«rra, of which there are several species, all Ameri- can,* is characterized as follows : — Genus PARRA, Linnfeus. < Jacana, Briss., Orn. V, 1760, 121. Type, Farrajacana, Auct. (Includes Hydralector, Wag]., and Mefopodiiis, Wagl.) < GaUimda, Ray (Jide Gray). FISH, EPIXEPHEIiUS DKUMMOND-HAYI, FROM THE BEKMILDAS AND FE.ORBDA. By O. BROWN GOODE and TARLETOIV II. BEAW. The National Museuui possesses two specimens of a Serranoid fish, apparently undescribed, for which we propose the name Epineiihelus Dnimmond-Rayi, dedicating the species to Colonel H. M. Drummond Hay, C. M. Z. S., of Leggieden, Perth, Scotland, formerly of the British Army, by whom the species was first discovered at the Bermudas in 1851. The species is easily recognized by its numerous, small, star-like, white spots on a dark ground, a type of coloration not found in any other representative of this family hitherto described. A collection of water-color drawings, lent to the Smithsonian Institu- tion by Colonel Drummond Hay, contains an excellent sketch of one of these fishes, which was taken by him on the outer reef of the Bermudas in 1851. This specimen weighed 52i pounds. The drawing is on the scale of one-fifth. The smaller specimen (No. 1G,795) is fifteen and three-quarters inches long. It was received in May, 1876, from Mr. E. G. Blackford, and was for some days on exhibition in the large glass refrigerator in the Gov- ernment Building on the Exhibition Grounds in Philadelphia. It was said to have been brought from Southern Florida by one of the New York market fleet. A cast of this fish was made, as well as an accurate sketch in water-colors. A second specimen (No. 21,255) was received early in May, 1878, from Mr. Silas Stearns of Pensacola, Fla. Its length is sixteen and three- quarters inches. The following description has been prepared from t hese two specimens. We have seen other specimens of this species in the 174 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. New York Aquarium, which were said to have been brought from the Bermudas. The fish belongs to the genus Serramis as defined by Glin- ther, and to the genus UpitiepJielus as limited by Gill, having, in distinc- tion from the allied genus Trisotropis, nine rays in the anal as well as other characters. There is a remarkable uniformity in the measurements of the two specimens as given in tabular form below. That from Pensacola has longer fins, and the snout also a trifle longer. This is perhaps due to some slight distortion of the specimens, owing to the greater length of time which the first had been in alcohol. Epinephelus Drummond-Hayi, sp. now, Goode &. Bean. Diagnosis. — Length of head about one-third of total length (includ- ing caudal), and three-eighths of length without caudal. Greatest height of body equal to length of head. Least height of tail equal to half the length of external caudal rays, and approximately to that of snout. Prceoperculum finely and evenly serrated; denticulations somewhat coarser at the angle. Suboperculum and interoperculum denticulated for a short distance on each side of their common junction. Maxillary bone nearly and mandibular quite reaching to a line drawn vertically through the centre of the orbit. Ej'e circular, its diameter contained six and one-third times in the length of the head, and slightly less than the width of the interorbital area, which is half the distance from the snout to the centre of the orbit. Distance of dorsal from snout equal to the greatest height of the body, and twice the length of the mesial caudal rays or of ventral fin. The length of the first spine is less than half that of the second, and more than one-third that of the fourth, and longest. The length of the first ray is equal to or greater than that of the longest spine; that of the last ray, to the diameter of the eye. The distance of anal from snout equal to twice the height of the body at the ventrals; the length of its first spine about equal to that of the first of the dorsal; the length of the third spine equal to that of the snout. The length of the first ray is about equal to that of the maxil- lary; that of longest ray nearly half the length of head; that of the last ray nearly equal to that of the second anal spine. Caudal truncate when expanded; slightly emarginate when in nat- ural position ; covered with small scales nearly to its tip. Length of median rays half that of the head, that of external rays equal to two-thirds the distance from snout to pectoral, and also to the length of that fin. The distance of ventral from snout about twice its own length. Radial Formula.— D. XI, 16; A. Ill, 9; 0. + 14 + ; P. I, 16; V. I, 5. Scales in lateral line, 125; above lateral line, 32; below, 56-57. Color, light umber blown, everywhere densely spotted with irregular, Proc. Nat. Mus. 1878. Plate I. Capri nmlgus nuttalli, d ■ 'Ctah. (| Kyctidromus albicollis, d ■ 57747. Tehauntepec. (f ) Caprimulgus vociferus, d". Maryland, (f .) Proc. Nat. Mus. 1878. Plate II. Caprimvlr/usnutalU, cf. Utah. (Nat. size.] Nyctidromus albicollis, d- 57747. Tehnantepec. (Nat. size.) Oaprimulgus vodferus. cf . Maryland. (Nat. size.) Proc. Nat. Mus. 1878. Plate III. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 175 somewhat stellate, white spots, except upon the lips and under margin of the body. There are about forty of these patches between the gill- opening and the base of the caudal. A slight tendency to coalesce may be observed in the spots upon the sides. At Pensacola, this fish is called the Hind ; at the Bermudas, it is the "John Paw". Table of Measurements. Current number of spcciuieu , Locality 16,795. Bermuda. 21,255. S. Stearns. Pensacola, Fla. Milliin. Extreme length (to base of caudal) Length to end of middle caudal rays Body : Greatest height (behind vontrals) Height at ventrals Least height of tail Head : Greatest length Width of interorbital area Length of snout Length of operculum (to end of flap) Length of maxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit iJiameter of eye Dorsal (spinous) : Distance from snout Length of base Length of first spine Length of second spine Dorsal (soft) : Length of base Length of first ray Length of longest ray Length of last ray Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Length of first spine Length of second spine Length of third spine Length of first ray Length of longest ray Length of last ray •Caudal : Length of middle rays Length of external rays . Pectoial : Distance from snout Length "Ventral : Distance from snout Length •. Branchiostegals Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral , "Ventral If umber of scales in lateral line ^STumber of transverse rows above lateral line. 2\ umber of transverse rows below lateral line 335 399 7 XT, 16 IIL9 + 14 + 1-16 1-5 125 (32) (56) lOOths. 38 35 11 38 7 m 12 17 21 14 6 38 27 4 10 21 13 (6th) 14 6 70 16 4i 8i lOi 16' (3d) 18 MilUm. 360 426 7 XH6 111,9 + 14 + 1-16 1-5 125 32 57 lOOths. 38 36 11 38 7 11 12 17 Wk 14' 6 39 29 11 24 13 (4th) 15 6 70 16 4* 9 10 17 (4th) 18* 8' 19 iS 34 22 40 19 Washington, May 25, 1878. 176 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. DESCRIPTIOXS OF TWO KEW SPECIES OF FISHES, I-CTJANUS BLACK- FORDII AND LiUTJANUS STEARKSII, FROM THE COAST OF FLORIDA. By O. BROlf'lV OOOI>£ and TARLETOIV H. BEAN. Recent explorations on tbe coast of Florida have brought to light several undescribed species of large fishes. Some of them have already been named by us. Two species of Pristipomatoid fishes are character- ized below. Lutjanus Blackfordii, sp. ?!oi'.,Goode & Bean. The well-known Eed Snapper of our Southern coast has, strangely enough, never been scientifically described. This is due to an errone- ous identification of this species with a common West Indian form, Liifjamis aya, from which it differs in several particulars, notably in the size of the eye and of the scales. The species is dedicated to Mr. Eugene G. Blackford of New York City, to whom the National Museum is indebted for many hundreds of specimens of rare fishes, and by whose vigilant study of the New York fish-markets several species have been added to the fauna of the United States. We base our description upon a fresh specimen (No. 21,330), sent from Pensacola, Fla., May — , 1878, by Mr. Silas Stearns, which is twenty-six inches long, and weighs 11^ pounds; also two well-executed casts, one, No. 12,515, obtained by Mr. Milner, in Washington City market, 1874, thirty inches long, and one. No. 20,978, thirty-three inches long, ob- tained from the Savannah Bank, March, 1878, by Mr. Goode. Diagnosis. — Body much compressed ; its upper profile ascending from the snout, with a slight concavity in front of eye to the origin of the spinous dorsal, thence descending in a long curve to the base of the caudal; under profile much less arched. Upper and lower jaw of even extent. The greatest height of the body equal to length of head. Least height of tail equal to one-third of the distance from the snout to the pectoral. Greatest height of head slightly less than one-third of total length, including caudal and three-eighths of length without caudal. Prseoperculum finely and evenly serrated, except at the angle, where the denticulations are coarser: a slight emargination above the angle, in which is received an elevation upon the interopercular bone, and two shallower emargiuations above. The maxillary falls short of the verti- cal line from the anterior margin of the orbit, the mandibular bone of that from the middle of the orbit. Eye circular; its diameter contained seven and one-third times in the total length of the head. Length of snout nearly equal to that of maxillary. Length of mandible equal to half the height of the body at ventrals, and equal to or slightly less than distance from snout to centre of orbit. Distance of dorsal from snout about three times the length of snout ; its length of base nearly equal to that of the pectoral. The length of its longest spine is equal PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 177 to twice the secoud anal spine, and about three times that of the first dorsal spitie. The first dorsal ray is twice as long as the first dorsal spine, its longest ray nearly equal to the first ray of the anal. Distance of anal fin from snout equal to two-thirds of total length (caudal excluded), twice as far from snout as is the pectoral; the length of its base slightly more than that of mandible; its first spine half as long as its second spine ; its third spine slenderer, and slightly longer than the second ; its first ray is about twice as long as its second spine ; its longest ray equal to middle caudal ray, or, in young specimens, much longer ; its last ray half the length of the first. Caudal much emarginate, crescent shaped ; the median rays two- thirds as long as the external rays. Pectoral midway between snout and anal; its length twice that of the maxillary. Distance of ventral from snout equal to the height of the body; its leng-th three times that of secoud anal spine. Radial Fornmla.—B. VII; D. X, 14; A. Ill, 9 ; C. + 17 + ; P. 1, 16 ;. V. I, 5. Scales. — 8, 50, 15. Scales extending half the length of the anal rays on the membrane; on the external caudal rays nearly to tip, and with slight traces upon the spinous dorsal in front of the spines ; and in the soft dorsal somewhat more extended. Color. — Uniform scarlet. Centre of scales lighter, also belly, which is. silvered; inside of axil of pectoral darker maroon. This species is closely allied to the Lutjanus torridus of Cope, but dif- fers in several particulars, notably (1) the smaller eye; (2) the greater number of dorsal and anal rays; (3) the smaller and more numerous scales ; (4) the less emargination of the tail ; (5) the shorter ventral fin (according to figure of Cope) ; (6) the higher occipital crest ; and (7) iu: coloration. Professor Cope's type measured 14 inches ; ours range from 33 to 17^. Lingual teeth in two patches ; the anterior cordate, with emargina- tion posteriorly ; the other ovate-lanceolate, broadest anteriorly. Vom- erine patch a quadilateral figure, with concave sides, and with the longest sides posteriorly. Palatine patches somewhat spatulate, broadest posteriorly. Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 12 Oct. 4, S878. 178 PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Table of Measurements. Current number of specimen Locality 21,330. Pensacola, Fla. Millim. lOOths. Extreme length Length to end of middle caudal rays Body : Greatest height Height at ventrals Least height of tail Head : Greatest length Width of iaterorbital area Length of snout Length of maxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit . Diameter of eye Dorsal (spinous) : Distance from snout Length of base Length of first spine Length of second spine Length of longest spine Height at last spine Dorsal (soft) : Length of base Length of first ray Length of longest ray Height at last ray Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Length of first spine Length of second spine Length of third spine Length of first ray Length of longest ray Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays Length of external rays Pectoral : Distance from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Length Brauchiostegals Dorsal 560 654 37J 36J 11 37J 84 14 144 18 54 43 29 44 10 13 74 (6th) 114 74 084 154 3 64 74 12 (3d) 164 6 16 24 33 30 37 19i Aual, Caudal .,,, Pectoral Ven t ral '.'.'.'.'.'. Kumber of scales in lateral line Number of transverse rows above lateral line Number of transverse rows below lateral line Weight .pounds. 7 X,14 111,9 + 17 + L16 1,5 50 8 15 114 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 179 Table of Measurements — Continued. Current number of specimen Locality Gulf of Mexico. Gulf of Mexico. Gulf of Mexico. D. Gulf of Mexico. Millim. lOOth Extreme length Length to end of middle caudal rays Body : Greatest height (behind ventrals) Height at ventrals Least height of tail Head: Greatest length (to end of opercular flap) "Width of interorbital area Length of snout Length of upper jaw Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit . . . Diameter of eye Dorsal (spinous): Distance from snout , Length of base Length of first spine Length of second spine Length of longest spine Length of last spine Dorsal (soft) : Length of base Length of first ray Length of longest ray Length of last ray Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Length of first spine Length of second spine Length of third spine Length of first ray , Length of longest ray Length of last ray Cauda! : Length of middle rays Length of external r.ays Pectoral : Distance from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Lenszth Branchiostegals Dorsal 650 752 Anal Caudal Pectoral Ventral No. of scales in lateral line No. of transverse rows above lateral line. . No. of transverse rows below lateral line. . "Weight pounds- 7 X,14 iir,9 + n + Lic L5 ,50 16 15i Millim. lOOths (29J'") 36 .■551 38 y 15 18 m 41 20* 3| 9 IIJ 6i 22 7 10 6 68 15i 3' 7 11 14 6i 15i 21 35 27 38i 17 520 613 7 X, 14 in, 9 + 17 + L 1.^-16 1,5 50 9 16 8i Millim. lOOths (24'-) 371 36 11 14 15 18 18 ."51- "'3 43 27§ 4 9 12i 8' 22 94 13 6 69 15 3i 7 12* 14i 6i 35J 33 38 20* 460 540 7 X, 14 IIL9 + 17 + L16 L5 50 9 16 5 (2iii°: 36i 35* iir 38 8 14 14* I'Ji 5i 4U 27 3 9i 13* 8' 22* 9i 12 6i 70 15 34 7f 8i 12 18 7 17 ■26 34 32 38 20 Millim. lOOths 3eo 445 7 X,14 IIL9 + 17 + L16 1,5 50 9 16 (nj'») 37i 36J 11 37i 8 14 15i 18 42i 28 4i 10 13i 9 20i H 12 6 72} 15 5 9} 9* 12" 16i 7 17 26 35* 32' 39i 21 Lutjanus Stearnsii, sp. nov., Goode & Bean. A siogle specimen of the Mangrove Snapper of Pensacola was sent by Mr. Silas Stearns, to whom the species is dedicated, as a slight acknowledgment of his services in securing for the United States National Museum large collections of fishes from the Gulf of Mexico and fresh waters adjacent to Pensacola, Fla. Upon this individual (catalogue number 21,337), our description is based, having been drawn up from the fresh specimen. Its length is 193 inches. Besides the alcoholic preparation, the Museum has also a cast and a color-sketch. 180 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Diagnosis. — This species may be readily distinguished from L. BlacTc- fordii by its diiiereiit color, lower and less compressed body, shorter head, shorter pectorals and ventrals, and by other characters which appear in the table of measurements. Body similar to that of L. BlacJcfordii in shape. It greatest height equals length of head, twice length of mandible, and twice that of ven- tral. Its height at ventrals equals four times width of interorbital area. Least height of tail equals first anal ray and twice the last dorsal ray. Greatest length of head equals greatest height of body, twice length of mandible, and twice ventral length. The width of interorbital area equals one fourth of height at ventrals and two-thirds of least height of tail. Length of snout equals second anal ray. Length of maxillary equals twice length of second dorsal spine, which equals second anal spine. The mandible equals the ventral in length. Eye contained slightly more than six times in greatest length of head. Distance of dorsal from snout equals three times, and base of sjnnous dorsal twice length of snout. First dorsal spine about equal to first anal. Second dorsal spine equals second anal and twice first anal. Longest dorsal spine (fourth) equals one-third of greatest length of head. Last dorsal spine about equal to half distance from snout to centre of orbit. Base of soft dorsal equals three times second spine of dorsal. First ray of dorsal equals three-fourths of first anal ray, which equals least height of tail. Longest dorsal ray (fourth) equals twice diameter of eye, and the last equals half of least height of tail. Distance of anal from snout equals slightly more than six times least height of tail; its length of base somewhat exceeds length of second anal ray. First anal spine equals half the second, which is half the length of upper jaw. Third anal spine equals half second anal ray, which equals length of snout. First anal ray equals least height of tail; second equals length of snout, and last equals half length of snout. Middle caudal rays equal one-sixth and superior external rays one- fourth of total length. Inferior external rays slightly less than length of pectoral. Distance of pectoral from snout about equal to length of head. Its length almost twice least height of tail. Distance of ventral from snout nearly three times length of snout ; its length equals half length of head. Radial Formula.^B. VII; D. X, 14; A. Ill, 8 ; C. + 17 + ; P. 1, 15; y. I, 5. Scales. — 6, 45, 14. Color. — General color scarlet below, shading into reddish or purplish brown above. Plum color on sides and top of head. Below the lateral line, the posterior half of the exposed portion of the scales is white tinted with scarlet; the basal portion reddish and much darker. Under part of head light scarlet. Vertical fins darker than the body. Pectoral and ventral white roseate. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 181 Tce^/i.— Vomerine teeth iu a patch shaped like a spear, with concave cutting edges and acutely produced angles. Table of Measurements. Current number of specimen. Locality 21,337. Pensacola, Fla. Millim. lOOths Extreme length without caudal Length to end of middle caudal rays Body : Greatest height Height at ventrals Least height of tail Head : Greatest length Width of interorbital area Length of snout Length of operculum Length of luaxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit . Diameter of eye Dorsal (spinous): Distance from snout Length of base Length of tirst spine Length of second spine Length of longest spine Length of last spine Dorsal (soft) : Length of base Length of first ray Length of longest ray Length of last ray...' Anal : Distance from snout Length of base Length of first spine , Length of second spine Length of third spine Length of first ray , Length of longest ray Length of last ray . .'. Caudal : Length of middle rays 430 501 Length of external rays { to Ferior . Pectoral : Distance from snout . Length Ventral : Distance from snout . Length Branchiostegals Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral Ventral Number of scales in lateral line Number of transverse rows above lateral line Number of transverse rows below lateral line. 7 X.14 III, 8 + 17 + L5 L15 45 6 14 (U)i in.) 34 32 12 13 11 14 17 15J 54 39J 26 ^ 7 (4th) llj 7i 21 9 (4th) 11 6 73 13i 3* 7' C4 12 (2d) 13 6^ 16J 25 23 33} 23J 38J 17 A MOTE OS TH£ GCI^F MJEIUHADEN, BREVOORTIA PATRONrS, GOODE. By SII.AS STEARNS. The Gulf Menhaden are first seen about Pensacola iu April. They enter the harbor iu small schools, swimming at the surface, rippling the water as they go. I have never seen any large schools, perhaps not more than four or five barrels iu one body; but the number of small schools which might be seen in a few hours at the right place and in a 182 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. favorable time would make an immense school or schools, if consolidated. The fishermen report them in small bunches outside and offshore. I have never seen one in the spring which would measure over six inches, and the greater number measure less than that; all the fishermen con- firm this. They seem to stay in brackish water until they get accustomed to the change, and lose their parasite,* and then go directly into the fresh water. About May 27, 1 hauled a seine in a fresh-water stream near the head of the bay, and caught nearly a barrel of Brevoortia patromis. Their color was darker, and I did not find any parasites in their mouths. Their stomachs were full of food, but I could find no traces of spawn or milt. I do not know exactly when they return from fresh water, but last October Major Staples and I caught about two dozen in a gill-net with a mesh of 3| inches. I remember that they were gilled very hard, and therefore judge that they must have been quite large. I am quite positive that they belonged to the same species. Pensacola, Fla., June 6, 1878. A NOTE UPON THE BEACK OROEPER (EPINEPHEEES NIGRITES (HOE- BROOK) eiEE) OF THE SOETHERN COAST. By G. BRO^VIV OOODE and TARLETO^ H. BEAX. Among the specimens from Pensacola sent by Mr. Stearns, there is the '* Jew-fish " of West Florida, said to attain the weight of three or four hundred pounds. The specimen (No. 21,329) measures in length 29 inches, and weighs 16 pounds. It was described while in a fresh condition. SYNONYMY. Serranua-nigritus, Holbrook, Ichthyology of South Carolina, p. 173, pi. xxv, fig. 2. — GuNTHER, Catalogue of the Acauthopterygian Fishes in the Collection of the British Museum, I, 1859, p. 134. Epinephelus ntgritus, Gill, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- delphia, 18G5, p. 105 ; Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries for 1871-72, 1873, p. 806 ; Catalogue of the Fishes of the East Coast of North America, 1873, p. 28. DESCRIPTION. Diagnosis. — Body oblong, thick, tapering very gradually from the insertion of the dorsal and the end of the ventral, its greatest height (behind ventrals) is contained three and one-sixth times in total length (caudal included) and about equal to length of head. The height of body at ventrals is slightly greater than one-third of total length with- *Thi8 species is infested by the same parasite which is so common in the mouths of the common Menhaden in Southern waters, the Cymothoa prcegustaior (Latrobe) Say. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. J 83 out caudal, double the greatest width of the body, and three times the least height of tail. Head a trifle longer thau greatest height of body and slightly less than twice the length of the pectoral. The width of the iuterorbital area is half that of the head, and nearly double the diameter of the eye. The length of the snout is about equal to that of the operculum. The preoperculum is finely serrated on its posterior limb, slightly produced at the angle, the edge of which is obtusely rounded, and armed with stronger denticulations. Upon the inferior limb in front of the angle is one stout spine. Lips scaleless. Maxillary with a few minute scales arranged in a narrow band. Length of the upper jaw nearly half the length of head and quite half the greatest height of the body. Length of mandible about double that of the operculum. Length of mandible slightly more than that of pectoral. Eye circular, its diameter nearly nine times in length of head and nearly twice in width of iuterorbital space. Its anterior margin is mid- way between the tip of the snout and the i)osterior edge of the pre- operculum. Dorsal as far from the snout as ventral, its length of base three- fourths that of the head. The length of the first spine slightly exceeds the diameter of the eye, the second spine is as long as the base of the anal fin and about equal to the longest anal ray. The length of the last spine is twice that of the first. The length of base of soft dorsal is four-fifths that of the spinous dorsal, which is exactly double the length of the longest dorsal ray. The last ray is half as long as the first ray of the anal. The distance of the anal from the snout is three-fourths of the length of the body without caudal. Its length of base is equal to the length of the second dorsal spine. The relations of the length of the spines and rays of the anal fin are exhibited in the table of measurements. Caudal fin rounded, its middle rays half as long as the head, the exterior rays slightly shorter. The pectoral is very broad and rounded, its insertion considerably in advance of the end of the opercular flap. Its length slightly exceeds that of the middle caudal rays. Ventrals broad, distant from snout three-eighths of the length of the body and as long as the pectoral. The ventral spine is as long as the last dorsal spine. Scales of moderate size, with minute pectinations, truncate at the attached end. When detached, their shape is nearly oblong. Color, dusky brown above, lighter below ; fins darker ; no traces of markings upon body or fins. 184 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, Table of Measurements. Current number of specimen. Locality Extreme length ■ Length to end of middle caudal rays Body: Greatest height Greatest width Height at ventrals Least height of tail Head: Greatest length Greatest width Width of interorbital area Length of snout Length of operculum Length of maxillary Length of mandible Distance from snout to orbit Diameter of orbit Dorsal (spinous) : Distiince from snout Length of base Greatest height Length of hrst spine Length of second spine Length of last spine Dorsal (soft) : Length of base Length of first ray Length of longest ray (seventh) Length of last ray Anal : Distance from snout Length of base Length of first spine Length of second spine Length of third spine Length of first ray Length of longest ray (second) Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays Length of external rays Pectoral : Distance from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Length Branchiostegals Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral Ventral Number of scales in lateral line Number of transverse rows above lateral line . Number of transverse rows below lateral line. . (29 inches) . 21,329. Pensacola, Fla. MiUim. lOOths. 610 735 7 X, 15 111,9 + 17 + 2,16 L5 115 24 52 39 17 35 12 40 10 11 10* 22| 13* 4J 37J 31 16^ 5 10 24* 14" 15.i 7 76 164 2* c| 14i 16" 9 20* m 35 21 i 37i 2U Washington, June 1, 1676. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 185 CATAI.OGUE OF THE BIRDS OF ST, VINCEKT, FKO.vI CO]Ll,ECTI©KS MADE BY MK. FRED. A. OBER, UKDER THE DDREflJTDONS OF TME SMITH- S0NIA:K institution, with his notes THEREON. By OEOROE N. LAWKENCE. Before Mr. Ober's fiual visit to Dominica, be made collections in An- tigua and Barbuda. These were left with the United States consul at Antigua, to be forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution when there was an opportunity to do so. This was in September, 1877 ; but they have not yet been received. After completing his investigations in Dominica, he went to St. Vincent, whence he writes under date of October 9 : — "As soon as I reached the mountains I was taken sick. It has been quite discourag- ing. 1 have suffered from another attack of fever. I feel pretty well now, and hope to keep so." He wrote under date of December 10 : — "I expect to leave for Grenada January 15." But unfortunately he had a relapse of fever, by which he was completely prostrated, as, in a letter dated January 25, he says : — " I am just convalescing from a long fever; camping in this very wet weather brought it on. I have been laid up since December 19. I lost all my flesh, and was so weak when I first left my bed that I could scarcely stand. Though I have been here a long while, I have accomplished little, owing to the rains and the actual impossibility of working the woods then, without a pull-up such as lam getting. I hope to be all right in a week, and, as drier weather is at hand, to rapidly finish this island, and then push through the Grena- dines to Grenada. From there, retrace my steps here for mails, &c., and then go to Martinique." Mr. Ober's long sickness, together with the rains, prevented him from making but a moderate collection at St. Vincent. He was to leave for Grenada on the 29th of February. The collection from St. Vincent was kindly taken in charge by Eear- Admiral Trenchard, commanding the United States steamer Powhatan, early in March. It was received at the Smithsonian on the 25th of that month, and forwarded to me a few days thereafter. It consists of but ninety specimens, and some of the species are poorly represented in numbers. The subjoined account from Mr. Ober, of the geographical position of the island, with its natural and zoological peculiarities, seems to con- vey valuable information. This, with his observations on the habits of birds, &c., are indicated by quotation-marks : — " St. Vincent, February 28, 1878. This island lies in latitude 13° 15° north and longitude 61° 10' west. It is about 100 miles due west of Barbadoes, and is one of the long chain of volcanic islands extending from latitude 17° 50' north to latitude 12° north. " Like Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Grenada, it is very mountainous ; nearly the whole surface is tossed with hills, and even the level laud, as it is called, is of this character. 186 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. " Like the other islands of the chain, it has a longitudinal axis in the shape of a range of hills extending its entire length. Here and there are peaks approaching the dignity of mountains, the highest about 3,000 feet. In the northern part is the famous ' Souffriere', a mountain with a crater a mile in diameter, a slumbering volcano which, in 1812, by a tremendous eruption, spread havoc and ruin all around it. Before this eruption, the mountain was probably much higher than at present, as the top was blown completely off and a new crater opened. Evidence of its work may be seen at the present day in the deep gullies scooped out of the mountain side and the plain beneath by the lava flow in its great rush to the sea. I counted five of these dry rivers in sailing along the leeward coast. The most extensive is on the windward coast', at least 300 yards in width. " St. Vincent has more cultivable land than Dominica, owing to the windward side sloping gradually from the foot hills to the sea, a tract from one to two miles in width of undulating surface, though rough and elevated in places. "As will be seen, the avifauna resembles much that of Dominica — some birds of the same species in greater or less abundance, a few re- placed by others of near affinity, and one or two new forms. " The Island Parrot Chrysotis guildingi is peculiar to this island, but I doubt if there are other birds whose habitat is restricted to this small range. Were I possessed of all the information I hope to get by the time my investigations are completed, I might speak of the peculiarity of these insular faunj©, by which I find, in islands separated by a nar- row breadth of water — say, from 15 to 30 miles — birds found in one that never visit the other. Notable examples could be given, but I wish to speak authoritatively and from more extended experience. " It is strange that in an island more than two degrees south of Dominica, I find so little difference in the plumage of birds; hardly any increase of those tropical species of bright plumage, which are so abundant further south in Tobago and Trinidad. In fact, so far as the fauna of each island is concerned, and in external character of surface and soil, and even in the component elements of the latter, Dominica and St. Vincent could scarcely be more alike. To a superficial observer these facts are apparent, as well as to one who studies them. " In numbers, as well as in species, this island is greatly deficient. To what cause to attribute this disparity when tlie forests and fields teem with bird-food, and islands further south teem with birds, I am at a loss. Perhaps the reason may appear later, in the process of careful investigation. " The most striking instance of the absence of any particular form or family, is that of the Picidte. Countless trees, decaying and dead, under the influence of a never-ceasing destructive power, which would afford food for thousands of birds ; which are infested and alive with ants, borers, &c., found in every forest. Not a woodpecker; millions of nut- PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 187 and seed -producing trees, and you may look in vain for any member of the squirrel family. "And among birds and among quadrupeds, there is no animal here that takes their jjlaces. " These few notes, hasty and crude, may aid in the conception of the appearance of animal life here, and only for that purpose are they offered. " I send, by the same conveyance with the birds, 46 specimens of Carib hatchets, axes, knives, &c., illustrating the crude state of advance- ment in which they existed, as compared with their enemies and co- existent tribes of the larger islands. "Allow me in this conuection to acknowledge the courtesy of the offi- cials and planters of St. Vincent. To His Excellency George Dundas, Esq., C. M. G. Lieut. Governor of St. Vincent; Edward Laborde, Colonial Secretary ; and to Hon. Henry Shaw, Treasurer of the island, I am especially indebted for facilities in prosecuting my work, as well as for social pleasures that have greatly relieved the tedium of life in a new place. " To the proprietors and managers of the different estates, I am greatly indebted ; to James Milne, Esq., of Eutland Vale, for a residence in the country when recovering from fever ; to Messrs. D. K. Porter & Co., Kingstown, for letters of introduction, horses, and men. Finally, it is only incumbent upon me to add that I have received nothing but kind treatment, and have found most unbounded hospitality throughout the island. " FREDERICK A. OBER." Fam. TUHDID^. 1. Turdus nigrirostris, Lawr., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., vol. 1, p. 147. "Thrush, 9 . Length, 9^ in.; alar extent, 14; wing, 4J. " Found on lower ground than Margarops montanus. Not numerous." 2. Margaropsherminieri(Lafr.). "Have heard the unmistakable whistle of this bird, and have seen it as it flitted by in the dusk of the high woods, but have not obtained it." 3. Margarops montanus (Vieill.). " Found only in high woods and valleys. Not very abundant. I have not seen the larger species of this genus." 4. Cinclocerthia rufioauda, Gould. " ' Trembleur '. $ . Length, 9 in. ; alar extent, 12^ ; wing, 4. " Not so abundant as in the woods of Dominica, but still plentiful. Iris yellow." 5. Mimus gilvus, Vieill. " ' Mocking bird.' " Male, length, 10^ in. ; alar extent, 14; wing, 4i. 188 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. , " Female, length, 9f in. ; alar extent, 12f ; wing, 4^. '' Pretty common in the lowlands and cleared places. In shape and habits it resembles the Mockingbird of the States. Its habit of dodging in and out of the palm tops, recalls the American si)ecies. It is vastly inferior in song however, but trills very sweetly a few notes." There are five specimens in the collection, differing in no respect from an undoubted example of this species from Guiana. Fam. SYLVIID^. 6. Myiadestes sibilans, Lawr., Aun. N. Y. Acad. Sci. vol. 1, p. 148. " ' Souffriere Bird.' " Length, ^ , 7^ in. ; alar extent, 11 ; wing, 3^ ; tail, 3. " Length, 9 , 7^ in. ; alar extent, 11|; wing, 3i; tail, 3. " This bird has been an object of search for fifty years, and has so long eluded the vigilance of naturalists and visitors to the mountains, that it is called the 'invisible bird'. From being seen only on the Souffriere Mountain, it has acquired the name of the ' Souffriere bird'. It is popularly believed to be found only on the Sulphur Mountain, but is an inhabitant of all the high ridges containing deep woods and ravines. Shy and exceedingly observant, it was not until my third search for it that I captured it. Though I fear the popular belief that it is a resident of this island only is erroneous, still I was piqued at the reputation it held of being invisible, and resolved to capture it. To do this I camped five days and nights on the mountain top, 3,000 feet above the sea, in a cave on the brink of the crater. I got five birds by using all my arts of allurement, calling them within shot by using a call taught me by the Caribs. " The bird is mentioned in Gosse's Birds of Jamaica, and considered identical with the 'Mountain Whistler' [Myiadestes genibarbis) of Dominica and Jamaica. This was merely conjecture, and should it I)rove nothing else, I can claim the credit of settling the doubt. " There are differences in the notes of the two birds, though great similarity in their habits. I send you seven specimens." Mr. Ober quotes Mr. Gosse as considering the St. Vincent bird to be identical with the one inhabiting Jamaica. But Mr. Gosse does not precisely say that, but says concerning it (Birds of Jamaica, p. 200) that he received the following note from Mr. Hill : — "I find among some detached notes of mine the following memorandum respecting a similar bird in the smaller West India islands. ' The precipitous sides of the Souffriere Mountain in St. Vincent,' says a writer describing the vol- cano which so disastrously broke out there in 1812, ' were fringed with various evergreens, and aromatic shrubs, flowers, and many Alpine plants. On the north and south sides of the base of the cone were two pieces of water, one perfectly pure and tasteless, the other strongly im- pregnated with sulphur and alum. This lonely and beautiful spot was PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 189 rendered more enchanting by the singularly melodious notes of a bird, an inhabitant of those upper solitudes, and altogether unknown to the other parts of the island ; hence supposed to be invisible, though it cer- tainly has been seen, and is a species of Merle.'" Neither does Mr. Gosse allude to its being similar to the bird found in Dominica. Mr. Ober was misled probably by Mr. Gosse using M. genibarhis (which is the correct name for the Dominica species) as a synonym of 31. armillatus, which he supposed the Jamaica Solitaire to be, but which has been given a distinct name by Professor Baird, viz, Myiadestes solitarius. Fam. TROGLODYTID^. 7. Thryothorus musicus, Lawr., Anu. N. Y. Acad. Sci. vol. 1, p. 149. "Wren; 'Wall Bird.' " Length, 5^ in. ; wing, 21 ; alar extent, 7|. " The sweet warble of this lively little bird may be heard morning, noon, and night about the houses and sugar-mills, as well as far up the mountain sides and valleys. It is quite plentiful and often has deceived me in its note, as it was mistaken for that of a warbler. It builds its nest in the walls of houses and holes in trees. Saw one constructing a nest in October. Found on the Souffriere, 3,000 feet above the sea." Fam. SYLVICOLID^. 8. Leucopeza bishopi, Lawr., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. vol. 1, j). 151. "Wren? "Length, $ , 5f in.; alar extent, 8i; wing, 2f. " While engaged in my search for the Souffriere bird, I noticed a sprightly little bird that came skipping through the trees at my call. It seemed rather shy, but this may be owing to the presence of man in such a secluded situation, and it was with difficulty I shot two. Since then I have shot another ; none of them below 1,000 feet altitude. Its note is very sharp; either the male or the female gives utterance to the syllable, 'few, few, few,' etc., eight or ten times, immediately answered by the mate with, 'whit, whit, whit,' etc., the same number of times." 9. Setophaga ruticilla (Linn.). " Not often seen." Fam. VIREONIDiE. 10. Vireosylvia calidris rar. dominicana, Lawr. " Vh'eo calidris ? Everywhere abundant. '^ Length, $ , 5f in. ; alar extent, 9 ; wing, 3. " Length, 9 , 6 in. ; alar extent, 9^ ; wing, 3^." 190 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Fam. HIRUNDINIDiE. 11. Progne dominicensis (Gm.). " Leugth, S > ''^ io- j alar extent, 15^ ; wing, 5%, " I saw the lirst this mouth, February, at the same time with, and in the same place as, the Tropic bird (Phsethon). I think, however, both are residents." Fam. CiEREBID^. 12. Oerthiola atrata, Lawr., Anu. N. Y. Acad. Sci. vol. 1, p. 150. " CertJiiola ? '' Length, S, 4§ in. ; alar extent, 8 ; wing, 2|. " Length, 2 , 4 in. ; alar extent, 7 ; wing, 2^. " This black species seems to have almost entirely replaced the black and yellow one of Dominica, etc. It is abundant mixing with the ' black bird ' {Loxigilla nocUs) in the cotton-trees and plantains, so as to be hardly distinguished. The love for the flowers of the banana and plan- tain, and the fruit as well, is the same trait possessed by the Dominica species." 13. Certhiola saccharina, Lawr., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. vol. 1, p. 151. " Certhiola. "Lengtb, ish-white ; cheeks pale orange ; the feathers of the sides of the neck and throat are orange at base, terminating with pale blue; the feathers Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 13 Oct. US, 1878. 194 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. of the bind Deck are light olive-greeu, orange at base, and terminating conspicuously with black; back, rump, and smaller wing-coverts of a brownish-rufous or bay color, the feathers narrowly edged with black; the tail-feathers are varied with dark green and blue, with their bases bright orange and their ends dirty pale orange; the terminal half of the pri- maries is black, the basal portion orange-yellow ; the speculum on the secondaries is of a deep orange, succeeded by green and then dark blue on the outer webs to their ends ; the inner webs are black ; the tertials are olive green, with the outer webs of a lighter blue; edge of the wing orange ; the breast and siiles are of a duller bay color than the back, and the abdomen dull olive-green ; all the feathers edged with black ; the under tail-coverts are dull orange, ending with green; the bill is horn- white, the end of the upper mandible dusky, and the sides with just a tinge of orange ; feet dark ash. The female does not differ essentially in ])lumage from the male, except that the sinciput is whiter and the throat of a clearer orange, possibly due to difference of age. Each specimen is labelled — " Parrot. J. Kirkland, Esq., Langby Park, Dec. 15, 1877." Fam. STRIGIDiE. 30. Strix flammea var. nigrescens, Lawr. ♦'Owl. 'Jumbie Bird.' " Length, 9 , 12 in.; alar extent, 33 ; wing, 10. " There are two species, it is said ; but I have seen but this one, and doubt whether there be another. Evidence from the natives should never be accepted without proof. This species is a frequenter of cliffs. I know nothing of its habits." Fam. FALCONID^. 31. Pandion haliaetus (Linu.). " Not seen, but said to appear along the coast to the windward." 32. Buteo pennsylvanicus (Wils.). "Everywhere abundant. Called the 'Chicken Hawk'. Every speci- men yet examined very light in color, except the last." 33. Urubitinga anthracina (Nitzscb) ? '" Black Hawk.' "Length, ^, juv., 21 in.; wing, 15; tail, 9; tarsus, 3.^. Cumberland Valley, Feb. 1, 1878. "An inhabitant of the mountains and higher valleys, feeding on crabs, cray-fishes, etc., and frequenting the mountain streams. This specimen is evidently not in mature stage of plumage. They are very shy, little seen, not molesting poultry. A young one of this species has been sent to the London Zoological Gardens. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 195 " Oue pointed out to me as the Black Hawk had the shape and appear- ance of the Black Vulture {Cathartes atratus) ; the short tail and pecu- liar flight. This not according with my observations of the hawk pre- viously, in the forest, leads me to think that it was C. atratus. If so, it is the first seen. A 'Black Hawk ' I had before seen had all the appear- ance of the American Duck Hawk. They breed on a shelf of some high cliff." The single specimen sent is immature, but it does not agree satisfac- torily with a Mexican example of U. anthracinay in a somewhat similar stage of plumage, and if U. gimdlachi inhabiting Cuba is a distinct species, a comparison with that will be necessary to determine its true position. It is (though a male) rather larger, and apparently stouter, with a shorter wing than the specimen from Mexico, which is a female; it is blacker, with the bands on the tail less in number and double the width of those on the tail of the Mexican bird ; but there is probably a differ- ence of age, and, without precise knowledge on this point, a comparison is unsatisfactory. The specimen alluded to by Mr. Ober as having been sent to the Zoological Society of Loudon is doubtless the one spoken of by Mr. J. H. Gurney (Ibis, 187G, p. 487); he says: — "I may also mention that a specimen of TJ. anthracina from the island of St. Vincent is now living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society ; this example was in immature dress when it arrived at the Gardens, but is now in full plumage, with the exception of a slight tinge of rufous brown on the back and sides of the head, and also on the tertials," etc. On page 488 he also remarks : — " The Uruhitinga found in Cuba was erected into a distinct species by Cabanis, who assigned to it the specific name of gundlacM {vide Journ. fiir Orn. 1854, p. 80); this, however, is treated by Mr. Sharpeas a synonym of U, anthracina, whether correctly or not I cannot say, as I have never seen a Urubitinga from Cuba," etc. Fam. FREGATID^. 34. Fregata aquila (Liuu.). "A common sight is that of the ' Man-o'war Bird ' flying high above the water. It breeds in numbers on the island of Balliceaux, 15 miles distant from St. Vincent." Fam. PHiETHONID^. 35. Phaethon aethereus, Linn. " Length,^, 37 in.; alar extent, 38 : wing, 12|. " Breeds in the cliffs on the Leeward coast ; habits, etc., same as the Dominica bird. I found this species in great numbers, at Balliceaux, a small key near St. Vincent ; found a young bird and one egg ; they breed later in the season." 196 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Fam. PELECANID^. 36. Pelecanus fuscus (Linn.). "Length,^, 4G in. ; alar extent, 80; wing, 20. " Seen off the coast, but not in any abundance." 37. Sula fiber (Linn.) ? "An inhabitant of the Leeward coast." Fam. ARDEID^. 38. Ardea herodias, Linn. " Visits the island, but not often seen ; called the ' Gray Heron V 39. Garzetta candidissima (Gm.). " Very few ever seen." 40. Florida caerulea (Linn.). "In small numbers." 41. Butorides virescens (Linn.). " Length,?, 17 in. ; alar extent, 25 j wing, 7. " Common ; the only Heron plentiful." Fam. COLUMBIDiE. 42. Columbo corensis (Gm.). "Length, 9, 16 in. ; alar extent, 25^; wing, 8|. "Abundant, but shy ; inhabits the high woods. Feeds on the berries of the gommier tree and many others. Is in best condition in i!^ovem- ber and December ; but most easily obtained in February and March, when the woods resound with its call notes and loud cooing. Is strictly arboreal, never touching the earth." 43. Zenaida martinicana, Bp. " Length, $ , 10^ in. ; wing, 5f ; tail, 3^. " ' Turtle Dove.' Balliceaux Island, near St. Vincent. Breeding abun- dantly.'" 44. Chamaepelia passerina (Linn.). "Length, 5Crt'3iO a-^ a a-r^ 'a'C o S'^.2 £''''-'''.2.2 ''m.2 r 2'^ ^ p-cr'a'w'ds : :'S I ;"><| ; : ;'m'S S^s'S g'S :m n ■ ■ • ■ • ■ ~.c.a IJ^ g= 3.2 3% ej 0? 5a« few s HH ^ o «r.M >'^'3 "? "V S '^ • £a«:,tC"otSc8c.2a)ja mor^oooo--'Nco't"mot^ ooc;o.-HCJc.3-.3«oco^-ODai .— — —'—( — 0*7* CI' t- 1- i- t^ I- I- ( - ■ • i^ r- I- r- t^ <- t- 1 •.nn y: nnnn ^ • t^ t^ t^ t^ t^ t-^ OOOOOOO ~00000 OOwjOOOOOOOOO nnnnnc^nnnnmnn nco: :^ ?o cc ^5 c- o--(M^:rrI-:;£^^oDCiOTHOl 'in -.0 1-0000^ ':»«'»• : in L*: k.n I.-: •.: u: (s o o '.c H Sh < s P^ •S CL^ • •-H H '^ « 3 Si fee 'o j5i 206 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. NOTES ON THE PRECEDING LIST. CHEYENNES. 30676 (1) Heap of Birds.— Chief. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Died October 9, 1877. Eingleader. 30677 (2) Bear Shield.— Chief. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Killed Watkins. 30678 (3) Minimic— C/iiV/. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Ringleader. 30679 (4) Medicine 'Water.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, March 5, 1875. Charge 1st. — Wilful and deliberate murder. Did kill or assist in killing a party of surveyors, white men, consisting of Capt. Oliver F. Short and his son, F. D. Short, James Shaw and his son, J. Allen Shaw, and J. H. Reuchler, resi- dents of Lawrence, Kans. Also, Henry C. Jones. Charge 2d. — Abduction. Illegal detention. Kidnapping. Did carry off or assist in carrying off Catherine, Sophia, Julianne, and Mary Germain, aged, respectively, 18, 13, 7, and 5^ years. Held the first two as captives from Septem- ber 11, 1874, until March 1, 1875. 30680 (5) LongBack.— ,SM6c/i«V/. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, March 18, 1875. Held and abused Germain girls. 30681 (6) White Man.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, March 5, 1875. Accomplice in Short and Germain murders ; pointed out by Medicine Water. 30682 (7) Rising Bull.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, March 5, 1875. Accomplice in above murders; pointed out by Germain girls. 30683 (8) Cohoe.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, January 9, 1875. Accomplice (pointed out by Big Moccasin and Medicine Water) in Germain murder. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 207 30684 (9) Bear's Heart.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Accomplice (pointed out by Big Moccasin and Medicine Water) in Germain murder. 30685 (10) Star.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. No offence charged., 30686 (11) Howling Wolf (Minimic's Son).— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Ringleader. 30687 (12) Making Medicine.— /Famor. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30688 (13) Antelope.— JFan-ior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30689 (14) Come-uh-see-vah ("Wolfs Marrow).— TFamon Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30690 (15) Little Medicine.— C7nV/. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30691 (16) Shave Head.— fTftmor. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30692 (17) Homan Nose.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30693 (18) Big Nose.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory. April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30694 (19) Squint Hyes.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30695 (20) Little Chief.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 208 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 30696 (21) Matches.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Ringleader. 30697 (22) Buffalo Meat.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Eingleader. 30698 (23) Buzzax A.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Ringleader. 30699 (24) Soaring Eagle. — TFamor, Arrested at Fort Wallace, Kansas, December 25, 1874. Brown murder, near Wallace. Had Brown's pistol when captured by Lieutenant Hiukle. 30700 (25) Moconista.— fFamor. Arrested at Fort Wallace, Kansas, December, 25, 1874. Brown murder. 30701 (26) Left Hand.— TTam'o?-. Arrested at Fort Wallace, Kansas, December 25, 1874. Brown murder. 30702 (27) Chief KiUer.- Warrior. Arrested at Staked Plains, Texas, September 24, 1874. Participated in the killing of the Germain parents and son and daughter, and in the carrying away into captivity of the four sisters. 30703 (28) Mochl— Squaw. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, March 5, 1875. Put an axe in head of Germain girls' father. Grey Beard. — Chief. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Jumped from the train en route, near Houston, Fla., May 21, 1875, and was shot by the guard and died in two hours. Eingleader. Big Moccasin.— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, Decem- ber 14, 1874. Died November 4, 1875. Captured by Captain Keys, and pointed out by Medicine Water. Ringleader and murder. Lean Bear. — Chief. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Died July 24, 1875. Ringleader. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 209 Shaving "Wolf. — Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Died December 5, 1876. Eingleader. Spotted Elk. — Warrior. Arrested at Clieyenne Agency, Indian Territory, April 3, 1875. Died January 2, 1877. Eingleader. AEAPAHOES. 30704 (29) Packer.— TTrtm'or. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, March 5, 1875. Charge. — Wilful murder. Killed Leon Williams, a Mexi- can herder in the employment of the United States Govern- ment, at Arapahoe and Cheyenne Agency. 30705 (30) White Bear.— fTarnor. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, March 5, 1875. Attempt to kill. Did shoot at, with intent to kill, F. II. Williams, an employe of the United States Government, at the Arapahoe and Cheyenne Agency. KIOWAS. Woman's Heart. — C¥ief. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, October 3, 1874. Released by order of the Secretary of War, April 18, 1877. Participated in the assaults on Amos Chapman and party, and on Major Syman's train, near the source of the Washita Eiver, Texas, September 9 to 13, 1874. Participated in the murder of Jacob Dilsey, on the North Fork of the Canadian Eiver, below Camp Supply, near Cottonwood Grove, Indian Territory, November 21, 1873. CADDOES. 30706 (31) Huh-nah-nee.— PromiHe?i( J/ffl». Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, April 7, 1875. Killed E. P. Osborne (Black Beaver's son-in-law) near the Wichita Agency, Indian Territory, August 22, 1874. 30707 (32) White Horse.— C/iic/. Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, 17th December, 1874. Led the party killing Manuel Ortego and Lucien Munos, near Dr. J. J. Sturms, on the Little Washita Eiver, Indian Territory, August 22, 1874. Participated in the Howard's Wells Texas massacre, 1872. Led the party killing the Lee family and abducting the Lee children, near Fort Griffin, Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 14 ©ct. IT, 18T8. 210 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Texas, 1872. Led the party killing Mr. Koozier, near Hen- rietta, Texas, and carrying his wife and four children in captivity, 1870. Led the party attacking the mail stage, dangerously wounding the driver, robbing the stage, killing, wounding, and robbing the stage of its mules, near John- son's Station, 25 miles west of Fort Concho, Texas, July 14, 1872. Notoriously a murderer and raider. 30708 (33) V/o haw (Beei).— Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, October 3, 1874. Participated iu the murder of Manuel Ortego and Lucien Munos. Was in the party killing Jacob Dilsey. 30709 (34) Bird Chief, alias Bird Medicine, alias Bad Eye. — Warrior and Leader. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, October 3, 1874. Participated in the assaults on Amos Chapman and party, and Major Sy man's train near the source of the Washita River, Texas, September 9 to 13, 1874. Led the party, killing Jacob Dilsey on the North Fork of the Cana- dian Eiver, below Camp Supply, near Cottonwood Grove, Indian Territory, November 21, 1873. Was in the party killing J. H. Martin, Mr. Canala, and Mr. Himes near Ki- owa or Medicine Lodge Creek, Barbour County, Kansas, June IC, 1874. Participated iu the murder of Earnest Modest; seized Modest by the wrist and held him while another shot him, near Wichita Agency, August 22, 1874. 30710 (35) Double Vision.— Pe«^ Chief. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, October 3, 1874. Was iu the party murdering Earnest Modest. Held the bridle of Romero's horse all the time the murder of Earnest Modest was being accomplished. ' 30711 (36) Sa-a-ini-da (Bear in the Clouds).— Leather. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, October 3, 1874. Participated in the murder of Earnest Modest. Took care of the horses of the party, while the other Indians hammered Earnest to death with their hatchets. 30712 (37) Lone V7oU.— Chief. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Headed a party of Kiowas, killing two buffalo-hunters, Dudley and Wallace, on the Canadian River, below Adobe Walls, early in 1874; led a party of 100 Indians, more or less, in assailing a party of non-combatants, citizens of the United States, viz, E. P. Osborne, E. H. Barrett, Jackson Clark, and Charles Losson, and did murder, or aid iu, assist, PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED b^^TES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 211 and abet the murder, with firearms of three of the aforesaid uon-combatants, viz, Osborue, Barrett, and Clark. 30713 (38) Zo-tom {Bitei).— Warrior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was in party headed by Mah-mante, killing two colored men on Salt Creek Prairie, between Jackson and Belknap, Texas, 1870 or 1871. Participated in the attack on buffalo- hunters at Adobe Walls, early in spring of 1871. 30714 (39) On-ko-eht (Anlile).— Warrior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Bad man ; was with Mah-mante, killing two colored men, &c. 30715 (40) Ohet-toint (High Forehead).— TFamor. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was with Mah-mante when he killed the man in the wagon ; was with Lone Wolf killing two buffalo hunters. 30716 (41) E-tah-dle-uh (Boy).— TFamor. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was with Lone Wolf killing buffalo-hunters (Dudley and Wallace); was in the party attacking buffalo-hunters at Adobe Walls, early in spring of 1874. 30717 (42) Zo-pe-he (Toothless).— TF«rrior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Participated in the killing of two colored men. Went to Texas witii a party of Comanches' and participated in the killing of two men on the Clear Fork of the Brazos in the summer of 1873. 30718 (43) Tsah-dle-tah ("White Goose).— Warrior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was with Lone Wolf, killing two men, buffalo-hunters, I Wallace and Dudley ; was prominent in the attack on troops at the Washita, August 22, 1874 ; helped to kill the white men Modest, Osborne, and others. 30719. (44) Zone-ke-uh (Teeth).— TFamor. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, February 18, 1875. Was with Mah-mante killing the two colored men. Was with Lone Wolf killing two buffalo-hunters, Dudley and Wallace. 30720. (45) Beah-ko (Old Man).— TFam'or. Arrested at Salt Fork, Red River, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. 212 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Helped rob Shirley's store at the Wichita Agency, In- dian Territory, August 22, 1874. 30721. (46) To-un-ke-up (Good Talk.).— Warrior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Elver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Stealing in Salt Creek Yalley, Texas, late in 1871. Was with Lone Wolf killing Dudley and Wallace, buffalo-hunt- ers. 30722 (47) Ko-ba (Wild Horse).— TTamor. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was with Mah-mante stealing a lot of mules in the Brazos country in 1872. Participated in the attack on General Davidson's command at Wichita Agency, August 22, 1874. 30723 (48) Mau-ko-peh (Flat Nose). — JVarrior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Stealing horses, and was with Mah-mante stealing a lot of mules in the Brazos country in 1872. 30724 (49) Au-lih (Wise).— /ran-ior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was with Lone Wolf killiug Dudley and Wallace. Was with Mah-mante when he killed the man in the wagon. Stealing horses. Helped rob Shirley's store. Participated in the attack on General Davidson's command. 30725 (50) Ko-ho (Kicking).— TTflrnor. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was with Lone Wolf killing Dudey and Wallace. Was with Mah-mante killing the two colored men. Helped rob Shirley's store. Participated in the attack on General Davidson's command. Stealing mules. 30726 (51) To-o-sape (Bull with Holes in his Ears). — Warrior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territorj'^, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Was with Mah-mante killing the two colored men. Was with Lone Wolf killiug Dudley and Wallace. Stealing mules. 30727 (52) Tsait-kope-ta (Bear Mountain).— TTamor, Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Helped rob Shirley's store. Stole horses. Was with Lone Wolf killing Dudley and Wallace. 30728 (53) Pedro.— TTamor. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 18, 1875. Killed a colored man, known as Frenchy, near the PKOCEEDINGS OF UMTED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 213 Wichita Agency, Indian Territory, Angust 22, 1874. Was in a party killing two white men below Fort Griffin, Texas, in the winter of 1872-'73. One of the men was riding a mule, and the other a horse, at the time. Was a prominent character in the party robbing Shirley's store. Stole horses and mules. Was with Mah-mante killing the man in the wagon. Ih-pa-yah (Straightening an Arrow). — JVairior. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, February 18, 1875. Died October 5, 1875. Stealing horses in or near the Salt Creek Valley, Texas, in the spring of 1873. Co-a-bote-ta (Sun). — Warrior. Arrested at Sulphur Ct. H., Indian Territory, October 23, 1874. Died May 24, 1875. Participated in the murder , of Jacob Dilsey. Ah-ke-ah, alias Pah-o-ka (Coming to the Grove). — Warrior. Arrested at Cheyenne Agency, Indian Territory, October 3, 1874. Released by order of Secretary of War, April 18, 1877. Participated in the murder of Jacob Dilsey. Mah-mante, alias Swan (Man w^ho "Walks above the Ground).— CViie/. Arrested at Salt Fork, Eed Eiver, Indian Territory, Feb- ruary 13, 1875. Died July 29, 1875. Led a party, killing two colored men, on the Salt Creek Prairie, between Jacksboro' and Belknap, Texas, 1870 or 1871. Killed a man on the road south of Fort Griffin, Texas, some time in 1870. Two men were riding in a lone wagon, Mah-mante lay concealed and shot one. Led a party steal- ing a large lot of mules in the Brazos country in 1871. One mule was spotted. Killed a white woman and child in re- venge for the loss of two of his men, while on a raid in South- western Texas, in fall of 1874. Was with Lone Wolf, killing two buflalo-hunters, Dudley and Wallace, &c. COMANCHES. 30731 (56) Eck-e-mah-ats (Buck Antelope.)— TTarnor. Arrested at Elk Creek, Indian Territory, October 26, 1874. Was in Texas with a party and stole horses about Decem- ber, 1873. 30732 (57) Wy-a-ko (Dry Wood).— rramor. Arrested at Elk Creek, Indian Territory, October 20, 1874. Has been in Texas stealing horses j was in Texas last in the winter of 1873-74. 214 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 30733 (58) Black Horse.— C7(?f/. Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, March 7, 1875. Talked defiantly in council with Governor Davis at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, 1873. Killed a white man near Fort Cobb, Indian Territory, 1867. The man went in his com- pany on a hunt, and it was thought at the time that Black Horse procured him to go for the purjiose of killing him. That the Indian Agent Leavenworth and an innkeeper named Lewis had engaged him to do the job on account of some trouble they had had with the man, who was a bad character. 30734 (59) Mad-a-with-t.— TTam'or. Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, March 7, 1875. Died July 21, 1877. A raider. A bad man. Always trying to persuade young men to go off into Texas, always going himself. 30735 (60) Ta-a-way-ite (Telling Something). — Warrior. Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, April 18, 1875. A raider. A bad man. Always stealing horses or on a war-path. Never brings his horses to Sill. Steals them, and takes them to the Quahada Camp on the Staked Plains. 30736 (61) Pe-eh-chip (Tail Feathers ).— 7ramor. Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, April 18, 1875. He is one of the five fellows that shot their father and was outlawed ; that Captain Lee (Tenth Cavalry) was sent down to Double Mountain after, in the fall of 1873. He has been on the war-path ever since. 30737 (62) Tis-cha-kah-da (Always Sitting Down in a Bad Place).— Warrior. Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, April 18, 1875. A bad man. Always off trying to steal horses, or on the war-path, &c. He is one of the desperadoes Captain Lee (Tenth Cavalry) was sent down to Double Mountain after late in 1873. Quoiyo-uh. — Warrior. Arrested at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, April 8, 1875. Bad man. Stealing horses. Stole thirty or more horses from the Chickasaws. Pa-vdor4te (Little Prairie Hill). — Warrior. Arrested at Wichita Agency, Indian Territory, Decem- ber 25, 1874. Helped steal forty-six horses from near Fort Sill belong- ing to K[iowa'?] and C[omanche'?] Agency and John Mad- den, citizen, May 11, 1874. Threatened to kill Mr. Clark, Comanches inn-keeper, on the day of the Wachita disturb- ance, August 22, 1874. Drew pistol on Clark. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 215 SYXOPSIS OF THE PEWICUILATE FISHES OF THE EASTERN COAST OF EXTRATROPICAIi SfORTH AMERICA. By THEODORE GSE,!.. The present sketch of the North ximerican Pedieulate Fishes is ex- tracted from a general work on the fishes of tlie corresponding region, which it is proposed to publish in instalments and as convenience may dictate. The issue of that Relative to the Pediculates seems to be at least as much called for as any other on account of the recent addi- tions to our knowledge of the group and the rarity of the volumes in ■which those additions have been recorded. The recent discovery, too, of so many northern and deep-sea forms not far from our eastern coast renders it possible that any of the types herein enumerated may be found in the same waters, and the present synopsis may lead to their ready identification. The knowledge qf the northern forms is chiefly due to Dr. Liitkeu. Syuopsis of Families. la. Branchial apertures i a or behind the inferior axillse of the pectoral fins ; anterior dorsal ray superior ; mouth more or less opening upwards ; the lower jaw generally projecting beyond or closing in front of upper. 2a. Pseudobrachia with three actinosts ; pseudobranchias not developed. 3a. Pectoral members geniculated, with elongated j)3eudobrachia ; ventral flns developed , ANTENNARiiDiE. 36. Pectoral members not geniculated, with moderate pseudobrachia ; ventral fins suppressed Ceratiid^. 2b. Pseudobrachia with two actinosts ; pseudobranchijs developed. 3. Pectoral members little geniculated, but with elongated pseudobrachia ; ventral fins separated bj' wide interval Lopuiid^. lb. Branchial apertures in the superior asilhe of the pectoral fins ; anterior dorsal ray in a cavity overhung by the anterior margin of the forehead ; mouth sub- terminal or inferior, the lower jaw being generally received within the upper Maltheid^. ANTENNARIID^. Pediculates with elongated geniculate pseudobrachia, provided with three actinosts, i. e., Pediculates with a compressed body; the mouth opening upwards; the branchial apertures i>erforated in the lov/er axils of the pectorals; no pseudobranchiae ; the dorsals represented by (1) at least a frontal or superior rostral spine, and (2) an oblong soft dorsal ; the pectoral mem- bers distinctly geniculated, with elongated pseudobrachia and three actinosts ; and with well developed and approximated ventrals. ANTENNAEIIN^. Antennariids with the body oval and with tumid abdomen, the head compressed, the mouth quite large ; teeth on the palate as well as jaws ; spinous dorsal represented by three spines ; soft dorsal quite elevated ; and pelvic bones elongated. 216 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. PTEEOPHEYNE.* Antenuariines with skin naked and smooth; caudal peduncle free; mouth oblique 5 dorsal spines completely exserted ; soft dorsal and anal expanded vertically ; pectorals and wrists slender, and ventrals elon- gated. Pterophryne histrio. Comvion Frog-fish. Mouse-fish. 1758 — Lcpbius histrio, Linne, Systema Natura?, ID. ed., p. 237 ; 12. ed., 1. 1, p. 403; Gmel. ed., t. 1, p. 1481. 1815— Lophiusgibbus, MUchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., v. 1, pi. 4, f. 9. 1837 — Chironectes pictus, Cuv. tj' Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissous, t. 12, p. 393, pi. 363. 1837 — Chironectes tumidus, Cuv. cf VaL, Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 397. 1837— Chironectes loevigatus, Cuv. cj- Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissous, t. 12, p. 399. 1837 — Chironectes nesogallicus, Cuv. ^- Val., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 401. 1837 — Chironectes marmoratus, Cuv. 4~ VaL, Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 402. 1839 — Chironectes lavigatus, Slorei-, Boston Journ. Nat. Hist., v. 2, p. 383 ; Eep. Ich. and Herp. Mass., p. 73. 1842 — Chironectes loevigatus, DeKaij, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 165, pi. 27, f. 83. 1842 — Chironectes gibbus, DeKaij, Zoology of New York, Fishes, p. 164, pi. 24, f. 74. 1853 — Chironectes Isevigatus, Storer, Mem. Am. Acad. Arts and Sc, u. s., v. 5, p. 270 3 Hist. Fishes Mass., p. 104, pl. 18, f. 3. 1861 — Antennarius marmoratus, Gilnlher, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mus., v. 3, p. 185. 1863— Pterophryne lajvigatus, GiU,Tvoc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phila., [v. 15,] p. 90. 1878— Pterophryne histrio, GUI, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., v. 1, p. 216. Pterophryne with the skin of head and body, as well as dorsal fins, emitting cutaneous tentacles, which are generally most numerous on the second and third dorsal spines and abdomen ; the first dorsal spine short and filamentous with a smaller tip surmounted by a small tag ; the color light for the ground, with spotted white dots and marked with blackish brown around the ocular region, with several dark radii diverging from the eyes, and on the fins more or less interrupted blackish bands, five or six obliquely crossing the soft dorsal, three rectangularly crossing the anal, and others on the pectotals, ventrals, and caudal. An inhabitant of the Sargassum Seas, but occasional straggler to the North American coast. CERATIID^. Pediculates uou-pediculate and deprived of ventral fins, ?. e., Pediculates diversiform in shape, with the mouth opening more or less upwards; the branchial apertures in the lower axils of the pectorals ; no pseudobranchioe ; the dorsals represented by at least a frontal or superior rostral spine, the pectoral members not geniculated, with short pseudobrachia and three actiuosts, and without ventrals. Apparently inhabitants of the depths of the ocean in their adult con- dition, and, in some cases at least, near the surface in their juvenile state. All the known species are unicolored and blackish. * Pterophryne, Tt-epov, wmg, quaul fin, and (ppwi], toad. If considered to be too near Pterophryims, the genus may be called Plerophrynoidbs ((ppwoeidric, toad-like). PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 217 Srjno2}8is. la. Mouth moderate ; cephalic spine with its basal element exserted and con'iuuous with the distal ; pyloric ccEca develojied (2). 2a. A second dorsal spine typically developed ; mouth with the cleft subvertical ; Ist D. with few rays ; branchiae in 2-J pairs ; branchial arches unarmed ; skin with scattered spinigerous scuteUse Ceratiin^. Cer alias. \a. Mouth moderate ; cephalic spine with its basal element subcutaneous, procumbent, and at right or acute angle with the distal ; pyloric cceca none. 2a. A second dorsal spine developed; branchise in 2^ pairs; branchial arches un- armed ; body' naked. 3. Body and head compressed ; mouth with the cleft nearly horizontal, and mandibular articulation behind eye Oneirodinje. Oneirodes. 2. No second dorsal spine developed; branchiae in |2| pairs; branchial arches armed with dentigerous tubercles ; body with ecattered tubercular scutellaj. 3. Body and head compressed ; mouth with the cleft oblique ; mandibular articulation under or behind eye Himantolopiiix^. 4a. Body oblong oval ; dorsal fin with about 9 rays, and pectoral with about 12? nimantoloplius. 46. Body short oval ; dorsal fin with 4 rays, and pectoral with about 17 Corynolopliiis. CEEATIIN^. Ceratiids with the body and head compressed ; moath with moderate and almost or quite vertical cleft; branchiae in 2h pairs; branchial arches unarmed ; spinous dorsal represented by a rostral spine, as well as, generally, by a second, whose hasal element is exserted; soft with few rays, placed quite far back of the head ; pyloric cceca developed (2;. CERATIAS.* Ceratiiues with an oblong form; skin prickly; vomer toothless; cephalic spine elongated, and with a simple capitate extremity; second dorsal spine well developed, and pectorals multiradiate {L e., with about 20 rays). Ceratias Holbollii. 1844 — Ceratias Holbollii Kroyer, Naturhist. Tidskrift, 2. rsekke, b. i, pp. 639-649. 18G1 — Ceratias Holbolli Gilnther, Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mus., v. 3, p. 205. Ceratias with cephalic spine reclinable beyond base of caudal fin, and candal fin longer than body exclusive of head. Deep sea along Greenland (known from several specimens). OMEIKODIN^. Ceratiids with the body and head compressed ; mouth with moderate and almost horizontal clelt; brancbiai in 2J pairs; branchial arches unarmed; spinous dorsal represented by a (1) rostral spine, whose basal * Ceratias, ictfjanar, ov, />, one that has horns, in allusion to the frontal ray. 218 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. element is procumbent and subcutaneous-, and (2) a second spine, about intermediate hetiireii the firat and the dorsal Jin; soft dorsal with about 4 rays 5 and without pyloric cceca. ONEIRODES." OneirodiniB with oval form ; tlie skin naked; the vomer dentigerous; and the cephalic spine with a bulbous termination, surmounted by slen- der filaments in several transverse rows. Oneirodes Eschrichtii. 1871 — Oueirodes Eschrichtii Liitken, Overs. overDansk. Vitlensk. Selsk, Forhandl., 1871, pp. 57-74 ; res. fr., pp. 9-18, pi. 2. Oneirodes with the terminal element of the cephalic spine ratber longer than the proximal subcutaneous ; the caudal shorter than the distance between its base and the branchial apertures ; and the color black except the terminal half of the spinal bulb, which is whitish. Deep sea off Greenland: known from a single specimen 205 millimetres long. HIMANTOLOPHIN^. Ceratiids with the body and head compressed, with moderate oblique cleft mouth, the mandibular articulation under the eyes; branchiai iu ^2^ pairs; branchial arches armed with dentigerous tubercles; spi- nous dorsal represented only hy a rostral spine, whose basal element is procumbent and subcutaneous; and soft dorsal with about 5 — 9 rays. HIMANTOLOPHUS.t Himantolophines of an oblong oval form, a dorsal of about 9 rays, and pectorals with about 12 rays each (?). Himantolophus Groenlandicus. 1837 — Ilimautolophns Groeulandicus Beinhardt, Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Nat. og Math. Afh., 4. raekke, b. 7, p. 74. Himantolophus with the height of the body equal to two-fifths of the length, and the frontal ray provided with 11 tentacles (Liitken). Habitat. — Sea off Greenland (known only from the remains of a speci- men 23 inches long). CORYNOLOPHUS.t Himantolophines of an abbreviated oval form, a dorsal of about 5 rays, and pectorals with about 17 rays each. *Ontirodcs, 'oveipudj^g, dream-like, in allusioa to the small and almost covered eyes. i Himantolophus, l/xdg, avrog, a thons, and 7M0Q, a tuft. X Corynolophiis, Kopvvr}, rjc, " a stick with a knob at the end ", or club, and Tiocpog, a tuft. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 219 Corynolophus Reinhardti. 1878 — Corynoloplins Reinhardti, LUtken, K. Dausk. Videcsk. Selsk. Skr., Nat. og Math. Afh., 5. rsekke, b. 5, p. 321, etc. Corynolophus with the height of the body equal to three-fourths of the total leugth, and the frontal ray furnished with 8 tentacles. Mahitat. — Sea off Greenland (described from a specimen 14 inches long). LOPHIID^. Pediculates with pseudobranchice, i. e.. Pediculates with the body differentiated into a wide depressed head and contracted conical trunk; the month opening forwards and upwards; the branchial apertures in the inferior axils of the pectoral members ; pseudo- branchiae; the spinous dorsal represented by a group of independent cephalic spines (3) and a small postcephalic finlet (with 3 spines); the pectoral members scarcely geniculated, but with elongated pseudobra- chia, and with three actinosts; and with ventrals well developed. LOPHIUS.* Lophiids with vomerine teeth. Lophius piscatoriiis. Bdloivs-fish. 1758 — Lophius piscatorius, Linnccus, Syst. Nat., 10 ed., t. 1, p. 236 (12 ed., t. 1,. p. 402; Guil. ed., t. 1, p. 1479). 1815 — Lophius foliatus, Mitcliill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., v. 1, p. 457. 1815 — Lophius piscator, Mitcliill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y., v. 1, p. 467. 1837 — Lophius i^iscatorius, Cuv. ^- Vol., Hist. Nat. des Poissons, t. 12, p. 344, pi. 362. 1837 — Lophius americanus, Cuv. o!/er. Deep sea otf Greenland. 228 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. MANCALIAS.* Mancalias, Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., v. 1, pp. 227, 228, 1878. Type: M. urauoscopus = Ceratias uranoscopns, Murray, Wyvllle Thompson, Yoyage of tlie Challenger, v. 2, p. 67, with tig., 1878. (Am. ed.) Atlantic Ocean (taken at a depth of 2,400 fathoms), between Canary and Cape Verde '^^'^°'" ONEIRODm^. ONEIRODES. Oneirodes, Lilfken, Overs, over d. K. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Forhandl., 1871, pp. 5G-74 (fr. pp. 9-18). Type : O. Eschrichtii Liitken. Deep sea oflf Greenland. HIMANTOLOPHIN^. HIMANTOLOPHUS. Himantolophus, Eeinhardt, K. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Nat. eg Math. Afh., 4. rsekke, V. 7, p. 74, 1837 ; LUtken, 1878. Type: H. Grcenlandicus iJeiwftardt. Deep sea off Greenland (adults). CORYNOLOPHUS. Type : Corynolophns Reinhardtii = Himantolophus Reinhardtii LutJcen. Deep sea off Greenland (adult), and open sea between Africa and America (young) ? ^G^ONICHTHYlIs'iE. ^G^ONICHTHYS. ^ga;onichthys, T. E. Clarke, Trans. New Zealand Institute, v. 10, p. 245, 1878. Type : ^. Appellii T. E. Clarke. Deep sea off the island of New Zealand. MELANOCETINJ]]. MELANOCETUS. Melanocetns, GUntJier,FTOc. Zool. Soc. London, 1864, p. '.W. Type : Melanocetus Johnsonii Giinther. Deep sea off the island of Madeira. lu the words of Liitken, t " tbe general form and the physiognomy es- pecially are quite similar in the [known] genera; common to all is, also, the absence of ventral fins, of the lateral line and its ramifications, of the air bladder, of the pseudobranchijB, and of the teeth of the lower pha- ryngeal and palatine bones ; % the .smallness of the eyes and of the pectoral * Mancalias, from mancus, defective, with a quasi-diminutive termination, to corre- spond with Ceratias. The single specimen obtained was only 90 millimetres long. t Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., 5. rsekke, Naturv. og Math. Afd., lite Bd. V, fr. tr.,p. 343. t In Melanocetus, according to Giinther, " the vomer is armed with a transverse series of single teeth, and extends across the whole width of the roof of the mouth ; the palatine and pterygoid teeth are situated at some distance behind the vomer, and form two bundles irregular in form "; but, according to Liitken (and since admitted by Giin- ther), " the so-called palatine and pterygoid teeth " " belong in reality to the upper pharyngeals." PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 2 2 (J fins, the short peduncles of the latter, the conformation of the teeth, the black color, the number of branchiostegal rays (6) as well as of the rays of the anal (4) and caudal (!)), and the half-spongy consistence of the skeleton are also, apparently, characters common to all the [known] genera." Another character shared in common by all the species, and at least as uoteworthy as several of those thus enumerated by Dr Liitken, is the differentiation in the color of the extremity of the bulbiform termination of the cephalic spine. In all the known species (unless Melanocetus may be excepted), the apical portion or elements of the bulb are of a grayish or whitish color, and thereby quite abruptly differentiated from the rest of the spine, which is of a black color. Some sj^ecial significance is probably inherent in this characteristic, and it is quite possible, if not probable, that the difference of color is expressive of a differentiation in histological structure, and that the grayish portions are phosphorescent. When the complicated " angling" apparatus of the fishes of this group is considered, it will be thought not unlikely that their power of attrac- tion should be enhanced by a luminosity which may excite the attention or curiosity of their prey, and still more strongly tempt them within the easy reach of their capacious mouths. It is certainly scarcely likely that the characteristic in question, manifested as it is in such widely diverse types, should be a simple immaterial color feature, destitute of other significance. The not few pelagic and deep-sea animals that ex- hibit phosphorescence enhance the probability of the attribute suggested. The verity of the suggestion must, however, be established by histo- logical and physiological data. It can only now be assumed that there is a teleological import in the differentiation of color, and that it is more probable that the whitish area has a phosphorescent property than that it simplj' serves as a relief for the filaments of the bulb. Especially is this more probable in view of the great depths which the species in- habit, and the consequently limited quantity of light which they enjoy. That the provision, whatever it may be, is an effective one, is apparent from the variety of the forms already discovered, and it seems probable that the family is not only quite characteristic of, but well represented in, the depths of the ocean. As to Melanocetus, it is simply said, by Dr. GUnther, to have the ce- phalic filament "more than half as high as the head, and dilated into a small lamella at its extremity". The "lamelliform" character of the dilatation at least requires confirmation, and it is not very unlikely that the dilatation will be found not to be thin or compressed to such an extent as to be entitled to the designation of "lamella", and that the ex- tremity will be ascertained to be whitish. The mode of articulation of the cephalic spine also requires investigation. Dr. Liitken has corrected Dr. Giinther's error of mistaking pharyngeal teeth for palatine and pterygoid, but has not elucidated the points indicated. The several recognized genera are mostly widely differentiated, 230 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. and represent as many as five groups, distinguished by characters which are generally indicative of at least family value ; but the close agree- ment which they otherwise exhibit among themselves forbids separation to that extent, and yet the groups seem, at any rate, to demand distinc- tion as sub-families. We would scarcely be prepared to believe that two genera, distinguished, one by a compressed head, and the other by a depressed head, could be so nearly related as are apparently Himan- tolophiis and j^gcconichthys, but the modifications in question in these genera are probably expressive of the compression on the one hand, and the depression and bowing outwards on the other, at the hyoraan- dibular articulations, and not of any fundamental osteological modifica- tions. * With regard to the Himantolophines, there is occasion for difference of opinion, and it may be that the Himantolophns GrcenJandicus and Rein, hardtii do not even differ specifically. The statements by Eeinhardt as to the characteristics of the former are, however, unequivocal, and, as he appears to have been a careful and exact observer, they are probably correct, while those of Liitken regarding the latter are unquestionable. In view of the mode of variation in the family, the differences noted seem to the present author to be indicative of more than specific value, and consequently the respective species are considered as distant gene- ric types. There is a singular agreement between the type named Corynolophus and the JEgceoniclitliys of the New Zealand seas in the radial formula ; and while such agreement might tend to throw doubts on the actual differences supposed to exist between Corynolophus and Himantoloplius, it tends far to confirm the generic value of the differ- ences, if they really exist. It may even be that the two genera are not as closely related as are Corynolophus and u^gwonichthys, but such is scarcely probable. The habitats given must be regarded simply as the expressions of our present state of knowledge, as it is more than probable that the ranges of most of the species are quite extensive in the bathmic zone in which they dwell. It is also probable that the number of representatives of the family will be considerably increased hereafter. A most interesting coincidence is the discovery, in the same year, of the closely related HimantolophincB and ^gcconichthyince at antipodal localities. There are already, too, indications of several other types, apparently members of the family, but too imperfectly known to be introduced into the sys- tem. The present state of our knowledge in respect to such imperfectly known forms is well summarized by Dr. Liitken in the following words: — *'Les collections de petits poissous peches en haute mer, du Musee de Copenhague,renfermeuten outrequelques Lopliioides apodesd'uue taille plus petite encore (5 — S'""'), trouves en plein Ocean Atlantique, qui annoncent peut-etre I'existence d'une troisi^me espece d'Himantolophe ou d'un genre voisin, et different de V Himantolophus Reinliardti par le nombre des rayons (D : Gj A: G; C: 10), probablement aussi par la PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 231 taille moindre des adiiltes, puisqne quelques-uns de ces embryons offrent deja un rudiment de huppe frontale analogue a celle que possede le jeune Lophioide, depourvu uou-seulement de veutrales, mais aussi de dorsale et d'anale, indiquant ainsi, seloa toute probability, I'existence d'uu type generique nouveau, que I'on ne tardera point a docouvrir a Tetat adulte, a mesure que I'etude justemeut commencee de la fauue abys- sale de I'oceau aura fait de nouveaux progres. Peut-etre aussi que le '■^ Ceratias uranoscopus^^ iinnouc6 comme drague par I'expeditiou sifameuse du "Challenger" a la profondeur surprenante de 2400 brasses, eutre les iles Canaries et du Cap Vert, sera reconnu comme formant un genre a part — a en juger par une pbotograpbie (reproduite en xylograj)Iiie dans "The Atlantic" de Sir Ch. Wyville-Thomson, II, p. G9), qui m'a ule com- muniquee avec la plus graude obligeance par feu M. Willemocs-Suhm, dont la mort pr. A. OBEB, \)'ITH UflS OB^KBVATSOIVS. By oeorge: n. lawkewck. These collections were made by Mr. Ober in August and September, 1877. They were left in charge of the United States consul at Antigua, to be forwarded to Washington when an opportunity offered, and were sent soon thereafter ; but from want of a proper notification or some other cause, their arrival was not known, and they were supposed to have gone astray. In July of this year, they were ascertained to be in a public store in Brooklyn, where they had been since November, 1877. The only bird sent of special interest is a species of Burrowing Owl from Antigua, which, on investigation, I considered to be undescribed. The names given by Mr. Ober, with his observations, are inclosed in quotation-marks. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 233 From Antigua. Fam. TURDID^. 1. Margarops densirostris (Vieill.). " Thrush. "In the valle.vs among the southern hills, where are about the only rivulets and trees, we find this bird. It is not eominon, rather rare, and its song is heard only morning and evening; at this season little more than a call-note. Think it identical with the ' Gros Grive' — Large Thrush — of Dominica. Xot yet out of moulting stage ; resident." Fam. SYLVICOLIDiE. 2. Siurus naevius (Bodd.). " Water Thrush. "Eare; along a river bed among the hills, very shy; when it would perceive me, it hastily ran along a few rods, and then darted into the thicket, reappearing at some distance up or down the stream." 3. Siurus motacilla (Vieill.). 4. Deudrceca petechia (Linn.). "Yellow Bird. Length, 5:|; alar extent, 7 ; wing, 2|. " Not abundant ; inhabits the acacia Helds." 5. Setophaga ruticilla (Linu.). " Redstart. " Kare ; seen only in the upper valleys of the southern hills. In per- fect plumage and fat : evidently not a migrant. The people told me it was with them all the year." Fam. VIRKOXIDJE. 6. Vireosylviacalidris (Linu.). " Vireo. Iris hazel. " Found among the poisonous Manchiueel trees, near the coast." Fam. CCEREBIDiE. 7. Certhiola dominicana, Taylor. " Yellowbreast. "Abundant, but not in the numbers found in Dominica." Fam. FRINGILLID^. 8. Loxigilla noctis (Linn.). " iSparrow. Eesideut." 9. Phonipara bicolor (Linn.). "Grass Bird. " In large numbers, probably the most abundant spfecies, sharing this honor with the Loggerhead and Sparrow Hawk." 234 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Fam. TYRANNID^. 10. Tyrannus rostratus, Scl. " Loggerhead. Resident. " Extremely abundant; its cry of piperee, piperee, beard everywhere from morn till nigbt. Old pastures its favorite baunt ; but where the 'Cabbage Palm' is found (the Oreodoya olivacea) there the Piperee de- lights to stay, passing half the day perched upon the extreme tip of the terminal apex of the tree, leaving it only to chase and capture some insect flying by, or to sport a while with its mate." Fam. TROCHILID^. 11. Eulampis holosericeus (Linn.). "Violet- breast Hummer. Rather numerous." 12. Orthorhynchus exilis (Gm.). "Crested Hummer. Very common. " More in the fields than the gardens; especially likes the Tamarind Fam. CUCULID^. 13. Coccyzus minor (Gm.). " Four o'clock Bird. Sparsely distributed. Resident." Fam. STRIGID^. 14. Speotyto amaura, Lawr. "Owl. Length, 5 , 8J in. ; alar extent, 21^ ; wing, Gf . " Length, 9 , 8^ in. ; alar extent, 21 ; wing, 6^. "Iris bright yellow. Called here, 'coo coo', from its hoot at night. I considered it for a time as almost mythical, reports concerning its ex- istence were so conflicting. Some described it as a large Bat, others asserted that it was (judging from the size of its eyes) as large as a 'Gui- nea Bird '; all agreed that it was a night-bird, that it lived in old drains, holes in the cliffs and ruined walls ; and that its hoot would strike terror to the stoutest heart. "Like its congener of Dominica, it has a bad name; and though it may not be called here, as in Dominica, the ' Jumbie Bird ' or bird of evil spirits — the name implies more than that — still it has the rej)utation of being a bad character. The blacks declare that it will not hesitate to tear the eyes out of any individual unfortunate enough to meet it at night. 'Me rudder see de Debbil, any time', is their forcible way of testifying to the powers, supernatural and otherwise, possessed by this poor Owl. Finding it impossible to shoot one, I offered a reward of two shillings for the first Owl brought me, and within three hours had three living birds which the men dug out of a cliff in the Chalk-hills. One that I kept two days gave frequent utterance to a chattering cry, espe- PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 235 cially if any one approached, but it did not hoot. It feeds upon lizards and mice, it is said.'' Male. — Upper plumage of a fine deep brown color, marked with round- ish spots of light fulvous; the spots are smallest on the crown, hind neck, and smaller wing-coverts; they are conspicuously large on the other wing-coverts, the dorsal region, scapulars, and tertials ; the quills are blackish-brown, with indented marks of pale reddish fulvous on the outer webs of the primaries, and large roundish paler spots on the inner webs ; under wing-coverts reddish fulvous sparsely mottled with black ; tail dark brown, of the same color as the back, crossed with four bars (including the terminal one), of light reddish fulvous, which do not quite reach the shaft on each web ; bristles at the base of the bill black, with the basal portion of their shafts whitish ; front white, superciliary streak pale fulvous ; cheeks dark brown, the feathers tipped with ful- vous ; upper part of throat pale whitish buff, the lower part grayish- white, with a buffy tinge, separated by a broad band of dark brown across the middle of the throat, the feathers of which are bordered with light fulvous ; the sides of the neck and the upper part and sides of the breast are dark brown, like the back, the feathers ending with fulvous, the spots being larger on the breast ; the feathers of the abdomen are pale fulvous, conspicuously barred across their centres with dark brown; on some of the feathers the terminal edgings are of the same color ; the flanks are of a clear light fulvous, with bars of a lighter brown ; under tail-coverts fulvous, with indistinct bars of brown ; thighs clear fulvous, with nearly obsolete narrow dusky bars ; the feathers of the tarsi are colored like the thighs and extend to the toes ; bill clear light yellow, with the sides of the upper mandible blackish ; toes dull yellowish- brown. Length (fresh), 8J in. ; wing, 6| ; tail, 3J ; tarsus, IJ. The female differs but little from the male in plumage ; the bars on the abdomen appear to be a little more strongly defined, and at the base of the culmen is a small red spot. There are two females in the collec- tion, the other also having the red spot ; in one the tarsi are feathered to the toes, in the other only for two-thirds their length. Length of one (fresh), 8 in. ; wing, 6i ; tail, 2J ; tarsus, IJ. Length of the other, 8J ; wing, 6| ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1^. Mr. Ridgway suggested a comparison with his S. guadeloupenrsis, the type of which belongs to the Boston ^N^atural History Society, and by the courtesy of Dr. Brewer I have been able to make it. Compared with guadelonpensis, the prevailing color is dark brown, instead of a rather light earthy-brown, and the spots on the interscapu- lar region are much larger ; it is more strikingly barred below, the other having the breast more spotted ; the bars on the tail are four instead of six. In the Antigua bird each feather of the breast is crossed with but one bar, while those of the other are crossed with two. 236 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Mr. Ober (who arrived here November 13) iuforms me that he could learu of no species of Owl inhabiting Guadeloupe, nor does the museum there possess a specimen. Fam. FALCONID^. 15. Pandion haliaetus (Linn.)- " Fish Hawk. Seen September 1st." • 16. Tinnunculus sparverius rar. autillarum (Gni.). "Sparrow Hawk. 'Killee, Killee.' " In large numbers all over the island. Eesident." 17. Buteo pennsylvanicus (Wils.) ? " Hawk (seen), resident. Apparently same as the larger hawk of Dominica." 18. Falco? "A large black hawk spoken of as appearing with the flocks of ducks." Fam. FREGATID^. 19. Fregata aquila (Linn.). " Man o' war Bird. "Resident. Plentiful in harbor of St. John's." Fam. PELECANIDiS. 20. Pelecanus fuscus (Linn.). "Brown Pelican. "Breeds abundantly on small islands off the coast. Eesident." Fam. ARDEID^. 21. Garzetta candidissima (Gm.). " ' White Gauliu.' Resident. " Ev^erywhere abundant; frequents the dry hills and plains (feeding upon grasshoppers, lizards, &c.) in preference to the pools and moist tracts." 22. Florida casrulea (Linn.). "' Blue Gauliu.' Resident. "Abundant. Habits same as the preceding." 23. Butorides virescens (Linn.). " Green Heron. " In small numbers. Resident." 24. Ardea herodias (Linn.). " Great Blue Heron. " Said to arrive later in the season." PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 237 Fam. COLUMBID^. 25. Chamaepelia passerina (Linn.). " Ground Dove. Abiiuclant everywhere." 26. Columba leucocephala (Linn.). "White-headed Pigeon. "Eare among the southern hills. Think this their southern breeding limit, save perhaps Montserrat." 27. Zeuaida martinicana, Bp. " Turtle Dove. Not common among the hills." Fam. TETRAONIDiE. 28. Ortyx virginianus (Linn.). " Quail." ''The pastures abandoned are fast becoming populated with quail; the acacia scrub forming agreeable shelter for them and protecting cover. So far as I can ascertain they were introduced; but at what period no one seems to know. They are now in sufficient numbers to make good sport. Think they breed at about the same season as the northern quail, as young but half-grown were plentiful in July and August." The single specimen sent, a male, resembles most the primitive north- ern stock ; it differs in being smaller, the skin measuring in length 8^ inches, wing 4;^, and in having the crown and hind neck blackish, in this character resembling xar. floridcmun, but not otherwise; the trans- verse markings below being of the same size as those of the northern bird, which in the Florida race are twice the width. In its upper plumage it is much like the male of 0. cuhanensis Gonhl (of which I have mounted specimens of both sexes), but they difier in their under i)lumage, the Antigua bird being like 0. virginianus, but in 0. cubanensis the black extends from the throat over the breast, ancl the featbers of the abdomen are rufous, with arrow-head markings of black and irregular tear-shaped white spots. The wing measures four inches. The female of 0. cubanensis has transverse markings on the under surface as in the typical form, but more strongly defined and wider; but they are not so wide as in xar. floridamis ; the crown, hind neck, and sides of the head are l^Iackish where reddish-chestnut prevails in the northern bird; the back is grayish-ash, with no appearance of the pink- ish-red, which exists in the female of 0. virginianus on the back and on the upper part and sides of the breast. Fam. RALLID^E. 29. Rallus? "Hail. Moor-hen. Resident; plentiful apparently, but shy." 30. Fulica ? "'Coot.' Not seen; migrant." 238 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Fam. CHARADRIID^. 31. Charadrius virginicus, Borkh. '• Golden Plover. "Sept. 7tb, first of the season; generally arrive by last of August, or first storm after Aug. 25th. First of September rarely fails to bring them, but this year no storm hastened them along and they are very late. Tbey arrive in large flocks and spread over the pastures, hills and plains, attbrding exciting sport. It is not an unusual thing to bag three or four dozen in a morning. Every one owning a gun turns out, and great slaughter ensues. If suffered to remain, they would acquire fat and stay for weeks, but they soon wing their way further south. "They are accompanied later in the season by Curlew, Yellow-legs, etc " Fam. SCOLOPACIDiE. 32. Himautopus nigricollis (Yieill.). "Black-neck Stilt. "Kare; seen early in July." 33. Gallinago -wrilsoni (Temm.). "English Snipe. "Occasionally; authority of sportsmen." 34. Ereunetes petrificatus (111.). "Sandpiper. "Abundant, in flocks of four to six, along sandy shore. Eesident." 35. Symphemia semipalmata (Gin.). "VVillet. Rare." 36. Ci-ambetta melanoleuca (Gm.). "Yellow-legs. "In all the salt ponds or 'fleshes'; suflaciently numerous, at times, to afibrd sport; said to be resident in small numbers ; I found it here early in July.-' 37. Rhyacophilus solitarius (Wils.). " Sandpiper. "Not common, but seen singly in every part of the island. I shot three specimens on the summit of McNish Mountain— the highest hill- where is a spring-hole of small size. From this mountain, by the way, the entire island can be viewed, as well as the islands of Barbuda, Gua- deloupe, Montserrat, Redonda, Nevis and St. Kitts— a most delightful prosi»ect." 38. Numenius hudsonicus (Lath.). "Curlew. Not common." PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 239 Fam. LARID^. 39. Sterna dougalli, Mout. "Tern. "Breeds in large numbers on ttie islands and rocks off shore; now finished breeding or young fully grown, though not in perfect plumage." 40. Sterna, sp. ? "A larger Tern than the above, with black back; not many seen. Resident." 41. Larus atriciiila (Linn.). "Gull. Eesideut." Fam. ANATID^. 42. Dafila bahamensis (Linn.). "Duck. Kesident." From Barbuda. Fam. TURDID^. 1. Cinclocerthia ruficauda, Gould. " Thrush. Grive." Fam. SYLVICOLIDJ^:. 2. DendrcEca petechia (Liuu.). " Yellow Warbler. " Not plentiful. Resident ; breeds." Fam. CGEREBIDiE. 3. Certhiola dominicana, Taj'lor. "Yellow-throat. Common; resident." Fam. FRINGILLID^. 4. Loxigilla noctis (Linn.). " Sparrow. Resident ; breeds. " Now in small flocks in the overgrown fields. Abundant." 5. Phoniparabicolor(Linn.). " Grass-bird. Resident ; breeds. " Very familiar about yards. Abundant." . Fam. TYRANNID^. 6. Myiarchus oberi, Lawr. " Flycatcher. " Infrequently met with in the thiclc laurel scrub ; cry sharp at long intervals ; shy." 240 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 7. Tyrannus rostratns, Sel. " ' Loggerhead.' " Common ; resident ; breeds." Fam. TROCHILIDiE. 8. Enlampis holosericeus (Linu.). " Hummingbird. "Common, especially about the prickly pear and the cacti near the beach." 6. Orthorhynchus exilis (Gm.). " Crested Hummer. " Most numerous. Saw only these two species, but Eev. Mr. Couley (one of the proprietors) described a larger species, visiting the island later, resembling exactly (he said) the Mango, of which he had a colored plate." Fam. CUCULID^. 10. Ccccyzus minor (Gm.). " Cuckoo 5 * four o'clock bird'; not common." Fam. FALCONID^. 11. Tinnunculus sparverius var. antillarum (Gm.). " Sparrow Hawk. "Very common; resident; breeds." 12. Palco communis far. anatiim, Bp.? "Hawk; answers to description of Duck Hawk; arrives with the flocks of Plover, etc., forages upon the wild-ducks." Fam. FREGATIDiE. 13. Pregata aquila (Linn.). " Frigate Bird. "Resident ; breeds, lays in June, some young yet in nest." Fam. PHiETHONID^. 14. Phaethcn flavirostris, Brandt. " Tropic Bird. " Breeds in cliffs at east end of island." Fam. PELECANIDiE. 15. Pelecanus fascus (Linn.). " Brown Pelican. Breeds." Fam. ARDEID^. 16. Ardea herodias. " Great Blue Heron. * "Arrives with the migratory birds about Sept. 1st." PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 241 17. Herodias egretta (Gm.)? "A large White Ileroii was described to me as visiting the island." 18. Florida ccerulea (Liun.). " Small Blue Heron. " Very numerous ; resident; young white." 19. Butorides virescens (Linu.). " Green Heron. Common ; resident, breeds." Fam. ANATID^. 20. Dafila bahaniensis (Liun.). " ' White throat Duck.' Eesident ; not common." 21. Clangula glaucion (Linn.). " Whistler. Migrant ; arrives in October." Fam. COLUMBID^. 22. Columba leucocephala, Linn. " White-head Pigeon. " Eesident ; breeds in great numbers in June and July." 23. Zenaida martinicana, Bp.? •' Turtle Dove. Extremely abundant; breeds." 24. Chamaepelia passerina (Linn.). " Ground Dove. Exceedingly numerous ; breeds." Fam. NUMIDIDtE. 25. Numida meleagris, Linn. "Guinea Fowl. "Plentiful; breeds abundantly; thoroughly wild. Introduced over one hundred years ago." Fam. RALLID^. 26. Rallus ? " Eail. l^ot common ; resident." 27. Fulica? " ' Coot.' Migrant." Fam. CHARADEIIDiE. 28. Charadrius virginicus, Borkh. " Golden Plover. "Arrive in immense flocks first storm (N. W.) after Sept. 1st. Good shooting through September and October if weather is stormy ; if fine, the bulk of them keep on." 29. .ffigialitis semipalmata (Bp.) ? " Eing-ueck Plover. Not common." Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 16 I>ec. 10, 1878. 242 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Fam. SCOLOPACID^. 30. Himantopus nigricollis (Vieill.)- " Black-neck Stilt. Not common. Kesident"? 31. Gallinago wilsoni (Temm.). " Sniije. "A species not seen by me, described by Mr. Hopkins (one of the lessees of the island) as an English Snipe, in color, flight and voice; in small numbers ; resident." 32. Ereunetes petrificatus (III.). " Least Sandpiper. ''Eesident; breeds; now in flocks of 4-6." 33. Symphemia semipalmata (Gm.). " Willet. Common ; said to breed." 34. Gambetta flavipes (Gm.). "Yellow-legs (smaller). " Common ; resident, or nearly so." 35. Rhyacophilus solitarius (Wils.)? " Sandpiper. " Eesident ; solitary about the lagoons and fresh-water ponds." 36. Numenius hudsonicus (Lath.). ''Curlew. Resident; breeds; common." Fam. LARIDiE. 37. Sterna maxima, Bodd. ? " lloyal Tern. Seen only." 38. Larus atricilla, Liun. "Gull. Breeds; resident." Fam. PODICIPITID^. 39. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn.)? "'Diver' (Grebe!). " Think it resident, as it is irregular in its appearance and disappear- ance." New York, November 14, 1878. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 243 IVOTE ON !>£:BCA FI.AVJESCEIVS.* By Dr. FUA^Z ST£6^DACIINER. Dr. Franz Steindachuer, in the Sitzungsberichte of the Vienna Academy for July, 1878, makes some interesting statements regarding the American Yellow Perch, of which a translation is given below: — ^^Perca flavescens of Mitchill, Cuvier, and others, can be regarded only as a variety of Ferca Jluviatilis, and the opinion of the ichthyologists prior to Cuvier was the correct one. The pronounced striation of the operculum, which is a characteristic of P. flavescens, is not always present in American specimens, and Holbrook has already remarked in his description of Perca flavescens (Ichthyology of South Carolina, p. 3), " with radiating strice more or less distinct." During my stay at Lake Winnipiseogee, ^ew Hampshire, I frequently saw si)ecimeus with very indistinctly striated, or with perfectly smooth opercles. A much stronger argument for the identity of Perca flavescens with Perca fluviatiUs lies in the fact that in the vicinity of Vienna occasional individuals with more or less strongly furrowed opercles are taken, and also in the Neusiedler Sea; in the Sea of Baikal audits tributaries I obtained several specimens with very strongly striated opercles. During my travels in England I was able to find only the typical European form oi Perca fluviatiUs with the smooth opercle. In my opinion, only two species of Perca can be distinguished, namely, Perca fluviatiUs, Linn., with two not very sharply defined varieties, viz, var. europea and var. flavescens or americana, and the high northern form Perca. SchrenTcii, Kessl. In the number of longitudinal and vertical rows of scales, Perca fluviatiUs cannot be distinguished from P. flavescens, both varieties having 7 to 10 (generally 7-9) scales between the base of the first dorsal spine and the lateral line, in a vertical row. In Western North America there are known no members of Perca or any nearly allied genus, while in South America the rivers of Southern and Middle Chili aud of Patagonia are inhabited by several (apparently only two) species of the Percalike genera Percichthys and PerciUaJ^ * Prepared by G. Brown Goode. 244 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. OX THE DESTRUCTION OF FISH IIV THE VICINITY OF THE TOUTUGAS OrRIXG THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1878. By Lieut. J. P. JEFFERSOIV, ©a-. JOSEPH Y. PORTER, and THOITIAS IfJOORE. The followiug information, relative to the (lying of fish in the Gulf of Mexico during the mouth of September last, will be found of much interest, as bearing upon the sudden destruction in large numbers of marine animals, and their accumulation in geological strata. — Editor. Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Fla., October IG, 1878. I have the honor to enclose herewith the skin of a tish* which was found on the beach here. I send it because many old fishermen say that they never before saw one like it. Some five or six were picked up from a multitude of other fish ; and to report this great mortality among them is my principal reason for addressing you. Some three or four weeks ago, the fishing-smacks over in Florida Bay lost about all their fish in their wells, and attributed it to fresh water, which they sup- posed had from some cause or other come down in great volume from the mainland. On the 9th instant, the sailing-vessel which connects us with Key West met water of a dark color about midway between here and there, but saw no dead fish. On her return, on the night of the 11th, she struck it off Rebecca Shoals, about 25 miles east of here, and found it extending some 10 miles out in the Gulf. That same night it came down upon us here, and the next morning the beach and surface of the water, as far as the eye could reach, were covered with dead fish. The appearance of the Wiiter had entirely changed ; instead of the usual clear blue or green, it was very dark, like cypress water, and when viewed at depths over 10 feet, was almost black, precisely like the Saint John's River. We could not perceive any change in the saltness of the water but not having any other means of determining this, had to depend upon taste. There was no appreciable change in temperature. From the fact that almost all the fish that first came ashore were small and of such varieties as frequent shoal water, I infer that the dark water must have been of less density than the sea ; still, great numbers of "grouper" have been seen, and these are generally found in 3 or 4 fathoms, I believe. The destruction must have been very great, for here, on a key containing but a few acres, and with a very limited extent of beach, we have buried at least twenty cart-loads: they have come ashore in such numbers that it has been a serious mat- ter how to dispose of them. *This oa examination by Professor Gill was pronounced to be Aulostoma coloratum. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MU3EUM. 245 It is said that in 185G or '57 there was a siinihir occurrence of limited extent over in the bay, and frequently the smacks fishing near shore along the coast meet fresh water which kills their fish; but all the fish- ermen here unite in saying that nothing of this kind has ever, to their knowledge, happened out on the reef. As to the extent of this I have no means of knowing; will endeavor to have forwarded with this, how- ever, copies of the Key West papers, which will probably contain a more complete account than I have been able to give. One other fact in con- nection with this : among the dead fish were mullet, which, I believe, run up fresh- or brackish-water streams. Almost all the concbs around here were killed also. Whether or not sponges, coral, &c., have been affected, we have not been able to determine, the weather having been too rough to visit the beds. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. P. JEFFERSON, Lieutenant Fifth United States Artillery. To Professor Baird. Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Florida, November 4, 1878. Professor: I have taken the liberty to forward you, by express from Key West, a box containing two "ribbon fish" preserved in alcohol. One of them was brought over to me by Mr. Moore, lighthouse-keeper at Loggerhead Light. The remaining specimen of "ribbon fish" in the jar (which is perfect) was picked up on a neighboring key this a. m. I am informed that these fish are a rare species, and very seldom seen. The destruction of fish in Florida Bay and in this vicinity has been great this season. I obtained some sea-water, but not having the a])pli- ance for analyzing it, I have also taken the liberty to enclose it in the same box with the jar of fish. Should you discover anything abnormal in the water which will ac- count for the recent destruction of the fish in this vicinity, I will be under many obligations if you will inform me. JOSEPH Y. PORTER, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army, Post Surgeon. P. S. — Since writing the above, Mr. Moore brought me some curious specimens of fish;* and a curious eel-like fish with but one eye, evidently an abnormality, has been found, which I have also enclosed in the box. * The following is a list of species of fishes forwarded by Dr. Porter. — Editor. J idosioma coloraium, Mull. & Troscb. 1 AlonacantJuts jyardalis, Ruy)]). Dactylopterus volitans, {h'lun.) IjAG. Blejiharichthys crinUiis, (Akerly) Gill. Ceraiacanthus aurantiacua, (Mitch.) Gill. 1 Belone sp. (head). 246 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. The dark cypress looking water previously alluded to made its appear- ance here a day or so ago, but did not fortunately remain more than 24 hours, but during that period there was again destruction of fish. Oct. 11th, at 7 a. m,, saw the water a very dark color and dead fish drifting southwest j 9 a. m., dead fish on the beach and drifting by as far as we could see east and west of the Key. Oct. 12th, 4 p. m., fish of all kinds on the beach, weighing from a few grains up to Jewfish, weighing about 150 lbs. Oct. 13, 14, 15, and 16. — Dead fish drifting on this Key and at Fort Jefferson, distance from this Key 3f miles. l!s^ames of some of the dead fish : — Jewfish, Yellow Tails, Mutton Fish, Grouper, Skipjack, Eunners, Grunts, Porgie, Pogie, Three-tailed Porgee, Common Garfish, Sucking Fish, Lump Suckers, Muraena, Armed Enoplossus, Pennant's Globe Fish, Horned Ostraciou, Great Pipe Fish, Porcupine Fish, Kibbon Fish, and fish we call Parrot, and numberless fish I have no name for. There is a fish called Snapper that we could not find dead, and have not seen since alive up to the 27th, but the water remains quite clear. Oct. 30 and 31. — The water colored a light brown. I do not see any fish dead or alive. THOMAS MOORE, Keeper of Loggerhead Light, Florida. CaitthorhiHS occidentalis, (Giinther). Tcirodon lavigatus, (Linn.) Gill. Chilichtlujs testiidineus, (L.) Mlill. Ostracium quadricorne, Linn. Acanthurus nigricans, Linn. Heliasies insolatusf, Cuv. &\A\.,r=Chromis (fide Gill). Pomacentrus leucosiicfus, Miill. & Trosch. Apogon sp., probably imherbis, Parcqucs acuminatus, (Bl. Sch.) Gill. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 247 DESCRHIPTIOIVS OF SKVERAt, IVE^V SPECIES AKH «EO«RAlPIIICAff. RACES OF BSRDS COIVTAINEU IIV THE COLliECTIOIV OF THE U.\ITE» STATES NATIONAL M5JSEUM. By ROBERT RIKGWAY. KHODINOCICHLA ROSEA. Specimens of this species from Western Mexico, while agreeing with Central American ones in the color of the throat, breast, etc., differ very conspicuously in their upper plumage, which is a clear slate-color, the flanks almost cinereous instead of dusky black. This difference is entirely constant in the four specimens before me, compared with five of the typical form. The Northern form being unnamed, it may be char- acterized as follows : — Bhodinocichla rosea, ^3. scJiistacea (Ridgw. MS.). Ch. — Above clear slate-color, the wings darker, with paler, nearly cinereous edges to the feathers ; lores and auriculars dark slate ; entire sides clear slate, becoming more ashy on the flanks. Adult male : A con- tinuous superciliary stripe, the anterior half of which is intense rose- red, the posterior half rosy- white ; chin, throat, malar region, middle of the jugulum, breast, and abdomen, and the whole crissum, pure, beautiful rose-red, most intense on the jugulum, narrower and paler on the abdomen ; edge of the wing and anterior lesser coverts also pure rose-red; lining of the wing partly grayish-white. Adult female: Simi- lar, but the red replaced by rich, tawny rufous, the middle of the abdo- men whitish. Bill horn-yellowish, the maxilla mostly dusky ; iris red (Xantus, MS.) or brown (Grayson, MS.) ; feet dark horn-color. Length, 8.25; wing, 3.45-3.60; tail, 3.75-3.90 ; bill, from nostril, .60-.65 ; tarsus, 1,00; middle toe, .70-.75. Hah. — Western Mexico (Sierra Madre of Colima, Xantus; Eio Mazatlan, Grayson). The distinctive characters of the two forms may be contrasted as follows : — a. rosea. — Upper parts, sides, and flanks sooty-black, the flanks scarcely paler. Wing, 3.25-:3.45; tail, 3.40-3.80 ; bill, from nostril, ..52-.60 ; tarsus, 1.00-1.10; middle toe, .70-.80. H(ib. — Central America (Panama ; Veragua). /3. schisiacea. — Upper parts, sides, and flanks clear slate-color, the flanks almost cinere- ons. Wing, 3.45-3.60; tail, 3.75-3.90 ; bill, from nostril, .60-.65; tarsus, 1.00; mid- dle toe, .70-.75. Hob. — Western Mexico. In R. schistacea, the red is very slightly paler than in B. rosea, but the difference can be appreciated only on close comparison ; the rufous in the female, however, is equally deep. The number of tail-feathers is occasionally 13, this being the number possessed by specimen 30,1G0. A note on the label of Colonel Grayson's male specimen is to the effect that the species is "a superb singer". 248 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 53911 U. S.... cf ad. 45626 U. S .... d ad. E.R .... cf ad. 53910 U.S.... ? ad. 45627 U.S.... 9 ad. Panama Verasua (Santa r6) do Panama Veragua (Santa F6) /?. schistacea. 3.45 3.35 3.45 3.25 3. as 3.80 3.-0 3.80 3.40 3.75 0.60 0.55 O.CO 0.52 0.52 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.00 1.05 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.75 0.75 30160 U.S.... d ad. 34057 U.S.... d ad. 30161 u s.... d ad. 34058 U.S.... 9 ad. Sierra Madre, Coliiua Mazatlan , Sierra Madre, Colima . Mazatlan Apr. — , 1863 June— ,1862 Apr. — , 1663 June — , 1862 3.45 3.50 3. CO 3.45 3.90 3.80 3.75 3.75 0.60 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.70 0.70 0.75 0.70 EMBEENAGRA EUFIVIRGATA, Lawr. Specimens from Merida, Yucatan, of which there are three before me, differ from all other Mexican examples in the collection, as well as those from Texas, in the very sharp definition and dark color of the stripes on the crown, these being a very dark brown — almost black — anteriorly, the broad stripe between a pure ash-gray, without a trace of olivaceous tinge. The bill is also very much darker in color, the maxilla being quite black in some examples, while the feet are also of a darker brown color. In the light grayish color of the flanks and the very pale buff of the cris- sum, these Merida examples agree much more closely with Texas speci- mens than those from Mexico. Mexican examples are like those from Texas in the character of the head-stripes and in the color of the bill and feet, but they are very different in their lower plumage, not only from the true rufivirgata, but also from the Yucatan race, the flanks being a dark raw-umber tint, or deep drab, almost like the back, and in strong contrast with the white of the abdomen, while the crissum is of a deep fulvous, or dark grayish- buff". It thus appears that three well-marked geographical races of this speies may be defined, their characters being as follows : — A. Maxilla reddish-brown; legs and feet pale brown. Stripes of the head not sharply defined, uniform reddish nmber-brown, the broad vertical stripe olive- green throughout, or onlj' tinged with ash anteriorly. a. rufivirgata. — Bill slender, its depth .25, the length of the maxilla from the nostril to the tip being .3ri-.88. Flanks pale grayish-buflf, or light grayish- fulvous; crissum pale buff. Wing, 2.60-2.65; tail, 2.50-2.70; tarsus, .90-.95 ; middle toe, .60. Hab.— Rio Grande Valley of Texas. /3. crassirostris. — Bill very stout, its depth .28-.33, the length of the maxilla from the nostril to the tip being .35-.40. Flanks deep drab, or raw-umber brown; crissum deep fulvous. Wing, 2.55-2,75; tail, 2.30-2.70; tarsus, .85-.90 ; middle toe, .58-.65. Hah. — Mexico. B. Maxilla dark brown, or brownish-black ; legs and feet deep brown. Stripes of the head sharply defined, black anteriorly, chestnut mixed with black pos- teriorly, the broad vertical stripe clear ash-gray throughout. y. vei'ticalis, — Bill slender, as in rufivirgata, its depth being .26-.28 ; its length from the nostril .35-40. Flanks and crissum pale, as in rvfivirgata. Wing, 2.50-2.68; tail, 2.60-2.80; tarsus, .85-.95; middle toe, .60. IZaft.— Merida, Yucatan. PROCEEDIKGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 249 Following is a list of the specimens examined : — a. rufivirgata. P '3 H 3 _2 3" R.11 11. R d ad. d" ad. Texas 2.60 2.65 2.50 2.70 0. 38 X 0. 25* 0. 35 X 0. 25 0.90 0.95 0.60 do Mar. 28, 1876 0.60 * The tirst number indicates the length of the bill from the nostril; the second, its depth through the base. (3. crassirostris. G.N-.L.. U.S u. s TJ. S cf ad. ? ad. cT ad. ? ad. 2.75 2. 55 2.55 2.60 2.85 2.40 2.70 2.30 0. 40 X 0. 32 0. 35 X 0. 30 0. 38 X 0. 33 0.35X0.28 0.90 0.85 0.90 0.90 0.60 29-229 2ai')3 Orizaba May 4, 1858 0. 6.> 0.65 23690 Venado IslandjW. Mex.t June -, 1861 0.58 tThis specimen is somewhat intermediate in coloration between rufivirgata and crassirostris, bnt seems decidedly nearer the former. It differs from both, however, in tUe very sharp definition of the stripes on the head, which, however, are clear, uniform chestnut, and in the bright baS yellow cast of the crissum and tibia. It is quite possible that this specimen, which is not in good condition, may rep- resent a fourth race, peculiar to Western Mexico. y, verticalis. 30282 37894 U.S. U.S. KR. ? ad. cT ad. 9 ad. Merida, Yucatan . do do May 25, 1865 2.50 2.60 Feb. 28, 1865 2.60 2.80 Mar. 19, 1865 2.68 2.75 0.35X0.26 I 0.85 0.40X0.28 0.40X0.28 0.90 0.95 0.60 0.60 Following are the chief references to this species: — a. rufivirgata. Enibernagra rufivirgata, Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. April 28, 1851, 112, pi. v, fig- ^ (Kio Grande, Texas).— Bairp, B. N. Am. 1858, 487 (Ringgold Barracks, Texas ; Naevo Leon, N. E. Mexico); Mex. Bound Survey, II, Birds, 1859, 16, pi. xvii, fig. 2; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 373.— Butcher, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 18G8, 150 (La- redo, Texas).— CouES, Key, 1872, p. — ; Check List, 1873, No. 209.— B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B..II, 1874, 47, pi. xxviii, fig. 3.— Merrill, Bull. Nutt. Orn.Club, I, Nov. 1876, 89 (Ft. Brown, Texas; descr. nest and eggs) ; Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. I, 1878, p. 128 (Ft. Brown, Tex. ; biogr.).— Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Survey Terr. IV, No. 1, 1878, 22 (Brownsville and Hidalgo, Texas ; common). Brown-striped Olive Finch, Lawr., I. c. Texas Finch, Baird, I. c. Green Finch, CoUES, I.e. /3. crassirostris. f " Zonotrichia pleicja, LiciiT.", Boxap., Compt. Rend. XLIII, 1856, 413.* " Enibernagra rufivirgata", Scl., P. Z. S. 1856, 306 (Cordova) ; 1859, 380 (Playa Vicente) ; Catal. 1861, 117, No. 709 (Orizaba).— Lawr., Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, 1876, 22 (Huemelula, Isth. Tehuantepec).— Sumiciir., Mem. Bost. Soc. I, 1869, 551 (Vera Cruz ; temp, and hot reg., up to 1,200 metres). Enibernagra rufivirgata var. crassirostris, Baird, MS. y, verticalis " Enibernagra rufivirgata ", Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. IX, 1869 (Merida, Yucatan). * I have at present no means of verifying this reference, and therefore adopt, provi- sionally at least. Professor Baird's MS. name of crassirostris. 250 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MQSEUM. LOXIGILLA VIOLACEA. A specimen of this species from the Bahamas differs from Jamaican examples in larger bill and feet and much more intensely black plum- age; the chestnut- red of the throat, etc., being also deeper and richer. These differences being probably geographical, the Bahaman form seems entitled to a distinctive name, and I therefore propose that of haha- mensis. The characters of the two races may be defined as follows: — a. violacea. — Plumage of the body more or less decidedly slaty posteriorly ; lining of the wing white. Throat, eyebrow, and crissum bright cinnamon-rufous. Wing, 3.00-3.30; tail, 2.90-3.20; bill, from nostril, .40-.45; depth of bill, .40-.48; tar- sus, .70-.80 ; middle toe, .55-.60. Hah. — Jamaica. ;3. iaiiamensis. — Plumage of the body lustrous black posteriorly; lining of the wing dark grayish. Throat, eyebrow, and crissum rich purplish rufous. Wing, 3.25 ; tail, 2.95; bill, from culmeu, .45; depth of bill, ..50; tarsus, .85; middle toe, .65. Hab.— Bahamas. (Type, 74,707, Nat. Mus. Bahamas ; Dr. Bryant.) a. violacea. 74711 TJ.S R.R RB d ad. d ad. ? ad. Peb. — . 1865 (2)' Aug. 8,1859 3.30 3.00 3.10 3.20 2.90 3.00 0.45X0.48 0.40X0.40 0.42X0.40 0.80 0.70 0.80 0.60 'isoo' 'y^"Al'/"/^y^'.'." '.'.'.'. 0.55 C.CO (3. hahamensis. 74707 TJ.S d" ad. (?) 3. 25 1 2. 95 0.45X0.50 0.85 0.65 ANAS ABERTI (Ridg., MS.). Sp. ch. — Adult female : Size of Querquedula Mscors and cyaiioptera, but in coloration closely lesemhlmg A. fulvigula. Prevailing color och- raceous-buff, but this everywhere relieved by brownish-black spots or streaks. Head, neck, and lower parts streaked, the streaks finest ou the neck and sides of the head, broadest on the jugulum and crissum, which is somewhat tinged with rusty, and assuming the form of obloiig spots on the abdomen, thighs, and anal region; throat immaculate. Back, scapulars, and rump with the blackish predominating ; the feath- ers bordered with ochraceous ; those of the back and the scapulars with irregular indentations and occasional bars of the same. Lesser wing-coverts brownish-slate, bordered with dull earthy-brown ; middle coverts with their exposed portion velvety-black, forming a distinct bar. Secondaries widely tipped with pure white (forming a conspicuous band about .35 of an inch wide), this preceded by a velvety-black bar of about equal width, the basal half or more (of the exposed portion) con- sisting of a metallic speculum of dark grass-green, varying to blue and violet in certain lights. Tertials opaque velvety -black exteriorly, the inner webs brownish-slate ; primary-coverts and primaries brownish- slate, the latter edged with lighter. Tail brownish-gray, the feathers PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 251 edged and coarsely spotted with light buff. Bill light yellowish-brown, darker on the culmeu, the unguis dusky; feet light yellowish (probably orange in life). \Yiug, 8.50 ; tail, 3.25 ; culmen, 1.G5 ; greatest width ot' the bill, .GO ; depth of maxilla through the base, .50 ; tarsus, 1.30 ; mid- dle toe, 1.70. Type, Xo. 13,789, IT. S. Nat. Mus. ; Mazatlan, Mexico ; Colonel Abert. Eemarks. — This remarkable little duck is very different from any other species known to me. In its small size, and, to a certain extent, the narrow bill, it is like the species of Querquedula, but its coloration calls instantly to mind the Anas fnlvigula from Florida, and the species from the Sandwich Islands, recently described by Mr. Sclater. The specimen is marked as being a female, so it is possible that the male may be more brilliant in plumage. In addition to the characters given above, it may be mentioned that there is a distinct indication of a narrow, dusky, postocular streak, and of a wider and less distinct loral stripe, thus separating a light super- ciliary stripe from the light color of the cheeks. The lining of the wing and the axillars are pure white, the latter with a segregation of dusky spots near the carpometacarpal joint. In the collection of the National Museum, there is a female specimen of tbe recently described Anas wyvUliana of the Sandwich Islands. Mr. Sclater's description was fortunately seen just in time to prevent the renaming of the species. Since Mr. Sclater describes only the male, however, a description of the opposite sex, which seems to differ but lit- tle in coloration, may not be out of place in this connection : — ANAS WYVILLIANA, Sclater/ Adult female: Smaller than A. hoschas or A. ohscura, but somewhat resembling the female of the former in plumage, being much darker, however. Prevailing color a mixture of rusty ochraceous and brownish dusky, the latter predominating on the upper surface, the former on the lower, the abdomen considerably paler. Eyelids pure white, forming a distinct but narrow orbital ring. Head and neck finely and densely streaked with blackish and pale ochraceous, the pileum nearly uni- form blackish; jugulum and breast with broad crescentic or U-shaped marks of dusky, each enclosing a cuneate or oblong longitudinal spot of the same along the shaft ; abdomen and anal region thickly spotted with lighter grayish-brown ; flanks with markings similar to those on the breast, but much larger ; crissum strongly tinged with bright rusty, the larger feathers uniform black towards ends. Back and scapulars dusky, the feathers with ochraceous borders, enclosing another V- or U- shaped mark of the same ; rump blackish, the feathers with only the external ochraceous border ; upper tail-coverts blackish, marked much like the scapulars, only more irregularly. Tail brownish-slate, the feathers edged with whitish, and with three or four narrow bars of pale ^ * P. Z. S. Mar. 19, 1878, p. 350. 252 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. buff (V-shaped) on each feather, more apparent on the outer rectrices. Lesser wiugcoverts dark grayish brown, distinctly bordered with dull ochraceous; middle coverts with the concealed portion brownish-gray; this succeeded by a paler grayish shade, the most of the exposed portion being opaque velvety-black, forming a distinct broad band ; secondaries metallic dark bluish-green, changing to blue and violet, this succeeded by a subterminal band of opaque velvety-black, about .25 in width, and this by a terminal band of pure white of the same width ; outer webs of the two lower tertials opaque black, the rest grayish-brown, more brown on outer webs; primaries brownish-slate, with slightly paler edges. Bill dusky (probably dark olivaceous in life) ; legs and feet light yellowish-brown (probably orange in life). Wing, 9.00 ; tail, 3.G5 ; cul- men, 1.75; greatest width of bill, .68 ; depth of maxilla, through base, .55 ; tarsus, 1.40 ; middle toe, 1.70. [Described from No. 20,319 U. S. Nat. Mus.] Unlike the somewhat similar species from Mazatlan {A. aherti), as well as the female of A. boschas and both sexes of A. fulvigula, the whole throat is densely streaked, lilie the neck. The entire lining of the wing, with the axillars, is pure white, as in allied species. Gray's Handlist quotes, under A. boschas, an ^^A. freycineti, Bp.", with the locality " Sandwich I." standing opposite. No indication is given, however, as to where Bonaparte's bird is described, and I have been unable to find any further clue. Should the locality of ^'A.freycineti " be the Sandwich Islands, it is very probable that this is the same species. The female of A. wyvilUana scarcely needs comparison with that of A. boschas. It is much smaller, the colors altogether darker, the specu- lum green instead of violet, and preceded by a wide blacl' instead of a wide ivhiie bar. The white ocular ring is also a peculiar feature. November 18, 1878. »ESCSeiS»TaOIV of T^VO new species of birds from COSTA RICA, AND NOTES OX OTHER RARE SPECIES FROM THAT COUNTRY. By ROBERT RIDCiWAr. A small collection of birds brought from Costa Eica by Mr. Jos6 C. Zeledon includes several exceedingly rare and interesting species, among which may be mentioned a young male of Carpodectes nitidus, a second specimen of Porzana cinereiceps, Lawr., the recently described '■'' Zonotrichia'''' vulcani, and PhcenoptUa melanoxantha, besides Pyrgisoma capitalis, Panterpe insignis, Geotrygon costaricensis, etc. In addition to the above are the two following, which are believed to be undescribed : — 1.— THEYOPHILUS ZELEDONI (Lawreuce, MS.). Sp. ch.— Wing, 2.50-2.C0; tail, 2.15-2.45; bill, from nostril, .4S-.50; tarsus, 1.00; middle toe, .62-.65. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 253 Above brownish -slate, becoming more olivaceous on the rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail. liemiges with very indistinct (scarcely observable) darker bars. Tail heavily but somewhat irregularly barred with dusky black, the black bars about as wide as the interspaces. A sharply defined and conspicuous superciliary stripe of white; a wide stripe of brownish- slate ("like the crown) along upper half of the auriculars. Chin, throat, cheeks, and lower parts iu general grayish- white, with a faint grayish washacross the jugulum, more distinct on the sides of the breast. Flanks, anal region, and crissum light fulvous. Lining of the wing grayish- white. [Type in Mus. K. R.] This well-marked species, although perhaps most like T. modestus (Caban.), is very distinct from that bird. The size is much greater, the plumage altogether grayer, and the bars on the tail broader and more sharply defined. Their characters may be more precisely contrasted, as follows : — T. modestus.— Wing, 2.30 ; tail, 2.25-2.35 ; bill, from nostril, .40-.45 ; tarsus, .80-.90 ; middle toe, .52-.58. Above, grayisli-umber, becoming gradually more grayish on the pileum. Tail cinnamon-umber, with narrow and rather indistinct bars of blackish less than half as wide as the interspaces. Lower parts buffy-white, without grayish shade across the jugulum ; sides, flanks, and anal region, and crissum deep ochraceous. Hab. — Highlands of Costa Rica. T. zeiedoni.—\Ymg, 2.50-2.(i0; tail, 2.1.5-2.45; bill, from nostril, .48-.50 ; tarsus, 1.00; middle toe, .62-65. Above, brownish-slate, more olivaceous posteriorly. Tail gray- ish-brown, with broad and sharply defined bars of blackish, equal in width to the interspaces. Lower parts grayish-white, with a distinct grayish shade across the jugulum ; flanks, anal region, and crissum light grayish-fulvous. Hah. — Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica. 2.— PSEUDOCOLAPTES LAWRENCII (Ridgway, MS.). Sp. ch.— Wing, 4.15-4.35; tail, 4.15-4.30; bill, from nostril, .50 ; tar- sus, 1.00-1.05; middle toe, .6S-.70. Primaries, primary-coverts, greater and middle wing-coverts brownish-black, the first more brownish ; both rows of wing-coverts tipped with bright ochraceous. Tufts on sides of neck creamy buff. Adult: Pileum, nape, and auriculars brownish-black, streaked with rusty-fulvous ; nape more conspicuously streaked with light fulvous or bilfif ; a narrow superciliary streak of buff. Back, scapulars, lesser wing- coverts, and tertials ferrugiueous, the feathers of the back very indis- tinctly bordered terminally with dusky. Kump, upper tail-coverts, and tail bright brick-rufous, immaculate. Chin, throat, and sides of the neck creamy-buff, the latter deepest, and immaculate; the throat faintly barred with dusky ; jugulum and breast light buff", the feathers bordered with dusky, producing a conspicuously striped appearance — the dusky prevailing laterally, the buff medially ; middle of the abdomen plain deep buff. Sides and flanks ferrugiueous, considerably lighter than the back ; crissum plain rusty -ochraceous. Bill blackish, the gonys whit- ish. Feet horn-color (greenish-olive in life). Iris dark brown. 254 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Immature: Similar, but pileuin and auriculars plain brownish-black; chin and throat more heavily marked (squaraated) with dusky, and sides brighter rufous. Superciliary streak obsolete, except above the auricu- lars. Hab. — La Palma and Navarro, Costa Eica (altitude about 3,500-5,000 feet). The most striking characters of the two known species of this genus may be contrasted as follows : — P. ioissoneauti. — Tufts on side of neck pure white. Primaries and wing-coverts fer- rugiueous-umber. Jugulum faintly squamated with dusky. Hab. — New Granada and Ecuador. P. lawrencii. — Tufts on side of neck creamy-hufif. Primaries and wing-coverts brown- ish-black. Jugulum heavily striped with dusky. Hah. — Costa Eica. The proportions of both species are exceedingly variable, as may be seen from the accompanying table of measurements, and are therefore of no use as specific characters. The new form (P. laivrencii) was also obtained by Mr. A. Boucard at Navarro, Costa Eica, but that gentleman evidently overlooked the more important differences of plumage, though he alludes to the different color of the neck-tufts (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond, 3878, p. 59), adding that he does not " for the present consider this difference sufficient to make another species of it ". Following is a more detailed description of P. hoissoneauti, and tables of measurements of both species. PSEUDOCOLAPTES BOISSONEAUTI, Lafr. Sp. CH.— Wing, 3.85-4.G5 ; tail, 3.70-4.60; bill, from nostril, .42-70; tarsus, .95-1.10 ; middle toe, .58-.70. Primaries and wing-coverts umber- brown, like the tertials; primary-coverts, dusky. Tufts on sides of neck pure white. Adult: Pileum, auriculars, nape, and anterior portion of back brown- ish-black, streaked with pale fulvous, these streaks much broader, and very conspicuous, on the nape and back. Lower part of back, scapulars, and wings ferruginous-umber, the middle and greater coverts tipped with fulvous. Eump, upper tail-coverts, and tail deep brick- rufous, immaculate. A narrow superciliary streak of pale buff. Chin and throat white ; neck-tufts pure silky white. Jugulum and breast buffy white, or very pale buff, faintly squamated with dusky, these markings heavier on sides of the breast. Eest of lower parts plain ochraceous-rufous, slightly paler on the middle of the abdomen. Bill black; lower half of mandible whitish. Young: Pileum and auriculars plain brownish-black; superciliary stripe obsolete, except above the auriculars. Bill wholly black, but somewhat paler on gonys. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 255 P. boissoneauti. CtTJ.I... Juv. ? ad d ad. — ad. ? ad. ? ad. — ad. — ad. — ad. Bogota, Columbia 4.15 3.85 3.!)0 4..'->0 4.50 4.10 4. C.-) 4.P0 4.40 4.20 4.00 3.70 4. 5.) 4.40 4.00 4. HO 4.60 4.50 0.42 0.62 0.70 0. 4S 0.48 O.CO 0. 52 0. .V2 0.50 G.IM. L.. do 1.00 0.95 0.95 1.00 1.00 1. 10 1.10 1.10 o.co ?2800 47016 U.8 ... u.s G.N.L.. G.N.L.. U.S U.S U.S !!!!!!do^. ".'!!!!!!!!!! !."!!"!! ."'.'.'.".'..'.'.. '6' 53 0. 60 Quito, Ecuador S5272 6:iP.22 do do 0.62 0.70 30345 do 0. 65 P. lawrencii. U.S.... U.S.... La Palma, Costa Rica 4. 15 do 4.33 4.15 4.30 0.50 50 1.00 1.05 0.70 0.C8 Carpodectes nitidus. — A presumed young male of this excessively rare species, from Pacuare, Costa Rica, resembles the adult male, except that the terminal half (of the exposed portion) of the primaries is uni- form dusky blackish, while the secondaries have a considerable part of their concealed portion dusky, the amount decreasing toward the inner ones, the tertials being entirely white ; the primary-coverts have also ibeir terminal half grayish dusky, while of the aluUe one feather on one side and two on the other are of the same color. The rump is also somewhat obscured by a grayish tinge. The pileum seems to be of a deeper shade of fine pearl-blue in this specimen than in an adult male in the National Museum from Nicaragua. Mr. Zeledon's specimen measures as follows: — Wing, 5.40; tail, 3.00; bill, from nostril, .45 ; tarsus, .95 ; middle toe, .85. JuNCO VULCANI (Boucard). — This interesting new species was origi- nally discovered by Mr. Zeledon in 1873, but the specimens which were then forwarded by him to the Smithsonian Institution, along with other species then new, but since, like the present one, rediscovered, never reached their destination. Specimens more recently collected by Mr. Zeledon are now before me, and upon examination I find that the spe- cies should be referred to the genus Jmico, rathi r than to Zonotrichia. In fact, it agrees perfectly in its generic characters with the former, except that the back is streaked, while there is no white on the lateral tail leathers. Like J. cincreus of the highlands of Mexico, and J. alti- cola of Guatemala, it has a bright yellow iris. Its alpine habitat— the summit of the Volcan de Irazu— still further favors this view of its affinities. November 18, 1878. 256 PROCEEDINGS OF UXITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. i>Esc;KnE»'£rao:^s of two «ae5©iio fd^bses, piaYfl^ns cmesteri A!v» nAB.On^OKPDaVKCJS VQOILA, from TEIE I>EEP.SEAEAiriVA OF THE JVOR'jrEaiVESTEKi"V ATIiA.^rTDl'. By G. BROW]\ GOODE and TAKlLETOi^ H. BEAIV. Three specimens of an undescribed species of Phycis were obtained by the U. S. Fish Commisiou during the past season. The larger one measured 0.242"^ without caudal and two others respectively 0.143" and 0.128'". The former is the basis of the following diagnosis; the others being evidently immature and having the characteristics of the species, especially the length of the lin-tilaments, less pronounced. Phycis Chesteri, sp. nov. Head contained in body (without caudal) 4J times, height of body 5 times. Diameter of orbit in length of head 3^ times, maxillary twice. Barbel about one-third of diameter of orbit. Vent situated under 12th ray of second dorsal, and equidistant from tip of snout and end of second dorsal. Distance of dorsal fin from snout equal to twice the length of the mandible; the third ray of the firstdorsal isextremely elongate, extending to a ijoint (33d ray of second dorsal) two-thirds of the distance from snout to tip of caudal, its length more than twice that of the head, and more than four times as long as the rays immediately preceding and following it. Anal fin inserted immediately behind the vent, its distance from the root of the ventrals equal to that of the dorsal from the snout. As in the other species of the genus,* the ventral is composed of three rays, the first two much prolonged. The first is contained three times in the length of the body, the second is almost three times as long as the head, reaching to the 40th anal ray or 3 of the distance from snout to tip of caudal ; the third is shorter than the diameter of the orbit. The pectoral is four times as long as the operculum. Scales large and thin, easily wrinkling with the folding of the thick loose skin, par- ticularly in the median line of the sides of the body. Lateral line much broken on the i)osterior half of the body. Scales 7, 90-91, 28, Eadial formula :— D. 9 or 10, 55 to 57. A. 50. 0. 5, 18 to 21, 5. P. 17-18. V. 3. *A critical study of the ventral fins of Phycis compels us to believe that the ventral fin is composed of three rays covered at the base with a thick shin in such manner as to obscure the third, short one, and to join the other two so that they appear like a single bifid ray. In young individuals of Phycis chuss, the third ray has its extremity protruding from the sheath, though in adults it becomes entirely enveloped, thus giving rise to the false definitions which have been given for this genus. An adult specimen ol Phycis furcatus, Flem. (No. 17,371 of the National Museum collection), has the third ventral ray protruding. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 257 Table of Measurements. Current number of specimen , Locality Extreme length (exclusive of caudal) Length to end of middle caudal rays Body : Greatest height Greatest width Height at vcutrals Least height of tail Head: Greatest length Length of barbel Greatest width Width of iuterorbital area Length of snout Lengtli of operculum Length of maxillary Leuath of maudible Distance from snout to centre of orbit Diameter of orbit Dorsal (first) : ■ Distance from snout Length of base Length of tirst ray Length of second ray Length of third ray Length of fourth ray Length of last ray Dorsal (second) : Length of base Length of first ray Length of longest ray (40th) Length of last ray Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Length of first ray Length of longest ray (3"th) Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays Length of external rays Pectoral : Distance from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Length of first ray Length of filaments Length of second ray Branchiostegals Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral Ventral , Number of scales in lateral line Number of transverse rows above lateral lino Number of transverse rows below lateral line 21,840. Trawl 174. 42 milesE. i S., Capo Ann, 140 fathoms, Aug. 27, 1878. 21,841. Trawl 194. 21,842. Trawl 194. 33 miles E. by S.. Cape Ann. E. Pt., 110 fathoms, Aug. 31, 1878. Millim. 242 280 49 28 39 9 56 6 29 10 15 13 28 32 24 17 67 17 15 28 117 26 3 142 15 29 5 121 108 9 20 6 38 36 60 52 54 96 165 15 vir 9-55 47 5-18-5 17 3 90 7 lOOths of length. 20 in 16 4 llf 4i 6i 5* l|i 13 10 7 271 7 6i 114 48" lOi li 58 f'i lis 2§ 50 44 4 8J 2i 151 m 12J 221 39 68 6i Millim. 143 166 29 33 4 16 7 8 8 17 19 14 10 38 10 8 ^" I 50 15 15 lOOths of length. Millim. 23 20 34 32 30 47 81 10 7 9-57 47 5-21-5 17 3 ca.91 7 28 128 148 20 17 30 29 28 42 70 8 7 10-56 47 5-21-5 18 3 ca.90 ca.28 lOOths of length. Haloporphyrus viola, sp. nov. Two specimens of an iiodescribed species of the genus Raloparphynis of Glintber were brought in, August 24, by Captain Joseph W. Collins, of the schooner "Marion "of Gloucester; they were taken on a halibut trawl-line on the outer edge of Le Have Bank, at a depth of four or five Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 17 Dec. 17, 1878. 258 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. hundred fathoms. A species of this genus was described, under the name Gadus lejjidion, by Eisso,* from Mediterranean specimens. Giin- tber, who referred tbe species to the new genus Ilaloporplnjrus in 18G2,t had a specimen from Madeira. Giinther publisbed preliminary notices of two species, if. rostratiis and H. australis, in " The Annals and Maga- zine of NaturalHistory ", July, 1878, pp. 18 and 19, which were collected by the Challenger. The affinities of the four known species are indi- cated below. Tahle of Affinities. Saloporphynis lepidion. Haloporphyrus viola. Head Orbit Maxillary. Contained 4 times in total length (with out caudal). With diameter J length of head Barbel Vent... Not extending to the vertical from pos- terior margin oi orbit. Longer than diameter of orbit Inserted under Idth ray of second dorsal fin. Anal. Inserted directly behind the vent, with slight depression iu its middle, and termiuat ng iu advance of termina- tion of dorsal. Pectoral Ventral Itadial formula. Scales Habitat . More than half as long as head. Inner lay as long as head, and reaching to the vent. D.4,54; A. 49; V. 6 In lateral line, 210 Above lateral line, 15 Madeira Contained over 4 times in total length (without caudal). With diameter i length of header slightly more. Extending to rertical from posterior margin of orbit. Scarcely equal to half diametfr of oibit. Inserted under 19th raY of second dorsal tin. Inserted behind the vent at a distance equal t(i length of 2d anal ray, wiih a cousiderablj depression in its middle, and teruiinating in a line with termina- tion of dorsal. More than four-flftbs as long as bead. Inner ray shorter than head (J) and reach- ing half way to the vent. D. 4, .■i3 ; A. 40 ; V. 6. In lateral line, 115. Above lateral line, 11. Le Have, 400-300 fathoms. Haloporphyrus rostratiis. Haloporphyrus australis. Head One-fourth of total without caudal ; depth of body two-fifths. Anal Imperfectly divided, approaching, in thatrespect, the genus JLforrt. Giinther makes this the typo of a distinct sab- genus, Anlimora. B.TII; D. 4, 51-5(3; A. 38-39 ; V. 6.. .. Deep sea, midway between Cape of Good Hope and Kerguolen's Laud ; east of the mouth of Kio Plata, COU and 1,375 fathoms. Radial formula Habitat D. 9, 50-52; A. 53; V. 8. Puerto Bucno, Magellan Straits, 55-70 fathoms. JDescription. — Extreme length of type-specimen (No. 21,837, TJ. S. N. M.) without caudal 0.435'» (17^ inches), with caudal 0.48ij'" : length of collateral type (So. 21,838) without caudal, 0.545'"; with caudal, 0.G03'". Tbe shape of the body resembles that of the species of tbe genus Fhycls, though somewhat shorter, higher, and more compressed, its greatest height contained about five times in its length (without caudal), its height at the ventrals slightly exceeding one-eighth of its total length, * Icbthyologie de Nice, 1810, p. 118, pi. xi, fig. 40. t Catalogue of tbe AcautLopterygii, Pharycgognathi, and Anacanthiui in the Col- lections of the British Museum, 18G2, p. 358. PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 259 its height at the middle of the caudal peduncle one twenty-ninth of the same. Scales arranged in about 115 vertical rows and about 3S horizontal ones, about 11 being between the origin of the dorsal and the lateral line and about 27 below the lateral line. Lateral line slightly curved ui)ward in the anterior fourth of its length. Length of head contained more than four and one-quarter times in that of the body ; its width half its length and less than double that of interorbital area. The barbel is short, its length being scarcely equal to half the diame- ter of the orbit and about one-tenth the length of the head. The width of interorbital area is about equal to the longitudinal diameter of the orbit, in the larger specimen slightly greater. The diameter of the orbit is equal to or slightly greater than one-fourth the length of the head. The length of the snout is equal to that of the operculum and less than width of interorbital area. The maxillary extends to vertical from posterior margin of the orbit, its length about equal to the greatest width of the head. Mandible equals one-eighth of total length without caudal. Snout equal to operculum in length, obtusely pointed, much de- pressed, its lateral outline subcouical, a conspicuous keel extending backward along the lower line of the orbit to its posterior margin. The head and mouth closely resemble those of some species of Macru- rus, except that the keel is covered with small, smooth scales and isuot overhanging. Lips scaleless. Teeth in the jaws imperfectly serial, villiform, recurved; a small ob- long patch of similar teeth on the head of the vomer; none on the palatines. First dorsal fin inserted at a distance from the snout somewhat greater than twice the height of the body at the ventrals ; its first ray is much prolonged, its length greater than that of the head, and nearly as long or longer (in the larger specimen) than the distance from the snout to the beginning of the dorsal. The second ray is contained less than four times, the third six times or less in thetirst, the fourth about ten times. The length of the base of second dorsal is somewhat more than twice the distance of its insertion from the snout ; its greatest height, which is in the posterior fourth of its length (near the -10th ray), is contained about six or seven times in the length of its base. The vent is situated at a point equidistant from snout and tip of cau- dal, under the 19th ray of second dorsal fin. The anal fin is inserted at a distance behind it equal to length of second anal ray. Its length of base is slightly more than half that of second dorsal. It has a consider- able depression in its middle outline. The last rays of dorsal and anal are of equal length, and are directly opposite each other. The caudal seems to be somewhat rounded. The length of the middle rays contained more than nine times in total length without caudal, and more than ten times in length including caudal. 260 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Pectorals narrow, inserted under the base of first dorsal. In tbo smaller specimen they reach to the perpendicular from the niuth raj of the second dorsal, in length equalling the greatest height of the body. Ventrais inserted at a distance from tip of snout equal to half the length of anal base ; the second ray nearly twice as long as the first, and in the smaller specimen, in which it is unmutilated, nearly as long as the head. Radial formula :— D. 4, 53 ; A. 40 ; C. 5, 20 or 21, 5 ; P. 1, 19 ; V. C. Color. — Deep violet or blue. Table of Measurements. Current number of specimen Locality Extreme lencth (without caudal) Length to end of middle caudal rays Boiiy : Greatest height G I eatest width Height at veutrals Least height of tail Length of caudal peduncle Head : Greatest length Length of barbel Greatest width "Width of intero'-bital area Length of snout Length of operculum .^... Length of maxillary L'ugth of mandible Distance from snout to centre of orbit DianH-ter of orbi't (longitudinal) Dorsal (tirsi) : Distance from snout Length of base Length of first ray Length of second ray Length of third ray Length of fourth ray Dorsal (second) : Length of base Distance from snout Length of first ray Length of longest ray (41st) Length of last ray Anal : Distance from snout Length of base Length of first ray Lengtli of longest ray (26th) Length of last ray Caudal : Length of middle rays Pectoral : Distance from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Length of first ray Length of second ray Branchiostegals Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral Ventral Number of scales in lateral line Number of transverse rows above lateral line. Number of transverse rows below lateral line. ■21,837. 21,838. Edge of Le Have Bank. Millim. 435 4c0 . 83 44 r.5 15 19 100 10 50 27 25 25 49 55 44 113 16 107 25 19 10 273 133 27 32 266 142 10 35 ca. 45 104 83 71 48 92 lOOths of length. 19 10 12J 3i 1i 23 2J I'i Ci 6 6 11 12^ 10 26 4 24 J G C2i 30.i 6i 7i 2 61 32J 24 8 2 23J 19 16 II 21 VII 4, 53 40 5, 20 or 21, 5 1,19 6 ca. 115 ca. 11 ca. 27 Millim. 545 C03 125 13 63 35 27 27 62 74 50 32 136 25 140 33 22 14 340 160 33 53 ca. 58 1,37 105 52 lOOths of length. 23 Hi Oi 5 5 Hi 13 6 4} 23i 29 6 91 m VII 4, + 40 1,19 November 21, 1878. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 261 DESCRIPTION OF AKGENTI.NA SYRTENSirM, A ISMW DEEP-SEA FISH FROM SABINE ISLAND BANK. By G. BKOTVN OOODEI aaad TARl-ETOIV M. BEAIV. The United States Fish Commission has lately received from Capt. Joseph W. Collins, of the schooner Marion, of Gloucester, Mass., and from Mr. R. L. Newcomb, of Salem, who accompanied him on this voyage as a collector, an apparently undescribed species of Argentina. A single specimen was taken September 4, 1878, from the stomach of a hake {Phycis tenuis f) hooked on a halibut trawl-line, set in 200 fathoms of water, on Sable Island Bank, off the coast of Nova S^iotia. This fish (No. 21,024) is about 17 inches long and in a dilapidated condition, hav- ing been partially digested by its first captor. The tips of the fins, especially, are much frayed out. The measurements, however, are believed to be very nearly exact. Argentina syrtensium, sp. nov. Description. — Body compressed, resembling in form thatof Silus Ascanii Reinhardt {= Argentina silus (Asc.) Nillson) ; its height contained about oj times in its length without caudal, and slightly greater than twice the diameter of the orbit; its greatest width one-tenth of total length ; its height at ventrals contained about 5f times in the same and equal to thrice least height of body at the caudal peduncle. Length of head slightly less than twice its greatest height, and slightly more than one-fourth of the length of the body ; its greatest width is twice that of the interorbital area. The length of the snout equals that of the operculum, is slightly greater than that of the maxillary, and is contained not quite 3.J times in the length of the head. The first dorsal fin is inserted midway between snout-tip and adipose dorsal fin ; its basal length equal to the height of its first ray, and slightly more than half that of the longest ray ; it is also equal to the orbital diameter and the length of the mandible ; the last dorsal ray is slightly longer than the height of the caudal peduncle. The adipose dorsal fin is inserted in the perpendicular from the seventh anal ray; its basal length, which is two-thirds of its height, being about equal to one-tenth of the length of the head. The anal fin is inserted in the perpendicular from the 44th or 45th scale of the lateral line, its length of base slightly greater than length of the mandible, its first ray one-third as long as its third ray, its last ray equalling in height the adipose dorsal. The caudal is deeply forked, its external ray 2^ times as long as its median rays. The pectoral is inserted close to the branchial opening ; its length is equal to three-fifths of the distance of its insertion from the snout-tip. 262 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, extending posteriorly to about the twelfth scale of the lateral line and more than halfway to the origin of the ventrals. The ventral is inserted midway between the snout-tip and the insertion of the caudal fin, and in the perpendicular from the posterior dorsal ray ; its length equals half the distance from the origin of the pec- toral to that of the ventral. Eadial fonnula.—B. Yl; D. 12; A. 13; 0. 13, 18, 12; P. 18; V. II, 12. Scales. — 3.^, 60, 4. The scales are cycloid, with the posterior edge emargiuate, the exposed surface covered with minute asperities ; as in some, and perhaps all other members of this group, single rows of scales saddle the dorsal and the abdominal ridges of the body. The scales are very large: one from the abdominal row, directly behind the ventrals, measuring 6J x 4J; one from the lateral line, 5 J x 3-^, the unit of meas- urement being the hundredth of body-length. One of the scales of the lateral line, detached, is broad enough to cover the exposed surfaces of live others in the same line. Color. — The color is considerably obliterated, but appears to have been similar to that of the common smelt {Osmerus mordax), with per- haps more of a metallic lustre. The species, according to Mr. Newcomb, has a cucumber-like smell, resembling that of the smelt. Table of Measurements. Current number of speciuieu Locality Extreme length without caudal Lpugth to end of middle caudal rays Body : Greatest height G I euti-st widt h Height at vcntrali , Least height of tail Length of caudal peduncle Head : Greatest length Greatest height Greatest width , "Width of interorbital area , Length of suout Length of operculum , Leijgth of inaxillary Length of mandible l):anittrr of orbi*i Dorsal (first) : Distauce from snout Length of base Lc'ngih of longest ray Length of first ray Length of second ray Length of last ray Dorsal (soft) : Lengtli of base Distance from snout Anal : Distance from snout Length of b.-.so Length of first ray Length of longest ray Length of last ray 21,6-i4. S ible Island Bank. Stomach of Hake. Millim. 38-2 408 lOOths. 19 10 17.5 5. 75 9 9 43 9 17' 9 15i 6.3 2i 85" 83 9i 3 9 2. 66 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 263 Table of Measurements — Continued. Millim. lOOths. Caudal : Length of middle rays .. Length of external rays . Pectoral Distance from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Length Brauchiostegals Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral Ventral Number of scales in lateral line Number of transverse rows above lateral line. Number of transverse rows below lateral line. 25 ca. 15i 50 ca. 12 VI 12 13 XIII, 18,XII 18 II, 12 ca. CO ca. 3J ca. 4 \Y ASHiHGTOTS, 2^ovember 23, lb78. OX THE OCCFRRE^X'E OF THE OCEAIVEC BONITO, OROYNES PEI.AMYS, (EINJSE) POEY, IiV VINEYARD SOtJNlD, MASSACHUSETTS. By VINAL N. EDWAROS. Mr. P. Stewart has canglit between 80 and 100 of them in his pound* in about three weeks. He caught 52 oue morning. In Luce's pound* they have caught between GO and 70. They catch them with a northerly wind; none with the wind oft" shore. They will not live long in tbe pound, but will run themselves to death, and their brilliant blue color all fades out as soon as they are dead. Wood's Holl, Mass., October 1, 1878. NOTES ON THE WESTERN OIKZARI> SHAI>, I>0R0S09IA CEPEDIA- NttJM HETERBJRUiTI, (RAF.) JORDAN. By SAMUEE. ^WII^MOT. Sir : I send you by post a small fish taken by one of our fishermen at Saruia on Lake Huron. It was sent to me by oue of our officers, with a request that I should let him know what sort of fish it was. It seems tbey think it to be a young shad. Fish very similar in appearance to this one have been known in Lake Ontario and other of our waters for many years ; I recollect them forty years ago. They were not taken numerously in those days, a few being captured at times in seines, and sometimes in gill-nets, which were set out in very deep waters in the lake for the purpose of taking salmon trout : those taken in the gill-nets would be sometimes a pound in weight; the great run of them, however, "These pouutla are in Menemsha Bight, Martha's Vineyard. 264 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. never exceeded three to six inches in length. Strange to say, how- ever, that during the past four years these little fish have become so numerous throughout the length of Lake Ontario that millions can be taken in one haul of a seine almost anywhere along the shore of Lake Ontario during the month of June. The whole shore for a long distance out, during this time, becomes so dense with these little fish that people dip them out with their hats, — rather a novel method, but it is a fact, and given for illustration of their immense numbers : vast quantities of them die along the shore. In a few days, sometimes a fortnight, they all disappear, and we see nothing of them again till the following year, excepting an odd one that may be taken at times. They invariably run from two to six inches, seldom larger. They are not prized for food, being seldom eaten, and are not marketable. They have been called here the " Moon Eye ", as they resemble the fish spoken of by me as having been taken in the deep waters, which have always been known by that name. Again, in 1873, 1874, 1875, 187G, and this year, these little fish have been alike abounding in myriads all along the north shore of Ontario. Since that time, the trout and other predaceous fishes have become very scarce in the lake, and these " Moon Eyes " have conse- quently wonderfully increased in numbers, to sucli an extent as to spread themselves in the immense number spoken of all along the shore of the lake. The specimen sent may not be one of these "Moon Eyes", but the resemblance is very great.* Professor Baird, Commissioner of Fisheries^ &C,, Washington, B. C. Newcastle, Novemier 23, 1677. THE OCCtlRREIVC'E: OF THE CANADA PORCUPINE IIV WEST VIBCillVlA. By G. BROWIV GOODE. The National Museum has obtained from Mr. H. D. Eenninger, of Washington, a living specimen of the Canada porcupine {Eretliizon dor- satiis (Linn.) F. Cuv. — var dorsatus), captured by him November 13, 1878, near Cranberry Summit, Preston County, West Virginia. This locality is in or near lat. 39J N., and this is believed to be the most southern oc- currence of the species. The inhabitants of Cranberry have never before known of the occurrence of j)orcupines in that region. DeKay statedt that the species ranged south to the northern parts of Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. Allen believes that his statement was founded on a remark of Catesby. Audubon and Bachman Avrite : | "It *The fish received from Mr. Wilmot is the Western Gizzard Shad, Dorosoma acedia- ■mini hetemrum, (Raf.) Jordan. t Nat. Hist. N. Y. 1842, 1, p. 79. } Quadrupeds of N. America, 1, 1846, p. 286. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 265 does not exist in the sonthern parts of New York or Pennsylvania. DeKaj^ states that it is found in the northern parts of Virginia and Ken- tucky. We, however, sought for it without success in the mountains of Virginia, and could never hear of its existence in Kentuck3\" Professor Baird states* that the species is found as far south as l!forthern Pennsylvania in some localities^ in which State it is not rare even now. Mr. J. A. Allen, the most recent writer on the i)orcnpines, remarks,! that Professor Shaler had failed to hear of the species in Kentucky and Virginia. He was informed by Dr. J. M. Wheaton that a few ])orcu- l^ines still survive in Clark, Champaign, and Eoss Counties, Ohio, and that it was common ten years since in Putnam County ; and by Mr. E. W. Nelson that the si^ecies was formerly rather common, though never abundant, in all of the wooded region north of the Ohio liiver, but that it is not now found (west of Ohio) south of the forests of Northern Wis- consin and Northern Michigan. December 12, 1878. CATAliOGUE OF TME BIRDS OF <,}RFXAOA, FROM A €Or,ff>.E< TION MADE BY MK. FK!!:D. A. OOtER FOR TUBE SiTJHTTDISOXDA.'V DIVSTITIJ. TION, IIV€l,UDa:^CJ OTEIERS SKEJV SY HDITI, BUT NOT OBTAINED. By OEOKGE N. LA^^^REl^CE. In ray Catalogue of the Birds of St. Vincent, I stated that Mr. Ober expected to leave that island for Grenada on the 29th of February. He must have left about that time, as some of his notes from Grenada are dated early in March. His collection from there was received at the Smithsonian Institution on the 22d of Maj', and sent to me a few days after. It consists of but 60 specimens.' In the following communication from Mr. Ober, he gives the geograph- ical position of the island, with other matters of interest. Under most of the species found there, are his notes of their habits, etc. His communications are marked with inverted commas. "Grenada, the southernmost of the volcanic islands, lies just north of the 12th degree of latitude north of the equator, that parallel just touching its southern j)oint. " It is about 18^ miles in length, from N. N. E. to S. S. W., and 7^ miles in breadth. " From Kingston, the principal town in St. Vincent, to St. Georges, that of Grenada, the distance is 75 miles ; from the southern end of St. Vincent to the northern jjoint of Grenada the distance is GO miles j the intervening space being occupied by the Grenadines. * Mammals of North America, 1859, p. 568. t Monographs of North American Kodentia, by Elliott Coues and Joel Asaph Allen, 1877, p. 393. 266 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. "It is very rugged, the interior of tlie island "being one mountain cliain with its offsets, and there is a less area of fertile land than in St. Vincent. The valleys that make up from the coast, and the levels lying between the hills and some portions of the coast, however, are very fer- tile. It is not a promising island for ornithological research, though at fii'st glance it would seem to be able to afford rich reward. " The moiuitains in the interior are volcanic; there are several extinct craters, in the largest of which is an attractive lake, 2,000 feet above the sea; it is 2^ miles in circumference and has an average depth of 14 feet. St. Georges, the only i»ort of any size, lies on the southwestern coast, and is highly picturesque in location, but not so attractive in the eyes of an ornithologist as it might be ; the surrounding hiUs are rocky, and those not rocky are cultivated, so that they are inhabited by very few birds. "Across the bay from the town, on the borders of the 'lagoon,' which is fringed with mangroves, may be found a few water birds, and in the sloping pastures at the foot of the high hills a small variety of the smaller birds. " The southern point. Point Saline, is an excellent place for the migra- tory birds : plover, duck, etc., which visit this island in quantities, and some points on the eastern coast are equally good. "I spent two weeks m and near St. Georges and St. Davids, and two weeks in the mountains and on the eastern coast. "As this island is so near the South American continent, being but 100 miles from Trinidad and 70 miles from Tobago, I expected to find some forms of animal life different from th(5se in the northern islands among the resident species. But with the exception of now and then a straggler being blown to these shores, there is no species (if we may ex- cept two) that would indicate proximity to a great tropical countrj'. " Some species common in the northern islands, from Guadeloupe to St. Vincent, have disappeared, and in one or two cases their places taken by others ; notably is this the case in the instance of Eidam])is jugularis beiQg replaced by Glaucls Mrsutiis. " There is no parrot as in St. Vincent, and the two species of thrush, locally known as the ' grives ' — Margarops dcnsirostris and M. montanus — do not exist here. Other minor differences occur, which will be apparent ui>on examining the catalogue. " The most interesting fact regarding the higher order of animal life, is the existence here of an armadillo, once common in all the Lesser An- tilles, but now extinct in all the northern islands. "A species of monkey also lives in the deep forests of the mountains; a skin of one has been sent to the Museum. " The most interesting portion is undoubtedly that of the mountains immediately adjacent to the mountain lake; but, if it were possible for a naturalist to spend an entire year ia the island, doubtless the more southern portion would reward him better in species : for the season of PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 267 migration would j^robably bring mnny stragglers from the continent, that do not make a longer staj' than a few days. " It is only a matter of regret with me that I could not give the requi- site time to this island during the ' winter months '. I am satisfied, however, that the few resident species are now fully known. " FBEDEEICK A. OBEE. " My thanks are due to Wm. Sharpe, Esq., Wm. Simmons, Esq., Dr. Wells, Canon Bond of St. Andrews and John Grant Wells, Esq., for coui'tesies shown me." Fam. TURDID^. 1. Turdus nigrirostris Lawr. "Thrush ('Grive'). " Length, S , 9 in. ; alar extent, 15:^ ; wing, 5. " Length, 9 , 9 in. ; alar extent, 14J ; wing, 4f . " In the deep woods one may be startled by a low note of alarm from this bird, like the smgle cluck of the Mocking-bird of the Southern States. Searching carefully, you may discover the author of it sitting upon a low tree, with head protruded, eagerly examining the surround- ings for the cause of the noise your coming makes. Discovering you, it hastily makes off, Avith a parting cluck. Its song is often heard iu the high woods, strange notes, ' fee-ow, fee-oo,' etc., often reijeated. Anothei cry it has when alighting and unexpectedly discovering your presence, similar to the cry of the Eobin as heard at evening time in spring — a harsh cry mingled with softer notes. I have only found it in the high forests. It must be weU along in the nesting period, judging from the condition of those dissected." I was much pleased to find four specimens of this species in the col- lection, as but one was obtained in St. Vincent, and that had the plum- age somewhat soiled. These are in good condition and more mature : they have the color of the throat as originally described, L c, the feathers of a dull white, with shaft-stripes of brown ; there are no rufous termi- nations to the wing-coverts, as in the St. Vincent specimen ; and the irregular rufous-brown markings on the upper part of the breast, as seen in that, are only just perceptible in two of the specimens : they have the breast and flanks of a darker shade of brown : the bills of these are not so dark throughout as in the type — shading into brown on their ter- minal halves : this difference of color is doubtless attributable to age. 2. Turdus carribeeus, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Acatl. of Sci. toL 1, p. 160. " Thrush. "Length, 9^ in. ; alar extent, 15J; wiug, 5. "Iris wine-red; naked sldn around the eye, f uich wide, yellow; beak olive-green, tipped with yellow. I am positive that I heard this bird in St. Vincent, but only once, and did not obtain, or even fairly see it. Its cry is peculiar, and once heard could not be mistaken. Itresem- 268 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. bles the cry of the Wliippoorwill in the moruiug, just as it utters the 'poor- will', and just preceding the final cluck. It was not a stretch of the iraagination, either, to fancy a cry like ' hoto de dew^ (as uttered by the country gentleman when saluting an acquaintance), with the stress upon deic. It has also, when alarmed or when threading a strange thicket, the soft call-note of the Thrushes, similar to that of the grive or Mountain Thrush. It inhabits the thick growth of old pastures, and seems to prefer the dark recesses beneath the overhanging trees and bushes of the hillsides on the borders of the oi)ens." 3. Mimus gilvus, Vieill. " Mocking-bu^d. "Length, S^. cayenensis.^'' 51. sterna dougalli, Mont. 52. Sterna fuliginosa, Gm. 53. Larus atricilla, Linn. "This and the preceding four species of tern breed in the smaller of the Grenadines, principally upon the southern coast." Fam. PODICIPITID^. 54. Podiceps ? "Po(Ziceps. "Not seen by me, but described with sufficient accuracy to identify it as a PodicepsP "It was greatly my desire to visit the curious volcanic lake, near the northeastern coast, which is said to be well supplied with water-fowl. Strange as it may seem, in an island black with negroes, I could get no one to transport my necessary equipments, nor could I get a horse to carry me until too late for the purpose." " The Grenadines ! " Consist of small islets and rocks forming a chain between St. Vin- cent on the north and Grenada on the south. Unlike the other islands, they are not volcanic, have little elevation, no running streams, and are rather barren. " Bequia, Mustique, Cannouan, and Carriacou are the largest, and some portions of these' islands are cultivated. The inhabitants subsist principally upon fish. Some cotton is raised; also sugar. " From their conformation and from their barrenness it will be readily seen that the birds characteristic of the larger islands cannot be found here. The Ground Dove {Chammpelia passerina) and the Turtle Dove {Zeiiaida martinicana) are very abundant, as the low scrub, with which a great part of the islands are covered, aftbrd them protection and food, while the shallow water-holes give them the little necessary drmk. 278 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. "The Blackbird {QuiscaUis lumi)iosiis) is very abundant. The Cuckoo manioc {Coccyzus minor) is also found here, as well as the Certhiola sp.?, the small Si)aiTOW [Fhonipara hicolor), the Mocking-bird {Mimus ffilvus), the Green Heron {Butondes virescens), and the Chicken Hawk [Buteo penn- sylrameus). In one of the islands, Union, the Cockrico {Ortalida ruji- cauda) has been successfully introduced, and some attemi^ts have been made with the American Quail {Ortyx Virginian us). Some of the islands are in private hands, and have been stocked ^^ith deer and goats, which, haviug become thoroughly wild, afford excellent hunting. " The sea birds frequent the small islands, and the outlying rocks of the larger, in mjTiads, where they breed. "The Little Crested Humming-bird of Grenada and St. Vincent is also found in the Grenadines." Ni:w Yoniv, December 10, 1878. OiX TIIK BBKEDBIVC: lIABIirS OF TOOK SEA-CATFISH (ABflOPSIS ITOILBEBTB?). By PKOF. N. T. ILUPTOIV. Vanderbilt Univeesity, Nashville, Tenn., February 19, 1877. Prof. Spencer F. Baird : About the middle of July, 18G8, while on a visit to Mobile, Ala., I ac- companied a party of friends on a fishing excursion to Fish IJiver, a small stream on the eastern side of Mobile Bay, some 25 miles below the city. This river near its mouth widens out, formmg Berwicks Bay, a sheet of water about three miles wide by four in length. This Ber- wicks Bay is a favorite fishing- ground, being the resort, especially after a storm in the Gulf, of immense schools of mullet. A great variety of other fish, such as the croaker, trout, redfish, &c., abound in this bay. Captain Wemyss, who owned it large saw-mill on the bank of the river, and whose hospitality we were enjoying, kindly i)roposed to show us the different kinds of fish which frequent these Avaters, and to this end furnished a large seine and the necessary force to draw it. While examining the fish my attention was called to several cat, each about 10 inches in length, which seemed to have a wonderful develop- ment of the throat. On examination, the enlargement was found to bo caused by small catfish and eggs which were carried in the mouth. From the mouth of one I took out eleven small fish, each about .an inch in length, and from another eight or nine eggs the size of a small marble, the eyes of the embryonic cat showing distinctly through the thin mem- brane enveloping the egg. , On inquiry made of several old fishermen in the neighborhood, and of a large number elsewhere, I have tailed to find one who knew anything PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 279 ■whatever of tliis liabit of the catfisli. If the observation is new, and it deserves to be placed on record, you are at liberty to vise this in any way you may deem proper. Very respectfully, ii^. T. LUPTOK ON THE OCCttJBKEIVt'E OB' STICH^US PUIVCTATUS, (FABR.) KROYEB. AT 8T. ]TflflCHAEl.'S, AILASKA. By TARJLETON H. BEAN. A single specimen of the species above named was collected June 29, 1874, at St. Michael's, Alaska, by I\Ir. Lucien M. Turner, who sent it to the United States ]Srational Musemn. The species is now apparently for the first time recorded from the coast of Northwestern North America. The total length of the specimen is 145 millimetres (o|^ inches). It has been compared with an individual of the same species from Greenland (probably from the Danish Colonies, as it was presented to the Museum by the Danish Academy), and another from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where it was taken September 4, 1877, by the United States Fish Commission, at the mouth of the harbor, in 20 fathoms of water. In order to show at a glance how the St. Michael's specimen differs fi'om the other two, the proportions of the different parts of the bodj' of all the specimens to the total length without caudal are exhibited in tabular form. The average proportions of the three individuals are given in another table, and they may serve as a basis of a description of the species. From this average the si^ecimen from St. Michael's differs in the following par- ticulars: 1. The maxillary is longer. , 2. The mandible is longer. 3. The pectoral is longer. 4. The ventral is inserted somewhat nearer the snout. In the number of anal rays, the Alaska specimen is intermediate be- tween the other two. The differences indicated fall Avithin the limits of individual variation, and in the absence of suflBcient material it is not practicable to separate tlic St. Michael's example from the other two, even as a variety. SticJucus pnnctatus is recorded from tlie coast of Greenland (Danish Colonies?), Newfoundland, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. Michael's, Alaska. 280 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Tabic of Measurements. Carrent number of specimen. Ideality St. Michael'i Alaska. MUli- motres. lOOthsof lonsth. 4,588. Greenland. Extreme length (without caudal) Length to end of middle caudal rays . Body: Greatest height Height at veutrals Least height of tail Head: Greatest length Greatest width Width of interorbital area Length of snout Length of upi)er jaw Length of mandible Distance from suout to centre of orbit; Diameter of orbit Dorsal: Distance from snout Length of base Anal: Distance from snout Length of base Caodal : Length of middle rays Pectorai': Distance from snout Length Ventral : Distance from snout Length Branchiostegals - Dorsal Anal Caudal Pectoral "Ventral 125 145 VI 48 35 21 15 3 t5>J in.) 17 12 7 10 -i 6 8 10 8 5 45i 54 18 19 n Milli- metres. 101 117 VI 50 37 22 15 3 lOOths of length. 13 12 7 21 10 2i 6i 5 22i 16 21,068. Halifax. Milli- metres. 160 18J VE 48 33 lOOths of length. 16i 13 H 20i 80" 22J 16i 23 64 Table of Proportions. Number of specimen Locality Length of head in total length without caudal (times) Interorbital area in total length without caudal (times) Snout in total Icunth witliout caudal (times) Upper jaw iu tot;il lin^tli without caudal (times) Mandible iu total length without caudal (times) ' Distance of dorsal from snout in total length without caudal (times^ Base of dorsal in total length without caudal (times) Distance of anal fioni snout in total length without caudal (times) Base of anal in total length without caudal (times) Distance of pectoral from snout in total length without caudal (times) Length of pectoral in total length without caudal (timcs> Distance of ventral from snout in total length without caudal (times) Length of ventral in total length without caudal (times) Bi-anchiostegnls -. Dorsal rays Anal rays Caudal rays Pectoral rays Ventral rays 4,588. Greenland. 4.76 .40 17.65 15. 38 .12 4.55 1.25 2.17 1.82 4.44 6.25 4.76 12. 50 VI .^0 37 22 15 3 21,718. St.Michael's. 4. 55 .40 16.07 12. 50 . .10 4.76 1.28 2.20 1.85 4. 65 5. 55 5.20 13.33 VI 48 35 21 15 3 21,068. Halifax. 4. 55 .50 16.67 14.29 .11 4.88 L25 2.13 1.85 4.44 6.06 4.35 1.5. 38 VI 48 3.J Impeifect. 15 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 281 AVERAGE OF THE SPECIMENS. Length of head in total length without caudal (times) 4.62 luterorbital area in total length without caudal (times) 43 Snout in total length without caudal (times) 17 Upper jaw in total length without caudal (times) 14. 05 Mandible in total length Avithout caudal (times) - 11 Distance of dorsal from snout in total length without caudal (times) 4. 73 Base of dorsal in total length without caudal (times) 1. 26 Distance of anal from snout in total length without caudal (times) 2. 17 Base of anal in total length withoiit caudal (times) 1.84 Distance of pectoral from snout in total length without caudal (times) 4. 51 , Length of pectoral in total length without caudal (times) 5. 95 Distance of ventral from snout in total length without caudal (times) 4. 79 Length of ventral in total length without caudal (times) 13. 74 Branchiostegals VI Dorsal rays 48-50 Anal rays 33-37 Caudal rays 21-22 Pectoral rays 15 Ventral rays 3 U. S. Natioxal Museum, Washington, December 4, 1878. KEB'OUTT O.'V THE I^IMB»ETS AIV13 CMSTON.S OF THE ABLiASKAIV AIVO AKCTUt; KEGBOIVS, "WQTH I5E(^CBIIff»TII©^S ©IF GEIVEKA AlVD SPE- CIE.^ BELiUEVED TO BE IVEW. By ^W, IS. DAJLL. The followiug report has been drawn up chiefly from material collected in Alaska from 1865 to 1874 inclusive, but includes references to the few Arctic or northern species which are not common to Alaskan waters. The northwest coast of America, which I have already stated I have reason to think is the original center of distribution for the group of Doeo- glossa, at least of the littoral forms, is unquestionably the richest field where these animals may be found. This is true not only in regard to the number of species, but also in regard to the number of peculiar and remarkable forms of genera and subgenera ; in one sense, the develoi^e- ment and specialization of the soft parts, even at the expense of the shelly envelope, is a test of relative rank in restricted groups. Hence it may not be erroneous to regard the gigantic Gryptocliiton as represent- ing the highest developement of the grouj), though belonging in the section of Irregular Chitons; especially as paleontological evidence shows part of the section of Regular Chitons to represent the Chitons of paleozoic times and embryonic structure. As was pointed out in my previous iJajier on the phylogeny of the Docoglossa, the embryonic types, represented by Lepeta and Cryptobrancliia among the Limpets, are represented on the N. W. coast by a larger number of species and by larger individuals than in any other region ; so the embryonic t;y7)es of Ghitonidcc in the same district are here to be found more largely repre- 282 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. sented in species and by larger individual species than anywhere else in the world. That this is also true of other groups of Mollusca, such as the Fissurellidcc, TrocMdce, SaUoUdw, Buccinidce, and others, I hope here- after to be able to show conclusively. Since I have elsewhere* treated in considerable detail the Limpets of the northwest coast of America, I shall here present only a list of the species with such additional material as six years' study and collections have brought to hand, and reserve for the Chitons a more detailed ac- count. This is the more desirable, since this group has been very gen- •erally neglected, and even the most modern descriptions often fail to give those details by which a species can be assigned a place among its proper associates. Had the late Dr. Carpenter survived, the report on this groiip would have been delegated to his more able hands ; the material i)assed for a time into his possession, but his premature demise came to pass before anything except the identification of the already known species and some correspondence on the general subject had been accomj^lished. For sufficient reasons, it is not to be hoped that his materials for a mono- graph of the group, as a whole, will be published for some time, and I have therefore been authorized to use some extracts from his MSS. which have a direct bearing on the i^articular species here referred to. I have in all cases followed him in framing descriptions of species, and have quoted his original descriptions (giving due credit) where it was practicable. Eesearch into several undecided questions has resulted in decisions in several cases different from those he had anticipated ; but in which conclusions, from my intercourse with him, I have no doubt he would have eventually coincided, had he lived to follow out the investi- gations he began. The caution, in assigning values to the higher divisions of this singu- lar group, which was exercised by Dr. Carpenter, has been fully justified, and it does not seem that our knowledge of them is yet sufficiently com- plete to authorize definite conclusions. Examination of the radula, heretofore almost wholly neglected, emphasizes the necessity of con- tinued caution. The numerous characters presented by the insertion- plates, the characters of the girdle, branchiiie, sexual organs, develope- ment, radula, and the presence or absence of pores on the upper sur- face, are apparently interchangeable to a greater extent than would be supposed. In this sense they present a remarkably homogeneous group, lu spite of numerous important and peculiar features, their position, as a subdivision of the Gasteropotlous Mollusca, appears to me to be defi- nitely settled beyond any reasonable question. By very numerous charaaters, their continued association in the neighborhood of the Lim- pets as their nearest (if still somewhat distant) relatives appears to me to be assured, and requires only some knowledge of the embryology of *"0u the Limpets," &c., Am. Journ. of Coueliology, vi, pp. 228-282, pi. 14-17, April, 1871. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 283 Limpets to be placed on a definite footing. That any classification founded on single characters, or a small proportion of characters, may result unfavorably to this view, I am not prepared to deny ; but what- ever advantages such a method may present, it is not one which appears worthy of the name of philosophical treatment, or likely to endure as our knowledge becomes more definite and extended. It is not yet certain how far tlie indications of the dentition may be relied on in this group, as will presently be shown. Whether, as in the implacental mammalia, the teeth will prove an insecure basis for gener- alization beyond genera, or whether a classification b;ised upon them will present a more favorable aspect when a larger number of species have been examined, it is yet impossible to say. What is known pre- sents some anomalies to which the key is at present wanting. So far as investigation has proceeded, greater weight seems due to the charac- ter of the shelly plates than to any other single feature, and the tenta- tive classification of Dr. Carpenter is in this way justified. Any division of the group into families seems i)remature without more light. The genera and subgenera are, in most cases, reasonably sm'e on their founda- tions; but on an examination of the dentition, such as is contemplated by ])r. Troschel, and is urgently needed, much will depend. But until this has been made very full and thorough, it is to be hoped that generic distinctions based on the teeth alone may be suspended, or at least left without names. A sketch of the outlines of Dr. Carpenter's classification will not be out of i)lace here, but is best preceded by an explanation of certain terms used in description. In all Chitons with exposed valves, the seven posterior valves are divided more or less jilainly by lines radiating from the apex to the opposite anterior edge. The sculpture of the posterior triangular areas {arece laterales) thus cut off" is almost uniformly like that of the whole anterior valve and the part behind the apex {mucro) of the posterior valve. The central or anterior triangles {arece centrales) are sculptured alike, but generally in a different pattern from the sides. The arew la- terales are usually raised a little above the rest. It is very rare that the bounding diagonal lines cannot be traced, and they usually correspond to the slit in the side-lamincc of insertion, which project into the zone or girdle, and are free from the peculiar porous superficial layer character- istic of the exposed test in the whole group of Chitons. This sui^er- ficial layer usually projects over the anterior and posterior laminae of insertion or teeth {denies) in the first and last valves, forming what Dr. Carpenter terms the ' eaves' {suhgrundw). These may exhibit the spongy character of the layer of which they are formed, or may be varnished over at their edges with a thin layer of true shelly matter, as in the Ischnoid group. In the t;sTical Chitons they are short, lea\iug the teeth projecting; in the Mopaloids they are hardly developed, and in some groups they quite overshadow the teeth. 284 TEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. In many genera there is a small portion of peculiar scnlptiire marked off along the ridge of the median line of the back. This is the area jugali, and corresponds to the simis or space between the inner termina- tions of the two anterior sutural lamimc which pass forward from each of the posterior seven valves under the valve in front. The sutural laminae are also destitute of the porous layer. The sinus is either open, A. B. Fig. a. — Chiton olivaceus Sowerby. A, anterior, B, middle, and C, posterior valve, seen from outside; D, E, F, the same valves, from within; g, sinus jiigali, between the two anterior sutural lamin* ; 1i, h, denies, or teeth between the notches or slits in the laminaj of ins:^rtion; j, &, slits in lamina of insertion; I, outer end of line separa- ting the area lateralis of the middle valve from the area centralis ; m, end of the line separating the central area of the tail-plate from the posterior portion ; the angulation of this line in the median line of the animal forms the mucro. Fig. B. — Enoplochifon niger Barnes. — A, anterior valve from above, showing the lam- inae of insertion and notches; B, the middle valve, from above ; g, sinmjiigaH, in front of the jugum, or area jugali, and between the two sutui-al lamimc; i, I, notches between the sutural and iusertional laminie, and formiug the ends of the line forming the an- terior border of the lateral and posterior border of the central areas; C, tail-plate; g, sinus jugali ; m, end of line separating the areas; D, anterior valve, from within, showing teeth (7i, h) and notches of lamina of insertion; E, middle valve, from within ; g, jugal sinus, between the sutm-al laminai ; t, notch, between sutural lamiuu and side-lamina of insertion. or part of the jugular area projects forward between the sutural lamintie, forming a false apex; or a keystone-like piece, either solid, or fimbriated like the teeth of a comb, may exist between the lamin?e and partly fill the sinus. The sinus posticus is the wave, notcli, or indentation which in some genera is found in the posterior edge of the posterior valve. In PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 285 ROino of the Irregular Chitons, posterior sutural lamincc are found, but these are very exceptional. In the vast majority of genera, the side-laminse of insertion have only one slit on each side of the valve; occasionally a valve may be abnormal in a regular species, and the number of slits in the anterior and posterior valves may vary within moderate limits. The girdle {zona), which is distinct from the true mantle, is variously ornamented with scales, bristles, spines, down, or hau's, either singly or combined, which exhibit most beautiful forms tolerably constant in generic groups, and worthy of a special and exhaustive research.* These may be solid or hollow, shelly or keratose, single or combined in bunches, and in some forms are hollow and aunulated, precisely like the setse of Brachiopods. In certain genera they issue from pores, usually at the wutures, and these pores have a certain value as a systematic character, but much less than has been assigned to them by some authors. The Chitons in the adult condition are destitute of eyes or tentacles, and exhibit evidences of degradation anteriorly. The anus is always median and posterior; on each side of it are the sexual openings or fcnestrcc. These may open by several slits or pores directly into the perivisceral cavity, or form the aperture of a sexual duct. The gills, as pointed out by me in 1871, are composed of a row of branchiie, starting froln near the tail, extending a third {])ostic(v), half {))icdiw), or all the way (amhientes) toward the head, each leaflet of which corresponds to a whole branchial plume, such as is found in Acmcva. Each single gill is conical, with the lamellaj projecting inward, somewhat resembling in outline the shell of Carinaria. The mantle, inside the coriaceous mar- gin of the girdle, often forms a lamina or fringe. A lappet called the ' veil' generally surrounds the front of the rostrum, which has some- times a double veil. The muzzle is semicircular, usually plain, and ex- hibits a tendency to form a lobe at the two posterior corners. The radula is always present. Like the Limpets, Chitons possess a lami- nated crop before the true stomach. The nervous system, beautifully worked out by Brandt t in a jiaper singularly overlooked by most writ- ers, is also comparable with that of Patella vulgata (simultaneously examined and flgiired), though by no means identical. The cephalic ganglia appear to be suppressed, forming another evidence of the degen- eration or want of developement of the cephalic region in this gToup. A valuable paper by Dr. II. von Ihering of Erlangen, I have not yet had access to, but understand that it contains a description of the ner- vous system of Chitons. | *Cf. Reiucke, Beitr. zur Bilduiigsges. der Stacbelu, ii. s. w.; Zeitschr. fiir Wiss. Zool. 1858. tSt. Petersb. Imp. Acad. Soi. M61anges Biolog. vii, p. 14G, f. 2, 1838, Acanthochiton fiiscicularis. t Siuce this paper was written, I have been kindly furnislied by Dr. v. Ihering with copies of his extremely impox'taut work on the ''Anatomy of the Nervons System and the Phylogeny of the Mollnsca," and two valuable papers concerning the Chitonldce 286 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Since (inferences exist between the results obtained, in working- out the nervous system of Chiton, by different naturalists, it is thought best (from Gcgeub. Morijh. Zeitsclir. iv, April, 1877), and tlieir alli(>s. lu the lir.st-iiieu- tiouecl work, the author comes to somewhat different conchisious from Brandt in regard to the details of the nervous system, both in Chiton (cinercus) and FatcUa vulgata, though the differences are not so fundamental as a Urst glance at the somewhat dia- grammatic figures might suggest. In the "Anatomy " the author considers as a sep;.- rate phylum {Amjjhineura) the Chitons, together with Xeomenia {Solenojjus Sars) and Chcetcderma, placing them uuder Vermes, Avhile the Docoglossa and most of the Proso- branchiate MoUusks form the third phylum {Arthrocochlides Ihr.) of the Mollusca. In the later paper on Neomenia, «&c., Iherlng seems disposed to concede a more intimate relation between the Fissurellidce and Limpets on the one hand and the Chitonida' ou the other. His figures would indicate a more near relation between Fissurella and Chiton than between the latter and Patella, so far as the nervous system goes. IL must bo borne in mind, while considering his difl'erences with Brandt in regard to Chiton, that the species examined by Ihering, Traclujdermon cincreiis Lowe, is one of the lower forms of Chitonida;, closely related to the lowest existing genus, Lcptocliiton ; while that dissocted by Brandt belongs to the higher of the two great groups^ of Fohj- placiphora. It would be natural, therefore, that the nervous system of the former should more nearly resemble the wormlike forms from which, the Chitons may have come out. and that the latter should be closer to the Limpets, which, though less specialized, I can hardly doubt sprang from the same original stock. It is also within the bounds of probability that in the details of the nervous system, as in all other details, the characteristic variability (within certain limits) of the group of Chiionidw may assert itself. . I caimot refrain from expressing, here, my conviction that there are at least two points of view from which the classification of these invertebrates may be regarded in a scientific sense. The army of embryologists, to whom, in these later days, we owe so much new light, with the enthusiastic self-confidence born of successful innova- tions, as a general rule deny the existence of more than one scientific point of view. More than one of them has dogmatically asserted that science iu natural history now consists iu the study of embryology alone, and phylogenetic classifications deduced therefrom. It has been said that careful and minute anatomical investigations and histological researches based upon adult animals no longer deserve the name of sci- ence. It has even been averred that the only object of classification now is the rep- resentation in words of phylogenetic diagrams, or the derivative relations of animals according to the particular author's hypotheses. It is therefore somewhat refreshing to find tliat a school of naturalists is gradually forming, for whom anatomy as com- pared with pun* embryology has still some attractions. No one denies that a classification may be grounded exclusively upon the emliry- onic developement, and may possess a high scientific charactei-, nor that among the higher animals such a basis must form a i^rincipal part of the foundation of any scien- tific classification which, may be applied to them. But wliat seems to be lost sight of by some of those who have escaped from the liouds of the Cuvierian system, is the fact that some of the derivatives from two par- allel stocks may resemble one another more closely than specialized forms derived from the same stock ; that in the early stages of the developement of organisms before well-defined lines of .specialization for the adults had been fixed by natural selection and other factors, variations were necessarily rather the rule than the exception among the embryonic forms, even when of common origin ; that the missing stages, " abridged developement," etc., reported by most later embryologists, are, in all prob- ability, the traces of the original vacillations and accelerations of primal evolution, and that n truly idiilosophical classification must take these things into account. It must not be forgotten that we have to deal with results as well as methods, with PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 287 to reproduce here the accessible material, aud wait for more iuformatiou before considering the subject as fully decided. The figure here given, after Brandt's researches on AcanthocJiiton fas- cicularis, may be supposed to present the general features of the nervous system in the higher members of the group. The accompanying figure (C^) of part of the nervous system of Chiton Tt aLcVLvj dexrwoxv cxn-fcxeu s Fig. C. — PBC, pedo-braucliial commissure ; NB, nervi brancliiales ; XP, nervi pedales ; nl, nervi labialea, small filaments numerous and hardly traceable; ns, nervi pharyng. superiores; (jpv, ganglia pedo-visceralia sen pedo-brancbialia; iapc, inter-anterio- pliaryng. commissure ; ijypc, inter-]3edo-pharyngial commissure ; Ajyp, anterior interior pliaryngial ganglia; aijyc, anterior inferior iiharjTigial commissure; j^Wj posterior ditto; (/r, ganglia vascularia, resting on hv, a blood-vessel (the small commissure sep- arating these ganglia is called by Brandt the intcrvascular commissure); sj), anterior superior pliaryngial ganglia ; Psjy, posterior superior pharyngial ganglia ; x, superior posterior post-pharyngial ganglion ; z, anterior superior i^haryugial commissure ; Isp, inter superior pharyngial commissure ; oo, anterior inferior pharyngial nerves ; p]), posterior ditto. termini as well as routes, with adults rather than embryos. We do not live in a world of embryos alone, in any but the most metaphysical sense. We cannot learn the rela- tions of animals, as they are, to each other from the embryological phylum alone, any more than we could understand the nations of modern Europe and their political boundaries from a map of the Aryan migrations. To apply this reasoning to the matter in hand in detail would reqiiire much more space and time than are at present available. Yet it may be said that we have high authority for considering that the mollnsks and worms are derived fi'om a common origin, and that, in fact, the former derive their characteristic features from the ten- dency to specialization and developement within the compass of a single segment, or a very small number of segments, while the worms ai'c characterized rather by redupli- cation of more simple segmental parts in great numb^r, but small variety among them- selves. Various groups of mollusks may owe their greater or less i>articipation in fea- \ 288 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MQSEUM. {Trachydermon) cinereus is from Iliering. It will be seen tliat there are eomparatively few importaut differences between the two; the pedal commissures {npc); the separation of the ganglia 42^2^ fi'om close con- nection with the anterior (/«^f) and posterior {pipe) loops; the larger and more conspicuous buccal ganglia {8p) and the less complete coales- cence of the strands forming the pedo-branchial commissure (PBC) are the most conspicuous features. Further research is required to deter- mine how much of these differences is due to the diagrammatic character of the figures, and how much to the systematic difference between Tra- chydermon and Acanthochiton. The nervous system of Acantliochiton fascieularis chiefly consist's of two large angular gangha bound together by a large flat commissure. These two principal gangha, which lie on the sides of the buccal mass, may be taken as a consolidation of the ganglia pedalia and the (janglia hranchialia sen visceraUa ; thence springs out a nervus pedalis, which supplies the foot and muscles with minute rami on each side of the nerve; also a nervus hranchialis, which i)asses along a furrow on the inner edge of the mantle, giving out secondary rami to the branchiii'. The cerebral ganglia, are wanting, unless we consider with Middendorf that they form i)art of the pedo-branchial commissure. Brandt objects to this view on the ground that the commissure throughout its whole breadth is similarly formed and gives out similar nerves; namely, ncrvi lahiales from in front, and a multitude of minute nerves to the pharynx behind. As Chitons have in the adult condition neither eyes nor tenta- cles, so the absence of these ganglia (from which in othpr forms nerves are given out to those two organs only) seems very natural. This com- missure may also be called tlie pedo-branchialis, and it may correspond with the commissura cerebralis, from which similar nerves have been demonstrated to spring. This commissure also presents resemblances to the nerves and gangha of the stomato-gastric system, common to many gasteropods, m its intense yellow color. A commissure binds each pedo-branchial ganglion with a little inferior pharyngial ganglion, and the same also connects these inferior i)haryngial ganglia with one another by an inferior interpharyngial commissure (as in Patella vidgata, lures, generally more characteristic of Annulosa, from the difterent times ut ■which they started from the common stock on an independent career of specialization. All this in no wise authorizes the combination in one group of worm-like mollusks and molluscoid worms. The Avriter has persistently oi)j)osed such ill-considered con- glomerations as wholly unphilosophical.. Even were there embry(dogical identity, which no one has claimed, such a course seems to him to indicate an ignorance of the meaning of terms in systematic nomenclature, or the confounding of the two starting points for classification, to which allusion has been made. He will even venture to predict that when the anatomy and developement of two hundred, instead of two, species of Chitons and Limpets, are worked out, a single phylum will express tlunv relations to the worms, to each other, and to the other true gasteropods ; and to assert that, in his opinion, nothing is so likely to conduce to this simiilification than th(^ continuation and amiditication of the really admirable work upon which Dr. v. Ihering and others have of late been engaged. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 289 ill which also it is bow-shaped, with the concavity forward), and through still another commissure with the two upper pharyngial ganglia. From each inferior i)haryngicil ganglion, a long, thin conmiissure ex- tends, binding it with a large subovate ganghon, which maj' be called the posterior inferior pharyngial ganglion; and the others must then take the name of the anterior inferior pharyngial ganglia. The two former are connected by a little arched commissure, and lie behind the aorta. From the anterior inferior pharyngial ganglia three pairs of nerves proceed before and one behind the buccal muscle. The anterior superior pharyngial ganglia are connected by five commissures with each other and other ganglia. From the superior anterior pharyngial •ranglia proceed two small nerves for the u^jper buccal muscles. The posterior superior pharyngial ganglion sends out a small nerve to the upper lateral buccal muscle, and from the superior posterior post- l)haryngial two small nerves are traceable to the radula. Circulation. — Oiu" knowledge of this is due to Middendorf, to whose ponderous and not very satisfactory monograph of Cryptochiton BtelLcH the student is referred. More light is needed on this subject. Sexual Organs. — The Chitonidcu are of two sexes, wherever they have been examined by the writer, and the number of forms which has passed under review is so large that there can be no doubt this is the rule throughout the group.* The histological characters of the male and I'emale gland resemble those of the Limpets, at least in general appear- ance. The most superficial obser\'er can separate the sexes when the characters have once been called to his notice. It is true that Midden- dorf found, or believed he found, spermatozoa in the ovisac of Chiton {Synijuetrogcphyrus) Pallasii, but this may be accounted for in another way; and I may say, definitely, that I have examined both males and females of that species. The glands of both sexes open on each side of the anus, in some species quite close to the latter, in others much further forward and in advance of the most i)osterior branchiae. The opening may be a simple i>ore or small aperture forming the termination of a sexual duct, or it may consist of what I have termed a fenestra, or elongated slit, crossed by several bands of tissue, so that there may seem to be from two to seven oblique slits, each extending partly behind the front end of the slit behind it. In these cases, I have not be&n able to determine the existence of a continuous oviduct, and am inclined to believe that the ova may pass from the oviduct into. the perivisceral cavity, and from thence, through the feuestrae, reach the exterior. The ovisac and spermsac slth more or less convoluted and asymme- trical. They are probably the result of fusion of two original glands in the median line, if, indeed, they are not partly separated in some spe- cies, as seemed in one or two instances to be the case. The ducts, when- carefully examined, are seen to spring from the anterior abdominal side of the sac, not from the posterior end. * Dr. V. Iheriiig arrives at the same conolusiou. Proc. Xat. Mus. 78 19 Feb. 13, 1879. 290 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Clark observed tlie egp:s being ejected in a sort of stream from the openings into the water and settling in loose clusters on adjacent objects. Yerrill and Carpenter have conlirmed these observations, and add that the hinder part of the foot is so raised as to form a sort of funnel, out of which the eggs emerge. But these eggs, in some cases at least, are already imi)regnated, and somevfhat far advanced in developement before they leave the oviduct. I have myself observed, in several individuals^ Avhich had been some years in spirit, eggs developed as far as the first utage figured (47fl), which had never left the ovisac. In this connection it may be observed that, if the sperma be ejected into the water, there is nothing to prevent the spermatozoids from entering the wide aper- tures of the fenestrne (in some species at least), and thus impregnating the eggs in the ovary. In this way may be explained the presence of spermatozoa in the female Chiton PaUasii noted by Middendorf. In some species with very small ovarian openings, this internal impregna tion would be attended with more difficulty. In some species, a large so-called ''slime gland" is present, lying under the middle line of the ovisac. Gray states that in some Chitoms the egg is enfolded in a thick, vesicular, folded envelope, but I did not notice anything of the kind in those I examined. I observed no microi)yle, but having only specimens hardened hj long immersion in spirits these observations cannot be deemed conclusive. In all the species specially examined to determine the character of the ova, the eggs were spherical, with a rather tough skin, quite smooth, with no trace of lime in it, and apparently in no way attached to the walls of the ovary when ripe.* BeveJopement. — "Nothing later than the brief but admirable researches of Loven, now thirty years old, has come to hand. His figures are here reproduced, with a summary of what has been observed, to stimulate further enquiry in tliose favorably situated. The Chitons difier from most Mollusks in that the shell does not appear on the embryo until some time after they are hatched. In this connec- tion, the observations of Krohn on MarsenUdw may be referred to. The embryo of Chiton dnercus is oval, with no trace of shelly valves Ot deiu'essions for them, and is divided into two nearly equal parts by a transverse depression, the margins of which are ciliated. On the middle of the up])er part is a tuft of filaments which move slightly. At each end of the depression are two dark points, representing the eyes. The yonng when hatched (Fig. 47 h, c) become more elongated, tlie iront part is finely ciliated, aiul the tuft occasionally vibrates. The hinder part extends more rapidly and becomes conic. The back is marked by seven furrows ; between these the first rudiments of the shelly * Dr. V. Iheriiig describes the egg of C. squamosus as covered ^vitll peculiar thorns, five-eided solid cohimns, expanding at tlie distal end into a cnp whose edge is cut into five iioiuts. C. Cajctamta and fnscicularls had eggs (tovered with a grooved and irregu- larly furrowed niembrane, as described by Gray, but without thorns. The vesicular membrane thus may be considered as a chorion. In tho immature stages, the eggs are enclosed in follicles of the tissues of tho ovisac. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 291 valves make their appearance in the form of fine .2:rannlations, Soon after tliis, the animal can cra\yl as well as swim, and the mantle becomes sei^arated from the foot by an indentation. The eyes are placed on the ventral side, and hardly visible from above. The upper anterior part of the animal is marked with acute tubercles. The month is not yet visible. The valves first aj)pear in the form of seven narrow bands with irregular margins; the tuft disajipears. The head and mouth then develoi)e (Fig. 47 e). The eyes are on distinct lateral protuberances. No gills have ai>peared. The mantle and front valve advance over the head (Fig. -47 /) and eyes; the tuberculated area in front of the valves is gradually diminished, and the tail-i)late apjiears behind the seventh. Tlie valves are at first irregular, but increase from below, and deep notches, persistent in the adult, are formed on the front edges, one on each side. It will be seen that the valves are formed each in one i)iece, and not by the coalescence of parts corresponding to the various areas of the adult valve. There are eight valves in all Chitons, though mon- sters with seven valves have been occasionally reported ; they lack the horny jaw possessed by Limpets. Bemd Organs. — Middendorf indicated the existence of a renal organ in the delicate glandular structure which in some species covers the up- per posterior surface of the foot below the viscera. This does not seem to be uniformly present; at least, I did not detect it in some cases, and I failed to find any excretory opening. It is probable that this exists, but tlie contraction of the tissues of my specimens by alcohol may liave obliterated it.* Schitf in C. piceus did not detect any renal organ, anil unless in an abortive condition it seems j)robable that it is not always l)resent. Dentition. — The dentition of the Chitons has received hardly any at- tention. The only figures which have been given, so far as known to me, are those of ('. kvriti and C ei)tcreuH by Lovent in his original i)apei', ■the latter of which has been copied by Gray;| a figure, intended to rep- resent the radula of C. Stellcri, by Middendorf; § of 0. piceus by Schiff;i| of "0. marmoratus''^ by Eberhard;<|| and a figure of Chitonellus sp. by Gray. I Of all these only the figure of Loven possesses any value, the others being more or less erroneous, or conveying an erroneous imi)reH- sion. Even the number of teeth is not correctly represented by any one but Loven. On the basis of the teeth, the Chitons were combined with the Dentalia and Limpets in the order Docofflossa by Troschel, a proceeding justified by that single character; for the characteristics of * Dr. V. Ihering has succeeded in fiudhig an oriUce immediately below the anus, in some species. tOfv. K. V. Akad. Forh. June 9, 1847, t. 6. t Guide to Brit. Mus. 1857, pp. 182, 187. ^ Bcitr. Mai. Ross, i, pi. iii, f. 11, 1847. ^ II Zeitschr. Wiss. Zool. ix, pi. ii, Beitr. zur Anat. v. Chiton picciis. ^Programm Herz. Eealschule zu Coi)urg, 1865, f. 77. (Since the above was written, Prof. Sars has figured the dentition of several species. ) 292 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. the teetli in composition and general form (though not in nuiaber) are somewhat similar to one another and differ from all other groups much more than they differ among themselves. But other characters of greater importance seem to turn the scale unequivocally in favor of a somewhat wide separation of these groups, and the term Docoglossa was adopted by the writer some years since for the order containing the Limpets alone. The teeth agree in number antl in general character in all the genera and subgenera of Chitons which I have been able to examine; compris- ing about half of the groups recognized by the late Dr. Carpenter. No large groui) of genera or subgenera remains of which some form has not been studied. Hence we may reasonably infer, until the contrary is proved, that all the genera agree in the most essential characters of the dentition. Some doubt exists in my own mind as to the proper distri- bution of the eight side-teeth into true laterals and uncinals, since the fifth from the centre is constantly spatulate, yet separated from the cuspid teeth by two boss-like or non-cuspidate teeth resemblhig uncini. The formula therefore may be read either as 1 11 or 3_l_l_|_2 + 2x2 + 2+l + 3' 3 + 5x5 + 3'" c+2x2 + (3' The most natural division is into six uncinal and two true laterals. For convenience in description, I shall term the spatulate third uncinus the major uncinus^ the second lateral the major, and the first the minor lateral. The "inner" side of a tooth is that toward the middle line of the radula. In all Chitons examined, there is a simply cuspid rhachidian tooth, and on each side a translucent minor lateral of varying form ; a major lateral larger than any of the other teeth with a conspicuous black cusp, which may have from one to four denticles ; two boss-like or thick- ened uncinal plates of irregular shape; a twisted spatulate uncinal and three scale-like or slightly thickened external uncini. AVith the excep- tion of the spatulate uncinus (which is abortive in a very few species), none of the uncini are much raised above the i^lane of the odontophore, and none i^resent any characters of importance. The characters of the other teeth, though preserving a tolerable uniformity within the partic- ular subgenera, so far as observed are rather variable within a certain narrow range, and on the whole it would be premature to say that they offer more than specific distinctions. The absence of any well-marked types by which the order might bo divided into families, or even subfamilies, is very remarkable, and in this respect the variations of the dentition agree with the other charac- ters of shell-plates, girdle, and internal structure. This has already been remarked as regards the girdle and shell by Dr. Carpenter, Avho recog- nized that even his chief divisions of the order into Eegular and Irreg- ular Chitons failed to posssess distinct family value. The only other dental fonnula which recalls in any degree that of Chi- tonidiu is that of IViopa. lacer as figured by Gray in his Guide. PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 293 The teeth of the Chitons are excessively difficult objects to make ont, though some of the species are quite large. The teeth project strongly from the odontophore, so that only a small ijortion of any one tooth can be had in focus at one time. Moreover, they overlie one another to such an extent that part of them, especially the two inner uncini, are hidden from view. The radula has to be pulled to pieces, to get at tlie form of the individual teeth. They will, like the teeth of Limi^ets, disintegrate under i)rolonged boiling in liquor potassce^ so that it is difldcult to clean the radula from adherent mucus or remains of food. The teeth on the anterior edge of the radula are always worn or broken by usej those at its x^osterior termination are of course immature and pulpy ; the scaly uncini ditfer slightly in form with age. The rhachidian tooth is usually more or less embraced by the wings of the minor laterals, so that it aiJ- pears as if set on a plate or in an open box, and must be disentangled before its form can be made out. In these descriptions, the front of a tooth is taken to be the side oi)po- site to that by which it is attached to the radula. The figures of denti- tion do not x)retend to represent the transverse rows as they appear on the unbroken radula. On the contrary, the teeth are represented dia- graumiatically as they would appear if separated from one another, yet, as nearly as i)racticable, in their relative positions. Only in this way could any idea be given of their forms and number. A series of exquisite drawings, made by one of the best zookigical draughtsmen living, for JDr. Carpenter, nearly led me into serious error, and have been totally re- jected, because they represented only what could be seen without dis- membering the radula. The diagrams given, if somewhat rude, are, it is believed, tolerably reliable, and the result of a surprising amount of work, considermg then- small number. The rhachidian tooth, as has been stated, always has a simi)le cusp, which may possess a somewhat sinuous edge or a tendency to a median sinus. The i^oiuts by w^hich it is attached to the odontophore are darker than the rest, and, seen through the translucent shaft, modify its appear- ance. A. side view of the tooth generally presents an S shape, and it usually projects from the surface of the radula in a consiucuous manner. Tlie shaft and base have not been observed to present any ornamentation. The minor laterals ju'esent many modifications of form which may be referred to one type fundamentally. They consist of two parts, a shaft, and wings bearing the same relation to the shaft that the sides of a leaf do to its midrib. One or both of the wings may be almost abortive, leaving only the shaft twisted into a cusp at its apex, or the edges of the wings may be bent over into a cusp at the top of the tooth, and a small i^rocess like a bud or button is thus sometimes formed on the outer upper angle of the tooth. The most common form is that where the teeth are somewhat leaf-shaped, with both wings i^artly developed. The outer wing aborts before the inner one. These wings meet the midrib at an angle with each other, and this au^i^le is sometimes less than a right angle. 294 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Usually, the two inner wings nearly meet one another behind the ihachi- dian tooth, while the two outer ones extend toward each other before the rhachidian tooth. In the unbroken radula, the rhachidian teeth each seem as if enclosed or fenced in by this arrangement of the two adjacent laterals. The major laterals show fewer modifications. They are always the largest and most prominent teeth on the radula. They consist of a recumbent shaft, which is partly hollow or excavated behind, crowned by a cusp whose opaque consistently contrasts strongly with the brown translucent shaft and other teeth. This cusp is usually black, or yellow- ish with a black margin. In some species, a pecuUar areolated spot is visible on the margin, and this may exist in some species in which I have not figured it, as it is difficult to observe except with a very strong re- flected Ught. It does not appear to mark a pore or indentation, but from its constant occurrence in some species must have a certain significance. The cusp may be rounded, or ovate, or elongated and simple, or it may be divided into two, three, or four denticles of uniform or varying size- The value of these characters cannot yet be definitely stated ; they can hardly yet be said to present more than specific value, so far as the num- ber of cusps is concerned, yet the general featuies agree, for the most I)art, in the same or nearly related groups. In Lcptochitonj the cusp is greatly elongated, with a small secondary denticle on the inner side, which is abruptly turned up, and, on an ordinary view, resembles a spur or thorn set on the principal cusp. In general, the northern species show a tcmdency to elongated cusps, simple or divided ; the tropical species, including the typical Chitons, a tendency to a rounded, simple cusp. The majority of aU species, however, have a tridentate cusp. The shaft and cusp are separated by a distinct line of demarcation where the color changes from black or opaque to translucent. The shaft talkers from the cusp to the lower extremity, which is usually a little expanded. Extending downward from the base of the cusp, the groove or tube in the back part of the shaft is clearly visible. There are thin expansions of the shaft on each side, and sometimes a median keel on the front of the shaft, which in several species is produced into a slender, translucent process, of lanceolate or varied form, extended somewhat inAvard (toward the rhachidian tooth) and upward toward the cusp of the tooth upon whose shaft it is borne. These processes are most strongly marked in the teeth of the typical Chitons. The two inner uuciiii, between the major lateral and the spatidate or major uncinus, are very UTegiilar in form, even on the same nidahi. They lie prone on the radula and possess no true cusps, though thickened and elevated into knobs of various form. The major uncinus rises from a very small base, which is twisted and bent under it (as if the tooth was kneeling), and has a twisted, slender shaft, which is expanded at its extremity into a spatulate or feather-formed cusp. The whole tooth PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 295 is so twisted and bent that the distal ends of the major uncini, as a rule, are protruded between the cusps of the major hiterals. In a very few species, chiefly of Cryptoidea, the shaft and cusp are abortive, leaving only the small base or knob from which they spring in other species. No very salient characters are afforded by the major uncini. The outer uncini have essentially the same characters in nearly all the species. They are flat and scale-like, their edges free and overlap- ping slightly. The outer ones forming the edge of the radula are usually more transverse than the others. In C. articulatus, they are remarkably transverselj" extended. It will be seen from this description that, except in their construction and chemical character, the teeth of Chitons are quite dissimilar to those of Limpets, or, indeed, any other described group. While not aftbrding grounds for generic distinction by itself alone, the dentition of Chitons, as far as yet investigated, confirms, in many respects, the classification adopted on other grounds by Dr. Carpenter. For instance, his separation of the northern Toniccllw from the tropical Tonicicv of Gray, with which they have usually been united, is fully justified by differences in the dentition. It is i^ossible that when the dentition of the majority of species is determined, some reformation in the limits of subordinate groups may be made i)racticable by its indica- tions, but this is not yet the case. The following list of the chief groups recognized by Dr. Carpenter, with the character of the dentition when known, will give a clue to the extent of the work done, and that which is still a desideratum. A.— REGULAR CHITONS. Leptoidea. Leptochiton Gray. (Type L. asellus Lowe.) L. cancellatHS Sby. Minor lateral reduced by abortion of the wings nearly to a simple shaft. Cusp of major lateral elongate bidentato; inner denticle much tho smallest, spur-like; shaft simple; other teeth quite simple. Fig. 1, 1 a, showing major lateral from above. X. rugatus agrees. Hanleyia Gray. (Type H. dchilis Gray.) M. mcndicaria M. & Ad. Minor lateral normal, bi-alate ; major lateral tridon- tate; major uncinus short, other uncini with thickened edges. Fig. 2. DesJiayesiella, Microjplax, and Hemiarthrtim not examined. ISCHNOIDEA. Traphydermon Cpr. (Tyjie T. cinereus Lowe.) T. ruber Lowe. Minor lateral normal, leaf-shaped, with the upper edge of tho outer wing bent over into a sort of cusp ; cusp of major lateral with one large and one small denticle on the inner side, shaft normal; major uncinus short, v.Mth a widely expanded apex with fine radiating grooves on the edge. Fig. 3; 3 a showb the major uncinus from below. T. alhiis L. Minor lateral with small wings bent backward ; shaft cusped at tho toj); major lateral bidentate, as in the case of T. ruber, but with the small denticle on the outer side; major nncinus long, spatulate. Fig. 4. Trachifradsia, Callochiton, and Stereochiton not examined. 296 PEOCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Tonicella Carpenter. (Type T. marmorea Fabr.) '' T. Uneaia Wood. Minor lateral witli a loug shaft, bi-alate, normal ; major lateral with two small denticles on the inner side of the cusp and one large outer denticle, shaft normal; major uncinus spatulate, normal. Fig. 5. T. marmorea Fabr. As in the last, but with only one small inner denticle on tho cusp of the major lateral. Fig. 6. T. submarmorea Midd. Minor lateral shaped like a jdoughshare ; other teeth much as in the last. Fig. 7. Schizoplax Dall. S. Brandtii Midd. (Type.) Minor lateral a broad shaft with a simple cusp, base with a groove or sinus, no wings; major lateral tridcntate. Fig. 8. Leptoplax not examined. Chaetopleura Shuttleworth. (Type C. Peruviana Lam.) C. (jemmaC\>v. Ehachidiau tooth broad and short; minor lateral normal, outer wing inconspicuous; major lateral tridentate, shaft keeled, keel with a small elon- gate cuspidate process. Fig. 9. ? C. Hartmegii Cpr. Minor lateral reduced to a broad cusped shaft with a remnant of an inner wing and a thickened base; major lateral tridentate, with no keel or pro- cess, shaft normal. Fig. 10. Maugerella Cpr. M. conspicua Cpr. (Type. ) Minor lateral bi-alafce, top of inner wing and shaft bent into a twisted cusp Avith a small process extending outward from the apex of the shaft; major lateral tridentate, shaft with a keel and cuspidate process. Fig. 11. Spongiochiton not examined. ISCHNOCHITONS. Hcterozona not examined. Stenoradsia Cpr. S. magdalenensis JlmAs,. (Type.) Shaft of minor lateral with a cusp and process, inner wing normal, outer wing inconspicuous; major lateral tridentate, with a keel and cuspidate process on the front of the shaft. Fig. 12. Stenoplax Cpr. S. limaciformis Shj. (Type.) Rhachidian tooth very small ; minor lateral normal, shaft with a minute hook at the apex; major lateral with a simple cusp, shaft bear- ing a keel and cuspidate process; major uncinus very small. Fig. 13. IschnopIa:s Cpr. /. 2)C(:tiitatu>i Sl>y. (Ty^ie.) Minor lateral with broad, stout, cusped shaft, inner wing expanded, outer wing reduced to a rudiment, with a liuguiform process; major lateral with a simple rounded cusp, shaft with a triangular keel but no i^rojecting jjrocess. Fig. 23. Ischnochiton Cpr. ex Gray. (Type /. Jomjicymlm Quoy.) /. cooperi Cpr. Minor lateral with the outer wing reduced to a button near the cusp of the shaft, inner wing small; major lateral with simple cusp, shaft Avith a keel, bearing a cuspidate process; major uncinus broad, spatulate, thicker near the edges. Fig. 1.5. /. inlerstinctus Gld. Minor lateral composed of a shaft with large, twisted, hooked cusp, and possessing only slight rudiments of wings; major lateral tridentate, keeled on tho shaft, with a si)atulate process on the keel; uncini rugose, major uncinus sharply bent, strengthened by narrow ridges on the spatulate cusp. Fig. 16. J. regularis Cpr. Teeth closely resembling those of I. Cooperi, but nunor lateral with a small outer wing. Fijj. 14. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 297 Ischnoradsia Cpr. nou Shuttleworth. /. trifida Cpr. Minor lateral witla no outer wing, but a small process near the apex of tlie shaft, which may represent it; inner wing normal; major lateral shaft normal, cusp bidentate, with a spot behind the notch (Fig. 17«); uuciui rugose, normal. Fig. 17. Lepidopleurus Cpr. nou Risso. L. MertcnsU JNIidd. Minor lateral with no outer wing; shaft cusped at apex, inner wing normal; major lateral with a simple cusp, shaft normal, deeply channelled behind. Fig. 18. Fig. IS a shows the appearance of the minor laterals and their wings extending behind the rhachidian tooth as they do when in their natural posi- tion. Lepidoradsia Cpr. {Lopliyrus pars Adams.) X. australis Sby. Minor lateral with a singular mushroom-like cusp with rudi- ment of inner and no outer wing; major lateral bidentate, shaft keeled ^yith spatu- late process; major uncinus short, broad, other uncini rather small. Fig. 19. Callistochiton Cpr. C. palmulatus Cpr. Minor lateral with a narrow inner wing parallel with and no wider than the shaft, cusped at the top, outer wing absent or represented by a minute cuspidate process; major lateral with a simple cusp, shaft with an anterior keel bearing a sublauceolate process. Fig. 20. Callisloplax, Ceratophorus, and Newconihia not examined. Pallochiton Dall (= HempliUlia Cpr. MSS. nom. praeoc.). P. lanuginosus Cpr. Minor lateral normal, bi-alate; major lateral tridentate, shaft normal. Fig. "21. LOPHYROIDEA. Chiton Cpr. Lin. not Adams. Type C. tuberculatus I>iu. (Lojihi/rus H. & A. Ad. not Poll). C. articulatm Sby. Minor lateral with no outer wing, shaft small, narrow, prone, from which extends the greatly elongated cusped inner wing external to the rha- chidian tooth ; major lateral with a simple rounded yellowish cusp with a black margin marked by a peculiar spot ; shaft normal, with an inner lateral expansion pro- duced into a linguiform process; major uncinus broad, long, spatulate; outer unci- nus transversely elongated. Fig. 22. Fig. 22a, side view of rhachidian tooth. C. Sfokesli Brod. Minor lateral with expanded inner wing, shaft cuspidate, cusp twisted and outer wing reduced to a portion of this cusp or absent; major lateral with an elongated simple cusp, shaft thick, strong, keeled in front, keel bearing a blade-sha|)erising to find the same species figuring in both of his chief divisions of Chitons with exjiosed valves. In the attempt to utilize this impracticable classification, and unwilling to admit that the Chifonidw contain more than one genus, he adopted a singular nomenclature, in which the genus was divided into a great number of sections, subsections, sub-subsections, etc., so that his work can hardly be classed as binomial in the Linuean sense. Fortunately, without exce])- tion, the groups indicated had previously been properly named by Gray, and only by courtesy can the genus Crypiochlton, on which his industri- ous research was largely expended, be assigned to him as authority, since it was denominated by the same name by I)r. Gray but a short time previously, the researches of each behig unkuow- n to the other. To Blainville, in 181G, is due the credit of first recognizing the anom- alous characters of the Chitonidcc, and their separation as an independent group from other gasteropods. While the value of a class in view of later researches uiay be held to be too high, yet few will be disposed to deny them the ordinal value assigned by Gray in 1825. The name is j)referabLy spelled Foli/placiphora, though numerous other forms ha^'e been used. The order Polt/placiphora can with certainty be asserted to contain but one family, so far as our present knowledge is concerned. No groups of subfamily value have yet been recognized, and it is a question whether any exist. It would be out of jjlace here to attempt any resume of the various systems of classification proposed by authors who have written on Chitons, as that jiroposed by Dr. Carpenter has solely been followed, and the j)rocess w^ould occui)y too much space. Dr. Carpenter's arrangement is founded upon the plan of structure in the valves, the extent of the branchije, and the ornamentation or char- acter of the girdle and its covering. He di\'ides the Fohjplaciphora into two great divisions : I. Regulai: CinTOxs. Head aud tail plates of similar character. 302 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. II. Irregular Chitons. Tail-plate with a sinus behind. The Regular Chitons comprise — ' A. Lrptoklca. Destitute of teeth or slit insertion-plates. B. Ischnoidea. Insertion-plates slit, sharp, thin ; protected by eaves. This contains hy for the largest number of species, and might be con- sidered t^^iical ; but the organization is not as comjtlete in all points as in the next group. C. Lopliyroidca. Insertion-plates broad, pectinated ; jugular sinus broad, dentate. D. Acanthoidca. Insertion-plates sharp, grooved externally, eaves furrowed beneath, mucro posteriorly extended. • This forms a passage toward II. The Irregular Chitons comprise — E. Schizoidea. Mantle and tail-plate both slit, behind. F. Placiplioroidca. Posterior insertion-plates only represented by a pair of swollen ribs. Mantle hairy. G. Mopalohlca. Tail-plate with one slit on each side and waved behind. H. Cryptoidea. Valves covered, or nearly so, with posterior as well as anterior sutural laminae. I. Chitonello'idea. Tail-irlato twisted into a funnel, body anteriorly extended. Of these groups, Dr. Carpenter says : " I have purposely abstained fi'om giving the usual terminations in idw and irifc because I am not sure that the groups here proposed are entitled to rank even as subfamilies." It seems to the writer that these groups are by no means of equal value, and that the Eegidar Chitons might well be reduced to two : Leptoids, and the remainder combined into one group; while the second section might be assorted into Schizoids (including F and G), Cryptoids, and Cliitonelloids. The opinions of Dr. Carpenter, the result of years of study, and an examination of all the principal collections of these animals in the world, are, however, not to be hghtly set aside. The Chitons of Alaska forming the principal subject of this report, together with notes on allied or extra-limital forms, are now in order. For the use of the figures illustrating this article, and many other favors and facilities for study, I am indebted to the Smithsonian Institution, in charge of Prof. S. F. Baird. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 303 CHITONES IRREGULARES. MOPALOIDEA. Genus MOPALIA Gray. Mopalla Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, pp. 65, 69, 169.— H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 478, 1854. ( M. Hindsii Sby. ) MolpaUa Gray, Guide, p. 184, 1857 (err. typ.). — Gould, Otia, p. 118. Lorica regnlaris ; laminse longiores, snffulttE ; v. aut. plurifissat4, v. esRt. unifissat.T, ad caudam sinuatse ; sinus angustus ; mucro medianns, depressus; suturos indentatae ; zona latior, setosii, interdum. simplex, interdum postice fissata, interdum antice projecta; branchise mediae. Subg. MopaJia s. str. Zonte setai irregulariter obsitaj. {M. Hindsii Sby.) Sect, a, uoiinales ; Sect. (3, aberrantes. Subg. PlaeipliorcUa Cpr. Zonae seta? ad suturam fasciculatae. (P. velata Cpr.) Sect, a, zona, antice dilatata. (P. vclata Cpr.) Sect, ft, zona et lorica normales. (P. sinuaia Cpr.) The genus Mopalia is the most regular in growth of all the Irregular Chitons. It is characterized by a hairy or lauugate girdle extending on or between the valves to some extent in all the species, thin insertion- plates with one slit on each side of the hind valve, which is waved in- ward from behind in the median luxe. There is generally a pronounced wave or slit in the tail end of the girdle, but this is an inconstant char- acter even in the same species. The anterior valve has six or more slits in most cases. The tj"pical subgenus is di\ided into normal and aberrant forms, the latter having the anterior i)ortion of the girdle much produced, as in M. Blainvillei Brod. ; both sections having the hairs irre- gularly distributed. In Flaaqjhorella the hau-s or part of them issue in fasciculi from i)ores at the sutures. These also are divided into two sec- tions, the first having the anteriorly expanded girdle as in the last sec- tion of Mopalia, while the second resumes the normal type of shell and girdle. Many species have been described, but it becomes necessary, as will be seen, to reduce the number. Mopalia ciliata. Chiton ciliatu.'i Sowerby, Conch. 111. p. 79, 1838. — Reeve, Conch. Icon. Mon. Chi- ton, pi. xix, f. 124, 1847. Mopalia ciliata H. &. A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 478, 1854. Chiton setosus Sowerby, Beechcy's Voy. Zool. j). 150, pi. 41, f. 17, 1839 (not of Sow. 1832). Chiton CoUiei Reeve, Conch. Icon. Mon. Chiton, pi. xxi, f. 136, 1848. Leptochiton CoUiei H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 473, 1854. Chiton muscosm Gould, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist, ii, p. 145, July, 1846; MolL Expl. Exp. p. 313, f. 436, 1852.— H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 475, 1854.— Gould, Otia, p. 6, 1862. 301 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Mopalia ciliata. Chwtoplcnra miiscosa Gonld, Otia, p. 242, 18G2. Mopalia muscosa Carpenter, Suppl. Rep. IJr. As. 1883, p. 648. Chiton WossnessensMi Midd. Mai. Ross, i, p. 101, 1847 ; in part only; figure and part of diagnosis excl. Chiton armahis (Nutt. ) Jay, Cat. 1839, No. 2678. No dcscr. Chiton ornatus Nuttall, MS. Brit. Mus. Col. etc. and Chiton consimili^ Nuttall, MS. loc. cit. never described. Suhsp. Mopalia lignosa. Chiton lif/nosits Gould, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist, ii, ii. 142, July, 1846 ; Otia, p. 3, 1882 ; Exp. Sli. p. 330, f. 424, 1852. Chwto2)let(ra lignosa Gould, Otia, p. 248, 1862. Mopalia lignosa Carpenter, Suppl. Rep. Br. As. 1863, p. 648. Chiton Merckii Midd. Bull. Imp. Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. t. vi, p. 20, 1846 ; Mai. Ross, i, p. 115, pi. xi, f. 5-6, 1847. Chiton EschsclioUzii Midd. Bull. 1. c. p. 118 ; Mai. Ross. 1. c. p. 114, pi. xi, f. 4 (t. jun.). Chiton {Hamachiton, Stenosemus) Merckii Midd. 1. c. p. 34. Chiton Montereyensis Cpr. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 231. Chiton vcspertinus Gould, Moll. U. S. Expl. Exp. p. 323, f. 426, 426 a, 1852. Chwtoplcnra vesperiina Gould, Otia, pp. 230, 242, 1862. Mopalia vcspertina H. «fc A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 479, 1854. Mopalia Simpsoni Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 69. — H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 479, 1854; Brit. Mus, Coll. In all cases name only; never described. (From type.) Chiton calif ornicns (Nutt. MS.) Reeve, Couch. Ic. Mon. Cbiton, pi. xvi, f. 89, 1847. far. M. Hindsii. Chiton Uindsii (Sowerby MS.) Reeve, Concli. Icon. Mon. Cliitou, pi. xii, f. 67, a, h, 1847. Mopalia Hindsii Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, pp. 69, 169.— H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll. i, p. 478, pi. liv, f. 7, 1854.— Cpr. Suppl. Rep. Br. As. 1863, p. 213. M. t. intus, V. postica ad caudam sinuata; v. centr. unitiss., v. aiit. octoiissata; dent, longis, suffnltis, sa?pe extus riigosis; snbgiimdis miiii- inis spongiosis; sinu minimo, acuto, lam. sutur. ab apice antico solum sei)aratis; zoiia setifera sen lanuginosa; valvis parum postice, antice valde apicata; zona postice hand sen varius fissata. Lon. 25-GO, Lat. 15-40 mm. Div. 140°. i Hah. — Shnmagin Islands (rare) to California ; Dall! between tide-marks and at lowest water. Many specimens (hundreds) examined. Typical form: sculpture variable, but strong; girdle thickly set with tubular hairs, varying from long, strong bristles to fine, soft piloe. The l)est distinguishing features are brown or blackish olive color outside; inside, bluish green and lilac; jugular and caudal sinuses narrow, the latter often not visible externally. Subsp. /?y/«os« ; sculpture faint; inside greenish; sinus variable; hairs of the girdle variable, but always softer and shorter than in well-marked .ciliata, often hardly perceptible in dry specimens; external colors gray- ish or greenish, with streaks and liammules of brown and white. Yar.IIiiKlsli: exterior uniform, smoothish; sculpture evanescent; color outside, light olive to nearly black; inside, whitish, carmine in the me- (liaii line; tail uotclied in the young, but not in the adult; tail-sinus visi- ble outside; girdle with few and short hairs. This species can be distinguished from all varieties of Wossnessensldi by its blackish and proportionately much narrower girdle, and by a soi't of ])rolongation of the external layer of the shell forward under the apex of the next anterior valve in the median line, forming a sort of anterior false apex, which is hidden until the valves are separated. In Woss- ncssensldi this part is squared off, the girdle is yellowish (when alive), and the valves are much less transverse. It will be surprising if those who have only observed these animals by a, few diy specimens in collections are willing to accept the synonymy above given. I confess that not long since I would have been unwilling to believe that the rough, bristly, typical mnscosa and the dark, smooth llindsii could be jiroperly combined under one name with each other or Avith the iinely reticulated and painted lignosa. But the study of a largo nudtitude of specimens has convinced me no arbitrary line can be drawn anywhere in a fully representative series, beginning with coarsest ciliata and ending with a practically smooth Hindsii. The characters of girdle, .sculpture, and form are not only variable in themselves, but are found variably combined, except that it is rarer to find coarsest sculx>ture with a downy than with a bristl}' girdle. However, even this occurs. On the other hand, out of such a series a dozen forms might be selected A\'hich, if only the characters were constant, every one would acknowledge as good species. In his description of Wossnessenslcii, Middendorf, according to Dr. Car- j)enter, had both sj^ecies under his observation, and did not observe it. His figures, however, belong solely to the following species. Sowerby's srtosus, in the Zoology of the Blossom's Voyage, is not his species so named in 1832, and the former was renamed CoUiei, by Eeeve, in the Conch. Iconica. The seidptnre figured by Sowerby was not character- istic; Eeeve's figure is better. From an examination of the type, Dr. Carpenter became convinced that the undescribed M. Simpsoni Gray was identical with lignosa. There is very little doubt that Middendorf*s Chiton Uschscholtzii Avas merely a young ciliata. Dr. Gould's original types have been consulted during the preparation of this description. Mopalia 'Wossnessenskii. Chiton Tfossnesscnslii Midd. Bull. Imp. Acad. Sci. St. Potersl). t. vi, p. 119, 1847 (pars); Mai. Rohs. i, p. 101 (diagn. maj. pars), pi. xi, f. 1-2, 1847. Chiton {Hamachiton, riati/semiis) Wossnessenskii Midd. Mai. Ross. 1. c. j). 34, 1847. Chiton codatus Reeve, Couch. Icon. Mou. Cbitou, i^l. xvii, f. 101, 1847 (loc. err. ).— H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll. 1, p. 475, 1854. Mopalia Kennerlei/i Carpenter, Sujipl. Rex>. Br. Assoc. 18GI5, p. ()4H; I»roc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci. April, 1865, p. 59. Mopalia Grayi Carpenter, Suppl. Rep. 1. c. p. 603, name only. M. Kennerleyi var. Swanii Cpr. Su^ipl. Rep. 1. c. p. 648, 1833. M. t. valvis hand antice apicatis; v. post, extus valde sinuata; intus v. post, late ad caudam sinuata, et v. centr. 1-, v. ant. S- (rarius 9-, 10-) Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 20 Fet). 14, 1879. 306 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. fiss.; sinii latiore; zona postice fissata, setis tenuioribus, planatis, pal- lidis, minus confertim obsita. Lon. 50, Lat. 25 mm. Var. /Sicanii : t. omnino rufa, sculptura tenuiore. jjah. — Unalaslika, Aleutian Islands (rare and small) to Sitka, and southeast^yard to Monterey, California; from low water to twenty fath- oms, adhering to solid objects, stones, and shells! Two hundred and fifty-four specimens examined. This species may be recognized by its broad, yellowish, downy girdle, when fresh, often encroaching far into the sutures ; by the absence of false apices, such as are found in ciliata ; by its color, in which vermillion and verdigris green are beautifully mingled (except in the var. Swaniiy which is pure red) ; and by the softness of the flattened and less crowded hairs. The girdle-fissure is not constant, though usual. It is nearly white inside ; the sinus is broader and the valves, as a whole, longer in an axial direction, making tliem less transverse than in ciliata. It is one of the most beautiful of all Chitons, when closely examined. An examination of the soft parts afforded the following notes on this species : The "fringe," or true mantle-edge, is entire, extending around the whole body within the edge of the girdle, and slightly notched at the posterior sinus of the girdle. Veil short in front and broad at the sides, ending behind in two broad, squarish lappets, the edge crenulate throughout. Anus median, distinct. Ovary single, tortuous, overlying the viscera, with no distinct oviduct, so far as could be observed. In texture, the ovary resembles that of Acmcea. If there be an oviduct, it passes from the under side of the sac, one-third of the way forward from the poste- rior end of the ovary. Behind the ovary are two '■'■ slime glands" (Midd.), one on each side, opening outward by a plain opening in a fold of the integument, one on each side between the branchine and the anus. They are not present in all Chitons. Schiff did not find them in C. inceus. Gills about thirty-eiglit in number on each side, extending forward about two-thirds the length of the foot. ♦ Extra-limital Species. Subgenus Placiphorella Cpr. Placiphorella sinuata. Mopalia sinuata Cpr. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliilad. 186.5, p. .59. P. t. lam. sutur. planatis, ab apice antico-externo separatis, sinu an- gustissimo; dent, valde suffultis. jEfa&.— Puget Sound and San Francisco Bay, Cal. Placiphorella imporcata. Moimlia imporcata Carpenter, 1. c. p. 59, 18G5. , P. t. lam. sutur. et apice antico ut in P. sinuata, sinu paullo minus angusta; dent, parum suffultis; v. ant. octofissata. Mab. — Puget Sound; Santa Barbara Ids., Cal. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 307 These species are known to me only by the types; they may extend their range into the Alexander Archipelago. In PlacipJiorella velaia Cpr., type of the subgenns, the gill-rows are as long as the foot, branchiie about twenty-five in number, widely separated behind. Mantle-edge behind narrow and plain ; in front produced and fringed with long fleshy, processes. No oviduct coidd be traced, though the ovary was crowded with eggs, some of which were 0.25 mm. in length. In them the embryo could be plainly distinguished. There were no fur- rows for the shelly plates, but the eyes were quite prominent and the cephalic lobe comprised nearly half the animal. There were no bands of cilia, but the edge of the cephalic lobe was strongly ciliated. CRYPTOIDEA. Genus AMICULA Gray. Gray, Syn. Brit. Mus. 1840, also ed. 1842 (no description) ; P. Z. S. 1847, pp. 65, 69, 169.— H. & A. Adams, Gen. Eec. MoU. i, p. 480, pi. 55, f. 2, 1854.— Gray, Guide, p. 187, 1857. Type Chiton vestltns Sowerby. Corpus regulare; lorica exposita parva, mucronata, sen subcordata; laminae insertionis mopaloideae, lam. sut. post, magnaej zona plus mi- nus ve pilosa, interdum porifera. Subgenus Amicula s. str. (Gray). Branchiie niedise. A. vestita Sowerby. Subgenus Chlamydochiion (Dall). Branchiie ambientes. C. amiculata Pallas. Both groups are provided with pores bearing fasciculi of bristles of a soft or horny character, and which, while often irregularly disposed or even almost entirely absent (in particular individuals), have a tendency to arrange themselves in two rows on each side of the median line, one row behind the exposed point of the valve and another near its sub- merged lateral j)osterior angle, on each side. The mantle is also pro- vided with a coating of fine, chaffy, deciduous scales. Subgenus Amicula (Gray) Dall. Amicula Gray, 1. c. 1847. (C vestitus Sow.) Symmetrogeplujrus Middendorf, Mai. Eos8. 1, p. 98, 1847. (C Pallasii Midd.) — Chenn, Man. i, 383, 1859. Stimpsoniella Carpenter, Bull. Essex Inst, v, p. 1.^5, 1873. (C Pallasii Midd. and Em- efsonii Couth.) Middendorfia Carpenter, MS. 1871. Amicula vestita. Chiton vestitus Sowerby, Zool. Journ. iv, p. 368, 1829; Conch. 111. f. 123, 128a (from type-specimen), 1839; Zool. Beechey's Voy. j). 150, pi. xli, f. 14, 1839. f C. amiculatns Wood, Ind. Test. pi. 1, f. 12, 1828 (probably).— Eoeve, Conch. Icon. Men. Chiton, pi. xi, f. 59, 1847. 308 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Amicula vestita. Amicnla vcsiita Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, pp. G5, 69, 169.— II. & A. Adams, Gen. Eoc. Moll, i, p. 480, pi. 55, f. 2, 1854.— Gray, Giiide, p. 187, 1857. Amicula vcsiita Cpr. Bull. Essex lust. 1873, p. 1.55. (f Far. Emersonii.) Chiton Emersonii Couthouy, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist, ii, p. 83, pi. ill, f. 10, 1838. Chiton Umersonianiis Gould, luv. Mass. p. 151, f. 19, 1841. — lieeve, Couch. Icon. Mon. Chiton, pi. xi, f. 59, 1847. Jmicula Emersonii Gray, P. Z. S. 1347, p. 69.— H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rcc. Moll. i, p. 481, 18.54. — Gray, Guide, p. 185, 18.57. — Stimpson, Smithsonian Checklist of East Coast Shclis, 1830.— Binuey's Gould, p. 254, f. .527 (bad), 1870. Amicula vestita Stimpson, Shells of N. Engl. p. 29, 1851. titimjisoniella Emersonii Cpr. Bull. Essex lust. 1873, p. 155, A. t. val varum parte exposita (liuic generi) majore, lata, subrcni*- forme, antice acuta sed baud prolongata, lateribus rectangulatis, j)ostico bilobatis, sinu latiore ; ar. jug-, centr. et lat. baud definitis ; tota superficie granulosa, supra jugum lajviori; circa marginem undique (nisi ad mu- <;ronem in sinu postico) bicostata ; intus, v. post, typice mopaloideo, utr. lat. unitissata, sinu caudali lato, breviore; \. centr, 1-, ant. G-Hss.; laminis acutis, fissuris parvis, sulcis ex fissuris baud loricam tenus con- tinuis; lam. sut. ant. baud separatis, sinu lato, brevi; post, minoribus sed ii sinu postico alto latiore omnino separatis; {Cpr.) Zona tenui, laiviore; setulis furfuraceis et fasciculis setarum plus minusve irregu- laris supra xonam exposita. Lon. 50, Lat. 35 mm. HaJ). — Arctic Ocean, extending soutbward in tbe Pacific region to Hagmeister and St. Paul Islands, Bering Sea; on tbe Atlantic soutb on tbe ISTew England coast to Cape Cod ; in 5-30 fatboms, mud and stones. Two young specimens, not certainly of tbis species, in 60 fatboms, Cap- tain's Bay, Unalasbka. Tbirteen specimens examined. Tbe '^ ovarian" openings, bilaterally symmetrical, are situated just be- bind and, as it were, under tbe sbadow of tbe posterior brancbia on eacli side. Tbey are not simple orifices, but fenestra, compsoed of two open- ings s^mewbat oblique and linear; tbe anterior a bttle nearer tbe girdle and a little larger tban tbe posterior one. I bave no doubt wbatever tbat tbe original restitus of Sowerby (from Beecbey's origbial locality I bave examples) is identical witli tbe Emcr- aonii of Couthouy. Mucb bas been said about tbe i)resence or absence of 'pores' and bair-tufts. I find from examination of a series tbat tbe young Emersonii is usually smootb, tbe large ones always setiferous. Tbese seta; are, as described by Br. Gould, in two rows on eacb side, or ratber six in all if we count tbe pretty constant tufts bebind tlie exposed apices of tbe shell. These rows are (1) two behind the shell points as above; (2) two, one on each side at the posterior angle of the submerged expansion of the valve; (3) a series, more or less irregular, along the margin of the girdle. Beside tbis, in old ones, there are iiTcgular tufts all over the girdle, and some of the regidar tufts may be missing. • PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL -MUSEUM. 309 Dr. Carpenter, seeing young- specimens, could not recognize the pore- tufts of Gould. Shortly before liig death, however, he sent me speci- mens which showed them i)laiuly; it is evidently a character in this gi'ouii of very little imi)ortance. As regards its identity with vestita; when dry, the Xew England form I)recisely resembles the figures from Sov»-erby's type-specimen in his ( 'onchological Illustrations, taken from a dried specimen. lie consid- ered Emcfsoiiil a s;smonym, and I fully agree T\'ith him, but have lcej)t the two .separated in the foregoing synonymy for the comenience of those who may doubt this. This si)ecies is very close to A. PallasU, but is distinguisliable by the larger and laterally much more exi3anded exi)osed portions of the valves, by its flatter form, and proportiouallj^ sparser and longer seta^. When dry, the Vviiole form of the A'alves is visible in vestita from above, IdiC the bones of a Peruvian mummy; in Pcdiasii, however, the integument is so much more coriaceous and thick, that in dry specimens hardly any- tliing of these outlines is visible. Midden dorf's figure, copied by Cln^nu, well represents A. FaUasil when fresh. In cabinets it is rare, and is not common in the field where collectors have searched for it. Aniicula Pallasii. Chiton Pallasii Midd. Bull. Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. vi, p. 117, 1847. Chiton (subg. Phmtouhiton, sect. Dichachiton, subs. Syiiimetrogephyrus) raUasii Jlidd. Mai. Eoss. i, p. 93, 1847; Sib. Eeise, p. 163, t. xiii, f. 1-9; t. xiv, f. 1-C, 1851. Amicula PaUam H. & A. Ad. Geu. i, p. 481, 1854.— Chenu, i, p. 383, 1859. jStimpsonicHa Pallasii Cpv. Bull. Essex lust. 1873, p. 155. A. t. valvarum mucrone cordilbrjui solum externe conspicua; intus v. post, mopaloidea, utr. lat. unitissata, siuu caudali minore, lamina j)o- stica extus rugosa hito, brevi; v. centr. 1-, v. ant. G-8-fissatis; lam. acutis ex fissuris umbonem tenus sulcatis; lam. sutur. ant. modicis hand separatis, sinu lato brevi; x^ost. latis, regulariter arcuatis, a siuu postico lato alto separatis, (Cpr.) Limbus (zona) luxurians in pallium exteudi- tur, totum animalis dorsum rotundatum obtegens, valvas obvolvens et occultans, soils octo aperturis minutis, rotundatis, in linea mediana, qui- bus aditus ad umbonem valvarum pat et; color squalido hitescens; epi- dermis dorsalis undique versum fasciculis pilorum crinita. Lon. G7, Lat. 48, Alt. 21 mm. Div. 120°. Hah. — Okhotsk Sea, ]Midd. ; Pribilofl", Aleutian, and Shumagin Islands, Dall ! .'> to 10 fathoms, very rare. Seven specimens examintnl. The rounded back, tough and hairy girdle with minute holes for the tips of the valves, the valves themselves less transverse as a whole and much less exposed than in vestita, are the characters by wliich this spe- cies may be readily distinguished from the latter. My specimeus have only six fissures in the anterior valve against eight in a specimen of vestita of the same size. 310 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. It is even rarer than the last species, and hardly known in collections. The gills are median; mantle-edge broad and even; the veil is pecti- nated and the anterior edge of the muzzle has a sort of rim or margin, besides. Subgenus Chlamtdochiton Dall. Amicula Cpr. pars; nou Gray, Adams, etc. Chlamydochiton Dall, Proc. Nat. Mus. p. 1, Jan. 1878. Cblamydochiton amiculatus. Chlamydochiton amiculatus Dall, 1. c. Chiton amiculatus Pallas, Nova Acta Petrop. ii, p. 241, pi. vii, f. 2G-30, 1788. — GmeliD, Syst. Nat. p. 320G, 1790.— Wood, Geu. Couch, p. 13, 1815.— Dill- wyu. Cat. Rec. Shells, i, i>. 6, 1817. — Blainville, Diet. Sci. Nat. xxxvi, p. 546, 1825.— Mids. Veil narrow, thin, plain, x)roduced in a flai) on each side of the muzzle. Mantle-edge narrow, plain. Branchiae about sixty on a side in a ro^^' as long as the foot, xinus papillate, median, with a ridge extending eacli way from it. Soft parts yellowish to deep orange, girdle shining blue black. Katherina tunicata. Chiton tunicatus\\(xoA, Gen. Conch, p. 11, fol. 2, f. 1, 1815; Ind. Test. Cliiton, pi. 1, f, 10, 1828 ; lb. ed. Haul. 1856.— Sowerby, Beecliey's Yoy. Zool. p. 150, t. sU, f. 15, 1839.— Reeve, Conch. Icon. Mon, Chiton^ f. Gl (good), 1847. Chiton {Phccnochiton, Hamachiton, riatysemus) tun ica ttis Midd. — Mai. Ross, i, p. 98, t. s, f. 1-2, 1847. Katherina tunicata Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 69; lb. Guide, p. 185, 1857. — Cpr. Suppl. Rep. Br. As. 1863, p. 648. Katherina Dotif/lasiw Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 69. Katherina tunicata H. & A. Adams, Geu. Roc. Moll. :, p. 479, iii, pi. 54, f. 6, 1854. K. t. extus, valvis postice fere rectangulatis ; area jugali longissimu, antice inter lam. sutur. projecta, tenuissime punctulata; area centr. rotuudatis, quincuncialiter fortiore punctata; ar. lat. hand definitis, fere obsoletis ; mucrone subpostice mediano, elevato ; intus, v. post, laminis ad caudam angiilatim sinuatis, prsecipue utr. lat. unifissatis, sed inter- dum in lobas ii'regulares ^, -J, |, f, i fiss.; v. centr. 1-, ant. 7-fissatis; laminis prcelougis, antice valde projectis, acutis, extus striatis, fissuris parvis, suftultis, ad subgrundas solidas, curtissimas valde spongiosas, sulcis continuis; sinu altissimo, angusto, spongioso; lam. sutur. seiiara- tis, prffilongis; zona nigra, supva valvis tenui, omnino lievi. Lon. 50, Lat. 20 mm. Hah. — Kamchatka (Cpr.); the entire Aleutian group; on the nortli side of the peninsula of Aliaska to Port Moller, and on the south side east to Cook's Inlet, and south to Catalina Island, California ; low water (chiefly), to 20 fathoms. Several hundred specimens examined. This unmistakable shell, characterized, when fresh, by its broad shin- ing black girdle and almost covered valves, is eaten raw by the natives of the northwest coast, and is said to act as an aphrodisiac. The sup- posed second species of Gray is merely a result of an irregular drying of the girdle. The soft parts are of a salmon color in northern speci- 314 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. mens. The less important details are very variable in difierent indi- viduals. In taking leave of the Irregular Chitons, a few notes on exotic species of this section may be properly incorporated. In Chitonellus fasciatus, the representative of the most highly devel- oped type of Chiton, the gill-rows are confined to the posterior quarter of the foot, but the separate branchiiie of which they are comjiosed are very large, twenty-six or eight in number, and rather long. There was no well-marked crop, as in ordinary Chitons. The muzzle was inconspic- uous, augulated at the posterior corners, with no veil. Mantle hardly visible. There seemed to be two oviducts leading from a single ovary (compounded of two !) to small orifices, one on each side of the anus. In Cryptoconclms monticularis Quoy, which much recalls the northern Katlierina, the girdle varied from black to light brown. A veil was present, but narrow and simple, while the mantle-edge was hardly per- ceptible. Gill-rows one-third as long as the foot, containing each about eighteen branchiae. Muzzle very transverse, with flaps at the posterior corners. Ovisac single. CHITONES EEGULARES. LEPTOIDEA. Genus LEPTOCHITON Gray. Leptochiton Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 127 ; Guide, p. 182, 1857. < Leptochiton H. & A. Adams, Geu. Rec. Moll, i, p. 473, 1834. — Clienu, Man. Conchyl. i, p. 381, 1859, etc. < Lepidopleurus Risso (ex Leach MS.), 1826. — Sars, Moll. Reg. Arct. Norvegise, p. 110, 1878. Lam. insertionis nullis; zona minutissune sabulosa; sinus Itevis; hand laminatus; branchite breves. Type i. aseZZws Lowe. The diagnosis of Gray determines the genus, but he includes in the examples cited C. alhus L., which is a Trachydermon. Two out of twenty- five species cited by the brothers Adams are real Leptochitons ; the example cited by them as typical is not a Lejitochiton, neither is the example cited by Chenu. The other Leptoid genera are as follows : Hauleyia Gray, Guide, p. 186, 18.57. Anterior valve witli an unslit iusertion-plate ; other valves without even the plates. H. debilis Gray. Hemiarthrum Carpenter, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii, p. 44, 1876. Insertion-plates present on all the valves, hut entire without slits. H. setulosum Cpr. 1. c. Deshayesiella Carpenter MS. LoricS. elongate ; valva curvatre, autice tendentes; mucro planatns, zon^ spicu- losa; lam. insert, uullia ; lam. sut. triangulares, extantibus. D. {Leptochiton) curvatus Cpv. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 315 Microplax H. Adams. KesembliDg Chitonellus externally ; submerged lamina} unslit, entire, fused in an undistinguisliable manner witli tlie parts whicli usually constitute the sutural lamina?. M. Grayi Ad. Sc Ang. The paleozoic HelmintJiochiton Salter, Priscochiton Billings, GrypJio- chiton Gray, and several unpublished names of Dr. Cari)enter, all belong to the Leptoidea. A large number of the fossils described as Chitons (for instance Sulcocliiton Grayi Eyckholt) are not moUusks; many of them being valves of Balani or fragments of isopod crustaceans. Iieptochiton cancellatus. Chiton cancellatus Sowerby (as ? of Leach MS.), Conch. 111. f. 104-5, 1839. Chiton alhiis Pulteney, nou Lin. fide Hauley. Chiton cancellatus Reeve, Conch. Ic. pi. lix, f. 152, 1847. Chiton asellus Midd. Mai. Ross, i, p. 122, 1847, not of Lowe. Chiton cancellatus Forbes & Hauley, Brit. Moll, ii, p. 410, pi. lix, f. 3, 1853 (outlines inverted in figure). Leptochiton cancellatus H. & A. Adams, Gen, Rec. Moll, i, p. 473, 1854. Chiton cancellatus Jeffreys, Brit. Conch, iii, p. 217, 1865; v, p. 198, pi. Ivi, f. 1, 1869. Chiton alveolus Jeffreys, 1. c. iii, p. 218, 1865 ; not of Sars. • Chiton Bissoi auct. not of Payraudeau. Lejndopleurus cancellatus Sars, Moll. Reg. Arc. Norv. p. Ill, t. 7, f. 6 a-h, 1878, dentition t. I. f. 8, (imperfect). f Lepidopleurus arcticus Sars, 1. c. p. 112, t. 7, f. 7 a-h. ? = Chiton islandicus Gmelin, S. N. 3206, 1788.— Schroter, Einl. iii, p. 509.— Dillwyn, Rec. Shells, i, p. 10, 1817. L. t. minima, elongata, valde elevata, regulariter arcuata ; jugo nullo ; aurantia plus minusve cinereo tincta, interdum albida; valvis angus- tioribiis, haud rectangulatis, apicibus nullis ; mucrone centrali, valde elevato, sculptura ut in L. asello, sed granulis parum majoribus ; areis centr. jjarum divergentibus, areis lat. satis definitis, \ix elevatis ; intus, laminis sut. minimis, triangnlaribus ; sinu latissimo, marginibusque valvarum a sculptura externa pauUulum crenulatis; sond, angusta, squamuliis teniiibus, haud imbricatis, haud striulatis, dense obsita. Lon. 6, Lat. 3 mm. Div. 80°. Hah. — British seas; ]S"orwegian coast in 50-100 fms.; Greenland; Gulf of Lyons (Jeffr.); Lofoten, 300 fms. (Sars); Vigo, Spain (McAn- «lrew); Dalmatia (Brusiua); Alaska, at Unalashka, Shumagins, Port Etches, and Sitka Harbor, 0-100 fms. Dall ! Ninety-four specimens ex- amined. This species "without careful inspection will usually be confounded with small specimens of Trachydermon cdhus, but a glance at the scidp- ture is sufficient to separate it. From several other species of LeptocM- ton it is less readily distinguished, and a magnifier is indispensable. The differential characters are as follows : The pustules which constitute most of the sculptiu-e are arranged like overlapping coins or a solid-linked chain in lines which in the dor- 316 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. sal area are nearly parallel with the longitudinal axis of the animal. The lateral areas are distinct, and the pnstules npon them are arranged in rather indistinct lines radiating toward the lateral ends of the valves, at nearly right angles to the lines on the dorsal area. The sculpture on the mncro is more delicate than elsewhere. The ajiex of the posterior valve is not sunken, and is not so sharp as in other species compared with it here ; the gh'dle is scaly, with also some small spinose transpa- rent scales near the margin. There are five gill-plumes on each side, prominent and near the vent. There appear to be two fenestra on eacli side. The lateral areas and other jiortions of the valves are nearly always colored with blackish or ferruginous patches, but these, as with Tracliydermon albus, seem to be really composed of extraneous matter. In L.faliginatus Ad. & Eve., the x>ustules are much smaller, and wiiile having a general longitudinal arrangement on the dorsum, do not form regularly defined rows or chains. The areas are not raised above the dorsum. The shell is much larger and more elevated, with a somewhat sunken and quite sharj) j)osterior mucro. The other mucrones are not raised, but about them the sculpture is more regularly aligned than elsewhere. I have compared the. valves of a typical specimen from Korea collected by Belcher. Eeeve's figure of the sculi^ture is very bad, as are most of his details. L. alveolus Sars is a very distinct species, though it has been confounded with this. Its sculptiu-e is composed of larger and rather more sx>arse, isolated pustules, absolutely irregular in distribution and of the same size on the mucro and elsewhere. Nowhere do they form lines. The arch of the back is peculiarly round, the lateral areas not raised and barely distinguishable. The girdle seems similar. I have compared typical examples. L. concinnus Gould, fi-om the types, is of a different color, and has a nruch stronger and different sculpture, like lines of rope. L. internexus Carpenter and var. rugatus Cpr. are more like concinnuft, but distinguished from either by the peculiar girdle covered with sub- equal scales. i. nexus Carpenter more nearly resembles cancellatus, but the sculp- ture is of separate, not lapping, rounded-rhomboidal imstules; the mu- crones are much more pronounced, and the white ground is prettily marbled with black and gray inherent coloration. The name cancellatus is a misnomer, since it is only in certain lights that any trace of reticulation can be observed faintly. The young aie flatter than the adults. It bears no resemblance to L. asellus, with which Middendorf united it, probably without a comparison. X. arctmis of Sars seems to be a finely grown variety of this species, if one may judge from the figures ; at least no difierential characters are given which seem to be of a permanent character, and not subject t() variation within the limits of a species. The specimens of this species obtained by me in Alaska were at first • referred to fuliginatus by Dr. Carpenter, and some specimens were dis- tributed under that name, or the name of fuUginosiis, before I had the PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 317 opportunity of making the correction, wliich, had Dr. Cari^cntcr survived to finish his work, he would undoubtedly have done himself. In the hiu-ry of field-work, the specimens were confounded vv'i(»h younj^ T. alhus, and hence no observations on the living' animal were made. Had attention been drawn to it, it might, doubtless, have been obtained tlu'oughout the Aleutian chain, but no specimens occurred in the collec- tions from more noi-theru localities. Jeffreys states that the under edge of the girdle and the soft parts are yellowish white, tinged with flesh color; also that littoral specimens from Herm are larger than those found in deeper water. In Alaska it has been obtained only with the dredge. The gills occupy a space corresponding to the posterior quarter of the foot; there are about eight or ten on each side. The mantle- edge is ])lain and thick. The veil is plain. The muzzle is rounded, v/ith a little papilla at the i^osterior corner on each side. Leptochiton alveolus. Lcptocldton alveolus (Sars MS.) Lov6n, lud. Moll. Lit. Scaiid. -p. 27, 1846. Not of Jeifrcys, etc. Lcpidoplcurus alveolus G. O. Siirs, Moll. Reg. Arc. Nor. p. 110, t. 7, f. 3 a-i; t. I, f. 7 (good), 1878. Hah. — Bergen, Lofoten, Finmark, 150-300 f. (Sars); Gulf of St. Law- rence, in 220 fathoms, between Cape Eosier and the S. W. point of Anti- costi Island, Whiteaves ! St. G eorge's Bank, Gulf of Maine, 150 t;athoms, IT. S. Fish Com., 1872 ! This extra -limital species is inserted here because of its possible rela- tions with the next species, and also to call attention to the addition to our Northeast American fauna made by Mr. WhiteaACS. It is a remark- ably distinct species, and if typical examples had been examined by the authors who have referred it to L. cancellatus, it would seem unlikely that it would have been so referred. Leptochiton Belknapi. Leptochiton Belknapi Dall, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. p. 1, Jan. 1878. L. t. elongata, valde elevata, dorsaliter angulata; albidii plus minusve cinereo et nigrotincta; valvis elevatis, apicibus distinctis; mucrone cen- trali conspicuo ; sculptura ut in L. alveolo, sed granulis in areis dorsalis sparsim et quincuncialiter dispositis. Yalva postica sub apice concavu, postice sinuata. Zona minima, spiculis tenuibus versus marginem mu- nita. Lon. 10.0, Lat. 3.0 mm. Div. 90°. Rah.— North Pacific Ocean, in lat. 53° 08' X, lon. 171^ 19' W., at a depth of 1006 fathoms; bla(;k sand and shells. Brought up in the sounding-cuj) by Capt. Geo. E. Belknap, U. S. IS"., on the sounding ex- ])edition of IT. S. S. Tuscarora in 1871, bottom temperature 35°.5 F. (Specimens obtained by II. M. S. Challenger in Balfour Bay, Eoyal Sound, Kerguelen Id., Southern Ocean, in 20-00 fms., for examination of which I am indebted to the courtesy of Eev. E. J. Boog Watson, arc apparently identical with Capt. Belknap's species.) 318 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. This specimen much resembles L. alveolus, to which I at first referred it. A careful microscopical examination, however, shows differences which I am disposed to consider specific; but I have but one si^ecimen, and others might show modifications in these particulars. The differential characters are as follows : In alveolus the pustules are distributed evenly, closely, and in no pattern whatever, all over the sur- face. In Bellnapi, they are more widely separated, and arranged in quin- cunx on the dorsum, the spaces seeming to radiate from the median dorsal hue. In alveolus, the lateral areas are barely perceptible ; in Bel- Jcnapi, they are raised, concentrically rugose, and the pattern of the pus- tidar arrangement is different and more irregular than that on the dorsum. In BeUcnapi, also, the girdle is very thin, narrow, and sparsely set witli small pellucid spicules near the margin. The posterior mucro, or apex of the posterior plate, in BelJcnapi, is prominent, overhangs a shallow con- cavity, and from its point there diverge anteriorly four depressed lines, the outer two to the anterior lateral angles of the plate, the inner two equidistant from each other 'and the outer hues. Between these lines the plate is swelled, forming three rounded ridges, extending forwaj'd like the leaflets of a trefoil or clover. Nothing resembhng this has been observed on any of the other species which have come under my notice. The soft parts, in spirits, appear to resemble the other species com- pared with it. It is evidently adult. It was certainly unexpected that a stone-clinging moUusk like a Chiton should reach such great depths as those from which this was obtained. In the same region, and at about the same depth, a Cyliclina and a Natica, both api)arently identical with certain Arctic species, were also obtained in the same way. Its enormous range in latitude, as indicated by the Kerguelen specimens, reminds one of the range of species in earlier geological times, and points out how relatively modern our httoral marine faunie may be. It is not the only form common to the southern and northern oceans. Extra-limital Species. Leptocliiton asellus. Chiton asellus (Chemn. Spengl.) Lowe, Zool. Joum. ii, p. 101, pi. v, f. 3, 4, 1825. Chiton cinereus Montague, Tiirton, and others, not of Linn6. ? Lcpidoplcurus cinereus Sars, 1. c. j). 112, j)l. 7, f. 8 a-h, 1878; as of Liun6. Rah. — Northern seas of Europe; Lofoten Ids.; Greenland? (Morch); not New England, as erroneously stated by authors. The cinereus of Linn(5, from his type, was a Trachydermon. Leptochiton fuliginatus. Chiton fuUginatus Ad. & Rve. Conch. Icon. pi. xxvi, f. 174, 1847. Sal). — Korea, Belcher. Leptochiton conciunus. Leptochiton concinnus Gld. Otia, p. 117, 1860. Hah. — Hakodadi, Japan ; Stimpson. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 319 Leptochiton nexus. L. nexus Cpr. Suppl. Kep. Br. As. 1863, p. 650. Hah. — California, Cooper. Leptochiton internesus and var. rugatua. L. internexus Cpr. MSS. Jlab. — California, CooiJer, Canfield and Hemphill. Hanleyia meudicaria. Chiton mendicarius Mighels & Adams, Boston Jouru. N. H. iv, p. 42, pi. iv, f. 8, 1842. Hanleyia mendicaria Cpr. N. Engl. Cliitons, 1. c. p. 154, 187.3. Hah. — Casco Bay; Grand Manan, Stimpsou; Portland Harbor, Me.,' U. S. Fish Commission. Deep-water specimens much larger than those from shallow water. Hanleyia debilis. Hanleijia debilis Gray, Guide, p. 183, 1857. Chiton Ranleji Beau, Brit. Mar. Coucli. p. 232, f. .57, 1844. — Sars, 1. c. p. 109, pi. 7, f. 5 a-i, 1878. Hah. — British seas northward; Mageroe near North Cape, 25-300 f., Sars. Stellwagen Bank, Mass. Bay, 38 fathoms, gravel; U. S. Fish Com., 1878. Tj^Q, of the subgenus. A recent addition to oiu^ North- east American fauna. Hanleyia (?) abyssorum. Chiton abyssorum M. Sars, MSS. — G. O. Sars, 1. c. p. 109, pi. 7, f. 4 a-c, pi. I, f. 6 a-c, 1878. Hal). — Bergen, Norway, 150-200 fathoms, Sars, 1. c. The teeth of this species as figured by Sars agree pretty well with those of H. mendicaria., but neither Prof. Sars' figures nor his descrip- tion afford means for determining its generic position. The valves of the two specimens figured exhibit rather remarkable dift'erences, and, this variation admitted, the question arises. Is this more than a gigantic form of the preceding ? Hanleyia tropicalis. A large and beautiful species from the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico is the only other recognized species of the genus, and will be described by the writer in the Eei)ort on the Deep-sea Dredgings made under the supervision of Prof. A. Agassiz, on tlie U. S. Coast Survey steamer Blake, in 1878. ISCIINOIDEA. Genus TEACHYDEEMON Cpr. Trachjdermon Cpr. Suppl. Eep. Br. As. 1863, p. 649, as a subgenus of lachnochiton, type Chiton ci7iereus Lowe. Lepklopleurus sp. auct. > CraspcdocMlua G. O. Sars, 1. c. j). 114. 320 PROCEEDINGS OF UKITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Lophyrns sp. G. O. Sars, 1. c. p. 114, not of Toll. lates of the tail-valve arc broken by serra- tions, and tliat the scales are large and gravelly. The gills ai-e twenty to twenty-live in number, the rows extending" to the head. Mantle-edge narrow, plain. There is no veil, and the semi- eircular muzzle is also i^lain. Anns terminal, papillate. Ovarian open- ings single, on each side, the posterior end of the gill-row i)assing be- hind them. The OAidncts, as in some other species, could not clearly be made out. The ovisac or ovary is irregularly shaped and single. The figure (pi. I, f. 9 a) strongly suggests that Prof. Sars, by inadvert- ence in selecting a specimen for examination of the radula, got hold of one of the exti'emely similar Leptochitons, shice it does not resemble the radnla of T. alhus, of which I have examined both American and Euro- pean specimens. On the other hand, the not particularly commendable figure of the radula of L. exaratus Sars looks more like alhus than any- thuig else. ? Trachydermon lividus. Chiton lividus MidiL Mai. Eoss. i, p. 124, i)l. xiii, f. 3 a-g, 4, 1847. Hah. — Sitka, Alaska Territory. This species (and C scrohicidatns Midd. from California) probably be- longs to this genus, but the descriptions and figiu-es are not sufficiently clear to have admitted of their identification up to the present time. The character most emphasized by Middendorf in C. lividus is a key- stone-like projection filling the anterior sinus between the two sutiiral laminte. The specimen on which the description was based was a very small and perhaps immature creature, with faint sculptiu-e, somewhat recalling 2Iopalia 'Hindsii. EMra-limital Species. Tracliydermon cinereus. Chiton cinereus (Lin.) Lowe, Zool. Joum. ii, j). 99, 1825. — Forbes & Hanley, Brit. Moll, ii, 402, pi. Iviii, tig. 1, 1853 (not of Sars). Trachydermon inarginatus Cpr. New Engl. Chitons, 1. c. p. 153, 1873. Craspedochilus marginatus Sars, 1. c. p. 115, t. 20, f. 16 a-h, t. II, f. 2, 1878. Hah. — British and Scandinavian seas, north to Lofoten, south to Vigo Bay, between tides and to the Lamiuarian zone. Tyjie of the genus. Trachydermon dentiens. Chiton dentiens Gld. Otia, pp. 6, 242, 1862. Ischnochiton (Trachi/dermon) pseudodentiens Cpr. Suppl. Rep, 1. c. p. 649, 1863. Hah. — Puget Sound and Vancouver Island. The fact that the "teeth" are merely peculiar color-marks does not render it necessary to dispense with the original name of Dr. Gould. Subgenus Trachyradsia Cpr. MSS. Tracliydermon, valvis centralibus bi- sen pluri-fissatis. Tyx)e Chiton fulgcfrum Reeve. Trachyradsia aleutica. T. aleiUica Dall, Proc. Nat. JIus. p. 1, Jan. 1878. T. t. parva, rufocinerea, oblonga, fornicata, jugo acutissimo ; mucrone 324 PROCEEDINGS OF UMITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. siibmediano, cpicibus promiueutibns ; ar. lat. inconspicnis ; tota super- ficie qnincuiicialiter miiiute reticulata ; inhcs, v. ant. 16. post. 11^ ceutr. 2-tissata 5 dent, parvis lierspougiosis, late separatis ; subgrundis spon- giosis, Curtis 5 siuu parvo; zona squamulis minutis obsita. Lou. 6, Lat. 3 mm. JTal). — Kyska Harbor, Kyska Id. Constantine and Kiriloff Harbors, Amchitka Island, and i^azan Bay, Atka, m the Western Aleutians, at low- water mark, under stones on the beach, Dall ! Fifteen examples. This modest little species is of a dull livid piu-plish red, with an ashy tinge, especially on the narrow gudle. Except for the well-marked ridges of growth, it appears smooth, but possesses (like all Chitons) a line reticulation, only visible under a magnifier. The lateral areas are not distinct, the back is very much rounded, and the valves well hooked in the median line. The substance of the valves from within ai^i^ears remarkably spongy, as if rotten, or even like vesicular pumice, espe- cially under the eaves. The anterior slits are marked by i^diating lines of holes, though the teeth between them can hardly be made out. The posterior valve, however, has not this aid to coimting, and in the general sponginess it is almost impossible to say how many teeth or denticles exist. It bears no marked resemblance to any other species of the re- gion. Genus TONICELLA Cpr. Tonicella Cpr. Bull. Essex lust, v, p. 154, 1873. Type T. maivnorea Fabr. Tonicia sp. Adams, Gray, Cpr. aud others. < Boreochiton G. O. Sars, Moll. Ref^. Arc. Norv. p. 116, Juue, 1878. YalvjB, mucro, laminte et sinus plerumque ut in Ischnochitoue ; zona ut in Tonicia, coriacea, la?vis, seu subLTvis : branchire media?. The genus Tonicia Adams and Gray, to which the species of Tonicella have often been referred, has pectinated insertion-plates and ambient gills like the typical Chitons, while Tonicella has sharp plates and short rows of gills. The two groups also ubescent, 328 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. and fiirnislied at its extreme margin with a fringe of fine spiny hairs or spicules, as in T. marmorea. ? Tonicella Sitkensis. Chiton Siikotsis Midd. Bull. Acad. Sci. St. PtStersb.vi, p. 121, 1846; Mal.Eoss. i, p. 112, t. xiii, f. 1-2, 1847. Totiicia Sitkensis H. & A. Adams, Geu. Rcc. Moll, i, p. 474, 1854. Not Chiton Sitlccn&is Reeve, Couch. Icou. sj). 55, 1847. ?T. t. externa cTepressa; tegmentum loB^ausculum, areis lateralibus iudistinctis, sub leiite sj^arsim granulosum, rubicundum; limbi lievius- culi epidermis zonalis submicroscopio stroma exhibet spinulis latenti- bus erectis munitum; v. ant. 8-, v. post. 10-, v. centr. 1-fissata; brancliioe postica?,, parcfe, no. circ. 24. Lon. 10, Lat. 6 mm. Div. 130°. Sab. — Sitka, one specimen (Midd.). The above species described by Middendorf, if not a variety of one of the others, has not yet been identified or collected by any other natural- ist. His description differs very nuich from his figures, while the ante- rior teeth are figured as grooved outside; if correct, an unusual charac- ter. It is said to be nearest to T. mhmarmoreus^ and may well be a j'oung specimen of one of its numerous varieties. Genus SCHIZOPLAX DaU. ScMzoplax Dall, Proc. Nat. Mus. p. 2, Jan. 1878. Tonicia sp. H. & A. Adams. Schizoplax Cpr. MS. (subgenus of Tonicella). Testa et zona Tonicellse simulans ; valvfe centrales sulco jugali medi- ano, antico argute incisoe ; branchice subambientes. For this remarkable form, which is distinguished from all other known Chitons by the median slit in all the central valves, I propose to adopt the MS. name suggested by Dr. Carpenter on Middendorf 's figures, rais- ing its value, however, to the rank of a genus. The specunens obtained by us api^ear to be the first obtained by any one since the original spe- cimens of Middendorf. Schizoplax Brandtii. Chiton Brandtii Midd. Bull. Acad. Sci. St. P^tersb. vi, p. 117, 184G; Mai. Ross, i, p. 128, 1847. Chiton (Hamachiton, Stenosemus) Brandtii Midd. Sib. Reise, p. 174, t. xv, f. 1-6, 1851. Tonicia Brandtii H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 474, 1854. Schizoplax Brandtii Dall, Proc. Nat. Mus. p. 2, Jan. 1878. S. t. ovali, lougiori, aug-ustiori, satis elevata; jugo rotundato; oliva- ceo-fusca, caeruleo sen strigata, sen maculata sen nebulosa; sfepeirregu- laiiter castaneo; mucrone centr. irregulariter subplanato; v. post, om- iiiuo satis regulariter excurvata; ar. jug. noimisi colore definitis, ar. lat. vix definitis, tota superficie Iseviore, sub lente conspicue quinc. granu- PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 329 lata; zona angusta, olivaceo-cinereo maculata, confertini spinulis minutis ornata, oculo undo subLevis 5 submicroscopio epidermis dorsalis piibes- ceus, stroma si)imdis rarioribiis latqjitibus erectis; mucro indistinctis iu siimma tameu linea mediaua valvanim intermediarum superne sulcus deciirrit linearis, longitudiiialis, argute iucisus; siuu jugali modico, alto, baud lamiuato, conspicue spougiosa, subgruudis minimis, maxime spon- giosis; V. ant. 11-, post. 11-, centr. 1-liss. Brancbiai circ. 22, subambi- entes. Lon. 16, Lat. 5 mm. Div. 140°. Hah. — Sbantar Bay, Okbotsk Sea, Midd. ; Aleutian Islands eastward to Sitka Harbor, low water to 12 fatboms on stones and sbells; Dall! Niuety-tbree si^ecimens examined. Tbis very remarkable species is very prettily marbled witb olive, cbestnut, and blue; tbe girdle generally dark obve, dasbed witb asby spots and in fine specimens baving a pubescent appearance. Tbe slit is occupied by a cartilaginous substance of a dark brown color, most visible from witbin. Tbe brancbiae appear to reacb nearly to tbe bead. It is quite possible tbat it may reacb as far soutb as Puget Sound. Tbe soft parts are yellowisb wbite. Tbe gill-rows exteud tbree-foui'tbs of tbe lengtb of tbe foot forward from tbeii* posterior termination, and eacb contains about twenty-two brancbiaj. Mantle-edge tbick, plain ; veil small, plain. Muzzle small, plain, witb two large squarisb lappets at tbe posterior corners. Tbe supx^osed oviducts open on eacb side tbrougb a small rounded papilla in tbe vicinity of tbe tbird or fourtb brancbia counting forward, and between tbe line of tbe gill-row and tbe side of tbe foot. Genus CH.^TOPLEUEA Sbuttlewortli. CliwiopJeura Slitittlew. Bern. Mittli. Jaui 1853. Tj-pe Chiton Penirianus Lam. <^Clia',topleara H. & A. Adams, Gen. Eec. Moll, i, p. 475, 1854. <^Acantliopleura Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 67. Testa Iscbnocbitoni similis; zona plus minusve pilosa. Brancbiae ambientes. Chaetopleura Hartwegli. Chiton Eartwegii Carpenter, P. Z. S. 185.5, p. 231. Trachydermon Hartwcgii Cpr. Suppl. Eep. Br. Assoc. 1863, p. 649. C. t. colore olivaceo, cinereo sen rufo-fusco seu cupreo-"viridi, saepe eleganter maculoso; intus, intense Cieruleo-viridi; mucrone mediano satis elevato; valvis smgulis tumentibus, eleganter arcuatis, apicibus conspicuis, suturis marg. distinctis; ar. diag. baud nisi costis tumenti- bus subobsoletis discernendis ; tota superficie super granulis minimis, sub lente solum distinguendis, granis parvis ubique sparsis ; sui)er ar. diag. et v. term, granis majoribus irregulariter verrucosis ; intus v. post. 9-12-, ant. 10-11-, centr. 1-fissatisj dent, solidis, obtusis, interdum subru- 330 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. giilosis, valde separatis; subgrundis spongiosis, parum extantibns; siim alto, lato, planato, spongioso, hand laminato; pagina interna callosa; zona fusca, minntissime grannlosa, inter grannlas setis pellucidis mini- mis line et illuc decurreutibns. Lon. 25, Lat. 16 mm. (Cpr. IMS.) Hah. — Columbian Arcbipelago, probably reacliing the southern bor- ders of Alaska, and southward to Magdalena Bay, Lower California. Forty specimens examined. This species having been originally described from imperfect speci- mens, I insert Dr. Carpenter's amended diagnosis. It has not occurred in our collections, but being abundant in the Yancouver region, doubt- less occurs in Southeastern Alaska. It is an aberrant species, and at some time may require to be separated from the genus to which Dr. Car- penter and myself have x^rovisionally referred it. Chagtopleura Nuttallii. Chiton mittaUU Cpr. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 231. Track ydennon Nuttallii Cpr. Supj)l. Eep. Br. Assoc. 1863, p. 649, C. t. mucrone satis planato; intus v. post. 11-, ant. 8-, ceutr. 1-fissata; aliter ut in C. Hartwegii formata. Hab. — With the last, also probably in Alaska. All the specimens examined appear to differ from C. Sartwegil in the broad non-sweUing valves, squared at the sides, and not beaked or waved. It may yet prove merely a variety. The characters of the mantle and interior are aberrant, as in the last species. Genus ISCHNOCniTO:N". IsclmocUton Gray ^*, P. Z. S. 1847, pp. 123-7. Lepidoplcurus Ad. Gen. Eec. Moll, i, 471, 1854. Testa tenuior ; lam. insert, regulares, acutte, nee pectinatae nee serra- tai; subgrundiB majores; sinus i)lerumque laivis; zona squamosa, squa- misplerumquestriatis; branchiae elongatie. (Q)r.) Type J. longicymha Quoy. The main character of this genus, which includes by far the largest number of species of any single group of Chitons, consists in the row of sharp smooth insertion-teeth, surrounded by more or less projecting eaves, as first described by Di\ Carpenter in the Mazatlan Catalogue (p. 191), and in the scaly girdle. Dr. Carpenter has divided the group by its minor characters into the following subgenera: 1. Stcnoplax Cpr C. limaeiformis Sowerby. Body elougatc. Scales elougate, chaflfy, striated, irregular, aud crowded. 2. Stcnoradsia Cpr C. magdaJcnensis Hinds. Lilie Stcnoplax, -with numerous side-slits. 3. Iscluioj)lax Cpr C. pcctinatns Sowerby. Like Stcnoplax, but with occasional large scales rising above the rest, aud a mul- titude of sliort striated bristles. Mucro raised, subposterior. PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 331 4. Hetcrozona Cpr H. cariosa Cpr. Body elongate ; two kinds of ratlier solid, striated scales. 5. Ischnochiton (restricted) Cpr C. longicymha Quoy. Scales transverse, flattened, somewliat imbricated, generally striated. 6. Isclmoradsia Cpr. ex Shuttlewortli , C. dispar Sowerby. Scales striated. Central valves with many slits. 7. Lepidopleurus Cpr ■. Ex C. JicrfcHsi Midd. Scales solid, imbricated, smooth. 8. Lepldoradsia Cpr ,C austraVis Sowerby. Similar to the last, with many slits in central valves. The only Alaskan species of tbe restricted subgenus, so far as known, is the following form. Ischnochiton interstinctus. CUton interstinctus Gould, Moll. U. S. Expl. Exp. p. 322, pi. 27, f. 423, a, 1, 1852. C. (Leptochiton) interstinctws Gould, Otia, p. 230, 242, 1862. Callochiton interstinctus H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 471, 1854. Trachydermon interstinctus Cpr. Suppl. Eep. Br. As. 1863, -p. 649. Ischnochiton interstinctus Cpr. MS. 1871. I. t. mucrone antice inediano, satis elevato; intvs v. post. 12-, ant. 10-, centr. 1-fiss. ; dent, acutis ; subgrundis modieis ; sinu lato, plauato; some squamulis subovalibus, tenuissime striatis. Lon. 17, Lat. 7 mm. Div. llOo. Hah. — Sitka Harbor, 12 fathoms, mud and gravel! south to Monterey and the Santa Barbara Islands, California. Eighty-seven specimens examined. This is a modest little species of a dark red color, mottled with light about the jugum. The riblets are somewhat broken into tubercles b}' the lines of growth. It appeared to be very abundant at Sitka in the locality where it was found. There are no other species likely to be con- founded with it in this district. The giU-rows are nearly as long as the foot. The muzzle is X)roduced into lappets at the corners. Ko data in regard to the fenestras could be obtained from the dry specimens. Ischnoradijia trifida. Trachydermon trifidus Cpr. Suppl. Eep. Br. As. 1853, p. 649; Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat Sci. 1865, p. 60. I. satis magna, satis elevata, regnlariterovali; rufo-castanea, pallidiore et intensiore maculata; jugo acutiore, gothico; mucrone mediano, pla- nato ) tota superficie vix miuutissime granulata ; ar. centrali lineis trans- versis, jugo perpendicularibus circ. YIII altissime puuctatis; ar. lat. valde definitis, costis obsoletis II-IV, interdum ad interstitiis puuctim- depressis; intus, pagiua interna albido-carnea, radiis II rufo-purpureis ab umbonibus plauatis divergentibus; v. post. 13-, v. ant. 13-, centr. 2- fissatis, dentibus acutis interdum ad margines serratis, interdum extus striatis sed interdum normalitcr laivibus; subgrundis consi)icuis sub- 332 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. spongiosis; simi miiiore, lainiuato, lamiua atroqiie latere et iuterduin iu medio flssata; zona squamulis peri^arvis, solidioribus, irregulariter instructis Itevibus, iustructa; braucliiis fere ambieutibus, per valvas VI posticus contiuiiis. Lon. 40, Lat. 26 mm. Div. 135°. jlah. — Sitka, Port Etches, 9-18 fms., gravel, rare; south to Puget Souud. Six specimens examined. This rare and fine species is not i^articularly handsome, being of dull and livid colors, but is peculiarly characterized by the straight trans- ^•erse ribs on the dorsal areas, with spongy interspaces, and by the pretty regular division of the lateral areas into three well-marked radi- ating costre, which are separated in the insertion-plate by two fissures. IsTo other species of the region resembles this in sculpture. Muzzle with a pectinated margin in front j)roduced into rounded lappets at the corners. Gill-rows as long as the foot, containing each 28-35 branchine. Veil absent. Mantle-edge plain, narrow. There is a small spherical lump on each side of the girdle just behind the posterior ends of the gill-rows, which are turned out toward the girdle and widely separated behind. The anus is large, median, and crenate, opening on the upper part of the hinder end of the foot. I^o ovarian openings could be detected, and the species presents some peculiarities which call for fiu'ther research with more material. Subgenus Lepidopleurus s. s. Cpr. Lepidopleunis Mertensii. Chiton Mertensii Midd. Ball. Ac. Sci. St. Petersb. vi, p. 118, 1846. Chiton (PhwnoGhiton, Ramachiton, Stenosemus) Mertensii Midd. Mai. Ross. p. 34, 125, pi. xiv, f. 1-3 a-h, 1847. Leptochiton Mertensii H. & A. Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, i, p. 473, 1854. L. t. colore rubido, interdum intensiore nebuloso; mucrone subcen- trali, hand elevatoj intus v. term. 9-12-, centr. 1 fiss.; dent, acutis; sub- grundis majoribus; sinu lato, planato, hievi; zona rubida sen pallidiore, squamis ovoideis, nitentibus, lievibus vix regulariter confertissime im- bricata. Lon. 20, Lat. 6 mm. Div. lOOo. Hah. — Sitka and vicinity, south to Monterey, Cal. Many specimens examined. Middendorf 's description and figures of this shell do not agree well together. Its fine red color, sliarx) and prominent sculpture, usually free from erosion or nullipore, and beautifully shiniug-and regular scales, render this one of the most attractive and easil}" recognized of the Alaskan Chitons, There are no others in that region hkely to be con- founded with it. It rarely shows a white valve or a dash of white on some of the valves. The Soft parts of this species are whitish. The anus is on a papilla. Mantle-edge narrow, grauulose, forming on each side behind the last branchia a rounded lump or tumor. Near this the ovarian openings were thought to be detected. Muzzle semicircular, cornered behind on PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 333 each side. No veil. Gill-rows three- quarters as long as the foot, each containiug- about forty branchiiie. (lu Lepidoradsia austmlis, the giU-rows were found to extend the whole length of the foot, and to contain forty-seven branchice in each. Mantle-edge plain, thin; muzzle i)lain, semicircular, without a veil; the ovarian openings situated close ou either margin of the anus.) ACANTHOIDEA. Genus NUTTALLINA Cpr. MS. Lorica elongata, valvis antice projectis; mucro posticus, elevatus; laminpe acutiB, hieves, (nisi v. post.) elongatse; v. centrales bifissatoB; sinus hand laminatus, planatus ; zona spinosa. From AcantJiopleura this genus differs in the sm.oothness of the sharp teeth, in their great length and Eadsioid slitting ; in the thrown-back mucro, which often projects beyond the margin ; in the throwing forward of the rest of the shell, as in Katherina, and in the deep spongy flat sinus which interrupts the sutural laminie. The name is given in honor of the late Thomas I^^uttall, Esq., once professor of natural history at Harvard College, and the original discoverer of the typical species, as well as many others of the shells and plants of California. (Cpr.) Nuttallina scabra. Chiton scaber Reeve, Conch. Icoia. Mou. Chiton, pi. xvii, f. 103, 1847. Chiton caJifornicus (Nutt. MS.) according to Carpenter. Not Chiton calif ornicus (Nutt. MS.) according to Reeve. Acanthoplcura scabra Cj)r. Suppl. Rep. Br. Assoc. 1863, p. 649. !N". t. mucrone postico, sed hand terminali, maxime trans marginem posticum elevato; v. post. 7-8-, v. ant. 10-11-, centr. 2-fissatis; dent, acutis, Icevibus, (nisi postice) prselongis, antice valde projectis; valvis centralibus dent. post, minoribus; subgrundis parvis, hand sulcatis; sinu altissimo, lato, plauato, spongioso, hand laminato; zona lata crassa; spinis testaceis curtioribus densissime obsita. Lon. 3G, Lat. 10 mm. Hah. — Vancouver district, south to California, probably in the south- ern islands of Alaska ,• at and above high-water mark, in crevices of the rocks ; at Monterey abundant. This singular species, not yet obtained from Alaska, but which will probably be found there, like some Litoriuas, seems habitually to prefer positions where it can at most be reached by the spray in storms, on ex- posed headlands, where the breeze comes in damp and cool from the sea. The pointed valves overlap each other so much that when the creature is curled up they project from the girdle, giving a pectinated outline, un- usual in Chitons. The valves are almost always eroded, even the prom- inent mucro is often hollowed out, and the sculi)ture can rarely be seen except in young specimens. The color is grayish or brownish, with whitish streaks ; the girdle has the aspect of dead brownish-black moss, sometimes with ashy spots at the sutures. 334 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Order DOCOGLOSSA. Suborder ABRANOHIATA. Family LEPETID^. Genus LEPETA Gray. Lepeta Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 168.— Dall, Am. J. Conch, t, 1869, p. 140. Subgenus Lepeta Dall ex Gray. Lepeta Dall, Mou. Fam. Lepetidaj, Am. J. Concli. v, 1869, p. 141. Lepeta caeca. PateUa cccea O. F. Miiller, Prodr. Zool. Dan. 1766, p. 237 ; lb. Zool. Dan. i, p. 12. Lepeta cwca Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 168.— Dall, 1. c. p. 141, pi. 15, f. 4. (Tyiio.) Sal). — In Alaska, in 23 fathoms, off the Sea Horse Islands, near Point Barrow, Arctic Ocean north from Bering Strait (Smith! 3 specimens). Elsewhere, northern seas of Europe and Eastern ]S"orth America generally, 10-100 fathoms (Sars); Massachusetts Bay north- ward, in America. In Europe northward from Danish waters ; on the Norwegian coast j the Hebrides, etc. This species has not been found, though reported, erroneously, south from Bering Strait on the Pacific side. Such references refer to L. (C.) concentrica. Jeffreys found it in six hundred and ninety fathoms off Holsteinborg in Greenland, and it ranges from that depth to a few fathoms. That it has a curved, nearly spiral, deciduous nucleus when very young, was announced by me in 18G9, and is confirmed by Dr. Jef- freys in his Report on the MoUusca of the Valorous Expedition. It is the PateUa Candida of Couthouy, P. cerea of Moller, and probably the Lepeta Franklini of Gray MSS. Subgenus Cryptobranchia Dall ex Midd. CrtjptohrancMa Midd. (pars). Sib. Eeisc, p. 183, 1851. — Dall, Mon. Lepetidse, 1. c. 1869, p. 143. The name Cryptohrancliia was previously used by Gray, Fleming, and Deshayes for different groups of mollusks of family or greater value, but has in none of these cases been used or adopted by other naturalists, and hence was not preoccupied for the grouj) of Middendorf. Cryptobranchia concentrica. Patella (Cryptobranchia) cwca, var. (3 concentrica, Slidd. Sib. Eeise, p. 183, pi. xvi, f. 6, 1851. CnjpiohrancMa concentrica Dall, 1. c. p. 143, pi. 15, f. 2 a-f. Lepeta ccccoides Cpr. Snppl. Eep. Br. As. 1863, pp. 603, 651. Sal). — ]N'orth Japan, Stimpson! Schrenck!, eastward throughout the Aleutians, along the southern coast of Alaska (Dall!), British Columbia PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 335 (Fisher!) to Piiget Somid, W. T. (Swau and Kennerly!). Abundant from low water to eighty fathoms on stones and shells, sometimes attain- ing the length of an inch, but usually about four-tenths of an inch long. Five hundred and twenty-seven specimens examined. This is the largest and most abundant species of the family. In it, beside differences in dentition, the apex is simply pointed or blunt, not deciduous, as in the tyi)ical Lepeta. The sculpture is usually faint, but sometimes raised in beautiful concentric frills, from which the name was derived. Small specimens from slight examination have been quoted as L. ccvca by authors. It has not yet been found north of the Aleutians. C. concentrica var. instabilis. f CryptohrancMa instalilis Dall, 1. c. p. 14r), pL 15, f. 6, I am now con\inced that the provisional name which I applied to this singular form is only of varietal value. It seems, from later specimens, to be a form which, fiom living on the stalk of Nereocystis, has become peculiarly arcuated and greatly thickened, much like Acmari insfahiUs, which has the same habit. It has only been foimd at Sitka in small numbers, dead, in 10-15 fathoms. Cryptobranchia alba. C. alba Dall, 1. c. p. 145, pi. 15, f. 3 a-d, 1869. I];ah. — Plover Bay, E. Sib., DaU! Seniavine Straits, Stimpson! Akutan Pass, Aleutian Islands, DaU ! Dead on beach. Alive at six- teen fathoms, gravel. Twenty-four specimens examined. This species appears to fill the gap between the distribution of L. cccca and G. concentrica. It is easily distinguished from the latter by its smooth surface and rounded apex and back, beside anatomical charac- ters. It rarely reaches nearly an inch in length, and is of the purest whiteness. Extra-limital Species. Subgenus Pilidium Forbes. Pilidium Forbes, Athenaum, Oct. G, 1849, p. 1018.— Forbes & Hanley, Brit. Moll, ii, p. 440, 1849 ; not of Middeudorf, Sib. Eeise, p. 214, 1851.— Dall, 1. c. 1869 (synonymy, etc., in full). lothia Gray, not Forbes, 1854 (cf. Dall, 1. c. 1869). Teciura Jeffi-cys, 1865, not of Gray (1847), nor of authors. SaitcUina Chenu (pars), Sars, not of Gray, 1847. Pilidium fulvum. Patella fitha 0. F. Miiller, Prodr. Zool. Dan. p. 227, 1776. Pilidium fulvum Forbes, Athenreum, 1, c. Oct. 6, 1849.— Dall, 1. c. 1869. Pilidium ruhellum Stm. Checklist Sh. N. Am. E. Coast, No. 312, 1865. lecturafulva Jeffreys, Br. Couch, iii, p. 250, 1865. Patella farhesii J. Smith, Worn. Soe. Mem. viii, p. 107, pi. ii, f. 3. Scutcllinafulva G. 0. Sars, Moll. Reg. Arct. Norv. p. 122, 1878. Sab. — Xorthern and Arctic seas of Eastern America and Europe; doubtfully re]3orted from the Adriatic, where, if it be correctly identified, 336 PEOCEEDIKGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. it is probably tlie remuant of a polar colony, like that in the Gulf of Lyons. It ranges from five to one hundred and fifty fathoms. This species, like Cryptohranchia, has a rounded non-spu'al apex. When the Arctic shores of Alaska are more carefully searched, it may turn up there ; but it does not seem to be a common species anywhere. The name Pilidkim has been used for a stage in the larva of certain invertebrates, but not as having an assured standing in systematic nomenclature. I see no reason, therefore, why it should be replaced by any other. It is hardly necessary to i)oiut out that it does not belong even to the same family as the Tectura of most authors, though erro- neously called Tectura by Adams and others. It was sent by Morch, under the name of Patella rubella Fabr., to Dr. Stimpson, which led him and the writer to erroneously unite that species (which is an Acmcca) with the present one in 1865 and 1869. To Prof. Sars is due the credit of pointing out the true place of the P. ruhclla. Clark speaks of find- ing the fry entangled in the mucus of the foot, but this can hardly be more than an accident. Suborder PEOTEOBHANCHIATA. Family ACM^ID^ Cpr. Acmaklw Dall, 1. c. j). 237, 1S71. Genus ACM^A Eschscholtz. Acmcea Esch. Appendix to Kotzebue's New Voyage around the World (Dorpat, 1828), Loudon reiirint, vol. ii, p. 350, 1830. — Dall, 1. c p. 237, 1871. Type A. mitra. Having shown by evidence which cannot be successfully controverted, that the name of Acmwa has precedence iu time of application over Tecture Aud. {Tectura Gray), no apology is necessary for following the lead of Forbes, Woodward, Hauley, Philippi, and Carpenter, in adojit- ing the prior designation. Its very extensive synonymy will be found in my paper above quoted. Subgenus Acm.1. A. 44. P. 16. V. 5. 21919 a (Massachusetts Bay). D.52. A. 45. P. 16. V. 5. The genus Motella was not proposed in proper form until the publica- tion of the second edition of Cuvier's Regne Animal in 1829, although in its French form— ies Musteles— it was applied by Cuvier to the genus in 1817. The name of Eisso, pubUshed in his "Europe Meridionale" in 1827, must therefore be used as Professor Gill has indicated.§ * Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist, iii, 1848, p. 5. t Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863 (Sept. ), p. 230. t Systema Natune, eil. 12, 1768, p. 440. §L.c.p. 241. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 349 Tlie sole character whicli separates BMnonemus from Onos is the pres- ence of a nasal cirrus, a character to which we are unwilling to allow more than a subgeneric value. We believe that the species should be called Onos cimbrius (Linn.), but are willing to accept provisionally the name Rldnonemus cimbrius. We have examined numerous specimens which jiurported to belong to Giliata argentata (Reinh.) Gill, and have found them in every case to be the young of this species, for small indi- viduals of R. cimbrius are found swimming at the surface, although the adult fishes inhabit only the deeper parts of Massachusetts Bay. Eng- lish ichthyologists now regard Oiliata as the larval form of "Motella," and if this be not the case, we doubt if this genus has ever been ob- served in the Western Atlantic. The National Museum has specimens of Onos mustela (Linn.), Onos tricirratus (Bloch), and Onos maculattis (Risso); the specific individuality of the latter two seems very doubtful, as well as that they are distinct from Onos ensis (Reiuh.) Gill, described from the coast of Greenland. The synonymy of Onos cimbrius is given below. Onos (Rhinonemus) cimbrius (LinnsGus) Gooclo & Bean. Gadus cimirius, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. xii, 1766, p. 440. — LACKPi;DE, Hist. Nat. Poiss. ii, 1801, p. 442. Motella cimhria, Bell, Canadian Naturalist and Geologist, iv, 1859, p. 209. — GuNTHER, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus. iv, 18G2, p. 367. — Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.Phila. 1833,p.241. Encliehjopu8 eimbricus, Schneider, Bloch's Systema Iclithyologia;, 1801, x>. CO, pi. ix. Motella cimirica, 'NiLSSOTi, Prodr. Ichtb. Scand.ii. 48; Skand. Fauna, iv, 1855, p. 587. — Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Fishes, 2d cd. 1841, ii, p. 274. Motella vaudacuta, Storer, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist, iii, 1848, p. 5; Mem. Amer. Acad. Sci. 1867, p. 411 ; Hist. Fishes Mass. 1867, p. 183. BMnonemus caitdacuta, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1803, j). 241; Cat. Fishes E. Coast N. Am. 1873, p. 18. — Goode & Beax, Am. Journ. Sci. and Arts, xiv, Dec. 1877, p. 476. Washington, December 31, 1878. CATAIiOGUE OF THE B&ISDS COt.l.ECTEO IN MARTIIVIIQUE BY HIB. FKEI>. A. OBER FOB THE SOTflTHSOIVSAIV flNSTiTUTflOIV. By (KEOKGE N. I.AWREMCE. After completing the exploration of Grenada, Mr. Ober left there the fore part of April and visited the island of Tobago, where he remained for more than two months, and did not arrive in Martinique until the beginning of July, remaining there until the latter part of August, llis collection was made "from July 9th to August 20th." It consists of ninety-one specimens. He gives an interesting account of the island, which, with his other observations, are mdicated by quotation-marks. 350 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. " Slcetcli of Martinique. "Martinique is the largest of the Lesser Antilles, being about 50 miles in length and containing, it is estimated, about 380 square miles. "The surface is ver\^ uneven, the interior being one grand region of hills and mountains. The highest of these is Mount Pelee, northwest of the principal town, St. Pierre, and in the northwestern part of the island. It is over 4,000 feet in height; it is a volcano, and has emitted smoke and ashes within thirty years; now, however, there are no signs of an eruption. There are in all 5 or G extinct volcanoes. Here may be seen in great perfection those picturesque pitons, or peaked mountains — coni- cal peaks. One group in the interior shows itself in great beauty from Fort de Fi-ance. Mineral and warm springs occur in various parts of the island, and some of the rivers are of good size. "To one glancing at a map of the island — with its high mountains, dark ravines, gloomy gorges, tracts of elevated table land, numerous bays and streams — this would seem the promised land for birds. Situ- ated, too, midway the volcanic chain, it should possess birds that no other island could boast. Yet I have found it otherwise, and in Domin- ica, only 30 miles of latitude further north, I obtained more species and fouml birds in greater profusion. This is owing to at least two causes — the hand of man being manifest in both — 1st, the dense population (the islaud having a population of not less than 130,000) ; 2nd, to the thorough cultivation of aU cultivable land. From the coast to the hills, and even up the mountain sides, cane is grown ; and when that is not practicable, are the provision grounds of the negroes. The rest is pasture land, trees, and rocks. I found great difficulty in getting a place of abode outside the city, and it Avas a week or two after my arrival before I could get even a floor to sleep upon. There are no hotels outside of St. Pierre and Fort d(^ France, save at the two warm springs, and no inns or hos- telries. " Had it been practicable, I would have made a camp in the mountains; l)ut this I could not do, as I did in Dominica and St. Vincent. Notwith- standing all this, I secured a roof and a rocmi in a little hamlet in the mountains called Morne Eonge, and from there made excursions to Morne Calebasse, Morne Balisier, JMountain Pelee, and Champ Flore. Birds were unusually scarce from the incessant persecution they are subject to from boys and men ; later on, after returning to St. Pierre, I went to Fort d§ France. After losing several days there, I crossed the bay of Fort Eoyal to Trois Islets— where I had great difficulty in getting shelter. Fortunately I found a host in the proprietor of an estate near Trois Islets; the estate was none other than 'Inhabitation de la Page- ric , where the Emjjress Josephine was born and passed her earlier years. " Finding lodgings in the negro barrai^ks, and ])rocuring sustenance at the house of my friend the i)roprietor, I passed some time, obtaining there nearly all the birds that I secured at all in the island. "Trois Islets is about 20 miles south of St. Pierre, on the Caribbean PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 351 side. From there I scoured the hills and valleys to 'Ance du Diamaut' on the southern point, near the famous Diamond Eock, and thoroughly canvassed that historic ground, trodden 100 years ago by the leet of the beautiful Empress of the French. In the Jardin des Plantcs, in the sub- urbs of St. Pierre, I had permission to shoot, through the courtesy of the directeur, Monsieur Chs. Belanger. But though these gardens are extensive and beautiful, crowded with trees and shrubs of the Tropics, secluded and forbidden to the ordinary chasseur, I found very few spe- cies and no great numbers of any one species. "Throughout the island there exists such a dread of the 'serpent', the Iron lance {Trigonocephalus lanccolatus), that I found it impossil)leto obtain a good boy, to assist me in finding the haunts of birds. More than once I have been startled by the cry of 'serpent' and found that my coloured brother had absconded. " Though at first inclined to believe in the oft-repeated stories of deaths from snakebites, I soon found that the number of serpents was either grossly exaggerated, or they took good care to keep out of my way, for in all my tramps I saw bnt two large ones. " There are, however, numerous deaths from these noxious reptiles during the cane season. The serpent prefers the cane fields, where he hunts the numerous rats ; and, as my ground for hunting is any but the cane, for birds, this may be the reason we met so seldom. I cannot say that I was anxious to find one, howcA'er ; though I did not let the possi- ble i^resence interfere with my regular work. " My thanks and those of the Institution are due to Capt. W. A. Gar- field, U. S. Consul; Monsieur Chs. Belanger, directeur du Jardin des Plantes, and Monsieur Louis Hartmann." Fam. TURDIDtE. 1. Margarops hemiinieri (Lafr.). " ' Grive a pieds jaunes.' " Eare, owing to the persecution of hunters." 2. Margarops densirostris (Vieill.). '"Gros Grive.' "Not common, being the chief bird sought by the hunters in the hunt- ing season, consequently shy." 3. Margarops montanus (Vieill.). " ' Grivette.' Iris yellow. "Length, th, . ruJicapiUa, which prob- ably was the cause of Yieillot being misled. As the name of rtificapilla belongs to another species. Prof. Baird (Rev. of Amer. Birds, p. 204) applied to Yieillot's species that of riiji- gula. He then speaks of a specimen in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, labelled ";S'. nificapiUa,''^ without indication of locahty. He says : '' It agrees very well, especially in the greater exten- sion of the rufous of the throat, with the Sylvia ruJicapiUa of Yieillot, from ]Martinique ; and it may be reallj' a West Indian species." Since then, in " Xorth American Birds," p. 217, under I). rnfujuJay there being under examination a bird from Panama, which it was thought might be the species described byA^ieillot, he has in a footnote the followiug remark : " Should Yieillot's species be really from Mar- tinique, in all probability tlie present biid will be found to be different, and therefore not entitled to the name here given." It now being established that Martiriique is the true patria of this form. Prof. Baird's name of I), riifigula nuist be used for it. The male agrees with the description given by him of Yieillot's si>ecies, viz, in having "the rufous of entire head extending down the neck to jugu- him." The measurements of the wing and tail aie just the same as given by Prof. Baird, i. e., wing, 2.25 ; tail, 2. There is but one specimen of the female in ^h\ 01>ers collection, in Proc. l!^at. Mus. 78 23 Mar. I O, I S 79o 354 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. very poor conditiou ; it has tlie upper plumage olivaceous, and on the crown is of a rather deeper shade. 9. Setophaga ruticilla (Liuu.)- ^'' Le Gobe-monclie aiirore.^ " ]S^ot often seen." Fam. VIREONID^. 10. Vireosylvia calidris v;u. domiiiicana, La^Yl■. '' • Qucc: Fam. lilRUXDINID^. 11. Progne dominicensis (Gm.). ••Flying- above the sea near the elitits between St. Pierre and Fort de France." Fam. CGEREBIDJC. 12. Certhiola martinicana, Eeirh. '• • Hitcrler.' " Length, S , 4 J in. ; alar extent, 7f| ; wing, 2i. "Not so abundant as in Dominica, l>nt in greater numbers than in St. Vincent and Grenada. The Jardin des Plautes, near the city of St. Pierre, is the only place in which I ha^e seen it j)lentiful. In the trees overhanging the suburbs of the ciry it i.s not an infrequent ^-isitor, espe- cially to the tamarind tree. '• As it lives for a while contentedly in a cage, many ai'c caught by the negro and colored boj's, with bird lime, and by the use of the blowgun. Hence their scarcity f I have walked some days for several miles with- out seeing tliis or any otber l)ird. along the shore of the west coast." Fam. TAXAORIDaE. 13. Ei'phonia flavifrciis (Spanju). '• ' Pcyroiichc' '•Length, ,?, 5 in.; alar extent, 8; wing, 2.^. '•Xowhere is this bird abundant. I liave already chronicled its dis- covery in Dominica, St. Vincent, and (rrenada, but in no island is it numerous. I might set it down as rare, did 1 not thinlv it possible that it may occur in greater numbers tliau my researches have led me to sup- pose, from the liK.'t that its .sec^luded habits and its peculiar food cause it to betake itself to the tops of the highest trees, where it might be passed a hundred times without discovery. Though undoubtedly gen- erally as.sociating in small tiucks, Ihave not as yet (with one exception), found it otherwise than ahme. Its stomach always contains a peculiar viscid green flat seed, the name of which I cannot at this time recall." 14. Saltator guadeloupensis, Lafi. " ' Gros-hec.^ "Length, S, 8| in.; alar extent, 12; wing, L "Length, 5, 8 in.; alar extent, 12 ; wing, S?. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 355 " Prefers the skirts of woods and open fields, utters a sharp Avhistle, not very loud, and flits from bush to tree in low flight. Rather abun- 4laut at Trois Islets on the hillsides. More numerous than I found it in Dominica ; even plentiful in the low scrub, or second growth, that cov- ered the hillsides upon old plantations." Fam. FRINGILLID^E. 15. Loxigilla noctis (Liuu.). ^' ^ Fere jwir.' ' Jloisson.'' "Length, t Q. nUjcr of St. Domiago) and described in this memoir." The dimensions given by Mr. Cassin are about the same as those of specimens from Martinique, but the bills differ; he gives, "chord of up- per mandible about one and four fifth inches." In the present bird it measures but one and a quarter inches. A specimen of Q. niger from St. Domingo, presented by Prof. Gabb, is of about the same size, and differs in coloration only in having the breast and abdomen without lustre — the bills though are very different, that of (J. niger is wider at the base, longer, straighter, and narrower at the end ; the commissiu^e is nearly straight, and the ridge of the upper man- dible is percei)tibly flattened. The locality of Mr. Swainson's type is unkiiovv-ii, ;uid possibly it may not he the Antilliau species referred to PROCEEDINGS OE^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 357 it; but for the present, it is ilo]il)t]oss best to let it remain as Mr. Swain- son's species. On looking- at my Q. hDinnosus from Grenada, I find it lias a longer and more curved bill than the Martini(pie bird; the chord of the upper mandible measures one and a half inches. But with its highly lustrous and more violaceous plumage, together with the decided bright green color of the wings, it does not agree Avith the descrii)tion given of Q. iiifiexirostris. In the account of Q. Juminosits I stated that it was the only West Indian species of Qui.wahis I knew of in which both sexes were not black; but the female of the present bird is brown also. Of that sex, Mr. Ober sent but one adult exam^de ; the ui^j)er i)lumage is of a smoky- brown, the feathers of the crown edged with fulvous; the tail-feathers have their inner webs black, the outer webs are brown; sides of the head and the throat light ashy-gray; the breast and upper part of the abdomen are brownish-ash; lower part of abdomen, flanks, and under tail -coverts dark smoky -brown; thighs dull fulvous-l>rown; bill and feet black. Fam. TYRANNID.E. 19. Eiainea niartinica (Linu.)- "Flycatcher. 'Gobe mouche.' "Length, ^, 7 in.; alar extent, 9J; wing, 3^. "Length, 9, 6} in.; alar extent, 10; wing, 3^. " Veiy few of this species to be seen; frequents the high hills, espe- cially' the wooded hollows and ravines." 20. Myiarchus sclateri, Lawi. ''Flycatcher.-' The upper plumage is deep dark olive, the head above blackish-bro^vn. Unfortunately, the only feathers left^n the tail are the outer four on one side; the outermost two are dark brown and without rufous edgings on the inner webs ; the other two feathers are brownish-black, with their inner webs edged with light rufous for about one-quarter their width; quills dark brown, their iiuier webs bordered with pale salmon-Adng-coverts edged with dull white; under wing-coverts light ash, with just a tinge of yellow; throat and breast of a clear cinereous gray; ab- domen and under tail-coverts dull pale yellow; sides cinereous; bill and feet black. Length (fresh), 7i in.; wing, Sf; tail, 3^; tarsus, 1; middle toe and claw, \%; hind toe to end of claw, -^. The single specimen sent is of about the size of ilf. eryflirocercus, Scl., but the plumage of the new species above is dark, with no a])pro;uih to the earthy-brown color of the other; below the\ do not differ so much, but in M. sclafcri the yellow is duller and more restricted; they difler materially in the rufous markings on the inner webs of the tail-feathers; in M. crythrocercus this color occupies about one-half the web on the 358 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. outermost two feathers, and on the others two-thirds or more; the new | j species diifers conspicuously in its much longer and stronger tarsi and I ' toes. Named in compliment to Mr. P. L. Sclater. , 21. Tyrannus rostratus, Scl. "'Piperee.' liesident. "Length, ^, 9 J in. 5 alar extent, 14f ; wing, 4f. "Length, 9, 10 in.; alar extent, 15|; wing, 4f. "These two specimens are the only ones I have seen. Though un- common, in Dominica, it may be considered rare here. Its local name, ' Piperee,' is in use throughout the islands, and is derived from its cry." Fam. TROCHILID^. 22. Eulampis jugularis (Liun.). " ' Colibri gorge rouge.' "Length, ^, o^ in.; alar extent, 7^; wing, 3. "Leugtli, 9, 54 in.; alar extent, 7; wing, 3. "The most abundant of the humming-birds in the mountain districts,, but of rare occurrence in the lower portions of the island. ISTot so abun- dant, however, as in Dominica." 23. Eulampis holossriceus (Liun.). "Length, ^, 4j| in.; alar extent, 0; wing, 2^-. " Length, 5 , 4^- in. ; alar extent, G^ ; wing, 2^. "This species is found in the mountains as well as in the valleys of the lowlands. It is found in the Jardin des Plantes, and on the elevated plateau of Morne Eonge and Champs Plores. In the elevated districts it is not in the numbers of JE. jiKjularu.''' 24. Orthorhynchus exilis (Gju.). "'Foufou.' "Length, ^j, oh in.; alar extent, 4^; wing, 2. "Length, 9, oh in.; alar extent, 4f ; wing, IJ. " This little gem is found all over the island, though not in such profu- sion as I found it in Dominica. In the Jardin des Plantes it is the most numerous species, perhaps. At Morne Eonge and at Trois Islets, I found it occasionally. "As in the other islands where the French and French patois is spoken, this little bird is known to the common people as ' fou fou ', or crazy crazy, from its eccentric motions while in flight. " They have also a superstition that if you eat its body it will make you crazy, and in their ignorance they believe it is used by the physi- cians in some mysterious medicine — hence its vulgar name in the English slands of 'Doctor Bird'." PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 359 Fam. CYPSELID^E. 25. "Chaetura. Seen. "Apparently the same a.s my Dominica specimens." Fam. ALCEDINIDiE. 26. Ceryle alcyon (Liun.). "Seen; rare and shy." Fam. CUCULID^. 27. Coccyzus minor (Gm.). '^ '(Jloucon manioc' "Length, $,14, in.; ahir extent, 17; wing, 6. "Length, 9, 13 J in.; ahir extent, 10 J; wing, 6. I "I found this species abundant, if one can say that any species is abundant in an island so barren of birds as this. At least I coidd hud one almost any day, by beating the scraggy bushes upon the hillsides ' of Trois Islets. The same in habits and notes as the 'Coucou' of the other islands."' Fam. FALCONID.F:. 28. Tinnunculus sparverius var. antillaruni (Gni.). "• Seen ; uncommon." Fam. FREGATTD.F. 29. Pregata aquila (Linn.). " Seen " Fam. PH^ETHONID^. 30. Phaethon flavirostris Brandt. "It undoubtedly has its haunt in the cliffs near St. Pierre, south, as I have seen it near there and the cliff wall is honeycombed with holes, just such as the Tropic bird chooses for itself." Fam. PELECANID^. 31. Pelecanus fuscus (Linn.), "Seen " Fam. ARDEID.E. 32. Ardea herodias (Linn.). "Seen flying high above Champs Flores from the mountain forest to the ocean." 33. Plorida caerulea (Linn.). " Seen ; in blue and white plumage." 34. Butorides virescens (Linn.). "The most common, though not plentiful." 360 PROCEEDINGo OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Fam. COLUMBID^. 35. Coluaiba corensis (Gm.)- " ' Eiimiei'.' Iris yellow. ^'Tuougli persistently himted, this bird sfciil iuliabits tiie mountains, making- its liome especially upon the volcano of Mountain Pelee. In all the highest hills and mountains it may be found in sparse numbers. Several attempts that I made to secure this species, on the sides of the volcano, were i'riiitiess owing to its wildness." 36. Zenaida niartinicana, I3p. ^"Tourterelle.' "Earely seen, but inhabits the dry slopes near the sea." 37. Chaaiaepelia passerina (Limi.). ' ' ' Ortolan.' Eesident. "As the extent of cultivated and pastiue land is greater than in Do- minica, so is this bird found in greater numbers, though not abundant in either island." 33. Geotrygon montana (Linn.). ''•Perdix.' Iris gold j resident. ''Length, c?,ll:iin.; alar extent, 10; wing, Gi. "Though this species is far from abundant, the natives occasionally bring the birds in for sale.^ The 'Eamier'is, perhaps, more plentiful, bat liom its more secluded habits and from its keeping itself in the air and on the tallest trees, never touching the ground, is less subject to persecution than the 'Perdix'. As in the United States, the snare and trap kill two to one killed by the gun; and the springes of the natives will soon exterminate this bird from the island and add it to the already growing list of animals that iccre and now are not." Fam. SCOLOPACID/E. 39. Tringoides macularius (Liuu.). "'Becasse.' "Length, S, 7h in.; alar extent, 13|; wing, U. "A resident, but merely a straggling one, left from the flocks that visit here in the winter months." Fam. LARID^. 40. Sterna dougalli, Mout. "'Hirondelle de Mer.' "The sea birds are mostly found on the Atlantic side of the island, which I did not visit. This species is common, now (xVugust), about the shores of Port Eoyal Bay." New York, December 31, 1878. * " PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 361 NOTE 0:V PLATESSA FERRUGINE A. B. II. STOREK, AIV» JPI.ATESSA ROSTKATA, Bl. K. STORER. By G. BI£0^*V]\ GOOOE sssmI TAKS.ETON 15. BEAIV. Ill a paper on tlie Fishes of Xova Scotia and Labrador, published in 1857,* Mr. H. E. Storer described a species of flonuder under the name Platessa rostrata. This species has been a puzzle to ichth^^ologists. I)r. Giinther, in 1SG2, ventured the remark, that it "appears to be allied to Pleuronectes limaMla.^^ Professor Gill, in 18G1, referred it to his nominal genus Myzopsetta, and in 1864 to Llmanda.X While investigatiug the fauna of the Xova Scotia coast in 1877, the naturalists of the United States Fish Commission made especial efforts to find this species, but with- out success, which was a matter of some surprise, since nearly all the spe- cies recorded from the Gulf of St. Lawrence were observed in the course of the siimmer.§ In 1878, several si>ecimens were trawled in Massachu- setts Bay, which were strongly suggestive of Storei's Platessa rostrata, and which, upon comi^arison with his description, were found to agree with it in every i^articular except that in relation to the relati^'e size of the scales on the superior portion of the operculum arid the neighborhood of the lateral line, a matter aj)pareiitiy of individual variation. A more extended study of the subject has convinced us that the individuals at first studied, as well as the ones described by H. E. Storer, should be identified with Platessa fernnjhwa, I). H. Storer, a species which should undoubtedly be referred to the genus LhiianiJu of Gottsche. Limanda was established by Gottsche in 1835 in Wiegmann's Archiv fiir ]!^atur- geschichte (p. 100), and is synonymous with Myzopsetta, described by Professor Gill in 1801, 1| distinguished by him from Limanda by the fol- lowing characters: "snout refuse" (instead of "conic"); "mouth very oblique" (instead of "moderately oblique"). * Observations ou the Fishes of Nova Scotia and Labrador, with Descrix)tions of New Species. By Horatio E. Storer. p. 268, pi. viii, fig. 2. <^Boston Journ. of Nat. Hist., vi, 1857, pp. 247-270, pi. vii, viii. t Catalogue of the Fishes in the Briti.sh Museum, iv, 1352, ^i. 447. t Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1864, p. 217. \N Regardiug the habitat of Plates.<ted for the American cusk the name Brosmiu.s ji(ivei. C: Professor: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your valued favor of October 30th, which reached me after a delay, I being- absent from Fort Jefferson. This absence, coupled with my wish to get all possible facts in regard to the destruction of fish in these and neigh- boring waters, will account for my apparent tardiness. Since my communication in October another large body of the dark- colored water described therein made its way down the coast, across Flori B. Bergen. D. 99. A. 73 364 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Tliey seemed to be affected very mucli as I have seen them wheu "flsli berries"' were thrown into a pond — coming to the snrface, swimming around in circles, sometimes on the side or back, the movements growing weaker rajiidly and ceasing altogether in 20 or 30 minutes. I noticed one fact Avhich may or may not be of importance : I took a small lish, known here as a cow-fish, from the water when just about dead, and, having examined it for a minute or two, cast it back, when, to iny sur- prise, it swam off briskly, going down at once. As in the previous instance, the shores at Fort Jefferson and neigh- boring keys were covered with fisli, and here, at Key West, the north side of the island was in similar condition. From correspondence and conversation I have gathered, in addition to the above, the following facts, some, and possibly all, of which may be of interest. A fishing-smack sailed some 70 or 80 miles to the westward from Fort Jefferson without getting clear of the water. Another smack found the surface of the water out some 15 miles in the Gulf Streaiij covered with dead fish — large sharks, turtles, king-fish, &c., but no porpoises, and, as far as I have heard, no dead i^orpoises have l)een seen. An oflicer coming over from Xew Orleans by steamer was more than 12 hoiu-s l)assiug through a field of dead fish. Oysters in Tauipa Bay were killed by the Avater. In October the Caloosahatchee E iver overflowed its l)anks along its entii'e length except at a bluff' at Fort Meyers, and the whole country in that section was under water, reported to be the result of the overflow of Lake Okeechobee. A gentleman who knows that part of the State well tells me that the swampy land bordering on Okeecho- bee is grown up largely with dogwood; the water in the lake gradually rising and spreading over the surrounding marshes or swamps ])robably kept these dogwood trees wholly or partly submerged for weeks, until the di-sdde between Okeechobee and the headwaters of Caloosahatchee Eiver gave way. In the possible poisonous effect of water impregnated with dogwood, &c., a theory of the cause of the loss of fish-life may be found. I understand from Dr. Joseph Y. Porter, II. S. A., that he for- warded to your address a bottle of water. I am in hopes that an analysis of it will enable you to settle the question; if so, I would be indebted greatly to you if you would inform me. In regard to my former letter, you can make any use of it you f TBIE FSSiMJS^ OF BEAUFORT IIARBOE:, NOKTIt C'AKOLBIVA. iSy DA\flI> S. JOKDAN Kud CI1AKI.ES 12. GILEEIIT. In tlie Proceedings of the Pliiladelpliia Academy of Natural Sciences for 1877, P13. 203-218, is a paiJer entitled "Notes on tlie IsTatural History of Fort Macon, K. C, and Vicinity (No. 3)," by Dr. H. C. Yarrow, whick treats of tbe species of fishes obtained by Drs. Cones and Yarrow in Beaufort Harbor and neigbboriug waters during the peiiod of tlieir residence at Fort Macon. During the past summer (1878), the ^Miters, accompanied by Prof. A. ^Y. Brayton and a partj' of students from Butler University, spent three weeks in the month of August at Beaufort, the chief business of the party being the collection of fishes. AVe obtained, in all, about seventy- five species, many of which are not included in Dr. Yarrow's list. For the x)uri)ose of making as complete a showing of the Ichthyology of the North Carolina coast as possible, we here include not only the species which we have ourselves. observed, but also those taken by Drs. Coues and Yarrow. Brief notes on the local habits or distribu- tion of each species are given, as well as occasional critical remarks on the nomenclature. The sequence and nomenclature are essentially as in Professor Gill's Catalogue of the Fishes of the East Coast of North America, 1873. The vernacular uauif s here given are onlv tliose used by the Beaufort fishermen. Family LOPHIID^. Genus LOPHIUS Linn. 1. Lophius piscatorius L. — AU-mouth. {Lophius cmericaniis Gill, 1. c.) Not seen alive; two sets of jaw-bones picked up on the beach below Cape Lookout. Said to be occasionally taken by the fishermen. Until some evidence other than the difference of habitat is offered to show that the American "Angler," Lophius amcricanus DeKay, is distinct from the European Lophius piscatorius L., it seems to us that the burden of proof is on the side of the doubtful species. It seems better to consider the two forms on opposite sides of the xVtlantic as identical until proved to be distinct, rather than distinct until proved to be identical. In the case of this and numerous other northern fishes of mde range. Dr. Gill (1. c), on the contrary, has "preferred to retain the names given to the American forms as distinct species, although he is inclined to belie\'e that they will eventually be foimd to be co-specific with other forms." 366 PROCEEDINGS GF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. DIODOXTID.^. Genus CHILO:^.IYCTEEUS Bibrou. 2. Chilomycterus geometricus (L.) Kaup. — SweJl-toad. Yery abimdaiit ; taken in eAery seine 5 sold by small boys as curiosi- ties, at from one to five cents each. TETEODONTID^. Genus LAGOCEPHALUS Swainsou (Gill). (Tctrodoii Gill, 1. c. The geuus Tdrodon, as first restricted by Swainsou, is essen- tially equivalent to Arothrov Miiller, wliicli diliters from Lagoixphahis in its closed nasal tentacles. The name Lar/ocejjlialu.s is theretVne accepted by Professor Gill for the pres- ent genns. ) 3. Lagocephalus laevigatus (L.) Gill. Found by Dr. Yarrow "in small streams running- tlirougli salt marshes. But few seen." Genus CIEBISO:\riTS Swainsou. (ChUicliihiis Miiller, Gill, 1. c. The genus Cirrhisomus of Swainsou (1839) is liased on Cliiliclithiis spenr/Ieri {Tetrodon spe»gJeri Bloch). and therefore antedates and must super- S3de CMlkldhys Muller (1841).) The name is given in allusion to the short, lleshy appendages or bar- bels along the sides in the t^ducal specie^;. These are not found in the other species of the genus, but the name cannot be set aside on that account. ChiUchthys may perhaps l>e retained as a subgeneric nainr for those species without fleshy sli])s. Clmsomiis difiers from Laiiocepludiifi chiefly in the form of the lius. In the latter genus, the dorsal and anal are falcate, of 11 to 14 rays each, and the caudal lin is forked. In CirrisomHs;, these flns are idl more or less rounded, and the dorsal and anal contain but (» to 8 rays each. In LagoccphaJiis, the body is elongate, the caudal peduncle especially so, the skin comparatively smooth, except on the inflated part of the abdomen. There is a fold of skin, along each side of the tail below (usually well marked, but nearly obsolete in L. Jcvvigatus). The coloration is peculiar, the skin having a metallic lustre. In Cirrinomus, the bodj' is com])ara- tively short and broad, with short caudal peduncle. There is usually no fold along the lower side of the tail. The coloration is usually variegated, and without metallic lustre, and the prickles are variously aiTanged. Four species of C(rri)ioi}nis are found ou our Atlantic coast: C. titrfjidus (L.), C. festudineus L., C. trichoccjyhahiN (Cope), and C. sjyenyleri (Bloch). The first is common: the others are rare, or occasional visitants. 4. Cirrisomusturgidus (L.) Jor. &■ (n\]K-*SiccU-toad; riijjcr. Very common everywhere about Beaufort; taken in the nets with Cliilomycteriis geometricus. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 367 OSTRACIIILE. Genus LACTOPHEYS Swaiuson. 5. Lactophrys trigonus (L.) Poey. A speciiiieu in the State Museum at Kaleigh, from Beaufort. Two specimens were found on the beach at Fort Macon by Dr. Yarrow. Nu- merous si)ecimens of another species {Lactophrys quadricornis (L.)), from the coast of South Carolina, are in the U. S. National Museum. This is a common West Indian species, not before recorded from our coast. BALISTID.E. Genus ALIJTEEA Cu^'ier. 6. Alutera cuspicauda DeKay. — Fool-fish. 1 wither common in Beaufort Harbor. Numerous specimens obtained. 7. Alutera aurantiaca (Miteliill) Jor. & Gill). — Fool-fish. {CeraUicunthus aiirantiacns Gill, 1. c.) Eather common ; with the preceding. We find no warrant for the genus (crafacantJnis Gill, ba.sed on this species. It is certainly very closely related to the preceding. Genus STEPHANOLEPIS Gill. The genus ^Sfe^)hanoIepis of Gill is essentially equivalent to Monacan- t It lis as properly restricted by Bleeker and others. In this large genus there are two types, which may be called genera, each represented on our coast by one species. One of these, which contains the most of the species, and for which the name of Stephanolejjis may be retained, has the abdominal flap small, and not exceeding the ventral spine. Mon- «c«^^f/^^^s■ proper has the abdominal flap greatly developed, much exceed- ing the .spine. Monacanthus setifer Bennett, of the former group, is very common on our coast. Monacantlms occidentaUs Giinther, of the latter group, is probably a straggler from the West Indies. Cauthorhbuis Swainson, occasionally used for this latter group, is apparently synony- mous with Liomonacanthus Bleeker, over which name it has priority. CanihorhinvH., thus defined, difl'ers from Monacanthus in having the ven- tral .spine immovable, and tlie dorsal spine without barbs. 8. Stephaiiolepis setifer (Bennett) Gill. — Common Fool-fish. One of the commonest fishes in Beaufort Harlior, swarming e\'ery- where about the w^harves. HIPPOCAMPID^. Genus HIPPOCAMPUS Cuvier. 9. Hippocampu.5 antiquorum Leacb. Not common. Preserved Ly fishermen as a curiosity", and sold to visitors at about twenty-fi\ e cents each. 368 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. SYNGXATHIL).E. Genus SIPHONOSTOM.\ Earinesqiie (Gill). 10. Siphonostoma fuscum (Storer) Jor. & Gill>. (f>i/iign(itliu>;pecies, noticed but once before on our Atlantic coast. Professor GiU's original tyi^e came from Pensacola, Fla. Genus LOPHOPSETTA Gill. ,18. Lophopsetta maculata (Mitch.) Gill. — Plaice. Common on the sand bars. GADID^E. Genus PHYCIS Bloch & Schneider. 19. Phycis regius (Walb.) Jor. & Gilb. ( Uroplnjcis regius Gill, 1. c.) One specimen taken by Dr. Cones. Another Gadoid was described to us as being sometimes taken. OPHIDIID^. Genus OPHIDIUM Linn. 20. Ophidium marginatum DeK. One specimen observed by Dr. Cones. ZOARCID^. Genus ZOAECES Cuvier. 21. Zoarces anguillaris (Peck) Storcr. Two specimens taken ]>y Dr. Yarrow from the wharf at Fort Macon. BLENNIID^. Genus BLE^JsXIUS Linnteus. 22. Blennius geminatus "Wood. Very abundant, especially about Dnncan's wharf in Beaufort. Most of our specimeus were taken from clusters of Ascidii'ius. The siiccimen 372 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. referred to by Dr. Yarrow as Blennius fucorum is probably of this spe- cies. Gemis HYPLEUEOCHILTJS Gill. 23. Hypleurochilus punctatus (Wood) Gill. Abmulimt with the preceding and the next along the Beaufort shore. Genus CHASMODES Valenciennes. 24. Chasmodes bosquianus (Lac.) C. & Y. Tolerably abundant along the Beaufort shore. Specimens of both the nominal species C. hosqnianus and C. novemlineatns were taken. They differ only in coloration, and we have no doubt that the latter is the male and the former the female of the same .species. We have received speci- mens of both forms, taken in Chesapeake Bay, from Prof. P. E. TJhler. This is the species called Chasmodes quadrifasciatus by Uhler and Lug- ger. The true quadrifasciatus, which may not be American, has never been recognized. The coloration in the male (?), or " C novemlineatns,''^ is in life as follows : Olive-green, with about nine horizontal narrow blue lines, these somewhat irregular and interrupted, and converging towards the lateral line; opercular membrane and a broad strijie through the middle of the spinous dorsal deep orange-yellow; anal fin dark, the fins with white membranaceous tips ; head with fine black dots. The female (?), or C. hosqidamiSj is dark olive-green, reticulated with narrow pale green lines and with several broad dark vertical bars, which are more distinct posteriorly ; vertical fins similarly marked. BATEACHID.E. Genus BATEACHUS Linnieus. 25. Batrachus tau L. — Toad-fish. Everj'where extremely abundant near the shore. URANOSCOPID.E. Genus ASTEOSCOPUS Brevoort. 26. Astroscopus anoplus (C. «& V.) Brev. One specimen taken by Dr. Coues. TRIGLIDJ^. Genus DACTYLOPTEEUS Lacepede. 27. Dactylopteius volitans (L.) Lac. — Fhjing-fisJi Eather common. Some ten specimens obtained from fishermen sein- ing in the harbor about Beaufort. Thdtrilliant coloration in life is ex- tremely vaiiable. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 373 Genus PEIOXOTUS Lacepede. 28. Prionotus punctatus (Blocb) Guv. — Slim Fhjbig Toad. Two specimens taken. 29. Prionotus tribulus C. & Y. — Common Fhjlng Toad. Very abundant in Beaufort Harbor. This is doubtless the species mentioned as Prionotus carolinns by Dr. Yarrow. Dr. Gill omits this strongly marked species from his Catalogue, apparently confounding it with P. caroUnus {2)cilniipes Storer), which it resembles in color, although its real relations are entirely" with P. evolans. "We have seen no specimens of "P. carolinus^^ from the coast of Carolina, and we do not see how, from the Linn^ean description, P. caroUnus could be distinguished fi-om P. tri- hulas. It becomes, therefore, perhaps an open question whether Lin- noeus's Trigla Carolina was P. tribulus, or "P. caroUnus,'''' or both. Lin- ineus's Trigla evolans is apparently equally uncertain, so that the present nomenclature of the species must be accepted as provisional only. 50. Prionotus evolans (L.) Gill. — Striped Fhjing Toad. Abundant in the harbor with the preceding species. The following is an analj'sis of the characters of the species of Priono- tus found in the United States. P.pilatus Storer is not included, it being probably identical with P. caroUnus. " ilontli .small: tlie mandible not reacbiug tlie vertical from tlie front of the orl>it : a, distinct transverse groove connecting the upper posterior angles of the orbit : preopercular spine simple, vrithout basal cusp : head short, the si^ines on its upper part comparatively weak : blotches on spinous dorsal well defined, ocellated. (Subgenus Prionotus.) t Body very slender: sides with numerous roundish brown or bronze spots. P. punctatus (Bloch) C. & V. Coloration dark olive al)Ove : back and sides covered v/ith numerous round spots of ditferent sizes, and not arranged in series : these spots bronze color in life, becoming brownish after death : spinous dorsal dusky, with lighter streaks : a distinct black spot on upper half of spinous dorsal, between the fourtli and fifth spine, this spot being ocellated below and behind : a second black blotch on upjier half of first spine aud membrane, also ocellated behind : second dorsal and caudal spotted and finely blotched with black : anal largely black, with a pinkish border: i)ect orals blackish: ventrals pale: brauchiostegals pinkish : first dorsal rather high : head 3^ times in length to base of caudal : maxillary one-third length of head. D. X — 13. A. 11., lat. 1. about 75. 1 1 Body rather robust : sides with conspicuous round .spot.s. P. caroUnus (L.) C. & V. Coloration brownish al)ove, clouded Avith darker: throat and branchio.stegal membrane dark : a distinct black blotch on upjier half of .spinous dorsal, this ocellated below : second dorsal with oblique whitish streaks : preopercular spine strong: pectoral appendages strong, ahvaj^s (?) dilated at tlieir tips: maxillary bone one-third the length of head : head 3 in Ijody. D. X— 13, A. 12, lat. 1. ca. 5.5. 374 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. **Moutli large, the mandible reaching beyond the vertical from the front of the orbit r no distinct transverse groove bet-n-een and beliind orbits: preopercular spine with a smaller one at base : dark blotches on spinous dorsal dili'use, not ocel- lated. (Subgenus Chriolax* nobis.) t Sides of body with one or more distinct dark longitudinal bands : spines on head moderate, compressed. P. evolans (L.) Gill. Coloration olive-brown above, luottled and spotted with darker and lighter, whitish below : a naiTow dark streak along the lateral line, with a broader one below it, which teiminates behind in a series of spots and blotches: lower parts of head sometimes bright orange-yellow : pectorals blackish, surrounded by olivaceous and edged with orange, sometimes with numerous transverse dark lines: a black blotch on meml)rane of dorsal fin between the third and sixth spines : soft dorsal plain or with two black blotches at base : ventrals and anal deep orange : pectoral appendages slender, dark-colored : spine at upper jiosterior angle of orbit but little developed : body robust : head 2^ in length. D. X— 12, A. 11, lat. 1. about 55. 1 1 Sides without longitudinal bauds : spines on head all well developed, those above closely comj)ressed. P. tribulus C. & V. Dark brown on sides and above, blotched with darker : a black blotch on. membrane of dorsal between the third and sixth spines : second dorsal with, several series of brownish spots, these forming oblique bars : soft dorsal with, two dark blotches at base, the posterior of which is continued oblirjuely downwards and forwards to below the lateral line: pectorals olive-brown,, with dark bauds, which are more distinct towards the tip of the fin : pectoral appendages strong, tapering, marked with series of dark spots : body heavy forwanls, short and thick : occiiiital and supraorbital spines sti'oug and "flattened like sword-blades ": head 2| in length to base of caudal. D. X — 12. A. 11, lat. 1. about 50, LABRID.E. Geiiiis TAUTOGxV Miteliill. 31. Tautoga oiiitis (L.) Gthr. — Oijstey-fii^li. Eatber common. The young abundant about tlie wharves at Beau- fort. Genus PUSA Scopoli (tide Gill). {CliocrojiiUs Gill; HuUchares Rupp.) 32. Pusa graiidisquamis Gill. The original type of this species came from Beaufort. Another waa secured by Dr. Yarrow. 33. Pusa sp. (?radiataL.). A young specimen which we supposed to belong to this species, but which was mislaid or lost before we had a full opportunity for com- parison, was taken near Captain Duncan's wharf at Beaufort. Its life- coloration was as follows : Bright green: a dark brown lateral band covering two rows of scales: *;tp£ia, want: C)'kai, farrow. PROCEEDINGS OF UiNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 3<5 above tliis, three bronze bands Avitii j^recn interspaces; below it, a band (tf crimson; tliese bauds running forwards, and meeting" on tlie snout: dorsal fin bright verniiUion, with a large blue spot ocellated with yellow near its middle, a smaller dark-blue spot at base of last dorsal ray, and another at base of caudal: anal red, mth a j'ellowish streak: caudal nearly plain : iris red. Length 1^ inches. Professor Gill informs me that the name Piisa Scopoli was first applied to a species of this most beautiful genus. If this be true, it has many years' priority over Chcerojulis, Haliclujcres, etc. XIPHIID.E. Genus XIPHIAS Linn. 34. Xiphias gladius L. — Snord-fish. 'Heard fi-om' off Cape Lookout by Dr. Yarrow. TRICHIUEID^E. Genus TEICHIUPtUS Linn. 35. Trichiurus leptu;rus L. Several seen by Cope and Yarrow; none bj^ us. SCOMBRID^. Genus SAEDA Cuvier. 36. Sarda pelamys (L.) Cuv. Taken off Shackleford Banks (Yarrow). Not seen by us. Genus OECYNUS Cuvier. 37. Orcynus tliynnus (L.) Goode. — Bonito. {Orcyniis seciindodorsalis Gill, 1. c.) Frequently heard of, but not seen bj' us. Genus CYBIUM Cuvier. 38. Cybium niaculatum (Mitch.) Ciiv. — Spanisli Mackerel. A highly valued food-fish, taken in great numbers in the fall, on the baidvs. No extensive fishing is done in August, and we did not see this species at Beaufort. A large one leaped on board our steamer in Albe- marle Sound on our return northward. 39. Cybium regale (Blocb) Cuv. One specimen seen by Dr. Yarrow. 376 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. CARAKGID^E. Genus VOI\IER Cuvier. 40. Vomer setipinnis (Mitch.) Ayres. — Moon-fmh; Sitiijish. Taken ou the outer beach iu the fall; not seen by us. Genus SELEXE Laeepede. 41. Ssleue argeutea Lac. — ilotni-fivh. Taken on the outer beach in the fall; not common; one specimen obtained b}' us. Genus AEGYEIOSUS. 42. Argyriosus vomer Lac. — Aloon-Jiah. Less common (Yarrow). Xot seen by us. There seems to be no good evidence that Argyriosus capiUaris is a species distinct from this. Genus ALECTEIS Eafinesque. {Blepliar'is, etc.. Cuvier; Blephariclithys, etc., Gill.) 43. Alectris crinitus (Akerly) Jor. A few individuals taken by Dr. Yarrow; none seen by us at Beaufort. Most of the Scombroid fishes about Beaufort are taken by the fishermen on the outer banks in the fall, and hence escaped our notice. The genus Blej^harichiliifs Gill seems unnecessary, as the prior use of Blepliaris in Botany does not, in accordance with the general custom of naturalists, prevent its use iri Zoology. The distinctions between BJe- pilaris and Alectris, being merely in the degree of obsolescence of the spi- nous dorsal, do not seem to us important. Genus CAEAXGUS Girard. 44. Carangus chrysus (flitch.) Gill. — Sunfsh. Eather common in Beaufort Harbor. Several young specimens taken among the wharves. 45. CarangU3hippus(L.)Gill. In Dr. Y'arrow's list ; not seen by us. 46. Carangus pisquetos (C. & V.) Gill. (Paratmctu.s phqnctos Gill, 1. c.) One specimen seen by Coues and Y'arrow. Genus TEACH YlS^OTUS Laeepede. 47. Tracliynotua ovatus (L.) GxhT.—AUovericore (Albkore?). One young specimen taken at Beaufort. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 377 48. Tracliyuotus carolinus (L.) Gili. — Panqmno; Simfish. Very abundant on the outer banks. The young go in great schools in the surf, and may be readily taken in a net, and sometimes by hand when thrown on shore by the waves. Genus SEEIOLA Cuvier. {Halatracius aud Zonichihys Gill.) 49. Seriola zonata (Mitcli.) Cuv. One specimen observed by Dr. Yarrow; not seen by us. Xaucrates ductor, included in Dr. Yarrow's list on the strength of information de- rived from fishermen, we here omit : the species is too easily confounded with the present. STEOMATEID.^. Genus POEOXOTUS Gill. 50. Poronotus triacanthus (Peck) Gill. Bare; seen by Coues aud Yarrow — not l)y us. SCI^ENID^. Genus CYNOSCIOIy^ Gill. 51. Cynosciou carolinensis (C. & Y.) Gill. — Speckled Trout. All alMindant food-fish. 52. Cynoscion regalis (Bloch) GiU. — .Sea Trout. A common food-fish, although less abundant than the preceding. Genus POGOXIAS Lacepede. 53. Pogonias chromis Lac6p. — Scu Drum. Very common. Genus LIOSTOMUS. 54. Licstomus xauthurus Lac^p. Abuudaut in the fall (Yarrow) ; not seen by us. 55. Liostoinus obliquus (Mitcli.) DcKay. — Spot. Xext to the Mullet, this is the most abundant food-fish about Beau- fort, the young swarming everywhere in the harbor. It is universally known as Spot., the Eobin or Pin-fi.sh being Lagodon, and the Hog-fish Ortlioprlstis. These vernacular names have been transposed by Dr. Yarrow. Genus BAIEDIELLA Gill. 56. Bairdiella punctata (L.) Gill. — Perch. Eather common amousf the wharves. 378 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Genus SCI^NOPS GiU. 57. Sciasnops ocellatus (L.) Gill.— Drum. A rather common food-fish; numerous specimens obtained from the fishermen. One specimen obtained had Uco ocellated spots on the cau- dal peduncle. Genus MENTICIRRUS Gill. 58. Meiiticirrus littoralis (Holbr.) Gill. — Sea Mullet. Rather common. The young abundant in the surf on the outer beach, with TrachynotHS- caroUmis. 59. Menticirrua alburnus (L.) Gill. I^Tot seen by us. 60. Menticirrus nebulosus (Mitch.) Gill. Kot seen. Dr. Yarrow says that this species and the two preceding are "all more or less abundant in the fiillj when they are found in com- j)any with the Mullet on the sea-beach." Genus MICROPOGON Cuvier. 61. Micropogon undulatus (L.) C. &, Y. — Croaler. Very abundant; next to Mullet, Spot, and Hog-fi^h, the commonest food-fish in Beaufort Harbor. GERRID.E. Genus EUCIXOSTOMUS Baiid & Girard. 62. Euciuostomns argenteus B. & G. Common in the harbor, along the Beaufort shore. Only very young specimens seen. PIMELEPTERID^. Genus PIMELEPTERUS Lacepede. 63. Pimelepterus bosci Lac. A single sjiecimen taken near Duncan's wharf in Beaufoi't. SPARID.E. Genus LAGODOX Holbrook. 64. Lagodon rhomboides (L.) Holbr. — EoMn; Pin-fish. Excessively abundant everywhere in the harbor. Taken by the thou- sand by boys with hook and line, from the wharves. This species does not attain a large size, and is seldom used as food in Beaufort, where larger fishes are so plenty. Its value there is about one-tenth of a cent, and it is thrown away by the fishermen. As elsewhere noticed, the "Spot," "Robin," and "Hog-fish" of the fishermen have been in some way misunderstood or confused by Dr. Yarrow. PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 379 Genus AECHOSARGUS Gill. 65. Archosargus probatocephalus (Wallj.) Gill. — Slieepslwad. Abundant ; we saw but few specimens, liowever, the proper Sheeps- liead season being passed. Genus SAEGUS Cuvier. 66. Sargus holbrooki Bean. — Spot-tailed Pin-fisli. Extremely abundant everywhere along- the Beaufort shore. This species was first described by Dr. Bean during the past year. That so strongly marked and so abundant a species should have so long escaped notice is very remarkable. Dr. Yarrow does not seem to have noticed it and Dr. Coues obtained but one specimen, the generic characters of which seem to have escaped Professor Putnam's notice, as he speaks of it as " an individual resembling 8. argyro^s,''^ but differing in color. This species has broad incisors and wants the recumbent dorsal si)ine. Its color is bright silvery, with a large black blotch on the upper part of the caudal peduncle, which is very conspicuous while the fish is in the water. It reaches but a small size, and is not at Beaufort used a.s food. The fishermen call it Pin-fish, and as such it is beneath their notice. Most of the fishermen, indeed, did not distinguish it from La- (jo(lo)i i'Jiomhoides. Genus STEXOTOMUS Gill. 67. Stenotomus argyrops (L.) Gill. Xot very common ; hardly noticed by the fishermen. PRISTIPOMATID.E. Genus H.EMULUM Cuvier. 68. ? Haeinuluin arcuatum C. & V. Not seen by us ; given in Dr. Yarrow's list, but evidently confused with the next species, so that its occurrence at Beaufort is questionable. The ijroper orthograx)hy of the generic name («r,aa, blood; ori-^.ov, gums) is Rwmahim, not HwmyJnm, nor Hcmnilon. Genus OPvTHOPEISTIS Girard. 69. Orthopristis fulvomaculatus (Mitcli.) Gill. — Hog-fiah. Extremely common everywhere in the harbor. SERRANID.E. Genus EPDTEPHELUS Bloch. 70. Epinephelus morio (Cuy.) Gill. One specimen noted by Dr. Yarrow. 380 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Genus CEXTEOPEISTIS Ciivier. 71. Centropristis atrarius (L.) Bum. — BJack-fsli. Coumion, the young abounding- about the wharves. PERCID^. Genus EOCCUS Mitchill. 72. Roccus lineatus (Mitch.) Gill.— i?ocA-. jSTot seen in Beaufort Harbor, but abundant in all river-mouths, as in Is^ew and Keuse Elvers. Dr. Yarrow states that the "young are abundant" in the harbor. As the striped female of Hydrargyra majalis is called by all Beaufort fishermen " Eock," and as it is there usually supposed to be the young of the Striped Bass, Dr. Yarrow's statement may i^erhaps be an error. Genus MOEOls^E Mitchill. 73. Morone americana (Grnel.) Gill. — White Perch. Kot found about Beaufort, but said by Dr. Yarrow to abound in the !New and Xeuse Eivers. EPHIPPID.E. Genus PAEEPHIPPUS GiU. 74. Parephippus faber (Cuv.) Gill. — Porgee; Fogy. Common; used as a food-fish. POMATOMID^. Genus POMATOMUS Lac. 75. Pomatomus saltatrix (L.) Gill. — Dluc-fish. Extremely common. The taking of this fish is the favorite amuse- ment of the higher grades of summer boarders in this delightful port. ECHENEIDID.E. Genus ECHEXEIS Linnfeus. {Leptecheneis Gill.) In 1862 (Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Phila. 239), Prof GiU divided the Linn?ean genus JEchencis into two genera, Ediemis (the slender species: type E. naucrates L.) and Eemora (the stout-bodied species: type E. remora). Subsequently (op. cit. 18G3, 88), Eemoropsls (which has not been sufficiently distinguished from Eemora) and ElwmhocMrns were added. StiU later (op. cit. 18G4, GO), Prof Gill found, "on examining the works of Linnoeus and Artedi, that E. remora was the only species referred to that genus by Linnteus in the early editions of the Systema PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 381 Naturtej and by Artedi, and that iu the later editious, Linnoens placed that species at the head of the genus.''' For that reason, the name Eche- neis was retained for E. remora, and a new name, Zejjteclieneis, conferred on E. naucrates and its allies. As, however, according- to the custom now prevalent in Ichthyology, we are not to go behind the tenth edition of the Systema Xaturne, and as the x>lacing of a siiecies "at the head of the genus" had no signifi- cance with Linnaeus, we think that Dr. Gill's first restriction of Eche- neis should have precedence over the second. Tlie genera of Eelicncid'uhv thus far known are, then, the following: 1. EEMORAGill: tyite Echeneis remora Jj.; Echeneisjacohocahoy^e. 2. Eemilegia Gill: type Echeneis australls Bennett. 3. EnoMBOCiiiEUS Gill: iyj^e Echeneis osfcocJiir Cnxiav. 4. EcnE:NEis Linn. : tj^ie Echeneis naucrates L. * 5. PuTHEimcHTHYS Gill : type Echeneis Jineatus Menzies. 76. Echeneis naucrates L. Two specimens seen by Cones and Yarrow. Genus REMOEA Gill. 77. Remora jacoboea (Lowe) Gill. {Echeneis remora L.) Specimens seen by Dr. Yarrow, taken ofl" Shackleford Banks. SPHYRJENIDJE. Genus SPHYR^NA Bloch. 78. Sphyraena spet (Haiiy) Goode. Young specimens common in Beaufort Harbor. Our species is usually called Sphynena horealis DeKay, without comparison with allied forms. What fish DeKay had in mind is not clearly known. We identify our Beaufort specimens with Sphyrwna spet {Esox sphyrama L., Sphyra'na, vulgaris Auct.), the common species of Europe and the Middle Atlantic. Whether the West Indian 8. picuda also occurs northward, to help form the dubious Sphyrwna horealis, is still uncertain. MUaiLID^. Genus MUGIL Linnneus. 79. Mugil brasiliensis Agassiz. — White MuUet. Very common in the harbor. 80. Mugil pluniieri Blocli. — Striped Mullet. The commonest food-fish of the ]S"orth Carolina coast; everywhere very abundant on the shoals in the harbor. Two species of Muyil certainly occur on our Atlantic coast, but they have been confounded or misunderstood by nearly all writers except S82 PBOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Dr. Gimther, who correctly describes them imder the names Mugil Jine- ittiis aud Mugil hrasiliensls. The uomeuclature of both is uncertain. The oklest specific name, Mugil albula L., is apparently not available, as it