PROCEEDINGS OF THE Biological Society of Washington y^ VOLUME XXIII 1910 WASHINGTON PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY 1911 COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS W. P. HAY, Chairman AUSTIN H. CLAKK J. AV. GIDLEY II. L. i*c .1. H. McQlKKN, Inc. Uos I-: St. N. \V. Wa.shington, D. C. OFFICERS AND COUNCIL OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON For 1910 (ELECTED DECEMBER 11, 1909) OFFICERS President T. S. PALMPnt Vice-Presidents W. P. HAY E. W. NELSON Recording Secretary I). E. LANTZ Cur responding Secretary AUSTIN H. CLARK Treasurer J. \V. (ilDLEY J. N. ROSE E. L. GREENE COUNCIL \VILIJA:\r H. DALLt THEODORE GILLt L. O. HOWARDt FREDERICK V. COVILLEf F. A. Ll'CASt C. HART MERRIAMt FRANK H. KNOWLTONt B. AV. EVERMANNt GEORGE M. STERNBERG t L. STEJNEGERt A. D. HOl'KINS A. B. BAKER A. K. FISHER VERNON BAILEY DAVID WHITE J. ^V. TlTCOMK N. Hoi. LISTER Austin H. Clark STANDING COMMITTEES— 1910 Committee on Communications 31. W. Lyox, Jr., CJiainnan Committee on Publications W. 1*. Hay, Chairman E. A. SCHAVARZ C. V. Piper J. W. (tIDLRY f Ex-Presidents of the Society. (iii) EX-PRESTDENTS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Theodore X. (iii.r., 1S81, 1S82 *Chari.es a. White, 1883, 1884 *(t. Brown Goode, 1885, 188() William II. Dall, 1887, 1888 Lester F. Ward, 188<i, 18'.t() C. Hart Merriam, 18i»l, \s\)2 *C. V. Riley, 189;;, ]8!t4 Geo. M. Stern hero, ]8i)5, ls9(i L. O. Howard, LSiC, 1898 Frederick V. Coville, 1899, 19iiil F. A. Lucas, 1901, 1902 B. W. EvERMANN, 190:!, 1904 F. H. Knowlton, 190."), 1906 L. Stejneger, 1907, 1908 *l)cCl.'il.Sl'(l (iv) TABLE OF CONTENTS Officers and Coinniittecs lor I'.MO iii Proceedings for IDIO vii Descriptif)ns of Two New ]\Inskrats, by X. Hollister 1-L' Fnrtlier Notes on Fishes from the ("anal Zone, by Barton Warren pA'erniann and P^dnunid Lee Gold.sl)orongh 3-(i A New Crinoid from the Solomon Islands, by Austin H. Clark . 7-8 Records of Some Reptiles and Batrachians from the Southeastern Tniteil States, by C. S. Brimley TI-IS Brief Synopsis of the Waterrats of Europe, by (ierrit S. [Miller, Jr. I!»-2L* Notes on Mannnals of the [Middle [Mississippi Valley, with Description of a New Woodrat, l)y Artluir H. Howell .... 23-o-i The Stridulations of Some Katydids, by H. A. Allard 35-40 New Genera and Species of lssid;e ( Fulgorid;e), I>y E. D. Ball . 41-4(i The Scales of the Atherinid Fishes, l)y T. D. A. Cockerell . . . 47-4S The West African Forest Vifs: (Hylochoerus rimator Thomas), hj (xlover M. Allen 49-52 Diagnoses of New Forms of [MicropudidtC and TrochiliiUe, by Rol)ert Ridgway ". . 53-56 The Generic Name of the Hou.se Rats, by Gerrit S. [\riller, Jr. . 57-60 The Scales of the Clupeid Fishes, by T. D. A. Cockerell .... 61-64 A New Bird from the Island of Ceram, Moluccas, \>y F. Muir ami .1. C. Kershaw 65-66 Unrecorded Specimens of Two Rare Hawaiian Birds, l)y Out- ram Bangs (i7-70 New or Rare Birds from A\'estern Colombia, by Outram Bangs . 71-76 On the Name and Synonomy of the Antillean Sharp-shinned Hawk, by J. H. Riley 77-78 Tw(j New Pocket Gophers of the Genus Tliomomi/ft, by 'N'ernon Bailey 79-80 Fletcher Lake, Indiana, and its F'lora and Fauna, by Barton W. Evermann and II. Walton Clark . . . 81-88 A New (tciius of Amphibia Salientia from Dutch New (iuinea, by Thomas Barbour 89-90 On the Nature of the Teeth in Ctenoid Scales, by T. D. A. Cockerell 91-94 On the Type Specimen of the Crinoid Descriljed by [Miiller as Alecto purpurea,])}/ Aufitin Hobart Clark 95-98 General Notes 9!)-100 A Note Regarding the Green Anolis from the Northern Baha- mas, by Thomas Barbour, 99; Eleutherodactylus rtcordii in F'lorida, by Thinnas Barbour, 100 ; On the Name of the Trinidad Ccereba, by J. H. Riley, 100. A New Microsorex from the Mcinity of Washington, D. C, by Edward A. Preble 101-102 ^^^^'^' vi The Biological Society of Washington. A New Subspecies of Pigmy Owl, l)y E. AV. Nelson 103-104 A New Humming Bird from the Sierra Nevada de Santa ^larta, Colombia, liy Outram Bangs 10o-10(i A New Tinamou from Lake Titicaca, l)y Outram Bangs . . . 107-IOS Jiera lonfjicomis Lucas Referred to the (ienus Stemiriiini, liy Harriet Richardson IO!i-lin On the Scales of Some IMalacopterygian Fishes, by T. D. A. Cockerell 111-111 Description of a New Solitary Spadefoot (Scaphiopus hnrlcrii) from Texas, with other Herpetological Notes, Ity John K. Strecker, Jr llo-lL'2 C^neral Notes 123-lL'-l Notes on Some Names of Lions, l)y N. Hollister, ]2.>; The use of Epimys in a Generic Sense, by R. Lydekker, 124; Incuba- tion Period of Box-Turtle Eggs, by Wells W. Cooke, 124. A New Muskrat from tlie (ireat Plains, by N. Hollister .... 125-12(3 Ursus sheldoni, a New Bear from ^Montague Poland, l>y C. Hart Merriam 127-130 On a Collection of Fishes from the Olymjiic Peninsula, together with Notes on ()ther West Coast Species, by Barton Warren Evermann and Homer Barker Latimer i:')l-i40 The Scales of the African Cyprinid Fishes, with a Discussion of Related Asiatic and European Species, Vjy T. D. A. Cockerell 141-l.-)2 Two New Woodpeckers from Central America, by W. E. Clyde Todd lo:',-lo(i On a Collection of Fishes from the Lower Potomac, the Entrance of Chesapeake Bay, and from Streams Flowing into these AVaters, by Barton Warren Evermann and Samuel Frederick Hildebrand ... 1.57- l(i4 The Amphibian Generic Name Engystoma Untenaljle, by Leon- hard Stejneger Kio-Ki-S A New Colubrine Snake from Java, by Thomas Barljuur . . . l(j'J-170 Description of a New Genus and Species of Bivalve from the Coronado Islands, Lower California, by AVilliam H. Dall . . 171 172 Two New AVoodpeckers from the Isle of Pines, A\'est Indies, by Outram Bangs I7:')-.171 PLATES 1. Facing p. ItO. Pomatops valvifera ^•Arhmw . Type. II. " IK). Engystoma areolata Strecker, Euineccs 2)achyiinii< Cope, and Scaphiopus hurterii Strecker. III. " 152. Scales of Cyprinidte. TEXT FIGURES. Page 88. Etheostoma hildebrandti p]vermaiin and Clarke. Type. 91. Scale of Neomxnis griseus. 02. Scales of Anisotremus virginicus and Citharidium ansorgii. \)1. Alecto purpurea J. Miiller. Type. Vol. XXIII, pp. vii-xi January 28, 1911 PROCEEDINGS BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON PROCEEDINGS. The Society meets in the Asseml)ly Hall of the Cosmos Club on alternate Saturdays at 8 p. m.* Brief notices of the meet- ings and abstracts of papers presented are ])ViI)lished in Science. January 8, 1910— 464th Meeting. President T. 8. Palmer in the chair and ')o ])ersons present. Vernon Bailey exhibited the skull and beak of the Anhinga. The following communications were presented: The muskrat industry- in Maryland: D. E. Lantz. From Nairobi to Washington with a collection of living animals: A. B. Baker. The present status of the chestnut tree disease in the United States: Haven Metcalf. January 22, 1910— 465th Meeting. President Palmer in the chair and 9<S persons present. The following communication was presented : Fluctuations of animal population in the Northwest: Ernest T. Seton. The discussion was by T. S. Palmer, Barton W. Evermann, Vernon Bailey, A. D. Hopkins, and others, and was closed by Mr. Seton. February 12, 1910— 466th Meeting. Vice-President E. W. Nelson in the chair and 72 persons present. •Meetings for the early part of the year were held in the West Hall of George Washington University. vii viii The Biological Society of Washington. Barton W . Evermanii announced the arrival at the Bureau of Fisheries of two j'oung fur seals, the first of these animals to be successfully fed in captivitj\ The following communications were presented: Alaskan and other far-northern mosquitoes: L. O. Howard. A collecting trip to Alaska: A. S. Hitchcock. March 5, 1910— 467th Meeting. The president in the chair and 2o jxTsons in-cscnt. General Wilcox reported the taking of a skunk at Woodley Park. The following connuunications were presented: Remarks on a restoration of Basilosauros cctoidcH : .J. \\ . G id ley. The stridulations of some "katydids": H. A. AHard. Japanese goldfish: Hugh M. Smith. March 19, 1910— 468th Meeting. The president in the chair and -"il persons present. W. J. SpiUnian cxhitiited hoi^fs and foot-lHincs of the mule- footed hog. H. \V. Clark reported that he had ()l)Served a humming hird and other birds feeding on sap that was oozing from a wounded red-oak . The following communications were i)resented: The birds of Midway Island: Paul Bartsch. International fisheries regulations: Barton W . Evermann. April 2, 1910— 469th Meeting. The president in the ciiair and ;>() i)ersons present. C. D. iMarsh reported the receipt of interesting copepods from northern Lake Michigan, through V. L. Shelford of Chicago University. T. S. Palmer reported plans of Professor Watson to continue his observations on the homing instinct of birds. The following communication was presented : A hasty visit to some foreign zoological gardens: A. B. Baker. Proceedings. ix April 16, 1910-470th Meeting. Dr. L. O. Howainl in the cliiiir an<l 37 persons present. Dr. C. L. Ludlow reported the purchase of ripe strawherries with all the petals still attached. H. \\^ C'lark reported observations on the three types of flowers and fruit of the hog peanut. The following communication was presented : The mosquito campaign in New Jersey: Prof. John B. Smith. The paper was discussed by L. 0. Howard, Barton \V. Ever- mann, C. D. Ludlow, and Frederick Knal). April 30, 1910— 471st Meeting. The president in the chair and 27 persons present. Barton W. Evermann reported changes in management of the Fur Seal Islands. T. S. Palmer described the Crlacier National Park about to be estal)lished in northern Montana. He also called attention to the field trips of the Audubon Society on Saturdays during spring bird migration. The following connnunications were pn^senttnl : Two aspects of the species question : Edward L. Greene. On the occurrence and habits of waterfowl in the south- eastern United States: \\ . L. McAtee. October 15, 1910— 472d Meeting. Vice-President Nelson in the cliair and 33 persons present. Vernon Bailey reported large numbers of very tame quails within the city of Washington. The following communication was presented: Work of the Committee on Nomenclature at theGraz Zoologi- cal Congress: Ch. Wardell Stiles.* Discussed by L. O. Howard, Marcus W. Ly(jn, Theod(n'e Gill, E. W. Nelson, and Dr. Stiles. October 29, 1910— 473d Meeting. President Palmer in the chair and 56 persons present. Vernon Bailey exhibited specimens of the feet of sharp tailed and pinnated grouse. • Published in Science. X Thr Biological Society of Washingto7i . The following communications were presented: Some foreign entomologists and their work: L. 0. Howard. Periodic movements of liirds in relation to the weather: \V. \V. Cooke. November 12, 1910 — 474th Meeting. The president in the chair and 38 persons present. Barton ^\^ Evermann reported the arrival at Seattle of a shipment of ten yonng fur seals intended for the National Zoological Park and other places of exhibit. The following communications were presented: A new jaguar record for Texas : Vernon Bailej-. Forage jilant investigations in Mexico : A. S. Hitchcock. Pear thrips investigations in California: A. L. Quaintance. November 26, 1910— 475th Meeting. The president in the chair and 145 persons present. O. P. Hay exliil)ited the remnant of the upper portion of a mammoth's tusk, found in Alaska. The following communication was presented : Flashlight photographs of wild mammals: Hon. (ieorge Shiras 3d. December 10, 1910— 476th Meeting THIKTV-FIRST ANNIAL >fKETIX(;. President Palmer in the chair and 31 loersons present. The reports 'of the recording secretary and treasuix'r were read and accepted. The following officin's were elected for the year 11)11 : President : David White. Vice-Presidents : W. P. Hay, E. W. Nelson, J. N. Rose, and E. L. Greene. Recording Secretary : D. E. Lantz. Corresponding Secretary : N. Hollister. Treasurer: .J. \V. Gidley. Members of the Council: A. D. lIoi)kins, A. K. Fisher, Vernon Bailey, A. B. Baker, Paul Bartsch. Proceedings. XI President David White was elected vice-president to represent the Biological Society in the Washington Academy of Science. Tlie following chairmen of committees were appointed by the chair :* On Puiilications: W. P. Hay. On Communications : Vernon Bailey. 'Additional meraljers of tlicse committees were appointed at the next meeting as follows: Puhlication.s, N. IlDllistcr iiiid i. \V. Uidley, C'omnuiniciitioiis, I'aid Bartseli and Albert Mann. Vol. XXllI, pp. 1-2 February 2, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW JNIUSKRATS. BY X. HOLLTSTER. \<^ . ■ A systematic study of the muskrats discloses two unnamed subspecies, preliminary descriptions of which are herewith presented. Both new forms are based upon specimens in the collection of the United States Biological Surve3^ Fiber zibethicus mergens subsp. nov. Type from Fallon, Nevada. No. 156,880X1. S. National Museum, Bio- logical Survey Collection. 9 adult, skin and skull. April 3, 11)08. Collected by S. E. Piper. General characters. — Differs trom F. z. osoyoosensis in its much paler color and distinct dorsal stripe, and from F. z. pallidus in its large size and darker colors. Color. — Fresh pelage: Above grayish brown; head and dorsal area blackish; cheeks, shoulders, and sides rusty; underparts creamy white with central area pale cinnamon or russet; usual spot on chin blackish brown. Fall specimens before the black hairs have come in are some- times quite rusty above. Worn or washed out pelage: Above uniform pale yellowish brown ; sides and underparts with little rusty. Cranial characters. — Skull smaller than that of osoiioosensis, with shorter rostrum, more broadly spreading zygomata, and heavier jugal ; much larger than that of pallidus. Measurements of type. — Total length, 540; tail vertebrae, 240; hind foot, 76. Skull: Basal length, 61.6; zygomatic breadth, 40; palatal length, 39. o; length of nasals, 21 ; breadth of nasals, 9.8 ; alveolar length of upper molar series, 15.5. Remarks. — Fiber z. mergens is a pale form of the osoyoosensis type, occupying the northern part of the Great Basin. There is no evidence of direct intergradation with the very different pallidus on the south. Fiber zibethicus zaiophus subsp. nov. Type from Becharof Lake, Alaska. No. 131,488 U. S. National Museum, Biological Survey Collection. Skin and skull. October, 1903. Collected by A. G. Maddren. 1— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXIII. 1910. (1) 2 Hollister — Descriptions of Two New Muskrnts. General characters. — Tail short; hind foot small; skull with zygomata not broadly spreading anteriorly; molars small. Color. — Fresh pelage: General tone of upperparts bistre, darkest on back and hips, with little or no rusty coloring; sides like back, but with a slight russet tinge; brown spot on chin reduced to a mere streak. Underparts creamy white with a cinnamon wash, varying in its intensity, and shading to white on throat and hind legs; lips whitish. Worn or washed out pelage: Upperparts russet to cinnamon, varying greatly in the specimens at hand, but usually showing much more red than in fresh coat, or in any pelage of F. z. spatidatus. Cranial characters. — Skull with zygomata not broadly spreading ante- riorly as in spatulatus ; rostrum and nasals longer; parietals very small, squamosal covering most of area of braincase, even in young animals; interorbital ridge extreme in development into a blade-like crest; teeth small. Measurements. — The series from the type locality was received without flesh measurements. The length of hind foot of the type, taken from the dry specimen, is G6. Four adults from Lake Clark and Cook Inlet, Alaska, measured in the flesh, average: Total length, 533; tail vertebrae, 228; hind foot, 69.7. Skull of type: Basal length, 60; zygomatic breadth, 38.3; palatal length, 38.3; length of nasals, 20.9; breadth of nasals, 9.2; alveolar length of upper molar series, 14.4. Remarks. — Fiber z. zalophus is a well marked form easily separated from spatulatus by a niimber of constant characters. It ranges from the Alaska Peninsula to the Cook Inlet region. y Vol. XXIII, pp. 3-6 March 23, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON FUrvTHER NOTES ON FISHES FROM THE CANAL ZONE.* BY BARTON WARREN EVI']R:\[ANN AND EDMUND LEE GOLDSBOKOLXai. In these Proceedings for June 25, lOOU (Vol. XXII, pp. 95- 104), the present writers reported on a small collection of fishes obtained in the Canal Zone by Mr. August Busck of the U. S. National Museum and Mr. Allan H. Jennings, of the Sanitary Inspection Service, Canal Zone. In that paper were recorded 19 species, one of which {Cheirodon gorgotise) was described as new. Since the publication of that report we have received from ]Mr. Jennings another small, but interesting, collection embrac- ing 133 specimens rejoresenting 14 species, which are here recorded. In this connection we wish to express our apprecia- tion of the interest which INIr. Jennings has taken in collecting the fishes of the Canal Zone. He is especially interested in the food of the freshwater fishes and its relation to the mosquito problem. Much that we now know regarding the fishes of the Canal Zone and their food, we owe to him. Famh.y SILURID.E. THE fATFISHES. Pimelodus chagresi Steiiidachiier. Une specimen 5 inches long. No definite locality given. Family CHARACINID.E. THE CHARACINS. Piabucina panamensis Gill. One specimen 2^^ inches long from a sluggish stream emptying into a (lammed-up lake at Gatun, August lo. Dorsal 10; anal 10; scales 2(5, * Published by permission of Hon. Geo. M. Bowers, Commissioner of Fish and Fish- eries. 2— Proc. Biol, Soc. Wash., XXIII, I'.ilO. (:!) 4 Emrmann and Goldsborovgh — Fishes from the Canal Zone. 'Sir. Jennings says tliii^ species grows to a length of at least 8 inches, and he did not observe it at any other point. Brycon striatulus ( Kner). ^?ix specimens o to 334 inches. Astyanax fischeri Steindachner. ( »ne specinu-n o inches long from Comacho River helow reservoir dam at Empire, Jtme IS. Astyanax a^neus (Giinther). Two specimens 2% and l''f{ inches long from Comacho Kiver below res- ervoir dam at P^mpire, Jnne 18 ; twelve specimens '^'g to 2% inches long, no definite locality; one 13^ inches long from Tabernilla, taken in January; anil two, 1^4 and l)^ inches long, from a shiggish stream emptying into a dammed-up lake at Gatnn, August 15. The specimen from Tabernilla was kept by Mr. Jennings in an aipiarium for more than o months. It ate 3o mosquito larvje in one day and 20 the next. Astyanax mexicanus (Filipi)i). Five specimens I's to 2i<, inches long; mi delinite data given. These have the dorsal unifonnly with i> rays ; anal ll> or 14, + 2 or o short simple rays; scales o3 to 35; teeth in maxillary in 2 rows, 2 teeth in outer and 4 in inner row; outside of this outer maxillary row is a single irregular row of teeth in the ]ireinaxillary. These specimens agree well with typical mciicanus, except in the number of anal rays; mexicanus is said to have from 17 to 24 branched rays; none of ours has more than 14. Roeboides guatemalensis (Gimther). Six specimens 2% tn '.)% inches long; no definite locality given. Dor- .sal 10; anal 40 to 50; gillrakers (i -,-^0; scales 78-85, F.\.Mii.Y rcECTLIID.E. THE KILLIFIsriES. Rivulus isthmensis Garmau, One specimen 1 incli long from a swampy, freshwater pond l)y side of railroad atGatun, .fuly 15. Lives on bottom. Qambusia nicaraguensis (iunther. .'~^ix specimens 1 to 1 r",^ inches long ^frrim Cristobal, August 4. Mr. .k'U- uings says these liave a spot on side near vent. This spot is now evident in l)nt two of the specimens. It is dusky brown and covers 3 or 4 scales just above vent, it not being on tiie scale immediately over vent. Three specimens % to I,',; inches long from Folks River Swamji at Cristobal, July 8, and four ]14 to 1% inches long from same place, August 4. Gambusia episcopi Steindacliner. Fourteen specimens Ito 13^' inches long; no definite locality given. These all show distinctly the black sj)ot at base of anal wliich seems to be char- acteristic of this species. One si)ecimen 138 inches long from swampy Evermann and Goldsborough — Fishes from the Canal Zone, b freshwater pond at side of railroad at Gatnn, July 15. Nine ft-male speci- mens \}4 to 2% inches long and one male 13^8 inches long from reservoir at New Porto Bello, February 10, 1909. ]Mr. Jennings says this is the most abundant and characteristic species, ])ut not very efficient larvte destroyers. It appears to be chiefly a bottom feeder. Poecilia sphenops Cuvier and Valencienne~. Eighteen specimens l}4 to 2 inches long from Folks Kiver Swamp, Cris- tobal, August A. These show the many variations of this species indi- cated l)y IJegan in BiologiaCentrali Americana. Onesjiecimen \% inches long from reservoir at New Porto Bello, February 10, 1909. Dorsal 9; anal ii, S; scales 2G. Teeth conical or pointed, some of them slightly truncate, and one or two tricuspid. One female specimen 2% inches long from Ancon. This flsh was kept in a tank for o months and pre- served June IS. Six females and one male, % to 1% inches long; no definite locality given. These each show a distinct black spot at anterior base of dorsal tin, covering ?> or 4 rays. The modified anal tin is evident in all, even in the very small one. In the largest example the anal is entirely in advance of dorsal tin and in the others it is variously .so, its origin grading back to directly under origin of dorsal. The origin of the dorsal is uniformly ecpially distant from tip of snout and middle of caudal tin. Seven specimens % to lyV inclies long froniGatun, August 15. These all show 7 or 8 distinct vertical bars on body and 5 of the smaller ones show the black sjiot at anterior l)ase of dorsal. Famii.v MUGILID.E. THE Ml'LLETS. Agonostomus monticola (Bancroft). One specimen o inches long; no detinite locality given. Four specimens each al)out 2^4 inches long from stream l)elow reservoir at foot of dam at New Porto Bello, February 10, 1909. IMr. Jennings says these are found in swift water only and will not live in ordinary confinement. Habits as to larv;c not observed. Famii.v CICHLIDyE, TIIK CICIILIDS. Acara coeruleopunctata Kncr and Steindadiner. ( )ne six'cimen 2 inches long from Gatun, August 15. Mr. Jennings says tills fish came from a sluggish stream emptying into a dammed-U]) lake at ( iatim, and that the species is apparently widely distril)Uteil in the Chagres Kiver and tributaries, of wliicli this stream is one. Qeophagus crassilabris Steindachner. Five specimens 2% to o'^g inches long from Canal Zone. Dorsal N\'I, 10; anal III, 7; scales oO. Neetroplus nematopus (iuntlur. Two specimens 2% ami ?>% inche.>5 long. These specimens are very badly preserved, the scales being rubbed ott' of the anterior part of the n Evermani) and Goldsbo rough — Fishes from the Canal Zone. HinalltTone and over much of anterior lower part of the hirger example. The smaller one has dorsal XVI, 8; and V^I, 7; the larger one has dor- sal XVII, 10; anal \'I, 7; scales 30. Each shows a white bar at base of caudal rays, none of it on scales, Ijlack ])osterior to this bar; body of fish luiiform dark l)rown. Family GOBIID.E. THE GOBIE.S. Eleotris pisonis (imelin. One specimen \% inches Ions from Beach Island Swami), Cristoljal, August IS. This is brackish water. The feeding haluts of the tish were not observed. Dormitator maculatus (Bloch). Four specimens \}4 to ;>% inches long from Folk Kiver Swamp. Nine specimens 2% to ;5% inches long from Ancon. One sjiecimcn 2% inches long from Ani-on was kept in a tank ." months and ]>rc- servc(l .lune IS. FJcvcn sjicciuK'Hs 1^2 to 1' inches long from New I'orto Bello, Fel»ruary 10, from stream entering reservoir from sontii. ]Mr. .Jennings says: " Very shy, irihabit bottom, hiding under stones, etc. Habits as to larva' and adaptability to confinement not observed." One spt'cimen 1 inch long from running ditch of fresh water, with growth of algfC at Cristobal, .July 1. Mr. Jennings says its food habits are not known. It remains nuich at the l)ottom. Two specimens \ and 1 inch long from Folks Biver Swamp, Cristobal, August 4; from mangrove swamp, water lirackisii, swani]) not iufreiinently overflown, l)ut these lish l)ore clianjre to fresh water well. Vol. XXlll, pp. 7-8 March 23, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW CRINOID FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. BY AUSTIN H. CLARK. The trustees of the Australian Museum at Sydney, New South Wales, through the curator, Mr. Robert Etheridge, Jr., have recently accorded me the privilege of examining their extensive and valuable collections of recent crinoids. The full report upon the material will shortly be pul)lished in the "Australian Museum Records " in the form of a monograph upon the crinoid fauna of Australia. It has seemed advisable, however, to pre- sent in advance the diagnosis of an interesting new species from the Solomon Islands which was included among the specimens sent to me. I take this opportunity of thanking the trustees of the Austra- lian Museum and the curator, Mr. Etheridge, for their kindness and generosity in submitting to me for study their very impor- tant collections, the examination of which has served to clear up many hitherto obscure points in regard to the interrelation- ships of the Australian crinoid fauna. Colobometra diadema sp. nov. Type locaJity. — Ugi, Solomon Islands. The type specimen is in the collection of the Anstralian ]\Iuseum. Cirri xi, 33-40, 22 mm. long, in general resembling those of €'. veprctum. Interambulacral areas of disk completely covered witli large plates. Ten arms abont 70 mm. long, more slender tlian those of C. vepretiim. Pa absent; Pi 10 mm. long, rigid and spinelike, resembling P2, witli twelve segments, the first two not so long as broad, the third slightly tapering and twice as long as the distal diameter, the following much elongated, nearly or quite four times as long as broad; P2 to P5 similar, but 12 mm. long; following pinnules shorter, more slender, and less stiffened; distal pinnules 12 mm. long, very slender, the segments with long spines on their distal edges. 3— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (7) Vol. XXIII, pp. 9-18 March 23, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON RECORDS OF SOME REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS_ FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. \^ BY C. S. BRIMLEY. \^ '^/f/ . In the last fifteen years I have purchased a good many rep- tiles and batrachians from points in the southeastern States, and as they include a number of notable occurrences, it seems to me advisable to publish a list of the species received, with the localities from which they came. All those received from States other than Florida were sent me alive, while from Florida both living and preserved specimens have been received. The localities from which I have received material are as follows: Mississipjn : Bay St. Louis, Hancock County. Alabama : Greensboro, Hale Count3^ Georgia: Mimsville, Baker County; Riceboro, Liberty County. Florida: Green Cove Springs, Clay County; Hastings, St. John County; Orlando, Orange County; Fruitland Park, Lake County; Belleair, Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg and Fort Meade, Hillsboro County; Miami, Dade County; Key West, Monroe County; Tallahassee, Leon County. In some cases only a very few specimens were received from a locality, while in other instances they comprised a very respect- able proportion of the herpetological fauna of the place. The detailed list follows. I have not deemed it necessary to give comments in every case. Ambly stoma talpoideum. MOLE SALAMANDER. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, over thirty specimens received in the winters of 181)7 to 1900; Mimsville, Georgia, 1 received alive February 7, 190o. 1— Proc. Biol. Sue. \V.\sh., XXIII, I'JIO. (9) 10 Brlmley — Ecptilcs and Batrachians of Southcad United States. Plethodon glutinosus. VISCID SALAMANDER. Bay St. l^ouis, Mississippi, May 24, 1900, 1 ; ]\Iimsville, Georgia, Feb- ruary 7, 1902, 12; CJreen Cove Springs, Florida, April, 1898, 1. Spelerpes guttolineatus. HOLHKOOK'S TRITON. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Fel»ruary S, 1S98, 1. Desmognathus fusca. BROWN TRITON. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, T)ecOMil)t'r, IS'.l?, and .Alarcli, 1S9S, .5. Desmognathus fusca auriculata. SOITHERN TRITON. Hastings, Florida, July, 1898, 3. Prol)al)ly the ^Mississippi specimen.^ belong here also. Diemyctylus viridescens. AMERICAN NEWT. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, December, 1897, February, 19i)l, S; Orlando, Florida, July, 190o, 1 ; (ireeu Cove Springs, Florida, .Inly, ISOS, 4. Amphiuma means. TWO-TOED DITCH EEL. Hastings, Florida, nuinerf)us small and medium sized specimens and four lots of eggs in 1900 and 1901. The eggs were all taken in July under logs in the partially dry mud of dried up pools. Orlando, ()ct()l)er 17, 1904, 2. Amphiuma tridactyla. THREE-TOED DITCH EEL. (rreensboro, Alabama, numerous specimens received every spring for the last ten years. Siren lacertina. OKK.XT SIRKX. Hastings, Florida, April, I'.IO], .hily, I!l02, 2; Orlando, Florida, over a dozen received at various times, mostly small; (ireen Cove Springs, Florida, May, 1898, 2. Pseudobranchus striatus. LITTLE SIREN. Orlando, Florida, 1, loO nun. long, received January 27, 1910. Scaphiopus holbrooki. SOLlT.MtV SI'.VDEKOOT. Key West, Florida, 1 young one, April, 190i>; Miauii, Florida, Novem- ber, 1900, 1; Orlando, Florida, August, 1902, 1. Brimley — Reptiles and Batrachians of Southeast United States. 11 Bufo quercicus. DWARF TOAD. Eect'ivc'd from Hastiuo;.), Orlando, (Jreen Cove Si)riiiufS and St. Peter.*!- Imrir, all in Florida. Evidently common at the first ami last two places. Bufo lentiginosus. SOUTHERN TOAD. Bay St. Louis, Mis.sissippi ; Mimsville, Georgia; Riceboro, Georgia; Belleair, Florida; Fort Meade, Florida. Lithodytes ricordii. RKORD'.S LITIK >DYTES. Key West, Florida, 1, in April, 19Ui>. Acris gryllus. CRICKET FROC. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; (Jreen Cove Springs and Fruitland Park, Florida. Chorophilus ornatus. ORNATE CllORlS FROG. Hastings, Florida, June, lilUl, 1; ( J reen Cove Springs, F^lorida, July, 1898, 5. Chorophilus occidentalis. SMOOTH CHORUS FROG. Bay St. Louis, ^Mississippi, February and April, 1S9S, ^^. Chorophilus nigritus. ROUGH CHORUS FROG. Bay St. Louis, Mis.sissippi, February 10, 1898, 1. Hyla gratiosa. GEORGIA TREE FROG. Bay St. Louis, ^Mississippi, two received in 1901. Scattering specimens received at various times from Green Cove Springs, ( )rlando, Belleair, St. Petersburg antl Fruitlantl Park, all in Florida. Hyla cinerea. CAROLINA TREE FROG. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, al)undant. In Florida, specimens from Hastings, Orlando and Fruitland Park. Hyla (sp. ) Bay St. Louis, ^Iis.sissippi, in .January and February, 1901, several specimens of a tree frog with the sharjjly defined side line of cinerea, but with dark spots on the back like squirella were received from this place. My notes state that they were apparently a little stouter than cinerea and grayer in color. A single specimen reseml)ling cinerea, but lacking the yellow line on the side, also came from here. 12 Brimley — HepHles and Batrachians of Southeast United States. Hyla squirella. SQUIRREL TREE FROG. Abundant at Bay St. Louis, ]Mi.ssis!?ippi ; Orlando, Hastings and Fruit- land Park, Florida; specimens also from Green Cove Springs, Belleair and St. Petersburg. Hyla femoralis. PINEWOODS TREE FROG. Specimens from Belleair, Tarpon Springs, Orlando, Green t'ove Springs and Fruitland Park, Florida. Apparently less common than cineren an<l squirella. Hyla versicolor. COMMON TREE FROG. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 3 specimens. Engystoma carolinense. XAKKOW-MOUTHED TOAD. Key We.st, Florida, 3 specimens, April, 1909; Belleair, Floiida, 1, July, 1897; Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 1, February, 1S98. Rana pipiens. LEOPARD FROG. Received from Belleair, St. Petersburg and Fruitland Park, Florida; and from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Rana aesopus. (;()i'iiKU KKoi;. From Orlando, Fort ]\Ieade, Tarpon Springs, Belleair and (iiven Cove Springs, Florida. Rana catesbiana. BULL FROG. Green Cove Springs, Florida, May, 1.S98, L Anolis principalis. GREEN LIZARD. Bay St. Louis, ^lississij)pi ; Fruitland Park, Florida. Ophisaurus ventralis. GLA.SS .'^NAKE. Bay St. Louis, Missi.ssipjji; Mimsville, Georgia; Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, and Belleair, Florida. Liolepisma laterale. (iROUND LIZARD. Belleair and Orlando, Florida. Eumeces fasciatus. RLUE-TAILKD l.l/.AUD. Bay St. Louis, .Mississippi; .Mimsville, (ieorgia; 'rarium Springs, lU'lle- air and ( )rlandi>. l'"|(irida. Brimley — Reptiles and Batrachians of Southeast United States. 13 Rhineura floridana. FLORIDA BLIXDWOK.M. Orlando ami TarpDii Springs, Florida. Apparently common at ])otli })lacos. Parancia abacura. IIOKX SXAKK. :Mimsville, Georgia, ]\Iay 1(1, 1902, 1 ; August 10, 190^, 1 ; Riceboro, Georgia, May 31, 1909, 1 five feet long; also 1 specimen each from Belle- air and Orlando, Florida. Diadophis punctatus. KIXG-XECKEl) SXA KE. Numerous specimens from Bay St. Louis, ^Mississippi; 1 from Riceboro, Georgia; and 1 or 2 each from Orlando, Tarpon Springs and Hastings, Florida. Rhadinaea flavilata. I5l;( »\VX-lIEAr)El> SXAKE. Bay St. Louis, ^Mississippi, abundant. Two specimens from Orlando, Florida. Heterodon simus. IKXiXOSED SXAKE. ^Mimsville, Georgia. Apparently rather common. Heterodon platyrhinus. SPKEADIXG ADDER. Bay St. Louis, Mis.sissippi, 1, ^larch, 1901; ^Mimsville, Georgia, and Riceboro, Georgia, common, but the black form nuich commoner than the spotted one at these two places. Cyclophis aestivus. SOUTHERX (iREEX SXAKE. Bay St. Louis, ]Mississippi ; ^limsville, CJeorgia ; St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs, Florida. Bascanion constrictor. BLACK SNAKE. Bay St. Louis, ^Mississippi ; ]Mimsville, (ieorgia; Riceboro, Georgia. Bascanion flagellum. ('OACHWIIll'. ^limsville and Riceboro, Georgia ; and Orlando, Florida. Coluber obsoletus confinis. SPOTTED CHICKEN SNAKE. Only from ]Mimsville, Georgia, where it does not appear to be common. Coluber quadrivittatus. STRIPED ClIRKEX SXAKE. Ricel)oro, (Jeorgia, common; also 1 each from ( )rhuido and Fort ^h^ade, Florida. 14 Brimley — Reptiles and Batmchians of Soutlicnst United States. Coluber guttatus. RAT SXAKE; SPOTTED RACER. Bay St. Lnni.^, ^lississipj)!, )^>; comiiion at both ]\Iiinsvillc ami llirclxirn, (ieorgia; occasional specimens from Orlando, Tarpon Springs and i'.rlK'- air, Florida. Spilotes corais couperi. GOPHER SNAKE. Onlj' from Eclleair and Orlando, Florida. Pityophis melanoleucus. PIXE SNAKE. ]\Iiinsville, ( ieorgia, 2, Juno ;'>0, lHOd; a few specimens from Orlando, Florida. Ophibolus getulus. KING SNAKE. .Alimsville and lv'icel)oro, (Jeorgia; Orlando, Florida. Ophibolus getulus sayi. WESTERN' KIX(; SNAKE. Bay St. Louis, Missi.>jsii)pi, ■']. Ophibolus coccineus. RED KING SNAKE. Bay St. Louis, connnon; also from Orlando and Tarpon Springs, Florida. Stilosoma extenuatum. SHOUT-TAILED SX.VKE. Fort -Meade, FU)ri(la, 1, April 19, 1909; Tari)on Springs, Florida, 1, Jan- nary, ]S97. Cemophora coccinea. SCARLET SNAKE. Bay St. Louis, ^Mississippi, 2; ]\Iimsville, Oeorgia, 7; ( )rlando, Florida, 9; Tari)on Si)rings, Florida, 1. Natrix fasciata. SOl'THERN WATER .SNAKE. Received from Ikvy St. Louis, ^Mississippi ; ]Mimsville, (ieorgia; Rice- l)oro, (ieorgia; and Orlando, Florida. Natrix compressicauda. FLAT-TAILED WATER SNAKE. From St. Petersburg and Key West, Florida. Seminatrix pygsea. IJLAC'K SWAMP SNAKE. Orlando, Florida, November 2:5, 1902; Tarpon Springs, I'lorida, Feb- ruary lo, iS97; (ireen Cove Springs, Florida, ^lay 1(1 and June 2:!, 1898; (') specimens in all. Brtmley — Reptiles and Batrachians of Southend United States. 15 Storeria dekayi. DEKAY'S SNAKE. Green Cove Springs ivnd Orlando, Florida; F.ay St. Louis, ^lississippi. Virginia valeriae. VALERIAS SNAKE. Mimsville, Georgia, April, May, 1903, 5. Virginia elegans. ELEGANT SNAKE. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 10 specimens in ISilS and lS<t!t. Haldea striatula. BROWN SNAKE. Bay St. Lonis, Mississippi, a dozen specimens lSi)7 to li»01. Liodytes alleni. ALLEN'S SNAKE. tireen Cove Springs and Orlando, Florida. Eutaenia sirtalis. (iAKTER SNAKE. Mimsville and Rieeboro, Georgia; Tarpon Sj)rings, Florida. TJie form ordinatus is quite common at Mimsville, and I have had one also from Rieeboro. Eutaenia sackeni. FLOJUDA RIBBON SNAKE. Bay St. Lonis, ^Mississippi, 5 specimens. Also from Green Cove Si)ringp, Orlando and Belleair, Florida. Tantilla coronata. CUOWNEl) TANTILLA. r>ay St. Louis, Mississippi, common. Also from Taijion Springs, Flor- ida, 4; and Orlando, Florida, 1. Elaps fulvius. CORAL ADDER. ]\Iimsville, Georgia; Rieeboro, Georgia; connnon at l)oth j)laees. Also from Orlando and Green Cove Springs, Florida. Ancistrodon piscivorus. COTTON MOUTH. Bay St. Lonis, Mississippi; Belleair and Orlando, Florida; Mimsville and liiceboro, Georgia. Ancistrodon contortrix. COPPERHEAD. Rieeboro, Georgia, commcju; not received from any other locality. IG Brlinley — Itcptilcs avd Batracln'dih't of SontJieast United States. Sistrurus miliarius. GROUND U.Vl'TLESNAKE. Bay St. [-Duis, ^rissis8ii)pi; ]Mimsville, Georgia; Orlaiiilo, P.cUeair and Green Cove Sjtrintfs, Morida. Crotalus adamanteus. 1IIAM( )XI) RATTLESNAKE. ^linisville, (ieorgia, 1, June 24, 1907; in Florida, I'rdin ()rlandi) and -Miami. Testudo polyphemus. GOI'HER TORTOT.SE. ]\rinisville, Cieorgia; Belleair and ((rlando, b^lorida. Malaclemmys macrospilota. FLORIDA DL\M()XD15A(K. Belleair and St. Petersburg, Florida'; ai)])arently eonnuon. Qraptemys pulchra. BAUR'S TERRAI'IN. MiuLSville, Georgia, 1, Novend)er I'O, 1901. Deirochelys reticulata. CHICKEN' TERIiAI'IX. Minisville, (ieorgia, aliundant. Also from (ireen Cow Springs, Hast- ings, Orlando, St. I'etershurg and Belleair, in Flori<la. Chrysemys rubriventris. RED-BELLTED TERRAPIN. Orlando, Florida, i, :\Iarch V.], li»02. Chrysemys mobiliensis. MOP.ILE TERRAI'IN. This is Baur's mohiliensis, but I can not distinguish the few Mimsville, (ieorgia, specimens I have received, from Baleigh, North Carolina, siK'ci- mens of C covcinnn. Chrysemys floridanus. l'"I,oi;ll)A TERRAI'IN. -MimsvilK', ( ieorgia, common. Also from ( )rlando and Uelieair, Florida. Chrysemys scripta. YELI.OW-I'.ELLIED TEURAPIN. ]\Iimsville, (ieorgia, abundant; none from Florida. Though there is great variation in this respect, the markings on the ])lastron are a])t to l)e larger and present on more plates in (ieorgia specimens than in Italeigh, North Carolina, ones. Although the black si)ots on tlie two gular ])lates are almost always jiresent, yet in two Bak'igii specimens I had in I'.MJit there were no sjjots on eitiier bridge or i)lastron, and from Brimley — Reptiles and Batrachians of Southeast United States. 17 this condition there is every gradation until at hist in some Minisville specimens tliere are elongate black spots on every plate of the plastron and of the bridge. The upright yellow l)ar behind tlie eye is the most positive color mark of this species, but is sometimes very ol)SCure in old specimens. Chrysemys troosti. TROOST'S TERRAPIN. Three specimens from Mimsville, Georgia, received July 1, 1907, 2; June 18, 1909, 1. All the species of Chrysemys and Di'lroclit'li/s are commonly known as cooters in Florida and Georgia. Chelopus guttatus. SPECKLED TERK.\PIX. TJiceltoro, (Jeorgia, 1, received May 5, 1902. Terrapene major. LAU(iE P.OX TIUTLE. Tallahassee, Florida, 2; Riceboro, Georgia, 1. Terrapene bauri. BAUR'S BOX TURTLE. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 1; Mimsville, Georgia, 1; also numerous exami)les from Florida (Green Cove Springs, ?Iastings, Orlando, St. Petersburg and Belleair). I think this is identical with major, particu- larly as there is no constancy in the luimber of i-laws on the hind feet, they being as often 4-4, as 3-3, and not infrequently 4-.'>. Terrapene triunguis. THREE-CLAWED BOX TURTLE. Mimsville, Georgia, abundant. Also from Riceboro, tJeorgia, and Bay St. Louis, INIississippi. Apparently only a subspecies of Carolina, in whicli connection it may be stated that at Raleigh, Xorth Carolina, tliri'c- dawed examples of Carolina occasionally occur. Cinosternum bauri. BAUR'S MUD TURTLE. Common in Florida; have received specimens from ( Jreen Cove Si>rings, Hastings, Grlando, St. Petersburg and Fort ]\Ieade. Cinosternum louisianse. LOUISL\XA MUD TURTLE. ^Mimsville, Georgia, 2 specimens. This appears to be a southern form of C. poinsylvanicnm, possibly on the verge of becoming a species. At ]\Iimsville, pennsylranicum is the common form. At Colmesneil, in eastern Texas, the mud turtles appear to be intermediate, some being nearest pennsylvanicum and some nearest louisianiv. At A\'aco, Texas, nearly all are loiiisiaiur, while at Austin, Texas, y/u(7'.sfv'//.s' is the common specie.-*, with an occasional louisiaviv. 1<S Brimleif — Reptiles and Batrachians of Southeast United States. Cinosternum pennsylvanicum. COMMON MUD TURTLE. .Miinsvillc, (Jeorgia; Eiceboro, (Jeorgia. Some speciniciii^ irceiv('(l from liuy St. Jjonis, Mississippi, in 1S07 and 1900 are also referred liere astliey were eertainly not louialamr, and pr()l)ably not stelndachneri. Cinosternum steindachneri. STEIXD.VCIIXER'.S MUD TURTLE. Tfastings, Orlando and St. Petersburg, Florida, common. In tbe size of tlie plastron is intermediate between the preceding and the next. Aromochelys tristycha. SOUTHERN MUSK TURTLE. Orlando, Florida, connnon. Am very donbtful as to this being in any way ditl'crcnt from odorafiDii. Aromochelys carinatus. KEELED MUSK TlltTLE. ;\Iimsvill(', (icorgia; (piite a nnnd)er received from this locality in 1000 and 1002. Chelydra serpentina. SNAPPING TURTLE. Minisville, (ieorgia; a few small specimens. Thalassochelys caretta. LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE. Twenty-five newly hatclied young received from llelleair, Fhjrida, Octo- ber, 1S97. Trionyx ferox. SOUTHERN .SOFTSHELL TURTLE. Mimsville, (ieorgia; Orlando, Bclleair, (Jreen Cove Springs and St. Petersburg, Florida. Alligator mississippiensis. ALLRi.U'OR. Young speciniens received from Ivicelmro, (ieorgia; PaySt. bonis, Mis- sissipjii; ()rIandoaiid llcllcair, l""lorida. Vol. XXIII, pp. 19-22 March 23, 1910 PROCEEDINGS (IF TIIIC BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE \\^\TERRATS OF EUROPE. BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR. The following brief synopsis of the European members of the genus Arvicola is primarily based on studies made in tlic British jNIuseum during the summer of 1908. (tknus ARVTCOLA Lacei)i".le. Arvicola amphibius (Liniumis). Rize large (head and body about 200 mm., tail about 110 imn., hind foot usually .10 to ;U mm., coudylobasal length of fully adult skulls 40 to 44.(1 mm.); tail somewhat more than half as long as head and l)ody; color a])ove dark brown, blackening along back, the sides not decidedly yellowish, the cheeks not contrasted with surrounding parts; skull not fossorial in form, the occiput and rostrum tending to be squarely (verti- cally) truncate, the upj^er incisors not conspicuously projecting; nasals at widest region conspicuously narrower than rostrum ; roots of m j and m 2 forming evident protuberances on lower surface of numdible in old individuals; habits strictly a(iuatic, never mole-like. Confined to (Ireat Britain. Arvicola amphibius amphibius (Linnfeus). 175S. [Mus] amphibius Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., I, 10th ed., p. (H (England: base<l on the 3Itts major aquaticus of Ray). Size maximum for the species (hind foot in adults usually o2 to o5 mm. ; coudylobasal length of skull 42 mm. or more) ; color moderately dark, the black rarely in exce.ss of brown on ui)per])arts ; melanism iufrecpient. England and southern Scotland. Arvicola amphibius reta nom. nov. 18o2. Arvicola ater Macgillivray, Mem. Wernerian Soc. Nat. Hist., VI, p. 420. ( Aljerdeen, Scotland). Not IJi/pud;riis terrestri.t jS aler Bill- berg, 1827, a synonym of Arricola terrestris. Size less than in A. arnpliibius a)iiphibii(f< (hind foot usually .">(i to .■i2 nun., condylol)asal length of skull usually less tlian 42 mm.); normal ■'i— I'liuc. liioi.. Soc. Wash., XXIH, I'.ilo. (TJ) 20 Miller — Brief Synopsis of the Waterrats of Europe. color darker than in the typical race, the black usually in excess onupiter- parts; melanism frequent. Central and northern Scotland. Arvicola sapidus ]Miller. ^AkeArvicolaamphihius but nasal bones much widened anteriorly, their jrreatestcomljined breadth nearly equal to that of rostrum ; habits aquatic. Iberian Peninsula and southern France, east nearly to the Italian Imrder; northern limits of ran^e not known. Arvicola sapidus sapidus ]Miller. lt*U8. Arvicola sapidus Miller, Ann. and "Slag. Nat. Hist., Sth ser. ,T, j). lO-l. Fel)ruary, 1908. (Santo Domingo de Silos, Burgos, Spain). Color not so dark as in A. nnijihibius amphibius, the sides and face a clear yellowish brown without noticeable sprinkling of blackish hairs. Essentially the entire Iberian Peninsula ; lowlands of southern France east of the Pyrenees. French specimens not perfectly typical. Arvicola sapidus tenebricus (Miller). 19US. Arvicola teiiehricvH Miller, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Sth ser., I, p. 19(). Fel)ruary, 1908 (Biarritz, Basses-Pyrenees, France). Color essentially as in .1. ainpJiibius arnplribins, the .sides and face con- spicuously sprinkled with blackish hairs. Pyrenees and Atlantic coast of .southwestern France, north to the Garonne; northern limits of range not known. Arvicola terrestris (Linnteus). 17.")8. [Mus] (erreslris Linna'us, 8yst. Nat., I, 10th ed., p. (11 (Upsala, Sweden). Size less than in A. ampJnbius (head and body about 17-5 mm., tail about 100 mm., liind foot usually 28 to ol mm., coudylobasal length of adult skulls '.M> to ;!9 mm. ) ; color dark, essentially as in A. amphibius reta, but cheeks usually more yellowish than surrounding parts; skull slightly but eviilently fossorial in form, the rostrum and occiput tending to l)eobli(|uely truncate, tlie up|H!r incisors projecting noticeably forward ; interparietal tending to be sulxpiadrate in outline; teeth rather heavy, but roots of m 1 and m ^ not forming protuberances on lower surface of mandible; hal)its both aquatic and mole-like. Scandinavian Peninsula, eastward into Russia; limits of range not known. Arvicola italicus (Savi). 18:)9. Arvicola amphibius var. ifalica Savi, N. Giorn. de' Letterati, XXXVII, No. 102, p. 202 (p. o of separate), February, 1839 (Pisa, Italy). Similar to Arvicola tvrrestris, but teeth not .so heavy and color not so dark, the underparts washed with yellowish brown instead of rusty; the cheeks not contrasting noticeal)ly with surrounding parts. Italian Swit- zerland ami uortlieru Italy, south at least to the vicinity of Pisa. Miller — Brief Si/nopsis of the Wdterrafs of Europe. 21 Arvicola illyricus (Barrett-Hamilton). 1S99. Microtns muslgnairi illyricus Barrett-Hamilton, Ann. and ^Fag. Nat. Hist., 7th ser., Ill, p. 225. March, ISll!) (Bosnia, no exact locality ) . Like Arvicola italicus bnt underparts with a decided whitish wash. Bosnia. Arvicola musignani de Selys-Longchamps. 1839. Arvicola musignani deSelys-Longchamps, Kevne Zoologique, p. S, January, ISoO. (Rome, Italy). Size and general characters as in Arricola ilalicus, bnt coior jialc and yellowish, like that of A. sapidus sajyidus. Central Italy, at jtresent known from the west coast oidy. Arvicola scherman (Shaw). Essentially as in Arvicola ierrestris but more modified for fossorial life. some of the races having become completely terrestrial ; palmar and plantar tubercles reduced, occupying less than lialf surface of region in which they occur; skull distinctly fossorial in form, the incisors strongly protru<ling; interparietal tending to be narrow and ligulate in outline. ^Vest-central continental Europe from the I'yrenees and Alps to the Baltic; eastern limits of range not known. Arvicola scherman scherman (Siiaw). 1801. Mas scherman Shaw, Gen. Zool., II, pt. I, p. 7') (Strassburg, Cier- many). Balniar and i)lantar tubercles relatively smaller than in Arricola (er- restris, though not so much reduced as in the strictly terrestrial forms; length of hind foot about 2(^5 mm.; condylobasal length of fully atlult skulls 'MiA'i to ;>('). 4 mm. ; color of uppt-rparts dark brown usually much clouded with black; tail usually dark brown throughout; habits both aquatic and mole-like. Continental Europe from the Baltic south into Belgium and to southern Germany; limits of range imperfectly known. Arvicola scherman exitus subsp. nov. Tyi)e, adult female (skin and skull) in British ]Mu.<eum (not registered), St. Gallen, Switzerland, April 28, 1900. E. Zollikofer. Palmar and plantar tubercles nmch reduced, occupying distinctly less than half area in which they occur; length of hind foot 22 to 25 mm. ; condyloba.sal length of fully adult skulls .'!:! to '.V-> mm. ; color of upper- parts a light yellowish brown usually without nuich black clouding; tail butty throughout or evidently bicolor (never uniformly blackish); audital liulJienot highly inflated, their surface often irregularly flattened; anterior loop of m J short and wide; habits strictly terrestrial, mole-like. Alps (not known from the Italian side ) at moderate altitude-, and innnediately 22 Miller — Brief Si/noi^sis of the Waterrats <f Europe. adjiiining lowlands of Switzerland and France; eastward intoTiml ; limits of nuiire not known. ]Measnrenionts of tj^pe: head and body, l:!S; tail, (14; hind foot, 1*4; ear, 13; skidl: condylobasal length, iJoS. Arvicola scherman monticola (de Selys-Longchanips). 1S38. Arvicola monticola de Selys-Longchamps, Revue Zoologiqne, j). 240 ( Pyrenees). Like Arvicola scherman exitus but audital bullte usually larger and more evenly inflated, and Hrst lower molar with anterior loop longer and nar- rower than in the Alpine form; habits strictly terrestrial, mole-like. Pyrenees and their immediate neighborhood (known at present from the French side only) ; a related and perhaps identical animal occurs in the Puy-de-D6me region. Vol. XXII, pp. 23-34 March 23, 191 0 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON NOTES ON MAMMALS OF THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, WITH DESCPJPTION OF [ A NEW WOODRAT. V^ BY ARTHUR H. HOWELL. The field work of the Biological Survey in IDOl) included a i^urvey of southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana, and parts of Kentucky. This trip, accomplished between April 20 and July 15, resulted in the accumulation of much new information on the distribution of the mammals of the region, and since very little has been published concerning the mam- mals of any of the States visited, excepting Indiana,* it is con- sidered desirable to place on record the more important results of the season's work. Missouri was the first State visited, and after a few days spent near St. Louis — at Horseshoe Lake, St. Charles County (April 21, 22) — I proceeded to the interesting "sunken lands" of southeastern Missouri. Collections were made principally on the St. Francis River, west of Senath (April 25-30) and at Kennett (May 1, 2), Portageville (May 3, 4), and Cushion Lake (May 5-7). Short stops at Marble Hill (May 8-10) and at Cape Girardeau (May 11, 12) resulted in determining the upper limits of Lower Austral Zone in the State. After crossing the Mississippi at Cape Girardeau, investiga- tions were continued in Illinois at the following localities : McClure (May 13), Olive Branch (May 14-21), Cobden and Lick Creek (May 22), ^Volf Lake (May 23-25), Riehl Station, near Alton (May 29, 30), Odin (June 4, 5), Olney (June 6-9), Kansas (June 10, 11), St. Francisville (June 12), Shawnee- * See a valuable contribution by W. L. Hahn, on "The Mammals of Indiana," < 33cl Ann. Rep. Dcpt. Geol. ct Nat. Resources of In<liana, I'.iO'.t, pp. -in-dOa. G— Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (23) 24 Hovrll — Mainmah nf the Middle Mississippi VaUc]i. town (June 17, 18), Golconda (June 19-21), and Reevesville (June 22). In Indiana short stops were made at Cypress, Knox County (June 12), New Harmony (June lo-lo), and Mt. Vernon (June 1(0. In Kentucky collections were made at the following localities: Rockport (June 23, 24), Hawesville (June 25-28), INIammoth Cave (June 29-July 5), Midway (July 6-11), and Jackson (July 12-14). The region visited during this trip forms the meeting place for Upper-and-Lower Austral Zones, and an effort was made to determine with some exactness the boundary between them. Lower Austral occupies the " sunken lands " and swampy river bottoms of southeastern ^Missouri and western Kentucky, extend- ing north in Missouri as far as Whitewater and Cape Girardeau. A line drawn diagonally across the State through Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau will mark quite accurately the upper limit of Lower Austral in Missouri. In Illinois this zone covers the whole of the southern portion of the State from East Cape Girardeau to Golconda, with a narrow^ tongue along the Missis- sippi as far north as Grand Tower. In Kentucky the eastern limits of Lower Austral were not definitely determined, but it doubtless includes the greater part of the counties bordering the Mississippi River, and extends in a narrow belt along the Ohio as far as Berry Ferry (opposite Golconda, Illinois). All the rest of Kentucky is in Upper Austral Zone, excepting a few isolated mountain summits in the extreme eastern part of the State, where small areas of Transition appear. Following is a list of the most characteristic Lower Austral species occurring in southern Illinois: MAMMALS OF LOWER AUSTRAL ZONE. Peromyscus r/ossj/pinus S.i/lcilagus aqaaticus Oryzomjfs palv.stris Blarina hrevicauda carolinensis Nyct iceius humeral is . BIRDS OF LOWER AUSTRAL ZONE. CfUharista uruhu Helinaia swainsoni Antrostomus carolinensis Protonoteiria citrea Peucasa aestivalis bachmani Howell — Mammals of the Middle Mississi^ypi Valley. 25 PLANTS OF LOWER AUSTRAL ZONE.* Taxodium distirhmn Ulmns alnta Ni/ssa aquatira. Celtls mJssissippiensis Querrui^ lyrata Gleditsia aquatica Arundinaria tectu LIST OF :ma:\i:mals. Sciurus niger rufiventer (ieoffroy. FOX SQUIRREL. Fox .squirrel.'^ are fairly common locally over the whole of the region traversed. Records were secured of their occurrence at the followino; localities: Missotiri: Horseshoe Lake, St. Charles County; Marble Hill; Cushion Lake (4 specimens). Illinois: Wolf Lake; Olive Branch ; Kansas; Cxolconda. Indiana: New Harmony (1 specimen). Kentncky : Hawesville; Mammoth Cave; Midway; Jackson. Tamias striatus (Linnaeus). CAROLINIAN CHIPMUNK. Occurs in moderate mnnhers nearly everywhere excepting in the big swamps. They were reported to me at the following localities: Missouri : INTarble Hill. Illinois : Olive Branch ; Wolf Lake ( 1 specimen ) ; A\'oodlawn ; Olney. Indiana : New Harmony. Ke)iliiek}i : Kockport; Mammotli Cave ( L' specimens ) ; Midway; Jackson. Marmota monax (Linn;eus). WOODCHICK; (JROUND HOG. The woodchnck occurs in the hilly portions of tlie Mississippi Valley States as far south at least as southern Illinois, southern Missouri, and western Kentucky. Records were secured of their occurrence in the following localities : Missouri : Meramec Highlands ( 1") miles soutliwest of St. Louis) ; ]Marble Hill. Illinois : Shelbyville (sjiecinicn from there seen in a St. Louis taxidermist shop); Riehl Station, near A Iti in; Woodlawn; Golconda; Olive Branch. Indiana : New Harmony. Kentuclqi : Mammoth Cave ( 1 specimen); Berry Ferry; ^lidway; Jack- son. * In this fonnootion, see paper.-* by Robort Ridgway on the native trees of the lower Wahasli Valley, in Proc. U. S. N. M., V. pp. Jii-SS, 1SS2, un<l XVII, pp. tOtWUl, l.SiM. 26 Howell — Mammals of the Middle Mississippi Valley. Citellus tridecemlineatus (]Mitcliill). STRIPED SPKIIMOI'IIILE: OROrND SQl'IKKEL. This small <:ruuu(l siniirrclis a iirairicdwcllcr, ami is (listribnted locally over the northern parts of lllin(]is ami Indiana, llahn records it from various places in northern In(hana as far sonth as Terre Ilante.* Its sonthern limit in Illinois was found to be close to the town of Kansas, where a small colony was located in a cemetery. Inquiries for the animal at Casey and Greenup, a little fartlier south, indicated that it does not occur there. Specimens liave been idt'ntilled in tlie Biological Survey from the fol- lowing localities: Illinois : IVw'kory, Lake County; Sunbeam, ^ifercer County; Saxon, Henry County ; Kishwaukee; Kansas; Argenta; AVarsaw ( specimen in U. S. Nat. Mus.). Peromyscus gossypinus megacephalus (Rhoads). WESTERN COTTON MOUSE. This species is common in the swamjis of the Lower Austral Zone and is frequently taken, also, in wooded blntis in tlie same /.one. It ranges nortli to southern Illinois and southeastern ^Missouri. S})eciniens were collected at the following localities: Missouri : St. Francis River (westof Senath), S; Portageville, 1; Cushion Lake, 1 . Illinois : Olive Rranch, 2; Wolf Lake, 1 ; (Jolconda, 3. Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi (Hoy tV: Kennicott). PRAIRIE WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE. Although mainly confined to prairie regions, this s]iecie.shas been taken occasionally in l)ottomland timber. Its range extends south to extreme southern Illinois. Specimens were taken at the following localities: Missouri: Horseshoe Lake, St. Cliarles County, 1. Illinois: Riehl Station, near Alton, 1; Kansas, :! ; ( )live Rranch, 1 ; McClure, 1. Oryzomys palustris (Harlan)- RICE i;at. This species is found throughout the Austrorii)arian Fauna and its range extends also well into the Carolinian along streams. It was taken for the first time in Missouri and Illinois and may l)e looked for as well in southern Indiana and Ohio. Specimens were collected at the following localities: Missouri: Kennett, 2; Portageville, 1; .Ahirbk- Hill, 1. Illinois: Olive I'.ranch, 4. *Tliirl.v-thinl Ann. R(>i'. Dept. Cieol. of Imliana, ]i\>- I75-17S, T.iOi). Hou-fU — Mainnial-i of the Middle Mississippi Vallaj. 2 ^4 Neotoma pennsylvanica Stone. ALLKOUKXY CAVE RAT. Tlii.s .species may l)e found in suitable situations througliout the eastern part of Kentucky at least as far west as ]Mammotli Cave, and as far north as the Ohio River. It prol)al)ly occurs, also, in the cliflTs on the Indiana side of the river. • At jNIammoth Cave they are numerous, both in the main cave and in a small cave known as the White Cave, but I found no signs of their pres- ence aljout the cliffs and large rocks on the Green River hillside at this place. In the ]Mammoth Cave they are found as far l)ack as one can penetrate. Two specimens were trapped at a point aljout 2}4. miles from the entrance, and others at the mouth of the cave. The rats enter the cave through the main entrance (which is the'only known entrance) and possibly also through small crevices leading down from thecliflls or small caves on the Green River hillside. At various points in the cave their tracks are very abundant in the sand on the floor and there are numerous hard-i>acked trails running close to the walls and into side crevices. The great numljer of tracks doubtless gives an exaggerated idea of the al)und- ance of the rats, for since there is nothing except human footsteps to obliterate the tracks, they may remain intact for a long period. Several large piles of rat excrement were noticed, ])nt comparatively little rubbish had been brouglit in by the animals. Quite a few nut shells (hickory, acorns, and hazel nuts) were seen, but no green vegetation and no piles of sticks. The guides frequently see the rats wliile in the cave, and as they are never distnrVjed they are very gentle and unsuspicious. They occasionally come about the tables in the dining hall in the cave and instances are reported of their having come regularly to be fed by the guides. The former manager of the Mammoth Cave estate once had a cave rat in cap- tivity, and he discovered accidentally that not only could he handle it with impunity, but it actually enjoyed being stroked and seemed to become drowsy under the operation. This rat always chose vegetable food in place of meat when both were offered it. In the White Cave, which is oidy al)out 200 yards long, and near the surface, I found the rats numerous and was able to ol)serve their ])eculiar mode of living. In this cave they make small nests or " forms " of finely shredded cedar bark, just about the size and shajje of a meadow lark's nest, though not arched over at all. These resemble closely the " forms " of the cottontail rabbit. I found five or six of these nests placed on the floor of tlie cave, close to. the wall, and on a narrow ledge of rock near the ceiling. Some of them were occupied by the rats at the time, and several specimens were secured here. The only other material brought into this cave by the rats are small tips of cedar l^ranches ; these are strewn quite thickly around their nests and one large rock was completely covered with them. A few old nut shells were found also, but no leaves or branches of any tree but cedar {Juniper us virglniana). The cedar may have been brouaht in to be used as food, but none of it was found in the 28 Howell — Mammals of t\c Middle Mississippi Valley. stomachs of the rats taken here which have been examined. They were found to l)e tilled with a finely chewed mass of fresh green vegetation, not identifiable, but certainly not cedar. The stomachs of the two individuals taken 2)4 miles back in IMammoth Cave contained fragments of apple, leaves, sorghum seeds and onion, a few small beetle larvfo, fly larvje and bits of beetle. At Hawesville, Kentucky, I found this species fairly numerous al)0ut the wooded clifis along the river, and here, as at Mammoth Cave, very few sticks had been carried into the crevices, l)ut freshly cut leaves and plants were observed in several places. In the vicinity of Jackson, Kentucky, these rats are well known to the inhabitants and are apparently common about rocky ledges all through that region. They often come down about farm buildings located near the cliffs and are reported 'to do some damage in corn cribs. One speci- men was trapped along a clilt' close to a house at Lost Creek, Breathitt County. Neotoma floridana illinoensis sul)sp. nov. ILLIXOLS WOODRAT. Type from Wolf Lake, Illinois. Adult female, No. 1(17, 752, U. 8. Na- tional Museum, Biological Survey Collection, .January 12, 1010. Jolui Johnson. General characters. — Similar in color to A''. /. baileyi but with longer and darker tail ; skull nearest to that of iV. /. rubida but slightly smaller. Color. — ITpperparts mixed bufi" and black, varying in some specimens to ochraceous bufi'; fore part of head and face gray ; tail distinctly bicolor, blackish above, grayish-white below; feet pure white ; underparts grayish- white with a tinge of yellow. Cranial characters. — Skull slightly smaller than that of rubida; zygo- mata more widely spreading anteriorly, their sides nearly imrallel ; palate more deeply notched (the interpterygoid fossa less evenly rounded); spheno-palatine vacuities reduced to narrow slits. From baileyi and atfwateri the present form differs cranially in the same characters that distinguish it from rubida and in addition the ros- trum and nasals are longer and slenderer. Measurements. — Average of eight adults from type locality: total length, -JiJO (390-4:5.3); tail vertebrae, 195 (187-205) ; hind foot, 3S (3(i-40). Remarks. — Woodrats of this group have not previously Ijeen taken in the Mississippi Valley bottomlands at any point north of Louisiana. It was quite a surprise, therefore, to lind the animals in southern Illinois at the upper edge of the Lower Austral Z(~>ne. A few old signs and deserted nests of woodrats were found in the heavy timber along the St. Francis River, Missouri, but ail efforts to traj) specimens i)rovi'd unsuccessful. The cliffs along the .Alississipj)! River north of Alton, Illinois, and south of St. Louis, Missouri, were explored for signs of the.se aninuils, but no in<lications of their presence were discovered. They were also looked for unsuccessfully in the cliffs at ( Jolconda, Illinois. The animals are common at Wolf Lake, inhabiting the high rocky bluflls Hoivell — Mammals of the Middle 3Iiss{ssi2)]n Valley. l29 which border the east side ot the lake. They live in crevices and caves into which they carry large quantities of sticks, leaves, and other rubbish. Their habits in this locality are thus like those of N. pennsylvanica and unlike those of rtibida in the Southern States where this species lives in swamps and builds its nests in hollow logs or trees and in the branches of trees some distance from the ground. The swamp conditions were present at this northern station, l)ut the adjacent clifi's evidently proved more attractive to them, as is usually the case Avith the members of this genus. Three adults aiid one young, all in worn pelage, were captured at M'nli Lake ]May 24, 25, and in January, 11)10, eight more adults in full fresh pelage were secured l)y a local trapper. Microtus pennsylvanicus (Ord). KASTEUX MEADOW MOUSE. The conmion meadow mouse occupies the l>Iuegrass region of Ken- tucky, l)ut was not found in other sections of the State. It was rather common at ^Midway, where specimens were taken, and Dr. ]Mearns has also taken them at Lexington. Their range proba))ly does not extend much farther south or west than this. None were found in southern Illinois or in the AVa]>ash Valley in Indiana. Hahn records the .'^iwcies, however, from Bloomington and Bascom, Indiana.* Microtus ochrogaster (Wagner). i'];aii;ie .meadow mouse. This is the common meadow mouse of the upper ^lississippi Valley, at least as far south as southern Illinois and Mi.s.souri. Unlike the eastern species (M. pennsijloanictis) they prefer dry situations, and are frequently found in matted grass along roadsides and in old meadows. They have not as yet been taken in Kentucky, but in a grass field at ^lauunoth Cave I found a few mouse signs which I believe were made by this species. Hahn records the species from various points across the State of Indiana, t and Langdon speaks of them as common in the vicinity of Cincinnati. t Specimens were taken at tlie following localities: Missouri : Horseshoe Lake, (i; INIarble Hill, 3. Illinois: Olive Branch, 3; AVolf Lake, 1 ; McClure, 1 ; Odin, 2; Olney, 2; Kansas, 2. Fiber zibethicus (Linnaeus). MUSKRAT. ]\Iuskrats are common on all the streams in the region visited, particu- larly in the St. Francis River, ^Missouri, and on Horseshoe Lake ( near Olive Branch), Illinois. IMany thousands are trapped here every winter, but at the time of my visit (April and ]May ) their numbers had 1:)een greatly reduced and they were very shy and difficult to secure. A few breeding * Mammals of Indiana, 33d Ann. Rep. Dept. Geol. & Nat. Resources of Indiana, pp. 536, 507, 1909. f Mammals of Incliana, 1. c. pp. 509, 510. t Journ. Chicinuati Soc. Nat. Hist., Ill, p. 307, 1880. 30 Hoiccll — Mammalfi of the Middle Mississippi Valley. (lens ))uilt umler the roots of large tupelos'or cypresses growing in deep water, were examined, but only one young muskrat was caught. During the winter the rats l)uild numerous large houses in the lakes or marshes, hut by spring these dens are usually all destroyed or carried away l)y high water. Five specimens, taken in Horseshoe Lake, Illinois, in December, agree very closely with September specimens oi zlbethicns from ^Massachusetts. Muskrats were reported to occur at the following localities: Missouri : Horseshoe Lake, St. Charles County; St. Francis River; Cush- ion Lake; Marble Hill. Illinois: Olive Brancli; Wolf Lake; AVoodlawn; Olney; Kansas; Shaw- neetown. Kentucky: ^Midway; Mammoth Cave; Jackson. Synaptomys gossi Merriam. (iOSS LEMMING MOUSE. Tills sju'cies, previously known only from Kansas, was found in nund)ers at Horseshoe I^ake, St. Charles County, Missouri, April 21 and 22, and a goo<i series of specimens was secured. A large colony had occupied a low marshy meadow close to the Mississippi River. At the time of my visit tiie water in the river was very high, and the meadow was overflowed to a deptli of 12 to IS inches. The mice had been driven from their burrows l)y the high water, and were hiding as well as they could on tussocks and under jiatches of floating debris. "When disturbed they ran rather slowly over the submerged vegetation and swam freely, but were easily over- taken. INLuiy had been killed by dogs or other predatory animals, and I was able to get as many specimens as I needed by catching them in my hands. The burrows in this meadow were on the little hillocks, the entrances near the top. Thus they are probably dry except in times of very high water. The entrances are perfectly open and not concealed under vegetation as is the hal)it of S'/naptomi/s cooper i in the eastern States. Well-beaten runways extended out from tlie burrows and under the dead vegetation. A single specimen taken June 5 in an old dry meadow at Odin, Illinois, is provisionally referred to this form. It agrees with (jossi in color, but its skull is too young to l^e positively identified. At the time this species was described, only a few specimens were in existence and no skins were available. Since then the skins collected at the tyiie locality by (loss have come to light and the Biological Survey has received .si.x specimens from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, collected by Dr. B. H. Dutcher. In view of the scarcity of this species and the lack of any description of its external characters, the following brief synop.sis has been prepared : Specific characters.— Size large and stocky — the largest of the genus; skull massive, larger than that of JirJaletcs (much larger tlian coopcri) but with rostrum both actually and relatively narrower; colors dark. Color. — Adults in full pelage (Kansas, April and June): rich reddish brown above, with an admixture of black hairs; sides paler; underparts Howell — Mammals of the Middle Mississippi Valley. 31 grayish, sometimes with asliojht linfFy or rufous tinge ; feet and tail clotlied with grayisli hairs. A sHghtly worn April specimen is considerably paler than the rest. The series of V2 specimens (mostly adults) from Horseshoe. Lake, Missouri (April 21), average a little paler and less reddisli than tyi)ical Kansas specimens, but agree with them in size and cranial characters. Mensurements. — Five adults from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: total length, 132 (123-141) ; tail vertebrae, 21.4; ( 19-24) ; hind foot, 20 (19-21). Skull (3 adult males): occipito-nasal length, 29.9; zj'gomatic breadth, 17.9; interorbital breadth, 3.4; breadth of rostrum, 5.8; length of nasals, 8.2; maxillary toothrow, 7.5. Nine adults from Horseshoe Lake, Mis- souri: total length, 134(131-138); tail vertebrae, 20.7(20-22); hind font, 19.5 (19-20). Skull (10 adults): occii)ito-nasal length, 28.(1; zygiimatie breadth, 17.6; interorbital breadth, 3.4; breadth of rostrum, 0; length of nasals, 7.6; maxillary toothrow, 7.8. Qeomys bursarius (Shaw). I'OCKET (ioPIIKH. Fllbrts were made to trace the southern limit of this species in Illinois. It had been previously recorded from Belleville* and was found to occur very sparingly at Coulterville, Woodlawn, and Odin, and a few miles north of Olney. It does )iot occur on the prairie about Ducpioin, so that Coulterville is considered to be about its si>uthern limit in the State. Sylvilagus aquaticus (F>achman). SWAM I* KAHl'.IT. This rabbit is numerous in the swampy bottoms of southeastern Missouri, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois. Its upper limit in ]Mi.ssouri is a few miles south of Cape Girardeau. In Illinois it ranges slightly farther north in a narrow belt of swamp close to the ]^.[ississippi I\iver, to within a few miles of Grand Tower. In the Ohio Valley it is found in the swamps on both sides of the river to a point about five miles below (iol- conda, Illinois, and Berry Ferry, Kentucky, and is reported, also, from Gilbertsville, Kentucky, in the Teimessee Valley. Careful in(juiries were made in the lower Wabash Valley to ascertain if this species occurred there, and I was positively assured by well-informe<l residents that it never was known in that region, ^\'ith the exception of a few isolated areas of swamp land there is no country there suited to their habits. Sylvilagus floridanus alacer (Bangs). SOUTHWESTERN COTTONTAIL. This form of the cottontail ranges north to southeastern ^lissouri and wt'stern Kentucky. S|)ecimens were taken at tbe following localities: Missouri: Cushion Lake. Kentucki/: Berry Ferry. •N. Am. Fiuma, No. S. p. 12i). isiir,. o2 Howell — Mammals of the Middle Mississipjn Vallcii. Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi (Allen). NORTH WESTKItX ('< (TTOXTAIL. Spt'ciiiu'ii^ of this form were taken at the followiiiir lncahties: Misaoxi-i : Horseshoe Lake, St. Charles Connty; .Ahirhlc Hill. Illiiioift : Kansas; Olive I>ranch. Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Schreber). (iRAY VOX. (Jray foxe.-^ were reported to me as occurrinif at Midway, Kentneky, and Liek Creek, Illinois. Vulpes fulvus ( Desman'st). RKD FOX. This species was reportc^d to occur at the follnwinLj: localities: Kenlnckij: ^Midway; Bi<? Black Mountain, Harlan County (IDOS). IIHiKils: Wolf Lake; Lick Creek (den of youuij: found aliout .Afay 20). Canis sp.? WOLF. A few wolves are rei)orted in the ri\i:;ion about Clushion Lake, .Missoiu'i, and one was killed near there in the winter of ]()0.S-5). Canis latrans Say. COVOTF. I was informed by a resident of Kansas, Illinois, that several prairie wolves had l)een seen and one killed a few niiU-s south of Kansas two or thre(! years ii^o. Spilogale putorius (Linuieus). ALLKcillFNIA.N SI'OTTFD SKCXK. The Spotted skuidcs undoubtedly range north as far as southern Illinois. They were reported to be fairly conunon at Golconda, Illinois, and Berry Ferry, Kentucky. Hahn gives a record from Knox County, Indiana,* and they are said to occur at New Harmony. Putorius noveboracensis Lnunons. XFW YORK WFASFL. This weasel is fairly conunon in S()utheru Illinois and Kentucky. Rec- ords were secured of its occurrence at the following localities: flUnifis: (iolconda C! s{)eciniens) ; Lick Creek. Keiitnckii: Hawesville (1 specimen); ^lidway (1 specimen); Jackson. Blarina brevicauda carolinensis (liachman). CAKOLINIA.N ItLARINA. Specimens of this form were taken at the f(jllo\\ing localities: Illinois: Olive P>rancli, L'; (!ypre.ss Junction, near Shawneetown, 1; (Jol- couda, L Kentucky: Jack.son, I. MiUiiin. of Iiidiaiia, loc. cif., ijp. 57.')-577. Howell — Mammah of Ihc Middle Missisaijyin Vcdley. 33 Scalopus aquaticus machrinus ( Ralinesque). PRAIRIE MOLE. Moles are quite generally distributed in the Mississippi Valley, and in some sections are abundant. Records or specimens were obtained at tlie following localities: Missouri: St. Francis River, west of Senatli (a few occur); rortageville (common); Marble Hill (common; 1 specimen). Illinois: Riehl Station, near Alton (common; 1 si)eciinen); Olive Branch (common); Woodlawn (numerous); Olney (numerous; 1 specimen); Golconda ( numerous ) . Kentucky: Mammoth Cave (scarce) ; Hawesville ( uncommon ) ; Midway (abundant; )] specimens). Pipistrellus subflavus (F. Cuvier). GEORGIAN BAT. Generally distributed in tlie Mississippi Valley ; very numerous in soutliern Illinois. Four small caves near Lick Creek, Illinois, were ex - jilored on -May '2'2, but only about six bats of this species were found all told, all hanging singly. They were sluggish, cold, and very loath to move, even after being handled. All were males. No bats of any kind were found in ]\Iammotb Cave at the time of my visit, although large numbers of Mijotis lucifugus are known to live there in the winter. Nor were any of the latter species shot in the vicinity. Specimens of P. sid^flavus were collected at the following localities: Illinois: OHve Branch, 2 (May 14); Lick Creek, 4 (?,Iay 22); Olney, 1 (JuneS); Reevesville, 1 (June 22). Kentucky: Mammoth Cave, 1 (JuneiiO). Lasiurus borealis (Miiller). RED BAT. Not very common ; specimens were taken as follows : Illinois: Olive Branch, 1 (May 14). Kentucky: Mammoth Cave, 1 (July ] ; two seen). Nycticeius humeralis (Ratinesque). RAFINESQUE BAT. Sj)ecimens of this southern species were taken at the following localities: Missouri: Cushion Lake, New Madrid County, 1 (May (>). Illinois: Olive Branch, 4 (May 17, 18). Kentucky: Mammoth Cave, 1 (June 30). Vol. XXIII, pp. 35-40 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON THE STRIDULATIONS OF SOME "KATYDIDS."* BY H. A. ALLARD. In tlie popular sense, the term "katydid" is applied to members of several different genera of the Locustidse. These insects are more strictly arboreal than the rest of the Locustidse, and in many ways show marked adaptation to arboreal con- ditions. Although of large size, the more or less oval outlines, the green color, and the leaf-like venation of the large wing- covers serve to harmonize them well with tlieir environment of green foliage. The katydids are nearly all nocturnal singers, and stridulate only rarely during sunshine. The species of katydids which I have met and with whose stridulations I have become acquainted are included in the four genera. — Scudderia, Ambb/corypha, Microcentrum, and Ci/rtophyllus. Most species of these genera stridulate in a manner markedly different from others, so that far greater differences characterize their notes than is usual among the species oi Xiphidium, Orchelimum, or Conocephalus. In the first genus, Scudderia texensis Saussure and Pictet is one of the commonest and most widely distributed of all the katydids. It is not an arboreal species, but dwells almost entirely in the tall grass in neglected upland fields. At Thompson's Mills, Ga., where it is exceedingly common, it is almost entirely an upland insect. Here also it is a common dweller among cotton plants. Its stridulations, produced by a quick, shuffling wing-movement of brief duration, is soft, weak, and delivered at rather long and irregular intervals. It is usually heard during hazy afternoons and in the evening. It •The katydids listed in this paper were kindly identified for me by Mr. A. N. Caudell, of the U. S. National Mnseum. 7— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (35) 36 Allard — The Stridulations of some " Kati/dids.'^ is a note difficult to express, but recalls the phrase, sh-sh-sh- sh-sh-sh-sh. Scudderia texensis is a shy species, and when flushed from the grass flies some distance, in a quiet, irregular flight. It is a common insect around Washington, D. C. Scudderia furcata Brunner is also a very common species at Thompson's Mills, Ga., and also prefers the tall grasses, briars and weeds of upland fields, for it, too, is strictly a terrestrial species. At Thompson's Mills, in an old, abandoned field which had grown up to a dense growth of broom-grass and weeds, this katydid was extremely abundant in September and October. Its note is a rather soft zeep, uttered singly, or occasionally two or three times in succession. Like texensis, furcata is not a noisy or persistent singer, and its brief notes are uttered only at long and irregular intervals, in the afternoon or during the night. This species sometimes finds a hiding place among the foliage of an orchard tree, from which it pro- duces its stridulations. S. furcata is a very common form around Washington, D. C. The species of Amblycorypha stridulate much more noisily and persistently than the species of Scudderia. Amblycorypha oblongifolia De Geer is a fairly common species at Thompson's Mills, and stridulates almost entirely at night. In this locality I find it almost always among the weeds and low shrubs of upland situations. Here, my record of the first singer in 1909 was July 26. This large katydid is an especially common species on Plummer's Island, Maryland, where it usually pre- fers the willows and herbage close to the water. The note of Amblycorypha oblongifolia consists of a single, Ijrief phrase repeated at more or less regular intervals. When heard close by, it is apparent that this note begins with a very rapid crepi- tation, which may be likened to the sudden rasping of an object across the teeth of a comb. This terminates sharply with a sound remotely like " itzic." The entire song may be likened to the syllables, z-z-z-z-itzic — z-z-z-z-itzic. At a dis- tance, these notes recall the weak chirp of a small bird in the weeds, — itzic-itzic-itzic-itzic-itzic . Amhlycorypha oblongifolia is a persistent singer, and is usually heard in rather definite colonies. Blatchley very aptly describes the note when he likens it to a " creaking squawk — like the noise made by draw- ing a fine-toothed comb over a taut string." Allard — The Strididations of some " Katydids.'' ' 37 Amhli/roi'ppha rotundifolia Scudder is a smaller katydid than A. oblongifolin, and occ-urs around Washington, D. C. On the night of August 25, 1909, I caught a male of A. rotundifolia close to the ground on a dry, rocky, wooded hillside on Plummer's Island. Its stridulations were continued for some time while I closely observed it near by. Its song is brief, faint, and of the same lisping character as that of Amhlycorypha uhleri, but entirely unlike it in delivery. Each phrase is a soft, shuffling noise repeated at intervals, — sh-sh-sh-sh — sh-sh-sh-sh — sh-sh-sh-sh. Scudder likens the notes to " chic-a-chee," several times repeated. In a study of the katydids occurring at Thompson's Mills, I have not yet obtained this species. One of the commonest eastern katydids is the little Amhly- corypha uhleri Brunner. This species is very common around Washington, D. C, and exceedingly common at Thompson's Mills, Georgia. Everywhere, it dwells not far from the ground in the tall grass and weeds of old fields and roadsides. The individuals of this species do not seem to congregate into well- defined colonies at all, but remain more or less evenly dis- tributed throughout the fields. This katydid stridulates occa- sionally during the day, but usually at night. On warm, moonlight evenings its soft lisping responses are almost the dominant notes of the low^ weeds of the fields and roadsides. I have studied the notes of A. uhleri very carefully and find them quite variable. The complete song begins with a prolonged, soft, silken, almost uniform noise produced by a rapid, shuffling wing movement. This note soon passes into a succession of short, vehement staccato lisps, — sip-itsip-itsip-itsip-itsip, and termi- nates with a rapid, shuffling sound two or three times repeated, sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh — sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. The complete song may be expressed, thus: — s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-sip-itsip-itsip-itsip- itsip-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh — sh-sh-sh-sh-sh — sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. In some instances a succession of staccato lisj^s, tip-tip-tip-tip, very slowly repeated, follow the final phrases, sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh, recalling the lispings notes — tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip, in the song of an Orchelimum. Other individuals deliver only the lisping phrases, sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh, which are always preceded by an almost inaudible click of the wings. This song may be expressed as follows: tip-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. If two males are 38 Alla7'd — The Strididat ions of some " Kati/dids." stridiilating near each other, the responses are likely to be similar. If one singer begins its song witli the soft, silken, continuous note, s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s, it is very quickly answered by the other in precisely the same way. Tlie usual notes of AmhUicorypha uhleri are, tip-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh, or this may be preceded by several short notes, slowly delivered, tip-tip- tip-tip-tip-tip — , sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. The stridulations of this katydid have evidently never been completely described, as every part seems to be an essential love-call in its song. The katydids of the genus Microcentrurii are more strictly arboreal than any of the preceding. Microrcntrnvi retlnerve Burmeister is strictly an arboreal katydid, and dwells almost exclusively in the crowns of the highest oaks, hickories, maples and other deciduous trees. At Thompson's Mills, Ga., this katydid, judging from the numbers stridulating during warm, midsummer nights, is one of the commonest and most noisy of all the Locustidas. Owing to its arboreal habits, how- ever, it is not readily located and captured. Its notes, which are loud, harsh and persistently delivered throughout the summer nights, consists of several rapidly shuffled phrases, each briefer than the last — sh-sh-sh-sh — sh-sh-sh — sb-sh — sh. Wherever this katydid occurs, it is very locally distributed, so that certain groves are almost without a singer. This katydid is very common in the woods on Plummer's Island, Maryland, above Washington, D. ('., but throughout the sunnner of 1909 I did not hear a single individual in the trees at Lincoln Park, although Microcentrum rJiovd)ifoliiim was very common there. Microcentrum rhomhifol'mm Saussure is the largest and one of the commonest katydids in much of the eastern United States. At Thompson's Mills this s[)ecies is very common, and at Washington, D. C, I find it perhaps the commonest katydid. In the willows and small trees bordering the low grounds of east Washington, it is a very common species, and the strident calls of different individuals may be heard in m-arly every bush. Although it is a rather shy species, with a little care it may readily be taken, since it dwells in low shrubbery in open situations, and is not a forest species. 1 have carefully studied tlie peculiar stridulations of these katydids by placing them on l)oughs in my room. Thi'oughout the night tlieir crepitating notes were leisurely delivered in AllanI — The Stridulations of some " Katydids.'" 39 response to others in the trees out-of-doors. The notes which show considerable variation in length and intensity are sharp, snapping crepitations, and sound much like the slow snapping of tlie teeth of a stiff comb as some object is slowly drawn across it. They may be more or less accurately expressed thus: tek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-tzip — tek-ek-ek-ek-ek- ek-ek-ek-ek-tzip. The first notes are very distinct and incisive, but grow fainter with a rapid decrease in the intervals separat- ing each single syllable, — ek-ek, and terminate with a single, loud, rasping tzip. In some instances this tzip is followed l)y a succession of several barely audible clicks of the wings, tek- ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-tzip-ek-ek-ek-ek. After dark on warm, sum- mer evenings this katydid is a very persistent singer. Riley describes the notes of Microccntrum rhombifulium very accurately. He says: "The song consists of a series of from 25-30 rasp- ings, as of a stiff quill drawn across a coarse file. There are about five of these raspings or trills per second, all alike and with equal intervals, except the last two or three, which, with the closing of the wings, run into each other. The whole strongly recalls the slow tvirning of a child's wooden rattle, ending with a sudden jerk of the same . . . . " The true katydid CyrtopJn/Uvs perspicillatus Linnauis is also strictl}^ an arboreal species. Its stridulations, which rarely begin before dusk, are prol)abl3' the hardest and most rasping notes produced by any of the LocustidtB. At Thompson's Mills, Georgia, it is a very common species, and noisy colonies occupy nearly every wooded tract. In the evolution of this species, the power of sustained flight has been quite lost, so that when disturbed in its leafy hiding place among the top- most branches of the forest trees, it drops to a lower limb or sails gently to the ground. Cyrtophylhis perspicillatus is very sedentary in its halnts, and shows little disposition to migrate, in part owing to its limited powers of flight. I have frequently noted that the same individual may occujiy a certain tree or liml) throughout the summer. This katydid is evidently gen- erally distributed throughout the hill and mountain section of north Georgia, for even in the forests on Tray and Blue Moun- tains, Towns County, I heard their stridulations in late September. The notes of this katydid are sharp, emphatic rasping sylla- 40 Allard — The Strldulations of some " Katydids.^' bles of a few seconds duration, usually from three to five following in rapid succession, with intervals of rest — kitzy- kitzy-kitzy-kitzy-kitzy — or kitzy-kitzy-kitzy. In the high forest trees throughout the little settlement of Thompson's Mills, Ga., the strident calls of this katydid may be heard above all other insects. Here, on warm, summer evenings, the quiet dusk is suddenly interrupted by the incisive notes of a single singer, and the din of the entire colony immediately starts up to con- tinue throughout the night. It is also a noisy species in the trees on Plummer's Island, Maryland. The stridulations of nearly all the katydids are harsh and unmusical reiterations, yet their lively notes add greatly to the life and buoyancy' of the midsummer days and nights. Vol. XXIIl, pp 41-46 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF ISSIDAE (FULGORIDAE). BY E. D. BALL. While collecting on a dry rocky slope in southwestern Utah several years ago, the writer beat from the scanty vegetation of this desert region three or four specimens of a very curious leaf hopper, evidently an Issid, I)Ut apparently representing an undescribed genus. The few specimens taken were apparently stray captures and no more were found in this region although diligent search was made on nearly every plant represented in the original locality. The past season the writer came upon this insect again in two different regions in California. The first capture was on the Mojave desert and a little later the same insect was found near the Salton Sea. Both of these places are extreme desert regions and very similar in vegetation to the Utah region where it was first found. The insect, therefore, appears to be closely confined to the extremely hot, dry desert areas of the Southwest. It is much smaller and paler than its nearest relatives, no doubt an adaptation to the sparse, pale vegetation of its normal habitat. The genus is named in honor of Prof. Herbert Osborn, who has done so much to further our knowledge of the American leaf hoppers. The types of this and all other species here described are in the author's collection. Osbornia gen. nov. Somewhat resembling Danepteryx but with elytra oval and abbreviated, and the margin of vertex and front produced into a pair of acute horn- hke angles above the eyes. Vertex transversely concave, inclined, wider than long, anterior margin elevated, meeting the front in an acute angle which is accentuated at the lateral carinae, forming two acutely triangular "horns" nearly as high »— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXHI, 1910. (41) 42 Ball — Xrjr Genera and Sperirs of ff^xidar {Fidgorulae). as the width of an eye. The anterior margin of vertex broadly triangularly emarginate, posterior margin deeply roundingly cmarginate. Front nearly horizontal, Ijroad, convex below, slightly narrowing above to just before the apex where it expands into the horns. Median carina distinct and extending onto vertex. Clypeus strongly inflated. Pronotum long on tlie median line, very narrow behind the eyes, median carina distinct, mesonotuni tricarinate. Elytra l)rachypterous, oval, corium with three ijrincipal veins and irregular reticulations. Abdomen with the exposed segments strongly tubercularly elevated. I^gs as in Danepteryx, posterior tibia with a single spine. ■ Type of the genus 0. cornida. Osbornia cornuta sp. nov. Superficially resembling Peltonotellus histrlonicus somewhat, smaller than Danppteryx. A small brownish insect with abbreviated ashy gray elytra and acute outer augles to the vertex. Length, •"> mm. Vertex twice wider than its length on lateral carinae. Four times wider than its median length. Lateral carinae distinct, elevated, meeting the lateral carinae of front in an acutely produced ear-like angle or horn. Between these horns the vertex is triangularly emarginate anteriorly. Front horizontal, one-third wider than its median lengtli, margins nearly parallel, slightly constricted just beneath the lateral iiorns. Clypeus large, strongly inflated. Elytra abbreviate, roundingly truncate, usually slightly separated by the elevated abdomen. The last four abdominal segments with distinct tul)erculate, median elevations. Color. — Quite variable, usually dark brown with the ground color of the elytra and some stripes on the abdomen light. Front brown, the lateral carinae, a row of dots just inside these and a narrow crescent above the clypeus pale. Clypeus tawny or orange. Vertex brown, its carinae pale. Elytra ashy gray with the reticulate nervures brown, especially around the margins. Abdomen I)rown with five rows of irregular spots. Pale specimens are sometimes almost straw color with the clypeus and the tubercles on the abdominal segments reddish orange. Described from twelve examples from St. (xeorge, Utah, and Mojave, California. Collected by the author. Naso melichari sp. nov. Closely resembling robertsoni in size and form. Smaller with the cephalic process less inflated at the apex. Pitchy 1)lack without markings. Lengtli, 3.75 mm. Vertex sliort tr;insverse, sharply separated from the front l>y a distinct carina. Front broad at base, broader than in fitchi, tapering gradually into a long })()inted snout as seen from al)Ove. The lateral carinae expanded just before the eyes, then contracted near the middle of the process, ff)rm- ing a somewhat diamond-shaped conipartmcnt, lieyond this regularly narrowing to the apex. Median carina obscure on the disc, becoming prominent almost foliaceons around the I'xtremity. As seen from the side Ball — New Genera an<J Sjyries of Imdae (Fvlgori/Jae). 43 this protuberance is inclined at an anj^le of about forty-tive degrees with tlie extremity rounded and enlarged. Pronotum large with anterior and median carinae prominent. Elytra rather narrow with a large number of irregular longitudinal veins. Abdomen narrow, the segments weakly pustulate. Color. — Pitchy black, the posterior margin of the eyes fulvous, the ros- trum and coxae white, and often a testaceous iridescence to the front and elytra. Described from three females from Arizona in the collection of the author. Hysteropterum unum sp. nov. Resembling cornulum but larger and more strongly marked. Dirty straw marked with l)rown and green. Length, 4 mm. Vertex two and one-half times wider than long, much longer and narrower than in cornutum, the anterior margin as seen from above straight, disc depressed, posterior margin slightly, roundingly emarginate. Front longer and narrower than in cornutum, the lateral carina straiglit to just before the clypeus where they round in a trifle. ITnion of front and vertex right angle<l, distinctly carinate ; as viewed from the front this union is broadly angularly emarginate. Clyi)eus strongly obliquely ribbed and with a Inroad median carina. Pronotum long and narrow, nearly as long as the width of the vertex. Elytra longer than in niniiitiiin and more definitely gibbous. Color. — Vertex green, a pair of brown V-shaped marks in the posterior angles. Front pale green with irregular brown spots between the carinae. Clypeus orange. Pronotum and mesonotum pale green with traces of fus- cous marking. Elytra pale straw, greenish attheliinge. A l)road l)rownish stripe on either elytron, running back from the eye and enclosing a broad pale sutural stripe, whit-h is angularly enlarged just before, the apex of clavous. Described from a single male from Pueblo, Colorado. Collected by the author. Readily recognized by its distinct vertex and elytral markings. Dictyobia combinata sp. nov. Sliglitly larger than permutata with longer less angled elytra. An oblique light stripe on each elytron. Length, 5 mm. Vertex about six times wider than its median length with the margins strongly carinate. Front horizontal, slightly convex, a trifle widened between the antennae. Elytra decidedly longer and somewhat broader than \u permutata. ]\ruch broader posteriorly, venation similar, the inner veins of c(jrinni much closer to claval suture. Color. — Female sulphur yellow with the elytra brown. A pair of brown dots on the posterior part of the mesonotum. The brown of the elytra interrupted by a broad, definite oblique, subhyaline band arising on the middle of the clavus and extending to the c(jsta beyond the middle. The anterior part of costal area and an oval area against the ajiex light. The, 44 Ball — New Genera and Species of Jmdae {FnUjoruhie). brown markings often accentuated against tiie oblique band. Male, uni- formly darker with the same markings. Described from five examples taken at Colfax, ralifi)niia, by the author. Dictyssa ovata sp. \u^\. Slightly smaller and darker than areolata witJi only tiin-e discal hyaline cells on elytra. Length, 3.5 mm. Vertex narrow, anterior margin straiglit, cariuate, meeting front in a right angle, slightly longer and more prominently angled than in areolata. Elytra with the two inner branches on the corium widely separated and curved to form an almost circular cell on the inner disc. In areolata and mutaia the inner branch is not curved and the outer one less so than in tlie pre.sent species. Color. — Face vertex and pronotum clear pale yellow, rarely obscured with smoky brown. Elytra varying from dark brown to almost l)lack with the anterior half of the costa light, interrupted with transverse brown nervures. Posterior half of costa and entire apical margin and most of the sutural margin ornamented with small semicircular pellucid spots. Disc of corium with three nu'lky-white subhyaline cells in an oblicjue band, the median cell much the larger, almost circular, and its uuirgin studded with about eight short, dark nervures. Inner hyaline area irregular, much smaller, usually extending across the suture onto the clavus, and often partially or wholly divided by a cross nervure. Outer cell nearly pen- tagonal in outline, scarcely two-thirds the size of the middle one and usually more than its own width removed from the spots along the costa. Described from eight examples from Ti Juana, Mexico, and Tia Juana, California, collected by the autlior. Closely resembling areolata but easily separated by the smaller size and the abbreviated oblique marking of the elytra which does not reach the costa. Dictyssa fenestrata sp. nov. Resembling ovata in form, slightly snuUler. Brown with two transverse bands of hyaline spots behind the middle of the elytra. Length, 3 mm. Vertex slightly longer and narrower than in ovata, with the carinae more elevated. Elytral venation similar to ovata but with the first two sect(jrs of the corium less widely separated as in mutnta, and with a smallt^r num- ber of reticulate veinlets, especially towards the apical portions. Color. — Pale dirty brown. Elytra brown with the nervures mostly pale. Costal and sutural margins bordered with small pale spots. An oblique hyaline band from the base of clavus to center of corium. A transverse hyaline band just back of the middle of corium made up of five or six angular cells, another transverse band across the apex composed of three or four large oval hyaline cells and about the same number of minute round ones against the margin between the larger ones. Described from six exami)k's from Tia Juana, California, collected by the author. A very distinct species and one easily recognized by the large hyaline cells at the apex. Ball — Neiv Genera and Species of Issidae (Fidgoridae). 45 Dictyssa obliqua sp. iiov. Size and form of fenestrata nearly ))nt nincli darker, venation and ob- lique band as in mntala nearly. Dark brown or black with an oblique band and maru^inal spots on the elytra hyaline. Length, 3 mm. Vertex and pronotum black, the marijin.s pale. Median carina definitely white lined, face I:)rown or pale brown, the carinae margined with fuscous. Elytra black, an ()l)lique hyaline band from the posterior disc of clavus to the middle of the corium, then angled to the costa as in mulata, the two outer cells oval and smaller than those on disc. Entire margin of elytra sparsely ornamented with pellucid dots, the largest ones around the apex. Described from twelve examples from Tia Juana, California, and Ti Juana, Mexico, collected by the author. This is the only dark species of the genus that has the oblique band. Vol. XXIII, pp. 47-48 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON THE SCALES OF THE ATHERINID FISHES. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. When examining the scales of various Acanthopterygians, it was observed that those of the Scombrids differed so greatly from those of the Percoids that it was hard to understand how one could have been derived from the other. The typical Percoid scale (e. g. that of Perca fluviatllis) has very strong basal radii, the inferior margin being scalloped or crenulate. Scales of this type may be cycloid or ctenoid, but their general character remains the same. In Scomber the broad scale has no basal radii whatever, and tlie lower margin is not scalloped. It chanced that among some fishes of unknown locality, long- preserved at the University of Colorado, I found a couple of Atherinidffi. The examination of their scales at once revealed the fact that they were (in respect to the squamation) exactly intermediate between the Scombrids and Percoids; in fact the different scales on the same fish virtually bridged the gap which had seemed so great. Through the kindness of Dr. Evermann and the Bureau of Fisheries, I have now been supplied with four species of Atherinidffi, having authentic names and locali- ties, and it seems worth wliile to report the results of their examination. The Atherinid scale (from the middle of the side) is broader than long, and in general very much like tliat of the Scombrids. In Kirtlandia laciniata the scales from the position mentioned have no basal radii, altliough the base is wavy or subplicate; but the scales of the caudal peduncle show strong basal radii. The diagnostic characters are as follows: ^o (1.) Kirtlandia laciniata Swain. Chesapeake Bay, Va. ((Jrainpus Sta. 4). Scales nearly 3 mm. long, a little over 4 broad: apieal margin thin, strongly irregularly crenate, with rudimentary radii; apical 9— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIH, 1910. (47) 48 Cockerell — The Scales of the Atherinid Fishes. field without circuli; basal and lateral fields with strong circuli, not very dense ( least so laterallj' ) ; basal margin with a prominent median lobe, bounded on each side by a shallow fold, but no basal radii. Scales of caudal peduncle similar but nearly square, with strong laterobasal angles, and five strong basal radii. The scales are very suggestive of those of Scomber chrysozonus (proba- bly better called RastrcUiger chrysozonus, as I learn from Dr. Jordan), but the latter has no basal lobe, and has strong trans- verse circuli in the apical field. In general, liowever, the resem- blance is most striking. (2.) Menidia menidla (h.). Cape Charles City, Va., above moutli of King's Creek. Scales (from the usual situation on middle of side) about 2% mm. long and ?)}{ broad ; nucleus central ; apical margin simple, entire; no apical radii; apical field with dense rather ill- defined circuli ; lateral field with widely spaced circuli ; basal field with strong circuli and 8 or 9 .strong radii, M'hich, however, do not nearly reach the margin; basal lobe slightly indicated. Scales from caudal peduncle nearly square with strong posterior corners and numerous strong basal radii. (3.) Menidia notata (Mitch.). Wareham River, Mass., ])ractically in fresh water. Scales hardly 2 mm. long, about 2j^' broad ; formed as in M. menidia, except that there are about 8 strong basal radii, which reach the margin, producing the characteristic scalloping. Scale from caudal peduncle differing as in the others. (4. ) Menidia peninsulw (Goode and Bean). Sebastian River, Fla. (Peli- can Islands). Scales about 2 mm. long and 2% broad; structure as in the other species of Menidia, except that the basal radii ( 7 or 8), while reaching the margin, which they irregularly scallop, fail centrad, being in general less well developed than tliose of M. notata. Scale from caudal peduncle diff"ering as in the others. Kirtlandia and Meyiidia offer excellent generic differences in their scales; Kirtlandia is, of course, the more Scomber-Vike. The Atherinidse belong to the Percesoces, a suborder of which Jordan and Evermann say: " The suborder marks a transition from soft-raj-ed to spiny-rayed fishes, its nearest associates among the latter being, per- haps, the Scombrid forms." The Scombriform character of the scales, with a combination of Perciform features, is therefore of much interest. Vol. XXIII, pp. 49-52 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON THE WEST AFRICAN FOREST PIG (HYLOCHOERUS RIMATOR THOMAS). BY GLOVER M. ALLEN. \ ■ v Through the generosity of Col. William Barbour, the Museum of Comparative Zoology has recently received a skin and skull of the West African Forest Pig (Hylochoeriis rimator). I am in- debted to the authorities of the Museum for permission to make a brief report on this interesting specimen, the first of its kind, apparently, to reach America. Reports had for some years pre- viously been current of a " Giant Pig " inhabiting the forests of Equatorial Africa, but it wsiS not until 1901 that actual speci- mens were obtained from British East Africa and sent to the British Museum. These, consisting of two skulls, an imperfect skin, and a fragment of hide, were made the basis of the new genus and species Hi/lochoerus meinertzhagenl by Thomas.* A number of specimens of this species have now reached European museums, so that it is fairly Avell known as regards external and cranial characters. In 1006 Thomast described a second species, H. rimator, from the Ja River, Cam croons, West Africa. This was based on a single skull of a female specimen, and hitherto no notice has appeared of the external characters nor have other skulls apparently reached museums. The following notes are therefore offered regarding the Forest Pig in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and are of ])articu]ar interest since the specimen is a topotype, obtained at the Ja River, Cameroons, by Mr. G. L. Bates, the same gentleman who procured the type skull. Color. — The uiuzzle i;^ thickly covered with short black bristles some 10 mm. long, which increase in length posteriorly becoming abont 25mm. in length on the cheeks. The entire edge of the ear is fringed with long * Thomas, O. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1904, Vol. 2, pp. 193-199, pis. 14, 15. + Thomas. O. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 190(i, pp. 2, 3, figs. l,a,b. 10— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIII, 1910. (49) 50 Allen — The West African Forest Pig. black bristles which reach a length of 50 mm. at the apex; the posterior surface has a very few scattered tine black bristles, bnt is otherwise prac- tically bare. Tlie body is covered with coarse black bristles which are longest on tlie neck and the dorsal ridge. The longest neck hairs meas- ured 1(34 mm., those on the middle area of the ])ack, 132 mm. The fore and hind legs are furnished with shorter bristles, from 10 to 20 mm. long. On the ventral surface of the body, scattered among the sparse black bristles are others of a pale cinnamon color or " yellowish white." Simi- lar light-colored hairs are present on the inner side of the fore legs and thighs, and on the anterior edge and proximal two-thirds of the inner por- tion of the ears. At the corner of the moutli on each side is a patch of these light bristles for a length of about 65 mm., and a conspicuous tuft of the same along the posterior angle of the mandil)le, (>xtending vertically some 45 mm., with a width of about 10 mm. Tlie hoofs are smooth and blackish. The skin is dark gray and rough, but there are no very definite warts on the face, except that below the ear, along the posterior angle of the mandible, is a thickened crescentic area on which grows the tuft of light bristles, in much the same position as a similar tuft in the ^Vart Hog {Phacochoerus}. The tail is laterally compressed and l)ears a few small scattered black hairs, except along its dorsal and ventral edges, which for their terminal 55 nnn. have a stiff crest of close-set black bristles the longest of which, at the tip of the tail, attain a length of some 30 mm. Measurements of the skin. — The skin, preserved in brine, when straight- ened out, was found to measure approximately 1,500 mm. in total length, of which the tail is about 250 nnn. The following additional measure- ments were made: Greatest transverse diameter of snout irhinarium), 105 mm. ; greatest vertical diameter, 57 ; distance between nasal apertures, 42; ear from meatus, 119; greatest breadth of ear, 91 ; median lengtli of hoof of fore foot, 41; of dew claw, 41.5; median length of hoof of hind foot, 39; of dew claw, 35. Skull. — The skull appears to l)e that of a nearly full-grown animal, doubtless a female, and is even smaller than the type specimen as indi- cated by the measurements. Tlie last molars are just erupted and unworn. They are not so narrowed jiosteriorly as those figured by Thomas, but are bluntly rounded. I'ollowing are the measurements of this skull, with the (M)rresponding dimensions of the type in parentheses: Median occi]iito- nasal length, 325 mm.; basal length, 279 (325zb); ))alatal k'Ugtli, 1!«) (232); greatest lengtli of nasals, 1S2 (191 ); greatest width of combined nasals posteriorly, 4S (42) ; greatest width between postorbital processes, 10(5; least interorbital width, 78 (88); least width between orl)it and canines, 53; widtii at vertex, 90; orbit to tip of nasals, 213; height of muzzle in front of premolars, (>5 (57); least breadtli of maxillary zygo- matic processes below orbit, 39 (42); least vertical breadth of zygomata behind true orbit, 34.5 (36); palatal width between posterior ends of ni\ 52; mandible from condyle to tip of i', 277; depth of jaw at diastema, 42; width across sockets of canines, 97 (98): breadth between tijis of canines, 163 (181); greatest diaineter of canines, 25 (24); upper molar Allen — The West African Fored Fig. 51 row, 93; ui^per mular row from in front of p?7J^, 80(97) ; lower molar row, '89; lower molar row from in front of pm-i, 81 (99); last upper molar, 32.5 X 17 (42.3 X 17.5); penultimate upper molar, 19 x 14.5; last lower molar, 37 X 16 (48.2 X 16); penultimate lower molar, 21.5 x 12; lower dias- tema between premolars and canine, 51 ; between lower canine and inci- sor, 14. The persistence of the milk pm* in the upper jaw was noted by Thomas in his specimen, and a similar condition is found in ours. In front of it are pni', p7)r\ while wedged between them on both sides of tlie jaw is a minute splint evidently representing a persistent root of milk jmv^. In the INIusee du Congo at Bruxelles are skins and skulls of a young female, a semi-adult, and an adult male Forest Pig from the Ituri Forest of Central Africa, which have been made the subject of an elaborate mono- graph by .Matschie.* lie figures the exterior and skulls of these specimens and considers that they represent a species distinct from the two before described, which he therefore names Hylorhoerus itnru'tisis. It is appa- rently identical iu color with H. rimntor and //. meinertzltageni , but accord- ing to the describer, its skull shows certain peculiarities, chief of which are the following: ( 1 ) the salient crest from foranieu magnum to vertex is much less marked than in the latter; (2) the zygomata are less bowed; (3) the nuchal plane at the i)Osterior end of the skull is deeper; (4) the occiput is not directed backward so much as iu meinertzlingeni; (5) the canines are less curved at the ti)) and more pointed; ((>) the angle made by the frontals witli the nasals is sliglitly less; (8) the height of the lower jaw at the diastema is less than the least widtli of tin,' palate, instead of being at least as great as is the case in the East African species. Professor Matschie believes that the Ituri Pig can not be H. rhnator because of the dimensions of the last upperand lower molars, which in two adults are respectively 39.6 and 40.3 x 19; and 42.5 and 43.5 x 16. Thomas gives for the type of rimator 42.3 x 17.5 and 48.2 x 1 7 for these dimensions, a difference not very great. The Ituri Pig's upper molar row measures in two adults, 90, 91.5; the lower molar row, 83.3, 90.5; those of our speci- men are, 93 and 89 respectively. ^Matschie further states that in rhnator and meinertzhageul the tubercles of 7h'' forming the anterior angles of the two middle triangles do not touch, whereas in ituriensis they are in con- tact. In our specimen of rimator the.se tubercles are, however, in close contact. Ai>parently ituriensis is more nearly allied to rimator in size and cranial characters thau to rneincrlzliageni and it uiay be questioned whether the characters claimed for it are really sufficient to warrant its recognition. At least it can be hardly more than subsiiecitically distinct. That the terra " Ciiant Pig" api)lied to the.se animals is a misnomer is now well recognized, for they are in reality not remarkably large, though standing fairly big] 1. Plujtographs of living specimens of the Fast African melnertzhageni have recently ajipeared in the " Proceedings of the Zoolog- ical Society of London," 1908, part 1, p. 203, and in " Collier's Weekly," 1909 (article by A. R. Dugmore). •Matschie, P. Ann. Miis. du Congo, Hruxellcs, 1906, Zool. scr. 5, p. 2:!, pis.,'), Ito. Vol. XXIIl, pp. 53-56 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON DIAGNOSES OF NEW FORMS OF MICROPODIDJ^: AND TROCHILID^. BY robp:rt ridgway. [By permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. J Streptoprocne zonaris mexicana subsp. iiov. Type, from Rio Seco, near Cordova, Vera Cruz, Mexico. No. 41,636, U. S. Xat. Mus. Adnlt male. January, 1866, Prof. F. Sumichrast. Similar to S. z. albicincta (Cabanis), of Co.sta Rica and northern South America, but averaging larger, general coloration decidedly duller (less bluish) black, and forehead always distinctly grayish so(jty. A(hilt male (type): Wing, 207.5 mm.; tail, 83; exposed culmen, 10; tarsus, 22.5; middle toe, 15. Cheetura richmondi sp. nov. Type from Guayabo, eastern Costa Rica. No. 209,570, V. S. Nat. INIus. Adult female. March 5, 1908. ^Nluseum-Zeledon P'xped. Similar to C. gaumeri, of Yucatan, but larger and coloration darker, the pileum and back more nearly black ; spiny tips to rectrices longer, always well developed. Adult female (type): Wing, 115 mm. ; tail, 37.5; exposed culmen, 4.5; tarsus, 10.5; middle toe, 8. Cypseloides niger jamaicensis subsp. nov. Type from Mayfield, St. Andrews, Jamaica. No. 78,205, L'. S. Nat. ]\Ius. Adult female. June 25, 1879, Edward Newton. Similar to C. n. niger, of Santo Domingo, l)ut much darker (especially the adult female), the upi)er and under parts sooty black, more or less distinctly (but not conspicuously) paler or more grayish sooty on chin, throat, and chest. Adult female (type): Wing, 149.5 mm.; tail, ()4.5; exposed culmen, 5.5; tarsus, 11.5; middle toe, 9.5. Cypseloides niger costaricensis subsp. nov. Type from San Jose, Costa Rica. No. 108,275, U. S. Nat. IMus. Adult male? May 10, 1885, Jose C. Zeledon. Similar to C. n. borealis, of western North America, l>ut smaller and decidedly darker, the adult female with feathers of abdomen and Hanks n— Pruc. Biol. Sue. Wash., Vol.. XXIJI, 1'.)1U. (aU) 54 Ridgway — New Forms of MicroporUdx and Trorhilidve. usually more broadly tipped with white; adult male s^imilar to that of C. 71. jnmaicensis, but wing averaging longer and tail decidedly shorter, and general color of head and neck decidedly more grayish. Adult male? (type): Wing, 15.") nun.; tail, ">7; exi)()sed culinen, fl; tarsus, 12; mid- dle toe, 9. Phoethornis longirostris veraecrucis .subsp. nov. Type from Buena Vista, Vera Cruz, southeastern Mexico. No. 177,330, U. S. Nat. Mus. Adult male. May 23, 1901, A. E. Colburn. Similar to P. I. mexicanus (of southwestern Mexico) in white (instead of buff) terminal margins to lateral rectrices, but much smaller, and paler in coloration. Adult male: Wing, t)0-65.5 ((i2.9) mm.; tail, 65-70 (67.9); culmen, 39-42.5 (40.3).* Phoethornis adolphi saturatus subsp. nov. Type from El Hogar, Costa Rica. No. 26,741, coll. Carnegie Museum. Adult male. December 19, 1VI05, M. A. Carriker, Jr. Similar to P. a. adolphi (from southern Mexico), but adult male decid- edly darker, especially chin, throat and chest, the first being distinctly dusky. (Tuateniala to Panama. ((Tuatemalan sjjecimens are intermediate, but seem to be more like those from Costa Rica than like those from Mexico.) Hupherusa eximia nelsoni subsp. nov. Type from Motzorongo, Vera Cruz, Mexico. No. 155,363, U. S. Nat. Mus. (Biological Survey Coll.) Adult male. February 28, 1894, Nelson and Goldman. Similar to E. e. eximia, but larger, especially the bill; green of under- parts more yellowish, and l)luck tip to lateral rectrices with line of de- marcation against the basal white decidedly (iliiique and nmch less .sharply defined. Adult male.— \A'ngth, 93-1U3 (98) mm.; wing, ()U.5-(1] ((JO.7); tail,;!4- 35.5 (34.7); culmen, 18.5-1*) (18. 7). t Amizilis bangsi sp. nov. Type from Volcan de Miravallcs, northwestern Costa Rica. No. 16, 682, coll.E. A. and (). Bangs. .Vdult male. Septend)er 7, 1895, C. F. Under- wood. Similar to A. cinnamomea cinnamomea, but whole side of neck, includ- ing lateral portions of lower throat, metallic greenish bronze or bronze- green instead of light cinnamon-rufous. •Adult males of P. I. mexicanus measure as follows: Wing, 67-69.5 (68.1) ; tail. 83-87 (84.(1) ; culmen, 45.JV-47 (40.1). tTwo s|)e<'inioiis. The corn'spoiidiiiK iiicasuriMiiciits of asorios of eleven adult males of K. e. eximia (ten from (iiiateiiiala, one from Nicai'aKua) are as follows: Length, S4-9o (S<i) ; wing, r)0.r>-Cl (r)8.7); tail, :i'J..')-:j|.rj (3:j.r.) ; eulmen, IC-lK (17. (J). Ridgway — New Forms of Micropodidae and Trochilidae. 55 Anthracothorax prevosti gracilirostris subsp. nov. Type from Bolson, Costa Rica. No. 22,62i), coll. E. A. and O. Bangs. Adult male. December 16, 1907, C. F. Underwood. Differing from A . p. prevosti in decidedly shorter and more slender bill, less bronzy or golden green upper parts, and darker under tail-coverts; from A. p. hendersoui in more slender bill and very much less bronzy color of upper parts and lateral under parts. Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Average measurements of the three forms are as follows: Males. A. p. prevosti (24 specimens) A. 'p. gracilirostris (9 specimens) A. p. hendersoni (4 specimens) 66 35.6 65.9 35.3 67 36.7 26.2 24.4 22.9 Females. A . p. prevosti ( 15 specimens ) . . A. p. gracilirostris { 10 specimens) A. p. hendersoni (2 specimens) 64.7 34.3 65.2 35.4 66.2 35 28.1 25.4 Florisuga mellivora tobagensis subsp. nov. Type from Tobago. No. 74,908, U. S. Nat. Mus. Adult male. F. A. Ober. Similar to F. m. mellivora, but decidedly larger. Measurements of type. — Wing, 70.5; tail, 38.5 mm. Nesophlox gen. nov. iTrocliiiidn). Type.- — Trochilus evelynte Bourcier. Similar to CalliphJo.v Boie, l)ut wing relatively much larger, with outer- most primary not attenuated terminally; adult males with lateral rectrices broadly edged with rufous on inner webs, and adult females with tail more than half as long as wing. (v^ffos, island; ^X6?, aflame.) Species : Nesophlox evelyuie (Bourcier). Nesophlo.c lyrura (Gould). Nesophlox bryantif (Lawrence). Vol. XXIII, pp. 57-60 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THF, BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON THE GENERIC NAME OF THE H0U8E-RATS.I^ *■ BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR. The generic name Mus, is currently applied to lioth house-mice and house-rats, as well as to an assemblage of rat-like species comprising perhaps the greater part of the sub-family Murinae. This arrangement involves many inconsistencies, the most glar- ing of which is probably the close association of the house-mice with the rats. The two groui)s are in fact generically distinct, the rats retaining a primitive type of dentition, in which the anterior molar shows no tendency to assume the chief function of the toothrow, and the posterior molar remains a large, func- tionally important tooth, while the house-mice and their allies have a highly specialized toothrow in which the first molar is of much more mechanical importance than the other teeth com- bined, and the third tooth is greatly reduced. The incisors in the house-mouse group are also noticeably specialized . With the house-mice and their European and Central-Asiatic allies must be associated the Indian and African group commonly known as Leggcula, the main peculiarities of which are precisely the same. In its most extreme deye\o\')ment Leggadn differs fi-om the house- mice in the more pronounced reduction of the hinder molar and in the further enlargement of »?' by the addition of a supple- mental anterioi" transverse enamel ridge; but on taking into consideration the numerous recently described species it seems impracticable to retain tiie two groups as distinct genera. The type of the Linna^an genus M^s is by tautonymy muscidus, since this is the only inclujiled species " possessing the generic name as * * * [a] synonym."* This name must therefore be restricted to the house-mouse-Le^p'ac/a group. * International Code, article 30. 12— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIII, 1910. (57) 58 Miller — The Generic Nawe of the House-Rats. In determining the generic name of the rats, as typified by the species norvegicus and rattus, and without, for the present, attempting to fix any exact limit for the group, it is necessary to consider the genera ^'"a??</io?7i.vs Lesson, Eiichaetomys Fitziuger , and £5o?"?n?/s Trouessart, each of which as originally defined con- tained species related to the house-rat.* Acanthomys was proposedt as a subgenus of Mus to contain the species retifer, aJexaivhinvs, perchal, platj/thrix and hispixlus.^ No type was designated nor has one been selected by a subsequent reviser. As the name has, however, generally been placed in the synonymy of Acomysl. Geoffroy, it may be allowed to remain there, with the species hispidus as type. Fitzingerl united under the generic name Evrhsetomys the fol- lowing species: palmarum, novaras, retifer, perchnl, kok, harduickii, rufescens, ellioti, lepidiis, vittatus, pumilio, pardideus, zebra and donovani. No type was designated and none has been selected. Since the description indicates that the group was primarily intended to contain the coarse-furred species, as distinguished from the true rats (Rattus) on the one hand and the spiny rats (Acoinys) on the other, I have no hesitation in referring it to the synonomy of Nesokia Gray, 1842, and in choosing the species hardwickii as the type. In 1881 Trouessart§ formed the subgenus Epimys for the true rats including both rattus and norvegicus. He designated no type and none has since been selected. As this group exactly coin- cides with the genus now under consideration the name should be adopted for the rats congeneric with Mus rattus Linna?us, the species which 1 choose as type. The synonymy and characters of the genera Epimys and Mus are briefly as follows : Genus EPIIMYS Trouessart. 18()7. Rattus Fitziiifjer, Sitzung^bor. ]Math.-Xatur\viss. CI. k. Akad. Wist^ensch. Wien, LVI, pt. II, p. 63 (type bj' tautonomy Rattxi^ domesticHH Fitzinger = Mus rattus Liniifeu?) not Rattus Donovan, 1827. • Rattus Fitzinger, Sitzungsber, Miitli.-Naturwiss. CI. k. Alcad. Wissensch, Wien, LVI, pt. n, p. 6:5. type by taiitoiioniy Mun rattus is antcAteri Iiy Rattus Donovan, 1S27, applied to a South .\frican striped rat. Rattus Frisch, 1775, has no status in nomenclature. + Xouv. Tabl. KeRue Aniin. .Manini. p. 13.'). 1S42. t SitzunRsber, Math.-Naturwiss, ('1. k. Ahad. Wis.senseh. Wein, L\'I, pi. II, p. 73. 1867. $Bull. Soc. d'Etudes Set. d'Anpers, X. p. 117. issi. Miller — The Generic Name of the Hovse-Rats. 59 1881. Epimys Trouessart, Bull. Soc. d'Etudes Sci. d' Angers?, X, p. 117 (type by subsequent designation Mufi rattus Linnseus). External form, skull and teeth with no special modifications; molars slightly graduated in size from first to third, the anterior tooth not tending to assume the main function of the toothrow, the posterior tooth not tend- ing to disappear, enamel folding of upper molars directly referable to a simple 9-cusped pattern and its reductions, the outer margin of m' and m'^ never with more than three cusps, the inner margin of same teeth never with more than 2 cusps; m^ usiially with 5 roots, its first lamina not dis- torted by the backward displacement of antero-internal tubercle ; upper incisor moderately compressed, set at such an angle that its outer side is worn smoothly away by action of lower tooth. Genus MUS Linn?eus. 1758. Mas Linnteus, 8yst. Nat., I, 10th ed., p. 59 (musculus). Part. 1814. Musculus Rafinesque, Precis des Decouv. Somiologiques, p. 13 (sub- stitute for Mns). 1837. Leggada Gray, Charlesworth's ^lag. Nat. Hist., I, p. 586. Novem- ber, 1837 ( L. booduga Gray and Mus platythrix Bennett). 1844. Drymomys Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, p. 178 (D. parvulus Tschudi = Mus musculus Linnaeus. See Palmer, Index Gen. Mamm., p. 246). 1876. Nannomys Peters, Monatsber. k. preuss. Akad. AVissensch. Berlin, p. 480, August, 1876 {N. sctulosus Peters). 1881. .Icromys Trouessart, Bull. Soc. d'Etudes Sci. d'Angers, X, p. 133 (synonym of Drymomys wrongly attributed to Wagner. See Palmer, Index Gen. Mamm., p. 246). 1896. Pseudoconomys Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, p. 531 , December 8, 1896. Mus ( Pseudaconnmys ) proconodon Rhoads. 1900. Dryomys Philippi, An. Mus. Nac. de Chile, XIV, p. 20 (modifica- tion of Drymomys Tschudi). • In general like Ejrimys but mechanical scheme of molars modified by the elongation of crown of anterior tooth until it forms the main portion of toothrow ; 7n} with three roots, its crown decidedly longer than those of the two succeeding teeth combined, its first lamina much distorted by displacement backward of inner tubercle into line with outer and middle tubercles of second lamina; nv^ small and tending to disappear, in some species without trace of first lamina; upper incisor much compressed, set at such an angle that a subapical notch is normally cut in its outer side by action of lower tooth. Vol. XXIII, pp 61-64 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON THE SCALES OF THE CLUPEID FISHES. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. The scales of an ordinary Clupeid are very thin, more or less circular, and very finely sculptured. In Alosa sapidissima they vary from longitudinally to transversely oval on different jmrts of the same fish, while the larger and best developed scales (about 16 mm. each way) are subquadrate. A closer examina- tion of the scales of A. sapidissima shuws the following features: Apical field sharply separated from the rest, much broader than long, without circuli, bvit with very numerous (2^-3 in a mm.) delicate radii or grooves, which scallop the apical margin, and have between them on that margin a series of low lobes or angles, making the scale obscurely ctenoid; these lobules or denticulations can also be seen more or less clearly repeated once or twice in the submarginal area, marking periods of cessation of growth, and indicating the process whereby the rows of spines in the apical field of a Beryx scale are formed. Delicate lines of growth can be seen also in the other parts of the scale, but they have nothing to do with the circuli, wbich exist as exceedingly fine lines (about six in 170 ,'0 all over the scale except in the apical field. These circuli are transverse in the middle and reach the lateral margins very obliquely. The basal region of the scale is inclined to be thrown into three radiating folds, suggesting a slight approach to the basal radii of the Percoids, etc., but these folds are not marked by any signs of radii. The most striking feature of the scale remains to be men- tioned. Everywhere except in the apical field, at variable intervals averaging perhaps half a mm., there are grooved lines crossing the scale, approximately following the circuli, bent on the elevations between the basal grooves or folds, and curving 13— Pruu. Bioi.. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII. I'JIO. (61) 62 Cocker ell — The Scales of the Clupeid Fishes. upwards to reach the margin at an acute angle. At first sight the nature of these structures seems wholly ohscure, but in a longitudinally oval scale, probably from the caudal peduncle, it is seen that they pass gradually into apical radii. The first stage of modification is that in which the apical radii on each side of the middle become elbowed or curved at the base, form- ing a sort of J. In Catostomus the basal radii show this condi- tion, and the tendency is for the curved part of tlie J to disappear, leaving radii which no longer point to the nuclear area. In Alosa this curving of the apical radii continues until a U rather than a J is formed, one arm of the U now pointing apicad to the nuclear area. Then the inner arm loses all con- nection with the nucleus, and those of opposite sides uieet at an acute angle, forming a sort of reversed V. From this it is a comparatively short step to a single line running transversely across the scale. All this is complicated, especially in some scales, by various degrees of anastomosis, and the frequent disappearance of the inner part of tlic line. Nevertheless, by taking different scales from a single example of the Alosa, it is possible to demonstrate every transition from apical I'adii to transverse lines below the nuclear area; the conclusion being that these lines, which I have found only in Clupeidte, are really greatly modified apical radii. Dr. Evermann kindly sent me some scales of very young Alosa sapldlssima from the fish ponds at Washington, D. C. These scales, only about 2 mm. diameter, do not look like those of the adult, but they correspond exactly with tlu- nuclear region of the latter. They show a strongly differentiated sculptureless apical li<ld ; the rest of the scale is covered l)y very fine whoUy transverse circuli, and exhibits two or three of the lines representing modified radii, which are transverse, more or less bent apicad and obtusely angled in the middle. Thus the young scale does not throw any light on its evolution, and is, taken by itself, much more difficult to interpret than that of the adult. I am indebted to Dr. B. W. Evermann and Dr. S. Graenicher for other Clupeid scales, which all possess the same essential features as those of Alosa. They may be described as follows: (1.) Clupea hareiKjus L. Sandy Island. Scalus about 8 mm. long and 73'3 broad; strncture as in .l/uaa, tht' ai)ie'al radii feeble, the trans- Cockerell — The Scales of the Clupeid Fishes. 63 verse circuli reacliiug tlie margin at a larger angle, the transverse radii (if thej' may be so called) essentially as in Alosa. There is no generic difference from Alosa in sqiiamation. (2.) Sardim'Ua hioiwralls C. ik V. Tampa, Fla, ( ^Milwaukee Museum). Scales about 4 mm. broad and I' long, with evident laterobasal angles. Scale formed and sculi)tnred as in young Alosa, except for its much greater brea<lth, and some crenulation of the very thin apical margin, with rudimentary radii. There are three transverse radii, but the third presents only its middle part, running into the margin where it is concave. The circuli are strictly transverse, most n'aching the margin practically at a right angle. If these scales are not immature, they at any rate repre- sent a stage corresponding witli immature Alosa, but not in any sense jirimitive. {?>.) Pomolohus pseudohareiigus (Wilson) and P. tvstiralis (Mitch.) both from six miles otl" Liverpool, X. S. Large yellowish scales, 10 or 11 nnn. broad, but those of P. pseudoharengus more transverse, evidently broader than long, those of P. wstivalis about as broad as long. The markings are quite the same, and of the Alosa pat- tern; corresjxinding, however, to a rather immature stage of Alosa. (4.) Pomolohus pseudoharevyus (Wilson). Lake Ontario, IMonroe Co., N. Y. Colorless scales little more than 4 nnn. broad, evidently immature. I do not know any way to distinguish them from young scales of Alosa. Thus the Clupeid scales so far examined are exceedingly uniform, and exceedingly distinct from all others I have seen. I have also examined Knightia eocana Jordan, from the Eocene of Green River, Wyoming. In this the scales are large and very l)road, an<l show the characteristic transverse circuli very well. I can not make out any radii, transverse or otherwise, but the thin edges of the scale are not preserved. Meletta sardinites Heckel, a fossil species from Radoboj, is figured as having the scales with three or four very strong apical radii, and the same basal. This can not be a Meletta (i. e. Pomolohus) or a Clupea; it has no resem- blance to any Clupeid known to me. Vol. XXIII, pp. 65-66 April 19, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW BIRD FROM THE ISLAND OF CERAM, MOLUCCAS. \<;V BY F. MUIR AND J. C. KERSHAW. While collecting in the Dutch East Indies a new Pitta was captured whicli may be known as Pitta piroensis sp. nov. Type. — All adult male from Piroe, Ceram, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cat. No. 49,997, collected by the authors, March 2, 1909. Description. — Forehead and upper part of head and neck dark red- brown, the crown divided by an obscure median bluish stripe: a large sub-quadrangular scarlet nuchal patch. Throat dark brown, shading into black on upper jiart of l>reast. Ear coverts and lower part of breast silvery blue-gray. Back and scapulars dark olive green. Tail and upper tail coverts grayisli-blue. Bend of wing nearly black, feathers lighter round edge ; lesser coverts blue-gray, the feathers dark brown at base ; greater coverts very dark brown, edged and tipped with dark blue-gray. Primaries nearly black, the 2d, 3d, 4th and 5tli witli a white speculum marking, but only the 4th and oth have the white on the upper side of the outer web. Under wing-coverts dark bluish gray. Belly, A'ent and under tail-coverts scarlet. Eyes brown ; bill black ; legs and feet pale lead color; claws brownish; soles of feet ochreous. Total length, 6j^ in. ; wing, 3% in. ; tail, 1% in. ; bill (to gape), 1 in. ; tarsus, 1^ in. This species differs from P. rubrinucha "Wallace, in its slightly smaller size, its silvery blue-gray ear-coverts, in the absence of the black line separating the silvery blue-gray of the breast from the scarlet belly, in the absence of a white shoulder spot, and in the different marking of the white speculum spot on the primaries. 14— Pnoc. BroL. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIII, 1910. (G5) Vol. XXIII, pp 67-70 May 4, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON UNRECORDED SPECIMENS OF TWO RARE HAWAIIAN BIRDS. BY OUTRAM BANGS. Lately while arranging the skins of Acridocercus nobilis in the Museum of Comparative Zoology I discovered among them a fine example of the long ago extinct Acridocercus apicalis (Gould) of Oahu Island. This specimen came to the museum in exchange from Brown University and had formerly helonged to John Cassin. It bears a label in Casshi's liand with the inscription, "Sandwich Isld. J. K. Townsend male," and was without doubt collected by Townsend during his visit to Oahu in 1835. The skin, No. 17,598, Museum of Comparative Zoology, is that of a fine adult male and although made seventy-five years ago is in perfect preservation, except tiiat its feet and legs have, at some time, been somewhat eaten by insects. Wilson and Evans in their Aves Hawaiiensis, 1890-1899 (p. ' 103 " — the work is not paged) mention five specimens, all that were known to them, of A. apicalis — three in the British Museum, one of which went by exchange to Rothschild's Tring Museum, and a pair collected by Deppe which are in Vienna. Rothschild, Extinct Birds 1907, p. 27, enumerates the same five specimens, but says that Deppe's skins are in Berlin. Ours makes the sixth known example of A. apical i><, wliich is believed to have been confined to Oahu and which has not been seen alive by a naturalist since 1837. It is the only one in America, Dr. Chas. \V. Richmond in- forming me that the United States National Museum docs not possess any, and Mr. Witnicr Stone says that there is none in 15— Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, I'.tlo. (07) 68 Bangs — Unrecorded Specimens of Two Hawaiian Birds. the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, although that institution had most of Cassin's Collection of hirds. In the JNIuseum of Comparative Zoology there is also a fine pair of Ciridops anna (Dole), one of the very rarest of Hawaiian birds and certainly one of the most beautiful. The exact origin of these skins, of excellent make and in perfect preservation, I have been unal^le to learn. They came to the museum with a few other Hawaiian birds — six skins of Acrulocercus nobilis and several petrels and terns — and were catalogued by Dr. J. A. Allen in 1870; names for none but the Moheo being written on the labels or in the register l)y that naturalist. Ciridops anna was described by Judge Dole in 1879 and is supposed to be, or perhaps better to have been, confined to the island of Hawaii. It was, until I unearthed our two skins, known by three male specimens only, one now in the Bishop Museum and two in Rothschild's Museum at Tring. The female and young male were unknown. Our male, Xo. 10,995, is in full plumage and very closely matches the exquisite plate in \Mlson and Evans, Aves Hawaiiensis. Our other specimen, No. 10,987, 1 take to be an adult female. Though a little smaller, it is exactly similar in proportions to the male, but is wholly different in color. It may be described as follows — Forehead clothed in stiffened, pointed, semi-erect feathers as in the adult male. Top of head, nape, and sides of head cinnamon washed with dull olive-yellow on forehead and with the lores and a narrow frontal band more dusky; cheeks with paler shaft-stripes to the feathers; lower back grayish cinnamon, gradually passing into the purer color of the head; rump and upper tail coverts olive-yellow; tail dusky, fringed with olive- yellow; j)rimaries blackish, narrowly edged with dark olive- yellow; secondaries more broadly edged with the same, the innermost nearly wholly dark olive-yellow; throat dull cin- namon, the feathers with paler shaft stripes, slightly washed with yellow-olive in lower middle; chest and breast dingy- smoke-gray, somewhat washed with olive, gradually passing into dark olive-yellow on belly; under wing coverts, axillars, under tail coverts and a small ])atch in lower middle belly Bangs— Unrecorded Specimens of Ttvo Haivaiian Birds. 69 dilute rufous-cinnamon. The general pattern thus resembles that of the adult male, though the colors themselves are very- different. Our two skins afford the following measurements (ill mm.): No. Sex. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. C'ulmen 10995 ( c? ad. ) 80 44 22 11 10987 (9 ad.) 73.5 41 21 10 Vol. XXIII, pp. 71-76 May 4, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON NEW OR RARE BIRDS FROM WESTERN COLOMBIA. '\^/ ^ BY OUTRAM BANGS. The birds mentioned below were contained in a second collec- tion* from western Colombia made by Mervyn G. Palmer, which I received from Mr. W. F. H. Rosenberg last summer but only just now have had time to touch. The region Mr. Palmer has been working in is a very rich one, and both collec- tions sent me by Mr. Rosenberg have fairly astonished me in the numbers of rare and new forms they contained. Following are short descriptions of the new forms in the present collection, and mention of a few other species where ranges are extended or the record is apparently worth pub- lishing. Botaurus pinnatus (Wagler). Two specimens, c? and Q , taken at Guabinas, Rio Canca, January 10, 1908. This bittern seems to be very rare in South America north of Guiana, though it has been taken in Nicaragua. Odontophorus baliolus sp. nov. Type from Naranjito, Rio Dagua, western Colombia. Adult 9 , No. 28,482, Bangs collection, ]Museuni of Comparative Zoology. Collected June 20, 1908, by M. G. Palmer. Characters. — Somewhat similar to 0. parambx Rothschild of western Ecuador, but very much darker; upper parts nearly solid blackish-brown, only very slightly peppered and marked with paler (very diflerent from tiie mottled upper parts of 0. pammb.-e); under parts deep chestnut, much darker than in 0. paramhie; black of chin and upper throat bor- dered al)o\e by a white strijie (not present in 0. parambic). Meamrnnents.—T^\^e,ai\w\i 9, wing, 132; tail, 48; tarsus, 36; cul- men, 18. * In July, 1908, in these Proceedings, I published a short paper on the first lot sent me from this source by Mr. Rosenberg. 16— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (71) 72 Bangs — New or Bare Birds from Western Colombia. Syrnium nigrolineatum nigrolineatum Sclater. One adult 9 , La Maria, Dagua Valley, May 26, 1908. This skin is an exact match for several Chiriqui specimens, and the form thus ranges into western Colombia, while in the Bogota region Syrnium nigrolineatum spUonotum Sharpe takes its place. Picumnus canus sp. nov. Type from Naranjito, Rio Dagua, western Colombia. Adult 9 , No. 23,434, Bangs collection, INIuseum of Comparative Zoology. Collected June 20, 1908, by M. G. Palmer. Characters. — Similar to P. olivaceus I^afr. in jiattern, but slightly larger and of a very different color, being whitish and gray instead of olive and greenish. Top of head black with small white spots; rest of upper parts dull smoke gray, wings somewhat edged with yellowish-white ; belly dull white, faintly striped with dusky; chest dull grayish, passing into whitish-gray on tliroat; sides slightly tinged with pale yellowish. Measurements. — Type, adult 9? "\ving, 56; tail, 29.5; tarsus, 12.5; cul- men, 12. Threnetes fraseri (Gould). A fine adult, sex not determined, of this Ecuadorian species was taken at Naranjito, Rio Dagua, June 22, 1908. Xiphorhynchus rosenbergi* sp. nov. Type from Guabinas, Rio Cauca, western Colombia. Adult d^. No. 23,436, Bangs collection, INIuseum of Comparative Zoology. Collected January 9, 1908, by M. G. Palmer. Characters. — Nearest to X. chunchotambo (Tschudi), of which it may be a subspecies, but with a much heavier bill; under parts jialer; throat more bufTy, and striping of chest heavier. From A', nana (Lawr. ), which it somewhat resembles in general coloration, the new form can at once be told by having the middle of back distinctly marked with pale shaft lines bordered by black, by the striping of the cliest being wider, the stripes more distinctly bordered by black, and by the belly being less indistinctly striped. Measurements. — Type, adult cJ*, wing, 108; tail, 97.5; tarsus, 23; cul- men, 36. Rhopoctites alogus sp. nov. Type from near Pavas, west slope of Colombia, at 4,400 feet altitude. Adult c?*. No. 23,438, Bangs collection. Museum of Comparative Zoology. Collected February 8, 1908, l)y M. ii. Palmer. Characters. — Somewhat similar to R. rtifibrunneus (Lawr.) of Costa Rica and Panama, but larger; bill both longer and stouter; colors above • Nanu'il for Mr. W. !■'. II. Ivosenberj? of London, who has tiiken luncli interest in securing collections from this region. Bangs — Neio or Rare Birds from. Western Colombia. 73 duller, more olivaceous, less reddish brown; throat and sides of neck ochraceous instead of orange-rufous ; body below from the chest back- \\ar(l uniform tawny ochraceous, wholly unstreaked, darker and Ijrowner on flanks and under tail coverts; pileum and cervix with narrow, pale shaft streaks to all the feathers — very different from the solidly Ijrown pileum of R. rufibrunneus. Measurements. — Type, adult c?, wing, 97.5; tail, 91; tarsus, 27; cul- men, 25.5. But one specimen, the type, of this very distinct species was contained in the collection sent me. It represents a species wholly unlike Autoinolus ignohilis Scl. & Salv. or any other species so far as I can find, except R. rufibrunneus, from which also it is strikingly different. Myrmeciza berlepschi Ridg. This species was represented by six specimens, adults of both sexes, from Palmar, Pavas, and La Maria, western Colombia, taken in Febru- ary, March, and June, which I have compared with the type from Chimbo, Ecuador, and find to be identical with it. Rhynchocyclus sulphurescens asemus subsp. nov. Type from near Pavas, western Colombia, 4,400 feet altitude. Adult 6^, No. 23,439, Bangs collection. Museum of Comparative Zoology. Col- lected February 15, 1908, by M. G. Palmer. Characters. — Almost exactly intermediate between Rhynchocyclus cin- ereiceps of Central America and R. sulphurescens ccorticns of the Santa Marta region of Colombia; differing from the former in having the throat and chest less strongly gray, but with the cap and back identically the same ; from tlie latter it ditfers in having the cap much darker and clearer gray — less mixed with olive green ; the back darker olive green ; and the throat and chest just a trifle grayer. Measurements. — Type, adult c?, wing, 70; tail, 59; tarsus, 18; cul- men, 11.5. Three skins of this form were sent in— the type, and two adult males from Jimenez, killed in May. Tlie subspecies is one of those that has no one very good character to distinguish it, but that is exactly intermediate between two quite different birds, resembling above R. cinereiceps and below R. evorthms. It proves conclusively to my mind that R. cinereiceps is nothing more than a northern subspecies of R. sulphurescens. Mionectes olivaceus hederaceus subsp. nov. Type from near Pavas, western Colombia, 4,400 feet altitude. Adult 9 , No. 23,442, Bangs collection. Museum of Comparative Zo(jlogy. Col- lected February 12, 1908, by M. G. Palmer. Characters. — Like M. olivaceus venezuelensis Ridg. in having under parts heavily streaked, but much darker, more grayish olive below; duller and darker greenish olive above, with the pileum nuich darker and 74 Bangs — Neiv or Rare Birds from Wederii Colombia. grayer than back, and of the size of M. olivareus olirareus, not hirger. From M. olivaceus olivaceus it diflers in niucli heavier, coarser streak- ing below, and in general darker, grayer coloration, the pileinn nuich grayer and the back much darker, more grayish olive-green. Measurements. — Type, adult 9, wing, 62; tail, 47; tarsus, 15.5; cul- nien, 12.5. Another specimen, from Rio Bitaco, May 2, 1908, is precisely like the type, and the west Colombian subspecies seems a very well marked one. I also received a skin of M. strlaticollis poliocephahis Tsclindi, collected by Mr. Palmer at San Antonio, Rio Call, November 21, 1907. Pheugopedius spadix sp. nov. Type from Naranjito, Rio Dagua, western Colombia. Adult d^, No. 23,446, Bangs collection, Musemn of Comparative Zoology. Collected June 20, 1908, by M. G. Palmer. Characters. — A very distinct species,, apparently most nearly related to P. atrogularis (Salvin) of Costa Rica, I)ut at once distinguished from that species by having a banded tail. Color. — Pileum clove brown; sides of head and throat (not extending at all onto chest or neck) black, the ear coverts, a narrow line of feathers above the eye and on sides of the front, with white shaft stripes; upper parts, including margins of wing feathers (the wings unhanded), under side of neck, chest, breast and sides, rich chestnut; flanks dull brown, about between Prout's brown and raw umber; middle of belly and under tail coverts dull raw umber, with indistinct dusky cross bars; tail regu- larly barred across with black and chestnut, the black bars a little the wifler. Measurements — Type, adult 6^, wing, 64; tail, 54; tarsus, 28; cul- men, 16.5. Pheugopedius mystacalis saltuensis subsp. nov. Type from San Luis, Bitaco Valley, western Colombia. Adult d*, No. 23,448, Bangs collection, INIuseum of Comparative Zoology. Collected June 5, 1908, by M. G. Palmer. Characters. — Similar to P. mystacalis mystacalis (Scl.) of Pallatanga, Ecuador, l)ut head and hind neck much purer gray; breast, chest and sides nuich grayer, less buti'y, being mouse gray; black malar stripe wider and consequently white supranialar stripe narrower. Measurements. — Type, adult c?, wing, (58; tail, 61; tarsus, 26.5; cul- men, 18.5. An adult male topotyjie is exactly similar, and the two skins I compared very carefully with many Ecuador specimens. Henicorhina leucosticta eucharis sultsp. nov. Type from near Pavas, western ('olombia, 4,400 feet altitude. Adult d^. No. 23,444, Bangs collection, Museum of Comparative Zoology. Col- lected February 18, J908, by M. G. Palmer. Bangs — New or Rare Birds from. Western Colombia. 75 Characters. — Similar to H. leucosticta leucosticta (Cabanis) of Guiana, but colors of upper parts and flanks paler, duller, nuich less chestnut or reddish brown— in the adult <3^ of the new form the back and wings are dull russet, the rump and upper tail coverts clear, pale russet, the flanks and under tail coverts cinnanion-russet. The female is similar, but slightly duller in color and with the pileum not solidly black, but dark brown medianly. Measurements. — Type, adult d*, wing, 62; tail, ;>1.5; tarsus, 23.5; cul- men, 16.5. Adult 9 , No. 2.S,445, from near Jimenez, western Colombia, April 16, 1907; wing, 58; tail, 30; tarsus, 22; culmen, 15.5. Phoenicothraupis cristata Lawr. Three adult specimens, two males and a female, were secured at Nar- anjito, Rio Dagua, in June and July, 1908. This species still remains so rare in collections that I have thought it wortli while to make this record. Vol. XXlll. pp. 77-78 May 4, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON ON THE NAME AND SYNONOMY OF THE ANTIL- LEAN SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. BY J. H. RILEY. [By permih^sion of the Secretary of the .Smithsonian Institution.] In 1827, Vigors described a small sharp-shinned hawk taken near Havana, Cuba, by MacLeay, as Accipiter fringilloides, under which name it has always appeared in print, but if Haitian and Cuban birds are the same, as they have been con- sidered by those who have had an opportunity of handling specimens from the two islands, then Accipiter striatus oi Vieillot has twenty years priority and must be adopted until the birds of the two islands are proved distinct. I am not aware that any direct comparison has been made between birds of the two islands; in fact the rarity of specimens in collections would preclude this. Lawrence, in 1860, described the adult male, adult female, young male, and two young females from Cuban specimens and Cherrie has described the adult female, adult male, and young male from Haitian specimens. Judging from descriptions, the birds of the two islands are simi- lar or identical. I would like to add, however, that in the only specimen of the adult male handled by me the feathers of the nape have concealed white bases and the inner w^ebs of the flight feathers externally, except the tertials, have dark cross bars, a feature not mentioned by either Lawrence or Cherrie. The following synonomy has been worked out by me and may prove useful to future investigators: Accipiter striatus Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 42, pi. 14 (Santo Domingo). — Stiuckl.and, Orn. Syn., 1855, 109 (part). Falco VieUotinus Sii.vw, Gen. Zool. VII, part 1, 1809, 204 (Santo Domingo). 17— Phoc. lilOL. ."^oc. Wash., Vol.. XXIII, I'.HU. (V7) 78 Riley — Si/nonomy of the Antillean Sharp-shinned Hawk. Sparrins f<fr!ntns Vikii.i.ot, Xouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. X, 1817, 325. Slparvius] striatus Vikili.ot, Tab. Enc. Meth., Ill, 1823, 1265. Accipiter fringilloides Vigors, Zool. Journ. Ill, 1827, 434 (near Havana, Cuba).— Denn-y, P. Z. S. Lond., 1847, 38.— Lawrence, Ann. New York Lye. Nat. Hist., VII, ISGO, 255 (Cuba; desc. plumages).- GuxDi.Acri, J. f. 0., 1871, 368 (Cuba); Contr. Orn. Cubana, 1876, 44; Orn. Cubana, 1895, 25 (habits, plumages). — Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. :\Ius., I, 1874, 135 (foot-note).— Cory, Bds. Haiti and St. Domingo, 1885, 120 (desc. and plate $ juv.); Auk, IV, 1887, 41 (desc.; syn. ; crit. ) ; Bds. W. I., 188i), lOi); Cat. Bds. W. I., 1892, 98. Nisus fringilloides D'Orbigxy, La Sagra's Hist. Fis. Pol. Nat. Cuba, Aves, 1839, 31; French ed., p. IS.— KinnwAY, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. Terr. II, 1876, 117 (dose, plumages and syn.). A[stur] fringilloides Lembeye, Aves de Cul)a, 1850, 128. A[stur] fuscus Lembeye, Aves de Cuba, 1850, 128. Nisus fuscus Cabanis, J. f. 0., II, 8uppl. 1855, p. Ixxxiii (Cuba). — Cory, Bull. Nuttali, Orn. Club, VI, 1881, 154 (Haiti). Accipiter fuscus Brewer, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VII, 1860, 306 (Cuba). [Accipiter] fringilloides Brewer, Proc. Boston Soe. Nat. Hist., VII, 1860, 306 (Cuba).— GuxDi.ACir, J. f. O., 1861, 322 (Cuba); J. f. O., 1862, 188; Repertorio fis.-nat. Cuba, I, 1865-(i6, 224.— Gray, Handl. Bds. I, 1869, 32 (Cuba).— ScLATER and Salvin, Nom. Avium Neotr. 1873, 120 (Cuba).— Cory, List Bds. W. I. 1885, 22.— Gurney, List Diurnal Bds. Prey, 1884, 42.— Siiarpe, Handl. Bds., I, 1889, 252. Ace. [ipiter] fringilloides GvsT)i.Acn, Anales Hist. Nat. Madrid, II, 1873, 100 (Cuba). iV. [is/(.s] fuscus y 'dr. fringilloides Baird, Brewer and Kidgwav, Hist. N. Am. Bds., HI, 1874, 223. N.[isus] fringilloides Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Gcol. and Geog. Surv. Terr. II, 187<), 95 (Cuba). Vol. XXIII, pp. 79-80 May 4, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON X' TWO NEW POCKET GOPHERS OF THE GENUS THOMOMYS. BY VERNON BAILEY. A critical study of the genus Thowonnis shows two well marked forms hitherto unnamed. One of these, from the yellow pine plateaus of northern New Mexico, is large and dark; the other, from the bottoms of hot desert l)asins of Avestern Nevada, is large and pale. Both belong to the aureus group but mark its opposite extremes. Thomomys apache sp. nov. Type from Lake La Jara (7,.3UU feet altitude), on tlie Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation, New Mexico. Nnmber 135,366, c? adult, U. S. National Museum, Biological Survey Collection. Collected September 19, 1904, by James H. Gaut. Original number 3289. General characters. — Size large, hind foot 33-34; colors dark; hind feet and tip of tail conspicuously white. Color. — Upper and lower parts nearly uniform dull, sooty gray, slightly washed with dull Ijuffy ocliraceous; back with an ill-defined stripe of blackish; basal half U) three-quarters of tail brownisli or l)lackish, the rest abruptly white; hind feet white; lips usually and chin rarely white. Skull. — Heavy, angular and ridged, similar in form and general char- acters to that of aureus; bullae full and rounded; pterygoids U-shaped; nasals normally with slightly emarginate, doul:)ly rounded posterior tips; iipper incisors white tipped and decurved at right angles to axis of skull. Measurements. — Type, total length, 250; tail vertebrfe, 85; hind foot, 34. Adult female topotype, 229; 74; 33. Skull of type, basal length, 41; nasals, 14; zygomatic breadth, 28; mastoid breadth, 23; alveolar length of upper molar series, 8.5. Thomomys canus sp. nov. Type from Deep Hole, at north end of Smoke Creek Desert, Nevada. No. 78,365, c? adult, U. S. National ^Museum, Biological Survey Collec- IS— Pi;oc. Bkii.. Scic. Wash., V"I.. XXIII, 1910. (T'.D 80 Bailey — Tiro Neic Pocket Gophers of the Genus Thomomys. tion. Collected May 14, 1896, by Clark P. Streator. Original number oil)!). General characters. — Size of aiireus or a little larger, hind foot 30-33; colors ashy or pale huffy gray ; lower parts white. Color. — Upper parts pale huffy gray, with dusky ear-patch and brown- ish nose; lower parts, feet and tail wiiitish. Skull. — Like that of aureus, but palate flat instead of arched between the molar series ; interparietal larger and more quadrate; buUfe sliglitly larger; anterior points of frontals less acute. Measurements. — Type, total length, 242; tail vertebra^, (54; hind foot, 33. Adult female from type locality, 215; <J4; 30. Skull of type, basal lengtli, 41; nasals, 15; zygomatic })readth, 28; mastoid breadth, 23; alveolar length of upper molar series, !). Remarks. — In color canus closely resembles the gray phase of its near neighbor, nevadensis, l)ut in cranial characters it shows close relationship with aureus. Vol. XXIll. pp. 81-83 May4, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON FLETCHER LAKE, INDIANA, AND ITS FLORA AND FAUNA.* BY BARTON AV. EVEPaiANN AND H. WALTON CLARK. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. Fletcher Lake is situated in the southwest corner of Fulton County, Indiana, about 12 miles nearly due north from Logans- port, and only a few rods north of the Cass County line. It is about 3 miles northeast of Lucerne on the Terre Haute and Logansport Railway. Its position is about 40° 55' 80" north latitude and 86° IS' IG" west longitude. It is among the southernmost glacial lakes of Indiana. Tlie writers visited Fletcher Lake, October 6, 1000, in the interest of the U. B. Bureau of Fisheries, for the purpose of making a physical and biological survey of it. Many soundings were taken and the depths of the lake in many places accurately determined. Many tempci-ature ol).servations were made and recorded, the character of the bottom and shores studied, and collections made of the animal and plant life of the lake. In these investigations valuable assistance was rendered by Messrs. John J. Hildebrandt and A. P. Jenks of Logansport. Fletcher Lake is an elongate body of water with parallel sides and no bays, capes or marked irregularities of shore line. Its length is about | of a mile and its width i, the area being about 30 acres. It appears to occupy a sort of closed-up, narrow valley. The long axis lies nearly due east and west. The abruptness of the descent all around the lake is worthy of note, as in this respect it differs markedly from Lake Maxinkuckee, and chjsely resembles such lakes as Holem, Cook and Meyers t of the Twin Lakes group in Marshall County, Indiana. * Published by permi.ssioii of the V. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. T On recent maps called Soutliwcit Luke, Northwest Lake and East I^iike. 19— Piioc. Biol. Soc. W.\sh., Vol.. XXIII. 1910. (81) 82 Evermann d- Clark. — Fletcher Lake, Indiana. The water near shore and usually out for a distance of 50 feet or less is shallow. At the edge of this narrow shelf the depth suddenly increases to 15 to 25 feet. The soil about the lake appears in general to contain considerably more clay than that about Lake Maxinkuckee. The shores are nearly everywhere high and dry. The south shore is high for its entire length, and a few yards back is the terrace of a former shore-line. A similar but less distinct terrace is seen on the north side. On the north shore is some little marsh ground, and the ground at both ends of the lake is rather mucky and quaky. The lake is said to have once reached a considerably greater distance toward the enclosing hills, ])ut was artificially drained to a lower level. It has, however, little or none of the lake-plain aspect char- acteristic of lowered lakes such as Eagle Lake, which is a good type of lowered lakes, or the marshes about the inlet and outlet of Lake ]\Laxinkuckee. The catchment basin of the lake is quite small. At its head is a little draw or ravine which, in wet weather, brings down water about 2 miles. There are a few ditches also running into the lake. The outlet is jieriodic, dry at the time the lake was visited, Ijut during wet weather connecting with a small creek at its west end. The outlet is called Bluegrass Creek. This flows into Indian Creek which takes a course nearly due west to the Tippecanoe, of which it is a tributary. Although, as has been said, Fletcher Lake quite closely resembles some of the Twin Lakes in general outline, it differs from them, Holem Lake in particular, in having firm shores. There is no fine sand beach such as is characteristic of Lake Maxinkuckee. Just as the soil and shore differ sonu'what from Lake Mnxin- kuckee, so does the land vegetation. No collections were made in the short time spent there, l)Ut the following notes were taken: Among the sedges, the low sedge {Cyperus dinndrus) and the straw-colored sedge (C. strir/o^ns) , common beach plants at Lake INIaxinkuckee, are here i)resent also, as is also the little com- posite, Edi'pta rdba. The cocklebur and barnyard grass, both of which form a pretty continuous fringe about Lake Maxin- kuckee, are here uncommon or wanting; but, as lake shore vegetation varies considerably from year to year this is not nec- essarily a constant difference. The rough sedge (Cyperus Evermann cC' Chirk. — Fletcher Lake, Indiana. 83 inflexus}, which is very rare at Lake Maxinkuckee, and not very near the lake, was rather common on the shore at Fletcher Lake, and Hemiairpha micrantha, a delicate little Imlrush-like sedge, which was not found at Lake Maxinkuckee, was found to be rather common. The naturalized bittersweet nightshade, Solanum didramara, which is not present near Lake Maxin- kuckee, but which grows in abundance in a tamarack swamp several miles west of that lake, Avas common near tlie shore of Fletcher Lake and conspicuous liy reason of its scarlet berries. The leafy bulrush, Scirpiis pob/phylhis, a plant of rathei" erratic distribution, not found at all at Eagle Lake or Lake INLaxin- kuckee, but seen in scattered clumps at others, was found here. The soapwort gentian ( Gciitiana sapona.ria) grows in considerable abundance near the lake. Other plants which enter into a general picture of the region, are the clumps of low willows, tangles of drop-seed grass {Muhlenberghia^, and arrow-leaved tear thumb {Polygonum sagittativm} , Carolina rose (J?osa Carolina), tall blue verl)ena (Verbena hastata), imtches of pepi:)ermint (^Mentha piperita), stretches of sticktight (Bidens connata) now brown and bristling, clumps of Cornus {Corniis sericea), bunches of iron weed (Vernonia fasriciilata) and fragrant goldenrod (Euthamia graminifoiia) . Along the marshy portions and at places near shore were blue flags and Eleocharis, and tangles of swamp loosestrife {Decodon verticellata) and patches of cattails {Typha latifolia). The aquatics with emersed leaves, the spatterdock or yellow pond lily (Nymphsea ndrena), the grass-leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea) most of the leaves of which were sub- mersed, the creeping spike-rush {Eleocharis palustris) , the shining pond weed (Potamogeton Ivcens), the white water lily {Castalia odorata), the bulrushes {Scirpus lacustris and S. americanus) and the pickerel-weed {Pontederia cordata) are confined to a narrow belt on account of the set-off in the bottom near shore. The aquatics with submerged leaves, among which were thewhorled- leave<l milfoil {Mt/riophylluvi verticillatum) , hornwort {Ccra- tophyllum demersum), the ditch nioss {Philotria canadensis), Naias, water marigold iBideiis lieckii), fennel-leaved pond weed i Pota- mogeton pectinatus) and the eel-grass pondweed {Potamogeton zostersefolius) , were exceedingly abundant; so much so that masses of them, especially Philotria, collected in great rolls 84 Evermann d' Clark. — Fletcher Lake, Indiana. before the net and interfered seriously with seining operations. Various algae, among which were Chara, Spirogi/ra and Mcsocarjms, were quite abundant; on the Chara grew considerable attached Rividaria. The water of Fletcher Lake was at tlie time of our visit a clear lively green like that of Lake Maxinkuckee, and without the yellowish cast characteristic of Eagle Lake. No plankton was collected. A number of soundings and bottom temperatures were recorded. The only vessels of any kind on the lake were about a dozen flat-bottomed boats, excellent for cruising aliout near shore, but very difficult to row straight and hard to keep in place, especially during a wind, such as prevailed at the time. However, it is l)elieved that the soundings taken are sufficient to determine the maximum depth and general topography of the lake bottom. Several lines of soundings were run and temperatures taken as follows: 1. A line on the long axis and in the center of the lake from east to west. Depths in feet— 22.5, 35, 3L5, 33.5, 34, 16.5. Bottom temperatures in fahrenheit degrees: 51°, 47.1°, 47.9°, 48.5°, 47°, 64.4°. Temperature of air, 77°. 2. A line on the long axis, from east to west, taking a sounding at every 10 oar-strokes. Each stroke carried the l)oat about 5 feet, thus puttii:»g the soundings at intervals of about 50 feet. Depths in feet— 5, 22, 34, 34, 34, 32, 32, 34, 32, 32, 34, 40, 41, 40, 33, 28, 28, 30, 28, 26, 32, 38, 40, 40, 37, 30, 28, 15, 5. 3. A line ffuiu south to iiortli about 200 feet east of tbc west end. Depths in feet— 15, 11), 24, 34, 38, 38, 33, 30, 21, 16, 6. 4. A line from north to south beginning about 200 feet east of north end of line 3, ami ending about oOO feet east of soutli end of line 3. Depths— 5, 14, 19, 24, 28, 28, 28, 28, 29, 29, 2S, 30, 31, 35, 34, 31, 21, 14. 5. A line from the cami) site on south shore to a point on shore 400 feet east of the brick house. Depths— 8, 19, 21, 27, , ^0, 32, 30, 26, 20, 20, 17, 12, 2. Evermann d, Clark. — Fletcher Lake, Indiana. 85 6. "A line from north to south parallel to line 5, but about 300 feet east of it. Depths— S, 17, 10, 22, 26, 28, 28, 29, 28, 28, 25, 20, 16, 6. 7. A line north from the boat-landing near Hall's house. Depths— 2, 12, 18, 24, 36, 40+, 40+, 34, 32, 12, 3. 8. A line from the ice-house on north side near the church southwest to Hall's boat-landing. Depths — 7, 16, 19, 20, 20, 22, 26, 26, 24, 24, 26, 28, 27, 30, 32, 38, 39, 41, 42, 41, 41, 40, 38. The lake seems to occupy a long, narrow trough, with abrupt sides all around and with pretty uniform depth. There are 2 deep holes, — one just off Hall's landing and another about the same distance from the west end of the lake. The depth in each of these scarcely exceeds 40 feet, — the greatest found in the eastern being 42 feet, and 40 feet in the western. The abruptness of the descent all around tlie lake is worthy of note, as this lake in tliis regard differs markedly from Lake Maxinkuckee. The water of Fletcher Lake is unusually cold.' The bottom temperature is about 2 degrees lower than that of Lake Maxin- kuckee, although the depth is less than half as great. This greater coldness has its effect on tlie animal and plant life of the lake. The game and food-fislics are sufficiently numer- ous as to species and individuals to make it of considerable interest to local anglers. Of the 22 species of fishes known from it, at least 14 are food-fishes of some value and at least 8 possess some game qualities. The most important are the straw bass, calico bass and the yellow perch. Each of these is sufficiently abundant to attract many anglers to this beautiful little lake. Fauna of Fletcher Lake. Not much attention was paid to any of the animals of the lake except the fishes. A large number of dead shells of Fla- norhis campanidata were seen on shore, and mussels were said to be pretty abundant iAnodonta grandis), specimens of which were later sent us by xMr. Joseph Clark Taylor of Logansport. A number of whirligig beetles were noticed on the surface of the water, and several cricket frogs were caught. The following is a list of the fishes known from this lake; 86 Evermann d: Clark. — Fletcher Luke, Indiana. 1. Amia calva Linnpeus. DOGFISH. Probably not rare. 2. Ameiurus natalis (Le Sueur). YELLOW CAT. Not uncommon. 3. Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). COMMON JULLIIEAD. Common. Not rare. 4. Catostomus commersonii (Lacepede). COMMON SL'CKER. 5. Moxostoma aureolum (Le Sueur). COMMON RED HORSE. Probably not common. It is said that the suckers and redhorse run out to the prairie througli the outlet during high water in the spring. 6. Campostoma anomalum ( Rafinesque ) . STONEROLLER. Our collection contains one specimen, o.o inches long. 7. Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque). BLUNT-NOSED MINNOW. Common. We have in our collection 7 specimens ranging in length from 3 to ?).") inches. S. Abramis crysoleucas (]\Iitchill). (GOLDEN SHINER; ROACH. Abundant. We have 21 specimens, from 3 to 4 inches long. The peri- toneum is blackish. There are a few encysted trematodes in the skin (Dtplostoinum), 5 fishes being affected; 4 with 1 and 1 with 4 of these trematodes. The stomach of one specimen examined contained a consid- erable amount of Spyrogyra (well disintegrated), a species with short cells, and a few insect remains. 0. Notropis whipplii ((iirard). SILVERFIX. There are 2 specimens in the collection, each about ."5)4 inches long. 10. Erycimba buccata Cope. C A \' E RN-J A W !•: I) M I N N (> W . One specimen 3J^ inches long was procured. 11. Lucius vermiculatus (Le Sueur). (JRASS I'IKE. Rather common. 12. Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque). TOP MINNOW. Our collection contains 4 specimens from 1>^ to 2 inches long. All are Evermann cC Clark. — FUicher Lake, IiuUana. 87 immature, and have the rudimentary cross-hars still present making the lateral band very irregular in nutline. The short bars are vertical on the anterior part of the iisli but on the caudal peduncle they slant backward. 13. Fundulus dispar (Agassiz). TOP MIXXOW. One specimen obtained. 14. Pomoxis sparoides Lacepede. CALICO HASS. There are two specimens in the collection 3 and 3)^ inches long. These are rather slender and have the l^lotclies on the sides arranged more or less regularly in bars or rings, in this respect quite closely resembling P. annularis. One, however, has 7 dorsal spines and the other 8. They are locally called crap]>ie. 15. Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque). ROCK BASS Probably common. 16. Cheenobryttus gulosus (C'uvier & Valenciennes). WARMOUTII; MUD BASS. One specimen i% inches long. It is probably common here.. 17. Lepomis pallidas (Mitchill). BLIEGILL. Very common, i>ut reacliing a small size. IS. Eupomotis heros (Baird & Giranl). We have 4 specimens each about 5 inches long. It appears to be one of the most common fishes here. I\Ir. Hall called them " Goggle-eye." lit. Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). STRAW BAS.S. Young examples 4 or 5 inches long were very common. Good-sized fishes of this species are often caught, though fishing is said to Ije poor this year. The small-mouth black bass does not occur in this lake, 20. Perca flavescens (Mitchill). YELLOW I'ERCH. Very abundant. 21. Etheostoma hildebrandti Evermann & Clark sp. nov. Among the daVters collected is one which was identified in the field as Etheostoma -iowac, but which, on closer examination, proves to belong to an undescribed species. It may be described as follows: Head 3.78 in length; depth 6.52; eye 3.96 in head; snout o.ito in iiead or 1.5 in eye; mandible 2.97; interorbital 5.97 or equal to snout; preor- bital 7.93; D. VIII-9; A II, 7; scales 5-63-8, 26 developed tubes and about 15 more rather faint pores. Body slender and elongate, somewhat compressed, the caudle peduncle long and slender; head rather long when considered in its entirety but 88 Erermrnii} t(- Clark. — fhtrher Lake, Indiana. short and bhint anteriorly, the snout short and rounded; jaws about equal; mouth small, nearly horizontal, the tip of maxillary reaching about to anterior edge of \m\A\ ; eye large, placed high. Scales small, the first row on the back above rather smaller and irregu- larly i)laced; cheeks, opercles, and breast well scaled; belly with ordinary scales. Spinous dorsal rather high, highest anteriorly, the longest spine 2 in head, the spines slender, the edge of the mendjrane fornjing straight chords joining the spines near their tips; the base of the lin 1.20 in head and covering about 14 rows of scales; dorsals well separated, the space between them 4.25 in head and covering about 3 rows of scales; soft dor- sal rather high and rounded, its longest ray equal to the longest spine, 2 in head, the base of the lin 1.32 in head and covering about 15 rows of scales; anal fin rather large, its first spine 2.97 in head, the second spine considerably shorter; the base of the fin 2.38 in head, covering 7 rows of scales; pectoral long, acutely rounded, reaching to tip of ventral or half- way to vent; ventrals rather short, acutish, their length 1.25 in head; caudal rather acute, its length 1.4.S in head. Fig. 1. Elheostomn hihh'brandti Evonnann it Clark. Type. Ground color, straw-yellow ; sides blotched all over with irregular ])rown blotches; a series of rather elongate blotches along middle of side; belly plain; dorsals, caudal and jiectorals with l)lotches consisting of dots, lines and minute punctulations <>n tlie rays, these somewhat elongate on the caudal and roundish on the other fins; these dots arranged in rather zigzag bars; a dark streak downward from the eye. This darter differs from E. iowtr, to wliicli it a|)pears to be mo.st closely related, in the well scaled breast and tlu' more slender form. The type (about 2% inches long) is No. (54, OK), U. 8. National ^Tusemn. We take pleasure in naming this n(MV species for our friend, ^Ir. John J. Ilildeltrandt oi Logansport, Indiana, an enthusiai^tic angler and a good naturalist. 22. Microperca punctulata rutnam. l.KAST D.VliTKU. We have in our collection 1 specimen (^f this species about 13<2 inches long. Vol. XXIII, pp. 89-90 May 27, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW GENUS OF AMPHIBIA SALIENTIA FROM DUTCH NEW GUINEA. BY THOMAS BARBOUR. Not long ago I procured a small series of Papuan reptiles taken by Mr. Pratt at Fak Fak, New Guinea. One of the two water snakes (^Natrix mairii) showed a large swelling along its midregion and a single cut revealed the subject of this notice. Pomatops gen. nov. Engystomatidarum. Pupil large, round. Tongue large, much longer than broad, entire, free on sides and behind to a considerable extent. Palate with two feebly developed papillose ridges, curving forward, deep in the entrance of the oesophagus. Tympanum hidtlen. Fingers and toes quite free, their tips very slightly dilated. No precoracoids ; no omosternum; sternum small and cartilaginous. Diapophy.ses of sacrum scarcely dilated at all. Terminal phalanges T shaped. The most interesting feature of this new form is the development of the eyelids. The upper eyelids are involved in a flap of skin extending for some distance anterior and posterior to the position of the eye. These flaps are sufficiently developed so that they may be laid down and thus completely cover the whole eye. Two semilunar shaped white spots one below the position of each eye give the creature the appearance of l)eing open-eyed even when the folds of skin along the sides of tlie head are down and the eyes are thus quite hidden. Pomatops valvifera sp. nov. Type : A single example, well preserved. Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool. 2577. Taken from the stomach of a specimen of Natrix xiairii (Ciray) from Fak Fak, North we.stern Dutch New Guinea. The snake was caught there by Mr. A. E. Pratt, the well known zoological collector. Hal)it rather slender. Head short, snout not prominent, mouth ratlier small, eyes directed laterally. I^imbs moderate; tlrst linger shorter than second; outer toe longer than inner; subarticular tubercles very indis- tinct; metatarsal tubercles wanting. The hind limb being carried 20— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (89) 90 Barbour — A Neiv Genus of Amphibia Salientia. forward along tlie body, the tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the posterior border of the eye. Skin of both upper and lower surfaces smooth. Color : Upper surface of body and limbs slaty gray with lighter marblings ; lower surface ochraceous buff, varying to l)oth a lighter and darker shade. This curious and interesting find suffered a little by having been swallowed, in that it is difficult to reconstruct the exact condition of the sternum as well as the general habit in life. The fore limbs lay forward along the sides of the head and the hind liiiil)s were stretched out behind so that the whole creature was pressed out longitudinally. The skin is only broken on the upper surface of one thigh, where it was evidently ripped by a tooth. The snake from which it was taken is a water loving form. There seems no reason to suppose that Pomaptops is a water frog. Burrowing habits are suggested by the protections to the eyes. This makes the tenth genus of Engystomatidae, so far as known confined to Papua. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIH. I'JIU. Plate I. V 6 E. N. FISCHER, DEL. HELIOTYPE CO., BOSTON. PoMAToi's VAi.vrFf:RA Pjarbour. of head with I'.ve fl.il) rai.se<l artiticiiilly. Fig. 4. Lower surface of right pes. x 3. Fig. 5. Dorsal view of type, x 1%. Fig. 1. .'^ide view X 3. Fig. 2. Same but with eye Hap naturally depressed, x :!. Fig. 0. Interior of liuccal eavity. x ;i. Fig. :!. Lower surface of right uianus. x 3. Fig. 7. .Sternum, x 4. Vol. XXIII, pp. 91-94 May 27, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON ON THE NATURE OF THE TEETH IN CTENOID SCALES. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL AND EVELYN V. MOORE. In the course of our examination of a number of ctenoid scales, Ave have come to the conclusion that the teeth arise through the modification of the apical ends of vertical circuli, i.e., circuli which in the apical region retain their primitive ver- tical position. It is not evident that they have anything to do with the radii. In very highly specialized ctenoid scales, such as those of Dlstlchodus among the Characinidee, or Rhinogobius among the Gobiidse (these two genera, though so little related, have the same kind of apical teeth), the teeth form a separate fringe which appears to have no intimate connection with the rest of the scale. From the study of such as these, the true nature of the ctenoid feature could not be made out, but it is mm Fig. 1. Scale of Neomxnis griscus, showing at left. connection of lateral with apical circuli. admirably shown in the Characinid, Citharidium ansorgii, in which the comparatively few and remote teeth are seen to be continuations of vertical apical circuli, supplemented by the con- 21— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII. 1910. (i>l) 92 Cockerell and Moore — Nature of Teeth in Ctenoid Scales. vergence and coalescence of those immediately adjacent. The few genuine radii in this scale are between the teeth, and in the figure one is seen crossing the circuli obliquely. The Lutianid, Neomxnis griseusO^-), and the Hpemulid, Aniso- Fig. 2. Scale of Anisotremus rirginicus, showing connection of vertical circuli witli teeth (left) and connection of lateral with apical cixculi (right). tremus virginicKS (L.), (scales of l)oth from Tampa, Florida, kindly sent by Dr. S. Graenicher) illustrate the same thing in a different way. The jointed lines radiating at the apex are not radii, but modified circuli. Their connection with the lateral circuli can be distinctly made out as is shown in our figures. Fig. ;i. Portion of scale of Citharidium ansorgii, showing a lateral apical tooth, A' R. on radius, other ma risings circuli. It follows from the above theory that a scale with completely transverse apical circuli, such as that of Argyrosomus, can not be and can not l)ecome ctenoid. The reason why there are no ctenoid Cyprinid scales seems to be, that the group has advanced Cockerell and Moore — Nature of Teeth in Ctenoid Scales. 93 too far along the line of modification in regard to the circuli to be able to produce them. The more primitive Characinidse, however, have been able to develop marginal teeth more than once, independently. According to our view, a scale can not have marginal teeth, and transverse circuli running below them. Thus Sebastodes and Pomotis have scales with similar basal radii, and in many- respects alike, but Sebastodes has vertical apical circuli, and is ctenoid, while Pomotis has them transverse and is absolutely cycloid . Vol. XXIII, pp. 95-98 May 27, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ,''. BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON ON THE TYPE SPECIMEN OF THE CRINOID DESCRIBED BY MtJLLEPv AS ALECTO PURPUREA. BY AUSTIN HOBART CLARK. In the year 1843 Professor Johannes Miiller described, under the name of Alecto purpurea, a supposedly new comatulid which had been brought from Australia by Preiss. No further men- tion of this form is found until 1884 when Professor F. Jeffrey Bell, in reporting upon the collections made in northeastern Australia by the Alert, tentatively identified some of his speci- mens with it. Dr. P. H. Carpenter, in the preparation of the Challenger report upon the comatulids, visited Berlin, and was able personally to examine Miiller 's original specimen. From an examination of the notes which he made from it, he decided that it represented the species which was originally diagnosed by Linntfius in 1758, on the basis of an example from the Indian Ocean still preserved at Lund, as Asterias pectinata . Carpenter's verdict has been everywhere accepted as final, and Miiller 's Alecto purpurea has been allowed to lapse into the synonomy of the Linnsean Asterias pectinata, the Comatida pectinata as now understood. The authorities of the Berlin Museum have recently been so kind as to submit to me for study, in connection with the material in the U. S. National Museum, their entire collection of recent crinoids, and they had the generosity to include such of the old Miillerian types as are in their possession. It is needless to remark that this act of courtesy on their part has placed me under the greatest obligation to them. All who have studied the recent crinoids know that many of Miiller's descriptions, written nearly 70 years ago, are very difficult to 22— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (95) 96 Clark — On the Type Specimen of Alecto Purpurea. appreciate, and in some cases his original diagnoses have never been revised, so that the identification of certain of his forms is now more or less a matter of guesswork. Carpenter placed some of Miiller's species in the synonomy of earlier species described either by him or l)y Lamarck, without any notes in regard to the type specimens. While in most cases this course was no doubt justified, increasing knowledge in regard to the differential specific characters of comatulids has raised certain questions as to the propriety of his action in so doing in one or two instances, and it has thus become imperative that Miiller's types be reexamined, and described and figured along the lines followed in the systematic work of the present day. Through the kindness of the Berlin Museum I have been placed in so fortunate a position as to be able to do this Avith the types in their possession, and I take this opportunity of acknowledging my deep indebtedness therefor to that institution, and in par- ticular to Drs. W. W'eltner and R, Hartmeyer. Professor Miiller's systematic work on the comatulids, con- sidering his limited amount of material, was exceptionally good. Most of his descriptions even at the present day leave little to be desired, being far more detailed and accurate than very many of those subsequently drawn up by others. But he very rarely gave any comparative notes; each of his descriptions he regarded as a unit which needed no comparison with any other similar unit. This has resulted in one or two instances in the suppression of a species which, had a comparison with other allied species been given, would have been recognized as valid. Alecto purpurea belongs to the Comasterida^ falling in the subfamily Comactiniina^ and in the genus Comatula as now understood. It is a rather small species, and is most nearly related to C. fxrtinata from which, however, it is quite distinct, being separal)l(' at once by the curious segregation of its cirri, which are from five to ten in number and occur singly oi- in pairs in the intei-radial angles of the centrodorsal, those of C. pectinnta occurring in an, irregular row all around the margin. I have examined a large number of specimens of C. purpurea, all from Queensland, and compared them with some dozens of C. pectinata from all parts of its range, and have never had any difficulty in difT(>rentiating them. The type sju'cinien may be described as follows: Clark — On the Type Specimen of Alecto Purpurea. 97 Alecto purpurea J. Miiller. Alecto purpurea J. ^Iui.i.er, Wiegmann's Archiv fiir Naturgesch., 1843, I, p. 132 (New Holland). Centrodorsal a small thin disk, with the sliglitly concave dorsal pole about 1 mm. in diameter. Cirri broken; ten cirrus stumps remain, the longest 5.5 mm. long with ten segments, the first short, the remainder about one-third broader than long. The cirri are segregated in the interradial angles of the centro- dorsal . Radials very short, just appearing beyond the centnidorsal ; i Bri and I Br2 very closely united, appearing externally as if united l)y syzygy, when taken together broadly pentagonal, twice as broad as long; i Bri laterally united; i Br2 (axillary) triangular, the lateral angles not in aijpositioii. Alecto purpurea J. Miller; the type in the Berlin Museum. Ten arms 70 mm. long; first two brachials tmited by what appears to be a perfect syzygy, forming a wedge shaped pair about twice as broad as long in the median line; the first l^rachial is short with its proximal and distal edges parallel, and the second is triangular, twice as broad as the exterior length; third and fourth ])rachials united by syzygy, forming a short nearly oblong pair about twice as broad as the maximinn length; following three brachials short, slightly wedge shaped, nearly three times as broad as long, the following becoming triangular, twice as broad as long, with the anterior edge slightly concave and the exterior slightly convex. The V)rachials gradually increase in length distally, and in the outer part of the arm become wedge shaped, and distally about as long as broad. In the median line of the dorsal surface of the arm there runs a narrow low rounded carination which is rather prominent and is continued to the arm tip. The arms increase slightly in diameter to the twelfth or 98 Clark — On the Type Specimen of Alerto Parpurea. fourteenth brachials, then taper slowly distally. Syzygies occur between the third and fourth brachials, again between the eleventh and twelfth to thirteenth and fourteenth (usually in the latter position) and sixteenth and seventeenth or seventeenth and eighteenth (usually in the latter position) and distally at intervals of from three to five (usually four) oblique muscular articulations. The pinnules resemble those of Comntula peclinata ; the second segment of the second and third is more or less enlarged and carinate dorsally, most marked on the former; the third segment is similarly, l)ut inucli less noticeably, modified. Color, deep purple. Type locality. — New Holland. The type is in the Berlin .Aluseum. Vol. XXIII, pp. 99-100 May 27, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON GENERAL NOTES. A NOTE REGARDING THE GREEN ANOLIS FROM THE NORTH- ERN BAHAMAS. In December, 1904, I reported on a collection of reptile.s from the Bahama islands (Bulletin Mus. Comp. ZooL, Vol. 46, 1904, p. 55-61). I then surmised that the specimens called Anolis porcatiis Gray were really (lifterent from that Cuban species. Last year while in Cuba I collected series from Santiago, Puerto Principe, and near Havana, which, added to the small material previously available, makes it possible to present a con- firmation of the suspicion of distinctness between Bahaman and Cuban specimens. In 1894 Cope (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1894, p. 4?.2) described A. principalis brunnevs as a new subspecies from Crooke<l Island. Now, even though no topotypes of this form are available for comparison, but judging from what we know regarding the distribution of Bahaman lizards, there seems no reason to believe that the specimen which Cope had was different from the examples before me from New Providence and Andros islands. The Bahaman specimens then should stand £ls a distinct species, which may be known as A. brunneus Cope. They may be distin- gui-ihed from Cuban examples by a much smaller size; the ab.sence of the prominent sky-blue markings on the head and neck of the male; and the more weakly developed longitudinal rugae of the rostrum. The snout of small specimens oiA. porratus is somewhat shorter than in the specimens of A. hrnnneiis of a similar size; but otherwise they are almost identical. The adult Cuban male sjjecimens can, of course, l)e distingui.-ihed at once in life by the brilliant V)lueness of their heads, a color which I have not observed them to change. ^tejneger in his paper onBatrachians and Land Reptiles of the Baha- man Islands (in "The Bahaman Islands," New York, 1905, the :\Iacmil- lan Company, p. 382) says: "The Bahaman specimens are very close to the Cuban ones, though I have a strong suspicion that eventually they may be found to be separable. So much is certain, however, that the Bahaman form is in no way directly connected with A. carolinensis, but that its relationship is with Gray's A. porcatas." It is interesting to note that the suspicion which was expressed by both Dr. Stejneger and my.self regarding the distinctness of these two forms is confirmed; but while there seems no reason to doubt the derivation •23— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIII. 1910. (y.t) 100 General Notes. of .1. hninneiii^ from A. porrntuf;^ a? Stejnojrer lias suggested, it should be noticed that A. hrunneus is much more similar to A. carolinensis than is A. porcatus. — Thomas Barbour/ ELEUTHERODACTYLUS RICORDII IN FLORIDA. Tlie capture of a specimen of Eleutherodactylus rirordii (Dumeril et Bil)ron) at Eau Gallic about the center of the East Coast of Florida in January of this year was a great surprise as I am reasonably familiar with the fauna of this locality. Cope in his Check List of North American Batrachia and Reptilia (Bull. 1, U. S. Nat. Mus., 1875, p. 31) records it from Southern Florida, Cuba and Bahamas. Boulenger (Cat. Batr. Sal., 1882, p. 218) gives a similar distribution though he had seen no specimens. Later Cope writing again in his Batrachia of North America (Bull. 34, U. S. Nat. Mus., 1889, p. 318) says "A single specimen from Key AVest, Florida, is now in the National Museum. Its proper habitat is Cuba." This seems to be the single capture upon the strength of which Southern Florida has generally been included in the area of its occurrence. The Eau Gallie example differs in no wise from Bahaman and Cuban individuals plenty of which are available here in the Museum of Compara- tive Zoology for comparison. Stejneger has remarked on the identity of Cuban and Floridan examples (The Bahama Islands, New York, The Macmillan Co., 1905, p. 331). He informs me that there is no specimen in the National Museum from Key West, but one old one lal)eled " Southern Florida" and four others more recently received from Lemon City. That this form has reached Florida fortuitously and in very recent times there can l)e no doubt whatever. The questions of the speed of its dispersal and whetlier it retains permanently its identity with West Indian examjiles are of very vital interest. This note is ofl'ered with the hope that collec- tors may be on the watch for this species and that they may record speci- mens that have or wiiicli may in future come to their notice. — Thoinna Barhonr. OX THE XA:\IE OF THE TRINIDAD CCEREBA. The yellow-breasted honey-crec'iter from Triniilad was iianied C. [ifrchn] trinitatis l)y Lowe (]l)is, Oct., 1907, 56()), l)ut unfortunately Bonaparte (Comp. Rendus, 38, 1854, 258) gave the same name to the blue honey- creeper, now known as Cyanerpes crrnlra trinitatis (cf. Hellmayr. Nov. Zool. xiii, 1906, 8). As this leaves the yellow-breasted bird from Trini- dad, if distinct from C. Inteola, without a name it may be calh'd Cn'reba htleola hcUtiiinirl. —J. II. Riley. Vol. XXIII, pp. 101-102 June 24, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW MICROSOREX FROM THE VICINITY OFn^^ ^-/as' WASHINGTON, D. C. \^ # BY EDWARD A. PREBLE. On April 25, 1903, while searching for salamanders in com- pany with W. H. Osgood and W. P. Hay on the Virginia shore of the Potomac above Plunnner's Island, I dislodged from the decayed interior of a large fallen log a tiny shrew. The rarity of any species of long-tailed shrew in the vicinity of Washington caused me to take special pains in preserving the specimen. Later, when I examined it carefully, I was surprised to find that it belonged to the genus Microsorex, hitherto unknown to occur south of Ohio and New York. It was apparent that the specimen represented an undescribed form, but its characterization was deferred in the hope that other specimens would be detected. This did not occur until January 24 of the present year, when William Fink of Berwyn, Maryland, found a second specimen in the decayed heart of a dead chestnut tree, which he cut from a dry hillside at some distance from water. He presented it to the U. S. National Museum, and owing to the courtesy of the curator of mammals it has been loaned to me for study. Unfor- tunately the condition of the specimen at the time it reached the museum precluded its being made into a skin, and it was put into alcohol. Consequently it is not possible to describe the color of the winter pelage. It was carefully measured while in the flesh, however, and the skull was removed. Since it agrees closely in measurements and skull characters with the original specimen, there remains no doubt as to the advisability of describing the species, which may be known as Microsorex winnemana sp. nov. Type from Fairfax County (hank of Potomac River near Stubblefield Falls), Virginia. No. 126,320 U. S. National Museum, Biological Survey 24— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII. 1910. (101) 102 Preble — A New Mlcrosorex from Vicinity of Washington, D. C. Collection. 9 young adult, skin and skull. Collected by Edward A. Preble, April 25, 1903. General chnrncters. — Similar to Mirrnaorex hoyi, l)ut considerably smaller; braincase proportionally higher and more rounded. (.'olor. — Upperparts grayish brown, slightly tinged about head and face with ochraceous ; lowerparts ashy-gray, the line of demarcation being quite distinct; tail bicolor, the upper surface like the back, the lower silvery gray. The type is apj^arently in summer pelage, and tlie hair is much shorter than that of the Berwyn specimen, taken in winter. Cranial anddentnl characters. — Compared with skulls of Microsorexhoyi from Elk River, ■Minnesota, assumed to be typical, the skull oi Microsorex winnemana is decidedly smaller; the braincase more rounded and rela- tively higher; the rostrum proportionally shorter and lighter, and in consequence the teeth much crowded, the minute third unicuspid being detected with difficulty. The teeth do not differ essentially in shape ■from those of Mlcrosorex hoyi. Measurements. — Type measured in flesh: Total length, 78; tail verte- brae, 28; hind foot, 9 (in M. hoyi 10 to 10.5 mm.). The specimen from Berwyn, ^Maryland, measured: 86; 29; 9.5. Skull of type: Greatest length, 13.8; breadth of braincase, 6. Skulls of M. hoyi measured ap- proximately 15.5 by 7 mm. Remarks. — Microsorex winnemana is the smallest species of shrew (and therefore the smallest mammal) thus far discovered in America. Tlie specific name vjinnemnna (l)eautiful island) is in allusion to Plummer's Island, the home of the Washington Biologists' Field Club, near 'which the type specimen was taken. While comparing the Berwyn specimen Gerrit S. INIiller, Jr., and Ned Ilollister brought to light a peculiar situation regarding the supposed type of Microsorer hoyi. Baird in his original description oiSorex hoyi ( Rep. Exp. & Sur. R. R. Pac. VIII, p. 32, 1857) described and listed two specimens, both from Racine, Wisconsin, an alcoholic (No. 1688), with skull in situ, and a skin with its skull (No. iW-). in his plate (PI. XXVIII) he figures the alcoholic (No. 1688), and a skull without number) which would nat- urally be assumed to belong to the alcoholic. Lyon and Osgood (Bull. 62, U. S. Nat. Mus. p. 244, 1909), regard No. 1688 as the type. Miller and Ilollister, however, inform me that No. 1688 is an undoubted Sorex per- sonatus, as shown by the skull, which has never been removed but has been partially bared to expose tlie teeth. Since the skull figured l)y Baird does not belong to No. 1688, it is fair to presume that it represents his other specimen. No. 1783. It is plain that this skull, which is still in the U. S. National Museum, should be regarded as the type of Sorex hoyi Baird, and it is so considered l)y INIiller and Hollister. Vol. XXIII, pp. 103-104 June 24, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW SUBSPECIES OF PIGiMY OWL. BY E. ^y. NELSON. The Pigmy owls of the Rock}^ Mountain region of the United States have heen considered to be true Glaiicidium gnoma which was described from "Mexico." Specimens in the collections of the Biological Survey and the U. S. National Museum show, however, that typical G. gnnma is limited to the mountains about the southern end of the Mexican Tableland (and prol)ab]y southward) while the bird of the Sierra ]Madre of northern Mexico and of the Rocky Mountains in the United States is a recognizable subspecies, which is described below. QIaucidium gncma pinicola sub,sp. nov. ROtKY MOINTAIN I'lGMV OWL. Typp from Alma, New Mexico; No. 20(3,021, $, U. S. National :Mn- seiim (Biological Survey Collection) ; collected December 25, 1908, by Clay Hunter. DIstrihvtion. — Rocky IMountaiii region of tbe United States and the Sierra Madre of northwestern ^Mexico. Snbsi'enfic charni ters. — Much larger and grayer than true G. (/noma. Remarks. — Glaucidium gnoma Wagler was described from a specimen in the Wurzluirg Museum collected in " Mexico" by Dr. Petz. No defi- nite type locality was given but Dr. Petz collected several other birds in southern Mexico and it is a fair inference that this owl came from the same region. This supposition is confirmed by the description of the type which proves it to be a representative of the small grayish ])ro\vn owl which inhabits the mountains about the southern border of the ^Mexican Tableland. Glaucidium gnoma pinicola is the largest and grayest of the subspecies. Glaucidium gnoma californicum, intermediate in size between guoma and jrinicoJa, is the darkest and most red<lish brown of the subspecies. It occupies coniferous forested areas in the Pacific Coast region of tlie United States and British Cohimbia. 25— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (101?) 104 Nelson — A New Subspecies of Pigmi/ Owl. True gnoma is more suffused with brownish than pinicola and approaches in coloration unusually pale specimens of callfornicum. In a series of 11 specimens of pinicola all l)ut one aeree closely in the "jeiieral grayness of the uppcrparts. A single specimen from Fort Wliiitple, Arizona, however, is almost as brownish as typical gnoma but may be distinguished by its larger size. The following measurements of typical specimens show the differences in size between the three sul)species: G. gnoma gnoma, d" (type), "Mexico": Wing, S3; tail, 57; tar- sus, 19. G. gnoma californicum, c?, Pescadero, Calif.: AVing, '■X); tail, G7; tar- sus, 20. G. gnoma pinicola, d. Flagstaff, Ariz.: Wing, 96; tail, 69; tarsus, 20. G. gnoma gnoma, $, Huitzilac, Morelos, Mex. : Wing, 91; tail, 59; tarsus, 19. G. gnoma californicum, 9, Rockport, Calif.: Wing, 97; tail, 66; tar- sus, 21. G. gnoma pinicola, 9, (type) Alma, N. M. : Wing, 101; tail, 72; tar- sus, 22. Vol. XXIII, pp. 105-106 June 24, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW HUMMING BIRD FROM THE SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA. BY OUTR.IM BANGS. While Mr. W. \V. Brown, Jr., was collecting birds in 1899 in the higher parts of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Mavta, Colombia, he secured at altitudes ranging from 7,500 to 11,000 feet, three specimens of a Lifresnayea, which at the time I called L'lfres- nayea said (Delat. and Bource.). Since then I have compared these skins with many specimens of L. said and L. lafresnayei (Boiss.) and find that the Santa Marta mountain bird is quite different froiu either. It may be known as Lafresnayea liriope sp. nov. Tijpe, from Paramo de Chiruqua, 11,000 feet altitude, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, adult cJ*, No. 6216, Bang.s Coll., Museum of Comparative Zooloofy. Collected February 25, 1899, by W. W. Brown, Jr. CJinrarterx. — With the rectrices ( except of course the middle pair) icliite, below the dark tips, as in L. saul, but with the bill nearly straight as in L. lafresnayei (which has the rectrices yellow below the dark tips) very dif- ferent from the much curved bill of L. saul; central pair of rectrices and longer upper tail coverts, strong greeni.sh coppery, in marked contrast to color of back. In all skins I have examined of L. saul the central rec- trices and upper tail coverts are green, concolor with back. In most skins of L. lafresnayei the central rectrices are slightly bronzy, not so much so however as in the Santa JMarta form, but this character and the straighter bill would seem to indicate, that in spite of liaving a white tail the new l)ird is really more nearly related to the yellow-tailed L. lafresnayei than to L. sanl. MEASinUiMEXTS. No. Sex. Locality. Wing. Tail. Kxposod Ciilnien. 6216 6217 6218 9 Santa Marta Mts. 1 1 ,000 ft. " 7,500 ft. " 9,000 ft. 64. 6:5. 62.5 ;-]S. 37.5 88. 24. 24.5 24.5 2G— Pkoc. Bioi,. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (105) Vol. XXIII, pp 107-108 June 24, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW TINAMOU FROM LAKE TITICACA. BY OUTRAM BANGS. Among the birds collected for the Museum of Comparative Zoology by Mr. S. Garman at Lake Titicaca, where in 1875 he accompanied Dr. Alexander Agassiz in his explorations of this lofty sheet of water, were two examples of a Nothura. Dr. J. A. Allen, in his list of the birds of the expedition (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Vol. Ill, p. 355, July, 1876), referred these specimens to Notlioprocta hranickii Tacz, thus obscuring until now the fact of the occurrence of a Nothura on the western side of the great Andean divide. As might be expected from its isolated position — no other member of the genus occurring nearer it than in the high plateau of southern Bolivia east of the Cordillera Real — the Lake Titi- caca " Perdiz " is a very distinct species. In memory of the great naturalist who undertook the expedition, during which the specimens were secured, it may be known as — Nothura agassizii sp. nov. Tiipe from Moho, on the iiortheru border of Lake Titicaca, adult (not sexed) No. 24,295 Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool. Collected (between Jan. 1 and March 5) 1S75 by S. Garman. C/iarflc/er.s.— Belonging to the section of the genus characterized by very fine spottings and vcrmiculations of the upper parts, that inchides N. boraquira (Spix) of Brazil and western Argentina and iV. darvnni Gray of Patagonia; upper parts much blacker than in either of these, the vermiculations very fine and tlie pale edges of the feathers very narrow; under parts pale— exactly bufi" of Ridgway; the dark markings on chest and fore neck very pronounced and consisting in wide trans- verse bars of dusky directly across the feather; whole lower sides and flanks innnaculate, the dusky markings stopping at sides of breast. Size about as in N. boraquira, but the tarsus shorter and the toes very short. Type, unsexed, wing, 140 ; tarsus, 29.5 ; middle toe with claw, 24.5 ; exposed culmen, 16.5. 27— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (107) Vol XXIII, pp. 109-110 July 23, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON J.ERA LONGICORNIS LUCAS REFERRED TO THE GENUS STENETRIUM. BY HARRIET RICHARDSON. [Collaborator, Division of Marine Invortobratcs, U. S. National Museum.] In 1849 Henri Lucas described a new species of Jxra which he called J. longicornis. Recently in referring to the Explora- tion Scientifiqiie de I'Algerie, where the description was pub- lished,* I noticed that the form does not belong to the genus Ji£ra as now understood, but should l)e referred to the genus Steiietrium Has\vell,t a genus described much later, in 1881, and of which S. armatum. is the type. In 1886 Bovallius X established the genus Jaiiwa for Jsera longicornis, and also placed Jsera filicomis Gxxxhe § in this genus. Jamna therefore must now be considered a synonym of Stene- triiim. Beddard || also in 1886 remarks that Jfera longicorixis has been wrongly assigned to the genus Jsera, but does not place it in any other genus. Jsera longicornis was first recorded from Algeria, but has since been found at Lesina in the Adriatic according to Heller. H Jsera filicornis Grube was considered by Heller to be identical with Jsera longicornis. Finally, in 1893, Stebbing** refers to Jamna longicornis, thus recognizing the genus Jamna. Dr. H. J. Hansen, tt in his conspectus of the genus Stenetrium, mentions all tlie species described before 1905, but seems to have * I, p. 66, IV, pi. 6, fig. 4. f Proe. Linn. Soc. New Soutli Wales, V, p. 470, pi. XIX, fig. 1. t Bihang till K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handlingar, XI, No. 15, pp. 22-M. §Die Insel Lussin, 1864, p. 75. II Challenger Report, XVII. IT Verb. K. K. Zool.-bot. Gesellsch. in Wien, XVI, 1806, p. 783. ** Hist. Crust., 1893, p. 379. ■h- Proc. Zool. Soc. London, l',)04. 11, Pt. 2, 190ri, i)p. 316-330, pi. XIX, tigs. 2a-'J/(. 28— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, I'JIO. (109) 110 Richardson — Jxra lunglconiis Lucas. overlooked Jxra longicornis Lucas. The new species described by him as 5. mediterraneum is probably a synonym of Stenetrium iJxra) longicornis, as a comparison of the figures of the two authors will show. Since the publication of Hansen's paper, four new species have been aihhnl to the genus. Stcnetrhni) chlltonl from Ceylon was described by Stebbing * in 1905, and Nobili t in 1907 described three new species from Polynesia. Stebbing has referred /S. Inerme to the genus Notasellns PfefTer, so that the genus Stenetrium now includes the following thirteen species: 5. armatuvi Haswell, »S. fractum Chilton, S. haswelli Beddard, »S'. stehbingl IJichardson, S. serratum Hansen, S. occidentale Hansen, S. avtlllcnse Hansen, *S. siamense Hansen, S. chlltonl Stebbing, »S\ hanseni Nobili, .S. eiicJiinnn N()I)ili, S. ■proximuni Nobili, and S. longicornis (Lucas). • Ceylon IVarl Oyster Fislicrics. 1905. Pt. IV, pp. 55-57. iMfiii. It. Acail. Sc. Torino, (J), .57, l',Kt7, pp. -111-417. Vol. XXIII, pp. 111-114 July 23, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON r" UJ L I E OX THE SCALES OF SOME MALACOPTERYGIAN ^^^ FISHES. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. In the endeavor to trace the evolution and relationsliip of tlie scales of the Teleosts, and through these of the fishes themselves, it was obviously necessary to become acquainted with as man}- as possible of the families and genera of that great assemblage classed by Boulenger as Malacopterygii, and placed by him at the base of the Teleostean system. Many of the smaller Mala- copterygian families, however, consist of fishes which are rare and difficult to obtain, and I could have made little progress but for the great kindness of Dr. G. A. Boulenger in sending me scales of Notopterus, Heterotis, Pantodoyi, Phractolasmus and Knenia, ''^ aud of Dr. D. S. .Jordan in contributing scales of CJii- rocentrus. In some future paper I hope to figure all these scales, but the results of their examination are so interesting that they deserve to be put on record without delay. Oslcoghssidx. Heterotis niloticus Ehrenb. Large oval scales with the exposed portion thick and corrugated, with a more or less vermiform sculpture; base rounded or narrowed (as in 3Iormyrid;e), not at all truncate; radial sculpture throughout a large-meshed network, quite in the manner of the Mormyrid?e, but better developed, and covering the basal as well as apical area; circuli resolved into granules, but in the lateral field remaining as well formed though monilifoim lines. This is the only scale known to me, outside of the Mormyridae, having the true ]\Ior- myrid form and pattern. Are we to see in the Osteoglossids the ancient type from which the IMormyrids came? There is a curious superficial similarity in the fishes themselves; thus compare Mormy- rops with Osteoglossum, Dapedoglossus with Petrocephalus. The dif- ' Dr. Boulenger notes that all are from the middle of the side, above the lateral line 29— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXI II. UHO. (Ill) 112 Cockerell — Scales of Some Malacopterygian Fishes. ferences in structure, however, are considerable, and I do not wish to suggest tliat the scales should count against a positive opinion of experts in fish-anatomy that the suggested relationship is impossible. A chance to examine the other three living Osteoglossid genera is of course eagerly awaited. Nijtopteridpe. Notopierus afer Gthr. Elongate (oblong) scales, with rounded corners; nuclear area far apicad ; circuli extremely tine, the apical transverse ; apical radii numerous but rudimentary, wholly submarginal ; basal radii about 22, very long, very well developed, the middle ones inclined to be wavy; basal margin not at all scalloped. Boulenger compares this family with the Hiodontida, and the scales are of the same gen- eral type, although readily separable. They do not at all resemble those of the Mormyrids or Osteoglossids. In general appearance, tlie Notopterids are very unlike the Hiodontids. There is a distinct, even close, resemblance between the scales of Nutopterus and Gadus. This is singular, because the (ladidfe are sup- posed to have Ijeen derived from some ]\Iacruroid form, and the 31acru- ridie are superficially much like the Notopteridte. Macrurid scaler I have never seen. rantodontidrc. Pantodon huchhohi Peters. Scales subcircular, with rounded but evident laterobasal angles; nuclear area a little apicad of the center; circuli very well developed, the apical transverse. With a microscope it is seen that the lateral and basal circuli are moniliform, the inner ones actually broken into separable minute elements, while the apical cir- culi are thickened near the nuclear area, much broken beyond, and lacking in the submarginal field. Kadii few and very strong, more basal than apical, the latter more or less branched. In the radii, and general form, this scale is like that of the Alestini and the South Ameri. can Characinids of the type of Erythrinus, Huplias, Pyrrltulina, Chalceus, Clialcinus, etc. It is also like one of the groups of Barhu-s. Boulenger states that the Pantodontidie are closely allied to the Osteo- glossidie; the scales are very dissimilar, and yet agree well in the character of the circuli, which in both are moniliform or resolved into granules. I'liractuhi'inUUc. I'liravtolwmus ansorgii Boulenger. Scales also of the Alestiform type, with very strong laterobasal angles and few very strong railii; the truncate base is broad and crenulated. The circuli are dense and strong basally and laterally, but apically are very remarkable, every third or fourth being strong and conspicuous, while those between are evanescent, the whole being entirely longitudinal, the strong ones ending in short triangular teeth on the margin; between these strong circuli,, in the sul)apical field, are scattered ^^niall circular j)its. Cockerell — Scales of Some Malacopterygian Fislics. 113 Nowhere are the circuli at all moniliform. From the nucleus a radius extends on each side laterally, and from it spring three or four upwardly directed radii, following the lines of the apical circuli; two of these apical radii may start almost from the nucleus. There are three or four strong basal radii. It thus appears that although the scales of Pantodon and Phracto- Ixnius may both be described, on superficial characters, as Alestiform, they are extremely diflferent in detail, the whole system of circuli being diverse. The scale of Phractoliemus is incipiently ctenoid. Boulenger states tliat the Phractolaemidee are an isolated group, nearest apparently to the Osteoglossidae. Kneriidse. Knerin cameronensis Boulenger. ]\Iinute subquadrate scales of a most peculiar type. At the sides are widely spaced longitudinal circuli, about four in number, and basally and apically are widely spaced radii ; between the basal radii are numerous very irregular but mainly transverse broken lines, which seem to represent the circuli. In the middle of the scale, over a large area, the radii and other markings become very strongly zigzag, producing a very singular pat- tern. I do not know anything like this, unless it is the Rhodeine Cyprinidfe, in which the radii become more or less zigzag. There is a certain suggestion of Umbra, but on comparison it seems to be fallacious. This family was formerly placed among the Haplomi, but in Bou- lenger's work on African fishes follows the Phractolpemida?. The fishes have a Cobitoid apiiearance, but the scales do not resemble those of the Cobitids. Chirocentridse. Chirocentrus dorah (Forsk.). Cavite, Philippine Islands. Scales alto- gether Clupeoid, differing however from all Clupeidte seen in having the apical field with five transverse circuli, much less dense than those of the basal field, the latter sometimes evanescent. Transverse radii as in the Clupeids. One scale is elongate, the long basal field free from circuli, and witli about twelve wholly longitudinal radii, which do not run to a nucleus, but connect with the apical radii. This must be abnormal. Vol. XXIII, pp. 115-122 July 23, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SOLITARY SPADEFOOT (SCAPHIOPUS HURTERII) FROM TEXAS, WITH OTHER PIERPETOLOGICAL NOTES. BY JOHN K. STKECKER, JR. Baylor Umversitv, \V.\co, Texas. Cope and otlier herpetological writers have included the eastern half of the State of Texas in the range of the Solitary Spadefoot {Sraphinptis hnlbroohii Harlan), hut have cited no definite localities for specimens. In June, 1904, the present writer captured a spadefoot of this type near Refugio, Refugio County, and recorded it as a " typical example of -S. holbrookii,^^ hut later was uncertain as to whether he was justified in inserting the word typical. In as much as this specimen possessed the conspicuous i)arotoid glands, distinct tympanum, and in a way, general appearance of the eastern species, in these, particulars diflfering from S'aphiopus rourhii B. and G. and »S. hainmondii, Baird of the Sonoran and Central Zoological districts, the reference was, in a measure, correct. On the other hand it differed from holhrookil in many particulars, l)eing cliaracterized hy a peculiarly narrow and compact form, for a Scaphiopiis, and possessing a remarkahly short and hlunt head. On the night of April 13, 1910, while collecting toads in and around temporary hreeding pools on an elm flat about 3i miles east of the city of A\'aco, I captured a second example of the same type. By the dim light of a lantern I was at firs't under the impression — on account of its greenish coloration, tubercu- lar upper surfaces and high round parotoids — that I had captureil a large Blc^o pnnrtatus B. and G., and did not realize the importance of my find until after I had reached the house on my return. 30— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. U15) 116 Strecker — A New Spadefoot ivith Other Herpetological Notes. The temporary pools on the flats were swarming witli common toads, Itut the spadefoot, a single Lithodytcs latrans Cope and a large smooth-skinned Ilj/la were found hopping around among dead leaves a j'ard or more from the water. Before reaching these pools I could distinguish the voices of the common toad, the narrow-mouthed toad {Engj/stoma texense Girard) and a spadefoot. If other specimens of the latter were present they concealed themselves so effectually that I was unable to discover them. This type of spadefoot must be exceedingly rave in Texas. I have collected and examined hundreds of Scaphiopus in several sections of the State, Init with the exception of the two above mentioned, all have been specimens of S. couchli. I am fully satisfied after making careful comparisons between mj'' specimens and examples of Scaphiopus hoi hrooki if roin North Carolina that the Texan form is a distinct species. It requires comparison only with the eastern spadefoot, from which it may be distinguished by its more compact form, narrow head, blunt muzzle, unusually high parotoids, smaller palmar tubercles and shorter hind limbs. The sides, buttocks, tibia and posterior portion of the abdomen are covered with tubercles instead of being almost perfect)}' smooth. The tuljercles on the U])per surfaces are more uniform in size. I dedicate this interesting species to Mr. Julius Hurter, the well-known herpetologist of St. Louis, ^lissouri, in recognition of his generosity and encouragement to me in my herpetological studies. Scaphiopus hurterii sp. iiov. Plate II, figures 3 and 4. Type from Waco, Texa^ C^^4 miles east). No. 4179, Baylor Fuiversity Collection. Adult nuile. April 1."., 1910. Collected by J. K. Strecker, Jr. Habitat. — Eastern half of Texas. Material. — One siicciiiicu from Kcfugio, Texas, in additinn to tlu> type. Description. — Size medium. i.enj;th of liead and body, (i7 nun. Head short, length al)out equal t<i widtii. ( In holbrookii the head at augle of jaws is much wider tiian lung.) Snout heavy and l)hmt, nut exteuding beyond the mouth. I'arotoids nearly round, higher aud ev(>n more con- spicuous than in tlie eastern spei'ies. Tympajuiui distiuet l)ut rather smaller tlian iu liolhrookii. (In tyin- iiardly more tliau lialf the diameter of the parotoid.) Crown distinctly rugose. No black granules in space between and in front of the eyes. Upper surfaces with small, closely .set Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, I'Jlo. Plate II. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. :J. Fig. 4. Fig. 1. Eagysloina arcolala .'^troclvcr. Fig. 2. Eumeces pachyurus (ope. Figs. 3 and 4. Scaphiopus hurteril Sirvcki'i-. now species. Strecker — A New Spadcfoot and Other Herpetologiccd Notes. 117 tuhert'les very imil'orni in size and (ILstribution. Many tubercles on sides, buttocks and posterior portion of the abdomen. ^lany pustules on upper surface 111" tibia. Glands on thorax present, conspicuous. Enlargements re -emi)lino; glands on inferior surface of femur (present in both speci- mens). Spade-like process of foot narrowly margined with black. Palmar tubercles rather small. Fingers slender. Tibia about equal to that of S. huthrookii but femur and foot much shorter. Color above, pale grei'nish, with a pale yellowish line from each orbit; these converge again on tlie coccyx. Upjx^r surface of head and area t)etween the light lines, dark plumbeous. Parotoids olive. Sides of head and under surfaces yellowish-white. The Pefugio specimen is slightly smaller. (Length (jo mm.) Colora- tion in life darker. Greenish above, light lines inconspicuous. In form and other important characteristics resembling the type. Engy stoma areolata Strecker.* Plate II, figure 1. The specimen illustrateil is a catype (Baylor University Collection Xo. 4080) from A'ictoria County, Texas. The figure, which is from a worked over photograph, gives a very fair idea of the general appearance of this rough-skinned, brightly marked little toad. Hyla versicolor chrysoscelis Cope. Hylafrmoralis chri/so^iveU.^ Cope, P.ull. U. S. Nat'l Mus., No. 17, 1880, p. 20. Cope's brief description of this variety is as follows: " Hyla femoralis Daudin. A specimen larger than the largest individuals I have previously seen; differs also in the greater extent of the palmation of the fingers, and in the coloration of the concealed surface of the femur. In eastern specimens the |)osterior surface of the feniur is brown, with rather small yellow spots; in this form it is yellow, with a blackish cc^rse reticulation, which only extends to the lower surface on the proximal half of the thigh. The sides have a double row of small black spots, which enclose a yellow band. This is probably a subspecies and may be distinguished by the name of c7i/-//-s'o.sc('//'.s. Gne siiecimen as large as a large Hyla versi- color was taken by Mr. Boll near Dallas." A number of tree-frogs obtained by Combs at Hot Springs, Arkansas, were identified as HijUi chrysuxceUs by Dr. Stejneger. In the latter's letter to Mr. C. S. Brindey, who sent him the specimens, attention was called to the fact that clirysoscclis is related to versicolor and not to femorali's. Several Hi/las collected at Waco, Texas, a year or two later agreed in all important characters with those from Hot Springs. Miss Dickerson, in her " Frog Book," ignores this subspecies but records Hyla femoralis from Texas on the authority of Cope! It seems strange to me that Cope should refer this form to feiiwrolis, even as a variety. It clearly indicates to my mind that the type must have been a sninoth-skinnetl animal, in this respect resembling Daudin's species. * Proc. Biol, Soc, Wash., 1909, XXII : 118. 118 Strecher — A New ^padefoot icith Other Kerpetotogieat Xotffi. Hyla versicolor dirysoscclis is certainly wortliy of a subspecitic name, although the one given by its author is hardly fitting. The retieTilation of the femur he describes is a common character of western examples of versicolor. It agrees Avith femontlis in having a smooth skin but in no other important cliaracter. Hyla ffmoralis is a smaller frug, lacks tlie light spot under the eye so characteristic of rfir.f/co/or and di Hers in the extent of the palmation of the fingers. It also has a dark line through the eye and ear not present in versicolor. Chrysoscelis differs from versicolor in having the skin of tiie U])])er sur- faces almost perfectly smooth, only a few tubercles being present along the margin of the snout and on the eyelids. Tlie light s))ot under the eye, in living specimens, is invariably yellow. The color ]iattern is nnuh the same as in tlie typical subspecies. This spring I found this tree-frog breeding in small rock-hound pools in a gravel pit. The tadpoles were light yellow. Specimens collected April 21st had the hind-lindjs well developed. Eumeces pachyurus Cope. Plate II, figure 2. This skink was described by Cope* from a single example collected by Jacob Boll near Dallas, Texas. According to the author, the specimen had been temporarily mislaid and he was unable to give a figure of it. The same statement is repeated in his monumental posthumous work on the Crocodilians, Lizards and Snakes ))ul)lished by the National .Museum in 1898. Xo other specimen has since been ](laced on rec(jrd. On Ajiril (i, 1910, I stirred a small dark i)rown lizard with two light lateral lines on each side, from among some drift material which had accumulated at the base of an Ojiuutia lejitocaulis, in a woodetl pasture about 3 miles east of the city of Waco. It was very agile in its movements but I succeeded in capturing it before it could enter its burrow under the roots of the Oj>unlla. As it was the first Eimiecis of its type that I had ever seen, I redoubled my efforts ami a few minutes later brought another specimen to light from under a mass of dead leaves only al)out a yard away. This one also attempted to enter a burrow at the base of an 0/iuntio, hut its movements were much slower than those of the other example, its weak lindis appealing to be of little .-service in carrying for- ward its long body and heavy, thick tail. This specimen was nnich larger than the first one and was ajiparently a well-grown adult. The color was nmch lighter hut the color jiattern was identical. The soil of the pasture is sandy ami the lizards were captured on the side of a draw which carries the water from the truck farm above down to a small slough nearly an eighth of a mile below. On both sides of the draw are thick growths (jf .scrubby tree- — (Jiiercus hreviloha, limns alala, Gleditsia Iriacanthos and Jimi/irr saliinoiiles. ()puntias, both h'litocaulis and the common heavy-stemmed variety, grow around the bases of these trees. Specimens of Lelolepisma latenile Say and Ilnhh'it siriatula Linn, were also found under the roots of the.se plants, but although I spent live days in the vicinity, I was unable to find any more examples of the skink. •Bull. L'. S. Nat'l Mus.. No. 17, isso, p. lii, .-39. Strerker — A Nciv Spadcfooi uith Other Iterpdologlnd Kotes. 110 Following are descriptions of my two .specimens which I refer to Cope's lost Eumecpx pnrJn/iirus. (1) No. 41^-^ ailult. LtMiy,tli of head and l)ody, ()7 mm.; vent to tip of tail, SS nnn.; fmm car to mu/zle, I'Jmm.; of hind lind). i:^ mm.; of fore limit, Ki mm. Tail \nu^ and thick, slightly depre-se<l at hase, not perfectly cylindrical for first ]'2 nnn. of length; 24 mm. in circumference for first 2.3 mm. of lengtii. (Measurement around body at insertion of fore lind)S only :!0 nnn.) No postnasal plate. Anterior loreal elevated, as high as long, and reaching the tran.sverse interfrontonasal plate, as in the tyjie. Other headplates as in original description of the species. Color above, light brown. Head and njiper labials olive. Inconspicuous dark borders to labials, Underparts white (pure white on throat and chin — bluish white posteriorly). Two narrow light lines on each side; white in color and with the enclo.sed area l»etween each jjair black. A narrow black border above upper and below lower light stripes. The dark area between the lateral lines occupying one whole and two half scales. Six scales between the two upper light lines which extend to within 'AO mm. of the end of the tail. A few scattered dorsal scales are black spotted (27 in 40 mm. of length), l.imbs smaller than in examples of Enmeces brecilint'otas Cope and E. trlrngrdmmns Baird of approximately the same size. (.''^I'^vs noticeably smaller and weaker than in an example of telragrannnns only 00 mm. in length (head and Ijody ). Rows of scales, 2(j. No dark borders to any of the dorsal scales. (2) No. 4113, jnv. Body heavier than in examples of Li'iolrpisma hde- r((le of medium size but length about equal. Tail short, thick at l)a.>^e, length about equal to head and Ijody. Color above, rich brown, tinged with bronze in the living animal. Each dorsal scale with a dusky spot at base. Upper surfaces of limits dark brown. Lateral light lines yellow, enclosed area coal black. Cnderparts l>luish, excepting on chin and throat, which are white. A heavy Itlack line above upper light stripe; a dusky line along lower border of lower light stripe. Tlie immatui^ty of this specimen will account for its rich dark coloration and tlie ditierence in the proportions of the tail. Cojte states that in the young E. letra- graiiniiits the sides and limits are scarcely darker than the back, which is certainly not the case in the young of the present species. For comparison with these specimens I had examples of the following species of skinks fntm Texas: Eumeces qu'inqurHneatus Linn., E. obsohtus B. &. (jr., E. gnttulntitx Hallowell, E. nuiltirlrgatns Hallowell, E. anthra- ciniis Baird, E. brerlliueatas Cope and E. dtragratnmus Baird. Alligator mississippiensis Dandin. The Texan range of the alligator is yearly becoming more restricted. In an attempt to outline its present distribution I have Ijeen greatly handi- capped by a lack of definite locality records but I occasionally come into possession of .some data of real value. Recently, Mr. Turner Hubby and two other gentlemen killed a nine-foot specimen in a marsh along the Trinity River, about three miles south of Dallas. In 1909 a German boy 120 Strcckci — A AVin Spadrfoot n-ith Cthcr Herpetological Notes. caught a two-foot fxaiiii>lt' on the Bo.sque lliwr, about live miles north of Waco. In February of this year a specimen 'A^ feet in length was caught on a honk on a "trot" line in the IJrazo-^ Uiver not over a mile south of AVaeo. The Waco specimens may ])os<il>ly have escaped from captivity but ^Ir. Hubt)y informs me that tlie Dallas specimen liad every appearance of being an old residenter and was killed in a form among drift material which it had i)robal>ly occupied for some time. Zamenis constrictor flaviventris Say. The western vai-iety of the blue racer or black snake is very variable in color. A specimen (ill' mm. in lengtli, collected near Waco l)y Dr. J. L. Kesler, repre.'^ents the transition stage between the spotted (young) i)hai-e antl the jtlaiu colored adult and is worthy of description. Color above, olive green, darkest on dorsal region. Head brownish- olive, unspotted. Iris yellow. Upper surface of body with black spots on the scales, the-^e disappearing on the ))Osterior sixth of its length. These spots form broken rhomboids along the dorsal line and are edged with chestnut. <>uly about two nut of every four scales show the black coloration. On separating the scales on the lateral portion of the body, the skin shows l)lack underneath. Along the lateral line (rather, point of division) every other scale is marked with a black i\eck. Tlie chin, upper and lower labials and anteorldtal scales are pure white. Under- parts light yellow, changing to white in the anal region aud on the tail. From two to four blackish spots, surrounded by pink, on i-ach gastrostege. U[)per surface of tail brownish-olive, unspotted. Superior lal)ials 7-7. Ventrals 175. This s|iecimen coml)ini>s the characters of the eastern and western subspecies. In anotlu'r s})ecimeu 4o(l mm. in length the doi-sal blotches were bright n-d. Coluber emoryi B. it <i. Two examples of this species were recentlj' captureil near Waco and are now in the Baylor T/niversity ('ollection. The first, an adult i)40 nun. in total length, was sent in alive and was the most pugnacious snake that I have ever handled. When first rec(Mved it was in sfilendid condition, indicating that it hail taken food ipiitc recently, .\liout tiie end of the third week of its captivity it became restless and an examination disclosed the fact that it was preiniring to shed its skin. Thinking to hasten the operation, I oH'ered it eggs, mice, toails and li/.ards but it absolutely re- fused to accept anything in the way of food. ( )ne morning about a wt'ck later I found it deail in its cage, with the skin of the side- loosiMied in patches and the new skin underneath oidy partially formed. The second examjyle was a young female about 4(t(i nun. in length. ISoth were captured on a |)rairic farm some live or six miles from the city. (>nr common Colaber (C. nhsulctnK coujiuus H. ik ( J. , according to A. F. i!rown or C. spiloides D. ct B. according to Cojje) inhaiiits tindiered districts and is a better dispositioned snake. Strecker — A New Spadefoot with Other Herpetological Notes. 121 Terrapene Carolina triunguis (Agassiz). This box tortoise inhabits the eastern lialf of Texas, but is by no means common. Examples have been recorded from Colmesneil, Tyler County (C. S. Brimley), Demings Bridge, Matagorda County (S. W. Garman), Gainesville, Cooke County (F. W. Cragin), and San Antonio, Bexar County (H. C. Yarrow). Last October Prof. J. L. Kesler found a specimen in Gurley's l)ottom, two miles south of Waco. It was con- cealed in a patch of tall weeds and was discovered only by accident. Since its capture it has been confined in a small enclosure. It spent the winter in a shallow cavity in the hard ground, under cover of a mass of dry moss and weeds. It is an adult. The shell is unsymmetrical, the plates on tlie right side being much wider and longer than those on the left. Carapace above, olive, without traces of the usual oVjscure markings of this subspecies. Keel distinct. Neural plates indistinctly margined with black. A black spot at Ijase of each- marginal. Plastron light yellow, the plates mar- gined with black. Top of head light chocolate. Iris orange red. Upi)er jaw, chin and throat, liglit yellow. A few scattered scales on throat orange red. I'pper surfaces of limbs light chocolate. Inner surfaces of fore-limbs orange red. Hind foot with three toes. Waco is well within the range of this animal, and it seems strange that it should have been so long overlooked. 'e Aspidonectes emoryi Agassiz. " Though this species is closely related to the southeastern soft-shelled turtle ( T. ferox) there ar3 no tubercles on the front margin of the cara- pace "—Ditmars, "The Reptile Book," X. Y., 1007, p. 78. I beg to diflfer from ]\Ir. Ditmars and others who have made the same distinction. I have adult examples of ^l. emonjl which have from 14 to 18 conical tu])ercles on the front margin of the carapace. Dr. Siehenrock referred a specimen of this type (labeled by me A. emonji) to A. spinifer but afterward changed his opinion and recorded it under its correct name. I have young examples 4 inches in length in which the tubercles are alreaily in process of formation and are represented liy very small round knobs. * In Aspidonectes ferox the carapace is olive or brownisli olive with dull blotches or black rings; m nnoryi it is olive with numerous white dots. In the former species young specimens and adults differ in coloration; in the latter they are similar. A. ferox is much the larger turtle. Both species occur in some localities in the eastern half of Texas (Brownsville [Yarrow], Bullhide Creek, McLennan County [Baylor Univ. Coll.]). Vol. XXlll, pp. 123-124 September 2, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 7^ GENERAL NOTES. J'i^' NOTES ON SOME N.OIES OF LIONS. The names for tliree snbsiiecie.s of lions, Fells leo barharus for tlie animal of extreme northern Africa, Felis Jeo persicus for the form found in western Asia, and Felin h'o senecjnlensis for the Senegal Lion, have lieretofore <lated from Fischer's " Synop.-is ]\ramnialium," 1829. Through the courtesy of Dr. C. W. Richmond I have been able to examine a work by J. N. von ^leyer, published in ^'ienna about August 1, ISi'G, in which all three of these forms are properly named and diagnosed. Fortunately the names here used are exactly the same as those in current use, witli the exception of the first, which is given as harhnricus instead of barharus. The title of the work is as follows: "Dissertatio inauguralis anatomico-medica de Genere Felium," etc., by Joannes Nep. nobilis de Meyer. There can be no po.s.«ible doubt as to the time of publication as the introduction is dated July 12, 182G, and the title page advertises a discussion at the Vienna University for August 5, 1826. The descriptions occur on page (i. These three subsjiecies of the lion will stand as Fdis Jeo harhnricus ]\Ieyer, type locality Barbary ; Felis leo persicus Meyer, type locality Per.'^ia; and Feli.-< leo senegiileusis ^leyev, type locality Senegal. The lion of the Cape Region of South Africa was llrst named by Fischer in his "Synopsis ^Mammalium," p. 565, 1829, as Felis leo var e capensis, and was later recognized as a distinct species by Fitzinger (Sitzb. Akad. Wiss., LVIII, p. 436, 1868), who called it Leo capensis. The form nowadays is generally considered a subspecies, under the name Felis leo capensis. The name Felis capensis was, however, previously used by F'orster (Thil. Trans. R. Soc, LXII, p. 1, 1781) and (imelin (Syst. Nat., I, p. 81, 1788) for the .'^erval of .South Africa. The name caprnsi.'t obvinusly can not be used for any form of the lion. A valid specific name for the Cape Lion is found in the Leo melano- chaitus of Charles Hamilton Smith in his " Introduction to Mammalia," Jardine's Naturalists Library, Vol. XV, second edition, i)age 177, 1858. On plate X this name occurs as Felis (Leo) melanochoetiis. As in another instance in the same work tlie engraver is evidently responsilili' for this dili'erence in the spelling of the specific name on the plate. T\\v ('a])e Lion will therefore stand as Felis mclanocJiaitati (Smith). — V. IloUister. ;n— rnoc. isioi.. soc. w.vsn., Vol.. xxiir, r.nd. ui-'O) 124 General Notes. THE rSE OF EPIMYS IX A GENERIC REXSE. In his recent paper on the fienus name of the rats (Proc. Biol. Soc. AVashington, Vol. XXIII, p. o7) Mr. G. S. Miller appears to be under the impression that he is the first to recuscitate Dr. Trouessart'ssubgeneric name Epiniys and to employ it in a treneric sense. This, however, is not the case, for Dr. K. A. Satunin employed the name Epimys norwegicus for the brown rat on pages 19 and 71 of a paper in Vol. IV of Mitteilungen des Kaukasischen Museums, Tifiis, 1908. I may add that if it is considered necessary to separate the rats from the mice under a distinct name, in my opinion subgeiieric rank is sutHcient; so that we should have JIiis (Epimys) norvegicus and M. (E.) rattus, as originally proposed by Trouessart. — 7'. LydeJcker. IXCUBATIOX PERIOD OF BOX-TURTLE EGGS. So few data have been published on the sul)ject, that it seems advisable to record the following observations: A box-turtle {Terrapene Carolina) was found June 10, 1908, depositing its eggs on the south side of a higli dry knoll at Viresco, Ya. The eggs had not hatched August 2'^, but on August 20 the young had dug their way to the surface and left behind them the fragments of the shells. The period of incubation was therefore 70-72 days. — Wells W. Cooke. Vol. XXIII, pp 125-126 September 2, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW MUSKRAT FROM THE GREAT PLAINS. BY N. TIOLLISTER. Tlic muskrat of tlie (ircnt Plains region of the Avestorn United States ])V(>\\'S to he one of tlie best characterized forms in the groui). Fiber zibethicus cinnamominus snl)si). nuv. Tijife from Wakcvncy, Trego County, Kansas. No. |5|f Merriam Collection. c? adult, skin and skull. Collected I)y A. P.. Baker, January 14, 1SS7. General characters. — Smaller than Fiber z. zihet]iici(s or Fiber c. osoi/ooxen,sis ; larger than F. z. ripensis. Coloration pale, with much more reddish in hoth fresh and Avashed out pelage tlian any of these forms. Skull smaller than that of zibethicus or osoyoosrnsis, with smaller teeth. Color. — Fresh pelage: Upperparts and sides cinnamon brown, dorsal area only sliglitly darker, with few black liairs. Nose to foreiiead and eyes seal brown. Cheeks and underparts creamy clay coh^r, lighter on neck, throat, and inner sides of legs. A very small brown spot on chin. Feet drab; nails yellowish; tail dark brown. AVorn or washed out pelage: A'arying from wood brown to russet. Specimens in the short- haired early fall pelage are the darkest, and those in extreme faded early summer coat are the lightest. Skull and teeth. — Skull smaller than that of Fiber z. zibethicua, Avith smaller teeth ; larger than that of F. :. ripensis. Compared Avith skulls of zibethicus it has a proi)ortionally shorter and heavier rostrum, accom- panied by a shortening and widening of the nasals. Measureynents. — The type s])ecimen is without flesh measurements. Two other specimens from the type locality measure: Total length, 4S9; 50:>; tail vertebrae, 287; 24:). AA'erage of hind foot in twenty-one specimens from various localities on the Great Plains, 7:].o. Skull of type: Basal length, 55. U (5(5.;))*; zygomatic breadth, 34 (35.5); palatal * Measureiiients in parenthesos arc the avcragos of five skulls of adults from the type locality. ;VJ— I'Kor. IJioi.. Sor. Wash., Vol.. .\XIII, 1910. (V-'.")) 126 HoUister — A Neiv Muskratfrom the Great Plains. lengtli, ',]o C'o.o); length of nasals, lil..) (lil..)); breadth of nasals, 8.(> (8.!>) alveolar length of upper molar series, 14.1* (15). Remarks. — This is the mnskrat of the prairie streams and sloughs of the interior (Ireat Plains region. In color it exhibits the maximum amount of reddish, and, with the exception of Fiber z. pallidus of Arizona, the minimum amount of black. It intergrades with Fiber z. zibetliicns and Fiber z. osoyoosensis on the borders of the Great Plains, ^ly thanks are due to Dr. C. Hart Merriam for the privilege of describing this form from his collection. Specimens referable to this subspecies have been examined from southern Manitoba, North and South Dakota, eastern INIontana and AVyoming, Nebraska, eastern Colorado, Iowa, Kansas and northern Texas. Vol. XXIII, pp. 127-130 September 2, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON URSUS SHELDONI, A NEW BEAR FROM MONTAGUE'^ ISLAND, ALASKA. BY C. HART MERRIAM. Since it is not likely that my work on the American Bears will be completed during the present year it seems desirable to ])lace on record the description of a large and remarkable new species from Montague Island, Alaska, of which five specimens of both sexes and different ages Avere obtained in May, 1005, by Charles Sheldon; and three additional specimens in l'.)()S l)y Miss Annie M. Alexander, all of whicli have been generously placed at my disposal for study. Montague Island lies in the western part of the mouth of Prince William Sound, in latitude GO degrees, only al)out 20 miles distant from th(! east shore of Kenai Peninsula — the home of UrsHS kenaiensis. It is not surprising therefore that the iNIontague Island bear proves to be related to kcnnie7isis. The two together form a group quite apart from all the other known species. It is peculiarly fitting that the Montague Island bear should be named in honor of its discoverer — Charles Sheldon of New York — who by zeal and perseverance in the face of many ob- stacles succeeded in killing five, and generously presented the specimens to the U. S. Biological Survey. The new bear may be known from its onl}' near relative, Ursus kenaiensis, l)y the following description : Ursus sheldoni i^p. iiov. Tijpc. — Xo. i;;7,.")18, c? a<b, U. S. National Museum, Biological Survey Collection. ^Montague Island, Alaska, May, I'JOo. Charles Sheldon. Original number 17. 33— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, I'JIO, (127) ^ 128 Merriam — .1 Ncv Bear from Montague Island, Alaska. Characters. — Size larj^e; claws of adult Iohlt and of tlio grizzly type; hairs over shoulders elongated to form a small hut distinet hnni]); ears dark, with whitish tips; general cdlor lirownish, varying from i)ale to dark, the hairs of the haek sumetimes yellowish tipped, those of the head grizzled; enlor darkest (almost hlaekish) dii lielly, legs and feet. An old she ))ear kilU'd.hy Sheldon ^lay IS, lilO."), is very pale grizzli'd gray on the npperparts, and only moderately darker on the legs and feet. Tin- euh of this hear, killed tin' same day, was in its 2d year (about Ki months old) and is very pale — alnio.«t hntl'y gray — with dark feet and legs and a strongly marked hump. Cranial < 'Jiaracfrrs. — Skull in general similar to that of keualrnsis l)ut basisphenoid hroadiT and flatter, its length nearly equal to that of hasi- occipital ; posterior roots of interpterygoid fossa more widely spreading; condyle of jair more e.rscrted [in Icenaicrms sessile], reaching so far hack that a line dropped from ]ieuk of coronoid to tip of angle touches or traverses it [in kcnaiensis this line passes freely behind the condyle] ; coronoid, in females of same age, smaller and lower — its area for muscular attachment less; ramus of jaw strongly ))ellied posteriorlj', its inferior border belriw tlie coronoid ^tromjhj conre.r doinnrard and curving eveidy, with only a very slight break, to angular process. [In krnaiensis the inferior border of ranuis is nearhj slraicjht (iiol appreciably bellied under coronoid) and ends abruptly in a step or jog at some distance behind the angle.] In general form and appearance skulls of females closely resemble thoi^e of female kcuaieusis, diti'ering chiefly in the characters above mentioned and in certain <lental peculiarities — notal)ly the smaller size and more jiointed heel of the last upper molar, and the oblique truncation of the 1st upiier molar. Skulls of males dilier widt'ly from those of kenaicnsis. Only two full grown males of slieldoni and one of kenaiensis are available for compari- son.* The two adult c? skulls of slieldoiii, while full grown, are by no means so old as the old male kenaiensis, compared with which they are decidedly larger (averaging 2 inches longer), much higher, more massive, broader across the .squamosals and also across the frontals (both inter- orbitally and postorbitally). The ramus of the jaw i.s deciiledly broader, and its inferior jjorder more bellied and convex posteriorly. The sagittal crest does not reach the froutals [in the oM c? kenaiensis it readies to middle of frontals] ; the frontals arch well upward, are traversed by a broad median sulcus, and swollen above and behind the orbits; the nasals *1"lios(' of alicbhivi iiic llic typo, Xo. 1?>7,.')1S, collected l).v Slidduii in I'.Mi.'i; and a slislitly older male of approxiinatcly the same size (No. i>70, Miis. \'ert. Zoo!., liiiversity of Califoniia), collecleil and loaned by Miss .\nnie M. Alexander (killed by her lunitrr. \. llasselborK. .Inly ,\\. I'.tdS. at Mel.eod llarlior, MoiUiiRne Island). The old male kenaiensis (No. S'.IK), Mnsenm Vert. Zool., fniv. ( alif.) was collected by Andrew Berfi fur Miss Annio M. Alexan<li'r, to whom I am indebted for the privilege of comi)arinK it with skulls in the TSioloKical Survey coUeetion. It is very old and presents the maxi- nunn ilevelopment of crests and ridges — the sagittal ci'est liein^i vi'ry louK and hiRh. slinhtly convex, and reaching anteriorly to middle of frontals — the lenuioral ridnes spreading thence at a right angle to the postorl)ital processes. Merriam — A New Bear from Montague Island, Alaska. 129 are broad and hm<x (in tlie type specimen reaeliin«r plane of pontorhital processes ) . Dental ('haraclirs. — Teeth in f^eneral of the ijrizzly type. Last (Ith) lower itreniiilar normally with luirizontal iieel, slightly ui)tnrned at pos- terior end, and shallow median snlcns reaciiin.i,' from cnsp to end of iieel, its detininir ridges ending in slightly developed i)osterior cnsplets. [In kenaiciisis the last lower premolar is more conical, the heel sloping, the sulcus incomiilete, with oidy a single posterior cusplet— on inner side of main cusp posteriorly.] First upper molar peculiar, having hoth ends oblifjachi Inuicatc and parallel, sloping strongly from outer angles hack- ward and inward; inner row of cusps pushed I)ack so that each falls behind |)lane of corresiifinding cusp on outer .side; the tooth as a whole more rectangular, its inner corners sqnarer (less rounded), and inner side more llattened and nmch less convex than \n kniairiii<ls. In the females tiie last lower molar is conspicuously smaller than in kenaiensh, and the last upjier molar is smaller, narrower, more wedge- shape, and more pointed ])osteriorly. In one of the males it is similar. In the three other males the last upper molar is larger and less acute posteriorly than in tlie females, and the :'.d cnsp on tiie inner side is better develoi)ed. Skull Mcasarciiiciitft. — Following are measurements of two adult males — the type sjxH'imen collected by Sheldon, and a slightly older male collected by ]Miss Annie M. Alexander ( Xo. '.(70, ^luseum of Vertebrate Zool., Univ. Calif. ). In each case the measurements of the tyi>e come first, followed in parenthesis by those of the Alexander skull. Basilar length, ;')(;0 C;.").!); /.ygomatii- breadth, 1'70 (27l*); occipito-sphenoid length, 110 (104); postpalatal length, Ki:'. (K'-")); least interorbital breadth, 102 (!)'.)); distance from foramen magnum to plane of front of last upper molar, 242 (2:)0); length of upper molariform series, 72 (75); of upper molars, 57 ((>1); of lower molars, 71 (72). Ilentarkx. — The skull of Urfias shrldoni is large and massive, and contrasted with those of the big bears of other parts of Alaska igtjas, in'nhlendorffi, dalli) is short and remarkably broad. The breadth is most consi>icuous across the squamosals ami frontals. iM'en the nursing cub shot by Sheldon has the skull strikingly broader throughout than any other cub in the collection. [I have not seen a cub of kenalensis.] Skulls of fenuiles are flattened like those of kenainiAis. Skulls of nuiles are high and rounded, and tho.se approaching maturity — say in the 4th and 5th years, and doubtless for several years later — have the I)raincase and frontals so elevated and swollen that were it not for the snout the skulls would appear almost globular. Another curious feature is that as the skulls lie in a row on the table, those of slieldoiii have the noa^ conspicuously tilted up. In females the actual diflference in height of tips of nasals (above the table) is S or 10 nun. ; in the males, M5-45 nun. This appears to be due to two causes — the more exserted condyle of sheldoni, which throws the jaws a little further forward, and the more bellied basal part of the ranms, which tilts the front part of the skull upward. 130 Mcrrlam — A Neic Bear from Montague Island, Alaska. It is interesting to note that the Itli lower ])renioIar is distinctly of the grizzly type, while in kenaiensis it is varialile. The material on which Ursus sheldoni is based is ample to show tlie constancy of the characters hy which the species difl'ers from all other V)ears. This material consists of :.' adult males, '2 young males ( -1 or o years old), ;> adult females, and 1 cub of the 2d year (about 10 months old). Vol. XXIII, pp. 131-140 September 2, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON ON A COLLECTION OF FISHP]8 FROM THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA, TOGETHER WITH NOTES ON OTHER WEST COAST SPECIES.* BY BARTON WAKUEX EVERMAXX AND HOMER BARKER LATIMER. In 1S!)7 the late Mr. Cloiulslcy RuttcT and Mr. Elmer R. Brady, under the direetion of the L^. S. Conaniissioner of P'i.sli- eries, made considerahle collections of the fishes of the Olj'mpie Peninsula, \Yashington. These collections remained unstudied until recently when the loresent writers had occasion to go over the entire lot. It was found that the collections contain a number of species of special interest, and as the fish-fauna of that region has until now received practically- no study it is thought that the publication of this list will prove of interest. The waters and localities from which specimens of fishes were obtained by jNIessrs. Rutter and Brady during tliese investiga- tions are as follows: Willapa River near Holcomb, July '.10 ; Humptulips, in small creek, August 20; Quiniault Lake, August 23, 24; Beaver Lake, August 24 and September 9 ; Prairie Creek and Elk Creek, August 25; Raft River, August 26; Tacoma Creek, August 27; Queets River at Evergreen, August 27 ; Hurst Creek and at Clear- water, August 29; Hah River and Mill Creek, September 1; Snells, in small creek, September 1; Bogachiel, September 8; Ozette Lake, September 4; Pleasant Lake, September '8; Moss Creek, Prairie Creek and Ilwah River, September 11; Crescent Lake, September 17. All these are in the Olympic region west of Puget Sound. * Published by permission of the Commissioner of Fisheries. 34— Peoc. Biol. Hoc. Wxsh., Vol. XXIII, lUlO. (131) 132 Eccrmann and Lntlmci — Fishes from the Oh/mpic reninsida. A\'e take this opportunity to record certain other small collec- tions of West Coast fishes which we have recently examined. They are as follows: 1. A small but interesting collection made in the spring of 1897 in Marin County, Cal. Tlie localities represented are: Paiicrmill Creek, March 11, 22 and 24; Bear Valley Creek, March 15 and April 7; Olima Creek, A])ril i); Tomales Bay near Point Rej^eg, Ai)ril 28 and May 9, 14; Nieasio and Paper- mill creeks at junction, April 25, 26; Walker Creek, 5 miles above mouth near Tomales, Cal., IVFay 5 and 18. 2. In 1890 and again in 1891 Dr. Charles H. Townsend, then naturalist on the steamer Albatross, while making a study of the shrimp fisheries of San Francisco Bay, obtained and preserved a numl)er of fishes taken in tiie nets of the Chinese shrimp fishermen. The localities rei)res('ntcd aretlie following: Mare Island, April IC), 1S90; San PaMo Bay, NovenduT S, 1890, and May, 1891; Angel Island, November 7, 1890; San Bruno Point; San ^lateo Camp; and South Belmont Oyster Beds. 3. A few specimens obtained by the U. S. Biological Survey in British Columbia, at Malaspina Inlet, July 19, 1897; and Rivers Inlet, June, 1904. 4. A few specimens collected in 1901 ))y Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell at San Pedro, Cal. 5. A small collection made August 14, 1908, l)y John Tread- well Nichols at Chinook, Wash. 6. A single jar of specimens obtained by the steamer Albatross at Barclay Sound, September 27, 1888. The aV)Ove statement regarding collectors, dates and localities will enable one to understand readily the l)rief locality refer- ences in connection with each species in the following list. These collections, embracing a total of 1,391 specimens, have all been deposited in the United States National Museum. ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES. 1. Hntosphenus tridentatus ((iainlnor). TURKE-'IOOTIIKD LAMPRKV. One specimen from I^ake Pleasant, 4 from Bo^ac.liiel and 2 from SncUs, these IJ-g to 4% Indies long; seven, 5 to 7% inclies long, from San Pablo Bay. Evermann and Latimer — Fishes from the Olum-pic Peninsvla. 133 1'. Rhinotriacis henlei (Jill. Six exainpk'8, 7 to 1.'] inelies long, of tliis shark from slirimji iietj at San Bruno Point, San Francisco Bay. 3. Triakis semifasciatum (i Irani. LEOPARD SHARK. Two specimen.^, 7% '^ii<^l ~% inches lonw, from Tomales Bay. 4. Raja inornata Jordan t^ Gilhert. COMMON 8KATE OF CALIKORXIA. Three S]iecimens, 5 to 0^4 inches loner, from San I'ahlo Bay. o. Acipenser transmontanus Kichanlson. WESTERN STfUi lEON". One specimen from Chinook. (). Ameiurus catus (Linna-us). CATFISH. One specimen, 1% inches lontj, from Mare Island. An introduccil species. 7. Catostomus macrocheilus Girard. COLUMBIA VA\VA\ SICKER. Nine s])ecimens, 1^4 t<) •")^-i inches lone;, from Lake Pleasant; one, \Ti}4 inches long, from Willapa Piver. S. Pogonichthys macrolepidotum (Ayres): SI'LIT-TAIL. Thirteen siiecimons, 2^4 to SI4 inches long, from Mare Island, i). Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Pichardson). SQCAWFISir. Eighteen sjjecimens, 2% to ~}4 inches long, from Lake Pleasant ; eight, • l^i to 5 inches long, from Ozette Lake. lU. Ptychocheilus harfordi Jordan t*i (iilhert. One specimen, 9^4 inches long, from Alare Island. IL Leuciscus bicolor (tiirard). Nine specimens, 1% to '^% inches long, from Lake (^ninianlt. 12. Rutilus bicolor ((urard). Twenty specimens from Walker Creek. 1:5. Rutilus symmetricus (P>ainK<c Girard). Twenty-three si)ecimens, '1\-'^ to 4)2 inches long, from a dee]) jiond one mile from mouth of Olima Creek, hnt connected with it; six sj)ecimens, 3% to U% inches long, caught on hooks at the mouth of Papermill Creek; 134 Evermanv and Latimer — Fishes from the Olympic Peninsula. ten, 1^8 to o inches long, from Bear Valley Creek, below flood gate; six- teen, 1 to 2 inches long, from Papermill Creek; three specimens, 2)^ to 2% indies, from Lake Qninianlt; sixteen. ]% to 2 inches long, from month of Bear Valley Creek; tweiity-fonr, 1 to \% iiiclics long, from rapermill Creek at tide water. 14. Rhinichthys cataractae dulcis f(iirard). I)A( E. Seventy-eight specimens, 1 to 2% inches long, from Tacoma Creek ; twenty-three, 1 3^ to 33^ inches long, from Lake Qninianlt ; two, ^% and '2% inches long, from Queets River; ten, 2 to '1% inches long, from Clear- water; eleven, '^^ to P4 inclies long, from A\'il!apa Kiver. ]-■). Clupea pallasii Cnvier c*c Valenciennes. CAlJFoltXIA HERRTXG. One specimen, (i^i^ inches long, from San I'alilo Bay; one, 2^4 inches long, from Angel Island; one, 2^o, inches long, from South Belmont Oyster Beds; one, 7^4 inche- long, from San .Alateo Camp. IC). Alosa sapidissima (Wilson). COMMON SHAD. One specimen, o?^ inches long, from Mare Island. An introduced species. 17. Engraulis mordax Girard. CALIFORNIA ANiIIOVV. Five specimens, 2)^ to 2% inches long, from Tomales Bay, between Hamilton landing and Inverness; five, .">^4 to :'.^4 inches long, from San l'al)lo Bay; one, .">% inches long, from South Uelmont Oyster Beds; three, :'> to 2)'^, inches long, from San .Matt'o Camj). is. Coregonus williamsoni <iirard. WILLIAMSONS WlllTKl'ISiL Five specimens from Hah River and four from (Qninianlt Biver above lake, 2% to 2>7j^ inches in K'ligth; and t'ighteen t'xamples, 2% to (1 inches long, from C^neets Kiver. Gillrakers ii+12 to 14; scales, !I-7S to S4-S ; 1). 14; A. 12. 111. Oncorhynchus tschawytscha (\\'all»anm). ( IIIXOOK SALMON. Eight specimens, 1^4 to 2 inches in length, from a deep |iond one mile from the month of Olima Creek, but connected with it; one from junction of Nicasio and Papermill creeks, 4^4 inches long; nineteen examples, 2^15 to 4,^4 inches long, from (iuinianlt River al)ove the lake; eight from Lake Qninianlt, 2,^4 to 2% inches long; ten from <^ieets River, '.\}4 to 4,^4 in(4ies long; one example, 1^4 inclies long, from Wills Cieek ; six specimens, ;') to 1)1^ inche- long, from Clearwater; and two, I'-';, and 1 '.j inches long, from Bear N'ailey Creek. EveriDfi))}} aivl Lai) met — Fishes from, the Oli/mpir PenhisnUi . lo.) L'U. Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbauiu). SILVKR SALMON. Two Specimens, ?,)4 and 4 inclies long, from Ilnrst Oeek ; tliirty-tliree PpccinuMis, 1% to 0^4 inches long, from Moss Creek; eigiit from Lake Pleasant, L'% to 4 Indies long; live, 2I4 to 0I4 inches long, from Wills Creek; five, l')^ to ?,}4 inches long, from Raft River; two, 0I4 and ?,}{ inches long, from Bogachiel ; thirteen specimens, 2 to 4 inches long, from Tacoma Creek ; nine specimens, '2}4 to ?,^4^ inches long, from Ilwah River; eleven specimens, l' to '.\^4 inches long, from T*rairie Creek ; nine- teen specimens, I ^g to :', inches long, from a creek tribntary to Hnmp- tnlips Creek, near Ilnmptnlips; four specimens, ll to ~}4 inches long, from Willapa River; three sjiecimens, '2}4 to 4)4 inches long, from Elk Creek; and tliree, '2)4 inches long, from Ozette Lake. 2\. Oncorhynchus nerka (\Vall)anm). I'.LfKlSACK SALMON. Fifteen si)ecimens, 1 to 1 1^4 inches long, from Rivers Iidet. I'l'. Salmo mykiss W'alhanm. crTTlIKOAT TKOIT. One specimen, 7)4 inches long, from Malaspina Lilet, at Lund. 2:]. Salmo gairdneri Richardson. STKKLUKAI). Eight specimens, 1}^ to o^^ inches long, from junction of Xicasio and Papermill creeks; sixteen specimens, T^g to 8^4 inches long, from Beaver Lake; eight specimens, ^% to -1^ inches long, from Quinianlt River above lake; four, 2 to 2}^ inclie-s long, from Ilnrst Creek; four, 4 to 7J^ inches long, froui a creek tributary to Lake Qniniault; thre(^, 2 to 5}4 inches long, from Queets River; three, 1\ t'i :>% inches long, from Clearwater; seven, I'^g t<' 2}4 inch(^s long, from a creek tribntary to TTnmptnlips Creek, near Iluniptulips; and ninetcHMi specimens, 1 ^^j^ to 2^4 inchi's long, from Willapa River. 24. Salmo irideus Gibbons. KAINI'.OW TltorT. One specimen, -"i^^ inches long, from Bear N'alley Creek, l)elow Jlood gate; one specimen from Chinook; two, 7)4 and 8 inches long, from Lake Crescent; one, 4I4 inches long, from Hah River; twenty-seven specinuMis, ^% to 4^4 inches long, from ]Moss Creek; fourteen sijecimens, T'r to ()-'^4 inclies long, from Wills Creek; four, ]% to 4)4 inches long, from IJaft River; thirteen specimens, Ij^ to 2% inches long, from Tacoma Creek; four, 1% to 2^ inches long, from Bogachiel; five, 1% to 4 inches long, from Ilwah River; and two, 2 inches long, from Lake Pleasant. 2"). Osmerus thaleichthys Ayres. Ten specimens, 2 to 4% inches long, from San P;d>lo Bay; one, 2% loO Evermann and hdimcr — Fishes from the Oh/wpic Peninsula. inches lonsj, from Sau ]Matoo Camp; and two, I'^^g and :! incln's lonir. from Marc Island. 2(1. Hypomesus pretiosus ((orard). SCRF SMELT. One specimen, ?, inches long, from Tomales Bay near tlic raiiioad Ions trestle, ."> miles from Point Reyes Station. L'7. Qasterosteus williamsoni microcephalus ((iirard). t'ALIFORNI.\ STKKLP:BACK. Tliree specimens, 1% to 1% inches long, from Papermill Creek; two specimens, I'^'g and 23^4 inches long, from Papermill Crei'k onedialf mile below White House; one, 1% inches long, from South Belmont Oyster r>eds; thirty, ^ to 2^ inches long, from a deep i)(»nil one mile from the month of Olima Creek; sixteen, 1}^ to 2}^ inches long, from jimction of Nicasio and Papermill creeks; ten, from Walker Creek; twenty-live, 1 to 2% inches long, from Lake (ininianlt; nine, Ij^ to 2J4 inches long, from Lake Pleasant; one, ]% inches long, from Elk Creek; four, 1,^^ to ^% inches long, from Ozette Lake; three, 1% to '2]>^ inches long, fmm mouth of Bear Valley Creek, and one, 2)^ inches long, from Pai)ermill Creek at tide water. 2S. Siphostoma californiensis (Storer). ('.\LIFORNIA I'lPKFISH. Fifteen specimens, 4 to si;, inches long, from San Pahio Bay. 2!>. Siphostoma griseolineatum (Ayres). Three specimens, 7\ to i) inches long, from Tomales P>ay, at railroad "long till," :') miles from Point Reyes Station; three, ") to S)^ inches long, from Tomales Bay, between Hamilton landing and Inverness; and eight, 4}^4 h) i>^4 inclies long, from Tomales Bay near railroaddong trestle I> miles from Point Reyes Station. :!(). Atherinopsis californiensis (iirard. <ALIF()i;XIA SMKLT, Eleven sju'cimens, 2% to -(-^4 inciies long, from Tomales Bay near rail- road long trestle, 'A miles from Point Reyes Station. :!1. Atherinops affinis (.Vyres). LITTLE S.MELT. One specimen, -\% inches long, from San Pedro; seven specimens, '2% to (')}4 iiiclies long, from Angel Island; twenty specimens, l\ to .">'_,' indues long, from South r.ehnont Oyster Beds; and on(^, -l'-}^ inc'hes long, from Hamilton landing tower, Papi'rmill Creek. :'>2. Atherinops regis .IcnUins and Isvcrmann. ElcNcu specimen^, 1 to I 'a inches long, iVom 'I'oniales Bay, }._> niilc below the " lomr lill." Evermann and Latimer — Fishes from the Olympic Peninsula. 137 :;:). Archoplites interruptus (Girard). SACRAMENTO PERCH. One specimen, 5% inches loufi, from Mare Island. .■)4. Roccus lineatus (Blocli). STRll'El) BAS8. Three .specimens, -\% to o}4 inches long, from Tomales Bay, at rail- road "long till," :') miles from Point Keyes Station; and one specimen, '5^4 inches long, from Tomales Bay, near railroad long trestle, .". miles from Point Kejes Station. An introducecl siiecies. :'■). Paralabrax clathratus ((iirard). One specimen, 4^ inciies long, frmii San Pedro. ;')(). Qenyonemus lineatus (Ayres). Three sjjecimens, :'>i4 tu (i indies long, from San Pablo Bay. .".7. Cymatogaster aggregatus (iililmns. VlVirAKOlS I'HRCll. Four specimens, -132 to oj^a inches long, from Tomales Bay, l)etween Hamilton landing and Inverness; six specimens, L'''^ to -1% inches long, from San Pedro; live, 1)^4^ to -I inches long from San Pahio Bay; nine, L'3^8 t'i-'^8 inches long, from South I5elmont Oyster Beds; and three, L'^-g' to o^s inches long, from San .Mateo Camp. .")S. Damalichthys argyrosomus ((iirard). VlVll'AUors WHITE I'ERCH. One specimen, 4^ inches long, from San Pedro. 'V.). Hypsypops rubicundus ((Jirard). (iARIlSALDl. One specimen, I inches long, from San Peilro. -10. Sebastodes melanops ((drard). Six specimens, .")34' to S inches long, from Barclay Sound. 41. Sebastodes ruberrimus Cramer. RED ROCRFI.SH. Four specimens, l'% to 0% inches long, from San Pahlo Bay. 4l'. Scorpsena histrio Jenyns. One specimen, 4 inches long, from San Pedro. 4:5. Ophiodon elongatus Girard. CULTLS COD. One specimen from Chinook. 188 Evermann and Latimei — Fishes from the Ohimpic Peninsula. 44. Cottus asper Richardson. I'KICKLEV ]'.L"LLIIEAD oil SCILPIX. Four f^iK'finieiiti, :5.^4 to o inches long, from Bear \'allcy Crci'k lu'low flood gate; .seven, :>% to 7 inches long, from mouth of rapermill Creek; eleven specimens from Walker Creek; two, 2J4 and 4 inclies long, fidui Papermili Creek, ^4 mil^ below White House; two specimens, 1'^ and :5% inches long, from South Belmont Oyster Beds; three specimens, \\% to .5?^ inches long, from ]Mare Island; ten, 1% to (i inches long, from I>ake Quiniault; one, L' inches long, from Hurst Creek; twenty-six speci- mens, ]% to ()% inches long, from Quiniault Kiver, above lake; twenty s|)ecimens, 1% to 0)4 inches long, from Beaver Lake; twelve, 1% to l'^' inches long, from Lake Pleasant; five, '2 to 2% inches long, from Wills Creek; two, 2}^ to 2% inches long, from Kaft Iviver; one, ^'^4 inches long, from Prairie Creek ; one, 2 inches long, from a creek tril)utary to Humptulips, near llumptulips; four, 2}^ to 43ij inches long, from Ozette Lake; one, 1,^4 inches long, from I>ranch entering east fork of Hump- tulii>s Kiver; and eight, I'^'g to 2\ inches long, from Tacoma Creek. 4o. Cottus gulosus ((iirard). Thirty-two specimens, 1% to '.)% inches long, from junction of Nieasio and Pa|>erniill creeks; one, 4 inches long, from Hurst Creek; twelve, 1% to L'% inches long, from Quiniault Iviver, above lake ; ten, from Hah Kiver, '.> to 4 inches long; eleven, 1^' to '.\% inches long, from ]Moss Creek; five, L'% to :') inches long, from Wills Creek; two, 2% to )! inches long, from Kaft Kiver; one, l'% indies long, from Bouachiel ; three, 2% to :)% inches long, from Queets Kiver; four, l'>4 to '.l^ya inches long, from Ilwah Kiver; two, '.) inches long, from Prairie Creek; one, 2% inches long, from Clearwater; nineteen, ^^ to :! inches long, from Willajia Kiver; lifteen, 2 to 3}4 inches long, from YAk Creek; and one, 'M^^ inches long, from Tacoma Creek. 4(1. Leptocottus armatus (iirard. Twenty-nine sjiecimens, 1^4 to 2^,, inches long, from Toiuales Bay; six, A}<2 t" '^/t inches long, from Point San Bruno; three, 4% to .i^/^ indues long, from San Pablo Bay; two, .">^ and (1 inches long, from South Behiiont Oyster Beds; one, 4}4 inches long, from San Mateo (/am]); tifty-seven, I'o t" -'^g inches long, from Hamilton hunling tower, Paper- mill Creek. 47. Ilypnus gilberti ( iMgenmann and lugenmann). Thirty sj)ecimens, 1)^ to 2% inches long, from Tomales Bay; three from Walker Creek, and one from Papermili Creek. 4.S. Liparis pulchellus Ayres. Fifteen sj)ecimens, 2^4 to ry^ inches long, from San I'ablo Bay. 4il. Typhlogobius californiensis Steindachner. One specimen, 2^^ inches long, from San Pedro. Evermann and Latimer — Fishes from the Olympic Pcninsvlei. 139 50. Porichthys notatus Girard. Thirteen specimens, 2^ to 33^ inches long, from San Pablo Bay; two specimens, 1% and 8 inches long, from Point San Bruno. 51. Heterostichus rostratus Girard. Two specimens, Q% and l^i inches long, from San Pedro. 52. Gibbonsia elegans (Cooper). Three specimens, 3j^ to o inche.^ long, from San Pedro. 53. Pholis ornatus (Girard). Eight specimen^!, 3,^4 to 4)^ inches long, from San Pablo Bay. 54. Arbaciosa rhessodon (Rosa Smith). One specimen, \% inches long, from San Pedro. 55. Merluccius productus (Ayres). One specimen from Chinook. 5(). Microgadus proximus (Girard). CALIFORNIA TOMCOD. Four specimens, 5 to 7 inches long, from San Pablo Bay. 57. Psettichthys melanostictus Girard. One specimen, G% inches long, from Point San Pedro. 58. Hypsopsetta guttulata (Girard). DIAMOND FLOUNDER. One specimen, 4% inches long, from San Pedro, Cal. 59. Parophrys vetulus Girard. Three specimens, 5 to ().^4 inches long, from Point San Pedro; one specimen, '?>% inches long, from South Belmont Oyster Beds; three specimens, 4 to o% inches long, from San Mateo Camp. (iO. Platichthys stellatus Pallas. CALIFORNIA FLOUNDER. Four specimens, \% to 1% inches long, from Tomales Bay; two speci- mens, b}4 and Q% inches long, from Point San Pedro; and one, b% inches long, from South Belmont Oyster Beds. Vol. XXIII, pp. 141-152 September 2, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON THE SCAI.ES OF THE AFRICAX CYPRINIT) FISHE^; ' ^ ^ WITH A DISCUSSION OF RELATED ASIATIC AND EUROPEAN SPECIES. ^^. - BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. For an opportunity to study the scales of the African Cyprin- ida' I am indebted to Dr. G. A. Boulenger, and the account given helow is based wholly on the collections in the British Museum. In Dr. Boulenger's Catalogue of the Freshwater Fishes of Africa, \\)\. I (1909), there are recognized ten genera of Cy])rinid;e proper, namely, Labeo, Discognathm, Varicorhinus, Jinrhiix, Rdshofd, Lcaciscus, Lepton/pris, Barilius, Neohula and Clirdtthio'ii^i. OF these, all but Rasbora, Leuciscus and Lrptac)/- pris arc found in the Nile l)asin. Leuciscus, or rather Phoxinellus, is a PaUearctic type found in northern Africa; Lcptocypris Boulenger, 1900, is a relative of Barilius, found in the Congo basin ; Rushora Bleeker is an Asiatic genus, of whicli one of the Asiatic species (i?. ihinlronlus Ham. Buch.) occurs at Zanzibar. Chcluthlojis Boulenger, 1899, is an African genus related to the Asiatic Chela ; it occurs in the Congo basin (C. clongatus) and in the Nile (C. lilhle). Neuhola Vinciguerra, 1894, is said to be allied to the Asiatic Bola (which Day includes in Barilius); it was based on a species (iV. liuitcgol) from Somaliland, and has another (A^. argcntea) confined to Lake Victoria. It thus appears that the Ethiopian Cyprinid fauna, though numerous in species, shows very little generic differentiation, and is in all respects closely related to that of the Oriental region. The scale-characters of the African genera, as observed in scales taken from the vicinity of the lateral line, at about the level of the beginning of the dorsal fin, are as follows: (1.) Chchcthiops. C. hibie Joanni^. Kiver Nile. Scales broader than long, the basal and lateral eirenli coarse, the apical ones much y.")— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wa8h.. Vol. XXIII. I'JIO, (111) 142 Cockerdl — The Scales of the African Cyprinid Fishes. Hner, th(_' transition :il)rnpt; al)out nine delicate apical radii, and a few irregular, poorly developed l)af^al ones. Tlie nuclear area is a little basad of the middle, and may he hroadly free from circuli, or circulate nearly to tlie middle. The lish is small and silvery; the scales are large in proportion, though only about 1% mm. across. There are no distinct laterobasal angles. Both the fish and the scales are rather suggestive of the American Xotropis, though nuuiy differences are apparent on close comparison. The Indian Chela arrjentea Day (Wynad, F. Day) has larger scales, with evident laterobasal angles. The apical radii are well defined, al)out 14, l)ut several imperfect centrad ; the basal radii are two or three, but very strong. All this shows evident reseml^lance to the type of radiation found in Alestes, and in the ]ilcurol;vnia group of Barbus; that is to say, with few strong radii arising from the nucleus. In Chela ur<ientea tiiis is superimposed, as it were, on a system of more ordinary apical radii, and it is only the latter that occur in Chehi'thiops. A further study of the scales of Chela shows that C. argentea is quite exceptional, and I find one species which has scales of essen- tially the same type as those of Clwhcthiops, except that there are fairly well developed laterobasal angles, no basal radii, and the apical radii are greatly reduced, with not more than two or three complete. This species is C. (Paralanbuca) typiis (type of Para- laiihuca lateralis Sauvage) from the Me Kong (Paris Museum). C. anomalurua from Sarawak has a scale of the same general char- acter as C. typus, but it is excessively short and liroad (long, (i, lat. 10 mm.), with no laterobasal angles, and quite munerous l)ut very weak apical radii. On the other hand C. chipeoidcK (Alnrree, F. Day) has .small scales which are much longer than broad, with six or seven apical radii and no basal. C. hacaila (Orissa, F. Day) has scales of the type of C. clupcohli's, ]m{ with at least twice as many apical radii. The scales of C. macrochir ( Menam River, Royal Siamese Museum ) are transversely oval, scarcely radiate, mucli like Chehvthiui)s hut with the coarse lateral circuli extending over into the a]iical region. This species has the dorsal tin very far back, and the scales were taken from the middle of tln'side. Chela sardiurlla (Sittang liiver, E. W. Gates) has broad weak scales with al)out 12 apical radii; there is a dark spot at the fork of the camlal lin. Thus Chela, on the scales, seems to fall into at least three distinct groups: (1.) C. argentea, (2.) C. clupeoides and hacaila, (:'..) C. typus, macrucliir and sardinella, with asul)group f<jr C. anomalurus. Chehethiops is evidently to be compared with the third group. The ChcUvllviops scale has (|uite a strong suiterlicial resend)lanci' to that of the Characinid Cithariims cuiiyicus, although in the latter the lateral cinaili are more numerous, and less abruptly <lif- ferentiated from the apical. Corlrrell — The Scales of the African Ci/pnnid Fishes. 143 (2.) Neohola. N. argentea Pellegrin (Bugala, Lake Victoria, Br. E. Bayon). Small transversely elongate scales about 2 mm. broad, and not mnch more than 1 long; no evident angles; nuclear area a little t)asad of middle; apical and basal radii, but very few and feeble ; lateral circuli very widely spaced, abruptly separated (about middle of side ) from apical ones. A weak scale of the same type as that of Chehefhiops. It may be even better compared with Barilius (EngrauUcypris) sardella from Lake Nyassa; this is a slender fish with easily deciduous scales, wdiich are transversely elongated, with the circuli as in Xeohola, but with better defined apical radii. (o.) Barilius. The following key indicates in a general way the diag- nostic characters of tlie scales of a numl>er of African and Asiatic species. Large reddish scales with many apical radii 1. Smaller pallid scales 2. 1. Scale much broader than long B. microlepis (Lake Xyassa; ./. E. S. Moore). Scale about as broad as long B. microcephalus (Lake Nyassa ; /. E. S. Moore). 2. Scales with a few very strong radiating ribs (or in reverse, grooves), and in all things resembling those of Chela argen- tea «^. Scales not thus marked 4. 3. Intervals between the few apical radii broad . . . . B. gatensis (Wynad, F. Day). Intervals between the ai)ical radii much narrower . B. canarcnsis (S. Canara, F. Day). 4. Scales of a rather broad tyi)e ; basal radii strong; a central spot of dark pigment . . . B. l)eiidelisis (Simla, F. Day) and B. coeaa (East Indian Company's collection). These fishes are mnch alike. Scales without a dark pigment spot 5. 5. Thin scales of a rather or very broad type B. sardella (Lake Nyassa, E. L. IlJioades), B. uhangensis (Kribi River at Efulon, S. Cameroon, Bates), B. neavil (mountain stream near Petanke, N. E. Rhodesia, »S'. A. Neave). Scales not especially broad, basal radii absent or somewhat de- veloped 0. G. African . . B. ?/ioo)'// (Snmba, Lake Tanganyika, C'!n;?;/H<//o?;; not adult), B. loati (Gondokoro, W. L. S. Lout), Jl. kiiu/s- leyiv (S. Cameroon, G. L. Hates). B. itiloticits also comes in this group. Asiatic . . . B. iileo, B. andersoni, B. polylepis, B. goha, B. harila, B. gutlalus, B. eagra, B. ornatus. 144 Cockerelt — The Scales of the African Cyprinid Fishes. In B. iileo there are two rows of round spot? along the side. Tlie upper row, of larger spots, alternates witli the lower. B. ijuttahis has spots much as in B. tilro, and B. barila has ohscure spots of the same sort. B. oruatus has indications of the same spots. B. gatensis has hars in place of the spots; B. canarevsis ii^ o])- scnrely harred. B. ?ooii and near//" have vertical hars; B. uhamj- ensis looks like nearii. B. moorii has rather ol)Scure vertical hars. B. hingsleyx has dusky lateral spots. B. sardclln is a slender species with easily deciduous scales. B. niloticus has the hack dusky and the sides silvery, without hars or spots. Dr. Boulenger writes me (Dec, 1009) that he has now removed B. sardclla from Barilius "and placed it, also with the Neohola, under the name of Engranlicypris Giinther." As I have remarked ahove, the scales are very similar to those of Neohola argentcn. The lateral circuli terminate ol)li(|uely, alxiut the middle of the side, herein diftcriug very conspicuously from those of ]>. ubaugcnsis and nearii, which are placed in the same division in the tahle. Pelotrophus Giinther may lie taken to include T>. mirrolepis and B. microccphalus of Lake Nyassa, constituting a subgenus, I suppose. Opsaridium Peters, type B. zambesensis Peters, I d(i not know. PachyHtoiiuis Heckel ini'ludes Asiatic species with funr hai-licls, as B. Ijcmkle^iis and rayra. The name PacJij/nfomiis is not avail- able, having been used more than thirty years earlier in Diptera. Day also recognizes a sul^genus Bendelisis, for B. barila, a vertically barred species with two barliels, according to iiis description, thongh my notes from tlie lislies (Assam, F. Dai/) describe obscure spots. According to the scale-characters, the most distinct group is that of B. gatensis and ranarevsis; these are jilaced by Day in typical BariJiua, along witli />'. (iico and B. giitlahis. \\\{\i tlie removal of Ei)graiiliryj>ris, tlie African P>arilii(x remain a fairly compact group, with no imiiortant dillerence from the Asiatic forms. Tlu' large lishes called Pclolroplms, in Lake Nyassa, indicate a ct'rtain amount of divergence, in response to conditions not found in Asia. (4.) Lrptocypris. L. modesliis ( Ikinzyville, I'hauzi, Congo Free State, Cap!, lloyaux). Scales about ;!'4 mm. long and .'> broad, with prominent lafembasal angles; nuclear area far basail; obscure rudiments of basal radii ; apical radii S or 10, well-deliued, widely S[)aced ; lateral circuli moderately dense, in the same line with the closer ai)ical ones. This scale is ]ik(^ that of Barilius Jcingsleyie, excejit that the apical radii are fewer. (5.) Phoxinellns. See I'roc. P.iol. Soc. Wash.. XXII (1!»00), p. L'lO. (0. ) Baxbora. I liave only tlie Asiali<' h'. argyrnlniiin ( I'.arani, Lorneo, Hose). Tiie scale is large (about li' mm. long and liroad), with Cockerctl — The Scales of the African Ci/prmid Fishes. 145 distinct thouf^h rounded laterobasal angles; nuclear area su1)])asal, very broad; apical radii very numerous (45 or more), parallel; ))asal radii similar to apical, but liner and closer; basal circuli transverse; npircil cirmli all longitudinal, becoming irregular and more or less wavy. The cliaracter of the apical circuli is very dis- tinctive ; it is an extreme development of the condition found in C')vrhi)ia jtillieni, in which the very strong apical circuli are ol)lique, forming with the radii angles of about 4o degrees. ( 7. ) Barhng. This innnensc genus will be discussed fully in a later paper ; it will suffice at the present moment to call attention to some of the groupings based on the scales : (a.) B.harhitfi (typical) group. Scale ol)long, much longer than broad ; the apical circuli much coarser than the lateral ; base thrown into folds, one of which projects, as in tlie American genus Gila. Also includes B. lacertoides. PaUearctic group. (b. ) B. eaiicnsicus group. Elongate-oval scales, without the basal lobe. Numerous European species; some, as B. hocaqii, much broader. I>. .tetlriiD/'n.'iiii from the Atlas Mts. goes in this group, l)ut the scale is broader than tyjiical, with the lateral radii evanes- cent. A very distinct tyjie is B. grahami from Yunnan Fu, the scales oval, extremely minute, the circuli not dense. This fish has four long barbels. (c. ) B. affinls group. Scales allied to the last, but much shorter and l)roader, with laterobasal angles, and the lateral radii usually poorly di'velopiMl. Well developed in Asia, with such species as B. u'ynade)isis, B. paradoxus, B. for (mosal), B. hramoides, B. enop- losus (but fewer radii), B. ohtusirostris (but peculiar), and the Persian B. hofschyi (but with distinct lateral radii). In the Medi- terrean region it is represented by/?, callt'nsis (Algiers), B. h/diarnts (type locality Smyrna), B. ksihl (Morocco), B. Jiarlerti (Morocco) and B. sclatt'ri from the Guadalquiver River in Sjiain. African species are 7>. hynni (II. Nile), B. affinis, B. siirki.^, B. oreas (few ai)ical radii ). (d.) B. iriacmiUani group. Much like the last; no lateral radii; basal radii few. Also includes the African B. tropidolepis and the Asiatic B. armalus. A doubtfully valid group. (e. ) B. kolus group, also including B. waldoi from ]\Iorocco. Scales longer and narrower than in the last group, the laterobasal angles more rounded. The base of the scale is truncate, not rounded as in the caucasicus group. (f. ) B. gonionotus group, including also B. jarauicns and B. alttis, all Asiatic. Base of scale wavy; lateral radii olilique. May be regarded as a long form of the next group. 146 Cockerell — The Scales of the African Cyprinid Fishes. (g. ) B. chilotfs gronp. Broad scales, a1)ont a>; hroad as long, the laterohasal angles fairlj^ strong, the lateral radii usually bent in- wards centrad, or the outer ones failing. A very common type of scale, including the African B. chilntes, jilatystomits, gorgitari, crlangeri, plagiostomus, duchendi, oreas (between this and the ajfi)iis group), batesii, rueppelli, lobogenys, allianalis, nedgia, rus- polii, and radcUffii. Asiatic species are B. Jithopidos (l)ut lateral radii not curved basally), hexastichvs, douronensis, ihomnssi, carnaticus (lateral radii vert/ many), malabaricus and jerdoni. (h. ) B. micropogov group. Mu(!h like the last, liut very broad scales, broader than long. Includes the Asiatic B. micrnpogon, jarsinus (hardly so broad), oatesii and sharpryi (I'crsia). Also the African B. leplosoma (not nearly so broad), rolhschUdi (]Morocco), and progctij/f<. (i.) B. loiigiceps, from the Lake of Cialilee, has a peculiar (ina<lrate scale with rounded corners, and very many radii, apical and basal. (j.) J>. /k> w; 7.7' /■/ group. Shape nearly as in r(///y//.s gniu}i, laterohasal angles evident; middle of base emarginate; radii well developed all round. Here go the Asiatic B. chiUnoides (himalayensis) and macrovema (large scale, rather peculiar), and the African />'. bon)- kcri {laarujiioisis), gregorii (l)ut basal radii fewer, and weak; lateral radii weak), inlermedivs (Imt Inisal radii longer, nuclear area nonnal), inermis (much. like intermedins), gudaricus (large scale), margarita, hursensis, hotlrgoi and frilsrJiii, the last from Morocco. The miclear area is usually l)roadly granular. (k.) /?. opogon ffnmp. INIuch like the last in form, l)ut no lateral radii, and basal radii nearly obsolete, or with a single one going to the notch. Includes the S. African J!, luihihi, and the Asiatic /.'. srhlcgeJii (Formosa and Japan), Inben, collingwoodii, maculaInK, re}iax!ion, esocinus (Persian tiulf), yunnanensis, apogon, chnginiio and eompressus (but apical radii fewer, and two or three weak basal radii). (1.) 7>. brevibarbus group (African). :\ruch like the last, but scale obtusely triangular; a slight tendency to jnilj-goual areas in nuclear region, aflbrding some transition to the following groups. Thefour following groups are closely related, and very distinct from all the i)revious ones, having a few very strong radii (ai)ical and basal) coming from the miclear area, in the niaiuier of the Chara- cinid <xrnu^ A lestcs. This may be calle(i alcstiform scul|itun'. In many cases the miclear area is broken up into [xilygonal spaces; this may occur or i)e absent in scales from the same lisli. (m.) B. pin naiuxt I Its jirou\i. Scale suhijuadrate, at least as long as broad, with rather numerous strong radii. Includes the Asiatic Cockcrdl — The Scales of the African Cyprinid Fishes. 147 B. pmnauratus, sarana (large scale, with ])asal region larger), scJianicus, dorsalis, diola, pleurotxnia, and the African B. perince (R. Xile) and camptacanlJius. (n.) B. rjonhjsoma group. Like the last, hnt the polygonal nuclear pattern excessively developed. Includes the Asiatic ijoniosoma, maculatus (fish very like goniosoma) and hurmanicus. The African B. f/arnci/i (natalensis) may go here, but is peculiar. (o.) B. h I o-chelli gronp. Like pinnaMr«<MS group, V^ut scales Ijroader. Lateral circuli coarse in hurcJiclU, fine in others, as mahccoln. In- cludes the African -B. burcheUi, t.niiurus, capensis, aspilus, (some polygonal areas), guirali, nunimifer, rJioadesl (\mt radii weak) and trispilus {n^aJkeri). Asiatic species are B. lateristriga (scale not so l)road), ]mlawaiiensis, liampal (immense scale, not so broad) and maliccola. (p.) B. cJtri/f^opomd (Asiatic). Scale of the ])hinniiratus type, but long, with the nuclear area far apicad. It is not suggested that all these groups are natural, l)ut to some extent at least they must be significant. Later studies will no doubt suggest modifications, especially wlien tlie characters of the fishes are correlated. Some generic and subgeneric names are applicable as follows : Cheilobarbus A. Smith. Type, cnpensis (gr. o. ) Pseuilobnrbus A. Smith. Ty|ie burchi'Ili (gr. o. ) Ani'inaticJilhi/.'f Bleeker. Type upogon (gr. k. ) i/f m//jar/v/s Bleeker. Type ^rtc/m.s Schlegel iachlcgclii) (gr. k. ) Labcobdrbij.f Uiipi). Type vedgia (gr. g. ) Numerous other names have been jiroposed for subdivisions of BcD-hus, which is here interpreted in the broadest sense, following Bouleuger. No doul)t some of these represent valid genera, and it is pnibable that Bctrbus should ])e restricted to the Pala?arctic groups, but I am not in a position to propose a new classification. According to any reasonable scheme, it appears that enough generic names already exist to supply all requirements, unless perhaps a name should be ]troi)osed (at least in a subgeneric sense) for B. grahami of Regan. Day, in liis work on the species of British India, recognized three subgenera: Barbados, with four barbels. Capo'i'ia, with two barliels. Puiitius, without barbels. I have examined the scales of 17 of his Barbodcx, five of his CapoHa, and two (ajxjgon and Jilatnenlosiis) of his Pnnlius. On the scale characters, the groups do not hang well together, and for this and other reasons I believe they are to a considerable extent artificial. Day calls attention to the great resemblance between B. maliccola, which has four barbels, and B. filamcnlosus, which 148 Cockerell — The Scales of the African Cyprinid Fishes. has none, and even raises the question whetlier they are (Ustinct species. (8.) Varicorhinns. An Asiatic and African genus related to Lahco and Barbus. I have examined three species: T'. bcso. Hawasli River {Zaphlro). Scale al)Out 11 3^2 mui- long and 14 broad; laterobasal angles much greater; basal and lateral circuli very fine, apical (on exposed part of scale) al)ruptly difler- entiated, very coarse, broken up into tnl)ercles between the radii; nuclear area nearly central; ai)ical radii nuinerous, al)out 40, parallel, not very conspicuous ; basal radii three or four, feel)le and broken. This rather recalls some of the Labro scales, but is much broader, and without or with oidy faint traces of the curved lateral radii. This is the type of the genus. V. taiKjanicr. Lake Tanganyika (Cinni.iinffon). Small delicate scales about 4 mm. long, about as broad as long, varying to broader than long, obtusely subtriangular, with a broad basal median lobe. Nuclear area broadly roughened ; lateral and basal circuli widely spaced, or the basal fairly dense; apical circuli evanescent; apical radii about IS, delicate, wavy; basal radii as in V. bcso. Very distinct from V. bcso. ■, V. marocrauHS. Gum Erl)iah, Morocco (Jlif/goibacJi). Not adult. Scales subquadrate, about (> nun. long and (^)4 broad; structure essentially as in V. ba^o, with the same sort of tuberculate apical circuli. Apical radii about Ki; nuclear area circulate to middle or very broadly rugose; feeble and broken basal radii rather numerous. Belongs to the subgenus Pterocapocia Giinther. In Boulenger's key, 1'. bcso goes in the first division, with three other species, while T'. maroccau us -dml ?a/?^rt?v/o.T form the second. It seems evident, however, that the two latter are not closely allied. T'. maroccaniis, in spite of several peculiarities, must be grouped with V. beso, while T'. <(ni.7a/i*c.r Boulenger forms a group apart. The tanr/aniar group is distinguished not only by the small size ( (14-70 in lateral line) and sculpture of the scales, but by the dorsal originating above the ventrals, the last simple ray very strong and ossified, the large eye, the reduction of the barbels to a single rudimentary pair, and the falcate apex of the dorsal and of the caudal lobes. Dr. Boulenger (lilOl) originally described ]'. tanganicx as a member of the Asiatic genus Cnporta, writing as follows: " The discovery of a sjjecies of this geiuis in Lake Tanganyika is particularly interesting from the fact that only one was known from Africa, viz. the Abyssinian C. diUonii V. and V.; this is dis- tinguished by the absence of barbels and the greater size of the scales (;>0 to W'l in the lateral line). In the presence of a pair of barbels and the small size of the scales, C. tauycuiicw belongs to Cochercll — The Scales of the African Cyprinid Fishes. 149 the typical section nf the genus, inhabiting southwestern Asia; hu\ it lias the enlarged dorsal ray neither feel)leas in C. fundulns I'all. and allied species, nor serrated as in C. tnitfa Heck." C. (liUonii is now i)laced by Ur. Boulenger in the synonymy of T'. heso. Upon conii)aring the scales of 1^ tanrjanicx with those of Asiatic Capo'Ha, I find a very marked resemblance. Caporla fi(7uhilus (Knra River, St. Peters) mrg ^Museum) has scales closely like those of T'. tangauiav in size, sculpture and consistency, but broader, with the apical radii strong and not wavy. C. stein- dachneri, Kessl, is rather more modified, tiie scales l)eing longer than broa<], with strong laterobasal angles, and the sul)ai)ical cir- culi forming strong o])lique ridges. The scales of C. ( Gnatliupogoii ) gracilis are clo.se to those of T"". tanganicx, but the apical radii are stronger, and the tuliercles formed l)y the circuli l)etween them are large. All things considered, V. ianganiar does seem to stand apai't from true Varicorhinus, and shows some atRnity with Capo'Ha. It may therefore be taken as the type of a new sul»genus Acai-oeta. (!i. ) Discognathus. A genus of southern Asia and northeast Africa, especially found in torrents and mountain rivers, having a more or less developed suctorial disc on the chin. The skin is usually thick, and is always be.set with numerous minute jjigment dots; in D. johnstonii these are rather larger and very den.se, producing a sort of line marbling. According to Day, typical Discognathus f)f ITeckel, which T have not seen, has only one pair of barbels. The Indian and African species have two pairs, and go in the subgenus Garra Ham. Buch. The only Asiatic species I have examined is D. lamta from Harnai, Afghanistan {F. Dug). This has sub- quadrate scales, broader than long (about (i nun. long and (\% broad), the apical half covered by the yellow skin. Laterobasal angles evident but obtuse ; basal and lateral circuli very fine; apical radii excessively line and immerous, only about 70 to !I0 /tx ai)art, giving the idea that they may be merely coarse longitudinal circuli, but the remains of the true apical circuli (following the line of evolution initiated ])y Varicorhinus) are visible as rounded tubercles between the radii; ])asal radii irregular and poorly developed, as in allied forms. This scale can easily be recognized as an extreme mollification of the Varicorhinus type. The ajiical tubercles (remains of circuli) are suggestive of those found in Capoi'ta gracilis though of course they are much smaller. The four African species of Discognathus seen by me have .smaller and broader scales (4 mm. broad and ;^> long in D. johnstonii, the others a little smaller). D. hlanfordii. Jerrer IJiver, near Harrar (7?. 7>('r/e/0. Formerly confused with D. lamta, with which the scale agrees in all impor- tant features. The basal radii are fairly numerous, hut very irregular. loO Cockerell-^Thc Srahs of the African CyprimJ Fhhcs. D. johnstoiil. Victoria Xyaiiza (Sir II. Johnston). Appparanre of scale much a;^ in D. binnfordii, liut the hiterohasal angles have wholly disappeared, and the broad nuclear area is broken up by a ■ number of short irregular lines. The apical radii extend to the side of the scale, where they are obliquely crossed by the circuli. The lateral circuli are not so regular as in D. lamta. D. fjiiadrimaculains. Lake Zwai (Zaphiro). Scale much as in T). hlanfordii. Laterobasal angles rudimentary ; nuclear area very far basad ; apical radii extremely fine, the middle ones about oO m a]»art ; lateral radii irregular and widely spaced, obliquely crossed by cir- culi; apical circuli represented by scattered round tubercles. D. (lemheemis. Matti R. (Blue Nile) (P. C. Zaphiro). Thin scales embedded in thick skin. Scales essentially as in qnadriviamlal <(.'<, the nuclear area far basad. The short basal radii are well devel- oped, and extend laterally in an irregular manner, so that tiie scale is radiate all round. Thus, so far as the scales go, the genus DiscogncUhn.^ hangs well together, and is separable from Varicorltinvx l)y the extreme close- ness of the radii. ( 10. ) Laheo. The scales of this large genus may be divided into a uum- ber"of groups, as in IkirhHs. (a.) L. fimhriatus group. Scales very long, parallel-sided, rounded apically, truncate basally; those oi fnnbrialns are aliout 1") nun. long and 9 broad. A very distinctive group, api)roached, but not nearly equalled, in Barbus by the group of i>. goiiionotuts. The species are Asiatic, including L. cur.m, microphthalmns, kawrus, gon'nis, fimbriates, bata, kontiiis, h'schnianltii ; and as a subgroup with shorter scales L. dussninieri, pangnsia, chaJi/beatiis iuu\ nigri- pinnis. The apical circuli are broken up into tubercles; the apical radii diller, being much more innnerous in //. Jiala tlian iu L. findiriatiis. One African species, L. barl/atus llouleuger ( llonui, ]jower Congo) might be classed with the shorter-scaled division of this grou]), but it is n-ally a rather narrow-scaled memlier of tiie marrosloma grou[). (1).) L. 'laacrostoma group. Scales of the subipiadrate type, but not much elongated ; basal margin obtusely lobed iu middle. I have placed here the Asiatic L. calliasn and falcatns (dgi)rltilns), but the latter is broader. The African species are numerous, including /.. macrostoma, niloticus (few basal \-.\d\\) , annectms (but broader), cylindricns, mesnps, vclifn- (large reildisli ^ca]('), forshalU, green it and victoriavvs. The large scales of L. viclorianiis are badly in- fested by some parasite. (c.) L. sladoni grouji. bike tiu' last, but no basal I'adii, and the basal margin straight, or not obviously lobed. This group consists Cockereil — The Scales of the African Ci/prinid Fishes. 151 of two lots of species, one Asiatic, the other from tlie Transvaal. The Asiatic inemhers are L. sladoul (Mandalay, F. Day), L. ricnorhiinchiis (Janiu, ITiinalayas, SchJnijiiitireit), L. biculor (Cal- cutta, F. Dai/), L. s///(/t'//.s/.s and L. (Jiplot^tonuis. The Transvaal ones are L. ?"o.s.r, rnthli and capensls. This .(jfrouj) prohahly has no proper standing, bnt consists ratlu'r of slightly divergent members of the last. ( d. ) L. aUivelis group. The often large scales sculptured about as in the ?/t<7C?"Osfo?rta group, but subcircular, without laterobasal angles. All African, including L. allivrlis, sencf/aloii^is, Jineatns, couhie (many basal radii), darllngi and timhratus. The last is tlie tyjje of Ahrostomus A. Smith. Jj. lioric forms a subgroup with reduced sculpture. (e.) L. icalkcri (bracJiijporim) group. Type of inacrostomn, but the scales becoming ()l)tusely subtriangular. Tiiis may be com|)ared with tiie hrcviharhls grouj) of Ilarhus. ( f. ) L. cJiri/sopJiekadion grouj). This species, from the jNIenam River, Siam, is very distinct by the character of the apical circuli, which instead of being broken up into tubercles, are continuous, and meet at a sharp angle in the middle line, as in Cirrhiiia jnllieiii. They are however denser than in the Cirrhina. Tj. rohila from Calcutta (,,Thos. Moore) has essentially the same struc- ture, but the circuli are more or less broken ui) into tubercles. The shape of the scale is essentially as in the macrostoma group. It will be seen that the grouping of Laheo here given does not accord well with that based (e. g. by Boulenger) on the fishes. There is however a tendency for the groups to agree with geograph- ical areas, and it is probable that they have some real significance. No doubt some of the groups are artificial, including similar look- ing scales which actually have difl'erent origins. Tiegarded as a whole, the African Cyprinid fauna i)resents some curious historical problems. Africa is the home of a varied fauna of Characinids, which belong to endi'mic genera. As America was ])rol)ably the home of this family, and in view of the distinctness of the African Characinid fauna from tliat found in the Neotropical Region, it nnist be supposed that the arrival of the Characinids in Africa took place very long ago, perhaps in the Mesozoic. On the other hand, the Ethiopian Cyprinid fauna is obviously Asiatic, and the amount of endemicity (aside from species) is so slight that we must postulate a more recent period of arrival, certainly Tertiary, perhaps not earlier than ^Miocene. It is curious that with the country so well stocked in advance with Characinids, it was ]>ossi- ble for the Cyprinids to spread even to the extreme south, and produce such a large nundjer of specific forms. This may be due in part to a greater adaptability (already well developed in Asia) 152 Cockerell — The Scales of the African Cypniud Fishes. to ujiland streams, as may Ik? suggested liy the great number and variety of species in Al)jssinia. Another interesting feature is tlie paljcarctir fauna, ])ni>r in species, in north Africa. This fauna docs not have tilings all its own way. It seems natural enough that Kthidjiian types should come down the Xile into Lower Egypt, hut it is curious that the surprisingly rich (as to species) fauna in the Atlas ^fonntains should be mixed, Pahearctic and Ethioi)ian. Thi< seems to jmint to former (IMiocene) conditions in the Sahara region, very (lill'erent from those ol)served to-day. Pkoc. Rior,. Soc. Wa^h., XXIII, 1910 Pr.ATE III. Fig. 1. Barhiif! rhri/nopniiia. Fig. 2. Lahro tiiiibriafini. Fig. 3. lldrhiif: hiitrxii. Fig. 4. Barbas harbus (culgaris) . ■Scales of Cypijixid.e. Fig. 5. Barbus ksibi. V\g. (i. Bdrhim pleiiroticnia. Fig. 7. Lnhro >if7iefinlc)isis. Fig. S. Virrlihin juliicni. Fig. 9. Barbiin c/raliami. Fig. 10. Bariliiis loKti. Fig. 11. Chehftlii(>t)» bibic. Fig. 12. Chela ai-<jentea. Vol. XXIII, pp. 153-156 December 6, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON TWO NEW WOQDPECKERS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. BY W. E. CLYDE TODD. Ill tlie course of tlic writer's studies of the neotropical birds in the collection of the Carnegie Museum, two heretofore unrec- ognized races of the genus Melnnerpes have been discovered, but pending the examination of additional material their pub- lication has been delayed. INIore recent comparisons having apparently confirmed their validity, it has seemed best to pub- lish descriptions of the new forms in advance of the more extensive ])aper in which they were originally intended to appear. The type specimens have been generously presented to the Carnegie Museum by Pomona College, Claremont, Cali- fornia, through the courtesy of Prof. C. F. Baker. Melanerpes formicivorus albeolus subsp. nov. BELIZE WOODPECKER. Type, No. 3l', 702, Collection Carnegie Museum, adult male; near Mana- tee, British Honduras, September 21, 1905; J. D. Johnson. Subsprcifi.c chararfers.—^umhAr to if. f. striatipectus Eidgway, but with sides and flanks much less streaked, and throat paler yellow, often nearly white. Description.— Adn\t male: nasal tufts, chin, sides of head and neck, upper breast, cervix, back, wings, and tail black with a metallic green sheen, less decided on remiges and rectrices, the outer pair of rectrices with small distal spots of white, a large white patch at base of primaries, and the secondaries barred with white on inner webs; rump, upper tail- coverts, forehead, mastax, throat, breast, abdomen, and crissum white, tlie throat washed with canary yellow, the breast broadly, the sides, flanks and cris.sum narrowly streaked with black ; w hole crown and occi- put red. Adult female similar, liut crown black. Measurements of type.— Wing, 136 mm. ; tail, 82; exposed culmen, 25; tarsus, 21. 3G— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXiri, 1910. (153) 154 Todd — Tioo Neio Woodpeckers from Central America. Remarks. — The new form resembles the more southern M. f. striatipec- ius in the character and extent of the breast striping, but differs as afore- said, tlie tliroat being practically white or witii onlj' a slight tinge of canary yellow, while in strintippctHn this color is more ]-)rononnced and constant (irres])ective of season) than in any other form of this species. Compared with M. f. formicivorus from Tetela del Volcan, Morelos, ]Mexico, assumed to ])e typical, the British Honduras bird differs further in ])eing much less distinctly streaked on the sides and fianks, giving it a Avhiter appearance below, this character serving to separate it from all the other known forms, while the pectoral band is less "solid," more extensively striated. None of tiie series of birds examined from eastern Mexico approach the present form at all closely, so that it seems well entitled to recognition. I have seen no examples from Honduras, but Guatemala specimens seem referable to true fnrmic.ivorus , so that it is probable that the present form is confined to the coast region of British Honduras, possibly extending northward into Yucatan. Melanerpes pucherani perileucus suljsp. nov. WHITE-BARRED WOODPECKER. Type, No. 32,703, Collection Carnegie Museum, adult male; near Mana- tee, British Honduras, December 22, 1905; J. I). Johnson. Subspea'fic cliaracters. — Similar to Melanerpes pucherani from Nicara- gua southward, but with more white on the wing-coverts, rectrices, remiges, and back; and the abdominal red more restricted. Description. — Adult male: extreme forehead cadmium yellow; crown and occiput carmine ; postorbital stripe, superciliary stripe, cervix, sides of neck, back, wings, and tail jjlack, the back regularly barred with white, the wings (except lesser coverts) conspicuously spotted externally, barred internally with white, the outer pair of rectrices imperfectly barred distally with bntfy white, the middle pair broadly l)arred on inner webs with pure white; a white postocular spot; rump and upper tail-coverts white, somewhat spotted and barred with black; lower parts olive gray, deepest on breast, whitish on crissum, and barred with black on all pos- terior portions; middle of abdomen carmine; lining of wing mottled black and white. Adult female similar, but crown black, bnffy white on anterior middle part. Measurements of type. — Wing, 115 mm.; tail, 01; exposed culmen, 23.5; tarsus, 21. Remarks. — Zebrapicus pucherani was described by Malherbe (Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1S49, 542) from "Tabago" (lege Tobago), a locality where the species is not known to occur. The later description and i)late by the same author (^lonograpliie des Picidees, II, 1S()2, 227, PI. 10;*), figs. 1, 2), however, seems to apply better to the form inhabiting Nica- ragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, which is characterized maiidy l)y the less amount of white on the Ijack, wings, and tail, this color being very prominent in the northern bird, giving a decidedly barred effect to the Todd — Two New Woodpeckers from Central America. 155 upper parts. The South American l)ird may possibly belong to a third form, judging from the only skin available (No. 101,21)7, U. S. National Museum, Guayaquil, Ecuador), which may be the true pucherani, but in any case the l)ird occurring from Honduras northward to southern Mexico is subspecitically separable. The differences are obvious even in young birds, as may l)e seen Ijy comparing two such sijecimens as Nos. 192,800, U. S. National Museum, Carrillo, Costa Rica, and 112,582, Trux- illo, Honduras, September 27, 1887, both in fresh juvenal dress. Care must be taken in making comparisons to choose specimens in the same state of plumage, for the white spots and edgings wear away more readily than the black areas, as in other woodpeckers. Many of the Mexican specimens examined are in poor plumage, and consequently fail to show the distinctive characters to the best advantage. The form under consideration is evidently that which, according to Malherbe (/. c), had been provisionally designated as melanotis by Dr. Sclater in 1857, but this name is, of course, a pure nomen nudum. Vol. XXIII, pp. 157-164 December 6, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON ON A COLLECTION OF FISHES FROM THE LOWER POTOMAC, THE ENTRANCE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY, AND FROM STREAMS FLOWING INTO THP]SE WATERS.* BY BARTON WARREN EVERMANN AND SAMUEL FREDERICK HILDEBRAND. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. /■. The collection upon \vhich this paper is based is a miscella- neous one, made chiefly in behalf of the U. S. Fish Commission at various times during the years 1892 to 1900, by the U. S. Fisheries Steamer Fish Hawk, and by Messrs. M. C. Marsh, W. C. Kendall, W. H. Sterling, E. C. Starks, W. T. Lindsay, A. Marmaduke, E. Daws, and Capt. L. G. Harron. This material remained unstudied until recently when the present writers went over the entire lot. It was found to contain sev- eral interesting species, and enables us to record an extension of the geographic range of a number of species beyond their previously recorded limits. It is hoped that the publication of this list may prove of interest to students of the fish fauna of the region covered by the collection. The waters and localities from which specimens have been obtained by the above named collectors are as follows: Potomac River at Jackson City, Alexandria, and Mathias Point, Ya.; Bryans Point, Somerset Beach, Riverside, Blacki- stone Island, Piney Point, and St. Georges Island, Md.; Matta- pony River at Milford, Ya.; Blackwells Mill Creek, Cockerel Creek, Cape Charles City, Mobjack Bay, Gloucester Point, Buckroe Beach, Old Point Comfort, Hampton Roads, Hampton Creek, Ocean View, and Cape Henry, Ya. * Published by permission of Hon. George M. Bowers, U. S. Commissioner of Fish- eries. 37— Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIII. 1910. U57) 158 Evermann and Hildehrand — Fishes from Lower Potomac. This collection consists of a total of 1,487 specimens, all of which have been deposited in the National Museum. 1. Notropis hudsonius (De Witt Clinton). SPAWN-EATER; SPOT-TAILED MINNOW; SHINER. Four specimens, 1.5 to 2.3 inches long, from ]Mattapony River. 2. Notropis hudsonius amarus (Girard). SHINER: SFAWN-E.^TER; SILVER-FIN. Five specimens, 2.75 to 4 inches long, from Jackson City. 3. Notropis amoenus (Abbott). Two specimens, 1.5 and 2.() inches long, from Mattapony River. Hybopsis kentuckiensis (Rafinesque). HOKXY-IIEAD; RIVER CHUIJ. Five specimens, 2.5 to 5 inches long, from Mattapony River. 5. Anguilla rostrata (Le Sneur). AMERICAN EEL; FRESHWATER EEL. Three specimens, 3 to 11 inches long, from Somerset Beach; two, 11 and 12 inches long, from Riverside. 6. Pomolobus mediocris (Mitchill). HICKORY SHAD; FALL HERRING. Thirty-two specimens, 1.5 to 2 inches long, from Somerset Beach; three, 2 to 2.5 inches long, from Riverside; one, 3 inches long, from St. Georges Island: twenty-eight, 3.25 to 4 inches long, from the mouth of Hampton Creek. 7. Pomolobus pseudoharengus (Wilson). ALEWIFE; BRANCH HERRING. Seven specimens, 1.75 to 2.25 inches long, from Bryans Point. 8. Pomolobus zestivalis (Mitchill). GLUT HERRING; SUMMER HERRING. Twenty-one specimens, 1.8 to 2.25 inches long, from Riverside; one, 1.5 inches long, from Blackistone Island; eighteen, 2 to 2.2 inches long, from St. Georges Island ; fifty-six, 1.4 to 1.0 inches long, from Cockerel Creek; three, 1.5 to 2.4 inches long, from Buckroe Beach; eighty-four, 2.4 to 3 inches long, from the month of Ham])ton Creek. 9. Alosa sapid issima (Wilson). COMMON SHAD; AMEUICAX SHAD; POTOMAC SHAD. Forty-six specimens, 1 to 1.5 inches long, from Jackson City; forty- eight, 1 to 3 inches long, from Bryans Point; five, of equal size, 2 inches long, from Somerset Beach; one 3.3 inches long, from Gloucester Point; five, 2 to 4 inches long, from the mouth of Hampton Creek. 10. Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe). MENHADEN ; " BUGFISH " ; " ALEWIFE." Six specimens, of equal size, about 2.75 inches long, from Somerset Evermann and Hildehrand — Fishes from Lower Potomac. 159 Beach; three, 4 to 5.5 inches long, from St. Georges Island; eight, :5 to 6 inches long, from Blackwells jMill Creek; seven, from Cockerel Creek; fifty-nine, 2 to 3.5 inches long, from Mobjack Bay; four, 6 to 9 inches long, from Old Point Comfort; three, 2.75 to 4.25 inches long, from the mouth of Hampton Creek. 11. Stolephorus mitchilli (Cuvier & Valenciennes). ANCHOVY. Thirty-seven specimens, 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, from Somerset Beach; ten, 1.3 to 1.6 inches long, from Riverside. 12. Synodus foetens (Linnfeus). LlZARD-FlSH. Four specimens, 4.5 to 5.5 inches long, from St. Georges Island; one, 2.7 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 13. Esox reticulatus Le Sueur. COMMON ExVSTERN PICKEREL. Two specimens, 4 and 4.5 inches long, from Mattapony River. 14. Fundulus majalis (Walbaum). KILLIFISn ; MAYFISH. One specimen, 4 inches long, from Mathias Point ; four, of equal size, 2 inches long, from Riverside ; five, 3 to 5 inches long, from Blacki- stone Island; two, 3 and 5 inches long, from Piney Point; thirty-eight, 1.75 to 5.5 inches long, from St. Georges Island ; one, 4 inches long, from Cape Charles City ; five, 1.2 to 2. 25 inches long, from the mouth of Hamp- ton Creek. 15. Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus). COMMON KILLIFISH ; MUD MINNOW. Ninety-three specimens, 2 to 3 inches long, from Somerset Beach; twenty-six, 1 to 2 inches long, from St. Georges Island ; one, 3 inches long, from Cape Charles City ; one, 1.4 inches long, from the mouth of Hampton Creek. IG. Fundulus diaphanus (Le Sueur). Eleven specimens, 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, from Somerset Beach; five, 1.5 to 3 inches long, from Blackistone Island; five, 2 to 3 inches long, from St. Georges Island. 17. Lucania parva (Baird & Girard). RAINWATER-FISH. Fifty-four specimens, .75 to 1.3 inches long, from St. Georges Island; three, .75 to 1.25 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 18. Cyprinodon variegatus Lacepfede. SHEEPSIIEAD MINNOW. Ninety-one specimens, .75 to 1.75 inches long, from St. Georges Island. 160 Evermann and Hildehrand — Fishes from Lower Poiomad. ]'.). Gambusia affinis (Bainl c*t Girard). TOP MINNOW. Ninety-one specimens, .75 to l.l'o inches long, from St. (ieorges Island. The lot is composed of 14 males and 77 females. 20. Tylosurus marinus (\Vall)anm). GARFISH; BILLFISII; NEEDLE-FISII. One specimen, 4.75 inches long, from Bryans Point. -!1. Apeltes quadracus ( !\Iitchill). One specimen, l.l' inches long, from St. Georges Island. Trevionsly not recorded sonth of New Jersey. 22. Siphostoma floridae Jordan & Gill)ert. Two specimens, 5.25 and 5.5 inches long, from Cape Charles City ; three, 3.25 to 6.5 inches long, from month of Hampton Creek. Previonsly not recorded north of Beanfort, N. C. . 2o. Siphostoma fuscum (Storer). COMMON PIPEFISH. Two specimens, 4.5 and 0 inches long, from Riverside; one, 5.75 inches long from mouth of Hampton Creek. 24. Hippocampus hudsonius I)e Kay. COMMON AMFKK AN SEA-HORSK. Tvvo young, al)ont 7 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 25. Kirtlandia iaciniata (Swain). SILVER-FISH. One specimen, 3.2 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 2(). Menidia gracilis (Giinther). Four specimens, 1.75 to 2.1 inches long, from Hampton Creek. 27. Menidia gracilis beryllina (Cope). Six specimens, 2 to 2.5 inches long, from Ale.xandria; eight, of about the same size, 2.25 indies long, from Bryans Point; live, 1.5 to 1.75 inches long, from Blackistone Island; fifty, 1 to 1.25 inches long, from St. Georges Island. 2S. Menidia notata (^litchill). SIIAEKSIDE. One specimen, 3 inches long, fi'oni Piverside; thirty-six, 2 to 4 inches long, from Blackistone Island; oiu(, 2.75 inches long, from St. Georges Island; twenty-one, 2 to 3.75 inches long, from Cape Charles City; four, 3 to 3.75 inches long, from mouth of Hampton Oeek. 21». Querimana gyrans Jordan & Gilbert. WHIULKiKi MULLET. Three sj)ecimens, each about one inch long, from Hampton Creek. 30. Sphyraena borealis De Kay. NORTHERN I'.AKKACFDA. Two specimens, 1 to 3 inches long, from Cape Charles City. JEvermann and Hildehrand — Fishes from Lower Potomac. 161 31. Trachinotus falcatus (Linn?eus). ROUND POMPANO; PALOMETA. One specimen, 2.5 inches long, from near Ocean View. 32. Enneacanthus gloriosus (Hoi brook). Seven specimens, each about 1 .U inches long, from Somerset Beach. One specimen abnormal, D. X, 10; A. IV, 9. 33. Lepomis auritus (Linnpens). YELLOWl'.ELLY; REDBREAST BREAM. One specimen, 2.25 inches long, from Somerset Beach. 34. Eupomotis gibbosus (Linupeus). PUMPKIN-SEED. Fourteen specimens, 1 to 3 inches long, from Somerset Beach. 35. Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). LAR(iE-MOUTHED BLACK BASS. One specimen, 2.5 inches long, from Mattapony River. Introduced species. 3(). Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi (Storer). TESSELATED DARTER. Two specimens, 1.25 and 1.5 inches long, from IMattapony River. 37. Roccus lineatus (Bloch). STRIPED BASS; ROCKFISH ; ROCK. Eleven specimens, 3.25 to 4.75 inches long, from Hampton Creek. 38. Morone americana (Gmelin). WHITE PERCH. Twenty-two specimens, 1.5 to 3.25 inches long, from Somerset Beach. 39. Mycteroperca microlepis (Goode & Bean). GA(i. One specimen, 5.5 inches long, from Old Point Comfort. Previously not recorded north of Beaufort, N. C. 40. Centropristes striatus (Linnfeus). BLACK SEA BASS; BLACKFISH. Three specimens, each 2 inches long, from Cape Charles City; six, each 2 inches long, from Cape Henry. 41. Neomaenis griseus (Linnpeus). GRAY SNAPPER. Five specimens, 2.25 to 3 inches long, from Old Point Comfort; one, 2.6 inches long, from Ocean View. 42. Orthopristis chrysopterus (Linnaeus). PIGFISH; SAILORS CHOICE; HOGFISH. Thirty-four specimens, 1 to 3 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 43. Eucinostomus gula (Cuvier & Valenciennes). MOJARRA DE LEY. Sixty-nine specimens, .75 to 2 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 162 Evermann and Hildehrand — Fishes from Lower Potomac. 44. Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier& Valenciennes). SPOTTED WEAKFISH; SPOTTED SEA TROUT. One si)ecinien, 11.75 inches long, from St. Georges Island; three, 2 to 2.5 inches long, from Old Point Comfort. 45. Bairdiella chrysura (Lacepede). ^lADEMOlSELLE ; YELLOW-TAIL. One specimen, 3.25 inches long, from St. Georges Island ; thirty-eight, .9 to 3 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 46. Sciaenops ocellatus (Linn,ieus). RED DRL'M; CHANNEL BASS; REDFISH. Eight very small specimens, each ahout .7 inches long, from Gloucester Point. 47. Leiostomus zanthurus LacepMe. SPOT; GOODY. Six specimens, 2.5 to 3.25 inches long, from Somerset Beach; twenty- two, each about 2 inches long, from Cockerel Creek; eleven, 3.25 to 4.75 inches long, from Hampton Creek; six, each 2 inches long, from Cape Henry. 4S. Micropogon undulatus ( I^innieus). CROAKER. Eighteen specimens, 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, from Hampton Creek ; two, 1.25 and 2 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 4!). Menticirrhus americanus (Linufeus). SAND WIIITINO; CAROLINA WHITING. Fourteen specimens, 1 to 2.5 inches long, from St. Georges Island; one, 3.25 inches long, from near Ocean View. 50. Tautoga onitis (Linnpeus). TAUTOG; ULACKFISH; OYSTER-FISH. Three specimens, 2.1 to 3.25 inches long, from Cape Charles ('ity ; one, 2.75 inches long, from Old Point Comfort. 51. Chaetodipterus faber (Broussonet). ANGEL-FISH; SPADE-FISH. Two specimens, each 2 inches long, from Hampton lioads ; two, 2 and 2.1 inches long, from near Ocean N'iew. 52. Monocanthus hispidus (Linnaeus). FOOL-FISH; FILE-FISII ; LE.VTHER-FISII. Three specimens, 1.1 to 1.75 inches long, from Cape Charles City ; four, 1.75 to 2.75 inches long, from near Ocean View. 53. Spheroides maculatus (Bloch & Schneider). One small si)eciinen, I incli long, from St. Georges Island; one, 3 inches long, from Cape Charles City. 54. Chilomycterus schoepfi ( Walhaum). COMMON 15URRF1SH; SWELL TOAD. One small specimen, 1.25 inches long, from Cape Charles City. Evermann and Hildebrand — Fishes from Lower Potomac. 163 55. Hemitripterus americanus (Gmelin). SEA-RAVEX. Two specimens, 2.() and 2.9 inches long, from Cape Charles City; one, 5 inches long, from Old Point Comfort. 56. Microgobius eulepis Eigenmann & Eigenmann. Two specimens, each 1.25 inches long, from month of Hampton Creek. A rare species, previunsly recorded only from Fortress JMonroe (the type locality), Beaufort Harhor and from Uncle Israel Shoal, near Beau- fort, N. C. 57. Qobiosoma bosci (Lacepede). CLINGING GOBY. One specimen, 1.5 inches long, from Blackistone Island; one, 1.5 inches long, from Cape Charles City; one, 1.75 inches long, from Gloucester Point; one, 1.75 inches long, from Plamjiton Creek. 58. Astroscopus guttatus Abbott. One specimen, 2.75 inches long, from Gloucester Point. 5i). Opsanus tau (Linnaeus). TOADFISH. Three small specimens, 1.25 to 1.5 inches long, from Cape Charles City. (10. Hypsoblennius hentz (Le Sueur). One specimen, 3.25 inches long, from Old Point Comfort; two, each 2 inches long, from near Ocean \'iew. Previously not recorded north of North Carolina. 01. Chasmodes bosquianus (Lacepede). One specimen, 2 inches long, from Blackistone Island. 62. Prionotus carolinus (Linnseus). C0M:M()N GURNARD; SEA-ROBIN. One spechnen, ?> inches long, from Old Point Comfort; six, 2.5 to 8 inches long, from Hampton Roads; six, 1.5 to 3.5 inches long, from near Ocean View; six, 1.25 to 2.25 inclies long, off Cape Henry. 63. Qobiesox strumosus Cope. One specimen, 1.25 inches long, from St. Georges Island; one, 2 inches long, from Gloucester Point. Head 2.5; D. 10; A. 8. Not previously recorded north of South Carolina. ()4. Urophycis chuss (Walbaum). Four specimens, 4.25 to ().5 inches long, off' Cape Henry. 65. Paralichthys dentatus (Linnaeus). SUMMER FLOUNDER. One specimen, o.o inches long, from St. Georges Island; two, 1.75 inches long, from Hampton Creek. ()(). Achirus fasciatus Lacepede. AMERICAN SOLE; HOG-CHOKER. Three specimens, each 1.5 inches long, from St. Georges Island. Vol. XXlll, pp. 165-168 December 29, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON THE AMPHIBIAN GENERIC NAME ENGYSTOMA UNTENABLE. BY LEONHARD STEJNEGER. The genus Engi/stoma, as now generally understood, embraces a number of American species, among them our well known southern E. carolinense. The term is untenable, however, for this genus. When Fitzinger instituted the genus in 1826 (Neue Classif. Kept., p. 39) he expressly stated (p. 40) that it was based on Linne's Rana gibbosa, that Merrem's Breviceps, of 1820, was also based on the same species, but that he preferred his own genus which he alleges was " gleichzeitig aufgestellt." There is no evidence that he published the name Engystoma before 1826, however. The later name therefore becomes a synonym of Breviceps. That it was so understood by all herpetologists up to 1811 is plain from a perusal of the literature. Cuvier (Regne Anim., 2 ed., II, 1829, p. 112) synonymizes them. So does Wagler (Syst. Amph., 1830, p. 205) who substitutes Si/stoma for both of them. So does Tschudi (Classif. Batr., 1838, p. 86) who accepts Wagler's term. Finally, Fitzinger himself, in 1813 (Syst. Rept., p. 33), abandons Engystoma and accepts Systoma. Wagler, as early as 1828, separated the Eana ■.vails of Schneider monotypically as Microps (preoccupied) and Tschudi, 1838, substituted for it Stenocephalus (which was also preoccupied). It was not until 1811 that the confusion began. In that year Dumeril and Bibron (Erpet. Gen., vol. 8, p. 740) designated Rana ovaiis as the type of Engystoma and in this they were followed by Guenther and later authors, including Boulenger. r,S— Fitoc. Hior,. Sor. Wash., Vol. XXHI, T.HO. (ir,."i) 166 Stejneger — The Amphibian Generic Name Engystoma. In the face of Fitzinger's original designation this perversion can not be accepted under the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature and it becomes necessary to select a name for the genus which now erroneously is called Engi/stoma. The two earliest names, as stated above, are preoccupied. The next available term is Fitzinger's Gastrophryne based on Dumeril and Bibron's Engystoma rugosiim, which has been considered a synonym of our E. curolinense. The synonymy of the genus will tlien stand as follows: Qastrophryne Fitziiiger. 1828. Microps Wagler, Isis, 1828, p. 744 (monotype, Microps unicolor = Rana avails Schneider) (not of Meg., 1823). 1838. Ste nocephal us Tschudi, Classif. Batr., p. 86 (same type) (not of Latr., 1825). 1811. Engystoma Dumeril and Bibron, Erpet. Gen., vol. 8, p. 738 (same type by designation) (not of Fitzinger, 1826). 1843. Gastrophryne Fitzinger, Syst. Rept., p. 33 (type by original designation, Engystoma rugosum Dum. Bibr.). Tbe species belonging to this genus will stand as follows: 1. Gastrophryne usta (Cope) Mexico. 2. Gastrophryne carolinensis (Holbrook) S. E. United States. 3. Gastrophryne texana (Girard) Texas. 4. Gastrophryne areolata (Strecker) Texas. 5. Gastrophryne elegans (Boulengcr) Mexico. 6. Gastrophryne oralis (Schneider) Soutli America. 7. Gastrophryne microps (Dumeril and Bil)ron) Brazil, Guiana. 8. Gastrophryne aeqiiatorialis (Peracca) Ecuador. 9. Gastrophryne albopunctata (Boettger) Paraguay. 10. Gastrophryne leucostirta (Boulenger) Sta. Catharina, Brazil. 11. GastropJtri/ne muelleri (Boettger) Paraguay. 12. Gastrophrjine pirticentris (Cope) Nicaragua. 13. GastropJirifne horneensis (Boulenger) Borneo. Stejneger — The Amphibian Generic Name Engi/stoma. 167 As shown above Engysioma becomes a synonym of Breviceps, and with it must also disappear the family name Engystomidse (and Engystomatidse). The name Brevicipitidse , created by Cope, in 1867, for a smaller group becomes available, however, and may l)e used. The more familiar Phryniscidse is unavail- able since it has been shown that the genus Phryniscus belongs to the Bufonidie. Vol. XXIII, pp. 169-170 December 29, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON A NEW COLUBRINE SNAKE FROM JAVA. BY THOMAS BARBOUR. Among a large number of Javanese reptiles collected by- Mr. Owen Bryant and Mr. W . Palmer in West Java was a single undescribed snake, representing one of the most distinct species of the genus Liopcltis (=^ Ablabes auct.). Curiously enough Mr. Bryant got this specimen right at Buitenzorg, the one locality of all others in Java which has been best explored, and whence collections have been sent to various museums for over a hundred years. There is perhaps less reason for surprise than one might at first suppose; for nearly every year some astonishing novelty turns up here in the United States, which we believe to l)e even more thoroughly worked over than is this region of Java. Liopeltis libertatis sp. nov. Resemblinoj in many respects L. major, but really widely different. This new species has two loreals, a much longer tail, and other differ- ences, as a comparison of specimens or descriptions will readily show. Specific Characters. — Rostral as broad as deep, well turned back above; internasals about two-thirds the size of the praet'rontals, which latter are barely in contact with the supraocular; frontal very slightly longer than its distance from tip of snout, longer than the interparietal suture; slightly wider in front than l^ehind, and wider than a supraocular; pari- etals about equal to the frontal in length; nostril large, slightly oval vertically, in the centre of a large divided nasal; two loreals, the anterior square, the posterior slightly lower and only one-third the width of the other; a single long praeocular, very narrowly separated from the frontal; two postoculars, upper twice as large as lower; temporals 2+2, large with straight edges; eight supralabials on each side, fourth and fifth entering eye, seventh largest being, however, but little larger than eighth, sixth tending to a trapezoid form; five lower labials in contact with anterior chin shields, whicli are slightly shorter than the posterior ; fifteen 39— Proc. Biol. Soc. W.vsh., Vol. XXni, I'.ilO (lf>9) 170 Barboai — A New Colubrine Snake from Java. rows of smooth scales; 173 ventrals, not angulate laterally; anal divided; 109 Hubcandals (the very tip of tail misj^ing). Color: In spirits, uniform slate color above, lighter below. Type: Cat. No. 42, 932, United States National Museum ; Buitenzorg, Java ; Owen Bryant collector, July 4, 1909. This snake is conspicuous at once from the peculiar shape of its head. The profile is arched and very sharply decurved at the snout, the eye being of great size, almost equal, in fact, to its distance from the suture of the nasal shield. The name is given to commemorate the discovery of this species on Independence Day. Vol. XXIll, pp. 171-172 December 29, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON /■ DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES O BIVALVE FROM THE CORONADO ISLANDS, /^ LOWER CALIFORNIA. ^ BY WILLIAM H. I) ALL.* During a collecting trip made from San Diego to tiie Coronado Islands by Dr. Fred Baker and Miss J. M. Cooke quite a number of minute sbells were obtained, which were submitted to me for examination. Among them is a small bivalve, with an internal ligament, which can not be referred to any recorded genus. Bernardina gen. iiov. Shell small, of the general form of Rochefortia, concentrically scnlptnrcil externally, with a conspicuous prodissoconch, which is elevated in the center and at the margins and between these points somewhat excavated ; pallial line entire; hinge with the posterior dorsal margin of the right valve fitting into a shallow groove in the margin of the opposite valve; anteriorly with a strong left lateral fitting between two prominent flexu- ous right anterior laterals; two right and three left cardinals with the resilium posterior to them all. Hinge formula, exclusive of laterals, L. rlOlOl R. rOlOlO ■ The type is B. bakeri sp. nov. The genus is named in honor of the late F. Bernard, of Paris, to whom we owe so much of our knowledge of tjie developmental history of the bivalve hinge. Bernardina bakeri sp. nov. Shell small, short-ovate, white, with sculpture of fine regular concentric grooves with wider interspaces ; moderately compressed ; umbones mod- erately elevated, capped by the prodi.ssoconchs ; internal margins smooth, the posterior adductor scar larger; hinge as de.scribed under the genus, with no external ligament; texture of the shell porcellanou.'^ and rather solid. Length, 2.8; height, l.ii; diameter, 1.0 mm.; the vertical of the beaks behind the middle of the shell about one-ninth the total length. * By permission of the Director of" the U.S. Nat. Museum. 4C— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIII, 1910. (171 ) 172 Dall — A New Bivalve from Louer California. Near the South Coronado L-^land, in three fathoms, collected by Dr. Fred Baker, after whom it is named.. Types, U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 220,0!)!». Cotypes in Baker and Cooke collections. This genus differs from the Leptonacea by haviufj the internal resilium behind the cardinals as in the Astartacea, to which group it probably belongs. In the structure of the hinge its nearest neighbor is the genus Cuna Hedley, Ijut the latter is sufficiently different in detail to require no special comparison. Vol. XXIII, pp. 173-174 December 29, l9IO PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON TWO NEW WOODPECKERS FROM THE ISLE OF PINES, WEST INDIES. OUTRAM BxlNGS. When in 1905 (American Naturalist, Vol. XXXIX, No. 460, pp. 179-215) Mr. W. R. Zappey and I published an account of the birds of the Isle of Pines, based mostly upon a collection made there the previous year by him, we were aware that the red-bellied woodpecker of the island was not quite the same as that of Cuba; but on account of lack of material for comparison, we did not note any differences in the green wood- pecker. Since then the bringing togetber of large series of skins has shown that both the woodpeckers of the island are well differ- entiated subspecies; and Mr. Ridgway has urged me to describe them in time to appear in tbe forthcoming part of his great work, generously refusing to do so himself. They may be known l)y tbe following sbort diagnoses: Centurus superciliaris murceus subsp. nov. Type from San Juan, Is^le of Piue.s (near Cuba), adult cJ*, No. 13,2()0. Bangs coll. Now in Museum of Comparative Zoology. Collected I\lay 2, 1H04, by \V. R. Zappey. Characters. — Similar to C. aiiiicrcillarli^ sitperriliarlti (Temm. ) of Cuba, Imt decidedly smaller; mider parts much paler and decidedly less yellowish. Measttre77wnts.—Type, adult d". ^Ving, 138; tail, 94.5; tarsus, :;;>; culmen, ;U>. Adult $ , No. 13,2();5. Wing, V.VJJi; tail, l»i); tarsus, 24; culmen, 35. Xiphidiopicus percussus insulse=pinorum subsp. nov. Tupe from Santa Fe, Isle of Pines (near Cuba), adult c?. No. 13,480, Bangs coll. Now in Museum of Comparative Zoology. Collected April 18, 1904, by W. R. Zappey. 41— Proc. Bioi,. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXIII, 1910. (173) 174 Bangs — Two New Woodpeckers from the Me of Fines. Charncters. — Similar to X. percussus percussits (Temni.) of Cn])a, but sixiftiler; coloration paler, especialjj^ l)elow; under parts more narrowly and less distinctly streaked, the streaks less blackish, more grayish; red Oi foreneck more restricted; auricular stripe lighter gray and rather narrower. Measurements. — Type, adult ij*. Wing, 105; tail, 78.5; tarsus, 22; cul- men, 2:1.5. Adult 9, No. 13,479. Wing, 10(i; tail, 84.5; tarsus. 20.5; culmen, 21. INDEX New names aiv priiUril in heavy type. A bra mis crysoleucas . • Ariiiitlioiuys Acapoeta Acara (•(T-nilt'opunctata . Act'Uiiter I'riiigilloidt'S . stria tiis Afliinis lasciatus .... Acipoiiscr traiismoiitamis Acris (rr.vlliis Acroiiiys Acniliicciius apicalis . . Asonostdinus monticola Alccto |iur|iurea Allan!. 11. A. The strii some l<aty<li<ls • • Allen, (ilover M. The ^Vest forest pis i Hi)lochoern!< 'I'liomas* .Mlijjator iin'ssissi|>pii;nsis . • .\losa saiii<lissima Aml)lopliles riipi'stris . . . Aml)lyeoryplia oblongi folia rotnnilifolia nhleri .\mlilystonia talpoiileiim . . Ameiuriis catiis natalis nebulosiis Amia ealva sc, .">s nil ulatlons of . . viii. :'i- African fiiiintiir .... I' . . IS, (11, l:;i. If,:; l:;:; 11 •"I'.i ti" '.I.") ■)-10 l-.'lli ll'.l i:>s S7 si; Amizilis bang:si . . . .\mi>liiuma triuaetyla . means .Vneistroilon eontortrix liiseivorus .■>! 10 II) l.'> .VniMiiatiehthys apoRon 117 Anguilla rostrata l'">s Anisotrejnns virgiHicus . '.I'i Anodonta grandis S.") Anolis brunnous itO farolinensis '.''.• P(n-eatus '.•'.• principalis I'J .Viithraeorax gracillrostris •"« hen<lersoni •>.5 prevosti '''•> Antrostomns carolineusis 21 Apeltes qnadracus bUi Arbaciosa rliessodon I'!'.' Arehoplites interriiptiis b!" .\romoelielys carinatns bs tristyeha is Annidinaria teeta 'J5 Arvicola amphibius I'.i exitus 21 illyricu.s 21 italieus 20 monticola 22 musignani 21 reta 19 sapidiis 20 scherman 21 Arvicola tenebricus 20 terrestris 20 Aspidonectes omoryi 121 ferox 121 .\sterias pectinata It5 Astroscoinis gnttatus Ifti Astnr fringilloidi^s "S fnsciis 7S .\styana.x aeneiis 4 rtscheri 4 mexieanns 4 Athi'rinops aftini.s ... 18(i regi.s . b^fi Atherinopsis ealiforniensis 136 B liailey. A'. Kxbiliition of skull and l)eak of the aidunga vii Exliibitionof the feet of grou.so ix .\ new .iaguar record for Texas x Two new pocket goiihers of the genus TlidiHdKijis 7'.)-S0 llairdiella clirysvn-a . . . ■ ■ • 162 baker, .\. H. From Nairobi to Wash- ington with a collection of living animals vii A visit to some foreign zoologi- ical gardens viii ball, E. 1). New genera and spi'cies of Issidw (Fiilgoridie) 41-46 bangs. O. Unrecorded .specimens of two rare Hawaiian birds .... 67-70 Ne\v or rare I )irds from western ( 'oloml)ia 71-76 A new hmnming bird from the Sierra Nevaila dt^ .'<anta Marta, ( olombia ••.... 10.V106 A new tinamou from Lake Titicaca 107-108 Two new \voo<l peckers from the Isle of F'ines, West Indies . 17;!-174 Harbodes mahecola 147 Barbour. T. A new genus of Amphibia .Salientia from Dutch New Guinea ..... 89-90 A note regarding the green Anolis from the northern Bahamas — Eleutlierodactylus ricordii in 99 100 Ba Florida — A new colubrine snake from .lava 169-170 [•bus aflinis 14o altianalis 146 altus 145 apogon 146 armatus 145 aspilius ; • • • ^^"^ barbns 145 batesii 146 bocagii 145 bottegoi 146 bowkeri 146 42— PROC. Biol. Soc. W.\sh., Vol. XXIII, 1910. A 175) 17(1 The Biolugical Society of Washington. Barbus tjramoiiles 14/> l)i-evil)arbus 14(i hiirchelli 117 bunimnicus 1 17 byniii 11") calleiisis ll.'i caniiitai-anthus 1 17 capeiisis 1 17 cariiaticus 1 Hi caiK-asicus ll'"> cliagiiiiio 1 lii I'hilinnides 1 111 chilotes 1 111 chola 117 fhrysopoma 147 folliiigwoodi 1 Iti compressus 146 (lorsalis 147 (louronensis 14(1 •luchesiii 14H enoplosus 145 erlangeri 14H esocimis 14(i filamentosus 147 fritschii 146 gonionotus . • 145 gorguari 146 grahami 145 gregorii 146 gudaricus 146 guirali 147 gurneyi 147 hampal 147 harterti • . 145 hexastifhus 146 himalayensis 14() holulji 146 hursiMisis 116 incnnis 14() iiiteiinediiis 146 .iarsimis 146 .iavaiiiciLS 115 .icrdoni 146 kolus 145 kotschyi 145 ksibi 145 lalX'o 146 la eurtoides 145 lateristriga 147 leptosoma 146 lithopidos 146 lobogeuys 146 longifeps 146 lydiamis 145 inacmillani 145 macroiiema 146 inaculatus 147 iiialiecola ... 147 nialabaricus 146 margarita 146 iiianiuisensis 146 micropogon 146 mo.sal 145 nataloiijiis 147 uedgia 146 muninii'er 147 oatcsii 146 obtusirostris 145 oreas 145 palawanensls 147 paradoxus 145 l)oriiK'e 147 piniiauratiis 147 lilagiostomus 146 platystoimis 146 plourota'iiia 1 17 radcUm 146 repas.son 146 rhoadesi 147 Barbus rotli.<chiIili 146 ru('|)]»'lli 146 riispiilli 146 sclianicu,-; 147 sehlegolii 1 17 sclatori 115 setiviineiisis 145 surkis 145 ta'iiiiu'us 147 tlioniassi 146 tor 145 trispilus 147 tropidulepis 145 waldoi 145 walkeri 147 wynadt'iisis 145 yiinnanensis 146 Barilius andersoni 143 barila 143 bendelisis 143 canaren.si.s 143 coesa 143 gateusis . . 143 goha ■ 143 guttatus 143 kingsleypp 143 loati 143 microoephalus 143 mifrolc'iiis 143 moorii 143 uoavii 143 nildticus 1 13 ornatus 143 polylo|)is 143 sardella 113 tileo 1 13 ubangensis 1 13 vagra 1 i:! Bartsch, I'. Tlir liirds of Midway Islaiiil . . viii Baseanioii coiisti'ictor 13 tlagolluiii 13 Bemlelisis liarila Ill Bernardina 171 bakeri 171 Bidcus ln'ckii >^3 foiinata •'^^i Blariua caroliueiisis 32 Boleosoma olmstedi • • 161 Botaurus pinnatiis 71 Brevic'cps 165 Bri'viciintiila' 167 Brevoortia tyraniui-; 15S Brimley, ( '. S. Itccords of sonic rcptilos and batrachians from the south- eastern U. s '.i-ls Brycon striatuUis 1 Bufo leutiginosus 11 quercicus . . 11 c Campostoma anoiiialmn S6 Canis latraus 32 ('ai)oeta dillonii 148 fundulus 14ci gracilis MH steiudachucri 14ii tanganiciv 14is trutta 1411 ("astalia odorala H3 Oatharista uruliu 24 Catostoiiius coiiiinersonii 86 inacroclicilus 133 Ccltis iiiississip|>i(^iisis 25 Ccmophora ciicciiica 11 Ccutropristes striatus 161 Ccnturus murceus 173 Ceratophylluiii deniersum 83 Index. 177 Chsenobry ttus gulosus 87 (^htetoflipteriis faber It'i2 ('htetura richmondi .").■; chasmodes bosquiamis It;:! I'heilobarl.ms eapfiisis 147 Chela argentea U'J anomalunis IJJ bacaila MJ plupeoides Mii macrochir 1-12 sardinella 142 typus 142 C'hekethiops bibie 141 ( 'helopus guttatiis 17 < 'lielydra serpentina is ( hilomycterus seha-pfi 1()2 Chiropentnis dorab IKi Chorophilus occidentalis 11 oriiatus . 11 Chryseinys Horidaims b; mobilensis Id scriptii li; troosti 17 Ciiiostermiiii baiiri 17 loiiisianie 17 pennsylvanicum is steindaehneri is Ciridops anna (IS Cirrhinajullieni 14.'i ('itelhis tiideceiiilineatiis 2(1 ('itliaridiiiin ansm'gii >.il t'lark, A. H. A new criiKiid fniiii the Solomon Islands 7-s On the type specimen of the crinoid described by Miiller as Alecto purpurea iifHlS riark. H. W. On ))irds feeding on oak sap . viii On the flowers of the hog peannt ix and Evermann, B. W. Fletcher Lake, Indiana, and its flora and fauna sl-ss Clupea harengiis (12 pallasii 134 Cockerell. T. T>. A. The scales of the Atherinid tishes 47-lS The scales of the Clupeid flshes . . . • ■ • ci-ci On the scales of some Mala- copterygian flshes 111-111 The scales of the African Cy- prinid flshes, with a discussion of related Asiatic and European species " • 141-1.72 and Miiore, Evelyn V. On the nature of the teetii in Ctenoid scales .... 'ji-94 Ccereba hellmayri 100 luteolu 100 trinitatis 100 Colobometra diadema 7 Coluber conflnis 13 enioryi 120 guttatus . 14 cjuadrivittatns 13 Comatula pectinata 9.') Cooke, \V. W. Periodic movements of birds in relation to the weatlier . . x • Inculcation period of box-turtle eggs 124 Coregomis williamsoni 134 CoriKissericea S3 <'ottus asper 13s gulosus 13S Crotalus arlamanteus It; Cyanerpes trinitjitis 100 Cyelophisaestivus 13 Cymatogaster aggregatus . 137 Cynf)scion nebulosiis 102 Cyperus diandrus 82 inflexus .... 82 strigosus 82 Cyprinodon variegatus 159 Cyi)seloides costaricensis 5;! jamaicensis 53 Cyrtoiihyllus perspicillatns 39 D Dall, W. H. Description of a new genus and species of bivalve from the Coronado Islands, Lower Cali- fornia 171-172 Damalichthys argyrosomns 137 Decodon vertieellata 83 Deirochelys reticulata 1(1 Desniognathus aiu'iciilata lo fusca 10 I)iadophis punctatis 13 IMctyobia combinata 43 Dictyssa fenestrata 44 obliqua 45 ovata 44 Diemyctylus viridesceus 10 Discognathus blanfordi 149 denibeensis 150 johnstoni 150 (luadrimaculatiis 150 Distichodus 91 Dornn'tator maculatus G l)rymomys 59 Dryomys 59 E Eclipta alba 82 Elaps fulvius 15 Eleocharis paluslris 83 Eleotris pisonis 6 Eleutherodactylus ricordii 100 Engraulis niordax 134 Engystoma areolata 117 carolinense 12, 165 rugosnm 166 Enneacanthns gloriosus 161 Entosphenus tridentatus 132 Epimys 58 norwegicus 124 rattus 58 Erycimba buccata 86 Esox reticulatus 159 Etheostoma hildebrandti 87 Eucluetoinys 58 Eucinostomns gula 161 Eumeces fasciatus 12 paehyurus 118 Euphernsa eximia 54 nelsoni* 54 Eup<imotis gibbosns 161 heros 87 P'utaenia sackeni 15 sirtalis ... 15 Euthamia graminifolia 83 Evermann. B. W. International fish- eries regulations viii On the arrival in Washington of two young fur seals . . . - viii On the change in management of the Eur .<eal Islands ix ■ ■ — Further noteson young furseals x — and Clark, H. \V. Fletcher Lake, Indiana, and its flora and fauna Sl-SS and CiOldsborough, E. L. Fur- ther notes on flshes from the Canal Zone 3-6 178 The Biological Society of Washingtov . Everniann, B. W. ami Ilildebraml, lleiniharlnis liailms UT S. F. On a colli'clion of lishes schlcgdii 1-17 from tlio lower rotonuif. tln' on- Hfinicai'ijliu iiiicranllia s:! irance of ( 'liesapmike Hay, ami llrmiiriutiTus aiiiericamis li;:', from stroams How iiig into tlii'Si- lli'iiicorhina eucharis 7-1 waters I.'i7-li'il Hi'ti'roiloii iilatyi'liiniis 1:! and LatiiiiiT. II. li. On a colli'i- siimi.-; i:; tioii of li.'ilics from till' Olympic Hclorosticliiis i-o.<lralu.-i l.;;i Peniii.-^iila, logcilicr with iiolos on lU-tiMotis nilotifus Ill other West (.'oast sin'cles . . . i:;i-14U Hildi'brainl. S. V. and Kvcrmann, H. W. On a {■ollection of lishes F from the lower Potomac, the en- trance of Chesapeake Kay, and „ „„ from streams flowing into these Falco viellotiiuis </ waters 157-1(;4 larancia abaciira 1.. Hippocampus hudsoniiis ICO I'clis harharicns 12:. Hitchcock, A. .s. A collecting trip lo ''•t'l'"'!'^ ]'^?, Alaska viii capensis 11... Forage plant investigations in mi'lanochaitiis 12:'. Mexico x persiciis VJ:; Hollister, N. Descriptions of two new mnskrats l-ii 'negalensis V. I-iher cmnamominus r2:> Notes on som.- names of lions . 1 mers^ens 1 A new niuskral from thi' (in-al zaiophus 1 Plains IJ.VIJC, z'I'eihicus . . 'Jii Howard, L. O. Alaskan and other Florisuga loliagensis a.) far-northern mosciuitoes . . viii FundnUisihaphanns l.)'.t ^o,,,,. foreign entomologists 'li^i'''!" • ^^' anil their work x heteroclitus .^>".i Howell, A. H. Notes on mammals of "laj'i'i'' '•!'I tlie middle Mississippi Valli',\,wilh notatus M' description of a new woodrut 'S-'-.'A -^ Hvliopsis kentuckiensis l.">s U Hyla chrysoscelis 117 cinerea 11 (iamliusia allinis Itld femoralis IJ episcopi 1 gratiosa 11 nicaraguensis I sqnii-ella IJ (Jasterosteus micmcephahis ];!i) xfrsicolor IJ tiastropln-yne ae(inatorialis lin; H.\ loclioerns itin-iensis .M alhopinii'tata lUi; iiieineit/.hageni t'.i areolata liiC. rimator A\t lioi-neensis ICii'i Hypomesns pnniosiis l:;ti carolinensis Kid Hyp.solilennins lient/ If.:! elegans ICiC. Hypsopsella gnttnlata l;!li knicosticta IC.i; Hypsypops ruhicundns 1:17 nncrops IC.ii Hysteropternm ununi -I:! muelleri l)i(i oval is Ii'.fi I pictiventris 10(1 te.xana ICd llypnns gilherli l;l.S J usta l(;c. Oentiana saponaria s:; (leiivonenius linealns 1:!7 , .... , , (;,.omvs hur.sarius ;il •''^■'■" hli''<V'"-^ '"■ (J.^opliagiiscrassilahris h longicornis In'.i (iil)lionsia elegans ^^■'^^ |^ Oi<lley. .1, \V. On a I'rsioralion of /'"•-■''"^""■"•^' '■'■'"'■'''•-• V'ii Ki'i'shaw, ,I.C. and Miiir. 1'. .\ new (dancidnnii calilornicum |(i:; i,,,.,! i,.,,,,, ji,,. j^i;,,,,) ,,i (Vriim, Knoma ... .10:! M„lnccas (;.vr.(l pinicola in:: Kiidandia laciniala 17,1(10 <;iediisia aqnatica •-'•> Kn.'ria cameroneiisis 11:! (inathopogon gracilis Ill) Knightia eoc;ena (i:! (lobiesox strumosns 1(1:! (iobisoma bosci 1(1:! L Goldsbomngh, K. L. and Kvei-mann, 15. W. Fni'ther notes on fishes Labeo allivelis I.'il from the ( anal Zone '.\-Ct annectens l.'iO (iraplemys pnh'hra Kl bata liVJ (ireene, E. L. Two aspects of the spe- barbatns l.'iO cies Qiie.stion ix bicolor I.'il brachvpoma l.'il H calbasii l.}0 capensis h'll llaldeastriatiila I.'') clialybealiis l.'iO llay.O. I'. On a mammolh's tooth clir.\ sophekadion I.'il from Alaska x conbi.' l.'d Helinaia swainsoni 24 cursa luO hide?'. 179 Liilioo oylindricus 150 darliiigi !•}! diplostomii.s I'^l rlussuniieri loO dvoehilus 1-')U faleatus KiU limbriatus l.'iO forskalii 150 goiiionotus 150 goiiius 150 greenii • • 150 liorie 151 jullieni 151 kawriis . . . ' • 150 kontius 150 Icscheiiaultii 150 liiieatiis 151 macrostonia 150 meiiops 150 luicrophthaliniis 150 nigripinnis 150 iiilolicus 150 pangiisia , . . 150 rienorhyiifluis 151 rohita 151 rosfe 151 ruddi 151 seuegalen^is 151 sindensis 151 sladoni 150 iiiabratus 151 velil'er 150 victoiiamis 150 walkoi'i 151 Lalicobarljiisnedgia 117 Laiitz, 1). E. The inuskrat iiuliislry in Maryland vii Lai'icsnayea liriope 105 Lasiiirus borealis ;'.:! Latimer, H. B. and Kverniaiiii, )'.. \\ . On a folleftioii of fishes from ihe Olymiiic Peninsula, together witli notes on otlier West Coast spo- eies l:!l-140 Leggada 57 Leiostonuis /.anthiirus ICi'J Leponiis auritus h'll pallidus ><7 Leptoeottus arniatus l:is Leptocypris niodestus Ml Leueiseiis bieolor i:!.! Liodytes alleni 15 Lioli'pismii laterale Vl Liopeltis libertatis li'i'.i J>iparis pulehellus l:'.s Litliodytes rieordii 11 hucania parva 15<i Lucius veriiiieulatus .... ... Si; Ludlow, ('. L. On strawberries willi attached petals ix Lydekker. R. The use of Kjiimijt' in a generic sense iL'l M Malaeleiniiiys niacrospilota hi Marniota inoiuix 25 Marsh. C. D. On interesting oopepods from northern Lake IMichigiin . . viii Mc.Vtee, W. L. On the occurrence and hal)its of waterfowl in the south- eastern r. .'^ ix JlelaiiiMiies albeolus VC perileucus 151 Meletta sar<linites d:'. Meniilia berylina 1(10 gracilis ICiO nienidia is notata 48, 100 ^Menidia peninsula? 48 Mentha piperita 8:5 Mi'uticirrhus aniericanus IC'2 Merluccius productus 139 Merriani, ('. H. I'l-.-iiis slicldonl, a new bear from .Montague Island, Alaska VJ7-180 Metcalf, Haven. The present status of the cliestunt tree disease in the Ihiited .States . . . vii Microcentruni retinerve 38 rhonibifolium 38 Mierogadus proximus ........ 139 Microgobius eulepis ltJ3 Microperca punctulata 8S Micropogon undidatus 102 Micropterus salmoides 87, 101 Microsorex hoyi lO'i winnemana 101 Microtus ochrogaster 29 pennsyl\ani<'ns 29 Miller, (i. S., ,lr. Brief synopsis of the waterrats of Europe 19-22 The generic name of tlie honse- rats .57-CO Mionectes hederaceus 73 polioccphalus 74 Monocanthus hispida 102 Morone aniericana 101 Moxostonia aureolum so Muir, F. and Kershaw, .1. ('. .\ new Ijird from the Island of Ceram, Moluccas 0.5-00 Mns imisculus 59 norvegicus 124 rattus 124 Mycicroperca microleiiis 101 M,\riophyllum \erticillatum .... S3 Myrmeciza berlepschi 73 N Xannoniys 59 Nasi) melichari 42 Natrix conipressicanda 14 fasciata 14 Xeetroplus neniatoims 5 Nelson, E. W. -\ ur\\ subspecies of I)igmy owl 103-104 Neoiiola argentea 143 bottcgoi 141 Neimuenis griseus 92,101 Ncotoma illinoensis 2S pennsylvanica .... ... 27 Nesophlox .55 bryanta' .55 evelynse .55 lyrura 55 Nissus fringilloides 7S fuscus 7S Nothura agassizii 107 Notopterus afer 112 Nolropis amarns 1.58 amii'nus 158 hudsonius 1.5S whipplii . 80 Nycticeius humeralis 33 Nymphica ad vena 83 Nyssa aquatica 25 o ()<lontopliorus baliolus 71 On<'orhynchus kisnlcli 135 nerka 135 tschaw ylscba 134 ( Ipliibolus cocciiieus 14 getulus 14 sayi 14 ophidion I'longalus 137 180 Hie Biolngiral ^ocieti/ of Wnshingtnn. Oliliisauni* veiitnilis VI (Ipsa mis tail l(i:; ( ipsariiliuiii zaiuboseiisis 1-14 DrtliDprislis (•lir> sopterus lill (»ryz(jiii.vs pulustris •Jd Usbornia U cornuta 12 O^iiii'iiis tliali'icluliys !;!•') I'acli.vstoiniis bendelensis 144 vagra 144 I'alnier, T. S. On the plans to continue ()l)sorvatioiis on the homing in- stinct of birds viii On tlie Glacier National Park . ix I'antodon buchholzi 112 l'aralal)rax clathratus 137 I'aralaubuca lateralis 142 typus 142 I'araiichthys di'iitatus lt>;! I'arophrys Nctulus i:;;i reloirophus niicrocephalus 144 iiiicrolepis 144 I'erca Havcscens .S7 I'eroniyscus bairdi 2i; gossypiniis 24 in('gai-e])lialus 20 I'cuca'a baclniiani 24 l'lifiigii|iedius saUiii'iisis 74 spadix 74 I'hilutria canadensis ,s;:J I'iucaicothraupis cristala ir-, I'hii'thoniis saturatus 'A niexicahLis 54 versecrucis 54 Pholis Dinatus l;{9 I'hraclokenuis ausorgii 112 ]^lii'yniscid;e 1G7 I'ialnii-iua pananiensis o I'icuiinius canus ... 72 l'iinel(><lus chagresi o I'iinephales notatus S6 I'ipisti'ellus snbflaviis ?^?, I'ilta piroensis t;5 I'ityophis nielanoleiu'us 14 I'lanorbis canipannlata S5 I'latiflithys stellatus i;i9 I'lelliodon ghitinosus 10 I'o'cilia splienoiis 5 I'ljgonichtliys nuicrolepidotuni .... 1;5;> I'dlyguiuini sagittatuni So Pomatops 89 valvifera S9 I'oiiHildljus testivalis 0:!, 158 niediocris 158 psendoharcngus (lo, 158 I'onioiis 9:5 I'oinoxis sparoides 87 l'onte<leria cordata 8;J I'oriclilhys notatns l;i9 I'otamogeton lucens 8;^ pectinatus 83 zostera'l'olins 83 Preble, E. A. A new Microsorrx from the vicinity of Washington. n. C 101-102 Prionotus caroliniis IG;! Protonotaria citrea 24 Psettichthys m(>laiiostictus 139 Pseii<l()liarhiis liurchelli 147 Pseudobranchus striatns 10 Pseiidoconuinys .59 I'tychoclieilus harfordi 133 oregonensis 133 Puntius apogon 147 tilamentosns 147 Putorius noveboracensis 32 Quaintanee, A. L. I'ear llirips inves- tigalions in ( 'alifdrnia x Qnercus lyrala 25 Querimana gyrans ICiO R Raja inornata Vi?, Rana aesopus 12 catesbiana 12 gibbosa 1(15 ovalis I(i5 pipiens 12 Rasbora argyrota?nia 144 Rhadintea Havilata 13 Rhineura floridana 13 Rhiniehthys dnlcis 131 Rhinogol)ins 91 Rhinotriacis lienlei 133 Rhopoctites alogus 72 Ivliynehocyehis asemus 73 cinereiceps 73 sulphurescens 73 Richardson. II. J;cra loiKjicovnix Lucas referre(l to the' genus l^tentlriitm 109-110 Ridgway. R. Diagnoses of new forms of Micropoilida' and Trochilida' 5,',-5t"i Riley, ,1. II. (in the name and sy- nonomy of the Antillean sharp- shinned hawk . . 77-78 On the name of ilie Trinidad Cvereha . 100 Rivuhis isthmensis 4 Roccus lineatns . . ..... l.;7, ltd Roeboidi^s guatemalensis 4 Rosa Carolina .... S3 Rutilus bicolor K!3 synnnetricus 133 Sagittaria graminea S3 .'^alnio gairderni 1:!5 irideus 1:!5 my kiss 135 .'^ardineJla Inmieralis C,;', Scal()i)us machrinns 3.'! .Scaphio|)US hnlbi-onki 10, 115 hurterii 115 ■Scia^nops ocellatns Iii2 Sciriius americainis 83 lacnstris S3 polyphylhis S3 Sciurus rutiventer 25 .'-icorpa'Ha histrio 137 .^scudderia fnrciita 3(1 texensis 35 Sebastodes 93 nielanops 137 ruberrinnis 137 8eminatrix pyga'a 14 Seton, l'>rnest T. l^'hietuations of animal popidation in the North- west vii Shiras, (ieo. I'lashlight photographs of wild manmials x .Siphostoma califoriuensis 13ii flori(hc icn fnscum li'ii) griseolineatiun 13i> •Siren lacertina 10 Sistrurus miliariiis Id Smilli, II. .M. On .la panese goldfish .\iii Smith,.!. R. The inosniiito campaign in .New .lersey ix Solanum dulcamara 83 Index. 181 Sorex hoyi 102 Sparvius striatus 7S Spelerpes Kiitti)linoatus 10 Sphperoidt's iiiaculatiis 1(i2 Sphyneiia bormilis ](i() .Spillniiiii, W. .1. I'Lxliiliitidii of hoofs and footboiios of tlie iiiiile footed hop \ iii SpiloKali' putoriiis ;;j Spilotes coiipiTi II Ste.iiii'Kor, L. Till- aiupliiliiaii m-mis Eii(jijiiliiiii'i \U\\fUii\i\r lO.VlliS Stt'iK'triiini aiitillonso 110 annalmn . . 110 cliilloiii 110 I'lichiruin 110 fractiini 110 hanseiii 110 haswelli 110 ineniie 110 lonfricoriiis 110 meditenaiieuni 110 oecidcntalo . . 110 proxiimmi 110 serratum 110 sianiense 110 stebbingi 110 Steriocephalus lf;5 Stiles, C. \\'. Work of the Committee on NoiiiPiiclHttire at tlicGraz Zoo- oloKical (oiitri'i'ss ix Stilosonia rxtcmiatuni II Stolcphonis initchilli 159 Storcria dokayi 15 Sti'(>ckor, .1. K., .Ir. Description of a new solitary spadel'oot ( Scnjihinjiiis liurtevii) from 'I'l'xas. with ollii'r lierpi'toloui<"tl notes ll.'i-122 Stiv|itoprocTie mexicana 5:! .Syl\ ilauns alacrr :!1 aiiuatieus ;',l mearnsi :;2 Synaptomys uossi oO Synodns fretcns . . In!) Syrninm nisrolinr'atum 72 Systoma 105 T Taniias striatus 35 Tantilla corona ta 15 Tautoga onitis 102 Taxodiiim <iistichiim 25 Terrapene banri 17 Carolina 124 major 17 trimiKuis 17, 121 Ti'studo polyphemns 16 Thalassochi'lys caretta IH 'Phoiiiomys apache 70 canus 7!l Thri-neles fraseri '•> Todd, \V. K. ( '. Two new woodpeckers from Central America 15;!-15(; Trachinotns ialcatiis Ifd Ti'iakis seinifascialnm 18;> Trionyx ferox 18 Tylosurus ma.rinus 100 Typha lati folia W Typhlogobiiiscaliforniensis ISH u Ulmnsalata 25 t'rocyon eineri'oarffetiteus S2 Crophyeis chnss 10:-! Ursu? sheldoni 127 V ^'aricorllinns beso US maroccaiHis MS tiiiiffaniciT' ll.s Vi'rbona hastata S.S Vernonia fasciculata s:! ^'irginiaeleKans . . 15 valeritc 15 \'idpes fulvus :!2 w Wilcox, Cell. T. K. On the occm-rence of askiiid< at Woodjey Park . . . . viii Xiijhidiopiciis insulee=pinorum .... 17:i Xiphr)rhynclnis rosenberjfi 72 Zamenis Hayiyentris . 120 MBL WHOI LIBRARY WH nNK G