iv Contents. 



PAGE. 



III. Oral Gestation in the Gaff-Topsail Catfish, Felichthys felis. By E. W. GUDGER. 



4 plates 25-52 



Narrative 27 



Historical Account 29 



The Breeding Season 30 



Distinction between Sexes 32 



Method of Transfer of the Eggs 32 



Sex of the Egg Carrier 33 



Size of Mouth Cavity 34 



Size of Eggs and Number Incubated 35 



Size of Young and Number Carried 37 



Food and Feeding 39 



Feeding and Growth of Young while in Paternal Mouth 42 



Length of Period of Gestation 43 



The Purpose of Buccal Incubation in the Gaff -Topsail 46 



The Origin of the Habit of Oral Gestation 46 



Literature Cited 51 



IV. .S/'%''" '"" Barracuda; Its Morphology, Habits, and History. By E. W. GTJDGER. 



7 plates, 5 text-figures 53-108 



General Description 55 



Color and Markings 56 



Jaws and Teeth 59 



Manner of Breathing 70 



Internal Organs 70 



Habits 74 



How the Barracuda may be taken 77 



Food and Feeding 79 



Parasites 80 



Use of the Barracuda as Food and Poisoning resulting therefrom 83 



Size 93 



The Barracuda Dangerous to Man 94 



Habitat 99 



Fossil Forms \ 100 



Nomenclature .\ 101 



Drawings or Figures of the Barracuda 104 



Literature Cited 107 



V. Botanical Ecology of the Dry Tortitgas. By H. H. M. BOWMAN. 6 plates, 7 



text-figures 109-13X 



Geologic Formation Ill 



Climatic Conditions of the Tort ugas 1 1 : '. 



General Sketch of the Vegetation of the Tortugas 115 



Distribution of Species among the Keys of the Group IIS 



Loggerhead Key 1 20 



Bird Key 123 



Garden Key 125 



Bush and Long Keys 128 



Sand or Hospital Key 130 



Middle Key " 131 



East Key 131 



Special Ecology 132 



Marine Ecology 137 



Conclusion.. 138 



