PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Ill 



ing somewhat past the end of the base ol the dorsal, the inner margin 

 a little less than one third the outer, their length 5§ in total. 



Color, plain light gray, white below ; edge of pectorals and caudal 

 narrowly dusky. 



A young male specimen of this species (27,366), two feet in length, 

 was obtained by us in San Diego Bay, California. It is said to be not 

 uncommon along the coast of Lower California and it is known at San 

 Diego as " Bay Shark." The jaws of an adult example taken on the 

 coast of Lower California were also procured. 



It is evidently closely related to C. lamia, but the smaller dorsal and 

 pectorals and the more backward i)osition of the dorsal seem to dis- 

 tinguish it sufiticiently. The fins seem to be less falcate than in C. lamia. 



In the Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. ISSl, p. 32, this species is mentioned 

 by us under the name of Enlamia lamia. 



CRITIC'AI^ REITIARK)^ OX THE TREK-CREEPEKS (CERTHIA) OF 

 EUROPE AND IVORTH Ai^IERICA. 



By ROBERT RIDG^VAY. 



The question of whether the American tree-creeper is separable from 

 the European as a distinct race or species has long been a mooted 

 point, and one in regard to which there is great difference of opinion 

 among writers. Several eminent authorities, both in Europe and Amer- 

 ica, consider the European and North American birds of this genus as 

 identical, or not separable even as races; but not a few authors, who base 

 their conclusions on ample material, and are not iutiuenced by ultra-con- 

 servative views regarding geographical variations, agree in recognizing 

 two European races or species (according to the individual views of the 

 author), one being the true G. famiUaris Linn, of northern Euroi)e, the 

 other of more southern range, and variously designated as G. ro.s^rt' Bailly 

 or C. trachydactyla Brehm ;* and in considering the common American 

 bird as distinct from both the European forms, though some of them 

 have referred it to G. cost(e. 



The North American creeper was first separated, as G. amcricana (by 

 which name it has been known by American ornithologists up to a com- 

 paratively recent date), by Bonaparte in 1838; but having been already 

 named many years previously (by Bartram, in 1701, as G. ri(fa, and Barton, 

 in 1799, as G.fusca), Bonaparte's name cannot be used. The Mexican 

 creeper was also separated in 1834, liy Gloger, as G. mexicana. Thus two 

 European and two American races or species of Gerfhia have been 

 recognized by many ornithologists of standing. Others, however, pro- 



* It is unnecessary for me to discuss here the question of which of these names 

 shouki be adopted: therefore, without inquiring particularly into the case, I adopt 

 provisionally the former. 



