[4 ] 



short and rounded ears, the feet short as in the L. talpoides, teeth yellow. It is 

 found in the states of New York and New Jersey. 



12. Sciurus ruber. Entirely of a fine brick red colour, except the belly, which 

 is whitish, ears beardless.— The largest of all the American Squirrels ; total length 

 over two feet. Is it a variety of Sc. vulpinus f It is fotuid in the Missouri Terri- 

 tory, where it is called Great fox-squirrel. There are yet in the United States 

 many unnoticed species (or varieties) of squirrels. I know already about eight 

 of them, such as Sc. felinus, Sc. phaiopus, Sc. melanotus, Sc. lateralis, &c. I am pre- 

 paring a monography of them. 



II CLASS. ORNITHIA.— THE BIRDS. 



13. Milvtis hucomelas. White, unspotted, top of the head and part of the back, 

 wings, tail and bill black, feet yellow. — It is found in west Kentucky and Illinois, 

 it feeds on fishes, and is therefore called Fishing Hawk ; size small, tail quite 

 forked. 



14. Ardea phaioma. Entirely of a deep brown, neck ferruginous behind, white 

 before, bill black, feet yellow. — It lives in Missouri, Illinois and west Kentucky ; 

 it is of a small size, total length about eighteen inches ; it belongs to the tribe oiE 

 Bitterns. 



15. Charadrius viridis. Entirely of a light green, unspotted, wings and tail 

 tinged with brown, bill and feet black. — It has been seen by Mr. Audubon in Mis- 

 souri, near St. Genevieve ; it is a solitary and very wild bird, size of the common 

 Plover. Is it a Fulica f 



16. Hirundo phenicephala. Head scarlet, back grey, belly white, bill and feet 

 black. — A fine and rare swallow, seen only once by Mr. Audubon, near Hender- 

 sonville in Kentucky ; it must have been a wanderer, and is probably a native of 

 Louisiana or Mexico. 



Ill CLASS. ERPETIA.— THE REPTILES. 



17. Necturus maculosus. Olive brown, covered with large irregular and une- 

 qual black spots ; tail elliptical, obtuse, blackish, margin redish, two-fifths of total 

 length ; a longitudinal furrow on the back, toes red. — My genus Necturus (70 N. 

 G. An.) is distinguished from Triturus by having teeth, four toes to all the feet, 

 and the external gills persistent to a late period The Salamandra alleganiensis 

 belongs to it. - The present species is found in the Ohio, vulgar name waterpup- 

 pet or scorpion eel. Length over one foot, very slovenly ; body covered with a 

 mucous matter. Jaws obtuse with thick lips and small acute teeth, the upper 

 jaw longer. Eyes very small round brown ; ears behind them, large round, with 

 a furrow. Three external gills, the anterior black, the second brown, and the 

 posterior reddish. Toes small, rounded, obtuse, distinct, the lateral ones smal- 

 ler. 



18. Necturus luteus. Entirely yellow, unspotted ; tail obtuse, one-half of total 

 length. — It is similar to the foregoing, "found also in the Ohio, length about two 

 feet, vulgar names yellow eel or yellow puppet or yellow alligator. 



19. Necturus phosphoreus. Entirely brown, unspotted; tail obtuse, nearly one- 

 half of total length, gills red. — Another species from the Ohio, its gills shine in ^ 

 the night of a firy red colour. Total length eighteen to twenty inches. Vulgar 

 names, Night Alligator, Brown Puppet, Alligator Eel, &c. Many other species 

 of Salamanders belong to this genus. 



20. Triturus hypoxanthus. Brown above, yellow beneath ; tail acute, slightly 

 compressed, one-half of the total length. — My genus Triturus is the same as the Tri- 

 ton of Dumeril, there being already another genus of animals called Triton ; it 

 differs from the Salamandra by having a compressed tail. This species is found 

 in Kentucky, where it is called Ground Puppet, because it is often foimd in the 

 lobster's holes in moist ground ; total length six to eight inches. 



21. Triturus fuscus. Entirely brown, rather oHvaceous above and paler be- 

 neath ; a furrow on the rump ; tail acute, slightly compressed, one-third of total 

 length. — I found it in the northern parts of the state of New York, in small brooks. 

 Vulgar name Black Ebbet. Length three or four inches. Eyes large and black, 

 iris round and brown. Upper jaw longer as in all the genus and without teeth. 

 Posterior feet with five toes as in all the species, the lateral ones smaller. I com- 

 municated a description of this animal, together with many other reptiles from 



