Philadelphia Zoological, -^ ,$> 



Mr. G. Brown Goode of the Smithsonian Institution, a gentle- 

 man well-known to our readers, has been in Florida, collecting ani- 

 mals for the Zoological Garden, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. 

 Among the mammals there are two fine specimens of the southern 

 Fox Squirrel (Sciurus vulpinus),oa» gray with black head, the other 

 entirely black, m excellent instance of the "melanism" so commtn 

 in this species; also a Gray or "Oat" Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) 

 specifically identical with ibe Gray Squirrel of the Northern States, 

 but smaller and more rufous upon the back. Also two "Salaman- 

 ders" (G-eomys pineti) familiar to Floridians as the animals which, 

 undermine the pine barrens so extensively, throwing up countless 

 little hillocks of loose sand; they are pouched rats and clusely 

 resemble the Pocket Gopher ( Geomys bursarius ) of the 

 western plains, so great a pest to the agriculturist. Eight or 

 nine specimens were obtained, but only two were domesti- 

 cated sufficiently to bring north, the others dying or escap- 

 ing. A young Wood Hare (Lepus Sylvalicus) is included 

 and an Earih Mole (Scalops aquations,) smaller and grayer than 

 moles of the same spee'es at tLe North. 



The on'y birds snapped were ten pairs of Quails (Ortyx virgin 

 ianus) of the Florida form, which are smaller, darker and have 

 heavier bills than the Northern quails. A pair of Carolina Doves 

 Zenaedura carolinensis,) some Parokeets (Conurus carolinensis) a 

 Marsh Ken (Palluselegans.) and a Sparrow-hawk (Falco sparverius,) 

 were obtained, but all died in captivity before they could be 

 shipped. 



A large Alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis, ) over ten feet in 

 length. There eve also 20 Chameleons (Anolus carolinensis) in. 

 their J've les of grcei aid scarlet, and 25 Sca'y or "Alligator" Liz- 

 ards {Cot'xmonts vnJrilafyis,) end a pair of Bed-headed Lizards 

 (Piesliodon erythroaphalus ) the "Scorpions" so dreaded by the 

 negroes, in spite o* their harmless nature. Specimens of the Wood 

 Liza: J (L-yffo oma lateralis) and the Sjake Lizard (Ophisaurvs ve%- 

 tralis) the so-ca"ed "Glass Snake" or "Joint Snake," were secured, 

 ! but d ; d not take k 'id'y to captivity. The collection of snakes is 

 especially complete, coaipris^g, wiih a few exceptions, all the spe-' 

 ties wire a have been ooserved in Florida. Here are all the veno- 

 mous shakes of Ibe South, a pair oJ* Oianiond Kft;tiesnakes {Crota-\ 

 lus adamauteus) from the Indian river country, two Ground Kattle- 

 snakes (Ciotalophorus miliarius,) a Moccasin or "Cotton-mouth" 

 (Ancistrodon pisciOOTlis.) and a p?.ir. of Harlequins (JElaps fulvius) 

 gorgeous in the. r bauds of orange, black and ciimson. The Garter 

 Snake (Eutaenia sir Luis,) the Ki;:g Snake (Ophidotus geiulus), the 

 Bead Snake (Ophibolus coccineus,) tse "Calico" Snake {Abastor 

 I erythrogr animus) with its delicate I'-ns of rose and purple, are here,: 

 as well, as a pair of the red "Chicken Snakes" of the Flojidiaus 

 {Coluber gnttaius.) There are five sieger Black Snakes (Bascanion 

 consh-ictor,) and two Bu': Snakes (Pilyophits melauoteucus) the Horn 

 Snake or " Rattlesnake's Pilot," wuo greets his visitors with hisses 

 and pi'ffs like a sma'l steam engine. "Water Moccasins," are harm- 

 less water suakes, usual 1 / confounded with the poisonous Moccasin, 

 which belongs to the Rattlesnake family. One is the Tropidonotus 

 fascialus, the other, w th a copper colored belly, Tropidonotus 

 I ery ihrog aster . Several specimens of two species of Spreading Ad- 

 ders (Helerodon plaiyrhhws and H. at/nodes.) Specimens of the 

 Green Snake ( Cyclopias aesturis) and of ( Coluber conHnis) escaped 

 from their cages. 



Among the turtles there are 19 " Gophers" or Elephant Tortoises 

 (Xerobates carolinus) the peculiar tortoise of Florida, so much in 

 favor with the peninsular negro for soups and other culinary com- 

 pounds. Three large Leather-back Turtles (Plalypeltis ferox) such 

 as Bartram described in his Florida travels published a century ago. 

 Also, two fine Green Turtles (Cheioniamydas) fatten in Trout Creek, 

 and thus saved from the Jacksonvi*le. epicures, with nine Yellow- 

 bellied Terrapins {Ptychemys concinna) and a specimen of the Alli- 

 gator Terrapin (Cinosternumpenmylvanicum.) 



To sum up: The total number of specimens was 132, representing 

 32 species, distributed as follows: Mammals, 5 species; birds, 1; 

 lizards, 4; serpents, 16; turtles, 5; amphibians, 1. A number of 

 Florida wild hogs have been engaged and negotia'ions are being car- 

 ried on lor some Manatees (Manatus americanus) from ihe Indian 

 River country. 



>'r. Goode also sends two large tanks containing a collection of 

 the fishes of the St. John's Kiver, made in behalf of the U. S. Com- 

 mission of Fish and Fisheries. 



