Iii all vortobrote animate, without exeepl 



is developed in much the same mannrr, but it remains during 

 adult life in mnphicx'M, whereas in all other vertebrates (ex- 

 cept Lamprey eeja and Hag-fishes) it becomes developed into 

 ine, Ihus forming the vertebral column. 



AmpRioxu* is sometimes regarded as supplying the link of 

 connection between the Invertebrates and Vertebrates, dur- 

 ing the larval stage, its development is remarkably similar 

 to the development of the same stage in the life history 

 ot the Tunicata (which are Invertebrates) or "Sea squirts," 

 as they are popularly called, the DOtoehard being de- 

 veloped in both, but in the " Sea -squirts" it becomes in the 

 ndult condition of minor importance, whereas in Amphuaus it 

 continues an important element in its structure. 



This curious fish therefore possesses no skull, and the spinal 

 cord does not enlarge anteriorly to form any brain mass, as in 

 the higher vertebrates ; yet the brain is supposed to be rep 

 resented, from the fact that near the anterior extremity of 

 ■ii. cord minute nerves are given off to supply a pair 

 of pigment spots, supposed to be imperfectly developed eyes. 

 Until very recently it was believed that Amphioxwi had no 

 visual organs. There is also a nerve branch continued to a 

 little depression, which is lined with a ciliated mucous mem- 

 brane, and is Supposed to represent an organ of smell. 



It is doubtful whether the sense of touch is very acute. 

 The muscles are arranged very much as in the higher fishes, 

 but of course they can nave no bony attachments. Tbey di- 

 verge from a central line in two series, one passing upward 

 and backward, the other Obliquely downward and backward. 

 There are no auditor}' organs, nor trace of any external organs, 

 except that of a mouth. This is a longitudiual fissure situated 

 beneath the anterior extremity, or "head," of the animal, and 

 is surrounded by a cariilaeinous ring composed of several 

 pieces, each of which gives off a prolongation to support cirri, 

 Of short cartilaginous filaments. These are in number from 

 twelve to fifteen, ai ranged on each side of the mouth, and the 

 filaments of the two rows are said to cross and interrti ng.e 

 with one another, and are constantly in motion ; they m iy 

 thus protect the oral cavity against the admission of extraneous 

 bodies. 



The mouth leads into a rather long, dilated cavity, which is 

 regarded as the pharynx. Among the highest vertebrates the 

 pharynx is a musculo-mcmbrsneous canal, situated between 

 the base ol the cranium, and the oasophagus or gullet, narrow 

 above or anteiiorly , dilated in the middle,~nnd again contracted 

 below or posteriorly, where it opens into the oesophagus; it 

 serves alike for the pa sage of air to the trachea or " wind- 

 pipe," in respiration, and for the passage of food during de- 

 glutition. 



In Amphioxus the walls of the pharynx are supported by 

 filaments of cartilage, having narrow fissures or clefts between 

 them, a ciliated mucous membrane lining the entire cavity. 

 Posteriorly this pharyngeal sac opens into an alimentary canal. 

 This consists of a short intestine, not convoluted, and termi- 

 na'ing by a distinct opening a short distance from the posteri- 

 or extremity of the body, and slightly to the left side of the 

 median line. This intestine is well supplied with these vi- 

 hratttc cilia;. There is at one point a lateral expansion of the 

 intestine, which terminates in a blind sac, and is of a greenish 

 color. This little pouch is supposed to represent a liver, and 

 its development is very similar, so far as it goes, to that of the 

 same organ in some ot the higher animals. In the adult fish 

 it has the appearance of tbe iivc-r of an embryo fowl, at the 

 fourth or flftn day of incubation. 



The kidneys are not well defined, but they are supposed 

 to be represented by a small opaque glandular body, elongated 

 in form, and asyet no lymphatic system has been demonstrated. 

 Respiration is effected by water entering the mouth and pass- 

 inff to the pharyngeal cavity, these continuous currents being 

 produced by tbe constant action of the above mentioned ciliae, 

 their motion being always in one direction, i. e., backward to- 

 ward the posterior part of the body. The greater quantity of 

 the water then gains access to the abdominal cavity, which is 

 the space existing between the walls of the pharyngeal sac 

 and the -walls of the body proper ; it terminates anteriorly at 

 the mouth, and posteriorly by a small opening, the "abdomi- 

 nal pore." Tbe water is then expelled from the body through 

 the above mentioned small opening, which is situated ventral- 

 ly and a little to tbe middle of the body, and has contractile 

 margins. It is located anterior to the intestinal opening. 

 The remainder of the water finds its way into the alimentary 

 canal. The reproductive organs are remarkably similar both 

 in appearance and location in the two sexes ; are rather above 

 and behind the "abdominal pore," and the generative pro- 

 ducts are transmitted to the abdominal cavity, thence throuch 

 the "pore." 



Amphioxus has no true heart, but nature has endowed it 

 with several imperfectly developed hearts, these being merely 

 dilatations in the course of some of the largest circulating 

 vessels, which contract and dilate rylhmically, thus forcing 

 tbe blood along its channels ; the veins as well as the arteriea 

 are supplied with these contractile bulbs, and it is supposed 

 there are iron twenty-five to fifty of these " hearts " on each 

 side of the body. In this case we find the only instance of a 

 vertebrate having a single cavity, or several individual cavities, 

 placed at intervals, to represent the heart. We must call 

 these cavities hearts, for they perform the functions of these 

 organs. 



Also in Amphinxm we find the only exception among ver- 

 tebrates to the general red color of the blood—!, c, red when 

 seen iu mass. As it possesses no red blood corpuscles, itis hence 

 colorless. This blood is principally purified by the current 

 of water constantly passing through the bronchial or pharynx- 

 ial cavity; but within the cavity of the mouth we fiud several 

 prolongations of the mucous membrane, densely covered 

 with ciiiffi, and richly supplie I with blood; and without doubt 

 these appendages are very efficient aids in the function cf 

 respiration . 



This most remarkable little fish is generally found in sand- 

 banks in various seas, but especially in the Mediterranean Sea. 

 It haB been found off the coasts of England and Ireland ; in 

 the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Indian and Pacific oceans, and 

 also along our Southern Atlantic coasts. When dug out. of 

 its native habitation it will immediately begin to burrow again 

 -with considerable activity. These fishes live in sand-hanks. 

 at a depth varying from ten to twenty fathoms below the surl 

 face ot the- water, and are very hardy, living for several hours 

 out of water, and will outlive a considerable amount of hand- 

 ling. For some reason they dislike exposure to the sunlight, 

 and hence we might infer that, although their organs of vision 

 are very imperii of, they possess the power of distinguishing 

 light, if not objects. 



Among the tirst. descriptions of this most interesting fish, 

 ■we have that by Mr. Couch, from specimens found on the 

 Bi -it in h coasts. The one first discoveied wag lying partially 

 buried in the Band, only its toil being exposed, and fifty beet 

 distant from tbe retreating tide. This occurred on December 



;> or a stormi. The specimen had apparently been 

 east up by the waves. Of several individuals -which were 

 found about this time, the largest were about two aud three- 

 tenths inches loner. 



According to statements made by Mr. Wilde in a "Narra- 

 tive of a Voyage to the Madeiras. Teneriffe, and Along the 

 Shores of the Mediterranean,'' several individuals of Amphi- 

 oxus would attach themselves to one another in a most re- 

 markable manner, sometimes adherirg together in such a way 

 as to form a cluster , sometimes adhering by the sides of the 

 bodies, so that the h-ad or anterior extremity of one would 

 be applied to the posterior third of the body of another pre- 

 ceding it, thus forming a connected line six or eight inches 

 long. The whole mass would swim in unison and with con- 

 siderable rapidity, with a snake-like motion. When speci- 

 mens were placed in a glass containing sea water, and a fioger 

 or stick held before them, although their eyes are so imper- 

 fect, when approaching tbe solid object, they would stop sud- 

 denly and turn aside. They frequently come to the surface 

 of the water, apparently for fresh air. 



Amphioxus does not receive its food into its body by a pro- 

 cess of swallowing, but simj ly imbibes it from the water af- 

 ter it is admitted for tbe purpose of respiratiou. Hence its 

 food must consist of the minutest and lowest of organisms, 

 belonging to the sub-kingdom Protozoa. It is highly probable 

 that the most of its food is derived from the water which 

 passes from the pharyngeal sac into the alimentary canal. 



Notwithstanding the tacts noted in this brief and imperfect 

 sketcii, our knowledge of Amphioxus is very limited. We 

 need a more familiar acquaintance with its development and 

 hahits, and to zoologists it is an animal possessing more than 

 ordinary interest. Herman Cbockbr Evarts, M. D. 



NOTES ON SOME BIRDS, OF CHAT- 

 HAM, N, J. 



By Harold Hebrick. 



tltoad befare the Llnneaa Society of New Tort, Nov. 2, 1878.] 



Oixlothorus sUllaris, Short-billed Marsh Wren. — Commoner 

 on the meadows along the Passaic River than lever saw it else- 

 where. Pew of our birds are more local in their distribution 

 than this species. While it is common on this part of the 

 river, it is rare— in fact, I doubt if it occurs at all— on the salt 

 meadows, thirty or forty miles nearer the river's mouth, al- 

 though but about fifteen miles from Chatham as the crow 

 flies. It breeds in June, after the manner of the long-bill, 

 which latter bird probably occurs near there, although I 

 never noted it. 



Cotumimlus henshwii, Henslow's Bunting.— For a bird not 

 rare, it is surprising how few specimens of this species ate 

 to be found in collections made in this vicinity. It occurs at 

 Chatham, and from the fact of my havingfa specimen taken 

 late in the spring (the exact date I do not know), I infer that 

 it breeds occasionally, 



Tachycincta bieolor, White-bellied Swallow.— We all know 

 that this swallow should breed with us, but, judging from 

 my own experience, but few of us have found it so doing in 

 New Jersey. On Decoration Day, May 30, 1873, I, with my 

 friend Mr. D. B. Dickinson, while searching the, river banks 

 for nests of wood ducks and night herons, found a number of 

 pairs nesting in old woodpecker's holes in stubs, precisely as 

 1 bad found them often before at Grand Menan and Lake 

 Umbagog, with the exception that at these places they had 

 almost undisputed possession of their homes, while at Chat, 

 ham the bluebirds were doing their best to dispossess them. 

 I shot several in tbe act. 



Goinphea Ivdoviciana, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.— A few 

 usually breed iu New Jersey, but it is as a rule an uncommon 

 bird. This spring, however, it was very abundant, Mr. Will 

 Dickinson shooting (nearly a dozen one morning in May. 

 More than the average remained to breed, I think. 



Cardinalis virginianvs, Cardinal. — Not a common bird, and 

 occurs as often in midwinter as at any other season. This, 

 however strange it may appear, is a fact, and one that has 

 been noted by several lriencs as being the case in other places. 

 A pair remained for a long time one winter in the firs and 

 evergreens about a house in Llewellyn Park, Orange. 



Lophophanes bieolor, Tufted Titmouse.— This species I 

 have never seen alive, but Mr. Dickinson has shot it occa- 

 sionally, but usually in winter, when, like tbe preceding, it 

 should have been properly several, hundred miles further 

 south. 



Melanerpes erylhrocephalus, Red-headed Woodpecker.— 

 Was not at all common until the fall of 1872, when a great 

 flight occurred throughout the Middle and Southern New 

 England States. They remained all winter, finding abundant 

 food in the pin oaks along the river, Quite a number bred 

 the next spring, and ever since a few pairs have continued to 

 nest each spring in the vicinity. 



Cenlurus earolinensis, Bed-bellied Woodpecker.— A rare 

 bird. Mr. Dickinson has taken but a single specimen. 



Picus villoxus, Dairy Woodpecker.— We found a nest with 

 young some years ago in an old rotten tree in one of the river 

 swamps. It was the first that either of us had ever seen. 

 Although the birds are very common, the eggs are quite the 

 reverse; and in all my collecting I have failed to secure a sin- 

 gle authentic set, although tbey have always been one of my 

 desiderata. 



JDtndroiea cetfiva, Yellow Warbler.— I noted last summer 

 something in the nesting ot this bird quite new to me. 1 had 

 often seen them build a second story to their nests to cover 

 the invading egg of the cow bunting ; but in this instance 

 the female had deposited three of her own eggs before the cow- 

 bird's was laid. She had probably previously enjoyed the 

 pleasure of rearing a young cowbird, and not caring to repeat 

 the operation, determined to destroy her own eggs to get rid 

 of tbe strange one, which she could not remove, and to that 

 end built an entirely new nest on top of the old one. The 

 structure was taken before the second litter was laid. 



Betminthophaga laicrencii, Lawrence's Warbler.— As I have 

 recorded elsewhere, the type of this species was taken at 

 Chatham. 



The various owls— Bubo virginianus, Feops asio, Brachyo- 

 tux paluitri* and Syrnium nebulomm — are quite common at 

 all seasons, and breed in greater or less numbers every year. 

 Mr. D. lakes the eggs of some one or oilier of them eveiy 

 year. The Xi/i-nium, nelmlosum is quite taine, and not being 

 shot, nesta iu hollow trees near the huuee. If small holes are 

 enlarged and made suitable they are pretty sure to take pos- 



session of (hem for breeding. Of the hawks, BuUo lineaiui, 

 Aixipiter coopsri, Circus fludsonius and Falco sparveriw breed 

 in fair numbers. 



Naucleruti furecius. Swallow-tail Kite, seems pretty far from 

 home, but I saw :i fine specimen taken some six years ago. It 

 lit on a house near Chatham, was shot at, wounded and caged. 

 It finally died, and was stuffed by Mr. Dickinson. 



Speafcing of hawks alighting on houses reminds me of what 

 I thought the peculiar action of a spamw-hawk some two 

 weeks since. He remained for several days in tbe vicinity of 

 my house, in Orange, N. J., and during his stay seemed to light 

 only on house tops, regardless of the persons around. 



Aiic sponsa, Wood Duck, breeds commonly in stubs along 

 the river. Snowy and white herons sometimes visit tbe river, 

 but are rare and. shy. Night herons breed plentifully ; saw 

 thirty eggs taken in one tree where but one half tbe nests were 

 accessible. 



Porzana noveboracensh, Yellow Bail, is another of our birds 

 that, while not rare in proper situations, is uncommon iu col- 

 lections. Tbe Chatham meadows seem to suit them as well as 

 they do the common and Virginia rails. I have four or five 

 specimens taken there, and many are annually shot by Bporta- 

 men and discarded on account of their small size. 



Gallinago wilsonii, Wilson's Snipe. — These meadows have, 

 since first brought to notice by the facile pen of tbe lamented 

 Frank Forester, been the most noted snipe grounds iu the 

 Slate. In the spring many birds are wounded, and so pre- 

 vented from migrating, but. their powers of reproduction are 

 unimpaired. TheBe, perhaps, mate and rear young. For cer- 

 tain it is that some breed ) early in the meadows. I have an 

 egg taken from a net found there, and Mr. D. takes young 

 often, and last spring got a family of four in the down. 



Philohela minor, Woodcock. — The dark, muddy, weedy 

 and malarious swamps, close to the river, seem to possess 

 great attractions for the woodcock. Only a few breed there, 

 but in JuLe, when the young are half grown, the families 

 come down from the hills and surrounding country, till tbe 

 swamps fairly teem with Iheni. Mr. D 's is the best swamp 

 on tbe river, and 120 fine birds were killed in it July 4, 1878. 

 Larus Philadelphia, Laughing Gull, occurs during migra- 

 tions. During a heavy freshet in October, 1870, when the 

 meadows were all under water, and after a severe storm, 

 Will Dickinson shot an immature specimen of the genus 

 Steraorarius, presumably pomalorhin.ua. This I regarded as a 

 good take, as the bird probably did not come overland, but 

 followed the sinuous course of the river from the sea, which 

 could not be less than forty miles. 



NEW JERSEY SPRING NOTES. 



Stanley, N. J., -March 18, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



One of the many advantages gained by a residence in Mori is 

 County, N. J., within twenty or thirty milea of New York, 

 is the opportunity to ramble through the hills and through the 

 woods with a dog and gun. It matters but little if game is 

 aometimes scarce. How delightful to observe the various 

 habits of the birds, the wonderful variety among the trees, 

 the laughing, rippling brooks, and exquisite moss-covered 

 rocks. Although eleven years have passed since 1 left Brook- 

 lyn, to become a permanent summer and winter resident " in 

 the Jerseys," I have no desire to return to the city. Indeed 

 each returning season, with its fresh experiences in reading 

 Nature's ever-open volume, serves to strengthen deep-seated 

 love for our Hillside Home, on the sunny southerly slope of 

 Long Hill, overlooking thb fair valley of the peaceful Passaic 



When spring returns, we are all eagerly waiting the advent 

 of the birds. A few courageous robins and bluebirds always 

 winter in our neighborhood. Withiu two miles of our house 

 is that remarkable feature in the physical geography of this 

 part of New Jersey, the "Great Swamp." In one portion of 

 it, covering many acres, the magnificent rhododendron grows 

 to the height of ten feet, So dense is it that one can hardly 

 force his way under or ihrough tbe closely interlocked 

 branches. Its broad, brilliant, evergreen leaves form an im- 

 pervious roof, shielding partridges, quail, rabbits, robins 

 bluebirds, and as some naturalists tells us, even woodcock' 

 from cold, hail, rain and snow during the rigors of winter ' 



On the afternoon of March 11, in company with our dark- 

 eyed Laurie, a spotted six-year-old, with Grouse, the pointer 

 full of excitement at his liberation from the kennel, and the 

 Colt breech-loader lying comfortably in the crook of the left 

 arm, I started out lor a short tramp along the bank of the 

 Passaic. The ice was beginning to break up, and a few ducks 

 had already been seen. The sun was shining brightly and 

 the atmosphere was like a day in April. We counted ten 

 varieties of bird3— robins, bluebirds, bluejays, blackbirds 

 four kinds of sparrows, crows, aud an immense hen hawk' 

 The latter was flying high in air. I exchanged No. 4 for a 

 shell charged with buck-shot, and pulled trigger. The shot 

 evidently disturbed him, as he suddenly wheeled and fluttered 

 his wings in the bright light of the sun, revealing the plume- 

 colored under-featLers. 



This region seems to be frequented by many different varie- 

 ties of the hawk family. I have observed at least twelve. My 

 pigeons and young chickens are frequently destroyed by them 

 They are very wary, and I have as yet been unable to bring 

 down a single specimen. I mean to break the monotony ere 

 three weeks have passed, as I want a fine falcon to keep com- 

 pany with the great horned owl and broad-winged golden 

 eagle in the library. 



On Saturday afternoon, 15th, in the same locality within 

 two gun-shots of the house, I flushed three woodcock Is 

 not this unusually early? This evening, while returning 

 home from the depot, I heard their peculiar note repeated 

 rapidly. One flew across the road just in front of the horse - 

 another sat in the road two rods in advance of us. We pulled 

 up. For a moment the quaint cry was repeated, and then aa 

 we drove on, up and away, alighting just over the fence. 



At noon on Sunday a golden eagle came sailine over, five 

 hundred feet in the air. A plucky little hawk espied 

 him, and it was very amusing to witness their encounter 

 in mid-air. By the way, an interesting event happened dur- 

 ing a recent trip on the Fort Lee boat up the North River. A 

 golden eagle, whose expanded wings were six feet from tip to 

 tip. accompanied us for two miles. It kept just in advance a 

 half gun-shot oil. As we approached the ice on the western 

 shore it alighted on the outer edge. The deck hand said that 

 he had seer, several this winter. The severe weather of the 

 N rth haB driven them to the salt water to seek fish food, and 

 perhaps anticipating an invitation to the fish dinner of the 

 American Fish Cultural Association. Sunday ateo marked 

 the return of the cheerful, industrious, gossippy Phcebe bird 



