The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple), 1854-1937, author | Charles Scribner's Sons, publishers
I | mm | ! 1 ir I' J' -'M I; ■ v‘,vV ' 1®'; I a* ■ ffi|f \. V. iaa § ■ST H pp f ft ■H Em»l i </ {■>> o$Lg_ ' > ^ ‘Uu^il Sfctm 4te&uu£- 1 / 2^&x<wo^_' ✓*-»-**- &£r^ JhsL- CLMz^ , «. <r. THE AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY “The concise and precise phraseology of science, admirable though it be for the use of those who have been trained to employ it, is to others not only mis- leading, but it may be repulsive.” — G. Brown Goode. “The highest type of scientific writing is that which sets forth useful scientific facts, in language which is interesting, and easily understood by the mill- ions who read.” — L. A. Mann. Painted by Carl Rungius. THE AMERICAN MOOSE, IN NEW BRUNSWICK. THE AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY A FOUNDATION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE OF THE HIGHER ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA BY WILLIAM T. HORNADAY » *■ % DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK; AUTHOR OF “TWO YEARS IN THE JUNGLE,” ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY 227 ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY BEARD, RUNGIUS, SAWYER, AND OTHERS, 116 PHOTOGRAPHS, CHIEFLY BY SANBORN, KELLER, AND UNDERWOOD, AND NUMEROUS CHARTS AND MAPS H CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS NEW YORK MCMI V I Vc A- Copyright, 1904, by WILLIAM T. HORNADAY Published, April, 1904 SPECIAL NOTICE The publishers hereby give warning that the unauthorized use of illustrations, charts, or maps from this book is expressly forbidden. PREFACE By natural inclination, every child is interested in animals. Whenever a grown person is not so interested, it is positive proof that the natural instincts of childhood either have been turned aside, or stifled by lack of opportunity to live and grow. The love for animals is, I believe, even more universal than the love for music. Whenever I try to sum up the amount of living interest, and also genuine delight, that is yielded by even a very modest acquaintance with the higher forms of life, “ I would that my tongue could utter the thoughts that arise in me!” It seems a pity that so many appreciative persons should lose so much of life through lack of acquaintance with about three hundred important and well-chosen species of animals. In these days of struggle and stress for Place and Power, and in these nights of insomnia and nerves, there are few side issues more restful or more pleasantly diverting to a tired brain than an active interest in some branch of natural history. A hunt for the life history of a fine animal species is next in restfulness to a real hunt, over the fields and far away, with all cares and worries left behind. The foregoing is for the eyes of adult readers. Argument is not necessary to con- vince young people that a mighty host of interesting things awaits every one who sets foot in the field of Nature. To-day, the all-absorbing question is — how can Nature be made available to the young? This book is one of my two answers to that question ; and it is particularly addressed to teachers and parents. It is intended to be a plain, practical, common-sense answer, presented in a systematic and scientific way. The author assumes that fifteen years of earnest thought, and conferences with scores of teachers on the subject of natural history teaching in American public schools, may fairly entitle him to a hearing. Briefly stated, the situation to-day is as follows: The scientific “zoology” is suitable only for students in the higher colleges and universities. Between it and the “nature study” books of the grammar schools there exists a chasm that is wide and deep. The “nature studies” of some of our city schools are good for young pupils, from ten to fourteen years of age; but they are insufficient for those between fourteen years and university age. Students in the highest grammar-school grades, the high schools, normal schools, academies and small colleges are so inadequately equipped for the study of natural history that fully ninety-five per cent, of them, including also the great mass of students from the higher colleges and universities, enter active life ignorant of even the most important forms of the wild life of our own country! If this statement can be disproved, the author will be delighted to withdraw it, and apologize. While the “nature-study” teaching of the present day is acceptable and commend- able for very young pupils, tending to arouse their interest and prepare their minds for more serious work, its sphere is strictly limited, and it is a mistake to carry it too far. Valuable v VI PEEFACE and permanent results in the study of animal life cannot be achieved by turning in the class-room a kaleidoscope filled with a chaotic mass of birds, butterflies, flowers, frogs and trees. Object-teaching is excellent, if rightly conducted. But the object can easily become a fetich; and all fetich-worship is dangerous to its devotees. Twenty-five years hence, some of the courses of study of the year 1903 will be regarded as educational curi- osities. Even the finest lobster or grasshopper should not be held so close to the eye that it obscures all the remainder of the animal kingdom. There is no royal road to a real acquaintance with living animals. Entertaining and. truthful story-books about quadrupeds and birds are excellent, in their way, but they do not, and cannot, go down to bed-rock, and lay foundations on which the pupil can build for aye. It has been decreed by Nature that he who will not work shall not know her. There is no process by which the secrets of Nature can be placed automatically in a giddy mind. The author maintains in this volume, and also out of it, that System is the only master- key by which the doors of Animate Nature can be unlocked. Even with boys and girls fifteen years of age, the foundations of natural history classification must not be ignored! Let them but begin right, and the structure is bound to rise. But beware of all chaotic fumbles of unrelated facts! This volume is intended as builder’s “filling” in the chasm that now exists between the technical “zoology” of the college and the “nature-study” lessons of the common schools. To-day, I am certain that many nature-study teachers dislike their work solely because they lack suitable sources of information. Surely it is unnecessary to suggest to any intelligent and sincere teacher that it is possible to utilize only a portion of this book, by selecting the subjects best adapted to each particular class, and passing over the others. Among the writers of manuals of zoology, it is now customary to begin with the lowest and least interesting forms of life, and work upward toward the highest. That will answer for the advanced student — If he chooses to have it so; but for middle- grade students and readers at home it is decidedly wrong. All elementary lessons in natural history should begin with Nature’s most important facts, and first bring forward her most interesting animals. To begin with the grasshopper, and struggle through a hundred dreary pages of anatomy and low forms of life, before reaching a creature of personality and intelligence, is too much for the patience of any active school-boy who wishes “to know about animals.” Anatomy is necessary to the advanced student ; but in a book for schools and the general reader, it is easily carried too far. As with human beings, the first thing to be learned about an animal is its place in Nature, and after that, its personality. It is only the scientific specialist who wishes to know first about its mandibular symphysis, the geography of its sutures, and the size of its auditory bullae. As the reader will observe, I have striven to accomplish two ends: (1) to make clear each animal’s place in the great system of Nature, and (2) to introduce the animal in such a manner as to enable the reader to become personally acquainted with it. The subjects chosen for introduction are not confined to any one section of our country, but represent all North America, and even lands beyond. For the purpose of avoiding wide gaps, several important foreign animals have been included. At this point I wish to record a grateful acknowledgment to Mr. Andrew Carnegie, for PREFACE vii his interest in the author’s plans for introducing the study of natural history in schools, and for encouragement at a time when it was most needed. The manuscripts and proofs relating to mammals have been read, criticised and corrected by Dr. T. S. Palmer, Assistant Chief of the Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. Through Dr. Palmer’s advice, the author’s old-fashioned preferences on certain points of nomenclature were abandoned, and the names of orders, families, genera and species were brought down to date. It is due to him that in our nomenclature we are in reality a trifle in advance of the times rather than behind them. Similar valuable service has been rendered the section on Birds by Mr. C. William Beebe, Curator of Birds, and those on the Reptiles and Amphibians were read and cor- rected by Mr. Raymond L. Ditmars, Curator of Reptiles, in the New York Zoological Park. The portion treating of Fishes received critical attention from Mr. Charles H. Townsend, Director of the New York Aquarium, but in fairness to him it must be stated that he is in no way responsible for the author’s arrangement of the Orders of Fishes. To each of the gentlemen named above I offer a most grateful acknowledgment for timely and valuable services, and desire to assure the reader that for any shortcomings that may appear in the finished book, they are not in the least responsible. In the text of this work I have endeavored to give due credit for the noteworthy facts quoted from other authors. Practically the only instances wherein this has not always been possible are those involving the geographic ranges of species, wherein com- binations of authorities are the rule rather than the exception. To cover all possible omissions, I desire to mention here the names of the authors from whom I have derived many facts, but chiefly regarding distribution, and I gratefully acknowledge indebtedness to Mr. D. G. Elliot’s “Synopsis of the Mammals of North America and the Adjacent Seas”; to the many papers on our Mammalia by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Dr. T. S. Palmer, and Mr. Vernon Bailey; to Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey’s “Birds of the Western United States.” Mr. Frank M. Chapman’s “Birds of Eastern North America,” Dr. A. K. Fisher’s “Hawks and Owls,” and Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright’s “Birdcraft”; to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger’s “Poisonous Snakes of North America”; Prof. E. I). Cope’s “Crococlilians, Lizards and Snakes of North America,” and Dr. H. Gadow’s “Amphibia and Reptiles”; to Dr. David S. Jordan and Dr. Barton W. Evermann’s “Fishes of North and Middle America,” and “American Food and Game Fishes,” and to Mr. Richard Lydekker’s “Royal Natural History.” Naturally, I have drawn freely upon the zoological knowledge that has been accu- mulated in the New York Zoological Park during its existence. A final word must be added regarding the illustrations. Probably no other author ever had a more tempting opportunity for completely filling a volume with photographs of animals. But, while I am an ardent admirer of the best results in animal photography, and a diligent user of them, I also recognize the limitations of the camera. The demands of a zoological illustration are inexorable; and all too often the camera ignores some of them. A perfect zoological portrait of an animal must possess clear and distinct outlines, showing a side view, and perfect details. A picture sans feet, tail, ears, eyes or legs, is not a portrait ; and a ball of fur, even though photographed, is not neces- sarily an animal. Very often, also, the most perfect photograph of a spiritless animal in captivity utterly fails to convey a just and adequate impression of the species as it is seen at its best, on its native heath. PREFACE viii Because of the limitations of the camera, several thousand dollars have been ex- pended upon the beautiful drawings by Messrs. J. Carter Beard, Carl Rungius, Edmund J. Sawyer and a few other artists, which adorn as well as illustrate this work. In addition to these, about one hundred and sixteen particularly excellent photographs have been made, of specially selected subjects, by Messrs. Elwin R. Sanborn, Ernest F. Keller, W. Lyman Underwood, R. J. Beck, and a few other experts in animal photography. With but very few exceptions, the illustrations which appear in this book have been made expressly for it, and now appear for the first time. The author is indebted for the loan of several from the publications of the New York Zoological Society. Now that the last page save the preface has been set up, locked fast and turned into a plate of cold metal, the hour for regret has struck. I know that my proof-reading has not been perfect, and that various errors may be found by those who watch for them. In view of the patient and even tireless efforts and the generous expenditures which Messrs. Charles Scribner’s Sons have bestowed upon this volume, the author deeply regrets that his own share of the work is not as perfect as theirs. For the reader’s sake, also, he wishes that he could have done better. W. T. H. Bedford Park, New York City. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Page xix BOOK I— MAMMALS CHAPTER I.— ORDERS OF MAMMALS. CHAPTER II.— ORDER OF APES AND MONKEYS PRIMATES Anthropoid Apes .... Old World Monkeys and Baboons Page . 7 . 13 New World Monkeys Family of Marmosets Suborder of Lemurs 14 16 17 CHAPTER III.— ORDER OF FLESH-EATING MAMMALS FERAE Cat Family Dog Family. North American Foxes Small Fur-Bearers 18 22 24 27 Bear Family ...... Full List of the Bears of North Amer- ica Raccoon Family. CHAPTER IV.— ORDER OF SEALS AND SEA-LIONS Sea-Lion Family. Review of Fur Seal History 44 48 Seal Family Walrus Family CHAPTER  BATS Family of Leaf-Nosed Bats . . .62 Family of Free-Tailed Bats . . .63 Family of Common Bats . . . .64 Family of False Vampires Family of Horseshoe Bats Family of Fruit-Eating Bats 18 32 35 41 PINNIPEDIA 43 . 52 . 53 INSECTIVORA 56 . 58 CHIROPTERA 59 65 66 66 CHAPTER VII.— ORDER OF GNAWING ANIMALS GLIRES or RODENTS 6S Squirrel Family ...... 68 Sewellel Family . . . . .80 Beaver Family ...... 80 Family of Mice and Rats . . . .83 Typical North American Mice and Rats 84 Cheek-Pouch Mice and Rats . . .91 Jumping Mouse Family Pocket Gopher Family Porcupine Family Pika Family. Hare and Rabbit Family 92 93 94 95 95 CHAPTER VIII.— ORDER OF HOOFED ANIMALS UNGULATA 99 Cattle and Sheep Family . . . .99 Measurements of Mountain Sheep Horns  Family 143 Tapir Family ...... 144 IX X CONTENTS Page CHAPTER IX.— ORDER OF WHALES AND PORPOISES  . . . 149 CHAPTER X.— ORDER OF SEA-COWS SIREN I A 153 Family of Manatees ..... 153! I Family of the Rhytina .... 154 Family of Dugongs ..... 154 I CHAPTER XL— ORDER OF TOOTHLESS MAMMALS .... EDENTATA 156 Armadillo Family 156 I Sloth Family 159 Family of Ant-Eaters . . . . 158 I CHAPTER XII.— ORDER  Opossum Family 165 CHAPTER XIV.— ORDER OF EGG-LAYING MAMMALS . . MONOTREMATA 167 Duck-Bill Family 167 | Echidna Family BOOK II— BIRDS CHAPTER XV.— INTRODUCTION TO THE BIRD-WORLD ...... 17 Decrease in Bird Life . 171 Orders of Living Birds . I/O CHAPTER XVI.— ORDER OF PERCHERS AND SINGERS . PASSE RES 179 Thrush Family .... . 181 Waxwing Family. . 192 Kinglet Family .... . 183 Swallow Family. . 19L Nuthatch and Titmouse Family . 184 Tanager Family. . 194 Tree-Creeper Family. . 185 Finch and Sparrow Family . . .195 Wrens and Cat-Birds . 186 Blackbird Family . 199 Dipper Family .... . 187 Crow Family .202 Warbler Family .... . 188 Horned Lark Family. . 206 Vireo Family. . 191 Flycatcher Family . 206 Shrike Family .... . 191 CHAPTER XVII.— ORDER OF ODD FAMILIES .... MACROCHI RES 207 Goatsucker Family . 207 Humming-Bird Family. . 208 Swift Family .... . 208 CHAPTER XVIII.— ORDER OF WOODPECKERS. . PICI 210 CHAPTER XIX.— ORDER OF CUCKOOS AND KINGFISHERS . COCCYGES 214 Cuckoo Family . . .. . 214 Kingfisher Family . 215 CHAPTER XX.— ORDER OF PARROTS AND MACAWS . PSITTACI 216 CONTENTS xi CHAPTER XXI.— ORDER OF BIRDS OF PREY. Page Barn-Owl Family 218 I Hawks and Eagles Horned-Owl Family 220 I Vulture Family. CHAPTER XXII.— ORDER OF PIGEONS AND DOVES CHAPTER XXIII.— ORDER OF UPLAND GAME-BIRDS Grouse Family 242 | Pheasant Family CHAPTER XXIV.— ORDER OF SHORE-BIRDS. CHAPTER XXV.— ORDER OF CRANES, RAILS, AND COOTS Crane Family 255 | Family of Rails. CHAPTER XXVI.— ORDER OF HERONS, STORKS, AND IBISES Heron Family 259 I Ibis Family. Stork Family 263 I Spoonbill Family Page . RAPT ORES 218 . 225 . 232 . COLUMBAE 237 . GALLINAE 241 . 250 . LI M ICO LAE 251 PALUDICOLAE 255 . 257 HERODIONES 259 . 263 . 264 CHAPTER XXVII.— ORDER OF FLAMINGOES . . . ODONTOGLOSSAE 266 CHAPTER XXVIII.— ORDER OF DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS . ANATIDAE 267 Orders of Swimming Birds . . . 267 | An Object Lesson in Bird Protection . 276 CH APTER XXIX.— ORDER OF FULLY WEB-FOOTED BIRDS STEGANOPODES 284 Pelican Family 284 Gannet Family 288 Cgamorant Family 287 Man-o’-War-Bird Family .... 290 Darter Family ...... 287 CHAPTER XXX.— ORDER OF TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS . . TUBINARES 292 Albatross Family 292 | Fulmar Family 294 CHAPTER XXXI.— ORDER OF LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS . . LONGIPENNES 296 Gulls and Terns 296 I Skua and Jaeger Family .... 299 Skimmer Family ...... 298 l CHAPTER XXXII.— ORDER OF WEAK-WINGED DIVING BIRDS PYGOPODES 300 Grebe Family 300 I Cliff-Dwellers of the Sea . . . 302 Loon Family 301 I CHAPTER XXXIII.— ORDER OF FLIGHTLESS DIVERS . . . IMPENNES 307 CHAPTER XXXIV.— ORDER OF WINGLESS LAND BIRDS . . RATITAE 309 BOOK III— REPTILES CHAPTER XXXV.— INTRODUCTION TO THE CLASS OF REPTILES Orders of Living Reptiles ........ . 313 . 314 CONTENTS xii Page CHAPTER XXXVI.— ORDER OF CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS CROCODILIA 317 Page I Crocodile Family 319 Synopsis of the Crocodilians . . . 317 1 American Species of Crocodilians . . 320 CHAPTER XXXVII.— ORDER OF TORTOISES, TERRAPINS, AND TURTLES CHELONIA 323 Synopsis of the Order of Tortoises and Turtles 324 Tortoise Family 324 Mud-Terrapin Family 326 Smooth-Shelled Terrapins .... 326 Snapping Terrapins 328 Soft-Shelled “Turtles” .... 329 Hard-Shelled Sea Turtles . . . 330 Leathery-Shelled Sea Turtles . . . 331 CHAPTER XXXVIII.— ORDER OF LIZARDS LACERTILIA 333 CHAPTER XXXIX.— ORDER OF SERPENTS OPHIDIA 337 General Characters of Serpents . . 337 Food of Serpents 338 Popular Questions and Misapprehensions 339 Largest Species of Serpents . . . 340 Harmless Snakes of the United States . 343 Poisonous Snakes of North America . 347 Species of Rattlesnakes .... 349 Snake Poisons, and their Treatment . . 353 BOOK IV— AMPHIBIANS CHAPTER XL.— INTRODUCTION TO THE CLASS OF AMPHIBIANS . . . .359 General Characters of Amphibians . . 359 | Bird’s-Eye View of the Amphibians . . 360 CHAPTER XLI.— ORDER OF FROGS AND TOADS . . . EC AU DAT A 361 Family of Water Frogs .... 362 | Toad Family 364 Tree-Frog Family 363 I Tongueless Frogs 364 CHAPTER XLII.— ORDER OF TAILED AMPHIBIANS .... URODELA 366 Family of Salamanders Newts, or Tritons Family of Amphiumas. . 366 . 368 . 369 Free-Gilled Salamanders. Two-Legged Salamanders. Order of Worm-Like Amphibians . 370 . 370 . 371 BOOK V— FISHES CHAPTER XLIII.— INTRODUCTION TO THE CLASS OF FISHES . . . .375 Fishery Industries and Fish Propagation 376 | The Orders of Living Fishes . . . 378 Distribution of Eggs and Live Fish . . 377 I CHAPTER XLIV.— ORDER OF THE CONNECTING-LINK FISHES SIRENOIDEI 3S0 CHAPTER XLV.— ORDER OF THE SPINY-FINNED FISHES . ACANTHOPTERI 382 Basses and Sunfishes .... 382 Sea-Bass Family 385 Perch and Pike-Perch Family . . . 386 Miscellaneous Spiny-Finned Fishes . . 388 Snapper Family 391 Odd Fishes of the Spiny-Finned Order . 392 CHAPTER XLVI.— ORDER OF PIKES . HAEPLOMI 394 CONTENTS xm CHAPTER XLVII.— ORDER OF TROUT AND SALMON Page Salmon Family 396 Subdivision of North American Trouts and Charrs 397 North American Trout The Salmon Group American Salmon Page ISOSPONDYLI 396 . 397 . 400 . 400 CHAPTER XLVIIL— ORDER OF FLYING-FISHES CHAPTER XLIX.— ORDER OF SOLID-JAW FISHES. CHAPTER L.— ORDER OF SUCKERS AND MINNOWS CHAPTER LI— ORDER OF HALF-GILLED FISHES CHAPTER LIE— ORDER OF CATFISHES CHAPTER LIIL— ORDER OF FLAT-FISHES. CHAPTER LIV— ORDER OF FOOT-FISHES. CHAPTER LV.— ORDER OF EELS CHAPTER LVI.— ORDER OF PIPE-FISHES AND SEA-HORSES CHAPTER LVIL— ORDER OF THE DOGFISH CHAPTER LVIIL— ORDER OF GAR-FISHES, OR GANOIDS CHAPTER LIX.— ORDER OF STURGEONS. CHAPTER LX.— ORDER OF THE PADDLE-FISH. CHAPTER LXL— ORDER OF THE CHIMERAS CHAPTER LXIL— ORDER OF SHARKS .... CHAPTER LXIII.— ORDER OF RAYS AND SKATES. CHAPTER LXIV.— LOWEST CLASSES OF VERTEBRATES Lampreys 437 I Lancelets. SYNENTOGNATHI 409 . PLECTOGNATHI 410 PLECTOSPONDYLI 412 . HEMIBRANCHII 415 NEMATOGNATHI 416 HETEROSOMATA 41S PEDICEL AT I 420 APODES 421 . LOPHOBRANCHI 423 HALECOM OR PH I 424 GIN GLY MODI 425 GLANIOSTOMI 427 . SELACHOSTOMI 429 CHIM AERO I DEI 431 . SQUALI 432 . RAIAE 434 437 438 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Albatross, Black-Footed Alligator Alligator, Skull of Anaconda, Yellow Angel Fish Angler Ant-Eater, Great Antelope, Prong-Horned Antlers of Alaskan Moose Antlers? Do Elk Shed Their — 4 figures Antlers of Greenland Caribou — 2 figures Antlers of Kenai Caribou Armadillos, Three-Banded and Six-Bancled. . .. Auklet, Rhinoceros Axolotl, Two Lives of the Baboon, Dead Gelada Badger Bass, Black Sea Bass, Calico Bass, Striped Bass, Small-Mouthed Black Bat, Bonneted Bat, Bornean Naked Bat, California Leaf-Nosed Bat, Flower-Nosed Bats, Fruit-Eating Bat, Hammer-Headed Bat, Red Bear, Alaskan Brown Bear, American Black Bear, Glacier Bear, Grizzly, at Home Bear, Polar Beaver, Skull of Beavers, American, and their Work Bittern, American Black Duck, Head of Blackbird, Red-Winged Bluefish Bluebird Blue-Jay Boa Constrictor Bobolink in Spring Bob-White Box-Fish Buffalo, American Bison, or Buffle-Head Duck Bullhead, Common PAGE Canvas-Back Duck 275 Cardinal 198 Caribou, Woodland 133 Carp, German Scaled 413 Cassowary, Ceram 309 Cat-Bird 187 Chickadee 184 Chipmunk, Eastern 72 Chipmunk, Western 73 Chimpanzee, A Dressed-LTp 10 Chimpanzee, Young Female 9 Chimera, Spotted 431 Coach-Whip Snake 345 Condor 234 Congo “Snake” ' 369 Coot 258 Copperhead Snake 352 Cormorant 289 Coyote 23 Crane, Whooping 256 Creeper, Brown 186 Crocodile, Florida 321 Crocodile, Skull of Indian 318 Crocodile, Skull of Florida 318 Crocodile, Skull of Orinoco 318 Cross-bill, American 195 Cuckoo, Yellow-Billed 214 Deer, Mule, in the Bad-Lands 125 Deer, Mule, with Antlers in Velvet 127 Deer, White-Tailed 128 Deer, White-Tailed, “Freak” antlers of . . . . 131 Deer, Young White-Tailed 130 Devil-Fish 436 Dicrostonyx hudsonius, Skin of 85 Dipodomys merriami, Skin of 85 Dogfish 424 Dolphin, Common 151 Dove, Mourning 239 Eagle, Bald 170 Eel, Electric 421 Egret, Great White 262 Eider, American 277 Eider, King, Head of 279 Eider, Spectacled, Head of 279 Elk, American 121. Elk, Winter Home of the 123 Evotomys gapperi , Skin of 85 PAGE 293 316 318 341 387 420 158 116 142 119 135 134 157 304 367 14 32 385 3S3 386 383 63 59 62 62 67 66 65 33 39 40 38 36 82 81 262 269 200 387 1S3 204 340 178 242 374 101 275 416 xv XVI LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fer-de-Lance Ferret, Black-Footed Fins of a Typical Fish (Black Grunt) Fisher Flamingo Flying-Fish, Common Fox, Arctic Fox, Black or Silver Fox, Gray Fox, Red Frog, Leopard Gadwall, Head of Gar Pike Garter-Snake, Common Gavial, Skull of Gila Monster Glass “Snake” Goat, Rocky Mountain Golden-Eye Duck, Head of Goldfinch, American Goose, Canada Gopher, Red Pocket Gorilla Grackle, Purple Grouse, Canada Grouse, Eastern Ruffed Grouse, Pinnated Grouse, Sage Grosbeak, Rose-Breasted Gull, Herring Halibut, Common Hare, Polar Hare, Prairie Hare, Varying Harlequin Duck, Head of Haven of Refuge for Ducks Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Sparrow Heron, Great Blue Heron, Little Green Hog-Nosed Snake Horned Lizard; Horned “Toad” Horns of Asiatic and American Mountain Sheep Humming-Bird, Ruby-Throated Ibis, White Iguana, Common Iguanas, Marine, on Narborough Island Jaguar Kingfisher, Belted King Snake PAGE Kinglet, Ruby-Crowned. Pelican, Great White Penguin, Emperor Perch, Yellow Perognathus fasciatus, Skin of Peromyscus leucopus, Skin of Perodipus richardsoni, Skin of Petrel, Stormy Phenacomys orophilus, Skin of Pickerel, Chain Pigeon, Band-Tailed Pike-Perch, Yellow Pin-tail Duck Pine Snake Pipe-Fish, Great Platypus Plover, Kildeer Plumage of a Bird Porcupine, Canada Porcupine Fish Prairie-" Dogs ” Prairie-" Dog” Burrow PAGE Ptarmigan, Willow 249 Puffin, Common 304 Puffin, Tufted 304 Puffer Fish 374 Puma, or “Mountain Lion” 20 Python, Reticulated 337 Rabbit, Cotton-Tail 97 "Rabbit,” Jack 97 Raccoon 41 Rail, Virginia 257 Rat, Cotton 89 Rat, Florida Wood 88 Rat, Kangaroo 91 Rat, Kangaroo 92 Rattlesnake, Banded, yellow phase 351 Rattlesnake, Banded, dark phase 351 Rattlesnake, Diamond 350 Rattlesnake, Prairie. 351 Ray, Sting 436 Redhead Duck 274 Reithrodontomys leconti, Skin of 85 Ring-Necked Duck, Head of 269 Robin 181 Ruddy Duck, Head of 279 Salmon, Quinnat 401 Salmon, Sebago 404 Sand-Piper, Least 253 Sawfish 435 Scaup Duck, Head of 269 Scoter, Head of American 269 Scoter, Head of Surf 269 Sea-Horse 423 Seal, Harbor 44 Seal, Harp 51 Seal, Head of Hooded 53 Seal, Ribbon 52 Seals, Fur, on “Hauling Grounds” 49 Sea-Lions, California 44 Sea-Lion, Steller’s 44 Sea-Lion, Steller’s 46 Shad, Common 407 Shark, Hammer-Head 432 Shark, Mackerel 432 Shark-Ray 434 Sheep, Black Mountain Ill Sheep, Head of White, front view 110 Sheep, Head of White, side view 110 Sheep, White Mountain Ill Shoveller Duck 271 Shrew, Common 58 Shrew, Short-Tailed 58 Shrike, Loggerhead 191 Sigmodon hispidus, Skin of 85 PAGE 152 85 207 205 185 21 269 85 166 165 11 10 201 85 226 28 220 220 223 221 224 223 222 429 429 161 216 242 243 144 285 284 286 306 383 85 85 85 294 85 386 238 386 272 344 423 167 251 180 95 374 76 78 xviii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Siren Salamander, o'rMud-“Eel” 371 Skeleton of an American Bison 100 Skeleton of a Bird of Prey 219 Skeleton of a Turtle 323 Skeletons of Man and Gorilla 8 Skeleton of Pale Bat 60 Skunk, Common 31 Skunk, Spotted 31 Sloth, Two-Toed 160 Snake-Bird 287 Snapper, Red 391 Snipe, Wilson’s 253 Snow-Bunting 196 Sparrow, White-Throated 197 Spermophile, Say’s 73 Spermophile, Thirteen-Lined 74 Spermophile, Richardson’s 75 Spoonbill, Roseate 265 Squirrel, Eastern Red 71 Squirrel, Flying 80 Squirrel, Gray 69 Squirrel, Southern Fox 70 Steller’s Duck, Head of 279 Stickleback, Two-Spined 415 Sturgeon, Lake 427 Sucker, Common 412 Sunfish, Common 383 Swallow, Barn 195 Swallow, Cliff, and Nest 194 Swan, Trumpeter 282 Swordfish 392 Synaptomys cooperi, Skin of S5 Tadpole to Frog, From 361 Tails of American Deer 129 Tamandua Ant-Eater 158 Tanager, Scarlet 195 Tarpon 406 Teal, Blue-Winged 270 Teal, Head of Green-Winged 269 Tern, Common 297 Terrapin, Alligator 328 Tortoise, Box 325 Tree-Duck, Head of Fulvus 269 Tree-Frog, Northern 363 Trigger-Fish 374 Trout, Brook 399 Trout, Rainbow 398 Tuna 389 Turkey, Virginia Wild 250 “Turtle,” Musk 326 “Turtle,” Painted 327 “Turtle,” Soft-Shelled 329 “Turtle,” Wood 328 Vireo, Red-Eyed 190 Vole, Northwestern 87 Vulture, California 233 Vulture, Young California 234 Wallabay, Rock 164 Walrus, Pacific 44 Walrus, Pacific 54 Walrus, Young Atlantic 55 Warbler, Yellow 189 Water-Snake, Red-Bellied 346 Waxwing, Bohemian 193 Whales Attacked by Killers 150 Whale, Bow-Head 147 Widgeon, Head of American 269 Wolf, Gray 22 Wolverine 30 Woodcock, American 252 Woodcock on Nest 252 Woodchuck 79 Wood-Duck 273 Woodpecker, Downy 213 Woodpecker, Golden-Winged 211 Woodpecker, Red-Headed 212 Wood Thrush 182 Wren 187 Zapus hudsonius , Skin of 85 MAPS AND CHARTS PAGE Map of North America Third page of cover Landscape Chart of the Orders of Living Mam- mals 5 Map of Annual Migration of the Fur Seal Herd. Natural Science is the study of Nature’s works and forces, and embraces all things not made by man. Among its grand divisions may be mentioned natural history, chemistry, and physics. Natural History is the study of Nature’s common objects; but by most persons, this name is applied only to the study of animal life. Natural history treats of three great kingdoms — the animal, vegetable, and mineral. The Animal Kingdom embraces not only all the living creatures which now inhabit the earth, but also those which have died, become extinct, and left only their buried remains, called fossils. Of the animal kingdom, three great groups of subjects may be recognized, as follows: MAN, the study of whom is called An-thro-pol'o-gy THE LOWER ANIMALS, the study of which is called Zo-ol'o-gy EXTINCT, or FOSSIL ANIMALS, the study of which is called Pa-le-on-tol'o-gy In strict reality, Paleontology is only a branch of Zoology, for the two are inseparably dove- tailed together. The living animals of to-day are the standards by which the paleontologist studies and determines those of the past. This diagram illustrates the relations which the grand divisions of Natural History bear toward each other: Kingdoms. 1 Animal:. Vegetable: Mineral:. Sciences. f An-thro-pol'o-gy Zo-ol'o-gy ( Pa-le-on-tol'o-gy S Botany ) Pa-le-o-bot'a-ny \ Ge-ol'o-gy l Min-er-al'o-gy In its broadest sense, Natural History includes Chemistry and Physics; but a,s that term is now commonly used, it is intended to refer only to the life histories of living creatures. An Animal is a living creature belonging to the animal kingdom ; but this word is commonly, though incorrectly, used to designate mammals alone. The animals of the world are so vast in number, and so varied in form, that these lessons will treat only of the higher forms of life, known as Ver'te-brates. A Vertebrate is an animal having (usually) a bony skeleton, and a spinal column, or back- bone, composed of a series of bones called ver'te-brae. This division of life is called a Branch. The Branch Ver-te-hra'ta is divided into seven grand divisions, called Classes; which are known as Mam'mals, Birds, Reptiles, Am-phib'ians, Fishes, My'zonts, and Lance'lets.1 1 Two other Classes, Enteropneusts and Tunicates, are, by some modern zoologists, regarded as Vertebrates. These low forms, however, lack a complete backbone, or notochord, and are therefore omitted. xix XX INTRODUCTION A Mam'mal is a warm-blooded creature, that brings forth its young alive, and nourishes it with milk from its own body. All land mammals, save a few species, are covered with hair; and all sustain life by breathing air with the aid of lungs. Except man, the mammals which live upon land are also called quad'ru-peds. A Quad'ru-ped is a mammal which possesses four feet, or, having two hands and two feet, like the apes, yet walks upon all-fours. Man is a bi'ped, or two-footed animal. Land mammals generally are quad'rupeds, or four- footed, and monkeys are quad-ru'ma-nous, or four -handed. The term quadrumana is often applied to apes and monkeys because the long great-toe on the hind foot makes the foot quite hand'-like in its grasping power. A Bird is a warm-blooded animal, which comes from an egg that usually is laid and hatched by the parent. It breathes air, is covered with feathers, usually is provided with wings, and all save a few species can fly. A Reptile is a cold-blooded, egg-laying animal, usually covered with scales or a bony shell. All have lungs and breathe air, but some are able to live in water so comfortably they are called am-phib'i-ous. An Am-phib'i-an is a member of the Class of animals which forms a connecting link between reptiles and fishes. Some breathe air, and live alternately on land and in water, like frogs. Others have gills, and live in water all their lives. A few are capable of developing either gills or lungs, according to the presence or absence of water, like the wonderful Ax-o-lotl' of Mexico. A Fish is a cold-blooded animal, possessing gills, fins, and (usually) scales. All save a very few species live permanently in water. The exceptions are certain fishes in the East Indies which for short intervals hop about on land, or even climb rocks or trees! THE ANIMAL WORLD. GRAND DIVISIONS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD Branches. Classes. Mammals Birds Reptiles Ver'te-brates : ^ Amphibians Fishes Myzonts Lancelets Insects: — Body in segments, reproduce by a complete change in form. Crus-ta'ce-ans (Crabs, Lobsters, etc.): — Skeleton external; gill-breathing, chiefly aquatic. Mol'lusks (“Shell-Fish”) : — Soft-bodied, usually covered by a hard, limy shell. Worms: — True worms, and other forms not fitting in elsewhere. Star-Fishes : — Salt-water animals, with star-like structure. Corals: — Minute, salt-water animals, which build up solid masses of their limy skeletons. Jelly-Fishes: — Disk-shaped, jelly-like sea animals, with no hard parts. Sponges: — Stationary aquatic animals, which look like plants; skeletons of tough, fibrous cells. Pro-to-zo'ans : — Lowest forms of life, beginning with the single cell; mostly microscopic. HOW ANIMALS ARE CLASSIFIED In order to know and appreciate even a small proportion of the world’s animals, their correct arrangement into groups is as necessary as a systematic arrangement of the books in a vast library. By their forms and characters, animals are divided into natural groups and subdivisions, and in INTRODUCTION xxi order that we may understand their proper relationships, and their places in Nature, we must learn and remember the general principles of animal classification. Without this foundation knowl- edge, a clear view of the splendid domain of animal life is impossible, and the life histories of our living creatures will be but a jumble of disconnected facts, of very slight practical use. When properly simplified, the classification of the principal groups of our vertebrate animals is as easily learned and remembered as the leading facts of geography. Once learned, each animal observed thereafter can be located in the group to which it belongs, and its place in Nature under- stood. This helps toward exact knowledge of its anatomy and habits. No-men'cla-ture is the naming of animals, and the groups to which they belong. The object of popular nomenclature, or naming, is to make the place and character of an animal clearly and correctly understood by the greatest possible number of people. Scientific nomenclature relates to the use of technical names, in Latin or Greek, in which the general student is not often interested. Whenever through frequent or frivolous changes of scientific names, or by the giving of too great a number of them, our knowledge of animals becomes confused and uncertain, scientific classification defeats its own object, and becomes worse than useless. The observance by technical writers of the fatal rule of priority, by which the most obscure names often are exalted at the expense of more appropriate names in universal use, is rapidly debasing the legitimate value of Latin names generally, and creating wide-spread uncertainty and confusion. Latin words are used for most scientific names, because Latin is the universal language of scien- tific men, the world over; and Latin names are used by all educated nations without change in form. In the development of animal classification, the various classes of animals are subdivided into groups which gradually grow smaller, until at last each species is named and placed, thus: Classes are divided into Orders: Orders “ Families" “ “ Genera “ “ “ Species “ “ “ As an example, take the Puma, Families: Genera (singular = genus): Species (singular = species) : Individuals. or Mountain “ Lion.” Its Order is FE'RAE, the wild beasts. “ Family is Fe'li-dae, the Cats. “ Genus is Fe'lis, the true Cats. “ Species is concolor, gray. “ Scientific name, therefore, is Felis concolor. All these groups are divided into subdivisions, such as suborders, subfamilies, subgenera, and even subspecies; but in the writer’s opinion there is very little excuse for their creation, or for their continued existence, and the student will do well to let them alone — until he feels the need for them. A tau'to-nym is a scientific name in which the name of the genus is repeated as the name of the species. Thus, some authors write the Latin name of the American Bison as Bison bison; and the Anhinga is Anhinga anhinga. In America, the tautonym habit is merely another step toward the complete demoralization of zoological nomenclature. A tri-no' mial is a name in three sections, applied to a subspecies; such as Felis concolor oregonensis. By scientific authors, species are frequently divided into subspecies, or races, because in widely separated localities, animals of the same parent stock sometimes are so influenced by differences in climate, food, and surroundings that they assume different colors, or grow larger or smaller than the type. But, no matter how much individuals may differ in size and color, if it is possible to bring together a collection of specimens which will show all stages of variation from the type to XX 11 INTRODUCTION the extremes, then the specimens all belong to the same species. Thus, in passing from New York to Ohio, specimens of the Gray Squirrel show all shades of variation, from the typical gray to black; but all belong to the same species, called in Latin, Sci-u'rus car-o-li-nen' sis. A Species is an assemblage of individual animals which in at least one respect are distinctly different from all others, and whose peculiarities are so well marked and so constant that they can be distinguished from all others without the aid of locality labels. When a new kind of animal is found, adult specimens of which are distinctly different from those of all known species, an average specimen is taken as a type, and it is described, and christened by its describes Every species should be distinguishable by external characters; and any animal which requires to be killed and dissected before it can be named, is of no practical value as an independent form. To secure recognition among zoologists, it is important that the first description of a new species should appear in a regular publication of some scientific society, or in a scientific journal. In case the creature has not already been described, and the proposed species has just claims to stand alone, this name is entitled to stand, by right of priority, or first christening. Many times it happens that through ignorance of what has been done by others, or by errors in judgment, a new name is bestowed upon an animal or plant that has already been named. Some- times, also, it is found that the name bestowed has already been used for some other animal. A name applied to an animal or plant already named is called a syn'o-nym. In scientific books, synonyms sometimes are printed in a list under the correct name, followed by the names of their respective authors. A zoological synonym always stands for a published error, and scientific authors should be chary of describing as “new” any species which are' likely to prove mere synonyms. The type of any species is a carefully selected specimen which in size and color may fairly be considered the standard, or average, for that species. Among zoologists, this term is apjfiied to the identical skin, or other specimen, described by its discoverer. Because of the many scientific names that are erroneously bestowed upon animals, the name of the author who is responsible for a name is usually printed, in abbreviated form, immediately after the name itself, thus: Popular name. Scientific name. Authority. Coyote. Canis latrans. Say. A parenthesis enclosing a Latin name and the name of its author is a sign that the name has been changed somewhat from the form originally chosen and put forth by the author of the species. Taken as a whole, this name means (1) that the “popular ’’name of the animal is Coy'ote; (2) that its scientific name (Latin) is Canis (=dog) la'trans (=barking); and (3) that it was first cor- rectly described and named in print by a man named Say. If we consult our books, we will find that Thomas Say was a Philadelphia naturalist, and his description of this animal appeared in “Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Mountains,” published in 1823, Yol. I, page 168. Whenever the name of an animal has been so long in use that it has become familiar to millions of people, any attempt to change it tends to create confusion. A slightly incorrect name in universal use is often better than the confusion and doubt inseparable from attempting a change. Thus, the American buffalo, considered in connection with the world’s bovine animals generally, is really a bison; and the prairie-" dog ” is really a prairie marmot; but since nearly all the inhabitants of America know these animals by their incorrect names, and any effort to force a universal change v/ould be quite fruitless, it would be unwise to attempt it. It is very important to the student that the names of the various Orders of vertebrate animals should be learned and remembered; for they are the keys with which to unlock and reveal all systematic knowledge of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. THE INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS: A WARNING During the past two years, so many persons have requested my views regarding the mental capacity of animals, that I feel impelled to enter here a brief statement, coupled with a warning. Unfortunately, it cannot be written otherwise than in the first person. INTRODUCTION xxiii While I have no desire to exploit my personal experiences among wild creatures, it is at least fair to state, for the benefit of the millions to whom the writer is unknown, that of wild creatures in their haunts, and also in captivity, he has seen as much as most men of his tastes. The tendency of the present is to idealize the higher animals, to ascribe to them intelligence and reasoning powers which they do not possess, and in some instances to “observe” wonderful manifestations that take place chiefly in the imagination of the beholder. For example, to a ruffed grouse, having mingled blood and mud on a broken leg, is ascribed a deliberate and well-considered attempt at “ surgery,” and the intentional making of a clay jacket, re-enforced with pieces of grass. To my mind, all such “ observations ” as the above are too absurd for serious consideration; and when put forth for the information of the young, they are harmful. There exists to-day a tendency to ascribe to wild animals a full measure of human intelligence. But wild creatures must not be taken too seriously. With all their “schools” in the woods, they are not yet as intelligent as human beings; and the strain that is being put upon them by some of their exponents is much too great. With the most honest intentions, a naturalist may so com- pletely overestimate and misinterpret the actions of animals as to reach very ridiculous conclusions. 