Observations. This formidable species dwells in holes, ten or twelve inches in depth, in light soil, which it digs itself; for the cavity is always proportionate to the size of the spider. The orifice of the hole has a ring, made chiefly of silk, which prevents the soil from falling in when it rains. This LYCOSA, probably as large as the Tarantula of the South of Europe, is common in Massachusetts; but we have not heard of serious accidents produced by its bite. Its poison, however, must be of the same nature and as virulent. The reason perhaps why nothing is said of its venom, is, that so very few instances can have occurred of its biting any body. All persons shun spiders, and these shun mankind still more. Moreover their cheliceres cannot open at an angle which can enable them to grasp a large object. Without denying its power to poison, which it certainly has, it is well to expose popular errors, such as that of the Romans in regard to the bite of the shrew which it is now proved cannot open its mouth wide enough to bite at all. This spider, when captured, shows some combativeness, and has uncommon tenacity of life. It is a laborious task to dig down its deep hole with the care necessary not to injure it. I have at times introduced a long slender straw downward, till I could feel a resistance, and also the struggle of the tenant; and I could perceive that it bit the straw. In one or two instances, by lifting the straw gradually, I brought up the enraged spider still biting the inert instrument of its wrath. It probably lives many years. piceous variety is found in Alabama, with the two first joints. of the legs, pectus and abdomen yellowish underneath, or lighter in color. Habitat. Massachusetts, North Alabama. PI. VIII. Fig. 8. Lycosa fatifera. a. Its trophi. b. Its eyes. A 2. LYCOSA (TARANTULA) CAROLINENSIS ? Bosc. M. S. Description. Mouse-colored; cephalothorax with an indented blackish mark at base; cheliceres covered with rufous hairs in front, and with a red elevation; abdomen with several whitish dots and angular transverse lines on the disk, sides nearly white; beneath, usually quite black, except the legs, which are whitish, the joints tipped with black. Male with nearly the same marks, very black beneath. Attains a very large size. Observations. This spider has the same habits as L. fatifera, making deep excavations in the ground. It is frequently found under stones, and possibly it is in such places, nearer the surface, that the eggs are hatched. The female carries her young on her back, presenting a hideous aspect, being then apparently covered with animated warts. little monsters have the instinct, if the mother is much disturbed, to escape and scatter in all directions. The male, not unfrequently of an enormous size, is often found wandering in October and November, in Alabama, and sometimes enters houses. Habitat. North Carolina, Georgia, North Alabama. The Pl. VIII. Fig. 9. L. (Tarantula) Carolinensis? a. One leg, seen underneath. ART. XVII.-DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FISHES OF LAKE ERIE, THE OHIO RIVER AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES. BY JARED C. Artedi. Le Sueur. The Herring-Salmon. Coregonus artedi. Le Sueur. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, p. 231. Le Sueur's description of this species, contained in the first volume of the "Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia," I copy entire. "C. Artedi. Body sub-fusiform, a little elevated at the back; head small, having an osseous radiated plate, which is covered by the skin; snout pointed. In form this species approaches the Scombers; a section of it is oval. Head small and narrow; snout short, terminated by small intermaxillaries; maxillaries wide, sharp-edged as in the herring, edges entire; mandibles carinate, producing inversely a triangular pedunculate expansion, very small conical teeth inserted in the skin of the lips, at the extremity of the jaws these teeth were sufficiently manifest in a small individual, but not visible in a larger one, a female, which came under my observation. Rays in the osseous plate of the head tubular, and open at the exterior, some tending backwards, and others towards the end of the snout. A faint carinated line divides the top of the head in the dried specimens. Lateral line straight and near the middle; nostrils double, close to the end of the snout, and articulation of the maxillaries; scales round, approximated, easily falling off; the base of the tail is covered with them. Color. Ash blue at the back, paler and silvery on the rest of the body, with yellow tints on the tail, head and dorsal; iris whitish, pupil black. B. 9; P. 16; D. 12; V. 12; A. 13; C. & rays. Length ten to twelve inches. Very delicate food. Taken in Lake Erie, and at Lewiston, Upper Canada. Called Herring-Salmon." Observations. The specimens I have seen of this species, were more highly colored than those described by Le Sueur. The upper surface of the head is tinged with green; the back is of a bluish ash-color and olive, fading on the sides to skyblue; the sides and abdomen of a brilliant silver lustre. The side of the head anterior to the eye is delicately diaphanous, and the gill-covers are slightly touched in different parts with a metallic lustre. The rays of the caudal fin are so much blended, that they cannot be accurately counted. It is taken in the month of September at Cleveland, in considerable numbers, and is decidedly the best fish for eating obtained in that vicinity. Esox. Lin. E. reticulatus. Le Sueur. The Pickerel. Pike. Esox reticulatus. Le Sueur, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. I. p. 414. 66 66 Plate X. Fig. 2. Head elongate, sloping from the base of the skull to the tip of the nose, longitudinally sulcate between the eyes. Lower jaw longer, the front teeth short, the lateral elevated and larger; a series of large glandular orifices evident on the edge of the lower jaw and preoperculum. Body sub-cylindric, compressed laterally; back rounded, slightly depressed longitudinally before the dorsal fin; scales emarginate, small. Dorsal and anal fins rounded, the former larger, the latter slightly posterior, both placed on fleshy bases. Caudal fin bi-lobed, lobes obtuse, rounded. Ventral and pectoral fins small, short and falcate. Color. Head and back deep olive and green, sides yellowish, marked with oblique and longitudinal bars of green, which give them a reticulated appearance; throat and belly white. Dorsal, caudal and anal fins yellowish and reddish, reticulated in a similar manner with bands and spots of deep olive or green. Length. The specimen before me is 21 inches. Some are taken that are 4 feet in length. Habitat. Lake Erie, the Ohio river and most of their tributaries. D. 18; C. 20; A. 15; V. 11; P. 16 rays. Observations. The drawing was made from a specimen taken at Cleveland. The colors were darker and more brilliant than in any that I have seen. The number of rays in the caudal and anal fins does not agree with Le Sueur's description. It is probably specifically identical with the fish known in ponds and rivers of the Atlantic States under the same name, but from locality, assumes some variety of form and colors, and also attains a greater size in the large Western Lakes, than in any other part of the country. Those taken in the Ohio are generally of a smaller size. ANGUILLA. Cuv. A. lutea. Raf. The Yellow Eel. Anguilla lutea. Raf. Ichthy. Ohien. p. 78. Head flattened, abruptly elevated behind the eyes, ventricose beneath the throat: jaws short, furnished with numerous minute teeth, clustered and extending upon the anterior part of the vomer: lower jaw projecting eyes small, situated above the angles of the mouth. Body cylindric, elongate and fusiform, covered with minute oval-oblong scales, evident to the naked eye only when the skin is dessicated. Vent anterior to the middle of the body lateral line commences before the pectoral fins and is flexuous above that fin. Pectoral fin small, obovate-falcate; with about 15 rays. Dorsal, caudal and anal fins continuous and uninterrupted, wider above and near the tip of the body, acuminate at the extremity. The dorsal commences anterior to the anal, and immediately behind the vent; numerously rayed. Length from 2 to 3 feet. The specimen from which the drawing was made was 2 feet 9 inches long; 5 inches in circumference at the commencement of the dorsal fin and 4 § inches behind the base of the pectorals. From the tip of the lower jaw to the base of the pectoral fin, 4 inches; and from the last point to the vent, 11 inches. Color. Yellowish-brown on its sides and back, and whitish on the belly; the two colors meeting abruptly on the sides of the abdomen. Habitat. Ohio and its larger tributaries. |