CLASS MYRIAPODA.

As the name implies, this class is composed of oblong or long animals, with many feet, of which there are not a large number of species found within the limits of Lancaster county; and although some of them are very common, yet very little attention has been devoted to their specific history by a resident naturalist. Of this class there are two divisions, very distinct in their structure, form and habits-commonly called Centipedes and Millipedes. "The Myriapoda are air-breathing apterous articulata, characterized by the distinctness of the head from the body; the strongly marked segmentation of the latter, and its method of development." According to specialists, they constitute two distinct Orders. called CHILOPODA, including the centipedes; and DIPLOPODA, including the millipedes. The former are known, in many instances, to be carnivorous in their habits, and some of the latter, are equally well known to be herbivorous. The Chilopods comprise those that have the body flattened with a limited number of segmental rings, to each of which is attached a single pair of feet, at the sides. The diplopods on the other hand have the body tube-shaped, or cylindrical, with a double pair of feet attached to each segment, beneath. The former are very swift runners, whilst the latter seem to glide along very slowly, and when interrupted throw themselves over on the side in a spiral coil. There is, however, a subdivision of the Chilopoda called CHILOGNATHA, which seems to be a connecting link between the two orders above named. These possess the flattened bodies, with the legs articulated at the sides; but there are two pairs to each segment, and like the diplopoda, they are slow travellers. Large species of the diplopods-from three to four inches in length-are found in the wooded valleys of Lancaster county, especially in the southern tier of townships. These have been detected feeding upon the various species of fungi that are common to those localities. Although the common names of Centipedes and Millipedes, applied to these animals, would seem to indicate that they possess respectively a hundred or a thousand feet; yet there are species that exceed the first number, but none that reach the last.

SPIROBOLUS Brndt.

marginatus Say.

JULUS Linn.

pilosicautus Wood.

canadensis Nup. immaculatus? Wood.

pensylvanicus Brndt.

canaliculatus Wood.

liqueatus.

ceruleo-cinctus Wood.

hortensis Wood.

variegatus Wood.

stigmatosus? Brndt.

minutus? Brndt

The Chilognatha perhaps ought rather to be considered a sub-order of the Diplopoda than the Chilopoda. They are diplopod in their pedal characters, and still have the fisttened bodies of the chilopods, with the legs articulated at the sides. The CLASS is cut up into many orders, sub-orders, sub-families and sub-genera, to which, in a limited list, it was not thought necessary to adhere. Nor can it be supposed, from the little that is absolutely known of the local myriapoda of Lancaster county, that this list includes all the local species. Sufficient are however enumerated and arranged, to give some idea of what the county contains. With but limited material, assisted by the excellent paper of Dr. Wood of Philadelphia, this list has been compiled.

HERPETOLOGY.1

REPTILIA, CLASS OF REPTILES.

The animals belonging to this class have been long and tolerably well known under the common names of Turtles, Terrapins, Snakes, Frogs, Toads, Lizards, Salamanders, Newts, &c., and although generally harmless, the larger portion of our population regard many of them with feelings of aversion. The class is usually divided into four orders, namely, CHELONIA, SAURIA, OPHIDIA and BARTRACHIA, only a small number of species of either of which are known to inhabit Lancaster county.

ORDER I. CHELONIA or TESTUDINATA-TURTLES.

CISTUDA clausa-the common "land tortoise" or "box turtle;" sparsely but widely distributed over the county.

CHELYDRA serpentina-the well-known "snapping turtle;" very much prized by epicures, and found in all our streams, especially in ponds and mill-dams. EMYS (Graptemys, Ag.,) geographica―the peculiar yellow curved map-like lines with which it is marked gave rise to the specific name.

(Chrysemys, Ag.,) picta-the scales of the carapace are beautifully bordered with yellow, and the base with red markings, hence the common name of "painted terrapin."

(Nanemys, Ag.,) guttata-is distinguished by small yellow spots on the black carapace; numbers are often associated together in the same pond, and sunning themselves on a log, stone or stump, in the water.

(Glyptemis, Ag.,) insculpta-A pretty species, scales of the shell deeply grooved in radiating lines from an elevated centre-legs and neck deep-orange colored when young.

(Ptychemys, Ag.,) rubriventris-a doubtful species.

megacephela?—the large river terrapin; at one time exceedingly numerous in the Susquehanna river, but now becoming rather scarce. It is considered next in excellence to the snapping turtle.

OZOTHECA, Ag., odorata-commonly called the "stink pot."

Contributed by Mr. J. Stauffer.

THYROSTERNUM pensylvanicum, Ag. The two last named species have a musky odor and are called stink pots. The first can readily be distinguished from the second by its more deeply marked scales and the small fleshy warts under the chin.

We have but two kinds

ORDER II. SAURIA-LIZARDS.

TROPIDOLEPUS undulatus—a brownish species with diagonal markings of black stripes and spots.

SCINCUS fasciatus-the five-striped lizard; a specimen from East Florida appears to be identical with ours.

ORDER III. OPHIDIA or SERPENTS.

FAMILY-CRotalida.

CROTALUS horridus-"Bastard Rattle-snake," without the rattle; venomous; rare. Distinguished from the true rattle-snake mainly by the absence of rattles. Occasionally along the mountain ranges specimens may be found.

TRIGONOCEPHALUS contortrix, Holb.,-the "Copperhead"; venomous. This reptile is still found in the county, and especially along its wild southern border, where in some localities, it is by no means rare.

FAMILY-COLUBERIDE.

BASCANON Constrictor, B. & G.-Black-snake-by way of distinction called the racer. Not venomous.

SCOTOPHIS allighaniensis, B. & G.-Also a common black snake, but not so slender as the racer.

NERODIA sipedon-common water snake; abundant, but harmless.

fasciata a very pretty mottled species of water snake.

REGINA lebris-subaquatic in its habits.

ENTAINIA Sirtalis—the common garter snake; also resorts to the water in pursuit of tadpoles and other species of aquatic animals.

sauretia—the swift garter snake, also called the "ribbon snake"; is more slender, and the stripes broader and more distinct than in the common species. OPHIBOLUS eximeus-the common "house snake"; is beautifully mottled with brown spots, with dark margins on a light ground. A specimen three feet long was captured near Lancaster, and is now in the Museum of the Linnæan Society. HETERODON platyrhines-commonly called the "Viper" or "Blower"; but unlike the true viper, which is a foreign species, it is entirely harmless, although sometimes making a great show of pugnacity.

DIADOPHIS punctatus-the ring-necked snake; is not rare.

STOREYIA de Kayi-quite common within the limits of Lancaster city, with small black spots along the dorsal line and sides; color in larger specimens of a brick red.

CELUTA amona-ground snake, or worm snake.

It may be added in conclusion, that there are persons now living in the county of Lancaster, who verily believe they have seen a species of green-snake within its limits many years ago, but no recent case has occurred in confirmation of such a belief.

IV. ORDER BATRACHIA-FROGS AND SALAMANDERS.

FAMILY-URODELIDE.

SALAMANDRA erythronota-the most common species, under stones and logs; dark color with a yellowish dorsal stripe.

conicauda—a beautiful bright yellow species, with black spots and long tail. symmetrica-a reddish brown species with crimson spots.

rubra-red with black spots.

glutinosa a glutinous species of a bluish color.

AMBLYSTOMA opaca-terrestrial in their habits, but partial to moist localities. TRITON millepunctatus-this species is aquatic and has a membrane along the tail, finlike. There are perhaps other species inhabiting Lancaster county, as such have been captured in adjoining counties.

MENOPOMA allighaniensis-this is the "hell-bender" of the fisherman; it is the largest species known to our county, and within the past few years has become common in the Susquehanna, and has been captured at Safe Harbor, Columbia and Marietta. A specimen in the collection of the Linnæan Society is nearly eighteen inches in length.

FAMILY-RANIDE.

RANA pipens-our most common species of frog. This species was at one time very numerous in the county of Lancaster, but being diligently sought by epicures as a delicate edible table relish, is becoming very rare, especially as its favorite haunts are rapidly being drained and giving way to cultivation.

fontinalis commonly called the "Bull-frog," and is distinguished from the common species by dermal folds along the dorsal line; one taken near Lancaster city. halecina-the spotted or shad-frog.

sylvatica the wood-frog.

palustris-the marsh-frog.

HYLODES gryllus-the small cricket-frog.

HYLA versicolor-the northern tree-frog or tree-toad. There seem to be two kinds of tree-frogs in Lancaster connty, unless the difference in color is merely sexual; one is a dark faun color, mottled with black; the other has small eyes, more prominent and of a greenish color, with only a large blotch across the shoulders and a dark band on the thighs.

BUFO americanus-the common toad; repulsive to some people, but at the same time harmless and useful in gardens as an insect scavenger. erythronotus-deemed a southern species, but found in the county.

ICHTHYOLOGY.1

ORDER 1. ACANTHOPTERYGII.

The fishes belonging to this Order have two dorsal fins, the anterior of which has spiny rays.

FAMILY-PERCIDE.

PERCA flavescens, the common American yellow perch, is extensively distributed. They rarely attain a length of 12 to 15 inches. One specimen recorded weighed 24 pounds. This is the only species we have.

LABRAX lineatus-the striped bass or rock fish; well known, and many are taken at Safe Harbor and elsewhere on the Susquehanna river. They vary greatly in size; specimens weighing 77 pounds have been taken.

LUCIOPERCA, Cuv. (Stizostedion, Raf.)—the yellow pike-perch of the Susquehanna, 19 to 18 inches long.

POMOTIS-Sunfish.

1 Contributed by Mr. J. Stauffer.

maculatus, the moccasin; varies in different localities and seasons and resembles P. jibbosus and P. catesbei.

appendix (Ichthelis appendix) has a prolonged rounded point to the operculum. BRITTUS flavescens-a name suggested by the writer for a butter-yellow species caught at Safe Harbor, apparently undescribed, resembling a Brittus and the butter-fish of Western waters. Prof. Cope saw the specimen and deemed it new and unnamed.

FAMILY ETHEOSTOMIDE.

This family, recently established, embraces several genera of small species and appears to be exclusively limited to the fresh waters of the northern portions of the Western Hemisphere.

Prof. S. S. Haldeman describes two species of PERCINA, as a sub-genus. The P. nebulosa and P. minima. The PILEOMA belongs here. The Boleosoma tessellatum, is abundant near Lancaster, in a small stream emptying into the Conestoga below the Railroad Bridge. Having no swimming-bladder it is not seen suspended in the water, but always at the bottom. We have also a species of ETHEOSTOMA, described as new by Prof. E. D. Cope, in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, for September and October, 1864, from a specimen sent him from the Conestoga, near Lancaster, which he named, peltatum, Stauffer. It is a beautiful little fish, with broad black markings over the opercle, and around the eyes. The only other fish belonging to this order found in the county known to me, is the COTTUS viscosus, Hald., found in a few localities, in clear spring water flowing through meadows, bordered by turf and having a shallow pebbly bottom. This fish is rather slimy, and 3 inches long. The spines are stout. Fishes of this genus are properly called bull-heads. Our species was first described by Prof. S. S. Haldeman, in 1840.

ORDER II. MALACOPTERI.

This order embraces fish having all the fin-rays soft and cartilaginous, with the exception of the first in the dorsal and the first in the pectoral, as in the

FAMILY SILURIDE-Cat-fishes.

These have the skin naked, mouth bearded with long filaments and a second adipose or fatty dorsal fin. Our cat-fish were formerly embraced in the genus PIMELODUS, which are all South American fishes. They are now divided into six genera, of which we have the

AMINURUS lynx, a large headed black species with a rounded caudal fin, and fin higher than long at its insertion.

nebulosus. (A. albidus?)—has the anal fin short but broad on the base--a beautiful light colored and gracefully shaped cat-fish frequently taken in the Conestoga. We have two other undescribed cat-fish belonging to the genus

ICHTHÆLURUS, Raf. (Ictalurus Cope).-J. P. McCaskey, September 9th, 1863, brought me a specimen taken at Shenk's Ferry-nine inches long, of a yellowish or pale olive color, having a silvery reflective and metallic blue on the sides, lateral line straight, dorsal 'spine serrated, nape of the neck depressed-anal fin wide and long, light colored, with prominent veins or blood vessels ramified over the fins. This I named, Ichthælurus McCaskei. The other species, taken by J. B. Kevinski, Sept. 1863. Head moderate, body tapering, tail deeply furcated, color dorsally black, sides slate colored, abdomen whitish. The anal fin long and moderately high. From its gyrating motions when drawn from the water, I should have named it I. gyrans, but this name is appropriated already to a dis