ZOOLOGICA, SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY V2

ZOOLOGICA
SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL

VOLUME
OCTOBER

1915-1923

Numbers

II

AUGUST

1-18 Inclusive

PUBLISHED BY THE
THE

SOCIETY

ZOOLOGICAL

PARK,

1924

SOCIETY
NEW

YORK


;

;

General Office:

101

Park Avenue, New York

©ffirpfH

Honorary President, Henry Fairfield Osborn;
Vice-Presidents, Madison Grant and Frank K. Sturgis;
Secretary, Chairman, Exec. Committee, Madison Grant;
Ireeisurer, Cornelius E. Agnew
Haarb of ManaQets
uilaHB nf

igas

Percy R. Pyne, George Bird Grinnell, Cleveland H. Dodge, C. Ledyard Blair,
Anthony R. Kxtser, Mortimer L. Schiff, Frederic C. Walcott,
Beekman Winthrop, George C. Clark, Jr., W. Redmond Cross,
Henry Fairfield Osborn, Jr.. Arthur A. Fowler.
OliaBB nf

laaB

Henry Fairfield Osborn. Lispenard Stewart. Charles
F.

F. Dieterich,

Baker, Wm. Pierson Hamilton, Robert S. Brewster, Edward
Harkness, William B. Osgood Field. Edavin Thorne, Percy
A. Rockefeller, John E. Beravind, Iraqng K. Taylor.
ffllaaa

George
S.

nf lasr

Madison Grant, William White Niles, Frank K. Sturgis, Ogden Mills,
Lewis Rutherfurd Morris, Archer M. Huntington, George D. Pratt,
T. Coleman duPont. Henry D. Whiton, Cornelius R.
Agnew, Harrison Williams. Marshall Field.
Srtpnttfir g'taflf

William T. Horn ad ay, Director of
W. Reid Blair, Assistant to
Charles H. Toavnsend. Director

the Zoological

Park;

the Director;

of the Aquarium
L. Ditmars, Curator of Reptiles;
Beebe, Honorary Curator of Birds and Director of

Raymond
William

Department of Tropical Research

Lee S. Crandall. Curator of Birds;
George S. Huntington, Prosector;

Elwin

R. Sanborn. Photographer and Editor.

lEftttnrtal

Qlommtttrp

Madison Grant, Chairman; William T. Hornaday. Charles H. Toavnsend,
William Beeibb, Elavin R. Sanborn, Secretary.


TITLES OF PAPERS

PAGE
1

2

— Two Series of
— A Tetrapteryx

3— Birds
4

3

Beehc

39

Bcchc

55

BccTjc

107

Gudgcr

125

Le Boucf

1(37

Bccbc

205

Ears fall

2-13

Crandall

255

Welsh and Brcdcr

261

Brcdcr

281

Brcdcr and Crawford

287

Brcdcr

331

Friedman

355

Mellen and Van Oosten

375

Nuble

417

Stage in the Aiieestry of Birds

of Para, Brazil

— Fauna

5— The

Dcckcrt

Amphibians

of

Jungle Debris

Gaff-Topsail

6— Mammals

of Australia

7.8-9— Higher Vertebrates, British Guiana

10— Habits
11

—Eclipse

12—Life

of the Sage Grouse

Plumage

in

Domestic Fowl

History of the Puff'er

13

— Hermaphroditism

11

— Food

of Certain

15— Fishes

of

of a Croaker

Minnows

Sandy Hook Bay

—Weaving of the
17 — The Whitefishes
16

18— The Anderson

Weaver Bird

Tree Frog

.



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig.


ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Fig. 28.

Skull of the Gaff-topsail

148

Fig. 29.

Ventral surface of skull

150

Fig. 30.

Gaff-topsail that has just burst the shell

152

Fig. 31.

Larvae of Gaff-topsail

152

MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA

Figures 32
Fig.

IN

io

THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK

G8 inclusive

Typical forest in the Province of Victoria, Australia
Australia: Great Britain's Southeastern

Young Gray Kangaroo, M. gigantus
Wallaroo or Euro Kangaroo
Woodward Kangaroo
Kangaroo
Parry Kangaroo
Giant Red Kangaroo
Kangaroo Island Kangaroo
Bennett Tree Kangaroo
Bennett Tree Kangaroo
Captive Tree Kangaroo
Rufous-necked Wallaby
Black-faced

Brush-tailed

16T

169
176

176-177
176-177

176-177
176-177
176-177

176-177
176-177
176-177
176-177
176-177
176-177

Phascogale

Bennett Tree Kangaroo
Albino Red Kangaroo
Albino Red-bellied Wallaby
Ring-tailed

Empire

Wallaby

176-177

176-177
176-177
176-177

Brush-tailed Wallabies

176-177

Black Swamp-Wallaby

176-177

Male of the Swamp-Wallaby
Agile Wallaby
The home of the Tree Wallaby
Short-tailed Wallaby
Rat-Kangaroo
Australian Gray Phalanger
Koala or native Bear
Koala in its tree-top haunt

176-177

Fat-tailed

Opossum Mouse

177
179

192
192-193
192-193
192-193
192-193
192-193

Flying-Phalanger

192-193

Rabbit-eared Bandicoot

192-193

Wombat and young

192-193

Tasnianian Wolf

A

family of Tasmanian

Under surface

193

Devils

of the Echidna

Echidna in normal attitude
The Platypus or Duck-bill

197
198

198
201


ILLVSTEATIONS

REMARKABLE HABITS OF THE SAGE GROUSE
Fif/iires 69 to 76 inclusive

PAGE

Fig. 75.

Sage Grouse displaying
Filling pouch with air
Stiff-legged run after filling
Lifting pouch with the wings
Side view of lift of the pouch
Extreme of throw of the pouch
Slap down of pouch on chest

Fig. 76.

Sage

Fig. 69.
Fig. 70.

Fig. 71.

Fig. 72.
Fig. 73.

Fig. 74.

241

246

246
247

247
248
248
249

Grouse

ECLIPSE PLUMAGE IN DOMESTIC FOWL

Fiffures 77 to 79 inclusive
Fig. 77.

Fig. 78.
Fig. 79.

Game Cock showing hackle
Red Jungle Fowl
Feathers of Game Cock

in eclipse

253
253
256

A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE PUFFER
Figures 80

to 96 inclusive

Fig. 80.

Larva

Fig. 81.

Magnification

Fig. 82.

Newly hatched

Fig. 83.

Larval

Fig. 84.

Larval

fish

five

Fig. 85.

Larval

fish

seven days after hatching

Fig. 86.

Post larval

fish

Fig. 87.

Adult

partly

Fig. 88.

Detail of head of newly hatched larva

268

Fig. 89.

Detail of vent of two day old larva

269

Fig. 90.

Profile of lateral

Fig. 91.

Tip of

Fig. 92.

Spines from ventral surface of ten day larva

270

Fig. 93.

Outline of a specimen

271

Fig. 94.

Dorsal view, same specimen

271

Fig. 95.

Horizontal index

274

Fig. 96.

Horizontal

275

five

fish

fish,

tail

days after hatching

egg

of

261

262
266

fish

one day after hatching

days after hatching

266
266
267
267

of six

inflated

organ

day old larva

—chart
index— chart

267

270
270

HERMAPHRODITISM OF A CROAKER
Ficjure 97
Fig. 97.

Croaker

— Anatomical

chart

282

THE FOOD OF CERTAIN MINNOWS
Figures 98 to 128 inclusive
Fig.

98.

Map

Fig.

99.

View looking up stream

of collecting site

290
292


ILLVSTBATWl^S
PAGE
292

Fig. 100.

View looking down stream

Fig. 101.

Contents, stomach and intestine, cornutus

293

Fig. 102.

Contents, stomach and intestine, cornutus

293

Fig. 103.

Semotilus

304

Fig. 104.

Leuciscus vandoisulus

Fig. 105.

Leuciscus vandoisulus

Fig. 106.
Fig. 107.

Notropis procne
Notropis cornutus

Fig. 108.

Notropis cornutus,

Fig. 109.

Bhinichthys

Fig. 110.

Exoglossum maxillinffua

305

Fig. 111.

Semotilus

314

bullaris

304
,

imm

304
304
305

imm

305
305

atronasus

bullaris

314

Fig. 112.

Leuciscus vandoisulus

Fig. 113.

Notropis procne

314

Fig. 114.

Notropis cornutus

315

Fig. 115.

Bhinichthys atronasus

315
315

Exoglossum maxiUingua
117-122. Phyrangeal teeth

Fig. 116.
Fig.

Fig. 122-128.

Intestinal

316
317

walls

THE FISHES OF SANDY HOOK BAY
Figure 129
Fig. 129.

Map

of

Sandy Hook Bay

330

THE WEAVING OF THE RED-BILLED WEAVER
Figures 130

IN CAPTIVITY

to 135 inclusive

357

Weaver Birds

Fig. 130.

Weaving

Fig. 131.

Outline drawings of two nests and part of a play ground built

Fig. 132.

Types of

of

358

in captivity

Fig. 133.
Fig. 134.
Fig. 135.

stitches used

by Q. quelea

Stitches of Weaver Bird
Highly specialized correlated action between beak and feet....
Graph showing color preferences of Q. quelea

361

363
365
370

THE WHITEFISHES
Figures 136

to

144 inclusive

New York Aquarium
Huron Whitefish
York Aquarium Whitefish, December 1, 1920
York Aquarium Whitefish, April 28, 1921
York Aquarium Whitefish, July 13, 1921
York Aquarium Whitefish, August 3, 1921

Fig. 136.

Whitefishes reared in the

Fig. 137.

Typical scale of Lake

Fig. 138.

Scale of

Fig. 139.

Scale of

Fig. 140.

Scale of

Fig. 141.

Scale of

Fig. 142.

Scale of

New
New
New
New
New York Aquarium

Whitefish, January

3,

1922

373
388
388-389
388-389
388-389
388-389
388-389


ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Fig. W'i.
Fig. 144.

Chart of rate of growth of the scales of Open-gill and Doublecrook
Chart of growth curves of Lake Huron and New York Aquarium

401

409

Whitefish

THE ANDERSON TREE FROG
Fif/ures

14.5

to 1.53 inclusive

Fig. 145.

The Call

Fig. 146.

Distribution of Ili/Ia andcrsonii

Fig. 147.

The Pine-Barrens

Fig. 148.

Flashlight photographs illustrating the diversity of the calling
stations
430-431

Fig. 149.

Flashlight photographs of
breeding process

Fig. 150.

The oviposition of Hyla andcrsouii

Pigmentation of the egg of H. andersonii
Development of the adhesive organs
Tadpoles of Hyla andcrsonii

Fig. 151.
Fig. 152.
Fig. 153.

415
at Lakehurst,

416

New

Jersey

H. andcrsonii

420

illustrating stages in the

434-435
438
'

440
443

446





ZOOLOGICA
SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME

II,

NUMBER

1.

REVIEW
OF

TWO

^^^»?

SERIES OF AMPHIBIANS
By
Richard Deckert

PUBLISHED
BY
THE
SOCIETY
THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK, NEW YORK
October, 1915


:

OFFICERS
OF THE

N^m f nrk

Xnnlngtral i^nnrtg

President

Henry Fairfield Osborn.
Vice-President and
Secretary:

Treasurer

Percy

Madison Grant,
11

:

R. Pyne,

30 pine Street.

Wall Street.

i£x?rutiup (Eommittrp

Madison Grant, 'Chairman.
Percy R. Pyne,
Frank K. Sturgis,
* Samuel Thorne,
Lispenard Stewart,
William White Niles,
Watson B. Dickerman,
Wm. Pierson Hamilton,
Henry Fairfield Osborn,
ex-officio.

Au&tttng QlflmmtttPf

William White Niles, Chairman.
H. Casimir de Rham,
Lispenard Stewart.

Director of the Zoological Park: William T. Hornaday.
Director of the Aquarium: Charles H, Townsend.
Prosector:

Dr. George

Architect:

C.

S.

Huntington.

Grant La Farge.

Consulting Engineer

:

H.

De

Assistant Secretary: H.

J.

B. Parsons.

Shorter.

Assistant to the Treasurer: R. L. Cerero.

*Deceased.


ZOOLOGICA
SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME

II,

NUMBER

1.

REVIEW
OF

TWO

SERIES OF AMPHIBIANS
By
Richard Deckert

THE
SOCIETY
PUBLISHED
BY

THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK, NEW YORK
October, 1915




FIG.

1.

HARLEQUIN FROGS, DICI^DROBATES

Blue-leg-ged Frog-, Dendrobates typographus. Keferst.

Ornate Frog, D.

tinctoriio;,

Schneid.

Scarlet Frog-, D.

t.

ignitvs.

Cope

Richard Deckert, pinx

FIG.
y.i,„l,ui;r(l

Vnl.

II

2.

ATn

LARGE-EYED FROG, RANA CHRYSOPRA^INA. COPE
1

T^yniit-i


REVIEW
OF

TWO

SERIES OF AMPHIBIANS*
By Richard Deckert.

(Color plates from draivings by the author.)

Introduction.

The species described in these articles belong to the Class

Amphibia and the living members can be roughly defined as
Vertebrates which undergo an external metamorphosis, hatching
from eggs (spawn) as tadpoles or larvae, and gradually assuming the adult form. These larvae have gills at some stage of
their development and several species complete the metamorphosis inside the q^^ and emerge as gillless and tailless frogs.
Most amphibians lose these larval gills, except some of the
salamanders, like Necturus and Proteus, after attaining the adult
form. Several of the American land salamanders of the genus
Amblystoma retain the gills throughout life, if the conditions for
developing into the land form are unfavorable, and have been
known to breed in this semi-larval state.

The members of the Amphibia are divided

into three Orders,

as follows:

The Apoda or limbless amphibians, have a vertebral column
with rudimentary ribs and amphicoelous vertebrae sometimes to
the number of 300. Each vertebra is cupped before and behind
and articulated with the adjoining member by means of a cartilaginous plate. Only one lung is present. The shape of these
animals is cylindrical, the head is not distinct from the body,
there is no tail and the anus is placed at the posterior end of
the body. The body shows no internal rudiments of limbs, is
naked and ringed by furrows running around it similar to the
segments of an earthworm. A few species have calcareous de*The specimens described in these reviews have been preserved and donated to the American Museum of Natural History. Marked with all possible
data, they are now available for study.


;

Zoologica

4

:

N. Y. Zoological Society.

form of bony scales under the
mouth usually wide, and the teeth

[II

;

1

posits in the

skin.

The eye

small, the

large.

These ani-

is

mals lead a subterranean life, burrowing in the soil of tropical
and subtropical countries. The larvae live in the water until
the absorption of the gills. The eggs are round or oval, and are
joined together by a gelatinous string.
This Order embraces
fifty species.

The next order is the Caudata or tailed amphibians. These
creatures have a spinal column formed of from thirty-seven to
ninety-eight vertebrae, which are amphicoelous or opisthocoecupped in front and behind or only behind. The
naked, the head broad, flat and distinct from the body.
All Caudata have limbs, although some species only rudimentary
ones (Amphiuma). Sternal apparatus as well as pelvis always
present, although the latter is sometimes rudimentary (Siren).
All members of this order have a tail throughout life.
Lungs
are usually present, although the Plethodontiime have no lungs
breathing solely through their slimy skin. All salamanders or
tailed amphibians hatch from eggs and undergo a metamorphosis from larval to adult form.
All of the known species, which
number about one hundred and fifty, breathe through gills at
some period of their existence.
lous, that is

skin

is

The
to

which

last order, Salientia, or tailless

amphibians,

species treated in these articles belong.

all

is

the one

They are

characterized by their form and the presence of four well developed limbs. With all the tail is absent in the adult form.

The

skeleton is simple, with comparatively a large and broad
and a short spinal column, consisting of from five to nine
vertebrae and which terminates posteriorly in an elongate pelvis.
This peculiar pelvic arrangement is necessary for the attachment of certain muscles that are used in leaping or acting as
springs in giving impetus to the enormous leaps, which are possible by most members of this order. Short ribs are present only
in one family, (Disco glossidae)
The limbs are always four in

number with four digits on the hand and five on the foot, but
in a few species some of the digits are rudimentary or absent
Some tree-toads have a rudiment of a fifth finger
(Stumpffia)
on the hand. The skin is either smooth or dry, and more or less
skull

.

.


:

Deckert:

1915J

Two

Series of Amphibians.

5

granular or warty, but always naked. In a few species (Mantophryne, Ceratophrys) there are calcareous deposits in the skin
in the shape of bony plates or granules.
The eye is usually
large, bright and so very mobile that it can be lowered into the
skull until even with the top of the head.

The
ation.

life

Some

habits of frogs and toads present considerable varispecies are terrestrial, some arboreal, some aquatic

and others subterranean. The food consists of living insects
chiefly, but some of the larger species are cannibalistic, and a
few of the largest will eat small mammals, birds and snakes.

The order consists of nine families, divided
numbering about 1,200 species.

into eleven sub-

families

In the descriptions to follow it should be particularly noted
the color patterns are described from living subjects
throughout. The greater number of the past descriptions of the
rarer amphibians are from preserved specimens, and some conthat

fusion has resulted owing to the rapid fading of these animals,
with a consequent marked change, not only in hue but in pattern.
The greater number of the colored figures are for the first time

sketched from

life.

FROGS AND TOADS FROM COSTA RICA.
On May 20, 1914, Mr. Lee S. Crandall, Assistant Curator of
Birds at the Zoological Park, and Donald Carter, a student at
the Park, returned from a six weeks' collecting trip in Costa
Rica. The trip resulted in the capture of many interesting birds
and other animals, among the latter being ten species of frogs,
toads and tree toads; most of them never before exhibited in
this country. Following is a list of the species

—

Family BuFONiDAE Toads.
Marine Toad, Bitfo marinus, Seba.

—

Family Hylidae Tree Toads.
Baudin's Tree Toad, Smilisca baudini, Dum.

&

Bibr.


,

Zoological N. Y. Zoological Society..

[11; 1

—

Family Cystignathidae Arch-Jawed Toads.
Underwood's Toad, Hylodes uiiderwoodi, Blgr.
Barred Piping Toad, Hylodes polijptychiis, Cope.
Brown Piping Toad, Hylodes rhodopis, Cope.

— Frogs.
Raninae— True

Family Ranidae

Subfamily
Frogs.
Large-eyed Frog, Rana chrysoprasina, Cope.
Godman's Frog, Rana godmani, Gthr,

—

Subfamily Dendrobatinae Harlequin Frogs.
Blue-legged Frog, Dendrobates typographus, Keferst.
Scarlet Frog, Dendrobates typographus ignitus, Cope.
Ornate Frog, Dendrobates tinctorius, Schneider.

—Toads.

Family Bufonidae

The toads
shoulder girdle

of this family have no teeth in either jaw, the
is

arciferous or dilatable, and the vertebrae are

procoelous, or cupped in front and without ribs.

The

tips of the

and toes are either obtuse, (genera Notaden, Pseudophryne, Nectes, Biifo), pointed, {Myobatrachus, Rhinophrynus
Cophophryne) or triangular, and carrying medium-sized or large
adhesive disks or pads, (Engystomops and Nectophryne)
The
Bufonidae are distributed over all parts of the globe except, of
course, the Arctic and Antarctic regions, which have no amphibians.
Central America and northern South America have the
most genera, as well as the greatest number of species. The
species number about one hundred and fifty, grouped in nine
genera.
Of these genera, Notaden (one species) and Myobatrachus (one species) are Australian, Pseudophryne (four species) is Australian and African, Nectophryne (seven species) is
African and Indian, Nectes (four species) Javan and Sumatran,
Cophophryiie (one species) Indian, Engystomops (three species)
Central and South American, Rhinophrynus (one species) is
Mexican and Bufo (about one hundred and thirty species), cosmopolitan with the exception of Madagascar, New Guinea and

fingers

.

—

the Australian region.


Deckert: Tivo Series of Amphibians.

1915]

.

7

The habits of

this family are terrestrial except the genus
aquatic and has enormous webs on the hind
Necto'phryyie is more or less arboreal as indicated by the

Nectes, which
feet.

is

enormously dilated and padded fingers and

toes.

Most of the Bufonidae are excellent burrowers, hiding by
day and coming forth at dusk to hunt insect prey. Few species,
however, are strictly nocturnal, some of the genus Bufo {Biifo
foivleri B. calamita B. quercicus) having been observed hunting
in the brightest sunshine. The genera Rhinophrynus of Mexico
and Notaden and Myobatrachus of Australia, are almost exclusively termite and ant-eaters, herein approaching most of the
species of the family Engystomatidae (the narrow-mouth frogs)

whom

they also resemble in external appearance, small head,
enormously fat body, short arms and legs and comparatively
smooth skin.
In their

movements the Bufonidae are not as

true frogs {Ranidae)

,

agile as the

usually proceeding by short hops, walk-

They are excellent climbtaking advantage of every unevenness to obtain a hold, and
m.Cvintaining their balance in most trying situations.

With this
they combine great persistence, especially when trying to escape
from some pit, well or terrarium. They are but indifferent swimmers and divers with the exception of the genus Nectes, and will
only enter the water to soak their skin, and during the breeding
season for the purpose of depositing their spawn.
ing, crawling or in rare cases running.
ers,

come under observation are great feeduntold numbers of insects, most of which are injurious to plant life. In this they take the place of the insectivorous
birds on the ground at night and therefore merit our protection,
which unfortunately has been withheld to a great extent until
All species that have

ers, eating

lately.

This was probably due to ignorance of their habits, and

also to the often unprepossessing appearance of these harmless
creatures. The flesh of the larger species is said to be quite as

edible as that of

few aboriginal

some

of the true frogs, but

is

eaten only by a

tribes of tropical countries.

In appearance most of the Bufoyiidae are squat, fat and
warty. There are, however, some smooth skinned, long legged
tropical species that

remind one of a true frog.


8

Zoologica

:

N. Y. Zoological Society.

[II

;

1

Marine Toad, Biifo 7narinus, Seba. {Bufo agiia, Latr.,
Bufo ictericus, Spix., Bufo horridus, Daud.) (Boulenger, Cat. Batr. Sal. P. 315).

Color:
Brownish or greenish-olive, yellowish or reddishplain dark brown above with or without large, black,
insuliform spots, these usually edged with pale yellow. Sometimes a light median line from behind the head to above the

brown or

There may be a few scattered whitish spots on the back
and sides. Arms and legs sometimes distinctly banded with
dark brown. The cranial crests, parotoids and larger warts are
usually light, reddish brown.
Below this toad is dirty white
or yellow with or without brown spots.
vent.

Structure:
The head is broad and crowned with very
prominent bony crests diverging from above the nostrils, edging the canthus rostralis, curving around the orbit above, and
fe-ending out and down a branch before and behind the eye,
several more or less distinct branches towards the median line
above, and one connecting with the enormous parotoid glands.
These glands curve down over the arms, and in a toad six and
a half inches from snout to vent, attain a length of one and
three-quarter inches and a width of one and three-eighth inches.
They are studded with large pores. There is a distinct bony
ridge along the upper jaw on the edge of the mouth. The tympanum is about one-half the diameter of the eye, and very distinct.
The body is covered with large round warts. The skin
is loose and much wrinkled and creased.
Arms and legs are
long and powerful, hands and feet large. The ends of fingers
and toes are tipped with dark brown. The toes are moderately

webbed. Metatarsal tubercle moderately developed.
Size: Adults range from five inches to eight and one-half
inches in length from snout to vent.

Range
ica to

Southern Mexico through Central and South AmerSouthern Argentina. Many of the West Indian Islands.
:

Thirty-one specimens of the giant marine toad, of all sizes
to seven inches in length were collected.
These large
toads are very common throughout their range and no doubt
are beneficial in helping to keep the insect life of those regions

from two