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 671

NATURAL HISTORY ILLUSTRATIONS.

PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF LOUIS AGASSIZ. 1849,

DEC 1 189L

THE ANATOMY

OF

ASTEANGIA DAN^.
SIX LITHOGRAPHS FROM DRAWINGS BY A. SONREL.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES BY J. WALTER FEWKES.

CITY OF WASHINGTON:
PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
1889.
 B71

NATURAL HISTOEY ILLUSTRATIONS.

PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF LOUIS AGASSIZ. 1849.

THE ANATOMY

OF

ASTEANG-IA DAN^.
SIX LITHOGRAPHS FROM DRAWINGS BY A. SONREL.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES BY J. WALTER EEWKES.

CITY OF WASHINGTON:
PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
1889.
'
4 . a^c) 2^
 ADYERTISEMENT.

The present publication, though the mere fragment of a memoir many

years ago undertaken by the eminent naturalist, Professor Agassiz, is at last

oflfered to biologists in its imperfect state, in the belief that even in this form,

and at this late day, it will be welcomed by many students who would be reluct-

ant to have the fruit of worthy labor wholly lost to the world.

The scope of the brief abstract, and the circumstances occasioning the
unusual delay in its appearance, will be sufficiently explained by the following
statement received from Mr. Alexander Agassiz:

"The plates of Astrangia were drawn by Mr. Sonrel, under Professor

Agassiz's direction, as far back as 1849. The material was collected during
the first dredging trip undertaken by Professor Agassiz under the auspices of
the United States Coast Survey. Professor A. D. Bache, then Superintendent
of the Coast Survey, invited Professor Agassiz to join the United States Coast
Survey steamer Bibb,' commanded by Lieutenant Charles H. Davis, after-
'

wards Rear Admiral, and to undertake a dredging trip in the vicinity of

Nantucket. Among other material, numerous bunches of Asti'angia were
collected by the Bibb.''
These were kept alive at Cambridge for nearly a
ye£i.r. During that time some drawings were made towards illustrating the
anatomy of the genus. The completion of the memoir was delayed in the hopes
of adding the developmental history of the genus, but after the first year of
preparation Professor Agassiz never again had the opportunity of taking up
the subject. The plates therefore remained unpublished in the hands of the
Smithsonian Institution. The last year of his life Mr. Louis F. Pourtales under-
took the completion of the work at the Newport Marine Laboratory, but he only
brought together the necessary materials, and left neither notes nor drawings
for publication. At the request of Professor Spencer F. Baird, Secretary of the
Smithsonian, Mr. Walter Fewkes has written an explanation of the plates
J.

to make them available to students of marine invertebrates."

S. P. LANGLEY,
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, D. C, February, 1889.

(3)
 ;

PREFACE.

The drawn on stone several years ago under the

plates of this atlas were
direction of Prof. Louis Agassiz. At the request of Mr. Alexander Agassiz
explanations of the figures have been written out for the accompanying plates.
In order to fit myself for a better understanding of the anatomy of Astrangia,
live animals have been used in conjunction with the plates in the preparation of
the explanations. This part of the work has been done at the Newport Marine
Laboratory. Since the work came into my hands the publication has been
delayed in the hope of adding to it something on the development of Astrangia
but, although I have succeeded in getting the ova of this coral, I have thus far
failed toadd anything to the much-needed embryology of this animal. Lest the
plates should become antiquated, it has seemed best to delay no longer their
publication, but to print them in the form originally prepared by Prof. Agassiz.
The reader is reminded that there has been a great advance in histological
methods since the figures were drawn. In that advance, however, little has been
added to the knowledge of the minute anatomy of genera of Madreporaria allied
to Astrangia.

J. WALTER FEWKES.
Museum Compaeative Zoology,
Cambridge, Mass.
 INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

The sole representative of the Madreporaria in shallow New England waters

is the genus Astrangia. One species of Astrangia has been found in New Eng-
land, and has been mentioned or described by Louis Agassiz, Leidy, Alexander
Agassiz, Verrill, and others. It is referred to by Leidy as A. astrceformis, M.
E. & H., by L. Agassiz, A. Agassiz, and Verrill as A. Dance.
Astrangia is found along the eastern coast of the United States and occurs
in the southern limits of the New England fauna, south of Cape Cod. It occurs
in shallow waters of Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Buzzard's Bay, and
Vineyard Sound. Its northern limits are the waters adjoining the southern end
of Cape Cod.
The genus is often found in crevices of the rocks and on the sides of cliffs,
just below low tide, from which places it ranges into shallow-water dredgings,
and is apparently found in great numbers in its favorite haunts. Astrangia
seems to prefer a rocky to a sandy bottom. While it is generally found in the
form of incrustations on the rocks and dead shells, it sometimes rises in low,
club-shaped branches. In aquaria it is hardy and easily kept alive in pure
water. It devours greedily small Crustacea, fishes, fragments of beef, and other
forms of meat, and is far from fastidious in its preferences. Small live animals,
as fishes, are easily killed by its nematocysts, provided the prey be held in the
neighborhood of the tentacles.
The specimens which I have studied were found on Price's Neck, a small
peninsula on the southern extremity of the island of Rhode Island, not far from
the Newport Laboratory. Clumps of colonies are easily broken from the rocks
at low where these animals live in company with a rich littoral life.
tide,

The expanded Astrangia is white, almost transparent, resem-

color of the
bling an Edwardsia or small white actinia. When contracted the color shows
a green or bluish tinge. The motion in contraction is less rapid than in
Edwardsia, and is often sluggish. When overfed it will not respond by con-
traction, even when touched or stroked with a foreign body.
The live Astrangia from New England was first observed by Prof. Louis

*Proc. Amer. Assoc, 1849.

(7)
8 INTRODUCTOEY NOTICE.

Agassiz,* who dredged it in nine fathoms o& Gray Head, Vineyard Sound.
Agassiz referred it to A. Dance, M. E. & H., a coral, the hard parts only of
which were known up to that time.
The polypidom of A. Dance, M. E. & H., is held by Prof. Joseph Leidy to be
different from that of our New England and more like the
species of Astrangia
A. astrce{i)formis of the same authors. The present plates were made from the
coral which Agassiz designated as A. Dance, and the specific name which he used
is here adopted.
determine from the description of A. Dance given by
It is not possible to
Milne Edwards and Haime whether our species differs from that which they
describe under that name or not.
The following description of A. Dance is given by Milne Edwards :*

" Polypierites tres-courts, unis entre eux par une expansion tres-mince et

faiblement striee. Cotes tres-larges, alternativement un peu plus fortes et plus

petites, distinctes des la base, a fossette grande et mediocrement profonde. Col-
umelle tres-developpee, a papilles crepues et granulees, 3 cycles complets ;
quel-
quefois dans une des moities d'un systeme, ou voit des cloisons d'un 4" cycle
cloisons un peu debordantes, a bord fortement arque en haut, a faces couvertes
de grains pointus et tres-saillants, ayant leurs dents les plus fortes pres de la
columelle. Hauteur des polypierites, 3 ou 4 millimetres ;
diameter des calicos,

4 ou 5 ;
profundeur des fossettes, 2.
" Patrie inconne."

Of A. astrceiformis the last-mentioned author gives the following description

" Polypierites tres-rapproches et sondes entre eux pas les points ou ils recou-
tret. Muraille a peine costulee et seulement pres du calice. Calicos circulaires
quand ils sont libres, subpol^'^gonaux dans les points du polypier oti ils sont serres
a fossette grande, profonde et infundibuliforme. Columelle peu developpe. 3.

cycles ; sou vent des cloisons d'un quatrieme cycle se moutretet dans une des
moities des systemes cloisons peu debordantes, tres-etroites en Naut, a bord
oblique et regulierement dente en scie ; les dents inferieurs a peine plus fortes
que les autres. Les grains des faces laterales sont tres-peu saillants. Hauteur,
3 ou 4 millimetres ; diametre des calicos, 4. Habite les cotes des Etats-Unis."

Prof. Joseph Leidy regards the A. Dance, Ag., as the same as A. astrceformis,
M. E. & H., and gives the following description :f

" Polypidom encrusting flat or lobed, or pedicled and lobed ;

polype cells

short, approximate, fused together at their bases, cylindrical when free, sub-

*Histoire Naturelle des Corallaires ou Polypes proprement dits. Tome II, p. 612.

\Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil.,' -vol. Ill, second series, 1855, pp. 7, 8.
 INTKODUCTORY NOTICE. 9

polygonal when crowded, externally slightly costate ; calicos infundibular ; col-

umlella slightly developed; partitions up to thirty-five in number, slightly

exserted, narrow, with their margin oblique and serrated and their sides denticu-
lated; polypes cylindrical, projecting up to half an inch in length, translucent
white, brown, red, or green; tentaculse colorless, twenty-four in number, elon-
gated conical, with rounded tips, situated in an alternating circle; mouth oval,

situated at the summit of a conical proboscis ; coral masses up to two inches in

diameter."
 ANATOMY OF ASTRANGIA. 11

PLATE I.

EXTERNAL FORM.
Fig- 1- — Colonies showing the animal expanded and contracted. Life size.
a. Club-shaped cluster. /3. Coenenchyma between two animals. ;'. Animal expanded. /?. En-
crusting colony.

Fig. 2. —Similar colonies from another Club-shaped colony.

cluster, p.

Fig. 3. —Basal calcareous Live parts wanting. Colony attached

deposit. a Pecten to shell.

Fig. 4. —Colonies in which the individual animals are somewhat and the basal isolated deposit
ess polygonal than in many specimens of ^. Dance, a, /?. Two colonies.

Fig. 5. — Calcareous radial deposits of the basal region of three contiguous animals. The septa
are of different lengths (cycles?), extending from the periphery towards the center, a, b, c. Position
of interseptal mesenteries and chambers. 8 diameters.

Fig. 6. —Appearance of the calcareous deposits (cycles) when first secreted, arranged in concentric
rings. 3 diameters.

Fig; 7. — Several animals, retracted, a, 13. Lateral buds. 3 diameters.

Fig. 8. —Several animals in different attitudes of expansion or contraction. The central animal
shows the maximum amount of contraction, the soft parts being so withdrawn that mouth and bounding
wall of the periphery of the animal lie in approximately the same plane. In all the other polypites
the tentacles are drawn in, but the conical form of the columnar portion of the body is still retained.
a. Mouth, a'. Peristoma, a conical region of the disk between the mouth and the ring of tentacles
infolded in the animal, centrally placed and hidden under the soft parts of the columnar region, g.
Junction of basal and columnar region, h. Basal region, i. Columnar region. 8 diameters.

Fig. 9. —Single animal isolated from a colony.

a. Mouth. ;S. Buds which later form new animals. These last structures are possibly new ten-
tacles, a. Structures which arise in a position homologous to that of a tentacle, while /S lies in the
position which it would naturally have if it were a bud destined to become a new individual.

Fig. 10. —Lateral view of a single animal with the tentacles beginning to form.

a. Mouth, d. External peripheral wall.

Fig. 11. —The same with mouth closed (a).

Fig. 12. —The same with mouth the form of an elongated

(a) in slit.

Fig. 13. —Apex of the prominence, with the mesenteric septa showing through the body walls
oral

a. Mouth, i. Chamber of the column.

Fig. 14. —The same as last with reniform mouth (a).

i. Body wall of a radial chamber.

Fig. 15. —
The extended columnar region with half-protruded tentacles (d).
12 ANATOMY OF ASTBANGIA,

Fig. 16. —Attitude assumed when the oral prominence and tentacles are drawn into the columnar
region of the animal.
d. Tentacles half retracted, g. Point of division between the base of the columnar region of the
animal and its basal region, h. Basal chamber of the flat region of the body. 12 diameters.

Fig. 17. —
Same as Fig. 16, with the columnar region partially retracted and the column con-
stricted midway in height.
a. Mouth. Other letters as in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18. —Diagram showing the relative positions of large and small tentacles and the mouth.
Compare with Fig. 5 (lettering a, b, c) for relation of the tentacles to the calcareous septa. The
oblong central opening represents the mouth.
a. Eight large tentacles (first formed?), b. A second series, c. A third series. It is difficult

to determine what was intended to be represented by the above diagram. The same lettering in Fig. 5

represents chambers between calcareous deposits. As such chambers correspond in position with that

of the tentacles, it is supposed that the peripheral ring in Fig. 18 represents the relative positions of
these bodies.
 ANATOMY OF ASTRANGIA. 13

PLATE II.
EXTERNAL FORM.
Fig. 1. —Single animal from the oral side.
a. Mouth, a'. Peristoma or oral prominence, d. Tentacle, h. Basal region. 5 diameters.

Fig. 2. —The same turned to one side, so that it is seen from the oral and lateral region. The
tentacles are retracted.
d. Tentacle, h. Retracted columnar region, g. Region of junction of columnar and basal
region, basal chambers.

Fig. 3. —Animal from oral side, with the tentacles partially withdrawn. Mouth (a) assumes a
sinuous form.
d. Tentacle, g. Chambers, basal region.

Fig. 4. —The oral prominence, mouth (a), and tentacles (d). The other soft parts of the body
are not represented.

Fig. 5. —The lettering of this figure is not wholly evident. There seems no doubt that the central
opening (a) is a mouth, through which may be seen unknown structures which may be the tips of
tentacles.

g. Chambers of column, h. Centrifugal and centripetal ends of the chambers.

Figs. 6-10. — Various forms assumed by the mouth or oral slit (a) in different condition of con-

traction of the lips and peristoma.

Fig. IJ. —Side view of the oral protuberance, or peristome, and tentacles. The mouth is repre-
sented as open.
a. Mouth, d, d. Tentacles.

Fig. 12. —Side view of a retracted animal. The mouth and oral prominence is partially drawn
into the central region enclosed by the inner wall of the columnar region. The tentacles are so
retracted that their tips only (d, d) are seen. At h the outer wall of the chambers in the basal region
is indicated.

Fig. 13. —View of the base of a single animal. Mouth (a) showing the tentacles (d) at their
very tips. g. Columnar chambers, h. Chambers of the peripheral region.

Fig. 14. — Lateral and oral view of the oral region, showing an oral prominence slightly pro-
truding.
d. Tentacle. The mouth (a) is at the apex of the peristoma, g. Chambers of the column show-
ing septa.

Fig. 16. —Septal and radial mesenterial divisions of the body,

a. Mouth, g. Basal region, chambers, h. Peripheral region.

Fig. 16. —The peristoma retracted and mouth open. The tentacles are hidden by the lobes of

the column, although the tips of two of these organs are seen just above the mouth (a), g, and h, as

in Fig. 15.
14 ANATOMY OF ASTEANGIA.

Fig. 17. —Inflated condition of the chambers, by which the mouth is hidden,
a. Position of mouth, a'. Inflated chamber, d. Tentacle. Alternate tentacles are foreshortened
and appear spherical or circular.

Fig. 18. — Animal half contracted, seen from a latero-oral view. The tips of the tentacles (d)

project beyond the inner rim of the contracted column,

g. Basal chamber, h. Basal mesenteries.

Figs. 19, 20. —Oral view showing folds of the column in contraction,

a. Mouth, g. Basal region, h. Peripheral region.

Fig. 21. —Profile view of the peristoma and mouth.

a. Mouth, a'. Peristoma. The dotted lines end at two intermesenteric chambers.

Fig. 22. — Mouth and tentacles in relative position each other. to

Fig. 23. — Mouth and tentacles with inflated intermesenteric chambers.

Fig. 24. —Junction of the columnar and basal regions. Animal retracted. Tentacles (d) simply
indicated.
a. Mouth, g. Point of junction of the columnar and basal region.

Fig. 25. — Oral view of an expanded animal, showing the relation of the bases of the tentacles to
the interseptal chambers.
a. Mouth, a'. Peristoma, d. Tentacles, e. Bases of tentacles and junction with chambers.

Fig. 26. —Enlarged view of a contracted animal with inflated peristoma. The tentacles are
hidden between the wall of the oral prominence and the inner rim of the column. The tips of a few
of these structures (tentacles) can be seen on the left-hand side in the ring-formed fossa.
a. Mouth, a'. Peristoma, g. Chambers, h. Septum.

Fig. 27. — A mesenteric filament (f) showing through the mouth opening,
d. Tentacle, g. Column, h. Peripheral region.

Fig. 28. —Peristoma and tentacles, a'. Peristoma. Two of the tentacles are bent to show their
shape, while others appear in perspective.

Fig. 29. —Contracted animal with tentacles removed or hidden by inflated walls of the chambers,

a. Mouth.

Fig. 30. —A contracted cluster of coral animals, showing the fusion of the chambers in two indi-

viduals in the two lower members. All contracted.

a. Mouth, g. Columnar region, h. Peripheral chambers.

Fig. 31. —A cluster of expanded animals.

a. Mouth, d. Tentacles, g. Basal region, h. Coenosarc and basal fusion of two animals.
 ANATOMY OF ASTKANGIA, 15

PLATE III.
EXTERNAL FORM.
Fig. 1. —Lateral view of the upper part of an animal showing expanded tentacles.

a. Mouth, b. Constricted region of the digestive tract, c. Stomach, d. Tentacles. 1. Junc-

tion of the tentacles and radial chambers.

Fig. 2. —Expanded animal from oral side.

a. Mouth, d. Tentacle (?). e. Communication between the cavity of a tentacle and a radial
chamber.

Fig. 3. —Two tentacles, e. Junction of the base of the tentacle with the body wall and chamber.

Fig. 4. — Oral view, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, with same lettering.

Fig. 5. —Lateral view of the column, upper extremity. Tentacles (d) drawn together about the
mouth.

Fig. 6. —Lateral view of an animal with partially extended tentacles.

a. Mouth, b. Constriction of stomach, d. Tentacles.

Fig. 7. — Column.
a. Mouth, b. Oral constriction, c. Cavity, g, h. Basal region.

Fig. 8. —Attitude assumed by animal in which the tentacles (d) are turned in towards the mouth
and a constriction separates columnar and basal regions.

Fig. 9. — Expanded animal with contracted tentacles (d).

b. Constriction, c. Cavity, g, h. Basal region.

Fig. 10. —Column of an expanded animal from one side,

a. Mouth, d. Tentacles.

Fig. 11. —Partially contracted animal in which the tentacles are represented as being withdrawn
into the cylinder of the column.
f Mesenteric filament, g, h. Basal region, i. Chamber.

Fig. 12. —The oral prominence (peristoma) from one side.

a. Mouth, b. Oral constriction, c. Stomach or external wall. From the letters a and b I
should suppose e was used to designate the stomach. In Fig. 14, however, it may be simply the
external wall of the column.

Fig. 13. —Expanded animal with tentacles (d) half protruded, but with peristoma retracted.

a. Mouth, b. Oral constriction, c. Cavity, f Mesenteric filament, g, h. Basal region of

animal.

Fig. 14. —The upper part of the column of a fully expanded animal.
a. Mouth, c. Body wall of the column, d. Tentacle.
16 ANATOMY OF ASTKANGIA.

PLATE ly.
INTERNAL ANATOMY.
Fig. 1. —Section (horizontal) showing the tentacles retracted but not withdrawn from sight.

a, b, c. Tentacles, d. Septa, e, f. Wall separating the bases of the tentacles, g. Wall con-
necting the axial ends of the septa, h. Ciliated passage from stomach into the lower cavity of the
body, in which mesenteries are found.

Fig. 2. —An extremity of a tentacle showing the terminal cluster of nematocysts (a) and lateral
clusters (b). Tentacle somewhat retracted.

Fig. 3. —Lateral view of a tentacle.

a. Terminal cluster of nematocysts. b. Lateral clusters, c. Muscular (longitudinal) fibres

which move the tentacles, d. Septa. 1 (?), f. Superficial epiblastic cells.

Fig. 4. —An enlarged end of a tentacle showing the cluster of terminal nematocysts (a) and the
lateral clusters (b). The tentacle is contracted ?

Fig. 5. —A similar tentacle elongated. Lettering as in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6. —A view of a section (horizontal) in which the opening (h) is contracted. Lettering as
in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7. —Distal extremity of a contracted tentacle.

 ANATOMY OF ASTRANGIA. 17

PLATE Y.
HISTOLO&Y OF THE TENTACLE.
Fig. 1. — Distal (free) end of a tentacle.

a. Terminal cluster of nematocysts. b. Lateral clusters.

Fig. 2. — The same showing the threads extended from the nematocysts in both terminal and
lateral clusters.
a, b. Terminal and lateral clusters of nematocysts. c. Extended threads, d. Superficial ciliated

layer, e. Hypoblast.

Fig. 3. —Distal cluster of nematocysts.

Fig. 4. — A tentacle with discoidal tip.

Fig. 5. —Abnormal tentacle. The tip is bifurcated and there are two termimal clusters of
nematocysts.

Fig. 6. —A tentacle with disk-shaped of nematocysts.

cluster

Fig. 7. —A cluster of nematocysts from an unknown region of the body.

Figs. 8, 9. —I am unable interpret these
to figures.
18 ANATOMY OF ASTEANGIA.

PLATE VI.
NEMATOCYSTS.
The following quotations from Prof. J. Leidy, op. cit, may serve as an introduction to a study of
the figures here given of the nematocysts found in Astrangia. He says

" The filiferous capsules (nematocysts) of A. astrceformis are of two principal varieties. The first

mm. long by .0155 mm. broad, containing a spirally-wound

variety consists of oval or ovoidal cells .05
thread. .The second variety consists of smaller cells, those of the tentaculse measuring about
. .

.045 mm. by .0067 mm. and those of the white cords .03 mm. by .0112 mm. and they contain besides ;

a spirally-wound thread a style extending from one pole to about the centre of the cells. . . .

Both kinds of filiferous capsules, under certain circumstances not readily explained, eject their con-

tained thread with an astonishing degree of rapidity, and in so doing the threads are absolutely turned
inside out, as was first noticed by Agassiz and subsequently by Gosse, and remain attached to the
emptied cells as long-extended tubes. From the smaller cells the style is also extruded and then
appears as a more expanded portion of the thread, with which it is continuous at one end and with
the capsule at the other. . . . An attentive examination of the extended thread exhibits a more
complicated structure than would have been suspected, and, as remarked by Agassiz, who first

detected the peculiar arrangement, its exact character is exceedingly difficult to ascertain and requires
the utmost power of the microscope to analyze. In the case of the larger capsules a spiral arrange-
ment is readily distinguishable, extending the entire length of the extruded thread. This arrange-
ment, in some instances, appeared to me to depend on minute cilise, which project at right angles from
the thread and apparently pursue a spiral course, as described by Agassiz and as represented . . .

but in other instances it appeared to me as if the thread during its eversion from the capsule assumed
a spiral course within the portion preceding it, and that the thread externally at regular intervals
with non-vibrating cilise . . .

" In the case of the smaller capsules the extruded style appears as a tube much dilated beyond
its original calibre, narrowed at the extremities and longer than the cell which contained it, so that it
appears to have been folded within itself From the distal extremity of the stylous tube projects the
everted thread, which at times appeared simple but at other times appeared to possess a spiral arrange-
ment, like the coarser thread of the larger capsules. The tube derived from the style also presents a
spiral arrangement apparently dependent upon long ciJise pursuing a spiral course, as represented in
figure 16, or upon a twisting in the tube, as represented in figure 15."

The above description, the most complete which we have of the structure of the different kinds of
thread-cells, or nematocysts, found in Astrangia, is from Dr. Leidy's well-known paper on the marine

invertebrate fauna of the coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey.* This description was published in
1855, before histological study had attained the development which it has in the present time.f

* Contributions towards a Knowledge of the Marine Invertebrate Fauna of the Coasts of Rhode Island and
New Jersey. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., Vol. Ill (second series).
f As Mosely has well said in his report on the hydroid, aloyonarian, and madreporarian corals of the Chal-
lenger expedition, "It would seem that a classification and nomenclature of the various forms of thread-cells is
much needed, since these forms appear to be of classificatory value in the Coelenterata." The Voyage of H. M. S.
Challenger. Zoology. Report on certain Hydroid, Alcyonarian, and Madreporarian Corals procured during the
voyage of H. M. S. Challenger in the years 1873-1876, p. 29, note.
 ANATOMY OF ASTRANGIA. 19

HISTOLOGY OF THE NEMATOCYST.

Fig. 1. —Stroma from the epiblast, with large and small nematocysts in various conditions of
growth. The nematocysts of the hydrocorallinas, according to Moseley, " appear to be developed out
of the nucleus of the ectodermic cells, the ectodermal cell becoming much enlarged and forming a
wide chamber in which the process of development takes place. The ovoid nucleus becomes enlarged,
together with the cell, but not at all in the same proportion, the cell always appearing as a wide
cavity around it. The nucleus as it enlarges has a rounded nucleolus developed at one end of it.

The nucleolus has large granules developed within it, whilst the nucleus becomes finely granular.
In the next stage one large coil of the thread appears in the nucleus." From the similarity of the
fully grown and cell in Astrangia and some of the nematocysts of the hj'drozoan hydrocorallinse it is

thought that a similar development occurs in Astrangia.

a. Oval nematocyst. b. Club-shaped nematocyst. c, d. Nuclei.

Fig. 2. — Club-shaped nematocyst.

a. Cell wall. b. Style, c. Thread.

Fig. 3. — Oval nematocyst.

Figs. 4, 5. —Club-shaped nematocyst.
Fig. 6. — Inflated oval nematocyst with coiled thread.
Fig. 7. —Two nematocysts with fully and partially protruded threads.
Fig. 9.— Nematocyst with coiled thread retracted in cell.

Fig. 10. — Distal end of the thread coiled into a conical spiral.

Fig. 11. — Elongated oval nematocyst with thread coiled internally, a. Cell wall.

Fig. 12. —Nematocyst with partially extruded thread and with the retained portion irregularly
coiled.

a. Cell wall. b. Inflated region with "stifi" cilia," or "spines."

Fig. 13. — Nematocyst with retracted thread. Lettering as above.

Fig. 14. —Elongated oval nematocyst.

Fig. 15. —Nematocyst with thread protruded but cut off just beyond the inflation which bears the
"stiff cilia."

Fig. 16.—The same as last figure.

Figs. 17-21. — Different figures of the inflation of the thread, with spiral lines upon which the
" stiff cilia " are borne.

Fig. 22.—

Fig. 23. — Small elongated cell with protruded thread.

Fig. 24. —Nematocyst with thread partially in the coiled cell and partially protruded.

Fig. 25. — Pyriform shape assumed by a nematocyst.

a. Cell wall.
20 ANATOMY OF ASTRANGIA.

Fig. 26.— Nematocyst with thread partially coiled in the cell.

Fig. 27.—Nematocyst with base of the thread.

inflated

Figs. 28-31. — Different forms of the of a nematocyst with thread coiled within,
cell

a. Cell wall. b. Style, c. Thread.

Fig. 32. —Small club-shaped nematocysts with nucleated cells,

a, a, a. Nematocysts. d. Cell nuclei.

Fig. 33. —Large nematocyst with thread withdrawn into the cell,

a. Cell wall. b. Style, c. Thread.

Fig. 34. —Nematocyst with thread protruded to its full length,

a. Cell wall. b. Basal inflation, c. Thread.

Fig. 35. —A portion of the basal inflation of the thread of a nematocyst highly magnified.

Fig. 36. — The same more extended.

Fig. 37. —Nematocyst with thread partially protruded.
Fig. 38. —Nematocyst with thread tightly coiled in the cavity.

Fig. 39. —Nematocyst with thread half protruded.

a. Cell wall. b. Basal inflation, c. Thread.

Fig. 40. —Nematocyst with the larger part of the thread protruded.
Figs. 41-50. — forms of the nematocyst.
DiflTerent

Fig. 61. —Nematocyst with thickened superficial layer,

a. Thick layer, c. Coiled thread.

Fig. 52. —A similar with thread protruded.

cell No basal inflation shown and thread very long,

Fig. 53. —Sam.e with thread contracted into the cell.

a. Cell wall. b. Style, c. Coiled thread.

Fig. 54. —Nematocyst with thread partially retracted.

Fig. 55. —Nematocyst with thread protruded.
Fig. 56. — Basal inflation with spiral row of " stiff cilia."

Fig. 57. — A nematocyst and portion of the inflated base of the thread of the same,

a. Cell. b. Inflated base of the thread.

Fig. 58. —The same with " on the basal

" stiff cilia inflation.

Fig. 59. —A portion of the coiled thread.

Fig. 60. —Row of " " from the
stiff cilia of the basel
spiral line of the wall of the thread
inflation

Fig. 61. —Nematocyst with partially coiled thread in its interior.

Fig. 62. —Nematocyst with the thread protruded.

Fig. 63. —Fully developed nematocysts with the thread retracted, showing them crowded together
Taken from an unknown region of the body.
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NATURAL HISTORY ILLUSTRATIONS.

PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF LOUIS AGASSIZ AND SPENCER F. BAIRD.

DEC 1 1891

SIX SPECIES

OF

NORTH AMERICAN FRESH-WATER FISHES.

SIX LITHOGRAPHS FROM DRAWINGS BY A. SONREL.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES BY DAVID STARR JORDAN.

CITY OF WASHINGTON:
PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
1889.
 ^672

NATURAL HISTORY ILLUSTRATIONS.

PREPARED UNDER-THE DIRECTION OF LOUIS AGASSIZ AND SPENCER F. BAIRD.

1849.

SIX SPECIES

OF

NORTH AMERICAN FRESH-WATER FISHES.

SIX LITHOGRAPHS FROM DRAWINGS BY A. SONREL.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES BY DAVID STARR JORDAN.

CITY OF WASHINGTON:
PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
1889.
^
 ADVERTISEMENT.

The six plates of American fresh-water Fishes herewith presented, like

the plates of Astrangia Dance recently issued by the Smithsonian Institution,

are published, not primarily on account of any new knowledge which they are

supposed to convey, but as a memorial of a project undertaken early in the

history of American science, by two of the most eminent naturalists this coun-

try has ever possessed.

They will not be included in the series of Contributions of Knowledge,

but are intended for distribution among those Avho will prize them on account

of their historical associations.

S. P. LANGLEY,
Secretary.

Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, D. C, March 22, 1889.

(3)
 INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

The accompanying plates of fresh-water fishes were drawn by Mr. Sonrel

under the direction of Professor Agassiz and Professor Baird as early as 1849,

and were intended for use in a Monograph of the fresh-water Fishes of North

America projected by the Swiss naturalist and the young Assistant Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution, to be prepared under their joint authorship.

The work was never completed, the attention of each of the partners having

been diverted to other subjects. An edition of 1,000 copies of these plates

was printed, and, after the lapse of nearly forty years, it seems desirable to

distribute them to the libraries. Their interest is mainly of a historical char-

acter, and the accompanying text, prepared by President Jordan, is limited

to a brief explanation of the figures.

G. BEOWN GOODE.

Smithsonian Institution,
March 22, 1889.

(5)
 .

NORTH AMERICAN FRESH-WATER PISHES.

CYPRINID^. Plate 1.

NOTROPIS MEGALOPS {Rafinesque)

HYPSOLEPIS PLARGYRUS. Baird.

The Common Shiner ; Red-fin ; Roach.

(Female.)

Fig. 1. Side view of skull.

2. View of skull from above.

3. View of skull from below.

4. View of skull from behind.

5. Lower pharyngeals with teeth.

6. Right lower pharyngeal bone.

7. Outline of section of body at dorsal fin.

8. Scale from the lateral line.

9. Scale from above lateral line.

10. Scale from below lateral line.

11. Young example.

12. Outline of adult seen from above.

13. Female example, nearly adult.

The Shiner is one of our commonest brook fishes, its range extending from

Maine to Dakota, and southward to North Carolina, Georgia, and Arkansas. It

is of no value as food, though it furnishes a large share of the subsistence of

predatory fishes, like the Black Bass and Perch.

 NORTH AMERICAN FRESH-WATER FISHES.

CYPRINIDiE. Plate 2.

NOTROPIS MEGALOPS {Rafinesque)

HYPSOLEPIS PACHYSOMUS. Baird.

The Common Shiner.

(Male.)

1. Side view of skull.

2. Top view of skull.

3. Lower view of skull.

4. Rear view of skull.

5. Outline of section of body at dorsal fin.

6. Scale from the lateral line.

7. Scale from above the lateral line.

8. Scale from below the lateral line.

9. Lower pharyngeal bones, with teeth.

10. Right lower pharyngeal.

11. Outline of body from above,

12. Male fish, nearly adult.
 .

NORTH AMERICAN FRESH-WATER FISHES.

CYPRINID^. Plate 3.

HYBOPSIS KENTUCKIENSIS {Bafinesque)

GERATICHTHYS BLENNIOIDES. Baird.

The Common Horny-head or Kiver Chub ; Indian Chub ; Jerker.

Fig. 1. Side view of skull.

2. Top view of skull.

8. Lower view of skull.

4. Rear view of skull.

5. Outline of section of body at dorsal fin.

6. Scale from the lateral line.

7. Scale from above the lateral line.

8. Scale from below the lateral line.

9. Young example.
10. Outline of body seen from above.
11. Male example, not quite full grown.

12. Lower pharyngeal bones and teeth.

13. Right lower pharyngeal.

The Horny-head or River Chub is the most widely diffused of all our fresh-

water fishes, abounding in almost all waters from New York to Montana, and

southward to South Carolina and Texas. It frequents rivers and creeks rather

small brooks. It has no economic -N'alue, but is often used as bait for the Black

Bass.
10 NORTH AMERICAN FRESH-WATER FISHES.

CYPRINIDiE. Plate 4.

SEMOTILUS BULLARIS {Bafinesque).

CHILONEMUS CATARRH ACTUS. Baird.

The Fall-fish, or Roach.

Fig. 1. Side view of skull.

2. Top view of skull.

3. Lower view of skull.

4. Rear view of skull.

5. Lower pharyDgeal bones and teeth.

6. Right lower pharyngeal bone.

7. Outline of section of body before dorsal.

8. Scale from the lateral line.

9. Scale from above the lateral line.

10. Scale from below the lateral line.

11. Young example.

12. Outline seen from above.

13. Female example, nearly adult.

The Fall-fish frequents deep places in clear, cold streams from Quebec

southward to the James River, its range not extending west of the Alleghanies.

It is especially partial to the pool at the foot of a cascade. It reaches a larger

size than any other of the Cyprinidoe, east of the Rocky Mountains specimens

of from 16 to 18 inches long being sometimes taken. It is little valued as food.

Thoreau says, "The Chub is a soft fish; it tastes like brown paper salted."
 NORTH AMERICAN >RESH- WATER FISHES. 11

CYPRINID^. Plate 5.

SEMOTILUS ATROMACULATUS {MitcUlT).

CHILONEMUS CEPHALUS. Baird.

The Horned Dace, or Creek Chub.

Fig. 1. Side view of skull.

2. Top view of skull.

3. Lower view of skull.

4. Rear view of skull.

5. Lower pharyngeal bones and teeth.

6. Right lower pharyngeal.

7. Outline of section of the body.

8. Scale from the lateral line.

9. Scale from above the lateral line.

10. Scale from below the lateral line.

11. Young example.

12. Outline of body seen from above.
13. A partly grown example, probably a female.

The Horned Dace is one of the commonest of our fresh-water fishes, abound-

ing in all suitable localities from the Housatonic River to Montana, and south-

ward to South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. It especially frequents small

brooks and " spring-runs," in which streams it is often the largest inhabitant.

It reaches a length of 8 to 10 inches.

12 NORTH AMERICAN FRESH-WATER FISHES.

ESOCIDiE. Plate 1.

LUCIUS RETICULATUS {Le Sceur).

ESOX CLATHRATUS. Baird.

The Common Pickerel; Eastern Pickerel.

Fig. 1. View of roof of mouth from below, showing vomerine and palatine teeth.

2. Scale from the rudimentary lateral line.

3. Scale from above the lateral line.

4. Scale from below the lateral line.

5. Outline of section of body near the middle of the length.

6. Outline of body seen from above.

7. A young example.

The Pickerel is found in all lakes, ponds, and quiet waters east of the

mountains, from Maine southward to Florida and Mississippi. It is a " solemn,

stately, and ruminant fish," extremely voracious toward the little fishes which

bask in its company among the lily pads. Like the other members of the Pike

family, it is excellent as food, its white flesh breaking up, when cooked, into

broad flakes.
 ^CYPR.
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HYPSOLEPIS PLARGYRUS. Baird

 CYPR,
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A Sonrel nn sTOne,

HYPSOLEPIS PACHY50MUS Baird

 CYPR. PL 3.

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CERATICHTHYS BLENNIOIDES Baird

 — ,

CYPR. PL 5.

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CHILONEMUS CEPHALUS Baird

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