Zoological Illustrations Volume Ii Part 12

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_C. aureo-viridis, alis caudaque fuscis; fasciis pectoralibus 2 connexis, antica chalybeia, postica angusta, rubra; caudae tegminibus superioribus chalybeis._

Golden green, with brown wings and tail, and narrow pectoral band, bordered above by another of steel blue; upper tail covers blue.

Certhia chalybeia. _Lin. Gmelin._ 475. _Ind. Orn._ 1. 284. _Brisson._ 3 _tab._ 32. _f._ 1.?

Le Soui-manga a collier. _Vieill. Grimp._ _p._ 40. _pl._ 13. 14.

Collared Creeper. _Latham_, _Syn._ 2. 709. _Gent. Zool._ 8. 196.

This splendid family may be considered as the Humming-birds of the old world, inhabiting (I think exclusively) the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. To the personal observations of M. Vaillant we owe the first, and indeed the only detailed account, of their real economy, and which this enterprising ornithologist remarked during his travels in Africa, and published in his work on the birds of that continent; a work which will be valued and consulted when most of the systems framed by closet naturalists will be forgotten.

M. Vaillant records a singular fact respecting these birds: which is, that the males only a.s.sume their rich and vivid colours during the season of courtship; at other times they are scarcely to be known from the females, whose plumage in general is very plain. Another bird, very nearly resembling this, has been figured by M. Vaillant under the name of _Le Sucrier a Plastron rouge_ (Ois. d'Af. pl. 300.); his reasons, however, for separating them, are, I think, sufficient, at least until more forcible ones are adduced than mere conjecture. Our figure is the size of life; on each side the breast is a tuft of yellow feathers; the back, neck, and head shining golden green, changing in various lights. The female is said to be the _Certhia Capensis_ of Lin., which is greyish brown above, and paler beneath.

The different generic names which have been given to these birds by modern systematic writers, require some elucidation. They were originally placed by Linnaeus among the _Certhiae_; out of this genus Illiger formed another by the name of _Nectarinia_, in which he included not only these birds, but many others allied to them. From this genus of Illiger's, Cuvier separated a part under the generic appellation of _Cinnyris_, a genus which comprised those species of Illiger's _Nectarinia_ only which are found in the parallels of lat.i.tude of the old world. So far these changes can be understood; but Professor Temminck, without noticing this previous arrangement, places the birds belonging to Cuvier's genus _Cinnyris_, under his own modification of Illiger's _Nectarinia_, while to the _Nectariniae_, as characterized by Cuvier, he gives the generic name of _Coereba_. This last change has introduced great confusion; for the student must bear in mind, that Cuvier's genus _Nectarinia_ corresponds to Temminck's _Coereba_; that _Cinnyris_ of Cuvier is _Nectarinia_ of Temminck; and finally, that all these are included under Illiger's original genus _Nectarinia_! M.

Vieillot has still further added to this unfortunate multiplicity of names, by giving that of _Mellisuga_ to Cuvier's _Cinnyris_. This may truly be termed a war of words. In the meantime, as Cuvier was the first who, by giving the name of _Cinnyris_, designated the _Sucriers_ of Vaillant, and those _only_, his definition and generic name to these birds should unquestionably supersede all others.

Pl. 96

[Ill.u.s.tration]

ANODON rugosus,

_Wrinkled Horse Mussel._

GENERIC CHARACTER.

_Testa transversa, plerumque tenuis. Cardo linearis, edentulus. Lamina cardinalis glabra, aliquando levata, antice sinu sub ligamento desinens. Impressiones musculares 3. Ligamentum externum. Animal fluviatile._

Typus Genericus _Mytilus Anatinus_ Lin.

Sh.e.l.l transverse, generally thin. Hinge consisting of a simple marginal lamina without teeth, smooth or slightly raised, terminating at the anterior end in a curve or sinus below the ligament. Muscular impressions three. Ligament external. Animal fluviatile.

Generic Type _Duck Mussel_ Pennant.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_A. testa ovato-oblonga, cra.s.sa, convexa, antice oblique rotundata; intus fulva, margine rufo; margine cardinali leviter curvato, infra umbones cra.s.so._

Sh.e.l.l ovate-oblong, thick, convex, anterior obliquely rounded; hinge margin slightly curved and thickened beneath the umbones; inside fulvous, with a reddish margin.

The sh.e.l.ls now arranged under the kindred genera of _Unio_ and _Anodon_ are exclusively fluviatile, or inhabitants of fresh water, and are dispersed both in the old and the new world. In the Linnaean system, the first, being furnished with teeth, are placed among the _Myae_; and the latter, from having none, are arranged with the _Mytili_. Two common sh.e.l.ls, in our own rivers and ponds (_Mya pictorum_, and _Mytilus anatinus Lin._), will readily present to the student the characters by which they are severally distinguished. The sh.e.l.ls of the present genus bear such a general resemblance to each other, and are so simple in their construction, that a corresponding minuteness of discrimination is requisite to characterize the species; I have, therefore, selected for this purpose the modification of the upper margin to which the ligament is attached, and which in other sh.e.l.ls forms the bases of the teeth. This I have termed the hinge margin.

The form of the notch or sinus which terminates this part will also be found of much importance in discriminating the species; for no sh.e.l.ls vary more in their form, thickness, or convexity than these do, according to their locality, age, or other circ.u.mstances.

Sh.e.l.l transverse, oval; rather thick and ventricose; both extremities obtuse; the anterior side (from the umbones to the exterior margin) obliquely rounded; umbones prominent; hinge margin rather thick, slightly curved, and swelled immediately under the umbones; sinus short, abrupt, curved; epidermis coa.r.s.e, black, and much wrinkled; inside stained with yellow, and having a narrow reddish rim or margin.

For this species, now, I believe, first made known, I am indebted to G. C.

Bainbridge, Esq. of Liverpool, who received several specimens from the United States. It appears to have been unknown to Mr. Say, who has published an account of the land and river sh.e.l.ls of North America.

The student might be led to suppose, that the two genera of _Unio_ and _Anodon_ are strongly characterized; for the first includes many of the most ponderous bivalves yet discovered, and the second some remarkably thin and brittle. Among the _Uniones_ are sh.e.l.ls furnished with hinges of the greatest force, while most of the _Anodons_ are perfectly dest.i.tute of any; nevertheless, the gradations by which these characters approach each other are very remarkable, and some sh.e.l.ls which partake of both have been arranged in separate genera. Of these, the best defined are _Hyria_ Lam.

and _Dipsas_ of Leach; the one allied nearest to _Unio_, but having the cardinal teeth a.s.suming the appearance of lateral or lamellar teeth; the other more resembling the Anodons, but furnished with a strongly defined and elevated lamellar tooth, extending the whole length of the hinge.

Between these two genera should be placed another of Lamarck's, called by him _Iridinia_, which has likewise only a simple lamellar plate, but broken into a great number of crenated teeth. The observing Mr. Say has likewise proposed another under the name of _Alasmodonta_, which, however, I shall take another opportunity of noticing.

I have ventured to exchange the ungrammatical name of _Anodonta_, given by Bruguiere to this genus, for _Anodon_, at the suggestion of the learned Dr.

Goodall, Provost of Eton College.

Pl. 97

[Ill.u.s.tration]

MARGINELLA,

_Date Sh.e.l.l._

GENERIC CHARACTER.

_Testa ovata. Spira brevissima aut nulla. Labium exterius cra.s.sissimum, margine interiore crenato. Columella plicata. Basis subintegra. Animal capitatum, capitis fronte profunde emarginato; oculis ad tentaculorum 2 subulatorum basin externam adsitis; tuba jugulari simplici; pede magno, foliaceo, pone attenuato; penula dilatata, testae latera obtegente._

Typ. Gen. _Volutae perspicula, glabella, prunum, &c._ Lin.

Sh.e.l.l oval. Spire very short or concealed. Exterior lip very thick, with the internal margin crenated. Pillar plaited. Base nearly entire.

Animal capitate; head notched in front, with lengthened, pointed tentacula, at the external base of which are the eyes; neck with a simple tube; foot large, foliaceous, pointed behind; mantle dilated, and folded over the sides of the sh.e.l.l.

Generic Types _Vol. perspicula, glabella, prunum, &c._ Lin.

Lamarck first separated the sh.e.l.ls comprised in this genus from the Volutes of Linnaeus; their princ.i.p.al distinction rests in the formation of the outer lip, which has a very thick margin, more or less toothed on the inner rim; the base likewise is nearly entire, and the inner lip quite wanting.

By these peculiarities, the _Date Sh.e.l.ls_ are easily known from the _Volutes_ on the one hand, and the _Cowries_ on the other; and the invaluable researches of M. Adanson, who has described and figured the animals of each of these genera, has established this distinction on the most solid principles; it will, however, be interesting to trace, by the sh.e.l.ls only, how beautifully this arrangement is developed.