Letters from Alabama: Chiefly Relating to Natural HIstory

Notes

NOTES This annotation was prepared by Daniel D. Jones, Ph. D., Michigan State University, associate professor and chairman, Department of Biology , University of Alabama in Birmingham, and Ken R. Marion, Ph. D., Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, associate professor of biology, University of Alabama in Birmingham. Numerals on the left side of this and subsequent pages refer to page numbers in the text. After each numeral, in this order, are: the scientific term used in the text, the present scientific term, the present common name, and comments, if any. References to previous listings for scientific terms are indicated by the words, "see note __". 11 Scyliaea, Scyliaea, -Nudibranchs or sea slugs, Genus in family Scyllaeidae and suborder Nudibranchiata. 14 Musa, Musa, Bananas, Members of Musaceae, banana family. 15 Sylvia(e), Complex of several genera, Warblers, Old genus of warblers now divided into several genera. , 15 Chelonia mydas, Chelonia mydas, Green turtle or green sea turtle. 15 Medusae, Medusae, Jellyfish, Swimming form of hydrozoans. 15 Physalia pelagica, Physalia urtriculus, Portuguese man-of-war, A member of the suborder Cystonectae. [308] NOTES 18 Sparus, Sparus, Porgies or sea breams, Members of the family Sparidae; Sparus no longer applicable to species in northern Gulf of Mexico; The pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, is common in Alabama coastal waters. 18 Labrus, Labrus, Wrasses, Members of the family Labridae; Labrus no longer applicable to species in northern Gulf of Mexico; Halichoeres bivittatus, the slippery dick, is common in Alabama coastal waters. 19 Silurus catus, Arius felis, Salt-water catfish. 19 Vanessa orithya, lunonia coenia, Buckeye butterfly, Sometimes listed as Precis lavinia or Precis coenia. 19 Hesperia, Hesperia, Skipper butterflies, Genus of Hesperiidae. 20 Libellula, Libellula, Dragonflies or common skimmers, Genus in the family Libellulidae. 20 Agrion, Calopteryx, Broadwinged damselflies, Still often assigned to genus Agrion in the family Calopterygidae. 20 Musca(e), Musca, Houseflies, Genus of the family Muscidae. 20 Sturnus predatorius, Agelaius phoeniceus, Red-winged blackbird. 20 Musicapa tyrannus, Tyrannus tyrannus, Eastern kingbird. 20 Ardea candidissima, Egretta thula, Snowy egret. 20 A. (rdea) caerulea, Florida caerulea, Little blue heron. 20 Scolopax semipalmata, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, Willet. 20 Pyrula, Ficus, Fig shells, Genus in the fig shell family Ficidae. 20 Leistus, Present synonym unknown. 20 Avicula, Pteria, Pearl oysters, Genus in the wing oyster family, Pteriidae. 20 Tellina, Tellina, Tellins, Genus in the family Tellinidae. 20 Venus, Complex of 53 genera in family Veneridae, Quahogs or venus clams, Mercenaria is a common genus. 20 Trochus, Members of the family Trochidea, Top shells. 20 Pagurus, Pagurus, Hermit crabs, Genus in family Paguridae; text description implies the striped hermit (Clibanarius vittatus) in family Diogenidae. 21 Grapsus pictus, Grapsus (species synonym unknown), Wharf and shore crabs of family Grapsidae, Text description of swiftness and locale indicates the ghost crab, Ocypode quadrata in the family Ocypodidae. 21 Pontia, Pontia, White or cabbage butterflies, Eurasian genus in family Pieriidae. 22 Turdus solitarius, Catharus guttatus, Hermit thrush. 22 Muscicapa ruticilla, Setophaga ruticilla, American redstart. NOTES [309] 24 Geometra(e), Members of the family Geometridae, Geometrids or measuring worm moths, Family of several genera. 24 Papilio Asterius, Papilio polyxenes asterius, Black swallowtail butterfly. 24 Pelecanus fuscus, Pelecanus occidentalis, Brown pelican. 24 Delphinus delphis, Delphinus delphis, Common dolphin or Atlantic dolphin, Gosse likely saw the Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, which is much more common in coastal Alabama waters. 26 Melia azedarach, Melia azedarach, China-berry or umbrella tree. 26 Gleditschia triacanthos, Gleditschia triacanthos, Honey locust tree. 26 Chamaerops palmetto, Sabal palmetto, Cabbage palmetto or cabbage palm. 26 Yucca aloi/olia, Yucca aloi/olia, Spanish bayonet. 27 Hesperia malvae, Pyrgus malvae, Grizzled skipper butterfly, A European species. 27 H.(esperia) Proto. Muschampia proto, A skipper butterfly. A European species. 27 H. (esperia) Orcus, Pyrgus oileus, Tropical checkered skipper butterfly . Previously known as Prygus syrichtus. 28 Astacus Americanus, Astacus (species synonym unknown). Crayfish , The genera Cambarus and Procambarus include most of the common crayfish in Alabama. 33 Opuntia, Opuntia. Prickly pears, Genus of cactus. 33 Ardea caerulea, see note 20. Description more applicable to great blue heron. Ardea herodias. 33 Alcedo alcyon. Megaceryle alcyon. Belted kingfisher. 33 Anas sponsa. Aix sponsa. Wood duck. 33 Emys, Emys, Sliders or cooters, Former genus of North American water turtles; most now classified in the genera Pseudemys and Chrysemys; remaining representatives of Emys occur in Europe. 36 Sciurus capistratus. Sciurus niger. Eastern fox squirrel. 36 Tanagra aestiva. Piranga rubra, Summer tanager. 36 Tanagra rubra. Piranga olivacea. Scarlet tanager...