The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America / by William T. Hornaday ... illustrated by 227 original drawings by Beard, Rungius, Sawyer, and others, 116 photographs, chiefly by Sanborn, Keller and Underwood, and numerous charts and maps.

  • Hornaday, William T. (William Temple), 1854-1937.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America / by William T. Hornaday ... illustrated by 227 original drawings by Beard, Rungius, Sawyer, and others, 116 photographs, chiefly by Sanborn, Keller and Underwood, and numerous charts and maps. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the extremes, then the specimens all belong to the same species. Thus, in passing from New York to Ohio, specimens of the Gray Scjuirrel show all shades of variation, from the typical gray to black; but all belong to the same species, called in Latin, Sci-u'rus car-o-li-nen'sis. A Species is an assemblage of individual animals which in at least one respect are distinctly different from all others, and whose peculiarities are so well marked and so constant that they can be distinguished from all others without the aid of locality labels. When a new kind of animal is found, adult specimens of which are distinctly different from those of all known species, an average specimen is taken as a type, and it is described, and christened by its describer. Every species should be distinguishable by e.xternal characters; and any animal which requires to be killed and dissected before it can be named, is of no practical value as an independent form. To secure recognition among zoologists, it is important that the first description of a new species should appear in a regular publication of some scientific society, or in a scientific journal. In case the creature has not already been described, and the proposed species has just claims to stand alone, this name is entitled to stand, by right of priority, or first christening. Many times it happens that through ignorance of what has been done by others, or by errors in judgment, a new name is bestowed upon an animal or plant that has already been named. Some- times, also, it is found that the name bestowed has already been used for some other animal. A name applied to an animal or plant already named is called a syn'o-nym. In scientific books, synonyms sometimes are printed in a list under the correct name, followed by the names of their respective authors. A zoological synonym always stands for a published error, and scientific authors should be chary of describing as “new” any species which are likely to prove mere synonyms. The type of any species is a carefully selected specimen which in size and color may fairly be considered the standard, or average, for that species. Among zoologists, this term is applied to the identical skin, or other specimen, described by its discoverer. Because of the many scientific names that are erroneously bestowed upon animals, the name of the author who is responsible for a name is usually printed, in abbreviated form, immediately after the name itself, thus: Popular name. Scientific name. Authority. Coyote. Canis latrans. Say. A parenthesis enclosing a Latin name and the name of its author is a sign that the name has been changed somewhat from the form originally chosen and put forth by the author of the species. Taken as a whole, this name means (1) that the “popular ” name of the animal is Coy'ote; (2) that its scientific name (Latin) is Canis (=dog) la'trans (=barking); and (3) that it was first cor- rectly described and named in print by a man named Say. If we consult our books, we will find that Thomas Say was a Philadelphia naturalist, and his description of this animal appeared in “Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Mountains,” published in 1823, Vol. I, page 168. Whenever the name of an animal has been so long in use that it has become familiar to millions of people, any attempt to change it tends to create confusion. A slightly incorrect name in universal use is often better than the confusion and doubt inseparable from attempting a change. Thus, the American buffalo, considered in connection with the world’s bovine animals generally, is really a bison; and the prairie-dog” is really a prairie marmot; but since nearly all the inhabitants of America know these animals by their incorrect names, and any effort to force a universal change would be quite fruitless, it would be unwise to attempt it. It is very important to the student that the names of the various Orders of vertebrate animals should be learned and remembered; for they are the keys with which to unlock and reveal all systematic knowledge of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. THE INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS: A WARNING During the past two years, so many persons have requested my views regarding the mental capacity of animals, that I feel impelled to enter here a brief statement, coupled with a warning. Unfortunately, it cannot be written otherwise than in the first person.