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Showing papers in "American Midland Naturalist in 1950"




Journal ArticleDOI

286 citations




Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The relationships of Acrocanthosaurus and Altispinax are studied to establish a cladistic relationship between these dinosaurs and their relatives, the Tournaisian dinosaurs.
Abstract: 696 Introduction -697 Type -699 Paratype -699 Generic diagnosis -699 Description of the skeleton -700 Skull -700 Frontals -701 Parietals -701 Prootic -702 Jugal -702 Lachrymal -702 Postorbital complex -703 Squamosal -703 Basioccipital -----703 Exoccipitals and paroccipitals 703 Supraoccipitals -704 Alisphenoids -----------704 Orbitosphenoids and ethmoids 704 Basisphenoids .-.--------------704 Ectopterygoid ---------------705 Lower jaw -705 Measurements of the skull 705 Vertebral column -706 Cervical vertebrae -706 Measurements of the cervical vertebrae -709 Dorsal vertebrae ---709 Measurements of the dorsal vertebrae -711 Caudal vertebrae 711 Measurements of the caudal vertebrae 714 Discussion of the vertebral spines 714 Chevrons 715 Ribs -716 Gastralia -716 Pectoral girdle -716 Coracoid -716 Pelvic girdle -717 Pubis -717 Ischium 717 Hind limb7J!9 Femur -718 Tibia -718 Fibula -719 Pes -719 Measurements of the hind limb and foot -720 Observations on the taxonomy of Altispinax -721 The relationships of Acrocanthosaurus 722 Conclusions 723 Acknowledgments -724 References 724

110 citations





Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The literature reveals that velocity curves for developmental stages of parasitic worms have not been reported and many authors have studied the development of parasite ova and larvae but in each case they failed to present comprehen-sive information regarding temperature and humidity effects.
Abstract: The literature reveals that velocity curves for developmental stages of parasitic worms have not been reported. Many authors have studied the development of parasite ova and larvae but in each case they failed to present comprehen-sive information regarding temperature and humidity effects. The majority of such reports merely give the period required for development to a given stage under natural conditions or at a particular temperature or at the minimum, maximum, or optimum temperature. For instance, Leuckart (1876) observed complete embryonation of the ova of Ascaris lumbricoides (human) in forty days at "mid-summer temperatures"; Raillet (1893) reported that at a "favorable temperature" Ascaris lumbricoides var. suumn ova contained motile embryos in thirty to forty days; and Wharton (1915) observed embryonation of Ascaris lumbricoides (human) ova in fifteen days at "summer temperatures" in the Philippine Islands. Similarly, Brown (192-7a) reported embryonation of Trichuris trichiura ova in twenty-one days and of A. lumbricoides (human) ova in fifteen days under "field conditions" in Panama.

66 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A study of the breeding behavior of the Canada goose (Branta cana,densis) was initiated in thle sprilng of 1944 by the writer and Carlton Beckhart; the writer continued the work from the spring of 1946 to the fall of 1948.
Abstract: This study of the breeding h-abits of the Canada goose (Branta cana,densis) was initiated in thle sprilng of 1944 by the writer and Carlton Beckhart; the writer continued the work from the spring of 1946 to the fall of 1948. Most of the data were obtained on Bright Land Farm near Barrington, Cook County, Illinois, for the period 1944 to 1946, from a flock of 2 50 birds, of which approximately 25 per cent were full-winged and the remainder wing-clipped or pinioned. Some data were gathcred from sources other than Bright Land Fann during the study. Emphasis was placed on tne breeding behavior of a goose once mated and then separated from its mate because of death or other reasons.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There have been a number of mussel surveys (Smith, 1889, Coker, 1914, Grier and Mueller, 1922-23; Grier, 1922, 1926) in the Mississippi River to determine the relative value of these animals as a source of pearl button material as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: There have been a number of mussel surveys (Smith, 1889; Coker, 1914; Grier and Mueller, 1922-23; Grier, 1922, 1926) in the Mississippi River to determine the relative value of these animals as a source of pearl button material. Other studies (Cooper, 1834; Galtsoff, 1924; Wiebe, 1927; Ellis, 1931) were concerned more with general biological problems involving ecology, limnology and fisheries. Several valuable lists (Pratt, 1876; Call, 1885; Grant, 1885; Baker, 1903, 1905; Shimek, 1921; Dawley, 1947) furnish good records of species from various parts of this river. However, there has not been a single published report which gives an account of the distribution of these animals throughout the productive area of the main stream. A comprehensive survey made by Max M. Ellis and his staff during the summers of 1930 and 1931 now makes possible a report on those collections. These records are the only inclusive source of information concerning this unusually rich assemblage of naiades in our largest river.




Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Boone 'County has a total area of 569 square miles and lies entirely in the Wisconsin drift soil area, and its watershed is drained by two separate river systems, both of which are part of the Mississippi system.
Abstract: Boone 'County has a total area of 569 square miles and lies entirely in the Wisconsin drift soil area. Over 90 per cent of the county is rich farm land. Carrington loam, which is a very fertile soil, covers over 40 per cent of the county, and is confined mainly to rolling land bordering the creeks and smaller streams (Stevenson and Brown 1924). Boone County is interesting from a distributional viewpoint in that its watershed is drained by two separate river systems, both of which are part of the Mississippi system. The greater portion of the county is in the Des Moines River system. This river passes through Boone 'County about midway in its course, cutting a deep valley in otherwise rolling to flat land. At one point in the county, the total drainage of the river is 5,610 square miles. The stream gradient is 1.5 feet per mile in the lower 300 miles, including Boone County (U. S. 71st Congress Report). The bottom of the river is chiefly sand-gravel, with sand-silt, rubble and boulders in limited areas. The channel at low water stages varies in depth from 1.5 to 4 feet and the width of the river from approximately 100 to 250 feet. Deep holes are present below bars and at bends. In the Des Moines River 721 collections were taken at 17 places with 10, 20, and 30 feet common sense minnow seines (Fig. 1). Wire minnow traps were also used at a few locations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of the significance of aquatic turtle populations in fresh water requires information on the abundance and habitat preferences of each species, and trap results are the best basis for determining relative abundance.
Abstract: The role of turtle populations in fresh water biology has been generally ignored although these animals may, in some areas, be the dominant vertebrates. Available information is inadequate to define precisely the relation of any turtle population to that of another animal. Analysis of the significance of aquatic turtle populations in fresh water requires information on the abundance and habitat preferences of each species. Trapping provides the best basis for estimating this information. Traps are unsatisfactory in that they are selective for certain size groups of each species and catches vary with the type of bait, method of set, water temperature, and water depth. Too, the first individual to enter a trap may determine the nature of the total catch. Thus a large Chelydra or Macrochelys in a trap will often prevent others from entering, and a female will attract males during the periods of sexual activity. Such factors must be considered when utilizing trap returns in population studies. Hand collecting tends to produce an abundance of Pseudemys, Chrysemys, and Graptemys but few A myda, Macrochelys, or Chelydra. Regardless of these factors in trapping, which cannot be evaluated at present, trap results are the best basis for determining relative abundance. Turtle traps were operated in 14 water bodies in Louisiana during the summer of 1947 (Fig. 1). The traps were made of 1" square mesh netting suspended on three 36" diameter steel hoops. An adjustable net throat was attached at one end and a draw string outlet at the other. Bamboo poles were used to spread the three hoops and to hold the traps in place. Bait (fresh gar, bowfin, catfish) was suspended in a can just in front of the open throat.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A qualitative preimpoundment survey of the fishes of the Illinois River, in Oklahoma, was undertaken by the writers and a crew of nine students from the Department of Zoology of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Collcge m August 1946.
Abstract: With the cooperation of the Army Engineers, Tulsa District and the Oklahoma Game and Fish Department, a qualitative preimpoundment survey of the fishes of the Illinois River, in Oklahoma, was undertaken by the writers and a crew of nine students from the Department of Zoology of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Collcge m August 1946. The construction of a dam at Tenkillers Ferry was in its iiiitial phases at that time. The expedition was greatly aided by the services of Dr. H. I. Featherly of the Oklahoma A. and M. College Botany Department, and Mr. Cecil Haight of the Army Engineers. The State Game and Fish Department through its Warden, Mr. Jeff Kendall, and its Superintendent of Fisheries, Mr. A. D. Aldrich, made available the services of Mr. Ed Jarrell, Superintendent of the State Fish Hatchery at Tahlequah, who gave much needed advice concerning the river while he was transporting our gear from station to station. The hearty cooperationl of Colonel C. FH. Chorpening and Mr. L. G. Duck of the Army Engineers is greatly appreciated. Drs. A. I. Ortenburger, A. P. Blair, W. F. Blair, and Mrs. F. A. Blair generously gave permission to use materials and data collected by them. The writers are indebted to Dr. Carl L. Hubbs of Scripps Institution of Oceanography for nomenclatural aid and to Drs. R. M. Bailey and Robert R. Miller of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology for the identificationi of some specimens and for seniding pertinent data from their Museum files.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present paper reports briefly on one phase of the reproduction studies, namely the germination behavior of the seeds of 91 species of prairie plants.
Abstract: The methods and rates of reproduction of the most important prairie species have been studied in some detail in connection with the establishment, on the University of Wisconsin Arboretum at Madison, of large-scale examples of the main plant associations of the prairie-forest border region. To assist with the restoration of the tall grass prairie (Andropogon-Sorghastrum) variotus additional studies have been made concerning the species composition of nearby prairie relics (Curtis and Greene, 1949), and the effect of fire on the behavior of prairie perennials (Curtis and Partch, 1948). The present paper reports briefly on one phase of the reproduction studies, namely the germination behavior of the seeds of 91 species of prairie plants.

MonographDOI
TL;DR: This paper presents the results of a study dealing with ecological relationships of the ants on the University of Flori'da Conservation Reserve, Welaka, Florida, an attempt to expand the knowledge of the nesting habits and behavior of the ant of a limited area.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of a study dealing with ecological relationships of the ants on the University of Flori'da Conservation Reserve, Welaka, Florida. It is an attempt to expand the knowledge of the nesting habits and behavior of the ants of a limited area. Although similar studies on ants had been undertaken previously in other parts of the United States, especially thle middle west, there still remained the opportunity to study comprehensively an area in the southeastern Coastal Plain, with its influences from both the neotropical and nearctic faunae. In studying the ants of the Reserve, it was desired to 1) ascertain what ant forms occur on the Reserve, and to determine their quantitative relationships in each of the situations in which they are found; 2) classify these different situations from a knowledge of the qualitative and quantitative distribution of the ants in them; 3) gather as much information as possible concerning the life history and ha'bits of the ants. During the study much interesting information incidental to the main problem was obtained on various aspects of the ants' biology. Observations concerning the speed of movement, feeditng habits, guests and parasites in the nests and on the individuals, and the hours during which foraging is done are included in an Annotated List to be published later. The literature bearing on ants of selected regions has been, for the most part, lists or keys, including only notes as to the nesting habits of the ants concerned. Several recent papers have dealt with the ecological relationships between the ants and the environment of limited areas: Buren (1944) in Iowa; Cole (1940) in the Great Smoky Mountains of T'ennessee; Gregg (1944) in the Chicago region; and Talbot (1934) also in the Chicago region. Those papers dealing with Florida ants have been four state lists (Smith, 1930, 1933, 1944; and Wheeler, 1932) and a key to the ants of the Gainesville region (Van Pelt, 1948). Until recently, the taxonomy of ants has been based on a quadrinomial system. Several authors in the 1930's and before have made proposals to do away with this, cumbersome type of nomenclature. In 1938 Creighton presented a trinomial system in which all varieties were raised to subspecific rank, and in 1944 Buren put this idea into practice for the ants of Iowa. Finally, in 1950, Creighton published a manual on the ants of North America in which he revised his earlier concept. By discarding the category

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Quantitatively crawfishes have been little studied, but a few species, however, have been shown to exist in enormous numbers in their optimum habitats.
Abstract: Quantitatively crawfishes have been little studied. A few species, however, have been shown to exist in enormous numbers in their optimum habitats. Davis and Weibe (1930) reported the removal of over 500 pounds of unidentified crawfishes from a pond in Iowa slightly over an acre in extent which produced at the same time 7,581 fingerling black bass. Creaser (1934) found mixed Cambarus bartoni and C. robustus in Pine Brook of the Raquette River watershed in New York at the rate of 4,044 individuals per mile of stream (about 16 pounds per acre) which he stated was a production greater than that of the fishes present in the same brook. Surber (1936) reported unidentified crawfishes in a stream in Virginia at their peak of annual production in August and September at the rate of 3.1 individuals per square foot of bottom, or about 135,036 per acre. Langlois (1936) indicated Cambarus rusticus production in fish hatcheries in Ohio averaging about 850 pounds per acre with a peak of 1,587 pounds per acre in one pond in addition to the bass crop. Wickliff (1940) recorded peak production of unidentified crawfishes in stream riffles in Ohio between May and September: in a "sand and gravel" riffle he found 6,250 individuals per acre (27 pounds per acre); in a "gravel" riffle in May, three per square foot or 130,680 per acre (1,176 pounds per acre); and, in a "rubble" riffle in August four per square foot or 174,240 per acre (523 pounds per acre). He depopulated the rubble riffle and two days later it yielded at the rate of 6,070 crawfishes per acre, evidently being repopulated from adjacent parts of the stream. In the Cornell Experimental Fish Hatchery at Ithaca, New York, Tack (1941) recorded production of Orconectes immunis immunis at the rate of from 36 to 255 pounds per acre in different


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study has attempted to make known several of the main features of the life history of three species of darters, mainly by scale analysis, which are quite common in the upper Allegheny River system of western Pennsylvania.
Abstract: Within recent years considerable work has been concentrated upon the study of the life histories of our larger percid fishes that provide both sport and food for man. The life histories of most of our smaller Percidae, the darters, are still not completely known. Several studies have revealed some of their spawning habits, such as those of Adams and Hankinson (1928), Atz (1940), Hankinson (1932), Jaffa (1917), Lake (1936), J. J. Petravicz (1936), W. P. Petravicz (1938), Reeves (1907), Reighard (1913) and Seal (1892). In this study we have attempted to make known several of the main features of the life history of three species of darters, mainly by scale analysis. These species, the variegated darter, Poecilichthys variatus (Kirtland), the eastern banded darter, Poecilichthys zonalis zonalis Cope, and the northern grecnside darter, Etieostoma blennoides blennoides Rafinesque, are quite common in the upper Allegheny River system of western Pennsylvania. Their ranges are given by Hubbs and Black (1940: 7) and Hubbs and Lagler (1947: 88, 89). These darters have remained in such obscurity that even brief generalizations of their life histories are not available. Such discussions of blennoides by Evermann and Clark (1920: 440-442, colored plate) and Forbes and Richardson (1920: 292-294, colored plate) and of zonalis by Forbes and Richardson (1920: 304306, fig. 73) are mainly descriptional. Their habitat and associates, abundance and density, sexual dimorphism, sex ratio, longevity and comparative rates of growth are discussed and tabulated, herein.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested to prepare a uniform nomenclature which would take into account all the established elements of the chaetotaxy of the fourth instar mosquito larva, allow for the later inclusion of certain elements now poorly known, show homologies where they have been established, and be equally suitable for anophelines and culicines.
Abstract: The recent recognition of species complexes within populations formerly believed to represent a single species has focused the attention of students of mosquitoes to a reexamination of characters previously used in the separation of species and to a search for new morphological features useful in diagnosis. The immature stages of mosquitoes offer a greater variety of morphological characters which can be studied quantitatively, analyzed, and used for recognition of species than do the adults. Until recently almost all the attention was paid to the head, a few thoracic and abdominal hairs and the terminal abdominal segments of the larva, and the trumpets, paddles and a few abPom,nal hairs of the pupa. The larval characters used have not been entirely satisfactory and in the last few years the pupal stage has attracted more attention in the search for additional diagnostic characters. This interest in the pupa has culminated in the work of Knight and 'Chamberlain (1948) who made a comparative study, devised a new nomenclature, and illustrated the complete chaetotaxy of representatives of practically all the genera. The study of the larva has not progressed as rapidly, perhaps because of the greater complexity of the chaetotaxy, since the larva has upward of 200 pairs of hairs while the pupa appears to have about 105 pairs. The complete larval chaetotaxy for the majority of the genera is still unknown. In the course of a study on the genus Uranotaenia from the Solomon Islands, the complete larval chaetotaxy of seven species was described and figured by the author. In the preparation of descriptions it became evident that the existing nomenclatures were not entirely satisfactory as various combinations of numerical, alphabetical and nominal terminologies have been used by different workers according to their individual preferences and no system used all the elements of the larval chaetotaxy known at the present time. It seemed advisable, therefore, to prepare a uniform nomenclature which would (1) take into account all the established elements of the chaetotaxy of the fourth instar mosquito larva, (2) allow for the later inclusion of certain elements now poorly known, (3) show homologies where they have been established, (4) be equally suitable for anophelines and culicines, and (5) be easy to use in descriptions.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: During the past summer, both authors have had opportunity to extend previous acquaintance with this interesting animal, and with its western, short-horned relative, P. douglasii (Bell), which differs greatly in behavior.
Abstract: Slightly more than 13 years ago, the senior author had the good fortune to witness the mating of the Texan horned toad, Phrynosoma cornutum Harlan. His sudden realization of the use of the temporal horns on the female's head as a mouthbite for the clasping male, led to publication of a second note oln the subject (67). During the past summer, both authors have had opportLunity to extend previous acquaintance with this interesting animal, and with its western, short-horned relative, P. douglasii (Bell). The latter was represented by specimens from both east central New Mexico-apparently subspecies P. dornatissimum (Girard) -and from ponderosa pine woods in northern Arizona-apparently subspecies P. d. hernandesi (Girard). These identifications correspond to information given by Smith (92) and Dodge (30), although the subspecies "at present . . . are best identified . . . by locality" (Smith, loc. cit., p. 289 ftnt.). Phrynosoma cornutum and douglassii differ greatly in behavior. Each has been observed at length both in the field and in captivity over a period of at least four months.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present study leads to recognition of the two distinct groups of species of common oystezs as Ostrea with 0.
Abstract: Species of oysters in the family Ostreidae are found over the world along the shores of all continents (excepting Antarctica) and some oceanic islands. Oysters are an important seafood and their shells are useful for various purposes. For that reason they have been extensively studied, and the oyster has been called the scientifically best known marine animal in the world (Clark, 1920; Nelson, 1938). Nevertheless, the proper generic name of several species, including that of the common American oyster, has never been commonly used or, in the case of most species, assigned. There are several reasons for this situation. The ordinary oyster biologist is not a taxonomist. The information which permits or, more correctly, necessitates a taxonomic revision has only recently been acquired. The conchologists have been notoriously concerned with shell characteristics and, since the oyster is one of the most variable animals in the world so far as shape of the shell is concerned, this has led to confusion in various ways. In this paper I propose to clarify somewhat the generic status of the oysters of the world by considering taxonomic questions in the light of recently acquired biological knowledge. The present study leads to recognition of the two distinct groups of species of common oystezs as Ostrea with 0. eJdulis as type and Crassostrea with Ostrea virginica as genotype.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Moore and Mizelle as mentioned in this paper studied the relative abundance of fishes in Stillwater Creek and principal tributaries, Payne and Noble Counties, Oklahoma, and found that the entire stream was, and undoubtedly had long been, extremely muddy.
Abstract: The relative abundance of fishes in Stillwater Creek and principal tributaries, Payne and Noble Counties, Oklahoma, was studied in 1938 (Moore and Mizelle, 1939). During this 20-station survey the mainstream and tributaries above the city of Stillwater consisted of intermittent pools. Below Stillwater a slight flow was maintained by city sewage outlets. At that time something less than 750,000 gallons of processed sewage entered the stream daily. The quantity and quality of this influx did not markedly influence the stream's turbidity or its abundance of fishes. The entire stream was, and undoubtedly had long been, extremely muddy. Its water level fluctuated widely, floods followed by reduction to intermittent pools occurring almost annually.