Professor Agassiz Research Articles

History of Ecological Sciences, Part 38B: Naturalists Explore North America, 1838–1850s

History of Ecological Sciences, Part 38B: Naturalists Explore North America, 1838–1850s

Amphibians and Reptiles of Tioga County, New York

The collecting of the herpetological fauna of the county seems to have begun about 90 years ago. DeKay (1842) mentions no definite collections, but a few years later, from 1853-62, A. Mayor and others were sending specimens of salamanders, frogs, snakes, and turtles to Professor Agassiz at Harvard. These specimens are preserved in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge. Eckel and Paulmier (1902), however, do not cite specific records from the county.

Concerning the Genus Hybopsis of Agassiz

FOR some time the writer has felt that the genus called Hybopsis by Jordan & Evermann was a composite group, and that the name Hybopsis does not belong to any of its members. In 1854, Professor Agassiz described a new genus of minnows under the name of Ilybopsis, his type being Hybopsis gracilis Agassiz. This species was identified by Jordan & Gilbert in 1882 with Ceratichthys hyalinus Cope, supposed to be the same as Rutilus amblops Rafinesque. But Agassiz's account applies equally to some one of the small minnows of the group called Alburnops by Girard. Of this group Alburnops blennius Girard is type. The two species, blennius and hyalinus, are much alike, except for the conspicuous barbel present in the latter. This character, undoubtedly of generic value, is not mentioned by Agassiz, and we cannot well suppose that he overlooked it. As Rafinesque did not notice a barbel in his Rutilus amblops, we should apparently not use his name or that of Agassiz for a species showing that character. The name Hybopsis, in my judgment, should be restored to the Alburnops group, in which the name gracilis has priority over blennius, stramineus, deliciosus, missuriensis, and other recognized synonyms. In the genus Hybopsis, as defined by Jordan & Evermann (I896), the various subgenera mentioned should all, besides some others, be regarded as distinct genera. We should, I think, recognize the following

Structural and petrographic geology

EARLIER METHODS AS EXEMPLIFIED BY PROFESSOR AGASSIZ In that priceless human document, “Autobiography of Nathaniel Southgate Shaler,” the author tells us of his entry, in 1859, into the laboratory of Prof. Louis Agassiz and of the methods of instruction which then and there prevailed. Professor Agassiz gave him a rusty tin basin and seated him at a small pine table in front of a window in a greatly crowded room, 15 feet wide by 30 feet long. His neighbors were Alpheus Hyatt, P. W. Putnam, A. E. Verrill, E. S. Morse, Richard Wheatland, and Caleb Cook. Professor Agassiz supplied him with a small fish, taken from a bottle of old alcohol, whose fragrance is described by our author as a “stench.” To his inquiry, “What shall I do ?” the Professor replied, “Find out what you can without damaging the specimen. When I think you have done the work I will question you.” The new student was, . . .

I.—The Structure of Glaciers

In August, 1841, Professor J. D. Forbes, in company with Professor Agassiz and Mr. Heath, spent some time upon the Lower Glacier of the Aar, and Forbes states that it was then for the first time that he noticed the veined or ribboned structure of glaciers. Although the description given in the communication he made to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in December of the same year is most interesting, he does not state clearly how the structure is related to the glacier grains of which the ice streams are built up.

挿図：アガシー氏等一同撮影

挿図：アガシー氏等一同撮影

A Review and Critcism of Seitaro Goto's Work on the Development of Asterias Pallida

Previous articleNext article FreeA Review and Critcism of Seitaro Goto's Work on the Development of Asterias PallidaE. W. MacBrideE. W. MacBride Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The American Naturalist Volume 33, Number 385Jan., 1899 Published for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/277101 Views: 34Total views on this site PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

The President and Professor Agassiz

The President and Professor Agassiz

XVIII. Notes on a Carboniferous Selachian Fish from the Cement-limestone Series of East Kilbride

The genus Cochliodus was established by Professor Agassiz, in 1838, for some peculiar shell-like palatal teeth found in the Carboniferous limestone series, five species being named by him— Cochliodus acutus, C. contortus, C. magnus, C. oblongus , and C. striatus ; but it has since been doubted whether some of these do not rather belong to some closely allied genus. Thus Prof. M'Coy, speaking of C. magnus , at page 623 of his “Palaeozoic Fossils,” says, “This species varies considerably in the outline of the different specimens, and I think it is very doubtful whether it is truly of the genus, on account of the flatness and slight inrollment of the teeth, and the little definition of the characteristic oblique ridges; the strong crenulation of the margin is also a character which I do not recollect to have seen in Cochliodus , but recalls the observation of Capt. Jones, (in Portk. Geol. Bep.) that the Cochliodus magnus , he thinks, pass into the Helodus planus , which may be borne out by a large suite of specimens, although I have not yet myself seen the passage.” I am glad to be able to exhibit to the Society a specimen of this fish, which seems to confirm in a measure the truth of Captain Jones' conjecture, as stated by M'Coy. This fine, I might almost say unique, specimen was discovered this autumn by my friend Mr. Andrew Paton, of East Kilbride, in the cement-limestone series, and he has kindly placed it in my hands for exhibition. The specimen This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract

VII. On the structure and development of lepidosteus

The following paper is the outcome of the very valuable gift of a series of embryos and larvae of Lepidosteus by Professor Alex. Agassiz, to whom we take this oppor­tunity of expressing our most sincere thanks. The skull of these embryos and larvae has been studied by Professor Parker, and forms the subject of a memoir already presented to the Royal Society. Considering that Lepidosteus is one of the most interesting of existing Ganoids, and that it is very closely related to species of Ganoids which flourished during the Triassic period, we naturally felt keenly anxious to make the most of the opportunity of working at its development offered to us by Professor Agassiz' gift. Professor Agassiz, moreover, most kindly furnished us with four examples of the adult Fish, which have enabled us to make this paper a study of the adult anatomy as well as of the development.

II. On the development of the skull in Lepidosteus osseous

The materials for the present paper were kindly sent to me by Professor A. A gassiz; they were for the use of Mr. Balfour and myself, and consisted of fifty-four small bottles of eggs and embryos in various stages. These very valuable materials were obtained from Black Lake by Mr. S. W. Garman and Professor Agassiz, and many of the embryos were described and figured by the latter in the “Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, October 8, 1878. Having received from my friend the author a copy of his important paper, I at once wrote to ask permission to work his materials out, thoroughly; suggesting that Mr. Balfour would undertake the embryological part of the work.

VIII. On the development of the skull in lepidosteus osseus

In the early part of 1879 I received from Professor A. Agassiz a large series of eggs and embryos of Lepidosteus, which by the help of Mr. Garman he had obtained from the Black Lake the year before. These specimens, carefully preserved in fifty-four small bottles, Professor Agassiz put into my hands to be worked out by Mr. Balfour and myself. A few years before I had received from Professor Burt G. Wilder some larger young of this Fish, which extended the “ stages ” for us considerably; and several adults obtained by Mr. Balfour, and one which I received from Professor Flower, made up the total of our materials. The present communication is the result of my own researches into the growth of the skull and visceral arches. Mr. Balfour, assisted by my son, Mr. W. N. Parker, has prepared an elaborate memoir on the embryology of this important type, to which are added observations on the structure of various organs in the adult. When our work was scarcely begun I prevailed upon Dr. Traquair to work out the adult skull, and that piece of research is, I believe, nearly finished, so that this Holostean Ganoid will soon have had a fair amount of attention given to it.

II. On the structure and development of the skull in sturgeons ( Acipenser ruthenus and A. sturio )

Since the publication of my paper on the skull of the salmon, a Teleostean fish, I have made many efforts to obtain early stages of the Ganoid types. Until the last two years, however, I have failed. At last, I have been taken almost by surprise by the kindness of Professor W. Salensky, of Kasan, and of Professor Alexander Agassiz, of Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. The former has supplied Mr. F. M. Balfour and myself with a number of bottles of early stages of the sterlet ( Acipenser ruthenus ), whilst from Professor Agassiz we have received fifty-four bottles of fecundated eggs and embryos of various stages of the Lepidosteus .

III. On the structure and relations of the Alcyonarian Heliopora cærulea , with some account of the anatomy of a species of Sarcophyton ; notes on the structure of species of the genera Millepora, Pocillopora , and Stylaster ; and remarks on the affinities of certain Palæozoic Corals

Introduction .—The author having undertaken the examination of the Deep-sea Corals dredged during the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger,’ was led to the study of the structure of corals generally, and especially to the examination of the Milleporidæ, which seemed of peculiar interest, since they had been determined by Professor Agassiz to be Hydroids, and had been regarded by him as living representatives of the Palæozoic Rugosa. Millepora alciconis was obtained and examined at Bermuda, and another species of Millepora at Zamboangan, Mindanas, Philippine Islands. The examination of these Millepores was found to be beset with great difficulties, and the present notes on their structure are to be regarded as only preliminary. Further investigations will be made with specimens which it is hoped will be obtained at the Sandwich Islands. At Zamboangan, Heliopora cærulea was obtained, and found at once to be an Alcyonarian. Its structure is described in full in the paper. Another Alcyonarian of the genus Sarcophyton (Lesson) was examined for purpose of comparison. I t proved to present special features of interest, and a gene­ral description of its anatomy also is therefore given. Notes are further appended on the anatomy of a species of Pocilloporca obtained at Zamboangan, and that of a Stylasteracean dredged off the Meangis Islands in 500 fathoms.

XXVII.—On the Parallel Roads of Lochaber

I. The Parallel Roads of Lochaber have presented to geologists a problem, which is still unsolved. Dr Macculloch, about sixty years ago, when President of the Geological Society of London, first called attention to these peculiar markings on the Lochaber Hills, by an elaborate Memoir afterwards published in that Society's Transactions. He was followed by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, who in the year 1824, read a paper in our own Society, illustrated by excellent sketches. His paper is in our Transactions. The next author who attempted a solution was the present Mr Charles Darwin. He maintained that these Roads were sea-beaches, formed, when this part of Europe was rising from beneath the Ocean. He was followed by Professor Agassiz, Dr Buckland, Charles Babbage, Sir John Lubbock, Robert Chambers, Professor Rogers, Sir George M'Kenzie, Mr Jamieson of Ellon, Professor Nicol, Mr Bryce of Glasgow, Mr Watson, and Mr Jolly of Inverness. Sir Charles Lyell, though he wrote no special memoir, treated the subject pretty fully in his works, giving an opinion in support of the views of Agassiz.

Professor Agassiz

Professor Agassiz

Professor Agassiz

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Obituary notice of Professor Agassiz

Permit me, before we proceed to the business of this evening, to refer in a very few words to one of the most distinguished Foreign Corresponding Fellows of this Society, whose death has just been announced. In every civilised nation throughout the globe the name of Agassiz is a household word. It is a name known not in one circle, but in all circles—not in one nation, but in all nations; and it is honoured as the name of one of the greatest men the world has ever produced. Men like Agassiz occur only at rare intervals, and their death causes darkness to fall upon the earth as if one of the lights of the world had been extinguished. Agassiz was born in Switzerland on 28th May 1807. He died in the United States of America on Sunday last, the 14th of this month. Cosmopolitan in his life as in his fame, he resided for the last twenty-seven years in the United States, and was recognised as the pioneer and leader of science in the New World. This Society had the honour of electing him, on 15th April 1869, one of its Foreign Corresponding Fellows. Time would fail to recount all the distinctions gained by Agassiz, and all the works he produced or accomplished. In his connection with Scotland, our University of Edinburgh may look back with pride to his having been a candidate for the Chair of Natural History, vacant by the death of Edward Forbes in 1854;* and

XVI. Notes on Carboniferous Fossils

Professor Agassiz, in his Poissons Fossiles, published in 1837, described the genus Diplodus (sp. gibbosus and minutus ) from specimens, chiefly of dissociated teeth, found in the English coal-fields. Subsequently, a well-preserved fish was discovered in Bohemia, and described in 1847 by Goldfuss, who named it Orthacanthus Dechenii. In 1848, Professor Beyrich, of Berlin, described the same fish, and named it Xenacanthus Dechenii, founding on the fact that the spine had a greater similarity to Pleuracanthus than to Orthacanthus. At the meeting of the British Association in Glasgow, in 1855, Sir Philip Egerton, from discoveries that had been made in the interval, pointed out that the spines of Pleuracanthus and the teeth of Diplodus belonged, in fact, to the same fish. The specimens from which Sir Philip proved this to the Association were obtained from Carluke and Edinburgh. In 1867 Professor Kner went carefully over the remains of such fishes in the museums of Dresden, Berlin, Breslau, and Vienna. Although none of the specimens found in these museums were complete, yet in some of them he found the teeth of Diplodus minutus of Agassiz in position, and from the external aspect of the fossils he accepted Goldfuss’s generic name Orthacanthus Dechenii. The specimen which the author now exhibited had been for many years in his collection, and had been provisionally named Pleuracanthus minutus. After a careful examination, however, of the microscopic structure both of the teeth and the shagreen, he could find no relation between the structure of Pleuracanthus and that This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract

Professor Agassiz's South America Expedition

III. IN Mayne Harbour, on the western side of Owen's Islands, I had an opportunity of investigating two very interesting new genera of naked-eyed Acalephs. The locality naturali suggested appropriate names, and I called one after Captain Mayne Crossotoca Maynei, from the festooned disposition of the ovaries and the other after my old friend Owen, Staurotoca Owenii, from the cross-like figure of the ovaries. While I was collecting on board, Pourtales and Steindachner ascended the adjoining hills in search of glacial marks and land animals. The result of their excursion was most satisfactory. Pourtales found very well preserved glacial scratches and furrows upon wide greenstone dykes, which here intersected the rocks in every direction. Upon one such ledge the marks were divided into two distinct series, one running S. W. by W., the other crossing these S. S. W. Higher up on other dykes of the same character, the first series of marks occurred again, being perfectly rectilinear, in the same direction, and though in one instance interrupted, were renewed on the other side of the break on the same level with the same bearing. Still higher up on the same hillside he found also very distinct glacial furrows upon granite ridges, the furrows bearing S. W. by S., and finer lines again on greenstone dykes. The highest marks in the locality were some 500 or 600 feet above the sea level. Steindachner collected frogs and their tadpoles, and some insects and earthworms.