The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
THE FAUNA
Or THE STATE

Continued from Page 201.)
most imposing, the former reaching with
us a length of oyer eleven feet and the
latter sometimes attaining a weight of
half a ton. Next i'm size comes the log
gerhead Sea Turtle and possibly an occa-
sional Hawkbill and Green Turtle. The
Snapper and a number of species of
smaller fresh water members of the or-
der are found in the State and some
times a Soft-shelled Turtle (aspidonectesl
win be taken
Snakes are of some variety and much
interest, few of our native species being
poisonous. Most of the so-called effect
of snake bite is really the effect of the
excess of remedy taken.
Among Batrachians (theA frogs and
saamanders) the Bullfrog is most con
spicuous, while the salamanders have two
large and interesting members, the Great
Siren that reaches a length of thirty
inches or more and the Amphitma or
Congo Snake of equal length but less
bulk. The former has two legs only,
the latter having four very poorly de-
veloped limbs-so weakly as to be use
less in walking Both are mud and wa
ter jewellers.
Our fish fauna is as valuable and varl-
ed as is our bird fauna. The common
commercial fishes are so well known that
little comment on them is necessary. 1t
is worthy of note that many species
that really belong to more southern
fanna often find their way to our coasts.
Red Snapper, for instance, may be caught
off shore opposite Beaufort and the great
Silver King of Florida, the Tarpon, has
been caught on numerous occasions on
our coast and sometimes of quite large
size. Some of the species of grunts and
groupers occur below the Cape Fear and
Round Pompano are fairly common near
ly up to Hatteras The North Carolina
coast IS the most southern off which
commercial fishing for Menhaden is car
ried on and the same statement applies
The anadramous fishes, as the herrings,
shads and mullets and the Rock or
to the capture of whales and porpoiSCS.
Striped Bass and the White Perch, enter
the fresh water sounds and estuaries in
great numbers to spawn, this habit giving
them a commercial Importance they
would not otherwise possess with us.
The Black-ish (Amia calva), the great
Atlantic sturgeon and the fresh water
Gar are of particular interest to the ma
turalist. Numerous species of sharks and
rays are in the same category and it is
noteworthy that neither of the man
eaters seem to favor us with their pres
ence. The Bonnet-head and Hammer
bead among the sharks and the Sting
rays are of special interest from specific
notifications in their general structure
or appearance, but most of this group of
fishes will bear investigation before
handling
Among crustaceans are numerous
species of much interest and value. The
stone crabs, the channel or blue crabs,
sand crabs, fiddlers, mud crabs, sea
spiders, shrimps, sand shrimps, etc. all
come under this head and one specimen
of the rare Rooster Crab (CaIappa
fiammea) has been taken off Wrishts-
vile.
OF molluscs there is the usual varied
array. Of course the best known are
those of commercial Importance, the
oyster, clam and scallop, but as all sea
shells belong to this class of animal life
it is easily seen that the list of native
species would be long one. PERHAPS
the next best know to the above is the
common conch (Fulga).