Elliott Coues

Elliott Coues Elliott Ladd Coues (September 9, 1842 – December 25, 1899) was an American army surgeon, ornithologist, naturalist, professor of anatomy, bibliographer, historian, author, and associate editor of The Auk. He was elected in 1877 a Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and in 1878 a Member of the American Philosophical Society. Quotes The Virginia opossum opossum's form is adapted to the execution of numerous and varied movements, but not fitted for great strength, sustained effort, or rapid progression. The animal is sluggish, usually moving slowly and deliberately; its fastest pace is a kind of amble, when both legs of the same side are simultaneously moved, as is also the case when it is walking more slowly; it has not been observed to trot or lope. It is plantigrade, and the body is usually carried so low as to barely clear the ground. On the osteology and myology of Didelphys virginiana Memoirs of the Boston Society of Natural History III 1872 41–149 https://books.google.com/books?id=MdZHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA41 (quote from p. 41) Almost immediately upon riding by the telegraph wire, I noticed a dead Horned lark lark; and as I passed several more in quick succession, my attention was aroused. The position of the dead birds enabled me to trace cause and effect, before I actually witnessed a case of the killing. The bodies lay in every instance nearly or directly beneath the wire. A crippled bird was occasionally seen fluttering along the road. Becoming interested in the matter, I began to count, and desisted only after actually counting a hundred in the course of one hour's leisurely riding — representing perhaps a distance of three miles. Nor was it long before I saw birds strike the wire, and fall stunned to the ground ... The American Naturalist: An Illustrated Magazine of Natural History 1876 X https://books.google.cm/books?hl=fr&id=i0hNLjVL49oC&pg=PA735 734–736 (quote from 735) The Robin is a great eater of Berry berries and soft fruits of every description; and these furnish, during the colder portions of the year, its chief sustenance. Some of the cultivated fruits of the orchard and garden are specially attractive; and no doubt the birds demand their tithe. But the damage done in this way is trifling at most, and wholly inconsiderable in comparison with the great benefit resulting from the destruction of noxious insects by this bird. ... It has been found, by careful and accurate observations, that a young Robin, in the nest, requires a daily supply of animal food equivalent to considerably more than its own weight! Birds of the Colorado Valley: A Repository of Scientific and Popular Information Concerning North American Ornithology. Passeres to Laniidæ. Part first Issue 11 of Miscellaneous publications (Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey of the Territories) U.S. Government Printing Office 1878 https://books.google.com/books?id=qaAaAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA12 12 (807 pages) External links Category:1842 births Category:1899 deaths Category:Academics from the United States Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Category:Ornithologists Category:People from New Hampshire Category:Science authors from the United States Category:Theosophists Category:Zoologists from the United States