NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 75 



Hallow, was identical with Eumesodon s e ra i c ari n at u s* Cope ; also that 

 Aepideab Hallow, could not be distinguished from Gonyosoma Wagl. 



He stated that he had also noted that Dr. Girard's Rhabdion occipitale 

 from Australia, was a Najid of the genus Glyphodond Gthr. perhaps distinct 

 from the species described by the latter author. Callirhinus 4 of the same 

 author was not isodont, as stated by him, but gl'yphodont, and bearing some 

 resemblance to Malpolon Fitz. Simotes ancorus expressed the true generic 

 association of his Xenodon ancorus 1 ; it is from Luzon, and identical with Simotes 

 pkcenochalinuss Cope. The Erythrolamprus venustissimus of the same author, h is 

 properly E. albostolatus' Cope. 



Specimens of Lepidosternum F lo ridan um Bairdt were exhibited. Mr. Cope 

 stated that this Amphisbaenian reptile was evidently typical of a form generic- 

 ally distinct from Lepidosternum, which he would name Rhineiira. In the 

 form of the head, and presence of nasal shields it resembled Phractogo- 

 nus Hallow, from Africa ; in the shielding of the crown and absence of preanal 

 pores it was similar to Lepidosternum. It differed from both in the depressed, 

 superiorly tuberculous tail. This structure was appropriate to its burrowing 

 habits. The eyes, if existing, were entirely invisible. According to Prof. 

 Baird, the R. Floridana was common in the country from which it takes 

 its name. It emerges from its subterranean retreats after thunder showers; 

 hence its vernacular name of " Thunder Worm." 



The specific characters were a3 follows : A broad crescentic rostral plate : 

 immediately posterior to this on the median line are an oblong frontal, broader 

 than long, and a large irregularly pentagonal vertical, with its posterior angle 

 proionged between two small occipitals; three small plates on each side of 

 the vertical. Four superior labials on each side the last three times the size 

 of the third. The first separated from that of the other side by a trapezoid in- 

 ferior rostral, and bounded above by a transversely elliptical nasal, which is 

 pierced by the nostral above its centre. Three loreal plates in a series behind 

 the nasal and above the labials the first much the longest. Superior maxillary 

 teeth five on each side; the anterior pair longest ; inter-maxillary one; mandi- 

 bular, each ramus, six. Inferior labials three or four; one symphyseal, one pair 

 genials, one mento-labial on each side. Sternal plates small, irregular, about 

 twelve in number. Vent very crescentic ; three pairs of preanal plates in a 

 longitudinal series. Fourteen rings upon the tail, all more or less tuberculous 

 superiorly except the two basal ones. Color dirty white ; upper surface of the 

 head yellowish. 



April 9 th. 

 Mr. Lea, President, in the Chair. 



Forty-nine members present, 



A paper was presented for publication, entitled 



" On the marine shells brought by Mr. Drexler from Hudson's Bay, 

 and on the occurrence of a Pleistocene deposit on the Southern shore of 

 James' Bay, by W. Stimpson," and was referred to a Committee. 



Mr. Cope made some remarks defining the following species of Reptilia 

 Squamata : two of them he regarded as representing genera not previously 

 known. He said : The generic form which I propose calling Diphalus, belongs 



Op. cit. I860, p. 263. b Op. cit. 1860, p. 488. e Herpetology U. S. Expl. Exped. p. 

 120. dCatal. Colubr. Brit. Mus. p. 210. e Herpetology U. S. Expl. Exped. p. 139. 

 fOp cit. p. 167. s Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. I860, p 244. h Herpetology U. S. Expl. 

 Exped. p. 169. i Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, p. 250. k Op. cit. 1858, p. 253. 



1861.] 



