

1854.] 91 



requisite color. Judging from the equal distinctness of the vessels in some of 

 Prof. Hyrtl's preparations in his possession, he was led to believe that it is on a 

 similar principle that these beautiful injections are made, except that turpentine 

 is probably used as a solvent instead of ether. He was, however, not able to 

 speak positively on this subject, since the injecting material used by Prof. Hyrtl 

 has never been disclosed. The advantage of using ether for injections, as first 

 directed by Dr. Goddard, instead of turpentine, is that preparations in which 

 ether has been used are always more uniformly and more minutely injected ; and 

 by dissolving solid substances in it, Dr. Da Costa believed that equal distinctness, 

 with perhaps greater minuteness than is even afforded in the preparations of 

 Prof. Hyrtl, may be obtained. 



June 1th* 

 Major Le Conte in the Chair. 



Dr. Le Conte presented two papers for publication in the Proceedings, 

 viz : " Synopsis of the Dermestidse of the United States, " and " Synop- 

 sis of the Byrrhidse of North America," both of which were referred 

 to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Elwyn, and Dr. Ruschenberger. 



Dr. Leidy presented a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled, 

 " Descriptions of New Fossil species from the cretaceous formation of 

 Sage Creek, Nebraska, by John Evans, M. D., and B. F . Shumard, 

 M. D. ;" which was referred to Mr. Conrad, Mr. Charles E. Smith, and 

 Mr. Foulke. 



Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, en- 

 titled, " Descriptions of new Birds collected between Albuquerque, New 

 Mexico, and San Francisco, California. By S. F. Baird." Referred to 

 Mr. Cassin, Dr. Heermann, and Col. McCall. 



June 27th, 



Vice President Lea in the Chair. 



The Committees to which were referred papers by Dr. Hallo well, read 

 June 6th and 13th, 1854 ; by Dr. Gibbons, June 13th ; by Dr. J. Le 

 Conte, read June 20th ; and by Prof. Baird, read June 20th, severally 

 reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



Descriptions of new Reptiles from California. 

 By Edward Hallowell, M. D. 



CHELONIANS. 



Emys nigra, nob. 



Sp. Char. Shell oblong-ovate, slightly compressed at the sides and emargi- 

 nate, but not distinctly serrated posteriorly; latero-posterior margins of carapax 

 everted; nuchal plate narrow, truncate anteriorly, broader posteriorly ; 24 mar- 

 ginal plates, the two posterior more or less quadrilateral, the two adjoining pen- 

 tagonal ; color blackish above, the upper part of head and neck presenting 

 numerous very small yellow spots upon a black ground ; anterior extremities 

 with a tinge of yellow ; under jaw and throat yellow, with dark colored mark- 

 ings ; plastron yellow in the middle, with large blotches of black or dark brown 

 at the sides, and anteriorly and posteriorly ; under surface of tail and extremities 

 blackish; tail of moderate length. 



