1854.] 97 



Gen. Remarks. Is a much smaller animal than Hyla versicolor, and the mark- 

 ings are very different. The back is much less abundantly covered with warts, 

 and the superciliary ridges which are so much developed in versicolor, are but 

 slightly so in this species. The extremities are much more slender in the latter, 

 and the tibia is of nearly equal length with the thigh, but in versicolor it is 

 about a line shorter. 



Hyla scapularis, nob. 



Var. hypochondriaca. 



Char.Oi a uniform pale olive, color above without spots, paler toward the 

 sides; numerous small, elevated smooth points upon the surface, resembling 

 tubercles; upper surface of extremities pale olive; a narrow dark colored vitta, 

 extending from the anterior margin of the eye to the snout; another much 

 broader from the posterior margin of the eye to the shoulder ; margin of upper 

 jaw of same color as the vitta ; posterior part of abdomen and under surface of 

 extremities orange colored ; chin and throat whitish ; abdomen thickly granulated. 



Dimensions. Length of head and body, \h inches; of head f ; breadth f ; 

 length of anterior extremities, f ; of posterior, If. 



Hab Tejon Pass. 



Gen. Remarks. It will be observed that it wants the squalus toothed mark 

 upon the head, and the markings upon the back, which belong to scapularis. 



The specimens above described, with numerous others already known, and a 

 large number of rare fishes, birds and plants, and many insects, were collected 

 by Dr. Heermann, Naturalist to the Government Expedition for the exploration 

 of a route for the Pacific Railroad, and afford the best evidence of the zeal and 

 untiring industry of our esteemed fellow member. Through his efforts in great 

 part the Herpetology of California is now almost, if not quite, as well known as 

 that of Pennsylvania. 



On a genus and species of Serpent from Honduras, presttmed to be new. 



By Edward Hallo well, M. D. 



MICROPHIS. 



Char. Head of moderate size, short, depressed in the middle, covered 

 with nine plates ; snout rounded ; nostrils between the nasal and anterior frontal 

 plates ; a frenal; one antocular ; two posterior oculars ; seven superior labials, 

 the eye resting on the third and fourth; eyes of moderate size, pupil round; 

 supraciliary plate not projecting over the eye ; tail of moderate length. 



Microphis quinqueliniatus, nob. 



Sp. char. Head, body and tail above ash color ; five dark blue stripes ex- 

 tending from the occiput to the base of the tail, the three intermediate ones 

 broader than the lateral; the other stripes prolonged upon the tail, the middle 

 one to near its extremity ; 17 rows of smooth quadrangular scales ; 170 abdom. 

 scuta; two bifid preabdom.; 33 subcaudal. 



Dimensions. Length of head 6-8ths inch; breadth posteriorly 4-8ths inch ; 

 length of body 17 inches ; of tail 2 inches 5-8ths ; circumference 1 inch 3-8ths ; 

 total length 1 foot 8 inch 3-8ths. 



Habitat. Honduras, South America. Two specimens presented to Museum 

 of the Academy, by Dr. Woodhouse. 



Gen. Remarks. This serpent has the general characters of Coronella,but the 

 nostrils open between the anterior frontal and nasal plates, insiead of the nasal 

 and internasal, the two being fused into one plate. We have, therefore, pro- 

 posed for it the generic name given above, although not disposed to attach much 

 importance to minor considerations of this kind in the determination of genera. 



