174 [October, 



Descriptions of new species of Reptiles^ collected ly the U. S. Exploring Expedi- 

 tion under the command o/Capt. Charles Wilkks, U. S. N. 



First part. Including the species from the Western coast of America. 

 Bj Spencer F. Baibd and Charles Girard. 



Amblystoma tenebrosum, B. and G. The single specimen of this species 

 brought home by the Expedition is five inches and a half in length, of which 

 the tapering and most compressed tail occupies two and a quarter. The head 

 is subelliptical, and longer than broad. The limbs are proportionally stout ; the 

 third finger is the longest. The color (as preserved in alcohol) is uniformly 

 cheanut brown, marbled with a much deeper (nearly black) brown. 



This species is related to A. macro dactylum^ Baird, but differs from it in the 

 Structure of the hind feet, in which the fourth finger is the longest; also in the 

 vomerine band of teeth, which, in A. macrodactylum forms a curve convex for- 

 w^irds, on the middle region of the palate, while in A. tenebrosum, the convexity 

 of the same curve is directed backwards. 



From Oregon. 



Rax\a aurora, B. and G. The general aspect of this species differs greatly 

 from that of all its congeners in North America. The length of the body and 

 head together is three inches and a half, the head forming nearly one third of 

 this length. The head itself is pyramidal, pointed, the nostrils situated midway 

 between the anterior rim of the eye and the tip of the snout. Eyes of medium 

 eiz?, anterior limbs short; fingers rather long and slender. The body is orange 

 red, with here and there black irregular patches. 



From Puget Sound. 



Rana Draytonii, B. and G. This species resembles very much the preceding 

 in its external appearance. It differs, however, in having a truncated snout, the 

 no3tril3 consequently nearer to its tip than to the eyes. The eyes themselves 

 and tympanum are proportionally larger than in R. auroray the limbs more de- 

 veloped and the tongue much narrower. The ground color is olivaceous green, 

 maculated with black on the upper region of the body and limbs, whilst under- 

 neath the hue is unicolor, except sometimes under the head, breast and hind 

 legs, where the brown and white mingle in circular dots. 



Specimens were collected at San Francisco, California, and on Columbia River 

 by Mr. Drayton himself, to whom we take pleasure in dedicating this species. 



Hyla regilla, B. and G. This is a species of medium size; the largest indi- 

 vidual observed measuring one inch and a half from the nose to the posterior 

 exireraity of the body, the head itself occupying about half of this length. The 

 bind legs are long and slender, the web extending only to half the length of the 

 longest toe; fingers comparatively long. The general color is green above, 

 turning to orange yellow along the sides of the bead, abdomen and legs. Two 

 oblong, brownish black spots exist on the occiput, from which two vittse (one 

 pair) of the same black color extend along the dorsal region; a similar band 

 passes from the tip of the nose, across the eye and tympanum, and along the 

 abdomen, when it is interrupted and forms a series of black and irregular small 

 spots. In the immature state, green is the prevailing color; a few black spots 

 being present along the whitish abdomen. 



Specimens of this species were collected on Sacramento River, in Oregon and 

 Puget Sound. Drawings from life were made on the spot by Mr. Drayton. 



Bufo BOREAS, B. and G. Upper surface of head flat, nearly even, the orbits 

 alone being raised above it. Snout truncated. Parotids of medium size and 

 oblong. Tympanum comparatively small. Body tuberculous or warty. Ilind 

 feet webbed to nearly the tip of the toes. The color is brownish green abovr, 

 dirty white below, with blackish brown patches spread all over. There is a 

 dorsal, narrow and yellowish stripe, extending posteriorly from behind the eyes 

 along the whole length of the body. 



