238 [Jantjari, 



GERRHONOTrs MULTiCARixATus, BlainviUe. Nouv. Annal. du Mus., tome iv., 

 1835, pi. 25, fig. 2. 



Tropidonotus ordinatus, Linn. Length of head and body 1 foot 8 inches ; 

 tail? inches. Abdom. scuta, 170; sub-caud. 85. 19 21 rows of carinated scales. 



Coluber PUNCTATus,t Linn. The abdomen and under parts of the tail 

 are innmaculate, the back and upper part of the tail are light brown ; 

 resembling the Coluber atratus, Hall., found in South America, but the latter 

 has carinated scales. Length of head and body 8^ inches ; of tail 3 inches. 

 Abdominal scuta 156; sub-caudal 60. 15 rows of smooth scales. 



Crotaias Lecontei, Hall. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. vi. p. 180. 



Rana , Young. Green, wdth blackish spots. 



Sai.amandra lugubris. Hall. Proceedings Acad. Nat. Sci., vol. iv. p. 126. 

 Found in the spring season under logs. 



Five specimens of Triton torosus, Eschscholtz/* (Triton granulosa, Skillton, 

 Sill. Journ. v. vii.) These amphibians are very abundant on the edges of rivers 

 toward the spring ; those found by Dr. Heermann were in a mountainous coun- 

 try. The river Calaveres having overflowed its banks, had left small basins of 

 water in the rocks, in one of which about thirty were seen together. Their 

 habits appeared to be indolent ; when disturbed, they swam away in a sluggish 

 manner, moving the tail chiefly, the anterior extremities lying closely in con- 

 tact with the body. A hundred might be seen in the course of a day, after a 

 slight rain, the ground being moist, disappearing slowly when approached. 

 Belly of a deep bright vermillion saff"ron, as well as the under part of tail and 

 extremities ; above very dark brown, appearing almost black during life. 



The reptiles above described were presented to the Academy by Adolphus 

 L. Heermann, M. D., who has recently returned to Philadelphia, after a journey 

 of three years' duration, spent, for the most part, in Natural History pursuits, in 

 California and in various parts of S. America. Through his zeal and liberality, 

 the Museum of our Institution has been greatly enriched in the departments of Or- 

 nithology, Mammalogy, Mineralogy and Herpetology, thus presenting a useful 

 and honorable example of leisure and wealth devoted to the noblest of human 

 pursuits, the study of the phenomena and laws of the material universe. 



The Committee appointed under a Resolution of the Academy, 

 adopted Dec. 30, 1851, to collect subscriptions for the purpose of 

 enlarging and improving the Hall, 



Reported^ That the condition of the Eesolution had been complied 

 with, and that six thousand five hundred dollars, the amount required 

 to carry out the plan of enlargement then approved of by the Academy, 

 had been secured. 



Further improvements had, however, since the above date, been found 

 necessary by the Committee, and the plan had been extended, the addi- 

 tional estimated cost of which would be about $2000. Part of this 

 additional sum had already been subscribed. 



The Report was adopted, and the Committee continued. 



The following members were appointed a Building Committee : viz. 

 Dr. T. B. Wilson, Dr. Robert Bridges and Mr. W. S. Vaux. 



The Report of the Publication Committee for 1852 was read and 

 adopted. 



Dr. Leidy offered the following Preamble and Resolutions, which 

 were adopted : 



* Zoologische Atlas, Berlin, 1829. 

 t Holbrook, Herpetol., vol. iii. p. 81. 



