NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 323 



Museum Smithsonian, No. 6589. Received from Mirador, near Vera Cruz,_ 

 from Dr. Charles Sartorius. 



This species is near the Sc. grammicus Wiegmann, Herpetologia Mexi- 

 c a n a , the type of which I consider to be sp. No. 641, Mus. Berolinense. In 

 it there are but 38 rows of dorsal scales, three rows of supraorbitals, and no 

 auricular marginal series. 



BATRACHIA. 



Lithodytes rhodopis sp. nov. 



Near the L. griseus (Hallow.) of the same region, but of a more elongate 

 form ; Ihe head narrower with smaller orbits and larger membranum tympani ; 

 toes more elongate, and with smaller dilatations ; there are peculiar dorsal 

 folds ; the groin and femur are also not marbled as in the L. griseus. 



Greatest breadth cranium one and two-fifth times between tympanum and 

 end coccyx, equal between former and end of muzzle. Diameter of orbit equal 

 from same to exterior nares, 1*5 times to equal longest or vertical diameter 

 of tympanum (2 to 2-5 in L. g ri s e u s ;) largest in young individuals. Vo- 

 merine series transverse, posterior well separated, not extending outside of 

 line of interior margin of nares. Canthus rostralis well marked. A plica from 

 posterior angle of eye extends to the anterior dorsal region nearly meeting its 

 fellow ; nearly opposite their termini a dorso lateral fold originates and passes 

 to the line of the ilia ; a third extends from over tympanum to near groin: 

 generally minutely rugose above. Heel to considerably beyond muzzle. 

 Sole and fourth digit, 1-3 to 1-5 width of cranium ; metatarsals with series of 

 small tubercles, and with a distinct inner cuneiform process ; a slight web be- 

 tween proximal phalanges. Anterior digits without dilatations. End of fore- 

 arm to end of muzzle. End muzzle to end coccyx 1 in. 7 lin. Same to pos- 

 terior margin tympanum 7 '5 lines. Hinder limb from end ilium to heel 1 in. 

 7'5 lin., foot 1 in. 4 lin. 



Above dark gray, shaded with pink ; a darker pale edged bar between ocu- 

 lar fissures, a longitudinal blotch of the same on top of muzzle ; back with in- 

 distinct darker markings. Side of muzzle and head in spots on labial mar- 

 gin and cross-bands on limbs with sole of whole foot darker ; a decurved 

 black line from nostril over tympanum above humerus. Concealed faces of 

 limbs and margin of mandible brown punctulate ; below generally yellowish 

 white. In another specimen there is no interorbital cross-bands, but two 

 longitudinal stripes from muzzle to nape, and two from orbits converging on 

 coccyx, and embracing a dark shade. Young, clay color with pink shades to 

 rose color. 



Habitat. Vera Cruz, at Orizava and Cordova. Prof. Sumichrast's Collec- 

 tion. 



Ont he Agricultural Ant of Texas. (MYRMICA MOLEFACIENS.) 

 BY GIDEON LINCECIJM. 



This is No. 2 of my catalogue is inodorous, having no smell of formic acid. 

 It is a large reddish brown ant, dwells in the ground, is a farmer, lives in 

 communities, which are often very populous, and controlled by a perfect 

 government ; there are no idlers amongst them. They build paved cities, con- 

 struct roads, and sustain a large military force. 



When one of the young queens, or mother ants, comes to maturity, and has 

 received the embraces of the male ant, who immediately dies, she goes out 

 alone, selects a location and goes rapidly to work excavating a hole in the 

 ground, digging and carrying out the dirt with her mouth. As soon as she 

 has progressed far enough for her wings to strike against the sides of the hole, 

 she deliberately cuts them off. She now, without further obstruction, con- 

 tinues to deepen the hole to the depth of 6 or T inches, when she widens the 



1866.] 



