1856.] 141 



posed upon a double ogee extending from the middle line of the palate along 

 the anterior inner edge of the orbit. Sphenoid teeth forming two elongated 

 patches. Tongue large, elliptical, attached by an elongated central pedicel, and 

 free upon its posterior third. Eyes large. Limbs slender, anterior ones longest ; 

 four fingers ; five toes, all free and tapering. Tail subcylindrical, slightly com- 

 pressed, tapering towards the tip. Skin exteriorly smooth and soft. 



Herbdia oregoxensis. Tail longer than the body and head together. Fingers 

 and toes slender and free, inner one very small. Skin smooth, uniform dark brown 

 above, lighter beneath. 



The Secretary read a note from Dr. Wm. S. Zantzinger, dated 29th 

 July, 1856, stating that he was about to remove from the city, and 

 consequently tendered his resignation as Librarian of the Academy. 

 The resignation was accepted. 



ELECTION. 



Baron John William Yon Miiller, of Stuttgart, was elected a Corres- 

 pondent, and Mr. Alfred Cope and Dr. Wm. H. Grobrecht, both of 

 Philadelphia, were elected members of the Academy. 



AuguHt bth. 



Vice President Bridges in the Chair. 



Dr. Hallowell presented for publication in the Proceedings, a paper 

 entitled " Notes on the Reptiles in the collection of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Edward Hallowell, M. D. ;" also 

 a paper entitled "On several new Reptiles in the collection of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Edward Hallowell, 

 M. D." Both these papers were referred to a Committee consisting of 

 Dr. Leidy, Mr. Cassin and Mr. Schafhirt, 



Dr. Hallowell exhibited numerous specimens of the larvae of Bufo Ame- 

 ricanus. These were caught by Dr. Leidy on the 16th of June, along the banks 

 of the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia. They are nine lines in length, including 

 the tail, of a slate color above, with dark colored spots ; the under parts are 

 whitish mingled with gray. The reason why the tadpoles of the toad are not 

 more often seen, is probably on account of their small size. Specimens of the 

 perfect animal were also exhibited ; these were six lines in length, of a grey 

 color above, with numerous small dark colored spots, containing each one or 

 more minute reddish colored ones ; these smaller spots were also distributed 

 over the body ; under parts whitish ; the perfect specimens were found July 7th, 

 1856, among stones quite close to the river. 



Dr. Hallowell also exhibited a number of specimens of Rana halecina, Kalm, 

 found in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, both male and female. The females 

 appear to be of a somewhat lighter color than the males, and have fewer spots. 

 The latter are all provided with a vocal sac, one on each side, communicating 

 with a small circular opening, not quite a line in diameter, beneath the lower 

 jaw near its angle, nearly opposite the eustachian foramina. 



Dumeril and Bibron, in their Erpetologie Generale, tom. viii., p. 353, remark, 

 that in comparing the Rana esculenta of Europe, and the Rana halecina, the 

 first thing to be observed is, that the Rana halecina is not provided at the angles 

 of the mouth with those slits which permit the males to extend their vocal sacs, 



