184. rjuLY, 



July 1 0//i. 

 Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



A letter was read from Professor Eschricht, dated Copenhagen, June 

 7th, 184-8, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a 

 Correspondent, and proposing exchanges of the publications of Danish 

 Societies for those of the Academy. 



A letter was read from the Rev, Thomas S. Savage, dated Sumter- 

 ville, Alabama, June 2()th, 18 if), addressed to Dr. Hallowell, and en- 

 closing an interesting communication on the Driver Ants of Western 

 Africa, intended for publication in the Proceedings. The latter was 

 referred to the following committee : Prof. Ilaldeman, Dr Leidy, and 

 Dr. Hallowell. 



July 3l5/. 



Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



The Committee to whom was referred Dr. HallowelL'.s description 

 of a new Eryx, from Madras, reported in favor of publication in the 

 Proceedings. 



Description of a species of Eryx, from Madras. 



By Edward Hallowell, M. D. 



EryX mactdatus. 



Description. — Head of moderate size, depressed, covered with scales, larger in 

 front; rostral plate large, triangular ; a single nasal plate on each side; nostril 

 small ; thirteen labial plates margin the upper jaw ; pupil vertical, eye sur- 

 rounded by a circular series of plates ; iris brownish red ; neck of same size as 

 head posteriorly ; body thicker in the middle, becoming somewhat slender 

 towards the tail ; scales small, carinated ; a row of single plates under the tail, 

 followed by others which are bilid ; tail short, truncate, (mutilated ?) 



Color. — Light brown above, with numerous spots of the same tint but darker ; 

 abdomen light slate color. 



Observations. — This beautiful reptile was pointed out to me so long ago as 

 1810, by the late Dr. Harlan. It was brought Irom Madras, in the neighborhood 

 of which it was found upon a sandy soil. It appeared to be perfectly harmless. 

 The drawing was taken during life by Mr. Richard, and is* remarkable for its 

 accuracy. The above short description is made up from it, the notes which were 

 written during its life having been mislaid. It, however, is so good that a de- 

 scription of any kind is almost unnecessary. The entire length was about one 

 foot and a half. I have long hesitated to publish a description of this animal, 

 coming as it does from a part of the British possessions so well known as Madras 

 but having recently observed in the Annals and J^Iagazine of Natural History, 

 several species of reptiles described by Mr. Gray as new from the same locality, 

 not being found in the British Museum, and dilfering so entirely as it does from 

 any figure of Eryx hitherto published, I have ventured to present it to the Acad- 

 emy with the name I have given it. 



