126 [Decembkr 



The Committee on the following paper by Dr. Hallowell, reported 

 in favour of publication. 



Description of a new species of Salamander from Upper California. 

 By Edwaru Hallowell, M. D. 



Salamandra lugtibris. 



Sp. CAar.— Head large, eyes very prominent, tail rather longer than the body, 

 which is cylindrical. Head, tail, extremities, and the rest of the animal dark 

 olive above, lighter beneath; an indistinct irregular row of yellowish spots on 

 each side. Several small spots of the same colour upon the neck and upper part 

 of the tail, and posterior extremities. 



Description. — Head large, swollen at the temples, depressed in front ; snout 

 obtuse and somewhat rounded ; eyes large, latero-superior; nostrils latero-anterior, 

 small and distant ; the palate is provided with two transverse rows of teeth, 

 (situated immediately behind the posterior nares,^ vi'hich are incurvated internally, 

 and meet posteriorly. There is also a longitudinal row of teeth, separated from 

 those described by an interval of half a line ; tongue long and spatuiate, very free 

 at its edges, attached by a pedicle at its anterior extremity ; neck somewh;it 

 contracted, without a gnlar fold; body and extremities slender, the posterior larger 

 than the anterior; tail compressed, cylindrical, tapering to a point. 



Colour. (From a specimen iti spirits in the Museum of the Academy.) — The 

 animal above is of an uniform dark olive colour ; an irregular row of small yellow- 

 ish spots are observed upon the sides of the body near the dorsum ; several are 

 also seen upon the neck, the upper part of the tail, and also the posterior extre- 

 mities in the specimen examined. The under part of the animal is light olive. 



Dimensions. — Length of head 6^ lines; greatest breadth 6 lines; length of 

 neck and body to vent 1 inch il lines; length of tail 2 inches 1 line; total 

 length 4 inches 7 lines. 



Habitat. — Monterey, Upper California. It is said to be abundant in that region. 



The Committee on Dr. Gambel's paper, entitled " Contributions to 

 American Ornithology," reported in favour of publication. 



Contributions to American Ornithology. 



By William Gamcel, M. D. 



RosTRHAMT.'s sociabilis, (Vieill.) D'Orb. 



Herpetothcres sociabilis, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 18, p. 318. 



F. hamatus, Hliger. Temm. PI. Col. CI, et 231. 



Cymindis hamatus, Auc. 



The first discovery of this curious and interesting falcon, within the limits of 

 our fauna, is due to the ornithological zeal of Edward Harris, Esq., of Nevv 

 Jersey, who exhibited to the Academy a specimen obtained by himself on the 

 Miami river of Florida, in May 1844, which, together with many new and rare 

 birds obtained during his travels with Audubon on the Upper Missouri, he has 



