NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 181 



habits have failed, notwithstanding what has been said and written to the con- 

 trary. I defy any one to show a Turkey, even of the first generation, produced 

 from a pair hatched from the eggs of a wihl hen. We have every j-ear in our 

 markets offered for sale, birds of a very dark color, and in some «legree resem- 

 bling the wild species : but in every instance by the presence of the palear, the 

 imposition can be detected at first sight and the cheat exposed. 1 have known 

 the eggs found in the woods hatched by a domestic hen, the chickens brought 

 up carefully, and rendered so tame and familiar as to eat out of the hand, and 

 to shew considerable pleasure whenever persons with whom tiicy were ac- 

 quainted approached them. Yet they never would associate witli the domestic 

 turkies, studiously avoiding tlicir company, and in little more than a year run- 

 ning off to the woods, and never again returning to the haunts of their infancy. 

 I know that I shall be contradicted in this statement, and many quotations from 

 authors brought forward against me. I repeat, contrary to the assertions of 

 many others, that no one has ever succeeded in domesticating our Wild Turkey ; 

 I speak not only from my own personal observations, but from the undivided 

 testimony of many southern gentlemen. The Turkey of our own poultry yards, 

 which when young is difficult to bring forward, it was thought might be ob- 

 tained of a hardier race, by a new domestication : but every attempt has failed, 

 nor can I find a single well-aiithenticated case of a mixed breed being obtained. 



Descriptions of some new Reptiles, collected by the U. S. Exploring Expedition, 



under the r ommand of Capt. Charles Wilkes, TJ. S. N. 



Third Part. — Including the species of Ojihidians, exotic to North America. 



BY CHARLES GIRARD, M. D. 



In the "Fauna Peruana" we find described, a species of worm-snake, Scoleco- 

 phides, which, having teeth upon its lower jaw instead of the upper, belongs to 

 the same group with Catodon and Sienostoma, and since it differs generically 

 from both the genera just mentioned, we propose the new genus 



SABRINA, 



with the following diagnosis : Head depressed, subovoid. Rostral plate extend- 

 ing under the snout. One nasal and one frontonasal : nostril between them. 

 A preocular or postnasal. A frontal. A postoculo-labial. A parietaLand a 

 post-parietal. * 



Sabrina tessellata. — Typhlops (essellatum, Tscn. Faun. Peruan. Herp. 1845-46. 



Locality. — Coast of Peru. 



To the family of Calamaridce we add the following species thus characterised : 

 Rabdion occiPiTALB. — Head Very much depressed; eye large. Dorsal scales 

 disposed upon fifteen longitudinal series. Ground color yellowish ; scales mar- 

 gined with brown ; beneath unicolor. Head and neck black with an occipital 

 yellow spot. 



Locality. — New Holland. 



There is likewise a tree-snake, or Dendrophid, which is believed to be 

 undescribed, and which we record under the name of 



Dendrophis prasinus. — Its dorsal scales are very much emarginated pos- 

 teriorly, and disposed upon thirteen longitudinal series. The preanal scutella 

 is divided. Color uniformly green with a whitish line along the abdominal 

 ridge. 



Locality. — New Holland. 



Amongst the true Colubrinae we met with a new generic type somewhat related 

 to Rhinechis and Pituophis, being characterised as follows : ' 



1857.] 



