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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 215 



tail, with crescentic marks upon tlie nape, as in Varanus n i 1 o t i c u s, and 

 light and darlc variegations upon the front and chin, (Smiths. No. 57422-) 



Specimens (adults, No. 5738) in Mus. Smithsonian, from Monte Verde, Cuba, 

 Mr. C. AVright discoverer; also Mus. Acad. Nat. Sciences. This interesting 

 species resembles somewhat the form of A. (?) c a r o 1 i n e n s i s, from Cuba. 

 In specimens of that species of very small size the facial ruga; arc promi- 

 nent, the frontal scales much more numerous, and those of the back and belly 

 keeled. The breadth between the orbits greater in i s o 1 e p i s, and the au- 

 ricular aperture smaller. In the oviduct of the female was found a single 

 large egg. Observations upon numerous species of Anolis, incline me to adopt 

 the suggestion of Dr. Giinther, viz., that but one egg at a time is impregnated 

 and excluded. 



Xiphocercus Valencienii Fitz., Syst. Rept. 1843. Anolis Valenciennii 

 Dum. Bibr., Erp. Gen. iv. 131, 1837. Placopsis ocellala Gosse, Ann. Mag. N. H. 

 1850, p. 346. Anolis leucocephalus Hall., Proc. A. N. Sci. Phil. 1856, p, 228. 



The genus first defined by Mr. Gosse, as above, though previously named by 

 Fitzinger, is to be separated, in our opinion, not so much on account of the 

 size of the plates of the front, but by reason of their curious homology with 

 those of the plate headed Lacertida? and Scincidae, which is readily traced. In 

 the tail, and nature of the dermal covering, it resembles Eupristis ; in the form 

 of the head it imitates Anolis i o d u r u s, and o p a 1 i n u s most closely. It 

 is interesting to observe that both these species, and Eupristis Edwardsii, 

 Cope, inhabit with it the island of Jamaica. 



Notes on the Ornithology of Labrador. J 7 . < -^ v , 



BY ELLIOTT COUES. " ' 



During the summer of 1860 I accompanied an expedition in charge of J. W. 

 Dodge, Esq., which visited the coast of Labrador, in order to procure for the Smith- 

 sonian Institution specimens of the birds to be found there, together with their 

 uests and eggs, and to study their habits during the breeding season. The 

 late period of arrival upon the coast, which was not until the first week in 

 July, 1 revented any very extensive operations in the department of Oology, 

 while the nature of the localities visited, joined with some circumstances of a 

 private character, rendered the formation of a large collection of birds iniprao- 

 ticable. In the following pages, however, are embodied the results of my in- 

 vestigations ; and though the list of the species noticed is, from my limited 

 opportunities for observation, necessarily incomplete, it is hoped that it will 

 not be found entirely wanting in points of interest with regard to the habits of 

 the birds which pass the breeding season in Labrador. 



A brief notice of the different localities which were visited may not be con- 

 sidered unnecessary. The first point reached was Sloop Harbor, a few miles 

 south of Little Mecattina, where were collected most of the eggs procured dur- 

 ing the voyage. Here the Somateria mollissima and the Utamania torda were 

 the most abundant and characteristic birds, while the Larus argentatus, Uria 

 (jrylle, and Mergus serrator were also very numerous, all breeding on the islands 

 in the vicinity. On the 6th of .July, the vessel left Sloop Harbor, and, pass- 

 ing the Murre Rocks, where the Uria lomvia was breeding in immense num- 

 bers, proceeded directly to Esquimaux Bay, where the greater part of the 

 summer was spent. Here were collected most of the land birds f procured, 

 among them the new Aegiothus fuscescens. Zonotrichia leucophrys, and Anthus 

 ludovicianus were very abundant ; and Pinicola Canadensis and Turdvs Alicice 

 not rare. Grouse and Ptarmigan were also met with ; and I was fortunately 

 enabled to examine an extensive breeding place of the Mormon arcticus (?). 



A few days were spent at Rigolet, a station of the Hudson Bay Company, iu 



1861.] 



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