Catalogue of the Reptiles of Connecticut. 51 



I am happy now to add in regard to the birds of Connecticut, 

 that the "cliff swallow" or as I should prefer to call it, society 

 swallow, has been a resident of Connecticut for more than twelve 

 years, as I am well informed by observing gentlemen in Litch- 

 field County. I recently passed a great collection of them in 

 Brookfield, where they have been for many years ; and Wm. O. 

 Ayres, Esq. also informs me, they have been two or three years 

 in Hartford and its vicinity. 



The Golden-winged Warbler (Sylvia chrysoptera) I saw last 

 spring in my garden, and Mr. Ayres saw and obtained it in East 

 Hartford, and also six specimens of the lesser red-poll out of 

 hundreds seen at the place. 



He also obtained a specimen of Cooper's Hawk and the little 

 Corporal Hawk. I have also seen in Stratford the Rough-legged 

 Hawk, (Falco Sancti-Johannis of Bonaparte, F. lagopus and 

 niger of Wilson.) 



Elmwood Place, Stratford, Nov. 1, 1843. 



Postscript. — I have this day, (Nov. 13,) taken a species of 

 tortoise not enumerated in the preceding list of reptiles, and prob- 

 ably never before found in New England. As it is too late to add 

 this species to the Chelonidce, (the sheet containing that family 

 having gone to press,) it is inserted in this place. 



*56. Kinosternon Pennsylvanicum, Bell, Mud Tortoise, Strat- 

 ford. 



*56. This is the Testudo Pennsylvania!, of Edwards, the Cistuda Pennsylvanica, 

 of Say, the Emys Pennsylvanica, of Harlan, and the Kinosternon Pennsylvanicum, 

 of Holbrook and Dekay. Shell, length 4 inches, width 2 6, depth 15 inches It 

 is narrower in proportion to its length, than any of our tortoises, except Sphargis 

 coriacea. The posterior portion of the shell being almost perpendicularly elevated, 

 constitutes a very distinguishing feature of this animal, and will prevent its being 

 taken for any other species. It is however the most nearly allied to the Sterno- 

 thcerus odoratus. 



It has been asserted by naturalists, that the common toad casts its skin, and in 

 proof of this fact I would remark that I was informed by the Rev. Mr. Smith of 

 this town, that he once saw the common toad cast his skin, in the manner follow- 

 ing. He began by scratching holes in the old skin with his hind feet on his sides, 

 and by various movements and evolutions, he succeeded in getting the end of this 

 skin into his mouth, and then by swelling like a bladder and at the same time pull- 

 ing with his mouth and repeating the operation, alternately swelling and falling, he 

 succeeded in pulling the whole into his mouth, and swallowing it. The appear- 

 ance of the toad was thu3 changed from a filthy to a bright and shining animal. 

 This operation is not new, but may serve to establish what to those who have not 

 witnessed it, might appear doubtful. J. H. L, 



