928 | [J ANUARY, 
GERRHONOTUS MULTICARINATUS, Blainville. Nouv. Annal. du Mus., tome iv., 
1835, pl. 25, fig. 2. 
Troriponorus orpinatus, Linn. Length of head and body 1 foot 8 inches ; 
tail’7 inches. Abdom. scuta, 170; sub-caud. 85. 19—21 rows of carinated scales. 
Cotuser puncratus,f Linn. The abdomen and under parts of the tail 
are immaculate, the back and upper part of the tail are light brown; 
resembling the Coluber atratus, Hall., found in South America, but the latter 
has carinated scales. Length of head and body 82 inches: of tail 3 inches. 
Abdominal scuta 156; sub-caudal 60. 15 rows of smooth scales. 
Crotaius Leconte!, Hall. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. vi. p. 180. 
Rana , Young. Green, with blackish spots. 
SALAMANDRA LUGUBRIS, Hall. Proceedings Acad. Nat. Sci., vol. iv. p. 126. 
Found in the spring season under logs. 
Five specimens of Triton torosus, Eschscholtz,* (Triton granulosa, Skillton,— 
Sill. Journ. v. vil.) Tnese amphibians are very abundant on the edges of rivers 
toward the spring; those found by Dr. Heermann were in a mountainous coun- 
try. The river Calaveres having overflowed its banks, had left small basins of 
water in the rocks, in one of which about thirty were seen togethers Their 
habits appeared to be indolent ; when disturbed, they swam away in a sluggish 
manner, moving the tail chiefly, the anterior extremities lying closely in con- 
tact with the body. A hundred might be seen in the course of a day, after a 
slight rain, the ground being moist, disappearing slowly when approached. 
Belly of a deep bright vermillion saffron, as well as the under part of tail and 
extremities ; above very dark brown, appearing almost black during life. 
The reptiles above described were presented to the Academy by Adolphus 
L. Heermann, M. D., who has recently returned to Philadelphia, after a journey 
of three years’ duration, spent, for the most part, in Natural History pursuits, in 
California and in various parts of S. America. Through his zeal and liberality, 
the Museum of our Institution has been greatly enriched in the departments of Or- 
nithology, Mammalogy, Mineralogy and Herpetology, thus presenting a useful 
and honorable example of leisure and wealth devoted to the noblest of human 
pursuits, the study of the phenomena and laws of the material universe. 
The Committee appointed under a Resolution of the Academy, 
adopted Dee. 30, 1851, to collect subscriptions for the purpose of 
enlarging and improving the Hall, 
Reported, That the condition of the Resolution had been complied 
with, and that six thousand five hundred dollars, the amount required 
to carry out the plan of enlargement then approved of by the Academy, 
had been secured. 
Further improvements had, however, since the above date, been found 
necessary by the Committee, and the plan had been extended, the addi- 
tional estimated cost of which would be about $2000. Part of this 
additional sum had already been subscribed. 
The Report was adopted, and the Committee continued. 
The following members were appointed a Building Committee : viz. 
Dr. T. B. Wilson, Dr. Robert Bridges and Mr. W. 8. Vaux. 
The Report of the Publication Committee for 1852 was read and 
adopted. 
Dr. Leidy offered the following Preamble and Resolutions, which 
were adopted : 
* Zoologische Atlas, Berlin, 1829. 
} Holbrook, Herpetol., vol. ili. p. 81- 
