174 [October, Descriptions of new species of Reptiles^ collected ly the U. S. Exploring Expedi-tion under the command o/Capt. Charles Wilkks, U. S. N. First part. Including the species from the Western coast of America. Bj Spencer F. Baibd and Charles Girard. Amblystoma tenebrosum, B. and G. The single specimen of this species brought home by the Expedition is five inches and a half in length, of which the tapering and most compressed tail occupies two and a quarter. The head is subelliptical, and longer than broad. The limbs are proportionally stout ; the third finger is the longest. The color (as preserved in alcohol) is uniformly cheanut brown, marbled with a much deeper (nearly black) brown. This species is related to A. macro dactylum^ Baird, but differs from it in the Structure of the hind feet, in which the fourth finger is the longest; also in the vomerine band of teeth, which, in A. macrodactylum forms a curve convex for-w^irds, on the middle region of the palate, while in A. tenebrosum, the convexity of the same curve is directed backwards. From Oregon. Rax\a aurora, B. and G. The general aspect of this species differs greatly from that of all its congeners in North America. The length of the body and head together is three inches and a half, the head forming nearly one third of this length. The head itself is pyramidal, pointed, the nostrils situated midway between the anterior rim of the eye and the tip of the snout. Eyes of medium eiz?, anterior limbs short; fingers rather long and slender. The body is orange red, with here and there black irregular patches. From Puget Sound. Rana Draytonii, B. and G. This species resembles very much the preceding in its external appearance. It differs, however, in having a truncated snout, the no3tril3 consequently nearer to its tip than to the eyes. The eyes themselves and tympanum are proportionally larger than in R. auroray the limbs more de-veloped and the tongue much narrower. The ground color is olivaceous green, maculated with black on the upper region of the body and limbs, whilst under-neath the hue is unicolor, except sometimes under the head, breast and hind legs, where the brown and white mingle in circular dots. Specimens were collected at San Francisco, California, and on Columbia River by Mr. Drayton himself, to whom we take pleasure in dedicating this species. Hyla regilla, B. and G. This is a species of medium size; the largest indi-vidual observed measuring one inch and a half from the nose to the posterior exireraity of the body, the head itself occupying about half of this length. The bind legs are long and slender, the web extending only to half the length of the longest toe; fingers comparatively long. The general color is green above, turning to orange yellow along the sides of the bead, abdomen and legs. Two oblong, brownish black spots exist on the occiput, from which two vittse (one pair) of the same black color extend along the dorsal region; a similar band passes from the tip of the nose, across the eye and tympanum, and along the abdomen, when it is interrupted and forms a series of black and irregular small spots. In the immature state, green is the prevailing color; a few black spots being present along the whitish abdomen. Specimens of this species were collected on Sacramento River, in Oregon and Puget Sound. Drawings from life were made on the spot by Mr. Drayton. Bufo BOREAS, B. and G. Upper surface of head flat, nearly even, the orbits alone being raised above it. Snout truncated. Parotids of medium size and oblong. Tympanum comparatively small. Body tuberculous or warty. Ilind feet webbed to nearly the tip of the toes. The color is brownish green abovr, dirty white below, with blackish brown patches spread all over. There is a dorsal, narrow and yellowish stripe, extending posteriorly from behind the eyes along the whole length of the body.
Descriptions of new species of reptiles, collected by the U.S. exploring expedition under the command of Capt. Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. First part. - Including the species from the Western coast of America
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