Zoological ISociely, 271 some districts extensive fields of gravel. On reaching the central parts of the county (in which the author included the neighbourhood for several miles round Chelmsford), there is a rich black mould, with here and there spots of clay and gravel, but no chalk. The extreme west consists, in addition to many fertile spots, of gravel as well as alluvial clay, and in those parts bordering on the Thames, as Pur-fleet, Thurrock, &c., the chalk predominates. Though it is well known that the Orchis tribe more especially delight in a calcareous soil, yet Mr. W. found them in all the varied habitats which the county pre-sents, from the light rich soil to the loam and chalk. The author had found the following : Orchis moris. Orchis mascula, Orchis pyrami-dalis, Orchis ustulata, and Orchis latifolia. A paper was read from Mr. W. H. White* " On the genus Poten-tilla and Tormentilla." ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. February 26, 1839.— The Rev. F. W. Hope in the Chair. A paper, entitled " Spicilegium Serpentium Indicorum," was communicated by Dr. Theodore Cantor. This paper contains the following descriptions of A. Venomous Serpents f. Genus Trigonocephalus, Oppel. Trigonocephalus erythrurus. Tri. supra Icete viridiSf squamis ovat'is carinatis suhimbricatis^ caudd cinnamomed, squamis Icevibus rhomboidaiihus tcctd ; abdomine flavo-viridescenti lined nigra serratd utrinque incluso. Scuta abdomhialia 167. Scutella subcaudalia 68. Habitat. Delta Gangeticum. Bright green above, with ovate keeled slightly imbricate scales ; the tail cinnamon-red, with smooth rhomboidal scales ; the abdominal surface greenish-yellow, inclosed on both sides by a black serrated line. Trigonocephalus mucrosquamatus. Tri. superne griseo-bruu' nescenSf annulis nlgris alba marginatiSf squamis ovalibus^ semi-carinatis mucronatis, imbricatirn tectus ; subtus albidus, nigro jmnctatus. Scuta abdominalia 218. Scutella subcaudalia 91. Habitat. Naga Hills, Assam. Brownish grey above, with black white-edged rings, covered with oval, half-keeled, pointed, imbricate scales ; whitish beneath, dotted with black. * See in p. 283 of the present Number a Note relative to Mr. W. H. White and Dr. Westendorp. t Dr. Cantor's original specimens, drawings, and descriptions are iu the possession of the lladclifTe Library, Oxford.
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