194 BATRACHTANS. 



long, spotted or barred with black ; costal folds 13; large. 

 Maine to Minn, and S., abounding in the caves of Ky. 

 and Ind. 



3. S. ruber, (Daudin) Gray. RED TRITON. Vermil- 

 ion red, with black or brown spots; head wide; costal 

 folds 15 or 16; large; variable. Maine to Nebraska and 

 S. (Pseudotriton, Baird.) 



4. GYRINOPHILUS, Cope. PURPLE SALAMANDERS. 



1. G. porphyriticus, (Green) Cope. PURPLE SALA- 

 MANDER. Uniform purplish gray above; head broad; 

 tail rounded at base, not finned; large; aquatic. Alle- 

 gany Mountains, N. E. and S. [Spelerpes salmonea (Stor.) 

 Gray.] " The only one of our Eastern Salamanders 

 which attempts self defense. It snaps fiercely but harm- 

 lessly and throws its body into contortions in terror." 

 (Cope.) 



FAMILY LXXXIV. AMBLYSTOMID^E. 



(The Amblystomas.) 



Vertebrae amphicoelian ; carpus and tarsus ossified; 

 digits 45, without webbing; tongue thick; size gener- 

 ally large and color dark. Genus one, species nineteen; 

 probably all American, and very abundant in the South- 

 ern and Western parts of the U. S. The larvae which 

 reach a large size, and even breed before the gills are 

 absorbed, have long been considered as forming a separ- 

 ate genus, Siredon, supposed to be allied to Necturus. 



1. AMBLYSTOMA,TschudL BIG SALAMANDERS. 



* Folds of tongue radiating from behind ; costal folds 10 to 12 ; 



fourth toe with 4 phalanges. 

 f Costal grooves 10. 

 1. A. talpoideum, (Holbr.) Gray. MOLE SALAMANDER. 



