122 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



cies, reminding us somewhat by its general appearance those occurring in 

 Cuba. 



The specimens before us are all of the female sex, and measure two inches 

 and a quarter in total length, in which the head enters about five times. The 

 head itself is rather short, whilst the mouth is proportionally large. The dia- 

 meter of the eye enters thrice in the length of the side of the head. The 

 dorsal fin is higher than long, somewhat convex superiorly. The caudal is 

 rather short and subtruncated posteriorly. The anal is deeper than long and 

 a little broader than the dorsal ; the middle of its insertion corresponding to 

 the anterior margin of the dorsal. The ventrals are very small and far from 

 reaching the vent with their extremities. The pectorals are of moderate de- 

 velopment, spear-shaped when not expanded. The rays are : D 9 ; A 10 ; 

 C 6, 1, 7, 7, 1, 6 ; V 6; P 12. The middle rays of the dorsal and anal fins 

 exhibit bifurcations of the second degree conspicuously developed. The scales 

 are of moderate development. The body is chestnut brown, and the abdomen 

 yellowish golden, with blackish specks along the middle of the flanks to the 

 caudal fin. The periphery of the scales is margined with black. The dorsal, 

 caudal and anal fins are greyish and speckled, the ventrals and pectorals being 

 olivaceous. 



To distinguish this species from its congeners, the name of G. senilis is here 

 proposed. 



On the Primary Divisions of the SALAMANDRIDJE, with Descriptions of Two 



New Species. 



BY E. D. COPE. 



Class AMPHIBIA. Order CADUCIBRANCHIATA. Sub. Ord. URODELA. 

 Fam. 1. PROTONOPSID^E. Branchial apertures persistent. (Trematoderes 

 Duin. & Bibr). 



Fain. 2. SALAMANDRIDJ3. Branchial apertures none. (Aretoderes Dum. 

 & Bibr.) 



The characters of the following subfamilies are taken from the position, etc., 

 of the palatine and sphenoidal teeth, and we are of the opinion that the groups 

 thus formed will be found to be more natural than those established exclusively 

 upon the form of the tongue. 



1. AMBYSTOMIN,. 



Palatine teeth upon elevated processes of the vomero-palatine bones, in 

 straight or arched transverse series only, sphenoidal teeth absent. Tongue 

 larg>\ thick, papillose, but slightly free. Form stout. Skin mostly smooth. 

 North America. 



1. Mf.galobatrachus (Tschudi) 1838. Syn. Cryptobranchus Van der Hoeven, 

 1838. Sieboldia Bonaparte, 1850. Tritomegas Dumeril & Bibron, 1850. 



The great aquatic Salamander of Japan is closely allied to our Protonop- 

 Bis (Menopoma Harlan), but the absence of branchial slits places it among the 

 true Salamanders. By the position of the palatine teeth it evidently belongs to the 

 present subfamily, and not among the Tritons, as placed by Dr. Hallowell. 

 (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., vol. iii. Second Series, p. 357). 



2. Camarataxis Nob. Palatine teeth upon four processes, the two posterior 

 short oblique, and behind the internal nares ; the anterior forming an arch, 

 interrupted at the palatine suture, and concentric with the maxillary series. 

 Tongue broad, thick, papillose, attached by the whole posterior border, slightly 

 free laterally. Extremities stout, digits free, 4 5. Tail not long, compressed 



[April," 





