124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



I. Plethodontje. 



Tongue with a membranous attachment from the pedicel to the anterior edge, 

 leaving the lateral and posterior borders more or less free. 



1. Plethodon (Tsch.) The tongue in this genus is not attached by its pos- 

 terior border, as described, though very slightly free. 



2. Desmognathus (Baird). D. auriculata (Holbrook). D. nigra 

 (Green). 



D. f u s c a (Green). Salamandra quadrimaculata (Holbrook) is undoubtedly 

 the young of this species. 



The teeth of this species as in all others of the Spelerpinos that we have ex- 

 amined, are acrodont. Superior and inferior maxillaries slightly curved, com- 

 pressed; summits truncate, having a cutting edge interiorly, and a sharp point 

 exteriorly, with a crescent- shaped depression between. Color hyaline, point 

 and edge amber. Sphenoidals more cylindrical and incurved. 



D. ochrophaea .* Form more slender than D. f u s c a, less so than Pleth. 

 erythronotus. Tail as long as the head and body, subquadrangular at base, 

 beyond, slender and slightly compressed. Thirteen distinct costal folds. 

 Length 2 inches 111.; tail 17 1. 



Color above, varying from bright to dirty and fuscous straw color, most 

 specimens with an indefinite medial row of irregular brown spots, a deep brown 

 line passing through the eye and along the dorso-lateral region of the body to 

 the end of the tail ; distinctly defined along its upper edge; fading into fuscous 

 marblings on the sides. Belly pure white. 



Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. 



This is a terestrial species, and very common beneath the bark of hemlock 

 logs. We have never noticed it in the South-eastern part of Penna., but it has 

 probably been passed over as Spelerpes b i 1 i n e a t a, to which it bears consider- 

 able resemblance, or as a pale variety of Plethodon erythronotus. From the 

 latter it differs in attachment of tongue, less slender form, want of marblings 

 on the belly, etc. Brownish yellow takes the place of red on the back, though 

 the young have indications of the same indefinite pink spotting as in that 

 species and Desm. f u sea. 



3. Aneides (Baird.) 4. Heredia (Girard.) 5. Hemidactylicm (Tsch.) Is 

 Salamandra melanosticta (Gibbes) identical with H. scutatum (Tschudi) ? 



II. Spelerpes. 



Tongue boletoid attached by a central pedicel only. 



6. Batrachoseps (Bp.) 7. Spelerpes (Raf.) 8. (Edipus (Tsch.) 9. Geo- 

 triton (Bp.) 



10. PsEUDOTRrTON (Tsch.) The teeth of this species exhibit the following 

 peculiarities. Acrodont, much incurved, cylindrical, with a central pulp 



* Since the above was sent to press, we have been informed by Prof. Baird that 

 he considers this animal identical with Salamandra H al d e m an i (Holbrook) 

 which he is of opinion is one of the "very numerous varieties of Desmognathus 

 f us ca." We have never seen Prof. Holbrook's original specimens of S. H aide- 

 man i, but it has been represented by all subsequent authors to be a Spelerpes 

 (Cylindrosoma D. & B.), a genus differing from Desmognathus in its boletoid 

 tongue. We would also hazard a doubt as to the identity of this animal with 

 Desm. f u s c a. The latter is decidedly aquatic in its habits, living beneath stones, 

 etc., in rapid streams. 



The former we have never seen in the water, but have invariably found it 

 beneath bark, under logs, etc. It is rather sluggish, resembling Plethodon 

 erythronotus in this respect. Should this animal be the Salamandra Ha Id e- 

 m a n i of Holbrook, it will stand as Desmognathus H a 1 d e m a n i Nob. 



[April, 



