NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 125 



cavity, terminating in two points, the interior much larger than the exterior; 

 both of a bright amber color, the body of the tooth being hyaline in appearance. 

 The palatines are similar to the superior maxillaries, the inferior maxillaries 

 only differ in being flattened on their inner side, and the sphenoidal in being 

 more curved. 



3. Hynobiin*. 



Vomero-palatine bones destitute of teeth, posteriorly elongated and cuneiform, 

 occupying a deep emargination in the outline of the sphenoid bone. Sphenoidal 

 teeth present, upon the outer edge of two ridges of the sphenoid bone which 

 lie along the sphenoido-palatine suture, thus forming two longitudinal series 

 closely approximated posteriorly, widely diverging and becoming transverse, 

 anteriorly. Tongue rather large, much attached. Yery aquatic species. 

 Japan. 



This subfamily presents a singular and very distinct modification of the 

 arrangement of teeth on the palate. 



Tschudi has distinguished generically the only two species of this subfamily. 

 under tbe names Pseudosalamandra and Hynobius, and apparently upon insuf- 

 ficient grounds. MM. Dumeril and Bibron have united them under the name 

 Ellipsoglossa, but as Tschudi's names have priority, one or the other of them 

 must be adopted. We select as the least objectionable 



1. Hynobius (Tsch.) H. nebulosus (Schl.) H. n a e v i u s (Scbl.) 



Pseudosalamandra ncevia Tsch. Class. 1838. Molge striata Gray, Cat. Brit. 

 Mus. 1850. 



4. SALAMANDRIX^. 



Palatine teeth upon the inner edge of processes of the palatine bones, which 

 are elongated horizontally and posteriorly over the sphenoid. No transverse 

 palatine series. Tongue generally thick, and seldom free to much extent. 

 Skin mostly rough, or changing with the habitat. Form usually stout. Eu- 

 rope, North America and Japan. 



It would appear as though herpetologists had not given the same attention 

 to the clear definition of their genera among the animals of this subfamily, as 

 elsewhere. In the following brief synopsis, the diagnoses of the genera have 

 been drawn up with reference to and including only the distinctive characters. 



I. SalamaxdrjE. 



Palatine processes slender, curved, approximating posteriorly. Ribs not 

 developed. Terrestrial species. 



1. Salamandra (Laurenti.) Palatine teeth in two curved series, approxima- 

 ted posteriorly. Tongue oval, thick, slightly free at its edges. Digits free, 4 5. 

 Parotids large, porous. Tail moderate, cylindrical. 



S. m a c u 1 o s a (laurenti.) S. c o rsi c a (Savi.) S. at r a (Laurenti.) 1768. 

 S. nigra, Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus. 1850. 



II. Pleurodei*. 



Palatine processes cuneiform. Ribs greatly developed, sometimes piercing the 

 skin. Terrestrial and aquatic. 



2. Salamaxdrina (Fitzinger.) Palatine series nearly in contact at their 

 anterior extremities, for a short distance almost parallel, then widely diverging. 

 Tongue ovate, broad behind, free laterally ani posteriorly. Digits 4 4. Tail 

 subcylindrical. 



S. perspicillata Fitz. 1826. Seiranota condylura Barnes, Silliman's 

 Journ. v. ii. p. 278. 



3. Pleurodeles (Michaelles.) Palatine teeth in two parallel series, whose 

 anterior extremities are considerably in advance of the internal nares, and 



1859.] 10 



