FAMILY SALAMANDRIDjE. 73 



* 



FAMILY SALAMANDRIDM. 



Body long and slender. Feet always four. Tail long, rounded or compressed, persistent. 

 Ribs very short. Vertebra, numerous and movable. Respiration, at first aquatic by exter- 

 nal gills, which are never concealed in the chest; afterwards atmospheric by lungs. 

 Tympanum concealed. 



Obs. This family corresponds with the order Urodela of Bell. It is a very natural family, 

 and is in this country prolific in species. We separate it into two genera. 



GENUS SALAMANDRA. Brongniart, Holbrook. 



Jaws with numerous s?nall teeth, and two roios of similar teeth in the palate. Tongue short 

 thick, enlarged above, free, attached by a very slender root in the centre. Without a third 

 eyelid. Ribs rudimentary ; no sternum. Pelvis suspended by ligaments. Tail either 

 cylindrical or compressed towards the tip. 



These are the Land Salamanders, although found occasionally in water. 

 THE YELLOW-BELLIED SALAMANDER. 



Salamandra symmetrica. 



PLATE XV. FIG. 33. 



Salamandra stelho. Am. Jour. Sc. Vol. 1 , p. 264. 



S. symmetrica. Harlan, Ac. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 158. Med. and Phys. Res. p. 98. 



S. id. Holbrook, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 2, p. 59, pi. 11. Storer, Mass. Rep. p, 246. 



Characteristics. Reddish brown above, with a series of crimson spots on the sides ; beneath 

 reddish orange. Tail longer than the body, small compressed. Length 

 three inches. 



Description. Body cylindrical, and covered with a rough cuticle. Head short, obtusely 

 pointed. Fore feet slender, with four toes ; hind legs more robust, with five toes. Tail slen- 

 der, sub-cylindrical at base, then compressed, and terminating in a point. 



Color. Upper part of the head, body and tail, reddish brown ; this color extends over the 

 upper part of the extremities, and surrounds the lower part of the tail. On each side of the 

 body a series of brilliant vermillion spots, each bordered with black ; these spots vary in 

 number from three to five, and even seven have been observed on each side. Throat and 

 abdomen orange, with minute black dots extending to the end of the tail. 



Total length, 2" 9. 



Length of the head and body, 2*0. 



Tail measured from the vent, 0*9. 



Fauna — Part 3. 10 



