106 SALAMANDRA VENENOSA. 



the anterior, as well as the posterior extremities, is coloured like the back, and 

 on both are one or two round yellow spots; their inferior surface is bluish-black. 



Dimensions. Length of head to anterior extremities, 1 inch; of body to vent, 

 2i inches; of tail, 2^ inches; total, 5| inches. 



Habits. This is another land Salamander, passing most of its time in moist 

 places, as under the trunks of fallen and decayed trees, or under rocks and stones, 

 and only appearing abroad after showers of rain or at the dusk of evening in 

 search of its food, which is small insects or earth-worms. 



Geographical Distribution. The Salamandra venenosa is abundant at the 

 north and west; Professor Green informs me that it is common near Albany; 

 Dr. Binney has observed it in Vermont; Dr. Storer in Massachusetts; I have seen 

 it among the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and Say has seen it in Ohio 

 and Kentucky. For the present Maryland must be set down as its southern 

 limit — south of that I have no evidence of its existence. Daudin, Harlan and 

 others, speak of it as inhabiting South Carolina, and refer to the Salamander 

 represented in the beak of the Ardea herodias of Catesby, which Say and other 

 Naturalists consider as identical with the Salamandra dorsalis. Catesby's animal, 

 however, is neither the one nor the other, but a different species, and probably 

 peculiar to the south, as I have only observed it about the Sea Islands of South 

 Carolina. 



General Remarks. The history of our acquaintance with the Salamandra 

 venenosa is as follows: In 1803, Dr. Barton obtained a living specimen from the 

 neighbourhood of Philadelphia, which he presented to the American Philosophical 

 Society, accompanied with a description and figure — under what specific name 

 does not appear, for I have consulted the records of the Society, and they 

 simply state that a paper of this kind was read by Dr. Barton, and referred 

 to a committee, consisting of Latrobe and others. Now, it is probable that 

 Latrobe, or perhaps Dr. Barton himself, might have given some account of the 



