117 



SALAMANDRA TALPOIDEA. 



Plate XXIX. 



Characters. Head very large; body short, thick, clumsy; tail short, thick, 

 compressed. Colour above dusky, almost black; beneath dusky, with a tinge of 

 purple. 



Description. The head is very large and flattened, the snout full and rounded. 

 The nostrils are near its extremity. The eyes are exceedingly prominent, but 

 small; the pupil black, the iris dusky. The neck is contracted, and with a marked 

 cutaneous fold at the throat. 



The body is short, thick, clumsy, rather flattened than cylindrical, and covered 

 with a smooth skin. The tail is short, very thick at the root, and compressed 

 laterally throughout its whole extent. 



The anterior extremities are short, thick, and stout, ending in four short fingers. 

 The posterior extremities are still stouter in proportion, and terminate in five 

 short unarmed toes. 



Colour. The whole animal above, head, body, tail and extremities, is of a 

 uniform dusky colour, approaching to black. The throat, belly and tail are also 

 dusky, but have a strong tinge of purple. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 5 lines; of head and neck, 7 lines; of body, 1 inch 

 3 lines; of tail, beyond vent, 1 inch 3 lines; total length, 3 inches 1 line. 



