PLETHODON PERSIMILIS. 439 



CyNOPS CHINENSIS. 



Cynops chinensis, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 229. pi. 19. fig. 1. 



This species is extremely similar to its congener from Japan, Cynops pyrrhog aster, from 

 which it differs in the coloration of the lower parts, which are of a deep bluish black with 

 irregular yellow spots. The upper and lateral parts are uniform brown, and the tail has a 

 narrow yellow inferior edge ; tail of the male with a broad bluish longitudinal band along 

 the middle of the side. 



The parotoid is much less developed than in the Japanese species, being scarcely larger 

 than the eye. Sides of the trunk with very numerous conical, prominent tubercles. 



The male differs from the female in the form of the snout, which is much more produced 

 and longer than the eye, whilst in the female it is obtuse and only as long as the eye. 

 Otherwise the sexes do not differ, although our specimens have been caught during the 

 spawning-season. The male has the lips of the cloacal orifice much swollen and covered 

 with short and thin fringes. 



The typical specimens were captured in a river, inland from Ningpo ; they are 5^ inches 

 long, the tail measuring nearly 3 inches. 



PLETHODON, TschudL 



Head of moderate size ; body cylindrical, more or less elongate ; tail 

 scarcely compressed, Parotoids none ; body with vertical folds on the side ; 

 skin smooth. Vomerine teeth in a transverse series. Tongue more or less 

 adherent to the bottom of the mouth. Toes four in front and five behind, 

 not clawed. 



The species of this genus are North American, but one has been discovered on the Indian 

 continent. 



PlETHODON PERSIMILIS. 



Plethodon persimilis, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 230. pi. 19. fig. 2. 



This newt, as has been observed by Dr. Gray, is so similar to PL glutinosus from North 

 America, that at the first glance they might be considered as identical. Its body, however, is 

 considerably stouter and the limbs are more developed. The tongue also has a different 

 form. We place the characters of both species side by side for easy comparison : — 



