90 AMPHIUMA MEANS. 



lips. The tongue is broad, oblong, flat, smallest before, attached posteriorly, and 

 is only free at its anterior and lateral margins for about two lines. 



The upper jaw is armed with a thick series of minute teeth, that are all arched 

 a little backwards; the lower jaw has also a single row, but less numerous. The 

 palatine teeth are arranged in two rows, which begin near the superior maxillary 

 series in front, run along the palate, separating more and more from each other, 

 and terminate behind the inner margin of the posterior nares. 



The nostrils are small and anterior, being placed at the very margin of the 

 upper lip, and are near together. The eyes are distant from the snout, superior, 

 very small, and covered with a production of the cuticle; a slightly depressed line 

 runs from the eyes towards the nostrils, and marks the position of some minute 

 glands. 



The neck is contracted, with a transverse fold at the throat, and a single 

 spiracle or branchial orifice at each side, which is partially covered in front by a 

 thin fold of skin. The body is eel-shaped; and the vent appears like a longitu- 

 dinal fissure just behind the posterior extremities. The tail is very long, round 

 near the root, compressed laterally towards the tip. 



The extremities are but imperfectly developed, and seem but little larger in the 

 old than in the young animal. The anterior are very short, small, placed near 

 the spiracle, and terminate in two small fingers. The posterior are placed before 

 and a little on the sides of the vent, and sustain the same number of toes. 



Colour. The whole superior surface of the animal is deep bluish-black, tinged 

 with violet; the lips and throat are rather lighter in colour, and the belly is dark 

 purple. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 2 inches; length of body, 20 inches; of tail 

 beyond the vent, 6 inches: total length, 28 inches. 



