Hurler — Herpetology of Missouri. 95 



look upward and outward. The eyes do not project upward. On the 

 side of the head posterior to the eye is a row of four pits, the first near 

 the eye and the last in the position of the first branchial fissure. The 

 tongue occupies but little space, is slightly free on the sides, but not 

 on the anterior or posterior end. 



The vomero-palatine teeth are in two longitudinal series, which con- 

 verge anteriorly and join between the internal nares. Internal and 

 external nares are about the same distance apart. In applying the legs 

 to the sides of the body, the front limbs overlap the hind ones by the 

 length of the hind toe. In the breeding season the hind legs of the 

 males are thickened, especially the integument of the inner side, which 

 is then divided by transverse folds; the portions between become 

 corneous. There are from 10 to 12 transverse plates on the inner sides 

 of the thighs, and an irregular number on the inside of the tibia and 

 tarsus. The rudimentary external and internal toes also have a horny 

 cap. These horny parts aid the male in maintaining his hold on the 

 female in copulation. The skin is smooth, but closely wrinkled. The 

 tail has a free dermal margin or fin above and below. The genitalia are 

 very prominent during the breeding season, and in the male the orifice 

 is oval and very papillose, especially within the anterior border. 



Color. — The color of the "viridescence form" is a light brownish olive 

 above, which is or is not marked off distinctly from the paler color 

 of the lower surfaces along the sides. On each side of the vertebral line 

 is a row of from three to six small, round, red spots, each with a black 

 border. The rest of the surface is marked with small black points, 

 which are smaller but more distinct on the lower surface. The inferior 

 surface is reddish straw color or dirty white. On the legs the spots 

 are larger and more distinct, and on the tail they appear like ink spots 

 on blotting paper. A faint dark line, running from the eye to the last 

 cheek pit, edge of the upper jaw, the chin and throat, generally un- 

 spotted. 



In the "miniatus form" the tail is narrow, without dermal borders. 

 The color of the superior surfaces is vermillion red. and the lower 

 citron yellow. The red spots are present as in the other form, but the 

 small black spots are rarely present on the back, but always on the 

 sides, belly, limbs, and tail, never, however, running together into lines. 

 In this form the skin of all upper surfaces is rough, with numerous 

 minute, semi-transparent, horny points. (Cope.) 



Size. — D. miniatus form from snout to vent 53 mm.; from vent to end 

 of tail 50 mm.; total length 103 mm. D. viridescens form from snout to 

 vent 41 mm.; from vent to end of tail 50 mm.; total length 91 mm. 



Habitat. — The distribution of the species is from Maine 

 to Hudson's Bay, Wisconsin, Texas, and Georgia. In 

 Missouri it has been found in St. Louis, Jefferson, St. 



