1917.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 9 



As the allied Lingucelapsus Cope has been merged with Ambystoma, 

 it is also likely that the intermediate Chondrotus Cope is also a 

 sj^nonym. 



This salamander is extremely variable in color. The newly 

 developed axalotl is largely dark brownish above, from nearly 

 uniform to finely speckled, dotted, spotted or marbled with darker. 

 Some examples show the upper surface largely of uniform tint, 

 though with a number of rather large dusky to blackish spots on the 

 sides, and fewer on the tail (second figure from bottom). The 

 lower surface of the axalotl is uniform brownish-yellow. The 

 yellow spots then appear and with complete metamorphosis are 

 often quite pronounced. Sometimes the yellowish predominates 

 and the darker brownish becomes black, or the dark color may be 

 of greatest extent. As the yellowish predominates it often leaves 

 the darker color as narrow reticulating irregular lines (fourth figure 

 from bottom). Often along the sides the reticulations may 

 form numerous crowded rounded spots or blotches, frequently 

 variable in size. On the back they are usually not so crowded. 

 As the dark color predominates usually the yellow is restricted rather 

 narrow and regular transverse bands (uppermost figure). Sometimes 

 some examples appear to retain the dusky blotches of the axalotl 

 along with the yellow and dusky markings of the adult (second 

 figure from bottom). We have not seen examples "uniform brown 

 above, yellow below, sides darker brown," as mentioned by Cope.^ 

 A Mexican example from near Colonia Goreia is remarkable for 

 having a few yellow spots above and but a few along the sides, 

 the dark color greatly predominating. 



Ambystoma punctatum (Linn^). 



Forty-one examples: New Hampshire (Franconian Notch in 

 White Mountains) ; Rhode Island (Slocum); New York (West Chester 

 County and Racquette Lake); Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, York 

 County, Ardmore, Clifton, Indiana and Chambersburg) ; North 

 Carolina (Mitchell County); Kentucky (Mammoth Cave); Ohio; 

 Indiana (Hanover College); Illinois (Chicago); Missouri; Lake 

 Superior. 



Ambystoma opacum (Gravenhorst). 



Salamandra fasciata Green, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., I, 1818, p. -350. 

 No locality. (Nos. 1,420 to l,-423, A. N. S. P., types.) 



Twenty-eight examples : Massachusetts (Berkshire Hills ?) ; New 

 York (Catskills); New Jersey (Medford, Staffords Forge, Hanimon- 



1 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 34, 1889, p. 71. 



