104 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



CEdipits adspersus Peters. 



(Edipiis adspersus Monatsberichte, Acad. Wiss. Berlin, 1863, 468. Oeotriton 

 do. Cope, Pr. A. N. Sci. Phil. 1865, 196. 



Habitat. Near Bogota, New Grenada. 



Interesting as the most southern of the American salamanders. 



CEdipus rdfescens Cope. 

 Sp. noT. 

 This species is near the 6. carbonarius, but is notably more abbreTi- 

 ated, and has a different coloration. The vomerine series is shorter, and there 

 is a lateral plica less. 



Muzzle truncate with prominent subnarial projections; its length 1-5 line, 

 the width between anterior canthus of eyes. Oppressed limbs, separated by 

 two and a half costal spaces. Plicse eleven, with a twelfth indistinct axillary 

 fold. Width of head 5-4 in length to groin. Tail short, thickened, cylindric, 

 equal from end vent to shoulder. 



The vomerine do not extend outside of the inner nares, and nearly meet. The 

 parasphenoids are as in other species, in two approximate patches, narrowing 

 in front and but little divided behind. 



Color. Sides and above black, the back and top of head with a rufous cast. 

 Under surfaces brown, white specked. 



Inch. 



Length to axilla -39 



" groin 1-04 



" end tail -92 



« fore limb -26 



" hind " , -26 



From Vera Cruz, Mexico. 



No. 6886, 1 specimen, Orizava, Mexico, F. Sumichrast. 



The CEdipus variegatus Gray, Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 48, may belong to this 

 genus, or even to one of the species here described — as the present one. It is 

 described in the following language ; " Yellow brown, with three irregular 

 slightly inosculatory dorsal streaks." Gray. 



SPELERPES, Rafinesque. 



Atlantic Journal, i, p. 22, 1832. Cylindrosoma Tschudi, Nat. Syst. Batra- 

 icher Neuchatel, 1838. Cylindrosoma et Bolitoglossa, pars Dum^ril Erp. Gen. 

 ix. Spelerpes et Fseudotriton Baird, J, A. N. Sci. i ; Hallowell 1. c, iv. Spe- 

 lerpes Gray, Catal. B. M. 1850, 43. 



The tongue free, except at the glossohyal support. Palatine and parietal 

 bones fully ossified ; premaxillaries consolidated, and their spines embracing 

 a fontanelle. Teeth small ; toes 4 — 5. Pterygoid patches distinct from each 

 other. 



This is a natural genus, and is abundantly represented by individuals in 

 the eastern district of the Nearctic Region, and the Mjexican of the Neotropi- 

 cal. Its digital characters only distinguish it from Manculus, and some of the 

 Mexican species approach that genus in the great reduction of the inner digit, 

 which results from a diminution in the number of phalanges. The consoli- 

 dation of the premaxillaries, a marked character, appears very early in the 

 developmental history of such of the species as I have been able to study (S. 

 ruber, S. bilineatus). The Mexican species pass their metamorphoses 

 soonest, then such as S. bilineatus, and the S. ruber remains longest a 

 larva. 



I. Vomerine teeth not continued back to pterygoid patches ; extended out- 

 wardly beyond nares. 

 a. Costal fold 11 — 12, tail cylindric, inner toes rudimental. 

 PlicjBl2; extremities of inner toes free, others short, thick, subequal ; a 

 canthus rostralis, muzzle truncate, vomerine series in contact ; lead colored, 

 usually with two dorsal series of red spots ; largest S. be 11 ii. 



[May, 



