620 NEW BLIND TAILED BATRACHIANS—STEJNEGEB. 



the excessive elongation of the auteunje of the crustaceans, of which I 

 have been informed by Mr. Benedict. 



The external gills at once suggested that these animals might be only 

 larviie. The fact that one of them con tained large eggs, and that another 

 expelled three eggs after being caught, was no positive proof to the 

 contrary, l>ut in conjunction with the affinity of the species to other 

 forms known to have persistent gills throughout life, it makes it abso- 

 lutely certain that we have to do with an adult and final animal. 



A rough skeleton has been made, and studied as well as the short 

 time since its preparation would allow. It is the intention of the writer 

 later to present, in conjunction with Mr. F. A. Lucas, a detailed descrip- 

 tion of the anatomy, and an elaborate comparison with allied forms. So 

 far as our studies have proceeded, they indicate that the animal belongs 

 to the superfamily Proteoideiv, which embraces the Proteus, the elon- 

 gated, eel-shaped, but likewise blind, cave species, from the subterranean 

 waters of the region at the head of the Adriatic Sea, and the water-dog 

 or mud-puppy {Xecturus), with functional eyes and less elongate body, 

 of our own continent. Suffice it to say at the present time, that Mr. 

 Lucas and I have made out the presence of what appears to be the 

 intercalary hone: maxillaries are apparently wanting; intermaxillaries 

 and mandible are toothed. In addition, it may be asserted that the 

 new genus here introduced is more nearly allied to Xectnnis than to 

 Proteus, though between it and the former there is a vast gap. 



TYPHLOMOLGE,' new genus. 



Tongue moderate, anterior border free; vomero-palatiue teeth in a 

 strong series; limbs excessively elongated; lingers four, toes five; eyes 

 entirely concealed under the skin; gill rami long, simple, fimbria' long 

 and slender. 



Tijpe. — TyphhmoJge rathhiini, Stejneger. 



TYPHLOMOLGE RATHBUNI, new species. 



Diagnosis.— Head large, nearly as long as distance between axilla 

 and groin; snout greatly depressed, nearly square anteriorly; limbs 

 excessively slender and' elongated, hand overlapping kiiee and foot 

 overlapping elbow when adpressed to the side of the body; tail com- 

 pressed, finned, pointed; color nearly white. 



Habitat.— Snhterrduenn waters near San Marcos, Texas. 



Type.— 1^0. 22086, U.S.N.M.; San Marcos, Texas; end of Februarv 

 1S9(). ' 



description of type specimen.— YLead excessively large and broad, the 

 distance from tip of snout to base of upper gill branch but slightly less 

 than distance between axilla and groin, its width equal to one-half the 

 latter distance; snout very much depressed, broad, truncated, nearly 



' TypMos, blind, and molge, the name of a salamandroid geuns. 



