Reptiles and Aitipliihians of Illinois. 371 



giving the prevailing hue. Under surface with a few scattered 

 patches of the same color. 



Length from tip of snout to posterior end of anal slit, 

 2.50; tail heyond the latter point, 1.7"). 



Occurs in the south half of the State. Galesburg, Nor- 

 mal, Champaign, Decatur, Mt. Carmel (Ridgway). 



A rather slight Amlilystoma, readily to he separated from 

 any other by its short series of palatine teeth, its small head, 

 and projecting mandihle. It is not uncommon on the prairies 

 of central Illinois in spring, resorting at that season, with A. 

 tigrinum, to the temporary pools for reproduction. It sometimes 

 awakes from hibernation before the snow has all disappeared, 

 and in one instance was taken in water on the 18th of Fel)ru- 

 ary. During the summer occasional specimens find their way 

 into cellars. The largest specimen examined is from De- 

 catur, and measures 2.94 inches from tip of snout to posterior 

 end of the anal slit, and 2.25 inches from the latter point to 

 the tip of the tail, giving a total length of a fraction more 

 than five inches. Prof. Cope gives six inches as the maximum 

 of length. A single example from Normal, taken in spring, 

 presents differences from the ordinary form which possil)ly in- 

 dicate a variety. The short snout and the color separate it at 

 once from A. cingulata. In this example the jaws are nearly 

 equal, so that the upper one is slightly visible when the head is 

 viewed from beneath. There isa line of five large mucous pores 

 over the eye, a patch of about the same number beneath the 

 anterior portion of the eye, and a line from the posterior mar- 

 gin of the same to the corner of the mouth. The tail de- 

 creases but slightly in depth towards its tip, and is so strongly 

 compressed distaHy that the terminal fourth is very thin. The 

 tail is distinctly grooved beneath for more than its basal half; 

 but this may be due to the action of the alcohol. Black above 

 and ))elow, marked as in the ordinary form. 



