23 



meeting above. Tongue large and with the papillary folds radiating from 

 behind. Choanai apart same distance as the nostrils. Series of palatine 

 teeth interrupted in the median line and behind each choana, thus making 

 four patches. 



Limbs long and slender ; in some specimens overlapping when laid 

 along the side ; in others not quite meeting. Toes long and slender. 

 Tail compressed, narrower above, but without a crest. The tarsal tuber- 

 cles are lacking, or there may be one indistinct. 



The body varies above from lead color to brown and black, paler l)elow. 

 On the sides of body and tail, sometimes also on belly, there may be dis- 

 tinct or faint blotches of bluish, but often these are wholly wanting. 



A length of five to six inches may be reached by full grown adults. 



Of this species Prof. Cope recognizes three varieties, or subspecies, viz. : 



Head broad ; its width in length to groin 4 to 4.5 times ; lead colored 

 to brown, sometimes with whitish spots. jeffersonianuni. 



Head (as above) 5 times; black, with numerous white spots on sides, 

 belly and tail. laterale. 



Head (as above) 5 times; uniform lead color. platineum. 



A widely distributed species, but most common toward the north. 

 Hudson's Bay south to Virginia and Southern Illinois. Indiana localities : 

 Hanover (Hallowell) ; Irviugton (Hay) ; Franklin County (A. W. But- 

 ler) ; Wabash County (A. B. Ulrey) ; Monroe County (Ind. Univ. coll.) ; 

 Terre Haute (Blatchley) ; Lake Maxincuckee, Marshall County (the va- 

 riety laterale). The latter variety with black skin, relieved by numerous 

 bluish white spots on sides of body and tail and on the belly, and with 

 narrow head, may be expected throughout northern Indiana. It may be 

 distinguished from Plethodon ghdinosiis by the lack of parasphenoidal 

 teeth. 



The special habits of this species have not, so far as I know, been 

 studied. These, however, we may be sure, resemble much those of the 

 other Ambystomas ; but we may be as certain that they will present some 

 interesting peculiarities. 



Ambystoma tigrinum, (Green.) 

 Tigei' Salamander. 



Salamandra tigrina, Green, 1825, 2, v, 116; Triton tigrinus, Holbrook, 

 1S42, 54, V, 79, pi. 26; Amhydoina tigrina, Baird, 1849, 3, 284; Ambys- 

 toma mavortia, Baird, 1849, 2, 284; Amblystoma tigrinum, Cope, 4867, 1, 

 179 ; 1889, 51, 68, with figures; Boulenger, 1882, 28, 43. 



This species, as now recognized, is one of the most widely distributed 

 of North American urodeles, being known from Maine to Florida, west 

 to California, and southwest to Mexica. In this wide extent of territory 

 the species has been subjected to a great variety of conditions, and the 



