Reptiles and Amphibians of Illinois. 379 



band, thus enclosing a large dark area on the posterior part of 

 the head. The bars of the back and tail may be interrupted 

 medially, and frequently unite at their extremities with adjacent 

 bars. Beneath dark slate-color, or, in some alcoholic examples, 

 liver-brown, immaculate. Cervical fold, palms, and soles, pale. 

 Digits with pale articulations, giving an annulated appearance. 



Length from snout to posterior end of the anal slit, 2.19; 

 from latter point to tip of tail, 1.28. 



Occurs throughout the State. W. Northfield (Kennicott), 

 Cobden, Mt. Carmel (Yarrow). 



According to descriptions of this animal there is but a 

 single indistinct plantar tubercle. The specimens before me 

 from southern Illinois have two tubercles, both of which are 

 clearly visible. The male and female remain with the eggs, 

 which are said to be deposited in the " beds of small ponds," 

 and to number as high as one hundred and eight. 



Amblystoma talpoideum, Holbr. Mole Salamander. 



Salamandra taJp(4dea, Holbr., N. A. Herp., 1842, V., p. 73, pi. 24. 



Amhlystoma taJjwideum, Dum. et Bibr., Erp. Gen., 1854, IX., p. 

 109.— Cope, Free. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1867, p. 172.— Smith, 

 Tailed Amphibians, 1877, p. 41.— Boulenger, Cat. Batr. Sa!. 

 in Coll. Brit. Mus., 2d ed., 1882, Sal. Caudata, p. 40.— Davis 

 and Bice, Bull. 111. State Lab. Nat. Hist., I., No. 5, 1883, 

 p. 9; Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci., 1883. 



Total length about three inches. With ten costal grooves. 

 Body short and stout, depressed. Head large, depressed, snout 

 slightly angulate. Mouth large, jaws about equal. Palatine 

 series of teeth in three sections, the median slightly arched 

 backwards. Mucous pores present on head. Tail short, thick 

 at its base, compressed distally. 



Color above dusky or dark brown, mottled with small gray 

 dots and a few obscure dusky spots. Beneath dusky. 



Length from tip of snout to posterior end of anal slit, 2.30; 

 from latter point to end of tail, 1.50. , 



Cairo (Cope). 



In Prof. Cope's "Review of the Amblystomidae " a speci- 

 men of this species from Cairo, is noted as belonging to the 

 National Museum and as having been collected by Kennicott. 

 The species is a near relative of A. opacum. 



