PLEURODELID^. — CIV. 181 



511. D. fusca (Rafinesque). Brown above, with gray or pur- 

 plish spots or shades, becoming blackish with age ; marbled below ; 

 eyes prominent ; tail as long as head and body. L. 4. Mass, to 

 Ohio and S. ; common in springs ; remarkable for its activity. 

 Kepresented from Ind. S. and \V. by var. auriculata Holbrook, with 

 small red spots on sides and sometimes a dark ear-spot. (Lat., 



dusky.) ^AA^Jk^j/ ■i"-'J<-<»-V^^-l^*^-<;Wt/ 



««. Costal grooves 12 ; tail compressed and keeled. 



512. D. nigra (Green). Uniform black; body stout; palatine 

 teeth never wanting. L. 6. Penn. to 111. and S., in mountain 

 springs. 



Family CIV. PLEURODBLID^. (The Newts.) 



Vertebra opisthoccelian ; carpus and tarsus ossified. Palatine 

 teeth in two series diverging backward ; no parasphenoid teeth ; 

 skull with a bony post-fronto-squamosal arch, a skeletal character 

 which separates this family from the European Salamandridoe. 

 Genera 5; species 16; chiefly of Europe and Asia. 



a. Tongue small, thick, oval, attached by nearly its whole inferior surface; 

 toes 4-5, outer and interior on hind foot rudimentary; tail compressed. 



DiEMICTYLUS, 261. 



261. DIEMICTYLUS Rafinesque. (Sty, two ; ^^t-, half ; 

 bciKTvkos, toe.) 



513. D. viridescens Rafinesque. Newt. Evet. Eft. Above 

 olive green or reddish of varying shades; lemon yellow below; 

 each side usually with a row of several rather large scarlet spots, 

 each surrounded by a black ring ; back with a pale streak ; belly, 

 with small black dots ; head with three longitudinal grooves ; 3 

 large pores behind eye. L. 3^. E. U. S., abundant N. and N. E. ; 



Var . mini a tuB -fiafmesqtie, the Red Eft, is entirely similar, 

 but bright vermilion red, and with the skin rougher. It is found 

 in the same region but away from water, under stones, etc., coming 

 out after rain. It is probably a form of the preceding, its pecu- 

 liarities being due to life out of water. (Lat., greenish.) 

 4 a/ ^ R ^- 

 Order XXVII SACIET^^fttT (The Tailless Batra- 



CHIANS.) 



Body short and broad ; all four limbs present, the hinder limbs 

 long and strong, adapted for leaping; lower jaw usually tooth- 

 less; tail wanting in the adult. Young (tad[)ole) fish-like, with 

 broad head, external branchife, a long tail, no limbs and no teeth; 

 the intestinal canal very long, adapted for a vegetable diet; from 



