102 URODELA 



reached a length of from 68 to 90 mm. (about 3 inches), living 

 in damp localities under rocks or rooted stumps, and have already* 

 lost their gills. The legs are said to be relatively longer than 

 they are in the adult. 



Fam. 2. Salamandridae (Salamanders and Newts). — Without 

 gills in the perfect state. Maxillaries are present. Both jaws are 

 furnished with teeth. The eyes are protected by movable lids, 

 except in Tyipldotriton. Fore- and hind-limbs present, although 

 sometimes very much reduced. 



To this family belong by far the greater number of tailed 

 Amphibia. They have been, for the sake of convenience, grouped 

 into four sub-families, the determining characters of which are all 

 internal and of comparatively slight importance. Little better is 

 the division into Mecodonta, with the teeth of the palate in two 

 longitudinal rows diverging behind and inserted upon the inner 

 margins of the two palatine j»rocesses, which are much prolonged 

 posteriorly, and Lecliriodonta, in which the series of palatal teeth 

 are restricted to the posterior portion of the vomers and form 

 either transverse or posteriorly converging rows. 



I. Series of palatal teeth transverse, restricted to tlie posterior portion 

 of the vomers. Parasphenoid beset with dentigerous plates. 

 Vertebrae opisthocoelous : Desmognathinae, jj. 102. 

 „ amphicoelous : Plethodontinae, -p. 103. 



II. Series of 2)alatal teeth transverse or posteriorly converging, restricted 

 to the posterior portion of the vomers. Parasjihenoid toothless. 

 Vertebrae amphicoelons : Amblystomatinae, p. 109. 

 III. Series of palatal teeth in two longitudinal series, diverging behind, 

 inserted on the inner margin of the long palatine processes, " 

 Parasphenoid toothless. Vertebrae amphicoelous : Salaman- 

 drinae, jx 115. 



Sub-Fam. 1. Desmognathinae. — Comprising only three genera, 



with five species, in IsTorth America. Five toes. 



Desmognathus. — The tongue is attached along the median 

 line, free behind, oval in shape. Three species in the eastern 

 half of the United States. D. fi/scus is one of the lungless 

 Urodela, for which condition see p. 46. The skin is nearly 

 smooth ; parotoids prominent, gular fold strongly marked. 

 General colour above, lirown suffused with pink and grey, some- 

 times with a dark lateral band ; under parts mottled brown. The 

 vomerine teeth are frequently alisent. Total length, about 4 to 5 

 inches. They live, carefully concealed in the daytime, under 



