48 LIZARDS AND SALAMANDERS OF CANADA. 



ground makes it a conspicuous object. Witli the possible ex- 

 ception of ^. tif/rinum Green, which rei)laces it on the phiins and 

 in tlie mountains of the west, it is the largest, and is fairly well 

 distributed over Canada from the Atlantic to the prairie country. 

 Its structural characters, including even the coloration, are re- 

 markably constant, stamping it as an ancient form limited to a 

 region throughout which nearly uniform physical conditions 

 prevail. Additional data: Nova Scotia (MacKay); P. E. Island 

 (Vanwart and Cox); Ontario (Macoun and Na'-h). Common in 

 New Brunswick. Occurs in the Gas[)e Peninsula. P. Q. 



A. tigrinum ( ircen. 



As remarked above, this species replaces A. 'punctatuin in the 

 we-t, but, unlike its eastern congener, is exceedingly variable. 

 Tlie lack of uniformity and stability in structural characters, 

 and the equally irregular nature of its metamorphic phases, have 

 occasioned much confusion in the scientific study of this species, 

 and led to the multiplication of varieties or sub-species. SoMie 

 individuals lose the embryonic and larval features long liefore 

 attaining the adult size; in others they })ersist until the ci'eatures 

 are about full-grown, even the external branchire continuing 

 functional. A collection made at Swansea, Kcjotenay District, B.C., 

 which I examined most carefully, exhibited these differences in 

 a surprising manner — small sjiecimens a lew inches in length 

 entirely divested of all larval features, — others twice as large, 

 indeed about full grown and still essentially larvae. Altogether 

 the form is decidedly protean, and its careful study ought to 

 shed much light on many vexed questions of metamorphism. 



Additional data: Ottawa (Dr. Bell); Smithsonian Inst. 

 Collection. Manitoba (Maoun). Ontario (Nash). 



A. jeffersonianum Green. 



No more pcr[)lexing question confronts the (Canadian herpeto- 

 logist than to decide if this species is really Canadian in its 

 range. It is so variable; has been described by so many authors 

 from varying forms, and the nomenclature is so confused that it 

 is no easv matter to ascertain wlni.t is the real type even of 



