222 Miss J. B. Procter on the 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
Prats II. 
Fig. 1. Semi-diagrammatie figure of Porcellio dilatatus, indicating the 
regions s of the metasome occupied by the cutaneous glands. 
Fig. 2. Single isolated gland. 
Figs. 3-6. Stages in the “development of a gland. 
Fig. 7. Typical section of a gland, showing nuclei. 
Puate III. 
Fig. 8. Typical section of a gland, showing the excretory tubuli and 
canal, 
Figs. 9 & 10. Sections of glands containing vacuoles. 
Fig. 11. Nucleus of a gland. 
Fig. 12. Nuclei of the excretory canals. 
vg. 13. Terminal portion of a pleural plate, showing openings of 
canals, 
XXVII.—A Note on the Tail of Spelerpes fuscus, Bonaparte. 
By Joan B. Procter, F.Z.8 
IN certain salamanders of the family Piaioaneee the tail 
has been the subject of several interesting studies. Pre- 
hensibility, autotomy, structure of the dermis, and toxic 
secretions are all cited. For example:—Mr. Van Benburgh, 
in “Notes on the Habits and Distribution of Autodax 
aécanus’’?*, says, ‘‘'The tail of this Autodax is prehensile. 
Several individuals, when held with the head down, coiled 
their tails around my finger, and, when the original hold was 
released, sustained themselves for some time by this means, 
. «+ The animal’s tail is also of use to it in another way. 
When caught, Autodax ié-anus will often remain motionless, 
but if touched will either run a short distance with great 
speed, or, quickly raising its tail and striking it forcibly 
against the surface on which it rests, and accompanying this 
act with a quick motion of the hind limbs, will Jamp from 
four to six inches, rising as high as two or three.” 
Miss Hubbard, in her interesting paper ‘ Correlated Pro- 
tective Devices in some California Salamanders” +, has 
studied the autotomy, toxic secretions, and glandular 
thickening of the tail. 
‘The tail of our European Spelerpes fuscus i is only endowed 
with one of the above uses, prevalent among its American 
allies—prehensibility,—but it has also another function to 
perform. 
* Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. ser. 2, vol. v. (1895). 
+ Uniy. Cal. Pub., Zool. vol. i. no, 4 (1903), 
5 
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