ON A COLLECTION OF BATRACHIANS AND REPTILES FROM 

 MOUNT ORIZABA, MEXICO, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW 

 SPECIES. 



BY 



W. S. Blatchley. 



While a member of the Scoville expedition to Mount Orizaba, Mex., 

 in the summer of 1891, the writer made a small collection of batrachiaus 

 and reptiles, which furnishes the basis of the present paper. 



The collection was made about the city of Orizaba at a height of 

 4,000 feet above sea level, and on the southwestern slope of the moun- 

 tain between the heights of 8,000 and 14,000 feet. 



No special effort was made to secure specimens of either class, only 

 such being taken as came re^idily to hand while collecting insects. 

 The collection is not to be viewed, therefore, as a representative one 

 for the localities mentioned. 



My thanks are due to Dr. O. P. Hay, of Irvington, Ind., for the loan 

 of books and other aids, and to Mr. Leonhard Stejneger, of the IT. S. 

 National Museum, for the loan of specimens for comparison. The types 

 of the new sj)ecies have been deposited in the U. S. National Museum. 



BATRACHIA. 



Urodela. 



plethodontidae. 



SPELERPES Rafinesquo, 1832. 



Spelerpes bellii Gray. 



"Cat. Brit. Mns., 1840, 4G," Boulouger, Cat. Batrach. Grad. Brit. Mus., 1882,68. 

 Cope, Batrach. N. A.. 1889, 161. 



This was the most conmion salamander on the slope of the mountain, 

 numerous specimens having been taken from 8,000 to 14,000 feet, at which 

 latter height it was frequent beneath stones and the bark of logs. At 

 12,000 feet three specimens were taken which were uiuform plumbeous 

 above, the series of yellow spots usually present being wholly obsolete. 

 These were the largest specimens secured and measured respectively 

 14G, 153, and 107""" in total length. Among the others the young had 

 the series of spots most distinct, but in all the spots in life were yellow, 

 not red, as stated by both Boulenger and Cope. 



U. S. National Musium, Nos. 10263-10205. 



Proceedings National Museum, Vol. XVI— No. 922. 



37 



