4 Green's new species of Salamandru. 



SaLAMANDRA JeFFERSOjSTANA; — CAUDA MEDJOCRI COR- 



PORE SUPRA FUSCO, MACUL1S CCERULIIS SUBTUS FUSCO. 



Blue spotted Salamander — Length about 7 inches — 

 fail as long as the body, tapering, slightly compressed and 

 pointed — head remarkably large — eyes entirely black, re- 

 mote and very prominent — nostrils large — skin a light 

 brown colour, rather darker above than beneath, with beau- 

 tiful azure blue points scattered irregularly over the whole 

 surface — on the upper part of the tail and legs, these paints 

 are grouped so as to form small blue spots; but on the under 

 part of the bod)" and along the spine, they are scarcely per- 

 ceptible — anterior feet four toed — posterior, five toed — all 

 the toes remarkably long, and terminated with a callosity. 



Cabinet of the Maclurian Lyceum — my collection. 



This animal was found in the marshy ground near Char- 

 tier's creek, in the vicinity of Jefferson College at Cannons- 

 burg, Pa. It is remarkably well proportioned, and creeps- 

 with much facility on land, being greatly assisted in its mo- 

 tions by the peculiar construction of its feet, the toes of 

 which are much longer than those of any other species of 

 Salamander with which I am acquainted. Both the pupil 

 and the iris of the eye are entirely black; and I observed 

 on exposing the head of the animal to the sun, that a thin 

 film or nictating membrane, originating from beneath the 

 lower lid, quickly rose and covered about one half of the 

 cornea, thus protecting the eye from intense light. Though 

 this remarkable and delicate structure in the anatomy of 

 these animals lias never to my knowledge been noticed be- 

 fore, I have little doubt that it is common to the whole 

 genus. The large size of the animal enabled me on this 

 occasion to detect it. In the above singular organization 

 of the eyes, the Salamander is allied to the Owl and some 

 other animals. 



