REPTILES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 245 



transverse, upon the posterior. Fingers four in number, short, 

 free. Toes five in number, semipalmated ; the second, much the 

 longest ; a large tubercle beneath, resembles somewhat a sixth 

 toe. 



Salamandra. Brogniart. 



Generic characters. Body elongated ; tail long ; extremi- 

 ties four ; fingers four ; toes five ; no tympanum ; numerous 

 small teeth in the jaios and palate ; tongue as in frogs ; no 

 sternum ; ribs rudimental ; pelvis suspended by ligaments. 



S. erythronota. Green. The red-backed Salamander. 



Journal Acad. Nat. Sciences, vol. i. p. 356. 

 Harlan's JMed. and Phys. Res. p. 95. 

 N. A. Herpet. vol. iii. p. 113, et fig. 



This beautiful and quite common species presents the follow- 

 ing characters. My description is drawn up from a specimen 

 between three and four inches in length. Tail rather shorter 

 than the body, cylindrical, gradually tapering to a sharp point. 

 On the upper part of the body, a broad band of a reddish brown 

 color, sprinkled with brown spots, extending from the snout to 

 the extremity of the tail, being less marked however upon the 

 latter. Beneath, cinereous ; much darker upon the sides. 

 Throat whitish, having a distinct fold. Upper part of the 

 head and tail, and also the sides of the body, presenting under 

 the microscope, a beautiful metallic lustre. Head wider than 

 the body, three lines in length, one and a half lines in width. 

 Eyes very prominent ; pupils black ; irides metallic-colored. 

 Anterior feet with four toes ; posterior, five toed. 



The motions of this species are very agile ; walking rapidly 

 when undisturbed, and running by sudden and irregular jerks 

 when taken. I kept specimens alive several weeks by allow- 

 ing them dead leaves, which were constantly kept moistened. 

 From correspondents, I have received them from Cambridge, 

 Roxbury, Milton and Amherst, at which places they were found 

 under stones and decayed wood. 



