DESMOGXATHID^:. LXXXII. 191 



* Tongue small, thick, oval, attached by nearly its whole inferior 

 surface ; toes 4-5, outer and interior on hind foot rudimentary; 

 our species spotted DIEMYCTYLUS, 1. 



/. DIEMYCTYLUS, Rafmesque. SPOTTED NEWTS. 

 > Notophthalmm, Raf. 



1. D. viridescens, Raf. SPOTTED TKITOX. NEWT. 

 EVET. EFT. Above olive green of varying shades; 

 lemon yellow below; each side with a row of several 

 rather large vermillion spots, each surrounded by a black 

 ring; back with a pale streak; belly, etc., with small 

 black dots. E. U. S., abundant E. of the Alleganies; in 

 ponds and brooks. 



2. D. miniatuSf Raf. RED EFT. RED EVET. Color 

 vermillion red of varying shade, paler or yellowish below ; 

 markings precisely as in the foregoing; same range, but 

 found away from water, under stones, etc.; comes out 

 after rain. Perhaps a variety or state of the preceding, 

 at least Prof. Cope so considers it. 



FAMILY LXXXII. DESMOGNATHID^E. 



(The Desmognatlis.) 



Vertebrae opisthoccelian ; carpus and tarsus cartilagin- 

 ous; no crests or other dermal appendages developed at 

 the breeding season. Genus one; species three; all of 

 the Eastern U. S. Tn external characters, this family is 

 scarcely distinguishable from the next, but the skeletal 

 distinctions are quite numerous. They are, however, too 

 technical for our present purpose. " The examination of 

 the skeleton of species of this genus utterly changes the 

 impressions produced by a consideration of the external 

 characters. It may be stated as characteristic of the 

 Batrachia in general, that their affinities can not be deter- 

 mined without study of the skeleton." Cope. Proc. 

 Phil. Ac. Nat. Sc. 1869, 113. 



