BATRACHIAURODELA. 15 



subcylindrical. The tail is as long as the body, the head excluded ; it 

 is compressed, subquadrangular upon its anterior third, very thin pos- 

 teriorly, with the upper and lower edges quite sharp, and tapering 

 into a point. 



The limbs are well developed ; the posterior ones are longer and 

 much stouter than the anterior. In bringing the latter backwards 

 and the former forwards alongside the body, the fingers and toes over- 

 lap each other. The digits are free, rather long and depressed. The 

 first or inner finger is somewhat shorter than the fourth or outermost ; 

 the second and third are the longest, and nearly equal in length. The 

 inner toe is the smallest ; the fifth is a little shorter than the second ; 

 the third is the longest; the fourth is somewhat shorter than the third. 



The skin, though apparently smooth, is minutely and inconspicu- 

 ously granular to the touch, and when examined under the micro- 

 scope, it is found to contain a dense system of rounded granules, per- 

 haps glands, of various size. 



The ground color is dark-reddish or chestnut-brown. The upper 

 surface of the head and body is maculated with small, irregular, 

 black spots. Minute yellowish dots are observed on the back, sides, 

 belly, inferior surface of the head and tail, and which seem to corre- 

 spond to the granules of the skin. 



Loc. The specimen figured and described was collected in Oregon. 



Plate I, fig. 9, represents Xiplwnura tenebrosa, size of life. 

 Fig. 10, is the under surface of the same animal. 

 Fig. 11, the head, seen from above, showing the interocular space. 

 Fig. 12, a profile of the head, exhibiting the gape of the mouth. 

 Fig. 13, front view of the head, and situation of the nostrils. 

 Fig. 14, inferior floor of the mouth, and outline of the tongue. 

 Fig. 15, the upper floor of the mouth, with the inner nostrils and 

 the disposition of the vomero-palatine teeth. 



Fig. 16, a fragment of the skin, taken on the dorsal region ; and 

 Fig. 17, a portion of the skin, taken on the abdominal region. 

 Figs. 16 and 17, being somewhat magnified. 



