FAMILY SALAMANDRID^. 19 



THE RED-BACKED SALAMANDER. 



Salamandha ertthronota. 



PLATE XVI. FIG. 38. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Salamandra erythroTwta et cinerea. Green, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 1, p. 356. 



jS. m/lhronota. Haklan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 95. 



S. cinerea f Id. lb. 



S. trythronota. HoLBRoOK, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 3, p. 113, pi. 27. 



The Red-backed Salanumder. Stober, Mass. Report, p. 245. 



Characteristics. Small. A distinct vertebral stripe, varying with age from scarlet to reddish 

 brown. Length 2-3 inches. 



Description. Body slender, cylindrical. Tail cylindrical, tapering towards the extremity, 

 where it becomes compressed, more particularly in the younger individuals, and pointed. 

 Snout obtusely rounded, Eyes small, moderately prominent. Nostrils lateral, near the snout. 

 Cervical fold indistinct. Legs feeble ; the fourth toe on the fore foot rudimentary. 



Color. Head above brownish ; chin and throat whitish, (according to Green, with a few 

 dots of crimson.) Sides dull white, thickly punctate with brown, and lustrous. Eyes black. 

 A broad vertebral stripe extending from the snout (occasionally from the occiput) towards the 

 end of the tail ; this stripe is of a deep or Ughter red color, varying with age. In very young 

 individuals 0*8 long, this stripe is of a briUiant scarlet or crimson. 



Total length, 3-0- 3-5. 



Prof. Green, after a careful revision and comparison of his cinerea and erythronota, came 

 to the conclusion that the former was an aged individual of the latter, in which the dorsal 

 stripe had become obsolete. 



The Red-backed Salamander is a very numerous and widely distributed species. It is 

 among the first which appears in the spring, and I have seen it as early as the middle of April. 

 It runs with great rapidity among the leaves, in moist wooded districts, and conceals itself 

 under stones and decayed trees. It has been noticed by Dr. Blanding at Camden, South 

 Carolina, and by Mr. Say at Louisville, Kentucky. The most northerly limit of this species 

 observed by me, was on the islands of the Saranac lake. 



THE PAINTED SALAMANDER. 



Salamandra ficta. 



Satmandra picta. Harlan, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol.5, p. 136. ^ 



S. mtermixta. Greek, Macl. Lyceum, Vol. 1, (fide Harlan.) 



IS. ficta. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 98 and 177. Stoeeb, Mass. Rep. p. 251. 



Characteristics. Dark slate or blackish ; yellowish or orange beneath. Tail abruptly com- 

 pressed towards the tip, slightly shorter than the body. Length four 

 inches. 



