'It 



TIIK I$ATKACIIIA OF NORTH AMKUIOA. 



1)3 



oit\uiA.J.,i>[l)'('r.s<>ni<(iiumUnivA\ eacli otlicr iind even oveiiai) a little. 

 Tlie laediiiii portion of tlic<leiit;il series iisiiiiliy exhibits a slij^lit aiij;u- 

 lation anteriorly, while that of the typi(!al sul>si)e(',ies is straij^ht; bnt 

 this character is in some cases not retained. The color is j;enevally 

 easily recognized: black with light lateral sijots. It resembles in this 

 respect the rictluxlon ylut>nosus, and to a less degree the Amhlystoiud 

 microstomntn as pointed out by Ilallowell, and the unwary observer 

 may easily confound it with one or the other of these species. liut 

 lateral spots appear in some s|>ecimens of the typical variety, and tlie 

 ground color varies, as has been already described. 



This form is altogether northern in its distril)Ution, l>eiiig especially 

 abuiulant in Canada. 





i 



Ambliintomn jcllrrsoniainim pldfincitm Co[»e. 



Cluck-list, \>. •Jii; IJinilcii^cr, Cat. Matr. (Jiail. l>rit. Miis., I'd. II, 18rV, p. 

 17. 

 Amlili/Htoma iilitlhuiim, Cope, I. c.,\\. IIW ; Straiicli, S.ilaiii., ;>. (i.">. 



This is a vi'ry (elongate form of the .1. Jcjlarxonianum. 



The head is oval and the muzzle rounded. The lengtli (»f tlu' fissure 

 of the eye e<pials the distance of the nostril from the same ; is but little 

 less than the di.staii(!e between iiares, and half or a little ukuv, of the 

 distance between tlie anterior caiithus of the same. Inner and outer 

 nares the same distane*' apart (Ireatest width of head "».,") to six times 

 in K" gth from end muzzle to groin, live sevenths lejigtii from chin to 

 giilai i'old. Canthus of mouth behind canthus of eye. A series of 

 l»oies along the superciliary, which pass round the orbit Iteliiiul and 

 below; a scattered longitudinal .series on the parotoid region, and a 

 traiisver.se aggregation of the same on each side below parotoid groove :, 

 a single series of the same for a short distance inside tlie ramus of the 

 mandible. The parotoid i-egion i»ossesses a thin stratum of dermal 

 crypta'. 



Costal folds twelve. The anterior is a little distance behind the axilla. 

 T\)es subeylindri(t, similar {o those of the A. j<'ll'<rN<>ni((nitm: in one 

 specimen (ty[>e) they arc separated by nearly an intercostal spa(!e when 

 lh(^ limbs are pres.sed to the sides; in another they me»'t. Tail rounded 

 above at base, liiially much compre.s.sed, but not elevated; iMpial in one 

 specimen to body and head to middle of orbit, measured from posterior 

 extremity of vent. In the type, however, it is much shorter, extending 

 from its basis <tiily t(» the eighth costal fold (from groin), but I suspect 

 that this is altnormal. 



Color leaden ; in tyi>e paler below, with numerous indistinct whitish 

 blotches. I"]yelids yellowish margined. S[»ecinien 4(>.SS has the abdo 

 men darker and without spots. 



The nar >wer head ami more elongate body will tlistinguish this 

 species from the typical A. Jr()'ersonitniKni. It is readily distinguishable 



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