i 



174 humj:tin :(i, umtku .srATi::s nati(»nal mlsku.m. 



bo(!Oines sufliisetl with ii Uiri«l of jmiplisli-biown. The lu-lly is goner- 

 ally immacuhitc until tho animal iscniito ohl, whfii it is lluely sprinkled 

 with (lots iilie grains of line powder. 



Tlie color of a fresh specimen is as follows. It is fully grown, and was 

 taken April 7, 184S 



I''l(i. i;!. Sjiilirinf ri'l'i,: No. TOu:!. ('iuli.slf, I'a. ; ]. 



Pupil small, illiptical, major axis horizontal, hrassy, with horizontal 

 dark line. General color dark salmon r<'d. Whole upper |»arts marked 

 with rounded si)ots, largest along back, about size of the eye and less, 

 of black or dark. Iletwcen these spots is a clouding of dark red 

 dish-brown, as if the black of ui)per parts had run after being tirst 

 put on. ]''re(piently, however, there is an obscure areola of the ground 



color around the sjtofs; on sides of body iwid t.iil, external poili. f 



limbs, less of the interstitial dark reddish-brown. Wliole under surface 

 sprinkled with minute black dots, larger towards the chin. Ivxtreme 

 edge of snout blackish, as also of lower Jaw to a Ii'ss degree. 



Individuals vary somewhat in coloration; sometimes the dots on the 

 belly are more aggregated towards the center, sonu'times the interstitial 

 color on back purer, so as to dcliiie spots better, while agein, on theot 

 hand, the whole upper parts aic so much shaded with the reddish-brow u 

 as to nearly obscure the black spots. 



The eye can be retracted or protiuded as in the ligures, and also con- 

 cealed by the approximation of the lids. The transparent lower li*i 

 can be brought up and over lower half of the eyeball. 



in yoiing individuals the colors aie much purer; the whole body 

 being of orange, of ditVerent shades in <!ilVerent individuals: darker 

 above, with spots of black on upper half of body, larger ahuig back, 

 irregularly distributed, beneath geneially unspotted. Tlu^ lower jaw 

 with a row of spots around its margin. 



Oh.scrnitioiis. — This is an abundant species throughout t!ie Unite .1 

 States east of the Mississippi IJiver as far noith as Maine, and (!orre- 

 si)on(ling latitudes in Canada, and .south into Texas and Khu-ida. 't 

 chietly abounds ii! the hilly and mountainous .sections. It is especially 

 atpiatic in its habits, and i.- found on the ground only alt( trains. It is 

 not unfre<iiu'ntly found under b.irk of fallen trees in damp situafioiis, 

 but its ciii.'f haunts are cold springs. Here, beneath st(MR'S, it may 

 be always found, occupying, if possible, the tissure from which the lim- 

 pid water rises, aiul disi»laying its beautiful hues through the trau.s- 



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