THE BATRACPIIA OF NORTH AMERICA. 4l 



tlifi'ering' from the species of Nectiirus. A groove along the side of the 

 tail divides it iuto a superior and inferior portion, and a lateral wedge- 

 shaped mass, covered with longitudinally folded skin, intervenes between 

 the two for about one third the length of the member. Dermal mucous 

 pores are especially abundant on the head of this sjDecies. They generally 

 appear in the middle of a low, elongate, dermal papilla, dividing it into 

 two papilhie. These are closely placed in a triangular patch, of which the 

 maxillary border forms the hypotenuse, a line extending backwards from 

 the nostril parallel to the middle line, another side ; and the other border 

 transverse, i>:issing about its own diameter posterior to the eye. But 

 there are numerous other similar papilla? posterior to this patch, and 

 on the sides of the anterior half of the neck. A series of double pa- 

 pilloe extends round near the border of the lower jaw, becoming obso- 

 lete on the symphj'seal region. A conspicuous arched row of the same 

 extends round opposite the inferior edge of thelower jaw; and between 

 it and the superior row are numerous other pores and papillae. A row of 

 pores passes round within each arm on the sides of the thorax ; and there 

 are two rows on the sides, one above ;nid the other below, the lateral fold. 

 The upper row is continued on the wedge-like portion of integument, 

 forming the middle of the basal third of the side of the tail. 



The branchial fissure is half-way between the angle of the lower jaw 

 and the shoulder. The vent is small. 



Measurements of No. 9752. M. 



Total length 480 



Length from end of muzzle to end of vent 319 



Lengtli from end of muzzle to line of groin 275 



Length from end of muzzle to line of axilla 100 



Width between nostrils 013 



Width between eyes 029 



Greatest width of head 056 



Width between axilliB 045 



Width at base of tail.... 030 



Depth of tail at middle 0455 



Length of fore limb from axilla 054 



Length of fore foot Oil 



Length of hind limb.... 061 



Length of hind foot 020 



Length of lower leg 026 



Width between internal nostrils 0245 



mm 



The largest specimen (No. 10043) measures 545 



The usual color is rather light lead-colored above and a still paler 

 shade of the same below. There are indistinct darker spots on the sur- 

 face above, only visible when the animal is in fluid. Sometimes these 

 shades are represented by very distinct dark-brown spots (Nos. 4531, 

 7004). ^ Some specimens have the ground color brown of a lighter hue 

 (Noo 7005), the dark spots being present or absent. Three specimens 

 (No. 9205) are almost entirely black. 



This species is distributed from western New York and Pennsyl- 

 vanhx and the Great Lakes to Iowa, and south to Georgia, North Caro- 



