58 



BULLETIN 31, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The transverse line of teeth is in three parts or combs ; a central about 

 two-fiftlis the width of the head, and separated from the lateral by a 

 slight interval. The central patch is nearly straight in its middle, but 

 the ends curve a little forwards, and continuously with the lateral por- 

 tion of the line which forms a curve concave backwards, bounding the 

 orbit. The inner edge of the posterior nares marks the extent of the 

 central row of teeth. The lateral comb of teeth is about half the length 

 of the central. 



The color of the specimen d.escribed is, in alcohol, of a dark liver brown 

 above, abruptly light olivaceous beneath. On each side of the back is a 

 series of nearly circular rounded spots about the size of the orbit, about 

 three on each side of the head, eight or nine on the body, and as many 

 on the tail, where they are sometimes conflnent. These spots are white 

 in alcohol, but yellow in life. Along the sides and more sparingly be- 

 neath are some scattered, quite small whitish spots, not very conspicuous. 

 The legs are of the color of the under parts, not of the upper; they show 

 some of the small light spots seen on the sides. 



Measurements. 



Inches. 



Total length of 8950 6. 50 



Length of month .40 



Length to gnlar fold 82 



Length to groin 2.80 



Length to behind anns 3.40 



Inches. 



Length of tail behind anns 3. 10 



Width of head 65 



Arm from elbow 60 



Hind leg- from knee 80 



In the preceding paragraph I have described a specimen from Abbe- 

 ville, S. C, as a locality nearest to that whence the original of Linn.TJis's 

 description was obtained. An examination of a large series of speci- 

 mens from different loca;lities shows certain differences, which, however, 

 are not of a character to indicate specific separation. 



The external appearance of the skin varies considerably with the 

 strength of the alcohol used for preservation, and probably with the 

 season when captured. The animal, when alive, is perfectly smooth and 

 lustrous, and readily exudes a large quantity of a white milky j nice from 

 the upper half of head, body, and tail, or from the dark-colored portion. 

 This is due to the presence of glands closely implanted in the skin, the 

 j)ores of which are sometimes quite inconspicuous ; sometimes very dis- 

 tinct. On the tail they are much largest and deepest, and the lateral 

 groove marks their inferior boundary, being there implanted vertically. 

 Wlien these pores are very full of their milky juice and the alcohol is 

 very strong the contraction of the skin between the mouths of these 

 pores gives more or less the appearance of rounded, thick-set granules, 

 of rather large size. This also giv^es rise to an apparent depression of 

 the digits, the skin forming quite a margin. 



The proportions of the body vary slightly. The tail is generally not 

 so long as the rest of the animal, the groin being more usually nearer 



