THE BATRACIIIA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



91 



Dr. Holbrook, iu (lescribiug' this .si>ecies, has mixed with it the, ac- 

 count of the tougue aud teeth of Plethodon glutinasus, which it some- 

 wliat resembles, but which may readily be distinguished externaliy by 

 tiie ligliter silvery spots and much shorter digits. This induced Dr. 

 Hallowell erroneously to make the species a synonym of P. glutmosiis. 

 The error had its origin, no doubt, in the nearer resemblance of the var. 

 A,j. laterale to the latter species. 



1 ^ 1 • 



Fio, 15. Amhlyiito')nci jeffcrsonianiim, jrffcrxomanum. No. 39G8. — o.vccpt f. 5=-i! T7. Ponna.ylvania. 



A comparison of the specimen described with the type of De Kay's 

 Salamandra gramdata exhibits no appreciable difference except in the 

 darker color, ratlier more depressed toes, and perhaps more massive- 

 looking jaws of the latter, the muzzle a little more pointed — all uncer- 

 tain characters in alcoholic specimens. The palatine teeth are in bet- 

 ter preservation than in the specimen here described. The central 

 patch is interrupted along the median line, and does not extend quite 

 so far laterally. The legs and digits are much lengthened, the figure 

 and description of Holbrook (see De Kay) conveying a very erroneous 

 impression in this respect. The granulation referred to is in part the 

 optical effect of the glands of the skin showing through the transparent 

 epidermis, partly the result of contraction of the skin by alcohol. 



In the type specimen there are no symmetrically arranged patches of 

 pores on the head. Their absence may be owing to the long-continued 

 preservation of the specimens, or to some accidental deficiency. In the 

 type of S. gramdata these are quite visible. They are very distinctly 

 shown in No. 4688, where there is seen a straight series interior to the 

 eye and nostril (not reaching to the latter), bending abruptly behind 

 the eye and passing beneath it. On the parotoid region above the lat- 

 eral groove is a slightly curved line of six or eight pores and a shorter 

 straight one above it. Below the groove is a crowded patch, which is 

 continued in a simple series along the inner edge of the lower ja w. One 

 or two are seen at the side of the base of the lower jaw, and others along 

 the sides of body. 



It has been stated that in the type no indication of light spots was 

 visible. In others, however, of more recent preservation these are 



