156 BULLETIN 34, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



costal furrows, excluding au axillary one, and five pelvic. Similar fur- 

 rows can be traced to the tip of the tail. The tail is quadrate at the 

 base, with rounded angles, broader than high, but becomes more and 

 more compressed to the tip. The limbs are feeble and widely separated. 

 The digits all distinct, but small ; the first rather rudimentary. 



In alcohol mature individuals of smaller size are of a light brownish- 

 red on the back, the sides and beneath pale reddish-salmon color. The 

 sides of body and tail, however, and to a less extent the back, are closely 

 covered by a coarse, indistinct reticulation or net- work of rather dark 

 brown, showing the lighter ground color in the areolae, and conveying 

 the impression of rather oblong light spots. Tlie under parts are 

 generally immaculate, though large speciuiens are sometimes finely 

 sprinkled with dusky. There is always a light line from the eye along 

 the canthus to the edge of the upper jaw; those of opposite sides parallel. 



With increasing age tlie reticulation of the sides becomes obscured 

 by the extension of tlie ground color of the back over the sides and the 

 fading out of the dark markings. There is, however, generally a dull 

 clouding of darker and a faint indication of the light spots, especially 

 on the lower part of the sides. 



This species differs from Spelerpes ruber in many details of external 

 form — the more vermiform and depressed body ; more widely separated 

 fore and hind legs ; one more costal furrow 5 the more depressed, more 

 truncate, and broader liead; larger eyes; prominent ridge from eye con- 

 tinued to margin of upper jaw, etc., not to mention the difference in 

 coloration. To 8. r. flavissimus it is related by the protuberances on 

 the upper jaw on each side the muzzle, but these are less prominent. The 

 fifteen costal grooves and sharply defined blaciv spots without reticulation 

 on the sides distinguish the former. 



A specimen from Georgia (471G) differs in a more slender shape, and 

 in having dark, horny tips to the digits, as in the aquatic Amblystomse, 

 as if having lived in a drier region than usual. There are only fifteen 

 costal grooves to be distinguished. 



T"IG. 37. GyriiW2}hUusporphyriticus. No, 3374. 



McasHrements of Xo. .3874a, in inches. 



Length, measured along axis of 

 body .' 



From snout to gape 40 



From snout to gular fold 80 



F'?om snout lo armpit 1. 15 



Leugtli, etc. — Continued. 



From snout to groin 3. 40 



From snout to beliind anus 4. 10 



From snout to end of tail 6. 50 



Tail 2.40 



