16G BULLETIN 34, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



dotted with rather large aud distiuct spots of blackish without definite 

 arraugement. The sides are obscurely marbled with dusky. The uu, 

 der parts appear to be immaculate, except some indistinct marbling on 

 the chin. 



Although the form which presents this singular character is not typ- 

 ical of the species, I do not consider it to be referable to any other. 



Besides the original two speciuieus of Green, I have seen three others 

 bearing cirri, which I took with two non-cirrigerous ones on the slope of 

 the Black Mountains of North Carolina. These specimens are otherwise 

 of typical character. 



The cirrus is a larval character retained, which, were it i)ermauent, 

 would be of generic value; but it is not so, and in this case an individ- 

 ual feature only. The same peculiarity I have observed in two speci- 

 mens of A', chiroptenis sent by Sumichrast from Mexico, and in speci- 

 mens of 8. longicaudus and *S'. guttolincatus from the United States. 

 The other characters of this variety, though marked, are modified in 

 various intermediate degrees in individuals from various, especially 

 southern, localities. The form of the tail is just as in the typical variety, 

 though Holbrook has stated them to diifer. 



This species is very abundant in Pennsylvania, antl extends its range^ 

 with decreasing numbers, to Maine. It differs in its habits from the 

 S. longicaudus in being to a great extent a water animal, and less fre- 

 quently found under bark and stones. It is only in shallow, stony 

 brooks that it occurs, however, and can not be called aquatic in the 

 sense in which the Tritons are. It is very active, and wriggles and 

 runs from the pursuer in the same manner as, and generally in company 

 with, the Desmognathus fusca. It is one of those species whose meta- 

 morphoses are prolonged and which remains in the larval state until 

 nearly grown. 



This species appears to be the one to which must be referred the 





t ^ M 



I 



14 3 5 



Fig. 40. Spelerpes MUncatus Green. 1^0.4456, Gloucester, Md. Twice natural size. 



specimens named by Ilolhrook, SaUmiandrahaldemani, which came from 

 Pennsylvania. The yellow-belly and distributed dorsal spots resemble 

 varieties of this species rather than any other. 



