194 BULLETIN 34, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Variety. A specimen with the dentition, coloratioi], and proportions 

 of body and tail of tbis species was sent to the Smithsonian Institution 

 from northern Georgia by Dr. Jones. It approaches the D. fusca in 

 having a small tuherculum canthus oculi, and a well-developed inferior 

 series of mucous pores. 



DESMOGNATHUS FUSCA Eaf. 



(Plates 34, figs. 5, 6 ; 36, lig. 1 ; 45, fig. 7. ) 



(var. fusca.) 



Baird, Journ. Ac. Phila. (2), i. p. 285; Cope, Proceed. Ac. Pliila., i, 1869, 

 p. 115; Straucb, Salam., p. 74; Gray, Cat. Batr. Grad.Brit. Mns., 

 ed. i,p.40; Boiilenger, Cat. Batr. Grad. Brit. Mas., ed. ii, 1882, p. 77. 



Triturus fusciis Rafiu., Auuals of Nature, 1820 {fide Baird). 



Sala^nandra intermixta Green, Cont. Macl. Lye. i, p. 827. 

 . Salamandrapida Harlan, Jonru. Ac. Phila., v, p. 138. 



Salamandra quadrhnacutata Holbr., N. A. Herp. v, p. 49, Pi. 12. 



riclhodonfusciim Dum. & Bibr., p. 85, PI. 101, fig. 3. 



Flethodon niger Hallow., pt., Journ. Ac. Phila. (ii), 1858, p. 344. et var. auriculata. 



Salamandra auriculata Holbr., N. A. Herp., v, p. 47, PI. 12. 



• Desmognathus auriculatus Baird, Journ. Ac. Phila. (2), i, p. 286; Strauch, Salam., p. 

 74 ; Graj', Cat. Batr. Grad. Brit. Mus., ed. i, p. 41. 



Cylindrosoma am-iculatum'D>uu. &Bibr., p. 81. 



Desmognathus fusca var. auriculata Cope Proc. Ac. Phila., 1869 ,p. 116; Boulenger, 

 Cat. Batr. Grad. Brit. Mus., ed. in, 1882, p. 78. 



This, perhaps tlie most abundant salamander in ISTorth America, is 

 quite variable in coloration, but not in proportions and structural pe- 

 culiarities. Those of the latter whicli characterize it are the presence of 

 fourteen costal plicse; one well, and one little developed lateral se- 

 lies of mucous pores; the equal and regular distribution of teeth on 

 the mandible of males ; the compressed tail keeled above and tinned 

 distally ; the presence of a tubercle in the anterior canthus of the eye ; 

 the marbled color of the belly. In many quarts of specimens I find 

 four specimens from southern localities ; two in the Philadelphia Acad- 

 emy from Charleston, two in the Smithsonian from Biloxi, Miss., which 

 have fifteen plicte, but one of the latter has fourteen on one side. In 

 specimens which have been preserved in too strong spirit the pores 

 are rendered invisible; the same occurs when the spirit is impure or 

 weak. In soft specimens, the canthal tubercle sometimes disappears, 

 and in many young specimens and some adult females it does not ap- 

 pear to exist. 



The head is more depressed and the muzzle prolonged than in species 

 of other genera. The eyes are prominent; the plicje behind them 

 strongly marked. These consist of one on each side tlie head and nape, 

 which converge posteriorly and then turn abruptly outward, to be 

 continued into the gular plica. A second [)lica extends from the man- 

 dible across the rictus oris to the upi)er plica. A second longitudinal 



