THE BATRACMIA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



199 



The proportions of the fingers are as in D.fusca; they are entirely free. 

 The eyes are prominent, with thick opaque palpebrae. A tubercle occu- 

 pies the anterior angle, which, after an examination of that in B. fused, 

 is proven to be a dismemberment of the superior eyelid. 



The coloration is uniform in about twenty specimens examined. It 

 is simple, viz: Uniform black above and below, except the muzzle from 

 between the eyes, the lower jaw, the end of the tail, and the soles of 

 the feet, which are brown. 



4 3 



Fig. 50. DesmognathuK nigra. No. 3923. Abbeville, S. C; \, f. 



. Measurements of 'No. 3923, in inches. 



Incbes. 



Lengtb, axial, from end of muzzle to orbit 29 



Length, axial, from end of muzzle to cantlius oris 55 



Lengtb, axial, from end of muzzle to axilla 1.22 



Lengtb, axial, from end of muzzle to groin 3.23 



L'jngtb, axial, from end of muzzle to end of vent 3. 76 



Lengtb, axial, from end of muzzle to end of tail 6. 9G 



Lengtb of fore limb ' G9 



Length of fore foot 26 



Length of bind limb - 1.02 



Leuglh of bind foot 47 



Width of hind-foot sole 27 



Width between ej^es in front 30 



Width at can thus oris 65 



Width of body 75 



Widtli of body at sacrum 54 



HahiU, etc. — Tins creature is aquatic 5 but after the fashion of the D. 

 fusca it occurs only in shallow stony brooks. It is, so far as known, 

 confined to the Alleghany mountain ranges from Pennsylvania south- 

 wards. It is abundant in the streams of the rocky ravines and cold 

 springs in the remotest depths of the forest, where its retreat is cool 

 and dark. It seeks concealment under loose stones and slabs of slate 

 with great activity, and is not easily caught. Its habitat does not seem 

 to be shared by any species but the D.fusca; the Gyrinophilas porphy- 

 riticus^ the other characteristic Alleghany species, haunting standing 

 :springs and bogs, where stones are not so numerous. Green described 

 it from Pennsylvania, but Baird, who is familiar with the Alleghany 

 fauna of our State, says he has not observed it near Carlisle; nor have 

 il met with it north of Virginia, where it is common. Besides Green's 



