68 



SALAMANDRA VENENOSA. 



The neck is slightly contracted, and has a large, transverse, cutaneous fold at 

 the throat. The body is elongated, tolerably thick, cylindrical, and covered with 

 a smooth skin. The tail is cylindrical at its root, but soon becomes more or less 

 compressed laterally and terminates in a point. 



The anterior extremities are small, with four fingers, all nearly of the same 

 length. The posterior are larger, and end in five toes, of which the third and 

 fourth are longest. 



Colour. The head is bluish-black above, with four or five round yellow or 

 orange spots; a small one is at the back of each orbit, and another behind the 

 temples; both the upper and lower jaws are black; the chin and throat are bluish- 

 black, with a purple tinge. The whole superior surface of the body and tail is 

 bluish-black, with a row of yellow or orange spots, round or oval, on each side, 

 extending to the tip of the tail. The belly is bluish-black, with a strong tinge of 

 purple or violet. The extremities are coloured like the back, and are each 

 marked with one or two small round yellow spots. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 10 lines; length of body to vent, 2 inches 5 

 lines; of tail, 2j inches: total length, 5| inches. 



Habits. This is another land Salamander, passing most of its time in moist 

 places, as under the trunks of fallen and decayed trees, or under rocks and stones, 

 and only appearing abroad after heavy showers of rain, or at the dusk of evening, 

 in search of its food, which is earth-worms, as well as various small insects. 



Geographical Distribution. The Salamandra venenosa is abundant at the 

 northern portions of the United States. Professor Green informs me that it is 

 common near Albany; Dr. Binney has observed it in Vermont; Dr. Storer in 

 Massachusetts; and Say saw it in Ohio. For the present, Maryland must be 

 considered as its southern limit — south of that state I have no evidence of its 

 existence. Daudin, Harlan, and some other naturalists, however, speak of it as 



