﻿364 HALLOWELL ON THE 



dots upon the tail, [Triton symmetricus, Holb.) It is to be observed, however, that 

 these spots are not always symmetrically disposed, but in the specimen before me, 

 the first on the right side is about two lines in advance of the same on the left, and 

 the number of spots is not always the same on each side ; sometimes two spots on the 

 right side, four on the left, much smaller than the others and granulated. 



2d. var. Same distinction of spots, skin almost smooth, abdomen more thickly dotted 

 with black; under parts orange, (millepunctatus, Storer, punctatissimus, Wood,) or 

 with a row of small circular spots, five in number, on each side, not very regularly 

 disposed; probably an advanced age of No. 1. 



4th. Tail more or less crested above and below; four or five or eight circular spots 

 bordered with black on each side, the two first on each side of the occiput, as in some 

 of the other varieties ; body above and below very minutely dotted with black ; sides 

 of tail black spotted ; spots large upon the root, nearly as large as those of Triton 

 cristatus. In some of them the circular spots are quite indistinct, or united to each 

 other forming longitudinal bands ; in others there are no circular spots whatever, the 

 back being covered with brownish irregular lines ; a longitudinal band of black run- 

 ning from the throat along the side of the head, neck and abdomen, and continued 

 along the tail ; two black longitudinal lines on each side of the salient dorsal line, 

 and a longitudinal line on each side ; the sides of the body, as well as the tail, are 

 spotted with black, the spots much larger upon the tail ; under parts yellow, very 

 minutely punctated with black, (millepunctatus, Storer.) We are informed by Prof. 

 Leidy, the vermillion colored specimens were found invariably upon land, and the 

 olive colored ones always in the water, or in marshy places, so that it would appear 

 that these, as stated by Prof. Holbrook, are really distinct species. It is to be regretted, 

 however, that we do not know more of the habits and mode of life of each. 



We have received to-day, through Dr. Wilson, Prof. Leidy and Mr. Conrad, who 

 have been spending several weeks at Cresson, at the top of the Alleghanies, about 

 225 miles west of Philadelphia, at a height of 2300 feet, a considerable number of 

 specimens of .Diemyctylus miniatus, Raf., (S. symmetrica, Holb.,) and Diemyctylus 

 viridescens, Eaf., (Triton dorsalis, Holb.) The former present nothing remarkable, 

 and have been sufficiently well described. The latter present the following appear- 

 ances: These 13 specimens of Diemyctylus viridescens resemble each other very 

 closely. They are of an olive color above, deeper in some specimens than in others, 

 with a vertical yellow line extending from the occiput some distance upon the tail ; 

 on each side is a row of vermillion spots bordered with black, varying in number, but 

 usually five or six on each side; sometimes a few smaller ones may be observed 

 irregularly disposed. The yellow vertical line is often bordered with black, some- 

 times in the form of spots, at others assuming the form of a yellow band upon the 



