V AMBLYSTOMATINAE I I I 



before and after the eggs appeared, no adults were found, so that • 

 it is to be inferred that the laying takes place in the night and 

 that the adults leave the water every day to conceal them- 

 selves under stones. One female was found moving away from 

 a bunch of eggs early in the morning. This specimen was 

 kept isolated, and laid many eggs, and as these developed into 

 normal larvae, the existence of internal fertilisation was proved. 

 Previously to the laying of the eggs white spermatophores were 

 found in the small pools, on the dead twigs a,nd leaves covering 

 the bottom. 



A. jeffersonianum. — This very slender and slippery species, 

 reaching a length of 6 inches, is remarkable for its long fingers 

 and toes, and its rather compressed tail. The general colour is 

 brown above, dirty whitish below, generally with numerous, 

 small, light blue and pale brown spots on the sides of the neck, 

 body, limbs, and tail. There are several colour -varieties, one of 

 them with white specks. It is a very active and surprisingly 

 good climber, easily escaping out of high-walled bell-glasses, hiding 

 in the daytime in dark and moist localities. Its range extends 

 from Indiana and Virginia to Quebec. 



A. persimile. — This species is remarkable on account of its 

 geographical distribution. It is the only non-American species, 

 inhabiting the higher mountains of Siam and Upper Burmah. 

 There is no doubt about its belonging to the genus Amllystoma, 

 although it had originally been described as a Plethodon. It 

 closely resembles A. jeffersonianum in most of its characters, 

 notably in the arrangement of the palatal teeth, general propor- 

 tions, slender toes, and even in the presence of whitish spots, 

 which are scattered over the sides of its blackish, smooth skin. 



A. tigrinum. — This, the commonest species, is conspicuous for 

 its large, depressed head, which is as broad as it is long, .,its ^ 

 width being enhanced by the unusually large parotdid \'^&\-i^sJ 

 The mouth is very wide. The large, prominent eyes are golden, 

 and reticulated with brown. The gular fold is strong. The 

 limbs are stout, ■ the fingers and toes short. The trunk is 

 strongly constricted by twelve intercostal gtooves. The tail, 

 which is as long as the rest of the body, is somewhat compressed 

 laterally, but bears no trace of a fin. The general colour is 

 more or less dark brown or bluish black, marked with numerous 

 yellow spots and large blotches ; the under surface inclines to 



