BATRACHIAURODELA. 1| 



Loc. — This species was collected at Discovery Harbor, Puget Sound 

 (Oregon), in May, 1841. 



Plate I, fig. 18, represents Heredia oregonensis, size of life. 



Fig. 19, exhibits the under surface of the same animal. 



Fig. 20, the head, viewed from above, showing the interocular space. 



Fig. 21, a profile of the head, exhibiting the gape of the mouth. 



Fig. 22, front view of the head, showing the situation of the 

 nostrils. 



Fig. 23, inferior floor of the mouth, and outline of the tongue. 



Fig. 24, the upper floor of the mouth, with the inner nostrils and 

 disposition of its teeth. 



Fig. 25, a fragment of skin, somewhat magnified, though not sufiQ- 

 ciently to exhibit the stellated shape of the little bodies it contains. 



aENUS XIPHONURA, TscH. 



Gen. Char. — Head large, very much depressed; its upper surface 

 convex. Vomerine teeth disposed upon a continued transverse 

 series, behind the inner nostrils ; no teeth on the sphenoid bone. 

 Maxillary teeth quite small, conical, and acute. Tongue large, 

 broad ; attached by most of its under surface, leaving only the 

 edges free. Feet proportionally stout and large. Toes rather short, 

 broad, and subpalmate or free ; callous at their tips. Tail elongated, 

 much compressed, and ensiform ; about the same length as the 

 body. Skin densely studded with minute granules. 



Syn. — Xiplionura, TscH. in M6m. Soc. Sci. nat. Neuch. II, 1838, 95. — G-RAy, Catal, 

 Amph. Brit. Mus. II, 1850, 34.— Dum. & Bibr. Erpet. gen. IX, 1854, 161. 



Observ. — It has been deemed expedient to distinguish generically 

 from AmUystoma, in accordance with Tschudi and Gray, such species, 

 the tail of which is very compressed, and the skin granular ; adding 

 to these characters, a larger tongue and stouter limbs. 



Besides the species hereinafter described, there is another belonging 

 to the genus Xiphmmra, inhabiting the eastern range of the United 

 States, Xiphonura jeffersoniana : the Salamandra jeffersoniana of Green, 



or Triton niger of Dekay. 



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