OBSERVATIONS ON TYPHLOMOLGE RATHBUNI. 99 



doubt, due to the occurrence there of the larvse of other sala- 

 manders which have been mistaken by the layman for Typhlo- 

 molge. But even if the animal should come up into the lake, it 

 would be quite difficult to find it there; unaccustomed to such 

 rapacious enemies as certain fishes which abound in the lake, the 

 blind Typhlomolge would soon fall a victim. 



There are, however, two localities further up in the dry valley 

 which it might be important to examine. One is a hole resembling 

 a well hole because of its regularity. It is about 6 feet deep. Mr. 

 Bidler who is well acquainted with conditions as they were 20 to 

 30 years ago in this area, informed the writer that at one time this 

 hole was much deeper and contained a small body of water. He 

 assured me that one day in the water of the hole two white 

 Typhlomolge were seen. At any rate this hole should be pre- 

 pared for examination by removing the gravel and rocks and thus 

 penetrating to the water, the level of which would be approxi- 

 mately that of the water in Purgatory Creek. The place could be 

 easily prepared so as to make trapping there a success. 



Near this place on one of the slopes of the valley is situated 

 another hole (on the property of Mr. Mark Riley), which much 

 resembles the entrance to Beaver Cave. In former years, before 

 the water which abundantly drains into that hole had washed 

 gravel into it, one could penertate it for some distance and reach 

 a place at which the sound of water could be heard. 



The writer believes that the exploration of the two places men- 

 tioned would lead to a definite knowledge about the presence of 

 Typhlomolge in the San Marcos River valley. 



OTHER PLACES TO BE EXPLORED. 



It is clear that Typhlomolge cannot be procured in abundant 

 number by collecting in one or two places only, since these ani- 

 mals pass only in small numbers from the deep water-filled caves 

 into the open water bodies of the higher horizons. Successful 

 collecting must have as a basis the discovery of a large number of 

 places where some of these animals can be found. Traps must 

 be laid in all these places and watched for some time. Assuming 

 that from three such localities 5 specimens could be obtained in 



