LIFE HISTORY OF DESMOGXATHUS FUSCA. 253 



Wilder ('99). Desmognathus fusca larvae undergo metamorphosis 

 while still very small, from 28 to 30 mm. in length (although the 

 duration of larval life is much longer than Wilder's estimate), 

 while Spelerpes bilineatus may attain before metamorphosis a 

 length of over 50 mm., greater indeed than the length of certain 

 adult specimens. The Desmognathus larvae may be distinguished 

 from the younger Spelerpes larvae by the proportionate size of 

 the hind legs, which in Desmognathus are from the time of 

 hatching much larger and stouter than the fore legs and are held 

 when at rest at a considerable angle from the body, while the 

 hind legs of the small Spelerpes larvae are slender and scarcely 

 exceed the fore legs in length. The digits of both fore and hind 

 feet of Spelerpes larvae of all sizes are attenuated, and the feet 

 never have the robust appearance of those of Desmognathus 

 larvae. 



Morse ('04) says of Desmognathus fusca: 'The larvae attain a 

 length of three inches before becoming mature, and inhabit 

 springs and small bodies of water. They are brown with black 

 dots above, lighter below, retaining also the black dotting. The 

 gills are short and inconspicuous. Sometimes the black is dotted 

 here and there with livid specks of red, but this disappears in the 

 adult condition." This is undoubtedly a case of incorrect 

 identification as the description does not correspond to Desmog- 

 nathus fusca larvae in the matter of size, color, or habitat. I am 

 able to refute the identification with considerable positiveness for 

 the reason that my conclusions concerning every stage of the 

 life history of this species have been corroborated by careful 

 study for several successive years of material obtained from a 

 much circumscribed little stream in w r hich Desmognathus fusca 

 is the only salamander that occurs. 



HABITAT. 



As compared with other Urodeles, Desmognathus fusca may well 

 rank as one of the more terrestrial. Its lungless condition is in 

 itself an indication of its terrestrial habitat; for, as pointed 

 out in a previous paper (Whipple, 'o6&), amphibian lungs serve 

 an important hydrostatic function, so that with the exception 

 of certain lungless forms such as Spelerpes ruber, which have 



