268 INEZ WHIPPLE WILDER. 



in the later stages from the larger ratio of surface for absorption, 

 to mass. 



HATCHING, AND THE TERRESTRIAL LARVAL PERIOD. 



Since the development and hatching of the egg take place 

 under terrestrial conditions, it follows that there must be a 

 terrestrial larval period between the time of hatching and the 

 time when the larvae reach the water and enter upon their 

 aquatic larval life. Concerning this terrestrial larval life of 

 Desmognathus and the important changes which the transition 

 from terrestrial to aquatic conditions naturally involves, there 

 is, so far as I know, no published account. For this reason I 

 shall give somewhat in detail an account of a case of the hatching 

 and subsequent development of a brood of Desmognathus larvae 

 which came under my observation. 



The batch of eggs in question were found on September 24. 

 They were found in the usual sort of location, under a decaying 

 stick about three feet from the edge of the water of a certain 

 shallow brook in which Desmognathus abounds. A large female 

 was, as is usually the case, coiled about the eggs, while nearby 

 under the same stick was a smaller adult, which proved to be a 

 male. As it is not uncommon to find two or more individuals 

 under the same stick or stone, this fact has probably no sig- 

 nificance. The eggs contained large and very active embryos, 

 each still distended with a conspicuous mass of whitish yolk. 



As I had not the implements at hand for removing a sufficient 

 mass of the loose earth underneath the nest to avoid disturbing 

 the eggs, I carefully replaced the stick and left the eggs and the 

 adult undisturbed, intending to return immediately and remove 

 them. This a heavy shower prevented, and the nest was not 

 revisited until the next morning. The female was found under 

 the stick two or three inches from the eggs, which had already 

 begun to hatch. She was in a rather poorly defined burrow and 

 was headed away from the eggs. The whole family (mother 

 with the hatched larvae and unhatched eggs) was taken up upon 

 a mass of soil included in a radius of about five inches and several 

 inches deep, and was carefully transferred to the laboratory. 

 The mother made no attempt to escape and during the journey 



