THE BIOLOGY OF THE RED-BACKED SALAMANDER. 339 



eagerly. Small wriggling earthworms are enjoyed. In one 

 case, a small toad tadpole was offered to a salamander whose 

 attention was so attracted at once by the struggles of the tadpole 

 that it promptly ate it. A companion at the same time ate two 

 tadpoles. Small insects are captured and eaten with avidity. 



A moving object is noticed very quickly. The salamander 

 will follow it fixedly for a moment, then, with gaze still upon it, 

 creep slowly after until close at hand, when a rapid spring is 

 made for it. Often it appears to have difficulty in swallowing 

 food the eyes close as several slow gulps are made and some 

 time elapses before another portion is taken. No use of the hand 

 in feeding has been noted, as is commonly seen in toads and frogs. 



As a means of determining the kind of food taken in nature 

 fifteen stomach-contents were examined. The salamanders 

 came from several widely separated districts. 



In general, specimens taken in the morning showed fuller 

 stomachs than those taken in the afternoon. 



The following specimens were found in the fifteen stomachs 

 examined: Ants of several kinds, beetles of several kinds, bugs, 

 caterpillars (cut-worm), centipedes, earthworms, fleas, flies of 

 several kinds, maggots (rat-tail), midges, mites, mosquito wig- 

 gler, plant lice, plant remains, pseudo-scorpion, slugs (Limax), 

 spiders, spring-tail (Thysanura) , sow-bug, wasp-like insects. 



Below is given a list of the contents of five stomachs that may 

 be taken as typical. 



A salamander captured May 17, 1910, at four P.M. in a saw- 

 dust heap near a spring, Auburn, Mass., contained: four snout 

 beetles, one yellow ant, one small spider and ten mites. 



A salamander found under a stone in an ants' nest, April 

 28, 1910, in the afternoon at Auburn, Mass., contained: one 

 earthworm (2.75 cm. long), two mites, two small beetles, and 

 three maggots that were probably young ants. 



A salamdander found at Holden, Mass., at eight A.M., on 

 April 27, 1910, contained: one earthworm (3.5 cm. long), one 

 centipede, one black fly, one spider, one cutworm, one ichneumon 

 maggot (probably from the cutw T orm), one pseudo scorpion,, 

 one sow-bug, and one unknown insect (which had eaten two small 

 snails). 



