34 M. ETHEL COCHRAN. 



A salamander found on the afternoon of November, u, 1909, 

 at Gates Lane, Worcester, Mass., contained: three slugs (Limax, 

 I, 4, 5 mm. long respectively), one plant louse, one small worm, 

 and plant remains (probably accidental). 



A salamander captured in Norcross Woods, Worcester, Mass., 

 at eight A. M., May 9, 1910, contained: one earthworm (2.2 cm. 

 long), one brown spider (3 mm. long), two mites, one beetle, 

 one spring-tail, one mosquito wiggler, one Syrphus fly, and plant 

 remains. 



ENEMIES. 



Snakes undoubtedly are great enemies of the salamanders. 

 In a study made in Pennsylvania, Surface found that salamanders 

 formed a large part of the diet of some snakes. The ribbon 

 snake or striped garter snake (Thamnophis saurita), which be- 

 longs to the eastern United States and likes to live in shady, 

 narrow, watered valleys, preys upon beneficial batrachians. "In 

 four specimens containing food, four salamanders were found, 

 two of which were Plethodon cinereus; 37.5 per cent, of the food 

 of this species of snake was found to be salamanders." The 

 common garter snake was found to destroy toads and salamanders 

 among which was Plethodon cinereus. The water snake (Natrix 

 sipedon] and the grass snake (Liopeltis vernalis) also were found 

 to eat the red-back among other salamanders. 



Ditmars states that the following snakes feed on salamanders, 

 among which it is reasonable to include the red-back, as their 

 haunts are much the same: ribbon snake (Eutemia saurita Linn.), 

 mud snake (Seminatrix pyg&a), brown or DeKay's snake (Stor- 

 eria dekayi Hoi.), green or grass snake (Liopeltis vernalis), 

 eastern and western ringed-necked snakes (Diadophis punctatus 

 Linn, and D. amabilis B. & G.). 



A hungry, half-grown bull-frog ate a good-sized salamander 

 with evident relish and a purple grackle treated one like a worm, 

 beating it and breaking it with his bill before eating it. 



PROTECTIVE DEVICES.' 



Plethodon cinereus erythronotus, when annoyed, yields a color- 

 less, glutinous secretion from its tail. A Californian salamander, 

 Plethodon oregonensis, was found by Miss Hubbard to yield 



