80 Streckei — Reptiles and Batrachians of Texas. 



Ambystoma microstomum Cope. 



SMALL-MOUTHED SALAMANDER. 



This salamander -is rather rare in the immediate neighborhood of Waco, 

 but is quite common in the Tehuacana bottoms and at Laguna. 



Ambystoma texanum Matthes. 



TEXAN SALAMANDER. 



My only example of this rare species was found about five miles south 

 of "Waco. The following is a brief description of this specimen: 



Baylor University Museum (Strecker collection, No. 2ol(J). Total length, 

 119 mm. Length to vent, 62^ mm. Color, light brown above, sides and 

 under parts yellow; traces of light spots between the costal grooves. 

 Head oval, rather flattened and broad; fourteen distinct costal folds; a 

 distinct median dorsal groove. When the fore and hind legs are extended 

 and appressed to the sides they are separated by four of the intercostal 

 spaces (six in A. microstomum). Width of head at jaws contained four 

 times in total length to groin (six and a half times in microstomum). 



Ambystoma opacum Gravenhorst. 



MARBLED SALAMANDER. 



The specimen from Hewitt mentioned in my former paper constitutes 

 my only record for. this handsome species. 



Plethodon glutinosus Green. 



VISCID SALAMANDER. 



Exceedingly rare. I have one specimen from the Tehuacana bottom. 

 This makes the second one I have collected in the county. 



Diemyctylus viridescens meridionalis Cope. 



TEXAS NEWT. 



This newt is by no means a common species. During the last two years 

 a few examples have been caught in small lagoons east and south of Waco. 

 Mr. Hurter and I obtained a few specimens at Laguna Lake in June, 1906. 



Scaphiopus couchii Baird and Girard. 



COUCH'S SPADE-FOOT. 



After the first heavy rain in April or May these interesting batrachians 

 come forth from their burrows and make the streets of Waco resound 

 with their loud cries. As a rule they delay their appearance until about 

 dusk, but I have known them to come out as early as three o'clock in the 

 afternoon. The male makes quite a conspicuous object when he has his 

 vocal vesicle fully distended. They breed in temporary pools, usually go- 

 ing into the water in April and May. The eggs are in strings and are 

 attached to weeds or grass after the manner of those of some Bufo8. 

 During the past fourteen years 1 have handled a great number of these 

 burrowing toads. The most of these were collected iii their breeding pools, 

 but specimens are brought in every few days from .March to November, 

 by persons who dig them up while working in their gardens and flower 



