192 MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



NOTES ON THE REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS OF EATON 



COUNTY. 



HUBERT LYMAN CLARK, OLIVET COLLEGE. 



Early in April. 1901, while on a botanizing excursion, I captured a 

 handsome snake, dull black above, bright orange-rufous beneath, palest on 

 throat. It Avas three and a half feet long and gave out a very strong 

 musky odor. As it was totally unlike any snake which I had ever seen 

 previously, I made a special effort to find out what it was, and thus began 

 my interest in the reptiles of Michigan. The snake proved to be the 

 red-bellied water snake, of which more will be said later. During the re- 

 mainder of the spring, I made special efforts to collect, and to enlist the 

 aid of others in collecting, as many kinds of reptiles and batrachians^as 

 could be found. Several of the college students brought me valuable 

 specimens, and I desire to acknowledge my gratitude for their help. The 

 work was continued during the spring of 1902 with satisfactory results. 

 The following list includes, besides those species which I have myself 

 collected, several which are reported to me by reliable persons, and regard- 

 ing the occurrence of which there can be little doubt. But it should be 

 noted that very little reliance can be placed on ^'reports" made by un- 

 trained observers, and this is especially true as regards the size of snakes ! 

 This list is not supposed to be complete but it may prove to be of service 

 in preparing an account of the herpetology of Michigan. 



SALIENTIA. 



1. Bufo lentiginosiis americanus (Le Conte). Common toad. 



Common but not specially abundant. 



2. Acris gryllus crepitans (Baird.). Cricket frog. 



Quite common; locally abundant. 



3. Choropliilus nigriius (Le Conte). Swamp tree frog. 



Quite common. 



4. Hyla pickeringii Storer. Peeper. 



Not often seen, but very commonly heard in early spring. 



5. Hyla versicolor Le Conte. Common tree toad. 



Common. One beautiful specimen was taken from the mossy side of a 

 well. It was rich grass green in color, on the upper side, and did not 

 change this shade, though it was kept for several days in entirely gray 

 surroundings. When finally placed in formalin it assumed the normal 

 gray shade. 

 '6. Rana pipiens Schreber. Common frog. 

 Very abundant. 



7. Rana clamitans Latreille. Green frog. 



Common everywhere in water. 



8. Rana catesteana Shaw. Bull frog. 



Common in Pine lake. 



9. Rana sylvatiea I,e Conte. Wood frog. 



Quite common. 



URODEL.\. 



10. Aviblystoma punctatum (L.) Spotted salamander. 



Not rare. 



11. Amblysioma jeffersonianum (Green). Blue-spotted salamander. 



Very common in suitable places. 



