TAILED BATRACHIANS 263 



Spelerpes, occurring in Europe and Central and South 

 America, is a genus composed of about twenty Salamander- 

 like creatures, noteworthy on account of the fact that they 

 are able to shoot out their tongues to a very considerable 

 distance. The limbs are more or less well developed, with 

 five toes. 



The European Spelerpes, S. fuscus, of the South- 

 Eastern parts of France, Italy, and Sardinia, has a long 

 head, with a distinct swelling beneath each nostril, which 

 is much enlarged in young specimens. The fingers and 

 toes are short, somewhat dilated at the end and about 

 half webbed. The tail is cylindrical, shorter than the 

 head and body. The animal, which is brown above, 

 uniform, or with pink spots, grows to a length of only 

 four inches. It usually makes its home in limestone caves, 

 where it catches the small insects upon which it lives, these 

 being obtained by shooting out the long tongue in a 

 chameleon-like fashion. The young are brought forth in 

 the perfect condition. 



The Common American Spelerpes, S. bilineatus^ which 

 is abundant in the Eastern United States, has the fingers 

 and toes entirely free. The general colour is yellowish, 

 with two lateral dark brown bands commencing from the 

 eyes and extending along the tail. 



According to Wilder, it is found in or about running 

 brooks, supplied with small stones, and seems to prefer 

 spots shaded by trees, the best brooks being the little 

 mountain streams that run swiftly down quite steep 

 inclines, forming miniature cascades, alternating with 

 small shallow basins. Search for the creatures should be 

 made under stones lying on the edge of the brook, with the 



