Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri 75 



mm., 55 mm. from the tip of tlie snout to the posterior end of the anal 

 slit, and 42 mm. from the last point to the end of the tail. A larva 

 from Adair Co., Mo., has a total length of 142 ram., 72 mm. in front 

 of ana! slit and 70 mm. to end of tail. Color light yellowish grey 

 above, sides and belly yellowish. Sides of tail marbled with dusky 

 spots. The fin on top of the back begins nearly behind the head and 

 runs over the upper part of the tail to the end. Three branchial tufts. 



Habitat. — As stated above this salamander is distrib- 

 uted over nearly the whole United States and a part of 

 Mexico. I can report specimens from the following coun- 

 ties in Missouri: — Adair, Buchanan, Butler, Gasconade, 

 Montgomery, Pike, St. Charles, and St. Louis; and from 

 St. Clair, Monroe and Madison counties, 111., neighboring 

 counties across the Mississippi River. 



Habits. — The animal is nocturnal in its habits and is 

 of rather common occurrence in the city of St. Louis, 

 where it is often found in cellars and new building exca- 

 vations. In Spring the stagnant waters are full of lars'ae. 

 In the country they are often plowed up in the fields. The 

 farmers call them ground puppies. Their food consists 

 of all kinds of insects and worms. To my great dissatis- 

 faction they even swallowed other smaller salamanders 

 and little frogs that were im.prisoned with them in my 

 collecting bucket. 



Dates of capture. — April 4, May 16, 26. 

 7. Ambystoma punctatum Linn. Spotted Salamander. 



Lacerta carolinae, Lacerta punctata, Lacerta maculata, Salamandra 

 punctata. Lacerta suhviolacea, Salamandra suhviolacea, Salaman- 

 dra venosa Amblystoma carolinae, Amhlystoma argus, Ambly- 

 stoma punctatiim, Amhlystoma subviolaceum. 



Description.— A species with a broad head, stout body, black ground- 

 color, and yellow spots. Palatine teeth in three series, the median 

 one generally in a straight line or a double arch, the convexity of 

 which is turned backward, sometimes forming a single arch. Lateral 

 series a little in advance of the central and not quite half its length, 

 separated from the central one by a slight interval. The three teeth 

 patches slightly behind the choanae. The latter openings considerably 

 farther apart than the external nostrils. Mouth large. Tongue mod- 

 erately large, plicae radiating from behind. 



