Introduction 9 



At all events, I have seen the young in the Okefinoke, and they seem to be 

 hatched from the eggs fully developed, which is different from other sala- 

 manders, which undergo several transformations before attaining full de- 

 velopment. 



"The hellbender is from fifteen to eighteen inches long, and usually weighs 

 about two pounds. It has a somewhat eel-like head, a bulky body, and a 

 flattened tail, adapted to its aquatic life ; but it is not a swift swimmer, and is 

 easily captured with the aid of a hand-net. The few that I have handled 

 seemed to be lethargic creatures, and made no resistance to capture, or at- 

 tempts to bite in which they also differ from most other salamanders. The 

 colour is grey, with spots and zigzag blotches of darker grey. It burrows in 

 the mud in search of prey as well as to hibernate, and devours every kind of 

 slug, worm, fresh-water shrimp, insect, tadpole, or small fish which it can 

 capture. Its haunts make its habits difficult to study, but I beheve I am 

 correct in stating that it lies hid in the mud, with only its head uncovered, 

 for the purpose of surprising the fish as they swim by. I have seen one so 

 lying with a fish in its jaws. The people of the country have a strong prejudice 

 against it and never lose an opportunity of destroying it." 



The collection of the amphibian material was made at four different 

 periods. The initial party consisting of zoologists from Cornell University 

 stayed from May 28 to July 13,1912. It consisted of Professor J. C. Bradley, 

 the leader of the party, and Professor C. R. Crosby, both of the Department 

 of Entomology; Dr. A. H. Wright of the Department of Zoology; Principal 

 W. D. Funkhouser of the Cascadilla Preparatory School; Messrs. M. D. 

 Leonard, S. C. Bishop, and A. R. Cahn, all of the class of 1913, and Paul 

 Battle of Bainbridge, Ga., Mr. E. L. Worsham, State Entomologist of 

 Georgia, and Mr. Chas. S. Spooner were with the party for a week. A 

 smaller party from the University spent two weeks in the swamp from Dec- 

 ember 18, 1 9 13, to January i, 19 14. This party consisted of Professors J. G. 

 Needham and J. C. Bradley, Messrs. Paul Battle and John T. Needham. 

 Another container was again intrusted to the Lees until August i, 19 14 

 when it was returned. In addition, the amphibians collected May 6-23, 

 1 91 2 by Mr. Francis Harper were given to our museum and were available 

 for this study. 



SUBSEQUENT EXPLORATIONS (19 14 TO 1922) 

 In 192 1 we proposed to enter Okefinokee to make a thorough study of its 

 vertebrate life, particularly the life histories of the Salientia. With the 

 support of the Heckscher Foundation for the Advancement of Research, 

 Mrs. Wright and I planned to leave in April and spend the spring and summer 

 in the swamp. Circumstances necessitated her presence in Ithaca and Mr. 

 Francis Harper was secured as my associate. Together from April 21 to 

 August I we collected in the swamp with Billy's Island as our base. The 

 Hebard Cypress Company were operating from this island and to them (The 

 Hebards, John M. Hopkins, A. J. Armstrong, Sam Edwards, Sam Mizzell 



