NO. 2211. GENERA DESMOGNATHVS AND LEVROONATHUS—DUNN. 411 



being usually 10 in each ovary. Her specimens were from near North- 

 ampton, Massachusetts. In a series from Haverford, Pennsylvania, 

 females just matured at a length of 80 mm., had usually 28 eggs, 

 while larger females up to 100 mm. had as many as 40 eggs. Cope 

 states that 18 to 30 eggs may be fomid on one side. 



The act of pairing has been observed in captivity on May 13. The 

 eggs are laid from the first of June to the end of August, most being 

 laid during July. 



The eggs are guarded by the mother, who keeps herself in contact 

 with them probably to keep them moist. They are joined together 

 by the external membrane. The period from laying to hatching is 

 about five weeks. When hatched the larvae measure 15 mm. There 

 is a terrestial larval stage of 15 to 16 days. At the expiration of this 

 period the length is about 20 mm. and the larvae enter the water. 



Mrs. Wilder gives the length of 15 aquatic larvae, collected in Massa- 

 chusetts during November and December, as ranging between 17 and 

 25.5 mm. Seventeen larvae collected November 28, in Nelson County 

 Virginia, ranged from 21 to 29 mm. 



The aqua-tic larval period lasts about nine months. They trans- 

 form during May and June. Thus during July and August, as a rule, 

 no IdYYaXfusca will be found. 



Mrs. Wilder gives the largest larva seen as 33 mm., and the smallest 

 transformed specimen as 27.75 mm. This is at Northampton, Mas- 

 sachusetts. At Haverford, Pennsylvania, I have found larvae as 

 large as 44 mm., and transformed specimens as small as 32 mm. 



Mrs. Wilder says: "Specimens of 68 mm. and over of both sexes 

 are sexually mature, apparently after three years of adult hfe. At 

 Haverford they reach a larger size before maturity, although the 

 age is probably the same. Females with developed eggs are not 

 found smaller than 75 to 80 mm. The males lose the vomerine 

 teeth at about 85 mm. This would be coincident with sexual 

 maturity. 



Remarks. — This is the most widespread form of the genus. With 

 its subspecies auriculata it covers the whole East with the exception 

 of the mountains of North Carolina. 



Specimens intermediate between fusca and auriculata have been 

 seen from Raleigh, Magnolia, and Kinston, North Carolina, Lake 

 Drummond, Virginia, and Columbia, South Carolina. The Lake 

 Drummond specimen is closer to auriculata, the others to fusca. 



Specimens examined: 1,925, from localities as follows: 



New Brunswicl'. — St. John's Kiver, 1. 



Maine. — Brooklin, 5; Westbrook, 1; Rangeley, 8. 



Vermont. — St. Johnsburg, 2. 



Massachusetts. — Berkshire HiUs, 4; Springfield, 2; Northampton, 25. 



New EampsJiire. — Amherst, 3. 



