THE MUSEUM. 



26^ 





Pikes Peak, showing the home of the Pica. 



railroad, some small bird was seen. 

 It looked much like a Finch. Having 

 nothing but large shot it was useless 

 to shoot, and another unknown is add- 

 ed to the list. 



One of our most interesting catches 

 was the taking of a number of the so- 

 called water dogs of the lakes. They 

 are not water dogs, but are the larva 

 of Avtblystonca tigriiium Green, 

 which has figured in various texts as 

 Sire do 11 lichenoides or Si redo 11 graei- 

 lis. This little batrachian has an in- 

 teresting history. In the adult stage 

 it has received 23 different names from 

 different naturalists, while the larval 

 stage has five names, and was for a 

 long time considered a separate ani- 

 mal that did not undergo metamor- 

 phosis. There are six color varieties, 

 five series of palatines and four differ- 

 ent types based on unequal develop- 

 ment of parts. (Batrachia of North 

 America, Cope, 1889.) It has been 

 collected in nearly every state in the 

 United States, from Mexico and Can- 



ada, and the larva is found in still 

 water all over the Rocky Mountains 

 in abundance. It transforms late in 

 the summer, but as few of those in 

 high altitudes were ever seen and none 

 were formerly known to transform, it 

 was believed that they always remained 

 in the larval stage. They are rapac- 

 ious, eating animal food and taking 

 the hook readily. At the time of our 

 arrival at Manitou they had already 

 left the water and some had entered 

 the adult state. These were observed 

 at the lake near Colorado Springs, 

 and the specimens seemed lighter in 

 color than those in the mountains. 

 They terrify the people near the w^ater 

 Vv'ho could not be hired to go near 

 them. It was the same with those in 

 the mountains. The man who had 

 for years lived near this lake at the 

 base of Old Baldy had never touched 

 one, and would not do so. It is said 

 they do not inhabit all of the seven 

 lakes but this is likely a mistake. They 

 go in schools or droves in the large 



