26 



On the back are three or four faiut cross-bands of dusky. No indica- 

 tions are present of the future yellow spots so conspicuous in the adult. 



In Indiana this species appears to pass the winter hiding about the 

 margins of ponds, or, in some cases, away from the water, under logs 

 and such places. I have received specimens taken under the ice, in 

 company with A. viicrodoynum, in January and February. Like the 

 latter species, it mostly leaves the water as soon as ovoposition is com- 

 pleted. They may then be found burrowing in the earth, when they can 

 be found at all. However, this species, unlike A. microdomum; appears 

 to be capable of remaining indefinitely in the water during the summer 

 months and of enjoying its existence there. On the other hand, I have 

 been told of a specimen that was taken in a dry corn- field on a hot day in 

 August. A large specimen that was kept by me for several weeks 

 seemed, during the warmer months, to prefer remaining covered up in a 

 box of sand that was provided. At intervals it betook itself to the 

 water. It was observed that this specimen shed its cuticle about every 

 ten days. Before this exuviation occurred it entered the water and 

 remained there for some time after the skin had been cast. During the 

 colder months it preferred to remain constantly beneath the water, only 

 coming up at intervals of fifteen minutes to take in air. Observations 

 showed that this species, like A. microstomwn and A. pundatum, enjoy& 

 an aquatic respiration. Water is steadily inhaled by the nostrils for five 

 or six seconds, and then expelled by the mouth. 



This species is a voracious eater, and will readily learn to take food 

 from the hand One was kept for weeks without manifesting any dispo- 

 sition to eat anything, but on being put into a cage along with an Acri» 

 and a large caterpillar, these mysteriously disappeared. One morning the 

 salamander was caught holding a good-sized Hyla versicolor by one foot. 

 Next morning the tree-toad was gone, Avhile the salamander had an 

 unusually bloated appearance. He would eat pieces of meat, angle- 

 worms, and one day attempted to swallow a dead mouse. 



Like all other animals of the kind, this one is regarded by many 

 people as dangerously poison. It is, however, entirely harmless. 



Ambystoma copeianum, Hay. 

 Cope' s Salamander. 



Amhhjdoma copeianum, Hay, 1885, 3, 209, pi. 14; Cope, 1889, 51, 63, 

 with figures. 



Head broad, body short, tail long and compressed. 



The width of the head is a little less than the distance to the gular 

 fold, and is contained in the distance from the snout to the groin 3.6 

 timeg. Distance to gular fold in distance to groin 8.2 times. Upper 

 jaw projecting beyond the lower. Tongue like that of A. tigrinum. 



