42 



and jumping. The young, which had attained a length of one inch and 

 a half, had all the markings of the adults, except that the color was less 

 yellow. The limbs were developed as in the adults. There were three 

 pairs of gills, which the little animals held erect in the water. The tail 

 also had a broad membranous fin. When the young v/ere disturbed, 

 they would dart through the water with a velocity that was surprising. 

 I was not able to determine what they eat. One of the adults, when 

 captured, had in its mouth the white larva of some dipterous insect. 

 The young show a decided disposition to leave the water long before the 

 gills are lost Both old and young have the ability to climb up perpen- 

 dicular surfaces. Some young were kept in a fruit jar in some water, 

 and it was found that they were dying. All the water was poured out, 

 except a very little, after which they fared better. One was found to 

 have crawled half-way up the side of the jar, and was resting there in 

 apparent content. 



I have not been able to ascertain the character of the eggs of this sal- 

 amander, nor how they are disposed of. They must be laid in the early 

 spring. 



Subfamily DESMOGNATHIN^. 



Vertebrae opisthocoelian. Carpus and tarsus cartilaginous. 



This subfamily contains only a single genus, Demnognathus, belonging 

 to which there are three species, only one of which is likely to be found 

 in Indiana. 



Genus DBSMOGNATHUS, Baird. 



Desmognathus, Baird, 1849, 2, 285 ; Boulenger, 1882, 28, 77 ; Cope, 

 1889, 51, 194. 



Vemero-palatine teeth in a short curved series behind the choanse ; 

 leebly developed or entirely wanting. Parasphenoidal patches present. 

 Premaxillaries ankylosed. Tongue extensively free laterally and behind, 

 little free in front. Digits 4-5. Vertebrae opisthocoelian.* 



Externally this genus has the characters of Plethodon. It is, however, 

 distinguished from the latter by its vertebrae being convex in front, and 

 by the coalescence of the premaxillaries into one piece. 

 A. With 14 costal grooves. 



a. Abdomen of uniform pale color. N. Y. and Pa, ochrophcea, 

 aa. Abdomen marbled with light and dark. 



fiisca, p. 43. 

 AA, With ] 2 costal grooves. 



Color black above and below. Va. to Ga. nigra. 



'■'See foot-note page 439 ; p. 31 of author's edition. 



