484 MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 



treat to the streams in tlie winter, and in spring consti'uct holes tor the purpose of 

 rearing their 3'oung, and that impregnation takes place after the winter has passed. 

 These ideas are not supported by any evidence, and are, as we have seen above, in- 

 correct. His opinion that the same burrow is not occupied for more than one year 

 is also not supported by our observations.' The time of hatching of the eggs is given 

 as about the middle of May (p. ]2(S), which agrees with our dates. Faxon (1885a, 

 p. 74) reports that according to Mr. P. R. Uhler the female during the period of 

 incubation goes into pools, ditches, etc. This, however, is contrary to the observa- 

 tions of Girard, Tarr, and myself All these particulars refer to the eastern form of 

 C. diogenes, on the coastal plain, and it seems that with regard to the spawning sea- 

 son and the spawning habits this form agrees with that of western Pennsylvania, 

 alwaj^s considering the slight difference in climate which makes this season begin a 

 little earlier in the Atlantic lowlands. 



The observations made on the western form show more marked differences. 

 Bundy (1877, p. 171) reports the discovery of a female Avith eggs nearly ready to 

 hatch, near Mechanicsburg, Henry County, Indiana, on January 1, 1875. Hay 

 (1896, p. 491) found that the breeding season in Indiana is in early spring, and ob- 

 served copulation on April 2, 1892. At this time the specimens leave their bur- 

 rows, and are frequentl}' found in open ditches and streams. The eggs were laid 

 from April 18 to April 30. He also repeatedly saw females with well grown young 

 in small streams. According to Harris (1890, p. 267) a female with eggs was found 

 in Kansas on May 3, 1891,"' apparently in an o}>en ditch, as is shown by the sub- 

 sequent sentences. 



With the exception of Bundy's record these dates show April and May to be the 

 normal spawning season of the western form also. The observations of Hay and 

 Harris, that C. diogenes frequents open ditches in spring, and that it copulates in 

 spring, are, however, entirely at variance with the habits of this species in western 

 Pennsylvania. This is not the case here, and I have never seen sjiecimens outside 

 of their holes in spring. My observations began as early as March 23, at a time 

 when the frost was hardly out of the ground. 



That this is also not the general rule in northern Indiana is shown b}' notes sent 

 to me by Mr. E. B. Williamson from Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana. Mr. ^^'il- 

 liamson writes to me : " As to C. diogenes congregating in ditches and the like in 

 spring I have no evidence here. The large males of diogenes can be expected in 

 almost every little stream. They move about on the bottom restlessly, not lying 

 concealed. Often the current catches them and they roll over and over, but they 



'"Sic. Note the discrepancy between this date and the date of publication. 



