80 



An irregular splotch on the head and nape of the same color. The limbs 

 and belly may be uniform in color, but may be sprinkled with white dots. 



Length of large specimens, 4.5 inches. 



Distribution from Long Island and Florida, west to Wisconsin and 

 Louisiana. 



The following localities in Indiana have furnished specimens of this 

 species: New Harmony (Sampson's coll.), Wheatland (Ridgway), Terre 

 Haute (Blatchley). There seems to be no reason why a careful search 

 should not be rewarded by finding this species anywhere in the State. 



The habits of this salamander have been most carefully studied by Col. 

 Nicholas Pike, with specimens taken on Long Island. He states (^5, 

 i, 209) that eggs and young were taken soon after the ice had left the 

 ponds toward the latter part of March. The eggs were enveloped in a 

 glairy mass similar to that of A. pundatum. The young emerged in 

 fifteen days, but remained close about the glairy mass which they had 

 escaped. Mr. Pike supposed that this furnished them food ; this is, how- 

 ever, improbable. At first they are of a dingy brown color, with two 

 rows of pale dots along the sides. When a month old, they were exces- 

 sively active. Some which were dissected had in their stomachs the 

 larvae of insects, etc. At the age of two months, they would eat small 

 mollusks. When an inch long the gills are fringed, the tail-fin is edged 

 with black, the rows of white spots are more prominent, and the head 

 broader and more prominent. The gills appear to be absorbed, and the 

 fin membrane to disappear, when the length is about two inches. The 

 whole body is described as being then sprinkled with white dots, as if 

 flour had been thrown upon the animal. As soon as the branchiae are 

 absorbed, the larvae become restless, seek to escape from the water, and 

 if confined in it, many of them die. If permitted they crawl into moss 

 and leaves, and curl up there in contentment. The metamorphosis occurs 

 about the 5th of May. It is, however, not until the last of July that 

 they assume the colors of the adult. From the time when the eggs are 

 laid until the young have taken the complete adult form and color, there 

 elapse about four and a half months, and the animal is then two and a 

 half inches long. 



Col. Pike regards the A. opacum as being strictly a terrestrial animal, 

 entering the water only for the purpose of depositing its eggs. In con- 

 finement they refuse food for some time, and lie curled up, head to tail. 

 At last they are willing to accept such mollusks as are offered them. It 

 is entirely probable their food habits are similar to those of their relatives ; 

 and that they will eat almost any animal substance that they can swallow. 

 -Col. Pike states that this species hibernates late, hiding under leaves and 



