11 



rounded. Labial folds well developed. A distinct gular fold. Eyes small. 

 The two series of teeth iu the upper jaw near to, and parallel with, one 

 another. Preraaxillary series short ; the vomero-palatine series extending 

 back to the corner of the mouth. The mouth is large and extends back- 

 ward to under the eyes. Nostrils in the edge of the lips. Head con- 

 tained in the distance to the vent about five times ; three-fourths as wide 

 as long. Costal folds usually 14. Tail broad and compressed, one-third 

 the total length. Limbs well developed. Digits -1^4. 



Skin smooth and furnished with numerous follicles. 



Color ashy brown, palest below, and more or less mottled and spotted 

 with blackish, especially above. Young specimens with a lateral dark 

 band from the snout to the tail. Gills bushy, and in life bright red. 



Prof. Cope (51, 26) mentions specimens from Ontario which were en- 

 tirely black. 



This species reaches a length of 24 inches or more. 



This is a W'idely distributed animal in Eastern North America, and in 

 places it is very abundant. It is recorded from the territory extending 

 from Montreal to Alabama, west to Wisconsin, Kansas, W. Arkansas, 

 and Louisiana. 



It will no doubt be found in all parts of Indiana, but it is very common 

 in the numerous lakes of the northern portion of the State. I have 

 record of it from Lafayette (S. Coulter) ; Mt. Carmel, 111. (National 

 Museum) ; New Harmony (Sampson's coll.) ; Monroe County (Ind. Unv. 

 coll.); Franklin County (Hughes). I have found it common at Lake 

 Maxinkuckee, Marshall County. Prof. Blatchley reports it as very com- 

 mon at Terre Haute. Of 19 specimens sent me by Prof Evermann more 

 than half had the gills very short or almost wholly gone. 



Habits. — This species appears to be wholly aquatic, although it does 

 not depend on its gills entirely for the oxygen that it consumes. It has 

 been observed to come to the surface for air ; and its gills are sometimes 

 missing, as though nibbled off. In such cases breathing must be accohi- 

 plished "by other means. They have quite well developed lungs, which 

 some observers have ariificially inflated. The animal has seldom been 

 observed to go on land. (.54, loc. cit.') In the water they progress either 

 by creeping along on the bottom or by swimming. The swimming is ac- 

 complished mainly by strokes of tiie large flat tail, and tlieir progress is 

 rapid. They are, for the most part, nocturnal in their habits. 



The food of the Water-dog consists of insects, crustaceans, worms and 

 mollusks. They are frequently taken on the hooks of fishermen. They 

 will, no doubt, be found to be willing to eat almost anything that can 

 serve as food. They are not acceptable game to the fishermen, since the 

 latter regard them as very poisonous, and dislike to handle the creatures. 

 This notion is an erroneous one ; but a nip by their sharp and strong teeth 

 would no doubt be somewhat painful. Drs. Wilder and Barnard (23, 8,. 



