10 



meat, etc. It takes its food with " iucouceivable rapidity." It can en- 

 dure hunger for long periods. The one kept by Barton was exposed for 

 several days in water at a temperature of 33° or 34° F. , and for a few 

 hours was " locked up, as it were, in the ice." 



Holbrook (5^, v. 101) says that this animal lives chiefly in the mud, 

 but this they sometimes leave and take to the water, in which they swim 

 with great swiftness. He says too that they are sometimes found on the 

 land, but he did not know why they go there. 



So far as I am aware, nothing is known concerning the breeding habits 

 of this species. It is so rare in our State that few opportunities are likely 

 to be offered to any observer to study such habits. This will have to be 

 done in the South, where it abounds. I have not seen mention made of 

 specimens having been found of less than three inche/S in length. Speci- 

 mens of this size are very desirable. 



Family II. PROTEID^. 



Body lizard-like in form; limbs, four; external gills, three pairs, 

 present during whole of life ; maxillaries, absent ; teeth on premaxilla- 

 ries, vomers, palato-ptery golds, and dentaries. 



Only the genus Necturus is found in North America. Proteus is an in- 

 habitant of the subterranean waters of Austria. 



Genus NECTURUS, Rafinesque. 



Rafinesque, 1819, 97, 417; Boulenger, 1882, 2S, 84; Cope, 1889, 

 51, 23. 



Fingers 4 ; toes 4 ; permanent branchial slits 2 pairs ; eyes exposed ; 

 .tongue large ; vomero-palatine teeth strong, in a single row ; tail broad 

 and compressed. 



Premaxillary teeth 11-15; vomerines 12-16; spotted. 



maculatus, p. 10. 

 Premaxillary teeth G-8 ; vomerines 8-9; no spots. N. C, S. C. 



pwictatus. 



Necturus maculatus, Kaf. 



Water-Dog ; Gilled Salamander. 



Necturus maculatus, Rafinesque, 1819, 97, 417 ; Boulenger, 1892, 

 2S, 84; Cope, E. D., 1889, 51, 23, with figures. 



Triton lateralis, Say, 1823, 1^, 5. 



Menohranchxis lateralis, Harlan, 1825, 62, i, 221 ; Holbrook, 1842, 5J^, 

 115, pi. 38. 



Necturus lateralis, Wagler, 1830, 75, 210. 



Body moderately elongated, thick, cylindrical or moderately de- 

 pressed, and with a distinct dorsal groove. Head broad and flat. Snout 



