BATRACHIANS OF THE. VICINITY OF NEW YORK 177 
The eggs are deposited early in the spring in the deeper pools 
of brooks; the adults are semi-aquatic, living in the beds of clear 
and cold brooks under flat stones or in immediate proximity to the 
water, into which they quickly make their way when disturbed. 
They may be sometimes found hiding under the luxuriant moss 
that covers rocks adjacent to mountain streams, where their 
brilliant color is in vivid contrast to their surroundings. 
FIG. 12. THE MOUNTAIN SALAMANDER 
From specimen in New York Zodlogical Park 
The Mountain Salamander, Desmognathus ocrophea Cope 
(Fig. 12), is of moderate size. Body cylindrical; tail rounded 
for the greater part of its length, flattened near the 
tip and tapering to a long, sharp point. A wide band nue 
of brown extends down the back from behind the head der. 
to the base of the tail, where it narrows and becomes indistinct 
towards the tip. Beneath the brown band the sides are dark 
gray. From the eye to the angle of the mouth there is a band of 
light color. The abdomen is dirty white, and generally sprinkled 
with pure white dots. 
On occasional specimens the back is sprinkled with a line of 
black dots, giving the species a very similar pattern to the Two- 
