
TERRARIA AND AQUA-TERRARIA 

Tree toads are most interesting pets. They are so sensitive to at- 
mospheric changes that they serve as barometers, and are kept in aquaria 
furnished with a small ladder which they either ascend or return to the 
water according to the atmospheric conditions. 
Uropera. Salamanders and Newts belong to the order of Urodela, 
cold-blooded animals having a naked body, teeth in both jaws, four limbs, 
a tail persistent through life, and no external gills in the adult. In the 
larval form all are aquatic and some retain an aquatic or semi-aquatic ex- 
istence through life. The common Eastern and Middle States species are: 
Amblystoma punctatum (Linn.), or Spotted Salamander, a common 
form, has a moderate-sized head with rounded, blunt snout; broad, 
depressed and full body, and thick, rather Jong tail. The skin is 
punctured with small pores, and clusters of Jarger ones are on the head. 
The back is marked with a strong dorsal groove, and the legs have short 
digits and nails. The color is black above with a series of round yellow 
spots on each side of the back, head and tail, and the under side 1s 
greyish-black. Length 6 inches. Common from Nova Scotia to Nebraska 
and south. Frequents shady localities near water. 
Plethodon cinereus (Green,) or Ashy Salamander, a small form, has a 
short head and rather pointed snout, very slender body and cylindrical acu- 
minate tail. The fore-legs are short with four digits, and the hind-legs 
longer with five digits. [he colors are reddish-brown on the head, the 
body plumbeous, lead-or ash-colored, with usually a broad brownish-red 
dorsal stripe, the limbs yellowish-grey above, and the entire lower surface 
dusky-white. Length 3% inches. It is active and may be found under 
logs, etc., ranging over the entire Eastern United States. It is nocturnal 
in habit. 
Spelerpes bilineatus (Green), or Striped Salamander, another small 
form, has a small head, with somewhat rounded snout, cylindrical body, 
and long cylindrical tail, thick at the base and tapering to a point. The 
upper surface is brownish-yellow with a dark line on each side of the back, 
and the lower surface bright yellow with a faint brown dotted marking. 
Length 3 inches. Found from Maine to Florida. It is a land form 
inhabiting damp places in concealment under rocks, decayed wood, moss, 
lichens, etc. 
Spelerpes ruber (Daud.), or Red Salamander, has a rather large wide 
head, rounded snout, short limbs, small digits, and a rather short tail, 
thick at its base and bluntly pointed. The colors of the entire upper 
surface are vermilion-red with numerous crowded faint dark spots; and 
the lower side salmon-pink. Length 5 inches. A land form, common 
from Maine to Nebraska and South. 
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