TENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 14i 



CONGO "SNAKE," AMPHIUMA MEAN'S. 

 THE UKODELA, OR TAILED AMPHIBIANS. 



Specimens of the Congo " Snake " (Aiiiphiiinia) and the Giant 

 Salamander {Cryptobraiichiis) have thrived for the past six years 

 in the Reptile House in aquaria of stationary water. The Alud 

 Puppy (Nectitnis), the Hellbender {Cryfobrancliiis), and the 

 Siren (Siren) do best in running water. Of these, the Mud 

 Puppy imperatively requires clear, running water to aerate its 

 feathery gills. The development of the larvae of the salamanders 

 and newts is indefinitely retarded by a steady flow of cold water, 

 and hence under such conditions they make lasting and satisfac- 

 tory exhibits of the phases they represent. 



Our specimens of Amplunina have displayed interesting habits. 

 When collected they were dug out of the mud in a Florida swamp, 

 and shipped north in pails of damp moss. Inasmuch as specimens 

 that have for some time been burrowing in the mud above water- 

 line show considerable distress if abruptly confined in the deep 

 water of an aquarium, these examples were placed in a tank 

 holding but an inch of water. Day by day the height of the 

 water was slowly increased, and gradually they became accus- 

 tomed to its pressure, and introduced it into the aerating pas- 

 sages. One of the specimens was persistently restless, keeping 

 its snout above the surface. It explored all corners of the mesh 

 covering with the strength and activity of a snake, and was re- 

 warded in finding a weak spot. During a long drought in July 

 this animal escaped. The writer instituted a thorough search, ex- 

 pecting to find a shrivelled carcass not far away ; but nothing was 

 discovered. Late in August, after a heavy thunderstorm, our 

 lost specimen was found crawling across the service road. It 

 was headed from the tool house, under which building it had prob- 



