AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES. 83 
under stones, water-logged branches, twigs and water-soaked 
bark. In color, those approaching the larval form are dullest, ; 
grayish on the back and light gray on the belly. The larger 
and more rotund forms, probably gravid females, have the more 
briliant markings, brown on the back with brilliant carmine spots, 
and canary-yellow on the belly, with clearly defined dark brown 
or black spots. The males have some color-markings on the back, 
but are orange-yellow on the belly. Some are cinnamon-red and 
flesh-colored, the mottlings not showing very distinctly. The 
forms under stones near the shore are sometimes brighter red 
than those taken from the moss and lichens on shore. ‘The 
dark spots on the belly vary greatly in individuals, some having 
them abundant and crowded, while in others they are more 
sparsely distributed. They also vary in size, sometimes being 
quite large, but then less numerous. All yellow-bellied exam- 
ples are usually spotted with brownish or blackish. The red- 
dish spots on the back are not always present, and they vary 
similarly. Sometimes the markings on the tail are blotches, 
and at others they are confluent into longitudinal streaks. The 
latter being usually associated with the absence of crimson spots 
on the back. ‘The red water-forms are usually much more shy 
and agile, also more difficult to capture, while the red land-forms 
are inert under the stones and moss, where the temperature is 
about 50° F. Red land-forms are usually sparsely marked with 
blackish points on the belly and decidedly less so than the red 
water-forms. When captured they make little resistance, and 
float or swim comfortably about if dropped into a vessel of water. 
They feed on flies, and in fact any small insect dropped on the 
surface. When seizing their prey they move slowly through 
the water towards it, and suddenly snap at it. If not successful 
they do not again resume operations until another opportunity 
is offered, when the same performance is repeated. ‘Their method 
is always slow and deliberate, and sometimes they may seize 
and snap one another, apparently by mistake. If their prey is 
too large they usually persist a long time till they are able to 
swallow it. The fin-like tail is developed in the male during the 
spring, and a ridge also extends along the middle of the back. 
