84 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
He may also be further distinguished by the blackish swellings 
on the thighs and feet, which are very conspicuous. The male 
is enabled by these means to retain his hold on the female, grasp- 
ing her around the neck with his hind legs. They will remain 
fastened together some hours, during which time he jerks her 
about and discharges the seminal fluid. This is said to be diffused 
in the water and fecundate the ova while still in the lower part 
of the oviduct. Then the eggs are laid singly. They are ellipsoid 
in shape, covered with a mucous or sticky coat which is attached, 
usually to the middle of an immersed leaf, which is then doubled 
over it by the exertions of the female. After remaining this 
_ way some time they finally give birth to small larve. I have not 
found the eggs, however, myself, though seen the preliminary 
courting operations. The miniatus form of this animal has been 
found, according to some observers, to be nothing more than a 
terrestrial condition. It is claimed that when placed in confine- 
ment with other salamanders, where they could resort to the 
water if they wished, they remained some days hiding under ° 
wet moss and stones, but finally crept out at night and went into 
the water. They readily devoured insects and worms. In about 
3 months they are said to have lost their bright red, and in less 
than a year were the usual viridescens olive. It is also claimed 
for some viridescens examples 2 years old taken from ponds and 
put in earth and dead wet leaves without water, that they began 
to loose their green tint and assume a dingy brownish. I have 
never experimented for these changes myself. The red form is 
frequently seen, and in such as I have seen so far, is usually 
bright colored. ‘They may be frequently seen at times, even when 
not rainy, in woodland on stones, logs, bark, or leaves, etc., but 
never apparently so numerous as the aquatic form. ‘The latter 
has a voice, more of a harsh or grating weak little squeak, 
though I have never heard the red ones utter it. I shall, how- 
ever, leave the identity of the two forms to future investigation. 
Dr. Abbott found it in the Delaware among Vallisneria near 
Trenton, and in eel-grass, when taken in fish-nets. He has also 
found it in clear grassy waters tributary to Crosswicks Creek. 
Notophthalinus viridescens Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 803. 
