76 



RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



consult in this connection Sir John Lub- 

 bock's fascinating little book, " F/oM;e?\s, 

 Fruit and Leaves." It is in the Nature 

 Series of McMillian & Company. We are 

 sure that it will give delight to all who peruse 

 it, and open their e^'es to many new facts. 

 Go to the Public Librar3' or Athenaeum. 



But we must draw these remarks to a 

 close. Sam Weller tells us that the art of 

 letter-writing consists in pulling up at the 

 precise moment when the recipient desires 

 more. We do not always know that point, 

 but tr}' to stop as near to it as possible. 



W. W. B. 

 BUTTONWOODS, AuG. 22, 1886. 



Reptiles and Batrachians of Rhode Island. 



BY HERMON C. BUMPUS. 



Number XXIII. 



The remaining Batrachians which ap- 

 pear in this list are those which have been 

 observed in neighboring states, and though 

 indigenous representatives have as yet not 

 been captured here, a brief description has 

 been appended that those interested may 

 determine such forms as are likely to find 

 their way into collections. 



6. Gyrinopliilus porphyriticus Cope 

 (Pseudotriton salmoneiis Baird, Salaman- 

 dra salmonea Storer, Salamandra porpliy- 

 ritica Baird). The Salmon-colored Sala- 

 mandra is supposed to be one of those forms 

 which ma}' be said to be everywhere uncom- 

 mon. Specimens have been captured in 

 Maine and Massachusetts, and diligent 

 search will undoubtedly reveal the animal's 

 presence in Rhode Island. While other 

 Salamanders when captured make no effort at 

 defense, the present animal is at times quite 

 ferocious and as it is of considerable size, 

 being four or five inches in length, and 

 snapping savagely at its tormentors, it is, 

 while in rage, quite a formidable little an- 

 imal, though of course to man quite harm- 

 less. Another peculiarity is its fondness for 

 cold water, enjoying cool springs rather than 

 warm brooks, though it may be found in 

 swamps. In the Alleghany region, among 

 the mountains, it is quite abundant from 

 New York south. Its name is indicative of 

 its general coloration. Above a rich Sal- 



mon color, dark along the back, and 

 brighter on the flanks, becoming pale below. 

 7. Hemidactylium scutatmn Schlegel. 

 The Four-toed Salamander is characterized 

 b}' possessing but four toes on its posterior 

 feet, a peculiarity which distinguishes it at 

 once from all other Salamanders likely to 

 occur within the state. Of the genus, it 

 is the only species, and its habits are said 

 to be entirely terrestrial. Why a terrestrial 

 form should thus be deprived, and have its 

 I'emaining toes reduced to mere rudiments, 

 is difficult to explain. In its movements it 

 is lively and even active, crawling about over 

 decaying wood and among fallen leaves 

 without the least sign of clumsiness. It is 

 protectively colored, being ashy brown 

 above, shaded and spotted with black. 

 Below it is silvery. In length it seldom 

 exceeds two and one-half inches. Professor 

 Cope includes Rhode Island in the habitat 

 of this animal, and Professor Verrill says it 

 is not uncommon about New Haven. 



Plant-Lice, Lady-Bugs, and Sparrows. 



During the month of June many of the 

 beautiful shade trees in our Providence 

 streets, particularly the lindens, have been 

 infested with numerous representatives of 

 the famil}^ Aphidldm, or plant-lice. Atten- 

 tion to other business has prevented any 

 careful examination of them, but there 

 appeared to be two species, one green, the 

 other nearly black ; these last, advancing 

 their legions into the orchards, seemeil to 

 prefer especially the cherry trees. It is 

 well known that these pests always appear 

 with the first opening of the leaves in 

 spring-time, retiring only with the cold 

 days of late autumn, and during the in- 

 terim the}' multiply at the rate of ten or 

 more generations, preying upon all the 

 different parts of trees and plants, from the 

 leaves to the roots, and doing damage 

 beyond estimate. 



In Half Hows with Insects, by A. S. 

 Packard, Jr., (page 105), M. Fougard is 

 quoted as stating that a certain species, 

 "• Puceron lanigere" produces eleven genera- 

 tions. Each generation averages over one 

 hundred individuals, resulting in the fol- 

 lowing; tabulation : 



