TURTLES AND BATRACHIANS OF THE LAKE REGION. 507 



This species can be distinguished by its 12 costal grooves, single indis- 

 tinct tubercle on the sole of the foot, and the color which is usually black or 

 blackish, with pale bluish spots on the body. 



5. Hemidactylum sculatum (Schlegel). 



This curious little salamander appears to be quite rare. Our collections 

 contain but 4 specimens. These were obtained October 7, 1906, under logs 

 in a dry woodland near the tamarack swamp west of the lake. The young 

 44 mm. long has the tail compressed laterally as if to fit it for aquatic life; 

 the larger examples have the tail more nearly cylindrical. 



This species is brown in color, the snout yellowish, whitish below and with 

 small inky spots. 



6. Plethodon erythronotus (Green). 

 Red-Backed Salamander. 



The Red-Backed Salamander is common throughout the eastern part of 

 the United States. It is not often seen, however, except by those who especially 

 search for it. This graceful, slender salamander does not appear to be particu- 

 larly rare about the lake, although it is not often seen. October 7, 1906, 4 

 were obtained a few miles west of the lake. On October 16, 1906, while 

 turning over logs in Farrar's pond, 11 examples were obtained in a short 

 while. On October 15, 1907, a search was made in Farrar's pond again for 

 them, but none was found. It was much wetter this year than the previous 

 year, and it was thought that the wetness of the pond may have driven them 

 out. On looking under chunks on higher ground bordering the pond, about 

 dozen were secured in a little while. Some were still quite small; a few had 

 a well-marked broad red stripe down the back, but in most this was wanting. 



Little is known by us of the habits of this salamander. It is said to be 

 nocturnal in habit, and to lay its eggs beneath logs and moist leaves, instead 

 of in the water. The eggs are laid in the latter part of April. 



"Costal grooves 16 to 18; palatine teeth not extending outward beyond 

 inner nares; plumbeous above, often with a broad brownish red dorsal band; 

 belly marbled; body very slender; tail cylindric; inner toes rudimentary; 

 length 3 14 inches." 



7. Spelerpes bislineaius* (Green). 



Apparently rare. Our notes make mention of this species but there are 

 no specimens in the collection. 



*As originally spelled by Green. 



