24 HERPBTOLOGY OF MICHIGAN. 



Measurements: iSpeciincn Xo. -'/1723. 



ri^ 



Total length 243 



Length of head and body 155 



AVidth of head 034 



Hiihits and Hahltat: Xccfiinis hkicuJosus is wholly aquatic and 

 is rather dnll and sluggish during the day time. It usually rests on 

 the bottom with the gills spread out and may sometimes be 

 seen crawling slowly about. When disturbed, the gills are 

 contracted close to the sides and the animal swims raoidly away bv 

 means of the large, flat, paddle-like tail. The fact that it is fre- 

 quently taken throughout the winter would seem to indicate the 

 absence of a hibernating period. 



At night the Necturus, which is extremely voracious, swims about 

 in search of its food, which consists mainlj' of small Crustacea, 

 worms, fish and their eggs, and insects. In captivity it will some- 

 times eat small pieces of meat, but only when it has been for some 

 time without food. It is frequently caught on hooks or in nets by 

 fishermen, who commonly regard it as ver}' poisonous. This fallacy 

 is no doubt due to the coat of slime which is emitted when the ani- 

 mal is irritated. Adult specimens can also infiict a rather painful 

 bite with their sharp, strong teeth, and it is hard to dislodge them 

 when they have secured a good hold. The flesh is reported excellent 

 by those Avho have eaten it. 



^'erv little is known of the breeding' habits of Xecturus. The 

 animals are usually found in pairs in the autumn, and it is possi- 

 ble that this is the mating season. Hay (1892a, p. 12) states that 

 eggs were taken from the Detroit Eiver about the middle of July, 

 while according to Eycleshymer (190G, ]). 133), who has studied 

 their habits in the small lakes of Wisconsin, "the best time for col- 

 lecting is during the middle and latter parts of the month of May." 

 The nest is much like that of a fish, consisting of a small excavation 

 in the sand under some sheltering object, such as a log, board or 

 stone. The eggs are found attached to this shelter ''by the slender 

 stalks of the gelatinous envelopes" (Smith, 1911, p. 191), and cover 

 a surface of from six to twelve inches in diameter. Smith (1911) 

 found the average number of eggs in a nest to be sixty -six. They 

 are about the size of a pea, and lack the pigment which is charac- 

 teristic of the eggs of most amphibians. Further details of develop- 

 ment have not been worked out. 



Distrihution: Eastern United States, mostlv north and west of 



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