630 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



its days under chunks and logs in moist places, and probably spends 

 its nights in search of prey. 



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

 indistinct tubercle on the sole of the foot, and the color, which is 

 usually black or blackish, with pale bluish spots on the body. 



5. FOUR-TOED SALAMANDER 



HEMIDACTYLIUM SCUTATUM (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 brown in color, the snout yellowish, whitish below 

 and with small inky spots. 



6. RED-BACKED SALAMANDER 



PLETHODON CINEREUS (Green) 



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 sala- 

 mander does not appear to be particularly rare about the lake, al- 

 though it is not often seen. October 7, 1906, four 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 again for them in 

 Farrar's pond, 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 a 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 brown- 

 ish red dorsal band ; belly marbled ; body very slender ; tail cyl- 

 indric ; inner toes rudimentary ; length o| inches. 



