THE NEWT AND ITS ALLIES 259 



attached to sticks at or near the surface of the water. 

 The larvae of the more southern species often reach a size 

 considerably larger than the adult, and breed before the 

 gills are absorbed. In a Mexican species the larval 

 state is never transcended. The larva of Amblystoma 

 (Fig. 243) was formerly described, indeed, as a distinct 

 species. 



The Plethodontidae * and Desmognathidae 2 include a num- 

 ber of small Urodeles, having a close general resemblance 



FIG. 244. Plethodon, the red-backed salamander. Slightly reduced. Photo, 

 of living animal resting on a leaf. 



and similar habits. Plethodon, of the eastern United 

 States, is lead-colored above, very often with a broad, 

 red dorsal band (Fig. 244). It is found under logs, 

 and is very active. Spelerpes 3 is lemon-yellow and white 

 below, and Desmognathus is brown above, with gray or 



, abundance ; (55otfs, (556iros, tooth. 2 5eo>6s, bond ; yvd6os, 



jaw. 3 trTT^Xcuoj', cavern ; fyirTjs, a crawler. 



