BREEDING HABITS OF AMBLYSTOMA PUNCTATUM. 285 



salamanders cross the railway tracks, or a day or two subse- 

 quently, we record spermatophores and eggs in the ditches and 

 swamp just beyond the track. Many individuals are Slightly 

 injured, and these we often find under cover near by. They 

 almost invariably have bruised heads. 



In equal abundance this form may be taken along the other 

 borders of this swamp. From another region living individuals 

 are secured in considerable numbers. As many as fifteen have 

 been taken here within one hour, nor is it unusual to secure as 

 many over the same area, two or three days later. During the 

 day the salamanders crawl under the logs and loose railroad ties 

 which lie along either side of the railroad embankments. A rake 

 usually is employed, for it is under the ties partially submerged 

 in the water that we obtain the largest- number of individuals. 

 At the southwest corner of Cayuga Lake they are found to be 

 common under the leaves at the foot of the high perpendicular 

 rock walls. 



Three of our amphibia appear almost simultaneously : the 

 spotted salamander {Ambly stoma punctatum), the peeper {Hyla 

 pickeringii), and the woodfrog {Rana sylvatica). If there is any 

 difference or succession it is indicated by the order in which they 

 are named. During the last eight years these species have ap- 

 peared in spring as follows : 



From the above it appears that Ambly stoma in six of these eight 

 years preceded the peeper and the woodfrog. 



The first record for 1902 was based upon twenty specimens 

 taken by Professor H. D. Reed, from under leaves along the base 

 of the perpendicular rocks of the west shore of the lake. " They 

 were all found in groups of two each and proved, with one or 

 two exceptions, to be male and female." 



