173 



to Lake Superior, and south to Ohio, Pennsylvania and 

 mountains of Virginia and Georgia. This is more abundant 

 in New England than any other species of this family, fre- 

 quenting chiefly moist woods and meadows, and taking readily 

 to the water when disturbed. Blarina hrevicauda of Dekay, 

 Thompson, and several other authors (not of Say), is included 

 • here as a synonym of this species. 

 Blarina angusticeps^ Baird. 



Burlington, Vt. (Baird), near Sebago Lak6, Me. (Prof Agas- 

 siz). This very rare but interesting species is as yet known 

 from only two specimens. It is quite peculiar in the form and 

 narrowness of the skuU, but resembles, externally, the pre- 

 ceding species. Its color is uniform plumbeous, scarcely paler 

 beneath. 



Mr. r. W. Putnam exhibited specimens of the " Red-backed Sala- 

 mander," Plethodon erythronotus, Baird, with the eggs and young in 

 different degrees of development, which he had found under the moss 

 and bark of decayed trees in the woods at Warwick, Mass., on the 

 26th, 27th and 29th of August last. The eggs were quite large, 

 measuring .15 inch in diameter, and were found in little packets of 

 from six to eleven each ; some five or six of these bunches were found 

 during the three days' search, also a number of young evidently just 

 hatched, as they stUl retained their gills ; those that he hatched from 

 the eggs lost their gills in less than three days from the time of their 

 casting the egg envelope. When just from the egg the young meas- 

 ured .6 inch in length, and had the marking and color of the adult, 

 with the exception of the dorsal vermilion band being lighter, and 

 extending to the tip of the tail. In three instances out of five in 

 which the young were found there was an adult specimen with them, 

 and apparently feeding them with small snails (Limax), as remains of 

 the sUmy substance of the snails were found, and, in one case, a par- 

 tially decomposed or eaten snaU was seen in the midst of the little 

 family. When discovered by itself the adult animal quickly disap- 

 pears in the decayed wood and moss, but in every case when found 

 with the young, neither it nor the little ones attempted to escape until 

 touched. The only reference that he could find in regard to the 

 eggs of this species is in Prof. Baird's " Revision of the Tailed Ba- 

 trachians of North America" where it is stated that they are " depos- 

 ited in packets under damp stones." 



Mr. Putnam called attention to the few observations that had been 

 made upon the habits and development of our salamanders and 

 newts. 



The President stated that he had found the eggs of the same spe- 



