NOTES ON THE HABITS AND DISTRIBUTION OF 

 AUTODAX lECANUS. 



BY JOHN VAN DENBURGH, 

 Curator of the Department of Herpetology. 



This black salamander was originally described, by 

 Prof. E. D. Cope, from a half grown specimen collected 

 at Baird, Shasta County, California. Two others, one of 

 which was adult, were afterwards secured at the same 

 place by Messrs. C. H. Townsend and Livingston Stone. 



A considerable number of specimens collected by my- 

 self at Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, and by the mem- 

 bers of the Zoological Club of the Leland Stanford Junior 

 University, at Steven's Creek, in Santa Clara County, 

 and Glenwood and Boulder, in Santa Cruz County, Cali- 

 fornia, greatly increase the known range of this species. 

 These specimens were found under boards, decaying logs, 

 stones in the vicinity of running water, and in the drain 

 from a spring. 



Autodax iecanus, doubtless, is a nocturnal forager. I 

 have seen it upon the surface of the ground only twice, 

 and in each instance night was so nearly at hand that ob- 

 jects near my feet could just be distinguished. If liber- 

 ated during the day, or if confronted with a light at night, 

 when it is much more active, this species will proceed, 

 almost invariably, toward the nearest spot of darkness or 

 shadow. It usually walks along quite slowly, moving but 

 one foot at a time, but is capable of motion surprisingly 

 rapid for a salamander. When moving rapidly, it aids 

 the action of its legs by a sinuous movement of its whole 

 body and tail. 



The tail of this Autodax is prehensile. Several indi- 

 viduals, when held with their heads down, coiled their 

 tails around my finger, and, when the original hold was 

 released, sustained themselves for some time by this means 



2d See., Vol. V. October 30. 1895. 



