35 



Diemyctylus viridescens Rafinesque. 



Seasonal form, D. viridescens miniatns. 

 Spotted Triton ; Yellow-bellied Lizard ; Red 

 Eft or Evet ; Water Newt. 

 This is the Salamandra symmetrica of De Kay. 



Red to dark olive-green above, with bright red spots on 

 sides, each surrounded by a black ring. Below yellow 

 with black dots, which appear also on sides and somewhat 

 as a row or rows on tail. 



Late in autumn the males acquire a series of horny 

 ridges along the inner surface of the hind legs, and the 

 tail fin becomes fully developed. These characteristics 

 remain until after the breeding season in spring. Fre- 

 quently, mating takes place in autumn. This was first seen 

 by me in 1890, and its annual recurrence confirms Prof. 

 Gage's observations. ( Vide infra.) He states that no eggs 

 are found in the oviducts in autumn, but that the female 

 may store zoosperms until the.time of ovulation. 



The adult Salamander is frequent in ponds, ditches, and 

 stagnant water in bogs, but has not been found in running 

 streams except as connected with ponds. The red terres- 

 trial form has not been found by me near New York. 



The life-history of Diemyctylus viridescens has been well 

 worked out by Prof. Simon H. Gage of Cornell University,* 

 and only such facts will be noted here as are necessary to 

 aid those who cannot readily refer to the article, or as will 

 have bearing upon mooted questions. 



This Salamander, according to the observations of Pro- 

 fessors Gage and Cope, lays its eggs singly in the leaves 

 of plants, or on stones. The larvae are more or less of the 

 viridescent color of the adult and, where miniatus is 

 found, most of them lose their gills and leave the water at 

 the end of the first season, to gradually assume the terres- 



* American Naturalist, December, 1891, pp. 1084-ino; Plate and biblio- 

 graphy. 



