CADUCIBRANCHTATA. 65 



ful examination came to the conclusion that they were 

 not. Four cinereus opened by him contained gravid ova- 

 ries, and hence were females; on the other hand two 

 erythronotus contained only seminal matter and sperma- 

 tozoa imperfectly developed. Two others were found, 

 however, with gravid ovaries; hence we have of the 

 erythronotus both male and female. Prof Green, how- 

 ever, after careful revision concluded that the cinereus 

 was probably only an aged individual in which the dor- 

 sal stripe had become obsolete. 



The Red-backed Salamander is the first seen in spring, 

 having been observed m the middle of April. It is 

 found in moist woody places, hiding under stones and 

 old logs, and when discovered if alone it quickly disap- 

 pears in the decayed wood, moss or earth, but if accom- 

 panied by its young neither it nor the little ones attempt 

 to escape. It climbs glass by adhering with its abdo- 

 men, is frequently curled up on herbs, and if disturbed 

 springs away by a sudden uncoiling. Their food ap- 

 pears to be small snails or mollusks, and when the young 

 are found as a rule they are accompanied by the parent, 

 but are sometimes alone. Their little ones as well as 

 their eggs occur under the moss and bark of decayed 

 trees. The latter are found in bunches of from six to 

 eleven each, and individually are about 3-20 of an inch 

 in diameter. The young are supplied with branchiae, but 

 lose them very early — that is in about three or four days 

 after hatching. 



