TERRARIA AND AQUA-TERRARIA 



Tree toads are most interesting pets. They are so sensitive to at- 

 mospheric changes that they serve as barometers, and are kept in aquaria 

 furnished with a small ladder which they either ascend or return to the 

 water according to the atmospheric conditions. 



Urodela. Salamanders and Newts belong to the order of Urodela, 

 cold-blooded animals having a naked body, teeth in both jaws, four limbs, 

 a tail persistent through life, and no external gills in the adult. In the 

 larval form all are aquatic and some retain an aquatic or semi-aquatic ex- 

 istence through life. The common Eastern and Middle States species are: 



Amblystoma punctatum (Linn.), or Spotted Salamander, a common 

 form, has a moderate-sized head with rounded, blunt snout; broad, 

 depressed and full body, and thick, rather long tail. The skin is 

 punctured with small pores, and clusters of larger ones are on the head. 

 The back is marked with a strong dorsal groove, and the legs have short 

 digits and nails. The color is black above with a series of round yellow 

 spots on each side of the back, head and tail, and the under side is 

 greyish-black. Length 6 inches. Common from Nova Scotia to Nebraska 

 and south. Frequents shady localities near water. 



Plethodon cinereus (Green,) or Ashy Salamander, a small form, has a 

 short head and rather pointed snout, very slender body and cylindrical acu- 

 minate tail. The fore-legs are short with four digits, and the hind-legs 

 longer with five digits. The colors are reddish-brown on the head, the 

 body plumbeous, lead-or ash-colored, with usually a broad brownish-red 

 dorsal stripe, the limbs yellowish-grey above, and the entire lower surface 

 dusky-white. Length 35^ inches. It is active and may be found under 

 logs, etc., ranging over the entire Eastern United States. It is nocturnal 

 in habit. 



Spelerpes bilineatus (Green), or Striped Salamander, another small 

 form, has a small head, with somewhat rounded snout, cyUndrical body, 

 and long cylindrical tail, thick at the base and tapering to a point. The 

 upper surface is brownish-yellow with a dark line on each side of the back, 

 and the lower surface bright yellow with a faint brown dotted marking. 

 Length 3 inches. Found from Maine to Florida. It is a land form 

 inhabiting damp places in concealment under rocks, decayed wood, moss, 

 lichens, etc. 



Spelerpes ruber (Daud.), or Red Salamander, has a rather large wide 

 head, rounded snout, short limbs, small digits, and a rather short tail, 

 thick at its base and bluntly pointed. The colors of the entire upper 

 surface are vermilion-red with numerous crowded faint dark spots; and 

 the lower side salmon-pink. Length 5 inches. A land form, common 

 from Maine to Nebraska and South. 



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