SONGLESS BATRACHIANS. 4^7 



which captures him with the shghtest opportunity 

 that is offered. 



A far commoner type of Spelerpes is the red sala- 

 mander {Spelerpes rubra), which is found in almost 

 every mountain ^^^ tarn or brook 



in the north <^^^^^^^^^^^ country. 

 This is the fa- 

 miliar, so-called "red 

 lizard," perhaps five inches-long 

 at most, whose brilliant coloring in 

 the green setting of the hillside 

 spring is an unexpected and de- 

 lightful surprise to one who gazes 

 upon it for the first time. In habits 

 this creature is decidedly aquatic, as Bed salamander 



(Spelerpes rubra). 



lie never goes beyond the precincts 

 of the brook except in rainy weather. On a very 

 rainy day last summer one made his appearance on 

 the back-door step of my cottage in the White 

 Mountains, evidently after straying from the spring 

 a hundred feet behind the house ; but wet days are 

 the only ones for salamanders to travel in. There 

 is no fear of "drying up" en route, and the wide 

 world, however wet, is more interesting than the 

 stony environment of the brook ; so I captured the 

 adventurous salamander and gave him a view of 

 life in my studio from the confines of a fish globe. 



