SONQLESS BATRACHIANS. 53 



stone in a cold spring, or oftener in a hollow beside 

 the stone. He swims with considerable activity, and 

 is not easily caught as he glides through the water 

 with limbs pressed against the body and tail undulat- 

 ing rapidly ; but once on land he is at the mercy of 

 his pursuer. His eilorts at locomotion are neither 

 graceful nor rapid. The food of this species con- 

 sists of insects. 



Still another even more common salamander, per- 

 haps the most abundant one in North America, is 

 found in the hillside spring. This is Desmognathus 

 fusca, a little mud-colored character scarcely 

 ^^^^ more than four inches long, which 



burrows under the pebbles and 

 stones, and whose dark 

 brown color ad- 



Desmognathus fusca. ""^^MJ&a^y-.'-jgr^^- ~- - "^^^""''i^fei () 



Section of keel-shaped tail at A. > "--^~ - 



mirably protects it from enemies. The 

 tail of this species is characterized by finlike and 

 keellike extensions which narrow toward the tip. 

 Amongv the wet blackish roots and stones of the 

 brook the little creature is not easily distinguished 

 from his surroundings, consequently he escapes our 

 notice ; but turn over a half-dozen stones on the 

 border of some shallow pool, and the agile move- 



