Zool— Vol. I.] HITTER— DIEMYCTYLUS TOROSUS. 83 



I think it highly probable that cutaneous respiration takes 

 place to a considerable extent in animals that have lived 

 long in water. This seems particularly probable as regards 

 those in the extremely smooth, soft-skinned condition which 

 characterizes many males during the late winter. In this 

 state the epidermis is found, when examined in section, to 

 be almost entirely devoid of the external layers of flattened, 

 cornified cells which distinguish the epidermis in its hard, 

 papillated condition. 



It becomes, as one might say, stratum mucosum in its 

 entire thickness. This undoubtedly renders it more per- 

 meable to gases. The subepithelial connective tissue also 

 becomes markedly augmented in thickness at the same time, 

 and what is of more importance still, a striking increase in 

 vascularity occurs, at least in many cases. 



I hope at some future time to study the question of cuta- 

 neous respiration in these animals. 



(b) Sloughing. — The little that need be said on this subject 

 may be inserted here. There is, so far as I have been able 

 to determine, no particular season of the year at which this 

 occurs. It frequently happens that the outer layer of the 

 epiderm, the layer which alone is shed, is thrown off, in 

 whole or in part, in large or small pieces, almost imme- 

 diately after animals are captured and placed in the aquarium. 

 This is particularly likely to occur if the quantity of water 

 in which they are confined be small. One often finds the 

 skin from the limbs quite entire floating in the water; also 

 that from the tail; but from the trunk and head it usually 

 comes off in fragments. 



Land-dwelling individuals are not infrequently seen with 

 numerous fragments of dry epidermis clinging to various 

 parts of their bodies. These animals have a very tattered, 

 forlorn look. As soon, however, as the old rags are fully 

 gotten rid of a much brighter, sleeker mien is presented. 



The sloughed epidermis is an important article of diet 

 for the animals. 



(c) Food. — Like many other long-tailed amphibians this 

 species is far from fastidious. It eats almost anything, almost 



