398 NEW YOEK STATE MUSEUM 



Family 1 cryptobranchidae 

 Giant salamanders 

 Represented by one species with the characters of the family. 



2 Cryptobranchus allegheniensis Daudin 



Hellbender 

 De Kay. Menopoma alleglianieusis, the Alleghany hellbender, p. 89, 



pi. 18, fig. 44 

 A large form, reaching at times, 2 feet. Generally lead-colored, 

 occasionally spotted ; head broad and flat ; body with a lateral fold 

 of skin. A very unprepossessing but harmless creature. Nothing 

 is known of its breeding habits. 



Probably found in the branches of the Alleghany river in the 

 western part of the state. Where it is common, it annoys fisher- 

 men by taking their hooks. It is remarkably tenacious of life. 



Family 2 amblystomidae 

 Blunt-nosed salamanders 

 Except for the two preceding forms the members of this family 

 are the largest and stoutest of our salamanders. They are almost 

 entirely land forms, except in the breeding season, the spring, when 

 they migrate to the ponds to lay their eggs. These are somewhat 

 larger and fewer than frogs eggs, and the jellylike mass surround- 

 ing them is whiter and more opaque. 



3 Amblystoma opacum Gravenhorst 

 DeKay. Salamandra fasciata, the blotched salamander, p. 77, pi. 17, 



fig. 40 

 Black above, with about 14 bluish gray bars running across ; belly 

 dark blue. 11 costal grooves between legs. Length Z\ inches; 

 very stout. 



Southern part of state. This species is found in dryer places 

 than the majority of salamanders, even on bare rocks in the sun 

 <(Mearns) and in sandy places (Cope). 



