No. 399. ] THE SAN MARCOS SALAMANDER. 183 
But little evidence thus far shows in favor of a sense of 
smell. All attempts at feeding (except one) have been in vain. 
No attention was given to meat or other articles placed near it. 
Examination of a dead specimen showed chitinous remains of 
such Crustacea as Cyclops. To-day (April 18) I offered a sala- 
mander a small piece of the abdominal muscle of a crayfish. - 
The bait was held by means of forceps about 5 mm. in front of 
the snout. The animal moved slightly forward, and the bait 
was kept at about the same distance. Suddenly it was snapped 
off and swallowed. The animal snapped off a second piece, 
but a third was refused.! 
1 If a glass rod or other object is held a little to one side and in front of the 
animal, it will cautiously turn its head in the direction of the rod. If the latter is 
then made to describe an arc about the side of the salamander, the head will fol- 
low it with a continuous motion, expressive of the greatest caution, as far as it can 
be followed without moving any of the limbs: A sudden jar, produced by tapping 
the rod on the bottom of the aquarium at such a time, causes the salamander to 
jerk its head back and rear back on its limbs as far as it can. The same effect is 
produced if the rod is introduced too rapidly. 
If a piece of crayfish tail is held by pincers in the fingers a short distance in 
front or to the side of the head of the salamander, there is the same cautious motion 
forward till the snout comes in contact with it. There is then a momentary hesi- 
tation, followed by a sudden snap and seizure. 
The salamander may be pulled from side to side by the meat, after it has once 
secured a hold, without causing it to let go. All of its caution is apparently 
directed in approaching the food without disturbance. After it has secured a hold 
it will struggle to maintain it. 
