692 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST.  [VOL. XXXII, 
words, his remarks having reference to Autodaxr lugubris: 
“This is one of the most marked species of North American 
salamanders. The large temporal muscles give the head a 
swollen outline behind and separate the derma from. the 
cranium. The latter adheres to the top of the prominent 
muzzle. The fissure of the mouth is sinuate, most strongly so 
in adult specimens. On the whole, the physiognomy is not 
unlike that of the snapping tortoise. I have little doubt that 
it is more capable of inflicting a bite than any other of the 
American Urodela.” 
Dr. John Van Denburgh ('95), who has had much more oppor- 
tunity than any of the preceding writers to observe Autodax 
alive, makes these statements about the habits of A. zécanus : 
“It usually walks quite slowly, moving but one foot at a time, 
but it is capable of motion surprisingly rapid for a salamander. 
When moving rapidly, it aids the action of its legs by a sinuous 
movement of its whole body and tail. 
‘“‘ The tail of this Autodax is prehensile. Several individuals, 
when held with their heads down, coiled their tails around my 
finger, and, when the original hold was released, sustained 
themselves for some time by this means alone. One even 
raised itself high enough to secure a foothold. This animal’s 
tail is also of use to it in another way. When caught, Autodax 
zécanus will often remain motionless, but if touched will either 
run a short distance with great speed, or, quickly raising its 
tail and striking it forcibly against the surface on which it 
rests, and accompanying this with a quick motion of its hind 
limbs, will jump from four to six inches, rising as high as two 
or three.” 
Most of these observations by Van Denburgh we have many 
times confirmed in our experience with A. /ugudris, although 
we have never seen it jump on a level, nor to so great a dis- 
tance as that mentioned by this writer. When wishing to pass 
from an elevated position to a lower level, as, for example, from 
the hand to the table when the former is held some inches 
above the latter, instead of falling over the edge in the typical 
salamander fashion, the creature will frequently execute a well- 
‘codrdinated spring and alight on its feet some distance away. 
