
158 NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 
attached, the duration of the laying period, etc., are all worthy of record, 
as is also the history of the development of the young, but specimens 
very Species of which the habits are noted should be preserved in 
Concerning the breeding habits of our Salueunders little is known. 
Mr. Putnam and others have eas the eggs of the Red-backed 
Salamander, which are laid under rotten wood, etc., in moist places, and 
are cared for by the mother, wed also broods he young when hatc 
he young very quickly loose their external gills, and pass rapidi 
through the tadpole state. Prof. Baird observed a species of Desmogna- 
thus which wrapped the eggs around its body, and remained in a moist 
place until they were hatched. Our common Desmognathus fuscus, Or 
Painted. Salamander, was observed by me in Maine, where it lives under 
stones in cold brooks and springs. It attaches its large ivory-white eggs 
in patches upon the under sides of stones. The young retain their exter- 
nal gills until they are guid full grown, and at least three inches long in 
1863 and '64, where they were found attached in rounded masses, two or 
three inches in diameter, and resembling frogs' eggs, on the stems of 
seen in this position, it is probable that it commences breeding very 
early in the spring. Under sexual excitement the colors and appearance 
ar. considerably. The hind legs of the male become much swollen, 
and a black callosity forms on the inner sides, which aids in giving firm- 
ness to his grasp. These characters soon pass away after the eggs are 
laid. In salamanders and frogs the eggs and the milt are discharged 
simultaneously, and the eggs are fertilized in the water. So far as I 
now as been published concerning the eggs or Ment habits 
of any of our other species, several of which are very common. — A. E. 
VERRILL, Yale College. . 
Tur Brreg BrrrEN. — Two or three years ago a student, Mr. William 
Stone, while on an excursion to Mt. Carmel, a few miles from New Haven, 
caught a large Black Snake (Bascanion constrictor), and brought it home — 
living and uninjured, except that it was partially suffocated from having — ^ 
been carried by the neck. In consequence of this, probably, it (eer 

sick soon afterwards, and vomited a fine specim men of the Cop 



