1889-] Notes on the Habits of Some Amblystomas. 607 
Toward the last of May my specimens began to undergo their 
metamorphosis. The gills began to suffer absorption and the 
broad tail fin to disappear. They came oftener to the surface for 
air, and they spent a good deal of their time floating on the water. 
When the tadpole took in air, he would float horizontally. As 
the oxygen of the inhaled air was converted into carbonic acid, 
and this in its turn given off into' the surrounding water, the litde 
animal's body grew heavier and he began slowly to sink, the tail 
going down first. To counteract this a few feeble movements 
would be made, but still down he would go. At last by a strong 
effort the animal would bring his head to the surface, take in air, 
and then quickly regain the horizontal position. 
At this time the young showed also a strong inclination to 
leave the water. They would crawl up on sticks and stones and 
remain there. When in a glass vessel they would sometimes be 
found climbing up the perpendicular side, two or three inches 
above the water. 
The time of completing the change is about the first of June, 
although some specimens may have completed it sooner. As it pro- 
gresses, the tail becomes more terete and the whole body slenderer 
and less bulky. The general color above becomes black, while 
here and there white specks appear ; and the animals are soon 
small models of the full-grown adults. 
When my specimens had transformed, about fifty of them were 
put into a box in which was a sod about a foot square. Into this 
they immediately disappeared, and burrowed through and through 
it. When it was allowed to become dry, they would be found 
under it, where a little moisture remained. When it was thor- 
oughly wet, they would appear at the surface among the grass 
blades and roots. At length it was allowed to become thoroughly 
dry, and the salamanders perished. Doubdess, however, many 
of them had escaped by crawling up the sides of the box. 
During the last spring many specimens of the small-mouthed 
salamander were taken about Irvington, Ind., and sev^eral of A. 
punctatum, which latter had not before been seen here. They 
were taken during March in ponds about which were pieces of 
fallen timber. On turning over a small log or a rail which lay 
