BATRACHIANS OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK 171 



It may be found in numbers, hiding under flat stones and logs in 

 damp woods. Although provided with xexy small and slender 

 limbs, it displays remarkable agility when disturbed, either 

 wriggling its way among fallen leaves, or progressing over them 

 by a series of jumps caused by doubling its worm -like body into 

 a series of lateral undulations and suddenly straightening itself. 

 The eggs are deposited under damp and decaying logs, in 

 moss or under stones. When the minute larv'se emerge, they 

 possess external gills, but these are absorbed within a few days' 



FIQ. 7. THE RED-BACKED SALAMANDER 

 From specimen in New York Zoological Park 



time. The species is never aquatic at any stage of its life. It is 

 easily distinguished from the other salamanders by its extremely 

 slender body and perfectly round tail. 



The Red-backed Salamander Plethodon cinereus erythronotus 

 Green (Fig. 7), in size and dimensions is like the preceding form. 

 Grayish on the sides with a bright reddish band on Red-backed 

 the back. Salaman- 



This band is wide, covering the greater portion ^^^' 



of the back and extending towards the end of the tail, where it 



becomes obscure. The lower portions of the sides present a 



[■7] 



