380 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. Ill, No. 5 , 
full}- formed, while a 12 mm. Sp. longicaudus has merely limb 
buds, scarcely distinguishable to the naked eye. Of its habitat, 
Cope says: “This beautiful animal is not very active in its 
habits and is almost always found in rocky ground and in fissures 
and caves in cliffs.’’ (B.itrachia of N. A., p. 154.) Thisspecies 
is scarcely ever found in water save in the breeding season; while 
Spelerpes bilineatus abounds in rocky brooks. The larvae may 
be found in open water, but at an early age they show an instinct 
for concealment, and are more readily found under leaves and 
pebbles lying in the pool. 
Eggs. — The eggs of Spelerpes may be found most abundantly 
in May and June. “ They are deposited in a single layer upon the 
lower side of submerged stones, each batch containing from thirty 
to fifty eggs. The stones which are suitable for this purpose 
must be in the form of an arch allowing the water to flow beneath. 
They are generally in the more rapidly flowing portions of the 
brook, but the depth of the water must be such that the eggs are 
at all times entirely submerged, as otherwise the dash of the 
ripples striking against them would subject them to mechanical 
injury.” ( H. H. Wilder, “ American Naturalist ” Vol. XXXIII, 
p. 231.) The eggs are attached to the under surface of the rock 
by means of a gelatinous envelope in which they are encased; 
the same envelope keeps the eggs separated from each other much 
as in the case of frog’s eggs. 
Larva. — The larvae of Spelerpes longicaudus are hatched 
somewhat early and continue for some time in the larval form. 
The larva at 12 mm. has the gills well developed, partially cov- 
ered by an opercular fold. The tail is long and tapering, with 
a broad, delicate and rounded fin. The pigment is well distrib- 
uted over the upper surface of the tadpole, but is lacking on the 
under surface, except for a few cells on the fin. The pigmenta- 
tion is continuous over the anterior part of the head, but under a 
lens shows a double row of unpigmented areas along the dorsum, 
beginning behind the eye and running close to the fin. There is 
very little change in pigmentation at metamorphosis, as the fol- 
lowing description of the pigmentation of the adult will show : 
“ * * * generally * * * more thickly crowded along 
the sides, sometimes forming a distinct spotted band along the 
sides of the tail ; these black bands are generally aggregated into 
a series of vertical bands. I11 younger specimens * * * the 
spots above are arranged in three irregular lines, one median, and 
two lateral larger ones. The muzzle and entire under parts are 
immaculate.” (Cope, Batraehia of N. A., p. 154.) The pig- 
ment spots appear as brown or grayish blotches of irregular con- 
tour. The anterior and posterior limbs may be noticed as small 
buds, just posterior to the gills and anterior to the anus, respec- 
tively. 
