BATRACHIA. 
124 
the inhabitants that Rattlesnakes do not occur where there is white 
ash timber, and I was assured that there were none nearer than 
Phoenicia, of about 800 feet elevation. 
Of the Batrachia the following named species were observed : — 
Rana clamitans Merrem. — Green Frogf- 
<z> 
Rana Catesbiana Shaw. — Bull Frog; occurs about certain small 
lakes not distant from the Big Indian Valley, in which section it was 
not observed. 
Rana temporaria sylvatica (Le Conte) Gthr. — Wood Frog. 
Hyla Pickeringii Holbrook. — Hyla; Piping Tree Frog. 
Bnfo lentiginosus Amcricanus (Le Conte) Cope. — Common Toad. 
Plethodon erythronotus (Green) Baird.— Red-backed Salamander. 
Spelcrpes bilineatus (Green) Baird. — Two-striped Salamander. 
Spelerpes ruber (Daudin) Gray. — Red Triton or Salamander. 
Desmognathus ochrophcea Cope. — Alleghany Mountain Salaman- 
der.* 
In addition to these, Ambly stoma punctatum (L.) Baird (Large 
Yellow-spotted Salamander) and Dicmydylus miniatus Raf. (Red 
Eft)f were brought by my brother (P. C. B.) from the same county. 
*The only common name that I have seen used for this Salmander, “Yellow Desmognath’’ 
(Jordan’s Manual), it seems undesirable to perpetuate. The animal is not yelloiv , and there is 
no reason why the surnominal appellation should not conform with that of other members of the same 
genus. For these reasons I have taken the liberty of using a common name based on the very 
characteristic distribution of the animal. 
f Although this species has been regarded as merely a variety, or state, of D. viridescens , and 
recently developed facts (faze. American Naturalist, XII, 6, 399) have been construed as proof of 
its identity with that species, it is perhaps yet too soon for a final decision in the premises. I am 
induced here to retain the forms as distinct, from the fact of having dredged an individual of 
miniatus from a pond containing abundance of viridescens ; both animals under these common con- 
ditions remaining obviously different. The specimen referred to was taken from a depth of over 
two feet of water, and showed indications of activity of the procreative functions. The pond where 
it occurred was well shaded, with dark water and muddy bottom, and naturally the influence of 
these conditions was expressed in the color of the animal. This was unusually dull with little 
obvious reddish tinge, and a careless glance might have referred the specimen to viridescens ; 
but a difference in the texture and appearance of the skin, and a slenderness and delicacy of general 
form at once proclaimed the difference, which comparison emphasized. 
