BATRACIilA ; FISHES. 
125 
The notes of Hyla versicolor Le Conte (Common Tree Toad) were 
heard from the train on the way into the mountains, but this species 
appeared to be absent from the higher parts of the region. 
Along the borders of Esopus Creek Spelerpes bilineatiLS was found 
to be common, and its larvae were numerous among the stones at 
the shallow margin. One individual was taken at an elevation of 
nearly 2,700 feet. Extending to a still greater altitude — nearly or 
quite a thousand feet higher — occurred that high northwardly extend- 
ing Salamander, Plethodon erythronotus , of which several specimens 
were unearthed. In one example the red color of the dorsal aspect 
was of a brighter and more pink shade than is common, and seemed 
to have burst out laterally from the conventional dorsal band, 
invading the dusky color of the sides, running out on the limbs and 
passing almost around the neck. That characteristic Alleghany 
Mountain Salamander, Desmognathus ochrophcea , was found in abun- 
dance near Pine Hill exhibiting great variation in color. In some fresh 
examples the yellowish-brown coloration of the upper surface had a 
peculiar satiny or metallic lustre, closely resembling the color of old 
gold. This same characteristic of coloration is often seen in Spelerpes 
bilineatus , rendering the singular general resemblance between these 
species still more close. 
The mountain streams abounded with Brook Trout, but no other 
fish large enough to take the hook was noticed beyond, about, i ,600- 
1,700 feet elevation, though, as no special search was made, small 
species could easily have been and doubtless were overlooked. The 
little Black -nosed Dace ( Rhinichthys alronasus ) ascended however to 
about the elevation named, and several common fishes were reported 
from the stream in the main valley. 
Although it was intended to limit this cursory survey of faunal 
characteristics to the vertebrates, we may pause for a brief glance 
at the Molluscous Fauna of the region, which differs strikingly from 
that of the Lower Hudson Valley at New York City. In general 
it may be said that the more conspicuous species of land- shells most 
