110 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 27 
ward to Agua Caliente, Sonoma County (Calif. Acad. Sci.), and at 
Berkeley (Mus. Yert. Zool.). To the south no records are known 
between Monterey (Gray, 1850, p. 48) and Carmel (Calif. Acad. Sci.) 
in Monterey County, and Los Angeles County. Ruthling (1915, 
p. 62) has recorded the species from Topanga Canon, Santa Monica 
Mountains, and it is present in the San Gabriel Range, as about 
Sierra Madre (Mus. Vert. Zool.), and in Palmer’s Canon near Pomona 
(specimen in Pomona College Museum). One individal was taken 
in a quarry in the foothills ten miles northwest of San Bernardino 
(Mus. Vert. Zool.) ; and one at Forest Home, San Bernardino Moun- 
tains, altitude 5200 feet, marks the known southern limit of range 
(Grinnell and Camp, 1917, p. 132). The California Academy of 
Sciences has specimens from Castle Rock, 3 miles north of Crescent 
City, and from AVhale Rock in the harbor of that city. 
Life-history. — Ensatina eschscholtzii may be described as a ‘typical’ 
Plethodont salamander, showing no conspicuous specialization in 
structure or habits (with the possible exception of the tail). So far 
as known this species is strictly terrestrial. All of the specimens at 
hand were collected under objects resting on the surface of the ground 
or in the burrows of earth-dwelling rodents only a few inches below 
the ground surface. In common with other Plethodonts in central 
California eschscholtzii usually disappears from its surface haunts at 
the approach of the dry season and reappears soon after the first 
autumn rains. The nature of its aestival retreat is unknown save in 
a few instances where individuals have been found in rodent burrows. 
This species is rather less common than Aneides lugubris ; at least, 
in the vicinity of Berkeley it is outnumbered by the latter species, 
and judging from the relative number of specimens of the two at 
hand from central and southern California the same condition holds 
rather generally. In the northwestern part of the State, however, 
Ensatina eschscholtzii appears to be more common. 
In southern California Ensatina eschscholtzii is relatively uncom- 
mon. Camp (MS) says that, in Bailey Canon near Sierra Madre, one 
was found at an altitude of about 1200 feet, in a tunnel entrance in 
the canon bottom. Six others, seen at various times in the golden 
oak belt of the same canon, at about 2300 feet altitude, were found 
in the following sorts of surroundings: (1) beneath a box in rather 
dry soil, (2) in a cellar beneath a cabin, (3) among wet leaves, (4) 
several inches below the ground surface in loose wet earth, (5) in a 
large hollow log (Camp, MS). The dates of these several observations 
are not mentioned. 
