1925] Storer: A Synopsis of the Amphibia of California 123 
Life-history . — Van Denburgh has found this species in some num- 
bers at Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, and has given an account of 
the habits of the species based on material from that locality. It has 
been seen abroad at late dusk on two occasions only. When moving 
it usually walks quite slowly, using one foot at a time, but it is capable 
of motion surprisingly rapid for a salamander ; it then aids the action 
of the legs by a sinuous movement of the whole body. The tail is 
prehensile. When caught and touched, the salamander will sometimes 
strike the tail forcibly against the surface on which it stands, accom- 
panying this act with a quick motion of the hind limbs whereby the 
animal will jump a distance of four to six inches, rising two or three 
inches in doing so. Like its relative, lugubris, this species is, in 
captivity, given to climbing. Yan Denburgh ? s (18955, pp. 777, 778) 
account follows. 
A large Autodax iecanus and fifteen eggs were sent me from Los Gatos, July 23, 
1895. The eggs were evidently those of a batraehian, doubtless of this species. 
Each egg was about 6 mm. in diameter, almost spherical, and inclosed in a thin, 
tough, gelatinous sheath. Each of these sheaths was drawn out, at one place, into 
a slender peduncle, which was attached to a basal mass of the same gelatinous 
substance. In this way, each egg was at the end of an individual stalk, and all 
were fastened to a common base. This base had evidently been anchored to a 
stone or lump of earth. The eggs were in the early stages of segmentation. The 
following note accompanied them : ‘ ‘ The salamander and eggs were found under 
the platform in front of a barn, in dry earth next the foundation wall, and 
about fifteen inches or more below the surface. The ground had been filled in, 
and was full of spaces. There was some dry rotten wood near the eggs. One or 
two smaller salamanders were near. About twice as many eggs were found as 
sent. There was no water within ten or fifteen feet.” The salamander sent with 
these eggs was a female, and had a very large number of minute eggs in its 
ovaries. 
On July 30, 1895, I killed a very large Autodax which had been sent me, from 
Los Gatos, several days before. It contained twenty-five eggs exactly like those 
described above, except that they lacked the gelatinous covering. These eggs 
appeared to be still in the ovaries. There were twelve in the right side of the 
animal, and thirteen on the left. Besides these enlarged ones, there were many 
minute ova. 
A female of this species of salamander and seven pedunculated 
eggs were taken at Laytonville, Mendocino County, on July 1, 1913. 
They were found 9 inches (228 millimeters) below the surface of the 
ground in a cellar. These eggs were deposited in a group and attached 
by their peduncles to the damp earth. Now (1924) they measure 
5.9 to 6.4 millimeters in diameter, being slightly elongated in the 
direction of the peduncle. The peduncle is 0.5 to 1.0 millimeters in 
diameter and the length between the egg and the point of attachment 
