1925] 
Storer: A Synopsis of the Amphibia of California 
285 
eggs and may keep them moistened with the contents of the bladder 
to prevent desiccation and keep down the growth of mold. 
/. Aneides lugubris lugubris. This is a typical 'land’ salamander, 
without either lungs or gills, which carries on its respiratory process 
in the throat and in the skin, particularly by means of large blood 
sinuses in the toes which are always in contact with the moist sub- 
stratum of its habitat. It is strictly nocturnal. It is able to climb 
readily, and has been found abundantly in cavities in liveoaks. It 
spawns in moist chambers such as cavities on the ground beneath 
boxes in gardens, in spaces in hollow logs, and in rotted-out cavities 
in trees. The embryonic and larval stages are passed within the egg 
which is guarded against enemies and provided with moisture against 
desiccation by the female parent. Definite adaptations toward 
arboreal life are indicated in the prehensile tail and expanded digits. 
The maxillary and mandibular teeth are highly developed, possibly 
for service in protection against enemies. Use of fungus growing in 
oak trees as a source of food is indicated. 
g. Soaphiopus hammondii. The spadefoot toad has the shortest 
larval period of any Salientian here discussed. The metamorphosed 
toad is provided with efficient digging 'spades’ which are early put 
to use through instinctive action whereby the toad, in the presence 
of light (which in interior California means heat) digs into the ground 
and escapes desiccation. Spawning occurs in lowland areas with the 
advent of late spring rains whereby the eggs and larvae are provided 
with a high temperature resulting in rapid development. In elevated 
inland areas the spawning season comes in the summer months when 
thunder showers form pools in a time of high temperature. 
h. Bufo boreas halophilus . The usual specializations exhibited by 
members of this genus elsewhere are observed in the California low- 
land form. These include small size of eggs, abundance of black pig- 
ment on eggs and larvae resulting in rapid development of both 
stages, and transformation at small size which permits of a short 
aquatic cycle. The egg complement is large to offset the various 
adverse conditions which beset the species, particularly in the earlier 
stages of its existence. 
i. Hyla arenicolor. This species is restricted to the courses of 
boulder-strewn canons in the mountains of the American southwest. 
Its present local distribution is discontinuous, though little or no local 
structural variation is observable, suggesting that the breaking up 
