Vol. XL. February, 1921. No. 2. BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN AUTHOR S ABSTRACT OF THIS PAPER ISSUED BY THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC SERVICE, FEBRUARY 7 OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF THE BLIND TEXAN CAVE SALAMANDER, TYPHLOMOLGE RATHBUNI. EDUARD UHLENHUTH, PH.D., ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, NEW YORK. When in 1895 the artesian well was drilled at the U. S. Fish Hatchery in San Marcos, Texas, the first specimens known to biologists of the blind cave salamander, Typhlomolge rathbuni, were brought up with the waters from the depths of the ground. The animals were described by Prof. L. Stejneger. For several years after this a relatively large number of the blind salamanders, about 100 a year, were found in the basin of the well, but gradu-ally the number decreased and lately has been reduced to a few specimens a year. When the question arose of subjecting this animal to certain experiments on metamorphosis, it became evident that a number of specimens sufficiently large for this purpose could be obtained only through an extensive search in the actual habitat of the Typhlomolge. With the aid of a special grant from the Rocke-feller Institute for Medical Research an extensive study of the caves of San Marcos and environment was made by the writer and Mr. C. A. Campbell, at that time instructor in biology at Coronal Institute in San Marcos, during the months of August and September, 1916. So far as the number of animals obtained is concerned, the result was disappointing. But, on 'the other hand, several observations were made which seem to be of in-terest as regards the distribution and habits of the Typhlomolge 73
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