Evening star., 1949-01-27
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdce1Dell
"RIVERDALE, Md.


Dear Sir: ~El4
II grew up with nature.
MY ears were attuned to every song and
call, and my eyes wide open.
To-day never step out of doors that am
not expecting new wonder and am seldom
disappointed.
"As child on the farm I learned the
sounds and signs of living things and always
had the curiosity to investigate to the limit
We found the flying squirrel tree, the squir-
rel nest, rabbit nest, coon hollow, fox den and
what we called the ground puppies
I never saw picture of these and never
heard any one speak Of them They were in
hollow at the base of an old tree About
three inches long, very smooth skim some
were pink and white. others black and pink
spotted.
The head slightly larger, the body tapered
of to tail I was so young when saw them
that am not sure but think they had very
short legs.
I'VE found the buzzard's nest in the hollow
at the base Of an old, tree. There were two
young still in the white down stage They got
very excited when they saw us and vomited.
We did not stay as we had heard the parents
would vomit on you If they found you near.
Your column Is a must for me every evening
I get so much information and pleasure from
it. 1t is such balm for these stormy times
Sincerely, E. w. c."
Our correspondents ground puppies must
be mud puppies, as they are more commonly
called.
These are salamanders, Necturus maculosus
They much remind one of frog that has
assumed a dachshund form.
They are low slung and have futile looking
legs
The doggy head is f1anked by pink ears"
or gills. These wave rhythmically as the crea-
ture breathes.
The mud puppy is mottled brown of body,
spotted blue-black on the back
He matches the stream bottoms, and so goes
mostly unseen.
1t crawls at night. eating water insects, fish
eggs and even small fishes.
Nevis and salamanders constitute the
tailed amphibians retaining the tail through
life, unlike the frogs and toads, which lose
their tails.
Amphibans may seem closely related to
lizards, from their appearance, but actually
they are more nearly related to fishes.
Amphibans include frogs and toads, of
course whose "tadpole" stage is of such in
terest to most people.
into the house, and keep them in an aquarium
even after they develop legs
Nevis and salamanders have been the VIC
tins of much ignorance. People say they are
poisonous, and even spit fire into wounds.
All this is of course, untrue.
One tale about them is correct 1t is that
they can grow injured tails, and even eyes,
Country districts are full of erroneous
stories about wild life.
One is, for instance, that the milk snake
steals milk from cows.
Captive milk snakes have been offered milk
time and time again, but they always refuse
1t, feeding on rats and mice instead.
Hog -nosed snakes are terrible looking, when
frightened, putting themselves up and kissing
loudly, fattening the head until they do, in
deed, resemble adders. 1t then goes into a
convulsion and rolls over on its back as If
dead.
But when picked up, instead of remaining
dead" 1t very neatly hops over on its back
again, thereby proving that 1t is not dead at ALL
Nevis and salamanders, indeed most of our
snakes, are not harmful. Less than 20 of LAG
species of snakes found In the United States
are poisonous.
Certainly nevis and salamanders, as strange
as they may strike Wandered from the city,
should never be hurt.