176 



THE GIGANTIC SALAMANDER. 



crawling batrachian with perpetual gills, but that it is in its preliminary or tadpole stage of 

 existence. Mr. Baird makes the following sensible remarks on this subject : 



"It so much resembles the larva of Amblystoma punctatum, in both external form and 

 internal structure, that I cannot but believe it to be the larva of some gigantic species of this 

 genus. It differs from all other perennibranchiates in possessing the larval character of the 

 gular or opercular flap, this being unattached to the adjacent integuments, and free to the 

 extremity of the chin. The non-discovery of the adult is no argument against its existence. 

 I had caught hundreds of the very remarkable larva of Pseudotriton salmoneus before I found 

 an adult. Until then I knew nowhere to refer the animal, supposing this species to exist no 

 nearer than the mountains of New York and Vermont." 





LARVA OF AXOLOTL. 



As may be seen from the illustrations, the gills or branchiae are quite as large in proportion 

 as those of the newt in its larval state. They are furnished with fringes. 



The Axolotl inhabits Mexico, where it is tolerably plentiful, and in some places is found 

 in such numbers that it is sold in the markets for the table. It frequents the lake surround- 

 ing the city of Mexico, and, according to Humboldt, is also found in the cold waters of certain 

 mountain lakes at a considerable elevation above the sea. 



The color of this remarkable creature is rather dark grayish-brown, covered thickly with 

 black spots. The length varies from eight to ten inches. 



ANOTHER small order now comes before us, containing a few species, and only two very 

 small families. In all these creatures the body is long and lizard-like, the legs four and 

 feeble, and the gills internal, but permanent throughout life. 



OUR first example of this family is the now celebrated GIGANTIC SALAMANDER. 



This is undoubtedly one of the least attractive of the vertebrate animals, being dull in 

 habits, sombre in color, with a sort of half-finished look about it, and not possessing even that 

 savage ugliness which makes many a hideous creature attractive in spite of its uncomeliness. 

 It is a native of Japan, and even in that country seems to be rare, a large sum being asked for 



