SALAMANDER, FROG, AND OTHER AMPHIBIANS. 173 



true salamanders. The Menopoma Alleghaniense (Fig. 

 179), called the hellbender, or big water-lizard, is about 

 half a metre (l-j-2 feet) in length, and inhabits the Missis- 

 sippi Valley. 



We now come to the true salamanders, whose body is still 



FIG. 179. Skeleton of the hellbender (Menopoma). 



tailed, with larger eyes ; there are no spiracles ; they 

 breathe mainly by their lungs, but in part by their skin. 



The genius Amblystoma comprises our largest salaman- 

 ders ; they are terrestrial when adult, living in damp places 

 and feeding on insects. The larvae retain their gills to a 

 period when they are as large or even larger than the pa- 



