VENOMS IN THE ANIMAL SEIUES 313 



removal of the entrails, head, and Hmbs, acts as a stimulant if taken 

 internally." 



In ancient Kome, and also in Mediaeval France, it was believed 

 that the most furious fire could be extinguished simply by contact 

 with one of these animals ; charlatans sold the inoffensive sala- 

 mander, which, if cast into the most terrible conflagration, was 

 bound, they declared, to arrest its disastrous progress ! 



The explanation of this superstition is furnished by Dumeril, 

 who writes : "On being placed in the middle of burning charcoal, 

 these victims of so cruel a curiosity, when put to the test, instantly 

 allow'cd to exude from the many pores with which their skins are 

 riddled a slimy humour, sufficiently abundant to form a viscid layer 

 over that part of the glowing charcoal with which the animals were 

 in contact. Since this surface, being no longer exposed to the 

 air, immediately became quite black, it was supposed to be ex- 

 tinguished ; but the salamanders sustained such severe burns that 

 thev soon succumbed."^ 



The principal species of salamanders are : — 



Salamandra atra (Black Salamander), which is found in the 

 Alps and the mountains of Central Europe, close to the snow-line, 

 and up to an altitude of 3,000 metres. 



Salamandra maculosa (Spotted Salamander, fig. 121), distributed 

 throughout almost the whole of Europe, and also found in North 

 Africa. 



Triton cristatiis (Crested Newt), likewise common all over 

 Europe. 



Triton marmoratus (Marbled Newt, fig. 122), which is met with 

 in damp and dark places, in Portugal, Spain, South and Central 

 France, and as far north as the Forest of Fontainebleau. 



Cryptobranchus japonicus (Great Japanese Salamander, fig. 

 123), which often exceeds 1 metre in length, and has a clumsy 



^ Brehm (Sauvage's translation), " Les Merveilles de la Nature — Reptiles et 

 Batraciens " (Paris, 1885). 



