132 SALAMANDRADiE. 



The aquatic progression of these animals is effected prin- 

 cipally by means of the tail ; and during the act of swim- 

 ming, the legs are turned backwards, so as to admit of the 

 smallest possible degree of resistance ; when floating quite 

 still on the surface of the water, which they frequently do, 

 the feet are stretched out at right angles to the body, and 

 the toes spread as widely as possible ; and at the bottom 

 of the pond they creep by means of their little weak feet, 

 which also serve for their progression on land. 



In the early spring the distinction between the males 

 and the females in external form, which during the winter 

 had been slight and inconspicuous, becomes more decided. 

 The dorsal crest, which in this species is high and deeply 

 incised, and the superior and inferior membrane of the tail, 

 become developed to a remarkable degree. The male 

 seeks and follows the other sex ; and the tail of the former 

 is vibrated, and, as it were, smacked, by a motion similar 

 to that of smacking a whip, several times during only a few 

 moments. Rusconi asserts, and he has been followed by 

 most subsequent writers, that impregnation is effected 

 without contact ; but I have reasons, which it is unneces- 

 sary for me to detail here, for believing this to be a mis- 

 take, at least in some species. It is sufficient for me to 

 state that those reasons are the result of my own repeated 

 observations. The manner in which the eggs are deposited 

 is very interesting and curious. The female, selecting some 

 leaf of an aquatic plant, sits, as it were, upon its edge ; and 

 folding it by means of her two hinder feet, deposits a single 

 egg in the duplicature of the folded part of the leaf, which 

 is thereby glued most securely together, and the egg is 

 thus effectually protected from injury. The manner in 

 which this is effected is highly interesting, and may be 

 readily observed by any one, as the animals are sufficiently 



