SALAMANDERS. 363 
Spotted Salamanders would live at liberty in England. Speci- 
mens of my own have from time to time escaped, and have been 
‘ found again, after various intervals of time, in perfect condition 
and health. One animal I know had had freedom for at least 
two years. 
The Spotted Salamander, like all the members of its sub-family 
(Salamandrine), has no gills in its adult condition; but teeth 
on the palate, as well as in both the upper and lower jaws; and 
eyelids. Like the rest of its genus the Batrachian possesses a 
large sub-oval tongue, free at its edges, and partially free behind, 
and four toes on each fore-foot, and five on each hind foot, un- 
provided with webbing. Besides, S. maculosa may be described 
as having a flat, broad head, a rounded snout, large prominent 
eyes, a stout, flattish body, stout limbs and no crest, a sub- 
cylindrical tail nearly as long as the body, a skin smooth and 
polished-looking, pores on the upper parts of the body, large 
parotoids, a series of larger pores along the back, and large warts 
along the sides. The length of the animal when fully grown, 
including the tail, is from Tin. to 9m. The female is generally 
larger than the male. 
These creatures may be purchased in London, at almost any 
season, for from 9d. to 1s. 6d. 
The Black or Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra), is a native 
of the Alps ataheight of 2,500ft. to 10,000ft. It is found there- 
fore near the limits of perpetual snow. In shape it much 
resembles the Spotted Salamander (Fig. 86), but it is smaller in 
size and perfectly black in colour. 
The Black Salamander is a terrestrial Batrachian, and only 
enters the water for a few hours during the breeding season. The 
young are born fully developed. Though many eggs may be found 
in the oviducts of the females, never more than two young ones 
are produced at a time. The tadpoles feed upon the unfertile 
eggs and complete their metamorphoses within the body of the 
parent. Their gills at a certain part of their existence before their 
birth are very large indeed—about equalling in length half of 
that of their body. These in course of time are absorbed. 
Mile. Marie de Chauvin made some interesting experiments 
upon the Black Salamander. She took some young tadpoles, 
