564 THE VIVARIUM. 
before they had completed their metamorphoses, from the body of 
their parents and placed them in water in order that she might 
watch their gradual development. In one instance only was she 
rewarded for her trouble and enterprise. This particular tadpole 
lived for fifteen weeks at the bottom of the water, and then its 
gills atrophied, its tail and skin altered, it shed its skin, and the 
animal left the water, having thus in this way attained the adult 
form. 
Young Black Salamanders, I have found, may be easily reared 
upon small slugs and tiny garden worms. They should be kept . 
in a small Vivarium by themselves, the bottom of which ought to 
be covered with damp mould. There must also be a very shallow 
vessel containing some soft water. A few pieces of a broken 
flower-pot will provide the little Batrachians with suitable hiding- 
places. Slugs’ eggs placed in the Vivarium will, in course of time, 
supply the young Salamanders with plenty of the right kind and 
size of food. 
Young Black Salamanders grow very quickly ; sometimes, in a 
little over a year, if well fed, they will attain their full size. When in 
the market, they may be bought at prices ranging from 2s. to 4s. 
In S. atra the parotoids and lateral glands are more developed 
than in S. maculosa, and the body is not quite so stout or so long. 
In other respects, with the exception of the colour, the animals 
are identical. 
The Caucasian Salamander (Salamandra caucasica) is rarer 
than either the Spotted or the Black Salamander, from which it 
is chiefly distinguished by the tail being much longer than the 
head and body. It may be treated, while in confinement, in the 
same way as has been suggested for its near relatives just men- 
tioned, and associated with them. 
S. caucasica has a depressed head, rather longer than broad, a 
rounded snout, and large, prominent eyes, a long body with weak 
limbs, fingers and toes which are free, a smooth skin, parotoids 
which are distinct and elliptical in shape, no warts on the sides. 
The colour of the animal above is black marked with round yellow 
spots arranged in two longitudinal rows. The under parts are 
black, slightly speckled with grey. The entire length of this 
Batrachian is about 7in. It is a native of the Caucasus. 
