AXOLOTLS AND AMBLYSTOMES. 387 
When these creatures, which had changed, seemingly, from 
Axolotls into Amblystomes, under the eyes of Professor Duméril, 
were carefully examined as to their structure, they were found 
to possess characteristics identical with the members of the genus 
Amblystoma, which numbers about seventeen species, inhabiting 
different parts of North America and Mexico. 
For ten years after their birth the Amblystomes which had 
been boin in the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle at Paris did not 
breed, and it was thought by many naturalists that transformed 
Axolotls were sterile. Many ettorts were made to encourage 
them to reproduce their kind, but without success. Their food 
was repeatedly changed. They were paired in different ways, 
e.g. male Amblystomes were associated with female Amblystomes, 
female Axolotls with male Amblystomes, and female Ambly- 
stomes with male Axolotls. And yet, Axolotls with Axolotls 
continued to bring forth young in considerable ‘numbers, and 
apparently with no extraordinary care on the part of those who 
tended for them. 
However, in 1874, the Batrachians were removed from the 
Musée d’ Histoire Naturelle at Paris to new and far more suitable 
quarters, where the Amblystomes almost immediately produced 
fertile eggs. 
The Axolotl is not the only Batrachian which is capable of 
repreducing its species while in a larval state; for example, 
Alpine Newts (Molge alpestris) have been found still bearing 
branchiz, and yet possessing fully-developed ova and spermatozoa, 
Fraiilem von Chauvin, at Freiburg, on the suggestion of 
Professor Weissmann, attempted to bring about the transforma- 
tion of young Axolotls by gradually depriving them of water. 
Her endeavours were quite successful. Axolotls between six and 
nine months of age were placed in a vessel containing water, and 
a small island upon which the Batrachians could climb. <A small 
quantity of water was withdrawn daily from this vivarium, and 
almost immediately the branchiz of the Axolotls began to 
decrease in size, and gradually, after living for some time sur- 
rounded by damp moss, most of them became perfect Ambly- 
stomes. 
Mr. Tegetmeier, the well-known naturalist, has seen an Axolotl 
202 
