6 Phosphate Rocks of South Carolina, 
Florida, he saw, in a clearing near by, a number of 
negroes with clubs killing what looked like rats, 
escaping from the burning brush, and on enquiring 
what sort of rats they were, he was politely informed 
that they were not rats, but “ Salamanders.” 
Here we find a lizard, a tortoise and a rat called in 
three different States by the same name—Sa/amander ; 
whereas, this name is given by scientific men to a 
little lizard-like animal, that in its general form and 
characteristics seems intermediate between the frog 
and the lizard; and, like the former, is amphibious in 
its habits. They are abundant in the up-country of 
South Carolina, and may be found in their nests under 
stones in wet places, often with many eggs around 
them. 
The story of the ancients that the Salamander is 
able to endure fire is altogether fabulous; yet no 
doubt it has caused the name Salamander to be given 
to the Carolina Lizard, because of the fiery red bag 
apparently suspended under the throat, and from 
which it is said to “spit” a red fluid that will instantly 
quench the flames of a burning rail. The Gopher and 
the ground rat are also thus called, because in escap- 
ing from their burrows under ground, directly over 
which are the burning piles, they appear to endure 
the hot coals without injury. It is admitted it is 
always better to employ plain English names when 
they serve the purpose in view, but when each county, 
or each popular writer, gives the same name to a 
totally different object, it tends only to confusion. 
Let us then adhere to the scientific name, when one 
