VENOMS IN THE ANIMAL SERIES 313 
removal of the entrails, head, and limbs, acts as a stimulant if taken 
internally.” 
In ancient Rome, and also in Medieval France, it was believed 
that the most furious fire could be extinguished simply by contact 
with one of these animals; charlatans sold the inoffensive sala- 
mander, which, if cast into the most terrible conflagration, was 
bound, they declared, to arrest its disastrous progress ! 
The explanation of this superstition is furnished by Dumeril, 
who writes: ‘‘On being placed in the middle of burning charcoal, 
these victims of so cruel a curiosity, when put to the test, instantly 
allowed to exude from the many pores with which their skins are 
riddled a shimy humour, sufficiently abundant to form a viscid layer 
over that part of the glowing charcoal with which the animals were 
in contact. Since this surface, being no longer exposed to the 
air, immediately became quite black, it was supposed to be ex- 
tinguished ; but the salamanders sustained such severe burns that 
they soon succumbed.” ! 
The principal species of salamanders are :— 
Salamandra atra (Black Salamander), which is found in the 
Alps and the mountains of Central Europe, close to the snow-line, 
and up to an altitude of 3,000 metres. 
Salamandra maculosa (Spotted Salamander, fig. 121), distributed 
throughout almost the whole of Europe, and also found in North 
Africa. 
Triton cristatus (Crested Newt), likewise common all over 
Europe. 
Triton marmoratus (Marbled Newt, fig. 122), which is met with 
in damp and dark places, in Portugal, Spain, South and Central 
France, and as far north as the Forest of Fontainebleau. 
Cryptobranchus japonicus (Great Japanese Salamander, fig. 
123), which often exceeds 1 metre in length, and has a clumsy 
1 Brehm (Sauvage’s translation), “Les Merveilles de la Nature-—Reptiles et 
Batraciens ”’ (Paris, 1885). 
