SALAMANDRINAE 12 1 



body. New gills sprouted out on the same day, first in the 

 shape of three tiny knobs on either side. After three weeks 

 they had become round globes, which gradually sprouted out 

 into several branches, far shorter and more clumsy than the 

 original gills. During the whole time the larva was lying 

 quietly at the bottom, in the darkest corner, but showed a good 

 appetite. The fin of the tail disappeared and was supplanted 

 by a stronger one. In the sixth week the skin was shed in 

 flakes, and this process took fifteen days. This larva lived in the 

 water for fourteen weeks and g-rew to 6 cm. in length ! When 

 the new gills gradually shrank, the compressed and finny tail 

 assumed a round shape, the skin became darker and shinier, 

 and after the larva had again shed its skin, there appeared the 

 dark rugose skin of the typical S. atra. The gills were reduced 

 to useless appendages — not cast off — and the creature crawled 

 out of the water. A fortnight later the gill-clefts were closed. 

 A second larva behaved similarly, first casting off the feathery 

 gills, substituting a new and stronger set, which, however, 

 fourteen days after excision from the uterus, shrank again, and 

 on the nineteenth day the gill-clefts were closed. The lady also 

 observed that nearly ripe larvae, when cut out, rushed about 

 in the water and ate, just like the new-born larvae of the Spotted 

 Salamander. 



A third species, S. caucasica, is found in the Caucasus. It 

 rather resembles the Spotted Salamander in coloration, but has 

 a larger tail and lacks the lateral warts. The male is remark- 

 able for the possession of a soft permanent knob or hook at the 

 top of the root of the tail. This pommel possibly prevents the 

 slipping off during the amorous amplexus, provided the sexes then 

 entwine like certain Tritons. 



Chioglossa lusitanica. — The only species of this genus is 

 restricted to the north-western third of the Iberian peninsula. 

 This graceful, slenderly-proportioned and beautiful Salamander 

 is apparently very rare and local, having hitherto 1:)een found 

 at a few places, namely, near Coimbra, Oporto and Corufia. It 

 lives under moss, and runs and climbs with an agility surprising in 

 a Urodele. The tongue is long, ending in a fork, and is supported 

 by a median pedicle so that the tip can be quickly protruded 

 to the distance of more than an inch. The whole length of 

 the animal is about 5 to 6 inches, two-thirds of which belong to 



