Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful. Reptils. 295 
trace,”* might well be thought very extraordinary, if not 
incredible. Has the Axolotl ever been seen without its 
branchie? If it had, there would not be any doubt. Is 
there any instance in which the economy of nature is so pro- 
fusely misapplied, as to furnish so large, long and elaborate 
organs, for a mere temporary purpose +t The Axolotl is a 
large animal, 10 or 12 inches long. If a mere larva, the 
perfect animal must be of a formidable size. Such an ani- 
mal, with four legs and a tail, could not have been concealed 
and unnoticed all the time that Humboldt, Bonpland, and 
other travellers, were in the neighborhood of Mexico. 
uvier says, ‘“ the more I have examined these animals, the 
more I am convinced that they are the larva of some great 
Salamander, yet unknown.” I venture to predict that such 
a Salamander will for a long while remain unknown; and 
that whenever and wherever the Axolot! shall be found, he 
Carniola. The former of these animals, tho abundantly. 
proved to be adult in this country, is still unacknowledged as 
mature, in Europe; and Cuvier, in his latest publication 
says that it is a larva. It is possible, and I think it proba 
ble, that Cuvier may change his opinion when he shall see 
the Menobranchus of Dr, Harlan, (Proteus Lateralis,) as he 
did when he saw what he erroneously supposed to be the 
figure of the Menopoma. (Salamandra Alleghaniensis.) As 
yet, he is evidently under a mistake ; for he says that “ the ci- 
catrices which are seen on the great Salamander,” (Menopo- 
ma,) “fully prove that it carries its branchize a long time,” 
whereas Dr. Harlan has fully shown that it never has any 
branchiz, even in its youngest state. Cuvier has acknowl- 
edged his mistake in supposing that the Axolotl was the lar- 
va of the Salamandra Alleghaniensis, (the Menopoma,) but 
in doing this he has fallen into another mistake, which is, that 
the animal figured by Milbert, while in the possession of Dr. 
Mitchill, was the larva of the Salamandra Alleghaniensis- 
This animal was brought from Lake St. Clair, by Ma. De- 
~ nie who has since obtained several others from Lake 
rie. It is the Proteus Lateralis of this paper, Triton La- 
teralis of Say, and Menobranchus Lateralis of Dr. Har- 
The se of the Surinam frog cannot be considered analogous, The 
deciduous part is simply large and fleshy. 
Ossemen’s Fossiles, seventh and last volume. 
