DEVELOPMENT OF TRITON. 



673 



(1868.) When first hatched (fig. 329, B)*, it presents the same fish- 

 like body, and rows itself through the water by the lateral movements 

 of the caudal fin. The only appearance of legs as yet visible consists 

 in two minute tubercles, which seem to be sprouting out from the skin 

 immediately behind the branchial tufts, and which are, in fact, the first 

 buddings of anterior extremities. Nevertheless, to compensate to a 

 certain extent for this total want of those prehensile limbs which after- 

 wards become developed, two supernumerary organs are provisionally 

 furnished, in the shape of two minute claspers, seen in the figure, situ- 

 ated on each side of the mouth ; by means of these the little being holds 

 on to the subaquatic leaves, and thus prevents itself from being washed 

 away by the slightest current, 



(1869.) Twelve days after issuing from the egg, the two fore legs, 

 which at first resembled two little nipples, have become much elongated, 

 and are divided at their extremity into two or three rudiments of fingers 

 (fig. 329, c). The eyes, which were before scarcely visible, and covered 

 by a membrane, distinctly appear. The branchiae, at first simple, are 

 divided into fringes, wherein red blood now circulates ; the mouth has 

 grown very large ; and the whole body is so transparent as to reveal the 

 position of the viscera within. Its activity is likewise much increased ; 



Fig. 330. 



E 



Larvse of Triton. 



it swims with rapidity, and darts upon minute aquatic insects, which 

 it seizes and devours. 



(1870.) About the twenty-second day (fig. 330, D) the Tadpole, for 



* Vide Rusconi, Amours des Salamandres aquatiques, et Dveloppement duT&tard 

 de ces Salamandres depuis 1'ceuf jusqu'a I'animal parfait. 4to. Milan, 1821. 



2x 



