AMPHIBIA. 533 



in the soft ground, among decayed trees in wooded districts, 

 in ditches and shady spots, and in caves and old crumbling 

 buildings. They are sluggish and slow in their movements, not 

 often quitting their retreat, except during rainy weather, and at 

 night. The courage in danger for which they have been re- 

 nowned, is nothing more than stupidity. Flies, worms, slugs, &c., 

 constitute their food. Their size varies from two to seven inches, 

 and they also show great varieties of color. For example, we have 

 the Yellow-bellied Salamander, with the upper parts reddish 

 brown ; the Violet-colored ; the Red-backed ; the Slate-colored, 

 (with orange beneath ;) the Salmon-colored ; the Blotched, (gray, 

 with large bluish-black blotches ;) the Yellow, (spotted with black,) 

 otherwise the Long-tailed Salamander; the Granulated, (greenish 

 above, varied with gray and brown beneath ;) the Red ; the Scar- 

 let ; the Black; the Spectacled Salamander, &c. The number of 

 species is very large, even as found in the United States, and 

 this general reference to them must suffice. 



They are said to pass the winter in a kind of underground 

 burrow, numbers assembling together, and intertwining them- 

 selves for the sake of mutual warmth. Like other reptiles, they 

 shed their cuticle ; they are ovoviviparous, forty or fifty being the 

 produce at the same time, of a single female. Though tenacious 

 of life, a little salt or vinegar thrown on the Salamander, pro- 

 duces convulsions and death. From some species, there exudes 

 a milky or glutinous secretion, which is occasionally projected 

 several inches; it is acrid, and of a powerful odor, and is de- 

 scribed as fatal to small animals. In this fact, we perhaps have 

 the origin of Pliny's statement, that the Salamander "infects 

 with its poison, the vegetables of a vast extent of country, and 

 even spreads death around, like a pestilence." This, arid the 

 ancient stones of its being a body of ice, and uninjured by the 

 strongest heat, and of its having Tt deadly bite, are now regarded 

 as utterly groundless. It may be, however, that larger and 

 more formidable species formerly existed. 



The TRITON is distinguished by its fish-like tongue, which is 

 attached more or less at its borders, and has only the front ex- 

 tremity free. Of this genus, there are several species found in 

 brooks and marshy places, varying in length from three to six 

 inches. The TIGER TRITON, T. tigrinus, is of a bluish-black 

 color, with numerous irregular blotches over the head, body, 

 tail, and extremities. The length is from six to seven inches, 

 including the tail, which is longer than the body. Specimens 

 of this Newt have been obtained from the vicinity of Oneida 

 Lake, (N. Y.) 



