THE SALAMANDER. 355 



tural connexion ceases, for the voracious mother be- 

 gins to devour her breed. It is not only the crocodile 

 that is an enemy to its own species, for the ichneumon 

 and the vulture exist upon their eggs ; and was it not 

 for their beneficial influence, their numbers would com- 

 pletely overrun the land. 



The flesh of this animal is extremely unpalatable, 

 and impregnated by the bags of musk that are found 

 under its arms and legs ; but their eggs are considered 

 as a great delicacy by savages, though a European ap- 

 petite would not be likely to relish them as a treat. 



OF THE SALAMANDER. 



Though the ancients have described a lizard bred 

 by fire, and existing in flames, the moderns have dis- 

 covered that it was a fabulous assertion, and that they 

 have been merely the offspring of a heated brain. 



The salamander, which was once supposed to live 

 upon that element which must inevitably prove the de- 

 struction of life, resembles a frog in the form of its 

 body, though, like every species of the lizard, it has a 

 long tail : like that animal its snout is rounded, and its 

 eyes placed in the back of the head ; the claws of its 

 toes are short and feeble ; and it is covered with a 

 rough skin. 



Not only the salamander, but every one of the lizard 

 species, are supposed to be of a venomous kind ; but it 

 appears to be the effect of prejudice or misconception, 

 for they are destitute of fangs like the viper, and have 

 very small teeth ;, as to the saliva, which has been sup- 

 posed poisonous, no effects of that nature have ever 

 been produced. 



The salamander, which is best known in Europe, is 

 generally from eight to eleven inches in length : when 



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