SALAMANDERS. 83 



that of the great Japanese Salamander, though it is 

 not so broad and stout. Its gills have a more fan- 

 like form than those of the axolotl; and it is probable 

 that if the experiment were tried, the respiratory 

 apparatus of theNecturus could be artificially developed, 

 like that of the axolotl. 



With regard to these gill-breathing Salamanders, 

 Dr. Baird was of the opinion that they were really the 

 arrested form of some animal, which is, at present, 

 unknown in the perfect state. Perhaps some of my 

 readers who take a delight in the aquarium, may 

 remember the pretty little Spotted Salamander or Eft, 

 that is in such demand on account of its violet-black 

 colour, relieved with a row of large, irregular, yellow 

 spots on each side, The scientific name of the 

 animal is Ambystoma Carolina, and Dr. Baird con- 

 sidered that the axolotl is in reality the arrested 

 larval form of some Newt belonging to the same genus 

 as the Spotted Eft. 



In consequence of the fact that they retain the gills 

 throughout their whole life, the animals which have 

 just been mentioned are collectively termed Perenni- 

 branchiate Amphibia, that is, amphibious reptiles whose 

 gills are permanent. The true newts, frogs, and toads 

 are, on the other hand, termed Caducibranchiate 

 Amphibia, i.e., amphibious reptiles whose gills are 

 obliterated. 



On these remarkable changes of structure Mr. 

 Eymer Jones has the following remarks : 



" However curious the phenomena attending the 

 development of the tadpoles of the amphibious reptiles 

 may be to the observer who merely watches the changes 



