BATRACHIA, 



73 



THE AXOLOTL (Axolotus Pisciformis). 



In lakes in certain caverns of Austria, which never 

 saw the light of day, a singular animal has been 

 found, the (Proteus* Anguinus) which, to a slender 

 body, a foot in length, joins four small legs. Its 

 eyes are hidden by the skin, so that it is blind ; the 

 general colour is almost white ; and it has in addition 

 to real lungs, gills on each side of a bright coral-red. 

 It appears to live on small shell-fish. 



* The name of a fabled god, celebrated for his change of form. 



VOL. II. 



