THE GIGANTIC SALAMANDER. 



'83 



an adult crawling batrachian with perpetual gills, but that it is in its preliminary or tad- 

 pole stage of existence. Mr. Baird makes the following sensible remarks on this 

 subject : 



' It so much resembles the larva of Ambystoma punctata, in both external form and 

 internal structure, that I cannot but believe it to be the larva of some gigantic species of 

 this genus. It differs from all other perennibranchiates in possessing the larval character 

 of the gular or opercular flap, this being unattached to the adjacent integuments, and free 

 to the extremity of the chin. The non-discovery of the adult is no argument against its 

 existence. I had caught hundreds of the very remarkable larva of Pseudotriton salmoneus 

 near Carlisle before I found an adult. Until then I knew nowhere to refer the animal, 

 supposing this species to exist no nearer than the mountains of New York and Vermont. 



As may be seen from the illustration, the gills or branchiae are quite as large in 

 proportion as those of the newt in its larva state. They are three in number on each 

 side, and furnished with fringes. 



AXOLOTL. Axoloteles guttatus. 



The Axolotl inhabits Mexico, where it is tolerably plentiful, and in some places is 

 found in such numbers that it is sold in the markets for the table. It frequents the 

 lake surrounding the city of Mexico, and, according to Humboldt, is also found in the 

 cold waters of certain mountain lakes at a considerable elevation above the sea. 



The color of this remarkable creature is rather dark grayish brown, covered thickly 

 with black spots. The length varies from eight to ten inches. 



ANOTHER small order now comes before us, containing a few species, and only two 

 very small families. In all these creatures the body is long and lizard-like, the legs 

 four and feeble, and the gills internal, but permanent throughout life. 



OUR first example of this family is the now celebrated GIGANTIC SALAMANDER. 



This is undoubtedly one of the least attractive of the vertebrate animals, being 

 dull in habits, sombre in color, with a sort of half-finished look about it, and not pos- 

 sessing even that savage ugliness which makes many a hideous creature attractive m 

 spite of its uncomeliness. It is a native of Japan, and even in that country seems to 

 be rare, a large sum being asked for it by the seller. It lives in the lakes and pools 

 that exist in the basaltic mountain ranges of Japan. 



