288 REPTILIA. 



found in abundance at that period about the roots of rushes, &c., in the vicinity of ponds ; whence it is not true 

 that they quit in consequence of the water beings dried up, as has been suggested]. 



The experiments of Spallanzani, on the extraordinary power which these animals have of reproducing their 

 parts, have rendered them celebrated. They renew, many times successively, the same member after it had 

 been severed; and this with all its bones, muscles, vessels, &c. Another faculty, not less singular, consists (as 

 shown by Dufoy) in their recovering after having been long frozen up in ice. Their eggs are fecundated by fluid 

 dispersed in the watery medium, which penetrates with the water into their oviducts. They lay long chaplets of 

 eggs, and the young appear fifteen days from the deposition of them, retaining their gills for a longer or shorter 

 period according to the species. Modern observers have distinguished several European species, the males of 

 which develope high membranous dorsal crests very early in the spring, [which are absorbed, and the remnants 

 cast oif, ere they leave the water at the end of summer. One, with a smooth olive-coloured skin like a Frog 

 (T. ^KMC^afiM), and handsomely spotted with black, is common in stagnant waters throughout Britain ; and two 

 others (T. palustris and T. marmoratns), with a granulated skin like a Toad, and also spotted upon a much darker 

 ground, and punctated with white, are — the first at least — equally so. All have the under parts bright orange 

 colour. Those with granulated skins resemble the Toads in the capability of remaining without food for a most 

 extraordinary period, in a state of imprisonment, having been found occasionally in closed cavities, where they 

 must have remained for many years.] 



The skeleton of an animal of this genus has been found among the schists of (Eningen, which is three feet in 

 length. It is the pretended fossil man of Scheuchzer. 



Ill the suite of the Salamanders should range several very similar animals, some of which are reputed 

 never to have gills, while others, on the contrary, retain them permanently, notwithstanding which they 

 have the same lungs as the other Batrachians, heing thus the only vertebrated animals that are truly 

 amphibious. 



The former of these, which have never been seen with gills, fall under two genera. 



The Mexopoma, Harlan. 



Form altogether that of a Salamander, the eyes apparent, feet well developed, and an orifice on each 

 side of the neck. Besides a range of fine teeth surrounding the jaws, they have a parallel range before 

 the palate. The known species, fifteen to eighteen inches in length, inhabits North America, where it 

 is termed HeU-bender. 



The Amphiuma, Garden, — 

 Has also an orifice on each side of the neck, but the body is excessively elongated ; the limbs and feet, 

 on the contrary, but little developed ; and the palatal teeth form two longitudinal ranges. Likewise 

 from North America. 



Among those which permanently retain their gills, 



The Axolotls, — 

 Altogether resemble the tadpole of a Salamander. They have velvety teeth to both jaws, and two 

 bands of the same upon the palate. From Mexico. 



The Menobranchus, Harlan, — 

 Has but four toes to each foot ; a range of teeth on the intermaxillaries, and another parallel but more 

 extended range, on the maxillaries. 



The Proteus, Laurenti. 



Three toes before, and only two behind ; the muzzle lengthened and depressed ; both jaws furnished 

 with teeth ; tongue but slightly moveable, and free anteriorly ; eyes excessively small, and couched be- 

 neath the skin, as in the mammiferous genus Spalax ; ear covered by the flesh, as in the Salamanders; 

 and skin smooth and whitish. The skeleton resembles that of the Salamander, except that it has many 

 more vertebrae, and fewer rudiments of ribs ; but the general conformation of the skull is very different. 

 Inhabits the subterranean waters, with which certain lakes in Carniola communicate. 



The Syrens {Syren, Lin.) — 

 Are elongated animals, having nearly the form of Eels, and three branchial crests ; no hind feet, nor 

 even vestige of pelvis; head flatiened; mouth not deeply cleft; muzzle obtuse ; eye very small ; ear 

 concealed; lower jaw armed with teeth all round, but none ia the upper; and two raised series on each 

 side of the palate. 



One species (S. lacertina, Lin.) attains a length of three feet. Others are smaller, with the branchial crests less 

 developed, and compose the Psciidobranehtis of Gray. 



