1708 The Zoologist— June, 1869. 



genous birds and marsupial sticklers are allowed to remain integral 

 portions of the classes to which they respectively belong. The 

 different mode of reproduction obtains equally in each of the four 

 classes of endosteate animals ; and whether we are classifying Suck- 

 lers, Birds, Reptiles or Fishes, we must accept it in all, or reject it 

 in all. The great character by which the Metamorphotic Reptiles 

 are separated from the Immutable Repliles is, as the name implies, 

 the presence of a complete metamorphosis; and although the full 

 value and weight must be allowed to this important distinction, we 

 should never forget that a precisely similar discrepancy obtains in the 

 other classes. This distinctive law, however, is not absolute ; indeed, 

 like every other strongly marked character, it is liable to important 

 exceptions. The salamander, for instance, produces its young alive, 

 sometimes taking to the water with this object, but generally seeking 

 some moist, mossy retreat, or the damp flooring of a stone crevice or 

 cavern, where the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere and objects 

 affords the necessary conditions : when the young are produced in an 

 imgenial site in this respect they quickly perish. I believe this vivi- 

 parous parturition of the salamander is invariable, in this respect 

 differing from that of Lacerta agilis, in which I regard it as excep- 

 tional only. The first notice of the phenomenon that I met with was 

 communicated to me by Mr. Samuel Gurney, so favourably known to 

 naturalists by his successful experiments in breeding salmon, rearing 

 black swans, &c. The following is Mr. Gurney's record made at 

 the time. 



" Whilst staying at Dresden for a few days last year, in the month 

 of July, we took an excursion to Thorant, a picturesque little village 

 and watering place, a few miles distant. It was a splendid evening, 

 after a very showery morning. Whilst walking tlirongli a wood I 

 found two salamanders, which I took back with me to Dresden, and 

 put them in a small box which I procined for the purpose. We went 

 out for a three day.s' excursion into Saxon Switzerland, leaving them 

 on the window-sill : on our return I found one of them dead (from the 

 box having been exposed to the heat of the sun), and the other nearly 

 so : it, however, soon revived on being sprinkled with water, and it was 

 our compagiion de vogage till our return home, where I left it for some 

 months in a glass fish-bowl, with some mould and moss, which was 

 kept slightly moist. My gardener used occasionally to give it a worm, 

 though it seemed to thrive just as well without being fed. I presented 

 it lo the Zoological Gardens in January ; a few days afterwards it 



