Some Notes 



on the 



Giant Salamander of Japan 



(Cryptobranchus Japonicus, Van der Hoeven.) 



By 



C. Sasaki, Riéakushi. 

 Professor in the Agricultural and Denclrological College, Tokyo. 



In the summer of 1880 and 1881, I visited some provinces in 

 the interior of our island, for the purpose of collecting specimens of 

 the Giant Salamander. 



I succeeded in capturing seventy-one specimens, varying in 

 length from 19 cm. to 69 cm., and in weight from 41 grams to 1926 

 grams, and in gathering some facts respecting their habits, and mode 

 of life. 



Although my observations on the above points are of a frag- 

 mentary character, I think I may assume that they will not be wholly 

 devoid of interest, especially as they concern an animal which is 

 remarkable not only in itself, but also for its close relationship with 

 that celebrated fossil discovered more than a century and a half ago 

 in the tertiary fresh-water deposits of Oeningen, and called by its 

 discoverer Schenchzer, " Homo diluvii, testes." 



It is now generally admitted that Schenchzer's " Homo," which 

 he regarded as "ein recht seltenes Denckmal jenes verfluchten 

 Menschengeschlechts der ersten Welt,"; belongs to the same genus as 

 the giant salamander of Japan . 



