SOME NOTES ON THE GIANT SALAMANDER OF JAPAN. 271 



a fiöh, frog or several earfch-worms and tied to a string, a few 

 feet in length. This is thrust by the aid of a small bamboo 

 stick into the salamander's retreat. The string is not tied to the 

 stick, but the point of the loaded hook is forced into one end of it, 

 far enough to keep it in place while this end of the rod is pushed 

 under the rock. When the bait has been thus brought near the 

 salamander, any bite will be instantly felt through the rod. 



When the bite is felt, the rod is withdrawn as quietly as possible, 

 tlie hook and bait being left. As soon as a jerk of the string is noticed, 

 a pull is made, which generally ends in the capture of the unfortunate 

 animal. If the first pull should fail, the bait is replaced as before, and 

 a second opportunity is offered which the unwary creature accepts as 

 readily as the first. The fisherman having obtained one bite, is sure 

 of ultimate success, as the salamander does not learn by experience 

 to refuse the proffered morsel. 



When captured, this animal emits a peculiar slimy secretion, 

 having an odor much like that of the leaves of the Japan pepper 

 (Xanthoxylon peperitum.) This secretion hardens into a gelatinous 

 mass on short exposure to the air. 



Temminck and Schlegel (I. c, p. 12S) state that the act of 

 inspiration is ordinarily performed once every 6 — 10 minutes. This 

 is true for specimens kept in tubs; but my observations lead me to 

 think that they perform this act less fi:*equently in their native 

 brooks. 



The eyes are remarkably small (measuring only 4 mm. in dia- 

 meter), and this fact is perhaps correlated with their mode of life. 

 For the capture of their prey (fish, frogs &c.), which they do, not by 

 pursuing, but by waiting for the near approach of it, their eyes are 

 obviously of comparatively little importance. 



Besides they keep themselves habitually in dark places, and 



