REPTILES. 



207 



is a small "Fvog in Venezuela that has a similar contriv- 

 ance, hatching its eggs in a pouch on its back. 



345. The common Newt, Fig. 166, is a specimen of the 



Fig. 166 Common Newt, 



Salamander family. It feeds chiefly on Tadpoles and 

 worms, which it eats Tvith a peculiar quick snap. These 

 animals are, you see, much like the Lizards in shape ; 

 but they are considered as belonging to this order, be- 

 cause they go through with the changes spoken of in 

 § 339. The true Salamander is a land animal of the same 

 general character with the "Water Newt, but having a 

 rounded tail. The stories about its being capable of liv- 

 ing in the midst of fire are wholly unfounded. 



346. The Sirens have only the anterior legs developed, 

 and that only to a small extent. They are found princi- 

 pally in the marshy rice-fields of the Southern States of 

 this country. One species sometimes reaches a length 

 of three feet. The Footless family contains but a sin- 

 gle genus — the Blind Xewt, or Xaked Serpent. Cuvier 

 placed it among the Serpents on account of its snake-like 

 form. But it has no scales, and it is found to imdergo 

 the metamorphosis, or change of form, common to all the 

 Amphibia. 



