The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 269 



will gradually shrivel up until they become 

 unfit for their original function and finally 

 disappear. It is then that the lungs, which 

 were always present in an undeveloped 

 form, expand, replacing the exterior organs 

 in their respiratory functions. The perfect 

 Axolotl will then be able to live on land, 

 where its color will change from the dark, 

 mottled brown to a lighter shade, spotted and 

 striped with grayish brown. The comb dis- 

 appears and the rudder-like tail becomes al- 

 most round in shape. It is a remarkable 

 fact that the larva of the Axolotl is equipped 

 with fully developed sexual organs, so that 

 it is just as fit for propagation as is the per- 

 fect animal. 



A white or albino Axolotl with dark 

 pink gills is frequently seen and, on account 

 of its very delicate light pink color, is one 

 of our most attractive and interesting aqua- 

 rium inmates. They mate freely and are 

 as easily kept as the ordinary form. It is 

 rather peculiar, that albino parents often 



