438 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
subsequently of the derivation of its name. ‘“‘ Axolotl” is the 
usual Aztec term for tadpole, which near Mexico city has been 
not transferred, but rather restricted, to the famous larva of 
the Amblystoma—in fact, ‘‘ Axolotl”’ is simply the tadpole, and 
there is not much need for speaking of ordinary ‘“‘taddies.” 
Dr. Gadow naturally met with some strange experiences, and 
one which is not the least remarkable was the presence of Rattle- 
snakes in a camp on a ridge presumably at 12,500 ft. of eleva- 
tion. That these snakes should have existed so close to the 
upper limit of life “‘in a climate cold even in the summer, and 
one implying a long term of hibernation, was certainly sur- 
prising.” Again, whilst rambling along the edge of a forest a 
noise was heard resembling the mutter of a distant saw-mill, 
and, approaching nearer, the sound grew into a roar, like that 
of steam escaping from many engines, mingled with the sharp 
and piercing scream of saws. This was caused by a vast con- 
course of large green Tree-Frogs (Hyla baudini), and the resultant 
of the spawning females was calculated as one hundred million 
eges. But now comes the recital of much wasted life, and 
happily so; on the party returning the next morning to photo- 
graph the scene there was not a single Frog left—‘“‘ the water 
had all evaporated, and the whole place was glazed over with 
dried-up spawn. The prospective chance of millions of little 
Frogs was gone, their expectant parents having been deceived 
in calculating their day of incarnation.” 
Dr. Gadow reflects the growing dissent to the too much used 
theory of ‘‘ warning coloration,” and instances the case of Coral 
Snakes so frequently ‘‘ paraded” as examples supporting that 
hypothesis. Black and carmine or coral-red, in alternate rings, 
are the usual pattern, but ‘‘ upon a black ground red is the first 
colour to disappear, or rather to produce in combination with it 
a neutral tint; next follows orange, then green and blue, and 
lastly yellow, which is far less easily effaced than white upon 
black. We conclude that in most cases the combination of red 
and black is a self-effacing, rather than a warning, pattern.” 
From these quotations it will be seen that this book gives us 
much bionomical information from Amphibian and Reptilian 
observation. The account of all natural history expeditions 
divulges the speciality of the naturalist ; frequently it is ornitho- 
