Observations on Amphiuma. 319 
vessels filled with the large blood-corpuscles for which Amphiuma 
is noted. Three gill-slits are open, of which the two posterior 
become cloged in the adult. The eyes appear to better advantage 
than later in life. k 
The finding of these young, nearly ready for active life, in such 
an unexpected situation suggests some interesting problems. At 
what period of their development are these eggs deposited? If at 
an early period, the mother must incubate them for a considerable 
time. If ata late period, why should they be placed in such a 
situation? In either case it appears to be quite probable that they 
are fertilized before they are deposited. Again, how are the eggs 
in such a dry situation saved from being thoroughly desiccated ? 
They are, I think, kept moist by the body of the mother as she lies 
coiled around them. My remembrance of her as she lay when first 
exposed is that she was much plumper than she now appears in 
alcohol; and when she was laid down on the office floor every spot - 
she touched was made wet. The source of this water I do not 
know ; but it appears probable that it came from the numerous 
glands that fill the skin, and that the mother makes nocturnal 
visits to the water to lay in supplies. 
Another question to be considered is this: What is to become of 
the young when they are hatched? How can these feeble little 
animals make their way to the water some rods away over ground 
that is covered with rubbish, dry, and full of cracks? How is it 
brought about that their delicate gills are not withered when 
exposed to the dry air? Is it possible that, like some species of 
snakes, the young crawl down the mother’s throat while she car- 
ries them to the water? It has been suggested to me that just 
before hatching she may carry the eggs in her mouth to the 
water; but the whole mass could not be taken into the mouth, 
and she could only carry them as a dog carries a large bone. It 
is evident that we have several things yet to learn about the 
habits of Amphiuma. 
By means of dissections and microscopical sections I have made 
Some observations on the structure of the young of the Amphi- 
uma as they were found in the eggs above described. A thorough 
study is being made of these embryos, and I hope soon to pub- 
1 a paper giving details and drawings. I here note the most 
salient features of the skull and shoulder girdle. 
