280 



LIFE. IN ITS HIGHER FORMS. 



single egg in the duplicature of the folded part of the 

 leaf, which is thereby glued most securely together, 

 and the egg is thus effectually protected from injury. 

 The manner in which this is effected is highly interesting, 

 and may be readily observed by any one. As soon as 

 the female has in this way deposited a single egg, she 

 quits the leaf; and after the lapse of a short time seeks 

 another, there to place another egg. 1 ' * 



Passing from these familiar creatures, we find in foreign 

 countries a few forms, which, though repulsive in aspect 

 and manners to the common observer, are of high interest 

 to the physiologist, because they manifest a 'still closer 

 affinity with the class we last considered. The Hellbender 

 (Itienobranchus) of the United States, the Axolote (Axolotus) 

 of Mexico, and the Proteus of Austria, are large Newts, 

 which never lose their gills through life, but permanently 

 perform an aquatic respiration simultaneously with an 

 aerial one. In all these animals, the limbs are reduced 

 to a rudimentary condition ; and in the Siren of Carolina, 

 which also lias a permanent double respiration, the hind 

 limbs are totally wanting. Finally, the Amphiuma of the 

 same region, which has an orifice in the neck, but has no 

 external gills at any period of life, has the appearance of 

 an Eel, with four minute rudimentary feet • and the bones 

 of the spine present on each surface .that concavity which 

 belongs to the vertebra of Fishes. jJxlj&yx^^ 



Of these creatures cne of the most interesting is the 

 Proteus (P. anguinus), which inhabits the waters of great 

 subterranean cavaties in the limestone formation of 

 Southern Europe. One of the most romantic and splendid 



* Op. cit, pp. 123, 122. 



