SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 189 



appearance and taste our smelts, is the best. 

 Tortoises, frogs, and the axolote, a species of 

 salamander, (an aquatic animal much resem- 

 bling a water-newt or lizard), are abundant 

 in the market^ and are all good eating ; the 

 latter have been the subject of dispute among 

 naturalists since the discovery of America, and 

 we are still in obscurity with respect to their 

 doubtful history. They were so plentiful in 

 the time of Cortez that his army principally 

 subsisted on them, and I have seen them by 

 thousands in the markets of Tolluca ; yet 

 they have never been discovered in a young 

 state, nor has any sexual difference yet been 

 noticed. I brought several home in spirits, 

 which are now under the inspection of Sir 

 Everard Home, from whom the public may 

 shortly expect much information respecting 

 this obscure species. 



The Indians also bring to market a con- 

 siderable quantity of a small delicate fish, not 



