108 Dr Rusconi’s Observations on the Natural History and 
Rusconi of Pavia. While employed on the Proteus, Dr Rus 
coni directed his attention to the larva of the Aquatic Salaman- 
der, which, in many points of structure, bears a near resemblance 
to the proteus. He then also described, shortly, the amours 
of the salamander, and the mode in which the egg is deposited 
by the female * ; and, farther, announced his intention of speedily 
publishing a more detailed account. This intention he postponed 
for some time, from a desire of accompanying his work with 
comparative sketches of the structure of the Sirena lacertina ; 
but having, for the present, been disappointed in his efforts, 
both in Europe and America, to procure that animal, he re- 
solved to delay no longer the publication of his researches re- 
lating to the salamander. Accordingly, in the year 1821, he 
printed at Milan, a work entitled “ Amours des Salamandres 
Aquatiques, et.Developement du Tetard de ces Salamandres, 
depuis fceuf jusqu' a Fanimal parfait.” Of this work I pro- 
pose now to give the substance, together with such of the de- 
signs as may be necessary to illustrate and verify the anatomical 
descriptions. In its present state, the inquiry may be deemed 
to possess a new interest, from the circumstance of the same 
subject having, so lately as the years 1821 and 1822, been pro- 
posed, in the following form, as a prize essay by the Royal In- 
stitute of France. — 45 To trace the gradual developement of 
the aquatic Triton or Salamander, through its different stages, 
from the egg to the perfect animal; and to describe the inter- 
nal changes which it experiences, but principally in regard to 
osteogony, and the distribution of the vessels -f.” 
Dr Rusconi commences his memoir by expressing surprise 
that the natural history of the aquatic salamanders, which are 
so common in the marshes of Italy, should be so imperfectly 
known. Hitherto, the observations made upon them have been 
more particularly confined to their astonishing powers of repro- 
duction ; while other properties, at least as curious, and still 
more important, have been almost wholly neglected* In truth, 
the changes which these animals exhibit, according to age, sex, 
and season, have not been observed with all the attention they 
deserve ; and it is to this want of attention that we must attri- 
* Del Proteo Anguino Monografia , p, 35-6-7. Pavia, 1819. 
‘I' Philosophical Magazine , April 1821, p. 306. 
