113 
and Structure of the Aquatic Salamander. 
perceives the stomach, and recognises its form and position : his 
eye is able to distinguish the intestinal canal, which at first ex-, 
tends in a straight line from one extremity of the abdomen to the 
other, afterwards goes on serpentining, and ends by forming many 
convolutions : next he sees the liver, whose development accom- 
panies that of the stomach and intestines, to which it is subser- 
vient : and, lastly, he sees the lung take its form and place, al- 
ways filled with air, and so transparent that one might believe 
the animal has, on the two sides of the trunk, two bubbles of air, 
which gradually dilate and elongate from before, backward. 
When the organs of digestion have acquired the size necessary 
for the exercise of their functions, the curious spectator perceives 
in the little salamander, whose life hitherto has been purely orga- 
nic or vegetative, the life of relation , or the animal life, to begin. 
At this epoch, the movements of the young animal are no 
longer automatic, or the result simply of its internal organi- 
sation, but they are also the consequence of sensations which 
the surrounding objects cause it to experience. In truth, it now 
avoids and removes from those objects from which it dreads in- 
convenience or pain, and approaches those from which it hopes 
to receive advantage or pleasure. We see it, at this period, 
watch the minute insects which it sees swimming in the water, 
direct its little snout towards them, pursue them with address, 
and dart upon them with surprising agility. When it is keenly 
pressed by hunger, it attacks even its comrades, and seeks its 
nourishment by devouring their gills and tail. The lively plea- 
sure which these interesting scenes afforded me, continues the 
author, suggested to me at once the idea of making them known 
to naturalists, by publishing a work on salamanders, similar to 
that which the celebrated naturalist of Nuremberg, M. Roesel, 
has given on frogs ; and to follow, in every point, the example 
of that celebrated writer, I resolved to engrave the plates my- 
self. To speak truly, however, I hesitated a little before I un- 
dertook this task ; for having never engraved in my life, I anti- 
cipated the difficulties I should encounter, and had little hope 
of getting out of them with honour, and according to my wish. 
Reflecting, nevertheless, that engravers, even the most able, 
when they are set to engrave objects, which they have not them- 
VOL. ix. no. 17. JULY 1823. 
H 
