SALAMANDER. 
65 
seems to dread its heat ; and who is only invited 
from its retreat by the appearance of rain ; we are 
almost ready to suppose that it must drag on a 
miserable existence, without the shadow of an en- 
joyment. Its habits and its appetite are equally 
congenial ; for the damp places to which it retires 
supply it with its principal food; beetles, snails, and 
earth-worms. 
It is the opinion of M. La Cepede, among other 
naturalists, that the salamander is entirely devoid of 
hearing: this is founded on the want of openings 
to the ears, and of ability in the animal to articulate 
the slightest sound. Dumbness is generally con- 
nected with deafness ; hence they suppose it in- 
capable of communicating its sensations to other 
animals of the same species, and thus they account 
for its extreme stupidity. From being insensible 
to danger, it has acquired a reputation for cou- 
rage, and is said constantly to keep its way, not- 
withstanding any attempts to terrify and turn it 
back. 
This poor creature has been much abused on 
account of being malignant ; but the accusation is 
without the slightest foundation, and probably ori- 
ginated in its unpleasant appearance, which too 
generally prepossesses us unjustly. On the con- 
trary, it is with the utmost difficulty that the sala- 
mander can be made to open its mouth ; and M. 
Maupertuis, in his experiments relative to its sup- 
posed poisonous nature, assures us, he was always 
obliged to open it by force. In this manner he 
VOL. II. f 
