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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 readily be observed by any one, as the animals are sufficiently common in many ponds and ditches, and may generally be easily obtained by means of a minnow net. In the neighbourhood of London especially, they are to be found in numbers every spring, and I have had no difficulty in procuring as many as I wished for the purposes of observation. It is during the months of May and June that the female deposits her eggs. In due time these are hatched, and the Tadpole, with fringed gills, swims actively about. Towards the close of autumn, the Tadpole loses its gills and its fish-like appearance, and acquires its perfect condition. It soon prepares to hybernate, and remains torpid during the winter, buried in the soft mud below the water.

The STRAIGHT-LIPPED WATER NEWT, (Triton Bibronii, Bell,) has hitherto been confounded with the preceeding species, from which, however, it is distinct. habits and manners are the same.

The SMOOTH NEWT, (Lissotriton punctatus, Bell,) is the representative of a sub-genus, separated by Mr. Bell from Triton, in consequence of the smoothness of the skin, and two patches of pores on the head. The Smooth Newt is of small size, and is common in all our clear ponds and ditches. In its habits and manners it resembles the larger Newts; but is more terrestrial, both the adults and the young, after their transformation, creeping amongst damp herbage, or the decayed roots of trees, and even venturing into damp cellars. have collected numbers of this species, both young and adult, in our own cellar, which was often flooded during heavy rains, or high tides in the river Thames; in addition to these Reptiles, toads also were plentiful. In

We

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consequence of finding both young and adults at some distance from water, Shaw concluded that this species was altogether terrestrial; but he was in error, and had not sufficiently studied the habits and changes of these Reptiles. This little creature, generally termed Eft,* is ignorantly, but very commonly, supposed to be poisonous, a most unfounded accusation.

A larger species, the PALMATED SMOOTH NEWT, (Lissotriton palmipes,) is distinct from the preceding. The grounds of distinction rest upon certain minutiæ in the form of the mouth; besides which, a short membrane at all times fringes the toes of the latter.

America possesses many species of Triton; they agree in habits with the rest of the group.

GENUS MENOPOMA.

The genus Menopoma, of Harlan, next requires our notice. This genus is represented by that extraordinary animal, the GIGANTIC SALAMANDER of the United States of America, (M. alleganensis, Harl.;) (see engraving,) called, also, Molge, Ground-puppy, etc.

The limbs of this Reptile are strong; there are teeth in the jaws and palate; the eyes are distinct; no branchiæ have ever been discovered; but it is not improbable that they may exist at an early period, as in the common terrestrial Salamander, of which the young undergo their change before birth. There is an orifice on each side of the neck. The tail is flattened at the sides. This animal inhabits the rivers and great lakes of the States. It attains to the length of nearly twenty inches, and is of a blackish colour. Little is known as to its habits.

GENUS AMPHIUMA.

The genus Amphiuma is allied to the latter. No branchiæ have yet been found; but an orifice exists on each side of the neck. The body is extremely long, and

Asker, in the north and midland counties.

The

covered with a smooth skin, which together with its elongated form, give it an eel-like appearance. limbs are extremely minute, and divided in one species into two, in another into three, little jointless toes. There are no ribs, and the vertebræ are fish-like. There are teeth in the palate.

The THREE-TOED AMPHIUMA inhabits Louisiana, and is found in recent alluvial deposits, and often under decayed trunks of trees; it attains to the length of three feet.

It is

The TWO-TOED AMPHIUMA (A. means) (see engraving) is found in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. capable of living on the dry land; but how long has not been ascertained. "An individual," says Dr. Harlan, "in the possession of Dr. Mease, escaped from the vessel in which it was confined, and when found several days afterwards, was brisk and lively; and I am informed by Major Wace, that they are sometimes discovered two or three feet under mud, of the consistence of mortar, in which they burrow like worms, as was instanced in digging near a street in Pensacola, when great numbers (hybernating) were thrown up during the winter season. It is called in Florida, Congo snake by the negroes, who believe it to be poisonous, but without foundation." It is about eighteen inches in length.

A gigantic Salamander, inhabiting the waters of Japan, and allied to the Menopoma, was lately living at Leyden. It had not the branchial apertures, which are found (but without gills) in Menopoma; still it is not impossible that branchiæ might have existed at some period of the creature's life. M. V. der Hoeven has given to this extraordinary Reptile the name of CRYPTOBRANCHUS JAPONICUS. For some observations on it, see "Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1838," p. 25.

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