The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-09-19
A Curious American Creature.

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undergo transformations more or less
closely resembling that of their familiar
representative; these changes concern
ing not only the external form, but, as
we have noted, involving parts of the
internal structure and organization also.
But more astonishing, in respect to their
unwonted nature, are the transforma-
tions and variations from the ordinary
curse of development, which appear to
occur in certain an.phibians, such as
the siredon or axolotl of Mexico, and
the Alpine salamander.
The .axolotl is a newt-like creature,
provided with both gills and lungs in its
adult stage. Prior TO 1867, the axolotl
was regarded as a perfectly distinct and
mature animal, since it freely bred in its
native waters, and even in captivity;
the capacity to perpetuate its species
being regarded by Psychologists as the
surest of tests of the attainment by any
animal of the adult state of existence.
But in 1867, some axolotls which were
kept in the Jardin des Plantes were seen
to lose their gills, to leave the water in
which they had hitherto peacefully
lived, and to assume the black and yell
low color of an American newt-the
Amblystoma-which like our nevis,
does not possess gills in its adult exist
ence, and which was unknown to pos
sess any relationship whatever with the
axolotl. In this instance, therefore,
the transformations dealt not merely
with the natural development of a sin
gle animal, but actually had the effect
of metamorphosing n apparently dis
tinct species Of animal into another.
The exact causes Of this serious change
in individuality were undetermined
until the ingenuity and perseverance of
Fraulein Marie Won Chauvin, exhibited
in experimentation upon the axolotls,
afforded a clue to the probable nature
of the transformation. This lady Sc
lected five axolotls as the subjects Of her
experiments, and by gradually enticing
them from the water, and inuring them
to a life on land, succeeded in causing
two specimens to cast their gills and to
become dependent on their lungs.
These two specimens at the same time
acquired the rounded tail, the promi-
nent eyes, and finally the characteristic
black and yellow hues of the ambly'
stoma. As supplementary to these ex,
periments may be mentioned the OBJ
servation of Professor Marsh, of thii
country, who found that axolotll
brought from the lakes of the Rocky
Mountains-situated at an altitude Of
from four thousand five hundred t.
seven thousand feet-cast their gills ant
become amblystomas when brought II
the sea-level.
There can be no doubt, therefore, il
the present instance, that the alteration
in the physical environments and condi
tions of life Of these animals is the ex
citing cause of the transformations
and the case before us also well exem
plifies that adaptive power of vital az
ton which constitutes one of the mos
wonderful traits in the nature and dil
position of living organisms.
Business Ability.
My wife is a good manager" said
fellow traveller. 81 believe that sh
could tell to a dollar Just how niue
money she has spent during the past to
years. It's as much as.I can do to kee
account of my expenditures for tie
days" Yet that man doubtless col
siders himself his wife's superior j
business ability. But is he? Do "
not all know women, who, with mad
quate means at their command, ha,
: struggled for years against trials, diff
; culties and obstacles, which, to The mo
! timid, seemed simply appalling? Wome
who have made home pleasant and a
tractive to their children; who, by tt
! exercise of qualities which would ha'
!. made good business men of them, hs
! they been men instead of women, ha'
given these children education and a
complishments. These women are
telligent, sagacious, quick-witted and
!. to use a peculiarly American adjecti
> smart. A woman who manages b
household affairs with such prudent
foresight and economy as to excite t
admiration of her neighbers; who is
ways neat in appearance thoughshe m
:, not possess any fine clothes; who, thou
:, a hard worker, finds time to read a
y thus enlarge the horizono of her otherwi
. narrow world, is invariably spoken of
J a "smart woman" If this smartn,
has been turned into a business dir
= ton is it not more than probable tt
she would have made a good busin'
= woman?