Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-28

some kind of fishes, until they reach a
perfect state. when they become real rep |
tiles. What more wonderful than the
metamorphoses of the animal world? Who
can explain the laws which control the
change of an egg to worm, and a worm
10 butterfly, or n fish to a reptile!
This change is so complete that the animal
assumes not only new form, but new
nature and mode of living; sports in
new element and subsists upon a new
kind of food. We should MT complain oil
the mysteries in religion until we can
solve the mysteries in nature.
There are several species of the triton
salamander found in different parts of the
world. One kind lives in decayed hollow
trees in the western part of New York.
Other kinds are found in the running
brooks and springy places in different
parts of the country. They are all Won
derfully tenacious Of life. When mutilated
they will reproduce the lost members.
Those salamanders that live on the land,
at first inhabit the waters. After several
metamorphoses they arrive at Il state
which fits them for living upon land-near
fallen timber and old walls, or about cool
and moist places. They subsist upon
insects. worms and small animals until
winter comes, when they too pass into n
torpid state and sleep away the hopeless
season.
In central Europe and northern and
western Asia, lives the spotted salaman-
der, which was the subject of many ancient
superstitions. This reptile was regarded
as one of the most venomous of animals.
The Romans looked upon it with horror,
Hence the two proverbs. LIST. :" He who is
bitten by salamander has need of as
many physicians as the animal has spots. y
I'd, If u salamander bites YOU, put on
your shroud.n Numerous fables had their
origin in the superstition above alluded to.
Not only was its bite considered fatal, but
even its touch was thought poisonous. If
t crept over an apple tree all the fruit
became contaminated, and the animal on
on which its saliva fell was rendered unfit
for food. We are pointed to a supposed
miracle-the fact that man had survived
after eating salamander which his de-
voted(O wife put into his food with the
expectation of Riding herself Of an I'M
congenial companion. The heart of the
salamander was worn as an amulet, and
was used in medicine for the cure of lep.
rosy, and it was supposed to have the
power of changing quicksilver into gold.
In the United States we find numerous
species of salamanders. The yelloU beilied
kind live under stones and decayed wood,
from Maine to Florida; the rjoLet coiored
are nocturnal in their habits, and are
found almost everywhere; the red backed
are very rapid in their movements, and
ha Los ;p lnl
districts in northern New York and South
Carolina; the painted species inhabit the
shallow streams in Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania; the salmon colored are
found in the New England states and New
York; the red salamander is dotted with
black and is common species in the mid
die states. Many other species inhabit
the same states that have already been
mentioned.
To another family belong several spe-
cies whose names indicate their unpopular
| ity, viz: Allegheny hill, bender, mud
devil, ground pepper and young alligator
They are from one to three feet long, vo.
racious and unsparing to every creature
| they can master. These reptiles inhabi
the Ohio and Allegheny rivers and their
tributaries.
Another order of salamanders is divided
into two families. The first have two leg.
and long and cylindrical, naked body
like an eel, and live in the muddy water
of the rice swamps and feed on worms
and insects. The second family have each
four legs, small and concealed eyes and 9
compressed tail. They swim like leech
and love darkness rather than light, be
cause their deeds are evil" They have
been found in the waters of certain cave.
in Austria, several hundred feet below the
surface. The fourth order have no fee
and live in the tropical regions in marshy
ground. Three species Of the fifth orde
are found in the fresh waters of Soutl
America and Africa.