Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
FISH WITH LEGS.
A Reptile that is Called an AxiIOti an,
is Eaten by BIexicans.

A Reptile that is Called an AxiIOti and
is Eaten by BTexicans.
In a tank in Fish Commissioner Black
fOrd's office, in Fulton Market, says the
New York San of the 18th inst, fOated
an amphibiOus reptile yesterday. 1t was
white, about three inches long and resem-
bled a fresh-Water bullhead in shape, eX-
cept that it was longer and more slender
and it had four legs. Near the end of its
broad fiat nose, that resembled a toad's.
were two black eyes.
"'Fish with legs is the name given to
the creatures by the native MeXicans in
the neIghbOrhood of the high mountain
lakes where they are found" said Prof.
Rice Mr. BlackfOrd's assistant. "The
native nameis aXilOti. They are remarka-
bic in many ways, but this little fellow
has claim to fame, for he is the first of
the species born and reared here by hand.
His parents were brought here from Paris,
whittier they were sent from Mexico.
White aXilotis never sa v or heard of be-
fore. Their color is usually dark brown,
with spots, and they grow to be ten inches
long. Out of several hundred caught,
these white ones were selected. The ma
tive MeXicans, by the way, eat them. But
l see the little fellow is hungry from the
way he follows me around the tank. l
think he recognizes me-"
Prof. Rice took a splint from a broom
and speared a tiny bitof liver with it, and
as soon as the flesh was under water the
aXilotPs eyes snapped, and it leaped for
ward like trout for fly. The meat dis
appeared in its wide mouth, and the end
of the broom splint was held so firmly in
its teeth that the creature had to be
shaken off.
81 used to feed it with a pair of divi-
ders," said Prof. Rice, 'but now it is
risky, as it might rush on the points and
put an eye out or break one of its jaws.
We don't want to lose it, for it is the only
young one left out of hundreds of eggs
that hatched out. The female has been
laying eggs to-day"
In another tank were two axilotis, and
on the surface of the water floated a green
vine, to which were attached hundreds of
eggs clustered like grapes. ''The mother
deposits them while she is crawling slow
ly over the vine. When first Matched the
little aXilotis can hardly be seen, they are
so small and transparent, and they nearly
all die"
''From experiments with the aXilOti,"
Prof. Rice continued, sit appears that it
is the larval condition of family Of pa
trachians usually regarded as a distinct
family. After being kept for a long time
a metamOrphOsis is seen in the reptiles.
Dark spots appear on the sides of the tail,
and the thin membrane which runs along
! the backbone disappears. Then gradual
/ ly the lungs on the outside of the gills are
! absorbed, and the creature comes to the
4 surface Of the water more frequently to
/ breathe. Finally the body diminishes in
I size, the eyes become more convex, and
/ prominent, the head becomes more oval
/ in outline, and at last it escapes from the
water species of salamander closely al
lied to the frog family. These changes,
under favorable conditions, occupy about
three weeks. 1t is strange that in its i'm.
mature state the creature has the power
! Of reproducing its Species