The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-27
QUEER LITTLE REPTILES.
Selamanders That Run or Swim in the
Aquarium of a New York Collector.

SeIemanders That Run or Swim in the
Aquarium of a New York Collector.
From the Neto York Sun.
In the possession OF W. L. Sherwood of
22S5 Seventh avenue is a blind cave sala-
mander, one Of the very few of this species
ever taken alive. 1t is of a pink color,
about seven inches long, and the thickness
of mans forefnger The front legs are
short and have three toes, while the hind
legs have but two. When it wants to move
about the salamander waves its long and
timber tail, and propels itself with remark
able rapidity aboit the large 81, be In
which it is kept Its food consists Of the
microscopic water animals, which are found
within the bulbs of "A seaweed OF the blad-
derwort species, of which a good supply is
kept in the salamsnder's globe.
Before its period of captivity the sala-
mander would have had no use for the
faculty of sight, had 1t possessed it, as It's
home was in the subterranean rivers Of
Carniola, Austria. Blind cave sslamanders
are found also in the Mammoth cave OF
Kentucky These animals, although blind,
are not altogether without organs of sight,
as rudimeutary eyes can be seen underneath
the semi transparent skin Of the head.
Another rare and interesting specimen Of
the salamandridR 10 Mr. Sherwood's pos
Lake Of Mexico. The Mexican axolotl is
usually Of a brownish hue, and this one,
which is q faint pink is supposed to be an
albino. 1t is six inches long with large
head and mouth and a protuberant stomach.
In temperament it is vicious and it bites
savagely at anything which is thrust into
the water of the aquarium which it in
habits.
Tadpoles form its chief food, although in
the absence of these it will devour raw
beef with avidity, but uotwiI hstandiug
that 1t is supplied with teeth, it never takes
the trouble to chew its food but swallows
it whole. In the case OF q tadpole the
axolOtl's last meal may be seen wriggling
uncomfortably inside it for some moments
after. The axolotl breAthes through gills.
II, however, its habitat is so arranged that
the water shoals gradually from dry spot
to deep water, the animal will slowly de-
velop into a Rmbystoma, land salaman-
der, between which and the original form
there is greater difference than between
salamanders Of distinct families.
1t is only In captivity that this extraor
binary change takes place. This is ascribed
by naturalists to the surroundings Of the
Rxolotl in its native home. 1t is a larval
form and would naturally develop into a
land animal were it not for the fact that
the surroundings of the Lake Of Mexico are
such that during its development the axolotl
WOulu llnQ no LDSduB Oh buDSlSC6uC6s
The Lake of Mexico is shallow at the
eastern extremity. and it is at the eastern
end only that the axolotls are found and
collected by the inhabitants for food. FIRE.
quent and heavy winds from the east drive
the males to the western shore OF the lake,
leaving long beach like plain at the east
ern end. AS the lake is brackish this beach is
coated with salt and is sterile. Hence the
axolotls, In undergoing the change from the
water tO the land form would find no means
of sustensuce. The environment has so in
fuenced the species that they breed in the
larval or water form. This change is one
of the most peculiar known to scientific
men, aud since the discovery, which was
made few years ago, much has been writ
ten on the subject. Mr.. Sherwood will not
try the experiment on his white axolotl, as
he considers it too rare a specimen to risk in
this way, the animal being likely to die
while undergoing the transformation.
Among other live specimens in Mr.. Sher-
woods collection are some rare land sala~
manders found in the locality. and pair of
the rare and rainbow-colored paradise fish
of Japan.