The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-11-18
ABOUT SALAMANDERS.
Origin Of the Belief That They Are
at Home in Fire.
Some Funny Facts Concerning the Fabu-
Ious Creatures, by Man Who Is
Familiar with the Traits
Of Reptiles.

Some Funny Facts Concerning the Fabu-
Ious Creatures, by Man Who Is
Familiar with the Traits
OF Reptiles.
Nobody knows how the superstition
regarding the supposed fireproof quail
ity of the salamander had it's rise,
said Dr. Stejneger, the reptilian expert
Washington Evening Star recently.
However, can give what think is
pretty good guess at it. To explain,
/ shall have to tell you story.
"Once upon time l was camping
out with party. hunting and fishing.
We had lighted a big fire, using for
fuel several old logs. While we were
sitting around watching the progress
of some cookery in which we were en-
gagged, a young lady at my side gave
little scream and pointed into the
flames. looked, and there was small
lizard crawling right out from among
the glowing embers. It walked away
unhurt, apparently, through the grass
and made it's escape.
"Now that salamander had occupied
hole in one of the logs used for
fuel. Several species of it's kind live
in old tree trunks. Doubtless this one
found that it was getting uncomforta-
bly, hot and crawled out. Being moist
and Shiny, it's body was protected from
injury by the fire long enough to ena-
BILE it to escape through the embers
But the sight of the animal deliber-
ately making it's appearance from the
midst of the fire was certainly very sur
prising. Any ignorant person might
; easily have been led to imagine that
the creature must be fireproof. 1t
seems to me quite probable that the
superstition took it's rise from just such
occurrences
There are so many species Of sala-
: manders that description of them all
would fill book. They are to be
found all over the world, except in very
cold regions. in popular sense, the
name tsaiamander' is applied to all
batrachians with tails. That is rather
loose definition. A tadpole is a
batrachian with a tail, but it is not a
salamander. The great majority of
nevis, found in springs. The biggest
species in this country is the so-called
mud eel or siren 1t has only two
: feet, just behind the head, and it has
external gills when fully developed,
which is an exception to the rule
among salamanders.
''The biggest salamander in the world
is found in Japan. 1t attains length
of two feet and is related to the hell
bender Most salamanders live on in
sects, but the very large kinds eat
pretty nearly everything as rule.
For instance, the Japanese species is
omnivorous. So far as I am aware
none Of the salamanders is considered
good to eat, by civilized men, at all
events. Two years ago obtained a
specimen of the only known species of
blind salamander. 1t came from a cave
in Missouri. A so-called blind sala-
mander exists in certain caves of Aus
, tria, but it is not true salalnander,
though it would colue under the popu-
lar definition, being batrachian with
tail.
'.One peculiar thing about sala-
manders is that they are not as large
when full grown as when they are
partly developed. That seems Il funny
paradox. does it not? You see, sala-
manders go through a n.etamorphosis
during their lifetime. as frogs do,
though the change is not SO marked.
They have larval period, as the tad
pole is the larvae of the frog. On be-
coming adult they shrink up consid-
erably. During the larval period they
have gills like fish, which usually be-
come documentary. An odd exception
to this rule is the 'axolotl' of Mexico,
which does not undergo any such
metamorphosis and never becomes
adult in a scientific sense. In other
words, it never reaches what is the
final stage with other salarnanders, but
always remains larva.
'Axolotls of different species are
found in various parts of the United
States, but they do undergo the change
and become adult. However, if you
keep one of them III water and prevent
it from escaping it will remain larva
always and will undergo no meta
morphosis In order to change it has
to get on dry land. Having become
land animal, it's external gills disap-
pear. being no longer required for
breathing in water. The Mexican ak
olotl never goes on land--at any rate,
not for longer time than it's gi]ls will
remain wet"
Oddities OF Taste.
Among the curiosities of taste, the
Partisan passion for self-exhibition at
the morgue must hold conspicuous
place. The principal keeper at the
morgue is said to have had many ap-
plications from persons eager to figure
as corpses on the slabs of the dead
house. They were deferred by the
official announcement that the temper
At. 4 do.