The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-22
THE TRUTH AROUT SALAMANDERS
As to the Origin OF the Belief That They Arc
Home In Fire.

ron me UthhIr9fon frrhhg Ndr.
Nobody knows how the superstition re-
Ealamander had its rise. said DR.. Stejneger.
s fs fpss Of III Mosss sRs
explain. j shall have to tell YOU a story
apagty hunting and ashins Ws had l ign 'i a
big fire. using for fuel several old logs. While
OF some cookery in when we we're engaged a
young lady at my side gave little scream
Ard pSinted int The flames looked and
from among the glowing enters 1t walked
away. unhurt apparently. through the grass
Now. that sala lnander had occupied hole
In ono 81 NE logs used Tor fuel. Several species
this one found that it was getting uncomforl'
ably hot and crawed out. Being moist and
sllny. its body was protected from Injury by
through the emhers. But the sight Of the
animal drliherately making its appearance
from the midst Of tho fire was certainly very
hurprleing, ANY ignorant person might easily
have been led 10 imagine that the creature
must be lireproof 1t seems to me quite prob.
lust such occurrences
There are So many, species OF saamanders
that description Of them all would mi u
book; They are TO be found all over tho
wor!d, exceht in very cold regions; In rop,
to all bntrachians with tails. Iha, is rather
a loose dellnltion, taipoie is batrachian
with a tail but It is not salamander The
IL,
rs the NEVIS. round III springs. The biggest
SPECIES IN THIS country is tho so-called mud
EEL. or siren 1t has only two feet. Just be-
hlnd the head. and 1t has external gills when
iuily developed, which Is an exception to tho
rule among saamanders.
Inc biggest salamander In tho world Is
found IN Japan. 1t attains q length OF two
feet and is related to the 'helbenior' Most
salamanders live on insects but the very large
Kinds eat pretty nearly everything as a rule
Tor instance. the japanese species is oinpiy-
orous, 80 inr AS am aware. uune Of the snlu-
a ~ piy II sd
men at all "Hents. Two years ago / obtained a
specimen oI tho only known species oil blind
salamnndeE. IL came from n cave In Missouri.
caves OF Austria. but II Is not a rue salaman-
der, though II would como under tho popular
a9!illt!un. being a batrachian with tail.
n oAe peculiar thing about saamanders Is
when lhey are rarity developed. That seems
u funny paradox. does II not You see. sau-
mandcrs go through n mctamorphOss during
their lifetime as frog 40. though the change
a. the iadpolr is the Ialva OF tie frog. on be-
coming adult they shrink uD copsIderaLly.
During III" Rrvhl perlOd thsy have gills like
Ils!i, which usually become rudimentary.
o! Mexico. which does not undergo any such
Heterogeneous and never becomes aiuit ina
s"isntinc sense. In other words 1t never
reaches what Ia the final stage with other sal
umHnders but always remains a larva
ANpiOi,s Of different species are found in
various parts Of tho tied states, but they do
undergo thc change aud necOme adult. How
over II YOU keen one of them in water aud
prevent It from escaping. 1t will remain larya
Always ana vii undergo no metam rphosiS
~ oi""r 10 "hanEe II has 10 get on dry land,
Having become "A Iaudanimal. its external giIls
breathing IN water lhe MeXcan axolotl
never goes Oh Land Mt any rate. MOI Tor a
Longer tame ih"n ITS ems Will remain wet.