History Supplement 150

ON FROGS AND TOADS

[[ASSET:init01]] Now we come to the four-footed, egg-laying animals with digits. It is worth noting that although Europe recoils at the thought of eating "tailed frogs" (which authors call *Gyrini*, or tadpoles), the locals here find them a delight; they spare neither these tadpoles, nor ants, nor locusts. They call these tailed frogs *Atolocatl*, and they don't just eat them—they even bring them to markets to sell as merchandise.

They also have frogs weighing a full pound called *malulas*, which are quite pleasant and tasty to the palate. Furthermore, the Mexican lake supports toads of both small and large varieties. The tiny ones are called *Tamacoli*, while those of immense size are known as *Aquaque*. A toxic "milk" is secreted from the rear part of these creatures.

ON THE INDIAN SKINK

[[ASSET:init02]] A certain type of animal called the *Axolotl* lives in the lake regions of the Indies. It is covered in soft skin and is a quadruped like a lizard, about nine inches long and as thick as a thumb. It has a vulva very similar to that of a woman, and its belly is marked with dark spots. It has a long tail that gradually tapers to a point. Instead of a tongue, one sees a short, wide piece of cartilage. It swims with four feet, each split into four toes. Its head is flattened and large in proportion to the rest of its body. Its mouth gapes open, and its color is black. It has often been observed that this animal has a monthly flow, much like a woman's menstrual cycle; for this reason, they praise the animal as an aphrodisiac, much like the Skink (which some call the "terrestrial crocodile"), a group to which this animal perhaps belongs. As food, it provides a pleasant nourishment not unlike the flesh of eels, and for this reason, it is prepared in many ways. It is roasted or boiled, but the Spaniards usually prepare it with honey-vinegar, adding pepper, cloves, and Indian *siliquastrum* [chili pepper]. The Mexicans, however, use only the *siliquastrum*, a seasoning very familiar and pleasing to them.

ON THE SEA TURTLE

[[ASSET:init03]] Everything relating to this animal has already been recorded in the *History of Oviparous Digitated Quadrupeds*, where many illustrations can be found. The first illustration was of the sea turtle pictured from above; the second showed the same turtle from below; the third was of the sea turtle's skull with its mouth closed. Now, a fourth illustration is added: the skull of a sea turtle with its mouth open, as appears in the following image.