96 ON THE J»ROTEUS ANGUINUS. 



of which are so nidriy tubes ; and the red globules of blood 

 may be seen to ascend and descend at each pulsation^ I 

 have counted from forty-five to forty-eight of these pulsations 

 in a. minute. 

 Out of the wa. Out of the water the proteus cannot proceed more than 

 to the ground^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^' ^^^ *^^® glutinous substance, with which it is en- 

 anU dies. veloped, soon dries, and g]ues it to the ground by the pait 



on which it drags itself along. Several of mine died in this 

 state. Having found one thus, that had still some signs of 

 life, I separated it with my hand ; but it died two days af- 

 ter, having a red streak, indicating inflammation, along the 

 side which had adhered to the ground. Others after it, 

 which were separated by means of warm water, continued 

 Before death to live. In all that died under my inspection I observed an 

 their slimy jnfalHble sii^^n of approaching- death : the eluten, with which 

 coat separates. ^, i 1 • . . r .i i i ^ i 



they are covered, begins to separate Irom the body, and be- 

 comes visible in the water ; it floats about them in flocks, 

 attaching itself particularly to the paws and tail ; at length 

 they turn on their backs, and soon come to die on the sur- 

 face of the water. 

 Size from 7 in. The annexed figure of a proteus anguinus drawn from 

 to 15, by 6 or nature, PL III, fig. 2, gives an accurate idea of its exter- 

 nal form. With respect to size, they have been found from 

 seven or eight to twelve or thirteen inches long, and even 

 fifteen or sixteen ; and in diameter from six to eighteen lines* 

 These dimensions do not agree with those of the aquatic sa- 

 lamander, and there is no other reptile in Carniola, that can 

 be compared with it. 

 Three have ^ have at present three, that have lived in pure water two 



been kept 28 years and four months. They have grown thin, and dimi- 

 mont s. nished in size one half; and the fin that forms the tail even 



appears to be shortened : yet they are in perfect health. I 

 shall not fail to observe^the duration of their lives ; though 

 I begin to persuade myself that the vague term, which Lin- 

 neus expresses by the words transformation at a late period, 

 is already past. 



IV. 



