Subclass Dipneusti, or Lung-fishes 



621 



chromatophores shrinking in absence of light and enlarging in 

 the sunshine. In injured animals this reaction becomes much 

 less, as they remain pale even in daylight. 



In the rainy season when food is abundant the Lepidosiren 

 eats voraciously and stores great quantities of orange-colored 

 fat in the tissues between the muscles. In the dry season it 

 ceases to feed, or, as the Indians put it, it feeds on water. When 

 the water disappears the Lepidosiren burrows down into the 

 mud, closing its gill-openings, but breathing through the mouth. 

 As the mud stiffens it retreats to the lower part of its burrow, 



FIG. 390. Larva of Lepidosiren paradoxa 30 days after hatching. (After Kerr.) 



where it lies with its tail folded over its face, the body sur- 

 rounded by a mucous secretion. In its burrow there remains 

 an opening which is closed by a lid of mud. At the end of the 



FIG. 391. Larva of Lepidosiren paradoxa 40 days after hatching. (After Kerr.) 



dry season this lid is pushed aside, and the animal comes out 

 when the water is deep enough. When the waters rise the 

 presence of Lepidosirens can be found only by a faint quivering 



FIG. 392 Larva of Lepidosiren paradoxa 3 months after hatching. (After Kerr.) 



movement of the grass in the bottom of the swamp. When 

 taken the body is found to be as slippery as an eel and as mus- 

 cular. The eggs are laid in underground burrows in the black 



