198 BATKACHIANS. 



/. NECTURUS, Rafinesque. MUD PUPPIES. 

 = MenobranchuS) Harlan. 



1. N. lateralis, (Say ) Baird. MENOBRANCHUS. MUD 

 PUPPY (North). WATER DOG (South). DOG FISH. 

 Brown, more or less spotted; young with traces of a 

 lateral band; dusky below; gills large and bushy, bright 

 red, forming three tufts on each side; head broad, de- 

 pressed; tail much compressed. E. U. S., chiefly north- 

 ern and west of the Alleganies, especially abundant in 

 the Great Lake Region; reaches a length of eight inches 

 to two feet. (M. maculatus, hyemalis, etc., of authors.) 

 Another species. N. punctatus, (Gibbes) Cope, occurs in 

 S. C. 



FAMILY LXXXVIII. SIRENIDJE. 

 - (Tfie Sirens.) 



Body elongated, eel-like; external branchiae persistent; 

 no posterior limbs, not even a vestige of pelvis; head 

 flattened; snout obtuse; mouth narrow, the lower jaw 

 with teeth all around, the upper toothless; eye very 

 small. (Cuvier.) Genera two, species two, Pseudo- 

 branchus striatus, (LeC.) of Georgia, a small species 

 with small gills, and the following: 



7. SIREN, Linnaaus. SIRENS. 



1. S. lacertina, L. GREAT SIREN. Reaches a length 

 of three feet. Southern, N. to N. C. and S. Ills. 



