110 



TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



is, at least in some places, known by the curious name of 

 " hell-bender." A very singular form (Fig. 28), the Am- 

 phiuma, is also to be met with in the Southern United 

 States. It has much the aspect of an eel, but with two 

 pairs of very minute limbs, situated far apart, each with 

 but three or even but two toes. This creature is, or was, 

 called by the negroes " Congo snake," and quite erro- 

 neously regarded as very venomous. 



The next noteworthy form is a European one. It is 

 the Proteus a small, entirely aquatic animal found in the 

 subterranean caverns of Carniola and Istria, in southern 



FIG. 29 



THE PROTEUS. 



Austria. It is very elongated in form, with small and 

 slender limbs and with as few toes, as the " Congo snake." 

 Passing as it does the whole of its life in perpetual dark- 

 ness, it is not surprising to find that it is blind, like 

 so many inhabitants of American caverns. It is also 

 colourless, except its gills, which project externally as a 

 bright red tuft on either side of the hinder part of the 

 head. These are constantly present, as this animal re- 

 tains them during the whole of life, and is thus, so far, 

 like a persistent young tadpole. The same thing occurs 

 in two other species which inhabit the United States. 



