360 Mr. J. Hogg on the Existence of 



family Clupeidce somewhat approach in cellular structure to 

 the lungs of Reptiles. 



Wherefore I agree with M. Fitzinger^ Dr. Natterer and 

 Prof. Jones*, in regarding these animals as two distinct spe- 

 cies of a new genus, belonging rather to the Manentibranchious 

 Amphibians than to any order of Fishes. 



I find also that M. Bischoff concludes, from a skilful dis- 

 section of the L. paradoxa, that it is an Amphibian and not a 

 Fish. See his memoir published at Leipsig in 1840 ; also the 

 translation of it, w ith five plates, in the ' Annales des Sciences 

 Naturelles' for August and September 1840. At page 155 

 of the latter number. Prof. Bischoff observes, concerning the 

 L.paradoxa, that its nasal cavities are perforated behindf 

 and open into the mouth ; that its heart has two auricles ; that 

 its lungs have not the character of swimming-bladders ; and 

 that the organization for the most part of its soft parts, espe- 

 cially of those of circulation and respiration, difier from those 

 of Fishes. It is likewise said that this animal produces a sound 

 resembling the cry of a cat. Again, as it is evident, the name 

 *^ Lepidosiren,^^ signifying a Scaly Sii'en, which was given by 

 M. Fitzinger to this genus, is not altogether appropriate, since 

 it would lead us to conclude that this is the only Amphibian 

 possessing scales, whereas the C(scili(s, as it is well known, 

 are likewise furnished with small scales. And Prof. Owen 

 says, at p. 332 of the Linn. Trans,, vol. xviii., that he recorded, 

 in the MS. Catalogue of the Museum of the Royal College 

 of Surgeons in London, the Lepidosiren under the name of 

 ' Protopt eras' — doubtless derived from Trpcoro^;, first, and Trre- 

 pov,fin — to express the primary or rudimentary form of its 

 ^onvfins. But, since I maintain that this genus really be- 

 longs to the Amphibia, this name could not possibly apply to 

 it, although that of Protomelus would be more characteristic, 

 which signifies i\iQ first or primary form of the limbs or legs, 



* General Outline of the Animal Kingdom, p. 5.38. 



t But Sir W. Jardine considers "the structure of the nostril as_ entirely 

 analogous to that of the organ in Fishes : it is not a respiratory organ in L. 

 paradoxa, the double opening is only similar to the valvular separation of 

 the sac in Fishes." — See * Remarks on the Structure and Habits of L. atmec- 

 tens in the ' Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.' for March last, p. 26. This, 

 however, is evidently a mistake, as will appear from the following "addi- 

 tion," which M. Bischoff* has given to his paper in ' Annal. des Sci. Nat.,* 

 Sept. Number, p. 155. " Again 1 add, on the subject of nasal cavities, on 

 which so much has already been urged, that some weeks since, at my re- 

 quest, my father-in-law, M. Tiedemann, has likewise examined the nasal 

 cavities of a very small specimen, and that he has found the canal to be in 

 length 5V" (rhenales), proceeding obliquely at the back and on the outside, 

 and o})ening into the cavity of the mouth. The species of Corigers, on the 

 contrary, which are found at Vienna, do not present any similar canal." 



