d&% Mr Neill m the Habits of a 



the water yet stood high, or early in the night ; for the water 

 had subsided five or six inches before morning. The escape of 

 so much water, had formed, of the soil below, a kind of sludge, 

 probably somewhat analogous in character to the " stiff clay"" 

 of its native swamps, in which it is said sometimes to burrow ; 

 •and this must have greatly facilitated the first under-ground 

 operations of the siren. Still, however, as the excavation made 

 was not less than eight inches in depth, and nearly three feet 

 in length, for the ascending aperture on the outside sloped at 

 an angle of about 30°, it seems reasonable to conclude that the 

 siren must have been several hours hard at work in forming so 

 extensive a tunnel for itself. In farther proof of its exertions, 

 it may be observed, that a considerable part of the dark-coloured 

 epidermis, or covering of minute indistinct scales, was worn off 

 its snout, and the skin of the upper part of the back was, in 

 different places, ruffled. — In passing, it may be noticed, that 

 these facts indicate that its progress had depended more on 

 rooting with the nose and shoving with the shoulders, than on 

 digging or scraping with the feet and toes, the claws or nails of 

 which are indeed rather of a delicate texture. 



Mr Barnes was evidently right, therefore, in considering the 

 fragility of the siren as " improbable ;"" for, far from being 

 broken in pieces, by its fall of more than three feet and a-half 

 from the upper margin of the box, it is abundantly evident that 

 the animal had suffered nothing from this fall, else it would not 

 immediately afterwards have made such progress in mining. 

 In justice to Dr Garden, however, who was evidently an accu- 

 rate observer, it should be mentioned, that he does not allege 

 that the siren, if merely " thrown on the ground," will break in 

 pieces ; but only states that, on one occasion, a specimen did so 

 when " dashed Jbrdhly against the ground,'** by his servant, 

 with the view of killing it. 



The morning was very cold, and the mercury in a register- 

 thermometer, kept in the greenhouse, had been as low as 33° 

 Fahr. at one period of the preceding night. The animal was 

 observed about 7 a. m. lying doubled, or with the body bent 

 round, but not coiled, on the foot-path. He was exceedingly 

 benumbed, being just able to shew signs of life when lifted by 

 the gardener. Considering the evidence of long-continued ac- 

 tive exertions during the night, it seems reasonable to ascribe 



