living Specimen of Siren lacertina. 353 



his almost torpid state when found, to the freezing cold which he 

 had encountered when he had made his way fairly to the outside. 

 When first restored to the watery element, the animal breathed 

 hard, rushing to the surface, and opening his mouth with a 

 wide gape to inhale air. He soon after sunk down, and let se- 

 veral strings of air-bubbles escape. The branchiae were doubt- 

 less to a certain degree dried, and thus obstructed ; and it evi- 

 dently took some time before they could freely perform their 

 accustomed office. When, however, I again examined the ani- 

 mal, several hours afterwards, he seemed perfectly contented 

 to remain wholly under the water ; and, on being touched, ap- 

 peared as lively and as well as ever. The decorticated portions 

 of the back and snout shewed us the colour of the true skin 

 below, which was of a pale leaden hue. 



In the course of changing the water and moss, we have oc- 

 casionally placed the siren on the floor of the hot-house, or on 

 the dry ground. He certainly did not on these occasions seem 

 adept at progressive motion: but, on the contrar)*^, tumbled 

 about rather awkwardly. From the exertions he made, how- 

 ever, we were inclined to think, that among wet grass he might 

 probably get on pretty well ; for he exhibited no indications of 

 pain or uneasiness, but merely a desire to escape or get under 

 cover. 



We have often remarked this fact, that, if the animal be 

 left in undisturbed tranquillity, he will lie at the bottom of 

 the deepest part of the box, where the water is generally six 

 inches deep, for hours together, without coming to the sur- 

 face, and without discharging air-bubbles; but on these oc- 

 casions, on looking attentively into the water, as I have done 

 for twenty minutes at a time, a slight current may be observed 

 to be excited behind the gills, about twice in a minute. The 

 current is sometimes so gentle, that it is only to be observed by 

 noticing the motion of minute particles of decayed moss which 

 come within its influence. The moment his tail is touched, the 

 animal exerts himself; air-bubbles escape, and he soon after 

 comes to the surface to take in air by the mouth. When the 

 box is to be cleaned out, which is done about once a fortnight, 

 the siren is placed in an oval jar among water ; here he moves 

 about with rapidity, and very frequently projects his nose and 

 mouth above the surface, evidently to inhale air. 



