PROTEIDAE 133 



These creatures are rather dull; they r<'iii;iiii mostly at the 

 bottom of the water, more or less concealed in the weeds or 

 between rocks during the daytime. M\uv, which are kept in a 

 roomy, light-coloured tank, lie motionless, with their gills spread 

 out transversely. Every now and then the gills contract 

 suddenly and l)ecome ])ale, whereui)on tliey are tilled again with 

 blood. Very rarely they rise to the surface, but tiny air- 

 l)ubl)les are let out mort^ frequently, especially when the animals 

 are disturbed. Then the gills collapse, are laid flat against the 

 neck, and the creature darts about with quick, eel-like motions. 

 At night they leave their hiding-places, swim about or creep 

 along the ground with slow, undulating movements, the limbs 

 being scarcely used, in search of food, which in their wild state 

 consists of rather large Crustacea, small fishes, worms, insects and 

 frogs. They are most voracious, and absolutely indifferent to 

 cold. The spawning takes place in the months of Api'il and 

 May. 



Proteus awjuinus. — The fore- and hind-limbs are fully de- 

 veloped and possess only three fingers and two toes. The eyes 

 are completely hidden beneath the opaque skin. This peculiar 

 creature is restricted to the subterranean waters of Carniola, 

 Carinthia, and Dalmatia. The vast caves of Adelsberg not 

 far from Trieste are especially celebrated for the occurrence of 

 the " 01m," the German name of this animal. The river 

 Poik, a moderate mountain -stream, but a large, fierce torrent 

 during the rainy season, disappears into the limestone-hills, and 

 rushes through enormous stalactite-grottoes, most of which have 

 been only partially explored, until several miles farther on it 

 reappears on the surface. There, deep down below the surface, 

 in absolute darkness, in an almost constant t(^mperature of about 

 50° F. is the home of Proteus. 



Their total length is scarcely one foot. The whole body is 

 white, occasionally suffused with a slight fleshy, rosy tinge, 

 while the three pairs of gill -bunches are carmine -red. They 

 are easily kept in captivity, and live for many years, provided 

 three conditions are strictly adhered to, viz. fresh and clean 

 water, an equable low temperature of about 50° F. = 10° C. and 

 darkness. The question of food is not so very important, since 

 specimens are known to have existed for yeais, although they 

 refu.sed to take anv nourishment. How far darkness is an 



