112 MENOBRANCHUS MACULATUS. 



The nostrils are small, lateral, and very near the margin of the upper lip. The 

 eyes are small and far asunder. The neck is contracted, with a transverse 

 cutaneous fold at the throat, and three rows of external gills on each side, which 

 are placed on the posterior margins of corresponding fleshy prolongations, and 

 supported by three "branchial arches, between which are two apertures or open- 

 ings apparently for the water to pass through;" these gills are exceedingly minute, 

 and resemble fringe of the finest texture. 



The body is elongated and sub-cylindrical, a little depressed along the mesial 

 line, and is covered with a smooth skin permeated by many pores. The tail is 

 long, broad vertically, ancipital and rounded at the tip. 



The anterior extremities are short, and terminate in four unarmed fingers; the 

 posterior are nearly of the same size, and end in four toes without nails. 



Colour. The ground colour of the whole superior surface of the animal is 

 dark cinereous-grey, produced by minute yellowish specks on a dark bluish 

 ground, and irregularly interspersed with sub-circular spots of a darker hue, and 

 of the size of a pea; a brownish stripe begins at the snout and extends backwards 

 over the eye. The throat and abdomen along the mesial line are nearly white. 

 The margins of the tail are often of an orange tint, with blackish blotches near 

 the tip. This animal I have never seen alive, but Professor Benedict says, "the 

 gills are of a most rich crimson colour, and these the animal keeps in constant 

 motion as a fish does its gills; in bringing them down to the neck the filaments 

 are brought pretty close to the fleshy fimbrise; on elevating them the fimbriae 

 dilate and float as it were in the water, presenting from the beauty of their colour 

 and gracefulness of their motions an appearance beautiful beyond description." 



Of the correctness of the drawing and colouring of the beautiful accompanying 

 plate, there can be no doubt, as it was done from life by an accomplished artist 

 as well as profound scholar, the Right Reverend J. H. Hopkins, Bishop of 

 Vermont. 



