PROTEUS. 



275 



lakes, in America and Europe. They subsist on 

 worms, and probably other soft -bodied animals, 

 which they find in the mud or water. 



Genus Proteus (Laur.). 



In this genus, which, from the singularity of its 

 structure and appearance, and still more from the 

 anomalous character of the 

 situation in which it is found, 

 has excited great interest 

 among zoologists, there are 

 four short limbs, each pair 

 greatly separated from the 

 other, of which the fore 

 feet have three toes, and the 

 hind only two : the tail is 

 vertically compressed, so as 

 to form a swimming organ ; 

 the muzzle is lengthened 

 and depressed; both jaws 

 are furnished with minute 

 teeth; the tongue is but 

 slightly moveable, free at the 

 anterior part : the eyes are 

 excessively small and con- 

 cealed beneath the skin of 

 the head : the ear-drum is 

 also concealed. The skel- 

 eton has considerable resemblance to that of the 

 Salamanders, but the conformation of the skull 

 is different ; and the vertebrae are much more 

 numerous, while the rudimentary ribs are fewer. 

 The skin is smooth, viscid, and colourless. The 

 bra?ichice project from each side of the neck in 

 the form of tufts, of a crimson hue. 



SKULL OF PROTEUS. 



