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AMPHIPNEUSTA. PROTEID^. 



The European Proteus {Proteus anguiniis, 

 Laur.) is much like an eel with minute feet, 

 and is one of the most interesting links in the 

 chain of animated nature, connecting the Rep- 

 tiles with the Fishes. The deep and dark sub- 

 terranean lakes of Austria are the only locality 

 in which this singular creature has yet been 

 discovered. One of the most romantic and 



.c:SA 







PROTEUS. 



splendid caverns in Europe is the Grotto of the 

 Magdalene, near Adelsburg, in the duchy of 

 Carniola. The whole of that region consists 

 of bold craggy rocks and mountains of lime- 

 stone formation, perforated with spacious branch- 

 ing caverns, in whose awful recesses sleep the 



