278 AMPHIPNEUSTA. — PROTEID^. 



and are too feeble to be of use in grasping or 

 supporting the weight of the animal ; the hinder 

 feet have only two claws or fingers, and in the larger 

 specimens are found so imperfect as to be almost 

 obliterated. It has small points in the place of 

 eyes, as if to preserve the analogy of nature. It 

 is of a fleshy whiteness and transparency in its 

 natural state, but when exposed to light its skin 

 gradually becomes darker, and at last gains an 

 olive tint. Its nasal organs appear large ; and 

 it is abundantly furnished with teeth, from which 

 it may be concluded that it is an animal of prey ; 

 yet in its confined state it has never been known 

 to eat, and it has been kept alive for many years 

 by occasionally changing the water in which it 

 was placed.' 



^ Euhathes. — ^ Is this the only place in Gar- 

 ni ola where these animals are found V 



*' The Unknoivn. — ' They were first discovered 

 here by the late Baron Zois ; but they have since 

 been found, though rarely, at Sittich, about 

 thirty miles distant, thrown up by water from 

 a subterraneous cavity ; and I have lately heard 

 it reported that some individuals of the same 

 species have been recognised in the calcareous 

 strata in Sicily.' 



" Euhathes, — * This lake in which we have 

 seen these animals is a very small one ; do you 

 suppose they are bred there ? ' 



" The Unknown. — ' Certainly not ; in dry sea- 

 sons they are seldom found here, but after great 

 rains they are often abundant. I think it cannot 

 be doubted that their natural residence is in 

 an extensive subterranean lake, from which in 

 great floods they sometimes are forced through 



