S80 AAIPHIPNEUSTA. PROTEID^. 



which we should at first suppose to be barren 

 wastes, incapable of sustaining organized exis- 

 tence. But it suggests curious speculations of 

 the wonders that may exist in the bowels of 

 our globe, of which man has as yet no know- 

 ledge. 



The Proteus has been frequently brought 

 alive to England ; the observations which have 

 been made on them in confinement, prove their 

 extreme susceptibility to the presence of light, 

 the stimulus of which seems painful to them. 

 *' We have always noticed," says Mr. Martin, 

 " that they shrouded themselves in the darkest 

 part of the vessel in w^hich they were placed, 

 when the covering was taken off in order to 

 inspect them ; and that they betrayed a sense 

 of uneasiness by their actions, when exposed to 

 the light of open day, creeping round the sides 

 of the vessel, or under the shelter of any 

 substance, which threw a partial shadow on the 

 water. . . Though these animals lived many 

 months, and were healthy and vigorous, they 

 were not supplied with any food, nor know 

 we on what they subsist, though we have every 

 reason to believe them carnivorous."* A kindred 

 animal, the Siren of North America {Siren 

 lacertina) kept in captivity in the Gardens of 

 the Zoological Society, was fed on earth-worms, 

 of which it ate a dozen and a half every other 

 day. 



In June 1847, a living Proteus was exhibited 

 to the Linnean Society, by a gentleman who 

 had had it in his possession eighteen months. 

 This individual had never been observed to eat. 



* " Pictorial Museum," ii. 135. 



