AMPHIUMA. 283 



Genus Amphiuma (Gard.). 



The very lengtlienecl form, and smooth lubri- 

 cated skin of these Reptiles renders them 

 exceedingly like eels ; a resmblance which is 

 but slightly lessened by the four limbs, as their 

 projection is so small, as but little to modify 

 the general contour of the body ; while the 

 toes, which are in one species three and in the 

 other but two on each foot, are minute wart- 

 like divisions without joints or nails. There 

 is an aperture in the neck on each side, whence 

 some have supposed that these animals are 

 possessed of hranchics at an early stage of their 

 existence ; but none have ever been discovered 

 in any specimen. There are teeth in the jaws 

 and in the palate : the former are arranged in 

 a single close-set series along the border of 

 both the upper and lower jaws ; the latter 

 are set in two rows running along the margin 

 of the bone called the vomer, and meeting be- 

 hind at an acute angle. All the teeth are coni- 

 cal, pointed with a slight curve backwards and 

 inwards ; their points glisten with a yellow 

 metallic lustre. There are no ribs ; the vertehns 

 present at each extremity a concave surface, 

 thus resembling in structure those of fishes. 

 The eyes are very minute. 



The Southern States of North America are 

 the regions which have afforded these singular 

 animals, the intermediate links that unite so im- 

 perceptibly the Reptiles with the Fishes. In the 

 stagnant waters of Louisiana, Georgia, South Ca- 

 rolina and Florida, they abound, burying them- 



