352 Prof. OwEn’s Description of the Lepidosiren annectens. 
present this colour: yet it is almost superfluous to remark that so trivial a 
character would of itself have been totally inadequate to determine the classific 
characters of a doubtful species: it is only in conjunction with other modi- 
fications of structure that it assists in our present attempt to determine the 
true affinities of the Lepidosiren. 
As regards the principal conditions of the organs of generation, the line of 
demarcation cannot be drawn between the Amphibia and the Plagiostomous 
Chondropterygii : and the structure of these organs in the Lepidosiren, while it 
shows its near affinity to the Reptiles, by no means proves that it is not a Fish. 
The brain of the Lepidosiren like its generative system indicates its close 
relationship as a Fish with the Amphibia, but nothing more. 
The optic nerves do not decussate, but come off from nearly the same point 
in front of the infundibulum: since, however, the same structure exists in the 
Sharks and Rays, this likewise fails to establish the amphibious character of 
the Lepidosiren. 
On the other hand, the simple condition of the organ of hearing, consist- 
ing merely of the labyrinth without a cochlea, or a fenestra rotunda, might 
be taken as proof of the ichthyic nature of the Lepidosiren: the organ of 
hearing, however, presents, as is well known, a similar simple condition in the 
Perennibranchiate Reptiles. 
In the organ of smell we have, at last, a character which is absolute in 
reference to the distinction of Fishes from Reptiles. In every Fish it is a 
shut sac communicating only with the external surface; in every Reptile it is 
a canal with both an external and an internal opening. 
According to this test, the Lepidosiren is a Fish : by its nose it is known not 
to be a Reptile: in other words, it may be said that the Lepidosiren is proved 
to be a Fish, not by its gills, not by its air-bladders, not by its spiral intestine, 
tus by its unossified skeleton, not by its generative apparatus, nor its extre- 
mities, nor its skin, nor its eyes, nor its ears, but simply by its nose; so that 
at "e a of our analysis we arrive at this very unexpected result, that a 
Reptile is not characterized by its lungs nor a Fish by its gills, but that the 
only unexceptionable distinction is afforded by the organ of smell. 
The anatomical facts already detailed fully justify this emphatic summary 
of the evidence deducible from the dissection of the Lepidosiren; yet it must 
