^00 Note on a Specimen of Menobranchus, 



where it has since been constantly under my eye. When first 

 placed there, it at all times sought places of concealment, where 

 it would remain for davs without beinoj seen, unless when forced, 

 for a time from its hiding place. But several times at night 

 when a light has been suddenly thrown upon the aquarium, I 

 have observed it swimming about very actively. Within the last 

 month its habits have somewhat changed. Up to that time I 

 had never seen it eat anything. One day, however, while feed- 

 ing the fish with some water insects, one came very near his 

 mouth. The wave-like motion produced by the numerous legs 

 of the insect attracted the attention of the Proteus. A newt 

 standing very near, was also attracted by the movements of the 

 insect. The sight was now truly interesting, both animals were 

 just ready to seize upon the prey. The newt being the more 

 active made the first movement and caught it by the tail, just at 

 the moment when the Proteus was ready to seize it by the head. 

 The Menobranchus not observing that the insect was already 

 captured, opened its capacious mouth, and in attempting to seize 

 it took the head of the newt as well as the little creature, into 

 it. There they stood in mute astonishment. The Proteus 

 evidently thought his eyes had much deceived him with regard 

 to the size of the object of his attack, for he found his ample 

 mouth well filled by the head of his companion. After the lapse of 

 about half a minute, the newt showed symptoms of uneasiness, and 

 began to wriggle about, when the Proteus let loose his hold, allow- 

 ing the newt to escape unhurt, still holding the insect firmly in its 

 mouth. This I concluded was his first attempt at feeding by day 

 and rather a clumsy attempt it appeared to me to be. I imme- 

 diately gave him a chance at another insect at the same time 

 keeping his companions at a distance, which he succeeded in cap- 

 turing. Since that time he has repeatedly eaten pieces of 

 worms and young tadpoles, and although he grows more expert, 

 his movements by day are still slow and awkward. Of late he 

 seems to be gradually growing out of his retired habits, and al- 

 though he sometimes now hides himself from view, still he may 

 be frequently seen perambulating slowly up and down the bot- 

 tom of the aquarium, as if in search of food. Before this change 

 took place it was a rare thing to see him come to the surface for 

 air, but now he rises many times a day. 



About a month or six weeks since, I caught another animal of 

 the same class, but of a diff'erent species or variety. I caught it 

 while dredging a small muddy pond, (left by the subsidence of 



