198 BATRACHIANS. 



/. NECTURUS, Rafinesque. Mud Puppies. 

 = Menobrtmchiis^ Harlan. 



1. N. maculatus, Raf. Menobranchus. Mud 

 Puppy (North). Water Dog (South). Dog Fish. 

 Brown, more or less spotted; young with traces of a 

 lateral band; dusky below; gills large and bushy, bright 

 red, forming three tufts on each side; head broad, de- 

 pressed; tail much compressed. E. U. S., chiefly north- 

 ern and west of the Alleganies, especially abundant in 

 the Great Lake Region ; reaches a length of eight inches 

 to two feet. {M. maculatus^ hyeryiaUs, etc., of authors.) 

 Another species. N, punctatus^ (Gibbes) Cope, occurs in 

 S. C. 



FAMILY LXXXVIIL — SIRENID^. 

 {TUe Sirens.) 



Body elongated, eel-like; external branchiae persistent; 

 no posterior limbs, not even a vestige of pelvis; head 

 flattened; snout obtuse; mouth narrow, the lower jaw 

 with teeth all around, the upper toothless; eye very 

 small. [Cuvier.) Genera tw^o, species two, — Pseudo- 

 hranchus striatus^ (LeC.) of Georgia, a small species 

 with small gills, and the following: 



/. SIREN, Linnreus. Sirens. 

 1. S. lacertina, L. Great Siren. Reaches a length 

 of three feet. Southern, N. to N. C. and S. Ills. 



