On a new species of SIREN. 



N". XXXIII. 



'TranJIation of a Memoir on a new Species of Siren. By 

 M. de Beauvois. 



Read Feb. A MPHIBIOUS auimals properly lb called, 

 i;. 1796- _£\. fo dreadful and hideous to the vulgar, but 

 (o different to the eyes of the natural ift to whom all 

 the produGions of nature are equally interefting, ofltr 

 us an infinite fcope for difcovery. Naturalifts therefore 

 not ftopped by the thoughtlefs repugnance of the vulgar 

 to animals infinitely lefs dangerous than they fuppofc, 

 and confiderably more ufeful than ignorance (which is 

 continually afking to what purpofe are all thefe things) 

 can imagine ; naturaliils I fay have left us data refpeding 

 thefe beings, which with time, muft lead us to a more 

 correct knowledge of, and a more intimate acquaintance 

 with them. '1 he animal to be treated of in this memoir 

 is a proof of what I advance. 



In examining Mr. Peale's colle6tion, I had occafiou 

 to remark amongft the amphibise one which 1 have not 

 feen defcribed by any author. It appeared to me entire- 

 ly new, and the more interefting as tending to determine 

 our ideas of the Inguana, which has by fome been clafted 

 amongft the amphibia,', by others with hili ; but which 

 we find to be an intermediate clafs connedling thefe 

 two. 



After having examined, defcribed, and drawn this 

 new animal, Mr. Feale and I have thought proper to 

 fpeak of it to this Society before the publication of his 

 catalogue which will foon take place. 



Linn32us, the celebrated Linna?us, whom jealoufy is 



fometimes pleafed to criticife generally without caufe; 



Linnseus whofe errors, always exaggerated by his detrac- 



O o tor?, 



