On a new species of SIREN. 281 



to thofe of lizards ? Can we fay with Gmelin that the 

 feet of the Inguana are but digitated pedoral fins ? and in 

 deicribing the new animal upon the fame principles, Ihall 

 we call its hind feet digitated abdominal fins ? On the 

 other fide fhall we rank animals whofe gills are exadly 

 fimilar to thofe of fifh with lizards ? No. I think that 

 both thefe opinions would be equally improper ; and it ap- 

 pears to me more natural to believe that thefe animals thus 

 organized, appertaining in a certain degree to each, fhould 

 form an intermediate and well marked clafs between li- 

 zards and fifh. And until more obfervations be made, 

 and other difcoveries of new individuals fliall enable us to 

 form this clafs, I think it would be beft to revive the order 

 of Mcantcs eftablifhed by Linnaeus, and improperly fup- 

 preffed by other natural! lis. 



It remains to confider whether thefe animals are of the 

 fame, or whether they form between themfelves a diftindt 

 genus. It is certain that in comparing them, fenfible dif- 

 ference may be obferved ; but thefe differences appear on- 

 ly fpecific, and fliould yield to the common chara<Ser of 

 having three exterior fringed lobes attached to three fer- 

 rated interior rays, and feet. I will call the firft then, 

 with Linnsus, Siren Lacertina, and the other Siren oper- 

 culata. 



An 



