FAMILY SIRENID. 87 
THE BANDED PROTEUS. 
MENOBRANCHUS LATERALIS. 
PLATE XVIII. FIG. 45. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 
Triton lateralis. Say, Long’s Expedition, Vol. 1, p. 5. 
Proteus of the Lakes. Mrrcutt, Sill. Jour. Se. Vol. 4, p. 181; and Vol. 7, p. 62, pl. 2. 
Menobranchus lateralis. Haran, Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N. Y. Vol. 1, p. 233, pl. 16; Med. and Phys. Res. p. 89 and 165. 
Cuvier, Régne Animal, Griffith’s translat, Vol. 9, p. 412 and 475, pl. copied. 
Proteus lateralis. Barnes, Am. Journ. Sc. Vol. 11, p. 285. 
P. maculatus. Ip. Ib. Vol. 13, p. 68, 
M. lateralis. Hotsroox, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 3, p. 119, pl. 30. 
Characteristics. Brownish, with blackish spots ; often a dark lateral line. Length one to 
two feet. 
Description. Body robust, cylindrical, smooth. Head broad, depressed and attenuated in 
front, where it is truncate and slightly emarginate. Eyes small. Nostrils very minute, and 
placed in the margin of the upper lip. Jaws covered with loose fleshy lips. Teeth minute, 
conic, obtuse and separated ; two series in the upper jaw, and one in the lower jaw. Tongue 
broad, and free near the tip. Gills, three on each side, ramified and fringed, with two 
branchial apertures. Throat with a fold of skin beneath. Anterior extremities slender, 
placed near the gills, and with four clawless toes. Hind legs similar, and with four similar 
toes. Vent a longitudinal fissure. Tail robust, compressed, lanceolate, ancipital. 
Color, of the body and tail dull brownish, spotted with black or blackish brown; on the 
back these are rounded, but on the sides of the body and tail become indistinct brownish 
blotches. Beneath lighter. Frequently a dark stripe from the nostrils through the eyes, and 
becoming effaced behind. Gills blood-red. 
Length, 12-0 - 24-0. 
This curious and interesting aquatic animal is common in the northern and western parts 
of the State. It is found in Lake Champlain, and is particularly abundant at the falls of 
Onion river and at the outlet of Lake George. It inhabits Lake Erie, Seneca and the other 
lakes in the western districts of New-York. It has been found in the Erie canal, and will 
doubtless ere long be found to have reached the Hudson river. It occurs in all the streams 
in Ohio emptying into Lake Erie, and sometimes in the tributaries of the Ohio. Their 
movements in the water are usually slow; but from their broad and powerful tail, they must 
occasionally move with great celerity. They are said to come occasionally on land. It is 
often taken with the hook, and frequently speared. 
The Menobranchus, or Big Water-lizard as it is occasionally called in this State, feeds 
on fluviatile shells, crustacea, and the smaller fishes. Its flesh is white, and doubtless very 
savory, but is never eaten by the ignorant fishermen, who regard them with great disgust and 
detestation. A closely allied animal, the Awolotl of Mexico (Siredon pisciformis), is consi- 
dered a great delicacy ; and indeed almost the whole class of reptiles and amphibia furnishes 
a delicate and savory food. 
