Barnes on Batracian Animals and doubtful Reptils. 285 
by forcing down the piston of a syringe. The skeleton 
shows a general resemblance to that of the Salamanders. 
The vertebers are more, and the false ribs less in number. 
The greatest difference is in the general shape of the strong 
and bony scull. The Proteus anguinus inhabits the Lake 
_ Sittich, which communicates with the Lake Zirknitz, in Car- 
niola, froth which the water retires in summer and returns in 
October, through many under ground passages, which are 
the proper abode of the Proteus. It is a feeble and subter- 
raneous animal, of a pale color, for want of exposure to the 
light. When exposed, it ane changes to a darker color. 
The Proteus never comes out of his subterranean retreat, ex- 
cept at the inundations. sie is said to crawl up on the eee 
of the caverns, but for what pu we are not informed. 
has lately been discovered in the Grotto of Adelsberg, on te 
great road from Triest to Vienna. A specimen, accompanied 
with a beautiful wax cast, was received from the i 
cabinet at Vienna, through the Bar eta Lederer, and is 
preserved in the Cabinet of the Lyceu 
The Proteus anguinus, for a long me after its discovery, 
was disregarded, or believed to be an immature animal. The 
labors of — have fully elucidated the subject, and 
this Proteus is now every where admitted into the systems, 
as a perfect anata, tho it is difficult fully to understand its 
organization. It was first described by Laurenti, in 1768. 
He included in his genus the AXOLOTL, which, after all the 
doubt and disputation on this subject, will probably prove to 
be the simplest and best mode of arranging these animals. 
2. Proreus LAaTERALIS.—Proteus of the Lakes. 
T'oes, four anterior, and four posterior, without claws. 
Teeth. 2 rows above ) small, sharp, and attached to the 
“1 row below Venme surface of the jaw. 
Figures. American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. vii. 
ph. 2. (colored. 
Annals of the Lyceum, vol. i. pl. 16. (melior.) 
Figured also by Milbert, as quoted by Cuvier, in his kate 
work on Fossil bones 
Synonyms. Proteus a the ae Dr. Mitchill. A. J. $. 
vol. vil. page 63, e 
Salamandra els PS eikcoie) Say* ? 
Triton Alleghaniensis (young.) Daudin ? 
Siren of Barton ! as quoted by Say and Gray, 
* See page 279. 2d paragraph. 
