64 Dr. Mitchill on the Proteus of Lake Erie. 
individuals of the lymnza heterostropha in the mouth. 
Within the mouth too was a crustaceous inhabitant, of the 
oniscus family, a cymothoa with fourteen hooked feet, and 
a pair of antenne. Often takes the bait employed to al- 
lure the silures and other fishes, and is catched by the 
k. One of those I possessed was taken in this way. 
Swims or creeps with a slow and serpentine motion along 
the bottom, in which he is assisted very much by his broad, 
compressed and vertical tail. Acquires the length of from 
12 to 18 inches, or even more. — Is often killed by the gig 
and spear. Though the flesh is white and resembles that 
ofthe cat fish and eel, it is never eaten, there being a 
strong prejudice against it. Under an unfounded opinion 
that the creature 1s venomous, it is beheld with a sort of 
abhorrence, and thrown away. The general appearance 
is thick, chubby and clumsy. 
‘Skin slimy, spotted and scaleless. Tie spots during 
life resembling those of the brook trout or salmo fontina- 
iS. e mouth armed with two sets of pointed and some- 
what curved teeth in the upper jaw, and with one set of 
similar sharp, uniform and pointed instruments in the lower. 
Tail surrounded by a skinny film or rim, but without the 
rays which distinguish the caudal and other fins of fish. 
Four legs, each ending in four toes- without claws. 
Three tufts or bunches, appearing to be gills or branchie 
on each side of the neck, supported by the three branchial 
arches, between which there are two openings or slits, a 
parently for the transmission of water. [hese seem to be 
respiratory organs ; and as far us the habits and manners of 
the creature are known, endure through life. 
Two air-sacs, reaching longitudinally from the pharynx or 
throat, toward the vent, one on each side of the vertebral 
column ; of such a constitution that they may be considered 
as auxiliary organs of respiration, or as air-bags resembling 
e vesica natatoria in fishes. 
A persistent tail, flattened laterally, resembling in figure 
the temporary tails of the tadpoles, or gyrini of frogs, and 
Epemanest ones of the Water-Salamanders. 
* With all these peculiarities of structure, 1 observed fur- 
ther that the eyes were small, destitute of lids and covered 
by the common integuments. Instructed by your commu- 
nications, warranted by the near analogy which I 
“a 
