170 THE LEPICOSIREN. 



but something strictly intermediate between the two one, in 

 fact, of those " connecting links " in nature which some people 

 laugh at as mere creations of the fancy. The Lepidosiren is 

 extremely fish-like in appearance, having an elongated tapering 

 body covered with scales, and furnished along the back, and both 

 above and below the tail, with a thin membraneous fin, pre- 

 cisely as in some of our commonest fishes. It differs from fish, 

 however, in the broad flattened head and obtuse muzzle, and 

 still more obviously in being furnished with two pairs of rudi- 

 mentary limbs in the shape of long tapering filaments. Three 

 species of this curious animal are known, all of them being con- 

 fined to the tropical rivers of Africa and America, where, at the 

 approach of the dry season, they bury themselves in the mud at 

 the bottom of the water and remain in a state of torpidity for 

 several months. It was in this condition, enclosed in balls of 

 hardened clay, and cut off from all communication with the ex- 

 ternal air, that three of the animals were brought to this country 

 from the Gambia, and presented to the Crystal Palace Company 

 by Captain Chamberlyne. 



In the famous Siren (Siren lacertina), an eel-like creature 

 which inhabits the marshy rice-grounds of Carolina, and several 

 allied forms, a single pair of limbs only is developed, and in 

 addition to true lungs for aerial respiration, they are furnished 

 throughout the entire period of their existence with external 

 tufted gills for respiration in the water. No wonder, therefore, 

 that for a long time these animals were regarded as Tadpoles of 

 higher forms of Batrachia. Cuvier, however, has satisfactorily 

 shown that they are mature animals, though, as he says, they 

 are amongst the most remarkable in the whole range of the 

 animal kingdom. Our information as to the habits of these 

 animals is most meagre. The best known species is the one 

 mentioned above, and which has occasionally been exhibited 

 alive in the Zoological Gardens in the Eegent's Park. It ap- 

 pears to keep pretty much to the mud and muddy waters of the 

 rice-swamps, and feeds upon worms and insects. Dr. Garden, 

 the original discoverer of the animal, circulated wondeuful stories 

 of its feeding habitually on serpents, as also of its extraordinary 

 vocal powers, whence Linnasus gave it the name it bears. 



One step higher in the series than the Siren, and we reach the 

 Proteus (Proteus anguimis^.fhe extraordinary inmate of the 



