SIREN. 5&5 



This curious animal was first discovered and described by the in- 

 genious Dr, Garden, who resided many years in Carolina, and who 

 paid particular attention to the science of Natural History, which 

 he enriched by many highly interesting observations. Dr. Garden 

 communicated specimens of the siren to Linnseus, with particulars 

 relative to its history and manners. Linnaeus, in his letter to Dr. 

 Garden on this subject, declares, that nothing had ever exercised 

 his thoughts so much, nor was there any thing he so much desired 

 to know, as the real nature of so extraordinary an animal. 



The celebrated anatomist, Camper, seems to have deceived him. 

 self in a singular manner, in his examination of this extraordinary 

 animal ; asserting that it was destitute of lungs ; and, in conse- 

 sequence, considering it as breathing by gills alone, in the manner 

 offish, regarded it as a species of murasna siren. The opinion of 

 Camper, however, is now allowed to be erroneous ; and the siren is 

 unquestionably most allied to the lizard tribe ; though it still re- 

 mains doubtful whether it should be considered as a larve, or as an 

 animal in its perfect or ultimate form. 



The lightness with which the Count de Cepede passes over this 

 interesting subject, cannot be observed without surprise ; I have 

 surveyed, says he, with attention the figure of this animal in the 

 Philosophical Transactions, as well as its description by Mr. Ellis, 

 and have not a moment's hesitation in pronouncing it to be merely 

 the larve of a lacerta. 



" Nous avons examine avec soin la figure et la description que 

 M. Ellis en a donnees dans les Transactions Philosophiques ; & nous 

 n'avons pas doute un seul moment que cet animal, bien loin de con- 

 stituer un ordre nouveau, ne fut une larve." 



How different this from the sober investigation and philosophical 

 doubts of the great Linnaeus, as well as from the patient enquiries of 

 a Hunter and a Camper ! 



The celebrated Amphibiologist, Schneider, after declaring his own 

 opinion, that the siren is really no other than the larve of some un- 

 discovered lizard, thus expresses his sentiments relative to the Count 

 de Cepede's decision on the subject. 



" Factum igitur casu potius puto, ut suspicio Galli de Sirene la- 

 certiua Linnaei proposita, p. 611 *, tarn bene caderet, nee a scopo 

 veritatis plane aberraret+." 



* Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupedes ovipares. 

 f Schneid. Arapb. fasc. 1. 41. 



203 



