59 



Hab. Muddy and swampy places in North America ; more especially of 



Camden, South Carolina. 



This specimen is about 30 inches in length, and of a light blue colour, with 

 numerous white spots appearing beneath the blue. 



391. The Siren or Mud-Eel (Siren lacertina, Linn.; Siren intermedia, 



Leconte). 



Fig. Leconte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. 53, 1828. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. 

 89. 12. Ellis, Phil. Trans. Ivi. p. 189. 



This specimen is about 12 inches in length, and is black, both on the 

 dorsal and abdominal surface, the latter being deeply wrinkled ; the 

 external branchia? not so apparent as in the larger specimen ; it appears 

 to be a young animal, and is probably a half-grown individual of S. lacer- 

 tina. Mr. Ellis gives a figure of a rather smaller specimen, which pre- 

 cisely corresponds in all its external characters with the animal above 

 described, and in the Physiological Series, Preparation No. 444, showing 

 the alimentary canal, is that of an animal termed Siren intermedia. 



Both this and the preceding specimen were brought to England from 

 South Carolina by Mr. Lake in 1758. In a MS. account in the possession 

 of the College, it is stated " that they were preserved in spirits of wine, 

 and purchased by Mr. Hunter. A specimen of the same animal was 

 afterwards sent by Dr. Garden, of South Carolina, to Linnaeus, who 

 named it the Syren." 



Family 2. Proteides. 



392. The Anguine or Austrian Siren or Proteus (Proteus anguinus, 



Laurent ; Siren anguinus, Shaw (adult)). 

 Fig. Laur. Kept. 37, 1788. Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. iii. p. 608. 

 Hab. The subterranean waters with which certain lakes in Carniola 

 communicate. The grotto of Adelsberg, near Trieste. 



Presented by SirE. Home, 1848. 



393. The Proteus (Proteus anguinus, Laur.). 



(A young specimen). Presented by John Quekett. 



I 2 



