360 Mr. J. Hogg on the Existence of 



family Clupeidae somewhat approach in cellular structure to 

 the lungs of Reptiles. 



Wherefore I agree with M. Fitzinger, Dr. Natterer and 

 Prof. Jones*, in regarding these animals as two distinct spe- 

 cies of a new genus, belonging rather to the Manentibranchious 

 AmpMbians than to any order of Fishes. 



I find also that M. Bischoff concludes, from a skilful dis- 

 section of the L. paradoxa, that it is an Amphibian and not a 

 Fish. See his memoir published at Leipsig in 1840 ; also the 

 translation of it, with five plates, in the ' Annales des Sciences 

 Naturelles' for August and September 1840. At page 155 

 of the latter number. Prof. Bischoff" observes, concerning the 

 L. paradoxa, that its nasal cavities are perforated behindf 

 and open into the mouth ; that its heart has two auricles ; that 

 its lungs have not the character of s\\"imming-bladders ; and 

 that the organization for the most part of its soft parts, espe- 

 cially of those of circulation and respiration, differ from those 

 of Fishes. It is likewise said that this animal produces a sound 

 resembling the cry of a cat. Again, as it is evident, the name 

 " Lepidosiren/' signifying a Scaly Siren, which was given by 

 M. Fitzinger to this genus, is not altogether appropriate, since 

 it would lead us to conclude that this is the only Amphibian 

 possessing scales, whereas the Cacilia, as it is well known, 

 are likewise furnished with small scales. And Prof. Owen 

 says, at p. 332 of the Linn. Trans., vol. xviii., that he recorded, 

 in the MS. Catalogue of the Museum of the Royal College 

 of Surgeons in London, the Lepidosiren under the name of 

 ' Protopterus' — doubtless derived from 7rp&)To?,^r5/, and Trre- 

 pov,fin — to express the primary or rudimentary form of its 

 ionv fins. But, since I maintain that this genus really be- 

 longs to the Amphibia, this name could not possibly apply to 

 it, although that of Protomelus would be more characteristic, 

 which signifies the first or primary form of the limbs or legs, 



* General Outline of the Animal Kingdom, p. 538. 



f But Sir W. Jardine considers " the structure of the ?iosfril as entirely 

 analogous to tliat of the organ in Fishes : it is not a respiratoiy organ in L. 

 paradoxa, the double opening is only similar to the valvular separation of 

 the sac in Fishes." — See ' Remarks on the Structure and Habits of L. annec- 

 tens' in the ' Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.' for March last, p. 26. This, 

 however, is evidently a mistake, as will appear from the following " addi- 

 tion," which M. Bischoff has given to his paper in ' Annal. des Sci. Nat.,' 

 Sept. Number, p. 155. "Again 1 add, on the subject oi nasal cavities, on 

 which so nuich has already been urged, that some weeks since, at my re- 

 quest, my father-in-law, M. Tiedenuum, has likewise examined the nasal 

 cavities of a very small specimen, and that he has found the canal to be in 

 length 5^'" (rhenales), proceeding obliquely at the back and on the outside, 

 and opening into the cavity of the mouth. The species of Congers, on the 

 contrary, which are found at Vienna, do not present any similar canal." 



