SKULL OF LEPIDOSIEEN. 



191 



were suffered to expire during the night, and in the morning the poor Lepidosiren was 

 found chilled to death. 



The history of this creature is not only interesting, but is valuable as it shows the 

 comparative advantages of watching the habits of animals in large and small habitations. 

 Had, for example, the creature lived from the first in the large basin, its remarkable mode 

 cf eating its food could not have been observed, as it always seeks the bottom of its 

 prison for that purpose ; while, had it been always kept in the glass tank, its graceful 

 movements and fish-eating propensities would never have been discovered. 



The bones of the Lepidosiren are, when first taken from the body, of a bright 

 green colour, and so gelatinous in structure, that if left in the water they would probably 

 dissolve. After a time, however, the green colour fades, though traces of it can still 

 be discerned. The bones of the head are, however, of a firmer character, as is needful for 

 the management of the sharp and powerful teeth ; and in the skull of the above- 

 mentioned specimen, now lying before me, and from which this illustration has been 

 carefully drawn, the green tint still lingers on several of the bones. The drawing is of the 

 natural size. 



SKUIi OF LEPIDOSIRBN. 



The teeth are most remarkable, looking as if they were made from a ribbon of enamel- 

 covered bone, plaited in a series of very deep undulations in front, and sweeping off at 

 each side with a bold curve. Those of the palate and lower jaw are so made that they 

 lock into each other, the folds exactly corresponding, and fitting into each other with such 

 exactness, that no creature when seized could hope to escape without much detriment. 

 The edges of this continuous tooth-ribbon, if I may so call it, are very sharp, and armed 

 with small saw-like teeth, rather worn away in front, but very perceptible on the sides. 

 In the very front of the upper jaw are two little pointed teeth, set apparently loosely in 

 the soft parts of the nose, and quite useless for biting. When, however, the skull is 

 removed from the body, and cleared of muscle and other soft parts, these teeth retain their 

 place, and by the hardening of their attachments become tightly fixed in the skull. 



During life the points of these teeth project very slightly through those two little holes 

 just inside the upper lip, which are considered as the internal nostrils. While the 

 creature is alive, the teeth cannot be seen even when the mouth is open, being covered by 

 a very soft and yielding substance, through which they seem to cut when in use. 



The external aspect of this creature is very singular, the chief characteristics being its 

 eel-like form, and the four long slender projections which stand in the place of limbs, and 



