6 Prof. E. Ehlers on Lepidosiren paradoxa and 



difference as not being- specific, but as one rather to be 

 ascribed to conditions of preservation, if all five specimens of 

 Lepidosiren paradoxa had not therein presented a striking 

 contrast to the remaining examples oi Lepidosiren articulata. 



The colour of Lepidosiren articulata is for the most part a 

 uniform shitc-grej ; in the case of Lepidosiren paradoxa^ 

 especially in the anterior region, and particularly upon the 

 ventral surface, a spotted appearance is noticeable, since 

 the marginal portions of the scales are darker than their 

 centres. I have also seen similar markings upon one speci- 

 men of Lepidosiren articulata which displayed dark spots 

 arranged in rows upon the ventral surface. The specimen of 

 Lepidosiren imraduxa dissected by Hyrtl was similarly 

 marked. 



In the examples of Lepidosiren paradoxa before me the 

 system of the lateral lines is not distinctly recognizable ; it is 

 so much the better to be seen in a female Lepidosiren articu- 

 lata. Upon the trunk two lateral lines are present, both of 

 ■which run from the head to beyond the anus on to the 

 tail, while the lower one is continued for more than half 

 the length of the latter. The upper line lies approximately 

 upon the lower margin of the upper fourth, the lower one 

 upon the upper margin of the lower fourth of the total height 

 of the fish ; the upper line is situated in some s]:)ecimens in a 

 sunken groove. Each line is frequently interrupted and 

 composed of sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, portions. 

 From each line there arise at right angles and at equal 

 distances one behind the other, which seem to me to correspond 

 to the metamerism of the trunk, short lateral branches, which 

 run towards the dorsal and ventral median lines, while part 

 of them also exhibit short processes which pass across the 

 main stem in the opposite direction ; on the right side of the 

 body 1 counted nine such lateral branches on the lower line, 

 and on the ujjper one only eight ; on the left side of the body 

 they Avere much less distinctly visible. The system of lines 

 upon the head corresponds in its general features to what is 

 represented in the existing figures of Lepidosiren paradoxa ; 

 the description of the details of its arrangement must be 

 reserved until a future occasion, when it will be accompanied 

 by illustrations. I distinguish an opercular arch, with which 

 the lower lateral line inosculates, and the curve of which 

 extends backwards to the level of the branchial cleft; a 

 mandibular arch, which runs close beneath the margin of 

 the lower jaw, embracing the angle of the mouth ; and an 

 orbito-nasal arch, which is in connexion with the superior 

 lateral line, surrounds the eye with a tortuous line above and 



