6S0 New Species of Sir ex, 



and its tail, which is surrounded by a prolongation of the 

 skin, giving it the form of the caudal fin of the eel, serves it 

 for a similar purpose. In its permanent gills, the Proteus 

 comes nearest in affinity to the characters of fish ; and, ac- 

 cording to Cuvier, its spinal structure is analogous to that of 

 one of the fossil saurians which have been discovered in cer- 

 tain secondary formations. It is oviparous ; and well-defined 

 ovaria have been found within it. 



The Sclavonian inhabitants name the Proteus, from its 

 colour being like that of the human flesh, and from its legs, 

 chiefly the fore legs and toes, so exactly resembling little arms 

 and fingers, "zhloveska riba," which literally signifies a 

 human fish. 



Report once stated that it had been discovered in some 

 subterraneous caverns in the Island of Sicily ; but this, of late, 

 has not been confirmed ; and I understand the only country 

 in which it has as yet been found is Illyria. 



I will conclude by observing that I much desire that zoo- 

 logists would discover some methods whereby they may 

 obtain more accurate knowledge of the natural manners and 

 economy of the Proteus, in the deep and dark grottoes of its 

 native district; for, when we consider its singularly mixed 

 affinities , and its purely subterranean habits, we cannot hesi- 

 tate in pronouncing it to be one of the most anomalous and 

 remarkable creatures existing at this day, within the whole 

 range of the animal kingdom. 



London, April 21. 1837. 



Art. III. Description of a new Species of Sirex discovered to 

 attack and destroy the Spruce Fir (Plnus nigra). By W. E. 

 Shuckard, V.P.E.S., Librarian to the Royal Society. 



Although this insect is no new discovery, yet, from its 

 having been incorrectly attributed to two distinct Fabrician 

 species, it is, as yet, without a name ; and, as I am in posses- 

 sion of some facts derived from its natural history which fully 

 confirm its specific individuality, which is still further corro- 

 borated by the female, until now unknown or unnoticed, I 

 hasten to communicate all the particulars to those interested 

 in the subject. Its very close resemblance, in both sexes, to 

 the sexes of Sirex juvencus Linn, has, without doubt, been 

 the cause, on the one hand, of its being overlooked ; and the 

 imperfect specific diagnosis of Fabricius's Sirex nigricornis 

 has, on the other hand, occasioned its male to have been 

 treated as this Fabrician species. That it cannot be the latter 

 is fully proved by referring to Fabricius's original description, 

 published in 1781, in his Species Insectorum, t. i. p. 418 — 423., 



