184 



THE CARAMURV. 



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, the green tint still 

 lingers on several of the bones. 



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 con- 

 tinuous 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. lu 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 j)roject 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 are 

 analogous to similar structures in certain rex)tiles already described and figured. These are 

 not true limbs, and the cartilaginous ray by whicli they are supported has no joint. They are 

 quite soft and flexible, as if they were made of leather, and are of very trifling use in locomo- 

 tion. The two fore-limbs are set at the shoulders, j ust behind the head, and widely separated 

 from each other, while the hinder pair are quite close together at their bases. In the species 

 just described, two short tubercular appendages, about an inch in length, accompany the 

 larger limb-like projections, and, except in dimensions, l)ear a close resemblance to those 

 organs. I may take this opportunity of I'emarking that the creature is not known to leave 

 the water and to cruwl on land. 



Another specimen has not attained to any great size, being scarcely half as large as the 

 individual just described, though it has lived in captivity for three years. The tank in which 

 it resided was small, and may have probably accounted for the slight increase in dimensions. 

 It was interesting to watch tlds creature move about its prison, as the peciJiar screw-like 

 or spiral movement of the limbs was well exhibited. Tlie whole body was covered 

 with rather large scales, embedded deeply in the skin, and not easily to be seen in living 

 specimens. 



The name of Lepidosiren, or Scaly Siren, is given to this creature on account of its scaly 

 covering. At about one-third of the distance from the head to the tip of the tail a rather 

 narrow and fin-like membrane arises, which runs completely round the tail until it is termi- 

 nated close to the bases of the hind pair of limbs. It is strengthened throughout by a series 

 of soft jointed rays. 



The flesh of the Lepidosiren is very soft and white, and is thought to be excellent for the 

 table, so that in its native country it is dug up from its muddy lied and used for food. It 

 usually burrows to a depth of eighteen inches. This creature possesses both lungs and gills, 

 the latter organs being twofold, the external gills being tufted on the under side, and the 

 internal gills being placed on the edge of the divisions between the gUl openings on the side of 

 the neck. The heart is more reptilian than piscine, having three compartments, two auricles 

 and one ventricle, and afl'ords one of the strongest reasons for ranking the creature among the 

 former class. 



There are several species of Lepidosiren, divided into two genera, distinguished from each 

 otiier by the number of ribs. The si)ecies which is found in Southern America, and is there 

 known under the popular name of Caramueu {Lepidmircii paradoxa), has fifty-five pairs of 

 ril)S, whereas the African species has only thirty-six pairs. The color of the Lepidosiren 

 is darkish brown with a wash of gray. 



