182 Supplement to the Zoology. 
ration is not a larva or tadpole, but that he performs the 
functions of a perfect animal. 
He has three rows of external gills, (as the French say 
en forme de houppes,) on each side. ‘They are situated on 
the posterior edges of flesh projections or processes, and 
resemble fringe of the nicest texture. Between these gills 
are two slits or passages, through which water can pass, as 
in the case of cartilaginous fishes. 
The tail is compressed laterally, and is broad and strong. 
There are four slender legs; the anterior and posterior 
which have each four fingers distinctly articulated, without 
nails or claws. ‘They resemble little hands, destitute of 
thumbs. The fore-legs are connected with the body, a 
short distance behind the gills, and the hind-legs about an 
equal space before the anus. 
There are two eyes covered by the common skin, with- 
out either openings or lids. They seem adapted to his way 
of life, requiring in the deep bottoms where he lives, but a 
few rays of light. 
There are two nostrils near the extremity of the snout. 
‘There is no appearance of external ears. 
The teeth are arranged in two rows in the upper jaw, and 
inone row in the lower jaw. In both they are small, close- 
set, and pointed ; but there are neither laniaries nor grind- 
ers. 
The skin is smooth, and scaleless. It is dark brown, in- 
terspersed with spots of a yet darker colour, over the sides 
and belly. ‘There is a groove of depression along the mid- 
dle of the back. 
The head is broad and flattish. The snout blunt. The 
upper jaw has lips like the Labrus. 
‘The heart has but one ventricle and one auricle ; and 
blood vessels proceed from the former directly to the gills. 
The intestines had been removed ; so that it was impos- 
sible to trace satisfactorily the other parts of the internal 
structure. A whimsical opinion prevails that this reptile is 
very poisonous. He is shunned and abhorred accordingly. 
Measures have nevertheless been taken, to procure more 
and larger individuals, which, it is expected, will enable a 
series of complete dissections to be made. 
To throw light upon this inquiry, we have in our collec- 
tion, the Proteus anguinus of Carniola, with a description by 
the learned Schreibers of Vienna. 
