ORDER BATRACHIA. 413 



is covered by the flesh, as in the salamander. Its 

 skin is smooth and whitish. It is only found in the 

 subterraneous waters, through which certain lakes 

 of Carniola communicate together. 



Its skeleton resembles that of the salamanders, 

 except that it has many more vertebrae, and less 

 rudiments of ribs. But its osseous head is altoge- 

 ther different from theirs in its general confor- 

 mation. 



Finally, there are some which have the front feet, 

 and entirely want the hinder. These are, 



The Sirens, Siren, L., 



Elongated animals, almost of the form of eels, with 

 three branchial tufts, without hind feet, or even 

 any vestige of pelvis. Their head is depressed, 

 their mouth little cleft, their muzzle obtuse, their 

 eye very small, and the ear concealed. Their lower 

 jaw is armed with teeth all round, but the upper 

 one has none, and there are several ranges of them 

 which adhere to two plates pasted under each side 

 of the palate.* 



* It is in vain that some recent authors have desired to renew the ancient 

 supposition, that the siren is a tadpole of the salamander. There are in- 

 dividuals of the siren, larger than any known salamanders, and whose 

 bones have acquired a perfect hardness, without exhibiting the least vestige 

 of hind feet. Their osteology, besides, is altogether different from that of 

 the salamanders. The vertebrae are more numerous (90), and differently 

 formed, and the ribs are much fewer (eight pairs). The conformation of 

 the head, and the connection of the bones which compose it, are altogether 

 different. See my Researches on the Fossil Bones, Vol. V., Part 2. 



