Description of Menobranchus punctatus. 313 
from its mouth, in February, 1848. Mr. Shoolbred was on 
the watch for animals of this tribe at my request, and rescuing 
this one from the hands of the negroes, who have a supersti- 
tious dread of the Siren lacertina and its congeners, secured 
it and sent it to me. The “piggin,” or wooden vessel, in 
which the animal was placed after its capture, was destroyed 
by the negro to whom it belonged, who was resolved never to 
carry food in it or eat out of it again. This first discovered 
individual was unfortunately, but undesignedly, thrown away . 
by one of my servants, to my regret. Soon after, however, 
at the request of Mr. Shoolbred, two more were sent to me 
from the same neighborhood by Dr. Alexander Gadsden, and 
after the lapse of a week or two, five more were transmitted 
to me by Dr. Shoolbred. None were obtained in 1849. In 
the spring of 1850, two more were sent me by Dr. Shoolbred, 
but none could be obtained for me in the two following years, 
so that ten only have been seen. They were all discovered in 
cleaning out ricefield ditches, which is done once a year, at 
the close of winter. Several of these animals were kept alive 
for some months in a basin of water, by supplying fresh water 
every day or two. When calm, the branchial tufts were most 
beautifully displayed on each side of the neck, of a bright 
vermilion color ; but when alarmed, or disturbed, the branchize 
lost their brilliant tint, and, in a state evidently more flaccid 
than before, lay closer to the sides of the neck. Occasionally 
rising to the surface of the water they would open their 
mouths and take in a bubble of air, which was immediately 
after passed out beneath the surface of the water with a sound 
as of a faint squeak, the only approach to voice that was per- 
ceived. A granular deposit was observed in the basin after 
the lapse of a day or two, but its origin and source were not 
ascertained. After existing in captivity for some months, 
apparently in good health and activity, each individual sud- - 
denly declined in strength, became sluggish, unable to preserve 
the normal position in the water, and in a few days died. 
Charleston, S. C., Jan. 11, 1853. 
