and Structure of the Proteus Angulnus. 'S^ 



:to speak with confidence : on this and some other points they 

 were unable to satisfy their curiosity, having sacrificed all the 

 protei which they possessed to other res^rches. 



The reader perhaps may expect, that after having thus set 

 aside the common opinion, that the two air-bladders of the pro- 

 teus perform the function of lungs, we should declare the pur- 

 pose they are designed to serve. This, however, say the au- 

 thors, it is difficult to do, as it is to say what is the true and 

 primary use which the air-bladder serves in fishes ; but this 

 point, at a future period, they hope to be able to investigate, 

 both in the protei and inrushes. 



Such is a condensed account of tbe labours of Professors 

 Confighachi and Rusconi, regarding the history and structure of 

 this singular animal Those who may desire more minute in- 

 formation, must consult the work itself, and more particularly 

 the numerous and beautiful figures, designed by Dr Rusooni, 

 and engraved by Anderloni, with which the work is adorned* 



D. E. 



Explanatmi of Plates. 



^late Vl. Pig. 1. View of the head from below, eight times 

 greater than natural, oa, the two branches of the lower jaw ; 

 hh, processes of the temporal bones to which they unite; c, 

 the roof of the palate ; d^ the os hyoides \ ^ee, the three bran- 

 chial arches of the right side ; fg^ the intermediate bones di 

 the first and second arches ; hhhy the three vfirst vertebrae; 

 wn, the branches of the os hyoides. 



l*late VI. Fig. % The skeleton of the proteus of its natural 

 size ; a, the three cartilages, forming the shoulder ; h, the 

 pelvis. » 



Plate VI. Fig. 3. The lower halfof the trunk of a female pro- 

 teus laid open, a, the alimentary canal shortened and 

 straitened from the action of ardent ^irits : — at its termina- 

 tion, it is slit up to shew the common ^^cw.? ^f the ureters 

 and oviducts, into which two bristles are inserted, the open- 

 ing from the urinary-bladder is indicated by a single 



