6 Observations o)i the Naii/,ral History 



degrees to violet ; so that to preserve the naturaJ colour, it is 

 necessary to keep the animal always in obscurity. 



The skin of this reptile, like that of eels, is every where be- 

 smeared with a viscid mucus ; and when viewed with a lens, it 

 is observed to be studded with minute reddish spots, and with 

 innumerable pores. By reason of this mucosity, the proteus 

 easily slides out of the hand, and while alive, is with difficulty 

 fixed dovm to any substance for the purpose of dissection. In 

 attempts to do this, say the authors, we have destroyed many 

 protei, and have observed, that, when about to die, the body 

 has become covered with so much mucus, that it appeared diffi- 

 cult to believe how they were able to affiard it. 



In enumerating the external organs, the authors pass over for 

 the present the eyes and gills, till they come to describe anato- 

 mically the organs of sense and of circulation. As to the mouth, 

 it differs from that of other reptiles. The superior lip, after co- 

 vering the teeth, is continued a little downward over the inferior 

 one in front; and, on the other hand, the inferior lip is conti- 

 nued upward over the superior one on the sides of the mouth. 

 The size of the head and tail is, in some protei, larger in propor- 

 tion to the body than in others, depending probably on the rela- 

 tive age of the animal, and not on particular seasons, as is the 

 case in the aquatic salamander. 



When a proteus that has been kept some time in darkness is 

 observed with caution, he is always found to be resting quietly 

 at the bottom of the vessel, and in the position nearly repre- 

 sented in the figure. But if the vessel be quickly uncovered, 

 he suddenly begins to move, is much agitated, and seeks always 

 that part of the vessel which is darkest. If now that part of the 

 vessel be exposed to the light, the animal again begins to move, 

 and soon his gills assume a redder tint, and the rest of the body 

 also becomes of a redder hue. In fact, the light gives pain, 

 and the animal exerts himself ro avoid it. This disposition to 

 escape from light is the more remarkable, as the eyes of this 

 animal are incredibly small, and so buried beneath the skin, that 

 a person even apprized of their situation, must use great dili- 

 gence to discern them ; whence those are not without excuse 

 who have denied altogether the existence of these organs. 



