4 Observations an the Natural History 



54°. 5, while the thermometer, left in free air at the mouth of 

 the cavern, had risen from 48° to 59°. The specific gravity of 

 the water in the pond was to that of distilled water, at the 

 same temperature, as 101°.5 to 100°. These animals are found 

 in other pits of stagnant water in Carniola and elsewhere. The 

 first protei described by Laurenti and Scopoli were not procured 

 from the Lake of Zirknitz, as has been commonly represented, 

 nor from any of the caverns of Carniola, but were found acci- 

 dentally by the peasants in small puddles of water near the 

 mouths of certain caverns, a little distant from Sittich, on the 

 road to Newstadt, in Lower Carniola, cast out of the caverns 

 probably by the overflowing of their water after heavy rains. 

 It was not till the year 1797, that these animals were discover- 

 ed in the caverns of Maddalena. At present, the peasants of 

 Adelsberg, when the season suits, go to fish for them, and pre- 

 serve them ahve, till they sell them to the curious who visit 

 Carniola, or convey them to Trieste, where they are sold for 

 the small sum of two or three lire each. 



Regarding the fwrn and habits of the proteus, the authors ob- 

 serve they shall be brief As to externaiyorwi, the accompanying 

 figure, (see Plate,) drawn with all possible care and attention, 

 will much more clearly make it known than any words can do ; 

 and on this point, therefore, they profess to note down only such 

 things as could not be exhibited by a figure, or which the 

 draughtsman could but imperfectly represent. With regard to 

 habits, — to describe these with minuteness and perfect accuracy, 

 it would be necessary to observe the animal in its native caverns, 

 and not in the state of captivity in which it has been seen by 

 them. They will faithfully state, however, all they have ob- 

 served of these animals, while kept in vessels within doors for 

 more than two years : and from the observations thus made, 

 and from comparisons between the proteus and aquatic salaman- 

 der, will deliver the best judgment they have form.ed of their 

 habits and way of life. 



The authors are not able to speak positively either of the age 

 or of the size at which these animals arrive. None of the pro- 

 tei seen by them exceeded 12 inches in length, and the smallest 

 they have heard of was only four * : It was seen by DrPockels, 



