TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 11 



living specimens of the Pr^oteus angidnus which is 

 found liere. As it is not yet fully decided whether 

 this animal, which in its structure is between lizards 

 and fishes, is only a larva or a perfectly developed 

 animal, we took half of those we had procured 

 to the torrid zone alive, in order, if possible, to 

 promote their metamorphosis by the greater heat ; 

 the other half we sent to the Royal Academy at 

 Munich, that they might be duly examined. Our 

 road led us over the declivity of the Julian lime- 

 stone alps, on which many masses of rock con- 

 taining petrified shells lie scattered about, down to 

 the fine seaport of Triest, where we arrived on 

 the 10th of March. From the heights at Obczina, 

 we had a noble view of the Adriatic Gulf, ex- 

 tending between the Italian and Istrian coasts j and 

 saw the two Austrian frigates, whose masts rose 

 above all the rest, lying at anchor, ready to sail. 



The situation of Triest, the capital of Illyria, 

 on the Adriatic, renders it one of the most im- 

 portant seaports of Italy for the Levant trade. 

 The old town is built along the declivity of a 

 mountain, on which the castle stands ; the new 

 town on the sea shore ; the latter consists of some 

 handsome streets with large houses, on a canal, by 

 means of which the merchants' goods are con- 

 veniently brought from the sea to the interior of 

 the town. The inhabitants are partly of Greek, 

 Illyrian, and Italian, but principally of German 

 origin. The market, amply furnished with the 

 finest southern fruits, as well as the rarest produc- 



