22 



PEOF. E. EAT LANKESTEE ON LEPLDOSIEEN AND PEOTOPTEEUS. 



exist in European Museums, excepting the one of Natterer's two which has lost the 

 hinder limbs. 



The main point to which my observation was directed was the existence or non- 

 existence of a segmented structure in the cartilaginous skeletal axis of the pectoral 

 and pelvic fins. 



The Paris Specimens. — I did not ask permission to cut into the limb of Castelnau's 

 specimen in Paris ; hence it remains intact, and may be appealed to should any doubt 

 remain after what I have to relate of the other specimens. The small second specimen 

 in Paris is very incomplete, and of no value for the present enquiry. 



Castelnau's specimen measures 85 cm. in length. The head-length (as defined in the 

 preceding memoir) is 9 cm., the inter-membral length is 48 - 5 cm., the post-membral 

 length is 27 - 5 cm., and the cervico-dorsal length is 26 cm. The greatest depth of the 

 body is 10 cm. The specimen is very soft, and somewhat flattened and collapsed, 

 hence deeper than natural. The colour is very pale — greyish brown. The anus is on 

 the left side; there are no villi on the pelvic fin. The lower jaw was damaged in 

 capture. The eye is far in front of the angle of the mouth (halfway between it and 

 the border of the snout). The eye is flat, without raised cornea, as in all examples of 

 Lepidosiren I have seen, whether from Brazil or Paraguay. 



The Florence Specimens. — One of these had been 

 macerated and more or less cleaned. The pelvic limbs 

 were attached to the girdle, and presented the appearance 

 shown in the woodcut (fig. 4.). The segmentation of the 

 axis of the limb was most obvious ! The fore limbs were 

 very small, and still covered by integument. I dissected this 

 away and found the axis " segmented " or " articulated " 

 as in the hind limbs. This specimen was not a large 

 one (about 40 cm. in length). It was sent to Prof. Giglioli 

 by Senhor J. Barbosa Rodriguez, of Rio de Janeiro, 

 and was procured by him at Antaz, Madeira, Amazons. 

 The sex was not determined. The local native name is 

 " Trayraboia." 



Prof. Giglioli's second specimen is larger, and is com- 

 plete, except that the viscera have been removed (the 

 existence of ova had been noted by Prof. Gigliolij. It is 

 82"25 cm. long. The head-length is 8 - 25 cm., the inter- 

 membral length 47 cm., the post-membral length 27 cm., 



the cervico-dorsal 30 cm. There are no villi on the pelvic fin, and the anus is on the 

 left side. 



With Prof. Giglioli's permission, I made a partial section of the right fore limb and 

 of the right hind limb. In both the cartilaginous skeletal axis was seen to be made 



