PROTEUS OF THE LAKES. 19 



phere, exhibiting when heated the same characters as the salt of 

 barium. 



1.693 lost on heating 0.391 = 23.09 Water. 



" gave Sulphate of Strontia 0.662 = 18.62 Strontium- 

 The formula seems to be Sr 1 + 6 HO. 



Cal 

 Sr -1- 515.60-19.11-18.62 

 I -1-15S5.57-50.51- 

 HO-6- 675.00-21.05-23.09 



2806.17 100.00 



KEMAEKS ON A CANADIAN SPECIMEN OE THE 

 PEOTEUS OF THE LAKES. 



BY J. GEORGE HODGINS, 



DEPUTY SUPEEINTEXDENT OF SCHOOLS TOE UPPEE CANADA. 



Mead before the Canadian Institute, December 15th, 1855. 



The imperfect knowledge which exists in relation to the history 

 and habits of this singular class of reptiles, added to some peculiar- 

 ities in the specimen which forms the special object of remark, are, 

 it is hoped, sufficient to coufer on the subject of this paper a special 

 interest in the estimation of Canadian Naturalists. The specimen 

 referred to was procured from the Bay of Toronto, Lake Ontario, 

 and having been caught and preserved for some time, alive, it afforded 

 opportunities of observation of the habits of reptiles of this class, 

 such as are not probably of very frequent occurrence. 



Dr. Williamson, the gentleman into whose possession it first came, 

 and who has presented it to the Provincial Museum in the Normal 

 School Building, obtained the specimen from some boys who were 

 fishing Avith a hook baited with a worm, off Tinning' s Wharf i?i 

 this City, on the 22d of June last. It suffered some ill treatment at 

 the hands of its captors, which probably hastened its death. Imme- 

 diately on getting the animal into his possession, Dr. Williamson 

 placed it in a vessel filled with soft water, mixed with a little mud 

 and debris. It appeared lively at first, and on being touched would 

 move about by the aid of its tail, with all the appearance of life 

 and vigor. The water was changed daily and a few worms were 

 given to it from time to time, but it never seemed to have any incli- 

 nation to touch them. 



