244 Subclass Dipneusti, or Lung-fishes 
chromatophores shrinking in absence of light and enlarging in 
the sunshine. In injured animals this reaction becomes much 
less, as they remain pale even in daylight. 
In the rainy season when food is abundant the Lepidosiren 
eats voraciously and stores great quantities of orange-colored 
fat in the tissues between the muscles. In the dry season it 
ceases to feed, or, as the Indians put it, it feeds on water. When 
the water disappears the Lepidosiren burrows down into the 
mud, closing its gill-openings, but breathing through the mouth. 
As the mud stiffens it retreats to the lower part of its burrow, 
Fic. 179.—Larva of Lepidosiren paradozra 30 days after hatching. (After Kerr.) 
where it lies with its tail folded over its face, the body sur- 
rounded by a mucous secretion. In its burrow there remains 
an opening which is closed by a lid of mud. At the end of the 
Fie. 180.—Larva of Lepidosiren paradova 40 days after hatching. (After Kerr.) 
dry season this lid is pushed aside, and the animal comes out 
when the water is deep enough. When the waters rise the 
presence of Lepidosirens can be found only by a faint quivering 
Fie. 181 —Larva of Lepidostren paradoxa 3 months after hatching. (After Kerr.) 
movement of the grass in the bottom of the swamp. When 
taken the body is found to be as slippery as an eel and as mus- 
cular. The eggs are laid in underground burrows in the black 
