42 



ZOOLOGICAL 



OKDER CAUDATA (152 Species). 



SIRENID^ (Mud-Eels; 2 Species). Plate 21, Map v. 

 This family includes only the curious degraded creatures known as 

 Siren lacertina and Pseudobranchus striatus, the former of which occurs in 

 the South-eastern United States, while the latter is confined to Georgia. In 

 these interesting Amphibians, which are found burrowing in the mud of 

 ponds and ditches, the body is Eel-like (hence the popular name), bearing 

 three pairs of external gills which persist during the whole life of the animal. 

 The fore limbs are present, with four fingers in Siren and three in Pseudo- 

 branchus ; the hind limbs are altogether wanting. 



PROTEID-ffi (Proteus or Gilled Salamander, &c. ; 3 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map v. 

 The Proteidse, like the Sirenidse, possess three pairs of persistent external 

 gills, but have in addition a pair of hind limbs. Three genera have been 

 described, each with a single species. Proteus anguinus is a curious, totally 

 blind, eel-like creature living in the subterranean waters of caverns in the 

 Alps of Carniola, Carinthia and Dalmatia. The fore limbs have three digits 

 and the hind limbs only two. The American representative (Necturus 

 maculatus) has four digits on both fore and hind limbs, while also possessing 

 well-developed eyes and powers of vision. Typhlomolge is the third genus, 

 with one species inhabiting Texas. 



SALAMANDRID^I (Typical Salamanders; 32 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map v. 



The Salamanders and Newts, of which six genera are described, are 

 practically confined to the Palsearctic and Nearctic regions, although one or 

 two species range southwards in China to within the Oriental region. 

 Only two species, belonging to the genus Triton, are found in the New 

 World, but these have a fairly extensive range. One of the best-known 

 species in the family is the Spotted Salamander (Salamandra maculosa) of 

 Central and Southern Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. Being of a 

 black colour, spotted with bright yellow, it is often regarded as one of the 

 best - known examples of the so-called " warning " coloration, where a 

 species enjoys protection through possessing some nauseous or poisonous 

 quality, while its conspicuous markings serve to educate its enemies to the 

 fact. Three species of Newt {Triton) are found in Britain. 



AMBLYSTOMATID.E (Axolotls, &c. ; 41 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map v. 



Although there is no general English name which can be accurately 

 applied to these Amphibians, yet, as the larval forms of the typical genus 

 have long been known as Axolotls, this word may be perhaps used for the 

 members of the family as a Avhole. Ten genera have been differentiated, 

 six of which are Asiatic and four North American. Ambly stoma, the 

 principal genus, includes 25 North American species and one which occurs, 

 probably at high elevations, in Siam. The young or larvse of this genus 

 have been known since the time when the Spanish conquered Mexico, and 

 until the year 1865 they were thought to be adult creatures allied to 

 Sirenidse or Proteidse. It has, however, been proved by experiment that 

 Axolotls may, under certain conditions, develop into mature Ambly stomas. 



PLETHODONTID.S (Spelerpes, &c. ; 61 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map vi. 



This family, containing only five genera, has an interesting distribution. 

 The great majority (no fewer than 54) of the species, including representa- 

 tives of every genus, are North and Central American. Eive occur in South 

 America, one is confined to the island of San Domingo in the West Indies, 

 while, strangely enough, one is found in Europe. This is Spelerpes fuscus, a 

 native of the mountains of Southern France, Northern Italy, and Sardinia. 



DESMOGNATHID^I (Desmognathus, &c. ; 8 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map vi. 



This family contains five genera, three of which (with six species) are 

 confined to the Eastern United States, one (Thorius) to Southern Mexico, 

 and one (Haptoglossa) to Costa Rica. 



AMPHIUMIDiE (Fish-like Salamanders; 5 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map vi. 



This family, which includes three genera, is extremely limited in dis- 

 tribution, four of the species being found only in the Eastern United States, 

 while the fifth is confined to China and Japan. The latter is, however, of 

 much interest, as it is much the largest species of living Amphibian. It is 

 known as the Giant Salamander {Megalobatrachus maximus), and the largest 

 specimen known is over five feet in length ! This Amphibian giant inhabits 

 clear, cold, and swiftly-flowing streams in the mountainous parts of Japan 

 and a portion of China. It has four front and five hind toes and is without 

 an external gill-opening. 



ORDER APODA (53 Species). 



CCECILIID^ (Ccecilia, &c. ; 53 Species). Plate 21, Map vi. 



The members of this group are so distinct in their characters that they 



are usually placed in an Order to themselves, under the name of Apoda. 



This name bears allusion to the total absence of limbs, which is one of their 



most evident characters. The tail also is rudimentary or absent, and the 



eyes are either wanting altogether or buried deeply beneath the skin and 

 absolutely useless. These creatures are hence blind and worm-like, while 

 they possess burrowing habits and exhibit great uniformity of structure and 

 external appearance. They are pretty widely distributed in tropical regions 

 possessing representatives in the Ethiopian, Oriental, and Neotropical 

 regions. Seventeen genera have been described, seven of which (with* 28 

 species) are confined to tropical America, five to tropical Africa, and three 

 to the Oriental region. 



CLASS PISCES (Fishes). 

 Sub-Class DIPNEUSTI (Dipnoi). 



LEPIDOSIRENID^ (Mud-Fishes). Plate 22, Map i. 



Of these interesting fishes two genera are known. The typical one 

 Lepidosiren, contains a single species (L. paradoxa), which inhabits the 

 great Amazon Eiver and its affluents, and also the swamps and marshes 

 which form the tributaries of the Paraguay River. It is a curious eel-like 

 creature, of sluggish habits, feeding principally on molluscs of the «enus 

 Amptdlaria, but also devouring quantities of algse. The second genus 

 Protopterus, is purely African, and contains three species. They are 

 particularly abundant in the Gambia River, and are remarkable for their 

 habit of burrowing into the mud and remaining in a torpid condition during 

 the rainless season, when the marshes become dried up. 



CERAT0D0NTIDJ3 (Lung-Fish). Plate 22, Map i. 



The single known species representing this family is confined to the 

 Burnett and Mary Rivers in Queensland. It is known scientifically as 

 Neoceratodus forsteri, while its native name is " barramundi," and its 

 popular English name the Australian Lung-Fish. It frequents pools which 

 are comparatively stagnant in the rivers mentioned, is sluggish in its move- 

 ments, and feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, and various other aquatic 

 creatures, which it is reputed to obtain among the submerged plants which 

 form their home. 



ORDER TELEOSTEI (Bony Fishes). 



MOLID^: (Sun-Fishes). Plate 22, Map i. 



Of this family two genera may be recognised, and several species, of 

 which the best-known is the Common Sun-fish {Mola mola). This fish, 

 which attains a length of about eight feet, inhabits the North Atlantic and 

 the Mediterranean, occasionally occurring also off the British coasts. Other 

 species range over the greater part of the oceans in tropical and temperate 

 zones. 



DIODONTIDJE (Porcupine-Fishes). Plate 22, Map i. 



These remarkable fishes, of which two genera and about 15 species are 

 known, owe their popular name to their covering of spines, which in some 

 forms are immovable, while in others they are erectile. They are found in 

 most seas, but chiefly within the Tropics. A well-known American repre- 

 sentative of the family is the Rabbit-fish (Ghilomycterus schcepfi) of the 

 Atlantic coast. 



TETRODONTLD.E (Globe-Fishes). Plate 22, Map i. 



Globe-fishes, of which about 60 species are known, are chiefly inhabi- 

 tants of tropical and warm seas ; but a few species occur in fresh water, 

 notably in the large rivers of Brazil, West Africa and the East Indies. 

 These fishes have the power of inflating their bodies with air, and on this 

 account are sometimes called "Puffers." Pennant's Globe-Fish (Tetrodon 

 lagocephalus) has occurred on the coasts of Britain, but it is always rare in 

 European seas. 



BALISTLTLf; (File-Fishes, &c). Plate 22, Map ii. 



The members of this family are chiefly inhabitants of tropical and sub- 

 tropical seas. About 100 species have been described, two of which 

 are recorded as British. These are (1) the so-called Pig-faced Trigger-Fish 

 (Balistes carolinensis), which has occurred on our coasts on several occasions ; 

 and (2) the "Ocean Turbot" (Canthidermis maculatus), a very rare species, 

 whose claim to be regarded as British is a matter of some doubt. Certain 

 members of the family are reported to be very destructive to pearl-fisheries. 



LOPHIID^l (Angler-Fish, &c). Plate 22, Map ii. 



This is a small family (containing about a dozen species) of curious- 

 looking fishes with sluggish habits, inhabiting the sea-floor in all parts of 

 the world ; while some forms attach themselves to floating sea-weed, and are 

 thus carried about in various directions. They owe their popular name to 

 the curious appendage on the snout, which often assumes a curious appear- 

 ance and acts as a lure for catching prey. The Common Angler or " Sea- 

 Devil " (Lophius piscatorius), is found commonly all round the British coasts. 

 Allied to the Lophiidse are a number of interesting deep-sea forms, which 

 are usually placed in distinct families. If such a course be followed, then 

 the whole of these related families may be considered as a sub-order, under 

 the name of Pediculati. 



