Ch.IV^. south AMERICA. 223 



noftrils are alio very fmall ; and the only parts de- 

 ftitute of hair, thefe having a glandulous membrane, 

 like the fame part in dogs. This creature has two 

 fins, which ferve them both for fwimming in the 

 water, and for walking on the ground. The tail, 

 which is every where ecjuaily cartilaginous, is of a 

 length proportional to the body, but much thicker 

 than thofe of the generality of fifli. They carry it 

 horizontally ; fo that by inverting the laft vertebra, 

 where the articulations are more flexible than in 

 other parts, they form of ic a kind of hind feet ; 

 and at the fame time the fins helping them before, 

 they walk without trailing the body along the ground. 

 A remarkable particular in the formation of this am.- 

 phibious creature is, that in both the (ins and the ex- 

 tremity of the tail there are protuberances refembling 

 lingers, they are fmall bones or cartilages inclofed 

 within thofe callous membranes, which cover the fins 

 and tail. Thefe fingers they can expand fo as to 

 cover the whole breadth of the fin ; and thus form, 

 as it were, the fole to tread upon. At the end of 

 €ach is a nail of about two lines in length, and half 

 a line in breadth. 



Among the feveral articulations in the fins are 

 two very remarkable, one at the junction of the 

 Omoplata, where it forms a kind of fhoulder, and 

 the other at the extremity of the fin, where the 

 fingers are conne(5led. The fame oeconomy is ob- 

 ferved in the tail ; and thus they are adapted to an 

 amphibious life : accordingly, though not with a ceie* 

 rity equal to that of quadrupeds, they climb up fteep 

 rocks of a height one would think them impra<Sticabie 

 to fuch creatures, as they are abfolutely fo to men 

 and come down again with the fame eafe, notwith- 

 (landing their great bulk and fatnefs, which is fuch in 

 the larger fpecies, that their diameter at the fins is lit- 

 tle (liort of a yard and a half. 



Their organs of generation are placed at the lower 

 i extremity 



