FOOD OF THE LEFIDOSIREN. 
183 
I have several times seen the creature while swimming about in search of a dinner, and 
have been much struck with the exceeding grace of its movements, which, indeed, very 
strongly resemble those of the otter. 
At last its depredations were checked, for when the basin was cleansed, according to 
custom, a portion was fenced off, so that the Lepidosiren could not get out, and the gold-fish 
could not get in. 
Not choosing to supply a succession of gold-fish, out of each of which the fastidious 
creature would only take one bite, tbe superintendent bethought himself of frogs, and fed the 
animal regularly with these batrachians. But having been warned, by the effects on the gold- 
fish, not to trust his fingers within reach of the teeth that could inflict such very effective 
bites, he got a long stick, cleft one end of it, put one hind-foot of the frog into the cleft, and 
held it on the surface of the water, so that the struggles of the intended victim should agitate 
the surface, and warn the Lepidosiren that its dinner was ready. No sooner did the frog 
begin to splash, than the Lepidosiren rose rapidly beneath it, seized it in its mouth, dragged 
it off the stick like a pike striking at a roach, and sunk to the bottom with its prey. Not a 
vestige of the frog was ever seen afterwards ; and Mr. Wilson naturally conjectures that 
the poor victim was gradually chewed up, like the beef with which the creature was 
formerly fed. 
Under this regimen the Lepidosiren grew apace, and in three years had increased from ten 
inches in length and a few ounces in weight, to thirty inches long, and weighing six pounds 
and a quarter. The rapidity of its growth may be accounted for by the fact, that it had fed 
throughout the entire year, instead of lying dormant for want of . water during half its 
existence, and its size was apparently larger than it would be likely to attain in its 
native state. 
Thinking that perhaps the creature might need its accustomed season of repose — happily 
called aestivation, in opposition to the term hibernation — it was well supplied with clay similar 
to that from which its cocoon had been formed, but without any result, the animal evincing no 
disposition to avail itself of the stores so thoughtfully collected in its behalf. This is, I think, 
a very interesting example of the manner in which nature accommodates herself to circum- 
stances, and is paralleled by many other instances in the several departments of Natural 
History. Bees, for example, on finding themselves within easy distance of a sugar plantation, 
have been known to decline honey making ; and the same result has occurred when they were 
transported to fertile localities where the honey-bearing flowers are in blossom throughout 
the year. 
As an example of a similar phenomenon occurring in the vegetable kingdom, I may 
instance some Australian flowers brought over by Mr. Howitt, and planted in his garden. 
These plants were at first sadly puzzled by the seasons, wanting to blossom just as our winter 
had set in, but in the course of a few years they grew gradually later in blossoming, until they 
had found the proper season, and then were content to put forth their leaves and flowers at the 
same time as the indigenous plants. 
The cause of this specimen’s regretted death was rather curious. In the winter time, 
when the basins were cleaned, the animal was removed from one basin to another, while the 
former was being emptied. Unfortunately, the fires which warmed the water were suffered to 
expire during the night, and in the morning the poor Lepidosiren was found chilled 
to death. 
The history of this creature is not only interesting, but is valuable as it shows the 
comparative advantages of watching the habits of animals in large and small habitations. 
Had, for example, the creature lived from the first in the large basin, its remarkable mode of 
eating its food could not have been observed, as it always seeks the bottom of its prison 
foi that purpose ; while, had it been always kept in the glass tank, its graceful movements and 
fish-eating propensities would never have been discovered. 
Ihe bones of the Lepidosiren are, when first taken from the body, of a bright green color, 
and so gelatinous in structure, that if left in the water they would probably dissolve. After 
a time, however, the green color fades, though traces of it can still be discerned. The bones 
