[ *93 ] 
Received May 28, 1766. 
XXIII. Obfer vat ions upon Animals , commonly 
called Amphibious by Authors . Prefented 
by Dr . Parfons, F. R . S. 
Read June 26, H E following remarks, which I have 
the honour to lay before this learned 
Society, were occafioned by a converfation that palled 
between me and a gentleman well acquainted with 
natural hiftory, however milfaken in the fubjedt 
before us. His opinion was, that amphibious animals 
lived more in the water than on the land : but I believe 
the contrary will appear by the fequel of this treatife. 
If we conlider the words cip(pt and from 
which the term amphibious is derived ; we fhould 
underhand that animals, having this title, fhould be 
capable of living as well by land or in the air, as by 
water, or of dwelling in either conllantly at will ; but 
it will be difficult to find any animal that can fulfil this 
definition, as being equally qualified for either j and 
in claffing creatures of this kind, authors are much 
divided and fometimes miftaken. 
Now if any natural hiftorian fhould deduce his 
diffindtion of this clafs, from the ftrudture or charac- 
teriffic of any part of the animal, I think he would 
be a little out of the way; becaufe the term compre- 
hends nothing but what regards its living in both air 
and water at difcretion; however, fince the word 
Vol. LVI. C c amphi- 
