WORM-LIKE AMPHIBIANS 
371 
very much like the Congo “Snake”; but the hind 
legs are totally absent, and external gills are con- 
spicuously present. The front legs, which are 
close behind the gills, are larger than in any other 
of the eel-like salamanders, and are of some slight 
use. 
The Siren Salamander, or Mud^Eel ,” 1 of 
our southeastern states, has four toes on its feet, 
three pairs of gill openings, a smooth skin of a 
dull black color, and when fully adult a length of 
about 24 inches. The habitat and habits of this 
creature correspond closely to those of the Congo 
“Snake” of the southern rice-fields and swamps. 
THE ORDER OF WORM-LIKE AM- 
PHIBIANS. 
Apoda. 
Last and lowest in the Class Amphibia, we 
find a group of creatures that externally seem 
more like worms than vertebrates. It is inter- 
esting to know that there are true vertebrates so 
very worm-like that they have neither legs, feet, 
nor fins. Some, however, have overlapping 
scales, like fishes. 
Collectively, these animals are called Caecil- 
ians (pronounced se-sil'i-ans). There are forty 
1 Si'ren la-cer-ti'na. 
species, inhabiting the lower half of Mexico, 
Central and South America, equatorial Africa, 
India, Burma and northern Australasia, but not 
the United States. They are of burrowing hab- 
its, and their skulls exhibit a degree of solidity 
and strength quite in keeping with the necessi- 
ties of creatures which can burrow only with their 
SIREN SALAMANDER, OR MUD-“EEL.” 
heads. Many of them are totally blind — by the 
concealment of their eyes under the skin, or the 
maxillary bones. (Gadow.) The exact, rela- 
tionships of the Apoda are yet to be determined 
conclusively. 
