398 Observations on the Natural History 
/ 
L A box which serves to conceal an opening in the floor of the large cup- 
board, made to facilitate the first position ; and which also serves as a 
seat for the third position. 
M A similar box to receive the toes of the player in the first position. 
N The inner chest, filling up part of the trunk. 
O The space behind the drawer. 
PQ The false back turning on a joint at Q. 
R Part of the partition formed of cloth stretched tight, which is carried up by 
the false back, to form the opening between the chambers. 
S The opening between the chambers. 
T The opening connecting the trunk and chest, which is partly concealed by 
the false back. 
U Panel which is slipped aside to admit the player. 
Art. XXXI . — Observations on the Natural History and Sti'uc- 
ture of the Proteus Anguinus. By Sig. Configliachi and 
Dr Rusconi. With a Plate. 
HE Proteus Anguinus is an animal that has much excited 
the curiosity of zoologists, and many points in its natural histo- 
ry and anatomy still remain undecided. Of late this animal 
has been examined with far greater minuteness, and under much 
more favourable circumstances than heretofore, by two Italian 
naturalists of distinguished ability ; and the results of their la- 
bours have been given to the world in a work, entitled, Del 
Proteo Anguino di Laurenti Monografia^ puhlicata da Pktro 
Conjigliach% Professors Ordinario di Fisica nella Imperiale 
Regia Universitd di Pavia, e da Manro Rusconi, Dottore in 
Medicina e Publico Ripetitore di Fisiologia!''' — Pavia, 1819. 
This work is illustrated by excellent engravings, from most ac- 
curate drawings by Dr Rusconi himself ; and as only a few co- 
pies of it have yet reached this country, perhaps an abridged 
account of the labours of these ingenious naturalists, which have 
so much contributed to clear up the doubts respecting this sin- 
gular animal, may not be unacceptable to such of the readers of 
the Philosophical Journal as take an interest in such subjects, 
and have not the opportunity of consulting the original work. 
It appears that the first knowledge of this animal was com- 
municated to the public by Dr Laurenti, in his Synopsis Rep- 
t'dium, about the year 1768. A fuller description of it was pu- 
blished by Dr Scopoli in 1772 ; and in the new edition of the 
Systcina Naiuru. of Linnneus, edited by Gmelin, notice is taken 
