the Proteus Anguinus. 399 
of it. After this Hermann and Schreibers wrote on the Pro- 
teus, but described only its external parts, and contributed no- 
thing to clear up the many doubts and conjectures respecting 
it. In this state of uncertainty, Dr Schreibers first had recourse 
to anatomy, as the only satisfactory mode of gaining correct in- 
formation : but unfortunately he possessed only three Protei, 
which had been sent to him from Carniola, preserved in spirits ; 
which circumstance precluded him from giving that complete 
information which might otherwise have been expected from so 
eminent a naturalist. His description was published in 1801 ; 
and among many excellent observations, he points out the stri- 
king differences of form in the lungs of the Sirena lacertina, 
compared with those of the Proteus Next to Schreibers, we 
have to notice two zoologists of the highest celebrity, MM. 
Cuvier and Rudolphi, both of whom examined the internal 
structure of this animal. The former first discovered, and ac- 
curately described the organs of generation in the female, and 
established, on a solid foundation, that the Proteus was not a 
larvUy as many had supposed, but a perfect animal ; an opinion 
now generally followed, and confirmed by the recent observa- 
tions of Rudolphi, who has described the generative system in ' 
the male, and communicated observations on the globules of the 
blood, which, in this animal, seem to be of an unusually large 
size. 
* The authors here uoserve in a note, that Dr Schreibers,, aware of the im- 
perfection of his former description, had lately resumed the subject, and applied 
himself not less to study the habits than the inteimal structure of the Proteus. 
Uninformed of his intentions, the authors had transmitted to him at Vienna a 
copy of their plates, with the accompanying explanations, and a request that he 
would favour them with his opinion of their labours, and his advice, where it 
might appear to him that they had been mistaken. With a liberality that does 
him great honour, he replied, “ Since you have anticipated me, continue the 
work you have so well begun : when the work shall be published, I will cause a 
translation of it to be made into our language, under my own eyes, and as I have 
procured very many of these animals, with the view of instructing myself on 
various points, I shall be able to add to the translation not a few observations, and 
perhaps some platOs.” The authors observe, that they announce, with great 
satisfaction to zoologists, this intended translation of their work, and the addi- 
tions it is destined to receive. The fame of Sig. Schreibers renders it unneces- 
sary for them to say more ; they add only, that he has devoted many years to 
this subject, and sacrificed more than 100 protei to his learned researches. 
