401 
of the Proteus Jngnmus, 
54°. 5, while the thermometer, left in free air at the mouth of 
the cavern, had risen from 48° to 59°. The specific gravity of 
the water in the pond was to that of distilled water, at the 
same temperature, as 101°.5 to 100°, These animals are found 
in other pits of stagnant water in Carniola and elsewhere. The 
first protei described by Laurenti and Scopoli were not procured 
from the Lake of Zirknitz, as has been commonly represented, 
nor from any of the caverns of Carniola, but were found acci- 
dentally by the peasants in small puddles of water near the 
mouths of certain caverns, a little distant from Sittich, on the 
road to Newstadt, in Lower Carniola, cast out of the caverns 
probabl}; by the overflowing of their water after heavy rains. 
It was not till the year 1797, that these animals were discover- 
ed in the caverns of Maddalenq,. At present, the peasants of 
Adelsberg, when the season suits, go to fish for them, and pre^ 
serve them alive, till they sell them to the curious who visit 
Carniola, or convey them to Trieste, where they are spld for 
the small sum of two or three Ure each. 
Regarding the form and habits of the proteus, the authors ob- 
serve they shall be brief. As to external form^ the accompanying 
figure, (Plate XI ,) drawn with all possible care and attention, 
will much more clearly make it known than any words can do ; 
and on this point, therefore, they profess to note down only such 
things as could not be exhibited by a figure, or which the 
draughtsman could but imperfectly represent. With regard to 
habits ^ — to describe these with minuteness and perfect accuracy, 
it would be necessary to observe the animal in its native caverns, 
and not in the state of captivity in which it has been seen by 
them. They will faithfully state, however, all they have ob- 
served of these animals, while kept in vessels within doors for 
more than two years : and from the observations thus made, 
and from comparisons between the proteus and aquatic salaman- 
der, will deliver the best judgment they have formed of their 
habits and way of life. 
The authors are not able to speak positively either of the age 
or of the size< at which these animals arrive. None of the pro- 
tei seen by them exceeded 12 inches in length, and the smallest 
they have heard of was only four ^ : It was seen by Dr Pockels, 
VOL. IV. NO. 8. APRIL 1821. CC 
