11 
minutes. During the whole of this interval, the body 
of the Siren continued almost motionless, and the 
movements of the branchiae, were very inconsidera- 
ble. How much longer he is capable of continuing 
at the bottom of the water, especially in cold weather, 
I have not yet learned ; but I confidently presume, 
that sixty-five minutes is not the maximum term. 
I have fully satisfied myself, that the Siren is ca- 
pable of continuing, for a considerable length of time, 
out of the water provided only the atmosphere in 
which he is placed, be a moist one. Immediately 
upon pouring all the water out of the vessel, in which 
I keep my animal, he collapses his branchiae, which 
which he closely applies to his head and neck ; and 
ceases, until he is returned to the water, to make 
any use of them, as organs of breathing.* Mean- 
while, his respiration is carried on by his mouth and 
nostrils. In this way, that is deprived of the water, 
I have known the reptile to continue, without any 
very apparent inconvenience, for two complete hours; 
and I do not at all doubt, that it is capable of thus 
supporting itself for a much greater length of time ; 
perhaps for a whole day, or for several days together. 
As the Siren, when in its native climate, frequently 
retires into the mud, and as some facts even lead me 
to believe, that it sometimes migrates over land, from 
one pond to another, as the eels are known to do, do 
we not begin to discern the final intention of Nature 
* We learn from Laurenti, that his Proteus Tritonius, when out 
of the water, in like manner collapses its “branchia appendiculata:V 
or, at least, the villous portion of the branchiae. “ Extra aquam 
(says Mr. Schneider, on the authority of Laurenti) lentissime pro- 
greditur, membrana natatoria e( villis dvanc/iiarum colla/isis, His- 
toria^mphibiorum, Sic. Ease. 1. p. 45. 
