Note E — JOURNAL, &c. &c. (continued 2)

Proteus Anguinus, Siren Anguina, sometimes called the Austrian Siren. This rare little animal has as yet only been discovered in the subterraneous caverns of Carniola, at Adelsberg, and Sittich, and very lately in those of Heiligenstein, near Zirknitz; and is also mentioned in a German journal as having been found in Sicily. In shape it much resembles an eel, whence its specific name; but it has never yet been found of more than fifteen or sixteen inches in length, and about three-fourths of an inch in diameter. It is either of a pale rose-colour or perfectly white, but after having been for some time exposed to the light it becomes brown. Its skin is very smooth and even, the head somewhat depressed, and with a lengthened obtuse snout; the eyes are situated beneath the skin, and are exceedingly small; on each side of the neck are three ramified bronchial gills, of a bright blood-colour during the life of the animal. It is furnished with four legs or rather appendages, for they appear to be of no use to it, which are about three-fourths of an inch long, and the feet of the fore legs have three toes, whilst the hind feet have only two. Its motion when touched in the water is brisk and rapid, and is entirely produced by the action of the tail, unaided by the legs, as I observed was the case with one which I procured from a Professor at Laibach. It has very fine and sharp teeth, which it seems scarcely to need, having been kept for years together in fresh water apparently without any nourishment, but it has never been known to bring forth young, nor is its origin or real abode at all known. From the period of its discovery its nature has been a subject of discussion amongst naturalists, some imagining it to be the larva of a larger animal, whilst others maintain that it forms a new genus; nor is the question yet determined.