ator. It is
also known as the "ground puppy," the "mud devil," and other
well-deserved, if not complimentary names.

It is about two feet in length; but the teeth, for its size, are small.
In appearance, it is ugly in the extreme; and as, from its voracious
habits, it devours a number of fish, and bites fiercely when captured,
it is especially hated by the fishermen, who believe it to be venomous,
and treat it as seamen do the detested shark.

The above names have been given to it in consequence of its voracity,
and its being found generally in muddy bottoms.

THE CONGO SNAKE.

In digging into the mud, sometimes a number of snake-like creatures,
between two and three feet long, are turned up--which have hidden
themselves away, often three feet below the surface--in the Southern
States. On examination, however, they will be found to have legs,
though small and feeble, with only two toes on each foot. They are of a
blackish-grey above, and a lighter hue beneath.

Another species of congo snake is found with three toes,--hence the name
of three-toed congo snake is given to it.

THE NECTURUS.

Related to the curious eyeless proteus, found in the celebrated cavern
of Adelsberg, is an animal very much larger, called the necturus,
inhabiting the waters of the Mississippi, and several southern lakes.
It is a creature nearly three feet in length, with a thick body, and,
being designed to live in daylight, possesses eyes. It is between a
fish and a reptile, as it is furnished with large, well-tufted gills;
and, at the same time, has four legs, and four toes on each foot, though
it is destitute of claws.

It is of an olive-brown colour dotted with black, and a black streak
reaching from one end of the body to the termination of the somewhat
thick, short tail.

THE SIREN, OR MUD EEL.

Another curious batrachian, the mud eel, is found in Carolina, in marshy
situations. Its total length is about three feet. The head is small,
as is the eye, while on each side of it are three beautifully plumed
gill-tufts. It has no hind-legs; while the front pair are very small,
and do not aid it in moving along the ground. This it does in the
wriggling fashion of an eel; indeed, when discovered in the soft mud in
which it delights to live, the creature, at the first glance, would be
taken for an eel. It has many of the habits of that animal, living on
worms and insects; indeed, it is difficult to say whether it should be
class