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Show 632 THE SECRETARY'S REPORT O N THE INSECT-HOUSE. [NOV. 14, J. G. Fischer * on the poison-glands of a specimen preserved in spirits. On one occasion, Dr. Fischer tells us that the gentleman who procured the specimen and kept it for some time alive in Mexico, was bitten when handling it, and that the effects were of a very serious character. " I may add that Heloderma is probably not the only poisonous lizard. Lanthonotus borneensis, a pretty close ally of this lizard, described four years ago by Dr. Steindachner, exhibits, according to that author, a similar dentition." Sir Joseph Fayrer made the subjoined remarks on the same subject:- " O n the 31st August, 1882,1 was present when the Heloderm bit two Guinea-pigs in the hind leg, at about 9.30 A.M. The bites were viciously inflicted ; and the lizard did not readily relinquish its hold. Blood was drawn, the teeth being deeply inserted. Both Guinea-pigs were affected; the bitten limb was dragged and appeared partially paralyzed. There were twitchings of the body generally : but these may not have been due to the poison, but to agitation and fear. " These creatures seemed partially stupefied and apparently in pain, and ran away when touched, dragging the hind leg, which became swollen and ecchymosed. I watched them for about half an hour ; and, beyond the symptoms described, they did not seem deeply affected. They both, however, died in the course of the day. " Mr. Bartlett wrote to me that both Guinea-pigs died, the larger one about two and a half hours after I saw it; the other at night. The blood taken from the heart and great vessels after death coagulated. This seems to show that there is a poison, but that it cannot be nearly so active or virulent as that of the Cobra. May it not be that the ordinary salivan secretion contains a larger quantity of active principle than that of other lizards, and that all saliva contains a trace of this active principle which is so intensely developed in the Cobra and Viper? " The Secretary also read the subjoined Report on the insects bred in the Insect-house in the Society's Gardens during the past season, drawn up by Mr. Arthur Thomson, the Superintendent's Assistant:- Of the silk-producing Bombyces, the following species have been exhibited in the Insect-house during the past season, viz.:- Samia cecropia. Attacus cynthia. pernyi. roylei mylitta. Attacus atlas. Actias selene. luna. Telea promethea. polyphemus. I succeeded in obtaining fertile ova of all these species except Attacus atlas, Attacus mylitta, and Telea promethea ; but I am exceedingly sorry to have to state that, of the whole of the young 1 Verb. Nat. Verein, Hamburg, 1882. |