310 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



of tins, Miss Ormerod found that it inflamed her lips, and pro- 

 duced a peculiar sensation of dizziness and stupor, lasting for 

 a considerable time. When introduced into the mouths of 

 the salamanders themselves, or into those of small animals of 

 other species, a foaming at the mouth was soon noticed, and 

 occasionally slight convulsions. There seems to be no doubt 

 that this exudation answers a genuine purpose of defense or 

 protection to these otherwise weaponless creatures. 



On another occasion, a part of the back and tail of a living 

 Triton were gently pressed between the teeth so as to cause 

 it to give out its acrid exudation. The first effect was a bit- 

 ter sensation in the mouth, with irritation of the upper part 

 of the throat, numbing of the teeth more immediately hold- 

 ing the reptile, and a strong flow of clear saliva. This was 

 followed by a spasmodic action about the mouth and by head- 

 ache, lasting some hours, by general discomfort of the system, 

 and subsequently by slight shivering fits. Jour. Linncean So- 

 ciety, II., 493. 



THE STRUCTURE OF THE LANCELET. 



One of the first-fruits of the establishment of Dr. Dohrn's 

 station for marine research, at Naples, is seen in a memoir by 

 Dr. Stieda upon the structure of the lancelet (Amjihioxus), 

 of which he made a large collection, preserving some in spir- 

 its and others in chromic acid. This curious animal, which 

 occurs in many parts of the globe, has been the subject of in- 

 vestigation by Mtiller and other writers, but many important 

 additions to what has been heretofore known have been made 

 by Dr. Stieda. The structure of the chorda dorsalis was 

 carefully examined, and shown to be made up of very elon- 

 gated fibrous cells, which run obliquely through the chorda, 

 and partly mingle with each other in the transverse direction, 

 and partly in the longitudinal extension of the chorda. The 

 sexes can not be distinguished externally, but the microscope 

 determines the question at once, rendering improbable the 

 suggestion of Owen that the amphioxus may prove to be the 

 larva of some fish. 13 A, December 1, 1873,455. 



FOOD OF THE SHAD. 



As a general rule, the stomachs of shad, when taken in nets 

 during their spring migration, very rarely contain food of 



