300 rROCEEDINQS OF TIIE ACADEMY OP [1886. 



to this case, that the 3"0ung man had been in the country but a short 

 while, and was at the time exhibiting the phj^sical effects of such 

 a radical change of climate. 



" In making the above statements I do not wish it to be under- 

 stood that I impugn the truth of the statements of Dr. Gonzalez. 

 Durango and Yucatan are two States in the Mexican Republic 

 widely separate, and circumstances governing as facts in the one 

 may not so govern in the other." 



Tlie Form of the Pupil in Snakes. Mr. Lockington stated 

 that amongst the colubriform snakes, the Boidje, a familj^ which 

 has its headquarters in South America, and has representatives 

 in the West of this country, have elliptical vertical pupils, like 

 those of rattlesnakes. At least, this is the case with Boa con- 

 strictor^ B. eqiies, Eunectes muriniis (the anaconda), Xijjhosoma 

 caninum, and Xomolochirus multisectus. The Acrochordidse, or 

 wart-snakes of eastern Asia, have circular pupils. The ven- 

 omous snakes with fixed fangs are usualh' classed in three 

 families : Elapidse, Naiidse, or cobras, and Hydrophidse, or sea- 

 snakes. Some herpetologists unite the first two families. As 

 far as the shape of the pupil goes, they seem to agree. Naja 

 tripudians, the cobra, Naja haje, the African asp, Pseudechis 

 porphyriacus, Sipedon haemachates, have circular pupils, as well 

 as the species of Bungarus and Elaps. The sea-snakes, so far as 

 examined, have circular pupils. This is the case with the com- 

 mon and well-known Pelamys bicolor, with Hydrophis palami- 

 doides, H. gracilis, H. nigrocinctus, Disteira dumerilii, and Pla- 

 turus fasciatus. 



Among the snakes with movable fangs, the Crotalidse (rattle- 

 snakes), and among the Yiperidse, examples of the genera Clothe^ 

 Pelias, Vipera and Cerastes, have elliptical pupils, but Causus 

 rhombeatus (Causidse) has rounded ones. It is thus evident that 

 the form of the pupil has no relation to the venomous or non- 

 venomous character of the snake. 



August 24. 

 Mr. Thos. Meehan, Yice-President, in the chair. 



Nine persons present. 



A paper entitled " On the Fertilization of Cassia Marylandica," 

 by Thomas Meehan, was presented for publication. 



The death of Wm. R. Cruice, M. D., a member, August 15, 

 1886, was announced. 



