PROCEEDINGS. 535 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY. 



Flora of the Presidency of Bombay, Part III. By Theodore Cook, C.I.E., 

 presented by the author. 



Records of the Botanical Survey of India, Volume II, No. 5, in exchange. 



Report on the administration of Government Museum and Connemara Public 

 Library, Madras, for 1902-3, in exchange. 



Hand List of Birds, Volume IV, and Monograph of Mosquitoes ; three 

 volumes and index, in exchange. 



PAPERS READ. 



The following papers were then read and discussed : — (1) Description of three 

 new frogs from Southern India and Ceylon, by 0. A. Boulenger, F. R S (Vice- 

 President, Zoological Society of London). (2) On two Dolphins from Madras, 

 by R. Lydekker, B.A., F.R.S., F.G.S. (3) Sand-grouse and Locusts, by R. H. 

 Heath C. E. (4) The use of Calmette's antivenomous serum in cases of snakt- 

 bite, by Major W. B. Bannerman, I. M. S. 



Major Bannerman demonstrated his remarks with carefully prepared tables, 

 showing the great difference between the action of the poisons of the cobra 

 (Nam tripudian>s), the daboia or chain viper (Vipera rusellii) and the banded 

 krait (Bungarus fasciatus). The action of the poison in the case of the Hama- 

 dryad or king cobra (Naia bungarus) is now being worked out by Captain G. 

 Lamb, I. M. S., at Kasauli from venom obtained from the live specimen now in 

 the Society's museum. Major Bannerman pointed out that in the absence of 

 material it was at present impossible to make experiments with the venom of 

 the Phoorsa or Kupper (Echis carinata) and the common krait {Bungarus 

 cceruleus), and he hoped that members of the Society and others would forward 

 live specimens of the last mentioned snakes so as to enable further experiments 

 to be carried out. He also mentioned that it has now been proved beyond 

 doubt that Calmette's anti-venine, although of the greatest value in the case of 

 cobra bite, is useless in the case of bites from the banded krait and the daboia. 



Colonel R. Light moved a vote of thanks to Major Bannerman, I. M. S., and 

 the authors of the other papers, and in doing so remarked on the great value and 

 public utility of such a paper as Major Bannerman's, and also of the experiments 

 which were being carried out by Captain Lamb, I. M. S., at Kasauli. It was to 

 be devoutly hoped that Government would encourage this work, and that in the 

 course of time the different cera would be found which would prevent the great 

 loss of life which at present takes place annually in India from snake-bite. 



A vote of thanks to the Chairman then terminated the meeting. 



PROCEEDINGS 

 OF THE MEETING HELD ON 

 17th DECEMBER 1903. 

 A meeting of the members of the Bombay Natural Society was held at the 

 Society's Rooms on 17th December 1903. the Rev, Father Dreckmann, S. J.. 

 presiding. 

 21 



