LIZARDS. 42<J 



and a rapid swelling of tho parts that now set in, caused me to beeomo so faint as to 

 fall, and Dr. GilTs study was reached with no little difBculty. The action of the skin 

 was greatly increased, and the perspiration flowed profusely. A small quantity of 

 whiskey was administered. Tliis is about a fair statement of the immediate symj)- 

 toms; the same night the jiain allowed of no rest, although the hand was kejit in ice 

 and laudanum, but the swelling was confined to this member alone, not passing beyond 

 the wrist. Next morning this was consi<lerabIy reduced, and further reduction was 

 assisted by the use of a lead-water wash. 



"In a few days the wound healed kindly, and in all probability will leave no scar. 

 All other synij)toms suljsided without treatment, beyond the wearing, for about fcirty- 

 cight hours, so much of a kid glove as covered the parts involved. 



" After the bite our specimen was dull and sluggish, simulating tho torjiiility of 

 the venomous serjient after it has inflicted its deadly wound, but it soon resume(l its 

 usual action and appearance, crawling in rather an awkward manner about its cage." 



Dr. Shufeldt's conclusions, however, that the symptoms were no other than usually 

 follow the bite of an irritated animal, seem to be given a little prematurely. Tlie 

 same reptile was afterward induced to bite the edge of a saucer, into which, during 

 the action, a secretion dribbled. This secretion, which was of a distinctly alkaline 

 nature, in contrast to the serpent-venoms, which are acid, was, in a small quantity, 

 injected into the breast of a healthj' pigeon, and produced death in seven minutes. 

 On a second trial a small quantity was injected into the carotid artery of a rabbit, the 

 animal dying in one minute and thirty-five seconds. Different from the action of 

 serpent-poison, which affects the respiratory functions, the poison of Ileloderma 

 attacks the heart and the .spinal cord. The power of this portion of the nervous 

 system to respond to even powerful electric currents is abruptly annihilated. 



The family of w^ater-lizards, the Varaxid^, contains some of the largest animals 

 of the order. They are chiefly semi-aquatic, their elong.ated bodies and compressed 

 tails enabling them to swim with considerable power. Much of their time is spent 

 on shore however, and, though less active than when in the water, they are lively and 

 agile, several sjiecies being partly arljoreal. All are earnivorons, feeding on diflcreiit 

 water animals, and on the eggs of birds as well as those of the larger re]itik's. Just 

 below each valvular nostril is a cavity of considerable size, from which the animal can 

 obtain a limited supply of air when below the surface, where it often remains for 

 considerable jieriods of time. Representatives arc found in Africa, their true home, 

 and in Asia and Australia. They resemble each other, and are characterized by having 

 the snout produced, conical, and covered with non-imbricate shields; the teeth acute 

 and compressed, and the tongue slender, terminating in a fork, and retractile into a 

 sheath at its base. The scales of the back ai"e small, equalling in size those of the 

 sides, and arranged in cross-rows ; those of the belly and tail being square and arranged 

 in bands. The tail is long and generally compressed, and the toes arc five in num- 

 ber and provided with strong claws. 



The Indian water-lizard, Varant(s draccena, sometimes exceeds the length of four 

 feet, the tail being longer than the body. The natives use the flesh for food, the 

 animal being quite abundantly found along the low lands, where dogs arc trained to 

 hunt it. It is more or less subterranean in its habits, spending most of its time in its 

 burrows, though during the warmer portions of the day it wanders out, after smaller 

 rejitilcs an<l in search of ant-hills. T'i alf/of/ti!aris inh.abits South .\frica and some- 

 times reaches a length of four or five feet. It jirefers the more rocky localities, seeking 



