332 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



The Norfolk Bustard — A paper, by Mr. H. Stevenson, on '* The 

 Extinction of the great Bustard in Norfolk and Suffolk," was read at 

 the 1868 meeting of the British Association. After referring to some 

 very early allusions to the existence of the bustard in the country, 

 and to the gradual diminution and extinction of the species in the 

 different English counties, the author said that Norfolk was the 

 last county to reckon the bustard amongst its resident species. 



All accounts asfreed in stating that the last remaining birds were 

 hens. One great cause of the extinction of the bird was the intro- 

 duction of improved agricultural implements, which destroyed the 

 eggs. The precise time of extinction could not be determined 

 with accuracy; the last known specimens were seen about the 

 year 1838, but it had been stated that some of the birds had lin- 

 gered on till 1843 or 1845. 



Having served its purpose, in its day, in the great scheme of 

 nature, the great bustard has passed forever out of our local 

 fauna. 



Venom of Toads. — Experiments made by MM. Gratiolet, Cloez, 

 and Vulpian show that the matter exuding from the parotid re- 

 gion of the toad becomes poisonous when introduced into the tis- 

 sues. A tortoise of the species Testudo Mauritanica, lamed in the 

 hind foot, was completely paralyzed at the end of 15 days ; and 

 the paralysis lasted during several months. Some savages in 

 South America use the acid fluid of the cutaneous glands of the 

 toad instead of the curara. The venom exists in somewhat large 

 quantity on the toad^s back. Treated with ether it dissolves, leav- 

 ing a residuum ; the evaporated solution exhibits oleaginous gran- 

 ules. The residuum contains a toxic power sufficiently strong, 

 even after complete desiccation, to kill a small bird. 



Importance of Wild Animals. — Mr. Tristan contended, at the last 

 meeting of the British Association, that birds of prey were the sani- 

 tary police of nature, and that if they had existed in their original 

 strength they would have stamped out the grouse disease, just as 

 "the orders in council stamped out the cattle-plngue. The hawk, 

 by preference, made sickly birds its quarry. In Norfolk there was 

 no moor game, and therefore no grouse disease. But he would 

 ask the game-preservei'S of the county wliether they really be- 

 lieved that their stock of pheasants and partridges was materially 

 increased by the destruction of everything which they were 

 pleased to call vermin. He believed that the abundance of game 

 had but little to do with the scarcity of birds of prey, and could 

 declare that in some foreign couutri(!S the existence of numerous 

 birds of prey was a pledge of the plentifulness of game. Owls 

 were undoubtedly the game-preserver's best friend. His most 

 serious foe was the rat, and the owl consumed more rats and mice 

 than any other description of food. So with regard to polecats, 

 stoats, and weasels. 



Dr. Grierson also mentioned an instance in which the destruc- 

 tion of weasels had led to an enormous increase of field-mice, 

 which had destroyed the bark of a large number of young trees, 

 and occasioned their death. 



Eyes of Vertebrates. — At the 18C8 meeting of the British Asso- 



