NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 945 



" This promise lie carried out as nearly as lie could for lie brought 

 rue the shell, but said when he went to take it up the animal had 

 retired or rather, commenced to retire into its shell when he cut 

 off the head, which he brought me separated from the shell. The 

 shell he brought was about 5 inches in length. 



"Some time afterwar-ds being in conversation with a Mr. B. 

 Parkinson, a New Britain Cctton Planter, I encpiired if he knew 

 any thing of this man's statement about this Conus. He told me 

 that he believed it to be perfectly true, and that he had written 

 about it to some one in Sydney. 



" I should have taken no more notice of the statement but for 

 the fact, that / saw myself, a native, on the Island cf Matupi, 

 Blanche Bay, New Britain, \vho had been bitten by one, and who 

 had at once cut small incisions with a sharp stone all over his arm 

 and shoulder from which the blood had flowed freely, and he 

 explained to me that if he had not taken these precautions that he 

 would have died. He explained to me also the shell and how he 

 had been bitten (there was a small mark about the size of a three- 

 penny piece) between his finger and thumb, but upon close exami- 

 antion there were two small incisions in the centre but from which 

 evidently no blood had come. 



" I may mention that to stop the bleeding of the numerous cuts 

 in his arm and shoulder, hot wood ashes had been put on them, and 

 the arm seemed to be stiff and useless for the time. But whether 

 this was the effect of the bite or the cure I really am unable to 

 state. 



" Many natives whom I cpiestioned, (shewing them the shell at 

 the same time) said that the bite was deadly. 



" Hoping that these few observations may be of use either as 

 information, or conformation to Conchologists generally. 



"Benj. Hugh Hinde, B.N." 



Dr. Cox stated that an instance had been recorded by Mr. 

 Arthur Adams of a poisoned wound produced by the bite of Conus 

 aulicus, Linn. The Bev. W. "Wyatt Gill had recorded the fatal 

 effects of the bite of the Conus textilis. Linn., and Mr. Brazier 



