REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 157 



In connection with the Fish Commission work some very important 

 experiments have been made by Colonel MacDonald and Mr. Eyder 

 upon the retardation of the developement of the eggs of shad and other 

 fishes. 



Involuntary experiments have been made in this department dur- 

 ing the year by Dr. E. W. Shufeldt and Mr. A. Z. Shindler, of the 

 Museum, the former having been bitten by a Heloderma siispectum, and 

 having described his experience in the "American Naturalist," Novem- 

 ber, 1882, Vol. XVI, No. 11, the latter having suffered a like mishap while 

 handling a specimen of Maps fulvius, as described by Mr. F. W. True 

 in the "American Naturalist," 1882, Vol. — page — . 



DEPARTMENT OF VIVARIA. 



A number of living animals are on exhibition in the rotunda of the 

 new building and seem to afford much amusement and instruction to 

 visitors. This department, while of but little service in the general 

 disposition of the collection, is well suited for the exhibition of a few 

 cases of living animals ; and I am inclined to believe that fifteen or 

 twenty characteristic forms might be obtained and maintained here at 

 trifling expense, while serving an excellent purpose in illustrating and 

 supj)lemeuting the preparations in the Museum cases. 



At present, the following mammals are thus exhibited: 



A Eed-footed Douroucouli, or Owl Monkey {Nyctipithecus rujipes, Scla- 

 ter), from Costa Eica; two Pinches, or White-tufted Marmosets [CSdipus 

 titi, Lesson), from Chiriqui, Colombia; a young Mexican Deer [Cariacus 

 mexicanus, Gmelin), from Chiriqui, Colombia. All these specimens were 

 presented to the Museum by Capt. John M. Dow. 



In the same room is also a large case in which at various times 

 throughout the year many species of American snakes have been shown. 

 Upon these the curator of herpetology has made the following report: 



The vivarium for reptiles continues to prove of the greatest interest to visitors, and 

 it is hoped a sufficient number of living specimens may be sent to render it still more 

 popular. In connection with it, a most instructive and interesting event occurred 

 easly in the summer, namely, the birth of 109 young snakes (Tropidonotua sipedon). 

 The act of parturition was carefully observed, and it is the intention of the curator 

 to publish a paper upon the subject. 



There is little trouble in keeping the harmless reptiles alive in captivity for an in- 

 definite length of time, provided proper food can be obtained; but with regard to the 

 Crotalus and Ancistrodon, as yet our efforts have failed to induce them to feed. 



It has been noticed, also, that quite a number of our specimens die from necrosis 

 of the jaw, an experience which has, it is believed, been shared by nearly every 

 museum and zoological garden in the world. 



Early this year a very fine and extremely large rattlesnake {Crotalus adamanteus) 

 was received from Florida, and shortly .after an equally large kingsnake {Ophibolus 

 getulus), and it was determined to test the popular belief as to the antagonism exist- 

 ing between the two species. They were accordingly placed in a large case, the bot- 

 tom of which was covered with sand, and allowed to remain together for some time. 

 No hostilities took place, and it was noticed that neither species appeared to fear the- 

 other. Perhaps under more natural surroundings the case may be different. 



