LIZARDS. 429 



and a rajiiil swelling of the parts that now set in, caused mo to become so faint as to 

 fall, and Dr. Gill's study was reached with no little difficulty. Tlie .action of the .skin 

 was greatly increased, and the perspiration flowed jn-ofusely. A small quantity of 

 whiskey was administei-ed. This is about a fair statement of the immediate symp- 

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

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

 the wrist. Xext morning this was considerably reduced, and further reduction w.as 

 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 symptoms subsided without treatment, beyond the wearing, for about forty- 

 eight liours, so much of a kid glove as covered the j)arts involved. 



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

 the venomous serpent after it has inflicted its deadly wound, but it soon resumed its 

 usual action and ajjpearance, 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. The 

 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 healthy 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 sjiinal cord. The power of this portion of the nervous 

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



The family of water-lizards, the Varaxid^e, contains some of the largest animals 

 of the order. They are chiefly semi-aquatic, their elongated bodies and comjiresscd 

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

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

 agile, several sfiecies being partly arboreal. All are carnivorous, feeding on different 

 water animals, and on the eggs of birds as well as those of the larger reptiles. 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 periods of time. Representatives are 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-imbricatc 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 are 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 are five in num- 

 ber and jirovidcd with strong claws. 



The Indian water-lizard, Varamis 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 are 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 

 reptiles and in search of ant-hills. T\ albof/ularis inhabits South Africa and some- 

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



