DR. T. CANTOR ON PELAGIC SERPENTS. 309 
fixture. Unlike the Ivodes, their nature is such, that when once fixed, they have no 
power to loose their hold and move from one place to another. 
Of the two species of Anatifa figured, I constantly found numbers of the one (Pl. LVI. 
Fig. 8.) firmly adhering to the integuments of the Hydrophis schistosa, Schlegel, and the 
other (Fig. 9.) to those of the H. nigrocincta, Schlegel. The serpents are freed from 
these parasites as often as the integuments are changed. To Dr. Grant, who has 
kindly inspected some specimens in spirits of wine, I am indebted for the following ob- 
servations.—In the young state of the Cirrhipeds, they float freely in the ocean, like the 
young Monoculi of Linné, which they much resemble, and thus they come in contact 
with the pelagic serpents. The Anatife found in this situation are, judging from their 
small size, very young animals, and the constantly-changing of the serpents’ integu- 
ments is most probably the cause of their never being found of a larger size. The cir- 
cumstance of the two distinct species accompanying two distinct species of serpents, 
cannot depend upon a voluntary action of the parasite, which, as above stated, derives 
no nourishment from the Serpent ; but must be attributed to difference of habitat, and 
thus very likely may indicate a difference in the habits of the two species of serpents. 
The latter remark also holds good as regards the Zoophyte (Pl. LVI. Fig. 10.), great 
numbers of which were attached to the Hydrophis gracilis, Schlegel. It is a Cellepora, 
which Dr. Grant observes bears some resemblance to the Cellepora pertusa, Esper.’ The 
animals are very small, and are found together in great numbers, each animal contained 
in a calcareous transparent campanulate cell, dotted with dark brown. The polypi of 
this Zoophyte appear to be highly irritable, as a slight touch either on the microscope or 
the table upon which it was placed, made them instantaneously withdraw the tentacula. 
Experiments. 
The virulence of the venom of the pelagic serpents upon the human body is equal to 
that of the most pernicious terrestrial serpents ; and the experiments of Dr. Russell and 
those which I have had opportunity of instituting myself, tend to prove the deleterious 
effects to be equal upon such animals as have been submitted to trial. I therefore can- 
not subscribe to the opinion of M. Schlegel, that wounds inflicted by the pelagic ser- 
-pents are less dangerous than those of some of the terrestrial venomous species*, on ac- 
count of the venomous weapons being more developed in the latter’. The following 
’ Esper, ‘ Pflanzenthiere,’ Cellepora, Tab. X. 
2 .... ‘J'ai lieu de croire que la morsure des Serpens vénimeux proprement dits est plus dangereuse que 
celle des vénimeux colubriformes et des serpens de mer, a cause de la puissance des armes dont les premiers 
sont munis.’ Schlegel, Essai sur la Physionomie des Serpens, Partie Générale, p- 36. 
* Mr. Hodgson, the Hon. Company’s Resident at the Court of Nipal, whose labours in the Himalayan 
Zoology are well known to all naturalists, speaking of the Cophias viridis, Merrem, (Trigonocephalus viridis, 
Schlegel,) writes me, in a letter dated July 18, 1837, ... . “We have only that one noxious species, and I have 
