Se 
DR. T. CANTOR ON PELAGIC SERPENTS. 311 
the same size, whose fangs remained for more than half a minute in the wounds. Three 
minutes after being disengaged from the enemy the Coluber commenced showing sym- 
ptoms of the venom by rolling from one side to another, which having lasted for about 
four minutes, he remained motionless for a few minutes, when he tried to move with the 
anterior part of the body. By this time the tail, and subsequently the posterior part 
of the body, became paralysed, which parts would retain any position I might give them 
with the end of a stick. Sixteen minutes from the time when the wounds were in- 
flicted, the serpent commenced yawning and distorting the mouth during short inter- 
vals, which ended in a protracted separation of the jaws, and within half an hour after 
having been bitten, the serpent expired. 
A large-sized Tetraodon potoca, Hamilton, was bitten in the under lip by a Hydrophis 
schistosa, measuring about four feet in length, and immediately after set at liberty in a 
tub with sea-water, The fish continued swimming lively, and, as usual, on the back, 
the abdomen being inflated for about three minutes, when the abdomen gradually com- 
menced to collapse, notwithstanding the efforts of the fish to prevent it. He kept thus 
floating on his back until, after a few violent movements of the tail, he expired, ten 
minutes after being wounded. It ought to be observed, I have kept living specimens 
of the Tetraodon for a considerable time confined in sea-water ; and besides, I found them 
able to live a considerable time out of their element ; I feel convinced therefore that the 
present fish, caught at the same time as the serpent, was killed by the virulence of the 
venom, although the dissection showed nothing anormal, and I should not have been 
able to discover where the fish had been bitten had I not previously known the place. 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
PLATE LVI. 
Hydrophis gracilis, Schlegel (young, nat. size), of which Russell has given an indifferent 
figure. Ind. Serp. i. No. XLIV. ‘ Tatta Pam.’ 
Fig. 1. & 2. Integuments of the head. (Magnified.) 
3. Scales of the neck. (Magnified.) 
trunk. (Magnified.) 
4. 
5. Section of the neck. 
6. on | (Nat. size.) 
7 
: tail. 
8. Young Anatifa found on Hydrophis schistosa. 
8 a. The same, natural size. 
9. Young Anatifa found on Hydrophis nigrocincta, 
9 a. The same, natural size. 
