CONTENTS. xiil 



Thylacinus Cynoc&phalus, or dog-faced Opossum— Specimen 

 in tlie Zoological Society's Gardens— The Kangaroo— Pro- 

 fessor Owen's observations and experiments upon this animal 

 — Eemarks thereon — Further account of the Thylacines— • 

 Speculations upon the mode of reproduction of the ornitho- 

 rhjnchus and echidna— The Hippopotamus of the Zoological 

 Society— Its organization— Professor Owen's account of the 

 animal alluded to— General appearance and habits described 

 — Sparrman and Mr. Gumming — The mode of capture of 

 the Society's Hippopotamus, and account of its voyage— Its 

 attendants — General remarks p. 155 



CHAPTEE IX. 



Scriptural and classical allusions to Serpents commented upon — 

 Their bite, and its antidote — Snake-charmers — Hasselquist's 

 andBruce's opinions — The feats of the Arab Snake-charmers at 

 the Zoological Gardens described — The gift of Snake-charming 

 said to be hereditary— The Spughslang, or ' Spitting- Snake' 

 — The Asiatic form of this genus of Serpents described — 

 Taming Serpents, as related by Dr. Davy— Captain Knox's ex- 

 perience on this subject— Cingalese veneration for Serpents — 

 Their legends concerning these reptiles— Poison of venomous 

 Sei'pents, Dr. Mead's opinion thereon — Mr. Bell's experi- 

 ments, in investigating the anatomy of venomous Snakes — 

 Case of a carpenter bitten by one of these reptiles — Similar 

 instance given by Dr. Mead — His advice in such cases — His 

 mode of curing a Dog — Viper- wine and Yiper-broth — Eemarks 

 upon the poison and its nature — Authorities cited — General 

 remarks p. 190 



CHAPTER X. 



Attraction of the reptile house in the garden of the Zoological 

 Society — Fixedness of attitude of the reptiles — Its cause 

 explained — Adaptation of colour of creatures in general to 



