99 
the dorsal shield; the crab then became quite sluggish, but 
lived nevertheless for two days. Then, on cutting into the 
soft parts, the crab still moved, and a strong odor of hydro- 
cyanic acid was perceptible, but no particular leston could be 
detected. 
Into another very large Limulus I injected two grains of 
strychnia sulphate, which produced a powerful contraction of 
the chele and appendages (tetanus), very unlike the easy 
movements noticed in the other crab under the influence of 
morphine. Next day, this specimen was still alive, when 
I injected two drachms of chloroform, which first stimulated, 
but afterwards tranquilized him. It did not kill him, how- 
ever, as he still showed signs of life on dissecting him three 
days afterwards. 
A third specimen was taken, and half a grain of woorari 
(curare) was injected ; the crab soon became motionless and 
paralyzed, and remained so for two days, when signs of life 
were still manifested on cutting into the body. 
A number of other poisons were employed, but without 
killing the crabs, when I came to the conclusion that it is 
very difficult to destroy these curious crustaceans with any 
of the poisons tried. 
February 2d. Business Meeting. 
The severity of the weather prevented any meeting. 
February 9th. Chemical Section. 
Dr. B. N. MartIN in the chair. Twenty-two persons present. 
The Chairman read by title a paper by Mr. GeorcE N. 
LAWRENCE, giving “ Descriptions of six supposed New Spe- 
cies of American Birds,” published in the Annals, vol. X, No. 
13. 
