552 J\f Murines Translation of the Regne Animal. 



M'M. having already stated they were without femoral pores, 

 the words o«e of the latter must refer to anus. These little 

 vesicles then are opened by an anus. This is a precious dis- 

 covery in physiology ! 



At page 26, 24th line, we have, " in some species are found 

 femoral pores." Then follows in the original — "L'agame ocelle 

 de la nouvelle hoUande," which is omitted in the translation. 



Cuvier, at page 39, speaking of the Agama, quotes the Agama 

 vultuosa of Harlan. A. N. Sc. Ph. iv. xix. The translator, in 

 a note at the foot of page 29, says, " from the observations of 

 Major L'Conte, it would seem that what is here called the 

 agama vultuosa, is the young of another species." He has here 

 shown his total unfitness to judge of this matter. The specimen 

 upon which this species is founded, is preserved in the Cabinet 

 of the A. N. S. of Philadelphia, is not a young animal, and 

 cannot be confounded with another species. But what plan of 

 criticism is this that the translator would foist upon his readers 

 — where are Major L'Conte's observations to be found — wlien 

 did he make them — where — what are they founded upon ? Did 

 he ever make any? 



After this specimen of intuitive judgment, Dr. M'Murtrie must 

 needs take liberties with Cuvier himself. This great naturalist, 

 who is of course often dependent on the information he receives 

 from persons at a distance, had been induced to suppose from 

 the circumstance of the Heteredon tachete, and the Cenchris Mocke- 

 son of Daudin, being both hognosed snakes, that they were the 

 same animals : he probably had not been made acquainted with 

 the fact, that this last is venomous. Here the translator, with 

 a reckless want of veneration for his author, cannot resist the 

 temptation of elevating a trophy at his expense, and says, " the 

 author, (Cuvier) in this note seems to have confounded three 

 species of serpents, which are indubitably distinct — the Heteredon, 

 the Trigoiiocephalus lisiphone, or Mockason Snake, and the Colu- 

 ber Constrictor, or black snake ; but he fails altogether, for the 

 Trigonocephalus tisiphone, and the Mockason Snake are two dis- 

 tinct animals." It is dangerous to play with snakes unless you 

 know one species from another. The translator has got bit 

 when he least expected it. 



He is not more fortunate in rendering the meaning of his 

 author, when he is translating physiological passages. Defi- 



