TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 79 



" Egad ! If I were at all uneasy, do you think I 

 should have said anything to you about it ? " 



Kene* was soothed by this argument. 



" Is it then a real poison, like that of the viper, that 

 exists in the sting of this horrid creature, the Trachi- 

 nus viper a ? " said he. 



u I know nothing on the subject," said Ldon. " A 

 good deal of inquiry has been devoted to it, but up 

 to the present time, without very much result, I 

 believe." 



" But I know," said the doctor. " The poisonous 

 instrument of the weever is now understood, but it is 

 only quite recently ; * for until now its delicate 

 structure had caused it to escape the researches of 

 investigators." 



The worthy gentleman then placed his glasses in 

 position on his nose, took up a pencil and a large 

 sheet of white paper, so as to be able to complete his 

 demonstration by an oft-hand sketch, and commenced 

 as follows : 



"The apparatus in question consists of a very 

 strong spine, divided internally into two channels, 

 and covered at its extremity by a membrane. This 

 membrane is apparently arranged in such a manner 

 as to prevent the escape of the poison under ordinary 



* " Recherches faites au Laboratoire de Physiologic maritime du Havre," 

 par M. A. Bottard, presentees, comme these inatigurale, par M. A. Gressin, et 

 editees sous le titre : Contribution a T etude de I ' appareil a venin chez Us poisson* 

 dn qcnre Tire. A. Daw editeur. 



