MALE PAPAW. 22 t 



the crimson goitre very slightly developed. The first 

 specimen obtained, a female, was crav^ling on the 

 stem of a herbaceous plant, by the road-side at Cave, 

 and was easily captured, displaying little agility. 

 After 1 had possessed it a little while, it gradually 

 changed the ground colour to a dusky umber, the 

 marks still being visible. Of the markings, which 

 vary much in different individuals, a conspicuous black 

 spot behind the ear seems to be constant. This 

 female was accidentally killed a day or two after 

 I had captured it, and I took the opportunity to 

 dissect it. I found on the left side one large egg 

 nearly ready for exclusion. Its form was oblong, the 

 diameters about j^ by 3% inch ; its hue a cream- 

 white ; its integument parchment-like. Two or 

 three other ova were present, but minute. The 

 animal had begun to slough its cuticle before it died. 

 I think it likely that any unw^onted excitement, such 

 as fear or inordinate anger, may bring on the period- 

 ical sloughing in reptiles : in nearly every case the 

 capture of a Lizard has been presently followed by 

 the commencement of this process. 



FRUIT ON A MALE PAPAW. 



Aug. 6th. — On the summit of Bluefields Ridge I 

 took from a male Papaw-tree {Caric a papaya) in the 

 woods, two perfect fruits, an instance of accidental 

 hermaphrodism in a plant ordinarily dioecious. The 

 fruits were more elongated than usual. I determined 

 the sex of the tree, not only by its form and general 

 appearance, which cannot be mistaken, but also by 



