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 NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Animal Migrations through the Suez Canal.— We learn from 'Nature ' 

 that Professor Keller, of Zurich, during a stay near the Suez Canal, has 

 been making a study of the animal migrations due to the opening of this 

 means of communication. These are said to be very positive, though 

 certain causes stop the progress of some species, or at least retard their 

 movements, — for instance, the too sandy nature of the ground; the large 

 lakes ; the currents ; the passage of ships, which derange the ova and larva? ; 

 and the too great saltness of the canal water. Since 187U the following 

 have passed from the Mediterranean to Suez : — Solen vulgaris, Umbrina 

 cirrhosa, Labrax lupus, Balanus miser, and Ascidia intestinalis. Some Medi- 

 terranean species are now on their way through (Solea vagina, Cardium 

 edule, Spharoiria), several fishes (Pristipona stridens, Crenidens forskali, &c), 

 and some molluscs (Cerithium scabridum, Mactra olorina, Mytilus variabilis) 

 have passed from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, while a numerous 

 " caravan " was found resting in the basins of the great Bitter Lakes. The 

 fauna of the canal is still too poor for large carnivorous species to find a 

 living in it; hence Rays, Cuttlefishes, &c, do not migrate: nor have Red 

 Sea Corals passed into the canal. 



Wild Animals in India. — The ' Gazette of India' contains the returns 

 for 1881 of wild animals and poisonous Snakes killed in British India 

 during the year. The total number of wild animals killed during the year 

 was 15,279 ; Snakes, 254,968. The total number of persons killed was 

 21,427, against 21,990 in ] 880, and the mortality was far greater in Bengal, 

 the North-West Provinces and Oudh than in other provinces. Of the total 

 number of deaths, 18,610 resulted from Snake-bite, and 2817 were caused 

 by wild animals. The total number of cattle killed decreased from 8536 to 

 2032. The number of Tigers, Leopards, Bears, and Wolves destroyed was 

 1557, 3397, 991, and 4538 respectively, as compared with 1689, 3017, 1100, 

 and 4243 in the preceding year; and the number of human beings killed 

 by these animals respectively amounted to 889, 239, 75, and 256, against 

 872, 261, 108, and 347 in the year 1880. The total amount of rewards 

 paid during the year was Rs. 102,811. Of this sum Rs. 90,850 was awarded 

 for the destruction of wild animals, the remainder (Rs. 11,961) being paid 

 or the destruction of Snakes. Of the latter amouut, Rs. 6,214 was paid in 

 the Bombay Presidency. In ' Nature' for December 28th last will be found 

 an interesting article by Sir Joseph Fayrer " On the destruction of life by 

 poisonous Snakes in India." After quoting and commenting in greater 

 detail upon the official returns above referred to, he expresses the opinion 

 that still more zeal might be exerted iu exterminating poisonous Snakes in 



