202 COMMITTEE’S ADDRESS. 
the male, which is in the same compartment in the reptile-house, 
and is subject to exactly the same external circumstances. The 
instruments have been provided expressly for the purpose by 
Messrs. Negretti and Zambra, whose well-known names are a 
sufficient guarantee for their accuracy :— 
Date. Female Male 
1862. on her eggs. in same den. Difference. 
Feb. 12 Surface of body .. 73° 0’ ... 70° 2 ... 2 8 
Between thecoils 22. Wy (60 een Wee 60 eee eS! 
Hebn 23) Surtacelot' body 12: Won 42 Veils S48 Smo! 
Between the coils... 838°.2’) .. 84° 0% =... 62 2) 
March 2 Surface of body ... 84° 0’ ... 71° G ... 12° 4 
Between the coils . 96° 9 UB O02 og OPO 
March 2.—The eggs with the bulb of the riven gens inserted, 94° 7’ 
I should mention that these experiments have been made by 
Mr. A. D. Bartlett, the Superintendent of the Society’s Gardens, 
Mr. Negretti, Mr. Zambra, and myself. 
It appears to me that these results, giving as they do a differ- 
ence varying from 6° 8’ to 20° (of Fahrenheit’s scale) in tem- 
perature in favour of the incubating female, prove conclusively 
the truth of M. Valencienne’s views, as founded on the similar 
case which occurred in the Jardin des Plantes of Paris in 1841, 
and show that in the case of this cold-blooded vertebrate the heat 
of the female’s body is abnormally increased during the process 
of incubation. 
J may add that one of the eggs, which opened on the 15th day 
of incubation, contained a living embryo python about five 
inches in length, which is now before me. 
I am, Sir, yours obediently, 
P. L. SCLATER, Secretary to the Zoological 
Society of London. 
11, Hanover Square, W., March 5. 
Unfortunately the doubt has not been cleared up, for since this 
was written, the eggs have all proved ‘‘ addled.” 
Allusion may here be appropriately made to the great prosperity 
which is attending other societies of a similar nature to our own. 
It is most gratifying to this Club to observe the success which 
attends those societies in other localities, which spring up year 
. 
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