FIELD AND FOREST. 147 



easily sever the entire arm and shoulder, I experienced a sensation 

 that almost made my hair bristle. She contracted her fingers forcibly, 

 and at the same time flexed the forearm upon the arm with such force 

 as to raise the entire remains from the table on which she lay. 



Before removing the arm, I allowed a few minutes to intervene, 

 that I might again test the sensitiveness of the hand. Upon grasping 

 it tightly, the muscles of the member again contracted, in the same 

 order and with almost the same degree of force. The attention of 

 two of my stduents was now called to the matter, and we began a 

 series of experiments to ascertain the site that seemed to be the most 

 sensitive. Upon being pricked with a probe, the leg contracted very 

 forcibly. The one pierced was quickly drawn into its resting-place, 

 while the other seemed to be rather projected. If one of the feet was 

 grasped, she strove to free herself by projecting her feet until they 

 came together and then scratched vigorously with the foot that was 

 free. Upon pricking the tail, it was flexed. If the prick was upon 

 the right side, the member was quickly flexed to the left, and vice 

 versa. If the pricking was upon the ventral side of the tail, the mem- 

 ber was invariably flexed ventral-wise. The region of the anus was 

 the most sensitive, and the tip of the tail was the least so. The heart 

 was still beating, although that part of it which was laid bare by the 

 removal of the plastron and the right arm with its contiguous parts 

 was quite dry ; indeed, it was so dry that at each systole the exposed 

 portion of the organ appeared quite wrinkled and husky. The ver- 

 micular action of the bowels had not yet ceased. 



The left arm and contiguous parts were now removed, and the un- 

 dissected portion left laying as it had been from the decapitation, 

 supinely upon the table. 



At 8 o'clock A. M. the following day the reptile was again ex- 

 amined. The muscles of the legs, still contracted, whenever the 

 derm was pricked or toes slightly touched. The tail was yet quite 

 sensative. The region of the anus was more sensative than any other 

 part that remained. We now observed that while the legs and the 

 tail quickly responded to a prick or a pinch, yet if the pricking or 

 pinching was repeated too often the animal seemed to be indifferent 

 to the torture, and failed to take any cognizance of the injury inflicted. 



