I4& FIELD AND FOREST. 



But when she had been left to enjoy a rest of some thirty minutes the 

 muscles again contracted upon slight provocation. 



The right leg was now removed, as well as the viscera. There were 

 present twenty-six eggs in that stage of development that led us to 

 conclude that they constituted the crop intended for ovulation the 

 ensuing season. In the act of evisceration about an inch of the rec- 

 tum was left, and the anus was interfered with as little as possible. 



Upon the following day the animal still showed signs of life. The 

 remaining leg was flexed as soon as the derm thereof was pinched or 

 pricked. When the derm of the tail was pricked the caudal muscles 

 contracted slowly but persistently. The sphincter ani still contracted 

 upon slight provocation. 



At 9 A. M. the left leg was removed. At 4 P. M. the derm about 

 the anus was pricked, whereupon the sphincter ani slowly contracted 

 and the caudal muscles flexed the tail ventral wise. At 10 o'clock on 

 Friday, November 3, there was still faint signs of life. When the 

 derm of the anal region was pinched severely the muscles of the tail 

 and the sphincter ani slowly and feebly contracted. 



The apartment in which this Chelydra Serpentina, or snapping 

 turtle, terminated her existence was free from noise or jar, airy and 

 well illuminated. The temperature ranged from fifty to sixty degrees 

 Fahrenheit. 



C. W. Larison. 



MISCELLANY. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Editor Field and Forest. 



A few days since while hunting for spec- 

 imens I split open a branch of an apple 

 tree that had been cut down, and besides 

 a large number of beetle larva; and hun- 

 dreds of black ants — some with wings as 

 large as black wasps, I found two full- 

 grown rat-tailed larvae and one about 

 half as large with a short tail. The two 

 were in a cavity in the decaying branch 



below the ants. The latter had honey- 

 combed quite a space, and eggs, larvae, 

 &c, were abundant. The larvae, when 

 at rest, were about three-fourth of an inch 

 long, when crawling, about an inch ; the 

 tail a little more than inch, and tipped 

 with a row of bristles curved backwards. 

 The body was wrinkled and ridged very 

 much, of a dirty grayish, white color, 

 through which was perceptible a tinge of 

 pink. Cannot determine whether it be a 

 species of Eristalis or Merodon, or some 



