Remarks on Dr avunculus. 371 



certain districts in which the soil and air may be more con- 

 genial to the young in their torpid state than others. They 

 would be exposed to fewer dangers in the soft impalpable 

 soils of volcanic or of trap districts, than in sandy or stiff 

 clayey tracts, and once established in places like the former, 

 it would be more difficult to eradicate them. This how- 

 ever, is only offered as a probable way of accounting for the 

 curious correspondence that has often been observed in the 

 geological structure of districts affected with Dracunculus, 

 both in India and the West Indies. 



Notes on an alleged species of poisonous Lizard, 8fc. By 

 J. Grant, Esq. 



At a discussion, or perhaps more properly speaking, con- 

 versation — held many years ago at a meeting of the Medical 

 and Physical Society of Calcutta, a few points of general 

 and scientific interest were mentioned, respecting which in- 

 formation was deemed desirable. One of these was suicide, 

 whether it prevails to a great extent or otherwise among the 

 natives of India, and if effected by poison — the sort of poi- 

 son most used, &c. ? Another was regarding the existence 

 of the Biscopra, a description of it, &c. Waiving for the pre- 

 sent the first of these topics altogether, it has struck me that 

 a few notes though of a desultory kind respecting the second, 

 and one or two others, may not be unacceptable ; but I beg 

 the reader before hand to anticipate nothing of a novel, or, 

 strictly speaking, even of a scientific character in this paper. 

 Indeed, it is rather with the hope of exciting some of your 

 readers and correspondents to further inquiry, on the sub- 

 jects introduced in these observations, than from any idea 

 that they possess any merit of their own, that they are sub- 

 mitted. 



I have frequently heard mention made of the Biscopra in 

 the Upper Provinces— but the Bengal reader most likely will 



3c 



