LIZARDS. 429 



and a rapid swelling of the parts that now set in, caused me to become so faint as to 

 fall, and Dr. Gill's study was reached with no little difficulty. The action of the skin 

 was gi'eatly increased, and the perspiration flowed profusely, A small quantity of 

 whiskey was administered. This is about a fair statement of the immediate symjj- 

 toms ; the same night the pain allowed of no rest, although the hand was kept in ice 

 and laudanum, but the swelling was confined to this member alone, not passing beyond 

 the wrist. Next morning this was considerably reduced, and further reduction was 

 assisted by the use of a lead-water wash. 



" In a few days the wound healed kindly, and in all probability will leave no scar. 

 All other symptoms subsided without treatment, beyond the wearing, for about forty- 

 eight hours, so much of a kid glove as covei-ed the parts involved. 



" After the bite our specimen was dull and sluggish, simulating the torpidity of 

 the venomous serpent after it has inflicted its deadly wound, but it soon resumed its 

 usual action and appearance, crawling in rather an awkward manner about its cage." 



Dr. Shufeldt's conclusions, however, that the symptoms were no other than usually 

 follow the bite of an irritated animal, seem to be given a little prematurely. The 

 same reptile was afterward induced to bite the edge of a saucer, into which, during 

 the action, a secretion dribbled. This secretion, which was of a distinctly alkaline 

 nature, in contrast to the serpent-venoms, which are acid, was, in a small quantity, 

 injected into the breast of a healthy pigeon, and produced death in seven minutes. 

 On a second trial a small quantity was injected into the carotid artery of a rabbit, the 

 animal dying in one minute and thirty-five seconds. Different from the action of 

 serpent-poison, which affects the respiratory functions, the poison of lieloderma 

 attacks the heart and the spinal cord. The power of this portion of the nervous 

 system to respond to even powerful electric currents is abrujstly annihilated. 



The family of water-lizards, the Varanid^, contains some of the largest animals 

 of the order. They are chiefly semi-aquatic, their elongated bodies and comi^ressed 

 tails enabling them to swim with considerable power. Much of their tin;e is spent 

 on shore however, and, though less active than when in the water, they are lively and 

 agile, several species being partly arboreal. All are carnivorous, feeding on different 

 water animals, and on the eggs of birds as well as those of the larger reptiles. Just 

 below each valvular nostril is a cavity of considerable size, from which the animal can 

 obtain a limited supply of air when below the surface, where it often remains for 

 considerable periods of time. Representatives are found in Africa, their true home, 

 and in Asia and Australia. They resemble each other, and are characterized by having 

 the snout produced, conical, and covered with non-imbricate shields ; the teeth acute 

 and compressed, and the tongue slender, terminating in a fork, and retractile into a 

 sheath at its base. The scales of the back are small, equalling in size those of the 

 sides, and arranged in cross-rows ; those of the belly and tail being square and arranged 

 in bands. The tail is long and generally compressed, and the toes are five in num- 

 ber and provided with strong claws. 



The Indian water-lizard, Varanus draccena, sometimes exceeds the length of four 

 feet, the tail being longer than tlie body. The natives use the flesh for food, the 

 animal being quite abundantly found along the low lands, where dogs are trained to 

 hunt it. It is more or less subterranean in its habits, spending most of its time in its 

 burrows, though during the warmer portions of the day it wanders out, after smaller 

 reptiles and in search of ant-hills. T^ albogularis inhabits South Africa and some- 

 times reaches a length of four or five feet. It prefers the more rocky localities, seeking 



