•336 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



are of great interest to ornithologists, embodying as they do a great number 

 of facts collected from various sources. We may especially direct attention 

 to the pages relating to hybrids between Turdus merula and Turdus musicus 

 (pp. 365 — 373), since this subject has on several occasions been dealt with 

 in communications to this Journal. 



REPTILES. 



Results of Viper-bite. — As cases of poisoning from the bite of 

 venomous reptiles are happily rare in this country, it may prove interesting 

 to some of your readers if I relate my experience on this matter. About a 

 month ago I caught two snakes at Bickleigh, near Plymouth, and whilst 

 examining one it " bit " or rather struck me on the right thumb. I imme- 

 diately sucked the puncture (it could not be called a wound), which bled a 

 little, and tried to make light of the matter. A livid patch soon formed 

 round the point, and the hand and arm commenced to swell. In a quarter 

 of an hour I was unable to hold anything, and almost in a fainting con- 

 dition. The first symptom (apart from the swelling) was a peculiar taste 

 and a sensation of swelling in the teeth, then the tongue commenced to 

 swell and became so large that I could hardly move it, my eyes seemed 

 ready to start from their sockets. In half an hour a terrible vomiting 

 commenced, preceded by excruciating pains in the stomach and heart, and 

 continued with the pains altogether for nine hours, every drop of liquid 

 being ejected almost as soon as swallowed. There was also violent purging 

 and complete suppression of urine. There was practically no pain in the 

 arm. Altogether the painful symptoms lasted for about nine hours. I did 

 not lose consciousness at any time. The arm continued to swell for two 

 days, and then it was nearly as large as my leg. After this the swelling 

 subsided, but the arm did not return to its normal size until twelve days 

 after the accident. After the swelling had gone I suffered very much from 

 rheumatical pains, and, in fact, do so now, and the digestion was also very 

 much impaired. The Viper is a male, a little more than two feet long, and 

 about one inch in diameter at the largest part. Colour, a dull yellowish 

 brown on the upper side, with a zigzag black line running down the whole 

 length. On the under side it is nearly black except at head, where it is 

 pale yellow. I have kept the reptile now for nearly five weeks, and, 

 although well supplied with small frogs, &c, it has not eaten anything, 

 and seems as lively as ever. — W. A. Rddge (Plymouth), in Nature. 



