Royal Physical Society. 191 



simple and adequate. So far as my observations have ex- 

 tended, this peculiarity of the caudal vertebrae is unique, 

 though the same, or some modification of it, may be expected to 

 be found in those reptiles which have a similar action of the 

 tail. 



Viscera. — The conservative and generative organs of the 

 Anguis fragilis, are all but identical with those of serpents. 



Diseases. — The morbid states of the animal, which I have 

 marked, resulted probably from faults in management, in a 

 great degree ; but as numerous specimens were treated alike, 

 and deaths were unfrequent, the causes were not distinctly 

 traced to this source. Impaction of the rectum by a chalky 

 matter, which appeared in every healthy dejection, to some 

 extent, was, apparently, the cause of death in several instances. 

 In a few instances death seemed to result from retention of 

 numerous unvivified ova. But one specimen, which was long 

 carefully watched, with tumours of the lower jaw, and point of 

 the tail, furnished, on inspection, an example of positive 

 disease. In this instance great enlargement and induration of 

 the kidney on the left side was found to exist. Destruction 

 of some of the vertebrae was also found ; a state which might 

 have been ascribed to pressure of the enlarged kidney, had 

 not the external tumours been accompanied with absorption 

 of bone of the adjacent parts. The disease, in this instance, 

 was therefore probably malignant in character. 



The communication was illustrated by specimens, and by an interesting 

 series of preparations of different parts of the animal. 



A vote of thanks was cordially given to the author for his valuable 

 contribution to the natural history of a reptile hitherto imperfectly de- 

 scribed. 



Professor Fleming made some remarks on the very local distribution of 

 the Slow- Worm, its great scarcity or total absence in this neighbourhood, 

 and its apparent frequency in Clydesdale. 



George Logan, Esq., W.S., mentioned he had taken one some years 

 ago in Presmennan Wood, Berwickshire, which he kept alive for some 

 time ; he also corroborated the entire want of any attempt at resist- 

 ance by biting shown by this curious reptile. 



