VENOMOUS ANIMALS. Among tei various contrivances for offense and defene found among animals the presence of a poiso apparatus, consisting of a poison gland and in organ for introducing the poison into the bay of the prey, is a noteworthy feature. In sale of the lower forms of animal life, sud as Ccelenterata, peculiar stinging-cells, tened mematocysts, are developed in the ti4ues. Each consists of a sac having a filment coiled up therein. On being touched the tl-ead cell ruptures and the thread is evert, a.nd enters the surface of any animal it touchs.with a benumbing effect. In centipedes a *mon apparatus is contained within the moth, one pair of foot-jaws being furuished with hooked -gland.
fang which conununicates with a poitin Among insects, such as the bees, hoiets, etc. (qq.v.), the sting (see OVIPOSITOR) msists. of sharp filaments, perforated for the tmsmission 011S W ink) the wound they make of a poise ritating fluid, secreted by a specialgland. . In
the scorpions (q.v.) the poison-glad is. situ joeed tail, the ated in the last segment of the fang being formed by the modified telson. Among higher animals the serpents (q.v.) con stitute the chief group in which a venomous ap paratus is present. In these animals certain modified teeth of the upper jaw form grooved fangs, which communicate with the poison glands, formed by modifications of the salivary glands. (See RArrustrAxEs). The venom of serpents appears to act by altering the con stitution of the blood and by action on the blood-corpuscles preventing the due purification of the blood. It may be remarked that in all cases the venomous matter must be introduced directly into the circulation to produce its effects. A person may swallow the poison of a snake without experiencing any evil effects.