In the family _Crabronidæ_ the females are provided with a sting and venom, which usually has little effect upon man, but is toxic to other insects. Thus, _Cerceris bupresticida_ is remarkable for the stupefying effect of its venom upon the _Buprestidæ_ destined for the food of its larvæ. It stings the beetles between the first and second segments of the thorax, with the result that the victim is paralysed, though in other respects its bodily functions appear to continue; in fact, its intestine is seen to empty itself at long intervals. These effects are attributed by Mons. J. H. Fabre, of Avignon, to the direct action of the venom upon the ganglia of the thoracic nervous system. Instances of Hymenoptera belonging to the tribe _Entomophaga_ actually depositing their eggs beneath the skin of man are mentioned by Raphaël Blanchard.[135] According to P. Fabre, the best treatment for wasp- or bee-stings would appear to consist in the application of strong saline solution, or a liniment of ammonia and olive oil. For my own part, I have tried _hypochlorite of lime_, in a 1 in 60 solution, or _eau de Javel_ diluted to 1 per cent., and have always obtained such excellent results from these remedies that I do not hesitate to advise their use. D.--MOLLUSCS. Certain Gastropodous Molluscs, chiefly _Murex brandaris_ and _M. trunculus_, possess purple glands from which it is possible to extract a very active venom (Raphaël Dubois)[136] by crushing them up with sand and alcohol. The alcoholic liquid, filtered and evaporated in a water-bath, yields a brown oily fluid. The subcutaneous injection of a few drops of this into a frog is sufficient to produce very decided toxic effects. Sluggishness and slowness of movement are seen to supervene fairly quickly; reflex actions are still exhibited, but the animal is no longer able to jump. If the dose be not too strong, this condition of paresis lasts for several hours, and then disappears. In most cases, however, the paresis is succeeded by complete paralysis, and the animal appears as though suffering from curare. Yet the fact is that the venom is neither curare-like nor cardiac; the heart, muscles, motor endplates, and motor and sensory nerves are spared; the nervous centres alone are attacked, especially the encephalon. The animal dies without convulsions. Sea and fresh-water fishes (golden carp) are very sensitive to this venom; warm-blooded animals are refractory. It is therefore probable that, in the species of _Murex_, the purple gland is a poison-gland serving for defence, or for the capture of the prey upon which these molluscs feed. Among the Cephalopods, the Octopods (_Octopus vulgaris_, common octopus, _Eledone moschata_, musky octopus, of the Mediterranean) possess two pairs of salivary glands, a small anterior pair, and a posterior pair of considerable size.