100 YEARS AGO

A Grass-snake which the writer had in his possession for eighteen months has just died. A fact which seems worthy of a note is the length of time during which this snake fasted. The last time the snake fed was June 11, 1904, the meal consisting of a small frog. From that time until the date of its death, February 2, it took no food, although constantly offered it. The animal thus existed for close on eight months without food. During the whole of this time it appeared in good health, and was, at times, most animated. No approach to hibernation was observed, and only for a little more than a week before its death did the snake seem out of health. The body was not unduly thin.

From Nature 23 February 1905.

50 YEARS AGO

The organization for the fishing and conservation of the Cœlacanths of the Comoro Islands created by the Institute de Recherche Scientifique de Madagascar... reports a new success: on November 12 last a further Latimeria was captured at Anjouan. This brings the total since 1938 to eight and is the finest yet, as regards both size and state of preservation, and by far the most interesting because it is the first near-adult female specimen which has come into our hands as well as the first of these precious fishes which anyone has been able to observe alive... Throughout the night — which the delighted population of Mutsamudu passed in singing and dancing to celebrate the capture — the Cœlacanth was watched over with admirable care by the chef de circonscription, taking turns with his adjoint, M. Solère. It seemed, although quite bewildered at the sequel to its ascent to the surface, to be taking the situation very well, swimming slowly by curious rotating movements of its pectoral fins, while the second dorsal and anal, likewise very mobile, served together with the tail as a rudder. After daybreak it became apparent that the light, and above all the sun itself, was upsetting the animal very much [and] the fish began to show more and more obvious signs of distress... At 14.45 hr. it was still swimming feebly; but at 15.30 hr. it had its belly in the air and only the fins and gill-covers were making agonized movements.

From Nature 26 February 1955.