RHPILES. 225 



with it. Another species to be avoided is a bright-green pit 

 viper, Trinieresiinis ifrainineiis, which has the honour of 

 belonging to the same family as the rattlesnakes. One was 

 killed some years ago, as I find in my notes, which measured 

 3 ft. In 1894 cobras were so plentiful that the Government 

 paid 50 cents a head for them, a custom which might serve on 

 an emergency, but which would probably lead to breeding 

 if continued, the Chinese being always ready to earn an 

 honest penny. One of the very poisonous sea-snakes before 

 referred to, a species of Hydrophis, is found in the waters 

 round Hongkong. Ashore they have also specie s of the 

 iron-wire snake, classically named Typhlina, which burrows 

 under stones and into the soil. 



Cobras come as far north as Wenchow, if not farther. 

 I have recently heard of their being killed there in the 

 garden of the Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Bowring. In 

 all probability the mainland in the neighbourhood of the 

 Canton delta is richer in reptile life than is the steep and 

 rocky isle of Hongkong. The Shanghai Museum contains 

 a fair number of specimens, and was the scene some few 

 months ago of a most interesting lecture on reptiles by Dr. 

 Stanley, the Honorary Curator. But there is a vast deal yet 

 to be learnt of this fascinating subject, and it is a pity some 

 of the many missionaries and consuls scattered over the 

 surface of the country do not follow the noble example set 

 them by Pere David, Mr. Swinhoe, and a few other pioneers, 

 and give the world the benefit of their researches. 



How many species of tortoises and turtles are to be met 

 with in the Chinese Empire I have not the slightest idea. 

 Judging by what one sees in the delta of the Yangtze, the 

 number of individuals is illimitable, whatever may be the 

 number of species. One finds the tortoise everywhere, in 

 fields, gardens, marshes, ponds, rivers, etc. and the number 

 of carapaces that might be accummulated is without number. 

 The native farmers use them for blinkers when their cattle 

 are circling round the irrigating machine. One kind of sea 

 turtle which lands on the island of Hongkong and other 

 adjacent islands sometimes weighs as much as 400 lbs. They 

 come ashore to lay their eggs. 



