THE XENODONS. 411 



harmless colubers : thus do we see the wonderful links or 

 gradations between opposite families, which have been 

 such a perplexity to the early naturalist. 



The Heterodons have the reputation of * feigning death ' 

 when annoyed. This peculiarity has been commented on 

 by many who have experimented upon the snake for this 

 purpose. Holbrooke observed it in H. platirJiinos, and 

 came to the conclusion that it was done at will. ' It will 

 deceive its tormentor by feigning death, remaining flat and 

 motionless.' It otherwise * flattens the head and upper part 

 of the neck, which it lifts and waves, hissing loudly.' This 

 is the true cobra manner. He often worried it and tried to 

 make it bite, when it only projected its head in that menac- 

 ing way, but with closed mouth. On the contrary, other 

 experimentalists describe it with widely expanded jaws 

 when thus annoyed. In an excellent American magazine, 

 Science Nezvs, the Heterodons formed the subject of several 

 papers a few years ago. To my friend, Mr. J. E. Harting, 

 I am indebted for some numbers of Science News, in 

 which Heterodons' performances are fully described. One, 

 on being intercepted in its retreat, ' threw its head back 

 with widely expanded jaws ; but instead of striking, it turned 

 completely over on its back, remaining stiff and' motion- 

 less, with jaws fixed in rigid expansion, feigning death.' 

 Reptilian intellect was, however, insufficient to carry out 

 the feint, inasmuch as its full muscular power was exercised 

 to maintain its position. ' On concealing myself,' continues 

 the narrator, ' it cautiously righted itself and made off ; 

 but only to repeat the ruse when again caught.'^ Dr. J. 



' Science NeivSy Feb. 15, 1S79. 



