OPHIDIAN NOMENCLA TURE, ETC. 421 



while the Kunikusi or Courracouchi of the Indians Is Crotaliis 

 viutus, which is termed " Bushmaster " in the forests.' 

 Secondly, H. W. Bates ^ says : ' The natives called Trigono- 

 cepJiahis atrox the Jararaca.' Thirdly, Dr. Otho Wucherer- 

 affirms that a 'venomous tree snake {CraspcdocepJuiliLS hilinc- 

 atus) Is called Siiriicitcii patyoba, from the palm on which it 

 is found, and another tree snake is Silvil Uricana, from 

 another palm in which It resides ; while tJie Surucucu 

 {Lachesis iimtus) lives In holes in the ground. It Is about ten 

 feet long.' This latter is called Stirii. bico di jacca^ from the 

 resemblance of Its strongly-keeled scales to the prominences 

 on the 'jack fruit ;' Xenodon rJiabdocepJialus is also suruaiai, 

 while the true 'Jararaca ' Is CraspedocepJialus atrox. 



Here are contradictory Ciinicucus and Jararacas in plenty, 

 all Impressing upon us the Importance of comparing evidence 

 if we wish to arrive at a truth. 



' Why spend so much time about a mere name ? ' Well, 

 as In the solution of a problem, you desire to 'get It right.' 

 Besides, you ask, ' Why so many names to one snake } ' 

 and in sifting out this C7irucncu and the Jararaca, we 

 discover reasons for the many synonyms. 



A. R. Wallace once more presents a clue:^ 'At Sao Gabriel 

 I saw on the rocks asleep one of the most deadly serpents 

 in South America, the " Surucurii " {Lachesis inutus). It is 

 very handsomely marked with rich amber brown, and 

 armed with terrific poison fangs, two on each side.' Here 

 we are enabled to associate a scientific and a vernacular 



i The Naturalist on the Amazons, by II. W. Bates. Lond. 1873. 

 • Proceedings of the Zoological Society, Jan. and Nov. 1 86 1. 

 ' Travels in the Amazon. Lond. i855- 



