OPHIDIAN NOMENCLATURE, ETC. 427 



to the Gardens in the summer of 1881, which Hngered a 

 pitiable object for six or eight months, eating nothing, and 

 gradually wasting. 



Tht Jararaca is a slighter snake, and in colour of an olive 

 tint with darker markings, not unlike Xenodon's jagged 

 leaf pattern along the back. Its right to the name of 

 C^'aspedocephalus {o^aspedo, derived from a Greek word 

 signifying an edge or border) is recognised by a peculiar 

 ridge round its flat, angular, and almost lance-shaped head. 

 It is also a Trigo7iocepJiahis and a BotJirops. My specimen 

 being only half-grown is about three feet long, and the 

 thickness of your little finger. * Is there not great confusion 

 in the application of the terms craspedoccpJi. and trigono- 

 ceph.f wrote Dr. Stradling, on sending me these much- 

 prized specimens. Yes, there certainly is ; but by this time 

 the reader sees the reason for this, and also for the many 

 appellatives which they derive from the Fates and the 

 Furies. Not to weary the reader with further lists 

 of names, I will refer him to Gray's Catalogue of tJie 

 British Mnseitm Snakes, p. 5, for tJie accepted Jararaca 

 of the authorities, and to Dumeril, tome vii. pt ii. p. 1509, 

 for the same ; both authors giving the numerous synonyms, 

 and the latter the reasons for many of them. The student 

 will there see how Wagler is supposed to have described 

 young snakes as different species ; and if further in- 

 vestigation be invited, a good deal of entertainment 

 may be had from Wagler himself and his folio volume,' 

 Serpentum Braziliensis, with its wonderful coloured illus- 

 trations. Then for the Cnrncucu, the Laches is viutus of 



1 By J. B. von Spix, Public far Jean IVai^ler. !Monarchu, 1826. 



