MEMOIR ON AMPHIBIA. 373 



republic, a member of this fociety, and zealous in the 

 purfuit of fcience, was to have been of our party, but was 

 unfortunately prevented by illnefs. Arrived at Bridgetown 

 we went forward to Morris River, in company with Dr. 

 Ehner and Mr. White, who loaded us with kindnefs, and 

 facilitated our refearches by every means in their power. 

 We were to have found at Morris River Captain Hawkins, 

 who is perfedlly acquainted with the retreats of thefe rep- 

 tiles, and deftroys them every year by hundreds. 



The Captain not being yet arrived, we were condudled 

 by an inhabitant to a place where he afTured us he would 

 Ihew U3 boiquiras. In the way he made us obferve on 

 the fide of a rifiing ground on the banks of Morris River, 

 excavations which had been made three weeks before, and 

 in which had been found 75 of thefe reptiles entwined 

 with each other. The hole was from three to four feet 

 deep, and of about the lame diameter. The way to the 

 bottom of this hole is not ftraight. 



I Ihall remark here, once for all, that boiquiras choofc 

 for their winter quarters two different fituations. One on 

 the fouth fide of hills, and the other in low grounds, filled 

 with roots, and covered with a thick cotton-like mofs 

 (fphagnum paluftrc. Linn.). I have remarked, ift. That 

 the expofure was not always the fame. 2d, That the 

 way in was tortuous. 3d, The entrance was fmall enough 

 to prevent the wind from penetrating with too much force. 

 Captain Hawkins told me that he had never met with any 

 of thefe reptiles in holes of which the entrance was larger 

 than their bodies. 4th, In both thefe fituations there is 

 always found a running ftream of fpring water which 

 never freezes at this depth, fo that the boiquiras in their 

 retreat are always near or over the water, but never in it. 



Thofe naturalifts who have advanced that thefe reptiles 

 feed on frogs, and fuch like animals, will doubtlefs not 

 fail to lay hold of this circumflance and interpret it in fa- 

 vour 



