SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIES. 189 
with darker vertebral blotches which often have irregular light centres. There 
are scattered dots of dark brown upon the sides and belly, sometimes almost 
wholly wanting. There are sometimes more or less conspicuous dark streaks 
along the side of the body, a light streak near the angle of the mouth and often 
a dark vertebral line. In spite of the name neither Gundlach nor we have seen 
an individual with a black tail. 
Dimensions: — Total length 670 mm. 
Vent to tip of tail 70 mm. 
This is the largest member of the genus and we have specimens nearly a 
meter in length. It is strictly nocturnal but by no means rare. During the 
day it may be found hidden in various situations, among rocks, under decaying 
vegetation, but most often in the rolled up “boots”’ of the fallen palm fronds 
— called in Cuba ‘‘yaguas.’’ Where groves of Royal Palms stand among mangos 
or thickly planted bananas so that the ground is well shaded and damp, many 
of the yaguas when unrolled or better cut into with a machete will be found to 
contain Majis of this species passing the day closely coiled into almost a sphere. 
The snakes are extremely sluggish and make absolutely no resistance to capture 
or handling. That they are voracious, however, is shown by the fact that a 
large individual once crawled during the night into the junior author’s aviary 
and having devoured a dove found it impossible to repass through the wire of 
the cage. It remained quietly coiled in a corner causing consternation among 
the inmates until caught. When surprised or handled this snake discharges 
a whitish slime from its vent which is extremely offensive, in fact more pungent 
even than the musky fluid discharged by the various species of Thamnophis 
or Natrix of North America. 
57. TROPIDOPHIS PARDALIS (Gundlach). 
Plate 5, fig. 2. 
Maja. 
Diagnosis: — A small spotted constricting snake, having the habits and 
general appearance described for 7. maculata but with the belly-scales less than 
160 in number; the body being correspondingly shorter and rather stout. 
Description: — Adult M. C. Z. 10,840. Cuba: Havana Province; San 
Antonio de los Bafios, February, 1915. Thomas Barbour. 
Head slightly distinct from neck; rostral decidedly broader than deep, 
