FIF.LD NATURALISTS CLUB. 41 



tures, the catching and devouring of which constitute their 

 nightly occupation. Above in the trees, dancing and Hinging 

 himself about in the queerest attitudes, his presence perhaps 

 invisible to the eye, yet making itself known by a certain subtile, 

 all-penetrating, mean, disgusting, horribly effusive scent, would 

 have been the porcupine.* There, on yonder rising ground, 

 cautiously dragging his heavy body about in the shade, ever and 

 anon throwing himself into his position of defence, and sharply 

 tapping on the dried leaves with rapid strokes of his horn-tip} id 

 tail, might have been found — he is found there yet- — the deadly 

 Mapepire z'annana,f — the Silent Death of the Black Night as 

 someone has rendered it, the worst member of the CrotcUidcn, the 

 Mapepire, on the look-out for rats and the other small deer which 

 constitute his sustenance. Having struck and gorged his victim 

 he frequently chose — as he does, even now — some spot where the 

 rising sun would warm his rough scaly coils before he retreated to 

 his hole, often too the sanctuary of hard-hunted agouti or arma- 

 dillo, to sleep off the effects of his midnight repast. Over there, 

 in yonder thicket too is often met his congener — Mapepire-barcin| 

 either on a convenient spot close to the water's edge, or else coiled 

 in the forks of some low bush, ready to strike his death-dealing 

 fangs into the trembling body of the unlucky bird or small mam- 

 mal which incautiously ventures within his reach. But now the 

 scene has changed ; the woods have been felled and cocoa, coffee, 

 kola, plantains, and bananas l;aA~e been planted in their place 

 and most of these wild creatures have been driven from this spot ; 

 but nightly the}^ pursue their gambols, hunt and are hunted, live 

 their lives and perpetuate their species within a quarter of a 

 mile of wdrere we stand. There are others which have not so re- 

 treated before the encroachments of man. They are the frisky 

 little squirrels,^ and the field ratsjj and mice which levy tribute 

 on the cocoa pods, the feathered tribes, including the gorgeous 

 parrotsll and gaily dressed cornbirds** the flashing humming 



* Synetheres prehensilis. 



t The Creole name (meaning pine apple Mapepire) for Lachesis muta 

 Dr. de Verteuil thinks Mapepire is a Carib or Gallihi word. 



I 1 have seen it spelt barcin and valsin and have been told these 

 words meant " striped," and " dancing." But both Mapepires are striped 

 and all vipers dance, i.e. circle round, with the head ready for launching r.t 

 an expected aggressor. Dr. de Verteuil informs me that " barcin" is 

 derived from the Guarahaon and means faint cr blurred stripes. The 

 scientific name of this snake is Bothrrps atrox. 



§ Sciurus a?stuans, L. 



|| Nectomyspalmipes, All. & Chpm. ; Heteromysanomalus, Thompson ; 

 Echimys trinitatis, All. & Chpm. (1'iloree). 



M Pionus menstruus, L. 



** Cassicus persicus, L. 



