418 Dr. Bancroft on Jamaican Fishes, &c. 
plate of the Cerastes, in which however the pupil is not linear, but ellip- 
tical, and acnte at both ends, exactly as in Cats,) T regard this form as 
curious and interesting, and I accordingly inclose for Mr. Bell a slight 
sketch I made of it at the time, of the natural size, and witha note as to 
the colours of the iris, that he may clearl y understand my meaning, if he 
should be induced, as I trust he will be, to give a coloured representation 
of the Snake. One of the three specimens was in its brightest hues when 
brought to me, for it appeared to have cast its skin just before, and it 
was really a showy and handsome Serpent; and as I have no reason to an- 
ticipate, from what I have seen as to this, or to other Yellow Snakes 
which I have kept in spirits for several months, that its colours will have 
materially suffered before it reaches you, it would therefore be the 
best type to select for a coloured figure. In favour of this Snake, whose 
cause I am willing as you see to plead, I may add that every scale on its 
back and sides, from the snout to the tail, (the abdominal and caudal 
scuta of course excepted) reflected that changeable lustre which the 
French call chatoyant ; the light-brownish ones giving off a similar golden 
splendour, passing off into a vivid green, or light blue, with the blue 
scales; while these presented a rich Mazarine blue passing from the 
brightest to the fullest and darkest gradations according to the positions 
in which they are viewed. 
In addition to the yellow, I have sent a small greyish Snake, a Coluber, 
which I presume to be undescribed. Sloane mentions a ‘‘ Serpens major 
** cinereus, of alight grey colour ;’’ but as he applies the same epithet of 
major to the “‘ Serpens subflavus,’’ our Yellow Snake, which he states 
truly to be 7 or 8 feet long, it is difficult to suppose that his Grey Snake 
means the small species now sent. His whole description is comprised in 
the above few words: andas Brown makes no allusion to such a Snake, it 
seems clear that he never saw one. Of this species I have lately received 
a live specimen, a little larger than that in the cask, and I found its 
pupil perfectly circular and black ; the iris on its inner border was of a 
bright golden hue; but towards the middle, and on its outer circum- 
ference, it was set with minute brown dots which gave to it the appearance 
of a brownish outer ring. 
