Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology 9 



every single young was banded when first hatched, and thus also I 

 conclude that the small differences, other than color, mentioned by 

 you can be explained by the changes in proportion and other char- 

 acters which take place during growth. Cabrera also reports that 

 this species has the peculiar habit of a number of individuals placing 

 their eggs together in the same spot. This is usually in a cavity or 

 tunnel in a board which has been made by termites (coniejenes). In 

 one such 'nest' Cabrera has found no less than 25 eggs, on one occa- 

 sion, and often 8 or 10. As I have said, these eggs are from 7 to 9 

 mm. in long diameter and the young when first hatched are about 14 

 mm. in length of body and ij or 16 in length of tail. The egg of 

 ^S". noiains measures about 6 mm. and the young 12 mm. body and 14 

 mm. tail. 



"The young in 'clcgaus' coloration lose their cross bands in al)out 

 two months in captivity and do not reach fully adult size until about 

 five months liave passed. 



"Carlos de i..\ Torre, Sc.D., 

 "Rector, Havana University.'' 



I saw Cabrera's material in Havana at de la Torre's house, and 

 there can be no doubt as to the correctness of his conclusion. It is 

 a great pity that I only received these notes today (Dec. 21, 1922), 

 or I would have incorporated them in the paper which was finished 

 and put in type several months ago. From my own examination of 

 the material in de la Torre's hands, I am convinced that intervfedhus 

 is in truth nothing but an intermediate transition stage between clc- 

 gans and cincreiis. 



I admit frankly that my own stupidity at not having suspected 

 this state of affairs is almost beyond belief. I was, however, in good 

 ■company. Again the fortuitous nature of reptile collecting is shown 

 and the disadvantages under which the visitor, albeit a frequent one, 

 labors. I had not found the "clcgans" and "ciiiercus" often together 

 and was completely fooled by thinking that I was collecting before 

 the breeding season, hence getting adults. I was not, however. I 

 never saw one of these common laying holes or "nests" which have 

 never before been observed and which form one of Cabrera's most 

 interesting observations, and one not readily made unless one live in 

 the same old house, well riddled with termites, for years on end — 

 and keeps saints' pictures, with their little lighted lamps, upon one's 

 walls. I envy Cabrera his opportunity, and I can picture his simple 

 home, and pleased would I be to change my abode for his for the 

 next few months ! We owe congratulations to Cabrera for his suc- 

 cess in settling this question, and to de la Torre gratitude for encour- 

 aging and transmitting them. — T. B. 



