76 COPEIA 



ering her eggs she sat quiet, apparently resting before 

 starting the long walk back to the pond. 



Charles H. Rogers, 



New York, N. Y. 



POISONOUS SNAKES IN THE JUNGLE. 



It is quiet commonly maintained that poisonous 

 snakes are very abundant in the tropics. After ex- 

 periencing several months intensive collecting in 

 Central American jungles, and after discussing the 

 matter with other collectors who have likewise worked 

 in the tropics, it is the writer's belief that poisonous 

 snakes are not nearly so common as is generally sup- 

 posed. The species are fairly well represented, but 

 the actual number of specimens is comparatively less 

 than in the case of the harmless forms. We employed 

 natives to collect for us and few, if any, brought in 

 any poisonous examples. They maintained that the 

 venomous snakes were super-abundant and consid- 

 ered all annulated snakes (Polydontophis annulatus, 

 Coronella micro pholis, Urotheca clapoides, Occyr- 

 hopus sps., and others), to be coral snakes, and all 

 darkly colored, spotted snakes (Xenodon, Leptodira, 

 Petalognathus, etc.) , to be species of Lachcsis. Many 

 times were we given perfectly harmless forms which 

 were considered by the natives to be either Elapine 

 or Crotaline species. Hence, their usual statement 

 of poisonous snakes being very abundant. 



It is therefor advisable that the collector going 

 into the usual tropical jungles should not entertain 

 too high expectations in his quest for a large percent- 

 age of poisonous snakes, for he is very liable to have 

 his hopes suddenly shattered. 



Clarence R. Halter, 



New York, N. Y. 



Edited by J. T. Nichols, American Museum of Natural History 

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