HABITATS 01 THE REPTILES. 383 



fluviatile tortoises, are encountered in the high woods ; and some 

 are almost universal, of which are the frogs, alligators, iguanas, 

 boas, crotals, and other serpents, provided, however, the locality 

 suits them. The alligator, for instance, shows a preference 

 wherever there are pools of stagnant or dormant waters ; they 

 are, nevertheless, particularly numerous at Mayaro, and in the 

 county of Caroni. The iguana generally delights in the 

 vicinity of the sea-shore, and sandy spots, where it can deposit 

 its eggs in safety ; and large numbers of them are met with on 

 the Bocas islets, and at the mouths of rivers, particularly along 

 the eastern coasts. The boa constrictor, or macajuel, seems to 

 prefer low damp places, and the boa-murina, or huillia, never 

 strays far from the river or pond which it has selected as its 

 abode. They are specially plentiful in the Oropuche river, and 

 its affluents, viz., the Cunapo, Sangre-grande, and Sangre- 

 chiquito ; nor are they scarce at Cedros. The mute crotal, or 

 mapepire, shows a predilection for high grounds, whilst the 

 cascabel, or trigonocephalus, is commonly met with in damp, low 

 lands. The only specimen of pipa which I have seen came 

 from the Caroni Savannah, and that of the paradoxal-frog from 

 Cedros. 



The sea-tortoises, or turtles, deserve no peculiar notice. The 

 morocoy and galapa live on soft plants, fruits, and insects ; the 

 morocoy seems to be particularly partial to the wild plum, which 

 it swallows entire ; during the ripening season, several of them 

 may be met with under one tree. Being very slow in their 

 movements, the morocoy and galapa are easily caught ; if near a 

 pond or river, however, the galapa at once dives and escapes 

 under water. Dogs often detect the morocoy by barking at it ; 

 also when coupling they emit a peculiar grunt, which likewise 

 serves to discover them. I may here mention a few particulars 

 regarding the capture of turtle. They are caught either in nets, 

 or on the beach when crawling ashore to deposit their eggs. For 

 this purpose they come forth at night, and are watched by the 

 catchers. As soon as a turtle is aware of any danger it imme- 

 diately takes to the sea. The safest plan in that case is to gain 

 the seaward of the animal, and seize it by the fore-flaps ; it then 

 continues to urge against the catcher, and is, with its own aid, 

 easily turned up. If approached and held by the side, it makes 

 a powerful resistance, and in the struggle throws up a cloud of 



