ANIMAL KINGDOM. 127 



lizards, matos, we shall then have a grand total of from 9,000 to 

 10,000 pounds of flesh supplied from the grand class of reptiles. 



Although venomous serpents are numerous and common in 

 Trinidad, accidents arising from their bite are of rare occurrence, 

 either because the Mapepire and Cascabel (Crotalus mutus, and 

 Trigonocephalus Tararaca), being very sluggish, are easily avoided, 

 or even do not attack or inflict wounds, except on their being dis- 

 turbed in the enjoyment of repose ; or again, because those who 

 are more exposed to their encounter, such as sportsmen, are in the 

 possession of good antidotes. The guaco, however, and the roots 

 of the manaco palm both rather common plants are the 

 favourite remedy for the bite of serpents. Dogs, in the woods, as 

 also horses and mules, in the underbrush, are common victims of the 

 Cascabel and Mapepire. Casualties from the bite of the Coral snake 

 (Maps corattinus), must be very rare, since many persons even 

 regard it as perfectly innocuous : this opinion I myself entertained 

 for a long time, and until I had too convincing a proof of the con- 

 trary in the death, within a few hours, of two robust African la- 

 bourers, under the following circumstances. These two men were 

 at work in a cane-field, on " La Marguerite " estate, in the ward 

 of St. Joseph ; having discovered a coral snake, they laid hold of 

 it by way of amusement. Of the warning given by their fellow- 

 labourers they took no notice, but, on the contrary, continued to 

 tease the reptile, and even put its head into their mouths. They 

 were both bitten, one on the lip and the other on the tongue ; 

 this happened about 1 P.M. The one who had apparently most 

 irritated the snake, soon began to reel about like a drunken man, 

 and was next taken with convulsions ; he died about eight o'clock, 

 and the other about nine, the same day. This coral has been pre- 

 served by Dr. Court, and measures four feet and a half. 



The Clibo or Cribo haunts inhabited places, and is occasionally 

 seen in houses, where, however, it ought to be welcome as a de- 

 stroyer of rats. This coluber is very determined, particularly the 

 black kind, and it has been known to give battle, and even chase, 

 to man. When a child, I was once pursued by a clibo, and I 

 also distinctly remember having witnessed one in combat with a 

 gentleman, on which occasion it would stand erect on his tail, and 

 bite at the garments, meanwhile hissing and inflating its neck : 

 the clibo, like the mapepire, also produces a rattling noise by the 

 rapid motion of its tail. The Macajuel, whenever irritated, inflates 



