444 TRINIDAD. 



damp localities, and along river borders, where it selects its abode 

 among the clumps of bamboos. The mapepire shews a preference 

 for high grounds, and is very common in Mayaro, as also between 

 Caroni and Tamana, near the river Tumpuno. It is often found 

 together with the lapo in the same hole ; and, in certain localities, 

 hunters are obliged to act with great caution, in order to protect 

 their dogs or themselves from its poison fangs. There is, I 

 believe, no authentic record of a lapo having ever been found 

 killed in its recess by a mapepire. 



These serpents, as well as the coral snake, are highly veno- 

 mous ; in fact the mapepire is quite as formidable as the rattle- 

 snake. The description given of the habits and exterior appear- 

 ances of the Crotalus Mutus, by Schlegel, and of the Lachesis 

 Mutus, by Dumcril, accurately corresponds to our mapepire ; and 

 the Trigonocephalus Jararaca, and the Bothrops Jararaca, by the 

 same authors, to our cascabel. Dr. Court possesses three speci- 

 mens of the Trigonocephalus Lanceolatus, or the Martinico's fer- 

 de-lance, and of the Trinidad cascabel and mapepire, respectively, 

 in which the characteristic differences of these three serpents 

 are very well delineated. The scales of the mapepire are oval, and 

 carinated as those of the others, but they are not so flat, and there 

 is besides, on each a prominence, giving it the appearance of a 

 pine-apple eye ; hence its local name of " Mapepire Ananas" ; head 

 triangular and thick. The head of the Fer-de-lance, or lance- 

 headed trigonocephalus, is more elongated, and more so that of 

 the cascabel, particularly the muzzle. The mapepire may almost 

 be said to be torpid, or at least so sluggish and indolent as to 

 require provocation before it acts on the offensive ; but once roused, 

 it is very fierce, and will spring on, or even pursue its enemy. 

 This serpent generally warns by a peculiar rattling sound, caused 

 by the rapid movements of its tail probably against the dry 

 leaves, as it has no articulated rattle, like that of the Crotalus Hor- 

 ridus, but only a white horny spur, and may be considered as 

 establishing a link between the trigonocephalus and the crotalus. 

 The mapepire is much more dreaded than the cascabel. Though 

 very sluggish, this latter serpent shews occasionally much deter- 

 mination, and after inflicting a first wound, it sometimes imme- 

 diately recoils for another attack.* 



* The ground-colour of the cascabel is brown, with deep transversal stripes ; the 

 belly has a tesselated appearance, black squares symmetrically alternating with others 

 of a 'lighter colour. 



