48 TRANSACTIONS OF THE WAGNER FREE 



distinguished by a lighter-colored armor, but unfortunately none of the 

 specimens actually obtained by us seemed to show the distinguishing 

 character or, in other words, all of them were of the common type. 

 Not improbably, as suggested by Dr. Leidy, the red-eye is an albinistic 

 variety. It must be observed, however, that the red-eyed variety in 

 swimming appears in its whole length on the surface of the water, whereas 

 the common form has usually only its nose and eyes, or the head and a 

 portion of the convex body exposed ; at least, this was our observation. 

 It is just possible, although not very probable, that we have two distinct 

 species of alligator represented in these southern wilds, and if the croco- 

 dile occasionally makes its appearance in Biscayne Bay, why may not 

 also the cayman, or another of its South American congeners? We 

 searched among our specimens for a crocodile, but without success. 



The largest alligator killed by us measured about ten feet, but the 

 greater number were much below this figure. We observed, however, 

 several of considerably larger size, and one whose length was estimated 

 at between fourteen and fifteen feet. From several of the individuals we 

 took a number of the peculiar mouth-infesting leech which the species 

 harbors, and from the stomach of one a wholly undigested young bass, 

 measuring about three inches. 



The only other reptiles observed in this region were a few individuals 

 of the goitered-lizard (Anolis), and a species of water-snake, apparently 

 new to science, which I picked up in a lettuce-bonnet in Eagle Bay, about 

 two miles west of the mouth of Taylor's Creek. 



A few words relative to the ophidian fauna of the peninsula may 

 perhaps not be amiss in this place. It is the common belief that snakes 

 are very abundant in the State, and that traveling in the forest or bush 

 region is made dangerous through their presence. In how far this may 

 be true I am unable to say, but our experience seems to indicate that the 

 abundance of these reptiles, of both the venomous and non-venomous 

 species, is not nearly as great as is currently reported. It is true that 

 our explorations were mainly confined to a border-tract country, and 

 largely to a region of swamp and water, but yet we saw sufficient of the 

 mainland to permit us to form a general notion as to the occurrence of 

 these animals. The total number of snakes seen by us during our entire 

 explorations was about eight, of which at least two were the common 

 black snake (Bascanion constrictor}, one the water-snake above men- 

 tioned, and the remainder in greater part moccasins. Mr. Willcox, who 

 remained along the west coast several weeks after the completion of our 

 general explorations, observed three or four additional individuals along 

 the Homosassa, two of which (moccasins) were secured. We found no 

 trace of the much-dreaded rattlesnake, although the sad experience of a 

 member of a hunting party of the year previous only too truly proves its 



