252 Zoological Society :— 
The species of the genus Xenodon, which have been referred to 
the family of Natricide, are allied to Liophis in many respects. 
Their dentition is very similar ; they may all be considered as fresh- 
water snakes (some species of Liophis are called by the Brazilians 
Cobras d agua), although they are frequently found in dry places 
and at a distance from the water. They all live on Batrachians, and 
have this peculiarity in common with the other snakes of the family 
of Natricide, that they do not squeeze their prey to death before 
swallowing it, nor ever coil themselves around it. 
I have noticed only two species of Xenodon—X. rhabdocephalus 
and X. colubrinus. 
In a preliminary list of snakes observed by me, given by Dr. Albert 
Giinther, X. severus is mentioned ; however, on a repeated examination 
of the specimens in my possession, I must refer them all to X. rhabdo- 
cephalus *, This is a very common species in Bahia. Several young 
examples may be frequently found together. It is very lively and 
courageous, and, on account of its broad head and rather vicious 
appearance, much dreaded by the Brazilians, who give it the name 
of Surucuct. In order to distinguish Lachesis mutus from it, they 
call the latter Surucuct bico de jacca, from the resemblance of its 
strongly keeled scales to the prominences on the Jackfruit—the fruit 
of the Artocarpus integrifolia. This Xenodon is very voracious. Re- 
cently I had a young living specimen of it in the same cage with one 
of Liophis conirostris, and gave them two young Cystignathi fusci 
for their food. The Xenodon immediately seized one of the frogs by 
the snout ; but the Liophis did not succeed so well with the other frog, 
and found it easier to seize the Xenodon’s prey by the hind legs. A 
struggle commenced, in which the Xenodon had better hold of 
the frog than the Liophis, and, the latter being obstinate and not in- 
clined to relinquish its hold, began to encompass its head with its 
wide jaws. It became evident that the Liophis would have to share 
the fate of its intended victim. As it was the first living specimen 
of its species I had been able to obtain, I was very anxious to save 
its life; so I cut the Xenodon in two with a knife, and the Liophis 
quickly passed through the anterior segment of the Xenodon’s body 
with the frog. The Liophis was returned to its cage, when it directly 
seized hold of the other frog, and swallowed it undisturbed. It had 
along its head, neck, and anterior part of the body minute wounds 
from the Xenodon’s teeth, which bled freely while it was engaged in 
swallowing the frog; but it has done quite well since, and I hope it 
may arrive safely at the Gardens of the Society. 
It is surprising how broad and flat a Xenodon rhabdocephalus 
makes itself at times, chiefly whilst basking in the sun. ‘This is 
owing, I suppose, to a peculiar conformation and attachment of its 
ribs, which I have not yet examined. The species of Liophis never 
make themselves so broad. A Xenodon can pass a crevice which is 
exceedingly small in proportion to the width of its head,—one smaller 
than that which a Liophis with a much thinner body can pass. 
* One specimen of X. severus in the Collection of the British Museum is men- 
tioned in the Catalogue as derived from Bahia. 
