212 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



obvious that the cage may be used instead of the third for hardy 

 snakes without any hot water at all, or that this may be supplied 

 only when the thermometer indicates its necessity. It must be 

 remembered, however, that the species which demand heat 

 demand it constantly ; and that although the degree may some- 

 what vary, it will not do to keep them before the fire all day and 

 simply cover them up at night. An incomplete arrangement of 

 this sort generally results in their being kept in darkness a great 

 portion of their time, which is not only bad for their health, but 

 makes them wild and nervous when disturbed. 



Small specimens of all those named above will do very well 

 for cage number two, with plate-glass for constrictors. There 

 are two of the constrictive colubrine serpents which, though they 

 grow to six feet or more, are most frequently met with of a 

 length which adapts them to this place of confinement ; the Four- 

 raved Snake (Elaphis quater-radiatus, Dumeril and Bibron), 

 largest of European ophidians, common in Dalmatia, but occurring 

 in most of the countries bordering the Mediterranean, a very 

 pretty and gentle creature ; and the Robben Island Snake 

 (Coronella phocarum, G-unther), from South Africa, plentiful 

 enough in its native isle, but much more difficult to obtain here 

 than the Four-rayed. It is of a glowing, burnished dark-brown 

 colour — almost black, in fact ; always ready to attack, and rarely 

 tamed ; and with such a voracious appetite that it ought always 

 to be separated from its fellows at feeding-time, as it will hold 

 the animal it has just killed in its coils while it endeavours to 

 despoil the other snakes of their prey. 



Whip and other tree-snakes have already been suggested, in 

 connection with a plant. Curious and beautiful reptiles, they are 

 very delicate and capricious in diet, but have great tenacity of 

 life under abstinence. The brilliant-green Philodryas viridissimns 

 (Wagler) of South America, the Carolina Coach-whip Snake 

 (Herpetodryas JiagelUformis, Catesby), and various members of 

 the genera Dendrophis, Ahcetulla, Langaha, Dryiophis, and 

 Passerita may occasionally be procured, but are all rare. Much 

 the same must be said of many of those exquisite, vivid-hued 

 serpents which often literally swarm in their habitat, and which 

 are almost always lumped collectively together as " coral " snakes 

 in local nomenclature; the blood-red Scytale coronatum (Dum. 

 and Bibr.), the scarlet and black Ery throb imp r us renustissimus 



