1923] Atsatt: Behavior of the Leaf-nosed Snake 311 



solid or liquid food. Ditmars (1912, p. 219) says, "The feeding 

 habits of Phyllorhynchus are practically unknown, but judging from 

 structure, it apparently feeds upon small lizards, other snakes and 

 possibly the young of the smaller rodents." Unfortunately this indi- 

 vidual was too small for such food. 



On April 16 the snake refused water when a small drop was put 

 on its snout. That drop was wiped off by movements of the head in 

 the sand. Another drop caused excited burrowing of the head in 

 the corner of the box. On April 21 when the snake was exhausted 

 from exposure to blue light it paid no attention to warm water 

 dropped on its snout. 



On April 22 the snake was moved from dim light where it had 

 been over-night to a shaded spot out of doors. A small drop of water 

 of about 30° was placed on the rostral plate. At first there was no 

 response ; then the drop was wiped off by the snake against the side 

 of the dish. Another drop was placed on the snout. The snake stuck 

 out its tongue slightly, then withdrew it. Then with no movement 

 of the tongue outside of the mouth the snake drew that drop into its 

 mouth. Next it took seven more small drops, an amount equal to 

 three large drops from an ordinary pipette. With the succeeding 

 drop hanging from its mouth the snake moved away and finally the 

 drop touched the sand and was absorbed. The animal refused more 

 water but ran its tongue out freely as it crawled along. The snake 

 started to burrow and covered its head several times slowly and easily. 



If drops of warm milk or of beaten egg were put on the rostral 

 plate of the snake they were rubbed off if possible. If the animal 

 were placed on the observer's hand so that its head and neck hung 

 below, it could not reach anything on which to rub its snout. Twice 

 in this position it got a few drops of beaten egg by licking them off 

 of its rostral plate with the tongue in an effort to get rid of the offend- 

 ing substance. 



On June 6 the snake took a little water from a pipette. On 

 June 16 it drank water from the surface of a hand. On June 21 

 it drank with its head held high in the air ; there were two periods of 

 wiping off its snout and of swallowing rapidly. On June 24 more 

 water was taken. On June 30 the snake was observed to open its 

 mouth twice. When given water it drank some quickly and followed 

 this by frequent swallowing and a few deep breaths. 



In the preparation of this paper the writer acknowledges her 

 indebtedness to Dr. Loye Miller and to Dr. Joseph Grinnell. 



