16 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. 



already said, one will readil}^ imagine that it is a very uninterest- 

 ing reptile in captivit}'. Perhaps its chief interest lies in the- 

 deft and speedy manner in which it can bur}^ itself in the earth 

 when so disposed, but one is lucky if one witnesses this perform- 

 ance. It noses its way into the earth, by using the transverse 

 ridge on its snout as a digging implement. The prsemaxillary bone 

 which has to bear the strain of these operations is extraordinarily 

 developed, surpassing in size and strength that of any other 

 snake that I know. The onlj^ other interest attaching to the 

 snake in the vivarium is its method of killing its prey. 



Its movements are in keeping with is phlegmatic disposition,, 

 and clumsy corporeal habit. Progression is slow, and laboured 

 and under no degree of stimulation even amounting to cruelty,, 

 does the creature seem capable of bestiring itself. The reason 

 seems to be on account of its very narrow ventral shields and I 

 have already remarked upon the handicapping influence these 

 must have upon progression when dealing with the last species 



Food. — I have no knowledge of its tastes in a state of nature,, 

 but from the avidity with which it devours squirrels, rats and mice 

 in captivity one may assume that it is very partial to a niama- 

 lian fare. One in Madras ate in one year 16 rats and 3 mice,, 

 another 4 squirrels, 28 rats and 4 mice, and another 17 rats. 

 How it manages to capture such creatures under natural condi- 

 tions it is difficult to understand unless as I think most probable 

 it burrows into and invades their subterranean abodes where it 

 can effectively bring them to bay. Once captured, it employs the 

 same means of killing its victim as the pj^thon, encircling it, and 

 crushing the life out of it. Its massive, and muscular body makes 

 the accomplishment of this object an easy matter, and a speedj^ 

 one. Major 0. A. Smith tells me that he had one in his vivarium 

 in company with a saw- scaled viper (EcMs carinata). The Uchis- 

 one day was observed to be particularly lively, and it is possible 

 may have molested the Eryx. At any rate the Eryx wound itself 

 round the viper's neck and constricted with such force that the 

 viper succumbed next day to the injuries received. 



Breeding. — Practically nothing is known of the breeding. We 



