508 MESSRS. MOLE AND TjaiCH ON THE [June 19, 



the back oi' the species being rounded. "When adult they are of a 

 uniform greenish-brown or olive colour, with two lighter longi- 

 tudinal stripes between back and side, extending the greater length 

 of the body, one on either side. They are white underneath. 

 When young these snakes are prettily mottled, the back being 

 ornamented with cross bands of a lighter hue. The scales in these 

 bauds are edged with white. These bands extend as far as where 

 the stripes will appear when the snake is adult, and there they 

 abruptly end. Between these cross bands, beginning on the lower 

 side of the stripes, are similar bands to those on the back. These 

 latter extend as far as the ventrals. Towards the tail all these 

 markings grow fainter, and at its beginning they cease altogether, 

 the tail being of the colour which the suake will wear when adult. 

 These snakes probably reach a length of 4 feet. They are 

 tolerably common, and feed on frogs and lizards when young and 

 mice and birds when full-grown. The adults have rarely perfect 

 tails, these appendages being probably damaged in their fights 

 with mice. They move with great swiftness, and when caught 

 bite with determination, trying to work their tiny teeth well into 

 the skin before letting go. They are found in trees and on the 

 ground indiscriminately. 



COLTJBEB COEAIS, 



This reptile in Trinidad, called the " Cribo," is one of the 

 commonest in the island and averages 4 or 5 feet in length, 

 though specimens are not uncommon of 7 and even 8 feet. In 

 colour it is black with a dirty yellowish-brown tail, which is brighter 

 towards the extremity. The plates on its head and the labials 

 frequently exhibit a tawny hue. It moves at a smart pace, especially 

 when in long grass ; climbs and swims well. When captured it 

 turns fiercely on the aggressor, and, inflating its neck, bites him, 

 emitting at the same time an offensi\ c odour, Avhich reminds one 

 of the habit of the English ringed snake, Tropidonotus natrix. 

 So long, however, as the person holding the Cribo has sufficient 

 presence of mind not to withdraw the bitten part, the wounds 

 inflicted by its teeth are the merest punctures ; but if the bitten 

 one forgets this axiom and pulls back, the Cribo, which is somewhat 

 of a bulldog in disposition, does not let go without a struggle, and 

 his teeth then inflict long ugly scratches. The Cribo lays from 

 nine to twelve eggs, rather larger in size than a pigeon's. The 

 Cribo preys upon frogs, young birds, and rats, and old specimens 

 have invariably lost the tips of their tails, and are mai-ked all over 

 with the scars of wounds which they have i-eceived in battles v^ith 

 their victims. The Cribo, on seeing a rat, rushes on it with a 

 sudden motion and seizes it by head, tail, or middle of the body, 

 whichever part comes first, and at once begins to swallow. The 

 victim turns round and buries his long rodent teeth in the Cribo's 

 skin. But the snake keeps on rapidly working his jaws, and the 

 wretched rat ultimately lets go in order the more freely to gasp 

 for breath, when he is promptly engulfed in the snake's jaws. 



