510 MESSRS. MOLE AIN'D tJEICH OK THE [June 19 



Heepetodrtas caeinatus. 



This is another very lively and swiftly moving serpent, and we 

 recollect chasing one a distance of 40 yards before' catching it. 

 Its underparts or rather sides are bright yellow ; the ventral scales 

 are paler, being edged with silver and a line of dark brown. The 

 back is of a bronze-green colour, and the yellow scales on the sides 

 have an edging of dark brown. The scales covering the spine are 

 ia pairs and are keeled, while the remainder are smooth. Another 

 peculiarity about the scales is that those beginning at the back of 

 the head for a considerable distance along the spine are minutely 

 pitted at the extremities furthest away from their attachment. 

 This snake is one of the most beautiful in the island. It feeds on 

 frogs, and is found alike in trees and grassy savannas, We recol- 

 lect well the first time we encountered it. We were shooting 

 on the Caroni Eiver when our attention was attracted by a 

 streak of pale yellow dangling from a palm (Baciris, sp.) over the 

 water. The reptile was gracefully turning its small head and 

 brilliant eyes from side to side, as if admiring its perfect symmetry 

 of form mirrored in the Avater beneath it. When caught, tlie 

 Machete (local name) bites with surprising rapidity and lashes 

 with its long tail in a manner not at all pleasant to its capfor. 

 One we had in our possession laid five eggs — each 2 inches long 

 and as thick as the little finger. 



AHiETULLA LIOCEECUS. 



Locally known as " Lora," a Spanish word for parrot, because the 

 sheeny iridescent greenish gold on the neck and anterior portion 

 when inflated is thought to be like the hues of the feathers on the 

 neck of the yellow-crested green parrot. Ordinarily, this snake 

 has a commonplace grey colour. Its head is of a dark greenish- 

 brown colour, with an under surface of white. When caught, it 

 opens its enormous mouth to its fullest extent and threatens in a 

 most ferocious, but at the same time somewhat absurd, manner. 

 It rarely bites, but when it does it is apt to inflict small wounds 

 with the two long teeth which are placed one on each side in the 

 posterior parts of the upper jaw-bones. They are exceedingly 

 slender reptiles and their heads at first sight appear large and dis- 

 proportioned to the rest of their bodies. They frequently reach 

 a length of 3g and even 4 feet. They feed on frogs and lizards. 

 On several occasions lizards which have been partially swallowed 

 by these snakes and have escaped ha^e died soon afterwards. The 

 Lora is swift in its movements, and when rushing along on a level' 

 surface the outside portions of its curves do not appear to touch 

 the earth. 



OXTBELIS ACUMINATA. 



This remarkable-looking tree-snake has a sharply pointed snout, 

 which in some individuals has the under jaw tinged with yelloAv, 

 in others white. The general colour is greenish drab, sometimes 



