202 



Zoologica: N. Y. Zoological Society. 



[I; 11 



this head, also the members of insectivorous families, the 

 Typhlopidae and Glauconiidae. 



VENOMOUS 



This group embraces several types of feeders, thus; 



r 



a. Species that 

 retain their hold 

 after biting. 



b. Species that 

 "strike" and re- 

 lease the prey. 



Fish eaters. 

 /Lizard eaters. 



< Lizard & bird eaters. 

 'Omni-carnivorous. 



Pish only. 

 ^Mammals 



< Cannibalistic 

 (Omni-carnivorous 



I Omni-carnivorous 



Homalopsinae 

 Dipsadormorphi^iae 



Hydrophiinae 

 Elapirae 



Viperidae 



sThe highly specialized, long-fanged members of 

 i the Viperidae appear to feed largely upon mammals 

 ( and birds. 



After an outline of the feeding habits of serpents, it is well to 

 review the more characteristic traits, means of hunting and stalking 

 the prey, and the economic importance of certain species. 



While the diminutive Worm Snake (Glauconia) of the South Ameri- 

 can tropics lies in a great ant-hill, where its burnished scalation pro- 

 tects it from the bites of the insects as it feeds upon their larvae, the 

 huge Boa or the Anaconda, lurks in the jungle growth along river 

 banks on the watch for a passing peccary, capybara or agouti. When 

 the prey is within reach, the neck is drawn into an S-shaped loop, 

 preparatory to striking. It is the habit of these big snakes to lurk 

 near the runways of various mammals, that they may thus capture 

 them on their way to water or in passing from one feeding ground to 

 another. The snake relies upon grasping the animal as it passes 

 within striking distance. It is not unusual, however, if the ill- 

 fated creature wanders by out of the striking zone, for the serpent to 

 pursue. The movements of even the largest constrictors when 

 stalking their prey are remarkably quick and stealthy. Such move- 

 ments are seldom or never displayed by the big snakes unless prompted 



