236 Zoologica: N. Y. Zoological Society [I; 11 



I Warm-blooded 



CrOtalUS mitchelli | Mammals and birds 



" lepidus 



" cerastes 



Cold-blooded 



Invertebrates 



NOTES: 



Jin captivity these species take swine, large rodents and poultry. 

 tPref er large rodents (principally rabbits) , chickens and pigeons. 

 ttAs captives, take sparrows, young pigeons and young rats. 

 tttCaptive examples are fed upon sparrows and mice. 

 §Frogs, toads, tadpoles, salamanders and various small fresh water fish. 

 §§Mice and rats; sparrows. Particularly hardy in captivity. 

 §§§Mature captive examples have never been induced to take food. The only 

 feeding note concerning a captive specimen comes from Mr. R. R. Mole, of 

 Port-of-Spain. A young example under his observation took mice. 



§§§§Captive rattlesnakes prefer rodents and small birds. The smaller species 

 in the New York Zoological Park are fed mice, young rats and sparrows. Such 

 species as C. adamanteus and C. atrox are given young rabbits and cavies. 



While reptiles have received their full share of technical atten- 

 tion, very little practical work has been done relating to investiga- 

 tions of their economic importance. The preceding summary of 

 species studied alive will point out a considerable number that may 

 well merit the field observations of the planter and general agricul- 

 turist. Members of such genera as Zamenis, Coluber, Pituophis and 

 Ophibolus may be regarded as of marked economic value in the vast 

 grain belts of the United States and their introduction into localities 

 infested with the smaller sciurine rodents is well worth serious trial 

 and extended observation. The species of Pituophis should be par- 

 ticularly useful owing to their strictly terrestrial habits and inclina- 

 tion to prowl into the burrows of small mammals. With a liberal 

 number of snakes introduced into a rodent infested territory, inves- 

 tigations of the reptiles' food is comparafvely easy by the killing of a 

 moderate number and the examination of the stomach contents. 

 These observations should be carefully conducted during the rearing 

 season of mammalian pests to determine to what extent the reptiles 

 prey upon the young in the nest. If inclined to follow such habits 

 they must be rated of high economic importance. While a number 

 of the omni-carnivorous Colubrine species feed upon birds, their dep- 

 redations among these in a region abounding with rodents would be 

 small as they would naturally select the more easily captured prey. 

 As captives the greater number, of such snakes are voraciously fond 

 of rodents — particularly of the young. 



