1907.] ON SERPENTS IN CAPTIVITY. 785 



indeed, made in the description of F. fardihs suahelica, as this 

 large-spotted race should be called, of the occurrence of spots 

 within the rosettes, which form such a marked feature in the skin 

 sent by Mr. Tomkins. This I take to be a jaguar-like feature, 

 although, except as regards their relative large size and complete- 

 ness, the rosettes are not specially jaguar-like. Mr. Pocock {op. 

 ci<.) has already directed attention to jaguar-like Asiatic Leopards; 

 and if I am right in my interpretation of the markings of the 

 present specimen, we have now evidence of a resemblance to the 

 American species in an African Leopard. 



In addition to the above, a Leopard from Mount Ruwenzori has 

 been recently described by Prof. L. Camerano * as Felis pardus 

 riiwenzorii. This also seems to be a large-spotted form ; and it is 

 difficult to see how it can be separated from F. p. suahelica^ at 

 all events till we have a fuller description of the type specimen of 

 the latter. The ground-colour, judging from the description, 

 appeal's, however, to be darker than in the specimen now 

 exhibited. 



I certainly cannot affirm that the skin sent home bv 

 Mr. Tomkins is not leferable to F. p. stiahelica. If, however, 

 the Leopard from German East Africa shown in plate 180 of 

 Dr-. Heck's above-cited work be the type of suahelica, then the 

 specimen before us may possibly be distinct. 



The locality where the Leopard-skin was obtained is Gomba. 

 The specimen, I am pleased to be able to add, has been presented 

 by Mr. Stanley Tomkins to the British Museum. 



4. On the Feeding of Reptiles in Captivity. With Obser- 

 vations on the Fear of Snakes by other Vertebrates. 

 By P. Chalmers Mitchell, D.iSc, LL.D., F.R.S., 

 (Secretary of the Society, :ind R. I. PocoCK, F.L.S., 

 Superintendent of the Grardens, 



[Received November 12, 1907.J 



For a numbel' of years it has been the practice in the Society's 

 Gardens to feed snakes in captivity on dead animals wherever 

 possible. The feeding has taken place weekly on Fridays after 

 the Reptile House has been closed to visitors, and has been part 

 of the duty of our extremely competent keeper of the reptiles, 

 J. Tyrrell, who has great experience and an unusual facility 

 in handling reptiles and interpreting their wants. One or other 

 of us has from time to time been present at the feeding, but we 

 desired to make observations over a continuous period, and 

 accordingly one or both of us have been pi'esent on all occasions 

 when the snakes have been fed between the beginning of May 



*. Eoll. Mus. Zool. Torino, xxi. 19C6, No. 343, p. 1. 



