790 DR. p. CHALMERS MITCHELL AND MR. R. I. POCOCK [NoV. 12, 



Common Grass Snake (Tropidonotus tmtrix). 

 (England.) 



The three specimens of this species in the Society's collection 

 fed at irregular intervals upon young gudgeon and dace. They 

 appeared to find the fish by scent. 



ViPERiNE Snake {Tropidonotus viperinus). 

 (North Africa.) 



Like the specimens of T. natrix, one example of I', viperinus 

 fed upon small fish. 



Mocassin Snake {Tropido^wtus fasciatus). 



(North America.) 

 One specimen. Fed readily upon gudgeon, taking them without 

 hesitation from the keeper's hand. 



CoRAis Snake (SpUotes corais). 

 (S. America.) 



Of two specimens of a black variety identified as variety couperi 

 and presented in Oct. 1906, one or the other fed upon yoving 

 rats nearly eveiy week, the number taken at a meal varying from 

 one to four. Another specimen, perhaps belonging to the variety 

 melanura, which was deposited in September of this year, also 

 took rats and sparrows as well ; the keeper tells us that a 

 specimen formei-ly exhibited in the house would eat pieces of raw 

 meat off a plate. Sometimes these snakes made use of a loop of 

 the body to hold their food to the ground ; but usually they 

 swallowed it without that aid after the manner of Vip^rine 

 Snakes. They were never seen to coil round it. 



LiNEATED BoODON {Boodon lineatus), 

 (S. Africa.) 



A specimen of this species fed, but by no means regularly 

 every week, upon small rats and mice. Upon one occasion he 

 was seen to coil once round the carcase like a Python. 



Corn Snake (Coluber guttatus). 



(N. America.) 

 Annulated Snake [Lepiodira antiwlata), 



(S. America.) 

 JEscuLAPiAN Snake {Coluber longissimus), 



(Europe.) 

 RuFESCENT Snake {Leptodira hotambosia). 



(S. Africa.) 



The specimens of these four species took fish. TheJGsculapian 

 Snake would also eat mice; but the Annulated Snake on one 

 occasion took a gudgeon after refusing a dead mouse. 



