1891,] ON SOME REPTILES PROM TRINIDAD. 447 



but it is certain that for seven or eight months of the year the Griraft'es 

 of the North Kalahari and other waterless regions can never touch 

 vpater. 



As to procuring living specimens : — 



The Chief Khama of Bamangwato is (I speak from personal expe- 

 rience) so enlightened, so obliging, and so disposed to assist Euro- 

 peans, and especially English people, in every possible way, that I am 

 quite certain arrangements might be made with him for obtaining 

 living specimens of the young of the Giraffe. Much of Khama's terri- 

 tory is the stronghold of this rare and singular creature, and in all his 

 country the chief has implicit obedience from his vassals and tribu- 

 taries. The Masarwa Bushmen of the North Kalahari and Botletli 

 River regions, assisted by Khama's own mounted hunters, could 

 spoor and catch the young of Giraffe, which could then be brought 

 to Khama's town of Palachwe. From Palachwe to Vryburg, British 

 Bechuanaland (420 miles), is but 20 days' journey, even by the slow- 

 moving ox-waggon. From Vryburg to Cape Town the journey now 

 occupies by rail two days and nights only. I know of no other part 

 of Africa more accessible for the purpose I speak of, certainly no 

 other where the willing services of an all-powerful chief such as 

 Khama could be enlisted. In North Africa Giraffes have now very 

 far to be sought, farther, I should say, even than in Khama's country. 

 In East Africa the co-operation of native chiefs and hunters would 

 be very hard to secure. 



After Khama's time, the Giraffe, which he now to some extent 

 preserves, will shortly be exterminated, and it will then be too late. 

 I urge therefore upon all European collectors not to let slip the 

 opportunity I have indicated. 



6. Notes on some Reptiles from Trinidad. 

 By U. R. Mole and F. W. Urich\ 



[Eeceived May 29, 1891.] 



1. THE TREE-BOA {Xiphosoma hortulanum). 



This Snake is comparatively common in Trinidad, principally 

 in the locality of streams. Locally it is known as the " Cas- 

 cabel Dormillon," which means "sleeping Rattlesnake." It is 

 invariably found in the daytime rolled up in loose folds among the 

 twigs of a tree the branches of which overhang a stream. When 

 disturbed it does not, as a rule, try to escape, but launches out at the 

 aggressor with widely distended jaws. At night these Snakes are 

 lively and glide from bough to bough in search of small birds, 

 squirrels, and porcupine-rats, which constitute their principal food. 



The female of a pair of these Cascabels, caught by Mr. G. R. 



^ Received from Messrs. Mole and Urich along with living specimens of the 

 Reptiles noticed. The scientific names have been kindly determined by 

 Mr. G. A. Boulenger.- P. L. S. 



30* 



