CHAP. I. S03IE SNAKE STORIES. 3 



to Bodegas one takes the steamer, up the Guayas, and for the 

 rest of the way transit is effected by horses, mules, or donkeys. 

 As the rainy season was about to commence, and would impede 

 or almost stop traffic whilst it lasted, there was an unusual 

 demand for baggage animals, and it was expedient to arrange 

 beforehand, to avoid detention at Bodegas. So we remained at 

 Guayaquil, until information arrived that our train was ready. 



Whilst waiting for news from Bodegas, I prowled about the 

 outskirts of the town in search of snakes, being desirous of 

 acquiring the handsome and venomous ^^ Coral " which had not 

 hitherto been acclimatized in Europe.^ I did not see a live 

 snake of any sort or description whilst at Guayaquil. It was 

 the end of the dry season, and they had gone out of town for 

 a time ; but I understood from Mr. Chambers that he had many 

 Coral snakes on his property, and could spare a few without 

 inconvenience, and he promised to have a living specimen ready 

 against our return to Guayaquil.^ 



1 A few years ago, a French traveller — Mons. Andre — made an endeavour to 

 introduce it from Colombia. His specimen arrived alive at Lille, where the French 

 douaniers, suspecting contraband, insisted upon opening the box in which it was 

 secured. The snake immediately made its appearance, to take a look around, and 

 the douaniers retired. It then walked out, and disappeared, and was heard of no 

 more. This, according to M. Andre, was the first attempt to introduce the Coral 

 snake into Europe. See Le Tour du Monde, vol. 35, p. 182, Paris, 1878. 



2 Unfortunatel}', when that time came, they were too shy and could not be 

 caught. Mr. Chambers was good enough to despatch another equally venomous 

 reptile after me, to soothe my disappointment. The following sad story, how- 

 ever, came to hand instead of the snake. 



It seems that it was shipped in a box by one of the Mail Steamers, and, 

 being regarded with suspicion, was placed in a boat hanging from the davits. 

 In the course of the voyage, about a dozen little snakes made their debut, and, 

 after crawling through a small knot-hole in the box, wriggled along the davits, 

 and thence on to the deck. In the morning, when passengers came out to 

 exercise, they found snakes already in possession. Quartermasters were set to 

 clear them out, but one little snake managed to bite the second oflScer, and 

 caused his arm to swell so much that he had to be taken on shore at Panama 

 and be put in hospital. No one would venture to approach the box with the 

 parent snake. The plug was knocked out of the bottom of the boat and it was 



