Reptiles of the Cape. 99 



41 

 42 



43 

 44 

 45 



Bufo punctatus, Baird. 



Bufo beldingi, Yarrow. New species. 



Hyla cuita, Cope. 



Hyla regilla, Baird. 



Scaphiopus couchi, Baird. 

 To these should be added the following which were collected by 

 Xantus (Yarrow Bull. Nat. Mus. 24): 



46. Eumeses skiltonianus, Baird and Girard. 



47 

 48 



49 

 50 

 51 



52 



Bascanium aurigulum. Cope. 



Tropidonotus validus validus (Kennicott), Cope. 



Tropidonotus validus celaeno (Kennicott), Cope. 



Eutaenia cyrtopsis, Kennicott and 



Phrynosoma coronatum, Blainville, by J. H. Clark. 



I saw at Guaymas a Leather-back Turtle (Dermatochelys) 

 which weighed 1,102 lbs. I noticed other marine species in the 

 Gulf not here mentioned, and also three species of water- snakes 

 in or near the San Jose River which I did not collect. 



I found in the Spring of r88i at Cerros Island and San 

 Quentin Bay, besides other species already mentioned — 



52. Cnemridophorus tessellatus melanostethus (Say), Copee. 



53. Sceloporus clarki clarki (Baird and Girard), Cope. 



54. Phrynosoma hernandezi, Girard. 



Dr. Yarrow, Bull. 24, mentions other species of Lower Cali- 

 fornia reptiles as being among the desiderata of the National 

 Museum, namely, Tantilla planiceps, Blainville. Ophibolus 

 Californiae, Blainville. Eutaenia cyrtopsis ocellatus (Kennicott), 

 Ccpe. Charina bottae, [Found in San Diego County, south. 

 Ed. West American Scientist.] Plethodon croceator, Cope. 

 Scaphiophus varius rectifrenis, Cope. 



No. 33 is said by Mexicans to be very poisonous, as it often 

 enters dwellings, getting on and in beds. It is much feared. I 

 believe Dr. Yarrow told me that it is harmless. 



No. 43 I found at San Quentin Bay and on Cerros Island, but 

 it was only in the mountains in the Cape Region. 



L. Beldifig. 



THE ORIGIN OF ALCOHOL. 



According to the 'Talmud,' one theory concerning the origin 

 of alcohol is as follows: — Noah planted the first vineyard, Satan 

 being present and assisting in the work. After the vineyard was 

 planted Satan slew a lamb, a lion, an ape and a hog, and with 

 their mingled blood watered the roots of the vines. This he did, 

 he said, because he who shall taste for the first time the juice of 

 the grape will be a lamb; he who shall use it in moderation will 

 become — for the time being — a lion; he who shall use it to excess 

 will become an ape, and he whom it shall master will become a 

 hog. W. B. Davis, in the Epitome. 



