1894.] OPHIDIA OF TRINIDAD, B. W. I. 513 



A pair of S. coronatum occupied a box together with a Grenada 

 Tree-Boa (Corallus coohii) which was about the same size. A 

 mouse was introduced and one of the Scytales immediately made 

 several frantic effoi'ts to seize it. The Corallus on bearing the 

 disturbance woke up from his sleep on a branch above and 

 partly uncoiled, bringing his head near the level of the floor and 

 retaining his hold on the branch. As the mouse passed he deftly 

 caught and constricted it. Scytale, finding that the mouse had 

 ceased to jump about, happening to come near the Tree-Boa found 

 that he had killed the coveted morsel, and just as its rightful 

 captor was preparing to swallow it (having relaxed his coils) it 

 seized the mouse by the head. Boa finding the mouse being 

 pulled away from him tighened his coils again and presently seized 

 the mouse by the hind quarters and tried to swallow it in that 

 way, whilst Scytale tried at the head, which he succeeded in getting 

 into his throat, but was not able to proceed further because of the 

 Boa's coil. The Boa gave up trying to swallow and simply climbed 

 up to his former lofty perch, still holding the mouse with the Scytale 

 dragging at its head. The Boa then formed his body into a loop 

 and threw a coil round the free ends of it. In the loop he held the 

 mouse firmly and then settled down quietly until the Scytale had 

 tired of his futile efforts. At length the Scytale, after a quarter of 

 an hour's fruitless endeavour, released the mouse's head, which was 

 promptly seized by the Boa, who protected the rest of the body 

 with coils. Just as the Boa had swallowed his well-earned meal and 

 the tail was disappearing down his throat, the Scytale, who had been 

 searching for the body, discovered that the Corallus had outwitted 

 him. He then seized the victor by the throat and threw four 

 coils round him. As the Boa was the most valuable snake, being 

 our only one and having been obtained from Grenada only after 

 considerable trouble, and fearing it might be injured, we put au 

 end to the duel by removing the Scytale to another cage. 



Elaps EIISEI. 



This snake varies considerably from B. lemniscatus in coloration 

 and distribution of the annuli, and in size being smaller. Its 

 habits are also at variance with those of lemniscatus. Elaps riisei, 

 though lively at night, is not averse to feeding in the day. It is 

 passionately fond of water, and one which we kept for some 

 months used to bathe regularly every morning. If the bath was 

 not changed at least twice a week the reptile neglected to take its 

 diurnal " tub." Being much smaller than the lemniscatus to be 

 referred to subsequently, it was with difficulty that snakes small 

 enough could be obtained for it, and resort had to be made to the 

 tiny ground-snake, Geophis lineatus, the largest specimens of which 

 rarely exceed 12 inches in length. These snakes it would eat at 

 any time during day or night, but it was noticeable that they did 

 not succumb to its venom before they were swallowed. On 

 March 17th, 1K94, a Q. lineatus 4 inches long was placed in the 

 box. It was seized at 9.14 P.M., precisely in the manner of Iannis- 



