SAN VICENTE BAN OS 247 



obvious justice was not to be allowed. Once on 

 the floor, a cat leaped upon the meat and two dogs 

 leaped upon the cat. In the melee the steak dis- 

 appeared beyond any possible recovery by the 

 original thief — all of which shows how little equity 

 there is in this world. 



At the cave we found the river too full for ex- 

 ploration, especially within the darkness of its 

 tunnel, so we decided upon a good swim in the 

 cold water. Having undressed, we stood about 

 ci la September Morn, hesitating a moment to 

 plunge, when someone reported a snake in the 

 water; then another noted two more snakes, and 

 upon closer examination we found the river to be 

 full of themi. They seemed, however, to be very 

 friendly and confidential, showing no fear of us, 

 nor hostility, but their presence in the water 

 dampened our ardor for the bath. They were 

 less than a yard long, dark brown, spotted, and 

 with long heads. It is a very common water 

 snake of Cuba that frequents stony rivers and is 

 generally known to Cubans as the cativo {Tretano- 

 rhinus variabilis). It is confined to the island 

 and is the only Antillean species of a Central Ameri- 

 can and Panamic genus. I have never observed 



