THE SNAKES 337 



We stopped to rest and enjoy our pipes before start- 

 ing back: for there is always especial enjoj^ment about 

 tobacco after good work is done. Our rest was cut 

 short, however; we had barely settled down when the 

 swamp gre^v haz3\ This was a hint for quick return. 

 The miasma of the Southern lowgrounds is far from 

 wholesome. 



The colored boj^ was waiting our return; we found 

 him not at all inclined to enter into our enthusiasm about 

 the captive. Bj^ protecting my mule with a cushion 

 composed of pine branches to prevent the possibility of 

 the snake biting through the bag during the return, the 

 reptile rode comfortably enough while resting against 

 the neck of the unsuspecting animal. Thus we started 

 on a sleepy journey with no other incidents of interest. 



The big Moccasin was shipped North. Occupying a 

 spacious cage with other denizens of the lowgrounds, 

 he survived to make a splendid exhibition specimen, 

 under Snyder's skillful attention. 



In central and southern JNIexico and Central Amer- 

 ica is a snake closely allied to the water moccasin or 

 "cotton-mouth" of the United States. This is the INIex- 

 ICAN IMoccASiN or Caxtil, a. hilineatiis. The general 

 outlines and pattern are much like the northern ally. 

 The coloration above is dull reddish-brown, wide darker 

 blotches showing on the sides ; these transverse bands are 

 greatly accentuated by whitish or yellowish S250ts at their 

 borders. The head is dark with a narrow but vivid yellow 

 stripe beginning at the snout, passing backward over the 

 eye and ending at the back of the head; beneath this, also 

 beginning at the snout, is a broader stripe extending 

 along the upper lip plates, thence backward to the angle 

 of the mouth and to the neck. An old specimen from 



