ZOOLOGICAL 
swine are destroying all kinds of reptiles,— 
particularly the useful species; which is not a 
part of Nature’s plan. The natural enemies of 
the smaller snakes (the mouse-eating species), 
are skunks, weasels, otters and foxes. The rac- 
coon is also a snake-eater. While our economic 
series is new, we will present to our visitors the 
better known snake-killing mammals, in the 
shape of the mongoose, the kusimansé and suri- 
eate,—all Old World species that are notorious 
snake-eaters. While mentioning these animals, 
it is well to explain that these nimble creatures 
do not hesitate to attack the deadly species. 
While the general idea is to the effect that in 
their combats with cobras and vipers they are 
bitten, then, after the imevitable death of the 
deadly creature the courageous little mammal 
rushes off to some secret patch of shrubbery, 
gnaws on some wonderful leaves, and by so do- 
ing immedately counteracts the deadly effects 
of the poison, the truth of the matter is that 
these snake-fighters are seldom bitten. If such 
is the case, they die. Their motions are so won- 
derfully active that the snake is bewildered and 
is unable to strike effectively. The reptile’s 
enemy dashes about it in circles, or cuts eccen- 
tric angles at such a speed that the attacking 
Then there is 
a dash at the snake, a crunch of powerful jaws 
animal looks like a mere streak. 
supplied with long, sharp teeth that penetrate 
vital parts, and the fight is over. 
We hope that our economic series will be of 
interest and instruction to teachers and their 
classes, to agriculturists and many who have 
asked us about the possible value of snakes. 
The series will be supplied with descriptive 
labels, which will be duly elaborated according 
to the trend of questions coming from our visit- 
ors, a practice that we have always followed. 
A NEW BUSHMASTER. 
HE collection in the Reptile House has 
been enriched by the addition of an excep- 
tionally fine example of the bushmaster, 
(Lachesis mutus), from the Island of Trinidad. 
Like all of our former specimens, about five in 
number, during the past ten years, the speci- 
SOCIETY 
BULLETIN. 657 
men was obtained through the courtesy of Mr. 
R. R. Mole and his son Mr. Howard Mole, of 
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. These magnificent 
and deadly vipers, representing the largest and 
most formidable species of the New World 
poisonous serpents, are very delicate and nery- 
ous as captives. Adult captive specimens have 
never been known to feed, but it is our constant 
endeavor to make one of these reptiles feel 
The 
present specimen has been given a big cage, 
enough at home to take food voluntarily. 
with a generous bed of damp sphagnum moss, 
and a rustic shelf on which to climb. 
The 
length of twelve feet, and inhabits tropical 
It is boldly marked with 
inky black rhombs on a pale orange or pinkish 
bushmaster, or “sirocucu,’ attains a 
America generally. 
ground color, with a scalation so rough as to 
suggest the surface of a pineapple. 
Following is an interesting letter from Mr. 
Mole, describing the capture of our new speci- 
men :— 
“T send you per S.S. ‘Marowipue,’ sailing 
to-day, two Lachesis mutus, each about eight 
feet. 
and in the same neighborhood, within two days 
They were both caught by the same man 
of each other, and I believe them to be a pair. 
My father tells me that he has never had or 
seen two Lachesis mutus together at the same 
time and he thinks it an extremely rare occur- 
rence, and the chances are that they will feed. 
I shall be glad to hear of any results of any 
experiments you make, and whether they can be 
made to feed. 
“T am sorry to inform you that the price 
of Lachesis mutus has gone up. It is owing to 
the mongoose, whose destructive work is going 
on at a great pace. Our hunters say that they 
cannot catch poisonous snakes at the old price, 
as they are extremely rare, and the risk is too 
great. 
% x * * * * * * 
“T regret to say that while the second and 
smaller snake was being bagged, he twisted 
and broke his neck, striking through the bag 
and squirting poison on my father’s chin. I 
am, therefore, only able to send you one.” 
R. L. D. 
