ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



477 



ALBINO COYOTE. 



wards albinism, which are almost as interesting 

 as the fully-white individuals. 



Albinism among snakes is not rare. From 

 observations of a great number of litters of va- 

 rious species, the striped snake (Eutaenia sir- 

 talis). shows the most common tendency in this 

 direction. In a litter of forty-four specimens 

 born in the Reptile House there were three per- 

 fect albino examples. They were yellowish- 

 white, with pink eyes. For some time after 

 birth these specimens were so translucent that 

 whin held to the light the internal organs could 

 easily be traced and the heart could be seen 

 beating. 



A fully-matured albino striped snake was re- 

 cently brought to the Reptile House by a boy. 

 who had captured it as the reptile was crossing 

 Jerome Avenue, in the Borough of the Bronx. 

 Ibis specimen had evidently been living in an 

 isolated patch of woods, and bad been seized with 

 a wandering tendency often evinced by snakes. 

 It was of a pale cream color, with pink eyes. 

 The familiar pattern of the species could be 

 faintly traced when the reptile was held in a 

 bright light. The skin of this specimen was so 



translucent that after a frog had been eaten, its 

 presence was indicated by a distinct dark patch 

 on the otherwise spotless skin of the reptile. 



An albino diamond-back terrapin, (Malaco- 

 clemmys palu.it ris), is one of the most curious 

 reptiles ever exhibited in the Park. In this in- 

 stance albinism is not exhibited to the perfect 

 degree as in the snakes described. Instead of 

 the usual dark, olivaceous shell, the hue is a 

 bright yellow, becoming reddish on the border. 

 The head and legs are almost white, and faintly 

 spotted, but the eyes are not pink, as with most 

 pronounced albinos. 



A tendency toward albinism among reptiles 

 soon times results in startling combinations. A 

 Florida striped snake was once received that 

 exhibited a uniform coat of fiery brick-red. 

 To add to its unusual aspect, this reptile pos- 

 sessed a white tongue, which when in play im- 

 parted the effect of the snake ejecting a pale 

 fluid from the mouth. 



Our albino mammals are interesting from the 

 fact of their being snowy-white, with limpid 

 pink eyes. The white coyote represents a most 

 unusual phase among wolves. Owing to his be- 



