1880. ] Zoölogy. 673 
mode of showing its spite. The sound seemed hardly as acute as 
that made by the rattlesnake, but may have been somewhat modi- 
fied on account of the beating of the tail against a rail, as it did 
from its position. It was, however, a close enough imitation to 
cause one, on hearing it, to get out of the way of harm, M 
description of the way of producing the sound would be in almost 
exactly the same terms as those used by Mr. King, though, if I 
remember rightly, it was more continuous, still it was not without 
interruptions. On loosing my hold to get a better chance to kill 
the snake, being uninjured it glided rapidly away, and escaped 
among the grass and bushes, and, as I was not in search of that 
kind of specimens, no further pursuit was made. I did not know 
the species, but from its slender form, dark color, and rapid run- 
ning, should think it a Coluber, or one nearly allied to that genus. 
Its length was about five feet—E. F. Hill, Englewood, Ill. 
long time. The Indians say that they never find them there but 
that they are abundant on the Mar-ka-gunt Plateau. Black and 
cinnamon bears are reported, but they are very rare; I have never 
the broken hills. -They are not as wary nor as fleet of foot as 
any dog that comes about the place, using her fore legs as clubs 
to strike with, and when this is not efficacious jumping with all 
