1 882.] Limit of the Innuit Tribes on the Alaska Coast. 567 



siderable force was required to separate them. The snake was 

 about twenty inches long, the turtle eight inches. The foot was 

 bleached, and blood was still flowing; none had apparently escaped 

 from the mouth of the snake. Two toes were missing, having 

 been digested from the foot. The entire foot appeared as though 

 it had been subjected to a continued maceration within the mouth 

 of the snake. 



Twice afterward I noticed this strange habit of the puff adders. 

 The late Professor Mudge mentioned to me that he had ob- 

 served this habit in these snakes. I have not been able to find any 

 signs indicating that the snake ever attaches itself to a fore foot. 

 It seems as though they choose a foot that the turtle is unable to 

 defend. The neck can not reach the hind foot as it can the 

 front, and free it of any object that may attempt to lay hold upon 

 it. The carapace may protect the tail. 



I took pains to examine many box turtles ( Cistudo omata ) that 

 occur along the Smoky Hill rivers, and many, one can safely say 

 one-half, are deformed in their hind feet. Very little deformity is 

 found in the front feet. It must not be taken that all, or even a 

 majority of these deformities are caused by adders. It is not on 

 account of want of food, for there is never a lack of the insects here 

 upon which the snakes generally subsist It is not thirst, as 

 the habit is practiced where there is water. The appearance of 

 the foot, and the inability of the snake to r 

 elude any solution other than the desire 

 flows from the lacerated parts. 



THE LIMIT OF THE INNUIT 'TRIBES ON THE 

 ALASKA COAST. 



PIRCUMSTANCES over which I had no control detained me 



for several months during last summer and autumn in the 



section of Alaska where the Innuit and Thlinket tribes meet and 



it intermingle with each other. I refer to the 



Alaska: 



During 



coast between Prince William sound and Mt. St. Elk 



former residence and subsequent continuous travels 

 1 Alaska, I have paid particular attention to the distribution of 

 e lnnu »ts. It had always been a question of practical interest 



