‘970 The American Naturalist. [November, 
The little reptile fought fiercely when first picked up, but was per- 
fectly docile the next day. I kept him in an enclosure with a number 
of other snakes of various species, but he appeared to dislike their 
society and appeared reluctant to share their bed of loose cotton. He 
refused all food and took no notice of the earthworms, insects, minnows 
and small frogs and toads with which my other snakes were fed, and 
paid no attention to a Natrix sipedon much smaller than himself, 
When placed in a box with a large number of small toads, he appeared 
frightened and tried to escape. Acting upon a suggestion offered by 
Professor Cope in his article on “Critical Review of the Characters 
and Variations of the Snakes of North America," I kept him supplied 
with a saucer of milk, of which he took no notice. 
After he had been in my possession for 25 days, I captured a Eute- 
nia radix which I put in the same enclosure. The other snakes paid 
no attention to the newcomer, but the Ophibolus roused at once, as if 
scenting a natural enemy, and seized the Eutenia. The fight was long 
and fierce, for the Eutenia was strong and active, and was five inches 
longer than his assailant, but the Ophibolus gained the victory and 
undertook the seemingly impossible feat of swallowing his victim. 
This task occupied the whole night, but he actually succeeded in 
swallowing the snake five inches longer than himself. This very hearty 
meal distorted him beyond recognition, and he gave no signs of life 
except by a slight twitching of the tail. After an absence of some 40 
hours I revisited my terrarium, and found that he had disgorged his 
prey and resumed his proper shape. 
Since that time the Ophibolus has taken no food, though he is still 
strong and active; his spots, however, which were originally of ivory 
whiteness, have assumed a sulphur yellow hue. 
I tried placing a looking-glass in my terrarium, and the Ophibolus 
showed signs of excitement at the first sight of his reflection, but after- 
wards paid no attention to it. 
My Ophibolus getulus, 123 inches long, after going fifty days without 
food, except the one snake which it subsequently disgorged, killed and 
ate a Natrix sipedon over eight inches long, and is doing well. 
—Anous GAINES. 
eom 
