Occasional Notes. 133 
A Snake-combat. — In the Museum a short time back, 
a brief but decisive combat took place between a small 
land-camoodi [Boa constrictor) nearly three feet in 
length and a large yellow-tail (Spilotes corais) about 
eight feet long. The yellow-tail was placed in the 
camoodi's cage ; and, almost at once, the camoodi 
seized it around the neck and body in order to con- 
strict it. To this the yellow-tail had decided objec- 
tions ; and, using its comparatively great strength with 
good effect, it not only forced the grasp of the camoodi, 
but soon placed the small snake at such a disadvantage 
that it was unable to prevent itself from being seized by 
the head and gradually swallowed. The clerk at the 
Museum, who witnessed the struggle, tried to separate 
them, but without success ; and the camoodi paid the 
penalty of its temerity and afforded a meal for the yellow- 
tail. Later in the day when the yellow-tail was seen by 
me, it was decidedly well furnished and comfortable. 
No emetic was administered — the result being con- 
sidered most doubtful. 
Parietal eye in Iguana. — Recent research carried on 
by Mr. BALDWIN SPENCER has brought to light the very 
curious fact that, in Iguana and in several other lizards, 
there exists, besides the two ordinary eyes, a single median 
eye situated in the fleshy substance directly above the 
middle part of the brain. This parietal eye ) as it has 
been termed, can scarcely, however, be imagined to assist 
in vision, since it is so deeply buried in the flesh as to 
