174 
LETTERS FROM 
some time in the neighbourhood. Perhaps 
his instinct taught him that there was an ex¬ 
perienced snake-hunter lying in wait for his 
destruction. I have captured a small snake, 
probably of the same species, under a stone 
near our house. An examination of his 
mouth proved that he was harmless, but he 
darted his head about in such a threatening 
manner, that I was afraid to seize him in my 
hand, not having yet proved the truth of the 
assertion, that there are no venomous snakes 
in the island, though I fully believe it to be 
correct. 
With the exception of the sandpiper, 
mentioned in my letter from the lazaret, I 
have not seen a single bird differing from 
those of our own country. All kinds of birds 
are very scarce here, but quails and beccaficos 
visit the island at certain seasons. 
My collection of insects consists chiefly 
