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Show 1891.] ON SOME REPTILES FROM TRINIDAD. 447 but it is certain that for seven or eight months of the year the of the North Kalahari and other waterless regions can never touch water. As to procuring living specimens :- The Chief Khama of Bamangwato is (I speak from personal experience) so enlightened, so obliging, and so disposed to assist Europeans, and especially English people, in every possible way, that I am quite certain arrangements might be made with him for obtaining living specimens of the young of the Giraffe. Much of Khama's territory is the stronghold of this rare and singular creature, and in all his country the chief has implicit obedience from his vassals and tributaries. The Masarwa Bushmen of the North Kalahari and Botletli River regions, assisted by Khama's own mounted hunters, could spoor and catch the young of Giraffe, which could then be brought to Khama's town of Palachwe. From Palachwe to Vryburg, British Beehuanaland (420 miles), is but 20 days' journey, even by the slow-moving ox-waggon. From Vryburg to Cape Town the journey now occupies by rail two days and nights only. I know of no other part of Africa more accessible for the purpose I speak of, certainlv no other where the willing services of an all-powerful chief such as Khama could be enlisted. In North Africa Giraffes have now very far to be sought, farther, I should say, even than in Khama's country. In East Africa the co-operation of native chiefs and hunters would be very hard to secure. After Khama's time, the Giraffe, which he now to some extent preserves, will shortly be exterminated, and it will then be too late. I urge therefore upon all European collectors not to let slip the opportunity I have indicated; 6. Notes on some Reptiles from Trinidad. By R. R. M O L E and F. W . URICH1. [Eeceived May 29, 1891.] 1. THE TREE-BOA (Xiphosoma hortulanuni). This Snake is comparatively common in Trinidad, principally in the locality of streams. Locally it is known as the " Cas-cabel Dormillon," which means " sleeping Rattlesnake." It is invariably found in the daytime rolled up in loose folds among the twigs of a tree the branches of which overhang a stream. When disturbed it does not, as a rule, try to escape, but launches out at the aggressor with widely distended jaws. At night these Snakes are lively and glide from bough to bough in search of small birds, squirrels, and porcupine-rats, which constitute their principal food. The female of a pair of these Cascabels, caught by Mr. G. R. 1 Eeceived from Messrs. Mole and Urich along with living specimens of the Reptiles noticed. The scientific names have been kindly determined by Mr. G. A. Boulenger.- P. L. S-. 3 0* |