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Show 448 ON SOME REPTILES FROM TRINIDAD. [June 16, O'Reilly in February 1890, in the act of copulating, and kept in collection, gave birth to a large litter of young ones, between 20 or 30, in the following August. The young Cascabels, which are verv small and thin with enormous heads, immediately display all the habits of the adult snake, coiling in the branches and being ever ready to bite fiercely. They feed upon lizards and mice, which thev kill by constriction. W e have noticed they hold their prey a long time after its death, and that after swallowing one victim they will not feed again until it is thoroughly digested, a habit in which they differ from other snakes of the Boa family, especially from Epicrates cenchris and Boa constrictor. 2. THE TIGRE SNAKE (Spilotes variabilis). This large black Snake with pale yellow markings is known in Trinidad as the Tigre or Tiger. It has the reputation of being verv fierce, but our experience, as gained by this specimen, is the reverse, as it permits itself to be handled with impunity. The Tigres are difficult to feed, but this one may be induced to eat young birds and young rats. It is very rapid in its movements, and is found in trees as well as on the ground. There is a larger variety entirely black, which is known as " the widow." The Tigres and Machetes, with many other colubrine snakes in Trinidad, have a very curious habit of agitating the tail with great rapidity when excited, producing a sharp tapping sound as if imitating theMapepi (Lachesis mutus) and Rattlesnake. 3. THE MACHETE SNAKE (Herpetodryas carinatus). This bright gold and bronze green Snake is known in Trinidad as the Machete or Macheta, because the male's back being ridged is thought to bear some resemblance to a machete or cutlass. It is an exceedingly swift snake, and is found in all kinds of situations, but chiefly on trees. It swims well. This specimen was first seen hanging by its tail from the topmost branch of a bush on a river-bank. When in captivity they are fond of climbing and resting on a large branch. This specimen laid five eggs, each about two inches long and as thick as the little finger. The Machete bites furiously when caught. It feeds on frogs principally, but will also eat young birds and lizards. There are several varieties in Trinidad, one of a beautiful green, but it is rarer than this kind. 4. THE PLICA LIZARD (Uraniscodonplica). These Lizards, for which we have not found a generally accepted Creole name, have a very curious appearance. They are essentially tree- and wall-lizards, and apparently never seek the earth unless forced to do so. When they are chased and fall by accident to the ground, they are awkward aud evidently unused to such a situation and are easily caught. They are found in colonies of six, eight, or even a dozen individuals on the trunks (rarely the branches) of large trees and on the rough stonewalls of bridges, ruins and old houses, |