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Show 500 MESSRS. MOLE AND UR1CH ON THE [June 19, When given a large vessel of water it lies in it with the nose just above the surface, and when in this position woe to the unhappy mouse or rat which goes to drink, for it is immediately seized by the nose or foot, dragged into the water, and put to death by drowning and constriction with the rapidity of a flash of lightning-a convulsive flourish of an escaped limb or tail, a gasp for breath from lungs from which all air has been expelled, and all is over. The snake then devours its prey in the water, sometimes being as long as a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes without coming to the surface for air. Snakes of this species, newly born, only nine or ten inches long, will frequently prey in this manner. The species is possessed of great constrictive power, and, though it has a much smaller head than most snakes in proportion to its size, will devour very large animals, as the following incident will show7:-On Nov. 20, 1893, a female common rat, in good condition-which after death gave the following measurements: 10| inches from tip of nose to root of tail; tail 8| inches long; 5| inches round the chest: head 2\ inches from immediately behind the ear to the tip of nose-was put into a cage containing two Boa Constrictors and three Epicrates cenchris. The rat was exceptionally ferocious, and frequently rushed at the big Boas and nipped them. Not beiug hungry they coiled themselves up closely in a corner, as also did the E. cenchris with the exception of one, which at that time was 47 inches long, and the circumference of which at its thickest part was only 4| inches, while its head was only 1| inch long. This snake, which was in poor condition was born in captivity on June 14th, 1890, and for twelve months previously having had very little food, had reached a stage when it was with difficulty persuaded to eat. The rat in running about the cage passed once or twice near this snake, which on the third occasion seized it by the ear, threw it on its back, and encircled the animal with a couple of coils round the chest. Blood gushed from the rat's mouth, its eyes projected from their sockets, the hind legs and tail were violently convulsed, and in less than a quarter of a minute the rat was dead. The snake then proceeded to devour it, but was not allowed to do so because of its emaciated condition, as the meal would probably have resulted in its death or, at least, permanent injury. This snake eventually got so low, that it had to be fed compulsorily, and after months of careful attention is now showing signs of returning health. Epicrates cenchris is essentially a night snake. W e have never known it to eat lizards, in which it differs from Corallus. O n one occasion, however, a large lizard, Polychrus marmoratus, being introduced into the cage of one of these snakes, threatened its rightful inmate. The snake resented the opened mouth and fierce attitude of the lizard, and seizing it threw several coils round it, gave it a tight squeeze and then let go again. The lizard thoroughly cowred retreated into the furthest corner. O n another occasion one of these snakes was given half a dozen young hairless rats. They |