FEOFFMENT, in law, a grant or convey ance of a freehold or fee in lands; also, the deed granting a fee in such lands. It was for a considerable period the only method by which freehold land could be alienated in England. It was accompanied originally by a ceremony in which the feoffor gave to the feoffee while both were on the land a twig or a turf, symbolic of the transfer of the property, and declared his intention to deliver possession to the feoffee and stated whether the estate was in fee, in tail, or for life. This was called livery in deed. By another ceremony, the parties being in sight of but not on the land, the feoffor gave pos session to the feoffee by indicating the land and instructing him to enter. This was called livery in law. Writing was unnecessary until so made by the English Statute of Frauds, and by a later statute (1845) a feoffment was declared to be void unless evidenced by a deed. In England feoffments have been rendered superfluous by legislation, but in Scotland to-day the old usage is still followed of acceptance by the superior and the performance of necessary services on ti such acceptance, alienation of a heritage being incomplete in the absence of formal confirma tion by the superior.
far-de-latis, the lance headed or yellow viper (Lachesis lanceolatus), a serpent native to northeastern South Amer ica, and one of the most terrible Members of the rattlesnake family. It is ordinarily six feet in length when full-grown and has no rattle, but the tail ends in a horny spine, which is vibrated rapidly when the snake is excited. It has the general appearance and habits of the rattlesnake (q.v.), attacks without provoca tion and without warning, feeds upon small mammals, frogs and the like, and was long ago introduced into Martinique, Santa Lucia and a few other of the Antilles as a means of de vouring the rats which were a pest to the fields of sugarcane. It flourished and multiplied greatly, producing dozens of young, and has become greatly dreaded by all who work in the fields of those islands. The Indian mongoose was introduced into those islands with the idea of rooting out the fer-de-lance, but he generally leaves him alone, preferring the de struction of poultry. Consult Ditmars, (Rep tiles of the World' (1910) ; Gadow, and Reptiles> (1901).