6 THE OEDER OF SNAKES— 0Pir7Z)I4. 



The tail of many Australian Snakes ends in a spine or sharp point, 

 and in one species (the Death Adder, AcanthopJds antarctica) the last scale 

 is slightly curved, hut almost always soft. Popular belief has invested this 

 sluggish creature with the power of inflicting wounds with its tail; but this, 

 like many other fables, is no longer entertained by persons conversant 

 ■with Natural History. 



It may be necessary to say a few words about malformations in 

 Ophidians. These are generally restricted to a pair of heads on an ordinary 

 body, and such specimens are met with in a very youthful state only. 

 There are several examples in the Museum collection. 



The general habits of snakes will be found much alike in similar 

 climates, whether north or south of the line. Where frost occurs, all the 

 reptiles retire under ground into the burrows of various animals ; but 

 in more genial regions, where the thermometer seldom or never ranges 

 below freezing point, they select simny hill-sides abounding in flat stones 

 through Avhich the rays of the sun easily penetrate, and beneath them 

 make their winter quarters. They do not fall into a dormant state, since 

 bright, warm days will bring them out a few yards at least from their 

 hiding-places. Daring this season it is easy to catch them by lifting these 

 stones and transferring the prey into a bag, through which they never 

 attempt to bite. Prom sis to ten specimens belonging to different species 

 were captured some years ago under a single stone not many miles from 

 the city of Sydney ; and to go " snake-hunting" has been a pastime here 

 with school-boys for years. In some places, particularly on the north side 

 of open stony ridges that are studded with low scrubby vegetation, and 

 where grass-trees, zamias, and banksias abound, flat stones are laid about 

 to serve as traps during the winter, and are examined from time to time. 

 In this way a great many reptUes are caught. 



The collecting-bag often forms part of the outfit of our wallaby 

 hunters, by whom the old sjDort of boyhood is not forgotten ; and certainly 

 there is considerable excitement in liftmg a rock or flat stone and finding 

 beneath it handsome colored snakes, lizards, or frogs, which, being 

 prevented by the cold from making a rapid escape, can be captured 

 with ease. 



