98 ON THE PUYSIOGNOMY OF SEIiPENTS. 



the sea-serpents, that shew themselves in immense shoals 

 on the surface of the ocean. The venomous land-snakes, 

 on the contrary, of which the number is infinitely more 

 confined, seek less frequently the society of their kind, 

 and keep themselves isolated in the midst of the solitudes 

 they inhabit. 



Serpents have among themselves vaiious relations in 

 their manners and habits. Almost all have a disposition 

 stupid, timid, and wild ; but when domesticated, they soon 

 contract very mild manners, the venomous species always 

 excepted, their intractable disposition preventing; them from 

 changing their ferocious character. Yet there are serpents, 

 both venomous and innocuous, that scarcely ever make 

 use of tlieir weapons, except to defend themselves against 

 aggressors ; such, among the former, are the Hydrophis 

 and the Elaps, among the latter, many Colubri, the Tropi- 

 donotus, and some others. This facility of being tamed is 

 particularly natural to the larger species of the fiimily of 

 Boas, that after being captured never hurt any one.* Other 

 species refuse to take any food, and become the victims of 

 their obstinacy ; but it would seem that by a treatment 

 conformable to their necessities, it is possible to render 

 captiAity supportable to the majority of these reptiles. 



The true venomous serpents, the burro^^^ng snakes, and 

 many species of other genera, have a very sluggish and 

 tranquil disposition : thus their progressive movements are 

 executed with slowness ; but the majority of Ophidians are 

 alert, and all their movements announce a surprising force 

 and agility ; their celerity has been exaggerated, which is 

 never so considerable that a man cannot easily escape from 

 them. 



* M. DiEPERKixK writes me from Paramaribo, that he constantly 

 keeps in his house several Boas of different species, that live in perfect 

 harmony with each other, and other domestic animals. Professor Rein- 

 AVARDT, however, has witnessed at Java a spectacle which proves that it 

 is not always right to trust to these animals. A Javanese had carried 

 to the house of M. Van der Capelle a large Python, and wishing to 

 make it come out of the basket in which it was, the serpent, by a single 

 stroke, gave him a very considerable wound, laying open his forearm 

 through all its length. 



