Chapter III. 



SNAKES IN GENERAL AND THEIR 



ANATOMY. 



Snakes may be distinguished from lizards, 

 earth and blind worms, by means of the following 

 short definition : — 



(a) Elongate body, with a scale-covered Definition 

 epidermis, cast several times during the year, of Snakes 



(b) No eyelids, the eyes being covered by 

 hard and transparent shields, which form part 

 of, and are cast with, the epidermis. 



{c) No limbs, though vestiges of hind legs 

 are to be found in certain earth-snakes, the 

 Python, and the male Gongylophis. 



(d) Absence of visible ears. 



[e) The connection of the jawbones by 

 muscles and ligaments, and the expansion 

 thereby obtained owing to the absence of 

 natural joints. 



(/) The presence of teeth on the palate 

 (in most snakes) in addition to those in the 

 jaws. 



The snake moves by means of ventrals, or,, 

 oblong shields on the underside of the body, their Locomotion, 

 ends being connected by muscles with the ends of 

 the ribs. By moving forward one pair of ribs after 

 the other, the edges of the ventrals catch and 

 press against the ground, in much the same manner 

 as the paddles of a steamboat press upon the water, 

 except that the paddles are perpendicular to the 

 surface of the water, whereas the snake's ventrals 

 lie almost flat along the ground. In this manner 

 the snake is propelled forward. 



