144 OPHIDIA. 



ORDER IV. OPHIDIA. 



{Serpents.") 



The appearance of tlie animals of this Order 

 is, for the most part, exceedingly beautiful. The 

 smooth roundness of the body, unbroken by any 

 projections; its slenderness tapering gradually 

 away to a point ; the cleanness and polished 

 surface of the gleaming scales with which they 

 are clothed, together with their symmetry and the 

 closeness with which they overlap each other ; 

 the hues almost always gay, and often brilliant, 

 often finely contrasted and arranged in varied 

 and tasteful patterns, and often reflecting an 

 opalescent lustre ; and, above all, the lithe and 

 graceful motions throwing the animals into the 

 most elegant curves and spires, cannot be con- 

 templated by an observer, unblinded by pre- 

 judice or dread, without admiration. Yet it 

 cannot be denied that there is another side 

 to the picture : the knowledge that many kinds 

 are armed with a most deadly potency of mis- 

 chief; the difficulty of knowing (at first sight, 

 and by the unskilled, at least) how to discriminate 

 between the venomous and the innocent ; the 

 fierce boldness and preparedness for war which 

 almost all manifest, if disturbed ; and the threaten- 

 ing aspect with which, open-mouthed, they face 

 an adversary, combine with a something of ma- 

 lignity in the eye and physiognomy, more or less 

 observable in all, to inspire fear and aversion. 



