SEA-SNAKES. 227 



land, and the coral islands of the Pacific. Mr. J. 

 E. Gray affirms that they sleep on the shore 

 coiled up, and that they have been surprised 

 asleep on the calm surface of the tropical seas ; 

 but they are oftener seen associated in shoals, 

 keenly pursuing the fishes which constitute their 

 prey. Other authorities affirm that they rarely, 

 if ever, leave the water, that no instance is on 

 record of any having been caught on shore, and 

 that they are incapable of living out of the sea. 

 It is remarked by the Rev. M. John, that he 

 never found a land, a river, or a tank-Snake with 

 a flat tail ; such as are sometimes found in rivers, 

 have been brought in by the tide, and can live 

 only a short time out of the salt-water. He 

 further remarks that it is difficult to procure 

 Sea-Snakes, for though often caught in nets, they 

 are held in such dread by the native fishermen, 

 that the ofier of almost any inducement will 

 scarely procure them. The latter remark, how- 

 ever, scarcely agrees with Dr. Cantor's observa- 

 tions. 



Dr. Russell describes the Marine Serpents in 

 the water as active and elegant in their move- 

 ments, but as possessing scarcely any power of 

 locomotion on the land ; they speedily die when 

 brought ashore, or put into fresh water. He 

 found in the belly of a female Hydrophis, nine 

 perfectly formed young, inclosed each in its own 

 enveloping membrane, from which circumstance 

 we may infer that in common with other venom- 

 ous Serpents, these are viviparous. 



They are said not to be very ferocious, allow- 

 ing themselves to be handled when taken out 

 of the water, without manifesting a readiness 



