INTR on UCTION. 2 1 



distinguished personages set excellent examples of this kind. 

 All of which proofs of prejudices overcome are features in 

 the history of ophiology, and especially in the last decade. 



Then, in glancing at recent literature, a great change 

 is discernible, more particularly so during the last two 

 years, since the popular contributions of Dr. Arthur Strad- 

 ling, a corresponding member of the Zoological Society, 

 have imparted a novel interest to this branch of zoology. 

 To this gentleman my own most grateful acknowledg- 

 ments are due, as will be evident to the reader, not only for 

 the zest imparted by his correspondence from Brazil, but 

 for some important specimens presented to me by him, 

 which have enabled me to describe them minutely from 

 personal observations, as well as to add some original 

 illustrations from them. Though my work and my studies 

 were far advanced, previous to his valued acquaintance, yet 

 I have been able to enrich my pages from his experience, 

 and have added footnotes from his published writings. 



Already, however, some few dispassionate students of 

 nature among editors were promoters of herpetology, and 

 I must here express my acknowledgments to the talented 

 daughters of the lamented Mrs. Alfred Gatty (and editresses 

 of \\\2X facile princeps among juvenile periodicals. Aunt Judy s 

 Magazine), for having been the first to encourage and accept 

 from my pen a snake in their pages, and subsequently several 

 papers on ophidian manners and habits for their magazine. 



In preparing ' Sketches of the Ophidians' for the Dublin 

 University Magazine, December 1875, and January and 

 February 1876 (in all, about forty closely-written pages), I, 

 by request of the editor, included a paper on the venom 



