SNAKES OF FICTION AND OF FACT. 47 



a general idea of the arrangement of the scales before and 

 after the anus. 



Linnaeus called all serpents with these two rows of sub- 

 caudal scales, Colubers^ including under this name many 

 both large and small, land and water, poisonous and harm- 

 less snakes. In respect for the great talent and vast work 

 accomplished by this eminent naturalist, as well as his then 

 paramount and diffusive knowledge, his systems prevailed 

 for a very long while. Cuvier, after Linnaeus, became also 

 a great authority for a time. He recognised distinctions in 

 the fangs of venomous snakes, and would reform some 

 previous errors regarding scales. ' Boa comprenaient 

 autrefois tous les serpens venimeux ou non, dont le dessous 

 du corps et de la queue est garni de bandes d'une seul 

 piece.' ^ It was equally unsuitable to mingle those with 

 the double rows, as it put a viper and a coluber together. 

 Cuvier also made closer distinctions between the lizard-like 

 snakes and the true Ophidia, * serpens propremejit dit! The 

 words Jieipetology (from the Greek), and serpents (from the 

 Latin serpo), formerly embraced a much larger variety ; 

 the former may include all reptiles, while the more 

 recently adopted one of opJdology comprises snakes only. 

 And the history of the word tells of the history of the 

 distinctions gradually adopted as above described, as the 

 true snakes or serpents, without external limbs, were sepa- 

 rated from the rest. 



The various names for a snake — Anguis, Serpens, Coluber, 

 etc. — having been made generic distinctions by some of the 

 older naturalists, cause considerable puzzle to the student, 



^ Regne Anitnal, p. 108. Paris. 



