THE TAIL OF A SNAKE. 189 



snakes, which from the very earliest ages has been sup- 

 posititiously endowed with two heads. Its name, Amphis- 

 bcBiia^ or Mouble-walker' (going both ways), however, is 

 well merited, because, like Typhlops, it can progress either 

 way, forwards or backwards, with equal facility. This is the 

 one alluded to by Catesby (p. 174). We can comprehend 

 the advantage of the retrogressing power to these otherwise 

 unprotected little reptiles, when they cautiously peep from 

 their narrow burrow in the ground, and espy one of their 

 many enemies in the shape of a much larger ophidian, or 

 a carnivorous bird. Quick as thought, back they glide, 

 and are safe. Living chiefly among the ants, on which they 

 feed, their cuirass of hard, polished, close-set scales protects 

 them from a bite or sting. Another beautiful provision of 

 nature is, that the young ones, on being hatched, find food 

 ready at hand — at mouth, rather — the eggs having been 

 laid, or the young ones born, in the nest of the ants. 



Of this harmless and useful reptile, Pliny seriously wrote : 

 ' The amphisbsena has two heads ; that is, it has a second 

 one at its tail, as though one mouth were too little for 

 the discharge of all its venom ! ' 



Even at the present day this belief in * two heads,' or * two 

 tails,' and ' death at both ends,' is not wholly eradicated, 

 and not merely among the lower classes either. 



It only remains to say that when two heads have really 

 appeared — and there are several such cases on record — they 

 are simply monstrosities, malformations, as found in other 

 animals occasionally. An example of this kind may be 

 seen at the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. 

 Another was described by Frank Buckland in Land and 



