2o8 -' SNAKES. 



163, is a paper which was read before the Royal Society in 

 February of that year, by Everard Home, Esq., F.R.S. It is 

 entitled, * Observations to show that the Progressive Motion 

 of Snakes is partly performed by the Ribs.' 



We give his introductory words, not only because the 

 ' discovery ' was a great event in the history of ophiology, 

 but as showing that to see and examine a foreign snake 

 was at that time a rare if not a novel occurrence. He tells 

 us that on a former occasion in 1804, he had described the 

 anterior ribs of a cobra, those which form the ' hood.' At 

 that time he was * not in possession of the bodies of snakes,' 

 so that he could compare their structure, but had since 

 found out a good deal more about their anatomy, and then 

 he proceeds : 'A Coluber of unusual size lately brought to 

 London to be exhibited, was shown to Sir Joseph Banks. 

 The animal was lively and moved along the carpet briskly ; 

 while it was doing so, Sir Joseph thought he saw the ribs 

 come forward in succession, like the feet of a caterpillar. 

 This remark he immediately communicated to me, and 

 gave me an opportunity of seeing the snake and making 

 my own observations. The fact was already established, 

 and I could feel the ribs with my fingers as they were 

 brought forward. I placed my hand under the snake, and 

 the ribs were felt distinctly upon the palm as the animal 

 passed over it. This becomes the more interesting discovery 

 as it constitutes a new species of progressive motion, and 

 one widely different from those already known.' 



The ' unusually large Coluber ' was probably a python. 

 Had a previous opportunity presented itself to this scientific 

 and thoughtful observer. Sir Joseph Banks might not have 



