212 



SNAKES. 



brae of serpents articulate with each other by eight joints, 

 in addition to those of the cup and ball on the centrum ; 

 and interlock by parts reciprocally receiving and entering 

 one another, like the joints called tenon and mortice in 

 carpentry' {Anatomy of the Vertebrates, p. 54). 



Front and back view of a vertebra. 



Bearing in mind that each of these highly complicated 

 joints supports a pair of moveable ribs, and that the ends 

 of these ribs are connected by muscles with the large stiff 

 scutes or scales crossing the under surface of the body (see 

 illustrations, p. 193), which move with the ribs, one foot- 

 like scale to each pair, we comprehend how snakes exceed 

 millipedes in the number of their limbs, if not true legs, 

 and how they excel the insect also in variety of movement. 

 Those 'ball and socket' joints admit of free lateral flexion, 

 and every variety of curvature — ' the utmost pliancy of 

 motion^ to repeat the words of Rymer Jones ; and also of 

 that surprisingly independent motion which enables the 

 constrictors to surpass even the Bimana (except practised 

 experts) in doing several things at once. 



Thoughtful persons who can contemplate this wondrous 



