340 



SNAKES. 



centres had a splash or spot of white, and most of the points 

 were opposite, but no two feet consecutively could I find 

 with better finished markings than this. 



Exact pattern with the lateral spots. 



The outer spots also were evidently of triangular inten- 

 tions, and for the most part occupying the spaces midway 

 between the points. These, of lighter tints, also run the 

 whole length of the snake, the pattern of course diminishing 

 with the size tailwards, but varying in no other way. The 

 question is not whether the strictly geometrical or the less 

 perfect design would be the handsomer, or we might give 

 the preference to the pattern as we find it ; but looking 

 closely at any elaborately-marked snake, it certainly is 

 curious to perceive that in every case there is this same 

 attempt at something too difficult to accomplish, as when 

 a novice in fancy-work does her stitches wrong. The same 

 thing is seen in the snakes of the frontispiece, and the same 

 is seen again even in this ^g;:^j-;;?^^:^j^-^"<r"-;-^^ 

 simple pattern, a chain <iZX^^l7^~^'^s^_,.^5^^^-^^^---,^^ 

 running down the back pI^IIiw^l^^^kT"""'"^ 



of little Echis cari7iata. The spaces are unequal, the black 

 cross bands imperfect, and the centre spots some round, 

 some oval, some almost absent. 



