66 OUR REPTILES. 



finger on the slightest provocation, and hang on by 

 their teeth, so that it took some little violence to 

 remove them. He makes, however, one very con- 

 solatory observation upon this portion of his ex- 

 perience, to the effect that he never found the 

 slightest inflammation, or other ill consequence, 

 follow from the bite; and from numerous experi- 

 ments he fully bears out opinions elsewhere ex- 

 pressed, that neither mammals nor birds are in the 

 least degree affected by the bite of the Coronella 

 Icevis, or "Smooth Snake." 



