50 COLUBRIDA. 
Natrix torquata, Ray, Syn. Quad. p. 334. Frem. Brit. An. p. 156. JENyNs, 
Brit. Vert. p. 296. Bonar. Faun. Ital. cum figuris. 
Coluber natrix, Linn. Syst. Nat. I. p. 380. Saw, Gen. Zool. III. p.519. 
Larr. Hist. Rept. IV. p. 38. Daun. Hist. Rept. VII. p. 
34, t. lix. f. 15; t. lxxxii. f. 1. Turr. Brit. Faun. p. 81. 
»  torquatus, acer. Quad. Ovip. et Serp. II. p. 147, t. vi. f. 2. 
Natria vulgaris, Laor. Spec. Med. p. 75 et 80. 
Tropidonotus natriz, Kuni.— Frrzines. Prod. Faun. Aust. p. 326, Wact. Syst. 
Amph. p. 179. Gray, in Griff. An. Kingd. IX. p. 85. 
Ringed Snake, Penn. Brit. Zool. III. p. 33, t. iv. No. 13. 
Couleuvre a Collier, LAczp. |. ¢. 
Tue family of Colubride, to which our Common Snake 
belongs, is one of the most extensive of all the natural 
groups of reptiles. Jt includes a number of generic di- 
visions, some more and some less-strongly marked, which 
are found in every quarter of the globe. They are, all of 
them, perfectly free from any poisonous quality, not pos- 
sessing any of those tubular teeth or poison glands which 
render some other families of Serpents so formidable. 
Many of the species which, on account of the broad plates 
which are found to occupy the upper part of the head, were 
considered as belonging to the genus Coluber, by Linneus 
and his immediate followers, are to be referred, not to 
other genera only, but to other families; as the Cobra di 
Capello, and the Common Viper, for instance. 
To this family, then, belong those Serpents, and those 
only, which, in addition to the absence of poisonous fangs, 
have the head covered with broad plates, and the under 
side of the tail with divided scuta throughout its whole 
length, as shewn in the following figures, which are taken 
from the present species. 
It is by far the most common of our true reptilia, if we 
except the little Lizard, Zootoca vivipara. It inhabits all 
our woods, and heaths, and hedgerows, especially in the 
neighbourhood of water, feeding upon young birds, and 
even eggs, or mice, and other small quadrupeds, and 
