CHAPTER Ix sv. 
DIVISION AGLYPHA. THE SOLID-TOOTHED SNAKES. 
Famity IV. COLUBRIN. 
SUB-FAMILY I. COLUBRINZ. 
THERE are about 1000 species or kinds included in this sub- 
family of snakes, scattered over the various temperaté and 
tropical regions of the world. Of this great number only twenty- 
eight species inhabit South Africa. All of this sub-family are 
known as the Aglypha, because their teeth are quite solid, 
showing no traces of grooving. They are consequently all 
non-venomous, and should not be interfered with, for they do 
an immense amount of service in ridding the country of rats, 
mice, and noxious insects. Some species are oviparous, that is, 
they lay eggs. Others are viviparous, which means they give 
birth to young. 
After reading this book and carefully studying the pictures 
showing the heads and teeth of the three typical kinds of snakes, 
viz. the solid-toothed non-venomous snakes; the back-fanged 
more or less venomous snakes ; and the front-fanged, typically- 
venomous snakes, it should be quite easy for any student, by 
means of a strong magnifying glass, or low power microscope, 
to identify a snake of any of these three divisions. If grooved 
or hollow fangs are found in the front of the top jaw, then the 
snake is one of the typical venomous kind. If there are two or 
three grooved fangs at the posterior end of the upper row of teeth, 
the snake belongs to the back-fanged kind, which are all more or 
less poisonous. All those snakes possessing solid teeth, without 
any pronounced grooving, are as harmless as lizards, as far as 
venomous properties are concerned. 
