SNAKES. 167 
was the vertebra of a Snake.” The late Sir Richard Owen in 
speaking of Snakes in his “ Anatomy of the Vertebrates ” asserted 
that “‘ they can out-climb the monkey, out-swim the fish, out-leap 
the jerboa, . . . and out-wrestle the athlete.”” Another writer, 
Chateaubriand, quoted by Miss Hopley in her very interesting 
book on “‘ Snakes,” remarks concerning the Snake that ‘‘ Every- 
thing is mysterious, secret, astonishing in this incomprehensible 
Reptile. His movements differ from those of all other Animals. 
It is impossible to say where his locomotive principle lies, for he 
has neither fins, nor feet, nor wings; and yet he flits like a 
shadow, he vanishes as if by magic, he reappears, and is gone 
again like a light azure vapour on the gleams of a sabre in the 
dark.” 
Dr. Giinther, in his “‘ Reptiles of British India,”’ and in his 
article on “‘ Snakes ” in the ‘‘ Encyclopzedia Britannica, ”’ describes 
the Snake’s manner of locomotion in the following words: ‘‘ Their 
organs of locomotion are the ribs (see Fig. 52), the number of 
which is very great, nearly correspond. 
ing to that of the vertebre of the 
trunk. They can adapt their motions 
to every variation of the ground over 
which they move, yet all varieties of 
Snake locomotion are founded on the 
following simple process: When a part 
of the body has found some projection 
of the ground which affords it a point 
of support, the ribs are drawn more 
Fic. 52.—SOME OF THE RIBS 
n i AND VERTEBRZ OF THE 
closely together, on alternate sides, COMMON OR RINGED SNAKE 
thereby producing alternate bends of (Tropidonotus natriz) much 
enlarged from nature. 
the body. The hinder portion of 
the body being drawn after some 
part of it (Fig. 53, c) finds another support on the rough 
ground or a projection; and, the anterior bends being stretched 
in a straight line, the front part of the body is propelled (from 
Fig. 53, a to d) in consequence. During this peculiar locomo- 
tion, the numerous broad shields (Fig. 54) of the belly are of 
great advantage, as, by means of their free edges, the Snake is 
enabled to catch and use, as points of support, the slightest 
