SNAKES. F13 
extremity. The Reptile’s entire length is about 22mm. It is 
viviparous, ; 
Fraudulent Egyptian snake-charmers exhibit this Eryx, after 
having affixed a bird’s claw over each of its eyes, as the deadly 
Horned Snake (Cerustes hasselquistii), the Viper which has been 
identified by some as the Asp with which Cleopatra killed herself. 
It is known, therefore, occasionally as Eryx cerastes (Daud.) and 
Anguis cerastes (Linn. ). 
The Indian Eryx (Lryx johnit) is a little more than twice as 
large as its near relative just described, occasionally reaching a 
length of 4ft. Its colour above is a reddish-olive, or pale brown, 
sometimes marked with dark brown or black bands: the lower 
parts are spotted with black or dark brown. The young are of 
a lighter colour, and the banding is much more distinct than in 
the adult. The tail, when the animal is full grown, is about 4in. 
long, and is very blunt at its end. The general shape of this 
Reptile is very like that of the Z. jaculus. 
The genus Eryx numbers about seven species ; the tails of some 
have a claw-like ending. The E. jaculus, E. johnii, and £. 
thebuicus, the Shielded Eryx, may sometimes be bought in this 
country at sums ranging from 10s. to £1. 
The Colubride.—The very large family of the Colubride 
comprises the most snake-like of all Snakes, if such an expression 
may be used; that is, its members correspond in appearance with 
the popular idea of a figure of aSnake. The Colubridw may, there- 
fore, be called typical Snakes. Their body is extremely graceful, 
wonderfully pliant, well-proportioned, and many of them are 
very beautifully coloured. 
Mr. Boulenger, in his ‘‘ Catalogue of Snakes,” has divided the 
Colubride into three parallel series : 
(a) Aglypha (from the Greek a, not, and glypho, I hollow 
out). The representatives of this series possess solid teeth only, 
none being grooved. 
(b) Opisthoglypha (Greek opisthen, behind, and glypho). The 
Snakes of this series are provided with ‘‘one or more of the 
posterior maxillary teeth grooved.”’ 
(¢) Proteroglypha (Greek, proteros, before, and glypho). These 
Reptiles have ‘‘ anterior maxillary teeth, grooved or ‘ perforated.’ ”’ 
