SNAKES. 233 
The above list does not exhaust the different varieties of this 
Snake, e¢.g., I have owned a specimen, the ground-colour of whose 
body was of a lovely orange colour. This beautiful reptile, un- 
fortunately, escaped through the accidental breaking of the glass 
of the case in which it was contined. I had another variety which 
possessed a body of a light bluish-slate colour, marked with the 
usual black spots. 
The Snake just mentioned, for it was one of the sufferers, 
reminds me of a mistake I once made in regard to the cleansing 
of a Snake-case, and I venture to record the circumstance, as my 
experience may be of use to others who keep these creatures. 
When cleaning out a Vivarium that contained several young 
Ringed Snakes, which I had hatched artificially, and which were 
thriving very well, I sprinkled the freshly-brushed felt covering 
the bottom of the case with some diluted “ Jeyes’ Perfect 
Purifier Disinfectant.”” This Vivarium was heated by a small 
lamp, for it was winter time, and I was not allowing the young 
Snakes to hibernate during their first year, which, I think, is a 
good plan. The high temperature may have increased the power 
of the disinfectant. . When I looked at the Snakes within an 
hour after having cleaned their case, I was surprised to find many 
of them stretched quite straight and motionless upon the felt. 
Some of them were quite dead and others nearly so. A few of 
them when placed immediately in another Vivarium revived for a 
time, but never wholly recovered their health. The felt was 
placed out of doors at once, and left in the rain all night, and 
was restored to its place in the morning, after being thoroughly 
dried ; but when the remaining or surviving Snakes were returned 
to their home, they were again strongly affected by the disinfectant. 
Since then in cleaning Vivaria I have been careful to use nothing 
but a hard brush, and, when necessary, soap, water, and soda. 
The Ribbon Snake (Zropidonotus saurita) is beautiful and 
fairly hardy, and, with ordinary care, a long liver in confine- 
ment, where it will occasionally breed, Anyone who possesses 
a healthy specimen of this Snake will be sure to make it a great 
favourite. It is a native of N. America. 
The body and tail of 7. sawrita are slender and elongate, and 
the eye is large. The upper labials are generally eight in 
