SNAKES. 241 
to Dr. Giinther, the usual colouring of the Tigrine Snake is 
as follows:—Greenish, or brownish-olive, with three series of 
sub-quadrangular black spots; a series of reddish spots on the 
anterior part of the side, these spots alternating with the black 
ones. Belly with a series of rounded small black spots anteriorly, 
nearly entirely black posteriorly ; neck with an oblique black spot 
on each side. <A black spot below the eye, on the suture between 
the fourth and fifth labials ; a black blotch on the temple descend- 
ing obliquely to the angle of the mouth. 
The Stoled Snake (Z'ropidonotus stolatus), very common in 
India, is not a large reptile, hardly ever exceeding a length of 
2ft., and very easily tamed. Of this Snake, the head is rather 
narrow and the eye is of moderate size; the anterior frontals are 
pointed before, and the parietals are rounded behind; one 
pre-ocular, and three post-oculars ; eight upper labials, the third, 
fourth, and fifth entering the eye. The scales are placed in nine- 
teen rows, and are strongly keeled, except the outer rows, which 
are smooth. The ventrals number from 120 to 160, the sub- 
caudals are in pairs from 50 to 80, and the anal scute is divided. 
The colour is olive-brown above, marked with two white or 
yellow longitudinal bands (hence specific name), between which 
there is a series of serrated or reticulated crossbands. The lower 
surfaces are white, with (generally) a black dot on each side of 
every scute. The Stoled Snake should be kept under the same 
conditions as those recommended for its relatives of this genus, 
except that it will require more artificial heat. 
There are many other Snakes of the genus Tropidonotus, which 
may at times be procured in this country, and which also can be 
kept without difficulty in confinement. Those, however, which 
have been described, are, perhaps, either the more hardy, the 
more easily obtained in England, or the more interesting. 
The Infernal Snake (Boodon infernalis) is a native of East and 
South Africa, is fairly hardy, and easily tamed. It may be kept 
in a case like that represented by either Fig. 3 or Fig. 6, but 
which should be heated except during the hottest parts of the 
year. This snake will feed readily upon mice and young birds. 
It is, however, somewhat of a cannibal. I have seen it even 
trying to swallow a Striped Snake (Zropidonotus sirtalis) of quite 
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