244 THE , VIVARIUM. 
tail measures about 10in. PP, cana may sometimes be bought 
here for 15s. 
The Angry or Dark Green Snake (Zamenis atrovirens, Gunther, 
or Zamenis gemonensis, Boulenger, Fig. 69) is a hardy and beauti- 
ful Snake. The members of its genus, which numbers about 
thirty-one species, are chiefly distinguished by their dentition. 
The maxillary teeth increase in size posteriorly, the last two being 
sometimes separated from the rest by a short portion of toothless 
jaw. Representatives of this genus are found in both the Old 
and New World—namely in Europe, Asia, Northern Africa, and 
Northern and Central America. The Dark Green Snake is a 
native of France, Switzerland, Italy, Dalmatia, Greece, Malta, 
Cyprus, Egypt, the Holy Land, and Persia. It may often be 
bought in this country, for from 4s. to 6s. Its food consists of 
lizards, slow-worms, and mice. Z. atrovirens can be kept here 
without artificial heat, and may be allowed, if in good condition, 
to pass the winter in a state of hibernation. This Snake I have 
found generally ready to bite, but its bite is nothing serious, 
sometimes the teeth do not even pierce the skin of the hand, A 
scratch, or scratches, however, are likely to be caused by tearing 
the hand or fingers out of the Snake’s mouth. These remarks 
apply to most of the small, non-poisonous Snakes. 
The Dark Green Snake possesses one (occasionally two) 
pre-ocular, two (occasionally three) post-oculars, eight upper 
labials, of which the fourth and fifth touch the eye, long, smooth 
scales, which are arranged in seventeen or nineteen rows, ventral 
scales numbering from 190 to 250, sub-caudals in from 90 to 130 
pairs, and a divided anal scale. 
This Snake, which is yery common in Southern Europe, varies 
a great deal in its colouring. The following colours and markings 
are given by Mr. Boulenger in his “ Catalogue of Snakes ” (1893). 
(a) Forma Typica.—Young, pale olive above, the head 
black, with yellow markings. Some adults preserve 
the pale coloration of the young, whilst others are dark 
green or black, with yellow spots or longitudinal streaks, 
etc. ; the tail is usually striated, black or yellow ; belly 
yellow or greenish-white, uniform, or with small black 
dots. 
