Lizards from which they have arisen, The mus- 

 cular and nervous systems are very highly organ- 

 ized, and there are numerous remarkably peculiar- 

 ities in the skeleton. The snakes progress by mo- 

 tion of the anterior ventral scales, which are fixed 

 against the irregularities of the surface upon which 

 the reptiles moves; the ribs are drawn first from 

 one side, then to another; the hind portion shoots 

 forward, and the process is repeated. Considering 

 the method of progress, the celerity and grace of 

 locomotion shown by snakes is extraordinary. 

 There are quite a few species of poisonous snakes- 

 some are arboreal, but the deadliest are aquatic 

 or terrestrial. However the good done by the 

 thousands of harmless species in the destruction 

 of insect and rodent pests far outweighs the trifling 

 damage done by the poisonous forms. Numerous 

 superstitions concerning snakes, such as "Snakes 

 do not die till sundown" and the fabled power of 

 a snake to charm or hypnotize birds or other ani- 

 mals, have arisen. Needless to say, these are false, 

 though some are based on misinterpretations of 

 observed facts. 



Most members of the order Squamata are 

 beneficial to man, and their needless slaughter is 

 to be heartily condemned; they should be rigor- 

 ously protected. 



The majority of Snakes and Lizards are ovipa- 

 rous (see Guide Book Number 68 of exhibit for a 

 typical snake egg) . Some are ovoviviparous; the 

 Natricine {Natrix, Thamnophis) and Crotaline 



