72 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
Tasmania, making twenty known species of Colubriform Venomous 
Snakes in that range of territory, where others doubtless remain to be 
discovered ; and there is one described as Pseudo-elaps superciliaris, 
which is suspected to be a second species of Pseudo-naja. The 
Cyrtophis scutatus of South Africa is a sort of hoodless Cobra, without 
any smal] teeth behind its fangs. In America there is only the genus 
laps, with numerous species, which are mostly of small size, and in 
some instances are very brightly coloured, as one of the Coral 
Snakes* of Brazil (Z. coral/inus), which is beautiful coral-red, with the 
body encircled by equidistant black rings. The genus Z/afs in 
America is represented in Africa by omorelaps, in the Indian region 
by Callophis, and in Australia by Vermicalla. In general these are 
small and slender snakes, too much so to be held in much dread. 
What Dr. Giinther remarks of the species of Cal/ophis will apply, as 
we believe, equally to the others:—‘“ They appear to prefer hilly 
countries to the plains, live constantly on the ground, and are slow in 
their movements. In their habits, in their form, and in their power- 
less muscular organisation, they show the greatest similarity to the 
Calamarieg; and this is why the Cadlophides feed almost entirely on 
the latter, the venomous snake being able to overpower the non- 
venomous. Both of these genera have also the same geographical 
distribution ; and Ceylon, where we do not find the Ca/amaria, is not 
inhabited by a single Cad/ophis. If we are allowed to judge from the 
number of individuals of both genera brought to Europe in collections, 
the Calamarie are about twice as numerous as the Cadllophides. 
Cantor, who had opportunities of observing them, states that they are 
generally seen lying motionless, with the body thrown into many 
irregular folds, but not coiled. Although they are diurnal, their sight, 
from the minuteness of the pupil, appears to be as defective as their 
sense of, hearing, and they may be closely approached without 
apparently being aware of danger. He never observed them to 
strike voluntarily, even when provoked, and he had difficulty in 
making an adult C. gracilis bite a fowl, although, of course, the 
venom of these Snakes is as virulent as that of a Viper, the animals 
used for the experiments having died in the course of from one to 
three hours after they had been wounded. ‘Therefore the greatest 
caution should be observed in catching or handling these Snakes. 
The shortness of their fangs and the small quantity of their poisonous 
fluid, however, will always give a very fair chance of recovery if the 
proper remedies be applied, should an accident occur. ‘T'wo or three 
* This name is also applied to the harinless Zortrix scytale (vide p. 42.) 
