3 



We will not trouble about its inside except to note that 

 the skeleton consists of a skull, back-bone and ribs. The 

 latter are interesting as it is by means of their movements 

 that the snake progresses along the ground. In the cobra 

 the ribs of the neck are long and lie in a line with the body, 

 but they can be stretched out at right angles, thus forming 

 the well known hood. A few other snakes possess this charac- 

 teristic, but not in such a marked degree as does the cobra. 



If we consider the skin of a mammal, we shall notice 

 that it grows fur or hair. A bird's skin is clothed in feathers. 

 Similarly a snake's skin is covered with scales. 



We must study these scales carefully as they are the 

 chief means by which we shall recognise the snake. 



First examine the head. Here the scales are quite 

 different to those on the rest of the body. They are large, 

 regular and of definite shape and are called shields.— (Figs. 1, 

 2 and 3.) 



These shields all have names, rather long names some of 

 them, but it will be as well to master them. 



We will consider them in four groups : (a) on the crown 

 (Fig. 1), (6) on the upper lips (Fig. 2), (c) between the crown 

 and the lips, i.e., the face (Fig. 2) and (cZ) on the lower jaw 

 (Fig. 3). 



In the middle of the crown (Fig. 1) is a single shield called 

 the frontal. In front of this is a pair of shields named the 

 prse-frontals. In front of these again is another pair— the 

 inter-nasals and lastly, there is another single shield called 

 the rostral which forms the muzzle of the snake. It has a 

 little notch in it to enable the tongue to be protruded 

 without the mouth being opened. Behind the frontal shield 

 there is a pair known as the parietals. 



Looking at the side of the head or face (Fig. 2) we shall 

 at once notice the nostril and the eye with shields grouped 

 about them, 



