260 Say on Herpetology. 
that from the numerous attestations to its efficacy we should be 
almost led to suppose a very strong any. to exist between 
the venom and the animal thus applied. 
That so numerous a catalogue of plants has gained credit 
with the uninformed as specifics, will not be surprising, when 
we know that the reservoir of the venom is very readily ex- 
hausted and slowly replenished. When this reservoir is vaca- 
ted the reptile is of course innoxious, and the most inert plant 
would then stand a good chance of gaining reputation with the 
credulous as a specific. 
For a similar reason we have so many cures for the bite of a 
rabid animal ; and it may be for a similar reason that the body 
of an animal has — repute as an antidote, against the 
venom of a serpen 
Coluber trivittata of Mr. R. p. 80, of this work. Judging 
from the descriptive name and the locality, it is the C. sirtalis of 
authors, or possibly the C. sawrita or C. ordinatus. These set 
pents have each the three vitte, though in the two former this 
trait is much more striking. I know of no other serpent ag 
our Bp Sieinity to desea the name can be characteristically ap 
~The o as been called bipunctatus and ibibe by 
the Fr ench whoa: What is the difference between sirtalis 
and saurita? they must be very closely allied, if not _ 
Se getulus, Linn. This species attains to a more consi 
erable magnitude than authors have stated. I saw 4 speci- 
men on Cumberland Island, Georgia, at least five feet Tong: 
The ground color, by the direction of light in which I viewed 
him, was deep glaucous or livid, he was much more | 
than C. Constrictor.* He permitted my near approach, with 
out agitating his tail in the menacing manner of the Serpe 2 
just mentioned, and of the crotali, or manifesting avy signs ‘ 
* This last is the animal, Sayers doubt, judging from the detailed de- 
scription and plate, which has lately been erected into a new genus, et? 
the name of Scoliophus.......-.cccccieecs. .. the identity is immediately inter 
any one acquainted with the specific characters of the above e-mentioned ai 
ber. And I presume it can be made apparent, to any one tolerably. versed in 
the science, should proof be thought necessary. 
