A neio genus of Serpents, ^'c. 185 



^ of an inch ; and of course the animal, when u-ntated, extends 

 its tympana, which then form a right angle with a line drawn 

 from the intermaxillaries towards the occiput; which enables it 

 (adding sometliing for the deviation of the ossa mastoidea) to 

 give an extension to its head of almost three times the length 

 of the head. (Twice ^s of an inch, the length of the two tym- 

 pana, and \ an inch, the width of the head= ly^^ of an inch.) 

 The head is almost translucent when the animal is enraged. 



Though the Coluber has the power of extending its head 

 when irritated, it cannot do it to the same extent ; its tympana 

 are only half as long as its head, besides its Occipital bone is 

 long, so that the flattening of tlie head is not great. 



With regard to the large teeth mentioned by Palisot de 

 Beauvois, the number of which, according to that naturalist, is 

 two, I have to remark, that, in the specimen which I dissected, 

 four large conical teeth were found. They are hollow, though 

 not perforated at the apex ; more or less curvated, and some- 

 what moveable ; and if not carefully handled during dissection, 

 they become entirely loose, being only attached to the ptery- 

 goidea interna by a sinew which fills tiie hollow of the tooth* 

 I believe this serpent makes use of them to work the large ani- 

 mals, which it takes for food, into its stomach. I found in the 

 stomach of the one I dissected, the hind legs of one of our 

 common toads, which was three inches long ; so that the whole 

 toad must of course have been about six inches in length. — ■ 

 This animal went through the mouth of a head not longer than 

 one inch ! 



I found in the state of Tennessee three distinct species. The 

 first, and which occurs most frequently, is black, and generally 

 the largest, is found over the whole state. The second is 

 variegated, black, with orange transversal stripes. It is not 

 quite as large as the black species, and is found in the western 

 district of Tennessee. The third, which is the smallest, is 

 variegated with black and yellowish gray, or bright mulatto 

 colour. I have found this snake in Davidson and Maury 

 counties, in Tennessee. 



