KINGED SNAKES. 45 



of Coluber, as well as the well-known Black Snake (Coryphodon 

 constrictor] of the Anglo-Americans. Other species of Coryphodon 

 or Ptyas inhabit south-eastern Asia, such as the Rat Snakes of 

 Anglo-Indians, of which Ptyas mucosus is particularly common in 

 Hindostan, where it is encouraged by sensible people on account of 

 its animosity to the troublesome Brown Rat (Mus decumanus). 



The Dryadince are chiefly American, and do not call for particular 

 attention ; but the Natricina are numerous, and of them three 

 species are to be found in Europe viz., Tropidonotus natrix, T. 

 hydrus, and T. viperinus. Dr. Giinther gives as many as twenty-one 

 species of this genus as inhabitants of the Indian region alone, and 

 there is reason to believe that that number is far from being complete. 

 Others inhabit North America and North-western Australia, and some 

 generic groups have been detached that are not very conspicuously 

 separable. 



The Ringed Snake ( Tropidonotus natrix, Fig. n) is often found in 

 fine seasons near human habitations. It deposits its eggs, which are 

 fifteen to twenty in number, commonly in dunghills, in one agglu- 

 tinated mass. If exposed to the air, these eggs soon shrivel and 

 dry, and the embryos within perish. The Ringed Snakes (Tropidono- 

 tus natrix] found near rivers and meadows, by the side of water- 

 courses, into which they love to plunge, are sometimes called Water 

 Serpents, Swimming Serpents, Hedge Eels, and other provincial 

 synonyms. They sometimes attain to a yard in length. The summit 

 of their head is covered with nine large scales, disposed in four rings. 

 The upper part of the body is of a more or less darkish grey colour, 

 marked on each side with irregular black spots. Between the two 

 rows of spots are two other longitudinal rows, which extend from the 

 head to the tail. The belly varies from black to a bluish white. 

 Upon the neck are two whitish or pale yellowish spots, which form a 

 kind of half collar or ring, from which its name is derived ; these two 

 spots become much more apparent from being contrasted with two 

 other very dark triangular spots placed near them. They prey upon 

 lizards, frogs, and mice, and they even surprise young birds, and 

 devour eggs : they climb trees with facility. Towards the end of the 

 autumn they seek the most sheltered retreats, approaching even 

 houses ; or they retire into holes at the bottom of hedges when in 

 such an elevated position as to secure them from inundations. The 

 Ringed Snake is found in nearly all European countries, and can be 

 handled without danger. Lacepede gives some interesting details, 

 showing the gentleness of its habits. They are easily tamed, and can 

 be kept in houses, where they soon accustom themselves to those who 



