CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



with a scries of horny epidermic rings, known 

 as the ' rattle,' which produces a rattling noise 

 when the animal moves, hence the name. Some 



Common Viper, or Adder (Pelias tents). 



measure five or six feet in length, and are as 

 thick as a man's arm. Their food consists of 

 birds and small animals. The Viperine Snakes 

 are distinguished from the former by a broader 

 head, by the absence of the rattle, as well as the 

 cavities behind their nostrils. They are entirely 

 confined to the Old World, in the warm countries 

 of which they are very abundant. The Common 

 Viper (Pelias bents) can inflict a dangerous bite, 

 and is the only venomous reptile found in Britain. 



Sub-order 2. The Colubrina in which the 

 maxillary bones are armed with solid conical 

 teeth. If fangs are present, they are only grooved 

 on one side. They are for the most part harm- 

 less, but some of them are extremely venomous. 

 This sub-order may be divided into two sub- 

 orders : 



(a.) Innotua, or Harmless Snakes, in which 

 there are only solid teeth on the maxillas. The 

 Coluber natrix (Ringed Snake) of Britain, and the 

 C. constricta (Black Snake) of North America, 

 are perfectly harmless. The former is tolerably 

 abundant in Britain, and is a very pretty little 

 creature, about three feet in length. It is of a pale 

 olive colour, spotted in black on the sides, and 

 immediately behind there is on each side a 

 yellowish spot, which gives to the animal its 

 common name of Ringed Snake. 



The Boa Cottstrictors of tropical America have 

 the under part of the body and tail covered with 

 transverse shields. Many of the species exceed 

 twenty feet in length, and they can swallow even 

 sheep and oxen. This they effect by coiling them- 

 selves round the body of the victim, and crushing 

 it till every bone is broken. They then moisten 

 it with saliva, and proceed to swallow it. The 

 Pythons are inhabitants of the Old World, and 

 many of them, from their size and great muscular 

 power, are amongst the most formidable of all 

 Ophidia. 



(6.) In the group Venenosa, which have grooved 

 fangs placed in front of the upper jaw, and solid 

 teeth behind them, are included some of the most 

 venomous of all snakes. The most formidable of 

 these is the Hooded Snake, Cobra di Capello 

 (Naja tripiidians) of India, the snake usually 

 carried about by the Indian snake-charmers, the 

 bite of which is fatal within an hour. The Hydro- 

 phidce (Water-serpents) have a vertically com- 

 pressed tail, and so can swim with great facility. 



164 



They are very venomous, and are chiefly found in 

 the rivers and seas of the East Indies. 



Cobra di Capello (Naja tripudians). 



ORDER 3. The Lacertilia comprising the 

 Lizards, which have a lengthened body, terminat- 

 ing in a tail, and covered with small scales. 

 Eyelids are present in all with the exception of 

 the Geckotida. As a general rule, four limbs are 

 present, although the Blind-worm or Slow-worm 

 (Anguis fragilis\ which belongs to the family of 

 the Scincidce, has no external appearance of limbs, 

 although the bones of the pelvis and shoulder 

 exist in a rudimentary condition under the skin. 

 It is serpentiform, and quite harmless, and when 

 alarmed, its muscles become so rigid that the tail 

 can be broken off. In the course of a year, how- 

 ever, this member is replaced. It is found all 

 over Europe, and feeds upon insects, slugs, &c. 

 Nearly allied to the former are the Amphisbcenida 

 (Double-walkers). They can move forwards or 

 backwards with equal facility. They are small 

 harmless animals, found in the warmest parts of 

 South America. These serpentiform Lacertilia 

 are at once distinguished from the Ophidia by the 

 structure of the lower jaw, the two halves of which 

 are united in front by a suture so as to restrict 

 the gape. 



In order that any one may be able readily to- 

 make out the differences between the three snakes 

 indigenous to Great Britain, and thus perhaps be 

 saved from the danger that might accrue from 

 handling or incautiously approaching a viper, mis- 

 taking it for the harmless ring-snake or coronella, 

 we give an illustration and brief description of the 

 heads of the three species. 



I. The common ringed snake has a somewhat 

 almond-shaped head, covered with broad plates or 

 shields. It has invariably a yellow collar at the 

 back of the head, the yellow colour being made 

 more apparent by a jet-black collar behind it. 

 This black collar does not in every case extend 

 right across the neck, but varies in different speci- 

 mens. The eye is rather prominent, of a hazel 

 colour. The prevailing colour of the back and 

 sides is dusky brown. The centre line of the back 

 is marked with a double row of small black spots, 

 which extend from the head to the tail, and from 

 these rows, lines made up of similar dots stripe the 

 sides. 



