OPHIDIANS. 515 



minute white specks, scattered over a dark ground. It is one of 

 the Snakes that often engage in successful conflict with the 

 Rattle-Snake. 



The HARLEQUIN or SCARLET-SNAKE, Elaps fulvus, (Lat. red 

 or tawny,) is found in Carolina, Louisiana, and Upper Missouri. 

 It is distinguished by having a fang permanently fixed on each side 

 of the upper jaw, with which may be connected a rudimentary 

 poisonous gland; but the animal is considered entirely harmless. 

 The head is scarcely larger than the body : the length twenty 

 inches. 



The RED-SNAKE, Calamaria amoena, (Lat. delightful to the 

 eye,) is a beautiful little serpent, of a reddish brown color, from 

 six to twelve inches in length, and found in the Eastern and 

 Middle States, under stones and logs. It has a small head, 

 smooth scales, and a short, abrupt tail. 



The HOG-NOSED-SNAKE, Heterodon, (Gr. different or unequal 

 teeth,) platyrhinos, (Gr. broad-nosed,) is two feet in length, 

 called also the Buckwheat-nose, (from a fancied resemblance 

 between that grain and its rostral plate,) and also the Deaf 

 Adder and Yellow Viper. This species is well known, through- 

 out the United States, and H. niger, (Lat. black,) is known as 

 the BLACK VIPER, about three feet in length, and found in 

 Georgia and Tennessee. Both present a formidable appearance, 

 from flattening the head and whole body when irritated ; but are 

 entirely harmless. Passing over many colubrine species found 

 in the United States and elsewhere, we name the C. quadrittnea- 

 tus, (Lat. four lined,) which is the largest of the European Ser 

 pents, often attaining to six feet in length, and found in Spain 

 and Italy. This formidable, though riot venomous snake, is 

 probably the Boa, of Pliny. 



We must also not omit to notice an African genus, Deirodon, 

 (Gr. deire, neck ; odous, tooth,) which strikingly illustrates 

 the special adaptations to particular uses and ends, which are 

 presented in the animal kingdom. This snake is said to live 

 almost entirely on the eggs of birds, and for this its entire organ 

 ization seems expressly designed. The mouth, when full grown, 

 has no teeth whatever, so that the egg is readily received into 

 the open jaw, and there is no hazard of its being prematurely 

 broken. The inferior spinous processes of the seven or eight 

 lower cervical vertebrae, shoot forward with the gullet or sesopha- 

 gus, where they are overspread with a layer of hard cement, 

 and made to resemble long, sharp teeth. The eggs, in their de 

 scent, press against these teeth, and are sawed open length 

 wise, then crushed by the contraction of the gullet, and carried 



