Till: filinn //:.. 115 



ground rolor is grayish olive, brown. -r I'm. How ; along the hack runs a chain <.f rig. 



/.!_; hl.i.-ki-ii !!. ! I ;..:-._-. .iM'l :i -.-I |. - . : ..-.. :-;.:.. ., ,: .;.,,- js found "|" '' ' " '' - 1 ' 1 ' 'I' 1 ' 1 ' 



largest sj,. , imen I have yet seen in a wild state waa one of the yellow varieties. Sometimes 

 the ground is brick-red, and now and then a nearly black specimen is found. Mr. Bell 

 mentions an example where the ground color waa gray i-h- \\hiu-, and the markings Jetty- 

 black. 



THK n-p'il" that is called l.y tl..- .significant lit!.- ..f HKAIII A : In MII Vn-ii:, H 



a native of Australia, where its joison<>iis fangs render it au object <,f much fear. A very 

 excellent, Ihoudi short description of this Snake i> given by Mr. li.-un.-ti in his " Wanderings 

 in New South \V:iL 



The most deadly Snake in appearance, and I believe also in effect, is one of hideous 

 aspect, called by the colonists the. Death Adder, and by the Yas native-, Tammin,' frmn hav- 

 ing a small. cnrv.-<l process at tin- extn inity of the tail ; or, moiv correctly, tin- tail terminat- 

 ing sti'l<i>-nly in a small, curved extremity, bearing some resemblance to a sting. It in consid- 

 ered, by popular rumor, to inflict a deadly -tin- uith it. 



"This hideous reptile is thick in projiortion to its length ; the eye is vivid yellow, with u 

 Mai-k longitudinal pupil. The color of the body is dilhYnlt to lx> descrilM-d, U-ing a i-omplira- 

 tion of dull colors, with narrow, hiackish hands shaded off into the i-olors which comjHse tin- 

 back ; abdomen slightly tinged with red; head broad. thi-k ami Hatt-n.-<l. The .sjn-ci ..... n I 

 examined measured two f.-et \\\<> im-h.-s in 1,-mrth, and live inches in circumference. A d<< 

 that was bitten by one die<l in li-ss than an hour. The s|M-cimen 1 examined was found coile<l 

 up near the banks of the Murrumhidgee river ; and being of a torpid disposition, did not 

 move when approached, but quietly reposed in the ]>athway. with its head turned beneath its 

 belly." 



The generic title of Acanthophis, or Thorny-Snake, in given to this species on account of 

 the structure of the tail, which is furnished at its extremity with a recurved horny spine. 



RIVER OR SEA SERPENTS. 



WE now arrive at a very remarkable family of Snakes, which pass their lives in water, 

 either fresh or salt, and an- river or sea Ser|K-nts as the cas-- may !*. In order to enable them 

 to pass through the waters without injury to the organs of respiration, the nostrils are 

 furnished \\itli a valve >> as to prevent the ingress of water \\hile the creature is below the 

 surface. 



A good example of these marine Serpents is the BLACK-BACKED PELAMIB (Pttamis 

 bicolor) the Xalla Whallagee Pani of the Indian fishermen. This Snake is found only at sea, 

 and is said seldom if ever to approach the shore, except for the purpose of depositing its eggs, 

 \\hi'-h are laid on the beach sufficiently near high-water mark for the young Snakes to geek 

 their congenial element as soon as they are hatched. The Black-backed Pelamis is frequently 

 found sleeping on the surface of the sea, and is then caught without much difficulty, as it is 

 forced to throw itself on its hark before it can dive. It has been suggested that this 

 movement is intended to expel tin- air in the ample lungs. Sometimes it in unwillingly 

 captun- 1 by the fishermen in their nets, and is an object of considerable dread t<> them on 

 account of the formidable character of its teeth. In these Serj- nis the fangs are but little 

 larger than the other teeth of the jaw, but can be distinguished by their slightly superior 

 size and the groove that runs along their front edge. The average length is alxtut one yard. 



TIIK SHOOTER Srx (I/ydm/i/ii.* <>l,s<-i'ir(i\ is another of the sea S-rju-nts. This reptile 

 is also one of the Indian species, and inhabits the sea or the saline waters of the river-mouth--. 

 not l>einn able to e\i>t in fresh water. It is an admirable swimmer, but is very awkward 

 on dry land, and cannot survive for any length of time unless it has access to salt water. The 

 outline of this Serpent is most remarkable. The head and neck are almost absurdly minute 



