454 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



Like the viviparous lizard, it brings forth living young. 

 The largest specimen I ever saw in Sweden was 14 in., of 

 which the tail was 7i in. I think, with Professor Bell, 

 that the length of the tail in many reptiles is dependent 

 upon the sex. I have observed that in the female it is 

 generally longer than in the male. 



The slow worm is found pretty generally dispersed 

 over most parts of the Scandinavian continent. JSTilsson 

 says that he has received a specimen from Lulea Lapland. 

 It must, however, be extremely rare so far north. I could 

 never hear of one; in fact the only reptiles I met with 

 there, with the exception of the common frog, were the 

 viviparous lizard, and one specimen of the common viper. 



OEDEE 3. OPHIDIA. (Snakes). 



Body long, rounded, without even the rudiments of 

 feet ; covered with scales and plates ; no eye-lids ; unlike 

 the last two orders, the ophidia have the power of greatly 

 stretching the swallow and throat by means of the pecu- 

 liar formation of the under maxillary bones. 



1. SEKPENTES INNOCUI. Harmless Snakes. 

 Two rows of solid teeth, of an equal size, along each side 

 in the jaw both above and below, and no poison fangs. The 

 head is covered with broad plates. 



Gen. Coluber, L. 



Head covered with broad plates ; eye with a round 

 pupil ; tail on the under side covered with divided shields, 

 and occupies at least one-sixth of the whole body. 



5. COLUBER NATEIX, L. Snok. The Kinged Snake. 



Above black or olive grey, bestrewed with black 

 spots; below blueish black; a white or yellow band 

 on the top of the side of the neck ; scales of the back, 

 lancet shaped, with a small raised keel along the 



