56 REPTILES. 



than til e elapliis, but not so long; brown above; straw colour be- 

 neath and on the flanks; dorsal scales nearly smooth. Found in 

 Italy, Hungary, and Illyria. It is represented by the antients in 

 their statues of ^sculapius, and the Serpent of Epidaurus was 

 probably of this species. 

 The Colubers, foreign to Europe, are innumerable ; some are remark- 

 able for the vividness of their colours, others for the regularity of their 

 distributions; the tints of several are tolerably uniform. But few of 

 them attain a very large size*. 



AcRociiORDUS, Hornstedt, 



Are easily distinguished by the little uniform scales which cover the head 

 and body, both above and beneath. In the species known, 



A. javensis, Lac. II, xi, 2; Avgnis (jranulatus, Schn.; Oular 

 caron of Java; each of the scales is relieved with three small ridges, 

 which, when the skin is well stuffed, resemble insulated tubercles. 

 It attains a large size. Hornstedt erroneously states it to be fru- 

 givorous— which would be a very singular habit for a serpent']". 



Venomous Serpents, par excellence, or those with isolated fangs, have 

 a very peculiar structure in their organs of manducation. 



Their superior maxillary bones are very small, borne on a long pedicle, 

 analogous to the external pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone, and are 

 very moveable; in them is fixed a sharp pointed tooth, pierced by a canal, 

 through which flows a liquor secreted by a large gland, situated under the 

 eye. It is this liquor which, pouredinto the wound made by the tooth, carries 

 the destructive influence into the bodies of animals, and there produces 

 effects which are more or less violent, according to the species of the 

 reptile in which it is secreted. This tooth, when the animal does not 

 ■wish to use it, is concealed in a fold of the gum, and behind it are several 

 germs destined to replace it, in the event of its being broken in a wound. 



* The Colubers presenting but few variations of structure that are interesting', 

 I have not thought it necessary to give in this place the long catalogue. It 

 will be found in the works of Merreni, Gmelin, Daudin, and Shaw. It is neces- 

 sary, however, to consult them with much caution and critical nicety: they ab( ur.d 

 in transpositions of synonymes, &c. For instance, the Ccl. nriiJissivtus and the Co/. 

 janthinns, Merr. I, xii, only differ from the effects of the spirit of wine; — the Cnl. 

 Jwrridus, Daud. Men-. II, x, (Col. ripcriniis, Shaw), is the same as tlie demi-collii'i; 

 Lac. II, viii, 2; — the Coul. vinlette, Lacep. II, viii, 1, and the Col. iri^iiia; Mus. Ad. 

 fr. XIII, 2, only differ by the action of the spirit. Such, also, shoidd ])e considered 

 the Col. linealus, Seb. Xil, 3; Mus. Ad. fr. XII, 1, xx, 1 ;— the Col. jaculalrix, Seb. 

 I, 9, Scheuchz., DCCXV, 2;— the Col. atratus, Seb. I, 9, ix, 2, and even the terli- 

 neatiis, Lacep. II, xiii, 1; — the Col. sibilans, Seb. I, ix, 1, II, Ivi, 4; and the Coul. 

 chapelet, Lacep. II, xii, 1, appear equally alike, as well as the Col. JEsculapH, .Tacq. 

 and i\\c flavesceus, Scopol., &c. Src. &c. As to the transposition of synonjnies, they 

 are innumerable. N. B. The Enhydrus of Daud. would be non-venomous Colu- 

 bers, with a compressed tail, but the only species he cites, Anguis xt/plaira, Hern. 

 aif. an p. 269, and Obs. Zool. p. 288, is evidently a Hydrophis or a Pelamis. 



t We have never been able to discover the particular bone Oi-jjel. says he ob- 

 served in the .Acrochordus, as taking the place of the poison-fangs, and M. Lesche- 

 nault assiacs us tiiat tl.t' Acrochordus is harmless. 



