SNAKES 131 



the nostrils being situated more on the upper portion 

 of the head, in accordance with its very aquatic habits. 

 Its usual coloration is olive grey, checkered with dark 

 spots ; a more or less distinct y^-shaped dark band is 

 situated on the back of the head and neck ; the lower 

 parts are yellow or red, spotted or marbled with black, or 

 nearly entirely black. 



The Tessellated Snake is usually found in the water, 

 feeding principally on fish, which are taken on land to 

 be devoured. It enters salt water, having been observed 

 on the sea-shore hunting for small fish in the rock pools. 

 Pairing takes place in the spring, the eggs, which seldom 

 exceed twenty in number, being laid in a similar manner 

 to those of the Grass Snake, hatching from eight to ten 

 weeks later. 



The ViPERiNE Snake, T. vtpertnus, which is closely allied 

 to the preceding species, but from which it differs in being 

 of a less slender form, and in having twenty-one instead of 

 nineteen scales round the body, is so called from its super- 

 ficial resemblance to the Common Viper. It is brown or 

 reddish above, with usually a black, zigzag dorsal band, 

 often strikingly suggestive of that of the Viper, and a 

 lateral series of black eye-spots with yellow centres. 



In spite of its unprepossessing appearance, it seldom 

 bites, and, as it is very hardy, makes an attractive pet. 

 It is quite as aquatic as the Tessellated Snake, and is 

 seldom found at any distance from the water. Besides 

 feeding on fish and frogs, it will also accept earthworms. 

 Although this snake pairs in the autumn as well as in the 

 spring, the eggs are only laid in June and July, numbering 

 up to twenty ; they are deposited in holes in the neighbour- 



