SNAKES 



593 



behind which is a somewhat broader black collar, 



which is produced forwards and sub-divides the 



yellow one in the centre of the upper-surface. 



In the variety of the ringed snake indigenous 



to the South of Europe the collar-like markings 



may be altogether absent, or reduced to a small 



black patch on each side of the nape of the 



neck. The maximum length of the ringed snake 



is some 6\ feet. It is a most expert swimmer, 



moving swiftly through the water with lateral 



undulations of its body, and carrying its head 



and neck well above the surface. Frogs con- 

 stitute its favourite diet, but it will also capture 



and devour fish, mice, and young birds. 



The VIPERINE and TESSELLATED SNAKES, 



both European forms, as also the GARTER- and 



MOCASSIN-SNAKES of North America, are all 



closely allied in structure and habits to the familiar 



ringed species. The second British species, known 



as the SMOOTH SNAKE, belongs to the same 



group, but is more terrestrial in its habits ; while 



comparatively rare in England, and limited to 



the southern counties, it is plentiful on the 



Continent. The INDIAN RAT-SNAKE, which is 



almost as useful as the domestic cat in ridding 



dwellings of rats and mice, is another repre- 

 sentative of the solid-toothed group. This group also includes the so-called PYGMY SNAKES, 



inhabiting the Malay region, whose habits are mainly arboreal. They are the most diminutive 



members of their order, some of the thirty known species not exceeding i foot in length. 



The typical TREE-SNAKES of the Indian and Australian region, with large eyes, somewhat 



compressed bodies, and 

 colours of green or olive, 

 in harmonious accord with 

 their arboreal surround- 

 ings, also belong to the 

 solid-toothed and harmless 

 section. An especially 

 interesting representative 

 of this group is the so- 

 called EGG-EATING SNAKE 

 of South Africa. It does 

 not exceed 2 feet in 

 length, and is for the most 

 part arboreal in its habits, 

 and, as its name implies, 

 would appear to feed ex- 

 clusively on eggs. As a 

 structural adaptation for 



Photo by Htnrj Dixon &* Son] [Alkany Strtit, N. W. 



COBRA (BACK VIEW) 



Showing the remarkable pattern on the back of the neck, -which hat 

 gi-ven rise to the name of Spectacled Snake 





thtti b } W. Savillt-Kint, F.Z.S.] 



QUEENSLAND SEA-SNAKE 



Sea-snakes ha-ve compressed tails, ivhich they use for steering 



this peculiar habit, the 

 spinous processes of a 

 number of the vertebras 

 project into the throat 



75 



