MINERVAS SNAKE. 5]y 



markably wide, extending on each side in such a 

 manner as to embrace near two thirds of the bod} : 

 tail somewhat pyramidal, very long, and flattish 

 beneath : this species was observed by Dr. Pallas 

 about the borders of the river Yaik, occasionally 

 frequenting both land and water. 



MINERVA'S SNAKE. 



Coluber Minerva?. C. glavcus, fascia dorsal? fusca, capitefasciif 



tribus. 

 Glaucous Snake, with a brown band down the back, and three 



on the head. 

 Coluber Minervre. tin. Syst. Nat. p. 388. Mus. Ad. Frid. 



p. 36. 

 Abdominal scuta 238, subcaudal scales 90. 



DESCRIBED by Linnseus in the Museum Adol- 

 phi Friderici : length about a foot and half: thick- 

 ness greater than that of a swan quill : colour 

 glaucous, with a broad, longitudinal, brown band 

 down the back, and three longitudinal bands on 

 the head, two which pass through the eyes : head 

 oblong, ovate, convex, and smooth: eyes large: 

 tail slender, and measuring about a third of the 

 whole length : on each side the body, towards 

 the tail, is a narrow dusky line : the scales on the 

 whole animal are smooth : native of the East In- 

 dies. The Snake, being considered as the emblem 

 of Wisdom, was consecrated to Minerva by the 

 ancient Greeks, but the particular species it would 

 be in vain to conjecture.. 



