LONG-SNOUTED SNAKE. 547 



many parts of North America, where it is princi- 

 pally seen on trees, moving with great velocity in 

 pursuit of insects, on which it is said principally 

 to feed. 



VAK. ? 



A SUPPOSED variety of this Snake is described 

 and figured in Dr. Russel's work on Indian Ser- 

 pents, differing from the above in the colour of 

 the under parts, which, instead of being green, 

 are of a cinereous pink-colour, elegantly freckled 

 with very numerous minute black and yellowish 

 dots, the margins of the scuta being edged with 

 dull yellow : the skin of the neck also, when the 

 animal is irritated, exhibits, by the dilatation of 

 the skin on that part, a beautiful variegation of 

 black and white reticular marks, which disappear 

 when at rest : this variety, if such it be, is of an 

 apparently ferocious nature, hissing violently and 

 snapping at any thing opposed to it, but produc- 

 ing no other eifect by its bite than that of tem- 

 porary pain in consequence of mere puncture : it is 

 known by the name of Eotla Passer iki. See Rus- 

 sel's Indian Serpents, pi. 1 3. The number of ab- 

 dominal scuta is 174, and of subcaudal squamae 

 148. Another snake, agreeing with the above, 

 except in having the abdomen pale green, is also 

 figured in Dr. Russel's work, under the name of 

 Passeriki Pain: its abdominal scuta are 178, and 

 the subcaudal scales 166. The Coluber Mycteri- 



