358 REPTILES. OPHIDIA. 



serpents figured by Russell ; but Cuvier expresses a doubt of the necessity for this 

 minute subdivision. 



Gen. 12. DIPS AS, Laurenti. Coluber, Lin. 



Body compressed, less broad than the head ; scales on the ridge 

 of the back larger than the others. 



D. Indica, (C. bucephulus, Shaw.) Bull -headed Snake. Body nar- 

 rower than the head, brownish, with broad transverse whitish 

 bars ; large, cordated, depressed head, compressed body, and very 

 long slender tail. 4^ feet long. Ceylon. Shaw, iii. pi. 109. 



Gen. 13. COLUBER, Cuv. 



With transverse plates on the belly, divided into two under the 

 tail, or forming a double row ; head flattened, with nine larger 

 plates ; teeth almost equal ; no poison fangs. 



C. natrix, Lin. Ringed Snake. Body ash-coloured, with black 

 spots along the sides, and three white spots forming a collar on 

 the neck ; scales carinated. It feeds on insects, frogs, &c. and its 

 flesh is eaten. 4 feet long. Europe. B. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. pi. 5. 



C. atro-virens, Lacep. Body spotted with black and yellow above, 

 yellowish-green below, with a row of black spots down each side ; 

 scales smooth. Size of the preceding. Common in France. Shaw, 

 iii. 449. 



C.Austriacus, Gmel. Body reddish-brown, marbled with steel-colour 

 below ; two rows of small blackish spots along the back ; scales 

 smooth, brown towards the point. 4 feet long. Common in France. 

 Shaw, iii. 515. 



C. viperinus, Latr. Body gray-brown ; a row of zigzag black spots 

 along the back ; and another of smaller ocellated spots along the 

 sides ; belly spotted with black anrf grayish ; scales carinated. 3 

 feet long. Inhabits France. Cuv. Reg. An. ii. 70. 



C. Girondicus, Daud. Body gray, with numerous bands, bordered 

 with black ; scales smooth, and the spots on the back smaller and 

 more separated than the preceding. Inhabits South of France 

 and Italy Cuv. Reg. An. ii. 70. 



C. Elaphis, Shaw. Body fawn-coloured, with four brown or black 

 lines upon the back; abdomen white. France, &c. Shaw, iii. 450. 



This is the largest of the European serpents, sometimes exceeding six feet in length. 

 It is supposed to be the Boa of Fliuy. 



C. Msculapu, Shaw. JEsculapi an Snake. Body brown above, straw- 

 yellow on the belly and sides ; scales of the back oval and cari- 

 nated, those on the sides smooth. 4 feet long, and thicker than 

 thepreceding. Inhabits Southern Europe and Asia. 8haw,iu.452. 



This is supposed to be the animal which the ancients represented in their statues 

 of jEsculapius. Linnasus was mistaken when he applied this specific name to an 

 American species. It ia'common in Italy, where it is often tamed, and taught to 

 play tricks. 



