fioi REPTILES. 



their back or bdly could not be diftinguiflied. This peculiarity of rings 

 giv-es them great facility in many motions of which other fcrpcnts are 

 incapable; and by offering no impediment either way, bqt almaft 

 equal afliftance, they can move forward or backward at pleafure. 

 Their tail is as round as their head ; fo that, when moving back- 

 ward, no wonder they have been fuppofed to have a head at each end. 

 That beft known is the Smoky : almoft blacl^, mingled with white : a 

 foot or two in length, but fcarce two inches of tail; his eyes very 

 fmall, covered by a membrane. Inhabits Ceylon and America. Eats 

 worms, infefts, beetles, $j:c. ; is fond of ants. His fkin is very hard, 

 and his mufcles ftrong; has no fangs^ confequently is not venomous;. 



Another of this kind is white, and often fpotlefs. 



Of ferpents with tubercles only one kind is known : native of Java. 



The Langaha of Madagafcar is divided, in its length, into three differ- 

 ent parts, by fo many different kinds of fcales ; has alfo a horned kind of 

 fnout projeding. Is very venomous. 



OF 



