524 OPHIDIANS. 



to devour,) is the pest of southern plantations. This species, 

 like the harmless water snakes of the Middle States, may be seen 

 lying over bushes which overhang the water, into which they 

 plunge on the slightest alarm. 



The LANCE-HEADED VIPER, T. lanceolatus, is abundantly dis- 

 tributed through several of the West India Islands. It attains 

 six or seven feet, and sometimes even nine feet in length, and 

 is greatly dreaded. It is said to be remarkable for its activity, 

 and to abound among the sugar plantations, in which many of 

 the laborers fall victims to its bite. 



What is the 3rd ORDER of REPTILES ? How are they particularly distin- 

 guished ? What does Cuv. say of them ? What is said of their form ? 

 What of their covering ? Describe the upper and lower scales. State the 

 diiference in their arrangement and give their respective names. At what 

 time and in what manner do they change their skin ? What are the parts 

 of the skeleton? Describe the vertebral column. How do you account 

 for the flexibility of Serpents ? What is said of the number of their bones ? 

 What are their agents of locomotion ? How ? To what may the ribs be 

 compared ? What is said of their various modes of progression ? Why 

 do the bones of the face deserve especial notice? How is the lower jaw 

 articulated? How are its extremities connected? How are these things 

 related to the serpent's swallowing its food ? Have they two lungs ? What 

 is said of their teeth ? What is peculiar to the venomous species? Describe 

 the action of the poison fang ? Does the serpent sting ? What is said of 

 the young of venomous serpents? What of the non-venomous? How,is 

 the goodness of the Creator herein displayed? Do serpents care for their 

 young ? What is said of their voice or hiss ? What of their senses ? 

 What of their growth and tenacity of life ? What of their powers of fas- 

 cination? How were they regarded by the ancient Mexicans, Egyptians 

 and Hindoos? Into how many families does Mr. J. E. Gray divide this 

 order ? In what family are the last two included on the Chart ? How 

 many sp. are enumerated? What proportion is venomous? Have any 

 been found in a fossil state ? 



What is the 1st FAMILY ? What does it include ? What family compose 

 the SUB-ORDER COLUBRINA ? What are the characters of the Colubridae ? 

 What its leading gen. ? What well known sp. of the gen. Coluber is found 

 in the U. S. ? Repeat what is said of them severally. How does the gen. 

 Tropidonotus differ from the true Colubrines ? State what is said of the 

 two sp. mentioned. What of the other gen. and sp. of this family? 



What is the 2nd FAMILY? Why are the sp. of this family very terrific? 

 What is said of their shields ? Name a more marked peculiarity. Is the 

 tail prehensile ? Where are the BOAS found ? Where the PYTHONS ? What 

 statements are made by Livy ? What is said of the size, &c., of the Boa ? 

 Repeat what is said of the EMPEROR BOA. Of the ANACONDA. Of the 

 ABOMA. Of the BOJOBI or GREEN BOA. Of the CORAL SNAKE. What two 

 sp. of Pythons are mentioned? What is said of them? How are the P. 

 in Zoological gardens of London fed 9 



