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SERPENTS WITHOUT VENOM. 



The class of serpents without poison may be distin- 

 guished from those that are veneinous by their being 

 deficient in fangs, or projecting teeth ; but still their 

 size renders them formidable ; and the largest buffalo 

 frequently falls a victim to their power and strength ; 

 for it has been before observed, that it entwines round 

 the creature's body, and draws itself so tight as to 

 crush every limb. 



The black snake is the largest of English serpents, 

 and frequently exceeds four feet in length ; the neck is 

 slender ; the middle of the body thick ; and the back 

 and sides covered with small scales. The whole spe- 

 cies are perfectly inoffensive ; and feed upon frogs, 

 worms, mice, and insects ; but shew a particular fond- 

 ness for hens' eggs. During the winter they lie per- 

 fectly torpid in the banks of hedges, or under old trees. 



The blind-worm is another harmless reptile, which 

 does not measure more than eleven inches in length ; 

 the head is small ; the eyes are fiery ; and, instead of 

 being pointed, it is blunt towards the tail. The back 

 of the blind-worm is of an ash colour, with small black 

 specks ; but the belly is white : its motion is extremely 

 slow and heavy ; and it is torpid during winter, like the 

 rest of the tribe. 



The amphisboena, or double-headed serpent, is re- 

 markable for moving forward either with the head or 

 tail ; and from thence the error probably has arisen, 

 that the creature is endowed with two heads. It is of 

 an equal thickness at one end as the other; and the 

 skin in colour resembles the earth, though marked with 

 spots of various kinds. 



