569 



ORDER III. OPHIDIA. 



506. THE division of the class of Reptiles, which includes 

 the Serpent tribes, is one which is almost universally regarded 

 with feelings of horror and aversion. These doubtless originate 

 in the venomous qualities of certain families of the order, and in 

 the terrific strength that characterises others ; and also in the 

 insidious manner in which they usually approach their victims. 

 The prejudice is unjust, however, as regards a considerable 

 number of the order, which are neither furnished with poison- 

 fangs, nor of a strength or size to render them dangerous to 

 Man ; and when it can be overcome, there is much in the beauty 

 of their markings, and the grace of their movements, to excite 

 our interest. The species belonging to this order may be 

 naturally grouped in three sections: 1. Harmless Snakes; 

 2. Venomous Snakes ; 3. Water Snakes. 



507. The Harmless Snakes are divided into two families, 

 the COLUBRIDJE, or Colubers, and the BOID^J, or Boas. Of the 

 former of these, which contains more than half the entire number 

 of species of Snakes, we have an example in our own country, 

 the common Ringed Snake ; which is abundant in low moist 

 woods, damp meadows, and hedgerows in the vicinity of water, 

 these being the situations in which its favourite food, the Frog, 

 is always to be procured. In this fondness for water, and in 

 its power of swimming with facility, the Ringed Snake differs 

 from the Viper, which prefers dry localities. It is a voracious 

 animal, and pursues its prey with great determination ; besides 

 frogs, it feeds on mice, shrews, and nestling birds ; these are 

 swallowed whole, whilst yet alive, by the peculiar mechanism of 

 the jaws ( 473). This Snake may be readily tamed, and 

 exhibits feelings of attachment to its protector. It passes the 

 winter in a state of torpidity, retreating to some sheltered situ- 

 ation, in which numbers often collect, for the sake of preserving 

 their warmth; in an instance which has come within the 

 Author's knowledge, as many as 1300 were found in an old 



