40 LECTURE VH. 



The most numerous of all the Linnsean ge- 

 nera of Serpents is that of Coluber. It contains a 

 mixture of poisonous and harmless Snakes : and 

 is distinguished by having the under part of the 

 body as far as the tail furnished with broad undi- 

 vided plates, while the under part of the tail is 

 covered with divided ones. Of the poisonous 

 animals of the genus Coluber, one of the most 

 remarkable is the C. Naja or Cobra .de Capello, 

 a native of many parts of India, and not less poi- 

 sonous than the Rattle-Snake in America; its co- 

 lour is commonly a dull yellow, and it has the 

 power, when irritated, of dilating to a great extent 

 the skin of the neck, into the form of a large flat- 

 tened oval ; this part is marked above by a very 

 large patch resembling a pair of spectacles., and 

 of a black colour edged with white. There ap- 

 pear to be many varieties of this Snake in India*. 



Among the innocent species of Coluber the 

 common English Snake may be mentioned as 

 an example ; .a perfectly inoffensive animal, and 

 which may even be tamed and rendered do- 

 mestic. 



* The common Viper is the only poisonous Snake of this 

 genus in our own country. 



