SNAKE. 1/7 



spot of pale yellow at the base of which ia a triangular 

 black spot. 



This reptile is perfectly innoxious. It feeds on frogs, 

 insects, worms, and mice, and lodges among bushes in moist 

 situations. It deposits its eggs in dunghills, the heat of 

 which, aided by that of the sun, promotes the exclusion of 

 the young. During winter the snake, like the rest of its 

 kind, continues torpid in the banks of hedges, and under 

 trees. 



THE HOODED SNAKE 



Is a native of India, of whose reptiles it is the most com- 

 mon and noxious : its bite very frequently proving fatal, 

 and that in the course of a few minutes. Its form and 

 colours are so remarkable as to distinguish it very readily. 

 It is about three or four feet long, with a rather small head 

 covered on the front with large scales like those of most 

 innoxious serpents. The upper parts in general are 

 covered with scales shaped like grains of rice. A little 

 way below the head, the skin spreads at the sides for 

 about four inches, and then gradually diminishes to the 

 general bulk of the body. This part can be swelled at the 

 pleasure of the animal, and has given it the name of 

 hooded. The usual colour is a pale ferruginous brown 

 above, and below a bluish white, sometimes tinged with 

 pale brown or yellow. In India this reptile is very well 

 known, being every where exhibited for show. It is 

 carried about in covered baskets and made to assume a 

 dancing motion, raising itself on its lower parts, and 

 moving its head from side to side to the sound of music. 

 Those who thus show the animal, first deprive it of its 



THE CRIMSON-SIDED SNAKE 



Is a poisonous but very beautiful species from New 

 Holland. It is about the size of a common snake, its head 

 and upper parts are of a fine violet colour ; its sides are 

 covered with large scales of crimson edged with black ; 

 the abdominal plates are rose-coloured and edged likewise 

 with black : the tail is a bluish ash. 



