100 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Esculapian, boyuna, and Surinam serpents. 



numbers twisted together. This animal, like the 

 former, is perfectly innocent; but, like the viper, 

 it brings forth its young alive. 



The amphisbaena, or double-headed serpent, 

 is remarkable for moving along with either the 

 head or the tail foremost, whence it has been 

 thought to have two heads, an error which the 

 slightest inspection detects. It is of equal thick- 

 ness at both ends; the color of the skin is like 

 that of the earth ; it is rough, hard, and spotted. 

 Some have affirmed that its bite is dangerous, 

 but this must be a mistake, as it wants the fangs, 

 and consequently the elaboratory that prepares 

 the poison. 



There are several other kinds of snakes which 

 in some degree are similar to the above-men- 

 tioned. The Esculapian serpent of Italy is so 

 harmless, that in that country it is suffered to 

 crawl about the chambers, and often gets into 

 the beds where people lie. It is a yellow ser- 

 pent, of about an ell long, and, though innocent, 

 yet will bite when exasperated. The boyuna of 

 Ceylon is equally a favorite in that place. The 

 Surinam serpent is also harmless and desirable 

 among the natives, who consider themselves ex- 

 tremely happy if this animal come into their 

 huts. The colors of this serpent are so many 

 and beautiful, that they surpass all description ; 

 and these, perhaps, are the chief inducements 

 to the savages to consider its visits as so very 

 fortunate. 



