GLASS SNAKE. -.'K.'-i>w/rvs vin/rfC.1*. 



The jaw-teeth of this reptile, although not of a venomous character, are strong, and 

 those of the palate, although small, are probably useful in aiding the creature to secure and 

 swallow its prey. The tongue is thin and covered with little papillae of various sizes. 

 Along each side runs a rather deep groove or furrow, which, on a closer inspection, is 

 found to be double. The scales of the back are rather shining and closely set, and there 

 is a slight keel running along the centre of each scale, which is shown more distinctly 

 on the tail than on the body. The keel is shown more distinctly in the young than in 

 the adult. 



The colour of this reptile is rather variable, but in general the ground colour of the 

 body is chestnut, profusely dotted with blackish spots, caused by the dark edges or spots 

 of each scale. These scales are arranged in a regular series of thirteen longitudinal rows. 

 The eye is bright golden green, and has a very beautiful appearance, as it contrasts well 

 with the chestnut and black of the body and head. The young Scheltopusic is very 

 different from its parent in the colouring, being grey above, with rather obscure bands of 

 greyish brown, and the under sur r ace is grey, with a whitish lustre. The length of the 

 Scheltopusic is about eighteen in ,hes, the tail occupying about three-fifths of the whole 

 measurement. 



THE curious reptile which is appropriately called the GLASS SNAKE is a native of 

 North America. 



In this creature there is not even a vestige of limbs, so that it is even more snake-like 

 than the preceding species. The generic title of Ophisaurus is of Greek origin, signifying 

 Snake-lizard, and is given to the reptile on account of its serpentine aspect. The reader 

 may remember that on page 48 there is an account of the saurophis, a name which is 

 exactly the same as that of the present species, except that the one is called the lizard- 

 snake, and the other the snake-lizard, a distinction which, in the present case, is without a 

 difference, so that the two reptiles might exchange titles and yet be appropriately named. 



The Glass Snake is indeed so singularly like a serpent that it can only be distinguished 

 from those reptiles by certain anatomical marks, such as the presence of eyelids, which 



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