124 COLUBEIN^E. 



however, the natives stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is known 

 to exist. Its common haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably near lakes, swamps, 

 and rivers ; likewise close to wet ravines produced by inundations of the periodical 

 rains ; hence, from its aquatic habits, its first appellation (i. e. Water Serpent). Fish, and 

 those animals which repair there to drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature 

 lurks watchfully under cover of the water, and while the unsuspecting animal is drinking, 

 suddenly makes a dart at the nose, and with a grip of its back-reclining double range of 

 teeth, never fails to secure the terrified beast beyond the power of escape." 



Compression is the only method employed by the Anacondo for killing its prey, and 

 the pestilent breath which has been, attributed to this reptile is wholly fabulous. Indeed, 

 it is doubtful whether any Snake whatever possesses a fetid breath, and Mr. Waterton, 

 who has handled Snakes, both poisonous and inoffensive, as much as most living persons, 

 utterly denies the existence of any perceptible odour in the Snake's breath. It is very 

 possible that the pestilent and most horrible odour which can be emitted by many Snakes 

 when they are irritated, may have been mistaken for the scent of the breath. This evil 

 odour, however, is produced from a substance secreted in certain glands near the tail, and 

 has no connexion with the breath. 



The colour of the Anacondo is rich brown ; two rows of large round black spots run 

 along the back, and each side is decorated with a series of light golden yellow rings edged 

 with deep black. 



ONE or two members of this family are worthy of a passing notice. The well-known 

 YELLOW SNAKE of Jamaica (Childbothrus inorndtus) is allied rather closely to the boa 

 and the anacondo. It is a rather handsome reptile, being of an olive-green upon the 

 head and front part of the body, covered with a multitude of little black lines, drawn 

 obliquely across the body. The hinder part of the body is black, spotted with 

 yellowish olive. 



ANOTHER member of this family, the CORAL SNAKE (Tortrix Scytale) is a well-known 

 inhabitant of Tropical America, and is feared or petted by the natives, according to the 

 locality in which it happens to reside. In some parts of the country, the native women, 

 knowing it to be perfectly harmless, and being pleased with the bold contrast of black 

 and pale gold which decorate its surface, are in the habit of taming it and of placing it 

 round their necks in lieu of a necklace. In other parts of the country, however, the 

 natives believe it to be terribly poisonous, and flee from its presence with terror. 



It lives chiefly on insects, worms, and caterpillars, and is very timid. This creature 

 does not taper so gradually from the middle of the body to the tail as is usual in most 

 Serpents, but is nearly of the same cylindrical form throughout its length. The ground 

 colour of this Serpent is pale yellow, decorated with jetty black rings, about sixty in 

 number, that are drawn irregularly over its surface. The Coral Snake never grows to any 

 great size, and seldom reaches two feet and a half in length. 



WE now come to another section of the Serpents, termed COLUBRIN^E, the members of 

 which are known by the broad, band-like plates of the abdomen, the shielded head, the 

 conical tail, and the teeth of both jaws. Some of them are harmless and unfurnished 

 with fangs, whereas some are extremely venomous and are furnished with poison-fangs in 

 the upper jaw. These, however, do not fold down like those of the viper and rattlesnake, 

 but remain perfectly erect. The formation of the fangs again differs in the various species 

 In some the fang is grooved for the introduction of poison into the wound whereas in 

 others it is perforated nearly throughout its length. 



