FIRST SUB-OEDEE. 47 



most beautifully iridescent, beneath white ; but the blue fades to 

 brown after long immersion in spirits. Young examples have a 

 white collar. Mr. W. 'Theobald remarks of it that " this Snake 

 is common in Lower Pegu and the Tenasserim provinces, and is 

 very malignly beautiful, though of repulsive physiognomy. The 

 skin is loose and thick, and its habits are nocturnal. The following 

 illustrates its ferocious nature : I once remarked a Colubrine 

 Snake (Ptyas mucosa), some five feet in length, in the hedge of the 

 Circuit-house of Bassein. On running downstairs, the Snake had 

 vanished, but on searching for it I saw its tail sticking out of a 

 hole beneath a wooden plant-case. Do what I might I could not 

 drag it out, as it seemed held fast within. I therefore, with some 

 trouble, overturned the plant- case, and then saw that the unlucky 

 Colubrine Snake was firmly pinned by a large Xenopeltis, into 

 whose hole it had unwittingly entered. The Xenopeltis seemed 

 about four feet in length ; but, on perceiving itself uncovered, 

 released its hold of the Ptyas and made its escape." The Xenopeltis 

 'preys chiefly on small mammalia, which it hunts for in their subter- 

 ranean holes ; and in some respects it approximates the Pythonidce. 



The Uropelticlce, or Shield-tails, constitute a very curious family 

 of Burrowing Snakes, which bear considerable resemblance to the 

 Typhlopidce, but have a very peculiar, short, strong, posteriorly 

 shielded tail, adapted for working their way below the surface. 

 The species are mostly small, and hitherto they have been found 

 chiefly in Ceylon, but a few also in the peninsula of India. They 

 are by no means scarce, but escape observation from their peculiar 

 mode of life. Dr. Kelaart remarks that " they are timid creatures, 

 seldom making their appearance above ground ; living chiefly in 

 anthills or dunghills, sometimes also several feet deep in rich 

 loamy soil. They feed on ants, small earth-worms, and the larvae 

 of insects, and at least one species has been ascertained to be vivi- 

 parous. Five genera and eighteen species of them are recognised. 



The Calamaridce form an extensive family of diminutive slender 

 Snakes, from one to two feet in length, many species of which 

 inhabit both the Old World and the New, though the same kinds 

 are not found both East and West. They keep to the ground, 

 beneath stones, fallen trees, &c. ; and their food appears to 

 consist chiefly of insects. They are gentle, and never attempt 



