194 



SNAKES. 



Asia, as well as a part of the extreme south-west of Europe. The best known 

 species is the Egyptian sand-snake (Eryx jaculus), which has a length of about 

 2 feet, and is an inhabitant of the Ionian Islands, Greece, South-Western and 

 Central Asia, and the north of Africa. In colour it is very variable, the upper- 

 parts being in some examples pale greyish, reddish, or yellowish brown, ornamented 

 either with dark brown or blackish transverse blotches or alternating spots, while 

 in other cases the general colour is brown with pale spots. A dark streak runs 

 from each eye to the angle of the mouth ; the under-parts are either uniform 

 white, or white with blackish dots ; and there is a more or less distinct dark 



EGYPTIAN SAND-SNAKE (J nat. size). 



streak along each side of the tail. This species is exceeded in size by the Indian 

 sand-snake (E. johni), which attains a length of over a yard, and inhabits the 

 plains of North-Western, Central, and Southern India. This snake is generally 

 banded, but the young may be of a uniform pale coral-red colour. Although 

 resembling the boas in being nocturnal, these snakes are quite different in their 

 mode of life, inhabiting open sanely plains, and feeding on small mammals, lizards, 

 and worms. In search of their prey they frequently enter holes and crevices 

 among rocks, and they will also burrow in the sand. They are perfectly harmless, 

 and generally make no attempt to bite ; but they are somewhat unsatisfactory 

 creatures in captivity, owing to their habit of lying concealed among the gravel 



