THE TWO-HEADED SNAKE. 265 



As nothing has as yet been recorded, that I am 

 aware of, concerning the early stages of this reptile's 

 existence, the discovery of its egg and of the pro- 

 duction of the young possesses some interest. On 

 the 3rd of September, I found in the secluded woods 

 of Auld Ayr, behind Bluefields, an egg to which I 

 was a stranger. I was out shooting with my negro 

 servants, when we heard in these lonely woods what 

 we supposed to be the voice of the Ringtail Pigeon. 

 As this fine and rare bird is said to resort to the 

 smoke that ascends from any fire that may be kindled 

 within its haunts, for the relief which is thus afforded 

 to it from the incessant torment of the musquitoes, 

 we determined to make a fire, in order to get a shot. 

 The lads had collected some deserted nests of Ter- 

 mites for fuel, and on breaking them up, I discovered 

 in one of the cavities an egg of a long-oval form, and 

 of a clear buff" hue, with a stifily membranous integu- 

 ment. The breaking of the surrounding mass had 

 ruptured also the egg, and disclosed a young T/j- 

 phlops, which writhed nimbly about, and soon crawled 

 from its prison, to which it remained attached, how- 

 ever, by the vitellus. It was very active, fully formed, 

 similar in colour and appearance to the adult, except 

 that the inferior surface was tinged with a delicate 

 rosy hue. The eyes were very plainly discernible, 

 though in the adult I had searched for these organs 

 in vain. The frequent protrusion of its forked 

 tongue gave it a snake-like character, which its 

 general aspect did not possess. It was four and a 

 half inches in length, and one eighth of an inch in 

 diameter ; depressed in form as the adult. The tail 

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