ORDER III. OPHIDIA. —SERPENTS. 133 
of a tall tree, encompassing it like a wreath, and thus rising and descending 
at pleasure. In these countries, therefore, the serpent is too formidable to 
become an object of curiosity, for it excites much more violent sensations. 
We are not, therefore, to reject, as wholly fabulous, the accounts left us 
by the ancients of the terrible devastations committed by a single serpent. 
It is probable, in early times, when the arts were little known, and mankind 
were but thinly scattered over the earth, that serpents, continuing undis- 
turbed possessors of the forest, grew to an amazing magnitude; and every 
other tribe of animals fell before them. We have many histories of an- 
tiquity presenting us such a picture, and exhibiting a whole nation sinking 
under the ravages of a single serpent. We are told that while Regulus led 
his army along the banks of the River Bagrada, in Africa, an enormous 
serpent disputed his passage over. We are assured by Pliny, who says that 
he himself saw the skin, that it was a hundred and twenty feet long, and 
that it had destroyed many of the army. At last, however, the battering 
engines were brought out against it, and these assailing it from a distance, 
it was soon destroyed. 
Genus CoLtuBer. — The Snakes proper. In this division are the Py- 
thons, which have hooks on each side of the anus, and narrow, ventral 
plates, as in the Boas, from which they only differ by having the plates under- 
neath the tail double. Some of the species equal the Boa in size. Nine or 
ten different groups are mentioned by the authors, peculiar to the several 
regions of the earth; but, as they offer no features of special interest, we 
pass them by. 
The common Snakes of the United States form quite a numerous family. 
A small species, with a brown back and vermilion belly, is common through- 
out New England, as is also another, a little larger, colored a beautiful 
green. The Striped Snakes, some of which attain the length of a yard, 
are too well known to need any description. They are all harmless. Of 
the Llack Snakes, two species occur frequently in all parts of this country, 
—the common lack, and the Collared Black, Snake, the last mentioned 
being the most fierce and powerful. It sometimes, when disturbed, will 
attack human beings, but is scarcely able to contend with a resolute man, 
although instances have occurred of some severe contests. The Black 
Snakes move with amazing celerity, the eye being scarcely able to follow 
them. As they are not poisonous, they can be dangerous only to children, 
whom sometimes they strangle, by coiling round the neck. 
Tue Venomous Serpents. — All of the species bring forth their young 
alive, whence the general name, viper —a contraction of viviparous. Their 
maxillary bones are small, and very movable, having a pointed tooth attached 
to them, through which extends a small canal, which conveys a poisoncus 
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