60 



Serpents. - 



-REPTILES.- 



-CoLUBKiNE Serpents. 



Bome writers, such as Laborde and Father Gumilla. 

 It is always found living on the ground, and appears 

 to feed chiefly upon small reptiles, such as the cecilije, 

 typlilops, &o. Schlegel informs us that he possessed 

 an individual which was killed at the moment it was 

 occupied in devouiing a Cecilia of tlie same size as 

 itself. The female is viviparous. 



True Colubrine Skrpe.nts. 



The second section of the Suborder Colubrina, or 

 those in which the belly is covered with broad band- 

 like shields, and which have a conical, tapering tail, 

 are exceedingly numerous, and form the true Colu- 

 brine serpents. Tlie number described by Dr. Giin- 

 ther in the British Museum catalogue amounts to 

 three hundred and eighty-eight species, and they have 

 been divided, according to the structure of their teeth 

 (or method of dentition), into three groups. — I. Those 

 which are perfectly harmless, and are destitute of cither 

 yroored or perforated fimgs in front of the jaws— the 

 Innocuous serpents {Ophklla hmocua); II. Those 

 which have a permnnenthj erect, grooved fang in front 

 — the Venomous colubriform serpents (EUipkla) ; and 

 III. Those which have a perjiiancntly erect, perforated 

 fang in front [Atractaspididce and Dendraspididcc). 



Group First— THE HARMLESS COLUBEINE 

 SERPENTS {Ophidla innocua). 



This group contains hy far the greatest number of 

 species, not fewer than three hundred and forty having 

 been enumerated. They are widely distributed, being 

 found in all parts of the woild. Dr. Giinther divides 

 them into no fewer than nvelve small families — each 

 family representing some leading genus in the former 

 arrangements. 



Family I.— CALAMARS {Calamarida). 



This, the first family we shall mention, is termed by 

 Schlegel the " vermiform snakes." The Calamars are 

 small terrestrial snakes, which present a sort of woi'm- 

 like or vermiform appearance. Their body is almost 

 cylindrical, sometimes resembhng a piece of whipcord, 



Fig. 17. 



Head of Linnsus' Calamar (Calamarta Linneei). 



and terminating in a tail usually short, cylindrical, and 

 tapering. Their head is usually about the same size as 

 the bod}', and not distinct from the neck ; and the muzzle 

 is rounded or pointed. 



Forty-four species have been described. 



LI11N.ETJS' CALAMAR {Calamaria Lvmcei)—Sg,. 

 17 — is one of the best known. It is a native of 

 the island of Java, and ia about a foot in length. 



The colours vary very much, but generally the ground 

 is a fine red carmine or vermilion, deeper beneath, 

 where it often passes into brown, black, or bluish-black, 

 and variegated with quadiangular black spots. It is 

 said to be veiy common in Java, lives always on the 

 ground, and is very slow in its movements. The 

 Malays know it by the name of Ular-lema, and it is 

 looked upon by them as perfectly harmless 



Family II.— CROWN-SNAKES {Coronellidw). 



The Coronellas or Crown-snakes exceed the Cala- 

 mars in size, but never attain large dimensions. Their 

 body is of moderate size, nearly cylindrical in form, 

 but slightly thicker towards the middle. The tail is 

 rather sliort, more slender than the body, and tapering 

 insensibly to a- fine point. The head is more or less 

 distinct from the neck, rather depressed, and generally 

 with a short rounded muzzle. 



The genus Coronella contains seventeen species, and 

 representatives of them are found in almost every part 

 of the globe. Two are European. 



THE SMOOTH CEOVffl-SNAKE [Coronella austriaca) 

 appears to be spread over nearly the whole of Europe. 

 It was first observed by Laurenti in the htnnid valleys 

 in the neighbourhood of Vienna. It has since been 

 described as a native of various parts of France, Italy, 

 Hungary, Thuringia, Switzerland, Germany in several 

 quarters, Hanover, the Low Cotmtries, Sweden, and 

 also in Sicily, &c. Still more recently, it has been 

 found in England. It ditiers from most of the other 

 species of this family in its habits and manner of liv- 

 ing, preferring in general as its places of abode diy, 

 heathy, rocky, and wooded situations, instead of moist 

 meadows. In Thuringia it is ibund living on high 

 ground, even near the summit of lofty mountains, 

 where it has been observed taking refuge under stones, 

 moss, or herbs. It is easily known b}' its shining 

 skin, which is of a rather sombre brown colour, marked 

 with rounded, irregular, dark spots, somewhat like the 

 common viper ; and indeed it is often found in com- 

 pany with both it and the ringed snake. The pea- 

 sants often confound it with the viper, and dread it 

 much in consequence. When full grown the Smooth 

 Coronella seldom exceeds two feet in length. Its body 

 is elongated and cylindrical in .shape, slightly tapering 

 at the two extremities. The head is distinct from the 

 trunk, the eye is small, and the iris is of a lively red. 

 The colours vary very much in the adult specimens, 

 but the young at first leaving the egg are quite white. 

 Small animals, as mice, moles, little birds, lizards, 

 worms, and insects, constitute its food. It is very 

 alert in its movements, and makes its escape with 

 great swiftness when any one approaches it. When 

 attacked it defends itself with boldness and energy, 

 bites with fury, and does not easily let go its hold. If 

 laid hold of by the tail, it will twist itself up and seize 

 with its teeth the hand which holds it. Its bite, how 

 ever, is peifectly harmless. According to the obser- 

 vations of Lenz, this serpent is viviparous ; the eggs 

 require three or four months' time to develope, and tlie 

 young are about the number of twelve. In captivity 

 it retains its wild disposition for a length of time after 



