The Zoologist— May, 1869. 1659 



" The ground colour of this animal was of the yellowish hue which 

 usually precedes the casting of the skin : that process accordingly 

 began within four days, but went on so slowly that more than once I 

 assisted nature by removing the epidermis with a pair of pincers. 

 From memoranda made at the time, I find that the colouring of the 

 new skin was by no means so bright and fresh as usual; and I see in 

 this circumstance a confirmation of an opinion, which I have else- 

 where expressed, that the pigment layer contributes largely towards 

 the formation of the epidermis, and is itself renewed from within ; for 

 my snake not having touched food for a long time previous to its 

 sloughing, it follows that the vital operations were weak, and the 

 secretion of pigment weak in proportion ; hence the dullness of the 

 colours beneath the epidermis. Hybernation interrupted the casting 

 of skin that should have Ibllowed, and it was not until the 18th of 

 June of the ensuing year (1858) that the process occurred again ; but 

 this time it was both easier and quicker, the whole being finished by 

 the 20th of the same month, as I had taken the precaution of having 

 a number of rough objects placed in the cage for the animal to rub 

 itself against. I should mention that the cage in which the Coronella 

 was confined was provided with glass sides and bottom, so that all 

 its movements could be carefully observed without the animal itself 

 being disturbed. A third sloughing (the second of this year) took 

 place on the 2nd of July, the Coronella having repeatedly taken food 

 a fortnight previously. This time I allowed the animal a certain 

 amount of freedom, having turned it loose in my study to see if the 

 process would be thereby facilitated. I noticed that it took advantage 

 of every rough spot it could reach to rid itself (by rubbing) of the 

 dried integuments with which it was encumbered. When about half 

 the body was freed, I observed it creep rapidly on to the support of a 

 small round table, and then, insinuating itself with much exertion into 

 the interstices of the wooden arched foot, in an instant it left its 

 epidermis hanging in the narrow space. The whole affair, from the 

 first splitting of the skin on the head to a complete renewal, occupied 

 just three hours and a half. Owing to the continuous friction the 

 cast skin was torn in several places, whereas, in the previous instances, 

 it had come ofi" entire. The last sloughing commenced on the 14th of 

 August, and proceeded just as quickly ; indeed, the animal became 

 more than usually brisk after it, for it swallowed a small lizard the 

 same day, and another larger one two days after." (Zool. 9506.) 



