206 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Nothing is easier than to draw up a list of a hundred reptiles, 

 " highly commended " for the purpose ; few things would be more 

 difficult than to obtain them. Obviously, every snake on earth 

 might be allotted as " suitable " to one or another of these three 

 cages, but, with the exception of a few species, the number that 

 reach our national menageries, let alone the vivaria of private 

 collectors, is incredibly small. Dr. Giinther classifies about four 

 hundred species, including many varieties, of colubrine snakes 

 alone. Not above one-fifth of these have been seen alive at our 

 own Zoological Gardens — the best-stocked reptilium in Europe — 

 and not more than one-twentieth at any one time ; while of the 

 majority of specimens composing this inconsiderable section it 

 may be said that the offer of a hundred guineas might not pro- 

 duce another in ten years. Yet many of these are far more 

 plentiful in the countries they inhabit than grass-snakes are with 

 us, and the same obstacles to capture and transmission cannot be 

 alleged against them that exist in the case of fish or insects. No 

 doubt many that are taken uninjured do die from cruelties 

 inflicted on them or want of care in transport ; but beyond this 

 and the horror with which the tribe in general is regarded in all 

 countries, there seems to be an amount of selective and individual 

 prejudice, which it is to be hoped that a more widely-diffused 

 recognition of vulgar errors, as the progress of ophiology reveals 

 their nature, will subdue. Snake-catchers in India will bring in 

 cobras and pythons ; the Cingalhese rat-snakes ; and the Indians 

 of Brazil net and lasso boas, anacondas, and rattlesnakes without 

 hesitation, but the hundreds of other serpents, venomous and 

 innocent, which are found in these lands, and for which the 

 dusky trappers would receive a better price, seem to be protected 

 by some atmosphere of special mysterious dread which surrounds 

 them. The so-called two-headed snakes — in reality harmless 

 amphisbcenas — which are as common as earthworms in nearly 

 every tropical and subtropical part of the globe, and of which 

 there are numerous varieties, either inspire so much terror, or 

 are so entirely disregarded, that they are scarcely known in 

 zoological gardens, and are comparatively rare even in museums. 



Therefore, although I am about to append a list, the essential 

 part of my advice to the reader on this head must be, Take what- 

 ever you can get, and be thankful ! I know from experience that 

 one may live long in a country, and have many agents professedly 



