THE SCHAAP-STICEER. 125 



denies the existence of any perceptible odor in tlie Snake's breath. It is very possible that 

 the pestilent and most horrible odor which can be emitted by many Snakes when they are 

 irritated, may have been mistaken for the scent of the breath. This evil odor, however, is 

 produced from a siibstance secreted in certain glands near the tail, and has no connection witli 

 the breath. 



The color of the Anaconda is rich brown ; two rows of large round black spots run along 

 the back, and each side is decorated with a series of light golden yellow rings edged with deep 

 black. 



One or two members of this family are worthy of a passing notice. The well-known 

 Yellow Snake of Jamaica {Ckllahothnis uiorndfus) is allied rather closely to the boa and 

 the anaconda. It is a rather handsome reptile, being of an olive-green upon the head and 

 front part of the body. Covered with a multitude of little black lines, drawn obliquely across 

 the body. The hinder part of the body is black, sj^otted with yellowish olive. 



Anothek member of this family, the Coral Snake {Tortrix scytale) is a well-known 

 inhabitant of Troj^ical America, and is feared or petted by the natives, according to the 

 locality in which it happens to reside. In some parts of the country, the native women, 

 knowing it to be perfectly harmless, and being pleased with the bold contrast of black and 

 pale gold which decorate its surface, are in the habit of taming it and of placing it round their 

 necks in lieu of a necklace. In other parts of the country, however, the natives believe it to 

 be terribly poisonous, and flee from its presence with terror. 



It lives chiefly on insects, worms, and caterpillars, and is very timid. This creature does 

 not taper so gradually from the middle of the body to the tail as is usual in most Serpents, 

 but is nearly of the same cylindrical form througliout its length. The ground color of this 

 Serpent is pale yellow, decorated with jetty-black rings, about sixty in number, that are 

 drawn irregularly over its surface. The Coral Snake never grows to any great size, and 

 seldom reaches two feet and a half in length. 



COLUBRINyE. 



AVe now come to another section of the Serpents, termed Colubrin.e, the members of 

 which are known by the broad, band-like plates of the abdomen, the shielded head, the 

 conical tail, and the teeth of both Jaws. Some of them are harmless and unfurnished with 

 fangs, whereas some are extremely venomous and are furnished with poison-fangs in the 

 upper Jaw. These, however, do not fold down like those of the viper and rattlesnake, but 

 remain perfectly erect. The formation of the fangs again differs in the various species. In 

 some the fang is grooved for the introduction of poison into the wound, whereas in others it is 

 perforated nearly throughout its length. 



As an example of the first family of these Serpents, we may take the common Beown 

 Snake of America (Conocephalus sfricUiis). 



This reptile is quite harmless, and is plentiful in many portions of America, having rather 

 a wide range of locality. Although common, it is not conspicuous, for its small dimensions, 

 its sombre hue, and its retiring habits serve to conceal it from the general gaze. It is usually 

 found hiding under the bark of trees, in stone heaps, or among the crevices of rocky ground, 

 choosing those localities because it feeds principally on insect prey, and can find abundance of 

 food in such places. Its color is grayish brown above and wMte below. It is a small species, 

 rarely reaching eleven inches in length. 



The large family of the Coronellidfe contains many curious Serpents, among which may 

 be mentioned the well-known Sciiaap-sticker of Southern Africa. 



This Snake has a rather wide range of country, being spread over nearly the whole of 

 Southern Africa, and very common at thp Cape of Good Hope. It is a handsome little 



