THE BOOMSLANGE. 137 



perceiving tlie slightest sign of your intention to disturb it, the Snal^e will dart u])wards 

 through the brandies and over the leaves, which scarcely seem to bend beneath the weight. 

 A moment more, and you have lost sight of it. Whenever I return to Europe, you may be 

 sure that in my hothouse these harmless lovely creatures shall not be missing." 

 The green color of this species is paler than above. 



The Gray Sxake of Jamaica {Dromicus atef) is another instance of this family. It is 

 often called the Black Snake, but as that title has already been employed, it is better to use 

 the popular name wliich is first mentioned. 



This reptile is extremely plentiful in Jamaica, where it is mostly found haunting heaps of 

 dead leaves, rocks and buildings. It is especially fond of the crevices found in old walls, and 

 will lie for hours with its head and neck hanging out of some cianny partially awaiting the 

 approach of any miserable lizard wliich may come within reach while searching after flies. It 

 is rather a savage ophidian, darting fiercely at its adversary if irritated, and inflicting a 

 wound which, though not dangerous, is very unpleasant, and causes the limb to swell and 

 ache for some time. It is said, that if it is attacked by a dog, it strikes at the eyes, and can 

 blind the poor creature. While i)reparing to strike, it dilates its neck, and flattens its head, 

 so as to look as like a venomous Serpent as its limited means will i^ermit. 



The color of the Gray Snake is exceedingly variable. Mostly, it is uniformly black, with 

 a tinge of brown ; but it often happens, that the former tint is subservient to the latter, and 

 in many cases the color is gray, sometimes of a uniform tint, and sometimes variegated with 

 large dark spots. The length of this Snake is rather more than three feet. 



The little family of the Dasypeltidaj possesses but one genus, but is remarkable for the 

 formation of the teeth and their use. The teeth of the jaws are very nunute and scanty, being 

 at the most only six or seven in number ; but some sharp and strong processes issue from the 

 hinder vertebra? of the neck, through lioles in the membranes, and form a series of tooth-like 

 projections in the gullet. 



The most familiar example of this family is the Rough Anodon, of Southern Africa, 

 The name Anodon is of Greek origin, and signifies toothless. This reptile lives almost wholly 

 upon eggs, which it eats after a curious fashion. When it finds a nest, it takes the eggs into 

 its mouth, where they lie unharmed, on account of the absence of teeth, so that the shell is 

 not broken, and the liquid contents are preserved. When, however, the reptile swallows the 

 egg, it passes into the throat, and meets the saw-like row of vertebral teeth which have just 

 been mentioned. In its passage, the shell is cut open by these teeth, and the muscular con- 

 traction of the gullet then crushes the eggs, and enables the contents to flow down the Snake' s 

 throat. These bony processes are tipped with enamel like real teeth. 



Tlie color of this remarkable Serpent is brown, with a row of black marks along the back, 

 sometimes coalescing into a continuous chain, a series of smaller spots upon each side, and 

 some arrow-head marks upon the head of a jetty -black. 



The next family is composed of the Tree-Serpents, or Dendrophidaj, so called from the 

 habit of residing among the branches of trees. 



Our first example of this family is the well-known Boomslange, of Southern Africa. In 

 pronouncing this word, which is of Dutch or German origin, and signifies Tree-Snake, the 

 reader must remember that it is a word of three syllables. The Boomslange is a native 

 of Southern Africa, and is among the most variable of Serpents in coloring, being green, 

 olive, or brown ; of such different colors, that it has often been separated into several 

 distinct species. 



Dr. A. Smith has given the following valuable description of the Boomslange and its 

 habits : — 



"The natives of South Africa regard the Boomslange as poisonous ; but in their opinion 

 VTO cannot concur, as we have not been able to discover the existence of any gland manifestly 

 Vol. ra.— 18. 



