Fwo-Headed Snakes. 49 
‘he island of Jamaica, has no such constitution. Such a 
two-headed being belongs to fabulous, and not to real zool- 
ogy. But it is an aphedian reptile, having two distinct 
heads, or a double head, at one extremity of the body. 
In the usual cases, among the mammalia, the departure 
from the ordinary figure and structure, has been uniformly 
considered as indicating or constituting monstrosity. When 
a similar peculiarity of organization occurs in serpents, it 
seems to have been viewed by many, with a different regard. 
The creatures have attracted notice as a distinct race, and 
perfect in their kind. 
This opinion has probably arisen from the size which the 
animal has attained, and the agility with which it performed 
all its functions. Hence a sentiment arose, that a Serpens 
biceps, belonged to a specific breed, regularly and naturally 
formed with two heads. 
The, circumstances were powerful and imposing; and fer 
a time, I was myself inclined to that belief. But latterly I 
have acquired information, that has obliged me to abandon . 
the notion. 
During the year 1823, a female snake was killed about 
six miles west of the Genesee river, together with her 
whole brood of young ones, amounting to one hundred and 
twenty. Of these, three were monsters; one with two dis- 
tinct heads; one with a double head, and only three eyes ; 
and one with a double skull furnished with three eyes and a 
single lower jaw ; this last had two bodies. The figures 
correctly drawn from the originals in my collection, repre- 
sent the shape and size of the several individuals. (See the 
annexed plate, fig. 1, 2, and 3.) My friend, Dr. Voight, of 
Rochester, having heard of the occurrence, travelled to the 
place and inquired into the facts. He procured the three 
which were deformed, and very obligingly piaced them at 
my disposal. The dam, or mother, was of the sort called the 
Biack Snake ov Runner, one of the most frequent and prolific 
of the New-York serpents. ‘The species is very well known, 
and is apparently the Coluber constrictor of Linnzus, and Le 
Lien of La Cepede. [It frequently attains the length of six 
feet, and has been known to equal twelve; is sleek and 
slender, with a black back and a bluish belly, with a white 
throat, and sometimes a white ring around the neck. The 
vulgar name is derived from a tale, that in the amorous sea- 
son, the maleis bold enough tochase human beings, arid en- 
Vou. X.-—No. 1. 7 
