ORDER OPHIDIA. . 807 



ralists, it sometimes breaks in twoj, and this peculiarity, 

 united to the great fragility of its tail, causes it in many 

 countries, as well as the ophisaurus ve?itralis, to receive the 

 name of glass serpent. It is an extremely mild and perfectly 

 innoxious animal, and no more merits the reputation of being 

 poisonous than that of being blind, which the vulgar in some 

 countries have persevered in calling it, in defiance of the 

 evidence of their senses. It not unfrequently becomes the 

 prey of hens, ducks, geese, swans, hedgehogs, adders, frogs, 

 and large toads. 



It has already appeared by the text of Cuvier, that the first 

 family or division of this order, called by him Anguis, in- 

 cludes, in fact, but one genus, designated by the same name, 

 but divided into four sub-genera, by the characters stated, 

 namely, Pseudopus, Ophisaurus, Anguis, and Acontias. 

 Having nothing of interest to offer on the manners or habits 

 of these animals, we shall merely refer to their specific cha- 

 racters in the text and table, and to the figures inserted to 

 illustrate them. 



The family of the true serpents are more properly and 

 particularly ophidians, and to them our preceding remarks 

 on the order in general may be more especially applied. 

 We have there stated all that relates to the nature and 

 organization of these animals, which in all times have inspired 

 both men and the majority of other animated beings with 

 fears justly founded, and an almost insurmountable horror. 

 This horror appears to be so innate, and so preconceived, 

 that even the species which are unacquainted with the 

 danger, or have but little cause to dread it, are affrighted 

 at the sight of these creeping beasts, just as the rodentia 

 in general will fly at the aspect of the wolf, and the mouse 

 will tremble on perceiving the cat. Such is the effect of 

 that mysterious instinct which puts every animated being on 

 its guard for the preservation of its existence, by marking 



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