ORDER OPHIDIA. 333 



The colubers of cold and temperate climates bury them- 

 selves in the earth during the autumn, and remain there in a 

 lethargic state for the whole winter. 



The common snake of this country (coluber natrix, L.) is 

 found throughout all Europe, on the banks of fresh waters, 

 in meadows, and on the borders of woods. It is vulgarly 

 called the water-snake. It may be handled without fear, for 

 it never tries to bite, except when exceedingly irritated, and 

 its bite is not at all dangerous. 



If it be tormented, it hisses strongly, exhales by the mouth 

 a foetid vapour, slightly musked, throws fire into its looks, 

 shoots forward in a serpentine line, and there runs out from 

 under its scales a white humour of a most insupportable 

 stench, and the odour of which is extremely tenacious. In 

 moments of danger it also shoots its excrements, which are 

 equally foetid. 



M. de Lacepr'de informs us that in Sardinia this serpent is 

 brought up in a kind of domestication, and that it is not 

 insensible to the caresses of its masters. Moreover, in that 

 island it is regarded as an animal of favourable omen, and 

 suffered to enter freely into all the houses. 



In some countries these reptiles are eaten, and it is pretend- 

 ed that the flesh is exceedingly savoury. The fat is also 

 sometimes employed in topical applications, and is said to 

 be soothing and resolutive. Soups or broths are prepared 

 from these animals, which are administered in scrofulous 

 cases, in rheumatic affections, and in several cutaneous 

 maladies. 



The collared adder is easy to be reared, but it must be 

 fed on small living animals, frogs, insects, mollusca, &c. It 

 will refuse milk, cooked or raw meat, bread, and all kinds 

 of vegetables. 



These reptiles swim with very great facility, and traverse 



