THE GLASS SNAKE. 53 



pair oi' very tiny bones attached to the pelvis, and exhibiting the merest rudiment of the 

 missing limb. 



Moreover, the pelvis itself is very small and slight, and is itself scarcely more than 

 rudimentary in its form, though affording one of the needful transition links between the 

 quadrupedal Lizards and the footless snakes, some of which, indeed, possess the rudiments 

 of limbs even in a more doubtful state than is found in the Sheltopusic. In consequence of 

 the absence of limbs, the movements of this reptile are completely those of a serpent, and so 

 'snake-like is it in all its gestures, that in the countries where it resides, it is popularly consid- 

 ered as a serpent, as is the case with the blind- worm. 



The Scheltopusic is a native of the coast of Northern Africa, and is also found in Dalmatia, 

 the Morea, and parts of Siberia, where it is called by the title under which it is now generally 

 known. It seems to be rather a timid creature, and very mistrustful of strange sights or 

 sounds, always remaining within the vicinity of some familiar spot, whither it seeks an im- 

 mediate retreat if disturbed. 



Thickly wooded valleys, where the underwood is dark and dense, and the vegetation is 

 rank and heavy, are favorite localities of this harmless and weaponless reptile, which has no 

 mode of defence if attacked, and can oidy retreat from the approach of danger by gliding 

 silently under the brushwood and insinuating itself in some dark crevice, where it lies secure. 

 So watchful is this creature, that although its movements are rather slow, it is not very easily 

 captured, mostly gliding away in so silent a manner that it has reached its haven of safety 

 before its presence is even suspected. 



Even if it be seen and followed, it is not readily captured after once it has succeeded in 

 burying itself among the brushwood, for its color is sufficiently sombre to harmonize so well 

 with the dark soil and dead sticks and leaves among which it resides, that its outline can with 

 difficulty be discerned, even by a practised eye. As is the case with most reptiles, it loves to 

 emerge from its retreat and crawl to some spot where the sunbeams have thoroughly wanned 

 the ground, and there to lie basking in the genial heat. While thus occupied, it is not so wary 

 as at other times, and may be approached and secured before it can make good its retreat. 



The whole aspect of this reptile is so serpentine that it has been attacked and killed under 

 the impression that it was a poisonous snake, and great has been the surprise of its slayers to 

 find that they had destroyed, not a venomous serpent, but a harmless Lizard. This creature 

 has been often captured alive and kept in confinement. In its wild state it feeds mostly on 

 insects, the smaller reptiles, and similar creatures, sometimes gliding into a nest of newly 

 hatched birds and swallowing them. This propensity was once exhibited by a captive Schel- 

 topusic ; it had fed very contentedly on hard-boiled eggs, until one day it contrived to gain 

 access to a nest full of very young birds, and swallowed the whole brood. 



The jaw-teeth of this reptile, although not of a venomous character, are strong, and those 

 of the palate, although small, are probably useful in aiding the creature to secure and swallow 

 its prey. The tongue is thin and covered with a little papillae of various sizes. Along each 

 side runs a rather deep groove or furrow, which, on a, closer inspection, is found to be double. 

 The scales of the back are rather shining and closely set, and there is a slight keel running 

 along the centre of each scale, which is shown more distinctly on the tail than on the body. 

 The keel is shown more distinctly in the young than in the adult. 



The color of this reptile is rather variable, but in general the ground color of the body is 

 chestnut, profusely dotted with blackish spots, caused by the dark edges or spots of each 

 scale. These scales are arranged in a regular series of thirteen longitudinal rows. The eye 

 is bright golden-green, and has a very beautiful appearance, as it contrasts well with the 

 chestnut and black of the body and head. The young Scheltopusic is very different from 

 its parent in the coloring, being gray above, with rather obscure bands of grayish-brown, and 

 the under surface is gray, with a whitish lustre. The length of the Scheltopusic is about 

 eighteen inches, the tail occupying about three-fifths of the whole measurement. 



In the curious reptile which is appropriately called the Glass Snake, there is not even a 

 vestige of limbs, so that it is even more snake-like than the preceding species. The generic 



