Fauna Italica. 89 



feet. There is no difference in colour between the sexes. The 

 back is a bottle green, with symmetrical rows of dark spots ; the 

 under parts with dark spots on a light yellow ground, and red inter- 

 mixed. 



It inhabits ditches and similar situations, is extremely shy, and 

 difficult of capture even to the most expert hunters of serpents. 



The Coluber flavescens — is of considerable size, some specimens 

 measuring forty inches. The back is dark green with white cross- 

 shaped spots, the under part being of light greenish-yellow. The 

 young differ extremely from the adults. 



This is one of the species which claim the honour of being the at- 

 tendant of Esculapius, but the Prince thinks without foundation. 

 That named after the god of medicine by Linnaeus is an American 

 reptile, and that on which Lacepede bestowed the appellation had 

 no better title than because it came from Rome. Whichsoever 

 be the real species, we apprehend it must be sought for in Greece. 



It inhabits all parts of Italy, living mostly in marshy meadows 

 and about trees. We suspect it is found beyond the Alps ; a very 

 large snake killed by us in a watery lane near Stang in Switzer- 

 land, some years since, as far as we can recollect, perfectly answer- 

 ing the description. 



Three beautiful plates are given of the Coluber viridiflavus, a large 

 and active reptile, which is found over the whole of the south of 

 Europe. The author has seen a specimen four feet in length. It is the 

 most common species near Rome, living even within the walls, and 

 we can testify from ocular observation its activity in the capture of 

 its prey. Amongst the plates is a variety of dark colour, which has 

 been described as another species by the name of C. carbonarius. 

 The author seems to think that reptiles living in mountainous dis- 

 tricts assume a darker colour than those inhabiting the plains, a sub- 

 ject which is well worth the investigation as to the causes, and 

 whether it be constant. 



The Natrix elaphis is the largest European Ophidian, a speci- 

 men of five feet eight inches in length not being considered extra- 

 ordinary. This is the reptile which is conjectured by Metaxa to 

 have been that which is recorded to have swallowed a child on the 

 Vatican mount in the time of Claudius, the body being taken out 

 of the stomach uninjured. We do not think it at all incredible, and 

 more likely to be true than otherwise. We remember seeing a very 

 young child deposited on the pavement of a church at Lisbon, quite 

 naked, to wait until some charitable person should order it to be bu- 

 ried, which a very moderate sized snake might have swallowed, had 



