42 OPHIDIAN EEPTILES. 



in India are familiar ^ith the appellation "Carpet Snake," as 

 denoting a verj' deadly reptile, but nobodj- can there point out 

 what the Carpet Snake really is ; and the one most generally 

 supposed to bear that name is a small innocuous S)iake (Lycodon 

 aulicus), which is common about human dwellings. In the 

 Australian colony of Victoria, however, the appellation Carpet 

 Snake is bestowed upon a terribly venomous species {FIoplo- 

 cephaias curtus) ; while in the neighbouring colony of Xew 

 South Wales, a harmless and even useful creature (Morelia 

 spilotes) is habitually known as the Carjjet Snake. 



With regard to the poison of Yenemous Snakes, attention has 

 latelj' been directed to the virtue of ammonia or volatile alkali. 

 This should be administered internally, mixed with alcoholic 

 .spirit and water, in repeated doses ; and it should also be injected 

 into a vein — about one drachm of the liquor ummordcE of the shops 

 being mixed with two or thiee times that c[uantity of water. The 

 patient .should be kep)t moving as much as possible, and the effects 

 of a galvanic battery should also be tried in cases where animation 

 is nearly or rpiite suspended. By these means it is asserted that 

 quite recently, in Australia, some very remail^able cures have 

 been effected. 



The (Jijliiilia have manv enemies, as the well-known ^Mung-oose 

 among mammalia, also Swine, and various ruminating c|uadrupeds, 

 as Deer and Goats. In the bird class, the famous Serpent-eater, 

 or Secretary-bird of South Africa, is one of their eliief destroyers ; 

 and there arc various other Snake-devouring birds of prey, besides 

 the great African Ground Hornbill,— even the Peafowl and .sundry 

 Storks and other waders. Comparatively large birds of the King- 

 fisher family prey chiefly upon Snakes and Lizards in Australia ; 

 and of reptiles, besides those Snakes which prey upon other 

 Snakes, the Monitor Lizards frec|uently seize and devour them. 



Tlie series of Ophidians is arranged by our most eminent herpe- 

 tologist, Dr. A. Giinther, into five .subordinate groups, which he 

 characterises as follows : — 



I. Burrorcu'Kj Snakes, living under ground, only occasionallv 

 appearing above the surface. They are distinguished by a rigid 

 cylindrical body, .short tail, narrow mouth, small head not 

 distinct Ifom the neck, little teeth in .small number, and by the 



