6 THE ORDER OF SNAKES—OPHIDIA. 
The tail of many Australian Snakes ends in a spine or sharp point, 
and in one species (the Death Adder, Acanthophis antarctica) the last scale 
is slightly curved, but almost always soft. Popular belief has invested this 
sluggish creature with the power of inflicting wounds with its tail; but this, 
like many other fables, is no longer entertained by persons conversant 
with Natural History. 
It may be necessary to say a few words about malformations in 
Ophidians. These are generally restricted toa pair of heads on an ordinary 
body, and such specimens are met with in a very youthful state only. 
There are several examples in the Museum collection. 
The general habits of snakes will be found much alike in similar 
climates, whether north or south of the line. Where frost occurs, all the 
reptiles retire under ground into the burrows of various animals; but 
in more genial regions, where the thermometer seldom or never ranges 
below freezing point, they select sunny hill-sides abounding in flat stones 
through which the rays of the sun easily penetrate, and beneath them 
make their winter quarters. They do not fall into a dormant state, since 
bright, warm days will bring them out a few yards at least from their 
hiding-places. During this season it is easy to catch them by lifting these 
stones and transferring the prey into a bag, through which they never 
attempt to bite. From six to ten specimens belonging to different species 
were captured some years ago under a single stone not many miles from 
the city of Sydney; and to go “snake-hunting’’ has been a pastime here 
with school-boys for years. In some places, particularly on the north side 
of open stony ridges that are studded with low scrubby vegetation, and 
where grass-trees, zamias, and banksias abound, flat stones are laid about 
to serve as traps during the winter, and are examined from time to time. 
In this way a great many reptiles are caught. 
The collecting-bag often forms part of the outfit of our wallaby 
hunters, by whom the old sport of boyhood is not forgotten ; and certainly 
there is considerable excitement in lifting a rock or flat stone and finding 
beneath it handsome colored snakes, lizards, or frogs, which, being 
prevented by the cold from making a rapid escape, can be captured 
with ease. 
