THE COLUBRINA. 437 
impracticability, and, unless proved by frequent experience, would seem more 
like the prelude to a juggler’s trick than an event of every-day occurrence. 
To such an extent is the body dilatable that the shape of the animal 
swallowed can often be traced through the skin, and the very fur is visible 
through the translucent eyes, as the dead victim passes through the jaws and 
down the throat. ; ; é 
AN equally celebrated snake, the ANACONDO, is a native of Tropical America, 
where it is known under several names, La Culebra de Agua, or “ water ser- 
pent,” and El Traga Venado, or “ deer swallower,” being the most familiar. 
Sir R. Ker Porter has some curious remarks on the Anaconda :—“ This 
serpent is not venomous, nor known to injure men (at least not in this part 
of the New World) ; however, the natives stand in great fear of it, never 
bathing in waters where it is known to exist. Its common haunt, or rather 
domicile, is invariably near lakes, swamps, and rivers ; likewise close to wet 
ravines produced by inundations of the periodical rains; hence, from its 
aquatic habits, its first appellation (ze, Water Serpent), Fish, and those 
animals which repair there to drink, are the objects of its prey. The crea- 
ture lurks watchfully under cover of the water, and while the unsuspecting 
animal is drinking, suddenly makes a dart at the nose, and, with a grip of its 
back-reclining double range of teeth, never fails to secure the terrified beast 
beyond the power of escape.” 
Compression is the only method employed by the Anacondo for killing its 
prey, and the pestilent breath which has been attributed to this reptile is 
wholly fabulous. Indeed, it is doutbtful whether any snake whatever 
possesses a fetid breath, and Mr. Waterton, who has handled snakes, borh 
poisonous and inoffensive, as much as most living persons, utterly denies the 
existence of any perceptible odour in the snake’s breath. It is very possible 
that the pestilent and most horrible odour which can be emitted by many 
snakes, when they are irritated, may have been mistaken for the scent of the 
breath. This evil odour, however, is produced from a substance secreted in 
the glands near the tail, and has no connection with the breath. 
WE now come to another section of the serpents, termed the COLUBRINA, 
the members of which are known by the broad band-like plates of the abdo- 
men, the shielded head, the conical tail, and the teeth of both jaws. Some 
of them are harmless and unfurnished with fangs, whereas some are ex- 
tremely venomous and are furnished with poison-fangs in the upper jaw. 
These, however, do not fold down like those of the viper and rattlesnake, but 
remain perfectly erect. 
OUR common GRASS SNAKE, or RINGED SNAKE, is a good example of 
these reptiles. 
It is extremely plentiful throughout England, being found in almost every 
wood, copse, or hedgerow, where it may be seen during the warm months of 
the year sunning itself on the banks, or gently gliding along in search of 
prey, always, however, betraying itself to the initiated ear by a peculiar 
rustling among the herbage. Sometimes it may be detected while in the act 
of creeping up a perpendicular trunk or stem, a feat which it accomplishes, 
not by a spiral movement, as is generally represented by artists, but by 
pressing itself .irmly against the object, so as to render its body flatter and 
wider, and crawling up by the movement of the large banded scales of the 
belly, the body being straight and rigid as a stick, and ascending in a 
manner that seems almost inexplicable. 
The Ringed Snake is perfectly harmless, having no venomous fangs, and 
all its teeth being of so small a size that, even if the creature were to snap 
at the hand, the skin would not be injured. 
The food of the Ringed Snake consists mostly of insects and reptiles, 
