88 Fauna Italica. 



claims to be the parent of the common sheep, but the number of 

 joints in the tail, which in the C. musmon are twelve, whilst in the 

 domestic sheep they are nineteen or twenty, are almost conclusive 

 against their identity, and in the absence of absolute proof, we should 

 be disposed to favour the claim of the Argali, the Capra Amnion of 

 Fischer, the native country of which is Tibet and Tartary, where 

 in all probability it was brought into subjection by the ancient race 

 of shepherds long before the discovery of the European species. 



In the ophidians,- the author has adopted a modification of the 

 arrangement of Wagler. The Colubrini, comprising the harmless 

 serpents of Europe, is subdivided into Natrix, which has the scales 

 carinated. They are chiefly aquatic in their habits. Coronella, which 

 has the body very taper and the tail long, the scales of some being 

 carinated, and others not. They principally inhabit trees. While 

 Coluber includes those with the scales imbricated and smooth, the 

 tail being of moderate length. 



The first reptile described is the Coluber Riccioli of Metaxa a 

 physician, who published a monograph of the Roman serpents, and 

 we believe first described it. It is one of the most beautiful, and at 

 the same time one of the most harmless and gentle of the tribe. It 

 is so mild in disposition, that with difficulty it can be made to open 

 its mouth when irritated. It is found in Monte Mario, in the su- 

 burbs of Rome, but it is not common. It has also been seen on the 

 banks of the Garonne, probably, inhabiting some of the intervening 

 countries. 



We were truly happy to find this species named after a most wor- 

 thy and indefatigable individual, to whose zeal the naturalists at 

 Rome are very much indebted. He had paid considerable attention 

 to the reptiles, and we remember when visiting his repository, which 

 was a most curious miscellany of objects collected in various parts, 

 seeing a chest filled with living serpents, that were placed there 

 to hybernate, for the purpose of making observations on their chan- 

 ges. As he discovered this Coluber, it was justly ascribed to him. 



The Natrix gabina is another elegant species. The name was at 

 first given in consequence of its being found amongst other localities 

 at the small lake which fills an extinct crater near the site of the an- 

 cient Gabii. In a later number this name is corrected, the Prince 

 having subsequently been satisfied that it is identical with the Co- 

 ronella tessellata of Laurenti, the Coluber tessellatus of Gmelin, &c. 



The habitats, which were at first supposed to be rather restricted, 

 are now known to be considerably extended, comprising parts of 

 Germany, Hungary, Spain, and France. The length is about three 



4 



