The large plates on fcrpents are called, in the Lin- 

 noean language, by the name of Scuta, to diftinguifh 

 them from the Squamae, or fcales on the other parts 

 of the body : but as thofe fcuta which are fituated un- 

 der the tail, differ from the reft in being fmalier or 

 lefs extended, and form a feparate affortment from the 

 abdominal ones, they (hould always be called by a name 

 which fhould inftantly diftinguifh them from the Scu- 

 ta or larger plates. I have therefore called thefe fmal- 

 ier fcuta by the name of Scutula. 



Notwithftanding an appearance of malignity in this 

 animal, it is not of a venomous nature ; that is, it is 

 not capable of inflicting any other than a fimple wound 

 by its teeth, as it is unprovided with the tubular fangs 

 and refervoir of poifon with which the venomous fer- 

 pents are furnifhed. 



Its colour is a moft beautiful vivid Saxon or bluiftu 

 green, with feveral broad tranfverfe bars of white down 

 the back ; the belly is of a white colour, but flightly 

 tinged with yellow. It is an inhabitant of America. 



The figure of this Snake in Seba's Mufeum is fo well 

 executed both as to pofture and accuracy, that it was 

 thought better to copy it than to attempt a new one. 



In the Britifh Mufeum is a fine fpecimen of this 

 animal. It is alfo figured in the Mufeum Adolphi Fri- 

 derici of Linnaeus, but the figure in that work is far 

 from having the elegance of Seba's reprefentation. 



The defcription of this ferpent by Linnaeus in the 

 Muf. Adolph. Frid. is as follows. 



" Head cordated, oblong before the eyes, deprefTed, 

 "gibbous behind, imbricated with fmall fcales ; the 



" anterior 



