THE DESERT SNAKES. 47 



covering of the eyes and that of the scales are always found in the 

 exuviae. Previous to this curious phenomenon, the whole cuticle 

 becomes somewhat opaque, the eyes dim, and the animal is evidently 

 blind ; it also becomes more or less inactive, until at length, when the 

 old skin is ready for removal and the new skin perfectly hard under- 

 neath, the animal bursts it at the neck, and creeping through some 

 dense herbage or low brushwood, leaves it detached, and comes forth 

 in brighter and clearer colours than before." 



The Ringed Snake begins to hybernate about the end of autumn, 

 when they coil themselves up, sometimes in numbers, till the spring 

 again calls them forth. Many instances are told of this Snake 

 being tamed. Mr. Bell had one which knew him from all other 

 persons ; it would come to him when let out of its box, crawl under 

 the sleeve of his coat, and every morning visit him for a draught of 

 milk.] 



The Green and Yellow Snake is also about a yard in length, and 

 is common in the south and west of France ; they have been taken 

 in the forest of Fontainebleau. The beautiful colours in which they 

 are clothed causes them to be easily distinguished from the Viper. 

 The eyes are edged with golden-coloured scales ; the upper part of 

 the body is of a very dark greenish colour, upon which is extended 

 a large number of radiating lines, composed of small yellowish spots 

 of different shapes, some long, others lozenge shape, giving it a 

 chequered appearance. These chequers extend from the head to the 

 tail. The belly is yellowish ; the large plates which cover it have a 

 black spot at each end, and are bordered with a very thin black line. 

 This inoffensive reptile is extremely timid, and generally hides itself 

 from observation, taking to flight at the least alarm. They are said 

 to be easily tamed. 



The Viperine Snake {Tropidonotus viperinus, Fig. 12) has the 

 body of a greyish or dirty yellow colour, having on the middle of the 

 back a series of blackish spots so close to each other as to give the 

 idea of one small continuous wavy line from head to tail. The sides 

 are covered with isolated spots, forming lozenge-like figures, the 

 centres of which are of a greenish tint. This is the smallest of all 

 the European Colubridce, and, like the others, it is found in most 

 parts of Europe. 



[The Psammophida, or Desert Snakes, are akin both to the 

 Colubridce. and to the Tree Snakes of the next family ; but the latter, 

 remarks Dr. Giinther, may always be distinguished either by their 

 green coloration, by the horizontal pupil of the eye, or the absence 

 of a long anterior maxillary tooth. In the Psammophida the pupil 



