4lO DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



snake, which in all probability is the same with 

 the serpent of Epidaurus of the ancients. This 

 species is still more easily tamed than the pre- 

 ceding. Near it has been placed an old skin of one 

 of them, to shew the manner in which they cast 

 it, rolling it outward from the head to the tail. 



Amongst the foreign species we shall cite the 

 ibiboca of India ; the coach- whip (c.flagellum), 

 whose length is three feet, and its diameter only 

 a few lines; the iridescent snake (c. ahcetulla). 

 No reptiles have such vivid colours as these two, 

 their scales show the varied hues of gold and 

 precious stones : the iridescent is of a surprising 

 agility ; children in India play with it, and put 

 it round their neck. And lastly, we shall cite 

 the long-snouted snakes (c. mycterizans and c. na- 

 sutus), very remarkable for their very sharp and 

 Jong snout. 



We shall now pass on to the poisonous ser- 

 pents, whose bite is so dreadful and mortal. 

 Some have a flattened tail, and inhabit the Indian 

 seas, where they prove most fatal to fishermen, 

 when they happen to take them in their nets. 

 They are named hydrus, or water snake. There 

 are two species in the collection ; one of which, 

 the black-backed hydrus (anguis platura, Lin.), 

 although it is extremely poisonous, is eaten by 

 I he natives of Otaheite. The most renowned 



