21 



their jaws as the Chamelions and Agamse ; which last 

 are in the upper part of the case, and are of many kinds. 

 The Trapeli, or Mutable Agamse, which are so called 

 from rhe rapidity with which they change the colour of 

 their skin, are usually armed with scales, as the Yellow 

 Striped Agamse, Cape Agamse, &c. The Dragons may 

 be noticed in this case, and are singular from the skin 

 of their sides being extended into wings, which when 

 they leap are expanded, and act as a parachute. Also 

 in the lower part of the case may be noticed the cha- 

 meleon, which, like several other of the Saurian Reptiles, 

 have the peculiarity of rapidly changing colour. They 

 catch insects by protruding their tongue, which they 

 have the power of doing to a great distance, compared 

 to the size of the animal. 



Case 5 has several species of the Snake Lizards, 

 much resembling the Snake : of these also there is great 

 variety, some with short legs, some with long, some 

 with four legs, some with two, and some with no legs 

 at all. 



Cases 6 to 13 contain Serpents ; with mouths that 

 can be dilated as to enable them to swallow large bodies 

 entire : which is owing to the manner the lower jaw is 

 attached to the cranium. 



Case 6 contains the pre-eminently Poisonous Ser- 

 pents, whose upper jaws are furnished with large move- 

 able fangs, which have a groove on the convex edge, 

 for conveying the poison into the wound occasioned by 

 the bite ; this poison is secreted in a gland under the 

 eye, a canal carries it to the teeth. The fangs are con- 

 cealed by a fold in the gums, and behind them are the 

 rudiment of other fangs, to replace the former if lost. 

 The poisonous Snakes have usually large heads and 

 short tails, and the scales of the body rough. 



The true Rattle Snakes are interesting from the pe- 

 culiarity they possess, in the construction of the tail, 

 which ends in a series of horny joints, fitting one into 

 the other, which the animal can shake at pleasure : 

 some of the detached Rattles are in this case. Then 

 follow the Vipers, Adders, and Cylindrical Snakes, some 



