439 



ARGUS SNAKE. 



Coluber Argus. Cfusco-castaneus, suhtus jiavescens, supra ma- 



culis ocellaribus rubris transversimfasciatus. 

 Chesnut brown Snake, yellow beneath, and banded above by 



transverse rows of ocellated red spots. 

 Serpens Arabica Brasiiiensibus Ibiboboca & Boiguacu dicta ; 



alias Argus. Seb. 2. 103. 



LiNN^us, relaxing from the strictness of his 

 general rule, has admitted this snake into the Sys- 

 tema Natm-as, though he knew not the number of 

 its scuta and squama, which he seems to have con- 

 sidered as the most important of all points in the 

 history of Serpents : it indeed forms a very useful 

 addition to the general character, and should ne- 

 ver be neglected where it can be ascertained ; but 

 can hardly be considered as the only, or even the 

 chief, mark of distinction *. The Argus Snake is 

 a large and elegant species, measuring, according 

 to Seba, its first describer, above five feet in 

 length, and being of a moderate thickness in pro- 

 portion : the head is large, flattish, covered in 

 front with small scales, and so very protuberant 

 on each side at the hind part as to appear heart- 

 shaped, or rather bilobate : the teeth large and 

 strong : the whole upper surface of the animal is 

 of a dusky chesnut colour, the scales being small, 

 ovate, and each marked by a white speck ; while 



* Scuta in scrpentibus plurimum variant, ut nunquam scuti? 

 ipsis fidendum. — Laurenti. 



