CUPREOUS SNAKE. 459 



but birds and such other animals as they are able 

 to overcome they devour; frequently entering the 

 houses of poultry, sucking the eggs, and devour- 

 ing the fowls : they are bold, nimble, and active, 

 but are generally reputed not venomous, and have 

 no fangs like the viper kind. I never observed 

 their colours to vary." Mr. Catesby's figure re- 

 presents the head covered with large scales : and 

 the tail remarkably thick, short, and obtuse. 



CUPREOUS SNAKE. 



Coluber Acontia. C. cupreus, squamis albo carinatis, ahdo}nine 



Jiavo rubro maculato. 

 Copper-coloured Snake, with the scales carirxated by a white 



line, and abdomen yellow with red spots. 

 Serpens Acontias, sive Jaculus Americanus, &c. Seb, 2. t. 



64./. 1. 



In its general appearance this snake, according 

 to Seba's figure, bears a considerable resemblance 

 to the Copper-belly of Catesby, but the head is 

 larger, and covered with small scales, the neck 

 thinner, and the tail somewhat more taper : the 

 whole upper parts are of a light copper colour, 

 each scale marked by a white streak or carina : 

 the abdomen is yellow, spotted on the edges with 

 small red specks. From the size of the head, and 

 its being covered with small scales, it should seem 

 that this is a poisonous species. It is a native of 

 the island of Santa Cruz. 



