483 



PERUVIAN SNAKE. 



Coluber Peruvianus. C. alho nigroque tariatuSj abdomine roseo. 

 Black-and-white Snake, with rose-coloured abdomen. 

 Serpens Peruviana elegantissima & rara. Seb. 2. t.2l.f. 1. 



This highly elegant Snake is described by Seba, 

 who informs us that it is a native of Peru, and a 

 rare species in European collections : the upper part 

 of the animal is variegated with black and white 

 spots and marks ; the sides tinged with yellowish 

 red, while the belly or under part is of a light red 

 or rose-colour : it is said to be an innocent spe- 

 cies, and to be chiefly found in New Spain : it is 

 one of those snakes which do not appear to be de- 

 scribed by Linnaius, nor is the number of its scuta 

 and squamae known : its size seems to be nearly 

 that of the common English Snake, but its form 

 is rather thicker in proportion. Mr. Merrem con- 

 siders it as a variety of the Colluher pullatus, but 

 the peculiar form of its scales, and some other cir- 

 cumstances, seem to forbid this supposition. The 

 original specimen itself seems to have been in the 

 Linkian collection at Leipzig ; since it is figured, 

 apparently from the same drawing with Seba's, in 

 the Physica Sacra of Scheuchzer, vol. 7. t. 630. 



