SMALL ELACK AND RED SNAKE. 
the sides, for it's whole length, by blue lines 
speckled with small black spots. It had a sort 
of collar of vellcw^ spots round it's neck : and 
the eyes were of a gold colour. The make of 
the whole animal agreed w-ith the species 
figured ; and it w^as equally inoffensive. 
Most Serpents," says Edwards, *• arc 
dreaded by Men, as poisonous and dangerous 
animals. It would, therefore, be highly ex- 
pedient, by all the metliods we can, to observe 
and discover, from certain experience, which 
of the species are hurtful, and which are not, 
and record them, in order to free mankind from 
unnecessary fears." 
A paper, read before the Royal Society, 
in March 1762, mentions two instances of 
persons bitten by the SIow-\\'orm, or Biind- 
"W'orin, without receiving any harm : though 
the Worms fastened and hung to their hands, 
and blood followed the bites. This ^^'orm is 
■vulgarly thought venomous, and it's bite pre- 
tended to bo mortal. 
