< SURINAM AMPHiSBCENA. 
Chough we have, in conformity with. 
re idea of Madame Merian, by w^hom this 
bautiful Snake was originally figured, deno- 
minated it the Surinam Amphisboena ; we by 
o means feel satisfied that it is, strictly, even 
f the Amphisboena genus, as that lady asserts 
: to be. Indeed, she calls it a Viper; thought 
lie says it is of the Amphisboena class, the 
lead being with difficulty distinguishable from 
he tail without nice inspection. This, cer- 
ainly, forms one of the characteristics of 
^inmeus ; viho tells us, that the Amphisboena 
;enus has a tail scarcely to be distinguished 
rom the head, and very obtuse : but >he also' 
ays, that it has no scales ; the body being 
-mooth, equal, and cylindricaL 
In our figure, which is faithfully copied 
Torn Madame Merian, the scales are abun- 
-jlantly manifest: nor do the colours agree with 
jmy species of the AmphisbcBoa described by 
Linnaeus, who has enumerated five different 
species. 
The 
