396 
VEKTEBRATA. 
are exceedingly venomous, and are much, dreaded by the fishermen, in whose nets they are not 
unfrequently caught. They rarely exceed four feet in length. 
Genus PELAMIS : Pelamis. — This includes the BicoLOREr) Sea-Snake, P. bicolor, found 
along the islands of the Pacific Ocean, especially in the vicinity of Tahiti, where its flesh is 
eaten by the natives. Another species, the P. 07-nata, is found in the region of Borneo. 
The Banded Sea-Snake, Chersydrus granulatus, inhabits the bottoms of saline creeks and 
ditches in Java ; it is exceedingly venomous. 
There are several other genera, according to Dr. Gray, as the Lapemis, Aturia, Microce2jhalophis, 
PJnhydrina, Hydi^ophis, Chitulia, Kerilia, &c., found along the coasts of Asia, and of the Asiatic 
Islands. 
THE FRESH- WATER SNAKES. 
These are more numerous than the preceding group, the species being distributed over all the 
tropical regions of the earth ; they are especially abundant in India, China, the Asiatic Isles, the 
West Indies, and South America. Several species are common in the United States. 
Genus CERBERUS : Cerberus. — This includes the Karoo Bokadam of India, C. cinereus ; it 
is three and a half to four feet 
long, its body covered with im- 
bricated scales ; color dark gray 
above; dark yellow beneath. 
It has no poisonous organs ; 
found in India. There are other 
species of Bokadam in Borneo, 
the Philippine Isles, and Aus- 
tralia. 
Genus TROPIDONOTUS: 
Tropidonotus. — The animals of 
THE KAROO BOKADAM. ^^^^ g^nus posscss thc powcr of 
elevating the ribs, and thus flat- 
ten the body ; they are consequently able to swim well ; some, in fact, live mostly in the Avater ; 
others, though living on the land, are more or less aquatic. The species best known in this 
country is the Common Water-Snake, T. sipedon, from two and a half to four feet long ; body 
robust, color variable, but usually dark brown above, sides mahogany color, beneath white, varied 
with reddish. It generally lives in water, and is often seen along the borders of rivers and lakes, 
sometimes coiled upon a stick on the margin. It is of a sullen, threatening aspect, but is entirely 
harmless. It feeds on frogs and fishes, and is often called the Water-Adder. It is found in the 
Middle and Eastern States and in Ohio ; probably its range is still more extensive. 
The Tropido7iotus fasciatus resembles the preceding; it lives most of its time in the water, or 
about the banks of ponds and rivers, feeding upon frogs and other small reptiles. It swims with 
great rapidity, and hundreds of them may be seen darting through the water in all directions, 
constantly protruding their tongues as if to feel the objects before them. It is a bold species, 
and is often seen in summer on the lower branches of trees overhanging the water ; found in the 
Southern States. 
The Copper-Belly, T. erythrogaster, is four feet long, brownish red above, and bright copper 
color below ; habits like the preceding ; found in the Carolinas. 
The T. taxisjnlotus is a large water-snake, found in South Carolina and Georgia, The T. 
niger is a rare species, foimd in New England. The T. rigidus is found from Pennsylvania to 
Mississippi. 
The Common Striped-Snake, T. sirtalis of Holbrook, T. taenia of De Kay, is two to four feet 
long, color greenish-brown, with three light-colored stripes along the body, the colors varying 
in shade ; the tail is short and rapidly slopes to a point. It is one of our most common species, 
and is found from Canada to the Southern States ; vast numbers are devoured by hawks and 
owls. It is abundant in Ohio, where it is eaten by hogs, and also, it is said, by fowls, ducks, and 
turkeys. It feeds on frogs, toads, and the smaller quadrupeds ; it is timid, and seeks retreat 
