88 Fauna Italica. 
claims to be the parent of the common sheep, but the number of 
joints in the tail, which in the C. musmon are twelve, whilst in the 
domestic sheep they are nineteen or twenty, are almost conclusive 
against their identity, and in the absence of absolute proof, we should 
be disposed to favour the claim of the Argali, the Capra Ammon of 
Fischer, the native country of which is Tibet and Tartary, where 
in all probability it was brought into subjection by the ancient race 
of shepherds long before the discovery of the European species. 
In the ophidians, the author has adopted a modification of the 
arrangement of Wagler. The Colubrini, comprising the harmless 
serpents of Europe, is subdivided into Natrix, which has the scales 
carinated. They are chiefly aquatic in their habits. Coronella, which 
has the body very taper and the tail long, the scales of some being 
carinated, and others not. They principally inhabit trees. While 
Coluber includes those with the scales imbricated and smooth, the 
tail being of moderate length. 
The first reptile described is the Coluber Riccioli of Metaxa a 
physician, who published a monograph of the Roman serpents, and 
we believe first described it. It is one of the most beautiful, and at 
the same time one of the most harmless and gentle of the tribe. It 
is so mild in disposition, that with difficulty it can be made to open 
its mouth when irritated. It is found in Monte Mario, in the su- 
burbs of Rome, but it is not common. It has also been seen on the 
banks of the Garonne, probably inhabiting some of the intervening 
countries. 
We were truly happy to find this species named after a most wor- 
thy and indefatigable individual, to whose zeal the naturalists at 
Rome are very much indebted. He had paid considerable attention 
to the reptiles, and we remember when visiting his repository, which 
was a most curious miscellany of objects collected in various parts, 
seeing a chest filled with living serpents, that were placed there 
to hybernate, for the purpose of making observations on their chan- 
ges. As he discovered this Coluber, it was justly ascribed to him. 
The Natrix gabina is another elegant species. The name was at 
first given in consequence of its being found amongst other localities 
at the small lake which fills an extinct crater near the site of the an- 
cient Gabii. In a later number this name is corrected, the Prince 
having subsequently been satisfied that it is identical with the Co- 
ronella tessellata of Laurenti, the Coluber tessellatus of Gmelin, &c. 
The habitats, which were at first supposed to be rather restricted, 
are now known to be considerably extended, comprising parts of 
Germany, Hungary, Spain, and France. The length is about three 
4 
