16 
THE ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 
[upper 
kill their prey by constriction, twisting the end of their prehensile tail 
round a tree, and thus increasing their power over the animal when 
encircled by the folds of their body ; their gape is enormous. The 
Coral Snakes are banded with black and red rings ; the Cobra 
Snakes, which can dilate the skin of the neck so as to form a kind of 
hood over the head; they are the snakes used by the Indian jugglers. 
They have large poison-fangs, which are carefully extracted before the 
performances. The Tree Snakes, called, from the great length of 
their bodies, the Coach-whip Snakes ; one kind has the nose much 
produced. 
Cases 18-23. The Tortoises and Turtles. Cases 18, 19. 
The Land Tortoises live on vegetable substances ; the gigantic 
Indian Tortoise, common on the Galapagos, whence sailors procure 
them as food. Cases 20-92. The Fresh-water Tortoises live on 
animal food ; some of these cannot withdraw their heads into the cavity 
of the shell like the other Tortoises. Case 23. The Three-clawed 
Terrapins live in the rivers of Africa, Asia, and America ; they are 
carnivorous, and eat their food in the water. The Marine Turtles 
live in the ocean, feeding chiefly on sea- weeds and shell-fish ; the 
Green Turtle, the fat of which is so much relished by the gourmand ; 
the imbricated Turtle, which furnishes the best sort of " tortoise- 
shell." 
Cases 24-26. The Crocodiles and Amphisbcenas. The 
Crocodiles and Alligators drown their prey, and then devour it; 
the Alligators are only found in America ; the Garial, or long-beaked 
Crocodile, is peculiar to India, and feeds chiefly on fishes, for taking 
which its long and slender snout and sharp teeth are well adapted. 
The Amphisboenas are so called from both ends being nearly equally 
blunt, which has led to the idea that they could move backwards or 
forwards with equal ease. 
Case 26. The Batrachia, such as the Toads, Frogs, and Efts ; 
the Tree-frogs can walk on polished surfaces, and under the smoothest 
leaves ; the Bull-frogs of America, so called from their loud bellowing 
noise ; the horned Toads of Brazil ; the Pipa of Brazil, which deposits 
its eggs in cells on the back of the male, where they are hatched, pass- 
ing through the form of the tadpole, and escaping as a frog after a 
certain period ; the Siren of Carolina, which looks like an eel, with 
front legs — it is a truly amphibious animal, with lungs and gills ; 
the Proteus of the dark, subterraneous caves of Carniola, and also a 
wax model, to show its appearance when alive ; the coral-coloured 
appendages to the head are the gills; it has also lungs. The Mud- 
fish {Lepidrmren) from the Gambia, shaped like an Eel, covered with 
large scales, and having four elongated fringed filaments on which it 
supports itself. In summer, when the water in the rivers is dried up, 
it sinks two or three feet in the mud, and becomes torpid. It is often 
dug up and oaten. This specimen was formerly exhibited alive in the 
Crystal Palace. 
The Table Cases (1 to 10) contain the Echini, or Sea-eggs, such as 
the Club-spined Echinus and the Tessellated Echinus; the spines 
