THE SCHAAP-STICKER. 
125 
denies the existence of any perceptible odor in the Snake’s breath. It is very possible that 
the pestilent and most horrible odor which can be emitted by many Snakes when they are 
irritated, may have been mistaken for the scent of the breath. This evil odor, however, is 
produced from a substance secreted in certain glands near the tail, and has no connection with 
the breath. 
The color of the Anaconda is rich brown ; two rows of large round black spots run along 
the back, and each side is decorated with a series of light golden yellow rings edged with deep 
black. 
One or two members of this family are worthy of a passing notice. The well-known 
Yellow Snake of Jamaica ( Ohilabothrus inornatus ) is allied rather closely to the boa and 
the anaconda. It is a rather handsome reptile, being of an olive-green upon the head and 
front part of the body, covered with a multitude of little black lines, drawn obliquely across 
the body. The hinder part of the body is black, spotted with yellowish olive. 
Another member of this family, the Coral Snake ( Tortrix s cytdle) is a well-known 
inhabitant of Tropical America, and is feared or petted by the natives, according to the 
locality in which it happens to reside. In some parts of the country, the native women, 
knowing it to be perfectly harmless, and being pleased with the bold contrast of black and 
pale gold which decorate its surface, are in the habit of taming it and of placing it round their 
necks in lieu of a necklace. In other parts of the country, however, the natives believe it to 
be terribly poisonous, and flee from its presence with terror. 
It lives chiefly on insects, worms, and caterpillars, and is very timid. This creature does 
not taper so gradually from the middle of the body to the tail as is usual in most Serpents, 
but is nearly of the same cylindrical form throughout its length. The ground color of this 
Serpent is pale yellow, decorated with jetty-black rings, about sixty in number, that are 
drawn irregularly over its surface. The Coral Snake never grows to any great size, and 
seldom reaches two feet and a half in length. 
COLUBRIN^E. 
We now come to another section of the Serpents, termed ColtjbrinyE, the members of 
which are known by the broad, band-like plates of the abdomen, the shielded head, the 
conical tail, and the teeth of both jaws. Some of them are harmless and unfurnished with 
fangs, whereas some are extremely venomous and are furnished with poison-fangs in the 
upper jaw. These, however, do not fold down like those of the viper and rattlesnake, but 
remain perfectly erect. The formation of the fangs again differs in the various species. In 
some the fang is grooved for the introduction of poison into the wound, whereas in others it is 
perforated nearly throughout its length. 
As an example of the first family of these Serpents, we may take the common Brown 
Snake of America ( Conocephalus striatus). 
This reptile is quite harmless, and is plentiful in many portions of America, having rather 
a wide range of locality. Although common, it is not conspicuous, for its small dimensions, 
its sombre hue, and its retiring habits serve to conceal it from the general gaze. It is usually 
found hiding under the bark of trees, in stone heaps, or among the crevices of rocky ground, 
choosing those localities because it feeds principally on insect prey, and can find abundance of 
food in such places. Its color is grayish brown above and white below. It is a small species, 
rarely reaching eleven inches in length. 
The large family of the Coronellidse contains many curious Serpents, among which may 
be mentioned the well-known Schaap-sticker of Southern Africa. 
This Snake has a rather wide range of country, being spread over nearly the whole of 
Southern Africa, and very common at the Cape of Good Hope. It is a handsome little 
