8M 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
them. Of the first kind is the common ringed snake, the 
blind worm, the Eseulapian serpent, the Amphisbaena, and 
several others. Of the second, the Jiboya, the Boiguacu, 
the Depona, and the Boiquatrara. 
The Ringed Snake, is the largest of English serpents, 
sometimes exceeding four feet in length. The neck is slen- 
der, the middle of the body thick, the back and sides 
covered with small scales ; the belly with oblong, narrow, 
transverse plates; the colour of the back and sides is of a 
dusky brown ; the middle of the back marked with two 
rows of small black spots, running from the head to the tail ; 
the plates on the belly are dusky ; the scales on the sides 
are of a blueish white; the teeth are small and serrated, 
lying on each side of the jaw, in two rows. The whole 
species is perfectly inoffensive, taking shelter in dunghills, 
and among bushes in moist places : whence they seldom re- 
move, unless in the midst of the day, in summer, when they 
are invited out by the heat, to bask themselves in the sun. 
This snake preys upon frogs, insects, worms, mice, and 
young birds; and, considering the smallness of the neck, 
it is amazing how large an animal it will swallow. 
The black make of Virginia, which is larger than the 
above, and generally grows to s'x feet long, takes a prey 
proportionable to its size ; partridges, chickens, and young 
ducks. It is generally found in the neighbourhood of the 
hen-roost, and will devour the eggs, even while the hen is 
sitting upon them; these it swallows whole; and often, 
after it has done the mischief, will coil itself round in the 
nest. 
The whole of this tribe are oviparous, laying eighty or an 
hundred eggs at a time, in dung-hills or hot-beds ; the heat 
of which, aided by that of the stun, brings tnem to maturity. 
During winter they lie torpid, in banks, or hedges, and 
under old trees. 
The Bin n !> Worm is another harmless reptile, with a for- 
midable appearance. The usual length of this species is 
eleven inches. The eyes are red, the head small, the neck 
still more slender ; from that part the body grows sud- 
denly, and continues of an equal bulk to the tail, which 
ends quite blunt. The colour of the back is cinereous, 
marked with very small lines composed of minute black 
specks. The motion of this serpent is slow; from which, 
and from the smallness of the eyes, are derived its name? 
some calling it the slow, and some the blind worm. If'k® 
