C, 'AP. XII. 
BEPTILES. 
31 
( this incumbrance lie could not withdraw himself ; 
(( finding this, he reluctantly disgorged the precious 
morsel, which began to more off; this was too much 
() ^ <n ' snalce philosophy to bear, and the toad was again 
seized, and again was the snake, after violent efforts 
*C j O t 
( Cl) escape, compelled to part with its prey. This time, 
(< ‘°wever, a lesson had been learnt, and the toad was 
(( s, ' iz( -d by one leg, withdrawn, and then swallowed in 
‘ d'iuinph.” 
It does not, however, follow because snakes have 
s< 1,110 reasoning power and strong passions, that they 
s lo nkl likewise be endowed with sufficient taste to 
j 1 la ' r ° brilliant colours in their partners, so as to 
ea d to the adornment of the species through sexual 
election. Nevertheless it is difficult to account in 
ilri y other manner for the extreme beauty of certain 
s l>°eies ; f 01 . instance, of the coral-snakes of S. America, 
llc h are of a rich red with black and yellow transverse 
^md s , j W ell remember how much surprise I felt at 
le beauty of the first coral-snake which I saw gliding 
' lCross a path in Brazil. Snakes coloured in this peculiar 
manner, as Mr. Wallace states on the authority of Dr. 
unther m are found nowhere else in the world except 
k. America, and here no less than four genera occur. 
( j. e . these, Elaps, is venomous ; a second and widely- 
ls tmct genus is doubtfully venomous, and the two others 
110 quite harmless. The species belonging to these dis- 
*7 genera inhabit the same districts, and are so like 
< t .°tker, that no one “ but a naturalist would distin- 
the harmless from the poisonous kinds.” Hence, 
I , r ’ Wallace believes, the innocuous kinds have pro- 
. y ncquired their colours as a projection, on the 
1 mcipl e of imitation ; for they would naturally be 
54 ‘Westminster Beview,’ July 1st, 1867, p. 32. 
