60 Serpents. REPTILES. Colubrine Serpents. 
some writers, such as Laborde and Father Gumilla. 
It is always found living on the ground, and api>ears 
to feed chiefly upon small re[itiles, such as the cecilise, 
typhlops, &c. Schlegel informs us that he possessed 
an individual which was killed at the moment it was 
occupied in devouring a cecilia of the same size as 
itself. The female is viviparous. 
True Colubrine Serpents, 
The second section of the Suborder Colubrina, or 
those in which the belly is covered with broad band- 
like shields, and which have a conical, tapering tail, 
are exceedingly numerous, and form the true Colu- 
brine serpents. The number described by Dr. Gun- 
ther in the British Museum catalogue amounts to 
three hundred and eighty-eight species, and they have 
been divided, according to the structure of their teeth 
(or method of dentition), into three groups. — I. Those 
which are perfectly harmless, and are destitute of either 
grooved oi- perforated fangs in front of the jaws — the 
Innocuous serpents {Oplndia inmcucC)\ II. Those 
which have a permanently erect, grooved fang in front 
— the Venomous colubriform serpents {Elapidee) ; and 
III. Those which have a permaneiithj erect, perforated 
fang in front {Atractaspididce and Dendraspididai). 
Group First— THE HARMLESS COLUBRINE 
SERPENTS {Opliidia innocud). 
This group contains by far the greatest number of 
species, not fewei than three hundred and forty having 
been enumerated. They are widely distributed, being- 
found in all parts of the world. Dr. Gunther divides 
them into no fewer than twelve small families — each 
family representing some leading genus in the former 
arrangements. 
Family I. — CALAMARS {Calamaridce). 
This, the first family we shall mention, is termed by 
Schlegel the “ verrnilorm snakes.” The Calamarsare 
small terrestrial snakes, which present a sort of worm- 
like or vermiform appearance. Their body is almost 
cylindrical, sometimes resembling a piece of whipcord. 
Fig. 17. 
Head of Linnaeus’ Calamar (Calamaria Linnaei). 
and terminating in a tail usually short, cylindrical, and 
tapering. Their head is usually about the same size as 
the body, and not distinct from the neck; and the muzzle 
is rounded or pointed. 
Forty-four species have been described. 
IINN^IUS’ CALAMAR {Calamaria Linnaei) — fig. 
17 — is one of the best known. It is a native of 
the island of Java, and is about a foot in length. 
The colours vary very much, but generally the ground 
is a fine red carmine or vermilion, deeper beneath, 
where it often passes into brown, black, or bluish-black, 
and variegated with quadrangular black spots. It is 
said to be very common in Java, lives always on the 
ground, and is very slow in its movements. The 
Malays know it by the name of Ular-lema, and it is 
looked upon by them as perfectly harmless 
Family II. — CROWN-SNAKES {Coronellidce), 
The Coronellas or Crown-snakes exceed the Cala- 
mars in size, but never attain large dimensions. Their 
body is of moderate size, nearly cylindrical in form, 
but slightly thicker towards the middle. The tail is 
rather short, more slender than the body, and tapering 
insensibly to a fine point. The head is more or less 
distinct from the neck, rather depressed, and generally 
with a short rounded muzzle. 
The genus Coronella contains seventeen species, and 
representatives of them are found in almost every part 
of the globe. Two are European. 
THE SMOOTH CROWN-SNAKE {Coronella austriaca) 
appears to be spread over nearly the whole of Europe. 
It was first observed by Laurenti in the humid valleys 
in the neighbourhood of Vienna. It has since been 
described as a native of various parts of France, Italy, 
Hungary, Thuringia, Switzerland, Germany in several 
quarters, Hanover, the Low Countries, Sweden, and 
also in Sicily, &c. Still more recently, it has been 
found in England. It difl'ers from most of the other 
species of this family in its habits and manner of liv- 
ing, preferring in general as its places of abode dry, 
heathy, rocky, and wooded situations, instead of moist 
meadows. In Thuringia it is found living on high 
gi'ound, even near the summit of lofty mountains, 
where it has been observed taking refuge under stones, 
moss, or herbs It is easily known by its shining 
skin, which is of a rather sombre brown colour, marked 
with rounded, irregular, dark spots, somewhat like the 
common viper; and indeed it is often found in com- 
pany with both it and the ringed snake. The pea- 
sants often confound it with the viper, and dread it 
much in consequence. When full grown the Smooth 
Coronella seldom exceeds two feet in length. Its body 
is elongated and cylindrical in shape, slightly tapering 
at the two extremities. The head is distinct from the 
trunk, the eye is small, and the iris is of a lively red. 
The colours varj" very much in the adult specimens, 
but the young at first leaving the egg are quiie white. 
Small animals, as mice, moles, little birds, lizards, 
worms, and insects, constitute its food. It is very 
alert in its movements, and makes its escape with 
great swiftness when any one approaches it. When 
attacked it del'ends itself with boldness and energy, 
bites with fury, and does not easily let go its hold. If 
laid hold of by the tail, it will twist itself up and seize 
with its teeth the hand which holds it. Its bite, how- 
ever, is perfectly harmless. According to the obser- 
vations of Lenz, this serpent is viviparous ; the eggs 
require three or four months’ time to develope, and the 
young are about the number of twelve. In captivity 
it retains its wild disposition lor a length of time after 
