FuKsn-WATiiU JbNAivEs. REPTILES. Common Ringed Snake. 
it has been canght, but if taken quite young it may be 
rendered very gentle and familiar. When provoked 
it makes no hissing noise unless some mice are intro- 
duced into its cage, of which it is very fond. It does 
not leap, but it can climb trees ; and though it does 
not frequent water, yet it has been seen to swim well. 
Several species of Coronella are natives of Africa ; 
while others, remarkable for the brilliancy of their 
colours while alive, are found in South America. 
THE CORAL SNAKE (^Erythrolamprtis vcnustissimns) 
is one of these, and is indeed one of the most beautiful 
of the w'hole order of Ophidians. The ground colour 
of this beautiful serpent is a strikingly fine vermilion ; 
the scales are all pointed with black, and the body is 
encircled with from twelve to fifteen pairs of black 
rings, edged with greenish-white, and placed at regular 
intervals. It is a native of Brazil, being found in 
the forests in the ueighboui hood of Rio Janiero. 
Family III.— FRESH- WATER SNAKES 
{Natricidce). 
This family contains forty-two species, by far the 
greater number of which are natives of India and 
America, though species are found in almost all parts 
of the world. They are of moderate size, with the 
body rather stout, generally depressed, and the belly 
flat, or in some cases rounded. With the exception 
of one species from West Africa. {Grayia silurophaga) 
the tail is rather short, more or less distinct from the 
trunk, and tapering to a point. In the greater num- 
ber of the species the head is depressed, rather broad, 
and distinct fi om the neck. 1 he muzzle in most is 
rounded, and the mouth is very large. They are 
generally found living in the immediate neighbour- 
hood of fresh-water lakes or streams, into which they 
often plunge in search of shelter or food. By far the 
greater number of the known species of the family are 
contained in two genera, Xenodon and Trojaidonotus. 
W e have only space for the latter. 
The genus Tropidonotus contains twenty-four spe- 
cies, which are found scattered in nearly all parts 
of the world. They are of moderate size, and appear 
to prefer for their place of abode the neighbourhood of 
fresh water, which they veiy often frequent, either 
for the purpose of withdrawing themselves from the 
pursuit of their enemies or of searcliing for food. 
This habit is so well known in the various countries 
where they are found, that they are almost universally 
called “ Fresh- water serpents.” The various species 
are all closely allied in form. Some of the species 
are small ; others, on the contrary, attain a length 
of four or five feet, with a circumference of about 
an inch and a half or thereabouts. The greater 
jiumber are natives of India and America. Two are 
European, and only one has as yet been discovered 
in Australia. They abound especially near lakes, 
rivers, or brooks, the banks of which are shaded 
with trees. Stretched there upon a rock, or clinging 
upon the branches of the shrubs near the water, they 
rest waiting for their prey, which consists chiefly of 
frogs and fishes. Upon these the}'^ dart with great 
rapidity, the moment the poor creatures show them- 
selves at the surface of the water. They swim with 
great ease and elegance, holding the head and neck 
above the surface ; they even dive with much dexte- 
rity, and are able to remain a length of time at the 
bottom of the water without requiring to renew the air 
in their lungs. Although they are able to creep on 
dry land and climb upon trees and other elevated 
objects, yet, being able and expert swimmers, they 
prefer taking to the water, when in danger, to seeking 
their safety in flight upon the ground. All kinds of 
situations are apparently indifl'erent to them as places 
of abode, provided they are such as can furnish them 
with sufficient food ; and this accounts for the fact 
that frequently the same species is found inhabiting 
plains covered with brushwood, meadows, the borders 
of woods removed from water, equally with dense 
forests and the sides of mountains to a considerable 
height above the level of the sea. Other species, 
however, never appear to quit the immediate neigh- 
bourhood of fresh-water lakes and rivers. They take 
up their abode in holes in the ground which have been 
excavated by burrowing animals, and to these they 
retreat at the approach of danger; or, in temperate 
climes, at the approacli of winter. They are oviparous. 
THE COMMON RINGED SNAKE {Tropidonotus 
natrix) is the best-known species. It is common 
throughout almost all Europe and part of Asia. When 
full grown, it sometimes attains a length of five feet, 
though in this country it seldom exceeds four at the 
utmost. The body is long, the middle of the back 
elevated ; the neck is narrow, and the tail very tapering 
and rather pointed at the extremity ; the head is broad 
and depressed, distinct from the neck, and the gape of 
the mouth is as long as the head, slightly curved, and 
rising posteriorly ; the teeth are small, curved back- 
wards, and the tongue is long, excessively flexible, and 
bifid to about one-third of its length. The ujiper parts 
of the body and head are of a light brownish-gray 
colour, with a green tinge, sometimes approaching to 
a dull pale olive. Behind the head, on the upper part, 
is a broad collar, or two lunate spots, of a bright 
yellow colour, and immediately behind these are two 
broad transverse spots of black ; down the back run 
two rows of small black spots, arranged alternately, 
with larger ones at the sides. The colours and mark- 
ings, however, vary very much. It is gentle in its 
habits, and may be easily tamed. When attacked, or 
seized by the hinder part of its body, it rolls itself up 
in a spiral form, and defends itself by ejecting at its 
assailant a disgusting fetid liquor, secreted by certain 
glands w'ithin the vent. It seldom bites when taken 
hold of; but Schlegel says, that occasionally it has 
happened to him, when he has suddenly approached 
the edge of a wood where a numerous society had 
established themselves for the purpose of laying their 
eggs, that a large individual of the number attacked 
him with fury, whilst the others were making their 
escape into the holes in the ground, where they took 
up their abode in times of danger. The holes they 
prefer to burrow in are such as are made by moles, 
mice, and other small mammalia. They seldom form 
them for themselves. Loving heat, they often frequent 
the neighbourhood of human habitations, and are 
