50 
until its increased size should afford it some security from be¬ 
coming a prey to larger animals of the ocean. 
The circumstance that no evidences of immaturity were ob¬ 
served in the Scoliophis might be considered as the source of a 
third objection, if it were not well known, that as serpents gen¬ 
erally abandon their eggs, the young are perfect in all their parts, 
and capable of providing for their own subsistence immediately 
on being hatched.* 
On the whole, as these two animals agree in so many con¬ 
spicuous, important and peculiar characters, and as no material 
difference between them has yet been clearly pointed out, except¬ 
ing that of size; the Society will probably feel justified in con¬ 
sidering them individuals of the same species, and entitled to the 
same name, until a more close examination of the great Serpent 
shall have disclosed some difference of structure, important 
enough to constitute a specific distinction. 
JOHN DAVIS, 
JACOB BIGELOW, 
Boston , 11 th Oct. 1817. FRANCIS C. GRAY. 
* Lorsque les petits Serpens sout eclos, ou qu’ils sont sorties tout 
formfis du ventre de leur mere, ils tralnent seuls leur frdle existence; 
ils n’apprennent de leur mere, dont ils sont separes, ni a distinguer 
leur proie, ni a trouver un abri; ils sont reduits it leur seul instinct. 
Lactpede hist. nat. des Serpens, t. 1. p. 37, 
One of the six general characteristics of Serpents, according to Dau- 
din, is the following : “ Des petits, qui au sortir de l’ceuf, sont parfait. 
oment semblables a leurs parens.” 
I 
Daudin hist, des Reptiles, t. 5, p. 10. 
