2 l8 
SNAKES. 
small and uniform. The head is long, and markedly distinct from the neck; and the 
eye rather small, with a horizontal pupil. The scales investing the elongated and 
compressed body are smooth and without pits, and arranged in fifteen oblique rows, 
those down the middle of the back being slightly enlarged. The shields on the 
under surface of the body are rounded, and those beneath the tail form two 
rows. Deriving their name of whip-snakes from the extreme elongation and 
slenderness of the body and tail these serpents move awkwardly enough on a flat 
surface, although when coiling and climbing among the branches of trees their rapid 
movements are graceful in the extreme. While retaining their hold by means of a 
few coils of the tail thrown round a branch, the length of their body enables them 
with ease to reach another at a considerable distance, or to dart forth their head in 
order to seize any hapless bird or lizard that may be within striking distance. 
Sharp-Nosed Nearly allied to the preceding are the sharp-nosed snakes 
Snakes. (Oxybelis), of which seven species inhabit Central and South America, 
while the eighth is found in Central and Western Africa. These have small 
heads, with the snout narrow and elongated, and the rostral shield projecting 
considerably beyond the lower jaw. The neck is thin and slender, the booty 
greatly elongated and laterally compressed, and the long and thin tail tapering to 
a fine point. The upper jaw carries seventeen solid teeth of nearly equal size, anol 
four large fangs. In appearance and habits these snakes closely resemble the 
whip-snakes. 
oriental Fresh- Brief reference must be made here to a group of nine genera of 
Water Snakes, aquatic snakes from India, Burma, China, New Guinea, North Australia, 
and the adjacent countries, which constitute a second subfamily ( Homalopsince ) in 
the hind-fanged series. From the preceding subfamily they may be readily dis¬ 
tinguished by the position of the nostrils on the upper surface of the muzzle; while 
they are further differentiated by their thoroughly aquatic habits. It will be 
unnecessary to particularise the various genera; but it may be mentioned that the 
typical genus, Homalojisis, belongs to a group in which the two nasal shields of the 
head are in contact; and that in a second group, as represented by Cantor ia, they 
are separated by an internasal shield. Most of these snakes are of small size, few of 
them exceeding a yard in length, while many are considerably smaller. Although 
mainly fresh-water snakes, seldom coming to shore, a few members of the group 
enter the sea. Many of them are furnished with prehensile tails, by means of 
which they attach themselves to convenient objects; and the majority feed 
exclusively on fish, though a few prefer crustaceans. Their young are produced 
alive in the water. 
The beautiful but venomous coral-snake (Elaps corallinus ) is the 
best known representative of a genus which brings us to the third 
and last series of the great family under consideration. All the members of this 
front-fanged series (Proteroglypha) are characterised by having the front teeth of 
the hinder upper jawbone, or maxilla, grooved, and the posterior ones simple and 
solid. These snakes are all poisonous; and they are divided into two subfamilies, 
according to their habits and the conformation of the tail. In the first, or Elapine 
subfamily ( Elapince ) the tail is cylindrical; the snakes themselves being either 
terrestrial or arboreal in their mode of life. These Elapine snakes are distributed 
Coral-Snake. 
