51 
S E R 
fifth nearly at the middle part between the two extremities 
(see F, fig. 2). 
From this part of each rib, a strong flat muscle (G), comes 
forward on each side before the viscera, forming the ab¬ 
dominal muscles; and which is only laterally connected to 
it by loose cellular membrane, is external to the belly of t'he 
animal, and is used for the purpose of progressive motion; 
while that half of each rib next the spine, as far as the lungs 
extend, is employed in respiration. At the termination of 
each rib is a small cartilage (H, H), in shape corresponding 
to the rib, only tapering to the point. Those of the oppo¬ 
site ribs have no connection ; and when the ribs are drawn 
outwards by the muscles, they are separated to some distance, 
and rest through their whole length on the inner surface of 
the abdominal scuta, to which they are connected by a set of 
short muscles: they have also a connection with the carti¬ 
lages of the neighbouring ribs by a set of short straight 
muscles. 
These observations apply to snakes in general: but the 
preceding figures and remarks are taken from an account of 
a boa-constrictor, published in the Philosophical Trans¬ 
actions, by Sir Everard Home. 
In all snakes, the ribs are continued to the anus, but the 
lungs seldom occupy more than one-half of the extent of the 
cavity covered by the ribs. Consequently, these lower ribs 
can be employed for the purpose of progressive motion, and, 
therefore, correspond in that respect with the ribs in the 
draco-volans superadded to form the wings. 
. The parts, of which a description has been attempted, 
will be better understood by an inspection of figs. 1 and 2, 
in the annexed plate. 
When the snake begins to put itself in motion, the ribs of 
the opposite sides are drawn apart from each other, and the 
small cartilages at the ends of them are bent upon the upper 
surfaces of the abdominal scuta, on which the ends of the 
ribs rest; and as the ribs move in pairs, the scutum under 
each pair is carried along with it. This scutum, by its pos¬ 
terior edge, lays hold of the ground, and becomes a fixed 
point from whence to set out anew. This motion is beau¬ 
tifully seen when a snake is climbing over an angle to get 
upon a flat surface. 
When the animal is moving, it alters its shape from a 
circular or oval form, to something approaching to a tri¬ 
angle, of which the surface on the ground forms the base. 
The coluber and boa having large abdominal scuta, which 
may be considered as hoofs or shoes, are the best fitted for 
this kind of progressive motion; there is, however, a similar 
structure of ribs and muscles in the anguis and amphisbaena; 
but in the anguis, the ribs are proporlionally weaker, and 
have nothing that corresponds with the scuta. 
The rings of the amphisbaena, on the other hand, are a 
near approach to the large scuta. 
SE'RPENTINE, adj. [serpentin, old Fr., serpcntinus, 
Lat.] Resembling a serpent. 
Nothing wants, but that thy shape 
Like his, and colour serpentine, may shew 
Thy inward fraud. Milton. 
Winding like a serpent; anfractuous. 
Nor can the sun 
Perfect a circle, or maintain his way 
One inch direct; but where he rose to-day 
He comes no more, but with a cozening line 
Steals by that point, and so is serpentine. Donne . 
To SE'RPENTINE, v. n. To wind like a serpent; to 
meander. 
In those fair vales by nature form’d to please. 
Where Guadalquiver serpentines with ease. Harte. 
SE'RPENTINE, s. An herb. Ainsworth. 
SERPENTINE, in Chemistry, a worm, or pipe of cop¬ 
per or pewter, twisted into a spiral, and ascending from the 
bottom of the alembic to the capital, and serving in the dis¬ 
tillation of spirit of wine. 
SERPENTINE, in Mineralogy, a stone, which derives its 
name from the variety of its colours, supposed to resemble 
S E R 
those of the serpent. The ancients called this stone ophites, 
from the Greek o<pt$, serpent, as being speckled like a ser¬ 
pent’s skin. The most prevailing colour is green of different 
shades, spotted with red, or with dark green, and also clouded 
and veiny. Some serpentines are red, varying from a peach- 
bloom to a blood-red or scarlet. In rich variety of colours, 
this stone far exceeds any other of the great rock-formations. 
It will receive a high polish, and is nearly indestructible by 
fire or acids, and is therefore eminently suited for ornamental 
sculpture or architecture. The hardness of serpentine is 
variable: some kinds scarcely yield to the knife, others are 
easily worked. It is infusible by the blow-pipe; the frac¬ 
ture is splintery, passing into small conchoidal fragments, 
which are translucent at the edges; the lustre is somewhat 
resinous, and when powdered, it has an unctuous soapy feel. 
The specific gravity varies from about 2.6 to 2.7. Serpen¬ 
tine seems nearly allied to the mineral called hornblende, 
from which it differs in its constituent parts by containing 
more magnesia and less iron. Chrome has been found in some 
serpentines. The analysis of different serpentines shews a 
considerable variation in the proportion of their constituent 
parts, 
from 45 to 29 silex, 
18 23 alumine, 
23 34 magnesia, 
3 4 iron, 
11 10 water and loss. 
Some serpentines contain 6 per cent, of lime. 
To SE'RPENTIZE, v.n. To meander; to serpentine.— 
Between these hills, in the richest of valleys, the Lune ser¬ 
pent izes for many a mile, and comes forth ample, and clear, 
through a well wooded and richly pastured fore-ground. 
Mason. 
SE'RPET, 5 . A basket. Ainsworth. 
SERPHANT, a village of Syria, supposed to be the 
ancient Sarepta; 14 miles south-south-west of Said. 
SERPHANTO, Skrfanto, or Serfo, the ancient 
Seriphos, an island of European Turkey, in the Archipelago, 
between the island of Paros and the gulf of Engia. It is a 
rugged and barren spot, producing little else than saffron, 
and pasture for sheep. The inhabitants, who are Greeks, 
and in number only 1000, live chiefly in the small town of 
Serphanto, which has a harbour." The Romans made this 
island a place of banishment. 
SERPICULA \_a serpendo, from creeping, a little creep¬ 
ing plant], in Botany, a genus of the class monoecia, order 
tetrandria, natural order of inundatae, onagrae (Juss.) —Ge¬ 
neric Character.—Male flowers solitary, peduncled—Calyx: 
perianth very small, four-toothed, erect, acute, permanent. 
Corolla: petals four, oblong, obtuse, sessile. Stamina: fi¬ 
laments four, very short. Anthers oblong, length of the 
petals.—Female flowers on the same plant—Calyx: peri¬ 
anth superior, four-parted, very small, permanent. Co¬ 
rolla none. Pistil: germ inferior, ovate, grooved. Style 
none. Stigma none. Pericarp: nut cylindrical, with eight 
cartilaginous swellings, one-celled, deciduous. Seed single, 
oblong.— Essential Character. Male-—Calyx four-toothed. 
Corolla four-petalled. Female—Calyx four-parted. Pericarp: 
nut tomentose. 
1. Serpicula verticillata.—Leaves in whorls, aculeate-ser¬ 
rate.—Native of the East Indies. 
2. Serpicula repens.—Leaves alternate, linear. The herb 
has the appearance of veronioa serpyllifolia, but is smaller. 
Stem creeping. Leaves mostly alternate, linear, seldom ser¬ 
rate.—Native of the Gape of Good Hope. 
SERPI'GINOUS, adj. Diseased with a serpigo.—The 
skin behind her ear downwards became serpiginous, and 
was covered with white scales. Wiseman, 
SERPIGO, in Medicine, from serpere, to creep, is nearly 
synonymous with herpes, and signifies, in the language of 
the older writers, any spreading tetter, or excoriation of the 
skin. See Pathology. 
For thy own bowels, which do call thee sire, 
Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, 
For ending thee no sooner, Shakspeare 
SERPOOR 
