mice; and, accordingly, is favoured by the inhabitants of farms, and dwellings in the country, who are pleased to see it about their premises. It devours also squirrels, opossums, frogs, lizards, and birds. We may here, also, mention, as peculiar to America, the HARLEQUIN SNAKE, and the GARTER SNAKE, (C. ordinatus.) The Harlequin Snake is found in the southern provinces of the United States. "It glides," says Audubon," through the grass with ease, and ascends to the tops of bushes, and among the branches of fallen trees, to bask in the sun: children are fond of catching it, on account of its beauty. It feeds principally on insects, such as flies and small beetles."** The Garter Snake is very common in the United States, and is found in the meadows and woods. It is active and quick, and often ascends bushes. GENUS CHRYSOPELEA. The genus Chrysopelea contains two described species, one peculiar to Ceylon, the other to South Africa. GENERA PSAMMOPHIS, ETC. To the Colubrine group belong the genera Psammophis, Coronella, Zenopeltis, Heterodon, Homalopsis, and others. Many of the species, especially of the genera Psammophis and Coronella, are remarkable for their beauty; but we know little of their manners. The arboreal Snakes of the Colubrine section, are divided into several genera, as Dipsas, Dendrophis, Dryinus, Dryophis, etc. They are all remarkable for their great activity; and, if any Serpents deserve the epithet "flying," these do. It has been, indeed, believed by many, that Serpents capable of actual flight have existed, or * Among other American Snakes of the Colubrine group, are the Coach-whip Snake, (C. flagelliformis ;) the Ribband Snake, (C. saurita;) the Garter Snake of Pennsylvania, (C. sirtalis ;) the Green Snake, (C. æstivus;) the Wampum Snake, (C. fasciatus ;) the Chain Snake, (C. gætulus;) the Pine, or Bull Snake, (C. melanoleucus;) the House, or Chicken Snake, (C. eximius ;) the Red-chicken Snake, (C. Floridanus;) the Corn Snake, (C. maculatus ;) and the Bead Snake, (C. guttatus,} common in potatoe patches. do so now; and Michaëlis recommended travellers to make the subject of these Serpents a matter of investigation. In conformity with these wishes, Niebuhr ("Description de l'Arabie") collected the following information:-"There is, at Bâsna, a sort of Snake called Heie sursurie, or Heie thiâre. These Snakes commonly keep upon the date trees; and, as it would be laborious for them to come down from a very high tree, in order to ascend another, they twist themselves by the tail to a branch, and impelled by the motion they give it, they launch themselves to the next tree. Hence it is, that the modern Arabs call them flying Serpents, Heie thiáre." "In the island of Quibo, near Panama," says Lord Anson, "the Spaniards informed us, that there was often found in the woods a most mischievous Serpent, called the flying Snake, which, they said, darted itself from the boughs of trees on either man or beast that came within its reach, and whose sting they believed to be inevitable death." It is, then, from their rapidity, and their powers of darting from branch to branch, that these Snakes have acquired the epithet "flying." GENUS DIPSAS. In Dipsas the head is large and blunt; the body long, slender, and compressed on the sides; and a row of scales, larger than the rest, runs along the spine. The BULL-HEADED SNAKE of India, (D. Indica, Cuv.; Coluber bucephalus, Shaw,) is an example. This slender Reptile is about four, or four and a half feet long. It is said to be extremely active. GENUS DENDROPHIS: In the genus Dendrophis, the head does not exceed the circumference of the body; the latter is extremely long and slender; the scales down the spine are large; those along the sides narrow, and appearing as if placed in oblique lines. The BOIGA, (D. ehætulla, Fitz.; C. decorus, Shaw,) is an example. (See engraving.) This species, which do so now; and Michaëlis recommended travellers to make the subject of these Serpents a matter of investigation. In conformity with these wishes, Niebuhr ("Description de l'Arabie") collected the following information:-"There is, at Bâsna, a sort of Snake called Heie sursurie, or Heie thiâre. These Snakes commonly keep upon the date trees; and, as it would be laborious for them to come down from a very high tree, in order to ascend another, they twist themselves by the tail to a branch, and impelled by the motion they give it, they launch themselves to the next tree. Hence it is, that the modern Arabs call them flying Serpents, Heie thiâre." "In the island of Quibo, near Panama," says Lord Anson, the Spaniards informed us, that there was often found in the woods a most mischievous Serpent, called the flying Snake, which, they said, darted itself from the boughs of trees on either man or beast that came within its reach, and whose sting they believed to be inevitable death." It is, then, from their rapidity, and their powers of darting from branch to branch, that these Snakes have acquired the epithet "flying." GENUS DIPSAS. The In Dipsas the head is large and blunt; the body long, slender, and compressed on the sides; and a row of scales, larger than the rest, runs along the spine. BULL-HEADED SNAKE of India, (D. Indica, Cuv.; Coluber bucephalus, Shaw,) is an example. This slender Reptile is about four, or four and a half feet long. It is said to be extremely active. GENUS DENDROPHIS: In the genus Dendrophis the head does not ex the circumference |