It is a native of the island of Java, and of the Indian peninsulas.

The ground-colour of the head of this Serpent is a greyish fawn, that of the body yellowish, of the sides greyish white; the under parts pale yellowish. A series of large spots of dark brown with a black margin runs down the back; they are of an irregular form, but somewhat square: there are smaller ones on the sides, which often have open disks. On the hind-head and nape is a large brown spot, somewhat like a spear-head, divided lengthwise by a pale line; a brown band runs off behind each eye. The shields of the belly are about two hundred and fifty, those of the tail from sixty to seventy pairs.

The Boas are oviparous; laying a number of eggs in holes in the soil, beneath decaying leaves, in crevices of the roots of trees, and in similar situations. At certain seasons of the year great numbers are said to congregate together and twist themselves into immense knots or contorted coils. This is at least true of the Yellow Snake of Jamaica (Chilabothrus inornatus), and the negroes and creoles declare that these réunions are connected with the reproduction of the species. But the individuals that thus collect, though numerous, are not to be compared with the convoluted host that the celebrated Humboldt once saw in South America. Their association he attributes, indeed, to a very different motive; but we are inclined to believe that he has quite misinterpreted the phenomenon.

"In the savannahs of Izacubo, in Guiana, I saw the most wonderful, the most terrible spectacle that can be seen; and although it is not

uncommon to the inhabitants, no traveller has 1 ever mentioned it. We were ten men on horseback, two of whom took the lead, in order to sound the passages, whilst I preferred to skirt the green forests. One of the blacks who formed the vanguard returned at full gallop, and called to me, 'Here, sir, come and see Serpents in a pile!' He pointed out to me something elevated in the middle of the savannah which appeared like a bundle of arms. One of my companions then said, This is certainly one of those assemblages of Serpents which heap themselves on each other after a violent tempest. I have heard of these, but have never seen any; let us proceed cautiously, and not go too near.' When we were within twenty paces of it the terror of our horses prevented our nearer approach, to which, however, none of us were inclined. Suddenly the pyramidal mass became agitated; horrible hissings issued from it; thousands of Serpents rolled spirally on each other, shot forth out of their circle their hideous heads, presenting their envenomed darts and fiery eyes to us. I own I was one of the first to draw back; but when I saw this formidable phalanx remain at its post, and appear to be more disposed to defend itself than to attack us, I rode round it, in order to view its order of battle, which faced the enemy on every side. I then sought what could be the design of this numerous assemblage; and I concluded that this species of Serpents dreaded some colossean enemy, which might be the great Serpent or the Cayman, and that they reunite themselves after having seen this enemy, in order to attack or resist him in a mass.'

It is a curious fact but recently discovered, that some, at least, of the Pythons incubate their eggs like birds. This fact was lately witnessed in the case of a female of the Python bivittatus of Kuhl, in the menagerie of the Museum at Paris. Incubation was prolonged without interruption during nearly two months. The number of eggs laid was fifteen, all separate. After being deposited the snake collected them together, and coiled round them the posterior part of its body; a second coil was then formed upon the first, and a third upon the second, and so on, until the whole of its body was rolled into a spiral form, the several coils together forming a cone, at the top of which was its head, the eggs being all concealed within. Its temperature was sensibly augmented above that of the surrounding atmosphere while incubation was going on; it ate nothing during the whole period; but drank greedily several times. At length, at the end of fifty-six days, without the female having once quitted the eggs, one of the little Pythons was hatched; and in the course of a few days there were seven others; but no sooner were they evolved than the mother left them to themselves, shewing no further affection for the offspring which she had so sedulously incubated.*

"Ann, des Sci. Nat." (2nd ser.), xvi. 65.

FAMILY III. COLUBRIDE.

(Snakes.)

More than half of the total number of species belonging to the Order Ophidia are of this Family, which is the most extensive of all the natural groups of Reptiles. They are widely scattered over the regions of both hemispheres, extending nearly to the limits of the Frigid Zones, though, like other Reptiles, most abundant in the tropics. Few of them attain a large size; but their form is for the most part slender and elegant, and many are adorned with the most brilliant hues and reflections.

The true Snakes are destitute of poison-fangs; they have two rows of teeth in the palate, and a similar row in each jaw; the head is covered with broad plates, the

under parts with parallel shields or scuta, which beneath the tail are arranged in two series; the tail is lengthened, tapered,

HEAD OF SNAKE.

and destitute of any terminal appendage; there are no spurs or other vestiges of limbs, either externally or internally.

The prey of the Snakes consists of any small animals which they can procure; lizards and frogs, small birds, mice, and shrews, are the food of the smaller kinds, and the larger devour rats, voles, and poultry; eggs and milk are delicacies with these reptiles. They are remarkably agile in their