[1] Aunt Jenny’s American Pets. By Catherine C. Hopley. London, 1872.

[2] ‘Snakes and their Food,’ Modern Thought, Jan. 1881, in reply to a paper in Time of the previous September.

[3] Odontography. By Richard Owen. London.

[4] Essai sur la Physionomie des Serpents. Par Herman Schlegel. Paris, 1837.

[5] RÈgne Animal, p. 108. Paris.

[6] January 1882.

[7] I have ventured to coin this word for the cages and buildings likely to be required in parks and gardens for pet snakes, so notably growing in popularity.

[8] Thanatophidia of India, 1st ed. 1872.

[9] Ib. 2d ed. p. 6. 1874.

[10] Zoology of South Africa, by Dr. A. Smith. 1849.

[11] Odontography, by Richard Owen, 1840, and Anatomy of the Vertebrates, 1866.

[12] Natural History Notes from South Africa, by R. B. and J. D. S. Woodward. Lond. 1874.

[13] See Aunt Judy’s Magazine, Aug. 1874, London,—‘The Deirodon, or neck-toothed snake.’

[14] British Reptiles, by Thomas Bell, F.L.S., etc. 1849.

[15] Physiognomie des serpents, p. 97. Par H. Schlegel. Amsterdam, 1837.

[16] Annales des sciences naturelles, 2d Series, tome xvi. Paris, 1841.

[17] ErpÉtologie genÉral, par MM. Dumeril et Bibron, tome i. p. 136. Paris, 1844.

[18] Schlangen und Schlangen fiend, par II. O. Lenz. Gotha, 1832.

[19] Sea Snakes: Pelagic Serpents, by Dr. Theo. E. Cantor. London, 1842. Zoological Society’s Transactions, 1841.

[20] See Field newspaper, September and October 1862. London.

[21] Zoology of New York, by J. E. De Kay. Albany, 1844.

[22] Natural History of New York. 5 vols. New York, 1842.

[23] North American Herpetology. Phil., U. S., 1842.

[24] History of Carolina, by Jno. Lawson, 1709.

[25] Balfour’s British India; also the Cyclopedia of India.

[26] See Medical Times, 1872, p. 730.

[27] Reptiles of British India, by Dr. A. GÜnther, F.R.S. London, 1864.

[28] Indian Snakes, by E. Nicholson, Madras Army. Madras, 1870.

[29] Natural History of Reptiles, by P. H. Gosse. 1850.

[30] Encyclopedia Britannica, 1859, see art. ‘Reptilia,’ p. 47.

[31] Ibid. p. 47.

[32] Author of Zoological Researches, and Leaves from the Notebook of a Naturalist.

[33] In the ‘Laidley Worm,’ exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1881, the artist must have copied one of these.

[34] Elementary Lessons in Physiology. London, 1875.

[35] Tome i. p. 126 of ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale.

[36] Ibid. p. 135.

[37] Tome vi. p. 100 of ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale.

[38] Philosophical Transactions, vol. xiii. p. 25. 1684.

[39] ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome vi. p. 177 et seq.

[40] ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome i. p. 180.

[41] American Naturalist, vol. ix.

[42] Missionary Travels in South Africa, by David Livingstone.

[43] Snakes of Australia, by Gerard Krefft.

[44] Life in the South, vol. i. p. 260. By Catherine C. Hopley. Lond. 1862.

[45] Dumeril et Bibron’s ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome vi. p. 186.

[46] Travels in the Amazons, p. 47. By A. R. Wallace. London, 1853.

[47] ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome vi. p. 184.

[48] Ibid. tome i. p. 180.

[49] Dumeril et Bibron, tome vi. p. 184.

[50] Pseudoxia; or, Vulgar Errours, Book iii. p. 207. By Sir Thomas Browne.

[51] Snakes of Australia, by Gerard Krefft.

[52] The Natural History of Carolina, by Mark Catesby. London, 1731.

[53] The vipers in the London Gardens labelled Cenchris piscivorus have not the thorny tail, nor are they fish eaters. Nor can the spectator form any idea of their swimming capacities, their dark, narrow tank barely enabling them to extend themselves full length. Herpetologists differ in assigning the above name, and in deciding which is really the ‘Thorn-tail’ or ‘Horn snake’ of Lawson and Catesby. Those at the Zoological Gardens, notwithstanding their specific name, are never regaled on fish.

[54] Reptiles of British India.

[55] Dr. A. Stradling affirms that these two snakes do not invariably molest each other. He had the Rat-tail (Fer de lance) and two Cribos with others in one cage, living on peaceful terms.

[56] ErpÉlogie gÉnÉrale, tome i. p. 47.

[57] Essai sur la physiognomie des serpents, par Herman Schlegel. Amsterdam, 1837.

[58] Curiosities of Natural History, by F. Buckland.

[59] Anatomy of the Vertebrates, p. 260.

[60] Since the above was in type, I have on several occasions observed vertical coils in constricting snakes. Twice a python constricted an animal in distinct vertical coils. I drew the attention of Keeper Tyrrell to this, and we were both convinced that no lateral coils whatever were used. On another occasion, while Mr. Elwes was studying the action of Elaphis quater-radiatus for the illustration, p. 205, its coils were entirely vertical, not lateral.

[61] A Naturalist in Jamaica, by P. H. Gosse.

[62] Pseudoxia, Book iii. chap. xx. p. 155.

[63] Since this was in type, I find that not even a porcupine is safe from a hungry snake. In vol. xliii. of the Philosophical Transactions (1744), p. 271, is a letter from a gentleman in India, who states that on an island near Bombay a dead snake was found with the quills of a porcupine ‘sticking out of its Belly.’ The snake had ‘sucked it in Head foremost, while the Quills were flatted down. Afterwards they rose and ran through the Snake’s Belly, and so killed it.’ The pressure of the jaws had ‘flatted’ the quills, but not killed the animal, which, when in its expansile tomb, had, though vainly, erected its natural armour.

[64] Owen’s Anatomy of the Vertebrates, p. 261.

[65] Genius of Christianity.

[66] Anatomy of the Vertebrates, vol. iii. p. 260 et seq.

[67] Organization of the Animal Kingdom.

[68] Essay on the Physiology of Serpents. Translated from the original by Thomas Stewart Trail, M.D., F.R.S.E., etc. Edin. 1843.

[69] ‘On the Movements of Snakes in Flight,’ by Dr. Arthur Stradling, C.M.Z.S., Nature, Feb. 1882.

[70] Letter to Sir Emerson Tennant.

[71] Dumeril et Bibron, ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome i. p. 179.

[72] Since this has been in type, there has been brought to the Gardens an Indian ‘River snake’ (Tropidonotus quincunciatus), affording me an opportunity to observe that there is a notable modification of the glottis, as also of the nostrils. Not a true water snake, but one of the intermediate families, so do we find the nostrils somewhat higher than those of land snakes, while yet not quite on the top of the snout as in sea snakes; the glottis has a corresponding upward direction to meet them, and is a more elongated, longitudinal slit than those furnished with the petite languette.—June 1882.

[73] Prairie Farms and Prairie Folk, vol. ii. pp. 83, 84.

[74] See Field newspaper, June 25, 1881.

[75] Thanatophidia of India, 1st ed.

[76] Origin of Species, 6th ed. 1872, p. 83.

[77] See Philosophical Transactions, London, 1672.

[78] New Experiments upon Vipers, with Exquisite Remedies that may be drawn from them: as well as Cure for their Bitings, as for that of other Maladies. By M. Charas, now rendered English, 1673.

[79] Philosophical Transactions, vol. xxxviii. p. 321. 1733.

[80] History of Virginia, 1722.

[81] Last Rambles among the Indians, by Geo. Catlin. London, 1865.

[82] See Philosophical Transactions, vol. xxxii. A paper on the Crotalus, by Paul Dudley, Esq.

[83] North American Herpetology, vol. iii. p. 15. By J. E. Holbrooke. 1842.

[84] ‘The History of a Rattle,’ by Catherine C. Hopley, Aunt Judy’s Magazine, July 1877.

[85] ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome vii. part. ii, p. 1457, par MM. Dumeril et Bibron. Paris.

[86] Organization of the Animal Kingdom, p. 732. By T. Rymer Jones.

[87] From the Bulletin of the U. S. Geological Survey by Dr. Elliot Coues, Appointed Surgeon and Naturalist to the Expedition, 1878.

[88] The Country newspaper, August 1878 et seq.

[89] ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome vii. p. 1456.

[90] Reptiles of British India, by Dr. Albert GÜnther, F.R.S.

[91] Reptiles of British India, by Dr. Albert GÜnther, F.R.S.

[92] Indian Snakes, by Ed. Nicholson, M.D. Madras, 1870.

[93] Introduction to the Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum, 1858.

[94] Physiognomie des serpents, par H. Schlegel. Amsterdam, 1837.

[95] The Albert Nyanza, or Great Basin of the Nile, by Sir Sam. Baker. London, 1866.

[96] Essai sur la physiognomie des serpents, par Herman Schlegel. Amsterdam, 1837.

[97] Smithsonian Contributions. Washington, 1860.

[98] Thanatophidia of India, 2d ed. p. 72.

[99] Ricerche fisiche sopra il vel no della vipera. Lucca, 1767.

[100] The Relations of the World, and the Religions observed in all Ages and in all Places discouered since the Creation, Book I. 1st ed. p. 842. London, 1614.

[101] Ib. 4th ed. p. 1393. 1625.

[102] Paper on the ‘Vipera Caudisona,’ by Ed. Tyson, M.D., Philosophical Transactions, vol. xiii. p. 25. 1683.

[103] Philosophical Transactions, vol. xxxiv. p. 309. 1726.

[104] Philosophical Transactions, vol. xxxviii. 1733-34.

[105] Osservazione intorno alle Vipere, by Francesco Redi. Florence, 1664.

[106] Ed. of 1876.

[107] ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome 7, p. 1451.

[108] ErpÉtologie gÉnÉrale, tome 7, p. 1367.

[109] Ibid. p. 1503.

[110] Travels in Brazil. London, 1824.

[111] HistoriÆ Rervm Natvralivm BraziliÆ. Antwerp.

[112] Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society.

[113] Zoology of South Africa.

[114] Odontography, vol. i. p. 225.

[115] Science News, Feb. 15, 1879.

[116] Davis Lecture, July 28th, 1881. Since the above was written, Professor Flower on ‘Armadillos,’ at the opening lecture of the ‘Davis Series,’ June 8th, 1882, further corroborated the difficulties presented in these mixed characters, which have caused zoologists to place the armadillo among the Edentata, ant-eaters, sloths, etc., notwithstanding it is permanently supplied with teeth.

[117] Wanderings in South America, by Charles Waterton. London, 1825.

[118] The Tropical World. London, 1873.

[119] The Western World. London, 1874.

[120] Travels in Peru. London, 1847.

[121] Rambles and Scrambles in Essequibo. London, 1852.

[122] History of British Guiana, vol. ii. p. 370. By G. Dalton, M.D. Lond. 1855.

[123] The Naturalist on the Amazons, by H. W. Bates. Lond. 1873.

[124] Proceedings of the Zoological Society, Jan. and Nov. 1861.

[125] Travels in the Amazon. Lond. 1855.

[126] Thanatophidia, p. 8.

[127] Land and Water, October 16, 1880.

[128] By J. B. von Spix, PubliÉ par Jean Wagler. Monarchu, 1826.

[129] Article ‘Reptilia’ in Todd’s EncyclopÆdia of Anatomy, vol. iv. pt. i. p. 264.

[130] Since this was written, Dr. Stradling informed me that a very tame ring snake in his Reptilium laid some eggs and coiled herself upon them zealously for some days. A remarkable proof of her care for them was seen in her trying to bite when disturbed. He had never before known Coluber natrix to display this anger. In the Zoologist of September 1882, the Doctor contributed a long and important account of this incubation with its attendant features.

[131] ‘Wrongly named; or, Poor Little Lizzie,’ by Catherine C. Hopley. June 1880.

[132] Memoirs of Captivity among the Indians. London, 1823.

[133] Tree and Serpent Worship, 2d ed., by J. Ferguson. London, 1873.

[134] Old Deccan Days. London, 1870.

[135] See Land and Water, June 10th, 1876.

[136] Times, 1st July 1875, paper by C. C. H. Ibid. 7th July.

[137] Some interesting correspondence on this subject appeared in the Field during August and September 1881.

[138] Anecdotes of Serpents, by the late J. K. Lord. Messrs. Chambers’s Miscellany of Tracts, Edinburgh, 1870.

[139] Land and Water, April 3d, 1880.

[140] Zoology of South Africa.

[141] Papers on the Ophidians in the Dublin University Magazine, January 1876 et seq.

[142] Thanatophidia of India.

[143] Land and Water, September 11, 1880.

[144] Nature, July 6, 1882: ‘Hydrophobia and Snake-Bite,’ by Dr. A. Stradling.

[145] Medical Times, 1873, vol. ii. p. 90.

[146] Smithsonian Contributions. Washington, D.C., 1860.