blood of a very lively blue violet. From this it results, that when any passion or impression causes any blood to pass from the heart to the surface of the skin and to the extremities, the mixture of blue violet and yellow produces more or less a number of different shades. Accordingly, in its natural state, when it is free and experiences no inquietudes, its colour is a fine green, with the exception of some parts, which present a shade of reddish brown or greyish white. When in anger, its colour passes to a deep blue green, to a yellow green, and to a grey more or less blackish. If it is unwell, its colour becomes yellowish grey, or that sort of yellow which we see in dead leaves. Such is the colour of almost all the Chameleons which are brought into cold countries, and all which very speedily die. In general, the colour of the Chameleons is so much the more lively and variable, as the weather is warmer, and as the sun shines with greater brilliancy. All these colours grow weaker during the night. Chameleons live on insects, and principally on flies; they seize them with vivacity by means

of their long and gluey tongues, and bruise them between their jaws. Like other reptiles, they can remain for months without eating, which has given rise to the opinion that they live on air.*

* Cuvier, vol. ix. pp. 232. 234, 235.

COMMON SNAKE.

(COLUBER NATRIX.)

REPTILES appear to excite general aversion and disgust; and their hideous deformity, gloomy haunts, the venomous bite of some, and the terrifying sounds which others emit, render them a proscribed and persecuted race of animals. Early education too may, in some degree, contribute to make the serpent tribe especially obnoxious. Hence the strong prejudice which exists against the common Snake, and the still received opinion that it is veIt finds little favour in poetry, and is

nomous.

rarely introduced.

As the snake, roll'd on a flowery bank,

With shining checker'd slough, doth sting a child, That for the beauty thinks it excellent.

K. Henry VI. Pt. II. act iii. sc. 1.

This Snake is found throughout all Europe, on the banks of fresh waters, in meadows, and on the borders of woods. It is vulgarly called

the Water-Snake. It may be handled without fear, for it never tries to bite, except when exceedingly irritated, and its bite is not at all dangerous.

These reptiles never eat fruit in gardens, nor suck the milk of cows, in the fields or stalls, as some visionary shepherds or impostors have pretended, whose tales have nevertheless spread this absurd prejudice throughout Europe.

The Snake tribe, according to their species, feed on living animals, insects, worms, batrachians, mollusca, small fish, birds, quadrupeds, &c. *

Hurdis has noticed the harmless character of the common Snake:

Midst the fresh tops
Of nettles fast reviving, or green shoots
Of parsley welcome at the warren side,
Or sear grass unconsumed, or prickly goss,
Wriggles the viper, or the basking eft,
Or spotted snake innocuous, snapping short
The thread of meditation, as they glide
With whisper not unwelcome.

Favourite Village, b. iv. p. 154.

CERASTES.

(COLUBER CERASTES.)

THE epithet "horn'd," which Milton has applied to this reptile, is only poetically true.

Cerastes horn'd, Hydrops and Elops drear.

Par. L. b. x. 1. 525.

It was probably suggested to him by the descriptions of ancient authors, or the figures he met with in the works of old naturalists.

It attains the length of about two feet. It has received its name from the Greek word