Chapter II: Introduction: Chapter Page

I. Definition and Classification 1

II. External Characters--Integument 8

III. Coloration 29

IV. Skeleton 40

V. Dentition 53

VI. Poison Apparatus--Different Kinds of Poisons 62

VII. Nervous System-Sense Organs 73

VIII. Viscera 77

IX. Organs of Reproduction; Pairing; Oviposition; Development 82

X. Habits 91

XI. Parasites 107

XII. Distribution 118

XIII. Snakes in Relation to Man 133

SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF THE SNAKES
OF EUROPE

First Family: TYPHLOPIDÆ

Genus TYPHLOPS, Schneider 144

1. Typhlops vermicularis, Merrem--The Greek Blind-Snake 144

Second Family: BOIDÆ

Genus ERYX, Daudin 147

2. Eryx jaculus, Linnæus--The Javelin Sand-Boa 147

Third Family: COLUBRIDÆ

Genus TROPIDONOTUS, Kuhl 152

3. Tropidonotus natrix, Linnæus--The Grass-Snake,
or Ring-Snake 152

4. Tropidonotus tessellatus, Laurenti--The Tessellated
Water-Snake 160

5. Tropidonotus viperinus, Latreille--The Viperine
Water-Snake 165

Genus ZAMENIS, Wagler 170

6. Zamenis gemonensis, Laurenti--The European Whip-Snake 170

7. Zamenis dahlii, Fitzinger--Dahl's Whip-Snake 177

8. Zamenis hippocrepis, Linnæus--The Horseshoe Whip-Snake 179

Genus COLUBER, Linnæus 181

9. Coluber quatuorlineatus, Lacepède--Aldrovandi's Snake 182

10. Coluber dione, Pallas--The Dione Snake 185

11. Coluber longissimus, Laurenti--The Æsculapian Snake 187

12. Coluber leopardinus, Bonaparte--The Leopard Snake 191

13. Coluber scalaris, Schinz--The Ladder Snake 194

Genus CORONELLA, Laurenti 196

14. Coronella austriaca, Laurenti--The Smooth Snake 197

15. Coronella girondica, Daudin--The Southern Smooth Snake 202

Genus CONTIA, Baird and Girard 205

16. Contia modesta, Martin--The Dwarf Snake 205

Genus COELOPELTIS, Wagler 207

17. Coelopeltis monspessulana, Hermann--The Montpellier Snake 208

Genus MACROPROTODON, Guichenot 212

18. Macroprotodon cucullatus, I. Geoffroy--The False
Smooth Snake 213

Genus TARBOPHIS, Fleischmann 216

19. Tarbophis fallax, Fleischmann--The Cat-Snake 217

20. Tarbophis iberus, Eichwald--The Caucasian Cat-Snake 219

Fourth Family: VIPERIDÆ

Genus VIPERA, Laurenti 221

21. Vipera ursinii, Bonaparte--Orsini's Viper 221

22. Vipera renardi, Christoph--Renard's Viper 227

23. Vipera berus, Linnæus--The Northern Viper, or Adder 230

24. Vipera aspis, Linnæus--The Asp Viper 239

25. Vipera latastii, Bosca--Lataste's Viper 247

26. Vipera ammodytes, Linnæus--The Sand-Viper, or
Long-Nosed Viper 249

27. Vipera lebetina, Linnæus--The Blunt-Nosed Viper, or Kufi 257

Genus ANCISTRODON, Palisot de Beauvois 261

28. Ancistrodon halys, Pallas--Pallas's Pit-Viper 262

Index 265

LIST OF PLATES

PLATE FACING PAGE

I. Typhlops vermicularis, Eryx jaculus 144

II. Tropidonotus natrix and Vars. cettii and persa 152

III. Tropidonotus tessellatus, T. viperinus and
var. aurolineatus 160

IV. Zamenis gemonensis and vars. persica and
viridiflavus 170

V. Zamenis gemonensis, var. caspius, Z. dahlii,
Z. hippocrepis 176

VI. Coluber quatuorlineatus and var. sauromates,
C. dione 182

VII. Coluber longissimus, C. leopardinus and
var. quadrilineatus 188

VIII. Coluber scalaris 194

IX. Coronella austriaca 196

X. Coronella girondica, Contia modesta 202

XI. Coelopeltis monspessulana, Macroprotodon
cucullatus, Tarbophis iberus, T. fallax 208

XII. Vipera ursinii, V. renardi, V. berus 220

XIII. Vipera aspis, V. latastii 240

XIV. Vipera lebetina, V. ammodytes, Ancistrodon halys 250

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THE SNAKES OF EUROPE