Distribution.—Originally described from Lower Egypt, and extending westwards to Algeria, this Eryx has been found in Greece, in Corfu, in the Cyclades, in Turkey, and in Roumania. It occurs also in Asia Minor, in Transcaucasia, in Transcaspia, in Northern Persia, and in Syria. It has been found at an altitude of 5,000 feet in Persia, to the west of Lake Urmia. A closely allied form (E. miliaris, Pallas), which has been confounded with this species, extends from Transcaspia to Turkestan and Afghanistan.
The reported occurrence of this snake in Bulgaria is based on a specimen labelled “Bulgaria (?)” in the Sofia University Museum. The species is omitted from Kovatscheff’s latest list of Bulgarian Reptiles.
Habits.—This diminutive Boid is a burrower in arid, sandy districts, appearing only early in the morning or towards dusk; it is as a rule more crepuscular than nocturnal. Notwithstanding its rather heavy form, it is capable of very quick movements, darting like an arrow upon its prey, which consists chiefly of small mammals and lizards. A constrictor, like all the members of the family to which it pertains, it crushes its prey before swallowing it. If given several mice at a time, it will catch and kill them all in succession before proceeding to feed. Specimens recently discovered in the Danube Valley in Roumania were found to live in the sand at the bottom of small limestone caves, going about at night and feeding principally on slugs. Unlike other snakes, it is said to lap dewdrops with its tongue. It is a gentle snake, seldom attempting to bite.
Egyptian jugglers are in the habit of implanting the claw of a bird or small mammal in the skin of the head of this snake, above each eye, in order to give it a more formidable appearance.
Reproduction.—Like the other species of Eryx, this snake is ovoviviparous, but, beyond this fact, nothing appears to have been observed concerning the breeding habits, although many examples have been kept in captivity.
Third Family: COLUBRIDÆ
Maxillary, palatine, and pterygoid bones movable; transverse bone present; pterygoid extending to quadrate or mandible; supratemporal present, attached scale-like to cranium, suspending quadrate; prefrontal not in contact with nasal; maxillary horizontal, not movable perpendicularly to the transverse bone; no coronoid bone. Teeth in both jaws. No vestiges of pelvic arch.
An enormous group, comprising the great majority of snakes. Divided into three parallel series:
A. Aglypha, with all the teeth solid.
B. Opisthoglypha, with one or more of the posterior maxillary teeth grooved.