Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Milford-on-Sea.
QUEENSLAND SEA-SNAKE.
Sea-snakes have compressed tails, which they use for steering.
The typical Tree-snakes of the Indian and Australian region, with large eyes, somewhat compressed bodies, and colours of green or olive, in harmonious accord with their arboreal surroundings, also belong to the solid-toothed and harmless section. An especially interesting representative of this group is the so-called Egg-eating Snake of South Africa. It does not exceed 2 feet in length, and is for the most part arboreal in its habits, and, as its name implies, would appear to feed exclusively on eggs. As a structural adaptation for this peculiar habit, the spinous processes of a number of the vertebræ project into the throat and are tipped with enamel, thus constituting supplementary throat-teeth. Normally this snake subsists on the eggs of the smaller birds, but when short of this supply has been known to leave the trees and rob hen-roosts, being able, notwithstanding its comparatively small size, to dilate its mouth and throat for the reception of a hen's egg. The egg is split longitudinally by the action of the throat-teeth, the contents swallowed, and the shell ejected.
The second or "back-fanged" group includes many exceedingly poisonous species. Among these may be mentioned the Indian Whip-snakes and their allies, comprising many tree-frequenting species, closely resembling in habits and colours the harmless solid-toothed tree-snakes of the preceding section.
Photo by H. G. F. Spurrell, Esq.] [Eastbourne.
ENGLISH VIPER.
The only British venomous reptile.