COLUBER

COLUBER, in zoology, a genus of serpents belonging to the class of amphibia. The characters are these:

They have a number of scuta, or hard crusts, on the belly; and scutellæ, or scales, on the tail. Linnæus enumerates no less than 97 species under this genus, distinguished solely by the number of scuta and scutellæ. For the sake of brevity, we shall give the numbers in figures, the first denoting the number of scuta, and the second the number of scutellæ, thus, 140-22.

The first species is the vipera, 118-22. This is the viper of the shops, the flesh of which has been much recommended in scrofulous, leprosy, and other obstinate chronic disorders: but its virtues in these cases have been too much exaggerated: the flesh of the viper is however highly nutritive, and is therefore properly esteemed to be a good restorative: but, to answer any good purpose, even when given with this intention, it ought to be used liberally, and for a considerable time, as food. This animal is a native of Egypt. The body is very short, and of a pale colour, with brownish spots; and the head is gibbous, and covered with small scales. 2. The atropos, 131-22, is a native of America; the body is white, and the eyes are brown, with a white iris. 3. The leberis, 110-50, is a native of Canada, and has many linear black rings. 4. The ammodites, 142-32, is about six inches long, and has an erect fleshy protuberance on its nose. It is a native of the East. 5. The berus, 146-39, or common British viper, is found in most countries in Europe: It is of a dusky blackish colour. 6. The chersea, 150-34, is a native of Sweden, and rather less than the asp. 7. The prester, 152-32, is found in the northern parts of Europe, and the whole body is black. 8. The aspis, 146-46, is a native of France, and is of a reddish colour, with dusky spots on the back. 9. Lebetinus, 155-46, is a native of Asia, and is of a cloudy colour, with red spots on the belly. 10. The ferverus, 170-42, is likewise a native of Asia, and is ash-coloured, with white belts. 11. The stolatus, 143-76, is a native of Asia, and is of a greyish colour, with two white fillets. 12. The lacteus, 203-32, is a native of the Indies; the colour is white, with black spots. 13. The naja, 193-60, is a native of the East Indies; and is the most poisonous of all serpents; they are eat by the ichneumon. 14. The atrox, 196-69, is a native of Asia; it is of a hoary colour; and the head is compressed and covered with small scales. 15. The niueus, 209-62, is white, without any spots. It is a native of Africa. 16. The corallinus, 193-82, is a native of Asia: It is greyish, with three brown fillets. 17. The dipsas, 152-135, is a native of America: it is of a bluish colour, with the margins of the scales white. 18. The mycterizans, 192-167, is a native of America; the snout is stretched out, and triangular. Although this genus comprehends 97 species, the above 18 are all whose bite is supposed to be poisonous. The poison is contained in a little bag at the base of their long fangs. See NATURAL HISTORY.

The 19th species is the latrix, 134-27; the back and belly are yellow; and the sides are bluish. It is a native of the Indies. 20. The calamarius, 140-22, is of a livid colour interspersed with dusky spots and

and lines, and is found in America. 21. The simus, 124-46, is a native of Carolina; the head is roundish, flat, and gibbous; the body is interspersed above with black and white; and the belly is black. 22. The striatus, 126-45, is likewise a native of Carolina: the back is dusky and striated; and the belly is pale. 23. The cerastes, 150-25, is a native of Asia; the scales of the head are round and small: this is the horned viper of Hasfelquist; but the horns are a mere imposition; the Arabians fix the spurs of a cock or other bird upon the head of the viper, in order to raise the admiration of travellers. 24. The plicatilis, 131-46, is of a livid colour, with dusky sides. 25. The domicella, 118-60, is a native of Asia; it is white, with black belts. 26. The alidras, 121-58, is a native of India, and is all white. 27. The punctatus, 136-43, is a native of Carolina: It is ash-coloured, variegated with yellow spots. 28. The buccatus, 107-72, is dusky-coloured, with white belts, and is a native of Asia. 29. The angulatus, 117-70, is a native of Asia, and of a greyish colour, with black fillets. 30. The cerealeus, 165-24, is blueish, with white scales on one side: It is a native of America. 31. The albus, 170-20, is entirely white, and is a native of Asia. 32. The typhlus, 140-53, is a native of the Indies, and of a blueish colour. 33. The fasciatus, 128-67, is a native of Carolina; the scales are carinated, and the colour is blackish. 34. The melanocephalus, 140-62, is a native of America; the body is very smooth; the colour is dusky, and the head is black. 35. The colla, 150-54, is very frequent in America: it is ash-coloured, interspersed with white lines. 36. The regina, 137-70, is a native of the Indies; the body is dusky, and the belly is black and white. 37. The dollatus, 164-43, is a native of Carolina; this is a small serpent, of a whitish colour, with black rings. 38. The ordinatus, 138-72, is likewise found in Carolina: It is blueish, and clouded with black spots. 39. The Mexicanus, 134-77, is a native of America. 40. The aurora, 179-37, is a native of America: it is livid, with a yellow back. 41. The sipedon, 144-73, is yellowish, and a native of North America. 42. The maurus, 152-66, is a native of Algiers: the body is yellowish above, and the belly is red. 43. The vitatus, 142-78, is a native of America; the edges of the scales are yellowish, and there is a white dentated fillet under the anus. 44. The miliaris, 162-59, is a native of the Indies: the body is yellow, with a white spot in each scale; and the belly is white. 45. The asculapii, 180-43, is a native of the Indies: it has white and black belts. 46. The rhombecus, 157-70, is a native of the Indies: the colour is blueish, with black spots. 47. The cyaneus, 119-110, is a native of America: it is of an azure colour, and the belly is green. 48. The natrix, 170-60, is a native of Europe: it is black, with a white spot on each side of the neck. 49. The agilis, 184-50, is a native of the Indies: it has yellow and white belts. 50. The jaculatrix, 162-77, is a native of Surinam. 51. The aulicus, 184-60, is a native of America, and is of a greyish colour, with white belts. 52. The monilis,

164-82, is a native of America; the body is annulated, with three white spots on the collar. 53. The fulvus, 218-31, is a native of Carolina: it has 22 black rings, and as many yellow, placed alternately. 54. The pallidus, 156-96, is a native of the Indies, and is of a pale colour, with grey and yellow spots. 55. The lineatus, 169-84, is a native of Asia: it is blueish, with four linear fillets. 56. The padera, 198-56, is a native of the Indies: it is white, with yellowish spots. 57. The canus, 188-70, is a native of the Indies: it is of a hoary colour, with yellowish belts. 58. The getulus, 215-44, is a native of Carolina: it is of a blackish blue colour, with yellow linear belts. 59. The sibilans, 160-100, is a native of Asia; and is blue, with black fillets, and a white belly. 60. The laticaudatus, 220-42, is a native of the Indies: it is ash-coloured, with yellow belts; and the tail is obtuse and compressed. 61. The hirtalis, 150-114, is a native of Canada: the body is of a dirty yellow colour, with three blueish green fillets. 62. The fibon, 180-85, is a native of Africa: it is of a yellowish iron-colour, interspersed with white; and the belly is white, with yellow spots. 63. The nebulator, 185-81, is a native of America: it is clouded with yellow and an ash colour, and the belly is variegated with yellow and white. 64. The fuscus, 149-117, is a native of Asia: it is yellow and ash-coloured, and there are yellow spots behind the eyes. 65. The saturninus, 147-120, is a native of the Indies: it is livid and coloured with an ash-colour, and the eyes are very large. 66. The candidus, 220-50, is a native of the Indies: it is white, with yellow belts. 67. The scaber, 228-44, is a native of the Indies: it is clouded with black and yellow, and the scales are carinated. 68. The carinatus, 157-115, is a native of the Indies: it is of a lead colour, and the edges of the scales are tipped with white; the belly is white, and the back is carinated. 69. The ovivorus, 203-73, is a native of America. 70. The faurita, 156-121, is a native of Carolina: it is of a greenish colour. 71. The constrictor, 186-92, is a native of North America: it is black and smooth; the belly is of a palish green; and the nape of the neck is white. This species is so bold, that it even attacks men, twisting about their legs, and breaking their bones: it runs very quickly; but its bite is not poisonous. 72. The exoleus, 147-132, is a native of the Indies. It is blueish and ash-coloured. 73. The stula, 236-45, is a native of Egypt: It is greyish. 74. The trifasciatus, 195-86, is a native of the Indies: It is of an azure colour. 75. The guttatus, 227-60, is a native of Carolina: It is of a livid colour, with red and black spots on the back. 76. The lenniscatus, 250-35, is a native of Asia: The body is very smooth, and variegated with white and black rings. 77. The annulatus, 190-96, is a native of America: It is white, with round yellow spots. 78. The pelias, 187-103, is a native of the Indies: It is yellow behind the eyes, and the rest is blackish. 79. The tyria, 210-83, is a native of Egypt: It is whitish, with yellow spots. 80. The jugularis, 195-102, is a native

vice of Egypt: It is black, with a red neck. 81. The pathola, 209-90, is a native of Africa: It is of a leaden colour. 82. The æstivus, 155-144, is a native of Carolina: It is blue, and very smooth; and the belly is of a palish green. 83. The molurus, 248-59, is a native of the Indies: This species is very like the boa; but the scuta and scales are larger. 84. The ahxulla, 163-150, is a native of Asia and America: It is of a yellowish green colour, and the tops of the scales are black; it has likewise a black belt across the eyes. 85. The petalarius, 212-102, is a native of the Indies: It is yellow, with white belts. 86. The haje, 207-109, is a native of Egypt. This is a large serpent, with oblique red belts, and about one half of each scale white. 87. The filiformis, 165-158, is a native of the Indies: It is black, with a white belly; and the head is thicker than the body. 88. The pullatus, 217-108, is a native of Asia: It has red belts, with white spots. 89. The hippocrepis, 282-94, is a native of America: It is of a livid colour, with yellow spots. 90. The minervæ, 238-90, is a native of the Indies: It is of an azure colour, with a yellow fillet on the back. 91. The cinereus, 200-137, is a native of the Indies: It is of an ash-colour, with a white belly. 92. The viridissimus, 217-122, is a native of Surinam: It is of a fine green colour. 93. The mucosus, 200-140, is a native of the Indies: the head is blueish. 94. The domesticus, 245-94, frequents the dwelling-houses of Barbary: It greatly resembles the hippocrepis. 95. The cenchoa, 220-124, is a native of America: It is yellowish, with pale spots and white belts: The head is globular. 96. The cærulescens, 215-170, is a native of the Indies, and is of an azure colour. 97. The argus, is a native of Africa; but hitherto we have had no just description of it.—For the instincts, manner of living, &c. of serpents in general, see NATURAL HISTORY.