Ad99998 04 021a/eng
Unschädliche Schlangen
Beschreibungstext eng
Amphibies XV. Vol. IV. No. 19., INNOXIOUS SERPENTS, It is a common but falfe assertion, that al] kinds of Serpents andVipers are venoinous and mortiferous. Tliere are in fact différent tribes, wbich are more or less provided with poifonous qualities, but there are also various species entireîy innoxious; some of them may even beeafily tamed, and without the leafi: danger kept within doors. Impoftors and jugglers employ the m very often in their tricks and juggles, and make inexpert peuple believe, they are posselTed of a supernatural power of taming these Animais. In the annexed picture we are made acquainted with three of these harmless species., Fig. 1. The French Viper. (Coluber communis feu Franciae.), The French Viper is frequent in the South of France. It is commonly about 3 feet long. The coat of the animal is cover'd with scales, darkgreen on the back, and of a pale yellow caft on the belly; its tail terminâtes in a long thin point. It lives on lizards, frogs, and other small animals wbich it catches with its teeth. Within doors is may be rendered quite obedient and familiär., Fig. 2. The Serpent of Aesculapius. (Coluber Aesculapii.), This Serpent is, like the former, of a gentle and harmless nature, and may as eafily be tamed. It is found in Ttaîy, especially in the Environs of Rome, in Spain and the Greek Islands. The species was known to the ancients; and for its inolFenfive nature it was made the fymbol of Aesculapius the beneficent God of phyfic. Its length is commonly 3 or 3§ feet. It feeds like the french Viper on small animals. The ruft brown back is cover'd with. oval scales; on the sides a blackish stripe is perceived; the belly is white., Fig. 3. The striped Viper. (Coluber quadristriatus.), This species is met with in the Southern parts of France and Spain, especially in humid and moift places. It measures generally 3 or 4 feet. Its prevailing co'our is of a grey yellow. Four parallel stripes of black run down from the head to the beginning of the tail. They are also very easily tamed; and in Spain where they generally are suppos'd to be venomous, many tricks ar# played with these innocent animals.
