. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 190 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD Snakes, like lizards, are most abundant in tropical countries, the Indian and Malay regions in particular being richest in numbers and varieties. The British Islands support but three representatives of the class — the ADDER, the COMMON Ringed and the SMOOTH SNAKES — this number, by a coincidence, being identical with that of the Lizard Tribe indigenous to the same islands. Many of the smaller species are little over i foot long, while the huge Pytho
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 190 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD Snakes, like lizards, are most abundant in tropical countries, the Indian and Malay regions in particular being richest in numbers and varieties. The British Islands support but three representatives of the class — the ADDER, the COMMON Ringed and the SMOOTH SNAKES — this number, by a coincidence, being identical with that of the Lizard Tribe indigenous to the same islands. Many of the smaller species are little over i foot long, while the huge Pythons and the Anaconda may attain to or exceed 30 feet. Regarding their habits, some are purely terrestrial, frequenting the rocks or sandy deserts, or even burrowing beneath the earth's surface. Others are essentially arboreal, man}' amphibious, and soirie, like the Turtles among the Chelonians, entireh'marine. As with the Lizards, the majorit)'of snakes lay eggs enclosed within a white leathery shell, while with a considerable number the young are brought forth alive. The eggs, deposited in the earth, sand, or among vegetable debris, are usually left to be hatched b)- the heat of the sun. In the case of the P}'thons, however, they are incubated by the parent. A small group of snakes which is usually placed at the head of the series in systematic classifications share the sub- terranean habits of the Amphisbjenas among the Lizards; and the eyes being rudimentary and functionless, they are commonly known as Blind-snakes. A structural peculiarity which separates these singular reptiles from all other members of the Snake Tribe is the entire absence of teeth from either the upper or lower jaw. The food of the blind-snakes consists largely of ants and the larvae of beetles and other insects which lead a subterranean life. Although spending the greater portion of their existence under- ground, they occasionall}" come out upon the surface, such migrations more gener- ally taki
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