Snakes

or Reptiles, rep'tils, an order of animals, including tortoises, crocodiles, lizards, and serpents. The entire phylum or type is repulsive, unless an exception be made of the lively southern chameleon. There are about 2,000 species. Their circulation is low. Their blood is cold. Their habits are sluggish. Their digestion is slow. In temperate climes they are torpid over winter. None of them requires a warm covering, as of hair. They can go without food for long periods and can remain under water without breathing for a considerable length of time. No reptile hatches its eggs by nesting on them, though the pythoness keeps guard until the sun has done the work. Many species bring forth their young alive. Separate articles may be consulted for the leading animals of the phylum. It may be convenient to refer to the following classification of living reptiles:

I. Crocodilians--gavial, crocodile, alligator. II. Tortoises--terrapin, turtles. III. Lizards--iguana, slow-worm, "glass" snake, gila monster, horned "toad." IV. Serpents--boa, python, black snake, garter snake, copperhead, moccasin, viper, rattlesnake, cobra.

See Adder; Anaconda; Asp; Boa Constrictor; Cobra; Python; Rattlesnake; Viper