THE COMMON ASP, OR CHERSJ3A. 



109 



extracted. But in any case it would be necessary to handle the really poisonous reptile for 

 the purpose of effecting the exchange, and, in my opinion, the necessary rough handling of 

 the creature would be a matter of no small danger. Bruce enters into this subject at some 

 length, and records the result of a long series of experiments in a form which, though very 

 interesting, is now so familiar as to need no quotation. 



That in many instances the poison-teeth of venomous Serpents have been extracted, in 

 order to allow the performer to play his tricks with them without harm, is very well known, 

 but the fact of acknowledged and detected imposture does not invalidate the reality which is 

 clumsily imitated by pretenders, any more than a forgery disproves the existence of a genuine 

 document. More will be said on this subject when we come to the different species of cobra. 



The Cerastes usually lives in the driest and hottest parts of Northern Africa, and lies 

 half-buried in the sand until its prey shall come within reach. Like many Serpents, it can 



HORATTA PtM.-Ech.ii carinata. 



endure a very prolonged frost without appearing to suffer any inconvenience ; those kept by 

 Bruce lived for two years in a glass jar without partaking of food, and seemed perfectly brisk 

 and lively, casting their skins as usual, and not even becoming torpid during the winter. 



The color of the Cerastes is pale brownish white, covered irregularly with brown spots. 

 Its length is about two feet. ' 



PASSING to another genus of venomous Snakes, we come to a rather pretty little Serpent, 

 an inhabitant of India, and called by the natives HORATTA PAM (Echis carinata). It is said 

 to be very dangerous in spite of its small dimensions, and to require a double dose of Serpent 

 medicine in order to counteract the effects of its poison. Its color is grayish brown, darkening 

 into rather deep brown on the head, and variegated with angular white streaks on the body, 

 and large oblong spots on the head, edged with a deeper hue. Its length is about fifteen 

 or sixteen inches. 



THE common ASP, or CHERS^EA ( Vlpera aspis) is nearly allied to the preceding species. 

 This Snake is common in many parts of Europe, and is plentiful in Sweden and the 



