XIII 



CROTALINAE 



647 



species in South - Eastern Asia and in Central and South 

 America. 



L. {Bothro'ps s. Craspedoceplialua) lanceolatus inhabits nearly 

 the whole of South America, extending into Mexico and tlie 

 Lower Antilles, cjj. jMartinique, Guadaloupe, and Santa Lucia, 

 where it is known as the " Fer-de-Lance," and is the curse ot" 

 the sugar-plantations on account of its ])eing so very common 

 and so deadly poisonous. The Mongoose was introduced as 

 a possible antagonist, but the little Indian Mammal wisely left 

 the dangerous reptile alone, and lias in some places established 

 himself as another pest — as a destroyer of poultry. Tlic Fer-de- 



5« 



Fig, 179. — Head of Z«c7i&sj's Za?iceoZfli)/s after removal of the skin. x 1. Jj, Duct, bent 

 upon itself, from the poison-gland into the tooth ; Biff, digastric muscle or opener 

 of the jaw; ^V, nostril; P.O', poison-gland; S.Gr, sensory groove or pit: S.Q, 

 point of junction of the squamosal and quadrate ; T.a. Temp. a, anterior, and T.p, 

 posterior, temporal muscle. 



Lance grows to a lengtli of G feet, establishes itself everywhere — 

 in swamps, plantations, forests, in the plains and in the hills — 

 and is very prolific, producing, according to its size, dozens of 

 young which are 10 inches long, very active and snappy. 



L. {Trimeresurus) gramineus s. viridis, to mention one 

 Asiatic species, grows to less than 3 feet in length, is bright 

 green above, sometimes with faint blackisli Itars : green, yellow, 

 or whitish below, and with a light streak along the outer row of 

 scales. The end of the tail is usually bright red. This beautiful 

 snake has a prehensile tail and is arboreal. Its range extends 

 over the whole of India, to Hong-Kong and to Timor, and even 

 into the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 



Sistrurus. — With a rattle. The upper surface of the head 

 is covered with nine large shields. A few species in North 

 America east of the Eocky Mountains, e.g. *S^. miliarius. 



