Plate 78 



POISONOUS SNAKES 



SKULLS OF THREE SPECIES OF PIT VIPERS 



Bushmaster. Lachesis mutus. South America. 

 Fer-de-lance. Lachesis lanceolatus. South America. 

 Diamond-back Rattlesnake. Crotalus adamanteus. United States. 



The upper skull has been mounted with all its reserve fangs — 

 these normally carried by every poisonous snake. The fangs are 

 being constantly renewed; if the main pair is accidentally broken an 

 auxiliary pair at once grows into place. 



