DISTRIBUTION- OF SEKPENTS. 203 



ern hcmispliere but a single representative in the island of 

 Cuba. The Acrochordus is wholly peculiar to the East 

 Indies. Among venomous serpents, it is only the Vipers, 

 and perhaps some of the genus Cro talus, that advance to 

 the north, as far as temperate or cold climates. The other 

 genera appear most particularly destined to inhabit inter- 

 tropical countries. Of the colubriform venomous snakes, 

 the genus Elaps is the only one which is found in the two 

 worlds ; and yet the Elaps of America forms a small geo- 

 gi-aphic gi'oup, distinguished by the system of colouring, 

 and by some petty details in form ; those of India are 

 longitudinally streaked or rayed, instead of being annula- 

 ted \vith red and black ; those of New Holland may be con- 

 sidered as forming anomalous species. The Bungari arc 

 peculiar to the East Indies, where are also found theNAJAS, 

 though the greater number of the latter appear to prefer 

 to live in arid or sandy plains, which explains why they 

 predominate in Africa and New Holland. We are yet 

 unable to explain the phenomenon that Sea Serpents are 

 exclusively found in the Indian seas, from Malabar to the 

 Great Pacific Ocean. Lastly, it remains to oifer some 

 curious observations on the distribution of Venomous 

 Serpents properly so called. Of the genera of which 

 this family is composed, one, the Vipera, is peculiar to 

 the ancient world, whilst the Crotalus is only found in the 

 two Americas, where it replaces the former ; but the Tri- 

 GONOCEPHALUS is fouud in either world. These last rep- 

 tiles, which inhabit wooded countries and vast forests, 

 have been observed, for that reason, neither in Africa 

 nor in New Holland, where they are replaced by the 

 Viper ; but it must be remarked, that the Viper of New 

 Holland forms an anomalous species, while those which 

 inhabit Europe differ equally from the tjniical species, and 

 approach the Trigonocephalus. We may establish in this 

 genus two divisions, one of which comprehends the species 

 with a head covered by scales, that more especially in- 

 habits tropical countries, while those which have the head 

 defended by 'plates are found in temperate regions. 



Having given, in the preceding pages, a general sketch 



