REPTILIA 



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the fer-de-lance of Martinique and the jararaca of tropical South 

 America, is feared on account of its size (8>^ feet) and the fact that 

 it injects a teaspoonful of poison. (Figure i8o.) 



The diamond back rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus) , found in the 

 Southeastern part of the United States, grows to a length of eight 

 feet and weighs more than any other Doisonous form. Death ensues 

 in less than an hour after its bite. 



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Fig. 1 80. Barba amarilla. (Courtesy of N. Y. Zool. Soc.) 



Other rattlesnakes of the United States include the pigyny or 

 ground rattlesnake of Southeastern United States, the Massasagua of 

 the Central and Western states, the Texas rattler (6 feet long) (Figure 

 181), the timber rattler of the eastern mountains, and the horned rattler 

 or sidewinder of the Western states. (Figure 182.) 



Ditmars has recently described a ten-foot Honduran rattlesnake 

 that produces paralysis of the neck muscles in a few minutes. 



The smallest adult snake, a Syrian Leptotyphlops, is blind, lives 

 in the sand and resembles in size and shape a steel knitting needle. 



General Consideration of Reptilia 



Distribution. — The Lacertilia are of wide distribution. The 

 wall lizard {Lacerta muralis) is found from Belgium to North Africa. 

 The Chelonia are found in the temperate and tropical regions for 

 the most part. The sea-turtles are confined chiefly to the tropical 

 seas. The Caimans are found in Central and South America, while 



