202 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



commences to pain, mostly at night. A sore is formed and 

 soon breaks open, and as a result the nail invariably comes 

 off. The attack lasts for about two weeks. 



**Two years ago^ however, and ten years after the acci- 

 dent, the recurrence was prevented by a remedy commonly 

 used in Brazil against snake bite, and brought to Mr. 

 Shindler from that country by his friend, Dr. A. de Baus- 

 set. The remedy consists of the leaves and stem of a 

 vine {Micania guaclio) an infusion of which was taken 

 internally immediately before the expected recurrence of 

 the symptoms, with the result that, although the pains 

 arrived on time, no eruption took place." 



The Coral Snake is of burrowing habits. It is some- 

 times found hiding under the bark of decaying logs, and 

 is often brought up in ploughing. After heavy showers 

 and at night it issues forth in search of food, which con- 

 sists of snakes and lizards. The Bead Snake is oviparous. 

 Its eggs are nvery elongate and are deposited in decaying 

 bark or damp soil. The snake lays about seven eggs at 

 the end of June, which hatch at or about the 27th of Sep- 

 tember. 



Superfamily Crotaloideae. 



Maxillary bone vertical and movable. Ectopterygoid (transpalatine) 

 present, extending to mandible; supra temporal present, attached scale 

 like to the skull and suspending quadrate. Maxillary much abbreviated, 

 irectile perpendicularly to ectopterygoid, supporting a pair of large 

 poison fangs, without external groove. Mandible without coronoid 

 bone. Hypapophyses developed throughout the vertebral column. 



Family Crotalidae. 



A deep "pit" between the nostril and the eye. Head triangular, 

 broad behind, flat and distinctly separated from the body by a small 

 neck. Maxillary bone much shortened, moving freely on the lachrymal 

 and supporting a single functional, enlarged, tubular tooth, or poison 

 fang, which is capable of erection and concealment under a fold of 

 lining of the mouth. Poison glands at the side of the head. Pupil 

 oblong, vertical. Scales keeled. Anal entire. Body thick and short. 

 Tail short. All are venomous. 



''Pit Vipers," a name meant to include the Rattle- 

 snakes, Moccasins, and Copperheads, is a most excellent 



