590 SNAKES. 



to form an opinion, the reptile does not use these formidable 

 teeth to secure its prey, or even in feeding. It did not 

 devour the victims of its bite, nor has it since killed any 

 creature for the express purpose of eating it. Up to the 

 date at which I write (Oct. 1882), eggs have formed its chief 

 diet, varied by an occasional dead mouse. Now it certainly 

 does not require deeply-grooved teeth and venomous saliva 

 to bite raw eggs and dead mice. Nor does the noxious 

 secretion flow continuously from its gums in repose, but 

 abundantly so when irritated. 



Though a stranger in England, this lizard was known 

 more than two hundred years ago. Hernandez, in his Nova 

 Anivialium Mexicamnn, published at Rome in 165 1, described 

 its bite as 'hurtful, but not deadly;' and that it was 'more 

 dreadful in appearance than reality.' Its Mexican name, 

 Acaltetepon, is (or was then) applied to all large and suspi- 

 cious-looking lizards. Scorpione is its modern name. As 

 Heloderina Jiorridiim was awarded plenty of space in the 

 journals at the time of its arrival, full accounts of it will be 

 found elsewhere ; it is introduced here merely as one of the 

 venomous reptiles that form the chief subjects of this chapter, 

 and to trace its analogy with them. In its slow, stealthy 

 movements there is the same striking contrast between the 

 Heloderm and most other lizards, that there is between the 

 deadly vipers and the active colubrine snakes ; and the 

 inquiry suggests itself, Can the venom elaborated in their 

 system so act upon themselves as to produce this habitual 

 lethargy ? Drowsiness and coma are almost invariable 

 effects of snake venom in the blood, and why is it that the 

 deadly serpents are so constitutionally different from others? 



