'^ TRIGONOCEPHALUS LANCEOLATUS." 45 



(the Fer-de-lance itself), which is limited to the West Indian 

 islands of Martinique and St. Lucia. The Bushmaster 

 {Lachesis mutiis) of Demerara and the hottest parts of 

 tropical America is a cousin of the Fer-de-lance, exceeding 

 it in size, and being probably the largest of terrestrial 

 poisonous snakes (up to ten feet). 



The Fer-de-lance is a very beautiful snake, of an olive- 

 green hue, with dark cross-bands, and greyish-white below, 

 studded with black dots. The head is brown and large, and 

 triangular in shape, like the head of a lance; hence the name. 

 They are usually seen from three up to eight feet long, and 

 are often from six to ten inches or more in circumference. 

 Very extravagant accounts are given by the Rev. J. G. 

 Wood and others of the ferocity of the Fer-de-lance. It is 

 said that horses will not pass anywhere within striking 

 distance of the serpent, and neither spur nor whip can avail 

 if there is one in the way ; that he will always take the 

 initiative in attacking his prey, and that no animal, however 

 large, is safe from his terrible fangs. Wood says '* that the 

 pig, ivhen in good condition^ is said to be the only animal 

 that can resist his poison, the thick coating of fat which 

 covers the body preventing the poison from mingling with 

 the blood." But pigs in St. Lucia have never been known 

 to be " in good condition^^^ and whether j^ost hoc or propter 

 hoc, the fact is that pigs are frequently killed by the Fer- 

 de-lance, and probably in larger proportions than any other 

 animal. 



All who know the Fer-de-lance agree in saying that if 

 anything he is rather a cowardly animal, and at least that 

 he is no worse than other snakes that will only attack in 

 self-defence or when their retreat is cut off. The manner 

 in which he strikes at his prey is peculiar. The poison 

 fangs are long, hollow, slightly curved tubes, with the poison 



