CHAPTER AE 
SNAKE VENOM, ITS NATURE AND EFFECTS. 
VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THEIR POISON. 
THE three great sub-families of highly venomous snakes of 
South Africa are the Sea Snakes (Hydvophiine) ; the Cobras, 
Mambas, Coral Snakes, etc. (Elapine) ; and the Adders (Viperine). 
The only Sea Snake which frequents the South African coasts 
is the Black and Yellow species (Hydrus platurus) which sometimes 
gets stranded among the rocks on the sea-shore, and is usually 
mistaken for an eel. In South Africa south of the Zambesi 
there are fourteen species or kinds of Cobra (Colubrine), and 
eleven of the Adder (Viperine) family. 
I. THE AGLYPHA. 
There are three great classes or divisions of snakes, viz. those 
which have solid teeth without any trace of grooving. These 
snakes are all quite non-venomous. They are known as the 
Aglypha, which means snakes with solid teeth. 
II. THE OPISTHOGLYPHA. 
The second division are what are termed Hind-fanged Snakes, 
having one or more of the back teeth in the upper jaw more or 
less grooved, and possessing poison glands in a more or less im- 
perfect or rudimentary state. These snakes are regarded as 
either non-venomous, or only venomous to a very slight degree. 
They are known as the Opisthoglypha, which means having 
the posterior or back maxillary teeth grooved. 
III. THE PROTEROGLYPHA. 
The third division are the typical highly venomous snakes, 
having the grooved or hollow fangs set in the front of the upper 
