376 MEMOIR on AMPHIBIA. 



zl.30 when we took it out. At the time when we found 

 feven ferpents together in the fame place, the fun had 

 great power, the thermometer in the fhade being above 

 40°. The ferpents began to be fenfible in this mild tem- 

 perature : as we put them into the box which we had 

 brought for this purpofe they moved their rattles ; but we 

 did not perceive them to make any efforts to dart forward 

 or bite. 



After our return to Philadelphia, our boiquiras remained 

 above three weeks in the fame box, which, as I have al- 

 ready related, did not emit the flighteft odour when we 

 took them out of it. 



Fourth Observation. — At the end of this time 

 we fhifted them. I chofe out one with rattles, which had 

 been wounded by the blow of a flake in digging it out, 

 and therefore could not live long, with the intention to 

 make a few obfervations on the teeth of thefe reptiles. 

 The feafon began to be very mild, the reptiles began to 

 agitate their rattles ; but unwilling to lofe fo favourable an 

 opportunity, I feized the boiquira with great caution by 

 my left hand, and holding it very near its head, fo that by 

 forcing its jaws forward i made its mouth open. I at- 

 tempted with fciffars in my right hand to diffeit out the 

 flefhy membrane or fheath which contains one of the 

 fangs. I accidentally burfi: the bladder which held the 

 venom, and two or three drops flowed upon my fingers. 

 This liquor was of a clear and tranfparent yellow colour. 

 After the operation, I took a fmall pair of flat pincers and 

 drew the fang. At the moment I extracted it, five or fix 

 drops of poiion came out with force, and flew to the dif- 

 tance of about two paces. I proceeded in the fame man- 

 ner to get the other fang, but made no venom fly out ; 

 and, lefs happy than in my firft attempt, I brought away 

 with it a portion of the iaw. 



My 



