112 VENOMS 
The name is derived from one of the Parcæ, daughters of Night, 
who placed the thread on the spindle, and upon whom depended 
the fate of men. 
In addition to the 19 Asiatic species, of which we have already 
given descriptions, the genus Lachesis includes 21 American species. 
(1) L. mutus (Bushmaster, or Surucucu).—'Two or three scales 
separating the internasals in front; 10 to 15 scales on a line be- 
tween the supraoculars; 9 or 10 supralabials. Scales tubercularly 
keeled, feebly imbricate, in 35 or 37 rows; 200—230 ventrals; 
32— 50 subcaudals. 
FiG. 69.—Lachesis lanceolatus (Fer-de-lance oF MARTINIQUE). 
(After Stejneger.) 
Colour yellow or pinkish on the back, with a series of large 
rhomboidal brown or black spots enclosing smaller light spots ; 
a black streak from the eye to the angle of the mouth. 
Total length, 1,995 millimetres ; tail 170. 
Habitat : Central and Tropical South America. 
(2) L. lanceolatus (known as the Fer-de-lance in Martinique, 
and Jararacussu in Brazil; fig. 69).—Snout obtuse, slightly turned 
up; upper head-scales small, imbricate, more or less strongly 
keeled, in 5—10 longitudinal series between the supraoculars, 
which are large; 7 or 8 supralabials. Scales in 23—33 rows, 
