CHAPTER _§ II. 
MORPHOLOGY OF VENOMOUS SNAKES. 
That mere external general appearances are not sufficient to distinguish a 
poisonous snake from an innocuous kind has long been known. Indeed, 
our natural instinct to fear every form of snake, notwithstanding the beauti- 
ful coloration of some species, may have had its origin in a series of accidents 
resulting from a reckless approach to the innocent-looking poisonous snakes. 
A brief description, therefore, of various individual superfamilies, families, 
subfamilies, genera, and species of the venomous snakes may be useful. 
In describing the poisonous snakes the zoological order has been adopted, 
commencing with the Opisthoglypha. For the purposes of this work it has 
not been found advantageous to follow any one authority as to nomenclature 
and classification, but no confusion need arise from this, as in most instances 
the authority is indicated. The system of Boulenger is more often employed 
in the Asiatic, African, and European snakes, while Cope’s classification is 
more frequently used in the American varieties. The exact description of 
various Oriental snakes is derived from the excellent work of Stejneger. 
Family COLUBRID Boulenger. 
OPISTHOGLYPHA. 
Plate 1, Aand B. 
This is Cope’s equivalent. Superfamily Glyphodonta; family Dipsadide. 
Dryophidz of authors must be included under this heading. Tvragops prasinus Wagler and perhaps 
Dryophis prasina of authors, which comes under Dryophidz, inhabits East India and has 
a powerful venom; it is Opisthoglyphous. Dryophis Boie and Dryinus Merren are identical 
and have no elongated median maxillary teeth anterior to the elongated posterior grooved teeth. 
Dryophis Boie is not identical with Dryophis Wagler. 
Family characters: One, or more, of the posterior teeth of the maxillary bone 
have a groove or furrow running frontally from base to apex, and conduct the 
secretion of the modified supralabial gland. Their zoological position is between 
the harmless and the powerfully venomous members of Colubride. The venom 
is usually trifling in amount, but powerful, often killing lizards in a very short 
time. Their comparative inoffensiveness must largely be due to the situation of 
the poison fangs, which is unfavorable for inserting them into a victim. The 
family includes 79 genera and about 300 species. 
This family contains forms of very varied habits, arboreal, terrestrial, subter- 
ranean, and aquatic. Cosmopolitan, excepting New Zealand. 
Subfamily DIPSADOMORPHINZ: Boulenger. 
Boigine Stejneger. Dipsadinze Cope. 
Teeth well developed, nostrils lateral. 
Some forms are arboreal, others terrestrial, and all have a long tail. The colora- 
tion of the arboreal is green above, often with white or yellow longitudinal bands, 
and white or yellow underneath. Their food consists chiefly of lizards, birds, and 
eggs. The following genera represent their corresponding types: 
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