400 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



imitators (figs. 37, 38, 39, 40) may also serve to aid in the identification 

 when conipared with figures 35 and 30 and with those of the various 

 venomous species given farther on uuder the lieads of the latter. 



Fiji. :u. 



UM)EK SIDE OF TAIL OF WATER SNAKE, NATRIX. 



With living snakes the matter is more diflBcult. To the person 

 familiar with the various kinds of snakes, their appearance and their 

 habits, there may be no special difificulty in quickly recognizing them, if 

 he gets a good view of them, but it would be useless to attempt by 



Fig. R5. Fig. 36 



HEAD OF COPPERHEAD, SHOWN FROM TOP AND SIDE. 



ViiX. :!7. Fig. ;iS\ 



HEAD OF SPREADING ADDER (HETERODON), SHOWN FROM TOP AND SIDE. 



Fig. 39. Fig. 40. 



HEAD OF WATER SNAKE (NATRIX), SHOWN FROM TOP AND SIDE. 



description, or even by figure, to make the ditferences of the living 

 snakes so plain to those who have not learned to discriminate between 

 them, with the specimens in hand, that it would be of any value to him. 



