OUTLINES AND KEYS 103 



soiious snakes — i. e., snakes with poison-fangs — which 

 we have. 



The little coral-snake of the Southern States is a 

 poisonous snake, but its fangs are short and far back, 

 and serious results rarely follow its bite. 



Since tlie saliva of any creature may prove to he 

 poisonous, especially if it be worried into a frenzy or 

 be diseased, it is simply folly to allow it to bite you. 

 Such assertions as those that " blacksnakes," " milk- 

 snakes," "garter snakes," "spread-heads," etc., have 

 been known to kill, can only be belie v^ed upon the 

 same grounds that rat-bites are sometimes fatal. 



Lizards 



We can not classify the lizards by habit either. 

 Thus, the legless blindworm of Europe is now known 

 to be rather near to the " Gila monster " {Heloderma) 

 both in structure of body and the mutual possession 

 of grooved teeth. The following key, though not 

 practical without dissection, is a fair presentation of 

 many peculiarities of the families the world over : 



A. Vertebrae cupped at both ends. 



B. Collar-bone expanded into a loop at one end. 



(Gecko-forms.) 

 C. No eyelids. (1) True Geckos. 



CC. Eyelids present. Another form of geckos. 



(2) Euhlepliaridiv. 

 BB. Collar-bone not expanded, etc. (More geckos.) 



(3) Urojdafedce. 

 A A. Vertebras not cupped at both ends. 

 D. Feet as merely projecting scales. 



(4) Scale-footed Liznrds. 

 DD. Feet ordinary or none. May be either two or four. 



