CROTALINAE 



647 



species in South - Eastern Asia and in Central and South 

 America. 



L. {BotliTops s. Crasjiedoceplialus) lanceolatus inhabits nearly 

 the whole of South America, extending into Mexico and the 

 Lower Antilles, e.g. Martinique, Guadaloupe, and Santa Lucia, 

 where it is known as the " Fer-de-Lance," and is the curse of 

 the sugar-plantations on account of its being so very common 

 and so deadly poisonous. The Mongoose was introduced as 

 a possible antagonist, but the little Indian Mammal wisely left 

 the dangerous reptile alone, and has in some places established 

 himself as another pest — as a destroyer of poultry. The Fer-de- 



FiG. 179. — Head of Lachesis lanceolatus after removal of the skin. x 1. 1), Duct, bent 

 upon itself, from the poison-gland into the tooth ; Dig, digastric muscle or opener 

 of the jaw; N, nostril; P.G, poison-gland; S.Gr, sensory groove or pit; S.Q, 

 point of junction of the squamosal and quadrate ; T.a, Temp. a, anterior, and T.j', 

 posterior, temporal muscle. 



Lance grows to a length of 6 feet, establishes itself everywhere — 

 in swamps, plantations, forests, in the plains and in the hills — 

 and is very prolific, producing, according to its size, dozens of 

 young which are 10 inches long, very active and snappy. 



Z. (^Trimeresui'us) gramineus s. viridis, to mention one 

 Asiatic species, grows to less than 3 feet in length, is bright 

 green above, sometimes with faint blackish bars ; green, yellow, 

 or whitish below, and with a light streak along the outer row of 

 scales. The end of the tail is usually bright red. This beautiful 

 snake has a prehensile tail and is arboreal. Its range extends 

 over the whole of India, to Hong-Kong and to Timor, and even 

 into the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 



Sistrurus. — With a rattle. The upper surface of the head 

 is covered with nine large shields. A few species in North 

 America east of the Eocky Mountains, e.g. S. miliarius. 



