RATTLESNAKES. 75 
by it invariably die within a few hours of becoming inoculated 
with the poison. ‘The wound produces extreme pain, and is im- 
mediately followed by more or less livid swelling; the body be- 
comes cold and insensible, the pulse and respiration slower, the 
head confused, coma appears, and the skin turns bluish; some- 
times extreme thirst and spitting of blood are experienced, till 
paralysis attacks the whole system. 
Other species are known in South America, viz.; C. brasz/iensis, 
C. bilineatus, C. elegans, and C. atrox. All of these are most highly 
formidable and dangerous Snakes, and are held in especial dread. 
Ten or more species of Z7imeresurus occupy their place in the 
woodland districts of tropical Asia and its islands. In them the 
hinder labial shields are the smallest. The head is triangular, 
covered above with small scales, except the foremost part of the snout 
and the superciliary region, which generally are shielded ; the body 
possesses more or less distinctly-keeled scales, in from seventeen to 
twenty-five series ; while the tail is prehensile. ‘These reptiles are 
more or less arboreal, as is indicated by this latter peculiarity, and 
by their green or varied coloration. ‘In general,” remarks Dr. 
Giinther, “they are sluggish, not attempting to move out of the way, 
and as they very closely resemble the branch on which they rest, 
they are frequently not perceived until they prepare to dart, vibrating 
the tail, and uttering a faint hissing sound, or until they have struck 
the disturber of their rest. Accidents caused by them, therefore, 
are not of uncommon occurrence, and it is a fortunate circumstance 
that comparatively few of them attain to a size of more than two 
feet, so that the consequences of their bite are less to be dreaded 
than that of various other poisonous snakes. Indeed, numerous 
cases are on record which show that the symptoms indicating a 
general effect on the system were of short duration, extending only over 
from two to forty-eight hours, and confined to vomiting, retching, and 
fever. After the pain and swelling of the bitten member or spot 
have subsided, the vicinity round the wound becomes discoloured, 
mortifies, and is finally thrown off as a black, circular slough, after 
which health is speedily restored. The bite of larger specimens, 
from two to three feet long, is more dangerous, and has occasionally 
proved fatal ; so that the greatest care should always be observed in 
the immediate treatment of the patient. When roused, these snakes 
are extremely fierce, striking at everything within their reach; and 
Cantor states that in the extreme of fury they will fix their fangs in 
their own bodies. Frogs, small mammalia, and birds, form their 
food, and I have never found a lizard or snake in their stomach,” 
