REPTILES. 261 



each superior maxillary bone. When not in use, they lie flat 

 upon the roof of the mouth, concealed by a fold of the skin. 

 In each fang is a chaimel, which opens, not at the point of the 

 tooth, but near to it, by a longitudinal fissure. Through this 

 passage the poison flows. Wlaen the animal is irritated the poi- 

 son-fangs are erected in a moment ; and when they are struck 

 into the victim, it is easy to imagine how forcibly the poison 

 must be injected into the wound ; for the powerful muscles 

 which elevate the lower jaw serve at the same time to com- 

 press the poison-bag. 



Behind the large poison-fang in actual use are the germs of 

 scvenil others, ready to supply its place if accidentally broken 

 off, each of which is soon " adapted in all respects to take 

 upon itself the terrible office of its predecessor." 



The poison itself is neither acrid nor burning. On the 

 tongue it only produces a sensation like that of fatty matter, 

 and it maj'' be swallowed without danger ; but introduced into 

 the blood in sufficient quantity, it causes death with fearful 

 rapidit}-, though'the power varies, according to the species, and 

 other circumstances. To avoid such consequences, the best pre- 

 caution is that which is adopted in these countries for the bite 

 of a dog supposed to be mad : the immediate cutting out and 

 cauterising of the wounded part. 



In one genus of the poisonous Serpents there exists a pro- 

 vision which puts the unwary on his guard, and discloses the 

 proximity of the dangerous reptile. We allude of com'se to 

 the Rattle-snake {Fig. 223). Its tail is terminated by a 

 series of horny rings, loosely put together, which rattle with 

 the slightest movement of the animal, and even with the 

 vibrations of the tail when the creature itself lies in conceal- 

 ment.* 



Among the venomous Serpents is one which possesses a 

 classical and historical mterest, associated, as it is, with the 

 death of Cleopatra — the Egyptian Naja or Asp {Fig. 22G). 

 It is at present much used by the Egyptian jugglers in their 

 exhibitions. One of a nearly allied species, the Cobra-di- 

 Capello, has a curious mark on the skin of the neck, not unlike 

 a pair of spectacles. A specimen of this Snake was presented 

 to the Belfast Museum, by Major Martin (now residing at Ar- 



* The information here given respecting the poisonous Serpents is 

 almost entirely derived from Jones's Outline, Carpenter's Zoologj', and 

 Milue Edwarils' "Elemens de Zoologie." 



