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. brasiliensis, 

 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 Trimeresurus 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, 

 Gunther, " 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." 



