REPTILES 



433 



aperture is protected by a semicircular shield. The venom is 

 h^emolytic, and a good bite is usually fatal. 



The Bitis arietans is pretty, with V markings down the back. 



The nostrils are vertical and not lateral. 



The Echis abounds here as elsewhere. 



The Serastis is all over the Mediterranean region. They 

 differ from the Echis by having a ridge along each side of the 

 abdominal shields. 



The Atheris differs from the above by the scales on the flanks 



Echis carinaitis. India. (After Sir Joseph Fayrer.) 



being smaller and not serrated. They are of a greenish tint and 

 live in trees. 



The Causus is found in all parts of tropical Africa. The 

 crown of the head is covered with large shields. There is often 

 a neat broad arrow-head marking on the dorsum of its head. 

 It is usually brownish in colour. The venom is strongly 

 haemolytic. 



In Australia. 



{i) Hydrophince are plentiful. 



{2) ElapincB are numerous, and here are to be found twice the 

 number of species possessed by any other country. Australia 

 may be looked upon as the headquarters of this family. Some 

 are not unlike vipers. 



