SNAKES. 



23 



These Suakes are highly poisonous; their dentition resembling 

 that of the preceding family. Their food consists entirely of fish. 



Fig. 18. 



Sea-Snake {Hydrophis), from the Indian Ocean. 



The greatest size to which some species attain is about 12 feet. 

 Pelamys bicolor and Hijdrophis are examples of this family. 



The Vipers (^Viperidce} and Rattlesnakes {CrotalidcB) are Snakes 

 with the most perfect poison-apparatus ; the latter family being 

 distinguished from the former by the presence of a deep pit on 

 the side of the snout, between the eye and the nostril. These 

 Snakes have generally a short thick body and a broad head^ are 



[G 



