VENOMOUS SERPENTS. 



63 



Fig. 24. 



68. The Little Viper t Vipera cfierscea, which is common in 

 the north of Europe, and which is also found in the Pyrennes, 

 has upon the head three plates somewhat larger than the scales 

 surrounding them. It is about six inches long; but its poison 

 is very violent. 



69. The Vipera illyrica, inhabits the south of Europe, and is 

 distinguished from the common Viper by a small soft horn, 

 covered with scales, that it has on the end of the muzzle ; and 

 the Ht/rnetf Viper, Coluber cerastes, of which the ancients 

 often speak, is recognised by a small horn placed on each eye- 

 brow. It is found in the burning sands of Egypt and Syria. 



70. The NAJA resemble the V'ipers, except that their head is 

 always furnished with plates, and the anterior ribs can be erected 

 and carried forward, so as to dilate this part of the trunk into a 

 kind of disk, which is more or less wide, (/%. 24.) Two species 

 of this genus are known ; the Spectacle Snake, and the Asp of 

 Egypt.. 



71. The Spectacle Snake, (or 

 Cobra Capello of the Portuguese 

 in India,) Coluber naja, owes 

 its name to a black line, in form 

 of a pair of spectacles, traced upon 

 the extensible part of its neck. Its 

 length is about four feet ; its bite 

 is extremely dangerous, and it is 

 very fierce: nevertheless, Indian 

 jugglers teach it to execute cer- 

 tain movements, in time, to the 

 sound of a flute, and employ it 

 to astonish the public ; to increase 

 the sale of their pretended specific 

 against the venom of this reptile, 

 they permit themselves even to be 

 bitten by the serpent, somewhat 

 tamed, however; but they take 



the precaution previously to extract its poisonous fangs. 



72. The Asp, which inhabits Egypt, Coluber haje, and 

 which is about two feet long, is also employed by the jugglers of 

 those countries to amuse the public. By pressing it with the 

 fingers on the back of the neck, they cause it to fall into a sort 



COBRA CAPELLO. 



68. What is the Little Viper ? 



69. How is the Horned Viper recognised ? 



70. What are the characters of the genus Naja ? 

 11. What are the characters of the Cobra Capello? 



72. What are the peculiarities of the Asp of Cleopatra ? 



