" ON SNAKES 



Observed in the neighbourhood of Sydney, by 

 GERARD KREFFT. 



HAVING paid much attention to the reptiles found near this city, 

 I am now able to give an account of the snakes to be met with 

 in the vicinity, and to point out which of them may be considered 

 dangerous to man or larger animals. 



There are four highly venomous snakes observed to inhabit 

 nearly every part of Australia, while a fifth large venomous species 

 exists besides these on the North-west coast ; and these are the 

 only dangerous ones known to us as yet. 



All the remaining species, as far as my knowledge goes, are 

 too small to inflict a dangerous wound. 



In the beginning of spring, when reptiles re-appear, there is 

 generally a great supply of snake stories brought before the 

 public by the daily press, but it is of very rare occurrence that 

 we hear of death being caused by the bite of any of these 

 animals. 



If we compare our reptile-fauna with other countries under 

 the same latitude, I think that we have sufficient reason to 

 be thankful for the absence of the deadly Vipers, the Rattlesnakes 

 and Puff-adders of India, America, and Africa all of which 

 have fangs an inch or more in length ; we actually have 

 not yet discovered a single species in which the teeth exceed 

 one-fourth of an inch, and I doubt whether any of our snakes can 

 inflict a wound through ordinary cloth or a common leather boot. 



All our venomous snakes belong to the second sub-order of 

 the class Ophidia, viz : to the Colubrine snakes with perma- 

 nently erect immoveable fangs in front. Of innocuous, or not 

 venomous Colubrine snakes, we have three species near Sydney, 

 all of which are Tree-snakes. If we except the Diamond snake, 

 which belongs to the Boa family, we find that all not venomous 



