SOUTH AMERICA. 191 



ing the poison. Now, when the point of the fang THIRD 

 is pressed, the root of the fang also presses against 

 the bag, and sends up a portion of the poison 

 therein contained. Thus, when I applied a piece 

 of stick to the point of the fang, there came out 

 of the hole a liquor thick and yellow, like strong 

 camomile tea. This was the poison, which is so 

 dreadful in its effects, as to render the labarri 

 snake one of the most poisonous in the forests of 

 Guiana. I once caught a fine labarri, and made 

 it bite itself. I forced the poisonous fang into 

 its belly. In a few minutes I thought it was 

 going to die, for it appeared dull and heavy. 

 However, in half an hour's time, he was as brisk 

 and vigorous as ever, and in the course of the 

 day showed no symptoms of being affected. Is 

 then the life of the snake proof against its -own 

 poison ? This subject is not unworthy of the 

 consideration of the naturalist. 



In Guiana there is a little insect in the grass, The Bete- 

 and on the shrubs, which the French call Bete- r 

 rouge. It is of a beautiful scarlet colour, and so 

 minute, that you must bring your eye close to it 

 before you can perceive it. It is most numerous 

 in the rainy season. Its bite causes an intolerable 

 itching. The best way to get rid of it, is to rub 

 the part affected with oil or rum. You must be 

 careful not to scratch it. If you do so, and break 

 the skin, you expose yourself to a sore. The first 

 year I was in Guiana, the bete-rouge, and my 



