OPHIDIA. SERPENTIA. 57 



diamond- shaped blackish spots which run down the 

 back, forming a broad zigzag band on the brownish 

 ground colour of the body : there is also a row of 

 spots on each side of this band. The Snake, on the 

 other hand, is marked merely with four rows of 

 black spots, on a greenish-grey ground. 



The Viper is highly poisonous, instances being by 

 no means rare of its bite proving fatal to man, espe- 

 cially in the more southern countries. We scarcely 

 need notice the absurd notion still prevalent among 

 the vulgar, that the soft forked tongue is the in- 

 strument of vengeance. It is true that the reptile 

 protrudes and retracts it rapidly when angry, but 

 it is utterly incapable of producing any injury. 

 The envenomed weapons are, as in the Rattle- 

 snakes, the curved fangs of the upper jaw. 



The terrible symptoms which follow the bite of 

 this and other poisonous Serpents are, a sharp pain 

 in the part, which becomes swollen, shining, hot, 

 red, then livid, cold, and insensible. The pain and 

 inflammation spread, and become more intense ; 

 fierce shooting pains are felt in other parts, and a 

 burning fire pervades the body. The eyes begin 

 to water abundantly : then come swoonings, sick- 

 ness, and bilious vomitings, difficult breathing, cold 

 sweat, and sharp pains in the loins. The skin be- 

 comes deadly pale or deep yellow, while a black 

 watery blood runs from the wound, which changes 

 to a yellowish matter. Violent headache succeeds, 

 and giddiness, faintness, and overwhelming terrors, 

 burning thirst, gushing discharges of blood from the 



D 5 



