FER-DE-JjANCE. CniapedocephalMS 



coiled up in the nest of some poor bird whose eggs or young it has devoured, and from 

 this spot' of vantage makes its stroke, swift and straight as a fencer's thrust, and without 

 the least warning by hiss or rattle to indicate its purpose. 



All animals dread the Fer-de-Lance ; the horse prances and snorts in terror on 

 approaching its hiding-place, his whole frame trembles with fear, and he cannot be 

 induced by spur or whip to pass within striking distance of this formidable reptile. 

 Birds of all kinds have a horror of its presence, and will pursue it from place to place, or 

 hover near the spot on which it is resting, fluttering their wings, stretching their necks, 

 and uttering hoarse cries of mingled rage and terror. The honey guide is especially 

 fearfal of this Serpent, and has often guided a man, not as he supposed, to the vicinity 

 of a hive of wild bees, but to the resting-place of this venomous Snake. The pig, when 

 in good condition, is said to be the only animal that can resist the poison, the thick 

 coating of fat which covers the body preventing the venom from mingling with the blood. 

 It is said, indeed, that a fat hog cares nothing for Fer-de-Lance or rattlesnake, but 

 receives their stroke with contemptuous indifference, charges at them fearlessly, tramples 

 upon them until they are disabled, and then quietly eats them. 



Against the effects of this poison, there seems to be no certain remedy ; but the 

 copious use of spirits has lately appeared to neutralize in some measure the full virulence 

 of a Snake bite. The amount of strong spirits which can be drunk under such circum- 

 stances is almost incredible, its whole force seeming to be employed in arming the nerves 

 against the enfeebling power of the poison. Some recent and valuable experiments have 

 shown, that if a man, bitten by a venomous Serpent, can be kept in a state of semi- 

 intoxication through the use of spirituous liquors, this rather strange process will give 

 him almost his only hope of escape. 



X"et nothing is made in vain, and terrible as is this creature to man, it is of no small 

 use to him even in the localities where it is most dreaded. But for the presence of the 

 Fer-de-Lance and one or two other Serpents closely allied to it, the sugar plantations 

 would be devastated by the rats which crowd to such fertile spots, and on which this 

 Snake chiefly feeds. 



