THE WATER VIPER. 9fl 



As is the case with many Serpents, the colour of the Fer-de-Lance is rather variable. 

 [ts usual tints are olive above with dark cross bands, and whitish grey below, covered 

 with very minute dark dots. The head is brown. This reptile attains a considerable 

 size, being generally five or six feet long, and occasionally reaching a length of seven or 

 eight feet. The tail ends in a horny spine which scrapes harshly against rough objects, 

 but does not rattle. 



CLOSELY allied to the fer-de-lance is another poisonous Serpent of Southern America, 

 remarkable for the very large size to which it attains, and the glowing radiance of its 

 fearful beauty. This is the CuRUCUCTJ, more familiarly known by the popular title of 

 BUSHMASTER, (Ldchesis mutus). 



Mr. Waterton, who has incidentally mentioned this Snake in his " Wanderings," has 

 kindly sent me the following information about this terrible creature. " The Bushmaster 

 will sometimes reach fourteen feet in length. The Dutch gave it the name of Bush- 

 master on account of its powers of destruction, and being the largest poisonous Snake 

 discovered. It still continues to have the same name among the colonists of British 

 Guiana. Its Indian name is CouANACOUCHi. It is a beautiful Serpent, displaying all the 

 prismatic colours when alive, but they disappear after death. All these three species 

 (the Bushmaster, Labarri, and Coulacanara) inhabit the trees as well as the ground, but 

 as far as I could perceive, they never mount the trees with a full stomach." 



THE name of WATER VIPER is appropriately given to the creature now before us, in 

 consequence of its water-loving habits. 



It is a native of many parts of America, and is never seen at any great distance from 

 water, being found plentifully in the neighbourhood of rivers, marshes, and in swampy 

 lands. It is a good climber of trees, and may be seen entwined in great numbers on the 

 branches that overhang the water. On the least alarm, the reptile glides from the branch, 

 drops into the water and wriggles its way into a place of safety. The object of climbing 

 t*tie trees seems to be that the creature delights to bask in the sun, and takes that method 

 of gratifying its inclination where the whole of the soil is wet and marshy. But in those 

 localities where it can find dry banks and rising grounds, the Water Viper contents itself 

 with ascending them and lying upon the dry surface enjoying the genial warmth. 



It is a most poisonous reptile, and is even more dreaded by the negroes than the 

 rattlesnake, as like the fer-de-lance, it will make the first attack, erecting itself boldly, 

 opening its mouth for a second or two, and then darting forward with a rapid spring. At 

 all times it seems to be of an aggressive character, and has been known to chase and bite 

 other Snakes put into the same cage, the poor creatures fleeing before it and endeavouring 

 to escape by clinging to the sides of the cage. But when several other individuals of the 

 same species were admitted, the very Snake that had before been so ferocious became 

 quite calm, and a box containing four or five specimens has been sent on a journey of 

 many miles without any quarrels ensuing among the inmates. 



The food of the Water Viper consists of fishes, which it can procure by its great 

 rapidity of movement and excellent swimming powers, of reptiles and even of birds. 

 Mr. T. W. Wood has favoured me with an account of the manner in which a Water Viper, 

 m the collection of the Zoological Society, devoured the prey that was put before it 



" A short time ago I had the good fortune to be at the Zoological Gardens when the 

 reptiles were fed. Some sparrows and titlarks were put into the apartment containing 

 several specimens of the Water Viper. The sparrows seemed very much terrified, and 

 soon huddled together in a corner, afraid, as I suppose, of the spectators. 



One of the titlarks, however, bolder than the rest, ran about as if at home. One of 

 the Water Vipeis perceiving it quiet for a moment, seemed to fix its eye upon the poor 

 little creature. The reptile commenced moving towards the bird slowly but surely, their 

 eyes being intently fixed upon each other. When the Serpent had approached within 

 about half an inch, it opened its mouth and seized the bird by the side, its left wing 

 being grasped in the Snake's mouth. The ill-fated bird instantly gave two or three 

 conviQsive struggles, the head then dropped, the eyes closed, and all was over ; a drop of 



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