THE WATER VIPER. 99 



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

 Its usual tints are olive above with dark cross bands, and whitish gray 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 CURUCUCU, more familiarly known by the popular title of 



BUSHMASTER, (Llli/K'sis WlltUS). 



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

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

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

 Bushmaster 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, display- 

 ing all the prismatic colors 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 neighborhood 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 the 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 en- 

 joying 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 

 endeavoring 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 favored me with an account of the manner in which a Water 

 Viper, in 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 Vipers 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 convulsive struggles, the head then dropped, the eyes closed, and all was over ; 



