CHAPTER XI. 



Snake Venom, its Nature and Effects. 



Venomous Snakes and their Poison. 



The three great sub-families of highly venomous snakes of 

 South Africa are the Sea Snakes [Hydrophiince) ; the Cobras, 

 Mambas, Coral Snakes, etc. (Elapince) ; and the Adders [Viperincp) . 

 The only Sea Snake which frequents the South African coasts 

 is the Black and Yellow species [Hydrus platurus) which sometimes 

 gets stranded among the rocks on the sea-shore, and is usually 

 mistaken for an eel. In South Africa south of the Zambesi 

 there are fourteen species or kinds of Cobra {Cohibrine), and 

 eleven of the Adder {Viperine) family. 



L The Aglypha. 

 There are three great classes or divisions of snakes, viz. those 

 which have soHd teeth without any trace of grooving. These 

 snakes are all quite non-venomous. They are known as the 

 Aglypha, which means snakes with solid teeth. 



II. The Opisthoglypha. 



The second division are what are termed Hind-fanged Snakes, 

 having one or more of the back teeth in the upper jaw more or 

 less grooved, and possessing ductless poison glands. These snakes 

 were formerly regarded as either non-venomous, or only venomous 

 to a slight degree. 



They are known as the Opisthoglypha, which means having 

 the posterior or back maxillary teeth grooved. 



III. The Proteroglypha. 

 The third division are the typical highly venomous snakes, 

 having the grooved or hollow fangs set in the front of the upper 

 342 



