ON SERPENT-WORSITIP AND VENOMOUS SNAKES. 



03 



folded on itself so as to form a tube. It is along this channel 

 that the poison passes; when the fang is deeply imbedded 

 the quantity of virus injected is considerable, and its effects 

 are rapidly manifested. 



The poison glands are situated between the orbit and the 

 tympanic bone; they are composed of lobes and lobules, 

 which having- secreted the virus, transmit it under muscular 

 pressure through a duct which communicates with a tri- 

 angular opening at the base of the fang. They are of 

 various forms and sizes ; in callophis they are much elon- 

 gated ; in the cobra they are of the size and something of 

 the shape of a small almond. 



The virus is a transparent, slightly viscid fluid, faintly acid 

 in reaction, of a straw colour — in the ophiophagus, of a 

 yellow colour; when dried it forms a semi-crystalline sub- 

 stance, like gum arabic. It is secreted in considerable 

 quantities, and if a fresh, vigorous cobra be made to bite a 

 leaf stretched across a tea-spoon — or as the natives do it, 

 a mussel-shell, several drops may be obtained. The poison 



A Maxillary bone and fangs of Paboia Russellii (viperiform). 



B „ „ ,, Naja tripudians (colubriform). 



C „ „ teeth of Ptyas mucosus (innocent). 



D Fang of Hydrophis. 



E „ Daboia. 



F „ Naja tripudians. 



