40 



Seui-ests.- 



-REPTILES.- 



-ViPERiNE Serpents. 



materially likewise in diatiDguishing the Viperine from 

 all other serpents. Their dull, heavy disposition, their 

 slow mode of progression, the extreme sluggishness of 

 all their movements, would naturally render their search 

 after prey unavailing; but gifted with a tranquil nature, 

 they calmly wait till chance bring past their retreats 

 the animals destined for their food. When these 

 approach, or when they are disturbed by an enemy, 

 they then display their activity ; they raise erect their 

 head which was negligently, as it were, elevated while 

 in a state of repose ; they open their mouth so wide 

 that the two jaws form an obtuse angle ; they erect 

 their fangs ; the body uncoils like a loosened spring ; 

 and the sei-pent, aiding the sudden assault by resting 

 upon its tail, darts at a single bound upon its victim, 

 to inflict the fatal wound. The act is the work of an 

 instant ; the head, by the sudden and violent contrac- 

 tion of its flexor muscles, executes, with the rapidity 

 of lightning, and sometimes (though Mr. Waterton 

 denies this) reiteratcdly, a movemerit, by which it 

 plunges its fangs deep into the ilesh of its prey. The 

 poor creature, feeling the effects almost immediately, 

 and being unable, in consequence, to make its escape 

 by flight, falls into the power of its enemy. " We 

 have reason to believe,'" says Schlcgel, " that this mode 

 of attack is peculiar to these Ophidians, and that the 

 other poisonous serpents seize their prey in the same 

 manner as the non-venomous species ; that is, seizing 

 it after pursuing it and holding it between their jaws at 

 the moment of biting it, never letting go their hold, 

 after making sure of their victim by giving it a mortal 

 wound. The Viperine serpents, on the contrary, never 

 keep hold of their prey, after having bitten it ; or, more 

 correctly speaking, they do not bite at all. It is only 



a blow of the head executed with extreme violence, 

 and almost always seconded by a bound which deter- 

 mines the direction. The fangs are withdrawn imme- 

 diately after having given a deep wound, the lower jaw 

 appearing to take no part in the act at all." The 

 Viperine serpents are viviparous ; that is, they all bring 

 forth their young alive, whilst the Colubrine species 

 lay eggs, from which the young are afterwards hatched. 

 The Viperine serpents are arranged in two families, 

 the 'Ratt[esnokes{Crotalid(e), andtheVipers(F/pm(f(E). 



Family I— CROTALID.'E.'* 



The species belonging to the Rattlesnake family 

 are distinguished by having a large pit on each side of 

 the face placed between the eye and the nostril. The 

 head is large behind, and the crown is flattened. It is 

 covered with scales, or small shields, except in the 

 genus Crotalophorus, it which it is covered with large 

 shields. The jaws are weak ; the upper ones being 

 furnished with long fangs in front, and being destitute 

 of teeth. The belly is covered with broad band-like 

 shields, or scuta ; these under the tail being undivided. 

 They differ from the Boas (family Boidcc), to be after- 

 wards dfiscribed, in having no spurs on each side of 

 the vent. The species are all venomous, most of 

 them eminently bo ; and they produce their young 

 alive, or are viviparous. Some of them have the tail 

 ending in a spine, while others have this organ termi- 

 nating in a rattle. 



Amongst the former, or spine-tailed species, are the 

 Lance-heads {Craspedocephalina) of the New World. 

 Several species are natives of the West India islands, 

 as well as the continent of America, where they inspire 



The Fer-de-lauce (CiaspeilucephaluB lauceoiatiis). 



the natives with great fear and horror. The poison of 

 their fangs is very deadly, and yields in nothing to that 

 of the Rattlesnake. They are bold, fierce, and power- 

 ful, and, as if aware of their superiority, appear tran- 

 quilly to await the approach of their enemies. Rolled 

 up in spiral convolutions, or negligently stretched on 

 the ground in the midst of the warm and humid forests, 

 tliey lie in wait for their prey. Once touched with 

 their deadly fangs, the poor animal attacked soon dies, 

 and affords a meal for their powerful foe. 



THE FEE-DE-LANCE of the West Indies {Craspe- 

 docephalus lanceolatus) — fig. 10 — is one of the most 

 deadly species of this group. This much-dreaded serpent 

 is generally, when adult, about five or six feet long, 

 thoughspecimens have been taken which measured seven 

 and a half feet in length, and from four to five inches in 

 circumference. It varies very much in colour. Some are 

 of a yellow hue of difterent shades; some are brown, 



* From tie Greek v/ord krotalon («j»r»x«), a bell or rattle. 



