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on the back of the head, and the belly is cream- 
coloured. It feeds on mice and small birds, which 
it takes from the nest. 
Plate III. fig. a. In Coluber austriacus the scales 
are not ridged. There is a large dark mark on the 
back of the head, and there are two rows of dark 
brown marks on the back. It is not unlike a viper 
in its general colour, but the absence of the zigzag 


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Whip-Snake (Ovibelis fulgidus), 
mark; the broad scaly head and the much more 
slender form will at once distinguish it. It grows 
to the length of two or three feet, and inhabits south 
and east Germany in dry places. It lives on lizards and 
salamanders. which 
it kills by constriction, 
like the boas. 
The Whip-Snakes 
have a pointed muzzle 
and whip-like body. 
They are all beauti- 
fully coloured, and 
inhabit tropical coun- 
tries. One of the 
prettiest species is 
Oxibelis fulgidus, 
which is of a beauti- 
ful green with a pale 
longitudinal line, and 
measures about four 
feet in length. It lives 
in trees in South America and glides along with great 
swiftness. 
Section I]. Venomous Snakes. 
In the Sea-Snakes, the head is small and oval, 
and the body is thickest behind. They are very 



Fer de Lance (Bothrops lanceolatus). 
venomous and are generally about four or five feet 
in length. They are found in the the Indian Ocean, 
and frequently enter the mouths of rivers. They 
are perfectly adapted to a aquatic life, for the tail 
is laterally compressed to form a rudder, and their 
nostrils can be closed by valves. 
Plate III. fig. c. The Black-backed Sea-Snake 
(Felamis bicolor) is black and yellow. Its range extends 
to the coast of Tahiti, where it is a favourite dish 
with the natives. 
The Rattlesnakes have very large poison-fangs, 
and there is a depression on each side of the face 
near the nostril. At the end of the tail is a loosely 
connected rattle consisting of horny rings which in- 
crease in number every year. The most 
tative species are all American. 
represen- 

Skull of Rattle-Snake. 
a) Brain-Cavity. b) Upper Jaw. 
¢) Poison-fang. d) Lower Jaw. 
Poison-Apparatus of Rattle-Snake 
a) Nostril. b) Poison-fang. e) Salivary glands 
d) Temporal Muscle. e) Poison gland. 
Plate I. fig. b. The Horrid Rattlesnake (Cyo- 
talus horridus) reaches the length of four feet, and 
is as thick as a man’s arm. It is of a yellowish-white 
and brown colour, with black markings. Its bite is very 
deadly, but the snake itself is sluggish, and never 
attacks man without provocation. It feeds on small 
mammals and birds and is found throughout South 
and Central America, and in some parts of North 
America, where, however, the common rattlesnake 
(C. durissus) is more frequently met with. 
In the Cobras, the head is short and rounded, 
the poison-fangs short, immovable, and finely grooved 
on the convex side.. : 
Plate Ill. fig. a. The Cobra-di-Capello (Maja 
tripudians) is yellowish brown and red. It has been 
known and dreaded for thousands of years, far be- 
yond its Indian home. It grows to the length of 
five feet or more and is one of the most deadly 
snakes. When irritated it raises the fore part of 
its body and distends the mobile cervical ribs so as 
to form a large hood. Hence it is sometimes called 
the Hooded Snake; 
or the Spectacle 
Snake, from the cu- 
rious markings on the 
hood. 
The Vipers have 
very wide jaws, and a 
curved movable poi- 
son-fang, withaclosed 
or open channel for 
the venom on, each 
; side of the upper jaw 
in front. 
Thehead is broad 
and obtuse, the body 
thick and the _ tail 
short. They are not 
large snakes but very dangerous. 
Plate I]. Fig. b. The Viper or Adder (Feias 
berus) is our only venomous snake, though several 
others are found in Southern Europe. 
The male is generally pale greyish brown and 
the female reddish brown or more rarely quite black, 
1* 
