SNAKES. 



23 



are almost as rapid as they are uncertain and awkward on land. 

 These Snakes are highly poisonous ; their dentition resembling 

 that of the preceding family. Their food consists entirely of fish. 



Fig. 18. 



Sea-Snake (Ilydrop/ris), from the Indian Ocean 



The greatest size to which some species attain is about 12 feet 

 Pelamys bicolor and Hydrophis are examples of this family. 



The Vipers (Viperidce) and Rattlesnakes (Crotalidce) are Snakes [Case 27.] 

 with the most perfect poison-apparatus ; the latter family being 

 distinguished from the former by the presence of a deep pit on 

 the side of the snout, between the eye and the nostril. These 

 Snakes have generally a short thick body and a broad head, are 



