SNAKES, 



23 



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

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

 Pelamijs bicolor and Hydrophis are examples of this family. 



Fiff. 18. 



Sea-Snake (Hydrophis), from the Indian Ocean, 



The Vipers {ViperincB) and Rattlesnakes (Crotalince) are Snakes [Case 22,] 

 with the most perfect poison-apparatus ; the latter subfamily 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 

 slow in their movements, and nocturnal ; some live on bushes, 



