276 FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



each fang is a tiny sac filled with venomous liquid. 

 As with the bee and the scorpion, this liquid is harm- 

 less in appearance, free from odor, and without 

 taste — little else than water, one would say. When 

 the viper attacks with its fangs, the venom-sac 

 presses a drop of its contents into the dental canal 

 and the terrible liquid passes into the wound. In 

 short, the whole operation exactly corresponds to 

 the similar procedure I have described in speaking 

 of the bee 's sting. 



"Let us suppose you are so imprudent as to dis- 

 turb the reptile as it lies asleep in the sun. Imme- 

 diately the creature uncoils itself and, with jaws 

 wide open, smites your hand. It is all over in a 

 twinkling. Then, with the same rapidity, the viper 

 recoils itself and settles back again, continuing to 

 threaten you, with its head once more the center 

 of the spiral coil. 



"You do not wait for a second attack; you beat a 

 hasty retreat ; but, alas, the harm is done. On your 

 wounded hand you discover two tiny red spots, ap- 

 parently of little more significance than the sting of 

 a bee. No cause for alarm, you say to yourself 

 if you are unacquainted with the effects of such a 

 wound. But it is a false reassurance. 



"Presently the red spots are encircled with a zone 

 of livid hue. With a dull sensation of pain the hand 

 becomes swollen, and gradually the swelling extends 

 to the entire arm. Before long there follow cold 

 sweats and a feeling of nausea, breathing is ren- 

 dered difficult, vision is clouded, the intellect is tor- 



