SERPENTS. 325 



what resemDles the snout of a pig. Some kinds of serpents have 



two rows of teeth in each jaw, while vipers have but one row, 



consisting of sixteen small ones in each. The male vipers have 



two large teeth, which they can project considerably when they 



are angry; behind these teeth there is a 



bag of deadly venom, which is distilled 



through an opening in the tooth, almost 



invisible, and thus introduced into the 



object of their attack by the bite. Their „ ^ - „. 



■' •' Head of Viper. 



body is of an ash or yellow color, and 



the scales under their belly are of the appearance of well-polished . 

 steel. It is remarkable, that though their venom is of the most 

 deadly description, their flesh is good for food ; even broth may 

 be made of it,, and prove an excellent medicine for the cure of 

 dangerous maladies. The females do not bring forth their young 

 all at once ; but they bring forth about twenty in twenty successive 

 days. They are covered with small bags which open about the 

 third day, when the young viper^ discovers its malignant nature, 

 and is actually disposed and fitted so soon for entering on its 

 deadly career. 



The Asp is thus defined by Linnaeus : " Nose terminated 

 by an erect wart; body tawny, with figured streaks, alternately 

 distinct and confluent; beneath, steel-blue, dotted with yellow." 

 It is about a foot in length, and nearly half an inch in thickness : 

 it is oviparous ; and in a very little while after it bites and injects 

 its venom death is the consequence. After the wound is inflicted 

 slumber takes place, then a deep sleep, then death ! Galen, the 

 ancient and celebrated physician, says he witnessed the activity 

 of the poison. It was in the case of a criminal in Alexandria, 

 condemned to die, whose sufferings were to be easily and speedily 

 tflrminated. An asp was applied to his breast, and after it crawled 

 there for a short time he expired. 



The Boa-constrictor The enormous Boa-constrictor 



inhabits tropical America. It is not venomous, but is not the less 

 dano'erous, as the tremendous power of its muscles enables it to 

 crush its prey in the coils of its huge body In order to procurf 



28 



