QENEBAL CLASSIFICATION OP POISONOUS SNAKES 3 



but in North America the Rattlesnake and the Moccassin are 

 especially deadly. 



In France the Common Viper abounds in Jura, Isere, Ardeche, 

 Auvergne, Vendee, and the Forest of Fontainebleau. Three 

 hundred ihousand have been killed in twenty-seven years in the 

 Department of Haute-Sadne alone. Every year this snake causes 

 the death of some sixty persons. Cow-herds, shepherds, and 

 sportsmen fear it greatly, since it is very dangerous to cattle, 

 sheep, and dogs, 



II. — General Classification of Poisonous Snakes. Their 

 Anatomo-physiological Characters. 



Poisonous snakes are divided by naturalists into two great 

 Families, the CoLUBRiDiE and Viperid^, distinguished from each 

 other by certain anatomical characters, and especially by the 

 dentition. 



The CoLUBRiD^ resemble harmless snakes, which renders them 

 all the more dangerous. 



They are divided into two groups : Opisthoglypha {oina-dev, 

 behind ; yXv^r), a groove) and Proteroglypha (Trporepov, before ; 

 •yXvipf), a groove). 



The Opisthoglypha have the upper jaws furnished in front 

 with smooth or non-grooved teeth, but behind with one or several 

 rows of long, canaliculate teeth. 



This group includes three Sub-families : — 



A. The Homalopsinm, having valved nostrils, placed above the 

 snout. 



B. The Dipsadomorphina, in which the nostrils are lateral in 

 position, and the dentition is highly developed. 



C. The ElachistodontincB, which have but rudimentary teeth 

 only on the posterior portion of the maxillary, on the palatine 

 and on the pterygoid bones. 



Almost all the snakes belonging to these three sub-families are 



