11'2 



VENOMS 



The name is derived from one of the Parcre, daughters of Night, 

 who placed the thread on the spindle, and upon whom depended 

 the fate of men. 



In addition to the 19 Asiatic species, of which we have alread}' 

 given descriptions, the genus LacJiesis includes 21 American species. 



(1) L. mutiis (Bushmaster, or Surncucu). — Two or three scales 

 separating the internasals in front ; 10 to 15 scales on a line he- 

 tween the supraoculars : 9 or 10 supralabials. Scales tubercularly 

 keeled, feebly imbricate, in 35 or 37 rows ; '200 — 230 ventrals ; 

 32 — 50 subcaudals. 



Pig. 69. — Lachcsis Innceolaliix {Fer-dc-hiiici' of Martinique). 

 (.After Stejneger.) 



Colour yellow or pinkish on the back, with a series of large 

 rhomboidal brown or black spots enclosing smaller light spots ; 

 a black streak from the eye to the angle of the mouth. 



Total length, 1,995 millimetres ; tail 170. 



Habitat : Central and Tropical Houth America. 



(2j L. lanceolatuH (kaown as the l^'er-de-lance in Martinique, 

 and Jaravacussu in Brazil; fig. (J9). — Snout obtuse, slightly tiu'ned 

 lip ; upper head-scales small, imbricate, more or less strongly 

 keeled, in 5 — 10 longitudinal series jjetween the supraoculars, 

 which are large ; 7 or .S supralabials. Scales in 23 — 33 rows. 



