OPHIDIA VENENOSI. 47 
Crot. fasciatus, or the Craspedocephalus Brasiliensis, called in 
Brazil, Jararacea; but there are Viperide in South America, 
e.g., Vip. pseudechis carinata, Vip. calamaris venenosi, as 
well as the Trigonocephalo lachesis, the Echis variegata, and 
Acrochordon chocoe, whose poisons are little less venomous 
than that of the Naja tripudians. Some varieties of Ophidians 
haye fangs, though not venomous; and others, although ven- 
omous, possess none. 
In cases of bites, the pterygoid, maxillary or palatine teeth 
seldom or never leave their marks upon the skin, and some- 
times it is very difficult to distinguish even the small in- 
cisions made by the fangs. When these wounds are distinct 
they show oftentimes indications of three fang-wounds on one 
side, and three or two on the other, all close together; but in 
these casual cases the forward fang alone is in communication 
with the poison-bladder. 
In all cases where more than one fang occurs on either side 
this is invariably the result of casualty. Snakes often have 
their fangs loosened or broken off. In the former case a 
spare fang comes forward and attaches itself to the base of the 
bone to which the loosened fang was fixed. Twenty-four 
hours suffices for it to solder itself firmly to its base; and the 
loosened fang becoming resoldered at the broken part leaves 
thus two fangs on the one side, while on the other side only 
one fang is found. 
Where the two fangs are, only the forward one is in com- 
munication with the poison-bladder; and thus it happens that 
individuals are found which have as many as four fangs on 
one side, and only two or three on the other, but this un- 
natural condition is the result of casualty, as explained above. 
The usual number of spare fangs found in the fang-sac is 
seven on each side, when the snake is fully grown, and has as 
yet lost no fang by accident. All snakes with fangs have 
