O THE LAND-MARKS OF ' 



be rather numerous ia the Twenty-four Per- ' 

 HydrophidK. gunnahs. The Hydrophidse (sea snakes) are all 

 poisonous, and may be at once recognized by 

 their head-scales, and their peculiarities of con- 

 formation which are adapted to their aquatic 

 mode of life. The head is small, the body robust, 

 and the tail flattened vertically, whence they 

 are able to swim with rapidity and grace — 

 indeed, " to outswim the fish." I have found 

 their poison very virulent ; quantity for quantity 

 perhaps even more deadly than that of the 

 cobra. The species of the Hydrophidee — the 

 piaturus. Platurus — differs from the rest in its general 

 formatioUj and in having large ventral scutce, 

 which indicate its power of progression on land. 

 Besides the before-mentioned there are other 

 poisonous snakes in India, such as the Xenure- 

 Echis, &c. laps, the Callophis, and the 'Echis Carinata, 

 the bite of which is said not to be fatal to man. 

 But Sir Joseph Fayrer doubts the accuracy of 

 the statement in reference to the last named, 

 the poison of which he found to be fatal to a 

 fowl, in two minutes, and to a dog, in four hours, 

 crotaudoe. We havc also certain of the Crotalidce — or pit 

 vipers — which are distinguished by the broad 

 triangular head, short thick body, and the pit, 



