SNAKE-POISON LITEEATUEE. 



'•which is situated between the eye and nostril 

 in the loreal region. The Trimeresuri, the 



Ti'imeresuri. 



most important genus, are distinctly marked in 



vivid colours, and differ considerably in colour, 



and are said to adapt themselves to the localities 



in which they live — the dark ones being found on 



the ground, and the green ones amongst the foliage 



of trees or shrubs. Of the Crotalidce the Halys naiys. 



has a caudal-appendage in the form of a horny 



spine. I am not aware whether the tail in 



question is of evil repute, but I read in Miss 



Hople/s very entertaining book on snakes : — 



■' Of the horn-snake," says Lawson, " I never Hom-snake. 



" saw but two that I remembered. They are 



like the rattlesnake in colour, but rather lighter. 



They hiss exactly like a goose when anything 



approaches them. They strike at their enemy 



with their tail, and kill whatsover they wound 



with it, which is armed at the end with a homy 



substance like a cock's spur. This is their 



weapon. I have heard it said by those who were 



eye-witnesses, that a small locust tree, about the 



thickness of a man's arm, being struck by one of 



these snakes at ten o'clock in the morning, then 



verdant, and flourishing, at four o'clock in the 



afternoon was dead and the -leaves dead and 



