14.6 CLASSIFICATION OF REPTILES. 



fonning the modern genus JVaia* : most of these are 

 tamed by the Indian jugglers^ who extract their poisonous 

 fangSj and then teach them to dance to the sound of 

 music. Another species inhabits Africa^ where it was 

 formerly looked upon by the ancient Egyptians as an 

 emblem of the divinity, and worshipped accordingly. 

 Close to these 31. Cuvier places the true vipers^ called by 

 the barbarous name of Vipera by Daudin, but to which we 

 now restore the classic appellation. The plates of the 

 head, which in the genus N'aia are very similar to those 

 of the adder's_, are imbricated (like those of the back) 

 amoDg the true vipers. Nevertheless^ so closely do these 

 poisonous reptiles resemble the Coluheridce, or non- 

 venomous serpents, in their general aspect, that Linnseas 

 confounded them together. The vipers, however, have 

 poisonous fangs, which the snakes have not ; yet in both 

 the plates of the under part of the tail are double ; while 

 they are easily distinguished from the CrotalidiB, or rattle- 

 snakes, by not having the hollow excavations behind 

 J:he nostrils already alluded to. The genus Sepedon, 

 observes M, Cuvier, is only separated from that of Ophis 

 Sw., or the true Aapers, by the head being covered with 

 plates, similar to the snakes (Coluberidcp). The com.- 

 raon viper of Europe (Co/. Berus Lin.) is well known, 

 but, from being subject to considerable variation in co- 

 lour, has been multipHed into many species : sometimes 

 it is found entirely black. Immediately after these 

 genuine wipers, we place the horned species of India and 

 Africa, among wliich is the famous Cera-^tes, rem.arkable 

 for its fatal venom, and for the two little horns, or rather 

 pointed bones, placed immediately over each eye : they 

 give to the animal, which is entirely of a livid grey, a 

 most terrific appearance : another species, the plumed 

 viper, is found in Africa ; but this, instead of horns, has 

 the eyes surmounted by tufts of short thread-like fila- 

 ments. Next in order come the most fonnidable and 



* A nevF and beautiful species allied to th'.s has been discovered and de- 

 scribed by Dr. Canter, in the Asiatic Researches, xx. 88. pi. 10., under the 

 sub-generic name cf Hamadyyas ophiophagus. 



