72 VIPERA CERASTES. 



figure of this interesting animal. The Cerastes, which grows to 

 the length of two feet or more, is readily distinguished by a pair of 

 corneous quadrangular curved processes, situated immediately 

 above each eye, and pointing forwards ; these processes, or horns, 

 as Dr. Shaw justly observes, have nothing analagous in their 

 structure to those of quadrupeds, neither are they to be considered 

 as weapons either offensive or defensive, but they contribute to 

 give the animal an appearance of more than ordinary malignity. 

 These processes are wanting in the females ; they are connected 

 with the skin merely, and covered at the base with minute scales. 

 The general colour of this snake is a pale yellowish or reddish- 

 brown, with a few rather large, distant, round, or transversely 

 oblong spots, of a darker colour, disposed on the upper parts of the 

 body, and along the sides ; the belly is covered with broad plates of 

 blueish or pale lead colour, and in some specimens nearly white. The 

 head is triangular, compressed, obtuse before, gibbous at the posterior 

 part, larger than the neck, which is very narrow, and covered with 

 small granular scales similar to those on the back. According to 

 Mr. Bruce, it has sixteen small immoveable teeth, and in the upper 

 jaw two canine teeth, or poisonous fangs, hollow, crooked, and finely 

 polished. The horns are about a quarter of an inch in length, 

 pointed, channelled longitudinally, and surrounded at the base with 

 a circle of small scales. The body is covered above with ovate, 

 imbricate, carinated scales ; the neck is narrow ; the tail short, 

 tapering, pointed, and covered underneath with a double row 

 of small plates. 



The Cerastes inhabits the burning sandy deserts in the hottest 

 regions of Northern Africa. It is very common in Egypt, 

 Arabia, Syria, and is also found in many parts of Abyssinia. It is 

 very nearly allied to the common viper, and its bite is, perhaps, 

 still more to be dreaded ; since it moves with great rapidity, and is 

 said to possess a propensity to springing to a considerable distance, 

 and assailing, without provocation, those who happen to approach 

 it. During the day time, the Cerastes hides itself in the sand, 

 and sometimes gets possession of the hole formed by the jerboa. 



" The poison," says Mr. Bruce, " is very copious for so small 

 a creature ; it is fully as large as a drop of laudanum, dropt from 



