HOODED SERPENT. 



91 



The fresh poison of the Hamadryas is a pellucid fluid, in consistence 

 like a solution of gum-arabic in water. It reddens slightly litmus paper, 

 which is also the case with the fresh poison of the Naja tripudians, Vipera 

 elegans, Bungarus annularis, and JBungarus coerulem ; when kept for some 

 time it acts much stronger upon litmus, (the color of which is easily res- 

 tored by the application of carbonate of magnesia,) but after it is kept, it 

 looses a great deal of its deleterious effects. Reserving the experiments 

 made with the poision of this Serpent upon living animals, 1 shall merely 

 state here, that the poison seems to act less quickly than that of the 

 Vipera elegans and the Naja tripudians ; but it should be remarked, that 

 the experiments were made during the cold season. This specimen, which 

 was brought me in the beginning of November last, changed its skin in the 

 end of December, a process, which I have reason to believe takes place in this 

 as well as in the other Ophidians of this country several times during the year. 



In consequence of the strong resemblance between the Hamadryas and 

 the Naja, I should consider them as neighbouring genera, and I even at first 

 thought I could refer this Serpent under the genus Naja. Circumstances 

 however prevented me till latterly from being able to examine specimens, 

 whose fangs were untouched (those of the former having been drawn by the 

 Snake-catchers, who are much more afraid of this, than of the Cobra,) 

 when I discovered the peculiarity of the maxillar teeth behind the fangs, 

 which is found in the ^M/io-flfri and i/j/fZn, but never in the Najas. This 

 material anatomical difference, in addition to the others existing in the exter- 

 nal appearance, occasioned me to form a new genus. ( ) — Hamadryas Hannah 

 differs from Naja tripudians : 



1. By its having maxillar teeth behind the fangs. 



2. By the spina on the os occipitale inferius, which, like that of the 

 Vipera elegans, is of a remarkable size and much more developed, than the 

 same of the Naja. 



(*) Hamadryas H, is said to inliabit lioUow trees, and is frequently observed between 

 their branclies. 



