SiicH ferpents as are of a venomous nature, are; 

 ftirnifhed with tubular fangs, or teeth, through which 

 their poifon, which is contained in refervoirs at the 

 roots of the fangs, is injected into the wound. Befides 

 the fangs, there are in general fome external charac- 

 ters which may in fome meafure ferve to diftinguifh 

 the poifonous ferpents from the innoxious ones : thus 

 it has been obferved by the ingenious Dr. Gray, in 

 the Philofophical Tranfaclions, that the generality of 

 poifonous ferpents have a broad, deprefled head, co- 

 vered with fmall fcales; and that their bodies are 

 commonly covered with carinated fcales, /. e. fcales 

 which have a prominent line upon them. On the 

 contrary, the innoxious ferpents, or fuch as can merely 

 inflict a fimple wound, have generally a fmallifli head, 

 covered with large broad fcales, and the body covered 

 with fmooth fcales, or not carinated : but thefe are 

 characters which admit of exceptions, and are merely 

 to be regarded in a general view. The fpecies here 

 figured is a ftriking inftance of this, and (as Dr. Gray 

 obferves) is in every refpecl a complete exception to 

 what has been faid refpecting the diftinction between 

 Venomous and innoxious ferpents; for though this is 

 one of the molt terrible of the whole tribe, yet it is 

 not diftinguifhed by thofe external marks of malignity 

 which commonly characterize the poifonous fpecies i 

 on the contrary, it agrees with the innoxious ferpents 

 in having a fmallifli head, covered with very large 

 fcales ; while the body is covered with fmooth fcales. 

 This formidable animal is a native of the Eaft-Indies* 

 Its bite is not lefs deftruclive than that of the Rattle-* 



Snake* 



