DISTRIBUTION OR SERPENTS. 
203 
ern hemisphere hut a single representative in the island of 
Cuba. The Acrochordus is wholly peculiar to the East 
Indies. Among venomous serpents, it is only the Vipers, 
and perhaps some of the genus Crotalus, that advance to 
the north, as far as temperate or cold climates. The other 
genera appear most particularly destined to inhabit inter- 
tropical countries. Of the colubriform venomous snakes, 
the genus Elaps is the only one which is found in the two 
worlds ; and yet the Elaps of America forms a small geo- 
graphic group, distinguished by the system of colouring, 
and by some petty details in form ; those of India are 
longitudinally streaked or rayed, instead of being annula- 
ted with red and black ; those of New Holland may be con- 
sidered as forming anomalous species. The Bungari are 
peculiar to the East Indies, where are also found theNAJAS, 
though the greater number of the latter appear to prefer 
to live in arid or sandy plains, which explains why they 
predominate in Africa and New Holland. We are yet 
unable to explain the phenomenon that Sea Serpents are 
exclusively found in the Indian seas, from Malabar to the 
Great Pacific Ocean. Lastly, it remains to offer some 
curious observations on the distribution of Venomous 
Serpents properly so called. Of the genera of which 
this family is composed, one, the Vipera, is peculiar to 
the ancient world, whilst the Crotalus is only found in the 
two Americas, where it replaces the former ; but the Tri- 
gonocephalus is found in either world. These last rep- 
tiles, which inhabit wooded countries and vast forests, 
have been observed, for that reason, neither in Africa 
nor in New Holland, where they are replaced by the 
Viper ; but it must be remarked, that the Viper of New 
Holland forms an anomalous species, while those which 
inhabit Europe differ equally from the typical species, and 
approach the Trigonocephalus. We may establish in this 
genus two divisions, one of which comprehends the species 
with a head covered by scales, that more especially in- 
habits tropical countries, while those which have the head 
defended by plates are found in temperate regions. 
Having given, in the preceding pages, a general sketch 
