40 
SiiiiPENTS.— REPTILES. ViPEEiNE Serpents. 
mateiialh' likewise in distinguishing the Viperine from 
all other serpents. Their dull, heavy disposition, their 
slow mode of progression, the extreme sluggishness of 
all their movements, would naturally render their search 
after pre}’ unavailing; but gifted with a tranquil nature, 
they calmly wait till chance bring past their retreats 
the animals destined for their food. When these 
approach, or when they are disturbed by an enemy, 
they then display their activity ; they raise erect their 
head which was negligentlj’’, as it were, elevated while 
in a state of repose ; they open their mouth so wide 
that the two jaws form an obtuse angle ; they erect 
their fangs ; the body uncoils like a loosened spring ; 
and the serpent, aiding the sudden assault by resting 
upon its tail, darts at a single bound upon its victim, 
to inflict the fatal wound. The act is the work of an 
instant ; the head, by the sudden and violent contrac- 
tion of its flexor muscles, executes, with the rapidity 
of lightning, and sometimes (though Mr. Waterton 
denies this) reiteratedly, a movement, bj^ which it 
jilunges its fangs deep into the flesh of its prey. The 
jioor creature, feeling the effects almost immediately, 
and being unable, in consequence, to make its escape 
by flight, falls into the power of its enemy. “We 
have reason to believe,’' says Schlegel, “ that this mode 
of attack is peculiar to these Ophidians, and that the 
other poisonous serpents seize their prey in the same 
manner as the non-venomous s{)ecies ; that is, seizing 
it after pursuing it and holding it between their jaws at 
the moment of biting it, never letting go their hold, 
after making sure of their victim by giving it a mortal 
wound. The Viperine serpents, on the contrary, never 
keep hold of their prey, after having bitten it; or, more 
correctly speaking, they do not bite at all. It is only 
a blow of the head executed with extreme \dolence, 
and almost always seconded by a bound which deter- 
mines the direction. The fangs are withdrawn imme- 
diately after having given a deep wound, the lower jaw 
appearing to take no part in the act at all.” The 
Viperine serpents are viviparous; that is, they nil bring 
forth their young alive, whilst the Colubrine species 
lay eggs, from which the young are afterwards hatched. 
The Viperine serpents are arranged in two families, 
the Rattlesnakes (CVota^fcfo;), and the Vipers (F^pm'cfcc). 
Family I— CROTALID^.’* 
The species belonging to the Rattlesnake family 
are distinguished by having a large pit on each side of 
the face placed between the eye and the nostril. The 
head is large behind, and the crown is flattened. It is 
covered with scales, or small shields, except in the 
genus Crotalophorus, it which it is covered with large 
shields. The jaws are weak ; the upper ones being 
furnished with long fangs in front, and being destitute 
of teeth. The belly is covered with broad band-like 
shields, or scuta ; those under the tail being undivided. 
They differ from the Boas (family Boidw), to be after- 
wards described, in having no spurs on each side of 
the vent. The species are all venomous, most of 
them eminently so ; and they produce their young 
alive, or are viviparous. Some of tlmm have the tail 
ending in a spine, while others have this organ termi- 
nating in a rattle. 
Amongst the former, or spine-tailed species, are the 
Lance-heads [Craspedocephalina) of the New World. 
Several species are natives of the West India islands, 
as well as the continent of America, where they inspire 
Fi-r. 10. 
The Fer-de-la»ce (Ciaspedocephalus lanceoiatus). 
the natives with great fear and horror. The poison of 
their fangs is very deadly, and yields in nothing to that 
of the Rattlesnake. They are bold, fierce, and power- 
ful, and, as if aware of their superiority, ajipear tran- 
quilly to await the approach of their enemies. Rolled 
up in spiral convolutions, or negligently stretched on 
the ground in the midst of the warm and humid forests, 
tliey lie in wait for their prey. Once touched with 
their deadly fangs, the poor animal attacked soon dies, 
and affords a meal for their powerful foe. 
THE FER-DE-LANCE of the West Indies {Craspe- 
docephalus lanceoiatus) — fig. 10 — is one of the most 
deadly species of this group. This much-dreaded serpent 
is generally, when adult, about five or six feet long, 
though specimens have been taken which measured seven 
and a half feet in length, and from four to five inches in 
circumference. It varies ve'-y much in colour. Some are 
of a yellow hue of different shades ; some are brown, 
* From the Greek rvord krotalon (»ei>T*X(>»), a bell or rattle. 
