39 
of tlic bitten person, and whether, through norvonsness, he allows 
fear to overcome him. 
The Death Adder {acanthopMs antartica) is another species which 
is equally as venomous as the two just mentioned. This snake can. 
be at once recognised by its short length—only about twenty inches-— 
and its breadth in proportion—fully two to three inches—and its 
peculiarly shortened tail which terminates in a point Kke a gigantic 
sting. The danger of the reptile lies in its poison fangs and not in 
this taiL It is veiy sluggish, never tronbling to move out of the way; 
it frequents sandy country and is often found under logs when 
the latter are moved. It is Tiocturnal in its habits. 
The immigrant should remember that, as a rule, if a healthy man 
is bitten by any snake not thicker iu tlio neck than his little finger 
that it will not be fatal. If possible obtain the snake that inflicted the 
bite, it may prove to be a harmless species, and so save from much 
agony of mind and useless cutting and doctoring. Thei-e is one 
invariable rule by which Australian vonomons snakes can bo dis¬ 
tinguished from the noii-venomous. It is this :—Count the Up-scales 
of the upper lip—if there are only six on each side, of the nasal or 
front shield or scale, then the snake is venomous ; if there are more 
than six, then the snake is not venomous. The lower lip shields also 
are only six iu the poisonous species, nov^cr more, with the single 
exception of the death adder, which has seven in the lower lip but 
only six in tbo upper. This distinguishing mark should be remem¬ 
bered by all. It is only applicable to Australian colubrine snakes and 
not to the sea-snakes nor to the blind snakes, nor to snakes of other 
countries. 
ALLIGATOES. 
The only other reptile dangerous to mankind, found in Queensland, 
IS the Crocodile or Alligator, which is numerous upon all the tropical 
rivers of the colony that have not been disturbed to too great an 
extent, by the advent of civilization. As a rule, it is never a safe 
practice to swim in any tidal stream in the north of the colony. Our 
alligators do not confine themselves exclusively to tidal waters, tlie 
WTiter ha\diig several times seen them attack cattle in waters above 
the influence of the tide. 
There is another and smaller species called Fhyllus Johnsonii, which 
is numerous in the upper Avaters of the rivei*s that flow into the Grulf 
of Carpentaria, but this novel species never attacks man or animals, 
its piincipal food being fish and sometimes waterfowl. 
There are many gigantic lizards—commonly called Iguanas, which 
are numerous iu the colon}*, but, though diabolical looking, they are 
all harmless as regards their bite. Turtles of large size ai*e found in 
all the coastal waters, and small fresh-water species in the interior 
rivers. 
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