The Poisonous Snakes of British Guiana. 
^y J' J Quelch, B. Sc. (Land.), C.M.ZS. 
jF an ordinarily well-informed person be ques- 
tioned as to the abundance or paucity of 
poisonous snakes in the Colony, no doubt the 
answer would deal rather with swarms than with a few, 
with the implication not only of numbers of any one 
particular kind but also of many different species. And 
yet, as a fa6l, there are only about 8 well-marked different 
species, of which two pit-vipers only are of such com- 
mon occurrence as to present some element of dread to 
general travellers. In the open savannahs or cleared 
lands, and on the sparsely clumped sandy wastes, the 
rattlesnake is likely to be encountered ; while in the 
forest itself or adjoining lands, the labarria (known 
variously in different distri6ls as Jararaca or Fer-de-lance) 
takes its place. 
Of the remaining six species, two are pit-vipers, and 
four coral snakes ; but while from their general size and 
chara6ler the pit-vipers and one of the coral snakes are 
certainly to be feared if met with, the other three seem 
to be usually altogether inoffensive creatures, and in 
fa6l, much less ready, or more disinclined to bite, if irri- 
tated or handled, than the generality of the common 
harmless snakes. 
In using the term poisonous snakes, it must be under- 
stood to refer only to those special forms which, from 
the perfe6lion of the poison apparatus, are able to cause 
serious injury or death to man and other large mammals. 
