Such ferpents as are of a venomous nature, are 
furnifhed 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 diftingiiifh 
the poifonous ferpents from the innoxious ones : thus 
it has been obferved by the ingenious Dr. Gray, in 
the Philofophical TranfaCtions, that the generality of 
poifonous ferpents have a broad, depreffed 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 fmallifh head, 
covered with large broad fcales, and the body covered 
with fmootn 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 inflance of this, and (as Dr. Gray 
obferves) is in every refpeCt a complete exception to 
what has been faid refpeCiing the difiinCtion 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: 
on the contrary, it agrees with the innoxious ferpents 
in having a fmallifh 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 deftruCtive than that of the Rattle- 
Snake,, 
