Chapter III (2)

Colour black, uniform, or with transverse series of small whitish spots; cheeks and end of snout white, with a black border at the margin of the shields; belly white in front, black behind; subcaudal scales black.

Total length, 1,750 millimetres.

_Habitat_: Lower Niger.

(d) =Sepedon.=

Maxillary bones projecting considerably beyond the palatines, with a pair of large poison-fangs; no other maxillary teeth. Head not distinct from neck; eyes of moderate size, with round pupils; nostril between two nasal shields and an internasal. Body cylindrical; scales oblique, keeled, in 19 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.

_S. hæmachates_ (The Spitting Snake, or Ring Hals Slang).--This snake, which is about 700 millimetres in length, is of a bluish-brown colour, with numerous narrow, undulating and denticulate cross-bands of yellow or yellowish-white. The throat is black or dark red; the belly grey.

It is met with throughout West, East, and South Africa, as far as the Cape of Good Hope, where it is very common. It lives among bushes in sandy places, where the ground is full of the holes of rats, moles, and small rodents, upon which it feeds. It is very active and exhibits great ferocity.

Natives at the Cape declare that this snake is able to project its venom to a distance of more than a yard, especially if the wind is blowing in the same direction, and that, if the poison happens to enter the eye, the inflammation that results therefrom often leads to loss of sight (Smith).

As to this, a very definite statement is given by Bavay,[4] on the authority of Le Naour:--

“While hunting in Dahomey,” wrote Le Naour to Bavay, “I thrice met with the snake called the _Spitter_. On two occasions my dog was struck in both eyes by the liquid projected by the reptile. Immediately (less than two minutes afterwards), symptoms of conjunctivitis manifested themselves, with considerable swelling of the pupils; the conjunctivitis seemed as though it were going to be very serious, and yielded only after twelve days’ treatment with boracic lotion, aided by a few cauterisations with sulphate of copper.

“During my sojourn at Porto-Novo, a store-keeper at the Dogba trading station was a victim of the _Spitter_. While working at his store he received in his eye a jet of liquid, which produced violent conjunctivitis.”

(e) =Aspidelaps.=

Maxillary bones extending forwards beyond the palatines, as in _Sepedon_, with a pair of large poison-fangs; no other maxillary teeth. Head slightly distinct from the neck. Eyes of moderate size, with round or vertically elliptic pupils. Rostral shield very large, detached on the sides. Body cylindrical; scales oblique, smooth or keeled, in 19-23 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail short, obtuse; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.

(1) _A. lubricus._--146-167 ventral scales; 20-28 subcaudals.

Colour orange or red, with black rings; a black bar below the eyes; upper surface of head sometimes entirely black.

Total length, 590 millimetres; tail 55.

_Habitat_: Cape Colony and Namaqualand.

(2) _A. scutatus_ (Fula-fula of Mozambique).--115-135 ventrals; 24-38 subcaudals.

Colour pale grey, with black spots or cross-bars, and a black mark shaped like a circumflex accent on the head. A black collar encircling the neck, and a black vertical streak below the eye. Belly whitish.

The total length may be as much as 520 millimetres.

_Habitat_: Natal, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique.

(f) =Walterinnesia.=

Maxillary bones prolonged forwards beyond the palatines, with a pair of large poison-fangs; no other maxillary teeth. Head distinct from the neck; eyes rather small, with round pupils; nostril between two or three nasal shields and the internasal. Body cylindrical; scales smooth or feebly keeled, in 23 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail rather short; subcaudal scales for the most part in 2 rows.

_W. ægyptia._--Colour blackish-brown on the back, paler on the belly.

Total length, 1,170 millimetres; tail 170.

_Habitat_: Egypt.

(g) =Dendraspis.=

(Fig. 34.)

Maxillary bone curved upwards, bearing a pair of powerful poison-fangs, not fissured, and not followed by other teeth; a long tooth at the end of each ramus of the mandible. Head narrow, elongate; eye moderate, with round pupil; nostril between two shields. Body slightly compressed; scales smooth, narrow, very oblique, in 13-23 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail long; subcaudals in 2 rows.

(1) _D. viridis._--211-225 ventral scales; 107-119 subcaudals.

Colour uniform olive-green. Shields on the head edged with black; lips yellow; belly and tail yellow, with scales and shields bordered with black.

Total length, 1,830 millimetres; tail 460.

_Habitat_: West Africa, from the Senegal to the Niger; St. Thome Island.

(2) _D. jamesonii._--Coloration as before. Scales in 15-19 rows (19-21 on the neck); 210-235 ventrals; 99-121 subcaudals. Tail sometimes black.

Total length, 2,100 millimetres; tail 560.

_Habitat_: West Africa, from the Niger to Angola; Central Africa.

(3) _D. angusticeps_ (The Mamba).--202-270 ventral scales; 99-121 subcaudals.

Colour green, olive, or blackish, uniform; belly yellowish or pale green; caudal scales and shields not bordered with black.

Total length, 2,000 millimetres; tail 430.

_Habitat_: West Africa, south of the Congo; Central Africa, East Africa, Transvaal, Natal.

(4) _D. antinorii._--Scales in 21-23 rows; 248 ventrals; 117 subcaudals. Colour olive on the back, yellowish on the belly.

Total length, 2,690 millimetres; tail 545.

_Habitat_: Abyssinia.

II.--VIPERIDÆ.

The African _Viperidæ_ all belong to the Subfamily _Viperinæ_, of which the following are the seven principal genera:--

(a) _Causus_.
(b) _Vipera_.
(c) _Bitis._
(d) _Cerastes._
(e) _Echis._
(f) _Atheris._
(g) _Atractaspis._

(a) =Causus.=

(Fig. 35.)

Head distinct from the neck, covered with symmetrical shields; nostril between two nasal shields, and the internasal; eyes moderate, with round pupils, separated from the lips by subocular shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth or keeled, oblique on the sides, in 15-22 rows; ventral scales rounded. Tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows or single.

Four species:--

(1) _C. rhombeatus._--Snout obtuse, moderately prominent. Scales in 17-21 rows; 120-155 ventrals; 15-29 subcaudals.

Colour olive or pale brown, usually with a series of V-shaped brown spots bordered with white, and a large spot in the form of a circumflex accent at the back of the head; lips bordered with black; belly yellowish or grey.

Total length, 700 millimetres; tail 75.

_Habitat_: Tropical and South Africa, from the Gambia to the Cape.

(2) _C. resimus._--Snout prominent, more or less turned up; scales in 19-22 rows; 134-152 ventrals; 17-25 subcaudals.

Colour greyish-olive on the back; uniform white on the belly.

Total length, 470 millimetres; tail 40.

_Habitat_: Central and East Africa, Angola.

(3) _C. defilipii._--Snout prominent, more or less turned up. Scales in 17 rows; 113-125 ventrals; 10-18 subcaudals.

Colour grey or pale brown above, with a series of large rhomboidal or V-shaped blackish-brown spots; a large A-shaped dark brown mark on the occiput; an oblique dark streak behind the eye; supralabial shields edged with black; belly yellowish.

Total length, 400 millimetres; tail 22.

_Habitat_: Central and East Africa, Transvaal.

(4) _C. lichtensteinii._--Snout obtuse; scales in 15 rows; 142-144 ventrals; subcaudals 15-21, single.

Colour greyish, with rather indistinct darker chevron-shaped cross-bands.

Total length, 413 millimetres; tail 35.

_Habitat_: West Africa (Gold Coast), Congo.

(b) =Vipera.=

(For the characters of this genus, see p. 23,--Europe.)

In North Africa are found _Vipera latastii_, _V. ammodytes_, and especially _V. lebetina_, the range of which extends from Morocco to Northern India. _Vipera superciliaris_, which occurs on the coast of Mozambique, has the snout rounded, and the head covered with small, imbricate, keeled scales, with a large supraocular shield; nostril very large, between two nasal shields; scales on the body strongly keeled, in 27 rows; 142 ventrals; 40 subcaudals.

The colour is pale reddish-brown or orange, with blackish transverse bars broken by a longitudinal yellow band on each side; the belly is white, spotted with black.

Total length, 570 millimetres; tail 77.

(c) =Bitis.=

(Fig. 36.)

The _Viperidæ_ belonging to this genus have the head very distinct from the neck, covered with small imbricate scales; the eyes rather small, with vertical pupils, separated from the lips by small scales; the nostrils directed upwards and outwards, usually pierced in a single nasal shield, with a rather deep pit above, closed by a valvular supranasal. The postfrontal bones are very large, in contact with the ectopterygoids. Scales keeled, with apical pits, in 22-41 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail very short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.

(1) _B. arietans_ (the Puff Adder; fig. 37).--This viper has the nostrils on the upper surface of the snout, and two series of scales between the supranasal shields; 12-16 supralabials; 3-5 lower labials. The scales on the body are in 29-41 rows, and strongly keeled; ventrals 131-145; subcaudals 16-34.

The body is thick, the head large and triangular, and the tail very short. The colour is dirty yellow or orange, with large, transverse or oblique, chevron-shaped black bands; an oblique black band extends behind the eye. The belly is dirty yellow, uniform, or marked with small black spots.

Total length, 1,350 millimetres, sometimes more; tail 160.

_Habitat_: This snake is met with throughout Africa, from Southern Morocco, Kordofan, and Somaliland, to the Cape of Good Hope, and also in Southern Arabia. It is especially common near the Niger and on the Congo.

When irritated, it puffs itself out to such an extent that its body becomes twice the ordinary size. It then doubles back its head and neck in the shape of an S, and emits a loud and prolonged hiss. Before biting, it first strikes a blow with its head as with a battering-ram, thus justifying its French name, _vipère heurtante_ (Striking Viper).

The natives of South Africa assert that this Viper is able to spring high enough to strike a rider on horseback. It feeds upon rats and mice, in search of which it often approaches habitations.

The Hottentots hunt it in order to obtain its venom; they pound its head between stones, and mix the pulp with the juice of certain plants for the purpose of poisoning their arrows.

It lives for a fairly long time in captivity. At the Pasteur Institute at Lille I have succeeded in keeping one of these snakes for two years, feeding it by forcing milk and eggs down its throat.

(2) _B. peringueyi._--Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Head covered with small, strongly keeled scales, which are smallest on the vertex; 11 scales round the eye; 3 series of scales between the eye and the lip; 11-14 supralabials. Scales on the body in 25-27 rows, strongly keeled; 130-132 ventrals; 19-28 subcaudals.

Colour greyish-olive, with 3 longitudinal series of grey or blackish spots; head sometimes with a trident-shaped dark mark, followed by a cross; under surface whitish, with small dark spots.

Total length, 325 millimetres; tail 26.

_Habitat_: Angola and Damaraland.

(3) _B. atropos._--Nostrils opening upwards and outwards, 13-16 scales round the eye; 2-5 series of scales between the supranasals; 10-12 supralabials; 3-4 infralabials. Scales on the body in 29-31 rows, all strongly keeled; 124-145 ventrals; 18-29 subcaudals.

Colour brown or grey-brown, with 4 longitudinal series of dark spots, edged with black and white; two large black marks on the head; belly grey or brown, with darker spots.

Total length, 350 millimetres; tail 25.

_Habitat_: Cape of Good Hope.

(4) _B. inornata._--Eyes smaller than in _B. atropos_, and separated from the lips by 4 series of scales; supraorbital region raised, but without erect horn-like scales; 15-17 scales across the head; 13-14 supralabials; 3 lower labials. Scales on the body in 27-29 rows, all keeled; 126-140 ventrals; 19-26 subcaudals.

Total length, 350 millimetres; tail 30.

_Habitat_: Cape of Good Hope.

(5) _B. cornuta_ (fig. 38).--Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Head covered with small, imbricate, strongly keeled scales; 2-5 raised scales, like horns, above each eye; 12-14 scales round the eye; 12-15 supralabials; 2-3 infralabials. Scales on the body keeled, in 25-29 rows; 120-152 ventrals; 18-36 subcaudals.

Colour grey or reddish-brown, with black spots, edged with white and arranged in 3 or 4 longitudinal series; a dark, oblique streak from the eye to the mouth; belly yellow or brown, uniform or spotted.

Total length, 510 millimetres; tail 35.

_Habitat_: Cape Colony, Namaqualand, Damaraland.

(6) _B. caudalis._--Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. 12-16 scales from one eye to the other across the head; above each eye a single, erect, horn-like scale; 10-16 scales round the eye; 10-13 supralabials; 2-3 infralabials. Scales on the body in 22-29 rows, strongly keeled; 112-153 ventrals; 18-33 subcaudals.

Colour reddish or sandy-grey, with 2 series of brown spots with light centres, and frequently a vertebral series of narrow spots; belly dull yellow, uniform, or with small black spots on the sides.

Total length, 360 millimetres; tail 25.

_Habitat_: South-west Africa, from Angola to Namaqualand.

(7) _B. gabonica_ (Gaboon Viper, or River Jack Viper).--Nostrils directed upwards and outwards. Head covered with small, moderately keeled scales, smallest on the vertex, 13-16 from eye to eye; 15-19 scales round the eye; a pair of erectile, triangular, nasal “horns,” consisting of sometimes tricuspid shields, between the supranasals; 13-16 supralabials; 4-5 infralabials. Scales on the body in 33-41 rows, strongly keeled; lateral scales slightly oblique; 125-140 ventrals; 17-33 subcaudals.

This viper, which often attains a length of 1,200 millimetres, is brown, with a vertebral series of quadrangular, yellowish, or light brown spots connected by black markings; the belly is dull yellow, with small brown or blackish spots.

_Habitat_: Tropical Africa (West Africa, from Liberia to Damaraland; Zanzibar, Mozambique).

This species, which is nocturnal, is often met with on the Gaboon, and in the forests near the banks of the Ogowai. Its head is enormous, triangular in shape, and wider above; it has a bulky body, and a very short tail, terminating abruptly in a point.

The Gaboon Viper is a savage snake, with very active venom, and its poison-glands are of the size of large almonds. It lives in virgin forests, among dead wood and rocks. I have several times met with it in manioc plantations on the edge of the woods. In broad daylight it is sluggish, moves somewhat slowly, and never attacks man. It bites only when surprised.

(8) _B. nasicornis_ (fig. 39).--Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Head covered with small strongly keeled scales, smaller on the vertex, 14-16 from one eye to the other; 2 or 3 pairs of compressed, erectile, horn-like shields between the supranasals, usually separated in the middle by 1 or 2 series of small scales; 15-18 supralabials; 4-6 infralabials. Scales on the body in 35-41 rows, strongly keeled; 124-140 ventrals; 16-32 subcaudals.

Colour purple or reddish-brown above, with pale olive or dark brown spots; a vertebral series of brown, black-edged spots, which assume a rhomboidal form; sides of head dark brown, with a triangular light mark in front of the eye, and an oblique light streak from behind the eye to the mouth; belly pale olive, spotted with black or yellow.

Total length, 1,250 millimetres; tail 125.

_Habitat_: West Africa, from Liberia to the Gaboon.

(d) =Cerastes.=

Head very distinct from the neck, covered with small juxtaposed or slightly imbricate scales; eyes small, with vertical pupils, separated from the lips by small scales; nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Body cylindrical; scales keeled, with apical pits, in 23-35 rows. Tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows.

(1) _C. cornutus_ (fig. 40).--Snout very short and broad; two erectile horns above the eyes, which are separated by 15-21 scales and surrounded by 14-18; 4-5 series of scales between the eyes and the lips; 12-15 supralabials; 3 infralabials; scales on the body in 27-35 rows; 130-165 ventrals; 25-42 subcaudals.

Colour yellowish-brown or grey, with or without brown spots, forming 4-6 regular series, the two middle ones sometimes forming cross-bars; an oblique dark streak behind the eye; belly white; end of tail sometimes black.

Total length, 720 millimetres; tail 90.

_Habitat_: Northern border of the Sahara, Egypt, Nubia, Arabia, and Southern Palestine.

(2) _C. vipera._--Snout very short and broad; head covered with small, tubercularly keeled scales, to the number of 9-13 from eye to eye; no “horns”; 9-14 scales round the eye; nostril between two small shields, separated from their neighbours by 5-6 series of scales; 10-12 supralabials; 3 infralabials. Scales on the body in 23-27 rows; 102-122 ventrals, rather strongly keeled at the sides; 18-26 subcaudals. Colour dull yellow, pale brown or reddish, with or without black spots; end of tail often black above; ventral surface white.

Total length, 340 millimetres; tail 30.

_Habitat_: Northern border of the Sahara, from Algeria to Egypt.

The snakes belonging to this genus live constantly hidden in the sand, lying in wait for small birds, which alight beside them without suspicion, mistaking their horns for insects or larvæ; they also feed upon mice. Their poison-fangs are of relatively large size.

These small and exceedingly active vipers, whose colour harmonises marvellously with their surroundings, are very dangerous to the Arabs and blacks, who walk barefooted; they frequently cause fatal accidents.

They are able to exist for a very long time without drinking. They are attracted by the fires which are lighted at night round caravan encampments.

(e) =Echis.=

(See Asia, p. 48.)

(1) _E. carinatus_ (Efa, Viper of the Pyramids).--The same as met with in Persia, Arabia, and India. Very common in the environs of Cairo, and throughout Egypt and Abyssinia. It often makes its way into towns and villages. Brehm records that he more than once found an _Efa_ in his house at Khartoum, and that on one occasion he discovered one of these vipers coiled up beneath the covering of his bed. At another time, getting up in the night, he put his foot on one of these animals and was not bitten, the reptile being very fortunately just at that moment in the act of devouring a tame bird which it had seized.

It hardly ever happens that a native of Egypt can bring himself to destroy an _Efa_, of which he has the greatest dread. If, as often occurs, he finds one of these reptiles in his house, he addresses himself to the _Hani_ or juggler, in order that, by his magic art, he may expel the dangerous visitor. From this custom the juggler evidently derives no small advantage, for, as is only right, he does not ply his craft for nothing. In many cases, indeed, the juggler releases a snake in a house, and then goes and informs the owner that he knows that a reptile is concealed in his dwelling, and that, in consideration of a stipulated reward, he will rid him of it (Brehm).

(2) _E. coloratus_ (fig. 41).--Scales on the snout and vertex convex, smooth or bluntly keeled, 13-15 from eye to eye; no supraocular shield; 17-22 scales round the eye; 12-15 supralabials; scales on the body in 31-35 rows; 174-205 ventrals; 42-52 subcaudals. No cruciform mark on the head.

Total length, 750 millimetres; tail 80.

_Habitat_: Palestine, Arabia, Socotra.

(f) =Atheris.=

Head very distinct from neck, covered with imbricate scales; eyes large, with vertical pupils, usually separated from the labial shields by small scales; nostrils lateral. Body slightly compressed; scales keeled, with apical pits. Tail moderate, _prehensile_; subcaudal scales in a single row.

(1) _A. chlorechis._--No supraciliary horn-like scales; 9-11 scales from eye to eye; 25-36 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 154-165 ventrals; 53-62 subcaudals.

Colour green, uniform or with small yellow spots; end of tail yellowish or blackish.

Total length, 520 millimetres; tail 85.

_Habitat_: West Africa, from Liberia to the Ogowai.

(2) _A. squamiger._--No supraciliary horn-like scales; 7-8 scales from eye to eye; 15-25 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 153-173 ventrals; 51-95 subcaudals.

Colour olive, uniform or with more or less regular, narrow yellow cross-bands, or yellow with green spots; belly pale olive, marbled with black or yellow, or uniform yellow.

Total length, 550 millimetres; tail 100.

_Habitat_: West Africa, from the Cameroons to Angola.

(3) _A. ceratophorus._--Several erect, supraciliary horn-like scales; 9-10 scales from eye to eye; 25 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 142 ventrals; 55 subcaudals.

Colour dark olive, with black spots forming cross-bands; belly pale olive, speckled with black.

Total length, 210 millimetres; tail 65.

_Habitat_: East Africa.

(g) =Atractaspis.=

(Fig. 42.)

This genus is characterised by enormous poison-fangs, a few teeth on the palatines, and none on the pterygoids. The mandible, which is edentulous in front, has only two or three small teeth in the middle of the dentary bone. Head small, not distinct from the neck, covered with large symmetrical shields; nostril between two nasal shields; eyes minute, with round pupils; postfrontal bone absent. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 17-37 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail short; subcaudals in 1 or 2 rows.

(1) _A. hildebrandtii._--Six supralabials; no præocular shields; frontal shorter than the parietals; scales on the body in 17 rows; ventrals 167-174.

Colour uniform dark brown.

Total length, 450 millimetres; tail 53.

_Habitat_: East Africa.

(2) _A. congica._--Five supralabials, of which the fourth is the larger; postocular in contact with a large temporal; one præocular; frontal as long as or slightly shorter than the parietals. Scales on the body in 19-21 rows; 209-230 ventrals; 19-23 subcaudals.

Colour uniform dark brown or black.

Total length, 450 millimetres; tail 35.

_Habitat_: Congo, Angola.

(3) _A. irregularis._--Characters as before, but scales on the body in 25-27 rows; 220-257 ventrals, subcaudals 22-28 pairs.

Colour uniform black or dark brown.

Total length, 560 millimetres; tail 35.

_Habitat_: West Africa, from the Gold Coast to the Congo; Central Africa.

(4) _A. corpulenta._--Postocular shield in contact with a large temporal; second lower labial very large, fused with the chin-shields. Scales on the body in 23-27 rows; 178-193 ventrals; 23-27 subcaudals.

Colour uniform blackish-brown; tail sometimes white.

Total length, 345 millimetres; tail 33.

HABITAT: West Africa, from Liberia to the Gaboon.

(5) _A. rostrata._--Snout very prominent, cuneiform. Third lower labial very large; first lower labial in contact with its fellow, behind the symphysial. Scales on the body in 19-23 rows; ventrals 227-248.

Colour uniform dark brown, or blackish.

Total length, 600 millimetres; tail 37.

_Habitat_: East and Central Africa.

(6) _A. bibronii._--Characters as before. Snout prominent, subcuneiform. Ventral scales, 221-260.

Colour dark purplish-brown above, dull yellow or pale brown on the belly.

Total length, 600 millimetres; tail 25.

_Habitat_: Eastern districts of Cape Colony, Natal, Namaqualand, Angola.

(7) _A. aterrima._--Characters as before. Snout rounded; 251-300 ventral scales.

Colour uniform dark brown or black.

Total length, 650 millimetres; tail 30.

_Habitat_: West and Central Africa.

(8) _A. dahomeyensis._--Characters as before. Symphysial shield in contact with the chin-shields. Scales on the body in 31 rows; 240 ventrals; 24 subcaudals.

Colour black above, brown on the belly.

Total length, 490 millimetres; tail 32.

_Habitat_: Dahomey.

(9) _A. micropholis._--Temporal shields small, 2 + 3 or 4; fourth or fifth infralabial larger; scales on the body in 25 rows; 210-215 ventrals; 29-30 subcaudals. Frontal shield slightly longer than broad, much longer than the parietals.

Colour uniform dark brown.

Total length, 330 millimetres; tail 28.

_Habitat_: Cape Verd.

(10) _A. leucomelas._--Characters as before. Frontal one and two-fifths as long as broad, as long as the parietals.

Colour black, with a vertebral white line, occupying one row and two half rows of scales; ventrals and subcaudals white; neck black, head white, with a black spot covering the nasals and upper head-shields.

Total length, 575 millimetres; tail 40.

_Habitat_: Somaliland.

(11) _A. microlepidota._--Characters as before. Scales on the body in 29-37 rows; 212-245 ventrals; 26-37 subcaudals.

Colour uniform dark brown.

Total length, 540 millimetres; tail 45.

_Habitat_: Central and East Africa.

_D.--AUSTRALIA AND THE LARGE ADJACENT ISLANDS._

The Sunda Islands and the whole of Malaysia are rich in poisonous snakes. Those that are found there belong for the most part to species that we have already met with in India or the Malay Peninsula. We shall therefore not describe them again here.

All those that inhabit Australia are included in the great Family COLUBRIDÆ and the Subfamily _Elapinæ_. There are no VIPERIDÆ; but certain genera of poisonous COLUBRIDÆ are peculiar to this continent.

These reptiles have been particularly well studied by Gérard Krefft, formerly Director of the Australian Museum at Sydney, from whose work[5] we shall borrow a considerable portion of the following notes, and the figures accompanying them.

The genera represented in Australia are:--

(a) _Ogmodon._
(b) _Glyphodon._
(c) _Pseudelaps._
(d) _Diemenia._
(e) _Pseudechis._
(f) _Denisonia._
(g) _Micropechis._
(h) _Hoplocephalus._
(i) _Tropidechis._
(j) _Notechis._
(k) _Rhinhoplocephalus._
(l) _Brachyaspis._
(m) _Acanthophis._
(n) _Elapognathus._
(o) _Rhynchelaps._
(p) _Furina._

(a) =Ogmodon.=

This genus is characterised by the maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, and bearing, in addition to the poison-fangs, 6-7 grooved teeth. The head is not distinct from the neck; the eyes are very small. The body is cylindrical, and covered with smooth scales in 17 rows. Tail short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.

_O. vitianus._--Snout elongate, pointed; 139-152 ventral scales; 27-38 subcaudals.

Colour dark brown, lighter on the sides; belly brown or white, more or less spotted with black; tail black.

Total length, 360 millimetres; tail 45.

_Habitat_: Fiji Islands.

(After G. A. Boulenger, _op. cit._)]

(b) =Glyphodon.=

General characters the same; snout rounded; poison-fangs followed, after a wide interspace, by 6 small grooved teeth; anterior mandibular teeth strongly developed (fig. 43). Head and eyes small; pupils round or vertically subelliptic; nostrils pierced between 2 nasal shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 17 rows; tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows.

_G. tristis._--Ventral scales 165-179; subcaudals 38-52.

Colour dark brown; occiput often yellowish, or pale reddish-brown; belly yellow.

Total length, 900 millimetres; tail 125.

_Habitat_: North-eastern Australia and South-eastern New Guinea.

(c) =Pseudelaps.=

Maxillaries extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, and, after a wide interval, 8-12 small grooved teeth. The anterior mandibular teeth are of large size, almost like fangs. Head hardly distinct from the neck; eyes small, with vertically elliptic pupils. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15-17 rows. Tail moderate or short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.

(1) _P. muelleri._--Scales in 15 rows. Nasal shield divided, in contact with the præocular; 2 + 2 temporals; 139-176 ventral scales; 21-35 subcaudals.

Colour brown, with a light vertebral line; a more or less distinct dark, light-edged streak on each side of the head, passing through the eye; belly yellowish or coral-red; uniform or spotted with black.

Total length, 500 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Moluccas, New Guinea, New Britain.

(2) _P. squamulosus_.--Scales in 15 rows. Nasal shield divided, in contact with the præocular; 1 + 2 temporals; 170-183 ventrals; 34-52 subcaudals.

Colour brown, with a yellowish streak round the snout and through the eyes to the nape; belly whitish, with confluent black spots forming lines on each side.

Total length, 375 millimetres; tail 55.

_Habitat_: New South Wales.

(3) _P. krefftii_ (fig. 44).--Nasal shield entire, in contact with the præocular; 1 + 2 temporals; 146-156 ventrals; 26-38 subcaudals.

Colour dark brown, with a light longitudinal line on each scale; a yellowish cross-band on the occiput, connected with another yellow band which encircles the snout.

Belly yellowish in front, black behind; subcaudals white, with a longitudinal black band running between them.

Total length, 255 millimetres; tail 33.

_Habitat_: Queensland.

(4) _P. harriettæ_ (fig. 45).--Nasal shield entire, in contact with or narrowly separated from the præocular; 1 + 2 temporals; 176-193 ventrals; 29-35 subcaudals.

Colour dark brown, with a light longitudinal line on each scale; a long yellow blotch on the nape, and, connected with this, a yellow ring round the snout; ventrals and subcaudals brown or black, edged with white.

Total length, 415 millimetres; tail 45.

_Habitat_: Queensland.

(5) _P. diadema_ (fig. 46).--Nasal shield entire, widely separated from the præocular; 2 + 2 temporals; third and fourth upper labials entering the eye; 164-203 ventrals; 40-62 subcaudals. Colour pale brown or reddish, with a brown edging to each scale forming a reticulate pattern; a yellow cross-band on the occiput; belly uniformly white.

Total length, 600 millimetres; tail 80.

_Habitat_: Eastern, Northern, and Western Australia.

(6) _P. warro._--Characters the same as in the previous species; 143 ventrals. Colour brown; a broad lunate black collar on the nape; head black above, but paler than the collar.

_Habitat_: Port Curtis, Queensland.

(7) _P. sutherlandi._--Characters as before. Scales on the body in 17 rows; 160 ventrals; 40 subcaudals. Colour red-brown on the back, yellow on the belly; a broad lunate black collar on the nape, with a lighter edging; light bars across the head, body, and tail.

_Habitat_: Norman River, Queensland.

(d) =Diemenia.=

(After Krefft.)]

Maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, followed, after an interspace, by 7-15 small grooved teeth; anterior mandibular teeth much elongated, resembling poison-fangs. Head scarcely distinct from the neck: eyes rather large, with round pupils; nasal shield entire or divided; frontal elongate.

Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15-19 rows (more on the neck). Tail moderate or long; subcaudals all or for the most part in 2 rows.

Coloration very variable, orange-yellow, olive, red-brown, or pale brown.

Average length, 1,000-1,700 millimetres.

_Habitat_: South-eastern New Guinea, and Australia.

Seven species of this genus are known, divided into two groups as follows:--

(1) Scales on the body in 15 rows.

_D. psammophis._ (fig. 47).--Internasal shields at least half as long as the præfrontals.

_D. torquata._--Internasals more than half as long as the præfrontals.

_D. olivacea._ (fig. 48).--Internasals not more than half as long as the præfrontals; snout broad.

(2) Scales in 17 or 19 rows.

_D. modesta._--154-165 ventrals.

_D. textilis_ (Brown Snake, fig. 49).--190-232 ventrals.

_D. nuchalis_ (fig. 50).--184-224 ventrals.

(e) =Pseudechis.=

Maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs followed by 2-5 small solid teeth; anterior mandibular teeth long. Head distinct from the neck; eyes rather small, with round pupils; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical. Scales smooth, in 17-23 rows (more on the neck). Tail moderate; subcaudals in 2 rows, or partly single, partly in 2 rows.

Total length, 1,500-2,000 millimetres, sometimes more.

_Habitat_: Australia and New Guinea.

This genus includes eight species.

(1) _P. porphyriacus_ (Black Snake; fig. 51).--Frontal shield longer than broad; 180-200 ventrals; 50-60 subcaudals.

Colour black on the back; outer row of scales red at the base; ventrals red, edged with black.

(2) _P. cupreus._--199-210 ventrals; 57-72 subcaudals.

Colour coppery above, brown or orange below, all the scales and shields edged with brown.

(3) _P. australis._--199-220 ventrals; 57-70 subcaudals; frontal shield once and two-thirds to twice as long as broad.

Colour pale brown on the back, yellowish on the belly.

(4) _P. darwiniensis._--Frontal as broad as long; 212 ventrals; 54-64 subcaudals.

Colour reddish-brown; head pale brown; belly yellowish-white.

(5) _P. papuanus._--Scales in 19-21 rows (26 or 27 on the neck); 221-224 ventrals; 49-55 subcaudals.

Colour uniform black; chin white.

(6) _P. scutellatus._--Subcaudal shields in 2 rows; scales on the body in 23 rows (25-30 on the neck); 230-233 ventrals; 61-78 subcaudals.

Colour pale brown or dark brown; snout and cheeks pale brown or yellowish; belly yellow.

(7) _P. microlepidotus._--30-36 scales across the neck, 23 across the middle of the body; 232-237 ventrals; 61-66 pairs of subcaudals.

Colour dark brown on the back, yellowish-grey on the belly; head sometimes blackish.

(8) _P. ferox._--Snout very broadly rounded. Scales on the body in 23 rows; 235 ventrals; 60 pairs of subcaudals.

Colour black above, yellowish beneath.

(f) =Denisonia.=

Maxillary bones prolonged as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, followed by 3-5 small solid teeth; anterior mandibular teeth greatly developed. Head fairly distinct from the body; eyes small, with round or vertically elliptic pupils; nasal shield entire or divided. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15-19 rows; tail moderate or short; subcaudals in a single row, except in one species.

According to the British Museum Catalogue, the genus _Denisonia_ includes twenty-one species, the principal characters of which are as follows:--

(1) _D. superba_ (The Copperhead. Fig. 52).--Scales in 15-17 rows; nasal shield entire, in contact with the præocular; ventral scales 145-160; subcaudals 41-50.

Colour brownish to dark olive on the back, often yellow or salmon-red on the sides; belly yellowish or greyish-olive.

Total length, 1,010 millimetres; tail 160.

_Habitat_: New South Wales, Southern Australia, Tasmania.

(2) _D. coronata._--Scales in 15 rows; 138-151 ventrals; 38-51 subcaudals.

Colour olive, with a black streak on each side of the head; belly yellowish or pale olive.

Total length, 480 millimetres; tail 95.

_Habitat_: Western Australia and New South Wales.

(3) _D. coronoides_ (fig. 53).--Scales in 15 rows; 136-151 ventrals; 39-57 subcaudals.

Colour brown, lips yellow; belly salmon-red to dark olive-grey; end of tail salmon-red.

Total length, 440 millimetres; tail 80.

_Habitat_: Southern Australia and Tasmania.

(4) _D. muelleri._--Scales in 17 rows; 118 ventrals; 38 subcaudals.

Colour grey-brown; lips and chin with yellow spots; belly grey.

Total length, 292 millimetres; tail 52.

_Habitat_: Queensland.

(5) _D. frenata._--Scales in 19 rows; 167 ventrals; 35 subcaudals.

Colour olive-brown; upper lip yellow; belly white.

Total length, 390 millimetres; tail 54.

_Habitat_: Lake Elphinstone, Queensland.

(6) _D. ramsayi_ (fig. 54).--Scales in 15 rows; 164 ventrals; 51 subcaudals.

Colour dark olive-green above, yellow beneath; subcaudals nearly black.

Total length, 265 millimetres; tail 50.

_Habitat_: New South Wales.

(7) D. signata (fig. 55).--Scales in 17 rows; 153-170 ventrals; 41-56 subcaudals.

Colour dark olive or black, head brown; belly dark grey or black.

Total length, 640 millimetres; tail 120.

_Habitat_: Queensland, New South Wales.

(8) _D. daemelii._--Scales in 17 rows; 147-168 ventrals; 33-45 subcaudals.

Colour olive, head darker; belly yellowish-white.

Total length, 380 millimetres; tail 60.

_Habitat_: Queensland.

(9) _D. suta._--Scales in 19 rows; 157-164 ventrals; 25-30 subcaudals.

Colour pale olive-brown, head dark brown, nape black; upper lip and belly yellow.

Total length, 200 millimetres; tail 23.

_Habitat_: Southern Australia.

(10) _D. frontalis._--Scales in 19 rows; 154 ventrals; 30 subcaudals.

Colour light brown, with a vertebral black line; belly pearly-white, with a median bronze-coloured band.

Total length, 400 millimetres; tail 50.

_Habitat_: New South Wales.

(11) _D. flagellum._--Scales in 17 rows; 132-138 ventrals; 25-27 subcaudals.

Colour pale brown; vertex, occiput, and nape black; upper lip and belly white.

Total length, 380 millimetres; tail 40.

_Habitat_: Victoria.

(12) _D. maculata._ (fig. 56).--Scales in 17 rows; 121-136 ventrals; 20-30 subcaudals.

Colour dark grey-brown, or brown; a large dark olive-green or brown blotch on the head, with two or three unequal light grey spots; belly white.

Total length, 400 millimetres; tail 55.

_Habitat_: Queensland.

(13) _D. punctata._--Scales in 15 rows; 160 ventrals; 25 subcaudals.

Colour pale brown; head and nape orange; upper lip and belly yellow.

Total length, 350 millimetres; tail 36.

_Habitat_: North-Western Australia.

(14) _D. gouldii_ (fig. 57).--Scales in 15 rows; 140-170 ventrals; 22-23 subcaudals.

Colour brownish-yellow; nape black; head covered with a broad greenish-blue blotch, extending from the nose to the neck; upper lip and belly yellow.

Total length, 435 millimetres; tail 50.

_Habitat_: Western and Southern Australia.

(15) _D. nigrescens._--Scales in 15 rows; 170-200 ventrals; 30-46 subcaudals.

Colour dark olive; head black; belly yellow.

Total length, 545 millimetres; tail 75.

_Habitat_: New South Wales and Queensland.

(16) _D. nigrostriata._--Scales in 15 rows; 180-184 ventrals; 50-64 subcaudals.

Colour yellow, streaked with black; head dark brown; upper lip and belly yellowish-white.

Total length, 380 millimetres; tail 52.

_Habitat_: Queensland.

(17) _D. carpentariæ._--Scales in 15 rows; 166-183 ventrals; 31-43 subcaudals.

Colour brown; upper lip and belly yellowish-white.

Total length, 285 millimetres; tail 47.

_Habitat_: Northern Queensland.

(18) _D. pallidiceps._--Scales in 15 rows; 170-178 ventrals; 37-38 subcaudals.

Colour dark olive-brown; head somewhat paler; belly yellowish. Total length, 590 millimetres; tail 80.

_Habitat_: Northern Australia.

(19) _D. melanura._--Scales in 15 or 17 rows; 165-171 ventrals; 38-48 subcaudals.

Colour dark brown; head and sides usually reddish; belly yellow; tail black.

Total length, 1,000 millimetres; tail 140.

_Habitat_: Solomon Islands.

(20) _D. par._--Scales in 16 rows; 164-166 ventrals; 40-49 subcaudals.

Colour reddish-brown, in broad bands with white intervals; head blackish-brown; belly white; tail with red rings.

Total length, 750 millimetres; tail 110.

_Habitat_: Faro and Howla Islands, Bougainville Straits, Solomon Islands.

(21) _D. woodfordii._--Scales in 17 rows; 166-172 ventrals; 41-45 subcaudal pairs.

Colour brownish-white, with a reticulate pattern; head dark brown; belly white.

Total length, 670 millimetres; tail 100.

_Habitat_: New Georgia, Solomon Islands.

(g) =Micropechis.=

Maxillary bones extending forward as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, followed by three small solid teeth; mandibular teeth longer in front. Head distinct from the neck; eyes very small, with round pupils; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15 or 17 rows. Tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows.

(1) _M. ikaheka._--Scales in 15 rows; 180-223 ventrals; 39-55 subcaudals.

Colour yellow and black, in irregular cross-bars; head and tail black above; belly yellow.

Total length, 1,550 millimetres; tail 180.

_Habitat_: New Guinea.

(2) _M. elapoides._--Scales in 17 rows; 208 ventrals; 35 subcaudals.

Colour cream, with 22 black bands, broader than the interspaces between them; snout and ocular region black.

Total length, 750 millimetres; tail 75.

_Habitat_: Florida Island, Solomon Group.

(h) =Hoplocephalus.=

Characters the same as in _Micropechis_. Scales in 21 rows; ventrals angulate and notched laterally. Tail moderate; subcaudals in a single row.

(1) _H. bungaroides_ (Syn. _H. variegatus_. The Broad-headed Snake).--204-221 ventrals; 40-56 subcaudals.

Colour black on the back, with yellow spots forming more or less regular cross-bands on the body; upper lip yellow, margined with black; belly blackish, yellow on the sides.

Total length, 1,620 millimetres; tail 210.

_Habitat_: New South Wales.

(2) _H. bitorquatus_ (fig. 58).--Ventral scales strongly angulate laterally, 191-227; subcaudals 44-59.

Colour olive-green; head pale olive, with a bright yellow occipital blotch, and a large black blotch on each side of the nape; a pair of small spots in front of and between the eyes; three black transverse blotches on the vertex; belly greyish-olive or brown.

Total length, 510 millimetres; tail 95.

_Habitat_: Queensland, New South Wales.

(3) _H. stephensii._--239 ventrals; 60 subcaudals.

Body barred alternately with black and white; the black bars are twice as broad as the white ones; head dark, spotted with yellow; a W-shaped yellow mark on the back of the head.

Total length, 760 millimetres.

_Habitat_: Port Macquarie, New South Wales.

(i) =Tropidechis.=

Same general characters; nasal shield entire; scales on the body strongly keeled, in 23 rows. Tail moderate; subcaudals in a single row.

_T. carinatus._--Colour dark olive, with darker cross-bands; belly yellow, more or less tinged with olive-green.

Total length, 730 millimetres; tail 120.

_Habitat_: New South Wales, Queensland.

(j) =Notechis.=

Same general characters; pupil round; nasal shield entire. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, disposed obliquely, in 15-19 rows, the lateral scales shorter than the dorsals. Tail moderate; subcaudals in a single row.

_N. scutatus_ (Syn. _Hoplocephalus curtus_. The Tiger Snake. Fig. 59).--Colour dark olive; belly yellow or olive; the shields often dark-edged.

Total length, 1,280 millimetres; tail 170.

_Habitat_: Australia and Tasmania.

(k) =Rhinhoplocephalus.=

Dentition as in _Hoplocephalus_. Head but little distinct from the neck; eyes small, with round pupils; no internasal shields. Body cylindrical, rigid. Scales smooth, in 15 rows. Tail short; subcaudals in a single row.

_R. bicolor._--Colour greyish-olive on the back, yellowish-white on the belly; tongue white.

Total length, 395 millimetres; tail 55.

_Habitat_: Australia.

(l) =Brachyaspis.=

Characters the same, but head distinct from the neck; eyes small, with vertically elliptic pupils; nostril between two nasal shields. Body stout, cylindrical; scales smooth, slightly oblique, in 19 rows. Tail short; subcaudals in a single row.

_B. curta._--Colour uniform olive-brown; belly yellowish.

Total length, 490 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Western Australia.

(m) =Acanthophis= (_Death Adder_).

(Figs. 60, 61.)

Maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, followed by two or three small teeth; anterior mandibular teeth elongate, fang-like. Head distinct from the neck; eyes small, with vertically elliptic pupils; nostril in the upper part of a single nasal shield. Body stout, cylindrical. Scales more or less distinctly keeled, in 21-23 rows. Tail short, compressed at the end and terminating in a sort of long spine, turned upwards; anterior subcaudals in a single row, posterior in 2 rows.

_A. antarcticus_ (The Death Adder; fig. 61).--Supraocular shields often raised and angular, assuming the shape of little horns; scales on the crown of the head rugose and striated; 113-130 ventrals; 41-51 subcaudals (the last 5-27 are divided).

Colour yellow-brown or reddish, with more or less distinct dark cross-bands; black spots or small dark bars on the lips; belly yellowish-white; end of tail yellow or black, covered with spiny scales.

Total length, 850 millimetres; tail 150.

_Habitat_: Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia.

(n) =Elapognathus.=

Maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of moderately large grooved poison-fangs; no other maxillary teeth; mandibular teeth subequal. Eyes moderate, with round pupils; nasal shield entire. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15 rows; ventrals rounded; tail moderate; subcaudals in a single row.

_E. minor._--Colour dark olive, with a black occipital blotch in the young; belly yellow or greenish-grey.

Total length, 460 millimetres; tail 95.

_Habitat_: South-west Australia.

(o) =Rhynchelaps.=

Maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of moderately large grooved poison-fangs, and two small teeth near the posterior extremity of the bone; anterior mandibular teeth the longest. Head small, not distinct from the neck; eyes small, with vertically elliptic pupils; nostril in a single nasal shield. Body short, cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15-17 rows. Tail very short; subcaudals in 2 rows.

(1) _R. bertholdi._--Scales in 15 rows; 112-126 ventrals.

Colour yellow, with 19-40 black annuli, usually narrower than the interspaces; head brown, with a large black blotch on the nape, and another on the vertex and temples.

Total length, 270 millimetres; tail 22.

_Habitat_: Southern and Western Australia.

(2) _R. australis_ (fig. 62).--Scales in 17 rows; 152-163 ventrals; 18-20 subcaudals.

Colour red on the body, with ill-defined cross-bars formed of yellowish black-edged scales; a black blotch on the head, covering the vertex and temples, and surrounding the eyes; another large blotch on the nape; snout and occiput yellow; belly white.

Total length, 290 millimetres; tail 25.

_Habitat_: Queensland.

(3) _R. semifasciatus._--Scales in 17 rows; 143-170 ventrals; 17-25 subcaudals.

Colour yellow, with brown cross-bands; large brown blotches on the head and nape; belly white.

Total length, 300 millimetres; tail 30.

_Habitat_: West Australia.

(4) _R. fasciolatus._--Scales in 17 rows; 145-161 ventrals; 22-27 subcaudals.

Colour red, with numerous blackish-brown cross-bands; large blackish-brown blotches on the head and nape; belly white.

Total length, 335 millimetres; tail 30.

_Habitat_: West Australia.

(p) =Furina.=

(Figs. 63 and 64.)

Maxillary bones extending forwards beyond the palatines, bearing a pair of moderately large grooved poison-fangs, and one or two small teeth near their posterior extremities; mandibular teeth subequal. Head small, not distinct from neck; eyes very small, with round pupils; nostril in a single nasal shield. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15 rows. Tail very short, obtuse; subcaudals in 2 rows.

(1) _F. calonota._--Six supralabial shields; 126-131 ventrals; 29-30 subcaudals.

Colour yellow, with a black vertebral stripe; a black bar across the end of the snout; a large black blotch covering the vertex and the parietals; belly white.

Total length, 215 millimetres; tail 33.

_Habitat_: West Australia.

(2) _F. bimaculata._--Scales in 15 rows; 181-200 ventrals; 21-25 subcaudals.

Colour yellow, with large black blotches on the snout, middle of head, and occiput; belly white.

Total length, 330 millimetres; tail 25.

_Habitat_: West Australia.

(3) _F. occipitalis_ (fig. 64).--Scales in 15 rows; 180-234 ventrals; 14-25 subcaudals.

Entire body ringed with black and white, annuli narrower on head black, with a broad white band across the occiput, and another narrower and irregular one across the snout; nose black.

Total length, 590 millimetres; tail 36.

_Habitat_: Australia.

* * * * *

There are no poisonous snakes in New Zealand. In New Caledonia no _terrestrial_ poisonous snakes are known, but _Hydrophiidæ_ abound on its shores, as on those of the majority of the islands of the Pacific.

In Australia, especially in New South Wales and farther to the north, fatalities due to the bites of poisonous snakes are not rare. The most dangerous species are: _Acanthophis antarcticus_ (the Death Adder), _Diemenia textilis_ (the Brown Snake), _Pseudechis porphyriacus_ (the Black Snake), and _Notechis scutatus_ or _Hoplocephalus curtus_ (the Tiger Snake).

The health authorities of this country have accordingly taken the wise precaution of circulating very widely among the public coloured placards bearing illustrations of these four species, with a description of the essential anatomical details by which they may be recognised. Similar placards are exhibited in all the schools, and a generous distribution is made of instructions, printed on handkerchiefs, indicating the most effective method of treating poisonous bites.

In Queensland, according to information furnished to me by Mr. C. W. De Vis, late Director of the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, the number of deaths resulting from the bites of poisonous snakes has been only twenty-seven in ten years.

_E.--AMERICA._

The fauna of the New World includes only a very small number of poisonous snakes belonging to the family COLUBRIDÆ. The Genus _Elaps_ alone is represented there by twenty-eight species, scattered over Mexico, Central America, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.

VIPERIDÆ, on the other hand, are extremely numerous, and belong exclusively to the subfamily CROTALINÆ; there are no VIPERINÆ.

I.--COLUBRIDÆ.

(a) =Elaps.=

(Fig. 65.)

The characters of this genus are: Maxillary bones very short, extending beyond the palatines, and bearing a pair of large poison-fangs; pterygoid teeth few or absent; mandibular teeth all of equal length. No postfrontal bones; præfrontals meeting, or narrowly separated on the median line. Head small, not distinct from neck; eyes small, with vertically elliptic or sub-elliptic pupils; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15 rows. Tail short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows, or partly single, partly in 2 rows.

(1) _E. surinamensis._--Seven supralabials, of which the fourth enters the eye; frontal shield very narrow; 167-182 ventrals.

Colour red, with black annuli disposed in threes (the middle one broader), separated by narrow yellow interspaces; 7 or 8 sets of annuli on the body; the red scales dotted with black; head red above, with the shields black-edged, followed by a black cross-band behind the parietals.

Total length, 740 millimetres; tail 95. Grows to 1,900 millimetres.

_Habitat_: Venezuela, Guianas, Northern Brazil, North-east Peru.

(2) _E. heterochilus._--Six supralabials, second and third entering the eye; snout narrow; 209 ventrals.

Colour red, with black annuli, as in _E. marcgravii_.

Total length, 553 millimetres; tail 43.

_Habitat_: Brazil.

(3) _E. euryxanthus_ (Sonoran Coral Snake).--Seven supralabials, third and fourth entering the eye; internasals nearly as long as the præfrontals; 215-241 ventrals; 21-29 subcaudals.

Colour red, with 11 black annuli edged with yellow; head black.

Total length, 400 millimetres; tail 33.

_Habitat_: Arizona, Colorado, North-western Mexico. It is found in Arizona up to an altitude of nearly 6,000 feet (1,800 metres).

(4) _E. gravenhorstii._--First lower labial in contact with its fellow; posterior nasal not reaching the præocular: 191 ventrals; 23 subcaudals.

Colour: Seven sets of black annuli disposed in threes, median annulus the broadest; head black, with a yellow transverse band behind the eyes.

Total length, 550 millimetres; tail 50.

_Habitat_: Brazil.

(5) _E. langsdorffii._--Ventrals 204-225; subcaudals 37-54; 1 + 1 temporals.

Colour dark brown, with 63 transverse series of cream-coloured spots, each occupying one scale; belly yellow, with red cross-bands.

Total length, 300 millimetres.

_Habitat_: Upper Amazons.

(6) _E. buckleyi._--203-211 ventrals; 39-43 subcaudals; 1 + 2 temporals.

Colour orange, with 48-60 black annuli edged with small yellow spots; head black; temples yellow.

Total length, 505 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Northern Brazil, Eastern Ecuador.

(7) _E. anomalus._--227 ventrals; 29 subcaudals; 1 + 1 temporals.

Colour: Body with 55 black annuli separated by narrow brownish-white bands; belly yellowish; anterior half of head black, posterior half yellow; tail yellow or red, with 4 black rings.

Total length, 280 millimetres; tail 23.

_Habitat_: Colombia.

(8) _E. heterozonus._--Scales in 15 rows; 210-219 ventrals; 16-23 subcaudals; 1 + 1 temporals.

Colour red or brown, with 17 to 23 black rings, mostly narrower than the interspaces; a black band on the head across the eyes.

Total length, 900 millimetres; tail 40.

_Habitat_: Eastern Ecuador, Eastern Peru, Bolivia.

(9) _E. elegans._--Scales in 15 rows; 189-221 ventrals; 29-47 subcaudals; 1 + 1 temporals.

Colour: Black annuli in sets of three, separated by reddish-brown interspaces; 12-17 sets; head black, with yellow blotches.

Total length, 730 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Mexico and Guatemala.

(10) _E. annellatus._--Scales in 15 rows; 200-211 ventrals; 30-45 subcaudals; 1 + 1 temporals.

Colour black, with 41-49 narrow white rings on the body, 4-7 on the tail; a white ring on the head.

Total length, 490 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Eastern Peru.

(11) _E. decoratus._--Scales in 15 rows; 196-213 ventrals: 29-37 subcaudals.

Colour red, with 15-16 sets of black annuli disposed in threes; head yellow, with end of snout black, and a black band across the eyes.

Total length, 625 millimetres.

_Habitat_: Brazil.

(12) _E. dumerilii._--Scales in 15 rows; 197-204 ventrals; 50-53 subcaudals.

Colour: 8-9 sets of three black annuli on red and yellow; head black, with a yellow band on the occiput.

Total length, 410 millimetres; tail 65.

_Habitat_: Colombia.

(13) _E. corallinus_ (The Coral Snake).--Scales in 15 rows; 179-231 ventrals; 30-47 subcaudals; 1 + 1 temporals.

Colour: Body with black annuli, separated by red interspaces edged with yellow; head bluish-black; temples yellow; a blue line from behind the eye to the lower jaw; tail white.

Total length, 790 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Tropical South America and Lesser Antilles (St. Thomas, St. Vincent, Martinique).

(14) _E. hemprichii._--Scales in 15 rows; 168-181 ventrals; 22-29 subcaudals; 1 + 1 temporals.

Colour: Black, with red or yellow annuli, a broad annulus between the narrow ones; occiput, upper lip, and temples yellow.

Total length, 720 millimetres; tail 65.

_Habitat_: Guianas, Colombia, Peru.

(15) _E. tschudii._--Scales in 15 rows; 207-221 ventrals; 21-28 subcaudals.

Colour: Body with black annuli broader than the interspaces, disposed in sets; interspaces red and yellow; snout and occiput black.

Total length, 430 millimetres; tail 35.

_Habitat_: Peru.

(16) _E. dissoleucus._--Scales in 15 rows; 200 ventrals; 19 subcaudals.

Coloration as in foregoing species.

Total length, 1,070 millimetres; tail 35.

_Habitat_: Venezuela.

(17) _E. fulvius_ (Harlequin, or Coral Snake, fig. 66).--Scales in 15 rows; 180-237 ventrals; 30-59 subcaudals.

Colour: Body with black, red, and yellow annuli; tail with black and yellow annuli; snout black.

Total length, 990 millimetres; tail 85.

_Habitat_: Eastern North America, from Southern Virginia, the Ohio River, and the Missouri to the Rio Grande, Mexico. Central America.

(18) _E. psyches._--Scales in 15 rows; 188-214 ventrals; 32-47 subcaudals.

Colour: Body with alternate black and brown annuli, and 48-52 narrow yellow rings; head black, blotched with yellow.

Total length, 495 millimetres; tail 80.

_Habitat_: Guianas.

(19) _E. spixii._--Scales in 15 rows; 201-219 ventrals; 22-29 subcaudals.

Colour red, with 20-38 black rings disposed in threes; a black occipital collar, followed by a wide red space.

Total length, 1,400 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Venezuela and Northern Brazil.

(20) _E. frontalis._--Scales in 15 rows; 197-230 ventrals; 15-26 subcaudals. Tail ending very obtusely.

Colour: Body with black annuli disposed in threes, with red and yellow interspaces; head black, spotted with yellow or red.

Total length, 1,350 millimetres; tail 70.

_Habitat_: Southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina.

(21) _E. marcgravii._--Scales in 15 rows; 210-240 ventrals; 23-42 subcaudals.

Colour: Body with black annuli in 6-10 sets of three, separated by broad red interspaces, the middle annulus usually wider; snout yellow, the end usually black; back of head red.

Total length, 1,120 millimetres; tail 100.

_Habitat_: Tropical South America.

(22) _E. lemniscatus._--Scales in 15 rows; 241-262 ventrals; 30-39 subcaudals.

Colour: Body with 11-14 sets of black annuli disposed in threes, separated by red interspaces; head yellow; end of snout and a band across the middle of the head black.

Total length, 1,000 millimetres; tail 80.

_Habitat_: Guianas, Brazil.

(23) _E. filiformis._--Scales in 15 rows; 290-308 ventrals; 35-45 subcaudals.

Colour: Body with black annuli disposed in threes, with red interspaces; head yellow; end of snout black; a black band across the eyes.

Total length, 575 millimetres; tail 40.

_Habitat_: Amazons, Colombia.

(24) _E. mipartitus._--Scales in 15 rows; 210-278 ventrals; 24-34 subcaudals.

Colour black, with 40-68 narrow white annuli; head black to between the eyes, elsewhere yellow.

Total length, 610 millimetres; tail 50.

_Habitat_: Central America and Tropical South America.

(25) _E. fraseri._--Scales in 15 rows; 303 ventrals; 25 subcaudals.

Colour black, with 75 narrow whitish rings with broken outlines; head black in front, yellow behind.

Total length, 780 millimetres; tail 40.

_Habitat_: Ecuador.

(26) _E. mentalis._--Scales in 15 rows; 255-268 ventrals; 30-31 subcaudals.

Colour: Body black, with 58-70 narrow white annuli, which become wider on the belly; snout black, occiput yellow; tail annulate, black and orange.

Total length, 490 millimetres; tail 30.

_Habitat._--Colombia and Ecuador.

(27) _E. ancoralis._--Scales in 15 rows; 258 ventrals; 31 subcaudals.

Colour: Body with 16 sets of black annuli disposed in threes, the middle one of each set a little wider; head light in front, spotted with black; an anchor-shaped black mark on the occiput and nape.

Total length, 780 millimetres; tail 57.

_Habitat_: Ecuador.

(28) _E. narduccii._--Scales in 15 rows; 240-315 ventrals; 15-33 subcaudals.

Colour black, beneath with yellow or red cross-bands or transversely oval spots, sometimes extending as triangular blotches up the sides; head with a yellow cross-band.

Total length, 720 millimetres; tail 50.

_Habitat_: Eastern Ecuador, North-eastern Peru, Bolivia.

The species of the genus _Elaps_, which are remarkable for the brightness and beauty of their colours, are generally found in forests.

“The traveller,” says Neuwied, “who ventures into the great Brazilian forests, where the ground is covered with leafy plants, is astonished to see shining through the verdure the black and red rings of the beautiful Coral Snake. Uncertainty as to whether the creature is dangerous alone prevents him from seizing it. The body of the snake is not lithe enough to enable it to climb trees. Its food consists of small animals.”