Venoms : venomous animals and antivenomous serum-therapeutics / by A. Calmette; translated by Ernest E. Austen.

  • Calmette, A. (Albert), 1863-1933.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Venoms : venomous animals and antivenomous serum-therapeutics / by A. Calmette; translated by Ernest E. Austen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    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 Pastern- 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. peringiieyi.—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 sub- caudals. 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 supra- nasals ; 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 5. 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.