Colour yellow or pinkish on the back, with a series of large rhomboidal brown or black spots enclosing smaller light spots; a black streak from the eye to the angle of the mouth.
Total length, 1,995 millimetres; tail 170.
Habitat: Central and Tropical South America.
(2) L. lanceolatus (known as the Fer-de-lance in Martinique, and Jararacussu in Brazil; [fig. 69]).—Snout obtuse, slightly turned up; upper head-scales small, imbricate, more or less strongly keeled, in 5-10 longitudinal series between the supraoculars, which are large; 7 or 8 supralabials. Scales in 23-33 rows, sharply keeled; 180-240 ventrals; 46-70 subcaudals, all or the greater part in two rows.
Coloration very variable, grey, brown, yellow, olive, or reddish; uniform or with more or less distinct dark spots, or cross-bands, or with dark triangles on the sides enclosing pale rhombs; a dark streak from the eye to the angle of the mouth; belly yellowish, uniform, or spotted with brown.
Total length, 1,600 millimetres; tail 190.
Habitat: Tropical America; Mexico, Martinique, St. Lucia, Bequia Island near St. Vincent, Venezuela, Guianas, Rio de Janeiro.
This snake does not exist in Guadeloupe. “In the islands in which it is found,” says Dr. Rufz de Lavison, “its presence makes itself felt even where man has built his dwelling and cultivates the soil. Because of it no one can carelessly lie down to rest in the shade of a tree; no one can walk in the woods or enter unconcernedly into the pleasures of the chase.” It is especially abundant in coffee and sugar plantations, and is met with from the sea-level up to the summits of the highest mountains in Martinique and St. Lucia. It not infrequently makes its way into human habitations, and is not uncommon in gardens, even entering those of the town of Fort-de-France.
It does not seek its prey by day, but remains on the alert, always ready to bite. With open mouth, and fangs projecting forwards, it strikes with the rapidity of lightning. It swims in the rivers and moves over the ground with great speed. Oviposition takes place in July, and the young are hatched forthwith, the usual number being from about 50-60.
It feeds upon lizards and rats, but also destroys a certain number of fowls and turkeys. All the large animals are afraid of it. Its bite is extremely dangerous, and causes about a hundred deaths in Martinique every year.