More dreaded than the jaguar or alligator is the jararaca--the native
name for the terrible serpent, the fer de lance (Craspedo cephalus
lanceolatus). The hideous creature, with brown colour, flat, triangular
head, connected to its olive-tinted body by a thin neck, lies coiled up
among a heap of leaves, from which it can scarcely be distinguished till
the passer-by is close upon it; then suddenly it rears its head, which
is armed with four long poisonous fangs, and, darting forward, strikes
its victim with a deadly blow. Man, as well as all animals, dreads it--
except the hog, and its relative, the little peccary, which are
indifferent to the effects of its poison.
On human beings its bite is generally fatal. Bates mentions several
instances of death from it, and only one clear case of recovery,--but in
that instance the person was lame for life. Although most other
serpents fly from man, the jararaca frequently attacks him; leaping from
its concealment among the leaves, and inflicting a wound which in a few
hours produces death. The first symptoms caused by the poison are
convulsions, pains at the heart, and distressing nausea, the whole
nervous system appearing to be greatly affected. The only known remedy
is the copious use of spirits, a large amount of which is required to
counteract the enervating power of the poison.
The jararaca is generally six feet long, but sometimes reaches the
length of eight feet. It is marked with dark cross bands, while below
it is of a whitish-grey hue, covered with small dark spots.
Even birds seem to have a slight dread of this fearful serpent, and may
be seen hovering about the spot where it lies coiled up, uttering cries
and screams, produced by fear and anger.