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The poisonous kinds are distinguished by the epithet of ular bisa, among which is the biludak or viper. The ular garang, or sea-snake, is coated entirely with scales, both on the belly and tail, not differing from those on the back, which are small and hexagonal; the colour is grey, with here and there shades of brown.
I gave up my hold of the fishing-line most unwillingly, for the little adventure was intensely exciting, and every jerk and drag made by the creature that had seized my fish sent a thrill through my arms to my very heart. "It is some kind of sea-snake that has taken your fish, Nat, and is regularly constricting it.
When he was gone, they all looked at one another like men awaking from a dream. Staines alone took it quite coolly. It did not surprise him in the least. He had always thought it incredible that the boa-constrictor should be larger than any sea-snake. That idea struck him as monstrous and absurd. He noted the sea-serpent in his journal, but with this doubt, "Semble more like a very large eel."
But Bob says, 'Hold hard, dad; now or never. And with that, down he goeth on the deck himself, and wriggleth up to Rickon through the weeds, with a hiss like a great sea-snake, and grippeth him. 'Name of ship, you sinner! cried Bob, in his deep voice, like Old Nick a-hailing from a sepulchre.
"But he didn't deliberately attack the men, did he?" "That's just what 'e did! There wasn't no threshin' around and flurryin', but the vicious brute acted just like some kind of a sea-snake.
Does this sea-snake match its wonderful nimbleness of body with an equally wonderful nimbleness of brain? I do not presume to theorise on such a conundrum of Nature, but mention an undoubted fact for others to ponder. One of the salt sea snakes is distinguished by its odd, deceptive shape a broad, flattened tail whence the body consistently diminishes to the head, which is the thinnest part.
A sea-snake, which must have been thirteen feet long, of the genus Palaeophis before mentioned, has also been described by Professor Owen from Sheppey, of a different species from that of Bracklesham, and called Palaeophis toliapicus.
Its fashion was that of the ancient sea-kings, to one of whom it had belonged. Its curved and mighty prow, richly gilded, stood out far above the waves: the prow, the head of the sea-snake; the stern its spire; head and spire alike glittering in the sun. The boat drew up to the lofty side of the vessel, a ladder was lowered, the nuncius ascended lightly and stood on deck.
Its fashion was that of the ancient sea-kings, to one of whom it had belonged. Its curved and mighty prow, richly gilded, stood out far above the waves: the prow, the head of the sea-snake; the stern its spire; head and spire alike glittering in the sun. The boat drew up to the lofty side of the vessel, a ladder was lowered, the nuncius ascended lightly and stood on deck.
What's that?" "Why, it's a great eel, uncle. What a length! and how thin! How it is winding in and out amongst the weed! Is it an eel?" "No, Nat; it is a snake a sea-snake; and there is another, and another. They are very dangerous too." "Are they poisonous, then?" I said. "Extremely. Their bite is often fatal, Nat, so beware of them if ever you see one caught."
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