Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-05-14

TIE MOST TERRIBLE II NOT TIE MOST ioRluDA-
BIZ OF TIE sEErENT>.
Prom the London Daily News.

Prom the London Daily News.
\ wonderful poisonous snake, purchased
from Mr.. Charles JImrach the well-known
animal dealer of St. Georges street east,
has ust found home in cage on the south
side OF the snake house in the Geological
gardens This Is a snake-eating snake Dr.
Fayrer, in his magnificent work on - Neao-
nous Snakes Of Ike indian Peninsuls," has
ably described this creature. We learn from
this high authority that this most formlda-
bic Of poisonous snakes i found, but not
commonly, in India, the Aiaman and the
Philippine islands, &c. Il i the largee;
and most formidable Of known venomous
snakes. 1t Is not only very powerful, hut
also active and aggressive. DR.. Fayrer
figures two specimens in the act of strisIng,
in splendid plates drawn from life 10y native
artists. Our specimen Is seven feet nine.
and the other eleven feet zen. The speci-
men in the gardens Is over seven feet in
length. The worst Of the snake Is, he will
not run away when attacked He viii not
only turn upon his enemy, but will pursue
him. We read in DIR. Fayrer' book
- \ Burman told me that friend of his
stumbled upon nest Of these serpents, and
Immediately retreated, bnt the old female
gave chase. The man fed with speed over
hill and dale, and terror seemed u add
wings to his flight, till reaching small NV
er he plunged in; but on his approaching
the opposite bank up reared the furious
hamadryad, its dilated eyes gistening vii h
rage, ready to bury its langs in his tremb-
ling body. In utter despair he bethought
himself Of his turban. and in a moment
dashed it upon the serpent, which dartcd
upon it like lightning and for some moments
wreaked its vengeance in furious bites, after
which it returned quietly to its former
haunts" The Bengali name i Sunkcrchor,
or breaker of shells 1t lives in the forest
and grass jungles, Is especially fond Of hoi-
low trees, and Is good climber. The snake
charmers in India prize it highly. but they
say it is exceedingly dangerous to catch, and
difficult to handle.
The specimen at the gardens is in excel
lent health Shortly after his arrival he was
fed by Holland, the keeper, who put an or
dinary English snake into his cage the
ophiophagus quickly devoured the English
snake by boiling him head first. In general
appearance the new snake is very like the
common cobra, except that when he spreads
his hood he is seen 10 be marked In very
pretty bands not unlike the patterns on oil
cloth The head is somewhat almond shaped
exceedingly lzard-like, not fat and triangu-
lar like that of the rattlesnake. When sit
ting up with his hood expanded, the snake
is continually jerking his head in restless
manner, reminding US Of the quick dartiag
action of the common green lizard the eye
is exceedingly clear and bright When dis
turbed the snake Kisses loudly, and shows
his temper by extruding his long, black
forked tongue, which ho vibrates with mar
vellous celebrity. The lower part Of the
window of the cage now inhabited by this
snake has been painted white. in order that
his naturally hasty temper shall be disturbed
as little as possible by the morning calls of
visitors.