Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-05-13
A SNAKE.EATING SERPENT.
The Most Terrible, IL Not the
Most Formidable of the Ser

| WV
Most Formidable of the Ser
pents.
From the London Daily News.l
A wonderful poisonous snake, pur
chased from Mr.. Charles Jamrach
the well-known animal dealer of st
Georges street east, has just found &
home in cage on the south side oI
the snake house in the Geological
Gardens. This is II snake eating
snake. DR.. Fayrer, in his magniti-
cent work on "Vcnomous Snakes OF
the Indian Peninsula" has ably de-
scribed this creature. We learn
from this high authority that this
most formidable of poison snakes is
found but not commonly, in India,
the Andaman and Philippine ISL
ands, &c. 1t is the largest and most
formidable of known venomous
snakes. 1t is not only very power
ful, but also active and aggressive.
DR.. Fayrer figures two specimens in
the act of striking in splendid plates
drawn from life by native artists.
One specimen is seven feet nine, and
the other eleven feet ten. 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 will not only tnrn npon
his enemy, but will pursue him. We
read in DR.. Fayrer's book:
"a Burman told me that friend of
his stumbled upon a nest of these
serpents, and Immediately retreated,
but the old female gave chase. The
man fed with speed over hill and
dale, and terror seemed to add wings
to his flight, till reaching small
river he plunged in; but on his ap-
preaching the opposite bank up
reared the furious hamadryad, its di-
lated eyes glistened with rage, ready
to bury its fangs in his trembling
body. In utter despair he bethought
himself of his turban, and in mo-
ment dashed it upon the serpent,
which darted upon it like lightning,
and for some moments wreaked its
vengeance in furious bites, after
which it returned quietly to its for
mer haunts."
The Bengal name is Sunkerchor, or
breaker of shells. 1t lives in the for
est or grass jungles, is especially
fond of hollow trees, and is 4 good
climber. The snake charmers in In
dia prize it highly, but they say it is
extremely dangerous to catch, and
difficult to handle.
The specimen at the Gardens is in
excellent health. Shortly after his
arrival he was fed by Holland, the
keeper, who put an ordinary English
snake into his cage; the ophiophagus
quickly devOured the English snake
by boiling him head first. In gen
eral appearance the new snake is very |
like the common cobra, except that
when he spreads his hood he is seen
to be marked in very pretty bands
not unlike the patterns on oil-cloth.
The head is somewhat almond
shaped, exceedingly lizard-likc, not
fiat and triangular like that of the
rattlesnake. When sitting up with |
his hood expanded the snake is con-
tinually jerking his head in rest
less manner, reminding one of the
quick -darting action of the common
green lizard. The eye is exceeding
ly clear and bright. When disturb
ed the snake Kisses loudly, and shows
his temper by extruding his long
black, forked tongue, which he vi
brates with marvellous celerity. 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 dis
turbed as little as possible by the
calls of visitors.