The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-15
ABOUT SNAKES.

OAsposinS OF Some Popular Failacies Con-
corning Reptiles.
New Orleans Times Democrat.
Everyone" said MIR. Boyer, will make
war on every species of snake, be it ever so
harmless. Even the innocent grass snake,
entirely free of venom, is subject to attack
| presume it is the old scriptura idea of
bruising the serpent's head"
"All snakes, then, are not dangerous"
''By no means. To suspect every snake of
being poisonous is entirely ridiculous. If
every child were taught at school which are
harmless and which are venomous there
would be very different state of affairs. The
distinction is entirely neglected in the
Schools and it seems to me most remarkab Die
that such should be the case. Nothing can
be more important than the knowledge of
such difference. 1t is the general impression
for instance, that the snake stings with its
tongue. If the slightest attention were paid
to the construction of the animal this folly
would be al once discarded. The tongue, so
popularity believed to be an instrument of
terror serves simply as guide. The tongue
is composed OF two half-like parts, ending in
great nervous composition.
THE fact that not every snake is poison
Gus is known to almost everybody, but in a
dangerous one the poison is seated and orig
mated in glands behind the eyes, whence it
is led through channel to another smaller
gland seated between the root of the fang, or
tached to the maxillary bone One or two
tangs are in action, but as soon as one should
break the next one of the same construction
there are no other teeth but poison-fangs
found in the upper jaw-takes its place
The pressure of the fang against the bohe
causes the gland to secrete drop of poison
which runs freely through the tooth into the
| wound, paralyzing the bitten part after
some time.
"A good deal has been said about the
charming power with which snakes are said
to be endowed, and which is said to have its
seat in the eyes of the reptile.
"The eye of a snake especially of poison
Gus one, has certainly something fascinating
if accurate attention is given only to that
organ. But that it has the power of charm
ing cannot be true. because it is much too
small to be Immediately observed to such an
extent. The word charm in this case signi-
fies nothing but the state of terror into
which man or creature is thrown through
the unexpected sight OF the reptile, as
once had good opportunity to experience in
the forest of Central America My dog dis
turbed an armadillo (dasypus) ami chased it
into hole. but in the same moment large
snake (trigonocephalus atrox) rushed out of
it and prepared to strike. ] was almost para
lived from terror and establishment and not
able to move until my dog seized the snake,
unfortunately to its own destruction. The
bushmaSter. as the snake is frequently called
bit the poor dog twice. the effects of the
poison killing it in less than half an hour.
The snake, having done the mischief
tried to get away, but had by this time re-
covered myself and a weli-directed shot
made him harmless forever. He measured
six feet four inches in length and seven
inches in circumference. The entire affair
did not last longer than about two minutes,
but the eyes of the snake | never noticed
only saw the tremendous reptile throwing
back the broad and triangular head, and
playing out the tongue with lightning-lke
rapidity. Another time l observed one of
the splendid grass-green Zoas (xiphosoma
canina) as he was hidden between the leaves
of bread-nut tree (brosimum alicastrum),
trying to catch bird.
1.-The little fellow could apparently see
nothing but the tongue of the snake as it
moved worm-like about to attract the atten-
ton of the bird. A few moments later the
latter came close enough and was seized i'm
mediately by the snake, which carrying off
its prey, disappeared between the thick foil
age of the tree.
1.-THE manner in which most of the pois-
onous snakes capture their food is to await
we'll hidden-a passing animal or bird, and
if close enough, to strike it. The snake does
not even try to hold the prey, but. knowing
the terrible effects of the bite, lets it run
and then creeps up to the dead or dying crea-
ture to swallow it, The latter process con-
sumes considerable time, as the teeth OF the
reptile are not constructed to masticate and
the prey consequently must be swallowed
entire.
Non poisonous snakes either await their
prey also or chase it into some crevice, where
it is caught and swallowed either alive or
after being killed through the powerful en-
circling OF the snake"