Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-12-20
FACTS ABOUT REPTILES
some of the Popular Errors ~ to Serpents
and Their WAYS.

Some of the Popular Errors ~ to Serpants
and Their WAYS.
King Solomon acknowledged that
there were three things which are
too wonderful for me, yea, four which
know not" and one of these was
1.-The way of a serpent upon rock, "
and for years the mode of progression of
a snake remained to men of science as
much a mystery as it was to Solomon.
1t is thought the absence of limbs is a
great disadvantage to snakes, but the
fact is their ribs take the place of
limbs, so that, instead of having two
pairs they sometimes have over two
hundred. Aristotle thought they had
as many ribs as there are days in the
month, but in fact the number varies
and reaches four hundred in pythons.
Mr.. Furguson once followed large
snake and found a smart walk suffi-
cient to keep up with it. Nor do
snakes exercise any fascination over
their victims. Pepys alleged that they
elected poison on larks in full
fight SO that they fell into
their mouths; but in fact chickens,
rats, guinea pigs. rabits, hens show no
fear of snakes when given to the
latter in cage. A hen has been known
to roost on python, and one has been
known to peck at snakes tongue in
motion, evidently taking it for an in
sect or worm. When it has killed its
prey either by construction or poison,
the snake is supposed to salivate or
lubricate the meal by means of its
tongue. This is not the case, as the
tongue is too small to lubricate the
iniest bird. The snake moves its head
about the prey, feeling with its tongue
for the right part to begin upon, and
when that is in its mouth, but not till
then. the salivary glands begin to aid
leglutitiOn. The functions of a snakes
bngue have also been the subjects of
popular error. Job speaks of the vi
per's tongue Staying one. and Shakes
pearc is full of similar remarks. The
tongue is really very delicate organ
Of touch, for the eyes are so placed
chat the snake can not see in front or
below. and by means of its tongue it
literally feels it way. The stories Of
two-headed snakes owe their origin
to the existence of species
-bungarus fasciatus-which possesses
an abrupt rounded tail that is some
times mistaken for a second head. The
popular notion that every snake is poi
sOnous is, of course, absurd, but the
proportion of poisonous to harmless
snakes is much less than is generally
supposed. In India only one genus in
ten is poisonous, and the same proper
ton is probably accurate as to in
dividuals also. In all Southern India
there are only twelve kinds OF poison
Gus snakes, the largest being the
hamadryad. which reaches fifteen feet
in length. A bite from one of these
would probably produce death in three
minutes; it has the reputation OF being
fierce and ready toattack on the slight
est molestation. The cobra is timid;
the charmers who play a pipe in front
of it do not attract it by the music. for
II is nearly deaf, but by the movement
from side to side, which is followed by
the snake. The bites of some species
of poisonous snakes are not fatal at all,
and merely produce a little pain and
swelling of the injured member.-N.
7. Times