The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-12-14
FACTS ABOUT REPTILES.
some of the Popular Errors a. Ia Serpcuu
anl Their MaNs.

some of the Popular Errors a. Ia >crpcut-
ani Their WaNs.
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 "A rock, :"
and for years the mode OF progression OF
snake remained 10 men of science as
much a mystery as il was to solomon.
Ii is thought the absence of limbs is u
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
rs many ribs a. there are days in the
month, bat i'm fact the number varies
and reaches four hundred i'm pythons.
Mr.. Furguson once followed "A large
snake and found smart walk suli-
cicnt to keep up with it, Nor do
snakes exercise any fascination over
their victims. Pepys alleged that they
elected poison on larks in full
flight SO that they fell into
their mouths; but in fact chickens,
rats, guinea pigs RABBITS, hens show no
fear of snakes when given to the
latter in cage. \ hen has been known
to roost on python, and one has been
known TO peck at Il snakes tongue in
motion, evidently taking il for an in
sect or worm. When it has killed its
prey either 10y construction or poison,
the snake is supposed 10 salivate or
lubricatc the meal 10y means Of it's
tongue. This is not the case, as the
tongue is too small to lubricatc the
tinicst bird The snake moves its head
about the prey, feeling with its tongue
for the right part 10 begin upon, and
when that is in its mouth, but not tin
then, the salivary glands begin 10 aid
dcglutition. The functions of snakes
tongue have also been the subjects Of
popular error. job speaks Of the vi
per's tongue Staying one, and ShaIcs-
pcarc is full Of similar remarks The
tongue is really very delicate organ
OF touch, for the eyes are SO placed
that the snake can not sc' I'm front or
below, and by means OF It's tongue it
literally feels it way. Tho stories OF
two-hcadcd snakes owe their origin
TO the existence OF "A species
-bungarus fasciatus- which possesses
nm abrupt rounded tail that is some
times mistaken for second head. Tho
popular notion that every snake is poi
sonous is, Of course, absurd, but the
proportion Of poisonous TO harmless
snakes is much lees than is generally
supposed. In India only one genus in
ten is poisonous, and the same propor-
tion is probably accurate rs TO in
dividuals also. In all Southern India
there are only twclv" kinds OF poison-
Gus snakes, the largest being tho
hamadryad. which reaches fifteen feet
in length. 4 bite from one OF these
would probably produce death in three
minutes; it has the reputation OF being
fierce and read TO attack on the slight
est molcstation. The cobra is timid;
the charmcrs who play a pipe IN front
Of it do not attract it by the music. for
il is nearly deaf, but by the movement
from side 10 side, which is followed by
tho 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 "
J. Times