The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-04-20
POPULAR ERRORS ABOUT
 SNAKES.
Madras Mail.

too wonderful for me, yea, four things which l know not" and one of these was "the way of serpent upon a rock" and for years the mode of pro- gression of snake remained to men of science as much a mystery as 1t was to Solomon. It Is thought that the absence Of limbs Is great disadvant- age to snakes, but the fact Is their ribs take the place of limbs, SO that, instead of having two pairs, they sometimes have over POO. Aristotle thought that they had as many ribs as there arc days in the month, but, in fact, the number varies, and reaches 400 In pythons. The movements of the snakes ribs have been likened to those of A caterpillar's legs. Each vertebra supports pair of ribs, which act like A pair of legs, having tAe extremities connected together by a broad plate the hind part of this plate is free, and when the ribs are moved forward, this end Is raised 90 that 1t takes hold of any roughness or irregularity of the ground. When rapid motion Is re- quired some portion of the body in front gains purchase by means of the ventral shields on some projection in the ground, the ribs are drawn together on alternate sides throwing the body into alternate curves, some portion of the hinder part Of the body gains purchase, and the fore part Is strengthened out. It is an error to think that they move forward in a series of vertical coils, or that they move with rapidity. 1 once followed large snake, and found a smart walk sufficient to keep up with 1t.
 Nor do snakes exercise any fascina- tion over their victims. Pepys alleges 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. A hen has been known to roost on apython, and another to peck at a snakes tongue in motion, evil deDtly taking 1t for an insect or worm. When 1t has killed its prey either by construction or poison, the snake Is supposed to salivate or lubri- cate the meal by means of its tongue. This is not the case, as the tongue is too small to lubricate the tiniest 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 s,livary glands begin to aid deglu- ttion. The functions of 6 snakes tongue have also been the subjects of popular error. Job speaks of the viper's tongue staying one, and Shakes peare is full of similar remarks. The tongue is really very delicate organ of touch, for the eyes are so placed that the snake cannot see in front or below, snd by means of its tongue it literally feels its way. The stories of two- headed snakes owe their origin to the existence of & species, Bngdrus tdscidtus, which possesses an abrupt rounded tail, that is sometimes mis- taken for a second head. The popular notion that every snake is poisonous Is of course absurd, and the propOr- tion of poisonous to harmless snakes Is much less than is generally sup posed. In India only one genus in ten is poisonous, and the same proportion is probably accurate as to individuals also. In all southern India there are only twelve kinds of poisonous snakes, the largest being the hamadryad, which reaches fifteen feet in length. A bite from one of these would proba-