The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-02-21
ERRORS ABOUT SNAKES.
Tacts Evolved ~ to Their Methods Of
Life and Action.

raots Evolved ~ to Their Methods Of
Life and Action.
King Solomon acknowledged that
there were ..three things which are too
wonderful for me, yea, four which I
know not" and one OF these was "the
way of a serpent upon rock" and for
years the mode OF progression Of a
snake remained to men of science as
much mystery as it was to Solomon.
Il is thought that the absence of limbs
Is 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 rs there are 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 net like pair of legs
having the extremities connected to-
gether by broad plate; the hind part
of this plate is free, and when the
ribs are moved forward this end is
raised so that it takes hold Of
any roughness or irregularity OF
the ground. When pid motion
is required 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 to-
gether on alternate sides, throwing the
body into alternate curves, some por-
tion of the hinder part of the body
gains purchase and the fore part is
Strengthened out. 1t is an error to
think that they move forward in q
series of vertical coils, or that they
move with rapidity. Mr.. Ferguson
once followed a large snake and found
smart walk sufficient to keep up with
it. Nor do snakes exercise any fascina-
tions over their victims. Pepys al
legged 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 python, and one has been known
to peck at snakes tongue in motion,
evidently taking it for an insect or
worm. When it has killed it's 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 it's 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
deglutition. The functions of
snakes tongue have also been the
subjects of popular error. Job speaks
of the viper's tongue Staying one, and
Shakespeare is full of similar remarks.
The tongue is really D very delicate
organ OF touch, for the eyes are SO
placed that the sna can not see in
front or below AM oy Meaas sotits,
tonM Mrs. q ,rall; feels its way. The
,;. tSl IN 1i.hsaaed snakes se owe their
Banyaras taciatus, which possesses
an abrupt rounded tail that is some
times mistaken for q second head.
The popular notion that every snake
is poisonous 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 propor-
ton is probably accurate as to individ-
uals also. In all Southern India there
are only twelve kinds OF poisonous
snakes, the largest being the hama
dryad, which reaches fifteen feet in
length. A bite from one of these would
probably produce death in three min
utes; it has the reputation of beng
fierce and ready to attack on the slight
est molestation. The cobra is timid;
the charmers, who play pipe in front
OF it, do not attract it by the music, for
it 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 little pain and
swelling OF the injured member.