Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-10-25
FACTS ABOUT REPTILES.
Some OF the Popular Errors rs to serpensa
and Their WAYS.

Some of the Popular Errors rs to serpenSs
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
..the way OF serpent upon "a rock,
and for years the mode OF progression OF
a snake remained TO men OF science as
much a mystery as 1t was TO Solomon.
1t is thought 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 as there are days In the
month, but In fact the number varies
and reaches four hundred in pythons.
Mr.. Furenson once followed large
snake and found smart walk sum-
Gent 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 a cage A hen has been known
10 roost on n python, and one has been
known 10 peck at IA snakes tongue IN
motion, evidently taking 1t for an In
sect or worm. When il has killed Its
prey either by construction or poison,
the snake Is supposed 10 salivate or
lubricate the meal by means OF 1t.
tongue. This Is not the case, as thu
tongue is too small 10 lubricate the
tiniest bird The snake moves It's head
about the prey, feeling with its tongue
for the right part to begin upon. and
when that Is in It's mouth, but not till
then. the saliyary glands begin TO aid
deglutltlen. The functions OF snakes
tongue have also been the subjects OF
popular error job speaks OF the VI
per's tongue staying one, and Shakes
peare Ia full OF similar remarks The
tongue Ia really very delicate organ
of touch, for the eyes are so placed
that the snake can not see In front or
UftDNt tHh Ny hNaho w 10 to"h"S ."
literally feels IL way. The stories OF
two-hcaded snakes owe their origin
20 the existence OF "A species
---bangarus fasciatus--whieh possesses
mn abrupt rounded tail that is some
times mistaken for 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 us to In
digiduals also. In all Southern India
there are only twelve kinds OF poison
Gus snakes, the largest being the
hamadryad. which reaches fifteen feet
Ia length. A bite from one OF these
would probably produce death In three
minutes; il has the reputation of being
fierce and ready 10 attack on the slight
ost molestaiion. The cobra is timid
the ,harmers who play pipe In front
of 1t do not attract IL by the music 70,
Il is nearly deaf, but by the movement
from side to side, which Is followed b,
the snake. The bites OF some species
OF poisonous snakes are not fat.l at all
and merely produce u little pasa and
swelling of the injured member.-N
y. Times,