Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-06-23

reptile IN reverence and resent any at
tempt at its destruction. In colOring
this reptile differs materially. according
10 season and locality Most frequent
IL it Is of a deep olive on the back. white
below, with hooded neck on which APP
pear markings somewhat resembling
eyeglasses. except that the bow IS
longer. But again it may be brown,
with black eyeglasses; or the body
may be deep brown with
no eyeglasses at all, or only a couple of
white spots on the neck; again the rep
tile appears with black body with
single white spot on the neck. Numer-
Gus and variable as the markings are
they belong to a single species. As the
collection of snakes am gathering for
the fair is intended 10 be complete in
every respect / will have the hooded
snake in its various colorings. The
most peculiar thing about the hooded
snake, or cobra di capello. is the curious
dilatable neck, which il spreads on the
slightest irritation. This power is af-
forded by means Of elongated ribs,
which may be thrown out or depressed
at will When expanded the neck is
several times the width of the head, by
which a covered hood is formed, on the
back of which is the singular decora-
ton called eye-glass marks. The super
stitious Buddhists regard this marking
as the imprint of Buddha, and explain
it by declaring that when Buddha be-
came weary with the work of crea-
ton he sought repose under the
shade of tree, but the sun
moving while he thus slept poured its
RAYS into his face. A cobra, perceiv-
ing the exposure of the philosopher
spread its hood and remained bent over
him, thus shading his face until his
sleep was finished. Upon waking
Buddha perceived what kind Office the
serpent had rendered him, and there
upon promised to repay the cobra with
a like kindness. This promise he soon
forgot, but was reminded of it under
peculiar circumstances. Years after
ward great bird lowering over the
earth began devouring the cobras, until
the species became well-nigh extinct.
Thereupon, in a spirit of despair, the
cobra that had shielded Buddha be
sought him, and referring TO his prom
Use petitioned the god to give protection
to his species, which Buddha did by
placing the markings upon the cobra's
head, thereby frightening the great
bird and preventing its further attacks.
The natives, therefore, regard the rep
tile that once received the favor of the
founder of their religion as too sacred
for molestation, although its bite is so
venC GUS that none ever RECEIVERS from
it.
'Itl my intention to have Hin
dus at the fair" continued Mr.. Burns,
''What more interesting exhibition
could there be than a couple of Hindus
sitting outside their huts which will be
reproduced true to nature, charming
cobras with music. And men and women
snake-char1ners will be secured, and the
thousands of visitors will be convinced
of the truth of the stories of snake
charming by music.
at is strange fact, not less difficult
to understand than the accepted science
of mesmerism, that music exerts fas-
cinating power over many creatures,
and sensibly and powerfully on the
cobra"
''How many snakes will be seen at
the fair?'
"Well. in round numbers, about 1000.
OF course, there are not that number of
different species. but 1 will have them
of all sizes, shapes and colors. Reptiles
are classed by naturalists as ophidia, a
Greek word meaning serpent, and under
this head follow the numerous species
which have been divided by Lacepede
into eight genera, each of which is
again subdivided into several classes.
The eight genera comprise the boa,
which contains II species; the vipers, of
which there are 1876 species; rattle
snakes, with 26 species; snakes under
which name the harmless reptiles are
classed, "a species; the anghis bohena, a
double-headed 5 species; langrata, L;
coecila, 2, and acrocboid, l. The collect
! ing of the various species will occupy
my time till the fair opens"