The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-23

would only put snakes in the den that
agreed. The king snake that is COM
mon to the western and middle states,
where it is frequently COMPOUNDED with
the chicken snake, which it very much
resembles, though its body lis much
simmer, would have to be put in sep
arate case This snake derives its name
from the implacable hostility it mani
tests to all other reptiles Nor are its at
lacks confined to the non-venomous, for
i once saw king snake pursue and
kill a rattlesnake. It feeds on rats,
mice. frogs and birds. Some say that
it swallows the snakes that it kills.
NJ idea is to let the public witness the
reptiles at meal time especially. They
can lean more in a few minutes by
practical observation than they could
by reading a whole roomful of books
on reptiles Another species of snake
which now have, and which will not
be placed with the happy family in the
main den of reptiles at the fair, is the
experimenting hamadryas.
Mr.. Burns exhibited this species of
snake, which Is closely allied to the
cobra, being almost as deadly. He has
just secured pair Of them for the fair.
1t Is an olive hue on the back and dull
orange below. The female is dirty
brown with cross bands of white.
THE hanadryas," continued Mr..
Burns, sis very difficult snake to Sc,
cure 1t is peculiar in that it's sole food
seems to be reptiles, of which lizards
and snakes, whether venomous or
otherwise. constitute the principal part.
1t is industrious and courageous in pur-
suit of its prey. 1t erects its head very
high, and with dreadful kissing ex-
pands the hood, following every motion
of its prey. at a favorable moment it
launches upon and at the same time
gives its victim a bite which produces
almost instant death from poisoning.
The swallowing next follows, after
which the reptile is in state of coma
for n dozen or more hours. 1t does not
make another meal for ten or twelve
days. It's bite is said to be as fatal as
the cobra, being sufficient to produce
death in an elephant within two hours
after biting. Like the cobra it is
oviparous, and has for its enemies GER
tain birds that destroy the eggs, and
the ichneumon. which will not only eat
the young, but does not hesitate to at
tack the largest snake. A fight be-
tween the ichnuemon. generally called
the mongoose, and the hamadryas af
fords sight memorable tor the cum
ming wariness and celebrity OF action
and ferocity displayed"
The hamadryas frequently ottains a
surprising growth, exceeding fifteen
feet The snake now in Mr.. Burns
strong box is about eleven feet long.
MIR Burns also has in his fair collection
two cobras They arrived from the
East Indies last week
This dreadful snake said Mr..
Burns, has large range over the East
Indies, where il is everywhere regarded
with the horror of q pestilence, feel
ing most natural when we consider that
not less than 5000 persons annually
perish from its bite in the Indian Pc
ninsula alone The Hindus hold this
reptile in reverence and resent any at
tempt at its destruction In coloring
this reptile differs materially. according
to season and locality. Most frequent
ly it is of deep olive on the back, white
below, with hooded neck on which ap-
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 couple of
white spo1s en- ias Iec.,.. s-glin tie ysr.