The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-01
RussELL's VIPER

cleft In front for about one-third OF Its length.
This portion is constantly and rapidly exserted
and withdrawn by the animal. and Is sup
posed by tho vulgar to be It's sting. The Jaws
are furnished with rows OF small pointed
teeth which curve backward. There is ono
row along tho outor side OF eithor Jaw. while
two other rows extend from before backward
on either side Of tho hinder part OF the palate.
The human skin Is shed In such minute
pieces TINT IL ordinarily comes away unn o.
tioed. But the skin OF q snake comes away
whole. two or three time year. and Is drawn
of. inside out. from tho head backward. rs
the creature creeps through some bush. to
which II ID left attached. Before 1t Is shed the
skin loses It's color and tho eyes become dim.
because their outer skin is cast with the rest.
The snake emerRes very brightly coored
most distinct
The snake hibernntes: that Is. It passes the
late autumn and winter seasons in q state OF
torpor coiled up In the hollow roots OF trees or
In cavities protected by bushes. With tho re.
turn OF warmth It issues forth in pursuit OF
prey and to breed. The female lays from six
teen to twenty eggs In string. and leavea
them to be Matched by the sun or by the
warmth Of decomposing matter. They are
often found in dungheaps.
The common snake is very fond Of water.
All snakes eat either living food. including
eggs. or creatures they have themselves killed.
When pursued BY snake the frog seems to b
half paralyzed with fear. leaping less and less
powerfully a. the snake approaches 1t more
nearly. and uttering feeble cries. II Q stick DO
80 pushed through the grass toward o frog as
to initiate the movement OF q snake. the frog
will exhibit the symptoms OF terror Just noted.
The snake Igdally seizes a frog by the ,I hind q
the body the rog by Us
is% ssif Sess eo
and at first sight it might seem an impossible
Sad sRsFss ssn Whole
aud neck. Tho fact is. that q serpent does
not 90 much swalloW iss prey as Slowly afag
enabled 80 to do BY the elasticity Of ~ skin.a
the Ws{ IN fne
Ssivs: Of the lower jax. instead 81 being. as II
also which con; pose the upper Nv can %
. ss 4 hsd
sss fsasi h0 Hh s:d =
as sa sS .ts s Ss F5 s ssa
position e ior . time sstesnsliy visible y t6s
place, verI rapidly: The frog generally
RENAME alive. not only while being eaten.
but for q short time after being swallowed.
Mr.. Bell once saw very small! frog jump QUIZ
o. the mouth Of snake which L , hapDsnsd to
taken the frog down into its outlet NJ
The ringed. Or co..ihon. snake ID easily
tanned. and will plainly recognize the master
who feeds md caresses it. sometimes even
dress Mr.. Bell had one which when iet out q
It's box would crawl up the sleeve OF his coat
and hiss at any stranger that meddled with 1t.
Although tbs snake appears to have nolegs
or feet. It may be said to be practically sup
piled with upward Of a hund red pairs OF them.
In fact each joint OF the back bone bears pair
OF RIBS which are mobile. and have their points
the large transverse plate like scales EGieh
BY IT, movements o. tie ribs. attached to 4:
zach such plate can be drawn f2rwatd and It's
margin applied to the ground. By the success
sive application OF these multttudinous plates.
the body can be drawn forward In a stra!ghe
line, without Its being thrown into undulations
from side to side. But rapid movements are
also effected by such undulations: and ser.
penis can. By pressure and appropriate mus
euiar action, climb trees and sometimes sprinF
textures: but no serpents advance BY vertical
bendings OF the body. though they are 90 often
drawn In such AN attitude.