The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-29

ttlhSence, an understanding or cause anu
effect, which Is quoted by Mr.. ROmanes.
"A cobra thrust its head through a mar
row hole and swallowed a toad. with
this incumbrance he could not withdraw
himself Finding this he reluctantly dis
gOrged the precious mOrsel, which beSin
To move off. This was too much for
snake philosophy TO bear. and the toad
was again seized and again was the
snake, after violent efforts to escape.
compelled To part with its prey. This
time. however. a lesson had been learnt.
and the toad was seized by one leg. with
drawn and then swallowed i'm triumph
II Is frequent statement Of the Keep
ers or snakes that they soon learn 70
recognize individuals and this faculty
probably lies at the bottom OF the power
or so-cal,ed Snake-charmers. II we could
trust the exhibitions We have oppOrtuni-
ties OF seeing. We might give the rois-
onods cobra credit for having the dOCIlity
necessary for subduing his habits TO
marvellous extent; but unfortunately but
llttle reliance is 70 be placed upon them
The evidence Of trickery is too strong
for us 10 absolve the charmers Of taking
advantage of the repusnance and terror
or their audience, and when we are
ulated are harmless. the spectacle Of
charming them presents nothing wonder
ful: Mr.. l}roderip In his Note Book ~
a Naturalist has given an account Of
one which may be taken as a type OF
all such exhibitions It was given in
the zooloeical garden IN London.
standing in the open space I'm the
reptile house. the old Arab said some
thing to the young one who stopped
down under the rcptile-cases on the north
side Of the room. and took out a large
deal box with a sliding cover. Having
Withdrawn the cover he thrust in his
nand and pulled out a large, long 'Naja
Hale After handling il. and playing
with II little while he set II down on
the hoor half squatted close TO IT. and
fixed his eye on the snake The serpent
instantly raised Itself. expanded its hood
and turned slowly on its own axis. fol-
lowing the eye Of the young Arab. turn
ing as his head, or eye. or body turned.
sometimes IL would dart AT MIN. as II
10 bite He exercised the most perfect
command over the ANIMAL All this time
the old Arab stood still Dassvely re-
garding the operation; but presently the
two squatted down, muttering some
words, opposite 10 the snake. He evil
IDENTIFY affected the reptile more strongly
than his more mercural relative though
he remained motonless. doing nothing
that | could see hut fixing his eyes on
the snake, with his face upon n level
with the raised head of The serpent,
which now turned all his attention 10
him. and seemed to be in paroXysm OF
rage.
Suddenly it darted open-mouthed at
his face. furiously dashing its expanded
whitish-edged jaws into the dark hollow
cheek OF the chdrmer. who sin impor-
turably kept his position, only smiling
bitterly az his excited antagonist / was
very close. and watched very narrowly:
but though the snake dashed at the old
Arabs face, ana into il more than twice
or thrice with its mouth open. / could
not see the projection of any fang. The
youth then brought out ceraStes, which
observed seemed ogerpOwered, as n,
as the country people say. something had
come over it, he placed IL on ihe floor.
but this serpent did not raise itself like
the NaJa, but as the charmer stopped 20
II moved In very odd. agifated manner
p n fr, fcL
Il thought the serpent was going 20
fly a him, but il did not He then went
10 another box drew the lid and took
out more snakes. one of which was an
| NcuOmOus Kind. Now there were two
najaS with heads and bodies erect obey
| ing apparently the volition of the CHARM
| ers. one OF The snakes biz the youth on
| the naked hand and brought the blood.
! but he only spat on the wound and
| scratched IL with his nail. which made
| the blood flow more freely"
Mr. lrOderip remarks that the charm
erS used only their own snakes. and at
terWard says. There is no longer 4
shadow of a doubt that the subjects OPP
| eia'ed ON ny IN" serpent-charmers at
| the /oolosical Gardens had been deprived
| Of their poison-fangs." We do not mean
| 90 beiittle the patience and power Of the
tNnlbitors IN bringing serpentS thus under
| control This I'm itself Implies dOcility
even I'm these terrible creatures hut we
| may well eliminate the miraculous and
! reduce serpcnt-training 10 the level OF
! all Misunderstanding. The way in which
| the p)isou-fangs are removed in India
| is simple The lip is turned up and the
parts which Secrcte the poison are eN-
| posed Ihe duct and reservoir just above
! the teeth are carefully tradicatad with
| q knife and the parts oflectuaily de-
| stroycI with hot iron. Unless this is
| done The teeth are renewed. and instances
| nave been known where death has fol-
| lowed am exhibition with snakes which
q q
fanes.
At the College OF Surgeons Museum in
London there is n specimen labelled
NO. 6jl The skull and anterior verte-
| brae of poisoned naja. which mad been
| deprived Of its fangs. together with part
! OF the short maXiil4ry bone which con-
tanned their matrices. This was one Of
| the specimens exhibited by the snake
| Charmers in India. Presented by Or.
Wallich."
That snakes are capable Of displaying
air'ton has more than once been dem
onetiated, but perhaps the most remark
able instance is one which gained news
| paper H9tortty m England in 1872. \
air. ana Mrs. Mann We're proceeded
against before the magistrate hy their
| hrisnporS Tor keeping snakes 90 the an
notdnCe OF the public MIR. Walter Soy
! efn, the well-known artist. wrote a let
yer 10 me Times newspaper on be-
! half OF his friends and SAYS: 81 happen
| To- know the gentleman and lady against
| whom "a complaint has been made be-
| cause of the snakes they keep. and
should like 10 give "a short rccount OF
my first visit 20 them Mr.. NJ. after We
| bad talked for a little time. asked If
mad any fear Of snakes; and after "a timid
| no not very, from me. he produced
| out OF cupboard large bOa-constrIc-
| tor python and several small snakes
| which az once made themselves at home
Oh the writing table among Iens. inks
and books
I was at first a good deal startled.
! especially when the two large snakes
! cOiled round and round my friend and
! began 10 notice me with their bright eyes
! and fotksd tongues, but soon finding
| now tame they were. | ceased 10 feel
| frightened. After short time Mr. NJ
! wished 20 call Mrs ~. and left me with
| me boa deposited on an armchair. I felt
! little queer when the animal began
| gradually 10 come near. but the entrance
or my most and hostess followed by TWO
| charming little children. put me AT NV
| ease again. After the first interchange
| OF cvilities She and the children went
| AZ once 10 the boa. and calling IL by thu
! most endcaring names. allowed il to
| tWine itself most gracefully round about
| them sat talking for long time lost I'm
| wonder at the picture before me. Two
| beautiful little girls, with their charming
| mother, sat before me with a boa con
strictOr taS thick round as a small treaI
| twinlng playfully round the lady's waist
! ana neck, and forming a kind OF turban
round her mead, expecting TO be petted
| and made much Of like a kitten.
The children over and over again tool,
| its head in their hands and kissed IFS
! mouth. pushing aside its fOrked tongue
| in doing So The animal seemed much
| pleased, but kept turning its head con
tinuaIly toward me with curious gaze,
| until | allowed ii TO nestle its head for a
| moment up my sleeve. Nothing could be
prettieT than 10 see this splendid serpeut
| coiled all round Mrs. VI. while she moved