The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-08-08
SNAKE CHARMERS TRICKS.
HOW SNAKES ARE SUBJECTED TO
THE WILL OF MAN.
An Expert Tells All About the Hao-
its Of Boa Constructors, Cobras
and Rattlesnakes.

II y N4L " GAS 106sSU U&IuADAS VI N~~
snakes is the cobra de ca.
\ y pello, and, singularly enough,
it is this very trait which
makes it so valuable to the Hlndoo
and Arab charmers, and which has, in
sact, formed the entire foundation on
which thA charming" imposture IS
based. It need hardly be pointed ont
in these days of popular science that
the cobra possesses the most rudlmen-
tary organs of hearing, and cannot be
Influenced by the strains of the dusky
musicians pipe, while the intelligence
of the whole of the ophidia is so low
that no kin of training or education
is possible, says writer IN Cham
5e7s's Journal. The very utmost that
can be accomplished is to instlll into
them sort of dull comprehension
that they need not bring into action
their weapons OF defense every time
their hereditary enemy comes within
the range of their extremely limited
vision-this, and perhaps with some
of them a doubtful recognition OF per-
sons. But the cobra is ready to sit up
and show fight to the bitter end at the
first hint of disturbance. 1t IS the
popularity of its belligerent attitude,
upright. with third of its length OF
body raised from the ground, attended
by the spreading out Of its anterior
ribs to form with the dilatab!e skin OF
the neck the 6n-like expansion known
ss tie hood, which gives it the appear
ance of acting in obedience to the ges-
lures and sorry strains OF the per-
former, who artfully adapts both to
the natural and spontaneous move
ments of the reptile.
One could ha:dly design creature
which would better answer the pur-
pose of the pretended snake charmer
than does the cobra, whether We re-
gard the India or the Egyption spe-
cies. Venomous as it is-and there IS
probably none more Tirulent, unless
it be the Southern rattlesnake-lt IS
the most easily manipulated and
"played" of all the serpents. What
ever may have been the original vaiuo
of the hood in the cobra's economy,
whether to inspire its foes with ter
ror, or to serve any other end, there
can be no doubt that it has long
passed the zenith OF it's utility,
and, like SO many structures which we
frd in the animal world, developed to
ezaggeration in the blind fury OF evo'
luton, has become hindrance rather
than 8 help to its possessor in the
great struggle. The reach OF the
cobra's delivery, the Limitation OF the
distance within which its blow must
fall, can be exactly calculated almost
instinctiYelY by those who become &C.
customed to them, since its striking
consists of the swaying down OF SO
much Of its body as is upreared, and
no more. The reader may obtain an
efficient illustration of this by laying
his upper arm upon table, with the
forearm and hand representing the
head) raised from the fexcd elbow.
Very different is this from the spring
like mechanism of the process by
which the majority of serpents dart on
their prey or adrersary-"Gre a shot, "
as the Trinidad creoles say the head
remaining quiescent until the neck
and body behind are drawn up into
s-shaped folds, to be suddenly
Strengthened with the speed of light
ming rs the jaws ure flashed forward.
And when the cobra's head has fallen
for its bite, tie weight of itslunss-e1-
panded umbrella prevents it from rls'
ing again as quickly as it would other
wise do, and admits of its being read
ily seized and secured.
Its near relative, the hamadryad,
the great eating snake, which IS
the largest of all poisonous species,
and which also displays a hood, soon
becomes apathetic, and refuses to
pander to the humbug of charming !;
for this reason it is held of small ac-
count bY the jugglers Of India and
Burmah, in whose baskets it is occa-
sionully seen, and to whom it is known
as the big or king cobra, since it re-
qnires lot of shaking up before 1t
will stand on the defensive, although
it's monetary value as geological
specimen is twenty times as much as
that of the smaller species. Thodgh
lazy, it is said TO be distinctively ag-
gressi7e in it's wild state, and is per
haps the most intelligent of the SER
pent order.
How, then, is snake-ta tanning effected?
Well, there is no great secret or myS'
tery about it. In tie first place, tEr
snakes become used to the presence OF
humanity by being placed in such a
situation that people pass and repass
within their sight az constantly as
possible. And here it must not be
forgotten that no serpent can see any
thing distinctly OF distance equal to
twice its own length. The inmates OF
the reptile house at the London Zoolo-
gical Gardens become noticeably
.shyer after day or two Of dense fog
or Ieep snaw. during which the 7isi'
tors are few and far between. And,
secondly, they must be handled at all
times anil seasons. except immediately
after neal, handled freely and fear
lessly, but with due regard to their
before mentioned morbid sensibi!lty ot
neck and tail.
After all. the vast majority are no'
early SO anxious tc use their teeth
as is commonly supposed. Keepers in
menageries usually lift the new speci
mems from the boxes in which they
arrive in order to transfer them to
the cages, and are rarely bitten; and
in forests and iungles all over the